A day without the big headlines was still a great day of enjoying the river and a detour. Most of the day was a gentle stroll alongside the peaceful river as it continued on its eastward journey. Some more deer sightings were a highlight, and we took the smallest ferry across the river. We hadContinue reading “The Thames Path Day 6: Chertsey to Kingston upon Thames”
Author Archives: Peter Ireland
The Thames Path Day 5: Windsor to Chertsey
What a full day this was! Our sixteen-mile walk started at Windsor Castle, and our stroll along the Long Walk through Windsor Great Park took us past many mature deer. We were reminded how small we are by the Air Force Memorial, the acre of land gifted to the US after JFK’s assassination, and theContinue reading “The Thames Path Day 5: Windsor to Chertsey”
The Thames Path Day 4: Cookham to Windsor
It was always going to be difficult for day 4 to beat day 3. The weather was fine but not quite as sunny. It was peaceful walking along the river, albeit in somewhat of a green tunnel at times. Then we popped out of the tunnel in Eton, and there was Windsor Castle right inContinue reading “The Thames Path Day 4: Cookham to Windsor”
The Thames Path Day 3: Aston to Cookham
Everything came together well to make this our best day on the Thames so far. The weather was great and the scenery was better. Highlights included a herd of hundreds of deer and fantastic reflections off the early-morning Thames. We were on the trail before 8am. The hotel’s breakfast was pricey and not available early,Continue reading “The Thames Path Day 3: Aston to Cookham”
The Thames Path Day 2: Reading to Aston
We enjoyed a fine day along the river, sampling the quaintness of Sonning and the history of Henley, with a few light rain showers separated by sunny spells. The Thames was cool, from a swan’s runway to the biggest weir I’ve ever seen. A couple of diversions contributed to the 14.3 mile day but addedContinue reading “The Thames Path Day 2: Reading to Aston”
The Thames Path Day 1: Pangbourne to Reading
Day 1 of our hike along the eastern half of The Thames Way from Pangbourne to Reading.
A Prelude of September: The Thames Path and Los Picos de Europa
I usually write blogs during or after our adventures to share the experience with friends and family and to help preserve the memory. I’m using this prelude to help get multiple trips straight. We are undertaking two very different excursions with multiple travel companions with some underlying uncertainty. Here is what you can expect toContinue reading “A Prelude of September: The Thames Path and Los Picos de Europa”
The Natchez Trace Parkway
Yay! This was the first extended trip in our camper and it exceeded our high expectations. The idea grew from the thought of visiting Jett during his internship in Nashville when Bailey was visiting. We wanted to slow down and driving the 444-mile parkway with a 50 mph speed limit was perfect, complementing a fineContinue reading “The Natchez Trace Parkway”
An Expedition to the Royal Geographical Society
It was over thirty-five years since I had used the Royal Geographical Society (RGS)’s Expedition Advisory Centre to help me organize my first expedition to Egypt in 1989. I had been able to get assistance without visiting their facility in London’s South Kensington. I had also been a member of a university expedition to VenezuelaContinue reading “An Expedition to the Royal Geographical Society”
Three Days in London
The final stage of our wild trip with the Sems and the Townsends was London. We’d walked the southern half of the Cotswold Way, cruised the Kennet and Avon canal on a canalboat for several days, checked out a White Horse and Avebury’s massive stones, and were ready for London. After Avebury, we’d driven ourContinue reading “Three Days in London”
A White Horse, a Hot Range, Stone-Hugging at Avebury, and a Glance at Stonehenge
Why did we only glance at Stonehenge, and what is Avebury and that other stuff? Explaining this to our crew of Sems’s and Townsend’s was the day’s mission. In honour of Louie, the third duckling who was carried away to an unknown fate by a fat seagull while we cruised the canal on our adventure’sContinue reading “A White Horse, a Hot Range, Stone-Hugging at Avebury, and a Glance at Stonehenge”
Cruising the Kennet and Avon Canal
We knew that we’d want some rest time after 60 miles of hiking on the Cotswold Way. A relaxing canal boat trip had seemed like a good idea. It turned out to be a great idea but the large number of locks and swing bridges made it less relaxing than planned. Bonuses included a roastContinue reading “Cruising the Kennet and Avon Canal”
Southern Cotswold Way: Day 5
This was our final day of walking as we completed the final leg from Toghill House Farm to Bath. It was a fine day with many views in great weather. We watched Bath get bigger as we approached. As we entered the city, we felt the presence of more people as we had to navigateContinue reading “Southern Cotswold Way: Day 5”
Southern Cotswold Way: Day 4
Team Sloth was back to full strength for the hike from The Dog Inn in Old Sodbury to Toghill House Farm near Cold Ashton. Our motto, “we will get there when we get there,” rang true. Today’s highlights centered around rest stops and food which suggests there was some fatigue! The landscape changed from woodedContinue reading “Southern Cotswold Way: Day 4”
Southern Cotswold Way: Day 3
The previous day’s heat claimed one victim in our group and today was another hot one as we walked from The Swan in Wotton-under-Edge to The Dog in Old Sodbury. It wasn’t a day of dramatic landmarks, but I knew it was a good one when Texan Max described the day as “a lovely walkContinue reading “Southern Cotswold Way: Day 3”
Southern Cotswold Way: Day 2
Three steep climbs on a blistering hot day made just finishing the 11 miles from Coaley Peak to Wotton-under-Edge a very satisfying accomplishment. The day’s highlight was the Tyndale Monument recognizing local man William Tyndale who was burned at the stake in 1536 after publishing his English translation of the Bible. We also enjoyed cows,Continue reading “Southern Cotswold Way: Day 2”
Southern Cotswold Way: Day 1
A great first day’s hike of about 11 miles from Painswick to Frocester climbing about 1400 ft in about 6.5 hours. The day’s challenge was the 80 degF (27 degC) but we persevered and loved the clear views off the edge of the escarpment, the peacefulness of the woodlands, and the fun of spending timeContinue reading “Southern Cotswold Way: Day 1”
Southern Cotswold Way: Day 0
Our England adventures with the Sems and Townsends start with hiking the southern half of the Cotswold Way. Before starting a hike, there is always getting to the start, and that was this day. The travel was as uneventful as anyone could wish for. We did a short warm up hike to blow off someContinue reading “Southern Cotswold Way: Day 0”
England with the Sems and Townsends: A Prelude
This is a prelude to our next trip. Please follow us on this adventure by subscribing so you are the first to read about what we are up to. If you know Dean or Max, you know there will be mischief. This is a three-stage adventure with Dean and Tracy Townsend and Stephanie and MaxContinue reading “England with the Sems and Townsends: A Prelude”
Rome’s Biblical Sites
What evidence is there in Rome that Paul or Peter were in the city? The Bible describes Paul’s arrival in Rome (Acts 28:11-16) and that he lived there two years (Acts 28:30-31). In 2 Timothy, Paul references his time in Rome (2 Tim 1:17). Peter mentions his association with Silvanus and Peter in Babylon atContinue reading “Rome’s Biblical Sites”
The Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 