Our full day in Florence was another chill day, but that does not mean we didn’t walk and climb! We had reservations to climb the bell tower at 8:15am, but Bailey and Jett opted out so we headed out without them. Our next objective was a walk that started from a piazza on the otherContinue reading “Italy Day 8: Florence”
Author Archives: Peter Ireland
Italy Day 7: Rome to Florence and a Sunset
After six active days, it was good to have an easier day without climbing but we still walked over sixteen thousand steps. The difference between Rome’s hustle and Florence’s Tuscan tranquility was refreshing. Our plan for the evening was to catch the sunset over Florence and the River Arno. It was a couple of milesContinue reading “Italy Day 7: Rome to Florence and a Sunset”
Italy Day 6: The Vatican and a Cooking Class
We wrapped up our three days in Rome with visits to St Peter’s Basilica (including a climb to the top of the dome), and the Vatican Museums (to see the Sistine Chapel), with an Italian cooking class as our grand finale. The Basilica is overwhelming. I used Brian Schmisek’s The Rome of Peter and PaulContinue reading “Italy Day 6: The Vatican and a Cooking Class”
Italy Day 5: Ancient Rome
Time to go back 2000 years. My two previous visits to the Colosseum and Forum had left me somewhat underwhelmed by the piles of ancient rocks through my lack of understanding. This time, the Gladiator movies, Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion books, and a PhD in a related field helped me understand what IContinue reading “Italy Day 5: Ancient Rome”
Italy Day 4: Rome
Two-nil. Naples scored two goals last night to win their national championship. I’m sure we felt the cheering through our apartment walls when they scored, and the fireworks outside our window were definitely loud! This wasn’t the best evening to have a 5:30am taxi to catch a train to Rome. After the delays in gettingContinue reading “Italy Day 4: Rome”
Italy Day 3: Capri
The day went to plan but not how we intended. We reached the sites but not in the way we would have liked. Yet we had a fantastic time and made the most of our day on Capri. We walked through sleepy streets as Sorrento woke up and arrived at the port in time forContinue reading “Italy Day 3: Capri”
Italy Day 2: Path of the Gods and Positano
Each of us did our favorite activities today. Janet and Peter hiked the Path of the Gods, a trail that hugs the cliffs as it winds along the Amalfi coast for a few miles. Bailey and Jett had a photo session with a local photographer using multiple outfits, locations, and early morning light to captureContinue reading “Italy Day 2: Path of the Gods and Positano”
Italy Day 1: Pompeii and Sorrento
Italy welcomed us with a classic day of travel stress but by the day’s end, we could reflect on it with smiles. The day had started so stress free! As usual, I was questioning the plan when the alarm went off at 4 am, but I was soon in full-on travel mode. The Uber whiskedContinue reading “Italy Day 1: Pompeii and Sorrento”
We Own a Campervan!
We have known for many years that we wanted to embrace a campervan while empty-nesting. This journey started a couple of weeks ago and the fun is just beginning. We both love the outdoors and our nomadic tendencies have dissolved any interest in a conventional second home. Our first campout together was after just threeContinue reading “We Own a Campervan!”
Giving Bailey Away: Phase 1
I didn’t think “The Lying Can Finally Stop” was the best title for my daughter’s engagement story. While this phrase had been lurking in the back of my mind until Jett escorted his new fiancée into the party room, it was quickly overwhelmed by joy from seeing their ecstatic smiles while sharing the moment withContinue reading “Giving Bailey Away: Phase 1”
New York City in Four Days
It takes an Ireland-style tour to see this much of NYC in four days. Visiting over St Patrick’s Day weekend and the NYC 1/2 marathon was fitting. We focused on independent self-guided tours (planned by Janet) and marveled at the tremendous variety we found in Manhattan. A couple of shows and many great meals roundedContinue reading “New York City in Four Days”
Big Bend’s South Rim and Outer Mountain Loop
That was a lot of work. That’s what Vance said about getting water. We also hiked 43 miles and climbed 10,000 ft over four days. This trek was epic. YouTube Video This 83 minute video on YouTube presents the trek “in real time,” capturing our emotions and detailing the trek including gathering water in theContinue reading “Big Bend’s South Rim and Outer Mountain Loop”
The Gentleman in the Orange Cap
Some distant movement caught my eye. After a few moments, I recognized it as an orange cap. Meeting another thru-hiker would be fun. A recent thru-hike of the trail had inspired me to return and clear some of the obstacles, helping those completing the full twenty-eight miles. I asked him how far he was goingContinue reading “The Gentleman in the Orange Cap”
Knebford Circle
A neat line separates green grass and stacked oak leaves. The cluster of twenty deciduous trees defines the copse with green pine trees poking through the canopy but with indistinguishable trunks. An evergreen magnolia proudly stands separately, showing off its abundant foliage to the bare oak branches. The oaks know they’ll be clothed in greenContinue reading “Knebford Circle”
Hiking East Texas’s Trail Between the Lakes
(Check out the trail’s guide here.) Multi-day backpacking adventures are not normally associated with East Texas. The 96-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT), north of Houston by Huntsville, might come to mind. But there is an often passed-over trail close to the Louisiana border that takes the explorer deep into wild pine forests. I wasContinue reading “Hiking East Texas’s Trail Between the Lakes”
Backpack Compromise: Weight vs Comfort
Or: Why I no longer aim for 10 lb. dry weight. Introduction Catchy headlines like 10 lb. Gear List for Hiking The Appalachian Trail suggest that 10 lbs. is the target ultralight dry weight for serious multi-day backpackers. After many years, I achieved that target, but now choose to carry more for comfort. Such additionsContinue reading “Backpack Compromise: Weight vs Comfort”
Eagle Rock Loop High Water Alternate in November 2024
I returned to the Ouachita mountains from Nov 7-10 2024 with Vance, my buddy from leading our sons’ scout troop. The Eagle Rock Loop (ERL) was a step up from previous backpacking trips for Vance. The river levels were higher than my 2022 completion which triggered an alternate route to avoid the deeper Little MissouriContinue reading “Eagle Rock Loop High Water Alternate in November 2024”
Paul’s Journeys in Greece with Liberty University
Luke describes Paul’s travels in Greece in Acts. Liberty University gave us the opportunity to follow in Paul’s footsteps with a couple of their learned professors, enabling us to get closer to appreciating Paul’s journeys. Details of the trip are on this page. Below I use my photos and text to describe what we sawContinue reading “Paul’s Journeys in Greece with Liberty University”
Road Trips
North America is made for road trips. When we married, an hour-long drive for Peter was significant! On road trips with lots of distance to cover, hotels are quick and convenient accommodation. We undertook five significant hotel-based road trips in North America. They were tremendous adventures, and we learned that hotels and dining out gotContinue reading “Road Trips”
Greece: A Cliff-hugging Monastery in the Lousios Gorge
Hiking to see a cliff-hugging monastery seemed like such a good idea. This looked really cool: However, perhaps there was a reason that it was not in our guidebook. AllTrails reviews were all positive, but we hadn’t slept well the night before and perhaps we were just ready to get home to our own bed.Continue reading “Greece: A Cliff-hugging Monastery in the Lousios Gorge”
The Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 