It’s time for our next trip, and this is a big one. For years, New Zealand has drawn Samuel to its far shores, and it has always been on my list, and Janet and Bailey weren’t complaining about the prospect of visiting. However, as it is in the southern hemisphere, their seasons are reversed. Their summer,Continue reading “New Zealand, Here We Come!”
Author Archives: Peter Ireland
Reflections on the Cotswold Way
After any adventure, it’s fun and constructive to reflect. The plan was not to write this up three months after we finished, but life got in the way. I am fortunate to have a blog which can remind me of our trip! In summary, Janet and I walked the northern half of the Cotswold WayContinue reading “Reflections on the Cotswold Way”
The Cotswold Way Day 5: Painswick to Cooper’s Hill
Bus times caused us to try a section “backwards” which was fun over a great stretch of the trail. Getting back to Crickley Hill, where we left the Cotswold Way yesterday, would have needed a taxi. We were planning a shorter day today and were not set on continuing from where we left off. WeContinue reading “The Cotswold Way Day 5: Painswick to Cooper’s Hill”
The Cotswold Way Day 4: Cleeve Hill to Shurdington
Neither our starting or ending points were on the Cotswold Way today, which reflects the logistical challenge. My gratitude for the feedback I get from y’all, either in Facebook or in the blog itself, is reflected by my writing this. As today was over 15 miles, I’d certainly prefer to be napping. Hearing Janet’s snoringContinue reading “The Cotswold Way Day 4: Cleeve Hill to Shurdington”
The Cotswold Way Day 3: Winchcombe to Cheltenham Race Course Station via Cleeve Hill, with Steam Train
Today’s excitement included meeting up with my sister Jane and her husband, and finding ice cream at just the right time. The steam train was pretty cool too. The lack of bus service on Sunday to Winchcombe was not an issue as the GWSR steam train was running. Its station was two miles from ourContinue reading “The Cotswold Way Day 3: Winchcombe to Cheltenham Race Course Station via Cleeve Hill, with Steam Train”
The Cotswold Way Day 2: Toddington to Winchcombe via Belas Knap
Today was made more exciting with my friend James joining us. Our last hike together was last century in Ecuador, so it was good to catch up! We started the day with the bus from Cheltenham to Toddington. I’m liking how close our apartment is to the bus stops! It was a smooth, uneventful ~1Continue reading “The Cotswold Way Day 2: Toddington to Winchcombe via Belas Knap”
The Cotswold Way Day 1: Chipping Campden to Toddington
Hang on. Toddington isn’t on the Cotswold Way. But it’s close and it was a fine end to our first day’s walk. Today’s challenge was logistics. The first challenge was getting the twenty miles from Cheltenham to the start of the Cotswold Way, and then back to Cheltenham after a day’s walk. While there wasContinue reading “The Cotswold Way Day 1: Chipping Campden to Toddington”
The Cotswold Way: Wedding and Macbeth Preludes
Our “reason for coming” became a fantastic time in Ulverston, and we squeezed in a couple of nights in Stratford-Upon-Avon en route to the Cotswolds. We had had to cancel a family trip to Stratford when we lived in Ulverston due to being transferred, so it was good to finally get the visit in! UlverstonContinue reading “The Cotswold Way: Wedding and Macbeth Preludes”
The Cotswold Way: Our Plan
It’s time for another hike! This opportunity has been triggered by a wedding invite from friends we saw on our Grasmere rest day during our Coast-to-Coast adventure last summer (thank you Grace and Peter). After the wedding festivities, we will head south to the Cotswolds, but will hike it in a new way. So whyContinue reading “The Cotswold Way: Our Plan”
Reflections on an Adventurous Family Trip to Oahu
I hesitate to write a “reflections” post, as I hesitated to write a daily blog of our Hawaii trip. It was just a vacation, so it wasn’t that adventurous! However, “adventurous” is a mindset and I hope my reflections on what to do (and not) might help others make the most out of a HawaiiContinue reading “Reflections on an Adventurous Family Trip to Oahu”
Organizing A High School Theatre’s Wardrobe – Part 1
In helping our son’s high school theatre company, Janet and I identified the need and challenge of organizing the costumes. Before starting the organization project, I researched online and found nothing close to a solution for our challenge, so I am writing this to help others. (Note that I wrote a follow-up blog about ourContinue reading “Organizing A High School Theatre’s Wardrobe – Part 1”
Hawaii – Day 7
Our final morning! As with most other mornings, I woke up around dawn (5:50) and caught up on processing photos and blogging on the house’s back porch. It had a great view toward the sea, as well as birds scurrying around its garden. I will miss the view, the temperature, and the sound of wildlife.Continue reading “Hawaii – Day 7”
Hawaii – Day 6
First, we headed to Waialua Coffee where we drank fresh coffee, had a tour of their small coffee and chocolate making facilities, and found souvenirs with reasonable prices. Today’s plan had originally been a sunrise hike before spending the day on the Windward side of the island on a beach. The last couple of morningsContinue reading “Hawaii – Day 6”
Hawaii – Day 5
SCUBA day! Samuel and I had picked up some rental gear from a dive shop and we were ready to go. We’d brought our own basic gear including my Go Pro, it’s photos have taken me extra time to process this day’s blog. We wanted an early start to avoid the crowds and get aContinue reading “Hawaii – Day 5”
Hawaii – Day 4
It was time for a hike! We headed out at 7:30 for a 30-minute drive to the Hau’ula loop around the northern tip of the island. We waited out a short rain shower and headed off up the mountain. It was a 3 mile loop through a large variety of vegetation and some great views.Continue reading “Hawaii – Day 4”
Hawaii – Day 3
Today was slower than yesterday which we needed. The highlight was the evening with Toa Luau, and their ticket included entrance to visit their botanical gardens and waterfall. We started the day more slowly and after driving the 10 minutes from the house to Waimea valley, arrived a bit after it opened at 9, afterContinue reading “Hawaii – Day 3”
Hawaii – Day 2
This was a varied day as we explored the area from Pearl Harbor via Honolulu and Waikiki to Diamond Head. We had a reservation on the first boat for the USS Arizona memorial at 8am so it was an early start, leaving the house before 6:45 which meant we enjoyed quiet roads. Pearl Harbor isContinue reading “Hawaii – Day 2”
Hawaii – Day 1
What is better to do on one’s first day in Hawaii other than surfing? We’d booked lessons with a shop in Haleiwa, though I was first with some others as the group limit was four. We arrived early so wandered around the town a bit. It was very quiet before 10am and we enjoyed theContinue reading “Hawaii – Day 1”
Hawaii – Day 0
I hadn’t planned to blog this vacation, but a few people asked for updates, so why not. The plan is certainly to have an adventure, with Kylie and Jett joining the four of us. We have seven nights on Oahu, and lots of things planned, so we shall see how it pans out! We haveContinue reading “Hawaii – Day 0”
The Theatre Journey of a High School Graduate
Preparing to send one’s youngest child to college triggers an array of hopeful forward-looking expectations and pensive reflections. These converged when I wrote an introductory email about Samuel on the Class of 2027 Facebook page of the Colorado School of Mines where he will study Engineering. I proudly introduced Samuel, describing some of his hikingContinue reading “The Theatre Journey of a High School Graduate”
The Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 