Diving Mexican Cenotes in May 2021

During a family trip to Cancun, Samuel and I very much wanted to dive cenotes. Cenotes are a form of cave in which you are always able to see some daylight so the qualification required is less than cave diving. We chose Wetset divers who were very responsible, and we had to do a dayContinue reading “Diving Mexican Cenotes in May 2021”

Motorhome Rental

On our journey to motorhome ownership, we have rented units three times: once in the UK and twice in the US. The UK rental was in 2008 when the kids were small. The US rentals were in 2017 for driving the west coast between Mexico and Canada, and in 2020 to visit North Carolina waterfallsContinue reading “Motorhome Rental”

The British Virgin Islands by Sailboat in 2020

We had booked a dream holiday for March 2020. Over the previous year, I had taken courses to qualify as a yacht skipper and Samuel had qualified as crew. We were bareboat chartering a yacht from Sunsail in the British Virgin Islands. When we left Houston in mid-March, there remained some uncertainty about where thisContinue reading “The British Virgin Islands by Sailboat in 2020”

The Outer Mountain Loop and Guadalupe Peak in 2019

The fifth installment of my West Texas adventures takes Samuel and I back to Big Bend’s Outer Mountain Loop (OML) and to “The Top of Texas,” Guadalupe Peak. The primary goal of the trip was to be the highest person in Texas at the beginning of 2020. The rest was just for fun! You canContinue reading “The Outer Mountain Loop and Guadalupe Peak in 2019”

The Outer Mountain Loop in 2017

This is the fourth chapter of our experiences in West Texas. While our 2016 trip to Big Bend had been an epic collection of adventures, completing the Outer Mountain Loop added a tremendous sense of achievement. I had pictured doing the hike ever since a work colleague, Tim Long, had described hiking it with hisContinue reading “The Outer Mountain Loop in 2017”

Big Bend in 2016 With a Pre-Teen

Now for my third visit to West Texas. After an awe-inspiring summitting of Guadalupe Peak, Samuel and I were ready for our next challenge. Spring Break 2016 gave us the opportunity to head back to the desert while the girls did a trip to New York. Each of us were very happy with our trips!Continue reading “Big Bend in 2016 With a Pre-Teen”

Guadalupe Peak in 2015

This is the second of several posts that describe our multiple exciting adventures in West Texas. Ten-year-old Samuel’s interest in hiking and camping was growing and I was very much drawn to climbing Texas’s highest mountain, Guadalupe Peak. At 8,751 feet, it is nearly three times higher than anything in Great Britain. “Climb to the ‘TopContinue reading “Guadalupe Peak in 2015”

Pop-Up Camper

A pop-up camper was a memorable step toward our imminent RV ownership. Our hotel-based road trip to DC visiting National Parks inspired us to want a pop-up camper. Janet’s family had owned one when she was growing up. We liked the idea because it would be low maintenance, we would be able to store itContinue reading “Pop-Up Camper”

The Llangollen Canal in 2011

One of the most remarkable canal trips in the UK is the Llangollen canal. First proposed in 1791, it takes you between England and Wales. The route includes the Pontcysyllte and Chirk Aqueducts and the 412m (1,381ft) Chirk tunnel. In May 2011, we rented a “narrowboat” for a week and cruised this canal. On theContinue reading “The Llangollen Canal in 2011”

Cruising the Norfolk Broads in 2009

The Norfolk Broads are wetlands in eastern England that are best accessed by boat. In May 2009, we rented a boat for a week long holiday. Such boats have a maximum speed of about three miles per hour, a brisk walking pace, and no special qualifications are required to skipper one. We chose a boatContinue reading “Cruising the Norfolk Broads in 2009”