We would not have believed that a seven-hour coach-ride could be so amazing, and that was just the day’s warmup! We slept very well in those comfy beds and found a hearty breakfast at the Copthorne Hotel where we were getting picked up by the coach for Milford. The level of uncertainty about the pickupContinue reading “NZ Day 2: Queenstown to Milford Sound”
Tag Archives: family
NZ Day 1: Houston to Queenstown
Technically, this covers a couple of “Day 0s” as it goes from Tuesday to Thursday, though we lost Wednesday somewhere in the middle of the Pacific! After a fine Uber service to the airport from Jett, we had a smooth checkin, and headed to Landry’s at the airport, where we tried our “Priority Pass” (whichContinue reading “NZ Day 1: Houston to Queenstown”
New Zealand, Here We Come!
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!”
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: 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”
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 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 Eagle Rock Loop in November 2022
The 27-mile Eagle Rock Loop (ERL) in the Ouachita National Forest in southwest Arkansas has been on my “list” for several years. At nearly 400 miles from Houston, it is our closest multi-day trail in hills. I was thrilled in early November when I suggested to Samuel that we do it over the Thanksgiving breakContinue reading “The Eagle Rock Loop in November 2022”
Reflections on the Coast to Coast
After any significant adventure, I like to gather and publish my thoughts a few days after it is finished. Such a reflective post can help others plan something similar while also helping with my pondering of “what next?” In this reflection, Dean and Tracy also make insightful contributions! What? Wainwright’s 1973 publication described the walkContinue reading “Reflections on the Coast to Coast”
Highlights of our 2022 Coast to Coast Crossing
It is difficult to get one’s head around an adventure as large as hiking England’s Coast to Coast over 18 days. To help the reader appreciate the whole trip in one post, here are the highlights using one photo per day. Still to come is a reflection post, but that needs more reflection time :).Continue reading “Highlights of our 2022 Coast to Coast Crossing”
Coast to Coast Day 19: Robin Hood’s Bay to Heathrow
Team Sloth has made it to Heathrow, which is where the blog’s storytelling should end. Just like there was a “Day 0” before we started, I add one at the end. If there is any drama tomorrow with the flight home, I don’t want to write about it! The day started with a 4:15am alarmContinue reading “Coast to Coast Day 19: Robin Hood’s Bay to Heathrow”
Coast to Coast Day 18: Grosmont to Robin Hood’s Bay
This is what we set out for when we left St. Bees. With the finish this close, my family’s primary focus was finishing. With what looked like being the longest day with plenty of climbs, we decided to leave early at 6am. Of course, it was very light, but everything was very peaceful. The initialContinue reading “Coast to Coast Day 18: Grosmont to Robin Hood’s Bay”
Coast to Coast Day 17: Blakey Ridge to Grosmont
The day started similarly to yesterday with some fine easy moorland walking, and we covered the first 9 miles in 3 hours. Once again, the moorland cotton was special. A wildlife high point was watching a group of six baby grouse run to follow their mother. We also saw a small snake, which might beContinue reading “Coast to Coast Day 17: Blakey Ridge to Grosmont”
Coast to Coast Day 16: Clay Bank Top to Blakey Ridge
While this has been the easiest day of the trip at 8.7 miles at just over 3 hours, it was not short of views and the weather was perfect. We got our lift from the hotel back to the lay-by, and were soon climbing up the major hill of the day. Unfortunately, the path didContinue reading “Coast to Coast Day 16: Clay Bank Top to Blakey Ridge”
Coast to Coast Day 15: Osmotherley to Clay Bank Top
We were back in the hills! While the hot temperatures made it uncomfortable and challenging, the clear skies opened up amazing views for all of our 11.3 miles which we completed in a little over 5 hours. Tracy and Dean had their own adventure in working out how to travel by bus to our destinationContinue reading “Coast to Coast Day 15: Osmotherley to Clay Bank Top”
