Traveling around Europe by train includes some classic moments. We’ve previously experienced a few, from overnighting between Paris and Berlin or passing through the channel tunnel. This day we experienced a simple one and an inspiring one. The simple experience is one that can end well or badly: running for the connecting train, usually involvingContinue reading “Italy Day 11: To Venice”
Tag Archives: travel
Italy Day 10: Hiking and Swimming Cinque Terre
Having scoped out Riomaggiore and Manarola the day before and after a good sleep, we were ready for a more ambitious walk. But first to enjoy coffee and breakfast on our balcony. Our hiking plan was to walk on the mountain trail from Monterosso to Vernazza and onto Corniglia. Bailey and Jett returned from theContinue reading “Italy Day 10: Hiking and Swimming Cinque Terre”
Italy Day 9: Pisa and Cinque Terre’s Lovers Lane
Hello from Italy! If you could do me a favor and “like” or leave a comment on the platform that you get this blog from, I’d greatly appreciate it. A comment would be a bonus! Thank you for reading my musings. The pace-slowing in Florence after Rome continued. With our next destination in northwest Italy,Continue reading “Italy Day 9: Pisa and Cinque Terre’s Lovers Lane”
Italy Day 8: Florence
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”
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”
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!”
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. (Check out our other West Texas adventures here) YouTube Video This 83-minute video on YouTube presents the trek “in real time,” capturing our emotions and detailingContinue reading “Big Bend’s South Rim and Outer Mountain Loop”
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”
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”
Hadrian’s Wall Path: Summary and Reflections
This post is about our walk along Hadrian’s Wall Path. It might be helpful if you are planning a similar trip. Janet and I walked the path westerly over eight days in September 2024 using Macs Adventures to define the itinerary and make the bookings. Below is a summary of the walking. There is aContinue reading “Hadrian’s Wall Path: Summary and Reflections”
Tennessee – Summary and Reflection
Visiting Tennessee was on our list-to-visit as it’s a potential move-to destination. Bailey visited with some of her friends earlier in 2024 and her inspiration was the foundation for much of Janet’s planning. Bailey made a PowerPoint showing us an itinerary to give us an idea what we could do. Janet got everyone to identifyContinue reading “Tennessee – Summary and Reflection”
NZ Day 13: Getting Home
This was not a day of interesting activities, but it’s a useful reference for the journey from NZ to TX. For a 3:40pm international departure from Auckland, we left just after 9am. The drive was a little over 2 hours, and we had extra time to get fuel. The traffic on the other side ofContinue reading “NZ Day 13: Getting Home”
The Chisos Mountains in June 2021
Samuel very much wanted to share his backpacking adventures with a couple of his buddies. Trying to squeeze a trip in after school and COVID and with summer coming was challenging but we decided early June would work. We were thinking that if we stayed in the mountains, it would be cool enough. Also, ifContinue reading “The Chisos Mountains in June 2021”
Diving the Oriskany and Lionfish Hunting in July 2020
My research for diving adventures led me to Brady Hale’s Ocean Strike Team which organized lionfish hunting trips out of Pensacola Florida. The dives required the Deep Dive specialty, so we signed up to do that first with Michael Watkins from Dive Pros, and that took us to the amazing Oriskany wreck. This was aContinue reading “Diving the Oriskany and Lionfish Hunting in July 2020”
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 Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 