Moving further into England’s Lake District after hiking up Wansfell Pike put Bob and me at the heart of Lake District National Park. Our family savoured a delightful lunch on the patio of our next lodgings with gourmet terrines, fruit, cheese and pastries that we bought from a deli shop in Ambleside. Duly nourished, we walked down to the harbour-side pavilions at Bowness Pier, and what a sight that was to behold. The rich nautical nostalgia in Bowness-on-Windermere really struck a chord with Bob and me. Read more
Discovering Sociable Weaver Nests in South Africa
Discovering Sociable Weaver nests in South Africa was the highlight of our drive from Cape Town to Upington. In a rather barren and very arid stretch of landscape, the nests stood out as quite unusual constructions on thin utility poles that looked like they would snap under the weight. Read more
Healing Waters of Little Manitou Lake
After our morning wanderings on the trails in Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan, Canada, Bob and I devoured a tasty lunch at Manitou Springs Resort & Mineral Spa. We seldom indulge in self pampering so were invigorated by a dip in the healing waters of Little Manitou Lake that fill the spa pools. Read more
Flamboyant Flowers on the Beach, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
After the previous day’s wet hike on the Taranaki Falls Trail in Mt. Tongariro National Park, both Bob and I came down with colds. It was time for some R&R and a slower paced couple of days before we made the ferry crossing to New Zealand’s South Island. Absolute Beachfront B&B in Napier made a good spot for just that. Masses of flamboyant flowers on the beach were just waiting to be discovered by Bob and me.
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Fynbos and Fantastic Views On Table Mountain
When visiting Cape Town, South Africa, Bob and I set aside one morning to explore the plateau called Table Mountain. This flat-topped mountain is recognized worldwide and is easily visible from every part of the capital city. Fynbos and fantastic views on Table Mountain were part of the draw for Bob and me.
Wonderful Views In The Lake District of England
Our stay at Langley Castle was only for one night and then Bob and I were off to discover the Lake District of England. We had a pleasant drive through Cumbria enjoying sweeping views of the North Pennines. The area has been designated a national landscape worthy of protection because of its natural beauty. Read more
Butterflies and Blossoms Near La Fortuna Waterfall
After a morning spent admiring La Fortuna Waterfall, Bob and I trudged back up the 500 steps to the top of the valley. By that time, we were ready for lunch. Read more
A Wind Battered Hike On Hadrian’s Wall
Bob and I were eager to get to Hadrian’s Wall in England, but we wanted to have a whole day to freely explore and experience it. The hours spent in Barnsley and Darfield looking into my family’s past left us with no time to visit the Wall that same afternoon. Read more
In Search of Our Ancestral History in England
Bob has done extensive research over the past number of years into the history of both of our families. Ancestry.com has made this possible combined with archival material from a number of different sources. With this knowledge in hand, we decided to visit a couple of sites relevant to my family’s ancestral history when we traveled to England. Read more
Our Vargas Island Kayak Trip – Medallion Beach Campsite
Having paddled in our kayaks from Ahous Bay to Medallion Bay over the course of the morning, the sight of Medallion Beach, on Vargas Island in British Columbia, Canada, was welcome. The distance covered by kayak was only about 10 kilometres this fine day. Read more