October 4th ~ 9/11 Memorial
The local neighborhood near our hotel
I was sound asleep when the phone rang. Hearing my Mother-in-Law’s voice on the end of the line brought me to a quick focus. “Turn on your TV” she instructed. An airplane had just struck the World Trade Center in New York City.
I’m betting that most of you can remember exactly where you were and what you were doing on September 11th, 2001. Continue reading
October 3rd ~ We arrived!
Excelsior Hotel lobby
After a sleepless night, we were happy to have pre-arranged transportation from Newark airport to Manhattan. I found a company online with reasonable rates that would do the job. Through Go Airlink NYC you can book private or shared rides. The will pick up at all three of the major airports that service NYC and deliver you to your hotel. We opted for the shared van which cost us $21 each. Continue reading
October 2nd – Our New York City adventure begins
Cruising the sky at 30,000 feet, we are on a red-eye special on our way to New York City! Plenty of time to tilt the seat back, close my eyes and get a few hours of deep, refreshing sleep so I can hit the ground running.
HaHaHaHa my mind laughs at my already over-stimulated self. Sleep, good luck with that one… Continue reading
August 28th – 30th ~ Way too many miles of driving from Whidbey Island to Los Angeles
Crossing the Deception Pass Bridge, heading home
Well, they say, when it’s over, it’s over. And that pretty much summed up our final few days of an otherwise fantastic three-month road trip. Continue reading
August 27th ~ Seattle, Washington
Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibition
Sometimes the stars just align, everything falls into place, and your day unfolds magically. This was that kind of day for us. Continue reading
August 20th and 21st ~ Chasing the Zone of Totality!
Gus watching the eclipse
Our original plans were that we would still be somewhere in British Columbia for the total eclipse of the sun. Thinking we would miss seeing it, we had made absolutely zero plans. My sister and her family however had planned ahead, well in advance, and had secured a hotel room right in Umatilla, Oregon (just across the Washington border) for the night before the big event. Continue reading
August 16th – 24th ~ Spent with family on Whidbey Island, Washington
Joanne picking blueberries
Our air quality had been poor for some time due to the many fires in British Columbia. After disappointing photos, and diminished views of the mountains, we decided to say goodbye to Canada and headed toward the border back into the USA. Continue reading
August 15th ~ Junction of Banff and Jasper National Parks
Glacier Skywalk
The Icefields Parkway extends 144 miles from Lake Louise to Jasper. With over 100 glaciers, numerous waterfalls, towering mountains and the Continental Divide, stunning wilderness hiking opportunities, and of course the chance to spot animals in their natural habitat make this UNESCO site worth the trip. Condé Nast Traveller has labeled it one of the top drives in the world. Continue reading
August 14 ~ Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Athabasca Falls
Today our outing was to explore Jasper National Park. Up and out at a reasonable time, we headed north in Jethro, leaving Ellie Mae resting at our campground near Lake Louise.
There are several places to stop along the Icefield Parkway which is the main highway between Lake Louise and the town of Jasper. But we decided to zip on by, planning on making our stops on the return portion of our trip. After our lunch stop in Jasper, we took the turnoff onto Maligne Valley Road.
The map says, “(60 km/hr max) – Allow plenty of time to take pictures on this scenic drive. Maligne Lake is an hour’s leisurely drive from Jasper. Watch for wildlife along the way.” Continue reading
August 13th ~ Banff National Park
Tim on the Johnston Canyon hike
When we were staying in the campground right next to the town of Banff, I had wanted to do the Johnston Canyon Hike, but just could not get my patootie out the door. But now, I was feeling guilty at missing one of the most popular hiking trails in Banff National Park.
That could only mean one thing – BACKTRACKING! Continue reading
A Note From Abroad 