tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61570157709338733422024-03-20T09:10:36.971-06:00 Tales from the HighwayThe RV Travel Blog of Greg, Kate,
and the Doodles.
GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.comBlogger668125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-43178398430733649682024-03-03T16:29:00.004-07:002024-03-03T16:29:38.499-07:00Winter 2024<p> We've been back on the road for the past month doing our usual wintertime activities. </p><p>Quartzsite, Yuma, and parts inbetween have been our ports of call. We did have a big wrench thrown into the works that delayed our departure by about 3 weeks.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_ioUZHwjJrT5HeJlUnKZlA0rE5IDdb6siiqCEWI2d19qSqLZckXoN1g3DGFVwCQ7NSdQjK5rz_Dva3lbckI7d6_AEONXRa2hOYa1pKyCiGbRU77-jpogY_6Vq-4dQZhyphenhyphentAAbr0JiMa-AX1QB4aD4nbGCHWXmk0yzdops53WB0_VJgx7eIbZDI5-tiSS1/s4032/IMG_9422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_ioUZHwjJrT5HeJlUnKZlA0rE5IDdb6siiqCEWI2d19qSqLZckXoN1g3DGFVwCQ7NSdQjK5rz_Dva3lbckI7d6_AEONXRa2hOYa1pKyCiGbRU77-jpogY_6Vq-4dQZhyphenhyphentAAbr0JiMa-AX1QB4aD4nbGCHWXmk0yzdops53WB0_VJgx7eIbZDI5-tiSS1/s320/IMG_9422.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie & Phoebe early Christmas Eve</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>It all began on Christmas Eve. I was working in the kitchen and carrying something, so my vision was blocked and I stepped on Phoebes leg breaking it.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtiep6yNFIJYMfxUYBn7FeWCoPgbyKTHFivVIwgaEssAKFF-YUvpGc-5Zv1UuQGiO_2TW1c_M8T91FarORKwsuF2HdJBEbBV7lJq_yGRQCD5_bo37qTfGkNAZGhNVgTbDL-iJfhP8kwP0blRuu1A5uVIK9U5oGNjnSBxcoKFLZCw5IumV__xvdwt_kmZt/s4032/IMG_9434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtiep6yNFIJYMfxUYBn7FeWCoPgbyKTHFivVIwgaEssAKFF-YUvpGc-5Zv1UuQGiO_2TW1c_M8T91FarORKwsuF2HdJBEbBV7lJq_yGRQCD5_bo37qTfGkNAZGhNVgTbDL-iJfhP8kwP0blRuu1A5uVIK9U5oGNjnSBxcoKFLZCw5IumV__xvdwt_kmZt/s320/IMG_9434.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Floki with her cast and the cone of shame</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>A trip to the vet confirmed the break. It was a clean break and the prognosis was good but she would be in a cast for 5 weeks. Each week we had to go back to the vet to have it changed since she is a growing pup.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7qHbMIQgyX0EBISv3iPlVu56W2Y_iMBrN_vfMUfdaaIjpRrdkeX-gF9kg4J1LAoKkMnmnYilp5VFwZ7BbRac09XasrIMEDk9SLSo-2MyZoXiL70KjWTGrz9S3iVgBkWsZFiQ7PWq81JMdh3YlfMxbYIagcSrg9EaOslGIXTE23hyphenhyphen0r-ONYjZi_jBPVlK/s4029/IMG_9463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2266" data-original-width="4029" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7qHbMIQgyX0EBISv3iPlVu56W2Y_iMBrN_vfMUfdaaIjpRrdkeX-gF9kg4J1LAoKkMnmnYilp5VFwZ7BbRac09XasrIMEDk9SLSo-2MyZoXiL70KjWTGrz9S3iVgBkWsZFiQ7PWq81JMdh3YlfMxbYIagcSrg9EaOslGIXTE23hyphenhyphen0r-ONYjZi_jBPVlK/s320/IMG_9463.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Floke sports her dognut</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Our job for those 5 weeks was to keep Phoebe from getting too active. A tall order for a 7 month old!</div><div>We set up a pen in the living room where she was kept while we were not able to directly supervise her.</div><div><br /></div><div>We spent quite a bit of time with her in our lap keeping her calm. The vet gave us a supply of "doggy downers" to help take some of the wind out of her sails.</div><div><br /></div><div>She never really bothered her cast so we got rid of the cone of shame and only put an inflatable dognut on her head when we tucked her in at night.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVa2kvOGfEecwTiP7ZRgtfa5I5oeANPZjHz3FfH9yVP_NCqt7JJ2Bi2RhPzYvWrol8jTFIzS4_oFzGqBg9hl4crkQXLmEIleL5WLGjT3aZLWWOJ5JBBSFeFuGRnxeKKiIFC6UL08EZQbQ6_ZviqlZfIWqCMqQykPFC65IY_NJhxb-Mp1K8v-QyD_X88hn/s4032/IMG_9470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVa2kvOGfEecwTiP7ZRgtfa5I5oeANPZjHz3FfH9yVP_NCqt7JJ2Bi2RhPzYvWrol8jTFIzS4_oFzGqBg9hl4crkQXLmEIleL5WLGjT3aZLWWOJ5JBBSFeFuGRnxeKKiIFC6UL08EZQbQ6_ZviqlZfIWqCMqQykPFC65IY_NJhxb-Mp1K8v-QyD_X88hn/s320/IMG_9470.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The doggy ICU</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Annie seemed to realize that Phoebe was not well and really held back trying to get her riled up.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvUL0bbIKWCPk3sbbn50TY1JveSOmbSGVnDKSSlZmtTm1gnFgWLaZKjnShg6rXp3lXd6WM6uViwb9Gw800NBgB0iMHqo9RQOHi_s4jxO3VPdPFNsXiiXKsztGF4vQssohXq0CAQOuAelX9Kc-XsEBBF5InSEmkS1-z-ZKVbtUbftZUXjZpQVb38pbevxJ/s4032/IMG_9476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvUL0bbIKWCPk3sbbn50TY1JveSOmbSGVnDKSSlZmtTm1gnFgWLaZKjnShg6rXp3lXd6WM6uViwb9Gw800NBgB0iMHqo9RQOHi_s4jxO3VPdPFNsXiiXKsztGF4vQssohXq0CAQOuAelX9Kc-XsEBBF5InSEmkS1-z-ZKVbtUbftZUXjZpQVb38pbevxJ/s320/IMG_9476.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Best buds sleeping</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div> </div><div>We took them for walks, but Phoebe hadd to be in the dog carriage which she did not like at all and let us know it in no uncertain terms.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcLJ-mZw-17HiFjj8uZws-nUK4bfAuOoP-xIGmmUQM7wIMl4NEga2Tv-NmMik2EPDqSlXn-hExWadYUTdiXfNgyTwB4dB9W_OEsmvDd3nY4qtLf6HSB7kY77yjFsVFHBSJgIdzypAjiJ0-ivGY4OUzx2bFjwX_TX7ty2Yjs6AIhSJg3Te2GKV60aky9JG/s4032/IMG_9495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcLJ-mZw-17HiFjj8uZws-nUK4bfAuOoP-xIGmmUQM7wIMl4NEga2Tv-NmMik2EPDqSlXn-hExWadYUTdiXfNgyTwB4dB9W_OEsmvDd3nY4qtLf6HSB7kY77yjFsVFHBSJgIdzypAjiJ0-ivGY4OUzx2bFjwX_TX7ty2Yjs6AIhSJg3Te2GKV60aky9JG/s320/IMG_9495.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our departure delayed, we still had the usual great sunsets most nights to keep our spirits up.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAV7YuE_3qOI_TlCQFN-FPLnM15q-LkStKO5soVIJS2Wj6sxWinXUG7LVSb_HhyphenhyphenldqqGSSSpUNHvFCFAaB4ORLlYHcYTl2fT25qKlOWgb_OVlBDL8vz8WvafTVmlBxigSoQUG63h6tYI5aqcdvdrtWyupVYBDkLsP-X-cLlDPsBbolo83daSat2_KOrhH/s4032/IMG_9536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAV7YuE_3qOI_TlCQFN-FPLnM15q-LkStKO5soVIJS2Wj6sxWinXUG7LVSb_HhyphenhyphenldqqGSSSpUNHvFCFAaB4ORLlYHcYTl2fT25qKlOWgb_OVlBDL8vz8WvafTVmlBxigSoQUG63h6tYI5aqcdvdrtWyupVYBDkLsP-X-cLlDPsBbolo83daSat2_KOrhH/s320/IMG_9536.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DqOde9SqT4K_YxOgfol7Wp2A7ZyKX8PyUtYrVmVwAzA2TsjKwObzuxbu9tLL5gaybVxNLheextO0XKxnIJnEFMQBHKuWGpGHcU0fRpAFei9MqGQTbFU-C1r0K2XBZef03T7hO55Az91DGYS2Ik_6_QdX52IaVTwGHyANqMQXCFuV5nL6SCqhZ98u4tFt/s4032/IMG_9550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DqOde9SqT4K_YxOgfol7Wp2A7ZyKX8PyUtYrVmVwAzA2TsjKwObzuxbu9tLL5gaybVxNLheextO0XKxnIJnEFMQBHKuWGpGHcU0fRpAFei9MqGQTbFU-C1r0K2XBZef03T7hO55Az91DGYS2Ik_6_QdX52IaVTwGHyANqMQXCFuV5nL6SCqhZ98u4tFt/s320/IMG_9550.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I also decided to tear into the wet bay and fix a small fresh water leak that had developed behind the panel.</div><div>Getting the panel out to expose the water lines was a challenge. The panel was put on before the outside walls were build so it could not come out in one piece.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPFZ6At4b-SeN-QsPAzr6ncsu_OvFwIKWj7_gDYomeyrvXBeOIW63cHNZSGnwl2lMugS5JN_RPAWriqmN5Sb29bD5IINrihuYWaRrrkTPDa9-pg8JOJPcwzQ-OBQrXaS06k8EeSqYYXBKKlXyebr69KXx_yM-6_r6_1ZiTWxfmElMoXMohNKW3GG6fIiW/s4032/IMG_9675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPFZ6At4b-SeN-QsPAzr6ncsu_OvFwIKWj7_gDYomeyrvXBeOIW63cHNZSGnwl2lMugS5JN_RPAWriqmN5Sb29bD5IINrihuYWaRrrkTPDa9-pg8JOJPcwzQ-OBQrXaS06k8EeSqYYXBKKlXyebr69KXx_yM-6_r6_1ZiTWxfmElMoXMohNKW3GG6fIiW/s320/IMG_9675.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wetbay with back panel removed<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div>I decided to cut it into two pieces with my dremel to make future removals easier.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIgzpcyFXFjQf0jEi7Gf4p2cXsPjToUJ4Wb9jmsj3oTQhM0463QqncC_qoWmB0-Z10m4QYpVliqMe52ixUWqFWIPK7yxioIgoUEIacqTDQWT2MiH5t81y4_c5aq_jgb5yajPybdpCrPvRLxJmruoPf4WZlWmDwFiEqBbi3yGcvD1O2yOdG6Z2UCrl_UN1/s4032/IMG_9710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIgzpcyFXFjQf0jEi7Gf4p2cXsPjToUJ4Wb9jmsj3oTQhM0463QqncC_qoWmB0-Z10m4QYpVliqMe52ixUWqFWIPK7yxioIgoUEIacqTDQWT2MiH5t81y4_c5aq_jgb5yajPybdpCrPvRLxJmruoPf4WZlWmDwFiEqBbi3yGcvD1O2yOdG6Z2UCrl_UN1/s320/IMG_9710.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>While it was apart I decied to re-route some water lines and replace some flex hose with Pex.</div><div>Once all was put back together - thankfully no more leaks.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVH-JauJxVzPCHILnhoIVv6QmqyAzK4_C6nCfWcajRL4tnPHTEWXI1PDd0TJXWp9MHZRmo8xCB0V8pxInkgpqJ2MXcnSS78voPVlenQ7q_7WjYvUF-lscZtcQY70Uz0I7tvmhiuS3B0z5P4qjIapNDqX9apaZpMPyzVR5Y9rnEHyYNxd3J2X2wmDWootd/s4032/IMG_9786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVH-JauJxVzPCHILnhoIVv6QmqyAzK4_C6nCfWcajRL4tnPHTEWXI1PDd0TJXWp9MHZRmo8xCB0V8pxInkgpqJ2MXcnSS78voPVlenQ7q_7WjYvUF-lscZtcQY70Uz0I7tvmhiuS3B0z5P4qjIapNDqX9apaZpMPyzVR5Y9rnEHyYNxd3J2X2wmDWootd/s320/IMG_9786.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wetbay with panel replaced and most of the lines hooked back up</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>We finally got the all clear from the vet on Weds Jan 29, so we hooked up and hit the road on Feb 1st.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHdbqj5qBh3ODXmMClCTYKMnYDJX5qlsCgOvDTxFfLofHltawnviBhTYR23sdxF1psgCa4WeKIUtrskZmBwAf3n9EEjeifZfT4twVnkYZz8aaFdaKmfqLq0VH3bLbG6rgn7FersB9P2IBRBs5AhdbNjIxp54OEg09DlnLKOqsBUbUmAuPcoUS7mi84hlc/s4032/IMG_9798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHdbqj5qBh3ODXmMClCTYKMnYDJX5qlsCgOvDTxFfLofHltawnviBhTYR23sdxF1psgCa4WeKIUtrskZmBwAf3n9EEjeifZfT4twVnkYZz8aaFdaKmfqLq0VH3bLbG6rgn7FersB9P2IBRBs5AhdbNjIxp54OEg09DlnLKOqsBUbUmAuPcoUS7mi84hlc/s320/IMG_9798.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hooked up at our storage facility</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I had installed a new bluefire app on the ipad that connects to the engine computer and displays all sorts of parameters. Sort of like a glass cockpit. I designed the screen and arranged the guages. I still need to make a few tweaks but so far I am very pleased with how the information is presented.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-2L3S93TO5kLZwiZxIL7ju2SpFGszwc4v4uoUJhshOaWTW06vbifVHiVfFILCmpJFfhkXjSEYFJoHWVoOvNsf5ytHI-rDEyOgcOPLTYtdtFVMC2XV0mW1v8zufeJuy5jmJslacLTgyKUnRGiuEN0oSMwVtxVEn8d8Qv1H2DWCrSXBFORhX5_y7wW0xsI/s4032/IMG_9811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-2L3S93TO5kLZwiZxIL7ju2SpFGszwc4v4uoUJhshOaWTW06vbifVHiVfFILCmpJFfhkXjSEYFJoHWVoOvNsf5ytHI-rDEyOgcOPLTYtdtFVMC2XV0mW1v8zufeJuy5jmJslacLTgyKUnRGiuEN0oSMwVtxVEn8d8Qv1H2DWCrSXBFORhX5_y7wW0xsI/s320/IMG_9811.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">iPad running the Bluefire App</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Even though Phoebe was out of the cast, she still had to be kept on light duty for a few more weeks and I had to do some physical therapy for her to get her muscles and joints stretched, strengthened, and back to 100%.</div><div><br /></div><div>At first Phoebe was still in the enclosure when not supervised but now she is free roaming and only in there at night to sleep as its still too far to jump off of the bed.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTTHqh8Dg3TK9ufuYlPWBmNBKjeOe27CErLoxuLSGGiglmXLgrN3HwYTQLC_nCeqqqk8h886BIsalXFC_WrfAXYgmzlWBuMdFiH_3uhY33N2ZA-TjR4D5SwkJJBi4gSOsAvl5ZVOfNBylR0uFrqlE3XPhnuVgacosJrBt1snjeFPuYqT0aK0I5cneD-na/s4032/IMG_9815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTTHqh8Dg3TK9ufuYlPWBmNBKjeOe27CErLoxuLSGGiglmXLgrN3HwYTQLC_nCeqqqk8h886BIsalXFC_WrfAXYgmzlWBuMdFiH_3uhY33N2ZA-TjR4D5SwkJJBi4gSOsAvl5ZVOfNBylR0uFrqlE3XPhnuVgacosJrBt1snjeFPuYqT0aK0I5cneD-na/s320/IMG_9815.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Doggy PT</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Our group at Quartzsite. R-L. Me, Kevin & Bobbie, Ron & Maxine, Rob & Pat. Robs brother and his wife were over on the far left and were making their first snowbird trip south.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTQ8qlfCSKcReRAKHR5jLDDjJ6Oc_7Ar3T75jQ1Wb_wZEmAOqcEFrG34m1mSjrdN7DtlEfZ2l0skUtwPMb5BxsGprgdO6IQBQs-WDb4bswgmfJ2apysif46xTOAqKjTkZMzwboTz0aMIByCij3f3AGhEoZor9m1XXl3wNGBu5wLhwv9bqc6T5yF6fmmEM/s4032/IMG_9829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTQ8qlfCSKcReRAKHR5jLDDjJ6Oc_7Ar3T75jQ1Wb_wZEmAOqcEFrG34m1mSjrdN7DtlEfZ2l0skUtwPMb5BxsGprgdO6IQBQs-WDb4bswgmfJ2apysif46xTOAqKjTkZMzwboTz0aMIByCij3f3AGhEoZor9m1XXl3wNGBu5wLhwv9bqc6T5yF6fmmEM/s320/IMG_9829.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Plomosa Rd Quartzsite</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>By the time we arrived at Q the show was already over and many had departed. It was nice being quieter but we were only there for about 4 days before we headed off our our next stop - a new destination where we'd never been - Alamo Lake State Park north of Wendon, Az.</div><div><br /></div><div>To get here you first drive to the middle of nowhere, then turn on Alamo Road and drive 40 miles north of nowhere. Seriously - the nearest CVS is 80 miles away. Ask me - I know.<br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM9DaEC_Dm_SHUX70w6NDYEoVJIWeB0X9b4MWJ3n6RwY3PvFm0NYkzZEUJxYbHAjuvttS0HF9IYhvmL_RymW7uZp83OKSiTBDVDWQlxkfTlxmSCH5FBqn7ZoRM7pEvF1LhtU21KjYJevJKsM_049tT2-TTR4Hx4XaZCYwVZaoeZkp4vli4CSGFaFaLjta/s4032/IMG_9857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM9DaEC_Dm_SHUX70w6NDYEoVJIWeB0X9b4MWJ3n6RwY3PvFm0NYkzZEUJxYbHAjuvttS0HF9IYhvmL_RymW7uZp83OKSiTBDVDWQlxkfTlxmSCH5FBqn7ZoRM7pEvF1LhtU21KjYJevJKsM_049tT2-TTR4Hx4XaZCYwVZaoeZkp4vli4CSGFaFaLjta/s320/IMG_9857.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Alamo Lake</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Alamo has a mix of campground loops. Some are full hookup, some electric and water, and some are dry. We chose the dry sites which are much nicer. More room and much more spread out.</div><div><br /></div>Behind us was a deep wash that was populated by a small herd of Burros. We would watch the head honcho try to keep his harem in line while also trying to keep one of the local young bucks from sneaking in to mate one when his back was turned. He was a busy boy yelling and screaming all day and night!<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkCA0WbKPCahciVh167vYusVGNTmPEZDdFWgQXh1T594g2xjmfHqz7YpFovjLZdidbk69TyBcR88k7ZjQiOyOA8EjnhxexwZD17NWmyMByuCxojhxYXSqKd4lCbIRLOuvU7f2OyncGBKafj1CMFMhyphenhyphenVox5fG6dqBELl5mbdj0Sv360iKCxCXJvTPBRBFG/s4032/IMG_9865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkCA0WbKPCahciVh167vYusVGNTmPEZDdFWgQXh1T594g2xjmfHqz7YpFovjLZdidbk69TyBcR88k7ZjQiOyOA8EjnhxexwZD17NWmyMByuCxojhxYXSqKd4lCbIRLOuvU7f2OyncGBKafj1CMFMhyphenhyphenVox5fG6dqBELl5mbdj0Sv360iKCxCXJvTPBRBFG/s320/IMG_9865.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Site E-21 at Alamo Lake</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Our line up, Ron, then Rob, then me in the distance</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGqBQ5RIiCfS-_kk4iKs3Ad75LPkY2YJhULJTk6-PCziGlAhOoJ9EvoAl2UM9mp5ZHcAirsYU9b1IUAS259VWf8gMok5Fy7jNZ_VvsVj2IcLXRLlWREa-WeCzbNbY721WfxLwHWX1DMm-StHfPATxvQFP7JKFVQeChloBz8vFFvc6GsN6HzYUbWZa8wwb/s4032/IMG_9872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGqBQ5RIiCfS-_kk4iKs3Ad75LPkY2YJhULJTk6-PCziGlAhOoJ9EvoAl2UM9mp5ZHcAirsYU9b1IUAS259VWf8gMok5Fy7jNZ_VvsVj2IcLXRLlWREa-WeCzbNbY721WfxLwHWX1DMm-StHfPATxvQFP7JKFVQeChloBz8vFFvc6GsN6HzYUbWZa8wwb/s320/IMG_9872.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One morning walking Phoebe we had a small half double rainbow over the lake.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_r9vOj4e2pp4_4GpB7QYBTwKGZ-_Zcc6SUU4UfFwblznFAcdg7yL6Ok5RfmMcZGcGcG2k7e_4L-lM_Ar_3VW4LatlMHZlfMmCjhP8qW5vSA0HRjF1lerMryvADQCfrdsUZP0mSl0IEPNJ9NKlxGGA82tqKDqkJR40OCgD2ACOduLsNfIEnbvDVbwgr1n/s4032/IMG_9884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_r9vOj4e2pp4_4GpB7QYBTwKGZ-_Zcc6SUU4UfFwblznFAcdg7yL6Ok5RfmMcZGcGcG2k7e_4L-lM_Ar_3VW4LatlMHZlfMmCjhP8qW5vSA0HRjF1lerMryvADQCfrdsUZP0mSl0IEPNJ9NKlxGGA82tqKDqkJR40OCgD2ACOduLsNfIEnbvDVbwgr1n/s320/IMG_9884.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And lots of great sunsets.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgktJqFE4Uzdd6LgxpV7L8MAPg5G36i5MR4-huOcKbLGos3Sxr187uE8M1FPJiWimjm05s9jVZ6c81B3AQ1hPQbnEDOzK7Ed2fRGDZYfXRGE8mT6M41F8N_FkmysAIzqVtwNv3WmoJ8y7iEdljsCN4TlWR1I7H7YWeplpaAgFlIObayA9P5wBp3lZ8Cuw/s4032/IMG_9893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgktJqFE4Uzdd6LgxpV7L8MAPg5G36i5MR4-huOcKbLGos3Sxr187uE8M1FPJiWimjm05s9jVZ6c81B3AQ1hPQbnEDOzK7Ed2fRGDZYfXRGE8mT6M41F8N_FkmysAIzqVtwNv3WmoJ8y7iEdljsCN4TlWR1I7H7YWeplpaAgFlIObayA9P5wBp3lZ8Cuw/s320/IMG_9893.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is some of the aforementioned Burros.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEnQSo0e89dc2LQ5-dcb1QsmQNr9sUdD_CZufvk410LlgPt7ompA-dlgGsknIHVsyDHE9KE6FOzdXrSr4OIbRfWOxCYM0Cturnlbdsz7uar5sSKuDjiSV5Ji99A_-wcyHBYf9a-XPNgScyk9A21KSoj0KyqIgoHvAx7TupQfS2KyXeQudE6WHyUyk0jCv/s4032/IMG_9903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEnQSo0e89dc2LQ5-dcb1QsmQNr9sUdD_CZufvk410LlgPt7ompA-dlgGsknIHVsyDHE9KE6FOzdXrSr4OIbRfWOxCYM0Cturnlbdsz7uar5sSKuDjiSV5Ji99A_-wcyHBYf9a-XPNgScyk9A21KSoj0KyqIgoHvAx7TupQfS2KyXeQudE6WHyUyk0jCv/s320/IMG_9903.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burro time. Look closely</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>This park is a fishermans and off roaders paradise. Great Bass fishing (there was a tournement while we were there), and miles and miles of off road trails. The 600 mile long Arizona Peace Trail runs right by the park.</div><div><br /></div><div>One day we drove to the only civilization in 40 miles - a nearby bar (The Wayside Oasis) that served burgers, and burgers. Its a popular watering hold for the ATV crowd and even has a dirt landing strip.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9s37F6aXdD6bysysNX1bw_A0YEuO43ANdOuTfB9deirWt7LzdEuXQbRKV9V0sB1-11dZnLvkKltcgbVg0Y0EQbsV_VVHRSwMRT34FyxTt_rQ4kjSs8qfQt6eoVGYOsCH7v2Hb71LAep5bPR-OZhGceyMUBnTFbmTsKxcdG-zLdN78YLQnhiL2JdvpoGST/s4032/IMG_9937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9s37F6aXdD6bysysNX1bw_A0YEuO43ANdOuTfB9deirWt7LzdEuXQbRKV9V0sB1-11dZnLvkKltcgbVg0Y0EQbsV_VVHRSwMRT34FyxTt_rQ4kjSs8qfQt6eoVGYOsCH7v2Hb71LAep5bPR-OZhGceyMUBnTFbmTsKxcdG-zLdN78YLQnhiL2JdvpoGST/s320/IMG_9937.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Wayside Oasis Patio</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Leaving Alamo after 2 weeks - we followed Rob down Alamo Rd.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrf1ukfP3gfrRIqCcK6f4ytVW7erjvcZyna3ditGvR6nZc6kiE573JSXw4eATW-gLpNP6yAkrm9yHFK1UR9Oafee0rajSn7tklFiQXttsp_065p1pHCQHotcfmjPHUbEiWWYO5LBnSYAlKrkxQKc1lpCs1dy8KgWXBD2CmV-0YCFKd-a9vIO1c2YDKJwTM/s4032/IMG_9976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrf1ukfP3gfrRIqCcK6f4ytVW7erjvcZyna3ditGvR6nZc6kiE573JSXw4eATW-gLpNP6yAkrm9yHFK1UR9Oafee0rajSn7tklFiQXttsp_065p1pHCQHotcfmjPHUbEiWWYO5LBnSYAlKrkxQKc1lpCs1dy8KgWXBD2CmV-0YCFKd-a9vIO1c2YDKJwTM/s320/IMG_9976.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Alamo Rd heading south</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Our next stop was Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument for a week. Only a few miles north of the border you have to watch to make sure your cell phones dont start pinging off of a Mexican Cell tower and you get charged for international. I turned off my cellular and instead am using wifi calling via my Starlink internet.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnBw7vpADP9e3H76JEnQ4AWJv8pByiyY3rV5QRybMSM4aH2h43VyKvhG99v0zo9T-v4OyhG664farrg267hSjz66tlivGqQyv65yMepqKnNq1ZCo4cCB4rr_PVTyY2Lu5EVV9PEp-Ph1hUnXqsa7yEM4St9X4Fd7roE0XAKN0Rlcs8UBCavvprFpHcY26/s4032/IMG_9987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnBw7vpADP9e3H76JEnQ4AWJv8pByiyY3rV5QRybMSM4aH2h43VyKvhG99v0zo9T-v4OyhG664farrg267hSjz66tlivGqQyv65yMepqKnNq1ZCo4cCB4rr_PVTyY2Lu5EVV9PEp-Ph1hUnXqsa7yEM4St9X4Fd7roE0XAKN0Rlcs8UBCavvprFpHcY26/s320/IMG_9987.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our site in Organ Pipe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJiUGgyM2EcM4_5cZxjXzLIS8EGGw3AvTlOoxirNX7Xxub2Rd5CKoyGN2sxGFQ3dbas71UTkuJQY4MDqcK35kZFy6wdXABJ0YtsFO-Oa8apObRUZdcV47nwWio4GvVLkedf0q5DeKoJrgNC3Wo_wxJs6ZXuEUrXn8Biga3gHOS-LwPKdqmbuVoo4Mle75/s4032/IMG_9988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJiUGgyM2EcM4_5cZxjXzLIS8EGGw3AvTlOoxirNX7Xxub2Rd5CKoyGN2sxGFQ3dbas71UTkuJQY4MDqcK35kZFy6wdXABJ0YtsFO-Oa8apObRUZdcV47nwWio4GvVLkedf0q5DeKoJrgNC3Wo_wxJs6ZXuEUrXn8Biga3gHOS-LwPKdqmbuVoo4Mle75/s320/IMG_9988.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rob, Pat & Olivia on the trail in Organ Pipe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>There are a lot of great roads - some more 4x4 than others in the park. With the border issues however, many of them are either closed or thier use is discouraged.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYKkDm-57YvrMwE07c-R7YKuoJy9FjDqYFIxRKoRRTcp9JRgVj0zYNE5u01uW1xGgZe2OnOFH7PFZKU0dzcLthqPDYJJZ56uS25-LokG6OOlJzvoYY5z2Ii-5rB_PzOogtWi0fZ4cV8n00NPsWExV46ENtfhjOqAv5YvGWvCGSmtXnXCYyAuJUUx_ZG-m/s4032/IMG_9990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYKkDm-57YvrMwE07c-R7YKuoJy9FjDqYFIxRKoRRTcp9JRgVj0zYNE5u01uW1xGgZe2OnOFH7PFZKU0dzcLthqPDYJJZ56uS25-LokG6OOlJzvoYY5z2Ii-5rB_PzOogtWi0fZ4cV8n00NPsWExV46ENtfhjOqAv5YvGWvCGSmtXnXCYyAuJUUx_ZG-m/s320/IMG_9990.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The ajo loop in Organ Pipe<br /></span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzr0cfnJl02JmoZV9sbgrsmOZxLmx7tspbWeTtKsyBCbKfiy_wDauv23gR5TooiCiCcN3EuyYJVakWuyG5BXRlHAriyoo2b25auMhceHgpr3z1mVlisnvfsbLt9s3Y5j1uTL2B7TFimBetX28rRtqGGLV87RVnmBL48UDqKat4kMwRLWAxWPsGeonJTPXG/s4032/IMG_9991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzr0cfnJl02JmoZV9sbgrsmOZxLmx7tspbWeTtKsyBCbKfiy_wDauv23gR5TooiCiCcN3EuyYJVakWuyG5BXRlHAriyoo2b25auMhceHgpr3z1mVlisnvfsbLt9s3Y5j1uTL2B7TFimBetX28rRtqGGLV87RVnmBL48UDqKat4kMwRLWAxWPsGeonJTPXG/s320/IMG_9991.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cholla Cacti</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>After a week in Organ Pipe we headed up to Yuma for about 10 days or so at Fortuna de Oro RV Resort. This place is truly a snowbird paradise. Yuma ususally has about 100,000 people in the summer but that population swells in the winter by another 100,000 RV'ers.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are dozens upon dozens of RV parks scattered about town. I always enjoy our time in Yuma. A good place to get lazy hooked up to 50amp, water, and sewer. While here I had Papi's come over to wash and wax the bus. They do a really nice job for about $175. Hopefully it will hold till we depart for the east coast in about 5 or 6 weeks.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6c7r68Slf4i8y_bTe8cdNUhyEF17-kDtSigrbgrz4tzFqZhayz3Tdlj4z8eSf9TVCcel1PVgfJskmz3VVcN_vOv7Cc-MlcQ8h-inb-1WQZxL2L2rP7irK-esai7sInMHqtkxed_kmtlqlgr2u_TwmqQ6ogdCiBm-CR3sXkCsdxdat7SEK08ZVNQutFN1C/s4032/IMG_9992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6c7r68Slf4i8y_bTe8cdNUhyEF17-kDtSigrbgrz4tzFqZhayz3Tdlj4z8eSf9TVCcel1PVgfJskmz3VVcN_vOv7Cc-MlcQ8h-inb-1WQZxL2L2rP7irK-esai7sInMHqtkxed_kmtlqlgr2u_TwmqQ6ogdCiBm-CR3sXkCsdxdat7SEK08ZVNQutFN1C/s320/IMG_9992.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fortuna de Oro</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We are here till Thursday unless we decide to extend our stay.</p><p>After here it will be back to Tucson. In mid March we have a bunch of appointments and then mid April we will be back on the road to the east coast, the Canadian Maritimes/Newfoundland etc.</p><p>The plan is to be back in Montana about the first week of September so that we can go Huckleberry picking at my secret mother lode.</p><p>Lots on the itinerary so stay turned and enjoy the ride.</p></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-63222994601202845532023-12-25T12:46:00.000-07:002023-12-25T12:46:01.144-07:00Texas to Arizona<div style="text-align: left;"> Well as I predicted, this post is coming to you from sunny Arizona. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and then on Saturday we hit the road for the final 925 miles back to Tucson. I broke the trip up into 3 roughly equal parts. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Day 1 to Fort Stockton, Texas was about 6 hrs. We spent the night at the Hilltop RV Park just west of town.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Day 2 brought us to Las Cruces, New Mexico - about 5hrs. We stayed at our old standby the Hacienda RV Resort. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The 3rd day found us pulling in front of the shack around 2pm and just like that the trip was over except for the unloading.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Each time we've taken a big trip like this I've always thought of doing a sort of recap... a retrospective of the trip. So this time I'm going to try that and you can let me know what you think.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>As I continue writing I'm realizing that this post is turning into an epic. </b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Its hard to condense the past 8 months into a short blog so forgive the length of this post.... </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>It's long long long. It took me almost a week to put together and I really tried to shorten it.</b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fortunately you have the ability to just close your browser if its too long, or too booring. </div><div style="text-align: left;">I did include lots of pictures at least.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Arizona to New York. April 5 to May 11</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since Gracie was unable to take longer walks anymore, we purchased a dog carriage that we could use to bring her along with us.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb32IyDwLPF0ttgfgxXHA_Bx7nPcwDNwoxg422GIjA8JSULx0LOaEyr5tNQN0OgGoG_Kru0Q2HQ6SZe_H-NHLUJUAuTwSNu0z7zT-1BHxWuqLaAI-9qObrUaLEZtOTnS-fINiwrcnjo1LUWGX4acmkFeg6LYtmgFAhV8vwMza-mHIjB6y5_Skyr-OG1UXX/s4032/1a%20pre%20departure.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb32IyDwLPF0ttgfgxXHA_Bx7nPcwDNwoxg422GIjA8JSULx0LOaEyr5tNQN0OgGoG_Kru0Q2HQ6SZe_H-NHLUJUAuTwSNu0z7zT-1BHxWuqLaAI-9qObrUaLEZtOTnS-fINiwrcnjo1LUWGX4acmkFeg6LYtmgFAhV8vwMza-mHIjB6y5_Skyr-OG1UXX/s320/1a%20pre%20departure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We also had a backpack for times that would make more sense</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2Me32y64ANEeWta16kiPsvGkDitU7F0PR3nsrDcKhLSeaDh3BIxdzldmfpkrzc25G344wG9Q7LNG97B87B7QvRveXeTVrinIaUnhJ6rf5zpZWZmGwFk9-3qxooHDBYhyOJvfXXvVbX4pQZ645XTikAjEPkC0x2sbfH2_uMDV74eMImXwnml9ooHcs0Ra/s4032/1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2Me32y64ANEeWta16kiPsvGkDitU7F0PR3nsrDcKhLSeaDh3BIxdzldmfpkrzc25G344wG9Q7LNG97B87B7QvRveXeTVrinIaUnhJ6rf5zpZWZmGwFk9-3qxooHDBYhyOJvfXXvVbX4pQZ645XTikAjEPkC0x2sbfH2_uMDV74eMImXwnml9ooHcs0Ra/s320/1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A few days before departure we gave Gracie and Lucy baths and haircuts.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhNGCEub_5ewnNzxnumfFkrSh5wDu1VOEUOzWyP1KWcXm70ouCt8DLIZEv6-5Hg-pFY6MdwMBLsv3qtXgpKqKJkteeA5n4NZNzKje8JO2PhklSwiYloiM4omx0rk-XraP_7eN78uJ6Hlz3SXIvUF0BzH_NCIIy-43hwG7u-e3p4RkiXtseJr_dJfpwRri/s4032/1c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhNGCEub_5ewnNzxnumfFkrSh5wDu1VOEUOzWyP1KWcXm70ouCt8DLIZEv6-5Hg-pFY6MdwMBLsv3qtXgpKqKJkteeA5n4NZNzKje8JO2PhklSwiYloiM4omx0rk-XraP_7eN78uJ6Hlz3SXIvUF0BzH_NCIIy-43hwG7u-e3p4RkiXtseJr_dJfpwRri/s320/1c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1jweohWTa8417mzw20CypL6F6MAD7XdK6K5wF4ECX4Q01ynAXcynhkpZQeOAV064TYadRW4GpSo8gqyvHFYNEJs5bGFa85x_nPpe5QW0ShlxzmeP817lqNPH7MKq2zeXU-1llv2zHYD2e9TdI6qpzOFxP8Tl1wHyek0u2WJd0rhTNhQes7jhWi3yjd0r/s4032/1d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1jweohWTa8417mzw20CypL6F6MAD7XdK6K5wF4ECX4Q01ynAXcynhkpZQeOAV064TYadRW4GpSo8gqyvHFYNEJs5bGFa85x_nPpe5QW0ShlxzmeP817lqNPH7MKq2zeXU-1llv2zHYD2e9TdI6qpzOFxP8Tl1wHyek0u2WJd0rhTNhQes7jhWi3yjd0r/s320/1d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The truck was packed, it was time to roll!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ4GdALEDSUNpo7IPz_vpUddCp1WICleLS_HcoIIXNZlIVc3q2DrIdYUVu3dJAE8dSmmN8aFABw75CpKiYLhkn6slXVy1LHF2VgN4OZBHBe9rKLnv6bPJo2z-RMh_0lVp0slTYlqcgY3sTywGHFs7yHaqI4EYnboETu2fsCRKzEFB7gKSoaAtQC-Gwv1V/s4032/IMG_2318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ4GdALEDSUNpo7IPz_vpUddCp1WICleLS_HcoIIXNZlIVc3q2DrIdYUVu3dJAE8dSmmN8aFABw75CpKiYLhkn6slXVy1LHF2VgN4OZBHBe9rKLnv6bPJo2z-RMh_0lVp0slTYlqcgY3sTywGHFs7yHaqI4EYnboETu2fsCRKzEFB7gKSoaAtQC-Gwv1V/s320/IMG_2318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eNd55mWpIpEIOXAE_g8RgLXDFUkpQFhWoy7z01y69r-hqyFvn4Phz5z2FL5fS1KSbcibRGYwL3bJvl6id6uu0aT2PAp_sRlVU9zx1zZms30uvRUMxBYNTHz4NR-3t3-W8ja5C5jcV6Vpd4tM0vUE-5lYqteQO3j5xTYLjyuGRrxrfRqRdMzaIKoZ0UfS/s4032/IMG_2320.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eNd55mWpIpEIOXAE_g8RgLXDFUkpQFhWoy7z01y69r-hqyFvn4Phz5z2FL5fS1KSbcibRGYwL3bJvl6id6uu0aT2PAp_sRlVU9zx1zZms30uvRUMxBYNTHz4NR-3t3-W8ja5C5jcV6Vpd4tM0vUE-5lYqteQO3j5xTYLjyuGRrxrfRqRdMzaIKoZ0UfS/s320/IMG_2320.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We left Az on April 5. The Queen Mary2 was due to depart NYC on April 30.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rolling east, we spent a day here and longer there.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some of the places along the way were: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Valley of Fires BLM in New Mexico</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsgs2PCIe_g3FTOt3HBD6qoX7BcYbZCDI66xSkXvCDFb5D0ID9pmmBv9Ujwfz8iIsGwPhq2L3rdzEsONJGl9LcIymFJPzVICJq6TGG0qxAWO_aw70bhAiZGAGccetS71fElRqFZJKfgMncBPmtnkbeRKeLQos1Stcg3coj8OY4l0_3qey-GGAY_FAZ_Rk/s4032/1a%20Valley%20of%20Fires%20NM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsgs2PCIe_g3FTOt3HBD6qoX7BcYbZCDI66xSkXvCDFb5D0ID9pmmBv9Ujwfz8iIsGwPhq2L3rdzEsONJGl9LcIymFJPzVICJq6TGG0qxAWO_aw70bhAiZGAGccetS71fElRqFZJKfgMncBPmtnkbeRKeLQos1Stcg3coj8OY4l0_3qey-GGAY_FAZ_Rk/s320/1a%20Valley%20of%20Fires%20NM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Valley of Fires BLM Site 17</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Aux Arc BLM Park in Ozark, Arkansas<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhwvRhemF5vEUEjKpz7I6O_Z3zy7aJN2WwwL39aU0EzvU-vj86O_tndl3k3Qdhal5oi1pDwb0qAiKzqBwPL7DxDQr3_s4h-ia7wYhQIiVbtSBiViSP_Wq08u2cC91ixTqT2rL6mBWCSS2krVoG5V9RgBQgTIZAQvctMwedWOeiwsUYqSSPUKN8ASo-rLV/s4032/1b%20Aux%20Arc%20Park%20Ark.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhwvRhemF5vEUEjKpz7I6O_Z3zy7aJN2WwwL39aU0EzvU-vj86O_tndl3k3Qdhal5oi1pDwb0qAiKzqBwPL7DxDQr3_s4h-ia7wYhQIiVbtSBiViSP_Wq08u2cC91ixTqT2rL6mBWCSS2krVoG5V9RgBQgTIZAQvctMwedWOeiwsUYqSSPUKN8ASo-rLV/s320/1b%20Aux%20Arc%20Park%20Ark.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Aux Arc Site F-14</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Natchez Trace State Park in Tennessee<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE_-uRyunCdpJCPQrEagupClzXcLh-q1_DpZIIS2VXPDRsVq0Fd0lcEX0PWEGL7TzaNXXb__a-zz7JpqyzdPb0DDUpxLqRXVtHsS2T1D-fB5KzurfESUj_j1KuIfahy_57IHeq5uCDigSLrcCU2nk7d0XB0M0oDYq3T6RbYOp2KQwU7PuRS8IV407N1Gj/s4032/1c%20Natchez%20Trace%20SP%20Tenn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE_-uRyunCdpJCPQrEagupClzXcLh-q1_DpZIIS2VXPDRsVq0Fd0lcEX0PWEGL7TzaNXXb__a-zz7JpqyzdPb0DDUpxLqRXVtHsS2T1D-fB5KzurfESUj_j1KuIfahy_57IHeq5uCDigSLrcCU2nk7d0XB0M0oDYq3T6RbYOp2KQwU7PuRS8IV407N1Gj/s320/1c%20Natchez%20Trace%20SP%20Tenn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Natchez Trace site 29</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Some Glamping at Two Rivers Landing RV resort near Gatlinburg, Tn<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDRbOWYp1-_njrFUrHrGhXwD_IZ0F5QEDLsAlm8WLvF5yvRv3ruXtMOlY79f7bFi1RHhz45n2dbMHua0bpJc3VSrQmnjHkfqIvNKOylK0qpC1fur6ZNkM8B-s7vokEV-NTK_PM9JpR1iemrA3doBmpW5P8cJeEEl75A7OlOo8dOtYhadJopz_BqZ87wmY/s4032/1d%20Two%20Rivers%20Landing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDRbOWYp1-_njrFUrHrGhXwD_IZ0F5QEDLsAlm8WLvF5yvRv3ruXtMOlY79f7bFi1RHhz45n2dbMHua0bpJc3VSrQmnjHkfqIvNKOylK0qpC1fur6ZNkM8B-s7vokEV-NTK_PM9JpR1iemrA3doBmpW5P8cJeEEl75A7OlOo8dOtYhadJopz_BqZ87wmY/s320/1d%20Two%20Rivers%20Landing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Motorcoach only sites are all pull-in, facing the French Broad River and provided us with several days of nice sunsets.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hZC-YMXscB4rWwZoyjOjHNqdjXB_3LFSKEki-FsCqAaXV03Gfx2jfx5o2NV0mD9jNRaOyqrM1WbDQhSCMz9rCnW9rgHUSGZ5jWD3gQw67AMlrou8eved_ZAx0JbyyA7Pj6sqHAzNq0vC0dr2oHYRDFGE4tUZtf1o_6KNSwfeboQSAHXxL-H7i_LGvg55/s4032/1e%20Two%20Rivers%20Landing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hZC-YMXscB4rWwZoyjOjHNqdjXB_3LFSKEki-FsCqAaXV03Gfx2jfx5o2NV0mD9jNRaOyqrM1WbDQhSCMz9rCnW9rgHUSGZ5jWD3gQw67AMlrou8eved_ZAx0JbyyA7Pj6sqHAzNq0vC0dr2oHYRDFGE4tUZtf1o_6KNSwfeboQSAHXxL-H7i_LGvg55/s320/1e%20Two%20Rivers%20Landing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We enjoyed the early spring dogwoods blooming in the Shenandoah Valley</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcJeuzAtgyqB-wdzVXLALOqU0RdfKi9Ws46TW65TRxhOT-xHLqIlc1wOLlfAKu-nZ2GoCuD6dqBzPDb8qKczm1cgqaJovxQqk8iwuDA0H7RLcUs2zvF1rcIYp3RJuIAFxq43bY71WsW5_pHRoj8hlk3Q8P_FIfwleavjonxdKNyqt2CMxGbK0DjbMyMbF/s4032/1f%20Dogwoods.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcJeuzAtgyqB-wdzVXLALOqU0RdfKi9Ws46TW65TRxhOT-xHLqIlc1wOLlfAKu-nZ2GoCuD6dqBzPDb8qKczm1cgqaJovxQqk8iwuDA0H7RLcUs2zvF1rcIYp3RJuIAFxq43bY71WsW5_pHRoj8hlk3Q8P_FIfwleavjonxdKNyqt2CMxGbK0DjbMyMbF/s320/1f%20Dogwoods.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Spent some time outside of Washington DC at Cherry Hill Park.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUlUBbShMcJlRVNJauQsKqpFwhUZ_AMK3C4fitmpDX3mIpQkgwvThpZ7lvC-pA1eN-rpdg8FcNkj6oY_9pEk24LjPhr8AUcuQFbavE3WxRXkdGbARhkJgyCmbCtIKTTHCg2SVcOcHZapXVAEARfkcX1EAxL6K7QX8iji3lsBSVdMNSct3JjJyJ8oEm1Iw/s4032/1g%20Cherry%20Hill%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUlUBbShMcJlRVNJauQsKqpFwhUZ_AMK3C4fitmpDX3mIpQkgwvThpZ7lvC-pA1eN-rpdg8FcNkj6oY_9pEk24LjPhr8AUcuQFbavE3WxRXkdGbARhkJgyCmbCtIKTTHCg2SVcOcHZapXVAEARfkcX1EAxL6K7QX8iji3lsBSVdMNSct3JjJyJ8oEm1Iw/s320/1g%20Cherry%20Hill%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We continued north and east and finally on April 21 we arrived at Schodack Island State Park in New York. Thais was to be our final stop in the US prior to boarding the QM2 but little did we know that the next few days was going to bring events that would change everything.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First we were notified by Cunard that our passage to England, scheduled to leave in 9 days had been cancelled. Having already been to the Vet and gotten the dogs papework done, I scrambled to find alternatives to getting them across the pond. I eventually settled on La Compagnie - a French airline where we could bring both dogs in the cabin. We would fly to Paris and work our way back to the UK.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I booked our tickets and paid for a massive amount of extra baggage.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then a few days after that we lost Gracie.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We'd been trying to get back to the UK since 2020. Covid cancelled our 2020 and 2021 plans and my knee canceled our 2022 plans when we were halfway across the country on the way to NYC. As emotionally drained as we now felt, I was not going to give up at this stage and head back to Az for another summer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I pushed our flight back a bit to give us some breathing room, and we spent an extra 10 days in NY both at an Airbnb and with friends. During this 10 day stretch I finalized all the details of getting from Paris to London, including updating the dogs paperwork for travel now thru the EU, and also managed to contact a breeder I had been following for a while and made arrangements to pick up our new pup Annie about 2 weeks after we arrived in the UK. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>New York to London (via Paris) May 11 to May 21</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A rental car from Upstate NY to NJ. A night at the Marriot Hotel near Newark Airport, and soon the three of us were on the plane headed to Paris. Lucy was a bit stressed being in the crate for takeoff, but as soon as we were airborne I took her out and she never was in that crate again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZZ5CTawolL2gw3JW0R-OX2JxNlHOXg6fltR-CKqobWB6qPR_Rd31QtYV9ZJRR_YEEW8S0qKiOJyC39VfqesQ_pbKv8pp9Tl4zaCsEZtDesRGWzHruYFOoHJ2dX8eUwYLqG1FGS5PY4XyxMLMahhxQ9JHv8pJKFpK81k31t57wfiVL02XHnTw9SFWD2Jw/s4032/1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZZ5CTawolL2gw3JW0R-OX2JxNlHOXg6fltR-CKqobWB6qPR_Rd31QtYV9ZJRR_YEEW8S0qKiOJyC39VfqesQ_pbKv8pp9Tl4zaCsEZtDesRGWzHruYFOoHJ2dX8eUwYLqG1FGS5PY4XyxMLMahhxQ9JHv8pJKFpK81k31t57wfiVL02XHnTw9SFWD2Jw/s320/1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I picked up a rental car at Orly Airport in Paris, and drove 3 1/2hrs to Calais, France. Then after depositing Kate and Lucy at the Holiday Inn near the channel tunnel (we've stayed here before) I returned the rental car and made my way back to the hotel.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodt8mNJjNTawZj-5-pzegWFoYRZHtMAxaPgKOJ9DJZbbCRP-HNxG5LTlyZLJfJYiy7vC9d5Vg-W1c76VdgIUTbg-uPO5R67U3lz7pAYivUM3mGGdeFcGYwRc4aABGR73PH_J8QTNE4MS5UGlIGxJ0lkObdHXBEXfFF7gmfHtX6mtUdY60Lfrj_e7lHyqt/s4032/1b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodt8mNJjNTawZj-5-pzegWFoYRZHtMAxaPgKOJ9DJZbbCRP-HNxG5LTlyZLJfJYiy7vC9d5Vg-W1c76VdgIUTbg-uPO5R67U3lz7pAYivUM3mGGdeFcGYwRc4aABGR73PH_J8QTNE4MS5UGlIGxJ0lkObdHXBEXfFF7gmfHtX6mtUdY60Lfrj_e7lHyqt/s320/1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate and Lucy at Holiday Inn Calais</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The next morning we were met bright and early by our "Pet Taxi" driver who would take us onto the train thru the channel tunnel and deposit us at our VRBO in London. We would be starting our trip in the UK one week later than originally scheduled.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgu1Sj7oS09Uqav5ErHjKGvyJDGQjb1B27VS0wZvvNrS27gTqsr10ntAf_8aVQH6PeVEaQT_H4NGUNXBB0U-tTH6BpsMnkeJxo5iFkopiIdiIOKlgSh9aol3OH8tUW4SG2rwKG7PpM_OmsXLRcxkZ5JWYNsgHQvaYRXmjzU54-60MYS0wQ3muFAxuEhQra/s4032/1c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgu1Sj7oS09Uqav5ErHjKGvyJDGQjb1B27VS0wZvvNrS27gTqsr10ntAf_8aVQH6PeVEaQT_H4NGUNXBB0U-tTH6BpsMnkeJxo5iFkopiIdiIOKlgSh9aol3OH8tUW4SG2rwKG7PpM_OmsXLRcxkZ5JWYNsgHQvaYRXmjzU54-60MYS0wQ3muFAxuEhQra/s320/1c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate and Lucy in the Pet Taxi</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Once in London I started ordering all the puppy supplies that we were going to need. We would now be making this trip, staying at lots of rental homes, with a brand new puppy. OMG - what lies in store?<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5mV9NlpJP-tK0c5wBJ4JgRc5tGfsiMQhRfiJyUTyAwrXwbx9YDKrC18h_xXaNzAT5sUOOYIPapIvHdg8PvxgVCeiSikfneGJIN7iqta3uPfspdEYLKzlo7FruR1MHObV81T4lkqBSSnQEiLDcPIZgZuSP4nmwX3bD23J7Jd2XL2TFROg1damGxtaQXBD/s4032/1d.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5mV9NlpJP-tK0c5wBJ4JgRc5tGfsiMQhRfiJyUTyAwrXwbx9YDKrC18h_xXaNzAT5sUOOYIPapIvHdg8PvxgVCeiSikfneGJIN7iqta3uPfspdEYLKzlo7FruR1MHObV81T4lkqBSSnQEiLDcPIZgZuSP4nmwX3bD23J7Jd2XL2TFROg1damGxtaQXBD/s320/1d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate tests Annies "corral" while Lucy sleeps in blissful ignorance</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>While in London, I took the train to Southampton to pick up our rental car. When I got back with the car Kates Irish Passport had arrived.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmF7P8R_CS_uhOg4b50u9wTJffG30EE6BRk7OwvVS755n2Bm0X2fHL5-MEpbgChXxYrD2z2sTlEeMRA-VKk-2FMHi6ITLNDxbmwyBYzGlT-Uh5SqTTlqW7JUK7eIml-XcBCCOlAuwNizFp2DeADAxQtOwtYGah7OICo73dVlGqjU33U_nI56EvKW_0kuK/s4032/1f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmF7P8R_CS_uhOg4b50u9wTJffG30EE6BRk7OwvVS755n2Bm0X2fHL5-MEpbgChXxYrD2z2sTlEeMRA-VKk-2FMHi6ITLNDxbmwyBYzGlT-Uh5SqTTlqW7JUK7eIml-XcBCCOlAuwNizFp2DeADAxQtOwtYGah7OICo73dVlGqjU33U_nI56EvKW_0kuK/s320/1f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our friend Raina is a dual-citizen divides her time between the UK and US. She was in London while wer were here and served as a tour guide. We had a great time with her.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkxcOkGS2Y3OkksXY2qZRLltV3DQofv2-Kgk6fRiFMJcf_EuFosUrUp9Nm4FlvlSgfizpWGM2G0GsdMeOHiuM1j_vJNd_bq7Fy1kUDwYc08OVBoGlOQnBvxcfHLtDajY274p8kkfWQo3zlO07OinI_2Ko6c4gY_lGk6k08ET0Wx6OXPggbYWbVTJosvN2/s4032/1g.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkxcOkGS2Y3OkksXY2qZRLltV3DQofv2-Kgk6fRiFMJcf_EuFosUrUp9Nm4FlvlSgfizpWGM2G0GsdMeOHiuM1j_vJNd_bq7Fy1kUDwYc08OVBoGlOQnBvxcfHLtDajY274p8kkfWQo3zlO07OinI_2Ko6c4gY_lGk6k08ET0Wx6OXPggbYWbVTJosvN2/s320/1g.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate and Raina waiting at the tube station</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Having been in London a few months earlier, we had visited a lot of the main tourist sights, especially the ones that are not dog friendly. This time we spent our time more low key, visiting parks, markets, and just inhaling the London Vibe.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3pqv6FQkatwxLOkBfXHPuMyOHOtMAsMEN2zv-KoFCYqGcX_nmzzE4IWKBsM24PtPnZF_gMfu4Leu1abar3c3wIyQoR2mmgvVANiosy2apJ_A4Sfto4Lji4LWCivBXJjykC27ZBDulbeXuR0o4jsJa1WLc1vF8gfc7tgloD4QuGczVge1ytdMCzpNA1t1/s4032/IMG_2683.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3pqv6FQkatwxLOkBfXHPuMyOHOtMAsMEN2zv-KoFCYqGcX_nmzzE4IWKBsM24PtPnZF_gMfu4Leu1abar3c3wIyQoR2mmgvVANiosy2apJ_A4Sfto4Lji4LWCivBXJjykC27ZBDulbeXuR0o4jsJa1WLc1vF8gfc7tgloD4QuGczVge1ytdMCzpNA1t1/s320/IMG_2683.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Borough Market in London</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Canterbury May 20 - May 26</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div>Next on the list was a converted schoolhouse in Bridge, Uk. A small village about 5 miles outside of Canturbury. It had a great back yard for Lucy, and was centrally located for visiting both the coast and Canturbury.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvTvGNE-IAFa4qKYOK4CsODE4XM5dSwLbAgyek0Y9wAu-tpab5PY3b_TH-pPuey9nOYnsvcL9wYdUu4PDIOAh35LF35FTPhGX7Rbjtgf-oZxhcxTtleVFWUvAUvSL6joqLWx5Z_7TS2gOtyZrZy-7I2ofe3_yjHaWVLZ4D4R4RZY0xx4G_P7V1wuxwCta/s4032/IMG_2704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvTvGNE-IAFa4qKYOK4CsODE4XM5dSwLbAgyek0Y9wAu-tpab5PY3b_TH-pPuey9nOYnsvcL9wYdUu4PDIOAh35LF35FTPhGX7Rbjtgf-oZxhcxTtleVFWUvAUvSL6joqLWx5Z_7TS2gOtyZrZy-7I2ofe3_yjHaWVLZ4D4R4RZY0xx4G_P7V1wuxwCta/s320/IMG_2704.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEpX70gsiccyoY21KnBNGTnqx19TzkV0TT24LzIautUqKR9Yetps-VUYowHIO8DYYECKPkAsTjJIbj4u10aigjn-rBA0RsJTlAB5pl6NaNn_3Ham_BcayOBAtmJLasEyqIB_QVmV6hTwXyOcuJRU64JPEsoVaBDA4KYqPGKaOpXLnFQxrgAPms6f3d9zW/s4032/IMG_2706.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEpX70gsiccyoY21KnBNGTnqx19TzkV0TT24LzIautUqKR9Yetps-VUYowHIO8DYYECKPkAsTjJIbj4u10aigjn-rBA0RsJTlAB5pl6NaNn_3Ham_BcayOBAtmJLasEyqIB_QVmV6hTwXyOcuJRU64JPEsoVaBDA4KYqPGKaOpXLnFQxrgAPms6f3d9zW/s320/IMG_2706.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our VRBO in Bridge (Canturbury)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Every night we had a Pheasant come to visit and strut his stuff for about 20 minutes</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04AznncaV6R2DOgTbrOkgEpxXSyP3AoZQ3vGpKjKWVXvptnQiC1o8MfHF0iw1V7D7qcyXIHOjroCkq5xobjmE40DfUVqGr7Ngl6X7Vq16uChFpQFk__QqPJV2g3VP8yQi0LLpmR4slBPjrr0WdeIlch_-dPBzjM1lmwtBeqFFVWVDIHHaUhjnLuQPZ6zL/s4032/IMG_2740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04AznncaV6R2DOgTbrOkgEpxXSyP3AoZQ3vGpKjKWVXvptnQiC1o8MfHF0iw1V7D7qcyXIHOjroCkq5xobjmE40DfUVqGr7Ngl6X7Vq16uChFpQFk__QqPJV2g3VP8yQi0LLpmR4slBPjrr0WdeIlch_-dPBzjM1lmwtBeqFFVWVDIHHaUhjnLuQPZ6zL/s320/IMG_2740.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>While here we visited the parks in Canterbury</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqbAsVI4C33qd8YEh9A5WqLVyiQ1gVw0wb5QHbumClTgu5rQCEoSNmQD4Hjrmoj0vZjsWQVKwsk4FbGJipMs0Xln0ATyWHekCf4Ql4y57F6-_1OWhTjVQ0eRzY70V3ArB3fih8Hqv7kqdiK9goiBkP2koarrI1vX908ZWWweqqJKdEHAuB4i9ZF3MM5Mk/s4032/IMG_2783.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqbAsVI4C33qd8YEh9A5WqLVyiQ1gVw0wb5QHbumClTgu5rQCEoSNmQD4Hjrmoj0vZjsWQVKwsk4FbGJipMs0Xln0ATyWHekCf4Ql4y57F6-_1OWhTjVQ0eRzY70V3ArB3fih8Hqv7kqdiK9goiBkP2koarrI1vX908ZWWweqqJKdEHAuB4i9ZF3MM5Mk/s320/IMG_2783.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Spent a day visiting the massive Dover Castle that overlooks the English Channel</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicDoBMB5XOo9wWHUXOk-79miN6HHkwSvcZwBKoEjzpNGR-Cq7nAcLLCLdKORvcqf4SOwRGySY_6wXLTVZvy-k-xdV8WXYty6gfBdQl3SB3NbIV_beDgZHgrVbSi3smOr2FENmDLGot6Q1e6O3CphRW2wEpMVPF3b9YinzNma-tLZn-Fqh8_VZFndvTEar/s4032/IMG_2809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicDoBMB5XOo9wWHUXOk-79miN6HHkwSvcZwBKoEjzpNGR-Cq7nAcLLCLdKORvcqf4SOwRGySY_6wXLTVZvy-k-xdV8WXYty6gfBdQl3SB3NbIV_beDgZHgrVbSi3smOr2FENmDLGot6Q1e6O3CphRW2wEpMVPF3b9YinzNma-tLZn-Fqh8_VZFndvTEar/s320/IMG_2809.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The impressive and beautiful Canterbury Cathedral.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFIKc1pz10yQi8CPfSUsXRPdE1lsW-_UPeejlYrdOufeuUIKwTuy5DMwQSVxwStM5aWkKSUwnIBBu4tO9YcqGp_iKVkTLRWBmZwQdZj74WvuqUbeXwM7h_6klLTdAW5LI-qmoD5BTPQKyU48koanDZ3nxEttfMGbgfbBE1EYdOqAkK_R7jFa5dguL11uN/s4832/IMG_2894.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3384" data-original-width="4832" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFIKc1pz10yQi8CPfSUsXRPdE1lsW-_UPeejlYrdOufeuUIKwTuy5DMwQSVxwStM5aWkKSUwnIBBu4tO9YcqGp_iKVkTLRWBmZwQdZj74WvuqUbeXwM7h_6klLTdAW5LI-qmoD5BTPQKyU48koanDZ3nxEttfMGbgfbBE1EYdOqAkK_R7jFa5dguL11uN/s320/IMG_2894.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We enjoyed a great Sunday roast and had another dinner at the local pub the Red Lion Inn.</div><div><br /></div><div>On our last day in Bridge I was up at 0600 and took the Pet Taxi back onto the train and thru the tunnel to Calais where I met the driver bringing Annie from Barcelona.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then back thru the tunnel...... </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hyGYRZjXBXXLYv2VZqZXC_LUpbJFxJVOuYGAen1j_yiHW4bD0DMaHAxiqvKude-lKNU2pw3Ij0fumN8-LMfwi7JyIk4XtE56FouauwJBYMOUbDrKULGOb-mO9raujO0OFGXl7vvan4do60sRHevFZGiR4IZtP6Kd1SvsOWMQ9Uavk7E4s_ZgROeh2r4u/s4032/IMG_2913.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hyGYRZjXBXXLYv2VZqZXC_LUpbJFxJVOuYGAen1j_yiHW4bD0DMaHAxiqvKude-lKNU2pw3Ij0fumN8-LMfwi7JyIk4XtE56FouauwJBYMOUbDrKULGOb-mO9raujO0OFGXl7vvan4do60sRHevFZGiR4IZtP6Kd1SvsOWMQ9Uavk7E4s_ZgROeh2r4u/s320/IMG_2913.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie in the Pet Taxi</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>to introduce her to Kate....</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5tgMJlbalmMR97WDk6M4GGX0FZ0KtQr_Cb0icSvKM1VcdzKf3ko9Pkhz6yn4FeNtmStjzSU87b9Ce5ELS97VEJ8W-n6ukPpoEjMeNa13DKp_pyB6XOKQQrNJ0L9CSNZaxBjfwHoMqnbx4RSxyyNPMhYuQ9h7ttAnF5_Y_yOaU6KY-4zLXOGmSNMsQlXf/s4032/IMG_2984.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5tgMJlbalmMR97WDk6M4GGX0FZ0KtQr_Cb0icSvKM1VcdzKf3ko9Pkhz6yn4FeNtmStjzSU87b9Ce5ELS97VEJ8W-n6ukPpoEjMeNa13DKp_pyB6XOKQQrNJ0L9CSNZaxBjfwHoMqnbx4RSxyyNPMhYuQ9h7ttAnF5_Y_yOaU6KY-4zLXOGmSNMsQlXf/s320/IMG_2984.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> and Lucy.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_b-QTw5HiPlsd1eD8JpagCouFFrJAh7Kvg5-tyNzQSTIaikn0TenebkFzWaMYYLHHY5iT8ey1XpRjGrtpt_-Bl60EJiYHk4zbijkD7dsWbwBb95drgmb8f6Win44b7xL1cdDbk4eJ5koCcrYwoUoxfS8A0815a0s1tCuPqcghchn-FL7RVB0g7IXaR7i/s4032/IMG_3015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_b-QTw5HiPlsd1eD8JpagCouFFrJAh7Kvg5-tyNzQSTIaikn0TenebkFzWaMYYLHHY5iT8ey1XpRjGrtpt_-Bl60EJiYHk4zbijkD7dsWbwBb95drgmb8f6Win44b7xL1cdDbk4eJ5koCcrYwoUoxfS8A0815a0s1tCuPqcghchn-FL7RVB0g7IXaR7i/s320/IMG_3015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>So much lies ahead for this little pup....</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Blakeney to Louth to Wales May27 thru June 16</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Annie got to rest only one night and she was on the road with us. Our next stop was the Village of Blakeney on the coast is Norfolk.</div><div><br /></div><div>Along the way... no rest for weary pups... we visited Heaver Castle. The childhood home of Anne Boleyn.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVUpsS4DL8OmMZxVycBivBdD0DhzDkjkvb680c-Wr_7npM2FJTnSEk2LPkqoM6FAmXFBmWAkRJFqGgpYbh7EMBy-kvsIieD-awe_P00QGrw6uabzl-Q06EY0-Kysz9abOzZ-M1VbDe7eX7dvg_YTgVrmZ28IZDt2JGvAI03ut31db_-r840h41jpefiHb/s4032/IMG_3040.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVUpsS4DL8OmMZxVycBivBdD0DhzDkjkvb680c-Wr_7npM2FJTnSEk2LPkqoM6FAmXFBmWAkRJFqGgpYbh7EMBy-kvsIieD-awe_P00QGrw6uabzl-Q06EY0-Kysz9abOzZ-M1VbDe7eX7dvg_YTgVrmZ28IZDt2JGvAI03ut31db_-r840h41jpefiHb/s320/IMG_3040.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heaver Castle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Annie met lots of people and dogs and was off to a good start on her new life<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWMhCL-Pso02CqTivafAQpgmWWFDI2ZibXCOFMBSesBZUKuqQVc7oIDBeFVwq0hHvz9oniq-ACX0s8A_Bau5yoCSWRD5Ke4pTdTFLuWWa6vFy9D8M0_FCbh8DyicjAyYnFJVY8G3mk8K-og6PBe8QtoY9wVr20Wg_ZO6ZcqmGAoStsHtyAk2Z51I-jKIK/s4032/IMG_3041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWMhCL-Pso02CqTivafAQpgmWWFDI2ZibXCOFMBSesBZUKuqQVc7oIDBeFVwq0hHvz9oniq-ACX0s8A_Bau5yoCSWRD5Ke4pTdTFLuWWa6vFy9D8M0_FCbh8DyicjAyYnFJVY8G3mk8K-og6PBe8QtoY9wVr20Wg_ZO6ZcqmGAoStsHtyAk2Z51I-jKIK/s320/IMG_3041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We arrived at our home for the next 7 nights. A nice well equipped cottage in the great village of Blakeney.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KCZFs8fP_-Dkalya0XoPzHSXlksLP0lGwqhbqy_NPWRoWzFQWJFCs7ECGh_7mc28O1XWWVtvRg8cLD1PPLM918P-AZuA56emqEkFCj4PM37hh3UwuGDpQCjF7R0_VjjKFzA4617tKI_9YQ-u8CzXExpICPF0mxsm-2LvKXFdN1E5Uv8koheVcKLjNfP9/s4032/IMG_3155.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KCZFs8fP_-Dkalya0XoPzHSXlksLP0lGwqhbqy_NPWRoWzFQWJFCs7ECGh_7mc28O1XWWVtvRg8cLD1PPLM918P-AZuA56emqEkFCj4PM37hh3UwuGDpQCjF7R0_VjjKFzA4617tKI_9YQ-u8CzXExpICPF0mxsm-2LvKXFdN1E5Uv8koheVcKLjNfP9/s320/IMG_3155.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our place is in the middle to left of car</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Lucy accepted Annie as a new member of the pack. Even in spite of the greatly increased energy level over Gracie.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhM1KYk-cQpZOzNscSFF9kRE0DG4fyy_zFQO5y6FalyMveu7fX6arjmEktweuWFD4N_3l60PSw_YjhtWa5dF_pcatFy-h_Y0vQ4cX1QDTBe8zz-1202vjpco5mK5hsxYuOrc6yE1KcZ4Vlk5a-WlsVpt_IcR1xxxHTm9N01L0EIm-d6yShuyudjqwbnxK/s4032/IMG_3200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhM1KYk-cQpZOzNscSFF9kRE0DG4fyy_zFQO5y6FalyMveu7fX6arjmEktweuWFD4N_3l60PSw_YjhtWa5dF_pcatFy-h_Y0vQ4cX1QDTBe8zz-1202vjpco5mK5hsxYuOrc6yE1KcZ4Vlk5a-WlsVpt_IcR1xxxHTm9N01L0EIm-d6yShuyudjqwbnxK/s320/IMG_3200.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z85dVcqYN3EzOVMIzBKVd9P145pppDEieUB7Oo_MNb43VKlPOnzfGNTe53lPh9oRH_H2c2-t8nvGXT9TKWEomOShRp2rpSFbcwmgCG_WAQkfyVWRBGXHE_TbdMjgU6khYiRK7UOrrAOqWuVNwWfTswvOXQxZfyPN6Voxs2JuyCtjVocMaOPluPWzP5Vq/s4032/IMG_3231.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z85dVcqYN3EzOVMIzBKVd9P145pppDEieUB7Oo_MNb43VKlPOnzfGNTe53lPh9oRH_H2c2-t8nvGXT9TKWEomOShRp2rpSFbcwmgCG_WAQkfyVWRBGXHE_TbdMjgU6khYiRK7UOrrAOqWuVNwWfTswvOXQxZfyPN6Voxs2JuyCtjVocMaOPluPWzP5Vq/s320/IMG_3231.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Blakeney Waterfront</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />One of the fun things about travel is discovering new foods. One of them was "Scotch Eggs"</div><div>I had no clue what to expect as they were these breaded and fried balls. I thought perhaps they were soaked in Scotch?? Turns out to be simply a breaded and fried hard boiled egg. Quite a yummy addition to the breakfast menu however.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByT4DLMNxCdz0E4vB3a4UWo6nrG_5iBOdjxm5X97ldxrMmtASD5RE_b0ocAqwY2xpb_yC3OOqiQbkVECrWdqaRqr5SXv_vT8qiKRWXRUQGKmC141hZ1lGyin1eBzMaBvXrS0FndzaAO6jpVPDKspKx_dr1OPq4ydPnCpnMrr8j69yj8G5hGIwbRkdDAKE/s4032/IMG_3241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByT4DLMNxCdz0E4vB3a4UWo6nrG_5iBOdjxm5X97ldxrMmtASD5RE_b0ocAqwY2xpb_yC3OOqiQbkVECrWdqaRqr5SXv_vT8qiKRWXRUQGKmC141hZ1lGyin1eBzMaBvXrS0FndzaAO6jpVPDKspKx_dr1OPq4ydPnCpnMrr8j69yj8G5hGIwbRkdDAKE/s320/IMG_3241.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Leaving Blakeney - it was north up the coast into Lincolnshire to visit our friends Craig & Vicki who live in Louth. We stayed with them for 4 action packed nights and we sure packed a lot of visiting into that time.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0V3I6aMl_kIx0i3ti-9161zaXIFQsAd-ja7Eq5g_4eq7IpbM6ra9eVAmKqxBhLTZ8aAe-xV3qdqLq5Xt2ONKet_cjnhsawflR8Z5SJsJfc4TPPd7C-kgtnc0vaPbMVNJIuHXsrxs1eWjYGox6J9-je6k0V6Tu4joZX0JdPNorAFngFuUGpu0lmB1V66PZ/s4032/IMG_3292.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0V3I6aMl_kIx0i3ti-9161zaXIFQsAd-ja7Eq5g_4eq7IpbM6ra9eVAmKqxBhLTZ8aAe-xV3qdqLq5Xt2ONKet_cjnhsawflR8Z5SJsJfc4TPPd7C-kgtnc0vaPbMVNJIuHXsrxs1eWjYGox6J9-je6k0V6Tu4joZX0JdPNorAFngFuUGpu0lmB1V66PZ/s320/IMG_3292.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Craig, Vicki, and Kate at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunby_Hall" target="_blank">Gunby Hall</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunnCc-iGGjt7lBFLhqtnCmnRkOq8NrTZsc1c33eThkgmRdaF65HSC3Lb0Sd9dHRMaZ_L2bSFQQsxsztmg_iUAZ3LVos7UUbJYyDe7crAvPSWrwS8_gr6sxUUVJcS1-a9OKV8TguJgO9tXH9DQSDJ8TxuwPP2I2f0vLEim_O8BC8imqddqDtyBfeIMKtqq/s4032/IMG_3330.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunnCc-iGGjt7lBFLhqtnCmnRkOq8NrTZsc1c33eThkgmRdaF65HSC3Lb0Sd9dHRMaZ_L2bSFQQsxsztmg_iUAZ3LVos7UUbJYyDe7crAvPSWrwS8_gr6sxUUVJcS1-a9OKV8TguJgO9tXH9DQSDJ8TxuwPP2I2f0vLEim_O8BC8imqddqDtyBfeIMKtqq/s320/IMG_3330.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattershall_Castle,_Lincolnshire" target="_blank">Tattershall Castle</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Bjh-LyTVQlyMD_WVfnnh7ZHIMdZAWDhEwWZLTZdLmK-wtC-6VARjaugroluJK-w3FxwTvgFb3NtFNJn5uUv-qbMwhfvH2f-FSeAEqGDkkK-tVGdugKWZCxjmmGBd2cyQjUaqYiWoGJeZigxqqkXbAbFrvKC-8ZNIuxAtmlFBo2BfmirFCZWaYVKfb_1n/s4032/IMG_3370.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Bjh-LyTVQlyMD_WVfnnh7ZHIMdZAWDhEwWZLTZdLmK-wtC-6VARjaugroluJK-w3FxwTvgFb3NtFNJn5uUv-qbMwhfvH2f-FSeAEqGDkkK-tVGdugKWZCxjmmGBd2cyQjUaqYiWoGJeZigxqqkXbAbFrvKC-8ZNIuxAtmlFBo2BfmirFCZWaYVKfb_1n/s320/IMG_3370.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.petwood.co.uk/explore/house-history" target="_blank">The Petwood Hotel</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Finally, in Lincoln we visited <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Cathedral" target="_blank">Lincoln Cathedral</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Castle" target="_blank">Lincoln Castle</a>. The jail inside the castle was used as the jail in Downton Abbey where Mr Bates was incarcerated.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlJaOES-fGC7IC1Cs_dUBc4sBbrb53UfQWLo6hIOJuI3Ep8FXieM6btAeLm6uIzTHBNYgenUJanF1L_X4vUWsRHjaZc8oIilyfItgR68qlykugkRkGpCmOlxe0vhnZGWt7WtmMaNtBNyGDfbQxP0riDrpgPmTfNta631c8Q-Fu6yOs7DCAIMRNaVNGbmq/s4032/IMG_3464.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlJaOES-fGC7IC1Cs_dUBc4sBbrb53UfQWLo6hIOJuI3Ep8FXieM6btAeLm6uIzTHBNYgenUJanF1L_X4vUWsRHjaZc8oIilyfItgR68qlykugkRkGpCmOlxe0vhnZGWt7WtmMaNtBNyGDfbQxP0riDrpgPmTfNta631c8Q-Fu6yOs7DCAIMRNaVNGbmq/s320/IMG_3464.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jail at Lincoln Castle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizINWp7si3JV5g5RQO6IaE3o-rIRqea1LoCq_4Tk3lJAoYr2hTxXnhnE0w30o2hBvLiIxZ5uOmYQeYK9VoomhmJpx5FF5gkUk2LwMIA7wcq7f5D0QsOF6rClNSDNNvkzZdHosQmdUWxtDouGfErZ6hPUwr0QBGo5lO2bcDmcMKl9GaLUs9N6IZ06v_zzxV/s4032/IMG_3483.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizINWp7si3JV5g5RQO6IaE3o-rIRqea1LoCq_4Tk3lJAoYr2hTxXnhnE0w30o2hBvLiIxZ5uOmYQeYK9VoomhmJpx5FF5gkUk2LwMIA7wcq7f5D0QsOF6rClNSDNNvkzZdHosQmdUWxtDouGfErZ6hPUwr0QBGo5lO2bcDmcMKl9GaLUs9N6IZ06v_zzxV/s320/IMG_3483.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lincoln Cathedral</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Next on the itinerary was a week in a small village outside of Brecon Wales. We stayed in a cute cottage located on a stream that ran behind it. Across the stream we would watch the sheep come down for a drink.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29Jbl-1owKP4kEUoUBCKJMpdGaUWrDhZ29UQVawF1iGStfmhAPpBccNyygPQASkkd9Y17sQZQu9K7udWz9ZB29ZIkvJnDSTx1YeYCyYss4cgQJgSGMHhmpc-9rMi_WCO9R5CMB1d9xNK-zFATZiHyT4474l8QKDi_v-0AubLswd3Yj_lqt4izfB1nBQx1/s4032/IMG_3556.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29Jbl-1owKP4kEUoUBCKJMpdGaUWrDhZ29UQVawF1iGStfmhAPpBccNyygPQASkkd9Y17sQZQu9K7udWz9ZB29ZIkvJnDSTx1YeYCyYss4cgQJgSGMHhmpc-9rMi_WCO9R5CMB1d9xNK-zFATZiHyT4474l8QKDi_v-0AubLswd3Yj_lqt4izfB1nBQx1/s320/IMG_3556.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Millhouse Cottage Pont-faen Wales</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Situated just outside of the Brecon Beacons National Park, it was a cozy comfortable home in a quiet rural location. A few miles down some really narrow winding one-lane roads brought us to the town of Brecon.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsODrZENjmCuTNW7BwcUxD8AvztG2bzJphHJyVKy2LFH5PuVQzmc_RPCPkmZpNuNYoaPd_QkVP-5gk0oALvKMOrrdbVrBD4raP6BJTy0g5SP3wqUNaNl7GjjG8quAbIOwb9EUd6z9HZIh4S6NNZxecAYcXi4hJJQCvZ6UnGrR7PM94uPxvSzCvQpQn1hCY/s4032/IMG_3505.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsODrZENjmCuTNW7BwcUxD8AvztG2bzJphHJyVKy2LFH5PuVQzmc_RPCPkmZpNuNYoaPd_QkVP-5gk0oALvKMOrrdbVrBD4raP6BJTy0g5SP3wqUNaNl7GjjG8quAbIOwb9EUd6z9HZIh4S6NNZxecAYcXi4hJJQCvZ6UnGrR7PM94uPxvSzCvQpQn1hCY/s320/IMG_3505.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our neighborhood in Pont-faen</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwyt01EFi2vs62eK07MQoQHS3ZbeaCb52R2GgfrJ6XdRz_La1cKYQTSTLsrVWdNQ0P8kVDa-F9KN5ERFXMHZEwuMb4PQyjWBxttCjlmTp3_UiceN34HlkPi3BFQtCYA0TqrLTlJOuksaWG2_LtJBFHF33cCdSwGOAIgxdX2pD-hP-I9D-Cam9X6cveOQw/s4032/IMG_3532.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwyt01EFi2vs62eK07MQoQHS3ZbeaCb52R2GgfrJ6XdRz_La1cKYQTSTLsrVWdNQ0P8kVDa-F9KN5ERFXMHZEwuMb4PQyjWBxttCjlmTp3_UiceN34HlkPi3BFQtCYA0TqrLTlJOuksaWG2_LtJBFHF33cCdSwGOAIgxdX2pD-hP-I9D-Cam9X6cveOQw/s320/IMG_3532.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Town of Brecon</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpza5_K4NLef2lwMvBPadq-qE-eaLbPVdamdesNWNA6eQfGYWAv_MFYwloON3RAPZK-qicP6V8cEnPYidYEha9PFMbJW8oKr5FfqfXZaojY1r_3P0E1_9g5Mh26w9Vo8sj6_Pe3Z8l4IWib1-qMXSFFWVi_63YjSOt-iUNZaOqknJ-txld7B6UPVeBzu9U/s4032/IMG_3567.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpza5_K4NLef2lwMvBPadq-qE-eaLbPVdamdesNWNA6eQfGYWAv_MFYwloON3RAPZK-qicP6V8cEnPYidYEha9PFMbJW8oKr5FfqfXZaojY1r_3P0E1_9g5Mh26w9Vo8sj6_Pe3Z8l4IWib1-qMXSFFWVi_63YjSOt-iUNZaOqknJ-txld7B6UPVeBzu9U/s320/IMG_3567.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The view out back of our cottage</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I've often said the best thing about traveling are the people you meet along the way and this trip was no exception. Our treasure this trip was meeting Hailey and Steve while we were out walking the dogs along the canal in Brecon. After meeting them here, we kept in touch, got together later in the trip and have new friends that we will be seeing again next time.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_A9Li3ctHwRwL8aNDoX43GrZiyRI8VBs2p4VmZifdJuLbjsYEsdPD5w6iD1p4XZh1GRAZQPzWyLZcA59kC_HLSnKDGfZ1_UHdrRgssweG_j_Ys668yjpzuf32zm5GhOsseDXtbP0zUmxze9P78PEeSfva-95MAkykbTAkhAvWXnKXowi3MJEUUqT_knp/s4032/IMG_3628.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_A9Li3ctHwRwL8aNDoX43GrZiyRI8VBs2p4VmZifdJuLbjsYEsdPD5w6iD1p4XZh1GRAZQPzWyLZcA59kC_HLSnKDGfZ1_UHdrRgssweG_j_Ys668yjpzuf32zm5GhOsseDXtbP0zUmxze9P78PEeSfva-95MAkykbTAkhAvWXnKXowi3MJEUUqT_knp/s320/IMG_3628.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Greg, Kate, Hailey, Steve</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqy88UnEGfI048BP48F1tyEIG-4EFJ9hkI4MWt15N2fjExThobR3jokBqNIFdk24423AfL3EW3japQCS7bsoQy6SqP91evafDIqrkEtr8YMDMw2Kko6LRwZSnFV18vDh1x4yHJFrmFFtZHGD0sHzljt1t0yhXrRV4wOr0zOtXTb0d0CcRDb6ZfRXK_7kt/s4032/IMG_3633.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqy88UnEGfI048BP48F1tyEIG-4EFJ9hkI4MWt15N2fjExThobR3jokBqNIFdk24423AfL3EW3japQCS7bsoQy6SqP91evafDIqrkEtr8YMDMw2Kko6LRwZSnFV18vDh1x4yHJFrmFFtZHGD0sHzljt1t0yhXrRV4wOr0zOtXTb0d0CcRDb6ZfRXK_7kt/s320/IMG_3633.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Boat canal in Brecon</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After our week was up, we had a few days to spend in Fishguard, Wales. Located right on the coast it is where our ferry to Ireland would depart. I had scheduled a visit with a vet there to get our dogs paperwork to enter Ireland in order.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7VB2Zq8rB9DwFctOaaaJ-rc97HzL6xfkxJZkht4G0xLIG0xfRPMlFjPP4JKjrPmPoe4s0i2I_W_lDGpIhg2vKg9UYJcSxG3UxyFsf89zfx5rZPDi-X8TnDHB85q0hVz9KoD15vnPr5hHIK1h7jR95THrGogdAwwp4WhYZxwwUxPl4vPFSeAX-4bKnng9/s4032/IMG_3668.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7VB2Zq8rB9DwFctOaaaJ-rc97HzL6xfkxJZkht4G0xLIG0xfRPMlFjPP4JKjrPmPoe4s0i2I_W_lDGpIhg2vKg9UYJcSxG3UxyFsf89zfx5rZPDi-X8TnDHB85q0hVz9KoD15vnPr5hHIK1h7jR95THrGogdAwwp4WhYZxwwUxPl4vPFSeAX-4bKnng9/s320/IMG_3668.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strumble_Head_Lighthouse" target="_blank">Strumble Head Lighthouse</a> behind the girls.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />While we were getting the dogs paperwork in order we had the vet do a complete workup on Lucy. She just had not been herself since Gracie died and we were trying to find out if anything was wrong. She got a good bill of health and the vet pronounced "you have a healthy dog" We still felt something was wrong. This turned out to be a bit of a cloud that started to hang over our heads.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjVf3-cU82vhkS2TNOD0uIRgyZOeK3ceLLdiIO_9Ty1xVIJtgbuNWeKZA_RqnNh4-BvAmEh629Bc6arauB_5idsSAWlazPZvYKlkOcnRv-9NPcl4FFj1x1bhvB74WbUkqEeKUq_8WdGEn7fQGXixCq2uwk8J1lJk7byvNuQwEVEnGNMLjs3pfiF2mczr2/s4032/IMG_9452.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjVf3-cU82vhkS2TNOD0uIRgyZOeK3ceLLdiIO_9Ty1xVIJtgbuNWeKZA_RqnNh4-BvAmEh629Bc6arauB_5idsSAWlazPZvYKlkOcnRv-9NPcl4FFj1x1bhvB74WbUkqEeKUq_8WdGEn7fQGXixCq2uwk8J1lJk7byvNuQwEVEnGNMLjs3pfiF2mczr2/s320/IMG_9452.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lucy has bandage from blood drawing</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ireland June 17 to July 16 </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div>June 17 we were on the 1:30pm ferry to Ireland. </div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLhZ5MlfVDM3oGNVoQL8toDED1EuaITqqqxUyD1xbQ2DNV9nAYkqGU9pmkvZpmMRsnnLLYzyiA6gt4zt6ibNK9ZCaMNar_PLyAjcEQkDTVhFpv0ydqbthpWjkx1_QfQcSeLxBmSNfw_N3GnfHFaP659mQy_UOcRs5sdqwEMglNDdQfTNvuTrjleypDNlg/s4032/1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLhZ5MlfVDM3oGNVoQL8toDED1EuaITqqqxUyD1xbQ2DNV9nAYkqGU9pmkvZpmMRsnnLLYzyiA6gt4zt6ibNK9ZCaMNar_PLyAjcEQkDTVhFpv0ydqbthpWjkx1_QfQcSeLxBmSNfw_N3GnfHFaP659mQy_UOcRs5sdqwEMglNDdQfTNvuTrjleypDNlg/s320/1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As we left Wales behind the excitement of arriving in Ireland started to build.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qloAGvjn5W40tHxHw7Jv3XUEuiyfSLgTxyn1ZjJAAqQkYrc8cwEeO5kqLqO0eSSutygjPzlvJFtpHHDBvFR0OEB2m8kVFG4Ee_A3UZdrs6bEU46y4goC7ALky-Z0MSTi3wsZ086ZiyBBWaqUCp2gor3w0StoPPDkV1Wf1HVxD_7BdorjpywQGtFjeOGW/s4032/1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qloAGvjn5W40tHxHw7Jv3XUEuiyfSLgTxyn1ZjJAAqQkYrc8cwEeO5kqLqO0eSSutygjPzlvJFtpHHDBvFR0OEB2m8kVFG4Ee_A3UZdrs6bEU46y4goC7ALky-Z0MSTi3wsZ086ZiyBBWaqUCp2gor3w0StoPPDkV1Wf1HVxD_7BdorjpywQGtFjeOGW/s320/1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our first stop was a converted farm building on the Blackditch farm, a working farm in County Wicklow.</div><div><br /></div><div>I knew the place was going to be nice. but it was even nicer than I expected. It was in a beautiful location and the facility itself was finished to a very high standard. I could certainly come back here for the summer. Located in the "Sunny" part of Ireland, we had mostly good weather with just a rain shower now and then to keep things interesting.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRs43-W894FerxC7lVgnOQ0TdBNRZLLx0WuJ-8zZzITMHFDYTS4AXej8KL5hZbHTGKaUA-gUtJbojL_WUmiJEKfsGCxkD6yixAkIefLSe7pWECBgJmw3nupbq3JFbvFS0hRwyBy7rEntmL3eJsFZ0basO3ur9ckRM-sxFrHBI0dRO8FOgGNfF5tZIoYQc/s4032/IMG_3946.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRs43-W894FerxC7lVgnOQ0TdBNRZLLx0WuJ-8zZzITMHFDYTS4AXej8KL5hZbHTGKaUA-gUtJbojL_WUmiJEKfsGCxkD6yixAkIefLSe7pWECBgJmw3nupbq3JFbvFS0hRwyBy7rEntmL3eJsFZ0basO3ur9ckRM-sxFrHBI0dRO8FOgGNfF5tZIoYQc/s320/IMG_3946.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Living room. Bed & Bath down the hall. Open to the kitchen to the left.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>A view from the air. Our quarters were in the bottom right corner.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWJjmd_oRV0__27vH9kLkPXIJnT8XOEWLqmNKBDsLugYg82O-tyYYlts5yO3gyrW6sml24uQzVPM7s2PWEur6I3voEiqqUmHIvrw2G33DehFebdDEScOCOPGLDiJFd6yQ8UqAaV8D6hUIiyfU8LAVWCyOtaQLhGC5PQojnOItkkFDmgRrlKnN18ePCzlR/s1709/IMG_3948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1709" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWJjmd_oRV0__27vH9kLkPXIJnT8XOEWLqmNKBDsLugYg82O-tyYYlts5yO3gyrW6sml24uQzVPM7s2PWEur6I3voEiqqUmHIvrw2G33DehFebdDEScOCOPGLDiJFd6yQ8UqAaV8D6hUIiyfU8LAVWCyOtaQLhGC5PQojnOItkkFDmgRrlKnN18ePCzlR/s320/IMG_3948.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>A massive bedroom and equally large bath.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVERdHEsLU2NJJCbeXVGIeZzaMxzeZohEYm4AkXby7-iC7cD2llJnwKGx2gZ3Jzb44kv5QgUuhHBcUkv5FKynBs6EF3Sd_ZBg_MI11BHVAQP7Z6KJsvEj0qXg5J-C7dTHbc-3Wb5BZ1ft_bLXX6rsDk-Jy-NvqVTPLAfHK0bEPESuCoNl43744aI3HYOzT/s4032/1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVERdHEsLU2NJJCbeXVGIeZzaMxzeZohEYm4AkXby7-iC7cD2llJnwKGx2gZ3Jzb44kv5QgUuhHBcUkv5FKynBs6EF3Sd_ZBg_MI11BHVAQP7Z6KJsvEj0qXg5J-C7dTHbc-3Wb5BZ1ft_bLXX6rsDk-Jy-NvqVTPLAfHK0bEPESuCoNl43744aI3HYOzT/s320/1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Some of our local sights</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEg561ePbHHd3cJFKTZAh4iyiM9ySjmw-wGElCKmC7t_Zgh_8Mt2MqltZ7WXJwi1-FE52bzprwecvuur7uYsRoirfMDZ-3qoz-AjSu7lPfWXg9CD0sMqtw7VKMerBqLoPt6g8CpC5a23lhjtZ8YeRRqn9SxYlyWHLQJ3w5aA2n4bIjOEkABI5Rb6jwB0I/s4032/IMG_3840.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEg561ePbHHd3cJFKTZAh4iyiM9ySjmw-wGElCKmC7t_Zgh_8Mt2MqltZ7WXJwi1-FE52bzprwecvuur7uYsRoirfMDZ-3qoz-AjSu7lPfWXg9CD0sMqtw7VKMerBqLoPt6g8CpC5a23lhjtZ8YeRRqn9SxYlyWHLQJ3w5aA2n4bIjOEkABI5Rb6jwB0I/s320/IMG_3840.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Back road in County Wicklow</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Loch Tay aka Guiness Lake. It was the filming location for the village Kattegat in the series "Vikings" now on Netflix.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s9kxktsL-ukyKNhDUv9xu_YMc4pssuomZ59MWi4IDYvs80lobla9y3jBwKC-FU0hoLixPe3UmYgtG14ZD3Y3OMqXenEbsCJps922V-jbGrygV7WvTvPIpOwsFPEkA1dPNXQDYOENUSDCGcl1SEUfk-mwRWVft0tcyTp7akpW10ibveBBtfSC3W3pQvFK/s4032/IMG_3850.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s9kxktsL-ukyKNhDUv9xu_YMc4pssuomZ59MWi4IDYvs80lobla9y3jBwKC-FU0hoLixPe3UmYgtG14ZD3Y3OMqXenEbsCJps922V-jbGrygV7WvTvPIpOwsFPEkA1dPNXQDYOENUSDCGcl1SEUfk-mwRWVft0tcyTp7akpW10ibveBBtfSC3W3pQvFK/s320/IMG_3850.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Loch Tay</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Just another mile or two further into the Wicklow Mountains you come to the bridge that was used in the parting scene in the movie "PS I love you"<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0EZSdyWJpPQhIa2dNDRuSEsODI8b8XlvLcl7yiO_ll0nA5pZFbkiTC-PQND3Aih_zSFHWjXWQo6VpdZO4BdRtAbrs5lZVkxOwH9d7vnDivoI08BXS_0ftYiSfqTqStCf6tWxWsH496MQ7NDyXLtq4kdDSjyNuPoqJg5o7GYeACF2IEHVxtXMQKuaWYQn/s4032/IMG_3881.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0EZSdyWJpPQhIa2dNDRuSEsODI8b8XlvLcl7yiO_ll0nA5pZFbkiTC-PQND3Aih_zSFHWjXWQo6VpdZO4BdRtAbrs5lZVkxOwH9d7vnDivoI08BXS_0ftYiSfqTqStCf6tWxWsH496MQ7NDyXLtq4kdDSjyNuPoqJg5o7GYeACF2IEHVxtXMQKuaWYQn/s320/IMG_3881.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">PS I love you bridge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our time in County Wicklow flew by and we headed next to the Hook Peninsula near Waterford (think Waterford Crystal). On the way to our home we paid a visit to the JFK Arboretum. The Irish are so nice and freindly. Perhaps the nicest people we've met this far in our travels. The man at the gate - hearing that Kate was a newly minted Irish Citizen, allowed us in for free! First we stayed at the gate for at least 10 minutes and chatted about everything under the sun.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDG0dlcoAPq_GaMSR9K8czEqBfmkikiO1gYsKNHX9CGkRHPQO1dSwnC6Pxd5MK9N-sQL53XQrTSTkMoodInsmeMdZwA5V6VjUvHOHQaUbAp_Wmp_VJ7u3QeU6kNuPP2slOkHnFvmLtvqpgH7_8RK5JBqcStyDYFGOius5DfmduIecmmlLps6SFOoH9OYS/s4032/IMG_3966.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDG0dlcoAPq_GaMSR9K8czEqBfmkikiO1gYsKNHX9CGkRHPQO1dSwnC6Pxd5MK9N-sQL53XQrTSTkMoodInsmeMdZwA5V6VjUvHOHQaUbAp_Wmp_VJ7u3QeU6kNuPP2slOkHnFvmLtvqpgH7_8RK5JBqcStyDYFGOius5DfmduIecmmlLps6SFOoH9OYS/s320/IMG_3966.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate at the JFK Arboretum</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Heading to our next house we passed thru some scenic villages.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzKW9daHCSNC_3KDFbncQq-MIMk5xVBfmYiTKGwG7_ffEejDGiEYLdXyaqtUIvH3JAXsQJAsKhPZF37ymcz9ZS5Lu6sA4_DC39dwq52iAnYTM9_ZLr0eusBOXaeDkA6WDVSdKP24m4QOoi0syuKq4X8OThMEmFuBDm6plW9ib4m2oaYflQ6VL5tGC_CpM/s4032/IMG_4012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzKW9daHCSNC_3KDFbncQq-MIMk5xVBfmYiTKGwG7_ffEejDGiEYLdXyaqtUIvH3JAXsQJAsKhPZF37ymcz9ZS5Lu6sA4_DC39dwq52iAnYTM9_ZLr0eusBOXaeDkA6WDVSdKP24m4QOoi0syuKq4X8OThMEmFuBDm6plW9ib4m2oaYflQ6VL5tGC_CpM/s320/IMG_4012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our next place was a lovely small home with a nice glassed in conservatory.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV2UTldxtTIMqYT5kUDie8TVVgkLlMZk82FpLPpArdOVSAaL_Y72ic9ZfP51Woj5iKkWWsl_fKm5OVt-FSOKy4ZYi8g3baeSBTVtZCNL5vOC0TnzhUJblCRJ8a6gvOV-T1OmPc0lmhd7lezltthSttuBLv-klU_Pl-YbqUSGEZXUDBmYWWiHKLEXWIq8L/s4032/1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV2UTldxtTIMqYT5kUDie8TVVgkLlMZk82FpLPpArdOVSAaL_Y72ic9ZfP51Woj5iKkWWsl_fKm5OVt-FSOKy4ZYi8g3baeSBTVtZCNL5vOC0TnzhUJblCRJ8a6gvOV-T1OmPc0lmhd7lezltthSttuBLv-klU_Pl-YbqUSGEZXUDBmYWWiHKLEXWIq8L/s320/1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWg8zPs1XSLqg8rBk9Jxc62OQNcBUgarz5AVUeGU8prqFj-O_fDOxeVwaCmJf4vfoDCPuOc1JD-78pfK5YOU3tIZj79s3ONfMROKeUhGiR-GPC8YhCEDShAP9RZpxQQYflrisXD6F-1WWSNLu0nB0ZZMgwaMw7sw5dKx_nE92sWPRuBa8fgcdxJuuYnCI1/s4032/1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWg8zPs1XSLqg8rBk9Jxc62OQNcBUgarz5AVUeGU8prqFj-O_fDOxeVwaCmJf4vfoDCPuOc1JD-78pfK5YOU3tIZj79s3ONfMROKeUhGiR-GPC8YhCEDShAP9RZpxQQYflrisXD6F-1WWSNLu0nB0ZZMgwaMw7sw5dKx_nE92sWPRuBa8fgcdxJuuYnCI1/s320/1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>While here we toured the local sights including:</div><div><br /></div>Tintern Abbey<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaudw3TyhFe2rsmWyJJYVyNv4eUe1_x633S4S_KUeqNua6f2lDkDbOPwIR0HryhmMPo43jaHU7EE6-S3UVg1OqbFbtDdFZpdf6DBpZL_iH00gkhKzMDhN1LfrXTludz0vi6xfsMYPrJ9tmYTbRLjmZikGfGLU9KvrGC_krLYZnhlooCgziZkUmsyanEtW/s4032/IMG_4097.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaudw3TyhFe2rsmWyJJYVyNv4eUe1_x633S4S_KUeqNua6f2lDkDbOPwIR0HryhmMPo43jaHU7EE6-S3UVg1OqbFbtDdFZpdf6DBpZL_iH00gkhKzMDhN1LfrXTludz0vi6xfsMYPrJ9tmYTbRLjmZikGfGLU9KvrGC_krLYZnhlooCgziZkUmsyanEtW/s320/IMG_4097.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tintern_Abbey" target="_blank">Tintern Abbey</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Hook Lighthouse<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBvCeeNF8_kRyBgXKIKRzhXZ-o3gB3Il9bCXPYqmtCC7QuPyhvDosVuZseLomcq3aFP8KCLmgXDiCa23yKRVy05DMxmVid3UtxF5nygTj-7e-0uRaCX4fB5NnHXlIqVA-Ea0dvISL9pG8-34nsQOfsYZO2qoDEi5pREeyZj_R0aM1a5sR0cyQQ5XoZU5-/s4032/IMG_4121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBvCeeNF8_kRyBgXKIKRzhXZ-o3gB3Il9bCXPYqmtCC7QuPyhvDosVuZseLomcq3aFP8KCLmgXDiCa23yKRVy05DMxmVid3UtxF5nygTj-7e-0uRaCX4fB5NnHXlIqVA-Ea0dvISL9pG8-34nsQOfsYZO2qoDEi5pREeyZj_R0aM1a5sR0cyQQ5XoZU5-/s320/IMG_4121.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We were only here for 2 nights and then off to our next stop in Kinsale.</div><div>We took the ferry across the bay so that we could stop in Waterford for a few hours since it was along the way.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaqyzRl1DcNdlP91WuLG-QnbXOwpgmZNKx5nCkoNeKXujXGvWaYrbSns_dqpr8RgRkZ63e7sMWGmCuc-oQQyzWlxECT6G7a6mE2CYCmbiOqnoWgMP3AmHh7X3sQzERj-40hYa5HnuRNsv4OiRZ7r3DvIC9Aurfe4ZlNAykwp-eOBTKeOFh255y-avw-oZ/s4032/IMG_4171.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaqyzRl1DcNdlP91WuLG-QnbXOwpgmZNKx5nCkoNeKXujXGvWaYrbSns_dqpr8RgRkZ63e7sMWGmCuc-oQQyzWlxECT6G7a6mE2CYCmbiOqnoWgMP3AmHh7X3sQzERj-40hYa5HnuRNsv4OiRZ7r3DvIC9Aurfe4ZlNAykwp-eOBTKeOFh255y-avw-oZ/s320/IMG_4171.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtaPWQI0F31VDi4uTKPOjXylXtmNRKp6M4ascsQCPo3bhsWQ0Qz-uKYe3ueGTncc4NlPHn8nItLQCFnXQvz7i8qNQnR7tATDw1CQrybDtg_3EclHmkd4h2H7asp-JmkXREMR0aeS-nyQr6JeXMXW7saMS1L2x-TX4SaQn7JmDPaXyn22RoZxuOgbo2uEk/s4032/IMG_4179.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtaPWQI0F31VDi4uTKPOjXylXtmNRKp6M4ascsQCPo3bhsWQ0Qz-uKYe3ueGTncc4NlPHn8nItLQCFnXQvz7i8qNQnR7tATDw1CQrybDtg_3EclHmkd4h2H7asp-JmkXREMR0aeS-nyQr6JeXMXW7saMS1L2x-TX4SaQn7JmDPaXyn22RoZxuOgbo2uEk/s320/IMG_4179.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waterford with pleasing pedestrian malls</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After visiting Waterford we continued onward to Kinsale on the southern coast.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvN-DfdacpjvIKlKD1rtyLXuPCguayg15doIiDexcvtBPOhvqt3VUGHNCyP_4qiNn-38Q6cZkRAHCY13_62esT773RW2TFK8v9zKsexp1K0fGepsa4aFMk13-Ttk2x2-OWkuFCWutHm1hRip4ITjAdVcnPsIHIVv6XBflbKqqZzoqK31QElT4obs7TfzbC/s4032/IMG_4240.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvN-DfdacpjvIKlKD1rtyLXuPCguayg15doIiDexcvtBPOhvqt3VUGHNCyP_4qiNn-38Q6cZkRAHCY13_62esT773RW2TFK8v9zKsexp1K0fGepsa4aFMk13-Ttk2x2-OWkuFCWutHm1hRip4ITjAdVcnPsIHIVv6XBflbKqqZzoqK31QElT4obs7TfzbC/s320/IMG_4240.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kinsale Harbor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnEC2IP7OFgjXEfve31QjwytBjfPCR7UYq49WrM-ciljbpekVsL9eBZdkBRMgRO_EASwlMwz0D1kU8b0wLTcZkkq7vnFH17PLBFfG-ny4QUr-B2NcW0vnOhyaZRAvTLTpcdbRLmlyBHha4BDeIyJXUeBA9Jy0weW9v9V9Nu5hAhRP4YD6xTud-1n5u8-p/s4032/IMG_4281.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnEC2IP7OFgjXEfve31QjwytBjfPCR7UYq49WrM-ciljbpekVsL9eBZdkBRMgRO_EASwlMwz0D1kU8b0wLTcZkkq7vnFH17PLBFfG-ny4QUr-B2NcW0vnOhyaZRAvTLTpcdbRLmlyBHha4BDeIyJXUeBA9Jy0weW9v9V9Nu5hAhRP4YD6xTud-1n5u8-p/s320/IMG_4281.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colorful Kinsale</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />We also visited the <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/ringfinnan-garden-of-remembrance" target="_blank">Ringfinnan Garden of Remembrance</a> - created to honor the firefighters lost on 911.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7x9AJvAMULYxkrizz3Zk3mNiW12L_ABEZWo4H7Iondu5_3h2jXCOxRfLE6kQYgrc9BbQuTjZIXUkcDPggqSyj0nutUhnWZxyCoDfLkUtm3hWHX_TTCaS5-r84Q-VC1AZborSZ3MIeVFtoWo3g2_myAzb5KQ58IndQU6ioJeb7llL18e9wz_CjGVZ509O2/s4032/IMG_4300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7x9AJvAMULYxkrizz3Zk3mNiW12L_ABEZWo4H7Iondu5_3h2jXCOxRfLE6kQYgrc9BbQuTjZIXUkcDPggqSyj0nutUhnWZxyCoDfLkUtm3hWHX_TTCaS5-r84Q-VC1AZborSZ3MIeVFtoWo3g2_myAzb5KQ58IndQU6ioJeb7llL18e9wz_CjGVZ509O2/s320/IMG_4300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We took numerous drives along the beautiful Irish Coastline. Much of it is mapped out as the Wild Atlantic Way, a plotted route along the coast, much on tiny roads.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUshCFhUPVKbJUpv1DJjwkw1x_Hs4uZl_8Mz-FHZKR_lahIIcQBs5W1F84zoZuQaIn-uZLWmbr1wDzKCgRZK8O5GCwOeZaDDfoCKM5_DH9GwmSB8NevF5J8QHntbAiVHFagkO2ay9A5t_j-KklNQIpnPBR-OA-EAuLmVreN1oO6RbPoRqF7V1egC6Hs8S/s4032/IMG_4318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUshCFhUPVKbJUpv1DJjwkw1x_Hs4uZl_8Mz-FHZKR_lahIIcQBs5W1F84zoZuQaIn-uZLWmbr1wDzKCgRZK8O5GCwOeZaDDfoCKM5_DH9GwmSB8NevF5J8QHntbAiVHFagkO2ay9A5t_j-KklNQIpnPBR-OA-EAuLmVreN1oO6RbPoRqF7V1egC6Hs8S/s320/IMG_4318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRlrDFaY4JieUlQ1asuLCJ7rdzR7XUd16OkH2MouJKGto6YJkdKTx6aAs0yIwTNxhzgP6pAMmbCegRVYYkJ0Be5UXFB0-erUb9GI_Hj8M-vOIkRDL5UBhSVQuoY0QHhFImLqBh9aV_P3Tf9wx62N2UCxSqAHVuH4rKpEV7q2Pnt7QqHSJ3GM2r8dTN3zN/s4032/IMG_4398.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRlrDFaY4JieUlQ1asuLCJ7rdzR7XUd16OkH2MouJKGto6YJkdKTx6aAs0yIwTNxhzgP6pAMmbCegRVYYkJ0Be5UXFB0-erUb9GI_Hj8M-vOIkRDL5UBhSVQuoY0QHhFImLqBh9aV_P3Tf9wx62N2UCxSqAHVuH4rKpEV7q2Pnt7QqHSJ3GM2r8dTN3zN/s320/IMG_4398.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Annie took us for a day trip to Cork. Lucy has not seemed up to these long walks anymore (a recent development) so we let her take every other day off to rest.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqjzI3jAAq38DuLAh6s3lkcxa5OoqLIuK8YvCHbbC97wDQwGtTE8jskoJmmkdZebHM4B60ZkhMxzpIuRy7B-lDmvqfKI9P99u_oQoFy1J3oiWzVZKv7ozYY_hUpMoVcV2GU7fcD7s4dry_Q7cVLjcVZRmgFfdEz0CEFp4TF1kFCqi5RsmgydGaKDWdDSE/s4032/IMG_4421.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqjzI3jAAq38DuLAh6s3lkcxa5OoqLIuK8YvCHbbC97wDQwGtTE8jskoJmmkdZebHM4B60ZkhMxzpIuRy7B-lDmvqfKI9P99u_oQoFy1J3oiWzVZKv7ozYY_hUpMoVcV2GU7fcD7s4dry_Q7cVLjcVZRmgFfdEz0CEFp4TF1kFCqi5RsmgydGaKDWdDSE/s320/IMG_4421.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>More drives along the Wild Atlantic Way enroute to our home for the next week in Kenmare, County Kerry.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByg72Nl5V8TRtAikXZLHrVw-Zg1RjocW9sJPrTd-iJXEUrVgmJsssMHBzjc4FhYfqwuu0IQGj7O6thR6e21WrRL_CJ3_TEsoS2lSTmzuaBNZ5HEyQjbmTunNY0Xybd8pp-hIL0YISuzt3oTYLx_Nwdovexx03-wIUogLR_HP4PPf7GbCS386anqloX4vq/s4032/IMG_4491.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByg72Nl5V8TRtAikXZLHrVw-Zg1RjocW9sJPrTd-iJXEUrVgmJsssMHBzjc4FhYfqwuu0IQGj7O6thR6e21WrRL_CJ3_TEsoS2lSTmzuaBNZ5HEyQjbmTunNY0Xybd8pp-hIL0YISuzt3oTYLx_Nwdovexx03-wIUogLR_HP4PPf7GbCS386anqloX4vq/s320/IMG_4491.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Along the way, searching for a scenic ride called Healey Pass, our GPS took us up a bad single lane road into the mountains. Just about the time I found a spot to pull over and question our route a man came down the road on a 4-wheeler and confirmed our suspicions. We retreated, re-grouped, and eventually found Healy Pass. It was worth the trouble.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7t80uLmKg45JYPmtTnz2ut0oYUcZqiAInq1RzoXzfWcXGt7kh3i8S_eLWdi3Lwtnlp9_20QsIzZtYTBjYhIZKlSGDKVjAZ1lXqh9jpy5BjW7pmzEHIcTiD4iXAJywtYAAcGTWVnitTVF_nvjjNRs2ThLTzFiA3lOMOQKzPgnkhH0jYJkygVRi1kpan8j/s4032/IMG_4523.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7t80uLmKg45JYPmtTnz2ut0oYUcZqiAInq1RzoXzfWcXGt7kh3i8S_eLWdi3Lwtnlp9_20QsIzZtYTBjYhIZKlSGDKVjAZ1lXqh9jpy5BjW7pmzEHIcTiD4iXAJywtYAAcGTWVnitTVF_nvjjNRs2ThLTzFiA3lOMOQKzPgnkhH0jYJkygVRi1kpan8j/s320/IMG_4523.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Healy Pass</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0O_Vqik6scus-WotE9QFNnrUkKgV6cANn4Do8q40-ToX5o7nQ16qVShyF5h7Fx7NOB1-awhTXZXv5XSy9wZW_kxiWFkqWwMWLGVDxJ_bPgB8PimTjt4YKk41LnZmBIdT5b_d18MEXwmHsQFSqYtv_pVH8O_BjxUV17stQIp1_cDOb6PkdylZ0BMVcPH7/s4032/IMG_4542.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0O_Vqik6scus-WotE9QFNnrUkKgV6cANn4Do8q40-ToX5o7nQ16qVShyF5h7Fx7NOB1-awhTXZXv5XSy9wZW_kxiWFkqWwMWLGVDxJ_bPgB8PimTjt4YKk41LnZmBIdT5b_d18MEXwmHsQFSqYtv_pVH8O_BjxUV17stQIp1_cDOb6PkdylZ0BMVcPH7/s320/IMG_4542.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Glanmore Lake from Healy Pass</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our home outside of Kenmare was great. Down a quiet single lane road about 3 miles from town it was well appointed and a great location to explore the areas. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjf1TDX0Uixgd3lCsb8KowroitiMIPwxcgksk15e6IZRYz3HKbhtfGxbSYe9SEaTUMsJnszPFGvqaFi66Ml1Ro-n6-NPhGqL51MmCCKeXTQGJKn6rMXME4u3SBZJAUC_Tiswe1Norxr4Mw3OD3vetqbzsNtodc-io5ARUUfqLbJiCU1gpGoWTthoZ1YPwx/s4032/IMG_4546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjf1TDX0Uixgd3lCsb8KowroitiMIPwxcgksk15e6IZRYz3HKbhtfGxbSYe9SEaTUMsJnszPFGvqaFi66Ml1Ro-n6-NPhGqL51MmCCKeXTQGJKn6rMXME4u3SBZJAUC_Tiswe1Norxr4Mw3OD3vetqbzsNtodc-io5ARUUfqLbJiCU1gpGoWTthoZ1YPwx/s320/IMG_4546.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGhLZ9Kq3xGMTAsy1cOHseuCb59r4n5Do8kFG1Q9yxyxY8XR_lKEzRyveUSPtYkvRDZbYsXTmzQmEb9VaDiccQ3-EtqOGApFafvbMomoqibEzJg8Eqn7x5NDvKZUkO-Z_R5AI1FZguTNLUI-xNg5qVjzXEh3ZImYgW7EaGB9-ahsnK3k9V-XbmD8tppdb/s4032/IMG_4549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGhLZ9Kq3xGMTAsy1cOHseuCb59r4n5Do8kFG1Q9yxyxY8XR_lKEzRyveUSPtYkvRDZbYsXTmzQmEb9VaDiccQ3-EtqOGApFafvbMomoqibEzJg8Eqn7x5NDvKZUkO-Z_R5AI1FZguTNLUI-xNg5qVjzXEh3ZImYgW7EaGB9-ahsnK3k9V-XbmD8tppdb/s320/IMG_4549.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3jhv2V-UYRjP-ms06hKLNXBVa6iNtYLcwoIMuwIM-_O4AKlXg74KJoroiwJnQqPNCXYlY-aGSOKRomgUSVLeN4eXuOLo3K-FdzKgA7IKeYSBI_0m6UFRcMYET9IJ2zW5bbIL0uxpkAeUIrpvSiv2sZJMNCKB9nBmCUdkelnoKh88lApz8F8mPVXJW_E9/s4032/IMG_4552.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3jhv2V-UYRjP-ms06hKLNXBVa6iNtYLcwoIMuwIM-_O4AKlXg74KJoroiwJnQqPNCXYlY-aGSOKRomgUSVLeN4eXuOLo3K-FdzKgA7IKeYSBI_0m6UFRcMYET9IJ2zW5bbIL0uxpkAeUIrpvSiv2sZJMNCKB9nBmCUdkelnoKh88lApz8F8mPVXJW_E9/s320/IMG_4552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Kenmare is a great town. Smaller, but not far from Killarney should you need something not found here.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvjRRw2WGLY-DRs1aA1ntmFcFNXGVp4OSIx6t_RNIxXRHAPxaM3__fu6dVScyapOALaw7BmlS5ZAQPwapvb9Gi5wwKtZtqdB5DWUqvqfI2YGY62qG8nNxeilgr1mWLkpxZXPUWfmJduHIWZ0FpiyvDEWg0vI8_isk570hnPmEgxLRHmeicNVGVR7thYqs/s4032/IMG_4569.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvjRRw2WGLY-DRs1aA1ntmFcFNXGVp4OSIx6t_RNIxXRHAPxaM3__fu6dVScyapOALaw7BmlS5ZAQPwapvb9Gi5wwKtZtqdB5DWUqvqfI2YGY62qG8nNxeilgr1mWLkpxZXPUWfmJduHIWZ0FpiyvDEWg0vI8_isk570hnPmEgxLRHmeicNVGVR7thYqs/s320/IMG_4569.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Downtown Kenmare, County Kerry</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It is also on the outskirts of the beautiful Killarney National Park. Our travels to and fro gave us the opportunity to detour thru the park several times during our week here.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVN9wxv04PSFAGjZ1qpKegnDeQBNUhk4S2smPdi8xHYnx_QZW_3ZZrix37ZLWLV4Rm74KhPDXGzktzA4fVhrcPR1dSkJHQ5XPTSvipRlSuetPqTGtJv5IZ-LJBrJ3l8nDI62QfcCDGI9Qm1dNmK_mXSLNINjjwqtSET-v9unk8peGAs4dpS20kf3JyeSd/s4032/IMG_4597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVN9wxv04PSFAGjZ1qpKegnDeQBNUhk4S2smPdi8xHYnx_QZW_3ZZrix37ZLWLV4Rm74KhPDXGzktzA4fVhrcPR1dSkJHQ5XPTSvipRlSuetPqTGtJv5IZ-LJBrJ3l8nDI62QfcCDGI9Qm1dNmK_mXSLNINjjwqtSET-v9unk8peGAs4dpS20kf3JyeSd/s320/IMG_4597.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Killarney National Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO3aJL6eEPbRgkz1oL45rI10wiubpGN7CFuIiOVustCfXWO1dCuTvvYUtHDqZ3EOyiYOJ6SLQ0maAUjnsa6aSB8oe9_dwH81jXSZuMk00Xuc2EvM4OEXNBkj1CAu-GA0FM4P1slklaKwG3vVDPiQpXbfla45r4kdEnnZi_jRiWalXbVkxJcxeM69MveQc/s4032/IMG_4617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO3aJL6eEPbRgkz1oL45rI10wiubpGN7CFuIiOVustCfXWO1dCuTvvYUtHDqZ3EOyiYOJ6SLQ0maAUjnsa6aSB8oe9_dwH81jXSZuMk00Xuc2EvM4OEXNBkj1CAu-GA0FM4P1slklaKwG3vVDPiQpXbfla45r4kdEnnZi_jRiWalXbVkxJcxeM69MveQc/s320/IMG_4617.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Killarney National Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Kates Grandmother came from county Kerry, so while here we traveled to where she was born and from where she emigrated to the states in 1910. Enroute we took the scenic ring of Kerry drive.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3-buct6b4SJGL4zvwXvv2rsDfWTsJ-kHwjY6S_p7m9fMh77EUGioYB5CbS_c-7saDwREwXz5YzxAlDoskbHifhcn0egEAIjWLDvz6g6VkdfNrgx7iwGxrPfbkw1JIBgQGiNw0QX3inkcPnC-Wr6pISOFT2IUywZ7nN87CX7zGU3urkwwGLiKk3dlJDKk/s4032/IMG_4659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3-buct6b4SJGL4zvwXvv2rsDfWTsJ-kHwjY6S_p7m9fMh77EUGioYB5CbS_c-7saDwREwXz5YzxAlDoskbHifhcn0egEAIjWLDvz6g6VkdfNrgx7iwGxrPfbkw1JIBgQGiNw0QX3inkcPnC-Wr6pISOFT2IUywZ7nN87CX7zGU3urkwwGLiKk3dlJDKk/s320/IMG_4659.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ring of Kerry Scenery</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Below is where Kates Irish side is from.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4VOpqHmEzD7lCdXcPzvW6HkvoRuoVrwZmadA8QOiL5ThyeINVYDGE-T43Jk539macB8GRclXJfTMKA7uoXaxx43_C3ZyRl5Nz26B45qcn_v9tN8efcAJUSoIj3vQcbUN00INDICGgJlNR2dXn-0RAXSyYYS0A9h7wku67KnP1GJLmObXfk5uLaVlR91l/s4032/IMG_4699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4VOpqHmEzD7lCdXcPzvW6HkvoRuoVrwZmadA8QOiL5ThyeINVYDGE-T43Jk539macB8GRclXJfTMKA7uoXaxx43_C3ZyRl5Nz26B45qcn_v9tN8efcAJUSoIj3vQcbUN00INDICGgJlNR2dXn-0RAXSyYYS0A9h7wku67KnP1GJLmObXfk5uLaVlR91l/s320/IMG_4699.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fenit/Churchill County Kerry</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>One day we spend enjoying Killarney and all the things this vibrant city has to offer</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHiBla5DYZiSCtclL-XVcA-K1-CKCNqSRouW6tyWYjXwj08NY9nOwV8eH5BPwRnTyeb-ogQ1_-lbgF_cbd7myFME3PKyfKXPxyDhmDRTqzLIw8AO-20S2aDOUb7m1HQosfzUOL77U5fib4y2LJXuzd2uOj9wHafmk8w7t2CkiQgsdbmjQMzFG144slxBq/s4032/IMG_4733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHiBla5DYZiSCtclL-XVcA-K1-CKCNqSRouW6tyWYjXwj08NY9nOwV8eH5BPwRnTyeb-ogQ1_-lbgF_cbd7myFME3PKyfKXPxyDhmDRTqzLIw8AO-20S2aDOUb7m1HQosfzUOL77U5fib4y2LJXuzd2uOj9wHafmk8w7t2CkiQgsdbmjQMzFG144slxBq/s320/IMG_4733.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Downtown Killarney, County Kerry</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>And on the way home, detoured again thru Killarney National Park.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBvWi3T4yuCB3Hq1OvSzKRpuUvUoek1rIaVjbGPINTiykWAtLWDFostIk0P1s6HVbQzmPdL1SndcyyQfrWNnhjTa1AB7PR-TPWlFs04qVKiOoqDE1E3NaTIxjuWHKii76piNMsOiBgWSE4M6ucJU4p81X8GjaJiNLbirJqZV9QxUa1L17zAHnR3WX8ni_/s4032/IMG_4736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBvWi3T4yuCB3Hq1OvSzKRpuUvUoek1rIaVjbGPINTiykWAtLWDFostIk0P1s6HVbQzmPdL1SndcyyQfrWNnhjTa1AB7PR-TPWlFs04qVKiOoqDE1E3NaTIxjuWHKii76piNMsOiBgWSE4M6ucJU4p81X8GjaJiNLbirJqZV9QxUa1L17zAHnR3WX8ni_/s320/IMG_4736.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Killarney National Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our week in Kenmare done, we traveled next to Galway. Stopping to visit the world famous Cliffs of Moher along the way.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDNIU04zNPMQ_blTA8dZzvfe2v2fuLDLOiSLH7-AwFOoxATrPFSMwKbMX09WrF-jmIj2YozHCBKVXHWXbK0H0QaRvTfgKfp5OmKVdWNwGtc5_2_iWSOZ1so_T5I67Eg-9eEqMHVJoUZ1CxsabOp-oa24AbwgwmiYNjPPy-k4-170MvGTH-jkbIk-B_VWl/s4032/IMG_4793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDNIU04zNPMQ_blTA8dZzvfe2v2fuLDLOiSLH7-AwFOoxATrPFSMwKbMX09WrF-jmIj2YozHCBKVXHWXbK0H0QaRvTfgKfp5OmKVdWNwGtc5_2_iWSOZ1so_T5I67Eg-9eEqMHVJoUZ1CxsabOp-oa24AbwgwmiYNjPPy-k4-170MvGTH-jkbIk-B_VWl/s320/IMG_4793.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cliffs of Moher</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We visited Galway City<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0Ram-tQ9RU4dRds_fKOEEP98N3YEjhIZU5JI_BQRgBpQxZ9V0F0T4-NFXcLCuS-qwTzoOKlumxohBik-ItLFBhsb5DxfeOOQIkWjuR_SjP9D9ijJu06yM51CjqFiB6tkXI1OEfRsMQKOCCSQ7Ck1LA1xV72raM5ulReDt10UR6MWH5btF4WyPfHDJcD1/s4032/IMG_4808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0Ram-tQ9RU4dRds_fKOEEP98N3YEjhIZU5JI_BQRgBpQxZ9V0F0T4-NFXcLCuS-qwTzoOKlumxohBik-ItLFBhsb5DxfeOOQIkWjuR_SjP9D9ijJu06yM51CjqFiB6tkXI1OEfRsMQKOCCSQ7Ck1LA1xV72raM5ulReDt10UR6MWH5btF4WyPfHDJcD1/s320/IMG_4808.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Downtown Galway</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />And found the famous bridge from John Waynes movie: "The Quiet Man".<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzirDW8at32NQ-7uH56fvr9eaCtV1QaNb9nrmkFM5p3GpkTdPPKi7ScN4sWNMEe2RrpMxVCIxr0GHZRpqwQWXtR2dJZvMV3aSrV5mJg6WIstic84ERlL3PAtu6Amo_6YTimzwo4ahit1cKjXNMe0KHu15oRMmCKfgchSmpX0tBAzL6WralZh1XsnLa-08/s4032/IMG_4857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzirDW8at32NQ-7uH56fvr9eaCtV1QaNb9nrmkFM5p3GpkTdPPKi7ScN4sWNMEe2RrpMxVCIxr0GHZRpqwQWXtR2dJZvMV3aSrV5mJg6WIstic84ERlL3PAtu6Amo_6YTimzwo4ahit1cKjXNMe0KHu15oRMmCKfgchSmpX0tBAzL6WralZh1XsnLa-08/s320/IMG_4857.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"The Quiet Man" Bridge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Visited more castles.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYTVLysmibIkpTwmjC-zOOGR3e95K5PdhKvSsq-7TilzhFLGc8PLEt8YUazeoTi7n8Wpv94jYOIHa4DY_4spgsgEw3Qq2tQRVk5zENeAwIORLoTqZEo3W4l7DnUvTpGgh1AeWKFbzndI0FPVotX_IWvM-BwNDZkAfOTAN8JM5eL4OL8OLN9reRLV_DU42/s4032/IMG_4910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYTVLysmibIkpTwmjC-zOOGR3e95K5PdhKvSsq-7TilzhFLGc8PLEt8YUazeoTi7n8Wpv94jYOIHa4DY_4spgsgEw3Qq2tQRVk5zENeAwIORLoTqZEo3W4l7DnUvTpGgh1AeWKFbzndI0FPVotX_IWvM-BwNDZkAfOTAN8JM5eL4OL8OLN9reRLV_DU42/s320/IMG_4910.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dunguaire Castle Co. Galway</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />And the castle-home of the famous poet William Butler Yeats</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4CD_g6OWdLw1DKHEffqgm1tKbNV-aN5XQWXO_k18s7zlcvDhJ8TQ2Ij0IvM4wj4zJUj4HVkQJqZFAPyYIxBFKZF4qH1fLYtRBh09bimU_a43V0N9ClqQshNVp6sYk224qXzb2VS7SXsk9-a_ugbBGPLLiNA44RW0mKysUcgjOle-H1rU1JbBYiT5EAed/s4032/IMG_4937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4CD_g6OWdLw1DKHEffqgm1tKbNV-aN5XQWXO_k18s7zlcvDhJ8TQ2Ij0IvM4wj4zJUj4HVkQJqZFAPyYIxBFKZF4qH1fLYtRBh09bimU_a43V0N9ClqQshNVp6sYk224qXzb2VS7SXsk9-a_ugbBGPLLiNA44RW0mKysUcgjOle-H1rU1JbBYiT5EAed/s320/IMG_4937.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Thoor Ballylee Castle</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Next we moved across the country and spent a 2-night stay on a barge in Belfast Harbor where we visited all the Titanic sites since the Titanic was built right here.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-QadDGv2AS91b7zW3qoJHbhuJSYuDTFfuJrThegEl00xF4Bnmd8VRG_pX_rjYp8MCtdyX-JorzR4NCoSCzCf4jOkhji5T9f83usPwefihJ9hyphenhyphendOQOAHYpBDDdGUGs_J5JPH3ZGYhQ8PrItdmnqzZStVUTfvjv9FQPj2VblazE9syZiq0kabyqDbZTJ5x/s4032/IMG_4956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-QadDGv2AS91b7zW3qoJHbhuJSYuDTFfuJrThegEl00xF4Bnmd8VRG_pX_rjYp8MCtdyX-JorzR4NCoSCzCf4jOkhji5T9f83usPwefihJ9hyphenhyphendOQOAHYpBDDdGUGs_J5JPH3ZGYhQ8PrItdmnqzZStVUTfvjv9FQPj2VblazE9syZiq0kabyqDbZTJ5x/s320/IMG_4956.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Home on a barge in Belfast Harbor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then it was onto a Stena Line Ferry, and back across the Irish Sea to Scotland and England.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Scotland and England July 17 to Sept 12</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div>Leaving the ferry, our destination was Wyndermere in the Lake District of England. Along the way we stopped to visit the PanAm Flight 103 memorial outside of Lockerbie, Scotland.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrH53ArPjJnysCMGXukjJBBlgn-0dJiAhCs7rFZajwJXdyvnKVrYU4e8a-YHo8JmRW1QZ7MqcAdQICAFczll6QerKlH1qOUrPfz0a1sjSVzzDkckxF2Owu6yDBGFo9yDt9qASU5cJTEeEJ8GSZ3hbtVbt6Q-EmODYh_RSziL0mwO6C817pev79cl1MkyE/s4032/IMG_5101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrH53ArPjJnysCMGXukjJBBlgn-0dJiAhCs7rFZajwJXdyvnKVrYU4e8a-YHo8JmRW1QZ7MqcAdQICAFczll6QerKlH1qOUrPfz0a1sjSVzzDkckxF2Owu6yDBGFo9yDt9qASU5cJTEeEJ8GSZ3hbtVbt6Q-EmODYh_RSziL0mwO6C817pev79cl1MkyE/s320/IMG_5101.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Flight 103 Memorial in Lockerbie</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Our home for the next 6 nights was a nice townhouse on a marina on Lake Wyndermere<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluXfznvU1jNP7x_uchCH6wJEjL9hyAUBhJwzxuPBwu9LpXoma069HGMUFtb4oaWaYSkCHMnugyy8UDdKSL2YOiJGGmoDovCoIMu7bjFRU36Ep3nmZu_2tFTEUolzUa9-jtiGSLKTwosB1CHvht5Kl1B-q8ztmNQeWTmKQp4Z7_8i3uUSo2xsedwxSpYqz/s4032/IMG_5112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluXfznvU1jNP7x_uchCH6wJEjL9hyAUBhJwzxuPBwu9LpXoma069HGMUFtb4oaWaYSkCHMnugyy8UDdKSL2YOiJGGmoDovCoIMu7bjFRU36Ep3nmZu_2tFTEUolzUa9-jtiGSLKTwosB1CHvht5Kl1B-q8ztmNQeWTmKQp4Z7_8i3uUSo2xsedwxSpYqz/s320/IMG_5112.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our view from the deck</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iOc70MmZRSSVrhMMD3yHHhN3lIyw5-28mIV5qUP94z-arfEHUC9hXczRX7oUE2MKpEIX3JpWa7wJa_uKslvLC8MMLf0lSuBGqgBT-MFwq_bx-DEjlcYVBOYvc7unRNbWCEvXw6iJJRL-FMypBA1Jydc_ykZJnDVGVr1UnM6zXy2ZYz03Sk0gqhAhDVHR/s4032/IMG_5146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iOc70MmZRSSVrhMMD3yHHhN3lIyw5-28mIV5qUP94z-arfEHUC9hXczRX7oUE2MKpEIX3JpWa7wJa_uKslvLC8MMLf0lSuBGqgBT-MFwq_bx-DEjlcYVBOYvc7unRNbWCEvXw6iJJRL-FMypBA1Jydc_ykZJnDVGVr1UnM6zXy2ZYz03Sk0gqhAhDVHR/s320/IMG_5146.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Wyndermere</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Each afternoon around 4pm we had a fly-over from RAF and USAF jets returning from their training area nearby.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFOU9ijBPjYBeVD3nCkUl8iiliXZgfH-hX2ikzhPeYQeURV3kEvx0rRzMuVwXzVJOviWtUv-EmclhijNAMJlyqHEPZGDirk1Q9yXehGPNo5vtXT6AwrcwTKNeNtJ6JJxwiaJmXWUvw_1isI_JAovyMeQOMCzYbWLI_MwaUZaRySRWsnABvxqiSs-eGgC4/s4032/IMG_5187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFOU9ijBPjYBeVD3nCkUl8iiliXZgfH-hX2ikzhPeYQeURV3kEvx0rRzMuVwXzVJOviWtUv-EmclhijNAMJlyqHEPZGDirk1Q9yXehGPNo5vtXT6AwrcwTKNeNtJ6JJxwiaJmXWUvw_1isI_JAovyMeQOMCzYbWLI_MwaUZaRySRWsnABvxqiSs-eGgC4/s320/IMG_5187.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">USAF F15 Hotdogging</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Sadly, our visit here was marred by the passing of Lucy. She suffered a stroke on our last night and we took her to a vet in Edinburgh where we said goodbye.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I7P5xKtXHbp96CrLtshLSnGM4sOhewpcP7NAS7SlgAGo3w2B5xyg1aB9KYx_OVrWM_b0wCCjnpuRatl4NT01XUSE9LD8lZpMStbkdlt1TMqddJLb0mPiTLTL4CNvmUBVvtVor8aq0HXmgfvjyyULSpCi4JkWHjo0Cs7e4Ucqvg5fFfvPWYjIAXoD702g/s4030/IMG_5196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="4030" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I7P5xKtXHbp96CrLtshLSnGM4sOhewpcP7NAS7SlgAGo3w2B5xyg1aB9KYx_OVrWM_b0wCCjnpuRatl4NT01XUSE9LD8lZpMStbkdlt1TMqddJLb0mPiTLTL4CNvmUBVvtVor8aq0HXmgfvjyyULSpCi4JkWHjo0Cs7e4Ucqvg5fFfvPWYjIAXoD702g/s320/IMG_5196.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our last picture of Lucy 2 days before she passed</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Even now the wound is too fresh to write about.<br /><br /><br />The morning she passed we were supposed to arrive in Edinburgh, pick up our rental motorhome and travel with Craig and Vicki for 10 days. This turned out to be the perfect therapy.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBIwADPyFHJIvxpS5RhLy382IYYQKe03tcblgtvZ1W1qhjCPY2h6Q6NKuvGt_t7t-mrr-Nxj8IOSmML0eAaOTL0cMpNqQ9ZYEkD6L7AUTTyb5Z2jhuAcTqoVFdyQNxalh9PbVLraa8rjY6zdV5Kt-46dFvQ58skhuualOWNwr77b1PdIqTGolmCgJxxiZ/s3869/IMG_5245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="3869" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBIwADPyFHJIvxpS5RhLy382IYYQKe03tcblgtvZ1W1qhjCPY2h6Q6NKuvGt_t7t-mrr-Nxj8IOSmML0eAaOTL0cMpNqQ9ZYEkD6L7AUTTyb5Z2jhuAcTqoVFdyQNxalh9PbVLraa8rjY6zdV5Kt-46dFvQ58skhuualOWNwr77b1PdIqTGolmCgJxxiZ/s320/IMG_5245.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In "George" - C &V's Motorhome</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Their Motorhome is made by Bailey and they named it George. Think "George Bailey" If you still dont get it then you must be one of our younger readers.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhrujKHiM-4m_w__q20Bp5HPoRd1gbU-EmmMcU91ScRNtfTFqVMsz_enasMeDtCIdrdxYvH3Z7I5JKoUiTkvy3uod7pjJppYywJ0qDGhB8P1EJRbEA1vPQNfU62iP8BhjGYiDNrPueMb-2YkXHprGr0l2Zr6h58TKISA9TYZOgYZJhyDB56pORIae9ois/s4032/IMG_5250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhrujKHiM-4m_w__q20Bp5HPoRd1gbU-EmmMcU91ScRNtfTFqVMsz_enasMeDtCIdrdxYvH3Z7I5JKoUiTkvy3uod7pjJppYywJ0qDGhB8P1EJRbEA1vPQNfU62iP8BhjGYiDNrPueMb-2YkXHprGr0l2Zr6h58TKISA9TYZOgYZJhyDB56pORIae9ois/s320/IMG_5250.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our Motorhome</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our 10 days was a whirlwind of beautiful sights, castles, pubs, and mostly decent weather.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kr0E_dKb3vghJSLo8NCA37Qm-nIqTOQUEq5AvyFodlhtTbnROXzu6SL9N2jzZpF_XAqGu1nZ-0145EUwSqIjXMYAIFIlXo7Gb7evyWxBxCZOxSVltXwGkQGCxgeFANP1ziNdjSo_Lml7SBkhu_IDiCyuykK38zxgo-H0__n5QFC0UWmPRF_ghO01A545/s4032/IMG_5401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kr0E_dKb3vghJSLo8NCA37Qm-nIqTOQUEq5AvyFodlhtTbnROXzu6SL9N2jzZpF_XAqGu1nZ-0145EUwSqIjXMYAIFIlXo7Gb7evyWxBxCZOxSVltXwGkQGCxgeFANP1ziNdjSo_Lml7SBkhu_IDiCyuykK38zxgo-H0__n5QFC0UWmPRF_ghO01A545/s320/IMG_5401.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulSIKCjX9o-l-iJRU9sm2dESnvV4Il5wYNf3NRaGhrf_3Yjz7TajR1LGWjKIa1yz6BXlV6D0O1t8VuANr_L6yCcIWuWfwnnPxu0KcfmifZ-pF1F9wuIo46URT_kyGi1F_Woisy9arPCmBcTRfjTBAE8_WmnJqEg1cAr7MSY3x9ePUFzxjOvzgBFfjbC5b/s4032/IMG_5438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulSIKCjX9o-l-iJRU9sm2dESnvV4Il5wYNf3NRaGhrf_3Yjz7TajR1LGWjKIa1yz6BXlV6D0O1t8VuANr_L6yCcIWuWfwnnPxu0KcfmifZ-pF1F9wuIo46URT_kyGi1F_Woisy9arPCmBcTRfjTBAE8_WmnJqEg1cAr7MSY3x9ePUFzxjOvzgBFfjbC5b/s320/IMG_5438.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Scene along A47 Carbost, Isle of Skye</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWGuvt7xpeAt6FsEDRS9ZyvgcjnXt3FTEhMB3TN-V0Q5NT-1tKxmp4OFtiu5B0c3Bz2piCARnYFwZAvNSe05-9IJmp8zvLzOkHTPRU06K9_lPGN3z7LYIKnFVBsCol9jgl-Y4siI7f3MV6f2NSuviy-FE8CBcczHDDIyrVpIj4lFMI6AcYrddAo9kiBfx/s4032/IMG_5456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWGuvt7xpeAt6FsEDRS9ZyvgcjnXt3FTEhMB3TN-V0Q5NT-1tKxmp4OFtiu5B0c3Bz2piCARnYFwZAvNSe05-9IJmp8zvLzOkHTPRU06K9_lPGN3z7LYIKnFVBsCol9jgl-Y4siI7f3MV6f2NSuviy-FE8CBcczHDDIyrVpIj4lFMI6AcYrddAo9kiBfx/s320/IMG_5456.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A832 Kinlochewe, Scotland</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4YBod81M0XqNym0LNKCLGxozgdtuGyA0w8hOnISRuVpB1NT_tMMJCceekU5MARqDlSM8ZNk5r2Bs_WfDgn4cqqrnWA33XOnWCfyDRzKdQEdfmj_DIaJuSSdTN6_BGQ8zBN7AysWox3NVUaA8ekhiWfSwQTd9Kpnc2F2KAIQDZOWEpgKkjn9w-y23deJA/s4032/IMG_5468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4YBod81M0XqNym0LNKCLGxozgdtuGyA0w8hOnISRuVpB1NT_tMMJCceekU5MARqDlSM8ZNk5r2Bs_WfDgn4cqqrnWA33XOnWCfyDRzKdQEdfmj_DIaJuSSdTN6_BGQ8zBN7AysWox3NVUaA8ekhiWfSwQTd9Kpnc2F2KAIQDZOWEpgKkjn9w-y23deJA/s320/IMG_5468.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">River Ewe Poolewe, Scotland near our Caravan Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our 10 days up - it was now 5 days in Edinburgh and a return visit to the <a href="https://www.edintattoo.co.uk/" target="_blank">Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo</a><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLdlmziA5DiGMm2tj7nP81w4iV3SYgDH4DQ8MB8LtZaQP2xQbdp3-tLiCF0wvLgkYMeKesFSzF2iATPt95Srw3p67P7loqn2KtJ7kO2CZNN3VlGJ5O0sOGI6o2SqLDiilu90ILarRMCgqpciUryCP9vjClo0nWQWb276z6028wq6NX8KtpjO1apkqczXv/s4032/IMG_5632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLdlmziA5DiGMm2tj7nP81w4iV3SYgDH4DQ8MB8LtZaQP2xQbdp3-tLiCF0wvLgkYMeKesFSzF2iATPt95Srw3p67P7loqn2KtJ7kO2CZNN3VlGJ5O0sOGI6o2SqLDiilu90ILarRMCgqpciUryCP9vjClo0nWQWb276z6028wq6NX8KtpjO1apkqczXv/s320/IMG_5632.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Massed Pipes & Drums</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Next on the itinerary was a stay on the <a href="https://www.neidpathcastle.com/" target="_blank">Neidpath Castle Estate</a> in an old <a href="https://www.neidpathcastle.com/barns-bothy" target="_blank">Boothy</a>.</div><div>Our stay was just outside of the quaint market town of Peebles.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCv0rusKDCMDQKOa3yUuzho2gfFMttweGPJML3sT5RbZKPM2nBRuveB5rt13k8eEZ4gquVM-oGi-Hc5KZ_gJFHkOZJ8nTqEyB2x3KujxhL9BC7f9HYBTfs87FokUOlSyFAuLoMkmebOLOg_DQPQLcs7jijTgrU8CvEPkFnmSh3HfyL3q4Zu-Adkl2B5uF/s4032/IMG_5729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCv0rusKDCMDQKOa3yUuzho2gfFMttweGPJML3sT5RbZKPM2nBRuveB5rt13k8eEZ4gquVM-oGi-Hc5KZ_gJFHkOZJ8nTqEyB2x3KujxhL9BC7f9HYBTfs87FokUOlSyFAuLoMkmebOLOg_DQPQLcs7jijTgrU8CvEPkFnmSh3HfyL3q4Zu-Adkl2B5uF/s320/IMG_5729.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Peebles, Scotland</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Our 3-day stay over, or next stop for a week was in Warkworth, Northumberland, England.</div><div>Enroute we took a side excursion and visited the National Trust Property <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cragside" target="_blank">Craigside</a>.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXJOMAPhZGQVbM8rJ8xXk6fysdkKZn4lgFFHTU9ovebrfXUhwx4ahWwEUiWYxBoV9vuaSZe8ff1Qk9ItagiLYPtDkx7Ecyi6I6WJ8xljqFhGb7ykoJYUuZn9IM1aMFMrbkJm82eex9Ojibzd0zk5jjeRTuFWRVxCIn1NpIu1qJb_bR9i8R39T0J3YsFC3/s4032/IMG_5749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXJOMAPhZGQVbM8rJ8xXk6fysdkKZn4lgFFHTU9ovebrfXUhwx4ahWwEUiWYxBoV9vuaSZe8ff1Qk9ItagiLYPtDkx7Ecyi6I6WJ8xljqFhGb7ykoJYUuZn9IM1aMFMrbkJm82eex9Ojibzd0zk5jjeRTuFWRVxCIn1NpIu1qJb_bR9i8R39T0J3YsFC3/s320/IMG_5749.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Craigside</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our stay in Warkworth was in a compact but really nice studio apartment. Well appointed on the ground floor, and with a large yard for Annie to run and play. It was a great location to explore the nearby countryside.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WGLLzqB23JezJYY0LwRkluLfnCvXew79NHDjLV2iYdmgB85Cae3aW_IwP3qMTBdO3cvePJskYfZMLhvCI-UAm9qqBdsigcGPQzTgov1rxQfNfersZNvxEbyI9ZgkNCt5M_D-7SyCQkN-Ojf8P8lwCdzcbwSlStGrCyO-o0x6ICplY-aoI6tBOE5LdNmH/s4032/IMG_5782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WGLLzqB23JezJYY0LwRkluLfnCvXew79NHDjLV2iYdmgB85Cae3aW_IwP3qMTBdO3cvePJskYfZMLhvCI-UAm9qqBdsigcGPQzTgov1rxQfNfersZNvxEbyI9ZgkNCt5M_D-7SyCQkN-Ojf8P8lwCdzcbwSlStGrCyO-o0x6ICplY-aoI6tBOE5LdNmH/s320/IMG_5782.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cross House Cottages<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl8enC8Kb9b7ss0Fy40fINE-gtLTrnc2EhT4TtjWyvN8d-b9mj4VhiMMI7ne9z0UBwxp7hnCC7guSpsdfQqylfyorD7_7OnmJ1cPdxPvNiLREVTeblaGWCpdZcVzTRconF_tcWX-eIpoDlFFlQjUMrV9tRWOJBDAt4cAEsv2evuNKh8v54t3HCwX5cg9r/s4032/IMG_5795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl8enC8Kb9b7ss0Fy40fINE-gtLTrnc2EhT4TtjWyvN8d-b9mj4VhiMMI7ne9z0UBwxp7hnCC7guSpsdfQqylfyorD7_7OnmJ1cPdxPvNiLREVTeblaGWCpdZcVzTRconF_tcWX-eIpoDlFFlQjUMrV9tRWOJBDAt4cAEsv2evuNKh8v54t3HCwX5cg9r/s320/IMG_5795.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie surveys her domain.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>The nearby <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warkworth_Castle" target="_blank">Warkworth Castle</a> was a fun day trip<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3REmjIk6BCFxrBO21qjCjw3-6zwvlQyCmI3QHqCx8yTvt2mRM66Ti9SK3DPESpnHQ5u8prPJejGm0ipCiGMSBhX_TB3hRXe5-stdZNmW_nPDwpmTLbsEzeJ2ZxCVq981XU1b8y90c7VapReeOzc-SNq7YTMQjZVjjlaz2LBFHN5cZ_gE-py0SKy64zk3/s4032/IMG_5877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3REmjIk6BCFxrBO21qjCjw3-6zwvlQyCmI3QHqCx8yTvt2mRM66Ti9SK3DPESpnHQ5u8prPJejGm0ipCiGMSBhX_TB3hRXe5-stdZNmW_nPDwpmTLbsEzeJ2ZxCVq981XU1b8y90c7VapReeOzc-SNq7YTMQjZVjjlaz2LBFHN5cZ_gE-py0SKy64zk3/s320/IMG_5877.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Warkworth Castle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Annie got her first beach day on the nearby beach.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIg8rKL5Ski5jZHVcPq9vYLe5b9QSm_s0Fip61Oz5L0mOO3MDT2o_x_D3ErVdeu9yU4_K5_niveYT82ACa8RGvlTSjHPKWiFZ0yJNAtYrrqCeKtxhwRCZ-vgenGW_HqmxPXU0bKKpFFtVi6F5z3pm716K9aD_E1yhUJOUtgIWrruwrq7iFijStUCh82q1/s4032/IMG_6052-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIg8rKL5Ski5jZHVcPq9vYLe5b9QSm_s0Fip61Oz5L0mOO3MDT2o_x_D3ErVdeu9yU4_K5_niveYT82ACa8RGvlTSjHPKWiFZ0yJNAtYrrqCeKtxhwRCZ-vgenGW_HqmxPXU0bKKpFFtVi6F5z3pm716K9aD_E1yhUJOUtgIWrruwrq7iFijStUCh82q1/s320/IMG_6052-b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Kate made friends with an Owl.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3brneWFqQa4T-TfSEv315LNCJ4_tWCST-pfwkXwxa0L4vp_iWYIJnVPaBjXLIDSyGKri-q1hz5NmRbHko3U0nNj44Jjq4sKbCa3kRApc6x3ylhNLAJAw1wBskV5uy_cwsEPDzH2uP6GFYZf0lUksbxd6jOQLGi96_Av9Vs8PuBE5WWj0IE5sB-xWXaJHT/s4032/IMG_6052-c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3brneWFqQa4T-TfSEv315LNCJ4_tWCST-pfwkXwxa0L4vp_iWYIJnVPaBjXLIDSyGKri-q1hz5NmRbHko3U0nNj44Jjq4sKbCa3kRApc6x3ylhNLAJAw1wBskV5uy_cwsEPDzH2uP6GFYZf0lUksbxd6jOQLGi96_Av9Vs8PuBE5WWj0IE5sB-xWXaJHT/s320/IMG_6052-c.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We made a day trip to Bamburgh Castle. Those of you who saw the series "The Last Kingdom" would know this as "Bebbanburh" the ancestral home of Utred. At the time of the vikings this was a wooden fort, the stone walls coming in later centuries.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNO0B7UDyPs-VF7iTKoPg9Qo4DkZ8edHzIUrvTtqBBRR_GUjUcSwfBJWoN4NUbj89GqIifMXJxx78CtL8zeIpLkVfiaUCK7VQ-lPp5Y6E9SguuajEhrMuPFewOjDMaVeQOAq0JCGyp7ihDcGw1kSLAKyHYte9fcUEnL7jhEf2rV7UaYC6JZsKJTLDCUttI/s4032/IMG_6052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNO0B7UDyPs-VF7iTKoPg9Qo4DkZ8edHzIUrvTtqBBRR_GUjUcSwfBJWoN4NUbj89GqIifMXJxx78CtL8zeIpLkVfiaUCK7VQ-lPp5Y6E9SguuajEhrMuPFewOjDMaVeQOAq0JCGyp7ihDcGw1kSLAKyHYte9fcUEnL7jhEf2rV7UaYC6JZsKJTLDCUttI/s320/IMG_6052.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bamburgh Castle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was a great week with lots to see and do, but time marched onward and so did we - to our next stop in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickering,_North_Yorkshire" target="_blank">Pickering in North Yorkshire</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the way we made a quick visit to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitby" target="_blank">Whitby</a>, a beautiful and popular town on the coast. Also famous for its Fish & Chips. During our week in Pickering we made two more visits to Whitby. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-ULTXE0jHzsAeIsi1FBGoW4Ap6ajQG64Eyfye2mriIWIRv2K9iAdTZXIWGYyliVLtzPzz7yzPrjxa9Xt8biVzKRNpNZZoGcdqiE-yKgVtYjtZrGAQMfAViiNH-2LyaNAioRy10ivWbKO7TQTwnktIYBb-5DMqm3fSAOUz13BdqFo4mIwZ-79jswy0ijj/s4032/IMG_6064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-ULTXE0jHzsAeIsi1FBGoW4Ap6ajQG64Eyfye2mriIWIRv2K9iAdTZXIWGYyliVLtzPzz7yzPrjxa9Xt8biVzKRNpNZZoGcdqiE-yKgVtYjtZrGAQMfAViiNH-2LyaNAioRy10ivWbKO7TQTwnktIYBb-5DMqm3fSAOUz13BdqFo4mIwZ-79jswy0ijj/s320/IMG_6064.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Whitby Harbor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbk7hz1jOHpT3fD6Luv7Ak8DI5W1zH3FHWpv-lPMKzkm6X-gtBPzXbkGVssviLNKJvclnKeJ4U1WE2F6R8qhnztP3qoqFRjSNnkb6vWRP7L421aMwuTnq_j7rHUyar7uI5iW4w_kFHqfVNf_tsu710926oQLPnAsOe_mfriqFpUEnCcc25oPTipuyWWDG/s4032/IMG_6071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbk7hz1jOHpT3fD6Luv7Ak8DI5W1zH3FHWpv-lPMKzkm6X-gtBPzXbkGVssviLNKJvclnKeJ4U1WE2F6R8qhnztP3qoqFRjSNnkb6vWRP7L421aMwuTnq_j7rHUyar7uI5iW4w_kFHqfVNf_tsu710926oQLPnAsOe_mfriqFpUEnCcc25oPTipuyWWDG/s320/IMG_6071.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Side streets in Old Whitby</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We took a trip on the <a href="https://www.nymr.co.uk/" target="_blank">North Yorkshire Steam Railway</a>. Used in Downton Abbey and Harry Potter Films.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr6nbwQ0m2vK4UMq1dnlo6TXjQU_I46PzpiXFIJDQD078gcETEXX_Uv9Pc18kWgxCcBlS4WULd_OQBB6fpY-vEy3fXW1T5AN2XR5vWT6f_VL6cocXjwlLeFij_1a-8iPXYDauCwQGD0ipk_YFkLh8MFUpsBdDaCgfWQ9_7FT8jK_NiuNLaiHaeif_uBvD/s4032/IMG_6111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr6nbwQ0m2vK4UMq1dnlo6TXjQU_I46PzpiXFIJDQD078gcETEXX_Uv9Pc18kWgxCcBlS4WULd_OQBB6fpY-vEy3fXW1T5AN2XR5vWT6f_VL6cocXjwlLeFij_1a-8iPXYDauCwQGD0ipk_YFkLh8MFUpsBdDaCgfWQ9_7FT8jK_NiuNLaiHaeif_uBvD/s320/IMG_6111.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">NYMRR Pickering Station</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We visited Whitby Abbey perched above the town and the sea. The inspiration for Bram Stoker for his novel Dracula.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpOUcMqxBpFHP70SPBI6Vwuw5FpeQ4YyeQcGksDEAPQTu8Dw37OlvwoV0dmmJJLz2_LkBaR90cM_DZ1jeNddrMsL_RC8EcKH-JqF-R6Fg7weM-QAI07kAE2rM6FNatYYuyLw0UP8cWCDijdL4fdtXUPUCugT_4a1SVbqZNYk0ygqGcHDolulQzs8l4tLS/s4032/IMG_6223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpOUcMqxBpFHP70SPBI6Vwuw5FpeQ4YyeQcGksDEAPQTu8Dw37OlvwoV0dmmJJLz2_LkBaR90cM_DZ1jeNddrMsL_RC8EcKH-JqF-R6Fg7weM-QAI07kAE2rM6FNatYYuyLw0UP8cWCDijdL4fdtXUPUCugT_4a1SVbqZNYk0ygqGcHDolulQzs8l4tLS/s320/IMG_6223.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Whitby Abbey</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />A real treat was that we were perfectly timed to enjoy the purple heather covering the moors as far as the eye could see.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXqEUvjmJt2mD00LX683yS407dhZ1VH026tR92kEO-p7IICwQobcKdmqUORgWZNWm44CJWSKmQzbH48L9W7x4PROphPjhqKTJtLp617d-B4m3QhDrLQLOc8TmxuQfs6AOfntWAlGUj_6PUpCa0EYATh_4Y7Rc2hJHqQHuRMQHNwSEF2xwkjjUfquKADip/s4032/IMG_6314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXqEUvjmJt2mD00LX683yS407dhZ1VH026tR92kEO-p7IICwQobcKdmqUORgWZNWm44CJWSKmQzbH48L9W7x4PROphPjhqKTJtLp617d-B4m3QhDrLQLOc8TmxuQfs6AOfntWAlGUj_6PUpCa0EYATh_4Y7Rc2hJHqQHuRMQHNwSEF2xwkjjUfquKADip/s320/IMG_6314.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another highlight was getting to reconnect with our new friends Steve & Hailey who we met earlier this summer in Wales. We met them for lunch at a really nice pub near Thirsk in Felixkirk</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweKvCK5u56RKSDRCS5F_HdBojrj-sgNdnu4SP3w8d-Gs910wf0qEpJwOXYJMSExmonZF-xR1dJaoC-_ko2RicTPiScqm4brqYkhOuaJXuheUZvaNJtbpoguZukrpzHWJaxnUL6qHg1fMptE5yfMhnK3b7hHe0U_DNllXmcThURoItCxnAlVQH8fpHXzg8/s4032/IMG_6347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweKvCK5u56RKSDRCS5F_HdBojrj-sgNdnu4SP3w8d-Gs910wf0qEpJwOXYJMSExmonZF-xR1dJaoC-_ko2RicTPiScqm4brqYkhOuaJXuheUZvaNJtbpoguZukrpzHWJaxnUL6qHg1fMptE5yfMhnK3b7hHe0U_DNllXmcThURoItCxnAlVQH8fpHXzg8/s320/IMG_6347.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>We met our friends Craig & Vicki, plus her sister and Bro in Law who live in the town next to Pickering for dinner one night, and before we knew it another action packed week had slipped by and it was time to move to one of our favorite towns - Winchcombe - located in The Cotswolds. A scenic area in the Midlands of England.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXFrVpv48MQ2jbc18fE1DeIfM1njVyy1hghMLCphoW1nl19_Q3Luwy7CmtduZ5I6hygkM6rj1jKq6quYTbHlXH7-Ke2bn11jJP62cCtyy1qblzru0wm18kfseoxUW8M2BZ-oX2dy7qyOv2OXg3DcBDDMGbIJZgbYV79ux3a3SIpXpnSJFsKiYIs6vuIE1/s4032/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXFrVpv48MQ2jbc18fE1DeIfM1njVyy1hghMLCphoW1nl19_Q3Luwy7CmtduZ5I6hygkM6rj1jKq6quYTbHlXH7-Ke2bn11jJP62cCtyy1qblzru0wm18kfseoxUW8M2BZ-oX2dy7qyOv2OXg3DcBDDMGbIJZgbYV79ux3a3SIpXpnSJFsKiYIs6vuIE1/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our flat is in front of the silver car</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMAEzsIA5Ndz2UPxkFsqQHpevd_LhMt1qsK4bCf4hPSvUq029LKMjp-nJS8PbdlgpXi6u7cWAthgazOPUm-H-3dTnTjQN0Ru-isJAl8d08WuExPhOtYoN8aYQZozdxyUPj_SXWAs6zj-v6hGHPlCJ6zKnA4YegMljTRm9UD7t_Y7F20FYHiWa-wh1WxIF/s4032/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMAEzsIA5Ndz2UPxkFsqQHpevd_LhMt1qsK4bCf4hPSvUq029LKMjp-nJS8PbdlgpXi6u7cWAthgazOPUm-H-3dTnTjQN0Ru-isJAl8d08WuExPhOtYoN8aYQZozdxyUPj_SXWAs6zj-v6hGHPlCJ6zKnA4YegMljTRm9UD7t_Y7F20FYHiWa-wh1WxIF/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The High St in Winchcombe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We were here for 3 weeks. Our friend Kirstyn flew over from Kansas City for a week. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GgZr2JYI_jRi8UKqACt_ex2bVJ_RtV6Y0WREW-BSUtUn7k4b8I-QGtWTOvjPN9Vs1dbgw9h4BQS8neuQJiQiSjz2VVrRjm9f-_HwVltMRO_U3WO26tGjwvjaDX0DSdEMa634Jfx6K00RvlSwzDJlfh_iGPnHqU3ab34NCQUe5PP3Dq9SqVtY4KLKOVOA/s4032/IMG_6437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GgZr2JYI_jRi8UKqACt_ex2bVJ_RtV6Y0WREW-BSUtUn7k4b8I-QGtWTOvjPN9Vs1dbgw9h4BQS8neuQJiQiSjz2VVrRjm9f-_HwVltMRO_U3WO26tGjwvjaDX0DSdEMa634Jfx6K00RvlSwzDJlfh_iGPnHqU3ab34NCQUe5PP3Dq9SqVtY4KLKOVOA/s320/IMG_6437.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We enjoyed all the simple things the area has to offer including the local village fair.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh843KYmoua0e_NTFnpNSfUsHQKMtbGyL_Bf2PjcCkgHtiCLTBkHSR-anqRpqAEu_z_IG0Fmy77QTIdmAdbkhSVG3tRhlnYVJj0UKpTdYxYgMaGEcLpQwn-b1ZlobtswZrJD-jYv2NHx2BmFoeCDNJkUFdyVBi2eTGxI1DMG8k2mD3kPVfnKyI2gZHojvhu/s4032/IMG_3108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh843KYmoua0e_NTFnpNSfUsHQKMtbGyL_Bf2PjcCkgHtiCLTBkHSR-anqRpqAEu_z_IG0Fmy77QTIdmAdbkhSVG3tRhlnYVJj0UKpTdYxYgMaGEcLpQwn-b1ZlobtswZrJD-jYv2NHx2BmFoeCDNJkUFdyVBi2eTGxI1DMG8k2mD3kPVfnKyI2gZHojvhu/s320/IMG_3108.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dog show at the village fair</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>The main town nearby would be Cheltenham. This is where all the big box stores would be found.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8T19MZrOoPVxdyYI67_HesSCad5XBgi2reKcK0dn04338IaqbBu05DI7iugET-nonCLkO_BkR52XLQEHrNtFg8hSqcoZfYWXekl5prfmh7jlGgUjnaDyeNonj-P4wwcD7rsdmbLY3kWJ9SjdsH_TcJbnopcnLnTLzaKPkIYLnEd2KeaplN7ocxZKm6TZ9/s4032/IMG_6389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8T19MZrOoPVxdyYI67_HesSCad5XBgi2reKcK0dn04338IaqbBu05DI7iugET-nonCLkO_BkR52XLQEHrNtFg8hSqcoZfYWXekl5prfmh7jlGgUjnaDyeNonj-P4wwcD7rsdmbLY3kWJ9SjdsH_TcJbnopcnLnTLzaKPkIYLnEd2KeaplN7ocxZKm6TZ9/s320/IMG_6389.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cheltenham City Hall</span></td></tr></tbody></table>A short drive away is Burton on the Water. A pretty town with the River Windrush running thru the center.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2Yc6qPf_rlPdh_eW9b9DZ_RKNvVSw6ZqyokwKzHYZId5Nl7eJ7VWL9oZGKjty9kWWnDWJUp4OrCN3fhReoZaGHEt_mQ_307MoALg9leyZWOIqe036ZZq6oEuUtKnVW9efyDLqoLyoSfQ-7mrJPcOHAAp9-NIJPJ3zyhQ4BlYmC7EdkuNWHpIM8YwQHxJ/s4032/IMG_6462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2Yc6qPf_rlPdh_eW9b9DZ_RKNvVSw6ZqyokwKzHYZId5Nl7eJ7VWL9oZGKjty9kWWnDWJUp4OrCN3fhReoZaGHEt_mQ_307MoALg9leyZWOIqe036ZZq6oEuUtKnVW9efyDLqoLyoSfQ-7mrJPcOHAAp9-NIJPJ3zyhQ4BlYmC7EdkuNWHpIM8YwQHxJ/s320/IMG_6462.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We visited<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastnor_Castle" target="_blank"> Eastnor Castle</a>. The first well preserved castle we've been to where dogs were allowed inside.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkDBxpzvtaio7-dBHS8f5kNrQrtyRC2Cl_Ovd70RcBX962L-7jhNAxY9JB8suH5NdsETGRG8hfvRg5LbR-1aMjNsSKvRNZbfXjDs4GsSs5eDf70VdG2iizSVaW370xkFrY_JEuH0Lx0o-XqGj5v0h_ae3aSLjgQ8oVGYsieJ3ACJpMGMrjayaYzLOPlSV/s4032/IMG_6476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkDBxpzvtaio7-dBHS8f5kNrQrtyRC2Cl_Ovd70RcBX962L-7jhNAxY9JB8suH5NdsETGRG8hfvRg5LbR-1aMjNsSKvRNZbfXjDs4GsSs5eDf70VdG2iizSVaW370xkFrY_JEuH0Lx0o-XqGj5v0h_ae3aSLjgQ8oVGYsieJ3ACJpMGMrjayaYzLOPlSV/s320/IMG_6476.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One day we drove down to Cirencester to check out the big market held on Fridays.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFJwNGWlTmYHdhKXO7NthMh5tzQxkhRQpFtpggkqcth04WPaRw4x_fCxX1ARunFavG6vc7C8mtO7UPz56vRxp88FpiKcrI71cYOYIcBN8AT_2H4B0otZ7vMUGk1Ur5UG9Vzjy43msSvkG7bKl6R60b0Wnm271WgyoeuNR1dQKVEFFskOwtsH1_m7xPhvz/s4032/IMG_6554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFJwNGWlTmYHdhKXO7NthMh5tzQxkhRQpFtpggkqcth04WPaRw4x_fCxX1ARunFavG6vc7C8mtO7UPz56vRxp88FpiKcrI71cYOYIcBN8AT_2H4B0otZ7vMUGk1Ur5UG9Vzjy43msSvkG7bKl6R60b0Wnm271WgyoeuNR1dQKVEFFskOwtsH1_m7xPhvz/s320/IMG_6554.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoyed the Cotswolds views on our travels to and from here and there.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI64I4WzlX6fsz9kyKFa5Mb0eolRXYEGPPmyVEf7c4bTIR_gQnqCz89p1jCav7PeZLIgD02cbeYmfewhVQSWv-DA6cqUoajiV3kwYUV_g2RimbipwWfuSeaDGy666Fe6FD_3zRIeYXl0IaXehuiaDVXoWzxCvN-Y3zzqgyseLYgVwcA9xRoLNJKwMW3Kb1/s4032/IMG_6565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI64I4WzlX6fsz9kyKFa5Mb0eolRXYEGPPmyVEf7c4bTIR_gQnqCz89p1jCav7PeZLIgD02cbeYmfewhVQSWv-DA6cqUoajiV3kwYUV_g2RimbipwWfuSeaDGy666Fe6FD_3zRIeYXl0IaXehuiaDVXoWzxCvN-Y3zzqgyseLYgVwcA9xRoLNJKwMW3Kb1/s320/IMG_6565.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We also visited <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodrich_Castle" target="_blank">Goodrich Castle</a>. An <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Heritage" target="_blank">English Heritage</a> Property.</div><div>As both English Heritage and National Trust members, we get to visit all the properties for free.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_-1o7BnI-D5hd8r9L7B56gjDAa0pmMyGS17SSNA98yaaYyRf9yC2mLmK3HzTu8wfLzC7x0BI4iQf0a0r4Q-wYTwitEsRwDPKNfKbwn1DuQ8qzldQu7wbHB9m0fkgQ9XHDAQbVV7tYk3U1xr9BgC0wZf6t2V6M-vthhYGeYYDBype3ZS9qV7n9Raii8CC/s4032/IMG_6582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_-1o7BnI-D5hd8r9L7B56gjDAa0pmMyGS17SSNA98yaaYyRf9yC2mLmK3HzTu8wfLzC7x0BI4iQf0a0r4Q-wYTwitEsRwDPKNfKbwn1DuQ8qzldQu7wbHB9m0fkgQ9XHDAQbVV7tYk3U1xr9BgC0wZf6t2V6M-vthhYGeYYDBype3ZS9qV7n9Raii8CC/s320/IMG_6582.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our 3 weeks were winding down. We had changed our plans for the last 10 days, and now would be going to Barcelona to pick up Phoebe. This was a good time to give Annie her pre-QM2 bath.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQI7W4MsjVGD98ZBmXj8_E_PeByD-SyzaZmApLeiDuS9vfdL_szwRQG1AIBHprckJMkyICPKMsyOLT5ftdDJyDiSXMvl92J-Y43-YskFUiJXZP-IRd3uQgw6wv-Mf0Ozp_ON7HbIHmhMuEWn19OEscCBbIQExyeW3VkV0Me7VxeqFISTc34wmd_h4YIMf/s4032/IMG_6717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQI7W4MsjVGD98ZBmXj8_E_PeByD-SyzaZmApLeiDuS9vfdL_szwRQG1AIBHprckJMkyICPKMsyOLT5ftdDJyDiSXMvl92J-Y43-YskFUiJXZP-IRd3uQgw6wv-Mf0Ozp_ON7HbIHmhMuEWn19OEscCBbIQExyeW3VkV0Me7VxeqFISTc34wmd_h4YIMf/s320/IMG_6717.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>England to Spain and back Sept 12 - Sept 22 </b></span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div>We departed Winchcombe on Sept 12 We drove to Folkestone on the English Channel and checked into the Holiday Inn there. I then dropped off our rental car at a place we stayed in May, then caught a taxi back to the hotel for the night.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next morning our Pet Taxi picked us up, took us onto the train thru the tunnel to Calais and dropped us off at Enterprise Car Rental at the Calais Ferry Terminal, where we picked up a rental for our time on this side of the English Channel.</div><div><br /></div><div>In a blink, we were now on our way to Barcelona, but first with a stop in Paris for 3 nights so that Annie could see the Eiffel Tower and the rest of the Parisian sights.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8Ph14hj9Qui5hgZuupPy1Kk2OvkwN-g3DHzeuF15G9q_99Tdh8QevvxgHqj-kpV4nm5T-vkGiB8ULzNsTnvTjRQz9SsNFWcx8FickskZeMIEO7QpTnI3192-DYLVU6UyeQaJUjtwBwpgNfas7arTXhbr1HteeD_69lDSa6dEv_Sjb9rx9KLKX2UhwG89/s3936/IMG_6906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2214" data-original-width="3936" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8Ph14hj9Qui5hgZuupPy1Kk2OvkwN-g3DHzeuF15G9q_99Tdh8QevvxgHqj-kpV4nm5T-vkGiB8ULzNsTnvTjRQz9SsNFWcx8FickskZeMIEO7QpTnI3192-DYLVU6UyeQaJUjtwBwpgNfas7arTXhbr1HteeD_69lDSa6dEv_Sjb9rx9KLKX2UhwG89/s320/IMG_6906.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie visits the Eiffel Tower</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2znXrxYmX6rQ3w83uZaRbiEMCZKVIiB3wK1Z_hwiNYt53HcR5tA3kF-v8VZJ_ZkeX5x493xw4-Tw_lFOLLyzvw3LEawZk70nkKPAcYeijiwQsCSOapMV65_hu1ALQ8UXU_91TBjpqzmRGwOF1Q_NOq0KKV47xrT96txe6vMmvEPDRm9yUJMWapZf1HoU/s4032/IMG_6967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2znXrxYmX6rQ3w83uZaRbiEMCZKVIiB3wK1Z_hwiNYt53HcR5tA3kF-v8VZJ_ZkeX5x493xw4-Tw_lFOLLyzvw3LEawZk70nkKPAcYeijiwQsCSOapMV65_hu1ALQ8UXU_91TBjpqzmRGwOF1Q_NOq0KKV47xrT96txe6vMmvEPDRm9yUJMWapZf1HoU/s320/IMG_6967.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie visits a park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We also visited the Arc de Triomphe and walked up and down the Champs Elysees.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALob3zNgoaxLeidU3YgutwmH-D3Ak-bloIft0CIr-beWT9sDJesV9agRxkQEL1-Rk-ZbouvSCrMuzC09Kbi26hFQLHjGr7WN3EAFmFCucSTS0H3NG09a1KmG2NJ7HLVeZ0B2HJFZIHwSzVIXe57PrFyeuIt_o8zLCVr_TuzZdJb6WhiQIPAT31HkFn_dp/s4032/IMG_7005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALob3zNgoaxLeidU3YgutwmH-D3Ak-bloIft0CIr-beWT9sDJesV9agRxkQEL1-Rk-ZbouvSCrMuzC09Kbi26hFQLHjGr7WN3EAFmFCucSTS0H3NG09a1KmG2NJ7HLVeZ0B2HJFZIHwSzVIXe57PrFyeuIt_o8zLCVr_TuzZdJb6WhiQIPAT31HkFn_dp/s320/IMG_7005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie visits the Arc de Triomphe</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Paris is a food lovers city. The markets, the sidewalk cafes... Its so dog friendly!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BEsIKXndPYP6cuuURvQiaE0ePJlUtddMxZ-Q2nIsGjIBtPCa37b0aDrKAt0wC4LOjsU_4D6dRhGNnVks0P-07iQf8-9F6a-zi4TH_-ifR44lY8QfG514YVku5A7229MVaO83oy3quINM_sLu2CH5wTE1Jmtv2EhXAT05KeneWDoH4Dp5JE9qBy_McYmn/s4032/IMG_3949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BEsIKXndPYP6cuuURvQiaE0ePJlUtddMxZ-Q2nIsGjIBtPCa37b0aDrKAt0wC4LOjsU_4D6dRhGNnVks0P-07iQf8-9F6a-zi4TH_-ifR44lY8QfG514YVku5A7229MVaO83oy3quINM_sLu2CH5wTE1Jmtv2EhXAT05KeneWDoH4Dp5JE9qBy_McYmn/s320/IMG_3949.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fresh Veg & Fruit Market</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4PkW4ViWjTBuhNfC2sU1rbprIEXb4Hg0kx9qrqa4fp8h91eF59T3CmuF2IyIlul2yroPoVp9Q4KdpFPYtfMKyBLcCkamW2HIFA2-u_uJlDj-__S1iNGo6kQstNmT_4vmHqJ5_g-sEhrw28G3becTea88ehJ1Z015Zvt7pPpAPienuzWCdSlnRdoTxWDi/s4032/IMG_7059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4PkW4ViWjTBuhNfC2sU1rbprIEXb4Hg0kx9qrqa4fp8h91eF59T3CmuF2IyIlul2yroPoVp9Q4KdpFPYtfMKyBLcCkamW2HIFA2-u_uJlDj-__S1iNGo6kQstNmT_4vmHqJ5_g-sEhrw28G3becTea88ehJ1Z015Zvt7pPpAPienuzWCdSlnRdoTxWDi/s320/IMG_7059.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just one of the endless sidewalk cafes lining the streets</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After 3 days it was time to move on to southern France. Our next stop would put us 3 hrs from Barcelona.</div><div>Along the way we got to drive over the beautiful engineering marvel, The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millau_Viaduct" target="_blank">Millau Viaduct</a>.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aaUe8iI5pcknM4SNLsEbckkTq__nrYLYTQOgnRCfEhV1Ug9NoGzfV0PryEHREoFb1HKwIakQLT_cx9zQ68482At3jmKx2KJJ5hG1edBXI3yiIfR9Mc-lp7Dp2dCPJFQy6K6JtZ_rXNq-CpsKLYB0_e_Ta7Jtpm91t2X-DHlENmnB0vx2J0ch74yTRfpH/s4032/IMG_7093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aaUe8iI5pcknM4SNLsEbckkTq__nrYLYTQOgnRCfEhV1Ug9NoGzfV0PryEHREoFb1HKwIakQLT_cx9zQ68482At3jmKx2KJJ5hG1edBXI3yiIfR9Mc-lp7Dp2dCPJFQy6K6JtZ_rXNq-CpsKLYB0_e_Ta7Jtpm91t2X-DHlENmnB0vx2J0ch74yTRfpH/s320/IMG_7093.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Approaching the Millau Viaduct</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We stayed at a lovely hotel in Perpignan France on Saturday night. About 3 hrs from Barcelona. We had a wonderful dinner by the pool, Annie was allowed.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6mPcPdvDYjy0j_YpJjGLJLf3nUwrFJK9XSr1a6VTj782bP0TG2OgTa26oP9bZcTxoQkPKf3UxGDsFvia_NswwnnXJp3zq9C9tgoUHsczjfRu9AFKvtUxd35396PbwLdvL6BFUK-rMxfA0chpQDWuFHjFUM5orE0YKVV8XGqTqL3RmYSo9JoQFfg9iTM_/s4032/IMG_7144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6mPcPdvDYjy0j_YpJjGLJLf3nUwrFJK9XSr1a6VTj782bP0TG2OgTa26oP9bZcTxoQkPKf3UxGDsFvia_NswwnnXJp3zq9C9tgoUHsczjfRu9AFKvtUxd35396PbwLdvL6BFUK-rMxfA0chpQDWuFHjFUM5orE0YKVV8XGqTqL3RmYSo9JoQFfg9iTM_/s320/IMG_7144.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate and Annie head to dinner</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEwXxSFa-D-JRe7w3u2pfiyw2fEHeyD2hGU4Wipn1ypPtdZdCg_qp_aocPeHj0yqdj0zFZ4jdISpwwS1icv_avfvmHnfUJcOe4vN2l4P_FvF5HPBVeDlJPWc32jOSCGa20JMpnfvHyuCaRiauFk8tAOxB8JBDDuWYSkg6fhZaq8t20gSeezicJvZKMqT2/s4032/IMG_7148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEwXxSFa-D-JRe7w3u2pfiyw2fEHeyD2hGU4Wipn1ypPtdZdCg_qp_aocPeHj0yqdj0zFZ4jdISpwwS1icv_avfvmHnfUJcOe4vN2l4P_FvF5HPBVeDlJPWc32jOSCGa20JMpnfvHyuCaRiauFk8tAOxB8JBDDuWYSkg6fhZaq8t20gSeezicJvZKMqT2/s320/IMG_7148.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dinner by the pool</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Sunday morning we were on the road before the sun rose. We had a 9am appointment to meet our breeder in Barcelona to pick up Phoebe.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9sgVIl4l7ZmCM4U1HxSKdc4fkeEJYfzpqBJyvBqlju4vPdjjS2DWjng2AzqaozowKcg5NBq7dNbFSdPvTg2B9oRd4UqrG_RH-WW6IWXUY4Inzb3XhN1leDOulEduJWqcy_d_WGVTGl5TXDNHW23V9lNdh1jIFJX7vCfGHuGw24grmKNAUP7NJPyoYAyD/s4032/IMG_7160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9sgVIl4l7ZmCM4U1HxSKdc4fkeEJYfzpqBJyvBqlju4vPdjjS2DWjng2AzqaozowKcg5NBq7dNbFSdPvTg2B9oRd4UqrG_RH-WW6IWXUY4Inzb3XhN1leDOulEduJWqcy_d_WGVTGl5TXDNHW23V9lNdh1jIFJX7vCfGHuGw24grmKNAUP7NJPyoYAyD/s320/IMG_7160.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Phoebe (L) and Annie (R) meet for the first time.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKOHJdWBiBOeVssmRZ2LDSDZ1PdAl92J0J9QylXAfbqdPqYpzMdv18Tmb1tJ2Qe-2rEu-85pH8MdIajs1MNTP-tJya-dWRKfJAOmnr4AUHSukKPBuBduixb5czHO6xbM4Uo-bEmRD7Mj7Yy50jrmD73LNQDHsr_Kv53skT2AN22MNdo7z7EOGMRiyaf-3/s4032/IMG_7183-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKOHJdWBiBOeVssmRZ2LDSDZ1PdAl92J0J9QylXAfbqdPqYpzMdv18Tmb1tJ2Qe-2rEu-85pH8MdIajs1MNTP-tJya-dWRKfJAOmnr4AUHSukKPBuBduixb5czHO6xbM4Uo-bEmRD7Mj7Yy50jrmD73LNQDHsr_Kv53skT2AN22MNdo7z7EOGMRiyaf-3/s320/IMG_7183-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Seconds later they are both airborne as the playing begins</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_IW74ZKWkFEGjn-6wn-LOZP4vJVhXVihhOZ2Tmjdjcrd0s3CFzz5HybB6-HeCEvFY8ttnjPgtvIVfof-pZLjGyZoLaDp4vcgVu0aqx2hnOqH0rNpESOmjngWaw6OUXZKM_pkRkHCAaxkzTlLggM2f4wpjPi5dHmEQCtuqoiaFDMka9OraE8XJNg8maqY/s4032/IMG_7183-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_IW74ZKWkFEGjn-6wn-LOZP4vJVhXVihhOZ2Tmjdjcrd0s3CFzz5HybB6-HeCEvFY8ttnjPgtvIVfof-pZLjGyZoLaDp4vcgVu0aqx2hnOqH0rNpESOmjngWaw6OUXZKM_pkRkHCAaxkzTlLggM2f4wpjPi5dHmEQCtuqoiaFDMka9OraE8XJNg8maqY/s320/IMG_7183-b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">And snuggling in the car on the long rides the next few days</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />From Barcelona we turned right around. We had about 13hr to drive to get to Calais where we'd turn in the rental car and grab a pet taxi back to the UK. Our first nights stop was about 5 hrs from Barcelona just north of Toulouse. </div><div><br /></div><div>Phoebe fit right in to life on the road and slept well in our hotel. We had an amazing severe thunderstorm that night. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ95_7d_xry0LDM9lr66awu-tGP1dAoIGLuKgWOsbdwudTKlrZxa1-A8u-aagRGodhnWqRsJOxJxKdhDewVacfvVSsLKP3BRrQ5v_q-Yt8S5LnHotXj4brpVDcACRTohnLypG6ZtpSG7pP8v6mCYUvGxADwAwN5s_1sGSQnhMv3AXbjkTrxWQJTIftlPlx/s4032/IMG_7210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ95_7d_xry0LDM9lr66awu-tGP1dAoIGLuKgWOsbdwudTKlrZxa1-A8u-aagRGodhnWqRsJOxJxKdhDewVacfvVSsLKP3BRrQ5v_q-Yt8S5LnHotXj4brpVDcACRTohnLypG6ZtpSG7pP8v6mCYUvGxADwAwN5s_1sGSQnhMv3AXbjkTrxWQJTIftlPlx/s320/IMG_7210.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sure Hotel by Best Western Les Portes de Montauban</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The next morning the dogs accompanied us to breakfast (France is so so dog friendly) and by 8am we were on the road to Normandy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We had to kill a few days as Phoebes paperwork and vaccine timing would not allow her into the UK until Sept 21st. The QM2 left the next day on the 22nd.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPjWpwXWkagx4wA_pFMwXC5X36yOSrFQh5smrxgAZfWSpw03hMaZlJ8M0saIe_7KBC26na3HmfSMKFNNW1qnhDBSsbWqud5OSpSBEkf2QqQ8wuGaJkpGhmLg9C6sB2UkSQQ8kSYdRveojdxirJVihp4RhSkRz_BdSUAjNLJC0Eker9qN7ZXddi6nb8rkO/s4032/IMG_7228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPjWpwXWkagx4wA_pFMwXC5X36yOSrFQh5smrxgAZfWSpw03hMaZlJ8M0saIe_7KBC26na3HmfSMKFNNW1qnhDBSsbWqud5OSpSBEkf2QqQ8wuGaJkpGhmLg9C6sB2UkSQQ8kSYdRveojdxirJVihp4RhSkRz_BdSUAjNLJC0Eker9qN7ZXddi6nb8rkO/s320/IMG_7228.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">French countryside on A20 north of Toulouse</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Next 3 nights were spent at one of our favorite hotels - <a href="https://www.ranconniere.fr/en/" target="_blank">Ferme de la Ranconniere</a> a boutique hotel in Crepon (Normandy) France. It has a Michelin Starred Resturant to add to the charm.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j4FS4BsLz70G-VIJqeQuqrvgLkb1WObVLjgEvQdyYjxm9eW86uPaWpf4KB2wH1SHsADdSkX_ATyB0vWqb47WfxsL_GOkJSVlPMOxjD-P1PO0PnuUPydx4JT0p4Y0MgRQzD0owm43soZO-UIkk2gYHCf_MSjYAVp4-w2dNGoSCQ8BYFE26B00A_f1hISs/s4032/IMG_7247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j4FS4BsLz70G-VIJqeQuqrvgLkb1WObVLjgEvQdyYjxm9eW86uPaWpf4KB2wH1SHsADdSkX_ATyB0vWqb47WfxsL_GOkJSVlPMOxjD-P1PO0PnuUPydx4JT0p4Y0MgRQzD0owm43soZO-UIkk2gYHCf_MSjYAVp4-w2dNGoSCQ8BYFE26B00A_f1hISs/s320/IMG_7247.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our deluxe ground floor room with back yard. Great for the dogs!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-82oEunH2yP_3yfSlXuwtpXWATyt3MsIL56M3jErjVFkUk5ZoPd1Bs0uaF8A6XRxAlwePTV1ukSnl8I5L5xmAIbk7NDIuA06mXi5zi4k3dWBfNW0Y-jIA-JI5jf9zFxIGKRy2cm93YOpHclzgIpbOiJ2KljuD46uA43lhdK99Vf1mLcgvtELjLUDcOhp/s4032/IMG_7270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-82oEunH2yP_3yfSlXuwtpXWATyt3MsIL56M3jErjVFkUk5ZoPd1Bs0uaF8A6XRxAlwePTV1ukSnl8I5L5xmAIbk7NDIuA06mXi5zi4k3dWBfNW0Y-jIA-JI5jf9zFxIGKRy2cm93YOpHclzgIpbOiJ2KljuD46uA43lhdK99Vf1mLcgvtELjLUDcOhp/s320/IMG_7270.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A delicious meal every night.... dogs are of course allowed</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCmO_ua9kf3447z1BA77Mb6ZJugvYKSPyA7BQYQoCRjZ3yy5fWvDQeuAejymnpCScL4M5Z4r-F15XTiM60SoR5giWZDvH6jP5dk5cCvtepZVRsFuR2ClbOIVGAOSumhn5ivbbRlYYgvv96trpXVEigvR13fcyz5c8tYv8UFu1kLcI-jhzzHsWe2tuC92J/s4032/IMG_7289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCmO_ua9kf3447z1BA77Mb6ZJugvYKSPyA7BQYQoCRjZ3yy5fWvDQeuAejymnpCScL4M5Z4r-F15XTiM60SoR5giWZDvH6jP5dk5cCvtepZVRsFuR2ClbOIVGAOSumhn5ivbbRlYYgvv96trpXVEigvR13fcyz5c8tYv8UFu1kLcI-jhzzHsWe2tuC92J/s320/IMG_7289.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hotel courtyard</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c9wDpqaUts6rDAVWH0UomwkNbMOSt5fDOzzuL6hSengDyQhP7sX8pDPq7onHzcDJEoUa4Q2RT6elH_toRJXFxsyyR3twI_tzWU8nZ1qlXGYczh-PQakUt2G0vJs6DiftW6iKEEWD7hUZ0kF50jeyZGvpGkS_bR00uYrL6BjwD_eUlJx7iJN5tFgFRBPk/s4032/IMG_7290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c9wDpqaUts6rDAVWH0UomwkNbMOSt5fDOzzuL6hSengDyQhP7sX8pDPq7onHzcDJEoUa4Q2RT6elH_toRJXFxsyyR3twI_tzWU8nZ1qlXGYczh-PQakUt2G0vJs6DiftW6iKEEWD7hUZ0kF50jeyZGvpGkS_bR00uYrL6BjwD_eUlJx7iJN5tFgFRBPk/s320/IMG_7290.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Beautiful grounds with lots of flowers</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We made a day trip to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arromanches-les-Bains" target="_blank">Arromanches-les-Bains</a> - the Normandy location where the artificial harbors were built after D-day to support and supply the invasion as it moved inland.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8gOebgydHalIBOocp4N5cgLuqQtfv0FGTeLjjwF6NXtUHZzk4ixoGM-VtMSETtDr4uZ8eUh_ic2GLVxCIvA3AKQN0WsZXeGhyphenhyphenKYMdsT3tL_VCe8TxtEAfRp1nxSHoClTp9C3wi8XMGswvwhh4_tPx5ShWsqyDZBmVZzW2-NzB9wxEhUeYBTfZc0YlWBk/s4032/IMG_7317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8gOebgydHalIBOocp4N5cgLuqQtfv0FGTeLjjwF6NXtUHZzk4ixoGM-VtMSETtDr4uZ8eUh_ic2GLVxCIvA3AKQN0WsZXeGhyphenhyphenKYMdsT3tL_VCe8TxtEAfRp1nxSHoClTp9C3wi8XMGswvwhh4_tPx5ShWsqyDZBmVZzW2-NzB9wxEhUeYBTfZc0YlWBk/s320/IMG_7317.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Before we knew it - we were back in Calais at our old standby - <a href="https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/calais/calcq/hoteldetail/amenities" target="_blank">The Holiday Inn Coquelles</a>. Its close to the tunnel and allows dogs. We've stayed here 4 or 5 times now.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuJEl2kaEVu2_o8vgajWgbQ1k1u7u9zk9JQjTekG-69qEUb8m_72OSj8bseFWUhmOPu_HxVvU0JWd5eyBjwTe1CUnSfr0uxe-7kl7cAQzHgQAhbwSGBr6Qv05sNuxfe2zEikyYCx5nM2iK2g4qH8u5kREOWnmY5qyAmS2YEnMjsoiCsdsF2HeX0nKq-Hi/s4032/IMG_7396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuJEl2kaEVu2_o8vgajWgbQ1k1u7u9zk9JQjTekG-69qEUb8m_72OSj8bseFWUhmOPu_HxVvU0JWd5eyBjwTe1CUnSfr0uxe-7kl7cAQzHgQAhbwSGBr6Qv05sNuxfe2zEikyYCx5nM2iK2g4qH8u5kREOWnmY5qyAmS2YEnMjsoiCsdsF2HeX0nKq-Hi/s320/IMG_7396.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie & Phoebe with Kate at Breakfast</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Like clockwork our pet-taxi arrived and soon the dogs were cleared and we were loading on the train.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh7YKZYyCCamIuJAdYtkU1jSFs610YuD5X4gT5UFAnuKFrEinOXa22D1ISqCkqS0iILxxxzHWiVPWYecffkfLd4EvjOXeNKDaXsftSn_hzYsiVZ1ZBC9bbs4GeP4nbLOU3ynefwksrSdzN2M8ZvitCFGYCDasCuQIs3d6BvQCHkIFC9ysmRlsz-zVi9uf/s4032/IMG_7399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh7YKZYyCCamIuJAdYtkU1jSFs610YuD5X4gT5UFAnuKFrEinOXa22D1ISqCkqS0iILxxxzHWiVPWYecffkfLd4EvjOXeNKDaXsftSn_hzYsiVZ1ZBC9bbs4GeP4nbLOU3ynefwksrSdzN2M8ZvitCFGYCDasCuQIs3d6BvQCHkIFC9ysmRlsz-zVi9uf/s320/IMG_7399.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Loading onto Le Shuttle to head to the UK</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We were dropped off where I left our rental car and soon we had driven to Southampton and checked into our hotel. The last stop on British soil. Tomorrow we'll be on the QM2 headed to NYC</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcOaBu7YEgZd1nymCIpGyQKs4A8OQN24pdxmukuUoiI7qlZdZS9DKVMnb8jpyzl6rrotRXqQKC_i-wAb9uxqcllBQciDPOE-UpzhZPXWfHFAgnP7tVWAlIFyDNcKGKxaejzpHf1I9_bfEJzSKBN5EzUM2VXxQrTV-xmQwkpQldOfB6GmvJzXOv_n7Jx2_/s4032/IMG_7465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcOaBu7YEgZd1nymCIpGyQKs4A8OQN24pdxmukuUoiI7qlZdZS9DKVMnb8jpyzl6rrotRXqQKC_i-wAb9uxqcllBQciDPOE-UpzhZPXWfHFAgnP7tVWAlIFyDNcKGKxaejzpHf1I9_bfEJzSKBN5EzUM2VXxQrTV-xmQwkpQldOfB6GmvJzXOv_n7Jx2_/s320/IMG_7465.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Best Buddies already</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I dropped Kate, the dogs, and the luggage off at the ship. I then returned our rental car that we'd had for the past 5 months, caught an Uber, and met them back at the terminal.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAepOH60j9Sd8h3zDtd3MmurO9xJF4nS3AoexR2eVkN9sMlMULolRs30vlbCX-moTy6bZkXDhoWpee4ZWsEzpqpg-rQ9A_00a_IYa-8nGZW_bs-U9FXWnftlGZEbHCfe1LoQeEaaRNcPDht8lsvBK6JdIU5QUUVW157eAa_GkCDkViXUN11KI6kpKk8qu/s4032/IMG_7482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAepOH60j9Sd8h3zDtd3MmurO9xJF4nS3AoexR2eVkN9sMlMULolRs30vlbCX-moTy6bZkXDhoWpee4ZWsEzpqpg-rQ9A_00a_IYa-8nGZW_bs-U9FXWnftlGZEbHCfe1LoQeEaaRNcPDht8lsvBK6JdIU5QUUVW157eAa_GkCDkViXUN11KI6kpKk8qu/s320/IMG_7482.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our ride awaits</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RhtEI1u-0VFVxDRSO3yAPo9EYfhGNyY4JbYNSe6dVVS_Vopdqj980wu0iMU3eScpGdh5WM0dW_i8WAjosZRmYsR_TBNKUQVQbn60htTavT2hZvdybzSe0qUX-zFP-hhWWQoH2_gOvkaeYeEpJ8X7T_64GTmUry1PbhInPwRMqDGQ36y0HU2YrXga-LtM/s4032/IMG_7519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RhtEI1u-0VFVxDRSO3yAPo9EYfhGNyY4JbYNSe6dVVS_Vopdqj980wu0iMU3eScpGdh5WM0dW_i8WAjosZRmYsR_TBNKUQVQbn60htTavT2hZvdybzSe0qUX-zFP-hhWWQoH2_gOvkaeYeEpJ8X7T_64GTmUry1PbhInPwRMqDGQ36y0HU2YrXga-LtM/s320/IMG_7519.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our palatial suite for the next 7 nights</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-2Lu14RX9qy3T4lRuiUJ71hjPGr_1mi71VdoYdjvi0UlqlliZ54Xqsdv2j5paaUsF3k4kQIxOK-PqdBIIELjc5-UPNgY9-cWUYCvk1CbocoPDW9tApAtzU6iLkVn6Xb9DS8c96dGBYIpZ8-veAT6s83BfEcaPJwV5CTpDSq2HvzOOrvQDq7tSLTodVSR/s4032/IMG_7543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-2Lu14RX9qy3T4lRuiUJ71hjPGr_1mi71VdoYdjvi0UlqlliZ54Xqsdv2j5paaUsF3k4kQIxOK-PqdBIIELjc5-UPNgY9-cWUYCvk1CbocoPDW9tApAtzU6iLkVn6Xb9DS8c96dGBYIpZ8-veAT6s83BfEcaPJwV5CTpDSq2HvzOOrvQDq7tSLTodVSR/s320/IMG_7543.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dogs are safely inside the QM2 kennel.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>New York to Arizona - Sept 30 to Nov 27 the trip concludes.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div>Our arrival in New York was marked by one of the largest rain events in history. Access into and out of the port was blocked for hours. Our car service from Albany (4 hrs away) got stuck in the floods and we had to arrange for a plan b. We stayed in the rain and wind from about 8am until 1;30 when our alternate ride finally made it thru and took us north.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisv-FeD6ftqGoO_9OIIMwYx1geWKJ3lPTd_u37ZUBATw1w1nOt1SXu2OrYJLp__HdoUcQns85oqHNWv_D90qPxfRj20voBdy9RDRWsvayf5lHKRGERC77XBT5STvbNQJTQbVDyQuNeOTjuWTfBcAnTmC_0fr72FGq82xhVwR6P5ygwp4d33v5WdJQa_rta/s4032/IMG_7983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisv-FeD6ftqGoO_9OIIMwYx1geWKJ3lPTd_u37ZUBATw1w1nOt1SXu2OrYJLp__HdoUcQns85oqHNWv_D90qPxfRj20voBdy9RDRWsvayf5lHKRGERC77XBT5STvbNQJTQbVDyQuNeOTjuWTfBcAnTmC_0fr72FGq82xhVwR6P5ygwp4d33v5WdJQa_rta/s320/IMG_7983.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wet dogs and people waiting for rides</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Arriving at the bus, we spent the night at our storage facility. It was on a farm so it was a nice place to spend the night. We had no food in the bus so we made some rice and mixed it with a can of cream of chicken soup. It was warm and filling.</div><div><br /></div><div>The dogs discovered an entire treasure trove of new toys left from Gracie & Lucy and settled into PartyBus life without a hiccup.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-B7UyFCn_xRifWZW85-MV2XD5lSglly_p9v9R7_9nLdhb8b1WkpJBiaCvdQniPaZ-ueoHrRYbxaSEeHG_YsYGdw4p3rYXBpKrspcEekYG9-31zoHc7ZFgcq9NAVRR-GgIp3ay5WfWEupKkvWMiH95agmWIxnv3vA1PKgqAiDmPSTTJJ6QsN5qJZbgGEG/s4032/IMG_8038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-B7UyFCn_xRifWZW85-MV2XD5lSglly_p9v9R7_9nLdhb8b1WkpJBiaCvdQniPaZ-ueoHrRYbxaSEeHG_YsYGdw4p3rYXBpKrspcEekYG9-31zoHc7ZFgcq9NAVRR-GgIp3ay5WfWEupKkvWMiH95agmWIxnv3vA1PKgqAiDmPSTTJJ6QsN5qJZbgGEG/s320/IMG_8038.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At home in the PartyBus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our route back to Arizona took 2 months and many stops along the way:</div><div><br /></div><div>Normandy Farms RV Park in Foxboro Mass was first. We stayed 5 nights, got settled back, re-provisioned, and made lots of side trips.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ESd5TyAXhFHTy9ykBeWi00dl7JjPAGIGSubP4QfoG_gxPMRBN45uVBgwKmXpntC1Fs8KVp1RcE29Oh1h74N_xJtvemmT3jWj8zyyL6Xv3vyj-M-ITJSzvjei7GJUOvUXelEBMZs0yPdc-koy-_tshIKuWYi-gy3ApdAOottpJdD2qbOz2R18EWv7lZcY/s4032/IMG_8049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ESd5TyAXhFHTy9ykBeWi00dl7JjPAGIGSubP4QfoG_gxPMRBN45uVBgwKmXpntC1Fs8KVp1RcE29Oh1h74N_xJtvemmT3jWj8zyyL6Xv3vyj-M-ITJSzvjei7GJUOvUXelEBMZs0yPdc-koy-_tshIKuWYi-gy3ApdAOottpJdD2qbOz2R18EWv7lZcY/s320/IMG_8049.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Salem Mass</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Lake George NY - our old stomping grounds where we caught up with friends and enjoyed the fall colors.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0dL9KqHNedpZSndJOc7jKkSOTu88wRuknGRbJ15SOL5rLpv__cDZlj683PJ1oOUg-zWajFhIFhiO7Ps6ADmbPb-uVdIPLck9CyQB6thAdgy7v7mipQop1xufJzUiOAEFt6kPQifhTfZMGxWmw5-6qGNkZtdgMnuNgD9PX-nlchdKc5XyqEvKcuRv42U0/s4032/IMG_8160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0dL9KqHNedpZSndJOc7jKkSOTu88wRuknGRbJ15SOL5rLpv__cDZlj683PJ1oOUg-zWajFhIFhiO7Ps6ADmbPb-uVdIPLck9CyQB6thAdgy7v7mipQop1xufJzUiOAEFt6kPQifhTfZMGxWmw5-6qGNkZtdgMnuNgD9PX-nlchdKc5XyqEvKcuRv42U0/s320/IMG_8160.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Upstate NY farm country</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Next was the Finger Lake region of upstate NY</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zr4Y6Xwq_LiUrpi-sjRJyyIlghcK4kpIoJ8O4KXaThUoH3LMbCKjxJB6qe5PZF4Dfg1jXFr7KQRlkIPTfPUinnTKBIohdttgkzYGEEHeXQMo3-zb6R6chGV9UOb_GU5j0FCThzkwtaSMcOv6l-9VDSpxaK05CDh1W1DUxTlCS8geKpBI6JhyxTjE9kj5/s4032/IMG_8196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zr4Y6Xwq_LiUrpi-sjRJyyIlghcK4kpIoJ8O4KXaThUoH3LMbCKjxJB6qe5PZF4Dfg1jXFr7KQRlkIPTfPUinnTKBIohdttgkzYGEEHeXQMo3-zb6R6chGV9UOb_GU5j0FCThzkwtaSMcOv6l-9VDSpxaK05CDh1W1DUxTlCS8geKpBI6JhyxTjE9kj5/s320/IMG_8196.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Driving along Seneca Lake</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Then 4 nights or so in Central Pennsylvania at Shawnee State Park</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvikApyUeAKYoQBClyPCBY9bnun2X7hmrwihI35-P7mIbjCHw0DmCjVXXhOF3trhhTce74XuF7037whCz9TcHC604xb6wXZeC9Pin5Tun0xLySGuXrTQS-d85aHVdbqWxWghDtYJpXVmv5CNwiZCsMpzzYrxtn2dkUwI5csTm7Uc-OIapKykz5WeTHl6h/s4032/IMG_8264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvikApyUeAKYoQBClyPCBY9bnun2X7hmrwihI35-P7mIbjCHw0DmCjVXXhOF3trhhTce74XuF7037whCz9TcHC604xb6wXZeC9Pin5Tun0xLySGuXrTQS-d85aHVdbqWxWghDtYJpXVmv5CNwiZCsMpzzYrxtn2dkUwI5csTm7Uc-OIapKykz5WeTHl6h/s320/IMG_8264.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shawnee State Park Campground</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Then Gettysburg Pa.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQkysmrbhsslTpUcuS6SYd1RulCAmRSfHjLy5kToOe4NPsH5YeLoSNfwXHmDusY3rLlvxPhkQ3-2PYNNUHxuYx3e0k3SW7Uojk_KbliIj_quUQK9qWLSoSDs8PdP4oXdrGCIkxU4cHP9clWxVwClbQiXqluOaPi5k5bco4lxE6onFrAsNCWQ1bCpGBGV3/s4032/IMG_8502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQkysmrbhsslTpUcuS6SYd1RulCAmRSfHjLy5kToOe4NPsH5YeLoSNfwXHmDusY3rLlvxPhkQ3-2PYNNUHxuYx3e0k3SW7Uojk_KbliIj_quUQK9qWLSoSDs8PdP4oXdrGCIkxU4cHP9clWxVwClbQiXqluOaPi5k5bco4lxE6onFrAsNCWQ1bCpGBGV3/s320/IMG_8502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then Shenandoah River State Park in Virginia</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9YrJ5dYN6QDEzQzmFMt3E6sTBpGShgo0ZGAp8QP_GqioddeNsZOPqOF42VuSXfuqxpabWjS79sRUCFq7CTBwnBgx_SVZJGb5Y3F73I7rxk0vUCbG5xNJTiR4hFSs1-ESbhRYw7AXzJfHYWVlM1bUgfMfa-BlXafEbAOzMQlKluPAYBHRrfRosQFJsom0/s4032/IMG_8534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9YrJ5dYN6QDEzQzmFMt3E6sTBpGShgo0ZGAp8QP_GqioddeNsZOPqOF42VuSXfuqxpabWjS79sRUCFq7CTBwnBgx_SVZJGb5Y3F73I7rxk0vUCbG5xNJTiR4hFSs1-ESbhRYw7AXzJfHYWVlM1bUgfMfa-BlXafEbAOzMQlKluPAYBHRrfRosQFJsom0/s320/IMG_8534.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shenandoah River State Park CG site #3</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />While here we drove up on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park to enjoy the fall colors.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXtf3l4Trmh5L0kaKV9w2VXLfG1Hlr9TJiX6f1z-DWntknpjmSl9XuRgw_L__a7DFhyS_Ip-_CM2I_zcYXz33VFFRr9hdX7cyOHq_Cg2cvu6fCDNfXXNE6sFeLlrTgXAdstMOLEtvyD37-itS_9N7AuBrUrh5LkLDm6_7x_s2gZBNkhvkowMS3tbM_JCN/s4032/IMG_8599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXtf3l4Trmh5L0kaKV9w2VXLfG1Hlr9TJiX6f1z-DWntknpjmSl9XuRgw_L__a7DFhyS_Ip-_CM2I_zcYXz33VFFRr9hdX7cyOHq_Cg2cvu6fCDNfXXNE6sFeLlrTgXAdstMOLEtvyD37-itS_9N7AuBrUrh5LkLDm6_7x_s2gZBNkhvkowMS3tbM_JCN/s320/IMG_8599.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Skyline Drive Fall Colors</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />A 4 or 5 days at Pocahontas State Park outside of Richmond</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHFlzW_LWFhPGA0gSw7Cq99MHJpVDx1xbuvLZAp5dKCMf9vikppgTmky2DieDtspTGeGtsQqyuzHE0V7fpQO8UYXw3J1hRSGJ7LEqLf1JmWCHNeKW9jb7Ux5ajZtOAnw5mLscploczKcFuHn_Y1CKoCQA4jVEKWOjLTDEA1UPNcrVzh0XSOME2leqk9_E/s4032/IMG_8690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHFlzW_LWFhPGA0gSw7Cq99MHJpVDx1xbuvLZAp5dKCMf9vikppgTmky2DieDtspTGeGtsQqyuzHE0V7fpQO8UYXw3J1hRSGJ7LEqLf1JmWCHNeKW9jb7Ux5ajZtOAnw5mLscploczKcFuHn_Y1CKoCQA4jVEKWOjLTDEA1UPNcrVzh0XSOME2leqk9_E/s320/IMG_8690.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pocahontas State Park Campground site # 108</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Next was Gaffney, SC and a visit to Freightliner for a few days of work on the bus. Then we pointed the bus west and took 3 days traveling the 1,000 miles to Houston where I picked up the new truck<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqK3a_3jOD1thCSUzHDAhwpWKBrjCOdYLqUKaLp0oPCANWqxHB8ZWzgF1zArBJp9fRW8h3gv2DCKhIx5yNP0fBbgIZwhHcGnYvwKF99tFH5XSOGQV3BnxRiWxyMPOwzXm7EOi6T-uFbol1-PTtRMPz5sX9Ipp4XG_gjFnaKaeVA9Ws3lPsvHnAAC3w6I1/s4032/IMG_8919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqK3a_3jOD1thCSUzHDAhwpWKBrjCOdYLqUKaLp0oPCANWqxHB8ZWzgF1zArBJp9fRW8h3gv2DCKhIx5yNP0fBbgIZwhHcGnYvwKF99tFH5XSOGQV3BnxRiWxyMPOwzXm7EOi6T-uFbol1-PTtRMPz5sX9Ipp4XG_gjFnaKaeVA9Ws3lPsvHnAAC3w6I1/s320/IMG_8919.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Katy Lake RV Park near Houston</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Then it was Northwest to Austin Tx for a Thanksgiving bash with friends who arrived from all over.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRhAuWYFGUZyBs6ztT2Vd5TRWc1kqUVDZmAveICxtBgf3uUnAPkTW9RsdQsN_Mws5WF_mnGjhk9nylcDyCxjmfneni18AZWgjHXxZh3QZgF9OVEs8dPTanQbfKSzMjFglXsskwdKyyF2yPtPUoD3vKNn0g3Sl0k6kkoX9H4emAwKl43Oc9X6Nn830umTT/s4032/IMG_9086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRhAuWYFGUZyBs6ztT2Vd5TRWc1kqUVDZmAveICxtBgf3uUnAPkTW9RsdQsN_Mws5WF_mnGjhk9nylcDyCxjmfneni18AZWgjHXxZh3QZgF9OVEs8dPTanQbfKSzMjFglXsskwdKyyF2yPtPUoD3vKNn0g3Sl0k6kkoX9H4emAwKl43Oc9X6Nn830umTT/s320/IMG_9086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It was late November and now time to make the last push west. Another 950 miles to Tuscon and our our winter hideaway.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Fort Stockton for the night we got our first taste of those western sunsets that we'd not seen for many months.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviwt_RLR5OJ4vhu8t3Bfk3NBRXU70vdLlRMSVg99Akc-S6rtg8mwG3xG43lYIHU5Y3x6_dtwSWeUCfF7nS9P2E4YNELeIjVXHibyhHTvobM3ffR3UjGwUBBqMpP8_OBFRdMtBTEbInTIE1lDTZIWc9uZ2Erxq58irhqj9StRqDUuP9cEwEq_QeNpkOe_Q/s4032/IMG_9119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviwt_RLR5OJ4vhu8t3Bfk3NBRXU70vdLlRMSVg99Akc-S6rtg8mwG3xG43lYIHU5Y3x6_dtwSWeUCfF7nS9P2E4YNELeIjVXHibyhHTvobM3ffR3UjGwUBBqMpP8_OBFRdMtBTEbInTIE1lDTZIWc9uZ2Erxq58irhqj9StRqDUuP9cEwEq_QeNpkOe_Q/s320/IMG_9119.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sunset from Hilltop RV in Fort Stockton, Texas</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Last stop before Tucson was Las Cruces NM. Also our first stop when we left Tucson in April.</div><div>The circle was complete. I let Annie drive the last 5 hrs.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SjUg7UAARRrI8dsPhrR8qiXHNkNYkJnmQnRPQqiCXnwfAAp9m863zJNrILgFHVI8n_D65vwvV7s0FyChdi3COJO3TT7trswWz4-fv0FHoC3y6pctOYU9XRsW4FihQHTB7lVhEi6VGZrdgcHdeHxkBY1QgeaxOYW1FdhjrsLRWcYzKp2zb6GwCoem2Rw0/s4032/IMG_9140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SjUg7UAARRrI8dsPhrR8qiXHNkNYkJnmQnRPQqiCXnwfAAp9m863zJNrILgFHVI8n_D65vwvV7s0FyChdi3COJO3TT7trswWz4-fv0FHoC3y6pctOYU9XRsW4FihQHTB7lVhEi6VGZrdgcHdeHxkBY1QgeaxOYW1FdhjrsLRWcYzKp2zb6GwCoem2Rw0/s320/IMG_9140.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Come on dad... let me drive</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />And as quick as it began... it was over. We were back in Az and I was plotting our next getaway.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBF_UFnsfvge3kgXVGJ1l_gS7Vvl8bbnsmdUQoFFtpZlroVDIPMVz3bpy832y8_nnBvGaWXKucdVdnKGj6xSIc0k0ztk8Z2QTU9duK0TYPE78Q510cQLghLdjEI123gCUalrqqa3ruJC3Ro6OBq-zCmtTKxm-i5N1fN4DhUbiL5d6kn2CDVhQAhLZiltI/s4032/IMG_9275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBF_UFnsfvge3kgXVGJ1l_gS7Vvl8bbnsmdUQoFFtpZlroVDIPMVz3bpy832y8_nnBvGaWXKucdVdnKGj6xSIc0k0ztk8Z2QTU9duK0TYPE78Q510cQLghLdjEI123gCUalrqqa3ruJC3Ro6OBq-zCmtTKxm-i5N1fN4DhUbiL5d6kn2CDVhQAhLZiltI/s320/IMG_9275.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Back at the Cactus Ranch</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Its now Christmas day and we have about 2 1/2 weeks or so till we load up the bus and hit the road for a couple of months to join our friends for our usual wintertime desert fun in the sun.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then back here for a month or so and then sometime in April we'll be back on the road headed east for the Summer to be spent in the Canadian Maritimes - Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you've managed to make it to here - congratulations - this was a looong post.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for riding along. We hope you've enjoyed the ride and look forward to making more memories in the not too distant future.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Happy</span> <span style="color: red;">Holidays</span> <span style="color: #38761d;">Everyone 🎅🎅</span></b></span></div></div></div></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-69910068510344528662023-11-20T17:32:00.004-07:002023-11-20T17:45:34.100-07:00Virginia to Texas<div style="text-align: left;"> On November 1st we left Pocahontas State Park just outside of Richmond and headed south down I-85 to Gaffney, South Carolina.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Leaving the park we saw this small deer grazing just along the side of the road. It blends in well with the leaves.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8n7in7QVxp01W1ysC2b3-GqxsAbxjJpbVjFn0F8COEWTSxVpUpTEwYNdqyRUre5nBQPYThZwu5ElalxRtW5On9edI53EVjNU86L5zqcEBo8MyOGmpKecRgMCtpdjNW-gmFBUgLf9-8WHNXammROPUIdJ6GuMj3wNIIV6IM65a55bewC0IK6AX417A-rD/s4032/1a%20Pocahontas%20State%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8n7in7QVxp01W1ysC2b3-GqxsAbxjJpbVjFn0F8COEWTSxVpUpTEwYNdqyRUre5nBQPYThZwu5ElalxRtW5On9edI53EVjNU86L5zqcEBo8MyOGmpKecRgMCtpdjNW-gmFBUgLf9-8WHNXammROPUIdJ6GuMj3wNIIV6IM65a55bewC0IK6AX417A-rD/s320/1a%20Pocahontas%20State%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We headed south on I-85 and continued our endless Autumn.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6ax49F3Z79Xs51z8uRy-toJH53z8pLxI0akhf8VDz4XPH70QGYf09XVBwx6bRpTOqFDiGh_uj7Bl95pZsmsEx0KHQyBFGTTHzKVMtfsMUAYGqczaPCfNaP_Ov6nAyvgCroxIkZXa3zEJjU61yrKS0vjeNZwaFYguyixArGs3B2krGKYVGik4lgWBiSwN/s4032/1b%20I-85%20Va.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6ax49F3Z79Xs51z8uRy-toJH53z8pLxI0akhf8VDz4XPH70QGYf09XVBwx6bRpTOqFDiGh_uj7Bl95pZsmsEx0KHQyBFGTTHzKVMtfsMUAYGqczaPCfNaP_Ov6nAyvgCroxIkZXa3zEJjU61yrKS0vjeNZwaFYguyixArGs3B2krGKYVGik4lgWBiSwN/s320/1b%20I-85%20Va.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fall colors along I-85</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Our next port of call was the Spacious Skies - Peach Haven - RV park in Gaffney. We were here to basically wait to get in for service.<div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPyV96S4Vq44EoKnA9qVMStpQ2_5TgrvF5QN9gGDw4NrbkKcFXbFhB2ryMGRbPO32jIYNj85bh_sfX2pR-7wiOTkdclYquum3Em2iNTD4HdWRXHDIHiTnpW2j8XP2lgFzgb4lA9IvJ48laNZI2eQJ1nlAtPG4GTS0iWCit22HVhnTB0wSW95yBkVkR0QZ/s4032/1c%20Spacious%20Skies%20Gaffney%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPyV96S4Vq44EoKnA9qVMStpQ2_5TgrvF5QN9gGDw4NrbkKcFXbFhB2ryMGRbPO32jIYNj85bh_sfX2pR-7wiOTkdclYquum3Em2iNTD4HdWRXHDIHiTnpW2j8XP2lgFzgb4lA9IvJ48laNZI2eQJ1nlAtPG4GTS0iWCit22HVhnTB0wSW95yBkVkR0QZ/s320/1c%20Spacious%20Skies%20Gaffney%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Spacious Skies Site C-8</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We were able to get the pups some exercise each day at the parks dog park.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsiM7tuBNr6x01RuhSCtfKcplM4ZCDVGnuM6pQov49iFvIWXJILMW8e6VOZLHqGZhb8fBpcfIycgRgCA5If6Nv5Et1ntkHyy5bzB7Gv5DlqIoFoLAl9t_kRWkAFRssxLDGKZmdyKRIRX81Lhu1QYuHLiallDSRztrHj9fFNBGaW2yIV5fT0CIil-fGVEO/s4032/1d%20Spacious%20Skies%20Gaffney%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsiM7tuBNr6x01RuhSCtfKcplM4ZCDVGnuM6pQov49iFvIWXJILMW8e6VOZLHqGZhb8fBpcfIycgRgCA5If6Nv5Et1ntkHyy5bzB7Gv5DlqIoFoLAl9t_kRWkAFRssxLDGKZmdyKRIRX81Lhu1QYuHLiallDSRztrHj9fFNBGaW2yIV5fT0CIil-fGVEO/s320/1d%20Spacious%20Skies%20Gaffney%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally our slot came up at Freightliner and we brought the bus in for service at 7am. It was a two day service due to the amount of work I was having done. The to-do list was: Annual Chassis & Engine Service, change all wheel and differential lubricants, full transmission service (fluids and filters) Air dryer filter, Engine Air filter, replace all coolant hoses, surge tank, thermostat, and serpentine belt. A full generator service with filters and coolant change completed the list.</div><div><br /></div><div>They have a nice lounge to hang out in, plus 27 RV sites with electric out back, so we stayed on site at night.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHJiIdT4967eVV2qyuAyO2_SCMf4SMzppyvGOfhsL3-_VPRvlnlKeUdPiQBR7jXxXB-izsVhucf97fBmWTXVIv1mtRGaBEAcLnelXpJwO9qkpMtMsl9N1rsGGgNfkuQZpfdyS-oiIJRDkPV6r8npZKuaHzKHuQXk6JNJOh6khD6NzE56c7l4AJ9JonC5q/s4032/1e%20Freightliner%20Gaffney.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHJiIdT4967eVV2qyuAyO2_SCMf4SMzppyvGOfhsL3-_VPRvlnlKeUdPiQBR7jXxXB-izsVhucf97fBmWTXVIv1mtRGaBEAcLnelXpJwO9qkpMtMsl9N1rsGGgNfkuQZpfdyS-oiIJRDkPV6r8npZKuaHzKHuQXk6JNJOh6khD6NzE56c7l4AJ9JonC5q/s320/1e%20Freightliner%20Gaffney.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie in the Service Center Lounge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It took every bit of the two days to get all the work done and once completed it was late in the day so we spent a third night at the service center and took off the following morning. Our next destination was Houston Texas - about 15 hours away - so I decided to break our trip up into three easy 5 hour segments. Our destination for the first night was an RV Park just south of Montgomery, Al.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our timing took us thru Atlanta around noon time, so it was a painless trip thru the city.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha78DX5-wteMuoxCJ5DmZY1Np6BXSFh12JrdNE9pJwKBfQc63DJ_O9l3S6UR1NBDDsdgIV0yBt2ZQpyPOlQmcUanOUqFKfNsOI-Cx4g3jJRaUbX0crNRbd0viyDk8KZ04UfeE86vbKplr_dLub68yTISxq-wpJcDFARZBfQEv8_HjZNYcZQRALLittMqgu/s4032/2a%20Atlanta.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha78DX5-wteMuoxCJ5DmZY1Np6BXSFh12JrdNE9pJwKBfQc63DJ_O9l3S6UR1NBDDsdgIV0yBt2ZQpyPOlQmcUanOUqFKfNsOI-Cx4g3jJRaUbX0crNRbd0viyDk8KZ04UfeE86vbKplr_dLub68yTISxq-wpJcDFARZBfQEv8_HjZNYcZQRALLittMqgu/s320/2a%20Atlanta.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Passing thru Atlanta</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />South of Atlanta we enjoyed a bit more fall color. Getting farther south, its not as impressive as it is further north, but still a pretty sight. We've been enjoying fall colors now for about 6 weeks as we follow Autumn's march southward.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqixxIeKnTN9c9gMHcvTdZJQWmMDSMM9SL8S64akjgUpBgY66WO117QYCmCis9B9nqnsex5wq9NAWkka1sv0l4WKsGclnI1ZcNFe-uXAgYR5l3AB_lGpM0FzTUf7HPoL0s5JaGhOE8dzHgevZ4T_dQjDDqEqg9yLoR6I1NGU1BHw9VujXXa73qr6FKcxW/s4032/2b%20i85%20Georgia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqixxIeKnTN9c9gMHcvTdZJQWmMDSMM9SL8S64akjgUpBgY66WO117QYCmCis9B9nqnsex5wq9NAWkka1sv0l4WKsGclnI1ZcNFe-uXAgYR5l3AB_lGpM0FzTUf7HPoL0s5JaGhOE8dzHgevZ4T_dQjDDqEqg9yLoR6I1NGU1BHw9VujXXa73qr6FKcxW/s320/2b%20i85%20Georgia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We arrived at our stop - The South Montgomery RV Park around 3:30p. I did not get any pictures of the place but it was totally fine for an overnight, was easy on and off the interstate, and had a 100' long pull-thru so I did not need to unhook.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back up and at it the next morning, we had 5 hrs to our next stop at the North New Orleans RV Resort. This place is truly a resort. Lots of pools, mini golf, bars, and activities. The night we were there was a Friday and it turned out to be Swampfest night with Swamp Music. The park was pretty much filled up with lots of people of all stripes including families.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AMBpCp4z1Evo9ILuL9RuT28-G1gxLVp8BKHqXZPx9g0lckMrz8TvRbKV5AJBwHjJpXtfB-f5phDfCQ1jL8aeyQNE8h4FSeSYebE6NaJuwL9yseXLt74N5Aog_B9JrWgF0MeAoijoAifOT3wPrDOxspcacDnFQWIg1mMfFH2aTOukT9otVuZeTVMep-TF/s4032/2c%20Montgomery%20South%20RV%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AMBpCp4z1Evo9ILuL9RuT28-G1gxLVp8BKHqXZPx9g0lckMrz8TvRbKV5AJBwHjJpXtfB-f5phDfCQ1jL8aeyQNE8h4FSeSYebE6NaJuwL9yseXLt74N5Aog_B9JrWgF0MeAoijoAifOT3wPrDOxspcacDnFQWIg1mMfFH2aTOukT9otVuZeTVMep-TF/s320/2c%20Montgomery%20South%20RV%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">North New Orleans RV Resort site #29</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6yaRupwjNy3K5jZhaMhx69hP0eM6saq1nbu7BBEjD3cLlzLy8-_Lqm08pB4a3wls577jxNLvIZvw8p8R1zJYo-OGfzTlPOpFmefdbRKw2RBxMCKYT_cwAqju8TG28HwwAE8C_x_nwJZA47k9hQL9Ph3okVU4QtgVSDlF6XNkuS1k_ImNoVgMxbIkxDP1/s4032/3a%20New%20Orleans%20North%20RV%20Resort.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6yaRupwjNy3K5jZhaMhx69hP0eM6saq1nbu7BBEjD3cLlzLy8-_Lqm08pB4a3wls577jxNLvIZvw8p8R1zJYo-OGfzTlPOpFmefdbRKw2RBxMCKYT_cwAqju8TG28HwwAE8C_x_nwJZA47k9hQL9Ph3okVU4QtgVSDlF6XNkuS1k_ImNoVgMxbIkxDP1/s320/3a%20New%20Orleans%20North%20RV%20Resort.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pool at the park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0m9PxiapUyMjuFH0DlJF6BeloAD_EbIKyADj0Dtz7G62bQ9fePtU148pnJrvjLnWj4s0FMh61TCQw1tpFg-cEsFCwOSKDRkOUZzl9znkTUBRUF6j9oj5zl_iQ9rZDFyD_S3P4wRociJ9Wf-wuC-UxGS1qDcvK0A41yoxJGN8s6dhSpIw95fR06f7XwHGX/s4032/3b%20New%20Orleans%20North%20RV%20Resort.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0m9PxiapUyMjuFH0DlJF6BeloAD_EbIKyADj0Dtz7G62bQ9fePtU148pnJrvjLnWj4s0FMh61TCQw1tpFg-cEsFCwOSKDRkOUZzl9znkTUBRUF6j9oj5zl_iQ9rZDFyD_S3P4wRociJ9Wf-wuC-UxGS1qDcvK0A41yoxJGN8s6dhSpIw95fR06f7XwHGX/s320/3b%20New%20Orleans%20North%20RV%20Resort.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mini Golf at the park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We spent a night and again were on the road the next morning. We made a stop along the way at <a href="https://www.billysboudin.com/product-category/cracklins/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=GoogleAds&utm_content=GooglePPC&adgroupid=158226420194&keyword=cracklins&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjMKqBhCgARIsAPDgWlzl4VgfxCNc5m5n7psgraGt-xpV5EonA69h-F2fq7KnQXf3xeWmOfQaAlJXEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Billys Boudin and Cracklins</a> in Shell, La. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudin" target="_blank">Boudin</a> is a Cajun food, basically a type of seasoned sausage with cooked rice added in. Kate is a big fan of the things, so we grabbed a few packages and put them in the freezer. </div><div><br />Continuing west on I-10, we crossed the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge, La.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKOmDTIlkTKzw4uNr3r8-4CZahUyvVGDdvPRbakF4ljE3A3m-IXgUVizKKEXjesUpq933wn994sWorqeGZ1aVmUWge8AYOA-CvFdzKxiZ57aA1mIb1mak5za0-IxR2Yn2avJMpGmYLCsh665vPHLNWh6MLeFfvRd90vIObKmiUKjNk-myo-u1V3vEYDA9/s4032/3c%20Mississippi%20River%20I%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKOmDTIlkTKzw4uNr3r8-4CZahUyvVGDdvPRbakF4ljE3A3m-IXgUVizKKEXjesUpq933wn994sWorqeGZ1aVmUWge8AYOA-CvFdzKxiZ57aA1mIb1mak5za0-IxR2Yn2avJMpGmYLCsh665vPHLNWh6MLeFfvRd90vIObKmiUKjNk-myo-u1V3vEYDA9/s320/3c%20Mississippi%20River%20I%2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then we crossed the Atchafalaya Swamp, the largest swamp in the US. This part of the journey takes you on a bridge thru the swamp that is about 18 miles long. The eastbound side had construction going on and was down to 1 lane. It was backed up for miles. Fortunately for us it was smooth sailing.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlvLbR3kXiXIbgptNP-kr-nniSOy3zFbpahHfXCer7JsgDCn5UzwTqg8f9zsB2lErgzmBh3s-OaysjVDP3xcbZfRteAzYEW0HvbX2PTn7WdlcdMNFYJJVLbdSW0qSedHfNp15Ayxiw99SgVkDPVDhytRpVZ9c0LxQQTcRtaOWmANZVL1bLWwpEgrbXWCI/s4032/3d%20Atchafalaya%20Swamp.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlvLbR3kXiXIbgptNP-kr-nniSOy3zFbpahHfXCer7JsgDCn5UzwTqg8f9zsB2lErgzmBh3s-OaysjVDP3xcbZfRteAzYEW0HvbX2PTn7WdlcdMNFYJJVLbdSW0qSedHfNp15Ayxiw99SgVkDPVDhytRpVZ9c0LxQQTcRtaOWmANZVL1bLWwpEgrbXWCI/s320/3d%20Atchafalaya%20Swamp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Atchafalaya Swamp Bridge on I-10</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">A little bit later we were crossing the Sabine River and were back in Texas. From here it is 880 miles on I-10 to the western border of Texas with New Mexico.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Around 3:30p we arrived at our next stop, and one where we will remain for 5 nights - the Katy Lake RV Resort in Katy, Tx. A western suburb of Houston. We are here because I am trading in our almost 10yr old F150 for a new 2023 model. The new truck is the King Ranch Model which has all of the bells and whistles and we will finally have a really sweet ride rather than just a utility vehicle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our trip map - Gaffney, SC to Houston. About 1,000 miles.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbO96SZfqVX1T0fF2QKtFLg8TlCt3K8GfztTGfSxMhh3-1Mzba_NMzf8EGInIU_PzWei3TC_pZbE8FJ2d-KQvz8PDde30D6JthRgNu68bQw8tlxqbs_3FYTzPlN20efEFWiRptMJjBo1j_h1K1-zgT7rzYtny8Jjxy_73nqDRGb1tmyPxb9ChskxrOOVU/s3338/Gaffney%20to%20Houston.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1934" data-original-width="3338" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbO96SZfqVX1T0fF2QKtFLg8TlCt3K8GfztTGfSxMhh3-1Mzba_NMzf8EGInIU_PzWei3TC_pZbE8FJ2d-KQvz8PDde30D6JthRgNu68bQw8tlxqbs_3FYTzPlN20efEFWiRptMJjBo1j_h1K1-zgT7rzYtny8Jjxy_73nqDRGb1tmyPxb9ChskxrOOVU/s320/Gaffney%20to%20Houston.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And our trip map from the blog showing the last 45 days since we arrived in NY on the QM2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJPKhfZb6B3rFAdab9id-s9z6M2tRIEZA1wU1oY1FPbb-mNJk48bdyDGgiW2P5JPbZyccHiQ30LpfH9zjY_aRVSNj65cBMrKI8qi11DMMnYhfrB4HracZMw0DJMz99EpTVXIDm7j3fwT4IACExfWHeDFUIuxz9RClvtx2Vl-SO2-wwHqJU8zQogSYuZ8z/s3348/QM2%20Arrival%20to%20Houston%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="3348" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJPKhfZb6B3rFAdab9id-s9z6M2tRIEZA1wU1oY1FPbb-mNJk48bdyDGgiW2P5JPbZyccHiQ30LpfH9zjY_aRVSNj65cBMrKI8qi11DMMnYhfrB4HracZMw0DJMz99EpTVXIDm7j3fwT4IACExfWHeDFUIuxz9RClvtx2Vl-SO2-wwHqJU8zQogSYuZ8z/s320/QM2%20Arrival%20to%20Houston%202023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Spotwalla Map: NYC arrival to Houston</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First step was getting all of the stuff out of the truck. We began this process back in Virginia by sorting and consolidating. There is truly a lot of stuff accumulated in there. It's sort of like our traveling garage.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course the forecast is for heavy rain, and I will need to leave the stuff outside for a few days while I get the new truck set up to be towed behind the bus, so I needed to enclose everything in heavy duty construction waste bags.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuKkIwqT46RAOntbQmrnBUfsuHOUWUZ-WLcaxbx0BWKZFbaybNWO22Mc1OwbSZYAnJR4MODVLr_lFqpAtIa54AAHY8aJ1cASX_yKi4etF-XXbSLUYF1IDgHjHQCqLJyUxgZxj0zO2BJGGoXS2wUJlhLMLHCCocATgJkZAKEUOzYWaljZfqEvDsehG6vPB/s4032/IMG_8904.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuKkIwqT46RAOntbQmrnBUfsuHOUWUZ-WLcaxbx0BWKZFbaybNWO22Mc1OwbSZYAnJR4MODVLr_lFqpAtIa54AAHY8aJ1cASX_yKi4etF-XXbSLUYF1IDgHjHQCqLJyUxgZxj0zO2BJGGoXS2wUJlhLMLHCCocATgJkZAKEUOzYWaljZfqEvDsehG6vPB/s320/IMG_8904.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Emptying out the truck before the storms move in</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>On Monday morning, with the truck empty, I drove down to Discount Hitch in Katy to have our Airforce One braking system removed from the truck. This system used the brake air pressure from the bus to apply the brakes in the truck. The harder I step on the brake in the bus, the harder the brakes are applied in the truck. It's a great system.</div><div><br /></div><div>After the AF1 was removed, I drove 6 miles to Mac Haik Ford in Houston to turn over the old and pick up the new. 30 min or so after that I was heading back to Discount hitch in a pouring rain storm to have the AF1 installed on the new truck. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also needed to have a new baseplate attached to the new truck. That is the part on the truck that attaches to the towbar from the bus. This was going to take about 12 hrs so I summoned an Uber and headed back to the RV Park.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next day I was called that all was complete and I took another Uber down to pick up the truck.</div><div>Returning home Kate took it out for a test spin. Kate gave it her 100% seal of approval.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdeZYFwV4jZ9NrhoOd5e3jX9tbM8rnAuCsIoaYk2EsCFZVbTAJa82oJPplJRGfL7fHwiPN4pN4A5K271g89XjrfdkeenjDK94CfN-QZg5bxTkUKjN5F1GKXrkIvbeBxHR4enFu59IVKJASfmuQjvsd4_eCIG0qQ4Pp7a7j5KkzgVWEkFWZuCguTZ0eO2Z/s4032/1a%20Kate%20new%20truck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdeZYFwV4jZ9NrhoOd5e3jX9tbM8rnAuCsIoaYk2EsCFZVbTAJa82oJPplJRGfL7fHwiPN4pN4A5K271g89XjrfdkeenjDK94CfN-QZg5bxTkUKjN5F1GKXrkIvbeBxHR4enFu59IVKJASfmuQjvsd4_eCIG0qQ4Pp7a7j5KkzgVWEkFWZuCguTZ0eO2Z/s320/1a%20Kate%20new%20truck.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate takes the helm</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Back at the shack, I loaded all the stuff into the new truck. Again I practiced the fine art of stuffing 10lbs of junk into a 5lb box.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E8RLrx40V3iMDrUY8zTwxa_hb07cpjvfCBVbADnjHElEJdqFkstjl37NYTu8lyNDRmosiuQiuhOyI1oCsStNzgPxOKKiPUX5Jm2pMDxeGzGaKY9VOwdlIFZ8ZTIFvKIIeWLpe5lO7sSLHKuHkQ2QmrVFg0meIdeyfsh_JssV2-uC_sSYLmozCfViURUq/s4032/1b%20new%20truck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E8RLrx40V3iMDrUY8zTwxa_hb07cpjvfCBVbADnjHElEJdqFkstjl37NYTu8lyNDRmosiuQiuhOyI1oCsStNzgPxOKKiPUX5Jm2pMDxeGzGaKY9VOwdlIFZ8ZTIFvKIIeWLpe5lO7sSLHKuHkQ2QmrVFg0meIdeyfsh_JssV2-uC_sSYLmozCfViURUq/s320/1b%20new%20truck.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The new "garage"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzziGlWbkOzYAnKz6qCmUaQTo0Hm9V-qAc6363j7cOFeLz-K3avFZos5SxVFSFeEHMIeVpDykT-OfT5-PaMWukql05-IXqzqEJ59HN-Qj-zvfjIfssNXO8or5uLJmosQVHnH7SVnkC5dp0dntNQ6QG2txu5J9GGsS5ehxZUmwi97D-b4HsZ6fDAOkRByR/s4032/1c%20new%20truck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzziGlWbkOzYAnKz6qCmUaQTo0Hm9V-qAc6363j7cOFeLz-K3avFZos5SxVFSFeEHMIeVpDykT-OfT5-PaMWukql05-IXqzqEJ59HN-Qj-zvfjIfssNXO8or5uLJmosQVHnH7SVnkC5dp0dntNQ6QG2txu5J9GGsS5ehxZUmwi97D-b4HsZ6fDAOkRByR/s320/1c%20new%20truck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On Thursday the 16th we headed 3hrs Northwest to McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, Tx. Just minutes to everything but a green quiet oasis in the city. Our site, #71 has 30amp and water. I had to shoehorn the bus into the tight site as there is a retaining wall on the passenger side that limits my turning radius. I have to be careful the back end does not swing into it when I turn.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuLJXdQ301613lXmYiuTTgoKKphGgY8esyvLhjY8Ge1lO-R1XOURjCAO_bpkspfnVinYToIejQwkFIFkr_tsftfvbQdQuoGC0RPAghul17rCSQLpo1HY8N9_ZV6EIpEgVnPtdPc2tJ_dmQzhvG55FefCt-x5g2VwQeFyiwDs3AXSXFBF_YiXeV4TcBHKj/s4032/2a%20McKinney%20Falls%20State%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuLJXdQ301613lXmYiuTTgoKKphGgY8esyvLhjY8Ge1lO-R1XOURjCAO_bpkspfnVinYToIejQwkFIFkr_tsftfvbQdQuoGC0RPAghul17rCSQLpo1HY8N9_ZV6EIpEgVnPtdPc2tJ_dmQzhvG55FefCt-x5g2VwQeFyiwDs3AXSXFBF_YiXeV4TcBHKj/s320/2a%20McKinney%20Falls%20State%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">McKinney Falls State Park Camground site 71</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Kates BFF Marys' daughter Morgan lives here with her husband. We will spend Thanksgiving with them and Morgans 2 sisters and significant others. 7 humans and 3 dogs. Morgan & Chris will be heading out in December on thier own advanture fulltiming in their new 27' Airstream, and working from the road. An exciting time for them for sure.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikauW6AdalKvsQ6s0gIUZkEJmA8-kCVk6goVuKcrIGShpIXV_Ifpc9_H0hpjbZNBQx3lA1xCDRmLUBcWUmTrvv1oEoR9dm2JeT6Ur_4nh8aGUVUArLPb_NfnyJp-bysNh_ryZRkjMDNHCGeVzMFnY9yxBWN_o0XSfLaHpj4uXN_Cqc5lymNq2YLwZmjMcJ/s4032/2b%20McKinney%20Falls%20State%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikauW6AdalKvsQ6s0gIUZkEJmA8-kCVk6goVuKcrIGShpIXV_Ifpc9_H0hpjbZNBQx3lA1xCDRmLUBcWUmTrvv1oEoR9dm2JeT6Ur_4nh8aGUVUArLPb_NfnyJp-bysNh_ryZRkjMDNHCGeVzMFnY9yxBWN_o0XSfLaHpj4uXN_Cqc5lymNq2YLwZmjMcJ/s320/2b%20McKinney%20Falls%20State%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Morgan, Georgie, Annie & Phoebe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The view of our site from the passenger side.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqLy5xCcdI6NZ4qBLBLmsERqyyrKKDgqs5GHxhg-S8vRczBSDbHOkf1Mx9gSXEqN76m4gl-kEw6DMBpWtFtl3R0EApF1-nFYkcHfgm4yd8S0rVnbM4lOxz9rnLuDA8NY8Zrw4S7HVgNZvyQFZn4hn4FCuPHZ8HMCZY0USw9CKbpP2R2RqkL_ZAOkQUoU3/s4032/2c%20McKinney%20Falls%20State%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqLy5xCcdI6NZ4qBLBLmsERqyyrKKDgqs5GHxhg-S8vRczBSDbHOkf1Mx9gSXEqN76m4gl-kEw6DMBpWtFtl3R0EApF1-nFYkcHfgm4yd8S0rVnbM4lOxz9rnLuDA8NY8Zrw4S7HVgNZvyQFZn4hn4FCuPHZ8HMCZY0USw9CKbpP2R2RqkL_ZAOkQUoU3/s320/2c%20McKinney%20Falls%20State%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On Friday I had an appointment with Texas Truck and Trailer to have a custom cap installed. I had ordered the cap a few weeks earlier - actually while we were up driving the Skyline Drive I completed the deal.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJRdcbINa2f3ALTSgP31ZIgcB42oS33Ij1ExMGIz7JruRl0dRsUbadqiG0JwiLDHkyxlxy_-AXrfhRW_lWGXHsoyuNV64LKFrB05wnh31Git8VcgVG_mniTXd1j-c2EewvTj-Qu19m3d-xi4BrTNt6VnmJvCpEu8lUUKaw_tnwohuPB6kj5l46d-JRECw/s4032/2d%20Texas%20Truck%20and%20Trailer%20Austin%20East.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJRdcbINa2f3ALTSgP31ZIgcB42oS33Ij1ExMGIz7JruRl0dRsUbadqiG0JwiLDHkyxlxy_-AXrfhRW_lWGXHsoyuNV64LKFrB05wnh31Git8VcgVG_mniTXd1j-c2EewvTj-Qu19m3d-xi4BrTNt6VnmJvCpEu8lUUKaw_tnwohuPB6kj5l46d-JRECw/s320/2d%20Texas%20Truck%20and%20Trailer%20Austin%20East.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Getting the cap installed</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Truck with the new cap.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxyerPeHieRqWSK-JNxoXaY_KXboD4ZgJ2JZhH9baagNxr888TmJWxHwLNe1jV5Dung6iv8NvYPn_xrQFhyphenhyphenSJA9ZtMxYwxTnvBD1WxXFfB7LPiJ_JELp78wtnzh2VbH-c1Ir8ggYJO7Ox1jHB8nsok16Wdq9udSTptleJDVIOrjeFmghWOT4QVQDclVu4/s4032/2e%20McKinney%20Falls%20State%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxyerPeHieRqWSK-JNxoXaY_KXboD4ZgJ2JZhH9baagNxr888TmJWxHwLNe1jV5Dung6iv8NvYPn_xrQFhyphenhyphenSJA9ZtMxYwxTnvBD1WxXFfB7LPiJ_JELp78wtnzh2VbH-c1Ir8ggYJO7Ox1jHB8nsok16Wdq9udSTptleJDVIOrjeFmghWOT4QVQDclVu4/s320/2e%20McKinney%20Falls%20State%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Garage has a roof!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Annie & Phoebe are enjoying the time running around in Morgans house and playing with their full size Doodle Georgie.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66i8tpatcEBIsdafbX3QUh-U8tYD2d0NI0GgSQKjOitPCt6-SuUsUYQ25Yhuuu0Fo5xpWLZqzAth2P2nGX_3E3VgRSr5SJTJf03ovgKjeO7votWonL4D4uVw4x5jTGg6HFtdO0NDuZsjG-EPVStmXCJzw-H5D1Erzs0v9DOyCg_EHnW4aiw2CVxCw5HJS/s4032/3a%20Buda%20Tx.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66i8tpatcEBIsdafbX3QUh-U8tYD2d0NI0GgSQKjOitPCt6-SuUsUYQ25Yhuuu0Fo5xpWLZqzAth2P2nGX_3E3VgRSr5SJTJf03ovgKjeO7votWonL4D4uVw4x5jTGg6HFtdO0NDuZsjG-EPVStmXCJzw-H5D1Erzs0v9DOyCg_EHnW4aiw2CVxCw5HJS/s320/3a%20Buda%20Tx.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Playtime again</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Today - Monday the 20th - I replaced the radio in the bus. Its been acting up for a while. Intermittently cutting out leaving us without tunes. So best to do this before it went for good. It was a pretty easy replacement that took a few hours.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGIh1UaxZT0A65ahGSj9pIWc3M3pLPAF_jQmKKJONvWx6c29et-HGSlO9s8M2AFzLttIVJNrpSTVnsHxPR2yDAVoMyW-Zy4KjfJns3-X-XmyoZAGYjy9poG9AQuvhNEAgHviIuSfqEV-BkSHyhURF6vWeO-V_AwoU9mUovvfhfeRfmBKisiw6_ljhyeX8/s4032/3b%20new%20radio.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGIh1UaxZT0A65ahGSj9pIWc3M3pLPAF_jQmKKJONvWx6c29et-HGSlO9s8M2AFzLttIVJNrpSTVnsHxPR2yDAVoMyW-Zy4KjfJns3-X-XmyoZAGYjy9poG9AQuvhNEAgHviIuSfqEV-BkSHyhURF6vWeO-V_AwoU9mUovvfhfeRfmBKisiw6_ljhyeX8/s320/3b%20new%20radio.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">New tunes for the PartyBus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Thursday is Thanksgiving and then Saturday we will be wheels up for the final leg of the trip to Tucson. It's about 15hrs from here to the barn so we'll see if we break it up into 2 or three legs. Kate will want to do it in one long push, and I'm wanting to slow down and savor the last few days of this trip before it ends.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next post will probably be from Arizona.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgMLkvQGpFRwK8079xpNwSAZSWJ0BDQ4RKNHTcjiocQGbNmBOiq8H5qqgcLn-t4gFKRokUQ7-AQdohVI49o4VDB0_K3n_ccRWmrwuLEc1fqsaj3GgA1O4EnU9Lu4OHkDkkp6s4DJ-l2OtTNEhvhOVcQnxyuxQV6AGRYoIKHK4MVQzXXoEhzU_L5kBWUn2/s570/Gobble%20Gobbler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="570" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgMLkvQGpFRwK8079xpNwSAZSWJ0BDQ4RKNHTcjiocQGbNmBOiq8H5qqgcLn-t4gFKRokUQ7-AQdohVI49o4VDB0_K3n_ccRWmrwuLEc1fqsaj3GgA1O4EnU9Lu4OHkDkkp6s4DJ-l2OtTNEhvhOVcQnxyuxQV6AGRYoIKHK4MVQzXXoEhzU_L5kBWUn2/s320/Gobble%20Gobbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Gobble Gobble.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-30182505474592012352023-10-29T13:08:00.011-06:002023-10-29T18:57:26.159-06:00Shawnee SP to Gettysburg to Virginia<div style="text-align: left;">We left you last as we had just arrived at Shawnee State Park in Pensylvania. We had stayed here for a few days about 8 yrs ago, and I thought that it might be a pretty place to spend some time in the fall as we worked our way south with the changing fall colors.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It turned out to be a good idea.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Originally we had reserved site #65. Upon arrival we realized that the park has sections for dogs and sections without dogs. We had reserved in the latter. I brought this to the attention of the camp host and he was fine with it - but being Saturday - he mentioned that when the ranger came in on Monday he might not be ok with it. Long story short - on monday we moved to site #73. The park was 90% empty so there were plenty of sites to choose from.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz65iYv-SoMVG7-VEFglclUbloAY4COHDgyboLikL9vdJtevxjt2HzE7eT5TU3hZOyf5rJ-CAcxW1d61nq64m2Mi2lHsmLh_B_33JQcJDWdPu9YYhxBjcyQHCLkQ_NwOzBcaqFmpNKXKIiwLDCqFt-mAU2KcKExoOMlFIvSGR4vHi009Y2Qivo3HzWtfj/s4032/1A%20SHAWNEE%20STATE%20PARK%20PA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz65iYv-SoMVG7-VEFglclUbloAY4COHDgyboLikL9vdJtevxjt2HzE7eT5TU3hZOyf5rJ-CAcxW1d61nq64m2Mi2lHsmLh_B_33JQcJDWdPu9YYhxBjcyQHCLkQ_NwOzBcaqFmpNKXKIiwLDCqFt-mAU2KcKExoOMlFIvSGR4vHi009Y2Qivo3HzWtfj/s320/1A%20SHAWNEE%20STATE%20PARK%20PA.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Site 73 Shawnee State Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />About 15 miles west of the park is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_93_National_Memorial" target="_blank">Flight 93 Memorial </a>so we took the drive over to see it.<div>You might recall that flight 93 was the 4th plane hijacked on 9/11, but the passengers resisted and the plane crashed in Shanksville, Pa - about 20 minutes flying time from Washington DC where the terrorists had planned to take it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIDVG2xfptxEI488akdlT5HI4XS8SpykUB7mS5MIbEybX9PDC4Bnrwgvn2RBKRDPGBFlXxweM_Jn4mGvO7a1FohCYLp7TgjacJP3rzIYaU03erc5nGgRV_WJ-4Z8T3sEi8Cpb0GRYwKDZjC7CFrJ-mft8SJ8hkk5Hg6ehpvSBE0bx4OR4L6pasCT5e4F_/s4032/1b%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIDVG2xfptxEI488akdlT5HI4XS8SpykUB7mS5MIbEybX9PDC4Bnrwgvn2RBKRDPGBFlXxweM_Jn4mGvO7a1FohCYLp7TgjacJP3rzIYaU03erc5nGgRV_WJ-4Z8T3sEi8Cpb0GRYwKDZjC7CFrJ-mft8SJ8hkk5Hg6ehpvSBE0bx4OR4L6pasCT5e4F_/s320/1b%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It was a cold and windy day for our visit which added to the somber mood.</div><div>Below, the black wall on the left marks the edge of the debris field. Further ahead you can see the white wall of remembrance which is under the actual flight path.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9StWtHVUEhbVR8ZCCN283kYgzHmL1WSFh0bISOhn8VJVjJdFYbZ_BGyEQZUki_O2xJaEN4Upbmmy0mG_03FD4SbkmRbdw3kDHAfEDkK2EteqjV-7A_h-uiFgcAXNUMMy46P6_DzkQdj3-G54doZ2wEUWvVs6m64zVWue9SGAfx_5RQBsWUJ4VUMggq3Z/s4032/1c%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9StWtHVUEhbVR8ZCCN283kYgzHmL1WSFh0bISOhn8VJVjJdFYbZ_BGyEQZUki_O2xJaEN4Upbmmy0mG_03FD4SbkmRbdw3kDHAfEDkK2EteqjV-7A_h-uiFgcAXNUMMy46P6_DzkQdj3-G54doZ2wEUWvVs6m64zVWue9SGAfx_5RQBsWUJ4VUMggq3Z/s320/1c%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The stone in the field marks the impact point of the aircraft.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8E4ioU8waFI8-2FMMy76lzbVMWyOnu3tGA-Agd4sRIFJsWtTig_ZKZ79L2jdeo32v1Ky9GyT7CGpdEJgl1SAwWFZ7Ny_UJmOIHEanF6cZ9_Z3uAg1VzJxTQD0as5ku5ekXYIa2O7byH6TQcd_0tEmGm6t3IEI4L1bf1yz-B2rU89z_mlfnZqifTD0tcu/s4032/1d%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8E4ioU8waFI8-2FMMy76lzbVMWyOnu3tGA-Agd4sRIFJsWtTig_ZKZ79L2jdeo32v1Ky9GyT7CGpdEJgl1SAwWFZ7Ny_UJmOIHEanF6cZ9_Z3uAg1VzJxTQD0as5ku5ekXYIa2O7byH6TQcd_0tEmGm6t3IEI4L1bf1yz-B2rU89z_mlfnZqifTD0tcu/s320/1d%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The wall of rememberance has the names of each passenger and crew onboard. One to the names below is Todd Beamer who is remembered as the passenger who said "lets roll" as they headed forward to storm the cockpit.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0xdvlP_913DrLMKunljEbpcLudEdeSLpFujmEBCocbN8N_QGzPwXtELNYM_xzIOKrpF17m1of8HCRwpGhkWKuicDVWA1iqT-Jry6FC3kib30ptvmpFMUtPTieI_l-o6LlwtgzpB5eKCkt1bfm5leZx6tGEMoZ9K3aUis2Kqnd4Bmk210bR2FV8nxmqqv/s4032/1e%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0xdvlP_913DrLMKunljEbpcLudEdeSLpFujmEBCocbN8N_QGzPwXtELNYM_xzIOKrpF17m1of8HCRwpGhkWKuicDVWA1iqT-Jry6FC3kib30ptvmpFMUtPTieI_l-o6LlwtgzpB5eKCkt1bfm5leZx6tGEMoZ9K3aUis2Kqnd4Bmk210bR2FV8nxmqqv/s320/1e%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The wall of rememberence is oriented in the same direction as the flight path.</div><div>Seen from the visitor center (two white pillars in the distance) and beyond is the boulder marking the impact point.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo7mwK_AeOdzeHXN7qCOyQiEP2rRVO92qG2QSiRYpKEo1qqPg1aEFTUrm0scnp-Tl5I66sFpHeCwPTBXuMtphDsFde11sGiw3oaUlOa2mNcCquCAb2VV7_dG3aP6aJFoTwspZ9kRZLRSpgGjkU3qqsG3wNdIoecLBUx2xcRX2JgMZc7m-5l5bBL5okgTW/s4032/1f%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDo7mwK_AeOdzeHXN7qCOyQiEP2rRVO92qG2QSiRYpKEo1qqPg1aEFTUrm0scnp-Tl5I66sFpHeCwPTBXuMtphDsFde11sGiw3oaUlOa2mNcCquCAb2VV7_dG3aP6aJFoTwspZ9kRZLRSpgGjkU3qqsG3wNdIoecLBUx2xcRX2JgMZc7m-5l5bBL5okgTW/s320/1f%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A close up of the above photo.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyXJKbgbkCR4ZXsOsz1ghDDa_9GNHloH0xbX5x6ZWRXU5vgSW4f4fB_CituF3TSY4SBhRfNnYyXk5QNt5HVx3udi7_smHp7H8tJRUxzOhhwXFoRL2VewoHibgRA3VKPLGxWM8H-4swF0ANEu2SEAY0DbDp1-2dMjtzxiY9zABJmCga0TPpGPM0_kDYoNG/s4032/1g%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyXJKbgbkCR4ZXsOsz1ghDDa_9GNHloH0xbX5x6ZWRXU5vgSW4f4fB_CituF3TSY4SBhRfNnYyXk5QNt5HVx3udi7_smHp7H8tJRUxzOhhwXFoRL2VewoHibgRA3VKPLGxWM8H-4swF0ANEu2SEAY0DbDp1-2dMjtzxiY9zABJmCga0TPpGPM0_kDYoNG/s320/1g%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Looking back in the direction from which the flight came. It barely cleared the ridge we are on.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihp4xRY0IivuksFCkKUC0MHO_AnzLH9B2MtL-xaJqxAcyvGEIuSc9l-uTHfu65WKA_MksKw5Wtl0xyL4IVPwKPyhMydsMbMi6Ow7njTIIsPZbDhX24uRY_Hw2dO3VUUmSKtwuAssr2fAMU2oh-WG2Ve5cC3uj2qerJFZ33HTZpOK4w4FOQdzw91rPteEcA/s4032/1h%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihp4xRY0IivuksFCkKUC0MHO_AnzLH9B2MtL-xaJqxAcyvGEIuSc9l-uTHfu65WKA_MksKw5Wtl0xyL4IVPwKPyhMydsMbMi6Ow7njTIIsPZbDhX24uRY_Hw2dO3VUUmSKtwuAssr2fAMU2oh-WG2Ve5cC3uj2qerJFZ33HTZpOK4w4FOQdzw91rPteEcA/s320/1h%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In a different section of the park is the "<a href="https://www.nps.gov/flni/planyourvisit/tower-of-voices.htm" target="_blank">Tower of Voices</a>". A stone tower with 40 wind chimes, each tuned to a different note - to signify the voices that will never be silenced.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r3RqUmu3zXaLNIemqdvlaf1FM20OCCOg_Ha_vWqrjAGpZnGAKoE72Qj8mRnkRYFlkOJ6Hgjp0662Glbp0qz2cwreeV0VG38WMhCe20DBz0KeNc9ZusJ_Od_kvQsqfJAzqCI_WVPQnJ1Y05CBp9eIU5YJe8cwtN6uiv4cLyZkkPw8ZeolxdS8sIq8AekQ/s4032/1i%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1r3RqUmu3zXaLNIemqdvlaf1FM20OCCOg_Ha_vWqrjAGpZnGAKoE72Qj8mRnkRYFlkOJ6Hgjp0662Glbp0qz2cwreeV0VG38WMhCe20DBz0KeNc9ZusJ_Od_kvQsqfJAzqCI_WVPQnJ1Y05CBp9eIU5YJe8cwtN6uiv4cLyZkkPw8ZeolxdS8sIq8AekQ/s320/1i%20Flight%2093%20National%20Memorial.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another day trip was to a nearby covered bridge. This one is the Colvin Covered Bridge outside of Schellsburg, Pa.</div><div><br /></div><div>When we arrived a funny thing happened:<div><br /></div><div>I started to walk across it to the other side. There was a couple, perhaps 50’s, with what I thought might be a younger adult daughter carrying her baby. She was patting it like she was burping it</div><div><br /></div><div>The couple started to walk my way and we passed each other mid bridge. I got to the other side and saw the younger girl and it was obvious that she was severe Down syndrome. I thought it was brave of the couple to trust her with such a young infant but I'm not real familiar with the illness so what do I know?</div><div><br /></div><div>So minding my own business I’m taking some pictures and I notice the girl is now putting the infant on the concrete bridge abutment where the baby could fall into the stream. Hummm…. I think. This does not look good.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now the girl starts to back up - leaving the infant sitting right on the edge so that she can take a picture. Ok - I cant just stand here now so I start to quickly move closer to go near the baby before she can fall into the water, and as I get very close (and photobomb her picture)...... </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>I realized the baby was a doll!</b></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4ECyJSpsS686tViDJKK79GkUKR6SWvObtDsXmMZuAupGIB4aWoVgL6NzcBHmZLq5V-Sj69bPWjWDPuNMMmKvo0cr-cQDbCKPUAmf7C74s038tTfEOR_1MqeC9VyaeAvb2cyUJSIKzmUgKaqUDQi83fEeYrZ42a7pMY3LWh81uD3Oz1USrc_HkgmV45cNI" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4ECyJSpsS686tViDJKK79GkUKR6SWvObtDsXmMZuAupGIB4aWoVgL6NzcBHmZLq5V-Sj69bPWjWDPuNMMmKvo0cr-cQDbCKPUAmf7C74s038tTfEOR_1MqeC9VyaeAvb2cyUJSIKzmUgKaqUDQi83fEeYrZ42a7pMY3LWh81uD3Oz1USrc_HkgmV45cNI" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colvin Covered Bridge near Schellsburg, Pa</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Well I had a good laugh at myself. 😂</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlNTu-LL4_M060Al5SC0GvW-OhKdHF8oZASowqF8uj1SUbF99jlG7s8Ida9Uq5WSLfZ53juw7VP7LZQAB7op5K_acaxFCltdQ1vM50WL-hPQhm8BDTnggk532GfrVQpR6mmR0Rqk02I7hqptguJNTVBQ3qZq44M2MiHeJqFmhAlejzRCSweYApaEP78CU/s4032/2a%20Colvin%20Covered%20Bridge%20Pa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlNTu-LL4_M060Al5SC0GvW-OhKdHF8oZASowqF8uj1SUbF99jlG7s8Ida9Uq5WSLfZ53juw7VP7LZQAB7op5K_acaxFCltdQ1vM50WL-hPQhm8BDTnggk532GfrVQpR6mmR0Rqk02I7hqptguJNTVBQ3qZq44M2MiHeJqFmhAlejzRCSweYApaEP78CU/s320/2a%20Colvin%20Covered%20Bridge%20Pa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The leaves were getting closer to near peak colors but had not quite made it when it was time to leave and head a bit south to Gettysburg, Pa. There were some nice colors as we drove east thru the mtns on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UOQ9Dd0RvRuL8LQiBXwTwPG2wMPHdQEJorKakrsPKINV7MxFHCs_2qVkygdagD01awoXgASjRXKrn2JL1VDnsDyiJHxla4_s1fpfsKd4Ff7ggwhoKxbm9q-uWScTYWsjZpnkWdKZDJj0Qm15bRTMrLts1oz7CPvxFW9nljc7b5c_DoBL_7H-D2omH6Aj/s4032/2b%20Pa%20Turnpike.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UOQ9Dd0RvRuL8LQiBXwTwPG2wMPHdQEJorKakrsPKINV7MxFHCs_2qVkygdagD01awoXgASjRXKrn2JL1VDnsDyiJHxla4_s1fpfsKd4Ff7ggwhoKxbm9q-uWScTYWsjZpnkWdKZDJj0Qm15bRTMrLts1oz7CPvxFW9nljc7b5c_DoBL_7H-D2omH6Aj/s320/2b%20Pa%20Turnpike.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fall Colors on Pa Tpk. (I-76)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Meanwhile inside the coach our puppy craziness continues. Annie & Phoebe have turned out to be such great friends. Again, we only had Phoebe for 5 nights prior to getting on the ship, and thier 7 days in the kennels did such good work bonding them.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYu_ESciPZuLXfqtt8skiGeN-WUEtjUdni-i98OfsrETDKoIoqR6luQRpEXuzgW-rakJn-NqdWdDdtdFzHdwmNB_sh3B5LpFwhyphenhyphenkOjA-Ce8th6shBiNRmZnqIBuyNx5gZeY6uMNSmA-Zf6_i29AUXTlu6KHy9U4KUIsI4w9Ik1zzOQQbsPNV-87Bm8j_p/s4032/2c%20Annie%20Airborne.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYu_ESciPZuLXfqtt8skiGeN-WUEtjUdni-i98OfsrETDKoIoqR6luQRpEXuzgW-rakJn-NqdWdDdtdFzHdwmNB_sh3B5LpFwhyphenhyphenkOjA-Ce8th6shBiNRmZnqIBuyNx5gZeY6uMNSmA-Zf6_i29AUXTlu6KHy9U4KUIsI4w9Ik1zzOQQbsPNV-87Bm8j_p/s320/2c%20Annie%20Airborne.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie in mid-air playing with Phoebe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />And of course - the changing scenery, and the people walking by keeps them busy "observing".<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zGdsG_G-d4ErQsb6s0Ei-CizqVpVrY69JAxQ0vFEiS12OPBvS1PKN_elINeCP1DRUkQ1w7tBF6_zJSIYEDOiVveO7GaHPhuqjU4_6EPH-A8Sb7SaQoS3maoYdHp0lCs6bJFONFULcAH9jkbZ_ULjceixRdTiTWLdTSRNfLlu65tJS5PrWWpufx1KJQVP/s4032/2d%20Annie%20Looking.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zGdsG_G-d4ErQsb6s0Ei-CizqVpVrY69JAxQ0vFEiS12OPBvS1PKN_elINeCP1DRUkQ1w7tBF6_zJSIYEDOiVveO7GaHPhuqjU4_6EPH-A8Sb7SaQoS3maoYdHp0lCs6bJFONFULcAH9jkbZ_ULjceixRdTiTWLdTSRNfLlu65tJS5PrWWpufx1KJQVP/s320/2d%20Annie%20Looking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We've been to Gettysburg numerous times, so this time we were a little more relaxed with the need to tour the battlefields. Downtown drew us along with the fall colors and the scenery.</div><div><br /></div><div>A neat thing about downtown is that many of the buildings have plaques outside explaining the part the building played during those horrible days in July 1863. Some were field hospitals, others hid union soldiers etc. The town was a strategic location in that it was where numerous roads met like the hub on a wheel.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupGQSw-5I5rwcFa7brdNtvuZCmD8wvwbz2c81rFFY15jG9A7LuEQT2VhFK2YlaYAtZeXr6ZvXpK0m5zJQL_zBJdo7vwy9rTT1FrB4zPv1BFS7IqBDvvHMjK7it3BG13BRiLI8W_3oaUpEuCXFKWtj4kKisNs0gJHT278HsKOIPsFyxVvi7UOhXb3g4VHA/s4032/3a%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupGQSw-5I5rwcFa7brdNtvuZCmD8wvwbz2c81rFFY15jG9A7LuEQT2VhFK2YlaYAtZeXr6ZvXpK0m5zJQL_zBJdo7vwy9rTT1FrB4zPv1BFS7IqBDvvHMjK7it3BG13BRiLI8W_3oaUpEuCXFKWtj4kKisNs0gJHT278HsKOIPsFyxVvi7UOhXb3g4VHA/s320/3a%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On the battles first day, the union Army was pushed back and retreated thru town to set up positions on the high ground to the south and east. Townspeople panicked and remained inside as the army streamed thru the square. It's position was basically all that was standing between the rebels and Washington DC</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0GY2zGnRO2LQhvDGIghPVC79DHfmOL0Sr2z1O8RfMHZnjiclkwa1Igw7dJnoHFLcPRZs2Y9eQ-EpmjhQ3AKAOuwEiHlS9eZsm8HPOk813fYvpJ1am6T7Bzw3ktz4ZOtFlyiJqnfsLu7Ek2Ej2-WdQSrSVcqRniH2nBVbHrEnqzpVU_n_LNpFa3gtDlsv/s4032/3b%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0GY2zGnRO2LQhvDGIghPVC79DHfmOL0Sr2z1O8RfMHZnjiclkwa1Igw7dJnoHFLcPRZs2Y9eQ-EpmjhQ3AKAOuwEiHlS9eZsm8HPOk813fYvpJ1am6T7Bzw3ktz4ZOtFlyiJqnfsLu7Ek2Ej2-WdQSrSVcqRniH2nBVbHrEnqzpVU_n_LNpFa3gtDlsv/w320-h180/3b%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Gettysburg Square. Numerous roads meet here.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Most of the fighting took place just barely outside of town; to the south, southeast, and southwest.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMmPqWLp55W9f45TJX8QbBDUjnMHy4RJtlhGj7MU-AoJ2RwOUmDn_A9HQjWRIugCH1gbRqnK4E1i8I5OvSrSm3BrthT-5kwGW8X8ikX7fSOc4B8lpnlRfkzNwe_a571xYPDabxeFMedufgb0kk9K0vVMSHKR4n1P7POOW_GEb-JV1L3RZGIijUCUv6iSQ/s4032/3c%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMmPqWLp55W9f45TJX8QbBDUjnMHy4RJtlhGj7MU-AoJ2RwOUmDn_A9HQjWRIugCH1gbRqnK4E1i8I5OvSrSm3BrthT-5kwGW8X8ikX7fSOc4B8lpnlRfkzNwe_a571xYPDabxeFMedufgb0kk9K0vVMSHKR4n1P7POOW_GEb-JV1L3RZGIijUCUv6iSQ/s320/3c%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Old farmhouse on the battlefield</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The below pictures were all taken in the general vicinity of the center of the union lines, site of the infamous <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickett%27s_Charge" target="_blank">Picketts Charge</a></i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the distance is what is referred to as "the high water mark of the Confederacy". It was pretty much as far as they advanced in their quest to break apart the union. From here, although almost 2 more years of fighting remained, they were only able to conduct mostly defensive moves as they were pushed back to their eventual defeat and the preservation of the union.</div><div><br /></div><div>The net result of the 3 days of fighting were over 51,000 casualties! </div><div>After the battle, over 7,000 dead soldiers littered the fields during that hot July. </div><div><br /></div><div>The number of soldiers who died between 1861 and 1865 is generally estimated at 620,000. It is approximately equal to the total of American fatalities in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, combined. It just burns me up to hear people today talk about the possibility of Civil War again in the US. They need to shut up and study history first.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWILUOxIniAQi_iElw96oBmvOfWGgUJflxWxtODtyV9mOQgtn5e3ap-Fl6twDysRtd5XAS_qVteJgnF20X-yIMfwKeJGb86C9ca3Eo4oa9pcHyx1IjLmhP9GqaqAOh-tqW2zpEEU3XmltRxIp97mKNY9CbB8D6ax2U1cm18m-V5TKpWq1jujr_vnJYmc_I/s4032/3d%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWILUOxIniAQi_iElw96oBmvOfWGgUJflxWxtODtyV9mOQgtn5e3ap-Fl6twDysRtd5XAS_qVteJgnF20X-yIMfwKeJGb86C9ca3Eo4oa9pcHyx1IjLmhP9GqaqAOh-tqW2zpEEU3XmltRxIp97mKNY9CbB8D6ax2U1cm18m-V5TKpWq1jujr_vnJYmc_I/s320/3d%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Local reenactors fire a cannon near the site of Picketts Charge.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7rkfdKe51fjLZ03dzGzwssjY-0SkT0TQn0WZdLe5xu7VDmonFvvlAPGrLaSFphHeVsIQnOZUvEpc4uyMv_Xqw1PLuTwMGmmu9HCSqNYkUG60TjVTO36ArikiSHgcUJoLNT7Z6ip36OWuL5lJgUu8teLNn8qS7_lFtulG7aNbyADczhVmURH45UDIINeP/s4032/3e%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7rkfdKe51fjLZ03dzGzwssjY-0SkT0TQn0WZdLe5xu7VDmonFvvlAPGrLaSFphHeVsIQnOZUvEpc4uyMv_Xqw1PLuTwMGmmu9HCSqNYkUG60TjVTO36ArikiSHgcUJoLNT7Z6ip36OWuL5lJgUu8teLNn8qS7_lFtulG7aNbyADczhVmURH45UDIINeP/s320/3e%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The loud boom did not bother the dogs all all.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Below is the center of the Union Lines. This is looking across the battlefield towards where (the trees in the distance) the Confederate lines would have been located. The focal point of Picketts Charge was the grove of trees just showing on the right side of the photo.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKrh1xBbvvztcgAiOwKNDrdlg-lbDD2jfgcGEU_zNxVmbHWN-MmG35gn5m3AbRJzQXWggB98rp5iK1h1UYdeGkFB-MFlAZ0DKLX1TiCzT5zILaK7LfJM4KZ7ASEvNwlZp1X3zYVb4nLhDS1B6vMLchnD2EpCK1XBPKVMKNWrK7SleX1SUxzn-203nOwoG/s4032/3f%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKrh1xBbvvztcgAiOwKNDrdlg-lbDD2jfgcGEU_zNxVmbHWN-MmG35gn5m3AbRJzQXWggB98rp5iK1h1UYdeGkFB-MFlAZ0DKLX1TiCzT5zILaK7LfJM4KZ7ASEvNwlZp1X3zYVb4nLhDS1B6vMLchnD2EpCK1XBPKVMKNWrK7SleX1SUxzn-203nOwoG/s320/3f%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Below, the Codori Farm. Standing during the battle, <a href="https://gettysburgcompiler.org/2021/06/02/saved-by-the-land-the-codori-family/" target="_blank">here is an interesting story</a> about the owners. </div><div>Located right in the middle of the battlefield, if walls could talk.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZNxmHfdXZPF3QvUEUGxOD0w50-H9o1Hr0TbDEISB0OBjlzpn64XqSbI6OIQc9EHXAgp3CAESW5bZnWIxKgdMymsQuXfNG8U7E115ZAWmj0AlTyiG6ncol_R4bBngHQZQleNU-AqYLmvrTqQWlVcPhdqdWBPlbg0iJZ7TTHA74eZubV8ZoJK07dMIvluX/s4032/3g%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZNxmHfdXZPF3QvUEUGxOD0w50-H9o1Hr0TbDEISB0OBjlzpn64XqSbI6OIQc9EHXAgp3CAESW5bZnWIxKgdMymsQuXfNG8U7E115ZAWmj0AlTyiG6ncol_R4bBngHQZQleNU-AqYLmvrTqQWlVcPhdqdWBPlbg0iJZ7TTHA74eZubV8ZoJK07dMIvluX/s320/3g%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The RV Park we stayed at is our favorite in the area: <a href="https://www.artilleryridge.com/" target="_blank">Artillery Ridge Campground</a>. It is located right behind <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Round_Top" target="_blank">Little Round Top</a> and would have been filled with encamped soldiers during the battle.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXss2nk8Ti6TTsbbsH7waKpY1lxUBPDQ6Ravfi95DpzowO8f0PlH5zNSsx2Y6p0wGWhyphenhyphenrqilcsv2ZShpt2aO5owhdmJrzA2vDtA0jVVguQd8BHe7MBqCNRpqfFmyHC55kKjMQJll6fr8tDOa_zRdauBzDuOXDhNeShJNT0AvIkm5aARFUChEls5SCuRp1L/s4032/3h%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXss2nk8Ti6TTsbbsH7waKpY1lxUBPDQ6Ravfi95DpzowO8f0PlH5zNSsx2Y6p0wGWhyphenhyphenrqilcsv2ZShpt2aO5owhdmJrzA2vDtA0jVVguQd8BHe7MBqCNRpqfFmyHC55kKjMQJll6fr8tDOa_zRdauBzDuOXDhNeShJNT0AvIkm5aARFUChEls5SCuRp1L/s320/3h%20Gettysburg%20Pa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fall colors near the Peach Orchard</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Being at Artillery Ridge over the weekend was interesting. This time of year they have all sorts of Halloween things going on so the campground was full of families and those little creatures.... you know the ones about 3 or 4' tall who scream and play a lot.</div><div><br /></div><div>There was trick or treating, pumpkin carving contests, costume contests, hay rides, etc etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>The park did issue everyone a pumpkin, so it is now traveling with us for decoration.</div><div><br /></div><div>4 nights later we were on our way south. Our next stop was Shenandoah River State Park just north of Luray, Va. We had visited here about 8 yrs ago and promised to return during leaf season so that we could take some nice rides up on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyline_Drive" target="_blank">Skyline Drive</a> in <a href="https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm" target="_blank">Shenandoah National Park</a>.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5K6vgR0RudsQlGwnqYD9IlwYRJLiTp8oztEfNFI5uhyphenhyphenvKkPaOpgICAkyEUFUq7MByPEkPfYprW22R3UCTy7aCYIBEfXA987gzIUxxXcRDMRKGWi2UY1EIgANeVAuon7auyFWotmoFQCyNjB1jdtUimnm-LSCb7Z4HxVapiT2gyu3zKaz6DqHhcpF_zmC/s4032/4a%20Shenendoah%20River%20State%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5K6vgR0RudsQlGwnqYD9IlwYRJLiTp8oztEfNFI5uhyphenhyphenvKkPaOpgICAkyEUFUq7MByPEkPfYprW22R3UCTy7aCYIBEfXA987gzIUxxXcRDMRKGWi2UY1EIgANeVAuon7auyFWotmoFQCyNjB1jdtUimnm-LSCb7Z4HxVapiT2gyu3zKaz6DqHhcpF_zmC/s320/4a%20Shenendoah%20River%20State%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Site #3 in Shenandoah River State Park, Va</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our experience with Va state parks is somewhat limited but the parks we have been to have all been very nice. This one has 50a service and water at our site. A dump station is located on the way out.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_ydmunFmQO8gs5UOh74bs8XtdIcmuTfS3qu3FLSyR9XqYKs9OREhzS7R_C1yj3J11g7yqFsMPWdUryUCd9Xv8MNy-DucS1_7dFuwv8AIk6-6HuMD8gL-ql8to5jTarWPFf7AJyGNxYl9uKaZhIwgbcZFqcO0LOI0My1223Te0TU6Mf0RU-8gjEJdm_n_/s4032/4b%20Shenendoah%20River%20State%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_ydmunFmQO8gs5UOh74bs8XtdIcmuTfS3qu3FLSyR9XqYKs9OREhzS7R_C1yj3J11g7yqFsMPWdUryUCd9Xv8MNy-DucS1_7dFuwv8AIk6-6HuMD8gL-ql8to5jTarWPFf7AJyGNxYl9uKaZhIwgbcZFqcO0LOI0My1223Te0TU6Mf0RU-8gjEJdm_n_/s320/4b%20Shenendoah%20River%20State%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fall colors in the campground</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzsFhEuli92ocbOg9aBVWy_2Hh6Vi5f0yXBNLQhTKtWiFrEiMIZJXh5grXmmnqCQkIlBsH9-c_I0iJasddEtFcEfhBNivaa6KOeYbvcc2fg_-Pw5me5mqncg8r_AFFeA5vBHUOf1iRv6pli934n2VY4cIWlzN9QBoA5MEhnTr5bxflDH4C1a00ipHIM76/s4032/4c%20Shenendoah%20River%20State%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzsFhEuli92ocbOg9aBVWy_2Hh6Vi5f0yXBNLQhTKtWiFrEiMIZJXh5grXmmnqCQkIlBsH9-c_I0iJasddEtFcEfhBNivaa6KOeYbvcc2fg_-Pw5me5mqncg8r_AFFeA5vBHUOf1iRv6pli934n2VY4cIWlzN9QBoA5MEhnTr5bxflDH4C1a00ipHIM76/s320/4c%20Shenendoah%20River%20State%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Site #3 in Shenandoah River State Park, Va<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />During the week we waited for the right weather, and we took the promised drive up on Skyline Drive.</div><div>The colors were great! Not quite peak, but still very nice. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv8T0WQVpK-3cdEqY_S5u0tD1lZ-jbEOUoDDMK-oGOP9PmPUhMKGKwCyuBrkbl7YT1qTQjB1mN061CGJHDUcerdccSR_wRitpAFZqwSIhJX9ds9bP8csv9Hq3seBcSNnGEc2wQ2HRG7dujGWHxj13zWaFOW01hxot2ZRfRvWo-b4HqH3Yp7Eif-zXnRRo/s4032/4d%20Skyline%20Drive.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHv8T0WQVpK-3cdEqY_S5u0tD1lZ-jbEOUoDDMK-oGOP9PmPUhMKGKwCyuBrkbl7YT1qTQjB1mN061CGJHDUcerdccSR_wRitpAFZqwSIhJX9ds9bP8csv9Hq3seBcSNnGEc2wQ2HRG7dujGWHxj13zWaFOW01hxot2ZRfRvWo-b4HqH3Yp7Eif-zXnRRo/s320/4d%20Skyline%20Drive.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Skyline Drive Colors Oct 24, 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13o7qPtNA-BJwKE5H8dkAEIupY99K6s_8aaI8Hfyq0WDbEOP0o0Nk7wibIJJQfIQZxzCRR1C11-cZFKpdDoOevfGqCsPFehK0FQ6VHl14PtjH6hn40GKVvkUvBAS9feZPA5x6-Y_4fe_Y9MOa_K6X6w6rqbGTpWmPjT5vvvgNY5SvGzdIOe6_2Bxk38b5/s4032/4e%20Skyline%20Drive.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13o7qPtNA-BJwKE5H8dkAEIupY99K6s_8aaI8Hfyq0WDbEOP0o0Nk7wibIJJQfIQZxzCRR1C11-cZFKpdDoOevfGqCsPFehK0FQ6VHl14PtjH6hn40GKVvkUvBAS9feZPA5x6-Y_4fe_Y9MOa_K6X6w6rqbGTpWmPjT5vvvgNY5SvGzdIOe6_2Bxk38b5/s320/4e%20Skyline%20Drive.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Skyline Drive Colors Oct 24, 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVac7RPty5DvDrSXZvrejEUNgDY9xVTdMuVWQ7oSk-gf5mO06G7XxJSu3tFeezA4aLC5GL4Hha_53ThneF5QYjfGu1hmqT5QSDgIA1C3lgN3tsV1ZC6GuEfGelr2VVbDKhvTz0DtbScySZO1fbfI9GzTrDU15QlEwGBYjV3RHhNT5UG4yNekKmmv9jSe0/s4032/4f%20Skyline%20Drive.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVac7RPty5DvDrSXZvrejEUNgDY9xVTdMuVWQ7oSk-gf5mO06G7XxJSu3tFeezA4aLC5GL4Hha_53ThneF5QYjfGu1hmqT5QSDgIA1C3lgN3tsV1ZC6GuEfGelr2VVbDKhvTz0DtbScySZO1fbfI9GzTrDU15QlEwGBYjV3RHhNT5UG4yNekKmmv9jSe0/s320/4f%20Skyline%20Drive.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Skyline Drive Colors Oct 24, 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The road runs along the ridges of the mountains and there are numerous scenic pull offs where you can be treated to wide ranging views to both the east and west.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgvvBI5-fJzcT7UENmEQx_BERRY_NAIxHfQAs_n02qKocAgqs99m1d3nV8-XVUrK9X2-tMLmCtbz9FMj-LKchylKoWECw4qvCG7zhZVVeFB0yVfmQ983PSUZbtsfxrkmzL2ZAP_bR-gU5cTNZERxwcNGCTIm5je9Uvx1oQKvNGixcFUqb7Fw2va7VInQZ/s4032/4g%20Skyline%20Drive.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgvvBI5-fJzcT7UENmEQx_BERRY_NAIxHfQAs_n02qKocAgqs99m1d3nV8-XVUrK9X2-tMLmCtbz9FMj-LKchylKoWECw4qvCG7zhZVVeFB0yVfmQ983PSUZbtsfxrkmzL2ZAP_bR-gU5cTNZERxwcNGCTIm5je9Uvx1oQKvNGixcFUqb7Fw2va7VInQZ/s320/4g%20Skyline%20Drive.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Skyline Drive Colors Oct 24, 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZGD1EF4nEGWGWt69FMJrMCMYl67qQTyKOW2n7QG-j-Dp4gVmWXjM9oqVTdjicdiXfpX4qwiTppUUezT6K0Yqp7fM1hs93DtFlly8hCXv8_5D3zTGuv2to1-RVCSu3e_IFTDtcCqG4YUBE8qJcBDRXAbsnYwHAR3MVtQ20-EAL9wRctMy6fccXGpubg-b/s4032/4h%20Skyline%20Drive.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZGD1EF4nEGWGWt69FMJrMCMYl67qQTyKOW2n7QG-j-Dp4gVmWXjM9oqVTdjicdiXfpX4qwiTppUUezT6K0Yqp7fM1hs93DtFlly8hCXv8_5D3zTGuv2to1-RVCSu3e_IFTDtcCqG4YUBE8qJcBDRXAbsnYwHAR3MVtQ20-EAL9wRctMy6fccXGpubg-b/s320/4h%20Skyline%20Drive.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Skyline Drive Colors Oct 24, 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We exited Skyline drive and dropped back into the Shenanoah Valley at Luray, Va.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58E7ANnJk4tFWVOLKXgMNQ6K-WExQgGHhW-0n1kZqIxqBs56g31z1QcMF1Zooxr6Oh3VSsHONTHJxU8qlsdTMHxV4QowxNbk7jVhNolUC6-Ilu7e-8MI80jPQo0-AyhzjqMOLoHCoNGjpbhb4pr5Rpt6lhMBQAC9TUF7ODrg9bqv2b3HbKcPu-39rxIMY/s4032/5a%20Luray%20VA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58E7ANnJk4tFWVOLKXgMNQ6K-WExQgGHhW-0n1kZqIxqBs56g31z1QcMF1Zooxr6Oh3VSsHONTHJxU8qlsdTMHxV4QowxNbk7jVhNolUC6-Ilu7e-8MI80jPQo0-AyhzjqMOLoHCoNGjpbhb4pr5Rpt6lhMBQAC9TUF7ODrg9bqv2b3HbKcPu-39rxIMY/s320/5a%20Luray%20VA.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fall colors near Luray, Va</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Friday Oct 27 it was back on the road heading about 2.5 hrs south to Pocahontas State Park outside of Richmond, Va. Along the way we were treated to some nice fall colors on US15</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7Trec9Q2tPv4RT9X9PjOQgSJwc63xU8lpQdmjSfXbHWRZHnwDaXXUFKu7feJ7apGksUX3zXg2ybvyegUM5-o8BJTlhyphenhyphenfQiSNbxHwtFX-O2Pyivcm3DE89ohyphenhyphenxgyPjHFCF-517uqkx9E4mgFYU2OOy1GtUuSwEk6rSP9Mk6lAWcCwz5QqNOP6blSlLe0R/s4032/5b%20US%2015%20Va.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7Trec9Q2tPv4RT9X9PjOQgSJwc63xU8lpQdmjSfXbHWRZHnwDaXXUFKu7feJ7apGksUX3zXg2ybvyegUM5-o8BJTlhyphenhyphenfQiSNbxHwtFX-O2Pyivcm3DE89ohyphenhyphenxgyPjHFCF-517uqkx9E4mgFYU2OOy1GtUuSwEk6rSP9Mk6lAWcCwz5QqNOP6blSlLe0R/s320/5b%20US%2015%20Va.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fall colors on US15 Va</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Like Shenandoah State Park, Pocahontas also has 50a and water at the sites. We stayed here in 2018 when we had arrived back from the UK and were on our way west.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHmyP_7r6bB68cZoqdOaUCNyZVE0kPbCdoYg51BOvZ8ZVtwYRC4fc-uywjhwMsDdr5EmIqInuMAbPFQQmTD6ZNn-tbEyUtusDCYmEvjWLEpB9Nandf3h29r7iFWOruLAdAO_uLuWZ9TVqHZPR0Mli0nZqYlFLSY6D0H8aVKBRxsEQSXy3cgAb5Y2hxbU8/s4032/6a%20Pocohantus%20State%20Park%20Va.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHmyP_7r6bB68cZoqdOaUCNyZVE0kPbCdoYg51BOvZ8ZVtwYRC4fc-uywjhwMsDdr5EmIqInuMAbPFQQmTD6ZNn-tbEyUtusDCYmEvjWLEpB9Nandf3h29r7iFWOruLAdAO_uLuWZ9TVqHZPR0Mli0nZqYlFLSY6D0H8aVKBRxsEQSXy3cgAb5Y2hxbU8/s320/6a%20Pocohantus%20State%20Park%20Va.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Site 108 Pocahontas State Park, Va</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Not quite an Arizona sunset, but one of the very few that we've had in 6 months.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhi4mlkjEGFNGC1pJrubY5WzeZHmnoetWSi5EhFg0CoioVzqTCsrpLyImJpflWv4oN-gfSZDUdIwsXrHOST48osXfv-D9CTRfhJC7JgTNyV8xazeaxTpDX60MPi0jrh7dc9oySmw1NvZxOeqTbLCOBEfG3BGfhGKrXUvPO60OJBeZNK5CqMuRfGTLRTIB/s4032/6b%20Pocohantus%20State%20Park%20Va.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhi4mlkjEGFNGC1pJrubY5WzeZHmnoetWSi5EhFg0CoioVzqTCsrpLyImJpflWv4oN-gfSZDUdIwsXrHOST48osXfv-D9CTRfhJC7JgTNyV8xazeaxTpDX60MPi0jrh7dc9oySmw1NvZxOeqTbLCOBEfG3BGfhGKrXUvPO60OJBeZNK5CqMuRfGTLRTIB/s320/6b%20Pocohantus%20State%20Park%20Va.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sunset in Pocahontas State Park, Va</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Well its Sunday Oct 29. The weather has been unseasonably hot. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We have the AC running when we should be enjoying having the windows open. A cold front is headed this way however, and some rain and sharply dropping temperatures are in the forecast for Monday night. We might even have sub-freezing temps come Weds night. Fortunately we'll be leaving just before the real cold weather arrives. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tomorrow we'll head to Costco for some supplies. Then Weds we'll be on the road to Gaffney, SC where we will be getting some work done to the bus. We are scheduled to have the Serpentine belt and all water hoses replaced as well as a normal annual service.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As always - thanks for all your comments and for riding along!</div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-23437040560372232842023-10-15T15:07:00.004-06:002023-10-15T16:27:51.582-06:00Across the pond - Back in the states<div style="text-align: left;">Well folks.... we all made it back to the states! Two humans, and a pair of Cobberdog puppies with Spanish Pet Passports. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As I write this, we are sitting in a nice State Park Campground in Pennsylvania. We made it safe and sound, but the journey was not without its difficulties, challenges, and memorable moments as you will see.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First - the last 30 days of our travels are shown on the map below.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is the map that shows up when you click on the "<i><span style="color: red;"><b>Where are we today</b></span>" </i>link on the upper right side of this page. The little orange vehicle shows our exact current position.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjjZflMpSXh_NWvsWhotTDysPDiOGARZnGvi5bjPSBSntY8fT-qI3oSFuo4Mq8pIF0oxAl3_FJy7jcwY8f1-FcpHzOme__FCaW0WedtVOgoMv5VOeoAMm4UoavsaOn0VifuVVFKqK_Me_WPfrnZW_SUlFgkB47tnrxjVN5di4flRv-P9fWi_Nwf9Ys-B4/s2614/Travel%20Map%20Soutn%20to%20Pa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="2614" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjjZflMpSXh_NWvsWhotTDysPDiOGARZnGvi5bjPSBSntY8fT-qI3oSFuo4Mq8pIF0oxAl3_FJy7jcwY8f1-FcpHzOme__FCaW0WedtVOgoMv5VOeoAMm4UoavsaOn0VifuVVFKqK_Me_WPfrnZW_SUlFgkB47tnrxjVN5di4flRv-P9fWi_Nwf9Ys-B4/s320/Travel%20Map%20Soutn%20to%20Pa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our travels the last 30 days</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Friday Sept 22 was embarkation day. We left our hotel about 1145 and drove the short 2 miles to the Mayflower Terminal at the port. The beautiful ship towers over everything as you approach.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5owfb5mibBky-JNiHnZVwZ7EtgvKkLckOQJhZRD7gNiUR_9dkyBPV8D4MzlcZM0UONMtk1uAtFaNXMYk9x4iX-FT2u-UVXHcEyMkcqepiWD4XO1rfCInW0Rw7tzvXLdCwwKSfrVzo2FjY3OH8I3Wc6WXfEID7tt91tVvQ3ssaAeUJS4i0afbiFN6juWb/s4032/1a%20QM2%20Southampton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5owfb5mibBky-JNiHnZVwZ7EtgvKkLckOQJhZRD7gNiUR_9dkyBPV8D4MzlcZM0UONMtk1uAtFaNXMYk9x4iX-FT2u-UVXHcEyMkcqepiWD4XO1rfCInW0Rw7tzvXLdCwwKSfrVzo2FjY3OH8I3Wc6WXfEID7tt91tVvQ3ssaAeUJS4i0afbiFN6juWb/s320/1a%20QM2%20Southampton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Outside the terminal, I dropped of the 13 pieces of checked baggage that we had. The porter started to give me an odd look as bag after bag came out of our car. Next was Kate and the two dog.</div><div><br /></div><div>The plan was that I would drop them all off and they would wait for me inside the terminal. I had to go about 30 min each way to return the rental car that we've had for these past 4 months.</div><div><br /></div><div>The car return went without a hitch. I next summoned an Uber, and by about 1:15 I was back at the terminal meeting up with Kate, who had met friends in the terminal including Oliver the Kennelmaster.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0jVLSdJ-c1OAKBXHBHQgVy-R1rfo3dIW1fRhuYFQ9LoaUviQhlwF7P9GoEDy02X3gqGa_JjET7_Rf9CopXqPo37SkzaKb6en8-I0sxXbIo3cTHt9iCSUy6XyrSd5BA0ODRS_S-Vpk0OEUXDBtEdx-LiLitnK1qTC_J-95fOpHO6I71dhKgB3gMoRviF1/s4032/1b%20QM2%20Southampton.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0jVLSdJ-c1OAKBXHBHQgVy-R1rfo3dIW1fRhuYFQ9LoaUviQhlwF7P9GoEDy02X3gqGa_JjET7_Rf9CopXqPo37SkzaKb6en8-I0sxXbIo3cTHt9iCSUy6XyrSd5BA0ODRS_S-Vpk0OEUXDBtEdx-LiLitnK1qTC_J-95fOpHO6I71dhKgB3gMoRviF1/s320/1b%20QM2%20Southampton.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mayflower terminal Southampton</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Soon we had boarded the ship, led by Oliver, on the way to deck 12 aft where the kennels are located.</div><div>Ollie immediatly fell in love with Annie and insisted on taking her leash and leading her up himself.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRr4q02p_lr_k3Q0UpEW2a7CAPbvPVmsoMReoXh0gifkVnRMrdcqjx5koAiwqMSUDIs99K0duo33KZBHdFncHX3PvfdJodbeqqXLNfNCe1fOzUyZGSXJMSuBz_pJp__KYP_Sf67albaqsySYP4KCTWdWhi6cI5wkDe2ydc2f8roUEXoY2BRQ_LvvYw1Gi/s4032/1c%20QM2%20Southampton.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRr4q02p_lr_k3Q0UpEW2a7CAPbvPVmsoMReoXh0gifkVnRMrdcqjx5koAiwqMSUDIs99K0duo33KZBHdFncHX3PvfdJodbeqqXLNfNCe1fOzUyZGSXJMSuBz_pJp__KYP_Sf67albaqsySYP4KCTWdWhi6cI5wkDe2ydc2f8roUEXoY2BRQ_LvvYw1Gi/s320/1c%20QM2%20Southampton.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oliver with Annie</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Normally we bypass the Britannia Resturant with the dogs, and go thru the Art Gallery instead, but the requires a few stairs and we had a mobility restricted person with us so we made a very quick trip thru the 2-story restaurant with the dogs this time. Fortunately, all the dogs refrained from making their mark on the passage thru.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCgnHIR7cFVE50V3wh03XgU2rT5dOIg4WHJNSlhI4aRZ2VviVvmHEAt42HwYBwE-bMzINtCuyvssGQRCL7O9WkGJ32cml4lsy3krmjo0oYiVuVEaUWeRe536mBrCUMdSFeC7XJQOQ27o-xSMLtH1ATzZVyLm5UtSQzy7ryvOxKEhn5ShWCWO8CuY3isXS/s4032/1d%20QM2%20Southampton.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCgnHIR7cFVE50V3wh03XgU2rT5dOIg4WHJNSlhI4aRZ2VviVvmHEAt42HwYBwE-bMzINtCuyvssGQRCL7O9WkGJ32cml4lsy3krmjo0oYiVuVEaUWeRe536mBrCUMdSFeC7XJQOQ27o-xSMLtH1ATzZVyLm5UtSQzy7ryvOxKEhn5ShWCWO8CuY3isXS/s320/1d%20QM2%20Southampton.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A beeline thru Britannia</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />In mere minutes the dogs were safely deposited into their "cabins" for the next 7 nights. Oliver had made up real special comfortable beds for the dogs complete with some new toys to play with. Since he will be spending much of the afternoon bringing up the rest of the dogs, visiting hours don't start till 5pm on embarkation day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Mv1NK0ldSN3VIUG_1_MSALSe6qDzKT6-sB1k4CuJLB7T4MeLAQXwdd6NHOwwmQC6qSHff0EikDaFjK9wHTmjXTPYBxb5YLfCW8G3j7ombkVnvmJjUjNwrTss4AMSmHNPgA4Yw5ErKiPWkcGy49l-zep-dmXGmfnVRfGEGPEc81hUuhAznPnJew6SnY0F/s4032/1e%20QM2%20%20Kennels%20Southampton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Mv1NK0ldSN3VIUG_1_MSALSe6qDzKT6-sB1k4CuJLB7T4MeLAQXwdd6NHOwwmQC6qSHff0EikDaFjK9wHTmjXTPYBxb5YLfCW8G3j7ombkVnvmJjUjNwrTss4AMSmHNPgA4Yw5ErKiPWkcGy49l-zep-dmXGmfnVRfGEGPEc81hUuhAznPnJew6SnY0F/s320/1e%20QM2%20%20Kennels%20Southampton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This lull in the action gave us time to drop down to deck 10 and check out our stateroom.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were booked into Queens Grill which is the first class rooms and restaurant on the ship, but there are several types of Queens Grill Suites. A couple of weeks prior to departure I received an email inviting me to bid on an unsold Penthouse Suite. There are 6 of them on the ship. I made what I thought was a lowball bid and a week or two later learned that we had won the bid and we would be enjoying our crossing in these even nicer quarters.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkn6VaDxBhYbO0uYVmHTWah_j4kIStl87Y5FZXkyhUtGot7K-mozaHx-4-4QdHQf-zbcXxpfdkPlpQve2qBvIYO6bkorT36SPJfMnga6il2nCFDc4vgFDNWhX_i5emQJfIBkC6R-FPx5N5k4rGw8uxBzrvHEavW_m3HpuQbY9coR5gCk2LMhkD-QR3_mO/s4032/1f%20QM2%20Penthouse%2010133.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkn6VaDxBhYbO0uYVmHTWah_j4kIStl87Y5FZXkyhUtGot7K-mozaHx-4-4QdHQf-zbcXxpfdkPlpQve2qBvIYO6bkorT36SPJfMnga6il2nCFDc4vgFDNWhX_i5emQJfIBkC6R-FPx5N5k4rGw8uxBzrvHEavW_m3HpuQbY9coR5gCk2LMhkD-QR3_mO/s320/1f%20QM2%20Penthouse%2010133.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Penthouse Suite 10133 on QM2</span><br /><br />A video of our room</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eR8VF5gGEF4" width="320" youtube-src-id="eR8VF5gGEF4"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>After checking out the room we headed down to the Queens Grill Resturant on deck 7. We checked out our table that we'd have for the week, met our wait staff, and grabbed a bite of lunch. </div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtQ_NFidNZhwQx31smiH_OFAcTlTQWBPcLig-l2i_HBqaCKbpr6feZ9eI7UFBRidUmooglzUvgNVeol9C2F5wW9eNFH-JLZzU791GZq2-zML5xfZEUHBQdcV_j3Gi3edr9BGAkGNEjBncZbxxTdJOB4FXSGSmtDSioOicAtjl0ppEQgjDev62FhBYKo_G/s4032/1gb%20QM2%20Queens%20Grill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtQ_NFidNZhwQx31smiH_OFAcTlTQWBPcLig-l2i_HBqaCKbpr6feZ9eI7UFBRidUmooglzUvgNVeol9C2F5wW9eNFH-JLZzU791GZq2-zML5xfZEUHBQdcV_j3Gi3edr9BGAkGNEjBncZbxxTdJOB4FXSGSmtDSioOicAtjl0ppEQgjDev62FhBYKo_G/s320/1gb%20QM2%20Queens%20Grill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">First lunch in Queens Grill of the crossing</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>After lunch, it was back to the stateroom for storing our luggage and getting unpacked for the week. Before we knew it, it was 5pm and time to run up and let the dogs know that we had not abandoned them.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qQ0wcBvJZR4D66u4qcvlDlVMNIb1gMoWkMzfNF1Ip895cU-A5c8LdruF8bYfdqLUY2Ckd736gRUhWQcu6toWNt8ru0ISSE80MryfQ8_uL4JPTeRGkTRJDPoiJQR0o2IotQd9GOmPQzo2VXW8wxxLkqhNj4PumANRIihh8G623W9ORDFfMUF2SV9Ys3C-/s320/1g%20QM2%20Kennels%20Southampton.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie & Phoebe take their first stroll on the poop deck</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSOt4vptADPucrxDPirgRlAsEP287QSop455W9IWKpUcIGDIuPbmtHVVUW5jz-Xn93lWV4JKyT9yA2CWKdS5X2pbcT9xa8wJeNhUUJYn4gesFUcd7MnUq922LgGblHGA3tMgxuRkHHvmCjI6D-OjY1xwzMol5CyZVJ5PujdR9_l4oaeg6FpJM0Bh0a0mV/s4022/1i%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2262" data-original-width="4022" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSOt4vptADPucrxDPirgRlAsEP287QSop455W9IWKpUcIGDIuPbmtHVVUW5jz-Xn93lWV4JKyT9yA2CWKdS5X2pbcT9xa8wJeNhUUJYn4gesFUcd7MnUq922LgGblHGA3tMgxuRkHHvmCjI6D-OjY1xwzMol5CyZVJ5PujdR9_l4oaeg6FpJM0Bh0a0mV/s320/1i%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sun sets over the stern as Southampton recedes in the distance</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Ollie plays mama Kangaroo with Phoebe</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggw1dSn5h7QatBtqJEboe-U7FXoqT-rMf0oSggu4S5_77bPyjNVpyYOwhXS8mN0nFUwuVPSNMgUW6opqOvkXlBGKJbsmiOY2sShtb6buyR_m-D7MW5Rqu3unZwjzThgzHK3E8JA2Dcsul5k1TvQGiEpLDPIMIvMz12FKyrUmpU3RR0BvDWd9odPTuYLRd/s4032/1ia%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggw1dSn5h7QatBtqJEboe-U7FXoqT-rMf0oSggu4S5_77bPyjNVpyYOwhXS8mN0nFUwuVPSNMgUW6opqOvkXlBGKJbsmiOY2sShtb6buyR_m-D7MW5Rqu3unZwjzThgzHK3E8JA2Dcsul5k1TvQGiEpLDPIMIvMz12FKyrUmpU3RR0BvDWd9odPTuYLRd/s320/1ia%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Phoebe in the pouch</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>And then the Lion King.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnQ81w-0s7joKmjOKAy1V13qzMT0x13IC2Svo1hCh_2JHLkgkPPEbrVMl4YOX7OY9UvDYkHWrJW6tKTA7NmQc39pdCorMwuV2TQoO62xaGkjeWpHLWeE3r9VpKG96VHf_elsO59ov8leFjImyF4zqRu9zl6znF8grSNqONblUJVxYEWeoiuf_OcaMM_kc/s4032/1j%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnQ81w-0s7joKmjOKAy1V13qzMT0x13IC2Svo1hCh_2JHLkgkPPEbrVMl4YOX7OY9UvDYkHWrJW6tKTA7NmQc39pdCorMwuV2TQoO62xaGkjeWpHLWeE3r9VpKG96VHf_elsO59ov8leFjImyF4zqRu9zl6znF8grSNqONblUJVxYEWeoiuf_OcaMM_kc/s320/1j%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Lion King</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Ozzy, another friend the dogs got to know.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfXwP14ECzVLdHunREgibF6EZejbz3WaT4oysTZaO68eoPxmYTWBRFki59niNFeilTE6xlNt8A-PlBwrAJwY4L7utvg_GXtaIbOKfmBmtxTvpn0iXJY1YCKJLG3lQO9S_RrT5gOaI2MQvMf1pxGQ9dyWCKOLYXXoM_fyRo86tPNM4w-2q48rgDX80IhGe/s4032/1k%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfXwP14ECzVLdHunREgibF6EZejbz3WaT4oysTZaO68eoPxmYTWBRFki59niNFeilTE6xlNt8A-PlBwrAJwY4L7utvg_GXtaIbOKfmBmtxTvpn0iXJY1YCKJLG3lQO9S_RrT5gOaI2MQvMf1pxGQ9dyWCKOLYXXoM_fyRo86tPNM4w-2q48rgDX80IhGe/s320/1k%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ozzy farted a lot 😂 </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div>This was the start of our 7 night, transatlantic, dinnertime rat-race.</div><div><br /></div><div>We tucked the dogs in the kennel at 6 and ran down to our stateroom to get ready for dinner. Then dinner at 630p. We would only do starters and at 730p we were back at then kennels for the pups last outing for the night. Night hours were from 730-830pm</div><div><br /></div><div>Then at 830 we would run back down to the restaurant to complete our dinner.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJ2DP3RCMmzDC4No_AeYcn8cjYdrRUk1wUrT3FeI8qR4UIqq-vkUPzy7rSuvB1R_NogSJG8tWplo70oCccjFnNWXJ2fGYcNqp2E0o1LaSxngpCpPXiCUaFvMQQjZ910THK97eDwBZKcM8g46jLe-08N9hy_5QwVTDzF8z5rpSkA1-u6LHa8gI1CLzpkDm/s4032/2a%20QM2%20Queens%20Grill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJ2DP3RCMmzDC4No_AeYcn8cjYdrRUk1wUrT3FeI8qR4UIqq-vkUPzy7rSuvB1R_NogSJG8tWplo70oCccjFnNWXJ2fGYcNqp2E0o1LaSxngpCpPXiCUaFvMQQjZ910THK97eDwBZKcM8g46jLe-08N9hy_5QwVTDzF8z5rpSkA1-u6LHa8gI1CLzpkDm/s320/2a%20QM2%20Queens%20Grill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Each day our butler would leave some warm Canapes in our stateroom.</span></div><div><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Yes - I even did Formal night. Previously I considered formal wear to mean wearing black socks.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdeyNpjsGyxeWBn5N8_Elic33tLaxr5JJTrCWk3FL0w2fQxEFGWCapZF5M-xvawx1sngQhieOWyI-ZUa888eX-VSSqtolcI9lEOgUjVtkaeGHEgE-RpVAkRmjIbinmUZiJtbjnTW0glRNXaXV4dqF15Qd51NwBuxATKdT0tt_aBWxMibfN6fMB0MHkavn/s4032/2ab%20Qm2%20Qeens%20Grill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdeyNpjsGyxeWBn5N8_Elic33tLaxr5JJTrCWk3FL0w2fQxEFGWCapZF5M-xvawx1sngQhieOWyI-ZUa888eX-VSSqtolcI9lEOgUjVtkaeGHEgE-RpVAkRmjIbinmUZiJtbjnTW0glRNXaXV4dqF15Qd51NwBuxATKdT0tt_aBWxMibfN6fMB0MHkavn/s320/2ab%20Qm2%20Qeens%20Grill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our good friend Raina joined us for the crossing along with her BFF Tracy. We had one heck of a table.</div><div>I was surrounded by these 3 beautiful women and had the best of times. We laughed and laughed and make quite a scene in the normal rather stuffy confines of the QG. All of the wait staff had a lot of fun with us and one of them whispered in Kate ear that we were his favorite.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazeH6TvRWjKocaiw2Ax761AE7bjFEbTibuj-xrafASNaNpE6ArhGYl0dxmVDTgGwF_8eF5vXgx0pGHhUYpmXhynzjKpT-oAM7BZHthqy6axXf3XeLTE_3sF8v_hxrJdm1ogBovI5zt3DYcEXCPLt98U-WRntcZlLTqrMkq85-EAmrzHOr_fOqzah046wT/s3942/2b%20QM2%20Queens%20Grill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2216" data-original-width="3942" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazeH6TvRWjKocaiw2Ax761AE7bjFEbTibuj-xrafASNaNpE6ArhGYl0dxmVDTgGwF_8eF5vXgx0pGHhUYpmXhynzjKpT-oAM7BZHthqy6axXf3XeLTE_3sF8v_hxrJdm1ogBovI5zt3DYcEXCPLt98U-WRntcZlLTqrMkq85-EAmrzHOr_fOqzah046wT/s320/2b%20QM2%20Queens%20Grill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The wild bunch at Dinner</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />One of the big draws of sailing Queens Grill is the food. It is definitely several cuts above the other restaurants on the ship. There is no order to special. They are even encouraged. Have something special you want to eat? No problem! If they have onboard what is needed to prepare it, they will make it for you.</div><div><br /></div><div>One night I had rack of Lamb prepared table side.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx__usREksRHxOE-XIpn739GFHb8Ye3eKgZANLF8Q9lO67Xde_0WDvLhsg_j1_VOx31qHcu0Zkj93ex_Lo9_mJv-XlvDnvh7M8MOHLKThE5-oU6_oEY1-bAni8i7pg4tdGhgxxP5NNE1N3uz3wrIUQGKV_5JL6qG6p2BmIR26udCzW8t0Jwp8uoQ_WWOHS/s4031/2c%20QM2%20Queens%20Grill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="4031" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx__usREksRHxOE-XIpn739GFHb8Ye3eKgZANLF8Q9lO67Xde_0WDvLhsg_j1_VOx31qHcu0Zkj93ex_Lo9_mJv-XlvDnvh7M8MOHLKThE5-oU6_oEY1-bAni8i7pg4tdGhgxxP5NNE1N3uz3wrIUQGKV_5JL6qG6p2BmIR26udCzW8t0Jwp8uoQ_WWOHS/s320/2c%20QM2%20Queens%20Grill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rack of Lamb with mint sauce</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Another night we all discussed the benefits of Chateaubriand vs Lobster Tail. So we decided to order both!</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbAm1wzJyzh6NoQxGOzToZHF1YlXS16exrf_1VoO7q6yPWg_u6YZZRaH6gZmdRL1Xg_LQPn9yCjFMfz44-XxYKBedeWNdovGlTufDbEI2qie8xnr-lwwPShPSswJYv-4sFW0Z6jmT7_6lImzxbFZEGvl2oXlO5cQaOzjaYkS0qFaZ_Ch2gkpAV8nUeIG-/s4031/2d%20QM2%20Queens%20Grill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="4031" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbAm1wzJyzh6NoQxGOzToZHF1YlXS16exrf_1VoO7q6yPWg_u6YZZRaH6gZmdRL1Xg_LQPn9yCjFMfz44-XxYKBedeWNdovGlTufDbEI2qie8xnr-lwwPShPSswJYv-4sFW0Z6jmT7_6lImzxbFZEGvl2oXlO5cQaOzjaYkS0qFaZ_Ch2gkpAV8nUeIG-/s320/2d%20QM2%20Queens%20Grill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chateaubriand & Lobster Tail</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>And don't ask me about the deserts. I really got out of control when the meal was done and time for the sweets. Creme Brule', Cherries Jubilee, Crepes Suzette, and Vanilla Ice cream (at the same time) anyone? </div><div><br /></div><div>Bad weather on the North Atlantic is to be expected and this trip was no exception. Most of this crossing was very rough, wet, and cold. We headed much further south than normal to get around the now extra tropical remnants of Hurricane Nigel. Even though we skirted around it, the winds were a solid force 8 and the waves 8-9 meters. It did not bother Kate and I, but for a couple of nights the ship seemed to be fairly empty as people remained out of sight.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_KIblVcfgGYkk8a8ElbNpDkzVR2ZCkuoWXnmnsq7Gd861CsTiPslK5Bs9cQcjvtBvEgxrqCHu9EnkK76IJMtvcR3h4hLRr6tiKleEDD5K0YYd_WICrlnUXmhylYC7GOD5G9XjAV3wUkhfs1PiHVRqw8S1DbsvtSRTpD3MIN-YbJt7F0urPuZWzg8_6qN/s4032/2db.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_KIblVcfgGYkk8a8ElbNpDkzVR2ZCkuoWXnmnsq7Gd861CsTiPslK5Bs9cQcjvtBvEgxrqCHu9EnkK76IJMtvcR3h4hLRr6tiKleEDD5K0YYd_WICrlnUXmhylYC7GOD5G9XjAV3wUkhfs1PiHVRqw8S1DbsvtSRTpD3MIN-YbJt7F0urPuZWzg8_6qN/s320/2db.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A video showing the up and down pitching of the ship</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pp06D3ckmA4" width="320" youtube-src-id="Pp06D3ckmA4"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Two days out of NY the weather finally moderated enough for the traditional "picture day". This is also the day that the dogs get to go out on the wider deck outside of the kennels and really get to stretch thier legs.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifA98jEhZJZgJDoRZZp1fGXmWCNwqwetRW3dbIMb_LJ9_1nzzSs2w2ETkg-XhZBFrZym9zN86gsFzMOeEzIjzD0Uid4TbameLipYa_itEjfeWPRfAbMUZtMzpRU_7EzPioxuzzEakbTR9ZPHIVtZ5h36SfaoF4s17-Vxlk52eBAYXC7mkj4su3whDr1Wav/s4032/2e%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifA98jEhZJZgJDoRZZp1fGXmWCNwqwetRW3dbIMb_LJ9_1nzzSs2w2ETkg-XhZBFrZym9zN86gsFzMOeEzIjzD0Uid4TbameLipYa_itEjfeWPRfAbMUZtMzpRU_7EzPioxuzzEakbTR9ZPHIVtZ5h36SfaoF4s17-Vxlk52eBAYXC7mkj4su3whDr1Wav/s320/2e%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVGqpAfXmk0SRXeq977828ulYpHsQDx2r1rCxV7V57utjCcowuNuchsflf0NxIymNAfyO5dBR-maXmwRFHmFWduQ8ZmqFswrdb0xXPX2GTMBtsXv4qB2kxWGID7JEg4f43-aQk-FVBBIxooJWLW1LbXVlOqjDt4Kg5dhnRSrI118YnefIzPKwcfzixUDm/s4032/2f%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVGqpAfXmk0SRXeq977828ulYpHsQDx2r1rCxV7V57utjCcowuNuchsflf0NxIymNAfyO5dBR-maXmwRFHmFWduQ8ZmqFswrdb0xXPX2GTMBtsXv4qB2kxWGID7JEg4f43-aQk-FVBBIxooJWLW1LbXVlOqjDt4Kg5dhnRSrI118YnefIzPKwcfzixUDm/s320/2f%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Monica & Maurice were relocating from Germany</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFyoYcxkXXkmrXzjHEE9AOQG51PQpqEBboKkpEz8xsutczgFzz1O6epz1kggom9swrirLxuZlFInqgksG37OUrbn1fjqGPLhZ72WMiXw0gIQziDkjUorN9tejdQtRvsxPVsPyXzRpcxdQVWPAV8GQXOh5mDhDMAQ2P_J3oW9_Y5-lcuCoNdFJCvLbxsBM/s4032/2g%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFyoYcxkXXkmrXzjHEE9AOQG51PQpqEBboKkpEz8xsutczgFzz1O6epz1kggom9swrirLxuZlFInqgksG37OUrbn1fjqGPLhZ72WMiXw0gIQziDkjUorN9tejdQtRvsxPVsPyXzRpcxdQVWPAV8GQXOh5mDhDMAQ2P_J3oW9_Y5-lcuCoNdFJCvLbxsBM/s320/2g%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(L-R) John and Ollie with Annie & Phoebe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The young lady below was moving from Germany to the US with her mom and dad. We had heard that she was a good singer so one day we convinced her to sing someting for all of us in the kennel.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were all blown away! It turned out that she had an amazing and powerful Opera voice. </div><div>She was incredible! Amazing!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEUUZdn-KwFsSudYY5oWCNdO5oCSXPKIe3rwnFZY2s9Iggkp10biGzMb8T0EST5opC7JBqpRmQIVeEBvIST2RwD0320jyH2z2oheiOP7mabMac_ETNDTbFyOppda1n3M8vtmhHzWtAc05klOX2nqK31y5kTyekyOcwQtFCBkgSxTa7cV3UAd_ar_vVGFs/s4032/2h%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEUUZdn-KwFsSudYY5oWCNdO5oCSXPKIe3rwnFZY2s9Iggkp10biGzMb8T0EST5opC7JBqpRmQIVeEBvIST2RwD0320jyH2z2oheiOP7mabMac_ETNDTbFyOppda1n3M8vtmhHzWtAc05klOX2nqK31y5kTyekyOcwQtFCBkgSxTa7cV3UAd_ar_vVGFs/s320/2h%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV04UehDXV6_lpbMWwb7SX4noGdA8cFRpg4b9-4JLbKaHFE1wsoNMyiMg3rsyqj5UvpPxZ_QA-t5kgxNyow1dO5El-yLQMoaSh4RKUqldXvp5vd5ZVlQRYqL5RAq7TqRPVK9SBIGv29MRWlOEvvqCw5C6MjvF3snRn0M8TNlQxFLb4cUpmZXSXvXCVobQa/s3842/2i%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2161" data-original-width="3842" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV04UehDXV6_lpbMWwb7SX4noGdA8cFRpg4b9-4JLbKaHFE1wsoNMyiMg3rsyqj5UvpPxZ_QA-t5kgxNyow1dO5El-yLQMoaSh4RKUqldXvp5vd5ZVlQRYqL5RAq7TqRPVK9SBIGv29MRWlOEvvqCw5C6MjvF3snRn0M8TNlQxFLb4cUpmZXSXvXCVobQa/s320/2i%20QM2%20Kennels.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The group photo</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBOzNE1hn1Ggx44x7wG8bVlYJmPuxR3f54IdORpYf9k5v3JMSHHwfssixiDi5b7TIDaAey2BJBZMqqtPv0WK8MTr38UyoE9XTBSKzVNSCatZWlxxL8ugolAceKk8KgkM832aAsjWsblQUbmGG14hg7nRmcQ1ZFyi8-TL7jBj9V77c8L1ZtfBN2I9vxMkG/s4032/2j%20QM2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBOzNE1hn1Ggx44x7wG8bVlYJmPuxR3f54IdORpYf9k5v3JMSHHwfssixiDi5b7TIDaAey2BJBZMqqtPv0WK8MTr38UyoE9XTBSKzVNSCatZWlxxL8ugolAceKk8KgkM832aAsjWsblQUbmGG14hg7nRmcQ1ZFyi8-TL7jBj9V77c8L1ZtfBN2I9vxMkG/s320/2j%20QM2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Are we there yet?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Sitting in the kennels all day - each day - I said to kate that the days go slow but the week goes fast.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And sure enough, soon we were crossing under the Verazanno Bridge entering NY harbor, and putting the overseas portion of our trip into the history book.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpSIDOLlTKrQKYy_a1jou2C89HZHPWd0-t1W-8J0SAja7BmyR_ngtIL6OIDPAnb4d3XvwYqYdMSG-th80rRY_Saj1V0PUORUtz2E8mTlshJUbmBcpYt_XpSLmpdqCked21h0X0sP6EbK819W8ZGMkdPD5ueTRC7UWmSBJHj1twQxIJ4t8NLrU5ktBOcwx/s4032/3a%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpSIDOLlTKrQKYy_a1jou2C89HZHPWd0-t1W-8J0SAja7BmyR_ngtIL6OIDPAnb4d3XvwYqYdMSG-th80rRY_Saj1V0PUORUtz2E8mTlshJUbmBcpYt_XpSLmpdqCked21h0X0sP6EbK819W8ZGMkdPD5ueTRC7UWmSBJHj1twQxIJ4t8NLrU5ktBOcwx/s320/3a%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We sailed deeper into NY Harbor and passed by lady Liberty as the forecasted rain started to fall.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlREcAti0fSJeKT4aJRGKgxW1o6zUGigp90ajEW8T7JKfjbqJzMP7BMvxHfz0qOJksMesDBpPevEMM3U_9Ky7eyTc1mXsoytbVdBGBSeN8qYydULQ-j0mnbmlGf0Cv1yskwTg046z8iH0y89o_3DnnRstk3U7qo3cPVMH7xu-e3e6VVPaiU_yrj8cyXJn/s4032/3b%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlREcAti0fSJeKT4aJRGKgxW1o6zUGigp90ajEW8T7JKfjbqJzMP7BMvxHfz0qOJksMesDBpPevEMM3U_9Ky7eyTc1mXsoytbVdBGBSeN8qYydULQ-j0mnbmlGf0Cv1yskwTg046z8iH0y89o_3DnnRstk3U7qo3cPVMH7xu-e3e6VVPaiU_yrj8cyXJn/s320/3b%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368; text-align: left;">Give me your</span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; text-align: left;"> tired, </span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368; text-align: left;">your</span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; text-align: left;"> poor, </span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368; text-align: left;">your huddled masses</span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; text-align: left;"> yearning to breathe free</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Our arrival in NYC turned into a disaster. Historic rains poured from the sky. When it was time to meet up at kennels, it was raining so hard that several inches of water was standing on the decks, unable to drain fast enough. The dogs and people were soaked. </div><div><br /></div><div>Phoebe refused to poop outside and instead decided to do it inside of the kennel waiting room - which was packed with wet owners and dogs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon we were summoned to disembark. Remember - this ship is about 1,100' long. We had to walk halfway down the deck outside to the inside pool, where we would catch the B elevator down to deck 3</div><div><br /></div><div>It was pouring rain and we, and the dogs, were soaked to the skin. Not to be outdone - Annie decided to poop inside the deck 12 pool room before we got on the elevator.</div><div><br /></div><div>Safely down the elevator, we got off of the ship without further problems. We were able to find our luggage quite easily, found a porter with a baggage cart, and soon were on the Customs & Immigration short line. (they shuttle dog owners to the front for reasons soon to be obvious)</div><div><br /></div><div>Standing at the yellow "<i>wait here for the next agent</i>" line, just as the agent motioned us forward, Phoebe decided to leave another steaming pile. </div><div><br /></div><div>As I handed the agent our passports, he scanned mine and then looked at Kates. He then pointed to Kate (who was busy trying to clean up poo off of the concrete floor) . "<i>Are they with you</i>?" he asked. I replied "<i>yes they are</i>." to which he said "<i>you are all clear, get them out of here!</i>"</div><div><br /></div><div>So, 3 mis directed poops and we were now out of the terminal, under a partial cover, while the winds howled and the rain came down in buckets. I texted our driver who was coming from 3 hours away and he let me know that he was about 40 min away due to flooded roads.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2w-PkYUdRQ6TfmBWGYgy3tXILgbsVjQWEonJAKp7xKYIeL7u7wl8HA855fD5QMJBWG1SV9JMWqOCJh6op6v-KkxIWpi_z8x3WcEoTUKD9_XQfc7SMsPG7Q7hZmAz2Wp3Bp1gXNEJH5Y0TU8Rp0NG948X4SlG7PvXX8AK-SiTosr5yJM_9ugZN9kyMhZB/s4032/3a%20QM2%20NYd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2w-PkYUdRQ6TfmBWGYgy3tXILgbsVjQWEonJAKp7xKYIeL7u7wl8HA855fD5QMJBWG1SV9JMWqOCJh6op6v-KkxIWpi_z8x3WcEoTUKD9_XQfc7SMsPG7Q7hZmAz2Wp3Bp1gXNEJH5Y0TU8Rp0NG948X4SlG7PvXX8AK-SiTosr5yJM_9ugZN9kyMhZB/s320/3a%20QM2%20NYd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />So we waited, and waited as more and more people got off of the ship and it became painfully obvious that nobody was getting out of the port as it was being reported that all the roads were flooded to waist deep. After an hour I received a call from our driver that his van had hit a flood, was dead, and he would not be coming for us.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbUXyg1_qQohBprVU2WJ_pUL29ioi202-aARzXvGSZ7pmLqOlrTETAb9AT0iJ3nj7SSn2NdLjzyFCzPIbN1pio_hNT6fTpk8vJEb0W-s86ujQ5oy0qbq2qKrDTP3snFkVx6V08oaAF85b8U6LFzg1wU8N8kCLqz-4nfkz8cm9dJBOKEOCFnfsolpFR3kI/s4032/3c%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbUXyg1_qQohBprVU2WJ_pUL29ioi202-aARzXvGSZ7pmLqOlrTETAb9AT0iJ3nj7SSn2NdLjzyFCzPIbN1pio_hNT6fTpk8vJEb0W-s86ujQ5oy0qbq2qKrDTP3snFkVx6V08oaAF85b8U6LFzg1wU8N8kCLqz-4nfkz8cm9dJBOKEOCFnfsolpFR3kI/s320/3c%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After talking to the owner in Albany, NY - he was finally able to arrange for a NYC based driver to come and get us. By now the rains had moderated, some of the floods were were receding and people were getting out of the port as well as new passengers were starting to arrive.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyIkb7tB_atbItdqxKxN7n20YuGtRZxEvPG0TfY0JEfOclxkw3TFcCNYXQc6NI9VQWIPsW8dTviUEEvQvO1K26euHvjEMRmAUrdl4_SgA4Uj5HMY3KH9lpnaqqBsVHA6NDnk-_wOEuneFXpgYf3nrpwRhOfExuQgZT3zG9GXXAfSCdtjfVeJ4NlZcmNsq/s4032/3d%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyIkb7tB_atbItdqxKxN7n20YuGtRZxEvPG0TfY0JEfOclxkw3TFcCNYXQc6NI9VQWIPsW8dTviUEEvQvO1K26euHvjEMRmAUrdl4_SgA4Uj5HMY3KH9lpnaqqBsVHA6NDnk-_wOEuneFXpgYf3nrpwRhOfExuQgZT3zG9GXXAfSCdtjfVeJ4NlZcmNsq/s320/3d%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It was still a an hour or so before our driver made it to pick us up at 1:30pm. We'd been outside in the rain, soaked, with soaked dogs, for about 5 hrs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Getting into the warm Suburban, Kate and the dogs almost instantly fell asleep.</div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYEqbbNZCjrIo10YQ1eYABDfypv76NIXR5xztl5K95mE8doLlyqB4F8OI2NqHzsOB26ieXyICakh65r3UxApsXHLAfXZH8GH5az6RDVbzEI6VZL50NCLv9l7HcFrgDbMdTXr7HFATlA7cNFlHp7bQ90UCZxX-9eZepTiOAyqWFCj0kIQEB25S-QnOAH7Q/s4032/3e%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYEqbbNZCjrIo10YQ1eYABDfypv76NIXR5xztl5K95mE8doLlyqB4F8OI2NqHzsOB26ieXyICakh65r3UxApsXHLAfXZH8GH5az6RDVbzEI6VZL50NCLv9l7HcFrgDbMdTXr7HFATlA7cNFlHp7bQ90UCZxX-9eZepTiOAyqWFCj0kIQEB25S-QnOAH7Q/s320/3e%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4pT8HVGuAF8xlYo7cTBI58OOmqGbfpbHx8I5fGl0eh2w-7_ae-wsX51aTldGtEDtXgerJ59P8xjPsFnjU51ZgRulYLcWlbW-YW_w4R1MShiVKQZ_zMYfgPCUBQkttOceiEOYU0Y0TDewnhHMIxMX7PQ0ZbW_xGiKdWYafpAybLNgYQtdz6Tdmk3ucLUK/s4032/3f%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4pT8HVGuAF8xlYo7cTBI58OOmqGbfpbHx8I5fGl0eh2w-7_ae-wsX51aTldGtEDtXgerJ59P8xjPsFnjU51ZgRulYLcWlbW-YW_w4R1MShiVKQZ_zMYfgPCUBQkttOceiEOYU0Y0TDewnhHMIxMX7PQ0ZbW_xGiKdWYafpAybLNgYQtdz6Tdmk3ucLUK/s320/3f%20QM2%20NYC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Our original plan was to get back to the bus, get batteries connected, and head 2 hrs or so east to Boston where we had reservations. Since we didn't get to the bus till about 6pm and it was getting dark, we decided to stay the night at the storage facility which is a quiet scenic location on a farm.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtT5DlUNqskVb9na8-FfdC5msXYlR0XioZy-o9Ek0Xh4nt3aXdqD6wvAB7eEQrDuiUjylVni86a55VxIcM7BSDfa3DV6xl_6tO_tst6Ob4G0dCtHv2JnyURtHPr4Lu4Pqdj7jjZVdu7XiNohEmnS7qasXUCmEKRFRm_Y7QjSZKI2AHWFw3JvKzCm_dihE/s4032/4a%20Back%20in%20the%20bus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtT5DlUNqskVb9na8-FfdC5msXYlR0XioZy-o9Ek0Xh4nt3aXdqD6wvAB7eEQrDuiUjylVni86a55VxIcM7BSDfa3DV6xl_6tO_tst6Ob4G0dCtHv2JnyURtHPr4Lu4Pqdj7jjZVdu7XiNohEmnS7qasXUCmEKRFRm_Y7QjSZKI2AHWFw3JvKzCm_dihE/s320/4a%20Back%20in%20the%20bus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Saturday we headed over to Normandy Farms in Foxboro Mass for 5 nights. The first couple of days we took care of things like renewed Covid & Flu shots, I had to get a physical for my CDL license, get dog food, resupply the pantry etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally we took advantage of a sunny day to take a drive over to Salem Mass, site of the imfamous witch trials. We had lunch at a lovely cafe overlooking the harbor.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ05X8AhUGH7WPJMKMEGovQ4OYT7I8VGL_0GA-hR_G5wBS6PKzU2_6CLxPVUAAjn9GzMS0ZA9ieGW7qtZIonBsFF0LZ93oKMjEgm9gcwB6_YFwTb0d6GdbCztt0ubZhXaABB6lC4Uo8Mq6eIhxYkSRtQUONMttQlOA4HCc4ZPiAnTZqkkN3RiLp_7X1rF0/s4032/4b%20Salem%20Mass%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ05X8AhUGH7WPJMKMEGovQ4OYT7I8VGL_0GA-hR_G5wBS6PKzU2_6CLxPVUAAjn9GzMS0ZA9ieGW7qtZIonBsFF0LZ93oKMjEgm9gcwB6_YFwTb0d6GdbCztt0ubZhXaABB6lC4Uo8Mq6eIhxYkSRtQUONMttQlOA4HCc4ZPiAnTZqkkN3RiLp_7X1rF0/s320/4b%20Salem%20Mass%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>5 days flew by and soon we were back on the road headed west to Lake George, NY. Not far from where we stored the bus, and near where we used to live many moons ago.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fall colors were starting to make their appearance along the Mass Pike.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2KnO99XeTmB7J3_7Pfg1ojeCl5erts5VRbiakHrJK-Po5Llpg4ww_Ha7u1Gf6apjyUY9Mc9lsh78GXV9TzaPGjxUOIpCYH0FyYvMle6PsaGc7a3bYAkRgii5Q9D00FNqC-VQ30sCZv8pa0FTENa4806K09glp_dHm-zufKq7a966LGhTupM4E1NsopVj/s4032/4c%20Mass%20Pike.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2KnO99XeTmB7J3_7Pfg1ojeCl5erts5VRbiakHrJK-Po5Llpg4ww_Ha7u1Gf6apjyUY9Mc9lsh78GXV9TzaPGjxUOIpCYH0FyYvMle6PsaGc7a3bYAkRgii5Q9D00FNqC-VQ30sCZv8pa0FTENa4806K09glp_dHm-zufKq7a966LGhTupM4E1NsopVj/s320/4c%20Mass%20Pike.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The dogs meanwhile have settled into their new home. I really they they are digging the Motorhome life.</div><div>Plus, they have a ready made enormous stash of toys left from Gracie car & Lucy to explore.</div><div>When we get back to Az they will even have more!</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwAAAWMHMEkNfpCT65T8UJAglvIj8FwmxA5QOtV9DA_F22yqXWRwT4rMePycoDByC4J-UDykGa2c4eg5baYCVlf6V6gP9WtF3OvvvaFDy14NRc0tt1SI3KAU5_jS-3wS-M8ZtLJHcUdQ8xJbUfSCS-rjtgM_M-3_2iv8xUj_F7thyphenhyphenQ3bVo_C91AH1CxE3/s4032/4d%20Back%20in%20the%20bus.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwAAAWMHMEkNfpCT65T8UJAglvIj8FwmxA5QOtV9DA_F22yqXWRwT4rMePycoDByC4J-UDykGa2c4eg5baYCVlf6V6gP9WtF3OvvvaFDy14NRc0tt1SI3KAU5_jS-3wS-M8ZtLJHcUdQ8xJbUfSCS-rjtgM_M-3_2iv8xUj_F7thyphenhyphenQ3bVo_C91AH1CxE3/s320/4d%20Back%20in%20the%20bus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toys scattered everywhere.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />While in NY we got to visit with lots of friends. It was a bit of a rush as there are so many people to see and so little time was set aside for the visit.</div><div><br />We had more rain while in NY, but we were able to catch one sunny day and take our favorite fall drive to explore the small roads thru NY and Vermont in search of some colors.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8haajCUM77EMc0mtBAFiv0FiKnJFk4phBXjNZceXKOrO5DJddnfhUPhBe5mOroL_BTh4Q9V8o2jrhyyc6YN6U7u2FO4R_cSIRbNQuiIZaNKBjhCM4YN_B1vx6wSzlVKwYmFXPNHNTup_PRHWV1xc3fbOqoRc6FddujoqCjoTWHYvWEqApXyrav7KJjO0E/s4032/4e%20Covered%20Bridge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8haajCUM77EMc0mtBAFiv0FiKnJFk4phBXjNZceXKOrO5DJddnfhUPhBe5mOroL_BTh4Q9V8o2jrhyyc6YN6U7u2FO4R_cSIRbNQuiIZaNKBjhCM4YN_B1vx6wSzlVKwYmFXPNHNTup_PRHWV1xc3fbOqoRc6FddujoqCjoTWHYvWEqApXyrav7KJjO0E/s320/4e%20Covered%20Bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A covered bridge in NY</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Some scenic farms in the NY/VT border area.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpNTnhnx8msQeSSLg2Y5iA3Lb_bupq9FC_hR3fxUx7MbsTjfzausi1lbZ9irXS3wCYaXJIdKjRo210bzmhCAxm8EaVa822lsRIL5KdzNjS6XG5jVztYNpcksbrkXlkZmjRyCTxFXdNB9cQIjvQyeDreEVwtUpCyDYYXc3Jr4EH4U6hCcj1P5hlIiQdg2y/s4032/4f%20Upstate%20NY%20Colors.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpNTnhnx8msQeSSLg2Y5iA3Lb_bupq9FC_hR3fxUx7MbsTjfzausi1lbZ9irXS3wCYaXJIdKjRo210bzmhCAxm8EaVa822lsRIL5KdzNjS6XG5jVztYNpcksbrkXlkZmjRyCTxFXdNB9cQIjvQyeDreEVwtUpCyDYYXc3Jr4EH4U6hCcj1P5hlIiQdg2y/s320/4f%20Upstate%20NY%20Colors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXDpO-zCJzqHHRgIY2mPqq6frSyir_AEQWy09GoYoxD9IplaXqFKFnNHF5Q7pW4-j9gpaLtv_yzW5JlpH3bdhXPolTV_IZbdHByz6C3NENhhPF7TJiymtejFYLtmUaEfcUduw0cxMKV8QdEaeiN-8Qd-BR83VBSgVuUR1KJa337qxRAi1CqLnsQRgx-Xw/s4032/4g%20Upstate%20Colors.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXDpO-zCJzqHHRgIY2mPqq6frSyir_AEQWy09GoYoxD9IplaXqFKFnNHF5Q7pW4-j9gpaLtv_yzW5JlpH3bdhXPolTV_IZbdHByz6C3NENhhPF7TJiymtejFYLtmUaEfcUduw0cxMKV8QdEaeiN-8Qd-BR83VBSgVuUR1KJa337qxRAi1CqLnsQRgx-Xw/s320/4g%20Upstate%20Colors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We visited with our friend Matt & Julie who live on a hill overlooking Lake George.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEmfLgqzutdOHpI70owzpEGGLnKOOwcqVXWPRUwxkTnCDnFNkDsFacBamTOtMrVnVz6qNlk_0lazhBUuyyxiaYSMA0VV8EmUx9o5MyObruTn6W022VFvQGbL4BfFvuEbW4f8BV4xK5ihGnkfAm-FGd2z0V8dEzt8RjwpgZJsvU6i0fNRHuvz-LzSmta5C/s4032/4h%20Upstate.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEmfLgqzutdOHpI70owzpEGGLnKOOwcqVXWPRUwxkTnCDnFNkDsFacBamTOtMrVnVz6qNlk_0lazhBUuyyxiaYSMA0VV8EmUx9o5MyObruTn6W022VFvQGbL4BfFvuEbW4f8BV4xK5ihGnkfAm-FGd2z0V8dEzt8RjwpgZJsvU6i0fNRHuvz-LzSmta5C/s320/4h%20Upstate.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Julie, Phoebe, and Kate</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Soon our 5 nights were up and we were back on the road. South and west to the Finger Lakes Region of NY. The view below is of Lake Seneca as we were approaching our next stop, the Finger Lakes RV Resort.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOEU2eL9xCRI3jxI653-TvbhQiR4k4BKN2tMYKZxV6AmIT_q6Yxuwqt5CIeRWqM-mBVgmH2zErlzJhtIKolBkTZCT52qE1on4pLTXnJT7PMdd8P3aC0hZstt2NU91BoTXXMbx_xKwwiAhbHipeXd3_qxrSnH9QdbIh9xO1XdJ4biM2vn_WA2CJvY3nb8Y/s4032/5a%20Finger%20lakes%20NY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOEU2eL9xCRI3jxI653-TvbhQiR4k4BKN2tMYKZxV6AmIT_q6Yxuwqt5CIeRWqM-mBVgmH2zErlzJhtIKolBkTZCT52qE1on4pLTXnJT7PMdd8P3aC0hZstt2NU91BoTXXMbx_xKwwiAhbHipeXd3_qxrSnH9QdbIh9xO1XdJ4biM2vn_WA2CJvY3nb8Y/s320/5a%20Finger%20lakes%20NY.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>While I would not exactly call the place a resort, it was brand new, well laid out, with a nice view of the countryside,</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZRi7Dt6DG9HyCYGBVQZCBCN8aUA6EpCkZJKyFOnVcw2p2RcKjd5wqvlqrlIhvIIqZku1nochSJfkD_9JsRDZjHR2ZwCbC2o9XAgTvtESmffFjPPA5vMNIZAkCsFfYlbEFbhxMhQZCc25yg0kK9RtgD_dpbvVOHa4wvty_ajlxGfOLUnEngVGbSrEhhFw/s4032/5b%20Finger%20Lakes%20RV%20Resort.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZRi7Dt6DG9HyCYGBVQZCBCN8aUA6EpCkZJKyFOnVcw2p2RcKjd5wqvlqrlIhvIIqZku1nochSJfkD_9JsRDZjHR2ZwCbC2o9XAgTvtESmffFjPPA5vMNIZAkCsFfYlbEFbhxMhQZCc25yg0kK9RtgD_dpbvVOHa4wvty_ajlxGfOLUnEngVGbSrEhhFw/s320/5b%20Finger%20Lakes%20RV%20Resort.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our site (L) #8</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CbQhFSAreH7M1HRpRdRjCaKCvYer1AColG4C01bnYGPE9KMPSPAAXVyrI3WB0zfUST9UF7ah-Th0RXcPlEeX6OKq8_MiDF58cQJ2u-zkCQNeKcS0E7GwtGMWiMQJun5Ssv2z5a8y1TrBjnEqWq0r0Au_RyrkBq-oD4uTsKLYOmDZRxqJiQWKmARGv9wO/s4032/5c%20Phoebe%20and%20Annie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CbQhFSAreH7M1HRpRdRjCaKCvYer1AColG4C01bnYGPE9KMPSPAAXVyrI3WB0zfUST9UF7ah-Th0RXcPlEeX6OKq8_MiDF58cQJ2u-zkCQNeKcS0E7GwtGMWiMQJun5Ssv2z5a8y1TrBjnEqWq0r0Au_RyrkBq-oD4uTsKLYOmDZRxqJiQWKmARGv9wO/s320/5c%20Phoebe%20and%20Annie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The dogs looking out down the steps of the bus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />4 more nights gone by and were again on the road to our current location. Shawnee State Park in central Pennsylvania. It was a very rainy ride and poured rain all night. Today it has cleared up with a mix of clouds and sun, but the temperatures are noticeably much cooler. We are not far from the flight 93 memorial so we may head there tomorrow or Tuesday before we leave here for Gettysburg.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD_0tZJ8vsiUCtqF8Miv00jxgP2mTiPK4Op3pj3HTC5Z4qhcxovVpnp4YXbg-4eqguxT35vzBEYQWfh4q1FE0WvwM-MN1BUl9a6x2QRhFiFZT1ODXh4Tf-FBGc1mLe5qYgF2I3JDUvg-DqQg359R73o3ctGeIJl96C4oEilvmfy3fE9ZAeKUPacHApJZk/s4032/6a%20Shawnee%20State%20Park%20Pa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD_0tZJ8vsiUCtqF8Miv00jxgP2mTiPK4Op3pj3HTC5Z4qhcxovVpnp4YXbg-4eqguxT35vzBEYQWfh4q1FE0WvwM-MN1BUl9a6x2QRhFiFZT1ODXh4Tf-FBGc1mLe5qYgF2I3JDUvg-DqQg359R73o3ctGeIJl96C4oEilvmfy3fE9ZAeKUPacHApJZk/s320/6a%20Shawnee%20State%20Park%20Pa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Driving into Shawnee State Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We were here about 9 years ago and we liked the park, so I thought it might be a pretty stop in the fall to check out the colors. So far the colors this year are pretty but not breathtaking like they can be.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lots of fall to check out however as we slowly migrate south with the changing leaves.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_5CteWuYJgXgCKR2HPk4PdF1SmDTJGPV9ymZ6vKSTN289i5DMYPCDOXVWNIdvOPFZ78JErQzOqUeVPFD3ycSjn9r6ArrQBR0JX2lFdwyMDcXYL4qz-BMfmGQWWE1gln5LmPig-9CO_t5xr3LvXxM4Evhf-9JrObZvSThGRJ71RhAR6konln0_5IrTkIt/s4032/1A%20SHAWNEE%20STATE%20PARK%20PA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_5CteWuYJgXgCKR2HPk4PdF1SmDTJGPV9ymZ6vKSTN289i5DMYPCDOXVWNIdvOPFZ78JErQzOqUeVPFD3ycSjn9r6ArrQBR0JX2lFdwyMDcXYL4qz-BMfmGQWWE1gln5LmPig-9CO_t5xr3LvXxM4Evhf-9JrObZvSThGRJ71RhAR6konln0_5IrTkIt/s320/1A%20SHAWNEE%20STATE%20PARK%20PA.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On a walk thru the park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXCA8qugCkyoI5foDRW-K4yK6nHK9deUwwYxkV7VaLg4tsG7rQYke9SjmUD5Z6Wjysooaxmn6xmubF9rHT_7D4r0bbVCefX0Zt-9DUoqeqcep7e8wcKKFDkd0KDs3cC9z0E2MYRzcS0y5mwAqjwGuZ79m4pHRLPz12vXd4woNKNrQY0TlQY338-p1UfFZ/s4032/1B%20SHAWNEE%20STATE%20PARK%20PA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXCA8qugCkyoI5foDRW-K4yK6nHK9deUwwYxkV7VaLg4tsG7rQYke9SjmUD5Z6Wjysooaxmn6xmubF9rHT_7D4r0bbVCefX0Zt-9DUoqeqcep7e8wcKKFDkd0KDs3cC9z0E2MYRzcS0y5mwAqjwGuZ79m4pHRLPz12vXd4woNKNrQY0TlQY338-p1UfFZ/s320/1B%20SHAWNEE%20STATE%20PARK%20PA.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our site - #65 at Shawnee SP. <br />50amp service no other hookups</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well that pretty much brings you back up to date.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We will be here till Weds at which point we move to Gettysburg for 4 nights.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then two VA state parks for 5 nights each, First near Luray Va, then outside of Richmond.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our slow crawl will continue on south to Gaffney SC where we are getting some maintenance done at Freightliner, then we'll hustle out to Houston, Tx where we'll be trading in our truck for a new F150 before spending Thanksgiving in Austin Tx with friends.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The beginning of December should see us rolling back into Tucson to chill for about 6 weeks before we start all over again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks for riding along!</div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-30267792348721778372023-09-21T15:34:00.000-06:002023-09-21T15:34:01.786-06:00Paris - Barcelona - and things that Woof in the night<p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Benjamin Franklyn once said "<i>If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail" </i> Well, two weeks ago I told you we had a plan.... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now those 2 weeks have passed and we pulled it off without a hitch. As I write this, we are sitting in our hotel in Southampton, about a mile from where we will board the Queen Mary2 tomorrow. Two dogs are playing on the bed. Yes - count em.... two.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We left the Winchcombe 9 days ago and drove to the Holiday Inn in Folkstone. Close to where the train goes under the English Channel to France. I dropped Kate and Annie off with our limited luggage at the Holiday Inn and I took the car to Bridge, UK to the VRBO that we stayed at last May. The owner there said I could leave the car there while we were gone.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U3n1NYk0gijYCBX8t8QFtmMeweB23Teha5PD3XcV3bq6FpJXwsxElNLzs0SQHnQJgEOweDH_dfuVgegiSY6_H6beo0JIjGpqNjMyHoailHJk9vxWhfrjeXM1zg5ae2dRofgNODjIFxDuPL_lO5BiF2tHU-YF7Exzxrs6fLJ9Og4G-N6aNz01TlCeqZDJ/s4032/1a%20Holiday%20Inn%20Folkestone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U3n1NYk0gijYCBX8t8QFtmMeweB23Teha5PD3XcV3bq6FpJXwsxElNLzs0SQHnQJgEOweDH_dfuVgegiSY6_H6beo0JIjGpqNjMyHoailHJk9vxWhfrjeXM1zg5ae2dRofgNODjIFxDuPL_lO5BiF2tHU-YF7Exzxrs6fLJ9Og4G-N6aNz01TlCeqZDJ/s320/1a%20Holiday%20Inn%20Folkestone.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At dinner in the Holiday Inn.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our Pet Taxi picked us up at 0700 and wisked us onto the train and we crossed over to France. I picked up our left hand steer rental car in Calais, and soon we were off to Paris.<div><br /></div><div>Within a few hours we were driving up to the Arc d Triomphe.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0smDuW2_9Tqoa_do8Q594usCUsESZU0Jmm_P_RbR2Ngih9ZyKChP8Ntxd8dZO0944Fsp4v4MY2_nWtdLUI4Kf-AOCU7z5AAtF06fp_vmSopy0vryLFrMTGWZ7yjLmKs4nN6HwmTPFSPPYnt-c4jFpfrOaO-mYR0i62mgj9PU5ge-q1fKmyicimMXdKB1/s4032/1ab%20Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0smDuW2_9Tqoa_do8Q594usCUsESZU0Jmm_P_RbR2Ngih9ZyKChP8Ntxd8dZO0944Fsp4v4MY2_nWtdLUI4Kf-AOCU7z5AAtF06fp_vmSopy0vryLFrMTGWZ7yjLmKs4nN6HwmTPFSPPYnt-c4jFpfrOaO-mYR0i62mgj9PU5ge-q1fKmyicimMXdKB1/s320/1ab%20Paris.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My old New York City driving skills came in real handy in Paris. We sucessfully navigated our way thru the busy streets to our hotel just a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our room was pretty large by most standards, but especially so for Paris.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnmsGxYd2Ls-LFy_6cX3yYXzPncHDLHwxwXQCvXIUPigMEK3ZBggy31Vad6jv8SvlOWoqtkLAX-sPvnnRT1cb9W2WgBwD5hJNAjrxiWJ6BN2sS-PW-5HZKdpZXDVNC7_F4sCzVssx150Oap4wcsTyzuMjH24a-XlerHJ3hojlXqYuHGJQolPCGb5wFTSH/s4032/1b%20Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnmsGxYd2Ls-LFy_6cX3yYXzPncHDLHwxwXQCvXIUPigMEK3ZBggy31Vad6jv8SvlOWoqtkLAX-sPvnnRT1cb9W2WgBwD5hJNAjrxiWJ6BN2sS-PW-5HZKdpZXDVNC7_F4sCzVssx150Oap4wcsTyzuMjH24a-XlerHJ3hojlXqYuHGJQolPCGb5wFTSH/s320/1b%20Paris.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A large room in Paris</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We had 2 days to explor a bit so on one morning we grabbed an Uber to take us to the Arc d Triomphe and from there we walked about for the rest of the day and worked out way back to the hotel around 3pm or so.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dTEJNETIDLDP_bDYEHfUrRTZlsTUlYF_uXtONgxaWY0BP7Zaz7hsBKyyWlxvQfWfJILF3T2VRstr36Po2WZPaAkeoJGZyatRJ1lR2qeukoaSj-9fGep3P8G4AR9SKNzYX4qHN93GffSX3v2at83zoSJ2TsaG3E2O54e8T2HrNXkDWaf0vPTDwv9EafTV/s4032/1c%20Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dTEJNETIDLDP_bDYEHfUrRTZlsTUlYF_uXtONgxaWY0BP7Zaz7hsBKyyWlxvQfWfJILF3T2VRstr36Po2WZPaAkeoJGZyatRJ1lR2qeukoaSj-9fGep3P8G4AR9SKNzYX4qHN93GffSX3v2at83zoSJ2TsaG3E2O54e8T2HrNXkDWaf0vPTDwv9EafTV/s320/1c%20Paris.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjxYHaeK4lAawByX2aZo2w5QPfBSpIGr363_JcAGv0uBafJe7v1socLjm8DrtAhUb8EFIk5J1EwY-_eT-gfu1ef6JIcBGugbOKxfax4a2MOOTeIsafPLbOe_PZBgA989viPUgryujnv0T3fiR7WcoG4j6polTgp33tCq7WDRcNgfXe55nWTmcLdc18G0J/s4032/1d%20Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjxYHaeK4lAawByX2aZo2w5QPfBSpIGr363_JcAGv0uBafJe7v1socLjm8DrtAhUb8EFIk5J1EwY-_eT-gfu1ef6JIcBGugbOKxfax4a2MOOTeIsafPLbOe_PZBgA989viPUgryujnv0T3fiR7WcoG4j6polTgp33tCq7WDRcNgfXe55nWTmcLdc18G0J/s320/1d%20Paris.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Each day we would stop at a sidewalk cafe for lunch or dinner. There are an endless number of places to choose from and to take them all in would take a lifetime.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjiKYIe9m0cVsE6Pk9ThvkUlwckKxjtL4tD2aJalrhFYUAuh0rZx4fw16cRpkW05YXf-JD4yl767MaDhueg2m8VUILg-kS5wtBtvjOzw-bvTRTyVS5FR6JH_t9IgRDmmCISE-wYOgLgR2QgSMmG68oMqlznReUe3GkLGR8WkzqfmFs4Qh5pNfTPjzRuw0/s4032/1e%20Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjiKYIe9m0cVsE6Pk9ThvkUlwckKxjtL4tD2aJalrhFYUAuh0rZx4fw16cRpkW05YXf-JD4yl767MaDhueg2m8VUILg-kS5wtBtvjOzw-bvTRTyVS5FR6JH_t9IgRDmmCISE-wYOgLgR2QgSMmG68oMqlznReUe3GkLGR8WkzqfmFs4Qh5pNfTPjzRuw0/s320/1e%20Paris.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our third morning found us leaving Paris just as the sun was coming up. We had about 8 hrs to drive today, and since it was a Saturday, the streets were empty early in the morning.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98AWX2IGDFS-Y2j1BTXi6fe9f91XwzeqSX3y8ScWtLf2mB_Q06QKw2Y6wWY6jROfRKNYMI_nthCEWxGDb5xBQNKWkHm8llKbaDU4pJoZrBRn4e_8y3bx7MdamXP9mK8WigSjtTL09DnMzQ11Ze05ACCjLAMG52fnBUa3sqIJslc0MHoXN0s8nnwo3zbzf/s4032/1f%20ParisJPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98AWX2IGDFS-Y2j1BTXi6fe9f91XwzeqSX3y8ScWtLf2mB_Q06QKw2Y6wWY6jROfRKNYMI_nthCEWxGDb5xBQNKWkHm8llKbaDU4pJoZrBRn4e_8y3bx7MdamXP9mK8WigSjtTL09DnMzQ11Ze05ACCjLAMG52fnBUa3sqIJslc0MHoXN0s8nnwo3zbzf/s320/1f%20ParisJPG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Along the way we stopped to check out the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garabit_viaduct" target="_blank">Garabit Viaduct</a>. Built in the late 1800's by Gustave Eiffel, it is as functional as it it beautiful. Build from Wroght Iron, it still carries rail traffic today.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IArrcOvjYmc2-0Q_Cx32DGS4GJktNFeM8xCL3XIevEBrSP9YiBXV-mzqmo6p1L_z2UVsJUNz5z1-eSQRBkB9kHFcZ5OiBTedbiE7fp-vcm6Xzyloru5qGDxU9e8sq1nzRTSed44yyvlQ9NPRVFvTmOMf52Lfvc-VTlBfkBgY426HyXAYyNdjYJvlMtNE/s4032/2b%20Garabit%20Viaduct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IArrcOvjYmc2-0Q_Cx32DGS4GJktNFeM8xCL3XIevEBrSP9YiBXV-mzqmo6p1L_z2UVsJUNz5z1-eSQRBkB9kHFcZ5OiBTedbiE7fp-vcm6Xzyloru5qGDxU9e8sq1nzRTSed44yyvlQ9NPRVFvTmOMf52Lfvc-VTlBfkBgY426HyXAYyNdjYJvlMtNE/s320/2b%20Garabit%20Viaduct.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For me however, the highlight of the day was the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millau_Viaduct" target="_blank"> Millau Viaduct.</a> I had heard about this bridge - the tallest in the world - years ago when I saw a Discovery Channel show about it being built, and the groundbreaking enginering and construction methods that went into its construction.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq1KMN-ESlJFDj0SQArH9SqIB4hOpgcLbXwpU29OpeAkCWZelP3azqgQtwxwzLC1xwGB6cn6L2nMgvxh-FNc8sY-ujTm0Qhg53ng7LYtexRZ1g4BnF3Ea-9XEPvY4fphG3uuB2jBCkJMzRv_r7avJfLZGJpYdY2hvCut6_3KlkiODMwb6cfWv3vd1SOl9/s4032/2c%20Millau%20Viaduct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq1KMN-ESlJFDj0SQArH9SqIB4hOpgcLbXwpU29OpeAkCWZelP3azqgQtwxwzLC1xwGB6cn6L2nMgvxh-FNc8sY-ujTm0Qhg53ng7LYtexRZ1g4BnF3Ea-9XEPvY4fphG3uuB2jBCkJMzRv_r7avJfLZGJpYdY2hvCut6_3KlkiODMwb6cfWv3vd1SOl9/s320/2c%20Millau%20Viaduct.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The tallest pylon of the bridge is almost as tall as the World Trade Center towers were.</div><div>The roadway rides about 900' above the ground.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTMHx0RaXBHnTn7QXVs0RB5sGDtM5Ipe9B6nMJFvYQviFYuHyBer6ADVXhFnz6S-qJhKYstFSSLDNrdGxEM522RpvkUwIFOc37j0Nkg_mDxAYQRvteowsEeYdAzJPM-gwXwE66v6IaRs0XtrExgUKrdiGi0Te5uHBo7O7Bz7jnah77BbSTUwq5bhJb6Gg/s4032/2d%20Millau%20Viaduct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTMHx0RaXBHnTn7QXVs0RB5sGDtM5Ipe9B6nMJFvYQviFYuHyBer6ADVXhFnz6S-qJhKYstFSSLDNrdGxEM522RpvkUwIFOc37j0Nkg_mDxAYQRvteowsEeYdAzJPM-gwXwE66v6IaRs0XtrExgUKrdiGi0Te5uHBo7O7Bz7jnah77BbSTUwq5bhJb6Gg/s320/2d%20Millau%20Viaduct.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The bridge maintains a slight curve thru its length to help prevent drivers from getting vertigo.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIOKmBDD1bG2VPN5ftp9sB58oWwlncO3D3k3_Ezf_kCX-96-iNRwvIzjTUVOnIniSW7qD57l3XpkOByO0lJQLqLrIuj-K4RmQZ6Oe5G_EQb83r9Qipl3tksvU72OIW62DhkMThOQZQI54sqX1nAr8AMUIGb0D-ckHB_AqLuYk2rnxgFdaw2-PmmaE27P0/s4032/2e%20Millau%20Viaduct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIOKmBDD1bG2VPN5ftp9sB58oWwlncO3D3k3_Ezf_kCX-96-iNRwvIzjTUVOnIniSW7qD57l3XpkOByO0lJQLqLrIuj-K4RmQZ6Oe5G_EQb83r9Qipl3tksvU72OIW62DhkMThOQZQI54sqX1nAr8AMUIGb0D-ckHB_AqLuYk2rnxgFdaw2-PmmaE27P0/s320/2e%20Millau%20Viaduct.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Later in the day we ran into some stormy weather. Moisture moving up from the Mediterranian was bumping into the mountain we were crossing on our southward journey, and the result was some of the heaviest rain that we have driven thru in a long time.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFmAevJKE4-2SV2eL8J7b_OvJamYKy3wzCTWwS6_6eVjrkqcaNOqT-ARBzrLqoXzKK7hET8C2BLk9O6MstXLhZmW4pmhyI46LE7cpZqojTS60f2s6n_6kik9oHhqyYm1VpwrEoY6IrK745lEWu3Pi36HN_tBwPyc8aDKNr_4Xs43Zjpznt0vnQA01PNdz/s4032/2f%20Southern%20France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFmAevJKE4-2SV2eL8J7b_OvJamYKy3wzCTWwS6_6eVjrkqcaNOqT-ARBzrLqoXzKK7hET8C2BLk9O6MstXLhZmW4pmhyI46LE7cpZqojTS60f2s6n_6kik9oHhqyYm1VpwrEoY6IrK745lEWu3Pi36HN_tBwPyc8aDKNr_4Xs43Zjpznt0vnQA01PNdz/s320/2f%20Southern%20France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After clearing the storms we came up upon a real rare creature over here. A Class A motorhome. A Holiday Rambler no less. I pegged it at about 36'. Just a bit shorter than our coach. It had tags from Sweden. On Sunday, after we made a u-turn leaving Barcelona - I saw him pass us by headed in his original direction headed towards Barcelona.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh31-314s0z9JCwz_Mw5UuuwRC_wDcnmynYxhV1WV7UvrWoG42orOV6u5mpLjUrUHPNKPPlQ5ABazdithHOp9nD9Cds3NspI23teY8SwRlIto88y9fAntEGUbexmff46_SXHjhU22LC_jjaWEIcg2WraPHzMW8IMDOaCbsX3BJ7rKu-QzV63q_8fcWaaH/s4032/2g%20Holiday%20Rambler%20France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh31-314s0z9JCwz_Mw5UuuwRC_wDcnmynYxhV1WV7UvrWoG42orOV6u5mpLjUrUHPNKPPlQ5ABazdithHOp9nD9Cds3NspI23teY8SwRlIto88y9fAntEGUbexmff46_SXHjhU22LC_jjaWEIcg2WraPHzMW8IMDOaCbsX3BJ7rKu-QzV63q_8fcWaaH/s320/2g%20Holiday%20Rambler%20France.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our stop for the night was <a href="https://www.villa-duflot.com/en/" target="_blank">La Villa Duflot in Perpignan</a>. It was like a resort which made it a nice stopover for a pack or weary road warriors. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgneDSZ40K74lvPb1oodzPxVFJwOOlHGMNg0eHurI6tmcSQy77sq0y73qLpa4lRE5lgPMEZcd0qgM7lMDJmJl2ACgbspOEwHT4MJtpFwq_LnKu5AxqH8xhtBQKYFHyZBiAgBTmMIfdM6vX2tF4WuzqYEHUEbtatvfTstYfKa0qoQlqvyIwUI4Khp21Sl1/s4032/3a%20La%20Villa%20Duflot%20Ho%CC%82tel%20&%20Spa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgneDSZ40K74lvPb1oodzPxVFJwOOlHGMNg0eHurI6tmcSQy77sq0y73qLpa4lRE5lgPMEZcd0qgM7lMDJmJl2ACgbspOEwHT4MJtpFwq_LnKu5AxqH8xhtBQKYFHyZBiAgBTmMIfdM6vX2tF4WuzqYEHUEbtatvfTstYfKa0qoQlqvyIwUI4Khp21Sl1/s320/3a%20La%20Villa%20Duflot%20Ho%CC%82tel%20&%20Spa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate and Annie head to dinner</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>We had a very nice dinner at the resturant along side of the pool.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuguM9ll7wAcFeCAr92KiYGamK9RukcbM24gltndWn1mIPJ3tgFLG_c-CRaDyaIUgKjQpCPg8H5N37Abr3u_lhseFH1lzAAmbRkD7OEBvOC5QMOzaCUCmXqbHlN5Ek-fC5SA6wnHu2zas2yK9UpxZA-FdbvS4K8QIb5xBkCvHFLbE3Alp60mtGtCqFQh3Y/s4032/3b%20La%20Villa%20Duflot%20Ho%CC%82tel%20&%20Spa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuguM9ll7wAcFeCAr92KiYGamK9RukcbM24gltndWn1mIPJ3tgFLG_c-CRaDyaIUgKjQpCPg8H5N37Abr3u_lhseFH1lzAAmbRkD7OEBvOC5QMOzaCUCmXqbHlN5Ek-fC5SA6wnHu2zas2yK9UpxZA-FdbvS4K8QIb5xBkCvHFLbE3Alp60mtGtCqFQh3Y/s320/3b%20La%20Villa%20Duflot%20Ho%CC%82tel%20&%20Spa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We were meeting the breeder the next morning (Sunday Sept 17) at 0900 and it was a tad over 2 hrs from Perpignan, so we hit the road about 0600 leaving an hour extra for some cushion in case of the unexpected.</div><div><br /></div><div>We arrived early so we sat on some benches and enjoyed the last few minutes of calm before the storm</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SUnXG1XIp5Qt7IfRU70T7SM-_YMbIwIdae8LijExsGHXxArM7rTnvcmrQrXx2CXHTfLUqIDMPzsSCrwdHUeTOPpM3w62oBNIOHoDmAQLhGJuz1qtMe50fkHKmIielyrTuuUtYUly5p2SMctwsVjXGXZFbkKPNwW_qP5t8StLnp2EEzeA6zNaK1nSsmRU/s4032/3c%20Dog%20King%20Barcelona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SUnXG1XIp5Qt7IfRU70T7SM-_YMbIwIdae8LijExsGHXxArM7rTnvcmrQrXx2CXHTfLUqIDMPzsSCrwdHUeTOPpM3w62oBNIOHoDmAQLhGJuz1qtMe50fkHKmIielyrTuuUtYUly5p2SMctwsVjXGXZFbkKPNwW_qP5t8StLnp2EEzeA6zNaK1nSsmRU/s320/3c%20Dog%20King%20Barcelona.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate meets Phoebe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwz8mth9yl_LcBMkSOJqJq5S2D7YADysqTNDJDcGAtgcEBbfILjDlijnRyLAz68XUri5ppABw3RVO6RexHKmxae1V2QjcdB1B5GZ2WdEF_iIHcvL3TkN6H6N1-7e0rNJ2AgE7sWYIO0zp4V56fbfKYh_xD3WsjyL-rV5Ed87dYTcWchBLcSdlQYTYKzr5/s4032/3d%20Dog%20King%20Barcelona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwz8mth9yl_LcBMkSOJqJq5S2D7YADysqTNDJDcGAtgcEBbfILjDlijnRyLAz68XUri5ppABw3RVO6RexHKmxae1V2QjcdB1B5GZ2WdEF_iIHcvL3TkN6H6N1-7e0rNJ2AgE7sWYIO0zp4V56fbfKYh_xD3WsjyL-rV5Ed87dYTcWchBLcSdlQYTYKzr5/s320/3d%20Dog%20King%20Barcelona.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie meets Phoebe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Within a few minutes of meeting, Annie and Phoebe were already playing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav-7oWMOKFfKhPxuUNVugY7P4yA5CoCbMRNlrjdlJx0lVY6nvYWpLG2m4oWOzjyc3SO9zybNxM7F8VnK9_BA0gUQBRdXnoitZnLMZFI8mgl0a3gqxQYBtHXn_tGEjDidjBCJExsiwcWPhHYUhNp-4a3d5ordjBEIEFqqnHB27z1ChhLLHGhoPdsG9IUtx/s4032/3f%20Dog%20King%20Barcelona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav-7oWMOKFfKhPxuUNVugY7P4yA5CoCbMRNlrjdlJx0lVY6nvYWpLG2m4oWOzjyc3SO9zybNxM7F8VnK9_BA0gUQBRdXnoitZnLMZFI8mgl0a3gqxQYBtHXn_tGEjDidjBCJExsiwcWPhHYUhNp-4a3d5ordjBEIEFqqnHB27z1ChhLLHGhoPdsG9IUtx/s320/3f%20Dog%20King%20Barcelona.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We finished up the paperwork for Phoebes Pet Passport, then the Vet on Staff gave Annie and Phoebe the required tapeworm treatments they would need to enter the UK on Thursday. He entered it into their passports and within an hour of arriving, the 4 of us were back on the road heading north.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our stop for the night was in a new Holiday Inn about 30 min north of Toulouse.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisOj62pZ1JdNr5rufM2Zl-cMKjqWYRRP_87ewhh0JeihJaWuPEq-XOCCZc1eVq6L4dDY1K6g7hwy3m-dHnnUITbUbDNbNnF9bPHpBh1LTVX1SPYJxY1HmTC2DoFH-9MbUbORmzmaDt6TCD_HtPc2kc-IC3EF2A3XAFnQyyL7S5bePdguvnyo_6Uvyc5NQ/s4032/3g%20Tolouse%20France%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisOj62pZ1JdNr5rufM2Zl-cMKjqWYRRP_87ewhh0JeihJaWuPEq-XOCCZc1eVq6L4dDY1K6g7hwy3m-dHnnUITbUbDNbNnF9bPHpBh1LTVX1SPYJxY1HmTC2DoFH-9MbUbORmzmaDt6TCD_HtPc2kc-IC3EF2A3XAFnQyyL7S5bePdguvnyo_6Uvyc5NQ/s320/3g%20Tolouse%20France%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">First night as a 4some.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Early the next morning we were back on the road as we had an 8 hour drive to Normandy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our destination for 2 nghts was La Ferme de la Ranconiere. Located in the small village of Crepon we visted this wonderful place in 2008 and I've been dying to get back ever since.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our room was huge and had this whole medevial vibe with the stone walls and exposed beams.</div><div>We also had a nice enclosed back yard to let the dogs run.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFp47jLELEATWz5waU9uGmQ3h3Go1oafyQLwLGlvEomiVCEaD3QOZ0MGJhQBnztkw_BQtkG7VGDZPanR89rkhhV0rF1movW0dUenLR8773Sa5qrduDJZ0LHQZZWqPGbn2G7IkI2QfBlufDNwjeHj4Z-LTQzwQtCy0_IfshoBsaHBYarH9CN2vGizfLbgtS/s4032/4a%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFp47jLELEATWz5waU9uGmQ3h3Go1oafyQLwLGlvEomiVCEaD3QOZ0MGJhQBnztkw_BQtkG7VGDZPanR89rkhhV0rF1movW0dUenLR8773Sa5qrduDJZ0LHQZZWqPGbn2G7IkI2QfBlufDNwjeHj4Z-LTQzwQtCy0_IfshoBsaHBYarH9CN2vGizfLbgtS/s320/4a%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtXHEhVWsdHkJKpb945v96Bkfr39JjMX_44uZYlpIPa567XBxwEaxnnczylo7Fm8sKP5VKLaWDUN2FgnwYR2xjgRSN323Ybnojp-sJb2HCuwkXUmPvn0RUuVboEJLaLlkXEY07_DYC9XdyN0d8zA7fEwL5YbcrSeMjBcORZHil7mMMFo_vCH_M_OaGU8X/s4032/4b%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtXHEhVWsdHkJKpb945v96Bkfr39JjMX_44uZYlpIPa567XBxwEaxnnczylo7Fm8sKP5VKLaWDUN2FgnwYR2xjgRSN323Ybnojp-sJb2HCuwkXUmPvn0RUuVboEJLaLlkXEY07_DYC9XdyN0d8zA7fEwL5YbcrSeMjBcORZHil7mMMFo_vCH_M_OaGU8X/s320/4b%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The hotel consists of converted farm buildings with lovely landscaped spaces spread throughout.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBYZUPfNEqzjfkp0Fx0mXvLPw4OWdZF4Ot23t8kt3RYQlZc8LNOAj8GUPKHIZkiLk2Wl9sc9XF3VRIzHkG7BeW40LhnhpZhIjbgrSwPJK3pz4yNJBg8AQO4STwkCnmKlkysm3_M4UjlsKom87ZDFGLzYqw08iAcqj4qTZFcnBNqETbcVb60olh-1f3VqX/s4032/4c%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBYZUPfNEqzjfkp0Fx0mXvLPw4OWdZF4Ot23t8kt3RYQlZc8LNOAj8GUPKHIZkiLk2Wl9sc9XF3VRIzHkG7BeW40LhnhpZhIjbgrSwPJK3pz4yNJBg8AQO4STwkCnmKlkysm3_M4UjlsKom87ZDFGLzYqw08iAcqj4qTZFcnBNqETbcVb60olh-1f3VqX/s320/4c%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our room was the white arched doors in the distance on the left.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeyOBNDpUMAs7r5Vj-t0mXhSJtROR_QWHV5jI0d0odaw9jjzEuorpzYj4MZK04aVT7pcAqeygXUAOoHBAUTcMI5pX8tBxXQ09RXAd_T5jXVN_2LrpOtghpxnSfR1vV9wvZ9XQBkTCSUp3kWBAEbq4tzeW2WByp9OhuV88Bjaxdwn7eO1aUYnpm18bqxL-/s4032/4d%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeyOBNDpUMAs7r5Vj-t0mXhSJtROR_QWHV5jI0d0odaw9jjzEuorpzYj4MZK04aVT7pcAqeygXUAOoHBAUTcMI5pX8tBxXQ09RXAd_T5jXVN_2LrpOtghpxnSfR1vV9wvZ9XQBkTCSUp3kWBAEbq4tzeW2WByp9OhuV88Bjaxdwn7eO1aUYnpm18bqxL-/s320/4d%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhss-VOXs0ijYlH3l5BNlg8-IcnSKaUYVT_h91z2ImTpQpT1tTXf64UOHgd00lftkodQOxZjEbAMxsoqqF6Spj7v12yf2b02w2h4khiuqHOF0Ptkw2-Bp6W1IiUW-rhxqxTBhL74QZg5KgIAgEsMTLXbTGSvRF9C09rV7f5WvyoUfNNxo5vkq85B7Ih7M-a/s4032/4e%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhss-VOXs0ijYlH3l5BNlg8-IcnSKaUYVT_h91z2ImTpQpT1tTXf64UOHgd00lftkodQOxZjEbAMxsoqqF6Spj7v12yf2b02w2h4khiuqHOF0Ptkw2-Bp6W1IiUW-rhxqxTBhL74QZg5KgIAgEsMTLXbTGSvRF9C09rV7f5WvyoUfNNxo5vkq85B7Ih7M-a/s320/4e%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There is a fantastic resturant on site that serves one sitting starting at 7pm. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0pr2Pa9Cq5Iox2nxbNAf5pcnvT81022Vg__DlD6QFPGaAZrApS6VWqqAtHn6TacG2kbdLhVgTYwMqPgLX1cjbwn9MVQhatwZ6cqXm7ObocLxTel_3VJ8WMlkZ12i4HwdClzHqHVkmsvnWf0_B1beW-s2lggCsa4LJAfUJt1cjGEHXJlKGwcF8YOXACVM/s3725/4eb%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2095" data-original-width="3725" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0pr2Pa9Cq5Iox2nxbNAf5pcnvT81022Vg__DlD6QFPGaAZrApS6VWqqAtHn6TacG2kbdLhVgTYwMqPgLX1cjbwn9MVQhatwZ6cqXm7ObocLxTel_3VJ8WMlkZ12i4HwdClzHqHVkmsvnWf0_B1beW-s2lggCsa4LJAfUJt1cjGEHXJlKGwcF8YOXACVM/s320/4eb%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb8Pim7FGD-xnVlI0okxDFpnhm7fIW67-jmScr2BNUKRN0MWAQqcnTEks-6s66CT4FLrAn8Pixi3n-zwWKr74aI8IZrGgvJ4ZmoJVzi5Z5O2ieTzKk_U1V0eeJW94BpgLKZa6lGqcW9izjB-ZQOc997GNTcrMG8nzpoE53zQggYeMPEwnhFysl727mEyT/s4032/4f%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb8Pim7FGD-xnVlI0okxDFpnhm7fIW67-jmScr2BNUKRN0MWAQqcnTEks-6s66CT4FLrAn8Pixi3n-zwWKr74aI8IZrGgvJ4ZmoJVzi5Z5O2ieTzKk_U1V0eeJW94BpgLKZa6lGqcW9izjB-ZQOc997GNTcrMG8nzpoE53zQggYeMPEwnhFysl727mEyT/s320/4f%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't want to get too heavy with the food porn, so I thought I'd just show a few deserts.</div><div>The vanila mousse and the grapefruit provided some interesting contrasts.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOvO-jkgrDRzTzY-sSdgCRfu0yRQN_OavkBw-8Mt-DVWDVxcHqTFQP69aiRhNCom6hId_qZCIKXoAJOj0mO9oHOxpdNkBuPQtHAxCuIoN8UHLgNUdVEi2Ct2WAlhwSGTA3Hb-27frJDJHNgb47d1oWrMpC0uL7K0xS9vbPnUXRi6xXkLPiYIdZxMlULrJ/s4032/4g%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOvO-jkgrDRzTzY-sSdgCRfu0yRQN_OavkBw-8Mt-DVWDVxcHqTFQP69aiRhNCom6hId_qZCIKXoAJOj0mO9oHOxpdNkBuPQtHAxCuIoN8UHLgNUdVEi2Ct2WAlhwSGTA3Hb-27frJDJHNgb47d1oWrMpC0uL7K0xS9vbPnUXRi6xXkLPiYIdZxMlULrJ/s320/4g%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kate had this Chocolate bomb. Frozen Chocolate mousse filled with chocolate cream on a bed of chocolate toasted crunchies.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgb2SthU6CB7h1fa2BpivnffxhZXS5nRTlLcoSJvLEBPb7NMKUh_5dDrSzFrZzOfS5Ld4glwv9L9lKhPjYZ0zwymqt-uDVdp5ljRYIVZpqVpS6FsCv_QOQMiaFBMgNpqUVYF6PUrunPwzD1W3eEKtUSfCL7GlkUyCpgBJp-hd0p8FdrTBUtk77COH0GD2/s4032/4gb%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgb2SthU6CB7h1fa2BpivnffxhZXS5nRTlLcoSJvLEBPb7NMKUh_5dDrSzFrZzOfS5Ld4glwv9L9lKhPjYZ0zwymqt-uDVdp5ljRYIVZpqVpS6FsCv_QOQMiaFBMgNpqUVYF6PUrunPwzD1W3eEKtUSfCL7GlkUyCpgBJp-hd0p8FdrTBUtk77COH0GD2/s320/4gb%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Breakfasts were served in a different room. As is customary in France, dogs were welcome at both dinner and breakfast. France is incredibly dog friendly and everywhere we went to eat the dogs were welcome to come without restrictions of any kind.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd also be remiss if I did not mention our incredibly friendly waiter Gerard. He was a man who simply exuded joy from his pores. Serving both breakfast and dinner shifts, he always had a sincere smile on his face and a song on his lips. He absolutely adored the dogs and lit up each time he saw them. He would crouch down and just love them up. He would come back once or twice during our meals for a dog love refill. Each time he walked by the dogs he would sing out some sort of greeting to the dogs in French.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq6ZWlP8J41JEVcn8hBoiIXNIJ6FGJa6TVJmwf5mEJGYdMsK_bfF5tN4AW9U6Obtfd3ltExVRFfUIEltqKghChJFqNTcleDyHR_DQAvKCFqUQNRivEc-UbRO3R6XHG-8TbDOxtmycKMsrZeygv080w1-x9pFGiiWgrORKXJqXKZWyzIyvrBnFE96E6Gih/s4032/IMG_7341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq6ZWlP8J41JEVcn8hBoiIXNIJ6FGJa6TVJmwf5mEJGYdMsK_bfF5tN4AW9U6Obtfd3ltExVRFfUIEltqKghChJFqNTcleDyHR_DQAvKCFqUQNRivEc-UbRO3R6XHG-8TbDOxtmycKMsrZeygv080w1-x9pFGiiWgrORKXJqXKZWyzIyvrBnFE96E6Gih/s320/IMG_7341.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gerard gets a doggie fix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0DUe7-ZUywu6vEFzZFpEFfXslrg_kgAn58u4lxEhknQW_1A5Jj4AoAzCNLbw9dm0sNZZL5cNuKF3NdEfhyEzHi-A_5W6TS-XLzvSwSfl-omPtg_jcfNknawxG-UXOwlU31mHz1v3J-3wBhr3tzsNiqM_Rn3odxa-D5xWxxuFFndUkfnXVyxOJToZIy4D/s4032/4h%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0DUe7-ZUywu6vEFzZFpEFfXslrg_kgAn58u4lxEhknQW_1A5Jj4AoAzCNLbw9dm0sNZZL5cNuKF3NdEfhyEzHi-A_5W6TS-XLzvSwSfl-omPtg_jcfNknawxG-UXOwlU31mHz1v3J-3wBhr3tzsNiqM_Rn3odxa-D5xWxxuFFndUkfnXVyxOJToZIy4D/s320/4h%20Ferme%20de%20la%20Ranconniere.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our two nights flew by and it was back on the road. Our last stop in France would be Calais where we would return the rental car and spend the night at our old Chunnel standby - the Holiday Inn in Coquelles.</div><div><br /></div><div>Getting Phoebe has been a great addition to the family. Especially for Annie. I think its important for a dog to have another of its own kind sharing its life. It seems to add a bit of stability to thier lives.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ww0q6YfmY5Tf9KW3gqokmXb-lo3fQ6Dq88uZUD1TITTiNjL1xmofb1Qhi9S-mrQcInxMCrFG3VJTzf_cbq_pydP8cii0MIXWMczg74TNBguV_aaaVyavufEr0kNLmzNBYrzHwew1MjgL9_P2dnHMEtLFISD8_DIVEuvIij5MeDdFr7TSMveJ2WrCZA8H/s4032/5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ww0q6YfmY5Tf9KW3gqokmXb-lo3fQ6Dq88uZUD1TITTiNjL1xmofb1Qhi9S-mrQcInxMCrFG3VJTzf_cbq_pydP8cii0MIXWMczg74TNBguV_aaaVyavufEr0kNLmzNBYrzHwew1MjgL9_P2dnHMEtLFISD8_DIVEuvIij5MeDdFr7TSMveJ2WrCZA8H/s320/5a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Already best friends.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S2XrdGazURWoX54HesqI_eqcf19gnhTEf6rh31rqvFjROtO33LVKUKL6MjK8MQU1SyVGtWLnWTiWuKWO9Ir5fJM-mKGTi9AU0Pvm7LuuX0oCIKnbCr4gK6TRsLqSHcyT3DlAgioFUAyRA--UiUbeXpP5RKUK3pKOHoAn4LgLfVLtUQg68pJEhUB8LWFL/s4032/5b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S2XrdGazURWoX54HesqI_eqcf19gnhTEf6rh31rqvFjROtO33LVKUKL6MjK8MQU1SyVGtWLnWTiWuKWO9Ir5fJM-mKGTi9AU0Pvm7LuuX0oCIKnbCr4gK6TRsLqSHcyT3DlAgioFUAyRA--UiUbeXpP5RKUK3pKOHoAn4LgLfVLtUQg68pJEhUB8LWFL/s320/5b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our French wheels - a Peugeot 2008</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I dropped Kate and the dogs off at the Holiday Inn and turned in the rental car. One of the guys from the location gave me a ride back to the hotel. The enterprise location at the Calais Ferry Port was perhaps the best rental car experience I've ever had. Great on both the pickup and the drop off.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqGlF0c9ihIpA_iH0G8u_uOxCzR73xta_xiaZk_E3uOW77RL4s7Lc1WD5imTqjUAWBOawqqEoYkMfP13KdfiFQQrJxwCqcbWct1had1fX_eHAYiVYPCNTnF4m_ifS86rFQpant1tQ-cWH0QMG7fe7rDua4hp-9-dBLN45IF72VGhLVtAbRaDnp8MWCNFj/s4032/5c%20Holiday%20Inn%20Calais.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqGlF0c9ihIpA_iH0G8u_uOxCzR73xta_xiaZk_E3uOW77RL4s7Lc1WD5imTqjUAWBOawqqEoYkMfP13KdfiFQQrJxwCqcbWct1had1fX_eHAYiVYPCNTnF4m_ifS86rFQpant1tQ-cWH0QMG7fe7rDua4hp-9-dBLN45IF72VGhLVtAbRaDnp8MWCNFj/s320/5c%20Holiday%20Inn%20Calais.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning (Thursday Sept 21) our Pet Taxi driver was early as usual, and soon, their Pet Passports cheked, we had cleared thru the pet reception center, human customs and immigration, and were boarding the train.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwP0h74j5-cDCkOzVmh5Zfq4DhPsRphQa6fjQo0KbbZNiOtulL4mVD55AdHERdtFG_qTXLuB05B40Hzr5ekOukTPBCksl3waOqZnL6Zm4LAywh4Z8PGWLW0U-jiH3ouyyiIXgONJFkFYgEto5eQrdKbV_bTIYFSNBfJIdqoAHF__9APsB_LfKejC7POyA/s4032/5d%20LeShuttle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwP0h74j5-cDCkOzVmh5Zfq4DhPsRphQa6fjQo0KbbZNiOtulL4mVD55AdHERdtFG_qTXLuB05B40Hzr5ekOukTPBCksl3waOqZnL6Zm4LAywh4Z8PGWLW0U-jiH3ouyyiIXgONJFkFYgEto5eQrdKbV_bTIYFSNBfJIdqoAHF__9APsB_LfKejC7POyA/s320/5d%20LeShuttle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Arriving back at our UK rental car, we fired it up and turned our way west towards Southampton and our last overseas home for this trip. Tomorrow I will drop Kate and the dogs off at the ship, with the luggage. I will then return the rental car and catch a cab back to the ship, and by 5 or 6pm we should be making our way out the Solent heading for the Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. I'll have 7 full days with nothing to do. How sweet!</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaK5y3MdJAvYgXFQakK1YgatLt_KOZAAlEkKka-ML-f9Jv-B3FolWSDe2FvfjvO6kHX-aOy6mKhYHsy5-vhW_6O9Mm1thFU5ydgkMjCw8J6uzoHda_aFygSA1pcZt9UBXPvVNVCPYS6Z8vLXX3LeLZeErmgH17Gj5Otbgco2KTCkTocPLZWpSpxCoeefp/s4032/5e%20Southampton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaK5y3MdJAvYgXFQakK1YgatLt_KOZAAlEkKka-ML-f9Jv-B3FolWSDe2FvfjvO6kHX-aOy6mKhYHsy5-vhW_6O9Mm1thFU5ydgkMjCw8J6uzoHda_aFygSA1pcZt9UBXPvVNVCPYS6Z8vLXX3LeLZeErmgH17Gj5Otbgco2KTCkTocPLZWpSpxCoeefp/s320/5e%20Southampton.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Little do they know - tomorrow they will be shipmates.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Well my time was short so I had to slam this post together quickly to get it out before we got on board.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Basically I just wanted to say that we've been successful. We now are returning with 2 pups.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we get to the states we still have 2 months of traveling in the PartyBus before we get back to Tucson so this is not goodbye, Simply.... see you down the road.</div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-9923545042608780222023-09-08T11:11:00.001-06:002023-09-08T11:46:26.824-06:00North Yorkshire to The Cotswolds<div style="text-align: left;">Well it's almost been 3 weeks since our last update.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We left you last with a couple of days remianing in Pickering prior to our continuing journey southward thru England.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our next to last day was spent with a very pleasant lunch with our new friends Steve & Hailey. You might recall that we met them on day while out for a walk in Wales. They have followed the blog and kept in touch and fortune would have it that they were visiting Haileys dad nearby so we met them for lunch at a nice pub about 1/2 way between us. Thanks again for lunch guys!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They also presented us a beautiful gift basket full of goodies like crackers, teas, chutney etc etc. How nice was that!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I mentioned in my post back in Wales, at the time that we met them, the best thing about traveling is not the scenery, not the food nor the history. It is the people that you meet along the way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4c9ibONVShQ_KWGXHdUDcqU0yh1kY3jC__AH9dj-dFsqPT0D2kbtiV9pX53Bz16SwUuhz7187gEUR63zMDBGM8C1h-8gBd29X9Hged-FXwLvkY_VPYe8aCcg2rtsF4Sg1nAhaDOz3Z_bK_IUSNe5gCpmJuIqy4w-AGXDpoAkEBg4PqVlwNSwfq4riGGB/s4032/1a%20Pickering.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4c9ibONVShQ_KWGXHdUDcqU0yh1kY3jC__AH9dj-dFsqPT0D2kbtiV9pX53Bz16SwUuhz7187gEUR63zMDBGM8C1h-8gBd29X9Hged-FXwLvkY_VPYe8aCcg2rtsF4Sg1nAhaDOz3Z_bK_IUSNe5gCpmJuIqy4w-AGXDpoAkEBg4PqVlwNSwfq4riGGB/s320/1a%20Pickering.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lunch with Steve & Hailey and the pups.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>The map below shows our travels covered in this post. It is from the "where are we" map on this blog, where I adjusted the time period for the last 21 days.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47_LoQrYXi_DSLfiinrsJCy-3UgaP31HB1sYYmJLQ2hywJTwDQKXf2xnHsy5QpKRNwnVj9OuqGdgInsQQMTCwOAK2DzMGRJjc7LtlOFQQHxC6m30kRk3FRJmLYSY2EHYJJR9v5sXHFL2-7vNbXUmU0yoB4LqpMFnux5JZLx9diQllsIPeMUTR_51rOj_F/s3266/Pickering%20to%20Winchcombe%20Map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="3266" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47_LoQrYXi_DSLfiinrsJCy-3UgaP31HB1sYYmJLQ2hywJTwDQKXf2xnHsy5QpKRNwnVj9OuqGdgInsQQMTCwOAK2DzMGRJjc7LtlOFQQHxC6m30kRk3FRJmLYSY2EHYJJR9v5sXHFL2-7vNbXUmU0yoB4LqpMFnux5JZLx9diQllsIPeMUTR_51rOj_F/s320/Pickering%20to%20Winchcombe%20Map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Leaving Pickering we headed south to Winchcombe. It was about a 4 hr drive and we arrived in Winchcombe around 3pm. Winchcombe is an ancient market town in one of our favorite parts of the UK - The Cotswolds. Idyllic rolling hills dotted with farms and picturesque villages. The buildings are all mostly built with the yellow Cotswold Stone, giving this area its own distinctive appearance.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our home for the next 3 weeks is this old row house in front of the silver car (with the open windows)</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxpGZ8fucwDsGRkru8w-9PbcNYcoCUmPQCQfMRI_MMhIkRlx5LlG7dK8aWQpWyCfL4fhLXiAbWC8x_eniusZhYMZ5ESFmPpLC-dcIc8VM4Mw9o7gyHwhU6dGhwpfoFZInFedl_p8NYsnkKTaLhnI7GPw8RYpsUFMy9jD8PcaqRDqorCEY7dE1QT0_rWzL/s4032/2a%20Winchcombe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxpGZ8fucwDsGRkru8w-9PbcNYcoCUmPQCQfMRI_MMhIkRlx5LlG7dK8aWQpWyCfL4fhLXiAbWC8x_eniusZhYMZ5ESFmPpLC-dcIc8VM4Mw9o7gyHwhU6dGhwpfoFZInFedl_p8NYsnkKTaLhnI7GPw8RYpsUFMy9jD8PcaqRDqorCEY7dE1QT0_rWzL/s320/2a%20Winchcombe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">5 Vinyard St Winchcombe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It has a nice backyard for Annie to stretch her legs a bit.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAu_ehUiWUG-kU_vlWezxVB28PZNSgxP4kWiSsvvheokRDqq_QKW5NwR8QwTMDF_VE9r4TK0HJKtwmyzwfyYE1H_oy84tltfqf5ve9fxFM3VHC8dNUdRoyx-aMzYnxMUqt7vjVGUulfycRaEFf71H9bX9--Kn3lwEt9jD_6LzLdw7yUT-iGlPqq6dIjHd/s2798/2b1%20Winchcombe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="2798" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAu_ehUiWUG-kU_vlWezxVB28PZNSgxP4kWiSsvvheokRDqq_QKW5NwR8QwTMDF_VE9r4TK0HJKtwmyzwfyYE1H_oy84tltfqf5ve9fxFM3VHC8dNUdRoyx-aMzYnxMUqt7vjVGUulfycRaEFf71H9bX9--Kn3lwEt9jD_6LzLdw7yUT-iGlPqq6dIjHd/s320/2b1%20Winchcombe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The building is a Grade II listed historic building, dating from the very early 1800''s or late 1700's.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a4BLOpE01Vw_J4VVHVbM9_8QN9VBQ0GB2IvTzE9gI-NOyG2FuoxkYjCukfZhiTbNM3LOZSMjJ6-X3cq_36mVpHFExjZ2nz0ou1ma_YzDMYr57LfCNcEDKYEaSfTTg4bsjpyOP30WQxnxHKyO126NLybEKpZQygq9-e_4jd8Rni018dYCR_F7PXFxPXNR/s2802/2b%20Winchcombe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2088" data-original-width="2802" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a4BLOpE01Vw_J4VVHVbM9_8QN9VBQ0GB2IvTzE9gI-NOyG2FuoxkYjCukfZhiTbNM3LOZSMjJ6-X3cq_36mVpHFExjZ2nz0ou1ma_YzDMYr57LfCNcEDKYEaSfTTg4bsjpyOP30WQxnxHKyO126NLybEKpZQygq9-e_4jd8Rni018dYCR_F7PXFxPXNR/s320/2b%20Winchcombe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The town itself has seen human activity for at least 5,000 years as there is an old tomb outside of town dating to 3,000BCE. The current town is at least 1,000 years old as it was the capital of the old Anglo Saxon Kingdom of Mercia. (Watch "<i>The Last Kingdom"</i> on Netflix for more)</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr2EQIGM8JwYm5sIkW7bh35QRwplzAzjp0Z--Q0DLDXr3NmaGKkkJsRuvhk3hDIP_W7TKZAIgd3UDd6YY9ijOXAZ_fO173WxaioySJGXVB7LmDs4_ZR9uruAdrC0_UI-mO788k8N-zI61nL_0Y6lAc6XE10radgCQJG5wjiDWn2m9smrtIzRA0_H27o7N/s4032/2c%20Winchcombe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr2EQIGM8JwYm5sIkW7bh35QRwplzAzjp0Z--Q0DLDXr3NmaGKkkJsRuvhk3hDIP_W7TKZAIgd3UDd6YY9ijOXAZ_fO173WxaioySJGXVB7LmDs4_ZR9uruAdrC0_UI-mO788k8N-zI61nL_0Y6lAc6XE10radgCQJG5wjiDWn2m9smrtIzRA0_H27o7N/s320/2c%20Winchcombe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">High St Winchcombe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN76pIfuqP_DuiVGEqdNHlrwi5UJVhweW_NyUs75ZZ7i2CbE4HDz7_BgKW5esXjEP8T4u7d_5AcFoGZDBdOsMErZ0OZUT1WETzwp0KczkHG3Xp25tIxN7m-tOycMhX7u7HkCNjccP36B8qA8-svRXl2QBa-WQ35syqW-phQSJdIcSKOIo5cjCmtn_tY1mw/s4032/2d%20Winchcombe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN76pIfuqP_DuiVGEqdNHlrwi5UJVhweW_NyUs75ZZ7i2CbE4HDz7_BgKW5esXjEP8T4u7d_5AcFoGZDBdOsMErZ0OZUT1WETzwp0KczkHG3Xp25tIxN7m-tOycMhX7u7HkCNjccP36B8qA8-svRXl2QBa-WQ35syqW-phQSJdIcSKOIo5cjCmtn_tY1mw/s320/2d%20Winchcombe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">North St Winchcombe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Long time readers might remember that we spent 3 weeks here in 2018, and stayed at the Sudley Castle Gatehouse. This is just 300 meters or so down at the end of Vineyard St from where we are currently staying.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpS8mk1SdowFKeYF1bT2NxpZbWT2A6ABBp8EyAiupZIhYIA1I82lCSKYQ807E1-RLd9wWMKcEPrldKDmibCH5PmeSP0XisX8g3aZU-ZyQM_dsElRt7TZAMsss34D9aeP6O2gHxxH-6StwXntpynZVULxIo58cjtvTbdy_OoGI_Pu3J95TiGHSIcYO3paDv/s3910/2e%20Winchcombe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2199" data-original-width="3910" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpS8mk1SdowFKeYF1bT2NxpZbWT2A6ABBp8EyAiupZIhYIA1I82lCSKYQ807E1-RLd9wWMKcEPrldKDmibCH5PmeSP0XisX8g3aZU-ZyQM_dsElRt7TZAMsss34D9aeP6O2gHxxH-6StwXntpynZVULxIo58cjtvTbdy_OoGI_Pu3J95TiGHSIcYO3paDv/s320/2e%20Winchcombe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie guards the Sudeley Castle Gatehouse</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>One day we drove about 20 minute south to Cheltenham, the main large town closest to Winchcombe.</div><div>The city has a very pedestrian friendly city center and a lovely garden right in front of town hall.<br /><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobHYxrPFbSAiZeJu0EiVaXZRG2QLAkMVPV2ZxhNuQspzOt0QB_W7w6LfUiJmVo7lLSMXrzh4bx5mUM6MJFxVijpu0AIpRWHu0dbzqY_yhCbKrBOOcRmGjNUqIMeZblhwqyWXGRUPBPjXXQ0FFCHHJPkwbuPkvtjgvI9N6LDngBF4-CxxgB6n7CoCOxhPS/s4032/2f%20Cheltenham.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobHYxrPFbSAiZeJu0EiVaXZRG2QLAkMVPV2ZxhNuQspzOt0QB_W7w6LfUiJmVo7lLSMXrzh4bx5mUM6MJFxVijpu0AIpRWHu0dbzqY_yhCbKrBOOcRmGjNUqIMeZblhwqyWXGRUPBPjXXQ0FFCHHJPkwbuPkvtjgvI9N6LDngBF4-CxxgB6n7CoCOxhPS/s320/2f%20Cheltenham.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cheltenham City Hall and garden</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />On Saturday we drove into London to pick up Kates friend Kirstyn who came to visit us for a week.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKh7fwb_fYhSPDgpDDcwzq-qpRyYSnOQcS5lH7IskuItgtQov67SVUT8LQDm3Kk7UF4284N8ZOdbxA3YvHZ4s9yj0DVPm_hL7Pgktz6OEubN-3VhobPSvmzIpRMnhtH3ypODk7P6I4lNOKtliIbHIIlrC8LXa9zPDq_0Cjua2_EFx4GX6KnhgZEcm6Hq5/s4032/3a%20Burton%20on%20the%20Water.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKh7fwb_fYhSPDgpDDcwzq-qpRyYSnOQcS5lH7IskuItgtQov67SVUT8LQDm3Kk7UF4284N8ZOdbxA3YvHZ4s9yj0DVPm_hL7Pgktz6OEubN-3VhobPSvmzIpRMnhtH3ypODk7P6I4lNOKtliIbHIIlrC8LXa9zPDq_0Cjua2_EFx4GX6KnhgZEcm6Hq5/s320/3a%20Burton%20on%20the%20Water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>While Kirstyn was here we visited some places that we've been to and enjoyed, plus explored some new ground. One crowd pleaser is always a visit to the pretty Cotswolds town of Burton on the Water.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtspz_zTHWP_4jsrsO-ME2LqqeimSKlPrzxL-IpMctB4B6Z74ph0ZMLo2pKCb13r8hMfDNQzRhPQlfswkx97fu-QrD-inMjC-cbfe6cCfUj1dn_nfRwYf0UjUal2YcGFkl4MyXQzSrQYnsnlRY0UAGy-1t4jzXLszlqDev2W9WEHnHUOemTjhuKByl8Qz/s4032/3b%20Burton%20on%20the%20Water.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtspz_zTHWP_4jsrsO-ME2LqqeimSKlPrzxL-IpMctB4B6Z74ph0ZMLo2pKCb13r8hMfDNQzRhPQlfswkx97fu-QrD-inMjC-cbfe6cCfUj1dn_nfRwYf0UjUal2YcGFkl4MyXQzSrQYnsnlRY0UAGy-1t4jzXLszlqDev2W9WEHnHUOemTjhuKByl8Qz/s320/3b%20Burton%20on%20the%20Water.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Burton on the Water</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJbo4JDw5NSwJ4lAS-VNFfLyHm8pV5bXSCdug1v8C5mEpec7QMWE7XXKA5x88D01NbFatX_Yvl1fzCu9yMSvoOTiXOW-OVhFR-sGDYMMc-YGMBYNOMVmAWqF9YQE7KtQSxSGPy8E2-xQkhBB9R1xzDzp6IGw2hZwgWzQZHek7c1D5qKYKekOyVPQcj4Lf/s4032/3c%20Burton%20on%20the%20Water.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJbo4JDw5NSwJ4lAS-VNFfLyHm8pV5bXSCdug1v8C5mEpec7QMWE7XXKA5x88D01NbFatX_Yvl1fzCu9yMSvoOTiXOW-OVhFR-sGDYMMc-YGMBYNOMVmAWqF9YQE7KtQSxSGPy8E2-xQkhBB9R1xzDzp6IGw2hZwgWzQZHek7c1D5qKYKekOyVPQcj4Lf/s320/3c%20Burton%20on%20the%20Water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The River Windrush flows right thru the town which along with the picturesque stone bridges makes for a lovely quaint village.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWxwrCqeJCmNPMLc49CvTGcukYoVrncTirHBQ8_SAP2fw1nzOdJycsVQqb9Pmo6Pa7yM8BOrsmfKtuR0Bvd1yJFVtmpMXDB8SSwb2aQltqRX5465QnFizmau6JguYPWVIxODeE9cwL3rwu3ut0W2wKPqiFB1Ytor0inLlRndwMXCjzLIpzMDz4gqT7Bkt/s4032/3d%20Burton%20on%20the%20Water.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWxwrCqeJCmNPMLc49CvTGcukYoVrncTirHBQ8_SAP2fw1nzOdJycsVQqb9Pmo6Pa7yM8BOrsmfKtuR0Bvd1yJFVtmpMXDB8SSwb2aQltqRX5465QnFizmau6JguYPWVIxODeE9cwL3rwu3ut0W2wKPqiFB1Ytor0inLlRndwMXCjzLIpzMDz4gqT7Bkt/s320/3d%20Burton%20on%20the%20Water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>While Kate & Kirstyn hit all the shops, Annie and I enjoyed the cool weather and did some serious people watching.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRX7VbfU9PL6P8cUL25EKwX6YiQ-xhi64pyQdOYievKjfzWXPVfyp3jS_nwFSmJOqM1Vtju1P1aUMc1g3Ok0n2BnaseKA6p1SYXQVlN41GMYnB8ZYLbB9grGuE9nz8lr5KcElmNJLOs8eaCYkwxMg4k7WqbWdM9qV7Pt5h6VxSk4shvpwgSa75pDxJbo1I/s4032/3e%20Burton%20on%20the%20Water.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRX7VbfU9PL6P8cUL25EKwX6YiQ-xhi64pyQdOYievKjfzWXPVfyp3jS_nwFSmJOqM1Vtju1P1aUMc1g3Ok0n2BnaseKA6p1SYXQVlN41GMYnB8ZYLbB9grGuE9nz8lr5KcElmNJLOs8eaCYkwxMg4k7WqbWdM9qV7Pt5h6VxSk4shvpwgSa75pDxJbo1I/s320/3e%20Burton%20on%20the%20Water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A new place for us was a visit to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastnor_Castle" target="_blank">Eastnor Castle</a>. Built in the early 1800's it is what is reffered to as a "mock castle". It was built to copy the castles of old and was a private residence of the 1st Earl Sommers.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBAEbBJEmwxfTU2xIL4UgzyBGySHd-qAWg-cDwaltuZOM2BSvzXKzwsNh1TrW6or9V0nk9DptqrSw_CXSwFbloQFMAuI2Icgudy3EascLGuOnptkQOcQdipGYc7KQe0YxEBrX_hpfr6iRKWuaMH4_dTfEz9Bu1eEVPBUOVla0uZ70gVHhn7OcXfQh0Zn6/s4032/4a%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBAEbBJEmwxfTU2xIL4UgzyBGySHd-qAWg-cDwaltuZOM2BSvzXKzwsNh1TrW6or9V0nk9DptqrSw_CXSwFbloQFMAuI2Icgudy3EascLGuOnptkQOcQdipGYc7KQe0YxEBrX_hpfr6iRKWuaMH4_dTfEz9Bu1eEVPBUOVla0uZ70gVHhn7OcXfQh0Zn6/s320/4a%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the really nice things about the place is that not only are dogs allowed on the grounds like most castles, but they are also allowed inside!</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kwOPLvKl3yBDl68uPUqUn9oUTOsb16F0_RB7AF9y45qCZWccFZ2qBuBLbywToNqSQ1-3cdcLUdOLZuD-VngxkCjM-DnrCzPxjJHYETop9ljXRIwbMtq4O1w-HsJm40hyaoKxbqeBf7NqF_pna-4Kx5sq9LSts4pWkcSJ2cxqTwMjsE2a5yedFERjPcCl/s4032/4b%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kwOPLvKl3yBDl68uPUqUn9oUTOsb16F0_RB7AF9y45qCZWccFZ2qBuBLbywToNqSQ1-3cdcLUdOLZuD-VngxkCjM-DnrCzPxjJHYETop9ljXRIwbMtq4O1w-HsJm40hyaoKxbqeBf7NqF_pna-4Kx5sq9LSts4pWkcSJ2cxqTwMjsE2a5yedFERjPcCl/s320/4b%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eastnor Castle Dining Room</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>So all of us, including Annie, got to roam all around the inside of the castle.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKobE9VFLU0DvlTlJ_Tp2CTs9Yb7JdqD5YRL9NMLp9AfTSQRPk0TItz5rlMx18qfePgY8QYQt-Bg828GDLqH1SYhPBiRtaRdWBKpPfBP5m94w5XVrO69FvtFfH5v0ZS0HgDyCA6EJXOM09W2gPqFQU7xayoCvjgTqOUm0Hzw0MQrM5KVH7s6-xbHxoOzYx/s4032/4c1%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKobE9VFLU0DvlTlJ_Tp2CTs9Yb7JdqD5YRL9NMLp9AfTSQRPk0TItz5rlMx18qfePgY8QYQt-Bg828GDLqH1SYhPBiRtaRdWBKpPfBP5m94w5XVrO69FvtFfH5v0ZS0HgDyCA6EJXOM09W2gPqFQU7xayoCvjgTqOUm0Hzw0MQrM5KVH7s6-xbHxoOzYx/s320/4c1%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghoYqxkiX5LZIYbBmvBt_YpkSMLFV8lBXajSL60gb8JHaDCtQQ2FnU-r6GAtd4Hh-HMhvuQ7msjcz3D9ScUG7FgC8PvUJ7FmdbzQ659vnLU31Q1bZTZtMgWpJD9Q_qxJEFaVdTaxVaeIU3x8n3StITJj4hP6trnNGBV1c0zT0xnhLx8ICRrDETTVSXHbp/s3873/4c%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2178" data-original-width="3873" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghoYqxkiX5LZIYbBmvBt_YpkSMLFV8lBXajSL60gb8JHaDCtQQ2FnU-r6GAtd4Hh-HMhvuQ7msjcz3D9ScUG7FgC8PvUJ7FmdbzQ659vnLU31Q1bZTZtMgWpJD9Q_qxJEFaVdTaxVaeIU3x8n3StITJj4hP6trnNGBV1c0zT0xnhLx8ICRrDETTVSXHbp/s320/4c%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eastnor Castle Library</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC92ggSyzzJA2rIk5PjQoHpUWsF870vC5UbyjCprsoZqLDCjGRYuMdZp7gK2gyYho5ywCrmUlNkcdzA1oMuMU0MRW0c2rVKw3_yD2nN9r4vtJjM5EwkonEEHp3Ls1NdHvUsKoYnH0F1OK53xoxwFDTNXz9A-AElqTUjx5Y446RYkuDNdgHy34m2hL88Yb/s4032/4d%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC92ggSyzzJA2rIk5PjQoHpUWsF870vC5UbyjCprsoZqLDCjGRYuMdZp7gK2gyYho5ywCrmUlNkcdzA1oMuMU0MRW0c2rVKw3_yD2nN9r4vtJjM5EwkonEEHp3Ls1NdHvUsKoYnH0F1OK53xoxwFDTNXz9A-AElqTUjx5Y446RYkuDNdgHy34m2hL88Yb/s320/4d%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eastnor Castle Bedroom</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>The castle has been used as the venue for many different movies and TV shows. It also serves as a destination for weddings and such. Guests can stay in some of the rooms on occasion, and it is still used as a part-time home by the owners.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiR9zuabiPA6HGulTeEdC15gpD0X5C8R91GcBlVtc8EV6UsMOdgQ3AVAx8SEUG-YcmppxLIg7oHfUuhjkki31cX1ds8zHBPeeLHfrkR1M8UBy_68hTra6pLpQp4fGHsBxUNSzOiTVQJ91ADwH1YYhdsHZiiCLoDzyKmF0iN7hRsaRbV1l6_zrBglBp-cR/s4032/4e%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiR9zuabiPA6HGulTeEdC15gpD0X5C8R91GcBlVtc8EV6UsMOdgQ3AVAx8SEUG-YcmppxLIg7oHfUuhjkki31cX1ds8zHBPeeLHfrkR1M8UBy_68hTra6pLpQp4fGHsBxUNSzOiTVQJ91ADwH1YYhdsHZiiCLoDzyKmF0iN7hRsaRbV1l6_zrBglBp-cR/s320/4e%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Outside the castle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jI0G_uW-q9iYNrtaLH9S1pPvCPdoVxi3P_yGOvwTAn-E37pR_agxGvDDdWnDj9OZjaOx1l2hWdkwPNfR4U5NFOt8UnJdqxGds1jKe1S-jH6XouL-B0JvLl8xS_uqD5GW6XJHIxa2PQFaDvoYxU2tuWBPRHPWWDpIUfb5ikCYkI-skxUiryvmkNL2SNcm/s4032/4f%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jI0G_uW-q9iYNrtaLH9S1pPvCPdoVxi3P_yGOvwTAn-E37pR_agxGvDDdWnDj9OZjaOx1l2hWdkwPNfR4U5NFOt8UnJdqxGds1jKe1S-jH6XouL-B0JvLl8xS_uqD5GW6XJHIxa2PQFaDvoYxU2tuWBPRHPWWDpIUfb5ikCYkI-skxUiryvmkNL2SNcm/s320/4f%20Eastnor%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another trip was about 50 minutes south to the market town of Cirencester. The largest town in the Cotswolds, it has a charter market that has been going on for hundreds of years. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nDraX5agJobMVmnPGTncgDLUrdOHm0iJt4HJMRgkGk5-x2eqxMUO4Ca_dSIkdc4EG9pVtFzknpN_N9hPiGmgCBsDrqOI9cqN4NXR2Jh3TT1zFnvf49OOgBcUd4IYAc0GhdW3IgoFHKRl7rexBwS16azrDcEsiF9SIBPskpU3PGn2wmLNCP5MziPwa32m/s4032/5a%20Cirencester%20Friday%20Market.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nDraX5agJobMVmnPGTncgDLUrdOHm0iJt4HJMRgkGk5-x2eqxMUO4Ca_dSIkdc4EG9pVtFzknpN_N9hPiGmgCBsDrqOI9cqN4NXR2Jh3TT1zFnvf49OOgBcUd4IYAc0GhdW3IgoFHKRl7rexBwS16azrDcEsiF9SIBPskpU3PGn2wmLNCP5MziPwa32m/s320/5a%20Cirencester%20Friday%20Market.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Friday Market in Cirencester</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ODHEC0XfKy5sg7GalTOx1qCQEvI0Np33ktZ9c1JAky97p4gxpPggRwvZWvC5gJMBwIkVefNKrLzVcnLFIjKutqhldYj7o3x9vc91nSJPCtUMpVAsTUc9v7euYJbdMASEtgIueDlhFwtqgCeGJn-5yGiRpSiaVaCuX_7zP18bkJlKpRRUhWTXjed15sei/s4032/5b%20Cirencester%20Friday%20Market.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ODHEC0XfKy5sg7GalTOx1qCQEvI0Np33ktZ9c1JAky97p4gxpPggRwvZWvC5gJMBwIkVefNKrLzVcnLFIjKutqhldYj7o3x9vc91nSJPCtUMpVAsTUc9v7euYJbdMASEtgIueDlhFwtqgCeGJn-5yGiRpSiaVaCuX_7zP18bkJlKpRRUhWTXjed15sei/s320/5b%20Cirencester%20Friday%20Market.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We stopped for lunch and a pint at the Bear Inn Pub under the umbrellas on the left.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYteBdOuJwDd5SBmDHm0tf5H9SL8c4grD6PaT9FLTloQY7AyCtIWVVxKF-EPp3xeyiKKci99K6tO6_i6sm4JoWwQFwJwbArI40ERnpL6qV5uPUE35T2ZP1cll7w7zb0T3R3nDx_gqO3AecEoDOjkmhxql5n0OGMlfv_o5JU02UY07TMhaoM6lrZsBN_PU/s4032/5c%20Cirencester%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYteBdOuJwDd5SBmDHm0tf5H9SL8c4grD6PaT9FLTloQY7AyCtIWVVxKF-EPp3xeyiKKci99K6tO6_i6sm4JoWwQFwJwbArI40ERnpL6qV5uPUE35T2ZP1cll7w7zb0T3R3nDx_gqO3AecEoDOjkmhxql5n0OGMlfv_o5JU02UY07TMhaoM6lrZsBN_PU/s320/5c%20Cirencester%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Heading back to Winchcombe we were treated to blue skies and the views that make the Cotswolds one of my favorite places in England.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaqIdt9BN9kT_VVPKPo3BkqeWVLWfiMbYh6nB1x_uetd6fi58toxZgScQaAuztcGpAgIctfQzN824ocJp00bRTj72QsdbPMMJFPKvFVGiAYbB3OiQbHYM6vKov1Q_kVKjaDfyV-OW7Q2u1XkGqsFHDnapl_WJpO3eAQcm_Gc98CZ1IIHxNaGBF3HoXyU5/s4032/5d%20Winchcombe%20View.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaqIdt9BN9kT_VVPKPo3BkqeWVLWfiMbYh6nB1x_uetd6fi58toxZgScQaAuztcGpAgIctfQzN824ocJp00bRTj72QsdbPMMJFPKvFVGiAYbB3OiQbHYM6vKov1Q_kVKjaDfyV-OW7Q2u1XkGqsFHDnapl_WJpO3eAQcm_Gc98CZ1IIHxNaGBF3HoXyU5/s320/5d%20Winchcombe%20View.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNQ6KloAzPXh78EGPpyA_abWfxwNFRHFHgru4y8-x_HqhsUz1J3zxPb_yCetNZO6zWOj981nh3_ofe9bKZep5pQqV0Gy5shrCDIBHWpSuEG2ykFQECyfQaxWyiut-F0G8w1_NsAev_7JXFNqRIl71yv2ojGS44oggO36CKEdaz5Si3C0UtW-0ywwncZtD/s4032/5e%20Winchcombe%20View.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNQ6KloAzPXh78EGPpyA_abWfxwNFRHFHgru4y8-x_HqhsUz1J3zxPb_yCetNZO6zWOj981nh3_ofe9bKZep5pQqV0Gy5shrCDIBHWpSuEG2ykFQECyfQaxWyiut-F0G8w1_NsAev_7JXFNqRIl71yv2ojGS44oggO36CKEdaz5Si3C0UtW-0ywwncZtD/s320/5e%20Winchcombe%20View.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On Kirstyns last day I decided that we needed to find her a proper real castle. One that was built for, and indeed did partake, in fighting. I found that about 50 minutes west of here at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodrich_Castle" target="_blank">Goodrich Castle</a>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PpdI4_KeP4L3Y_n3FjMq_jMdAvaFTR-j4FcQHoIX5isIEVWXfAYGaYtRnGUC60eVuPQ9c32UcDeARGoDLa0Z07lZuoFQ67c145DRiZlg1DdP9si4Fsf_GaTNUmAqKvN2s21emSS9Om-7B59FpDJwTVyIhSLy-TOZ1uO47qGULeChMl258xItOnd4vcUE/s4032/6a%20Goodrich%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PpdI4_KeP4L3Y_n3FjMq_jMdAvaFTR-j4FcQHoIX5isIEVWXfAYGaYtRnGUC60eVuPQ9c32UcDeARGoDLa0Z07lZuoFQ67c145DRiZlg1DdP9si4Fsf_GaTNUmAqKvN2s21emSS9Om-7B59FpDJwTVyIhSLy-TOZ1uO47qGULeChMl258xItOnd4vcUE/s320/6a%20Goodrich%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Built after the Norman Conquest, it was then englarged in the 12th and 13th centurys.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielmEjhDc5wx5bUXuKaTNoGGJPmD81vDU_l-7wC5R6pN06QRdC5QSTDkBMW15b_xMQ_2NInH-3nl1gkYCr5ZQY5JpBt2MEABSjiYeQGSskHjThYYmRJBAkQvSZIk5hhx0njkuzc1vUUtPTaNH-M_FdLbuKbSjvy_xf4f2-dxH3hytFcBLP9HaWNGtPeLl9/s4032/6b%20Goodrich%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielmEjhDc5wx5bUXuKaTNoGGJPmD81vDU_l-7wC5R6pN06QRdC5QSTDkBMW15b_xMQ_2NInH-3nl1gkYCr5ZQY5JpBt2MEABSjiYeQGSskHjThYYmRJBAkQvSZIk5hhx0njkuzc1vUUtPTaNH-M_FdLbuKbSjvy_xf4f2-dxH3hytFcBLP9HaWNGtPeLl9/s320/6b%20Goodrich%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Entry thru the gate</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The present state of disrepair is mostly due to damage suffered during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War" target="_blank">English Civil War</a> and then its subsequent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slighting" target="_blank">slighting</a>. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5axolMKhpIvt3Vr9cOPrklDFrh6cLL4uN50Ci2QsCAmPROvDGs2LkZHuVSGpDt0m-0cp0MhGqFKXEG5nrHT0tniRyT32beRbjtPBUrEieL8XJmZ_gBJgUJg-sPWn6qM2-H6pHESjQwhKDUextgxJuv_3Tn_7W9oLxk84ZTpgphCVLO-cr16R8ak7fIdnF/s4032/6c%20Goodrich%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5axolMKhpIvt3Vr9cOPrklDFrh6cLL4uN50Ci2QsCAmPROvDGs2LkZHuVSGpDt0m-0cp0MhGqFKXEG5nrHT0tniRyT32beRbjtPBUrEieL8XJmZ_gBJgUJg-sPWn6qM2-H6pHESjQwhKDUextgxJuv_3Tn_7W9oLxk84ZTpgphCVLO-cr16R8ak7fIdnF/s320/6c%20Goodrich%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Chapel</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Below, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep" target="_blank">Keep</a> stands on the left. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the middle a dog is laying on the ground. It had been bitten in the hip by a wasp. Some of the English Heritage workers retrieved a bag of ice and after about 20 minute the dog thankfully got up and shook it off.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAII-emElI12N1ga58XSQRRH5A-SM3BltQ0xaf14gR_s1IBu-b4NXmzCDGreavahsnXncKqf13uJisKFuH-pUBONTb0NVUbh_-eoUytWQ2xGsa32DWnLo6f0gplOZdWD5sKOuuPLELPkEsVd6BPqha9tkP1XUYu3jlfxgxbC3gMgff8ijpxzzwIRmHNUvM/s4032/6d%20Goodrich%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAII-emElI12N1ga58XSQRRH5A-SM3BltQ0xaf14gR_s1IBu-b4NXmzCDGreavahsnXncKqf13uJisKFuH-pUBONTb0NVUbh_-eoUytWQ2xGsa32DWnLo6f0gplOZdWD5sKOuuPLELPkEsVd6BPqha9tkP1XUYu3jlfxgxbC3gMgff8ijpxzzwIRmHNUvM/s320/6d%20Goodrich%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Most castles and great homes served many purposes. One obviously was as a residence. Another was often to be an administrative center for the local area. Inside the castle or home, there would often be a great hall that would be used for banquets and state functions, but could also be used as a courtroom or a meeting hall where the Lord might meet with locals to hear and address their issues of the day.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXhtVtfd7Ty9W0esnOQ1jrwJnWt23YjG4GhkBrbWKl8cqtAUMX6p6N74jBOt3XqvbxLAusCWvFDaV9RTGB4TeRKUtybdu3U_2luRNWbl-aMLRSlQS_sjwzAa-ahDtpvXhfDJyqppSdRXWlZT2xOOfMZ_COcil16ijZVbsmWIge35Xs1gipysMW1tWMgFN/s4032/6e%20Goodrich%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXhtVtfd7Ty9W0esnOQ1jrwJnWt23YjG4GhkBrbWKl8cqtAUMX6p6N74jBOt3XqvbxLAusCWvFDaV9RTGB4TeRKUtybdu3U_2luRNWbl-aMLRSlQS_sjwzAa-ahDtpvXhfDJyqppSdRXWlZT2xOOfMZ_COcil16ijZVbsmWIge35Xs1gipysMW1tWMgFN/s320/6e%20Goodrich%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The great hall</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />On the way home we were again treated to those idyllic Cotswolds views.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKX-dFROA11F-glDQncrNdotq-JWqpM53TcnLZzOve5wKQVbrifPA8tfKgHOmLX56tdeFxj06jQSw_N0x8Qp6QtXu48fharW3iA8ED5IoGEl8GZRWXNFA7k8ZslAbXJA6ZnzuiSUZdHBMMM6Tu0gcm1nXTM42mvx6fXFizZI73cK3VcLgApf9htL_M0sj/s4032/6f%20Ross%20on%20Wye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKX-dFROA11F-glDQncrNdotq-JWqpM53TcnLZzOve5wKQVbrifPA8tfKgHOmLX56tdeFxj06jQSw_N0x8Qp6QtXu48fharW3iA8ED5IoGEl8GZRWXNFA7k8ZslAbXJA6ZnzuiSUZdHBMMM6Tu0gcm1nXTM42mvx6fXFizZI73cK3VcLgApf9htL_M0sj/s320/6f%20Ross%20on%20Wye.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On Sunday Winchcombe had its <a href="http://winchcombeshow.org.uk/" target="_blank">annual country fair</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cobberdogs like Annie were bred specifically for therapy work. The breeder that she came from has a division dedicated to therapy work and works with numerous organizations in Barcelona and further afield. Additonally, all the dogs used for breeding are Therapy dogs in their day jobs. </div><div><br /></div><div>Annie already has had several opportunities to spread some joy.</div><div><br /></div><div>The young lady below met Annie when we first arrived. Then throughout the day she kept making a point of finding us and petting Annie some more.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1zCaIE-62In9wkMRzW_lQL6Izl7lZZa2LNe4XHovlEYK7uag99QS6aDX8iadMj2vwGe-MTODWGOtRPPAhALP2Kl0jE3bVUf-A8rdNJCFnL6LIf44FtY0PAS6c0VyuwDj0KXMhqcim-CJxjdQf_c8alsSzgUk5tzVlOcGsknczw3lelfTEqv5xeC6bVhI/s4032/1a%20Winchcombe%20Country%20Show.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1zCaIE-62In9wkMRzW_lQL6Izl7lZZa2LNe4XHovlEYK7uag99QS6aDX8iadMj2vwGe-MTODWGOtRPPAhALP2Kl0jE3bVUf-A8rdNJCFnL6LIf44FtY0PAS6c0VyuwDj0KXMhqcim-CJxjdQf_c8alsSzgUk5tzVlOcGsknczw3lelfTEqv5xeC6bVhI/s320/1a%20Winchcombe%20Country%20Show.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The country show had a fun dog show. Several different categories, and open to all. We arrived to late to enter, but at least 4 different people approached us and told us that if Annie had been in the show she would have won. Well I can't say that is true, but she sure does manage to draw a crowd around everywhere we go.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneW0DPBu68EHG8YDooc_cHMSmk_OeE5ADuAuBGvMf8OWn1XDnN8WryiI96KP-puPiF1RcoIJlw0qlhXYkxqlVfD_QIkLeSxsQq_-AFZCVzFHGOOToMcdwoweazbQePeY7ciZyfyNhsugfXE7jCdljqScYduj8w7arMC9y4JbSik_AvWe_oThLBq2e_QMv/s7194/1b%20Winchcombe%20Country%20Show.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3912" data-original-width="7194" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneW0DPBu68EHG8YDooc_cHMSmk_OeE5ADuAuBGvMf8OWn1XDnN8WryiI96KP-puPiF1RcoIJlw0qlhXYkxqlVfD_QIkLeSxsQq_-AFZCVzFHGOOToMcdwoweazbQePeY7ciZyfyNhsugfXE7jCdljqScYduj8w7arMC9y4JbSik_AvWe_oThLBq2e_QMv/s320/1b%20Winchcombe%20Country%20Show.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dog Show</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />During the dog show, a little yapper type dog on the other side really started to get barking in an aggressive manner. That got a big Newfoundland over on this side of the ring upset, and all of a sudden he took off, bounding over to the other side dragging the young girl who was holding his leash along on the ground. Fortunately the Newfoundland just wanted to see what the noise was about, but the poor girl started crying becasue she thought she was going to be kicked out of the show or disqualified. In the end all was good.</div><div><br /></div><div>A video of the action</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TMOc4Vi0gEA" width="320" youtube-src-id="TMOc4Vi0gEA"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />There was also a small collection of some neat antique cars. This was a Ford (model A I think) with a right hand steering wheel. I did not know that Ford made right hand cars in those days.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqrOw5pDziBLIP_yDIfBJPkKiVkweht8p4ZNs-ECmOxa8thm6Y_Gyp9YyGVv7NGSuqN9RBXGhVq8VRtURDMVNQ72-M4WP8Ruo9KJRh7APgdEWa9jli4pIehp-_IpLsDq_tJ7lSb8ZAWpjXa_lbNUBk3bQwid0LmHl404RPkPUsjKkGlikR4nSl3-mAXZF/s4032/1c%20Winchcombe%20Country%20Show.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqrOw5pDziBLIP_yDIfBJPkKiVkweht8p4ZNs-ECmOxa8thm6Y_Gyp9YyGVv7NGSuqN9RBXGhVq8VRtURDMVNQ72-M4WP8Ruo9KJRh7APgdEWa9jli4pIehp-_IpLsDq_tJ7lSb8ZAWpjXa_lbNUBk3bQwid0LmHl404RPkPUsjKkGlikR4nSl3-mAXZF/s320/1c%20Winchcombe%20Country%20Show.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And a staple of British fairs and anyplace kids gather.... Punch & Judy.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMClZE6ZQBq5ffgWZ97b0WcGwKZIDGCFvOqlrlrqdAzuZ6-2J1mcVF2abv2zW-xuf7axUjRqbhpcB_4jWWQJn7RZPSywicohZXyYviz90vfHx88xgA4FbgvIXwBqg7bE61RGD1-wN0R4NnOB2pI37AkM8ocFxrZA2O4RSDef604fxYC78F72SohNpHNVD/s4032/1d%20Winchcombe%20Country%20Show.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMClZE6ZQBq5ffgWZ97b0WcGwKZIDGCFvOqlrlrqdAzuZ6-2J1mcVF2abv2zW-xuf7axUjRqbhpcB_4jWWQJn7RZPSywicohZXyYviz90vfHx88xgA4FbgvIXwBqg7bE61RGD1-wN0R4NnOB2pI37AkM8ocFxrZA2O4RSDef604fxYC78F72SohNpHNVD/s320/1d%20Winchcombe%20Country%20Show.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've said before how dog friendly it is over here. You wind up taking for granted that your dog can go almost anywhere that you can. Consequently - anytime you go anywhere - everyone has their dog(s) with them.</div><div><br /></div><div>How many dogs can you spot in the picture below?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd4w2uhr8wDA449xnml5_3jTotzHWwgiydvWL_xW_Q7NmFanVec-xuiyovTpC7X9vULo7YGHZBKoZcin_gA5e1ebBnMMWug_TyrKn5VjNCKvV_bH7Ryp7syXyhveefp8SDKF9QNTrKbhR9bhnxunfNNqJXV89a_CmJLrib7JCxDk5v_X4GW1mGRS09OjN/s6940/1e%20Winchcombe%20Country%20Show.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3628" data-original-width="6940" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd4w2uhr8wDA449xnml5_3jTotzHWwgiydvWL_xW_Q7NmFanVec-xuiyovTpC7X9vULo7YGHZBKoZcin_gA5e1ebBnMMWug_TyrKn5VjNCKvV_bH7Ryp7syXyhveefp8SDKF9QNTrKbhR9bhnxunfNNqJXV89a_CmJLrib7JCxDk5v_X4GW1mGRS09OjN/s320/1e%20Winchcombe%20Country%20Show.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The following Sunday we drove Kirstyn back to Hethrow and then when we got back home we walked up to Sudeley Castle where the start and finish line was for the HONC (Hell of the North Cotswolds) bike race. A 100Km off road bike race that takes place on the miles and miles of walking trails to be found here. We were in time to see some of the later finishers crossing the finish line.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dGH7LcLWD2y6QmUmoDT4eV2rb_e2jXBSCO6mUBGoi-Ox6fm5Ir8R9q41FCA0sR87afWp0Kd3mPSGIsJAaADnhV0ydQC33owR_QZFwfPtGRGxybGvEbNK57yX-WOE-8LNes4nApWrsb6by5mMRcUsG9OY5Co5zZ0sVQyKoM7NvI3hy4RI3ahd9CszY__A/s4032/7a%20Hell%20of%20the%20North%20Cotswolds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dGH7LcLWD2y6QmUmoDT4eV2rb_e2jXBSCO6mUBGoi-Ox6fm5Ir8R9q41FCA0sR87afWp0Kd3mPSGIsJAaADnhV0ydQC33owR_QZFwfPtGRGxybGvEbNK57yX-WOE-8LNes4nApWrsb6by5mMRcUsG9OY5Co5zZ0sVQyKoM7NvI3hy4RI3ahd9CszY__A/s320/7a%20Hell%20of%20the%20North%20Cotswolds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We also received a new photo of Phoebe from the breeder in Barcelona. This was a week ago at about 12 weeks old.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just 10 days from today we will be picking her up in Barcelona. (Sunday 17 Sept)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBReL_uzOaKDmaCF9wMwL3V6yv8mQashBcPV1lr7THK3hfnhAD_R_eqjU6SshFIUe_1WLwJo-C21WD-P7NuJNTLEllJOJ9yXygiz6RnGXpVl2HUonV_v-fbEZbVLtYb7qCmFEjXZeOr2kQpC4wrnnojXvjFnmQN2yiBaSOD8siBpks5zvMeYGvQctnlnT/s461/7b%20Phoebe%2012%20weeks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="416" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBReL_uzOaKDmaCF9wMwL3V6yv8mQashBcPV1lr7THK3hfnhAD_R_eqjU6SshFIUe_1WLwJo-C21WD-P7NuJNTLEllJOJ9yXygiz6RnGXpVl2HUonV_v-fbEZbVLtYb7qCmFEjXZeOr2kQpC4wrnnojXvjFnmQN2yiBaSOD8siBpks5zvMeYGvQctnlnT/s320/7b%20Phoebe%2012%20weeks.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Kate and I took a ride up toward Chipping Camden and walked up to the National Trust site on top of Dovers Hill. From here you get a great view of the surrounding countryside.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQT0VU_fAuGwTFnSKrBIdwNJAEZ-UbB4rLd2Kfo923Xi-ZBNrHFxuGqYdXEw4l4v_o3Rg8gOXVMHmp4znVqgQTi1H6Vg3fcghJCMx6segfaDSkJQmf6ji2akcRt8oTfDHUimYXu-3rR1xGQuCdPMli0eZApeTXfzCqxXdB6efvnMksAyNS5-FQ1OY4hXZ/s4032/7c%20Dovers%20Hill%20National%20Trust.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQT0VU_fAuGwTFnSKrBIdwNJAEZ-UbB4rLd2Kfo923Xi-ZBNrHFxuGqYdXEw4l4v_o3Rg8gOXVMHmp4znVqgQTi1H6Vg3fcghJCMx6segfaDSkJQmf6ji2akcRt8oTfDHUimYXu-3rR1xGQuCdPMli0eZApeTXfzCqxXdB6efvnMksAyNS5-FQ1OY4hXZ/s320/7c%20Dovers%20Hill%20National%20Trust.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Annie stood watch over a herd of sheep on Dovers Hill.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yaOL5mGr7-gCpN1I4G2DKYJn1-fFhz3NVXeamebwhQukebiaVhvrqKPXwaUaWbPUe15ot6FKOIS_eO3PYyd1hDE3Xr4bi_BaJNpFAOWF-UMMlHl-UyRuKar_-h-aKxC_sqemOp2LWpldxPvLRteJAUD4k4JGEWKmQC_ko_GVy6DZwYzNljBMer1_O2nS/s4032/7d%20Dovers%20Hill%20National%20Trust.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yaOL5mGr7-gCpN1I4G2DKYJn1-fFhz3NVXeamebwhQukebiaVhvrqKPXwaUaWbPUe15ot6FKOIS_eO3PYyd1hDE3Xr4bi_BaJNpFAOWF-UMMlHl-UyRuKar_-h-aKxC_sqemOp2LWpldxPvLRteJAUD4k4JGEWKmQC_ko_GVy6DZwYzNljBMer1_O2nS/s320/7d%20Dovers%20Hill%20National%20Trust.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another day we discovered another gem in the Cotswolds - the lovely village of Broadway.</div><div>I did not get any real good photos of the place.... I was too busy looking and admiring the place.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoWEoE9iqEef2HFZgVmgjNg6DQI_WzawGrLDJzZbDNEipHeVRPaAKeC3FQy0lgPfG1nDZ9oCSNfHHcylzSNXvsgfWxzEgqowJAivBL1xRLfT0ObodFTjxiccYcC0Tp5EEl3UK9V4GdVSAv_lFHZZSG6Pu5ZFpg2zjsc3hiWNOS26lZ5uXqVWlgFJHmagq/s4032/7e%20Broadway%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoWEoE9iqEef2HFZgVmgjNg6DQI_WzawGrLDJzZbDNEipHeVRPaAKeC3FQy0lgPfG1nDZ9oCSNfHHcylzSNXvsgfWxzEgqowJAivBL1xRLfT0ObodFTjxiccYcC0Tp5EEl3UK9V4GdVSAv_lFHZZSG6Pu5ZFpg2zjsc3hiWNOS26lZ5uXqVWlgFJHmagq/s320/7e%20Broadway%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We might have to get back up there one more time before we leave on Tuesday</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkO23bRe1sTPfIm9Y-hqcNJmbRw-EGrsSfJkto7_7xvEHDwPh7uhCdlKnkRC12tu4QfRtuZHY8sKSVCEk349gpuW30ylIXgq_tWG0u8Ui9msqVMRWWvtPJ0jnYkdBWiwJEcthqowZzO61uWOQq88VYz5uqbDEyYYLxKIwY5TMwNWp_Jkt68TakuziRjmbu/s4032/7f%20Broadway%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkO23bRe1sTPfIm9Y-hqcNJmbRw-EGrsSfJkto7_7xvEHDwPh7uhCdlKnkRC12tu4QfRtuZHY8sKSVCEk349gpuW30ylIXgq_tWG0u8Ui9msqVMRWWvtPJ0jnYkdBWiwJEcthqowZzO61uWOQq88VYz5uqbDEyYYLxKIwY5TMwNWp_Jkt68TakuziRjmbu/s320/7f%20Broadway%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Today - Friday 8 September - we gave Annie her first bath. Getting her ready to meet her new sister and then travel on the Queen Mary2. Like everything with this dog.... she was just sooo good. No complaining, she just got her bath with no muss and no fuss. We are still waiting for some sort of wart to appear. She is just such a perfect dog. Still had not done even one thing that we had to scold her for. We tell her stuff once and she just seems to know what we want and does it. I just hope Phoebe is like her too. How sweet will that be?</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8UkX4e4tf7rBhHNN3S0Ass5LubWZl0LOoJ5zOrwhgdNtMcBAT30k_7MHWek8xlVXevn8JzKN0nhcFsaEWuXyBtOFdIsHwhTDIXmP3YJEf4gXFSHOBzjv0LEefaCfokH16VukIhezq4lpHwYMTbtioudw6rpztk8Qke25YndZ3FVwuPNDkRPhowC80kvo/s4032/8a%20Doodlewash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8UkX4e4tf7rBhHNN3S0Ass5LubWZl0LOoJ5zOrwhgdNtMcBAT30k_7MHWek8xlVXevn8JzKN0nhcFsaEWuXyBtOFdIsHwhTDIXmP3YJEf4gXFSHOBzjv0LEefaCfokH16VukIhezq4lpHwYMTbtioudw6rpztk8Qke25YndZ3FVwuPNDkRPhowC80kvo/s320/8a%20Doodlewash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not much dog under all the hair</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrqxrV6T_i5RTHj26fpE2hev6po1BjRPuWORv1-Yt1ucR8R8nKRYWtWFK7h1W1wjWTWMuI6lwNxlvpKPYcrwx5VnRJYBz1VKxmYlgyaSIYpf1oQ_UDLIHTikg0t_7VK5Is9HDp_Az4rAPKAFOTeS8Wva7fDb0YsqwwKaPfABEn1fn6SqOZn0yNMqRNLUw/s4032/8b%20Doodlewash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrqxrV6T_i5RTHj26fpE2hev6po1BjRPuWORv1-Yt1ucR8R8nKRYWtWFK7h1W1wjWTWMuI6lwNxlvpKPYcrwx5VnRJYBz1VKxmYlgyaSIYpf1oQ_UDLIHTikg0t_7VK5Is9HDp_Az4rAPKAFOTeS8Wva7fDb0YsqwwKaPfABEn1fn6SqOZn0yNMqRNLUw/s320/8b%20Doodlewash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One fluffball out of the tub</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />So... here we are. It's Friday 8 Sept. We get on the ship in Southampton 2 weeks from today.</div><div><br /></div><div>In between we have quite an itinerary:</div><div><br /></div><div>1 Tuesday 12 Sept</div><div>depart and drive to Dover, Drop Kate & Annie off at Holiday Inn Folkestone, then I drop our car off at a place we stayed at in June. Catch an Uber back to the Holiday Inn.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Weds 13 Sept</div><div>Get picked up at 0700 by pet taxi, taken on train thru the chunnel to Enterprise in Dover where we will pick up rental car and drive to Paris for 3 nights at a hotel a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Sat 16 Sept</div><div style="text-align: left;">drive 6 hrs to Southern France and stay overnight at a hotel there that I've booked.</div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">4. Sunday 17 Sept</div><div style="text-align: left;">drive 2 hrs to Barcelona, pick up Phoebe and get both dogs tapeworm treatments for return to UK. Then turn around and drive 4 hrs to Toulouse France to a hotel I have booked for the night.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">5. Monday 18 Sept</div><div style="text-align: left;">Drive 8 hrs to Crepon France (Normandy) to a cool converted Farm / hotel with a Michelin Starred restaurant. Kate and I stayed there in 2008 just before we got Gracie and I'm really looking to visiting Normandy again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">6 Weds 20 Sept</div><div style="text-align: left;">Drive 3 hrs to Calais to Holliday Inn. Drop off Kate and dogs, then turn in rental car and get taxi back to hotel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">7. Thursday 21 Sept</div><div style="text-align: left;">Pet Taxi arrives at hotel at 0800 and takes us back onto train, clear dogs thru customs, thru Chunnel, and drops us off where I left the car 8 days ago.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Pick up car and drive 3 hrs to Southampton and drop Kate and dogs off at Holiday Inn. I then go to our storage locker and retrieve our hanging suit bags containing our big boy and girl ship clothes. return to hotel and spend the night.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">8. Friday 22 Sept</div><div style="text-align: left;">Boarding day for the Queen Mary2. Drop Kate and dogs off at ship with luggage. I then drive 30 min to drop off our 6-month rental car (bye bye good old Passat) and catch a ride back to ship and finally board the ship. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>I finally will be off duty for the next 7 days at sea.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we hit NYC the rat race resumes and we hit the ground running because the day we arrive in the US, we have to get 4 hrs up to Albany, fire up the bus and get to Foxboro (Boston) Mass where we'll spend 5 nights.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But all of that are tales for another day.</div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-15757505718818645762023-08-20T11:47:00.006-06:002023-08-20T11:53:47.873-06:00Back into England - Northumberland and North Yorkshire<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Well we are back in England. Time is moving forward at breakneck speed and soon we will be wrapping up this years trip. But before I put a fork in this adventure - let me bring you up to date.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We left you last in Peebles, Scotland. A small market town about 30 miles south of Edinburgh..</div><div style="text-align: left;">We stayed in a real nice converted Bothy (sheepherders hut) on the expansive grounds of Neidpath Castle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We were only there for 3 days, and one day was spent driving up to Dalkeith to pick up Lucys ashes. </div><div style="text-align: left;">We sort of took it a bit easy, and simply enjoyed our surroundings, but did take a quick trip into Peebles.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bqUrY5LnMhFhNx8K6rTrBHEzShmmstKSAbaLn9B2e89opoUt2c8JtdoChvPPByDM-_r-28zrvTOVmJ9dYuFaxQQTMHie2R8fc1gDneJvgQxb7F5xN018hy1QM7ungrVDzXrjFyaNBRLnR3PMALI08z3dyd3A5_lx_y8v5r4QavOcOy9QYNcKaFP4NNib/s4032/1a%20Peebles%20Scotland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bqUrY5LnMhFhNx8K6rTrBHEzShmmstKSAbaLn9B2e89opoUt2c8JtdoChvPPByDM-_r-28zrvTOVmJ9dYuFaxQQTMHie2R8fc1gDneJvgQxb7F5xN018hy1QM7ungrVDzXrjFyaNBRLnR3PMALI08z3dyd3A5_lx_y8v5r4QavOcOy9QYNcKaFP4NNib/s320/1a%20Peebles%20Scotland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The High Street in Peebles</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmKyws0KvrF2WI8ORf4ODp2_RdedRK604vMdAB9qXwo2ZhZnEP0Wh3SlcQbEYA0hyE-Z5R9D-9tCAi_9PpS8VbCF2X1WSrwJF8c9o6wQuyrVlzdvKpXr7CRNNWXzG8FtyFWDlRL6oaOCB-uw1V2_AAkH6ybJFLGDnimIVF2m8nh2vCoLhsuC99iHfJhi5/s4032/1b%20Peebles%20Scotland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmKyws0KvrF2WI8ORf4ODp2_RdedRK604vMdAB9qXwo2ZhZnEP0Wh3SlcQbEYA0hyE-Z5R9D-9tCAi_9PpS8VbCF2X1WSrwJF8c9o6wQuyrVlzdvKpXr7CRNNWXzG8FtyFWDlRL6oaOCB-uw1V2_AAkH6ybJFLGDnimIVF2m8nh2vCoLhsuC99iHfJhi5/s320/1b%20Peebles%20Scotland.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dog friendly everywhere</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />On Weds August 9 we packed up and made the 3.5 hr drive south to our next destination which was Warkworth, England. Since we had time to kill before we could check in - our usual M.O. is to find a side trip or two. This time we took some smaller roads heading south.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8tPJCBYv4c0sIUgx7Fl5MqDaSG7WQo9XmXVIPbb410tojbjQpq96ng6Ww7nJQPi_QDzyWi-9coUCd2BZqOSTiSPzn8BCg6XGIHT_jgkVT1JPxlnd8HKM74BljB_lMoa24MGeZWd0uPO7Kawl1gY0vCGd_JP6zXeND7sMfkTJ4qui_xmDULyGBD_cASZk/s4032/1c%20Scotland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8tPJCBYv4c0sIUgx7Fl5MqDaSG7WQo9XmXVIPbb410tojbjQpq96ng6Ww7nJQPi_QDzyWi-9coUCd2BZqOSTiSPzn8BCg6XGIHT_jgkVT1JPxlnd8HKM74BljB_lMoa24MGeZWd0uPO7Kawl1gY0vCGd_JP6zXeND7sMfkTJ4qui_xmDULyGBD_cASZk/s320/1c%20Scotland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Southern Scotland on the way to Warkworth</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Entering England we crossed some moors where the heather was starting to turn purple and coloring the hillsides.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJn7DyJoeIY3dQnwID1u_iYcR9ODRDt8vRQDXrTLxUq8kykXmXXLdWaHcqRtmVZAwVH0cHSE4pl_RryJjE0nZcfBkm2D_PLIKE6SHb0r8Wbdg7h2x71pUOvFt71DxXZk1TDQdvRNgvQS5vCu43AJaWd9Tqd-dDk_9IcZQKiU2NNf5yspl6Ddwk95AVy6Z/s4032/1d%20Northumberland%20Heather.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJn7DyJoeIY3dQnwID1u_iYcR9ODRDt8vRQDXrTLxUq8kykXmXXLdWaHcqRtmVZAwVH0cHSE4pl_RryJjE0nZcfBkm2D_PLIKE6SHb0r8Wbdg7h2x71pUOvFt71DxXZk1TDQdvRNgvQS5vCu43AJaWd9Tqd-dDk_9IcZQKiU2NNf5yspl6Ddwk95AVy6Z/s320/1d%20Northumberland%20Heather.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Purple heather on the Moors</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Along the way we also made a stop at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cragside" target="_blank">National Trust Property Cragside</a>. Built in the mid to late 1800's by William Armstrong, an early industrialist, the property is both beautiful and innovative.</div><div><br /></div><div>Among many other things, it could be said that Mr Armstong was the world's first international arms dealers. He invented many types of innovative weapons, and sold them not only to the British Government, but to many other nations around the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Heads of state from all over the world would be wined and dined at Cragside while Mr Armstrong sold them weapons, ships, or whatever.</div><div><br /></div><div>Among many features, it boasts the world's first hydroelectric plant to power the place. It also used water power and hydraulics to operate many of the modern conveniences found in the spectacular home.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeXR6x0Ms4s__Wn26QJ5qHGNoibigp0XooA_ftpRbKyi2QNvJJWP7zh7aYgu-TExLalObwWA70ch-BdkoRLGKFB0kyL4Zgo6PlphdwZqCguCdnlFZv4ydUsCSHB9vgiRIXuHoDtB3cvks-kT6fGjePT__VlWKXtYcGk_1l64NMvAeh5TZDx9mAPyOpyXq/s4032/2a%20Craigside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeXR6x0Ms4s__Wn26QJ5qHGNoibigp0XooA_ftpRbKyi2QNvJJWP7zh7aYgu-TExLalObwWA70ch-BdkoRLGKFB0kyL4Zgo6PlphdwZqCguCdnlFZv4ydUsCSHB9vgiRIXuHoDtB3cvks-kT6fGjePT__VlWKXtYcGk_1l64NMvAeh5TZDx9mAPyOpyXq/s320/2a%20Craigside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Set on an estate of over 15,000 acres, the gardens surrounding the house are beautiful. Today you can drive on the loop road, a 5 mile circuit that was created to allow the owner and guest to take a carriage ride around the expansive grounds and gardens. It was a delightful ride that passes numerous lakes and picnic areas.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEthfPOsBcM2qt1eM8CiKl1wgp7OBhU8zaBbUFQLz8qL3efxQeZIqxXDMKrY788bhcbSF4lzGX4i561YJ3MQTfQKzgb_y7_7THO3uVuzlUShoGPevkeJx9YypzLROjvhyiFxubYWiVMtoSPZhmFr0XOYPkNHEwAKEV5umb15v-dq1pdOEVzneeumVPQ_S/s4032/2b%20Craigside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEthfPOsBcM2qt1eM8CiKl1wgp7OBhU8zaBbUFQLz8qL3efxQeZIqxXDMKrY788bhcbSF4lzGX4i561YJ3MQTfQKzgb_y7_7THO3uVuzlUShoGPevkeJx9YypzLROjvhyiFxubYWiVMtoSPZhmFr0XOYPkNHEwAKEV5umb15v-dq1pdOEVzneeumVPQ_S/s320/2b%20Craigside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wgBdZy2JuodWhaC7oaP0Gp74FUuYsrinIn-3GUVuU8fi_OnNvUEG5Z_Zz8hfcCEzoMVjPyimCRPhys7e4UGxqNJubBOFnb_OY6V-d8eczLmO3EO6MnuobczFrlgogjSYOAUowzNHRyCvxH7K_JYI0WC767VgTCAlY9kR9tHUNJaKTGda3BXONXNHfJE2/s4032/2c%20Craigside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wgBdZy2JuodWhaC7oaP0Gp74FUuYsrinIn-3GUVuU8fi_OnNvUEG5Z_Zz8hfcCEzoMVjPyimCRPhys7e4UGxqNJubBOFnb_OY6V-d8eczLmO3EO6MnuobczFrlgogjSYOAUowzNHRyCvxH7K_JYI0WC767VgTCAlY9kR9tHUNJaKTGda3BXONXNHfJE2/s320/2c%20Craigside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Inside, the kitchen boasts one of the world's first dishwashers and hydraulically controlled spits to cook large roast over the fire, keeping them turning without manual labor.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwqU_4lXh9JUxu1ogCv7SDo9C9d5fRhlIg9GLrftMcncFru2pb9aB6lCsC5OG2wJ1TmakyxvDtOJBKk3E19VGpQeeA-lwIPkaIJkXLa2o30D9xr2MYsZD_Jqp1jsgvZAUTk7SGdKFT1h4J8HJYnQiE_I-SnL79Kh7n_abtHaFNcohkN33yzJTInIBnv9k/s4032/2d%20Craigside.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwqU_4lXh9JUxu1ogCv7SDo9C9d5fRhlIg9GLrftMcncFru2pb9aB6lCsC5OG2wJ1TmakyxvDtOJBKk3E19VGpQeeA-lwIPkaIJkXLa2o30D9xr2MYsZD_Jqp1jsgvZAUTk7SGdKFT1h4J8HJYnQiE_I-SnL79Kh7n_abtHaFNcohkN33yzJTInIBnv9k/s320/2d%20Craigside.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The kitchen</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpTdyV-bRyd764mILLU2CJQfdF8wRYC5OOyY7Qs0dYtLHN96ku6BRhVx-ACCNKYYA0YIfBCSQDY4ijUB4EBFpRQRufVETxHPRwxmxqi1PytdUH3h7ub-3hC0-6xYGZ5f5YO_6RwXfCPgZRkOeF1V9_YLxw5LsKPgRChxX1a3cirXNbawkh6sqN9clX1qY/s4032/2e%20Craigside.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpTdyV-bRyd764mILLU2CJQfdF8wRYC5OOyY7Qs0dYtLHN96ku6BRhVx-ACCNKYYA0YIfBCSQDY4ijUB4EBFpRQRufVETxHPRwxmxqi1PytdUH3h7ub-3hC0-6xYGZ5f5YO_6RwXfCPgZRkOeF1V9_YLxw5LsKPgRChxX1a3cirXNbawkh6sqN9clX1qY/s320/2e%20Craigside.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The dishwasher</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsihkAmxRp9Kgpc23Kpywog03u3NEozqlApYgdDKJLA2rpHTINRixq8XRmAQXp-AXqrPn6KneSiGE3UsU5dGYGWRIQ0N2yJTA_5vya8FNmwxLUFpm19_hp22yOV4dLasM1V_y2GRcXS3wXkAROiliDh7RRT9ODyzHk8Ds7skMOFkz3N7DOhrq94oUABWf/s4032/2f%20Craigside.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsihkAmxRp9Kgpc23Kpywog03u3NEozqlApYgdDKJLA2rpHTINRixq8XRmAQXp-AXqrPn6KneSiGE3UsU5dGYGWRIQ0N2yJTA_5vya8FNmwxLUFpm19_hp22yOV4dLasM1V_y2GRcXS3wXkAROiliDh7RRT9ODyzHk8Ds7skMOFkz3N7DOhrq94oUABWf/s320/2f%20Craigside.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of the gardens and the "Iron Bridge"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Moving on, it was getting late enough that we could now check into our next place. A really nice ground level studio apartment in the center of the town of Warkworth. It had a beautiful back yard ("Garden") in British speak". It was super private and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of the village just outside of the gates.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeYbgjI4Sf5e0kvT8Qa8Uva_ibuV-B_wmVWVVF3YkfSbNpr09IF0U2xpdKAm1ECLxnXaSZ2xQOn8Ijky2jqTUFgcSg51RtCNDjLdsEfQZsS-F29J5SYIA1eHAPlf7u0tPXD9a-fnE0SAwHC2-RlvzeVect77NE8jOMTYyhp3Ua43agh2UFGn1damY0L8Q/s4032/2g%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeYbgjI4Sf5e0kvT8Qa8Uva_ibuV-B_wmVWVVF3YkfSbNpr09IF0U2xpdKAm1ECLxnXaSZ2xQOn8Ijky2jqTUFgcSg51RtCNDjLdsEfQZsS-F29J5SYIA1eHAPlf7u0tPXD9a-fnE0SAwHC2-RlvzeVect77NE8jOMTYyhp3Ua43agh2UFGn1damY0L8Q/s320/2g%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The owners had a pair of minature male poodles. They provided Annie with a nice diversion, and the enclosed garden allowed her to really get in some good running around time.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspwaYBYUW3-W-tORYYTRlUR1eztzPWydRAsJKZ-Aa2RDWHBU9xFy4uwcNi1leCzga7kKHVEahOA_0pNErP1RE3X_HQmDn5MckhEbMC5KJLncxwb6sQu_qaPkyYYGtk_kJckmtlH1skaRmn91qGPbvhB6xxUm0__qfEH_HvKR7tUB1f3gEGoVdksnCS3Qs/s4032/2h%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspwaYBYUW3-W-tORYYTRlUR1eztzPWydRAsJKZ-Aa2RDWHBU9xFy4uwcNi1leCzga7kKHVEahOA_0pNErP1RE3X_HQmDn5MckhEbMC5KJLncxwb6sQu_qaPkyYYGtk_kJckmtlH1skaRmn91qGPbvhB6xxUm0__qfEH_HvKR7tUB1f3gEGoVdksnCS3Qs/s320/2h%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie looks for her boyfriends.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>About a mile or so walk from the house brought us to Warkworth beach. It was a great sandy stretch of beach and I finally got to dip my toes into some cool salt water.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAJ9y7R7ce8leMthIs8qJJhsrHkomYHBtF0ipPXsUwy0gJP2Rrbjlv0cQ9C88Bzr6gir2HvRGy9Il9FJz3bxwFjThX34mZeNjzDa_RGSp2SyDcE_s4O8NESWHx41gKMjcTf6R7oeoGyYryUWfoow842VdFHFdGIsv7lijS4Q-M1bgFGXR755zh_c9barB/s3930/2i%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2211" data-original-width="3930" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAJ9y7R7ce8leMthIs8qJJhsrHkomYHBtF0ipPXsUwy0gJP2Rrbjlv0cQ9C88Bzr6gir2HvRGy9Il9FJz3bxwFjThX34mZeNjzDa_RGSp2SyDcE_s4O8NESWHx41gKMjcTf6R7oeoGyYryUWfoow842VdFHFdGIsv7lijS4Q-M1bgFGXR755zh_c9barB/s320/2i%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Annie also got her first trip to the beach. At first the waves breaking and running up onto the beach kept pushing her away from the water, but by the end of our visit she was getting into the spirit and ran thru some of the water.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKE_s4-cRZcgSUTRSTh-omVtvFesl64tBeBv8fvIStN1yQ__U9IjbUdVF1RYob49yG2aqUigS875bmqx_st72TuDI4necdH7tzepOlA5vKd93qRk-2J8URutWekpzI-yXZs_Csy1pGdSVgsmyVMo7x71EGQGCrl1f38taPZHLzvxeW1p7clvRPyBZ-jrc/s4032/2j%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKE_s4-cRZcgSUTRSTh-omVtvFesl64tBeBv8fvIStN1yQ__U9IjbUdVF1RYob49yG2aqUigS875bmqx_st72TuDI4necdH7tzepOlA5vKd93qRk-2J8URutWekpzI-yXZs_Csy1pGdSVgsmyVMo7x71EGQGCrl1f38taPZHLzvxeW1p7clvRPyBZ-jrc/s320/2j%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Village of Warkworth is quite pretty. Surrounded on 3 sides by a bend in the River Coquet there is an ancient bridge over the river at one end of the village, and the imposing Warkworth Castle at the other end.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHR-dn4KOGSRp_rADs2dyrLKPPU9_XHMKhcRMAoOVcfHc3C5TBbvrtcOqjKMt_BKSl80Yi_E1iSLAp3Rtb4A2AOSlJgouaaFDXJ3J5iLAuNEuqbXMkOwD1XeDX1wd3ijCqVaKaGoTVEeUj3H8KmqGX_PdFnyyN0fAxV8o7aWeShwoa6heKbq6A7xakxdt/s4032/2k%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHR-dn4KOGSRp_rADs2dyrLKPPU9_XHMKhcRMAoOVcfHc3C5TBbvrtcOqjKMt_BKSl80Yi_E1iSLAp3Rtb4A2AOSlJgouaaFDXJ3J5iLAuNEuqbXMkOwD1XeDX1wd3ijCqVaKaGoTVEeUj3H8KmqGX_PdFnyyN0fAxV8o7aWeShwoa6heKbq6A7xakxdt/s320/2k%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">St Lawrence Anglican Church</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV3L66b0eAIiPEWWEeZ9bEduQyySnsyOj5UTn9bK7uN3JgrLX7kV-8a7z523rSnnxB-G3-q3Bjgf_OBK11B4M53FytQ55KwAWNUVYL4uECAkrqT7DYtsiBoRzkNT-hdJEuApAcQIYzUGUWVptuI-AOn-sk5ulIT71sur5ENVc5r5EldoMdSz9TABW1dnj/s4032/2l%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV3L66b0eAIiPEWWEeZ9bEduQyySnsyOj5UTn9bK7uN3JgrLX7kV-8a7z523rSnnxB-G3-q3Bjgf_OBK11B4M53FytQ55KwAWNUVYL4uECAkrqT7DYtsiBoRzkNT-hdJEuApAcQIYzUGUWVptuI-AOn-sk5ulIT71sur5ENVc5r5EldoMdSz9TABW1dnj/s320/2l%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The old bridge in the distance</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />A couple of miles south of Warkworth is the Village of Amble. A pretty coastal town with a vibrant marina. We headed down one afternoon, walked about, and had lunch at one of the many outside cafes.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjI_JpDF3rcZJMd-et5eWDfxAo9TYS_LXw23kFR11eM_UKZhv_61tYjCqs5AUDTxSdIYPE4YNpqxu8Tm2TSDYrdgio3FuVnwVW7xQcJYuTJPQMULhnSCEo4_k4-HVTtwjjGN0aAEna9Vkm8noFH4kI099uobCscnLOoOIR6bS6_Ft0IUZ7sNsIBj8DU-gK/s4032/3a%20Amble%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjI_JpDF3rcZJMd-et5eWDfxAo9TYS_LXw23kFR11eM_UKZhv_61tYjCqs5AUDTxSdIYPE4YNpqxu8Tm2TSDYrdgio3FuVnwVW7xQcJYuTJPQMULhnSCEo4_k4-HVTtwjjGN0aAEna9Vkm8noFH4kI099uobCscnLOoOIR6bS6_Ft0IUZ7sNsIBj8DU-gK/s320/3a%20Amble%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking out over the North Sea from Amble</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQnjG856U7Kj7Oco5rW2pMxF2hi4r8mo4a6ixbG6byljvfRexQvjMs6Lsyq6eDI1dxfAQCJtHunGUVWJ_V6uSmrPZNIS3p4HmBtfLaU9NpWjHLPLvcxlDUPSB6LdTcy-r9-B_G8B2Z1ghOr559DVHNh-s5gAFgJVOCY2NcG7AX4h9EdFz_j3pzgQtFHUn/s4015/3c%20Amble%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2258" data-original-width="4015" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQnjG856U7Kj7Oco5rW2pMxF2hi4r8mo4a6ixbG6byljvfRexQvjMs6Lsyq6eDI1dxfAQCJtHunGUVWJ_V6uSmrPZNIS3p4HmBtfLaU9NpWjHLPLvcxlDUPSB6LdTcy-r9-B_G8B2Z1ghOr559DVHNh-s5gAFgJVOCY2NcG7AX4h9EdFz_j3pzgQtFHUn/s320/3c%20Amble%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fishing boat returns to Amble Harbor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />One morning we walked up to the end of town and visited <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warkworth_Castle" target="_blank">Warkworth Castle</a>. It is considered a ruin, but I've found it in pretty good shape compared to many of the other ruined castles. Being English Heritage and National Trust Members, our entry to most of the places we've gone to have been free.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoovNx5Rq8WoJKYPoTMN7spCofidQYGteNtlxDBMFG7KF-_JKjjsAWC_ZrQsEYwQ-SuzCrDaZ3lTak7MpJvj8Ggf4ZWfkk1RvFtQgusO2dDHcJIn-H2Wy37KOPK723-hgCSlRLtArmwT9DfryBMDS_5H1Jc2u1Y6FS_olnmnkToNlyAek_JiCFamPW8_XU/s4032/3d%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoovNx5Rq8WoJKYPoTMN7spCofidQYGteNtlxDBMFG7KF-_JKjjsAWC_ZrQsEYwQ-SuzCrDaZ3lTak7MpJvj8Ggf4ZWfkk1RvFtQgusO2dDHcJIn-H2Wy37KOPK723-hgCSlRLtArmwT9DfryBMDS_5H1Jc2u1Y6FS_olnmnkToNlyAek_JiCFamPW8_XU/s320/3d%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Warkworth Castle</span></td></tr></tbody></table>A view of the east side of the castle and the moat.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewPpIp_j-FxbNpvZgnXBL71pPaLNP28cm3h8-rF9SMjJZFiPnkWHeqkgBVpneH2b7hygfp1Gw6JUE07TpMCJGVkBdRCWefl2unH1b8_w3fQ_kIXUvNTs-01f_qYAuvgRfGzPkmLtTVVIG3e7gxAw7-XUkUdK53jXB7CEh8sNJ3Mc-th3KggxYmNu4NeNE/s4032/3e%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewPpIp_j-FxbNpvZgnXBL71pPaLNP28cm3h8-rF9SMjJZFiPnkWHeqkgBVpneH2b7hygfp1Gw6JUE07TpMCJGVkBdRCWefl2unH1b8_w3fQ_kIXUvNTs-01f_qYAuvgRfGzPkmLtTVVIG3e7gxAw7-XUkUdK53jXB7CEh8sNJ3Mc-th3KggxYmNu4NeNE/s320/3e%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Inside the castle outer walls.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEbZq0i1vehIKsXcp6HOdVaAUsFS12xsAEr1LJo6idbaPVrYR57Dr7_EU5ygf-jF2YRQ0488xIeDKyK_D7Q2J-vkpCv03ZZkDv2sXJwFPX7uGvDvrjEA3tDAA5xluVP1974ml5M7lXX-MEKfFYVFqJPhtGfmjekybhYTpVxQj3DB3R9vSrxWQHrbKvqTX/s4032/3f%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEbZq0i1vehIKsXcp6HOdVaAUsFS12xsAEr1LJo6idbaPVrYR57Dr7_EU5ygf-jF2YRQ0488xIeDKyK_D7Q2J-vkpCv03ZZkDv2sXJwFPX7uGvDvrjEA3tDAA5xluVP1974ml5M7lXX-MEKfFYVFqJPhtGfmjekybhYTpVxQj3DB3R9vSrxWQHrbKvqTX/s320/3f%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyr8UkDGTE6iH2Hxn84xgmn8dg_WHV_VwTmnzqTaYjLA8-cbRxRzGxsvjysWznFZWWfAxNdkaMs8uGYqcINTpluWW8Gf6IGnio0agtVQiG9p6-kfNNtXHlljHbUyR447ms3BFKAti_PxUa8L2_vf4oI7wvD3afzXX1oRC_KpejP8pdtZYoxZkHbCVxdDev/s4032/3g%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyr8UkDGTE6iH2Hxn84xgmn8dg_WHV_VwTmnzqTaYjLA8-cbRxRzGxsvjysWznFZWWfAxNdkaMs8uGYqcINTpluWW8Gf6IGnio0agtVQiG9p6-kfNNtXHlljHbUyR447ms3BFKAti_PxUa8L2_vf4oI7wvD3afzXX1oRC_KpejP8pdtZYoxZkHbCVxdDev/s320/3g%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Looking down into the inner yard from inside the bailey</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJ5eJb2CwycVlQmyWtPBMpVYkGJ9R9LNONh3fkNeeY7vwll_THFMEi1uj8uF_5H9TZrkpBx2jNPPx2vyCJ7KUmqOUpHJORSkX11uw-rVPpStyRmYsOnj5V0ZaQOGPJ2DLCdQxr1xrE5z2cH3aG4E-dRqeDXZs0tHRflC7fAzLqKNN-o-SYrv0zpB76cG3/s4032/3h%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJ5eJb2CwycVlQmyWtPBMpVYkGJ9R9LNONh3fkNeeY7vwll_THFMEi1uj8uF_5H9TZrkpBx2jNPPx2vyCJ7KUmqOUpHJORSkX11uw-rVPpStyRmYsOnj5V0ZaQOGPJ2DLCdQxr1xrE5z2cH3aG4E-dRqeDXZs0tHRflC7fAzLqKNN-o-SYrv0zpB76cG3/s320/3h%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The castle kitchen. Note the huge ovens. They could roast several oxen at once.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwdhdVUbkUET63LBXbDP5cVlE_qJAHwslYF4bt14Zed-4XQz57qNO79eK7HhGsqiS526yoAVRTGF7IoEyl6QjkM0KoNZ6UXRaMybYIeEQRy8WeC1S9Bad-s_O8bYrjR4wRfu2hoOgyUeT8Zowrrkk0d_fLGEOdh-IovScNoeFHyR9KLxEIXhMxAXj61Zt/s4032/3i%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwdhdVUbkUET63LBXbDP5cVlE_qJAHwslYF4bt14Zed-4XQz57qNO79eK7HhGsqiS526yoAVRTGF7IoEyl6QjkM0KoNZ6UXRaMybYIeEQRy8WeC1S9Bad-s_O8bYrjR4wRfu2hoOgyUeT8Zowrrkk0d_fLGEOdh-IovScNoeFHyR9KLxEIXhMxAXj61Zt/s320/3i%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The castle kitchen</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Looking out from the castle towards the village. Our house is just about dead center in the photo.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB08POqqPJl14MJp82H52Tvqs0YWrvcMsrLLOg_ae16rZc5H8ZhMccN0NBNCMWBxlBG4TFNCGjZ-qs4Bn5tYmZ5lbKw7qo6bvw1-OKy1eha-7lte75LllSBMmOjiEzHiyV8_if8_WOgSovJRu2rPdzBWBbphb9XQllZ9l4QBSkJxGix7TMrVFSWjy7y2uH/s4032/3j%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB08POqqPJl14MJp82H52Tvqs0YWrvcMsrLLOg_ae16rZc5H8ZhMccN0NBNCMWBxlBG4TFNCGjZ-qs4Bn5tYmZ5lbKw7qo6bvw1-OKy1eha-7lte75LllSBMmOjiEzHiyV8_if8_WOgSovJRu2rPdzBWBbphb9XQllZ9l4QBSkJxGix7TMrVFSWjy7y2uH/s320/3j%20Warkworth%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The village square. We ate several times at the Mason Arms including Sunday Roast. Like almost everywhere we go - no problem bringing the dog along.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioECMT4xIwXqU6kgt2P5cnKtYRLtcCxNdndbE1trPPvHJG7JtjrAXg16SCEdWz6cni1AsKGaMu5SuxYFl3Mgj8771zNRPim2refgL63t4Xjhu8s5MOllkLwG5rc9bEuilvwFy907fe8wP7IValCNp4lfwN9pB5nuXnDHjPPVPtq8BVwc-UWDuirTKp7O9l/s4032/3k%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioECMT4xIwXqU6kgt2P5cnKtYRLtcCxNdndbE1trPPvHJG7JtjrAXg16SCEdWz6cni1AsKGaMu5SuxYFl3Mgj8771zNRPim2refgL63t4Xjhu8s5MOllkLwG5rc9bEuilvwFy907fe8wP7IValCNp4lfwN9pB5nuXnDHjPPVPtq8BVwc-UWDuirTKp7O9l/s320/3k%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Annie gets a good run in the garden playing fetch.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUFNtu0noHNXnGkTZenZiccdFHrXeQVSKgi8NQIP68GSgShDr0WIPgrRYKNaPZIvPVjhWSbNJGbubejGAWQHhxrMDhvmD1fs8VzQisHgo4kLEH6eMDg_oL6mESOvRIjX1eX9UXqtnxirIuak0j8_fM9znvUPFCv98hCAUSdaTmzTaDm91PO6l0AXGF1Oy/s4032/3l%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUFNtu0noHNXnGkTZenZiccdFHrXeQVSKgi8NQIP68GSgShDr0WIPgrRYKNaPZIvPVjhWSbNJGbubejGAWQHhxrMDhvmD1fs8VzQisHgo4kLEH6eMDg_oL6mESOvRIjX1eX9UXqtnxirIuak0j8_fM9znvUPFCv98hCAUSdaTmzTaDm91PO6l0AXGF1Oy/s320/3l%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Later - a tired dog = a happy owner.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXslr-cLu7GejRCudKaCsNZgY0aNTKGd8EVCReL_7WXuVc--EhTGoOtDZDgBnL48ZJ3nTVmH-a24iKmE-LcYdilsOtahETWmhplGoNauv-8WDZuUQ5-QhrbpNxS0agWBiiQv6W7vB7RQZvBhybsxLZ7NoFJxxlmOMIpz3A8zIGPyUsxKRr9dDXOn8VryU3/s4032/3m%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXslr-cLu7GejRCudKaCsNZgY0aNTKGd8EVCReL_7WXuVc--EhTGoOtDZDgBnL48ZJ3nTVmH-a24iKmE-LcYdilsOtahETWmhplGoNauv-8WDZuUQ5-QhrbpNxS0agWBiiQv6W7vB7RQZvBhybsxLZ7NoFJxxlmOMIpz3A8zIGPyUsxKRr9dDXOn8VryU3/s320/3m%20Warkworth%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On one day we took a 40 minute drive to visit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warkworth_Castle" target="_blank">Bamburgh Castle</a>. There has been some form of fortification on this site since at least 400ad and the current castle dates to the 11th century.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9ZHg8YN5THK4VYLaCtQMrrpwul1os9oofvE9Vz2kG0rHg5qG17L4BkXwJTjJ9TOmlktrm6rAOFBNRY__EfdQKozYe5U2TH3HNeYxakJVzNn5GCVTwZVImdShCWJA09rGnxnx1TuhURlxtiFy5XVQC27AcRtoHnM_MBv1yrICw6FU51nQLziEv92paCoh/s4032/1a%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9ZHg8YN5THK4VYLaCtQMrrpwul1os9oofvE9Vz2kG0rHg5qG17L4BkXwJTjJ9TOmlktrm6rAOFBNRY__EfdQKozYe5U2TH3HNeYxakJVzNn5GCVTwZVImdShCWJA09rGnxnx1TuhURlxtiFy5XVQC27AcRtoHnM_MBv1yrICw6FU51nQLziEv92paCoh/s320/1a%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The castle looms over the village of Bamburgh</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTFsMwNGSNL8WCglb6Rbw7TFNgGYZlldR2AyqPcLDWN1nlzqpYiQkfmj-viSoh74usRQes6s2lUUhGTfgAwwip2LFE4OhIOLlCHMq4CzsoVQ_t_pdD8RRSE7qM0VeZn6oNk5mbYEMB0KAAbWlfttPIpxDkkNmyIMsHS0FiC34RSJaYBV4FcqQLuW7vBHO/s4032/1b%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTFsMwNGSNL8WCglb6Rbw7TFNgGYZlldR2AyqPcLDWN1nlzqpYiQkfmj-viSoh74usRQes6s2lUUhGTfgAwwip2LFE4OhIOLlCHMq4CzsoVQ_t_pdD8RRSE7qM0VeZn6oNk5mbYEMB0KAAbWlfttPIpxDkkNmyIMsHS0FiC34RSJaYBV4FcqQLuW7vBHO/s320/1b%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Driving up to the castle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xCPf-CJ85NUMsPzdm2lGFjWBTOfRqjnuUwN6922fMr67AhVIp_9brkto-oMef5eVI6BQ_soAikvfRfbNJxIH8SI6TOh3SxqoZwdgBaLEVuxO09v3ZVHuuOSWoCInaVMBHcuEB8gQIQgGWnsJFX8TEaKHd66uyjNvS79q0IYHrpL0zcY37FIwgwKea8ye/s4032/1c%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xCPf-CJ85NUMsPzdm2lGFjWBTOfRqjnuUwN6922fMr67AhVIp_9brkto-oMef5eVI6BQ_soAikvfRfbNJxIH8SI6TOh3SxqoZwdgBaLEVuxO09v3ZVHuuOSWoCInaVMBHcuEB8gQIQgGWnsJFX8TEaKHd66uyjNvS79q0IYHrpL0zcY37FIwgwKea8ye/s320/1c%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Outer gun walls</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tdF-NSfiEAOTr_634t3c__ctgkYlExCoJZVEE9R2Qpop2f_IlDVeDN56r8b5qGC9YRYg_lsvJ3QP_8HL1TawjD2Fqo5-yPd_R9Mqzud0hTBnlns0gSWVawaEq9agDPfrWgRSd3mD62-6Sur5tmxfFSEQxu5wlILfDnCCsWm_BkrbIZ5nrsSMxL9ThFVk/s4032/1d%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tdF-NSfiEAOTr_634t3c__ctgkYlExCoJZVEE9R2Qpop2f_IlDVeDN56r8b5qGC9YRYg_lsvJ3QP_8HL1TawjD2Fqo5-yPd_R9Mqzud0hTBnlns0gSWVawaEq9agDPfrWgRSd3mD62-6Sur5tmxfFSEQxu5wlILfDnCCsWm_BkrbIZ5nrsSMxL9ThFVk/s320/1d%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Inner courtyard<br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEkVzcWlMD64iO8kQmmp8-SAAVXvAJER_NK3VsfOYDsLBPwxKX8EZkO-vQ9lJEMn1WxwhfjCI9bGe8fK96k__uiAntEmxoqKqHi8ysAhKXFdrNPA_IO_6t8L6So3ZgfMY54koEKUPWDqNNKfwwisPUVdKSL9RQXWSxC45t8kXtKUadJDhjDdTF2G8B3bz/s4032/1e%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEkVzcWlMD64iO8kQmmp8-SAAVXvAJER_NK3VsfOYDsLBPwxKX8EZkO-vQ9lJEMn1WxwhfjCI9bGe8fK96k__uiAntEmxoqKqHi8ysAhKXFdrNPA_IO_6t8L6So3ZgfMY54koEKUPWDqNNKfwwisPUVdKSL9RQXWSxC45t8kXtKUadJDhjDdTF2G8B3bz/s320/1e%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Inner courtyard view from inner raised gun walls</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Inside the castle is quite impressive. The castle is owned and occupied by the Armstrong family. If that name sounds familiar, it is because it is the same people who build Craigside which we visited earlier in this post.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvhnrM7OFvNwHmtjMAKXveVmOSlTyMXFXPR14V80ebyK-98vkrzh1TVnQ2T4la29HLZXclgSV_lMYB-wVvCMNOQKbD52vPBZ0O7k8R0Ga8622AKVVzZ7gEEHFZCBIQXS7xj3Dhv6vmrWNZt3Q1K360f7KYpEvbkQLqT1JVQmoIpg70St8FnoC2yINuO3j/s4032/1f%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvhnrM7OFvNwHmtjMAKXveVmOSlTyMXFXPR14V80ebyK-98vkrzh1TVnQ2T4la29HLZXclgSV_lMYB-wVvCMNOQKbD52vPBZ0O7k8R0Ga8622AKVVzZ7gEEHFZCBIQXS7xj3Dhv6vmrWNZt3Q1K360f7KYpEvbkQLqT1JVQmoIpg70St8FnoC2yINuO3j/s320/1f%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grand Hall</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Bpd8wTY7pDmQhMyxLCQHf_LXA5-4GNAJu-r1M58kw_7V26y2HnXiZ3NI-50vG64aAIHg8KwoW4_63hxDQWz2TBmQJGf5FZYOUJLqXD_2F22TctVDBBcz3IG5WhC33RxGH8JrI79hH2oM7Fp45rxO8-5omlTSDdxvtz7oagjs2o1kH8vSxb8J64wqefWX/s4032/1g%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Bpd8wTY7pDmQhMyxLCQHf_LXA5-4GNAJu-r1M58kw_7V26y2HnXiZ3NI-50vG64aAIHg8KwoW4_63hxDQWz2TBmQJGf5FZYOUJLqXD_2F22TctVDBBcz3IG5WhC33RxGH8JrI79hH2oM7Fp45rxO8-5omlTSDdxvtz7oagjs2o1kH8vSxb8J64wqefWX/s320/1g%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sitting room</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Jrada8sLZpx7bym7JWtHX79q5sfPvc5_GEHUzdGAl1Z7VH4z-N-YCiB-ihEQFQvQG-9ATUvJ3drFngUwjuUKGZQ_ZKmxLt0Ed27IspITQLmQvKT92_UIKNzA0RqBe5vi5hp0v7wCiLKtvVo5KFNh2jq2WXDVPJPUITL3-ID6RAUCj2rjZGiIzENWmxom/s4032/1h%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Jrada8sLZpx7bym7JWtHX79q5sfPvc5_GEHUzdGAl1Z7VH4z-N-YCiB-ihEQFQvQG-9ATUvJ3drFngUwjuUKGZQ_ZKmxLt0Ed27IspITQLmQvKT92_UIKNzA0RqBe5vi5hp0v7wCiLKtvVo5KFNh2jq2WXDVPJPUITL3-ID6RAUCj2rjZGiIzENWmxom/s320/1h%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kitchen</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvdJzIlvoyx0GNthvy0TgeMcD_PcoLxKN87stdyozvaFEMgjG9NBiM14b0MZjKplmdYMlTuPxEUtloT03tK-2wFgCgMNNXz-d5skuj5BUozJK6X2e5IzXZZaTCkk5evkzlsRJD0JXtgLksJeCXCDgaCRDWnbngi3BY5D3MXMLsIaFGzSCixf0mSgNV7CO/s4032/1i%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvdJzIlvoyx0GNthvy0TgeMcD_PcoLxKN87stdyozvaFEMgjG9NBiM14b0MZjKplmdYMlTuPxEUtloT03tK-2wFgCgMNNXz-d5skuj5BUozJK6X2e5IzXZZaTCkk5evkzlsRJD0JXtgLksJeCXCDgaCRDWnbngi3BY5D3MXMLsIaFGzSCixf0mSgNV7CO/s320/1i%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View over Bamburgh Village</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Again, we took some skinny scenic roads back home. Below you can see the North Sea off in the distance.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVGq-hVH0x23hgptd5F9znTox09jtb_Yb2yRbdnyylqIiXwcOEOAsBOcsgK2uYV8RAx3GROphqLYg1d0QY_EO4BR7bax7wrH4PKGzSpagq15P_dzxslsYvwKZT_Kfvxp2IZSWHDM1uV6aukYNjbrLaIM7drngnZmcx9SPqcHJD20-fFs-PY0ViV3htIyp/s4032/1j%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVGq-hVH0x23hgptd5F9znTox09jtb_Yb2yRbdnyylqIiXwcOEOAsBOcsgK2uYV8RAx3GROphqLYg1d0QY_EO4BR7bax7wrH4PKGzSpagq15P_dzxslsYvwKZT_Kfvxp2IZSWHDM1uV6aukYNjbrLaIM7drngnZmcx9SPqcHJD20-fFs-PY0ViV3htIyp/s320/1j%20Bamburgh%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another week flew by and soon we were off to our next port of call - Pickering in North Yorkshire. </div><div>Again, having some time to kill before checking in, we made a detour to the scenic, and historic seaside town of Whitby.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Tkp6O5KZkfxrMYfNyqrHC_WJ1JAyIquahXsB5HRUlmutlrw0nMBHszjI4ifIz0nc64vEpFFTUIgODwv0CWPYGDq5c5PNLWjpsfvBqahRzD69RIwZACyDQgiFa8e35lI4Nd0JCMv3_QvyU1ZRJZE62f0SiZom4aHRl1aMqXkPAkCziWEL5b89LaPNqRe_/s4032/2a%20Whitby%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Tkp6O5KZkfxrMYfNyqrHC_WJ1JAyIquahXsB5HRUlmutlrw0nMBHszjI4ifIz0nc64vEpFFTUIgODwv0CWPYGDq5c5PNLWjpsfvBqahRzD69RIwZACyDQgiFa8e35lI4Nd0JCMv3_QvyU1ZRJZE62f0SiZom4aHRl1aMqXkPAkCziWEL5b89LaPNqRe_/s320/2a%20Whitby%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We had planned on staying here last year, so I already had researched the place pretty well, and had a decent lay of the land. So we parked the car and headed to the old section of town.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3PSkgwBibZLI3flMacJdVK2ySLzf2ELHL7DC8Aln7p0Z3NncqOtg9DfulyzTlZERAzpUuP9H4GERj-cVWVGhzXZTA84BtJuVWCi4FlEBR8yKldMejawAN4xEmollu8O2tY0OztL63AHSQzXh1w_ISwlHPGGZ6iel-nJMUPeeK6s5uL_b9m81eSAK0BZS/s4032/2b%20Whitby%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3PSkgwBibZLI3flMacJdVK2ySLzf2ELHL7DC8Aln7p0Z3NncqOtg9DfulyzTlZERAzpUuP9H4GERj-cVWVGhzXZTA84BtJuVWCi4FlEBR8yKldMejawAN4xEmollu8O2tY0OztL63AHSQzXh1w_ISwlHPGGZ6iel-nJMUPeeK6s5uL_b9m81eSAK0BZS/s320/2b%20Whitby%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Whitby Old Town Streets</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgafrWu9ughZhRf4LnIisgC8-2cG-mAUGlfb7sqRy3FZ4zALysjxgQCT0NMIM03AGJoAA_e0xTHiKuvxQWwHznTQPcuwhfvnMNY5xXhLyHJX1-X9s9C7kBKlW_fcO8V8EI7rwdtggV2TLjpSaRIU9vfRKYqBzcAxt7qUvr9Is7nLKye_HCvsDcrAXMgdmH/s4032/2c%20Whitby%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgafrWu9ughZhRf4LnIisgC8-2cG-mAUGlfb7sqRy3FZ4zALysjxgQCT0NMIM03AGJoAA_e0xTHiKuvxQWwHznTQPcuwhfvnMNY5xXhLyHJX1-X9s9C7kBKlW_fcO8V8EI7rwdtggV2TLjpSaRIU9vfRKYqBzcAxt7qUvr9Is7nLKye_HCvsDcrAXMgdmH/s320/2c%20Whitby%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Famous for its fish and chips, we stopped for lunch and then about 3:30 or so headed down across the Moors to Pickering. The Heather seems to be getting prettier by the minute.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7aL3UoMXmedYWMSesRB5Zp5pr9YDaFtU4u8exslKI64ZJPoVuMBHVaFK-R231SuFikc2zXdfzZHJirRiGiigKaPSvF5unEtOjATIYe4UGuFzn28WK2k1uuKAfssbTXTttQbNjv31PwAdI-o7DnP1-tliqxsJwbLO4wZGzZ2UMoW3HMvFFE_1EWO1gQ2Y/s4032/2d%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7aL3UoMXmedYWMSesRB5Zp5pr9YDaFtU4u8exslKI64ZJPoVuMBHVaFK-R231SuFikc2zXdfzZHJirRiGiigKaPSvF5unEtOjATIYe4UGuFzn28WK2k1uuKAfssbTXTttQbNjv31PwAdI-o7DnP1-tliqxsJwbLO4wZGzZ2UMoW3HMvFFE_1EWO1gQ2Y/s320/2d%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Purple Heather in North Yorkshire Moors National Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our next place is a very nice 2br row house right in town. Set back off the main road in a courtyard, we have private parking and it is nice and quiet.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYu6js8ZGxwoCrf57TaCPMfV8P6kUE3WL-ESovztvkK2Lr8PbzEmWs_jSM5clfNEtDRfHuFGjiqxly8W-261i6vMgJOVp4uA7y61P_G_6nLIBl87rYaXs76cZrZdW2V0v4Q8KBtHdOunSft5VoB5tWRXZfBVsZofxf7ngs1fgoM8W2aBEivUmrPlR0HN4P/s4032/3a%20Pickering%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYu6js8ZGxwoCrf57TaCPMfV8P6kUE3WL-ESovztvkK2Lr8PbzEmWs_jSM5clfNEtDRfHuFGjiqxly8W-261i6vMgJOVp4uA7y61P_G_6nLIBl87rYaXs76cZrZdW2V0v4Q8KBtHdOunSft5VoB5tWRXZfBVsZofxf7ngs1fgoM8W2aBEivUmrPlR0HN4P/s320/3a%20Pickering%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kitchen</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDFNBEecZ6eo6ySjA5UwCYk30-G0n_ygMPzlOW0vUN0uJ6W4BZOtnSoihic5wqmbvJwJPl9rzR-GJkZ4ccWFjP5bRhwGwrY4v0m3iNpUldwvQG_777jsz87EgKuemSEgtl6189BsKsoHIhroqwcu0ocwr4roC7wlxI-Ztd7Iz8VAQU3AG_TKsQHQQATVF/s4032/3b%20Pickering%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDFNBEecZ6eo6ySjA5UwCYk30-G0n_ygMPzlOW0vUN0uJ6W4BZOtnSoihic5wqmbvJwJPl9rzR-GJkZ4ccWFjP5bRhwGwrY4v0m3iNpUldwvQG_777jsz87EgKuemSEgtl6189BsKsoHIhroqwcu0ocwr4roC7wlxI-Ztd7Iz8VAQU3AG_TKsQHQQATVF/s320/3b%20Pickering%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">TV Lounge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />England has a lot of preserved old rail lines. Many of them steam. <a href="https://www.nymr.co.uk/?utm_term=steam%20railways&utm_campaign=NYMR+%7C+Steam+Train+Railway&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=3871509567&hsa_cam=1733022412&hsa_grp=67490714786&hsa_ad=652503199345&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-338632757996&hsa_kw=steam%20railways&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=Cj0KCQjw84anBhCtARIsAISI-xeili8eY7BDTnkN4I_Mhp9ZGE7jGmcwpneQR49Wmwb8OGt8FQoU98YaAtUiEALw_wcB" target="_blank">The North Yorkshire Moors Railroad</a> runs from Pickering to Whitby and we planned to take it for a spin, so we visited the station to see one of the steam units pull in.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fkpjDRToClby1yggkwGM4B8ksQVGMRUJyKYfjYTOtukKglBfgmcD-pWIYjwF39-Om6q5-G7gAKOiP_h8rNFqQmQpnXv5RKQT-_e-C-dm3_tq9bM8cz5-ndra5O5u9zbzk9XjgHqHAtgtBUVlGYOeo-8FbdeLIcOGZZR0OizWtLZn6ceCkvCWxiBBlo8M/s4032/3c%20Pickering%20UK%20Rail%20Station.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fkpjDRToClby1yggkwGM4B8ksQVGMRUJyKYfjYTOtukKglBfgmcD-pWIYjwF39-Om6q5-G7gAKOiP_h8rNFqQmQpnXv5RKQT-_e-C-dm3_tq9bM8cz5-ndra5O5u9zbzk9XjgHqHAtgtBUVlGYOeo-8FbdeLIcOGZZR0OizWtLZn6ceCkvCWxiBBlo8M/s320/3c%20Pickering%20UK%20Rail%20Station.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This station starred in many films, most recently as Kings Cross Station in the Downton Abbey Movie.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZm4aTUazCBaVrIVmfW-A14zwuU98QgTSSc99jmzNhccLqswpJVkt_ONLMDYjmbaOvSg6a2ko-71lV4Cdfr_pnL5DBbpPQTZJ6SR4CPb8Lcn8jFlfIdZZaPrpb81Hk9mt8tqooiTLBJrS3yvRdtnOVlx-cNEfiJiHBEUW9lIgkoXPAfy7bJjedcz7CTaN/s4032/3d%20Pickering%20UK%20Rail%20Station.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZm4aTUazCBaVrIVmfW-A14zwuU98QgTSSc99jmzNhccLqswpJVkt_ONLMDYjmbaOvSg6a2ko-71lV4Cdfr_pnL5DBbpPQTZJ6SR4CPb8Lcn8jFlfIdZZaPrpb81Hk9mt8tqooiTLBJrS3yvRdtnOVlx-cNEfiJiHBEUW9lIgkoXPAfy7bJjedcz7CTaN/s320/3d%20Pickering%20UK%20Rail%20Station.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of days later we are onboard headed to Whitby.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaI0CeH1v57SHffVt-wzPay_wfmGZo3IU1ai2JuGHwUU_PR0FQxeWg4tFvriRgRncwQ3T-nazHEdpu59lZ2vwZHOdHQjuXR3rTIoa8UUAeJWfxYpnadaL7_puquT9tEYhs_E1aEMKDc10fYlOxucQpWo0-_7liPePmA8IbdBEbk_L6PCmmJ4wJX2i3vYI/s4032/3e%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20Railway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVaI0CeH1v57SHffVt-wzPay_wfmGZo3IU1ai2JuGHwUU_PR0FQxeWg4tFvriRgRncwQ3T-nazHEdpu59lZ2vwZHOdHQjuXR3rTIoa8UUAeJWfxYpnadaL7_puquT9tEYhs_E1aEMKDc10fYlOxucQpWo0-_7liPePmA8IbdBEbk_L6PCmmJ4wJX2i3vYI/s320/3e%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20Railway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GT7vWSDu-Zjo3YTaaQ2AYWgOHi2lvIbOvzgWp2-4coaLdLOlzgT8V6CMAGxo_OTbDOHXylu0lUh3F7d2gy2_4VCdISQv4ZsNxSVdvI_wIYfwo-7BDNQdlLEKRnJuAXbAt6bqZceOiBvfmt8dvlP5D_h64PDOd9y71D-GkArrV9plzijV2OBOcu3zxkdE/s4032/3f%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20Railway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GT7vWSDu-Zjo3YTaaQ2AYWgOHi2lvIbOvzgWp2-4coaLdLOlzgT8V6CMAGxo_OTbDOHXylu0lUh3F7d2gy2_4VCdISQv4ZsNxSVdvI_wIYfwo-7BDNQdlLEKRnJuAXbAt6bqZceOiBvfmt8dvlP5D_h64PDOd9y71D-GkArrV9plzijV2OBOcu3zxkdE/s320/3f%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20Railway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1TvUET0NXbQNc_N-iGzB7uSAVDU2xH3tq3Tj0IgKctoSpXhqyNcAUvhDjwgAf_K_5cPMjquPuyoPUrGp1rZAU9r99CnUfAOxl9Ygt5qU1d1YLD_SMojrwqPcEmkTUvt76rnVl_qmH7nsaRQn5wUAe2IapKdxmCWI3m9_Aeq9b1KDA0rOiwSg8sRWLxPc/s4032/3g%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20Railway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1TvUET0NXbQNc_N-iGzB7uSAVDU2xH3tq3Tj0IgKctoSpXhqyNcAUvhDjwgAf_K_5cPMjquPuyoPUrGp1rZAU9r99CnUfAOxl9Ygt5qU1d1YLD_SMojrwqPcEmkTUvt76rnVl_qmH7nsaRQn5wUAe2IapKdxmCWI3m9_Aeq9b1KDA0rOiwSg8sRWLxPc/s320/3g%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20Railway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Being fairly inclement, and also having been to Whitby, we simply took the train round trip rather than getting off.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the stops along the way is Goathland. This quaint station stars in many films, most notably the Harry Potter films.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVbGyilYd-e_0hOPvGMxFNX91TLmFa3_p3G1JNEIJCGnrqggVQuA6XzB5peg9-3V_ogdjqhHFQQfzKWfvyewH0Yd-0al-EUplU1F9caeehxhRvv0OrA9xD3qQKh17ZJMBrl2ud4VFmmsSIixGMLERqmQVBv03PCZjp8PyaXnHTJFUdy_4p48c4MDzuHLM/s4032/3h%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20Railway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVbGyilYd-e_0hOPvGMxFNX91TLmFa3_p3G1JNEIJCGnrqggVQuA6XzB5peg9-3V_ogdjqhHFQQfzKWfvyewH0Yd-0al-EUplU1F9caeehxhRvv0OrA9xD3qQKh17ZJMBrl2ud4VFmmsSIixGMLERqmQVBv03PCZjp8PyaXnHTJFUdy_4p48c4MDzuHLM/s320/3h%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20Railway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9a0hqp8ateIw6bAiyb5sdUtOH93vQybylBe6Nba234YTSFoyfKp1srwJ4HV2zM0AVDE29teLuBVIqoyzSgTaoIBMUx130B0uTxFiwOeo5C8AEVz4xnfZxgPdIx7GsBiz70DP51ihQRysbbLYxPt_9haMLvzF_5p6-rDrC31xMe0QT8zBJB7uhkpJxv7T/s680/3i%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20Railway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="680" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9a0hqp8ateIw6bAiyb5sdUtOH93vQybylBe6Nba234YTSFoyfKp1srwJ4HV2zM0AVDE29teLuBVIqoyzSgTaoIBMUx130B0uTxFiwOeo5C8AEVz4xnfZxgPdIx7GsBiz70DP51ihQRysbbLYxPt_9haMLvzF_5p6-rDrC31xMe0QT8zBJB7uhkpJxv7T/s320/3i%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20Railway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Back at the house, we were giving Annie jumping practice. Again - a tired dog = ........</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHNuIPlqsO3I-DmoJkOtOTQw2ihZUVJAQvlO5ApcW-gO5tkxwClt08VG8dd2Fu5K64xnYfo-R0JLNmieb6j25Q84GDyIsgSOi3vPa7eiNg_hoFRptMp73fJn46QQXFk4Pn6VnHwmDdH0GBSAWQYXSGeR63BKEqNtrRI3XIWsEfm5nywr2EJ2n7xEczM5V/s4032/4a%20Pickering.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHNuIPlqsO3I-DmoJkOtOTQw2ihZUVJAQvlO5ApcW-gO5tkxwClt08VG8dd2Fu5K64xnYfo-R0JLNmieb6j25Q84GDyIsgSOi3vPa7eiNg_hoFRptMp73fJn46QQXFk4Pn6VnHwmDdH0GBSAWQYXSGeR63BKEqNtrRI3XIWsEfm5nywr2EJ2n7xEczM5V/s320/4a%20Pickering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Saturday, our friends Craig & Vickie came up for the night. We met them and Vickies sister and Husband at a local pub for dinner. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday - today - while most of England was glued to their TV's watching the women's footballers complete (and sadly lose) in the world cup final, we headed back up to Whitby to visit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitby_Abbey" target="_blank">Whitby Abbey</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dating back to the 7th century, this imposing structure was the inspiration and setting for some of Bram Stokers book "Dracula"</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy83BPZaQKVCXcNBKonChP-FOqklpIrTx5jHdsENHbmJXphFuUJiSeEnWC8Z5CTquyA72LOzN8A6IzRF5qfTJwwqCQEARjY7kd1q1dAjxmUn10T8vRx0ni7wQqP3LLJnwJL7ErD1A_Uw0Q_eV8HZhbxwhROMUEzOGpIp1edICg96I2LFzljtljkeLAHcRc/s4032/4b%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy83BPZaQKVCXcNBKonChP-FOqklpIrTx5jHdsENHbmJXphFuUJiSeEnWC8Z5CTquyA72LOzN8A6IzRF5qfTJwwqCQEARjY7kd1q1dAjxmUn10T8vRx0ni7wQqP3LLJnwJL7ErD1A_Uw0Q_eV8HZhbxwhROMUEzOGpIp1edICg96I2LFzljtljkeLAHcRc/s320/4b%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hYiqxVHEUj3ETn90TiLlV8Us22zTYqQ9DCC4qpvrBwo23pnP7dGQTmi5F1dUMo7ZFi21TyoXBn6BJa1kS_HIyyiRIiTkvuKlKXI-CEVMI6NUG5i55KShX2TtnVqnXsWwX4VaqP0S5YNC1KlIWQ7ZzlmaWVFbmnR0nbpczpZ_Fb3L0j_hUUO0H7Vf46pa/s4032/4c%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hYiqxVHEUj3ETn90TiLlV8Us22zTYqQ9DCC4qpvrBwo23pnP7dGQTmi5F1dUMo7ZFi21TyoXBn6BJa1kS_HIyyiRIiTkvuKlKXI-CEVMI6NUG5i55KShX2TtnVqnXsWwX4VaqP0S5YNC1KlIWQ7ZzlmaWVFbmnR0nbpczpZ_Fb3L0j_hUUO0H7Vf46pa/s320/4c%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFl7vIz8LV9Roxgew3TNQ8bSTMtyIFpogOp3SZ3bYwiXVei_Bk2TURUdUcO95sc-KNxrUvKLzdhTcW6mDsSOhwD-vW4YS5m5po4I8uz2jWAj-ZkQ9G9vFZ5carxiR5kMeExQA981fgbbCy2e0NlmPOQBDl8wO_CcDQvkFznRYJwj_iaDR3TK3hSlpHyhGy/s4032/4d%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFl7vIz8LV9Roxgew3TNQ8bSTMtyIFpogOp3SZ3bYwiXVei_Bk2TURUdUcO95sc-KNxrUvKLzdhTcW6mDsSOhwD-vW4YS5m5po4I8uz2jWAj-ZkQ9G9vFZ5carxiR5kMeExQA981fgbbCy2e0NlmPOQBDl8wO_CcDQvkFznRYJwj_iaDR3TK3hSlpHyhGy/s320/4d%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcXNJaHatA8JVVxVHvRVgEdAJR4_Xs511XJI4O4uF5NUgfKOBYZ4pfmI2LFddm4BwtSF-UfISCepyjedx7N4f0ORxwB3kkG3KafmhQuV_h2ZHoMflT-TGM_y7ibqeifyyhQFUCy6E6iqKfegzwMFH6WfxR7jDKZZ0QynFTRUlpLjwvscKsA8W6i1WpGXt/s4032/4e%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcXNJaHatA8JVVxVHvRVgEdAJR4_Xs511XJI4O4uF5NUgfKOBYZ4pfmI2LFddm4BwtSF-UfISCepyjedx7N4f0ORxwB3kkG3KafmhQuV_h2ZHoMflT-TGM_y7ibqeifyyhQFUCy6E6iqKfegzwMFH6WfxR7jDKZZ0QynFTRUlpLjwvscKsA8W6i1WpGXt/s320/4e%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We were fortunate in that during August they are running the play Dracula for free on the grounds of the Abbey on Sundays. 3 Actors (2 men and 1 woman) play all the characters in the novel.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCye3JX1ZbgpW3lGgYtic_d5-otOnjAbZWuTzAfN3f6GQ41taxJ7jYdz-W3u5wcraQNwY9vhDGMXHFfDcmNGFacGeGO2iy-rqLb4gWAhjvxPkvDnFCwMi1EE7XoXfQNd1571gyhU11sdSQyVv4P_fkuUFDEkD_tsMRu_lcJcyaytIrC9PVVW6StxtH5q65/s4032/4f%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCye3JX1ZbgpW3lGgYtic_d5-otOnjAbZWuTzAfN3f6GQ41taxJ7jYdz-W3u5wcraQNwY9vhDGMXHFfDcmNGFacGeGO2iy-rqLb4gWAhjvxPkvDnFCwMi1EE7XoXfQNd1571gyhU11sdSQyVv4P_fkuUFDEkD_tsMRu_lcJcyaytIrC9PVVW6StxtH5q65/s320/4f%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie takes in the show with us</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Each new scene finds you moving to a different part of the grounds.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1dHqC6ebWS8DPFYBn6ZWTVJ17TVkLTiMPnLG3jhwUXEB9Jbsg180f9EmEZM6EPOf8opKuJN-vOXjVRBK-M5iKj7n1MYOGR8McdBFVc0tK6mrhaYoSoCCrG15SxkIkTBG4s6POgLIbpAAY4YxeA6FhMti_-Hqzvr2-OiyUb5NngIMHZ27B-eS-ORd_Vk6/s4032/4g%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1dHqC6ebWS8DPFYBn6ZWTVJ17TVkLTiMPnLG3jhwUXEB9Jbsg180f9EmEZM6EPOf8opKuJN-vOXjVRBK-M5iKj7n1MYOGR8McdBFVc0tK6mrhaYoSoCCrG15SxkIkTBG4s6POgLIbpAAY4YxeA6FhMti_-Hqzvr2-OiyUb5NngIMHZ27B-eS-ORd_Vk6/s320/4g%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The show ran for 90 minutes and was quite captivating and entertaining. </div><div><br /></div><div>While moving from one location to another, one of the actors spotted Annie, and while staying in character he exclaimed "<i><b>that's right - bring the hounds, bring the hounds. They will be useful for sniffing out the vampires</b></i>"</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3vmVAFa6bnk7AbcwQCVFv7Ed36GEjEfLM-O9ywZlhF54kLTmUW-Mp9IKhJjQrIBiH4bHRyjGCHc8BuFhzvg9zq0R9HbwvKTQ4kDk1yZd6mePr4jkwawi8KaULhc9FppVMLpayqnMWDfXxQ4XBCM1WUVJHXB3aJ0VqYP-NPmitT3V85en26U9t155mU6g/s4032/4h%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3vmVAFa6bnk7AbcwQCVFv7Ed36GEjEfLM-O9ywZlhF54kLTmUW-Mp9IKhJjQrIBiH4bHRyjGCHc8BuFhzvg9zq0R9HbwvKTQ4kDk1yZd6mePr4jkwawi8KaULhc9FppVMLpayqnMWDfXxQ4XBCM1WUVJHXB3aJ0VqYP-NPmitT3V85en26U9t155mU6g/s320/4h%20Whitby%20Abbey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Heading back to Pickering, I again took a detour and ran a smaller road right down the center of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. It was a beautiful drive and the heather seemed even more vibrant than the day before.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF2FjdqQRYq5ZvGPjRcuj4qp9JoAIspNPL2wH_wxh1gMCNcdzlflvPZvwo7FyZOVOJkibM3_-Q2Bvyc_lnRQQ6y8dkR8k0iPXfkNsMAPoU0rEZEUcuOKjGtFb6wQsqaeBPOsjMwLJDspI0fvS-ZCQuB8qvtep8erevC1ZEh51Mm5le8iSmBQlMBtT4c6x/s4032/5a%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20National%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF2FjdqQRYq5ZvGPjRcuj4qp9JoAIspNPL2wH_wxh1gMCNcdzlflvPZvwo7FyZOVOJkibM3_-Q2Bvyc_lnRQQ6y8dkR8k0iPXfkNsMAPoU0rEZEUcuOKjGtFb6wQsqaeBPOsjMwLJDspI0fvS-ZCQuB8qvtep8erevC1ZEh51Mm5le8iSmBQlMBtT4c6x/s320/5a%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20National%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8C4JN23MmbvkMBuJVf47Dh98QKEcUOyXMFyJ2WZh3maWVntsg9zXlksJgTLqSlRjZyulo2sK-CALNNi7Vq-lhOWXTLtPj_tfETpEjRYDCvpv73XRoWvFOD_wpG8hwWmu92Yxt6k3FNSyErPq5iNetVG4Un2RHzKEQLPJv1FwuC51ZQfLxNJoKMEdj4YV/s4032/5b%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20National%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8C4JN23MmbvkMBuJVf47Dh98QKEcUOyXMFyJ2WZh3maWVntsg9zXlksJgTLqSlRjZyulo2sK-CALNNi7Vq-lhOWXTLtPj_tfETpEjRYDCvpv73XRoWvFOD_wpG8hwWmu92Yxt6k3FNSyErPq5iNetVG4Un2RHzKEQLPJv1FwuC51ZQfLxNJoKMEdj4YV/s320/5b%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20National%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV44LW6Vg56U-nxR_Gs_8tgcmmx6E3f_4D2UY2L9yJ2qWsHby18ytTpPnmT1FI5XeujOoCbOmJxHPGtt8cyO-4_r8H2mgAfnnk547VXDzdbndWUGliDADlMZ9D3n5r1ZNVkUn07KJUBeihGvtfwz-cWanT9kXvp-3HYQW5WquOLoHXuZBacdl9-ssTUGP3/s4032/5c%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20National%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV44LW6Vg56U-nxR_Gs_8tgcmmx6E3f_4D2UY2L9yJ2qWsHby18ytTpPnmT1FI5XeujOoCbOmJxHPGtt8cyO-4_r8H2mgAfnnk547VXDzdbndWUGliDADlMZ9D3n5r1ZNVkUn07KJUBeihGvtfwz-cWanT9kXvp-3HYQW5WquOLoHXuZBacdl9-ssTUGP3/s320/5c%20North%20Yorkshire%20Moors%20National%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>All the heather on the Moors makes me think of Heathcliff and Wuthering Heights.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well that brings you up to date as of today - Sunday August 20.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are here in Pickering for a few more days and on Weds we move down to our last home of the trip in Winchcombe. Those of you who have followed us for a while might remember our last visit to Winchcombe where we rented the castle gatehouse. Winchcombe and the Cotswolds are one of our favorite areas in the UK and we will spend 3 weeks there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once done with Winchcombe, we are then on the road to Paris and Barcelona because I have to see a man about a dog.....</div><div><br /></div><div>See you down the road.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-29840096513625729122023-08-07T03:52:00.007-06:002023-08-07T04:30:01.298-06:00RVing in The Scottish Highlands<div style="text-align: left;"> It's been a bit over 2 weeks since our last post. Losing Lucy took a bit of steam out of our motivation but with places booked, we had to push on.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First and foremost - thank you all for your kind words. I normally try to reply to every message left on the blog, but this time doing so was too painful. Just thank you for all of your kind thoughts. It meant a lot to Kate and I.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Saturday that she passed was the day we were supposed to pick up our Motorhome and head to the Highlands to meet our friends Craig and Vicki. We arrived at the Motorhome Depot a few hours late and the manager there was so nice and understanding. He told us that if we wanted to wait a few days to pick up the MH that would be fine, but we had places to be and keeping busy was the best medicine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In retrospect - traveling with Craig & Vicki for those initial 10 days was perfect. They did a fantastic job keeping us laughing and our minds occupied on other things. It gave us the much needed breathing room to soften the rough edges a bit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had a 3.5hr drive from Edinburgh to Bunree - in the Highlands. After stopping at a nearby Morrisons to load up with supplies, we were on the road by about 1:30 or so.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Highlands remind us so much of Alaska. Being in the mid to high 50's in latitude, the flora seems so similar. Just no snow capped peaks or Grizzly Bears.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5nhCRvgDV20bOhd5KZUAH-YrYZgIGaUvv2P4M6y7Y7BZDaxF6jA5gJDomxgC0P5fiKu3zmDj-JUjc2uX-oOxf-AX8_J2hEFr0KmHLs39RI49WiJDrpXGrVYahgYqIduFC2dzIiOW-zkhK6tGCBRGN_OPtC3iYg-Zit16iZUFi8cgmMylAdC6i5Rv3N7S/s4032/1a%20Scotish%20Highlands.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5nhCRvgDV20bOhd5KZUAH-YrYZgIGaUvv2P4M6y7Y7BZDaxF6jA5gJDomxgC0P5fiKu3zmDj-JUjc2uX-oOxf-AX8_J2hEFr0KmHLs39RI49WiJDrpXGrVYahgYqIduFC2dzIiOW-zkhK6tGCBRGN_OPtC3iYg-Zit16iZUFi8cgmMylAdC6i5Rv3N7S/s320/1a%20Scotish%20Highlands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We arrived at our Caravan Park - my first one ever - about 5pm. Our friends were already there. Hooking up is rather simple since they really dont have all the hookups like in the US. Due to using 220v the electric cord is much smaller. 16amp service with a cord as thick as a regular extension cord in the US. The service is equivalent to 32 amp service in the US</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif881CYiRdkmhJB3gnIElZngzSsI2p8coMhoMx-02KXWzxNczOiWwRTjuqnS-b8GcZrWbCbFoGWh1NcwwMOVEAVY2ApkFbGwaDESaMQgDFElS6XN83JVP7709iq7fp_MRW0vRbh4LBtTBke16RKI8Lg8bcYoW76eSfumU90pWa7eTve5nYFjRj2S-Dr4N9/s4032/1b%20Bunree%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif881CYiRdkmhJB3gnIElZngzSsI2p8coMhoMx-02KXWzxNczOiWwRTjuqnS-b8GcZrWbCbFoGWh1NcwwMOVEAVY2ApkFbGwaDESaMQgDFElS6XN83JVP7709iq7fp_MRW0vRbh4LBtTBke16RKI8Lg8bcYoW76eSfumU90pWa7eTve5nYFjRj2S-Dr4N9/s320/1b%20Bunree%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our view over the Loch from our campsite. Over here they call them "Pitches"</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQ0E23cHgNEkdTcAF5aD4w0hixI37hB5Keg-9Hh_KUIi--RoeW7SQcKlOIfls-xRsSCN8n9KEDMroJwWZekqZNh0AsO48V1h58TCh9xcvjKRn_KjP7tTxMjuMZ2wQDVgSf4ibAjrAehX5TLlmDF80nje0hywH7fgIZTqwxzq6eAGtLmTFmzAF1ULnip9-/s4032/1c%20Bunree%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQ0E23cHgNEkdTcAF5aD4w0hixI37hB5Keg-9Hh_KUIi--RoeW7SQcKlOIfls-xRsSCN8n9KEDMroJwWZekqZNh0AsO48V1h58TCh9xcvjKRn_KjP7tTxMjuMZ2wQDVgSf4ibAjrAehX5TLlmDF80nje0hywH7fgIZTqwxzq6eAGtLmTFmzAF1ULnip9-/s320/1c%20Bunree%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We stayed at our first stop for 3 nights and made some day trips. Below we are parked on a "layby" with a nice view having some lunch. We are in front.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0uwYuDA1GXjDoGCOIeqO0HD9eKOIOioRM4csrhq9yNRhmqQpo85-DzWl_jJqa3RT_PNt_Gf8lIzn2zDqQEkv8jxoNXpKABTQZQgllTJKLkCgAqGHeB-y23eZBR5blDeviJ0k5t21dZ3FT6aQ14T0hgnrjQBh6IGL3Wu0v_othsrgPucpMBsfcld2PKdx/s4032/1d%20Bunree%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0uwYuDA1GXjDoGCOIeqO0HD9eKOIOioRM4csrhq9yNRhmqQpo85-DzWl_jJqa3RT_PNt_Gf8lIzn2zDqQEkv8jxoNXpKABTQZQgllTJKLkCgAqGHeB-y23eZBR5blDeviJ0k5t21dZ3FT6aQ14T0hgnrjQBh6IGL3Wu0v_othsrgPucpMBsfcld2PKdx/s320/1d%20Bunree%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As usual, the 3 days flew by and below I'm checking out. The reception is beyond our MH.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZqjCzhblgIu-SFNE4aQwClPe7sMJahBBH6oowqbGPnkNf6yNRA91toFONc4Vo7HF4icABpbBfMlZOrx5SszripCUkCWG86Aq6IH-zn25IG8UsOXpvJB6rVizBNFSZUwk-51YlJvRyk9z-bkwmgI8U9z0Vg7OhK9z-70Xi7XrjSo1W7Vlz0VGxLUzBZiN/s4032/1e%20Bunree%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZqjCzhblgIu-SFNE4aQwClPe7sMJahBBH6oowqbGPnkNf6yNRA91toFONc4Vo7HF4icABpbBfMlZOrx5SszripCUkCWG86Aq6IH-zn25IG8UsOXpvJB6rVizBNFSZUwk-51YlJvRyk9z-bkwmgI8U9z0Vg7OhK9z-70Xi7XrjSo1W7Vlz0VGxLUzBZiN/s320/1e%20Bunree%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our next stop was about 3 hours away on some interesting (skinny) roads. </div><div>And some other wider and very picturesque roads.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaVKwbhrkwxXfoJ0_7oZkS0_EZ50ZY9drk6Nl_zHbP0TPtPyeRP9aJ57zbesoWbk0C-fRFHEfmPUfHNFtHzat736fIlcuilUyT8-Csla45V3UdDVoEqQI_knVeA02GmzXyKeqqzQsvlOXnJ0kRNCGojtm-vMEGquopDGSSfdrYyzEQO7DeJpWCH1gut36/s4032/2b%20Isle%20of%20Skye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaVKwbhrkwxXfoJ0_7oZkS0_EZ50ZY9drk6Nl_zHbP0TPtPyeRP9aJ57zbesoWbk0C-fRFHEfmPUfHNFtHzat736fIlcuilUyT8-Csla45V3UdDVoEqQI_knVeA02GmzXyKeqqzQsvlOXnJ0kRNCGojtm-vMEGquopDGSSfdrYyzEQO7DeJpWCH1gut36/s320/2b%20Isle%20of%20Skye.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr8kRvI63NV8zASHcPKyXbqG29_lz_tFx133CpUpXPe2pbARDwo-ZksJ8ee_Ioxum8_Htz0p_VT_7wxE98R5mf-c4nhN4KyyUXsko0ipIJR67WEKmMoMxMUFXqEqV4XMG0L1xQdYvZfiQgM8RFgtgt3aELeDzidMYpsXJHVt4lKJ65DyfpxR7feyR0p2o/s4032/2c%20Isle%20of%20Skye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr8kRvI63NV8zASHcPKyXbqG29_lz_tFx133CpUpXPe2pbARDwo-ZksJ8ee_Ioxum8_Htz0p_VT_7wxE98R5mf-c4nhN4KyyUXsko0ipIJR67WEKmMoMxMUFXqEqV4XMG0L1xQdYvZfiQgM8RFgtgt3aELeDzidMYpsXJHVt4lKJ65DyfpxR7feyR0p2o/s320/2c%20Isle%20of%20Skye.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We spent another 3 nights here on the Isle of Skye. Below was the view out of our front window.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3a-ei-PXApIBYQQZoHJxgtA-YQhRXe3QypHNWKaczFfgVnHEo1sAcDDt2K8bLK71iFZskaIdx2uMLaoilLEatkfOyBaM4DuXQz4A7FLQ8MZJwwyUKxOcDiKPFXRZt2Fy7rq_ml3iRaec-Di2R7BI_Cb-k3l0E2SyijcSKXEjk6ylGhe5GVMHKWEhJlzU/s4032/2a%20Isle%20of%20Skye%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3a-ei-PXApIBYQQZoHJxgtA-YQhRXe3QypHNWKaczFfgVnHEo1sAcDDt2K8bLK71iFZskaIdx2uMLaoilLEatkfOyBaM4DuXQz4A7FLQ8MZJwwyUKxOcDiKPFXRZt2Fy7rq_ml3iRaec-Di2R7BI_Cb-k3l0E2SyijcSKXEjk6ylGhe5GVMHKWEhJlzU/s320/2a%20Isle%20of%20Skye%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />While here we mad a side trip to the village of Portree about 20 miles away.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3w7PMOW6Nz_yPGOnWmmuAPyu2Tjea26Et0r_vvvur4ut-2buzzhdUC2FOn8ClIdNEEYv_SsY4x0ukT4Ng5Bhri03YlAhvK7asXX4bpav9C-OAS-KzSzUPug_wRGxxl7y1UvBeDQPBxy-MZmC50BFYx8ShBCCjqE3P3Uz6TLhWy61jCJnusSJgfULV_X9/s4032/2d%20Isle%20of%20Skye%20Portree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3w7PMOW6Nz_yPGOnWmmuAPyu2Tjea26Et0r_vvvur4ut-2buzzhdUC2FOn8ClIdNEEYv_SsY4x0ukT4Ng5Bhri03YlAhvK7asXX4bpav9C-OAS-KzSzUPug_wRGxxl7y1UvBeDQPBxy-MZmC50BFYx8ShBCCjqE3P3Uz6TLhWy61jCJnusSJgfULV_X9/s320/2d%20Isle%20of%20Skye%20Portree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another day we visited <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunvegan_Castle" target="_blank">Dunvegan Castle and Gardens</a>. The ancestral home of the MacLeod Clan.</div><div>The castle was built around 1200 with several additions over the later centuries.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWc4qAZUAOsQOsI2h9n8VCFizwZQ0mVa0ScmcmwX19KkN98iO1LUJgTi5p36HmlAlA_0MwpG4tk2AYUA_9Z6xhDgcZkqPXM2L_rbnGS6ZFyHJRowRAyjdWNqzogwvR1X4NXwIhoJSzsuabI189uGOAiVViRmdkPPWklKaTfUtnoOUfTHFhMLD8_UBZn6PQ/s4032/2e%20Isle%20of%20Skye%20Dunvegan%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWc4qAZUAOsQOsI2h9n8VCFizwZQ0mVa0ScmcmwX19KkN98iO1LUJgTi5p36HmlAlA_0MwpG4tk2AYUA_9Z6xhDgcZkqPXM2L_rbnGS6ZFyHJRowRAyjdWNqzogwvR1X4NXwIhoJSzsuabI189uGOAiVViRmdkPPWklKaTfUtnoOUfTHFhMLD8_UBZn6PQ/s320/2e%20Isle%20of%20Skye%20Dunvegan%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Kate takes Annie for a stroll. Our MH is beyond her with Craig & Vicki to our right.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwGZGutHlg-h6xRD2hSQ-CIThYVQQSyKSGAgtAcK-Z-RKXvXr5yGg5Nb4n_s4lWTDW-6D_BhvwjJCoHt4UxZ0mQBt6nl5GAXme3EfVNiDPuV2EVs7d3ooURMap6t5NqjUgEO73yzNjsvZcSZrE9jGzyk1W6w6Y8Izv-mU-FFL8FrQrXRnkMLHudHnBUov/s4032/2f%20Isle%20of%20Skye%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwGZGutHlg-h6xRD2hSQ-CIThYVQQSyKSGAgtAcK-Z-RKXvXr5yGg5Nb4n_s4lWTDW-6D_BhvwjJCoHt4UxZ0mQBt6nl5GAXme3EfVNiDPuV2EVs7d3ooURMap6t5NqjUgEO73yzNjsvZcSZrE9jGzyk1W6w6Y8Izv-mU-FFL8FrQrXRnkMLHudHnBUov/s320/2f%20Isle%20of%20Skye%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Soon it was again time to move on. Our 3 days were up. Our next stop was reached by many miles of one-lane roads. Its a peculiar way to travel but it seems to work. It does however take quite a while to put on the miles. Even the big trucks use these roads as often it's the only way to get somewhere.</div><div><br /></div><div>Two more scenes along the way - both on wider sections of roadway.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWOznze-Iw2f2JrMOVUGcBSBgCuJ2fR0rZlxCKgJkOTuLkUpv7reJvgly70jq0ZsoRixy8wxXqV5eZbB973GXi2sNiQgK5JjQ_cnxzyIY-oo3fWrQ9qlxojA-7LFf1Gjx4ZHFBRnNiKSr3EkBR8JvVCWIgALVu5qbFOnrUlCbptfzduDVYfgYyxnbw_hC/s4032/2g%20Isle%20of%20Skye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWOznze-Iw2f2JrMOVUGcBSBgCuJ2fR0rZlxCKgJkOTuLkUpv7reJvgly70jq0ZsoRixy8wxXqV5eZbB973GXi2sNiQgK5JjQ_cnxzyIY-oo3fWrQ9qlxojA-7LFf1Gjx4ZHFBRnNiKSr3EkBR8JvVCWIgALVu5qbFOnrUlCbptfzduDVYfgYyxnbw_hC/s320/2g%20Isle%20of%20Skye.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7kq5KZFtsCJMgVkN98N_dVYXIzvWerx56Ceryur3zQh89KrNMo8AiBzKCpX6weCEWMkc6TNmBO2tRdYTAA_8fA3_AVaPtXSvbgyS5A5jFicta_a2ZByVtJTUGOg41p0dom53EOWcq2RpSa-M-idwJU4mT2FbsgcHJL2bpV3kSP5p9Gvd3aT_7TGQHOKf/s4032/2h%20Isle%20of%20Skye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7kq5KZFtsCJMgVkN98N_dVYXIzvWerx56Ceryur3zQh89KrNMo8AiBzKCpX6weCEWMkc6TNmBO2tRdYTAA_8fA3_AVaPtXSvbgyS5A5jFicta_a2ZByVtJTUGOg41p0dom53EOWcq2RpSa-M-idwJU4mT2FbsgcHJL2bpV3kSP5p9Gvd3aT_7TGQHOKf/s320/2h%20Isle%20of%20Skye.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our next stop was in the village of Interewe. A pretty village tucked into the end of a large bay.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAz3eU7z0KChh3Uf073t7bft3h5X7yPj6TPYbB3QIKzd6NhyymdmLzeecUBLidlLPk-WQ0du3quG3hOC78OSRtcgSQdPIbQXedScYwo_Fk7ovx9NXwjwdSjRgz4G0G_FOM1OFm0OSADBfTI9VLYV9ptJaUpICRS_eMSDY5jOHF0nDd4xbf91RTO-xpZj2/s4032/3a%20Inverewe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAz3eU7z0KChh3Uf073t7bft3h5X7yPj6TPYbB3QIKzd6NhyymdmLzeecUBLidlLPk-WQ0du3quG3hOC78OSRtcgSQdPIbQXedScYwo_Fk7ovx9NXwjwdSjRgz4G0G_FOM1OFm0OSADBfTI9VLYV9ptJaUpICRS_eMSDY5jOHF0nDd4xbf91RTO-xpZj2/s320/3a%20Inverewe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Interewe is known for <a href="https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/inverewe" target="_blank">Interewe Gardens</a>. One of the finest gardens in the UK. We are National Trust members so our admittance was free.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2unTMjQl48Cea2YkZ_wAMKsOaGX8vy8aiMg8IDN7iIxOhfAb6NhEMe50UoPk2aR8WGgK0BkUOcVNicqawcIAMp0uY9XZA24zIcxhe7UDxGnTJVPEpLJzWkfFFgUAtYmyITiLAI3BnFwSFfiaOGlTqQkBGTxrulWcC2O8AQ0eSDnoykUg6S3IUb0nh8TNc/s4032/3b%20Inverewe%20Gardens.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2unTMjQl48Cea2YkZ_wAMKsOaGX8vy8aiMg8IDN7iIxOhfAb6NhEMe50UoPk2aR8WGgK0BkUOcVNicqawcIAMp0uY9XZA24zIcxhe7UDxGnTJVPEpLJzWkfFFgUAtYmyITiLAI3BnFwSFfiaOGlTqQkBGTxrulWcC2O8AQ0eSDnoykUg6S3IUb0nh8TNc/s320/3b%20Inverewe%20Gardens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We took a selfie at the end of the garden trail at the "High Viewpoint"</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw610P4U_2jlKfn2t8fm5rxRz8VN5ooUDkIyWonupSLxTKPcFOndBb5JNuMmOV4SkIf26nE_5Wnd4xKuaab1AQ1zK5TCGj3tN2uVrE2FZ4KZ4L_jj7YmZA70XiOPF7s5f7TijIhce1j_4GdWMEgvxIlFV__S8ZA9g8HZbMxd4JPFIUQv_lS3GYN1f_KvV2/s4032/3c%20Inverewe%20Gardens.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw610P4U_2jlKfn2t8fm5rxRz8VN5ooUDkIyWonupSLxTKPcFOndBb5JNuMmOV4SkIf26nE_5Wnd4xKuaab1AQ1zK5TCGj3tN2uVrE2FZ4KZ4L_jj7YmZA70XiOPF7s5f7TijIhce1j_4GdWMEgvxIlFV__S8ZA9g8HZbMxd4JPFIUQv_lS3GYN1f_KvV2/s320/3c%20Inverewe%20Gardens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our two days in Interewe flew by and our trip was now winding down. Two more nights and we were done with our 10 day trip.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our final destination was Stirling. The place where William Wallace <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stirling_Bridge" target="_blank">defeated the British</a> in 1297 and was loosely portrayed in the movie "Braveheart"</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx2AI8WWHiRR-CxrzCahsiaQEv7gaBqu3HYPZcCsnkrXvEE3J7erCTxYe9_xnSFi0UckExwGtp8r_QH__P0mItN63g7wxjbw_yCBFrDhvWYiYCA5sxze5Lsop3DKqVvNJJL9cmLJSqFMyPmwiDuX8uiVitUJ_zoi_YDYcSAVxk-USvyAb6YMAczXqrpkq/s4032/3d%20Scotish%20Highlands.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx2AI8WWHiRR-CxrzCahsiaQEv7gaBqu3HYPZcCsnkrXvEE3J7erCTxYe9_xnSFi0UckExwGtp8r_QH__P0mItN63g7wxjbw_yCBFrDhvWYiYCA5sxze5Lsop3DKqVvNJJL9cmLJSqFMyPmwiDuX8uiVitUJ_zoi_YDYcSAVxk-USvyAb6YMAczXqrpkq/s320/3d%20Scotish%20Highlands.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Enroute to Stirling</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our final stop for 2 nights. Witches Craig Caravan Park. Finally the weather decided to play hardball. This whole trip we played hide and seek with bouts of light sprinkles, but in Stirling the skies opened up and decided to provide a downpour. I had also injured myself a few days earlier and was having a hard time sitting and walking so the couple of days downtime helped me.<div><br /></div><div>We had a great 10 day intro to Euro motorhoming. Its a pretty simple process but in the UK everything is on the other side.</div><div><br /></div><div>We visited pubs and had dinner or lunch in every location. And shared a lot of laughs and made good memories. Thanks C & V for the laughs when they were most needed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pdZ5V8p-rrWH4NPmUxn6mARu3d64JI2ZkQ4VDBMYfvJtSG4BA6DfIgnJvF_YXEXT2Ni-zIPjZR5cbZjYq4eGl4SFR4Eg5GHeJrAbM3Czc6TTlq4rFGj3ffsmbKyczMXpCmPed5M4XZopoMvWKisCFuAd6cvzlUII_ra6msiYrNlWMkYlCHdPcXgF4Cw-/s4032/3e%20Stirling%20Witches%20Craig%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pdZ5V8p-rrWH4NPmUxn6mARu3d64JI2ZkQ4VDBMYfvJtSG4BA6DfIgnJvF_YXEXT2Ni-zIPjZR5cbZjYq4eGl4SFR4Eg5GHeJrAbM3Czc6TTlq4rFGj3ffsmbKyczMXpCmPed5M4XZopoMvWKisCFuAd6cvzlUII_ra6msiYrNlWMkYlCHdPcXgF4Cw-/s320/3e%20Stirling%20Witches%20Craig%20Caravan%20Site.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Since I have a fair amount of RVing friends following this blog, I'd be remiss if I did not discuss the specifics of how things work at the Caravan parks with waste and fresh water.</div><div><br /></div><div>First... there are no permanently installed black tanks. You have a cassette - about 6 gallons in ours- that is removed and taken to a "chemical toilet" disposal point. This point is only for black water. Grey goes elsewhere. Most of the cassettes have an extendable handle and wheels, much like wheeled luggage. So you pop it out of the MH or Trailer (Caravan) an wheel it over to the Chemical waste point.</div><div><br /></div><div>This particular waste point was out in the open. Many are in a 3-sided enclosure to protect you from rain.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMRLi73odoDXQE7tJIVBUpMG65G3iuBBsDPQxT7Hfpqmgs21ET3byySCUIx7LLsOO-faaMqZo-HXgaswnrpxOSNuthCuqhSoCgYnPE_tCs0gZfcq2CRlEr7-xiuuZtcBLUU7eylm8pCsV0JxofCP_UyIvsgLLCDo_qB7HpjXMhMVFuqDx3r089C8m7_qu/s4032/4a%20Black%20Tank.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMRLi73odoDXQE7tJIVBUpMG65G3iuBBsDPQxT7Hfpqmgs21ET3byySCUIx7LLsOO-faaMqZo-HXgaswnrpxOSNuthCuqhSoCgYnPE_tCs0gZfcq2CRlEr7-xiuuZtcBLUU7eylm8pCsV0JxofCP_UyIvsgLLCDo_qB7HpjXMhMVFuqDx3r089C8m7_qu/s320/4a%20Black%20Tank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr6Anl7oRfxxEEoMYeGlPKaabk33ZiAqjLYcCHroVUOolgV0QlZWJS-paHUKdMVOv-S1pfxfx0vCX353HKu2k0gHFf7Z6QxsJixr7U0ihmgLJWFkEsEByFTK-xIZ0FTh_XhJ6dZY3Efbf6w6Xc02Z6V2bw2ODJKUqoDfOr_Oj6rZaWQAuSOPZt-HwkSbF/s4032/4b%20Black%20Tank.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr6Anl7oRfxxEEoMYeGlPKaabk33ZiAqjLYcCHroVUOolgV0QlZWJS-paHUKdMVOv-S1pfxfx0vCX353HKu2k0gHFf7Z6QxsJixr7U0ihmgLJWFkEsEByFTK-xIZ0FTh_XhJ6dZY3Efbf6w6Xc02Z6V2bw2ODJKUqoDfOr_Oj6rZaWQAuSOPZt-HwkSbF/s320/4b%20Black%20Tank.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The business end of the waste point</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The cassette removed from the MH.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cwox66nH59YTwhjcauPMOAsXAQqaYF06DoS-U_WOq9x1FL9rkYYg8Om0uRC5pdSGceBxjIuUV6km53ugFe-i5pFvSoH8OLOdFpVl8fNN7QNUH0l_vYhaW8OWKksQrq3aQQuuuNMKbxyWSskGn6taB9Oh61G_4h8G2AEmaV8Egd0M6PeooMVGN0pLoTCL/s4032/4c%20Black%20Tank.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cwox66nH59YTwhjcauPMOAsXAQqaYF06DoS-U_WOq9x1FL9rkYYg8Om0uRC5pdSGceBxjIuUV6km53ugFe-i5pFvSoH8OLOdFpVl8fNN7QNUH0l_vYhaW8OWKksQrq3aQQuuuNMKbxyWSskGn6taB9Oh61G_4h8G2AEmaV8Egd0M6PeooMVGN0pLoTCL/s320/4c%20Black%20Tank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the casette in an enclosed waste point. You turn the spout, uncap it, and pour it down the big funnel. There is fresh water there to fill and rinse the cassette, and once clean, you put some chemical into the cassette, pull the flush handle, and you are ready to reinstall in the vehicle.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl_jSqyLLR_01Kxzvuc6HWuUFn9fHlNVz0TR9SfGAVKwbm470_OhdurgKGNSOJsoXXVRAFFUD_kbAH2LmwUxndQmz9pj9RGT-JOkW-4hVG9BP3jRDCtUGEupUxIuWXF92q_sqhb_o0ZV31XJJakmBAhhQSiQjOmvlux1J020IcLE7b6R8peHQXHKK4w88/s4032/4d%20Black%20Tank.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl_jSqyLLR_01Kxzvuc6HWuUFn9fHlNVz0TR9SfGAVKwbm470_OhdurgKGNSOJsoXXVRAFFUD_kbAH2LmwUxndQmz9pj9RGT-JOkW-4hVG9BP3jRDCtUGEupUxIuWXF92q_sqhb_o0ZV31XJJakmBAhhQSiQjOmvlux1J020IcLE7b6R8peHQXHKK4w88/s320/4d%20Black%20Tank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Grey water is handed at "Motorhome Service Points". There is a grate that you pull over and then open your grey water drain over the grates to empty your tanks. The fresh water tank was 100 litres and the grey tank 60 litres. About 25 and 15 gallons respectively.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNefvRlMz5P7_rJDcCxAEwT4SsCZtkMs4PRHjKuQncX6w4wR9lEX91jlPndO0mnqtZgqmrEKGLM27X3qwbTmoZ_Oyj1l4nLck3BVuOYU_nTv38jspUbK5gYOAGLwu6ERhjyAa7Lxxt9J2b16EjEKWO40pdBoAFaafijATo53_ODqu5vnIGW3ETcUUYBNM/s4032/4e%20Grey%20Tank.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNefvRlMz5P7_rJDcCxAEwT4SsCZtkMs4PRHjKuQncX6w4wR9lEX91jlPndO0mnqtZgqmrEKGLM27X3qwbTmoZ_Oyj1l4nLck3BVuOYU_nTv38jspUbK5gYOAGLwu6ERhjyAa7Lxxt9J2b16EjEKWO40pdBoAFaafijATo53_ODqu5vnIGW3ETcUUYBNM/s320/4e%20Grey%20Tank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>There was no standard in grey disposal sites. Some were just small squares, some were rectangles that ran across the pad, and others were under the vehicle and you dumped onto sloped concrete that ran into the drain.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMui0WpyW5uo5Q2aHp_HGNJMVie3fEuc1tTpwJmve6pmhdGGxSwPYeFBfP91J4iu0RRbpWg1tfSOfqTY1OTm3nh9jYcE8PISwUgi-6Hrv7ZBPycwsVQv9JQzCMuxYArjAMIVqIZl3Cf2Ch4cAJaZrMqQcp77ahcEjz5cF8Y0PBqI6JnGh7eIlKBOwWdOj/s4032/4f%20Grey%20Tank.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMui0WpyW5uo5Q2aHp_HGNJMVie3fEuc1tTpwJmve6pmhdGGxSwPYeFBfP91J4iu0RRbpWg1tfSOfqTY1OTm3nh9jYcE8PISwUgi-6Hrv7ZBPycwsVQv9JQzCMuxYArjAMIVqIZl3Cf2Ch4cAJaZrMqQcp77ahcEjz5cF8Y0PBqI6JnGh7eIlKBOwWdOj/s320/4f%20Grey%20Tank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6bADj2rFYL0pXuS6lbictO8kQq-5ND4jabwL1NEaMBN-I-0vuot-WKScm9oKr1gJB0vGPABPX4PpVKz-Xe9IuDSaLoV6v3UhL3PuoC9wW2iExILnwTdmjQegTw1zEe9arAUuCOQNNwKG-Ns_wZt3nNW21QGzeQuNCyp-8z5hGOKd-xHHkQ7pFfr-_V9Z/s4032/4g%20Grey%20Tank.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6bADj2rFYL0pXuS6lbictO8kQq-5ND4jabwL1NEaMBN-I-0vuot-WKScm9oKr1gJB0vGPABPX4PpVKz-Xe9IuDSaLoV6v3UhL3PuoC9wW2iExILnwTdmjQegTw1zEe9arAUuCOQNNwKG-Ns_wZt3nNW21QGzeQuNCyp-8z5hGOKd-xHHkQ7pFfr-_V9Z/s320/4g%20Grey%20Tank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The water was co-located with the gray disposal at the Motorhome Service Points. All of the spigouts had a quick release connection so that you could quickly get in, fill, and move on. Some had fresh water hoses on a reel, but most you used your own hose.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi6jJf-avEQsHZL1U76XKF__8mr8owhxuvjriX8d9fFUPwtZfeai24Fhg9GGcXOuuEFp5cyjBokijq9idewWayetSBjJ2AHBKbw5dXtf4Qkm23grAoV3g6pnzenHy5SdcPsjcfm2eI7cwloJFrRRE59sLUBLxY0CyHr_fbGIUshEkBbLQtv1pc08kTOts/s4032/4h%20drinking%20water.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi6jJf-avEQsHZL1U76XKF__8mr8owhxuvjriX8d9fFUPwtZfeai24Fhg9GGcXOuuEFp5cyjBokijq9idewWayetSBjJ2AHBKbw5dXtf4Qkm23grAoV3g6pnzenHy5SdcPsjcfm2eI7cwloJFrRRE59sLUBLxY0CyHr_fbGIUshEkBbLQtv1pc08kTOts/s320/4h%20drinking%20water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We turned in the Motorhome on Tuesday morning and moved onward to our next stop, a nice little flat in the Leith section of Edinburgh. We spent 5 nights here. While here we were to attend the Tattoo and a nice dinner as part of a package. Since we were going to have 2 well behaved 15 yr old dogs we were not worried about any barking in the apartment. But now only having Annie, we did not want to take a chance and I had to scramble to find someone to dog sit for us.</div><div><br /></div><div>The only person that I could find turned out to be super qualified and dependable, but she could not come till 5 pm which meant that we would miss the dinner portion of our night.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first few days we explored the local area which is right along the shoreline.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Y6vpOw-y6l0wtNlKtyI2I9iC24DafBNzE0NXm1nBdFz9wXU2dMzgwxYOpsQm7p37PaJPpzUjpBSwuKeimLHPCH0LQNBIijNS28yktOXPvd_4ng6Mb-Jd-MCtuIo0fZXXApUo9UsM7rAfZh-UDdrb1AUm8Odl34xMhk8QQs16ELISoaUxRwabxv-9I5pk/s4032/5a%20Leith%20Edinburgh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Y6vpOw-y6l0wtNlKtyI2I9iC24DafBNzE0NXm1nBdFz9wXU2dMzgwxYOpsQm7p37PaJPpzUjpBSwuKeimLHPCH0LQNBIijNS28yktOXPvd_4ng6Mb-Jd-MCtuIo0fZXXApUo9UsM7rAfZh-UDdrb1AUm8Odl34xMhk8QQs16ELISoaUxRwabxv-9I5pk/s320/5a%20Leith%20Edinburgh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This nearby ship in the river serves as a hotel. Our flat is in the building just beyond the bow of the ship on the right.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGObRP-4HdwFiM_AqCf-cftV-dr7eYrzi1GKrofVMhZSrmHe5wuA42bSSVZ5HzPhC2DUv72d-sS-T4PFtUV-jJrXN7qqO4jK_PMjGUJ8M7WCzhHy2GnmmanlMFwempuVmKrpsEGJVLWglTa7EKbaxLcOD_48EoU1c7SHo5fnWj3tnf19TCuDV9PLECxJD/s4032/5b%20Leith%20Edinburgh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGObRP-4HdwFiM_AqCf-cftV-dr7eYrzi1GKrofVMhZSrmHe5wuA42bSSVZ5HzPhC2DUv72d-sS-T4PFtUV-jJrXN7qqO4jK_PMjGUJ8M7WCzhHy2GnmmanlMFwempuVmKrpsEGJVLWglTa7EKbaxLcOD_48EoU1c7SHo5fnWj3tnf19TCuDV9PLECxJD/s320/5b%20Leith%20Edinburgh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On Saturday we headed off to the Tattoo and caught the Tram to the city center. Edinburgh has great and very clean public transportation. A ride each way was £2</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOA9l4RqMGOosxOOIAqmz3ham_bj2StapxLwigj2CUOERCjS8VhMOJuLmIBmlnD9vmVxEUOSuGg9n3CpggVkjXythmGIG9m85APP0GrRd_z9_JqhwxOsPsblsFw3RAbbDgXT6nfmU9kjv2j2R_f7EShvCclWCm4aSdLpZQdkoTnNi-PJEQVB2oF5_OQ2H/s4032/5c%20Leith%20Edinburgh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOA9l4RqMGOosxOOIAqmz3ham_bj2StapxLwigj2CUOERCjS8VhMOJuLmIBmlnD9vmVxEUOSuGg9n3CpggVkjXythmGIG9m85APP0GrRd_z9_JqhwxOsPsblsFw3RAbbDgXT6nfmU9kjv2j2R_f7EShvCclWCm4aSdLpZQdkoTnNi-PJEQVB2oF5_OQ2H/s320/5c%20Leith%20Edinburgh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Tattoo this year had performers from about 10 different countries. Many but not all were military bands.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMI4xTdVlvdmwfnA0uaBT2SCIYDoXNlgTsFOqrPu4M6NToRVcZ1kjeloXqKvAyjzmNnf6v9zHQqznRl4E9SordXgFe8kKq9i12lbbDKvN1BU2N3r7J17XGzTmheIsBF-YwZO44dRyNk-Ul1s5wS-C4Smb9RsKi8S86F_2NWiqUD9kMwuFXQk_GkSwV__0P/s4032/5d%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMI4xTdVlvdmwfnA0uaBT2SCIYDoXNlgTsFOqrPu4M6NToRVcZ1kjeloXqKvAyjzmNnf6v9zHQqznRl4E9SordXgFe8kKq9i12lbbDKvN1BU2N3r7J17XGzTmheIsBF-YwZO44dRyNk-Ul1s5wS-C4Smb9RsKi8S86F_2NWiqUD9kMwuFXQk_GkSwV__0P/s320/5d%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nyltTZeRerKypLE_d-1jgUoxeMptW-dDlQ1ifd9hgxpScJpMT3yMz-hidMUd3dr79gfVFcJ9WqKrDY5pE4nqZQFPqZ-GrbERmA1cVJf6CbUtbiHZmBxEDFpRUWjc7rU3w8z3KGqR4Jv4ezd_l714Lk3kmWSLndilNoAX6hx5BYpjUHARBivrd1vDK-hr/s4032/5dgEdinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nyltTZeRerKypLE_d-1jgUoxeMptW-dDlQ1ifd9hgxpScJpMT3yMz-hidMUd3dr79gfVFcJ9WqKrDY5pE4nqZQFPqZ-GrbERmA1cVJf6CbUtbiHZmBxEDFpRUWjc7rU3w8z3KGqR4Jv4ezd_l714Lk3kmWSLndilNoAX6hx5BYpjUHARBivrd1vDK-hr/s320/5dgEdinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trinidad & Tobago Military Band group<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAihcROG74emN0Ial7AKEJDwXCY0U9kr_Mp7v1ritvSbr-X3qu8DLQlByxCBQ5xL1WCgtH4k7LVnJmnCtJ8R7b7c1m92EDb9HSzdzWjKIrmbx1GaGTvxu32S1bNd3911w4zcZrPtiXCEh1pKUwnhs4q0nDkDw8VPcZpxdBhnGYVTLFPIwFznxqZoluLd-/s4032/5e%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAihcROG74emN0Ial7AKEJDwXCY0U9kr_Mp7v1ritvSbr-X3qu8DLQlByxCBQ5xL1WCgtH4k7LVnJmnCtJ8R7b7c1m92EDb9HSzdzWjKIrmbx1GaGTvxu32S1bNd3911w4zcZrPtiXCEh1pKUwnhs4q0nDkDw8VPcZpxdBhnGYVTLFPIwFznxqZoluLd-/s320/5e%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">US Air Force Band</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEe4CWvQIpCGcNh2fvInuBK6n5p2xjiTrrwBlEFzCzdQHQ8-MOqby1OQ7E0oSbVgiS7E2xodrSNA_W2iIYjcHmF9IAgfAzaFuEE2FFHjlmDNmCVqLNk4hsHTFoAeXdlI9y93e97OAhBhZxkv2Rc60FkqFKSb3wJKfolL5AezOlzyqZ-fxEOpI0vutJOPO/s4032/5f%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEe4CWvQIpCGcNh2fvInuBK6n5p2xjiTrrwBlEFzCzdQHQ8-MOqby1OQ7E0oSbVgiS7E2xodrSNA_W2iIYjcHmF9IAgfAzaFuEE2FFHjlmDNmCVqLNk4hsHTFoAeXdlI9y93e97OAhBhZxkv2Rc60FkqFKSb3wJKfolL5AezOlzyqZ-fxEOpI0vutJOPO/s320/5f%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A private dance troup performing Irish style dancing</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wnODtn4QTG8YbwsPyQEnJ9T8ZIcxs0EucOSlZC6qihmpHDG9-fGuc4fhhBV_hcoS5zDIC6DrqSYk50A11oMNhBmeD9Nqe5f0R1bBeFDgPNqjDCqR2-Q73UFZJFGN45UQBPMQ5XlD2mMPMQhls5SBe9bFtnn_FYKnxSe45Qf6sVs1R1Md068_caKjGBs5/s4032/5h%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wnODtn4QTG8YbwsPyQEnJ9T8ZIcxs0EucOSlZC6qihmpHDG9-fGuc4fhhBV_hcoS5zDIC6DrqSYk50A11oMNhBmeD9Nqe5f0R1bBeFDgPNqjDCqR2-Q73UFZJFGN45UQBPMQ5XlD2mMPMQhls5SBe9bFtnn_FYKnxSe45Qf6sVs1R1Md068_caKjGBs5/s320/5h%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Swiss Central Military Band</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzwFFH8rfnfvQNJdWco6BB8oHb1_x71djDMI4DBSjHI64mpXqWf95eDaeJ3usl709ys-25VjioqvQYoQ8b0IbXExT03CxfO_ELy5jvHlCMaYrs2ww3a1i7Ta_noXlGrW3GwKXArAv2eoqGnyPZa0vpsD3nlvTY8vlX3FFoDB-YbyKRSj6Z6kImUm_bFIL/s4032/5i%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzwFFH8rfnfvQNJdWco6BB8oHb1_x71djDMI4DBSjHI64mpXqWf95eDaeJ3usl709ys-25VjioqvQYoQ8b0IbXExT03CxfO_ELy5jvHlCMaYrs2ww3a1i7Ta_noXlGrW3GwKXArAv2eoqGnyPZa0vpsD3nlvTY8vlX3FFoDB-YbyKRSj6Z6kImUm_bFIL/s320/5i%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Norwegian Military Band</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I dont recall all of the performers or where they were from. The whole show moves with military precision. It starts exactly at 615 (early saturday show) and ends exactly 90 minutes later.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7IBz9ssG3asaSyqiukHLbHjlf-Y3mSMFZYH_LLiujh77zuMdQfL3kIyCe2thr4yFd8944GBh2QmkG22pGunsQsC7LB7nmY1zUTiOTh_oeQcj3-ERBlH4Yn6GP76Q6Gr10INx84Xle-mJuHVor3dlQ8RQDngpcYbI8_I2z0VyAM5Fnd8z0WLJkZo0wzz7/s4032/5j%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7IBz9ssG3asaSyqiukHLbHjlf-Y3mSMFZYH_LLiujh77zuMdQfL3kIyCe2thr4yFd8944GBh2QmkG22pGunsQsC7LB7nmY1zUTiOTh_oeQcj3-ERBlH4Yn6GP76Q6Gr10INx84Xle-mJuHVor3dlQ8RQDngpcYbI8_I2z0VyAM5Fnd8z0WLJkZo0wzz7/s320/5j%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhq2hl12yT56R7CXnBE5Rtqo4zRIioSp1BkZAE4z6B2fewTXzL9spw1UTFc04RrYEiAYJfyppDmr7StfA98l1_7mvdqWjC77OD-uZdKz8DBs0vXgQIK314YWJ3eWwHkf3p7wr0edfh5w0NHRf6sSbhTvK4iDK4dphAsM-AhekYqRaarHp6Zgcva2_Q_UM/s4032/5k%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhq2hl12yT56R7CXnBE5Rtqo4zRIioSp1BkZAE4z6B2fewTXzL9spw1UTFc04RrYEiAYJfyppDmr7StfA98l1_7mvdqWjC77OD-uZdKz8DBs0vXgQIK314YWJ3eWwHkf3p7wr0edfh5w0NHRf6sSbhTvK4iDK4dphAsM-AhekYqRaarHp6Zgcva2_Q_UM/s320/5k%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The performers mass for the exit procession.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mtUTw5iTlDCtHKMCkOnoHOTlKVwIJ61qctvtM7DntDkVDk-oVyI1RUXmcN8rKW1MGqjMOYKHL5wFcCQ2siAtB538rv7MfjEbvcj_RCUlXn0BQUimvigAWpQFJVmWzfKfH0M5SFtYRRfzyoWm8pIxcoMiW67xwsLdHqoT52j7Fd0opxU4VXkWN5e_NIes/s4032/5l%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mtUTw5iTlDCtHKMCkOnoHOTlKVwIJ61qctvtM7DntDkVDk-oVyI1RUXmcN8rKW1MGqjMOYKHL5wFcCQ2siAtB538rv7MfjEbvcj_RCUlXn0BQUimvigAWpQFJVmWzfKfH0M5SFtYRRfzyoWm8pIxcoMiW67xwsLdHqoT52j7Fd0opxU4VXkWN5e_NIes/s320/5l%20Edinburgh%20tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A video of part of the closing procession. One of the best parts of the show. It had just started to rain a bit harder, thankfully at the end of the show.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3bLethz2xEw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday - Sunday - our 5 days were up and we had to clear out of our flat in Edinburgh. We had time to kill before we could check into our next place, a unique converted <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bothy#:~:text=A%20bothy%20is%20a%20basic,Northern%20England%2C%20Ulster%20and%20Wales." target="_blank">Boothy</a> on the estate of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neidpath_Castle" target="_blank">Neidpath Castle</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So we made a side trip to the shoreside fishing town of Dunbar.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHABrvDgqv8OAzfl77xRvhwZ3H22NR9R34o5Q1S70mWk-kRkM6GAQEq8_oR-Rr4AW5EpHtH7uKd3jWj_gatJE1xjX3DRHY1i1LEU1RzD28O0kYrgYcE7e48gIIo1mQ1Z6lYV2R6S-TkcS8MolQdEKdAXJkWbbJ_ClLYjga2WOCKULtZzroDa4Idl74x5i3/s4032/6a%20Dunbar%20Scotland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHABrvDgqv8OAzfl77xRvhwZ3H22NR9R34o5Q1S70mWk-kRkM6GAQEq8_oR-Rr4AW5EpHtH7uKd3jWj_gatJE1xjX3DRHY1i1LEU1RzD28O0kYrgYcE7e48gIIo1mQ1Z6lYV2R6S-TkcS8MolQdEKdAXJkWbbJ_ClLYjga2WOCKULtZzroDa4Idl74x5i3/s320/6a%20Dunbar%20Scotland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colorful lobster pots</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-8X3JRWlRyxgQaEWda23rV3eiIGPIt9y2f2g-A9XuT0b8KbE3lhbdI8cFofeP1JhJH4kfrCqgegcitj7patvYUlNkuIxapMDpj8WNIIbmjxsBDAIPm8dz-I6AAfBo885PasN-JNovqwv03WQuXl4-aQscPh2hKQtA1jnclWU1eq8Y6BL00h1uK5SiIiX/s4032/6b%20Dunbar%20Scotland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-8X3JRWlRyxgQaEWda23rV3eiIGPIt9y2f2g-A9XuT0b8KbE3lhbdI8cFofeP1JhJH4kfrCqgegcitj7patvYUlNkuIxapMDpj8WNIIbmjxsBDAIPm8dz-I6AAfBo885PasN-JNovqwv03WQuXl4-aQscPh2hKQtA1jnclWU1eq8Y6BL00h1uK5SiIiX/s320/6b%20Dunbar%20Scotland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dunbar Harbor at low tide</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Dunbar was fired on by John Paul Jones during the American Revolution. Jones, the founder of the US Navy, and a Scotsman, had a bone to pick with his home country and this was likely his calling card.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLYp4V_l3_vqP6fokHs1DrEcuTQ7Uq4L-RMfaXYSeMeZFX8yYZewpXw9rFOKUzlEsabmcdZ97n1egkL_sU2j-qPIGXtB4O2u7_AHwfEnq1R6dYABfoQh87_CCPb8QNnGCiQh5tOJS4Gy-KzPPuq5dq_AlbYyEMNJUtpzOUjNhrkTPKIVrYllSfNKMVTKV/s4032/6c%20Dunbar%20Scotland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLYp4V_l3_vqP6fokHs1DrEcuTQ7Uq4L-RMfaXYSeMeZFX8yYZewpXw9rFOKUzlEsabmcdZ97n1egkL_sU2j-qPIGXtB4O2u7_AHwfEnq1R6dYABfoQh87_CCPb8QNnGCiQh5tOJS4Gy-KzPPuq5dq_AlbYyEMNJUtpzOUjNhrkTPKIVrYllSfNKMVTKV/s320/6c%20Dunbar%20Scotland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate & Annie at Dunbar Battery</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />While in Dunbar, I realized that we had lost the Apple Air Tag that we had on Annies harness in case she ever got lost. Looking on my iphone, it looked like it was in the gravel parking area behind where we had stayed in Edinburgh. So leaving Dunbar we drove 40 minutes back to the flat. When we arrived I started to look for it using my iphone. Just like magic, it told me to walk 25' in a certain direction and it zoomed right in. There it was, laying in the grass next to the parking area.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are now at our next stop for just 3 nights. Today we go to pick up Lucys ashes. Another sad milestone of this trip.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XCstAX3AEPb9ydySI0OFtAhwnl7hIrxEFvrceFqYgLb7oorJ-StMlgwF2D3Ab6BVj2Y_u-3aYgRwcxYQI1eMSdaK-aiC8rw9Tee9iPWsGdlW7jt6a7lKiGVsix9X5WeG1JlPEEFQ8p-_jy1PhdnZsZGDrw-9-FXwCzz9Nxp-MpJ8FK8xFH7DE8iNNM4u/s4032/6d%20Dunbar%20Scotland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XCstAX3AEPb9ydySI0OFtAhwnl7hIrxEFvrceFqYgLb7oorJ-StMlgwF2D3Ab6BVj2Y_u-3aYgRwcxYQI1eMSdaK-aiC8rw9Tee9iPWsGdlW7jt6a7lKiGVsix9X5WeG1JlPEEFQ8p-_jy1PhdnZsZGDrw-9-FXwCzz9Nxp-MpJ8FK8xFH7DE8iNNM4u/s320/6d%20Dunbar%20Scotland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The peaceful lane leading to our boothy</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The other night I was talking to Kate and said that with all the trouble we had getting here in the first place. 2 covid cancellations, 1 busted knee cancellation, then the ship not arriving, 2 dogs passing, and finally my injury 10 days ago (mostly healed now)..... </div><div><br /></div><div>Somehow we are still having fun so don't feel bad for us.</div><div>Life moves on and so must we.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lastly - I almost forgot to mention....</div><div><br /></div><div>We have another new arrival coming. I've rescheduled our last 8 days in the UK.</div><div>Instead, we'll be leaving our car at the VRBO where we stayed by Canterbury. We'll take a pet taxi to Calais, pick up a rental car there and drive to Barcelona (with 3 days in Paris enroute).</div><div><br /></div><div>We've been so pleased with how well Annie has worked out, and how well she was started on her training, that we decided to get another dog from the same breeder. At first they did not have any, and then they contacted me a few days later with a cancelation where the timing would work out.</div><div><br /></div><div>In Barcelona we will pick up Phoebe - a sister for Annie. So we'll be returning to the US with 2 new Cobberdogs. Annie and her little sister Phoebe. Phoebe will be what they consider a "toy" size. Likely in the 14 lb range where Annie is a mini and will probably top out around 17 - 20lbs. Both good travel size.</div><div><br /></div><div>Phoebe will be 15 weeks old on Sept 21 - the first day she can legally enter the UK. The ship leaves on Sept 22nd. Timing is everything.</div><div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Z6KwtUxv3CMuSzK3weTD7fBB9XYODXE0jtxXvXkpdnU-oihRJthHUnO-Gnui1rWO6uRGaap9TcjC-UNMXHkiiUYlSoKlfWgaECrUxh7gc9uOj-hQh_veiBsUv9XpoF9Zc2BXRCvhUKK-tI682oZLManfofkwjUqZI5sz3cyiWB7SEFTDEjmz7EhLmbwU/s493/IMG_5312.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="493" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Z6KwtUxv3CMuSzK3weTD7fBB9XYODXE0jtxXvXkpdnU-oihRJthHUnO-Gnui1rWO6uRGaap9TcjC-UNMXHkiiUYlSoKlfWgaECrUxh7gc9uOj-hQh_veiBsUv9XpoF9Zc2BXRCvhUKK-tI682oZLManfofkwjUqZI5sz3cyiWB7SEFTDEjmz7EhLmbwU/s320/IMG_5312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3FgwARpbRwDscKPaUgUWhNE5cBuuQEuKCRt-dwLmVig9IoRWEmtd4wpBBNxFB4WItr85pIHvXntY2raZMUDfNcNq4W6ixAj5novGMPUyIpbxWmSZtkWCfKwqSmmBTA-fROCqjUZnFAeOf2rQs6qkNA4nDBHhOiz72yfam-gE7VoErtj4IQad_JKN_AOV/s467/IMG_5316.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3FgwARpbRwDscKPaUgUWhNE5cBuuQEuKCRt-dwLmVig9IoRWEmtd4wpBBNxFB4WItr85pIHvXntY2raZMUDfNcNq4W6ixAj5novGMPUyIpbxWmSZtkWCfKwqSmmBTA-fROCqjUZnFAeOf2rQs6qkNA4nDBHhOiz72yfam-gE7VoErtj4IQad_JKN_AOV/s320/IMG_5316.jpeg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So Annie will continue her world traveling training and Phoebe will get her starter course in living on the road.</div><div><br /></div>We are going to make a mini 8 day vacation in France and Spain. </div><div>We'll visit Paris, Barcelona, Carcassonne, and Normandy before we turn in the rental car, catch another pet taxi from Calais, pick up our rental in Canterbury, and drive to Southampton where the next day we'll all board the QM2 for NYC.</div><div><br /></div><div>Assuming it arrives this time..... </div><div>But I have a contingency plan for that too.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-73229903120394471412023-07-23T05:59:00.005-06:002023-07-23T07:35:58.464-06:00Goodby Lucy<p>Just a quick post to let you know that yesterday morning we lost our Lucy.</p><div style="text-align: left;">She woke me up early and I found her walking in a left circle rubbing against the walls. She was staggering and seemed exhausted. I think she might’ve been doing it for hours. When I got up i tried to pick her up and she yelped. I started feeling her and she was in pain in her left hip.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I gave her some of Gracies pain medication’s and 20 minutes later she was finally able to lay down and passed out exhausted.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Couple hours later we finally got her to a vet up near Edinburgh and she was no better. She would slowly walk in left circles and seemed in distress. The vet examined her and we both agreed that it was likely a stroke during the night.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was then that we said goodbye.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vOlHdE84gUPc75AIqWQKW7B3WSBr-bV2411wobr_-xa5jo4qczLhVUD1P0mDnaxjybyoac5uvZCC1KuZC6Hknj-gC9YHBNmZr4cJ2Jd6Xn6OSZTu-ZFnMm61-Ds84WK-YtKiKCeMH2EjDYQEGg9P1LManI3FwuCKclLbvmbg3yoTxvDRBalMNT6HQoxm/s3264/IMG_1648.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vOlHdE84gUPc75AIqWQKW7B3WSBr-bV2411wobr_-xa5jo4qczLhVUD1P0mDnaxjybyoac5uvZCC1KuZC6Hknj-gC9YHBNmZr4cJ2Jd6Xn6OSZTu-ZFnMm61-Ds84WK-YtKiKCeMH2EjDYQEGg9P1LManI3FwuCKclLbvmbg3yoTxvDRBalMNT6HQoxm/s320/IMG_1648.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dec 13, 2008 - Jul 22, 2023</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Always eager to please. Never a moments trouble. She was as good a dog as we could have hoped for. She’ll always be in our hearts. Goodbye LuLu</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwPrYh8Wlpyc5_vXn-NZF30SPtCqnq_nwkhvB7A3z_GSIO6ysyF2GPI8P60uAqu_xbC7RUb2FYKduoCPdU9XHsZTY6cfbAjVYf_ER4qcYPhQDnD3AhqDzEOcLuH8M5KS7eQYIsNw4KBDHq983n5ORjUtqSC6bWXhzt3qyI6p23tKUQvzG5q61Id3ikauS/s500/IMG_1922.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwPrYh8Wlpyc5_vXn-NZF30SPtCqnq_nwkhvB7A3z_GSIO6ysyF2GPI8P60uAqu_xbC7RUb2FYKduoCPdU9XHsZTY6cfbAjVYf_ER4qcYPhQDnD3AhqDzEOcLuH8M5KS7eQYIsNw4KBDHq983n5ORjUtqSC6bWXhzt3qyI6p23tKUQvzG5q61Id3ikauS/s320/IMG_1922.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In just under 3 months. First Gracie then Lucy. The perfect traveling pair are gone.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-28426818798836554122023-07-21T13:18:00.003-06:002023-07-21T14:44:15.754-06:00Titanic Museum to Windermere, UK<p> </p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">We left you last while we were floating on a converted barge in Belfast Harbor.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We were only there for two nights; Friday and Saturday. We were staying in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast, so named due to the fact that the Titanic was built and launched about 1,000 feet from our barge.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Saturday I had made a 1130 reservation to visit the Titanic Museum which is located on the site of where the ship was built.<br /><br />On the way to the museum, we passed by the ship below. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Nomadic_(1911)" target="_blank">The SS Nomadic.</a> This ship was the actual tender that ferried 1st and 2nd class passengers who were boarding in Cherbourg, France out to the Titanic, plus other ships of the day. It is the only surviving White Star Line vessel.<br /><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZStNwW2pg4ob7khr68RPLwIPDcZs1bVe_js1CH17OMw-E88eLTEZMVAqzEey2AqSkfL7g6UL9E2tTGR-fdUMN1u3KhvkHLGD77Fcj0yr3_Uy-XwSK2N7ZXOVggZrESVxexoNbyRp7aGfaBGdvB3e_yCGEn_FYrJmzT7YJV7pWuqXzibhb7gczpGaDOGeK/s4032/1a%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadic.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZStNwW2pg4ob7khr68RPLwIPDcZs1bVe_js1CH17OMw-E88eLTEZMVAqzEey2AqSkfL7g6UL9E2tTGR-fdUMN1u3KhvkHLGD77Fcj0yr3_Uy-XwSK2N7ZXOVggZrESVxexoNbyRp7aGfaBGdvB3e_yCGEn_FYrJmzT7YJV7pWuqXzibhb7gczpGaDOGeK/s320/1a%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">SS Nomadic in Belfast Harbor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3hHFOGgyNf35hkxg9jvziIlMVI8vDEW9fRutn1Ev8uaz58BzgO4WPhTynIZ46g-kEn_E2cz9qOftaAa6QS9JJ8u2IGkqFu36jGGyFBH73zFlfo7ChOlfJ1o81FrYaAeCLkM2Wd0c8XOyGvklikClFTBQ3Ra6DFate5x_etwGPRGGAstk-7_Z4zRcXpbI/s4032/1b%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3hHFOGgyNf35hkxg9jvziIlMVI8vDEW9fRutn1Ev8uaz58BzgO4WPhTynIZ46g-kEn_E2cz9qOftaAa6QS9JJ8u2IGkqFu36jGGyFBH73zFlfo7ChOlfJ1o81FrYaAeCLkM2Wd0c8XOyGvklikClFTBQ3Ra6DFate5x_etwGPRGGAstk-7_Z4zRcXpbI/s320/1b%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The painting below is a depiction of the Nomadic pulled up to Titanic. You can see the size difference.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobS-3QHn-Ote89XIXQjfI5n8Bd55wTuJM5fH33frZqvca9h-CGKNDa81jtoSMerbx6Tz-ZZkw0wEluwcdVhczI4mwZkjlJqPk-k_WaEUOBzur5LvYwHbYporaSHSVZfhYK0VLFmqJC8EdyE35KULi9mjZqSVzZYdMUvspdLieFGI7isfMZgifk6T1M5HE/s4032/1c%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobS-3QHn-Ote89XIXQjfI5n8Bd55wTuJM5fH33frZqvca9h-CGKNDa81jtoSMerbx6Tz-ZZkw0wEluwcdVhczI4mwZkjlJqPk-k_WaEUOBzur5LvYwHbYporaSHSVZfhYK0VLFmqJC8EdyE35KULi9mjZqSVzZYdMUvspdLieFGI7isfMZgifk6T1M5HE/s320/1c%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The plaque below explains how passengers would make their way to Titanic from all over Europe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExRmxYLweJlVLLgnQ8myT0Fu-BecWyWRmGMmKFiTZe_cs058EzGY7YMNR6EZNv-OYtoDUyl126jmde92MofO8U7kvX5zf13JnC1eFueYqzaogAIlhAGnvb059hcgktP64KjQwVkOL4xszhdkmwwBJyS5ZBrP1fnSF07nUPGT_G1NceNv0u9BQfk_etecn/s3976/1d%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2236" data-original-width="3976" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExRmxYLweJlVLLgnQ8myT0Fu-BecWyWRmGMmKFiTZe_cs058EzGY7YMNR6EZNv-OYtoDUyl126jmde92MofO8U7kvX5zf13JnC1eFueYqzaogAIlhAGnvb059hcgktP64KjQwVkOL4xszhdkmwwBJyS5ZBrP1fnSF07nUPGT_G1NceNv0u9BQfk_etecn/s320/1d%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And below - an account of waiting for Titanic by a first class passenger</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z65AMTa5_Hn1FL0hOUXSTK7PFIFRDjN7Z_96kTGp9_F2FX749rzrT4nMDz-Qpn12z_nv_qppQZ32H5t5lnGUdO2Sv9wy3r7G1Hz12Y_SKpu2X_aPwerUvAIUBcC2PTCTvhtDCCpq0-_3DVbl1c0euIGtLY_L--SDVw3PwveLoC40VsmK7UoeDOB6B3Fq/s4032/1e%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z65AMTa5_Hn1FL0hOUXSTK7PFIFRDjN7Z_96kTGp9_F2FX749rzrT4nMDz-Qpn12z_nv_qppQZ32H5t5lnGUdO2Sv9wy3r7G1Hz12Y_SKpu2X_aPwerUvAIUBcC2PTCTvhtDCCpq0-_3DVbl1c0euIGtLY_L--SDVw3PwveLoC40VsmK7UoeDOB6B3Fq/s320/1e%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The upper first class lounge on Nomadic. There was an additional lounge on the deck below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The floor pattern is the same as was found in the First Class Saloon on Titanic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-DfQhnjKsCzIkIZOhYTP_JiTLIxzCB5qi29Ybkg7UnB57nUst08au1aJmjBvmSuKsMcjglQXJOD8KPnfTwDXXvzGV-1cBnraFYZc6P1zrnPLiLkwypL66BN8zFtYoy4sYz7tXMfcvaRustcrAc99osg1OvA-cACK_EEA-290XyGKHjf3bkVgnOgoyT4G/s4032/1f%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-DfQhnjKsCzIkIZOhYTP_JiTLIxzCB5qi29Ybkg7UnB57nUst08au1aJmjBvmSuKsMcjglQXJOD8KPnfTwDXXvzGV-1cBnraFYZc6P1zrnPLiLkwypL66BN8zFtYoy4sYz7tXMfcvaRustcrAc99osg1OvA-cACK_EEA-290XyGKHjf3bkVgnOgoyT4G/s320/1f%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First class bar in the lounge. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtcWpc62qODTzUqqNHr3MPPygE5cUF4SUkHeH4oFtvBzAhXbWuLI9X35ntjxv_RliimntDjagV0GyIIJUx1XtybZnWWv2fAOBlmisRf8WOHdO4FvyZshIu7beW8Dt7eqMN095xtXn74dQ9AYtuyalkaPRuRe3qWEFF0yxBJHYx1JV9yuKQKOJPx2NY56d/s4032/1g%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtcWpc62qODTzUqqNHr3MPPygE5cUF4SUkHeH4oFtvBzAhXbWuLI9X35ntjxv_RliimntDjagV0GyIIJUx1XtybZnWWv2fAOBlmisRf8WOHdO4FvyZshIu7beW8Dt7eqMN095xtXn74dQ9AYtuyalkaPRuRe3qWEFF0yxBJHYx1JV9yuKQKOJPx2NY56d/s320/1g%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second class lounge. The walls did not have the ornate carvings, nor the fancy flooring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOYyO-rHhWabFhVns3ltU8w71rGSLx3jGjtj7XIzc0jqNKMpZqSdpcRAAXWHoHfBbEx1NmWQtpdA7A4h3bqiPh1xCLGsU3UyaCyUtGe6WMTxBnBOz2NJb_0WDTqRwt8LKESmpKIFvSXBfAKox1tSDq34swjdCxFHBNFdq2dWnKHJ9djq_JBCDnWlsjgE4/s4032/1h%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOYyO-rHhWabFhVns3ltU8w71rGSLx3jGjtj7XIzc0jqNKMpZqSdpcRAAXWHoHfBbEx1NmWQtpdA7A4h3bqiPh1xCLGsU3UyaCyUtGe6WMTxBnBOz2NJb_0WDTqRwt8LKESmpKIFvSXBfAKox1tSDq34swjdCxFHBNFdq2dWnKHJ9djq_JBCDnWlsjgE4/s320/1h%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A first class ladies sitting room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKVHcDuT34GY-g2FDTC4CViLD82ZoUUYr-XuxfRkaicG_GCmaDtRErgt9YaCBLffEFgANtyZuik24xCM2109cK_jReqCSrmJiMnhbwoqDkxSAb3yoDMCkpMffu5Ij2tW0sIl2PcbCDeiYlP6hBSB6_NJUZmu717xEwbQBFTfU_DdDZY3VuTiQ1Fn-UaCl/s4032/1i%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKVHcDuT34GY-g2FDTC4CViLD82ZoUUYr-XuxfRkaicG_GCmaDtRErgt9YaCBLffEFgANtyZuik24xCM2109cK_jReqCSrmJiMnhbwoqDkxSAb3yoDMCkpMffu5Ij2tW0sIl2PcbCDeiYlP6hBSB6_NJUZmu717xEwbQBFTfU_DdDZY3VuTiQ1Fn-UaCl/s320/1i%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One deck above the upper lounges is the promenade deck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigBdHLKz196OYdVJu3N1ODPj65xm93TkIKc6s_oq2__hPZB3TWYsEeGQufuWx2tDTDUlDI0KXhSIkk473V6h5r1Vb4fnxoxGMIF5sB5inol6zUN1IwnKbLahHN8NNVvHJNf_ey72lxu8s8dohr3Jxmtb1eURwkch8mt7uQs0K7lcnj_jn1iLc0UdrjF_c/s4032/1j%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigBdHLKz196OYdVJu3N1ODPj65xm93TkIKc6s_oq2__hPZB3TWYsEeGQufuWx2tDTDUlDI0KXhSIkk473V6h5r1Vb4fnxoxGMIF5sB5inol6zUN1IwnKbLahHN8NNVvHJNf_ey72lxu8s8dohr3Jxmtb1eURwkch8mt7uQs0K7lcnj_jn1iLc0UdrjF_c/s320/1j%20Belfast%20SS%20Nomadi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were bumping against our 1130 time slot so we walked to the museum just a couple of hundred feet from the Nomadic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArJzlBX6nl2wV3rW6ffytWWqFHrkr5s4c7JYgtci5fs-saUitBraQlRqdFQbVaQG-HcAuxczj3vTGhhZG6CX4FqCc979F_rrBjij0kTs7z_cufxntDRYdNNbQE2Mqt-kwEP_W4BpLRLUxsJR4aE9U5Ia7UX91UHdpsWXMLc1mSyO2i6vzbHLBCniaw8v-/s4032/2a%20%20Belfast%20Titanic%20Museum.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArJzlBX6nl2wV3rW6ffytWWqFHrkr5s4c7JYgtci5fs-saUitBraQlRqdFQbVaQG-HcAuxczj3vTGhhZG6CX4FqCc979F_rrBjij0kTs7z_cufxntDRYdNNbQE2Mqt-kwEP_W4BpLRLUxsJR4aE9U5Ia7UX91UHdpsWXMLc1mSyO2i6vzbHLBCniaw8v-/s320/2a%20%20Belfast%20Titanic%20Museum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Titanic Museum Belfast</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The museum not only explains about the building of Titanic and its ill fated voyage, but also tells the story of Belfast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, even though they sell limited tickets... they still sell way too many and the place was way over crowded. This totally ruined the experience. There was places we just had to bypass because it will filled with people and would have to wait and wait more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below they did have an exhibit of what a first, second, and third class cabin would look like.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwPH3vlFSw7ctMvzfcHny8yEFrs_CoiDjgKY99Qr8guDzB1MC2mEI216lnhX3h_7ik7r8_FoBkZ_yPK1-yhK35rfWycPTSEoRbqu4ekkQVbpAu9pb-qgMlfYLM3q9h36MBhF9-V_S5tBXzPEWYl1vzhVx88ftPcv1mqtUnBdyg5GJsHOMmC6bexx3dv7B/s4032/2b%20%20Belfast%20Titanic%20Museum.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwPH3vlFSw7ctMvzfcHny8yEFrs_CoiDjgKY99Qr8guDzB1MC2mEI216lnhX3h_7ik7r8_FoBkZ_yPK1-yhK35rfWycPTSEoRbqu4ekkQVbpAu9pb-qgMlfYLM3q9h36MBhF9-V_S5tBXzPEWYl1vzhVx88ftPcv1mqtUnBdyg5GJsHOMmC6bexx3dv7B/s320/2b%20%20Belfast%20Titanic%20Museum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A smaller 1st class accommodation on Titanic</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59leA9C5veH2a93VGGs0U7PSgNTxhzWPzXzVVU_VacpImlII5rj5HcJ0aGFyIcRqpfincrAzWG9CT_MmMosffU_fRGvosQCrFSO3mR8iROwL3fpUI6dj6RIQ6yTtJQ9s5glt4snSJurCswNycAqWNzHDauh0IHxdBsbbPI7w3goB5q3wG-KFwFXYbY8Ez/s4032/2c%20%20Belfast%20Titanic%20Museum.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59leA9C5veH2a93VGGs0U7PSgNTxhzWPzXzVVU_VacpImlII5rj5HcJ0aGFyIcRqpfincrAzWG9CT_MmMosffU_fRGvosQCrFSO3mR8iROwL3fpUI6dj6RIQ6yTtJQ9s5glt4snSJurCswNycAqWNzHDauh0IHxdBsbbPI7w3goB5q3wG-KFwFXYbY8Ez/s320/2c%20%20Belfast%20Titanic%20Museum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A second class accommodation on Titanic</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRB5lFVrm1j30nM3wQzptwaKfiFG7LPsQDkxMSbOgJf-EpTskHmMgHTdyN5Sk-Byx0ZmnBQxU0pwUiIgSF04xsgzZIpWkqUf2KMeGnv5ZXgvNp1-ayQFm6cs-d48Qrr79UTpus4ImX9SsskMCUQzAnMDvV4ENB1wRSKH2jftgAB0ghRKpM02Zyvv0sGtvV/s4032/2d%20%20Belfast%20Titanic%20Museum.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRB5lFVrm1j30nM3wQzptwaKfiFG7LPsQDkxMSbOgJf-EpTskHmMgHTdyN5Sk-Byx0ZmnBQxU0pwUiIgSF04xsgzZIpWkqUf2KMeGnv5ZXgvNp1-ayQFm6cs-d48Qrr79UTpus4ImX9SsskMCUQzAnMDvV4ENB1wRSKH2jftgAB0ghRKpM02Zyvv0sGtvV/s320/2d%20%20Belfast%20Titanic%20Museum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">3rd class accommodation on Titanic</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had an early appointment the next morning with our ferry to Scotland. We were in line a 0630 and by 720 we were on board the Stena Superfast III and headed to the lounge. Like our crossing to Ireland, we left the dogs in the car.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgxAA4dsIl7ac_SNJwf4e5PlhGJaR7gsalPiy0INEiIjEtDUGEnE6CdvFTA5QEUweFz71zC9W2FEb-SVeXJOPgq80rMiOuUTgwtfPQnsfkwF9MYoICyUDJ__qV-6dgZ4e-DHu2y9nzQo8RGi67UdqeENSNipP8A9Ee0ExBnuLwMhYYma1n0sL2ljOXEQa/s4032/3a%20%20Belfast%20Stena%20Line.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgxAA4dsIl7ac_SNJwf4e5PlhGJaR7gsalPiy0INEiIjEtDUGEnE6CdvFTA5QEUweFz71zC9W2FEb-SVeXJOPgq80rMiOuUTgwtfPQnsfkwF9MYoICyUDJ__qV-6dgZ4e-DHu2y9nzQo8RGi67UdqeENSNipP8A9Ee0ExBnuLwMhYYma1n0sL2ljOXEQa/s320/3a%20%20Belfast%20Stena%20Line.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I booked a premium ticket which included the Stena Plus lounge. Its a bit quieter, and has a free breakfast. We got 2 nice seats by a window overlooking the bow of the ship.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3DYueICwlcP7aqkkXS3YLNXcWiY_nhdyHXQ-QGOsEN6K4JD1AXtDV5Xcrz0_aFCwGTOnrQMM4TBOzcwKHHmp5ruFSt8wPNEmYPN5rNS1QJtgCvC7e4F--Plwc5sLwodM0YLRjzcC8Zwv3EzBTPdcmXSvoAEAS4CuL2d7U3xTRKZi9YGiQQjDRbnqGT92/s4032/3b%20%20Belfast%20Stena%20Line.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3DYueICwlcP7aqkkXS3YLNXcWiY_nhdyHXQ-QGOsEN6K4JD1AXtDV5Xcrz0_aFCwGTOnrQMM4TBOzcwKHHmp5ruFSt8wPNEmYPN5rNS1QJtgCvC7e4F--Plwc5sLwodM0YLRjzcC8Zwv3EzBTPdcmXSvoAEAS4CuL2d7U3xTRKZi9YGiQQjDRbnqGT92/s320/3b%20%20Belfast%20Stena%20Line.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stena Plus Lounge on MV Superfast III</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just prior to our departure the Celebrity Apex came into the harbor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSCN46Hdwj6SoD1xPBIoA-CK7t-O9P1qBAvuD0Kyvc-Ib-QuBT_8YC9lAe6NsWH2uyaDVHOLnivy0T_ZLn2eE4sqKjdPGMz3KBmSL8iZnn_C-6VSxXDqqSrpantbjXXqGUk8rmj2MQAX-L3IcOeO38w4P3EWbX-KltAA4IJdVxO_YsbhWqoDxuepRXrUU/s4032/3c%20%20Belfast%20Stena%20Line.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSCN46Hdwj6SoD1xPBIoA-CK7t-O9P1qBAvuD0Kyvc-Ib-QuBT_8YC9lAe6NsWH2uyaDVHOLnivy0T_ZLn2eE4sqKjdPGMz3KBmSL8iZnn_C-6VSxXDqqSrpantbjXXqGUk8rmj2MQAX-L3IcOeO38w4P3EWbX-KltAA4IJdVxO_YsbhWqoDxuepRXrUU/s320/3c%20%20Belfast%20Stena%20Line.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's only 2.5 hrs from Belfast to Cairnryan, Scotland, so before we knew it we were back in the car and disembarking. There was a rest area just a mile or so from the ferry, so I pulled in to let the dogs stretch their legs, and give Annie a bit of breakfast since she did not have any when we left in the early am.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dI4kZopFQDl_04zPysIYx8-PV0h5YyUScDkOhEy9ZotbqbCYDnZ543wOw2xM8XXTAVtrLdntLGG3AwaOD4ctHaj7biz6nuCzFKfVRcYWgzGdNvP4x8mhdqVt4NwgoDXgmiHvglUbZOnu42tRkXdQ1oy2ilx1u_uL4YRkQZWlwS9FQDKveQpSLe9UWb30/s4032/3d%20%20Belfast%20Stena%20Line.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dI4kZopFQDl_04zPysIYx8-PV0h5YyUScDkOhEy9ZotbqbCYDnZ543wOw2xM8XXTAVtrLdntLGG3AwaOD4ctHaj7biz6nuCzFKfVRcYWgzGdNvP4x8mhdqVt4NwgoDXgmiHvglUbZOnu42tRkXdQ1oy2ilx1u_uL4YRkQZWlwS9FQDKveQpSLe9UWb30/s320/3d%20%20Belfast%20Stena%20Line.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The UK has lots of nice little "rest areas" on thier "A" roads. Nothing fancy, just a place to pull over and rest for a bit, but they are often found every few miles or so it seems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2ba1ihrfFd7f5HdzVOMwcdi8LJik7JkHF_SnMiB1Z68C3Pjxt-yn3Wo4kY5Nby5BT8FHbwUSMhYKuQdTcR0NUcfVV6WpaEKNmFezaFEoGJmG4JXGw09-I5Ck0JCYsYsqPjIjUINvLM49w2X65xIk3WxyVyV-W_ATPM6kfTAo4AC-O-GNT2ggFIRKNkou/s4032/4a%20Scotland%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2ba1ihrfFd7f5HdzVOMwcdi8LJik7JkHF_SnMiB1Z68C3Pjxt-yn3Wo4kY5Nby5BT8FHbwUSMhYKuQdTcR0NUcfVV6WpaEKNmFezaFEoGJmG4JXGw09-I5Ck0JCYsYsqPjIjUINvLM49w2X65xIk3WxyVyV-W_ATPM6kfTAo4AC-O-GNT2ggFIRKNkou/s320/4a%20Scotland%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since we had time to kill before we could check into our place in the Lake District, and we were in the general vicinity, I did a quick google search and found that the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103" target="_blank">Lockerbie Air Disaster</a> memorial garden was just a few miles off of our route.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Downed by a terrorist bomb on December 2, 1988, the 747 was enroute with a plane filled with people returning home for the holidays. This included 35 students from Syracuse University who were returning home for Christmas while studying at the schools overseas campus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2jbIzIsIzxfNtds5v6PTnS-khxNrMEgZE0tg2GGo8m5UeLp01XKd0eYmt4jC54R8tHHalBQp91RIaWrCFaaZKNRkUlAeES3bbuSuiVx68REzACeuMt5UZbh2FruL-6x1-0eemLtQuHVaIxItRQllQx7lOBi-_M-L_Pi9TP-jpMbXYPF-I0rTInk02fAW/s4032/4b%20Scotland%20%20Lockerbie%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2jbIzIsIzxfNtds5v6PTnS-khxNrMEgZE0tg2GGo8m5UeLp01XKd0eYmt4jC54R8tHHalBQp91RIaWrCFaaZKNRkUlAeES3bbuSuiVx68REzACeuMt5UZbh2FruL-6x1-0eemLtQuHVaIxItRQllQx7lOBi-_M-L_Pi9TP-jpMbXYPF-I0rTInk02fAW/s320/4b%20Scotland%20%20Lockerbie%20Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Called the <a href="https://sobt.co.uk/garden-of-remembrance-lockerbie/" target="_blank">Lockerbie Garden of Remembrance</a>, it is located within Dryfesdale Cemetery about 4 miles outside of Lockerbie. It pays homage to the 270 lives lost (259 on the aircraft and 11 on the ground)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQN3lr2Kcan6Z85rj85X2IfUJ1N-aO6yhdCIe9gbXPW6G53jPrsll7Or-3qGoPid6GHR0mhEykmV1WfswuwFI_PgL8WdD1BiS4JvrbmXV6gAfmjEbrEiDHl1XuKT03T-M68HbVFWNuMZzv6QH6URC8I79Cs3iRTrJIq9KhcIWijDl4Zjz2plMKohiI6_p/s4032/4c%20Scotland%20%20Lockerbie%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQN3lr2Kcan6Z85rj85X2IfUJ1N-aO6yhdCIe9gbXPW6G53jPrsll7Or-3qGoPid6GHR0mhEykmV1WfswuwFI_PgL8WdD1BiS4JvrbmXV6gAfmjEbrEiDHl1XuKT03T-M68HbVFWNuMZzv6QH6URC8I79Cs3iRTrJIq9KhcIWijDl4Zjz2plMKohiI6_p/s320/4c%20Scotland%20%20Lockerbie%20Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In addition to the main stone tablet, there are numerous other plaques paying tribute to individuals on the plane. One from Pan American World Airways is in tribute to the crew lost, and one by a wife and mother remembering not only her husband, but her son and daughter as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3HkPqG5-Bk9k6J1vzk5qx-c_ZQMKDe0aIsBGji2ImNKqciCZj4p0eLbYDV0wQDU06CFJuYI1O-LvjpksrwHt7ZehcCUGFiKM51IBGUgm43h2hrG4scVFpsI7vzfOTagNSGjN9yZPA0ob8pil5ChaL2mT28uN3mg8nm8WZcbLi_jmFXoLe8ZZIo3GeQ9B/s4032/4d%20Scotland%20%20Lockerbie%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3HkPqG5-Bk9k6J1vzk5qx-c_ZQMKDe0aIsBGji2ImNKqciCZj4p0eLbYDV0wQDU06CFJuYI1O-LvjpksrwHt7ZehcCUGFiKM51IBGUgm43h2hrG4scVFpsI7vzfOTagNSGjN9yZPA0ob8pil5ChaL2mT28uN3mg8nm8WZcbLi_jmFXoLe8ZZIo3GeQ9B/s320/4d%20Scotland%20%20Lockerbie%20Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Plaques to the Pan Am Crew and others</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2j1EzOwbLpqmYjQeQv1oG9HAbbENPFrBfxIQDlYBSKCp4CcC24CqfEYhwgMbKe_DZVv8qgcUHPZXIM8D7Z9lY9Ie2jDhMiEbjxGgQu-k5jX-btPqgHrpVy1JAXIsjF3Lr7e_6IDLWddUgPEjG29uw-6ZrUBOHpGVXewmGoppiG5NQw_CN3_XO2_aey_OP/s4032/4e%20Scotland%20%20Lockerbie%20Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2j1EzOwbLpqmYjQeQv1oG9HAbbENPFrBfxIQDlYBSKCp4CcC24CqfEYhwgMbKe_DZVv8qgcUHPZXIM8D7Z9lY9Ie2jDhMiEbjxGgQu-k5jX-btPqgHrpVy1JAXIsjF3Lr7e_6IDLWddUgPEjG29uw-6ZrUBOHpGVXewmGoppiG5NQw_CN3_XO2_aey_OP/s320/4e%20Scotland%20%20Lockerbie%20Memorial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Besides the garden, there are a few other smaller monuments in the local area as bodies, and parts of the plane were scattered over a wide area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thoroughly somber after leaving there, we had a couple of hours more till we arrived our our next place. A nice apartment on a marina on Lake Windermere, the UK's largest lake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73XKQO3y_qwXvuTi6KXMsI9q2kGVfGTQ2JCr2sGc4rf1CWqZot2m3gnsIefMsCrb46OZ5XBRTC5Ox2nBl4Lw9XoxS_yUoJDM1nGtKK7YkawWsfXWTLcXSOxR5nTDYyKFrTHddt62UxlSYG7ohUuGaXzdtfUO6IkNPWfwIahn70220AWtPqwAa4nvWrjWT/s4032/5a%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73XKQO3y_qwXvuTi6KXMsI9q2kGVfGTQ2JCr2sGc4rf1CWqZot2m3gnsIefMsCrb46OZ5XBRTC5Ox2nBl4Lw9XoxS_yUoJDM1nGtKK7YkawWsfXWTLcXSOxR5nTDYyKFrTHddt62UxlSYG7ohUuGaXzdtfUO6IkNPWfwIahn70220AWtPqwAa4nvWrjWT/s320/5a%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went fishing and caught a nice Shaggy Trout.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(PS - Annie is wearing a harness - no worries it doesn't hurt or bother her.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bowness on Windermere Marina, the view from our deck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDcxPMV_O5CA6PA3qCIRSbpkbPX1JpmjcNIBFbrxc1bNjpHIk1aqqVkTEc4Bx5QSJ5u0uyDmLlDY_Mc3yh3qu7CvSvNAel7Fy5pJK2_b9NvajSRFMw46v3opQ7YCCLR9wcYKTGbGzpE0dYDRD0rhqINvuDgPm-8QdaxkZhqHjY8EE9pLaMfZ-sJbzjCVe/s4032/5b%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDcxPMV_O5CA6PA3qCIRSbpkbPX1JpmjcNIBFbrxc1bNjpHIk1aqqVkTEc4Bx5QSJ5u0uyDmLlDY_Mc3yh3qu7CvSvNAel7Fy5pJK2_b9NvajSRFMw46v3opQ7YCCLR9wcYKTGbGzpE0dYDRD0rhqINvuDgPm-8QdaxkZhqHjY8EE9pLaMfZ-sJbzjCVe/s320/5b%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a nice footpath from here to town so we made the trip a few times walking along the lake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuHKzWV_7YoNKkn_UwBpRWvGR_f41eXtE6yNbFEK2ImWpTdRSjGRimSA0a6RSNpZFHM52Gi9sbVOJokR0JH9ZK2YTxMrQdLO8vphTsnYxIZhVMieEcGjJRwpKoUcjc2l9eCnAMOqy6fj9CA3cTWKEMflbmZIABFNbbkmLhaiXZMXjrLlEwDFfkWwDHy3y/s4032/5c%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuHKzWV_7YoNKkn_UwBpRWvGR_f41eXtE6yNbFEK2ImWpTdRSjGRimSA0a6RSNpZFHM52Gi9sbVOJokR0JH9ZK2YTxMrQdLO8vphTsnYxIZhVMieEcGjJRwpKoUcjc2l9eCnAMOqy6fj9CA3cTWKEMflbmZIABFNbbkmLhaiXZMXjrLlEwDFfkWwDHy3y/s320/5c%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lots of Geese and Ducks along the shoreline.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5pmaAMrQBkFHNJlBuWDHBCVuFntacPAH5pPFy55_p6XYSpX08Z0cVle5LLezzhxgoKLybK81d-URXG7Jt8ELw3bMXyOm8DSynu7uny8snx6s_jkMQovmbY8HZ7X_8JIguN2LhLSDT7oo_PoIwaUYAk0I8_HooosMEVBnhxLYWZjAmY8BSGwBeJjYMYgm/s4032/5d%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5pmaAMrQBkFHNJlBuWDHBCVuFntacPAH5pPFy55_p6XYSpX08Z0cVle5LLezzhxgoKLybK81d-URXG7Jt8ELw3bMXyOm8DSynu7uny8snx6s_jkMQovmbY8HZ7X_8JIguN2LhLSDT7oo_PoIwaUYAk0I8_HooosMEVBnhxLYWZjAmY8BSGwBeJjYMYgm/s320/5d%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've been here before so I was not as active with my camera as I should have and I did not get any pictures of the town. It's a very busy tourist town with lots of people, restaurants, and shops.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While there, Annie brought be back a flock of young college co-eds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW26JmEC6CyV7q6tku-_wqNgFLmuaefhW_j4y7UFZFMobqufd1M88NPFj0MquY7OuKWDTF0KdAdYmB5KipO-6ZEUwI1v9_q_kXeMfOHnc6WNDbH4GDxaQndVVAQJZo55IGHRYl7zHrVSGW0l_GutIVKDs7U8Mwfdt-_0ns6oZmF-IZ-aEvCFQ3sxGp03Op/s4032/5e%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW26JmEC6CyV7q6tku-_wqNgFLmuaefhW_j4y7UFZFMobqufd1M88NPFj0MquY7OuKWDTF0KdAdYmB5KipO-6ZEUwI1v9_q_kXeMfOHnc6WNDbH4GDxaQndVVAQJZo55IGHRYl7zHrVSGW0l_GutIVKDs7U8Mwfdt-_0ns6oZmF-IZ-aEvCFQ3sxGp03Op/s320/5e%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Good girl Annie!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An interesting thing about the area is that the RAF and USAF use the Lake District for low altitude flying practice. Each day, several times a day, we would hear the roar as several fighter jets, one after another, would make a low pass leaving the lake and passing almost directly overhead a low altitude.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were several types of British Aircraft, plus F22's or 35's, plus each day a wing of F15's would come hotdogging by. These F15 pilots knew that the town of Windermere below was loaded with tourists looking up at the screaming jets, and I'm sure they were having a blast showing off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJ6X0oz0rlcocygRb0M5nK-8YPVR9XgwPqg4zn3GSROmkQeGBkXfew8QrPRHUa5aZ1e83hrce-q8e4Elk6JXqG3KxvFgQBxa6pIP1Kzg3xjIiEjNLeWE5qfl8vDj7-nOSv-jE1MKmQlXbOAVstZc1uOgHgFqdcu4dpjQOeRA21igr6w4rzhMPLAz66xDN/s4032/5f%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJ6X0oz0rlcocygRb0M5nK-8YPVR9XgwPqg4zn3GSROmkQeGBkXfew8QrPRHUa5aZ1e83hrce-q8e4Elk6JXqG3KxvFgQBxa6pIP1Kzg3xjIiEjNLeWE5qfl8vDj7-nOSv-jE1MKmQlXbOAVstZc1uOgHgFqdcu4dpjQOeRA21igr6w4rzhMPLAz66xDN/s320/5f%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">F15 heading this way</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could not see the markings as they went too fast, but I'm pretty sure the F15's would be from the USAF 48th Fighter Wing, as the Brits do not fly F15's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjID_3x8CNzeZeafjFSm40rXow60qft-5xrrw8VPQ0-79xLHpnmtmTx1X2JfwOjZ8cVz2YvhgTiNCT6sYbFjpBs2D1YGT9N2S6jNvej9IVktewroaHG5dugZzQPKJNJBzCIHZbQlwWtOEOxgvUAHtoAugN0B5zqP2L2DaCjMLx_uyx5yMwSdcCSpPFvydpN/s4032/5g%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjID_3x8CNzeZeafjFSm40rXow60qft-5xrrw8VPQ0-79xLHpnmtmTx1X2JfwOjZ8cVz2YvhgTiNCT6sYbFjpBs2D1YGT9N2S6jNvej9IVktewroaHG5dugZzQPKJNJBzCIHZbQlwWtOEOxgvUAHtoAugN0B5zqP2L2DaCjMLx_uyx5yMwSdcCSpPFvydpN/s320/5g%20Windermere%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">And passing by pulling G's</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And again, like a broken record, I can't believe it but another week has gone by.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tomorrow - Saturday - we have a 3hr drive up north to Edinburgh where we will pick up our Motorhome that we are renting for the next 10 days. We will be renting a <a href="https://www.swiftgroup.co.uk/motorhomes/product/42111/swift-edge/" target="_blank">Swift Edge 464</a>. Quite a bit smaller than the PartyBus that we are used to, but the roads over here would just not allow something that big. This is more like what we started out in, and is still bigger that the truck camper (The Dog House) that we had a few years back.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After we pick up the Motorhome, we have another 3 hrs drive up to our first stop near Ballachulish, where we stayed 4 years ago. Lots of beautiful territory ahead, and more new experiences for the new pup.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our friends Craig & Vickie are driving up in their motorhome and the 4 of us will travel together and visit the west coast of Scotland in the Scottish Highlands.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">See you next in Bonnie Scotland!</div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-40360506518738719612023-07-15T12:29:00.000-06:002023-07-15T12:29:27.698-06:00Kinsale to Belfast<p> </p><p>Hello again!</p><div style="text-align: left;">Continuing on our Irish Road Show. since our last check-in, we left Kinsale and traveled to Kenmare for a week, then moved on to Galway for 5 days, and just yesterday we arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">We were in Ireland for a month and boy that month went fast. Tomorrow we are on the ferry bright and early at 0730 headed to Scotland.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But before I get too far ahead of myself, let me back up and start with our departure from Kinsale enroute to Kenmare.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It is only about a 90 minute drive from one to the other, and we had lots of time between our check out and check in times, so we took the scenic route along the coast.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is the trip map from our spotwalla page that now shows our whole time in Ireland to date</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgDMFdebp7avRJEw9bdidKX5ZETg4BaWxhslKq4gKSDRRuu3ij_9iacmxk-0gTcPp0pTHwEt6P2AfrHDc2jLq-T0arZIF2RxwJip-ve2zcLzZIUGe35IVdWktz0JTr7fIvwM5JrnQBYtRWapo0b3UWCrPHhIvV_F8cnSPWn14zdol1YBxRaEuaS2-8wUJ/s3130/Ireland%20Trip%20Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1802" data-original-width="3130" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgDMFdebp7avRJEw9bdidKX5ZETg4BaWxhslKq4gKSDRRuu3ij_9iacmxk-0gTcPp0pTHwEt6P2AfrHDc2jLq-T0arZIF2RxwJip-ve2zcLzZIUGe35IVdWktz0JTr7fIvwM5JrnQBYtRWapo0b3UWCrPHhIvV_F8cnSPWn14zdol1YBxRaEuaS2-8wUJ/s320/Ireland%20Trip%20Map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Some of the views along our coastal route from Kinsale to Kenmare</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdevxqUXZT8F_yDUqxqlR6O8PGCf5jlSGxjXROWqUG-Ue6YO34105mKtMVNcBVr2IFojLeeaDuucnLSdZq4ZphcDDNF11WxkfoHK7fPEMxemVtxacCK2IZlC8gc6FvRITPUXAI9-ingIG5YbBrsGQE1jN-psqjec-OF1iaghkWlvDYAVWDBR89o8wewyi/s4032/1a%20Beara%20Loop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdevxqUXZT8F_yDUqxqlR6O8PGCf5jlSGxjXROWqUG-Ue6YO34105mKtMVNcBVr2IFojLeeaDuucnLSdZq4ZphcDDNF11WxkfoHK7fPEMxemVtxacCK2IZlC8gc6FvRITPUXAI9-ingIG5YbBrsGQE1jN-psqjec-OF1iaghkWlvDYAVWDBR89o8wewyi/s320/1a%20Beara%20Loop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sNzRXM_Jxi6Ol2KjsjLpdCvFvAjgvr9_JSIpUJ2kQZrGRkWI-dLZ3r2ykcdDMvBGx8M_HoiwTr-kb3OvFWNdX4XGxpN3CkTR_hQ3CdidePXdceXS0D4kgyVzZIak3o1S81k1_IOAo0e5-9MjXByRlWsyhoYT54_5QqdBJ9-fB81jhzbYPETayX-LARI4/s4032/1b%20Beara%20Loop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sNzRXM_Jxi6Ol2KjsjLpdCvFvAjgvr9_JSIpUJ2kQZrGRkWI-dLZ3r2ykcdDMvBGx8M_HoiwTr-kb3OvFWNdX4XGxpN3CkTR_hQ3CdidePXdceXS0D4kgyVzZIak3o1S81k1_IOAo0e5-9MjXByRlWsyhoYT54_5QqdBJ9-fB81jhzbYPETayX-LARI4/s320/1b%20Beara%20Loop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our route took us on a loop around the Beara Peninsula. The photo below is where we started to round the corner and head back east along the north coast of the peninsula.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHJU9TWkKkBpVvIM6aTHVVSi6rAGtQQOy4oa2lrwWXMBIB3B_ooPNkUMvIvRf7etHrrLMozsq8FKq5PUAd4g-esuGlg3GR_nV0T3QUGnKbZh_geKpoyHH1-7-kZhIhBJQjSQiRkr3r2KB4oJ_Pp8XDx5f4c5_6Y9SPDxQykP1Rk4pjjOCrOYxSTuAH_iU/s4032/1c%20Beara%20Loop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHJU9TWkKkBpVvIM6aTHVVSi6rAGtQQOy4oa2lrwWXMBIB3B_ooPNkUMvIvRf7etHrrLMozsq8FKq5PUAd4g-esuGlg3GR_nV0T3QUGnKbZh_geKpoyHH1-7-kZhIhBJQjSQiRkr3r2KB4oJ_Pp8XDx5f4c5_6Y9SPDxQykP1Rk4pjjOCrOYxSTuAH_iU/s320/1c%20Beara%20Loop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our plan was to continue east along the coast. Then take a mountain road over Healy Pass to the south coast, and back track a bit east to pick up another highway that would take me north to Kenmare. </div><div><br /></div><div>But my GPS had a different idea and sent me up this tiny cow path. As we started to climb into the mountains I said to Kate that something was wrong here and I was going to look for a place to turn around before we got too far up and had to back our way down.</div><div><br /></div><div>About that time, a man with young daughter came down the road on a 4 wheeler and confirmed my suspicions. He told me a good place to turn around was right around the next curve and that it would be a good idea to take advantage of the opportunity which we did.</div><div><br /></div><div>So we back traced our way around the Beara Peninsula, and found, and took, Healy pass from South to North instead.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72e0zY258wzjNTmbPwu4Yk5OycO7AAOS84HJ4nT7hbsXFHftmccXYIoy7SBn6yMv4t51VwdKQANrpNG2ZYjy3EedNYrBgufqtfmxZLigenIcVnG09UfdgPIjS5Mu6ThH28TYglGQo9QokLvzKqMzjKXjJfCT7ARlxbZCklludseDYHLrXLZy2UjodfSKk/s4032/1d%20Healy%20Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72e0zY258wzjNTmbPwu4Yk5OycO7AAOS84HJ4nT7hbsXFHftmccXYIoy7SBn6yMv4t51VwdKQANrpNG2ZYjy3EedNYrBgufqtfmxZLigenIcVnG09UfdgPIjS5Mu6ThH28TYglGQo9QokLvzKqMzjKXjJfCT7ARlxbZCklludseDYHLrXLZy2UjodfSKk/s320/1d%20Healy%20Pass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Starting up Healy Pass</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9_6iLv-89FDpi7Pm7KHlMmSWB-QgI2fMCf40T5suWtrZ9BHK_6Xa0mR9jpZc3eHmHeXKIZLWcc3TmB_dEsNMkfdG6FV-8IA2nmJtcf2lluGbPbB5-oQRiS3C-8PpAVznReq25dHJZRpHCPtRenN4DAJTyhuh8FT3WzJGofdFsJn5fVSpGXA2WTNeWxKF/s4032/1e%20Healy%20Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9_6iLv-89FDpi7Pm7KHlMmSWB-QgI2fMCf40T5suWtrZ9BHK_6Xa0mR9jpZc3eHmHeXKIZLWcc3TmB_dEsNMkfdG6FV-8IA2nmJtcf2lluGbPbB5-oQRiS3C-8PpAVznReq25dHJZRpHCPtRenN4DAJTyhuh8FT3WzJGofdFsJn5fVSpGXA2WTNeWxKF/s320/1e%20Healy%20Pass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goats keep watch over the pass</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTmJZY2XnoSnCx-9jS5l7dBAOWN_H_g801b0bG3etWiblcCr6_wEps6PjXYcEFOSKxu0op68Lsd1qphzFIhlNtxy2_lYNvxqnir4q9-oDbQ7cumNbkG1XfPsHrPqPWpF-ztDhqiJvHtBl_RCL7jnvp9BDQIjL1lJlrzkO2EWqGSEdPiyN9aRsJrKudSYF/s4032/1f%20Healy%20Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTmJZY2XnoSnCx-9jS5l7dBAOWN_H_g801b0bG3etWiblcCr6_wEps6PjXYcEFOSKxu0op68Lsd1qphzFIhlNtxy2_lYNvxqnir4q9-oDbQ7cumNbkG1XfPsHrPqPWpF-ztDhqiJvHtBl_RCL7jnvp9BDQIjL1lJlrzkO2EWqGSEdPiyN9aRsJrKudSYF/s320/1f%20Healy%20Pass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Almost to the top</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO97gbx6T7fhCZdXW5_8bkrT-cA_UDV-nOtzuFjn5nofyJnof7oi_GvBs4AuOZQaHhvEEmpKldTMX0WxSB-KqqQi-SYx32oFvRQb2Qbg9Mtq1x7JA_M-mcUezFfBJX-hUmzQsMEf0bWuUi1iVdLvQ4--bBXHKFNJmolL3Odtfg8UTdqfXoH3A5N-RUMpz2/s4032/1g%20Healy%20Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO97gbx6T7fhCZdXW5_8bkrT-cA_UDV-nOtzuFjn5nofyJnof7oi_GvBs4AuOZQaHhvEEmpKldTMX0WxSB-KqqQi-SYx32oFvRQb2Qbg9Mtq1x7JA_M-mcUezFfBJX-hUmzQsMEf0bWuUi1iVdLvQ4--bBXHKFNJmolL3Odtfg8UTdqfXoH3A5N-RUMpz2/s320/1g%20Healy%20Pass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Healy Pass looking back down from where we came</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQcJWHrnTk78XPJUu9rxfHsLHP9Ie18fQWimK8_gz7OV4nXdhiHiyAoRM0bm0dKiMhzFm_gQinVfzI_GLPZSjgD23fYtczrFBEGNqnwmNeDZSHLEIixXD3kYOPmDfgWzkEePdOnOd2gqcZgfrxhPho1UBU8m87e4fYPkYRl5Snt02heGB-G1mYrBhjHLD/s4032/1h%20Healy%20Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQcJWHrnTk78XPJUu9rxfHsLHP9Ie18fQWimK8_gz7OV4nXdhiHiyAoRM0bm0dKiMhzFm_gQinVfzI_GLPZSjgD23fYtczrFBEGNqnwmNeDZSHLEIixXD3kYOPmDfgWzkEePdOnOd2gqcZgfrxhPho1UBU8m87e4fYPkYRl5Snt02heGB-G1mYrBhjHLD/s320/1h%20Healy%20Pass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking down on Glanmore Lake from the pass</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UD_kzKJUDx_D3JCkCaQR68j2A-Cv_je_IG7pPSohDbZmuPOnluAS27HQR6y4zLFdUI3JLCa9QsKsoNAiFZpC1J_FqeptRQwuDSo5793h9CFEnOB8UWY_G5D0dWvGxwTbzb9gCAheajsp9DM-2mZxOkFtSf04lPL1njiUA5e1gzUv-PlEDYjJ0SkwekoD/s4032/IMG_4539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UD_kzKJUDx_D3JCkCaQR68j2A-Cv_je_IG7pPSohDbZmuPOnluAS27HQR6y4zLFdUI3JLCa9QsKsoNAiFZpC1J_FqeptRQwuDSo5793h9CFEnOB8UWY_G5D0dWvGxwTbzb9gCAheajsp9DM-2mZxOkFtSf04lPL1njiUA5e1gzUv-PlEDYjJ0SkwekoD/s320/IMG_4539.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Around 4pm we arrived at our home for the next 7 nights.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A really nice place about 3km outide of Kenmare just a short drive down a 1-lane road</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjdsXQ9M-AKezykxSAejgA_O_Mrq38UaiEaD_ajmLL60gB8lzRlHNFJzh-_hE2CLKBZWbsofrXgsJVRRcBNh3liddbrvb5z3mIs1mwWPME7hTgCsurXS9d2WaLxDGYGjz_4i7QQ__NBdyjmIzsOs02ExHfHQX9qOuqwaGMmxzK_zw5LqO9ljnLiz37vhC/s4032/2a%20Kenmare%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjdsXQ9M-AKezykxSAejgA_O_Mrq38UaiEaD_ajmLL60gB8lzRlHNFJzh-_hE2CLKBZWbsofrXgsJVRRcBNh3liddbrvb5z3mIs1mwWPME7hTgCsurXS9d2WaLxDGYGjz_4i7QQ__NBdyjmIzsOs02ExHfHQX9qOuqwaGMmxzK_zw5LqO9ljnLiz37vhC/s320/2a%20Kenmare%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This place has ranked up there as one of our favorite houses, plus the County Kerry area is really great.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LJWxSeRFoefVjKvAv5Vo0SMaYAmscPSg9pdER6okie_si1ByzYPvzWUcOQZTn1gH_6ljtM41HW-q9HGmqd5LbRfX8REXXIpYUUWYSPnYJTebY9R6YicMgVKiwqz8f-hXlLtPPCnJklUa8Dlg69nYlF_1we68tlTaf2Mrn2ft7rIuqB58okCRGppFKdmc/s4032/2b%20Kenmare%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LJWxSeRFoefVjKvAv5Vo0SMaYAmscPSg9pdER6okie_si1ByzYPvzWUcOQZTn1gH_6ljtM41HW-q9HGmqd5LbRfX8REXXIpYUUWYSPnYJTebY9R6YicMgVKiwqz8f-hXlLtPPCnJklUa8Dlg69nYlF_1we68tlTaf2Mrn2ft7rIuqB58okCRGppFKdmc/s320/2b%20Kenmare%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Conservatory</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />For those down times, we had a great Sky Satellite package with lots of channels. We've gotten into watching some old Sopranos and Game of Thrones reruns. The only ding against the place is that internet is supplied my a cell hotspot that is only putting out about 3mb of download speed. Plenty for email and such, but no streaming. We are down in a bit of a valley so a booster would be helpful here.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbO0hET_9VqFosHJmHSCZSmBpZdCXEoHH7Vg8E8mn1ksOmCNB6YkqjFr7Mcr_KOXIXXJq-j5k79CHVh3ndO2MNQOrYDk9XEBO5I35dhq_pF1ZXuzZaZhjWkCNSnenPddlMEq_aEHe0dWMV9H47DgBWdtsS59REqJAYrcTDCICg7we78FZ_mesv8vFArSc/s4032/2c%20Kenmare%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbO0hET_9VqFosHJmHSCZSmBpZdCXEoHH7Vg8E8mn1ksOmCNB6YkqjFr7Mcr_KOXIXXJq-j5k79CHVh3ndO2MNQOrYDk9XEBO5I35dhq_pF1ZXuzZaZhjWkCNSnenPddlMEq_aEHe0dWMV9H47DgBWdtsS59REqJAYrcTDCICg7we78FZ_mesv8vFArSc/s320/2c%20Kenmare%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Expansive yard with lots of outdoor furniture</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>We went into Kenmare several times. It was a pretty little town with easy to find free parking in the council car park.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmt5058gV4OyhfhKxXwRxtDzdRIvXv7Nk9oXMvvr3FPdnPDDhFmpOxUSakORq4bMflZI7wH15_HYpPGc6LYGGEW7IHoiRzn5eBxUKczcz6OnoKB5McAwTwhzuB6ncAClXlvWMJcImWUhi2zZ80r4z0tJzujpP07l9AVwArfmXRzRQF618RdiiIjJvzWCj1/s4032/2d%20Kenmare%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmt5058gV4OyhfhKxXwRxtDzdRIvXv7Nk9oXMvvr3FPdnPDDhFmpOxUSakORq4bMflZI7wH15_HYpPGc6LYGGEW7IHoiRzn5eBxUKczcz6OnoKB5McAwTwhzuB6ncAClXlvWMJcImWUhi2zZ80r4z0tJzujpP07l9AVwArfmXRzRQF618RdiiIjJvzWCj1/s320/2d%20Kenmare%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxJR6NVU-qcwQbiZkTK5eKcdo8TRi_t1L0UnN_W3i4P0uqLXgEPaa5TKdx88pN6OKcpeBJpLhSDv_8A2vCEz1N-LRvCXtaAM0OdRbkYCacc0kFpDodMdLC2S7xOV0BIaH4ttGw9zI7Bp_Kk46wIBfsH0SjqxIJcEk_hxL7nycTku3QC2Un0W5yBVymDTi/s4032/2e%20Kenmare%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxJR6NVU-qcwQbiZkTK5eKcdo8TRi_t1L0UnN_W3i4P0uqLXgEPaa5TKdx88pN6OKcpeBJpLhSDv_8A2vCEz1N-LRvCXtaAM0OdRbkYCacc0kFpDodMdLC2S7xOV0BIaH4ttGw9zI7Bp_Kk46wIBfsH0SjqxIJcEk_hxL7nycTku3QC2Un0W5yBVymDTi/s320/2e%20Kenmare%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>While there we made another trip to a vet in Killarney. Our 4th since leaving NY. One night Lucy was chewing on a bone and what we thought was part of her molar appeared on the floor.</div></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidC6gn-fM2lelavSAtNu3FfD82h_yuRtCCfiMMCzJa6yokDcvucrPdG7Jbt3UOHlFk7dcDgZ6dThNxh5IxrO15hYZwDuvvB2yys9eKdsqLATuMe_nYzZB-uBDZeiwBrbjWv21jMtgPIoWkEZZ1pSmTC4suw5hltfYmaJgGerINrVkCHC9lXmiBVBKkZUzW/s4032/2f%20Killarney%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidC6gn-fM2lelavSAtNu3FfD82h_yuRtCCfiMMCzJa6yokDcvucrPdG7Jbt3UOHlFk7dcDgZ6dThNxh5IxrO15hYZwDuvvB2yys9eKdsqLATuMe_nYzZB-uBDZeiwBrbjWv21jMtgPIoWkEZZ1pSmTC4suw5hltfYmaJgGerINrVkCHC9lXmiBVBKkZUzW/s320/2f%20Killarney%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARK Veterinary Hospital in Killarney</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The good news was that it was not a piece of tooth, but a broken off piece of tartar. The vet gave Lucy a thorough going over and pronounced her teeth to be sound and in good health. She went over Lucys previous bloodwork from Wales, and said everything looked good for a 14.5 yr old dog. Our total vet bill was only €50</div><div><br /></div><div>Driving back from Killarney we took the scenic route thru Killarney National Park. Before the week was out we'll have driven thru the park several times.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi_6VC5t_cci-w4vI72B2qu9g-DGzAldetp0ewMII0slFy5ZnlvVmrRhLuT0D5100Keg_uS0ZinEKrjN6PGx6RCJUuj8VPUp1-MH8KG_M1oZ-ujvi6hrPt8gmAb1X1wMF64yEIdSrT1iNg8euHmyjtxtD85dN5O8feDqknMyguTY5_ezJGkWs_02HOBax/s4032/2g%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi_6VC5t_cci-w4vI72B2qu9g-DGzAldetp0ewMII0slFy5ZnlvVmrRhLuT0D5100Keg_uS0ZinEKrjN6PGx6RCJUuj8VPUp1-MH8KG_M1oZ-ujvi6hrPt8gmAb1X1wMF64yEIdSrT1iNg8euHmyjtxtD85dN5O8feDqknMyguTY5_ezJGkWs_02HOBax/s320/2g%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Driving N71 thru Killarney National Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Its a very scenic park and attracts visitors from near and far.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Kate keeps telling me to smile when I take a picture so I gritted my teeth and really beared my choppers here. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXK78KSataEKzYp1J3j7_z6LawVgAKpxy34dOWZiF9ndsVTr0zY9BcGlxYzJ00g1lb3eD2beGIMkO_BPHMf_g9IZ5X4pq_6uyR5ECrESYSy8gbRn1aV7uM8PDEl7nzPFVGqazvqXqAnL2hsaort8wYqobt70tL-lZV0lhB9wYnX_TlZRanJkEXDaGHr9q/s4032/2h%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXK78KSataEKzYp1J3j7_z6LawVgAKpxy34dOWZiF9ndsVTr0zY9BcGlxYzJ00g1lb3eD2beGIMkO_BPHMf_g9IZ5X4pq_6uyR5ECrESYSy8gbRn1aV7uM8PDEl7nzPFVGqazvqXqAnL2hsaort8wYqobt70tL-lZV0lhB9wYnX_TlZRanJkEXDaGHr9q/s320/2h%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The constipated look</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jbTp0FsKBOwti6jtcyHQUA8asts1UwUp6vmomcRhf-uMSuIFGRTUZ8wROLr9LXg8TpqGkwXIY39Fm30Bv5kEGBSianYA-RFzvgMlGn83gopRBWHbGi2-w7qlgvyY_L8VY2dGh8OtAhUN3z0Xys_gz40Gkz_x6R6dmQ6f7rYQS68VLS_M1hZ8o-QbzVbr/s4032/2i%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jbTp0FsKBOwti6jtcyHQUA8asts1UwUp6vmomcRhf-uMSuIFGRTUZ8wROLr9LXg8TpqGkwXIY39Fm30Bv5kEGBSianYA-RFzvgMlGn83gopRBWHbGi2-w7qlgvyY_L8VY2dGh8OtAhUN3z0Xys_gz40Gkz_x6R6dmQ6f7rYQS68VLS_M1hZ8o-QbzVbr/s320/2i%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sisters view in KNP</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQW9Kx7dbeFQ6mVKkXQCi6qOW-IFdSWBR2YqQxBGrMpVNSXBl7knmZIJzkgxnBiyJThOOo3voxCxMhYzTd2P0U4r2qkCfWIyQOyzFemPkBzX94IUL6s_aPFMayyJDH90Kl61Od3E5A7LpgBwGXODDW3564aSAaRQ38ozGlwUzmEqnGwUM4F3H8m5t28xFw/s4032/2j%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQW9Kx7dbeFQ6mVKkXQCi6qOW-IFdSWBR2YqQxBGrMpVNSXBl7knmZIJzkgxnBiyJThOOo3voxCxMhYzTd2P0U4r2qkCfWIyQOyzFemPkBzX94IUL6s_aPFMayyJDH90Kl61Od3E5A7LpgBwGXODDW3564aSAaRQ38ozGlwUzmEqnGwUM4F3H8m5t28xFw/s320/2j%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">N71 on the S side of the park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />One day we set aside to drive the Ring of Kerry, and another day to visit the Dingle Peninsula. Kates Irish side came from the Dingle Peninsula and we wanted to visit the small village near Fenit from where her grandmother emigrated. It was this grandmother who entitled Kate to her Irish Citizenship.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHByt8Vape9QXgOQCUHhXd_03_TNR7yFVOLPia8T3gKu7g2H9Tc6lAkSaTrhNvuTwiDAJiSM15I14j-sjeN273Bs3G3B1vnJa9kaxoFr-3Hy46y5OkauEFsIHO95FSFMHqQHTYt73Om2oxemg_UWOkKbGupVNpDMi_mYLXDZo6tFeka7tIFoeZxCZcyed4/s3888/3a%20Ring%20of%20Kerry%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2187" data-original-width="3888" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHByt8Vape9QXgOQCUHhXd_03_TNR7yFVOLPia8T3gKu7g2H9Tc6lAkSaTrhNvuTwiDAJiSM15I14j-sjeN273Bs3G3B1vnJa9kaxoFr-3Hy46y5OkauEFsIHO95FSFMHqQHTYt73Om2oxemg_UWOkKbGupVNpDMi_mYLXDZo6tFeka7tIFoeZxCZcyed4/s320/3a%20Ring%20of%20Kerry%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ring of Kerry drive</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnc0L9gdfuRONTGqTf2Pr6xAvjp2WjlLfopjPKU7x7WNvWqMIpl_lTTY6P2JxwFDNc8cuaIXCPETk-vVMpMPxnCMPGgNJ5VckEga0MBMdVqYZPu1b6qE95zVnvahBy36N48EI9jch1h1ElPH9nLB8jFKceCgwtiYXuhkN0mhvHn8TvUNefR535MNaZIEe/s4032/3b%20Ring%20of%20Kerry%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnc0L9gdfuRONTGqTf2Pr6xAvjp2WjlLfopjPKU7x7WNvWqMIpl_lTTY6P2JxwFDNc8cuaIXCPETk-vVMpMPxnCMPGgNJ5VckEga0MBMdVqYZPu1b6qE95zVnvahBy36N48EI9jch1h1ElPH9nLB8jFKceCgwtiYXuhkN0mhvHn8TvUNefR535MNaZIEe/s320/3b%20Ring%20of%20Kerry%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ring of Kerry drive</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The village where Kates Grandmother came from is still pretty tiny but larger than the 17 or so properties that were listed on the 1901 Census. The only RC Church in the immediate area is now in a state of disrepair having suffered during the Troubles. The graveyard next to it would most likely be where her ancestors would have been buried. I met some caretakers there and upon discussing with them, they pointed me to the side of the graveyard where they would have most likely been interred. Unfortunately that side of the graveyard is older and in complete disrepair with broken, eroded, and damaged stones.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the newer side however, there were plenty of Fitzgeralds of newer vintage and perhaps one of them is a descendant of her grandparents.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LqtaDSLhcbCFG-NAgglMvjNh_ycObinBYEfCipvDrMsW93lxDASHRnw7foF3TANt4ThsrAqmVTYyXWtxwP0DCc2zDG6mDJpFVvpgLIrD1bRGm-kxAL1Lzh9mL8qsuz12E25VexNSpIrg7azp6O1BljoJf-ZuFNKXZZJq_XuR3SSCZ5We0VpeUUeLkRAk/s4032/3c%20Ring%20of%20Kerry%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LqtaDSLhcbCFG-NAgglMvjNh_ycObinBYEfCipvDrMsW93lxDASHRnw7foF3TANt4ThsrAqmVTYyXWtxwP0DCc2zDG6mDJpFVvpgLIrD1bRGm-kxAL1Lzh9mL8qsuz12E25VexNSpIrg7azp6O1BljoJf-ZuFNKXZZJq_XuR3SSCZ5We0VpeUUeLkRAk/s320/3c%20Ring%20of%20Kerry%20Ireland.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Churchill Graveyard - not sure if this is a relative. Need to research.e</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Driving around, Kate was moved knowing that she was looking over the same fields, ocean, and mountains that her ancestors would have. Mostly unchanged in all of these years.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpa95erNncEZaKiInLfi7AgjpGBHcGO4ubmVQ0sZMonTirrrFKqDqYlD4wCSn7vvEGaoni1fCOdEZre9MsynGLJsHZdVlVmf2z3BPVZiepQOgF0JHDf3Jo4Fcx9RmAFhWweuPjmJw04Wj_a9134P7_F42oTl7ucLas1AoY3W4INuJg7lIbLreSX0BiJFZ/s4032/3d%20Ring%20of%20Kerry%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpa95erNncEZaKiInLfi7AgjpGBHcGO4ubmVQ0sZMonTirrrFKqDqYlD4wCSn7vvEGaoni1fCOdEZre9MsynGLJsHZdVlVmf2z3BPVZiepQOgF0JHDf3Jo4Fcx9RmAFhWweuPjmJw04Wj_a9134P7_F42oTl7ucLas1AoY3W4INuJg7lIbLreSX0BiJFZ/s320/3d%20Ring%20of%20Kerry%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Views around Fenit</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was about a 90 minute drive from our house to the Fenit area. Add to that the time spent touring along the way there and back, it was starting to get late. So again we took a detour thru Killarney National Park.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQ2jNf41_T3IJbXO5yFQQlKkRKnv4BwbiJPXuyfwfTGf77QS_5gvSez4ZgFhQtBAhoKfOm9Xk75f62wQBKPA0g3c7Ss_jLG_WwmIf4fAvrtuj3XUhAHEhIgzPAR15BSkCb3DmKBbHyo2pS9jf3WmcIqoQi_CRo_AHEcPSxj85Uvj1RuLn7KOPfChGkxqE/s4032/3e%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQ2jNf41_T3IJbXO5yFQQlKkRKnv4BwbiJPXuyfwfTGf77QS_5gvSez4ZgFhQtBAhoKfOm9Xk75f62wQBKPA0g3c7Ss_jLG_WwmIf4fAvrtuj3XUhAHEhIgzPAR15BSkCb3DmKBbHyo2pS9jf3WmcIqoQi_CRo_AHEcPSxj85Uvj1RuLn7KOPfChGkxqE/s320/3e%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sister view in clear weather</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_R_9PplcaPZKmhcACRF7usYkJmHuyYa-1KxEDlA-EJuc298-gTP8BLzkr_B7Po65UT8nkeRm_Rh0ng1F2khb6heyRDKpkZBdmJIfK7oHQG7_xXOeOlCbgJWhj4dfj7TUrgQHyMbOK7w0pPKrHHHQssv_Wo7MJH6jwQN_nYSf6-LyFVwfXpWqNczdNheiZ/s4032/3f%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_R_9PplcaPZKmhcACRF7usYkJmHuyYa-1KxEDlA-EJuc298-gTP8BLzkr_B7Po65UT8nkeRm_Rh0ng1F2khb6heyRDKpkZBdmJIfK7oHQG7_xXOeOlCbgJWhj4dfj7TUrgQHyMbOK7w0pPKrHHHQssv_Wo7MJH6jwQN_nYSf6-LyFVwfXpWqNczdNheiZ/s320/3f%20Killarney%20National%20Park%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A day was also set aside for a visit to the Killarney downtown. It's such a nice small city. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5sWrMVDuQ4g1aGQHEeEWuQBQ7Pt3OehxQ1ZfdGRZyHtUKsMwDY0lDKgHYpR735RU06ZxxBdOuw2DBltyg1gp7NHi_Ks52aJe9fba4-6RtjWE88-446gJ__4Q1ZbRbaa7_eCcREgSSPI_zCMH2-rvTrlTZwoiwSK-u5yWWn9Micjbq1XZphqwxqH-oSTr/s4032/4a%20Killarney%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5sWrMVDuQ4g1aGQHEeEWuQBQ7Pt3OehxQ1ZfdGRZyHtUKsMwDY0lDKgHYpR735RU06ZxxBdOuw2DBltyg1gp7NHi_Ks52aJe9fba4-6RtjWE88-446gJ__4Q1ZbRbaa7_eCcREgSSPI_zCMH2-rvTrlTZwoiwSK-u5yWWn9Micjbq1XZphqwxqH-oSTr/s320/4a%20Killarney%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We had lunch at an outdoor cafe on this street</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedpyEsmVUoJL_WfOl0pvv0y069VXhzQnpwcM-Tn7EZrbk_VnWJ6Kvq5BTUMWq6WsUyO_B2ppkBLy99JpHYEaKJLjbMKotEixtF4w1seYPuEehB06quNRzU2w_TK6vwQwNErGMwgRkJHCOrIDepkH3CAPZNvjbiC1tjoFD6l52qD4SM5ZSGTc0rae8kPB-/s4032/4b%20Killarney%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedpyEsmVUoJL_WfOl0pvv0y069VXhzQnpwcM-Tn7EZrbk_VnWJ6Kvq5BTUMWq6WsUyO_B2ppkBLy99JpHYEaKJLjbMKotEixtF4w1seYPuEehB06quNRzU2w_TK6vwQwNErGMwgRkJHCOrIDepkH3CAPZNvjbiC1tjoFD6l52qD4SM5ZSGTc0rae8kPB-/s320/4b%20Killarney%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pedestrian mall</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Before we knew it, another week had passed by. Seriously - where do they go?</div><div>It was time to hit the road for our next port of call, Galway.</div><div>It was about a 2 1/2hr drive going directly, but again, I took the longer route along the coast.</div><div>This took us most of the day and included a ferry crossing of the Shannon River near where it empties into the Atlantic.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioU_h5Iebtq6x4DJm-k8UkwSDWspxbUNbUbE2THP27-g4LIv_pbnN8HtjpHp_GrHGEl-TIOVmVu2SAP_OtKwJNxgaUB4RlX7L8p6XqVh-9Du126F1VUxG8956Cqld2K3H84z_ywNVogTp85LQQ72t0IFASPSQJi6X734hPMyiB4OmOHRLZZ56Yr6cuYoLZ/s4032/5a%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20Tarbert%20Ferry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioU_h5Iebtq6x4DJm-k8UkwSDWspxbUNbUbE2THP27-g4LIv_pbnN8HtjpHp_GrHGEl-TIOVmVu2SAP_OtKwJNxgaUB4RlX7L8p6XqVh-9Du126F1VUxG8956Cqld2K3H84z_ywNVogTp85LQQ72t0IFASPSQJi6X734hPMyiB4OmOHRLZZ56Yr6cuYoLZ/s320/5a%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20Tarbert%20Ferry.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Ferry Queue</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was a 30 minute crossing and about 10 minutes into the trip I spotted a pod of dolphins swimming off of the port side.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVtuu3gnbGbiBJOnwVD2q4Ab8XoRzdBl1bWk3cKFo-jWFRf5YSAqi1Fngvnhw_-tUS3x25Ms0ZwuGfR7j__m0bp0LJ2TtnwZWHzHgNdeHi1gIm7_CA6T_sV5Sb7_8mh8pu5jjTJOeKSjzR0YXmNd-WeatLMmyf3vAkJY7-k1Mt-P4oHFMv0IgzndJPIPk/s4032/5b%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20Tarbert%20Ferry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVtuu3gnbGbiBJOnwVD2q4Ab8XoRzdBl1bWk3cKFo-jWFRf5YSAqi1Fngvnhw_-tUS3x25Ms0ZwuGfR7j__m0bp0LJ2TtnwZWHzHgNdeHi1gIm7_CA6T_sV5Sb7_8mh8pu5jjTJOeKSjzR0YXmNd-WeatLMmyf3vAkJY7-k1Mt-P4oHFMv0IgzndJPIPk/s320/5b%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20Tarbert%20Ferry.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dolphins in the Shannon River seen from the ferry</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />At the halfway point we passed the ferry going in the opposite direction.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBRUKQMaEcykn-ii0LPJIfsYCVxi2tGlkgI1JzBVMC02PKQesMIzs96c22s6_fWPazKPPJ3tFrMGVEj5hYKr5SgiZQMfGqqcwN7MeEbohXDJrLajK74nUnIWAbM5lfcoxYsE_3F527J7e0e_LKJ58rYOIHGX8v_Zkl6W4YeGeDFe1hEDM_f43P-eLqM2q/s4032/5c%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20Tarbert%20Ferry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBRUKQMaEcykn-ii0LPJIfsYCVxi2tGlkgI1JzBVMC02PKQesMIzs96c22s6_fWPazKPPJ3tFrMGVEj5hYKr5SgiZQMfGqqcwN7MeEbohXDJrLajK74nUnIWAbM5lfcoxYsE_3F527J7e0e_LKJ58rYOIHGX8v_Zkl6W4YeGeDFe1hEDM_f43P-eLqM2q/s320/5c%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20Tarbert%20Ferry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of our stops along the way were the Cliffs of Moher. They were very scenic (and popular) but unfortunately the light was the worst to capture them. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20RrR_E5B9yZzFTz0-_CD_55WQMUXgHGBkbzFmi_SudkX0Xs9iHV-X8lHzK1MvyaxTLlJhlE5mHkJbu4a3Z5_cRdmdNSr6PtSat1WBBNnj72uHdrM48J61DTtACHnxmUfDcE2xrsJu5O_wgi-uN9BhaKLZsA8FBY1fNKhpiGdCKfshrEaD6hcwYR_qUm8/s4032/5d%20Cliffs%20of%20Moher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20RrR_E5B9yZzFTz0-_CD_55WQMUXgHGBkbzFmi_SudkX0Xs9iHV-X8lHzK1MvyaxTLlJhlE5mHkJbu4a3Z5_cRdmdNSr6PtSat1WBBNnj72uHdrM48J61DTtACHnxmUfDcE2xrsJu5O_wgi-uN9BhaKLZsA8FBY1fNKhpiGdCKfshrEaD6hcwYR_qUm8/s320/5d%20Cliffs%20of%20Moher.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cliffs of Moher</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsoE-zAfcOagbHiqxQe3Y6S3k1fanvtigwd9JiSvtQA5bH0zLhdMc6L2tCX7lzbeMfKc7tiS-W9w_RIJcTC9U19o-1kgS72eEr-5L2xRfneGGpTUFDwFs8QeHwbLTwCoth6zJSJtTg-cY0tuN57Nx5w8xbUKdG3rOFkzfB8PqRdqZcwmBa_YYGHNoAFd3/s4032/5e%20Cliffs%20of%20Moher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsoE-zAfcOagbHiqxQe3Y6S3k1fanvtigwd9JiSvtQA5bH0zLhdMc6L2tCX7lzbeMfKc7tiS-W9w_RIJcTC9U19o-1kgS72eEr-5L2xRfneGGpTUFDwFs8QeHwbLTwCoth6zJSJtTg-cY0tuN57Nx5w8xbUKdG3rOFkzfB8PqRdqZcwmBa_YYGHNoAFd3/s320/5e%20Cliffs%20of%20Moher.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cliffs of Moher</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />About 5:30p we were rolling up the driveway of our home for 5 nights. This place was a small annexe, which means attached apartment to a main house. The owners were extremely nice and it was a good base of operations for the 5 days we were in Galway.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J6r6abWhwyGAx_qdx-OFBPKrp1KgeYHz8tYL8tC5c4LXHBaegYdCqQwYEnOsrvDtWsEftA82ofG3L_bffDF1ibL_XGOkc_Wq12dkMrW-ZzQycoD_y-xbZwCWWvHJRlkj7ZtYLu4PnzTSK53nucF7553zTacMgv4H8knw6y72ot87A0kqlbhZvH_oyUEC/s4032/6a%20Galway%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J6r6abWhwyGAx_qdx-OFBPKrp1KgeYHz8tYL8tC5c4LXHBaegYdCqQwYEnOsrvDtWsEftA82ofG3L_bffDF1ibL_XGOkc_Wq12dkMrW-ZzQycoD_y-xbZwCWWvHJRlkj7ZtYLu4PnzTSK53nucF7553zTacMgv4H8knw6y72ot87A0kqlbhZvH_oyUEC/s320/6a%20Galway%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Latin Quarter, Galway</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We stopped at a pub in the Latin Quarter for a dog friendly lunch. Ireland is dog friendly but not as much as the UK. Most places will allow dogs outside, but few allow them inside, unlike in the UK where they can come inside in many many places.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOdMuh4Nx5DbNGpflTt9NnGMQC5eNLoNZhddaIL3gce2gctKNBn_WNP1xCzU1ABNfc40tIQAbNnIFmpTwYiqqIVMIx-urvNLs6tYT55JxbiPFoHwOVIH2wLq82g_42r6I92MWe1Xw4xgCJXvvoTGPK6udoEqrAam_e_RFKmf6UjUWoTstPSG3pfFiY2AF/s4032/6b%20Galway%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOdMuh4Nx5DbNGpflTt9NnGMQC5eNLoNZhddaIL3gce2gctKNBn_WNP1xCzU1ABNfc40tIQAbNnIFmpTwYiqqIVMIx-urvNLs6tYT55JxbiPFoHwOVIH2wLq82g_42r6I92MWe1Xw4xgCJXvvoTGPK6udoEqrAam_e_RFKmf6UjUWoTstPSG3pfFiY2AF/s320/6b%20Galway%20Ireland.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pup pups</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />While in Galway we walked to the Spanish Arch. It is part of the old Medieval wall. A section that guarded the port facilities.</div><div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tQe5xVuVt0_98xJHzCWs2lHXL164ihDQPRTtLTodC2NV1w8A6rubdsIw1f5ST8Zgnm-Ejq90ktsKFc77_1MN7FGwgqyRM8fOCs3bRZS36rD7rzbCO80L-21IBYD3heLjuGKa4pGMWv_tT6y-skUx8gLo0F0O2w2MiBnoZZT9gy96dgeTsMuP85Ar2FGU/s4032/6c%20Galway%20Ireland%20Spanish%20Gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tQe5xVuVt0_98xJHzCWs2lHXL164ihDQPRTtLTodC2NV1w8A6rubdsIw1f5ST8Zgnm-Ejq90ktsKFc77_1MN7FGwgqyRM8fOCs3bRZS36rD7rzbCO80L-21IBYD3heLjuGKa4pGMWv_tT6y-skUx8gLo0F0O2w2MiBnoZZT9gy96dgeTsMuP85Ar2FGU/s320/6c%20Galway%20Ireland%20Spanish%20Gate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A day trip took us north of the city towards Connemara National Park. Along the way we stopped at the bridge that was used in filming the old film "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quiet_Man" target="_blank">The Quiet Man</a>" starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Harra.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVE8yJOAybM3WtAX6-JCA92NB6oRxdf2juIGGD4k66b2AmZBIai25-nVMgit-MlXw2KEboiUVlzLXZfl1M9FcnXxq8ch-7IETfF3ORXnGVVdVtDjIvzQFRS7Jt8lfNlLeMCI4h6PPIGgvIF_Irlsk95J4H32W_U6RMDu0k8BCthOaHEsZhcf0CzRLS7hM/s4032/6d%20Galway%20Ireland%20Quiet%20Man%20Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVE8yJOAybM3WtAX6-JCA92NB6oRxdf2juIGGD4k66b2AmZBIai25-nVMgit-MlXw2KEboiUVlzLXZfl1M9FcnXxq8ch-7IETfF3ORXnGVVdVtDjIvzQFRS7Jt8lfNlLeMCI4h6PPIGgvIF_Irlsk95J4H32W_U6RMDu0k8BCthOaHEsZhcf0CzRLS7hM/s320/6d%20Galway%20Ireland%20Quiet%20Man%20Bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Quiet Man Bridge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u5TJ2so9zZwqTcBELDjmkjblvRkpOXUpzBzkmdgvMcDyBFJItQ4eL1g5YKPoTqM81EVujfIT-qZiuYp-fEX1YD9GqgG38Jfi4UsIzCBqITWfUQg2tsiorcAJzEp_6dXT8YBJm7ZHU_xlBT3sdeXgZ9zAVJ0AbPk8FgFns198c-zKy1z0y2spg6aVzTIs/s4032/6e%20Galway%20Ireland%20Quiet%20Man%20Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u5TJ2so9zZwqTcBELDjmkjblvRkpOXUpzBzkmdgvMcDyBFJItQ4eL1g5YKPoTqM81EVujfIT-qZiuYp-fEX1YD9GqgG38Jfi4UsIzCBqITWfUQg2tsiorcAJzEp_6dXT8YBJm7ZHU_xlBT3sdeXgZ9zAVJ0AbPk8FgFns198c-zKy1z0y2spg6aVzTIs/s320/6e%20Galway%20Ireland%20Quiet%20Man%20Bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">John on the bridge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSGlI4ACCG7t53wFBooO8nUbWEJ7WRXl_nh4hArsrM5dmKeaU2j7GUbH8XA4kZHb-gKNFOux04KxUF6AnCX56qe8R7uokUiUCGl2oETHBkEfM2gcJ3P8znKosua6R3it5aLOB2h-Qk6IzLtJ671GFYy-zw9HEueSfBvCs8UL_uLJcJRplQ9onjkO54WWQ/s4032/6f%20Galway%20Ireland%20Quiet%20Man%20Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSGlI4ACCG7t53wFBooO8nUbWEJ7WRXl_nh4hArsrM5dmKeaU2j7GUbH8XA4kZHb-gKNFOux04KxUF6AnCX56qe8R7uokUiUCGl2oETHBkEfM2gcJ3P8znKosua6R3it5aLOB2h-Qk6IzLtJ671GFYy-zw9HEueSfBvCs8UL_uLJcJRplQ9onjkO54WWQ/s320/6f%20Galway%20Ireland%20Quiet%20Man%20Bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kate on the bridge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Further down the road we came across <a href="https://www.kylemoreabbey.com/" target="_blank">Kylemore Abbey</a>. Unfortunately it was dog unfriendly so we had to bypass it.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHv6PoiajCzZlaAyXTF0m1V4NK0kunB1efQKGQamMTux1Cgb9INLRDfQhRxOLwvK5tkotu-q9T9xkYyBQ7mLB1Sgq0K-x579j5faG9JBXlsv6t2MjvumUn-B3qSTSCosue84TcRoah9h-2l0coXXKraOV9OaWYiPTStSSWxul-B3OcAUdiRcZ5a66FGE0F/s4032/6g%20Galway%20Ireland%20Connemarra%20National%20Park%20Kylemore%20Abbey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHv6PoiajCzZlaAyXTF0m1V4NK0kunB1efQKGQamMTux1Cgb9INLRDfQhRxOLwvK5tkotu-q9T9xkYyBQ7mLB1Sgq0K-x579j5faG9JBXlsv6t2MjvumUn-B3qSTSCosue84TcRoah9h-2l0coXXKraOV9OaWYiPTStSSWxul-B3OcAUdiRcZ5a66FGE0F/s320/6g%20Galway%20Ireland%20Connemarra%20National%20Park%20Kylemore%20Abbey.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kylemore Abbey on the lake</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Further on we entered Connemara National Park. A mountainous area, was quite pretty but I think Killarney NP was much prettier.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqSfeyfKwxyx8F3TlD_CVL4_4noy8qx21g1YiV7xZMTLbOVeVa8gzrRqObdVijfh2_gQdNkhMHoOSgLIWCbHEKTJFpZ6P2C3zGAYn4-KXAWzxfuFXFmqN1EJ8j3bO0DAZ81ga127rph7UhNU7ox2dSl00akxgXyF3_hq4c7j8FMfDpdKp3UAfpC8m2FmY/s4032/6h%20Galway%20Ireland%20Connemarra%20National%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqSfeyfKwxyx8F3TlD_CVL4_4noy8qx21g1YiV7xZMTLbOVeVa8gzrRqObdVijfh2_gQdNkhMHoOSgLIWCbHEKTJFpZ6P2C3zGAYn4-KXAWzxfuFXFmqN1EJ8j3bO0DAZ81ga127rph7UhNU7ox2dSl00akxgXyF3_hq4c7j8FMfDpdKp3UAfpC8m2FmY/s320/6h%20Galway%20Ireland%20Connemarra%20National%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View in Connemara National Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3NCQtn7fKsTgTjqMngffdK6LxORxj_DG_xYBjLhF5IuHZOvAETpc8eGTx1xxhdYzO0Q2PF3RJ7WtQJV4hwwlw-wcsFOjFfY_23D1QmG_008ytjuI5qo9xxsUGE2VZb3ZbFqAgxnaY9xWp0vkt-YEo0MQd-A6WRovLPHSqfPVNDxJp4IbUrsyvkA3EhJ0/s4032/6i%20Galway%20Ireland%20Connemarra%20National%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3NCQtn7fKsTgTjqMngffdK6LxORxj_DG_xYBjLhF5IuHZOvAETpc8eGTx1xxhdYzO0Q2PF3RJ7WtQJV4hwwlw-wcsFOjFfY_23D1QmG_008ytjuI5qo9xxsUGE2VZb3ZbFqAgxnaY9xWp0vkt-YEo0MQd-A6WRovLPHSqfPVNDxJp4IbUrsyvkA3EhJ0/s320/6i%20Galway%20Ireland%20Connemarra%20National%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Driving in Connemara National Park<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>We timed our arrival back to near our home in time for a late lunch/early dinner. So by 4 pm or so we were rollup up to Morans Oyster Cottage. We grabbed a picnic table in the covered section in case of rain. Soon we were having the obligatory Guiness.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtyKGnYHnxIN9UHC4gN5ns3JemEoHEeCnsq5wSn_MdY471BQIHrI1psqwu8amWAWPqabQZrSaDh_J0iasvkN2lmsh28TZ-LM-us-aN3keutLjDDyOJZD5DSF80wiNN6Z8piI2SA33lPJxc1qifZzXJ9kTIGnQ_kmFoMDOPN81TBj9k6tu1FPrh9VQin1o/s4032/7a.Galway%20Morans%20Oyster%20Cottage%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtyKGnYHnxIN9UHC4gN5ns3JemEoHEeCnsq5wSn_MdY471BQIHrI1psqwu8amWAWPqabQZrSaDh_J0iasvkN2lmsh28TZ-LM-us-aN3keutLjDDyOJZD5DSF80wiNN6Z8piI2SA33lPJxc1qifZzXJ9kTIGnQ_kmFoMDOPN81TBj9k6tu1FPrh9VQin1o/s320/7a.Galway%20Morans%20Oyster%20Cottage%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Followed by Oysters Thermidor and steamed garlic Mussels for starters. We polished that off with Fish & Chips for me and Kate had a whole lobster.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGntFLirz5cvpfDlYWEHl1SLla8PxPD5rT13qR3QUn6M4PGxq3kqjwjOU4Xjcbh_c6mnalck40WeEHnJWU0xeBEEyZDABuJORQGVzrRCLcKmLXObbEgHI212fhEsuYVgYK3IJzIJNlIDVrvlNeXYgHL-g5-8ztQPgfY0RSsXL_LItHUff6RcqbmREy-ev/s4032/7b.Galway%20Morans%20Oyster%20Cottage%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGntFLirz5cvpfDlYWEHl1SLla8PxPD5rT13qR3QUn6M4PGxq3kqjwjOU4Xjcbh_c6mnalck40WeEHnJWU0xeBEEyZDABuJORQGVzrRCLcKmLXObbEgHI212fhEsuYVgYK3IJzIJNlIDVrvlNeXYgHL-g5-8ztQPgfY0RSsXL_LItHUff6RcqbmREy-ev/s320/7b.Galway%20Morans%20Oyster%20Cottage%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Right on the estuary, the restaurant has a great view.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7DOIwyC4RIpjP5Rc_dd5SLZ9rSmVloQB93JavWW_f4Npj5YG4i4wFhx00pPRd1UR6zq_z2GN3Nr_HrRDbMCV_9ZS7QjbWQNyiIhcSdWS_7YT-ogdvpPekxGAzTgmkSTV4nUl2W7lP7iZWgZD4hYEJB9Wu75PhUcVptkpYyXUKKf-yZHx208EGwK2Oc-N/s4032/7c.Galway%20Morans%20Oyster%20Cottage%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7DOIwyC4RIpjP5Rc_dd5SLZ9rSmVloQB93JavWW_f4Npj5YG4i4wFhx00pPRd1UR6zq_z2GN3Nr_HrRDbMCV_9ZS7QjbWQNyiIhcSdWS_7YT-ogdvpPekxGAzTgmkSTV4nUl2W7lP7iZWgZD4hYEJB9Wu75PhUcVptkpYyXUKKf-yZHx208EGwK2Oc-N/s320/7c.Galway%20Morans%20Oyster%20Cottage%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Thursday was our last day here and it dawned rainy. We'd had plenty of light rain while here but this was the real thing. To wet for us dry landers to venture about. The weather forecast was now for several days of this.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I set up a few places that we could drive to and view. The first was a very scenic castle called <a href="https://www.dunguairecastle.com/" target="_blank">Dunguaire Castle</a>. Noted to be one of the most photographed in Ireland due to its scenic perch above the water. It is called a castle but actually it was not for military purposes, but rather was simply the home of a wealthy individual. Having your own castle home in those days was the rage.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkpOnvqqH5z4HabMBmV85-NFKn6IbESSQgxu8psPr02xqV2dfuoaXhjRcsuOSkKNNt91YIJl6aOpoCydUCeVC0XGnGgiVM3qYdGxgJfiz3TJPRdTkhStO6mq8M8aKVIXWKoavu0yNuafdbuKpyQB410eeDTEacqx4ZAa32t_3h_p7Umx_xyUu8E4Im8Yo/s4032/7d%20Dunguaire%20Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkpOnvqqH5z4HabMBmV85-NFKn6IbESSQgxu8psPr02xqV2dfuoaXhjRcsuOSkKNNt91YIJl6aOpoCydUCeVC0XGnGgiVM3qYdGxgJfiz3TJPRdTkhStO6mq8M8aKVIXWKoavu0yNuafdbuKpyQB410eeDTEacqx4ZAa32t_3h_p7Umx_xyUu8E4Im8Yo/s320/7d%20Dunguaire%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Next on the list was the <a href="https://yeatsthoorballylee.org/home/" target="_blank">Thoor Ballylee Yeats Tower</a>. Built during the 14th century it is a fine specimen of that style and period. It was restored by and home to the famous Irish Poet <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._B._Yeats" target="_blank">WB Yeats</a>, and is where he wrote many of his works.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0rdXXp1etsGrCMyd4TVknIBxpN75LgarGtpQfIpZJLWuSjkhyj_vp8RQ8lOOxt8rfnpBvovrALrKNfG80_zRezJ9gDHFB9uBnTsLMmsASbWOPNTWPeH41BDrzQ792zCLkknmry3X3d9KVWHwayKXjz2LZURYN5urKehZ0UCHxeAmyb4b_5eUmTn4LzBK/s4032/7e%20Galway%20Yeats%20Tower%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0rdXXp1etsGrCMyd4TVknIBxpN75LgarGtpQfIpZJLWuSjkhyj_vp8RQ8lOOxt8rfnpBvovrALrKNfG80_zRezJ9gDHFB9uBnTsLMmsASbWOPNTWPeH41BDrzQ792zCLkknmry3X3d9KVWHwayKXjz2LZURYN5urKehZ0UCHxeAmyb4b_5eUmTn4LzBK/s320/7e%20Galway%20Yeats%20Tower%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jf31265otaK-DjF-CceWxN0Y5_FkOYj2cw9t6DNYckXf4eLL97AFYnQnU6kemc98NqD9I4TZcPQV00NswC-blExWnB_sO3_N5Lr2ayOhaJKIWDTZm2xXD8Kdv0hkbCmvfz5rEl-t9AiNMILaBmwSAf3q4-WZu08g4aOmSWWZIVfUbda-NAs0_kpdTIF6/s4032/7f%20Galway%20Yeats%20Tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jf31265otaK-DjF-CceWxN0Y5_FkOYj2cw9t6DNYckXf4eLL97AFYnQnU6kemc98NqD9I4TZcPQV00NswC-blExWnB_sO3_N5Lr2ayOhaJKIWDTZm2xXD8Kdv0hkbCmvfz5rEl-t9AiNMILaBmwSAf3q4-WZu08g4aOmSWWZIVfUbda-NAs0_kpdTIF6/s320/7f%20Galway%20Yeats%20Tower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another 5 days passed in the blink of an eye and as I write this, I am sitting in our new home away from home. A converted barge floating in Belfast Harbor Marina. It was a windy, rainly 4 hr drive here and when we arrived it was still coming down in buckets. We had good rain gear, but the dogs.... well that is another story. Fortunately today it is mostly sunny with just a few periods of light rain here and there.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDopN3HZjHPHhayRMCo11S1u8JyiViqF6-0E94BNRImfEzb52x6OGomKUKVd5RAJy56RcLODS_8WPVP6AbnKvpJF4ujaX9hBAAm1Xp_sAwnlNGMnTY2sgtOYUu0cUIWSyvhmWi9grFOc7NAzKQ94IvXENYdjmRUGwry4RWGXouqD4d629m_HrDHlBFJsm/s4032/8a%20Barge%20at%20Titanic%20Belfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDopN3HZjHPHhayRMCo11S1u8JyiViqF6-0E94BNRImfEzb52x6OGomKUKVd5RAJy56RcLODS_8WPVP6AbnKvpJF4ujaX9hBAAm1Xp_sAwnlNGMnTY2sgtOYUu0cUIWSyvhmWi9grFOc7NAzKQ94IvXENYdjmRUGwry4RWGXouqD4d629m_HrDHlBFJsm/s320/8a%20Barge%20at%20Titanic%20Belfast.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The living room of "The barge at Titanic"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>We are staying in a section of Belfast known as "the Titanic Quarter.</div><div>Titanic was built and launched here. The photo below shows the Titanic Museum in the background. </div><div>The building with the slanted walls. The Harland & Wolfe Shipyard was right behind that building. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, just to the right of the museum you can see Titanic Studios, where Game of Thrones was filmed.</div><div>A lot going on in this small area.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXCXT1ifoAYXOdlvsMhR-EVwyIrj6HPkcJdSzpDgKGyrRIpU9rmCFEJp4qQY57rAJmurjnKT4X86-o33lAwuyeBNjWaEzmH7n_9otvBZfNcPTyRDTuHuKTe5SA7jrfKBC5OE7hRtZskRLwDaajLGAFrE2zTQsqGbl2ABefqVebghklEJwZ2lIsKj6APXH/s4032/8b%20Barge%20at%20Titanic%20Belfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXCXT1ifoAYXOdlvsMhR-EVwyIrj6HPkcJdSzpDgKGyrRIpU9rmCFEJp4qQY57rAJmurjnKT4X86-o33lAwuyeBNjWaEzmH7n_9otvBZfNcPTyRDTuHuKTe5SA7jrfKBC5OE7hRtZskRLwDaajLGAFrE2zTQsqGbl2ABefqVebghklEJwZ2lIsKj6APXH/s320/8b%20Barge%20at%20Titanic%20Belfast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A view of the barge - looking down from the living area to the galley</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_iwy3ZVfne_PL4WPj3mDgvg9Jqh5eT8-kNxcc5Tjfu14VDy2M-Lvc3RLrQxwWONlHQPtrMCtfnSnc9UBYHZlMu5fDcBjqis4X6kjIZTAd0HyJw60jOMxisgKjlFSaD3qTwF2EcRdpiNEmzzZJ4VbeACqqFivGHVFVMj3OCOCdlLSxl-FtgTH_NjBFFwWA/s4032/8c%20Barge%20at%20Titanic%20Belfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_iwy3ZVfne_PL4WPj3mDgvg9Jqh5eT8-kNxcc5Tjfu14VDy2M-Lvc3RLrQxwWONlHQPtrMCtfnSnc9UBYHZlMu5fDcBjqis4X6kjIZTAd0HyJw60jOMxisgKjlFSaD3qTwF2EcRdpiNEmzzZJ4VbeACqqFivGHVFVMj3OCOCdlLSxl-FtgTH_NjBFFwWA/s320/8c%20Barge%20at%20Titanic%20Belfast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Looking out over the marina as evening sets in.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5WQzJfkdknRwSVQXQg9gPCUojj5Le9jRbavpO4ZyJuL84GTRTUIHMgMP0hh6YIpyHJ4KhBGrkCJEKJnN8InzRR_QZ7w-ocYz1rtLzaQmlqoUXdeb5aXq5NbBryDdhMDenn_ZZ5YfE5Zoplw7uHPHsz72a53hdRc0tt65dAPgCo7sJmnEHDUqmG3BdAvu/s4032/8d%20Barge%20at%20Titanic%20Belfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5WQzJfkdknRwSVQXQg9gPCUojj5Le9jRbavpO4ZyJuL84GTRTUIHMgMP0hh6YIpyHJ4KhBGrkCJEKJnN8InzRR_QZ7w-ocYz1rtLzaQmlqoUXdeb5aXq5NbBryDdhMDenn_ZZ5YfE5Zoplw7uHPHsz72a53hdRc0tt65dAPgCo7sJmnEHDUqmG3BdAvu/s320/8d%20Barge%20at%20Titanic%20Belfast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today we visited the Titanic Museum and some of the other Titanic sites right here around the marina.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But I'll bring you up to date on all of that next time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomorrow we have a 0730 ferry departure for Scotland. Leaving the ferry on the other side we have a 3.5hr drive to the Lake District in England. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have to be in the Ferry Queue by 0630 so its off and running in the am.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We'll see you in on the other side of the Irish Sea.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-34464317838733487232023-06-30T14:35:00.001-06:002023-06-30T14:35:16.775-06:00Ireland - Wicklow to Kinsale<div style="text-align: left;">Our first 2 weeks on the Emerald Isle has been a blast. And a real eye-opener. I think the Irish might just be the nicest people on earth! Or at least perhaps the friendliest people on that part of earth that we have visited thus far. While it certainly doesn't hurt to walk around with a 5 month old fur-ball of a puppy, it seems like we cannot walk very far down a street without meeting someone and spending 15 minutes or so in conversation.<br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Our travels thus far are shown on the map below which comes from our clickable "<i><b>where are we today</b></i>?" link over on the right hand side of the page.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The map that you can generate on the blog will actually show you everywhere that we have been. Including our day trips. More precisely - it shows anywhere that my phone has been since the phone reports our position to the blog every 5 minutes. 24/7<br /><br />Since arriving in Rosslare on the ferry we traveled north to Wicklow and spent a week.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then we moved south to just north of Waterford (think Waterford Crystal) and spent 4 nights in the country on the Hook Peninsula.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Finally - from there we moved further south and west along the coast to Kinsale, where we have been for the last 6 days. We will be here for 1 more and then will move on to our next stop on Sunday.<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0njXlS-DtA6LT63wEmUhE-xm7yszkqyxXXmX5NeGOhs231cs4s7Vz_387N6ITBzNDdykx2JhOQbzT1xX8cf2KlNlGVbEwC_hc3Nb-mhWLTH-k0kqgWs09aq1rzdHnf1Vc9hctD3BPjKireyQhuOMduf6NbEvyj1IleVfdGsL8bF7mUo5dZd0pmn9Yh4Vf/s3344/1A%20TRIP%20MAP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1796" data-original-width="3344" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0njXlS-DtA6LT63wEmUhE-xm7yszkqyxXXmX5NeGOhs231cs4s7Vz_387N6ITBzNDdykx2JhOQbzT1xX8cf2KlNlGVbEwC_hc3Nb-mhWLTH-k0kqgWs09aq1rzdHnf1Vc9hctD3BPjKireyQhuOMduf6NbEvyj1IleVfdGsL8bF7mUo5dZd0pmn9Yh4Vf/s320/1A%20TRIP%20MAP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our travels since arriving in Ireland</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While at our lovely accommodations on the farm in Wicklow, we made a few day trips. First on the list was a ride into the Wicklow Mountains National Park, up to the intersection called "Sally Gap". Along the way we stopped to admire the beautiful Lough Tay. Down in the valley at the end of the lake is an old estate. Once owned by the Guiness Family, it was sold a few years back to some silent investors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ3YhzEvuxUy7oPWRKFxyU0koGGQXt2qhk-OsU4PC8C_IYdnbWELaYVAZxomLAsz1t2OrgaH_8yPs51M2pRmQGKNTcU9yuUTUGvtPxDjQBCxIU_11J4p1ayoyFunrG_w_huJ6-5xqu43rHMpPuypBJJuTUGEXzBhGgJIeHRESdSBEohgbg2mEvZxJJ6IR/s4032/1b%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park%20Loc%20Tay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ3YhzEvuxUy7oPWRKFxyU0koGGQXt2qhk-OsU4PC8C_IYdnbWELaYVAZxomLAsz1t2OrgaH_8yPs51M2pRmQGKNTcU9yuUTUGvtPxDjQBCxIU_11J4p1ayoyFunrG_w_huJ6-5xqu43rHMpPuypBJJuTUGEXzBhGgJIeHRESdSBEohgbg2mEvZxJJ6IR/s320/1b%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park%20Loc%20Tay.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lough Tay</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDtNnnqEpX0LqeDMWprzzqM3bX1rFH6qbj7HSliQOsujyzQBf7NBsEYblRe0z7pMqJDOE58hrUGRAMPxCYybL463ExdnR3kcNj02JWLA31lTfd84wWnYBCmegXAy6a7wwMi7ayszbLXaT3Z63cIeyhO5bI43P_MDn34UNb3kR8yJIxaOIwKReo-0eX6dJ/s4032/1c%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDtNnnqEpX0LqeDMWprzzqM3bX1rFH6qbj7HSliQOsujyzQBf7NBsEYblRe0z7pMqJDOE58hrUGRAMPxCYybL463ExdnR3kcNj02JWLA31lTfd84wWnYBCmegXAy6a7wwMi7ayszbLXaT3Z63cIeyhO5bI43P_MDn34UNb3kR8yJIxaOIwKReo-0eX6dJ/s320/1c%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lovebirds at Lough Tay</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A bit further up the road towards Sally Gap we stopped at the bridge that was used in the movie: PS I Love You. I did not see the movie but Kate did. We looked at the clips in the movie to confirm this was indeed the real spot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pBDnWZ8YRbtu4jzNDk6o9edGUW6dcozf_MoG4sY9tncRU0bRCFLC3rMT1cj1FeE1PkiZWN4LHh_GqZDzkSGFv_qCF1DHjSj8kGsF2NS8gcLHxtbyEieirIXXAbi5DwULEP6zZEx85BMsUgzyWHIvWsr6bFbH0zpkjOsvR_jRjsnXAoUYKBg1R_GmoSDT/s4032/1d%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park%20PS%20I%20love%20you%20bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pBDnWZ8YRbtu4jzNDk6o9edGUW6dcozf_MoG4sY9tncRU0bRCFLC3rMT1cj1FeE1PkiZWN4LHh_GqZDzkSGFv_qCF1DHjSj8kGsF2NS8gcLHxtbyEieirIXXAbi5DwULEP6zZEx85BMsUgzyWHIvWsr6bFbH0zpkjOsvR_jRjsnXAoUYKBg1R_GmoSDT/s320/1d%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park%20PS%20I%20love%20you%20bridge.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Below the bridge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoNUT1sNPMJP68TZ-tCD-vT_ZPRf7uMiRTnPMxni1fDJyIA_RPq4TlRQZiN75qVF-ob14AaVG-uVT4J1Uzb14iTarNUuhUPieQhOAkp-2C0JdOQvr9LjLyqwxKhrdhaNbGJbq_8m6wvQy_O0STKkXtujyKhCCOxmN_hhxpFrwmUTtcxC5GaX2Y4R9MhHe/s4032/1e%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park%20PS%20I%20love%20you%20bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoNUT1sNPMJP68TZ-tCD-vT_ZPRf7uMiRTnPMxni1fDJyIA_RPq4TlRQZiN75qVF-ob14AaVG-uVT4J1Uzb14iTarNUuhUPieQhOAkp-2C0JdOQvr9LjLyqwxKhrdhaNbGJbq_8m6wvQy_O0STKkXtujyKhCCOxmN_hhxpFrwmUTtcxC5GaX2Y4R9MhHe/s320/1e%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park%20PS%20I%20love%20you%20bridge.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The bridge as was in the movie</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After reaching Sally Gap we turned left (south) and traveled along <a href="https://visitwicklow.ie/listing/old-military-road/" target="_blank">Old Military Road</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The roads here were built by the British between 1800 and 1809 in the aftermath of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Rebellion_of_1798" target="_blank">1798 Irish Rebellion</a>. The Irish were inspired by the success of the American Revolution a decade or so earlier, and tried to throw the English out of Ireland. After the rebellion was put down, the roads were built to provide better access for the English troops to flush out the remaining rebels who were hiding in the mountains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBHbrKcqaZLwF1T_jJVzj7kQOXncO0XFaHfTLUmeRwbpDJFNyGLtFe86f0Sqeyi2HXLFqZZiSaBPqVQntG0lKTPGvlD_uAjSD8EMNLCjMDZJ7DLBnHJJEEesv4lFjw7LikADj9ZutYE17I-h4iBYfvjPoXdmgKQ_n1xLuFSMXdIjs0Gh8EHrpgfaIAit2/s4032/1f%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBHbrKcqaZLwF1T_jJVzj7kQOXncO0XFaHfTLUmeRwbpDJFNyGLtFe86f0Sqeyi2HXLFqZZiSaBPqVQntG0lKTPGvlD_uAjSD8EMNLCjMDZJ7DLBnHJJEEesv4lFjw7LikADj9ZutYE17I-h4iBYfvjPoXdmgKQ_n1xLuFSMXdIjs0Gh8EHrpgfaIAit2/s320/1f%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Old Military Rd in Wicklow Mountains National Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The views above and below could be Alaska or the Yukon. It looks similar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPKuF2ETNnEYMzPc9SoKb4K8H-ZbbXjHNsVbNPnhjE7GTCTN8rg7eelLE8yusXV_WC10GxcQDBEzETn0IR5UEG6JT4KzTcTeQzza-UCxbySLkXC0enzOmHvJQdZZ_f98MU4wwyn-3pWiv4Z3SVjpj7EU8d98n1ZnK7CxYllHo7KEvRc4dJKNs_kXuTfsr/s4032/1g%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPKuF2ETNnEYMzPc9SoKb4K8H-ZbbXjHNsVbNPnhjE7GTCTN8rg7eelLE8yusXV_WC10GxcQDBEzETn0IR5UEG6JT4KzTcTeQzza-UCxbySLkXC0enzOmHvJQdZZ_f98MU4wwyn-3pWiv4Z3SVjpj7EU8d98n1ZnK7CxYllHo7KEvRc4dJKNs_kXuTfsr/s320/1g%20Wicklow%20Mountains%20national%20Park.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Old Military Rd in Wicklow Mountains National Park</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another day we took a trip up to the seaside town of Bray. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPlOvQsaRBktiedwyXrei41tC5ILYEsPlxXKgP9Br54qOjvpY8oree_BdvrqTwNC50iXoaAJ2A_c7FE1eLgZ7z6LJevcMH24U5otjNmbYBsyyrAgB5TpYa7mjcGOn0ySAMZ3CMZNiJ5Q3iP4jKEgbd76AjsLzEUPP0uT5JbvNPkkNymNWzUdCreRcRJdn/s4032/2a%20Bray%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPlOvQsaRBktiedwyXrei41tC5ILYEsPlxXKgP9Br54qOjvpY8oree_BdvrqTwNC50iXoaAJ2A_c7FE1eLgZ7z6LJevcMH24U5otjNmbYBsyyrAgB5TpYa7mjcGOn0ySAMZ3CMZNiJ5Q3iP4jKEgbd76AjsLzEUPP0uT5JbvNPkkNymNWzUdCreRcRJdn/s320/2a%20Bray%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unlike the US beaches, many of the beaches here are rounded stone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXemwzI28t46JB-_ngTPGHYNe47BqCZ0MJtbxdMg1B0MhMV37vqXliMZ9mF0KARgCl8h4IhNGWm1m3UYJivZtgp4Y-vXI_-eZBpfPEC7gjtlsAr4trpAQaKqTQB_5Djl51m7L7ESuZrcs0GseaFh-yUmBym9IM0J0MNpOmeD9iMRuwO3b3DioO59SJKYX/s4032/2b%20Bray%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXemwzI28t46JB-_ngTPGHYNe47BqCZ0MJtbxdMg1B0MhMV37vqXliMZ9mF0KARgCl8h4IhNGWm1m3UYJivZtgp4Y-vXI_-eZBpfPEC7gjtlsAr4trpAQaKqTQB_5Djl51m7L7ESuZrcs0GseaFh-yUmBym9IM0J0MNpOmeD9iMRuwO3b3DioO59SJKYX/s320/2b%20Bray%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Later that day we headed for lunch to the town of Laragh, and the Wicklow Heather Restaurant. Poor Lucy seems out of sorts since the loss of Gracie and shes not been up to walks, so we've been leaving her home for a bit to let her rest up. Fortunately, Lucy has always been one to seek her own space so we feel this is a good choice for her. Hopefully as the time passes, she will snap out of her funk and perk up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkD9OozuFn6FSPWfWKCloP0rGFDxvbEVJenwKUAmbhsByeQIHvoAVghkqm4AF3oQKpyCgIWjvBNkV0jd_PgmacPm7vzelcYK0MFJmY-_qJpgBgKViY4nEAyWPBAn1PIJ-RylPEk-Ou05AgSOqaIj1bXA-CNOfVkKntv2EtnOvnem0Ylqq-KxClSc3-AIi/s4032/2c%20Wicklow%20Heather%20Resturant%20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkD9OozuFn6FSPWfWKCloP0rGFDxvbEVJenwKUAmbhsByeQIHvoAVghkqm4AF3oQKpyCgIWjvBNkV0jd_PgmacPm7vzelcYK0MFJmY-_qJpgBgKViY4nEAyWPBAn1PIJ-RylPEk-Ou05AgSOqaIj1bXA-CNOfVkKntv2EtnOvnem0Ylqq-KxClSc3-AIi/s320/2c%20Wicklow%20Heather%20Resturant%20.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie eyes the liver pate'</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our last night on the farm said goodbye with a pretty nice sunset.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdULMIelQXWwkmdMh9XFE18jfXNxF8XXkwP2l76oi9JIzms-bXa4bc9DIqpPRChaJ7oc7kq3Ibr9WeLHgNjJyGZdxbZ5z-R4C3IeFZULpKpPt-r4vRWzi4rY_3jrfA4W1tpLze6sxWCs7zGxlmlLBGJY1utHHvc0eK1PS9J2cXSM218QpFZ4SCuH5F8aU/s4032/2d%20Blackditch%20Farm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdULMIelQXWwkmdMh9XFE18jfXNxF8XXkwP2l76oi9JIzms-bXa4bc9DIqpPRChaJ7oc7kq3Ibr9WeLHgNjJyGZdxbZ5z-R4C3IeFZULpKpPt-r4vRWzi4rY_3jrfA4W1tpLze6sxWCs7zGxlmlLBGJY1utHHvc0eK1PS9J2cXSM218QpFZ4SCuH5F8aU/s320/2d%20Blackditch%20Farm.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our next stop was about 90 min south, so we had some time to kill before we could check in a 3pm so on the way we made a side trip to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Arboretum" target="_blank">John F Kennedy Arboretum</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Built by the Irish Republic, it consists of over 600 acres on a hill overlooking the ancestral Kennedy home. It was completed in 1968 in tribute to JFK after his untimely death in 1963 just months after his visit to Ireland. It was said that his visit to Ireland was a pivotal moment in the Republic's history, one that awakened the modern Irish spirit that continues to this day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-sEwzpspOc3cBP9ckrudVOiHLoB2JW-jfIXqfxkGU8APmIIAhEYyfrSX-D4lmU1pJErfqyCO05gQauPyO9Zi7BJ7Qs1lpxd-Y_16UIaUdcb5V8ljhQAWWFONJVCRpC5N4TpRQqRqTc0-6oPA225SvIj-C067MSXdzuwych28-c8T5SpWdGt5vh7GFwSE/s4032/2e%20Kennedy%20Arboretum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-sEwzpspOc3cBP9ckrudVOiHLoB2JW-jfIXqfxkGU8APmIIAhEYyfrSX-D4lmU1pJErfqyCO05gQauPyO9Zi7BJ7Qs1lpxd-Y_16UIaUdcb5V8ljhQAWWFONJVCRpC5N4TpRQqRqTc0-6oPA225SvIj-C067MSXdzuwych28-c8T5SpWdGt5vh7GFwSE/s320/2e%20Kennedy%20Arboretum.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Walking the trails in the JFK Arboretum</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The arboretum contains over 5,000 types of trees and shrubs from all over the world including over 1,000 types of rhododendrons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKvSVIXDb0TM7OORTRB4Wlc_C3OkC55EnPLLqyqLC7lCbJz4QVgVa0wPtRb9AiyaT664oGvFbyixjTDj2YcYTwwtsSo1nbe5zRPl8fWG09Ymom-VTqdLq_8v_bk0QPc58KqneSrtC8ZyU5YZ03B7PZbJbG-a7hzUycp_eWuHAuIeYNM3eW5JqHvdUY9A8/s4032/2f%20Kennedy%20Arboretum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKvSVIXDb0TM7OORTRB4Wlc_C3OkC55EnPLLqyqLC7lCbJz4QVgVa0wPtRb9AiyaT664oGvFbyixjTDj2YcYTwwtsSo1nbe5zRPl8fWG09Ymom-VTqdLq_8v_bk0QPc58KqneSrtC8ZyU5YZ03B7PZbJbG-a7hzUycp_eWuHAuIeYNM3eW5JqHvdUY9A8/s320/2f%20Kennedy%20Arboretum.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We took both dogs for walks thru the park, but again, Lucy was dragging so we had to cut it a bit shorter than we would have preferred. After walking the Arboretum, we headed up to the top of a nearby hill that gave us a 360° view of the surrounding countryside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuZTQyxNfnbkTRct1biX-5SY8X-w_y0URHIVlq1kjjgZFOI74wSafPlhhvwJean4WDM3jNOvBcN_jYM6vbOPbyRNrwxh1PSWxFleMtmc03fkqwkAQKU5MeNZgtpeenPW6WRpyh8mMc28ERWNnynDzQI5c8Mw0kwZLpRhCT6u4duqHGpavBMnRpov3iZGp/s4032/2g%20Kennedy%20Arboretum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuZTQyxNfnbkTRct1biX-5SY8X-w_y0URHIVlq1kjjgZFOI74wSafPlhhvwJean4WDM3jNOvBcN_jYM6vbOPbyRNrwxh1PSWxFleMtmc03fkqwkAQKU5MeNZgtpeenPW6WRpyh8mMc28ERWNnynDzQI5c8Mw0kwZLpRhCT6u4duqHGpavBMnRpov3iZGp/s320/2g%20Kennedy%20Arboretum.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pup on a rock</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7fb1yHt8C1NvcKF5poD2IJTz5KESfI_kAj42fvrJMmNMKm5zgURgP-30q1GwzXaWAOGn0eHMg8IfMpXYZ0NkeAcponzpFCsuLncr-wwKcoJ3_FyEuRNeo5a6_by1IFLEamSY4so54sfY3mFe0dPCGJDIiGohGgWZBV9REQrO9p8J2rVsf3ZDaZLAz00l/s4032/2h%20Kennedy%20Arboretum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7fb1yHt8C1NvcKF5poD2IJTz5KESfI_kAj42fvrJMmNMKm5zgURgP-30q1GwzXaWAOGn0eHMg8IfMpXYZ0NkeAcponzpFCsuLncr-wwKcoJ3_FyEuRNeo5a6_by1IFLEamSY4so54sfY3mFe0dPCGJDIiGohGgWZBV9REQrO9p8J2rVsf3ZDaZLAz00l/s320/2h%20Kennedy%20Arboretum.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Views from the top</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By now it was about 3pm and we were only 30 minutes from our AirBnb, so we headed down the little roads out onto the Hook Peninsula. Along the way we passed this church and I had to stop and get a shot of it - it just thought the scene was so pretty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3_0PU8iEDcWhYwm5pbQVj5IFmOPqKfTdH83oU_DfGBxNQWrzamhmJNct9Z-5n1-xV7WABu7QGnA5LfnWP5CMdJOq6-RUsl0eW2C5GLd6_NV7oFMQyHQxoRL4mHOgiKavg9Fuj3pJ5sZnIDV3ragxU0qwpkQyoBImaP100bVPj7kIC5NMnYcf-TNFfVth/s4032/3a%20Templetown%20County%20Wexford.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3_0PU8iEDcWhYwm5pbQVj5IFmOPqKfTdH83oU_DfGBxNQWrzamhmJNct9Z-5n1-xV7WABu7QGnA5LfnWP5CMdJOq6-RUsl0eW2C5GLd6_NV7oFMQyHQxoRL4mHOgiKavg9Fuj3pJ5sZnIDV3ragxU0qwpkQyoBImaP100bVPj7kIC5NMnYcf-TNFfVth/s320/3a%20Templetown%20County%20Wexford.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Templetown Church, County Wexford</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our first day on the Hook Peninsula saw us heading about 30 minutes to visit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tintern_Abbey,_County_Wexford" target="_blank">The Tintern Abbey</a> and the adjacent Colclough Walled Gardens. The abbey dates to about 1200 and was built by William Marshall, a soldier/statesman as a result of a vow he made while on a boat nearby and caught in a storm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The abbey was taken by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries (sound familiar?) and given to Anthony Colclough a soldier in his army. It remained in the Colclough family until 1959 when it was given to the state. The walled garden was built in the 1800's and contains not only flowers but fruits and vegetables. It is 2.5 acres in size.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OkqrlaP_5xovusVUYY79sqlhtBslTLyBC81m9NEZduavob9wUu-3REGdO_8LPHbNMmn5ldzMOjIudq0s1sIa-UOBbBPl_s8A1K1CRHLKjnU92pBgPJx4_UH4XaljrP4xcD0_eYOu32UwiONyVdXwcXxYWf60t6GZ6DWTgoI3X1E3geZWs5v5lcYG_XYG/s4032/3b%20Tinturn%20Abbey%20Colclough%20Walled%20Garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OkqrlaP_5xovusVUYY79sqlhtBslTLyBC81m9NEZduavob9wUu-3REGdO_8LPHbNMmn5ldzMOjIudq0s1sIa-UOBbBPl_s8A1K1CRHLKjnU92pBgPJx4_UH4XaljrP4xcD0_eYOu32UwiONyVdXwcXxYWf60t6GZ6DWTgoI3X1E3geZWs5v5lcYG_XYG/s320/3b%20Tinturn%20Abbey%20Colclough%20Walled%20Garden.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Inside The walled garden</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OXaJuXZbcjgmPuBkwuAzCeoszxJ_G15PbI3pv2EyYDadrgCuvUmT9mtR2mg6CWdqNorUt129gIFbLA3IahlWAbiOX0pKJ_RDIzC8G2HV9DWOsAKxgCblKDMItf4iVdx0agJQbB-ROY4cLmveEbQwuDAGM7AEUlorberok4VBmnc-kgnDjwakVrSWTQQt/s4032/3c%20Tinturn%20Abbey%20Colclough%20Walled%20Garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OXaJuXZbcjgmPuBkwuAzCeoszxJ_G15PbI3pv2EyYDadrgCuvUmT9mtR2mg6CWdqNorUt129gIFbLA3IahlWAbiOX0pKJ_RDIzC8G2HV9DWOsAKxgCblKDMItf4iVdx0agJQbB-ROY4cLmveEbQwuDAGM7AEUlorberok4VBmnc-kgnDjwakVrSWTQQt/s320/3c%20Tinturn%20Abbey%20Colclough%20Walled%20Garden.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Passage between gardens</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG9ULHLZkkyeWzzKLmrdwU-6fiEQM26gOToSdgGJA4JvWs_7rEoiTmdnx9EJYX1vh7LrpfxUBW4TFXshg9Zk8rJ9VuRpHFnMPUa0Qs9Ptnj8SoVqOhTUatlFiM3xuldIXRUcO3KbNAwLUpO0ME7appsbAphnJf7WzCO-SvvUKclFHbxHdXlcnl0aV44X2/s4032/3d%20Tinturn%20Abbey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG9ULHLZkkyeWzzKLmrdwU-6fiEQM26gOToSdgGJA4JvWs_7rEoiTmdnx9EJYX1vh7LrpfxUBW4TFXshg9Zk8rJ9VuRpHFnMPUa0Qs9Ptnj8SoVqOhTUatlFiM3xuldIXRUcO3KbNAwLUpO0ME7appsbAphnJf7WzCO-SvvUKclFHbxHdXlcnl0aV44X2/s320/3d%20Tinturn%20Abbey.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View of Tintern Abbey</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Parts of the roof of the abbey is gone. On the walls you can see the stones sticking out what were used to hold the floor beams. One of the neat things about the ruins of these old buildings is that it allows a better understand as to how they were built.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW412OnmRybrUhZpuUJBfuyr3mcqsr0ajxr0bY5rJBqEDdgYhcHcpPyRlZX7A0rTGSs6dqv0iXFNovnYb40Fzb6brnJLfJX6EXL_ijLwxpoFIfgoY7Lgd9KW8Z0sD0LRx60dA3KnwigzavKVTQoIswJYMXQCHhFSryA8L7dRHvm99HHRaYBeyFE-B9BJ6/s4032/3e%20Tinturn%20Abbey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW412OnmRybrUhZpuUJBfuyr3mcqsr0ajxr0bY5rJBqEDdgYhcHcpPyRlZX7A0rTGSs6dqv0iXFNovnYb40Fzb6brnJLfJX6EXL_ijLwxpoFIfgoY7Lgd9KW8Z0sD0LRx60dA3KnwigzavKVTQoIswJYMXQCHhFSryA8L7dRHvm99HHRaYBeyFE-B9BJ6/s320/3e%20Tinturn%20Abbey.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Inside the abbey - note the stones sticking out of the walls</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below, you can see a beam laying across the stones along the wall. On top of that all the floor joists are placed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4bdzjA7wRglHxzEI9NbBpMlahqiXZtGU_2-HZZ_C-vBU-iwOWGH4IJFO1hzO1QtRzIf6MDEq7ClhhreSQgANpeJKzd95uWImIHHuK3oKAUjCmzq8uwgEO5jI5kA1NHsfRZLVUevpCq_22Ni-4cgWMkDHTyqmgMnyfI8P1RuJveF7ygmUnrgmEz4fiyPP/s4032/3f%20Tinturn%20Abbey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4bdzjA7wRglHxzEI9NbBpMlahqiXZtGU_2-HZZ_C-vBU-iwOWGH4IJFO1hzO1QtRzIf6MDEq7ClhhreSQgANpeJKzd95uWImIHHuK3oKAUjCmzq8uwgEO5jI5kA1NHsfRZLVUevpCq_22Ni-4cgWMkDHTyqmgMnyfI8P1RuJveF7ygmUnrgmEz4fiyPP/s320/3f%20Tinturn%20Abbey.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was also a display of how the walls were plastered, or paneled with oak.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbhko9fcwqOT-KroMDjVbWcanYH7-oc7WpcTilKf2rjmwXX4X_flxeg32hJarrL4G7JVCZz0k7O2zZBZIs7dQyiHK8Z3-Mo98VLI0zhJG9nzR2a8v8giRWZMdfvyFWn70OBqfwo8rsL1PrDVSheLVgDf-XNagRGItAnmewbuSbJnP2l8tr9RXGfvUdEg4/s4032/3g%20Tinturn%20Abbey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbhko9fcwqOT-KroMDjVbWcanYH7-oc7WpcTilKf2rjmwXX4X_flxeg32hJarrL4G7JVCZz0k7O2zZBZIs7dQyiHK8Z3-Mo98VLI0zhJG9nzR2a8v8giRWZMdfvyFWn70OBqfwo8rsL1PrDVSheLVgDf-XNagRGItAnmewbuSbJnP2l8tr9RXGfvUdEg4/s320/3g%20Tinturn%20Abbey.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tAKhAJt0ZQezCsmvcd0AOGCkkoSJv74HWqYPIx225u2BEU_x_d6Y3NU2rkwpUPJkTCEivlxzGHaQPWVnZVacFHxJ3LjFLUWnTxQhs9zfzuTNKTMubKKTIj8inRDT0SJ61a6cv4_wEnoDFLICPHBusYvTYxJwvGvrSAXdZr9D_Cch-Ww90kmqtsUXKqri/s4032/3h%20Tinturn%20Abbey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tAKhAJt0ZQezCsmvcd0AOGCkkoSJv74HWqYPIx225u2BEU_x_d6Y3NU2rkwpUPJkTCEivlxzGHaQPWVnZVacFHxJ3LjFLUWnTxQhs9zfzuTNKTMubKKTIj8inRDT0SJ61a6cv4_wEnoDFLICPHBusYvTYxJwvGvrSAXdZr9D_Cch-Ww90kmqtsUXKqri/s320/3h%20Tinturn%20Abbey.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just about a mile from our house was the Hook Lighthouse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_PCRf516Y3zWx2wy3h613spGVE4HAWKmpRTO-3Q_6BasTxL8Br7czVIixw9gDGIvugQrDuoeIPEmlK3gGWCDXvvFRIap0aFSGj1lB8P7WepiIjLpuAbl0-7E8M7t8o7Jdxu_YFqmQRUp4OHYieYscM11vmR5SenB89e39RLPRY3DaLsEjCnZomh4FEG4/s4032/4a%20Hook%20Lighthouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_PCRf516Y3zWx2wy3h613spGVE4HAWKmpRTO-3Q_6BasTxL8Br7czVIixw9gDGIvugQrDuoeIPEmlK3gGWCDXvvFRIap0aFSGj1lB8P7WepiIjLpuAbl0-7E8M7t8o7Jdxu_YFqmQRUp4OHYieYscM11vmR5SenB89e39RLPRY3DaLsEjCnZomh4FEG4/s320/4a%20Hook%20Lighthouse.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Across the bay is the City of Waterford, home of Waterford Crystal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVDcGmtFV-d0uU0-VvZP4P3LK2CKqqi-eB5BmllJsggyuV1afvN0D1fHpproVOM0umnCyTQo74UxMg1b6pdLnA8B7wreSshMbYdJtp0xZU3UoQNfSVCGXp3s2y0hnX18V9guPqTO5TWM_zMfT2RzU1GWf36MQgEltSeOd2BYPbpLzDdSfLHrXoZPOMhgw/s4032/4c%20Hook%20Lighthouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVDcGmtFV-d0uU0-VvZP4P3LK2CKqqi-eB5BmllJsggyuV1afvN0D1fHpproVOM0umnCyTQo74UxMg1b6pdLnA8B7wreSshMbYdJtp0xZU3UoQNfSVCGXp3s2y0hnX18V9guPqTO5TWM_zMfT2RzU1GWf36MQgEltSeOd2BYPbpLzDdSfLHrXoZPOMhgw/s320/4c%20Hook%20Lighthouse.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our AirBnb had a nice glass conservatory</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QWf6U5ThoBBhzALbSYC6gHEy2JXjBtIBiNrTOFfU1oTIFOO_ECqjXVrFmA2LuCB6OeKHJyGvptbS-QD3odlxsnCx4U2ppWCj0B20A8XFuN6nN8r2bMYEE754f938tHwnp3JGJB7t_Hn8T1ZdrnYurnKy845GshlCIlOTgEi5gcS3azFwD-XjAqjGSsXR/s4032/4d%20Davit%20Cottage%20Rental.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QWf6U5ThoBBhzALbSYC6gHEy2JXjBtIBiNrTOFfU1oTIFOO_ECqjXVrFmA2LuCB6OeKHJyGvptbS-QD3odlxsnCx4U2ppWCj0B20A8XFuN6nN8r2bMYEE754f938tHwnp3JGJB7t_Hn8T1ZdrnYurnKy845GshlCIlOTgEi5gcS3azFwD-XjAqjGSsXR/s320/4d%20Davit%20Cottage%20Rental.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Plus a comfy combo living/dining/kitchen</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdcG94JSU6jgHLFbSH3Ic7tOIv_qixWDNPuBFX-4fgOqkRjPbNMb0RyKt9O37l_etNLkiuZUTTExWw4XsqSXLS7wo69wcsp8d4P9Di0XJwSz4GUQZdNPQ4lt67zNMvGXZAAk8huh8rayUkkUQy1FGDn29b9iau9zODzEnRXwUKehdDhoBHCt2CyA7kLRc/s4032/4e%20Davit%20Cottage%20Rental.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdcG94JSU6jgHLFbSH3Ic7tOIv_qixWDNPuBFX-4fgOqkRjPbNMb0RyKt9O37l_etNLkiuZUTTExWw4XsqSXLS7wo69wcsp8d4P9Di0XJwSz4GUQZdNPQ4lt67zNMvGXZAAk8huh8rayUkkUQy1FGDn29b9iau9zODzEnRXwUKehdDhoBHCt2CyA7kLRc/s320/4e%20Davit%20Cottage%20Rental.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And a super comfy/cozy double bed. Snuggle time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppR9qaltyeRrfIQSSNz-WKHFn6cBa_AdukvCzQMAWFHUuzXfS33kCkXKvEPf-tRIE13wbzuP7GqN3YEhcccsYwrmhONKP0wZRywPsEFraOzoAy36CwU1fZvxH9A4Y3DqJUXEpMUyKdYA2oyelZIpAcj8kiWYr4shruKhYFQZXB_AOR1gw7DyMkXM8NUFG/s4032/4f%20Davit%20Cottage%20Rental.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppR9qaltyeRrfIQSSNz-WKHFn6cBa_AdukvCzQMAWFHUuzXfS33kCkXKvEPf-tRIE13wbzuP7GqN3YEhcccsYwrmhONKP0wZRywPsEFraOzoAy36CwU1fZvxH9A4Y3DqJUXEpMUyKdYA2oyelZIpAcj8kiWYr4shruKhYFQZXB_AOR1gw7DyMkXM8NUFG/s320/4f%20Davit%20Cottage%20Rental.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our 3 nights were up, and it was time to move on to Kinsale, about 3 hrs away. With time to kill, we made a side trip across the bay to Waterford since it was on the way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To get there we took the ferry, which was closer, rather than the bridge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyYogtnjg6LkfKf7GAAvpfOC8glz4R5gOZ7A-5kQyz4uHld9nCc7jelBcF2cBA9rHiH5tiMHiyRT3T29gCIgn480K0tNVcTZICl1i8rRum3FFL4nyAmMrLCEeGO3lttAnh3h9y52kH-iI_ElVMKdUPQjfffjLe60cmQopDr3gf0BbX-sEpbIdWVQ1VlqY/s4032/4g%20Passage%20East%20Ferry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyYogtnjg6LkfKf7GAAvpfOC8glz4R5gOZ7A-5kQyz4uHld9nCc7jelBcF2cBA9rHiH5tiMHiyRT3T29gCIgn480K0tNVcTZICl1i8rRum3FFL4nyAmMrLCEeGO3lttAnh3h9y52kH-iI_ElVMKdUPQjfffjLe60cmQopDr3gf0BbX-sEpbIdWVQ1VlqY/s320/4g%20Passage%20East%20Ferry.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Passage East Car Ferry</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5M3_nuuyhNIzrw3vA3H5JdwYyCZPvFJUPZ1hmMca2xUJ311cUTNXG0uUxpTDjUdNpTsillreAQRVymZDv4OvFynphiJ5dwkZoDXcoPZFgIMmttR7NiQjAB7J3f5zMJ_QEoPpNR83NzvzZ2f1PZIyXtCcZjcpAVFFJWhVUpexE360-xgVdDlTE-csCmCTU/s4032/4h%20Passage%20east%20Ferry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5M3_nuuyhNIzrw3vA3H5JdwYyCZPvFJUPZ1hmMca2xUJ311cUTNXG0uUxpTDjUdNpTsillreAQRVymZDv4OvFynphiJ5dwkZoDXcoPZFgIMmttR7NiQjAB7J3f5zMJ_QEoPpNR83NzvzZ2f1PZIyXtCcZjcpAVFFJWhVUpexE360-xgVdDlTE-csCmCTU/s320/4h%20Passage%20east%20Ferry.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And even in Ireland - there's a Circle K nearby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha19wMnXZ92bZvrK3dnxUg2pduYNJPOln80oyHNS74J_1_6dniFCijkjUbWNBmvwlivjVxzIUoDMiJyXzatB10h2sQ0Fd8d1ELDTaPMwuDnt7tBfSEx7MA6tuRdybkYeAP7ETXXb3P4EFwo7KclivKY-eegTwIckFcsrOo7HOsdQqFZxFIKiWYdcNBjFjt/s4032/5a%20Waterford%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha19wMnXZ92bZvrK3dnxUg2pduYNJPOln80oyHNS74J_1_6dniFCijkjUbWNBmvwlivjVxzIUoDMiJyXzatB10h2sQ0Fd8d1ELDTaPMwuDnt7tBfSEx7MA6tuRdybkYeAP7ETXXb3P4EFwo7KclivKY-eegTwIckFcsrOo7HOsdQqFZxFIKiWYdcNBjFjt/s320/5a%20Waterford%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We parked along the waterfront and strolled about the area with the dogs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBCGYd7E6f3084DMzuhzxwN-ZYoxtssT0bOTeo_jlcgOJ39nly-jd3rGFXlXnbdyws_dMVP5OD-dAz3jDo5sVj2BO-s7y5ibYypVk0I75-wfQ2cPk8TYfH-KWJJKIt-0h67eHgXvfhkQUoMr1gK-edpIPFjwUZhNxnkBwpgaq9GmmiK66JT0-HqTLk2rt/s4032/5b%20Waterford%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBCGYd7E6f3084DMzuhzxwN-ZYoxtssT0bOTeo_jlcgOJ39nly-jd3rGFXlXnbdyws_dMVP5OD-dAz3jDo5sVj2BO-s7y5ibYypVk0I75-wfQ2cPk8TYfH-KWJJKIt-0h67eHgXvfhkQUoMr1gK-edpIPFjwUZhNxnkBwpgaq9GmmiK66JT0-HqTLk2rt/s320/5b%20Waterford%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Waterford has some real nice pedestrian areas right near the waterfront. Lots of nice outside cafes, there were alot of families enjoying the warm sunny Sunday morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVN7JU1eW_DVeLfReSbQnH3ucF3h2EXjTLO8rlYhkBCK3hVZ_rFLA-DR6lnO92FxXR6K9kVltzj2CzwNzvGZ7nUpxcKC0CKSTwotPxizDW8FKAyHk-TJ7Tu4JrEW_iD5AIDeHN3mwYkxPpljMPtqOEFrPUAfkO70Kghl3mv3gYHTa3nsgUoGLqKroUWg8/s4032/5c%20Waterford%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVN7JU1eW_DVeLfReSbQnH3ucF3h2EXjTLO8rlYhkBCK3hVZ_rFLA-DR6lnO92FxXR6K9kVltzj2CzwNzvGZ7nUpxcKC0CKSTwotPxizDW8FKAyHk-TJ7Tu4JrEW_iD5AIDeHN3mwYkxPpljMPtqOEFrPUAfkO70Kghl3mv3gYHTa3nsgUoGLqKroUWg8/s320/5c%20Waterford%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghA4x3Htp1E0BNeaMNywx1Rlj6ycA6v6AP4uCPv0RdzvugUlWwcstIP9e4bE0ahl26hbPZ6RcIs0B3gEz6anMnb0P_YyZ2HNBi6q0oFZT23NK1vv5ATqr-S3GRNFh10gsjz8jFFzGzxRXOG-GxyQ8dxwUPqSFSTwJgy4za_FA2kmnGhVBzn0gscSvJiK0i/s3534/5d%20Waterford%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1988" data-original-width="3534" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghA4x3Htp1E0BNeaMNywx1Rlj6ycA6v6AP4uCPv0RdzvugUlWwcstIP9e4bE0ahl26hbPZ6RcIs0B3gEz6anMnb0P_YyZ2HNBi6q0oFZT23NK1vv5ATqr-S3GRNFh10gsjz8jFFzGzxRXOG-GxyQ8dxwUPqSFSTwJgy4za_FA2kmnGhVBzn0gscSvJiK0i/s320/5d%20Waterford%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next on our agenda, is the beautiful harbor town on Kinsale. We arrived here on Sunday and will spend the week. It is a pretty town with colorful buildings, and a seafaring heritage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRja-ZS7mvETPDGXTVzxK5TMkdGYQoneo89eUC9PMtrmeu4ZHDd18NpGKILOvbqoChhqDNBv1ZOGmsjvODYiNI8-At2N8fJi_IeWDCuShSfvZVH-u4_XTQjrIjPs1VO34_OdZ1EpeQ9by9t19bJENeYRDvbZD9Hb49aThb1cnkA8XNuvIJnIIEXgC3tn7/s4032/5e%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRja-ZS7mvETPDGXTVzxK5TMkdGYQoneo89eUC9PMtrmeu4ZHDd18NpGKILOvbqoChhqDNBv1ZOGmsjvODYiNI8-At2N8fJi_IeWDCuShSfvZVH-u4_XTQjrIjPs1VO34_OdZ1EpeQ9by9t19bJENeYRDvbZD9Hb49aThb1cnkA8XNuvIJnIIEXgC3tn7/s320/5e%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 block from our place</span>.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2r2Srm0rxMueHupC_86kCw7M9bFCQe921jDNUAsl5FxEm4g9Sy6PmfiR8NIWFePsxBo7nWRTjZfr5QFtKEa6_w5bLQUkAYs81ezNaQkujLP2eJEUnOVOLT-rDI82jcsVp15CEis7lg4cKC2TtZ6t9pnrcKJTyx_zaLeZ7xn8k60g8_2Y_5JUtSdQaEfwD/s4032/5f%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2r2Srm0rxMueHupC_86kCw7M9bFCQe921jDNUAsl5FxEm4g9Sy6PmfiR8NIWFePsxBo7nWRTjZfr5QFtKEa6_w5bLQUkAYs81ezNaQkujLP2eJEUnOVOLT-rDI82jcsVp15CEis7lg4cKC2TtZ6t9pnrcKJTyx_zaLeZ7xn8k60g8_2Y_5JUtSdQaEfwD/s320/5f%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Street leading down to the water</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are staying in a B&B that has now been converted into rental apartments. We are a ground floor 2-bedroom unit. In the photo below, we are the blue and red buildings on the right. An archway leads into a courtyard where we can park the car, so the off street parking is a huge bonus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Named The Old Presbytery, it was previously housing for the nearby church priests until it was sold to the current owners and converted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf6ws1Sjx4a3h4Upz_D-UJdedZIvojFPEnpTHVphJtig6oDyANelHoyku30Ett24rhEUuN3HE0k6Mm5xqbXB4Y5uHPFjBOmpZIlylj4u1ymvzTOu6HyNQxhj4D_CQvKZCtdkR5egzhOUOtzOGDxtGgpWHFbG7UPEnftPkpJKzEqxYkcbCQu5luAjyjA0b/s4032/5g%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf6ws1Sjx4a3h4Upz_D-UJdedZIvojFPEnpTHVphJtig6oDyANelHoyku30Ett24rhEUuN3HE0k6Mm5xqbXB4Y5uHPFjBOmpZIlylj4u1ymvzTOu6HyNQxhj4D_CQvKZCtdkR5egzhOUOtzOGDxtGgpWHFbG7UPEnftPkpJKzEqxYkcbCQu5luAjyjA0b/s320/5g%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our place up on the right</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgNGgQoPJQ1ccqWZ-GwIs-jBE-lJas0k_O1jIghhT2THA_ZQV8eAEspBPQC07YQjBwANDNvZNF_tIjRS5HKeYPgq4ccQtaaF6z_gk8M8R8oImaZEQlndXPrVEpX-sa54LnI4RAESVkiMourkZqjQ8mdd11t0Qj-B48tNM4KSr_dRFi3N5CJbk1Ff2EGZJ/s4032/5h%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgNGgQoPJQ1ccqWZ-GwIs-jBE-lJas0k_O1jIghhT2THA_ZQV8eAEspBPQC07YQjBwANDNvZNF_tIjRS5HKeYPgq4ccQtaaF6z_gk8M8R8oImaZEQlndXPrVEpX-sa54LnI4RAESVkiMourkZqjQ8mdd11t0Qj-B48tNM4KSr_dRFi3N5CJbk1Ff2EGZJ/s320/5h%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Colorful Kinsale Streets</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FNrD555UR16z0ez2fD5W6dkH4mBnD25v0iaLg-4qD_80MBkdbjJudt7I3LdRQxAwZdZK7PibPYed_sCC5mIUe6soMGeJq16rXvBzJNLnAeh8Xieua6Ogm7XOflt1C0_JVQHEUxAqd7DUClXOGFKaw9EE6ZU92rJF-ZGQtcxIvfLUXHPNvuWc9WJ2RDA_/s4032/5i%20Kinsale%20Ireland.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FNrD555UR16z0ez2fD5W6dkH4mBnD25v0iaLg-4qD_80MBkdbjJudt7I3LdRQxAwZdZK7PibPYed_sCC5mIUe6soMGeJq16rXvBzJNLnAeh8Xieua6Ogm7XOflt1C0_JVQHEUxAqd7DUClXOGFKaw9EE6ZU92rJF-ZGQtcxIvfLUXHPNvuWc9WJ2RDA_/s320/5i%20Kinsale%20Ireland.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kinsale Harbor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From our place it's only a 3 minute walk down to the harbor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYf-PqDQlti347klYIupTm9JS953GQE7s0kGOTjtORZQ9eS4j3hB2ExXVC-YIuDufAccTuG8uMbyeJnUZjNw-if3vhw3iOactgA6-i8exzEIY3zRF7yUaknWNkSSBhdENxnfQDYjotPL7vCglB94FRNsGkMAV42fvLmue4tCxXHBfv2JlnaUx9Gl6fKcg/s4032/5j%20Kinsale%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYf-PqDQlti347klYIupTm9JS953GQE7s0kGOTjtORZQ9eS4j3hB2ExXVC-YIuDufAccTuG8uMbyeJnUZjNw-if3vhw3iOactgA6-i8exzEIY3zRF7yUaknWNkSSBhdENxnfQDYjotPL7vCglB94FRNsGkMAV42fvLmue4tCxXHBfv2JlnaUx9Gl6fKcg/s320/5j%20Kinsale%20Ireland.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU82MN6jpXl4xb0AsOHEOyVgZMDlUFE4j-VstyxnyQbyVEkPFHt4y4IwEuPIHwGe6NJlid3we4WFWq7EQS-5PyKxkv3qIYIoz77dTixR2vYlRFFvytLOWgNwFoDOJBTb2KAK7DBrHkU9ZUyjNVGzneo-PPdAbeJujghYZshXwUOut_MKsP1kjMRTD4xp-/s4032/5l%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU82MN6jpXl4xb0AsOHEOyVgZMDlUFE4j-VstyxnyQbyVEkPFHt4y4IwEuPIHwGe6NJlid3we4WFWq7EQS-5PyKxkv3qIYIoz77dTixR2vYlRFFvytLOWgNwFoDOJBTb2KAK7DBrHkU9ZUyjNVGzneo-PPdAbeJujghYZshXwUOut_MKsP1kjMRTD4xp-/s320/5l%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kinsale Harbor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Grocery store with fruit and veg vendor next door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7t7dz9F8va7DiNa4QBFXD2D4ajNgNlGorKIEuZbNOCjwD0-NsEIx-hS7GNJixQl7gOhTYjKs8mVgzeMASBoDioOEc3JtNeWqVPLj5G6hQQF8thvxSo_s5Q7iWm5LJ5I8z61VJquv4Cz7oHxv0XPlyXIfjPxEQ_xtmQpUPoGVOUNhkT64vRYWEdIKmviF/s4032/5m%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7t7dz9F8va7DiNa4QBFXD2D4ajNgNlGorKIEuZbNOCjwD0-NsEIx-hS7GNJixQl7gOhTYjKs8mVgzeMASBoDioOEc3JtNeWqVPLj5G6hQQF8thvxSo_s5Q7iWm5LJ5I8z61VJquv4Cz7oHxv0XPlyXIfjPxEQ_xtmQpUPoGVOUNhkT64vRYWEdIKmviF/s320/5m%20Kinsale%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One day we took a drive out to the Kinsale 911 Garden of Remembrance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Plaque below tells the story. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqM6Yo2RiucL3W7y4TxbODmPQVdBZK6wf8BRolZPz-P7yBVRSCwU49S08rcrMLYPyAiKWx7wTSo-NH3qQqeYiJLObd0IHwKeGyiSLJxGdLvB8StTKUFdlgvE6nV8GwfsXm_QCP41c-ZeykRgz02SArisXS9WgqqlF5jpfCA6u-THGKXIKlgzR_7X9MpHJ/s4032/5n%20Kinsale%20911%20Garden%20of%20Rememberance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqM6Yo2RiucL3W7y4TxbODmPQVdBZK6wf8BRolZPz-P7yBVRSCwU49S08rcrMLYPyAiKWx7wTSo-NH3qQqeYiJLObd0IHwKeGyiSLJxGdLvB8StTKUFdlgvE6nV8GwfsXm_QCP41c-ZeykRgz02SArisXS9WgqqlF5jpfCA6u-THGKXIKlgzR_7X9MpHJ/s320/5n%20Kinsale%20911%20Garden%20of%20Rememberance.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of the 343 trees planted for the fallen FDNY firemen, one was for a friend of Kates, Captain Bill Burke.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPQ1hPkepixC-sMvvi-7J9X8jRUptujVGIll1io1jVdx1LwRD8bxcuCPeL-mC8eLRFudYqJhsfn9JxKOMJK8Y5WH5haFn624Lvf2phJvYSaEJZrO5ChIabqULF6izT8dH2fN6ODATxsZ0wCEyVk8RS2rqBAnrAytpDLgDNB2x8bTNYun9MQ63Rs34uoTE/s4032/5o%20Kinsale%20911%20Garden%20of%20Rememberance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPQ1hPkepixC-sMvvi-7J9X8jRUptujVGIll1io1jVdx1LwRD8bxcuCPeL-mC8eLRFudYqJhsfn9JxKOMJK8Y5WH5haFn624Lvf2phJvYSaEJZrO5ChIabqULF6izT8dH2fN6ODATxsZ0wCEyVk8RS2rqBAnrAytpDLgDNB2x8bTNYun9MQ63Rs34uoTE/s320/5o%20Kinsale%20911%20Garden%20of%20Rememberance.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bill Burke's Memorial Tree</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a beautiful plot of land with a gorgeous view.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQGx1uQJWGIAD3B_oqWwBPunmoWdrWMV4mtq8O_JXzumGsOYoFtorME-G2IU9_a_RIWc5JsIk-w78X6BJmxdfW6taSv9MVLRpC2Kn3yDZtSP4fm5UTk9snhX2sJkNbuFfqBkVl6XJaEyM4JWJ2nKy33iFylyl1O-B6kd_fyVaxnPCyhtYmGjHr7Fy8Ys-/s4032/5p%20Kinsale%20911%20Garden%20of%20Rememberance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQGx1uQJWGIAD3B_oqWwBPunmoWdrWMV4mtq8O_JXzumGsOYoFtorME-G2IU9_a_RIWc5JsIk-w78X6BJmxdfW6taSv9MVLRpC2Kn3yDZtSP4fm5UTk9snhX2sJkNbuFfqBkVl6XJaEyM4JWJ2nKy33iFylyl1O-B6kd_fyVaxnPCyhtYmGjHr7Fy8Ys-/s320/5p%20Kinsale%20911%20Garden%20of%20Rememberance.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7yj6M2-0ce8zQNsHqYrDc2S_5GgH7O2ewzxfXND26juSsd2l4PaiP2tJ9iQlmgRGIG0iTKfDKJzadPugmHouuZKB5fOcgbNd_UsZCH33ZCSF_MRR7xF4qWrBqREMHaVDb5Eu4xYV4ITea3t7kgK-oQnnxSXSJZj8X5LyPCnaqaJIkEMXMaSOmB2ETFVW/s4032/5q%20Kinsale%20911%20Garden%20of%20Rememberance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7yj6M2-0ce8zQNsHqYrDc2S_5GgH7O2ewzxfXND26juSsd2l4PaiP2tJ9iQlmgRGIG0iTKfDKJzadPugmHouuZKB5fOcgbNd_UsZCH33ZCSF_MRR7xF4qWrBqREMHaVDb5Eu4xYV4ITea3t7kgK-oQnnxSXSJZj8X5LyPCnaqaJIkEMXMaSOmB2ETFVW/s320/5q%20Kinsale%20911%20Garden%20of%20Rememberance.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View into the valley from the remembrance garden</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Walking thru the garden was a bit of an emotional experience.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, on an upnote, our next fun destination was to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_statues" target="_blank">Moving Statue of Virgin Mary</a> in Ballinspittle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">People say the statue moves. I cannot attest to that. Nothing moved while we were there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-l6MazLagcdijkQ7GSBdznYBxVHI7oQKeN1LCV7pmLS9_wrK7Z3u8DplJx8cYrB-8FbdNnKKn0Gd1d1aAICAmU_GjYXD9II4WJqs3DMRZvtduNYs5K-OuRyjf4DTvhesZv9mwr0VNzuoX1w7m9TdWqiA3w4Yz6Jaz8IBW2RKXFH0eA0Cd20IwVLIu_Kk/s4032/6a%20Moving%20Statue%20Of%20Virgin%20Mary,%20Ballinspittle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-l6MazLagcdijkQ7GSBdznYBxVHI7oQKeN1LCV7pmLS9_wrK7Z3u8DplJx8cYrB-8FbdNnKKn0Gd1d1aAICAmU_GjYXD9II4WJqs3DMRZvtduNYs5K-OuRyjf4DTvhesZv9mwr0VNzuoX1w7m9TdWqiA3w4Yz6Jaz8IBW2RKXFH0eA0Cd20IwVLIu_Kk/s320/6a%20Moving%20Statue%20Of%20Virgin%20Mary,%20Ballinspittle.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Being a nice sunny day - nothing could be finer than a nice drive in the country. Along the coast, Ireland has established a network of roads, some very small, that linked together form the <a href="https://www.thewildatlanticway.com/" target="_blank">Wild Atlantic Way</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On our trip I plan to drive a bunch of it, but since it is about 1,500 miles, winding along all the nooks and crannies, there will plenty left for future trips.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLKYskYvPKuZ5vM3WzRRemTTKqMAsLv88V0UZnsABrUlMItd_na2EpCmfTE_EKDeIu8YWezwXiHLBo1cakZDJUdFKebL0tiCI8JW5FmBuvotpFuufqDITLzxO9HC5mjvNPmgUXEfSdJFcAz6CaxObCVzKb_I__m1sT6F-lNan9vUxExoXZAV0pOnGiRCQ/s4032/6b%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20County%20Cork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLKYskYvPKuZ5vM3WzRRemTTKqMAsLv88V0UZnsABrUlMItd_na2EpCmfTE_EKDeIu8YWezwXiHLBo1cakZDJUdFKebL0tiCI8JW5FmBuvotpFuufqDITLzxO9HC5mjvNPmgUXEfSdJFcAz6CaxObCVzKb_I__m1sT6F-lNan9vUxExoXZAV0pOnGiRCQ/s320/6b%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20County%20Cork.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Like a postcard</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7ss1qloUXW3FuYlDp7-AsY2XE0xVcbeZlS0IEC3T7fzwRF1Ennu9kZQg-AP9d42lVbZnIKuxSgRAiy9tEaKkSOTLGsTAJa5d5m1Qvp-35JCAIJ1E4Jin0-8hPIZh4M14EbyamY1hHtjo4QzYWAsK31jaJ9WuowvsJkiepseFVGKzEbK0bflh90T_p2Xd/s4032/6c%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20County%20Cork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7ss1qloUXW3FuYlDp7-AsY2XE0xVcbeZlS0IEC3T7fzwRF1Ennu9kZQg-AP9d42lVbZnIKuxSgRAiy9tEaKkSOTLGsTAJa5d5m1Qvp-35JCAIJ1E4Jin0-8hPIZh4M14EbyamY1hHtjo4QzYWAsK31jaJ9WuowvsJkiepseFVGKzEbK0bflh90T_p2Xd/s320/6c%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20County%20Cork.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The coast at Galley Head</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Driving out to Galley Head, we stopped to see the rugged rocks pictured above. To walk to the spot we had to traverse over a long grassy stretch. The grass was so soft and spongy, it was like walking on a big soft mattress. Would make for an amazing bed in a tent. No pad required.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQrfMCfFIYLonIPXhHQyyRynTwuxPax1mU5iFKtA13CyI64thlyzn0qtnzfoYAD5uGl7dAISDZDwvqIdVbi43W9LH9AOXYy3TOJU1bbbG_OdMnEJDw7ztHhVx33WITfTgPg00I3QFY5W914HI5fvoDSkOsdCet6iYcV3tiqKK1iJ5NNuTNjyB5imjCbP3/s4032/6d%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20Galley%20Head%20County%20Cork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQrfMCfFIYLonIPXhHQyyRynTwuxPax1mU5iFKtA13CyI64thlyzn0qtnzfoYAD5uGl7dAISDZDwvqIdVbi43W9LH9AOXYy3TOJU1bbbG_OdMnEJDw7ztHhVx33WITfTgPg00I3QFY5W914HI5fvoDSkOsdCet6iYcV3tiqKK1iJ5NNuTNjyB5imjCbP3/s320/6d%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20Galley%20Head%20County%20Cork.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate with the Galley Head light behind her</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0T6JayYBglGKPwKKIXljcTEk9ht75qMcDBdNc7s4040SdAYdG_mD9blmRZct6Z4w2HFeEPd8wGXFr39cpxdAhsc1nHIkflPQ9vDlyvqiffBuI_MSBWZVvsNJrwkRvVFDO0Mysv0iVFAe0MecFvmwpy1A9cC5xkWYUUHa8gqPYdk6AkQ4YIbTqMvJrYWO/s4032/6e%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20County%20Cork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0T6JayYBglGKPwKKIXljcTEk9ht75qMcDBdNc7s4040SdAYdG_mD9blmRZct6Z4w2HFeEPd8wGXFr39cpxdAhsc1nHIkflPQ9vDlyvqiffBuI_MSBWZVvsNJrwkRvVFDO0Mysv0iVFAe0MecFvmwpy1A9cC5xkWYUUHa8gqPYdk6AkQ4YIbTqMvJrYWO/s320/6e%20Wild%20Atlantic%20Way%20County%20Cork.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The coast just west of Galley Head</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another stop was the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drombeg_stone_circle" target="_blank">Drombeg Stone Circle</a>. Dating back to about 1100BC, this is one of many such stone circles to be found on the island.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU7xkTWnGZxZy4bJ7kwggQ5VKZjpTdreICWEEIjDH8priWN_j7lvn78gw_-JTSznyY7UH1xs4rSqOwnh8cAont_w5zEWMcZkSfzGBVp6MjEz5ZAGUH4npQ6VBd2V4UFZTVuzxf8bDTWk8VQKjIDxLwRDwfly3aqLbrrlIO0Jx5r-JP3UXZJLDL979ESrJ/s4032/6f%20Dunbeg%20Stone%20Circle%20County%20Cork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCU7xkTWnGZxZy4bJ7kwggQ5VKZjpTdreICWEEIjDH8priWN_j7lvn78gw_-JTSznyY7UH1xs4rSqOwnh8cAont_w5zEWMcZkSfzGBVp6MjEz5ZAGUH4npQ6VBd2V4UFZTVuzxf8bDTWk8VQKjIDxLwRDwfly3aqLbrrlIO0Jx5r-JP3UXZJLDL979ESrJ/s320/6f%20Dunbeg%20Stone%20Circle%20County%20Cork.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Drombeg Stone Circle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I just liked this pretty church as we drove by, so I had to stop and take a photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52UmnCiN9L0dpyRWrmodTkRad_Xcsox21BFkqCwweK3L9WPGcm8SNy7s22fElh6ehX5UVBysy84J0FtE2p2OFyhfoXh6u_6wnsFnlKVfZa5uzrxkGaGG6-3c1antCpwkOvLvrNs6JGrGqudzmpN8agQttNJvtB61AUXhRfRm1Y1IuQ5VWn1k9j7FbIW56/s4032/6g%20Church%20County%20Cork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52UmnCiN9L0dpyRWrmodTkRad_Xcsox21BFkqCwweK3L9WPGcm8SNy7s22fElh6ehX5UVBysy84J0FtE2p2OFyhfoXh6u_6wnsFnlKVfZa5uzrxkGaGG6-3c1antCpwkOvLvrNs6JGrGqudzmpN8agQttNJvtB61AUXhRfRm1Y1IuQ5VWn1k9j7FbIW56/s320/6g%20Church%20County%20Cork.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another day trip was to Cork City. About 30 min or so from here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We walked along the wonderful pedestrian mall and met many people who wanted to come over and pet the pup.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KzJy1zO920fdKMg8l7zKHF9ksBmBpf0vWSBXtdCutXRO90KJM9wSKKu7-0f8eOKleVxnsQGuvoMSR07KeLQPoLlh9lpcfQW0qm5ymdvy1PMFaK6MlmzsLLRCknB67daSNzT8rsErmOwdW4MnYlc3TKe3f3104xAznfUEMBiq8h9sE8dmUIxexsDG0DMC/s4032/7a%20Cork%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KzJy1zO920fdKMg8l7zKHF9ksBmBpf0vWSBXtdCutXRO90KJM9wSKKu7-0f8eOKleVxnsQGuvoMSR07KeLQPoLlh9lpcfQW0qm5ymdvy1PMFaK6MlmzsLLRCknB67daSNzT8rsErmOwdW4MnYlc3TKe3f3104xAznfUEMBiq8h9sE8dmUIxexsDG0DMC/s320/7a%20Cork%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We went to the English Market. Opened in 1788, it was called the English Market to distinguish it from the Irish Market a few blocks away. It has been noted as the finest covered market in the UK and Ireland.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCXrbcJAAykJiOgZQumbCJbu7cAwHOAr_w5rA2HFBIaAoby_oYEeQHBF-pGvoauDhzw6TIH8t4P3VQkslsDoG1C22VqBuxeKvby11em-SuaF4tb2Sys1E3I177fW_p-k_0a6HxKlM8srhwj9pfNaKsTd7MDWSDXnv0flEo4tgkhEZny_7kVjzq7io7jug/s4032/7b%20English%20Market%20Cork%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCXrbcJAAykJiOgZQumbCJbu7cAwHOAr_w5rA2HFBIaAoby_oYEeQHBF-pGvoauDhzw6TIH8t4P3VQkslsDoG1C22VqBuxeKvby11em-SuaF4tb2Sys1E3I177fW_p-k_0a6HxKlM8srhwj9pfNaKsTd7MDWSDXnv0flEo4tgkhEZny_7kVjzq7io7jug/s320/7b%20English%20Market%20Cork%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is also notable for its 1800's style of architecture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VK3FnLxlQtJRnhpYqQU_ggoX-mRf4T5M0WjYXDq5_5e1G2m9BF3-WCj7ETkTZyYJLWHOWECJEOeUYj26OuKlSbw_nQERy2JoZHCX03n-5MDs6SwvSdpFS7sRC3vfQrp5f2B-Bb5vIIuAl3TtsqeotjsILRYM41h_8UuKj7euhmOjckc47FqO_l2bgMBL/s4032/7c%20English%20Market%20Cork%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VK3FnLxlQtJRnhpYqQU_ggoX-mRf4T5M0WjYXDq5_5e1G2m9BF3-WCj7ETkTZyYJLWHOWECJEOeUYj26OuKlSbw_nQERy2JoZHCX03n-5MDs6SwvSdpFS7sRC3vfQrp5f2B-Bb5vIIuAl3TtsqeotjsILRYM41h_8UuKj7euhmOjckc47FqO_l2bgMBL/s320/7c%20English%20Market%20Cork%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We did some reprovisioning while there</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlY32Kdmuduvzx2hrBWZ2-mDVAm30fk3yByQhy0CyBouBqKaXk4L0lE0u_4lTwakAbBwZ1DG1Gd_Dm4uqGkhbk2gj6HX_X7yhFO7puLrV_k-1r14zm9TcebA8MhYHXbgRwD3z8yhXAEdi1biPFSKFJwMSLIjJHMF7OxldV8IGoGQDx1VMI0-HbNiufFLF/s4032/7d%20English%20Market%20Cork%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlY32Kdmuduvzx2hrBWZ2-mDVAm30fk3yByQhy0CyBouBqKaXk4L0lE0u_4lTwakAbBwZ1DG1Gd_Dm4uqGkhbk2gj6HX_X7yhFO7puLrV_k-1r14zm9TcebA8MhYHXbgRwD3z8yhXAEdi1biPFSKFJwMSLIjJHMF7OxldV8IGoGQDx1VMI0-HbNiufFLF/s320/7d%20English%20Market%20Cork%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate joking with the vendor at the bakery stall</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next we made a quick side trip to Blackrock Castle & Observatory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We could not get in the castle, but we were able to get into the forecourt where they have a gift shop and resturant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkkplVGvck31yjHX6ooThUs9T6PxCOFTY9vbhZMuugeP3iMIlodD5ERz8ORYqO-EiUEMpUPKeBdYhjE_K7bDadYhTp4onU-uJwrMQaEPUV7_KYHxfm36b_vNYNKFgiLcWjs-pRrLSqw09_wEySntF0gJXYInYdVTTA7r4UiZffKA4V5L7POX3kpAZyMa4/s4032/7e%20Blackrock%20Castle%20Cork%20Ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkkplVGvck31yjHX6ooThUs9T6PxCOFTY9vbhZMuugeP3iMIlodD5ERz8ORYqO-EiUEMpUPKeBdYhjE_K7bDadYhTp4onU-uJwrMQaEPUV7_KYHxfm36b_vNYNKFgiLcWjs-pRrLSqw09_wEySntF0gJXYInYdVTTA7r4UiZffKA4V5L7POX3kpAZyMa4/s320/7e%20Blackrock%20Castle%20Cork%20Ireland.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Whew... that was a long post. Alot of stuff crammed into the last 10 days or so. No wonder the days are flying by.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Well we have 1 more day here in Kinsale, then we will drive more of the Wild Atlantic Way, cross a few mountain passes, and take the long route to our next destination, the colorful town of <a href="http://kenmare.com/" target="_blank">Kenmare</a>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">See ya there.</p>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-68840661439486641112023-06-21T08:09:00.002-06:002023-06-21T08:09:27.193-06:00Wales to Ireland "It's a hellova day at sea"<div style="text-align: left;">Our last post left us just arriving in Fishguard Wales which was a breif 3-night stay to get things in order for our trip across the Irish Sea to Ireland.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, we made it to Ireland, but before I jump ahead and get you all out of sorts, let me tell you about Fishguard...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We were not expecting much here. I saw it as a place to get the dogs EU paperwork completed, and to catch the ferry. Like so many places however, we were pleasantly surprised. While there was no quaint village to stroll, and (thankfully) no blocks of gift shops for Kate to peruse whilst I wait outside, it was still a nice place to kill a few days with some pretty sights.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just a few miles from our house - we took a short drive up the skinny roads to Strumble Head where the lighthouse keeps guard over the coast.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeP7bwMLPtuA4fRr0NyVFnbSvpXF8L6vgBooFL04GqxVal4VCIYWOZj1dW5JXusOMt_1-IE_SjV6jsov-3lULfJspQ4-UB9VhYa0ykNqjlmGDgOiTf3Zp3r6FqWtttMp1xLEmG0QWiy6q0fNGma5BmgX70hsAPZeSE6lqCDsy-crWEDITC99Nm_tMvt_jc/s4032/1%20Strumble%20Head%20Lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeP7bwMLPtuA4fRr0NyVFnbSvpXF8L6vgBooFL04GqxVal4VCIYWOZj1dW5JXusOMt_1-IE_SjV6jsov-3lULfJspQ4-UB9VhYa0ykNqjlmGDgOiTf3Zp3r6FqWtttMp1xLEmG0QWiy6q0fNGma5BmgX70hsAPZeSE6lqCDsy-crWEDITC99Nm_tMvt_jc/s320/1%20Strumble%20Head%20Lighthouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate & Annie at Strumble Head Lighthouse</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I timed our visit in order to see the 1pm ferry to Ireland which we will be on tomorrow<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhGYGUAz88r7GiOYjk2KaSVwCO-f0cGZF5QoPf6o4T2t6MLuaYMDQJXnJAkO-WS3Cu_HCVQbXw7plGuYhFsMMzi-18S15N2MFWk9cnycI-6fBadjTkjDGQK7YUlr9ojhfORlQLzUW8-w7JXVKE3FsCDdhInBwTwA1PRV0mr_i4JTtQnnOscfcbo_9OzCM/s3996/1a2%20Fishguard%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2247" data-original-width="3996" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhGYGUAz88r7GiOYjk2KaSVwCO-f0cGZF5QoPf6o4T2t6MLuaYMDQJXnJAkO-WS3Cu_HCVQbXw7plGuYhFsMMzi-18S15N2MFWk9cnycI-6fBadjTkjDGQK7YUlr9ojhfORlQLzUW8-w7JXVKE3FsCDdhInBwTwA1PRV0mr_i4JTtQnnOscfcbo_9OzCM/s320/1a2%20Fishguard%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stena Line ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Java the hut with his trusty beasts.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzdBdZq9M4rFTB6gNIhqB4Ifk0tE2Jb_XgxPM5jyeSBw9k0InNr1yiGqNbKZEje1bf-eRPxyGCqFyr9kTMWfNH-PwSTGwRNV_eyhKOfz7ZPvSSFJmxo9bwPXG4b7s_8SPk5xH37mticaRAtaK-XvWotRfHklf3uyZ9ClkvAfk6amH1Tg4tt5zLdZ7QR1Y/s4032/1c%20Strumble%20Head%20Lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzdBdZq9M4rFTB6gNIhqB4Ifk0tE2Jb_XgxPM5jyeSBw9k0InNr1yiGqNbKZEje1bf-eRPxyGCqFyr9kTMWfNH-PwSTGwRNV_eyhKOfz7ZPvSSFJmxo9bwPXG4b7s_8SPk5xH37mticaRAtaK-XvWotRfHklf3uyZ9ClkvAfk6amH1Tg4tt5zLdZ7QR1Y/s320/1c%20Strumble%20Head%20Lighthouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZma9R9mbCoY5uTPYjIz4zTJic05Z7xMuQyEm_CAQogf_6jLs03XLWXbux_d7xqwU9AXRdsogTBWoNMj8VSH-PWK8TAFRZfOUWevvowrPv7h5mxeRhsLsL29eKQdAiqKQuVareIoktyHXGzZMrv6sT5EabTru4WJ0asbgyZex0g9-Z5CuGVmECVXsylaS/s4032/1d%20Strumble%20Head%20Lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZma9R9mbCoY5uTPYjIz4zTJic05Z7xMuQyEm_CAQogf_6jLs03XLWXbux_d7xqwU9AXRdsogTBWoNMj8VSH-PWK8TAFRZfOUWevvowrPv7h5mxeRhsLsL29eKQdAiqKQuVareIoktyHXGzZMrv6sT5EabTru4WJ0asbgyZex0g9-Z5CuGVmECVXsylaS/s320/1d%20Strumble%20Head%20Lighthouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Strumble Head Lighthouse</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We want to welcome new blog followers Steve & Hailey plus Jason & Dawn.</div><div>It's the people that you meet along the way that really make traveling so special.</div><div><br /></div><div>The thumbs up is Steve & Hailey thing, so this is a shout out to you both.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7nrHFL64V4yt2Y53qw-OC8RTUr4dKGGcepSpIuTB9EewTW_vKtMNmCYfqz1FmQy70qDUn4APHNgPWCnb2Hs4vobOd8SpXpRBiLQaJ7_eUC2uL6rSj8F6jVP5-HCIjAxphgi64S0gD_f5zMgvRvkgwx1Q069cXXvOi3dQoYf2NUCS5Iktlz_fve-pbY0c/s4032/1f%20Fishguard%20Port.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7nrHFL64V4yt2Y53qw-OC8RTUr4dKGGcepSpIuTB9EewTW_vKtMNmCYfqz1FmQy70qDUn4APHNgPWCnb2Hs4vobOd8SpXpRBiLQaJ7_eUC2uL6rSj8F6jVP5-HCIjAxphgi64S0gD_f5zMgvRvkgwx1Q069cXXvOi3dQoYf2NUCS5Iktlz_fve-pbY0c/s320/1f%20Fishguard%20Port.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thumbs up to you</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After Strumble Head, we drove down into town, actually Goodwick, and visited the harbor.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt2hJg208xWsX3-yzdcsxwPecFMFTVTg30IB-IqkZQ7zrSz7ZOBqNBpz-ew4h3sVlngkOqFZKE_BmlExk-wEzyx9zTL0snpJakP3Oco9WFdH3ABnE4bV-zaBoZUTd0-UX8Nt4IM6cFhocdRxPIS6elX-Crj3KrkyZO97Qhad49U3YCFsfe6aWV3zjiQAq/s4032/1g%20Fishguard%20Port.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt2hJg208xWsX3-yzdcsxwPecFMFTVTg30IB-IqkZQ7zrSz7ZOBqNBpz-ew4h3sVlngkOqFZKE_BmlExk-wEzyx9zTL0snpJakP3Oco9WFdH3ABnE4bV-zaBoZUTd0-UX8Nt4IM6cFhocdRxPIS6elX-Crj3KrkyZO97Qhad49U3YCFsfe6aWV3zjiQAq/s320/1g%20Fishguard%20Port.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We took a walk out onto the breakwater, then came back and had an ice cream cone.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_0IrLrvrSYcSrmyO8Yo5M9AEI_6_WEt1YO_xZg2EZWWFvAnx-xjdIwaozC4VWPvgBx4a8aTyv6upFFwc_RRS5PlJJvMmkOUalj14UkgFe2ibzmOmNCaRndmwQlwc612NdW0XasR4xktt-4vIzyGwQUm9P6RG3iUXa1DHOokCxHa84aiFWT6If2wO-a6x/s4032/1h%20Fishguard%20Port.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_0IrLrvrSYcSrmyO8Yo5M9AEI_6_WEt1YO_xZg2EZWWFvAnx-xjdIwaozC4VWPvgBx4a8aTyv6upFFwc_RRS5PlJJvMmkOUalj14UkgFe2ibzmOmNCaRndmwQlwc612NdW0XasR4xktt-4vIzyGwQUm9P6RG3iUXa1DHOokCxHa84aiFWT6If2wO-a6x/s320/1h%20Fishguard%20Port.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, the dogs seem to be getting along better and better everyday. Lucy has accepted this bundle of energy into the pack and they have even started to play a bit each day. Sort of like a grandparent playing with the grandkids though. Lucy is a bit older you know.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXm6kTxpj8MQn2HNjqRfNVC1-Y5a_vgB1KtNm-DUZImqhgsyeL8nDniEK2ZKEwXpnzUJ3Ub9Uwbr2M_trn_djNelUCQHDLE1-uWjzv_U4JwBjgT3zpHYNVAEnw1e_Sx5r1RMDtu7f6VniX9WYDZCn9_fwGvPLm7lhPnLvLsM5XSBekMtW0Zrz1C43BgxB/s4032/1a1%20Fishguard%20Airbnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXm6kTxpj8MQn2HNjqRfNVC1-Y5a_vgB1KtNm-DUZImqhgsyeL8nDniEK2ZKEwXpnzUJ3Ub9Uwbr2M_trn_djNelUCQHDLE1-uWjzv_U4JwBjgT3zpHYNVAEnw1e_Sx5r1RMDtu7f6VniX9WYDZCn9_fwGvPLm7lhPnLvLsM5XSBekMtW0Zrz1C43BgxB/s320/1a1%20Fishguard%20Airbnb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>It was departure day, and on the way to the ferry and I made a stop at the vet to pick up a prescription for Lucy. She's been having a bit of a stomach upset and I forgot to bring the meds that we have at home for that so the vet who did Lucys paperwork, and both dogs tapeworm treatments. gave me a bit for the road.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHIKDmoltLLTK0LnsMgp86r5T5hnlfzoXvNb5qWCR3OTSZjw82RxlP878dkfuGNAuKs3iq4aIMq_kL20GFoHfvLNmn2To-XD77XDGxqFIhxctT1OJvh4-mHW307B310LQHoC3lp1-5lFPINDjmTBPnoT7DFvhubMMeEDiDbQIX9MuJ0Eg7CchtDHZGni-/s4032/2a%20Fishguard%20Vet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHIKDmoltLLTK0LnsMgp86r5T5hnlfzoXvNb5qWCR3OTSZjw82RxlP878dkfuGNAuKs3iq4aIMq_kL20GFoHfvLNmn2To-XD77XDGxqFIhxctT1OJvh4-mHW307B310LQHoC3lp1-5lFPINDjmTBPnoT7DFvhubMMeEDiDbQIX9MuJ0Eg7CchtDHZGni-/s320/2a%20Fishguard%20Vet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishguard Vet Services</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Next... it was finally time to head for Ireland. But first we had to cross the Irish Sea. We had priority boarding and loading went super smoothly. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrVxax-XVheR9Yok9ZYojO-IrDFmBh8_SDqn0E99GhOaIZGwDRSHrchgpcAshlcvqRcWsWpFAzj7cKOMdWxkyUGEUyIet0pxTmklflypRub2UzTKTNHAx7cYQcw4p4LHYxatiiq53BRZlfurp_Z9BWV_WSvHJ0xe8Dt8oiEBPiknHN-xHBajD-xGyHVaM/s4032/2b%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrVxax-XVheR9Yok9ZYojO-IrDFmBh8_SDqn0E99GhOaIZGwDRSHrchgpcAshlcvqRcWsWpFAzj7cKOMdWxkyUGEUyIet0pxTmklflypRub2UzTKTNHAx7cYQcw4p4LHYxatiiq53BRZlfurp_Z9BWV_WSvHJ0xe8Dt8oiEBPiknHN-xHBajD-xGyHVaM/s320/2b%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Driving onto the Stena Europe</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></div><div>Inside the ship on the car deck.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGbwdY1gUN23Ki3WH6g4n_beRW-_qG2_h2gkFymdIltq4mZX35IGdIYCws10p_epb1lb8zL7tQhE9cgVlhCBliKiqdEVGs7JST117GZONJuszVFamT75tWtnjEBnB5ljC_QWML8_sePSFeue3pXDYJy4cDfMqaa0qw3pTocxBVsSQsA9K-UEfOvFxbHXb/s4032/2b1%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGbwdY1gUN23Ki3WH6g4n_beRW-_qG2_h2gkFymdIltq4mZX35IGdIYCws10p_epb1lb8zL7tQhE9cgVlhCBliKiqdEVGs7JST117GZONJuszVFamT75tWtnjEBnB5ljC_QWML8_sePSFeue3pXDYJy4cDfMqaa0qw3pTocxBVsSQsA9K-UEfOvFxbHXb/s320/2b1%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I had booked 2 kennels for the crossing, but on each ship they are in a different location. On this ship, they turned out to be bolted to the wall of the car deck. Rather than leave the dogs in that unfamaliar place, we both agreed that they would be much happier in the quieter confines of the car for the 3.5 hrs, so we decided to leave them in the car.</div><div><br /></div>Before we knew it, we were on board, seated in the lounge, watching the coast of Wales recede in the distance.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88Krdw5nyqkVyKUfgxrfR2roz4lXfrGThwMJJbq6WEZqaGbkdpnxQM1NlccJcyBOCtg-teOg1_w9LD0TZ4XiyDv-mY9kMeJWQKTMMc8yZTBBBk9JsWFwlmkJGpUwruEq_HDOtBnOXq1ZWSX18XFA4PVdfl1ruy72fzfhZoZqK_0pRI4FheTifDxCSgWJD/s4032/2c%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88Krdw5nyqkVyKUfgxrfR2roz4lXfrGThwMJJbq6WEZqaGbkdpnxQM1NlccJcyBOCtg-teOg1_w9LD0TZ4XiyDv-mY9kMeJWQKTMMc8yZTBBBk9JsWFwlmkJGpUwruEq_HDOtBnOXq1ZWSX18XFA4PVdfl1ruy72fzfhZoZqK_0pRI4FheTifDxCSgWJD/s320/2c%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We watched the Strumble Head Light fall off behind the stern. If you look closely, you can see that I caught the light blinking</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLE_t-Co2G8gVpTgcqZQSchrrPtuacUEESKIw_MLEjDAfIs20b97pytvTAv4gKKvOpxX4JhXPfghCkw_LIaLPRXibrKyna_lAArtSHgpOSPY-eL5xQTgSldX1m_g5U1157hzSTbsYU7dD-NKS7BHodX_R-6mzugN99jZu6vktBncvkEldvsFLAnwZFOnyX/s4032/2d%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLE_t-Co2G8gVpTgcqZQSchrrPtuacUEESKIw_MLEjDAfIs20b97pytvTAv4gKKvOpxX4JhXPfghCkw_LIaLPRXibrKyna_lAArtSHgpOSPY-eL5xQTgSldX1m_g5U1157hzSTbsYU7dD-NKS7BHodX_R-6mzugN99jZu6vktBncvkEldvsFLAnwZFOnyX/s320/2d%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Strumble Head Lighthouse Wales</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Settling in for the crossing, Kate and I had a lunch of Fish & Chips with mushy peas.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWE5yuXzv2AQKc_GR4t_GCfLMDWNaBgJBqCQUlzR_FRp2n8V5oEs4Dd9z8hyx8TVBEJG57DLq-gM2ZO1kyjnYDYRilsAHKIcLJZLaUvH0OYhzyRSFQAozhQ_FTPQNT6oS-eIiReRtovjWc9zw005vSGNajNYPKzsuL5ehDlADLZLY-_iOKIO6ytrPxcu2R/s4032/2e%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWE5yuXzv2AQKc_GR4t_GCfLMDWNaBgJBqCQUlzR_FRp2n8V5oEs4Dd9z8hyx8TVBEJG57DLq-gM2ZO1kyjnYDYRilsAHKIcLJZLaUvH0OYhzyRSFQAozhQ_FTPQNT6oS-eIiReRtovjWc9zw005vSGNajNYPKzsuL5ehDlADLZLY-_iOKIO6ytrPxcu2R/s320/2e%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then we went up on deck and I got a picture of me with Babushka O'Harra as she headed for the promised land.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituvxMysH51w8M5WPhXZdFLYl75dHHGYmnSE7Sq1fJBBK7mZ-JBPlfUeZFoQNLiRzRRjK8zOGnePj9pcypfE_j3vOjwEVKbhHKyTgsHbz5DVQpfGErPlf7U5rqo33t1LYi8jSrZvwIN0W9SUtegB1kYFviZV4l4_d-4DvzmF0QGDZFUfM5YWKDOUDpwL-s/s4032/2f%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituvxMysH51w8M5WPhXZdFLYl75dHHGYmnSE7Sq1fJBBK7mZ-JBPlfUeZFoQNLiRzRRjK8zOGnePj9pcypfE_j3vOjwEVKbhHKyTgsHbz5DVQpfGErPlf7U5rqo33t1LYi8jSrZvwIN0W9SUtegB1kYFviZV4l4_d-4DvzmF0QGDZFUfM5YWKDOUDpwL-s/s320/2f%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WOPZZd-XYAt3QoUXPaQ5oJICPq7g16yKn7fcoXjhuaIYOLb2P7l4ZqW5eVMj5tvBROLqAu6IynZpYTSjNn6RFxeUVpXgve_suPuFef1DVul2PTQsZwoFMlzooojI8ekFDW_t6AWuGoIXtAJ8e91Wbrx846EgVFwA0jO7-zgXrDdAnaJkwYc5TiOkNh5q/s4032/2g%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WOPZZd-XYAt3QoUXPaQ5oJICPq7g16yKn7fcoXjhuaIYOLb2P7l4ZqW5eVMj5tvBROLqAu6IynZpYTSjNn6RFxeUVpXgve_suPuFef1DVul2PTQsZwoFMlzooojI8ekFDW_t6AWuGoIXtAJ8e91Wbrx846EgVFwA0jO7-zgXrDdAnaJkwYc5TiOkNh5q/s320/2g%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Inside the ship by the duty free shops</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The crossing was very smooth and soon the Irish coast appeared in the distance.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fWBbZ8vwHZzspskIHe52ysEtlGyiM-oPTLuS5tIi_KaUurfdduk14uD8p4O_6UgFKwHz0WbiwzxQwFScEltc6QmZ4xBM0SJu4gKMzDZ2XTAGF8Lc3xi-5riofD_cajIyvwiNGxQ2qPr9p8LqqxyCw1_6mFCXUTSKx9pM4Rz5YpI0IoxXjVynpKDzUJy2/s4032/2h%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fWBbZ8vwHZzspskIHe52ysEtlGyiM-oPTLuS5tIi_KaUurfdduk14uD8p4O_6UgFKwHz0WbiwzxQwFScEltc6QmZ4xBM0SJu4gKMzDZ2XTAGF8Lc3xi-5riofD_cajIyvwiNGxQ2qPr9p8LqqxyCw1_6mFCXUTSKx9pM4Rz5YpI0IoxXjVynpKDzUJy2/s320/2h%20Stena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Along with the excitement of a new landfall was the apprehension of what we might find in the car. We had no concerns had it been Lucy & Gracie. But this was Lucy and Annie, the wildcard. Would the new pup be as good as she had been thus far, our would we have some sort of surprise. All sorts of things crossed thru my mind. From shredded car seats, to intestinal explosions. My mind was playing games with me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fortunately, when we snuck up on the car and peeked inside - there were two little angels sitting there just looking out the window at the people arriving back to their cars.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whew! Dodged another bullet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our next place, a VRBO, was about a 90 minute drive and we made a stop at a pet store for a few items, plus an Aldi to get a few groceries. Then it was pretty much the N11 and M11 most of the way.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdo-iHtbjuoxKwB1mgbHX4PgPCB2zn43E1rAs9VKKhaB_Ll_rNpdr_WS9NzCipCjrPfhny0PA-6vThuMD6zOFm-zJ-oXDXJAOWimXZURN8vyx80s0rM0T8Ph-pkbGsEJcPYaPSZtGILh-X1pmDnnb0-wV8f82pp8oZhk2G3senw5anTjd48A8ZG3neMVD/s4032/2iStena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdo-iHtbjuoxKwB1mgbHX4PgPCB2zn43E1rAs9VKKhaB_Ll_rNpdr_WS9NzCipCjrPfhny0PA-6vThuMD6zOFm-zJ-oXDXJAOWimXZURN8vyx80s0rM0T8Ph-pkbGsEJcPYaPSZtGILh-X1pmDnnb0-wV8f82pp8oZhk2G3senw5anTjd48A8ZG3neMVD/s320/2iStena%20Line%20Fishguard%20to%20Rosslare.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The N11 headed north from Rosslare</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our place here in County Wicklow is just fabulous. It is one of the nicest - if not the nicest - places that we have stayed at. And we've probably stayed in close to 40 Airbnbs now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our main open plan kitchen, dining, living area. The photo makes it look narrow but it is actually quite wide and long. They are old converted farm outbuildings updated to a very high standard.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9aHbbRpk0bBaTapv73Rdolo09CvH-BLhnizq7ruguTo_A1ZJw7Wo-a8GBSvZ-ln1Tb0MuRysj41ITbHaoaZ63y8zSQbFCZl900YsaTvntFRxtscLARm_llJx1KkLOe_FQLLRqbE46mSl8Sj5MGxEzQ1rHXaw8sL8kdKVa_VhGo4YcN-U_-1t9svFtxo_/s4032/3a%20Blackditch%20Yew%20Cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9aHbbRpk0bBaTapv73Rdolo09CvH-BLhnizq7ruguTo_A1ZJw7Wo-a8GBSvZ-ln1Tb0MuRysj41ITbHaoaZ63y8zSQbFCZl900YsaTvntFRxtscLARm_llJx1KkLOe_FQLLRqbE46mSl8Sj5MGxEzQ1rHXaw8sL8kdKVa_VhGo4YcN-U_-1t9svFtxo_/s320/3a%20Blackditch%20Yew%20Cottage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The space is shaped like a big "L". This is the far end of the open kitchen, dining area, looking across and down the "foot" of the L</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj8kGcb2Td-TOSecLQWKPMmAJ6J9szWeSqPLDvVtNIX6M_m67eDC5ImnkGe-KJVGdB9my0XTYGglh3DYnnjcu6fSzyslKn0CIs6ZP8ZUmk-oMZIHYM5sWECVeGealWjdr7mjwKtkGMcl0OHMP0JEMzyrzIhekk4DfJX4NQZeHSCfNi5MAf4G9NEH_pDnD/s4032/3b%20Blackditch%20Yew%20Cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj8kGcb2Td-TOSecLQWKPMmAJ6J9szWeSqPLDvVtNIX6M_m67eDC5ImnkGe-KJVGdB9my0XTYGglh3DYnnjcu6fSzyslKn0CIs6ZP8ZUmk-oMZIHYM5sWECVeGealWjdr7mjwKtkGMcl0OHMP0JEMzyrzIhekk4DfJX4NQZeHSCfNi5MAf4G9NEH_pDnD/s320/3b%20Blackditch%20Yew%20Cottage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our bedroom with king bed and the most comfortable mattress</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEONXDAzlhMmFQdx4nD6aQMvn2iOruCEK0tcKR0tX9lXFjsXfy_zTl-BqeguBSfjz_BP3YU2EjyVXGdqltWBiC2LBwBaEMXSy9IEUTl9ENXbybDX0DSJLe4ANZ0smS_m1Y4jfo16XUo5mQsdF7SQU7f0V58ZueqEsL2rMZL9io8hpx37JlxXo2vZtU5Db-/s4032/3c%20Blackditch%20Yew%20Cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEONXDAzlhMmFQdx4nD6aQMvn2iOruCEK0tcKR0tX9lXFjsXfy_zTl-BqeguBSfjz_BP3YU2EjyVXGdqltWBiC2LBwBaEMXSy9IEUTl9ENXbybDX0DSJLe4ANZ0smS_m1Y4jfo16XUo5mQsdF7SQU7f0V58ZueqEsL2rMZL9io8hpx37JlxXo2vZtU5Db-/s320/3c%20Blackditch%20Yew%20Cottage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>View from the courtyard looking at the kitchen door.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WT3VcJG80wc8t94Zl78w3LmleqwAxSa5aU6iaoYEwZgQAY_EughNCLMvl31lLog9tx4iotZG14TBk96hVPf1g7y5-1lQzZ6wiS6SV3aUrU124COSCHdof2LTJjDddLu0_eo-Xaovmm6YLmBPNEckTu_LMSo92D0gtnS5fzcXUIEg8rWPfU1eGxgv0fmY/s4032/3d%20Blackditch%20Yew%20Cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WT3VcJG80wc8t94Zl78w3LmleqwAxSa5aU6iaoYEwZgQAY_EughNCLMvl31lLog9tx4iotZG14TBk96hVPf1g7y5-1lQzZ6wiS6SV3aUrU124COSCHdof2LTJjDddLu0_eo-Xaovmm6YLmBPNEckTu_LMSo92D0gtnS5fzcXUIEg8rWPfU1eGxgv0fmY/s320/3d%20Blackditch%20Yew%20Cottage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>While here, I had made an appointment to get Lucy a new Pet Passport since her UK one was no longer valid due to Brexit. Having them makes our travels throughout the EU much simpler.</div><div><br /></div><div>So on Monday we went to PetCare Vets in Greystones, Ireland. </div><div>All I can say is... Wow! What a great group of people! The nicest folks.</div><div>I think perhaps the Irish just might be the most friendly people that we have ever met on our travels yet!</div><div>Everywhere we go, we get into the most amazing conversations.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sDqkVXS5QWqtEciS4jJe43yy536ILthHLKMthE2tjsRiNqeyPW7pH6F3IwYEy3DSII8em8ytCBWIwMcww7hgffAoaLDOE3agFlAx1rEG-X_wpoewYxP9XztLuzqrEUHnbOIIoCDqeXrPESc4UwDTJJXZw7MazAdPSV-y02uK0Npk8uUlT9QWXN2V7R5w/s4032/4aPetCare%20Vets%20Greystones%20Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sDqkVXS5QWqtEciS4jJe43yy536ILthHLKMthE2tjsRiNqeyPW7pH6F3IwYEy3DSII8em8ytCBWIwMcww7hgffAoaLDOE3agFlAx1rEG-X_wpoewYxP9XztLuzqrEUHnbOIIoCDqeXrPESc4UwDTJJXZw7MazAdPSV-y02uK0Npk8uUlT9QWXN2V7R5w/s320/4aPetCare%20Vets%20Greystones%20Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But all of that is for future posts. We have the next month to explore the Emerald Isle and we have some really neat places that we will be visiting and staying in. Including a floating barge, turned into a home in Belfast where we will spend a couple of nights.</div><div><br /></div><div>So now, in just her first 19 weeks of life, Annie has been to 5 countries, stayed in at least 8 different homes, travels a couple thousand miles and has traveled on trains, ferries, and cars. And she's only getting started. </div><div><br /></div><div>Welcome to the pack!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now my 3 girls all have their passports. One from Spain, and two from Ireland.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOCCx5B8ZfhlVDigN6usKFbgg518cJLcVEzUP4-iG9pMEqb3-9SwYVjAEN5DvgNBfm3gyPlZp6Uctyeujr4hFSesZcwtLoqPKMkZCUiAkDHkyRbYBYOOGrMYhwuEDDouuEH-CwEIOeoObjUk2OL3MPb4ViImnb6kIwcaePsnOrB8G_C5mTz-fQhNzlACM/s4030/4b%20Passports.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="4030" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOCCx5B8ZfhlVDigN6usKFbgg518cJLcVEzUP4-iG9pMEqb3-9SwYVjAEN5DvgNBfm3gyPlZp6Uctyeujr4hFSesZcwtLoqPKMkZCUiAkDHkyRbYBYOOGrMYhwuEDDouuEH-CwEIOeoObjUk2OL3MPb4ViImnb6kIwcaePsnOrB8G_C5mTz-fQhNzlACM/s320/4b%20Passports.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then there's me....</div><br /><br />GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-25294069677995098722023-06-14T12:50:00.000-06:002023-06-14T12:50:11.995-06:00Blakeney - Lincolnshire - Wales<p> It's already been 2 weeks since our last post and in that time we have visited the Norfolk Coastal town of Blakeney for a week. Then spent 4 nights at friends of ours who live in Lincolnshire. And finally spent a week in Central Wales just outside of the Market town of Brecon by Brecon Beacons National Park.</p><p>This is going to be a long post as we covered a ton of ground, but there are lots of pictures for those of you who prefer the visual medium.</p><p>Here is our route map from our stay in Bridge (Canturbury) and onward thru the above stops to our current location in central Wales.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34-_5p3pufSc73_CwXvmOVSLJLSbtUJhkETAO9HKWeD2WmgsN8vviKq-hhbn0rrCBnA5rqQBgr5d-iaZZ2BBwARgOwgpYzIkLEA2kXsxIFOOhPXKJMwZcsCSxElBhuUtL8Sq3woE-lhNG_B5HLTehZolDit0quLrlxlwFKQGpN_2Nd5V5YJjca_1cQQ/s2780/Image%206-13-23%20at%204.28%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1662" data-original-width="2780" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34-_5p3pufSc73_CwXvmOVSLJLSbtUJhkETAO9HKWeD2WmgsN8vviKq-hhbn0rrCBnA5rqQBgr5d-iaZZ2BBwARgOwgpYzIkLEA2kXsxIFOOhPXKJMwZcsCSxElBhuUtL8Sq3woE-lhNG_B5HLTehZolDit0quLrlxlwFKQGpN_2Nd5V5YJjca_1cQQ/s320/Image%206-13-23%20at%204.28%20PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I guess it's past time to bring you up-to-date...</p><h2 style="text-align: center;">Blakeney, Norfolk</h2><p>We left you last while visiting Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. From there we drove onward about 3.5 hours to the coastal town of Blakeney in Norfolk. Our drive started out on the large Motorway, and then progressively the roads narrowed as we progressed further into the country. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdex5JMebMh8XM_rcIPnv9Gs7e_4oXhbQR4r7UU-Z-pAM0hGw0MGPUsH6uGNQbbWuhtZ07cPHDIjKeo8qeYcC3HG5LM-oRpvubX1ZY8qOnqL7b84awgTnEZscEmtzx2ufSMfbQmZ_b4UjRhp0MXW3Is9rfqahwqucEKIuracpsGwvBlwCkLs9afCkDg/s4032/1b%20Blakeney%20Garden%20Cottage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdex5JMebMh8XM_rcIPnv9Gs7e_4oXhbQR4r7UU-Z-pAM0hGw0MGPUsH6uGNQbbWuhtZ07cPHDIjKeo8qeYcC3HG5LM-oRpvubX1ZY8qOnqL7b84awgTnEZscEmtzx2ufSMfbQmZ_b4UjRhp0MXW3Is9rfqahwqucEKIuracpsGwvBlwCkLs9afCkDg/s320/1b%20Blakeney%20Garden%20Cottage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The A1065 near Kings Lynn</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Finally we were on single track roads. That means the road is only wide enough for one vehicle but handles two-way traffic. You will be seeing much more of these roads before this trip is over. When you meet someone going the other way, one of you has to back up to a "passing place" where the road is slightly wider allowing you to scrape by each other. The example below is actually a fairly wide example.</div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgHM-1UBhG3HrQfvbhwkdgVJT2HSLgeWr8z3nNrb0lPCkCaPvMm01uY6hIac_80a3o4oje34azrSCmPJMn-KCT8rdpalzf8JAS3qZ_xyB09J6GlsQqUyX7k6eY-CHZpt_5uhR59e8rGyuyVTlc2pB_RcFjc7xLFuMrsnjOGxtdfGDTyMU7GMtGGfPsg/s4032/1c%20Blakeney%20Garden%20Cottage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgHM-1UBhG3HrQfvbhwkdgVJT2HSLgeWr8z3nNrb0lPCkCaPvMm01uY6hIac_80a3o4oje34azrSCmPJMn-KCT8rdpalzf8JAS3qZ_xyB09J6GlsQqUyX7k6eY-CHZpt_5uhR59e8rGyuyVTlc2pB_RcFjc7xLFuMrsnjOGxtdfGDTyMU7GMtGGfPsg/s320/1c%20Blakeney%20Garden%20Cottage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A single track road outside of Blakeney</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>During our stay here we had a persistent northeast wind. It blew the cool damp air from the North Sea onshore which caused cool cloudy days. While some were not happy with the weather, we found the cool temps refreshing and making for great walking conditions.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OgF1uBixl7qybHbWjcBDBPe5Mr0PZGeieLJBSGV3UzQ67b8H6BBofvWyCC7dELNwbtrKeiNK0xlF5f0nN2d9FandBXe9qLgRn20RJd9M_PwIu5i8_TulIanGtpfn38usnQbSOH8-O09Sz-Qu0eDCutBJD44iZjnZu-4Sj4Q0p5-fxpXQuzf2gqmA6g/s4032/1a%20Blakeney%20Garden%20Cottage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OgF1uBixl7qybHbWjcBDBPe5Mr0PZGeieLJBSGV3UzQ67b8H6BBofvWyCC7dELNwbtrKeiNK0xlF5f0nN2d9FandBXe9qLgRn20RJd9M_PwIu5i8_TulIanGtpfn38usnQbSOH8-O09Sz-Qu0eDCutBJD44iZjnZu-4Sj4Q0p5-fxpXQuzf2gqmA6g/s320/1a%20Blakeney%20Garden%20Cottage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our home for the week (center cottage)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our week in Blakeney flew by. Our days were occupied by talking walks, dinners at the pubs, and tea in the afternoons. Sometimes with the dogs and sometimes just Kate and I.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpImE4Ppzgg6NiE1AM-5y45qV5EaZlw3XRz9l5g32u9C6m-xOB_wq7w7NAFe-HTVc-1VIh8ErGOE3h1Fquc6g0gaDp7Av46OW-2ZmeQTNzu6B32sl9neiplTurpZfMS9oYGBy4GVv6uUYHYYVHBtO-kh52Z6PMIAciDSRpit2LtAc6hkvp4QgUQtNqCA/s4032/1d%20Blakeney%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpImE4Ppzgg6NiE1AM-5y45qV5EaZlw3XRz9l5g32u9C6m-xOB_wq7w7NAFe-HTVc-1VIh8ErGOE3h1Fquc6g0gaDp7Av46OW-2ZmeQTNzu6B32sl9neiplTurpZfMS9oYGBy4GVv6uUYHYYVHBtO-kh52Z6PMIAciDSRpit2LtAc6hkvp4QgUQtNqCA/s320/1d%20Blakeney%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Walking down to the Quay (docks)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>One day we took the coastal path walk from Blakeney to Cley, the next village to the east. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjpp37fI6R1NIucBUoGKGpB6fKfEkR_ImCqcTRc3ufy51xohhyrlxZO8hSMAZH-1astCIJyGWGjxgFHqkBij2fd7i1BQjyXOt_pBWbw0pR-fXZyfi9FN4N2gsdXAWdCmZSe-KMqUykupPX0QdoI4viAWc6UdM9lTDSKxqKUYOVe-OnrOKaBgHOGzqNg/s4032/1e%20Blakeney%20UK%204.32.09%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjpp37fI6R1NIucBUoGKGpB6fKfEkR_ImCqcTRc3ufy51xohhyrlxZO8hSMAZH-1astCIJyGWGjxgFHqkBij2fd7i1BQjyXOt_pBWbw0pR-fXZyfi9FN4N2gsdXAWdCmZSe-KMqUykupPX0QdoI4viAWc6UdM9lTDSKxqKUYOVe-OnrOKaBgHOGzqNg/s320/1e%20Blakeney%20UK%204.32.09%20PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Along the waterfront in Blakeney</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The walking path leaves Blakeney by heading out into the salt marches for quite a ways before bending east, and then eventually turning south back inland to Cley. The path is about 2.75 miles from Blakeney to Cley.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Starting off on the path from Blakeney</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYFYk4vLDyy1346qOIXYOYJdta1V9QhBWmY3qh1YHGeWi5gVQyDAr1QKR8DIcnhZ8-OCc2F2iq2SqyU-VR3c2n2mXUvFgopl7p6M5H_Z5bdyBbDNOr2iUIFtwdnncVmGqGpYXoWsODupIy4dEh_CAAEMHdicLlGxpueIG_CSKscsRkxB-NCXECUMJMw/s4032/1e%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYFYk4vLDyy1346qOIXYOYJdta1V9QhBWmY3qh1YHGeWi5gVQyDAr1QKR8DIcnhZ8-OCc2F2iq2SqyU-VR3c2n2mXUvFgopl7p6M5H_Z5bdyBbDNOr2iUIFtwdnncVmGqGpYXoWsODupIy4dEh_CAAEMHdicLlGxpueIG_CSKscsRkxB-NCXECUMJMw/s320/1e%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0-rwTSFrUCmH60KtRE4WaZWlLTGMDq-mMWdBTstRSdxvhd1O7BqtdB4IyBNzXqyMUwRYD19miqjO_NeeVc2zN_ii3mnXFTvlcSlIN-Kl10annAi7aBgRhIIC96JpjpvENb_8WlGAzckqTzEtywddruM-5_2-PZLUjv1TmajJubAhe7th_AlFeqlCUA/s4032/1f%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0-rwTSFrUCmH60KtRE4WaZWlLTGMDq-mMWdBTstRSdxvhd1O7BqtdB4IyBNzXqyMUwRYD19miqjO_NeeVc2zN_ii3mnXFTvlcSlIN-Kl10annAi7aBgRhIIC96JpjpvENb_8WlGAzckqTzEtywddruM-5_2-PZLUjv1TmajJubAhe7th_AlFeqlCUA/w320-h180/1f%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View back inland towards Blakeney from the patch</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKXMJ44ZQY7ROK8B4jr6QXgLKYKb3niB3V0jWRAGxlz68RIuB049Fg2RM5mny0395Sbf2vv1TN_NLihssMAU4twTzc3P-sk_XtaTG1COA9dQbHCogm8Jv42_HbEd9IuvD3i-2j1JSViftuDRjdqW0ZCWUcl0FR_HeEi5cg7FKaOhL-ndSr4-pwoDahw/s4032/1g%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKXMJ44ZQY7ROK8B4jr6QXgLKYKb3niB3V0jWRAGxlz68RIuB049Fg2RM5mny0395Sbf2vv1TN_NLihssMAU4twTzc3P-sk_XtaTG1COA9dQbHCogm8Jv42_HbEd9IuvD3i-2j1JSViftuDRjdqW0ZCWUcl0FR_HeEi5cg7FKaOhL-ndSr4-pwoDahw/s320/1g%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heading inland towards Cley and the Cley Windmill</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our walk to Cley was into the cold NE wind, and we decided to return to Blakeney via the shorter, and protected, coast road. So many of the roads have sidewalks or paths along them that it is easy to get about on food without worrying about being run down by traffic.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV5JHwqIKBI4cE6WoJx_UHO96USxPPw6l8u2hJS9_ZFV0GnAzhRdie7jrMlcg1urOgGqE9LLgJy5Z2NSTdTI-GTzpIfJ2atVFUsY65pCh8qvi4dJIfrvxEos7vGJzcF1Wm_zogig4mlsPVNt_kci73B9acWAKSUchO65bt6omL_QH1HewQGomq9ADDA/s4032/1h%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEV5JHwqIKBI4cE6WoJx_UHO96USxPPw6l8u2hJS9_ZFV0GnAzhRdie7jrMlcg1urOgGqE9LLgJy5Z2NSTdTI-GTzpIfJ2atVFUsY65pCh8qvi4dJIfrvxEos7vGJzcF1Wm_zogig4mlsPVNt_kci73B9acWAKSUchO65bt6omL_QH1HewQGomq9ADDA/s320/1h%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Walking the coast road - looking back towards Cley</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGcpO-L1ssQdc0AHH2JIivLc5S2axtIwweVsBv3V9gVJdMlfKKw9Jzorh-ZegXISyR1mEFxLvQBMEEQvTJ8qNKOIerUUUS1tgG4JrcTGP-18_wlriUAQ8S1myv8O5mpWKlu-9KD4mE6tiwH2DTVWfS1J6UUbqbbuPyh09t_5pjXE-vp__ccZkbbPBtQ/s4032/1i%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGcpO-L1ssQdc0AHH2JIivLc5S2axtIwweVsBv3V9gVJdMlfKKw9Jzorh-ZegXISyR1mEFxLvQBMEEQvTJ8qNKOIerUUUS1tgG4JrcTGP-18_wlriUAQ8S1myv8O5mpWKlu-9KD4mE6tiwH2DTVWfS1J6UUbqbbuPyh09t_5pjXE-vp__ccZkbbPBtQ/s320/1i%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A view towards the North Sea from the Coast Rd</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHhidcEOeMoEursxhj2TylPzJkPwl5YrBrx4jWxopU2scdm6flgRPwJoooKMeFiCLpAmB3CdqMNLKfep9wMYtrAuVqYBj2U4slBn-tIqsV1H2p7feo0t9lHCGxBF81XijJv6xm9-xmc-4JOqUlj3VP7aO7bLx9TjmypUhK63Dw1HN2o_TsF7m-Ebeww/s4032/1j%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHhidcEOeMoEursxhj2TylPzJkPwl5YrBrx4jWxopU2scdm6flgRPwJoooKMeFiCLpAmB3CdqMNLKfep9wMYtrAuVqYBj2U4slBn-tIqsV1H2p7feo0t9lHCGxBF81XijJv6xm9-xmc-4JOqUlj3VP7aO7bLx9TjmypUhK63Dw1HN2o_TsF7m-Ebeww/s320/1j%20Blakeney%20UK%20Coastal%20Walk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Nicholas Anglican Church along the Coast Road</td></tr></tbody></table><br />There were several nice pubs to choose from for lunch or dinner. For our Sunday roast we chose the <a href="https://www.kingsarmsblakeney.co.uk/" target="_blank">Kings Arms Pub</a>. It's said that the building received a new roof during the reign of King George III, who, incidentally was the King who lost the American Colonies.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TQHYppWmsoxkjEjOXs_BKVlQsNGNn2TS-flGIUQPx8mLtQ0WEq8gijQSYpGDbp4UxIkNSSpNd-qnQF7IKHWp2bL_fIPOiYYdFXQJge5svv-yi5hbUpSU_jei-e8qakxOqjcs5JMW3zJjBFkipwaJDNT1w5MdND8oglK1I0MMF8jKZ8jFUQXP5_FvVw/s4032/2a%20Blakeney%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TQHYppWmsoxkjEjOXs_BKVlQsNGNn2TS-flGIUQPx8mLtQ0WEq8gijQSYpGDbp4UxIkNSSpNd-qnQF7IKHWp2bL_fIPOiYYdFXQJge5svv-yi5hbUpSU_jei-e8qakxOqjcs5JMW3zJjBFkipwaJDNT1w5MdND8oglK1I0MMF8jKZ8jFUQXP5_FvVw/s320/2a%20Blakeney%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Walking thru the park to the pub</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Meanwhile, back at the ranch - Lucy & Annie have been getting more and more acquainted. Lucy has been a very tolerant big sister and gently teaching Annie the ropes, including her boundaries. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjKueBdFwwaDER3TMjflqfI-dwIspkLY-Ia_nNQ5aAV8VjZOC9ND2ryocLCCZiroTyufwgTCPVTswHYMf9kKhe8sUYnY7S3bRPENbkpT3mBKd0BZBlfSwpq_aRVW9HvGE0YRfhE6uaDrfEUSiY3KZ1dBRQp_f0YVW3AcxnruuRzTUVzww2NMoA0mUAA/s4032/2b%20Blakeney%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjKueBdFwwaDER3TMjflqfI-dwIspkLY-Ia_nNQ5aAV8VjZOC9ND2ryocLCCZiroTyufwgTCPVTswHYMf9kKhe8sUYnY7S3bRPENbkpT3mBKd0BZBlfSwpq_aRVW9HvGE0YRfhE6uaDrfEUSiY3KZ1dBRQp_f0YVW3AcxnruuRzTUVzww2NMoA0mUAA/s320/2b%20Blakeney%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another day we again took the walk to Cley, but this time did it in reverse. We walked to Cley on the Coast Rd and took the Coastal Trail back to Blakeney. This put the wind at our back for the walk home.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cley is a very small town but has some nice shops. One in particular is a deli type store called Picnic Fayre. I was told that the owner is a god child of the Queen. We bought some great meat pies, & deserts which I threw into my daypack for the walk home.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdSAPPX-WHiqwNl8XXiPY40Hu7fWuLKfcPs2XfrMSNSRM6u6O5_d8_mwuuckD6P1I0e1n8-rhzNUtUROj6A1IyXjSnJslpj_7U6yeIRwTJ3qov7uST3CAJCzxTMyxDw5SOYbmUJPa7YX0-H7ClxXcSJCVYb7bvoKJCH2KRKGSWR2LUS-gu2aAxoqFsw/s4032/2c%20Cley%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdSAPPX-WHiqwNl8XXiPY40Hu7fWuLKfcPs2XfrMSNSRM6u6O5_d8_mwuuckD6P1I0e1n8-rhzNUtUROj6A1IyXjSnJslpj_7U6yeIRwTJ3qov7uST3CAJCzxTMyxDw5SOYbmUJPa7YX0-H7ClxXcSJCVYb7bvoKJCH2KRKGSWR2LUS-gu2aAxoqFsw/s320/2c%20Cley%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrvSXedUAXjbrxw-NFdmH8nmkjpZ-OeZ319sDfSKF1Lhq6Q4VDa45AModlZWRuN1z_7B9bnZWfy4col8nxREN6NHGy-rVaH4QPU_yJ0zujKh9edN0iJDhhRDpTWCV9q-XCG_AFe-77mc2cPUAXnTZAGH2MlqcBiPanrn8J6YUTqG6I4Jhp9oNfxSj0g/s4032/2d%20Cley%20UK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrvSXedUAXjbrxw-NFdmH8nmkjpZ-OeZ319sDfSKF1Lhq6Q4VDa45AModlZWRuN1z_7B9bnZWfy4col8nxREN6NHGy-rVaH4QPU_yJ0zujKh9edN0iJDhhRDpTWCV9q-XCG_AFe-77mc2cPUAXnTZAGH2MlqcBiPanrn8J6YUTqG6I4Jhp9oNfxSj0g/s320/2d%20Cley%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Side street in Cley</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />One of the items that I picked up at Picnic Fayre was a Scotch Egg. Eager to try one, I brought a coupole home for breakfast<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mrFbhw5NPgRzrAe4W3QjjNFuO8nxUHv-AECBuAKeZyJ6SU_8jRPzFog_5gkPsaIeN_oIJ8Ip6mfbU7-ZldGNexaHNWZames3_3LFYLLjdvgM5Gi8C4vvuaNQszH9xnsjquyhcBsWligk84p5d93yZP-GNdsmRMMt0NHR6zy-XkiQeQrDFhO3JV_LIw/s4032/2e%20Scotch%20Egg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mrFbhw5NPgRzrAe4W3QjjNFuO8nxUHv-AECBuAKeZyJ6SU_8jRPzFog_5gkPsaIeN_oIJ8Ip6mfbU7-ZldGNexaHNWZames3_3LFYLLjdvgM5Gi8C4vvuaNQszH9xnsjquyhcBsWligk84p5d93yZP-GNdsmRMMt0NHR6zy-XkiQeQrDFhO3JV_LIw/s320/2e%20Scotch%20Egg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Scotch Egg</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />What is a Scotch Egg you might ask? Well its not a Cadbury Egg filled with Scotch. And you cannot get drunk eating a bunch of them. It is simply a hard or soft boiled egg, wrapped in sausage, breaded, and deep fried. Warm it up in the oven in the AM and it makes a great morning breakfast.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYJPpWPiW8BrcG6Rdc-GipRnf5jO1yyJ_F5Jh0zXt1dy7iVeAjy4ssY9nukn9mYFLokiDHPAKVScU2aa0pJlqfs7qni4vDqya35TSfmhBup0mhdm2FZFYjskI4IChH5gKA960CysF-oF_3Nz2ja37LfQVKW4Rqh_uY75frjtBQNQU6-1kt2__tgnS6w/s4032/2f%20Scotch%20Egg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYJPpWPiW8BrcG6Rdc-GipRnf5jO1yyJ_F5Jh0zXt1dy7iVeAjy4ssY9nukn9mYFLokiDHPAKVScU2aa0pJlqfs7qni4vDqya35TSfmhBup0mhdm2FZFYjskI4IChH5gKA960CysF-oF_3Nz2ja37LfQVKW4Rqh_uY75frjtBQNQU6-1kt2__tgnS6w/s320/2f%20Scotch%20Egg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Lincolnshire</h2></div><p>Before we knew it - another week had flown by and it was time to make the 2hr trip north to Lincolnshire to visit friends Craig & Vicki. You might remember Vicki as the person who seriously broke her ankle while visiting us near Tucson just before Covid hit.</p><div style="text-align: left;">The 4 days that we were there flew by. But we sure covered some ground thanks to thier excellent tour guiding skills.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Walking distance from their house is the beautiful and impressive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_James%27_Church,_Louth" target="_blank">St James Church</a>. It has the 3rd tallest spire in England and is vintage 1400's</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKjc2E6ib3-Y3fKhkB7JxXBY01Z7yLiMkTqodcKzBOaU1Gb7dOo5f4Jq19xgLN0dObBWaRTEfkuYH9y-sBPUPIk7r1QEd_kb43tpWflboly2k8Tr0zPh-KKL9YN9mBOGPU-9IrwAp2dDBjST5Y3tYb0vF9hPRr_vRdWD5M_l9zGivDbj0ux9n89_1aQ/s4032/3a%20Louth%20UK%20St%20James%20Church.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKjc2E6ib3-Y3fKhkB7JxXBY01Z7yLiMkTqodcKzBOaU1Gb7dOo5f4Jq19xgLN0dObBWaRTEfkuYH9y-sBPUPIk7r1QEd_kb43tpWflboly2k8Tr0zPh-KKL9YN9mBOGPU-9IrwAp2dDBjST5Y3tYb0vF9hPRr_vRdWD5M_l9zGivDbj0ux9n89_1aQ/s320/3a%20Louth%20UK%20St%20James%20Church.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3IZQouIry9mVAGzU9ZCchPXGVY0nhq_CtDBc0fMsz8tFAzz7FVrrWV0YeKyhd9WUPqYUtUlg0JlsImQ91rW_YsDufIsJLa1x3fi3LDwEHBd3lmBrnGxIXwdRACkKGigOzh_PKn1rZOKGNSusbNof9IYPiJDenWdFtn0CeUhapvdKyY2WRj7FZppk5A/s4032/3b%20Louth%20UK%20St%20James%20Church.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3IZQouIry9mVAGzU9ZCchPXGVY0nhq_CtDBc0fMsz8tFAzz7FVrrWV0YeKyhd9WUPqYUtUlg0JlsImQ91rW_YsDufIsJLa1x3fi3LDwEHBd3lmBrnGxIXwdRACkKGigOzh_PKn1rZOKGNSusbNof9IYPiJDenWdFtn0CeUhapvdKyY2WRj7FZppk5A/s320/3b%20Louth%20UK%20St%20James%20Church.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVW4SzIZkaJWf58ygiAEFnIzLj6iblH5Ai1MeQEDeNAWEIVPexiuHElYaLFl6cRG4AXc3HEhJJk_BtgtIGOjLv1Tlu11mvVK-E13gfuvx1weT8mo4o8q7X-i7fO1N9VhQr0iE0Gj_GmOWMMnz1YnvNgUsKpUzjWSthFNsfAEVnlcYZyfaPBi6m04kmRw/s4032/3c%20Louth%20UK%20St%20James%20Church.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVW4SzIZkaJWf58ygiAEFnIzLj6iblH5Ai1MeQEDeNAWEIVPexiuHElYaLFl6cRG4AXc3HEhJJk_BtgtIGOjLv1Tlu11mvVK-E13gfuvx1weT8mo4o8q7X-i7fO1N9VhQr0iE0Gj_GmOWMMnz1YnvNgUsKpUzjWSthFNsfAEVnlcYZyfaPBi6m04kmRw/s320/3c%20Louth%20UK%20St%20James%20Church.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We were fed well for sure. One night we had a traditional cottage pie. (I probably used the wrong name)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciGLEQ3owlMdmv-u0jTbxdhJ-y25KZZUjF5u6EHhbPSLxZf_LWBrkiaqRQ2gxeXpTAJh3k6aX7GNsfvHNIlPCCH5ZEe_AyVfHhqB_uwbIunpp6xCkgcVwgyvsI1vL6iDPx52JBAOZI3wElqrKXwRUTD8Tt8wuGHvEdqaxE-gMU3VCTZupmH2IqMC8ag/s4032/3d%20Louth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciGLEQ3owlMdmv-u0jTbxdhJ-y25KZZUjF5u6EHhbPSLxZf_LWBrkiaqRQ2gxeXpTAJh3k6aX7GNsfvHNIlPCCH5ZEe_AyVfHhqB_uwbIunpp6xCkgcVwgyvsI1vL6iDPx52JBAOZI3wElqrKXwRUTD8Tt8wuGHvEdqaxE-gMU3VCTZupmH2IqMC8ag/s320/3d%20Louth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And again - I forget the name, but for desert was this fluffy, lemony, chiffon with fresh raspberries and shortbread sticks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppxnq5pARwdiCB9EfU3uJ9InLA9CxlDZGXWce14L4huCzNpPVuVjIyCtlfROmvsW1K-a8sFmJJJxQ_aFNgJwrqkq4OYUyKcLLHdqPXdGPuZrlSmbfUoxkYWPtseCCwqg-kHWpJxdTURCyL5cRfVfskV3mXpSZ_tovYoP2tkuLEwqWOX7ko0Syf4S7Lw/s4032/3e%20Louth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppxnq5pARwdiCB9EfU3uJ9InLA9CxlDZGXWce14L4huCzNpPVuVjIyCtlfROmvsW1K-a8sFmJJJxQ_aFNgJwrqkq4OYUyKcLLHdqPXdGPuZrlSmbfUoxkYWPtseCCwqg-kHWpJxdTURCyL5cRfVfskV3mXpSZ_tovYoP2tkuLEwqWOX7ko0Syf4S7Lw/s320/3e%20Louth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Every morning we would take a walk around town to one of the numerous green spaces.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHZynxGo5uYSwBxx7EB9H95vZK9cLFgChqWOxPFBrFAxYIsqHRNEBJud-y4qwlhpbM4ilg_K0Yz0snpcz-swpcz0gNxQSiqJBUyFRl-L3iYNTl9zyYWuMyavszw5swrxLlSGn0WPwjBCcsHu0jpG1PJDADFIFU8MI0mVoJ5dJHyFj-TLXi1t2cRG23g/s4032/3f%20Louth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHZynxGo5uYSwBxx7EB9H95vZK9cLFgChqWOxPFBrFAxYIsqHRNEBJud-y4qwlhpbM4ilg_K0Yz0snpcz-swpcz0gNxQSiqJBUyFRl-L3iYNTl9zyYWuMyavszw5swrxLlSGn0WPwjBCcsHu0jpG1PJDADFIFU8MI0mVoJ5dJHyFj-TLXi1t2cRG23g/s320/3f%20Louth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We took a day trip to <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/gunby-estate-hall-and-gardens" target="_blank">Gunby Hall Estate</a>. A National Trust Property, we are members so our admission and parking is free.</div><div><br /></div><div>A 1/2 mile walking path from the car park brings you to the gates of the home.</div><div><br /></div><div>Built in the 1700's it sits on approximately 1,500 acres.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyzDEC8iOLJPDNZtD6Xo3QePDsAR6nYtfR4QW9OjAk5SySxd2gpt18JO2UGvalnPd3BnQ2okKeutphrWYSeYMyfjIvJJ5iOdkomLdaKU-MMjI31Hy4Xua81DoHnIgcdNvnwz1coJfNjLM32WCapyWUWI9WzkIf9w1prdtu-lJ1umH8pq9Kb6y6kR84A/s4032/3g%20Gunby%20Hall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyzDEC8iOLJPDNZtD6Xo3QePDsAR6nYtfR4QW9OjAk5SySxd2gpt18JO2UGvalnPd3BnQ2okKeutphrWYSeYMyfjIvJJ5iOdkomLdaKU-MMjI31Hy4Xua81DoHnIgcdNvnwz1coJfNjLM32WCapyWUWI9WzkIf9w1prdtu-lJ1umH8pq9Kb6y6kR84A/s320/3g%20Gunby%20Hall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Miles of rolling woodlands interspersed with beautiful formal gardens.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXCnMW3SxwDStWWPoMixeQIwEBg0UNH-TbG3oQzwAV4wpJ_AJtlrnsrmOpzr0Ze6pcPujHfK3UPuOSZpIb77yOWtGpSVi3sAJv1W3fjfkHteAQWDObeipoyaTzvkugKZK6PxOJPr3IQEAgpLTCpLJ5JX4FJBZ_QjDQV04zB4b6JRtCpUi0VuH7Wrqug/s4032/3h%20Gunby%20Hall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXCnMW3SxwDStWWPoMixeQIwEBg0UNH-TbG3oQzwAV4wpJ_AJtlrnsrmOpzr0Ze6pcPujHfK3UPuOSZpIb77yOWtGpSVi3sAJv1W3fjfkHteAQWDObeipoyaTzvkugKZK6PxOJPr3IQEAgpLTCpLJ5JX4FJBZ_QjDQV04zB4b6JRtCpUi0VuH7Wrqug/s320/3h%20Gunby%20Hall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate holding court at Gunby Hall</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FPzX06Q6y2-oSkDVAugf6nN6KOV5BFzAFHDdSb108cechDchGdA_A7ObG2DY6vzkgRO-8sexdC_a_y3ndxYaONvH2f4oGWzA9tKXhH0dMBwRDeGn48ojZ0VNIeDf0rh85RSQh5bzrLvuaR0QGDRdVs1nk9igfesfeG7NOZ46oxm-Q8-im17bByFnQA/s4032/3i%20Gunby%20Hall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FPzX06Q6y2-oSkDVAugf6nN6KOV5BFzAFHDdSb108cechDchGdA_A7ObG2DY6vzkgRO-8sexdC_a_y3ndxYaONvH2f4oGWzA9tKXhH0dMBwRDeGn48ojZ0VNIeDf0rh85RSQh5bzrLvuaR0QGDRdVs1nk9igfesfeG7NOZ46oxm-Q8-im17bByFnQA/s320/3i%20Gunby%20Hall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Strolling thru the massive gardens</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Another day we took a trip to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattershall_Castle,_Lincolnshire" target="_blank">Tattershall Castle</a>. Another National Trust property. Built in the 1200's and expanded in the 1400's, it is a fine example of medieval brick construction. It was primarily a home, not a fortress, although its moat and battlements would have made it a tough place for the local hoodlums to loot. It's great construction expense was basically a way for the owner to show off his great wealth.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the subsequent owners, and one who greatly expanded the grounds was Lord Cromwell, the Treasurer of England under Henry VI. Life was good if you held the nations pursestrings.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Sv3TSVzQ5TbsaGNUoGIQ6ltitFVzWowAY9cZSpVVIiHmNF9NV-K6b9-an0O4dQO9_LVP7eRSMcwVRajE_p2vajMvsDXE6ZJRTIPceUsBZ-2RID3OvNxsn85DqAEn0kbkZEDUdVnOrmv6zp8Vny0jfUE7GXroDSY-7A89GWDVk02AKVkkRYyPVbgH9A/s4032/3j%20Tattershall%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Sv3TSVzQ5TbsaGNUoGIQ6ltitFVzWowAY9cZSpVVIiHmNF9NV-K6b9-an0O4dQO9_LVP7eRSMcwVRajE_p2vajMvsDXE6ZJRTIPceUsBZ-2RID3OvNxsn85DqAEn0kbkZEDUdVnOrmv6zp8Vny0jfUE7GXroDSY-7A89GWDVk02AKVkkRYyPVbgH9A/s320/3j%20Tattershall%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmjQnXSRYn10E6GzQHAGIzFMJW_PCow1GtmaRosyPeqjKKwwNIAX69EOR76Z-FmAp8hGh5YYaAQE1h3t773QSQUe5-9PJt3Qug2WSMjsSVeMr96-LvihzsG5t9hK0z7eqoUlpcJbvg-4BIdNVM7-ucgHOLv3DKxUxsTceONBSVDghyKiDkogRSSZkkw/s4032/3k%20Tattershall%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmjQnXSRYn10E6GzQHAGIzFMJW_PCow1GtmaRosyPeqjKKwwNIAX69EOR76Z-FmAp8hGh5YYaAQE1h3t773QSQUe5-9PJt3Qug2WSMjsSVeMr96-LvihzsG5t9hK0z7eqoUlpcJbvg-4BIdNVM7-ucgHOLv3DKxUxsTceONBSVDghyKiDkogRSSZkkw/s320/3k%20Tattershall%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Inside the castle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Dogs are allowed on the grounds, but not inside the castle, so Craig & Vicki watched our mutts as we went inside. At first I had no plan to climb all the stairs as my knees were bothering me from all the stairs they'd been doing the last couple of weeks, but once I started, I kept going, and going, and going...<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAaVFPwxa8YhXGGx-KyOg-LtGU8_z3etVwUlTN-B6qhtLRkQcvNclMhUGDwXp2Q8y6gR9AoKLxuGc1p2DzcMQFHRoAvSfI_LcbcEnJUk8flyRbJ2J8omDeHap_7uGhWuTbsYLeYrrSCTroIN6YYQefAOweu5EFFZEXbIOXrg7okUnKJVa1OpTmKRTuQ/s4032/3kb%20Tattershall%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAaVFPwxa8YhXGGx-KyOg-LtGU8_z3etVwUlTN-B6qhtLRkQcvNclMhUGDwXp2Q8y6gR9AoKLxuGc1p2DzcMQFHRoAvSfI_LcbcEnJUk8flyRbJ2J8omDeHap_7uGhWuTbsYLeYrrSCTroIN6YYQefAOweu5EFFZEXbIOXrg7okUnKJVa1OpTmKRTuQ/s320/3kb%20Tattershall%20Castle.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">C&V sitting with the dogs</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Before I knew it, I was 149 steps higher, up on the roof.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Jz5ZrSsMDXO-VSARyjTFR-HnQrkT-01VKiRC9dT1DGfkSXBF_jHdLcB1CYVfnD3JV8yx2FqH11sYk9EzbUsKlSTVXCTvqBifMNh-vo7N71B3nz-Eh-PYhVa2_YM2nUX89PmdisQzpObUAqVZDHVAsNvO-Qk3vViLuJvnp2dsBnDumT2dlYWvcZIhTw/s4032/3l%20Tattershall%20Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Jz5ZrSsMDXO-VSARyjTFR-HnQrkT-01VKiRC9dT1DGfkSXBF_jHdLcB1CYVfnD3JV8yx2FqH11sYk9EzbUsKlSTVXCTvqBifMNh-vo7N71B3nz-Eh-PYhVa2_YM2nUX89PmdisQzpObUAqVZDHVAsNvO-Qk3vViLuJvnp2dsBnDumT2dlYWvcZIhTw/s320/3l%20Tattershall%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Up on the roof...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Then a good climb up the tower deserves a good lunch stop so our next destination was the <a href="https://www.visitheritage.co.uk/places-to-stay/petwood-hotel-p677141" target="_blank">Petwood Hotel</a></div><div>During WWII, the hotel was requisitioned by the government and served as the home of the 617 RAF Squadron, who became famous as the <a href="https://www.visitheritage.co.uk/places-to-stay/petwood-hotel-p677141" target="_blank">Dambusters</a>, due to their daring raid to destroy German dams and flood the industrialized Ruhr Valley.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WYgMYY8Ofohz3SqfpQDU6gmKUBn-xtUxKMe0N_0tKtUu79Y2eBofGy56ZZfDR5D50jWiTA5OSL4h___LyvGpRDMlajf9n3kxOGnwzstXrEbIgFHxAjDNPVcuZX6lzARpC_xNrPmdfG1WCyUHXQI_3J9JFihbexdtTXqwcbmzZNWyzVXSMXm216CxgA/s4032/4a%20Petwood%20Hotel%20Woodhall%20Spa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WYgMYY8Ofohz3SqfpQDU6gmKUBn-xtUxKMe0N_0tKtUu79Y2eBofGy56ZZfDR5D50jWiTA5OSL4h___LyvGpRDMlajf9n3kxOGnwzstXrEbIgFHxAjDNPVcuZX6lzARpC_xNrPmdfG1WCyUHXQI_3J9JFihbexdtTXqwcbmzZNWyzVXSMXm216CxgA/s320/4a%20Petwood%20Hotel%20Woodhall%20Spa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The hotel "squadron bar" has remained exactly how it was during the war. Unfortunately a private event was taking place during our visit, so we were unable to view it. Like so many, it was another dog friendly day and all 4 pups seemed to have a nice time relaxing while we ate. After lunch we strolled the gardens and eventually worked our way back home.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidg-GOSVfZgDQPYTkaXWbonKk_O8Tk5VHc3fcn-japcOQWmOIGq2tqz13dqo8IXg0hvf4IquBMV1SHf-XCel8ZcDT6E7Byk01rFez68lm6qdCgMnDYzjjQ5lCra_Qvhita5s1nhLpqXMmIAPMWlUVOhXily890E28V4H1cfNO1Pm_jNOkEMcmwpYSTAg/s4032/4b%20Petwood%20Hotel%20Woodhall%20Spa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidg-GOSVfZgDQPYTkaXWbonKk_O8Tk5VHc3fcn-japcOQWmOIGq2tqz13dqo8IXg0hvf4IquBMV1SHf-XCel8ZcDT6E7Byk01rFez68lm6qdCgMnDYzjjQ5lCra_Qvhita5s1nhLpqXMmIAPMWlUVOhXily890E28V4H1cfNO1Pm_jNOkEMcmwpYSTAg/s320/4b%20Petwood%20Hotel%20Woodhall%20Spa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The next day we drove an hour to the city of Lincoln. There is much to see there and all it within a short walk of each other. We had reservations at a pub for lunch so first it was another dog friendly lunch then we were off to see the sights.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFJvr_hI_Z6YNNw8MNc9ySzApBrzJ6nB7l8yZ4UjNjJi9vu2kVvUaSBVsGVMWw29iMN4oJJm9Xy1rQxSHY9k0Yoz7v5nKpUgYvDkT9J-kxOw-0WtZLwssCF3KQemGEWZddT-6MJ_dvFUQFl8DkXIKLODQhtBRoOwrEItWPFBaz6gMTJwNJOfjvMUGDQ/s4032/5a%20Lincoln%20Uk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFJvr_hI_Z6YNNw8MNc9ySzApBrzJ6nB7l8yZ4UjNjJi9vu2kVvUaSBVsGVMWw29iMN4oJJm9Xy1rQxSHY9k0Yoz7v5nKpUgYvDkT9J-kxOw-0WtZLwssCF3KQemGEWZddT-6MJ_dvFUQFl8DkXIKLODQhtBRoOwrEItWPFBaz6gMTJwNJOfjvMUGDQ/s320/5a%20Lincoln%20Uk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our pub was just down the street on the right</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>First on the list was the impressive and beautiful <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Cathedral" target="_blank">Lincoln Cathedral.</a> Construction started in 1072. Originally a Catholic Church, it was stolen by Henry VIII during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_monasteries" target="_blank">dissolution of the monasteries</a>, and is now an Anglican Church.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFQRnxiMUQjhL_Bh2kcwo0Qtw7nRL8ICMCYn3Wvy2NEHg90x0_KgyhpbzbI0yfxmjbriEdZF-Ykp8VHQFm2_YNEtAhaajaeXLAds0Db81QeqmGj8SiUKLn6yt3h1ji_2IQ3wQXJyyogYQWw6unhVSF5mc-UbswSfOjSYVUhFHMPzp94X5sMSEeG_z3g/s4032/5b%20Lincoln%20Cathedral%20Uk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFQRnxiMUQjhL_Bh2kcwo0Qtw7nRL8ICMCYn3Wvy2NEHg90x0_KgyhpbzbI0yfxmjbriEdZF-Ykp8VHQFm2_YNEtAhaajaeXLAds0Db81QeqmGj8SiUKLn6yt3h1ji_2IQ3wQXJyyogYQWw6unhVSF5mc-UbswSfOjSYVUhFHMPzp94X5sMSEeG_z3g/s320/5b%20Lincoln%20Cathedral%20Uk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQb2GpvGI9CV_dPGMlGKYsNqPlRSMlmvdfKHx8DYDeOknwsIRWp7poHtO59SPeIP79EMQ4Ffd3SnSn8S3k3MP6jJ7Rz42Z_dyhsMjYt-VS54x3kmQe8wyuwtjTNzP3yL9swO2bjB6kxgP5VDPVkia3B_J0OuUNOZ_e14ohvhhLHsf4Wd14siXzsbHyw/s4032/5c%20Lincoln%20Cathedral%20Uk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQb2GpvGI9CV_dPGMlGKYsNqPlRSMlmvdfKHx8DYDeOknwsIRWp7poHtO59SPeIP79EMQ4Ffd3SnSn8S3k3MP6jJ7Rz42Z_dyhsMjYt-VS54x3kmQe8wyuwtjTNzP3yL9swO2bjB6kxgP5VDPVkia3B_J0OuUNOZ_e14ohvhhLHsf4Wd14siXzsbHyw/s320/5c%20Lincoln%20Cathedral%20Uk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the choir</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />There is a hidden "Imp" on one of the columns. For the price of a few coins, you can get a spotlight to turn on and show you where he is. <span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></div><div><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">According to 14th-century legend, two mischievous imps were sent by Satan to do evil work on Earth. After causing mayhem elsewhere in Northern England the two imps headed to Lincoln Cathedral, where they smashed tables and chairs and tripped up the bishop. An angel appeared in the Angel Choir and ordered them to stop. One of the imps sat atop a stone pillar and started throwing stones at the angel whilst the other cowered under the broken tables and chairs. The angel turned the first imp to stone, allowing the second imp to escape. The imp that turned to stone can still be found sitting atop his stone column in the Angel Choir. </span></span></div><div><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #202122;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">We purchased an Imp in the gift shop and he will be positioned above our door in Tucson when we get back there.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiGRK2o1ZI7cMXuqKCreiaAWICWBLeKw5GWyUjsnBdrESNT2Xin4KdjQmv6AZWFZq_4Gp6YKs4tbQyohnrTG_CGixUV78xii3ZD7DKPa-rC9Z-Uki12_vu17_uhFKuvac3yv35KPfi9p8C_RpCQLnuj6MKab1nb1cp4LJf91R6fbFh1yfoYQ8naP0og/s4032/5d%20Lincoln%20Cathedral%20Uk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiGRK2o1ZI7cMXuqKCreiaAWICWBLeKw5GWyUjsnBdrESNT2Xin4KdjQmv6AZWFZq_4Gp6YKs4tbQyohnrTG_CGixUV78xii3ZD7DKPa-rC9Z-Uki12_vu17_uhFKuvac3yv35KPfi9p8C_RpCQLnuj6MKab1nb1cp4LJf91R6fbFh1yfoYQ8naP0og/s320/5d%20Lincoln%20Cathedral%20Uk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the Lincoln Imp</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Next stop is practically across the street from the Cathedral. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Castle" target="_blank">Lincoln Castle</a> and inside it - the <a href="https://www.lincolncastle.com/explore/victorian-prison" target="_blank">Victorian Prison</a>. The Castle was constructed by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.</div><div><br /></div><div>The prison is from Victorian times. It was constructed to provide total isolation of prisoners from each other. the thought being that if they did not talk to each other, they would not sharpen their trade while in prison and might even reflect on their misdeeds and reform themselves.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmbzRuqZiVUBDx0MgUt1T63JSo_1ogYiN7oBEf6o8QHpFNvZAq8R_OAmrpft98eGwoPmdj8AbcIbrn9P-raYC-yT08IVrzho0ShWuN3W6jueoru4N-bNcN18PkXZvjjOaFtjYoVSxD5V4A49_VJ8gjoC1-FMZz53iAdmefh5GU7nVF4SWJcFMgZ-oIw/s4032/5e%20Lincoln%20Castle%20Prison%20Uk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmbzRuqZiVUBDx0MgUt1T63JSo_1ogYiN7oBEf6o8QHpFNvZAq8R_OAmrpft98eGwoPmdj8AbcIbrn9P-raYC-yT08IVrzho0ShWuN3W6jueoru4N-bNcN18PkXZvjjOaFtjYoVSxD5V4A49_VJ8gjoC1-FMZz53iAdmefh5GU7nVF4SWJcFMgZ-oIw/s320/5e%20Lincoln%20Castle%20Prison%20Uk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Overcrowding soon saw more than one prisoner placed in a cell.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7j-hzM8rcrll6vK8Ywa66_5duEMucY4HSLUGYFn9w1iXTvYAiz2lzgjtUcCi8mB7n2_Sbn93nuyDeFkzvIpxb-veUpyTD9lAUYFe6pF6NnI-hecsFk3ykzbAaAF4u8WdMPDDVdOEFTOYxtng4m5ipLVWFpBXa-kqaSuk9GDL9jbcdyzbT2mT2EXqhpA/s4032/5f%20Lincoln%20Castle%20Prison%20Uk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7j-hzM8rcrll6vK8Ywa66_5duEMucY4HSLUGYFn9w1iXTvYAiz2lzgjtUcCi8mB7n2_Sbn93nuyDeFkzvIpxb-veUpyTD9lAUYFe6pF6NnI-hecsFk3ykzbAaAF4u8WdMPDDVdOEFTOYxtng4m5ipLVWFpBXa-kqaSuk9GDL9jbcdyzbT2mT2EXqhpA/s320/5f%20Lincoln%20Castle%20Prison%20Uk.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The prison was the filming site for Downton Abbey. If you remember when Bates was sent to prison.... well it was here.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T6AszRixp8j1cX5IRwvvo77hLRXlXEZbp9mxMVJiHULDVAjcpsChSdgkzYNgnX2CkA9bwdJKQpEw7Io36MG0vKc1mae5GV8hdbntOvvcwHonLS6A2igpDd_fx88fPXT7M9qC5Uv-da78OlnC4KexpmCjFH-0zUF6KFbAtM9gORQMvjyjQf8LV1Y00Q/s4032/5g%20Lincoln%20Castle%20Prison%20Uk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T6AszRixp8j1cX5IRwvvo77hLRXlXEZbp9mxMVJiHULDVAjcpsChSdgkzYNgnX2CkA9bwdJKQpEw7Io36MG0vKc1mae5GV8hdbntOvvcwHonLS6A2igpDd_fx88fPXT7M9qC5Uv-da78OlnC4KexpmCjFH-0zUF6KFbAtM9gORQMvjyjQf8LV1Y00Q/s320/5g%20Lincoln%20Castle%20Prison%20Uk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Remember this from Downton?<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>I could not leave Lincoln, without a couple more photos of the Cathederal.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawK9E3FsyWtivnNuOQyIOdwBbHcmjRmwkv4delehPRt1EoBZoEZ5WVlO4x_lbDjbXGWYpiQdUr92usXYgaRie5uVdgZ3-cIIi7UHNCP5VQR6oSwVA_xThsyB13Eg6QhcWAcBzgfuje45g2jwQmoD6U-tfIhLvaDAwaFLzBhZDt-23YKDqOqVRNygZsQ/s4032/5h%20Lincoln%20Castle%20Prison%20Uk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawK9E3FsyWtivnNuOQyIOdwBbHcmjRmwkv4delehPRt1EoBZoEZ5WVlO4x_lbDjbXGWYpiQdUr92usXYgaRie5uVdgZ3-cIIi7UHNCP5VQR6oSwVA_xThsyB13Eg6QhcWAcBzgfuje45g2jwQmoD6U-tfIhLvaDAwaFLzBhZDt-23YKDqOqVRNygZsQ/s320/5h%20Lincoln%20Castle%20Prison%20Uk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg6cK_6Qh1aqLE5EqULWraAa-qSBSe_6X2-qqSip7xx9x5aO_A93aSd7ceJ6nRVntDMePs5i0iS_QZUqi55flhxuYGC3lsfWZH6Y4EzfoKAL2rkagr04PfYNfYE3bjZCqiffFPzvjwaqFz_8CQFlt_nYllBz8gI7oHKRNkeHNFU0IXcdWk4-c5n86mA/s4032/5i%20Lincoln%20Castle%20Prison%20Uk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg6cK_6Qh1aqLE5EqULWraAa-qSBSe_6X2-qqSip7xx9x5aO_A93aSd7ceJ6nRVntDMePs5i0iS_QZUqi55flhxuYGC3lsfWZH6Y4EzfoKAL2rkagr04PfYNfYE3bjZCqiffFPzvjwaqFz_8CQFlt_nYllBz8gI7oHKRNkeHNFU0IXcdWk4-c5n86mA/s320/5i%20Lincoln%20Castle%20Prison%20Uk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Wales</h2><div><br /></div>Our 4 days flew by and on Weds the 7th, we were back on the road heading Southwest across England and into Wales. Or destination being a small village called Pont-faen. Just 5 miles outside of the market town of Brecon, it takes about 15 minutes to get to town due to the tiny tiny single-track roads we take for the whole way. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_zpSLXeKiKkNLSWaj3-ghyOZkLpt7YUVqU3j_6sZyrXFLX_4CdaopvwhYg76Y5x74YjObNdxoWlhJcQ_gby4iHcgTkp3lprOzD4LWipG-ibgCw8sPqLDONk4ZKGMZ9SeWMrTB0ae8vDnQhaTHPfrWJ6McOcZeA6YtyovVO_uzHagfBUgRIuQwIcK5g/s4032/6a%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_zpSLXeKiKkNLSWaj3-ghyOZkLpt7YUVqU3j_6sZyrXFLX_4CdaopvwhYg76Y5x74YjObNdxoWlhJcQ_gby4iHcgTkp3lprOzD4LWipG-ibgCw8sPqLDONk4ZKGMZ9SeWMrTB0ae8vDnQhaTHPfrWJ6McOcZeA6YtyovVO_uzHagfBUgRIuQwIcK5g/s320/6a%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our several hundred year old stone cottage</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ulHXQpPP7xlr89bFrQCxN7xJUK8D6e0SC5WwYJZWER1nr0lczt_sXmmx71X_834pjAE68TDSSWYnQtDOM5trFVYDqMkKwKnvoVJ2wHibVb-h5ILeBWcPFpVprHKV3c2mGx9cSRjNG2w4uBovk57_PpHIj7qIPRxxJL2ToZ-B4RNz5hRl7elrA3tXyw/s4032/6b%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ulHXQpPP7xlr89bFrQCxN7xJUK8D6e0SC5WwYJZWER1nr0lczt_sXmmx71X_834pjAE68TDSSWYnQtDOM5trFVYDqMkKwKnvoVJ2wHibVb-h5ILeBWcPFpVprHKV3c2mGx9cSRjNG2w4uBovk57_PpHIj7qIPRxxJL2ToZ-B4RNz5hRl7elrA3tXyw/s320/6b%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The road to our village</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our cottage had these thick stone walls. They would hold in the cool of the previous night if we closed the windows before it got too warm out. At night with the windows open, we had the sound of the river behind us, tumbling over the rocks on its way downstream.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvajJSuLgXL0Dm-ThnZ4ii3XMCc5OOcD98nqlVQIl6xufYXeiGwlmccYQ0k-9zpdElXZz2L9dQaLqrAm-TM5dAmFBBgRQO8Iwu9ZxuHKMfDfiIJkl36Fw_Ww8AdbN_-v07fA2KXY3qdFeaFL35qwmNveiO3Q7gKimsk1kJM4Yht-lvw9b77izWWJsRA/s4032/6c%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvajJSuLgXL0Dm-ThnZ4ii3XMCc5OOcD98nqlVQIl6xufYXeiGwlmccYQ0k-9zpdElXZz2L9dQaLqrAm-TM5dAmFBBgRQO8Iwu9ZxuHKMfDfiIJkl36Fw_Ww8AdbN_-v07fA2KXY3qdFeaFL35qwmNveiO3Q7gKimsk1kJM4Yht-lvw9b77izWWJsRA/s320/6c%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our bedroom</span></td></tr></tbody></table>This is sheep country. All day long we would hear them talking to each other: "hey buddy, nice haircut". We arrived on Weds and all the sheep were long and shaggy. The next morning they all had been cut. Space invaders must have come in overnight and stole their fleece.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5GtTVxMg3rCpGaxQhQiqSPMhJznPrOOyhzJRukB16ox1F2k7AmZUMcqlyJyQ_TpHxFenZdF1Y3QCujNYGdV90RlcTDu-n_EukQV9_CQrQXwFGIwnXV8lpx8hBgOrdFhq9GDWgjEIQ0OfG0BFG5mOw3jj-mxvvEslccOzKQjSGdhUl31zkpCpTLH-Mg/s4032/6d%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5GtTVxMg3rCpGaxQhQiqSPMhJznPrOOyhzJRukB16ox1F2k7AmZUMcqlyJyQ_TpHxFenZdF1Y3QCujNYGdV90RlcTDu-n_EukQV9_CQrQXwFGIwnXV8lpx8hBgOrdFhq9GDWgjEIQ0OfG0BFG5mOw3jj-mxvvEslccOzKQjSGdhUl31zkpCpTLH-Mg/s320/6d%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our neighborhood</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hSfuM0GAxshqJW7uJALwNilAp63e-rmPfoLrseCjneoIMUfSC7oF5jLT9iZossIh0AIEI21uJd-iy6Jbyp2GWF068zJodCjf3SeEz4Mi5IWuZwmsUIdmq1tGahQTISHaT16ecHhFXYgqqZB4FS7fA3ZszX-kEpgPlLbkPN6_s3052tuMzbe1wgo0qQ/s4032/6e%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hSfuM0GAxshqJW7uJALwNilAp63e-rmPfoLrseCjneoIMUfSC7oF5jLT9iZossIh0AIEI21uJd-iy6Jbyp2GWF068zJodCjf3SeEz4Mi5IWuZwmsUIdmq1tGahQTISHaT16ecHhFXYgqqZB4FS7fA3ZszX-kEpgPlLbkPN6_s3052tuMzbe1wgo0qQ/s320/6e%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our neighbors</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />As I mentioned earlier - the dogs are really getting settled in together.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDcBC4cgYTn_Y5G16TPesYxHzH4oDGRY2AbpiaCyPPGB0Q76eXK7Zhd0cNRlvOcSrtqoGmLlRXLYe_SwCtLINGChO9MdNAJeOy4t4sZVzUsyIE65Pe_yFker6l0oJTA9XkC7w0W6rnVhRS0CVtlj8Z-Zk1cUeg3BqQF44d7vnstewZNtvTmf9yTJM_Q/s4032/6f%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDcBC4cgYTn_Y5G16TPesYxHzH4oDGRY2AbpiaCyPPGB0Q76eXK7Zhd0cNRlvOcSrtqoGmLlRXLYe_SwCtLINGChO9MdNAJeOy4t4sZVzUsyIE65Pe_yFker6l0oJTA9XkC7w0W6rnVhRS0CVtlj8Z-Zk1cUeg3BqQF44d7vnstewZNtvTmf9yTJM_Q/s320/6f%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4jyY6prHRvhrVbHu8na-fYvaocQpOAFqzwtv3uykwjTZUTC3tzYCI1LFPyGLelLboy0hlTKnQNDAvOxDWuILOZ3pj6-Mer2I7YeaoBu5DzlSejx_fGU_b_QEPjVuuI5sZd_LApS_ElYZaCdsBEhQz6NWCC-miduisGblXs3SI_1ludf6Zc0ZFMqRjA/s4032/6g%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4jyY6prHRvhrVbHu8na-fYvaocQpOAFqzwtv3uykwjTZUTC3tzYCI1LFPyGLelLboy0hlTKnQNDAvOxDWuILOZ3pj6-Mer2I7YeaoBu5DzlSejx_fGU_b_QEPjVuuI5sZd_LApS_ElYZaCdsBEhQz6NWCC-miduisGblXs3SI_1ludf6Zc0ZFMqRjA/s320/6g%20Mill%20Cottage%20Brecon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>5 Miles, and about 15 minutes away is the Market Town of Brecon. It is the hub of the area and where we would go to do our shopping and people watch. Plus with the River Usk running thru it, there were real nice walking trails along its banks.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDMv6Mk77hnDIdyAq2673dhUkhFcMIdwf7aEsavXNNmaZX0ux0wU_lCQpRTymFxGhjc_gxW5XRVd18V4ragibmlIsOUuLs08S5AIWyR6DPAP0PF6eeRg9N0NG5SV1zpLxm5kB7mwUYJ3czfwkxpdyiMeyxC7WixNEmAOfSBrUJ1o-OVsy7EBiRD9UqQ/s4032/6h%20Brecon%20Wales%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDMv6Mk77hnDIdyAq2673dhUkhFcMIdwf7aEsavXNNmaZX0ux0wU_lCQpRTymFxGhjc_gxW5XRVd18V4ragibmlIsOUuLs08S5AIWyR6DPAP0PF6eeRg9N0NG5SV1zpLxm5kB7mwUYJ3czfwkxpdyiMeyxC7WixNEmAOfSBrUJ1o-OVsy7EBiRD9UqQ/s320/6h%20Brecon%20Wales%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw80MPqh7HM731KObHg3bos6GSKZ0RSiLtKb-Xo_-4Zurhm3EucQy3X9Tt2R10QhYEDForhuTqfnK8QxYPNfC-4_nN8dviqlWBZ8BLhv_0ucVr_31sxX6EQdbngVHhpKXnf3PMc35FgmRD3Mv3eXyCr47IaTZ7EkSQy3uiKdoV5oXZaReJVquqXRfSA/s4032/6i%20Brecon%20Wales%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw80MPqh7HM731KObHg3bos6GSKZ0RSiLtKb-Xo_-4Zurhm3EucQy3X9Tt2R10QhYEDForhuTqfnK8QxYPNfC-4_nN8dviqlWBZ8BLhv_0ucVr_31sxX6EQdbngVHhpKXnf3PMc35FgmRD3Mv3eXyCr47IaTZ7EkSQy3uiKdoV5oXZaReJVquqXRfSA/s320/6i%20Brecon%20Wales%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the parks along the river.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEil0tVOUBI3bxVRnkzYce4ZTwT84h-LC8YI5UqAr3p_l_8h_xmD2IwEcTjZ_4N-JoGGyFfQ0nChmEomKmnP03vta-yxBKv6Alzo0x2DzWbBwaxkRrVNLUJRvu0kdQaVbjF1py_ue8mGOGEjvKZKoeq8l3ZguGoT1r60lei7CEwKZ3RkZaZuwvuC_GpQ/s4032/6j%20Brecon%20Wales%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEil0tVOUBI3bxVRnkzYce4ZTwT84h-LC8YI5UqAr3p_l_8h_xmD2IwEcTjZ_4N-JoGGyFfQ0nChmEomKmnP03vta-yxBKv6Alzo0x2DzWbBwaxkRrVNLUJRvu0kdQaVbjF1py_ue8mGOGEjvKZKoeq8l3ZguGoT1r60lei7CEwKZ3RkZaZuwvuC_GpQ/s320/6j%20Brecon%20Wales%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A view of our street. Our house is out of sight to the left. At the end of the street is a crossroads of about 5 one-track roads. The village had perhaps a half dozen homes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjW4-asKniexfdB1fE-bVkZcnHx5LUKKXlw6BbF7q_olN7uGvYkb7ASU_tDq_WPiZkgGOUxa5mGxOW3zxmwAiXLizIsvoIb35pdqxi45FHqE5wPB3IV49b5Z0aOhb78DpzL_qYOm5-m5IY-pQvBpWZlC9UgjeBynLa6MgSKDvIezkBzOkzqIbzrtA_Q/s4032/6k%20Pont-faen%20Wales%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjW4-asKniexfdB1fE-bVkZcnHx5LUKKXlw6BbF7q_olN7uGvYkb7ASU_tDq_WPiZkgGOUxa5mGxOW3zxmwAiXLizIsvoIb35pdqxi45FHqE5wPB3IV49b5Z0aOhb78DpzL_qYOm5-m5IY-pQvBpWZlC9UgjeBynLa6MgSKDvIezkBzOkzqIbzrtA_Q/s320/6k%20Pont-faen%20Wales%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The view out of our bedroom window. The bridge in the background is the road that took us into Brecon.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T-9Q1I2ZezW5UTwsWigsxRiWf-RxemLyMXMhBgsC0wLKEorjn3tGEtTaKk1pGr0Zu248oGzyY44E6H5ox1IQI0qOPn9YxocGRZqdPMJ6wH53IwboWNGgc6625uMFtBYMvOu2tSCerzJBjCzB9bGXB7wvu-F8HfSnoV4HvuM_uUb2C-as91aDNWbriQ/s4032/6l%20Pont-faen%20Wales%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T-9Q1I2ZezW5UTwsWigsxRiWf-RxemLyMXMhBgsC0wLKEorjn3tGEtTaKk1pGr0Zu248oGzyY44E6H5ox1IQI0qOPn9YxocGRZqdPMJ6wH53IwboWNGgc6625uMFtBYMvOu2tSCerzJBjCzB9bGXB7wvu-F8HfSnoV4HvuM_uUb2C-as91aDNWbriQ/s320/6l%20Pont-faen%20Wales%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another view of the 1-lane roads. Driving here is a team sport. People have to move over, back up, or do whatever in order to keep moving.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BbizFwuH0Kv2KP66eJVUmnX9nKLNMiE86V3a3twwN7BeAz29wacWSR7pFfHxzX5IB7wQaC2NQzhci1JDa2zHjq9yhjhGP8sj8VWRQ-xiwhnzeIGVLYgBWNfWSGGbdq_HnPnqge4eeAJgUzO2wqYQ_WIUlmrdB-9hPNfXyf9sQ0XfeCoZtieXD153qA/s4032/6m%20Pont-faen%20Wales%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BbizFwuH0Kv2KP66eJVUmnX9nKLNMiE86V3a3twwN7BeAz29wacWSR7pFfHxzX5IB7wQaC2NQzhci1JDa2zHjq9yhjhGP8sj8VWRQ-xiwhnzeIGVLYgBWNfWSGGbdq_HnPnqge4eeAJgUzO2wqYQ_WIUlmrdB-9hPNfXyf9sQ0XfeCoZtieXD153qA/s320/6m%20Pont-faen%20Wales%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We took several scenic drives thru the Brecon Beacons National Park. The above treeline scenery reminded me of places like Colorado and Alaska, above the treeline. The big difference is the green green fields below.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUM2g4U_8hqfZGvEnYvt_rIZw4P7dElnkAmmV-zODKTVu95coTwmaMHCwBMYqeZaCFV_h9yZWw16SOBSEjoTyVfAbUXPma9nYYFBmCOviVrzw17of-ZEAff3VqKFHCt-G7sVM4pm6utqlRl81ToqG7wbl1vzAzSe-3Y7Osy5K2-zclJDOCVXp8W3P-g/s4032/7a%20Brecon%20Beakons%20%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUM2g4U_8hqfZGvEnYvt_rIZw4P7dElnkAmmV-zODKTVu95coTwmaMHCwBMYqeZaCFV_h9yZWw16SOBSEjoTyVfAbUXPma9nYYFBmCOviVrzw17of-ZEAff3VqKFHCt-G7sVM4pm6utqlRl81ToqG7wbl1vzAzSe-3Y7Osy5K2-zclJDOCVXp8W3P-g/s320/7a%20Brecon%20Beakons%20%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On our last day, we visited the Brecon Canal Boat Basin. There is a big Canal boat industry here. You can rent them and travel all over the country, thru locks etc. Each night stop in a different town and tie up and get dinner at the local pub.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA0d7UUbJ543S1-g9GIKqOOF51mng8ukjpbLnxFx4CPo99usrVXaLsiDb3h2IeG7rQz9x5jld0t9w1Wk80qlTab-xtufDnBdVZgh4AcsGAKYXYNmcgYqZazDm0yBLHjmsDJvgmUqqZBptWnel58t34Z7lCUNItiCfbGkAmGAG4q669Nx3ZfKnPfqs6Q/s4032/7b%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA0d7UUbJ543S1-g9GIKqOOF51mng8ukjpbLnxFx4CPo99usrVXaLsiDb3h2IeG7rQz9x5jld0t9w1Wk80qlTab-xtufDnBdVZgh4AcsGAKYXYNmcgYqZazDm0yBLHjmsDJvgmUqqZBptWnel58t34Z7lCUNItiCfbGkAmGAG4q669Nx3ZfKnPfqs6Q/s320/7b%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcELNnp77K6XLuAuZzhCAja_mfbNxxKO6XxInFd-Q05YLeQoLAHI-tNq-O50_PR_dZm5nyM1PoAiTIy9KmF8u34sVoR-O2XEceaWKbiohiJKYTUEKimivlmnB108KafU6LuU9Dtfxu0OcMZuQv-Qm8MJ7hzUjMS2-Ex_3X7KaIvfOqhFF03qIvxWVLA/s4032/7c%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcELNnp77K6XLuAuZzhCAja_mfbNxxKO6XxInFd-Q05YLeQoLAHI-tNq-O50_PR_dZm5nyM1PoAiTIy9KmF8u34sVoR-O2XEceaWKbiohiJKYTUEKimivlmnB108KafU6LuU9Dtfxu0OcMZuQv-Qm8MJ7hzUjMS2-Ex_3X7KaIvfOqhFF03qIvxWVLA/s320/7c%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A canal boat coming down the canal.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTJZQo0xgKU9AK4wbYQUD9LbdV6llBcz9EvPXaKYcUdCKGAdL65dFsbKt9hFeaJMBMSDTEgF6PRjGRtHfIMcpnGyV80l-_9NyXDhiVhCme_Xtk8eg4uypmAgSoosJABPdKWAYVuXq1eLm8GGHa5q55MhZ69ejy3UFyi2EUrzdhZbyiCFqh99iLfUp5Q/s4032/7d%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTJZQo0xgKU9AK4wbYQUD9LbdV6llBcz9EvPXaKYcUdCKGAdL65dFsbKt9hFeaJMBMSDTEgF6PRjGRtHfIMcpnGyV80l-_9NyXDhiVhCme_Xtk8eg4uypmAgSoosJABPdKWAYVuXq1eLm8GGHa5q55MhZ69ejy3UFyi2EUrzdhZbyiCFqh99iLfUp5Q/s320/7d%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the best things about travel are the people we meet along the way. A walk down the canal and then a chance meeting and all of a sudden we are having this great conversation with Hailey and Steve.</div><div>They were traveling in a Caravan and we shared travel stories, dog stories etc. We must have hung out for over an hour.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucZePalURCVWIuO5qERCsbsdW14fApAy7V4KWrEZ56lyrP_UjGqBcCqqtVRaTMrDeTThd8rC24ZhXvflKw9QlQoK3bxFPKcm9DrFySREEJzHcBMoGO7QVVleLLGDWyx2K2dDXYHQMmseqyIuF4BtUkUI1URjg5kIxDNE3AWTQkCrCGYWRbm34nOvFDw/s4032/7e%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucZePalURCVWIuO5qERCsbsdW14fApAy7V4KWrEZ56lyrP_UjGqBcCqqtVRaTMrDeTThd8rC24ZhXvflKw9QlQoK3bxFPKcm9DrFySREEJzHcBMoGO7QVVleLLGDWyx2K2dDXYHQMmseqyIuF4BtUkUI1URjg5kIxDNE3AWTQkCrCGYWRbm34nOvFDw/s320/7e%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGMrTXlFhUf_ERHZE9H6XpR_qu7m6iUzRAONzraqi_5f5CO7ijqfUzxaI9kpcw6qN_CrdFpFdpfuSEzcTFIzhdG-1IVVwCQc0SA3m_zZKOWC9oEKpLqFxyWIl1j-7gO2R2TfKgykBsLFLNTPxhk53UXReAZm8j-FUfyA0jUccemNh5IOiiXNYjW2p1Q/s4032/7f%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGMrTXlFhUf_ERHZE9H6XpR_qu7m6iUzRAONzraqi_5f5CO7ijqfUzxaI9kpcw6qN_CrdFpFdpfuSEzcTFIzhdG-1IVVwCQc0SA3m_zZKOWC9oEKpLqFxyWIl1j-7gO2R2TfKgykBsLFLNTPxhk53UXReAZm8j-FUfyA0jUccemNh5IOiiXNYjW2p1Q/s320/7f%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSCHjSv01ab8n-xMIJpeU3FQMyNWFAn2_mDb7j9byet0alZccjw6XpXu_LMgKMBpMDX7P6vKIH5o0nU-kyNOy4MOSwjC2nLB6Lvw1tssfLsJgVhsj3KWyiAGfmgnzp6PtIFKLrGJEvw4vWqS53-Px1aSaHkdXzTPDYw-7DAa3diPZl0Musn1vcUfqaA/s4032/7g%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSCHjSv01ab8n-xMIJpeU3FQMyNWFAn2_mDb7j9byet0alZccjw6XpXu_LMgKMBpMDX7P6vKIH5o0nU-kyNOy4MOSwjC2nLB6Lvw1tssfLsJgVhsj3KWyiAGfmgnzp6PtIFKLrGJEvw4vWqS53-Px1aSaHkdXzTPDYw-7DAa3diPZl0Musn1vcUfqaA/s320/7g%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally we were back in the Boat Basin. They had a nice outdoor area with shops and cafes. We had ice cream cones while we (and the dogs) watched life go by on the canal.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EQ-WSnPtI5gEj0zrfzSlshfdwx1N_FJJTv5SvYohMSjgAcWe7cleyfyhI9yqjZIW7dGpXXL1P25IUUHs6DyZzPDtq-pAzeGZPpslj7kg4QQhRp9XprqUtYv4CMXeen0L_H8Lk5Sb-nmeaYIZVoTRqNtji4o6qo9I1CyWGYYjMnBWqBH-ppkFUzscfg/s4032/7h%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EQ-WSnPtI5gEj0zrfzSlshfdwx1N_FJJTv5SvYohMSjgAcWe7cleyfyhI9yqjZIW7dGpXXL1P25IUUHs6DyZzPDtq-pAzeGZPpslj7kg4QQhRp9XprqUtYv4CMXeen0L_H8Lk5Sb-nmeaYIZVoTRqNtji4o6qo9I1CyWGYYjMnBWqBH-ppkFUzscfg/s320/7h%20Brecon%20Canal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Soon we headed back home as it was time to start packing up and planning to move tomorrow.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well tomorrow is now today. Its Weds evening and we've moved to our next port of call. A 3-night stay at an AirBnb in Fishguard Wales. On Saturday we will catch the Ferry for a 3.5hr crossing of the Irish Sea to Ireland. Tomorrow the dogs go to the vet for the required worm treatment before we enter Ireland.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lucy will have to get her export certificate just like we did in the US, but it is easier to do here. Annie has an EU pet passport (Ireland is in the EU) so no paperwork is needed other than the worm treatment.</div><div><br /></div><div>So our next post should be from Eire. Kate with her new Irish Passport will be returning home.</div><div><div><p><br /></p></div></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-2156134686308993392023-05-30T04:52:00.001-06:002023-05-30T04:52:29.017-06:00Canterbury<p> Well it's time to bring you up to date with last weeks travels. We told you about our newest addition Annie, who we picked up while we were in Canterbury, but I haven't told you about Canterbury.</p><p>After dropping off our luggage in Southampton, we turned east and drove several hours east, past London to the village of Bridge, just a few miles outside of Canterbury.</p><p>Our VRBO for the next week is a converted schoolhouse turned into several cottages. A nice backyard, shared game room, plus several bathrooms, and washing machine. </p><p>Having arrived later in the day on Sunday, after getting settled in we headed down the street about 500 yards to the Bridge Arms Pub for Sunday Roast. For those of you who might not know - a tradition in many of the pubs is to put on a Sunday Roast. For a fixed price you get an option of meat and fixins. Usually served with Yorkshire pudding, potatoes, and vegetables.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTYWtJwkrqcTehYEgwjS__4AHEiI2bjSKvtP0LaXcckQwxSFyFZcGzzRUyuKptoxGyL7ReqvD0mpwArURofcs_bjxpXbHvVjiHrsf0iVAUWlUKy0A3S-X6CJOgtlGiyuivgzFo3ZuNXV41y0hGItTcJ_hlVLBVTV0XH5zpMeSdJ46keKtwPjQSBDdOw/s3940/1a%20Red%20Lion%20Pub%20Bridge%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2216" data-original-width="3940" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTYWtJwkrqcTehYEgwjS__4AHEiI2bjSKvtP0LaXcckQwxSFyFZcGzzRUyuKptoxGyL7ReqvD0mpwArURofcs_bjxpXbHvVjiHrsf0iVAUWlUKy0A3S-X6CJOgtlGiyuivgzFo3ZuNXV41y0hGItTcJ_hlVLBVTV0XH5zpMeSdJ46keKtwPjQSBDdOw/s320/1a%20Red%20Lion%20Pub%20Bridge%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pint and a roast.</td></tr></tbody></table>Kate opted for the Beef<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmwR0QX3tvurU0VCRBugaq_2zgTGaC4JidUkhKl3XNq9CCX_e_dzV1orMzwoQOdMpjWf9N5AXdBB3I4Q5HsSsFoJJv1fpr2NAJS3nBbAV6VLO7AjWU44nFy3nnBBRy0J1AlDgtSPpDV9hQPE1iP9an2q_racHU-Xhe4SaCkuTklyPgDzb_LI3N1c3SQ/s4032/1b%20Red%20Lion%20Pub%20Bridge%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmwR0QX3tvurU0VCRBugaq_2zgTGaC4JidUkhKl3XNq9CCX_e_dzV1orMzwoQOdMpjWf9N5AXdBB3I4Q5HsSsFoJJv1fpr2NAJS3nBbAV6VLO7AjWU44nFy3nnBBRy0J1AlDgtSPpDV9hQPE1iP9an2q_racHU-Xhe4SaCkuTklyPgDzb_LI3N1c3SQ/s320/1b%20Red%20Lion%20Pub%20Bridge%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And I went for the Pork and Cracklings.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgE_YCxfEm94JyiDe4yLq03nMKRnc3K7Qg1onwpXOagqvADQYBGEY_WOchmhd0RE_4_lAXFwcbhTaEyxXBxo-OaqN8-Ne0VlnhG_LBH1EbtuHPlKnDui62GpwZKNwSa7BLOXq_O4zuX4Nny7ad9BduRdq3YF_kxs1Icghh_XCmloXy_gyzO1LSyzs3Q/s4032/1c%20Annie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIyIuWEyJYkhu8d44EIO4-P9oscjrdIM0QE-xR6YjvJw03p9IixcXawGp7vNIdMpCz01iEIG5BPDWJ3EX5k-KZkesxYUSdhuElnlxgXwMgPibvEAHzERMiolCivP2iSsKTAz4ef-ZDj1h8Ng85R-slh8tin8ixlL6vU3w-hGFWdiGHej2OKqCQHV--w/s320/1c%20Red%20Lion%20Pub%20Bridge%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgE_YCxfEm94JyiDe4yLq03nMKRnc3K7Qg1onwpXOagqvADQYBGEY_WOchmhd0RE_4_lAXFwcbhTaEyxXBxo-OaqN8-Ne0VlnhG_LBH1EbtuHPlKnDui62GpwZKNwSa7BLOXq_O4zuX4Nny7ad9BduRdq3YF_kxs1Icghh_XCmloXy_gyzO1LSyzs3Q/s4032/1c%20Annie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Our big green backyard<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8txP5zy2mF20ClEYFcg4fwCjrFdJgt1QhdcXH-pBSF8IAzBm6fwY9Jg7FiMhilS6W94ebxfKUREpW6Wro4zgruEvfQ32yT0XFPLX0SRKsU7jewUJQB_nzWaEjocoHNlcaROe79PHqG59Vefwnz_vPpFYIglZkaYDO54gJulsI73NuCEhzYSsbysvkQw/s4032/1d%20Bridge%20UK%20VRBO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8txP5zy2mF20ClEYFcg4fwCjrFdJgt1QhdcXH-pBSF8IAzBm6fwY9Jg7FiMhilS6W94ebxfKUREpW6Wro4zgruEvfQ32yT0XFPLX0SRKsU7jewUJQB_nzWaEjocoHNlcaROe79PHqG59Vefwnz_vPpFYIglZkaYDO54gJulsI73NuCEhzYSsbysvkQw/s320/1d%20Bridge%20UK%20VRBO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Each night around dusk a large Pheasant showed up and strutted around the garden for an hour or so. His loud call accompanied by the flapping of his wings interrupted the peace and quiet and let everyone know he was in town.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwoWjLgohBzvpy-4GkwkpwDGDMu2ciN_OEfKWTia-yy-C6vg2arEm6U9lFirWCd3uNjOFsWmDRaAeXrGnHIxU0ldgw4EfNceNdr2yuum-2yN-DksZ-aF4NHau9ATtv88SX7-D9RxNZVRxAWuaqm0lPJXq7M-YDh_0bKrWhzEbFaLaLc8VdFNAct5-NA/s4032/1e%20Bridge%20UK%20VRBO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwoWjLgohBzvpy-4GkwkpwDGDMu2ciN_OEfKWTia-yy-C6vg2arEm6U9lFirWCd3uNjOFsWmDRaAeXrGnHIxU0ldgw4EfNceNdr2yuum-2yN-DksZ-aF4NHau9ATtv88SX7-D9RxNZVRxAWuaqm0lPJXq7M-YDh_0bKrWhzEbFaLaLc8VdFNAct5-NA/s320/1e%20Bridge%20UK%20VRBO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our downstairs - a large open plan dining/living area.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SEeTs7LQJzfB__iNIcsPcY9950v3703SKrPnV8EOWsF32d6hdUpamuH2GqyxXvnD4IoP3oGE786N3XgtpnK85u1u73eML3p-fYfWMJWNrbmkOltzbelZwkoRCdkGUttzj-qhH0qplae0Fi_POwCH0j-Ix0cT5_vblFhJ1mMUF8KHo8dwH8KF7S1NlQ/s4032/1f%20Bridge%20UK%20VRBO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SEeTs7LQJzfB__iNIcsPcY9950v3703SKrPnV8EOWsF32d6hdUpamuH2GqyxXvnD4IoP3oGE786N3XgtpnK85u1u73eML3p-fYfWMJWNrbmkOltzbelZwkoRCdkGUttzj-qhH0qplae0Fi_POwCH0j-Ix0cT5_vblFhJ1mMUF8KHo8dwH8KF7S1NlQ/s320/1f%20Bridge%20UK%20VRBO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVd_b97sIAwXFAGwtQd66LNrVUYqNk5rTLT4dzONQQIAsTFlzjzHT6OmvMJdWTqq392iZ4CD3H-6yEh_Ksl6jh3De2r4GZMgMOugLa0s5E9RFOl_2mhnaxJtL3Ki7Uh9oc8P3P4t04kWHFZco6UHPoalx6nF4KRFrDqPeMlZsLWmH0UrmJP82-MRZew/s3974/1g%20Bridge%20UK%20VRBO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2234" data-original-width="3974" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVd_b97sIAwXFAGwtQd66LNrVUYqNk5rTLT4dzONQQIAsTFlzjzHT6OmvMJdWTqq392iZ4CD3H-6yEh_Ksl6jh3De2r4GZMgMOugLa0s5E9RFOl_2mhnaxJtL3Ki7Uh9oc8P3P4t04kWHFZco6UHPoalx6nF4KRFrDqPeMlZsLWmH0UrmJP82-MRZew/s320/1g%20Bridge%20UK%20VRBO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Monday was spent doing some odd shopping. Groceries, plus some pet supplies in anticipation of Annie's arrival later in the week. </div><div><br /></div><div>On Tuesday we went into Canterbury for a walking tour of the old town. Narrow cobbled streets turned into pedestrian zones, made it a very nice place to walk around and enjoy the day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRdZOsGPOAxRX80reoCgjWGEgEtj_zp5pPOtPm5h0WY6vQ2tVuYOV5atvDI1QZA0pYJiv1DUxPiPnjJskcKt7k-LdWC0kMvI-RJX4_BiKcJN8HhGvUld7615yNk8F90T3SPPOI1zLzJgY-TSEV2BTwhRhdzA5QdQl0tSJ_kNkOvLe7MY_Nr-8RVE1wA/s3964/2a%20Canterbury%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2230" data-original-width="3964" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRdZOsGPOAxRX80reoCgjWGEgEtj_zp5pPOtPm5h0WY6vQ2tVuYOV5atvDI1QZA0pYJiv1DUxPiPnjJskcKt7k-LdWC0kMvI-RJX4_BiKcJN8HhGvUld7615yNk8F90T3SPPOI1zLzJgY-TSEV2BTwhRhdzA5QdQl0tSJ_kNkOvLe7MY_Nr-8RVE1wA/s320/2a%20Canterbury%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At the end of one of the streets we came upon Westgate Gardens. Workers were busy planting flats of annuals in anticipation of the summer months. This garden has been around for hundreds of years, being started in the 15ht century.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVr5phK3tksmtTQnO3k-pQN7cidqR3A04uV33_tfeglMTDsuj0mmroNRiXoMHtZM3W8hcLtKBEla88NlRJVRNVAM1WNWHl_30ONDRC-DUc_5XQNGHvQwcFT9DSTTlANS_rQhxKyIWaZs086vPnG7CWjzZz4PwFZONHpD1xFBb_lBUR0z0gBI2_hiIdCA/s4032/2b%20Westgate%20Gardens%20Canterbury%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVr5phK3tksmtTQnO3k-pQN7cidqR3A04uV33_tfeglMTDsuj0mmroNRiXoMHtZM3W8hcLtKBEla88NlRJVRNVAM1WNWHl_30ONDRC-DUc_5XQNGHvQwcFT9DSTTlANS_rQhxKyIWaZs086vPnG7CWjzZz4PwFZONHpD1xFBb_lBUR0z0gBI2_hiIdCA/s320/2b%20Westgate%20Gardens%20Canterbury%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Lucy enjoys the last of her peace and quiet before the arrival of Annie</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnc86cKbD5dMwh-rtgPimvK0w790Aw9M6HLcua7vazi_FqrF0DkOe1xfwnoYTwXGSatMKdqMsIsGmn3ueye4LeOOmRThyWYYYcXnuicXSkcoFxf9fLcQwih7pfhyw3H7rVziEAgzaqHmoHTtrSShh-4xjJBFpT1EEBZZxAWJRncTXU4ykhtPjsQ_54jg/s4032/2c%20Westgate%20Gardens%20Canterbury%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnc86cKbD5dMwh-rtgPimvK0w790Aw9M6HLcua7vazi_FqrF0DkOe1xfwnoYTwXGSatMKdqMsIsGmn3ueye4LeOOmRThyWYYYcXnuicXSkcoFxf9fLcQwih7pfhyw3H7rVziEAgzaqHmoHTtrSShh-4xjJBFpT1EEBZZxAWJRncTXU4ykhtPjsQ_54jg/s320/2c%20Westgate%20Gardens%20Canterbury%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Another must see while we were here was a trip to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dover_Castle" target="_blank">Dover Castle.</a> Overlooking the town and harbor from its perch high up on the white cliffs, it sets a dramatic and foreboding vision. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdbp3wYYf1XlwBGQ_Pzd6lufjCjauvFmWqNwj6bjtiheQAZGNC8_KxR7DUwYKX0Od6z0WYHmVBA6aEKc54ECrbGc2upOG8vXy4zdp7B11t6inhJlCKhkUxWGjRe1gJ68TY9_L2sv-i5-u9J_PbHFx2jvWLLZvt174g3lKAnBkRFNyv1HwoH1b8iuo-Q/s4032/2d%20Dover%20Castle%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdbp3wYYf1XlwBGQ_Pzd6lufjCjauvFmWqNwj6bjtiheQAZGNC8_KxR7DUwYKX0Od6z0WYHmVBA6aEKc54ECrbGc2upOG8vXy4zdp7B11t6inhJlCKhkUxWGjRe1gJ68TY9_L2sv-i5-u9J_PbHFx2jvWLLZvt174g3lKAnBkRFNyv1HwoH1b8iuo-Q/s320/2d%20Dover%20Castle%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Built, partially destroyed, and re-built over the years, the current castle originates from from the mid 1100's and Henry II<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlHzG-v7NjNuduNwDkARw29aeTgdkv4LY0Lnn4lVtc6ikJ9Wv0svW3n5SKZzccVvQUfutlSIx8Q3zeatLGzggiLOsjratx3HFoFU-rN5I5AJNnqJGm4FPFQZvZu4kbLig9w85Xr_oR9y1x45bHU--FP1_VzJ0ttyDvaFOS925MdvedPmqqJR44Y0O3A/s4032/2e%20Dover%20Castle%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlHzG-v7NjNuduNwDkARw29aeTgdkv4LY0Lnn4lVtc6ikJ9Wv0svW3n5SKZzccVvQUfutlSIx8Q3zeatLGzggiLOsjratx3HFoFU-rN5I5AJNnqJGm4FPFQZvZu4kbLig9w85Xr_oR9y1x45bHU--FP1_VzJ0ttyDvaFOS925MdvedPmqqJR44Y0O3A/s320/2e%20Dover%20Castle%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Inside the great room.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglixUiLa5gxD2atS9G2P3OWgAWlI34YiU9KHtmJ3LHIFK-Sg1fp0gX3UKWx62DKMwviArR7LA6GkSOqpR36hW3ZN3tfF9jjiN7-qIG7pTLJozo4oSrCGx_QmIk-GMrqcG7jYH0fvPCIDcYxUJNrcT4xmucYiTrrs4m5ENDx4fzaz4xqko08FEKQXnCXg/s4032/2f%20Dover%20Castle%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglixUiLa5gxD2atS9G2P3OWgAWlI34YiU9KHtmJ3LHIFK-Sg1fp0gX3UKWx62DKMwviArR7LA6GkSOqpR36hW3ZN3tfF9jjiN7-qIG7pTLJozo4oSrCGx_QmIk-GMrqcG7jYH0fvPCIDcYxUJNrcT4xmucYiTrrs4m5ENDx4fzaz4xqko08FEKQXnCXg/s320/2f%20Dover%20Castle%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The view from the roof of the Great Tower. You can see Dover harbor to the right of center, and an approaching ferry to the left of center. In the distance, about 26 mile away is the French Coast. On a clear day you could read the time of day from the village clock using a pair of binoculars.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWzlVYd6RZ7jojK6p1wfZUxAHNhLNc7T0bYB1iKpLDbS2VcFPnWkEx773h_WwJCtutIM-xBbPkY9BlxwvoQYxH2K_nTc4gU8KXxeJHsd3-HihCwsvstnheaBKqxjiVhOCvXGYxf7_yG1co1tOBR9FoXisK-TaaF0LjXQZAOE5PqKhBqTx8m8VfjrN0g/s4032/2g%20Dover%20Castle%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWzlVYd6RZ7jojK6p1wfZUxAHNhLNc7T0bYB1iKpLDbS2VcFPnWkEx773h_WwJCtutIM-xBbPkY9BlxwvoQYxH2K_nTc4gU8KXxeJHsd3-HihCwsvstnheaBKqxjiVhOCvXGYxf7_yG1co1tOBR9FoXisK-TaaF0LjXQZAOE5PqKhBqTx8m8VfjrN0g/s320/2g%20Dover%20Castle%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View from Dover Castle Great Tower</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The castles kitchen.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbfpIC5O7F7RsIs8DVuYdUxOil8n2PVqmM1IuUhPt_Pq_4CIkD7FrYPlyQbbHQtMnbcJ2q8t5cYc3wLnlxww-F3luFIjF9iiXEq-4dZGsqp0_cPpUm5rrkzHNjMd6YmtiAjvu9BqvQG5IFO7pSySocrJQXSFNoQmj5BM4RteJqGmeKTwkdVSnTe0itA/s4032/2h%20Dover%20Castle%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbfpIC5O7F7RsIs8DVuYdUxOil8n2PVqmM1IuUhPt_Pq_4CIkD7FrYPlyQbbHQtMnbcJ2q8t5cYc3wLnlxww-F3luFIjF9iiXEq-4dZGsqp0_cPpUm5rrkzHNjMd6YmtiAjvu9BqvQG5IFO7pSySocrJQXSFNoQmj5BM4RteJqGmeKTwkdVSnTe0itA/s320/2h%20Dover%20Castle%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>On Thursday, our last day of peace before the arrival of Annie - we headed back into Canterbury to visit the world famous <a href="https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/" target="_blank">Canterbury Cathedral</a>. Seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Cathedral really became world famous due to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Becket" target="_blank">Thomas Becket</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>The short story on Becket is that he served King Henry II as Lord Chancellor, enforcing the Kings Revenue laws. Later he was appointed as The Archbishop of Canterbury, the highest religious position in England. It was Henrys hope that Sir Thomas's loyalties would remain with the state rather than the church, but as the weight of the office settled in, Becket got religion so to speak, and as Henry pushed against the church, his former ally pushed back. Eventually the pushing back and forth got to a breaking point and a few knights, decided to curry favor with Henry, and on December 29, 1170, they separated Becket from this world.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFMdnQgXrHRKBI2Rl7_IdHyCKRXxfGJZCPy_1Hp6R8oUllxsybAFpWNMlQ_N_BxlVUKqDmM43l22xoIU3Fu4h0eXXkTUZxLg472y0xNrSm4oxfwqwDkd8rzw4Jvch9zWKGOUIikjrV4L_cYPwBucaA-y5ko6CzPFapwq6oUWaBVAgFPaNXf8K-1ukhQ/s4032/3a%20Canterbury%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFMdnQgXrHRKBI2Rl7_IdHyCKRXxfGJZCPy_1Hp6R8oUllxsybAFpWNMlQ_N_BxlVUKqDmM43l22xoIU3Fu4h0eXXkTUZxLg472y0xNrSm4oxfwqwDkd8rzw4Jvch9zWKGOUIikjrV4L_cYPwBucaA-y5ko6CzPFapwq6oUWaBVAgFPaNXf8K-1ukhQ/s320/3a%20Canterbury%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A square near Canterbury Cathedral</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Within 2 years, of his death, Pope Alexander III made Becket a saint and soon the Cathedral became a shrine attracting pilgrims from all over the world. A shine grew in the Cathedral, and soon the riches held by the church grew to astounding proportions.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCxy83WebNmzq4IMV1MMSFh1DUgeyvKduJJEzZNrp0-4AmfGt-QuyWoxTFNx2asXOThGUIJYQkMHRpZeuS_6WewjEQUpv7hYfoAynBH51fBoDd50DGweN2EcEzHNmdlnytCFWB51x0mY8Jufh9otKJScE6NfEiCsqgz1P1Ghmq7BAaDzgPBN__IGA0w/s5460/3b%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3832" data-original-width="5460" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCxy83WebNmzq4IMV1MMSFh1DUgeyvKduJJEzZNrp0-4AmfGt-QuyWoxTFNx2asXOThGUIJYQkMHRpZeuS_6WewjEQUpv7hYfoAynBH51fBoDd50DGweN2EcEzHNmdlnytCFWB51x0mY8Jufh9otKJScE6NfEiCsqgz1P1Ghmq7BAaDzgPBN__IGA0w/s320/3b%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Preservation of the Cathedral</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>During the reign of Henry VII, and his dissolution of the monasteries, the riches of the Becket shrine were seized. It is said that Becket was summoned to court to answer charges. Becket, having been dead for about 400 years, obviously did not appear. So, because he was a "no-show" that became the legal vehicle used to seize all the goods. The shine was looted and destroyed, Beckets bones were destroyed and scattered, and all mention of Becket throughout the land was removed, including from religious books.</div><div><br /></div><div>Henry VIII obviously did not want anyone held in higher esteem than himself.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3kM3xtRlcHcQ-6cC0SiCLPoGkEsTs8Fhmlzhpl7jkJ0Tf-i78aed4Z7CoIQ5rpAM1ao7sT6BKVKx4Pshggf__mA3B5W0plTttXCe4DVC7Av_q3wztjVVLwO9O0QUu_dUscRhIcHeiSkAMHRB0BnyPG8tXmpM99Jc9vt3U88jIfaNGvfnCUKQJgtPHQ/s4032/3c%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3kM3xtRlcHcQ-6cC0SiCLPoGkEsTs8Fhmlzhpl7jkJ0Tf-i78aed4Z7CoIQ5rpAM1ao7sT6BKVKx4Pshggf__mA3B5W0plTttXCe4DVC7Av_q3wztjVVLwO9O0QUu_dUscRhIcHeiSkAMHRB0BnyPG8tXmpM99Jc9vt3U88jIfaNGvfnCUKQJgtPHQ/s320/3c%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Below, the exact spot where Becket was assassinated.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVO1KS4V-Jl9ZLyxbqnRUDCudUwfaWv3hKYcrzybQvLr4Zmr2kRT123S1Q5xObr17-B25QepZhgb7BiCUAa62DgR6Uyzr8bcNQhaFRgEWI6CTmLLbIxjVeBp__BvxyD8Qaa67OVXx2kUNp1qGT55BlU2pYC-NT7UpFuTe0SgEEFpw41pYsMqf6sdEC1Q/s4032/3d%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVO1KS4V-Jl9ZLyxbqnRUDCudUwfaWv3hKYcrzybQvLr4Zmr2kRT123S1Q5xObr17-B25QepZhgb7BiCUAa62DgR6Uyzr8bcNQhaFRgEWI6CTmLLbIxjVeBp__BvxyD8Qaa67OVXx2kUNp1qGT55BlU2pYC-NT7UpFuTe0SgEEFpw41pYsMqf6sdEC1Q/s320/3d%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kate stands on the spot talking to the docent</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>One example of the beautiful stained glass throughout the cathedral.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNeoPR2dZjvHVDqyu1Cg5oRzvk40HHaJWRUcta2pMncptVPECEA4CBLJi5fZrFtAUIZIVwAoVi8Vo8wxAZ3MAi4EQ2ifrWTOEt3N9eFkWY8ac43dJWmEvKKYHuCM8HZ_2xzunEAyK6EeJluJfMztQqSCScE_BV-2sbqyO72gdy0wBvjsPVAS9lktEZQ/s4032/3e%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNeoPR2dZjvHVDqyu1Cg5oRzvk40HHaJWRUcta2pMncptVPECEA4CBLJi5fZrFtAUIZIVwAoVi8Vo8wxAZ3MAi4EQ2ifrWTOEt3N9eFkWY8ac43dJWmEvKKYHuCM8HZ_2xzunEAyK6EeJluJfMztQqSCScE_BV-2sbqyO72gdy0wBvjsPVAS9lktEZQ/s320/3e%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's a truly impressive and beautiful cathedral. I think the Italian Cathedrals are more impressive due to the Italians skills with stone working, but it is still beautiful and hard to imagine how they actually built things like that over a thousand years ago.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaVm2X9lcfAt5ADdPb7Ig9gsZ21rJG0zdhZc5NzMM8UMJKFQA8LkhyGyee0lN-RQ4rJ8-iGl-XykkQSchLme9kY4bA2dW_ajOHQf--dO0fsJRzzRxJJL2y79B-iqsnaXVlYly2JFWiDYSXF-IsTrBKsFxOdm3dB1LH2dMHhVlOmF46Sj2TH5M9bCGYQ/s4032/3g%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaVm2X9lcfAt5ADdPb7Ig9gsZ21rJG0zdhZc5NzMM8UMJKFQA8LkhyGyee0lN-RQ4rJ8-iGl-XykkQSchLme9kY4bA2dW_ajOHQf--dO0fsJRzzRxJJL2y79B-iqsnaXVlYly2JFWiDYSXF-IsTrBKsFxOdm3dB1LH2dMHhVlOmF46Sj2TH5M9bCGYQ/s320/3g%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The candle marks the spot where Beckets Shrine once stood.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgyboqrCxpwKhiY1OainIpUD6MDHecFjh3ZzIU_zcd7va0JtwB7UTReKcz4DXeq32aiuK_Fe_RmdV7hI-XobPv6deWpFjj4Mv1wuPGNoqmGwLqxdOlGM33uSB2jWqvqHVXsMk-lkSdwGHeNQWDKEIErzXusvMhpGUWyU9VJADLSU06pTdFMFzHU9SgA/s4032/3h%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgyboqrCxpwKhiY1OainIpUD6MDHecFjh3ZzIU_zcd7va0JtwB7UTReKcz4DXeq32aiuK_Fe_RmdV7hI-XobPv6deWpFjj4Mv1wuPGNoqmGwLqxdOlGM33uSB2jWqvqHVXsMk-lkSdwGHeNQWDKEIErzXusvMhpGUWyU9VJADLSU06pTdFMFzHU9SgA/s320/3h%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On the perimeter of the Cathedral are numerous other chapels pertaining to other things. There is a French chapel for instance, and below is St Michael's Chapel. AKA the "Warriors Chapel" it was established in 1439 (53 years before Columbus sailed) and pays homage to various military figures and regiments over the years.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmbLoJ09Jb3GR-uReL4qI028aNiiL9CVaKtDTxXu-FqhafmdjwnZj9eKOwJxuq3JFdN2fbF6kJ7tfpby4uju1tUMbW5y5a7ayIDPRBBwQ-yeK1gFnZO9KGN1in8IgM0b8GpRG037ILLgZePg3MqCM0yoEDAJ3SsTuwptdagLXEgezP6zEbP2fARpeBg/s4032/3i%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmbLoJ09Jb3GR-uReL4qI028aNiiL9CVaKtDTxXu-FqhafmdjwnZj9eKOwJxuq3JFdN2fbF6kJ7tfpby4uju1tUMbW5y5a7ayIDPRBBwQ-yeK1gFnZO9KGN1in8IgM0b8GpRG037ILLgZePg3MqCM0yoEDAJ3SsTuwptdagLXEgezP6zEbP2fARpeBg/s320/3i%20Canterbury%20Cathederal%20UK.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">St Michaels Chapel</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Well, soon it was Friday and time for me to make a puppy run. The plan was the driver would leave on Thursday and drive 13 hours from Barcelona to Calais. I would take a taxi from our place, thru the Chunnel, to Calais, and we would meet at 1230 at a McDonalds.</div><div><br /></div><div>We arrived a bit early, and like clockwork, at 1225 our driver pulled in from Barcelona.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCsG_hqGdIuM9uUyP6OR6OyrzyVv3vF_iJsq1w5Q-I79MFipdJvWVNDqASWpUee5ocCCVEjNE-qjiHDMlrAqvdk4ZGMOygpTtHheaVGooFAZskaQVdBrWA3Tr-tVQiZgFlNxJnrda8Z6Ddf9Qexn_ppes3DtkRl8kaMrVYANBoAQToDTNtFyvGVDkQQ/s3913/4a%20Le%20Shuttle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2201" data-original-width="3913" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCsG_hqGdIuM9uUyP6OR6OyrzyVv3vF_iJsq1w5Q-I79MFipdJvWVNDqASWpUee5ocCCVEjNE-qjiHDMlrAqvdk4ZGMOygpTtHheaVGooFAZskaQVdBrWA3Tr-tVQiZgFlNxJnrda8Z6Ddf9Qexn_ppes3DtkRl8kaMrVYANBoAQToDTNtFyvGVDkQQ/s320/4a%20Le%20Shuttle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the train to Calais</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Well we made the transfer, exchanged some chit chat, and soon he was headed south and we were headed back on the train to the UK.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ0TyapiYJL4C0j_dx-K1EMZ6iJVqrrpLNlVrxtJ_DbHYb4OTDRs-TMIK8ro6cShvGPYJ1l6Ki5gEpXaGmN7Zh7f90UzaV1ByeIhJmitGEssYJF4iaZMrHqaer_0gFj-7ZA_R-_pZgawY89dwgKcICUyj0XWwyHNX3ifzJHl0Vp1nNDl5Ds5ZB4ylXA/s4032/4b%20The%20Doodles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQ0TyapiYJL4C0j_dx-K1EMZ6iJVqrrpLNlVrxtJ_DbHYb4OTDRs-TMIK8ro6cShvGPYJ1l6Ki5gEpXaGmN7Zh7f90UzaV1ByeIhJmitGEssYJF4iaZMrHqaer_0gFj-7ZA_R-_pZgawY89dwgKcICUyj0XWwyHNX3ifzJHl0Vp1nNDl5Ds5ZB4ylXA/s320/4b%20The%20Doodles.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Now Lucy has a little sister</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />As expected, the dogs are getting along fine. Lucy as been a bit standoffish from this high energy furball, but as the days pass, she has gotten more used to it, and now they actually lay on the sofa together. </div><div><br /></div><div>The next day - Saturday - we had a 3.5 hr drive to our next stop, the Village of Blakeney, on the coast in Norfolk. Since check-in time was not till 4pm, we had time to kill, so I added a stop at Hever Castle to our days travels.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hever Castle is the childhood, and family home of the Boleyns. Remember Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife? She grew up here.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYAYzu05BGqxAU8zXTpUjOJ04AplG30lnJ5azAIpqSlX4vQmCmKAS0eJs8TVz0WKmnef2NZQtmTTeW4AmoOmY2Mrb3p1P0WExoBvIWisfqh28umdh_1QbCi1KiIMY-3ldhde8XpyKuEyC1Xmw3PoCoLr4AUyQpxLReTQTRQOdkRRkBs14nO3CNmKT8Q/s4032/5a%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYAYzu05BGqxAU8zXTpUjOJ04AplG30lnJ5azAIpqSlX4vQmCmKAS0eJs8TVz0WKmnef2NZQtmTTeW4AmoOmY2Mrb3p1P0WExoBvIWisfqh28umdh_1QbCi1KiIMY-3ldhde8XpyKuEyC1Xmw3PoCoLr4AUyQpxLReTQTRQOdkRRkBs14nO3CNmKT8Q/s320/5a%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hever Castle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXM_Psxvk1lBB9TlivP8KBp01Zk4ZqbwYwpOvkwkcXYm4sm9zk5gBf67HrCkt2vs27nK2dRsN5KxWGimqEhE-D5lYLmdv-nvKNM85dM6C5teVYTUlfASUDe-fKcqPyImGAqNxWfLs9x5A17anJPo8EGDvJxj2WH02QJt6nX9Wc6JuGbCChZLHwTc14vQ/s3897/5b%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2191" data-original-width="3897" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXM_Psxvk1lBB9TlivP8KBp01Zk4ZqbwYwpOvkwkcXYm4sm9zk5gBf67HrCkt2vs27nK2dRsN5KxWGimqEhE-D5lYLmdv-nvKNM85dM6C5teVYTUlfASUDe-fKcqPyImGAqNxWfLs9x5A17anJPo8EGDvJxj2WH02QJt6nX9Wc6JuGbCChZLHwTc14vQ/s320/5b%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hever Castle Moat and gate</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The Castle was purchased in 1903 by William Waldorf Astor, son of the famous "Robber Baron" John Jacob Astor. As a result of his purchase, much has changed inside and a lot of the displays are oriented towards him rather than the Boleyns. It was slightly disappointing, but beautiful none the less.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are beautiful gardens surrounding the castle which are a destination on thier own.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpVnma9d7pnlImwp6TU2EWHSJRq7FwHrykJUekJ8S5xzUpRC0AasmBWroK33Ypw7qmb2Sk08p7XHxeKsFZ7HKj9EC9Nx04i0HzSuMFD5eyhW4-G7LLgFMP-wNXC-ISjYUpjTGC266JJQZAwii_1QJLiHCTQwSK9kTz1zMUTZDPiSvlz3oUoO8xLOh2A/s4032/5c%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpVnma9d7pnlImwp6TU2EWHSJRq7FwHrykJUekJ8S5xzUpRC0AasmBWroK33Ypw7qmb2Sk08p7XHxeKsFZ7HKj9EC9Nx04i0HzSuMFD5eyhW4-G7LLgFMP-wNXC-ISjYUpjTGC266JJQZAwii_1QJLiHCTQwSK9kTz1zMUTZDPiSvlz3oUoO8xLOh2A/s320/5c%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEhbw5BoLumAiY0XaWLOcSpLFgk7pRthtdjbbKWT6_bTNhdBHo_AxiczUTQ7mV35er5N-tEIpguwbYTtVVeCFJwgx6aN_GNsL59NyDJsLtecIRpn_-NF3yXY_TMM4WeMiykUFqBnHsBZrN5SeZ2XWi6eWXaIhEY67hUF8yCU9hHD3f8DcUr4CbHnHSw/s4032/5d%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEhbw5BoLumAiY0XaWLOcSpLFgk7pRthtdjbbKWT6_bTNhdBHo_AxiczUTQ7mV35er5N-tEIpguwbYTtVVeCFJwgx6aN_GNsL59NyDJsLtecIRpn_-NF3yXY_TMM4WeMiykUFqBnHsBZrN5SeZ2XWi6eWXaIhEY67hUF8yCU9hHD3f8DcUr4CbHnHSw/s320/5d%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sitting room</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXzLYAY8Scg7hoZFbEIOIQ5Zzx8IsgRit-bIATYSzAxnHkZF73Mzc6ax0ahE9_6AspL-b3Ek9cTZqYErAPTyxuDpdi3tuvOhtEpMrGy53aiNS3921w_dAZgbHfqsk0xi7-ik4Qu-9CnMk_5ouQfgYXuKz-dECknVlSO2tQabemWd_5H2EckAEwPZPtA/s4032/5e%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXzLYAY8Scg7hoZFbEIOIQ5Zzx8IsgRit-bIATYSzAxnHkZF73Mzc6ax0ahE9_6AspL-b3Ek9cTZqYErAPTyxuDpdi3tuvOhtEpMrGy53aiNS3921w_dAZgbHfqsk0xi7-ik4Qu-9CnMk_5ouQfgYXuKz-dECknVlSO2tQabemWd_5H2EckAEwPZPtA/s320/5e%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dining Room</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtDN48Hm497W1UjBB4bTBdhHHVmm27s_YQIOSdjX1p8GQvTB-CtuuRT_MZhuH2q7sk0zKkY93wC5_fJDpAEhvEPSgs1ALsxgo0HVzVDr13mtuNUYZwv3vkeAzI87ZY94a11NLKLelWuCEoqbnmAp89i41NkliOo8UC8nL7C5m60IPE-rdg7-IRP0WWQ/s4032/5f%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtDN48Hm497W1UjBB4bTBdhHHVmm27s_YQIOSdjX1p8GQvTB-CtuuRT_MZhuH2q7sk0zKkY93wC5_fJDpAEhvEPSgs1ALsxgo0HVzVDr13mtuNUYZwv3vkeAzI87ZY94a11NLKLelWuCEoqbnmAp89i41NkliOo8UC8nL7C5m60IPE-rdg7-IRP0WWQ/s320/5f%20Hever%20Castle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>After a few hours visiting and giving the dogs a good workout, we got back on the road and headed north to our next destination. We are now in Blakeney, on the coast in Norfolk, and already have been enjoying all this area has to offer. Yesterday was a 5 mile walk to the next village and back.</p><p>But all that if for our next post.</p><p>Thanks for following along. I hope you are enjoying the ride.</p></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-27603286336285775672023-05-26T11:12:00.004-06:002023-05-26T12:15:57.011-06:00Its an Annie!<div style="text-align: left;">Over the past year or so... whenever we spoke about the dogs passing, I've always said that it would be nice if we could go dogless for a while. As great as it is to have the mutts, they do require a commitment, and sacrifice.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've had had trips to Japan, Australia, & New Zealand on my radar for some time now. Trips that you can't take if you own a dog unless you can leave them with someone, or put them in a kennel - the latter which is a non-starter for us.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We're not going to Japan.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Or Australia,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Or New Zealand.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Meet Annie, the newest member of the pack</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTqpDnJpAjWq1BeCeJcwBY4lXA6TnLutconnjbpc7rh4BISE9t0EU8Hq3kGB1NOfNo8feYG0QM_df56ahAd_HOv62sUK9P8hQ38QfeN5cKunzIXg2h3jTfLe0oIWw35zjwn3o9BSSaGzFDTL_giXzXrJhIFsS86JoA1cO294Se_ifPWIYNdunBFA9JQ/s499/1a1%20Annie%20resized.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="499" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTqpDnJpAjWq1BeCeJcwBY4lXA6TnLutconnjbpc7rh4BISE9t0EU8Hq3kGB1NOfNo8feYG0QM_df56ahAd_HOv62sUK9P8hQ38QfeN5cKunzIXg2h3jTfLe0oIWw35zjwn3o9BSSaGzFDTL_giXzXrJhIFsS86JoA1cO294Se_ifPWIYNdunBFA9JQ/s320/1a1%20Annie%20resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Annie at 14 weeks</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Annie is a 16 week old <a href="https://www.dogbreedinfo.com/a/australiancobberdog.htm" target="_blank">Australian Cobberdog</a>. On Feb 2, 2023 while we were hanging out at Quartzsite with the gang, Annie was making her entrance into the world in Barcelona, Spain. Little did she know the life that she was going to lead.<div><br /></div><div>What's a Cobberdog you ask? </div><div><br /></div><div>Well the link above tells you a bit more, but it is a strain of dog, recognized as a Purebred breed in development. Created by the same people who developed the original Labradoodle line, and descended from the original Australian Labradoodle strains, the line was tweaked a bit, and now has strict limitations on who can breed them, and requires DNA testing before they can be registered. This is to hopefully prevent the craziness that happened with the Labradoodle line where every knucklehead with a Lab and a Poodle started breeding them and calling them Labradoodles.</div><div><br /></div><div>A Cobberdog consists of approximately 28 different strains.</div><div><br /></div><div>We purchased Annie from a breeder in Barcelona whe specializes in Therapy dogs. I'd been following this breeder for a number of years and was impressed with their program. Its a decent sized venture that has a training center and vet as part of the practice. The dogs go thru a fairly rigorous training program to set them on a good path as Therapy dogs before you get them. That is why Annie was 16 weeks old when we received her today.</div><div><br /></div><div>So today at 0830, the pet taxi that we took a couple of weeks ago from Calais to London arrived at our cottage here near Canterbury. He picked me up, and took me on the train, thru the Chunnel, to Calais where I met the driver who transported Annie 13 hours from Barcelona over 2 days.</div><div><br /></div><div>We arranged the pickup at a nearby McDonalds, and within about 30 min we were heading back to the Chunnel with Annie on my lap.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLgmygBNmXm-bz2mUZBoyzcK_Av5RPs-v6sSBGBNJPFkCEJ_BkUpyMmi2i0QwBkCKfqMS8wsjClqrN230cAcAUAhpeaUusIxgrzyOzetYflOPhwKsbR1AyF2_3VffkD0nv8AjX2zuhpBJ6pzuNY4lo5RRhrpxAO8qx5u3RIXq8hJ9FiOpTkgK-R0A9g/s4032/1a2%20Annie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLgmygBNmXm-bz2mUZBoyzcK_Av5RPs-v6sSBGBNJPFkCEJ_BkUpyMmi2i0QwBkCKfqMS8wsjClqrN230cAcAUAhpeaUusIxgrzyOzetYflOPhwKsbR1AyF2_3VffkD0nv8AjX2zuhpBJ6pzuNY4lo5RRhrpxAO8qx5u3RIXq8hJ9FiOpTkgK-R0A9g/s320/1a2%20Annie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Chunnel Train from France</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>First impressions is that she is a very chill pup. Loves lap time and really loves people. She's already started on house and leash training, and does not try to chew on you - even though she is currently teething. Time and patience will tell, but so far so good.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSoeDsEfGJBfJhkx9IovT2_oxbFJfNSrPnFSvrLmqSoUu9hHOgasmpgVG9H6-uHqIKvfywXoi6lV4h-YqziCx27hfvTZwE8AT5WtMFTSoBFoY6C9xklHY8xY1Ra3hF8zd9dnAe-EYeVqTd2OsDQ2BvNkAUcXLIuKJzeJm8o25KEsVMNpbEoDcaPmIbg/s4032/1b%20Annie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSoeDsEfGJBfJhkx9IovT2_oxbFJfNSrPnFSvrLmqSoUu9hHOgasmpgVG9H6-uHqIKvfywXoi6lV4h-YqziCx27hfvTZwE8AT5WtMFTSoBFoY6C9xklHY8xY1Ra3hF8zd9dnAe-EYeVqTd2OsDQ2BvNkAUcXLIuKJzeJm8o25KEsVMNpbEoDcaPmIbg/s320/1b%20Annie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Lucy has seemed a bit lost without Gracie. Previously very independent - she has started to want to be at our side much more. Now we'll see what the addition of 6 lbs of puppy power will add to that equation.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicdplFRr3It3gb2GqPR_VcaJSQYfkP6Hyh5HsjwlNcZnQGIm5SxborDrStMA7rn-0HP4ss2P1udL7rxdNl7gFBGVC71xWx74l0wzx3OJVIkkETyTp3hVwCVVSxc_fK2YuvtrsrjSdJRphoQx1JZq3gMlzCYPg59S64GfGKkWvPZbGPZnl9-H5zk_jGg/s4032/1c%20Annie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicdplFRr3It3gb2GqPR_VcaJSQYfkP6Hyh5HsjwlNcZnQGIm5SxborDrStMA7rn-0HP4ss2P1udL7rxdNl7gFBGVC71xWx74l0wzx3OJVIkkETyTp3hVwCVVSxc_fK2YuvtrsrjSdJRphoQx1JZq3gMlzCYPg59S64GfGKkWvPZbGPZnl9-H5zk_jGg/s320/1c%20Annie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The veteran and the rookie</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Based on her current weight - I'm guessing that Annie with be our smallest Doodle yet. Yes I'll still call her a doodle - it sounds better than a "Cobber". I'm guessing perhaps 14-17 lbs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Finally - where did the name Annie come from?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well you might know that Gracie was a blonde when born and was Gracie Allen</div><div style="text-align: left;">Lucy was the redhead and was Lucy Ricardo.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well Annie comes from one of our favorite movies - <i>Overboard</i> with Goldie Hawn</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoi793JVEjnsHYXU0KLbDlBMn4dD3mathY8O9szk67DWgUItaSE7ZCIdMpq604ZaKedCzQKBBkNSrqx1kXLwMXsWFB331dkt55is_DYeb8fWLv4TuU3fj5V_LviOMzSrc2Fn7Lrz2ApkCx26KQv6TkT5F_XRth41R5JQVPj54Szx2TTzAdyByTdSnvw/s311/annie%20profit.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwoi793JVEjnsHYXU0KLbDlBMn4dD3mathY8O9szk67DWgUItaSE7ZCIdMpq604ZaKedCzQKBBkNSrqx1kXLwMXsWFB331dkt55is_DYeb8fWLv4TuU3fj5V_LviOMzSrc2Fn7Lrz2ApkCx26KQv6TkT5F_XRth41R5JQVPj54Szx2TTzAdyByTdSnvw/s1600/annie%20profit.jpeg" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>If you've seen the movie then you know about Annie Goolahee Profit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">She's our little cookie cutter.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-71734355067026496782023-05-24T00:10:00.005-06:002023-05-29T09:28:55.070-06:00Back in London<div style="text-align: left;"> As I mentioned in ending our last post, we arrived in London and had a lot to do to get settled in for the summer. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since we were not able to take the ship, we had to leave a lot of baggage behind. Some of the things were considered essentials, and I just figured that I would buy them over here. One of the things that I had to order from Amazon was a small/medium size cooler. Since we eat at home a fair amount, we have staples that we travel with and need some way to keep the perishables cold.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First on the order of business however, was getting our rental car. Since we were scheduled to arrive by ship in Southampton, and I had rented the car for 5 months from there, it was easier to just stick with the plan and travel the 90 minutes to there to fetch the vehicle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So on Monday morning the 15th, I walked down the hill to the Finchley Road Underground Station, and took the tube 20 minutes down to Waterloo Station in London.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK5dKzw18Sy2WumGT5FSUFyoPxcqUy-SuPu09luePW24z9_v-mmvH-pRaRZl0dmr9yAh_izqB6N1AotQarI778rHaR-t-Fb3Zegxt_tCR3phRV5FUJHQKPB9-EHj9ENGq_2LGzSB6bHxS1PUs1XhJ5Q9IYe4cr7HdPXxBMj5_YPQH59o5JmVAwRb3UA/s4032/1a%20Waterloo%20Station.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK5dKzw18Sy2WumGT5FSUFyoPxcqUy-SuPu09luePW24z9_v-mmvH-pRaRZl0dmr9yAh_izqB6N1AotQarI778rHaR-t-Fb3Zegxt_tCR3phRV5FUJHQKPB9-EHj9ENGq_2LGzSB6bHxS1PUs1XhJ5Q9IYe4cr7HdPXxBMj5_YPQH59o5JmVAwRb3UA/s320/1a%20Waterloo%20Station.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waterloo Station in London</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />From there is was an easy 3 escalator ride up to the train platforms where I caught the 1020 train leaving for Southampton. I informed the rental agent at Volkswagen that I'd be arriving at the Hedge End Station at about 1130 and he told me he'd be happy to come and pick me up.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDeBhmnew2YZeA4wP7c1VRqLp0yg7qCeX6tAT4rO1PlqSyVch720dqhdegIbQacPC-TKNLrqXsZhQQ-PQbjzE03NTrpwXKdbt4be7yY1w-3YhwTlMvD7H5szeTVSxlODMZBU49OFzEkXe01M3yH-8PNRkOoz3XJAjkB58W-9EukHmfwRSvkGWDzcZmA/s4032/1b%20SW%20Train.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDeBhmnew2YZeA4wP7c1VRqLp0yg7qCeX6tAT4rO1PlqSyVch720dqhdegIbQacPC-TKNLrqXsZhQQ-PQbjzE03NTrpwXKdbt4be7yY1w-3YhwTlMvD7H5szeTVSxlODMZBU49OFzEkXe01M3yH-8PNRkOoz3XJAjkB58W-9EukHmfwRSvkGWDzcZmA/s320/1b%20SW%20Train.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Riding Southwestern Railways to Southampton</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />There has been some rolling strikes on the Railways lately, but fortunately my travel day as not one of them. My train departed on time, and soon was speeding thru the English Countryside past yellow fields of Rapeseed. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqCQCeez7bbRdoH3sfzyJobnb1sDRxQcg7Z03Pz0HlyFGBcr4HuzoGRj3vFhatzWudmqeXNPMUD3fa8dfHRuD13rtRVSGiFN8xdqes8acKhKyH6Mn0G3_6Bkp5dD1VVmloyQd_fE_E6sfl1uoYvlTV0rz99BuWnMbweI0jv-TT4tsw5VCSJzHa3ozcw/s4032/1c%20Rapeseed%20Fields.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqCQCeez7bbRdoH3sfzyJobnb1sDRxQcg7Z03Pz0HlyFGBcr4HuzoGRj3vFhatzWudmqeXNPMUD3fa8dfHRuD13rtRVSGiFN8xdqes8acKhKyH6Mn0G3_6Bkp5dD1VVmloyQd_fE_E6sfl1uoYvlTV0rz99BuWnMbweI0jv-TT4tsw5VCSJzHa3ozcw/s320/1c%20Rapeseed%20Fields.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Like magic, I arrived at Hedge End Station right on time, and Steve from Peter Cooper VW was waiting for me outside of the station. A few minutes after arriving I was seated at the table signing the documents, and recieving my keys.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6mF4duOKKXxiRS4GtKlTRKvLojWpUhNAyyBONbAycU0GhukEVCGJ3Aitfu7tjMQpM3ItEhgo9WtQ2m9QXKOI-B1hEUHivDppc55ArRX74OwI_D7udOdMd4krrH0RbkgDp7xVd7uEnWxqUeMfBATGvXtUDY70GF3jV9eBbGUiHEtyBAb2zlIv1cDThw/s4032/1d%20Hedge%20End%20Station.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6mF4duOKKXxiRS4GtKlTRKvLojWpUhNAyyBONbAycU0GhukEVCGJ3Aitfu7tjMQpM3ItEhgo9WtQ2m9QXKOI-B1hEUHivDppc55ArRX74OwI_D7udOdMd4krrH0RbkgDp7xVd7uEnWxqUeMfBATGvXtUDY70GF3jV9eBbGUiHEtyBAb2zlIv1cDThw/s320/1d%20Hedge%20End%20Station.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Because we were expecting to have 2 dogs, one of them with a suitcase full of meds and a buggy to be pushed around in - I had rented an "<i>Estate</i>" car. (That's British for Station Wagon)</div><div> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XR6auLfzVO_5nHP-5FyvehHWH0qugJ999hM9ysmrflmE5KDi3QXWrI_KvsXlUMf2oUtX-6HfUG3H_5M7-hYvJpoginnbuJydT58TrjetCjMaCEM35bK9RXC1U6sGA6_PNsXc3EZg3FmLYGPn2NNEY01ol9jfV7ZMDKEb86sIM3pHoDFSKjJYXvER-A/s4032/1e%20VW%20Passat%20Estate.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XR6auLfzVO_5nHP-5FyvehHWH0qugJ999hM9ysmrflmE5KDi3QXWrI_KvsXlUMf2oUtX-6HfUG3H_5M7-hYvJpoginnbuJydT58TrjetCjMaCEM35bK9RXC1U6sGA6_PNsXc3EZg3FmLYGPn2NNEY01ol9jfV7ZMDKEb86sIM3pHoDFSKjJYXvER-A/s320/1e%20VW%20Passat%20Estate.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VW Passat Estate</td></tr></tbody></table><br />No worries though. The longer wheelbase means and even nicer ride, with lots of room for Kates treasures to be acquired over the next several months.</div><div><br /></div><div>The car has lots of nice bells and whistles and will be a comfortable ride for the summer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Less than 10 minutes after arriving at VW, I was done with the paperwork and sitting in the seat working up the courage to fire it up and once again set off driving on the wrong side of the road.</div><div><br /></div><div>I sat there for about 2 minutes, then said to myself the car was not going to drive itself back to London, so I pressed the start button, put it in gear, and hit the road.</div><div><br /></div><div>My first stop was only about 3 miles (and several roundabouts) away. My buddy Craig who lives in the UK had placed a "<i>click and collect order</i>" (That's Brittish for online order for pickup) for dog food.</div><div><br /></div><div>I drove over to Pets Corner, picked up the order which was waiting for me, and then a few minutes later I was motoring up the M3 to London.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wl1tGvqDBnv5Qt116OhIC0nFXtqhQyDkCjjXLI3dLxrzKTaVhodn8VriKbt3x-Ou1tXVYbrYfCsXZCQrda6IkHovVSBdJyQrRChDjrVBVKomWftVScI5FPXWMq64Wy9SkUBjtYYHTADWW8nCACY2_ra0wqP825qoCiK1qOkMZ_oj9DoywKBk8gizWw/s4032/1g%20Driving%20the%20M3%20to%20London%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wl1tGvqDBnv5Qt116OhIC0nFXtqhQyDkCjjXLI3dLxrzKTaVhodn8VriKbt3x-Ou1tXVYbrYfCsXZCQrda6IkHovVSBdJyQrRChDjrVBVKomWftVScI5FPXWMq64Wy9SkUBjtYYHTADWW8nCACY2_ra0wqP825qoCiK1qOkMZ_oj9DoywKBk8gizWw/s320/1g%20Driving%20the%20M3%20to%20London%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left hand driving on the M3 from the right seat.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">If in doubt - stay in the roundabout</h3><div>One of the things that I learned last time - when I am in a roundabout and not quite sure which exit I want, there is no shame in making the circle one or two times to get your bearings all sorted out. Sort of like Chevy Chase in Euro Vacation going round and round the Champs-Élysées over and over.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well I only had one or two of those moments. Last time I had many more on my first day of left side driving. I've found its a little like riding a bike. Once you get your bearings it's much much easier this time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, after lots of traffic I made it back to London. Our house has off-street parking which is very rare for London, and it makes it very convenient. </div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, Kate had been patiently waiting for me to get back home so that she could open up the envelope from the US that we knew was coming that day. I told her not to wait for me but she insisted.</div><div><br /></div><div>Inside was Kates Irish Passport! Its official! As an Irish Citizen, she has all the benefits that come with an EU Passport. Almost 3 years of work getting to this point, but the long road had come to a very successful conclusion.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqzcT-teRf0b0LnOI1skpnKRED3w1OAIQ1yySVfmNN-h_x16N9FVsGkzdpWNulAfOVwHM0TUgO6Yfs2f6U9w3OVjhE8yXuL6PIK9fco9rAsOmSAFRzJJXU-eD2RYH66ZoppUUi3j1fH3HoJs-PPIYn09B1PpVkTTt1oR-xromx3XNn5cOcINHHBZMbQ/s4032/1h%20Kate%20Passport.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqzcT-teRf0b0LnOI1skpnKRED3w1OAIQ1yySVfmNN-h_x16N9FVsGkzdpWNulAfOVwHM0TUgO6Yfs2f6U9w3OVjhE8yXuL6PIK9fco9rAsOmSAFRzJJXU-eD2RYH66ZoppUUi3j1fH3HoJs-PPIYn09B1PpVkTTt1oR-xromx3XNn5cOcINHHBZMbQ/s320/1h%20Kate%20Passport.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kates newly minted Passport</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />While here I have been ordering all sorts of stuff from Amazon. We had so many deliveries that I am on first name with some of the delivery drivers. In between all of these shipments however, we started to explore our new surroundings in the outlying area of London called Hampstead.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEuTb00VuxhGa0vh2Z9jR41LzjMA1LtYppNTJ51yk8DAniaHbJWZ_XdAQKWKFChhCWua9MWw0TYbDio4ijeK1vhrBeKMtZLHTuvMf0Up_y_2rPuPt2N08yDSVDUpLYGRlUzE9dEd2zJszE0QI3a9url3BfjtqwDrw0ABtuNT8FK6M-WuRISuQm1k38g/s4032/2a%20Hampstead%20London.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEuTb00VuxhGa0vh2Z9jR41LzjMA1LtYppNTJ51yk8DAniaHbJWZ_XdAQKWKFChhCWua9MWw0TYbDio4ijeK1vhrBeKMtZLHTuvMf0Up_y_2rPuPt2N08yDSVDUpLYGRlUzE9dEd2zJszE0QI3a9url3BfjtqwDrw0ABtuNT8FK6M-WuRISuQm1k38g/s320/2a%20Hampstead%20London.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our street - our house just past rubbish bin on the left</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Hampstead is one of the desirable sections of the city, favored by artists and the type.</div><div>There are lots little side alleys with outdoor cafes and coffee shops<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBMbfjvDGwNZL7ixjS4IpJ-MuF3AbuQkCcVATtf7VAhg9S_27AL98azZ2YKhSDcKqst5q9bqqHsmkWRSd0FQzC0sxATtU0ruR2rsZJ8Biz6bMTLl35d-cHRtOcMLHA8b4oPyeSwE_0OP-sSr-kaRWKdlpGLEeew-2ry-P1XmKe8Bwuy69GrASjNEm2g/s4032/2b%20Hampstead%20London.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBMbfjvDGwNZL7ixjS4IpJ-MuF3AbuQkCcVATtf7VAhg9S_27AL98azZ2YKhSDcKqst5q9bqqHsmkWRSd0FQzC0sxATtU0ruR2rsZJ8Biz6bMTLl35d-cHRtOcMLHA8b4oPyeSwE_0OP-sSr-kaRWKdlpGLEeew-2ry-P1XmKe8Bwuy69GrASjNEm2g/s320/2b%20Hampstead%20London.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>From our place it was about an 8 minute walk (up and up the hill) to the High Street</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacisMhiNRcw2it93_22-NrTgaWcxI2m4dG-CFYWLI4fOZHiDYi6nuJV4vpDWvO00VcpDmC4aZiOOUcVEPqGbdkqko1ykcUCCABORXgOYvkRIhDNfExKCGZQpy2-nBx5iZlGBzxDbhlRr7ZaHQz4gQIN33WHX2DklaymCCkz3YjlL6kayqUS-57bHPZw/s4032/2c%20Hampstead%20London.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacisMhiNRcw2it93_22-NrTgaWcxI2m4dG-CFYWLI4fOZHiDYi6nuJV4vpDWvO00VcpDmC4aZiOOUcVEPqGbdkqko1ykcUCCABORXgOYvkRIhDNfExKCGZQpy2-nBx5iZlGBzxDbhlRr7ZaHQz4gQIN33WHX2DklaymCCkz3YjlL6kayqUS-57bHPZw/s320/2c%20Hampstead%20London.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">High Street in Hampstead</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />One morning we connected with our friend Raina who we met on the ship 4 yrs ago.</div><div>She lives both in the US and UK and was supposed to sail with us on the ill fated cancelled crossing. Like us, she flew over.</div><div><br /></div><div>We walked down the hill to the Finchley Rd Tube and took it down to the London Bridge Station.</div><div>Then right around the corner from the station we met her and her friend Simon (who we also met on the ship 4 yrs ago) at the Borough Market. (more on the market later.)</div><div><br /></div><div>While there we took a stroll thru the impressive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwark_Cathedral" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Southwark Cathedral</a>.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy4fMuSKEjORa1Z2IZLKgo_XTVAUpaQ37u4-O3xCUGkFj-tnsVy7MzGVDPnsXW2m31IdbVwr716yDdoV-Agu3z16aRvBSOICjr3zN9KjT04C8Ar8ms71BpSXm4AC78gLaNz4rtnTOQGY9X_fpAwLq9P-dq2mZg7fBkEI1fMzWIHDyCgmzASb5Wcwr4g/s4032/2d%20London%20Southwark%20Cathedral.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy4fMuSKEjORa1Z2IZLKgo_XTVAUpaQ37u4-O3xCUGkFj-tnsVy7MzGVDPnsXW2m31IdbVwr716yDdoV-Agu3z16aRvBSOICjr3zN9KjT04C8Ar8ms71BpSXm4AC78gLaNz4rtnTOQGY9X_fpAwLq9P-dq2mZg7fBkEI1fMzWIHDyCgmzASb5Wcwr4g/s320/2d%20London%20Southwark%20Cathedral.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Southwark Cathedral</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>One really impressive thing was that one of Simon's ancestors is buried in the Cathedral. We saw his grave while passing thru.</div><div><br /></div><div>One really nice thing about London is that a good stretch of the Thames River is pedestrian friendly. </div>We walked along the riverfront where I snapped this photo of the city with London Bridge on the right.</div><div><br /></div><div>Those of you who recall <a href="https://eilean350.blogspot.com/2014/01/la-luna-balloona.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my posts from previous winters</a>, will recall the "real" London Bridge that was removed from this exact site, and moved stone by stone to be re-assembled in Arizona. It's a shame, but the new London Bridge is a plain looking industrial thing. Just the approaches on either end remain from the old bridge, giving a hint to the nicer structure that once spanned the river at this place.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd-hzZKPdE3XHzTxsy7nHjHEZQ34XPfxPqhKfnFHmpTqKaci8RWiQDxs9vtwKw3LXlawJMutlVLW3l573nt5RPYVKX9hhGYvAtT8-CIoNoCuL-UPiVKu3smn4Td4ibDzvN6dxaMU7W7m2DwaarJmyuhSEy0Ann3B4TOvVxrdsDAT-FFrjlHI5dFsrYw/s4032/2e%20London%20Bridge%20View.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd-hzZKPdE3XHzTxsy7nHjHEZQ34XPfxPqhKfnFHmpTqKaci8RWiQDxs9vtwKw3LXlawJMutlVLW3l573nt5RPYVKX9hhGYvAtT8-CIoNoCuL-UPiVKu3smn4Td4ibDzvN6dxaMU7W7m2DwaarJmyuhSEy0Ann3B4TOvVxrdsDAT-FFrjlHI5dFsrYw/s320/2e%20London%20Bridge%20View.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The "New"London Bridge on the right</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We stopped at a pub along the river for some lunch. Steak and Ale Pie for Kate.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pBC95llg6CzhwG520VhgpvF4jMsHJfpsusYcw8dTy0zfoDU0FeBNHBstlUX-DT9q2AT_BCsMHXAxmKAuYtJQpWQPmTFtuMIswGlR3WdE68xrJiqD8KLg4LNQtuai35JM1KT9SDe3ybRUXfpKlg_ES6cdQHqo2jqIo9qUJrMfs_Ulk3u8F7PqMVUGww/s4032/2f%20London%20Pub.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pBC95llg6CzhwG520VhgpvF4jMsHJfpsusYcw8dTy0zfoDU0FeBNHBstlUX-DT9q2AT_BCsMHXAxmKAuYtJQpWQPmTFtuMIswGlR3WdE68xrJiqD8KLg4LNQtuai35JM1KT9SDe3ybRUXfpKlg_ES6cdQHqo2jqIo9qUJrMfs_Ulk3u8F7PqMVUGww/s320/2f%20London%20Pub.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Later, we continued our walk along the Thames to Waterloo Station (where I previously caught the train to Southampton) and took the tube back up to Finchley Road.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBemRtZ6ftE6Tt36nzId6KMvOoyLl1OLE8bRm-7Y4k6loKlQg4LZFHul_kiq0XyP_W25SSi01lkcS6lNmBqesNSToRsXRvi3Co4nSkMiWwnUbk37dBxvgpmsZe_5qJ8WLzbl-Da2lfmd2QsR42QLPWNedan1eaPmk4tgYdxPFsboSvRkvF7ngrLKYN7A/s4032/2g%20Waterloo%20Station%20London.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBemRtZ6ftE6Tt36nzId6KMvOoyLl1OLE8bRm-7Y4k6loKlQg4LZFHul_kiq0XyP_W25SSi01lkcS6lNmBqesNSToRsXRvi3Co4nSkMiWwnUbk37dBxvgpmsZe_5qJ8WLzbl-Da2lfmd2QsR42QLPWNedan1eaPmk4tgYdxPFsboSvRkvF7ngrLKYN7A/s320/2g%20Waterloo%20Station%20London.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then, it was back up the steep steep hill to our house.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lucy has the right idea here!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzq-FCsdM9YVwhcHJhzW5H3eKCMrVT80vBn0_uAwUyxXYs6CvYMG4hKL2IvTJ7074S4vn9v6QU3_4ymI5hR9N4xbCo1FRqjuqGSM2q2drgcdu0h7UeyNqwccasvEtSm1gqfHCO78mlLeZvkqTDP-99UhAXWxH6l7OBzgkDrxud7Emgy4b-VSESvI7xg/s4032/2h%20Lucy%20Sleeps.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzq-FCsdM9YVwhcHJhzW5H3eKCMrVT80vBn0_uAwUyxXYs6CvYMG4hKL2IvTJ7074S4vn9v6QU3_4ymI5hR9N4xbCo1FRqjuqGSM2q2drgcdu0h7UeyNqwccasvEtSm1gqfHCO78mlLeZvkqTDP-99UhAXWxH6l7OBzgkDrxud7Emgy4b-VSESvI7xg/s320/2h%20Lucy%20Sleeps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The next day Kate and I took a stroll up to Hampstead Heath. Known as "The Lungs of London" it is a large forested park in the outlying area, just a mile or two from where we were staying.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like everywhere here, its super dog friendly and even has swimming lakes for people and pups.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkgbcZ8s28RvvD5Xt1Woy_ZV7C40fkWBpkEsCzp97yd6KT2ZO4-eqEbg0pDLQ5m69eWofrnZkMCIJE8JMtS_iOkJUNyxQnk-hAZLuR6YqhVJPUPuG08tae47gMkkmjQzAo_vtbaWYN_hnFgrZ_iQXrARgwJW0Ux6A5oMZh1FhgaQRMEJB0JVuVJ4spg/s4032/3a%20Hampstead%20Heath.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkgbcZ8s28RvvD5Xt1Woy_ZV7C40fkWBpkEsCzp97yd6KT2ZO4-eqEbg0pDLQ5m69eWofrnZkMCIJE8JMtS_iOkJUNyxQnk-hAZLuR6YqhVJPUPuG08tae47gMkkmjQzAo_vtbaWYN_hnFgrZ_iQXrARgwJW0Ux6A5oMZh1FhgaQRMEJB0JVuVJ4spg/s320/3a%20Hampstead%20Heath.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Swimming lake in Hampstead Heath</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Strolling further into the park, we walked up to the top of Parliament Hill, where you get a good view of downtown London in the distance.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B6guOOBkFLvnsD7XtsZUxVJ_MeNlllQJpWwF8LBYREoP7HsnEKUq7p49VE_c3p5XtlTHrxp5uBWQzF3xwOzooJcarUUkUhD0Xu5B0zXoRHLNez-8zv0lerpGwzke-lEdA9poPD201angOHW0d-vGB8seMiEb62upuxkfhkRRJxAaDzqLTlQFFCGaHA/s4032/3b%20Hampstead%20Heath%20Parliment%20View.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B6guOOBkFLvnsD7XtsZUxVJ_MeNlllQJpWwF8LBYREoP7HsnEKUq7p49VE_c3p5XtlTHrxp5uBWQzF3xwOzooJcarUUkUhD0Xu5B0zXoRHLNez-8zv0lerpGwzke-lEdA9poPD201angOHW0d-vGB8seMiEb62upuxkfhkRRJxAaDzqLTlQFFCGaHA/s320/3b%20Hampstead%20Heath%20Parliment%20View.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The view from Parliament Hill</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We met Raina for lunch at the Freemason Arms, a nearby pub, after our ramble thru the park. After lunch she came back to our place to spend the night. The next morning the three of us hopped back on the underground and headed back down to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borough_Market">Borough Market</a> to pick up some goodies for our traveling larder.</div><div><br /></div><div>The market is one of Londons largest and oldest. There has been a market operating at this location since at least the 12th century, and possibly a couple hundred years before that.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRGu86Zk0EYRzKsNjskGRThQKk8ZnsPmP7f5d7swINQQy6iMWnijnuLeQvxqkBfG44msTg5UkQOejrV43TL9ti97Q5ZGpwbI8z9iG0VXOTW_m6KP7Q0LjFHhgg7GNpKi9PGdRF9zXpMjS03lPYIy-0Pjkig1aFqdscYomm0FdCcpdswr7h4UCcqKBHg/s4032/4a%20Finchley%20Rd%20Tube%20Station.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRGu86Zk0EYRzKsNjskGRThQKk8ZnsPmP7f5d7swINQQy6iMWnijnuLeQvxqkBfG44msTg5UkQOejrV43TL9ti97Q5ZGpwbI8z9iG0VXOTW_m6KP7Q0LjFHhgg7GNpKi9PGdRF9zXpMjS03lPYIy-0Pjkig1aFqdscYomm0FdCcpdswr7h4UCcqKBHg/s320/4a%20Finchley%20Rd%20Tube%20Station.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our train arriving at Finchley Road</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrv-6RTbieuOYjdsZzyrDw5-Y-j-ApTyyVUS_pFa0P2XjJZKOCVmqHb1hDrcU_iO7sxLM4n9IpCCjneO2tTlwdySi0zfHpHKS8bjQqZrw2ztKqTf5lTilzv_qJfKn2b1_cBePzogsCkwu5Qac7FFX2c9pAr8XkHYu_rL-JC0luztR22l_gJGcMKLv5w/s4032/4b%20Borough%20Market%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrv-6RTbieuOYjdsZzyrDw5-Y-j-ApTyyVUS_pFa0P2XjJZKOCVmqHb1hDrcU_iO7sxLM4n9IpCCjneO2tTlwdySi0zfHpHKS8bjQqZrw2ztKqTf5lTilzv_qJfKn2b1_cBePzogsCkwu5Qac7FFX2c9pAr8XkHYu_rL-JC0luztR22l_gJGcMKLv5w/s320/4b%20Borough%20Market%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fresh fruit and veg at the Borough Market</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01KBe_kWPLLyfRfsCQBvSuXy_l5gchi4t_6x7vDkBNgoQQN-G-pLHgFx3BglBIYoMQ15TxM5ZJv-qGOkfCjQe-nULlprlliyVhYAo_9dm2IxZBp7TrFzmAJeuxrb9y9IH4fNtj-HPovidc8cWct3HA5xQcSITxp_iezrwOO5Vu1dwzooofC0pXMIckg/s4032/4c%20Borough%20Market.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01KBe_kWPLLyfRfsCQBvSuXy_l5gchi4t_6x7vDkBNgoQQN-G-pLHgFx3BglBIYoMQ15TxM5ZJv-qGOkfCjQe-nULlprlliyVhYAo_9dm2IxZBp7TrFzmAJeuxrb9y9IH4fNtj-HPovidc8cWct3HA5xQcSITxp_iezrwOO5Vu1dwzooofC0pXMIckg/s320/4c%20Borough%20Market.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cheese? Yes please!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In addition to grocery items, the market has numerous places to pick up a quick meal.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We stopped by The Ginger Pig, who is famous for their sausages, meats, and especially their cooked sausage rolls and meat pies.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There was a long lunchtime line at their stall, but it moved very quickly. We brought home a couple of sausage rolls for breakfast, as well as 4 meat pies for dinner. We froze a pair of the pies for a quick dinner later on down the road.</div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UspW-j-htZnP8X5uX2zSi1nk7fQevNrLxnDca1e9hxG_wstSuJvJeYtk-LqGzyZ3VoE_4N-N4TfFvG2-MT_8Q6idJZ9mn6laKOVFAwNwZEknd5xXzBSIbdRU6NeNBTvrd2Z-lddu_8dkabhV8CLqq7ywhI-nO8xZF8uG-KLNOw290g7j5oP8oYuLqQ/s4032/4d%20Sausage%20Roll.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UspW-j-htZnP8X5uX2zSi1nk7fQevNrLxnDca1e9hxG_wstSuJvJeYtk-LqGzyZ3VoE_4N-N4TfFvG2-MT_8Q6idJZ9mn6laKOVFAwNwZEknd5xXzBSIbdRU6NeNBTvrd2Z-lddu_8dkabhV8CLqq7ywhI-nO8xZF8uG-KLNOw290g7j5oP8oYuLqQ/s320/4d%20Sausage%20Roll.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sausage roll</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihog9WFcFk2H9i1gtMEvRuyP6r8uT8HhHY2qCmcmZXgt4vfeZW4R9-_8nrnO3RsxJNB9SCi_jClsR74DueWeiHUTKxyvePcprzyYCiB2B2DWRepOqz8-Z7wvLnXpo5cgI2oOlP8LgwddWgKx3vaKWn8p-XGt8YIwK9JMnsJMVNiFOqNwXX4BsQRR5AzA/s4032/4e%20Beef%20&%20Stilton%20Pie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihog9WFcFk2H9i1gtMEvRuyP6r8uT8HhHY2qCmcmZXgt4vfeZW4R9-_8nrnO3RsxJNB9SCi_jClsR74DueWeiHUTKxyvePcprzyYCiB2B2DWRepOqz8-Z7wvLnXpo5cgI2oOlP8LgwddWgKx3vaKWn8p-XGt8YIwK9JMnsJMVNiFOqNwXX4BsQRR5AzA/s320/4e%20Beef%20&%20Stilton%20Pie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Beef & Stilton Meat Pie</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our tour guide Raina had one last great suggestion before we parted ways. There was 2 tube stations about equal distance from our house. One was uphill, and the other downhill. We had planned on returning to Finchley Road and walking back up the steep hill, but she suggested that we take a different line from the Waterloo Station back home and arrive at the Hampstead Station instead. Hampstead is the other station near us, and its a downhill walk to our house. Now that is smart!</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Heading West to go East</h3><div><br /></div><div>Well Sunday morning had arrived and in a blink of an eye our 8 days in London was already over! </div><div><br /></div><div>Our original plan was that upon arrival in Southampton, I was going to place our hanging suit bags containing our "grownup clothes" in a storage facility there rather than dragging them all over the UK and Ireland for the summer. I had figured that I'd bring them with me on the train when I picked up the car, but I nixed that idea due to all the walking involved. I also thought the car would be big enough to just leave them inside of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I started to pack the car however, it became painfully obvious that while I could squeeze 20lbs of crap into a 15lb bag - it would be rather uncomfortable for Lucy in the back.</div><div><br /></div><div>So plan C emerged. I called the storage company and for the 5th time resorted my plans and told them that I was indeed coming and needed the space. So when we departed London on Sunday morning, rather than heading east to Canterbury, our next destination, we first headed west 90 minutes to Southampton to the immaculate Locknstore facility to drop off the suitcases. A much better plan. Now Lucy only has to share the back seat with the cooler.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhh_Ig7QFt5sIUM3oo-935LzK-ehxEFoD1XOTiJf2sYtpyghJNma_11L9QUYyNdiMxjAKlxYGDBtL4fJiyIWC-egmTngq5myd5VRIUMKtofv9O1tNShY79bpQJRgH14FKaT132LRiU570WeEPILpgVGDwg8kJleZ_Ho_j7-ibYvvMT5oPc-mE5UJEyfg/s4032/4f%20Leaving%20London.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhh_Ig7QFt5sIUM3oo-935LzK-ehxEFoD1XOTiJf2sYtpyghJNma_11L9QUYyNdiMxjAKlxYGDBtL4fJiyIWC-egmTngq5myd5VRIUMKtofv9O1tNShY79bpQJRgH14FKaT132LRiU570WeEPILpgVGDwg8kJleZ_Ho_j7-ibYvvMT5oPc-mE5UJEyfg/s320/4f%20Leaving%20London.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Departing Sunday morning on Finchley Rd</span> </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Meanwhile, the weather has been fantastic. While we were in NY it rained almost the entire time. We had a sunny day to drive to Newark and fly out, but then the rain returned in France and it rained there almost the whole time. We entered the Chunnel on a cloudy day but emerged out the other side to a bright sun shiney UK day. Since then we've not had a drop of rain. Great temperatures for walking too.</div><div><br /></div><div>So now we are in Canterbury. (think <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Becket" target="_blank">Thomas Becket</a>) Lots of castles, cathedrals, and great things to see here. We are here for 6 nights, and already 3 of them are over. Yikes! I think we are living life in dog years! </div><div><br /></div><div>But Canterbury is the subject of the next post....<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-38422496861477619062023-05-14T14:10:00.008-06:002023-05-15T00:03:44.667-06:00We made it!<div style="text-align: left;">It has been one hell of a time the past 3 weeks!</div><div style="text-align: left;">After getting our flight to Paris set up, I had to do some minor reorganizing of the lodging schedule in the UK, I had to change the USDA paperwork from 2 dogs to one, and change it from just the UK to first the EU (France) and then the UK via France.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cancel rental cars, reschedule others, and book a 1-way from Paris to Calais.</div><div style="text-align: left;">A hotel reservation in Calais and transportation on a pet taxi the the Chunnel on the train, etc etc.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once all the pieces were in place, now it was time to start wondering what next would go wrong. It seemed the harder we tried to get over the pond (this was now going to be our 5th try) the more crap got dumped in the way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But the harder that the forces pushed against us - the harder I dug in my heels and said that one way or another we were going to make it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Friday April 27 we parked the bus in storage as planned. The State park we were in had no vacancy over the weekend and we had nowhere to stay. We wanted to get out of the park anyway since it just held bad memories.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZBlj_bVM9SPJJcwRFQu-UK1J9ytD8RrP_mu-G87RubSiGLk9P8gaN1Y_q7QKUmlrMSQ78yYjUBoBGEgva-yIEEKTw39Nv_UfVzzCud6jnyVd0AFo_WiDRCYJNWGkfL1P0uvKagvw06Ypun9tZg4AQPe-DLLCBwW1m92lDjtAe1U6Vtjp7jLbs-2dzg/s4032/1a%20Hudson%20Valley%20RV%20Storage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZBlj_bVM9SPJJcwRFQu-UK1J9ytD8RrP_mu-G87RubSiGLk9P8gaN1Y_q7QKUmlrMSQ78yYjUBoBGEgva-yIEEKTw39Nv_UfVzzCud6jnyVd0AFo_WiDRCYJNWGkfL1P0uvKagvw06Ypun9tZg4AQPe-DLLCBwW1m92lDjtAe1U6Vtjp7jLbs-2dzg/s320/1a%20Hudson%20Valley%20RV%20Storage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bus (in shadows) in storage barn</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The bus and truck should be pretty safe here.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z5NoNZqdimNw-ghba5wK32-sP6MEg2vIDJ2uigUJbI70-HVO47WTZxo2cJcvssldthfmjQxtTBuCXME6dPLjVgnw2RjeRQRIQD1cx_Aoy6LduenqZemsUKBlz05Np49Gr-qQ8kPJ6Eqets6Pyol8UaHrUE4wEe13ymIPZjKplMmX6FJLIDUym60BbA/s4032/1b%20Hudson%20Valley%20RV%20Storage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z5NoNZqdimNw-ghba5wK32-sP6MEg2vIDJ2uigUJbI70-HVO47WTZxo2cJcvssldthfmjQxtTBuCXME6dPLjVgnw2RjeRQRIQD1cx_Aoy6LduenqZemsUKBlz05Np49Gr-qQ8kPJ6Eqets6Pyol8UaHrUE4wEe13ymIPZjKplMmX6FJLIDUym60BbA/s320/1b%20Hudson%20Valley%20RV%20Storage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Farm on which the bus is stored</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Needing somewhere to stay, and wanting some time just to ourselves, we booked an AirBnb in Saratoga Springs, NY which is the next town over from where we used to live.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was a nice place and good to get a change of venue. The bigger surroundings and fast internet made it more conducive for me to get our trip details all sorted out in a timely fashion. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABOBJLzA9gwSS-z1Qj8l5x-8dZ3XHM9LrS3gJmbEJ4njrA53mL21BJCRKX4ZhPARnJmEfIG6wijD78UKCc3xsyLIZ-QHJHBJdLO7gDO2UOwRfbOAC76-ZJbVEITNmpV34lOfhFWUUVu7P6JNFlO2QLWymzOXYYJm4q8uR8baxXAk9LlUANwocwdz16A/s4032/2a%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABOBJLzA9gwSS-z1Qj8l5x-8dZ3XHM9LrS3gJmbEJ4njrA53mL21BJCRKX4ZhPARnJmEfIG6wijD78UKCc3xsyLIZ-QHJHBJdLO7gDO2UOwRfbOAC76-ZJbVEITNmpV34lOfhFWUUVu7P6JNFlO2QLWymzOXYYJm4q8uR8baxXAk9LlUANwocwdz16A/s320/2a%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">AirBnb in Saratoga Springs</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />One of the tasks at had was to get Lucy somewhat aclimated to being stuffed into an undersized pet carrier for our trip on the plane. I had about 10 days to get this done. Lucy is not real fond of tight spaces and this carrier was going to be a challenge. I started by hiding dried fish treats inside. Her love of "fishums" overrode her fear of the box.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNpax89dcI6BlDzX273bf-aXUr-SYdw-PJYTPcuemt9FoqUSIRoxca3AJ_YR--GIENdjPfXJl8Dc-hQm631MD8eImEmIXMk_hHl36sq6ad7J52HM1KxviIzFSCtqyQzV7QusKgJWmkIoOYlTbKlUHt2N1GAGhb1O2ADSVQw7lGCHdmNaKn5o8QKpaIQ/s4032/2b%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNpax89dcI6BlDzX273bf-aXUr-SYdw-PJYTPcuemt9FoqUSIRoxca3AJ_YR--GIENdjPfXJl8Dc-hQm631MD8eImEmIXMk_hHl36sq6ad7J52HM1KxviIzFSCtqyQzV7QusKgJWmkIoOYlTbKlUHt2N1GAGhb1O2ADSVQw7lGCHdmNaKn5o8QKpaIQ/s320/2b%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lucy tentatively explores the box</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />While here we had dinner guests on two different nights. One was our old friends Bill and Jean who lived next door to us when we lived here. It was truly great to see them and share some good laughs for the night. Next was Brian and his wife Heather. I worked with Brian for about 15 years and had never met Heather. Again - laughter is the best medicine.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfukFgQfDfYecCRDffbAhnOXfdYzIFuLD0yYJqZf5I-EmkGVHmA7R4yBvwT1a5nZRs_VEutuWkM7dNzPUUuUDmWVraeL1mbRCNVA7S7tRAY-CAiJOE0OEGR54uN4zSHvlMCyvXULxz7Yb4VF8silFH9vnXR6G7Ti7pQmJTTtAxOvosN9XlcH73QVBig/s4032/2c%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfukFgQfDfYecCRDffbAhnOXfdYzIFuLD0yYJqZf5I-EmkGVHmA7R4yBvwT1a5nZRs_VEutuWkM7dNzPUUuUDmWVraeL1mbRCNVA7S7tRAY-CAiJOE0OEGR54uN4zSHvlMCyvXULxz7Yb4VF8silFH9vnXR6G7Ti7pQmJTTtAxOvosN9XlcH73QVBig/s320/2c%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">AirBnb in Saratoga Springs</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After about 5 nights in Saratoga Springs, we moved into our friends Matt & Julies house up in beautiful Bolton Landing, NY on Lake George. I continued my "Doodle in a box" training with Lucy. Progressing to zipping the door shut for short periods, getting her used to being locked up inside.</div><div><br /></div><div>Time left for further training was starting to run out and I had more to do.... <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ly-V7Qebf95mO56JdAOrC9EI0nRLvhrxu0Sg2sfDuxs02e5k5weouuC_HXp9h1ww8ACp52kf-5bRyTNHQB47-ztGD3dn2nvEVaZveGYQa7vq3GAYcoAYOIdeSpcQJlrWGUOhJzlZQj6hBwijJ57bovvEZq-P2YkQ9ms3qsUzuflnckj4RGO1YrbvMw/s4032/2d%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ly-V7Qebf95mO56JdAOrC9EI0nRLvhrxu0Sg2sfDuxs02e5k5weouuC_HXp9h1ww8ACp52kf-5bRyTNHQB47-ztGD3dn2nvEVaZveGYQa7vq3GAYcoAYOIdeSpcQJlrWGUOhJzlZQj6hBwijJ57bovvEZq-P2YkQ9ms3qsUzuflnckj4RGO1YrbvMw/s320/2d%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lucy getting braver with the box</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />While at Matts, I helped him enclose his greenhouses for the tomato planting soon to come.</div><div>In this neck o the woods, the nights are still cool and the greenhouse will allow the plants to jump start into the summer.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWn-oKC0M1-Hwlf2NG6plooO5Ub67a2Wiiktvovid4XOIVLkDU_p_9Y-uZprhgv3_IeZUHvkP_9YW_IaUc8i63W9aYUkjyYaXTuNZmWwwgrXgkfTpaetqwAs4-zfSxtCUc7I5LTTwqQKCqLrqn7Evl7E0PwEREMkAUaone-DTV9UO-CiYJP02F8hIsQ/s4032/2e%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWn-oKC0M1-Hwlf2NG6plooO5Ub67a2Wiiktvovid4XOIVLkDU_p_9Y-uZprhgv3_IeZUHvkP_9YW_IaUc8i63W9aYUkjyYaXTuNZmWwwgrXgkfTpaetqwAs4-zfSxtCUc7I5LTTwqQKCqLrqn7Evl7E0PwEREMkAUaone-DTV9UO-CiYJP02F8hIsQ/s320/2e%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Greenhouses at Matts</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />A man of many talents, I learned that Matt is now also a beekeeper. I played carpenters assistant and helped him build a stand for the beehive that he was bringing home from its current location. There were two hives together at the other location and he thought that by spreading them apart it might reduce the competition for nectar and increase the honey production from both hives.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefOWxBR7Pux8_GKpFxPRlExRouovuk0SQkKWtlI__NEJ0LrUgLu-1oRtSewtCFwosNLRtzUMpCQC0_PHH6Ulgi0S2YGZk_liKQDrmx8fTE1M28mjsIzp4zN9vYvGM9KQsh0-ZNtspstBpFoeUdyc3P18F_rd1gIhJ1-6ckhARgJRpprY7BLWz1Yu-zA/s4032/2f%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefOWxBR7Pux8_GKpFxPRlExRouovuk0SQkKWtlI__NEJ0LrUgLu-1oRtSewtCFwosNLRtzUMpCQC0_PHH6Ulgi0S2YGZk_liKQDrmx8fTE1M28mjsIzp4zN9vYvGM9KQsh0-ZNtspstBpFoeUdyc3P18F_rd1gIhJ1-6ckhARgJRpprY7BLWz1Yu-zA/s320/2f%20Saratoga%20Springs%20AirBnb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bee Hive at Matts</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>It was good therapy to see Matt & Julie, and by the time we left their place we were starting to feel much better about things.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now it was time to put our new plan in action. Leaving Matts, we headed south and stopped at Hertz to pick up our 1-way rental to Newark. Then to the bus to drop off the truck and exchange some clothes.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I arrived at the bus, we had another obstacle to overcome.</div><div><br /></div><div>I found that the electric outlets had tripped and my bus batteries were not charging.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not wanting to take a chance, I started up the generator and charged all the batteries while we tended to other chores, then I disconnected the house batteries. They are Lithum and have a low self-discharge rate and should be just fine for the 5 months. I turned off the connection to the chassis batteries and hope they will be fine. If I get back and they are dead, I should be able to start the bus using the house batteries.</div><div><br /></div><div>I parked the truck in its shed, disconnected the battery, and hooked a small trickle charger solar panel to it to keep it charged.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally - a couple of hours behind schedule, we were headed to Newark in our rental car. The plan was to drop Kate & Lucy off at the hotel and then I'd return the rental car to Hertz. The problem was that Hertz closed at 5p and did not have a night drop. It was looking like we would be cutting it real close and as we got closer, the NJ rush hour traffic was starting to build.</div><div><br /></div><div>I called Hertz and the man there asked for my ETA. I informed him that it was probably going to be a bit after 5p. He told me that he would wait till 5:30.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dropping Kate & Lucy off at the hotel took place about 5:10 and it was about 15 min to Hertz.</div><div>At 5:27 I pulled into the lot and was relieved to see that he was a man of his word and was still there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Turning the car in, I grabbed an Uber back to the hotel and got there about 6p.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kate and Lucy were waiting outside with our luggage, so we all went inside to check-in.</div><div>The receptionist told us that their "Key card machine" had broken, and they were currently unable to check us in. They were serving crusty bread, olives, and cheese in one of the lounges, so we parked there and with a free drink coupon, we had a cocktail while waiting for our room.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWENVOoV4RMcWmKpJy5025yee9_TVC5u8WspgwCeM4VNJ-VewTeQU2pTrEcGXckHKRJTTvuTQUTCX-PsEpmRcNgzTUyDKjr_OkbMp_q46iEKCWEf25i0YF1ICcZrkqEWze7UxIRH1Rz4GoJVX6C-nzMR2uzBi65iix17_rWaac3bFW-RcjHPf6GZEXQ/s4032/IMG_2530.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWENVOoV4RMcWmKpJy5025yee9_TVC5u8WspgwCeM4VNJ-VewTeQU2pTrEcGXckHKRJTTvuTQUTCX-PsEpmRcNgzTUyDKjr_OkbMp_q46iEKCWEf25i0YF1ICcZrkqEWze7UxIRH1Rz4GoJVX6C-nzMR2uzBi65iix17_rWaac3bFW-RcjHPf6GZEXQ/s320/IMG_2530.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waiting in the hotel lounge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Finally - another obstacle cleared, we were in our room. Lucy had dinner and immediately hit the sack.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNVfbtjzJXCxo8dSr8HNtaYLVJg8BQzLRbxvr9pTyWj0X-Sft4c2OVYvLnGeQf2G0KmprTywiHEArCb29IKZWudvCEAXjWsTU2hLytOpddDGzbLZ71EKKu-7_jms-vJ3JdMqZwRDuSaDZNxjs4bzGOgKg5aQ2TQUA-C5z71N8pLT_L5nUotWBY78wZg/s4032/3a%20Element%20Hotel%20Harrison.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNVfbtjzJXCxo8dSr8HNtaYLVJg8BQzLRbxvr9pTyWj0X-Sft4c2OVYvLnGeQf2G0KmprTywiHEArCb29IKZWudvCEAXjWsTU2hLytOpddDGzbLZ71EKKu-7_jms-vJ3JdMqZwRDuSaDZNxjs4bzGOgKg5aQ2TQUA-C5z71N8pLT_L5nUotWBY78wZg/s320/3a%20Element%20Hotel%20Harrison.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lucy at Elements Hotel Harrison</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our room was like a small studio apartment. We had a sitting area and cooking facilities. We arrived the night before our flight and I booked it for the second day as well. Our flight did not leave till 7pm and I would rather just hang in the hotel than have to check out and stay in the airport all day.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next thing that could go wrong was if our plane that was taking us to Paris did not arrive.</div><div>So I followed it and was glad to see it coming in on final approach right outside our windows.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvFJXwLnEaa3D5A9uIs-LZ5oISF_gmQqkl--0Fb_DThe-Tt_eva4ysbM8msk55KfibBdyFbJt8TvtXwtHpjRvX2cd1tT_QBn5gPznyFsoivzPYTW8U3_cvCEsl7AKZir7y_z8iZ6KoLi4eRrZdkuqG9sNqriK9eqv6Rna0JSsQ6hrEKQoF58vfzUtvA/s4032/3b%20Element%20Hotel%20Harrison.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvFJXwLnEaa3D5A9uIs-LZ5oISF_gmQqkl--0Fb_DThe-Tt_eva4ysbM8msk55KfibBdyFbJt8TvtXwtHpjRvX2cd1tT_QBn5gPznyFsoivzPYTW8U3_cvCEsl7AKZir7y_z8iZ6KoLi4eRrZdkuqG9sNqriK9eqv6Rna0JSsQ6hrEKQoF58vfzUtvA/s320/3b%20Element%20Hotel%20Harrison.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our aircraft arriving from Paris</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />At 3:30p our Uber showed up right on schedule and we were on our way to Newark.</div><div>Our flight is only 1 of 2 flights leaving Newark, only seats 76 people, all in business class, so check-in opened at 4:30 and within a few minutes our dog paperwork was cleared, and another hurdle was passed.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEje4zMiS-4qJusR2MRMGbd2Bka3HPs0iPQ41fF3Koc8h17xfGPbkDWUiGkT6chwTIMvhBaqImMbLoq51iuLfGTw-WaGK5a_r9EM4lwVsHfdq0UZX1vecEAT4dKXDNf8JOYUBZEQtXlPTSMVq8sClBlQrpYML6viwtHlLkbO8_LLTEiwz4lfWYoZc6Q/s4032/4a%20La%20Compagnie%20EWR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEje4zMiS-4qJusR2MRMGbd2Bka3HPs0iPQ41fF3Koc8h17xfGPbkDWUiGkT6chwTIMvhBaqImMbLoq51iuLfGTw-WaGK5a_r9EM4lwVsHfdq0UZX1vecEAT4dKXDNf8JOYUBZEQtXlPTSMVq8sClBlQrpYML6viwtHlLkbO8_LLTEiwz4lfWYoZc6Q/s320/4a%20La%20Compagnie%20EWR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waiting to check in at Newark Airport</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>La Compagnie has a priority TSA line, so we were able to skip the long line and go straight to the head of the que and within 10 more minutes we were thru TSA and parked in the Virgin Airlines lounge killing an hour or so.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzizL5XL1JQZ8_Z7fgZHwDEkFTNOavhIY-A5ylbViZbP5PGE9HrqTh5m7o3VipoOa1mIdI36TTgsJTqfg5Exx2EBjCnzjj0ZesYLW85tTbcXIsqUcHpu0RNd9n3hl8Waivc_fUFT6ivOjihlSjp1UWqrdIHFBx8t9Y-Jq1KdHHcESu09xo2vGi1TUqQ/s4032/4b%20La%20Compagnie%20EWR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzizL5XL1JQZ8_Z7fgZHwDEkFTNOavhIY-A5ylbViZbP5PGE9HrqTh5m7o3VipoOa1mIdI36TTgsJTqfg5Exx2EBjCnzjj0ZesYLW85tTbcXIsqUcHpu0RNd9n3hl8Waivc_fUFT6ivOjihlSjp1UWqrdIHFBx8t9Y-Jq1KdHHcESu09xo2vGi1TUqQ/s320/4b%20La%20Compagnie%20EWR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lucy is a lounge Doodle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Now - the next worry for me was going to be stuffing poor Lucy into that damn box and getting her smoothly on the plane. So far she had walked all the way and as we started to board the plane, this gate agent told me that I needed to put her in the box. Damn.... so close.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I put her in the bag, zipped it up. and as soon as I picked it up, I felt a bucking bronco inside. She popped her head out of the hole on top so while waiting in line, I fed her some dried fish to keep her mind occupied.</div><div><br /></div><div>So far - so good. We made it back to our seat. I her placed her on the floor in front of my seat and she seemed upset, but tolerating it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Within a few minutes the doors were closed and we were taxing. Lucy is getting a little more agitated but still all good....</div><div><br /></div><div>Then when we lined up for takeoff and the pilot hit the gas.... Lucy started to get vocal, Not real loud, but enough to make we worry. What if she started barking and screaming? I feverishly keep the fish going into her yapper. It was like I was training Shamu at Sea World. </div><div><br /></div><div>And just like that - the wheel noise and bumping stopped. We were airborne. </div><div>WE WERE ON OUR WAY!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>About 40 seconds after takeoff I popped Lucy out of the bag and put her on my lap. Shaking and panting but none the worse for wear. I gave her lots of comfort and worked on keeping things cool.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was her just after I took her out of the case.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMPbuK8WQfaX-Tpr73KHcxLG1Ilne5NDCbDO_9VxC6vBrWs9P6wqt69iilKqIDjnVyKr6qwTAFOBR6YIKoGmTKUbxXFcpHmywEZn0IfIRawKUd1rkquOnSVOEpk9yDoLj4pqmYC4C5Ip3qR6jkHCoJ1yqvCvAp9V_uJihSb_Y5cIR2cZAYcmSmD53BA/s4032/IMG_2565.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMPbuK8WQfaX-Tpr73KHcxLG1Ilne5NDCbDO_9VxC6vBrWs9P6wqt69iilKqIDjnVyKr6qwTAFOBR6YIKoGmTKUbxXFcpHmywEZn0IfIRawKUd1rkquOnSVOEpk9yDoLj4pqmYC4C5Ip3qR6jkHCoJ1yqvCvAp9V_uJihSb_Y5cIR2cZAYcmSmD53BA/s320/IMG_2565.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lucy in the sky with diamonds..</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We took off to the south, immediately circled to the right as we climbed and passed over NYC at about 5,000' with a pretty decent view. It was a tad hazy but you can make out Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, etc.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRe9a3Nwh_QbM-c1K2pTkBFVhSAnsgArvfqXkhrgP9tYdg3OXCNyEZPOpMKwtosUsSMDA9mvc-whI0jXcYt0IY_r7Knaqu8qQdo_RWk_eoPnNA-JK3G0L-f00xro-SQR0phNYwnXjU8veoRU5De0Jc4tcHFE7RYuwImFo088_FqGzdaTV0fkBlkIoEmQ/s4032/4c%20La%20Compagnie%20EWR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRe9a3Nwh_QbM-c1K2pTkBFVhSAnsgArvfqXkhrgP9tYdg3OXCNyEZPOpMKwtosUsSMDA9mvc-whI0jXcYt0IY_r7Knaqu8qQdo_RWk_eoPnNA-JK3G0L-f00xro-SQR0phNYwnXjU8veoRU5De0Jc4tcHFE7RYuwImFo088_FqGzdaTV0fkBlkIoEmQ/s320/4c%20La%20Compagnie%20EWR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Departing over NYC</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Lucy did real well on the airplane, all things considered.</div><div><br /></div><div>She spent most of the flight laying on my lap or Kates , but in the middle of the night Kate fell asleep, and Lucy jumped off her lap and started making a beeline to the front of the plane with Katie in hot sleepy pursuit. She made it about halfway or more to the front of the plane before she was tackled. I don’t know where the hell Lucy was going, I can only assume she was getting the f… out of there</div><div><br /></div><div>Kate and I were both thankful that when she got halfway to the front of the plane she didn’t decide to squat pee and dump </div><div><br /></div><div>No, she did not do that on the plane... </div><div><br /></div><div>Exiting the aircraft, we made the long walk from the plane to immigration. All good.</div><div>We had "Diplomat" privileges courtesy of La Compagnie and went to the front of the line at immigration,</div><div>We got thru there and made the long walk to baggage. Things are starting to look good.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can see baggage claim up ahead and saw our bags had already arrived. A quick walk thru customs and we'd be outside door 48 where my prior research told me there was a nice grassy area where Lucy would be able to relieve herself.</div><div><br /></div><div>There was light at the end of the tunnel. Another hurdle about to be cleared.</div><div>Then,.... Lucy started pulling on the leash. </div><div>Walking faster... </div><div>I know that walk... </div><div>I know what is coming....</div><div><br /></div><div>All of a sudden she stopped, she squatted, and let out a flood Noah would be proud of. </div><div>Passengers walked around our squatting Doodle as if it was just another day in France.</div><div>I guess it was!</div><div><br /></div><div>Viva La Lucy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Well the rest of the day was a blur.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had 2 medium sized hard spinner suitcase, and on top of these I had a hanging suit bag strapped to the handle. It was easy to push on smooth flooring, but any lips or ledges, and the stack wanted to fall over, so I had to be careful. And each stack probably weighed about 80 lbs each.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had to get on the OrlyVal tram to get to Terminal 1 where the rental cars were located.</div><div>With all the baggage and Lucy it was tough getting onto the tram before the doors closed.</div><div>And then the doors started to close when I was halfway thru with the luggage. Kate was inside and Lucy still outside on her leash.</div><div><br /></div><div>I jammed myself between the doors while Kate tried to get Lucy onto the tram. Those doors were really trying to close and I had to push hard against them to prevent it. I think another passenger grabbed one of my luggage stacks and pulled it thru for me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then we had to find the rental car location in the underground parking garage. Again, I had researched this beforehand so it was not too hard, just a lot of walking.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, we were in the car, the Garmin was turned on, and we were making our way out of Orly Airport.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, another hurdle completed. Another sigh of relief. </div><div>It was about 10:30am in Paris. 4:30am in NY</div><div><br /></div><div>A 3 1/2 hour drive to Calais, I dropped Kate & Lucy off in our room at the Holiday Inn, and then took the rental car back to Hertz.</div><div><br /></div><div>I grabbed a taxi back to the hotel and when I got back Kate and Lucy were dead asleep. It was now 5pm and I'd been going about 29 hours or so.</div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zs9Ocvr6RliLoLIseUCrJfI9fhiZAhPEVHNDv5NKSvxSw1vttckNRi3XY-yOg8KHyoFRptoV4YiCokwdaB2O7u-EMVOHjXRcl2fiTgp6cBzaMDw5Rttvz0wgx4pALrp_1JObVy0TAES9CEkPFRhSNc9i4rW7CIRMGF1m9RPuOqweXh3VaRoDfwLkqQ/s4032/5a%20Holiday%20Inn%20Calais.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zs9Ocvr6RliLoLIseUCrJfI9fhiZAhPEVHNDv5NKSvxSw1vttckNRi3XY-yOg8KHyoFRptoV4YiCokwdaB2O7u-EMVOHjXRcl2fiTgp6cBzaMDw5Rttvz0wgx4pALrp_1JObVy0TAES9CEkPFRhSNc9i4rW7CIRMGF1m9RPuOqweXh3VaRoDfwLkqQ/s320/5a%20Holiday%20Inn%20Calais.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Finally - a bed in Calais</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />A quick dinner at the hotel restaurant, and we were in bed by 8pm.</div><div><br />The next morning - its now Saturday May 13, we had a "pet taxi" pick us up at 0910</div><div><br /></div><div>You cannot take dogs on the Eurostar Train thru the Chunnel. You can transport them in your car on the train however. So the way for us around that is to hire a taxi that caters to pet owners. We used this service last time as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now for the last major hurdle. Clearing the dog into the UK...</div><div><br /></div><div>I knew the paperwork looked spot-on, but there still is a chance that some official might have had a bad morning and picks on some thing or another. Fortunately everything was fine and a few minutes after entering the Pet reception center, Lucys microchip was scanned, matched to her paperwork, and we received our clearance to proceed to immigration.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhSTtqEhz4I81G6oeKuIjODvQdIGhL3llVz-dx3Yb-9KhTyNogZ1lK_2gav2bLXfJsPKdO41GpwV_vIdQ48FHqrwrvl7JxnN-rPGXsPtzaYaoNMMEtAKwifPpwgmb87GVDSgjhSJrofFCn5PjbHLJP27N1Kab4LFOxWh9udfityzdFRHv-qt1GEQyhA/s4032/5b%20Dog%20Reception%20Center%20Calais.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhSTtqEhz4I81G6oeKuIjODvQdIGhL3llVz-dx3Yb-9KhTyNogZ1lK_2gav2bLXfJsPKdO41GpwV_vIdQ48FHqrwrvl7JxnN-rPGXsPtzaYaoNMMEtAKwifPpwgmb87GVDSgjhSJrofFCn5PjbHLJP27N1Kab4LFOxWh9udfityzdFRHv-qt1GEQyhA/s320/5b%20Dog%20Reception%20Center%20Calais.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pet reception facility at the Chunnel</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our train was at 1010 and we had a few minutes to spare, so Kate gave Lucy one more chance to pee on France. (no offense meant - we love France)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8xgOa1ot6PM_2Y4uWHnpGjhcYSztShKUAk3ENgQA_UxBRmjxYYqBmf_7NNGs2wFEZUpSwMCNwMYrT39j2mNGMFKRM1XwjQo0y-LzWWr1xzTK5XMZ3IqnxUsh6SoAm5QE4OUwlJ_82A_PuP9fNb8u3Q6ArDhPT60sZHTpIP_y5y4iFKpNqFO1WwmTyg/s4032/5c%20Chunnel%20Que%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8xgOa1ot6PM_2Y4uWHnpGjhcYSztShKUAk3ENgQA_UxBRmjxYYqBmf_7NNGs2wFEZUpSwMCNwMYrT39j2mNGMFKRM1XwjQo0y-LzWWr1xzTK5XMZ3IqnxUsh6SoAm5QE4OUwlJ_82A_PuP9fNb8u3Q6ArDhPT60sZHTpIP_y5y4iFKpNqFO1WwmTyg/s320/5c%20Chunnel%20Que%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lucy left her last mark in France</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Then the short que to clear out of France, then onwards to the next line of booths where we clear into the UK.</div><div><br /></div><div>The UK border agent started to give me a bit of a hard time. She was not understanding why we were in a British taxi but coming from France, and kept brusquely asking me pointed questions:</div><div><br /></div><div>"<i>When was the last time you were in the UK?</i>" I say "October"</div><div>"<i>Then how do you find yourself sitting in a British Taxi?</i>"</div><div><br /></div><div>I try explaining to her about dogs, trains, and taxis, but she is not listening and instead rattling off more questions in rapid succession.</div><div><br /></div><div>WTF? Are we going to have a problem here?</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally one of the other border agents walked over and explained to her how it works with pets and her demeanor softened up a bit. She must have been new, or transferred from an airport, where this does not happen. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu1_Bk5_6y6kibagersnZUUoZXnyfImWZRnyoQhNNd7GGwJumTyVjzapelagtg2LLFeFKRMMdPohuI-DVnqKibiIlCDiz6Fj-mTz_L-yOvQvjmSX4EZdKl_QkF3PyIggLR0e45YcCj5biqp8rgjZeH6NjoZlA-Z5i_PUSRExegentu3BnqjTN5aSXRg/s4032/5d%20French%20Customs%20Calais.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu1_Bk5_6y6kibagersnZUUoZXnyfImWZRnyoQhNNd7GGwJumTyVjzapelagtg2LLFeFKRMMdPohuI-DVnqKibiIlCDiz6Fj-mTz_L-yOvQvjmSX4EZdKl_QkF3PyIggLR0e45YcCj5biqp8rgjZeH6NjoZlA-Z5i_PUSRExegentu3BnqjTN5aSXRg/s320/5d%20French%20Customs%20Calais.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The que for French Customs</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Finally, we are driving down the ramp to get onto the train.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPETP4FP9ijXRcTbeuGZmfUBn_7UKyijpbqHsKHtPwhpxAeWyVkz-ZMwbGfi1njnWyXfnaxepv7vU1TIAx8xgHRoi_fU_1l261Hp2VV5rK68E9-NeH7elPvgU1qPX63vtTFBRbXKaWQqOpAgUNUP9veCOExRAHbIs0nhxyjWAjmK_YCvYgwX9UHfZD3w/s4032/5e%20Le%20Shuttle%20Loading.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPETP4FP9ijXRcTbeuGZmfUBn_7UKyijpbqHsKHtPwhpxAeWyVkz-ZMwbGfi1njnWyXfnaxepv7vU1TIAx8xgHRoi_fU_1l261Hp2VV5rK68E9-NeH7elPvgU1qPX63vtTFBRbXKaWQqOpAgUNUP9veCOExRAHbIs0nhxyjWAjmK_YCvYgwX9UHfZD3w/s320/5e%20Le%20Shuttle%20Loading.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Down the ramp to the train</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Then we are on the train.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAisTZ27VNXoTHfS9OVOEN6aMpVicI9AgBfb5Nwg_v41gFeXib5G0klt5MQuzokZB4fozzwCA8RkcfiJ_g4BG95XSMCtjLqas-d0gDJ-d8fTXR6-Z_dDl9ww2rWCQ6UOiFqUe6cYstBgoY-3OsRUVzWtasOJth2g_FgUmRjWTVeajdBrm-wSWT-_2uw/s4032/5f%20Le%20Shuttle%20Interior.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAisTZ27VNXoTHfS9OVOEN6aMpVicI9AgBfb5Nwg_v41gFeXib5G0klt5MQuzokZB4fozzwCA8RkcfiJ_g4BG95XSMCtjLqas-d0gDJ-d8fTXR6-Z_dDl9ww2rWCQ6UOiFqUe6cYstBgoY-3OsRUVzWtasOJth2g_FgUmRjWTVeajdBrm-wSWT-_2uw/s320/5f%20Le%20Shuttle%20Interior.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Inside the train</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Well the train made it safely to the UK. Our pet taxi dropped us off at our VRBO in London where we will be staying till next Sunday, and after another good nights sleep - we are starting to feel normal.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And best of all.....WE MADE IT!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Tomorrow - Monday the 15th, I have to take the tube to Waterloo Station, where I will take the train to Southampton to pick up the rental car we will have for the duration. Since the QM2 was to arrive in Sout'n, that is where the car is. So its about an hour train ride there, and a 90 minute or so drive back.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So here we are. About a week late, but now back on schedule, and ready to complete the rest of our journey. We have lots of things in store, and some great surprises too, so be sure to stick around.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last but not least - thanks to everyone for the well wishes. It was hard to reply but your good words meant a lot. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One note - if you post a comment as anonymous, be sure to at least add your name to the end. We had several nice comments that we do not know who they were from.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">ps. I'm too tired to proof read this, so it is going out "raw and unedited". Sorry for any glaring mistakes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-76253354974312741332023-04-27T09:56:00.002-06:002023-04-27T09:56:13.409-06:00A bad bad week<p>We left you last while we were at the Aux Arc Park in Ozark Arkansas.</p><div style="text-align: left;">Since then we have continued our travels east. Everything was going perfectly to plan and we arrived at Schodack Island State Park, near Albany, NY which was our last stop prior to storing the bus.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last Saturday, April 22 we brought the dogs to the Vet in Pittsfield, Mass to start thier heath certificates.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was beginning to look like we were actually going to make it....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That the 4th time would be the charm and we would be boarding the Queen Mary2 this coming Sunday - April 30.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Sunday morning, April 23rd I started to get some info that was causing concerns. The QM2 had rushed into Southampton for needed engine repairs and its departure from the UK was going to be delayed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Within a few hours I had confirmation that our departure from NY was cancelled. Our transportation to the UK was non existent.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had some plan b alternatives penciled out so I went ot work and by Monday morning I had booked one-way tickets for May 11 on La Compagnie Airlines. An boutique French Carrier that flies business class only flights - that allows dogs up to 33lbs to travel with us in the cabin. We would have to travel to Orly Paris, but I could work around that and we'd pick up our itinerary at our second planned stop in London.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We would then continue with our plans and take the QM2 back to the states in late September.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While all of was going on, Gracies health, already on a downward trajectory, started going downhill at an increased rate. Without going into all of the details - we made the painful decision to do the best thing for her and had her put down on April 25. She was 15yrs, 1 week, and 1 day old. It also happened to be 15 yrs to the day that we lost our Old English Sheepdog Bentley.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We took her to the vet in Saratoga Springs that was the first vet she visited when she was a puppy. So in a way this was sort of closing the circle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So you can see why I titled this post as I did.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We are still moving ahead. We will make the trip with Lucy. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We have some extra time to kill here in NY so we will store the bus as planned tomorrow and them do a mixture of AirBnb's and stays with friends before we head down to Newark on May 10 for our May 11 flight.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This 2 week or so delay will give us just a little time to help this open wound to heal a bit. I know time will make it better. I just hope that time comes soon because our hearts are broken.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDFedVE2wG18prP_ScgYR7JObVd8h9zc8l7tKlrzvRPeYavt6nRwB8VNg0peNmEDlmcRQoojj29eaOLcUs3OAmivINs4v6y_wCvc2G8o5Wd6hUG-dHl6DQEU9ZCaG15a9B0ExcUwYjmjJcGr0tO6iHfT2LU_9yOkxhVkkJVbUCdMiCc1H8w5qs2E0Og/s3008/DSC_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3008" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDFedVE2wG18prP_ScgYR7JObVd8h9zc8l7tKlrzvRPeYavt6nRwB8VNg0peNmEDlmcRQoojj29eaOLcUs3OAmivINs4v6y_wCvc2G8o5Wd6hUG-dHl6DQEU9ZCaG15a9B0ExcUwYjmjJcGr0tO6iHfT2LU_9yOkxhVkkJVbUCdMiCc1H8w5qs2E0Og/s320/DSC_0050.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gracie at 7 mos old</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-19059883121595134322023-04-09T19:51:00.000-06:002023-04-09T19:51:54.333-06:00Heading East<p> </p><p>Well.... after 18 days at the shack, we loaded up and are now on our way east headed for our rendevous with the Queen Mary2 scheduled for April 30.</p><div style="text-align: left;">Arriving back in Tucson, we had that short window to complete a number of pre-trip chores, get packed, and back on the road.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">First on the list was a Doodle wash and wax.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Both of the dogs were in dire need of some TLC.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOJakQk0Mp4YyzFNGLse8i3GCYo60nYAAbRCMWT33bEIu2XG9Pk4vGTvV4U8ncDls58nk_ntlUf1sciBVxKc2k0K2XwZ0qVgo7LCYm3JxqRO1-ChGsQNScZp7JTKH_dZMkCTkOCiWgXWsnss3jvGPKFg3dYon-N1niBWa035j485g-6U7kmc4eaATNw/s4032/1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOJakQk0Mp4YyzFNGLse8i3GCYo60nYAAbRCMWT33bEIu2XG9Pk4vGTvV4U8ncDls58nk_ntlUf1sciBVxKc2k0K2XwZ0qVgo7LCYm3JxqRO1-ChGsQNScZp7JTKH_dZMkCTkOCiWgXWsnss3jvGPKFg3dYon-N1niBWa035j485g-6U7kmc4eaATNw/s320/1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Woolly Bear Lucy needing a bath and haircut</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZcHcQaw4ggkLTw1AQLG4RlCNMbSs2_kyX332lAjxTEoOHy0z89M-f6fUx1SQtQdTttMoWB0bDshqRpG7hEGNFBq1GV8PuPnI4UrKr31tcKLs62W68YTV-ks5uiP7zRpazyG-G0Yga0KWwfAPszFOvFGHXRfFHLuItZw9DmYGX7Dsh1mWQ8AJQSyxNQ/s4032/1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZcHcQaw4ggkLTw1AQLG4RlCNMbSs2_kyX332lAjxTEoOHy0z89M-f6fUx1SQtQdTttMoWB0bDshqRpG7hEGNFBq1GV8PuPnI4UrKr31tcKLs62W68YTV-ks5uiP7zRpazyG-G0Yga0KWwfAPszFOvFGHXRfFHLuItZw9DmYGX7Dsh1mWQ8AJQSyxNQ/s320/1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And Gracie after a bath and cut - sporting her Cunard Coat</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />While out for our winter travels, you might remember that one of the retraction springs on my hydraulic leveling Jacks had broken and I jury rigged it with bungee cords.<div><br /></div><div>Now that the correct springs were back in stock, I had a set of 4. (2 each per front jack) delivered and decided to get that job off of the to-do list.</div><div><br /></div><div>First thing however was I needed to make some ramps to drive the front of the bus up on so as to raise it up a bit and give me some safe working space, I could do the job without them, but if something was to happen, like a sudden loss of air pressure, the airbags on the bus could deflate and the weight of the bus would settle down onto me. Not a happy thought. Safety first.</div><div><br /></div><div>I picked up some 2x12 planks at Lowes in Yuma and cut them down in various lengths to make ramps that would raise the front of the bus about 6 3/4" - just enough to give me the needed safety margin.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBtFTUhxS-mLnzDWOSyG4KU2psLyS2PLBJDaKdf0Ca2cFdFeOXVaQTZGGLaf0YpF2mRDDhSraUX8BT2vLVxPJAP5C2VYpiUmqPqw3jchW791NzLfkBacXJiNCAIzkJHGXNPJExP4F1Cht3kYTyYPchCkT81hKnYDPJ2yhRkWkaHL0Kiqwz3W78xcKMA/s4032/1c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBtFTUhxS-mLnzDWOSyG4KU2psLyS2PLBJDaKdf0Ca2cFdFeOXVaQTZGGLaf0YpF2mRDDhSraUX8BT2vLVxPJAP5C2VYpiUmqPqw3jchW791NzLfkBacXJiNCAIzkJHGXNPJExP4F1Cht3kYTyYPchCkT81hKnYDPJ2yhRkWkaHL0Kiqwz3W78xcKMA/s320/1c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ramps to raise the bus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Those now done - it was time to tackle the springs. These are very strong springs and you cannot pull them by hand. So I stretched them using cargo straps. One attached to the truck trailer hitch, and the other to the bus trailer hitch. I had Kate slowly pull forward while the spring was stretched out longer.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmWE9socxS5nps3vvK6-u1UIkNW_kh--x-a8QWBF5S-FJedhmIzBEwPF0FYcq6n5zPXGObv0BhjpigznPTbOePSApAkwJKH_-0B0nlx3foezBVtaGaGZK_tz4BvbAfYGdVN6zyUuHGqaTVxtg40OnNBb1DW3jvGL476wYVYxeZPCnRGhZg1TJVLj0YA/s4032/1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmWE9socxS5nps3vvK6-u1UIkNW_kh--x-a8QWBF5S-FJedhmIzBEwPF0FYcq6n5zPXGObv0BhjpigznPTbOePSApAkwJKH_-0B0nlx3foezBVtaGaGZK_tz4BvbAfYGdVN6zyUuHGqaTVxtg40OnNBb1DW3jvGL476wYVYxeZPCnRGhZg1TJVLj0YA/s320/1d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">New spring needing to be stretched longer so it can be put in place</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Then I placed about a dozen wooden shims in the spaces between the stretched coils.</div><div>This allowed me to then back up the pickup and release the tension on the springs while leaving the spring still stretched about 3" or so longer. Just enough to allow we to hook them up to the attachment points under the bus.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpW47B-a0jfVDnuED1aSuUBZDrTJI-H6bP4r2q_ojJnWJuptUAbyBdVOPTSnNXmRY2Nvk5vxo0ai_NT_pyIHC2gqm46SFvunetDraw6YifGU--899YvJi6iYXF15do4LIsYxDfk3Hb_VNM6bzk_4dBQCDtdWGphP_1Gvspgi1GwbOAuSDxHUpgV0n2-w/s4031/1e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="4031" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpW47B-a0jfVDnuED1aSuUBZDrTJI-H6bP4r2q_ojJnWJuptUAbyBdVOPTSnNXmRY2Nvk5vxo0ai_NT_pyIHC2gqm46SFvunetDraw6YifGU--899YvJi6iYXF15do4LIsYxDfk3Hb_VNM6bzk_4dBQCDtdWGphP_1Gvspgi1GwbOAuSDxHUpgV0n2-w/s320/1e.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Springs stretched between bus and truck with shims put in place</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Here I am working under the bus with the front tires up on the ramps.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNHAcQ4cJc91P8QqiXACYf97iNbmJhHX4yOJ5gBGPiQtU1dza_8qPqgL0b_g6WVUbXVbmD7wX3U0uFwuuihXDo3vX-AorEavVHcSvtdAlTEdIFx3QnEGH5UHyf1_Q_3S_9MJ3ZTx-qQaTaF20hR16zpWvZ-QT6Po2TeW52lqQl--7I316wZWB27qkdA/s4032/1f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNHAcQ4cJc91P8QqiXACYf97iNbmJhHX4yOJ5gBGPiQtU1dza_8qPqgL0b_g6WVUbXVbmD7wX3U0uFwuuihXDo3vX-AorEavVHcSvtdAlTEdIFx3QnEGH5UHyf1_Q_3S_9MJ3ZTx-qQaTaF20hR16zpWvZ-QT6Po2TeW52lqQl--7I316wZWB27qkdA/s320/1f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And here is a set of springs installed on the driver side jack.</div><div>I can now start the jack system and lower the jack which will stretch out the spring and all the wooden shims will fall out. Then when the jacks retract - they will go all the way up but still be under about 3" of spring tension.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BLmUf-EcAh1lWwCYBRJUBC8SWPTwl_5WCt9gomm-TQhdvLQwwC1_GROH_7DA3-b3irUyI3iMt8rG5ACQQ75eNfFBmxj6pCJoN0Nz-doHqSxlXYuXO9okvwh27wsIjkVZZwmNcaqr1qnPLBPSglBVJ5iVtkWibvRK2Xoxx79wB8EVZhq7SS3TbP-4SQ/s4032/1g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BLmUf-EcAh1lWwCYBRJUBC8SWPTwl_5WCt9gomm-TQhdvLQwwC1_GROH_7DA3-b3irUyI3iMt8rG5ACQQ75eNfFBmxj6pCJoN0Nz-doHqSxlXYuXO9okvwh27wsIjkVZZwmNcaqr1qnPLBPSglBVJ5iVtkWibvRK2Xoxx79wB8EVZhq7SS3TbP-4SQ/s320/1g.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jack all the way retracted but with shims still in place</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />That job went pretty smoothly and in about 90 minutes I had installed all 4 front springs.</div><div><br /></div><div>While at the shack, I also installed a new 43" TV in the bus. I had installed one about a year ago and decided at that time to go the budget route.... Bad Move! </div><div><br /></div><div>We have never been real pleased with that TV so finally I bit the bullet and got a Samsung QLED TV like we have in the house. Just smaller. The difference is night and day.</div><div><br /></div><div>It took a bit of modifications to get it to mount correctly, but it only took a few hours and we are both very pleased with the new system.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon, all of our tasks complete, it was time to hit the road. We packed our suitcases for the trip and I loaded them into the truck.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjt-5YNoEBavfK4E6JqVCBJGsoJox4t5OdWe4fxBi_gZPc1VOERglDYaOkV0dQhFEcnF859SftU-CTZTi6WW-xco_bl8XMsyg4Krmge5CbWoApi3yKtUXRtCNwcNWeP2C2q7uPvPSf-kRDmZ7FGfKyMG5fIWwsHx3yFkqyknzK38kiJjKXpxH4CUC4Q/s4032/1h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjt-5YNoEBavfK4E6JqVCBJGsoJox4t5OdWe4fxBi_gZPc1VOERglDYaOkV0dQhFEcnF859SftU-CTZTi6WW-xco_bl8XMsyg4Krmge5CbWoApi3yKtUXRtCNwcNWeP2C2q7uPvPSf-kRDmZ7FGfKyMG5fIWwsHx3yFkqyknzK38kiJjKXpxH4CUC4Q/s320/1h.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Locked & Loaded</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Hooked up and ready to go.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOPpV8cfe0_FvEzaCwF6IC5CDhDIx2DVZEHUFNT5a6eaUel54HRZUX1WxWoB_trU4vZYxrA7BQXH0B9q2O5FmsqfbMWT-4Q9g05_CWPGklkT81UO7rwa2jwwhpjrnAWCHWozKNJ_-O3JqZNI2k7y5MfqV8IOYWdewc1JMMMNb2NisRJi8R1nIatFrRQ/s4032/1i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOPpV8cfe0_FvEzaCwF6IC5CDhDIx2DVZEHUFNT5a6eaUel54HRZUX1WxWoB_trU4vZYxrA7BQXH0B9q2O5FmsqfbMWT-4Q9g05_CWPGklkT81UO7rwa2jwwhpjrnAWCHWozKNJ_-O3JqZNI2k7y5MfqV8IOYWdewc1JMMMNb2NisRJi8R1nIatFrRQ/s320/1i.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We left Weds morning April 5. First stop was in Las Cruces, NM about 4.5 hrs east. I never did get a photo there, but we stayed at the Hacienda RV Resort. It's sort of our go-to first night stop for eastbound routes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our second night - Thursday - was at the Valley of Fires BLM campground in Carrizozo, NM.</div><div>It is only about 2.5 hrs from Las Cruces, but I've been wanting to take Kate here so we made a late departure from Las Cruces.</div><div><br /></div>Valley of fires is a campground on a ridge that over looks a lava flow from an eruption that took place about 6,000 years ago. The lava flow is over 20 miles long.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our stay here was marred by some very strong winds (30 mph with gusts in the 40's)</div><div><br /></div><div>Being very exposed it was a cool night with some rocking and rolling.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4a9w_yCoea_GxjO_R4h5-Eug-Tb_TdPzdPuZf8cAt8GN0_fxRk-AGvhFuncN0j5uGCde7ZL43_fz4GWseM0Nl9KXdmPOzFSMctRwsvKLXg_2Ct3N2LsuHevS-gIx4_KYHsQckfgetpkJzAY2QLRGUDYYdXcOCqNDZKvl4st62j8f4VktW3oxDOkQNQ/s4032/2a%20Valley%20of%20Fires%20NM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4a9w_yCoea_GxjO_R4h5-Eug-Tb_TdPzdPuZf8cAt8GN0_fxRk-AGvhFuncN0j5uGCde7ZL43_fz4GWseM0Nl9KXdmPOzFSMctRwsvKLXg_2Ct3N2LsuHevS-gIx4_KYHsQckfgetpkJzAY2QLRGUDYYdXcOCqNDZKvl4st62j8f4VktW3oxDOkQNQ/s320/2a%20Valley%20of%20Fires%20NM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Site 17 at Valley of Fires</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our campsite was up high and fully exposed to the northeast winds.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSU0xgxIFusTV4ABSHYSNMu5Sq8okW6t0o3Av6WJmmaZvXTFBWciGDZ_EYIRs3jXp_WN_-TUjN3mdUxYt_hz5R7GfJw9ybXe6kRJDuOiJ_6OQ1qdWccfiHXa3o2ntKcHhYyMpjbF69Uum6WqdcryOzDSzY936ZSo15XqmYO0PZSGeiylkMFCoBpnVWw/s4032/IMG_2329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSU0xgxIFusTV4ABSHYSNMu5Sq8okW6t0o3Av6WJmmaZvXTFBWciGDZ_EYIRs3jXp_WN_-TUjN3mdUxYt_hz5R7GfJw9ybXe6kRJDuOiJ_6OQ1qdWccfiHXa3o2ntKcHhYyMpjbF69Uum6WqdcryOzDSzY936ZSo15XqmYO0PZSGeiylkMFCoBpnVWw/s320/IMG_2329.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div>We enjoyed a nice New Mexico Sunset from our perch on the ridge.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJe2k42MeFmdlhszBUKeZkAxEUzobtFqHJaeTWr_kdIWt55ZEm1teW8eDf2R9DgsSGv0s0NReJ4cjD7ReW05exRZv735BVBlcx7ilV0PUPcYg6lg8k0OJhO2j-64pQwr0aPWTBQ8c41akLliAareGj2JzqVmch5b6QIHpDzQIEt0AxdBb6PGuqFFHG3w/s4032/2b%20Valley%20of%20Fires%20NM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJe2k42MeFmdlhszBUKeZkAxEUzobtFqHJaeTWr_kdIWt55ZEm1teW8eDf2R9DgsSGv0s0NReJ4cjD7ReW05exRZv735BVBlcx7ilV0PUPcYg6lg8k0OJhO2j-64pQwr0aPWTBQ8c41akLliAareGj2JzqVmch5b6QIHpDzQIEt0AxdBb6PGuqFFHG3w/s320/2b%20Valley%20of%20Fires%20NM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We only stayed one night and then continued Friday morning, heading Northeast on US 54, hooking up with I40 east in Santa Rosa and eventually settled into the Oasis RV Park in Amarillo for the night. It was an easy 4.5hr day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again - I had no pictures of Oasis, but its a decent place. Nothing special. It used to be a really nice park. We've stayed here a bunch over the years and I see it going downhill steadily as it seems the ownership does not invest any of the $$'s back into the upkeep of the property. I will start looking for an alternative for our stays in Amarillo.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now Saturday is the big change day... </div><div><br /></div><div>It is where we go from the brown wind swept, wide open endless skies of the West, to the green, tree-filled world of the east. </div><div><br /></div><div>For those of you who live in the east - this might not make sense, but when you spend your time in the west you know its a really different world. The change from the wide open skies of the west to east is quite dramatic and always a treat. The transition between the two worlds on I-40 seems to be the most dramatic of the east/west routes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our next stop was about 8.5 hrs east. A favorite of ours - its an Army Corps of Engineers campground on the Arkansas River called Aux Arc Park.</div><div><br /></div><div>We've stayed here about a half dozen times or more on our back and forths. It was here last year that I blew out my newly repaired knee and had to cancel our plans. Our hope is that we make it out of here on Tuesday. We are staying 3 nights and as I write its Easter Sunday - our second night.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWTAHWoZ71FBIDz6EV656NXWFOsgZaoevdXn-Pa8s7-FwbdoW1vAkgDxyNuxTsDxSsuKsEfd4Pg2_ELmblUNFCl55JXWQwE2MIdeKi1-4yGfbAStfFZlB8BWvDpzVcgDTCWgz4cybrPHbbrPIw4hWRjll6s9d5oUOKbGTVVnblrWlckYcI7NFf0zyNw/s4032/3a%20Aux%20Ark%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWTAHWoZ71FBIDz6EV656NXWFOsgZaoevdXn-Pa8s7-FwbdoW1vAkgDxyNuxTsDxSsuKsEfd4Pg2_ELmblUNFCl55JXWQwE2MIdeKi1-4yGfbAStfFZlB8BWvDpzVcgDTCWgz4cybrPHbbrPIw4hWRjll6s9d5oUOKbGTVVnblrWlckYcI7NFf0zyNw/s320/3a%20Aux%20Ark%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Site F13 in Aux Arc<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>We love the Army Corps Parks. They are always on water, and usually have electric and water hookups. With our geezer pass we get to stay for about $10/night.<br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4PKhcEUflf7vnD5qJvUVhpFtecBPXkxFi2usRmrxWi0-hWVnZT1DJTVlMFtsFIqBvzVEu3iNy1LKXijfVexUElv8H-81qDbg8bYaVgetAMWQv9WbG6LIWhCFZyZIVSXNqJSzIlbbJlKKDVvUJ98UrkQDNX1Zg29qS-GqWWEfJ_esO3oGVfOcvWB-Ug/s4032/3b%20Aux%20Ark%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4PKhcEUflf7vnD5qJvUVhpFtecBPXkxFi2usRmrxWi0-hWVnZT1DJTVlMFtsFIqBvzVEu3iNy1LKXijfVexUElv8H-81qDbg8bYaVgetAMWQv9WbG6LIWhCFZyZIVSXNqJSzIlbbJlKKDVvUJ98UrkQDNX1Zg29qS-GqWWEfJ_esO3oGVfOcvWB-Ug/s320/3b%20Aux%20Ark%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Its a green world indeed</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>So within the space of about 2 hours, we quickly left the west behind and once again immersed ourselves in the green world of the east. It will be in this green world where we will now spend the next 7 months till we eventually work our way back west in November.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, here is our trip map so far. After here we head to western Tennessee for 2 nights, then to eastern Tenn near Gatlinburg for 2 more, and slowly we will work our way to upstate NY where, in 12 days we will arrive at a state park, and make our final preparations to board the QM2 and begin the main event.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWKl-jlRKcQJjG_r-fLHr4b6qEodtBmIG7IS1XW6AiGt3btqomOVxHsaA-PKMk31pzKssThYQC2HA2FPZMEtafn-lTpqmW3uneMi1wmQ6ByIVwAm9eNb5HuckPR3IHH8SJm1Bp-04aKDYRxxixtceZSKwLq6oCFZFgqXJQOKDmjDbRC1Fn4-xqlETVQ/s2986/1a%20A%20Trip%20Map%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="2986" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWKl-jlRKcQJjG_r-fLHr4b6qEodtBmIG7IS1XW6AiGt3btqomOVxHsaA-PKMk31pzKssThYQC2HA2FPZMEtafn-lTpqmW3uneMi1wmQ6ByIVwAm9eNb5HuckPR3IHH8SJm1Bp-04aKDYRxxixtceZSKwLq6oCFZFgqXJQOKDmjDbRC1Fn4-xqlETVQ/s320/1a%20A%20Trip%20Map%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Stay tuned!</p><p><br /></p></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-80289300298447254352023-03-10T15:12:00.002-07:002023-03-10T15:12:13.688-07:00Senator Wash - Winters end<div style="text-align: left;">Its hard to believe that its been over a month since our last post from Quartzsite. Time has a way of slipping by even when you are not running at high speed. And now we are sitting here staring at the end of another winter season. The snowbird flocks are starting to migrate, and so we shall as well.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our migration will now take us to the east coast and onboard the Queen Mary2 for a summer in the UK and Ireland. But that is still a few weeks hence, so let me bring you up to date as to what we've been doing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A big change in Quartzsite this season seemed to be that a large part of the Geezer population seemed to start dispersing prior to the end of the show. By a few days past the shows end, we had seen a large decrease in the local population and we were enjoying our nice slice of the desert in relative peace and privacy,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Unknown to us however, that was not to last....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">About 5 days after shows end, a few older RV's of all types began congregating just to our east in the spot where the Montana circle had been. The group grew - slowly at first - but then the pace of growth took a turn.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One afternoon this green converted vehicle with a ladder sticking out of its roof started to drive up and down all the fairways between washes. He was blasting rock & roll music as he drove around.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Driving by us, he entertained us with a very loud rendition of Grand Funk Railroads "Closer to Home" (I'm your Captain). His speakers were quite good, and I must say I enjoyed the tunes but started to worry that if this continued into the late night it could be less enjoyable.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzUvHnd6v05RGe7wRawptgRHT3SJmN9KRE_tMwqZHfGiC-uSfruIbVFlEgLZRX102NoTQ41YSzAGjuFmDWwER8ecJ-iZt0vAmfHQ4lt99qn91XcfBlzBmi1jihnQgBOn44xmMNk4xx99HIOIWv0pVzUdarakA6xY5WTC4RuUBhbrmOnO9Dm2DyHeKNg/s4032/1a%20VanAid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzUvHnd6v05RGe7wRawptgRHT3SJmN9KRE_tMwqZHfGiC-uSfruIbVFlEgLZRX102NoTQ41YSzAGjuFmDWwER8ecJ-iZt0vAmfHQ4lt99qn91XcfBlzBmi1jihnQgBOn44xmMNk4xx99HIOIWv0pVzUdarakA6xY5WTC4RuUBhbrmOnO9Dm2DyHeKNg/s320/1a%20VanAid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm your Captain</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It seemed as if he was the Pied Piper of the group because as he drove about, more and more vans, school busses, panel trucks, and other types of RV's descended upon the stretch of desert to our east. At first we were simply a far outlying eastern suburb of the group, but as the days passed, we started to be incorporated more into the edges of their growing encampment.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrjRuyu8HoAi_PzAdtNit_Y16IrLEK1y_-O5lAFQXyi2nGxIll8wLO3xwQ8X9XAXs1youRjQEsn3S4Po-SOMjfNKQvYAanMLeJGQpQlJtwBm9cPh0h-bwrqSuqbpxBNGnhGDtNuoyihjTplnLoViZ2ElrHLgCPi0Rpck8T1qhhINe3DZFwepj0k64JA/s4032/1b%20VanAid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrjRuyu8HoAi_PzAdtNit_Y16IrLEK1y_-O5lAFQXyi2nGxIll8wLO3xwQ8X9XAXs1youRjQEsn3S4Po-SOMjfNKQvYAanMLeJGQpQlJtwBm9cPh0h-bwrqSuqbpxBNGnhGDtNuoyihjTplnLoViZ2ElrHLgCPi0Rpck8T1qhhINe3DZFwepj0k64JA/s320/1b%20VanAid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">looking east towards the group at first<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>It seemed to be a race between how fast thier group would grow vs our upcoming departure date.<div><br /></div><div>Talking to some of the group, we found out that they belonged to a group called "Van Aid". Simply a large get together of like minded folks who would meet to help each other learn about how fix, improve, and maintain their campers, and to learn tips and tricks about the lifestyle. They ranged in age from very young to very old. Seemed to be more of a hippy leaning group, and they were very nice and quiet at night so I found it all to be fine and rather interesting. I would just perfer to have a bit more room between us and them</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrVh5wltPT1XRYvazYtPonxGKLxcmGr-vX8CgQszd6AYSvIZCGPITtgcocSe2sGwWtwX4k1UimSXGXPMfJ2NDCVUBAXaB_ZJm3wQshlcXzSoS6rNs_Yq7nyJThn_TGeG4XjPkWiKezmnj8s76dh74gekc2I-AtRytdwnM6EIMxVf3S3UfjQAGNSI7Zw/s4032/1c%20VanAid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrVh5wltPT1XRYvazYtPonxGKLxcmGr-vX8CgQszd6AYSvIZCGPITtgcocSe2sGwWtwX4k1UimSXGXPMfJ2NDCVUBAXaB_ZJm3wQshlcXzSoS6rNs_Yq7nyJThn_TGeG4XjPkWiKezmnj8s76dh74gekc2I-AtRytdwnM6EIMxVf3S3UfjQAGNSI7Zw/s320/1c%20VanAid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The group expands closer</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Finally, a couple of weeks after the show ended, our group began to break up. K & B went to Organ Pipe, R&M to Tucson, and eventually Rob, Pat, and us went down to Yuma.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQtdHLbUd-46lgHOTGa6tbQuamFrs1NBth7nXDjmjGdNemEg6_kK0MgN9MaFzUhopyJ5RoYkUsqQBRKYSU56UnRjo2T_KlFYmt-Lozp3F9vubd9pckZYvmlwJSY7qYZyqlvveCKfkyYrCHY61iMzqZLi1XpjJPR6GtuICph8zDvMIUv5Lq-ihiuKEWg/s4032/1d%20VanAid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQtdHLbUd-46lgHOTGa6tbQuamFrs1NBth7nXDjmjGdNemEg6_kK0MgN9MaFzUhopyJ5RoYkUsqQBRKYSU56UnRjo2T_KlFYmt-Lozp3F9vubd9pckZYvmlwJSY7qYZyqlvveCKfkyYrCHY61iMzqZLi1XpjJPR6GtuICph8zDvMIUv5Lq-ihiuKEWg/s320/1d%20VanAid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ron & Maxine depart thru the "Camp"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />While in Q I installed a Reverse Osmosis system for our drinking water.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnYyw7qPd9ACcKnO6L9h_UT5Uol2v9wl-xk5OdZrQla1TsOwZ5oSnCtCZeR87Za9RWEubdxxRoyM6LdDdi5bP0pim775HXMBEJlqbVOnlUhguYxjdaAgH26nNpv8epUhmcRCy6CcWKkyC0pY5sXvRjFx8mniYfN_IfH0bHbEetR6_9lFjF4MpZW8WEg/s4032/2a%20RO%20System.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnYyw7qPd9ACcKnO6L9h_UT5Uol2v9wl-xk5OdZrQla1TsOwZ5oSnCtCZeR87Za9RWEubdxxRoyM6LdDdi5bP0pim775HXMBEJlqbVOnlUhguYxjdaAgH26nNpv8epUhmcRCy6CcWKkyC0pY5sXvRjFx8mniYfN_IfH0bHbEetR6_9lFjF4MpZW8WEg/s320/2a%20RO%20System.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I know it looks like something out of "Breaking Bad" but Water White I am not. This is to finely filter water down to the molecular level giving us the cleanest most pure drinking water possible.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8lEqXcEhfwEKssYEAtm5pjVZWxVoe5sPxsi7BYu6-1gFetMXNlZn4wAi9Ru1KgKgxaII0l-6RTjhZsNOmvR0twBDrLyM76XtVzNM8CESRuJQ1KfPCD1ip1l02Xa-ov91N2q7FLqrElUqO-2Duow9ZqP_bBGUrqIWw6z-XPhOhsw296myS1pPWRZ7HQ/s4032/2b%20RO%20System.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8lEqXcEhfwEKssYEAtm5pjVZWxVoe5sPxsi7BYu6-1gFetMXNlZn4wAi9Ru1KgKgxaII0l-6RTjhZsNOmvR0twBDrLyM76XtVzNM8CESRuJQ1KfPCD1ip1l02Xa-ov91N2q7FLqrElUqO-2Duow9ZqP_bBGUrqIWw6z-XPhOhsw296myS1pPWRZ7HQ/s320/2b%20RO%20System.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Installed under the sink. The 4 gal storage tank is anchored to the wall and valves let me select from a number of options for both the distillate (clean water) and brine (waste water)</div><div><br /></div><div>I can send the distillate to the bus fresh water tank or to the under sink storage tank. I can send the brine to the fresh water tank, the grey holding tank, or overboard. It all depends on where I am and if I have an external water supply or am dry camping.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUXCG6gfCMEbScTK3BUEbNUGTl2Yzs8E5xjvPfD72fIhQ_l6mIk3U1EQ4MWXWESeJo15nE7iYTXZgYWLo34_VJPMdpPy8coPFmro8OvzzV_7kVU8Omt7WAp0Jv5lWD0ZLwU9EtCoUBHUuYn8wPMxM5Xoc1w6EhZCJsX5Uxquy8ft97j3Juty_zg7zTg/s4032/2c%20RO%20System.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUXCG6gfCMEbScTK3BUEbNUGTl2Yzs8E5xjvPfD72fIhQ_l6mIk3U1EQ4MWXWESeJo15nE7iYTXZgYWLo34_VJPMdpPy8coPFmro8OvzzV_7kVU8Omt7WAp0Jv5lWD0ZLwU9EtCoUBHUuYn8wPMxM5Xoc1w6EhZCJsX5Uxquy8ft97j3Juty_zg7zTg/s320/2c%20RO%20System.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A separate faucet (on the left below) provides the RO water for our use.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9WZwaYxCQQyYQJFtOSmb7j6foOBM0rMVkjdbTFJVxHdy1YGRQ898alnNIs6ElW-Za4ZR4aIewB12VSieTSwCl6Do_XthYuXzEeBp7uRuua0GCY27qmn6APs-gV8v1Xnxo5FwgEYNKNqpJqse1E1VhB2edgxUNTEKHrhyrTn2ui_grBkUyZ9nnl9_0w/s4032/2d%20RO%20System.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9WZwaYxCQQyYQJFtOSmb7j6foOBM0rMVkjdbTFJVxHdy1YGRQ898alnNIs6ElW-Za4ZR4aIewB12VSieTSwCl6Do_XthYuXzEeBp7uRuua0GCY27qmn6APs-gV8v1Xnxo5FwgEYNKNqpJqse1E1VhB2edgxUNTEKHrhyrTn2ui_grBkUyZ9nnl9_0w/s320/2d%20RO%20System.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After leaving Q we went down to Yuma for a week and stayed in the Fortuna de Oro RV Park. This allowed me to wash/wax the bus and rent a rug shampooer to give the bus a long overdue freshening up.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon, we were all back in the desert. This time back at Senator Wash/Imperial Dam Long-Term Visitor area just across the border in California.</div><div><br /></div><div>Being next to the Imperial Dam Complex on the Colorado River, there is a fair amount of water nearby and some Riparian areas in the LTVA</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXrWZxQMHR0unTCYgNIjOpkKaUJonrH3guUydYYQVsS-DMj-Yt-raNgrzSs1X3cFdkwlXvqJUtwus-Yo-voY4bxw9IkRgoa8pqsoQCGjajsrAD9n3S5Vwnw_IL2-dAH8qz9VMxCVxMS2YlXZSwcVHd2_qwEUIJR02WpRLluGS1Rbe3FXYpsCOqsVYKg/s4032/3a%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXrWZxQMHR0unTCYgNIjOpkKaUJonrH3guUydYYQVsS-DMj-Yt-raNgrzSs1X3cFdkwlXvqJUtwus-Yo-voY4bxw9IkRgoa8pqsoQCGjajsrAD9n3S5Vwnw_IL2-dAH8qz9VMxCVxMS2YlXZSwcVHd2_qwEUIJR02WpRLluGS1Rbe3FXYpsCOqsVYKg/s320/3a%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The 4 of us with the Senator Wash Lake behind us.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2_Kwh-bdqx_mQrMfR6Gp0N81eYQMCLBBmD4Ytq5_ASDzREOggdfhGPzcjb5fUHkbVi9-BNR1bFQqOT5_uowPpd9BHkqYwdbVNDZZKdc6ulKYeyjkz5EXLUdlFHmGrNCiR0HCflZ8rxyIJ45ts6JGuBaaLlZOVX8jxZVk8JfacS1brdhSNXHbu2ndLg/s4032/3b%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2_Kwh-bdqx_mQrMfR6Gp0N81eYQMCLBBmD4Ytq5_ASDzREOggdfhGPzcjb5fUHkbVi9-BNR1bFQqOT5_uowPpd9BHkqYwdbVNDZZKdc6ulKYeyjkz5EXLUdlFHmGrNCiR0HCflZ8rxyIJ45ts6JGuBaaLlZOVX8jxZVk8JfacS1brdhSNXHbu2ndLg/s320/3b%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We were able to secure a pretty nice spot in the "Murphy Flats" area.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJubxorxKplb1apS7PQt-bRGsi_YTpKEGu8Hc-0jsIMcxBheLR1f-R493o2-Iy52KYG3PTFPjuGdEfx126FQvusz1VcroKx3ZfQUvrDHp0scujOyiu2geWUjsUwVBzJiETY0xLPGcBdirpze7vZ5WQhqZDJqjgqzzRE5oq9ovOJxs5zGrXBg-0QUFPQ/s4032/3c%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJubxorxKplb1apS7PQt-bRGsi_YTpKEGu8Hc-0jsIMcxBheLR1f-R493o2-Iy52KYG3PTFPjuGdEfx126FQvusz1VcroKx3ZfQUvrDHp0scujOyiu2geWUjsUwVBzJiETY0xLPGcBdirpze7vZ5WQhqZDJqjgqzzRE5oq9ovOJxs5zGrXBg-0QUFPQ/s320/3c%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>While here - the stormy season continued and we had several rain and dust storms. Days of cool, wet, and/or very windy weather.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO8HQ2TgBSNLxVZut5PYKFfguM12jeSP00s9LPznwBhClhMgmQ4zmSqNFDfWHyZm9gP6lvLXnQ3HdobD4gBxp3b1JtbXhnVWWdH6IZx_vu_vb7u6KGB5z19FuwSVtdXA5dvgln2OGKiEcJo3uvWYJikTmXmykAPKkKLp04R7QJmcwH-KR2g_OUiasjQ/s4032/3d%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO8HQ2TgBSNLxVZut5PYKFfguM12jeSP00s9LPznwBhClhMgmQ4zmSqNFDfWHyZm9gP6lvLXnQ3HdobD4gBxp3b1JtbXhnVWWdH6IZx_vu_vb7u6KGB5z19FuwSVtdXA5dvgln2OGKiEcJo3uvWYJikTmXmykAPKkKLp04R7QJmcwH-KR2g_OUiasjQ/s320/3d%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dust storm in Yuma<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>One morning while Rob and I were walking about, we found a better spot over in the Northwest section of the LTVA where the cell service is stronger so we made a move to our new home.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNxH0c62p4hb2cX1-HIZCL3ij0i_PKw0ks5dgxV6zjN1uzC0pWEm1DSVX7fPhPNPvT2dAf8jOvjlzGkvpUi-W0M7RKjfZ7ODDyszSJvlsiH8y7qQ_peo8yHHZXZTR6XHphpwzoAzp9jOvKkliDap0ACbGeWBwnAtuv27psZiy1PaQzrNGvG6_j-4TXw/s4032/3e%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNxH0c62p4hb2cX1-HIZCL3ij0i_PKw0ks5dgxV6zjN1uzC0pWEm1DSVX7fPhPNPvT2dAf8jOvjlzGkvpUi-W0M7RKjfZ7ODDyszSJvlsiH8y7qQ_peo8yHHZXZTR6XHphpwzoAzp9jOvKkliDap0ACbGeWBwnAtuv27psZiy1PaQzrNGvG6_j-4TXw/s320/3e%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Our site in The Hermans Horsepath area.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />One night I made a Rack of Lamb for Kate and I. Roughing it in the desert!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MefL19yKuXL6QnnnNahyTJzhAlRLchuxnDpPb55lOINMDx9f4Jz7S7EcvZDSdAtRMQWoBF9z_a63iTvOsGJaKm7hI5jj8iOfgIxsBx3SDHwBceSU7YSIAgvKRlxzplkpyxs1WTD_f7szuXe0_dhKpEh8PirVOVrzbj-FZ1sZVVLeZspLTDgV5qL3Xg/s4032/3f%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MefL19yKuXL6QnnnNahyTJzhAlRLchuxnDpPb55lOINMDx9f4Jz7S7EcvZDSdAtRMQWoBF9z_a63iTvOsGJaKm7hI5jj8iOfgIxsBx3SDHwBceSU7YSIAgvKRlxzplkpyxs1WTD_f7szuXe0_dhKpEh8PirVOVrzbj-FZ1sZVVLeZspLTDgV5qL3Xg/s320/3f%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEDDVmy2C7nTe1dDUiFbzMK_xLEKdnzT5HMQjoFreRFCh5it5GeFkiKjDxzEwHmsp2g0-mbLCyNL_8GaRok83J5rVeP-vDm7Lx7xKu-fp-3Vq_6Nn_p-_Ca1ZQZ8Z1C1QcLMAX5mrYU3_holh8XS8so5NBglJ4HVqwVsp9sHwfCxvDe0wdcW_-AxpoQ/s4032/3g%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEDDVmy2C7nTe1dDUiFbzMK_xLEKdnzT5HMQjoFreRFCh5it5GeFkiKjDxzEwHmsp2g0-mbLCyNL_8GaRok83J5rVeP-vDm7Lx7xKu-fp-3Vq_6Nn_p-_Ca1ZQZ8Z1C1QcLMAX5mrYU3_holh8XS8so5NBglJ4HVqwVsp9sHwfCxvDe0wdcW_-AxpoQ/s320/3g%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some rock art</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Ron and Maxine, finished with their visits to Tucson and Scottsdale, returned to spend some more time with us before they headed for home. If you look over our shoulders you can see the dark clouds of the next storm approaching.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe4Jg_EWoXS0BILkJHRpXFd9LVBGHGCSvCaUqpa_85cJ2U08d-nVSL800MTkaTT_KixkjHQz-qvQF3bJQcYDEOGf4MMf83gg9Efp_JRbBqjsCUMz6V7Sj7HUGNuL0SVE6uFXE8mqfYAzfZxZgADL-Yp23efI7MU650bHTGBz8MdxsM7A3B93IJQOgRQ/s4032/3h%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe4Jg_EWoXS0BILkJHRpXFd9LVBGHGCSvCaUqpa_85cJ2U08d-nVSL800MTkaTT_KixkjHQz-qvQF3bJQcYDEOGf4MMf83gg9Efp_JRbBqjsCUMz6V7Sj7HUGNuL0SVE6uFXE8mqfYAzfZxZgADL-Yp23efI7MU650bHTGBz8MdxsM7A3B93IJQOgRQ/s320/3h%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The next storm was a bigger one with a fair amount of rain. The normally dry washes all flooded. While hard to see in the photo below - the rain is creating rivers of muddy water flowing down the hillsides into the wash below our site.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicopKqiVr3rBnrqevDX47fCMN65xYCT9OsQAJ8kwBe6VX-jPcOx1bMqMvNLDTnMn11spDXpFpZQKigniNdRpYgaVKBVGwo73ITav4Hw8zPmhKAU6vKN_kfKwaDeFeudHh_h44m15Cr4CqhLPsaPTginllgWmlTzkTWt0L1hshadZMU61gYNooHhCEog/s4032/3i%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicopKqiVr3rBnrqevDX47fCMN65xYCT9OsQAJ8kwBe6VX-jPcOx1bMqMvNLDTnMn11spDXpFpZQKigniNdRpYgaVKBVGwo73ITav4Hw8zPmhKAU6vKN_kfKwaDeFeudHh_h44m15Cr4CqhLPsaPTginllgWmlTzkTWt0L1hshadZMU61gYNooHhCEog/s320/3i%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When the skies cleared, the boys and I took a ride in my truck on some of the dirt roads and went down to the bottom of senator wash to check out the riparian areas and the lake</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN81B-ej5KDB5YbyP-m30tm6XA2YctApxqUAS1L2xtBnXjw2fndPOGpaKaAiZ2KCgdmuNZ3HjixK6FAGGrYHtoY-B4nVYruuhz8ULyWcb7HNJJPXG_05m9WGeHDCxJSowKIfwuP3vaa7hOezqJBXKM75-Kf6bajEAbD1FOYKFCViDARfAIwz5gC4A4Ag/s4032/3j%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN81B-ej5KDB5YbyP-m30tm6XA2YctApxqUAS1L2xtBnXjw2fndPOGpaKaAiZ2KCgdmuNZ3HjixK6FAGGrYHtoY-B4nVYruuhz8ULyWcb7HNJJPXG_05m9WGeHDCxJSowKIfwuP3vaa7hOezqJBXKM75-Kf6bajEAbD1FOYKFCViDARfAIwz5gC4A4Ag/s320/3j%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Senator Wash Lake from down below</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Finally it was time again to say adios to Ron & Maxine. Theyv'e had enough of us and are headed for home.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1bUWnjxVnT6Ow75kZnA2DnvL5r8gIC3vr5xiWdrICPsTK9gbhErvwEYN35QxZOu8V6vS3taaPq2A8t-CcxFE1gIq6Zo8U0Ri52jeAPmkNie5h8AbVab_h7-GFVpAI16NEbH4LfphFKnWCcfYdTzY6vLN7yBR5u6soZqJWkpoH_yljh_Jt_IEL1CHFg/s4032/3k%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1bUWnjxVnT6Ow75kZnA2DnvL5r8gIC3vr5xiWdrICPsTK9gbhErvwEYN35QxZOu8V6vS3taaPq2A8t-CcxFE1gIq6Zo8U0Ri52jeAPmkNie5h8AbVab_h7-GFVpAI16NEbH4LfphFKnWCcfYdTzY6vLN7yBR5u6soZqJWkpoH_yljh_Jt_IEL1CHFg/s320/3k%20Senator%20Wash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And head for home is what we will do next too. We have a lot to get done in the next couple of weeks. Kates Irish Citizenship was approved so we need to get her passport paperwork done and submitted, Dogs washed for the trip, clothes packed etc. Before you know it - our next post will be from somewhere back in the bus headed east. Fingers crossed that this time we really make it onboard.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">See you then.</div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-50849059489963188182023-02-01T16:09:00.001-07:002023-02-01T16:09:52.358-07:00Onward to Quartzsite - 2023<p style="text-align: left;">If there is one thing in life that never changes, then certainly it must be that everything changes....</p><div style="text-align: left;">When we last checked in, we were drying out in Pismo Beach California. We had an inoperative, squirrel eaten pickup truck, and were planning to drag it to Bakersfield, Ca in the hopes of getting it repaired.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happily we've solved our problems and have moved on down the road.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I called the local Ford dealer in San Luis Obispo to see if they could help - but they were booked out for weeks. So was the two Ford dealers in Bakersfield. But they gave me a lead on a couple of local independent shops that they recommended, and I called the first - Blue Ribbon Automotive - who told me that they would squeeze me in since we were from out of town.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Rob had a code reader that we had hooked up to the truck so we had a good start of what the problems were and I had communicated that to the shop.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fortunately the day before we left I was able to get the truck started. It ran like crap, but at least I could move it enough to line it up to hook it up to the bus, rather than having to push it. So on Thursday Jan 12 we drove the 3 hrs to Bakersfield and I dropped the truck off at the shop around noon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We then headed over to the Orange Grove RV Park to meet up with Rob & Pat to await news on the truck.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Orange Grove is one of our favorite commercial RV Parks. Built in a grove of Orange Trees, we love to come here in the winter and early spring to enjoy the fresh, sweet, juicy, seedless Washington Navel oranges fresh off of the tree.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They also have a wash bay, so before we parked, I gave the bus a quick washdown.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzOsqAh40g-bWIvfWIw-aH6TegB_44u399WHY0zXdmvXvBSD3riEam8vABfF7NI2sYh7IJnlm6h_HMk3squwjj8whTK2GQ0NtGYkNUVnx2ZvSFgWwwF5w9dV3EU0dzZhzv2iLf3Ofw9fiIuZPoY1j2bRikd2wpJqih620N5vN1rLUR_Pl3yPX2zJgew/s4032/1a%20Orange%20Grove%20RV%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzOsqAh40g-bWIvfWIw-aH6TegB_44u399WHY0zXdmvXvBSD3riEam8vABfF7NI2sYh7IJnlm6h_HMk3squwjj8whTK2GQ0NtGYkNUVnx2ZvSFgWwwF5w9dV3EU0dzZhzv2iLf3Ofw9fiIuZPoY1j2bRikd2wpJqih620N5vN1rLUR_Pl3yPX2zJgew/s320/1a%20Orange%20Grove%20RV%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange Grove wash bay</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once that was done, we pulled into our space. We were only going to stay for 2 nights but there was more heavy rain and flooding forecast. Our next stop was a campground in a canyon, so I decided to stay here for 4 nights and remove the risk of more flood evacuations.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The OG has a mix of site types. We chose the FHU long pull thrus that are about 90' long and settled in between a row of Orange Trees. I could reach out the window and pick some beauties!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrVE8KMlhlijTeTf9ZtOBJXFwGJOQZd2M3g37SbRaD-xsWOErgjOzMkYYZgmtoTVNnoPz0RjBqn1NtM6jdwrZxanUhsdWPor58RP4tPrT2SwA9IXxxFH90k6hTmVTiaJY8rVJ6lkHEsEWGJXb2d-_XldAmaU8t8Cza0ZTOyDvnUFOmU2BHoKF38GseQ/s4032/1b%20Orange%20Grove%20RV%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrVE8KMlhlijTeTf9ZtOBJXFwGJOQZd2M3g37SbRaD-xsWOErgjOzMkYYZgmtoTVNnoPz0RjBqn1NtM6jdwrZxanUhsdWPor58RP4tPrT2SwA9IXxxFH90k6hTmVTiaJY8rVJ6lkHEsEWGJXb2d-_XldAmaU8t8Cza0ZTOyDvnUFOmU2BHoKF38GseQ/s320/1b%20Orange%20Grove%20RV%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange Grove space 144</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Within no time at all I had enjoyed a few fresh oranges. Some are almost the size of Grapefruit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wU2TxfGPe6gogdf5BY3BmDHIknRiM-KXyeaggOJw7881xdh5taJOJxEbKXuTxihGpqrTfRto1AYj6nr-k3PtVBrNcofxWinmPTlbdVjYsKaJd0y12Jtu-VgO1RESvjgD5f7lauWUv_REEtRkdhRBH4JWGW9vaW1cjG1KwNRWcoaH89TNwpitJHCNOg/s4032/1c%20Orange%20Grove%20RV%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wU2TxfGPe6gogdf5BY3BmDHIknRiM-KXyeaggOJw7881xdh5taJOJxEbKXuTxihGpqrTfRto1AYj6nr-k3PtVBrNcofxWinmPTlbdVjYsKaJd0y12Jtu-VgO1RESvjgD5f7lauWUv_REEtRkdhRBH4JWGW9vaW1cjG1KwNRWcoaH89TNwpitJHCNOg/s320/1c%20Orange%20Grove%20RV%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Pumpkin and the Oranges</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Friday afternoon the shop called to tell me the truck was fixed. Of course there was a wire harness that the squirrel had chewed into right where I thought it would be, and it was a fairly simple fix. While there I had them do a few other maintenance items on the truck.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile we used the "<i><b><a href="https://www.wonderbagworld.com/" target="_blank">Wonder Bag</a></b></i>" to make some beef stew. It's a simple way to slow cook without having to leave a burner or crock pot going while we are gone.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0I3FG4BOCgU5Dja45_DeTZEs58t7DcH-ODaxRgwBDd73kfpkVkTF63Iel7SK2Y9x-ELNlKfK3mYWWs1vcDi9JF346OBP72-idZ8xf-Pat0H6nO4jUCjUkacqAhPUfw2N_BJXsLRzo3VWTELvzzYG9owT9IppRGji--IIqDZR_UpILWx2ooJs1OC9Bw/s4032/1d%20Orange%20Grove%20RV%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0I3FG4BOCgU5Dja45_DeTZEs58t7DcH-ODaxRgwBDd73kfpkVkTF63Iel7SK2Y9x-ELNlKfK3mYWWs1vcDi9JF346OBP72-idZ8xf-Pat0H6nO4jUCjUkacqAhPUfw2N_BJXsLRzo3VWTELvzzYG9owT9IppRGji--IIqDZR_UpILWx2ooJs1OC9Bw/s320/1d%20Orange%20Grove%20RV%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dinner for 4</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Leaving Pismo, I had also discovered that one of my hydraulic jack retraction springs had snapped and was gone. Checking around it seems that they've been backordered for months so while at the OG I set up a jury rigged solution with some bungee cords for now. Seems to be working quite well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvgHlAerGS_giSgQRypBh_uWAIy5B50FWOIc5wIM3UFPELANNoFaM0OSBjmVImTuBNbbq9MSnT4TT5kKjY1QNUTS5PZ81aekIvTxtLpnuhPKfnEOMrEoEYYeiZ_CKdhHZrRNhlBM74frk_TMWTLJeltIOt5hR5cj5TtlKSXr3De5BmgRTrlLLvKwiiA/s4032/1e%20Tiffin%20HWH%20Spring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvgHlAerGS_giSgQRypBh_uWAIy5B50FWOIc5wIM3UFPELANNoFaM0OSBjmVImTuBNbbq9MSnT4TT5kKjY1QNUTS5PZ81aekIvTxtLpnuhPKfnEOMrEoEYYeiZ_CKdhHZrRNhlBM74frk_TMWTLJeltIOt5hR5cj5TtlKSXr3De5BmgRTrlLLvKwiiA/s320/1e%20Tiffin%20HWH%20Spring.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Monday, Jan 16th we headed east out of Bakersfield. I was able to secure some last minute reservations at Lake Havasu State Park for 3 nights and since Ron & Maxine were there, we jumped on it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Leaving Bakersfield we say goodbye to the green world again.... we are headed over the Sierras to the dry side of the mountains.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-y5thujYL-GB-23GpDmaYtEoeuS_kZvkKR73qhGUyVyNXjVr0RMSyWDf0LVvaSZ3YX-U-_QGKaE4Bk1avt4eqD_OY8gtaB-3PQsdkIf-ktQ0_fhkCpSnLpyGw_G4M9ycuDI6gITQoA81tWz44hPVxSdfq72bfTfOQe_3NmKU4wGQ0hfYkMF5yoezk_A/s4032/2a%20Bakerfield%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-y5thujYL-GB-23GpDmaYtEoeuS_kZvkKR73qhGUyVyNXjVr0RMSyWDf0LVvaSZ3YX-U-_QGKaE4Bk1avt4eqD_OY8gtaB-3PQsdkIf-ktQ0_fhkCpSnLpyGw_G4M9ycuDI6gITQoA81tWz44hPVxSdfq72bfTfOQe_3NmKU4wGQ0hfYkMF5yoezk_A/s320/2a%20Bakerfield%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We headed east on Ca-58 and up and over Tehachapi Pass.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8NfNECeinbZ1eD0xiluHEvIrMX1Ps8GC7rHNJ2rX9mB83vkU0zFv615wQWcQYDYnSaS8mynoa5lerx9qxZ9deVbUbn0xtuKG0IbLsDVuHnW4zriXS0YhycFO9J3qg-FQbgFGkIux03BUCOyEu_UwQzu0ATyRt9fucbjXZHoX3RUcfK8lhdqIbeyAeQ/s4032/2b%20Tehatchapi%20Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8NfNECeinbZ1eD0xiluHEvIrMX1Ps8GC7rHNJ2rX9mB83vkU0zFv615wQWcQYDYnSaS8mynoa5lerx9qxZ9deVbUbn0xtuKG0IbLsDVuHnW4zriXS0YhycFO9J3qg-FQbgFGkIux03BUCOyEu_UwQzu0ATyRt9fucbjXZHoX3RUcfK8lhdqIbeyAeQ/s320/2b%20Tehatchapi%20Pass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And in a blink, you cross the pass, leave the green behind, and are in the Mojave desert and another world.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGBrzty1ydsITVMX5nNW5r4dQ6RfXJG80rcLtOpMKknlOR-rMoKBJojMnL-C8zqpWqbyCuunb3gw-h418BSeXT3v5RAkG4fMD7HBKLQWJoP91JXAg8gd55s6btvD3dAZzUky8dikNb6FDuGLoNP7sRIv6cy2lZ0Rk32aR-u4ejtUtpEk5PXfYflRI4Q/s4032/2c%20Mojave%20Desert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGBrzty1ydsITVMX5nNW5r4dQ6RfXJG80rcLtOpMKknlOR-rMoKBJojMnL-C8zqpWqbyCuunb3gw-h418BSeXT3v5RAkG4fMD7HBKLQWJoP91JXAg8gd55s6btvD3dAZzUky8dikNb6FDuGLoNP7sRIv6cy2lZ0Rk32aR-u4ejtUtpEk5PXfYflRI4Q/s320/2c%20Mojave%20Desert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lake Havasu SP built a new small loop a few years back. Most of it is cabins with parking and electric hookups for RV's but we were able to secure on the of the few sites that does not have a cabin on it. I think the concept is that people can arrive in their RV and meet up with friends who are staying in the cabins.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtZfEdevP4G1KrSpqajLoZFAE-XLsD95fQs-F0tZSfY7FKGhVR-cGrj7vRu1feFmMju_Szkb1UHRbGSLFBojLjxZwh8vHWrFrysda_Iid_TZ9_jGiN3pC4VEvV70JfqRZep59Cg4uKUUOsW_NCJFVRmNOCF63v4BfojDhbCoqz1DOK_OmZ3HLkjuTPA/s4032/3a%20Lake%20Havasu%20State%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtZfEdevP4G1KrSpqajLoZFAE-XLsD95fQs-F0tZSfY7FKGhVR-cGrj7vRu1feFmMju_Szkb1UHRbGSLFBojLjxZwh8vHWrFrysda_Iid_TZ9_jGiN3pC4VEvV70JfqRZep59Cg4uKUUOsW_NCJFVRmNOCF63v4BfojDhbCoqz1DOK_OmZ3HLkjuTPA/s320/3a%20Lake%20Havasu%20State%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Havasu SP site C-19</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Below is all of us at LHSP with Buddy photobombing us in the middle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaLAnuOsj3GZdCUJ7-oQ6x7miT8R4E3nOlQKKYctK5Lm4Xuv2cbJozjFG1R5Rl5beTCZfhXHyAfLP_dlJA_V4N6GxDtwg4Mb2jhesek3E1j6Wn7UfL26aLnMMtWFJZMJU3FRd4e6jwO-dR5skolUs13A6tdWXiFfNsHq9SwUFsUNKJ4GJuyxw0R3kRg/s4032/3b%20Lake%20Havasu%20State%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaLAnuOsj3GZdCUJ7-oQ6x7miT8R4E3nOlQKKYctK5Lm4Xuv2cbJozjFG1R5Rl5beTCZfhXHyAfLP_dlJA_V4N6GxDtwg4Mb2jhesek3E1j6Wn7UfL26aLnMMtWFJZMJU3FRd4e6jwO-dR5skolUs13A6tdWXiFfNsHq9SwUFsUNKJ4GJuyxw0R3kRg/s320/3b%20Lake%20Havasu%20State%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The lake is formed by Parker dam and is simply a wide section of the Colorado River, a couple of hundred miles below Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The park is convenient for shopping as its right in town. It's not a wilderness experience for sure, but the park does have some pretty hide a ways where you can picnic along the lake.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-5f1LzNvy9MLFbr8k-p_ZVt3zOax1trkeTHwl1yjLlWYt7bVIa_hGuCGXdFaRKoko7V5Qrpeqi0dJtH2Y7M--zDkpAAttXrLsw2TrkFgy37Mj2XZPlmnEAzc4-5CtSvA1x0A2uXtpf8gibiAb9OB5rlaSbGEEFyS5sD0_XOuJbr3S77Gf0I_DKe6uQ/s4032/3c%20Lake%20Havasu%20State%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-5f1LzNvy9MLFbr8k-p_ZVt3zOax1trkeTHwl1yjLlWYt7bVIa_hGuCGXdFaRKoko7V5Qrpeqi0dJtH2Y7M--zDkpAAttXrLsw2TrkFgy37Mj2XZPlmnEAzc4-5CtSvA1x0A2uXtpf8gibiAb9OB5rlaSbGEEFyS5sD0_XOuJbr3S77Gf0I_DKe6uQ/s320/3c%20Lake%20Havasu%20State%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On Thursday Jan 19, after our quick visit, it was time to raise the jacks and move on south to Quartzsite. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Everyone would be congregating here in a few days or so and we were the advance scouts. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We wound up parking in our usual spot. It seemed this year that it was much less crowded than last. There might be 30%-50% less people here. A welcome change! Perhaps a lot of the workers had to go back to the office leaving the desert back to us geezer retirees.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAqJgSV83EOO79CAlddQbKT7Z52lkjaGU3sv7ocYb4ji4L_8zvDpeaw1n1jh_1tml1CkE3-5-yr94J5A6yYIv7oYJDcy2wfTzY-yXR17zW9GgqAZoRCMPAvF11l0pkKoaPmsyhHEt_-ODMLKyoK-Oo-0QdzdUW0e4lwputPexfDOY44dOa7Q71s_jiA/s4032/4a%20Quartzsite%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAqJgSV83EOO79CAlddQbKT7Z52lkjaGU3sv7ocYb4ji4L_8zvDpeaw1n1jh_1tml1CkE3-5-yr94J5A6yYIv7oYJDcy2wfTzY-yXR17zW9GgqAZoRCMPAvF11l0pkKoaPmsyhHEt_-ODMLKyoK-Oo-0QdzdUW0e4lwputPexfDOY44dOa7Q71s_jiA/s320/4a%20Quartzsite%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waiting for the gang to arrive. The circle is on the left</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Slowly over the course of about a week, 3 more busses and a Class C arrived in our group.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To celebrate Maxines 29th birthday we had a spaghetti dinner with 10 people in our bus. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCo1l3MTqBIwhDQYJzRpcx8D-9ADv3LIUhbzfUD3XCjr_iegTYEdjliJpzm_ETZMTtTSegjdjyyXAIKbFkFXTMI4ACOXMYBT5Sf_EfJ2K9j3Ku08zLGpVlgUBbULD8xpIXV6NAZL3irul1C47x8tNov8GW6pvC-tygDLDxeIRkGJyt1xmYPfwl5dm39Q/s4032/4b%20Quartzsite%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCo1l3MTqBIwhDQYJzRpcx8D-9ADv3LIUhbzfUD3XCjr_iegTYEdjliJpzm_ETZMTtTSegjdjyyXAIKbFkFXTMI4ACOXMYBT5Sf_EfJ2K9j3Ku08zLGpVlgUBbULD8xpIXV6NAZL3irul1C47x8tNov8GW6pvC-tygDLDxeIRkGJyt1xmYPfwl5dm39Q/s320/4b%20Quartzsite%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dinner for 10</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">In the meanwhile, I've got a Reverse Osmosis water purification system that I am going to put under the sink as soon as it arrives in Parker on Friday. A bit of a water upgrade for the bus. We soften the water so the RO system will get rid of the sodium and any other dissolved solids, and give us the best drinking water possible.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Q RV show consists of the Big Tent with perhaps several hundred vendors inside. A large area surrounding it has RV's for sale. Beyond that are acres of Midway with many more vendors selling everything under the sun - not everything is RV related as well.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKQqcpS1wqMJxpW8hiOxu_gOKCev-vIePR3SV72JoIOA0WWAs9CU0zQNF546INIQb9VJhvoASDH8F8AOSTQabKry_puoqIFalGOwJa1OtCqv10AI6OVvg6-jx3iZcpedaSjZ3Nr6hh9Pwkr_6nBgSykFbJ94ASk7ncjDkzwph0w_UP2dl4UBaHI45jQ/s1500/5a%20Quartzsite%20RV%20Show.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKQqcpS1wqMJxpW8hiOxu_gOKCev-vIePR3SV72JoIOA0WWAs9CU0zQNF546INIQb9VJhvoASDH8F8AOSTQabKry_puoqIFalGOwJa1OtCqv10AI6OVvg6-jx3iZcpedaSjZ3Nr6hh9Pwkr_6nBgSykFbJ94ASk7ncjDkzwph0w_UP2dl4UBaHI45jQ/s320/5a%20Quartzsite%20RV%20Show.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The show from the air. The "big tent" is upper left</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Kate borrowed a sign to take some practice at selling.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiu3d37eh4Bu6gbbeMPX3jlTLbr3XFL9dJl5pF4Ir6jcdL5x4To3p2RvITo4yWKcAJBo1mymjgt8vMN3-YUA0juCA8wknVsClZQb27hlKjdzMz6OGzZWGk36t-ycZQRGnwP7iTrG_qHUer2rMUwIrM4QbSKfOqY4gfdETbIu7D3oT8PNGMewPcHd2Kg/s4032/4c%20Quartzsite%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiu3d37eh4Bu6gbbeMPX3jlTLbr3XFL9dJl5pF4Ir6jcdL5x4To3p2RvITo4yWKcAJBo1mymjgt8vMN3-YUA0juCA8wknVsClZQb27hlKjdzMz6OGzZWGk36t-ycZQRGnwP7iTrG_qHUer2rMUwIrM4QbSKfOqY4gfdETbIu7D3oT8PNGMewPcHd2Kg/s320/4c%20Quartzsite%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The RV show ran from Sat the 21st to Sunday the 29th. Many people started to leave the surrounding desert even before the show was over. A big change from years past. The group in the Montana Circle was no exception. In the past it seemed most people hung on at least till the show closed, then moved on.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">This year there was only about 25 or so Rigs in the circle, and most were gone by the time the show was over. This year marked the 10th year that we've been coming here (except for 2020 Covid year). Times have sure changed. We did not really know many people in the circle as most of the people are new. Most of the old-timers have either passed, too ill to travel, or in some cases, just dont want to boondock anymore.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The circle used to as many as 75 rigs and we'd have visits by RV dealers, pizza vendors, musicians, and all sorts of activities each day. <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://eilean350.blogspot.com/2013/01/arrived-in-quartzsite.html" target="_blank">Here is a link to our first visit 10 years ago.</a> </b>It seems a much quieter event these days.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like I said: </div><div style="text-align: left;">If there is one thing in life that never changes, then certainly it must be that everything changes....</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As for us... Ron & Maxine, Kevin & Bobbie, Rob & Pat, are still here and will be for a while longer.</div><div style="text-align: left;">After this we'll be spreading out. We'll be heading down Yuma way with Rob & Pat for a bit, and then...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile - another night falls over the desert.....</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQvmwETxdcN2G9ZWmoxWhPQJLcS88FCuwgntIcEsJGRJS6Jwm3CnLGuT-fwWq_OWq5am5eom99hlMZ5FqJshC8CyN7Tt-n2-xA5mK1yAWqhYSwnYUA_Gh1g89Yo1Ykkaz-RVZTLIcxaYZM8NCNMjYjA2ShAa0hwXrbDXzetKxgHweD5izx1xYHIMnmQ/s4032/5b%20Quartzsite%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQvmwETxdcN2G9ZWmoxWhPQJLcS88FCuwgntIcEsJGRJS6Jwm3CnLGuT-fwWq_OWq5am5eom99hlMZ5FqJshC8CyN7Tt-n2-xA5mK1yAWqhYSwnYUA_Gh1g89Yo1Ykkaz-RVZTLIcxaYZM8NCNMjYjA2ShAa0hwXrbDXzetKxgHweD5izx1xYHIMnmQ/s320/5b%20Quartzsite%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-81480637283805337762023-01-10T15:19:00.006-07:002023-01-11T09:59:56.481-07:00Into the Storms - California here we come<p>Well the holidays have passed, and winter is upon us, so that means its past time to be back on the road and meeting up with our friends.</p><p>It's been a bit wetter than normal so far this season in Az but I was able to squeeze in a quick bus washing and loading in between the storms.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXD7tZ54hP6nGq93eNLajFyLoqtLIfxbBICqupzeriwRf8azd1hThvTK5rf8qmyxij3t--DeJp8CTpFM0szUrO8mNw1Dhr17_WWhtIKSA0NWRcljLYueb-AyIqOlt_FcmnEqTci81TXlv80kVziJGPeQbY1CsM2nSXLLncrDTH4rkmiz3ZhiPOenkxQ/s4032/1a%20Marana%20Bus%20Loading.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXD7tZ54hP6nGq93eNLajFyLoqtLIfxbBICqupzeriwRf8azd1hThvTK5rf8qmyxij3t--DeJp8CTpFM0szUrO8mNw1Dhr17_WWhtIKSA0NWRcljLYueb-AyIqOlt_FcmnEqTci81TXlv80kVziJGPeQbY1CsM2nSXLLncrDTH4rkmiz3ZhiPOenkxQ/s320/1a%20Marana%20Bus%20Loading.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Loading time</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Departure was on New Years day. No sooner than I was done hooking up the truck behind the bus, and the rain started. Heading up I-10 towards Phoenix and of course the rain messed up my brand new wash and wax job.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtY8iZKd4Y6q0rgUoub9epyb4S4TXMeaL5XBFnWn76voGQwEvjmI36ZqzbXjMnVx6pALHwDdBn6N9pdpHzknQ0CrbHIcKbOQRPUaV0UGoyNLHPnORacK8gpkJ7IsocR8TCmC-q4FKWPBxQKfnk9J3nQAONhQbmKwFSF8ZJBVwT1ci6uchTzgUWTm1YQ/s4032/1b%20I10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtY8iZKd4Y6q0rgUoub9epyb4S4TXMeaL5XBFnWn76voGQwEvjmI36ZqzbXjMnVx6pALHwDdBn6N9pdpHzknQ0CrbHIcKbOQRPUaV0UGoyNLHPnORacK8gpkJ7IsocR8TCmC-q4FKWPBxQKfnk9J3nQAONhQbmKwFSF8ZJBVwT1ci6uchTzgUWTm1YQ/s320/1b%20I10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rainy start to the trip</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />About 2 hrs into the drive the sky started to clear and by the time we got to Quartzsite it was a pretty nice day. We spent the night about 2 miles north of town in the Hi-Jolly BLM area.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LFuPrmQOxlFmtR7_ZPkXVZtXqKopf31KPGaNrymGvQvl0I5SXOWI2PnNIAYT_MYMQ2YxgS81-rCCL6sNEe-f01h9y2zLChNjImrSRAivJPgPlAqZgoKjS0EdYZWxM7ojDK0PIa0CKhK3NcPWqGxGVGlRCcP2fKeboxm11CffIeZkEAgkyKdG0F4zSA/s4032/2a%20Hi-Jolly%20Quartzsite.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LFuPrmQOxlFmtR7_ZPkXVZtXqKopf31KPGaNrymGvQvl0I5SXOWI2PnNIAYT_MYMQ2YxgS81-rCCL6sNEe-f01h9y2zLChNjImrSRAivJPgPlAqZgoKjS0EdYZWxM7ojDK0PIa0CKhK3NcPWqGxGVGlRCcP2fKeboxm11CffIeZkEAgkyKdG0F4zSA/s320/2a%20Hi-Jolly%20Quartzsite.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Parked at Hi-Jolly in Quartzsite</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NxBsehQUkwVqBtqE3vdBlKkNa_W6kbJwYOOp8QSNd4OggszD5p1IQgfqrGxHf9wBMaH5R1kL6RJPVKehJbPTxdz5Hnb0GTRQZFXGBzDyCuh1jJLzWstEMlnbY2d5Q0MnP3bvF6py5bfMDhZ0CJtv7M_iMtOUlMXxS2GQ4yEdpbb2a0UQxUdV4ZH0fQ/s4032/2b%20Hi-Jolly%20Quartzsite.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NxBsehQUkwVqBtqE3vdBlKkNa_W6kbJwYOOp8QSNd4OggszD5p1IQgfqrGxHf9wBMaH5R1kL6RJPVKehJbPTxdz5Hnb0GTRQZFXGBzDyCuh1jJLzWstEMlnbY2d5Q0MnP3bvF6py5bfMDhZ0CJtv7M_iMtOUlMXxS2GQ4yEdpbb2a0UQxUdV4ZH0fQ/s320/2b%20Hi-Jolly%20Quartzsite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The next morning - January 2nd, the weather gods were still cooperative as we headed west towards our destination for the next few nights - Huntington Beach, Ca.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7u_MojgYuqOhqHs9sXuh-2bCKG8_o6d3oFOqyhQnH1taMi9XsDDdYP5TYmw06XYeOhSkgtZtgk1WRvVt9PpB5fyN2jUR5vrGfbFY_yuOl4wWbLSh5Rd7BJlGQwmNvijwcBpUgkIZNnpbDDpc_MIsZm2PRiGr_jiKlxULcdFRwJgGFBElEYKOnwdVP2Q/s4032/2c%20I10%20Colorado%20River%20Valley.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7u_MojgYuqOhqHs9sXuh-2bCKG8_o6d3oFOqyhQnH1taMi9XsDDdYP5TYmw06XYeOhSkgtZtgk1WRvVt9PpB5fyN2jUR5vrGfbFY_yuOl4wWbLSh5Rd7BJlGQwmNvijwcBpUgkIZNnpbDDpc_MIsZm2PRiGr_jiKlxULcdFRwJgGFBElEYKOnwdVP2Q/s320/2c%20I10%20Colorado%20River%20Valley.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rolling down the hills into the Colorado River Valley on the Az/Ca border</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />By the time we reached the coast, the clouds had settled back in for what so far this trip has been the usual type of weather.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuJ2zxCYfLXUqaju0AczSIuicJ5YOA5MqpGtkGvn_05LJUheJeuVXaZjGKOMyvBazw32AFNcojOIa6ieS1eE4Rldp6ALZJtqbastU3a4W5eIVg0Iwab1wO7zAHa1YJJNlfyrBWFy-gENt0bd1-5aj_BEkz900hg6-DDW4g4mPYY1UvzUkf6PFPaLsVw/s4032/3a%20Huntington%20Beach%20RV%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuJ2zxCYfLXUqaju0AczSIuicJ5YOA5MqpGtkGvn_05LJUheJeuVXaZjGKOMyvBazw32AFNcojOIa6ieS1eE4Rldp6ALZJtqbastU3a4W5eIVg0Iwab1wO7zAHa1YJJNlfyrBWFy-gENt0bd1-5aj_BEkz900hg6-DDW4g4mPYY1UvzUkf6PFPaLsVw/s320/3a%20Huntington%20Beach%20RV%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We have a great view from the window. In the summer this is a beach parking lot and in the winter it is lined off with spaces for RV's. 50A hookups with water at each spot. A dump station is on site.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ggU5fyFwVdGMmbTK98X4W17n8IBIljmt_cHJ41XhpGSr6YLOMbL5Qfd3DMkvKt5YpUWyJilo9aJtsTguUygBi5_ZT4XflB04uOyLwmUoKR3GgMehpViZlfBW7oPjse7ewYCzm_BR9aYvy0Jz5yE45iNErJ_noa3C62NXvNQm3-ut4gokJMnyrgga2w/s4032/3b%20Huntington%20Beach%20RV%20Park.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ggU5fyFwVdGMmbTK98X4W17n8IBIljmt_cHJ41XhpGSr6YLOMbL5Qfd3DMkvKt5YpUWyJilo9aJtsTguUygBi5_ZT4XflB04uOyLwmUoKR3GgMehpViZlfBW7oPjse7ewYCzm_BR9aYvy0Jz5yE45iNErJ_noa3C62NXvNQm3-ut4gokJMnyrgga2w/s320/3b%20Huntington%20Beach%20RV%20Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Good friends of ours, Ken & Catherine live nearby and we specifically came here to visit with them. On day one, while Kate was visiting with her friend from College I went to a great out of the way Mexican place for lunch with them.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlbZAw2oAgv50CfwhsjFLOXiD88LS3bPHdBErtaOsyNndzl1_vrQ0GrBr1m6M-pYhwArdayEwPTAVQ6DKCayXp51dswxBZXyI7VI8w3msHtAW8OugHl7hzj84m0HwWVx1l6UvclQqMq9A5mXO7ol0ss_uilDfzEq5c5IJjSoYwXDdkIXuUGNT_GDMXg/s4032/3c%20Colima%20Mexican%20Restuarant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlbZAw2oAgv50CfwhsjFLOXiD88LS3bPHdBErtaOsyNndzl1_vrQ0GrBr1m6M-pYhwArdayEwPTAVQ6DKCayXp51dswxBZXyI7VI8w3msHtAW8OugHl7hzj84m0HwWVx1l6UvclQqMq9A5mXO7ol0ss_uilDfzEq5c5IJjSoYwXDdkIXuUGNT_GDMXg/s320/3c%20Colima%20Mexican%20Restuarant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I had this awesome plate of Prawns, stuffed with sausage, and wrapped in bacon. In addition there was some real fresh salads with the dish. A nice twist. One of the best Mexican lunches I've had. <a href="https://www.colimarestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Colima Mexican & Seafood Restaurant</a> in Santa Anna was the name of the place if you find yourself in this neck of the woods.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1CUGX_oUw3OdepbZu2AioMFyE9M_ppxDOMnOXjC0cfiYBF4_lTJNAOSrCO1fqptSTWo7uMuWoZuxe971WwiGC7wbB91y7_uc3k9lPLtHAgZYHC93WPTgyOEXc32jG5dJkhM3U1Yp2EfMbLnXJDkrRQ1GTJAvcQV0pHbqHMbFlKuWN22dIZC9-721OA/s4031/3d%20Colima%20Mexican%20Restuarant.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="4031" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1CUGX_oUw3OdepbZu2AioMFyE9M_ppxDOMnOXjC0cfiYBF4_lTJNAOSrCO1fqptSTWo7uMuWoZuxe971WwiGC7wbB91y7_uc3k9lPLtHAgZYHC93WPTgyOEXc32jG5dJkhM3U1Yp2EfMbLnXJDkrRQ1GTJAvcQV0pHbqHMbFlKuWN22dIZC9-721OA/s320/3d%20Colima%20Mexican%20Restuarant.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bacon wrapped stuffed prawns</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>We spent 3 mostly rainy days in Huntington Beach before heading north on Thursday. Our next destination is the North Campground at Pismo Beach State Park. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcfzGhkHTjQcWbA86WeMdyb7DozC0bBM97JHJ__IBDEydV1x3CkAHSIjmltuHrDBOmawlnNcfky9bTrwwPm7Vr7qErij4YKcrIJE9-XffCVOcF_NAUHPcY6We7AWVInO9wKUq3lKBEzUcaI7IYjaBqlq4LRZ6FrevhGX2jzbiqhS-8wn5gnUtABZNog/s4032/4a%20US%20101%20North%20Santa%20Barbara.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcfzGhkHTjQcWbA86WeMdyb7DozC0bBM97JHJ__IBDEydV1x3CkAHSIjmltuHrDBOmawlnNcfky9bTrwwPm7Vr7qErij4YKcrIJE9-XffCVOcF_NAUHPcY6We7AWVInO9wKUq3lKBEzUcaI7IYjaBqlq4LRZ6FrevhGX2jzbiqhS-8wn5gnUtABZNog/s320/4a%20US%20101%20North%20Santa%20Barbara.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Big waves along the coast traveling north on US 101</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>True to form it was mostly a rainy drive but about an hour short of our destination, the sun came out and gave us a sunny arrival. The leftover flooding gave indication of the past (and soon to be) weather.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFpeMS4w2SwD2E9QhTrlQQVDgj8xayxK5toEdrtmVqVYZ3OJ3ul5MYPaQaZFaLT-IHRDXJdjCl7xtLmkw2yEvQCGC5bJSM-kDqh1ZOaWYFswObm-OxLuKeJxY_koYYE9JoV4Fl7VBCdRX9ZdFR8QFZGRvRgTAIuffXpMvU9EttgKkhCuYKUX-HUjc6g/s4032/4b%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFpeMS4w2SwD2E9QhTrlQQVDgj8xayxK5toEdrtmVqVYZ3OJ3ul5MYPaQaZFaLT-IHRDXJdjCl7xtLmkw2yEvQCGC5bJSM-kDqh1ZOaWYFswObm-OxLuKeJxY_koYYE9JoV4Fl7VBCdRX9ZdFR8QFZGRvRgTAIuffXpMvU9EttgKkhCuYKUX-HUjc6g/s320/4b%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">North Campground Pismo Beach SP</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We hooked up with our friends Rob & Pat from BC and Kevin & Bobbie from Ca. We all took advantage of the sunshine to get out and about.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6Im6fX3W-aa9cZ57fBC3aPFr0PRUE-8ADMpRuM8AuNS1uok2uOVUeVqvHjY455xE_rgvkFgsRJ7qHctT4tVK7o4JKaUpXLU9t7a96_HBD7IaVsEzs0EK9ohGx3CwMrTSGrNPVuF5hEspn-9ZgSbUXLYigvEud5YbHOBTyZ5APcWbg_7tITlmlrm2oQ/s4032/4c%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6Im6fX3W-aa9cZ57fBC3aPFr0PRUE-8ADMpRuM8AuNS1uok2uOVUeVqvHjY455xE_rgvkFgsRJ7qHctT4tVK7o4JKaUpXLU9t7a96_HBD7IaVsEzs0EK9ohGx3CwMrTSGrNPVuF5hEspn-9ZgSbUXLYigvEud5YbHOBTyZ5APcWbg_7tITlmlrm2oQ/s320/4c%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcbQyp6zOk4nZAO2SrFWeCW8NX3lMHH_QdeA7-LYSmWCyyFao_A6a6FmzCmJSnFf0AI4pJsm85i8obCrdxt-03K042MWPqJky94XspUrTgB39h56AJhaY5GVEk4avmNXCgdl7hLd0U9dvmLwykHL0KZA69bzNojiGdX6pnJldgrVtsdLFu9qhvcZ3gQ/s4032/4d%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcbQyp6zOk4nZAO2SrFWeCW8NX3lMHH_QdeA7-LYSmWCyyFao_A6a6FmzCmJSnFf0AI4pJsm85i8obCrdxt-03K042MWPqJky94XspUrTgB39h56AJhaY5GVEk4avmNXCgdl7hLd0U9dvmLwykHL0KZA69bzNojiGdX6pnJldgrVtsdLFu9qhvcZ3gQ/s320/4d%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>One of the riders was wearing a vest that said something like "Beach Patrol"</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXVJQmy69G05gXm-_gBP9dlPD3R6LJslmPlmD4SBE-kQu2nLYM50YAP3ha0GunU6NTxFBN9x0q-YQX8I8CYtBxT3cvRpddsQSqVu4fsbX_68VJD0Es3OHEpWSlXLd4AFz0iskF2QOoNaBzeL4FyaPgH0kSPCQFGgC1IZmwG5LIqjpOh13rLj9jGpMrQ/s4032/4e%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXVJQmy69G05gXm-_gBP9dlPD3R6LJslmPlmD4SBE-kQu2nLYM50YAP3ha0GunU6NTxFBN9x0q-YQX8I8CYtBxT3cvRpddsQSqVu4fsbX_68VJD0Es3OHEpWSlXLd4AFz0iskF2QOoNaBzeL4FyaPgH0kSPCQFGgC1IZmwG5LIqjpOh13rLj9jGpMrQ/s320/4e%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A prolific succulent found all over the coast - the Ice Plant - must really be something when all the flowers are blooming at once.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlaKq4jEuaQW8TaSNmylyDLf30c9NES_6iQRFNS13ilTnT5OPIvrQlWDtpB7_uo541tVjsKlDlsvpb1U57Py0QHDy4C_IoiZvk7-rRA1UdfN0yBG17qiOhiDeP2uRdA7yq2WHPuk-lkCjpdbfFQ0J2aF1fAjkEOZG_rX_k-mK8AKJEBYAe9vgA8JXNA/s4030/4f%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="4030" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlaKq4jEuaQW8TaSNmylyDLf30c9NES_6iQRFNS13ilTnT5OPIvrQlWDtpB7_uo541tVjsKlDlsvpb1U57Py0QHDy4C_IoiZvk7-rRA1UdfN0yBG17qiOhiDeP2uRdA7yq2WHPuk-lkCjpdbfFQ0J2aF1fAjkEOZG_rX_k-mK8AKJEBYAe9vgA8JXNA/s320/4f%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Kate, Pat, and Bobbie held a meeting on a nice perch above the beach.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40FnbkKxr9BGuuKq--H3Y5TowdaaIp8pMoLSmMYvD8gShQgqnpMDOU9TD0Y-1CYXlCzDK3I8XcuPciyORXQAdM8bskpfll5QMVlCYqRWutxZwbZC-jlL70MFrdoc8iyvuyC8ux_vWMotXGTXDc2ShHy5G-qXGid9k_6KPp1mXx7uDzM7JMNBoox192A/s4032/4g%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40FnbkKxr9BGuuKq--H3Y5TowdaaIp8pMoLSmMYvD8gShQgqnpMDOU9TD0Y-1CYXlCzDK3I8XcuPciyORXQAdM8bskpfll5QMVlCYqRWutxZwbZC-jlL70MFrdoc8iyvuyC8ux_vWMotXGTXDc2ShHy5G-qXGid9k_6KPp1mXx7uDzM7JMNBoox192A/s320/4g%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Part of this State Park is a Monarch Butterfly preserve. The butterflies migrate hundreds of miles in the spring returning to the coast for the winter.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGuy0LWRPFXTC7meA4kSxjJRcAWAw_MgM5rwfbsRT9-tbFp5nQ2B4z6XvENSecPM9JKW0lBkFKh-V-8KtpG0yk26SdYr7Rq8SYOXBZbnFtDF3yI_TffgBng_9gK_B0ixK10vB6kegrY068d3PKRTpnTGf0PaY5sM3C-V4v2Pv6GU8qIJHepqaoNQAHw/s4032/5a%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGuy0LWRPFXTC7meA4kSxjJRcAWAw_MgM5rwfbsRT9-tbFp5nQ2B4z6XvENSecPM9JKW0lBkFKh-V-8KtpG0yk26SdYr7Rq8SYOXBZbnFtDF3yI_TffgBng_9gK_B0ixK10vB6kegrY068d3PKRTpnTGf0PaY5sM3C-V4v2Pv6GU8qIJHepqaoNQAHw/s320/5a%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In the grove you could spot masses of Monarchs all huddled together. It was cooler and cloudy at the time so they were waiting for it to warm up a bit. At times the air is filled with thousands of the colorful butterflies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9_NSKb6fk9J2HtMELoLa1EM4VwfU3AznvRtsKgOhkJvo9qjkY26zdSgUA2NhIYftpe3WC-nK_9NqSX-76fjysB1f7CwMf_rzkpfeSlnevU3fZyPfXCqhyqCX-ogIWbh8H7z9TxC1HTmOGY1Y3Oy4bwDyNQE07Jln5w17kqmbJwM8WVyb7QKpXKUYdA/s4032/IMG_1617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9_NSKb6fk9J2HtMELoLa1EM4VwfU3AznvRtsKgOhkJvo9qjkY26zdSgUA2NhIYftpe3WC-nK_9NqSX-76fjysB1f7CwMf_rzkpfeSlnevU3fZyPfXCqhyqCX-ogIWbh8H7z9TxC1HTmOGY1Y3Oy4bwDyNQE07Jln5w17kqmbJwM8WVyb7QKpXKUYdA/s320/IMG_1617.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We also took advantage of the dry weather to walk the boardwalk along the dunes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzgnoiLgbVTuXZNDO_Vec-qwe3kho68cjCgCANw7eL1fRAMA9qH4iv1RJELOsA36HjLeXhJQa5DQdx0P84oGdUP_g_yaTBzLdUi_WXuM2c9mp2VEELJ6mYAXFKhyWDJadnQRs_ZkRWNcdmSf8rXF5Ve2RvKjJXA-ct45P7rKI5DqrPJrpMT1WhZhTxQ/s4032/5b%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzgnoiLgbVTuXZNDO_Vec-qwe3kho68cjCgCANw7eL1fRAMA9qH4iv1RJELOsA36HjLeXhJQa5DQdx0P84oGdUP_g_yaTBzLdUi_WXuM2c9mp2VEELJ6mYAXFKhyWDJadnQRs_ZkRWNcdmSf8rXF5Ve2RvKjJXA-ct45P7rKI5DqrPJrpMT1WhZhTxQ/s320/5b%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The dune system here is much deeper than the ones that I am used to along the east coast.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemQta-dw11DZu8KnuSDzk4LSdx261DaoBAhseXPGPsx_mDTBu6Oo8CNB3FcqrOQMRTqlZqyhIxyeqG-2Wfw05VtMREDXT5EigzRJvUis8cSs7MoJ1q5xRRI469dHEwL6Z6D-5mLz9tFx0rsc6ib_Nw2bTWx26VonLBaexo3qlqIgJdHDr-a0ZFWcPmw/s4032/5c%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemQta-dw11DZu8KnuSDzk4LSdx261DaoBAhseXPGPsx_mDTBu6Oo8CNB3FcqrOQMRTqlZqyhIxyeqG-2Wfw05VtMREDXT5EigzRJvUis8cSs7MoJ1q5xRRI469dHEwL6Z6D-5mLz9tFx0rsc6ib_Nw2bTWx26VonLBaexo3qlqIgJdHDr-a0ZFWcPmw/s320/5c%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Soon enough, the next weather system moved in with heavy wind and more rain. It rained for 2 days, at times really coming down in buckets. The ranger knocked on our door in the morning to let us know that we might have to evacuate the park. Later that afternoon, as the rains came even heavier, another knock on the door told us it was time to pack up. The ranger said to move down to the Oceano Campground, part of this state park, where the rangers there would be expecting us and find us a site to hole up in</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uBD9hln1ZRgyx2VYuY2NFnAdyp9HjazxqfALyilEwOdQ2om9ectZYFTeQoNZ6y8bLRm4A0SNfQRjN3AGd4RJeQv43HC-j4IET3xWIP9mJJSkU3uELgh3PRl-yGvT3ghS6U48mzsY5LOqjlMlkB-0xDAcsFNsn6oePIhUWGBBFOzj9RZqOlQqiFa2AQ/s4032/5d%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uBD9hln1ZRgyx2VYuY2NFnAdyp9HjazxqfALyilEwOdQ2om9ectZYFTeQoNZ6y8bLRm4A0SNfQRjN3AGd4RJeQv43HC-j4IET3xWIP9mJJSkU3uELgh3PRl-yGvT3ghS6U48mzsY5LOqjlMlkB-0xDAcsFNsn6oePIhUWGBBFOzj9RZqOlQqiFa2AQ/s320/5d%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20North%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Campground flooding</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It turned out that a stream running in front of the campground had crested its banks and threatening to trap us inside the campground. The ranger said it was time to leave. So a rush to pack up and get relocated, and then there was s short line to get into the next campground.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPWEl4D5DRQbGPr3SE31t5-9n7ltxuwyFXWwwL4rYX08FnG3WPV5Zcgmo4FnyG8YkIm3MXKnfphj5Ky4jqB_VoDIrn5uy6cKm09CXLtCuapQl1qBTBtS-uzUa2iX4mMDeLN8tGQdFRugGEOP-jpFwtZ66c0WM5bSPiNOn2qghzsoSaOkKIz1LF9SUrg/s4032/5e%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20Oceano%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPWEl4D5DRQbGPr3SE31t5-9n7ltxuwyFXWwwL4rYX08FnG3WPV5Zcgmo4FnyG8YkIm3MXKnfphj5Ky4jqB_VoDIrn5uy6cKm09CXLtCuapQl1qBTBtS-uzUa2iX4mMDeLN8tGQdFRugGEOP-jpFwtZ66c0WM5bSPiNOn2qghzsoSaOkKIz1LF9SUrg/s320/5e%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20Oceano%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our new location. It was more flooded than the last, but allowed for escape if needed. You can see the bus in the far right of the photo.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1cpvvXM9GJnO8bTzpLQIZuCSZWy5bnKDoXn9kr_3y3UJPVnxL9qxmcgB1pmwQevFAx6r5douPCXBHjHvrco_8mcdueijT6MOWO4rEkI5F2lYy9Hv0yQ5-htgICkcvAgYuWe35DQG7-sFIWva5A6wOXX_AlZ0z8wl3LondGgidf_pBA0X3QlawrshGA/s4032/IMG_4099.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1cpvvXM9GJnO8bTzpLQIZuCSZWy5bnKDoXn9kr_3y3UJPVnxL9qxmcgB1pmwQevFAx6r5douPCXBHjHvrco_8mcdueijT6MOWO4rEkI5F2lYy9Hv0yQ5-htgICkcvAgYuWe35DQG7-sFIWva5A6wOXX_AlZ0z8wl3LondGgidf_pBA0X3QlawrshGA/s320/IMG_4099.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Lucy put on her raingear to weather the storm. Does this face say "humiliation"?</div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4qDvsdzY3UpifVF8TQ-6hTCjGa-LNaJLRsOBEuGN8XShHL4Qm2DZD11mhzr0_8TtcbrtD0r5bJECHLdPnujnuMZ7jTX4kLl7U_PKw9Cafw9qCfhH5-HjHD24UWaPKrw1N4DgaM_QcLW4WW73oeUUy-J8b0xg0hcfGSWm5Ixmht3NDhab69P7mkvENw/s4032/5f%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20Oceano%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4qDvsdzY3UpifVF8TQ-6hTCjGa-LNaJLRsOBEuGN8XShHL4Qm2DZD11mhzr0_8TtcbrtD0r5bJECHLdPnujnuMZ7jTX4kLl7U_PKw9Cafw9qCfhH5-HjHD24UWaPKrw1N4DgaM_QcLW4WW73oeUUy-J8b0xg0hcfGSWm5Ixmht3NDhab69P7mkvENw/s320/5f%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20Oceano%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>At times the rain was so hard it was like we were being pressure washed. Then about 5pm last night it stopped. So for the last 24 hrs we've had a bit of a respite. Kate and I took a walk over the dunes to check out the waves. Unfortunately, as soon as we reached the beach it turned dark and started to sprinkle.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtcCEvhkDU5v3lWVdjbwzHXRMtapL_YN9RMndiBZQyEi0LNJn9bZ7pgZQzA4HltIK3R98IXhNTJdJlEn13oeNWU1DZRmYCqGt-Xg0e6HUBvgeGA0u4X4i7ca7gaG0qVSlFjzXtFN6G9vBRuOv6bTM9ZHbaHpEmQMyAiC84ZyK5_NY6ifJp9d5O5T3SA/s4032/5h%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20Oceano%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtcCEvhkDU5v3lWVdjbwzHXRMtapL_YN9RMndiBZQyEi0LNJn9bZ7pgZQzA4HltIK3R98IXhNTJdJlEn13oeNWU1DZRmYCqGt-Xg0e6HUBvgeGA0u4X4i7ca7gaG0qVSlFjzXtFN6G9vBRuOv6bTM9ZHbaHpEmQMyAiC84ZyK5_NY6ifJp9d5O5T3SA/s320/5h%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20Oceano%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This is our new location. It has dried out a bit and we keep an anxious eye on the sky. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUVYDvkusGhlXTf5aWWvEFKNzf6k_OevHO4j8z-t4BfzXoQLb36GLkD1ZocHQuUPnns0mfyHB8P2N4KDhVrmb5JhlcXX2NFApSiM1l6JAMT4gqRvRn9UD-VrcdiMFwnHzuw2Gc_mwHVU0ueQqB48Br_Ub_jNRcNFdj1Cd62UL_jdMNtWmRU9QA4x37Q/s4032/5i%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20Oceano%20Campground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUVYDvkusGhlXTf5aWWvEFKNzf6k_OevHO4j8z-t4BfzXoQLb36GLkD1ZocHQuUPnns0mfyHB8P2N4KDhVrmb5JhlcXX2NFApSiM1l6JAMT4gqRvRn9UD-VrcdiMFwnHzuw2Gc_mwHVU0ueQqB48Br_Ub_jNRcNFdj1Cd62UL_jdMNtWmRU9QA4x37Q/s320/5i%20Pismo%20Beach%20State%20Park%20Oceano%20Campground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We are here till Thursday at which point we'll move to the Orange Grove RV Park in Bakersfield for 2 nights. It will give us a chance to pick some of the best Oranges that you will find on the planet.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: center;">2 Late Updates</h4><div>Travel buddy Rob took this video of the campground that we were in the day after we evacuated. Our spots were in the distance about the middle of the video. Our picnic tables were pretty much completely underwater.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cEEHXfq3LYI" width="320" youtube-src-id="cEEHXfq3LYI"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Then - to add insult to injury - while parked here at the new campground, I noticed a squirrel getting too cozy with my truck. Long story short is that it got under the hood and now my truck will not start. It will turn over, but you can tell the plugs are not sparking. Chewed wires?? Rob has a code reader so we checked the codes the truck was throwing off and they were all sorts of ECM (Electronic Control Module ie: Computer) errors so we'll see what this new adventure brings forth.</div><div><br /></div><div>As long as I can get the transfer case into neutral, the plan is to pull it to Bakersfield (our next destination) tomorrow where I made an appointment at an auto shop for diagnosis. The Ford dealer there is currently taking appointments 5 weeks out and suggested this place so fingers crossed. My friend Ron had rodent damage to his Toyota a few years back and wound up with his vehicle being totalled. The wiring damage alone was over $14k!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>A side note: </b> I had some suggestions about changing the justification of the print on the page. It might make the blog easier to read on mobile devices. I have to admit that it was hard to read on small devices.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hopefully this left justification will be better. Let me know what you think. </div><div><br /></div><div>So if the wheels keep turning and the creek don't rise, we'll see you in a bit.</div><div><p><br /></p></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6157015770933873342.post-41200081981025936302022-10-26T22:18:00.045-06:002022-10-27T07:06:08.820-06:00Back across the pond<div style="text-align: center;"> Well I said that I would probably finish the last post from Arizona, and guess what?</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are back in Arizona.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I wont leave you hanging, and will get you caught up to date, but before I</div><div style="text-align: center;">do I want to step back to our day trip to Windsor to share a couple of items.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While waiting for our transfer train to Windsor to arrive,</div><div style="text-align: center;">these two trains going in opposite directions blasted thru Slough Station.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tpdfWLxeVsc" width="320" youtube-src-id="tpdfWLxeVsc"></iframe></div><br />Trains passing at Slough</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then later after visiting the castle and arriving back at Slough for our</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eastbound train to London, this high speed Westbound flew thru the station.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5HhCA3m2WGQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="5HhCA3m2WGQ"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I mentioned at the Tower of London about how the beefeaters will march over</div><div style="text-align: center;">or thru you when they are in formation and marching about.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These men of the Queens (now Kings) Guard were marching by when some tourists</div><div style="text-align: center;">got in their way. You can hear the young soldier bellow at them to get out of the way.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FphihklO0dk" width="320" youtube-src-id="FphihklO0dk"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Further along before the video ends he is yelling at more tourists to get out of the</div><div style="text-align: center;">way but the camera did not pick that up</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Now back to sea on the QM2</h2><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpn82zVFu3__CBMIDAQYKAtGa30WHJ8QpVV5ipg8Ji8R83ho56EDXwcuXsCaYcfDANk-6LCSxfGhSN5GknzEtMHLXXzlwBGn_NhI3VFCB5gdR7d2QsKkgTmlcaXAoVRs6YS763akw2rjNxD5cIFV9iVuIIw5_YocqmN1XBHl_NgrvvdC_ngu76nLTwQ/s4032/1a%20departing%20so'tn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpn82zVFu3__CBMIDAQYKAtGa30WHJ8QpVV5ipg8Ji8R83ho56EDXwcuXsCaYcfDANk-6LCSxfGhSN5GknzEtMHLXXzlwBGn_NhI3VFCB5gdR7d2QsKkgTmlcaXAoVRs6YS763akw2rjNxD5cIFV9iVuIIw5_YocqmN1XBHl_NgrvvdC_ngu76nLTwQ/s320/1a%20departing%20so'tn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Leaving Southampton</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We pushed off from the dock in Southampton just before dark and as night settled in,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we headed down for our first dinner in the Queens Grill Resturant.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This was our first trip in QG and we were really looking forward to seeing what it was like.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To explain - Cunard has basically 3 levels of service.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Think coach, business, and first class as a comparison.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Britannia is the first level</b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is smaller cabins, fixed dinner times and 2 sittings of 1,000+ people each</div><div style="text-align: center;">in the Britannia Dining Room which is a beautiful 2 story room that spans the width of the ship.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cabin sizes range from about 170 - 270 square feet.</div><div style="text-align: center;">These are very nice accommodations and service - but at a more reasonable price point.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Britannia Club</b> is sort of a sub level of Britannia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pretty much similar cabin size, some better locations, but the biggest draw IMO</div><div style="text-align: center;">is that you eat in a small more intimate section of the Britannia Dining Room, and</div><div style="text-align: center;">have your own table with open seating dining time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hlq-gSnaj9ahb9rd1aXszlQJgt8blryc4yB2IYvRgEI2HutKJmbyfYOA55oCojVgTFqnvvaRMc0lpl-3Jo6b22AsOrVUgjMSOCK83P2wHRQ2txQlGHSJwdGM8GeTRhFd_d4eHxHnEmJXJxRrxQoBOFVhkL_9xIJKx5LFKRIVkqkGLTP0hBqpGOWyJw/s7630/1a%20Britannia%20Resturant%20QM2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3792" data-original-width="7630" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hlq-gSnaj9ahb9rd1aXszlQJgt8blryc4yB2IYvRgEI2HutKJmbyfYOA55oCojVgTFqnvvaRMc0lpl-3Jo6b22AsOrVUgjMSOCK83P2wHRQ2txQlGHSJwdGM8GeTRhFd_d4eHxHnEmJXJxRrxQoBOFVhkL_9xIJKx5LFKRIVkqkGLTP0hBqpGOWyJw/s320/1a%20Britannia%20Resturant%20QM2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">QM2 Britannia Dining room 2nd Floor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXM8xt5ibF8f3ANj5DDcsupDK1NkdKDVg3Plw8L03J_tKXcHw6aD9gBMbuQMLe30IWXMgARieAb2OiTVoplZJzJLjRBI-b2qcu7whC8NG49bEt63so-uHaxmkwXa8SVjxjOcnMsAg7NxuGltEnziykuAiWa3H42kaS_uPbxCuWTYJVdzwrJnWVRs0p9g/s9768/1b%20Britannia%20Resturant%20QM2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3830" data-original-width="9768" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXM8xt5ibF8f3ANj5DDcsupDK1NkdKDVg3Plw8L03J_tKXcHw6aD9gBMbuQMLe30IWXMgARieAb2OiTVoplZJzJLjRBI-b2qcu7whC8NG49bEt63so-uHaxmkwXa8SVjxjOcnMsAg7NxuGltEnziykuAiWa3H42kaS_uPbxCuWTYJVdzwrJnWVRs0p9g/s320/1b%20Britannia%20Resturant%20QM2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">QM2 Britannia Dining room 1st Floor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Princess Gill is the second level</b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is where you start to get up there in Luxury Accommodations</div><div style="text-align: center;">The cabins all have balconies and average 381 square feet.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In addition to numerous room perks like walk in closets, concierge service etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Another feature of Princess Grill is a separate dining room with expanded menu options</div><div style="text-align: center;">and seating for 150 making for a more intimate dining experience.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In PG you also have your own table for the voyage and open dining hours.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Queens Grill is the top level</b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the top of the line on Cunard.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The cabins range in size from 506 square feet all the way up to 2,300 square feet!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The latter cabins being 2 floors tall. These are the cabins where the rich and</div><div style="text-align: center;">famous lay their heads.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Queens Grill guests enjoy not only larger cabins, but also Concierge </div><div style="text-align: center;">and 24 hour butler service.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A big draw of QG is the Queens Grill Resturant.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Larger than PG it seats up to about 250.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here the menu is much more extensive and if a guest wants something that is not on the menu,</div><div style="text-align: center;">if the ingredients are on board - they will prepare it for you.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Several nights on our crossing we had off menu items.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After finishing our first dinner we retired to our cabin around 9 and shortly thereafter</div><div style="text-align: center;">an announcement came over the PA system that there was going to be a medical</div><div style="text-align: center;">evacuation and the outside decks were going to be closed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It seems that only about 4hrs or so after departure, a guest was ill enough to need to</div><div style="text-align: center;">be airlifted off the ship.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The helicopter made several pickups by basket. We could not see the actual</div><div style="text-align: center;">airlift, but the helicopter hovered right off of our balcony for about 40 minutes as it</div><div style="text-align: center;">made several trips to the ship and then hovered off the side as they did whatever it was</div><div style="text-align: center;">they needed to do on the ship</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a video of the helicopter.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5EotMsL3jlM" width="320" youtube-src-id="5EotMsL3jlM"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After that initial excitement, the ship turned back eastbound in the Channel and</div><div style="text-align: center;">we headed to NYC</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">The Food</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chateaubriand prepared table-side</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKWPlawQe38GggU3Bvfmg6lWY0WH7kUTlwKetFIx8X5xV_LEsZfhI8Bei4LvD0uMdZGG1_xEOC3Hd4GrhwOI6o0uuMCLS129C4ANcCu7ij52wM-izMYZv03qP-UKNNEB1oYYq--qNvPkwWcK6jHzhSlE_dYebMsuXmCufZAQYXHbzVpEDFoq95E1qQw/s4032/1b%20Chateaubriand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKWPlawQe38GggU3Bvfmg6lWY0WH7kUTlwKetFIx8X5xV_LEsZfhI8Bei4LvD0uMdZGG1_xEOC3Hd4GrhwOI6o0uuMCLS129C4ANcCu7ij52wM-izMYZv03qP-UKNNEB1oYYq--qNvPkwWcK6jHzhSlE_dYebMsuXmCufZAQYXHbzVpEDFoq95E1qQw/s320/1b%20Chateaubriand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Continuing the beef trend we had an off-menu Beef Wellington,</div><div style="text-align: center;">also finished at the table.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7dua6ozOrE_YOlB-63uROTx34Q28AnSo_KI8ykGqtHRDUYDpe1hLQ07mSk-iJQ5cNRs6_W3VxcSDIUJavhZvGJQ8IQK8VtJeUrq6C2lvwn4jYEbHy-vDvIhEz2lNsoTn7iYr56oVBC8BrJNnAD0dhV7GwzxgQrff3ev48sF6ilYZ4ZO___30uBXyV_g/s4032/1c%20Beef%20Wellington.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7dua6ozOrE_YOlB-63uROTx34Q28AnSo_KI8ykGqtHRDUYDpe1hLQ07mSk-iJQ5cNRs6_W3VxcSDIUJavhZvGJQ8IQK8VtJeUrq6C2lvwn4jYEbHy-vDvIhEz2lNsoTn7iYr56oVBC8BrJNnAD0dhV7GwzxgQrff3ev48sF6ilYZ4ZO___30uBXyV_g/s320/1c%20Beef%20Wellington.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaHZBKLNnzG565u-ooZiBrjvkv8VxyvsFJ_t3CAfS3OC6OpG-7sMCq0bno54RKUNjGVtQ8FdE1bVy71Vr0_WCa0fOiZPfFbPBmHz6VCanpfZin4u6Z1wdlpYhsM24IoMMYBwzQYcwi--SciXoUJIe7X6D8LsD1UcrOvz6HjmwSXLYOuUPEReCzV3huQ/s4032/1d%20Beef%20Wellington.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaHZBKLNnzG565u-ooZiBrjvkv8VxyvsFJ_t3CAfS3OC6OpG-7sMCq0bno54RKUNjGVtQ8FdE1bVy71Vr0_WCa0fOiZPfFbPBmHz6VCanpfZin4u6Z1wdlpYhsM24IoMMYBwzQYcwi--SciXoUJIe7X6D8LsD1UcrOvz6HjmwSXLYOuUPEReCzV3huQ/s320/1d%20Beef%20Wellington.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Washed down with <span style="text-align: left;">Crêpes Suzette</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_YyfknZUX_WpnlrXXj2J6jaal8CBy5h5qE-kmuhdE4G2deuvl-A2yhJ6ngdyseds5n8j20f1siwALIgUenl4j6nemuc1Ay_RFgHK6UglQP4LNzQ_UOinuEZhn7gW36NbA_tkALWe5oYNvTTwdqcuUchWd6UXHG79hOBXUD5dwjThlXQDPgEWCpW12A/s4032/1e%20Cre%CC%82pes%20Suzette%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_YyfknZUX_WpnlrXXj2J6jaal8CBy5h5qE-kmuhdE4G2deuvl-A2yhJ6ngdyseds5n8j20f1siwALIgUenl4j6nemuc1Ay_RFgHK6UglQP4LNzQ_UOinuEZhn7gW36NbA_tkALWe5oYNvTTwdqcuUchWd6UXHG79hOBXUD5dwjThlXQDPgEWCpW12A/s320/1e%20Cre%CC%82pes%20Suzette%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEbaepi6VhmymeUeYzMjDL42qQiVVIqYrv9RJIvLn02DRymGMhBlt9Y6o1z0AQI4VD__5Ih9Vwo2qBWkg-uck36G_4eUDtlOMkxqZZhWzMS76mDu1v_JVscTDQLkKbFDhTPCVyaAl7B_mAXyUJsQwQ9vopEt0dJKRyCgf4mAW5lMhsXKeCg1s-DuBVw/s4032/1f%20Cre%CC%82pes%20Suzette.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEbaepi6VhmymeUeYzMjDL42qQiVVIqYrv9RJIvLn02DRymGMhBlt9Y6o1z0AQI4VD__5Ih9Vwo2qBWkg-uck36G_4eUDtlOMkxqZZhWzMS76mDu1v_JVscTDQLkKbFDhTPCVyaAl7B_mAXyUJsQwQ9vopEt0dJKRyCgf4mAW5lMhsXKeCg1s-DuBVw/s320/1f%20Cre%CC%82pes%20Suzette.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Crêpes Suzette</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My favorite meal this trip was another off menu item - a Rack of Lamb also</div><div style="text-align: center;">finished table-side.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSs8XLUGySCsn_0kWr-teHQlTYnzR8ThidbBMuaYtzMde0eQjlLsZoQ6x-9ZC_dgk_87OzfXhFtlJC-XrNOSujXI_hLf-IyLxjiwbIoZLWs1ZlXx9CnGPZJ6IlfaCUpiC5q4x_HHB9BEqXfUZ0ST4JCOPxXLs4O56ivPPJ1OE6_guVtFo8DaxHLNtaqA/s4032/1f%20Lamb%20Chops.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSs8XLUGySCsn_0kWr-teHQlTYnzR8ThidbBMuaYtzMde0eQjlLsZoQ6x-9ZC_dgk_87OzfXhFtlJC-XrNOSujXI_hLf-IyLxjiwbIoZLWs1ZlXx9CnGPZJ6IlfaCUpiC5q4x_HHB9BEqXfUZ0ST4JCOPxXLs4O56ivPPJ1OE6_guVtFo8DaxHLNtaqA/s320/1f%20Lamb%20Chops.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And again - another off menu item - our head <span style="text-align: left;">maître d' Osman prepared us pasta.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">We told him to surprise us with whatever he wanted to prepare, and we were not disapointed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWBAfZsXqZEVEITTbvdzPCT3oCICixZxTytHgFIff_Ztr4LHwx9zQGS4e3E-fNVIogqGO8A5GdE-AQHAxZB5-Gru0OLKONbzIfyIAvvancuRwIesKsFmAiAXAyrPyxjFdXNOfw7JbYzK5me6dRbHZsnVyXtEDHRg0a-MxV0Gld_O5iLSYDtPGwhuj1Q/s4032/1g%20Osman%20makes%20Pasta.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWBAfZsXqZEVEITTbvdzPCT3oCICixZxTytHgFIff_Ztr4LHwx9zQGS4e3E-fNVIogqGO8A5GdE-AQHAxZB5-Gru0OLKONbzIfyIAvvancuRwIesKsFmAiAXAyrPyxjFdXNOfw7JbYzK5me6dRbHZsnVyXtEDHRg0a-MxV0Gld_O5iLSYDtPGwhuj1Q/s320/1g%20Osman%20makes%20Pasta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And again - washed down the pasta with some flaming Cherries Jubilee.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlnim4NkQg-OSda3fvY-FsM3AY4OALb_-1zvj0S_us9cKNkfE8NALPs9Ll1X_rb-8UdvmBOV8FASAxnwry-NHjm0WswPQMsRQawa5oheyRXbkmx3W2u--BqgTZD0lh0N-B1Pm74TTpxNO3O3qm6NgN-2ZDUSQoqEBc4wUGf23WD9Ru6Xc1eXRFX9lLA/s4032/1h%20Cherries%20Jubilee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlnim4NkQg-OSda3fvY-FsM3AY4OALb_-1zvj0S_us9cKNkfE8NALPs9Ll1X_rb-8UdvmBOV8FASAxnwry-NHjm0WswPQMsRQawa5oheyRXbkmx3W2u--BqgTZD0lh0N-B1Pm74TTpxNO3O3qm6NgN-2ZDUSQoqEBc4wUGf23WD9Ru6Xc1eXRFX9lLA/s320/1h%20Cherries%20Jubilee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another night Baked Alaska was on the menu for desert.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLJ6SMHXvVTtQHyHXXeI26AQOALqcQjC58FwFZF2wO3JJthjaYQuHnrzg74FRX9vC5wygDq_RVedaG-1g25B5LDhCmYqb-jeEPgGJ76dwQ4vQCo1EBcjg45ZMa-OkwIxm9ED7mUmfcHRm9wccE4kc9aLigcrQb8OSIF5H27dRdyebxiCb9Nv6IYRCiQ/s4032/1i%20Baked%20Alaska.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLJ6SMHXvVTtQHyHXXeI26AQOALqcQjC58FwFZF2wO3JJthjaYQuHnrzg74FRX9vC5wygDq_RVedaG-1g25B5LDhCmYqb-jeEPgGJ76dwQ4vQCo1EBcjg45ZMa-OkwIxm9ED7mUmfcHRm9wccE4kc9aLigcrQb8OSIF5H27dRdyebxiCb9Nv6IYRCiQ/s320/1i%20Baked%20Alaska.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was just a small sample of the dinners that we had.</div><div style="text-align: center;">There is also lunch and breakfasts.... but I think you get the idea.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Each day around 430 our butler would bring <span style="text-align: left;">canapés to our room in order to wake up</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">our taste buds (as if they ever slept) before dinner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Before I could get a photo, some were always missing but you get the idea.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Dt_ngupGSVuN5y3KR5f5UQe8YkSjSLMyd9Nkj2h9XVu56nkCfeq4jtelonyHT1BoB-qKnnkU0KLmRTC9JxsU__pkrNzuNROjNXALjXUUsOScNzkeTU2E2zfxAY00x89GcCa5IS4I47Rjj0gortMvkhkRidNBeT5SRr5ufxkthxW1RLUCt-_mWDke5w/s4032/2a%20canape%CC%81s.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Dt_ngupGSVuN5y3KR5f5UQe8YkSjSLMyd9Nkj2h9XVu56nkCfeq4jtelonyHT1BoB-qKnnkU0KLmRTC9JxsU__pkrNzuNROjNXALjXUUsOScNzkeTU2E2zfxAY00x89GcCa5IS4I47Rjj0gortMvkhkRidNBeT5SRr5ufxkthxW1RLUCt-_mWDke5w/s320/2a%20canape%CC%81s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Liver Pate' Smoked Salmon w/Caviar and more caviar</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not being an expert in Caviar - most of what I've learned came from the movie "Overboard":</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Caviar should be round, and hard, and of adequate size, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and should burst in your mouth at precisely the right moment.”</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">The golden caviar fit that definition precisely.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Below was mozzarella, sun dried tomato and some sushi and rice rolls</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghknDdNyOAKisHIK5XN-ef_novRCB8l_eVdX6JWRwr9Ino9haQJN1S7756goCfgpf_GDPS0LmHeyNzF3fZAVyGJwq1rxK79ZHEHPH_p_YuwxzHvRF5cO7KpNfH_u9q0njdZr4K5U1e4WacQ4zpcn9qwhghDd5yLKt6Me-81fay8Hqj-HPBQVOleOCgCg/s4032/2b%20canape%CC%81s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghknDdNyOAKisHIK5XN-ef_novRCB8l_eVdX6JWRwr9Ino9haQJN1S7756goCfgpf_GDPS0LmHeyNzF3fZAVyGJwq1rxK79ZHEHPH_p_YuwxzHvRF5cO7KpNfH_u9q0njdZr4K5U1e4WacQ4zpcn9qwhghDd5yLKt6Me-81fay8Hqj-HPBQVOleOCgCg/s320/2b%20canape%CC%81s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And more Smoked Salmon and 2 types of Caviar.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBf3xS9YXZA4lB1p0j9fkRPoJsGsGXsNMatVCDXT4Zr63fRTTApeQzKa9srg2Y8ya2XUcOBwim77V1cyA96EcFCA_4DtDmfyebZMsVgXzvFHwAObsVv1c1A-gkOgwvDH2JrL0Op6RjQ7Vyj3WKsPmYDSukRBKtGZDMGNXhE2KuCxVrjJnkre4fG38nA/s4032/2c%20canape%CC%81s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBf3xS9YXZA4lB1p0j9fkRPoJsGsGXsNMatVCDXT4Zr63fRTTApeQzKa9srg2Y8ya2XUcOBwim77V1cyA96EcFCA_4DtDmfyebZMsVgXzvFHwAObsVv1c1A-gkOgwvDH2JrL0Op6RjQ7Vyj3WKsPmYDSukRBKtGZDMGNXhE2KuCxVrjJnkre4fG38nA/s320/2c%20canape%CC%81s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No Cunard crossing would be complete without a mention of afternoon tea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Previously I've never made it to tea as I was always up in the kennels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tea is at 3:30p and each day we wanted to go but were too full from lunch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So... the solution was to skip lunch and finally we made it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OP5EowEZTTD4hDJ3wT4t-hj0BdI_NSVr5f_tynUXSRLA6NBPu2Bohwi-qIaaYBHPArpruHvlgMYwSMkkSnGQA6AsO3qcCU3mTlbvWxhrnDz7qROx0aR721YhYRqhGKA7SHKe5LfRgralDtyUPDP_X4lBMqvT4TLz8A6FE3k4erQpUe8AAsxF4QrB-w/s4032/afternoon%20tea.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OP5EowEZTTD4hDJ3wT4t-hj0BdI_NSVr5f_tynUXSRLA6NBPu2Bohwi-qIaaYBHPArpruHvlgMYwSMkkSnGQA6AsO3qcCU3mTlbvWxhrnDz7qROx0aR721YhYRqhGKA7SHKe5LfRgralDtyUPDP_X4lBMqvT4TLz8A6FE3k4erQpUe8AAsxF4QrB-w/s320/afternoon%20tea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And no tea is complete without some scones, clotted cream, and preserves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47_wZGmd8M0oJo7rXCVojxoA4Kxj02vJNVP5tfgeynWwYINvahWufPBgQ3q5dJtyU5e2EioktrnRGD2GZjsaq5dd8K6YZ-MimvkdYBeRsYTvKtvA_F1k0r_q679HACKTQctivPIrJAKtDRtW_Iot7oyyHHx_Bd6cqmTTvZe8t3AO1P9CZHrYvO38DbQ/s4032/afternoon%20tea%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47_wZGmd8M0oJo7rXCVojxoA4Kxj02vJNVP5tfgeynWwYINvahWufPBgQ3q5dJtyU5e2EioktrnRGD2GZjsaq5dd8K6YZ-MimvkdYBeRsYTvKtvA_F1k0r_q679HACKTQctivPIrJAKtDRtW_Iot7oyyHHx_Bd6cqmTTvZe8t3AO1P9CZHrYvO38DbQ/s320/afternoon%20tea%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well I think that is probably enough food porn.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just reading this could add some pounds on you but I have to say that when we</div><div style="text-align: center;">got home I stepped apprehensively on the scale and had lost 4 lbs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"<i>The Queens Grill Diet</i>". I highly recommend it. 😀</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One intersting thing this crossing was a group of "Vintage Dressers".</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A group of people who enjoy dressing in clothes from all sorts of past periods.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They told me that they are found worldwide, but this group was from California</div><div style="text-align: center;">and numbered about 150 people.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Doing an Atlantic Crossing on a true (and the last) Ocean Liner was a great time</div><div style="text-align: center;">for them to get into the spirit of the past times.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNHwcGQ55qrTn6sbwQ77CMb5U9cKK7DCR-0Rx5v5gK6tkycMupGsWJjVLCQEIipm9LZzGwYe_7yh7yb4PrFbWnm5pWVNQkPVW2znJWtYMGcMyHyIyPa016ku7WKG-ICm_CHXKYxvG_40BSWoMtqyfMMIie-jZvcI2eF4T4lF5MX-1XBg-AgxK9mEsWA/s4032/IMG_0839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNHwcGQ55qrTn6sbwQ77CMb5U9cKK7DCR-0Rx5v5gK6tkycMupGsWJjVLCQEIipm9LZzGwYe_7yh7yb4PrFbWnm5pWVNQkPVW2znJWtYMGcMyHyIyPa016ku7WKG-ICm_CHXKYxvG_40BSWoMtqyfMMIie-jZvcI2eF4T4lF5MX-1XBg-AgxK9mEsWA/s320/IMG_0839.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HgQBdiG75JXillO6KcF194bMF8Iwdl61c5-kQZIq4W8WOOhM1VX1SXnlbEO_-D7-5cMLAfgnstu4p7SgdIx8zNR2B4F1AoiaQT-wb_2Wgz0xK4tlD-hvj7BbnW1s0LvFpJYLM52g656zJOTLO-aKyqlg_KNqJ_7jT7Se5lnU-ol76axvGJQN1Z6enA/s4032/IMG_0913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HgQBdiG75JXillO6KcF194bMF8Iwdl61c5-kQZIq4W8WOOhM1VX1SXnlbEO_-D7-5cMLAfgnstu4p7SgdIx8zNR2B4F1AoiaQT-wb_2Wgz0xK4tlD-hvj7BbnW1s0LvFpJYLM52g656zJOTLO-aKyqlg_KNqJ_7jT7Se5lnU-ol76axvGJQN1Z6enA/s320/IMG_0913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDCmNGQVx2Uflt95bMsSMY0vFuOuByYnferfESLOo1IEx-tKuFaclpEWv-46Fgo0mGJ2dr6JzXAUhtJU7b59_fXsl2UmifM4btHkX5oEB8s53wqYfi429-Omvj2RY9t3lzAqEeFiV2kdGSoXc1OXxw2GupjA_xH9NfqWEvKMe16_o3dU27Q_YJL_CDg/s4032/IMG_0917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDCmNGQVx2Uflt95bMsSMY0vFuOuByYnferfESLOo1IEx-tKuFaclpEWv-46Fgo0mGJ2dr6JzXAUhtJU7b59_fXsl2UmifM4btHkX5oEB8s53wqYfi429-Omvj2RY9t3lzAqEeFiV2kdGSoXc1OXxw2GupjA_xH9NfqWEvKMe16_o3dU27Q_YJL_CDg/s320/IMG_0917.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Aqua Therapy Spa</h4><div style="text-align: center;">One of our favorite things to do on the ship, and even do-able by squeezing inbetween</div><div style="text-align: center;">kennel duty is the Aqua Therapy Spa.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A collection of Bubbling pools, hot tubs, steam and sauna rooms.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I dont take any pictures in there since its a bit private, but a link to an</div><div style="text-align: center;">article about the place can give you a good idea.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://beyondships.com/QM2-CanyonRanch.html">QM2 Aqua Therapy Spa</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After a rough time in the spa, we retire to the relaxation room to chill for a bit.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZrTeGcs9BxcflTDxzsst-kp2waJIOIe0uqT_QkDgX7zNSklp5yPxm4wNv5h7jzg0NTfiJz-QxtGAu6t0J6xy9N5ZqrKD2HlD5rjh9k8QgQXJcq0GZLri9qaVfgUdw8oOAyJwosBG3uo7i3mWGdb2Io-zp7NouR_weVAtJMFrk1nvWhA9NS8D2b5ZBw/s4032/relaxation%20room.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZrTeGcs9BxcflTDxzsst-kp2waJIOIe0uqT_QkDgX7zNSklp5yPxm4wNv5h7jzg0NTfiJz-QxtGAu6t0J6xy9N5ZqrKD2HlD5rjh9k8QgQXJcq0GZLri9qaVfgUdw8oOAyJwosBG3uo7i3mWGdb2Io-zp7NouR_weVAtJMFrk1nvWhA9NS8D2b5ZBw/s320/relaxation%20room.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">QM2 Relaxation room</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There is so much to do on the ship.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The list would require a whole blog post to cover it all.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Each day the daily program is delivered and is several pages long with things to do.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the things we did was to attend a show in the Planetarium.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes - I did say Planetarium. The Queen Mary2 has one!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our great circle route to NYC was adjusted northerly due to a storm to our south.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The route was changed to a great circle course destination to a position about 20 miles south</div><div style="text-align: center;"> of Cape Race Newfoundland.</div><div style="text-align: center;">About our 3rd day we ran into the edges of the storm and the winds built to force 8</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the seas to 7 meters.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWGM8PaFoWFEl6gQZDB02U1v3Reei1aI-P2aBExTWO4ubhJjFUA2yR3gS2BvQpRAGZAl3Qc8dON6vITkJUU2MllHawHhmsJpMKzNa0bwYpcu-ocxd-sKlHifMreA_RInjgysWLZ4rtCRRvnXVBPfjY6WC7Si4gPd2rd1WBJsaDX0lDG1a3Wn6Sc741A/s4032/IMG_0728.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWGM8PaFoWFEl6gQZDB02U1v3Reei1aI-P2aBExTWO4ubhJjFUA2yR3gS2BvQpRAGZAl3Qc8dON6vITkJUU2MllHawHhmsJpMKzNa0bwYpcu-ocxd-sKlHifMreA_RInjgysWLZ4rtCRRvnXVBPfjY6WC7Si4gPd2rd1WBJsaDX0lDG1a3Wn6Sc741A/s320/IMG_0728.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l58Z0_qAi0unjWQLI5pmVOBRzqx7CRucPEU325UiC8E6JbsDM2vr-dR69Me7q3BFvQ5wiZWiKqWfwFhsQyPhd2TtUBUqzznlIWr5bnOwzNVeod3rLVwqxyJzGQyfj5S-JqOPmZMO11ky_1uVcQgjOTRMmQ5BnpC5Hi59zih6qs4LDcijkPLXL8x_Og/s4032/IMG_0779.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l58Z0_qAi0unjWQLI5pmVOBRzqx7CRucPEU325UiC8E6JbsDM2vr-dR69Me7q3BFvQ5wiZWiKqWfwFhsQyPhd2TtUBUqzznlIWr5bnOwzNVeod3rLVwqxyJzGQyfj5S-JqOPmZMO11ky_1uVcQgjOTRMmQ5BnpC5Hi59zih6qs4LDcijkPLXL8x_Og/s320/IMG_0779.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The ship of course handled this fine but it did increase the motion some/</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mostly it was the bow lifting and dropping and on a particularly big wave you</div><div style="text-align: center;">could feel the ship shudder as it plunged thru the waves.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Twas very cool but many of the folks on board disappeared and the QG restaurant was only about</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/3 full one evening. The staff told us many were feeling a bit under the weather. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The wind and seas lasted about 36hrs or so but soon the wind and seas subsided</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the morning dawned calm with the promise of good weather.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bJSbjacSxqJUB2xl_QvViempgGBNJnO_DufGqEcmmdY9YPLjflpw6m2gAfdq7CfyEspo1QPTe8GA7hplYTG7JpxkY6xPTas1uOmBJTkWFazjnD_RxEUlHalvpo4kXpxIs0gXsBVD7kolyXl6CVxl0N-lx5bWLCZ5W5YgzEQWYNmywJOqIf10r778pQ/s4032/1a%20Sunrise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bJSbjacSxqJUB2xl_QvViempgGBNJnO_DufGqEcmmdY9YPLjflpw6m2gAfdq7CfyEspo1QPTe8GA7hplYTG7JpxkY6xPTas1uOmBJTkWFazjnD_RxEUlHalvpo4kXpxIs0gXsBVD7kolyXl6CVxl0N-lx5bWLCZ5W5YgzEQWYNmywJOqIf10r778pQ/s320/1a%20Sunrise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDI-ZygfAwmFq5iDf0ndvmZx9tSoaMwCKVbNXoF4U0s-FzntwsGYO2qUgr64CDMZ87_uT73TAKHCzFBXcVJy5wPzYkqAZXvDzaNBRI85JxWUHGQx3QI-0C6A4sO9hmTV6q6YKb__rXv7sa5Xpj5RSAT2Uqo6Ihk6iiVX_vRT5PyW9LLPI2b6r5P0pveA/s4032/1b%20after%20storm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDI-ZygfAwmFq5iDf0ndvmZx9tSoaMwCKVbNXoF4U0s-FzntwsGYO2qUgr64CDMZ87_uT73TAKHCzFBXcVJy5wPzYkqAZXvDzaNBRI85JxWUHGQx3QI-0C6A4sO9hmTV6q6YKb__rXv7sa5Xpj5RSAT2Uqo6Ihk6iiVX_vRT5PyW9LLPI2b6r5P0pveA/s320/1b%20after%20storm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJn9toiZVe5grbFeS4N8lRovwei5GvXIzaX7tPOIn_ZJgKV8IA3q26iAqdgssZXAkCYRNYKY8yBRgWklaRguMeDyz3Iq7An27jEV6uwkqpukTN7sfHK_yUHOwxIOiaQTKtpnOFwEKAHBLKjqKHKb20CUqR-Tc4oFVx_fx5llhKnqLPVorLWpAHPeMvw/s4032/2%20after%20storm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJn9toiZVe5grbFeS4N8lRovwei5GvXIzaX7tPOIn_ZJgKV8IA3q26iAqdgssZXAkCYRNYKY8yBRgWklaRguMeDyz3Iq7An27jEV6uwkqpukTN7sfHK_yUHOwxIOiaQTKtpnOFwEKAHBLKjqKHKb20CUqR-Tc4oFVx_fx5llhKnqLPVorLWpAHPeMvw/s320/2%20after%20storm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAX5eFu5OIHpZg4eeFp8jMmL6s2g8siKDsNIIFBPvxlkOp4yVFJcot6Wr2CLPlYAxgndVKwVkYrQ2ii3ZM0ikyaRRmT0LfhCDxnE_OYPDhipn1ddVg3KWuiPKTqZkXDSYiFqjRi1ERl_kY5Cc6AiFoWCtKtqYg1sSBio0BItMbumts3qiikBnWTENWA/s4032/3%20after%20storm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAX5eFu5OIHpZg4eeFp8jMmL6s2g8siKDsNIIFBPvxlkOp4yVFJcot6Wr2CLPlYAxgndVKwVkYrQ2ii3ZM0ikyaRRmT0LfhCDxnE_OYPDhipn1ddVg3KWuiPKTqZkXDSYiFqjRi1ERl_kY5Cc6AiFoWCtKtqYg1sSBio0BItMbumts3qiikBnWTENWA/s320/3%20after%20storm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We really only had one day of great weather like this.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The rest of the time it was either cloudy, rain showers, wind etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But on the North Atlantic in late October one has to expect this.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I cannot complete this post without a mention of the great folks who attended to our every need.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At dinner we had a wait staff of 7 people who took care of us every night.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Seby, from India, was our main waiter and was just delightful. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We will see him in April and September.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsRkZJMpchA_K3m0En5AADWDaYX4ZdXeP-mw3k4yvE714__NkFcXnLOfKM378Y7B6olYiYwPSfbFCAE6RB8MGhrnfitWjsNihzhPUIs-7y-tGlE6hT2l3jITdnSWSGXwICRGYPERZF-asY_WiyLO3rUE0fUXPmjTY6kxt7jLyYxY0bgVwTxbFLZEtmg/s4032/7%20Seby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsRkZJMpchA_K3m0En5AADWDaYX4ZdXeP-mw3k4yvE714__NkFcXnLOfKM378Y7B6olYiYwPSfbFCAE6RB8MGhrnfitWjsNihzhPUIs-7y-tGlE6hT2l3jITdnSWSGXwICRGYPERZF-asY_WiyLO3rUE0fUXPmjTY6kxt7jLyYxY0bgVwTxbFLZEtmg/s320/7%20Seby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nikola, from Serbia, was our Sommelier.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a lot of laughs with him and will see him in Sept.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWKnvqbxbclt7nNLNODM14nn8PvfXgy17kWNrJGN81nDt-cz8YSR0PEef0WI5C6RYirKcSRCymu-irDHlg3l437e5mgCSS44HBHSu-JPmFrQYswn2Fvy40ItByKWzAHCkoLTYaBjZd6tbEyP0az8_z152gho2LDJDQf7bRuRjyHU99CbSsmAsVJgPDw/s4032/8%20Nikola.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWKnvqbxbclt7nNLNODM14nn8PvfXgy17kWNrJGN81nDt-cz8YSR0PEef0WI5C6RYirKcSRCymu-irDHlg3l437e5mgCSS44HBHSu-JPmFrQYswn2Fvy40ItByKWzAHCkoLTYaBjZd6tbEyP0az8_z152gho2LDJDQf7bRuRjyHU99CbSsmAsVJgPDw/s320/8%20Nikola.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vinray from the Philippines was one of our 2 assistant waiters</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR-KxZt5joDyiFqVURAbDkw8PNajp8g1_3z7ha4ADkoIWm9IoBiOGAwmStOc7c-pawHjM4o4KLwDETQj9XGF5j41h76oiBNVRS6H2QQFMpctJnctmLe0bs3HAydK1p-6QCpanvP8cglPkiaS2LJoBHCeT8WPA3y5fg6oLOt43MLi1jsfccw5JEQvOQw/s4032/vinray.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR-KxZt5joDyiFqVURAbDkw8PNajp8g1_3z7ha4ADkoIWm9IoBiOGAwmStOc7c-pawHjM4o4KLwDETQj9XGF5j41h76oiBNVRS6H2QQFMpctJnctmLe0bs3HAydK1p-6QCpanvP8cglPkiaS2LJoBHCeT8WPA3y5fg6oLOt43MLi1jsfccw5JEQvOQw/s320/vinray.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The day before arrival, crossing the Grand Banks, it was extremely foggy and at times</div><div style="text-align: center;">we could not see one end of the ship.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgPe2pp0W__mU6q2vcX1ho02IrgwYyaQqWqXobwjun1g-0Q7XAzJx1LKdxOv1jf9M5k32aLo1_r8DbTLN7aBqC435yAwviDsLUynwvcEvpjsY4j-gTR6_avLXVqBEMkV3Jg6oS_nJct5LHxkcr1jXplxbOox8aTMJfdCu0Kd7oQ-UHcXJhoggIelQ7Q/s4032/fog%20arrival.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgPe2pp0W__mU6q2vcX1ho02IrgwYyaQqWqXobwjun1g-0Q7XAzJx1LKdxOv1jf9M5k32aLo1_r8DbTLN7aBqC435yAwviDsLUynwvcEvpjsY4j-gTR6_avLXVqBEMkV3Jg6oS_nJct5LHxkcr1jXplxbOox8aTMJfdCu0Kd7oQ-UHcXJhoggIelQ7Q/s320/fog%20arrival.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Foggy day at sea</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our arrival in NYC is normally quite dramatic.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The lights of the city and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and then the statue of liberty...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our arrival to NY however was again pea soup fog and passing under the bridge, you were not</div><div style="text-align: center;">even able to see it. So I went back to bed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Arriving in Brooklyn, we were off the ship, thru customs, and back on solid</div><div style="text-align: center;">ground by 0845. Our limo arrived and by about 930 we were at LaGuardia</div><div style="text-align: center;">waiting for our 2pm flight in the United Club.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our flight crew to Denver was great!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>We were seated in row 1 so we had time to chat with the flight crew when things</div><div>slowed down a bit.</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then while waiting for our flight to Tucson I saw the same flight crew</div><div style="text-align: center;">getting on our plane so when we got on board it was a sort of welcome home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kate and I immediately went to sleep and woke up when they turned on the lights for arrival.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting off the plane our FA kidded with us saying:</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Next time perhaps you two wont be so needy".</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our friend Kelsey picked us up at the curb and by 930p we were back at</div><div style="text-align: center;">the Cactus Ranch and this trip was history.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I would also be amiss if I did not mention our gratitude to friends Kelsey and Morgan</div><div style="text-align: center;">who took time off from work and traveled to Tuscon to dog sit the Doodles for us.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Without them - this trip would not have taken place.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks Ladies!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So that gave you a quick snapshot of what a crossing is like on the QM2.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Its a beautiful ship and even though it carries over 2,000 passengers, its so large</div><div style="text-align: center;">that you never are crowded, and often can find a place all to your own.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And now.... only 164 days till we get back on board and head to</div><div style="text-align: center;">the UK and Ireland for summer 2023</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Between then and now we have some winter RV'ing to do so we should not be</div><div style="text-align: center;">radio silent for very long.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope you enjoyed riding along.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>GregKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15334269677191676729noreply@blogger.com989R66RV8+H246.2439153 -35.184943518.049491088260687 -70.3411935 74.438339511739315 -0.028693500000002814