Day 6: Tandem biking along the Pacific coast
We reserved a tandem bike from our hotel room. By the time we got to the beach, it was raining and only 54º F. Determined to try riding a bike built for two, we decided to try if for at least one hour. As we peddled, the rain stopped and we had an enjoyable ride. As…
Day 4: Visiting the LA Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum (NHM) in Los Angeles is the largest natural and historical museum in the western United States, It started in 1913 as the Museum of History, Science, and Art. The main building alone is worth seeing It has massive marble-walled rooms and a domed and colonnaded rotunda, We started with the Gem and Mineral…
Day 3: Catalina Island
We left Long Beach on the Catalina Express for Avalon on the Catalina Island. In the background are snow-capped mountains. We passed the Queen Mary on our left and several cruise ships. Soon the ferry motors picked up speed for the remaining hour-long ride. The weather was ideal with cloudless skies and warm enough for…
California Dreaming—exploring LA, the City of Flowers and Sunshine
My wanderlust has been in full bloom for months and I am finally going to scratch that itch with a trip to LA. Los Angeles has several nicknames: The Big Orange, The City of Angels, La La Land, and the City of Flowers and Sunshine. I’m not interested in the glitz of stardom, so I…
Middlebury, VT (August 10, 2015)
We arrived at Middlebury, VT, around 11 PM. Late to find accommodations, but we were not prepared to find that the inns were full. Middlebury College was having an athletic camp. As a result, all the rooms were taken. As we were leaving Middlebury on Route 7, I spotted a small motel with a vacancy…
Savannah, Georgia (August 9, 2015)
On our way north from the Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA) conference in Orlando, Florida we detoured to Savannah, Georgia for lunch. We walked around the Chippewa Square where the “Life is like a box of chocolates” scene was filmed for the Forrest Gump movie. The actual bench is now in the Savannah History Museum. We…
Day 22: (July 7) Middlebury Gap
This morning, the youth group was up early, but was relatively quite. They certainly did not follow the leave no trace principles. They dropped wrappers on the ground, washed dishes near the water source, and left the seat up on the privy to attract varmint and flies. We have about six miles to walk to get…
Day 21: (July 6) Sucker Brook Shelter
We were in no hurry to leave the shelter (9:15 AM), thinking that we were going only about 8 miles to Rt 73 (Brandon Gap) where the McKains would meet us. We looked forward to seeing them again and to having a warm shower and sharing a pleasant meal. On top of a mountain, Dennis…
Day 20: (July 5) David Logan Shelter
During the night the rain pelted the shelter’s tin roof and kept me awake until about 4 AM. It is so dark in the woods, especially on a rainy night. You can’t see your hand in front of your face. I was looking forward to seeing the Vermont stars, but the clouds and tree-cover have…
Day 19: (July 4) Rolston Rest Shelter
After two days rest in Rutland, it was difficult getting back on the trail. We just missed the bus to the trailhead and had to wait an hour before the next one arrived. We started walking until late morning when the weather became overcast and cool (55° F). We’re jinxed! With two days of sunshine (while we were…