Mark has a privilege day – the day after the 2nd Bank Holiday – and it usually is sunny day every year. We decided to visit Regent Park on 1st June.
Regent Park is the most memorable place for us – this is where we first went out together 26 years ago.
We strolled through rose garden, Japanese water garden, sunken garden, etc on Queen Marys Garden and were blessed with a wide variety of sc Read on...
King Arthur you have much to answer for. From ‘Excalibur plastic swords and plywood crossbows the streets here are alive with tacky tourist souvenirs that scream a crossover between English legend and Chinese cheapness.
Despite our expectations our meals here were very good. Thankfully we steered clear of the King Arthurs Arms and found a pub that had good beer and good food. Thinking that vege Read on...
Rough seas greeted our first day out. We were running though what is known as the Tongue of the Ocean, the Bahamas passage between Andros Island to the west and New Providence, Exuma and Long Island to the east. Its called the Tongue because a deep sea trench makes a curled formation between the islands. As seas were rough and the ship rolling, I guess the Tongue was giving us a licking! Andros I Read on...
Our cruise continues amid the possibility of either being restricted or cancelled due to the unprecented drought in Europe and low river levels. Before we left home we knew that we would be changing boats after day 7 with the possibility of spending the last two nights in hotels. Well we have the best possible We are changing boats after our visit to Regensburg and again after Miltenberg. Strangel Read on...
If it is August, it is time to visit dear friends, Ken and Debbie in Southern California near Westlake Village. I am looking forward to a break from the heat, as well as some marathon card and table games with them. And I am sure we will have a gathering of friends for a barbecue at their wonderful condo at Sherwood Country Club. If you dont know Sherwood, here is a brief history: This land was pu Read on...
The start of a few days getaway in Colorado. Our trip here was prompted by our of his Masters Degree in Music at Colorado State University. As we would be here, Susan and I planned to extend our stay in the state a few days. My only previous trip to Colorado was to Denver in 1982 to attend a conference. Susan had never been to Colorado.
Our United flight from Washington Dulles arrived at 10:10 a. Read on...
Yesterday started off well. We walked into Padstow and I had a day at Rick Steins cookery school. I have done a cooking class there before but this time due to the pandemic it was a tad different. You were not allowed to leave your work station without wearing a mask. You had to see most of the things the Chef was telling you via a screen which if I am honest 2 rows back and one dodgy cataract it Read on...
(Day 86 on the road) Not further accelerating climate change can be hard. Faced with the choice between a for 20€ or a flight for 35€, I admit that I opted for the plane. Thus, leaving Bucaramanga in Central Colombia, I soon found myself in the northern, somewhat shady city of Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast. It felt like being in a different country.
For to the central parts of Colombi Read on...
Taking a trip ‘out west to see the great state of Texas had been on my wish list for some time, but visiting there had always been overlooked in favor of an international destination until April, 2019 when the time seemed right to see the Lone Star state. Planning an itinerary for places and sites we both were interested in seeing was actually pretty easy.
Texas is the 2nd largest state in the Read on...
According to Wikipedia, in 1847 Wiley Thompson brought his large family and many slaves to his new 636 acre (almost a square mile) home along Larrison Creek and founded of Forest in Cherokee County. In the 1870s the Thompson family opened a general store, saloon, a water mill, a gristmill (powered by water), and a cotton gin. The Forest Post Office opened in 1879. The Forest Baptist Church (with s Read on...