Back in 2001 it was decided to visit England, Scotland and Wales and to delve into the history, architecture and culture of the country. What we discovered was an excellent way to do this, Living Outdoor Museums. This was the first Living Open-Air museum that I had ever visited and it started a search for additional ones during all future travels in the USA and Europe. Visiting one gives you the experience and a real sense of the past as you discover what life was like. Within the different buildings there usually are actors in period dress demonstrating the daily life of the time being depicted, while answering questions you might have and explaining what it was like living in those times.
adventure
Pompeii – The death of a city
On a fateful August morning in 79 AD Pompeii (LINK), a Roman town-city near modern Naples, was totally destroyed and buried under a volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius (LINK) killing around 3,000 people as the rest of the population had already fled before the eruption. A flood of ash and protoplasmic heated air rained down on the town for approximately 6 hours completely burying the town and its inhabitants in up to twelve layers of ash and debris up to 82 feet (25 meters) deep.
The Tower of London
Well lets travel back in time with Mr. Peabody and his “Way-Back-Machine”.
Way-Back-Machine
Let us set the time machine for September of 2001 and revisit a trip to England, Scotland and Wales.
TRIP PLANNING
“Knowledge is learned but wisdom must be lived” – Anne Wilson Schaef
Travel philosophy ~ But of course, to plan an unbelievably memorable adventure that can be cherished in your minds and shared.
Map of trip
THE GOAL is to travel locally; to see the culture, history, architecture and art; to meet wonderful new people from all walks of life and countries while trying to stay mostly in private homes or home based B&B’s and camping when a convenient room cannot be found, if equipped. If a hotel is the only place available try to stay in small family run hotels. What better way to learn about your host country and their culture than to meet and stay with the people and see how they live? Learn to live and think locally, enjoy the new experiences. Respect the cultural and leave your dogma at home, relish in the differences. I live with Americans every day but when traveling I like to be with the people of that particular country. Try to travel with a small group or even individually, as people will be more open toward you rather than if you are in a large tour group.
“We have arrogantly assumed that our way of living is better when we have not experienced, known and/or participated in other ways of living, Sometimes what we learn from other people and cultures doesn’t have to be political or spiritual. It can be something that is just good to do. – Anne Wilson Schaef
2016 a year in review.
Well 2016 I am not sorry to see you go, it has been a year of ups but with more downs for me. Looking forward to 2017 and what is ahead.The year started off as good as any of the last few years with travel plans and family visits and was looking to be a pretty good year shaping up.
Starting off, a wonderful trip to Walt Disney World for 9 full days with 8 split between the 4 parks and a rest day. It was wonderful but tiring for us. Jodi was a trooper as usual, she walked as much as possible for a couple of hours then she had to use the wheelchair for the rest of the day.
The Characters
My favorite attaction
7 Dwarfs Mine Train
Expedition Everest
Kilimanjaro Safari – garaffe
Hollywood Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania
Spaceship Earth the symbol of EPCOT
Spaceship Earth
Our last photo together
Back from the trip Jodi was tired but pushing along pretty well. A clinic visit went well in mid-March but then she had an incident and died on the 31st of March. This completely shattered me, she had a spark of life that I cold not explain. It just radiated from her.
Taken at Mount St Helens, WA 2013
Christmas Baking
Always a smile even when she is not feeling well.
DisneyWorld arrival
Snow White Faces
Us with Tigger
Bodie 6 months old
Nothing holds her down
Copenhagen treat
Skiing
MC riding
Then I was able to get to 2 local events a Concourse Car Show and the Taste of Huntington Beach, both in HB Central Park, these two afternoons were just an amazing time out of the house.
Eggs being fried for the burgers, yes please.
The crowds were there to enjoy and all looked like they were having a great time.
And the candy!
Anyone for a tap?
How about desert?
Can not get enough
Appetizers
Taco MIxings
Next up on the agenda was to get up north to see my grandson’s 1st birthday at the end of April. It was a wonderful time but sad for all of us adults at the same time.
Old FortVancouver and 3 generations
Explaining how it goes together
Ready to roll
The big “1”
Grandpa’s very happy
Then a cruise to Alaska that was planned in 2015 with family and extended family in June. WIth 9 of us it was an exciting time and a very lovely trip.
Leaving Seattle
The whole Group
Family
Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay
Skagway
Ketchican
Then in October it was another trip up north to visit my grandson with an overnight stop in the Redwoods for the night.
Campsite
My sleeping area for the night
A quiet place to sit and relax
Follow me to the light
Seashore at Orick, CA
Along the road to Crescent City, CA
My daughter and the 2 grand kids moved back into the house the first week of November to fill up the 4 bedroom house. Now it is a lively house again with non-stop activity.
Finally the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas have been happy but hollow with something very important missing in our lives.
So looking forward to planning new adventures for 2017, enjoying travel again and seeing new places. My Bucket List is long and constantly growing so we will see if I can visit these places in the time left.
Planning and preparing for the 2018 Alaska adventure will take a lot of 2017 and really be exciting.
I hope everyone has a wonderful 2017 and your adventures all come true.
“May the calm be widespread, may the sea be as the smooth surface of the greenstone, and may the rays of sunshine forever dance along your path” Maori Prayer.
Alaska Adventure
Here is a massive trip I hope to take in 2018. With health issues right now I do not think this will happen in 2017 like was planned, but you never know. I still have a lot of planning to go into this adventure. It will be at least 45 days long. Heading north on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains I will be vIsiting Lassen National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Glacier National Park, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Dawson, possibly Prudhoe Bay?, Haines, Glacier Bay National Park, and Skagway, Then south to Whistler, the Cascades, Mt Rainier, and Mt St Helens. With the final leg of the journey back along the pacific coast to So Cal.
I know very ambitious but it is something I truly want to do. Any comments or recommendations?
TVP Journeys 
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