Clik here to view.
Day 1 in LA
Our predawn departure for LA meant traveling without coffee. I was surprised to get a delicious cup of Starbucks coffee on the leg from Sarasota to Atlanta. It tasted great with the biscotti they...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Day 2: Touring downtown LA
Cafe 50 This morning we met our son Tom at his place of work. After checking out the place and meeting some of his fellow artisans, we went to Cafe 50 for lunch. This is a quaint retro eatery that has...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Day 3: Catalina Island
Leaving Long Beach for Avalon on 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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Day 4: Visiting the LA Natural History Museum
Rose garden entrance to the 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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Day 6: Tandem biking along the Pacific coast
Renting tandem bikes on Venice Beach 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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Day 7: Final Day in LA
La Bea Tar Pit We started our busy day exploring LA at the La Brea Tar Pits. Dennis had wanted to see this ever since he had first learned about it as a child. As we watched the pit bubbled and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Perhaps this time…
Dennis, Aurela, and Jane at a recent party. After working for about a year on fixing and selling houses, Dennis, Aurela (mom) and I decided it was time for a well-earned Caribbean vacation. It was to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Day 1 (actually Day 4): Aruba
Oranjestad Aruba I was very anxious as we boarded the plane for Aruba. Once out of customs, we took a taxi to the port. As we saw the ship in the distance, I pinched myself to be sure that this was...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Day 2: Curacao
Willemstad, Curacao When we awoke, the ship was docked in Willemstad, Curacao. Since both mom and Dennis have colds, we did not plan any excursion. While Dennis slept, mom and I sat in the Jacuzzi and...
View ArticleDay 3: Sea Day
Day 3 was a sea day and for us a day of relaxation and recuperation. Mom especially enjoys sitting in the hot tub and sunning herself. After months of working on houses with little downtime, Dennis and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Day 4: St. John’s Antigua
Dennis on Ham Radio Happy Thanksgiving! It seems strange celebrating this day of gratitude without friends and family. Though our gathering this year is small, we each have many reasons to give thanks....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Day 5: St. Kitts
Rainbow over St. Kitts St Kitts and Nevis are volcanic islands in the West Indies that constitute one country: the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The west side borders the Caribbean Sea and the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Local hiking: no need to travel far when there is so much to see nearby.
Hello, Everyone. Red Bug Slough Much has happened since I last posted. Last fall, I took several trips cruising the Caribbean and even visited the Panama Canal. Since I had previously toured many of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Rothenbach Park
About 10 miles from our house is a waste management landfill that was converted into Rothenbach Park. This community park at the end of Bee Ridge Road has about five miles of paved trails,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
T. Mabry Carlton Reserve
About 20 miles southeast of Sarasota, the T. Mabry Carlton Reserve is a wonderful midweek wilderness escape. The reserve has over 90 miles of trails and is nearly 40 square miles. We only hiked about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sleeping Turtles Preserve
Sleeping Turtles Preserve lies just west of T. Mabry Carlton, J. Memorial Reserve in Venice and about 20 miles from home. This 174-acre preserve is divided by the Border Road and contains in all about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Celery Fields
Before turning back the clocks this weekend, Dennis and I wanted to see the sunrise. Since Dennis is not one to rise early, getting him to agree to venture to the Celery Fields in Sarasota was more...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Jelks Preserve
To calm my post-election tenterhooks while awaiting the outcome, Dennis and I sought refuge in the Jelks Preserve near Venice, FL. There the cool breeze, the buzzing of insects, and the sun reflecting...
View ArticleClik here to view.
John Ringling Causeway Bridge
John Ringling Causeway, aka, the Ringling Bridge is named after John Ringling of the Ringling Brothers Circus. It spans across Sarasota Bay and provides stunning panoramic vistas of Sarasota and the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Siesta Key Beach to Point of Rocks
Hiking along Siesta Key Beach is one of our favorite local places to walk. Siesta Key is an eight-mile-long island that is accessible by two bridges from the mainland. On the Key, there are three...
View Article
