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Eileen Joll
Eileen Joll

Eileen Joll

📍 England Læs mere
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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    Breakfast viewA dirt bike racetrack being created1Cows in the forest!Beautiful wild flowers!CheltenhamHello young one!Oh there's more!Subway warning

    Cotswold Way - day 5

    16. september, England ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    Today is our last day on the Cotswold Way. Before we started today we had a nice chat with Janet, or BnB hostest with the mostest. Our little place was stocked with tons of breakfast items and snacks and anything else you might need. We spent the morning watching the sheep graze while we ate our breakfast.

    We walked 11.5 miles today in clear, mostly sunny weather. The trail was pretty easy walking as well through more forests and along some roads. We walked a ridge across from the city of Cheltenham so our views were a little different. But we still got to encounter our cows and when we took a wrong turn across a pasture, a herd started running towards us. Sorry, no pics, just wanted out. There are about 30 miles left on the way that we won't do. We are not disappointed. The trails have been a lot of the same thing so we don't feel like we are missing much by not finishing the whole thing.

    Today was the first time we encountered people walking the same direction we were (against the grain). A couple from the Toronto area walking with an English friend of theirs. The Toronto couple have done a number of long distance treks, mostly in England.

    Once we finished we got an Uber to the train station in Cheltenham, a train to London Paddington (it was crazy busy), a subway (standing room only), and then a 15 minute walk to the London School of Economics where we have a dorm room for the night. It is an old dorm with two beds, one desk, and a sink. We share the bathroom with others in the floor.

    Tomorrow we tour London!    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    Good morning English countrysideSo many sheepRight on the trailInto the woodsTown of Painswick1I don't think they use this door!Old fort wallsGolf course clubhouse1Cooper hill (cheese roll) from the topCooper Hill (cheese roll) from the bottomChickens at our guesthouseGreeted by the dogsSheep from our porch1Our sweet bungalow

    Cotswold Way - day 4

    15. september, England ⋅ 🌬 61 °F

    We started today at a trail head with a great vista. Then we walked through a lot of forests coming out onto a golf course, vistas with great views of the countryside, and old battlefields. It was mostly sunny today but also very windy (20+ mph) especially at the tops of the hills. We were also fortunate to find a nice coffee shop in the town of Painswick where we took a little break.

    There is a hill on the trail called Coopers Hill known for an annual cheese roll competition. Once a year people race a cheese wheel down a rather steep hill. The pictures we took don't do the steepness justice and we had to look up exactly what this would look like, so here is a link so you, too, have an understanding of this fun and quirky event.
    https://youtu.be/cvuktushEhY?si=eTHOGEBjBNArmujn

    We passed a lot more hikers today headed towards Bath. We talked to one couple and discovered they stayed at the inn we planned on eating at. They had accidently taken their room key so we volunteered to return it. The place we are staying tonight is another little house - one room with bed and kitchen and a bathroom. It is in the back of a house where they have chickens, sheep and five dogs that greeted us. A super cute place. The chickens and sheep are fun to watch!

    About 3 minutes from where we are staying is the Royal George. We stopped when we got to the village for a beer then returned later for dinner.

    Today was another 13 mile hike and we have decided that this is a sweet spot. 13 miles gives a good workout but doesn't exhaust. It gives us time to stop for a coffee (if available) and makes for a more relaxed pace.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    Some places there weren't gates, you have to climb over
    Leaving the black horse inn to start the dayOut for a early morning ride on her horseWalking by a golf courseSome gates were barely big enough to fit through with pack onWe detoured around these2

    Cotswold Way - day 3

    14. september, England ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    Today was a shorter day at 12.5 miles. Much of it was through heavily wooded areas but we walked along ridges that gave beautiful views allowing us to see for miles. While shorter, it was a roller coaster, up and down. The forecast was for rain in the afternoon. Fortunately we only had a couple of showers until we were almost to our Airbnb, and the skies opened up.

    We saw lots of locals out for a Sunday walk, many with dogs, but very few long-distance hikers.

    After settling in to our room in Stroud, we decided just to walk to a nearby supermarket to get something to eat. Shortly after leaving the room, it started to pour again. Arriving at the supermarket, we discovered it was closed ( it closed early on Sunday). We decided to get an Uber to go get something to eat and then returned back to the room via Uber.

    I did a little research on some birds we had seen the first couple days on the Cotswold. One was a grey partridge, which were very common the first 2 days. The other bird we saw a number of was a pied wagtail,    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    1Good morning sheep!Right past the cows!Old army rampartsWhat a cutie!Lots of weeping willowsMy Shetland cow up close - finally!Another cutie with those bulls all around him!1Rain + sun = rainbow!

    Coldswods Way - day 2

    13. september, England ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    Today was another day of undulating hills through more pastures, country roads, and some forests. 18.5 miles in all. Though the trail is pretty will marked, a few markings are ill placed out covered by overgrowth. We missed the trail s few times. The first time we were way off but by using all trails we were able to find it was back. After that we referred to all trails more often.
    The pastures are privately owned but there are public, advertised foot paths across then and anyone can respectfully cross them. We walked very closely past sheep, cows, horses and very quickly past bulls!

    The country lanes were beautiful as you would imagine. Though twice it looked like the rains were about to open up on us, we were soaked with only about 10 minutes of light rain each time, then sunshine.

    Both days of walking here have had tons of ripe blackberries along the trail and lots of gates to go through.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    The Cotswold starting pointA cute houseThe signs we are followingLiterally walking through fields!22A rainbow near the end

    The Cotswold Way - day 1

    12. september, England ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Today we started walking the Cotswold Way in England. We started in the town of Bath and walked 17.5 miles to Tormarton. The path was pretty easy walking. There were some hills, as few steeper than others, but the only thing that slowed us down was some mud and stepping around cow patties. We walked along some roads out of Bath and then mostly through fields, next to cows and sheep, crops, wild flowers, and old civil war battlefields from a war in 1642. We also encountered as few raindrops but we had mostly sunny skies. There was no where to stop on this section of the trail for food or drink but we found a nice bench to eat the lunch we had packed. There's not a lot around our hotel so we are thankful they have a restaurant here.

    We didn't encounter any walkers going our direction but we did see a number going the other direction. Most people end in Bath, while we started there. We did talk to a couple from Colorado who where originally from PA and had met at Penn State.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    The old city wallThose are cross bow holes that look little crossesThe Minster11Never have I ever seen a dragon in a church!Show at the York Royal Theater1Another church1On the river12

    25 hours in York

    10.–11. sep., England ⋅ 🌬 64 °F

    We arrived in York just before noon and had a very nice visit. We had already booked a 2 hour walking tour at 1:15 and entrance to the York Minster (cathedral) at 3:45. We had a short walk to our room at the Georgian House and Mews. Fortunately, our room was ready and we were able to check in.

    Along the way to our lodging, we passed the York Theatre Royal and saw that the musical Military Wives was opening that night. We went online and booked tickets to the 7:30 performance.

    On our way to our tour, we grabbed a sandwich and gathered for our truly free walking tour. York is a city steeped in history and this tour was all about it - trying to cover 2000 years in 2 hours. Eileen was less than impressed.

    The York Minster is one of the largest gothic cathedrals in Europe. While the original church was established in the 7th century, the current building wasn't started until the 13th century and was finished in the 15th century. Originally a Roman Catholic structure, it is now part of the church of England.

    Interestingly, there is a recently opened school to train stone masons. They use hammer and chisel to carve stone and new figures. About half of the new masons are women.

    We went back to our room for a quick shower, then out to dinner. We ended up at the Taas, an Indian/Nepalese restaurant. The food was good and a nice change from what we have been eating.

    We enjoyed the performance and the venue (relatively small). There was a pre-show performance in the lobby by actual military wives choirs.

    On Thursday, we explored more of old town, particularly the area known as the Shambles. The word Shambles comes from a word that is derived from the butcher shops or the tables used for the meat. Now it is area full of shops and eateries. There is a Shamble St and it seems like it could have been Diagon Alley from Harry Potter, including a number of magic shops.

    Before heading back, we sat along the river enjoying a latte and the sun. There were crew teams practicing as well as older adults who were seemingly taking lessons. The river cruise boats were fairly busy with most passengers being older.

    After going back for our bags, we hustled back to the train station and boarded the train with a minute or two to spare. We are off to Bath, where we will begin our Cotswold Way walk tomorrow morning.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    The bridge crossing from old town to new townNite contemporary streetA blend of old and new buildings1Paddington Bear!!!Small contemporary churchPitt - his father gave his name to Pittsburgh!Found on Rose streetFirst floral clock in the world.Plaque doctor

    Edinburgh day 2

    9. september, Skotland ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Today was another beautiful, sunny day. We started by exploring the new town area. By the 1800's, the old town had become overcrowded and full of diseases. Officials decided to expand the city and the new town was created, though it is still very old! The streets are wider and there is more green space with lovely gardens. It is also way less touristy! We took our time exploring the area, side streets, and garden areas where many locals enjoyed their lunch break.

    We headed back to the old town to do a guided tour of the Mary King Close. It was unusual for a close to be named after a woman. At some point a new government building was built. The tops of old tenements were removed and a new building was built across the buildings and closes. The tour was of the closes and people who lived there under the new building, making it like an underground area. The tour talked about the people living there, their jobs, and the lifestyles they lived.

    With some time to waste before dinner, we just enjoyed the street entertainment which is plentiful on the Royal Mile.

    We dined at the Deacon Brodie pub. Deacon Brodie was a prominent businessman by day and a gambler and thief by night. His life was the basis of The Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde written by Stevenson. A nice day to end our stay in Scotland!    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    Steeler Game
    Entrance to our BnB in Riddle Court CloseOld church now an event centerPart of the Royal MileTouching his toe brings good luck!Once a prison and tax collection place. People spit on it 😐St Giles ChurchThese were all made in Scotland.A close (alley way)A closeScotland parliamentThe Holyrood PalaceEdinburgh CastleLooking down the Royal Mile from the castleThe Whiskey Experience1Whiskey is not all bad!

    Edinburgh day 1

    7.–10. sep., Skotland ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    We spent two full days and an evening in Edinburgh, a very busy city, second largest in Scotland. We spent day one in the old town where we walked the Royal Mile, visited the Edinburgh Castle, and did the Whiskey Experience.

    But first, we were able to find a sports bar on Sunday evening when we arrived that covered NFL games. The Steelers were on the big screen. We shared a table with a couple (Aaron and Cloie) from Denver who were Steelers fans. He was originally from the Cranberry area.

    The old town dates back to the 1500's when England and Scotland were fighting over control of the land. The Royal Mile is a 1.1 mile of buildings that were tenements - mostly very crowded one or two room flats in the center of town. At the top of the hill is the castle and at the bottom is Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. The street is lined with touristy shops, restaurants, and pubs. But if you look up, the architecture is amazing. In the 1500's there was no running water or sewage so people would dump their wastes in the street leading to a lot of diseases. Along the street there are also a lot of closes, little, skinny alleys leading to a maze of little streets between the buildings. Our air BnB was in Riddle Court Close. We stayed in a building that was only 300 years old, on the 5th floor - no elevators, of course.

    The castle, built into the hill, is fortified on three sides. The fourth side is a sheer cliff of rock. The Scots thought that no one could attack from that cliff but one night the English scaled the cliff and took charge again. The views of Edinburgh from the top were awesome. We also had fun watching the cranes and disassembling the grandstands that are used for the tattoo (music festival) that takes place in August. 6 weeks to assemble, 5 weeks to disassemble.

    The Whiskey Experience talked about how whiskey is made and how and why different areas of Scotland produce different tasting whiskeys. There are five main areas of whiskey producing in Scotland. We were able to sample whiskeys from all five areas and all whiskeys do not taste the same. Eileen even found some she likes! It was a very high tech presentation and their collection of whiskeys was massive.

    We had dinner at the Ensign Ewing. Live Scottish music was just getting started but we didn't stay for much of it. The music scene starts get at 9:00 some places, even later in others.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    Fairy pools
    Fairy PoolsOur greeting committee on road near our pod3The pod- cute and cozy!Climbing the StorrFor the not so climbers, take a cruise shipA shy highland Shetland cow - best picture I could getDunvegan CastleDunvegan Castle grounds

    Isle of Skye

    5.–7. sep., Skotland ⋅ 🌬 57 °F

    We rented a car in Fort William and drove to the Isle of Skye on the west coast of Scotland. Yes, they drive on the left side of the road and the steering wheel is on the right so there was a little bit of a learning curve getting started, but Jeff did a great job of adjusting. I was the copilot helping with reminders to stay left, roundabouts, and the ever changing speed limits. Additional challenges on the island were curvy roads and many one lane, potholed roads with two way traffic and pull overs for passing. Our air BnB was on this kind of road so we eventually got used to looking ahead for cars.

    On our way in on Friday we stopped at the Fairy Pools. It is a mile long babbling brook with little waterfalls - a natural occurrence. Someone was smart enough to add some Scottish folklore about the fairies and advertise it. Many, many people walked the trail. It was very pretty and if we hadn't already crossed hundreds of streams and waterfalls, or if it was a sunny day, we may have been even more impressed. Of course, it started to rain while walking it and we got to our car soaking wet.

    We went on to our air BnB which was a pod about 9 feet by 15 feet - two rooms and a bath. Very cute and cozy. We met our host, Peter, who has been running his two pods since 2019. They are almost fully booked from March through October. After drying out we went to The Old Inn for dinner then back to our pod for an early evening.

    On Saturday we hiked The Storr, a steep, ragged mountain line created from ice glaciers. The scenery, of course, was beautiful. Near the top, there was an area where the wind had to be at least 40 mph.

    From there we went to the Dunvegan Castle and gardens for a tour. It has belonged to the chief of the MacLeod family for 800 years.

    Lastly, we stopped at the Talisker Distillery gift shop followed by one more dinner at The Old Inn (there weren't many choices where we were staying but the food was very good!) and then back to our pod.

    Sunday we returned the car to Fort William on a drive that was much better than on our way to Skye. We took a taxi to the train station and then caught the train to Glasgow and then another to Edinburgh.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    The ending point at the town center
    Another rainbow!Rainbow forest! (Zoom in for better view!)3One more waterfallSheep or rocks? Zoom in to see!2Gnomes!!!

    Day 7 - Ft. William - end of WHW

    4. september, Skotland ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    We arrived at the end of the West Highlands Way late this afternoon after 16+ miles today. It felt good to be done!

    We started the day with a long uphill climb for 4 miles (remember we ended yesterday with a long downhill) . While going uphill, we were attacked by the midges so much so that we wore our nets while hiking. Once we reached the top, a cool breeze started and kept them away. The uphill climb was followed by rolling trails for about 8 miles before we headed back downhill. Generally, the trail was pretty easy today. We had a little bit of sun and some rain throughout the day.

    We did come across 2 couples from Harrisburg, PA late in the day. Our only spotting of people we had seen throughout the week were Francesco and Oscar and Sophie as we were heading into town. They had already completed the trek and were heading back to where they are camping tonight.

    Our bed and breakfast is the Myrtle Bank guest house. It is housed in what appear to be a couple of old mansions right across from the water. Our room has a fantastic view of the water and mountains. http://www.myrtlebankguesthouse.co.uk/

    We had dinner at the Tavern. The food was good, and once again we had dessert (it has become a habit, although we split one). Jeff also continued his sampling of whiskey.

    Tomorrow, we rent a car and head to the isle of Skye for a couple nights.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    Iconic Scottish highland houseDevil's Staircase startMidge netsThe Highland Getaway1

    West Highlands Way - day 6

    4. september, Skotland ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    It was a beautiful day physically and scenically! The sun was shining, the trail easier than expected, and the scenery was absolutely gorgeous!

    At breakfast we met Natalie and Steven from Australia. They started hiking the day before and will only hike 3 days. Our hosts, Mary and Colin joined us for breakfast as well and supplied us with many stories. It would be fun to just spend the day with them.

    At the start of the trail there were more hikers than we have seen all week . This is the popular Glencoe tourist area and many people come to do day hikes up the devil's staircase. Many are younger people carrying camping supplies and maybe only hiking for a day or two. Either way, there are a lot of people on the trail .

    We hiked only 9 miles in the Scottish Highlands. While I'm sure they look beautiful from the road, being in the mountains surrounded by more mountains was amazing.
    The trail started easy enough for three miles and then we started up the devil's staircase. It's a step climb with a lot of switchbacks to the highest point in the trail. The trail was used for many things in the past including during WWII. It was more treacherous then and many died on the trail, hence it's name. Though it was steep, the path was pretty clear. We took our time and had no problems. We were rewarded with stunning views. Along the way we met the midges - tiny biting gnat like creatures who swarmed you when you stopped moving. We had spray and wore our nets when we stopped.

    Of course what goes up must come down and down is not always easier than going up. The way down was mostly gradual until the last two miles which became rather steep. The entire trail was open and one could see hikers in front of you and behind you like ants on a hill.

    Throughout the day we saw our younger friends Sophia and Oscar , as well as Francesco. We also met Cherylina from New Mexico. She had bad knees and was definitely taking her time, but this had been on her bucket list to do. On our way to dinner we saw our friends from New York as well.

    We ate at the Highland Getaway as recommended by our BnB host and we were not disappointed. We finished our meal with the spotted dick and custard - Delicious!    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    Baa baa Black sheep!
    Scotland Highlands - Sheep and waterfallsNice path for walking - finally1A rainbow greeted usThe view out of our BnB window.St Munda's Manse

    West Highland Way - day 5

    3. september, Skotland ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    Today was supposed to be a 19 mile day. Given how tired we were after 15 the day before, we made the decision to give it bodies a break and not walk the whole thing. We had a leisurely morning and spent time talking to Claudia and Wendy, the ladies from Colorado and PA.

    The path on the morning was an old military road so much easier on the feet. We made good time on it as we trekked at the base of the mountains, part more waterfalls and bubbling streams, and next to a scenic railroad.

    After 7 miles we reached the Bridge of Orchy where most of the people we met were spending the night. They are doing the hike in 8 days. We had lunch there and met Shannon from Knoxville TN. She is traveling alone. It always surprises us the number of solo female hikers we are. While we were still there, our Australian friends - Simon and James arrived. They are brother in laws. Simon is a pilot and James is in security. They look the parts! Lol. We spent a couple hours there.

    We took the bus to the closest stop near the trail - Kings house. It was a 17 minute ride. We got off right at the trail and hiked another mile to a Kingshouse Hotel. Our accommodations were a 20 minute taxi ride from , to the village of Ballachulish in the popular Glencoe area.

    We are staying in the St Munda's Manse, a former rectory of the next door church of Scotland. Our hostess is Mary, a lifelong resident is the village. She and her husband spent about 3 years remodeling the place after buying. The church has already been sold and being turned into a residence.

    We walked into the village to buy lunch for tomorrow and have dinner so we did pick up another mile of walking.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    On the ferry, the only time we wore raincoats
    The ferry rideOur lunch packed by the hotel. It looks like a school field trip lunch!1Lagging behind, as usual1Watery trailsAnd muddy bogs to get aroundThere have been black berries all along the trails- yum!!Locals picking hazelnutsWhen you want to hike by can't afford new shoes - duct tape to the rescue!A Scottish cottageHe almost didn't that make it throughBeautiful mountains!!He posed for me!Stone wall and sheep - very scottishOld cemeteryEnjoying a drink with our Aussie friends.

    Day 4 - to Tyndrum

    1. september, Skotland ⋅ 🌧 52 °F

    Today's hike ended up being a bit over 15 miles and our start time was dictated by the ferry schedule. The earliest ferry was at 9:00 so we were there in time to get a seat. The ferry only holds about 14 people. However, at "rush hour", he will make a second trip. Easy enough since it's only 5 minutes across the lake.

    A word to describe today's trek: water. Dozens of waterfalls, both up close and visible in mountains across the way. Rushing streams, small and large. We crossed a number of smaller streams trying to find stones above water. About 1/2 to 3/4 of the trail had water, a mixture of puddles and running water. And, lastly, rain - light at times, fairly heavy at others. The sun did peel through for a few minutes throughout the day but the appearances were brief.

    The first half was a fairly gradual uphill, followed by a descent that was a bit steep to begin with but leveled out. The last couple miles was the easiest to travel, which was good since we were tired.

    These last few days have been physically challenging for us given the terrain and walking on very rocky surfaces. We are watching where we put our feet most of the time (although we manage to look up and take in the beautiful scenery). There have been places it is difficult to squeeze through, a tunnel today that Jeff could barely get through with his pack on, fallen trees that Eileen needed help lifting her legs over as she rolled herself over top.

    We met two ladies from New York, Joy and Amber, who had hiked this 10 years ago. We were amazed when they said they were 50, would have guessed 10 years younger.

    After dinner, we popped in the bar and our Aussie acquaintances, James and Simon, were there. We sat and talked to them for a while and James bought us a drink. During our conversation, we realized this was likely the last we would see if them given our respective walking itineraries.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    Jeff with Sophie and OscarAn honest box - filled with goodies and drinks and you leave the money. Most aren't this nice!Heather in bloomAnother waterfallThis is the third or forth pair of boots we have seen left behind ???Another waterfall!So green!!!Our lunch viewCareful stepping!Can you tell I like waterfalls?This hotel had a separate entrance for hikers.Crossing over waterfall streams (5 times!)And the fun continues!Jeff got stuck here!Raising the ball to signal for the ferry.The hotel across the riverOur ride. It started raining while we were waiting.

    West Highland Way - Day 3

    31. august, Skotland ⋅ 🌧 54 °F

    Today we hiked 13.5 miles. Before hiking we stopped at a little store to buy lunch and snacks as we weren't sure if there were any services along the way. We talked with a local who was telling us about the weather here in the winter. She and her family are headed to Disney in October. She would have talked all day had we let her.

    The beginning of the hike was easy, rolling hills through the national forest. Sometimes we were high with great views of Loch Lomond and passing by many waterfalls. (About 40 throughout the day!) With all of the water running down the hill, the area was a lush green. Sometimes we were down low on the Bonnie banks of the lake.

    We met Sophie (originally from Germany) and Oscar from London. We have played leap frog (we would stop, they would pass us, they would stop, we would pass them) with them for a couple of days, but today we started together and had a chance to talk. We also met a mother- daughter duo from Germany, a pair of older ladies from Colorado and PA (State college area), and a couple from Cleveland. Lastly we met up with two guys from Sydney, Australia - James and Simon.

    We stopped for a bite to eat at a stoney beach along lake and later found a hotel that did serve drinks so we had a coffee. This is where we meet the Australians. The trail after this stop was difficult. The book described it as more of an obstacle course than a hike. That was a good description. We did a lot of boulder climbing and carefully picking our way through rocks and tree roots and around mud puddles. At first it was fun but after a while it got very tiring. It was a very good leg workout, one might even call it exhausting. Along the way, we talked to a guy from Poland on bicycle. He was carrying it more than riding it, not sure how he did it.

    We had to catch a ferry to get to our hotel across the river. We joked with the Australians that the last one to the ferry had to buy the first beers. The ferry left hourly at 10 past the hour. The Australians had to run down the path to catch the ferry. We were 5 minutes too late and had to wait 50 minutes in the rain for the next one to arrive. We bought their beer at dinner.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    Good morning cows!These are throughout the pastures. They are often a challenge to open!Heather in bloomOther hikers on the trail.Great views as we go up the hill.Cow dung and sheep poop along the wayA old stone wall and sheep - can't get more Scottish!A rocky wet, climbLoch Lomond from on top of Conic HillThe greeting committee!The climb down. Zoom in to see how far it goes!More of the climb downA haggis house. A haggis is a fictional character that children try to find. Much like our fairies.A very wet rat in the home stretch!The white dots are sheep, brown dots, cows

    The West Highland Way Hike - day 2

    30. august, Skotland ⋅ 🌧 59 °F

    Today we hiked 15.5 miles from Dryman to Rowardennan. The day started easy enough with a gradual uphill climb for about 5 miles through pastures with cows, then forests, and then more pastures with more sheep. The meadows were filled with heather (the plant). It is just about done blooming and had a maroon look to it. A week ago it would have been a brighter purple. The weather was overcast and in the 60's.

     The next two miles involved a steep climb to Conic Hill with the second mile being very steep, rocky and wet as a stream ran down through the trail. Our bodies began to protest near there top. At the top we were greeted by cows who regularly graze there and great views of Loch Lomond (large lake) and the hills around it. There were many people in the area as it is s popular day hike and it is Saturday.

    We were excited to start the downhill climb until we did. To help protect the area from erosion, the path is lined with large rocks of various sizes and shapes, fashioned in a step like formation. You must watch your feet on the way down and carefully decide where to step. It is also very steep. This goes on for a solid mile The toll on the knees and hips is hard. Even the young people heaved a sigh of relief when they got to the bottom!

    We continued for a short distance through the Lake Lomond and The Trossachs National Park arriving at the Oak Tree Inn where we took an extended lunch break to give our legs a chance to rest. From there we headed out still having another 7 miles to travel. As we started to leave it began to rain and we hiked through a light rainfall the rest of the trip. It was somewhat refreshing since it was very humid. The remaining 7 miles were not near as interesting with most of it being by the lake or through the forest and all of it through the rain. There were enough hills and mud to keep it interesting.

    We arrived at our hotel with enough time to shower and put on dry clothes before dinner. We have seen a lot of the same hikers at the hotels and places to eat - people from Germany, Australia, and Scotland.

    Our hotel / restaurant was established as an inn in 1696, although parts of the building are older than that.

    We met a couple on the trail today who had met 2 years ago doing the Camino de Santiago. He was from the Netherlands, she from England.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    Getting started!
    A cottage called the Shire!There are sheep everywhere!!Other hikersThe distilleryThe Beach Tree for lunchA common wildflower found all along the trailThis is the symbol we look for to stay on the trail.The Crachan - good food.Our hotel

    The Highland Way Hike - day 1

    29. august, Skotland ⋅ 🌧 57 °F

    Today we started hiking on The West Highlands Way in Scotland. Day one involved walking from Milngavnie to Drymaen. We took a bus to the starting point where we had breakfast and saw many other hikers starting the journey, everyone getting their picture taken at the famous obelisk.

    The weather was mostly cloudy with occasional sprinkles. Great hiking weather.

    We hiked 13.5 miles mostly through meadows next to sheep and cows with some rolling hills. The surrounding hills were very green and beautiful. About halfway, a distillery called out to Jeff and we did a short side trip to the Glengoyne Distillery. We didn't take the time to do a tour but we were able to sample some whisky and purchase travel bottles for later.

    There aren't a lot of places to stop along the way so when you find one, you take advantage of it. So, we stopped at the Beech Tree for lunch. They have a petting zoo with Shetland ponies. From there it was just one foot in front of the other until Dryman. Along the way we met two girls from Colorado. One just moved to England to go to school and she and her sister are doing the hike before school starts. We also met Francesco from Italy (Sicily).

    We are spending the night at the Buchanan Arms. Once in Drymen we ate at the Crachan, noted as the oldest licensed pub in Scotland.    Læs mere

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  • UK & Ireland - hiking & more
    Bagpiper on the Glasgow University campusGlasgow campus groundsAshton LaneRiver Museum - a museum of transportationGlasgow cathedral1On tour at the Tennets breweryOne of many murals throughout the cityGeorge wears the cone all the time and sometimes other celebratory decor as well!A couple of many of the cool old buildings in the cityThe "armadillo" as called by the locals - a new concert venueLike Pittsburgh, this used to be a industrial site, now revitalized.

    Glasgow

    27.–29. aug., Skotland ⋅ 🌧 63 °F

    We arrived in Glasgow Wednesday afternoon after leaving home at 5:30pm on Tuesday. We were tired enough that we decided on an Uber instead of taking bus and subway. Chris greeted is when we got to our Airbnb. We had a bedroom, sitting room and private bath in a very modern (interior) townhouse in the west end.

    After resting a bit, we ventured out for food and drink. We ended up at Curlers Rest, one of the recommendations of our Airbnb host. The food way good and I enjoyed the St. Mungo's beer.

    We then wandered around and spent some time exploring the University of Glasgow campus. Certainly some beautiful old buildings. There was some type of event taking place and we got to enjoy some bagpipe music.

    A stroll through cobblestone Ashton Lane was nice. At night, it is lit with twinkling lights.

    We made our way back to our room and it wasn't long before we decided it was time for some sleep.

    On Thursday we slept in but once we got moving we headed on the subway to the city center. The subway circles the city with only 15 stops. It is very modern despite dating from 1896. It is the 3rd oldest in the world. We walked around the city center a bit to get a feel for it. It reminded us of Pittsburgh with a gritty feel, no doubt due to its industrial history.

    We decided to do on the hop on, hop off bus for a tour of the city. We decided to go off at the Riverside museum, dedicated to transport. I expect a major focus on ships, given that at one point Glasgow had about 50 percent of the ship building capacity in the world and employed 100,000 people in the ship yards. However, the museum covered everything related to ground transportation, as well. A good stop.

    After getting back on the bus, our next stop was the Glasgow cathedral. This was built around the year 1200. While not the most impressive of cathedrals, it is the only cathedral that survived the Reformation, although not as a Catholic church. The crypt below the church contains the remains of St. Mungo.

    Since we were so close, we decided to walk to the Tennent Brewery and caught the last tour of the day. Tennent claims to be the best selling beer in Scotland. The Tennent family started brewing on the site back in the 1500s. The tour finished up with a pint and some good conversation.

    Food (and some more beer) was at Sloan's, a recommendation of the bartender at Tennents. Eileen had fish and chips while I had a haggis melt in ciabatta per recommendation off the Tennents bartender. Very good.

    We then wondered around some more before hopping on the subway for the last bit of the journey to out room.

    Tomorrow starts our 7 days of hiking on the West Highlands Way.    Læs mere

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  • Wedding and the South
    Great Britain Embassy
    A Shakespeare performanceCosta RicaChina Embassy

    Washington DC

    2. maj, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We added the more so before heading home and that to visit Jason and Selina in DC. Well, just Jason since Selina was unfortunately out of town. They live in Alexandria VA, a very cute walking town. Friday evening we took a walk around town and found another Jeni's ice cream. I didn't know it was a chain! Saturday we went into DC and headed to the embassy area. The embassy's were having an open house, where you can walk through parts of the embassy and many of them have music, dancing, and/or food samplings. There were 64 embassy's open this weekend (more next weekend) and we got to about 7 or 8. Great Britain is the most impressive (and massive) embassy. Even without touring the insides, it was fun to just walk past and see the embassy buildings. This is an area em we haven't been to before. Later we settled in at Jason's house and enjoyed watching the Kentucky Derby and catching up on life. Love visiting my kids!!!Læs mere

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  • Wedding and the South
    SnakeTall trees!

    Congaree National Park - day 2

    1. maj, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    After breakfast we set out for another hike, this one starting at another point in the park. We followed the Kingsnake trail. This trail is known for birdwatching and while we weren't looking for them, we heard plenty of them. This is not as popular a trail so it was very quiet and peaceful. We walked past groves of the same trees with intermittent areas of standing water and crossing over the Cedar Creek. In one of those holes of water we saw as raccoon swimming from tree to tree. We also got a glimpse of a snake, lizards, a frog, beautiful white bird flying, as well as other birds. One can only imagine the number of insects and critters that live in this habitat. If this area was flooded, there would not be a path and the giant bases of the trees and the knee would not be seen giving it a completely different view. The water rises about 10 feet when it floods. We hiked to the Weston lake and then back, a total of about 10 miles. It is possible to canoe or kayak the creek that runs through the park or the river that runs on the edge of the park. You need to bring your own, rent them outside of the park, or plan on taking a tour with a third party outfitter. Definitely something we would do next time, especially if there was some flooding.Læs mere

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  • Wedding and the South
    Very tall treesHmmm, what chewed this?We heard lots of woodpeckers"knees"

    Congaree National Park

    30. april, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We arrived at Congaree National Park around 3:00. After seeing the exhibits in the visitor center and getting a hiking trail map, we set out on a hike. Congaree has a boardwalk that is an easy hike and gives you a great feel for the nature of the park. Part of it is closed for reconstruction. We took the boardwalk trail for a bit and then got on the Weston lake trail, taking a little detour to Wise Lake, a very beautiful, peaceful place. Back on the Weston trail we hiked as far as we could go before we had to turn around and go back. Normally this trail would connect with the boardwalk again making a loop. All in all we went about 6 miles. Congaree is a park that's will look different every time one visits depending on rain. Being a lowland, the area floods easily from the Congaree river. It floods 8 - 10 times a year mostly in the winter season and the water can rise up to 10 feet. Because of all of the water, the ground if very fertile for the trees that are there. The most notable trees are cypress, tupelo, loblolly pines, and sweetgum. The average height of these trees is 130 ft high. They are very impressive. The cypress and tupelo trees have massive bases and the cypress have 'knees" surrounding the tree. These are roots from the trees that grow up out of the ground. They look like trees that have been cut down. No one really knows their purpose but it is believed that they add extra support for the trees. The fox squirrels like these trees and the area as there are a lot of them! We headed to the campground in the park. There are only 12 walk-in tent sites here with no camping in your cars. We set up our tent and made some grilled ham and cheese sandwiches for dinner.Læs mere

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  • Wedding and the South

    Charleston - day 3

    29. april, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Officially we were west of the city of Charleston and in James Island. We camped at the county park. They have a regular RV park, but many places on the south do not allow you to camp in your car unless it is RV certified. Can't find a reason why, but we cannot sleep in our van like we usually do. This is not the first place this was the rule. So we tented and all of the sites were walk in which means you park in the field or parking lot and carry your stuff to your site. Fortunately our site was not very far and the sites are pretty nice. This park had a lake, large (5 mile) walking track around it, outdoor adventure area, and splash zone for kids. After cooking breakfast at our camp, we got ready to go to Folly Beach. Folly Beach is a cute little beach town with a pier, restaurants, and the usual souvenir shops. We walked on the beach, took a swim - the water was remarkably warmer than expected - had a drink at the pier, then took another walk on the beach again. It was a perfect relaxing day after so many days of touring or driving. On our way back we stopped at Cuco's raw seafood restaurant. You pick the fresh fish that you want and they cook it to your liking. I had a crab cake and Jeff had swordfish. Back at camp we enjoyed a fire before retiring for the night.Læs mere

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  • Wedding and the South
    Painted RowSt John's Church CemeteryChurch of the HuguenotsBig tourist things to doNathaniel Russel House

    Charleston - day 2

    28. april, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    After a relaxed morning at the hotel we packed up, loaded the car, and then went to breakfast at Poogan 's Porch. Jeff's tomato omelette and my chicken and waffles were definitely highlights of Southern cooking!!! We walked around the french quarter taking in the old churches including a church of the huguenots (French Protestants). We toured the Dock theater, the oldest theater troop in the country, and still performing in a very old building that was once a hotel. Next we hit up the slave trade museum where slaves were separated from their families and traded. We moved southward to the fancier, richer, neighborhood of historic mansions called South of Broad. There we saw rainbow row - a row of brightly colored houses. Some say they were painted this way so the drunk sailors could find the right house. For whatever the reason, the houses are quite colorful and well maintained for being as old as they are. We toured the Nathaniel Russel House, a rich man who made much of his money in slave trading. Grabbing a coffee for the road, we got the car and headed to James Island county park to camp.Læs mere

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  • Wedding and the South

    Charleston, SC - day 1

    27. april, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    We drove to Charleston and arrived Sunday afternoon. We walked around the historic town and got the lay of the town. We found the waterfront park and the famous Pineapple fountain. Many of the must see things were closed either because it was Sunday or because of events but we did tour the old exchange and provost jail . This building has been many things over the years between the revolutionary war, through slave trading, and then the civil war. We window shopped along King St and then went to the Rusty Bull for a beer. Unfortunately their kitchen was closed but the worker directed us to the Big Gun Burger shop. It was definitely a locals place with good burgers, beer, and great conversations. The bartender was awesome. Walking around a little more we ended up at Jeni's ice cream - the best ice cream I ever had! The brumbleberry was too die for!! Tonight we decided to splurge and stay at a hotel in town- the Emiline.Læs mere

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  • Wedding and the South

    Savannah, Day 2

    26. april, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We started the day with a free walking tour of the historic district of Savannah. Free walking tours are one of our favorite things to do in new places. They aren't really free, but you tip at the end accordingly. They are very popular in European cities, but not so much here. Daniel helped to start the free tours here in Savannah after visiting in Europe. He grew up in Savannah and was very knowledgeable about the city. The city was started by a man named Oglethorpe from England. He sailed here under the leadership of one of the King Georges, hence the name Georgia. The area was set up like those in England, that of communities with a church at one end, housing along the sides, and civic or commerce buildings at the other end, all around a common space. There were originally 24 communities but now there are 22. Each common space has become a park so there is plenty of green space in the historic district filled with great old oak trees. Before Savannah became a tourist area, land was pretty cheap and hotels started moving in. People didn't like the look and an ordinance was passed that all new builds had to look like the era of the old buildings, so everything looks old and very well maintained. After our tour with Daniel we walked around Forsyth Park, the largest community park made up of over 30 acres. Students from the Savannah College of Art and Design were having a chalk draw festival throughout the park. They all were good but some of them were very talented! We toured the Juliet Lowe House. Juliet Lowe was the founder of the girl scouts. We passed an old graveyard on our tour so we went back to walk through it. There are about 600 headstones there, but about 9000 bodies. Many were buried in mass graves during disease times. No one has been buried there since 1835. We headed over to the market district which is a more lively entertainment area with restaurants, shops, and tourist things like escape rooms, etc. Along the way we picked up a beer at the Little Crown, a very small pub. Savannah is an open container city and they card everyone no matter how old you look! There was some live music happening at an Irish pub but in the open air. We got some pizza and enjoyed the showLæs mere

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  • Wedding and the South
    On top of Stone Mountain
    Savannah Riverwalk

    Savannah, GA - day 1

    25. april, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We have spent the last three nights at Stone Mountain Park. It is an outdoor resort of sorts with outdoor activities, a lake, and plenty of touristic things to do. There is a mountain in the middle that has been carved out with images of some prominent Georgia people. You can take a tram to the top of the mountain or you can hike a mile up to it. We have done so much riding in the car and standing while touring, we needed a little activity so we hiked The beginning of the hike was a pretty gradual assent but the top got much steeper. At one point the park had added hand rails to help you get up. We were awarded great views from the top of the mountain, though it was a little hazy. On a clear day you can see a very long distance. Back down the way we came and then back on the car to drive to Savannah. Along the way we came across a roadside stand selling boiled peanuts. We had to try them. They are very soft, almost like beans, but also very addicting. We got to Savannah late afternoon and checked into the RV park we were staying at. We decided to go to the riverfront area in Savannah. It is known for shops and restaurants along the river. We knew this would be open in the evening. There were some crafters selling their wares in an open market. A sax player caught our attention and told us about echo square. It is a square marked by bricks in a small sitting area. When you stand on the square you can hear an echo but anyone else in the area cannot. Also if you and another person stand an equal distance from each other around the square you can both hear the echo. If one person moves one step away, there is no echo. No one can really explain the science behind it or whether it was a planned or an accidental thing created by the architect. We ate at the Broken Keel, a traditional southern food restaurant in a very old building. Jeff had a fried green tomatoes sandwich and I had delicious catfish. We walked around the area a little more but then headed back. The bugs were biting near the water - we were told they were sand mites - and they were biting even more at the campsite. They were super small and came through our netting. Not the best nights sleep!Læs mere

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  • Wedding and the South
    Jimmy Carter Presidential LibraryMartin Luther King's childhood home

    Atlanta - day 2

    24. april, Forenede Stater ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Today we went to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. We are getting to know our presidents on this trip! It was a very nice library. Carter was such a peaceful, humble man, and far more intelligent than I ever knew. His legacy continues today through the Jimmy Carter foundation that still strives for peace and equality in the world. Next we went to the Martin Luther King memorial Park. We saw his childhood home and toured the Ebeneezer Baptist Church where he and his father preached and where much of the initial planning for his cause started. The area is a historic area and the houses are maintained as they were in the era. After all of that history, we earned a beer at the Outrun Brewing Co not far from the campground.Læs mere

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