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Ireland & USA 2016
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Ireland & USA 2016

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  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Dublin #3

    May 24, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    A few miscellaneous shots of our last day.
    Buskers in Grafton Street.
    Oscar Wilde's house & it's plaques.
    Some Irish humour in The Little Museum
    The Hatch cafe with the young staff hard at work.
    A typical Irish meal of chunky vegetable soup & Beef and Guiness stew.Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Bardstown

    May 26, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    What a relief we are finally here! Showered and hair washed and feel more like back to normal now. Had roast turkey last night and it was so good to have a home-cooked meal again. The wine was beautiful too!

    Some shots of our home (& garden) away from home for the next few weeks, apart from when we will be on the road, & our friendly, hospitable hosts!!    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Boone, North Carolina

    May 27, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    On the road about 9 for the six hour drive to Boone. It's the Memorial Day weekend so traffic expected to be heavy. We stopped at Cumberlnad Gap National Historical Park for lunch - a beautiful setting. We stopped at an overlook and then continued along the Blue Ridge to Boone. The countryside was green and lush and the mauve Catawba rhododendrons were in flower everywhere.
    First shot is our lunch stop at Cumberlnad Gap, next one is a Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Blue Ridge and next three of the spectacular views.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Boone

    May 28, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    I walked up the hill near the house before breakfast. Ravi Shankar built a spiritual retreat at the top of the hill and apparently they were expecting about 2000 people there so there was a lot of traffic on the road. (We had been invited to go up for singing, dancing etc but politely declined). Everyone is so friendly and waves as they drive past - even got a wave from the Sheriff. After a hearty breakfast we set off for Julian Price National Park and a 4 km hike along a beautiful trail that followed a river. We crossed a wooden bridge at the start of the trail before Norman called us back to see a snake curled up on a rock by the bridge, sunning itself- eek!!! I scared it off by making too much noise, but apparently it was a harmless one anyway. We met the park ranger along the trail and he assured us that he had never seen any poisonous snakes on that trail. It was a glorious day and a beautiful walk, lots of families, some with dogs, were walking the trail.
    Some shots along the trail. Norman looks like quite the paparazzi with all his camera gear and many people we came across commented on it!!    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Boone

    May 29, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Walked up the hill again before breakfast. As I got closer to the building at the top I could hear chanting. There were clearly a lot of people there but not many in the grounds. After breakfast we drove to Moses H Cone Historical Park for another hike. This one was a bit longer - 9 km!!!! We took a wrong turn at one point and had to retrace our steps for quite a ways. There were rhododendrons the entire length of the trail but these are a later-flowering variety and weren't out yet. There was some mountain laurel out - very delicate white flowers. The trail came out at a lake half way and the sight of the old house from the lake was beautiful. Although it was tiring ( the last few steps to get to the toilets at the end were the killer!) it was a fantastic day. Early to bed for everyone tonight!
    Some shots of the House and the walk along the trail.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Nags Head

    May 30, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 22 °C

    Ron & I walked up the hill to the retreat before breakfast.
    After breakfast we set off for the 6 hour drive to Nags Head on the Outer Banks (OBX) in North Carolina. We passed very different countryside, some very depressed areas with shanty houses but as we got closer it changed again. We'd had beautiful weather but tropical rainstorm Bonnie had hit the Carolina coast and we struck rain as we drove towards the OBX area. The houses in this area are raised off the ground and all wooden and give the place a very distinctive seaside feel. It was raining constantly when we arrived and we couldn't go out exploring so we just had dinner and went to bed early as it had been a long day in the car.

    A shot of typical houses here in the mist.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler
    2

    Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head

    May 31, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Breakfast at a restaurant across the road from the hotel then we drove to Kill Devil Hills, the National Memorial site of the Wright brothers successful first flights & the museum that has a replica of their plane. It's an enormous site that includes the museum, replica huts used by the Wright brothers as living quarters & workshop, a huge memorial atop Big KIll Devil Hill and markers showing the distance each flight travelled. The Park Rangers showed children how to make kites from plastic trash bags as part of the program of activities and talks.
    The weather was perfect - started off misty but warm and sunny after a couple of hours.
    Some shots from the Wright Brothers Memorial Site.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Manteo, Roanoke Island

    May 31, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    After lunch we travelled a few miles to the National Park site on Roanoke Island to see the site of the Lost Colony. Fascinating story of a group that travelled form England and settled on the island in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, but eventually disappeared without any trace whatsoever. The only clue are the letters COA carved into a tree but no one knows what they mean. It's a real mystery, with some conjecture that they may have been assimilated with or been killed by the local Native American population. The museum was small but excellent and the Park Ranger gave a very entertaining talk about Roanoke Island through the centuries.
    A shot of Ranger Mike, a real character and the beautiful painted ceiling in the small replica room from Elizabethan times.
    Last shot is of an osprey nesting in the water on the way back from the island.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Bodie Island, Nags Head

    May 31, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    We had intended to go to Cape Hatteras to see the lighthouse there but as the road is only one lane each way and the traffic would be really slow we decided to go and see the one at Bodie Island instead. Tickets for the climb to the top were all sold out (only one person can climb at a time) which was probably just as well as I don't think I could've done it. The lighthouse is still used and the keeper's cottage is now the Visitors Centre. Lighthouses each have their own pattern of blinking lights at night, which tells mariners where they are. During the day they can see the patterns on the lighthouses which also tells them where they are, hence the different swirls, stripes etc on them. The one on Bodie Island dated back to 1872 and the building at the base was marked 1871.
    Some shots of the lighthouse, with the Visitirs Centre in the fifth and looking up the staircase inside the lighthouse in the fourth.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler
    1

    Norfolk, Virginia

    June 1, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    About an hour and a half drive to Norfolk, passing cornfields and more lush, green fields. Spent a couple of hours in the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and only managed to see a small part of them. A small tram travels around the gardens, stopping at various points so people can get off and explore without having to walk everywhere. The rose garden was beautiful - about 30,00 roses! The rhododendrons weren't in bloom but they must be spectacular when they are. Weather was quite muggy this morning.
    After lunch we drove into Norfolk, parked the car and picked up our tickets for the two hour Naval Base cruise. The working port is huge and the actual Naval Base was an hour from shore. It's the largest in the world and the amount of money tied up in it is mind blowing. There were no aircraft carriers in port as the Dwight D Eisenhower had deployed two hours earlier, with 7000 people on board. The USNS Comfort was in port - it's the largest hospital ship in the world. It's secondary purpose is to provide hospital services in support of US humanitarian relief missions. There were a couple of enormous ships that are affectionately called "floating Walmarts" as they can supply almost anything! The newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford will cost about $12.5 billion to build - building commenced 6 years ago!
    Checked into our hotel and asked the manager for suggestions for dinner. He organised a zippy little golf cart for transport (free) to the Freemason Abbey restaurant. Apparently Norfolk hosted a big basketball conference some years ago and the buggies were used to transport people around the city. They were so successful that the city decided to keep them and use them for tourists - it was great fun and the meal was fantastic & a lovely way to end the day. The buggies don't operate after about 8.45 so we eventually had to walk back to the hotel.
    Some shots of the Botanical Gardens, including the Japanese a garden, the perennial and border gardens and the geese & goslings we came across by the lake. The last one is of the USNS Comfort but the weather had turned very nasty at that point and it was too wet to be able to get really good shots.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler
    1

    Charlottesville, Virginia

    June 2, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Left Norfolk amid heavy mist, which lasted formany miles as we travelled towards Virginia. We decided to go to the Yorktown Victory Centre but the GPS sent us to the totally wrong place so we changed plans and went instead to the Yorktown Battlefield in the Colonial National Historical Park This was the site of the battle fought by George Washington & the British General Cornwallis and the only way to see it all was to take a driving tour of the site. We then drove on to Yorktown, a lovely small town, all built in the colonial style. It was by the ocean and people were enjoying the beautiful day on small man-made beaches along the shoreline. When we eventually left Yorktown we passed the Victory Centre, which we had tried to find earlier, but it was getting late and we headed for Charlottesville. Emily, the GPS didn't earn her keep today and we ended up ditching her and taking a more direct route. Stayed at the Inn at Monticello - a lovely period B&B. Dinner in town and then bed, after a day that was a tad frustrating!! Charlottesville is the home of the University of Virgnina, a large university with the largest collection of Australian Indigenous Art in the United States.
    The first shot is of Moore House, in the Historical Park. This is where the terms of surrender were negotiated in 1781. Next four shots are of Yorktown and the last is us in the rockers enjoying a glass of Virginian wine on the porch of the Inn!    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler
    11

    Monticello, Virginia

    June 3, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Drove through beautiful woods to Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson. The house is in a beautiful setting and was originally part of a 5,000 acre property that is now owned by a private foundation. No photography was allowed inside during our two hour Behind-the-Scenes tour. We saw rooms on all four floors and there were some very innovative features throughout the house, including the polygraph which Jefferson used to sign duplicate copies of documents, the revolving bookstand, wine dumb waiter, seven-day clock and many others. After a break for lunch we did the Slavery Tour - really interesting and the 'other' side to Jefferson and his home. Most historians now believe that he had a lengthy relationship, and fathered at least one child, with Sally Hemings, one of his slaves. He only freed five slaves in his will and she wasn't one of them, so the man who publicly decried slavery as an abomination was somewhat conflicted. The slaves lived and worked on a road called Mulberry Row but very few original buildings remain. The last tour we took was the Garden Tour, covering the flower beds and the enormous vegetable garden beds. The vegetable garden was laid out in beds that covered 1000 feet. The garden has 330 varieties of vegetables and 174 fruits & the produce is used in the cafe, for seed production and some is given away. Easily the largest vegetable garden I've ever seen! We visited his grave on the way down the hill. It is still used by descendants of the Jefferson family, although not by any descendants of Jefferson and Sally Hemings. Apparently there were several burials there this year. We walked form there to the Visitor Centre - a beautiful walk through a lovely wooded area.
    We left Monticello to return to the B&B, took a wrong turn and the GPS took us, once again, on a very long & winding route home. After dinner in Charlottesville we caught a cab and ended up making him take us back to where he picked us up from because he had no idea where he was going - what a circus!! Eventually called the Inn and they organised an Uber car for us - the driver was German and didn't speak very good English but we got home in the end!
    The first shot is of the front of the house, where the dome is not visible, the second from the rear, including the dome. The third is of the only room in the house we could photograph - it was a tiny space off the dome which his daughters used as their private space. The fourth is a cabin on Mulberry Row, the fifth is the vegetable garden, although it was difficult to show how extensive it was and the last was us with the man himself.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Boone, North Carolina

    June 4, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Left the Inn at Monticello for the long drive to Boone. No time to go hiking along the way, which was the original plan and when we arrived we were al too weary to walk anywhere!
    A shot of the beautiful mountain laurel that is found everywhere in the Blue Ridge and one of an interesting trash can that they have in the Ntional Parks where bears can sometimes be found.Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Boone

    June 5, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Two hikes planned for today after breakfast. First was a repeat of the one we did two years ago to Linville Falls. After recent rains there was more water falling this time. The weather was perfect for hiking and it was so beautiful walking along the track. After lunch in Julian Price Park we hiked along another trail - different experience along the creek bed but also very beautiful. No photos because the iPad was left in the car.Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Boone

    June 6, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Today's hike was around the lake in Julian Price Memorial Park - supposedly a 2.7 mile hike but I suspect it was considerably longer than that!! We passed several logs beavers had chomped on but didn't manage to see any in the lake. Once again it was a lovely hike and we ate our lunch by the side of the lake. After the hike we drove back to the cabin in Boone for our last night there.
    Some shots from the hike round the lake, the second shows the mountain laurel which has the most delicate flowers.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Bardstown

    June 7, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    After washing sheets etc and having breakfast we left for the very long drive back to Bardstown. We travelled through Tennessee and it was one of the prettiest drives we've taken so far. The trip didn't seem so long because it was so picturesque. We arrived home about 4 o'clock and did some much-needed washing. All up we drove 2,000 miles in the last 11 days and we saw many places we would not normally have seen and certainly hiked many trails we would otherwise never have hiked.
    First shot is of the sunrise from the porch of the cabin, second is the foxgloves beside the path and the third shows the petals of the mountain laurel on the steps to the cabin. They are very delicate and look like shells when they fall upside down. Then packing up the car and a last look at the cabin before leaving.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Bardstown

    June 8, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    We needed a good sleep after Sue had to take Norman to hospital for a brain scan late yesterday. He's OK but has had two small strokes and needs to see a neurosurgeon before he will know more. Not what any of us expected or wanted but better to know than be unaware.
    Went into Bardstown with Sue then back for lunch. Walked along Froman Greenwell Road to see the donkeys and bed after dinner. Norman is still waiting for a call from the doctor so we aren't able to venture too far at the moment. Beautiful weather.
    Some shots from around the garden. Note the deer sitting on the grass!    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Bardstown

    June 9, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Norman is still waiting to hear from the specialist so no exploring too far from home just yet. We went to the supermarket with him this morning and saw something we have never seen before. Groceries came to $122.00 and at the end of the process the girl gave HIM $1.08 in change!!! This happens about every 3 months according to Sue. They have a frequent shopper program, with the supermarket's own credit card, that is obviously fairly generous.
    Ron saw a young deer run by the side of the house, towards the woods. It sat there for a while but they are very sensitive to movement and noise and it ran away when we tried to get a closer look. No snakes in sight yet, thank heavens.
    Hillary Clinton's endorsement by Obama & Elizabeth Warren occupied the news tonight on MSNBC - no sight or sound of Trump - for a change!!
    Some more shots of the garden.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Bardstown

    June 10, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Went to Walmart with Sue while Norman waited at home for a call. It's big but it didn't seem very busy at all. Then to the drive-through at the bank - something we've never seen before! Sue pulled up at the chute, took the container out, put the cheque in the container, put it back in the chute and it zipped to the teller at the window. She was surprised to hear we don't have this at home and was happy for Ron to take photos (thought we should check first)! The money came back in an envelope in the container and down the chute. No need to fill in any forms and all she asked was for Sue's SS number. Apparently you can do all banking this way - paying loans, withdrawing and depositing etc.
    Norman finally got an appt next Thursday, with the neurologist, Monday with the opthalmologist & Tuesday with his GP so next week will be a big week.
    It's been an absolutely glorious day today - beautiful warm sunshine.
    Some more shots of the grounds, with a bit of Pointer humour in the first two and a generally in-American sight in the third.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Bardstown

    June 11, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Haven't had a walk for a few days so after breakfast we headed to Bernheim Arboretum., not far from here. It's 15,000 acres of trees & gardens and was so peaceful as there were hardly any people about. We walked around the 32 acre lake which is populated by many, many Canada geese. Saw a turtle burrowing in the mud but when he heard us he pulled his head in!
    We walked to the vegetable garden that is manned by volunteers and used to teach people about sustainable gardening. The food is also used in the cafe. Last weekend Bernheim tried to break the Guinness record for the largest number of tree huggers (we're not sure if they made it) and there were some huggers still there!! Had a nice lunch in the cafe in the building designed by Carolne Kennedy's husband and has a grass roof.
    Ron and I then went to the enormous indoor/outdoor flea market. We'd been there before but we won't be going again! The big change was that there were no guns for sale and there was a sign saying it is illegal to sell them on the grounds. There were, however, a couple of stalls selling very nasty knives of all types.
    Some shots from around Bernheim,including one of the tree huggers.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler
    21

    Bardstown

    June 12, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    After breakfast we headed to Comiskey, Indiana to the Stream Cliff Nursery & Winery. Crossed the Ohio River in Louisville on the new bridge - they now have three bridges side by side. The Big Four Bridge is used as a pedestrian bridge. Arrived at the Nursery at 10.30 only to find it doesn't open on Sunday's until 12!! We had to fill in time and the GPS managed to get us lost again and brought us back to the nursery. One of the staff told us about a creek nearby which people go to so we headed there. We crossed the stream and went for a walk while Sue watched for birds and Norman took photos. There were thousands of tadpoles in the water and some tiny frogs. Eventually went back to the Nursery and had lunch, which was very pleasant. Had a look around the garden and did a wine tasting and then drove the 11/2 hours home. The temperature outside reached 99F T one stage and it was very, very hot , with very high humidity.
    First shot shows the stream we crossed in the car. Others are of the Nursery grounds and the restaurant , including Ron's blackberry cobbler, which by all accounts was delicious!    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Bardstown

    June 13, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Earlier breakfast today then off to the Sisters of Charity convent at Nazareth for a walk around the lake and in the grounds. Beautiful morning for a walk, before it heated up. We stopped by the church for a look - it was very airy and light, unlike many Roman Catholic churches we've seen. When we came home we walked in the woods to see the fruits of all Norman's hard work clearing and planting. After lunch we went to the Post Office to post a couple of parcels home but one was too full so we bought one box to put everything in - very happy with what we managed to get into the box.
    Dinner was fried green tomatoes (yum - his best yet!) and gumbo with lots of goodness, including alligator meat! It tasted much like chicken except a little tougher.
    First two shots are of the grounds at Nazareth, including the cemetery.
    Third is a closer look at the evidence of the Pointer humour in the signpost.
    Fourth shows the fairies on the tree trunk.
    Fifth is of the chocolate lab statue where Gemma was buried.
    Last one is us enjoying the sunshine in the woods.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Bardstown

    June 14, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Norman's first appointment today so we borrowed Sue's car while they went into Louisville. My first drive in the US this time and it was so easy. Her car is fantastic to drive, with great visibility and Bardstown is easy to get around. Went to the PO to post a box home and then to the stores near Kroger's, the local supermarket. The rest of the day was just taking things easy, so it was a pretty lazy day today.
    Norman was told that his vision will not return to normal but it may improve a little. He seemed in pretty good spirits but the most important appt is Thursday, when he learns more about the stroke itself.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Bardstown

    June 15, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Went for a walk along Froman Greenwell Road before breakfast, fed the donkeys along the way. Norman had an appt with his GP today so we borrowed Sue's car and drove into Bardstown again. Not a great deal to see unless you drive out of town but it was so hot we decided to come back home rather than drive too far. It tried to rain last night but didn't really succeed! We know winter will hit with a vengeance when we get home so we are enjoying the heat while we can. At least Ireland will be something of a transition to the cold!!
    Some more shots of the garden.    Read more

  • Trotting the GlobeIreland & USA 2016Traveler

    Bardstown

    June 16, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Early morning walk to feed the donkeys again - I'll miss going for a walk along this lovely road. Did a bit more packing and went for a drive to look at a new rick house being built just outside town. Then went into Bardstown while Norman was at the neurologist. The news wasn't so good and he had to have another scan so the dr can try to find where the blockage is - could be carotid or heart artery. He is still in good spirits and feels very secure with the neurologist taking care of him.
    Nice dinner of lamb shanks and a Mollydooker red tonight.
    Then bed to prepare for an early start tomorrow.    Read more

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