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WILLIAM
I am a sojourner, that is my occupation, that is what I do. I took Early Retirement in December 2010 and never looked back. I have taken several trips while on vacations around the US and to Europe while I was working but now can travel full time if I wish. Since I retired I have been visiting or revisiting many of my favorite locations in the US and then revisiting many of my favorite locations in Europe at a more leisurely pace, blogging all the way. When I post a blog I try and provide some practical and useful information on the location I visit in the blog for the frugal/budget traveler. Sojourner1208
Trips since retiring in December 2010
Trip 1 – Texas – December 12 – 14, 2010 – Hamilton Pool, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, Bandera, Lost Maples State Park
Trip 2 – Texas – January 12 – 18, 2011 - Washington on the Brazos to San Jacinto Battleground – Washington on the Brazos, San Felipe State Historic Site, Richmond – Ft Bend Museum, Webster (Intown Suites – home base for exploring south of Houston and San Jacinto Battleground), San Jacinto Battleground. Note: Webster Intown Suites would have been a great budget option for exploring NASA and Galveston as well if I had desired to go there.
Trip 3 - Texas - January 28 - Dinosaur Valley state Park exploring to South Llano River State Park -Ft Worth - Glen Rose - Dinosaur Valley State Park – Mason ( Where Robert E. Lee was stationed when he made his decision to resign his commission in the Union Army and fight for the South) - Menard - Junction - South Llano River State Park - San Antonio - Home account bad weather
Trip 4 – From Texas along the border to San Diego then up the coast to San Francisco and back across - From: February 7th 2011 - March 27th 2011 - Texas - Bryan - Harmony - Bastrop - Stonewall - Fredericksburg - Junction - Del Rio - Amistad reservoir - Langtry - Sanderson - Marathon - Big Bend National Park (then for some reason from Big Bend National Park to San Diego my blogs are missing ???), California - San Diego - Up the coast road from San Diego to San Francisco - Yosemite National Park - Nevada - Las Vegas - The Virgin Mountains - Utah - Zion National Park - Northern Arizona - Marble canyon - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - Monument Valley - Colorado - Pagosa Springs - New Mexico - Santa Fe - Ft Sumner - then back home.
Trip 5 - Touring Civil War battlegrounds from Texas to Gettysburg and back, also Washington DC – Bryan through East Texas to Louisiana and Kisatchie National Forest north of De Ridder, Natchez, The Natchez Trace, Rocky Springs Campground, then Mississippi - Vicksburg (Vicksburg Battleground, Vicksburg battleground museum, Old courthouse museum, the murals alongside the river, and the casino’s. I visited during the flooding of the Mississippi River.), Natchez Trace again to Jeff Busby Campground, Tupelo, Brices Crossroads Battleground, Corinth, then Tennessee - Shiloh National Military Park, Tim Ford State Park campground, Chattanooga (Chicamagua and Chattanooga battlegrounds and Lookout Mountain), Cherokee National Forest, Cherohala Scenic Skyway, North River Campground, Bald River Falls, then North Carolina – Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Lake Lure, Charlotte, then Virginia – Danville (last capital of the Confederacy), Appomattox Court House, Sailors Creek Battlefield, Fredericksburg and Fredericksburg battlefield, Prince William’s Forest Park, Washington DC, Mall and Smithsonian, too many museums to mention, White House), Quantico Marine Base and the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Manassas Battlefield (Bull Run), Stephen F. Udar-Hazy Center (an air museum by Dulles airport that houses aircraft too big for the Smithsonian, such as the Enola Gay), Harpers Ferry, Antietam Battleground (Sharpsburg), then Pennsylvania to the Gettysburg Battlefield, then back South again through Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee (stopping at the Parkers Crossroads Battlefield), Mississippi (stopping at Vicksburg again), Arkansas, Louisiana, and finally back to Texas.
Trip 6 – August 7 – September 17, 2011 – Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and back.
Texas - Bryan, Ft Stockton, Pecos, Guadalupe National Park, then New Mexico – Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Bottomless Lakes State Park, Roswell, Lincoln, Ft Stanton (free camping on BLM land, Lincoln, Lincoln National Forest, Ruidoso, White Sands, Las Cruces, Silver City, Pueblo Park, El Morro, the Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave, Albuquerque – (Aquarium, Botanical Gardens, Museum of Natural History, Old Town, Rattlesnake Museum), Acuna Pueblo, San Yisidro, Soda Dam, Spence Hot Springs, Jemez Falls, the Tsankawa Ruin, Carson National Forest, Taos ( the square, Kit Carson Museum, La Hacienda de Los Martinez), Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, then Colorado – Pagosa Springs, Mesa Verde, Cortez, then Utah – Canyonlands and Arches National Park, Rifle – overnight park in a rest area, Arapaho National Forest, Rocky Mountains National Park, then Wyoming – Riverton, Grand Teton’s National Park, Yellowstone National Park, then Montana – Gallatin National Forest, then heading back south again to Texas. On the way back through Colorado I went to Flaming Gorge National Park, Steamboat Springs, Kremmling, Routt National Forest (Rabbit Ears Pass dispersed camping), Steamboat Springs again, Roosevelt National Forest, Poudre Falls, La Junta then into Texas and home.
Trip 7 – Albuquerque Balloon Festival and Colorado, Nebraska,and Wyoming and Colorado Springs again – September 23 - November 3, 2011 - Texas – San Antonio, Junction, then New Mexico - Las Cruces, Journada Del Muerto National Monument, Albuquerque – Balloon Festival, Angel Fire, Eagle’s Nest, Raton, then Colorado – Colorado Springs – Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, 7 Falls, Colorado City, Pike National Forest, Denver then Nebraska – Ogallala, Scotts Bluff, then to Wyoming – Register Cliff then back to Colorado Springs, Colorado due to an oil leak. After repairs Front Range drive, Manitou Springs, Helen Hunt Falls, Gold Camp Road, The High Drive, Pioneer Museum, Miramont Castle,Cave of the Winds and William’s Canyon, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Shrine of the Sun. Then back on I 25 South to I-10 in New Mexico and then West into Texas and home.
Trip 8 - New York City - December 21, 2011 - December 28, 2011
Trip 9 - Winter Carnival St Paul Minnesota - January 31, 2012 -February 8, 2012
Trip 10 – February 25th to March 16, 2012 - Post Office Art and the South Texas Gulf Coast – Caldwell, Giddings, La Grange, Monument Hill, Victoria, Magnolia Beach, Port Lavaca, Palacios, Rockport, Port Aransas, Mustang Island, Padre Island Natural Seashore, Corpus Christi, San Antonio.
Trip 11 – Ireland Trip – April 12 – June 20, 2012 – Dublin, Howth, Ballinasloe, Aaran Islands, Dun Aengus, Glencar Lough and waterfall, Donegal, Blue Stack Mountains, Killybegs, Ballinasloe, Clonmacnoise, Bir Castle and Demesne, Galway, Doolin, Ennis, Cork, Cobh, Michael Collins assassination site, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Skellig Ring, Killarney National Park, The Gap of Dunloe, Torq Falls, Inch, Dingle, Slea Head Drive, Dunmore Head, Conners Pass, Tabert, Killimer, Killrush, Spanish Point, Hags Head, Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, Ballinasloe, Battle of Aughrim battlefield, Stacking the turf, Dublin again and then heading home on the 20th of June.
Trip 12 – Texas to Ireland, England and return – July 17th – September 11th, 2012 – Texas, Dublin, Ballinasloe, Cork, Kinsale (August 3rd – August 13th) , Ballinasloe, Athlone, and Belfast, then Liverpool, England August 22-24),Cambridge (August 25-28), Portsmouth ( August 29-September 2), London (September 3-4), Coventry(September 5-8), then back to Ballinasloe, Ireland on September 9 and then back to Texas September 11.
Trip 13 – San Antonio – Sept 27, 2012
Trip 14 – Oct 15,2012 – Dec. 6, 2012 - Preparations, College Station Texas to Dublin, Ireland, then to Ballinasloe, then to England – London, Weymouth, Bovington (tank museum), Portsmouth, then to France – Caen, Sword Beach, William the Conqueror’s castle, Bayeux, Omaha Beach, The American Cemetery, Pointe du Hoc, Bayeux, Paris – Nov. 16-20, Italy – Rome Nov 21-23, Greece – Athens Nov 24-29, Santorini – Nov 30-Dec. 2nd, Athens – Dec. 3-5, Sleeping overnight at Heathrow Airport – Dec. 6, then Heathrow Airport to College Station, Texas. : > )
Trip 15 – Jan 30, 2013 – Feb 20, 2013 – Mexico – Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, La Paz, Cabo San Lucas again and then home to Tejas.
Trip 16 – Denver and Nearby - April 17, 2013 – April 23, 2013 – Denver, Lookout Mountain and Buffalo Bill Grave, Rocky Mountain National Park, Big Thompson Canyon, Glenwood Canyon, Glenwood Springs, Denver and home.
Travel Blog Posts
Texas to Denver taking the scenic route
Published: May 16th 2013North America » United States » Texas
May 16th 2013
Tuesday May 14 - These past 3 days have been exhausting for me. I invested Monday and Tuesday moving out of the house that I have been housesitting at for the past 3 months. I may have just been housesitting but in the almost 3 months I stayed there I have set up things a lot. So I had to get all of my stuff out and groceries and stuff out of the fridge, etc., out as well, which turned out to be quite a chore. As I loaded my truck and then pulled away I felt a great deal of sadness. We have had so many good times there over the years. And countless happy moments. After taking the stuff out I went over to my sisters and I visited a bit and rested. The ... read more
May 4th 2013
April 22 – Monday - I was planning on driving down to Colorado Springs today but the weatherman said we will be getting 2-4 inches of snow today and tonight. So I guess not..... it didn’t start till afternoon and I pretty much caught up on work on the computer while watching the snow falling outside. It is something how peaceful it is watching snow falling outside through the window while I am inside warm and snug. My nephew’s dog Andie has been keeping me company…….although I must admit that the conversation has been a trifle one sided. One of the great things about being retired is that you don’t have to fight with the weather but can just go with the flow since you don’t have to get to work. It was a nice and ... read more
Denver to Glenwood Springs and return
Published: May 3rd 2013North America » United States » Colorado » Denver
April 30th 2013
April 20 – 21- Denver to Glenwood Springs, Hanging Lake, and Hoosier Pass – Yesterday we drove West of Denver on I-70 and through the beautiful Glenwood Canyon to Glenwood Hot Springs from Denver and after an overnight stay drove back towards Denver and stopped at Hanging Lake where my nephew and his girlfriend hiked up the very steep and rocky trailhead to Hanging Lake. My brother in law and I dropped them off and while they did their hike drove back to Glenwood Springs and bit west of it exploring. We found a nice lake with red cliffs around it west of town and checked it out. After that we drove back into Glenwood Springs and had a good look around. As always on a trip I do some homework for next trip. Next time ... read more
Lookout Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Big Thompson Canyon
Published: April 30th 2013North America » United States » Colorado » Denver
April 29th 2013
April 19 - Visit to Lookout Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Big Thomson Canyon. – Today I planned to drive to Rocky Mountain National Park and get my “America the Beautiful National Parks and Recreational Lands Pass”, or Senior Parks Pass for short. It cost $10 for life and is available to any U. S. Citizen or permanent resident over 62. It allows entry for me and the other occupants of my vehicle in Parks that charge a per vehicle fee. For parks that charge a per person fee it will admit myself and 3 other occupants of the vehicle. A pretty good deal. If I didn’t have a parks pass it would have cost me $20 just to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, although the entry fee is good for 7 consecutive days. Up ... read more
Museum of Nature and Science and Red Rock Amphihteatre
Published: April 28th 2013North America » United States » Colorado » Denver
April 28th 2013
April 18 – Thursday - Nice day today. It snowed yesterday but this morning at 7:30 the sky has cleared and a warm sun has come out and it is very pretty. Today the high is supposed to be in the middle thirties and tomorrow and for the rest of our stay it shows to be in the mid 50’s during the day and teens at night. It’s quiet here. My brother in law Bill was up at 5 but is now napping on the couch. My nephew Billy is upstairs doing some work on his computer. I am taking care of my first priority each morning which is to make my tea. The snows of yesterday have melted off on the roads so that’s good as it means I won’t need to worry about driving ... read more
April 22nd 2013
I had decided to go to Denver with my brother in law Bill for us to visit his son and my nephew, we would rent a car and explore the sights of the Denver area as well. I also wanted to make sure to go by Rocky Mountain National Park and get me one of those lifetime over 62 National Park passes for $10. The tickets from Austin to Denver on United Airlines ran $211 plus $21.80 taxes and fees for a total of $232.80 each. There was also a $25 checked baggage charge each way for each of us. We would go for the week of April 17 - 23. April 17 – College Station to Denver – I woke up at 03:30 to use the restroom and my brother in Law Bill was up ... read more
Catching that big bird home
Published: February 26th 2013North America » Mexico » Baja California Sur » Cabo San Lucas
February 26th 2013
Wednesday Febuary 20 – Catching that big bird home - The plan for today is to walk down to the bus stop on Lazaro Cardenas street a bit East of Puerto Paraiso Mall and catch one of those white buses with a green stripe (not a Colectivo bus), and take it to the Airport for my flight home. I had my usual oatmeal with cinnamon for breakfast and then after browsing the web a bit I packed up my bags the rest of the way and left a huge pile of stuff on the counter here that I don’t see any sense in taking home. Items such as sugar, cereal, oatmeal, fruit, microfiber towels (which I have tons of at home) and etc. I also left a M$100 for the maid as well as let her ... read more
Last day in Cabo
Published: February 26th 2013North America » Mexico » Baja California Sur » Cabo San Lucas
February 26th 2013
Tuesday Feb 19 – Last full day in Cabo - This morning is a beautiful day, and nice and cool. I am relaxing on the terrace and having my oatmeal and tea while visiting with people coming and going. There are three guys here who have been here as long as I have and each day they head out somewhere. I have started to call them The Three Caballeros. One of them in particular named Joe has had many an adventure and misadventure and I have taken to calling him Cabo Joe. The other friend I have made here is named Bob and he is a Canadian from Alberta. Bob is closer to my age and goes out somewhere each day to try out a new taco stand or place and other than that sits on ... read more
February 20th 2013
February 18 – Monday – La Paz to Cabo – Today I checked out of the Pension California and went to the Tourista Terminal on the Malecon. It was a pretty good walk and I stopped a few times along the way to rest and catch my breath from dragging my suitcase and carrying my computer bag and a full grocery bag. It is a pain carrying all this stuff but I try to eat healthy and that means not eating out overmuch. I also stopped so I could enjoy the view of the bay a bit before I left La Paz. At the Terminal Tourista I bought a ticket to Cabo San Lucas via Todos Santos. The ticket was M$220 ($17). It left at 11:00 and it was a 3 hour trip. When I got ... read more
February 18th 2013
February 17 – Sunday – La Paz – Its very noisy here at the Pension California. I am at the computer desk in the lobby of the Pension California. Coming out of room 25 to my left is the noise of a TV on Mexican programming at Maximum volume. To my right coming through the front door is Loud Mexican music coming from a place across the street. I have earplugs in, which blocks out some of the noise. Last night till 4 AM I was entertained by the nightclub across the street playing Mexican music at maximum volume as well. The music had to go through the walls of the nightclub, across the street. Through the door and walls of the Hotel and up the hall and through the walls of my room. Not a ... read more
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