Blogs from North America

Many people romanticize a vacation destination after seeing Rick Steves' Europe on PBS. I, on the other hand, dreamed about driving in Hawaii since I watched Jack Lord playing Lieutenant Steve McGarrett in the original Hawaii Five-O in the 70's. Back then, Steve was driving stately black Mercury Marquis and Mercury Park Lane. This dream was forgotten for a while as I got busy with elementary school, high school, college, first job, and so on. Fast forward to the 21st century, the remake of Hawaii Five-O brought my dream back from the medial temporal lobe of my brain. The Wakiki Beach After checking into Hilton Wakiki Beach Hotel in the morning, we didn't waste time to get started with our paradise living. Given Savannah climate with the average temperature in mid-eighty degrees Fahrenheit, W... read more

Slow Snow Schedule 8:00 - 9:30 Get up, shower, breakfast. 9:30 - 10:00 Go to bank to get cash for B & B. 10:00 - 10:30 Pack all bags, load up bikes. 10:30 - 11:15 Ride 52 kms to Deer Lake. Ride through town to gas station. Fuel up. Use bathroom. 11:15 - 11:50 Ride 40 kms to RestStop Restaurant. 11:50 - 12:30 Drink copious amounts of tea to warm up. Use bathroom. 12:30 - 1:40 Ride 85 kms to Eddy's Diner in South Brook. 1:40 - 2:40 Drink copious amounts of tea to warm up. Eat poached eggs for lunch. Use bathroom. 2:40 - 3:40 Ride 83 kms to Grand Falls-Windsor. 3:40 - 4:40 Drink copious amounts of tea to warm up. Talk with locals in Tim Horton's about road conditions onto Gander. Advised by ... read more

FORT LAUDERDALE TO BERMUDA ON THE PRINSEDAM I left Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Bermuda on the Prinsedam on May 17, 2013. The Prinsedam is a relatively small ship, 793 passengers and 439 crew, with follow stops in France and Belgium before ending in Tillbury, England. There are advantages and disadvantages to sailing on a small vessel. So far, I’ve only seen the advantages. I’ve met several really nice people from many locales, especially a couple from San Fransisco and another from San Jose. There are fewer bars on a small ship, so I get to know the bar tenders quicker and the entertainers as well. The entertainment on this ship is superior to many of the larger ships I’ve been on recently. Today I landed in Hamilton, Bermuda. I got up early to view the fantastic ... read more

We got going bright and early this morning leaving Drumheller at 6:00am. I decided to take on the first leg of the drive as I knew I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep right away. Surprisingly I found the drive through the prairies extremely beautiful and relaxing. The drive itself is quite easy as its straight and flat and the landscape is full of rich colors with bright blues and whites in the sky, and green, yellows and browns all around. It took about 6 hours to get to Tugaske SK. When we arrived we weren’t really sure we would be able to do much here. I knew my grandma had grown up in this area based on stories she had told me about “the old farm”, and my great grandmother’s obituary which indicated the ... read more

Back into civilisation again. Had a pleasant ride to Bryce National Park. Pitched tent and got straight out there. Yet more stunning, stunning stuff. Unfortunately we're not able to access a computer to upload any photos, but will do so when we can. I don't think I can even begin to describe the rock formation, so won't try. Weather pleasant, but Bryce is quite high, so very chilly at night dropping to below freezing. On the road again after stopping for breakfast, which consisted of the most ridiculous sized pancakes (only ate half) and then on to some of the most fantastic roads we've ever ridden. Unfortunately the GoPro is proving a complete pain, and I'm only just stopping Jim chucking it over the edge of a canyon (of which there are many). It keeps freezing ... read more

Monday May 2oth, 10:41pm Bermuda Today got off to a smooth start as all the guests showed up on time and there was no wait at the gangway. Mark was waiting for us on the pier and we were off to Riddles bay. It was another lively bunch, which usually makes for a fun day on the links. We rocked up at Riddles bay at 8:45am and Chris, the head pro, met us out front of the shop, and informed me that the course was closed today?!!?!!? WHAT?? WHO?? WHERE?? Apparently he had mis read the email I sent regarding what day we would be there this week. Good times. One quick phone call to Belmont hills and we piled back in the van and off we went 5 minutes further down the road. They were ... read more

hello friends wherever you are. it has been some time since i have been at this keyboard. some time has went but not gone at all. brings a smile to my face to be with you. whomever you are. it is nice to talk with someone. to share a moment or two. to share a thought or three. is it not? to have that exchange? when there are feelings, yes. it is nice to chat and get to know one another. and not having things be 100%. because they never really are, right? we just fool our selves that they may be. so appreciate each monet (each artistic expression!). be in each moment and stop worrying!! that is what nirvana is jack kornfield says. it is the ease the joy the love the connectedness that is ... read more