Geo: 18.123, -65.4163(Apologies for the erratic spacing in this entry. I haven't figured out how to smooth it out.) Vieques, a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico, was the site of this year's third annual post-holiday family trip. Lee remembers Vieques from his days in the Navy whenparts of the island were used for target practice, and this was onereason we chose it for our destination.In the past, the seven of us havedriven to Atlanta the night before departing, spent the night in apark-and-fly motel, and left the next morning for our chosenCaribbean island. This year, Lee discovered that it was cheaper forus to fly from regional airports in Greenville, Chattanooga, andKnoxville to ATL and then on to San Juan. Go figure!!! That didmean VERY early departure times and having some worries about delaysand ... read more

Geo: 19.3086, -81.2521Friday, 1/3/14 – We drove to Atlantawhere we met LeeAnne and family and David and Sonja. We all checkedinto the Days Inn near the airport where we parked our cars for theduration of the trip and used their shuttle to get to and from theairport. The motel was one of the poorer Days Inns that we havestayed at over the years but not too bad for one night, and the ratewas pretty good. We went to dinner with LeeAnne and family at anearby restaurant in the Country Inn & Suites, then back to themotel and bed for me. SATURDAY, 1/4/14 – Ate a quickbreakfast at the motel, then caught the 7:30 AM motel shuttle to thenew international terminal at the Atlanta airport for our 10:00 AMflight to Grand Cayman. The flight was only about ... read more

We visited Shenandoah National Park in Virginia in October of 2011. We spent three days hiking, or trying to hike, in the park. Managed to get on the trails on two of the three days despite just cloudy weather the first day and misty, foggy, rainy weather the last day. The middle day was a total washout with driving rain and wind all day long. We stayed in Waynesboro, VA, one night, in the lodge at Skyland Resort two nights, and the lodge at Big Meadows the last night. Enjoyed the trip even with the bad weather. We saw lots of deer and actually surprised a mother bear and her two cubs on one of our hikes on the last day. They were too quick to run off into the forest before we could get any ... read more

After the ceremony – to Maastricht Saturday, May 28th, evening After leaving the cemetery, we drove to Maastricht, Netherlands, only about a 40 minute drive. We arrived around 6:30 and checked into our hotel, the Kasteel Vaeshartelt. This was probably the nicest place we stayed on this trip, a three star hotel in an old castle on the outskirts of Maastricht. The rooms are in a new section that has been added and are large by European standards, including the bathroom. After checking in, we went to the bar where I sampled a couple of more beers, Anne was able to get a Bloody Mary, and we ordered a bite to eat. As it turned out, lots of bites. Anne doesn't eat much meat anymore, and there was an appetizer on the menu that listed an ... read more

Thursday, May 26th On Thursday morning, we were up and at the breakfast table for our modified and full English breakfasts before we headed back to London. On Wednesday, I had pretty well oriented myself as to the basics of how to get around in the area near the B&B so we really had no real trouble getting back to Gatwick to turn in the car. The only bad thing was the weather. We drove through off and on rain all the way back. Hadn't had to buy gas yet so filled up at a station near the airport. Only paid $8.75/gallon. ($4.00/gal is such a deal). Once back I turned in the car and, when picking up the receipt at the rental desk, left both of our umbrellas lying on the counter – at least ... read more