on the road again

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For the first time in 10 years we spent the summer at Sauble - it was busy but lots of fun with several visits with Kim, James and Lukas; then the Canadian 'rewedding' of Pat and Claire with a pig roast and 60+ guests; and the birth of our second grandson Joshua as the highlights.

Late in October we set off on a road trip with friends Ross and Brenda for a golfing and biking holiday - first for a week in Virginia, then Hilton Head Island, South Carolina for 2 weeks - followed by a week back in Fort Pierce, Florida to check on Gust O'Wind.

Remember to left click on the first photo to get into the slide show.

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Photos

this little piggy.....
in August we hosted Pat & Claire's Canadian version of their wedding that we attended in South Africa - it covered 3 days and was lots of fun

Claire decorating the tent
we rented a tent in case it rained but it proved to be a useful source of shade instead as the weather was hot.

enjoying the pond
Luke enjoys helping me feed the fish and looking for frogs around the edges of the pond

kayaking with Luke
we enjoyed many days on the beach and in the lake with Luke - next year Joshua will join in!

Joshua
grandson # 2 arrived on August 24th

Abe in the snow
we planned a full day exploring the Gettysburg battlefield but an "historic" snow storm forced us to change plans - this was the site of Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address.

Gettysburg
did we drive all the way from Canada for this weather? - instead of touring the battlefield we spent a few hours in the excellent visitors' centre

Tom Jefferson
nearby is the home of the 3rd president - Thomas Jefferson - "Monticello," featured on the back of the US nickel

Blue Ridge Mountains
the snow lingered on, higher up in the Blue Ridge Mountains but the views of the Shenandoah valley were beautiful

looking over the Shenandoah Valley
the Skyline Drive along a ridge of the Appalachian Mountains provides great views

Packsaddle Ridge, Virginia
this golf course had spectacular views and at $35 was a real deal....we left a few golf balls there

Massanutten, Virginia
we have travelled to many places with good friends Ross and Brenda

Virginia golf
the snow melted quickly and we enjoyed a couple of rounds of golf in scenic Massanutten

at President Monroe's home
not far from Jefferson's home is the former residence of another President, Monroe...this enormous oak has been here for a few years

Massanutten
the view from the the front deck of our timeshare condo in Virginia

beach biking with Ross and Brenda
biking in Hilton Head is the best we have experienced...bike lanes everywhere and the beach is hardpacked sand, ideal for a spin

Beaufort antebellum
we took a day trip to nearby Beaufort....it was spared the devastation of the Civil War because it was captured by the Union without a fight....there are many beautiful mansions from pre-civil war days, like this one....summer homes of wealthy plantation owners

live oak
some of these amazing trees are 400 years old, predating the Spanish settlement of Beaufort in 1711

golfing HH
Hilton Head has lots of golf courses.... we were given discount passes to some after sitting through a sales pitch to buy another time share week...we declined, as usual (they also gave us a free week and $100 restaurant voucher)

fair warning
unlike Steve Irwin we have no interest in getting up close to the boss of this pond

water hazard
any balls hit into this pond will stay there

Comments

[Garry Rasmussen]

"Take me Home, Country Roads"
Great album of scenery and memories. When I read, "Blue Ridge Mtns" & "Shenandoah" it immediately brought John Denver's Country Roads song to mind - I think his lyrics refer to the Shenandoah River. Quite a beautiful area.