Blogs from North America - page 26

I have just been inspired by a fellow travelblogger to write my own Intermezzo of what we have been up to since my last blog about my trip to Scotland and Sweden in search of ancestors. This year my plans to visit Eastern Europe and complete my travels to 100 countries was postponed to address health issues and to be with family rather than ancestors. Right after I returned from Scotland and Sweden, Linda had operations for Stage 1 breast cancer. She finished her radiation treatments by Christmas. She has follow up appointments to make sure nothing returns. Her prognosis is excellent. In December 2022 Linda and I celebrated our 50th Anniversary with Rosanna, Evan, Connor and Logan, who also were with us through Christmas. Then we were visited by a Momma Bear and her cub ... read more

So Arsenal beat Manchester City 1-0. It was brilliant! The Fleet Street Pub gunners are as ardent a group of fans as the George & Dragon’s in Seattle. Thank you Don and Matt for sharing your table with us. This country is beautiful. The land, the water ways, the food, the music. Our cities, towns and villages; museums, libraries, schools, grocery stores, restaurants, sport stadiums, shopping, dog parks, cinemas, theatres, people parks, historic sites, hospitals, laundromats, public utilities, community centers and churches et al. Then the farms, universities, stunning vistas, ski slopes, airports, train stations, bus depots, beaches, amusement parks, military bases, cement works, campgrounds, weather warning systems and even more historic sites. The people who live, love and work in these places are you and me. I am so enjoying recognizing the things I have ... read more

What a lovely state park! While here we played the 18-hole disc golf at the park. We hiked the Steamboat trail in the park along the top of the buttes with beautiful views. We drove out to Toadstool Geologic Park in the Oglala National Grassland and hiked a loop trail. We also enjoyed the Nebraska state sandwich, a Runza. A runza is a yeast dough bread pocket with a filling consisting of beef, cabbage or sauerkraut, onions, and seasonings. The Museum of the Fur Trade was also very interesting and educational regarding the fur trade in the frontier from 1795 to 1870. So many displays and items from the time of the English, French, and Native Americans.... read more

Could this be my final Pac 12 football game? Could the famous Bill Walton phrase, "Conference of Champions" cease to exist? Will the epic battles against USC and UCLA come to an end? Saturday, I am in Berkeley for our Pac 12 game against the Oregon State Beavers, one of the last two schools left in the old Pac 12. I don't think it will be the same when we play North Carolina State, or Wake Forest in the future. I fondly remember attending several Big Games. And the Greatest Play in the history of college football (the 5 lateral, trombone player TD run). And I loved watching the UCLA Bruins basketball teams with Coach Wooden, and his many star players, like Walton, Jabbar, Marques, Lucius, Goodrich, and Wilkes. Yes, the big University money grab is ... read more

After I broke my shoulder on 12 JUN 2023, I guesstimated that I should have enough time to heal and undergo my physical therapy before I had to fly to San Diego to begin the 2023 chapter of “The Great Adventure” on 8 OCT 2023. It turned out my last therapy session was two days before I departed. On the way to the airport, I managed to stop and help celebrate my niece’s 70thbirthday. It was nice to see her siblings, children, grandchildren and, yes, great-grandchildren. My friend, Gary, took me to the party on the way to the airport for my sixish flight to San Diego. After one night in San Diego, I boarded the MS Noordam on Sunday, October 8, 2023 for a 48-day cruise to four ports in Hawaii, seven ports in the ... read more