Travel

Road Trip: Destination Moab, Utah   14 September 2015

 

Flat desert and awesome rock formations in route

It is a boring, long 200 miles from Grand Canyon’s North Rim to its South Rim. But my destination is 350 miles north. I drive to Moab – a shower and a bed.

To appreciate Arizona, one needs to drive through the northeastern part of the state. I descend over 3000 feet below the rim of the Grand Canyon into an arid valley, driving past miles and miles of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, last seen as I stood at Imperial Point on the North Rim. These cliffs are home to the slowly growing population of California condors in this area. The cliffs appear endless as I drive for about 50 miles past both their western and southern side. As are all rock formations in this part of the country, these sandstone cliffs are awesome in color, shape, and size. (more…)

By Pat, ago

Road Trip: Destination North Rim of Grand Canyon 12-13 September 2015

Hiking North Rim of Grand Canyon

I slept in the back of my car last night, listening to huge raindrops slapping the sunroof, and I still had a fantastic time on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Visiting the Grand Canyon, one of 23 UNESCO sights in the U.S., is all about seeing fantastic views and witnessing the incredible force of nature at work. Only 10% percent of the people who visit the Grand Canyon come to the north rim. So being here is about having hiking trails to myself; about being in nature with the only sounds heard being the wind, birds, squirrels and some scurrying unknowns through the underbrush. Except for perhaps 100 visitors around the North Rim’s Visitor Center, being here is like having the entire Grand Canyon to myself. It’s a marvelous feeling. It’s about nature’s shapes, colors and sizes on a Grand scale. It definitely is not for the acrophobic. (more…)

By Pat, ago

Road Trip: Destination Jacob Lake Arizona, North Rim of Grand Canyon 11 September 2015

 

Hidden Pinyon Overlook hiking Snow Canyon SP in Utah

Dinner conversation with the gentleman next to me led to a recommendation to visit Snow Canyon State Park. I’m on my own, I have time, I can’t see why not. So this morning I drive five minutes out of Nevada, 10 minutes across Arizona, and witness Utah turn on the beauty switch. Mother Nature blooms in Utah.  (more…)

By Pat, ago

Reykjavik – What’s This Thingvellir?

2 – 8 June 2015

Silence in open spaces of Iceland

Silence in open spaces of Iceland

Silence. Only the occasion bird call, no mammal in sight. A slight wind brushes my ear. I turn 360° to see miles and miles of rumpled tundra, a table mountain dappled with small snow patches, and in the far distance, tall mountaintops draped with ice caps and clouds. The temperature is comfortable but the cool breeze originates across that snow. Two quacking ducks fly over on their way to a large body of water to the south. Otherwise, silence. But I get ahead of the conclusion to my story.   (more…)

By Pat, ago

Circumnavigating Iceland    

27 May – 1 June 2015

The North Atlantic, more specifically the Norwegian Sea, has aDSC09749 reputation for storms and rough seas. Well deserved, I learn. Sea Spirit departs what was, in perspective, relative calm seas around the Faroes on its passage across the open waters of the North Atlantic. Destination: the east coast of Iceland. A gain of time means an additional hour of flopping, swaying and bouncing on very rough seas. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being my experience of the Drake Passage Christmas 2007, tonight’s passage rates a 7. It is about 250 miles of 22′ swells. Our captain has “battened down the hatches” for the night. Rough indeed.

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By Pat, ago

Sailing North Atlantic Islands: Orkneys, Shetlands and Faroes

23 – 26 May 2015

5000-year-old hauntingly beautiful, wind-swept village of Skara Brae.

The Sea Spirit sails relative calm waters around Scotland then heads north to the Orkneys. This is new territory for me and an area of the world heretofore not on my bucket list. However, this particular cruise’s itinerary is my reason for signing on. My next stop is Kirkwall on the Orkney Archipelago. Seas are calm and gray, skies are flat gray, but temperatures are pleasant. A wonderful environment for sailing.

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By Pat, ago