Tag Archives: landscape

No, We Aren’t Done Traveling!

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but I assure any readers (are there any readers?!) that I have been busy with some plans. In addition I’ve been doing my daily walks (Sunday being my day of rest so I rarely walk then), and most of my walks are with my sister, which is a real joy. I’m blessed to have her so nearby. Never did I think I wanted to walk with someone else, but she and I seem to be a pretty good team!

I’m also trying to get my oboe playing “chops” back in gear. I took a hard fall a week ago, but I finally attempted to play yesterday and I’m able to do that with no issues, aside from sounding awful because I’m out of shape. (Side note: NEVER pull out your phone to read and continue walking. Uneven sidewalks can be a very dangerous thing!) But I must get my playing back in gear since I really do have to work this coming season. (Is it horrible of me to say I was sort of hoping I could not play so I could claim disability? Yeah, that’s probably not a good thing to say. So never mind that.)

But here’s a bit of travel news:

We have a wedding to attend in September. Initially we thought we’d also incorporate a visit to the east coast for fall colors but, alas, we decided money wasn’t there for such a trip. We are blessed to be able to take the trips we do, and I work hard at not being envious of those with the finances to do more — we can do SO much more than many of the people I know. NO complaining from me allowed! But the fall colors trip was tabled. So it’s a weekend wedding in Vermont and a short visit to Boston — a place we’ve not been yet and figured we’d see since we have to pay for flights back east anyway.

We also have a Chicago trip planned because my “Germany brother and sister-in-law” Greg and Jan (to distinguish between them and my “Brooklyn brother and sister-in-law” Timothy and Margaret) are going to be there and when Greg suggested a meet up there was no way I was going to say no!

And, finally, we are going to do another walk! This time it will be a Cotswold walk, and Greg and Jan are joining us. That trip will involve more planning, and I’ve yet to figure it all out, but since it is not until the spring of 2026 I have a lot of time to get that one figured out. Some things are already on the calendar (and partially paid for with no refunds allowed … eek!). We opted to go with a company for the walk, just as we did for the Great Glen Way in Scotland and the Douro walk in Portugal. I think, though, that I should maybe get my act together and schedule the next walk on my own, should there be one. I’m sure I could manage now that I see how all that works, and I know it would save money. At least I think it would.

All that being said, I also know plans can change. I make these plans realizing that they may not happen: life can be altered in a blink of an eye. God willing, we will travel more. I know, though, that nothing is guaranteed. I truly believe what I’ve often said and repeat to myself a lot, “God is good, but life is hard. These two things I know.”

Okay. Enough of me. Over ’n out.

Have a photo for managing to survive reading my ramble:

Segovia from the Alcazar, 5.21.25

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

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Tuesday was moving day: we left Lee Vining, and our destination was Bishop. Of course that doesn’t mean we go directly to Bishop — we couldn’t check in to our hotel until 3:00 PM anyway, but there are also places to visit between the two towns.

Dan always has good ideas about where to go for a sunrise, so we went to one of “his” spots. I had stupidly forgotten to bring my really long lens, so while he used his in this area, I shot different things. I prefer shooting a different direction than Dan in any case: once he aims at something I tend to turn around and do something in the opposite direction! No point doing something that the master photographer is doing, at least much of the time.

Then it was more driving, more exploring …

And yes, those trees in the last image were leaning.

When it was past 3:00 we went to check in to our glamorous (not really) motel in Bishop. Hm. Our room wasn’t ready. But we could still check in, get charged an addition $10 for a “reserve fee” whatever that is, and get our keys. The unavailability of the room wasn’t really a problem, since Dan had said we’d do a “reconnoissance drive” to see where we’d want to be for the next day. So back out we went.

And yes, I really DID take a selfie!

While at the above spot some friends we planned on meeting up with the next day drove past. What a fun surprise to meet up with Charlotte and Gary as we were standing on the side of the road making photos. We chatted a while, agreed where we’d meet for brunch, and said our goodbyes as they went one direction and we went the other.

Yes, we did find color!

We went back, got into our now clean room, and then went to dinner. Another early morning wake-up call meant it was time to hit the hay. But what a lovely day.