2023 Trip 7: South Africa & Victoria Falls

Johannesburg

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 Today, we were on our own to implement a plan Fikret and Paula suggested. Fikret dropped us off at the Hatfield train station in Pretoria on his way to work. At the ticket window inside, we restocked two transit cards that Paula had lent us with […]

2023 Trip 7: South Africa & Victoria Falls

Pretoria

 Monday, September 11, 2023 I arose around 6:30 feeling refreshed with no signs of jet lag. Fikret, after he had a quick shower, made us coffee and we enjoyed chatting before he and Paula left together for their respective appointments. I watched from the patio as their car left the

2023 Trip 7: South Africa & Victoria Falls

South Africa Bound

 Saturday, September 9,  2023 Today is the day we finally depart for South Africa after months of planning and preparations including updating Jane’s passport, vaccinations, obtaining anti-malaria prescriptions, making arrangements with our intrepid cat- and house-sitter (Will),  installing eSIM cards in our phones, etc. This adventure promises to be a

2023 Trip 6: Art of the Brick

Art of the Brick

Thursday, June 29, 2023 We didn’t need to ramble far for this unique adventure. Mid-morning we headed to Pleasant Valley Promenade in North Raleigh to take in Nathan Sawaya’s LEGO®, art exhibition, ART OF THE BRICK. For the next two hours, we were mesmerized as we walked through rooms full

2023 Trip 5: Visiting Family in SC

Visiting Family in SC

The Frampton Family in Bygone Days (John is door boy) The purpose of the trip was to attend a reunion on my mother’s side of the family (Donnelly). Friday, June 9, 2023 This morning we (including Zorro) drove the RV while towing the car to Paris Mountain State Park in

2023 Trip 4: Visiting Family in PA

Visiting Family in PA

Sunday-Tuesday, May 14-16,  2023 Kane Little sister, Lisa, came to celebrate my birthday before we embarked on this trip. We enjoyed a celebratory dinner at a nice restaurant and caught up on news Friday evening and Saturday before departing Sunday morning for this excursion. Late Saturday afternoon we took Zorro

2023 Trip 3: Medoc Mountain State Park

Medoc Mountain State Park

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 Well, Jane got another itching to go RVing, and so made a reservation for two nights at Medoc Mountain State Park. This park became the 22nd North Carolina State Park (of 41 total) that I have visited. We shoved off around 3 pm with Zorro on

2023 Trip 2: Raven Rock State Park

Raven Rock State Park

Thursday, April 20, 2023 As spring has been unfolding around us, Jane has been wistfully eyeing our RV which has been hibernating alongside our driveway since late October. She finally could no longer resist the urge to camp, and so, made a two-night reservation for us at nearby Raven Rock

2023 Trip 1: Japanese Immersion Cruise

The Long Journey Home

Sunday, April 2  I arose early this morning, showered, and headed to Horizons for coffee and one final viewing. Shortly, Jane joined me and we had breakfast together in Terrace Cafe, returned to our room to gather our carry-on bags and to take a final look around the room savoring

2023 Trip 1: Japanese Immersion Cruise

Shimizu

Saturday, April 1, 2023 As usual, I headed to Horizons early to get coffee. I enjoyed watching the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean as we were at sea and not scheduled to dock in Shimizu until noon. Eventually, Jane joined me and we ate a light breakfast of pastries together

2023 Trip 1: Japanese Immersion Cruise

Kochi

Friday, March 31, 2023 We departed early for our land excursion today, boarding the “Happy Bus” painted bright yellow and featuring various big-eyed creatures. Kochi, on the island of Shikoku, is a prefectural capital situated at the confluence of several rivers and so, is dominated by waterways. Our first destination

2023 Trip 1: Japanese Immersion Cruise

Hososhima

Thursday, March 30, 2023 Today, we docked in the cruise port of Hososhima, part of the larger port city of Hyuga. After getting our laminated bus tickets in the Nautica Lounge, we disembarked from the ship and boarded Bus 1 with Mirasume as our guide. We rode inland via a

2023 Trip 1: Japanese Immersion Cruise

Nagasaki

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 We have a television in our stateroom to view movies as well as U.S. and European TV channels. Not much time for such a mundane activity, but we have occasionally tuned in to listen to the U.S. morning news while preparing for bed. Via the television,

2023 Trip 1: Japanese Immersion Cruise

Busan

Tuesday, March 28, 2023 The Nautica was still at sea when I got up this morning, on schedule to dock in Busan, South Korea, at 11 am. Jane and I enjoyed a leisurely morning including going topside to watch the city loom ever larger. We cruised past the U.S.S Nimitz

2023 Trip 1: Japanese Immersion Cruise

Hiroshima

Monday, March 27, 2023 After our usual morning routine, we boarded Bus 7, to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Our guide, Yuko, spoke clear English and taught us a few Japanese words in addition to background information about the park. We disembarked from the bus on the Aioi Bridge.