After 5 days at sea, we arrived at Reykjavik. That afternoon, we boarded a bus for a seven-hour tour of the Ring of Fire. Our tour guide was knowledgeable about the geology, the economy, the people, and the history. I learned a lot. We first visited Hengill, where hydro and geothermal power produce impressive energy,… Continue reading Reykjavik, Iceland
Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
We arrived in Halifax after a day at sea. Since we had visited Nova Scotia before, we did not take a tour. We walked briskly along the boardwalk to ward off the cold. In town, we shopped, and Dennis had a haircut and beard trim. After a coffee, we returned to the cabin’s warmth. With… Continue reading Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
New York City, New York
We arrived in New York at Port Authority and then carried two backpacks 5.5 blocks to our hotel. Along the way, we stopped at Mom’s Bar and Kitchen. It was a good choice: we were hungry, having skipped breakfast to catch the bus, and it gave us a break from the bag’s weight. Why are… Continue reading New York City, New York
Savannah, Georgia
We arrived in Savannah early last night and checked into a hotel in the historic part of town. It was a short walk down steep, uneven steps to West River Street, which borders the Savannah River and offers many choices for food and drink. We supped at Dub’s Bar; I tried crab cakes, which many… Continue reading Savannah, Georgia
Nathan Benderson Park
For our last walk in 2020, we chose Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, FL. This is a 3.5-mile circular path around a man-made 400-acre lake which was initially excavated during the construction of the highway and later enhanced for sprint rowing and regatta games. We usually prefer hiking in natural settings but the overcast and… Continue reading Nathan Benderson Park
Siesta Key Beach to Point of Rocks
Hiking along Siesta Key Beach is one of our favorite local places to walk. Siesta Key is an eight-mile-long island that is accessible by two bridges from the mainland. On the Key, there are three beaches: Siesta Key Beach, with adjacent Crescent Beach, and further south Turtle Beach. We accessed the beach from the pavilion where… Continue reading Siesta Key Beach to Point of Rocks
John Ringling Causeway Bridge
John Ringling Causeway, aka, the Ringling Bridge is named after John Ringling of the Ringling Brothers Circus. It spans across Sarasota Bay and provides stunning panoramic vistas of Sarasota and the keys. Though the 65-foot tall bridge extends from Sarasota Bay to St. Armands Circle (about 2.6 miles), we only walked the first portion to… Continue reading John Ringling Causeway Bridge
Jelks Preserve
To calm my post-election tenterhooks while awaiting the outcome, Dennis and I sought refuge in the Jelks Preserve near Venice, FL. There the cool breeze, the buzzing of insects, and the sun reflecting on the river chop helped calm my spirits. I suggest downloading the map and following the markers 1 to 19 around the… Continue reading Jelks Preserve
Celery Fields
Before turning back the clocks this weekend, Dennis and I wanted to see the sunrise. Since Dennis is not one to rise early, getting him to agree to venture to the Celery Fields in Sarasota was more than unusual. We arrived before sunrise. After summitting 85 feet to the third highest point in the county,… Continue reading Celery Fields
Sleeping Turtles Preserve
Sleeping Turtles Preserve lies just west of T. Mabry Carlton, J. Memorial Reserve in Venice and about 20 miles from home. This 174-acre preserve is divided by the Border Road and contains in all about 5 miles of interconnecting hiking trails, including a single-track along the Myakka River. To date, the northern side of the… Continue reading Sleeping Turtles Preserve