1/8/15 OZ Day 6: Canyoning on Tassie

Buffet breakfast at the hotel once again included the standard fare of baked beans, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Andy remarked that it is a standard farmers' fare for Australia. We loaded up the coach for the short ride up the street to The cradle mountain parking lot. We had to go in one large bus, while Sophie and Scotty took our vans on the daytime ferry ride. There was simply no room on the evening ferry ride, and we barely were able to secure passenger berths for all of us. W and crag divide the group into three and we stood out on the porch of the building to get our instructions, wetsuits and helmets.

http://www.cradlemountaincanyons.com.au

Our Canyon guides, Leon and Al, instructed us to gather up our gear and put them in the large backpacks that we were to carry into the canyon. It was a beautiful hike across about 2 miles of floating wooden walkways over scrub, past paddymelons and through completely untouched forest. We walked into and out of a rainforest, stopping at a rock formation to suit up in our gear, including wetsuit, best, jacket, neoprene socks and booties, topped off with a helmet. Another scramble downhill and we arrived at our first stop, rappelling or abseiling down a several story drop. I didn't look down and had no issue bouncing down the cliff side, landing in waist high water. 

Once we were all down, Leigh Ann gave us instructions on how to float on our backs with feet up through the deeper sections of the water, until we came to an outcropping of rocks. We shimmied across them, stopped at the edge, and then Al simply pulled us off, slamming us into the water. Hello - water up my nose! The next several hours included jumping off heights up to 6 meters into small dark pools, climbing across rock faces, sliding down old trees stuck in the canyon, and freezing our tears off. It was so cold!!! W said to me at one point 'this is not my happy place.'    

I was cold but all right. My biggest fear was jumping off some of the high jumps. I did every one!!

The students finished with a human pyramid at the end for our photo happy guides. Then came the surprise...we had to climb up the side of the cavern in all our gear. And we thought the tough stuff was over yesterday! Rocks, big climbs, holding onto trees, sliding along cliff faces, all of it with several pounds of water in our booties and hip flexor movement blocked by wetsuits. I stayed right behind W even as the kids slowed down :). Several times he told me, just look at the rocks so I wouldn't get stuck looking into the abyss. After about 25 minutes of climbing, we reached our bags, stopped to change back into our clothes and to make lunch. It was a light pick nick with wraps, turkey, hummus, and vegetables including beetroot. Then on with the bags again for the 2 mile hike out. 

The sun was starting to peek out at this point and we hustled to make it back before getting fried. But we were able to wonder at the beautiful view of mountainsides, low brush and  lots of green (plus some square wombat droppings). We got cleaned up at the visitors' center and waited for the other groups. 

Once back on the bus, almost everyone was asleep in 20 minutes. It was a pretty ride across Tassie back to Devonport where the students wandered off for shopping and food. Andy, Craig, W and I ate at Molly Malone's, a counter service pub. Then we wandered the town, talking to drunk twenty somethings and being amused at the early closing hour of the shops on a Saturday evening! 

We waited several hours at the ferry terminal, then boarded around 9pm. Everyone of the adults headed to bed early. It was a wild night on board, with the boat crashing loudly through waves for several hours in the middle of the night. But the late departure meant we could sleep until 7:30am!!!

1/7/16 OZ Day 5: Tassie and Cradle Mountain

I woke at 5:45am and walked a bit outside, chasing paddymelons as they crashed through the brush. After getting cleaned up, Wally made pancakes while we all prepped for breakfast and lunch. The students really moved and we were out by 7:45am. 

We drove to Cradle Mountain, one of the most famous sites in Tasmania, a popular tourist destination and a World Heritage site. To be honest, it is difficult to begin to summarize the day. Beautiful, challenging, breath-taking, scary as hell, empowering....these barely cover it. 

The kick off included the standard group photo with the Elon flag, then we began the long walk at Dove Lake. The terrain was rocky and quickly ascended into white boulders with chain fences to help you up. Wooden boardwalks with chain link coverings were the other main passage, designed to protect the fauna. We scrambled up over several kilometers, with our path framed by low scrubby brush, bushes and the occasional stubborn daisy-like flower. We even saw a small wallaby! 

Our first stop was Marion's lookout, a high overlook to the lakes below.   A quick snack, some photos and we were back at it again, coming up onto a large plain with descending steps and a grassy landscape with lots of rocks. It looked somewhat like a lunar landscape. We stopped and ate lunch at the Kitchen Hut, a tiny two level wooden building that our guide Andy once slept in with 11 students and 3 backpackers during a blizzard. Also at Kitchen Hut is the lone bathroom, a frightening smelling room with a toilet, sink and no tp. The human waste is actually flown out by helicopter. 

Then the rough stuff started. By then we could see the path up the mountain face, with people dotting it. The path eventually ceased and gave way to small boulders and large rocks, outcropping with little grass or greenery. Then the greenery stopped entirely and we bagn walking or scrambling up with large boulders, some of which were the size of a VW. The rocks were not the issue. The challenge was the sheer drop off below and the possibility of slipping into a crevice. I made the mistake of stopping to help one of the students, primarily in carrying her pack. That and waiting while Andy looked for first aid supplies for a student, left me with far too much time to think. By the time I got started again, I was almost sick with fear of the heights and the challenge. 

The two of us started up again and within 15 minutes, W had come back down to find us. He took the student's pack and concentrated on helping guide both of us up the steepest climb to the false summit. This consisted of giant to fist sized rocks, many at odd angles leading to sharp drop offs and many deep crevices. At one point two young girls bounded past us like Billy goats, talking me through a couple of maneuvers. I was thinking that I couldn't get over my fear at a large rock that I had to lean back to get around, when W said 'you will kick yourself in the morning if you don't get to the top of this." That was what I needed to stop thinking and start climbing. We reached the false summit, a small crest before a dip and the real summit, when W made the tough decision to ask the student to wait there. We simply wouldn't make it in time and would have to turn back early at the pace she was going. She agreed and we pressed on through the rock valley and up again the other side. I saw the light at the end of the tunnel when the crevices ended and grass grew in small patches between the rocks. While limited, these made me feel safer. We finally reached the top where I got a rousing 'yeah, Mrs. B!' from the students. 

We ate some food at the summit while the kids caught some sun. Then we took some photos and prepared ourselves for the Longblock back. W had to talk one of the students through a panic attack and then we set off. It was a crabwalk scramble down the mountainside, helping each other to find our footing down the steep rocks. 

Instead of returning the way we came, we headed to the left around wombat lake, looking at the large lakes below. It took us over two hours to return back, and we reached Dove lake and the car park around 4 PM in the afternoon. While the way up was a mental challenge, the way down was just physical. With our tired legs, it was easy to trip and stumble around the loose rocks. I really enjoyed it however, due to the variations in vegetation and topography. By this point, many of the students were just talking about wanting a cold beverage. 

Our next accommodation was the Cradle Mountain Hotel, about as far different from the Gowrie Park campground as could be. Two level hotel rooms with jacuzzi tubs, sliders to outside and a very welcoming lobby and bar greeted us. A quick change, 3 minute drive and we were figuring out the ordering and seating process at Pepper's Restaurant at Cradle Mountain Lodge. Most of the students had dressed for a 70 degree night on what was closer to 55 and outside seating was all that was available to start. The guys sent the students in to order 10 at a time, and they staked out indoor tables. The guides, Craig, W and I found a small bar around the corner of the restaurant and settled in with ciders and beers. About two hours later we got our food, all served with fries as is standard. Off the bed! Another active day in the morning. 

1/6/15 OZ Day 4: Tassie

An easier day today as we hopped off the ship in Devonport. The wake up call was 5:45am, but I went outside at 5:30am to try to find the sunset. People were sleeping all over the ship, with thin white blankets covering their bodies and faces. 

Onto the busses and into Devonport for breakfast. Half the group headed to a local diner, while we found something that looked remarkably like a Panera but with a light 'brekkie,' toasties and small breakfast pies. Craig was given the hottest cup of coffee known to man, and I had to choose a pre-made egg and cheese toastie with either BBQ sauce or hollandaise. 

Once out of the seaport, the expanse opened up to beautiful forest, cut up by farmland. Sheep, cattle, horses and the occasional goats and emu live next door to poppy fields for pharmaceutical use. The mountains in the background frame the green landscape. 

Water is not plumbed so each home has a cistern for rain collection Nearly every house has solar panels on the roof. 

Marakoopa Caves 

Millions of years ago a small stream started cutting away through a limestone formation, and today we are left with the Marakoopa Caves, a wonder that was discovered by two brothers in 1906 and opened to the public in 1912. Our guide Alwyn, led us down a forest walk into the side of a mountain. We took the steps by floor, crowding onto platforms in semi-darkness before he passed us with his flashlight and turned another set of lights. We walked all the way up to the grand cathedral, a large round dome in the ceiling caused by another stream millions of years ago. Kristine sang a short piece from Spring Awakening while W and I stood there listening to the echo. It was amazing to see the stalagmites and stalactites formed over millions of years, readying to meet in fingers that would take millions more. The most impressive formation is the wedding cake.  The last stop on our sighting was the glow worms in the lower cave. 

Merita Honey Farm 

A cute shop owned by a mother daughter team, the honey farm is a traditional stop for the Elon students on this trip. Chudley is a small stop in Tassie, with beautiful roses lining the streets with nameplates and poetry quotes. We all tried various honey flavors and ought ice cream, boysenberry for W and hazelnut for me. 

Swimming hole

We went back to the Gowrie Park campground and checked into our rooms along a long hallway off the smelly comonroom. The park is a campground, RV park, bunkhouse and our building, about 12 rooms with a common area at one end and four showers at the other. ($1 to shower for 5 minutes.) We changed quickly and about 75% of the group went with Craig, our guides and I back to a swimming hole. Lots of diving, freezing, sliding on rocks ensued. The highlight was the students holding the Elon flag in front of the river while Scotty, one of the guides, jumped off the makeshift diving board in the background. Yes, I jumped off too. 

A quick shower and we walked up the path to the Old Black Stump Restaurant up the street. The kids made a beeline for the bar, while I grabbed 5 at one time to healthy cheers. Two choices - roast pork or roast chicken with some of the best potatoes ever, cooked carrots and peas and corn mixture. We enjoyed the company and walked back to see some paddymelons, including a momma and her baby. Then we talked to the kids for awhile and headed off to our bunk beds. 

1/5/16 Busy day in Oz! Day 3

W and I headed into town around 6:15am for a brief run, 3 for me and 5 for him. We ran through town and along the seaside, past the carnival and the firefighters' vehicles. Then we packed up our daybags and made our breakfasts and lunches for the day. Thank you for the Nutella!!! 

One final shot on the porch of backpackers with the Elon flag and a tour of the area with C on Facetime, and we were off! The bus took us through the Otways again, passing one wallaby and a TON of sheep farms. Andy informed us that there is no kangaroo farming, but that they are shot by hunters and the meat sold for commercial use. 

Today was a driving day with lots of brief stops:

Maits Rest Rainforest Walk - like walking into another period, a dry rainforest with huge trees and several hundred year old ferns. 

Lavers Hill - gourmet pie shop, teahouse, convenience store, nature walk and more owned by a kind man named Paul. Quick restroom break and lots of beverage stocking. Paul even gave us a bunch of postcards. 

Great Ocean Road

Gibson Steps 

The start of the Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps are a long line of very thin steps and switchbacks carved out of the side of the cliff. They lead down several stories to a deserted beach, where we walked until we reached two of the twelve apostles. These are large sandstone monoliths, a distant cousin to the 'Goonie Rocks' you would see off the coast of Portland. We took pictures and got our feet wet, admiring the majesty of these huge structures. We learned about ripcurls from Andy and watched two surfers use one to jettison out into the water. 

Great Ocean Walk to Twelve Apostles We proceeded on a rough path under blazing sun about a mile to the Twelve Apostles welcome center. Every nationality was represented in the groups passing along the catwalks and walking paths to view the remaining 8 of 12 Apostles that rise up from the ocean floor. The smell was a bit unpleasant due to the varieties of dwarf bushes that emit a rather strong odor. And the flies were like nothing I have ever experienced. But the sight of the structures made up for it all. Huge, layered sandstone structures rising out of aqua water. It's a picture I do not think will ever leave my memory. 

Loch Ard Gorge - The last big stop for the day was another small climb to reach, a climb down many stairs into a large open gorge with a beach and a large cave. Named after a famous shipwreck, the gorge is a beautiful postcard to Australia and the Great Ocean Road. Most attractions are not as populated as something similar in the States, and this was no exception. There were people there, and a few families taking advantage of the beach, but nothing overwhelming. The students explored rocks to get into the cave. I went up to the mouth via stepping between the rocks. The water was freezing and nearly clear. 

We headed back to Melbourne on a nearly three hour bus ride, complete with me playing DJ and the kids singing along. Play Landslide or Wonder Wall and they all sing along. They even did some Journey for C. Funny that they know Natasha Bedingfield and Vanessa Carlton, but have only a hazy read on REM, the Smiths or Violent Femmes. I feel old. 

Our final stop for the day was the port in Melbourne, where we grabbed a quick snack and ate on the lawn while waiting. Pita and hummus for W and I. Pizza or fish & chips for the students. We all enjoyed the free wi-fi when we made it into the Spirit of Tasmania boarding building. A brief security talk and bag check and we were on the boat, a large overnight ferry that houses cargo containers and cars on the bottom five levels and cabins and common areas on the top five. We made our way through indoor deck chairs and lounge areas, a small eating area and bar to room 7217. It was a very small cruise ship cabin with four bunks, two of which folded up into the wall, a lit desk area, and a bathroom with shower. Not luxurious, but clean and cozy. 

The guys spoke with the kids in the common area near the indoor playground, giving a brief lecture about interpersonal awareness and leaving a positive impression of themselves and Elon. Then they checked in with the Health & Wellness Committee to see how the group was doing. They observed the odd boy / girl separation and recommended more sunscreen. 

Then the students departed and we sat with our hosts for the departure to Tasmania. Ciders and cricket followed, then we all toddled off to bed in our ship caves. 

1/4/16 Day 2 in Oz - Geelong

Our first full day in Melbourne kicked off with a beautiful threee mile run along the Yarra riverfront, complete with sunrise and hot air balloons. 

Breakfast at the hotel was your standard American fare, with the addition of baked tomatoes, mushrooms and baked beans. Plain yogurt and multi-vitamin choose too. We met up with Andy, Sophie and Scotty from Allawah tours, loaded up the bus and van and took off. 

It took about an hour and a half of driving through the suburbs, farmland and through Geelong to get to our surfing site in Ocean Grove. We changed into our wetsuits and met Robert and the other surf guides on the beach, carrying our boards two by two. They gave us a brief lesson and away we went! W got up on his board immediately, as did Craig. I was able to get up on my feet several times, but could never stay up longer than a few moments. The day turned beautiful but it was windy with good sized waves. The students were all good sports and made an effort, with various results. 

We drove along the beach to Torquay, the home of Billabong and Rip Curl. The area is known for its surfing, and the surf lifestyle has permeated Australia. Board shorts and bright colors are the standard. Craig, W and I had lunch at a small Japanese shop; W tried hand roll sushi for the first time (very fresh salmon!) We browsed through shops like Oakley, Reef and Rip Curl before heading to to the outlets. People dug through bins for $10 shirts; Wally found some great board shorts for a good price. The exchange rate right now is about 76 cents to the Australian dollar. 

Then we drove along the coast to the start of the Great Ocean Road, which was built after WWI by soldiers returning home. It is the road that connects all of the seaside towns in southern Australia, with small towns and homes with glass porches along the stretches of vast field and dwarfed trees. Andy provided me with lots of information as we drove as I peppered him with questions. The amazing part of the Great Ocean Road were the miles of beaches, mostly uninhabited. Andy remarked that there is such a lot of beach that they are rarely crowded, even at peak holiday time. And in every town we passed, there were no vacancies at the backpackers' and hotels. 

Our next stop was the pier in Lorne, a busy seaside town that set right up against the hillside. It was evacuated the week before due to the threat of fire, but was packed today. The pier was a several story high metal structure that looked back to the east onto the bay filled with tourists. High schoolers in wetsuits jumped off of the pier and climbed the ladder back up, one even doing so holding an Elon student's GoPro camera. The waves were huge heading toward the beach, providing some challenge to the swimmers practicing for the Pier to Pub swim coming up soon. It is less than a mile, and I would LOVE to do it!

Back in the van and off of the Great Ocean Road and into the Ottways Forest. We spent a lot of time in the van going through hairpin turns and deep forest, due to a fire last week that swept through Wye River, destroying over 100 towns. We drove past many Australian fire trucks, that are still working on active fires in the area caused by lightning strikes and accelerated by dry conditions. The forest was dense with ferns that looked prehistoric, the size of aa small car. Random sites: a pig in someone's yard, a seven foot high T-Rex statue leading Santa's sleigh, a llama in with sheep, lots of cows and sheep. 

Final destination - Seaside Backpackers in Apollo Bay, another small seaside town with one strip of shops. We stopped at a 'bottle shop,' a gourmet bar and tasting room, where a student dropped a bottle of liquor. A few bottles of Little Creatures for us, and we headed for the hostel. It is a ramshackle assortment of small houses and outbuildings that we shared with some Austrians, Germans and more. Most of the small rooms housed 2-6 people in bunk beds with common areas of pool tables, puzzles and LPs featuring ABBA and Neil Diamond. We met up with Charlie, Andy's wife and their kids, Mads and Jasper, and got cooking while the students played backyard cricket overlooking the ocean. We ate burgers, salad and tried marinated kangaroo. Afterwards the wind was too strong and temperatures too cold to stay outside, so we migrated into the common area to play pool and card games. (New game - Tourette's). Lots of laughter and lots of beverages for the kids....we went to bed after talking to C around 10:45pm. 

. 

1/3/16 Greetings from Oz!

For two of the last three years, W has co-led an Elon University course on Sustainability and Ecotourism in Australia. This is a half semester class in the fall, followed by a 23 day adventure in Melbourne, Tasmania, Geelong and more. Now that C is old enough to be left with family for some time (and I have a great job with a reasonable amount of vacation time), I finally get to accompany W on part of the trip. So I'm off to Oz for the 1st - 11th of January, with Gigi and GigiPop Kinkel spending time at our house with one small five year old and a little dog. 

Losing time

We departed from Greensboro airport with our co-teacher and friend, Craig Schmidt. A brief hop to Atlanta and we were off to Los Angeles. We got in our exercise because we headed to the international terminal at LAX, then had to turn around and go back to the United Airlines terminal. We ate dinner at the Rolling Stone Bar & Grill, then met up with the class at our gate at about 6pm Pacific time. Craig and W reminded them of their assignments and then sent them on their way. It was a four hour wait to departure but we stretched, walked, people-watched (cheetah hair) and rested. 

The United flight was on a new Dreamliner, probably the largest and quietest flight I have ever been on. The seats were three across times three and we were in the middle with one of the Elon students. Liftoff was quiet and quick, and dinner arrived fast. Free beer and wine are a nice plus on this journey. I fell asleep watching Spy and slept on and off for the next six hours or so. Upon waking to a very dark plane, I cleaned up, stretched, walked and then explored the entertainment options. I have never taken in that much uninterrupted entertainment at once. 

We landed in Melbourne around 8:30am. After a long wait for luggage and customs, we hopped on a Murray's bus for Melbourne. Ibrahim, our driver, regaled us with his internet conspiracy theories while Craig and I tried to ask him about Melbourne and Australia. 

Lodging - Hotel Ibis Little Bourke Simple, European style accommodations. Very narrow hallways and rooms with lights that only turn on with the key in the inside of the door. We had twin beds on the 9th floor!

First things first - a 2 mile run to try and get some exercise and find W a SIM card for his phone. We ran along the river, through shopping and tourist areas near Lonsdale Street. Clothing here is much more colorful, as is the hair fof both men and women. The post-run shower felt sooooo good. We met up with Craig again and headed to find food. Lunch was Rocket Burger in front of the train station, with fabulous fries. Then we booked it about 2 miles to Melbourne Cricket Grounds. The walk, while hurried, was beautiful. It was along the Yarra River in a park area, with lots of cyclists, families with strollers, street musicians and more. 

Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG) was our first formal adventure in Australia. We met some of the students at 1:15, but about half showed up 25 minutes late. W and I went with the first group, hosted by our guide Mark, while Craig took on the stragglers with Richard. Our guides led us on about a two hour tour of MCG, including the Cricket Club area, Long Room, practice areas, turf and more while a women's big bash tournament was going on featuring the Melbourne Stars vs. the Melbourne Renegades. It appeared that about 400 people were in attendance at the free event, in a stadium that seats 96,000. The day before, the stadium had 90,000 people waiting hours to get in through security to watch the men's Big Bash. We learned all about cricket from Mark (though I had the student's understanding when I referenced the end of Bend it Like Beckam.) It is a nearly all day game, played by multinational teams. 

After the tours, the students took off while we enjoyed a pint and watched more cricket. We then started walking and didn't stop for about two hours. We got W his SIM card, failed at getting sushi, then decided to head to Little Creatures brewery in a farther suburb. Funny surprise that we ran into our flight crew while walking alongside a skate park! Pizza and flights of beer at Little Creatures and then walking to get the free tram home. Total? 14 miles and over 26,000 steps. I fell asleep at 8:55pm!

2015.6.26 BSG in Valle Crucis

Find out you are losing your job? What better way to get away from the stress than head to the NC mountains to support your main guy as he rides 100 miles?

Ok, not really. The ink isn't dry yet, but it is relatively assured that I will be on the wrong end of the conference call chain next week. As it is approximately the 6th time I have been down this road, the pit in my stomach is quite smaller, the ground far less shifty and the fear just a small nagging thought as I progress from wake to sleep. We had this trip planned, and while seven years ago me would have shut it down due to cost, the 40+ year old me said, "let's go to the mountains!"

This morning was your typical day of small child swim lessons and broken AC units, but we finally got C, Harper, the bike and both of us in the car by 11:30am. C and I both fell asleep while W drove. We stopped on the Blue Ridge Parkway at a scenic overlook and woke everyone to use the facilities. A short while later we hopped off the Parkway to head to Boone and realized that we were at the same exit as Phil's cabin from 7 years ago! W remembered the white horse in the mist that I took photos of so many years ago.

Blood, Sweat & Gears registration took place at Valle Crucis Elementary School, right next to a Mast General Store Annex. C and I played on the playground while W took care of his registration transfer. This was originally designed as a big weekend with Arch & Sarah & the boys, but last minute tickets snafus left it with just us. So we found a two bedroom condo in Banner Elk through Air BnB (yay W!!!) The trip there was farther than expected but the view from our barca-lounger dual couch is magnificent.  We threw our stuff down the many wooden stairs to our apartment under a realty office, then hightailed it back over hill and dale to Tweetsie Railroad.

What luck! When you walk up at 45 minutes until closing, they let you walk in for free! We took a ride on some bumper type cars, rode the fastest Ferris Wheel on the East Coast (which no one liked) and even tried out the Tilt-a-Whirl. C loved the latter, laughing hysterically while W took pictures from the stationary ground. We shared a chocolate-covered marshmallow kabob then headed to the Red Onion for dinner. I sent a message to my former rep Mary for introducing us to the place so we didn't have to eat at a chain! We loaded up on carbs of many varieties then took the super scenic (read twisty beyond measure) Route 149 back to Banner Elk, singing Shut Up and Dance, Our Town and most of the original Annie soundtrack. A quick stop at the Kangaroo left little to be desired in terms of adult beverages, but that's ok - we have peanut butter fudge and satellite tv. A storm is rolling in outside the window....better go watch it.

2015.1.19 Travels with C - Good-bye Charleston

We woke on Monday morning with W deep into illness, up most of the night coughing. C and I decided to get some food, so we ran the 2 miles to Dunkin Donuts....an adventure along cool paths and downtown streets of Charleston.

When we came home we saw the news that told us that the Charleston Marathon was officially over on distance due to a missed turn. 

Wally ended up qualifying by about 30 seconds, but will run again in Maryland in March to really enter the Boston Marathon.

Long uneventful ride home....goodbye Charleston!

2015.1.18 Travels with the Boys - Charleston - recovery day

Sunday saw C almost back to normal, downing a quality hotel breakfast of waffles, fruit and more. While I am normally a huge fan of the new Starbucks-style grab and go cafe's found in most Courtyards, the full buffet was a welcome respite this morning. During our preparations, C watched his first ever full episode of Sesame Street. He even got up and danced with the PBS Kids Smart Cat during commercials.

The day brought a boat trip to Ft. Sumter, cold but beautiful. C wasn't interested in listening to the tour guide but he was fascinated by the cannons. We have really kept him away from almost all violence thus far. He doesn't really understand concepts like war or enemies, but cannons? He just knows he likes them. We picked up a Jr. Ranger exam and spent much of the return boat ride home getting the answered filled it, with C writing in 1829 and pentagon where needed. We were treated with two dolphins playing off the bow of the boat.

As walking wasn't part of the plan, we decided it would be a great afternoon for a horse-drawn carriage ride. We bought our tickets, then stopped for a pint at Tommy Condon's Irish Pub. C flirted with the bartender and ate a cookie until it was time to leave. Unfortunately our tour oversold but they got us into another company's tour within 15 minutes. The next hour was a lovely trip through the historic neighborhoods of Charleston, including Market, High St, the French Quarter and the Battery. Our horse was a beautiful and feisty black and white named Carolina. C thought she looked like Oreo, the PY3 bunny at school.

We tried to eat at Coast, one of my favorite haunts from work days with BHC. Unfortunately their kitchen didn't open for 30 minutes so we hit King Street in search of food. End result? Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale...seriously. Chips and guac, some yummy margaritas and good food. Nothing fancy just good and lots. Gelato at Pablos and back to the hotel to watch the Patriots crush the Colts.

Interesting reading of the day? The paper reported that the lead car in the marathon made a wrong turn inbetween miles 1 and 2 of the course. They are currently trying to get the course recertified and make corrections to the finish times. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

2015.1.17 Travels with the Boys - Charleston - The Big Day

Beautiful weather, full night of sleep, and just a few follow up coughing fits leftover from the flu. What more could one need when trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon for the third time? 

W was up and out the door for the 8am start, while I tried to wrestle a still-not-quite 100% C out the door. The course ran right by our hotel but we missed W by about 30 seconds. Luckily I saw the warm-up jacket he had tossed onto the hotel grass, picked it up and started the dash across the island. It took some creativity to dash with C in the Bob across the road, still full of many runners, and start the 1.2 mile dash to King Street. We made it just as the pace car and lead runners came through. Less than 10 minutes later, there was W...looking great! C and I then ran against traffic down King, cheering on the runners, getting some calls of 'you are going the wrong way' and 'go momma.' We enjoyed cheering encouragement and getting some whoop, whoops for the great weather. A quick trip into Harris Teeter and we were restocked with breakfast, candy, supplies and signage gear. Round trip back to the hotel for a total of 4 miles to start. 

Then we hopped into the car and drove up the highway to the finish line. C and I then sprinted around the course, cheering W and our MRC friend, Josh Cox, as they ran by miles 20 & 22. Everything looked good though W seemed to be having a tough go. Interesting note - one volunteer who I saw three times reported that the course was measuring long. C and I stopped our run at one intersection to give out LifeSavers and high fives....so much fun! I highly recommend it. 

I stood at mile 25.8 waiting to see our guy. And waited...and worried...and waited some more. Then I ran back to mile 25 to see if he was coming. I waited too long. When I finally saw him, I said 'dig deep babe' and kept up with him as he did, then he rounded the corner and the stroller was just too much. I was hoping as he rounded the finish, but I saw in his eyes that today was not his day. Was it the flu that hit last week? Was it too warm? Had he cracked? After he had his picture taken and collected his medal, he walked up to me and said, "26.67? Seriously? I kept waiting for the finish and it never came." W finished at 26:14, a personal record but 1 minute and 14 seconds outside of a BQ. He missed his goal by less than 75 seconds.

I held back my emotions and bit my tongue. Runners are always lamenting the difference between their finish distances and the course actuals. GPS watches are notoriously incorrect as Runners' World has repeatedly reported. But as we walked, and waited for our friend, many folks around us were murmuring the same type of disbelief. W recovered quickly (and honestly, he looked the best of the finish of any of his three races) and we slowly walked over to cheer for Josh as he completed a PR finish. 

Back to the car and then to the hotel. It was a quiet ride, followed by a quiet lunch of leftover pizza. C was bouncing off the walls at this point and still barely eating. I crawled into his little couch bed with him while still in my running clothes. Then came a first, he clutched my hand and fell asleep. We have kept C out of our bed deliberately since he was a baby and couldn't get him to sleep with us if we wanted to. But today, he did. Everyone napped for about an hour, then we set out in the Courtyard van for some sustenance. Molly Darcy's was the recommendation for a good pub. We relaxed and taught C how to play foosball, then caught up with Josh. Some good gelato and we all hit the hay. Tomorrow would come quickly with a 4 year old in the room. It was time for sleep. Decisions would come later. 

2015.1.16 Travels with the boys - Charleston

9pm at night and the cleaning staff at the Waterfront Courtyard Marriott has just left. C is finally down to sleep, and W is putting the finishing touches on his prep for the Charleston Marathon. The weather couldn't be better for W's third go-round with a BQ.

It was a relatively uneventful trip down here. The car took off around 9am and only hit a few traffic stops out of Greensboro. We traversed back rounds and listened to C being read books via the iPad (and snore) until a lunchtime stop at Firehouse in Florence. We enjoyed some funny stares as we stretched on the sidewalk, then hopped back in the car for a sunny drive down to Charleston.

After checking in we quickly bundled up the man in the BOB and ran the 1.2 miles to the expo. W found his bib (#83) and grabbed his gear. While I was trying on new Newtons, Josh found us. I so love our running community that allows us to find friends at nearly every event! We wrapped it up and ran back past the Citadel stadium to our hotel, just in time to catch the sunset. A quick change, snack for C...remember this later...and out the door for some pizza.

Carb loading is definitely NOT needed for a 5 or 10k, but it is highly recommended the night before a marathon. Over the bridge we found a funky version of the typical Mellow Mushroom; it was once an old theater! Lucky us it was restaurant week so we ordered 2 appetizers, pizza and dessert for 30 bucks. But something was definitely amiss. C is normally a pretzel hound and he wouldn't touch them. He even put his head in my lap and moaned that he wanted his pizza. When it finally came he ate two bites and said he was full. I finally got him to eat by holding him while he watched the team toss some pies in the air. We were so desperate to have him eat that we let him dig into our cookie sundae.

Fast forward to the bedtime routine at the hotel and he says he just feels icky and tired. I read to him a bit and tried to prep him for getting horizontal when he suddenly lurched up. Well, by the time he realized what was coming we were halfway between the bedroom and bathroom of our 1 bedroom suite. Poor guy. We now believe that the milk that was in the crazy, keep anything cold thermos had probably not stayed cold enough. So his afternoon snack was really a recipe for sick and cranky kid. Three minutes after baptizing our carpet and he's smiling, eating dry cereal and asking to be read to. At least it happened early in the night and not in the car or the bed. Plenty of time for W to get his game face on. Third time is a charm!!!

2014.5.25 - Disney with C - Day 2 at Animal Kingdom

The alarm went off way too early, and I headed to the hotel gym to pound out 3 miles and lift some weights. C slept until 630 and was just eating some breakfast when I arrived back at the hotel. We had some breakfast inside and some on the screened in porch of room 3163. Then we headed out into the heat to the park. C was so excited to see the entrance gates again. We paid our 17 bucks and drove into the mass craziness that is Disney parking.

First stop, figuring out our tickets and getting our fingerprint. Wow! Disney has come a long way since we were here in 1998.  Then we wandered through the vegetation to Kilimanjaro Safari. We hopped right on courtesy of the fast passes, and jumped into the last row of the bus. We saw hippos, crocodiles, elephants, rhinos and lions and got stuck in a giraffic jam!!!  C was worried that we would fall out of the bus but had fun overall.

Other items of note:
- Pangani Forest Exploration Trail - perhaps one of the only things I remember from our honeymoon visit...the gorillas that sleep against the glass. We also saw monkeys, turtles, and a glow in the dark scorpion.

- shopping expedition to get Colin a fan sprayer...the one item he wanted to purchase with his Disney Dollars

- Tree of Life viewing and photos

- Finding Nemo the Musical - this was a wonderful 40 minute musical performed by live actors with puppets, similar to the full length Lion King musical. C loved that the performers moved through the crowds, especially the jellyfish and Marlin and Dory. When bubbles were shot from the ceiling, his face lit up. (Unfortunately the plot of the short musical was the same as the movie, and caused just as much of a sleeping issue as our brief dalliance with the movie three months ago. Lesson learned.)

- Character Greeting with Safari Mickey and Minnie - worth the FastPass. He ran right up to them both and gave huge hugs, then smiled for his pictures. Even better that he got to high five King Louie and Baloo as they walked by outside.

- Kali River Rapids - once out of FastPasses, we had to wait about an hour for this ride. C was a champ, even though we were skipping his nap. He got into the boat and strapped in, mouth wide open as he took in the illegal logging camp around us. W and C bore the brunt of the splashes, coming out soaking wet. He loved it!

- Last adventure for the day - Rafiki's Planet Watch - a brief open air train ride to the Conservation Station, an educational area with vet facilities, lots of creepy crawlies, a character visit with Rafiki and a small goat, pig, cow petting zoo. C has been to these before so his big thrill was getting to dance and play with Chip and Dale for about 10 minutes.

We hopped onto the train to return to Discovery Island, pausing to look at an anteater and some turtles along the way. Dinner was at the pool after a brief swim session for C and W. Then off to bed...

2014.5.24 Disney with C - Day 1

A brave adventure...Disney world with a four year old. And we're off!

The day started with a leisurely noon flight from the new Southwest terminal at RDU. C sat next to the windows, eating his Annie's Bunny-Os while watching flights land and depart. He earned many of his coveted 'Disney Dollars' for good behavior.

After an uneventful flight with 20 minutes of napping for Colin, we found our way to the Marriott Vacation Club Harbour Lakes. Wow! We chose the right location. Two unique splash parks - one with a pirate ship with slides and the other with a water slide and splash area with two dousing buckets. Our room wasn't ready yet so we wandered around the property and then headed for Downtown Disney. No nap? No problem!

W and I spent our honeymoon at Disney in 1998, so we remembered a bit about the area. But we stayed on property that time, so parking and driving around the park was new to us. Funny that as we pulled the car right in front of Downtown Disney, "Let It Go" started playing on the radio. C was grinning from ear to ear as he sang and watched the big balloon go up and down behind Planet Hollywood. We arrived just in time to pick up our tickets at Guest Services, then make our 4:30pm reservation at Splitsville Lanes. While we did not bowl, C pulled his chair right next to the last lane and decided he was eating there. Pizza, milk and applesauce for him? Sushi and drinks for us. Very nice! This tells me we definitely need to take him bowling at home. C was fascinated by the bowling and remarked 'we have to come here all of the time.'

We walked around a bit, people watching and looking at the wonders of Downtown Disney. There is a lot of construction (dream building) going on, including a new food truck rodeo going in this summer. And Pleasure Island is nearly all closed, awaiting many revisions over the next year.

Then we headed home and C and I played on the pirate ship while W transported our stuff into the hotel room. He went down water slide tunnels and enjoyed general fun for a quick fifteen minutes. Then dad picked us up and we drive over to the room. Two bed, 2 bath....glorious! The rolled pillows in the rooms reminded C of 'candy'. C took a quick shower then into his bed of pillows. Dad read him a story while I hit up the grocery for important provisions. We had a beverage and then off to bed.

Day 7 - Heroes, near misses and clubs.

Friday in Prague and I once again played hooky from the company visits. I visited a memorial to the bravery of the Czech people during WWII and the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich. Then I wandered downtown to do se shopping, picking up some goodies for my nieces at the Lego museum. More walking and picture taking followed, and then lunch of a gigantic baguette with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, as well as a rustic French fry dish with some kind of cheesy gravy on top. I have no idea what it was, but it was delicious. Beer goes down so well with lunch!

The group came back from the company visit and people headed their separate ways for the afternoon. Tina, Judy, Robert, Anu and I went to Hard Rock Cafe because they wanted to continue their tradition. Since I had already eaten I just drank a beer and people watched. (only tina could get me to a hard rock cafe!) After lunch Robert and I headed downtown to rent bicycles at Bike Prague.


What an adventure! Cobblestone streets, narrow walkways, lots of turning around and switchbacks, and even one run in with a car. We were riding on a sidewalk next to a high courtyard wall as there was no space between the trolleys and the curb. Suddenly a Mercedes Benz wagon pulled out of an archway right in front of me. No time to really brake so I hit his front quarter panel and sent my bike askew. I stayed upright through sheer will. The driver was a bit freaked and Robert just about had a heart stack but all was fine. We kept going and rode all over lesser town. There was consideration given to traveling to the top of the hill to get to the miniature Eiffel Tower, but the hill was too much for our sad mountain bikes and rubbery legs. A set of statues at the park showed a man in varying stages with pieces missing, signifying the impact of Communism on people's lives. Next Robert and I hefted our bikes up over our shoulders and up the stairs onto the Charles Bridge, which dates from the 1300's. It is filled with artists and street vendors and is pedestrian only. Back to the hotel and off to dinner.

Fast forward two hours and the group took two cabs across into lesser town with the intention of eating Thai at Noi. Without a reservation we were subject to the wrath of a rather bitchy server. So we ended up at a Mediterranean place a few doors down, Luka Lu. We sat in a sort of treehouse suspended above a lovely courtyard. Several folks complained that the food was bland but I really enjoyed my risotto with chicken and sundried tomatoes. We wandered around as a large group getting gelato and trying to go to bars. Then things splintered. First we were sent to U Prince to wait for the rest of the group. Then Melissa and I joined David, Lauren, Wendy and Jessica in a basement bar with some graphic artwork, illicit smoke and lots of graffiti. Then we headed to Roxy in Josefov where we danced to house and trance music while watching young Czechs dance like maniacal zombies in worship of the DJ. I confirmed that I am too old to go clubbing. ;)

Day 8 - Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, boat ride and Boom

Morning broke on our bus ride with Merrick across the river into Lesser Town. At Prague Castle we started in the second courtyard and moved into St. Vitus' Cathedral. It was finished in the early 1900's and is an example of gothic architecture. The architects put themselves into the design as statuary.

Walked inside and saw the stained glass and the tomb of St. Wenceslas., made completely of silver. Then we walked into the Old Royal Palace, with its large reception hall used for everything from dinners to jousting tournaments. We also saw the room where the defenestrations took place that started the thirty years war. Then we moved into the gallery with portraits of the Hapsburgs including Joseph and his mother Maria Teresa (mother of 16). Out via the horse stairway and into the courtyard again.

Next came the shopping area called the Golden Lane. Rumor is that alchemists lived here but in reality people worked with gold. Later artists saved the area from being torn down. Frank Kafka lived in the blue house at #22. We passed through the little houses and displays to the courtyard with the statue of a naked boy. The whole statue is black except for his privates which are gold from people rubbing it for luck. After came the changing of the guard and lunch at Restaurant Vikarka, open since 1360. Schnitzel and mashed potatoes, soup and beer for me. Yum! Goulash for everyone else.

It was about 85 degrees as we walked down through the shops to the Charles Bridge, stopping to take pictures at the Lennon wall and the site that recorded floods. We walked across the bridge and about 75% of us decided to go for a boat ride, complete with ice cream and beer. Our tour guide spoke in English and german about the sites along the river. It was nice but between the heat and the late night, I nearly fell asleep.

We shopped through Indian stores and local fare like manufacktura for more presents for the family. Drinks in the lobby and out to Lemon Leaf for dinner.

We had a wonderful Thai meal with about 12 of us while Anu and Sal has the fish pedicure. Bob gave a toast and we gave Judy and Tina their gifts. The evening wrapped up at Boom with gelato and back at the hotel to watch soccer with about 75% of the group.

Day 6 - wandering in the rain in Praha

Started the morning with a run down to the water. It was quiet and overcast. Once again I ran to the bridges then got a bit off track, only to find myself in front of the Lego museum! I sprinted through Wenceslas Square and back to the hotel in time for breakfast with some colleagues. A few envied my playing hooky. I spoke to Merrick, our guide, to find out where we would be headed to for our full day tour on Saturday. We agreed that Old Town and the Jewish quarter would be a good place for me to visit today. A quick shower and out into the rain to go explore.First I headed to Tesco to get chocolates for our friend Caleb (he taught English here a while back). It was huge, basically a department store. I tried to take a photo in the grocery section and got busted by security. When I came out of the front, I found myself back at the Lego museum so I did some browsing.Fast forward through 20 or so minutes of walking, I was finding Prague and the weather a bit dismal (sort of like London on Boxing Day). I was enjoying getting lost but taking very few pictures because it was raining too hard and I was handling my umbrella, backpack and guidebook. (International access on he iPhone would have helped here). Hot chocolate and free Internet at au gourmand in old town and I was refreshed and ready to go.Bought a ticket and climbed all the way up into the old Clocktower. I was able to see all sides of Prague, as well as be there for the playing of the trumpet at 12 noon from all four sides of Clock tower. W would have really liked to see this. I took photos of some British tourists and they returned the favor. Afterwards I paid the equivalent of 10 cents to use the WC and almost got stuck inside with an unwieldy lock. Then I continued to wander through Jewish town and went into the old new synagogue. There was no photography allowed inside. It is amazing that they're today less than 6000 Jews left in Prague after all of the progroms from the end of the 19 century through World War II. These ancient pieces of history all around the Jewish quarter are surrounded by high-end stores like Elie Saab, Gucci, Marina Rinaldi, and more. Odd. Everything is negotiable in Prague, exchange rates, tour fees, everything. I got rid of my Euros and change and got 500 off my audible tour guide through the museums by accident. Went to two money exchanges near the clock tower to get three different rates that ranged by 200 czn or $10. It's crazy how the prices increase as you near the museums. There are lots of street vendors. I had to navigate through them while visiting the many areas that make up the Jewish History museum. More later on the museums...I sobbed at the exhibit of children's art from the camps. Things are so different when I put things in perspective as a parent. It also made me miss my boys. That and seeing all of the little cutely clad munchkins wrapped up against the rain today.Visited a store that had some cute art of cats and picked up a present for someone in the family. Actually met the artist too! On to visit some of Zane Lamprey's haunts....poor W....so wish he could be here. U Vejvodu - home of the beer hall and the stinky cheese. I walked in to find two crusty guys at the bar. They referred me to David, the designated English speaker. He questioned my ordering of beer cheese informing me that it had a "strong smell." Bring it! Yummy! Cheese, onions and mustard, big farmhouse bread and a large Pilsner Urquell. Writing my blog and people watching. Walked back to the hotel to catch up with the group just getting off of the bus.