carryoncouple

Living life with less baggage!

Tag: travel

  • A blank calendar filled with possibilities

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    “What are you going to do?” After I decided to end my 31-year teaching career, I heard this question often. “I really don't have a plan,” I usually answered. When I was working and raising a family, most days were planned. A blank calendar presented an exciting challenge. A retired friend once advised me that…

  • Avenue of the Giants

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    We found the most charming place to stay while visiting with friends in Southern Humboldt County. Miranda Gardens, located along California's beautiful Avenue of the Giants highway, offers something for everyone. There is a pool for hot Southern Humboldt summers, a playground for cooped up kids, soaring redwoods for relaxed afternoons, a continental breakfast featuring…

  • Yurts!

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    Oregon has the most beautiful campgrounds and we have some wonderful memories of past trips…so when Reg suggested we camp on this trip, I was tempted. Until I gave it some serious thought. Camping for us (even for one night) is never simple so in a desperate attempt to find a compromise for the nature…

  • Touring the Columbia River Gorge

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    In the past, we've always driven up the Columbia River Gorge along Interstate 84. While the scenery was beautiful, it was simply the quickest way for us to reach our destination of Walla Walla, Washington where our son was enrolled in college. Now that he and Leah live in Portland, we chose to spend a…

  • Timberline Trekking Treats

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    It's been awhile since we've taken a good old fashioned American road trip, so we jumped at the chance to visit our son and daughter-in-law in Portland, Oregon. Car trips mean no luggage restrictions, so we loaded up with anything and everything we thought we might need and headed north. Our first sunny day found…

  • I left my shoes in Santiago

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    I left my well-worn hiking shoes in Santiago. In medieval times, Camino de Santiago pilgrims burned their clothing at a cross outside the cathedral. They bought new clothes at the nearby marketplace, signaling a new beginning. I dumped my Merrells in a trash bin. There was part of me that wanted to keep them, but…

  • Startling Rooftop Surprise: Camino de Santiago

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    We returned to the cathedral at 6pm for the final rooftop segment of our cathedral tour. After climbing 105 steps, we expected to be led out onto a courtyard type area atop the cathedral; a place where we could safely take in the view of the various towers and the surrounding Santiago cityscape. The views…

  • Sweet Distraction: Camino de Santiago

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      What could be better than chocolate to soothe the leftover aches and pains of the Camino? Prior to leaving, my friend Annie recommended we try the hot chocolate while in Spain. ” It's like drinking a melted Hershey bar,” she wrote. When a light rain began to fall this morning, we ducked inside a…

  • A moving Pilgrim Mass: Camino de Santiago

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      We joined about 1,000 at the traditional Pilgrim Mass at the Santiago Cathedral Tuesday. It was a moving ceremony, highlighted by the swinging of the giant incense burner (Botafumeiro) by six robed attendants. They pulled on ropes strung over a pulley high above the altar. We sat close to the altar, under the path…