Archive for the ‘Travels’ Category

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Down Memory Lane: Garvan Gardens

February 8, 2010

Scenes from Garvan Woodland Gardens, Arkansas. March 9, 2009.

When we went to Arkansas in March, 2009, we stopped a couple of places on our way to Mount Nebo.  We checked out a waterfall at Lake Catherine State Park and we also went to Garvan Woodland Gardens near Hot Springs.

We went to Garvan Gardens to check out a couple of waterfalls (aren’t you surprised?).  Garvan Gardens is The University of Arkansas’ Botanical Garden and is located on a 210-acre peninsula.  It started out as a private garden which was later donated to the University.

We found the waterfalls we were looking for — and much more.  The spring flowers were in full bloom and could be seen from many different places within the garden.  We spent a couple of hours walking through the different sections of the garden and enjoying the sights.

To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

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Down Memory Lane: Middle Prong

February 6, 2010

Scenes from the Middle Prong of Little River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. January 25, 2008.

The most-visited of our national parks is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.  The crowds can be overwhelming at times.

But it is possible to get away from the crowds even in the Smokies.  One of those lesser-visited places is the Middle Prong of Little River above Tremont.  An old logging road follows the stream for a couple  miles, offering some wonderful views of the cascades and rapids.

Betsy and I first explored Middle Prong in January, 2008.  We enjoyed it so much that we’ve been back several times since.

To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

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I’m grateful that a health scare involving my mother was a false alarm and that she is feeling much better.

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Down Memory Lane: Beach Honeymoon

January 25, 2010

Scenes from our beach honeymoon. June, 2001.

When Betsy and I got married in June, 2001, I still owned a house in Little River, South Carolina.  I had lived in Little River when working in North Myrtle Beach, and I had not been able to sell it when I moved to Tennessee.

Since Betsy likes the beach, we decided to spend the week after our wedding in Little River.  I had discovered a couple of beaches across the state line in North Carolina that I was eager to share with Betsy.  We spent a couple of days at Sunset Beach, which turned out to be our favorite beach.

Little River was a little fishing village on the Intracoastal Waterway.  While fishing is still a big part of the local economy, there are other attractions for tourists as well.  Casino boats dock in Little River and take people out beyond the three mile limit so they can legally gamble.  We didn’t take a cruise on a casino boat, but we did take a cruise on a jet-powered boat, the Sea Screamer, out into the Atlantic and down the coast toward Myrtle Beach.

It’s definitely not beach weather in Tennessee now, but I feel warmer just looking over these photos again.  To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

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I’m grateful for each and every moment with my Beautiful Bride.

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Down Memory Lane: Shirley Plantation

January 18, 2010

Our visit to Shirley Plantation, Virginia. June 23, 2007.

While we were in Virginia back in 2007, we visited Shirley Plantation, located on the James River between Williamsburg and Richmond.

Shirley Plantation is Virginia’s first plantation (1613), established by royal grant only six years after John Smith’s settlement at Jamestown.  Shirley Plantation is the oldest family-owned business in North America dating back to 1638.  Construction of the present mansion began in 1723 when Elizabeth Hill, great-grandaughter of Edward Hill, the first owner, married John Carter, eldest son of Robert “King” Carter.  Completed in 1738, the mansion, referred to as the “Great House,” is largely in its original state and is owned, operated, and lived in by direct descendants of Edward Hill.

I really wanted to see Shirley because Anne Hill Carter, the mother of Robert E. Lee, was born at Shirley.  She married Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee in the parlor at Shirley.  George Washington was one of the wedding guests.

Robert E. Lee spent quite a bit of time at Shirley as a youngster, and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to see this house and grounds.

To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

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I’m grateful for the opportunity to visit historical places and experience where events in our past took places.

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On the Road Again

December 10, 2009

Betsy at Lower Spivey Falls, Ernestville, Tennessee. November 27, 2009.

Betsy and I have planned a long weekend in western North Carolina to visit some of the sites that we’ve wanted to see but haven’t had the opportunity until now.  It’s an opportunity to get away before things get too hectic because of Christmas.

So I’m going to be out of pocket for a few days.  We may have an some access to the internet while we’re gone, so I’ll do my best to visit you.

I hope we have good weather and that you have the weather you wish for at this time of year.  I also hope we all have a wonderful weekend.  I’ll post again when we get back.

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Look What Got Between Betsy and Me

October 26, 2009
The rock slide on I-40, October 25, 2009. Photo by wpsa.com

The rock slide on I-40, October 25, 2009. Photo by wpsa.com

Yesterday (Sunday) started at an early hour for me.  I knew Betsy had to check out of the cabin in Maggie Valley at 9 o’clock (ignoring the time change).  I also know that it took three hours to get from Maggie Valley to the house on Tuesday.  So I set the alarm for 4 o’clock and was on the road before five.  I would get there to Maggie Valley with an hour to spare.

Everything went well until about 7 o’clock , as I was approaching Newport, Tennessee.  Flashing lights, a police car and a fire truck announced that there was a problem up ahead.  It turns out that there had been a major rock slide on I-40 at about 2 o’clock Sunday morning.  The rock slide caused about 30 miles of the interstate to be closed.  The closed section runs through the Pigeon River Gorge and is just about the only way to get through that part of the mountains.

There were volunteers giving directions, but unfortunately they didn’t agree on the way to get from where I was to Maggie Valley.  Following one set of directions took me in a circle and brought me back to the exit where I had to get off.  Our GPS can select a route by the shortest distance or by the faster time.  Both routes used the closed section of the interstate.  I finally gave up and took a route that I knew would get me there — eventually.  To make a long story (and trip) short, I finally got to the cabin just before 11 o’clock.  That three hour trip took six hours.

Fortunately Betsy hadn’t given up on me and I got reunited with my Beautiful Bride.  Since  the interstate was closed we decided to go back home over the Cherohala Parkway.  The autumn colors were gorgeous, but I’ll save that for tomorrow.

Sunday night they were reporting that the interstate will be closed for at least two months.  We might not be traveling east for the next couple of months.

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Stupid Camera

October 16, 2009
Cheoah Dam and Lake, Tennessee. October 13, 2009.

Cheoah Dam and Lake, Tennessee. October 13, 2009.

Betsy and I were home for about 12 hours Thursday evening and early this (Friday) morning.  That gave us just enough time to repack for Ray’s memorial service and to do a quick post to let you know we survived the first of our quick trips.  By the time you read this we will be on the road to Jacksonville, Florida.

As you know, we went to Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia to see what the waterfalls looked like when water was released from the dam above the gorge.  We hiked a new trail (for us) and the views were wonderful.  There was a light rain most of the day, but that didn’t stop us from our quest to enjoy the waterfalls.

Unfortunately about half way through our hike my camera decided to start acting up.  For the rest of the hike I could only take wide-angle shots if I could get any at all.  That was definitely a bummer, but as Betsy said, that just gives us another excuse to go back.

Now that Betsy has her laptop, I’m hoping Santa will bring me a new camera.  I’ve been wanting one with interchangeable lenses so I could get closer to waterfalls we can’t reach on foot.  I would also like to be able to get macros of our flowers.

I know many of you are great photographers.  I would appreciate any advice you may be able to give me regarding a camera that will fit my needs.  Thanks.

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Yorktown, Virginia

October 3, 2009

On a sad note we learned that Betsy’s brother, Ray, died yesterday (Friday) afternoon.  Please keep Betsy and Ray’s family in your prayers.  Our posting and visiting your blogs are likely going to be hit and miss for the next few days.

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Betsy in Grace Episcopal Church, Yorktown, Virginia. June 22, 2007.

Betsy in Grace Episcopal Church, Yorktown, Virginia. June 22, 2007.

While we were in Virginia in 2007, we visited the town of Yorktown, Virginia as well as the battlefield there.  The town was formed in 1691, and was a thriving port at the time of the Revolution.

There were three things that we found to be of particular interest in Yorktown.  The first was Grace Episcopal Church, which was built in 1697 and is still in use.  The churchyard contains the grave of Thomas Nelson, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Nelson’s home is still standing and we were able to go inside.  Thomas Nelson was  a general in the American army during the Siege of Yorktown.  When he heard that Lord Cornwallis was using his house as headquarters, Nelson directed the artillery that was firing on the house.  There is still a cannonball in the outer wall of the house on the side facing the American siege lines.

The third interesting thing for us about the town was the Ballard House.  Betsy’s mother was a Ballard and Betsy thought there might be a connection between her and John Ballard, the owner of the house.  She has since learned that John Ballard was an ancestor.

To see more of our visit to Yorktown click HERE.

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St. Lucia

October 1, 2009
Betsy on board our ship with Gran Piton, St. Lucia, in the background. September 13, 2001.

Betsy on board our ship with Gran Piton, St. Lucia, in the background. September 13, 2001.

The fourth port of call on our honeymoon cruise was Castries, St. Lucia.  St. Lucia was probably our favorite island.  It really did present itself as a tropical paradise.

We got to enjoy St. Lucia by taking a catamaran cruise along the coast from Castries to Soufriere.  That cruise gave us a wonderful view of the coast, including the Twin Pitons, one of the most prominent landmarks on the island.  We went ashore at Soufriere and visited Soufriere volcano and the plantation museum at Morne Coubaril Estate.

The first European to settle on St. Lucia was a French pirate, Francois Le Clerc known as Wooden Leg, who used the island as a base to attack Spanish ships.  The Dutch arrived around 1600, the English settled in 1605 and the French in 1651.  Fighting broke out between the British and the French in 1651 and continued off and on for 150 years.  The island changed hands fourteen times during that time before the French ceded the island to the British in 1814.  Today St. Lucia is independent, but remains a member of the British Commonwealth.

If you would like to see more of this beautiful island click HERE.

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Antigua

September 28, 2009
Betsy at St. John's, Antigua. September 12, 2001.

Betsy at St. John's, Antigua. September 12, 2001.

The third port of call on out honeymoon cruise was St. John’s, Antigua.  Antigua was an island we thoroughly enjoyed visiting.  We especially liked the beautiful coastline of the island.

Antigua was a major sugar-producing colony for Great Britain and, because of it’s strategic location, it became Britain’s most important base in the  Caribbean.  In 1784 Admiral Horatio Nelson sailed to Antigua and established a naval base at English Harbor.  We visited Nelson’s Dockyard, the restoration of dockyard Nelson commanded.

We also visited Shirley Heights, which offered panoramic views of English Harbor.  Shirley Heights were fortified by the British for the protection of their base and contains the remains of gun emplacements and military buildings.  One of the unusual sights along the heights was cactus — parts of the island are arid.

To see more of Antigua click HERE.

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