Thursday, 8 June Destination: Red Creek Campsite Today’s Miles: 10.4 Start Location: Red Creek Campsite Trip Miles: 24.7 Last night continued the pattern, 37 overnight low and 39 when Bob and I were up at six. Taking our time as usual we were hiking around 8:30. We started with a climb to Rocky Point Trail to warm up….
2023 West Virginia – Day 3 – Dolly Sods
Wednesday, 7 June Destination: Red Creek Campsite Today’s Miles: 5.4 Start Location: Stonecoal Run Campsite Trip Miles: 14.3 Bob and I were up as usual at six. The temperature registered 36 for a low. Only a little warmer when we woke up. Again no hurry so we started hiking after 8:30. Today was Big Stonecoal Trail to Red…
2023 West Virginia – Day 2 – Dolly Sods
Tuesday, 6 June Destination: Stonecoal Run Campsite Today’s Miles: 7.6 Start Location: Red Creek Campsite Trip Miles: 8.9 Today’s seven and a half mile day took Bob and I on the Bear Rocks Trail, Raven Ridge Trail, Rocky Ridge Trail, Blackbird Knob Trail and finally Big Stonecoal Trail before getting to our campsite on Stonecoal Run. The challenge…
2023 West Virginia – Day 1 – Dolly Sods
Monday, 5 June Destination: Red Creek Canmpsite Today’s Miles: 1,4 Start Location: Bear Rocks Parking Trip Miles: 1.4 I left Manassas a little after eight, stopping for gas and a hoagie for the drive to Dolly Sods. The last five miles were a gravel road that was a little rough in spots. Bob showed up a few minutes…
2023 Europe – Epilogue
3 – 25 May Dolora and I spent three weeks in Europe; Germany, Greece and Portugal. Nothing compares to visiting friends and spending time with them. It is a much different experience than the tourist thing, much more relaxed. Visiting Nicole and Frank in Germany was a great way to start our trip. A Rick…
2023 Europe – Day 23 – Back in the USA
Thursday, 25 May Our Uber driver, Ricardo, was a few minutes early and we had an uneventful ride to the airport. Even though the airport does not look that big, after security Dolora and I had to navigate the maze of duty free shops. Dolora and I had the most pleasant officer at passport control….
2023 Europe – Day 22 – Relaxing in Lisbon
Wednesday, 24 May Slept in a little bit then had breakfast. Dolora and I then did the town walk to the Bairro Alto and Chiado sections of Lisbon. Bairro Alto means High Town so we started with a climb up to a park with views of Lisbon. Through some narrow cobblestone streets, then a beautiful…
2023 Europe – Day 21 – Lisboa
Tuesday, 23 May Lisboa is the Portuguese name for Lisbon. Even without a schedule, Dolora and I were up early. The two hour time change from Greece in affecting our schedules. I can hardly wait for the five hour change when we return home! Breakfast was a little quieter without the tour group from yesterday….
2023 Europe – Day 20 – Arrival in Lisbon
Monday, 22 May Our flight landed just before midnight. I read that Uber is better than a taxi from the airport to the hotel. I booked the Uber but we had a minor glitch finding the pick up spot based on the directions. Dolora and I walked past the mayhem at the taxi spot to…
2023 Europe – Day 19 – Last Day in Greece
Sunday, 21 May Today was our last day in Greece, Dolora and I had a 9:20 pm flight to Lisbon. We slept in a little and went down to breakfast. We packed our bags and left them at the hotel where we were to be picked up at 6:15 pm for the ride to the…