Oregon: Fort Clatsop – Lewis & Clark National Monument
Back in September 1803, US President Thomas Jefferson decided he ought to find out more about the territory he had just acquired for the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. He commissioned Merriweather Lewis and William Clark to go and explore and in November 1805 after a gruelling trip they sighted the Pacific Ocean and set-up shop at Fort Clatsop near Astoria, Oregon
Sri Lanka: The Highlands – Tea Plantations and Nuwara Eliya
Ceylon Tea is known throughout the World and is grown extensively in the Highlands of Sri Lanka. We visited the Damro Labookellie Tea Factory to see how tea is processed and sampled some of the tea, before heading to the hill city of Nuwara Eliya.
Malaysia: Borneo – The Rain Forest Discovery Centre
A great insight into the fauna and flora of Borneo. There is a well thought out inside exhibition centre and extensive grounds with a canopy walk-way.
Book Review – Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
This book captures a remarkable story of bravery, grit and determination. In August 1914 the 28 man crew of the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–16) left England under Shackleton’s leadership aboard the Endurance. Things did not turn out as planned and the tale becomes not one of achievement and success in the traditional sense but an incredible journey into the unknown and a battle for their lives.
Malaysia: Borneo (Sabah) – Cruising the Kinabatangan River
The start of a journey down the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, Borneo. This is the perfect place to see several species of monkeys, including the proboscis monkey and the rare Bornean pygmy elephant.
Washington: Cape Disappointment State Park
Cape Disappointment is home to a wide selection of trails, whether you're looking for elevation gain or a paved outing. The most-frequently photographed lighthouse is North Head, with a precarious position on a steep bluff above the crashing waves.
Malaysia: Borneo – A chance meeting with pygmy elephants
Whilst I was laid up in my room at the Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort from my fall the night before (I was later found to have 5 broken ribs) Karen headed out on a morning cruise (thinking my injury was not quite so serious) towards the ox-bow lake in search of monkeys and other wildlife.
Idaho: Craters of the Moon National Monument
Located along US 20 between the small towns of Arco and Carey in Idaho, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. We decided to stop and explore this barren and unwelcoming landscape during our road trip from Oregon to Minnesota.
Book Review: Blood River by Tim Butcher – Following in the footsteps of Henry Stanley
In 1874 the journalist and explorer Henry Morton Stanley navigated the River Congo for the first time (as a foreign explorer). It was King Leopold of Belgium who expressed the most interest in his adventures as he was looking to build an empire. Hence the Belgium Congo was born! Tim Butcher, who also worked for the Daily Telegraph decided to follow in Stanley's footsteps - not a simple task as the country is as dangerous as it was in Stanley's time.
Idaho: Arco and Experimental Breeder Reactor #1 (EBR-1)
The eastern reaches of Idaho, north of Idaho Falls are pretty bleak and remote which makes it an ideal place to site dangerous things such as nuclear reactors. Experimental Breeder Reactor I, the world's first breeder reactor, is a decommissioned research reactor and U.S. National Historic Landmark located near Arco, Idaho
Malaysia: Borneo (Sabah) – A visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary
For as long as I can remember I have had a love affair with orangutans. so a trip to Borneo has long been on my bucket list. I felt the urgent need to do this visit sooner rather than later because of the threat to primary rain forests.
Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur
With half a day in Malaysia's capital city, we had to choose carefully what to do. Top of my list was the iconic Petronas Towers, but we also got time to explore the shopping malls and markets.
Montana, Missoula – Veera’s Donuts (Review)
There are a growing number of options for vegans in Bend, Oregon. We recently decided to celebrate the breaking of the COVID-19 lockdown in Oregon and head to a new restaurant, Deeply Rooted, that had opened its doors amidst the craziness on the pandemic. It was a great opportunity for us to support a local business.
North Dakota: Regent – The Enchanted Highway
The Enchanted Highway, is a 31 mile stretch of highway designed to draw in tourists to the town of Regent. It features some of the world’s largest scrap metal sculptures.
Iceland: Two day itinerary
Iceland is a land of volcanoes, geysers, glaciers and powerful rivers, all of which have carved the physical and cultural evolution of this Northern land. It is a fabulous place to stop over for a few days on the way to or from Europe to North America - or just make the trip in its own right!
Oregon: Sumpter – a former gold rush town
Tucked away in the trees and nestled in Oregon's Elkhorn Mountain Range, located at 4.424 feet lies the historic gold mining town of Sumpter, with a year-round population of approximately 191. A far cry from its heyday when gold was being mined and the population was near 3500.
Wyoming: Cody – Cody Trout Ranch Camp
If you are looking for a place to stay near the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park then the tipis at the Cody Wyoming Trout Ranch are a great option. They are extremely cosy and well-appointed - so this is glamping.
Book Review: Touching the Void by Joe Simpson – An inspiring story of survial
I have never even been tempted to climb mountains. I am not a thrill-seeker, at least one who wants to risk their life, but I do have a strange fascination for those who take on the most challenging adventures. I am addicted to reading books on an extreme adventure.
New Zealand: North Island – Rotorua
A journey of discovery into the explosive power of mother nature that grips New Zealand and a shallow dive into Maori culture. We visited the volcanic pools and vents of Hidden Valley before visiting the Maori Cultural Centre in Rotarua.