And I Will Make Thee Beds of Roses
Roses are among my favorite flowers. I also love lilac, freesia, orchids, and iris, but only the rose has its own word for its fanatics, a rosarian. One day, I would like to travel to rose gardens around the world, so thought I’d start a list. (Find other lists at http://www.heritagerosefoundation.org and http://www.lillysrosegarden.com/roses-around-the-world.html and … [Read more...]
The Stupidest Question in the World Part II
Read Part 1 of The Stupidest Question in the World We have been traveling through some of the most humid climate and over difficult terrain for weeks. Times like these have me second guessing my choice to journey across continents and cultures. The Stupidest Question in the World On occasion when I am at my most wretched with salt caked on my face and my arms in a constant bath of sweat I … [Read more...]
The Stupidest Question in the World Part I
Over the last several weeks, Billy and I have been traveling through the Mexican Yucatan and on into Guatemala. Can you say “humid?” The Yucatan has been oppressively hot with the humidity levels vacillating between 75% and 92% daily. When the temperatures reach the 80′s and with matching humidity, these two young kids (that would be us) tend to slow down. The brain doesn’t function … [Read more...]
Earthwatch Ocean Adventures: Coastal Ecology-Part 9
We grabbed our snorkeling equipment and the ice chests with lunch fixings and followed the research scientists down the trail to a sandy cove on the Atlantic side of Long Island. As we rounded a corner we were greeted by a circle of beautiful dark blue water at one end of the cove! It was Dean’s Blue Hole that was featured, along with other Bahamian blue holes, in an August, 2010 National … [Read more...]
Earthwatch Ocean Adventures: Coral Reefs – Part 8
Although no one knows exactly where Columbus made landfall in the New World, it still was thrilling to see the likely site on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas! One of the coral reefs that we were studying was just off the beach near the monument site. We were a group of eleven Earthwatch Institute volunteers doing research on BAHAMIAN REEF SURVEY, a long-term study of the health of the coral … [Read more...]
Earthwatch Ocean Adventures: Penguins – Part 7
We watched closely as a small group of penguins approached the road crossing where we were stationed. They moved rather rapidly along the well-worn trail in the undergrowth, but stopped and piled up behind the leader as they reached the road. The leader stepped out rather tentatively, and then quickly waddled across with the rest of the group following closely behind him! We were doing a census of … [Read more...]
My Road Trip in Norway Part Two
Read Part 1 of My Road Trip in Norway Even major roads can be narrow in Norway. It sometimes seemed one could open the window and touch homes and doorsteps – and those sheep! Speed limits are very conservative and monitored by cameras. Buy time now, pay a fine later. And be aware: eat well but there is zero tolerance for driving after drinking any alcohol. There are numerous pullovers … [Read more...]
My Road Trip in Norway Part One
My road trip in Norway began with a simmering wish, followed by an invitation from good (Swedish) friends. My husband and I enjoy driving the countryside, passing by farms, through small towns noticing homes, cafes and grocery stores; getting travel tips from locals at the gas station while filling up. We went to the local AAA office with questions and left with a map. We were on our way! After … [Read more...]
Earthwatch Institute Brazil Adventures – Araguaia River Wildlife Corridor
The sun was just setting as we left by boat from the little river town of Luis Alves and motored around sandbanks and dead trees downstream to the mouth of a backwater lake to begin the evening caiman census. When it was dark enough we switched on spotlights in order to spot their eyes along the shore. A few red eyes appeared, I marked them on the GPS and another Earthwatch volunteer took notes of … [Read more...]
Earthwatch Adventures in Brazil – The Pantanal in May
I wanted to experience the Pantanal during the dry season also (See The Pantanal in January) , so the next year signed up for Earthwatch Adventures in Brazil CONSERVING THE PANTANAL WILDLIFE- OTTERS & FRUGIVORES in May. Much of the flooding had receded making more of the area accessible and more birds and animals were visible on the river sandbanks and shores of the salinas. Caiman were … [Read more...]