During a recent visit to Boise, Idaho for a wedding I had an extra day available for site-seeing. So I asked my daughter, Amanda, if she would be willing to go on a tour of the Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site. “Yes! I love that sort of thing” was her enthusiastic reply. And on a very warm Sunday we took the tour of the “Old Pen.”
“A bridge adds energy to the landscape.” ~ Santiago Calatrava, world-renowned Spanish architect and engineer who conceived the Sundial Bridge’s unusual design
I was in the Redding area (in Northern California) for a wedding last June. With a few unscheduled hours early in the day I decided to do a little exploring, and knowing that the Sundial Bridge was nearby I made that my destination.
And . . . Wow!
In springtime many people spend hours outside planting, weeding and tending to their gardens. Whether for their own personal enjoyment or to share with others, gardening can be a beautiful and meditative activity.
Although I only keep a few rose bushes and a bed of poppies and Love-in-the-Mist, I am grateful for those who do much more and share their gardens with the public.
Multiple Sclerosis is a challenging and unpredictable disease. One week you may be able to get out of bed, transfer to the wheelchair, and take care of daily living activities – shower, dress, prepare meals – without too much stress.
And then you may be blindsided with an intense flare-up and need to spend some time in the hospital.
(A personal tribute to my heart’s companion in travel and in love.)
It’s been seven years since Rich died.
As I recently told a friend, in some ways it feels like an eternity ago; in other ways, just yesterday.
After two days at sea our first port of call was Ketchikan, Alaska, where we were greeted by enthusiastic short excursion guides – and clear skies! (Ketchikan is known for its rainy weather.)
After Carrieanna and I enjoyed our “private tour” of the Saxman Village Totem Park, we returned to the main part of town for another, more rowdy experience – the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show!
Did You Know?
The MS Foundation publishes a quarterly magazine, MS Focus, for the purpose of inspiring and empowering “those affected by MS with the information necessary to make the most complete and educated decisions concerning their healthcare.”
The Winter 2016 edition of the magazine focused on “Making Travel with MS More Accessible.” We are honored to have an article published in this issue, and want to share it here … and hope you’ll share too!
Carrieanna’s first cruise experience was with her Aunt Vicki three years ago – you can read about it here – when they went to Alaska with a Multiple Sclerosis Foundation group on the Celebrity Solstice.
She found she loved cruising, and when MSF announced a cruise to the Caribbean in January of 2014 she asked me to accompany her – and I discovered that I, too, enjoyed cruising!
Called “Alaska’s First City,” perhaps because it is the first port cruise ships visit on their way up the Inside Passage, Ketchikan is the southernmost city in Alaska. Located 700 miles north of Seattle and 235 miles south of Juneau, Ketchikan is known for its rainy skies, lush island setting, and abundance of totem poles.
A recent wedding in the Santa Cruz area gave me an opportunity to visit California’s oldest State Park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
“Established in 1902, Big Basin Redwoods is California’s oldest state park. In the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, its biggest attractions—literally—are its ancient coast redwoods. Some of these giants are more than 50 feet around and as tall as the Statue of Liberty. At 1,000 to 2,500 years old, some may predate the Roman Empire. The park also offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, lush waterfalls, and a fascinating natural and cultural history.”
Anything Is Possible Travel 