Adventure
Florida Day Six: Farewell To Florida: Key Largo To Fort Lauderdale
The heavy thunderstorms were over and it was cloudy and a bit cooler when I awoke on my last day in Florida. I decided to again hike in the Hammock Botanical State Park. As I began my walk I found the storm left a lot of puddles on the wooded trails. Once again I was…
Read MoreNorway Day Two: Tromso “Paris Of The North”: A Quick Tour
It was a long flight and I was very tired when I left the airport after my arrival in Tromso. I was also a little anxious about renting a car and driving in Norway. I had never driven in a foreign country before. No problem. The folks at Hertz rental center were quick and friendly…
Read MoreNorway Day Two: Tromso "Paris Of The North": A Quick Tour
Norway Day Three: A Cloudy And Cool Tromso Morning
I didn’t get much sleep last Friday night, my first night in Norway. It was hard adjusting to the time difference and the 24 hours of daylight. Although it was cloudy, you still felt the presence of light even in a darkened room. It was strange just knowing it wasn’t dark. I finally dozed off…
Read MoreNorway Day Three: A Rainy Drive Through The Misty Fjords
After my reflective morning walk, I returned to my room at the Clarion Edge hotel in Tromso early Saturday morning. I had a nice breakfast and was off to explore the famous fjords of Norway. I remember first learning this strange word, fjords in an elementary school Geography class. I remember trying to imagine how…
Read MoreNorway Day Four: Another Rainy Day In Tromso
I slept in Sunday morning in Tromso. I awoke at 8 a.m. which is unheard of when I am traveling. But I have never traveled under the midnight sun before. I once again had difficulty sleeping. It was only my second day so I attributed it more to jet lag. I was up past midnight…
Read MoreNorway Day Four: An Overnight cruise To The North Cape Without The Midnight Sun
After breakfast Sunday morning I returned my rental car and took a taxi back to the hotel. I planned to walk but it was raining even harder now. When I got back to my hotel I watched the cruise ship MS Finnmark, arrive in port. It was my ride to the North Cape, the northernmost…
Read MoreNorway Day Five: Reindeer, Puffins Seals And Sea Eagles On A Bird Safari In The Rain
I was greeted with a heavy rain and some snow on my arrival in the northern port of Honningsvag Monday morning. It was around 11:30 a.m. and it was windy with temperatures in the mid 30’s. I had signed up for an arctic bird safari offered by Hurtiguten cruise line . I made my way …
Read MoreNorway Day Five: Honningsvag. A Short Walk Under The Elusive Arctic Sun.
After leaving the bird safari on Monday afternoon I retrieved my luggage from the ship and walked to my next hotel, the Scandic Bryggen in Honningsvag. It was raining again. I was told the hotel was just around the corner. Well, I guess four blocks would be “around the corner” but it still wasn’t a…
Read MoreNorway Day Six: Honningsvag: A Windy Walk Along The Ocean And A Visit To North Cape Museum.
I once again awoke around 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning in Honningsvag. I did not sleep much. I was having difficulty adjusting to the 24 hours of light. It was cloudy, windy with snow flurries in the air. The temperature was 33 degrees. I was glad I brought some winter gear with me. I quickly…
Read MoreNorway Day Six: A Visit To North Cape, Actually Not The Most Northern Point In Europe.
After my visit to the museum, I walked over to the visitor center to board my bus for the 45 minutes trip to the North Cape. On my way I walked by the memorial to the famous Norwegian war hero, a St. Bernard named Bamse. There were few people on my bus trip, a total…
Read MoreNorway Day Seven: Back At Sea, Another Cruise On The MS Finnmark
On Wednesday morning I once again awoke in Norway without having seen the midnight sun. I was up early, the MS Finnmark was scheduled to depart Honningsvåg at 5:45 a.m. for my cruise back to Tromso. I walked to the dock 1/2 hour early in a windy snow shower. I thought the ship would be…
Read MoreNorway Day Eight: Tromso Another Walk To Prestvannet Lake
After my day at sea and late arrival, I again awoke in Tromso later than usual on Thursday morning. I usually am up with the first light of dawn. This doesn’t work above the Arctic Circle in June. There is no dawn. And I did not sleep well. I looked out of my window and,…
Read MoreNorway Day Eight: Tromso: Two More Lakes And A Botanical Gardens
After returning to my hotel I had breakfast and decided to visit Tromso’s famous Botanical Gardens. In reviewing the maps I also noticed a couple of lakes in the area. So I was off to explore some more of the arctic city of Tromso. I had no Norwegian currency so I had to purchase a…
Read MoreNorway Day Eight: An Fun And Informative Drive In Search Of The Midnight Sun
It was Thursday evening and I had two more opportunities to see the midnight sun in Norway. I left my hotel around 8:30 p.m. and walked about a 1/2 mile through the empty streets of Tromso. I was walking to the meeting place where I would join up with my midnight photography tour arranged by…
Read MoreNorway Day One. Off To The Land Of Ice And Snow On My Birthday
I wanted to get away for my birthday this year. It will be my 60th year on this planet today. Unbelievable. That is a lot of years. And, like all of you, I’ve had some good ones and some bad ones. But this last year was the worst of my life. I am still having…
Read MoreA Close Encounter With A Fawn At The PPL Wetlands
We finally had some Summer weather here in Northeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday. Temperatures climbed into the mid 80’s. I decided to walk in the PPL Wetlands in Salem Township with my nephew Mikey. I usually hike alone, it makes it easier to see and photograph the local critters. However, my nephew Mikey, at 17 years…
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