On November 5th-22nd, 2021 I brought my Daughter and  her Friend to Ireland. Here is just a snippet of our adventures there. It was a trip that will always be with me. I will return to Ireland. I am looking to buy property in either County Cork or Kerry for when I retire. 

Reflecting On My Trip

         Now, that it has been a while I can reflect. The 1st thing is that although it was meaningful for me it wasn't unusually meaningful. In other words, nothing outrageous or life changing happened to me during this trip. It was just...relaxing.  I did spend two days completely on my own during my drive up to San Francisco. But, being by myself for that period of time is nothing new to me.  Yes, I could had been more daring or outgoing and went to more public places like a pub or some kind of public event. I feel that this whole trip was about getting away to some place different and being an unknown person...to observe people and to interacted with them when the opportunity arises. I did do that and I actually helped people out as well.  I saw really beautiful or rich people like Jeff Bridges and I saw homeless men traveling up route one with just a bicycle hauling a makeshift trailer. Most of them had a dog with them.      

         I always believe that one of the reasons we are here on this world is to help each other out to the best of our abilities and resources.  I've also have learned that you need to accept help from others as well.  Now, saying that… you need to be respectful and intuitive about people’s needs.  Sometimes not helping someone is helping someone. It takes wisdom, experience and intuitiveness  to know the difference.  One must except that sometimes they may be wrong in helping or not helping. Unfortunately, one finds this out after the fact. That is when experience comes in and hopefully learning from your mistakes. While, on my adventures in California I kept these concepts in mind. I helped those that I could during my travels and I accepted help when it was offered to me.  I also just enjoyed the scenery and experience of being some place other than Vermont. One thing that I must say is although California had its own beauty, Vermont is one of the most beautiful, scenic states.

Back to New England and Vermont

I landed in Logan Airport in Boston at 1:00 am Monday morning, July 5th 2015. I couldn't leave until 5:30 am to get to my cousin's house. I just wondered around the airport trying to find an outlet to charge my cell phone.
I witness the late night shift leave and the early morning shift come in. Thank goodness the Dunkin Donuts was open 24 hours.
           I finally caught the silver line bus to South Station where I took a train to Worcesters Union Station. It cost me $10 to take a nice relaxing Amtrak to Union Station. I actual fell asleep for a little because my stop was the last stop.
           While, I was on the bus to South Station, a homeless man sat next to me. He reeked of body odor and alcohol. He sat between me and another woman quietly, with his hands folded in his lap and twitched every so often. The woman moved away ever so slightly. His smelly body was slightly pressed up against me. I didn't move. I noticed that this man might as well have been invisible. Everyone ignored him or moved away from him. I felt I was probably the only human contact this poor man had. I wasn't going to take that away from him.  I wanted to talk to him but I was so tired that I don't think I would had any sort of intellect conversation. I wondered about his story...because we all have a story.  When we all got to South Station, I noticed that he was the only person to thank the bus driver as he left the bus. Well, besides me. That is when I noticed that he was slightly handicapped because he shuffled off and it wasn't because he was intoxicated, there was something wrong with his right leg.
          After getting to Union Station I found a tiny littler diner under the tracks called Kenmore Diner
I sat and had pancakes, kabuska, and coffee while I waited for my cousin to pick me up.
           I spent one more day with Cousin Ron  and Deb before I headed up to Vermont. It is always a pleasant time there. Deb is a REALLY good cook and you never go hungry in her house. I got to spend a little bit of time with each of the household...Ron, Deb, Taylor, and Brook (cousins and 2nd cousins). I even got to go for a ride in Ron's Hot Rod.

  

San Leandro & Oakland

I finally made it up to Warner's house. The last part of the leg was scary because I was driving down a curvy, fast two lane road that had a wall on one side. I thought my car would hit any minute because cars would be speeding right next to you forcing you closer to the wall. But, I kept my composure and went with the flow...Literary.

    Warner and Shannon were gracious hosts and they made me comfortable in their house located in a nice neighborhood. They showed me local neighborhood dining like Paradiso Restaurant, The chop Bar and Fentons Creamery. I also visit a place that I could had spend more time exploring...Chapel of the Chimes. It was a peaceful and relaxing place as you will see in the video. A nice place for people to visit their past loved ones.

 

 

Route One

Traveling up Route one.

It took me two days to travel up the coast of California.

I started on Wednesday July 2nd and got to my friend, Warner's house in San Leandro a 602 mile trip up the coast.

Here is my 1st leg of my trip...I made it to Oxnard as it got dark.

part of my trip the next day...I took my time and stopped at different places which you can see in the video.

I stopped in Monterey (circled on the map) and visited the Library at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Our affiliated College out west. I introduced myself to Jen Waterson, the reference librarian. She gave me a quick tour of the library. I got into campus later in the day so there were not to many people around.  

Thank goodness a rented a Prius it only cost me  $45 in gas.     

Me and my Prius

Driving up the coast was fun, once I passed LA. The scenery was just mile after mile of strip malls. Later on the views became spectacular. My 1st destination was Laguna Beach. My Friend's brother, Cliff Wassmann, was an artist there and his photos were showcased in the Sawdust Art Festival  . I stopped on the side of route 1 were I saw other cars parked and walked down this long stairway onto this small beach with a few people on it. I talked to the cute blonde life guard named Maddie. She gave me direction to the Sawdust festival. After following the directions that Maddie gave me, I parked than proceeded to the crosswalk were an older woman was waiting to cross.  While we were waiting this guy on a bicycle stopped and said "sorry I almost ran you over." the woman scuffed a little I said "that's ok" We smiled at each other and I said "see ya and thanks" He smiled and nodded at me....(We did the guy nod). After I got across, I realized that the man was Jeff Bridges. So I saw my 1st celebrity and didn't even know it until after the fact.  I quickly wrote this at the hotel I spend the night so please excuse the grammar.  I will add the video and other information later. I just wanted to get this out. All that happened in the post was yesterday, Wednesday.

San Diego and Family

My Aunts and Uncle drove up to the top of Mount Soledad, which had a spectacular view of San Diego. It also had walls with plaque of vets  on them. My Uncle Mike had one.

I enjoyed my Uncle Billy Back Shop Talks!