Ravenglass and Eskdale

Yesterday we drove around the coast to Ravenglass. We took the longest route possible as I (Rob) got us lost. When we finally arrived we hiked up from Ravenglass to Eskdale Green, passing the ruins of an old Roman bath house - there used to be a big garrison and significant naval base at the Roman town of Glannaventa which is under all these fields - and then cruising through the gardens of the Muncaster Castle estate. We climbed up onto the higher ground of Muncaster Fell, stopping for lunch at the inappropriately named Hooker Crag (or at least we didn't see any). After a short stroll down into Eskdale Green, the highlight of the day arrived in the form of a mini steam engine which took us back to Ravenglass. On the way back home I got us lost again - which doesn't bode so well for crossing the Sahara.

More adventures in Scotland

Crusing around Perthshire

After Edinboro we drove up to Perthshire which is where Rob grew up for the latter part of his teen years. The Kenmore Hotel, pictured here, is where he barteneded at 18 and saved enough money over a few months to travel around Africa. THe view across the "loch", as I say it, lake, was the view from his bedroom window. We saw his old house and hung out in the hotel for a night and he told me stories about 90 year old women who used to drink whiskey and fall off their stools in the local bar. And then they would get up and order another. Crazy Scots...

The next morning we got up early for a Scottish breakfast, which consisted of puddings thats ingredients I would rather forget, and headed off for a drive through the highland moors. Here we encountered Wendy's first view of the hairiest, horniest mammals she had ever seen (besides Rob) , the HIGHLAND CATTLE!!! They were so cool!! CLICK HERE to see them, and CLICK HERE to see what happened when one got in the car!

Edinburgh was fun

Edinburgh was so exciting, although very touristy. This was the view from our bedroom window. We went to the castle and saw a cathedral from the 14th century named St Giles on the Royal Mile. We also went to a pub where Wendy almost died laughing due to walking into a karaoke night featuring a graying Scotsman with a frightening mullet singing Celine Dion tunes. The locals were so welcoming, and one "mad granny" actually offered us to stay in her house for the night because she thought we were homeless. We toured some art galleries and found an incredible photographer named Francesca Woodman who we are actively looking for further information on. Check her out when you have a chance, and mostly from her Rhode Island series.

Off to Edinburgh, Scotland for the weekend!

Hi everyone!!! Welcome to our new blog! We have already started some entries below but today is our "official launch". Have a look and please post any comments so that we can keep in touch. We are off to Edinburgh, Scotland today for the weekend, which Wendy is super excited about as she has been dreaming of seeing this city since she was a wee lass. Cheerio and we will be back on Sunday!

A hike up to Sergeant Man around Easedale and Helm Crag

We started out in Grasmere, home of Wordsworth. The route took us up by Sour Milk Gill, Easedale Tarn

up to the top at Sergeant Man before looping back via Calf Crag and Helm Crag into Grasmere. The views were breathtaking and from the top of the 2,000 foot pike. The golden retriever, Ben, made it to the top of Sergeant Man with no trouble at all! Mom, that picture is for you. Looks like Simba! We were out 6 hours in total. Beautiful day although we both felt a little sore by the end. Wendy's new boots in particular gave some trouble. We stopped in Grasmere for a well-earned beer and bit to eat.

Weds 12th - A hike around Dunnerdale fells and Stickle Pike

Right click on this and open in a new window for a video of the view from the top of Stickle Pike that Wendy shot.

A short walk around Cat Gill and Walla Crag

We went for a great hike today, with wonderful view over Keswick and Derwentwater. The weather was stunning. In general we have been very lucky with temperatures in the mid to high 60s during the day although it is a little chilly at night.

Welcome to our travel blog

After nine years living and working in the city, we have quit New York to go and do something more interesting.

We will spend the next year or so travelling the world in a Toyota Landcruiser. We are working with Footloose 4x4 to customize the vehicle over the next few months so that we are set up for long range travel.

A rough idea of where we are going looks like this: we plan to leave the UK in the very early New Year 2008, go down through France and Spain and then cross over to Morocco. From there we head down the Atlantic coast to Senegal and the Gambia (this road is now paved across the Sahara) before turning inland through Mali and Niger. From Niger we head south through Burkina Faso to Ghana, and from there we simply follow the coast round down to South Africa. Some of the highlights will include Togo and Benin (the home of voodoo) and Namibia which is a geologist's dream.

We aren't committed to any given route and are far more interested in getting involved in interesting projects as we go along. We have no real idea what will happen or where we will end up. But we will figure it out.

For now we are living in the most beautiful location right at the south end of the Lake District in north-western England. We are staying in a cottage on a small farm in the middle of nowhere. Our only neighbors are sheep and cattle, a far cry fron our city days... Coco is our resident dog with a taste for hunting wabbits.