We opted to book Airbnb accommodation for our week long visit to Dorset and family. This little gem popped out at us and we couldn’t be happier.
Originally part of a row of three thatched roof cottages, built about 300 years ago in Winterbourne Strickland, a beautiful North Dorset village. In the early 1950’s the three were converted to become one cottage – Rose Tree Cottage. Abandoned and unwanted, the current owners purchased it in 2018 and have lovingly restored the cottage and created Rosebud cottage (one of the original three). They live next door in the other two-thirds.
Lily Bay State park on Moosehead Lake is one of our favorites and we had a beautiful spot on the lake with our own very little beach.
Ffly enjoyed daily swims
Sunrise from our beach
The scenery in this part of the state is stunning, especially with the fresh grass and leaves.
We went twice on moose safari – early in the morning and at dusk – without any sightings, but we believe we’ve found a good swampy spot for future safaris. These safaris entailed bouncing around on logging roads without seeing a single moose soul.
Lazy Tom’s swamp
We finally spotted a young moose on a dirt road as we were driving back to Lily Bay! Otherwise I thought the only moose I’d see was the one at Stress Free Moose Pub in Greenville!
We crossed the Chesapeake Bay from Norfolk to the Eastern Virginia shore and spent two nights amongst the dunes on Asseateague. We were visited by some of the roaming wild ponies (you are warned to keep a distance of 40 feet and to remove all food items from the campsite.)
We were incredibly lucky with the weather and enjoyed a beautiful sunset over the bay and an amazing sunrise over the Atlantic.
We walked the deserted beach for miles and Ffly enjoyed the freedom of running to her heart’s consent.
We returned to Fort Fisher on Cape Fear, NC. This place epitomizes a southern coastal community with it’s long, sandy beach, palm trees, and colorful stilted beach homes. It is my dream to rent one of these and enjoy my morning coffee on the balcony or terrace overlooking the ocean.
We stopped in Wilmington to visit Airlie Gardens and had our Spring flower hors d’ouevres! Yes, we will be following Spring and passing it by at some point and it will arrive after us!
The private gardens were created in 1886 by Mrs Jones, of the Pembroke Jones family, and the name “Airlie” came from their home in Scotland. It was designed as a natural Southern garden with azaleas, camellias, magnolias, palms and wisteria. In 1999 it was purchased by New Hanover County and made into a public garden. In 2018 more than 300 trees were felled by Hurricane Florence. There are so many beautiful live oaks throughout the park, several of them more than 400 years old.
I particularly like to look closely at all that is growing on the oaks.
Colors abound with the camellias, azaleas and tulips.
Birds and turtles
My favorites .. the dogwood!
And then several hours north (to the east of Washington, NC) is this idyllic state park – Goose Creek State Park – with beautiful private camp spaces surrounded by swaying grasses and jumping Border Collies!
We left our beloved beach in Mayport and the nearby jungle trails and started our slow trek northwards.
First stop is Parris Island, SC at the Marine Corps Training Station. This morning we witnessed the graduation of six platoons, each with about 40 young marines, as they took part in their graduation parade. I always love a good military parade!
Our campsite is down the road from Elliot beach where we saw a beautiful sunset and full moon yesterday.
Today we explored Beaufort a little – we’ve been there before and love the beautiful historic homes on streets overhung with Spanish moss. Here’s a sneak peek! We’ll be back tomorrow for the farmers market and more wanderings.
Despite being on the outskirts of Jacksonville, we are fortunate to have the St. Johns River, the expansive beach and the unspoiled coastal wetlands of the Timucuan Preserve nearby. (See us at the blue dot!)
We are at the BLUE DOT
We visited the Timucuan Preserve twice for lovely walks through the hardwood hammocks where the beautiful spanish moss drapes the trees, and the salt marshes are a haven for birdlife .
The Theodore Roosevelt area (above) encompasses 600 acres and was bequeathed by Willie Browne. It’s considered one of the greatest gifts in the city of Jacksonville’s history. More on Willie Browne and his family here.
It is thought that there is 6,000 years of human history in this area and one can see ancient piles of discarded oyster shells which was thought to be the staple diet of the Timucuan and yields clues to an extinct culture.
these shells entangled in the roots of a fallen tree.
The St. Johns River and Ribault Column (part of the Fort Caroline National Memorial).
On the other side of the naval station and alongside the river we discovered this HUGE seafood market (Safe Harbor) and jointly owned restaurant where the fish is offloaded right in front of you.
More fun times with Ffly on the beach…
sugar soft sand
having the beach to yourself
watching the ships go by
Help! Help! you see that big Irish Wolfhound that might get me??????
A face only a dog mother could love!!! After diving through the waves and then rolling in the sand!!!
The story and the art of Vincent van Gogh has fascinated me since I was in my teens. I remember reading a biography – inches thick – that kept me spellbound! How can a person experience and produce so much in 37 short years? About 2,100 artworks of which 860 were oil paintings. Born into relative privilege and yet living in poverty and suffering deep depression. His friendship with fellow-artist Gauguin ended in tragedy when he cut off part of his ear with a razor! and then suicide – all before he became recognized as a great artist.
We were happy to be able to go to Boston to visit one of the many van Gogh exhibits in the country. It truly was immersive and we were thrilled to sit in a deckchair in the Strand Theatre and see his works of art literally come to life all around us – 360 degrees!
The photos and videos below are from the 360 degree immersive experience.
We saved Reykjavik for last and I’m glad we did as the drive from Selfoss here (only about 65km) was pretty testy with winds at 65km/h and whiteouts with blowing snow at times. We checked in to our lovely hotel Eyja Guldsmeden early and spent the rest of the day in the cosy ambiance of our room and the general seating areas.
We jumped on a bus to ride part of the way to the city centre and then joined one of our beloved Free Walking Tours. Erik (for short) was, as usual, a fabulous guide who took us to some of the interesting spots while informing us of the history and sharing many other anecdotes.
Iceland’s White House
Homes and buildings in the very village-like old part of town. Structures built of wood in the 19th century, but many of them now sided with aluminum to protect against the harsh weather.
Shop windows and other street scenes
Harpa
Rainbow street
Ugly cat from Christmas cat fable
A statue of the first Icelander – Ingolfer Arnason who immigrated from Norway in 874. Over a relatively short period of time during the 10th century there were 20,000 settlers who arrived and claimed farmland in Iceland and it is said that every Icelander today is a descendant of one of those 20,000.
The harbor and lake
Hallgrimskirkja (Hallgrims Church) commissioned in 1937 and designed by Guðjón Samúelsson who is said to have designed it to resemble the trap rocks, mountains and glaciers of Iceland’s landscape. It took 41 years to build with construction starting in 1945 and one of the main features is the huge pipe organ by German organ builder Johannes Klais.
We’ve had amazing food during this trip – mostly locally produced. The traditional lamb soup/stew with hearty root vegetables, cod, Arctic char, salmon, herring, rhubarb cake, beet salads, hamburgers with bernaise sauce, skyr (Icelandic yogurt), different breads and crisp breads – to name some. All of it very good.
As the sun was rising the reflection on the snowy mountains was like icing on a cake.
Some of the houses and farm buildings along the way.
Lunch stop in Vik at Sudur Vik, a lovely little restaurant in an old and charming house on the hilltop overlooking Vik and the ocean.
The sky and atmosphere was clear and dry, the temperatures between -6 and -10C, but the ponies are used to it.
At times it was like we were driving on a ribbon through fields of marshmallows! with spectacular mountains in the background.
A 5km drive along a snow packed road took us to Dyrhólaey lighthouse atop a cliff overlooking the miles long black sand beach stretching as far as the eye could see, and dramatic rocks.
The drive up to the lighthouse offered views of the mountains with beautiful reflections in the pools of aqua colored water.
Just before it got dark we arrived at our destination – Lambastadir Guesthouse situated on a farm complete with lovely red barn.
