Making the Journey Count

(A-Z Challenge J post)
Two Jack Lake, Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada pictured here.  I wish I could say I'd been there as it looks beautiful.  Nor can I take credit for the fabulous photo, it's one that came with my computer as a sample.  I understand this is said to be the prettiest of all lakes in Canada.  There are 2 camp grounds there in the park that are quite popular, so if you plan to go; the tip seems to be arrive early and plan ahead.  The reflection is Mt. Rundle.

What I really wanted to post about today is the "journey" can be as important and interesting as the destination.  Particularly if you're driving and you're not pressed for time.  Make the most of your trip and travel off the freeways to see things of interest.  Plan several stops in route of interesting, historic or fun things.  You're after all on vacation.  Don't be in a hurry, stop and smell the roses.

This is perhaps harder to do if time is tight; but even one stop of something beyond your final destination can add some real memories to your vacation.  This is particularly important if you're traveling with children.  Children have a hard time sitting still even if you bore them with what they can do at home...you know the tv in a van with a movie playing.  Do yourself and them a favor and resist doing this.

One year we were on a 3 week camping trip and drove from Ohio out west.  We hit many places coming and going.  We camped, we hiked and did a few nights in a hotel when we felt we needed a bed.  But, one of the most memorable parts of the "journey" was stopping at Independence Kansas, site of one of The Little Houses on The Prairie.  My daughter was young and she was reading the series Little House on the Prairie as we drove.  How perfect was that!  She needed another book which we bought in the gift shop, and of course a hat...a prairie hat.  She lived in that hat.  To this day, she talks about that "journey".


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(#30 a-i +5)

Isla Navidad, Mexico

As you cross the border between the states of Jallisco and Colima in the Western part of Mexico, you see a site that's rather unsettling.  Armed guards in bunkers with machine guns.  I took this picture out the van window as we were stopped and questions.  Thank goodness for our guide, Antonio who explained who we were, why we were there, and what we were planning to see and do once across the border.  We didn't leave countries here folks, we crossed a border between states; much like you would leaving Ohio and entering Indiana.  WOW...talk about culture shock.  There were guards on both sides of the street and a bunker right in the middle of the street with these armed military personnel.

Again, looking out the window you fet a feel for how crowded the very narrow streets are.  Parked cars everywhere, a tour bus coming through; as Antonio pulled our van over to let the larger tour bus through.

On of our stops on that days outing was a banana factory.  It's quite remote with dirt roads.  The bananas are partially covered with newspaper and plastic bags to protect them from sun and pets.

Look careful at the red blossom with small early bananas growing above it.

Our wonderful and very knowledgeable guide Antonio, explaining the process.

After the harvest the plants are chopped down and this is what the stalk looks like inside.  Look at all the spirals.  This process takes about a year and new plants will spring up from this stalk.

The factory is not mechanized.  The work is done by hand.  This is large open building with a roof.  The bananas make their way from stem to shelf to water soak.

The are picked, cleaned and packed by hand while green.  They float in the water and that has been treated with a chemical to keep them insect free during shipping.  If bananas are left on the plant to ripen they are full of water and don't taste good.  Though this looks like nasty work, it is apparently considered a good job, paying a good wage.  Young people come from other areas for this job and live in hostel type accommodations. 

We toured a beautiful old Church

with very detailed wooden carvings on the doors.

A beautiful ceiling with gorgeous art.

Located the peer and restaurant where we would later have a late lunch. 

Then it was time to climb aboard for trip from the mainland to Isla Navidad (Christmas Island).

That's the Wyndham Grand Resort that is quite plush and expensive....not where we were going.

We're dropped off here on the beach and Antonio arranges a time for the boat captain to return to collect us.  This is the part of the island where the locals hang out.  We were there while they were on holiday, as it The Day of Dead, even the children were out of school.

The cobblestone streets are very narrow with houses, shops and bars coming right to the edge of the street.  There were vendors everywhere selling trinkets with barefoot children reaching out for us...believing all Americans are rich.  The children did their parents bidding, it was quite sad and difficult to keep saying no.  Antonio though explained it was best that we keep moving or they would all descend upon us. 

Once bag on the mainland a fish was selected, Red Snapper that was large enough to feed everyone in the group(except me...I don't do fish).  I don't know what this weight; but he had truly just been caught so for those who love fresh fish......I understand it was fabulous.  It fed 7 adults.  I filled up fine on the side dishes.

After our late lunch we returned to, Villa Paraiso,  our villa in Manzanillo which was about a 45 minute drive.

It was an interesting day, and I'm glad we got to explore a bit; but it isn't a place I'd like to return to.

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(10, start with 543)

Huntington Beach California

(A-Z H post)
 A common sight at Huntington Beach, California.  People sleeping, eating, reading, and more along the beach walk area.  Places to sit both on the wall, and in the amphitheater area.  The beach walk area is filled with bikers, walkers, runners, roller bladders, and parents pushing strollers.  On the opposite side of the ocean you have the main drag with shops, bars and hotels doting the landscape.

Standing on one of many boardwalks you can see how wide the beach area is.  It's certainly not one of the prettier beach area's I've been to; but.......look at the space.  You can walk for miles.

There seemed to be plenty of places to rent bikes of all kinds, though not many were actually riding them.  It seems the sand isn't really packed hard enough to make riding on the beach fun or easy.  Notice one of the many piers and boardway areas in the background.

Life Guard Stations are prevalent throughout the walkway.  Being a life guard here is not like sitting in a chair along side a pool.  The stations are large, well equipped and a frequent site.

This is pehaps the most common site at Huntington Beach, surfers.  Click to enlarge so you can see the surfers.  Historically, the coast area was in inhabited by The Tongra people, or the Gabriellinois.  In 1909 after several name changes, Huntington Beach became incorporated.  It was named for Henry Huntington, a railroad magnet.  The area began to flourish due to the oil boom in 1920.  In 1925 Duke Kahanamoku brought the sport of surfing to area, and in 1953 the first surf shop opened.  Competitions, tv coverage and Huntington became a huge draw for surfers.  In 2005 the US Surf Team officially adopted it as their home base.

Though Huntington Beach was not the site where Beach Watch was filmed, it certainly looks the part with the volleyball, wide beach, beach walk area, surfers and life guard stations.

The water is cold, and everyone we saw that was in the water wore wet suits.

Strolling the piers be sure to dog down your hat, it's quite breezy.

The large sea birds seem to enjoy the attention they get while perched on the piers.

Huntington Beach seems like a happening place, a good day's outing from our condo at Marriott's Newport Beach.

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(12, start with 536)

Beaufort National Cemetery

(A-Z Challenge G post)
Graveyards.  Yes, I almost always find a graveyard to visit when we travel.  Why?  I find them fascinating.  The history you see with dates, the beautiful artwork on stones, particularly the older stones, and because most graveyards are pretty, and so serene.

This was a quicker then normal visit, as it was getting late in the day, the sun was setting and it being January, even in South Carolina it gets nippy.  We still had to drive back to our condo in Hilton Head.  Look how perfect each row is.  I'm always impressed with the precision in National Cemeteries.

Precision, even with curves.  The wreaths are left from the National program Wreaths Across America. 
By mid January when we visited, most had been removed, as per protocol.  But laying the wreaths and removing them in a big job.  You pay your respect to those there and I believe you can learn a bit about the area while spending time in a graveyard.

A traditional stone, this one for Daniel Miller, United States Navy #334.    He was someone's son, someone's friend, perhaps someone's father or brother.

Many of The Natl. Cemeteries have a book where you look up your name or other family names.  The last 2 listed are Holladay's, spelled the same as my husband's family.

Carrying across the page, I need 2 photo's but have the plot info 17-0-30 and birth and death dates of Captain Frederick Owen Holladay and his wife who is listed as a Dependant June Hoban Holladay.  Since taking the photo, I've done minimal research and found Capt. Holladay served in both WWII and The Korean War.  He was born in Newton, Mississippi the son of Owen A. Holladay and Kate Hayes Holladay.  He was a ham operator, graduated from Milsaps College and attended George Washington University and Temple University.  We spotted the book and got the info on our way out so we didn't actually find his grave.  Next trip though we'll be ready.

This stone though really got my attention.  It's not the standard military issue.  It reads, Sacred to the memory of Lorenzo S. Snow, Ordinary Seaman of the US Steammer....and I can't make out the ship (will need to research to see if I can find it), who fell in action on Stone River, Dec 25, 1863.  Gallantly battling for his flag and his country.  Love is Eternal.  How sad, died on Christmas Day.  I will be doing some follow up to learn more of this man's story.

Yes, I almost always take time to tour a graveyard when I travel.

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.
(#9, start with 529)