Saturday, June 24, 2017

LAKE CUMBERLAND - JUNE 2017

This year's vacation may be the last that will include Brandon since he will graduate from high school in a year and be independent (no longer required to participate in family activities).  Bob wanted to do something that Brandon and Sophia would especially enjoy.  Since they have been eager to go on weekend visits to local lakes to have Bob pull them on the tubes and swim in the lake, Bob and Dawn decided to rent a houseboat at Lake Cumberland in Kentucky for a few days.  On the drive home we would stop at Mammoth Cave, northwest of the lake, to take a short tour.



Lake Cumberland is a reservoir constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the early 1950's to prevent flood damage. The lake is 100 miles long and has 1250 miles of shoreline.

The Jamestown Marina does not provide boats with anchors, so they must be tied up along the shore at night.

Dawn's finger points at the X which marks the spot where we eventually tied up the boat.

Our first try at tying up failed because we were unable to get close enough to the shore where there was vegetation to tie up to.  Eventually we found the ideal spot, but tying up required using Bob's boat to get to the shore with a rope.  Rather than have to repeat the process, we decided to leave the houseboat tied up and tour the lake in Bob's boat.

The houseboat could accommodate twelve people.  It had 5 cabins, each equipped with a double bed, and a sofa in the lounge that opened up to sleep two. There were two bathrooms, each with a toilet, sink and shower. The kitchen was fully equipped to serve twelve and had seating for four at the bar and a booth for about six. A generator ran 24/7 to provide electricity and to power the air conditioning.






Bob spent hours fishing, but all he caught was the
attention of turtles!
Looking for a bird we could hear but not see

The view through the kitchen window
Most of our time on the boat was spent relaxing on the deck

There is also an upper deck. Located here is a second wheel under a canopied shaded area, a hot tub and lounges for eight.  Also available is a slide from the upper deck into the water.







From the houseboat, the view north, across the arm

Sunset, looking west
Each day we went out in Bob's boat, once to visit the Marina and other times to just enjoy being on the water. 
Sophia, hoping for a signal in open water

Just chillin' and hoping to get a tan

Dawn, sunbathing on the tube

Wolf Creek Dam, on the far left, is a quarter-mile wide.  The retaining wall, the long 
cement strip, is over a half-mile wide
Google Map of Wolf Creek Dam

Seventy-Six Falls
Seventy-Six Falls was more like a spillway and was named for the station number in the original survey.  http://kykinfolk.com/clinton/seventysix.html

Although we weren't to return the houseboat until Thursday morning at 10:00, the weather forecast was for rain to begin at 8:00.  To eliminate the need to rush, complicated by doing it in the rain, we requested and were given permission to bring the boat in Wednesday evening and spend the night docked.  Such a wise decision!

Having packed Wednesday evening, we were up before 7:00 Thursday and reversed the order followed in moving gear onto the boat a few days earlier.  Following checkout, some gear was loaded into Bob's boat, and bags with our clothing were put in trolleys. Bob and I took the Marina's shuttle to the off-site parking area to get the Jeep. Back at the marina in the loading zone, we brought the tolleys with our bags from the houseboat and stowed them. 

Then it was back to the houseboat so that Bob could move his boat to the launch area, about a mile from the Marina. Brandon, Dawn, Sophia and I went in the Jeep to get the boat trailer from yet another parking area, and from there drove to the launch to get Bob and his boat.  Boat out of the water and on the trailer, drops of rain began falling as the tarp was being snapped onto it.  Rain began in earnest as we drove away from the lake.

It was about a three-hour drive to Mammoth Cave and no joy for Bob to drive to in pouring rain and heavy traffic. After arriving, we chose to do a self-guided tour. The entrance was several yards from the visitor center and we were all wet before we reached the passageway. The walk in this section of the cave was a short one which left us contemplating a return to see more. Our short tour completed, we returned to the Jeep for the 7-hour drive home.

Below-ground cave entrance
Paved path in the cave








Friday, January 27, 2017

LANZAROTE 2016-2017

While Brett, Alba and I were in Alaska in July, they mentioned that they'd like to have me come with them on their next travel adventure.  A few weeks later, the destination was confirmed:  Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands, a Spanish possession, located off the coast of Morocco.  They would visit Alba's family for Christmas and I would join them on the 27th to fly from Barcelona to Arrecife, Lanzarote.


Wednesday, December 28

In the dining area entryway -  Santa and his surfboard
When we woke up, I discovered we were less than 100 yards from the ocean.  We were too far from the water to hear the waves, but we could see them.  Brett and Alba had reserved a motorcycle for the day, so when they left to pick it up, I walked along the shore and quickly grasped the fact that lava is every-where.  (Unfortunately the motorcycle was not available and they returned disappointed.)


The view from our room


The pedestrian walkway along the shore

Lava tower

Lava cairns

Lava wall and more lava
Our buffet breakfasts and dinners were included in the resort charges.  Food choices are extensive and available from a number of buffet stations -- cheeses, fruits, ethnic (Chinese, Greek, etc.) displays, soups, at least three proteins, and vegetables, hot and cold, plus a variety of side dishes.  Breakfast beverages include water, coffee, and tea.  At dinner, water, soft drinks, and wine may be purchased, but coffee and tea are not available in the dining room. 

Something else to note here:  It appears that Europeans, at least in the facilities where we stayed, do not use wash cloths.  After requesting them from the housekeeper who had none on her cart, and from the front desk where the clerk brought out a tea towel, none were available at Barcelo.  I used a sock until Alba brought back a sponge for me that she'd purchased on a shopping trip.  Wash cloths were not provided at the Barcelona Airport Hotel either.  I shall pack one (or more) on future international travels.



Thursday, December 29

After breakfast we picked up the rental car and drove across the island to Famara's surfing beach. Overnight the wind had come up and would remain with us, blowing 20-25 mph, all week.  Although Alba told us to go explore while she surfed, Brett and I were uncomfortable leaving her, so we stayed in the car, out of the wind and blowing sand and watched her.


Brett, helping Alba get her board to the water
Timanfaya National Park was next on the day's agenda. "The Montañas del Fuego (Fire Mountains) were created between 1730 and 1736 when more than 100 volcanoes, covering more than 50 square km [19 square miles], rose up and devastated this part of the island (including several villages).  The last eruptions were in 1824, however due to the low rainfall (and therefore lack of erosion) this area appears much the same as it did just after the eruptions." The entry fee to the park includes a bus ride through the area, and we found the 30-minute ride informative and interesting,


A vent

More like moonscape than landscape


A bucket of water poured down a vent erupts in steam moments later




Friday, December 30

Wind be damned, today Brett rode his bike and Alba surfed.  When they returned, we headed out for a short walk and had a light lunch at Cafe Bonjour which we found on a side street.  Alba had quiche.  Brett and I shared a sandwich. The thin baguette was cut in half length-wise and, unlike an American sandwich filled an inch thick, was thinly layered with Spanish ham and cheese, complemented by lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.  That was accompanied by fresh-squeezed orange juice, and we finished the meal sharing a slice of home-made cake.  If you go to Lanzarote, a stop here is a must.































Saturday - December 31

Off again to explore.  Our first stop was Jardin du Cacti. (Garden of Cacti), a beautiful site where cacti from around the world are displayed along meandering paths.  






















Then it was on to Orzola where Brett and I took photos of the scenic spot while Alba surfed. The winds did not cooperate in giving her waves to ride, but Alba enjoyed being in the water.



Back at the hotel, Brett put on cycling gear and headed out.  Alba and I shopped: I was looking for and finally found gifts to bring back for the family. My goal achieved, Alba returned to Orzola to surf, hoping for better conditions.

It's New Year's Eve - Off to the Party!

Sunday, January 1

Brett wanted to show us the route he'd ridden on Friday, so we drove to his turnaround point, Mirador del Rio. This was once a fort and is now a tourist stop with beautiful ocean views, From here we could see the surfing beach at Famara.





And then it was on to the village of Haria where we took a walk through their quiet streets.

So much green we forgot how arid most of the island is


There is a cross on the building, so we were curious what the figures on the roof represent

Back in the car a short time later, we next stopped at Los Helechos, a hilltop restaurant with a view down to the ocean.



It was then on to La Santa to check surf conditions before returning to the beach at Famara where Alba felt more comfortable surfing.  

La Santa's surf and lava-covered "beach"

Monday, January 2

On our last full day on Lanzarote we took a hike.  On Sunday's ride to/through Haria, we stopped at Los Helechos.  This day we went to a marked trail (which was in reality a dirt road) in Tabayesco and followed it toward the base of the hilltop overlook.  It was an easy walk and enjoyable because we were out of the wind and could walk comfortably in shirt-sleeves (or no sleeves!).  We hiked to the red dot marked in the first photo and then turned back.  In the second photo, taken on the trail, Los Helechos is on the point to the left of Brett's ear.



The plot at the bottom is being prepared for planting.  Lava "gravel" is yet to be added.



A winery we passed as we walked along the road



Tuesday, January 3

Checkout was at noon, so Brett and I finished packing and then took our bags to the lobby to wait for Alba's return from her last surfing opportunity.  Brett went to the desk to settle the bill for beverage charges and was surprised to find an additional charge for the third person in the room which we believed was already covered according to the confirmation.  Brett will dispute the charge when the credit card bill is received.

The flight back to BCN was uneventful. Brett spent the night with me at Barcelona Airport Hotel while Alba was met by her brother and taken to spend the night and next day with her family before she and Brett flew back to California on Thursday. I was glad Brett went with me to the airport on Wednesday since check-in to drop my bag took an hour.  (I am unsure why the line moved so slowly since passengers appeared to already have boarding passes and just wanted to check luggage.)  Once my bag was checked, Brett and I said good-bye. Within 15 minutes I had moved quickly through the TSA checkpoint and Passport Control and arrived at my gate to await boarding. The flight to JFK arrived on time, but there was a 2-hour departure delay to CLE due to a maintenance problem that had occurred on the arriving flight.  (According to our stewardess, a passenger on the inbound flight to JFK had torn the headrest off a seat and it had to be repaired and paperwork done before the plane could leave!)  Back in Cleveland, I was quickly picked up by the Crown Plaza's shuttle and taken to my car.  Under an hour later, around 9:15 PM, I was home and unpacking.




MORE PHOTOS...



In Haria


At Famara - Our car for the week


Dormant volcanoes


Just another stone wall with extinct volcanoes in the background


So many rows of lava and rock walls


Lava in Timanfaya National Park


Volcano cones in the distance


Waiting patiently at Cafe Bonjour


Hillside terraced by stone and lava rock


A great expanse of lava "pebbles"


Lava that cooled as it flowed