Yorktown, VA - June 26 - July 5, 2012

The morning of my birthday, June 27, my daughter, Lynda, surprised me with a trip to Go Ape Adventures in Williamsburg.  She knew I'd been wanting to do a zip-line--but this was even better!  It was a beautiful day--and, fortunately, cool!  This was not just one  zip-line but a whole series of them.  There were five stations and you traveled from one station to the other via a zip-line or walking a swaying bridge or some other devious way to get through the treetops.  Andy, Christina and I absolutely loved it--so Lynda hit a home run with this birthday gift!!!

Andy, Gayle and Christina--all geared up (place is
really big on safety!) and ready to Go Ape!

Lynda, Andy and Christina can't wait
to get started...

Andy zipping down but then pulling up to the next platform--Grandmom is watching from the platform he zipped from

Grandmom's doing it the easy way--
not using the "steps"...

..but Andy does it the way you're supposed
to--going from "step" to "step"

Christina was the only one who mastered going through the rings--the rest of us just pulled ourselves across--Grandmom is watching from the platform

Grandmom watches Andy zip to the
next platform

Gayle zipped down and now has to pull
up to the next platform

Lynda zipping down

Andy walking across the swaying
bridge--Christina and Lynda are
waiting on the platform

Christina has just swung down to grab the net--is she pretending
she's a pirate or Tarzan??

Andy walking the plank...

..and Christina walking through the
swaying ropes

Christina looking pretty as she pulls herself across to the next platform

Christina, Gayle and Andy--having survived Go Ape!!

Another "congrats" picture--this time with Christina, Lynda, and Andy--Yeh, we made in through each challenge!  Can't wait to return....

Since we were scheduled for Go Ape in the morning, it was lunch time when we completed all five stations.  So we stopped for lunch on the way back to Yorktown--and upon arriving home, I found that Jim had sent me a basket of fruit from Edible Arrangements--what a surprise and what a delicious treat!!!!

One afternoon (6/28),  I attended the kids' swim meet at the local swim club--these kids put us adults to shame!!

Andy coming up for air as he swims down the lane on one of his first races.....

Andy listening for the whistle to dive into the pool for his next race.... 

Andy swimming freestyle down his lane....

Andy coming up for air during another race....

And now it's Christina's turn....

Christina listening for the whistle to dive in...

Christina coming up for air....

...and once again

Christina has a nice freestyle
stroke....

..as well as a beautiful butterfly!

Mom aka Lynda doesn't get much chance to watch the kids swim because she's busy working the meet!

Chester, New Hampshire - June 15-19, 2012

Jim and I returned from Ireland on Tuesday, June 12--long enough to do laundry and look through the mail--and then he headed for San Diego on Thursday, June 14.  Next day, June 15, I drove up to my brother Allen's home in Chester, New Hampshire, for a couple of graduations.  My niece, Nicole, aka Niki, was graduating from eighth grade on Saturday; my nephew, Sam, was graduating from high school (the Pinkerton Academy in Derry--same high school attended by astronaut Alan Shepard) on Monday.  So it made for a nice long weekend in New England....

Niki  waiting for her row to be called for diplomas

One happy lady as she exits with
her eighth grade diploma in hand!

Niki between proud parents, Allen and Paula, while
brother Sam looks on...

Gayle joined the group--in scruffy clothes--I forgot before
I left home to load into the car my dressy outfit that was
left hanging in the hallway!

Because Sam's graduation was two days away, I spent Sunday afternoon at the Manchester Mall selecting an appropriate outfit to wear to his graduation.  But it wouldn't have mattered because many people were casually dressed, including wearing worn-out jeans!

Sam between his parents, Allen and Paula,
on his front step as he was about to head
to his high school graduation in the Verizon
Arena in Manchester

Sam with Aunt Gayle (attired appropriately--in her
new outfit--for a graduation ceremony!)  Unfortunately,
they indicated no cameras were to be taken into the area
so I have no pictures of Sam receiving his diploma.  As
it turned out, may people didn't follow the rules and
did bring cameras and were wildly taking pictures!!

Ireland - June 11-12, 2012

Because we had an early flight on Tuesday, June 12, and it's about a two-hour road trip from Dungarvan to Shannon, we decided to spend the night of the 11th at the airport hotel.  So early on Monday, June 11, we left Dungarvan with the goal of visiting the Rock of Cashel on our way to our hotel at Shannon.

Rock of Cashel

The castle was the home of the kings of Munster starting in the 4th century; before the end of the 12th century, it was turned over to the church.  A guided tour provided us with the history of this place, which sits high on a hill and offers beautiful views of the surrounding Irish countryside.

Entrance to the nave.

The nave.

North transept from the nave.

The round tower.

From the outside, the cathedral (on left) and two chapels.

Next to the ruins, a Celtic Cross that overlooks the fields and hills.

Jim entering Cormac's Chapel.

Cormac's Chapel--built in the 12th
century--adjacent to the cathedral.

The Chancel in Cormac's Chapel.

Romanesque Arch in Cormac's Chapel.

Decorative work done in sandstone in Cormac's Chapel.

Jim having a look at the scenery after exiting Cormac's Chapel

Views of the surrounding Irish countryside from the Rock of Cashel.

By the time our tour ended, it was time to head to Shannon to check into our hotel.  And what a convenient place this hotel is!  We checked into the hotel and returned the rental car.  The next morning, June 12, we were able to walk, pulling our luggage, into the airport terminal to catch our flight home.  The flight was uneventful--and, after recently having an 18-hour flight between the US and Africa, this short, 6-hour flight was a piece of cake!!

Ireland - June 10, 2012

One of the attractions in Dungarvan is the castle which dates from the 12th century and was used into the 20th century.  Jim and I spent the afternoon touring it.  Dungarvan Castle, also known as King John's Castle (i.e., the King John of Magna Carta fame), sits on a peninsula overlooking Dungarvan Harbour.  But before entering the castle, we stopped at this sculpture, which sits across from the castle's entrance--clearly a work of the 21st century!

Sculpture represents the prow of a
ship to commemorate the maritime
activities of this town.  It is 16 feet
high and is also a sun dial.

Entrance to Dungarvan  Castle

Jim standing inside the castle in front of 18th century barracks

View of the harbor and the mountains from the front of Dungarvan Castle

18th Century bridge over Colligan River

And how about these palm trees at this latitude??

View of the castle as Jim and I walked along the quay toward the bridge pictured above