Glacier Bay

By Allan Brown:

Today was a day at sea as they say with no port of call other than cruising around Glacier Bay. That in of itself was a port of call. 

We cruised up the fjord as the temperature got colder and the fog was hanging over the shore. Eventually little chunks of ice appeared in the water floating by like pieces of a styrofoam cooler. Ice! Ice in the water! We approached the glacier as the chunks of styrofoam increased in size big enough to park a car on. How cool, or how cold.

Scotland in February

By Allan Brown:

Hello everyone!

Who goes to Scotland in February? We did, and let us explain.

Marla has a co-worker who met a Scottish fellow in California, who works as a stuntman on the show Vikings. The filming of Vikings is done in Scotland. So when there was a break in February, that was when they got married. That was all the excuse we needed to go!

Is Elvis Home?

By Allan Brown:

We parked and walked towards the ticket window when we were intercepted by a member of a motorcycle gang, but not to worry he was a mid aged soccer dad in motorcycle gear. He had two extra tickets to sell due to a no-show within their group. He offered us the largest inclusive ticket packet offered for the price of a combo. Cash was exchanged, the deal was done and the gang, apologies the “club” promised not to hurt us.

We were ushered onto a small shuttle bus by an IPad wielding yet friendly employee and off we went. The bus ride literally takes you about 100 yards across the road though the gates and then up the driveway to the front door. We made it safely without jaywalking. Elvis would have laughed at this degree of safety. Oddly the famous gate so often photographed with “Graceland” in wrought iron script, is no longer open for use and is closed. People still flowers and cards next to it.

Metro Madness and the Cemetery

By Allan Brown:

After arriving in Red Square We merged back into Moscow morning traffic and grid lock. It was the kind where only one car per traffic signal was getting through as we clawed our way towards our first stop the Novodevich’ye cemetery. The Novodevich’ye cemetery is the Who’s Who of the Russian dead. The plots are not very big in size so the tombstones over compensate for that. The tombstones are essentially sculptures depicting the achievements and life of the Russian elite. There were past presidents, generals, artists, poets, builders of aircraft and actors side by side. The rain was light and it was chilly enough for us native Southern Californians to wear gloves and scarves. Our guide, who sounded like Borat, guilt tripped us into not using the bathrooms and after 45 minutes we boarded the bus.

Burgos to Hornillos del Camino 22km

By Allan Brown:

We left at dawn, with our new steads beneath us and pedals churning. It was great. In the early morning light we were zipping by peligrinos like formula one racers.

We had scouted our route out of town the day before while the city was setting up for the Vuelta de Esoana race. There were some barricades being set up and streets were being watered. Va room! It was nice to have a city street all to yourself, I could hear the crowds roar, cheering us on and then we came to a barricade causing us to walk our bikes down some stairs to the next street killing our Speed Racer fantasy.