Catching up with photos! Here’s some from when Karoline was here a couple of months back. We took a ride down the Pacific Coast Highway and visited Hearst Castle. We also made a quick visit to the Hanger One vodka factory at Alemeda near Oakland.
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A few weeks ago, I used up some remaining Virgin America credit and headed to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. From there, I picked up a rental car and drove west to Naples to stay at the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort. They owed me some extra customer care after my previous poor experience and it was time to collect. They did not let me down this time – a huge suite with separate bedroom! The weather was hot and humid and punctuated by a regular afternoon downpour.
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Last Sunday, I got on my bike and headed out to the Sierra Nevada’s. The roads that cross the Sierra Nevada’s have just opened for the season.
The ride took me out to the old gold town of Sonora. After my lunch stop, I headed further east over Sonora Pass at 9624feet and down the other side where I hit hwy 395. From there, I headed south and picked up Tioga Road into Yosemite National Park via Tioga Pass at 9945 feet. This was Tioga Road’s second day of the season and with every corner were amazing views and waterfalls cascading down the side of the road!
I decided to stop in Yosemite Valley for dinner and on the way down into the valley, I saw TWO BEARS!
After dinner, it should of been a 4 hour blast back home but within the last 10 miles, I managed to puncture my tire. I managed to limp off the San Mateo bridge into my old stomping ground of Foster City where I called the tow truck…
All in all a great day out! Click the photo!
It’s been a very busy last couple of months starting off with a business trip to Sydney, Australia.
This was my first ever trip to Australia. My hotel was right on Darling Habour — a great location for restaurants and exploring the city.
At the weekend, I rented a car and spent Saturday in the Blue Mountains. Sunday was a day to head south to find some real wild kangaroos near Jervis Bay.
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A couple of weeks ago, I made a business trip to Texas and Colorado with Antwan.
In Austin, we didn’t get much time to go exploring but did make the usual pilgrimage to congress bridge to see one of the worlds largest bat colony’s emerge at dusk.
We then flew up to Colorado Springs – an area I’ve never been before. Antwan and I had a spare day to kill so we drove up Pikes Peak – one of the largest mountains in the area. Unfortunately, they did not let us drive right to the top due to too much snow.
There was a huge snowstorm one evening which caused havoc on the local roads. I was not put off and gingerly made my way to the office the next morning and was quite surprised we were the only ones that made it!
At the weekend, Antwan went home and I made a quick visit to “The Garden of the Gods”. A small recreational park just outside Colorado Springs with strange rock formations. I also took the cog railway from Manitou Springs to see a different view from Pikes Peak.
From there, I headed over the Rockies via hwy 24 where I was met by a snowplough that conveniently escorted me across the top of the mountain range clearing the snow off the roadway!
My final destination was Aspen, where I spent the morning just walking around watching the skiers.
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A couple of weekends ago, I took a quick road trip to see the snow in the mountains. When I got there, I didn’t find much snow so I kept on going into the Nevada Desert. From there, I headed south to Las Vegas and headed home from there.
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I recently made a business trip to Austin, TX and my return flight connected via Denver. However, due to the late departure of my flight from Texas, I miseed the connection. United wanted me to take an early flight the next morning but I manageged to talk them into re-booking me onto the last flighjt of the day. This would give me plenty of time to go exploring the Denver metropolitan area. United paid for my overnight stay at a very nice Marriott and I picked up a cheap rental car from Hertz.
The next day, I headed west to excplore the old gold towns of the Rockies. I finished the day with a quick walk around the downtown area’s of Denver.
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Over the New Years weekend, I made a surprise visit to my friend in Orange County. I arrived a bit late so decided to spend the first night at The Inn At Laguna Beach. I could hear the crashing waves right outside my window – ALL night! Didn’t get a wink of sleep but still very nice hotel…!
The weather was a nice mild 75F and we made a visit to the Griffith Observatory in the Hollywood hills.
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During thanksgiving week, I decided to take a flight back to Florida to use a flight credit I had from Virgin America. This time, I stayed in Fort Lauderdale at The Atlantic Hotel for 2 free nights (courtesy of hotels.com). A very nice hotel right on the seafront. More detials on the hotel can be found here. After exploring the beaches between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, I headed into Orlando and stayed at the Floridays Resort. Again, a very nice hotel obviously catering for families and the theme parks but being out of season, bargain high quality suites. I was given a 2 bedroom suite with full kitchen and jacuzzi bathtub!
I then headed for Daytona Beach with intentions to stay overnight. However, upon arrival, I decided it was just a dead seaside town. After a drive on the beach, I headed back to Orlando this time to stay at the Marriott Habour Lake Resort. A very average experience for the same price as the Floriday’s resort. I will have no hesitiation in returing to Floridays on my next visit!
I explored Kennedy Space Center in the rain and then headed to Naples on the Gulf Coast. I used the Doubletree Suites in Naples as a cheap overnight stay before splashing out for my last two nights in Florida.
The next day, I went exploring up the coast to Clearwater. After dark, I heded back to Naples to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. I spent the last couple of days messing around on the beach and exploring the Naples area.
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