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2016 Iceland
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| 2018 Scotland |
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| 2017 Peru |
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| 2016 BWCA |
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2018 BWCA
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2016 - Iceland
During the summer of 2016, Karen Gilbert spent the summer at a study abroad program in Copenhagen. Andrea, Brian, and Becca decided to visit her during a weekend in June, and then fly home through Reykjavík, where they could spend a few days touring Iceland without paying an additional airfare. Andrea and Becca would be in Iceland from June 20 to June 24, Brian would leave for home two days earlier.
At the same time, Dustin, Annie, and two-year-old Kiera were also planning a trip to Iceland, arriving late June 19 and leaving June 28. We were thrilled to be able to join Dustin and Annie and more than happy to provide transportation and lodging. So on June 18, Tom and I flew to Reykjavík. We rented a camper truck that could fit two in front (Dustin and Annie) plus two adults (Tom and Mary) and a car seat (for Kiera) in back. Since the truck was too small for the five of us at night, we got a separate tent for Dustin's family. After a practice night of camping (we discovered the tent was missing critical poles!) we picked up Dustin, Annie, and Kiera late in the evening of June 20 and headed to our campsite for much needed jet lag recovery.
Day 1 -- June 20
The next day the everyone met for lunch: Tom and Mary; Dustin, Annie, and Kiera; Andrea, Brian, and Becca. Then we headed to Western Iceland while the Gilberts headed to their Air B&B in Reykjavík. Our first stop was Barnafoss and Hraunfossar; then we headed to Hellissanddur Camp for the night. After dinner and a rest we drove to nearby Mt. Kirkjufell for midnight sunset pictures.
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| 2016 Filling up Our truck camper outside the restaurant where eight of us met in Iceland |
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2016 Kiera, Dustin, Annie, and Mary on a bridge over Barnafoss
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| 2016 Kiera and Annie enjoying Hraunfossar |
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2016 Kiera and Dustin in their tent next to our truck at Hellissanddur Camp
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| 2016 Kiera and Tom at Hellissanddur Camp |
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| 2016 Mt. Kirkjufell sunset just about midnight near our campground. |
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2016 Dustin shows Kiera the midnight sun over the ocean in western Iceland near Hellissanddur Camp.
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Day 2 -- June 21
In the morning we took a hike along the south coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula - between the small costal towns of Helnar and Arnarstapi. Then we drove to Stykkisholmur took a ferry to Brjanslaekur. We headed east along the south shore of the peninsula, and wound our way down a steep gravel road to a campsite on Rauðasandur Beach.
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| 2016 Dustin and Kiera on a 1 mile hike along the south coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. |
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| 2016 Mary reads to Kiera during the 2.5 hour ferry ride. |
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| 2016 Kiera and Annie walking to Rauðasandur Beach. |
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| 2016 Annie and Kiera enjoying the surf at Rauðasandur Beach. |
Day 3 -- June 22
We headed to the Cliffs of Latrabjarg to see Pufins. After enjoying some great photography, we headed along gravel roads toward the city of Isafjordur, hoping to make it by nightfall. But the roads were slow and the day grew long. When we discovered campsites at the beautiful Dynjandi Waterfalls, an exhausted grandma requested that we stop for the night; the next campground (at Isafjordur) was another 50 miles of slow gravel road away. As we set up camp, clouds rolled in and the waterfalls disappeared in fog which persisted well into the next day.
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| 2016 Puffin at the Cliffs of Latrabjarg. |
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| 2016 Puffin at the Cliffs of Latrabjarg. |
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| 2016 Annie takes a picture of the valley as the fog lifts while we cross over Haukadalur. |
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| 2016 Dustin and Annie wash the camper in Isafjordur |
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2016 Dustin, Kiera, and Annie starting on the hike to to the Lambagilsfoss waterfall.
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| 2016 The Lambagilsfoss waterfall south of Isafjordur. |
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| 016 Kiera enjoys the blue lupine flowers at our campsite in Súðavík. |
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2016 Annie checks her computer for next steps.
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Day 5 -- June 24
The next morning we drove into Súðavík to check the wind forecast and find out the results of the Brexit vote. Both were disappointing. Our destination was the Kerlingarfjoll Thermal Area, 350 miles away. We drove along the southern edge of the fjords where the roads were paved but our tall camper fought the wind. Heading south into the highlands the road deteriorated into gravel but the winds moderated. We reached Kerlingarfjoll late in the day.
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| 2016 Icelandic horses on a windy day/ |
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| Securing the tent against the wind at Kerlingarfjoll campground/ |
Day 6 -- June 25
Dustin, Annie, and Kiera spent the day on a 7 mile hike to the best of the thermal area, while Tom and Mary took a shortcut by car and saw much of the area from above.
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| 2016 setting out on a hike from Kerlingarfjoll campground. |
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| 2016 Dustin, Annie, and Kiera set out from the campground to explore the Thermal Area. |
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| 2016 Annie heads down a ridge with Kiera bundled in down in her carrier. |
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| 2016 Heading back to camp at Kerlingarfjoll Thermal Area. |
Day 7 -- June 26
The next day we headed south toward Reykjavík in one of our first rainy days. Our first stop was the powerful waterfall Gullfoss, a popular tourist stop. We decided to camp at Landmannalauger for the night, hoping to enjoy the hot spring and perhaps a dry morning to see the beautiful scenery. There are several fords on the way to Landmannalauger, including a serious river crossing just before the campground, but we had been over this road in an SUV two years earlier and assured Dustin that the truck could cross the fords without a problem. The last ford turned out to be pretty deep, but after watching several vehicles crossing the river, Dustin put the car in 4 wheel drive and headed into the water. Even 2-year-old Kiera realized cars don't drive into rivers, but Dustin ignored her warning and soon we were on the other side.
The tent joined many others on the grass, while the truck stayed in the parking lot. The hot spring was not inviting after a close look, but the morning weather invited Dustin and Annie to plan a serious early morning hike.
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| 2016 Annie and Kiera heading to the waterfall. |
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| 2016 Gullfoss. |
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2016 Car crossing the ford out of Landmannalauger. The parked cars choose not to cross the river.
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| 2016 Landmannalauger tent camping behind a dike to keep the water out. |
Day 8 -- June 27
Dustin and Annie left on their trek early in the morning in damp weather, but the sun came out later in the morning as they finished a hike that had taken Mary and Tom all day two years earlier. Then we headed to Reykjavík for the evening and checked into a hotel near the airport to be ready for a morning flight home.
While in Reykjavík, we saw a huge crowd watching a screen in the main square - it was the Euro 2016 soccer match and Iceland was playing England trying to reach the quarter finals. Against impossible odds and much to the complete delight of the huge crowd, Iceland WON!
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| 2016 Annie, Dustin, and Kiera head out on a three mile hike in Landmannalauger. |
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2016 Annie jumps over a stream on the Landmannalauger hike.
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| 2016 The sky begins to clear as Kiera and Annie walk down from the top of the red rock. |
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2016 Annie in the lava area of the Landmannalauger hike.
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2017 - Peru
On March 25, 2017, Tom and Mary flew through Miami to Lima, Peru. We were joined by Andrea, Brian, and Becca, and spent the night at the airport hotel. In the morning we all flew to Cusco and took a limo to our hotel in Ollantaytambo.
Tour of Ollantaytambo
The next day we took a walking tour of the city, guided by Paull Palma, whom we had met on our visit in 2013. He took us to the top of the Ollantaytambo ruins, then he showed us the irrigation system at the base of the fortress, and finally he took us on a tour of the old city, where we visited a home and fed guinea pigs that were being raised for food.
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| 2017 Mary, Becca, Brian, Andrea, and Tom begin a tour of the Ollantaytambo terraces and temple |
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| 2017 Entering the temple, Paull Palma discusses its history with Brian, Andrea, Becca, and Mary. |
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| 2017 Built to be earthquake-tolerant, these terraces show the engineering knowledge of the Incas. |
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| 2017 Overview of Ollantaytambo from high up the terraces, with food storage on the far mountain. |
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| 2017 Becca and Andy view the irrigation system has supplied Ollantaytambo with water for centuries. |
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| 2017 Mary photographs lamas along the irrigation ditch at the base of Ollantaytambo fortress. |
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| 2017 Becca and Andrea feed guinea pigs in a home in Ollantaytambo |
Patacancha Valley
Next we went on a day-long tour of Patacancha Valley which extends above Ollantaytambo into rural Quechua communities where traditional weaving, agriculture and cooking are part of everyday life.
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| 2017 We were met by women wearing traditional hats, decorated sweaters, carrying babies in llikllas. |
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| 2017 Our Awamaki tour guide introduces Andrea, Brian, Becca, and Mary to the village women. |
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| 2017 Materials used for weaving: Lama wool, plants that produce die, and died, woven yarn. |
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| 2017 A weaver shows Becca and Andrea how the yarn is spun from wool by hand. |
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| 2017 Weaving Demonstration. |
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| 2017 Preparing the chicken and vegetables to cook in the fire for lunch. |
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| 2017 Our hosts uncover potatoes cooked in the fire for lunch; two wear a lliklla for extra warmth. |
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| 2017 The women present their weaving for sale. |
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| 2017 Mary bought a traditional lliklla and was shown how to pin it on at the Awamaki tour base. |
Machu Picchu
On our third day in Ollantaytambo we caught an early train to Aguas Calientes, where we met Paull Palma, who we had arranged to be our guide for the day. (Local guides were required.) He accompanied us by bus up the hill to the Machu Picchu entrance and took us on a history-filled walking tour the length of the National Archaeological Park. The Gilberts had tickets to hike to the top of Huayna Picchu starting about 11am; so after touring the building ruins we arrived at the hiking entrance and sent them on their climb. We walked back across the park and up to the Guardian's house to photograph the nearby classic view of Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu towering in the background. Then Tom and Paull took the trail to the Inca Bridge, leaving Mary to rest at the viewpoint. Just as Tom and Paull were returning, Brian appeared at the Guardian's house and the six of us were reunited. At the end of a very long day we caught a bus to the train station and took the train back to Ollantaytambo.
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| 2017 We begin our Machu Picchu tour in buildings at the top of the terraces on a foggy day. |
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| 2017 People lived and worked in the buildings, the surrounding terraces were used too grow food. |
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| 2017 Mary, Becca, and Brian touring Machu Picchu buildings; a foggy Huayna Picchu towers above. |
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| 2017 Stairway in living space in Machu Picchu buildings. |
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| 2017 Fog has lifted as we head to the entrance buildings for the steep climb up Huayna Picchu. |
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| 2017 Becca hiking the steep steps up Huayna Picchu. |
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| 2017 Brian and Becca made it to the top of Huayna Picchu, leaving Andrea to rest part way up. |
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| 2017 Machu Picchu view from the top of Huayna Picchu. |
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| 2017 On the Inca Bridge trail: Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu towering in the background. |
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| 2017 When the Inca Bridge boards were removed to stop intruders, stone steps allowed access. |
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2017 Returning from the Inca bridge, Tom took this photo of Paull heading down the stairs,
Mary waiting at the viewpoint, and Brian arriving at the Guardian's house. |
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| 2017 Reunited: Tom, Mary, Brian, Andrea, and Becca with Huayna Picchu in the background. |
Drive to Cusco
Altitude sickness is common in the mountains of Peru, A few altitudes we considered were:
Machu Picchu ruins: 2,430 meters / 7,972 feet
Huayna Picchu: 2,720 meters / 8,923 feet
Ollantaytambo: 2,792 meters / 9,160 feet
Cusco: 3,399 meters / 11,152 feet
We drove to Ollantaytambo on our first day because its elevation was 2000 feet lower than Cusco and similar to the elevation of Machu Picchu. But Cusco had much to offer, so we spent our last night there.
On the way to Cusco we stopped at Moray, an archeological site containing sunken circular terraces. Multiple theories exist about its purpose, the most widely accepted is that Inca agricultural researchers used the microclimates created by the terraces for testing crop response to altitude and sun angle. We also visited the Salineras de Maras (Salt Mines of Maras) and marveled at the vast salt harvesting complex. Finally we reached Cusco, and stayed at the JW Marriott El Convento, a former 16th-century Spanish convent built over pre-Inca and Inca foundations. The hotel had oxygen-enriched rooms which were supposed to help guests tolerate the 11,000 foot altitude.
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| 2017 Archeological site near Moray, Peru. Probably an agricultural research site. |
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| 2017 Salinas de Maras - over 6000 salt extraction ponds constructed by the Incas. |
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| 2017 Close up of the Salinas de Maras - ancient salt mines near Maras, Peru. |
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2017 Cusco Cathedral, built over the Inca palace of Viracocha to establish Spanish dominance.
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| 2017 Our hotel was a restored convent with an open courtyard and stunning check-in desk |
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| 2017 The hotel had artifacts from the pre-Inca Killke inhabitants, found when restoring the site |
2018 - Scotland
Our 2018 trip to Scotland can be divided into three parts: 1) Visiting the major civil engineering feats of southern Scotland, 2) Explore the Ullapool area, and 3) Hike in the Isle of Sky.
Southern Scotland
At the end of June we met Dustin, Annie, Kiera, and Kai at Heathrow Airport, where we were all on the same plane to Glasgow. We stayed overnight in Glasgow, and the next day headed out to see - and ride in - the Falkirk Wheel, the only rotating boat lift in the world. While we were in Falkiirk we visited the Kelpies, two massive 100-foot-tall steel horse-head sculptures.
We drove to Edinburgh for the night and took a bus into the heart of the city to see the Edinburgh Castle and surrounding area. The climb from the bus stop to the castle on the hill was steep, and unfortunately we arrived at the castle after admission had closed for the day. So we walked the "Royal Mile" to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, a former Abby which has been the official royal residence throughout most of Scottish history.
The next day we drove to northwest Scotland, visiting two bridges - both impressive engineering accomplishments - and stopping to watch Highland Games on the way.
 Corrieshalloch Gorge |
2018 The Falkirk Wheel transfers a boat up and another down as a family of swans swims nearby
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| 2018 Kiera enjoys the water playground at the Falkirk Wheel |
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| 2018 Kai found his own wheel to crawl through at the Falkirk Wheel playground. |
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| 2018 Kiera, Kai, and Annie pose in front of the Kelpies near Falkirk Scotland |
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| 2018 Edinburgh Castle |
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| 2018 The Forth Bridge - Scotland |
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2018 The Queensferry Crossing - Scotland
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2018 Irish Dancing at the Ceres Highland Games - Scotland
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| 2018 Log Toss at the Ceres Highland Games - Scotland |
Ullapool Area
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2018 Kiera, Dustin, Kai, and Annie heading to the Rhue lighthouse near Ullapool, Scotland
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2018 Kiera, Kia, and Annie on a bridge above the Falls of Measach in Corrieshalloch Gorge.
 | | 2018 Annie, Kai, and Kiera hiking up Stac Pollaidh north of Ullapool |
 | 2018 Dustin, Kai, and Mary climbing Knockan Crag north of Ullapool.
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| 2018 Annie and Kiera at the top of Knockan Crag.
 | 2018 Kiera explores the Ardvreck Castle on Loch Assynt with Calda House ruins in the distance.
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Isle of Sky
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2018 Kiera and Mary about to tour Dunvagen Castle on the Isle of Sky, Scotland
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| 2018 Nest Point, Isle of Sky, Scotland |
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| 2018 Kiera and Annie near the top of The Quiraing Circuit, Trotternish ridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland. |
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| 2018 Fairy Pools, Isle of Sky, Scotland |
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| 2018 Annie and Kiera jumping over a waterfall at Fairy Pools, Scotland |
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| 2018 Kiera Fern enjoys the ferns at Ferry Glen on the Ise of Sky |
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2016 & 2018 - BWCA
We had two new grandchildren to introduce to our favorite Minnesota vacation spot - the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. So it's no surprise that two-year-old Kiera joined us on a trip to Lake Insula in 2016, while both Kiera and one-year-old Kai returned to Hungry Jack (where their parents were married) in 2018. See the BWCA Blog for more details.
