Belize,  Independent travel,  Mexico,  North America,  Photography,  Travel Blog,  USA,  Wildlife

Looking Back And Planning Forward

September 14, 2022 /

Our garden looks strange as we take our first look at it after 12 weeks away. So much has died in the unusually hot and dry summer, but the heavy rain which has now fallen in the last few days has turned all the dead stuff into an untidy grey. Green patches try their best, but there is precious little colour and the whole garden looks a kind of damp monochrome with splashes of green paint. 

Within minutes of our arrival home, we are alerted to the drama unfolding at Balmoral and, around four hours later, the Queen’s death is confirmed. As the BBC plays the national anthem Michaela and I stand to attention, hold hands and sniff back the tears. On that subject we’ll leave it there, many people more appropriate than us are providing all the correct comments.

Yosemite
Yosemite, USA

And now we’re into that phase. Reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve just had, at the same time starting to put plans together about what’s next.. where to go, what to do. Where is safe? Where is the right time of year? How long to spend here, how much to see there.

Sequoia, USA
Sequoia National Park, view from Morro Rock

Taking time to reflect on all we’ve done on this last journey is a happy thing to do, though. Starting with having quality time with my daughter to bookend the California part, visiting four incredible national parks, driving the Big Sur coast road and spending time in San Francisco were all wonderful. Napa Valley, Route 66 and a few days falling in love with Monterey equally fabulous.

Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon, USA

Those national parks – Sequoia, Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree – were all incredible places to see. The memories from Yosemite and Grand Canyon in particular will live with us for ever. Flying over San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge in a seaplane and taking a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon were absolutely once in a lifetime experiences.

Golden Gate Bridge San Fransisco
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

And that’s without even mentioning Mexico or Belize. Touring different Mexican states presented such variety, so many different types of place all underpinned by the joyous character and lifestyle of the Mexican people. As lively and colourful place as you could ever wish to see. And as for Belize, well, our appetite for seeing more of the Caribbean has been properly whetted.

Whale watchingand humpback body breach
Whale Watching from Monterey Bay

When you look back over a trip, the big events are often stitched together by smaller, amusing times: the wonderful Downtown Joe’s Bar in Napa, certain meals en route, breakfast in a typical American diner, the dancers in Boca del Rio, the trip to Tequila…even the efficient bus journeys across Mexico. People we met: Arturo and Clara in Guadalajara, LA Dodgers fans in Barstow, a hilarious conversation with an oh so typical all-American guy in the Grand Canyon, Kelly our host in Veracruz…so many.

Blue Hole, Belize
Blue Hole, Belize
Ancient Mayan City, Mexico

Reflecting on a fabulous trip is one thing, yet it soon makes our thoughts turn to…where next? 

And so inevitably the plans start to come together. Somewhere around mid November we will start our next long trip, but that’s too far away: there’s going to be a couple of quick trips before then. It’s just a matter of where. Where, we suppose, our curiosity will lead us next…

Valladolid, Mexico
Valladolid, Mexico
Yuxatan
Akumal, Yucatan Penisula

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