Paynes Prairie Preserve

We promised ourselves that when we moved we would take one day a week and explore. We moved here in February. We "explored" exactly one time...and the park we went to visit was closed! 

The Mister suggested we head out one morning to explore Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, just south of Gainesville, FL. They have wild horses there. He needed to say no more! Off we went. 

However, we bumped into a Bass Pro Shop first, so that took a bit of time. 

Our GPS routed us to a back gate to the park. We had to turn around and reroute ourselves to the main entrance. Finally we were there...and it was a balmy 93 and sunny. Ugh, not exactly the best weather for hiking and finding wild horses or finding the herd of bison that also lives there.

I was trying to capture a selfie in front of the visitor's center.
Do you find that your arms are too short?

I did manage to climb the 53 steps of the observation tower. I was told by some other guests that the horses were there yesterday and the day before...but they chose to go elsewhere on our visit. 

There may have been some brown critters near the palmetto trees in the distance,
or there may not have been any critters there.

The horses are supposed to be descendants of horses from Spanish explorers - similar to the Chincoteague ponies on Assateague Island, NC and the marsh tacky ponies in the low country of SC. 

The only horse I saw was this picture in a mural at the visitor's center. 
The Florida cowboys were called "crackers"because of the sound their whips made.

Visitors share information about their sightings with the rangers.
A board of daily sightings indicated that the horses had been seen earlier in the day we visited.

Maybe next time!

Roughing It Smoothly

"Roughing it Smoothly" has long been the motto for the Tiffin Motorhome Company. It is such an apt description for what camping is like in a Class A motorhome with all of the accoutrements. We love it because we can explore our country, taking the dogs with us and traveling with our own kitchen, bathroom and bed. 

Last year we visited a small, NC RV resort. We ended up purchasing an RV lot at the resort and spent most of the summer there. It was peaceful. It was lovely. 

Despite all of the projects we are juggling at the new house, we decided to at least take the RV up to the lot and get it set up, so we could run up for some R & R whenever we had a period of time without contractors at the house. It will be a nice retreat for us this summer. 

Our lot overlooks a small lake

We have a small deck suspended over the bank heading down to the lake. 

Our experiences in NC are simply magical. We are fortunate that Hurricane Helene did not impact our resort. However, Lake Lure, less than a mile from us, was devastated. Many of the rivers leading into the lake were inundated by water flooding nearby towns, and carrying the debris into the lake. They are still working on clearing out the lake, and it won't be open for recreation at least until August...if we are lucky.

A Wee Colleen's Story

I was rescued from the EPIC museum in Dublin - an interesting venue showcasing the emigration and worldwide influence of Irish folks over the years. My lady immediately dubbed me "the Wee Colleen".

I travelled safely in my lady's pocket and would jump out now and then to see interesting things

At the castle in Edinburgh - this horse statue was intimidating, not to mention the stone-faced guard at the door!

My lady and her squire found a fabulous little Italian restaurant in Edinburgh and enjoyed veal scallopini          

My lady's squire chatted with me

A gargoyle model at Rosslyn chapel in Edinburgh almost swallows me!

This is the grave marker for Greyfriar's Bobby. He was a faithful dog who slept on his owner's grave for years. When Bobby died, the town paid to bury the loyal dog next to his master and erect a headstone. Folks leave treats and sticks for Bobby by the headstone. They also rub the nose of a statue of Bobby for good luck. His nose is very shiny.

I met Dolly...the first cloned critter. She didn't warm up to me!

 In this picture I'm on the Shetland Islands, it's so cold they even have wool cozies for bottles & cans!

I am on the balcony of the ship, Le Champlain

On the Shetland Islands my Lady and her squire were treated to some warm soup at a local hotel. A vendor was selling her felted wool sheeps. The squire bought one to take home...but she didn't get to explore like I did!

My Lady went on a tour to see Shetland sheep and a dog herding demonstration. She first put me on the ground to meet this Shetland sheep (who is supposedly smaller than other sheep breeds, but seemed mighty large to me!) The wind was so strong I was blown into the sheep pen amongst the feet of the sheep. Luckily, my Lady was able to quickly reach in and grab me. I am forever indebted to my Lady for saving me! 

I'm inside the Iron Age site, Pictish Broch. This is an ancient dwelling on the Isle of Lewis. Families used to keep their animals here on the ground floor, and they lived on several floors up above. If I lived way back then, I might have been living here!

I love shopping with my Lady. Many of the shops have cute sheeps...but not as cute as me!

One day, while in Dublin after the cruise, my Lady and her squire went traipsing to Dunleckny Parish, south of Dublin. The squire was looking for the gravestone of his great, great, great grandmother. Most of the engravings on the headstones were worn away, but later they went to a library and found a document that showed where the headstone was located.                          

I loved discovering my kith and kin

I found sheep at a grave yard! 

One thing here is not like the others!

Mmmmm, Guiness!

I found sheeps at the Belleek factory! 

My Lady gifted me to Nona...the "other" grandmother

Nona makes felted wool critters...which is how I was made
                                    

Nona was excited to meet me, after seeing me online during my tour!

The Best of Ireland

 After our Scottish Isles trip we flew to Dublin to begin a small group tour of Ireland. We had not really enjoyed the bus trips on our Scottish trip, so we didn't hold out too much hope for the second trip. Boy, were we wrong. The trip was truly "The Best"! 

Best Hotels

Huge room at The Merchant Hotel in Belfast

Amazing service and grandeur of Ashford Castle

Another spacious room at Lough Eske Castle

Lough Eske Castle

Interesting plumbing and many large bathrooms

Old Grand Hotel in Ennis - in addition to this sitting area, 
our room had a sun porch for relaxing

Best Food & Drink

Many beautiful and scrumptious buffets

Plentiful Guinness
I found Guinness bread to be the best! (no pictures, it all went in my belly)

Opportunities to taste Irish whiskey 

Opportunity to make, and enjoy, traditional Irish coffee

Best Stops & Activities

We learned a lot about the flocks of sheep and the amazing work of the sheep dogs

We toured distilleries; large and small (this is Jameson)

Smithwick Ale in Kilkenny

The cliffs of Moher

A trail ride on Charlie, an Irish cob

Shooting Skeet

Meeting local dogs

Tour of Belleek factory

Kylemore Abbey: a Benedictine estate with remarkable gardens in Connemara - but no Connemara ponies to be seen on our journey. 

Visiting resting places of famous folks

Giants Causeway

Titanic Belfast - an amazing, immersive experience learning about the work of the Harland & 

Wolff Shipyard

Best Tour Guide