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Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Traveling the Road Not. . ., well. . ., less Taken in 2013

Pelop2013 020I’ve chosen to put a new twist on Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken”, as we reflect on our travels this last year.

Sadly, with limited amounts of time we will always have roads not taken, but we’ve also had some great travel by choosing roads, less taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

O’ahu, Hawaii – January – February


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KoOlina2013 013If you drive west from Honolulu, past the town of Kapolei, past Ko Olina, a planned unit development, past Waipahu town, you come to the end of the road, where waves crash against the shore and the real beauty of O’ahu is found at every turn. . .even on days when clouds cloak the Waianae Mountains.








Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

Greece – Mani, Peloponnese – April


Pelop2013 023

Pelop2013 019We set out in our rented car from Nafplio, Greece to explore a section of the Peloponnese – a taster sized sample of a rugged, but beautiful part of this country with which we are so taken. Often times we found ourselves alone for hours on a narrow roadway that looped up and down, over and around the stunning countryside. (GPS hasn’t discovered this part of the world yet.)



And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.


Vancouver Island, British Columbia – September

VancouverIs2013 048

VancouverIs2013 072The narrow roadway that cuts across Vancouver Island, British Columbia was a new route for us and one that cut through magnificent old growth forests leading us to Tofino, the small fishing (and tourist) village at the end of the road.






I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


Mo’orea – French Polynesia – South Pacific – November


DSCF1273

DSCF1299Never ones to favor those group tours organized by cruise ships, we prefer to set out on our own.

Lucky for us, Avis had an ‘office’ at the dock when we arrived in Mo’orea!  And some of the sights we saw were simply amazing to our American-safety-first way of thinking.


That’s it for this Travel Photo Thursday! Drop by Budget Travelers Sandbox where we are linking up today for some more armchair travel!


Our wishes to each of you for a Happy New Year – full of travel whether it be by car, bike, ship, plane or armchair.  And try putting away that GPS once or twice and set out on the road less traveled. We recommend it!

19 comments:

  1. Great adventures indeed... Happy holidays! :)

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  2. Happy holidays to you as well! Thanks for stopping by, always appreciated.

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    1. Same to you! Look forward to travel tales and technology tips from you!

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  4. Hi Jackie, I love your sense of adventure and go for the road less taken. It was wonderful knowing your through blogsphere this year and to be inspired by your travels and writings. Wishing you and and Joel and very happy new year and more happy travels in 2014.

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    1. And the same wishes to the two 'solemates' as well. I've also enjoyed meeting you in this great big blogosphere world; hopefully our paths will cross in the real world someday as well!

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  5. Hi Jackie...You had an exciting year of travel, and I trust there are more adventures in the making for 2014. Happy Holidays to you and Joel. Hopefully, our paths will cross in the real world again sometime soon!

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    1. I am keeping my fingers crossed Nancie, that you and I meet again in 2014. . .face-to-face! Happy New Year to you and a toast to great travels!

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  6. Hello Jackie
    What a delightful year filled with interesting trip I hope 2014 brings lots of new adventures.
    Wishing you goodness in 2014
    xx

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    1. Oh and Happy Holidays to you, Helen! Thank you so much for being a regular here; your comments are so appreciated!
      xx
      Jackie

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  7. I love your take of the poem and creative way to do your travel recap. You two certainly had a great year of travel. The road less traveled is often filled with great surprises.It's more fun to explore roads away from groups. It's been fun virtually traveling with you. Wishing the both of you a very happy 2014 and safe travels.

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    1. The same good wishes go back to you and yours Mary: safe travels and many adventures ahead. I've enjoyed our virtual friendship and look forward to reading more from you in 2014!

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  8. Each of these roads took you to memories that will last forever, thereby leading you to destinations dear to your heart.

    Happy New Year, my friends!

    xo
    Poppy

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    1. And Happy New Year to you, Poppy! I am so glad we met in this blogosphere and am keeping my fingers crossed that we meet in real life next year while we are in Crete!

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  9. I love the idea of the road less traveled, but I would feel doomed without a GPS. I've spent a good deal of my traveling life seriously lost --- not so good when you have to make it back to a port before your cruise ship leaves or you don't want to be driving around unmarked roads in the dark ;-)

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    1. Oh Suzanne we've had those 'lost moments' as well. . .the kind where the Scout as the driver starts snapping at me, the navigator with the 'map in the lap' or vice versa; most the time we can laugh about it afterwards, but I hear you loud and clear! my best, and Happy New Year! Jackie

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  10. Your British Columbia travels is actually how we hit off, Jackie! Ironic on your lead off with Hawaii as I just today watched VHS to DVD converted videos of me and my ex-wife's trips, engagement and marriage to and in Hawaii. Maui then Kauai. Whenever I see your header pic I travel off in my head on a whimsical journey. Don't ever change it please :)

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  11. Your comment is most timely Mike as I have been thinking it was time to 'pep up' the header with some new graphic or rotating photo. Guess I should concentrate on content and quit worrying about 'zing' right? Thanks for the visit - you should do a restrospective on your blog of your Hawaiian memories! I'll be visiting it regularly -- and commenting!

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  12. Of course I loved all of them but Vancouver Island was my favorite of this set because of the great memory for me! In the summer of 1984 (I wrote a post on this) my step father, who I lost in October, took me on his own "Outward Bound" trip to Northern, B.C. It started off we a deep sea fishing trip and staying on big boat anchored in Ucluelet! Thank you again for the terrific memory :)

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