Harry Potter-Edinburough

From York we headed to the New Castle region of the northeastern corner of England. We were planning on camping, but things are different in other countries. Just because it's labeled a National Park does not mean there are camping sites everywhere. Actually, the National Park region didn't seem any different than the other parts we had just driven through. We did ride through Hadrian's Wall which we learned was built by the Romans before Jesus was born. However, just like it always seems to happen, we found something better than was planned. We drove into a little village that was home to Harry Potter's Hogwarts castle used in the first movie. The village was something out of a story book and the castle was a ton of fun for all of us. Sager and Lila got to run around on the grounds that the Quiditch team practiced, and we got to see the present living quarters of British royalty I got to visit one of the oldest used book stores in England.
We drove right up to the coast and got out of the car to enjoy the beach and waves. We look up and see a giant castle off in the distance built right up next to the beach. We camped within sight of the castle. Next day we visited an island with a castle that is only accessible during low tide. The road floods at high tide. Jacque enjoyed the ruins of the church castle.

We drove into Edinborouh expecting horrible parking and traffic. We got neither. I some how (unknowingly) scored big on an internet reservation service. They set us up in an apartment penthouse with two bedrooms, deck with an amazing view, and parking. We felt like royalty. It was right smack in the middle of town too, so we walked forever to see everything. The weather was perfect so we spent much of our time in a park located right near the castle.

Scotland 2012 London-York

Jacque came up with the idea of the United Kingdom for a summer vacation, and after some research we decided Scotland was probably more our cup of tea. We flew into London on the red eye, and went straight to the rental car. I knew we would be driving on the wrong side of the road, and I knew we would be driving from the wrong side of the car. I didn't know it would be a straight drive. No sleep and no practice, we were immediately thrown into London Airport traffic with their round a bouts and skinny roads. It was intense to say the least, but we got it done with help from the whole family. Jacque could never get use to sitting on the left and not driving. Many times she would look up, scream, and grab for the steering wheel.
We drove straight to our Bed and Breakfast in a small fishing village on the east coast of England called (?). The place was right on the beach.

Streets of York

We did some beach combing and explored downtown. The next day we went to visit our first castle. After looking back, it was one of my favorites. It was located in a small village that was post card beautiful landscape. Hardly anyone was there, but it had some unique history. The next day we were off to York, England.

The drives on the east coast of  England are a wonderful experience and so different from America. There are no huge cites or towns, it's just village after village and field after field. We stopped at pubs on the side of the road for lunch and a beer. 

York was magnificent. The entire city feels like a giant museum. I could feel the history in my bones. The ancient city wall, the cobble stone streets, the old shoppes, etc. give the feel that maybe times were better bad then. Jacque and Sager got a chance to climb to the top of the cathedral and look out over the city.

FRODO!

New Zealand

South Island
Nov. 20th-29th

2008

Days 1-3
It all started like any other kayaking trip. Sanders showed up at the house, I threw my gear in the back of his car, and we headed out of Charlotte. Except this time I was not headed to the western mountains of North Carolina. I was on my way to the airport to hop on a plan headed to Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand.

This past summer during the ride back from our family vacation, my wife looks over at me ands says “Will, you need to go visit Cooper in New Zealand”. This was a huge change of course for her so I immediately replied “Sounds good to me” without much enthusiasm in order to keep it cool. After some e-mails and a 4am call with Coop, I bought the plane ticket for an 11 day trip in November. Coop said pack light, so I fit all kayaking gear into one carry-on without a change of clothes. The 24 hour plane trip was actually not bad. Outside the airport on the South Island I got my first sight of the infamous Cambri with a kayak on top and a bearded Coop (el Sage) in the driver seat. Man it was good to see Coop de Loop, it was close to a year since I'd last seen the old crazy mo fo. He informs me that it’s raining buckets on the coast which is home to New Zealand’s finest creekin. Ten minutes into the car ride and something is wrong, the plumbing is starting to rumble. I thought it was jet lag, but it was later diagnosed without a doubt as a stomach virus that was kind enough to wait until the plane landed. I slept and &%^# for about 15 hours. The next day we loaded up the car with boats and headed north to Murchison, New Zealand. It’s located north of Christchurch in the middle of the island. On our way up, the scenery was out of this world. (Postcard) With the rivers, valleys, and high peaks all crammed together; the place looks like something out of a fantasy novel (Lord of the Rings). By the way, Coop is obsessed with Frodo; he wouldn’t stop yelling his name out the window at complete strangers. Crazy Mo Fo.

Our first mission is to check out a 36-foot waterfall for a quick park and huck session. We scout and decide to put on about 75 yards upstream. Coop of course, styles it in a play boat making it look so easy. I walked upstream and got in a boat for the first time. The horizon line of a waterfall looks so peaceful that it’s hypnotic and hard to imagine what is awaiting your fate once you cross the harmless boogy water. It snuck up on me. All I saw was Class II water with trees in the back ground, nothing scary right. Then all of a sudden before my mind could react, I’m staring down and falling 36 feet into a pool of white fury. I knew I was supposed to tuck, but I was frozen with fear. I landed and immediately flipped. No problem I thought, I’ll just wait and flush out. This didn’t happen, and everything started getting more violent and dark. I assumed I was heading behind the waterfall curtain, which is a very bad place to be if you don’t have gills. At the same moment my stomach decided the morning’s PB and J sandwich was actually not acceptable. I puked and had my first swim within 45 seconds of paddling in New Zealand. After I pulled, I went deep, and I mean black-out dark deep. I didn’t fight it because I wanted to make sure I resurfaced past the boil line (area where you can relax) to prevent being pulled back into curtain. I resurfaced and noticed the boat was headed toward the abyss, but I was completely spent. Coop comes flying in like a bat out of hell, grabs the paddle out of my hands, and takes off after the boat. After getting the boat, we loaded back up for some action on the Makitiki River in Murchison.