Where Have We Been?
Here is a snapshot of our post-retirement travels beginning with most recent and going back in time to September, 2018. It’s been a wonderful ride so far, even with the unexpected adjustments due to COVID-19.
Colorado Excursions (Apr 2020-Present)
Being stuck at home these past few months motivated us to explore the great outdoors in our own back yard. We ran out of good weather before we exhausted our ‘to do’ list, which means that no matter what happens with the pandemic in 2021, we will have more new places to visit next spring and summer.
Number of blog posts from our Colorado 2020 excursions: 9 (click here for links)
A few favorite photos:
Colorado River in Rocky Mountain National Park Hermit Park Open Space Breckenridge Rocky Mountain National Park Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming Arthur’s Rock Peak to Peak Highway Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Red Mountain Open Space Horsetooth Rock Trail
New Zealand (Feb-Mar 2020)
Fifty-one days – four days in the Auckland area followed by 47 days exploring the South Island. Our original plan was to max out our three month visitor visa, but the vacation was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those 51 days, however, were magical, and we packed in as much as we could. But we’re not finished, and we plan to return when the time is right to resume our self-guided tour of this very special place.
Number of blog posts from New Zealand: 12 (click here for links)
Here’s a preview of some great scenery:
Rakiura Gorge Omarama Clay Cliffs Nugget Point Lighthouse Aerial view of Stewart Island View of Doubtful Sound Milford Sound Pancake Rocks View of Queenstown from the Remarkables Ocean view from Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway View of Lake Pukaki and Aoraki/Mount Cook View from the Penguin Place – Otago Peninsula View from the road leading to Mount Cook Village
Original Itinerary
Our plan was to fly into Auckland and acclimate for a few days (which we did) before taking a quick flight to Christchurch and picking up our rental car. Our lodging stops for the South Island are shown on the map below.

The only change from our planned itinerary was that we only spent three nights in Nelson before flying back to Auckland for an overnight before continuing on to the U.S.
After finishing our travels on the South Island, we were scheduled to take the ferry to Wellington and begin our tour of the North Island as shown below.

To be continued at a later date . . .
Oahu (Dec 2019-Jan 2020)
Thirty days in a beachfront condo with friends and travel companions, Steve and Marlene. Andrew and Gail (son and daughter-in-law) joined us for nine days over Christmas. Truly a tropical paradise!

Number of blog posts from Oahu: 3 (click here for links)
View from Diamond Head Waikiki Beach Lyon Arboretum Byodo-In Temple Waimea Falls Honolulu Museum of Art Makapu’u Lighthouse Iolani Palace Laniakea Beach Bishop Museum Waikiki Aquarium Polynesian Cultural Center Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Haunama Bay Dole Pineapple Plantation
Pacific Northwest & California Road Trip (Jun-Nov 2019)
- 143 days
- 8,591 driving miles
- 8,000 airline miles
- 11 states
- 2 Canadian provinces
- 9 U.S. national parks and monuments
- 4 Canadian national parks
- More fun than we could have imagined!
Number of blog posts from Road Trip 2019: Twenty-six
Links: Idaho Montana Minnesota Canada Washington Oregon California Wrap Up
Craters of the Moon National Park Missoula MT Minneapolis MN Bemidji MN Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Seattle WA Olympic National Park Portland OR Mount St. Helens National Monument Columbia River Gorge WA Crater Lake National Park California Redwoods California Highway 1 Monterey CA Morro Bay CA Death Valley National Park
Portugal & Spain (Apr-May 2019)
Seven weeks in Portugal and southern Spain, with day trips to Morocco and Gibraltar – a great adventure for us novice international travelers!
Number of blog posts: Nineteen
Links: Portugal Spain Morocco Gibraltar
Portugal
Lisbon Luz Tavira Porto I Porto II Duoro Valley Aveiro Coimbra Nazaré Sintra
Spain
Jerez de la Frontera Tarifa La LĂnea de la ConcepciĂłn Málaga Granada Seville
Morocco and Gibraltar
Morocco Gibraltar
New Mexico and Arizona (Feb-Mar 2019)
A month in Phoenix, plus quick stops outbound from Colorado and back – six weeks and 3,357 miles in the Subaru.
Number of blog posts: Eight
Links: Arizona New Mexico & Wrap Up
Phoenix
Musical Instrument Museum McDowell Sonoran Preserve Desert Botanical Garden Heard Museum Pinnacle Peak Park Taliesin West Spring Training Games Papago Park
Other Stops
Arcosanti AZ Biosphere 2 in Tucson AZ Tucson Botanical Gardens Saguaro National Park Patagonia AZ Kartchner Caverns State Park Tombstone AZ Bisbee AZ Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Santa Fe NM
Vero Beach FL (Jan 2019)
Quick trip to visit friends, Marlene and Steve, and soak up some rays in Vero Beach.
Number of blog posts: 0
Steve & Bill Carol & Marlene
Missoula MT (Sep & Nov 2018, Jul & Dec 2019)
Total blog posts: Nine (so far)
Link: Montana
Missoula is a frequent travel destination, and here’s why!
Of course, it’s a cool place for other reasons as well.