Welcome to Breakfast in America
I’m a Brit who unexpectedly emigrated to the USA in 2008, and this is my photo journal.
It’s an eclectic mix of things; there’s no guiding theme or topic. It is whatever catches my attention, what I’ve been thinking, doing, or piques my interest. Currently that’s mainly backpacking and clearing some of the backlog on my ‘honey-do’ list.
Popular posts
Trending pictures and short posts.
Memories
A dozen pictures, picked at random from my favorite memories. You can see my portfolio here.
B.B.Q. Chickens
Enjoying the view
Sunrise on Table Rock Lake
The lake was low, very low
Morning run at Grange-over-Sands — the return leg
Gary and Ginger at Compton Hollow (365:016)
Sunset at Gunwharf
Empty Chair
Shallows on James River
Near Olga, State Highway Z
1144 15th Street, Denver, Colorado
Nothing but trees
Recent Posts
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Lanie on the Mote of Mark (Hike: Kippford to Rockcliffe)
Lanie on the Mote of Mark, between Kippford and Rockcliffe. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Vacation Day 18 – Our last day with Uncle Keith and another hike…
The day after tomorrow we have to be in Bristol for an afternoon meeting. Then we travel on to Cornwall. So tomorrow we are heading back down south. In the meantime, we went on another short hike taking in the Mote of Mark. After the Mote of Mark we went down to Rockcliffe and spent a pleasant hour or more relaxing on the beach while Lanie did some beachcombing and hunting for crabs.
The walk back to Kippford was along the coast, a lot less hilly, and easy-going. Once more Uncle Keith impressed Lanie. This time there were no donkeys, but, he showed us a house with a garden decorated with flotsam. Back in Kippford we had some very nice ice cream to round off the hike.
Hike at Mote of Mark. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Rough Island across the river Urr. Hestan Island can be seen in the distance. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Rough Island across the river Urr. Hestan Island can be seen in the distance. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Looking across the river Urr. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Dumfries Solstice Sunset
Lanie and Ginger watch the solstice sunset. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Barbecue, Badminton, and another Walk
Lanie and Keith getting more exercise Vacation Day 17 – In the evening we went to the house of one of Uncle keith’s friends for a barbecue.
Walking the dog
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Ginger Grouse
Ginger Grouse. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Pubs are a great hiking amenity in the UK
Being thirsty we visited a local pub after our hike. Ginger had to try this drink, and the bottle came all the way back to the US with us. The drink was surprisingly good, but I wasn’t tempted to have one. Instead, I had a half pint of bitter and a packet of crisps.
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Lanie Meets Some Scottish Donkeys
Lanie & Uncle Keith feed the donkeys Lanie never bothered to ask Uncle Keith why he’d brought carrots on a hike
About halfway through our Breakfast in America: Balcary Bay hike, we found some donkeys running free. Lanie was in her element, and thanks to Uncle Keith she was able to feed the donkeys. They were “Soooo cuuute…”
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Balcary Bay Hike
Lanie, Heslan Island, Balcary Bay in the background Vacation Day 17 – A hike at Balcary Bay and the Solway Firth Coast
My uncle wanted to take us on a hike. We’ve been on hikes with him before… We protested about how out of condition we were, however, as Uncle Keith had a foot injury I reckoned we would be okay. Injury or not, Uncle Keith did well, and it was quite a hike for us as out of condition as we were.
We saw one of Britain’s only poisonous snakes, an adder. It tried to get away as soon as we approached it, and despite my best efforts to circle around and get a picture, it was too quick and hid in the long grass.
Once we got to the top of the cliffs there was a marvelous view. Checking the horizon, I was pleased to be able to point out the Isle of Man – just visible in the haze.
Lanie never thought to ask why Keith had brought a bag of carrots, she soon found out though.
Looking out across the Solway Firth to the Lake District
Clover
Lanie, Heslan Island, Balcary Bay in the background
Heslan Island, Balcary Bay on the Dumfries coast
Irish Sea on the Dumfries coast
Irish Sea on the Dumfries coast
Lanie getting closer to the sea
Lanie through the (broken) Window
Balcary Bay Hike 4.6 Miles, 570 ft. of elevation -
Twighlight on the River Nith
Sunset across the River Nith. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
An evening visit to Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle Vacation Day 16 – Scotland, and some time with my uncle
We drove around the Lake District for a while before heading to Scotland. My Uncle has moved since our last visit, so instead of having to travel all the way to Glasgow we only had to hop across the border and head west towards Dumfries. We had just enough time to unloaded our bags before we were off out again to take in some of the local scenery.
After looking at the castle we decided to take a short walk along the coastal path to a nearby parking lot while my uncle went back, collected the car, and drove round to meet us.
It was a simple plan, duly executed, except when we got to the parking lot the car was there, but there was no sign of my uncle. Somehow we’d managed to lose him! As we walked the coastal path I’d noticed a second path and I guessed he’d decided to come and meet us, and had taken the other path. We waited a good long time for him to give up looking for us and return to the car. It was getting dark and cold when I went back along the path to find him. I was right. He’d taken the wrong path, and I soon found him.
Caerlaverock Castle
Lanie at Caerlaverock Castle
Lanie at Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle
Behind the scenes at Caerlaverock Castle
Sunset across the River Nith. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Grasmere in the Lake District
Grasmere – The Lake District. Copyright © 2014 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Vacation Day 16 – Having taken our leave of Penny we headed North.
By fitting in a couple of days in Wales we’d lost some time we’d planned to spend in the Lake District / Scotland. We debated on the drive up whether to spend the night in the Lake District. We decided to stick with the plan and go straight to my uncle’s house. That didn’t mean we couldn’t spend a couple of hours driving around the Lake District though.
We stopped at Grasmere for a walk and a more relaxed view of the Lake District scenery.
Next stop, Uncle Keith’s.
Some Family Pictures
Lanie at Grasmere
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Saying Goodbye to Penny
Ginger and Penny Vacation Day 16 – We set off to Scotland via the Lake District
Another long driving day today. We aim to be staying with my Uncle Keith in Scotland tonight.
