Þorlákshöfn Campground

Our first night of camping in Iceland was at Þorlákshöfn Campground, a little under an hour away from the city. We pulled in with our camper van, and had to learn the ropes best we could as it was closing in on midnight despite the sun still glowing on the horizon. The van was cozy and comfortable… and nothing follows a fine night sleep better than a camp-cooked breakfast!

Read More

Adventures in a Camper Van!

One of the most exciting parts of our adventure through Iceland was that we were going to experience it in a camper van! A converted Ford Transit Connect cargo van from Solstice Campers would be our home for the entire trip, and we couldn’t wait to get our hands on it to check it out and start exploring!

Read More

ASA 103

This past weekend I took the second part of my sailing certification – the ASA 103. This class was to build on the basics we learned in 101, providing a more in depth look at the rules of the water, the operation of the boat, and of course the safety measures that are so important out on the sea. The is the second class in line to have the certification to bareboat charter! “Bareboat chartering” is renting a sailboat without a captain accompanying us, where I would be free to take the boat out on my own. Without certified proof that I am capable to do this, most rental agencies would not likely hand me the keys to a half-million dollar sailboat...

Read More

Hiking Through the State Park

Today seemed like a great day for a hike!  Sure, it’s a bit warm … and by “a bit warm” I mean it’s sweltering hot.  That great fireball in the sky has been cooking everything in its path, especially all the plants on our back patio.  I doubt they are surviving this summer.

But the good thing about being in the woods is all that wonderful shade.

Philly has its share of nice parks.  Fairmount Park is the main one, and it’s definitely huge.  While we do like to bike through there it isn’t really a “hike through the woods” type park.  So where do you go to get away into the woods when you live in the heart of a huge city?

Read More

ASA 101 - Part 2

Second day of classes started in the morning with a lesson on knot tying.  I remembered most of them from my old boy scout days, and it’s amazing how readily that knowledge comes back to you even after all these years.  Clove hitches, square knots and two-turns with two-half hitches were practiced, along with the bowline (rabbit runs out of the hole, around the tree, and back in the hole).  The bowline took a try or two to...

Read More

ASA 101

A new adventure began this weekend as I started classes for the ASA sailing certification!  The ASA (American Sailing Association) has a curriculum of classes designed to train someone in the operation, care, and legal regulations of a larger sized sailboat.  ASA 104 (or the equivalent level locally if not in the US) is required in order to charter a sailboat in many cases, and in general it is a good idea to have the hands on training they provide.  These classes lay a solid foundation to...

Read More