breathtakebyways

About breathtakebyways

Ann Williams’ travel articles have appeared in publications all over the country including The Washington Post, Roads to Adventure, and Jack and Jill. Between researching and writing books, she specializes in creative lectures.

Distressing Detector

 in camping / Travel tips  tagged camp trailer / fire alarm / hearing loss / smoke detector / travel by

Most of my elderly relatives lost their hearing, but I never heard of any of my predecessors getting burned.  So when our camp trailer’s smoke detector shrieked without reason once again, I was more concerned with preventing further cochlear damage than preserving the detector.  Steve entertained our friends, who were camped next door, with a dramatic rendition of that incident, and Linda asked him to send me over to fix their detector too. Some years later, that infamous detector still seems to be working, it just doesn’t attach to the ceiling anymore.  Steve noticed today that it is 10 years old, and the ones in our house are […]

Unfair Warning

 in Newfoundland / Signs  tagged foghorn / Newfoundland / port / Signs / St. Anthony / travel / warning by

At the port of St Anthony, Newfoundland, another odd sign caught my attention: WARNING!  WARNING! Foghorn sounds without warning. Um, so, beware of sudden warnings?

Dream Catching 2

 in New Mexico / Snowbirding  tagged Abuquerque / dreamcatcher / dreams / New Mexico / nightmare / Old Town / travel by

In Old Town Albuquerque, my cruise friend, Sally and I learned about Dream Catchers, artistic webs to hang above children’s pillows.  The beads fastened into the web are said to catch dreams before they reach the children.  They filter out nightmares, and pass the good dreams to feathers dangling beneath the web.  The feathers then transmit sweet dreams to the sleeping children.  This was news to me.  I’d always assumed that Dream Catchers were intended to snare waking dreams and help them come true. Later we came across a box of unfinished dream catchers in a going-out-of business store.  I liked that the Dream Catchers were […]

Positive Sign

 in Signs  tagged advertising / ban / crafters / Native American / New Mexico / Rio Grande Gorge Bridge / sign / travel / vendors by

The enterprising roadside sellers near New Mexico’s Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, offer some tempting Native American creations if you’re up for shopping.

Sign Out

 in Signs  tagged Earthship Biotechture World Headquarters / New Mexico / out there / Signs / Taos / travel / warning by

I noticed this notice at the Earthship Biotecture World Headquarters and Visitor Center near Taos New Mexico–definitely an out there kind of place.  

Port Galveston’s Got Legs

 in Snowbirding / Texas  tagged diving gear / Edda Accomodation / floating hotel / Galveston / jack-up platform / museum / Ocean Star Off-Shore Drilling Rig / pelicans / Port Galveston / travel by

As we headed across the bridge to visit Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum, Steve speculated about the structures across the bay.  I was too interested in the pelicans to make a good guess as to what they were, but Steve figured it out.  His guess was confirmed at the museum, the ideal place to learn all about those jack-up platforms.  The “towers” in the first picture above are actually legs that are lowered to the seafloor and secured, so the platform can be jacked up out of reach of the waves.  Lots more to see and learn on the Ocean Star, and probably your only chance to explore an off-shore rig inshore.

Galveston’s Rescued Tall Ship

 in Snowbirding / Texas  tagged Aberdeen / deck prism / Elissa / Galveston / Galveston Historical Foundation / Greece / Gulf of Mexico / masts / restoration / rigging / Scotland / tall ship / Texas / travel / volunteer crew by

Standing on deck, soaking in the masts, rigging, and other nautical necessities* was extra thrilling after seeing Elissa’s history video.  Built in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1877, she sailed the seas for 90 years and was bound for a scrap yard in Greece when the Galveston Historical Foundation bought her.  It took 4 years just to strengthen her enough to survive the tow ‘home.’  Had the Foundation known how many volunteers, historical craftsmen, and donations her makeover would take, she’d have probably stayed scrap.  Little wonder that Elissa is one of the world’s oldest sailing hulls still in operation. Galveston has to be proud of her as well as their fortitude in seeing the […]