In November, 2021, we were fortunate to travel to the Great Smoky Mountains on the Tennessee / North Carolina border. Every twist and turn of the mountain road reveals one beautiful panorama after another, with every new vista outshining the one before.

As you scan the horizon, the “smoke” that drapes over the mountains creates an other-worldly feeling; providing a calmness that comes from enjoying God’s beautiful creations as he paints the landscape in vibrant autumn colors.

Dave would have loved hiking and camping under the stars while absorbing the serenity of the woods. So it is here in Woodfin Valley in the Smoky Mountains that I sprinkled Dave’s ashes in a place he loved best; one of Mother Nature’s masterpieces.

Sohier Park is situated on a peninsula known as Cape Neddick in Maine.  It is the best place to view the tiny island of Nubble, which is only about 50 yards from the mainland.

Perched atop the rocky island, the Nubble Lighthouse keeps watch over the southern Maine coastline. It is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world because of its natural beauty.  It is exemplified whether it be stormy skies as the waves crash on the rocky shores below or the peace and beauty of the calm sunrise and sunset waters.

It is here on these rocky shores that share a little bit of Dave; a place where I could hear Dave say, “Hey, I’d like to be lighthouse keeper.  That would be cool.”  There was never a dull moment with Dave.

The lovely gardens and museum of Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, Northern Italy was built in the late-seventeenth century.  The villa spans 17 acres and displays an amazing array of roses, azaleas, citrus trees, hydrangeas, tropical plants and a large variety of trees.  Everywhere you walk along its many paths, you see natural and manicured beauty.

We chose to sprinkle Dave’s ashes in the coloful flowering rock garden. A variety of blooming plants are rotated throughout the spring, summer, and fall so that the rock garden is in full-color splendor for the entire growing season.

And, to top it off, we cannot forget the stunning panoramic view of Lake Como.

Another special place for Dave.

In the northern portion of the Scottish highlands lies the largest area of fresh water in Great Britain.  It is the source of many mysterious sightings of the mystical monster, Nessie.

While we didn’t see Nessie ourselves, it was certainly an experience to explore the lake with mountains rising in the distance; the largest being Meall Fuar Mhonaidh.

The area is steeped in history.  Urquhart Castle sits on the shore of Loch Ness and was a prominent part of Scotland’s fight for freedom.  It is the only castle in the Highlands to hold out against the English; oh the stories those walls could tell.

Although Loch Ness didn’t have the breathtaking views or the colorful flowers we have so often seen in our travels, it was beautiful in its own way.  The combination of fantasy, mystery, and history would certainly have been the attraction for Dave.

And, to be in the same lake as Nessie would make Dave smile.

The Ring of Brodgar is stone circle on Mainland, the largest Orkney Island in the Highlands of Scotland.  The circle consists of 21 standing stones that are over 5000 years old; older than Stonehenge or the Great Pyramids and so large that Stonehenge could fit inside the Ring.

There are many theories as to how the area was used, but it is believed these stones, as well as others on the island, were part of a huge ceremonial complex of standing stones and buildings.

While this background information is interesting, I chose this spot for Dave’s ashes because everything about this island would have intrigued Dave; its mysterious history, its beautiful surroundings and the savage wind that reminds you of the fury of Mother Nature on one hand and her beauty on the other.

I sprinkled Dave’s ashes in the heather growing outside the Ring overlooking the Loch of Harray.  The North and Norwegian Seas surround the island.

This was an amazing place for Dave, but the entire trip through the Highlands was amazing.  There were so many perfect beautiful possibilities for his ashes.

The point of my posts is to show how I am “Remembering Dave” wherever I travel.  From Loch Lomond to the Orkney Islands, you can be sure I was remembering Dave all along the way. He would have loved Scotland; especially the remoteness of the Highlands.

There is a little bit of Dave in some of the most magnificent places in Scotland.

Botallack is a small village in western Cornwall, near Lands End. 

As the fierce wind along the Atlantic coast buffeted us, we approached the cliffs. We wandered along the tops of the cliffs and couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the angry waves crashing below.  The fury of the wind fueling the waves was quite an experience; one Dave would have loved.

But as we walked away, we couldn’t help but notice the calm that was just a short distance from the cliffs; different, but just as lovely.

I guess it is quite symbolic of life itself.  You make it through the tempests of life to reach the calm on the other side hopefully learning from both.

Another beautiful place for Dave.

Port Isaac is a charming little fishing village in Cornwall on the Atlantic coast.  The prosperity of the village in the 18th and 19th centuries focused mainly on fishing and coastal freight. Nowadays, there is a significant tourist presence during the summer due to its popularity for filming movies and television shows.

We visited in the fall when it looked simply like a scenic sleepy village.  I tried to imagine living is such a place.  You certainly must be in shape; everything seems to be uphill.

As we walked (uphill) through the village center and along the coast, the beauty of the area was so calming.  The seagulls soared above the blue water and came to rest on the cliffs while cows leisurely grazed nearby on vibrant green grass.

It was here that I sprinkled Dave’s ashes; a quaint picturesque Cornish harbor.

We encountered so many breathtaking views during our trip west several years ago. So many, that I was able to pick and choose the most amazing places to sprinkle Dave’s ashes.  It seemed like every bend in the road or mountain to climb brought about magnificent views that I defined as “Dave worthy.”

The Yellowstone Grand Canyon is such a place.  It is the first large canyon on the Yellowstone River downstream from the Yellowstone Falls. The 24-mile canyon was created by river erosion. The fir trees tenuously cling to many areas of the canyon.  The area is stark, yet beautiful.

As I tossed Dave’s ashes over the side, a small gust of wind blew a bit toward us.  It seemed like the opportune time to introduce Dave to Fred.

We smiled at that thought as we said good-bye to another special place for Dave.