The remnants of Tropical Storm Matthew had battered the coast of Peggy’s Cove the day before our visit causing power outages up and down the coast.  But the day of our visit, the storm had swept out to sea and it was clear and cold with gusty winds.

As we drove along the winding road toward the lighthouse, the beauty and quaintness of the little fishing village warmed my heart.  It was as if time had stopped there.  There was a serene beauty in the view of the fishing boats quietly docked along the inlet.  As we continued toward the point, the landscape opened up to us revealing the magnificent view of Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse and the angry surf pounding the surrounding rocks.  With the strong winds and the spectacular view, it literally took our breaths away.

This was definitely another place for Dave!

With birds swooping overhead,  I carefully walked down some of the rocks to Margaret Bay and sprinkled Dave’s ashes into the surf.  As I was standing on the rocks, I was shocked to hear the mournful sound of bagpipes nearby.  I felt joyful, yet saddened, that such a wonderful thing could be happening.  The timing was just perfect.

Dave would’ve loved this place!

Click here for more images.

I shared a wonderful trip with a very special person who made every effort to take me to the most enchanting places in FL. So naturally, I made it a point to share the best with Dave.

Located at the southernmost point of the US mainland in the Everglades was Cape Sable. This coastal shoreline is known by many as the wildest and most remote beach in all of Florida. The area is completely undeveloped. It is about 18 nautical miles to the nearest town of Flamingo. Since there are no roads, water is the only way you can get there.

What also makes Cape Sable extraordinary is the thousands of unique seashells that the tides have deposited along the shoreline; my favorite being the fighting conch shell pictured above. The beauty of the shells, the remoteness of the island, and the peacefulness one feels just being there are just three of the reasons why this is another special place for Dave.

On another day, we headed out early in the morning to catch the breathtaking sunrise on Biscayne Bay. As we were searching for the perfect spot to fish, we stopped at a lovely place called Old Rhodes Key. The vivid green water quietly lapped against the lush mangrove trees along the shore. A small bird kept dive-bombing my line while a small yellow butterfly kept fluttering by. It was an unforgettable moment in an amazing spot; a place teeming with life and beauty.

Even though Dave’s idea of fishing was to sit back with a beer, cast out his line, and hope a fish might bump into it, he did love the serenity, the view, and the sheer clear-your-mind relaxation that fishing can bring. At the very least, he is smiling at his mother for bringing him to such special places.

Click here for more images.

It had been awhile since I traveled and I hadn’t had any plans to do so by Dave’s birthday.  I knew Bob and Jan were planning a trip to Tennessee with their biking friends.  They know how “special places for Dave” are so important to me and didn’t hesitate to take Dave along on the trip.  They were sure they’d experience some beautiful views of the Smoky Mountains.

The first stop was to Clingman’s Dome. This is a brief excerpt from the Clingman’s Dome website:

“At 6,643 feet, Clingman’s Dome is Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s highest point.  It is located along the state-line ridge; half in North Carolina and half in Tennessee.”

The peak is accessible after walking a steep half-mile trail, which, of course, this is what Bob and Jan did. 

“Vistas from the Dome are amazing.  On a clear day, views expand over 100 miles and into seven states.”

What a special place for Dave!

But as they traveled a short distance from the Dome, they came upon such a magnificent view that they had to stop and sprinkle Dave’s ashes there as well.  The first time I saw the picture, it caught my breath and immediately gave me chills.  As a sacred mountain to the Cherokees, it radiates pure spirituality.  It is a honor that Dave’s ashes share such a beautiful place.

A special thank you to Bob and Jan for going out of their way to find two special places.  And much gratitude to their friends who joined them in remembering Dave.

Somewhere, Dave is smiling!  I know I am, but with tears in my eyes.

Click here for more images.

For Dave’s birthday, I wanted to do something different; something in his honor. I didn’t want idle time to sit home and think. I know Dave wouldn’t want that either. But, first, I would like to share a story with you.

Nine years ago, as we were leaving Dave’s funeral, a terrible storm was brewing. By the time, we got home, it was a full blown thunderstorm. I recall seeing a flash and immediately hearing the deafening crack and saying, “Boy, that must’ve hit close by.”

It wasn’t until a few days later that I learned that a lightning strike had killed two teens while they were trying to leave a soccer field in Hillsdale. One of the boys, Lee Weisbrod (pic attached), lived only a few houses from me.  I never knew Lee or his family, but I did know the unimaginable pain his parents had to be experiencing.

One day as I walked Molly by their house, Lee’s Mom, Nancy, was outside. I introduced myself. Only a mother who has lost a child can fully understand how another mother feels. Everyone tries to say the right thing, but only another mother truly knows.  It’s the look in our eyes. But Nancy’s pain had another level; he was her only child. In that first conversation, we realized both boys shared the same birthday, July 6^th, but ten years apart, and both loved soccer. They were both also beginning new stages in their lives; Lee beginning college and Dave contemplating his next step in life.  We couldn’t understand why this happened. We just couldn’t make sense out of anything.

We became close friends as we took this horrible journey together. We compared feelings, shared tips on how to make it through, and began to laugh again. But when it came to Dave and Lee’s birthdays and anniversaries, we both just knew what the other was feeling.  Every year those days were the most difficult to get through.  The heat a constant reminder for me and the thunderstorms for Nancy.

One day a few weeks ago,  I e-mailed Nancy and said, “How about we do something crazy to honor our boys? How about zip-lining?” Nancy thought it was a great idea to have an adventure that day.

With butterflies in our stomachs, but smiles on our faces, we headed for Kittatinny Ziplines in Barryville, NY. As we were getting geared up, I said, “Can you imagine what Dave and Lee are saying now? I bet they’re shaking their heads in amazement!” It’s a 3000 foot zip-line soaring at speeds up to 50 mph.

To say my heart wasn’t in my throat would be a lie. It’s a 36 story drop. As the guides released us off the tower, I yelled, “This is for you, Dave!” and sprinkled some of his ashes over the trees below. Off to the left was the Delaware River. But, honestly, we were going so fast, everything just whizzed by.

Since we couldn’t carry a camera, Kittatinny was kind enough to share some of their file photos (the one above is us) to show how exciting the experience is.

Exciting is an understatement, but doing it in honor of our sons was so right!! We stepped out of our comfort zone and enjoyed some laughs, too. Dave and Lee would definitely applaud.

Later that night, after our usual reminiscences, we lit luminarias in remembrance of our boys!

Happy Birthday Dave and Lee from your adventurous (?) Moms.

Click here for more images.

When Bob and Jan mentioned they were planning a trip to Maine, I knew there had to be beautiful places for Dave.  I was so happy that they were kind enough to take time from their trip to find just the right place. 

Saturday morning in Bar Harbor, we decided to forgo the planned group ride and do something on our own, like hike! After talking with the front desk at the hotel, we realized we couldn’t use the public free shuttle to get us to the trail head in Acadia National Park, without burning hours. Bob decided that we would pack our minimal hiking stuff into the MC and drive to the Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail Head, and park the bike.  It’s always unsettling to park a bike in a remote area and leave it for fear of theft or vandalism. First of all, it felt great to be in the woods on our own 2 feet after spending the last 2 days riding up to Maine from NJ. We stopped at various picturesque spots, snapped some pics and kept going onwards and upwards. Our goal was to get to the top before the riding group and meet them at the summit. About halfway up, I realized that I didn’t have Dave’s ashes, and they were back at the hotel. Damn!  When we finally reached the summit we positioned ourselves on a rock ledge right along the roadway and waited for the roar of Harleys. The look on their faces when they saw it was us on the ledge, was priceless. Bob snapped away, and pretty much got pics of all of them smiling and waving at us. We met them in the lot at the top for a group photo, and hiked around the top of Cadillac Mtn. with a few of our club members.  Beautiful view…breathtaking, but filled with tourists.

We said our goodbyes and headed back down the mountain to finish our hike. In total, we ended up doing 6 miles. Very hot and drenched in sweat, we hopped back on the bike  and Bob drove us back to the hotel to get on some dry clothes and head back out. This time I put Dave’s ashes in my little fanny pack I carry with me on the bike.  We’re back in

Arcadia Park, and ready to do the 27 miles scenic loop around the park.  The loop is one way, so if you pass by a scenic spot and miss it, you are out of luck. We passed some scenic areas, Sandy Beach, and the famous Thunder Hole…packed with cars all along the road, parking areas filled up. Finally as we kept going on the road, we started to get away from the touristy areas and Bob pulled up a hill into a parking lot. First thing we heard when he shut off the engine was melodic ringing of a bell coming out from the ocean. Bob right away looked at me and said…”Thanks Dave….this is the spot.”  As we crossed the road to get to the cliffs, we could see a green buoy in the distance swaying back and forth. It was the source of the bell.What was amazing was the buoy swaying back and forth with a ringing bell that was in synchronization with the natural rhythm of the ocean. We both felt his poem embodied this beautiful spot.

I was immediately filled with emotion as I knew this was exactly the place Dave wanted to be in. We left the “safe” area, and started to hike down (in our clumsy riding boots), and navigate down a ledge away from the few people that were there. Yes, they did look at us pretty strange… I gave Bob the bag that held his ashes, and he positioned himself to release them.  Just as he was about to do it, he heard a woman’s voice yell from below, “OFF BELAY.”  There coming up to the ledge around a corner was a Lady Climbing Guide, with a harness filled with climbing gear, slings and well you know…the whole 9 yards!  Bob quickly let go of the ashes before she could see what we were doing.  I snapped a bunch of pictures, and of course we took pictures of the Guide. (Dave would have thought she was a cutie), and climbed back up to the safe zone.

We both looked at each other in complete disbelief.  27 miles of possible spots and we are “guided” to this spot? First hearing the ringing of the bell, and then at that special moment the guide yells “Off Belay,” for us signifying our deep and unique connection to Dave sharing our love of climbing with him.

Needless to say, I was moved to tears, and filled with so much emotion and grateful that he is still very present to us. It makes me feel so aware of how huge the universe is and really how out of control we really are. I am grateful that Dave is very much with us on our adventures and obviously tagging along with us. Bob thinks that Dave picked that spot for us that signified our connection to him.

This sounds like the perfect spot for Dave.  It’s just too bad Dave didn’t whisper in Jan’s ear to remember his ashes for their hike!

Click here for more images.

Tulips and windmills; true symbols of Holland.  And, yes, they are as beautiful as you imagine.

Kinderdijk is an iconic small village in South Holland.  What makes it so special is that this quaint village boasts 19 windmills.   Built around 1740, this group of windmills represents the largest concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands.

The day of my visit was overcast and rainy.  I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to take a lovely shot of a windmill.  Plus, because it was tulip season, it also meant it was tourist season.  I sighed thinking I wouldn’t find a private place, and if I did, the weather wasn’t cooperating.  At such times, I quietly ask, “Hey Dave, How about putting in a good word about this weather?”

Within ten minutes, the rain stopped, the sun came out and I even enjoyed a bit of blue skies.  With no-one around, I sprinkled some of Dave’s ashes and took my picture.  As I walked away,  I shook my head in amazement as it started to rain again and people walked up to where I had been standing.

Thanks Dave. I know you were with me once again.
 
Click here for more images.
 

Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, The Netherlands has the most beautiful, jaw-dropping display of flowers you could ever imagine. In my next post, I will tell you more about them and share with you some of the flowers that were simply amazing. But for now, I want to explain why I chose the Japanese Garden section of Keukenhof as the place where I sprinkled some of Dave’s ashes.

Keukenhof is one of the main tulip attractions in Holland. As beautiful as the colorful flower displays are, millions of tourists visit during the very brief tulip season. Dave’s ashes are sprinkled in amazing places all over the world in quiet, out-of-the way beautiful places; places I know he would love. I truly thought that despite the beauty of all the flowers, it was not the right place for Dave’s ashes. I was disappointed that there were just too many people.

But then I came upon the Japanese Gardens. The serene landscape, bubbling brook, and endless fields of bluebells spoke to me that this was another fantastic place for Dave. The tourists seemed to have forgotten this small part of the park. It was tranquil and beautiful. It bordered on fields of colorful tulips inaccessible to the tourists. I sat for a while and absorbed the beauty of this special place.

It was perfect.
 
Click here for more images.
 

In my quest to retrace some Dave’s best travel memories, I couldn’t forget Amsterdam. He had just finished his stint with the Air Force and decided to re-route his travel home to include Amsterdam. And what could be more fun than sharing it with his brother? So, Rob and Dave both met up in Amsterdam and had the time of their lives.

Of course, I couldn’t visit everywhere they visited, especially in Amsterdam, but I could retrace some of their “Rated G” journeys, such as visiting the Van Gogh museum, and just wandering around Amsterdam.

I smiled as I passed The Bulldog Coffee Shop. If you know anything about Amsterdam, coffee shops are not known for their coffee.

I recall them telling me that after patronizing The Bulldog, they decided to sit on a park bench outside the shop to wait until they could check into their hotel. (Keep in mind they had both traveled that day and were exhausted.) So they immediately nodded off for what they thought had been a few minutes, but had actually been a few hours. Needless to say, they were amazed when they awoke to see all of their belongings were right by their sides. You have to realize that this is a very active area; street performers, vendors all around and yet all was well. Gotta be careful with those Coffee Shops.

My hotel happened to be just down the street from The Bulldog and, I must say, it was quite popular with the young folks. Actually, I went to their souvenir shop to buy Rob a coffee mug (for real coffee) and the clientele must have thought their grandma was spying on them. The loud banter and laughter suddenly became subdued until I walked out.

Although I didn’t sprinkle Dave’s ashes in Amsterdam, I “remembered” him every place I visited. It was special for me to walk in some of the same places where Rob and Dave had enjoyed such a great brotherly experience. I smiled at the memories they shared with me and cringed at the thought of the ones I didn’t know!

Click here for more images.

Dave was an adventurous fellow; always looking for the next challenge.  Don’t get me wrong, he was also a champion at chillin’ out!  He just needed that nice blend in his life. 

If Dave had joined us in Aruba, like we had planned, he would have thoroughly enjoyed relaxing on the beach with a good book and a refreshing drink.  But after a day or two of relaxing, he would be looking for things to do; maybe jet ski, hike, tour the island on a quad or go horseback riding.  The finale of his vacation would be a couple more days of relaxing, eating, and drinking.  Through it all he would have brought us a lot of joy and laughter.

Each night as we witnessed the most beautiful sunset, I thought of Dave and how much he would have loved it.  I’m sure he was with me in spirit! 

 

When Dave came back from the Marshall Islands, we planned a family trip to Aruba for the upcoming fall.  On our way to the airport for his fateful time at the Survival School, I mentioned how I’d like to ride horseback along the beach in Aruba, but I didn’t want to do it alone.  Dave said, “I’ll do it with you, Ma.”  No-one else was really interested.

After Dave died and the trip was cancelled, I couldn’t see myself planning another trip to Aruba.  But when I wanted to do something special for Rob and his girlfriend, Jessica, for all of their help with my move to NY, I decided now was the time to plan the trip. We decided to complete my long-ago wish and go horseback riding in Aruba. 

Aruba is a spectacular place to visit, but riding through this desert island reminded me so much of our ride in the canyons of Utah. The landscape in Aruba is mostly scrub brush, rocks, sand, and cactus; just like Utah.  As we trotted along, I couldn’t help but think of Dave; both in Utah and in Aruba.

We stopped to rest at the Alto Vista Chapel, which overlooks the sea and provides a panoramic view of the entire island.  The serenity and beauty of the grounds of this lovely little chapel was another perfect place for Dave.

So I guess Dave and I did go horseback riding in Aruba.

 
Click here for more images.