This year began sadly, with my dad’s burial on New Year’s Day. The entire Rodgers clan was in New Cumberland, West Virginia, for his funeral, celebrating 97 years of life dedicated to family and hard work. We continue to miss him.

 

Here in California, we enjoyed a winter wonderland of abundant snow in the mountains, going up to the Sierras several times to hike, snowshoe and ski.

Our friend Shalako, Sherri and Peter at Echo Lake

At the beginning of April, Peter and I set off on a road trip in conjunction with three days of competition and socialization for Peter with the Golf Bums (former Intel guys) in Mesquite, Nevada, while I hiked. Our first stop was one of our favorite camping sites, Wind Wolves Preserve west of Bakersfield. 

Our first campsite, Wind Wolves Preserve

After a bit of exploring there, we drove on to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park for the spring wildflowers, enjoying the array of colors and texture and play of light.

 

Cactus Loop Trail, Anza-Borrego

We left Anza-Borrego intending to camp in Joshua Tree National Park, but there were no sites available. (It was a holiday weekend.)  We stopped in the park a couple places to do a bit of exploring and then escaped the crowds and found a hotel in 29 Palms, north of the park. 

 

Our next camping destination was Valley of Fire State Park in southwestern Nevada. On the way, we hiked in Mojave National Preserve, taking time to explore the vast Kelso Sand Dunes and stopped briefly in Pinto Valley in Lake Mead National Recreational Area to delight in the vibrant hues of the landscape. 

 

Kelso Sand Dunes

Far from city lights, we reveled at the amazing night sky from our campsite at Valley of Fire State Park. During the day, we hiked among the red rocks and marveled at 2000+ year old petroglyphs etched in the Mohave Desert sandstone. 

Night sky at Valley of Fire State Park

 

Rock formations by our campsite

After days of camping, we settled into the hotel in Mesquite, where Peter and I had separate vacations for three days. The weather was perfect for outdoor activities. While he and his buddies golfed, I went hiking at Gold Butte National Monument, Zion National Park and Desert National Wildlife Preserve.

Peter with some of his golf buddies
 

Our next destination was Death Valley National Park, where, over our campsite, the skies were almost as good as in the Valley of Fire. After some hiking there, we continued north along Highway 395, a road with amazing vistas of the Sierras and the eastern valleys. We spent the night in Mammoth Lakes before enjoying our last day on the road. Our stops included Mono Lake Tufa State National Reserve and Travertine Hot Springs near Bishop.

Sherri on a hike in Golden Canyon, Death Valley

Peter soaking in undeveloped hot springs

In mid-May, Matthew, having accepted a job at Kew Gardens, moved to London the day before Peter and I departed for a six-week vacation in Europe. Our first destination was Belgium. For a week, we enjoyed the company of Sam, our former exchange student and second son, and his wife Emi as well as their families. They showed us so many beautiful places near their home in Sprimont and took us to Ghent and Brussels, with Emi acting as our superb tour guide. Places we visited included Leuven, Liège, La Roche aux Faucon by the Ourthe River, the walled city of Durbuy, and Spa. We enjoyed a lovely evening in Maastricht, the Netherlands, with Sam’s parents, Domi and Francis. On May 28, we celebrated our thirtieth anniversary with Emi, Sam and his brother Lionel, who had been at our house 10 years ago for our twentieth anniversary!

Peter, Sherri, Sam and Emi at lunch in Durbuy

Domi, Francis, Sherri and Peter having drinks at a riverfront cafe in Maastricht

Lionel, Sam and Emi celebrating our 30th annivresary with us

From Brussels, Peter and I flew to Dublin, where we picked up a rental car and started our clockwise tour around Ireland. Our first stop was Killruddery House and Gardens near Bray. We spent our first two nights in Glendalough and explored the ruins of St. Kevin and Wicklow Mountains National Park. Stops at ruins, churches, historic sites and places of natural beauty happened often. On our way to Wexford, we stopped at Castlemacadam parish church ruins, Ferns Castle, St. Aiden's Cathedral and the Vinegar Hill battle site in Enniscorthy, and Curracloe beach and dunes.

Afternoon tea at Killruddery House

 

The next day, we stopped briefly to walk along Rosslare Strand, where, to my amazement, despite overcast skies and the chilly temperature, locals were swimming in the sea! The highlight of the day was Hook Head Light, where we enjoyed a tour by a delightful, passionate and well-informed guide as well as the terraced shoreline.

 

Luckily, Ireland is small and the days in summer are long, so we were able to visit many places each day. After exploring Waterford, we drove on to Kilkenny, staying the night in this lively and lovely town. Just walking around was delightful, and we were impressed by the house, the walls and gardens of Kilkenny Castle. After our tour and walk around the castle, we still had time for leisurely visits at Jerpoint Abbey and the Rock of Cashel before arriving at our hotel in Cork.

Peter at the bottom of the wall of Kilkenney Castle

The following morning, we set off for Kenmare, stopping to enjoy Foto Arboretum and Gardens and the colorful port of Kinsale. A small town, Kenmare offered a pleasant atmosphere and lots of live traditional music in the pubs. 

Japanese cedar tree at Foto Arboretum and Gardens

The next morning, we walked in Rennagross Woodland Park and visited Kenmare’s Stone Circle before continuing along the southern coast to the Beara Peninsula, the towns of Eyeries and Castletownbere and then Killarney National Park, where we stayed two nights at the lovely Lake Hotel. That evening, we found great trad music in the town of Killarney.

Traditional music at the Grand in Killarney

We hiked over ten miles the next day, which normally would not be much of a challenge, but, unknown at the time, I was becoming ill with COVID so was feeling quite fatigued. Luckily, we caught the last boat of the day across the water to Muckross House, from which we only had a to continue a couple miles to reach the warmth and comfort of our spacious room.

 

View of Castlelough Bay from the Lake Hotel

After stopping at a pharmacy for COVID tests and medicine, we visited a sheep farm at the base of MacGillycuddy's Reeks, took a tour of Ross Tower, and walked along Inch Beach before arriving in Dingle, where we met up with my sister Beth Ann and her husband Rich along with their friends Jen and Mike, who happened to be vacationing in Ireland at the same time we were.

 

Peter and Sherri on Inch Beach

Over the next week, we usually stayed at the same hotels, having breakfasts and dinners together, but often explored on our own. Driving along the coast was delightful. Our stops over the next couple days included the beehive house ruins at Caher Conor and Cashel Murphy, Coumeenoole Bay, Gallarus Oratory, Kilmalkedar Church, Ardfert Cathedral, the cheerful town Listowel and Ennis Friary as we made our way to Galway, perhaps our favorite city. 

Inside a beehive house at Cater Conor

Peter in Gallarus Oratory

Peter having a picnic lunch at the town square in Listowel

Our first evening, we had dinner with Anne and Derick, friends from South Africa who were also vacationing in Ireland. Then we met up with Beth Ann et al. for live music at the Crane Bar. 

Peter, Sherri, Derick and Anne at Ruíbín Restaurant, Galway

Jen, Mike, Beth Ann, Derick, Peter, Sherri, Rich and Anne at Crane Bar in Galway

 

The damp and drizzly weather did not deter us from visiting the Cliffs of Moher the next day, although the weather did limit our view and dissuade us from a long hike. Gray skies persisted, but the rain had ceased by the time we arrived at the Burren, so we enjoyed a long hike in this fascinating place before returning to Galway. That evening we had dinner with friends of our wonderful friend Liz (whom we visited in London after our time in Ireland) at a fantastic restaurant before joining them for dessert at their eclectic, divine home nearby.

Peter and Sherri at the Cliffs of Moher

 

We spent the next morning, which was bright and warmer than usual, walking around Galway before setting off for Clifden, where we were pleased to be able to eat lunch al fresco. That afternoon, we drove along the Sky Road and hiked at Connemara National Park before meeting up with Beth Ann et al. in Westport. 

Sherri and Peter having lunch in Clifton

Back on the road the next day, we stopped to walk along Keel Strand on Achill Island and visit Wild Nephin National Park and Céide Fields before arriving in Sligo, where we stayed in the penthouse of a luxurious modern country mansion, a last minute change to our itinerary.

 

Keel Strand on Achill Island

Peter in the foyer of the house in Sligo where we stayed

Visits to the tombs at Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Sligo Abbey, and Donegal Castle during the day were followed by the six of us enjoying dinner and then traditional music and dancing in Donegal. The following day, Peter and I stopped in Derry for hours of exploring the churches, streets and historic sites of this ancient city before arriving in Bushmills, where we had our last evening with my sister et al. 

Irish dancers and musicians at the Reel Inn in Donegal

Early the next morning, before the arrival of tour buses and crowds, Peter and I explored the Giant’s Causeway, a fascinating geological feature of Northern Ireland. Then we briefly stopped by the Titanic Museum in Belfast for lunch before continuing to Brú na Bóinne where we took a tour of Knowth, one of the prehistoric passage tombs there. 

 

Peter and Sherri at the Giant's Causeway

That evening we arrived in Dublin, where we stayed for a week with our good friend Paula in Temple Bar, where she had an apartment for the month. We enjoyed the streets, cathedrals and museums there in addition to live music and a performance of Riverdance at the Gaiety Theatre. 

Sherri by a statue of James Joyce

 

Sherri, Peter and Paula at the Winding Stair Restaurant in Dublin

From Dublin we flew to London, first visiting with Peter’s brother Rob and sister-in-law Susan in the country. Fortuitously, childhood friends from Mt. Kilimanjaro, who married later in life, were visiting also, so there was a lot of reminiscing. Rob and Susan’s eldest daughter Rosie, expectant with the first grandchild. and her partner Matt also visited.

Rob, Susan, Sherri, Matt, Rosie and Peter

 

From there we went to London, staying with Liz Tanner for a week. As always, London was a delight! Churches, museums, music venues, gardens, neighborhoods, covered and open-air markets enthralled me morning through late evening every day, and Peter, who wanted down time after our whirlwind tour of Ireland, often joined me, as did Liz when she was free from work.

Sherri with FDR and Churchill, Mayfair, London

Peter with Mr. Bean in Leicester Square

Peter and Liz enjoying breakfast Darwin's Cafe in the Sky Garden

Peter stayed on in London for a couple weeks more to help Matthew get set up in his new apartment and visit his brother and sister-in-law in Nottingham, while on the first of July, I returned to California. Two            weeks later, Katya and I flew to the east coast for the annual Rodgers family beach vacation in Ocean City, Maryland. (Only Peter and Matthew were missing this year.) 

The Rodgers clan at the beach

After the beach week, Peter arrived in Washington to visit Lori and Germán, and Katya flew back to Sacramento. Peter checked up on our boat Mantra in the boatyard at Oxford for a couple days. while Lori found new and interesting places for the two of us to visit! Two corpse flowers happened to be blooming at the National Botanic Garden as well as acres of lotus flowers at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, so we visited both places as well as two previously unexplored (by me) museums, the Octagon House and National Museum of the Building. We went to performances at the Kennedy Center and the Shakespeare Theatre (to see The Rover, a hilarious seventeenth century comedy written by a woman!) as well as a salsa dancing night at the Folger Shakespeare Library. 

 

Sherri imitating a statue at the Freer Gallery

In August, Katya and I took a three-day trip to the coast and San Francisco. Near the end of that month, one of Peter’s cousin, Wil, visited us for a couple days, and we took him to Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma and to Lake Tahoe on day trips. 

Peter, Wil, Sherri and Katya at Emerald Bay

A few days later, Peter and I flew back to Washington for Lori and German’s wedding, a very special and beautiful event. Before returning home, Peter and I had a couple days to visit the National Air and Space Museum, the Museum of the Building and other sites. On Labor Day, we listened to the National Symphony Orchestra on the Capitol Lawn. 

Lori's children Michael and Elizabeth escorting her to the altar

Another Golf Bums trip at the end of September and the beginning of October took us to the Bay Area and then Monterey for three days. Once again, Peter golfed, and I hiked on trails in Henry W. Coe State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Jules Pfeiffer Burns State Park in addition to taking long walks along the waterfronts in Monterey and Pacific Grove. On the drive home, we stopped to see Laura Pilgrim’s and Mike Janoski’s new baby boy (first grandson for Fiona Marshall and Tom Pilgram). 

Sherri at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Peter with baby Lewis

 

Three days later, we flew to Fort Lauderdale. We explored Big Cypress National Preserve on the way to visiting Beth Ann and Rich on Sanibel Island. We arrived just in time to help them move everything in their home up from the ground level to the main floor and then evacuate the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Milton approached. Although we had planned to spend six days with them, our time was limited to emergency preparations and then a visit with them and their children and grandchildren at the apartment they had rented as a refuge near Ft. Lauderdale.

 

We had planned to visit my best friend from college, Susan, after staying with them, but we arrived earlier than expected—but in time to help her deploy hurricane shutters and make other preparations before stormy weather and tornadoes surrounded us. After the storm, we were able to visit various places with Susan, including the Wakadahatchee Wetlands with its abundant birdlife. We also went out to dinner at Dada Restaurant in Delray Beach, where her stepson Daniel is the executive chef. The ambiance and service were only exceeded by the original and flavorsome food.

 

Peter, Sherri and Susan at Dada

For the rest of our two-week Florida vacation, we visited our good friends Enis and Ula in Pompano Beach. While there, we enjoyed Fern Forest Nature Center, the beach, an airboat ride in Sawgrass Recreation Area, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center (particularly the spiders!) and Morikami Japanese Gardens as well as time with them at their home.

Ula, Enis, Peter and Sherri (also at Dada!)

Ula, Enis and Peter extracting DNA from strawberries at their home

 

From Florida, Peter flew to Washington to go to Oxford, Maryland, to work on our boat for five weeks while I returned home to immerse myself in craftwork, yardwork, exercise and tennis. 

In the first part of November, Sherri celebrated her seventieth birthday. Paula came up from San Francisco to celebrate. We took a short hike near Nevada City on Cascade Canal Trail.

Paula, Sherri and Katya

 

Peter and I met up again in late November in Charleston, West Virginia, for Thanksgiving week with my family. Katya had work and school commitments, but Matthew was able to join us for the festivities. As anticipated, we experienced an abundance of food and enjoyable days together, shopping, baking, playing games and hanging out. The day after Thanksgiving, we had an early Christmas gift exchange among those who would not be together for the December holiday. It’s always a delight to see the young kids get excited about their gifts, but the most thrilled were Peter and my brother-in-law Charlie.

Matthew, Randy (Sherri's brother), Michael (Sherri's nephew), Peter and Sherri gaming

Sherri taking a butterscotch pie from the oven

Charlie and Peter opening their gifts

Peter, Sherri, Karen and Terry (sister-in-law and brother) at the Clay Center in Charleston

We returned the first of December to cut down a Christmas tree in the foothills of the Sierras and decorate the house. A few days ago, we had a quiet celebration of Katya’s thirtieth birthday! There have been concerts to attend, and we are looking forward to our annual Christmas party on December 21, a couple days after Matthew arrives from London to spend two weeks with us. 

 

We hope that everyone has a joyous holiday season and a happy, peaceful and adventuresome new year!

 

With love,

 

Sherri and Peter