Prisoner of Hopes

Prisoner of Hopes: a blog about Hopeful Living and Finding Adventure in the Everyday Things of Life

Claremore At Last: Rural Road Trip Oklahoma

Our first day on the road in our new rv has come to an end, and I should be excited. But, it has been a stressful day as we were getting used to driving our “big rig”. We have lots of little issues that have cropped up in the rv (hopeful all minor and under…

January 27, 2026
Pompeii: Tragedy on Tour: Rural Road Trip

When I have time between grown up responsibilities, I like to make my own fun. This often involves random searches for “things to do near me” or “things happening this weekend”. Today google suggested that we could check out the Pompeii exhibit at the St. Louis Science Center. We hadn’t been there in several years…

January 25, 2026
Roses in Bloom: Travel Goals California

This week, I am in beautiful San Jose, California. My lodging is in the rose garden district, so named because of a beautiful public rose garden. I get a warm, happy feeling when I encounter intentional, beautiful public gardens. It is a signal that the community I am visiting values quality of life for its…

January 24, 2026
Egypt in Cali: Travel Goals California

When I travel for work, I like to squeeze in as many experiences as possible. Hey, I am here and I am technically retired. I might as well get a little adventure after consulting hours are over. This week I am in San Jose. A simple google search tells me that I am minutes away…

January 22, 2026
Heading Home

It is a strange sensation when you have lived in a temporary home for awhile and it is time to leave. Our retirement plans include seeing the world, one rental house at a time. For this month, we have made our residence near the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is a no man’s…

January 14, 2026
Ceide Fields: Travel Goals Ireland

Once in awhile, I find myself in a place that feels timeless. I could be anywhere at all. Time stands still between the Earth and sky. At Ceide Fields near Glenurla, County Mayo, it is easy to forget modernity in favor of a simpler life. It is cold and the wind coming off the Irish…

December 30, 2025
Hike On: Travel Goals Ireland

When the kids said they wanted to go to Ireland to hike, we gladly rented a farmhouse. I picked a part of the country known for iconic hikes. We went earlier and spent a few weeks exploring counties Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, and Fermanagh. It is beautiful country with miles of walking and hiking trails. We…

December 23, 2025
Return to the Holy Waters: Travel Goals Ireland

It felt like returning to the scene of an accident. Earlier in our Irish adventure we visited St. Patrick’s well, but on the way there, we accidentally hit a curb and had a flat tire. We made it to the well and parked, but it took hours to get help. Budget rental car, from whom…

December 20, 2025
Stairway to Heaven: Travel Goals Ireland

Today we take an iconic hike in Ireland. The “stairway to heaven” or cuilcagh boardwalk trail is in county Fermanagh. It is just over the border into Northern Ireland and about twenty minutes from our rented farmhouse. I have been waiting to do this hike the whole trip. I waited until our kids arrived because…

December 10, 2025
Donegal Drive: Travel Goals Ireland

My favorite days in Ireland are unplanned ramblings. We know we want to spend time in Donegal, but it is more of a general idea than a plan. We say goodbye to the sheep standing in the driveway and head out along rural roads. We wander remote one lane roads until we find a lovely…

November 27, 2025