Geoff and Darrin's trip report index

[growlytummy]

Hi all,

On another thread, the OP asked if Geoffa's trip reports were still online. Well they are - and the good news is I've managed to fix a lot of the broken picture links from the old ones.


Apologies for the ones that aren't DL or WC - but there are definitely a few if you want to pick through them - just be selective.


Here's the list that I can find, if anyone wants a stroll down memory lane - or just a walk in the (theme) park. Some are full blow adventures, some weekends away. Have fun exploring.


Hola! or Ohla! A Barcelona experience – 18th January 2018 - https://DIBB.in/13036728
Alnwick, Dun Cows and swans – 2nd December 2017 - https://DIBB.in/12967070
It’s time to sparkle – DLP - 2nd to 7th October 2017- https://DIBB.in/12887214
The Lost Palace – 4th August 2017 - https://DIBB.in/12733536
Nihon ressha de no idō - Travelling by train in Japan - https://DIBB.in/12707892
A Looong Weekend of Anniversary Celebrations - around 4th July 2017- https://DIBB.in/12651338
This is my Island in the sun (St. Lucia) –May 17 - https://DIBB.in/12539741
Kensington Palace – Mar 3rd 2017 - https://DIBB.in/12339637
Diana – Her fashion story - Mar 3rd 2017 - https://DIBB.in/12337119
Artworks and Fishworks - Feb 25th 2017 - https://DIBB.in/12319906
A fabulous evening in London – Whoopi Goldberg – Feb 11th 2017 - https://DIBB.in/12281314
Great start to the week. I’ve won a holiday – Dec 2016 - https://DIBB.in/12066830
Ah! Paree. That is the place to be – Jan 2017- https://DIBB.in/12205828
LE (it) GO, LE (it) Go – a Lego birthday – Jan 2017 https://DIBB.in/12193622
The Christmas Canterbury Tale – Dec 2016 - http://DIBB.in/12161374
Fly like the wind! On a Tornado. – Aug 2016 - http://DIBB.in/11905486
It’s set in (Yellow)stone – July 2016 - http://DIBB.in/11766690
Turf and surf – WDW and Disney Dream cruise – Feb/Mar 16 - http://DIBB.in/11368522
The Red Rose – Valentine’s day trip on the Tornado – Feb 14 2016 - http://DIBB.in/11333104
Yogi and Boo Boo visit Jellystone - (July 2016) – Pre Trip - http://DIBB.in/10680190
The “Dark Side” DIBBmeet – (August 2015) - http://DIBB.in/10939568
4th, 26th and 60th – (July 2015)- http://DIBB.in/10816800
Back to the Future - A retro look at a 1995 Road Trip to the West Coast - http://DIBB.in/10675268
Mr. Blair goes to Scotland – (Apr 2015) - http://DIBB.in/10600229
Un petit voyage a Paris - A little trip to Paris. (March 2015) - http://DIBB.in/10436871
The Art of the Brick (Lego exhibition) – Jan 2017 - https://DIBB.in/10298230
Hard hats! We’re building happiness here. (WDW Nov 14) - http://DIBB.in/10203641
A week of sanity (Cornwall Aug 14) - http://DIBB.in/9917361
In the footsteps of Lewis & Clark (Washington / Oregon /California – June / Jul 14) - http://DIBB.in/9823405
The Making of Harry Potter - Warner Bros tour – London (May 2014) - http://DIBB.in/9635922
私たちは、東京ディズニーリゾートに行きます (Japan / Tokyo Disney – Aug 2013 ) - http://DIBB.in/8969983
Ye old lady Who? (Austria Dec 2012) - http://DIBB.in/8074277
Wee Sleekit , timorous cowering beastie... (Scotland Sept 2012) - http://DIBB.in/7853339
Steam train day out (Derbyshire – May 2012) - http://DIBB.in/7432326
Quarante-quatre, vingtième et le Club du Chateau (Darrin’s 44th at Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary – April 12) - http://DIBB.in/7338568
Wofford Heights – here we come (San Diego, Disneyland, Wofford Heights, Death Valley, Las Vegas- Feb 2012) - http://DIBB.in/7050488
Bonjour Monsieur Souris! (Disneyland Paris – Solo trip – June 2011) - http://DIBB.in/6410981
California – Here we come (Los Angeles, Disneyland, San Francisco – Feb 2011) - http://DIBB.in/5951216
Coach trip – The Voyage of the Damned (Lake Como, Italy – Dec 2011) - http://DIBB.in/6966807
Mouse Trapped – WDW - September 2010 - http://DIBB.in/5290108
Cruising the World – WDW and West Caribbean cruise – October 2009 http://DIBB.in/4194286
Grand Train Journey Across USA (2006) - http://DIBB.in/11466192

[DisneyDaffodil]

Thank you Darrin, I will enjoy reading these. Geoff's reports were always so interesting and enjoyable. I haven't read all of them so will enjoy catching up.

[Gill635]

I’ve always loved Geoffas trip reports, he contributed so so much to us here on the Dibb, and gave us all hundreds if not thousands of hints and tips on how to make our trips more special.

Thank you for giving us somewhere to have them all together to read, and for allowing him to share your adventures.

He’s very sadly missed ❤️

[hornetgirl]

Great job Darrin. I didn't realise quite how many there were! Lots of reading ahead.
I especially love the Tornado ones.

[ILoveDaveLamb]

Wow, that is some list, Darrin! I know we all enjoy different trips for different reasons, but what was your and Geoff’s favourite would you say?

Thank you for fixing the links, we will enjoy. Xx

[growlytummy]

Originally Posted by ILoveDaveLamb

Wow, that is some list, Darrin! I know we all enjoy different trips for different reasons, but what was your and Geoff’s favourite would you say?

Thank you for fixing the links, we will enjoy. Xx

See more...

Oh that's a tough question. We always seemed to "out do" the previous trip with the next one, but they were all special in there way. There are some that are not reported on here due to the period of time (e.g. pre internet!).


Some of my favourites are: "The first time" - our first trip to the USA and to WDW in 1992 (pre Animal Kingdom). First day, MGM Studio's (as it was then - now DHS), watching the Beauty and the Beast stage show. We both cried buckets. Then end of the same day, 5pm, sun going down, sat under twinkling lights in the trees outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre with the park audio playing the theme from the movie "Exodus". I cried again.


1995 - West Coast Road Trip (there is a retro report on here, "Back to the future") - You've not lived until you've been stood next to your RV in Death Valley with a sign on the front that says "Prescilla, Queen of the Desert". That trip also had some tear jerking firsts, like sitting around a camp fire in Yosemite with the moon illuminating half-dome. And our first trip to San Francisco.


2006 - Great train journeys. This wasn't just a fun (and sometimes stressful - you need to read the trippie about Amtrak trains) trip but we saw some amazing sights. Like walking up to the rim of Crater Lake in Oregon. Due to the rise of the land, you don't get to see the crater or lake until you reach the rim and then it's sort of "wham", and in your face. I cried again.


2013 - Japan. Again a trip of firsts. Lots of preconceptions blown away. Probably the worlds most polite and gracious people. And Tokyo Disney Sea is just something else. There is no park like it and the level of service is "Disney, plus 20%".



2014- In the Footsteps of Lewis and Clarke. Now the west coast is a beautiful place, but so many people only do the SF-LA section of it. We'd previously done San Diego north, so it was now time to start in Seattle and work our way south. The Washington and Oregon coastline is amazing, as are the internal parts of these states. In fact, we were captivated so much that we returned to both when we completed our Yellowstone trip in 2016... and ...


2016 - Yellowstone. Wow. Gotta be done. You only need around a week to manage this (we had 6 nights) but unless taking internal flights to Jackson Hole, you need to add on another ton of time to get to and from Yellowstone. The scenery, the nature/wildlife, you'll struggle to find anything like it. It's probably not the vacation for rollercoaster fans.


As I said, so hard to choose. As I said, there is stuff we've not got listed, such as in 1993 after a December week with the mouse we flew up to New England and spent a week in snow-covered Vermont. Every trip has unique memories, laughs, smiles, definitely some tears (for the right reasons) and cannot be duplicated.


Geoff always had a "This is NOT the dress rehearsal" mentality and his passing has not only made me more determined than ever to "get out there" and continue exploring, but at the same time tell other people the same thing. There will always be a room that needs decorating. The car will always need an expensive repair or need replacing. Some people say "I'm not sure how secure my job is". And year after year goes by. Now I'm not suggesting taking silly risks (educated gambles are fine) or borrowing from a loan shark for that holiday.


But I am saying people "can find a way". There are plenty of people on The Dibb, families included, who achieve it. And if they can't manage a long haul to the U.S., every year, they take the family to the beach. The important thing is they are doing something. Experiencing life. And you can either sit in front of the TV and watch someone else doing it, or do it yourself. If you want to watch anything, watch the first 10 minutes of Disney's "UP" and then you'll understand where I'm coming from.

[Disney Wishing]

Darrin, Thank-you for posting this list. I had no idea how many there were and I look forward to reading some of the ones i've not come across before. It's lovely to hear your side of your wonderful relationship and having had my own brush with cancer last Autumn and doubting whether to still travel on this year trip you have added to my determination to find a way and make the most of life. Have a wonderful time in WDW

[ILoveDaveLamb]

What wonderful memories, Darrin!

Having a tears right now. I love it that you said you always seemed to 'outdo' the previous trip.

It was lovely hearing you on the Dibbcast last month. I hope you will be prevailed upon to drop in again.

Geoff must be super proud of your attitude from 'upstairs' and willing you towards your next adventures.

[space_ranger]

I didn't realise there were so many trip reports by Geoff.
It's quite a collection and it must have been a real labour of love to collate them all. Well done!
Off to catch up on the ones I missed

[space_ranger]

I didn't realise there were so many trip reports by Geoff.
It's quite a collection and it must have been a real labour of love to collate them all. Well done!
Off to catch up on the ones I missed
thanks