I’m en route to Los Angeles for the weekend, but managed to schedule this post ahead of time. Surprisingly, I’m somehow ahead of schedule on #Blaugust2025, which seems rather remarkable.

On Aug 8 2023,

…we did touristy things in Edinburgh, highlighted by the Castle and Royal Mile. It was the Fringe Festival, so we found a comedy show in an Irish pub in an archway tunnel under the Royal Mile. It was an especially fun way to mark off Scotland on our Irish Pub quest.

A dramatic sky with elongated clouds is silhouetted against a cityscape, featuring a prominent spire.

A set of steep stone steps is flanked by historic, multi-story buildings bathed in warm sunlight.

A heart-shaped pattern made of cobblestones is set into a cobblestone pavement.

A person is performing stand-up comedy in a bar filled with a seated audience, with a pint of Guinness prominently placed on the wooden bar counter.

A building features a plaque labeled DARWIN above a doorway with a corrugated metal awning.

A spacious, light-filled atrium of a museum features multiple levels, intricate architectural details, and visitors exploring exhibits.

A towering gothic-style church with a tall spire is set against a bright blue sky, with a hanging flower basket visible on the left.

A display of medieval armor and swords is mounted on an ornate wooden wall.

A rustic wooden door secured with a metal latch is adorned with carvings and engraved patterns.

A historic cannon overlooks a cityscape with a mix of modern and traditional architecture under a clear blue sky.

A stone castle with turrets and battlements is set against a partly cloudy sky, with a vintage lamp post and grassy rocky hill below.

On Aug 8 2022,

…I was driving home through metro LA and stopped to mark off the Reagan Presidential Library and gravesite for my A Site for Each President quest, which features retired Air Force One and Marine One aircraft. Funny enough, I’ll be marking off the other LA-area presidential library tomorrow—the Nixon Library.

A green and white helicopter labeled United States of America is displayed indoors in a hangar with an airplane overhead.

Bronze statues of a man and a woman stand in front of a wall displaying a quote by Ronald Reagan.

A gravestone and memorial wall with inscriptions honor Ronald and Nancy Reagan.

I was then able to catch up with a couple #ParkChat friends. (I’ll see Krista again this weekend, too).

Two people smiling and holding beers in a cozy, modern bar setting.

On Aug 8 2015,

…I hiked up to the summit of Mount Ord to climb the fire tower.

A vast landscape of rolling hills and distant mountains extends under a clear blue sky.

A person wearing a red shirt and hat is standing in front of a warning sign at a national forest, looking unsure while gesturing with one hand.