Robert Thorndill:
CLASS OF 1968
Creston High SchoolClass of 1968
Grand rapids, MI
Robert's Story
Saint Patrick's Day and I'm thinking of Ireland. I've been traveling by air for almost 40 years and the technology of flight never ceases to amaze me. Nancy and I departed Gerald R. Ford Airport on Tuesday August 11, 2015 at 3:00pm and by noon on August 12th we were at the Gravity Bar atop the Guinness Brewery overlooking the vibrant, youthful city of Dublin. This was our second trip to Europe and after an all night flight from America we checked into our hotel and immediately hit the streets of Dublin. Running on pure adrenaline we were determined to make every minute of our two week vacation in Ireland count. I was fine at the Guinness Brewery but by 6pm, at a Dublin pub listening to a rousing set of Irish music, my age and the jet lag caught up with me. I'd been up for almost 24 hours and told Nancy, "I gotta get some rest!" I knew if I kept this pace up I'd be in trouble. Nancy, of course, was fine. Nonetheless ,being the compassionate soul she is , she agreed to go back to the hotel and allow her husband time to recharge. I also had another concern. In two days I was going to be picking up a rental car and getting an immediate introduction into driving on the left hand side of the road in fast moving, unforgiving Irish traffic. When the reality of all this started sinking in I was definitely in need of another Guinness. Anyway, I'll talk more about the driving later. After a hot shower and a great meal we were back on the town. Demographically Ireland is one of the most youthful countries in Europe. The capital city of Dublin absolutely reflects all this youthful energy and vitality. From the pubs and music halls of Temple Bar ,to the amazing shops on Grafton Street ,to the ivy covered walls of Trinity College , the city is bustling with young people on the move. The other immediate fact that strikes you is the sincere, incredible friendliness of the Irish people. It's really amazing! When you go into any pub, anywhere in the country you are immediately befriended by individuals, couples, families who want to know all about you, where your from in America and where your going in Ireland. Finally ,the sheer beauty of Ireland is startling. A country composed of rural roads lined with stone walls, quaint villages and castles in the distance. This all culminates in a countryside that is a patchwork of the most amazing shades of green I've ever seen. It's a magical, mystical place. Our itinerary was ambitious. Two nights in Dublin and then we immediately hit the left side of the road traveling to a wonderful B & B in the castled city of Kilkenny, known as one of the prettiest cities in Ireland. Then on to the coastal town of Kinsale known as the culinary capital of Ireland. The seafood here was incredible. From here we headed to Western Ireland where the roads get narrower and the scenery gets even more spectacular. Our base in the West was Kenmare where we did the 12 hour drive around the Ring of Kerry and Killarney National Park. Incredibly narrow roads and spectacular scenery. Next the coastal town of Doolin known as the music capital of Ireland. The pubs here were packed and the music was amazing. Then on to the 600 foot Cliffs of Moher which are beautiful and scary. We wrapped the the trip up at two wonderful B & B's. Temple House which is an elegant country manor house in County Sligo and Frewin House, a great B & B in Donegal and terrific base for touring Glenveigh National Park.
In regard to the driving, it is definitely a white knuckle experience until you finally get acclimated to driving on the left. I never really got completely used to it. The roads are generally narrow with no shoulder. The shoulder consists of either a stone wall or a hedge. You also have to periodically remind yourself that the center line is at your right shoulder when pulling out of parking lots. In spite of all that we had a blast and thoroughly enjoyed the Irish people and spectacular beauty of Ireland.
Memories of Ireland, it's culture and it's people remain with us. Travel broadens you and changes you forever. After two incredible weeks in Ireland I was back in GR and back at my challenging job with Kent County Probate Court. There is absolutely no recession in the legal system and I am busier than ever. Maybe that's a good thing. Nonetheless full retirement is sounding better all the time.
Last year we were in Eugene watching Michigan State lose to the University of Oregon. In September of 2015, after an all day tailgate on the MSU campus with my wild and crazy family, we had the great pleasure of watching MSU beat Oregon. It was a night game and one of the wildest, most raucous sporting events I've ever attended. My wife lo...Expand for more
ved it.
We continue to thank God for our blessings. My bags are packed and I'm ready to jet out of here on another adventure. Stay tuned and Erin go Bragh!
Robert Anthony Thorndill
Three nights in the incredible city of Paris is just not enough time. There is just too much to see. Where do you start? At museums like the Louvre you can spend an entire day. The Palace of Versailles is another all day tour. The D'Orsay Museum, which many people prefer over the Louvre, has the largest collection of impressionist paintings in the world. In addition the Rodin Museum, the Picasso Museum and the Pompidou Center are just a partial list of the 150 museums in Paris. The neighborhoods and markets. Rue Cler, one of the great market streets of Europe, where you can get a great wine, wonderful bread and cheese and then head to the nearest park to eat like a Parisian. The colorful artist quarter of Montmartre crowned by the spectacular white domed Basilica of Sacre Coeur. The Latin Quarter, home to the Sorbonne as well as the Gardens of Luxenburge and Rue Mouffetard with its wine cellars, cheese shops, and bakeries to explore. (right up my alley) Le Marais, St. Germain, the Bastille district, the Opera district and again the list goes on. The monuments of Paris highlighted by Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower (this thing is huge), and The Arc de Triomphe. The regions just outside the city. To the east the Champagne region, to the south the Loire Valley and the land of a thousand chateaux, to the west Normandy loaded with picturesque seaside towns and the history of D-Day and my father's war. So much to see. I knew we couldn't do it all and will need to return to Paris someday, any day. It truly is one of the most romantic cities in the world.
We've taken other great trips. Florida and the Caribbean, The Grand Canyon and most of the national parks, NYC and a New England cruise just prior to 9/11, San Francisco, Big Sur, and Napa Valley, Canada coast to coast and The Big Island of Hawaii with our sons. In 2009 ,after our youngest son Patrick's college graduation, we flew up to Anchorage for a family vacation to Alaska touring Denali National Park, fishing for salmon on the Kenai Peninsula and boating out to Kenai Fjords National Park to check out the glaciers and wildlife. In 2010 we met Patrick in Vegas and then took a side trip to Death Valley California which was a surprisingly beautiful place. In 2011 Nancy and I flew to Tucson. We then drove on to Sedona, Albuquerque, and Sante Fe to explore the galleries and restaurants of that colorful city. We flew to Houston in 2012 to hang out with family before heading over to Austin to the check out the music scene and try some terrific Texas barbeque. We then traveled on to San Antonio to see the The Alamo and Riverwalk before heading to the beaches of South Padre Island. In 2013 we headed to Sun Valley and Salmon Idaho. These were all enjoyable trips that weren't particularly stressful or intimidating. Well Alaska maybe. But the prospect of flying to Brussels, renting a car at the Brussels Airport and then driving to Paris, Normandy and Brittany had me spooked. I told Nancy, "Don't worry Nance, if I can drive in New York City I can drive anywhere!" However deep down I had my doubts. Europe was a much different ballgame. The streets were confusing and narrow with roundabouts everywhere. The main French highways had no apparent speed limits! The two of us are driving down the A1 in France in our rented Opal diesel doing 75 mph. The BMWs and Ferraris are passing us like we're standing still. What an experience! I'm still rattled. Must be my age! Actually we had a blast. It was an incredible trip and we're planning another trip to Europe next year. Just bring your walking shoes and do it with someone you love, especially if you go to Paris.
In September of 2014 Nancy and I, along with a group of relatives, flew out to Oregon to hook up with our youngest son Patrick. It was an incredible week including a pub crawl at our favorite haunts in Portland( the Spanish Coffee at Hubers is awesome ) hitting the beach on the Oregon coast, touring some wonderful wineries in the Willamette Valley, hiking at Crater Lake National Park and cheering on my alma mater, Michigan State University, in Eugene. State lost to the University of Oregon but we still had a great time. Until our next trip it's back to Grand Rapids, back to my very busy job with Kent County Probate Court, back to reality. Full retirement is sounding better all the time.
We continue to thank God for our blessings. Don't forget to keep traveling! And to Nancy, "Here's looking at you kid, we'll always have Paris."
Au revoir
Robert Anthony Thorndill
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Photos
Register for Free to view all photos!