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Beynac-et-Cazenac

Beynac-et-Cazenac

  • Travel
Eleanor of Aquitaine was really something! First she marries a French king, later an English one. But she was much more than arm candy. Eleanor was a strong, smart woman who helped the Périgord region prosper, lived into her eighties (twice the average in those days) and was the mother
Sarlat-la-Canéda

Sarlat-la-Canéda

  • Travel
The hub of this part of the Dordogne region is the town of Sarlat-la-Canéda. I’ll call it Sarlat from now on. As everyone’s favorite American tourist, Rick Steves, says, there’s nothing “special” about Sarlat, its appeal comes from having a large, well-preserved medieval center.

in case you’

La Roque-Gageac

La Roque-Gageac

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The big draws in this part of the Dordogne are the prehistoric cave drawings and outdoor activities. I’ll show you our little village which stretches right up a sheer cliff and includes an ancient cave dwelling similar to those of the natives of the American Southwest. Then you’ll
Saint-Émilion

Saint-Émilion

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We’re in the Dordogne region now, which is to say the area along the Dordogne river. It’s famous for a number of things including great wine, ancient cave drawings, and picturesque villages and chateaux. That’s a lot to see, leaving little time to blog about it.

On

Rions and Cadillac

Rions and Cadillac

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Let’s get one thing straight at the outset: it’s cahd-e-lach not cad-a-lack. OK? OK! Done.

Today we set forth with something of a jet lag hangover to see what was interesting in the nearby area. If your idea of “interesting” is the BIG SITES, God bless you and

And So It Begins

And So It Begins

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Our European journey started off smoothly. Our driver showed up as arranged, the ferry to Seattle was right on time, and we sped through check-in at the airport in near record time. Then I almost caused us to miss our flight.

Things had gone so well that we found ourselves

Flying Piano (reprise)

Flying Piano (reprise)

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What goes in through the bedroom, comes out through the bedroom.

And so it was for our 7’ 4” Falcone piano. The difference was that Martinson Piano Movers used a crane on the way in and a forklift-like machine on the way out.

Although the forklift seemed to be a

Clouds

Clouds

  • Photos
A cloud formation I’ve never seen before.
One More Thing…

One More Thing…

  • Travel
I didn’t mention Tumbo Island yesterday because I didn’t expect it to be very interesting. It seemed dull in comparison to Cabbage because it wasn’t covered by screaming paddle board jockeys.

Tumbo is another example of an Island who’s owner deeded his property to the province

The End, eh?

The End, eh?

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Our six-week Canadian voyage ends at tiny Cabbage Island.

I was surprised to find so many people here when we arrived just after Noon. Because there is a sand beach and swimmable water, the place is popular with visitors from the BC mainland and Vancouver Island. They zip across the

Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars

Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars

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Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed(ediah) 
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed, 
Then one day he was shootin at some food, 
And up through the ground came a bubblin crude. 

Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.

The Ballad of Jed Clampett

Photos from the Sea

Photos from the Sea

  • Travel
This happens every time I take a trip. Many photos fit nicely into a narrative, some do not. Here are a few that didn’t.

The Gulf Islands have become a parking lot for freighters waiting to unload at Vancouver. During the pandemic, the crew was not allowed to leave

Pirates Cove

Pirates Cove

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I’ve been avoiding Pirates Cove on De Courcy Island for years. It’s difficult to enter, anchors don’t hold well, and it’s so popular that boats stern-tie (more in this later) so they don’t bump into each other.

But we had a couple of extra days

Princess Louisa Inlet

Princess Louisa Inlet

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The journey from Vancouver to Princess Louisa Inlet was both a return to a favorite place and something new. It was our first time cruising north along the coast of the mainland, known as the Sunshine Coast. It was also our first time with a guest aboard for more than
A Gabriola Island Bike Ride

A Gabriola Island Bike Ride

  • Travel
First off, let’s get this straight: it’s not GAB-re-ola, it’s GAY-brie-ola. Why? Canada.

Silva Bay, on the east side of Gabriola, is a popular jumping-off point for boaters intending to cross the Strait of Georgia. That’s because Silva Bay opens directly into the Strait, so no