tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74840014615400449732024-03-13T14:15:38.996-07:00Out Of The Frying Pan...Periodic updates from Dave and Paula Henderson, now in Raleigh, North CarolinaPaulaJeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12788937526450188043noreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-4520511437888777062024-02-27T12:57:00.000-08:002024-02-27T12:57:17.625-08:00Photographs<p> I started taking pictures in 1966 when I was twelve. My sisters were graduating to Instamatic cameras, and they passed down their Brownie Starmite. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_YTe_vv4IpXe1V04joyGyw8cb_LZcCSE2IBd6oK9O6mFidfnIzfPgu5al-97Ed2LK9G3P2rUbXZmjuI_C1U1MCRufwQpqLK24fBalhCJKZnV6rQQIZwRo2pZbqGXc-4UCMV8nVrS-xRYoSLGCpJ6tv5f3XJN9n14qUMBT_GSnkMC7u4L7hCWMi5pjirC/s339/258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="327" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_YTe_vv4IpXe1V04joyGyw8cb_LZcCSE2IBd6oK9O6mFidfnIzfPgu5al-97Ed2LK9G3P2rUbXZmjuI_C1U1MCRufwQpqLK24fBalhCJKZnV6rQQIZwRo2pZbqGXc-4UCMV8nVrS-xRYoSLGCpJ6tv5f3XJN9n14qUMBT_GSnkMC7u4L7hCWMi5pjirC/w212-h219/258.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><p>It used “126” film and shot square photos. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv0gE4Ge633PiYsOjqJ57pjTI9as7zzMlb-Q8xJ4mJbfu5Ylj87IWwyEGiQubwMnmbJV7889U_6TMR5nuzzyZJjhxkf3hllK6AtxsUbs0smbgA-ga7bmm4qeVVrOv1TNemqO8sGTsO1PWjRL1_CptBmMCSpe4h1B5wule6ZkYRezVvXCT9TyLDRrAT_Ao/s2157/30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2157" data-original-width="2120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv0gE4Ge633PiYsOjqJ57pjTI9as7zzMlb-Q8xJ4mJbfu5Ylj87IWwyEGiQubwMnmbJV7889U_6TMR5nuzzyZJjhxkf3hllK6AtxsUbs0smbgA-ga7bmm4qeVVrOv1TNemqO8sGTsO1PWjRL1_CptBmMCSpe4h1B5wule6ZkYRezVvXCT9TyLDRrAT_Ao/s320/30.JPG" width="315" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> At sixteen, our Explorer Scout leader sold me his Minolta 101 single-lens reflex camera with two lenses for $75. I shot a bunch of rolls of Kodachrome, especially during our Explorer Scout Virgin Islands sailing trip</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZZd2tQfY19odJIcwG1PJZFDr7M7YNtyZw_hPJRfXVoeqNRl9qa0h9h83PqK39FEF3d-gS-xpcvSaAChaqDCTE6qZEgr3cWmQeVBuDlIhLiSPse9QEo68HASpTf-XAjY6zEsOxqSdLiKcxUc5ZKb1zmY20kUPDn6DJ8AET629VOwDUcQh_LA6YhfaYRor/s2023/20100517-Purple%2009%20117%20Sailboats%20anchored%20together,%20Sunday,%20VI,%20Jun%2070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="2023" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZZd2tQfY19odJIcwG1PJZFDr7M7YNtyZw_hPJRfXVoeqNRl9qa0h9h83PqK39FEF3d-gS-xpcvSaAChaqDCTE6qZEgr3cWmQeVBuDlIhLiSPse9QEo68HASpTf-XAjY6zEsOxqSdLiKcxUc5ZKb1zmY20kUPDn6DJ8AET629VOwDUcQh_LA6YhfaYRor/s320/20100517-Purple%2009%20117%20Sailboats%20anchored%20together,%20Sunday,%20VI,%20Jun%2070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But I was thinking bigger. I had heard that Japanese cameras could be had for less in the Virgin Islands and I brought cash. I had enough for a Nikkormat single-lens reflex camera body, with an in-camera light meter (!), which I purchased there for $105. Back at home, I bought a 50-mm lens and a 105-mm lens for it and took pictures with this camera for many years, finally giving it up in the 1990’s for a better Nikon SLR.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> My brother Mark, with whom I've had a fun arms race on almost everything was the first to go digital, and I ended up with a cool Canon 5d Mk 2, though I'm told by my tech-savvy son that it's obsolete. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0_SstTIH9N-ddsNhWswon0PJ_2CNk7Sb3rCgvMr-g68QgKk1F2kPCayFCdvGiGqZ5S48I2Aeu7NwuSmK44dyFvtbRWDKA1FtyZNQzsEXyQv0TfJ1Ws06-mWaF-gB9YH49VOBxYfbPNCboK1HZMNOQTE_kSuX3IBaDb7H92Ldq7vJ8H3JcGBVMVKFp2Z_/s500/263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0_SstTIH9N-ddsNhWswon0PJ_2CNk7Sb3rCgvMr-g68QgKk1F2kPCayFCdvGiGqZ5S48I2Aeu7NwuSmK44dyFvtbRWDKA1FtyZNQzsEXyQv0TfJ1Ws06-mWaF-gB9YH49VOBxYfbPNCboK1HZMNOQTE_kSuX3IBaDb7H92Ldq7vJ8H3JcGBVMVKFp2Z_/w281-h281/263.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> I drowned so many small digital cameras on kayak and camping trips that I gave up and started buying waterproof ones. During the years when we did more scuba diving, I bought a Nikonos underwater camera and shot many rolls of film. ("MORE underwater pictures?!")</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfKO0veU2zkPeyi_-lkoGHsHDNBtW9jT72hCepA2K4rCXRM0RQCNAIMOEh0XhxFZq9pbjP0Tp4AQba4AWcYULC6wYquOzLtnbGWBLkjkxzKaRAoIOohS1ysegoEJaN1sbKOU5zj4w-mytPoiCOoF4GsbRi62cJYeqdJ10TvRrCaJ1Vav-cKrxauAsfq0c/s1326/266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="899" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfKO0veU2zkPeyi_-lkoGHsHDNBtW9jT72hCepA2K4rCXRM0RQCNAIMOEh0XhxFZq9pbjP0Tp4AQba4AWcYULC6wYquOzLtnbGWBLkjkxzKaRAoIOohS1ysegoEJaN1sbKOU5zj4w-mytPoiCOoF4GsbRi62cJYeqdJ10TvRrCaJ1Vav-cKrxauAsfq0c/w311-h459/266.JPG" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> So, with all of these cameras through the years, I must have taken some outstanding pictures, right? Unfortunately, the majority of photos taken by the majority of people are pretty mediocre, and usually just serve to help them remember important people and moments in their lives. It is estimated that between 4.1 billion and 4.7 billion photos are taken every day; that’s 47,564 per second! About 95% are taken with digital phones, and this percentage becomes greater every year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2ScGBDazkuHsR65kMDW-hIuuMpr3IjZytNnhk-WP-rpcuI3XhNtu74Bu9Ek4UD-mH2rOXw35uRudWT0eFFriFFOM2ZravvRefX__Fejjpjlu_7X3q5mRQ_3t-dTqcbWfjbi5uW0A_pjXPi6_65lrL3zjzQ8Um18-ksi01lImfU5BzlJS8mO23cLvQGYX/s539/267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="539" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2ScGBDazkuHsR65kMDW-hIuuMpr3IjZytNnhk-WP-rpcuI3XhNtu74Bu9Ek4UD-mH2rOXw35uRudWT0eFFriFFOM2ZravvRefX__Fejjpjlu_7X3q5mRQ_3t-dTqcbWfjbi5uW0A_pjXPi6_65lrL3zjzQ8Um18-ksi01lImfU5BzlJS8mO23cLvQGYX/s320/267.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I just checked, and right now (February 2024) I have well over 100,000 photographs saved on my hard drive, from the 1940’s to the present, including many Kodachromes from those early years that were still bright and clear when I scanned them several years ago. Digital storage makes the preservation of so many pictures too easy, and many (most?) should be tossed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> That said, there are some that should be saved, and grabbed as I leave the burning building. Ancestors long gone need to be remembered and honored.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEiLuAgg3RqisEidkep707w1YqL__Ef-eRRVv43kOwk7ChAWSJXp3uSa4ME3hyphenhyphenKAgKxVx6d7tk3kKPIhLz9-6tWPSMdihmMA8bC_hyphenhyphenT2GhYWIo1ki7gYjPgOq4GuwQaRyyL5DlF9Gj526M59eDkGblOJ04m6qEkU2DWsQgAqd3NAdeIrKmT2WG0rwMzHz/s3514/276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3514" data-original-width="2373" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEiLuAgg3RqisEidkep707w1YqL__Ef-eRRVv43kOwk7ChAWSJXp3uSa4ME3hyphenhyphenKAgKxVx6d7tk3kKPIhLz9-6tWPSMdihmMA8bC_hyphenhyphenT2GhYWIo1ki7gYjPgOq4GuwQaRyyL5DlF9Gj526M59eDkGblOJ04m6qEkU2DWsQgAqd3NAdeIrKmT2WG0rwMzHz/w260-h386/276.JPG" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I could hope, perhaps in vain, that a few of the less-homely shots of me might be passed down. While I’m still here, there are images that sharpen and sometimes correct my memories of sweet and important moments in my life, a life that has been pretty good to this point. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrynFxJJg8GHLkHqeQe5ockMfjDUfbBjBXg3Pr6tdLrLxwkg0spUH_5c54JFDeZLShapXIq5LHX8QlVFc0ZbvIOFUJfEzXtcWCIlEmsAs8xCiQSnX7AUSrDw8VXXN4Eu2LtK7ZFPiJoCvwJ0E2zBCF7Dl1KZqsxTZ3e95frqVhPGYcmak_-jRrDmQ_PCzj/s2101/277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2101" data-original-width="1416" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrynFxJJg8GHLkHqeQe5ockMfjDUfbBjBXg3Pr6tdLrLxwkg0spUH_5c54JFDeZLShapXIq5LHX8QlVFc0ZbvIOFUJfEzXtcWCIlEmsAs8xCiQSnX7AUSrDw8VXXN4Eu2LtK7ZFPiJoCvwJ0E2zBCF7Dl1KZqsxTZ3e95frqVhPGYcmak_-jRrDmQ_PCzj/w249-h369/277.JPG" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sure, there might be a few among the stacks that others might appreciate; that shot of a Hatteras sunset, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORLCa3RsvZ7OLAJ3dOQgvy2Tl1YATbIvVkE77-fP21ew-Hmh0MK1mVNKTfq_p-RMVXDLeMt5SPz0I5N4K18qdDe7lDhxfzEggaUgGsYycrmHWXcKFg9fI3KOPaEcMsG9T_PsNxvttrpXWqI-sdp0W_ZqIx_w7dcasgCm8z1p2kjPom9nzt1ADmJzHUkto/s1931/272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="1931" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORLCa3RsvZ7OLAJ3dOQgvy2Tl1YATbIvVkE77-fP21ew-Hmh0MK1mVNKTfq_p-RMVXDLeMt5SPz0I5N4K18qdDe7lDhxfzEggaUgGsYycrmHWXcKFg9fI3KOPaEcMsG9T_PsNxvttrpXWqI-sdp0W_ZqIx_w7dcasgCm8z1p2kjPom9nzt1ADmJzHUkto/w396-h263/272.JPG" width="396" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">or that one of the glacier on Mt. Huaytapallana with tiny figures descending, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uCb0g4jYo7dBN_7Uzb-03Eg-Zp_X3PhkafzV3Y3zWXfS4AhnWV6kdxDavWlMX62RoSwQ2-kgum8ZAAhJ7_aLFoCLjtGtVvbFJ3yk43GsvpCZPbXG7zYRX47itd0IkSWsiaRLK6mdOaxvvNA4b-OVRFnwk47cUClmPlo5jE3kpo5zJDQwYlFx8sPoY1wQ/s2560/268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uCb0g4jYo7dBN_7Uzb-03Eg-Zp_X3PhkafzV3Y3zWXfS4AhnWV6kdxDavWlMX62RoSwQ2-kgum8ZAAhJ7_aLFoCLjtGtVvbFJ3yk43GsvpCZPbXG7zYRX47itd0IkSWsiaRLK6mdOaxvvNA4b-OVRFnwk47cUClmPlo5jE3kpo5zJDQwYlFx8sPoY1wQ/w383-h287/268.JPG" width="383" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">that macro shot of coral polyps in Bonaire. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxImoTGPzXvOG7XGoMYUq_KzxPPfsmlrZnzYCAHrf8tQkojIEJcTJzUK2Qi_A-qM1ZyUI7EJXz-FcEsZM1WA7ylQyHk-HvfOyx3_HZ8h89NnmHvlEOleNZzLF6sKr71SwX1vCTdIcAj2QLPsbIs6tA58SwPGZ9Ify2K8c3bPtJ_xnng502iVMBmS7N-MX/s2197/270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="2197" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxImoTGPzXvOG7XGoMYUq_KzxPPfsmlrZnzYCAHrf8tQkojIEJcTJzUK2Qi_A-qM1ZyUI7EJXz-FcEsZM1WA7ylQyHk-HvfOyx3_HZ8h89NnmHvlEOleNZzLF6sKr71SwX1vCTdIcAj2QLPsbIs6tA58SwPGZ9Ify2K8c3bPtJ_xnng502iVMBmS7N-MX/w405-h272/270.JPG" width="405" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But those are the tiny minority. The important ones are quietly held, and taken out from time to time. They speak to me of things eternal, of growth and progress in this phase of existence, of precious moments frozen in bits and bytes that echo feelings of love and laughter, of times when I could run a little faster, when there were a few less beautiful wrinkles on the face of my love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5JcwWVUn-SwjjAQ6v1bxAMFTKbXG_qtXs2AroaYia7C9wIQZTr3JSUJZomlbiGG_g6rIf7jnNhYe3BRaII9YCAayOxRJvjJFdOFJbLjUvpHbWJ-UcgqBPxnKbVR04yq0TTT7ruMBhg8VWb6DWlT7MWCZU9ZSEQAwDBm6xKi0HSoU3RM8eG04eDwKKtv0/s1847/275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="1847" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5JcwWVUn-SwjjAQ6v1bxAMFTKbXG_qtXs2AroaYia7C9wIQZTr3JSUJZomlbiGG_g6rIf7jnNhYe3BRaII9YCAayOxRJvjJFdOFJbLjUvpHbWJ-UcgqBPxnKbVR04yq0TTT7ruMBhg8VWb6DWlT7MWCZU9ZSEQAwDBm6xKi0HSoU3RM8eG04eDwKKtv0/w514-h346/275.JPG" width="514" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cCc4TNxXTFt96whq0H0sHBKLY_6DCLLrSVkYTfSFnMCOwlOdqQgjyaskAndqr9M8Jtp9DFen2RiMBtoAdVR0IS7-R6wuFAkwod0fvxI8oziIQPeNatSZLhVcOpw90iw7FM6efcTquvWWvsMrrL8ET_s0yumurysH9lHCs5t2lVCtevmpAN2BtXhrRddX/s2598/274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2598" data-original-width="1818" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cCc4TNxXTFt96whq0H0sHBKLY_6DCLLrSVkYTfSFnMCOwlOdqQgjyaskAndqr9M8Jtp9DFen2RiMBtoAdVR0IS7-R6wuFAkwod0fvxI8oziIQPeNatSZLhVcOpw90iw7FM6efcTquvWWvsMrrL8ET_s0yumurysH9lHCs5t2lVCtevmpAN2BtXhrRddX/w359-h513/274.JPG" width="359" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Those are the ones that matter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Dave</div></div></div></div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-35676772810388353622024-01-10T15:10:00.000-08:002024-01-10T15:10:00.714-08:00This is how I roll!<p> It all started with the Inuit people in the very - I mean REALLY northern parts of the world, Canada, Siberia and such places where light and maneuverable kayaks have been used for thousands of years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvtW0SNAg347oJdjDUK8dEiF7Tmc0a1UAepS68Wi7RcqoVvDmZWzi8mH0qWoycfVmDrINQQ0gtp0_-WdYkTVwwDhn8DOLv2AOCnec6Bo84X2PosQDj_rjMvHPI-HhtkSYSvLK-cnS8ZsbT6nv3SMbkyFIKsm7j7EHbFKLYI3g3gPdGcWrpRqCgQSupKaX/s1000/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%204.09.15%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvtW0SNAg347oJdjDUK8dEiF7Tmc0a1UAepS68Wi7RcqoVvDmZWzi8mH0qWoycfVmDrINQQ0gtp0_-WdYkTVwwDhn8DOLv2AOCnec6Bo84X2PosQDj_rjMvHPI-HhtkSYSvLK-cnS8ZsbT6nv3SMbkyFIKsm7j7EHbFKLYI3g3gPdGcWrpRqCgQSupKaX/w418-h293/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%204.09.15%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="418" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> These boats were covered in skin, and were light enough to be carried by a single person. The kayaks were largely used for hunting walrus and seal, and were hung upside-down when not in use, high enough that the hunters' dogs couldn't chew the skins. Even today, people hate it when their dogs chew their kayaks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Nowadays, however, the skin thing is considered pasé, and most kayaks are made from roto-molded high-density polyethylene or fiberglass. That's where the similarity ends and the wild variety begins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> A very common type of boat is the "sit-on-top" kayak (also known as the "fall-off-top" kayak). They are easy to use, and if you fall off, as <i>sometimes</i> happens, you merely climb back on, minus your wallet, car keys, sunglasses, iPhone and dignity. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jeNsHMCEKGACiPBWXIqYHhH0qryV3du5_T37nA76EgpbkBcXBvl9PVxRXsJxmJ__8eYPxMUBaoc7gXfV_lzIsV_-cwMeCEsBon6mxsVRHYhNTG1auE18_BEOipaJyaG4eqtzp97pIGFFv1LkJQs_N1Z4eLkVp6ekeKIEPAcwOFE0gzaUxsWU_do32j-4/s1094/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%204.22.57%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1094" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jeNsHMCEKGACiPBWXIqYHhH0qryV3du5_T37nA76EgpbkBcXBvl9PVxRXsJxmJ__8eYPxMUBaoc7gXfV_lzIsV_-cwMeCEsBon6mxsVRHYhNTG1auE18_BEOipaJyaG4eqtzp97pIGFFv1LkJQs_N1Z4eLkVp6ekeKIEPAcwOFE0gzaUxsWU_do32j-4/w385-h259/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%204.22.57%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="385" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Sea kayaks are graceful, slender craft meant for distance travel, slicing smoothly through the water with minimal exertion, complete with watertight compartments for stowing your gear. They can be considered the S-class Mercedes of the watery world, often with pedal-operated rear rudders. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5-gOPWu1VMz4Nv2UOEkdSC7Qhp-8cvfLXVnKE_YM1FgkG9434dupeBOK63h17REdVLnZKewZo2OElllWKV3RN77qVHJn3_YshbSz7ZV_fit3RG2mbcNQQ-Hb5YWqcPnky9Rz2d7VdMz2kDC24Wxae2x1v6ActwZqYkcAZFsOrRNyOQ2CycbV2AjqmRi4/s1188/Screenshot%202024-01-06%20at%209.28.17%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1188" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5-gOPWu1VMz4Nv2UOEkdSC7Qhp-8cvfLXVnKE_YM1FgkG9434dupeBOK63h17REdVLnZKewZo2OElllWKV3RN77qVHJn3_YshbSz7ZV_fit3RG2mbcNQQ-Hb5YWqcPnky9Rz2d7VdMz2kDC24Wxae2x1v6ActwZqYkcAZFsOrRNyOQ2CycbV2AjqmRi4/w471-h275/Screenshot%202024-01-06%20at%209.28.17%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="471" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Then there are the whitewater boats. These are made for doing potentially stupid things. Like waterfalls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MXsfdB14b2XrldoQhxA9xV80ibG5fPtUEITksYkliBQubYeiOlMFWI8EsTpfZWJg3TdgGeFIXQJn4VAeBNInDAKBlXlmyPeVOSYYoTChcB6ITTFMLL8HdiqjTVnCvS4iyGp9X6CLn-5V6sVRVdF6gg_KY5162I5D1fqj4lf3De8SLozVU9pe7P1FpLbH/s1088/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%204.30.30%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1088" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MXsfdB14b2XrldoQhxA9xV80ibG5fPtUEITksYkliBQubYeiOlMFWI8EsTpfZWJg3TdgGeFIXQJn4VAeBNInDAKBlXlmyPeVOSYYoTChcB6ITTFMLL8HdiqjTVnCvS4iyGp9X6CLn-5V6sVRVdF6gg_KY5162I5D1fqj4lf3De8SLozVU9pe7P1FpLbH/w517-h341/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%204.30.30%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="517" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or giant waves on seriously crocodile-infested rivers,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lmBlWj8qJ8ZCPEEwTN7xLYk24rfjonvNV-y9ounrMegoNa9M1BEJpwNjxgnSlSQYHnGOs14BDiK0FaF6Trn2wcZ8kVYe7_u2esLBMWI2p_pPN5NlNzip2YPfALRkzM8UtD4UYAFduNZZxL4pQzsmaTdgAGFTrsELXg-sOr1T6DWr1OiLix8e3R80Xfno/s1042/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%204.32.23%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1042" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lmBlWj8qJ8ZCPEEwTN7xLYk24rfjonvNV-y9ounrMegoNa9M1BEJpwNjxgnSlSQYHnGOs14BDiK0FaF6Trn2wcZ8kVYe7_u2esLBMWI2p_pPN5NlNzip2YPfALRkzM8UtD4UYAFduNZZxL4pQzsmaTdgAGFTrsELXg-sOr1T6DWr1OiLix8e3R80Xfno/w497-h331/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%204.32.23%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="497" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or maneuvers that in the end really don't impress the chicks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWtAUvw6n4iQ-O-8h6urprzXusZENEiAaNY2wKh7B6itlhJUxoxSZ_UV72rPV_yPGF8UY7rttig0N2x6mEA_RfylAxvvo2vrK3wP0KgnUCvKtFUlpfMdVVYSycAySQ-cCa62ucWHw2Q3_PEoe5esJx7_t7qACOjPltchsKxbOL6xpuD5f64nuMSwg5Fc8/s1090/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%206.42.47%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1090" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWtAUvw6n4iQ-O-8h6urprzXusZENEiAaNY2wKh7B6itlhJUxoxSZ_UV72rPV_yPGF8UY7rttig0N2x6mEA_RfylAxvvo2vrK3wP0KgnUCvKtFUlpfMdVVYSycAySQ-cCa62ucWHw2Q3_PEoe5esJx7_t7qACOjPltchsKxbOL6xpuD5f64nuMSwg5Fc8/w486-h339/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%206.42.47%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="486" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If the sea kayaks are the upper-class limos, whitewater boats are the desert-rat off-road warriors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX60dAgwOUCX2PsdqhUcEqMOqUrmQML-rUz3ej0Mq1WHqI2Bv_0NdMkWU-HC-vYVN_MZp6BFSNLeGRD5aJQyt2hWH1rxVhMfEFXiKHG6sanYWQL2XRtbmIaC7DKEzub95uHioODeKO4F1vq0Z8KZwP7binaB8VQPZtK2gc0TdJaZfFSQgSpVFYQXedJnfW/s956/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%205.03.41%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="956" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX60dAgwOUCX2PsdqhUcEqMOqUrmQML-rUz3ej0Mq1WHqI2Bv_0NdMkWU-HC-vYVN_MZp6BFSNLeGRD5aJQyt2hWH1rxVhMfEFXiKHG6sanYWQL2XRtbmIaC7DKEzub95uHioODeKO4F1vq0Z8KZwP7binaB8VQPZtK2gc0TdJaZfFSQgSpVFYQXedJnfW/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%205.03.41%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> About the only things that whitewater boats have in common with their more-civilized cousins are a) they float in water, b) they are propelled with a paddle, and c) their opening is made watertight by a skirt. The latter is important in either situation. As my brother says, "Real men wear skirts."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5SDJs1bqZ0pu5-irm8rH4TuXuLY_KdFCUfN_W59z5VNVy5kHwfaiS0tylSNsoJLJ1QOi_NK7AgnIoRUL7pyU596GgeQNpJK-C9TnPstplfp4q3qBMtjXOjgtItOoLQkqsvH1ikyVwCQrC414qIQu2WvFG8ZsyDBHJCBTyUsGBJAMj2A-Ln9SQiyXKaXK/s792/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%205.31.27%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="528" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5SDJs1bqZ0pu5-irm8rH4TuXuLY_KdFCUfN_W59z5VNVy5kHwfaiS0tylSNsoJLJ1QOi_NK7AgnIoRUL7pyU596GgeQNpJK-C9TnPstplfp4q3qBMtjXOjgtItOoLQkqsvH1ikyVwCQrC414qIQu2WvFG8ZsyDBHJCBTyUsGBJAMj2A-Ln9SQiyXKaXK/w275-h413/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%205.31.27%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If you are serenely paddling your upper-crust sea kayak on the Inner Passage of Alaska and an orca rudely upsets your craft, or you get tossed by a standing wave on the Upper Gauley in your beat-up whitewater boat, your skirt keeps the water out and helps keep you in, but.... you eventually should get upright again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This is where the "Eskimo roll" or just "roll" comes in, allowing you to get right-side up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0gC7ZQELvaZYZZt0tlxo0xvKSlkcu-anC2uB1_UVa7bygvwjiRY3Goo4GKsa_9WNSIsD0hgx6h8XKr_ggCOpmQIuGLqE7Sa47B4P7-2MZc7yftVRKpjibmLREwqkLFcQkuEsSfF5-7Ibz2CsFQl5qst6YUi4fv-ie5SoGV7AgEpRVoFkBMWDHgwKbEhB/s320/Kayaks_How_to_Eskimo_Roll_a_Kayak.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0gC7ZQELvaZYZZt0tlxo0xvKSlkcu-anC2uB1_UVa7bygvwjiRY3Goo4GKsa_9WNSIsD0hgx6h8XKr_ggCOpmQIuGLqE7Sa47B4P7-2MZc7yftVRKpjibmLREwqkLFcQkuEsSfF5-7Ibz2CsFQl5qst6YUi4fv-ie5SoGV7AgEpRVoFkBMWDHgwKbEhB/w398-h224/Kayaks_How_to_Eskimo_Roll_a_Kayak.gif" width="398" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When my sons were growing up, they couldn't come on the annual Spring Break "Big Boy Kayak Trip" with their cousins and uncles until they could successfully roll a kayak. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqxS10-S2Mga06_DvYkXWNEkaBU9DW8zcyOPyNAXKfpFL7WwwTtpQa14MI6GeVs7OjoMjmZsc2TJQ3CDqn7LLpM7tyQK03wTvSFUsH6yD65gzY9XVxdXwEg7KWUEEL1O_nEArEmnJq-B3Vs3UD4YAThdeI0W4pmCAD0XdE3sCHeVvji2NlB5JhCcaCPEh/s2278/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%206.08.53%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="2278" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqxS10-S2Mga06_DvYkXWNEkaBU9DW8zcyOPyNAXKfpFL7WwwTtpQa14MI6GeVs7OjoMjmZsc2TJQ3CDqn7LLpM7tyQK03wTvSFUsH6yD65gzY9XVxdXwEg7KWUEEL1O_nEArEmnJq-B3Vs3UD4YAThdeI0W4pmCAD0XdE3sCHeVvji2NlB5JhCcaCPEh/w424-h229/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%206.08.53%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Everyone would hold their breath when the newbie capsized on the river, and then cheer wildly when he came upright, having hit his first "combat" roll. The penalty for not hitting the roll was having to pop the skirt and bail out, necessitating a "yard sale," as everyone collected the paddler, his paddle, his lunch and his now-flooded boat as they bobbed down through the rapids. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Sadly, I haven't been on a river in years in my whitewater boat, which can be more accurately described as a '96 Subaru with a lift kit than a sleek European sedan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUBtgXVMV1-kP7eVqaybN_Pc23KuErP_lYFbHlfFk8tOWxESIeZL0NlfkPSUWg-rmUE9Xd25kU7mMHURCHrmsQjACIK9YshsQnPDfQq-Dyaade5hE8E_WwH70KxpEUX0XvBMYqXAMgmCgoPQyBlKi6_k4w1ozAH_9018hxW6etsyf1MI6KEg6EBnNb8Wt/s990/Screenshot%202024-01-06%20at%209.28.54%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="990" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUBtgXVMV1-kP7eVqaybN_Pc23KuErP_lYFbHlfFk8tOWxESIeZL0NlfkPSUWg-rmUE9Xd25kU7mMHURCHrmsQjACIK9YshsQnPDfQq-Dyaade5hE8E_WwH70KxpEUX0XvBMYqXAMgmCgoPQyBlKi6_k4w1ozAH_9018hxW6etsyf1MI6KEg6EBnNb8Wt/w361-h272/Screenshot%202024-01-06%20at%209.28.54%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I brought it to a youth summer camp on a lake near Raleigh last summer. I was assigned to be the on-the-water cop during canoe time, chasing miscreants who were wandering out of sight, helping with capsized canoes and participating in paddle-splashing fights, which I always won, by the way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Lots of fun, but I was shaken by missing a couple of roll attempts near shore and having to bail out. It has been a dumb little thing on my mind's back burner since then. Am I getting too old for such things? (Obvious answer - Yes.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> One of Raleigh City's Parks and Rec pools is covered in the winter, and used by the public and the nearby high school swim teams. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTQO59sg2eiEKQedX1SWAgWZewOQ9bLCnq9XQr70DcmSWRNo1BRYQjHq-UJz7dmrx5_GLZ7Z9-b95MEHIg2Rj1tQruhacwRaQQBIxWsMXsFiK0iU6ZFyxCmIaJr0j1sytBR0Txl2GMFxsRuD0Y3vLhRcBn9WsNrqTdo-ieuV5qN5vAHOZDf1gIwmohYtv/s1156/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%205.50.42%E2%80%AFPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="1156" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTQO59sg2eiEKQedX1SWAgWZewOQ9bLCnq9XQr70DcmSWRNo1BRYQjHq-UJz7dmrx5_GLZ7Z9-b95MEHIg2Rj1tQruhacwRaQQBIxWsMXsFiK0iU6ZFyxCmIaJr0j1sytBR0Txl2GMFxsRuD0Y3vLhRcBn9WsNrqTdo-ieuV5qN5vAHOZDf1gIwmohYtv/w475-h243/Screenshot%202024-01-07%20at%205.50.42%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="475" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> On Friday evenings between New Years and Easter, the swimmers are pushed aside and the pool is opened to boaters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwO9abWVSpaQeGRxgHVKGjEUPqDKjuQaw72Usy1qGRTVJDQv208iQ3mo3f_L3Smsb4kiBiZUr7klyCmacpu3zcfgqz1sPPYp4GNIkGNtda6VrRjmHCdy3yQfj3G47yZRSMkJImRhe94vrb9bCI8zlXq2UCAegZdRdFaMDyl_upxVEgZavCJtFjNUEtLTlI/s2024/Screenshot%202024-01-06%20at%209.27.13%E2%80%AFAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="2024" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwO9abWVSpaQeGRxgHVKGjEUPqDKjuQaw72Usy1qGRTVJDQv208iQ3mo3f_L3Smsb4kiBiZUr7klyCmacpu3zcfgqz1sPPYp4GNIkGNtda6VrRjmHCdy3yQfj3G47yZRSMkJImRhe94vrb9bCI8zlXq2UCAegZdRdFaMDyl_upxVEgZavCJtFjNUEtLTlI/w482-h351/Screenshot%202024-01-06%20at%209.27.13%E2%80%AFAM.png" width="482" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Last Friday night, I shoved my kayak, paddle, skirt, life vest and eight dollars in the macho minivan and headed for the Optimist Pool, not very optimistic about my kayak rolling ability. I went early to avoid the public shaming that would result if I couldn't get my roll back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> After slithering into my boat and siding off the edge of the pool, I paddled around for a bit and chatted up a couple of guys in their S-class Mercedes and Lexus sea kayaks. Realizing I had to do it, I paddled out in a clear space and rolled over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And I rolled back up! Reasonably smoothly! (At least from an underwater point of view.) But the next twelve attempts were successful, and some even looked OK! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Oh, man was I relieved! As the hard-core guys started strolling in with their little trick boats to warm up, I said a silent prayer of thanks and crawled out of mine. I dried off and carried my wet gear back to the minivan and drove home happily.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I hope that you, too can still hit your kayak roll, or your triple axel on the ice, or your backside tailslide on your skateboard or whatever before age catches up, which, sadly, it always will. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Yeah, but until then...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave</div></div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-16533886472452833582023-12-25T12:45:00.000-08:002023-12-25T12:45:05.617-08:00Merry Christmas! And Brrrr! <p> My brother Mark is three years younger than I am, but he's a very able guy. He picks up new skills much quicker than I do, and has always pushed me to try new things. </p><p> We have been kiteboarding for about fifteen years, with some years off for various reasons. Normal kiteboards look almost like wakeboards and can go in either direction, called "twin tips."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCTYUOZ7BNqeB3Pwg9-LFYUSUiKgTdE9RqlpkeQCU-RzQ1qZfupPMENusOXOGdtT0Va9sxUd2XLlyJGHqb-A8GhAKd6dC3i1qtprudM6EJ5qXFfpTw46Plp0-kNd9zd4Ky9W_yPABF4lZqxUAKwhQPAoMKVZrCnegJGiCE7b62YqRgSqspyAyFS8TYm7n/s750/nzhpvps80vswhl42yb8m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="750" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCTYUOZ7BNqeB3Pwg9-LFYUSUiKgTdE9RqlpkeQCU-RzQ1qZfupPMENusOXOGdtT0Va9sxUd2XLlyJGHqb-A8GhAKd6dC3i1qtprudM6EJ5qXFfpTw46Plp0-kNd9zd4Ky9W_yPABF4lZqxUAKwhQPAoMKVZrCnegJGiCE7b62YqRgSqspyAyFS8TYm7n/w336-h251/nzhpvps80vswhl42yb8m.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> However, there's always something new, and about five years ago hydrofoil, or "foil" boards were becoming very popular. They look like short surboards, but with a "mast" attached to the bottom of the board and two wings, or "foils" on a horizontal bar (the "fuselage") below that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKAzu6akb70zz1afJXNI8jLeReGkSY9CK_W5Wm4g07hOAec1DCci5sJPTOvO7SotqVyXQOF5kFYmd8b_EYjvAlTdTtrFbRLf4wMhn2B7AIIadK4Llrpt3HwTTBXkvMRLHv7r1MWbPFBdDwncBAA8Y2gYzAZV3KoKxZi2NaHMvDUlIUXUffupxxo5ffM-Y/s1512/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.32.32%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1512" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKAzu6akb70zz1afJXNI8jLeReGkSY9CK_W5Wm4g07hOAec1DCci5sJPTOvO7SotqVyXQOF5kFYmd8b_EYjvAlTdTtrFbRLf4wMhn2B7AIIadK4Llrpt3HwTTBXkvMRLHv7r1MWbPFBdDwncBAA8Y2gYzAZV3KoKxZi2NaHMvDUlIUXUffupxxo5ffM-Y/w434-h265/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.32.32%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="434" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When the foil board moves through the water, the large front foil produces lift like an airplane wing, and since water is about 800 times denser than water, that wing can be relatively small and doesn't have to move very fast. It easily lifts the board and rider above the water's surface.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP14SMjHMNlHCcPONK36V2YBN5-bD2FUQYCzYXjVMsdZI7lLY3baEbv3DRongY_Kpzep5c7WTWnP5OHGUQGd6cUJ0f0YmUuC-ZSEt-n4ainyJEg5vhETOah1rO2pwaNd7Yp-22bELOkFxM9hB-t7f3LLW0nlrMjCcvC3WyLGflHJH6QiNACwvCd1j14FiO/s640/keel-boarding-pixa3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP14SMjHMNlHCcPONK36V2YBN5-bD2FUQYCzYXjVMsdZI7lLY3baEbv3DRongY_Kpzep5c7WTWnP5OHGUQGd6cUJ0f0YmUuC-ZSEt-n4ainyJEg5vhETOah1rO2pwaNd7Yp-22bELOkFxM9hB-t7f3LLW0nlrMjCcvC3WyLGflHJH6QiNACwvCd1j14FiO/w373-h249/keel-boarding-pixa3.jpg" width="373" /></a></div> You might well, and should, ask, "So what?" Well, a couple of things. First and foremost, the companies that make such equipment have found something new to $ell, and these things are not cheap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Second, when the board rises above the water, there is very little friction, with only the wings and mast underwater. That means that foil boards go fast, even in very light wind. Kite foil guys can use small kites for propulsion and be out sailing in light wind when the rest of us are whining on the beach. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Third, with only the wing and mast underwater, the ride is very smooth, good for old guys' knees. The practitioners of the activity say it really feels like flying serenely a foot or two off the water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> My brother Mark saw a new challenge and dove right in. He quickly learned how to 'foil' behind a jet ski, and was soon doing it propelled by a kite. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CExQvdUnc6zBNmxhSWqwNylgzOkF7FjwnFmfgc_FMhtBs1sfooTFNsRB5a9QN32i93OCZ2pxQ-OcjfVkN5aG_tEPKsHUizgxRLbM_d_nNR2IfPlb5oLYGGJZwWZyl0-4TdqHccHSE1qFMX63Ob5xoS1zSHV8avLEf1b_8nml8lYZCcq0dNoFa8WjCSHP/s1026/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.29.45%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="674" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CExQvdUnc6zBNmxhSWqwNylgzOkF7FjwnFmfgc_FMhtBs1sfooTFNsRB5a9QN32i93OCZ2pxQ-OcjfVkN5aG_tEPKsHUizgxRLbM_d_nNR2IfPlb5oLYGGJZwWZyl0-4TdqHccHSE1qFMX63Ob5xoS1zSHV8avLEf1b_8nml8lYZCcq0dNoFa8WjCSHP/w337-h514/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.29.45%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="337" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> OK, fine. I tried several times behind his jet ski and got nuthin.' Flat out nuthin,' and figured that maybe it was one sport too far. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVMo0Xz_pdfvDYxxEB04sV0C-6TDD_YaRhaWYhxBUuR_PpYljGGLOY7ZFkxXDRdsQ5PA7cbU3VHkDhvCh0QDKAgMP8-ue3XMvt-J0K50AUsFE44KtoisO77bmtI2MqBrvCBn5XEjvuDCOpKQx4sK6jFQANtNS5e0vidANzThXBjQM2kkxTLYpsY1Djn2y/s1362/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%202.32.58%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1362" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVMo0Xz_pdfvDYxxEB04sV0C-6TDD_YaRhaWYhxBUuR_PpYljGGLOY7ZFkxXDRdsQ5PA7cbU3VHkDhvCh0QDKAgMP8-ue3XMvt-J0K50AUsFE44KtoisO77bmtI2MqBrvCBn5XEjvuDCOpKQx4sK6jFQANtNS5e0vidANzThXBjQM2kkxTLYpsY1Djn2y/w407-h329/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%202.32.58%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="407" /></a></div> Name something where there are ascending levels of coolness of the equipment. OK, OK, that's dumb. Name something where there AREN'T ascending levels of equipment coolness. Cars? Yep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlnyyRiCs7A3IBybEcjKCOGt0v-ypBz-Q__WRE5p0TR7iG9afiue-1mnnOLD1jNb0G35LS5VnT4XHjX4RPBLsD9yTU_M0Lv13ftq7NYU-hCmCvbItSAez_Vhu92PACw35kHyxk1EFbZ8IX9L8wA7fP5Eu-qnLAHD_ONr-gsrgS9s_MwIvjgu4XGFqDACQ/s4317/VW_Ka%CC%88fer_Baujahr_1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2878" data-original-width="4317" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlnyyRiCs7A3IBybEcjKCOGt0v-ypBz-Q__WRE5p0TR7iG9afiue-1mnnOLD1jNb0G35LS5VnT4XHjX4RPBLsD9yTU_M0Lv13ftq7NYU-hCmCvbItSAez_Vhu92PACw35kHyxk1EFbZ8IX9L8wA7fP5Eu-qnLAHD_ONr-gsrgS9s_MwIvjgu4XGFqDACQ/w374-h249/VW_Ka%CC%88fer_Baujahr_1966.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotzIOYFPOd3kdhohou81D_qPFJTLlnKhPbbyjFGXQtlWMKy8lydZMb-GLYuxCLBMO8fHUtihm5JpR8zEJoPfsuC-RFj3P4NEOxu2UbVKcPMaZRXRY2dWHkr28K3PKzRmcLBsdTmc9g0Ca45TAnGRffQbGJSYwEcbqvl0H7UVrcw5XGdgZMsfOHnw-BQYd/s966/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%202.38.47%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="966" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotzIOYFPOd3kdhohou81D_qPFJTLlnKhPbbyjFGXQtlWMKy8lydZMb-GLYuxCLBMO8fHUtihm5JpR8zEJoPfsuC-RFj3P4NEOxu2UbVKcPMaZRXRY2dWHkr28K3PKzRmcLBsdTmc9g0Ca45TAnGRffQbGJSYwEcbqvl0H7UVrcw5XGdgZMsfOHnw-BQYd/w367-h217/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%202.38.47%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="367" /></a></div> Bicycles? Ditto.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6aUo5oSagTuHWYR_6x9_AJkNyi9NHMiQ55BPvylbXwmIF83IDxqcaH-GH1OscitPbFQuTh9929RXZsWwawBola6tnH0oGU1WAMeLcA4w3nppMZkzCapx5XIJ7YIhyCzKO5KUWKaeQqgHQqlBXlPCReONlvhSlq_a-zVlYtlV7M-Iq5lp1z1_x0w3PL6u/s1200/schwinn.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6aUo5oSagTuHWYR_6x9_AJkNyi9NHMiQ55BPvylbXwmIF83IDxqcaH-GH1OscitPbFQuTh9929RXZsWwawBola6tnH0oGU1WAMeLcA4w3nppMZkzCapx5XIJ7YIhyCzKO5KUWKaeQqgHQqlBXlPCReONlvhSlq_a-zVlYtlV7M-Iq5lp1z1_x0w3PL6u/w366-h275/schwinn.webp" width="366" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMubr8pjCFhSzl6P-8__t0YunbqCovkZ8E7F0wfK_plpQ5jwLgJ1WqC3Uc1scGVGk2jO-35Xo0HscaSB8HmjPF55hT9FtjTz0OYvz0iAX2yjCAznnayMPFvi3wj-tZlnNOXIxnEHddCndL2GeH86GpnW4ZkjlHXfkaWvjeloIOcmMULf1QW-lI8ZKOS53w/s1200/main-cavendish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMubr8pjCFhSzl6P-8__t0YunbqCovkZ8E7F0wfK_plpQ5jwLgJ1WqC3Uc1scGVGk2jO-35Xo0HscaSB8HmjPF55hT9FtjTz0OYvz0iAX2yjCAznnayMPFvi3wj-tZlnNOXIxnEHddCndL2GeH86GpnW4ZkjlHXfkaWvjeloIOcmMULf1QW-lI8ZKOS53w/w359-h269/main-cavendish.jpg" width="359" /></a></div> Ironing boards? Duh!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmqd4A7BBAj5w2XQZxuE9mbEkYPf777SKtPamzgeQtjaHxSHbxdtQF6G3Hm2dzrLFMZZxsnErPn9HkEhV7rlXFXj2cwwPTTFruTsusAJsOzWycv4xnfXnqPkJg4RRSm_378eT-M2GJqZfA2SnXM48obdWAqr-k_0FMnatRrCGGOqRrAlnHgV3rI3veQAU/s284/ironing%20board%20old.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="284" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmqd4A7BBAj5w2XQZxuE9mbEkYPf777SKtPamzgeQtjaHxSHbxdtQF6G3Hm2dzrLFMZZxsnErPn9HkEhV7rlXFXj2cwwPTTFruTsusAJsOzWycv4xnfXnqPkJg4RRSm_378eT-M2GJqZfA2SnXM48obdWAqr-k_0FMnatRrCGGOqRrAlnHgV3rI3veQAU/w371-h232/ironing%20board%20old.jpeg" width="371" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV82nPrWdlVuqN4y4LHhnA8PJzfj2dGC0iDyBUm7sXqVvKmd5dLrJwAC2dTmxwfuO3jZUzuHUU47sbvyXklfcEVslmU-rUT-o_QMUpTJjtBsxGh2T6FEeZMYwI4M4IU8aItDAPXhPPm_KgeQbKtvt4BBw94boRGg08UmzL2t0_hyGviq1LhuPcIg6vTUm/s642/extreme-ironing.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="642" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV82nPrWdlVuqN4y4LHhnA8PJzfj2dGC0iDyBUm7sXqVvKmd5dLrJwAC2dTmxwfuO3jZUzuHUU47sbvyXklfcEVslmU-rUT-o_QMUpTJjtBsxGh2T6FEeZMYwI4M4IU8aItDAPXhPPm_KgeQbKtvt4BBw94boRGg08UmzL2t0_hyGviq1LhuPcIg6vTUm/w377-h205/extreme-ironing.webp" width="377" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> OK, maybe that was a lame example. However, as usual, there are better, newer foil boards, and Mark realized that he was being held back, and so for Christmas....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfKnMZhKEx7UbRmOiznvF7NbXoLXBFVwSnjYmFA7gf8wx5tTTzgzG9zRTmKS27tiIxIQh12iZSDYZIInQwTmACzwv5vbYNa38pt4QLoydjLkxqetcIoF9vOIBz-rW-WbsZ-5HEkVnvBWy8tO1bkxrTP5xuUx4cr4rYqtkGWOtHwzDg9A2kttBmh3VQtQx/s1228/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%202.50.05%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="862" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfKnMZhKEx7UbRmOiznvF7NbXoLXBFVwSnjYmFA7gf8wx5tTTzgzG9zRTmKS27tiIxIQh12iZSDYZIInQwTmACzwv5vbYNa38pt4QLoydjLkxqetcIoF9vOIBz-rW-WbsZ-5HEkVnvBWy8tO1bkxrTP5xuUx4cr4rYqtkGWOtHwzDg9A2kttBmh3VQtQx/w316-h449/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%202.50.05%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="316" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> YEE HAH! I got the old one!! Oh, yeah... the one that I could never get up on...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Well, hope springs eternal! These things are made for the water, right? Remembering that our next-door neighbors are nice people, we ran next door to see if the board would at least float in their pool.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N6V0nlt4MrXgMiQugpcj7PvMmuwhf5GKfSxJgJGRvuqR1KhnIELcD9fgdzAcvs5kYv5nOmklxcpogPdIMPtLDneXwjLjiT0CkrQLr1W6EjhcH40Uv6hoVt0XZgAqwghZR8XnTYIZUDNkYOR7of_G8BoixT1V2kN1p77Gu2YWKlCnMs_d7xIuGPSfZg8a/s1220/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%202.56.19%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="980" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N6V0nlt4MrXgMiQugpcj7PvMmuwhf5GKfSxJgJGRvuqR1KhnIELcD9fgdzAcvs5kYv5nOmklxcpogPdIMPtLDneXwjLjiT0CkrQLr1W6EjhcH40Uv6hoVt0XZgAqwghZR8XnTYIZUDNkYOR7of_G8BoixT1V2kN1p77Gu2YWKlCnMs_d7xIuGPSfZg8a/w308-h383/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%202.56.19%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="308" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0JuXAJcaS65NuVYvYnj79B95B6SDfG43oBu-qCZ0Wv0yQaDCIeJi9JyJuqv7D56qwEC4J-5oim0LgcisSz4ccfaSvk2RQVebfoavaYNxhf9ezDvgwFBl6T59r1Bz_KeVVOqKBhPjKsq_Z9VaTbOQKOAP7M8OeEwvG3jX68voE_ERreG758IyxuRlhlt1/s1446/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%202.56.39%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="970" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0JuXAJcaS65NuVYvYnj79B95B6SDfG43oBu-qCZ0Wv0yQaDCIeJi9JyJuqv7D56qwEC4J-5oim0LgcisSz4ccfaSvk2RQVebfoavaYNxhf9ezDvgwFBl6T59r1Bz_KeVVOqKBhPjKsq_Z9VaTbOQKOAP7M8OeEwvG3jX68voE_ERreG758IyxuRlhlt1/w307-h457/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%202.56.39%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="307" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Here in North Carolina, the winters are described as being like "running fast through a freezer without any clothes on," in other words, it gets cold, but not for long. However, the nights have generally been right around freezing, so the water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6npecr81JeSrZ-E2xkBqxf5b0twc06Xvx2gr8wbl1acJxpArwXtFiGuJjc_U856VCXUptjuQ5Wwkf6kCRBehMGBTjU-7Lyoxho3nwQEHF55sttnLpMBdvdf7n1sRJb5QDYXYBQNAjzzmjvx4Ebo44SF6JdObBcjk5iIRkvZkAphkl960EPyV_AFpNLXp/s1392/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.06.09%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="890" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6npecr81JeSrZ-E2xkBqxf5b0twc06Xvx2gr8wbl1acJxpArwXtFiGuJjc_U856VCXUptjuQ5Wwkf6kCRBehMGBTjU-7Lyoxho3nwQEHF55sttnLpMBdvdf7n1sRJb5QDYXYBQNAjzzmjvx4Ebo44SF6JdObBcjk5iIRkvZkAphkl960EPyV_AFpNLXp/w288-h450/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.06.09%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="288" /></a></div>was cold. I mean really, <i><u>really</u> </i>cold. However, we had a purpose!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5bleM1fFgIeIPuf2UpH2e9lS6-DG7Plr5mkFi5fIrCG7KFkD3uHAeY6v1V5JKanqieqHEe1fMUjXqlhRSSp3WUv26vRYF7bRu0ZgoCpzmlwlfxBcEGPTbVTMHWGbF1FgDXKYV_MIZTloSP9QD8tBXaP6fL3OHqWXE38ZoE6ZSGP2dZWECHjZH8DXN_f3/s1748/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.08.54%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="1748" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5bleM1fFgIeIPuf2UpH2e9lS6-DG7Plr5mkFi5fIrCG7KFkD3uHAeY6v1V5JKanqieqHEe1fMUjXqlhRSSp3WUv26vRYF7bRu0ZgoCpzmlwlfxBcEGPTbVTMHWGbF1FgDXKYV_MIZTloSP9QD8tBXaP6fL3OHqWXE38ZoE6ZSGP2dZWECHjZH8DXN_f3/w439-h348/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.08.54%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="439" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNr8twEFJDbWzHMG3lGl9TlbDVq4ZEJZ4JVEQtSZ68TUwS_KJbIeHbtfHL6pu79HTCRNFEh8t7aQS9HYqd9Y0EfU7tlzEaQzTipvI7GSu9H4aStnHov_gadtBOgakydzKjZV956UMMnpMWyrUUQ4izYTaTsiWvrr884AUSM-BYCUFGSdsAXGiAk-46uX8/s2120/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.08.43%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="2120" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNr8twEFJDbWzHMG3lGl9TlbDVq4ZEJZ4JVEQtSZ68TUwS_KJbIeHbtfHL6pu79HTCRNFEh8t7aQS9HYqd9Y0EfU7tlzEaQzTipvI7GSu9H4aStnHov_gadtBOgakydzKjZV956UMMnpMWyrUUQ4izYTaTsiWvrr884AUSM-BYCUFGSdsAXGiAk-46uX8/w367-h271/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.08.43%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="367" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHWeXnUlcg3aKFMiq6q9qncxeq5GE39kjLmYZHRhWCB3r5ibcGrVue87UQfmzscjG7oXpocxjbHiMAnx2vfywiPjRZYMkvMXxmht2bPGiJl80aZz5HsqmH6rpskjeNFE84t5-F_e3f88iFeHwUt2D4ccyb08rLwr-YnAMA4F44LPwnCpj9yM-gMKYekXn/s1380/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.08.30%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="1056" height="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHWeXnUlcg3aKFMiq6q9qncxeq5GE39kjLmYZHRhWCB3r5ibcGrVue87UQfmzscjG7oXpocxjbHiMAnx2vfywiPjRZYMkvMXxmht2bPGiJl80aZz5HsqmH6rpskjeNFE84t5-F_e3f88iFeHwUt2D4ccyb08rLwr-YnAMA4F44LPwnCpj9yM-gMKYekXn/w353-h461/Screenshot%202023-12-25%20at%203.08.30%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="353" /></a></div></div> So it floats! Now we'll see if I can finally get the hang of foiling. That's a rather large "if."<div> We hope that you have had a great Christmas, and that if your neighbors aren't heating their pool you'll at least have sense enough to wear a wetsuit when you test your new foil board. </div><div> And Paula reminds me that people with even more sense don't jump in pools in North Carolina on Christmas. Yeah, whatever. </div><div>Dave</div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-64300399931336268152023-12-24T06:41:00.000-08:002023-12-24T06:41:51.856-08:00No good turn goes unpunished!<p> A nice family up the street left a crib and a stroller on the curb a couple of months ago, both in good condition. Paula collected them, and they ended up helping a young Afghan refugee couple. </p><p> The other day, we finally remembered to take a thank-you note to the neighbor. On the way back, we passed four teenage guys playing street hockey, using a hard ball for a puck.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GeGKwIIUarcYUfCL4XgW1mbLfZ38pfTbZ7hsgdUCIgyeoScW_H7lt106Pa5mS2ShS0c5xatJVr3-aRcnLVz5s5fiV8j-3prH_wvMTJPysYDk0i5cyOaph1MPB6_UJYp3F8FDHpB8btkH0Jl8xmhYSTVHLlyniloZpz_VmY3bU33FtIDVS0OqI0BYPx1V/s750/getting-set-up-to-play-street-hockey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GeGKwIIUarcYUfCL4XgW1mbLfZ38pfTbZ7hsgdUCIgyeoScW_H7lt106Pa5mS2ShS0c5xatJVr3-aRcnLVz5s5fiV8j-3prH_wvMTJPysYDk0i5cyOaph1MPB6_UJYp3F8FDHpB8btkH0Jl8xmhYSTVHLlyniloZpz_VmY3bU33FtIDVS0OqI0BYPx1V/w443-h295/getting-set-up-to-play-street-hockey.jpg" width="443" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Without warning, WHACK! the ball hit my right temple, a slap shot from the hockey game. It knocked me down, and I needed a couple of seconds to get oriented again. The player that made the shot came over and asked the usual, "You OK?" and when I stood up, he went back to the game. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I felt funny the rest of the evening, and there was kind of dent on the right side of my head. When I went to the doctor in the morning, he said, "Yeah, that feels funny. I don't think I want to push on it," and then he said, "You know, you're an old guy [WHAT?!] and you've sustained a hard blow. It's CT-scan time for you."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Believe it or not, that was accomplished within the next hour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTT9OtZiSKnN8Dx-7adt45QalIH8EiL9W1Vsey-riL6tMoSH4fi_qvFq1RDedo8Lr0Cy2Yz72t6LhS61Qo5V3msPqCuPDy6av8DwEK7iMcuxq5dQQfS3Cvzw5ddcTGI4KmSmSBQ7RqI8XDvPUZF8I6o2rXSFhBuTol4U5jeWBid2lNmdZ591ioRbsL8aZ7/s1100/ct-scan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1100" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTT9OtZiSKnN8Dx-7adt45QalIH8EiL9W1Vsey-riL6tMoSH4fi_qvFq1RDedo8Lr0Cy2Yz72t6LhS61Qo5V3msPqCuPDy6av8DwEK7iMcuxq5dQQfS3Cvzw5ddcTGI4KmSmSBQ7RqI8XDvPUZF8I6o2rXSFhBuTol4U5jeWBid2lNmdZ591ioRbsL8aZ7/w374-h250/ct-scan.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Luckily, the reading of the scan was negative.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HFqnItn3afbmRuCu92a4h-20RCEH8B53VEiOgJFws0dIyEIdgQP3wJmXn-h0vMJ-W1H4PO1RbSXU7MWsmFUw6qGH943clbH2ep8EHUfwrLQr2ETu8sBtAtae78649WlefNNzWKC0w8fc9qmDNxpgubjKuTkodF3mjigcEUa6vx5oMdSFdri6GTcHBtRd/s768/Homer-Simpsons-brain-seen-with-MRI-X-ray-Image-reproduced-on-many-Internet-sites.ppm" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="643" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HFqnItn3afbmRuCu92a4h-20RCEH8B53VEiOgJFws0dIyEIdgQP3wJmXn-h0vMJ-W1H4PO1RbSXU7MWsmFUw6qGH943clbH2ep8EHUfwrLQr2ETu8sBtAtae78649WlefNNzWKC0w8fc9qmDNxpgubjKuTkodF3mjigcEUa6vx5oMdSFdri6GTcHBtRd/w336-h401/Homer-Simpsons-brain-seen-with-MRI-X-ray-Image-reproduced-on-many-Internet-sites.ppm" width="336" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The right side of my head is still kind of sore. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Like I said to Paula, that's the last time I thank a neighbor for a kindness without putting on a helmet first. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We hope that your neighborhood kids are more careful with their street hockey games. Or their street archery practice. Or their street skeet shooting. That kind of stuff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave</div><p></p>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-60032645913610317152023-11-16T19:07:00.000-08:002023-11-16T19:07:45.659-08:00Despite the craziness in the world...<p>important and good things continue to happen. </p><p> Our youngest son Mike and our favorite (only) daughter-in-law Adrienne messaged us late Saturday night to let us know that yep, she was in labor. Things apparently got pretty intense soon after that, with the usual discussion points, such as "YOU DID THIS TO ME!! I HATE YOU!! AAAAGH!!"</p><p> A good epidural helped the perspective of all of the participants, and at about 3:45 AM, Emma Margaret Henderson slipped into the world, weighing only six and a half pounds and equipped with feet that come close to qualifying as water skis. </p><p> Paula and I got the message when we woke up on Sunday morning, so we zipped up a suitcase and headed north on I-95. I grew up just outside of DC, and I am convinced that one of the inner circles of Hades was designed by copying the roads and traffic around that city, and I have no desire to inhabit either place. </p><p> By the time we arrived at Christiana Hospital between Newark and Wilmington, Delaware, all was calm and the three were resting quietly. Paula's abundant and kind Grandmother character was quickly apparent.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_hDtllfidlXGgR1gT4H1oC_uh1BP0EgSyheuqzDys2gK8f9EYm59No_iwi7LWF7Ft_UKeMvmf_tYY5hxI3iDOx_OLDc4J1I_WJdyiYZoha3XkkSVAuVBjmZm08BVfnX5Y1VD-e_XnmCcDGW88vtgondF4utL63HJXV7bmk_k-X_ZxCbQ8tzArQkvlXTP/s1512/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%204.59.24%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1084" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_hDtllfidlXGgR1gT4H1oC_uh1BP0EgSyheuqzDys2gK8f9EYm59No_iwi7LWF7Ft_UKeMvmf_tYY5hxI3iDOx_OLDc4J1I_WJdyiYZoha3XkkSVAuVBjmZm08BVfnX5Y1VD-e_XnmCcDGW88vtgondF4utL63HJXV7bmk_k-X_ZxCbQ8tzArQkvlXTP/w328-h458/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%204.59.24%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="328" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> For some thirty years this whole giving-birth process was a major part of my occupation, and being around it again brought a few things back to mind, but it's different on this side. Now, I get to enjoy the more tender aspects, and leave all that medical stuff to the young medical folks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Emma's five-year-old sister Kate was over the moon the next day when she met her little sister for the first time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnYxMlvEk8Z_2tDTViEFFvFNiiAAA4xkgjA4fGZtEkg_N2_SRDWW-sAi_U855qSErnnvr5XPoXyqPDtUTJSr5oQ5oubq0_S1P8Sl4GY465iweGhorVgeIzuDepqQswHYLFwfVm-Zno0-A40VAjtC0H8T-DrqEc73jDTxjRPCoqlgVektE19Akl_ZcXbvi/s1478/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.12.28%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="1102" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnYxMlvEk8Z_2tDTViEFFvFNiiAAA4xkgjA4fGZtEkg_N2_SRDWW-sAi_U855qSErnnvr5XPoXyqPDtUTJSr5oQ5oubq0_S1P8Sl4GY465iweGhorVgeIzuDepqQswHYLFwfVm-Zno0-A40VAjtC0H8T-DrqEc73jDTxjRPCoqlgVektE19Akl_ZcXbvi/w365-h489/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.12.28%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="365" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPOhrUDi2Kg7gx-nMd6Mgtb75KVF5RqITPDGD8dpCAeGX-zvoivZ1EFDxTqdeINBcLh7xPqlgQeaWxlBo6X5wizLp4Kdv9mPr044g2rOr0_HTGpXqbHgf4XMGPDYLpidjKGpEsBdYmtMKKrq_9tgKt3QKwa8DdNrrR5Vl7btrowhpCCZZz1yuMe9kD0H1/s1968/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.13.55%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="1968" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPOhrUDi2Kg7gx-nMd6Mgtb75KVF5RqITPDGD8dpCAeGX-zvoivZ1EFDxTqdeINBcLh7xPqlgQeaWxlBo6X5wizLp4Kdv9mPr044g2rOr0_HTGpXqbHgf4XMGPDYLpidjKGpEsBdYmtMKKrq_9tgKt3QKwa8DdNrrR5Vl7btrowhpCCZZz1yuMe9kD0H1/w525-h374/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.13.55%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="525" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Meanwhile, life at Mike and Adrienne's house has gone wacko, as usual with a brand-new kid. Paula has been helping a lot, using her Grandmother-multitasking super powers and trying to let Adrienne rest as much as possible. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6oyv4zDVJBnspREFgRgeGvogzSaE4eElws_8524O7cKuMfHx7eQbIpAbX2lJrNGtA8cehYAvGhuswVN9m6EwIoZpQWDzsRNntDg0Sg7IbaGFOGZXge-TtUWILcr25qZdgYE_CXrI4OmoyZlUepiFRUEv6eHf__JLufQ-rgYJsXayC7HpERdypg6c95i7/s1942/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.17.15%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1550" data-original-width="1942" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6oyv4zDVJBnspREFgRgeGvogzSaE4eElws_8524O7cKuMfHx7eQbIpAbX2lJrNGtA8cehYAvGhuswVN9m6EwIoZpQWDzsRNntDg0Sg7IbaGFOGZXge-TtUWILcr25qZdgYE_CXrI4OmoyZlUepiFRUEv6eHf__JLufQ-rgYJsXayC7HpERdypg6c95i7/w452-h360/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.17.15%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="452" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> She's been cooking, provisioning and keeping things in order. That includes playing numerous rounds of Chutes and Ladders with Kate (by the way, the kid cheats prolifically) and card matching games (again, don't take your eyes off the board).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoQIu7OkMp7Xai9WEsaN7cPHiXwYMuNuQQmQx8BBD3ko8H4hdWqvl80EqBAG7OTMxEpPINozmbFr2Umyiqg01izmJt2YQf-kjmUMixHD4Yw475iKPW35P_YvDdBKsPgSUfzXNJq3IresWTDIkmmnibqfwUEGlUd1gtO8h5jnk9vLE6sq40GAW4v_KSXPT/s2096/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.24.09%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="2096" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoQIu7OkMp7Xai9WEsaN7cPHiXwYMuNuQQmQx8BBD3ko8H4hdWqvl80EqBAG7OTMxEpPINozmbFr2Umyiqg01izmJt2YQf-kjmUMixHD4Yw475iKPW35P_YvDdBKsPgSUfzXNJq3IresWTDIkmmnibqfwUEGlUd1gtO8h5jnk9vLE6sq40GAW4v_KSXPT/w466-h348/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.24.09%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="466" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I've been trying to help out also, though my efforts pale by comparison.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZA0IH-3bMskhArv6uKuWK_JTA3XBPrkhMP66ayBgbML04C6mWc-cyE-4mnI3DtMXZeYbypCq09vzWn58lwKV5Ys_jfs7SsG7um6yEZw5LbPZaVNq54bCK_T1mwuoxSsWbsIpFtkNjtbnypw97cGRFFW3mIO0QqBmDqtmGTfYww-Zrx3MfznQNoOq7S74/s1410/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.28.12%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="982" height="495" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZA0IH-3bMskhArv6uKuWK_JTA3XBPrkhMP66ayBgbML04C6mWc-cyE-4mnI3DtMXZeYbypCq09vzWn58lwKV5Ys_jfs7SsG7um6yEZw5LbPZaVNq54bCK_T1mwuoxSsWbsIpFtkNjtbnypw97cGRFFW3mIO0QqBmDqtmGTfYww-Zrx3MfznQNoOq7S74/w345-h495/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.28.12%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Any of you that have had a newborn in the house know how everything gets knocked out of kilter, and folks have to get rest when they can. Mike and Elsie grabbed a quick, uh, cat nap,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPRHcPWsEBC_rR7XaNGCc-in9YN3SIbw5LciQn7vP01lFPLP1Xfeiw0JlCXciBVk8bsk9hEQh3cQcbPFd_co-qnY7uRPDHz2M06ystLwTO5Uwr2bWiFKeF8nBvCGOCPj_2cY496yVQrLiEv0yvEvXgQ86K9DJQ07y7uNTHQCJkvr-s0akiRI5ea9UbJ9r/s2052/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.33.38%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="2052" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPRHcPWsEBC_rR7XaNGCc-in9YN3SIbw5LciQn7vP01lFPLP1Xfeiw0JlCXciBVk8bsk9hEQh3cQcbPFd_co-qnY7uRPDHz2M06ystLwTO5Uwr2bWiFKeF8nBvCGOCPj_2cY496yVQrLiEv0yvEvXgQ86K9DJQ07y7uNTHQCJkvr-s0akiRI5ea9UbJ9r/w430-h327/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.33.38%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">while Emma and her mom relaxed for a bit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUiOvNsWClk9he7yZARJPymikcXHkHVuzHCM0ceFZ7zXIFtIaQwf7FsSoizz-wqaNTI2UI0DO-LtjBqt1hOF_D55z6hwSmKGsAiKrpgB0vylhPX3T5bxHLdOkyHB-KNIeGbZPt-LPaipnXWp1GTvpVRY2QahfIvuuqWvgaA06OXFNhsTerByC2G5sdCN9/s1454/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.35.59%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1008" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUiOvNsWClk9he7yZARJPymikcXHkHVuzHCM0ceFZ7zXIFtIaQwf7FsSoizz-wqaNTI2UI0DO-LtjBqt1hOF_D55z6hwSmKGsAiKrpgB0vylhPX3T5bxHLdOkyHB-KNIeGbZPt-LPaipnXWp1GTvpVRY2QahfIvuuqWvgaA06OXFNhsTerByC2G5sdCN9/w328-h473/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.35.59%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="328" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> As I said, despite the worrisome stuff surrounding us all, life continues. Whatever your philosophy or your 'belief tradition.' or whatever, the echoes of eternity are apparent in this event. We welcome Emma, and together with everyone who preceded her here, we wish her well as she begins this adventure. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-7lo2Cs834P4Ok6ekRLTH75XaMfJPhOhyphenhyphenXeyU3gIx5xh-WwXnLnKXlfVJShIq9hb1gXsP7sD-a8tsDdfleCZ4PnjnJ6iPtoFaVmDcUb4-4ZWMjTMtgZ5D0bHwp_-GVciJZxb3ENh9fzki3UVz7JEzdI3RDWJqmbQThhtbcIqBI_C3UGjF-PJkyq91CvK/s1482/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.39.29%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1482" data-original-width="1180" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-7lo2Cs834P4Ok6ekRLTH75XaMfJPhOhyphenhyphenXeyU3gIx5xh-WwXnLnKXlfVJShIq9hb1gXsP7sD-a8tsDdfleCZ4PnjnJ6iPtoFaVmDcUb4-4ZWMjTMtgZ5D0bHwp_-GVciJZxb3ENh9fzki3UVz7JEzdI3RDWJqmbQThhtbcIqBI_C3UGjF-PJkyq91CvK/w324-h407/Screenshot%202023-11-16%20at%205.39.29%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="324" /></a></div></div><p>Dave & Paula</p>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-4615321908430788352023-10-15T15:00:00.000-07:002023-10-15T15:00:43.884-07:00Letters! I get letters!<p> For several years, I have written a weekly letter to my grandkids. At the moment, there are twelve of them, soon to be thirteen, although that one won't be reading for a while. There are weeks that I don't end up writing or weeks when I write to the whole group instead of the usual individual ones, but those are in the minority. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6gMySnVQQe1HPRY7s5Aa_J5Q90FL_GdmV7gdHxNCRBST_VL6I66YGvDFNgWi9htXk4xXYK_iAlyaOdMtnvuj4wDgi_SvsaTYDB9pp1YgH_z4zXno9licyaaDEpygqKh9LHEyMlVmRY2ZOjwNnmC7xccnFRL2V76nsk1PmqHyFGmN3qMQFP7ql_3Mk-i6S" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2303" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6gMySnVQQe1HPRY7s5Aa_J5Q90FL_GdmV7gdHxNCRBST_VL6I66YGvDFNgWi9htXk4xXYK_iAlyaOdMtnvuj4wDgi_SvsaTYDB9pp1YgH_z4zXno9licyaaDEpygqKh9LHEyMlVmRY2ZOjwNnmC7xccnFRL2V76nsk1PmqHyFGmN3qMQFP7ql_3Mk-i6S=w397-h264" width="397" /></a></div><p></p><p> Several of them write to me most weeks, and some almost never write, and that's OK. From a few of their letters, I can visualize their mother standing over them as they write the commanded thank-you notes for birthday and other presents. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw4BMoqEu0ea8gDk6jbjYqYBRuP0JLKRVD1kf8xCw-QYkXJpQy79UppmHBp68h1us_pqqSzl4L4NsoXJDd3zwyrCLTqIYDaVJ7GyFndTbO-Tp84VCoo_icRWiXFJCiDyK3Z0WHW0v0NgaxbE6BMI6vEGn4gwsmie0BXCNerGKqVOTjCdAg8_PrkTSB0SRg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="474" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw4BMoqEu0ea8gDk6jbjYqYBRuP0JLKRVD1kf8xCw-QYkXJpQy79UppmHBp68h1us_pqqSzl4L4NsoXJDd3zwyrCLTqIYDaVJ7GyFndTbO-Tp84VCoo_icRWiXFJCiDyK3Z0WHW0v0NgaxbE6BMI6vEGn4gwsmie0BXCNerGKqVOTjCdAg8_PrkTSB0SRg=w211-h264" width="211" /></a></div><p></p><p> I think that among the various ways of communicating, letter-writing has become an old-timey thing, though I admit that I use e-mail to deliver mine to the grandkids. When I read the personal letters of people like John and Abigail Adams, I am impressed by their eloquence and command of the language, to a degree rarely seen today. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyp95QZkZk4xdJPQReIvy-iv6lYMHtYhOa-S8U01_Ul0muiErcwR5iR_pvmFdLjNQb3rpV1CifYxXtUy-Mf9viGfwnKf6YSCZVU4uI9_RE3WTnzBdTx3JFHXrIBG8eV8x2ql3S9V35JVl4B2wIacuUGdb7vNnFMK-orIm8My49qUHc63hG1Rejxz7J8KLz" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="550" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyp95QZkZk4xdJPQReIvy-iv6lYMHtYhOa-S8U01_Ul0muiErcwR5iR_pvmFdLjNQb3rpV1CifYxXtUy-Mf9viGfwnKf6YSCZVU4uI9_RE3WTnzBdTx3JFHXrIBG8eV8x2ql3S9V35JVl4B2wIacuUGdb7vNnFMK-orIm8My49qUHc63hG1Rejxz7J8KLz" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p> In my far-more-humble missives, I try to include pictures, the goofier the better, and I attempt to customize the news and comments of the week. While Edwin may appreciate the technical details and Joseph may like the adventures, I know that Eleanor could care less about my latest interactions with Air Traffic Control. </p><p> From the older granddaughters in Kazakhstan I get the latest news about horseback riding and interactions with other teenagers who live there, as well as things happening in their family of seven kids. From a grandson in Jacksonville, North Carolina I hear about cross-country meets and his part-time job. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMuyuFS9sGADUKzB9Rxiq-X8tiYwF1lmTd9CetrwWi4uu7oO8PCHwD2TKFrUkbksojjMcpHywz3MxMSCj9klqUrfIK1uGlwjULAk24B7_ywdZAY5BtBeKooPkosuVj4tChYzqGlcgQWPxp-_SqEOFLwoVdANDWclgo5jaottAEDcC_xzo0DULDqMdVsd1A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="710" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMuyuFS9sGADUKzB9Rxiq-X8tiYwF1lmTd9CetrwWi4uu7oO8PCHwD2TKFrUkbksojjMcpHywz3MxMSCj9klqUrfIK1uGlwjULAk24B7_ywdZAY5BtBeKooPkosuVj4tChYzqGlcgQWPxp-_SqEOFLwoVdANDWclgo5jaottAEDcC_xzo0DULDqMdVsd1A=w234-h337" width="234" /></a></div><br /> William Sherwood is an enthusiastic six-year-old living with his six siblings and parents there in Astana. He is beginning to tackle handwriting and spelling. A week or two ago, he presented his mom with a personal note to me, already in a hand-made envelope, and asked her to address and stamp it. It made its way to the 'pouch' and arrived yesterday in our mailbox. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgU3km3TGb7xiqh-MoOWpCjldcoVBJ7cCTsXlhTMgRjWEyaugUk-E8_cXpb3DyaXO8E4jn9xVmXfAKi-r-VB3YIF_-uoznufBVJFBsXt5tZcAFP1gVU-eWONYaPF-xDPJOXVspsJR2Wq-AihBUw8ASEwCKmcBBb2AQ3mKjq9Z1FcGhrhZKbRwum_wMWEWgF" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgU3km3TGb7xiqh-MoOWpCjldcoVBJ7cCTsXlhTMgRjWEyaugUk-E8_cXpb3DyaXO8E4jn9xVmXfAKi-r-VB3YIF_-uoznufBVJFBsXt5tZcAFP1gVU-eWONYaPF-xDPJOXVspsJR2Wq-AihBUw8ASEwCKmcBBb2AQ3mKjq9Z1FcGhrhZKbRwum_wMWEWgF=w253-h338" width="253" /></a></div><p></p><p> As noted, he even constructed the envelope, by folding over a piece of printer paper, placing his letter inside and carefully stapling the open edges. And I mean stapling! I think this kid may have a future in the package fulfillment universe!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunkoD6RbD_UKbz4BmHt4c1L7hGiezaRq853mR0mDu6wO1zBguZfc-gDMraRZyhUNkguZxW2Utm6o0-IzzjRVUcNGps2OhAGToUFab6imr72tQAKOkYL2XF_zrRNl3AUWZ972Z6AY15ZAI7ok-WzV1AKSWh4Z5xcV5psaIGrNX1BxPCTZTDHqzQ-pH_Jz2/s2092/letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1492" data-original-width="2092" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunkoD6RbD_UKbz4BmHt4c1L7hGiezaRq853mR0mDu6wO1zBguZfc-gDMraRZyhUNkguZxW2Utm6o0-IzzjRVUcNGps2OhAGToUFab6imr72tQAKOkYL2XF_zrRNl3AUWZ972Z6AY15ZAI7ok-WzV1AKSWh4Z5xcV5psaIGrNX1BxPCTZTDHqzQ-pH_Jz2/w482-h343/letter.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The letter within was a heartfelt expression of his appreciation for having been at the beach with me, and how he's looking forward to seeing me again. While there may have been minor errors in spelling, there was no doubt as to the letter's sincerity, nor the effort taken in writing it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I have fun communicating with my grandkids, but I believe that there is real value to it. While it may be a useful exercise for both them and me, I believe that it's a way for them to come to know their grandparents, and that's more important. I plan to continue, at least until my spelling gets worse than Big Bill's.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave<span> </span></div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-30129611120858652042023-09-24T07:34:00.001-07:002023-09-24T14:31:18.913-07:00I'm glad for science.<p> You knew I was going to say that. I was a physician for many years, and so I had a front-row seat as many discoveries were made and applied that relieved pain and suffering. I also watched new information supplant ideas that had been firmly held for years (decades? centuries?)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9GPjqhiAzsJuyZ2zU00ncDUIYpMwmjaLfOdS1eo5EUKgN4bHC5r14Ffk35PJsuadvbRhIDXQ3dSsl1Cz-JD_lvY8xcLqe1Y7txri5FXbuRjgvVGeBr3TRzOicka28dX396KxcBIPVJTl2gy_qEI5Mj6dLOFaKM1ywzzFcffsXwvMcWjHTk2VBlEaFTFoD" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9GPjqhiAzsJuyZ2zU00ncDUIYpMwmjaLfOdS1eo5EUKgN4bHC5r14Ffk35PJsuadvbRhIDXQ3dSsl1Cz-JD_lvY8xcLqe1Y7txri5FXbuRjgvVGeBr3TRzOicka28dX396KxcBIPVJTl2gy_qEI5Mj6dLOFaKM1ywzzFcffsXwvMcWjHTk2VBlEaFTFoD=w340-h340" width="340" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span data-reactid=".vbvt0754l2.3.1.$blocks-divider-blocks-grid-container-4.0.0.$blocks-article-row-1.1:$zpnxxbk-1=10.1.1.$2.$0" style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-family: inherit;">Medieval doctors believed that illnesses, including the Black Death, were caused by an imbalance in the four humours</span><span data-reactid=".vbvt0754l2.3.1.$blocks-divider-blocks-grid-container-4.0.0.$blocks-article-row-1.1:$zpnxxbk-1=10.1.1.$2.$2" style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-family: inherit;"> These were black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood. A patient diagnosed with excess blood would undergo treatments such as bloodletting, </span><span data-reactid=".vbvt0754l2.3.1.$blocks-divider-blocks-grid-container-4.0.0.$blocks-article-row-1.1:$zpnxxbk-1=10.1.1.$2.$4" style="background-color: white; color: #231f20; font-family: inherit;">which attempted to rebalance the humours by removing excess blood</span><span data-reactid=".vbvt0754l2.3.1.$blocks-divider-blocks-grid-container-4.0.0.$blocks-article-row-1.1:$zpnxxbk-1=10.1.1.$2.$4" face="ReithSans, Arial, Helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #231f20;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS_f41VykMNWs7A3K6KSyZzJtoD8BNsObXtXUcahqXMDzdBLdy4uHJ9YFVXpZ-Re_gpCuA-gSvbDbomNp3xx3830jMkV0k8xnTzijUAitbl4gldrDawkICKUOPX2veBnEnyahaWWXOA1H0CYnILPN_FF4MEbOqgjWFX_t7rROmEnP5Vomz3_Rj8zrb7nPe" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="528" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS_f41VykMNWs7A3K6KSyZzJtoD8BNsObXtXUcahqXMDzdBLdy4uHJ9YFVXpZ-Re_gpCuA-gSvbDbomNp3xx3830jMkV0k8xnTzijUAitbl4gldrDawkICKUOPX2veBnEnyahaWWXOA1H0CYnILPN_FF4MEbOqgjWFX_t7rROmEnP5Vomz3_Rj8zrb7nPe=w327-h366" width="327" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I was bummed when I learned in medical school that I would not be privileged to wear the outfit above, but I swallowed my disappointment and rejoiced that so many things were being figured out. Because of scientific advancements in the cause and treatment of health problems, I could offer patients so much more than my colleagues of even just a few decades earlier.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlaYqG4qbKjAdytZHDrD4s7zW71eQRWH5Say5H5B09LacIc_vk44DCLjrK29urvj10c7muvesWsmwYy1a_qCzkM5PJsPmDO0X6EgW668WMUyH5ehFsVcFHeLMu5HZGK6Yi2m_tinNdc3el4wwuavmWhUvVYynjR_VEMOnXC8zrZuyuas8jZWGjugzyfzdS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlaYqG4qbKjAdytZHDrD4s7zW71eQRWH5Say5H5B09LacIc_vk44DCLjrK29urvj10c7muvesWsmwYy1a_qCzkM5PJsPmDO0X6EgW668WMUyH5ehFsVcFHeLMu5HZGK6Yi2m_tinNdc3el4wwuavmWhUvVYynjR_VEMOnXC8zrZuyuas8jZWGjugzyfzdS=w360-h240" width="360" /></a></div> So, we've got it all figured out and we're all going to live forever, right? Not hardly; not even close. As has been pointed out, no one gets out of here alive. On the basis of my religious beliefs, I don't think that sticking around here forever, as enjoyable as it can be, is really the end game anyway. That's a thought that we all understand in the abstract, but somehow, as the writer William Saroyan put it five days before his death, "Everybody has to die, but I always believed an exception would be made in my case. Now what?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_CF3HawZtJSHmPD54GLzOej0fhdOr5hgwen961U5hzPEl_L6ScCZVhOUVJ_9MxopgxXzOOrQr3PKy80mwCbKC7ieMCkhPeSM7Ngfb_EkE-FoF-gFH29bwJymn32PHByXunkKEjz-iOrwW_3sXPXYBsVaKQX8naB_YWtElyWbQbzI24CTSwCB0eEW6WgU-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1791" data-original-width="1350" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_CF3HawZtJSHmPD54GLzOej0fhdOr5hgwen961U5hzPEl_L6ScCZVhOUVJ_9MxopgxXzOOrQr3PKy80mwCbKC7ieMCkhPeSM7Ngfb_EkE-FoF-gFH29bwJymn32PHByXunkKEjz-iOrwW_3sXPXYBsVaKQX8naB_YWtElyWbQbzI24CTSwCB0eEW6WgU-" width="181" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I've been blessed with generally good health and for the most part, the means to enjoy it, with only the occasional bump in the <a href="https://outofthefryingpanhendo.blogspot.com/2022/07/things-can-change-in-moment.html">road</a>. I've been allowed to do some fun and cool stuff along the way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> In keeping with that, everything was rolling along toward Old Guys' Kite Camp: Fall 2023 Edition this coming week. It's a really nice semi-annual gathering of good friends and family at Cape Hatteras to enjoy kiteboarding and each other's company. And of course buy new stuff (duh!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHdVhizRMGgp6QRj1hStYb5dxXu7OWLKu05hmKEXi7CeySSXRqAsWv35tuzHy5pfs9mowcVU5LZHxuTiLmlN3Dpe2k613FNpP70NhEhamARzTy0tpX6Bu-WUb6p-5OE0rLaFWlkc0FKJjjW5w5V6Z0LWU_4VqJd0qjjXPqcSPTJUe3uqwJb8Jif-B1GgUw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHdVhizRMGgp6QRj1hStYb5dxXu7OWLKu05hmKEXi7CeySSXRqAsWv35tuzHy5pfs9mowcVU5LZHxuTiLmlN3Dpe2k613FNpP70NhEhamARzTy0tpX6Bu-WUb6p-5OE0rLaFWlkc0FKJjjW5w5V6Z0LWU_4VqJd0qjjXPqcSPTJUe3uqwJb8Jif-B1GgUw=w371-h247" width="371" /></a></div> And so five days ago I was relieved when a COVID test done for my sore throat returned negative, followed about 24 hours later by a second negative, reassuring me that it was just a cold. But things progressed, and the third test turned quickly positive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhug7O9Fr_JsCGNZpP7onHeEvtVodWJt94l1SdCfxbYSJ3ozYYgrDIMkvOgz3k-zzEOpQr2Wrb6T2UGcwbYAliDeoR1YWhD0KPQr87N1it5MNskNuVuVJhJfKKnCbZW4HuJKH5HvZoQjkGFXLYvRB2nC90v_DF3Zm_IxP-7dP00Ipx3crHnDm1CVqUaDpXP/s1468/Screenshot%202023-09-24%20at%2010.24.35%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="820" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhug7O9Fr_JsCGNZpP7onHeEvtVodWJt94l1SdCfxbYSJ3ozYYgrDIMkvOgz3k-zzEOpQr2Wrb6T2UGcwbYAliDeoR1YWhD0KPQr87N1it5MNskNuVuVJhJfKKnCbZW4HuJKH5HvZoQjkGFXLYvRB2nC90v_DF3Zm_IxP-7dP00Ipx3crHnDm1CVqUaDpXP/s320/Screenshot%202023-09-24%20at%2010.24.35%20AM.png" width="179" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> My retirement life seems pretty free and open. That misconception was corrected when I looked at what this diagnosis meant for the next while; Young Men Activity Night that evening was out, a proficiency flight with a flight instructor the next day was cancelled, helping a lady at church with her car the following day was a no-go, and our service at the Raleigh Temple on Saturday was not to be. Church attendance today would be considered unpopular, and Hatteras this week doesn't look too probable. though I think I'm on the mend. However...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I mentioned that I'm glad for science. Now a bit of history, if I may be forgiven.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The first 'vaccine' was recognized in the 1700's through the serendipitous realization that milkmaids who had contracted 'cowpox,' a relatively benign disease, were subsequently immune to smallpox, a devastating illness that killed up to a third of its sufferers and significantly scarred many of its survivors. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJCumhSxlu5faVKM-hTcONfpSBUFOuV3fWsTzHwuBD-FTlwEXzIVvtW-vlyHBn1Iso_DO1O0wHFzJ5D-E93t7a3rLFeN8VK2CRMTyIZQdbznMdV58Hwo7i44EUbDvr_PN1RRrQ7JYu1-Ppry4i_7VkkO_-YmeK4QuUYC3j8rTwmWfB0ED4KtujLG-afQ0-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1485" data-original-width="1980" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJCumhSxlu5faVKM-hTcONfpSBUFOuV3fWsTzHwuBD-FTlwEXzIVvtW-vlyHBn1Iso_DO1O0wHFzJ5D-E93t7a3rLFeN8VK2CRMTyIZQdbznMdV58Hwo7i44EUbDvr_PN1RRrQ7JYu1-Ppry4i_7VkkO_-YmeK4QuUYC3j8rTwmWfB0ED4KtujLG-afQ0-=w368-h276" width="368" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Over the next two centuries, many of the infectious diseases that killed so many infants, children and adults in their prime were tamped down by the development of subsequent vaccines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The science that has allowed the near-miraculously swift development of anti-COVID vaccines has been brewing for at least the last twenty years; this was not something that someone thought of in 2020. Their deployment has significantly reduced the likelihood of serious illness and death among those that have contracted this quite-contagious and dangerous virus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6pqbiSuKiZllc82ucSE2yAIP6u5xtJbLxdUR5X0v3FDlY7VZOzPLwhaHy1Iea0vynEy5ZvXtoOp7ZetmCEUAS0qNDdj2O2qAIa3lOm_D1T2gEaHuG7q41uOxf_RGgH4JVDtdbaaAnhT5rcqC1P2vyF3C_AVn0TLZPE6V5Tj1YEcBai1VHyrcRZw6IuY5W" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6pqbiSuKiZllc82ucSE2yAIP6u5xtJbLxdUR5X0v3FDlY7VZOzPLwhaHy1Iea0vynEy5ZvXtoOp7ZetmCEUAS0qNDdj2O2qAIa3lOm_D1T2gEaHuG7q41uOxf_RGgH4JVDtdbaaAnhT5rcqC1P2vyF3C_AVn0TLZPE6V5Tj1YEcBai1VHyrcRZw6IuY5W=w379-h213" width="379" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> So, while I'm bummed about the fun I've missed this week, and while I'm embarrassed about the assistance I wasn't able to offer, I'm very grateful that I've only suffered from what would have been considered a 'bad cold' if I hadn't taken that third test. The hard-won conclusions of legitimate and exhaustive research make me believe that in all likelihood it has only been an inconvenience rather than a catastrophe thanks to good science and its rapid and tireless application. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I'm glad for science. Yeah, just as in Saroyan's case, this life thing isn't going to last forever, but at least I may get to go to Hatteras this week and try to figure out how to use that cool Flysurfer 10-meter foil kite that I perhaps foolishly bought last year. I'll let you know!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0NQvjOE6NtsKLAzwPsMGrOtb77EX9LWQNWULtYJDcTrRpSWiHXQX0h0T6aEYGahmL3igO_CPUR5gVKsno6l14jkfIEUFiTp1k1glN8ETpOKK_tpEikA8AiZKVFPHyu3VHZTHD24LWNyPtBspGmn5y00vnco9porcb3Hj6JxjX_qsARi1GaxVqFD5xOqOS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0NQvjOE6NtsKLAzwPsMGrOtb77EX9LWQNWULtYJDcTrRpSWiHXQX0h0T6aEYGahmL3igO_CPUR5gVKsno6l14jkfIEUFiTp1k1glN8ETpOKK_tpEikA8AiZKVFPHyu3VHZTHD24LWNyPtBspGmn5y00vnco9porcb3Hj6JxjX_qsARi1GaxVqFD5xOqOS=w405-h228" width="405" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Dave</div></div><p></p>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-4933318564825884252023-08-27T16:44:00.006-07:002023-08-27T17:05:47.248-07:00We found it! We found it!<p> <span style="font-family: helvetica;"> We finally found it! After nearly ten days in Norway, we found a piece of trash! On the ground!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u5BzCpsz-0yXzqIMHmWSGTd8KydS9ZF0Sf7ecocUZBT4WagwGY_J9ICWeNFiuWlVUnB8K5DTWPMxSNUd-bJqguqHSsNaheZbUMzqTwHlBnUHfX1uxfTcGrMn9sCGSWqVJPJiM-42rSeAlnADn6iwPKdHefuivNCPuwD6r66oVGcLVR_fmCpPwtZbm_ww/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_0522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u5BzCpsz-0yXzqIMHmWSGTd8KydS9ZF0Sf7ecocUZBT4WagwGY_J9ICWeNFiuWlVUnB8K5DTWPMxSNUd-bJqguqHSsNaheZbUMzqTwHlBnUHfX1uxfTcGrMn9sCGSWqVJPJiM-42rSeAlnADn6iwPKdHefuivNCPuwD6r66oVGcLVR_fmCpPwtZbm_ww/s320/thumbnail_IMG_0522.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> When one finds such an unusual - nay unheard of - object (such as The Loch Ness Monster, Arthur's Sword, Aaron's staff, a functioning Fiat) documentation is necessary.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqduooL6vGCdASjgw3vtGre1jT5cz6LuZiDiWbpPbdNhYK3xGiNWGoJ4xKZCDqDgQPtIH0CczHA5LvnOT_p--0KNVJzDgBQf-Xijrp3w_xDbqhzZjUpvQIzyNz_EGGd2ERDRuCLyPH6KTvwFbyTckQ6eChNj2JoDiz6CmcdrdEkKzuq4OY5PGn9nYkFphZ/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_0520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqduooL6vGCdASjgw3vtGre1jT5cz6LuZiDiWbpPbdNhYK3xGiNWGoJ4xKZCDqDgQPtIH0CczHA5LvnOT_p--0KNVJzDgBQf-Xijrp3w_xDbqhzZjUpvQIzyNz_EGGd2ERDRuCLyPH6KTvwFbyTckQ6eChNj2JoDiz6CmcdrdEkKzuq4OY5PGn9nYkFphZ/s320/thumbnail_IMG_0520.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> My apologies for not using the metric system in that picture; it's the standard in Norway, which only became a country in 1905. Before then, it was part of Denmark-Norway, no, make that Denmark/Sweden/Norway, before then the Kalmar Union, OK, and the Holdenberg Dynasty years, and when the Treaty of Kiel gave Norway to Sweden (again)... As I mentioned, in 1905 it became an independent nation, and being sick and tired of all the previous entanglements (though a founding member of NATO), it has voted repeatedly against being part of the European Union. Because of that, you can't pay for things in Euros. Instead, the national currency covers everything:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-znRSBjSSl2daMKtC6QaLanasQBdGHwGb44Ott_1F8tH3kYq5VfzvaFrPbcodTS3L1DgVX5bRzxVIt6EnfBxcd-8JVfd4Sqnn8F_16plkwvsWc4Pbnc4GxxZPY2Mtl8nP1--M3kQk7LVL41gu0JLS4fvp_psu9uMsF8bPEl7wz2mIF3XGzzFivw0M2Nc/s800/scan-contactless-card-hands-800x450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-znRSBjSSl2daMKtC6QaLanasQBdGHwGb44Ott_1F8tH3kYq5VfzvaFrPbcodTS3L1DgVX5bRzxVIt6EnfBxcd-8JVfd4Sqnn8F_16plkwvsWc4Pbnc4GxxZPY2Mtl8nP1--M3kQk7LVL41gu0JLS4fvp_psu9uMsF8bPEl7wz2mIF3XGzzFivw0M2Nc/w408-h229/scan-contactless-card-hands-800x450.jpg" width="408" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Norwegians are tough. Only three percent of their territory can be farmed. On the other hand, if you're good at geometry, you'll realize that because of the lack of flatness in Norwegian topography,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRu2-CSCHsMmZpM8Jaf-QKo4yWldmhRAuguxaIndU0js2RyAZhjLkOn5BNI0pDtEQJj7I_2gBZ34WQQwyOezKudV7i823fshrVbzbBzN_4ZfQRkRYW4yjWsDKB0GFFrx7fVC4OOB-oRDABAUtnFqWHMEuuHLazWnezjNeSKG3-Pn8aeLtTJIbMEBH0q4Q/s252/360_F_314249738_bBXWTbIjgErdC14x4R7IFOEOrHW3v0zN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="252" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRu2-CSCHsMmZpM8Jaf-QKo4yWldmhRAuguxaIndU0js2RyAZhjLkOn5BNI0pDtEQJj7I_2gBZ34WQQwyOezKudV7i823fshrVbzbBzN_4ZfQRkRYW4yjWsDKB0GFFrx7fVC4OOB-oRDABAUtnFqWHMEuuHLazWnezjNeSKG3-Pn8aeLtTJIbMEBH0q4Q/s1600/360_F_314249738_bBXWTbIjgErdC14x4R7IFOEOrHW3v0zN.jpg" width="252" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it may be actually up to four percent if you count the tilted surface area.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qy7xCAwfI8Q6XULs8rcUBQiseqHnxsL6abfsY8pTHwFAYKWHZqR2Xc2h9rFUcYFX9l217cT5QFZ8n44oIlZByBw7TiN0jUD-YyK1x5kWlhZURpMdgnh5US2ue-St_dzutPizwmv82ahQg-jnkq--Vpw_kx3_3N4uNxMwxSEf_FYWplm3MbYl4bc4y0HV/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qy7xCAwfI8Q6XULs8rcUBQiseqHnxsL6abfsY8pTHwFAYKWHZqR2Xc2h9rFUcYFX9l217cT5QFZ8n44oIlZByBw7TiN0jUD-YyK1x5kWlhZURpMdgnh5US2ue-St_dzutPizwmv82ahQg-jnkq--Vpw_kx3_3N4uNxMwxSEf_FYWplm3MbYl4bc4y0HV/w561-h316/maxresdefault.jpg" width="561" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> However, as is typical in much of the world, the water in Norway is level. The Norwegians have taken advantage of this, and they are a largely-maritime people. The ocean invades much of the country in the form of fjords (don't hurt yourself, it's pronounced like "fyords), the longest of which is Sognefjorden, (as I said, don't hurt yourself) at 175 miles in length, winding its way into the heart of the long, skinny country.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMnQ40cR6ciKGgsHsjl3EQ_WjeRdMqG8RHWjV-OiQzKNXKjJfqijRzTWPCHsTLAuLub12b0NCQIIGEOSaTllvtDz6ItGLKVgwpPhbJs2bTMCj6x_Qsou75J4ILwvYLjvy9aMe8eFERpfsLwI7Qnopua1Dp8nu-Lx4P0anQESa_kLixFqQjfW_bbZnU7YJ/s4032/IMG_0070.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMnQ40cR6ciKGgsHsjl3EQ_WjeRdMqG8RHWjV-OiQzKNXKjJfqijRzTWPCHsTLAuLub12b0NCQIIGEOSaTllvtDz6ItGLKVgwpPhbJs2bTMCj6x_Qsou75J4ILwvYLjvy9aMe8eFERpfsLwI7Qnopua1Dp8nu-Lx4P0anQESa_kLixFqQjfW_bbZnU7YJ/w329-h439/IMG_0070.JPG" width="329" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The fjords snake all over the place.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8nRMNCnMI_VMU7U0vI8vOoo-3TkxeK3NUlFFSTT4BxTRYF-RBFa4XlfxxNssVPuVFFcsTlfT7FLOIXSzyyn-SwtC9hul_pJtBVGvYgwi33Y8zRkxWqoWRsOuHmXhCcqM6IHTXAWc9eZAu0FR_vd-v96wkK_LU9-Cml18ExyG70IULPNaUYp7Npwg0vC1/s1324/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20070529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1324" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8nRMNCnMI_VMU7U0vI8vOoo-3TkxeK3NUlFFSTT4BxTRYF-RBFa4XlfxxNssVPuVFFcsTlfT7FLOIXSzyyn-SwtC9hul_pJtBVGvYgwi33Y8zRkxWqoWRsOuHmXhCcqM6IHTXAWc9eZAu0FR_vd-v96wkK_LU9-Cml18ExyG70IULPNaUYp7Npwg0vC1/w388-h272/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20070529.jpg" width="388" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> While only the 61st country size-wise in the world, Norway is No. 2 for coastline, coming in right after Canada. I mean, you can't swing a smoked salmon-covered bagel without hitting a piece of coastline.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Remember the Vikings? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEeE7Hd9rC6_VdaqQ7vJETg4th-2ueyFe4GRLij_M9cbObVUf6IamW_8fYM9AD37lb2q8X_kHXtgQ88b3ULR96ZE5Lr47GT4cTK4W7h0dzgT1A-tgnf85pT0UO7Gl4uiMF3nrYP43UiGZAF388Ez7jYtn7O5K9okyWGRdmdt_veze1Cp33FEy1QjNK1nbM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEeE7Hd9rC6_VdaqQ7vJETg4th-2ueyFe4GRLij_M9cbObVUf6IamW_8fYM9AD37lb2q8X_kHXtgQ88b3ULR96ZE5Lr47GT4cTK4W7h0dzgT1A-tgnf85pT0UO7Gl4uiMF3nrYP43UiGZAF388Ez7jYtn7O5K9okyWGRdmdt_veze1Cp33FEy1QjNK1nbM" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <span>Oops! Wrong Vikings! </span><span> </span><span>Well, you know what I mean, the guys with horns on their helmets. Actually, the real Vikings never did that. The only metal helmet ever recovered from that era (found in 1943 on the Gjermundbu farm, and don't even try to pronounce it) lacked horns</span><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="background-color: white;">.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Those apparently didn't come into vogue until the costume guy in a Wagner opera got the bright idea in the 1870's. So now you can tell the seven year old at your door on Halloween that he's historically inaccurate. Spoil sport. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The real ones figured out that other folks had more farmland than they did and so they started branching out a bit, sharing the prosperity. You know, "What's yours is mine and what's mine is mine." That actually was just a phase, around the 9th to the 11th centuries, and while pillage was involved in some parts, there was also a whole lot of legitimate exploring, colonization and influencing cultures as far flung as present Russia. See "Greenland," "Iceland," "Faroe Islands," "Ireland," "Vinland" (now commonly referred to as "North America,") and others.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> As anyone who has seen the final conflict scene in <i>Mission Impossible: Fallout</i> is aware, the scenery is nothing short of spectacular. 'Breathtaking' comes close, but it and photographs don't convey how crazy big and open the place feels. I won't tell you how the fight scene ends here on Pulpit Rock and ruin it for you except that Tom Cruise doesn't die. Duh.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskFokvzqfLfXPW0fzrleLn8k8f9yxXNc1nr84Mr7tSsJR37NvJjkV1CWeU7j8gs2mhJwZjEATXZabutuRGZ67bF50M-Jw6vqSBLX6_ozvUtcTfpksmYlyxdSLbyphZ_vKn24Tqfu9uoA8ATBKiU8eyIPCX_H0U1eQp_SA9SYQjXUIgzq1FJCHcM7QpcY_/s1574/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%204.39.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="1176" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskFokvzqfLfXPW0fzrleLn8k8f9yxXNc1nr84Mr7tSsJR37NvJjkV1CWeU7j8gs2mhJwZjEATXZabutuRGZ67bF50M-Jw6vqSBLX6_ozvUtcTfpksmYlyxdSLbyphZ_vKn24Tqfu9uoA8ATBKiU8eyIPCX_H0U1eQp_SA9SYQjXUIgzq1FJCHcM7QpcY_/w400-h536/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%204.39.51%20PM.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOdefI2xxTDNj0JEceJtAnk9uaL-DhAxB91PHQhRkPZu5AutAabI5Yydm12hIVwyK3GeTL5v1ZymJXqqCAIl2txGiGjvpzjwRR8T-s58770pcjC_OKRGFauyeXwhQ1tR3QdUV-j_NoFrvBPiVydnNZXZ_qu3-vI1bJQtxSWUjLhHwVD9yTCJURFYBrmU4/s1568/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%203.15.42%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="1178" height="535" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOdefI2xxTDNj0JEceJtAnk9uaL-DhAxB91PHQhRkPZu5AutAabI5Yydm12hIVwyK3GeTL5v1ZymJXqqCAIl2txGiGjvpzjwRR8T-s58770pcjC_OKRGFauyeXwhQ1tR3QdUV-j_NoFrvBPiVydnNZXZ_qu3-vI1bJQtxSWUjLhHwVD9yTCJURFYBrmU4/w406-h535/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%203.15.42%20PM.png" width="406" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9qr9liX0mUIICu6farcxUmpX4JSZDXuoQ_gPaclMmMUfoMe9LEqBbA5XflIwd-9qIoL16pCiQo2mnJrHaL1Qfj0wWRKPNmkiD8CeTUyPdKilTcLzlvqxJ3OXie_Vk2Leobezb0umfRdycE_x5ZQxbaGjKOksIp2WQQd2FWuUaWO0swmdjZXcXrz-JkXO/s2072/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%203.17.38%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="2072" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9qr9liX0mUIICu6farcxUmpX4JSZDXuoQ_gPaclMmMUfoMe9LEqBbA5XflIwd-9qIoL16pCiQo2mnJrHaL1Qfj0wWRKPNmkiD8CeTUyPdKilTcLzlvqxJ3OXie_Vk2Leobezb0umfRdycE_x5ZQxbaGjKOksIp2WQQd2FWuUaWO0swmdjZXcXrz-JkXO/w565-h428/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%203.17.38%20PM.png" width="565" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz0317Z-XHwu-2PnHGCQifzKvQDJDjOQtl7-BRmNOnmuxjGTEc0vdIj8h_qn2fbR0KvX0KK3C0Z_4JB0AruPZEYxPv22tKdSqYM2n08gmiQCt7nRhIhYZ5FXNFfYv3XvGFZVqBbwdnksIiTIIfkFB0qUogujKtltE4hf_GaD2aqE3lDeGyCcysEowTEuK/s1556/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%207.13.24%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1556" data-original-width="1172" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz0317Z-XHwu-2PnHGCQifzKvQDJDjOQtl7-BRmNOnmuxjGTEc0vdIj8h_qn2fbR0KvX0KK3C0Z_4JB0AruPZEYxPv22tKdSqYM2n08gmiQCt7nRhIhYZ5FXNFfYv3XvGFZVqBbwdnksIiTIIfkFB0qUogujKtltE4hf_GaD2aqE3lDeGyCcysEowTEuK/w333-h442/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%207.13.24%20PM.png" width="333" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbfUl185-FVx3OwVxYVg9lI7RStRCZz68DvZedKZjZNEoTczXNMSFwVxJPMdqiAaw6RqNu8ZMoBoBG7MKn8PERzPjwyBampAW-7obz0LJtqRNgxjz-cYAMngUhpHUH58Jd7cVcLa1G_g0yoSr5CX5uPmmD2tXbleIXKaLt9PHawCvjNGj2lzh3TphSyHF/s1664/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%207.14.34%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="1664" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbfUl185-FVx3OwVxYVg9lI7RStRCZz68DvZedKZjZNEoTczXNMSFwVxJPMdqiAaw6RqNu8ZMoBoBG7MKn8PERzPjwyBampAW-7obz0LJtqRNgxjz-cYAMngUhpHUH58Jd7cVcLa1G_g0yoSr5CX5uPmmD2tXbleIXKaLt9PHawCvjNGj2lzh3TphSyHF/w534-h401/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%207.14.34%20PM.png" width="534" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> We couldn't find anything ugly in the whole country, except when Paula, giggling, told me to look in the mirror. Nice.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #303030;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span>Beginning in the late 1930's, the G.H.Bass shoe company's "Weejuns" became popular here in the States. These "penny loafers" peaked somewhere in the 1970's, and I remember finally getting a pair as a teenager. I think I've had some ever since. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #303030;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> However, the real story goes back to Norway. <span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: #1f2021;">Nils Tveranger apparently spent some time in the US and was intrigued by Iriquois moccasins. He combined these with some traditional Norwegian footwear features and started manufacturing his shoes in Aurland, Norway in the early 1900's. Some of these made their way back to the US and, you guessed it, were copied by the Bass shoe company and called Weejuns. Get it? Norwegian? Weejun? Call me if that's unclear. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #303030;"><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: #1f2021; font-family: helvetica;"> You can still drop by the Aurland Shoe Company and even stroll around the small factory, where friendly folks are still turning out handmade loafers. Really, really nice handmade loafers. And not with pennies, no, no. They include a 10 <i>kronner</i> coin in the slot. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #303030;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZkU_-jl5uKxvg3p-8qHVy0nHwyIguppOwU06tNUlfWzbzsL-6u34hk0a8B_uBwlO1JbV2aPHiulFJTqiE6Y8Iez00m36BGsNf0blM3V5tk13_HTekkg2_gfp4zsa7ymvyC0mx0TCzzQCJu86SzFsklnIMGUiScw0WJ0UoMHGgFbwuC6aJVm_2sHVHoWY/s2086/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%206.24.46%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2086" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZkU_-jl5uKxvg3p-8qHVy0nHwyIguppOwU06tNUlfWzbzsL-6u34hk0a8B_uBwlO1JbV2aPHiulFJTqiE6Y8Iez00m36BGsNf0blM3V5tk13_HTekkg2_gfp4zsa7ymvyC0mx0TCzzQCJu86SzFsklnIMGUiScw0WJ0UoMHGgFbwuC6aJVm_2sHVHoWY/w416-h311/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%206.24.46%20PM.png" width="416" /></span></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> In a country sliced up vertically by the Ice Age and the resultant <i>fjords</i>, transportation was iffy for the first fifteen thousand years after most of the ice melted and people started moving in. Farms are small and isolated and were accessed by boats and horses: the low population density didn't warrant much else. Some early railway attempts for logging came and went, and only took hold in the less-rugged parts of the country by the mid- to late-1800's. Ferries were, and still are, common for navigating the fjords. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl9Y2YY-yXvcCR9rZ2CsBFa3f3xLEaZJ9uf1w6ceNSXw5yChmZS0B1ef0nIhqs3YUmgHjvGwlZvSqCrPnzEARDgmiMeD9RnGE73Hvm5WDTEqWa8baqzrQhCcQL5YdvLXg-5Zw6_1fA1nj-0WCLVptgWjRqb3CBQFNon-1k3Vo7_EXtJO9Ktjl1tcNRZLF_" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1200" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl9Y2YY-yXvcCR9rZ2CsBFa3f3xLEaZJ9uf1w6ceNSXw5yChmZS0B1ef0nIhqs3YUmgHjvGwlZvSqCrPnzEARDgmiMeD9RnGE73Hvm5WDTEqWa8baqzrQhCcQL5YdvLXg-5Zw6_1fA1nj-0WCLVptgWjRqb3CBQFNon-1k3Vo7_EXtJO9Ktjl1tcNRZLF_=w460-h326" width="460" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> And by the way, tipped off by a nice lady we met at church in Oslo, we learned that several of the ferries offer - get this - hot dogs with big cheese-infested sausages wrapped in bacon. You just gotta love a country that offers suicide on a bun while crossing a gorgeous piece of water<i>.</i> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjycL7vTcNLVUoOmsMfub20bSXaPrPwBvoVRz1DsQoLI-y6qp5Yi48Nnn6EZ3XczywfYauuBoT6BH3bNITSvge0pePsUsTZm6UaP86kfAtZVw9_cbjS3PmXL715k8lc0J-kIoz1hi5XU6e1sGruMw43P0jTfSrbKicHoDdzKqPep_Nye07BQwM4nh7goiZ2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjycL7vTcNLVUoOmsMfub20bSXaPrPwBvoVRz1DsQoLI-y6qp5Yi48Nnn6EZ3XczywfYauuBoT6BH3bNITSvge0pePsUsTZm6UaP86kfAtZVw9_cbjS3PmXL715k8lc0J-kIoz1hi5XU6e1sGruMw43P0jTfSrbKicHoDdzKqPep_Nye07BQwM4nh7goiZ2=w231-h307" width="231" /></span></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <span>However, f<span style="color: #303030; text-align: center;">or more than a century, Norwegian experts have built the largest, longest, deepest and most complex underground projects in the world to get around the problem. They have the deepest subsea tunnel, in which your ears pop descending more than 1,000 feet under water, and the longest roadway tunnel, at 15.2 miles, the Laerdalsoyri to Aurlandsvangen tunnel (don't tick off any Norwegians by trying to say that, OK?), but which tunnel frankly lacks much of a view. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #303030; font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgH6oc-5fvHX4q7CznPSlRYf-gQJk0FYddbNGh4IVY3BabMhGYnyX62vdNB7XN1xGEceZkqFFzW7tbbxloQ1IoOcm946Jaf4z8hEv0A1h6T4rNeuFuIiQdiTjCc_xtwgu1_JwnWX07LN1fEsGN-jJAVD0RMTUjjP66WT5CgvrH8woWHbiNBJSHQvbM4R1yD" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgH6oc-5fvHX4q7CznPSlRYf-gQJk0FYddbNGh4IVY3BabMhGYnyX62vdNB7XN1xGEceZkqFFzW7tbbxloQ1IoOcm946Jaf4z8hEv0A1h6T4rNeuFuIiQdiTjCc_xtwgu1_JwnWX07LN1fEsGN-jJAVD0RMTUjjP66WT5CgvrH8woWHbiNBJSHQvbM4R1yD=w387-h290" width="387" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> These guys are <i>serious</i> about tunneling. If you qualify, you can become a member of The (very real) Norwegian Tunneling Society, but I understand that the entry bar is quite high. Apparently, you have to prove (Family Search?) that somewhere in your genealogy there is the suggestion of a relation to a Norwegian mountain troll.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GY52BSVVKSZjRZXszDpihQcOQRKt3SfqBXBfqoTciqgqebCa3j6nzPV9vetJ32siNLQE1oCLm3gspH2fn6dVZ6pp2JV4VvostwfoL2UCM-Js0YKpBbEiNRQzpBE_lPV4UbaniV68HK96j5MSZd2mdCVw18QbFlDng29kUf5DMQba7VGAMvllvTv3FcR4/s1216/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%206.08.16%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1206" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GY52BSVVKSZjRZXszDpihQcOQRKt3SfqBXBfqoTciqgqebCa3j6nzPV9vetJ32siNLQE1oCLm3gspH2fn6dVZ6pp2JV4VvostwfoL2UCM-Js0YKpBbEiNRQzpBE_lPV4UbaniV68HK96j5MSZd2mdCVw18QbFlDng29kUf5DMQba7VGAMvllvTv3FcR4/s320/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%206.08.16%20PM.png" width="317" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Great Uncle Hjalmar Dorumsgaard</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I don't know; chalk it up to long winters when the engineers were bored and doodling by their wood stoves, but plans have been solidified and specifications sent to bidders to build the first <i>ship</i> tunnel of any size under a mountain range to connect two waterways. Great Uncle Hjalmar would be proud. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1Pa0718Ei1jCCFvsDt3xlJ6eqG4x8-COUViXj_nPtKsxPun2aBdXpXQD9CxS4J3axXIJJzf5jNSVCh3qyrlxCuVk8rKfr8tj5cDSGnMzGfl1YP7sfcWeCHR0Ln7Zgac173Y_EgKAYTYp6H3AN4UnuVEdnBZyUC602dZcEYia7o29tlZNgRrX_5R0tT__1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1Pa0718Ei1jCCFvsDt3xlJ6eqG4x8-COUViXj_nPtKsxPun2aBdXpXQD9CxS4J3axXIJJzf5jNSVCh3qyrlxCuVk8rKfr8tj5cDSGnMzGfl1YP7sfcWeCHR0Ln7Zgac173Y_EgKAYTYp6H3AN4UnuVEdnBZyUC602dZcEYia7o29tlZNgRrX_5R0tT__1=w287-h287" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Several cruise lines are concerned that the water slide and bungee-jumping towers may not fit. Oh, darn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Norway leads the world in energy self-sufficiency. 98% of its electricity comes from hydroelectric power, and the remainder from wind. It has the highest percentage of electric vehicles in the world. Eighty percent of new vehicles purchased there are electric, and twenty percent of all vehicles on the road are electric, including the Bimmer we rented.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_r4IJ0w9AmseU-Wpt4yz1GAG7p7bjGQPVXyMhkVxNv2yr0jMPRx92R7s7AVzNFOMX53ok2nuyllWh1tkgnr8y4KmeEF2CcF7qhNtQxL3JO6ExCnsgUm_MMwuFk3PxmnDQ11UfCEdxWqiiNLdahfqbM9ej5jfs0cHZAKBQAgLmBtU8bGz7yPCIJvHcfHF/s1950/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%207.17.50%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="1950" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_r4IJ0w9AmseU-Wpt4yz1GAG7p7bjGQPVXyMhkVxNv2yr0jMPRx92R7s7AVzNFOMX53ok2nuyllWh1tkgnr8y4KmeEF2CcF7qhNtQxL3JO6ExCnsgUm_MMwuFk3PxmnDQ11UfCEdxWqiiNLdahfqbM9ej5jfs0cHZAKBQAgLmBtU8bGz7yPCIJvHcfHF/w399-h284/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%207.17.50%20PM.png" width="399" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And you don't really have to speak Norwegian to guess what that writing means on our dirty bumper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Anyway, nice car, but it took at least a half day for four sixty-somethings (Paula, me, my brother Mark and his wife Amy) even with our tech-savvy daughter Ashley around, to figure out the charging puzzle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1siEKjskP0_k1l8jCz5UDfpB0-zUmwTJrG0CEBRaUj0VSwHslXlQpqkedFc1qHBTeb9jK-EmFtkVbrnW-nzMHpLPnVehglh1cV9woKDYyBe2XPpuG-r2uBi_Sxf-KJO5WHTQJZyhj-BxS_n0_GsrFayKsjt1IMfI8cVl_Wvw0AogfIIWW3s5widPzFV5a/s1246/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%207.22.39%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1246" data-original-width="932" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1siEKjskP0_k1l8jCz5UDfpB0-zUmwTJrG0CEBRaUj0VSwHslXlQpqkedFc1qHBTeb9jK-EmFtkVbrnW-nzMHpLPnVehglh1cV9woKDYyBe2XPpuG-r2uBi_Sxf-KJO5WHTQJZyhj-BxS_n0_GsrFayKsjt1IMfI8cVl_Wvw0AogfIIWW3s5widPzFV5a/w316-h424/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%207.22.39%20PM.png" width="316" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We started a race to figure out who could get the most working iPhone apps linked to different charging stations, and of course Ashley won, being some twenty-five years younger than the rest of the party. We got the hang of it after a few days, and started feeling very twenty-first-century-ish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;"> As mentioned above, Norwegians are a tough people. When the famous Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen learned that Robert Peary had reached the North Pole first, he said, "Ikke noe problem. Gi meg et kart," roughly translated as "Dadgum it. No problem. Let me see the map," and headed south. In a boat designed and built to withstand being caught long-term in polar ice and with his co-explorer Fridjtoff Nansen (below, and a guy I would not want to get in a fight with on an ice floe)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNbV2yEhFsQjMfjLeGqfvNMVWdsJwAxtVeLthjKze98XYQWBJjVDObGJMxYgepWSKd0Mvkp7EVX0uHyg8SfHT9HuRx7Jik2sXNdOX85-0RI5PffxL2E0Mz3SRHeKNv2eGVIC4xMFp28KSLd2eFJgbm4iHr4fpplCwmMs12GZhzFu2EzA9sDoOCHQb5WvaR" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4960" data-original-width="3472" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNbV2yEhFsQjMfjLeGqfvNMVWdsJwAxtVeLthjKze98XYQWBJjVDObGJMxYgepWSKd0Mvkp7EVX0uHyg8SfHT9HuRx7Jik2sXNdOX85-0RI5PffxL2E0Mz3SRHeKNv2eGVIC4xMFp28KSLd2eFJgbm4iHr4fpplCwmMs12GZhzFu2EzA9sDoOCHQb5WvaR=w305-h435" width="305" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">they set off for the <i>South</i> Pole and bagged it on dogsleds. The account of their assault on the Pole speaks of their courage, preparation and sheer Norwegian toughness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Their vessel, the <i>Fram, </i>which in Norwegian means "Fram," was kept afloat afterward, and in 1933 was dragged ashore by tough Norwegian guys in Oslo, and the museum built around it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxjv3-IAVai5D58RxrUPnyqmtylAxiMfOfwv91aG8pkY-SJet4FfyXkN3kftwJ8Eu0uNFy4KPwAy2hdgVr-NX7XtCv3HjvGTx8MTqjFzdERY8BUJX13TGjHx9tD4yTc0MfmcjVXNbK4DAYrHiDbzDhzkywvsvobeJOvAtiEwcyLiKwBLBOLjb5b1cBuGQo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="540" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxjv3-IAVai5D58RxrUPnyqmtylAxiMfOfwv91aG8pkY-SJet4FfyXkN3kftwJ8Eu0uNFy4KPwAy2hdgVr-NX7XtCv3HjvGTx8MTqjFzdERY8BUJX13TGjHx9tD4yTc0MfmcjVXNbK4DAYrHiDbzDhzkywvsvobeJOvAtiEwcyLiKwBLBOLjb5b1cBuGQo=w416-h314" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Now you can tour the very boat that Amundsen and his company used, and it is very impressive in its construction and their quarters and storage. There is a piano, sewing machines for sails and clothing, a metal forge for repairs, every crew member had their own cabin, they ate together in a sort-of large mess, etc. Very, very impressive. However, I'm still OK living in Raleigh. Where we have some really scary thunderstorms every once in a while. Oh, yeah, and it froze twice last winter. Just awful. </div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> All told, Norway is a fascinating, gorgeous country, understandably proud of its accomplishments. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUAXYM4wdq9i3M0aXQQAto3tMyLZFp1EmE6Z7Mcvoncw6X_lUrtuM1VeIh45ncsPB8dIZjeoQFAPa3wMZzm02_HuYKkGPcPLe2HqUTkWZFJXMi_w5dDXGQg1woT7BA3OQcsu2BC7G4t825HTZuQeyW0oT-H_OtcFjO1fY5sRAz5TCb8lzF_7OKjcZ6_kW/s1466/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%206.28.18%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="1168" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUAXYM4wdq9i3M0aXQQAto3tMyLZFp1EmE6Z7Mcvoncw6X_lUrtuM1VeIh45ncsPB8dIZjeoQFAPa3wMZzm02_HuYKkGPcPLe2HqUTkWZFJXMi_w5dDXGQg1woT7BA3OQcsu2BC7G4t825HTZuQeyW0oT-H_OtcFjO1fY5sRAz5TCb8lzF_7OKjcZ6_kW/w368-h462/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%206.28.18%20PM.png" width="368" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I don't know if this blog post will ever end up on Trip Advisor, but we would most heartily endorse a visit to Norway. It is very, very, extremely <i>kjolig, </i>which Google says means "cool."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave & Paula</div></div></div></span></span></div></div></div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-61992825842319065082023-08-23T15:50:00.002-07:002023-08-23T17:25:11.724-07:00Vital Signs - of Norway!<p> We recently had the immense good fortune of traveling in Norway for a couple of weeks. We rented a car, and so we had to be sure we were clear on the signs along the way. Some were easy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMqZx-btqwiUQtZQkWPSnJYTAySbjknBtyeTqjQg1VcltQXLwkAIr03hwDFM0VwG5XbJnOfCjaDR8TjRT9DFlWB0XMwIPefIGemscjRbIt3P9VVKNNgFyRhdM1jgl6ySlMpJ7bGg8cicD9wemaNekYt6FAm7YtJ68z7iIho6dG34qyPB6_3s6Rl17ERSC/s1270/Screenshot%202023-08-23%20145538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1270" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMqZx-btqwiUQtZQkWPSnJYTAySbjknBtyeTqjQg1VcltQXLwkAIr03hwDFM0VwG5XbJnOfCjaDR8TjRT9DFlWB0XMwIPefIGemscjRbIt3P9VVKNNgFyRhdM1jgl6ySlMpJ7bGg8cicD9wemaNekYt6FAm7YtJ68z7iIho6dG34qyPB6_3s6Rl17ERSC/w340-h277/Screenshot%202023-08-23%20145538.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Nope, that's not Norwegian, but we have seen similar "Stop" signs in a lot of countries. OK, easy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This one was also straightforward, though I was not aware that Norwegian fish had antennae. I was careful to avoid catching one anyway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecFjkGXn2Ig-ZUbeHwbOEfMFUE_7c7yC9mN01rvEuvwcEI9ZzNShAsOmw7PAvzPrAC52XCcZ1725AFKbX4FVoPJHonZTYkhgG6mP5-v8BtrwrmeeT24JzC9wJeoZNyHhaw9geo6FXJSQh2PfeIf2-Id5yWDt_reBJjXhi02NMCYuGkJnyXr3rZlzLoKZb/s4032/IMG_0235.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecFjkGXn2Ig-ZUbeHwbOEfMFUE_7c7yC9mN01rvEuvwcEI9ZzNShAsOmw7PAvzPrAC52XCcZ1725AFKbX4FVoPJHonZTYkhgG6mP5-v8BtrwrmeeT24JzC9wJeoZNyHhaw9geo6FXJSQh2PfeIf2-Id5yWDt_reBJjXhi02NMCYuGkJnyXr3rZlzLoKZb/s320/IMG_0235.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This sign was a little bit graphic, but once again, the meaning was clear, even without speaking Norwegian.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yEs-n_4zxfJy9YwQbmazLEvj3wzcdQfHndI8L9RZCF2ncG3FSmwTHvX_0nKpl7vr570ZnNBCzqVoWTW5wdWPJwC1X_Uif8IGq7hxyMMGDqCQc1RycQjzUURgiJ08g-ZuNnr6lom1QEmqXNcnbgCiJ77dKUvaHtXIm9_Uz99zx-14SzOhMB7_GZyG-utL/s3291/Falling%20rocks%20with%20bike.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3291" data-original-width="2538" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yEs-n_4zxfJy9YwQbmazLEvj3wzcdQfHndI8L9RZCF2ncG3FSmwTHvX_0nKpl7vr570ZnNBCzqVoWTW5wdWPJwC1X_Uif8IGq7hxyMMGDqCQc1RycQjzUURgiJ08g-ZuNnr6lom1QEmqXNcnbgCiJ77dKUvaHtXIm9_Uz99zx-14SzOhMB7_GZyG-utL/w300-h389/Falling%20rocks%20with%20bike.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> On the other hand, the blue part of it got a little tougher. I finally concluded that it was a command to do tricks if you brought a bicycle, though really the scenery seemed sufficiently amazing just by itself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We had to conclude that, maybe because of the long, boring winters, the populace must be into stunts using transportation modes, as in this sign:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegs2qA9ezVNz85c23Ponl9n7m5eCHZ8dAMYpKPB65N0A8RRt7QS0I503B5egvd7crgmz2tyiI4NlmU3sIgw5qjyMUYNs5zR92j4AQC2lEeTR9k-iZPEWEWniGFAG1snykxW06ovoDxKDFCPVjNUmlTtnBF4xmFXNvjsPWl_e1DvMLPHMG_FJA_yOU7paY/s830/113-1137829_600px-uk-traffic-sign-no-motor-vehicles-road.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="820" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegs2qA9ezVNz85c23Ponl9n7m5eCHZ8dAMYpKPB65N0A8RRt7QS0I503B5egvd7crgmz2tyiI4NlmU3sIgw5qjyMUYNs5zR92j4AQC2lEeTR9k-iZPEWEWniGFAG1snykxW06ovoDxKDFCPVjNUmlTtnBF4xmFXNvjsPWl_e1DvMLPHMG_FJA_yOU7paY/s320/113-1137829_600px-uk-traffic-sign-no-motor-vehicles-road.png" width="316" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Who knew it? There may well be a Norwegian named Evel Kneivelsen, though I did not meet him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> There were various crossing signs. This one was easily understandable:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCELikozDLFAcDfbP9J5So-oyaMY0QUtaMP7HSY9jAyuVTTywEF4_HswhBSLeD-AP2dNBsxhLtaOHZWLIthvPahQhPfEH9ItoGVU1CvUOIk77vcFNxV9BGL73dHmXAnZFrQOa6fTJnvLeI90ZNMmh6Ejdz2QWWlQ1ruH9FbWj22JgLXV13EuJytbW9dcK/s1150/Moose%20crossing%20sign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1150" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCELikozDLFAcDfbP9J5So-oyaMY0QUtaMP7HSY9jAyuVTTywEF4_HswhBSLeD-AP2dNBsxhLtaOHZWLIthvPahQhPfEH9ItoGVU1CvUOIk77vcFNxV9BGL73dHmXAnZFrQOa6fTJnvLeI90ZNMmh6Ejdz2QWWlQ1ruH9FbWj22JgLXV13EuJytbW9dcK/s320/Moose%20crossing%20sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I have to say that our moose (mooses? meese?) in the U.S. can do better than 0.1-6 km. I have personally been chased by one in Yellowstone, and I swear he was doing AT LEAST 40 mph.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We were warned of other possible things crossing the motorway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBySg2XKVlphotX_9wmsIj6Ou_sbCGAmb5HZ7Y3XdQ9YTXP6NcM7JTJTpDwZNshnOclwnyrpbVUrvLkyzCr1eu_CtsWiav8S8DmAV-hMB0zheaghqxGKY7SIUnDJYxnYMzK3tr3GCw01yhtnlXYZq47fg8nJfiMEa5FG9LKVv1YNKtxlkPitZJYIDAt7f/s1341/kids%20crossing%20sign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="990" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBySg2XKVlphotX_9wmsIj6Ou_sbCGAmb5HZ7Y3XdQ9YTXP6NcM7JTJTpDwZNshnOclwnyrpbVUrvLkyzCr1eu_CtsWiav8S8DmAV-hMB0zheaghqxGKY7SIUnDJYxnYMzK3tr3GCw01yhtnlXYZq47fg8nJfiMEa5FG9LKVv1YNKtxlkPitZJYIDAt7f/s320/kids%20crossing%20sign.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The Norwegians have us on this one. Apparently, their kids cross the road doing 60, and it looks like they're not even breaking a sweat. I was surprised that her pigtails were not blonde.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Then it got a little weird.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytogNb61ENzy8i8nh0oEx3LhfvccGbxI4Wwn2igCxld7d_XB3ag2EayJfQ4CZ4_Bi_npavkYEvECy2cgZVpxc5v-XMX1JzuRND62oa14ibYpbnvFw9_xLgNp_L6mqzxRwyJoy77soiXEKnBgZNHr1JvFz0kEgxDA9zovSsED5eEMswhoqfZWc07wO-pEN/s2880/image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1919" data-original-width="2880" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytogNb61ENzy8i8nh0oEx3LhfvccGbxI4Wwn2igCxld7d_XB3ag2EayJfQ4CZ4_Bi_npavkYEvECy2cgZVpxc5v-XMX1JzuRND62oa14ibYpbnvFw9_xLgNp_L6mqzxRwyJoy77soiXEKnBgZNHr1JvFz0kEgxDA9zovSsED5eEMswhoqfZWc07wO-pEN/w408-h272/image.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This one was clear: Slow down or there may not even be coal in your stocking next year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUiW07qlm0lUhlUj7zTZlZ6rV3ueXvH6A8ZxP2mTtoVHwYRqoR-F6x430dAR2BVVWT-z5bxZN3pAx0uKDqvrsA_BK2MlAOzwn1ONtPUwVovVxwfvWRu6pGS9DWkje8VyOokVrdGKrG9oCHkr_42RJ8WaBXbZsx8xbhaZ6mHNIJzQoQucjB9K_1Vf-PK4f/s700/4476a87cc1c19bcdf23596c1aa916980.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="700" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUiW07qlm0lUhlUj7zTZlZ6rV3ueXvH6A8ZxP2mTtoVHwYRqoR-F6x430dAR2BVVWT-z5bxZN3pAx0uKDqvrsA_BK2MlAOzwn1ONtPUwVovVxwfvWRu6pGS9DWkje8VyOokVrdGKrG9oCHkr_42RJ8WaBXbZsx8xbhaZ6mHNIJzQoQucjB9K_1Vf-PK4f/w374-h299/4476a87cc1c19bcdf23596c1aa916980.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Poultry Pride is big in the country, as shown by this sign, offering the view of a really cool bird.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkCmvicFaDn5601LglOUVavHrLbYalRiADJ3YYZ8OH6z1T11RCuTaiAQfleNiGTPkH1DJdkHvRuWTrKdN64GdWLAeBTjN5FdkVEdZKFe4ZM8ou98uoC_266Gjcs9BQSIQw_hLbRgqQwPgc7VoJ37JkNi2rJoItiCipC_kaNggUwUhujAfMMMZQBzOaasx/s1200/150715-Rooster-sign-300m.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkCmvicFaDn5601LglOUVavHrLbYalRiADJ3YYZ8OH6z1T11RCuTaiAQfleNiGTPkH1DJdkHvRuWTrKdN64GdWLAeBTjN5FdkVEdZKFe4ZM8ou98uoC_266Gjcs9BQSIQw_hLbRgqQwPgc7VoJ37JkNi2rJoItiCipC_kaNggUwUhujAfMMMZQBzOaasx/s320/150715-Rooster-sign-300m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> All psychedelic drugs are illegal in Norway, and now you've been warned. However, as evidenced by this one, the guys in the sign shop need to stop by the testing lab on the way home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGmZDsU4UwcnKyp7qkuMzTNYcymKYt5e9GeuIuRw3V-i0y16W23ZkENKrD9S6bZqq8DKi9V54qnRxv1dAbnDiMxFmXyZSrPqYjHqhTB2GyHbgUCL8WGWEHYwKzWLX2Ao3jPHuDFKqxVhXCTVfUDj2u5ducibIV3C8E9ajyG49Nd-PyS0Q4Tqx2rlqIXZN/s4032/IMG_0174.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGmZDsU4UwcnKyp7qkuMzTNYcymKYt5e9GeuIuRw3V-i0y16W23ZkENKrD9S6bZqq8DKi9V54qnRxv1dAbnDiMxFmXyZSrPqYjHqhTB2GyHbgUCL8WGWEHYwKzWLX2Ao3jPHuDFKqxVhXCTVfUDj2u5ducibIV3C8E9ajyG49Nd-PyS0Q4Tqx2rlqIXZN/s320/IMG_0174.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> It is clear that while we have Sesame Street, the Norwegians help their kids get literate with street signs. No, you pronounce this one"Eee," as in "Eeek! A troll! Crossing the road!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZToW6EA_GnGsbmvizj7idNYwJGU0b5-lhdccYce1XLk29cc4l0mGwG4eu2Lp2imm2lPCg-P8l2rBDWwhMbd9Ejbqd9FgGAjolD4Lx_yVRa-kHkA59p5vIqTotT2cKEAclYISgCecLEyc1zg4sjO0S635xxElf1Koj6GbANe2Jwz-_x3XoFGGsQzOT0-vq/s4032/IMG_0230.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZToW6EA_GnGsbmvizj7idNYwJGU0b5-lhdccYce1XLk29cc4l0mGwG4eu2Lp2imm2lPCg-P8l2rBDWwhMbd9Ejbqd9FgGAjolD4Lx_yVRa-kHkA59p5vIqTotT2cKEAclYISgCecLEyc1zg4sjO0S635xxElf1Koj6GbANe2Jwz-_x3XoFGGsQzOT0-vq/s320/IMG_0230.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And this one</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcz_VXaG7L5gDGVdKusahp_-nQheD_aSaapxOk5nffcuDjZWVfjV8HD314K45L76_ubOJ7X8MMLiQH6Sp8_GyrJm7kyy8TOyXgOCNc3fddkD-QL25NcjrY57gWNHRTeOK8-0w3FzC2JTX-kZtWLbGbEYqBZJ7sJO0SiTbqFZTGELtSDW-ecRxHIZjUjfn/s4032/IMG_0316.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcz_VXaG7L5gDGVdKusahp_-nQheD_aSaapxOk5nffcuDjZWVfjV8HD314K45L76_ubOJ7X8MMLiQH6Sp8_GyrJm7kyy8TOyXgOCNc3fddkD-QL25NcjrY57gWNHRTeOK8-0w3FzC2JTX-kZtWLbGbEYqBZJ7sJO0SiTbqFZTGELtSDW-ecRxHIZjUjfn/s320/IMG_0316.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">is pronounced "Teh-ah" not "Tee" as in "I don't think there is enough flat land in all of Norway to TEE up a golf ball."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Though this sign could have represented an exultant Norwegian shouting "I made it!" as he summits an appropriately scenic peak in the country, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV3GpjgfGRIZPKcyewkE3GteE55uHGAD3ijKCr1Q82wVPzJ3QnHcIuXQRQ3TJwwkZgKLdEnd1JAlbNEDZHcz8hiqShz-TLoQEtSKYIH4QAg-7QpNAML7OHOyzHx4uISHXdJuMMD_9bJxLsV5k7R6Rbt-bsDYDV6MHekYfPlvvh75mDSEPDPjDXYQbKmCj/s4032/I%20made%20it!.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV3GpjgfGRIZPKcyewkE3GteE55uHGAD3ijKCr1Q82wVPzJ3QnHcIuXQRQ3TJwwkZgKLdEnd1JAlbNEDZHcz8hiqShz-TLoQEtSKYIH4QAg-7QpNAML7OHOyzHx4uISHXdJuMMD_9bJxLsV5k7R6Rbt-bsDYDV6MHekYfPlvvh75mDSEPDPjDXYQbKmCj/s320/I%20made%20it!.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">when the horizon is corrected, it's actually a warning that he's probably going to kill himself if he tries it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhillMOy4C-0cRN9e4ELwZ74ZfjgdMFTixxnotlHwihuyT3K5IDe5O_mBLCTThOviT9mqcADXmx2qyrU1syvNsU7aTCx8tOz6bDHV5n_2CX49yRIBHmCL8TvhrYRwz0QKrfuVtQ_qmwd5SuEYQ1HVx9U9p9mvapx2IxKPNjUfdAAsEY88LTb5jiUP6KqI33/s4032/IMG_0168.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhillMOy4C-0cRN9e4ELwZ74ZfjgdMFTixxnotlHwihuyT3K5IDe5O_mBLCTThOviT9mqcADXmx2qyrU1syvNsU7aTCx8tOz6bDHV5n_2CX49yRIBHmCL8TvhrYRwz0QKrfuVtQ_qmwd5SuEYQ1HVx9U9p9mvapx2IxKPNjUfdAAsEY88LTb5jiUP6KqI33/s320/IMG_0168.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The signs offering snacks were welcome. This one says "There's something that you can eat with either a fork or a spoon over there, but it's going to cost you 300." (Food was expensive!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zVsUfqy-VywuW7vOcp6s8lHmRonXS4SNFgASz6pSjj_xe9EhtYDoWs0XlSFfpz6HS5h717z2VbKpOIQXSkmgDSCVbBA91NRto0UCKwdHYuFbmlHLWT-jVP0KncZ-6vPuuZtrrPR7Z_XkrZf6zxkwS9gKmksJcgLV6VJdOLoVntq9Btdnv77_bxs_j7l0/s4032/IMG_0179.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zVsUfqy-VywuW7vOcp6s8lHmRonXS4SNFgASz6pSjj_xe9EhtYDoWs0XlSFfpz6HS5h717z2VbKpOIQXSkmgDSCVbBA91NRto0UCKwdHYuFbmlHLWT-jVP0KncZ-6vPuuZtrrPR7Z_XkrZf6zxkwS9gKmksJcgLV6VJdOLoVntq9Btdnv77_bxs_j7l0/s320/IMG_0179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I think this one points toward coffee (350?! What?!) and something Japanese. I think,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBFIjZXLo7smZS2t5oi1eiJBUfkA4lFG8HMIlJWEUsZoSjF_Vfax3ZRmCPP3L74fGM5B2rI2-GNxni8l7wdC-NPllvTcnarZGDSys1N65e36kXCezHNmjm_vVa_4P6ojGnGL5wLTTtpW7awtUnJ-vXoMLkt1UBN_lMWV00CGHYcXZ30PLKQ_CMdiCrOQE/s4032/IMG_0138.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBFIjZXLo7smZS2t5oi1eiJBUfkA4lFG8HMIlJWEUsZoSjF_Vfax3ZRmCPP3L74fGM5B2rI2-GNxni8l7wdC-NPllvTcnarZGDSys1N65e36kXCezHNmjm_vVa_4P6ojGnGL5wLTTtpW7awtUnJ-vXoMLkt1UBN_lMWV00CGHYcXZ30PLKQ_CMdiCrOQE/s320/IMG_0138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">while this one says, "You should have bought it while it was 350, dumb American! That coffee is now <u>550</u>! And the Japanese stuff is <u>350</u>, and if you throw it up, it's gonna cost you <u>200</u>!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC97MoTkOx6O1d8jemKqIxE7kJnArs8DqHGBf4s0D8N-j7b5r10YcMGvUuK0rq2qWvxuMfIySmvoxVzNWteWxDIAuskEzXMoYWgHoSxxMv3V-CL18RXSv-qopnr1Ui2_5nqxAcvwVWXzNIgqnRkMFcw9MzK277hG7xLIq1MQWmCfc1Jt2Erm5VZuYwajy/s4032/IMG_0182.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC97MoTkOx6O1d8jemKqIxE7kJnArs8DqHGBf4s0D8N-j7b5r10YcMGvUuK0rq2qWvxuMfIySmvoxVzNWteWxDIAuskEzXMoYWgHoSxxMv3V-CL18RXSv-qopnr1Ui2_5nqxAcvwVWXzNIgqnRkMFcw9MzK277hG7xLIq1MQWmCfc1Jt2Erm5VZuYwajy/w297-h396/IMG_0182.JPG" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> It is important to note, that while these prices are outrageous, the surroundings of the signs are very scenic. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Speaking of which, this one means, "Don't drive your Ford into the fjord!" That would be un-scenic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfJnu4EMKTvpAFHmWEzqGf697FuVjZwCt9oLuOvuZeH3_7lP2xJnNw-gumuzoj8AE69g1RsgpAWJd4E0wAmUFIc8JoQqkH9JYrKzE9cxK1xXdk6HvdIRJQhPdZF__u-CNVIAi-zNY1dlJdyRO35JpTGy_naIjjL1dqw9k6FR08pjDy_O4vrNbJ3TusqJ1/s4032/Don't%20drive%20into%20water.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfJnu4EMKTvpAFHmWEzqGf697FuVjZwCt9oLuOvuZeH3_7lP2xJnNw-gumuzoj8AE69g1RsgpAWJd4E0wAmUFIc8JoQqkH9JYrKzE9cxK1xXdk6HvdIRJQhPdZF__u-CNVIAi-zNY1dlJdyRO35JpTGy_naIjjL1dqw9k6FR08pjDy_O4vrNbJ3TusqJ1/w289-h386/Don't%20drive%20into%20water.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Another one concerning such things. I'm thinking that this one means that under Norway Highway Statute No. 22-06, no un-scenic camper vans are allowed, a rule which unfortunately was broken pretty often.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOpvXnQIfB6Xx-IhI6D6brpOukISGVEduBi7n3vCA0s6DyR6YyXt91UAMvArqhFOinZaGb4f_0o52p0lJyoEjZ7YNOigT5wZ9uHb_a2r2M44lKPKzOfGpW0Aw_jAfxbCvux61zm6oukwC4f7kFJ7n3-5Y7VF0uVTdg7VUlO1hyHignMUdPQcEZmrncpqZ/s4032/IMG_0234.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOpvXnQIfB6Xx-IhI6D6brpOukISGVEduBi7n3vCA0s6DyR6YyXt91UAMvArqhFOinZaGb4f_0o52p0lJyoEjZ7YNOigT5wZ9uHb_a2r2M44lKPKzOfGpW0Aw_jAfxbCvux61zm6oukwC4f7kFJ7n3-5Y7VF0uVTdg7VUlO1hyHignMUdPQcEZmrncpqZ/w285-h380/IMG_0234.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This one had us scratching our heads for a bit until we asked a Norwegian. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRNHCD0w787oesjKKBQbTQ9dmL_NtBokYVRHmimNBH0I_paOlaqH5zy_98azHQi1puEs8YWJvNvR4abDtogGKOn2SkE29mpDphjOt7tAx8WaEfl6_t7p3JmfoSECS5pSgpPFA-V_LwPGpXrQv98lWNg07CnFNtU-pGsPI1-iRNl6JNPu3Z5cC5lNanXxc/s3731/IMG_0312-Edit.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3731" data-original-width="3024" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRNHCD0w787oesjKKBQbTQ9dmL_NtBokYVRHmimNBH0I_paOlaqH5zy_98azHQi1puEs8YWJvNvR4abDtogGKOn2SkE29mpDphjOt7tAx8WaEfl6_t7p3JmfoSECS5pSgpPFA-V_LwPGpXrQv98lWNg07CnFNtU-pGsPI1-iRNl6JNPu3Z5cC5lNanXxc/w354-h438/IMG_0312-Edit.JPG" width="354" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Apparently, as in much of Scandanavia, it is illegal to have a meth lab in your un-scenic camper van. And the rest of the sign? Who knows. That guy even shrugged.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Public bathrooms in Norway were...wait for it...scenic! Here's an example:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACluAkcxVsNh30Z3PlEKj8z68Y3XrZQWduhsMKmlvYFLxuRLoiMR47R6-EXMMe0Qu5myQmgk_fVNb-OrqG-EFfLta33GHJTOSXLlq8mvv5WnW-u6bYBVmwyW8Md0WqZYlufrh9k9ERTxLB_Wcd4CKi_VSMzHjEkMsZhlKq83z3cOb90dOHvcAf3_EAAvm/s1321/Public%20restroom%20norway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1321" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACluAkcxVsNh30Z3PlEKj8z68Y3XrZQWduhsMKmlvYFLxuRLoiMR47R6-EXMMe0Qu5myQmgk_fVNb-OrqG-EFfLta33GHJTOSXLlq8mvv5WnW-u6bYBVmwyW8Md0WqZYlufrh9k9ERTxLB_Wcd4CKi_VSMzHjEkMsZhlKq83z3cOb90dOHvcAf3_EAAvm/w453-h273/Public%20restroom%20norway.jpg" width="453" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> These are real. Here's another one:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_A-glGskjjytAi4HtMQrAMg79WCSh5MtLO05a4_w8UFbTYqwW3mhszuYuNSZLGVZNj_4hBzGCRNC09NM0wfVorHx53ptfgme7FsOnIbvNGi2yR9Fq5JJS7TARYCr_CP98UaF20h8A1ww3tbg5P_egJRtC5csc8YlhgR3dCFIiCClDj_izu1xG2FWRwiD/s1320/scenic%20restroom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1320" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_A-glGskjjytAi4HtMQrAMg79WCSh5MtLO05a4_w8UFbTYqwW3mhszuYuNSZLGVZNj_4hBzGCRNC09NM0wfVorHx53ptfgme7FsOnIbvNGi2yR9Fq5JJS7TARYCr_CP98UaF20h8A1ww3tbg5P_egJRtC5csc8YlhgR3dCFIiCClDj_izu1xG2FWRwiD/w432-h269/scenic%20restroom.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I mean, these things make you want to drink more water, just so you have to stop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> However, the signs inside were not quite as scenic:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzL4f_zH-tp0UvLd5yLD93abU252eJpDSNBf4BKd2uFgZpV-XybayRUg-wRWxoerEG_qUYiSAvdN-4pmMRIRfnwnIGA-XUEsgCa72aCz8ECAknO8L8MrQjXMnQ4zv8qkzBGicUce0CCrJ7iV5UFX3_Hgw7-7ieMvNJEHXHxQ_-VP_vc1kHysNwOMnTxyH/s4032/IMG_0107.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzL4f_zH-tp0UvLd5yLD93abU252eJpDSNBf4BKd2uFgZpV-XybayRUg-wRWxoerEG_qUYiSAvdN-4pmMRIRfnwnIGA-XUEsgCa72aCz8ECAknO8L8MrQjXMnQ4zv8qkzBGicUce0CCrJ7iV5UFX3_Hgw7-7ieMvNJEHXHxQ_-VP_vc1kHysNwOMnTxyH/w448-h336/IMG_0107.JPG" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Kind of graphic, and for that I apologize. The top row is pretty simple. However, the bottom row... well, I don't know. I think bottom left is trying to discriminate against older gentlemen, and I resent that. The next frame on the row apparently says not to dispose of baby seals in the sink, and that would seem to make sense about such a cruel and plumbing-problematic practice. The third one, OK, don't drop trash on the floor, duh, and the last one says "Don't try to get rid of your un-scenic camper van down the toilet!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> So in conclusion, in addition to being just plain beautiful, Norway had a lot of new signs for us to learn. We hope that this has been helpful for your next visit to that honestly stupendous country. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave & Paula</div></div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-24749706332318091612023-06-25T15:45:00.000-07:002023-06-25T15:45:18.091-07:00Croatan?? No, no NO! C-R-O-A-T-I-A!<p> The first one is carved on a tree near the coast of North Carolina where one of the first European settlements mysteriously disappeared, and the second one is a now-independent EU country formerly part of Yugoslavia. Close, but shouldn't be confused.</p><p> Several years ago, before that whole COVID thing, we had the good luck of doing a bike tour in New Zealand and getting to know a very kind woman who guided the tour, Sue Clark, an adopted "Kiwi." She mentioned that we might want to think about a bike tour of Croatia which she guided from time to time. Great! we thought. And so we signed up for 2020. Then 2021. Then 2022. The first two got pandemic'd out, and then just before the third try, my right hip got whacked and replaced.</p><p> We finally came on the tour this year, and to our delight, Sue was the head guide, with two pleasantly lunatic New Zealand guys helping her. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeYZCBxkNG3hX2g69E9f0anHiUmgrZkujdNUF364SQUJziJQ36X6vxdU6xCkv-8OrCpleCjz_kfaV1lQ3w_gMi2SPlwXYgpCTwaUXDWnjGDVzso7T2B_AkjqeaDDPBlUQ7OzAIJ2iu_cAwkKNmg-kumtE_rMYGj6galR3DuZPYmJmWZQ_CUK8gKRXkkcd/s1502/thumbnail_IMG_5658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="1440" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeYZCBxkNG3hX2g69E9f0anHiUmgrZkujdNUF364SQUJziJQ36X6vxdU6xCkv-8OrCpleCjz_kfaV1lQ3w_gMi2SPlwXYgpCTwaUXDWnjGDVzso7T2B_AkjqeaDDPBlUQ7OzAIJ2iu_cAwkKNmg-kumtE_rMYGj6galR3DuZPYmJmWZQ_CUK8gKRXkkcd/w360-h375/thumbnail_IMG_5658.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We spent a lot of time on our bikes prior to the trip trying to improve our conditioning, then sweated the details of packing the bikes and all the other stuff needed for the almost three weeks of the trip.</div><p style="text-align: left;"> How does a bike tour work? Great question! There are lots of different ways. There are luxurious ones,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawJ6XZXPJwQynDRI-EzhVUSsSyz4aFuVvOEusZI-fl6wGqT7yI4A362huqimal93oMdUgBmoTDsPMpmS8oH6vzWyk08B007kYwisy_f1ntT64TFp5aimgaMfn5pS_Pj5dj1QNaX6Xn2b5Xegj5cyCN71feflMoZUDShx37YpjkI4JppxGq0pKfxGbYJs_/s1200/Butterfield%20&%20Robinson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1200" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawJ6XZXPJwQynDRI-EzhVUSsSyz4aFuVvOEusZI-fl6wGqT7yI4A362huqimal93oMdUgBmoTDsPMpmS8oH6vzWyk08B007kYwisy_f1ntT64TFp5aimgaMfn5pS_Pj5dj1QNaX6Xn2b5Xegj5cyCN71feflMoZUDShx37YpjkI4JppxGq0pKfxGbYJs_/w419-h227/Butterfield%20&%20Robinson.jpg" width="419" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with equally luxurious costs and accommodations (despite what the picture shows, I think they even push the bikes up the hills). And there are less luxurious ones</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMwRkW1QaWvyTJJeTsq6BwC6JNwiCKxbAyEREeUUCR26hOIzorXZGcZjDMxqDCTUHz4FXcMIO4XxkTQZnWNN5gd8ZuejRFoTfPUAvmeR0R4Vu4mChD0Y91xKyXTEDnxrXLtwoEVbRW3dh_-QIup2yvK3uPBYWjgIXk87-dkXRklXuv5vslLXPNsIfO99A/s1078/Screenshot%202023-06-21%20130615.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="1078" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMwRkW1QaWvyTJJeTsq6BwC6JNwiCKxbAyEREeUUCR26hOIzorXZGcZjDMxqDCTUHz4FXcMIO4XxkTQZnWNN5gd8ZuejRFoTfPUAvmeR0R4Vu4mChD0Y91xKyXTEDnxrXLtwoEVbRW3dh_-QIup2yvK3uPBYWjgIXk87-dkXRklXuv5vslLXPNsIfO99A/w410-h240/Screenshot%202023-06-21%20130615.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>with equally un-luxurious costs, but your hotel is a tent on the back of your bike, and ain't nobody pushing your bike up the hills. And yes, Croatia has hills. By the bucket-full. <div> Our trip was in a nice place in the middle, thanks to Kiwi Style Bike Tours, a compact company in New Zealand that organizes challenging bike tours, largely in Europe. They limit the number of 'guests' to twelve, and provided three guides. The accommodations they picked were at the perfect level. </div><div><span> The rest of the group, including the guides, were all New Zealanders </span>and that meant a lot of fun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiYzPA32zPFlG55C1aANXROy91ZMnQkb_xzdKxL8cT8nKvbScoO5p7CeCrP3pMTu7QKgBxLe7kGYe8Qu8sXAKGOKSrpxkhIJW4_maAjPu9aa7ejk0zdK6TwTPD8MVAv04LII7lL8a04S9n2nAby8fSWFNDYiuSwBb3F2-ax9pluS6m1mxUued01Kq5aN2/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_6100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiYzPA32zPFlG55C1aANXROy91ZMnQkb_xzdKxL8cT8nKvbScoO5p7CeCrP3pMTu7QKgBxLe7kGYe8Qu8sXAKGOKSrpxkhIJW4_maAjPu9aa7ejk0zdK6TwTPD8MVAv04LII7lL8a04S9n2nAby8fSWFNDYiuSwBb3F2-ax9pluS6m1mxUued01Kq5aN2/w363-h272/thumbnail_IMG_6100.jpg" width="363" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Several guides and guests had known each other for years, and a number had raced at the top levels of the sport. Some of Kiwi Style's other tours include famous climbing stages of the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta de Espana. Like I said, challenging. Luckily, our tour was only rated three out of five "mountains." So what could possibly go wrong? Right?</div><div> OK, The Wall of Istria, for starters. The Istrian Peninsula is a lobe of Croatia projecting into the Adriatic Sea, straight across from Venice, Italy. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7pJWhYkq3c2GzZBEJ7GWVrSE0-I2QEwgH-LT7b8imHQXaAgp_ewWbgQfkiZ54fewa9fN5SR7ODmudnfpz3hzUZsOntQmf22RlUS02Q117zh0VwGPvS3NaC-VcU3QNQ5XD2eHsmozkEOBxOraeLWWArIRCwAftoU1B1Ky5dI6rntjYV3MEtrFepxlcpCD/s676/Screenshot%202023-06-21%20131931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="676" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7pJWhYkq3c2GzZBEJ7GWVrSE0-I2QEwgH-LT7b8imHQXaAgp_ewWbgQfkiZ54fewa9fN5SR7ODmudnfpz3hzUZsOntQmf22RlUS02Q117zh0VwGPvS3NaC-VcU3QNQ5XD2eHsmozkEOBxOraeLWWArIRCwAftoU1B1Ky5dI6rntjYV3MEtrFepxlcpCD/w391-h387/Screenshot%202023-06-21%20131931.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Croatia has been traded around more times than a share of Amazon stock, having been claimed at some point by the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, Italy, France, Nazi Germany, Yugoslavia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and a guy named Harold in Cincinnati, whose claim never really went anywhere. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> At present, the countryside of the Istrian Peninsula looks a lot like Tuscany and other parts of Italy, and Italian is the most common language heard there other than Croatian. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The Wall of Istria (not to be confused with The Great Wall of somewhere else) is a section of road included in one of the rides during the four days we spent in Istria. The 'Wall' itself is about four miles long, starting with a fairly steep section, and then it gets serious. The last two miles are at an average inclination of 17%, with parts exceeding 18%, and that's steep enough to be hard to walk up. Paula wisely played the Mother of a Dozen Grandchildren card and rode to the top in the van. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSGlT9-8KEYUy__Rw0vjtjmeCLtW30grtp80iDgLRYkWZc3vuLwDklWOg52XfgW2IQjtMvdJGHsllbDbohDEW22fgPU-UfKnU1QMG6gG7vLz5f1H1lgn8GbGiGSkGqUSXmj2Rofb9j0C7VNev-WaROY88cs5y_JyuQUdB3N5qkIkrw6Vu0friizCIjtBE/s2297/thumbnail_IMG_0453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2297" data-original-width="1832" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSGlT9-8KEYUy__Rw0vjtjmeCLtW30grtp80iDgLRYkWZc3vuLwDklWOg52XfgW2IQjtMvdJGHsllbDbohDEW22fgPU-UfKnU1QMG6gG7vLz5f1H1lgn8GbGiGSkGqUSXmj2Rofb9j0C7VNev-WaROY88cs5y_JyuQUdB3N5qkIkrw6Vu0friizCIjtBE/w292-h366/thumbnail_IMG_0453.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Yeah, but other than that and a few other tough sections, the countryside was beautiful. <span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQl_F72hktz-_-No_A4E5wS4uX2fcQJxC9fhWwUQ1mnLXzCxKKFHZ_Dr4jUGc6D1i1HwPzqOKtrIhFHn8OhafpwtXdisMtFNrxPeNjLyS8Yia78OWO7mkNCco1ouLIEwcKyb2oQYfViteZ5SrXMHkJpyP3xC_f-CepyH9q-jsVTyt5-JWAgvYmVvHXcIz/s2048/fc35d161-9732-4ac2-97fa-d584b3897d56.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQl_F72hktz-_-No_A4E5wS4uX2fcQJxC9fhWwUQ1mnLXzCxKKFHZ_Dr4jUGc6D1i1HwPzqOKtrIhFHn8OhafpwtXdisMtFNrxPeNjLyS8Yia78OWO7mkNCco1ouLIEwcKyb2oQYfViteZ5SrXMHkJpyP3xC_f-CepyH9q-jsVTyt5-JWAgvYmVvHXcIz/w283-h377/fc35d161-9732-4ac2-97fa-d584b3897d56.JPG" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh569-2w3MQZtAdINGdNSq4VZwxHCUXh4NNNRVUD4seE739Hs11zDRDGP-E68Yd5AVwLlUShZ8aLNwbKZgOQ7FOxPFq11b_rx1O6SZDeOLqQAYuSJx9F6GxivgVCawdlPIZ1Ccch8tZ2vBSlXEQMG5EEWGg9J2ZRInThO28dzz0UEjCyKSG7yYCKiqUs1dc/s1462/640b933b-930e-4bb0-9e6a-4653c2817ab1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1462" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh569-2w3MQZtAdINGdNSq4VZwxHCUXh4NNNRVUD4seE739Hs11zDRDGP-E68Yd5AVwLlUShZ8aLNwbKZgOQ7FOxPFq11b_rx1O6SZDeOLqQAYuSJx9F6GxivgVCawdlPIZ1Ccch8tZ2vBSlXEQMG5EEWGg9J2ZRInThO28dzz0UEjCyKSG7yYCKiqUs1dc/w389-h317/640b933b-930e-4bb0-9e6a-4653c2817ab1.JPG" width="389" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> In one hilltop village where we stayed, one of the 'streets' was appropriately named Narrow Street.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjfTpLUjnApS8-ztm0vK5xser8_TgcvwjztaDDqhbT9KxoZlt2JNeT27wv9Vtoo3kQJlAOEahz-T_ho-_boRj5Fo9eq4WSiD_NPMC_BIByLUJ0z8hgsK41YqFf-tWXam_zJANcn33RP6_UaPgWvcn6_5kh54A932Irgb6cywLQ3J77qNwhqARJgIW3ZfK/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_0435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjfTpLUjnApS8-ztm0vK5xser8_TgcvwjztaDDqhbT9KxoZlt2JNeT27wv9Vtoo3kQJlAOEahz-T_ho-_boRj5Fo9eq4WSiD_NPMC_BIByLUJ0z8hgsK41YqFf-tWXam_zJANcn33RP6_UaPgWvcn6_5kh54A932Irgb6cywLQ3J77qNwhqARJgIW3ZfK/w286-h382/thumbnail_IMG_0435.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Luckily, this was near the beginning of the trip, before the great meals made our passage through such places problematic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> There are more than a thousand islands on the coast of Croatia, some forty-nine of which are populated. In fact, Croatia includes about half of the entire eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, blocking Bosnia-Herzegovina from it, hence the meme:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDhdoxrSYknsy4n24no1PWWgE4FGzhtdZ1GogRl62RsnhDDmQBr7A_N0aUNp-kri6LinRVoXfF5ArFrmNtKCpoIw-W7xuKeL7cQfGlglD6Rjld1TwM8YrFVvLcvqOMpHZtEAkr8WDv_wsmI8fSkQ9biW6G7-SyB5G4TetCPL3CwyqV1rhFsQ9yDbL0uyS/s1176/Screenshot%202023-06-21%20143455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1048" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDhdoxrSYknsy4n24no1PWWgE4FGzhtdZ1GogRl62RsnhDDmQBr7A_N0aUNp-kri6LinRVoXfF5ArFrmNtKCpoIw-W7xuKeL7cQfGlglD6Rjld1TwM8YrFVvLcvqOMpHZtEAkr8WDv_wsmI8fSkQ9biW6G7-SyB5G4TetCPL3CwyqV1rhFsQ9yDbL0uyS/w345-h387/Screenshot%202023-06-21%20143455.jpg" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Several memorable rides hugged the coastline, where every inside curve seemed to hide a tiny village and its harbor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MAfoE9FOCux25AwndVRZUpci0TpFC1gJJR_lu1GOw0dW3HGnlDEfr8MqoJtmA8ds7LFxGYnm3KJFzAoDwoNZNGG3FDnmTE32Od1eMcPTgShMnGr_qALu3rokVDp3l__SpLu-6vWK530gVMyCWLyJS7hwm7uGNOrejJODioCpXyFlv4Ge97EqF1dXhmG4/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_5740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MAfoE9FOCux25AwndVRZUpci0TpFC1gJJR_lu1GOw0dW3HGnlDEfr8MqoJtmA8ds7LFxGYnm3KJFzAoDwoNZNGG3FDnmTE32Od1eMcPTgShMnGr_qALu3rokVDp3l__SpLu-6vWK530gVMyCWLyJS7hwm7uGNOrejJODioCpXyFlv4Ge97EqF1dXhmG4/w367-h275/thumbnail_IMG_5740.jpg" width="367" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzl2pX6MecHoj0K7Iz1iob3d20bAvPers_OHegINKj24bBten9RZngpdlwhNm2zyLcLGTCVgHALTi9bqqmEaLYlF1-3WFXYH4KZNE1gjzkbKmz68mdgL-fgS1K1iUGwyYdxXB1q_lh5qwQ9EzYpR8_X9ugzp2einQz7lHL79nIoeyuuiESz2anAjQXBtp/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_5954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzl2pX6MecHoj0K7Iz1iob3d20bAvPers_OHegINKj24bBten9RZngpdlwhNm2zyLcLGTCVgHALTi9bqqmEaLYlF1-3WFXYH4KZNE1gjzkbKmz68mdgL-fgS1K1iUGwyYdxXB1q_lh5qwQ9EzYpR8_X9ugzp2einQz7lHL79nIoeyuuiESz2anAjQXBtp/w363-h272/thumbnail_IMG_5954.jpg" width="363" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The trip included beautiful ferry rides to harbors on various islands, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKUyoKHj-g-Peqp85vZZ_haqoCnFnUQBSffmdfsLS3hZbkpJKAE64M75P70ownmfo2PrLqYRc0BbvtD4Ji-modeisvZmSp_dtE_YLlpvTcgbBlqy1RGcnDSx8ugJhJC27ZLn0Fr3Sd07DqpIAXleqLKndpq8SyoXaWZxw251-lUxk8Qpi4QBXxX87Nhcr/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_6110%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKUyoKHj-g-Peqp85vZZ_haqoCnFnUQBSffmdfsLS3hZbkpJKAE64M75P70ownmfo2PrLqYRc0BbvtD4Ji-modeisvZmSp_dtE_YLlpvTcgbBlqy1RGcnDSx8ugJhJC27ZLn0Fr3Sd07DqpIAXleqLKndpq8SyoXaWZxw251-lUxk8Qpi4QBXxX87Nhcr/w370-h277/thumbnail_IMG_6110%20(1).jpg" width="370" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyz7CXNQjR5DnwC_hkY0AH12XIFPinqLchNuwjlwiC6OSc9nCJO7nU45lYKWwonk3PKR_pBRmvY-PIRkGW8PuJlip1yxiwJgiJ7z9_s8eYDUt3entsG0p8p0IEjN7rAWT4IH9DuTDkB2kkCu-DykJ3BipsgY_RK7Orvx3_cW4TrPgqtHE1gSoDAF2A-1rg/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_6107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyz7CXNQjR5DnwC_hkY0AH12XIFPinqLchNuwjlwiC6OSc9nCJO7nU45lYKWwonk3PKR_pBRmvY-PIRkGW8PuJlip1yxiwJgiJ7z9_s8eYDUt3entsG0p8p0IEjN7rAWT4IH9DuTDkB2kkCu-DykJ3BipsgY_RK7Orvx3_cW4TrPgqtHE1gSoDAF2A-1rg/w379-h284/thumbnail_IMG_6107.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><span><div style="text-align: left;">followed by rides along their length. Several nights were spent in lovely towns on the water,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7Bgwhg1uMB4ig7hr2r0zMsa2MDE-d1ayg9QCR-y95tLRpgw4dDxzj1t8_AcKrCh0PLJhN4DzejHnN2WC8KzwGUb2VO20GJKS2U5lkf1Hzt9o2svpZcnUdKnDh7jGsh8P268aWtbwn7--L_b8KfpASB6masMdM9y3yFoGo_wDLtoIXD3s4w03JY9e2J8c/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_6150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7Bgwhg1uMB4ig7hr2r0zMsa2MDE-d1ayg9QCR-y95tLRpgw4dDxzj1t8_AcKrCh0PLJhN4DzejHnN2WC8KzwGUb2VO20GJKS2U5lkf1Hzt9o2svpZcnUdKnDh7jGsh8P268aWtbwn7--L_b8KfpASB6masMdM9y3yFoGo_wDLtoIXD3s4w03JY9e2J8c/w376-h282/thumbnail_IMG_6150.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and many lunch stops were spent checking out the local cuisine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0JSegZjHQAdiMtkavZPCojcNCsYaVlDMruWert34zqbxIUNlWgVSC9CJZtR9OlfEEW7b-p75RDBTSdo9iCGuyIhtjmLnGcajnFnjEpm9G891t_Id07R_NtYyvaVO86ndIrXKdmILaWqgr7WsdC0GXdx-GU47BvSeBqVOET3XM-59KUndVsNPNGdbhtgk/s1449/Screenshot%202023-06-21%20160028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="1449" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0JSegZjHQAdiMtkavZPCojcNCsYaVlDMruWert34zqbxIUNlWgVSC9CJZtR9OlfEEW7b-p75RDBTSdo9iCGuyIhtjmLnGcajnFnjEpm9G891t_Id07R_NtYyvaVO86ndIrXKdmILaWqgr7WsdC0GXdx-GU47BvSeBqVOET3XM-59KUndVsNPNGdbhtgk/w388-h314/Screenshot%202023-06-21%20160028.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> One of the more memorable days was spent climbing up through the national park that began near the coast and included the third tallest peak in Croatia, reached by the highest paved road in the country. The climb began at sea level in a harbor, and ended a few feet short of six thousand feet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> To her every-lovin' credit, Paula persisted, despite sections up to 15% inclination.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ODJQw5Mv6oLL4EIL19XANr7xNPdJlW12DYgY6enF2bt12e5Lf49XHQrJXVstctCqz0aqVP6D82L56MojHRuHkfDqFP0SsXHfNvveSQdAJxR9OfuFX356Tozlin_3Fli23Ov8Wf0dJl2vzQo7n5WHAuJM-Jj197PApXS2oRhXuCWjoh5jXpv7tkDYc2Bs/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_5987.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ODJQw5Mv6oLL4EIL19XANr7xNPdJlW12DYgY6enF2bt12e5Lf49XHQrJXVstctCqz0aqVP6D82L56MojHRuHkfDqFP0SsXHfNvveSQdAJxR9OfuFX356Tozlin_3Fli23Ov8Wf0dJl2vzQo7n5WHAuJM-Jj197PApXS2oRhXuCWjoh5jXpv7tkDYc2Bs/w305-h406/thumbnail_IMG_5987.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> At not even the halfway point, the one-lane road narrowed even more than usual. Paula stopped on the very edge to let several cars pass, lost her balance, and fell down a steep hill full of sharp rocks, sustaining bruises, a large hematoma on an elbow and probably a cracked rib. To her credit, or as a sign of 'no brain = no pain,' she persisted, thankful that nothing worse had happened.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The last three kilometers were nothing short of brutal; the climb has even been included several times in a professional bike race, the aptly named Tour of Croatia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpMQTDFAkeTNBsBKeuvrbA7aFuuTsGWkC3ATBX4GpWef2GrtaiRqrwc0__ztPcR0IwkGn3SnEPlSphUwRYdcCTrjuKLzd8LbuAYNt9J0HqvLI3sbQlteRMIct5XY0qkN-yHfgktsS8l6AETAwpe59_dxeVqxMNM8ZDdyeIzbmlQsnhVTh4Y_4vjyy4kHo/s1024/739fc921-ba96-4fcd-89cb-fdc78d586cdb.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpMQTDFAkeTNBsBKeuvrbA7aFuuTsGWkC3ATBX4GpWef2GrtaiRqrwc0__ztPcR0IwkGn3SnEPlSphUwRYdcCTrjuKLzd8LbuAYNt9J0HqvLI3sbQlteRMIct5XY0qkN-yHfgktsS8l6AETAwpe59_dxeVqxMNM8ZDdyeIzbmlQsnhVTh4Y_4vjyy4kHo/w355-h474/739fc921-ba96-4fcd-89cb-fdc78d586cdb.JPG" width="355" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> As Paula climbed the last stretch up to the top, the rest of the party cheered her on. She made it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoznHtZFoZQ7RlrsBAMQZHspvZeZf-V-qYGx-7DETOWFXAXPYP4_W1BpKofVoHmIGUTyrIuPk7ZDchjOePfy6zYvnjtlhQJfe4BTQl5IbXN9aw7KDuhC9DGHNqtJv6vKalUB1HYgWpXY8gv-GYEVSorJh4rnzSNGwSzMY0au5JVT3VaZZUNsyke9Mlgl5E/s1611/Screenshot%202023-06-21%20160426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1611" data-original-width="1498" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoznHtZFoZQ7RlrsBAMQZHspvZeZf-V-qYGx-7DETOWFXAXPYP4_W1BpKofVoHmIGUTyrIuPk7ZDchjOePfy6zYvnjtlhQJfe4BTQl5IbXN9aw7KDuhC9DGHNqtJv6vKalUB1HYgWpXY8gv-GYEVSorJh4rnzSNGwSzMY0au5JVT3VaZZUNsyke9Mlgl5E/w435-h468/Screenshot%202023-06-21%20160426.jpg" width="435" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Our last several days were spent in Dubrovnik, the Old City portion of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUQ0VDnGK9hz4lXBlyJNh5AO_2lAOl38jxOnr5ZYKmn2xuewvOWv7b9lOeizggE1QtCA-vFYp-QtVA2ZZle_G0MlQxY2fiaVabcwPpRmYrYFn-cy84P_k1SPOnKpNga76GdeXPKylX4vughYREPrHnSpgx-nzYZFzuOXT-v_9SJfSfvU0NdMHTdpGViXe/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_6311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUQ0VDnGK9hz4lXBlyJNh5AO_2lAOl38jxOnr5ZYKmn2xuewvOWv7b9lOeizggE1QtCA-vFYp-QtVA2ZZle_G0MlQxY2fiaVabcwPpRmYrYFn-cy84P_k1SPOnKpNga76GdeXPKylX4vughYREPrHnSpgx-nzYZFzuOXT-v_9SJfSfvU0NdMHTdpGViXe/w474-h356/thumbnail_IMG_6311.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_naFSuxB7O7eeQw-hqrRKbId5LwwUu4Hso4i2kgTp7QZfDyaZtrnuHkmrFOxkabENcrKs7qjwX9WEPRmnjAiZogt2uQWhFZOm6QU7JwP4vsf_q5J025mv_I3SfZSwl3BJpnZ3Tv49KYtj26A8PFgzpxhuOcHdXDvMie5rzslEl7tr4E0iy4xTsdOEQc6/s1889/thumbnail_IMG_6304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1889" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_naFSuxB7O7eeQw-hqrRKbId5LwwUu4Hso4i2kgTp7QZfDyaZtrnuHkmrFOxkabENcrKs7qjwX9WEPRmnjAiZogt2uQWhFZOm6QU7JwP4vsf_q5J025mv_I3SfZSwl3BJpnZ3Tv49KYtj26A8PFgzpxhuOcHdXDvMie5rzslEl7tr4E0iy4xTsdOEQc6/w447-h332/thumbnail_IMG_6304.jpg" width="447" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Ironically, in part because of their bombardment and partial destruction of the Old City during the 1990-1995 war, the Serbians lost significant advantage in the final borders settlement.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The hour-long walk along the walls was, of course, fueled by gelato. Duh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4n7X6mFeHkLA7LVzjOKqRuxVj_ixuCwyT4xZLWllPTeLlhsy3DfWQdODI9dPeHJlVQozOTWBGWLli7fn9UX_rjM6YhGj-E1uOq9kCkqi1mOlsk5NG71jguFDseLBhh_krzbfBQBZUnoWHyGOBAGjdIppssKSMD4_M4Z6Kvu0fP3UuP8AfwRiqeUZ1fUtW/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_6307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4n7X6mFeHkLA7LVzjOKqRuxVj_ixuCwyT4xZLWllPTeLlhsy3DfWQdODI9dPeHJlVQozOTWBGWLli7fn9UX_rjM6YhGj-E1uOq9kCkqi1mOlsk5NG71jguFDseLBhh_krzbfBQBZUnoWHyGOBAGjdIppssKSMD4_M4Z6Kvu0fP3UuP8AfwRiqeUZ1fUtW/w335-h446/thumbnail_IMG_6307.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And then pack the bikes, catch the flights, groan when our last flight was cancelled, spend the night in an expensive cheap hotel, schlep our stuff from JFK to LaGuardia and arrive home to find all was well. What a trip - it seems almost like a dream now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We hope your hills aren't too steep, and that your gelato is at least half as good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave & Paula</div></div></span></div></div></div></div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-24840542817326553782023-05-07T12:59:00.002-07:002023-05-07T16:19:46.448-07:00A crazed 'downwinder' and a rescue<p> It was time for Old Guys' Kite Camp, Spring Edition 2023 and a good-sized group of us gathered on the Outer Banks to take advantage of the usual good winds and not-too-cold water, as well as the good house rental rates before they skyrocket for the summer season. We rented a big, beautiful house on the edge of the Pamlico Sound with a good launch, a good kitchen and a good hot tub. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZ2xswncPK90JzGEjx2qmhO-94sq8xphc40lBfyUdFl9kjEUFo5OR9LT3VjXXvooIflZvNWFZIY8GyoOy6hlhD1vUnekLwBXrlY1LdXo0_KCXha3R_Y6SxdTKWnWPW_VbexkRbnuyUnH7OVQzVODREzH33ce2hWqnRVOw2caqIM3rRepHGUHi-xXrWQ/s1798/Screenshot%202023-05-01%20at%201.29.21%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1798" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZ2xswncPK90JzGEjx2qmhO-94sq8xphc40lBfyUdFl9kjEUFo5OR9LT3VjXXvooIflZvNWFZIY8GyoOy6hlhD1vUnekLwBXrlY1LdXo0_KCXha3R_Y6SxdTKWnWPW_VbexkRbnuyUnH7OVQzVODREzH33ce2hWqnRVOw2caqIM3rRepHGUHi-xXrWQ/w460-h306/Screenshot%202023-05-01%20at%201.29.21%20PM.png" width="460" /></a></div><p> The gang this time included family (my brother Mark and his wife, as well as our son Mike, his wife Adrienne and their four-year-old Krazed Kate, and our nephews from Seattle) and friends, to include Uncle Winston and Tom from Richmond, and the official Designated Sacrificial Newbie of the trip, invited to have someone else that most of us could feel better than, kiting-wise. </p><p> To round out the group, a former missionary that served with us in Peru and his brother and wife came, and that turned out to be lucky, as you'll see later. Our good friend Kalie came, an early convert to kiting as introduced by Mark. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Jg27ZPwryT7tEOxdUvGstTgfq5aLSQWuTqFJaPjHm3yAeceV-AfFnXv52DqdiiQRHfJu40iQRIBC_cnGPzPPE2L3dfRuvcaYQeflni-eiBD98C6IC4S90tFtYtwOrwy_5hZpzPxteQV7rmAoCOEeWG-oPy5JY6RoaZRLCJO_fAbNMUKXNpew-lWfnQ/s2102/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%201.59.08%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="2102" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Jg27ZPwryT7tEOxdUvGstTgfq5aLSQWuTqFJaPjHm3yAeceV-AfFnXv52DqdiiQRHfJu40iQRIBC_cnGPzPPE2L3dfRuvcaYQeflni-eiBD98C6IC4S90tFtYtwOrwy_5hZpzPxteQV7rmAoCOEeWG-oPy5JY6RoaZRLCJO_fAbNMUKXNpew-lWfnQ/w544-h345/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%201.59.08%20PM.png" width="544" /></a></div> Obviously, to kiteboard, you've got to have wind, and Mother Nature came through nicely. Only Friday, the last day, was non-windy, and that was actually pleasant for cleaning equipment, packing it up, sitting on the ocean-side beach while the granddaughter played at the edge of the water, and laughing about the week.<div> What was there to laugh about? Last year, Mark contacted a well-known professional kitesurfer from Holland who works for one of the major kite companies, who said, yes, I happen to be planning to be at Hatteras during your kite camp, and I'd be happy to do an instructional camp. To our amazement, he said that our group had actually been kind of fun, and he agreed to do the same this year, as his girlfriend's family would once again be renting nearby. Four of our group and four others made up the instructional group, and Steven, the pro, spent oodles of time with them on the water, and hours going over videos of them as they sat in our living room. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDqFe5b2all4TN9p0u8vdfcQfeq6o6eKq47yI8z0VYKcUHVxdvFIFiXBtx5Bz2s7cmetitzwXIwhiuuPaKFOyCZLHUvh_zVr2sVXzjvx57UP-qA6On3-B3_psHlvKteNTd7YuE2jMRmG1ENGQeQnYD2PzTyDgLe824U_DaOl-gxjpBaaSOefNkqfkjoQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDqFe5b2all4TN9p0u8vdfcQfeq6o6eKq47yI8z0VYKcUHVxdvFIFiXBtx5Bz2s7cmetitzwXIwhiuuPaKFOyCZLHUvh_zVr2sVXzjvx57UP-qA6On3-B3_psHlvKteNTd7YuE2jMRmG1ENGQeQnYD2PzTyDgLe824U_DaOl-gxjpBaaSOefNkqfkjoQ=w298-h298" width="298" /></a></div></div><div> OK, I know that kiteboarding is a niche, "extreme" sport, but this was literally like having Tiger Woods come and work on your golf swing with you. Talking later, Steven admitted with a grin that it was a valid comparison, although a) our sport is a LOT smaller, and b) his net worth was not quite the $1.1 billion of Mr. Woods. If you'd like to see a short clip of him getting some major air, try <a href="https://youtu.be/jrUB8lyAt-4">here.</a> His instructional videos are some of the best in the world. He was most impressive, but I think most importantly for the long run, he was impressively kind and patient, a truly nice person.</div><div> So the laughter arose from the usual <i>badinage</i> between old friends catching up on good stories from the past six months as well as critiquing each others' efforts in Steven's videos of the lessons. </div><div> In kiting and other wind-driven sports, a "downwinder" is a run from Point A to Point B going (duh) downwind. There is a stretch of the Pamlico Sound, the huge relatively shallow water behind the skinny island of the Outer Banks that has been nicknamed "The Planet of the Apes," or "Planet" for short. It is so named because you literally cannot get through the tangled, impenetrable marine forest between the water and the road; if you break down, you will be wading for miles before you can escape Planet and be rescued. Sounds stupid, but a Planet downwinder is a popular pastime when the wind is right. If you are quite bored and want to see what it looks like, here's a 3-minute of someone else's <a href="https://youtu.be/cqxFtA5FtY8">downwinder.</a></div><div> So, what could possibly go wrong? As it happened, everything did. People showed up late and chose the wrong sized kites for the wind, lines broke, a kite went into the trees and was ruined, other equipment broke and all in all, it was described by Steven as "like herding cats," and I didn't even know that was an expression in Holland. </div><div> Our son Mike and his wife Adrienne came also, and brought their four-year-old daughter Kate. She is a funny kid, and had a great time with all the adults paying her attention. Mike had bought her an inexpensive wetsuit, and she was dying to try it in the (unheated!) pool.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtR-b0ptFpbXSUXQWZR1Mwg92QWmVUpw7RXiISD6upNl12b6zDUd1Zv9S2Jj6100jA2h5jI7Hewam6ZtwRydaxB-cGZNrAyBZ8upvpjJA_HWGFWLiiLm3ln2vR9OYG4mC91hqfOFbzrvgZHKZh48wESwzi5ovdfqoGrOepHz9nqepCtvmoyKYh-kSDTA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="5168" data-original-width="3448" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtR-b0ptFpbXSUXQWZR1Mwg92QWmVUpw7RXiISD6upNl12b6zDUd1Zv9S2Jj6100jA2h5jI7Hewam6ZtwRydaxB-cGZNrAyBZ8upvpjJA_HWGFWLiiLm3ln2vR9OYG4mC91hqfOFbzrvgZHKZh48wESwzi5ovdfqoGrOepHz9nqepCtvmoyKYh-kSDTA=w272-h408" width="272" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This was a an auspicious week, date wise. Not only was Thursday May The Fourth (as in "may the fourth be with you..."), but Friday was Cinco de Mayo. One of the couples went all out on the theme, allowing Kate to race Uncle Winston on inflated llamas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE5ubd--zbk7RsD7AoRzqNM1a3jMkbC20Mq9GHPE_fBcI-AXaWiwzGJt-y9I5LaQaKy4rHXKAggfKJF3rsDeROkTaJEp1_nYjRUpr_yNHPp_H_kdNcVvkfZIW6JFecBTbqxtyX4rf8CVWMH0ra_Pci_WRtOlQdnWQxLDTJO7FeDGZwDY3sQMM9YtG1g/s1330/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%206.46.28%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="990" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE5ubd--zbk7RsD7AoRzqNM1a3jMkbC20Mq9GHPE_fBcI-AXaWiwzGJt-y9I5LaQaKy4rHXKAggfKJF3rsDeROkTaJEp1_nYjRUpr_yNHPp_H_kdNcVvkfZIW6JFecBTbqxtyX4rf8CVWMH0ra_Pci_WRtOlQdnWQxLDTJO7FeDGZwDY3sQMM9YtG1g/w290-h390/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%206.46.28%20PM.png" width="290" /></a></div> She won, but he protested, claiming that she cheated. No decision yet from the judges.<div> OK, so why was it lucky that Nate came to Kite Camp this spring? Well, NC 64 runs from Raleigh straight east to the ocean. A lonely 30-mile two-lane stretch runs through a nearly-uninhabited region of piney woods and swamps on the way, with bears and red wolves occasionally spotted crossing the road. In order to build the roadbed, the constructors had to raise its level above the soggy surroundings, and they did so by dredging dirt alongside its course. This left a major ditch which filled with water. Before adding a guard rail through much of this part of the highway, cars would occasionally run off the road and literally disappear with their occupants into the green-brown water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Knf_sf2fJMkl37sQPSYE2Dj_8P_uvVoxlCSYAd3zrOC5Nu5FNDQzx8DvMT9PK8Yb0U7acxFDqts_NezMyUMPIGhyiCkEyNbRglx9ofa_kvdiIEgKWW77-SQIJYFbV5lQOyrxkGwq2Iw-Lh3BQm8T7Fy1XHW-JN6I5hq7BB__bW747-1Ydc_Sj-Q80A/s1746/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%207.42.14%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1746" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Knf_sf2fJMkl37sQPSYE2Dj_8P_uvVoxlCSYAd3zrOC5Nu5FNDQzx8DvMT9PK8Yb0U7acxFDqts_NezMyUMPIGhyiCkEyNbRglx9ofa_kvdiIEgKWW77-SQIJYFbV5lQOyrxkGwq2Iw-Lh3BQm8T7Fy1XHW-JN6I5hq7BB__bW747-1Ydc_Sj-Q80A/w564-h255/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%207.42.14%20AM.png" width="564" /></a></div><div> The last car of our friends coming from Kite Camp held three people, including our former missionary who speaks good Peruvian Spanish. They were following a white van when it suddenly veered and crashed into the ditch. They screeched to a stop and two of them jumped in as the van sank. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QpVqYxgioknNlQHZ5wIrL36jCERLYgSqDSBANj69gK8GieYmWA-ypeEHSwhqMUzNViw_jdQBX9sc7r3Q6izTHkQgjdAnJwlWD66qGorZh6tOQaa6uVJCoTkioPu1FA88ZTUryp8Agt6YCIxFckxoboyZ6yBq7SC8blluiPGVIOEkX_P3J8k1ZlYtIQ/s906/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%203.41.27%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="906" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QpVqYxgioknNlQHZ5wIrL36jCERLYgSqDSBANj69gK8GieYmWA-ypeEHSwhqMUzNViw_jdQBX9sc7r3Q6izTHkQgjdAnJwlWD66qGorZh6tOQaa6uVJCoTkioPu1FA88ZTUryp8Agt6YCIxFckxoboyZ6yBq7SC8blluiPGVIOEkX_P3J8k1ZlYtIQ/w363-h297/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%203.41.27%20PM.png" width="363" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17_57jWebcEhVrDBryZjgdbvswKgDt1FFvXRSAMdOBqrEpSfmyc5MX8U12ofyQkl3VCGNTBuGYuZ0iN-LZPsImOWkmT9DaFY5xMC4NYClR9m8u2wDrFAAe8wZZTBeUq-RLllq9jsLnX_JkAFCosSX7ekGiHl3sdEiS039qwKGtSNPgcv49-fXMM5_0g/s666/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%203.47.42%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="666" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17_57jWebcEhVrDBryZjgdbvswKgDt1FFvXRSAMdOBqrEpSfmyc5MX8U12ofyQkl3VCGNTBuGYuZ0iN-LZPsImOWkmT9DaFY5xMC4NYClR9m8u2wDrFAAe8wZZTBeUq-RLllq9jsLnX_JkAFCosSX7ekGiHl3sdEiS039qwKGtSNPgcv49-fXMM5_0g/w361-h282/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%203.47.42%20PM.png" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The driver was the only occupant, and happened to be a Peruvian, speaking almost no English. They pulled him from the sinking vehicle, made sure no one else was inside and swam him to shore, as he didn't know how to swim, which is not unusual in Peru. Our friends looked inside the van as it sank, just to make sure he had been alone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9eriwKzvG6ddTJo1isMPxFX0mgeOMfM_1JvXi1lbxjSRB5vtzkjQUvcgGJHopMmovpgtPKQFoOsZQKNzfT5LmZ5UyFDk7nRgE880svj7T-S7RMVPlclc64nqsbLRNGt43IKWc2CPcl76cQaM83EPzGKDfy08gX1rL-i_UFb1QUl3H5VXou2aGAxRYA/s1664/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%203.44.07%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="1410" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9eriwKzvG6ddTJo1isMPxFX0mgeOMfM_1JvXi1lbxjSRB5vtzkjQUvcgGJHopMmovpgtPKQFoOsZQKNzfT5LmZ5UyFDk7nRgE880svj7T-S7RMVPlclc64nqsbLRNGt43IKWc2CPcl76cQaM83EPzGKDfy08gX1rL-i_UFb1QUl3H5VXou2aGAxRYA/w306-h361/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%203.44.07%20PM.png" width="306" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy8LLjXYxgfQwXzvA6dGEHCrjBBYUIyShk0WU6HVmMlJ5_v1QqLMdhxhh5JSMtpR9UW6ci4pFWSkHWfm2eon_y0k2NVZENtJv8buQUFo6lvrpMirAxm4H9fF6rWRa6esDJsPxgSjMztPY6qHIdeKERm-NxD0vISgQidmmJ50-CRWoN4F2r72zx040FA/s2008/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%203.53.12%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2008" data-original-width="1356" height="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy8LLjXYxgfQwXzvA6dGEHCrjBBYUIyShk0WU6HVmMlJ5_v1QqLMdhxhh5JSMtpR9UW6ci4pFWSkHWfm2eon_y0k2NVZENtJv8buQUFo6lvrpMirAxm4H9fF6rWRa6esDJsPxgSjMztPY6qHIdeKERm-NxD0vISgQidmmJ50-CRWoN4F2r72zx040FA/w311-h461/Screenshot%202023-05-07%20at%203.53.12%20PM.png" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The vehicle sank until only the roof was visible through the murky water. </div><div> Police and ambulances soon arrived, and though the loss of the driver's brother's van and the tools inside was a shame, he was not harmed, either by the crash or the swim. </div><div> On the other hand, our friends were now wet and not smelling too good, and they were on a tight schedule to make the flight from Raleigh to Salt Lake. They texted us their plight on the road, and took us up on the offer to take quick showers at our place, making their flight with only a little to spare.</div><div> In summary, a great, interesting week with good friends and family and a great kiting pro. With a heroic ending. </div><div> We hope that your downwinders go better and that you're not trapped in The Planet of the Apes! Also, be really careful driving that stretch of NC 64!</div><div><br /></div><div>Dave & Paula</div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-21251918988589078432023-03-26T04:40:00.000-07:002023-03-26T04:40:32.414-07:00What's that incredible smell, Your Highness?<p> <span style="font-family: arial;">OK, that's a quote from Han Solo when the trio found themselves in the trash compacter in the first <i>Star Wars.</i> But I digress.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> The trip to Thailand, outlined in the previous blog, was marvelous. We were almost overwhelmed with new sights and sounds and yes, smells.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> There is something called Durian fruit that grows in Southeast Asia, and the pulp within is said to be sweet and delicious. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38fe3K6VC5P0sttenEEjMBkuuD6jO3uepchV-t7iQzokOd8oCs5aqbkdKP6Mw3r82Z5vkOZiFslPjnCH7tMEgeine9Ox0lHsyiZFBCZkJpyErAs06g8frmF1x8dFPfD3gUemfINIeQqNYzUvID25GpPizpFe82Rq_1TYdA9xDedJjfMWAvbbIyLVTpQ/s810/Durian%20fruit.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="720" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38fe3K6VC5P0sttenEEjMBkuuD6jO3uepchV-t7iQzokOd8oCs5aqbkdKP6Mw3r82Z5vkOZiFslPjnCH7tMEgeine9Ox0lHsyiZFBCZkJpyErAs06g8frmF1x8dFPfD3gUemfINIeQqNYzUvID25GpPizpFe82Rq_1TYdA9xDedJjfMWAvbbIyLVTpQ/w229-h258/Durian%20fruit.jpeg" width="229" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"> However, when we checked into our hotel room in Chiang Mai, we saw these signs:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZbbxDW8IOc4fMYZyoyhC6D5KjowF5hg2umnihRKxEADuvB8NR-3PTYGOVzaH-YtC-ytkoYiIDYH05lp8m1W43hV1gilokwMuSryvcg3_fAs7Hq46MqvcenZKy3yltZZzMAOUNLEHgnaFB6qtzS4HxHzyZMQtCBZUSZR-GR2k1xGdU2fPGwz-e6yuqA/s2082/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%207.13.01%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="2082" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZbbxDW8IOc4fMYZyoyhC6D5KjowF5hg2umnihRKxEADuvB8NR-3PTYGOVzaH-YtC-ytkoYiIDYH05lp8m1W43hV1gilokwMuSryvcg3_fAs7Hq46MqvcenZKy3yltZZzMAOUNLEHgnaFB6qtzS4HxHzyZMQtCBZUSZR-GR2k1xGdU2fPGwz-e6yuqA/s320/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%207.13.01%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: arial;">Apparently, those who have smelled intact Durian fruit would suggest that the amount of the penalties should be reversed. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span> <span style="font-family: arial;">In the previous blog post about our trip to Thailand, I mentioned that Thai food was good and plentiful. The chef that Ashley hired to cook during the first week when we were really outdid himself. There were curries of all colors, seafood of all descriptions, fruit whose name I can't remember, rice and more rice, and it was all beautifully presented. However, the second week, we started noticing something strange. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Our clothes started getting a soft orange shading in areas in areas of contact with perspiration. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpQjaFS4KHWX1RsA7uR62GmuQcDVluIcq9UCW9cKRD0Do-a2qkKJxFw0qA97GnG0jYrg_t-_dbL3zeKJcrgKHf0rLJz8nysVnnrxLmb8-I_jqsfF19lL2dkniCwCX2YU8VuSnpdUnIt736BCdZig8WHLUqMES1ENQHlZBQfpKKk1K-HB9YWk5exSm7g/s1570/Screenshot%202023-03-26%20at%207.25.26%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1174" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpQjaFS4KHWX1RsA7uR62GmuQcDVluIcq9UCW9cKRD0Do-a2qkKJxFw0qA97GnG0jYrg_t-_dbL3zeKJcrgKHf0rLJz8nysVnnrxLmb8-I_jqsfF19lL2dkniCwCX2YU8VuSnpdUnIt736BCdZig8WHLUqMES1ENQHlZBQfpKKk1K-HB9YWk5exSm7g/w272-h364/Screenshot%202023-03-26%20at%207.25.26%20AM.png" width="272" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"> We weren't sure at first, but as time went on, it became definite. <br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-IZoI5AQ9DUfVOccQrxOawHJgBzn74-yGGQHUM0hD268w9le0zTaa2EVk1juSFi_S1A2a2VkAMPWdL92ne_corGly95tYKGyg7LHDSsKUK3HeZHE_O9TSCDl7ER6--nqCD3KbRUiqokNIuqkbZAVtnmnSPOlBemCFr2bKLI3sjefq6sbsIw_DOYgGQ/s4032/Cultimara%20shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-IZoI5AQ9DUfVOccQrxOawHJgBzn74-yGGQHUM0hD268w9le0zTaa2EVk1juSFi_S1A2a2VkAMPWdL92ne_corGly95tYKGyg7LHDSsKUK3HeZHE_O9TSCDl7ER6--nqCD3KbRUiqokNIuqkbZAVtnmnSPOlBemCFr2bKLI3sjefq6sbsIw_DOYgGQ/w401-h301/Cultimara%20shirt.jpg" width="401" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> We tried to figure it out; if it were due to air pollution, the entire garment would be stained. If it were due to washing the clothes in the local water, once again that would color the whole piece of clothing. We finally decided it had to be what we were eating.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> And then we noticed that we were starting to smell like good Thai food. This wasn't entirely unpleasant, but by about ten days into the trip, it was clearly the case..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> It all came to a head by the end of the bike tour of the Old city in Chiang Mai (which name, by the way, means "New City"). When we got back to our room, there was a most definite aroma. We quickly put all the clothes through the Scrubba with plenty of soap and that helped, but something was still funky. We followed our noses to my tennis shoes.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6oq5HIIVq4TI82OTASy7FXAR9VPzCe1haENr0LLtl6J51OdDvqnIXShfur_QVY9OrNSl0cLPXTGEbbwjSY8CNlqRWBJAuKnqRAxGoep88h6EYY2cqLVlvTDIwQZ64kN_OHDJ6Ocx15ZCApsqiuwFkR2xWJE9riIgDGksjrEYYVhkJd3KZS7gaw0EOg/s1560/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%206.51.56%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1172" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6oq5HIIVq4TI82OTASy7FXAR9VPzCe1haENr0LLtl6J51OdDvqnIXShfur_QVY9OrNSl0cLPXTGEbbwjSY8CNlqRWBJAuKnqRAxGoep88h6EYY2cqLVlvTDIwQZ64kN_OHDJ6Ocx15ZCApsqiuwFkR2xWJE9riIgDGksjrEYYVhkJd3KZS7gaw0EOg/w332-h443/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%206.51.56%20PM.png" width="332" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"> Holy guacamole! They were pungent, only this time it was NOT pleasant, and it wasn't just FO (Foot Odor)</span><span style="font-family: arial;">. Finding no evidence of having trodden on something bad, we concluded that either something had crawled in and died, or something in Thai food (of which we had partaken a lot more than we should have) exits through your feet. I scrubbed and rinsed and scrubbed and rinsed and scrubbed and rinsed. It helped, but after our last activities that needed tennis shoes, we donated them to Thailand. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppk8qm0O5Pd369tNsBJBaTSN7tJef6aQBKvMZfmLSBoXfbBcAZlOMj7HdmjhyMrAptMOp3XhY1TSSfICInTHYybLvZKOxk3YvakHs1N4S6P_Tr7TAjzVjmgkDnS4v_2_L8WgxKokUmYEW1tBXHrgf8CiPZVrZewPe_rIa9yLY998tyI8_peebNbZYhg/s1594/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%206.53.46%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppk8qm0O5Pd369tNsBJBaTSN7tJef6aQBKvMZfmLSBoXfbBcAZlOMj7HdmjhyMrAptMOp3XhY1TSSfICInTHYybLvZKOxk3YvakHs1N4S6P_Tr7TAjzVjmgkDnS4v_2_L8WgxKokUmYEW1tBXHrgf8CiPZVrZewPe_rIa9yLY998tyI8_peebNbZYhg/s320/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%206.53.46%20PM.png" width="257" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> We reasoned that we had already added thousands of Thai <i>Bhat </i>to the nation's economy, so why not a couple of tennis shoes? If I'd kept them, we would have had to stay in Thailand</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> because no one would have allowed us or our baggage on an international flight.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Considering all of this, I now wonder if folks in other countries think that Americans smell like a Big Mac or a hot dog and a Coke when they get off the plane At least those foods don't turn your unmentionables orange or your tennis shoes unwearable. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> I</span><span style="font-family: arial;">n the end, I'm going to keep trying new foods. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We hope that whatever you are eating has no permanent effect on your wardrobe. </span></p>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-78977774185096017642023-03-25T18:59:00.000-07:002023-03-25T18:59:02.238-07:00All Thai'd Up!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> As previously noted, our daughter Ashley, her husband and their seven kids live in Astaná, Kazakhstan, thanks to the State Department. They have adopted the routine of taking a "Spring Break" each March, to coincide with the kids' time out in their online and at-home schooling. That especially makes sense because Astaná is the second coldest capital in the world.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqLkM9jAxfjwgXKODFWlNbSsZyY91zpj1PNiHBC2Kp9CNxrhwFUNfSO0ECBoAEt6MxUML9Bf0ysQ76yiuvPsIxPDzJouXyTIBWi9s8gmWs5XWSUsoMnRYRIzpdq6x4ifRTbk0FjuSq7pSB9pGm4fxSes_ZbUkyvSU30nQkvUyQ9i3EdCZ0bmmWuAIP4Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqLkM9jAxfjwgXKODFWlNbSsZyY91zpj1PNiHBC2Kp9CNxrhwFUNfSO0ECBoAEt6MxUML9Bf0ysQ76yiuvPsIxPDzJouXyTIBWi9s8gmWs5XWSUsoMnRYRIzpdq6x4ifRTbk0FjuSq7pSB9pGm4fxSes_ZbUkyvSU30nQkvUyQ9i3EdCZ0bmmWuAIP4Q=w441-h248" width="441" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> This year, Ashley's gang decided to visit Thailand, and we were delighted when they invited us to accompany them. Ashley arranged for a villa with a swimming pool and a real-live Thai chef on the island of Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. It's the island down in the left lower corner.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2SWHIf7lVyQj7AqOWpxsYHwAPWy4fHFuTp24AUPOLF-p2Tr45BNqANk89ggFF33QtA67WHff7M_AaSyN-G8cN1_47BsUVCUNzff59WASMpGoVEsu3xkDTCbCqcj8P1H_1gNgObAAghyVsDr1-NLPau739J9yK974ofrhHIkt2De0wFGTpoCN6Gi7mQ/s1402/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%202.58.43%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1402" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2SWHIf7lVyQj7AqOWpxsYHwAPWy4fHFuTp24AUPOLF-p2Tr45BNqANk89ggFF33QtA67WHff7M_AaSyN-G8cN1_47BsUVCUNzff59WASMpGoVEsu3xkDTCbCqcj8P1H_1gNgObAAghyVsDr1-NLPau739J9yK974ofrhHIkt2De0wFGTpoCN6Gi7mQ/w465-h321/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%202.58.43%20AM.png" width="465" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> OK, but isn't Thailand halfway around the world? Yep. Exactly twelve time zones from Raleigh. Using the GPS on my iPad, I tracked our flight from Atlanta to Seoul, Korea. (Remember, if someone tells you to go to heck, you have to connect through Atlanta.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Did you know that to get to Seoul you go almost straight north from Atlanta? Yep again. The 'Great Circle' route goes up over Canada, then descends past Alaska, carefully skirts Russia, overflies Japan and finally ends up in Korea.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCx-dGdBy4dcNklF1CKGaCwKKKoNSEjDmeOJtVdJSYzRdcgi2WvBRVZrcLKSgI40py9NMXvZzYFxvLwSfOpgvIP1wUx1bfzs3y-1AIk9YkD2hfORF082ZCqKANHTSW0UuqpIk-_UvXPBEKB9hXGVy3qGfGYbcIIEameU1YVy5T5ifezy40p9iFsSwgA/s1122/Screenshot%202023-03-24%20at%2011.15.09%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1122" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCx-dGdBy4dcNklF1CKGaCwKKKoNSEjDmeOJtVdJSYzRdcgi2WvBRVZrcLKSgI40py9NMXvZzYFxvLwSfOpgvIP1wUx1bfzs3y-1AIk9YkD2hfORF082ZCqKANHTSW0UuqpIk-_UvXPBEKB9hXGVy3qGfGYbcIIEameU1YVy5T5ifezy40p9iFsSwgA/w354-h344/Screenshot%202023-03-24%20at%2011.15.09%20AM.png" width="354" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> What do you do for a sixteen-hour flight? Drugs. And movies. And three or four meals - I lost count. The pharmaceutical in this case was the sleeping pill Lunesta, a few of which we still had from trying to sleep at 14,500 feet in the mountains of Peru. Expiration dates are for wimps, by the way.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeaAe_Cz1vbUglx-HyP5h77HDn6egASIEdeuXMfbWFEM_j-rATFp_HaHeq24tACneP8XIff40CGrzSEjcDnIaTwdbgaC8NLiCIkbNeuVW3Y1tbj5wluzPINnriyXsu5JzYiCdCmq9pAHtiaKKZwlFk4hO76BTlplE65HEqoz-g48eFcAmxCLlNFAv54A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeaAe_Cz1vbUglx-HyP5h77HDn6egASIEdeuXMfbWFEM_j-rATFp_HaHeq24tACneP8XIff40CGrzSEjcDnIaTwdbgaC8NLiCIkbNeuVW3Y1tbj5wluzPINnriyXsu5JzYiCdCmq9pAHtiaKKZwlFk4hO76BTlplE65HEqoz-g48eFcAmxCLlNFAv54A=w156-h156" width="156" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Bless Korean Air's heart, they had edited "Everything Everywhere All The Time" so that it was OK to watch, and so I saw it a couple of days before the Oscars pronounced it as great. I'm not sure if it was the rarified air at altitude over Alaska or the expired drugs, but the movie was pretty crazy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmm2Ni3Un8B64Ey7RHn9dAiZdMUiiSuepPmR6VLi2fygHZacCxcNyAvgF7GOqjUF0_MrFulqrqQEVs6vPKEzKlI9cgWWbQzR3sQj2B5-DZO7XHupMDkCYt3rU2ouPq3-bQATHVctrE6uzj0hv1FU-m74gXuVlOtemymDoJ2dcnPvNf4x5BquVBfoiITQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmm2Ni3Un8B64Ey7RHn9dAiZdMUiiSuepPmR6VLi2fygHZacCxcNyAvgF7GOqjUF0_MrFulqrqQEVs6vPKEzKlI9cgWWbQzR3sQj2B5-DZO7XHupMDkCYt3rU2ouPq3-bQATHVctrE6uzj0hv1FU-m74gXuVlOtemymDoJ2dcnPvNf4x5BquVBfoiITQ=w459-h258" width="459" /></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Acknowledging that, yes, I turned 69 with Ashley and her gang on a beach on Samui, I was still a bit huffed when we were directed to the "special" immigration line in the Bangkok airport, reserved for VIP's and "The Aged." So much for thinking that I could fool anyone. I'm sure they were not basing this on Paula, as she pointed out. Several times.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXSya4n4tRZgeXJpLNIBi-yUw5VYZ52y652K9d9lH4AT5V537MfL1pwHPclRwlWkEa9neyYSEWrY9LiZrXxEhn-UICUp09nvUVanziSTTfwG57J8cDHbS8wHeWJ5OJyi9GCrJM836V9C4t6aUOiWOo56NYarapWolo92DjT9GB71ZIQhkDH3fuPVER0Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="612" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXSya4n4tRZgeXJpLNIBi-yUw5VYZ52y652K9d9lH4AT5V537MfL1pwHPclRwlWkEa9neyYSEWrY9LiZrXxEhn-UICUp09nvUVanziSTTfwG57J8cDHbS8wHeWJ5OJyi9GCrJM836V9C4t6aUOiWOo56NYarapWolo92DjT9GB71ZIQhkDH3fuPVER0Q=w226-h196" width="226" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Oh, my goodness! Is overdosing on great Thai food an identified health risk? Is there some form of Narcan for excessive Thai food? The chef at the villa went nuts! Every night there were three or four main dishes, and then dessert! Everything was beautifully presented. When he said "king prawns," he wasn't kidding - I've seen lobsters of less magnitude.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ9mf_cRhM6VDzuiAlDm6efCQcr4LYxSxly3pvpzku5D_KbFzdzeDohG-jScBO6ej8SLOluwZTv8HxKfPI77-MREX2-gYXdSExBQVufcpr7enIVTOaS3rfWDgMX1Uq638h9Ii_PkEbtdTW-5g-EYoVDidPZo74CINt89snPAIzJI6SVZZPGE8g983Hg/s1296/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.16.42%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1180" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ9mf_cRhM6VDzuiAlDm6efCQcr4LYxSxly3pvpzku5D_KbFzdzeDohG-jScBO6ej8SLOluwZTv8HxKfPI77-MREX2-gYXdSExBQVufcpr7enIVTOaS3rfWDgMX1Uq638h9Ii_PkEbtdTW-5g-EYoVDidPZo74CINt89snPAIzJI6SVZZPGE8g983Hg/w369-h406/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.16.42%20AM.png" width="369" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Ashley's kids were great. They have grown up in Central Asia, they all speak some Russian, and not very much flummoxes them. They loved riding the motor scooter with Grandpa, swimming at the beach, eating Thai food and reading the Dilbert books lying around.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjpFTWgWrlWCK2-1gWQMm0gQ_1N2NwvvVeKwKccgI_1irXgw6JNT_PJqcraG3ynuVgJD8vKeWDiK_2i6F18NvtxBrf9aJ5wTVGKz0HTgYv254u8f_Blvx3ysolsYCJQ9ywn7a_wO-v2DCEp8Jh5SSyFq-2DUD3lIwzgLecKQjjUeVXLJYHlOk8mE3Jw/s1168/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.18.43%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="1168" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjpFTWgWrlWCK2-1gWQMm0gQ_1N2NwvvVeKwKccgI_1irXgw6JNT_PJqcraG3ynuVgJD8vKeWDiK_2i6F18NvtxBrf9aJ5wTVGKz0HTgYv254u8f_Blvx3ysolsYCJQ9ywn7a_wO-v2DCEp8Jh5SSyFq-2DUD3lIwzgLecKQjjUeVXLJYHlOk8mE3Jw/w436-h416/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.18.43%20AM.png" width="436" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: arial;">There are fewer elephants to whom one can feed bananas in Kazakhstan, so they took advantage of the opportunity to do so in Thailand.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWven5CaEnmdYiNUPSq81dOoJLE2QVsVsXggQmBmhfKL2hNTsO3n5gRMoYqJ4gYRo_aZgercl74KnrvUIzoRqcl3ADUMnKdeL6bbvcIUsgb5M4fP9fCl4ye9iQul-ott-4LvFIZJPPH3VOlnHAkKM6SKPlgIK1PsoIcQeOnjd8tWxG6YYA1BEWJZ1TGw/s2090/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.21.11%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1552" data-original-width="2090" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWven5CaEnmdYiNUPSq81dOoJLE2QVsVsXggQmBmhfKL2hNTsO3n5gRMoYqJ4gYRo_aZgercl74KnrvUIzoRqcl3ADUMnKdeL6bbvcIUsgb5M4fP9fCl4ye9iQul-ott-4LvFIZJPPH3VOlnHAkKM6SKPlgIK1PsoIcQeOnjd8tWxG6YYA1BEWJZ1TGw/w443-h330/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.21.11%20AM.png" width="443" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Three of the older kids and Ashley herself, as well as Adventure Grandma and I went scuba diving at an island an hour's boat ride away, a real adventure with lots of fish and even a shark! Of course there was Thai food for lunch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> There were lots of Thai dive boats around, and Nope, that's not our boat. Most of them looked even worse than this, but we were on a very nice new boat.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx-TP3cD-DtEKIat2DspeDOcFqg8_qJ5WOL9UswKEHC1ZqPvMQvKBrH-mIFfqEOnZV-R4zfweRoPcjbQ8yWSAnTt7Zz6jJoNU8f5weSGQ-M2TPUb_LkqyRbXssA-9uMj07cYKgpLc_3-VZOZDWEL4KwcU8ENvTOxIGYV9cJQhvopkQ5Inz8yYIY1c5Q/s2272/DSCN3828.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx-TP3cD-DtEKIat2DspeDOcFqg8_qJ5WOL9UswKEHC1ZqPvMQvKBrH-mIFfqEOnZV-R4zfweRoPcjbQ8yWSAnTt7Zz6jJoNU8f5weSGQ-M2TPUb_LkqyRbXssA-9uMj07cYKgpLc_3-VZOZDWEL4KwcU8ENvTOxIGYV9cJQhvopkQ5Inz8yYIY1c5Q/w454-h340/DSCN3828.JPG" width="454" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Another day, we traveled by boat to the Ang Thong National Marine Park, a protected archipelago of some sixty islands located an hour an a half away in the Gulf. "Stunning" comes close, and I'm not just referring to the model in the foreground.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhik9WJYtYDh9gd6Szr9rYnf0C4njqsaJpmxmNo2_FFr7ilT28XX118xoK4MdNK3RlWSdzCwuebmMsr1XGacjW2KIzTVJVlbK-PvOk9qVl4W9zZ2PjVL5yf2le8elj9qbWr-hRtv7wwjRpQ5Ce91fSs-kInCujT7PVSo3IJPy34fGcrNI-VVzdh550Pzw/s2272/DSCN3888.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhik9WJYtYDh9gd6Szr9rYnf0C4njqsaJpmxmNo2_FFr7ilT28XX118xoK4MdNK3RlWSdzCwuebmMsr1XGacjW2KIzTVJVlbK-PvOk9qVl4W9zZ2PjVL5yf2le8elj9qbWr-hRtv7wwjRpQ5Ce91fSs-kInCujT7PVSo3IJPy34fGcrNI-VVzdh550Pzw/w631-h474/DSCN3888.JPG" width="631" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> We came and went off the big boat that brought us to the park via the arch-typical water transport of Thailand - the long-tail boat. The thing on the back is a long shaft with a propeller on the end hanging off the rear of watever motor could be mounted on a swivel on the back of the boat. No hazard there! OSHA would have a water buffalo (Thai equivalent of a cow). And the food for lunch was great! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRQOER6yGBrIMNkSlQ9C8AR_h2VYNMr2aj4DUhBl7OiNr8QiY7rdXWTap3wATEh1vYoIjgpjrS-5VEDdJ0u6iY_idZGeed7kV8ZyymIlRxEO0_Qo0T8WcRBtQh-I-gppbfsIaxpo1HTkMAMh-ez4BY8_TV_L8AfkdyNcv4f0NMrvljy98OMeBA5SnieA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRQOER6yGBrIMNkSlQ9C8AR_h2VYNMr2aj4DUhBl7OiNr8QiY7rdXWTap3wATEh1vYoIjgpjrS-5VEDdJ0u6iY_idZGeed7kV8ZyymIlRxEO0_Qo0T8WcRBtQh-I-gppbfsIaxpo1HTkMAMh-ez4BY8_TV_L8AfkdyNcv4f0NMrvljy98OMeBA5SnieA=w466-h310" width="466" /></a></div> Thailand's main faith is Buddhism, and there are temples of all sizes scattered about. I wondered to Paula (the non-overweight person in the foreground) if this one had something to do with the quality/quantity of Thai food.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JDuS7pcHaZeOTzHijMQoLobROnU02hMdg69Ae3ZfNpSCIs1uzUAW_Xy_kv17QGYtMIIZm6KFsmw1WPuGnW2LaPS3X_U8OsagblsLD-DuInDVxDpCQC1luQ76CCd-okXZ_hGn3Bq9eZ7QAauQONoIA5XXcSEa6aAekpUHJhHH2g6EGuGKOO_nzFyb1g/s1440/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.36.48%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1180" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JDuS7pcHaZeOTzHijMQoLobROnU02hMdg69Ae3ZfNpSCIs1uzUAW_Xy_kv17QGYtMIIZm6KFsmw1WPuGnW2LaPS3X_U8OsagblsLD-DuInDVxDpCQC1luQ76CCd-okXZ_hGn3Bq9eZ7QAauQONoIA5XXcSEa6aAekpUHJhHH2g6EGuGKOO_nzFyb1g/w377-h460/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.36.48%20AM.png" width="377" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">Several great days were spent with Ashley's family on beautiful beaches around the island.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEg9ppqy5VHvWewYqmcPh8xtMlvK0oH7lqdG5K00rSFD4c-hm0x9CtejBmO1RFvrGpC1yQkfEf-0id9H7bjCJT4wyNUTVaWOV3UMkkVRBnI-Aa0SDuPyX5OuDgZiCK-XvP5gM2BVscw11y-KVK2rrQm_kFBTXkUtI5asKTnke7bSvDdA58fm-O1aYFg/s1566/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.42.17%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="1178" height="527" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEg9ppqy5VHvWewYqmcPh8xtMlvK0oH7lqdG5K00rSFD4c-hm0x9CtejBmO1RFvrGpC1yQkfEf-0id9H7bjCJT4wyNUTVaWOV3UMkkVRBnI-Aa0SDuPyX5OuDgZiCK-XvP5gM2BVscw11y-KVK2rrQm_kFBTXkUtI5asKTnke7bSvDdA58fm-O1aYFg/w397-h527/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.42.17%20AM.png" width="397" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">Most of the beaches were pretty clean, but an occasional odd artifact could be found. I believe this was originally a size 9-C before the marine life hitched a ride. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nkF4dfAHMHeBvpnjJ5UYp-YVrV0Qo39JrjExIbNCMt0FgC8o8vwg1ZkQMgUZPAiGoYBOT4PCMek-DSQbMBoekhANxy7vim73UsU_wmyib0kphHzt9wy-dJZlb1zZJhzy4QaR17PNfHhdp_1azHg-DWaKHe62OH7JWL0-ewTx5OQcRKz07GAt6ZPGpA/s2076/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.44.45%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="2076" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nkF4dfAHMHeBvpnjJ5UYp-YVrV0Qo39JrjExIbNCMt0FgC8o8vwg1ZkQMgUZPAiGoYBOT4PCMek-DSQbMBoekhANxy7vim73UsU_wmyib0kphHzt9wy-dJZlb1zZJhzy4QaR17PNfHhdp_1azHg-DWaKHe62OH7JWL0-ewTx5OQcRKz07GAt6ZPGpA/w469-h321/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.44.45%20AM.png" width="469" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Alas, after eight great days with them, Ashley's family had to put their coats on and head back to Kazakhstan.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPth0StofGxe7CnSAHw_9_4cUbZvrt1Lm_fdnWKNp0x_8PdcXZektFjz42GAyaDENM3nPWOlPAFqASa-0PzP1Z2TLKt2yfsiySHxusJXfTXey5fgtS9opt0VoZKt2IJo2vzWl6I79X7QM1hePo1hgByFa90YTSvRNAkYUypvMujtY8w6BFECYZjslgCg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPth0StofGxe7CnSAHw_9_4cUbZvrt1Lm_fdnWKNp0x_8PdcXZektFjz42GAyaDENM3nPWOlPAFqASa-0PzP1Z2TLKt2yfsiySHxusJXfTXey5fgtS9opt0VoZKt2IJo2vzWl6I79X7QM1hePo1hgByFa90YTSvRNAkYUypvMujtY8w6BFECYZjslgCg=w443-h332" width="443" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">However, Paula and I figured that if you're going to buy tickets to go halfway around the globe, you need to take advantage of the opportunity. Not too far away was a beach where some kiteboarding takes place! Yee Hah!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P0U2xekUWyz-wEkeg7Kjei-HZJIG1kqXeI4Y7MIFCg_8ejKnxdue4e7gCjTKAxSbz9MK_6AmTXTzZyd4ypvmdlxPSYj499J9oxr1AqwrnvYTVmSLWG3n_sKA1uKGU6W30I29P80XLJWvmzDQQpO5Esnk__hcyXiL_bGK27lhHP0oQA5G9_XteaRe6g/s2092/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.56.09%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1550" data-original-width="2092" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P0U2xekUWyz-wEkeg7Kjei-HZJIG1kqXeI4Y7MIFCg_8ejKnxdue4e7gCjTKAxSbz9MK_6AmTXTzZyd4ypvmdlxPSYj499J9oxr1AqwrnvYTVmSLWG3n_sKA1uKGU6W30I29P80XLJWvmzDQQpO5Esnk__hcyXiL_bGK27lhHP0oQA5G9_XteaRe6g/w463-h343/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%203.56.09%20AM.png" width="463" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">Paula could sit on the covered patio by our room and watch the "action," though using that term to describe my kiteboarding ability stretches the truth more than a little. There were several days of good wind and I had a great time, even improving on several maneuvers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The kiteboarding 'company' consisted of a group of Polish 20-somethings who would carry the kites and boards from the shop a half-mile away balanced on scooters and then schlep them up the beach. Pavel, Michal, 'Dave' and the rest were chill and helpful.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> One thing about the lagoon, however. When the tide was high, there was plenty of room and up to a couple feet of water depth - great for kiting!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> On the other hand... when the tide was out, it was OUT.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhh8zpy-a2U-GsEBMtAwrzZwNCtbwkxJDd0r78Gl7NKiONl9NAo4erv6HUFFNBR_I_uk5bqCjEFK2GZNZg2XThT3iaH5J0pBMAeJUvDzCb-O5GvPbWGBSccmEPARMnJP44vnw0esi89W7jSMXuq1-8u8_zBdLz75ZWuqvrJK9WkAPd8tx9vUws4dOcA/s2088/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%204.04.22%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="2088" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhh8zpy-a2U-GsEBMtAwrzZwNCtbwkxJDd0r78Gl7NKiONl9NAo4erv6HUFFNBR_I_uk5bqCjEFK2GZNZg2XThT3iaH5J0pBMAeJUvDzCb-O5GvPbWGBSccmEPARMnJP44vnw0esi89W7jSMXuq1-8u8_zBdLz75ZWuqvrJK9WkAPd8tx9vUws4dOcA/w497-h371/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%204.04.22%20AM.png" width="497" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The 'hotel' complex was kind of strange. It was clean, but had seen better days, except for the half that we were told (very clearly!) was Private! Their pool was nicer, and when we asked 'Dave' who all the European-looking people were, he said, "That's a Russian cult having some meeting." Oh, Kay...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Next stop - Chiang Mai! The second-largest city in Thailand after Bangkok, it's located in the north of the country, in the more mountainous area. There are over a million people in the city, and an estimated 1,500 Buddhist temples as well as other historic and cultural high points. At this time of year, agricultural burning in the region, as well as in neighboring Laos and Myanmar tend to add to the haze, of which there was a fair amount. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> But is there food? That would be a big ใช่, which is Thai for "Yep." In fact, they'll teach you how to make it! Paula and I took an afternoon-long cooking class. First, we headed to the market to buy the fixin's.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D2sbv9xEPyA9PXfWA_KlPcoU8SRk2Kl1U3EuO6zLV4IQJu-AhUR0Pj7OoJMFsB6N7JO4l60XrOpJ9gA-SyZy_UflGKN46qBuBULY4fUjSGNlEcYCCcR5bhxDzX5eux6Bd1prftTGz8VjbYTQb9Fhh9KQfDSOy5O_En-SZvBn_LQZKs60EJ791ER1fQ/s2094/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%2010.06.08%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="2094" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D2sbv9xEPyA9PXfWA_KlPcoU8SRk2Kl1U3EuO6zLV4IQJu-AhUR0Pj7OoJMFsB6N7JO4l60XrOpJ9gA-SyZy_UflGKN46qBuBULY4fUjSGNlEcYCCcR5bhxDzX5eux6Bd1prftTGz8VjbYTQb9Fhh9KQfDSOy5O_En-SZvBn_LQZKs60EJ791ER1fQ/w431-h325/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%2010.06.08%20AM.png" width="431" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">After wandering around in the market, Paula and I looked at each other and said, "We've been here!!" Only it had been in Bogotá, and Huancayo, and Tashkent. Just change some of the items for sale and convince the folks to speak Spanish or Uzbek and it could have been one of those other markets.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The teachers taught us about the local items, purchased a bunch, and took us to their personal residence, where we three Gringos were instructed on some basics of Thai cooking. We each cooked four dishes and then ate them and no one died. Yet.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmU4rZkaClKLp7KhW-Q-pPsqnl7PpXUIUU7CrFx_wgcqtH3Rw3lcuTtT8qTJpDhAEfV8Svxymu58ImufW-nJoIZy6GT6nQGa_KAhsyFRHmbq3Y6uATps8IRrQObohBOw_gZdCgC3lJurGvfYoLIjwQxwC5VZtBpmRSU_thkv_LyevBz7dUpHhCJUeJng" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmU4rZkaClKLp7KhW-Q-pPsqnl7PpXUIUU7CrFx_wgcqtH3Rw3lcuTtT8qTJpDhAEfV8Svxymu58ImufW-nJoIZy6GT6nQGa_KAhsyFRHmbq3Y6uATps8IRrQObohBOw_gZdCgC3lJurGvfYoLIjwQxwC5VZtBpmRSU_thkv_LyevBz7dUpHhCJUeJng=w455-h342" width="455" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">Paula had signed us up the next day for a bicycle tour of the city, and she scored again. I guess due to this being the off-season for tourists, it was just us, a nice young lady tour guide and some basic bikes with baskets. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The guide was superb! Yes, she took us to the coolest temples, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYbD3RlTBTnB6scIWLw0DHdniQvetZ66rrPgUN2VwHKC4tenGjG6YFFwGQ01krSrO1ntIhVMYLH7emyTaiYjB-_bsdMqz40USFjGYJH1M6ptxPzK7tGPdy_F9R3QPIhu_cKHAJ9IVisKZlH2Hdv3eF9aIhcICMheOQtyuNIiNg9I32WAPz8b7ruCMafw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="960" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYbD3RlTBTnB6scIWLw0DHdniQvetZ66rrPgUN2VwHKC4tenGjG6YFFwGQ01krSrO1ntIhVMYLH7emyTaiYjB-_bsdMqz40USFjGYJH1M6ptxPzK7tGPdy_F9R3QPIhu_cKHAJ9IVisKZlH2Hdv3eF9aIhcICMheOQtyuNIiNg9I32WAPz8b7ruCMafw=w248-h441" width="248" /></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> </span>but also a bunch of off-the-beaten-path areas. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYVQn6o0X66snvFf7vYahtigYnEI6R2iysTHwVi3IeOcJv8HlSUEsEvyLZ9mUVjMS0H05iVqit7IvYK2anf6EMBKXAXO2mjezfvkgWNMMrF2DV3W1mVggTWC-YVt6D6cqZ9XcyicupA_U3ay5UW1Sz42MSn2EDK9pjkjPegrnADdO0TGdjR_ekknCCCw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="4320" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYVQn6o0X66snvFf7vYahtigYnEI6R2iysTHwVi3IeOcJv8HlSUEsEvyLZ9mUVjMS0H05iVqit7IvYK2anf6EMBKXAXO2mjezfvkgWNMMrF2DV3W1mVggTWC-YVt6D6cqZ9XcyicupA_U3ay5UW1Sz42MSn2EDK9pjkjPegrnADdO0TGdjR_ekknCCCw=w409-h307" width="409" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglDtWmyi77b3iQmjtHARHXMqdGcXaQ9gSmP8zUmdBpks1GPs8nBcue_aeIle-KiONtxE97QWofQTncIWsfJgu8Ygmxt8K3YBLb1dATAMuU2VJtBjdBd_ffDfWJI3fY0mtKy6GLqwJnqECkCyYhVwoJe-YVF6PHSq1edzGTnBl5IJP7t9Qnsb6NkGCN7A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="4320" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglDtWmyi77b3iQmjtHARHXMqdGcXaQ9gSmP8zUmdBpks1GPs8nBcue_aeIle-KiONtxE97QWofQTncIWsfJgu8Ygmxt8K3YBLb1dATAMuU2VJtBjdBd_ffDfWJI3fY0mtKy6GLqwJnqECkCyYhVwoJe-YVF6PHSq1edzGTnBl5IJP7t9Qnsb6NkGCN7A=w382-h287" width="382" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> On bicycles? In a big Thai city? Including in downtown traffic?! Another Yep. Turns out that the Thai drivers were polite, took care to give us room, and the guide could actually stop traffic with a smile and an upraised hand. In Huancayo, we would have been flattened. Repeatedly and gleefully. And flattened again. </div></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Church was within walking distance on Sunday, and unless you look closely and note that there are mango trees instead of cottonwoods, this building could have been in Idaho. There are three branches in Chiang Mai, part of a district in northern Thailand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1N-OuMeO4N3FARJsyKxBLtLxu5ktJzRvL6NmIWJcnAjJXuFMi1XR7LjOi2j3YG1eeacWJ_iRlhy16e3cDcISNRwQfL6iy7u-hM7MUxbaaWVkirJRwJjzhVKiMG5nUDRLkvLiAsulLFMLkdeoSkARqmNpxzlDXgAyskJR-c4pRPsAcvKOkdarUZ7wkdQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1N-OuMeO4N3FARJsyKxBLtLxu5ktJzRvL6NmIWJcnAjJXuFMi1XR7LjOi2j3YG1eeacWJ_iRlhy16e3cDcISNRwQfL6iy7u-hM7MUxbaaWVkirJRwJjzhVKiMG5nUDRLkvLiAsulLFMLkdeoSkARqmNpxzlDXgAyskJR-c4pRPsAcvKOkdarUZ7wkdQ=w399-h267" width="399" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> However, unless they've started speaking a lot of Thai in Boise, that was a big difference. We had to put on the headphones for the main service, but thanks to a Sister missionary from Utah who did a good translation, we understood the speakers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> Paula lucked out putting us in the Moon Dragon Hotel (complete with dragon out front), </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx2OFethVcIHsWs9gGZqIrN0Lmm9A4HhwzXXoZhQ2I8m6XmABAd7yl4MeaNZHVOCSAbzBW2T5V_xrqZKJ5qIuHlc9g3t9N9mb7tOBRPhQZJ12trA6YPHs2lX5F7cCXHdFA2sBU9paWP2a0EpSrEzgIqMgx-Q6EgNgoAvAbk-7crWbSjQdAkYAqtYLDA/s1552/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.19.56%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1552" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx2OFethVcIHsWs9gGZqIrN0Lmm9A4HhwzXXoZhQ2I8m6XmABAd7yl4MeaNZHVOCSAbzBW2T5V_xrqZKJ5qIuHlc9g3t9N9mb7tOBRPhQZJ12trA6YPHs2lX5F7cCXHdFA2sBU9paWP2a0EpSrEzgIqMgx-Q6EgNgoAvAbk-7crWbSjQdAkYAqtYLDA/s320/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.19.56%20AM.png" width="241" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span>and it was very nice and close to almost everything, including the big Sunday night market that took over the street in front of it. </span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8IPVVyDIeZHGk1egBix-hs-PcGRXldRwyyhyoqvns13X7nz_sJbc-ZaIxxBcEpwg_4k9DnmThxuzplCbRLLTl0HCKR-m1tr9nHsmW-I2APzgxaXTOMU_9pb5yuElrMnU9MZpuj5uXOVht7SHUANZSUA4ye30Yp9Q0JWPec-qzDLd5SIrz0njqlYtfw/s2082/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.21.23%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1546" data-original-width="2082" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8IPVVyDIeZHGk1egBix-hs-PcGRXldRwyyhyoqvns13X7nz_sJbc-ZaIxxBcEpwg_4k9DnmThxuzplCbRLLTl0HCKR-m1tr9nHsmW-I2APzgxaXTOMU_9pb5yuElrMnU9MZpuj5uXOVht7SHUANZSUA4ye30Yp9Q0JWPec-qzDLd5SIrz0njqlYtfw/w537-h399/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.21.23%20AM.png" width="537" /></a></div> Oh, my word! The picture doesn't show the crowds that soon clogged the street, and gives no hint of what was on sale. Fried squid! Jade rings! Thai food! Doo dads of all descriptions! Thai food! Plastic stuff! T-shirts! Thai food! Jewelry!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Needless to say, the food was great! And I didn't get sick! Just really full!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Realizing that my calorie spread sheet was now frighteningly out of balance, we rode bikes all day on Monday in areas out in the country around Chiang Mai. Here, we're getting a lesson about raising rice, of which there are more varieties than you can shake a chopstick at. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIbARTUpvIC2Wyt4FAcleRdpOtpFEepAGCk3xW3ITR4_Xlgb9n6AAfDQQ0v7BFDr6eNwEULFVtQJAv9-YGvZRAGATdvty9wDvGOd6aAAs7wF5XY2xyf_QmYoJMlua_zPccCz4n13dQI5zPFOxQ6Rxh-O5waOpKFCeMZKOoMBUU5Yz2PgRkG8kQfmoRg/s1570/Screenshot%202023-03-25%20at%209.55.11%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1176" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIbARTUpvIC2Wyt4FAcleRdpOtpFEepAGCk3xW3ITR4_Xlgb9n6AAfDQQ0v7BFDr6eNwEULFVtQJAv9-YGvZRAGATdvty9wDvGOd6aAAs7wF5XY2xyf_QmYoJMlua_zPccCz4n13dQI5zPFOxQ6Rxh-O5waOpKFCeMZKOoMBUU5Yz2PgRkG8kQfmoRg/w319-h425/Screenshot%202023-03-25%20at%209.55.11%20PM.png" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However....that's right; they were e-Bikes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaNkoUwnFiYXg9XJyaNIGW2xqR7Td9MJtC17YEQJDBfhWILNqXJ6cvBr-XJXL0sngur106KUM1Ath2dUi7aDusZUBZB0GXQPXYQs2Six2rD7fEyhD347C4_nfUxWVTn8-nc5o886Cnl6FdM41dlESYj54-xUZn_efBeT3sxTLvE7Isqw6QYVN31HSEw/s1566/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.27.18%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="1168" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaNkoUwnFiYXg9XJyaNIGW2xqR7Td9MJtC17YEQJDBfhWILNqXJ6cvBr-XJXL0sngur106KUM1Ath2dUi7aDusZUBZB0GXQPXYQs2Six2rD7fEyhD347C4_nfUxWVTn8-nc5o886Cnl6FdM41dlESYj54-xUZn_efBeT3sxTLvE7Isqw6QYVN31HSEw/w303-h405/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.27.18%20AM.png" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Which were really cool for any hills, and there were definitely some of those. However, you just cranked up the "Assist" factor and presto! Right up the hill! And if that didn't fix it, there was a "Boost Button" that would. We had never ridden e-Bikes before, and they were a revelation that may cost me in the future, according to Paula. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Among the points of interest during the ride was a 1939 Kawasaki steam engine abandoned by the Japanese as their occupation of Thailand in World War 2 ended. Not far from this picture is the Kwai River over which the bridge depicted in the movie was built. Some ten thousand Allied prisoners died during railway construction in Thailand during the war, in addition to over one hundred thousand Thai citizens who perished.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh836wDQOnAzDDkj3Fr_2cbfz-zS2-t22edcSpuDqRknx61M758gePkJkKjTeecIVYrqfSWkj9wk5W--h7mzSLesmwLXsiVrq9Kx6Ry-T8tpotCMfTByKIsYPCIdA8t9WIPdyVXYglNzMcCLr3i-TiRiUOK7DPa0U6z5I9Jd9NykPCd4dB2otkQJMdTlg/s2092/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.37.11%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="2092" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh836wDQOnAzDDkj3Fr_2cbfz-zS2-t22edcSpuDqRknx61M758gePkJkKjTeecIVYrqfSWkj9wk5W--h7mzSLesmwLXsiVrq9Kx6Ry-T8tpotCMfTByKIsYPCIdA8t9WIPdyVXYglNzMcCLr3i-TiRiUOK7DPa0U6z5I9Jd9NykPCd4dB2otkQJMdTlg/w419-h314/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.37.11%20AM.png" width="419" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> In our defense, we really did have to pedal (some) during the seven hours of riding, but the good Thai food at lunch wiped out any calorie credit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> So, what do you do on your last day in Thailand? You wake up at 4:00 AM so that you can be picked up by Tu the Tour Guide at 5:00 AM and you travel up in the mountains to watch the sun rise at the amazing temple complex overlooking the city of Chiang Mai. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaQlaqPHx61NvF7v8vNjq35ARzZT_VBFZxKo7jsefcoo9I9K0H_SnF1zppTnk8tPTFvL4WGyZN1uHFHifTIfTWd15ISEgcthZtl7aUJUV32jXKGqsF7bPZpMEQyhCZ9vBAHaC5abCxDvGQnHAe1gEO6YA4Ox8ZRCKF8E87MbjzMBAdS9nMdG-UlRXgA/s1564/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.42.02%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1176" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaQlaqPHx61NvF7v8vNjq35ARzZT_VBFZxKo7jsefcoo9I9K0H_SnF1zppTnk8tPTFvL4WGyZN1uHFHifTIfTWd15ISEgcthZtl7aUJUV32jXKGqsF7bPZpMEQyhCZ9vBAHaC5abCxDvGQnHAe1gEO6YA4Ox8ZRCKF8E87MbjzMBAdS9nMdG-UlRXgA/w361-h479/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.42.02%20AM.png" width="361" /></a></div> Pictures of sunrises and sunsets rarely do them justice, but it was gorgeous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWinWbbIYqlG2-Ko0gDYuWpEthUjipd4icF9hYgQDBXIGnumxfgDf4BkOrNX3c3KbvaNI3LZ-FooXhS_Jv-F9MHTlyzMLAbkc8PwXuScYFfRA0WVtBf6DatOJDmtTVgW7poODTayGQWflnv_SFncBcJbyaHC3dDP7M1gabqmQ9zkaoS9zGl7yrTSyrbg/s2090/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.43.54%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2090" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWinWbbIYqlG2-Ko0gDYuWpEthUjipd4icF9hYgQDBXIGnumxfgDf4BkOrNX3c3KbvaNI3LZ-FooXhS_Jv-F9MHTlyzMLAbkc8PwXuScYFfRA0WVtBf6DatOJDmtTVgW7poODTayGQWflnv_SFncBcJbyaHC3dDP7M1gabqmQ9zkaoS9zGl7yrTSyrbg/w469-h350/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.43.54%20AM.png" width="469" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And then, of course, we had to stop for a big breakfast of (wait for it) Thai food!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We visited two further temples on the way down the mountain, including my favorite, which Tu called 'The Hidden Temple' because the tourists don't go there. It was peaceful with softly trickling water and paths through the forest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5qFNOHPOTGiIdkz6phbK6uigQyH4zzhB9gB7fHvQIZf_MGHWcDCbyBfiEVrvq5GQYbGjjsj6sUUq1n6aQMw7yF_sNPOl1c61_NIBF_d9ckyeBDzD-fnnup2k1LhjwbchLi7DC7iUc6me6UbDqyEEBKuGZIvmfnBacf-RutGMXCA6Dfp53ZX79mvoKA/s1560/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.47.45%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1168" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5qFNOHPOTGiIdkz6phbK6uigQyH4zzhB9gB7fHvQIZf_MGHWcDCbyBfiEVrvq5GQYbGjjsj6sUUq1n6aQMw7yF_sNPOl1c61_NIBF_d9ckyeBDzD-fnnup2k1LhjwbchLi7DC7iUc6me6UbDqyEEBKuGZIvmfnBacf-RutGMXCA6Dfp53ZX79mvoKA/w321-h427/Screenshot%202023-03-22%20at%205.47.45%20AM.png" width="321" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And then it was over. Back to the Moon Dragon and packing up. The flight to Bangkok, then to Seoul, then to Seattle and then (yawn) to Raleigh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Overall impressions? It's clear to us why people like to go to Thailand. The place (except for maybe Bangkok) is gorgeous and the people are exceptionally kind and gracious. There is a reason why it's called The Country of Smiles. We left having smiled a lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Oh, yeah, and the Thai food. Did I mention that they have good food in Thailand?</div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-18402653788896129322022-10-07T14:07:00.000-07:002022-10-07T14:07:09.605-07:00I guess I should thank him...<p>But it didn't feel like it at the time. </p><p>I'm about two months after the hip thing, and about three weeks after crutches. Other than muscle atrophy from non-use and some continued pain as connective tissue and joints get used to their new and previous situations, things are going well.</p><p>However, the strength of the union between the hip replacement parts and the bones is still increasing, and won't max out for many months. I'll be on restriction from kiteboarding and cycling for at least another 30 days.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydJsOmuNgr_ENLlbgFtp6YTau7ojSOhMZjroVu_Lpu1dfK6D0eBmGFYfHxslDuAlKigVvQvGgW-YpYMP00cMxklnIaZfNayV1rrtM4KnzHPx3EEmeQqik2FjlUCRhgjcvye8IE3V1bDk4bJkGNWiUVbYQSVNcgTI24UDTaG_W-w_JpPB5dyyLcRgVAQ/s4471/20220907-Right%20hip%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4471" data-original-width="3392" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydJsOmuNgr_ENLlbgFtp6YTau7ojSOhMZjroVu_Lpu1dfK6D0eBmGFYfHxslDuAlKigVvQvGgW-YpYMP00cMxklnIaZfNayV1rrtM4KnzHPx3EEmeQqik2FjlUCRhgjcvye8IE3V1bDk4bJkGNWiUVbYQSVNcgTI24UDTaG_W-w_JpPB5dyyLcRgVAQ/w250-h330/20220907-Right%20hip%20view.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><p>As previous posts have reported, we gather with friends and family at least twice a year on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for kiting. This makes the 30th year we've done so, though windsurfing was the thing until about 2008. This year we packed ten folks into a house with a great launch on the Pamlico Sound side, and enjoyed good winds for several days.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekEGRRD7d-hfWzz-vdN3Rshce8uf23_hYTQhn-lpRYRv76F7Kh0aiYTCP_1p1SMhCKPSR-0aSECln2eEa3XPsbAzpi39pSBCMuGH56a7qPywtlU1pph6TG5bWjoY0N03v_1E60uJweU65VZC59ocRFLbZGcSyeKJJFWMRQYNOSJ3JD6UFoFi9phTP3w/s4032/20220928-IMG_5491.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekEGRRD7d-hfWzz-vdN3Rshce8uf23_hYTQhn-lpRYRv76F7Kh0aiYTCP_1p1SMhCKPSR-0aSECln2eEa3XPsbAzpi39pSBCMuGH56a7qPywtlU1pph6TG5bWjoY0N03v_1E60uJweU65VZC59ocRFLbZGcSyeKJJFWMRQYNOSJ3JD6UFoFi9phTP3w/w371-h278/20220928-IMG_5491.jpg" width="371" /></a></div>By the way, the one in the foreground doesn't kite - yet. However, she had a great time splashing around and writing her name in the sand with her stick.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaR9P9aDaTDI0NyBWrQZsF4gWnC5EET6-Y1hJi4XwSYBHBAoWhvZlB37uhKFeGqetzFke8t1ZbhLC2-cIOQNhGbvagjuyBtkgi9QRyYK7hoGFNj-D625YopAqn4giCF_Rlnv2QjuDurvZYghlSmfp00F09kgOeEIBcdyaPSIA-JRjESYt0nFJXiwXIg/s1280/20220930-thumbnail_IMG_4916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaR9P9aDaTDI0NyBWrQZsF4gWnC5EET6-Y1hJi4XwSYBHBAoWhvZlB37uhKFeGqetzFke8t1ZbhLC2-cIOQNhGbvagjuyBtkgi9QRyYK7hoGFNj-D625YopAqn4giCF_Rlnv2QjuDurvZYghlSmfp00F09kgOeEIBcdyaPSIA-JRjESYt0nFJXiwXIg/s320/20220930-thumbnail_IMG_4916.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the great things about Hatteras is that even the calm days are enjoyable,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDM4WEBPooZ2wJX3Z5KZTqHybynRIXCSbVKzihjPts6cu3Ikq3OGcnOfJe3EqOrS2mVhnyfzXPuXCxs2aSNijFoZwJnK9REziVwcJIfOX3ES5pYN6TC2AnUz8dxP1yTcntPukUHYsEYPPbKLPoUd9pIKgMD9fMBrvbDylMe-BqvtTDSJUPxF2JAoOKQ/s2784/20220926-IMG_0563.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="2784" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDM4WEBPooZ2wJX3Z5KZTqHybynRIXCSbVKzihjPts6cu3Ikq3OGcnOfJe3EqOrS2mVhnyfzXPuXCxs2aSNijFoZwJnK9REziVwcJIfOX3ES5pYN6TC2AnUz8dxP1yTcntPukUHYsEYPPbKLPoUd9pIKgMD9fMBrvbDylMe-BqvtTDSJUPxF2JAoOKQ/w419-h279/20220926-IMG_0563.jpg" width="419" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U5ZfSdLd2caj6TCmmI_Yt8P9TifBsuqLfDkWQQSRh5QvYcMxF4EnNqjzSt5yHl8AYpMBKHeGTqZB_Zk4o0cg7kyTBHAWqWBX_VAcu_VfJqZSNR0AAoyNXmoCZcrjYlxWTqonLJzL0MppwBz67uGQdpFyUSGrguN_-s29lfmk5eWW99Ie-pfBbMfecQ/s2475/20220927-IMG_0582.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2475" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U5ZfSdLd2caj6TCmmI_Yt8P9TifBsuqLfDkWQQSRh5QvYcMxF4EnNqjzSt5yHl8AYpMBKHeGTqZB_Zk4o0cg7kyTBHAWqWBX_VAcu_VfJqZSNR0AAoyNXmoCZcrjYlxWTqonLJzL0MppwBz67uGQdpFyUSGrguN_-s29lfmk5eWW99Ie-pfBbMfecQ/w415-h258/20220927-IMG_0582.jpg" width="415" /></a></div><div>Being still restricted, I nonetheless put on a wetsuit and waded out to help folks. Our son Mike's wife wanted to learn, so she and I and a 9-meter kite spent a lot of a day splashing around and laughing. It just never gets old, watching noobs get launched!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4WuepvxHEdUj03HrSNktx7UF97eCrzgc-HspBXOkCG2u0FRG7uliYlrjgkNb9yEBBXIm7BRSPc9gLeNOzSY9gzQv4SdUCSQSHWKT_gQ1aDtoRkeM73IZDqtkTXwMj_mtkIIMm5-EOXMJTD5PQjnElWjptswiFBt6kmGvQAS2OfbVupIpTMhkzDrD2Q/s448/8979370.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="448" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4WuepvxHEdUj03HrSNktx7UF97eCrzgc-HspBXOkCG2u0FRG7uliYlrjgkNb9yEBBXIm7BRSPc9gLeNOzSY9gzQv4SdUCSQSHWKT_gQ1aDtoRkeM73IZDqtkTXwMj_mtkIIMm5-EOXMJTD5PQjnElWjptswiFBt6kmGvQAS2OfbVupIpTMhkzDrD2Q/w337-h225/8979370.jpg" width="337" /></a></div><p>Otherwise, there's always stuff to fix. My brother brings his jet ski for rescues, and to take videos of folks kiting and to help with beginners. A replacement starter solenoid had to be installed,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia73WSReNsqmKqYK97-VYv3Q6Nw7e8Zm39kunEXxiIt5gM0uvsR70i9qBNn-HS0p72QAnNBHBf8CIVelZw25-95CPTDgMuiheNjXksD25RLex67JtfjvSYOor8Y_lNOdBJER0DGFprxAaFgLtXmy0cigo3siR-DLztz-DC5R71gL1O2iIZw_bHhSNyPA/s1280/20220930-thumbnail_IMG_4910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia73WSReNsqmKqYK97-VYv3Q6Nw7e8Zm39kunEXxiIt5gM0uvsR70i9qBNn-HS0p72QAnNBHBf8CIVelZw25-95CPTDgMuiheNjXksD25RLex67JtfjvSYOor8Y_lNOdBJER0DGFprxAaFgLtXmy0cigo3siR-DLztz-DC5R71gL1O2iIZw_bHhSNyPA/s320/20220930-thumbnail_IMG_4910.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>and I had to wrestle a new kite bladder into place. (See previous <a href="https://outofthefryingpanhendo.blogspot.com/2022/05/fixing-leaky-bladders.html" target="_blank">post </a>about leaky bladders.)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ57craURmsJlBuC1CekRPiNDNC1oNmheqPUigc9AZF1POSv1ZymnZcZMfdgH86O35KSSHmyId4EDp-R_5nObBF3PhOSEvlzm4GvemsDXK45yFcZuOd483VMVraHUr8XtDLY5Qo5DhbWbivtRnC2jpj0j4LX28f6gLNCtJOET02Cp_I0OPHHyVSn0-bQ/s1280/20220930-thumbnail_IMG_4911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ57craURmsJlBuC1CekRPiNDNC1oNmheqPUigc9AZF1POSv1ZymnZcZMfdgH86O35KSSHmyId4EDp-R_5nObBF3PhOSEvlzm4GvemsDXK45yFcZuOd483VMVraHUr8XtDLY5Qo5DhbWbivtRnC2jpj0j4LX28f6gLNCtJOET02Cp_I0OPHHyVSn0-bQ/s320/20220930-thumbnail_IMG_4911.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>On Wednesday, the wind blew a bit stronger, so everyone that could was jumping and back-rolling and zooming around, having a great time. One of them came in for a break at one point, asking if anyone on the shore wanted the kite. I happened to be in a wetsuit with a harness on, and it was such a beautiful day, and the wind was perfect, and I started in that direction.... and my younger but wiser brother, the recently-retired orthopedic surgeon stepped between me and the kite, clipped in and rode off.</p><p>I guess in today's terms that was an "intervention," and he was right, and like I said, I guess that I should thank him... I guess...</p><p>As you might already know, the Outer Banks consist of several long and very skinny islands, essentially glorified sandbars, along which NC Highway 12 runs. Coming back from church on Sunday in Kitty Hawk, traffic stopped for about an hour as the flaming results of a head-on crash were cleaned up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzvMWR5g8eejqmOG_d3WtQlkGcruhq23cAjwJT8U1KoxRd6nz_WntqaQ0OrXWsOWD38ZdriUdSJISr1rUnujIZqYFobkhJZTiICBRADa-SdmUWKctj2zSXOnr63OxFXFLs3im9ZuJnzQHy_fVVahKcG-7NIukiqPsKXxMwFIhu_XH60mQaywK6FhNSQ/s1280/20220930-thumbnail_IMG_4909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzvMWR5g8eejqmOG_d3WtQlkGcruhq23cAjwJT8U1KoxRd6nz_WntqaQ0OrXWsOWD38ZdriUdSJISr1rUnujIZqYFobkhJZTiICBRADa-SdmUWKctj2zSXOnr63OxFXFLs3im9ZuJnzQHy_fVVahKcG-7NIukiqPsKXxMwFIhu_XH60mQaywK6FhNSQ/w359-h269/20220930-thumbnail_IMG_4909.jpg" width="359" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to airbags and dumb luck, no one was seriously hurt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then of course there was Hurricane Ian. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Highway 12 is very vulnerable to storms, and waiting too long can trap folks on the island as a storm approaches. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2h4oLN7gf6lWxcZa_bW2rLm11gJKK-w_OS5oOrbNEHYB3l9Mn7jghDjGTcTmPuKLuV_hjEj_rKNp1_e6yweJnNHqKAanmvgdFnSTdRAhpeYMhKVDYGrDNAXzsvnwaQMOcXNWg2jerF2QvubLxr1LMQUR5bsqmHvFu430WZocosB76zgo9qE35IyVwDQ/s1522/Screenshot%202022-10-01%20150342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1522" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2h4oLN7gf6lWxcZa_bW2rLm11gJKK-w_OS5oOrbNEHYB3l9Mn7jghDjGTcTmPuKLuV_hjEj_rKNp1_e6yweJnNHqKAanmvgdFnSTdRAhpeYMhKVDYGrDNAXzsvnwaQMOcXNWg2jerF2QvubLxr1LMQUR5bsqmHvFu430WZocosB76zgo9qE35IyVwDQ/w418-h260/Screenshot%202022-10-01%20150342.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By Wednesday evening it was clear that the hurricane's path was unclear, and with prospects of winds beyond useful kiting strength accompanied by heavy rain, everyone packed up on Thursday morning and headed home. By that point, the heavy equipment was already beginning the of-repeated battle of keeping Highway 12 open. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all, a fun week, though with an unfortunate ending for so many folks in Florida. Everyone made it home safely from Kite Camp, we didn't break anything, be it kites, cars or humans. Now, if the doc will just give me a clean bill of health...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave</div></div></div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-91764371787577313202022-07-30T12:21:00.002-07:002022-07-31T08:23:03.122-07:00Things can change in a moment<p> I'm not sure I've ever hurt that much or that instantly. After lying by my bicycle and yelling for a while, I tried to get up and realized that something bad was going on - weight bearing caused some clearly wrong, hurtful movement in my right hip. </p><p> I may have mentioned an upcoming bicycle tour in Croatia, one that was originally supposed to happen in 2019, but then there was that COVID-19 thing you've probably heard about. No? Well, it was a mess. </p><p> Anyway, it was finally supposed to happen for about three weeks beginning at the end of August. Some of the days' rides look challenging, like over a mile of climbing over about 60 miles distance, so we've been doing a lot of riding.</p><p> We set out for a good 45-mile ride at about 5:30 AM on Wednesday morning at a time when the headlights helped to see and be seen. It was getting light when we were riding up a zig-zag wooden section of the local Greenway. I went around a corner at about 4 mph, and the bike slipped out, dumping me on my right hip, still clipped into the pedals. </p><p> We called a neighbor who happened to be up, he came with our van, we dropped him off and we headed for the "Open 24 hours" urgent care at Raleigh Orthopedics which wasn't open for another hour, during which I finally stopped yelling. The X-rays meant that I had to be admitted, where some more X-rays said, "Duh, your right hip's busted." (<span style="font-family: inherit;">Below: "<span style="background-color: white;">Acute, displaced right femur neck fracture.")</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6VIgmkGbhlayPkLJw87t26DMueti22TpRVD-FgsI-Qmtqe-esPdfi5feTHRRIcyuHaKvk_Ig0SNYQ0B70BIgyT5nMYMVgX9PhKy7JLAjmZuGBVLrgYBwxcEjTUWcWhjK4dMbHPMHKkrb_1c0mV1YbcdfXpx12oxMZvDZnwbpAJ0Iy_Ypn8trmMlBiQ/s3280/20220730-David%20x-ray%20with%20circle-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2538" data-original-width="3280" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6VIgmkGbhlayPkLJw87t26DMueti22TpRVD-FgsI-Qmtqe-esPdfi5feTHRRIcyuHaKvk_Ig0SNYQ0B70BIgyT5nMYMVgX9PhKy7JLAjmZuGBVLrgYBwxcEjTUWcWhjK4dMbHPMHKkrb_1c0mV1YbcdfXpx12oxMZvDZnwbpAJ0Iy_Ypn8trmMlBiQ/w448-h347/20220730-David%20x-ray%20with%20circle-2.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><p> You'll notice that the circled head of the right femur (long leg bone) is kind of shorter and kind of squashed looking, comparing it to the other side. The orthopaedic MD agreed and worked on scheduling total hip replacement, which finally ended up taking place about 30 (not) fun hours later.</p><p> Back when I was an actual doctor myself doing actual surgery, I always felt good when my patients/victims/whatever awakened from anesthesia, and announced to me that they already felt better, and such was the case for me now. They let me out of the hospital the next morning, after being instructed by OT (Occupational Therapy), PT (Physical Therapy), SOT (Some Other Therapist) and a few other people, and signing a dozen papers that said various things.</p><p> So what now? Six weeks of less-than-50 percent weight bearing on that side, no angle less than 90 degrees, yada, yada, yada. No cycling or kiting for at least three months. I was hoping that I wouldn't need a walker for a few more years, and that picking my socks up with one of those grabbers could be put off for a while, but I guess not. </p><p> We try to listen for inspiration on decisions, and occasionally we get the feeling to NOT do something. However, on Wednesday morning there were no such feelings - a complete "clear" for the ride. Trying to parse it, maybe a) it was just one of those things to which we are randomly subject in this mortal phase, b) I'm supposed to learn patience and compassion for others through the experience (not working yet), or c) someone else (yes, you, Paula) can learn to be nicer or d) this may allow something to happen that wouldn't have happened otherwise.</p><p> Anyway, to steal and not actually coin a phrase, "it is what it is," and we just have to schlog through the experience, and hopefully learn something. </p><p> We hope you stay upright on your bicycle, and yes, mine is fine and it thank you for asking.</p><p>David</p>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-61255015541667843452022-07-24T07:20:00.006-07:002022-07-24T08:48:28.092-07:00Don't mess with Grandma<p> As apparent from previous posts, Paula is an avid gardener, which pursuit borders very close to mania. This became apparent right from the get-go. Our first apartment soon had a bunch of plants in windows</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeg_SpfyPiUDmXw0afH-3cUIzfwmS34fVpU3OEitWEC5WJAj55q7BWjnH_y4uOJTt_kUKvGpFoaUm8ITW-4IAx97TLA3ts3pQSS6cmkjC5mkRRKe7B200evjOPizDswmWIM0OV7-iT_mGs7r5aCJx0r2g5I4dYt55kQa8jswbst9JzaTqH3I0la5zZg/s2089/20100711-65%20Pearl%20Bailey%20in%20window%20with%20Harry%20&%20Marge%20begonia%20in%20window,%20Jarrett%20Apt.,%20Winter%2078.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2089" data-original-width="1414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeg_SpfyPiUDmXw0afH-3cUIzfwmS34fVpU3OEitWEC5WJAj55q7BWjnH_y4uOJTt_kUKvGpFoaUm8ITW-4IAx97TLA3ts3pQSS6cmkjC5mkRRKe7B200evjOPizDswmWIM0OV7-iT_mGs7r5aCJx0r2g5I4dYt55kQa8jswbst9JzaTqH3I0la5zZg/s320/20100711-65%20Pearl%20Bailey%20in%20window%20with%20Harry%20&%20Marge%20begonia%20in%20window,%20Jarrett%20Apt.,%20Winter%2078.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>and daffodils planted down by the front steps<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYW1e4zVeVYSP0m7sGPayyLlZmWpgDxYyZIFXvyKfbbJ6sMSEyYd06xWFxhvFyZnlPX3Y0SYx-zTgtFgZUI5JZaYiSX5P0JnvKWxEGc7ZrJ_JGNofxmrSJsb4Kms66H-5izp-Ant3C86_Vkmf39Evd-U3te44UktqsQimyOVmuZf8TfCwyE27vXyVmjQ/s1929/20100711-91%20Jarrett%20Apt.%20from%20parking%20lot,%20Richmond,%20spring%201978.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1929" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYW1e4zVeVYSP0m7sGPayyLlZmWpgDxYyZIFXvyKfbbJ6sMSEyYd06xWFxhvFyZnlPX3Y0SYx-zTgtFgZUI5JZaYiSX5P0JnvKWxEGc7ZrJ_JGNofxmrSJsb4Kms66H-5izp-Ant3C86_Vkmf39Evd-U3te44UktqsQimyOVmuZf8TfCwyE27vXyVmjQ/s320/20100711-91%20Jarrett%20Apt.%20from%20parking%20lot,%20Richmond,%20spring%201978.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and when we were lucky enough to move to a little house, one of the first considerations was about the location of the garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUXYk-NlNzMB8vPvfWRvjMviOU7NeiJfAPAHvwK9FDPN36Ynm22L_enmRkQzw_Bwz246D2AJiQkXgCfdbpx92H01mQAnFG3DZk1WYZ5i9IFdcVfQs_HrEzmaoY_sQF5qPUdXla4cuL0eY8kyKtxArgLqw3oB8TpYszPTCHXWquIpDkP2IzNJH0YyA0A/s2697/20210211-1978%2009%2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1852" data-original-width="2697" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUXYk-NlNzMB8vPvfWRvjMviOU7NeiJfAPAHvwK9FDPN36Ynm22L_enmRkQzw_Bwz246D2AJiQkXgCfdbpx92H01mQAnFG3DZk1WYZ5i9IFdcVfQs_HrEzmaoY_sQF5qPUdXla4cuL0eY8kyKtxArgLqw3oB8TpYszPTCHXWquIpDkP2IzNJH0YyA0A/s320/20210211-1978%2009%2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This love of gardening has not abated, rather it has intensified through the years. I made a count last year of how many different <i>kinds </i>of plants there are in our yard, and it came to one hundred twelve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnzAcTTkhjYvPnJDhNzFURWUUGBN_8fXsY1aY4Z-B3k8k4ogK7vTN5jJR9xXSLNMaHF2RWAjy5ykhzWXLtR3DWrrGQONCrzBjHBUDDSWyLPVQDvHGWWi9tfbs5iXrqnjpUPa9LXZTFVT4qKrnKZpOrzvU6RLbYRdJirXHBmoDmq_XtGQlC43Xr3DZCA/s1280/20220501-thumbnail_IMG_4567.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnzAcTTkhjYvPnJDhNzFURWUUGBN_8fXsY1aY4Z-B3k8k4ogK7vTN5jJR9xXSLNMaHF2RWAjy5ykhzWXLtR3DWrrGQONCrzBjHBUDDSWyLPVQDvHGWWi9tfbs5iXrqnjpUPa9LXZTFVT4qKrnKZpOrzvU6RLbYRdJirXHBmoDmq_XtGQlC43Xr3DZCA/w411-h308/20220501-thumbnail_IMG_4567.jpg" width="411" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HmQzTGtWjizY1smdn6943d6cv_p72N4ZK_sLnzxChoj7aKs5dMb6bCgMPEJNN_fa-qBXhVWx9GS6LbCd_VMj_EcATGIzqIwQ967732MJd-T2WQhlXA0NjOH9zNHw-7ErY3sSe3VPC8PIGU8TIPgZ936L-0p3kvL-Jb8yAaZ9906s4KdnhakSmLna9A/s1280/20220430-thumbnail_IMG_4542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HmQzTGtWjizY1smdn6943d6cv_p72N4ZK_sLnzxChoj7aKs5dMb6bCgMPEJNN_fa-qBXhVWx9GS6LbCd_VMj_EcATGIzqIwQ967732MJd-T2WQhlXA0NjOH9zNHw-7ErY3sSe3VPC8PIGU8TIPgZ936L-0p3kvL-Jb8yAaZ9906s4KdnhakSmLna9A/w448-h336/20220430-thumbnail_IMG_4542.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are sixty-some tall pines on the property, and only one area by the street that gets much sun. Because of its public location, Paula's rule is that if something starts looking crummy, it's gone, stuffed in the week's yard waste. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgCh-Gg-PiE4ld-E0LEtdBaAePVCfk7XCVI7j6UWpa4mK2ozsCtd-iAHPYJZhzI2w-4UliLgYP-5CGvoCIVzW0I6O8bvCH8RSKGfqta4eUTEjLUhaDqLcZ8b6OoCD6X_6f99lrXi1od5diSM7-d-HGd4PZ9xUuOYPCEWwWb_DYmjxHoRTG5uoM2ItTA/s1280/20220724-thumbnail_IMG_4817.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgCh-Gg-PiE4ld-E0LEtdBaAePVCfk7XCVI7j6UWpa4mK2ozsCtd-iAHPYJZhzI2w-4UliLgYP-5CGvoCIVzW0I6O8bvCH8RSKGfqta4eUTEjLUhaDqLcZ8b6OoCD6X_6f99lrXi1od5diSM7-d-HGd4PZ9xUuOYPCEWwWb_DYmjxHoRTG5uoM2ItTA/w413-h309/20220724-thumbnail_IMG_4817.jpg" width="413" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And that is why I shave and keep my hair combed (most days). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Many years ago, we learned that our yard could be declared an official wildlife habitat! All we had to do was certify that we provided water, food and protected areas and didn't use pesticides! Oh, and sent twenty-five bucks to the National Wildlife Federation (www.nwf.org). For being good people (and the $25) we got a nifty sign that makes people think we're cool.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyY6A345NsCldPn7mgS9joA8yHJbjhezL0XqKYnehnLtM1AfnO4Ea4tKrwOht43ZcWXHThoKiFE2GRvqPHjnGLpwUxNARv2u8tyjrwohU2uAKD5GJsRyjEilBTkRvRW_hDcna83G2IWbytleFGHkGycMV8hAZ3GlOgKAaSvRM3mUHx0nayqYBTSK8pQ/s1280/20220724-thumbnail_IMG_4815.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyY6A345NsCldPn7mgS9joA8yHJbjhezL0XqKYnehnLtM1AfnO4Ea4tKrwOht43ZcWXHThoKiFE2GRvqPHjnGLpwUxNARv2u8tyjrwohU2uAKD5GJsRyjEilBTkRvRW_hDcna83G2IWbytleFGHkGycMV8hAZ3GlOgKAaSvRM3mUHx0nayqYBTSK8pQ/w322-h430/20220724-thumbnail_IMG_4815.jpg" width="322" /></a></div> However, certain creatures have taken advantage of our kindness. For instance, our part of town is becoming overrun with Rats With Long Legs, aka white-tailed deer.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIQbJDt0DlDXBA_HrFEcv8jBRTKQv69OpQbRHVjMGyCU7iS3jpXrcozBYbwyDsJWpQNN_-LQMSZDvm0i8K6DjuzEmJhJGHrhRo18mk1jDymiw5Iq_mBKGOcbV8PBdu0lrxJtyOeEs7HTONJSVvZlXl7WjALzBEjt7iOPbuNsenQ-pwsaoI0eth-iMqw/s2600/20090912-deerhouse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="2600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIQbJDt0DlDXBA_HrFEcv8jBRTKQv69OpQbRHVjMGyCU7iS3jpXrcozBYbwyDsJWpQNN_-LQMSZDvm0i8K6DjuzEmJhJGHrhRo18mk1jDymiw5Iq_mBKGOcbV8PBdu0lrxJtyOeEs7HTONJSVvZlXl7WjALzBEjt7iOPbuNsenQ-pwsaoI0eth-iMqw/s320/20090912-deerhouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We've been gradually blocking points of egress with wires and gates,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh01gLIZFFldBUFMhztQGVvd8EW8YKhMnqJ_pGpkmMQkh7Xmy8qd-wemZeXMzyjdx1alqf8EUQw-Rl8CHIIu94z2ybQNSUwQvS4mltqrwWdPhTmGsxicHFUg1GslA6f6bbSli16wEtmV6xTx83_7qXIpy_hrp1YdYZnJ60G7ul50PmHx6vdxaUH5zOFw/s1280/20220501-thumbnail_IMG_4564.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh01gLIZFFldBUFMhztQGVvd8EW8YKhMnqJ_pGpkmMQkh7Xmy8qd-wemZeXMzyjdx1alqf8EUQw-Rl8CHIIu94z2ybQNSUwQvS4mltqrwWdPhTmGsxicHFUg1GslA6f6bbSli16wEtmV6xTx83_7qXIpy_hrp1YdYZnJ60G7ul50PmHx6vdxaUH5zOFw/s320/20220501-thumbnail_IMG_4564.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>and a motion-activated sprinkler seems to be keeping them out of the backyard. The video in this <a href="https://youtu.be/Wsc_yOJl_Tg">link </a>from someone else's property just makes Paula giggle. On the other hand, it just makes me giggle when Paula forgets about the thing and gets sprayed herself. Tee hee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Paula and the chipmunks have come to an uneasy detente, wherein they don't bother her plants (too much) and she doesn't try to kill them (mostly).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyIcKIkXmOnZU8BYw5zVLva3Odz74Cw-x0YZr26lFsuZJ_YWDay3lk3vEWkmf3l4AbjxrPumQhYi6hObTszCFWYvmY7vW2_49P0E3BbQZ6boIROVzzjJ_rLE_9daUDf41kJK6hEd1KbDMYauXITERv4EgZfb_Y0jCao8zx05Bv5tzioZE_4py5vs0WqA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyIcKIkXmOnZU8BYw5zVLva3Odz74Cw-x0YZr26lFsuZJ_YWDay3lk3vEWkmf3l4AbjxrPumQhYi6hObTszCFWYvmY7vW2_49P0E3BbQZ6boIROVzzjJ_rLE_9daUDf41kJK6hEd1KbDMYauXITERv4EgZfb_Y0jCao8zx05Bv5tzioZE_4py5vs0WqA" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> She welcomes most snakes, as they help keep a check on various varmints (see "chipmunks"). We have a 2 1/2 - foot garter snake that has made his home among the rocks by the backyard pond. No name yet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvg_-5BCsyWmxkre4sdfa69lI8FEDPfJJ9V9ZM1xFKqz8izyiHkjLhPCpESi8Mg4zQS_3tCNmh0S0jsm5svmL_YBTDTLQoGB_F1w47LzviZqKsWxoXJm3KvlXAaeJZx4RK5owyov_FXIva4i8EuJcNSipbE4Sk8eCkmA1ABCrN0BRYs5Jt7NslHCS1bA/s4032/20200822-IMG_0015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvg_-5BCsyWmxkre4sdfa69lI8FEDPfJJ9V9ZM1xFKqz8izyiHkjLhPCpESi8Mg4zQS_3tCNmh0S0jsm5svmL_YBTDTLQoGB_F1w47LzviZqKsWxoXJm3KvlXAaeJZx4RK5owyov_FXIva4i8EuJcNSipbE4Sk8eCkmA1ABCrN0BRYs5Jt7NslHCS1bA/s320/20200822-IMG_0015.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Unfortunately, this Eden-like Certified Wildlife Sanctuary (for only $25!) has become a nursery for rabbits, specifically <span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Sylvilagus floridanus</i></span>. One of their hiding places is just across the driveway from, you guessed it, Paula's street-side garden. They have been wreaking various degrees of havoc on her flowers and beans. Sterner measures were needed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> It turns out that apples didn't only work in the other Garden of Eden. Small rabbits will voluntarily give up their freedom for slices of Honey Crisp and MacIntosh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Coming back from a bike ride the other day, Paula went to water something in the garden, and to her surprise there was the second adolescent bunny of the month in her Have-a-Heart trap, not looking very happy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlZXWwr2hpILNrO1ScfnFEPeaEFCZRXRoo6hXf-fIqGb7A9UbkysT2B7V53t5-fQSg-VAZh3YU8qfEJH1ymg2Pjo7iSPt9c4qq6_h3lMHFAii8oCYjNJOSLFf4AazyQgp5zPCjMEPL9wmG6kcZGPZ3EQD6VApO58JWH4gALIla5cspYKdQKp8TKTozw/s1280/20220724-thumbnail_IMG_0112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlZXWwr2hpILNrO1ScfnFEPeaEFCZRXRoo6hXf-fIqGb7A9UbkysT2B7V53t5-fQSg-VAZh3YU8qfEJH1ymg2Pjo7iSPt9c4qq6_h3lMHFAii8oCYjNJOSLFf4AazyQgp5zPCjMEPL9wmG6kcZGPZ3EQD6VApO58JWH4gALIla5cspYKdQKp8TKTozw/w382-h510/20220724-thumbnail_IMG_0112.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We took him far enough away that, unless he gets Google Maps on his Rabbit iPhone, he's not going to bother Paula's garden again. Now if we could only convince his probably-thousands of relatives that it's not a good idea....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Anyway, we hope that you and your varmints/vermin can work it out also.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave & Paula</div></div></div></div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-37730560204637931572022-07-17T09:12:00.000-07:002022-07-17T09:12:09.268-07:00Avast, ye maties! There are on-the-water adventures, and then there are on-the-water adventures. In the trip described in the last entry, we were privileged to sample the beauties of British Columbia from Sam and Emily's sailboat, <i>Thallasic.</i> <div> This week included our daughter Brynn's birthday, and she lives near the coast of North Carolina with her husband Chad and their four kids. The vote was unanimous to go kayaking on Wednesday. The marine craft this time were perhaps not as elegant as <i>Thallasic, </i>and while they lacked a "head" (that's cool seafaring talk for a powder room) and while they can't really sleep four people,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9w6WTGhGPRujemqGGcEoGEMYq3ho5ZqTtBUd9UZuen7Cpv-lRrUXPvkjsFjMpF4P7OOr2Ikxx00bhXMUtnBd91miJwpf8n0kTvPUmSkAjdSNotOqspDD_GHj8LoA5sBPvFANgUobm913DgZgqRSVX0OsTGkCURdB62SgVShR1lvl3ufZ1-FqK7tniQ/s1640/20220713-DSCN3584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1640" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9w6WTGhGPRujemqGGcEoGEMYq3ho5ZqTtBUd9UZuen7Cpv-lRrUXPvkjsFjMpF4P7OOr2Ikxx00bhXMUtnBd91miJwpf8n0kTvPUmSkAjdSNotOqspDD_GHj8LoA5sBPvFANgUobm913DgZgqRSVX0OsTGkCURdB62SgVShR1lvl3ufZ1-FqK7tniQ/w437-h279/20220713-DSCN3584.jpg" width="437" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">kayaks are fun and at least the water was warmer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We set forth on our adventure from Swansboro and headed down-wind and down-current, crossing the Intercoastal Waterway on our way to <i>Shark Tooth Island!</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Paula was paired with Annie The Intrepid who concentrated more on commentary and pointing out the sights than actually paddling. That more menial task was largely left to Grandma.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ud0WNI5H4HfrS650pG9WDV1M4kYMlhtSGNAOC-dXShFBmZ-jTZ3OZvzRHXNXbdJirSrMx5MTI8s7_ytCAgBZNaf5UnJzHWs7B-uTc0olOKcJrsWB99JRf5UtXi3JmgjAw6zW5o2ESz7Q8AdGFCM1qaJHmUacBOtmvuzOtvo0_8Mx4HehoQ0I3vVRTA/s1215/20220713-DSCN3587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1215" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ud0WNI5H4HfrS650pG9WDV1M4kYMlhtSGNAOC-dXShFBmZ-jTZ3OZvzRHXNXbdJirSrMx5MTI8s7_ytCAgBZNaf5UnJzHWs7B-uTc0olOKcJrsWB99JRf5UtXi3JmgjAw6zW5o2ESz7Q8AdGFCM1qaJHmUacBOtmvuzOtvo0_8Mx4HehoQ0I3vVRTA/w425-h309/20220713-DSCN3587.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Along much of the Eastern Seaboard one can find the fossilized teeth of the giant prehistoric shark, <i>Megalodon!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpdV_Bb7IY6JpIRYimSY-4QPZCppeP_-vgGkF2kyUHRWXZDERjEK6SNF82zTWlALDBDD5GJzAbklbtTyUAqqnfh2AoZmGOxqQ4-_9uqAiNHJ2-gBk9a05sT8CNwDW27IkzoTbOSEDn-Dz9Ufv3hZfR3GTuuHgEoi9J4qnIWWus1l5x6KUGQ-5FSsaqvQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpdV_Bb7IY6JpIRYimSY-4QPZCppeP_-vgGkF2kyUHRWXZDERjEK6SNF82zTWlALDBDD5GJzAbklbtTyUAqqnfh2AoZmGOxqQ4-_9uqAiNHJ2-gBk9a05sT8CNwDW27IkzoTbOSEDn-Dz9Ufv3hZfR3GTuuHgEoi9J4qnIWWus1l5x6KUGQ-5FSsaqvQ=w469-h264" width="469" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and this was the promise of <i>Shark Tooth Island!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguSDKoc95cxw3LvdvD5i81MUQCuhn1B6tsU2gInlWqOc7-JtB8kuxa6qiXF-Kt8_50dIF3lJV7AFfrM8_vJripNTdVKtEqjU9HCMJUHdCSoTs-Lr7aptwysKSkoKHG65k23fWs1EZ7zJyZaT4cY9tiv6IMCt9QyOinTeKK_-0eIcpa4mgcI7W7WHUu3w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguSDKoc95cxw3LvdvD5i81MUQCuhn1B6tsU2gInlWqOc7-JtB8kuxa6qiXF-Kt8_50dIF3lJV7AFfrM8_vJripNTdVKtEqjU9HCMJUHdCSoTs-Lr7aptwysKSkoKHG65k23fWs1EZ7zJyZaT4cY9tiv6IMCt9QyOinTeKK_-0eIcpa4mgcI7W7WHUu3w" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i> </i>However, either the place had already been picked over, or perhaps was the ancient territory of the much-less-feared <i>Microlodon!</i> However we did see a mermaid!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy56tqBFGxDlG3o1rh1HZMVuMwkS6cMO2oHRwb__R7b2pQk1mdCmlCelzMg8ak_ZZUuv-Pb5M5Hlf--nebmVWd10CFI4CW5MctiszJ0BIIxBdvwUox7_v-xe6Pkm9yySn6hK9Vs7SwWCH2RwUwSawvo6yl5w8m0xjKRiiNd2NP3cn4fJ5w-y4TaANvQ/s1972/20220713-DSCN3595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1972" data-original-width="1537" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy56tqBFGxDlG3o1rh1HZMVuMwkS6cMO2oHRwb__R7b2pQk1mdCmlCelzMg8ak_ZZUuv-Pb5M5Hlf--nebmVWd10CFI4CW5MctiszJ0BIIxBdvwUox7_v-xe6Pkm9yySn6hK9Vs7SwWCH2RwUwSawvo6yl5w8m0xjKRiiNd2NP3cn4fJ5w-y4TaANvQ/s320/20220713-DSCN3595.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The kids had a great time exploring the island with their mom, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlXaCxnRstLo_l0EAzMrPV2dO92cQgnVfoEjSzH3TGOl0tJPpYVfk9bQ-kyw3pyB3Y3FBMJsgJdB441euVTNfVLjel8dV7VR5aP056LRo93cAjj8DiJ5syLsbE92V3YjgZZRAxZ8UsjJp9iSLUKSAKHJxXPvk0S-wTbriiUwv0izItaiVdUArRR0Ykw/s1707/20220713-DSCN3599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1707" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlXaCxnRstLo_l0EAzMrPV2dO92cQgnVfoEjSzH3TGOl0tJPpYVfk9bQ-kyw3pyB3Y3FBMJsgJdB441euVTNfVLjel8dV7VR5aP056LRo93cAjj8DiJ5syLsbE92V3YjgZZRAxZ8UsjJp9iSLUKSAKHJxXPvk0S-wTbriiUwv0izItaiVdUArRR0Ykw/w419-h299/20220713-DSCN3599.jpg" width="419" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">as did Paula, aka "Adventure Grandma."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAtx7uRPA4sJ6gkOP8m8q9M9AwKZYwLiuiI6Z1eRoHgevL9WjJQq7uBhEdtcSPcljl0994uER_jF5K1XTn8LJcR459Ov1nSLj-sudjKdEmibJrvwu1W4pmEmFLrQ4ujuWBqtuLmNXnRQZtGWqDjvN0syAzjzjG6X7CZXLfoHhZBvaXpb7WOxQJn0Rbg/s2221/20220713-DSCN3592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="2221" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAtx7uRPA4sJ6gkOP8m8q9M9AwKZYwLiuiI6Z1eRoHgevL9WjJQq7uBhEdtcSPcljl0994uER_jF5K1XTn8LJcR459Ov1nSLj-sudjKdEmibJrvwu1W4pmEmFLrQ4ujuWBqtuLmNXnRQZtGWqDjvN0syAzjzjG6X7CZXLfoHhZBvaXpb7WOxQJn0Rbg/s320/20220713-DSCN3592.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> However, Adventure Grandma was not born yesterday, (Note: the number of 'before-yesterdays' is a State Secret), and she wisely traded Annie The Intrepid for someone who could/would actually help paddle and we headed back upstream against wind and current. (See Annie The Intrepid in the background with Brynn The Brave.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbaDpiDgi4IdSe1TzlLLE2Hg39CVAMqGJEnT04WmoPPsBRHQbBIwXEOQRXwqYmf9REKwP_uIUR84YFiXe__Dsm7x580a29k8KGjUJxT9NARjQG9m0IPLzsysVJNS6oubcfTRT1hai8XrFgsGu9p-_c4ztzGhNc20YjZjLX8k5NIzFQCUTQW8fBzofGw/s1499/20220713-DSCN3601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1499" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbaDpiDgi4IdSe1TzlLLE2Hg39CVAMqGJEnT04WmoPPsBRHQbBIwXEOQRXwqYmf9REKwP_uIUR84YFiXe__Dsm7x580a29k8KGjUJxT9NARjQG9m0IPLzsysVJNS6oubcfTRT1hai8XrFgsGu9p-_c4ztzGhNc20YjZjLX8k5NIzFQCUTQW8fBzofGw/w410-h263/20220713-DSCN3601.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The struggle was eventually successful, and the count of passengers in the minivan matched that on the way down. After a good rest, that evening we celebrated Brynn's birthday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZ8glbXLK1FiVp4USdRlRv0QmFYoCV1WXA_IfrFvUb0rdeLlnWUTOYXTFtR_lvcJx2J21i8e63mDdG9BAAb1kvZ3rgyUYfZKASnw4lXRU8V_MkhPdhUaINT78lPQwknYswA5SpiBGt1PMFJx7cMimi1HamjW-1FPI3R68eoFu3G7i1PheQbcvvc73HQ/s2045/20220713-DSCN3609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1546" data-original-width="2045" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZ8glbXLK1FiVp4USdRlRv0QmFYoCV1WXA_IfrFvUb0rdeLlnWUTOYXTFtR_lvcJx2J21i8e63mDdG9BAAb1kvZ3rgyUYfZKASnw4lXRU8V_MkhPdhUaINT78lPQwknYswA5SpiBGt1PMFJx7cMimi1HamjW-1FPI3R68eoFu3G7i1PheQbcvvc73HQ/w435-h329/20220713-DSCN3609.jpg" width="435" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> It was a fun visit, and we're glad that <i>Megalodon!</i> is prehistoric, even if we didn't find any of his teeth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave</div></div></div></div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-5570053499229372672022-07-10T09:03:00.001-07:002022-07-10T09:08:15.627-07:00Otherworldly beauty, and I'm not just talking about Paula<p> Our son Sam and his partner Emily are on their sailboat for six months, having rented out their house short-term. They're in British Columbia, moving north. Depending on the weather and time, they may make it up to Alaska. They extended a kind invitation to come up and sail with them.</p><p> I don't know if you've ever seen a map of the coast of the province, but it is crazy-full of islands, including the big one, Vancouver Island. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguDic3OI_6DGrThZW6bxnt45xoaepG40JYoQrRtBmFfFcGYazWWD1vK_666TLg8gI3YxrBx-nfBIo2sj-QyAILQrRJrJ3IJJGPeBDyYyKUCUi1fFRKJGlJr5wyOJTrwO0eNxtKWCxEWoucppWMK7aFDvGDNqa0ndE6O9Or1b3wQYllGS0u7rWPePGCIQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1825" data-original-width="3291" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEguDic3OI_6DGrThZW6bxnt45xoaepG40JYoQrRtBmFfFcGYazWWD1vK_666TLg8gI3YxrBx-nfBIo2sj-QyAILQrRJrJ3IJJGPeBDyYyKUCUi1fFRKJGlJr5wyOJTrwO0eNxtKWCxEWoucppWMK7aFDvGDNqa0ndE6O9Or1b3wQYllGS0u7rWPePGCIQ=w526-h292" width="526" /></a></div><br /> We came aboard at Campbell River, at about the middle of the map above. Sam's boat, <i>Thallasic</i> is a seasoned and seaworthy 34-foot sloop which has sailed five times to Hawaii and once to new Zealand.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1Z0UFWWmGQNmyVM9sL0WpeU-j-ESyjU7u_4x8lZaMEmrXXGOSZVyGHyyw9WiSfxzxMGoGiFrbgQQRC5scpxyZrmTsbHKs8Z1XuSf94fAMHAb38rjZKyM3c_rvEll4NI8Habl1igQ9sJhheQZ97Q8We6zM2ZF1KYRFkXhqttGhC_6T78jit9BnPhGDQ/s2272/20220705-DSCN3508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1Z0UFWWmGQNmyVM9sL0WpeU-j-ESyjU7u_4x8lZaMEmrXXGOSZVyGHyyw9WiSfxzxMGoGiFrbgQQRC5scpxyZrmTsbHKs8Z1XuSf94fAMHAb38rjZKyM3c_rvEll4NI8Habl1igQ9sJhheQZ97Q8We6zM2ZF1KYRFkXhqttGhC_6T78jit9BnPhGDQ/w425-h319/20220705-DSCN3508.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If you've ever spent time on a real-live sailboat, you'll know that they are efficient, no-nonsense craft, with every inch and object having a purpose, and <i>Thallasic</i> was no exception.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> OK, on the other hand, cheese and crackers on a sunny afternoon aren't too shabby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJww0z-Te-ZTmHYwpCMHvj2mGWSQrh-9jTwsFAsfZOwN1RkE_6gfuShn1JKtOqAH8MEs17INNlDRyxyqsgCa68rh4YtiO36h98qGQdAnQ2rZ2xFmhonisQE9hCxEGJLOeVy9YBMvWSGQlzAlV1Nk0Ug8NRpi2XbiR9zi0gWnNbhdL6iDCRFyBvAD4pw/s2272/20220705-DSCN3543.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="1704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJww0z-Te-ZTmHYwpCMHvj2mGWSQrh-9jTwsFAsfZOwN1RkE_6gfuShn1JKtOqAH8MEs17INNlDRyxyqsgCa68rh4YtiO36h98qGQdAnQ2rZ2xFmhonisQE9hCxEGJLOeVy9YBMvWSGQlzAlV1Nk0Ug8NRpi2XbiR9zi0gWnNbhdL6iDCRFyBvAD4pw/s320/20220705-DSCN3543.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Like I said, sailboats are spartan. Some of them have NO luxuries.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif45V18etVcuFHBl8Xy2Z_uxolB_OU0K_eY1R8ncUmi0rvYHkW27iJSJ9AJzqwH5CL_YyeFKZk9vhT-9VztUQwpT0Cm8OwogO4F2g6cIUs_VoAKyoWi-qW58fRqDczO5_D2tJTLcjkzIQypIxvU8CRUkmI4LzmRaqE-gWmAEnLCnguMwfSKjkrkoFZkQ/s1402/20220705-DSCN3539.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1067" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif45V18etVcuFHBl8Xy2Z_uxolB_OU0K_eY1R8ncUmi0rvYHkW27iJSJ9AJzqwH5CL_YyeFKZk9vhT-9VztUQwpT0Cm8OwogO4F2g6cIUs_VoAKyoWi-qW58fRqDczO5_D2tJTLcjkzIQypIxvU8CRUkmI4LzmRaqE-gWmAEnLCnguMwfSKjkrkoFZkQ/w313-h411/20220705-DSCN3539.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Just kidding. One quiet afternoon, Sam rigged the dinghy and he and Paula chilled and doodled around the cove, impressing some of the neighbors in their big motorboats. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We saw whales, and I'm not just talking about some of the neighbors in their big motorboats. No sirree! Real-live whales, as well as sea lions, seals and other stuff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRu6UUQRsUyI630yzXcWTDVOsVtfUWOrD6drWipbCvpKHc3MVQ9pN4mhj-vx6XzZSfreeHyw1GMRWAbx7I_YPpyvkCEK4XMhn_zJ0o4g8RQDp_zjPdmtEJ4o7lA0eE4ul8lu-yFjYZfawsI0lCdXfTEreE95YrRx6_INxJCMVdb1pxw7pAyv8YABMbQ/s1280/20220710-thumbnail_IMG_4734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRu6UUQRsUyI630yzXcWTDVOsVtfUWOrD6drWipbCvpKHc3MVQ9pN4mhj-vx6XzZSfreeHyw1GMRWAbx7I_YPpyvkCEK4XMhn_zJ0o4g8RQDp_zjPdmtEJ4o7lA0eE4ul8lu-yFjYZfawsI0lCdXfTEreE95YrRx6_INxJCMVdb1pxw7pAyv8YABMbQ/s320/20220710-thumbnail_IMG_4734.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Anchored for the day all by ourselves in a beautiful cove at the end of a narrow passage, we took a hike up to a lake, through a moss- and fern-covered forest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78pKeVl38rm10d-lG2NzBWN4-Gfs-L9CyGXZiR6SMEnoxjZdzVw03S4MXpqyPCFLvoiIegogEsz2Gzec7Mlg-FT1QwraxR8TkvKaWwQEdTFsAKjsQnjbAlQZF5gbV18gDkGhnRbtxX3YZCLxWYui63Cshqa6Evat4C2Wxwvv-lFnepgRMJGsQ1VbOgg/s2272/20220706-DSCN3563.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="1704" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78pKeVl38rm10d-lG2NzBWN4-Gfs-L9CyGXZiR6SMEnoxjZdzVw03S4MXpqyPCFLvoiIegogEsz2Gzec7Mlg-FT1QwraxR8TkvKaWwQEdTFsAKjsQnjbAlQZF5gbV18gDkGhnRbtxX3YZCLxWYui63Cshqa6Evat4C2Wxwvv-lFnepgRMJGsQ1VbOgg/w284-h379/20220706-DSCN3563.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Although he is a good, honest man in general, Sam lied terribly about the temperature of the lake water, and then laughed at my distress when I dove in after him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNsnuDDGAT6-_IbU6a7eQbXvcYwu4QQG3zm7u0_p8GXx0FqwxqjVYctMxlabI4OC4DxWQS4aZRIjnY6JqOCMUdzhEBLVbz6HUMlZaIXf_cU9I7CmEghwdQHbyzYrT5fNJnmSyC39kruBRUc9ma-AnuVOwMeL_f05_ub-XMv7leGUehj5KEy09a8nLAQ/s2272/20220706-DSCN3554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="1704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNsnuDDGAT6-_IbU6a7eQbXvcYwu4QQG3zm7u0_p8GXx0FqwxqjVYctMxlabI4OC4DxWQS4aZRIjnY6JqOCMUdzhEBLVbz6HUMlZaIXf_cU9I7CmEghwdQHbyzYrT5fNJnmSyC39kruBRUc9ma-AnuVOwMeL_f05_ub-XMv7leGUehj5KEy09a8nLAQ/s320/20220706-DSCN3554.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Karma comes around, however, and at one point he had to ascend the mast to retrieve a halyard, using a Jacob's ladder sewn by Emily. That's her in the foreground, trying to remember if she used the right type of thread...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksZEbX5HILnlDChI_1JyLW8YLpzyBSgWth2B57plBO4TyZP8qpzZOQtapnzJwfi9PjHCZ-hBKHbUXqchcF5LU0KuB06sSz25ZatNXgZEb3HW4bu2E-oOLExlJinYyH8Q0O5dpuQf8lvJoc6lWfiw5WDy5REYWktHU2cNEgEIcDnsu9PuL3upq2i7wuw/s1280/20220710-thumbnail_IMG_4758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksZEbX5HILnlDChI_1JyLW8YLpzyBSgWth2B57plBO4TyZP8qpzZOQtapnzJwfi9PjHCZ-hBKHbUXqchcF5LU0KuB06sSz25ZatNXgZEb3HW4bu2E-oOLExlJinYyH8Q0O5dpuQf8lvJoc6lWfiw5WDy5REYWktHU2cNEgEIcDnsu9PuL3upq2i7wuw/w303-h404/20220710-thumbnail_IMG_4758.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If I cling to one of the most durable impressions of the trip, it is of cool, near-silent misty islands. We were all alone in our last anchorage, and it felt like a bit of another world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRB1I_6lPJeC9cG3OlmLVa14sdjIfNDykFYu89YPYxe3QeyxlYK0FOv5yQwwNRqnKvfFhg-Md1LIqos3Cwkhuj9HJ2qA9BXEjiYr8hmUk_h9fPiCUCvhWtMJMz1Q1f9fGkv30Lxln7hmyzGhTiMc4x4uKMTZykEW9TbSgE38vTv8Xck0SIEpmg2f9aQ/s1280/20220710-thumbnail_IMG_4781.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRB1I_6lPJeC9cG3OlmLVa14sdjIfNDykFYu89YPYxe3QeyxlYK0FOv5yQwwNRqnKvfFhg-Md1LIqos3Cwkhuj9HJ2qA9BXEjiYr8hmUk_h9fPiCUCvhWtMJMz1Q1f9fGkv30Lxln7hmyzGhTiMc4x4uKMTZykEW9TbSgE38vTv8Xck0SIEpmg2f9aQ/w564-h423/20220710-thumbnail_IMG_4781.jpg" width="564" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> But if I could keep only one feeling, it is of the love I felt for Sam and Emily being with them. We wish them well on the rest of their six-month trip. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And I wish I hadn't left my favorite boardshorts, darn it. Emily says they look 105% better than Sam's old ones and has claimed them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We hope you keep better track of your swimwear and have equally good adventures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave & Paula</div></div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-65680375847318535562022-07-03T06:18:00.000-07:002022-07-03T06:18:34.584-07:00A good visit from a good daughter<p> As previously noted, our daughter Ashley lives with her husband and seven kids in Uzbekistan. Their assignment has changed, and they will be moving in two weeks to Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan. Because of tangled State Department rules concerning home visits, they were unable to come State-side this year. However, because of a nagging but not life-threatening medical concern, Ashley has been here for a couple of weeks.</p><p> She has taken good advantage of the visit, in addition to the needed medical care. She's visited with old friends, attended the temple, and I think she has bought most of the A&W root beer in Raleigh to send to Kazakhstan with her allowed shipment. And yes that's a new TV in the box below the work bench.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLDEbLfMfhmHuwWp5x6b-OHfFGw37ybk8v95ETWtGEchjsoI_cL0WMWldM_wS0RqLpW0qVolwgAnCBjYiJ90xC4jjnUdpaxtATukk9oD_BX11KJgFZe-MHZnvudS0blO8spsSvBrDriAwj9OOzSvrZfIoIjRnrFSljZ3WIdHAXI8fIkR2_kqxG2z7GQ/s1280/20220703-thumbnail_IMG_4727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLDEbLfMfhmHuwWp5x6b-OHfFGw37ybk8v95ETWtGEchjsoI_cL0WMWldM_wS0RqLpW0qVolwgAnCBjYiJ90xC4jjnUdpaxtATukk9oD_BX11KJgFZe-MHZnvudS0blO8spsSvBrDriAwj9OOzSvrZfIoIjRnrFSljZ3WIdHAXI8fIkR2_kqxG2z7GQ/w396-h297/20220703-thumbnail_IMG_4727.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I located a couple of used bikes for her and Brandon and they go to Nur-Sultan also. Along with the toilet paper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuzZngN65uAStS9G9JuidPk9KKp7yYtjmFmTTlotaoBff2TDmFpA6m5hCmhk_g9NL63uBNAXxInbCSbqVJzS2wsxNh9fN02QFXAxhTpWdC7KDGSu57nQQoRQlZviGmzWngMzPYiWIx2eOiOsfvrlFqUEMFlYzmc6j4ysOgV_wUXyfYkpsghVSGLarfg/s1280/20220703-thumbnail_IMG_4725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuzZngN65uAStS9G9JuidPk9KKp7yYtjmFmTTlotaoBff2TDmFpA6m5hCmhk_g9NL63uBNAXxInbCSbqVJzS2wsxNh9fN02QFXAxhTpWdC7KDGSu57nQQoRQlZviGmzWngMzPYiWIx2eOiOsfvrlFqUEMFlYzmc6j4ysOgV_wUXyfYkpsghVSGLarfg/w405-h304/20220703-thumbnail_IMG_4725.jpg" width="405" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> She's made a point of visiting family while here. We drove to Delaware this week to see Mike and Adrienne and Krazed Kate, and she did a good job of Aunt-bonding with her niece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSAMt4_AZ16ANHwMMDGfa0NCHOzkQw2XPH1bRfOhHus7IntJqgxmQq4Y2PaOb0ood6VrbeCpLZX6BQaRYz0YdG6c_tE-BoG4fBTVvFMiO9DvysLrhpca15OwJn09a-nZCoNg9Hbh4WvpfaCNuMh8cHfnpR6wmAnUXIfJeb6YgCer1oG_zl09D6-HH2w/s1280/20220702-thumbnail_IMG_4715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSAMt4_AZ16ANHwMMDGfa0NCHOzkQw2XPH1bRfOhHus7IntJqgxmQq4Y2PaOb0ood6VrbeCpLZX6BQaRYz0YdG6c_tE-BoG4fBTVvFMiO9DvysLrhpca15OwJn09a-nZCoNg9Hbh4WvpfaCNuMh8cHfnpR6wmAnUXIfJeb6YgCer1oG_zl09D6-HH2w/w286-h382/20220702-thumbnail_IMG_4715.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Ashley was a bit under the weather, so Brynn kindly came up from Jacksonville, NC with her kids. We distracted the young'uns by taking them to the neighborhood pool so that the sisters could visit, including a side trip to consider Brynn's choices for her kitchen renovation. Ashley has never been shy with her opinions on such things, and heartily approved.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We will be sad to see her go this week, though we completely understand that she has her own life, full of kids, packing lists, settling in to a new -stan in Central Asia and all the rest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I never expected that the feelings of love for my kids could become so strong. The echoes of eternity become more clearly audible with each passing year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave </div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-70796821692498127162022-06-26T17:32:00.001-07:002022-06-26T17:32:52.216-07:00I was correct to worry, but it turned out OK<p> Nearly all of my church assignments have had to do with the young men. I was Scoutmaster for about twelve years with one or another age group, and I get to count being Bishop of a congregation as well as the two missions served in South America. I'm presently helping with the 16-18 year-old young men.</p><p> So it was no huge surprise when in December I was asked to be the specialist for the encampment of the 12-18 year olds that took place last week. We were lucky to have access to an old Boy Scout camp for the activity, one with very few facilities beyond fire rings and water spigots. We decided to not risk poisoning them or their leaders with any of my cooking, and so the largest expense was the cost of renting eight port-a-johns to place around the camp. Over a thousand dollars, in case you are planning the next backyard party and need eight of them.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji1C2CNCh_2t2fyvgiwSSP8YyRRwvVqKUUYo-UtLJaDTlmvrNmRBb-2_folDqnMKFvA0z9tlO-O_cmEpsnKPn1tebqL60YgkNS361M8fF3jBfr4qG3QcLiACYXIp9V0cfBsXTJA2oBvLzP26MxfkHIdRry52EkYE5Mdu1SyFWuHNkBRrXXkIhPE-zSGQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji1C2CNCh_2t2fyvgiwSSP8YyRRwvVqKUUYo-UtLJaDTlmvrNmRBb-2_folDqnMKFvA0z9tlO-O_cmEpsnKPn1tebqL60YgkNS361M8fF3jBfr4qG3QcLiACYXIp9V0cfBsXTJA2oBvLzP26MxfkHIdRry52EkYE5Mdu1SyFWuHNkBRrXXkIhPE-zSGQ" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Since our church parted ways with the Scouts a couple of years ago, outdoor skills have atrophied among the youth, so we decided to spend a day in classes covering such basic stuff as knots, starting fires (a good thing or a bad thing, depending), </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwTpACSUFAlmGn0Dv8YAByJKsrlca70qVwK6DeJBzGrH2pRVsxidovSCeXphset7uORY3gZYHVrwBYlV6xmmRJgTsSH5GYoA1AzE286qUQ8nKk_HzM2bcz0VetaKdbwcqHt24xNeWMYk1TnT9NqfgxK-gcpgzhAu8krQJzfvC-UOcITvDhqe4aOkwVWQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="1060" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwTpACSUFAlmGn0Dv8YAByJKsrlca70qVwK6DeJBzGrH2pRVsxidovSCeXphset7uORY3gZYHVrwBYlV6xmmRJgTsSH5GYoA1AzE286qUQ8nKk_HzM2bcz0VetaKdbwcqHt24xNeWMYk1TnT9NqfgxK-gcpgzhAu8krQJzfvC-UOcITvDhqe4aOkwVWQ=w247-h329" width="247" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">first aid, and despite everything being based on GPS now, map and compass. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyUIzhkfVbPXy4WW4yXSpZZHo7aAaQbdzIzQo1FZWXS4w9dQ0JRcgzUMwEe-Nk_2uKSW4cA8fi1zWtyFmAEbZ0kdy3XRaOq45gEOWgt1cnfmK5CP9Tb24ahcMYHD63s5PSFjnC6oFQhP_8MoVt3dOW0gjcynJiMEamC37Ld7LuMFNx1c-A4JsiL3ppsg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyUIzhkfVbPXy4WW4yXSpZZHo7aAaQbdzIzQo1FZWXS4w9dQ0JRcgzUMwEe-Nk_2uKSW4cA8fi1zWtyFmAEbZ0kdy3XRaOq45gEOWgt1cnfmK5CP9Tb24ahcMYHD63s5PSFjnC6oFQhP_8MoVt3dOW0gjcynJiMEamC37Ld7LuMFNx1c-A4JsiL3ppsg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We also felt that returning the favor and doing some service at the camp would be good for the soul, so we spent a half-day cleaning ditches. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqa8rkVpg3s_H-XcG4r4YwhWVsuXUxPbw95kJI4ChTp5QxKfAUfYFi0eQEOl5DbyJZFzQDyVhh7AS4VxSnOuj9NOym4dBqKM4NcepwiFXjNvwiR1TYJQLsBs4PvCfp3uIvl4QQGd8B0TFTUBKKCLw-12gvYqn_SzdL9vmjkBm4vhRiLNgRPAixUWehPw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="1886" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqa8rkVpg3s_H-XcG4r4YwhWVsuXUxPbw95kJI4ChTp5QxKfAUfYFi0eQEOl5DbyJZFzQDyVhh7AS4VxSnOuj9NOym4dBqKM4NcepwiFXjNvwiR1TYJQLsBs4PvCfp3uIvl4QQGd8B0TFTUBKKCLw-12gvYqn_SzdL9vmjkBm4vhRiLNgRPAixUWehPw=w341-h256" width="341" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> No good turn goes unpunished, of course, and I was one of several folks attacked by yellow jacket bees when we disturbed their ground nest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4VKRGGPGE38gr3_QU0ozkO2zUHoIaN67hEHUhvNudii-jPXpqfEVoiPlT-5E204mDGhqkCtyf5b9xROOPwFCqc_6PYWYRdwWbJGgvqXVD_ATAi1M1KQu1tnhrl4kN_-IrfMmFmJ-nU2taTe80kP2gXoKt1flLcY5rVOCbvsL0b24bcg1nlhVldwWtQ/s455/chased%20by%20bees%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="455" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4VKRGGPGE38gr3_QU0ozkO2zUHoIaN67hEHUhvNudii-jPXpqfEVoiPlT-5E204mDGhqkCtyf5b9xROOPwFCqc_6PYWYRdwWbJGgvqXVD_ATAi1M1KQu1tnhrl4kN_-IrfMmFmJ-nU2taTe80kP2gXoKt1flLcY5rVOCbvsL0b24bcg1nlhVldwWtQ/s320/chased%20by%20bees%20(1).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The final full day was The Day of Manly Feats of Strength and Cunning. This included such Manly Feats as crossing The Alligator Pit of Death (three cheap inflatable alligators and a big suspended rope to shinny across), Math Fight!, surviving The Water Balloon Firing Squad, figuring out What's Wrong With This Guy? and others. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The day ended with, among other things, an eight-vessel Canoe Race. In my kayak, I represented a pylon around which they had to pass, and the rules didn't say I couldn't move. A lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The final event was Canoe Jousting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWz47FYL9yJvMgInVoZdRCfsv6aXHTlhyRA2Hay6cq5FeqLeso9QTpmYg3MFMyTQAZWnqFdNXnzoUsjk-7l3OBSKQ_B5ONzDIGEMkx2GHE7ZDkoGK6ZFYXCTlUYaxCn12gNLhMSyCWQvrDrxK2ThJ8nEUtkiaUUpNCGqE-aL2RArXj0DTOHAnvAgSMTw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="1886" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWz47FYL9yJvMgInVoZdRCfsv6aXHTlhyRA2Hay6cq5FeqLeso9QTpmYg3MFMyTQAZWnqFdNXnzoUsjk-7l3OBSKQ_B5ONzDIGEMkx2GHE7ZDkoGK6ZFYXCTlUYaxCn12gNLhMSyCWQvrDrxK2ThJ8nEUtkiaUUpNCGqE-aL2RArXj0DTOHAnvAgSMTw=w420-h315" width="420" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> It would have gone better if the padding on my jousting poles hadn't nearly fallen off when it became soaked, and if their canoe-maneuvering skills had been better. Since no one has to learn how to drive a canoe nowadays, it took an agonizing amount of time for the adversaries to get turned around and come close enough to cause actual harm to each other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> That said, almost everyone had a good time, and some even learned something. It was a good experience for many of the young men and their leaders, and in the end was worth the effort.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> However, the months leading up to the event were tough on me, and I haven't sleep well in a while. I'm afraid I may have to invoke Rule 69 next year if I'm asked to help again. Rule 69 says that when you reach that age you don't have to do this stuff any more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We hope that your encampments go as well and that the bees leave you alone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave</div><p></p>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-58940822319586810302022-06-12T06:22:00.002-07:002022-06-12T15:20:47.270-07:00Another trip, another rug She swore that the rug mania had resolved. Yeah, right.<p> As we've mentioned earlier, our second daughter and her husband and seven kids have lived in lots of distant places because of his work with the State Department. They are presently finishing their fourth year in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, but will be moving to Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan in about six weeks. Because of some weird State Dept. rule, they don't get a home visit this year, so we decided to go and see them.</p><p> Can I say this? Don't fly Jet Blue. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthQQNbCcaEaNpHreaGMGov6dV-0GgqSDexWHq-w6l4ew8xZqCYCQ5ik7cbZcq8_Ju-dDDEnlX61pw_4kFDvyHwYXUq_RFdlPn2lchj12bpKGBFXNjh6oiMo5JXTKO1h4JJMXi0_0t2PSdSELjPHJfEMu9WQeodnJIEY_J0h4OdWagKWQEB6sIMHqCUg/s259/jet%20blue%20not.tif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthQQNbCcaEaNpHreaGMGov6dV-0GgqSDexWHq-w6l4ew8xZqCYCQ5ik7cbZcq8_Ju-dDDEnlX61pw_4kFDvyHwYXUq_RFdlPn2lchj12bpKGBFXNjh6oiMo5JXTKO1h4JJMXi0_0t2PSdSELjPHJfEMu9WQeodnJIEY_J0h4OdWagKWQEB6sIMHqCUg/w330-h247/jet%20blue%20not.tif" width="330" /></a></div><p> Not only did they delay our luggage by three days, but they were not nice about it. And I quote: "That is correct. I am NOT going to help you on this situation. Got it?" Luckily, we had both packed an extra set of 'ropa interior' (un-mentionables) in our carry-on briefcases, and luckily Paula and Ashley are about the same size, and luckily Turkish Air was more helpful. </p><p> So, what do you do in an ancient and famous Silk Road city with a written history spanning 2,200 years, formerly part of the Soviet Union? In Soviet times, it witnessed major growth and demographic changes due to forced deportations from throughout the USSR, so there are lots of ethnic strains there. Much of Tashkent was destroyed in a major earthquake in 1966, but it was rebuilt as a "model Soviet city." It was actually the fourth-largest city in the Soviet Union at that time, after Moscow, Leningrad (now once-again St. Petersburg) and Kyiv. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"></sup></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERfpUqOZTNVua6COSb8AI2PSg7rAhWty0auF_5OvDehwFnyxo1m9tLmme5Ieqodav1kohpSv22YHCTfAs8GRrhj0fV09y7YhqbDTtGSCKN1qlAC539odXTbepIpeLVMinAxZumC1zTbKsvuzwVSI_x6KyHXEJjxhUgslSOr3pLR40f2wXsRr9EgLSlg/s1100/tashkent%20air%20view.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1100" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERfpUqOZTNVua6COSb8AI2PSg7rAhWty0auF_5OvDehwFnyxo1m9tLmme5Ieqodav1kohpSv22YHCTfAs8GRrhj0fV09y7YhqbDTtGSCKN1qlAC539odXTbepIpeLVMinAxZumC1zTbKsvuzwVSI_x6KyHXEJjxhUgslSOr3pLR40f2wXsRr9EgLSlg/w463-h308/tashkent%20air%20view.png" width="463" /></a></div><p> OK, so "model Soviet city" doesn't imply very much charm. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHypLVsuOlzPqp5idaLlzWrbc6htPvRuXyq9fqGL9UmCmq320jK60-2zxf8mi5kKSl245txgYNzNYNrYQ7JmHCRZEWZPpYtpvc5O2riGVWkfBs0m_ACNU-epevU7WuiL78UQp99aGAUz1hGLnDC0N0DCwbVBoMnKQTw5fazd7xIZZy6qsQtRAqrEOWdQ/s1360/soviet%20apartments.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1360" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHypLVsuOlzPqp5idaLlzWrbc6htPvRuXyq9fqGL9UmCmq320jK60-2zxf8mi5kKSl245txgYNzNYNrYQ7JmHCRZEWZPpYtpvc5O2riGVWkfBs0m_ACNU-epevU7WuiL78UQp99aGAUz1hGLnDC0N0DCwbVBoMnKQTw5fazd7xIZZy6qsQtRAqrEOWdQ/w404-h260/soviet%20apartments.jpeg" width="404" /></a></div><p></p><p> Since the 1990's, however, Tashkent has gotten significantly better. It's the largest city in all of Central Asia, which still isn't saying a whole lot, with an estimated population of only about 2 million, seven hundred thousand. </p><p> Well, what DO you DO?! Mostly, you play with the grandkids and enjoy time with their parents, who are doing a remarkable job of raising well-balanced kids who have only known strange places as home. And you go to a waterpark for one of their birthdays. Excuse me? Waterpark?! Yep, and it was one of three or four in the city, though clearly the nicest, and was called "Oasis Waterpark!" No, that's not a translation, it was "Oasis Waterpark." Period. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUQvnVWEFQ-MVSGkwWEN6s8MaR8Po5AyOguaNeqjk7ZBW_31_wVF3l1kIF9vwtU7YP4m_jlponcgE6jwNcYzSFs8wdl-cbyimHaBLTXaNKs0GXKLnYqx41rTx41u6eLCUc2BTgQQXvByhHNF9gS1gK8UuFjgfFBAvNdDBO5h_o7IWiLpHPZeV8JPJBA/s448/aqua-park1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="448" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUQvnVWEFQ-MVSGkwWEN6s8MaR8Po5AyOguaNeqjk7ZBW_31_wVF3l1kIF9vwtU7YP4m_jlponcgE6jwNcYzSFs8wdl-cbyimHaBLTXaNKs0GXKLnYqx41rTx41u6eLCUc2BTgQQXvByhHNF9gS1gK8UuFjgfFBAvNdDBO5h_o7IWiLpHPZeV8JPJBA/w348-h261/aqua-park1.jpeg" width="348" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Not sure exactly when in its 2,200 years of written history Tashkent started building waterparks, but it was a lot of fun. Somewhere along the line, my grandkids have picked up their mother's assertive character and when challenged by the lifeguards about being too young to use the highest water slides, they just pushed past and went for it. The ten year old even wriggled free when one of them tried to physically impede him and he dove for the nearest and biggest slide. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The oldest granddaughters are, for better or worse, becoming cute. When one of the lifeguards tried to slow them down on the water slide, he also asked for the oldest one's telephone number and invited her for a walk that evening. She related this with a shiver of disgust, but I warned her it would not be the last time, and that she should take it as a compliment, even if her goals do not include marrying an Uzbek. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Within its borders, Uzbekistan includes several of the remarkable ancient Silk Road cities, the most well-known of which is Samarkand. It was the headquarters of the great despotic ruler Emir Timur, or Tamerlane, who in his time conquered and ruled one of history's greatest empires, stretching from China to much of India and the Middle East and included eastern Europe. It's once-magnificent architecture was subsequently sacked by succeeding despots, but is being restored. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYT-DiMbsZcGYWfIVlKSzTTDwOiSQfYIh4lMuXGc3-3e3onHSmDdVm6Jj4onzIR92ncQA13TzSoh7iz3n5mTxOWisO4iO4Zb62Qq56WdUsFfRF94JypM9eSJqEZ_mrhMEfC8gC3YhExNT5WYylDYRGoWsrhYwCihKEcjlV9-B4gP8gWHEGZACyAYN5A/s1920/Registan-Square-Samarkand-1.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYT-DiMbsZcGYWfIVlKSzTTDwOiSQfYIh4lMuXGc3-3e3onHSmDdVm6Jj4onzIR92ncQA13TzSoh7iz3n5mTxOWisO4iO4Zb62Qq56WdUsFfRF94JypM9eSJqEZ_mrhMEfC8gC3YhExNT5WYylDYRGoWsrhYwCihKEcjlV9-B4gP8gWHEGZACyAYN5A/w469-h312/Registan-Square-Samarkand-1.webp" width="469" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcN54Eok_U7azQ2Min7mDEWGGMWF751WLtiwwWy_-K2naJ19sOfFZPukzt74cuYfESbml6Ii10WpCjs7aJE70-Xn3dKeyFTJHWVvyTKUf5_4EPvJLZK82Iz_kvz5j2KM5Es-AT34M8jHwIU3Xxy4FjxY9uBuj5_CmSsaIfEuSM4Qm-37MGlQzkHQavTQ/s1280/gold%20mosque.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1280" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcN54Eok_U7azQ2Min7mDEWGGMWF751WLtiwwWy_-K2naJ19sOfFZPukzt74cuYfESbml6Ii10WpCjs7aJE70-Xn3dKeyFTJHWVvyTKUf5_4EPvJLZK82Iz_kvz5j2KM5Es-AT34M8jHwIU3Xxy4FjxY9uBuj5_CmSsaIfEuSM4Qm-37MGlQzkHQavTQ/w432-h336/gold%20mosque.png" width="432" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Samarkand also has killer ice cream stands. I know. Again, not sure if they date to the time of Emir Timur, but he probably could have better pacified his conquered subjects by building more of them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> As you know, we're members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Children are baptized at the age of eight, when they have at least a rudimentary understanding of the commitments that entails. Our granddaughter Eleanor the Red(head) delayed her baptism several weeks so that we could attend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDhZdFKKhYtYEP4iMMZUc4Cvwxgs3bxY2mvMRhr-rptu6GUE1DLudJSGyyKT1DJZdXMt0t7kWz7mhjOwtAhsQeUv_qLGDaC8HFHFH2gqIPwPUeXIU1Y2hV44tP9kxnbsc2dQF_e3DqyMSw36YmRp3KWAPqblEO5-MGePtGSkbdp4AFhM8elo3slBsrA/s1280/Eleanor%20baptism.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDhZdFKKhYtYEP4iMMZUc4Cvwxgs3bxY2mvMRhr-rptu6GUE1DLudJSGyyKT1DJZdXMt0t7kWz7mhjOwtAhsQeUv_qLGDaC8HFHFH2gqIPwPUeXIU1Y2hV44tP9kxnbsc2dQF_e3DqyMSw36YmRp3KWAPqblEO5-MGePtGSkbdp4AFhM8elo3slBsrA/w298-h398/Eleanor%20baptism.jpeg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">OK, anything else to do in this ancient and fabled area of the world? Well, there are puzzles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfltz1SY82LFFzEY_gsPtkDPt606SVw0-K8t9gTMt5wSiSE5kM8kgUTEQMbHoQgpPSjb1JpyPSsZ9qmgZOn23YkVjHY4KklvNzRfwllUO7GzYqkP5QrGwwWk5CckNBTvcMi_iX709wnDHHF9rTeAmVKfGE2aDRMojVENWg6_JK4W-jo8DA-_C8bMg7w/s1280/puzzle.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfltz1SY82LFFzEY_gsPtkDPt606SVw0-K8t9gTMt5wSiSE5kM8kgUTEQMbHoQgpPSjb1JpyPSsZ9qmgZOn23YkVjHY4KklvNzRfwllUO7GzYqkP5QrGwwWk5CckNBTvcMi_iX709wnDHHF9rTeAmVKfGE2aDRMojVENWg6_JK4W-jo8DA-_C8bMg7w/w396-h297/puzzle.jpeg" width="396" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And helping a granddaughter sew a dress,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHn1bfaH6lrO5bJLv_wa3XjveNnTn2VgRdYe3Ojq1K_Zi0YgcznOoBRD2mad-aOVz8DKDpJmr5XQCOdIzLGQKuJml8H-ZRMKKNa6mDZyewBQMfojwHYIOVsbOQuGAb9DP8SFMaejw9OVSkybopiRMjjccigvZKaJ06hBpWDoTkPd4611iioy7cZdaBQ/s1280/Sewing%20Sophia.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHn1bfaH6lrO5bJLv_wa3XjveNnTn2VgRdYe3Ojq1K_Zi0YgcznOoBRD2mad-aOVz8DKDpJmr5XQCOdIzLGQKuJml8H-ZRMKKNa6mDZyewBQMfojwHYIOVsbOQuGAb9DP8SFMaejw9OVSkybopiRMjjccigvZKaJ06hBpWDoTkPd4611iioy7cZdaBQ/w400-h300/Sewing%20Sophia.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and a birthday (observed) to be celebrated.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyT_SViXylD1MYz5NRltfwQnZYtMhkwAq68xwX6lhVBS-NxbhlIlYPGGGIZyaZqexpKGeLSDldN4VndYIBN-Hsgjs51qbct5n2EWZ7v9si8AbuCdqj8I-Gd19qoth0fZG4vi5_t-sb8vT8R-c0-NWOzeEYLkW8erPD8cDaiNpK-TZuk8HWgEJevb8eTA/s1280/birthday%20cake.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyT_SViXylD1MYz5NRltfwQnZYtMhkwAq68xwX6lhVBS-NxbhlIlYPGGGIZyaZqexpKGeLSDldN4VndYIBN-Hsgjs51qbct5n2EWZ7v9si8AbuCdqj8I-Gd19qoth0fZG4vi5_t-sb8vT8R-c0-NWOzeEYLkW8erPD8cDaiNpK-TZuk8HWgEJevb8eTA/w336-h448/birthday%20cake.jpeg" width="336" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And grandkids to tickle and read stories to, and turtles in the yard to be admired, and cheap/plentiful cherries to be consumed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> Among the monumental monuments to Soviet greatness left behind is the Tashkent TV Tower, stretching 1,230 feet into the sky.</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12q_Cr-XDUv5acZw0qr4y2denRmuL3e0bP4gRxoal8o728w7RMIf6F79v701ccKHYOFNCX5qDd1DBBaW1x7tL4CRlWOovRqA139K9GEzyxsIFOLS4RkXW5xBFQDl88OA1wEyOWMdP10mJVMd4J_4H40LhzAepZY3Yf5KZVzyVFWqQE7ea7PU2tfBfNQ/s944/tower.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="944" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12q_Cr-XDUv5acZw0qr4y2denRmuL3e0bP4gRxoal8o728w7RMIf6F79v701ccKHYOFNCX5qDd1DBBaW1x7tL4CRlWOovRqA139K9GEzyxsIFOLS4RkXW5xBFQDl88OA1wEyOWMdP10mJVMd4J_4H40LhzAepZY3Yf5KZVzyVFWqQE7ea7PU2tfBfNQ/w422-h268/tower.png" width="422" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Somehow, our enthusiastic ten-year-old grandson learned that it included a rotating restaurant, a visit to which became one of the obsessions of his young life, and which goal was satisfied during our stay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_Cj9PUAKr9HeR8z-3wjn2jX4Mggyn9eoMx11OlqxTkCclVpHvYUTXUCvn6yzfTl-FAXBJj72Wd0bRFNMRUfE-huZjEx09IiONi7LfNr21AEx1C-anmFxcftw28VFSjmfCzZnSjtdYXBoiKu63G5YKQhAzsPzlJLISvDvnbK8OTJaOO_ODXI6paZKNA/s1280/TV%20tower.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_Cj9PUAKr9HeR8z-3wjn2jX4Mggyn9eoMx11OlqxTkCclVpHvYUTXUCvn6yzfTl-FAXBJj72Wd0bRFNMRUfE-huZjEx09IiONi7LfNr21AEx1C-anmFxcftw28VFSjmfCzZnSjtdYXBoiKu63G5YKQhAzsPzlJLISvDvnbK8OTJaOO_ODXI6paZKNA/w391-h293/TV%20tower.jpeg" width="391" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> OK, we only broke one of the goblets that the five-year-old is swinging around in the photo, and we avoided being asked to leave by the maitre d', though probably barely. A dream fulfilled!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Tashkent is located in an arid desert climate, its development made possible only by rivers coming from the Zeravshan and Pamir mountain ranges to its east. It is one of only two countries in the world that are "double landlocked," meaning one has to pass through two other countries to reach the sea. This lends it a fairly extreme climate, cold in the winter and quite hot in the summer. That is probably why Emir Timur instituted the building of waterparks for his subjects. And by the way, before you reach for Google, the other country is Liechtenstein. (Is that a country?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And that is why my daughter and her family bless the State Department for putting them up in a nice house with a backyard pool, where we spent a lot of time during our stay. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhx5vbj0ippHgD2N_HhOe4iqEHH2xk1WQsqktdHUChE2yqzUiP4zv71YMnNzxOIXfVBCsKGdGim0MQ4L7dytiDevCy5NR8EhxQgI0O5tI2QQEtAgbYDILyYkMsQ77I1PigpEiLjUuv-Y3zAKGxQb6__n3IXkga_w0l3ExpWXSpAL_Z9JgCpSTB2t0KEw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhx5vbj0ippHgD2N_HhOe4iqEHH2xk1WQsqktdHUChE2yqzUiP4zv71YMnNzxOIXfVBCsKGdGim0MQ4L7dytiDevCy5NR8EhxQgI0O5tI2QQEtAgbYDILyYkMsQ77I1PigpEiLjUuv-Y3zAKGxQb6__n3IXkga_w0l3ExpWXSpAL_Z9JgCpSTB2t0KEw=w318-h424" width="318" /></a></div>(Note: The picture appears slanted. That is because Tashkent is on the other side of the globe. You know, like tilted? Duh.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Fine, now how about the rug in the title? Having visited Ashley and Gang several times in the past, we have partially depleted Central Asia's supply of beautiful carpets. Knowing that the only remaining places to put these treasures of workmanship were mostly outdoors or in the garage, Paula steeled herself to returning carpet-less. However, she agreed to buy one for a friend and bring it back to the States for her, and so she went back and forth with texts including pictures of possible choices. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNq-cgmURz2_yidxkpzamu07jRhScRw7ADnoZgiTUaSCfsmwGCRHzsbmIeeslY1JpyaJTf5vP6GStRyDtUVAxJ-RKek7nAoT2f1536kPivB2N-0aDZOqzLKnspIZUxCzv1fx8QcoDbjW6viEvgrt055aIHcBm6KWouzB5Vhe2eevH1oiYefa2uW_dG-w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNq-cgmURz2_yidxkpzamu07jRhScRw7ADnoZgiTUaSCfsmwGCRHzsbmIeeslY1JpyaJTf5vP6GStRyDtUVAxJ-RKek7nAoT2f1536kPivB2N-0aDZOqzLKnspIZUxCzv1fx8QcoDbjW6viEvgrt055aIHcBm6KWouzB5Vhe2eevH1oiYefa2uW_dG-w=w298-h397" width="298" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Then she remembered: my office had a bare floor! Yee Hah! Now it doesn't.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUZXfN_6otuo4842bTRtz_2CL1Rh9d0in09_ClftDg78d_ZTqn3cDHlY4tsTF3KoVtDFd2VKLF5mzoZpp1xBjBlk91zIr9-9FRAJUV1dw5tUs5Gq6z4sV8RJdZShjHrNsVBfD1UdwOXtxmN9yKRM8O4T3V44dJ7aBmKkMPokVEKZFGljacL0EDzAGSSQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="463" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUZXfN_6otuo4842bTRtz_2CL1Rh9d0in09_ClftDg78d_ZTqn3cDHlY4tsTF3KoVtDFd2VKLF5mzoZpp1xBjBlk91zIr9-9FRAJUV1dw5tUs5Gq6z4sV8RJdZShjHrNsVBfD1UdwOXtxmN9yKRM8O4T3V44dJ7aBmKkMPokVEKZFGljacL0EDzAGSSQ=w348-h463" width="348" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We returned after ten days with all of our original luggage and then some. We're happy to be home, even though our jet-lagged brains think that we're still in the land of Emir Timur and his ice cream stands and waterparks. It will wear off in a couple of days, but we will still have some of his rugs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave & Paula</div></div></div>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-50020743280923854682022-05-24T06:55:00.000-07:002022-05-24T06:55:41.129-07:00The Revenge of the Tree Rats!<p> We previously reported the consideration of harvesting and consuming some of our local tree chickens in a desperate <a href="http://outofthefryingpanhendo.blogspot.com/2021/12/" target="_blank">moment</a>. Unfortunately, we now suspect that a few of the fluffy little pine cone bandits might be able to read, an advantage they would hold over many of the human residents of our proud state. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZPJdk9iIXHP-w2nZ_yOjM0w1t51ffASzS5hn45pYDDSnIFAkPQ8nZQz6joNsAFVKDu7Z2-KDbxaTvluH3-ziQJCQn5ODCi18swMTan5_NRjOR6TDjOAo5YyWg9on_rFvnEdxM_Ir8j_ubu2lOiWDeOrGRrFV8vJpLMANZd_lmAlt_RquEX5qr4Y4uaw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1114" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZPJdk9iIXHP-w2nZ_yOjM0w1t51ffASzS5hn45pYDDSnIFAkPQ8nZQz6joNsAFVKDu7Z2-KDbxaTvluH3-ziQJCQn5ODCi18swMTan5_NRjOR6TDjOAo5YyWg9on_rFvnEdxM_Ir8j_ubu2lOiWDeOrGRrFV8vJpLMANZd_lmAlt_RquEX5qr4Y4uaw=w424-h318" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This unnerving possibility was raised just the other day. As you know from previous posts, Paula and I enjoy cycling and are presently putting in some miles in preparing for an adventure later this year (stay tuned for probably-snarked-out posts on THAT). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> On a usually-pleasant downhill stretch, I heard Paula screech and when I fell back to see what was wrong, all she could say was, "A squirrel! A squirrel! It jumped out and hit my leg and almost knocked me over!!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This is not the first time that our fuzzy-tailed arboreal 'friends' have tried to sabotage cyclists. Here is an example of a felled bicycle with a kamikaze tree rodent stuck in the front wheel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztuLOY7yD_GcmfEcH9p5xsWX6ALqaH8zJvYD5j8r08A32YLH-_LkbEd5hcG0JIT8crfR0qc6G6dCAAOyfINAXzVb_VEjrEHWHLF9cjEFBbkHQnrw9tMySCMTciTwuGpvm_hV6l3nBBpo6l-BikH9BnPGPqzovxlY2eJ9m0uiyU8buoQaKVdtO2Sev8Q/s1608/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-22%20at%205.45.39%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1608" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztuLOY7yD_GcmfEcH9p5xsWX6ALqaH8zJvYD5j8r08A32YLH-_LkbEd5hcG0JIT8crfR0qc6G6dCAAOyfINAXzVb_VEjrEHWHLF9cjEFBbkHQnrw9tMySCMTciTwuGpvm_hV6l3nBBpo6l-BikH9BnPGPqzovxlY2eJ9m0uiyU8buoQaKVdtO2Sev8Q/w420-h331/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-22%20at%205.45.39%20PM.png" width="420" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And another.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLLpmE7sison5dT3Sb0qeaRa8icWtw0X5bQKiE47HODP2YQnSECcJ8sW3nqGfVJeWmuzbf4fYnJAs8r13dShsbTfTjEYLZkxzhOoWAB2D3iIugC9Ctgom8YqdNUETu3sbZT409cMv5RLg6K0DpP7pGyRGmRd97KfJty9PXVtuzcfPKC7zKnSV1iUnIGQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="500" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLLpmE7sison5dT3Sb0qeaRa8icWtw0X5bQKiE47HODP2YQnSECcJ8sW3nqGfVJeWmuzbf4fYnJAs8r13dShsbTfTjEYLZkxzhOoWAB2D3iIugC9Ctgom8YqdNUETu3sbZT409cMv5RLg6K0DpP7pGyRGmRd97KfJty9PXVtuzcfPKC7zKnSV1iUnIGQ=w406-h326" width="406" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> At this point, we are pretty much convinced that the squirrels have found the internet address of this blog and are out for revenge upon us for suggesting that they might supplement our diet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Unusual times call for unusual measures, such as </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIhPOhk94QMzYR-ZSNyv9L5_p93OIP-9mIlfPIcCHixPagAbYc93uHFZ_nAkb2wfRO1XqS74XkGBYs4kQtWeem1G2fmgw42HHZAuHm1gbEjXyA__TIwpMiI_Xb0HPkmJnhQdECdzOxo-9mzbaddfY2AOekbyzMHv0XrGO2n6JcGzy_kKnrQGm1_ZgNKg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="200" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIhPOhk94QMzYR-ZSNyv9L5_p93OIP-9mIlfPIcCHixPagAbYc93uHFZ_nAkb2wfRO1XqS74XkGBYs4kQtWeem1G2fmgw42HHZAuHm1gbEjXyA__TIwpMiI_Xb0HPkmJnhQdECdzOxo-9mzbaddfY2AOekbyzMHv0XrGO2n6JcGzy_kKnrQGm1_ZgNKg=w343-h324" width="343" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or an airbag helmet, complete with the cute model, Paula says.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMrowC_kmB_CPD8NwTzibsbL7tivbA9Y3e2g6dV2z3FeJ8Br45heUo7R_pag4zwND0GdRZmoXAOBfQ4ppcc_XYU__EI81xwVEOyMASHsdYDxB6uPFZa2mVsWd68zfq-NEiGgrLTDn2x9qcwH7LmTo6ua1Gi8ExBkObHs6uhEwUoMSwHdOI2XiifslciA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1450" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMrowC_kmB_CPD8NwTzibsbL7tivbA9Y3e2g6dV2z3FeJ8Br45heUo7R_pag4zwND0GdRZmoXAOBfQ4ppcc_XYU__EI81xwVEOyMASHsdYDxB6uPFZa2mVsWd68zfq-NEiGgrLTDn2x9qcwH7LmTo6ua1Gi8ExBkObHs6uhEwUoMSwHdOI2XiifslciA=w432-h293" width="432" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or even this, complete with the front Squirrel Guard™ which I am about to patent, by the way (don't even TRY to snipe me on this one!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFO-qrc1ccyOXe9fbWCU6bvGJa2Y43aEasS3BCNsP4ueeIQftIO78-h64lB_QrLZsWrXiMgg007KlCHx5pf3BAJ2e8qwzwX6RmiSneBKrGLLpDes318b3tVEVhlXu5d7Gj5C11n_-2-_zRE6Ys9XDV1T6sc6awTfuBKkua8s-oiOA57PQj7wVS1avJng" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="266" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFO-qrc1ccyOXe9fbWCU6bvGJa2Y43aEasS3BCNsP4ueeIQftIO78-h64lB_QrLZsWrXiMgg007KlCHx5pf3BAJ2e8qwzwX6RmiSneBKrGLLpDes318b3tVEVhlXu5d7Gj5C11n_-2-_zRE6Ys9XDV1T6sc6awTfuBKkua8s-oiOA57PQj7wVS1avJng=w402-h285" width="402" /></a></div> We have considered calling for a truce in the confrontation, but through my binoculars I saw something that made me think that the rodents are in no mood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMuQVWq0AhF-IdoX2uBVUYeVzOc7HMfNeRgu08sJTz92VnQXp8em_dpzFNXA_4Lx9dTtyG3GIQiOP93cugZakOruZtFXL5ZSMM1Yng1bOdfC0OK2HuBmtKzi4EWC-xBltPgXHbvEXDoXqF6FsJ1X-gil2HyXvIGXTKuHO43RAYQA8Z2CbeWDUh7zwKXg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="335" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMuQVWq0AhF-IdoX2uBVUYeVzOc7HMfNeRgu08sJTz92VnQXp8em_dpzFNXA_4Lx9dTtyG3GIQiOP93cugZakOruZtFXL5ZSMM1Yng1bOdfC0OK2HuBmtKzi4EWC-xBltPgXHbvEXDoXqF6FsJ1X-gil2HyXvIGXTKuHO43RAYQA8Z2CbeWDUh7zwKXg=w304-h286" width="304" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Stay tuned for further developments. Meanwhile, if you are a local tree chicken reading this, we desire peace and are ready to offer peanuts as proof of our sincerity. If they seem rancid and/or stale, that's Paula's fault and make sure you go for her bike and not mine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">David</div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-32858031202854418912022-05-20T13:58:00.000-07:002022-05-20T13:58:28.969-07:00Fixing leaky bladders<p> OK, I admit, the headline was click bait. I really did fix leaky bladders surgically, but I haven't done one of those operations since July 2011. Now I'm plagued by another kind of leaky bladder.</p><p> This is a (borrowed, stolen) diagram of a kitesurfing kite. The leading edge is hollow, and the whole thing is given shape in part by inflatable bladders within it and the struts. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxgBJfUDUnEvBgbvrwOnv_htuwz_T33NgpKTHZkGYzX8vY5T3FhKqlvEfXLH_LIkr7auMDgmVF3C3SamHLaczAATRBmuu75442he2ut9XnCzzpvu92CS_FwsoGGK_Kh1LjtCKCgkD52NRb83Lgx37N0Ynxj9jSV_663VXSqfMuy6J89ccnoLbxkLZC9A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="878" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxgBJfUDUnEvBgbvrwOnv_htuwz_T33NgpKTHZkGYzX8vY5T3FhKqlvEfXLH_LIkr7auMDgmVF3C3SamHLaczAATRBmuu75442he2ut9XnCzzpvu92CS_FwsoGGK_Kh1LjtCKCgkD52NRb83Lgx37N0Ynxj9jSV_663VXSqfMuy6J89ccnoLbxkLZC9A=w539-h317" width="539" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> They are only inflated to about 7-8 pounds per square inch, so not a lot of pressure. However, they are subject to all kinds of trauma.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qU6RV6xo_AGf9KhVjhqQ0U1lQhFO00Px0ZPHKyBqgvlfMZPxDU6su18q7EuDPb0jfJzfAju4F6ANR3sGHEFFPdkOcWUpxRnaCznf0ZhXW6GcQdoOq86qUcU4sFr2YvN5poWhQe658PVUecWWZyFOdeVNffvvc4tiEof5i7z-pB13ddA68-q657fZCQ/s480/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="480" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qU6RV6xo_AGf9KhVjhqQ0U1lQhFO00Px0ZPHKyBqgvlfMZPxDU6su18q7EuDPb0jfJzfAju4F6ANR3sGHEFFPdkOcWUpxRnaCznf0ZhXW6GcQdoOq86qUcU4sFr2YvN5poWhQe658PVUecWWZyFOdeVNffvvc4tiEof5i7z-pB13ddA68-q657fZCQ/w398-h265/hqdefault.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Though probably not a politically correct term, slamming a kite into the water is known as "tomahawking" the poor thing, and the sound it makes causes every head to turn and see who messed up this time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Where my brother kites on the lower Potomac River, there have been forlorn kites in trees, a warning to those foolish enough to brave Mother Nature. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSCpSPGhYty0Qlbcpu4a2TzZM7-HtWSDja2tb2ka3K9TvYf0Vs_JBDgWA59xfdPU-IihoOdFOwqS89bZkkovQjP5gGtR29eBNortxpo_CdwbpynnRb6LmVChsowhhEN6UGOouBq2XkULsQY-vec8d_Jzd4VKXIu5cy6wAfwfoxQjP_7fR-A5Y3c6d2w/s1257/2484165_429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1257" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSCpSPGhYty0Qlbcpu4a2TzZM7-HtWSDja2tb2ka3K9TvYf0Vs_JBDgWA59xfdPU-IihoOdFOwqS89bZkkovQjP5gGtR29eBNortxpo_CdwbpynnRb6LmVChsowhhEN6UGOouBq2XkULsQY-vec8d_Jzd4VKXIu5cy6wAfwfoxQjP_7fR-A5Y3c6d2w/w398-h263/2484165_429.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Add to that the 'foot cacti' found on the Outer Banks,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMEhgN9rbJSdLSK45dJOyRBaSlssjzSKYXaF_sNXwK-bLCNtfHUplNlQ962uypLeQ_75KFAIzb4pv4ZuyjpKyjuM4tmx4b2YOkN0ySpJIbEXbzkR9gSqXSqcS3TJndkIy5srCmZ4GgvVQ1wFwLaw6eEXK39ucnv8O8B8r39nM40Qvnsx9BGYqoC1omDQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMEhgN9rbJSdLSK45dJOyRBaSlssjzSKYXaF_sNXwK-bLCNtfHUplNlQ962uypLeQ_75KFAIzb4pv4ZuyjpKyjuM4tmx4b2YOkN0ySpJIbEXbzkR9gSqXSqcS3TJndkIy5srCmZ4GgvVQ1wFwLaw6eEXK39ucnv8O8B8r39nM40Qvnsx9BGYqoC1omDQ=w402-h250" width="402" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and the life of a kite bladder can be hard and short.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Unfortunately, on our last outing in April to Hatteras, it became clear that my beloved 15-meter kite had suffered a slow leak. This was not a happy moment. You see, fixing a leaky bladder on a human is <i>WAY</i> simpler, and I'm close to serious. You don't actually have to remove the human version, a lengthy and trick procedure on a kite. The thing is skinny, about twenty feet long (OK, careful, I'm talking about the kite version, not the one in the person), and attached to all sorts of things, and that holds for both kind of bladders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixarSOxYN5uGxvTmfUCnylSSk5KO0PWyEyUBTXZBiqmxe5GktwrXV06EYzkL_VwHsEnlQzFXf8ap0_0qjUDmFGAlPS9crNgoTR8X0sIsj8zou9dwqD1Yn79a0ClK5QZ1p0RdKI1xeVg4mLWaFEL2IgOJ6OEHqNtWoFmDMD_Z0Htj-LLXz4S5KVNxQbkA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixarSOxYN5uGxvTmfUCnylSSk5KO0PWyEyUBTXZBiqmxe5GktwrXV06EYzkL_VwHsEnlQzFXf8ap0_0qjUDmFGAlPS9crNgoTR8X0sIsj8zou9dwqD1Yn79a0ClK5QZ1p0RdKI1xeVg4mLWaFEL2IgOJ6OEHqNtWoFmDMD_Z0Htj-LLXz4S5KVNxQbkA=w429-h242" width="429" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And just like with the human version, the bladder is a bit delicate, and you have to make sure you're not making MORE holes while you're fixing the first one. So, I scrubbed up, donned my surgical gown and gathered my instruments. Meanwhile, the kite was already unconscious and ready for the procedure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymx-vx5rR-RAvnDPG2gVFrhvgY6Tlr_hv_kndX-BSy8IK3MnE1PUjvFn2hRpMqEXdbvQMkUp9O-YELdmtbLsaW6BffZLdiWWAMTCTWMc-8e2F0W2Wr9JROA_jRGpIjM95QcNwfFmLCfXgQRpEEfZHDk8-73oWJoKwrXIkzDEzxwnkxfr-xY88DuGbIw/s1280/20220520-thumbnail_67474708219__97ECC5FC-4B96-4E86-9788-AC9169C6C2D3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymx-vx5rR-RAvnDPG2gVFrhvgY6Tlr_hv_kndX-BSy8IK3MnE1PUjvFn2hRpMqEXdbvQMkUp9O-YELdmtbLsaW6BffZLdiWWAMTCTWMc-8e2F0W2Wr9JROA_jRGpIjM95QcNwfFmLCfXgQRpEEfZHDk8-73oWJoKwrXIkzDEzxwnkxfr-xY88DuGbIw/w436-h327/20220520-thumbnail_67474708219__97ECC5FC-4B96-4E86-9788-AC9169C6C2D3.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Though Paula refused to mop my brow or even address me as "Dr. Henderson," things went well, and after longer than the person version took, I got the bladder out, found the hole, patched it and got everything back together again, which step is also necessary in the human procedure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I cautiously blew the kite back up, and was relieved that it held pressure. Ready for the next "tomahawk" or cactus or whatever awful thing lies in its future. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We hope that your bladder isn't leaking, and if it is, that you can find someone to put a good patch on it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave</div></div></div></div><p></p>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-78367685285948449822022-05-20T13:11:00.000-07:002022-05-20T13:11:05.647-07:00It's good to have a good brother<p> My brother Mark is three years younger than I am, and we have an unfortunate sister trapped between us. We had the usual love/dislike relationships growing up, and there were times when I was unkind to him, which I sorely regret. He was usually better to me than I was to him.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmeclRzdIrO4zJK1pG20iCJdf8_Ym3tdArpvxMTGIBiIHdhMEW9V2U2dvGY6XkAZm-ycqHL0bvJJdyr3NSl6bevFtK6P-nfwUzyXbP_qLtxEeQBcO2p98Pak00LUnaNZzcyN3sbbc68Uk9T-aby0gCFGXCmUlqVC3BMziofuCy19OR3Ra2noB8POWaQ/s2259/20220127-U%20126%20'21'%20MHH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="2259" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmeclRzdIrO4zJK1pG20iCJdf8_Ym3tdArpvxMTGIBiIHdhMEW9V2U2dvGY6XkAZm-ycqHL0bvJJdyr3NSl6bevFtK6P-nfwUzyXbP_qLtxEeQBcO2p98Pak00LUnaNZzcyN3sbbc68Uk9T-aby0gCFGXCmUlqVC3BMziofuCy19OR3Ra2noB8POWaQ/w384-h265/20220127-U%20126%20'21'%20MHH.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><p> Mark came up with all sorts of lunatic stuff. At one point in our childhood, he made a rule that if someone was hurt inadvertently while we were playing, someone else could say, "Laugh, my child!" and the injured party had to laugh, which usually set things back on track.</p><p> He convinced our baby sister that there was a secret rail system in the attic by which we could be transported to the neighbor's house, but that she couldn't use it until she was six. And on and on.</p><p> Mark has always thought bigger than me. I had a minibike, he had a Yamaha dirt bike. I had the ratty old VW Beetle, he had the ratty old Triumph Spitfire. I have five kids, he has eight. I was an OB-GYN, he was an orthopaedic surgeon. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGvK0vtJf9QLfzLPbgxtCbEAq9nfr8IiYE3BBkAtpPRVtIabtIPQg5t_Kl7rMoAs_eeds8EtRawyN0BAd_T6UnQVMPxOrjXR-h7LRdcOv9s643EeHxf1CmtkPt12N4UanaeXbcsxEpCdUvRAn9ndRqTj7Drwa6hBdx-Yk4Awh5zGkA9VG3THY4MNsfw/s2670/20210111-1990%2010b%2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1796" data-original-width="2670" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGvK0vtJf9QLfzLPbgxtCbEAq9nfr8IiYE3BBkAtpPRVtIabtIPQg5t_Kl7rMoAs_eeds8EtRawyN0BAd_T6UnQVMPxOrjXR-h7LRdcOv9s643EeHxf1CmtkPt12N4UanaeXbcsxEpCdUvRAn9ndRqTj7Drwa6hBdx-Yk4Awh5zGkA9VG3THY4MNsfw/w390-h262/20210111-1990%2010b%2024.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><p> There has been somewhat of a fun arms race since we've grown up. We had always ridden bikes, but he got a nice one in residency, so I had to find one also, and we've had some classic rides together since, and while I've done a lot of 'century' rides (100 miles), for a while he was doing 'double dimes,' meaning 200 miles at a throw.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIXhmGEa3U7Ci8g_MFERBmDGECOHYQgU19WbRLh1VYvrq41FoeuqP9kUIWasPvtEinGFWiuCSIEHn2Vf7vGUejAPmzYxMMN3q2oSLaMpS_tZI9x-WDdR8dwfXOuuD952Qm9zr5gxL_gGQgLNW7N_bgF-n-HNYnAKO2ywE9c1mWL4FRhfoU18D_teh-Q/s2669/20210129-1994%2008b%2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2669" data-original-width="1806" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIXhmGEa3U7Ci8g_MFERBmDGECOHYQgU19WbRLh1VYvrq41FoeuqP9kUIWasPvtEinGFWiuCSIEHn2Vf7vGUejAPmzYxMMN3q2oSLaMpS_tZI9x-WDdR8dwfXOuuD952Qm9zr5gxL_gGQgLNW7N_bgF-n-HNYnAKO2ywE9c1mWL4FRhfoU18D_teh-Q/w285-h420/20210129-1994%2008b%2024.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><p> During residency in Philadelphia, Mark noticed someone windsurfing at a nearby park lake, and he had to do it. That meant that I needed to figure it out also, and we had great fun windsurfing together for twenty-five years, all over the East Coast and even internationally.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7Mw1jRTGN1cG-1dHNUUD3dbkt-Ur7EJEAln5e1Ux5gT6lUebmh3J5LJ1lKz0RjSlTSSNRIgL5GlFIOdPSBmezbcbcqdrbYSdj8UCi1WkivAm0WJmaeZMs87KmuAUO2UBc6EVJplhzLj1KYJ118c-frhAaI4R97RSsp3RNlK3RlJPWyz1Nu8_rhMAwA/s2551/20200319-1997%2011b%2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="2551" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7Mw1jRTGN1cG-1dHNUUD3dbkt-Ur7EJEAln5e1Ux5gT6lUebmh3J5LJ1lKz0RjSlTSSNRIgL5GlFIOdPSBmezbcbcqdrbYSdj8UCi1WkivAm0WJmaeZMs87KmuAUO2UBc6EVJplhzLj1KYJ118c-frhAaI4R97RSsp3RNlK3RlJPWyz1Nu8_rhMAwA/w366-h246/20200319-1997%2011b%2006.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><p> Scuba diving slipped in there somewhere, along with underwater photography. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZo6eBhl9BpnpcUWEObGpv6G0bohUO8s9_6b8jlJPAoCpd9mmkENRjODFjg1eyF9OJIvoAXa1mNVymkRfNTqLNotChLbCrANB8NVC9zTaUDxcdxnByVxj3wo3sv_DmlLsM4fkvo0S2L14G9vFZkB0fvw3HNbm8ulfK6huFnty2acks8_dYhpvW_bPFg/s2620/20210208-2004%2003c%2026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2620" data-original-width="1798" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZo6eBhl9BpnpcUWEObGpv6G0bohUO8s9_6b8jlJPAoCpd9mmkENRjODFjg1eyF9OJIvoAXa1mNVymkRfNTqLNotChLbCrANB8NVC9zTaUDxcdxnByVxj3wo3sv_DmlLsM4fkvo0S2L14G9vFZkB0fvw3HNbm8ulfK6huFnty2acks8_dYhpvW_bPFg/w267-h389/20210208-2004%2003c%2026.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><p> We shared whitewater kayaking with our sons, and did many of the great and challenging rivers in the East, though again, he was always up for bigger stuff than I was.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSprF_bwSy1mclqdOx7KdgyH9zJkWm3jh9sM79AoomUpW6FFdiAlFXmQOgt9WlInm5nCMEdFy5HwRoXlTbV85eKlxTcYyiWy1MzK83Hz1WC4ksRRp_3dlr3ywaSiR__7CLUW4qXozQXsHGrEgZcuITuRP9wc3H9f5MrAXJyCH1Qa8bY6Yyyu2KLFFCQ/s2673/20210201-2002%2006%2028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2673" data-original-width="1802" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSprF_bwSy1mclqdOx7KdgyH9zJkWm3jh9sM79AoomUpW6FFdiAlFXmQOgt9WlInm5nCMEdFy5HwRoXlTbV85eKlxTcYyiWy1MzK83Hz1WC4ksRRp_3dlr3ywaSiR__7CLUW4qXozQXsHGrEgZcuITuRP9wc3H9f5MrAXJyCH1Qa8bY6Yyyu2KLFFCQ/w298-h440/20210201-2002%2006%2028.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><p> From what I've said, you could think that it was all fun stuff. Mark has become a solid pillar in his community and the Church, and we have paralleled each other in many assignments and activities. </p><p> The latest chapter in the fun category has been kiteboarding, which we picked up at the end of windsurfing a dozen years ago or so. We've had a lot of laughs doing that together, though as usual, Mark gets 25 foot jumps while I'm lucky to land fivers. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8GdHZ2Ti0Zxql632YaftzSIDGSXgQKSsf_eL4sI8RXMfLuJHTzgH8cUbbnxq5n6BA-3CxLnL9LuZMmb452lvL0xcqQ3CB0kl3W0qe6-NcATFLGjfxsPWEd33I7IEw5zdQLUaQRmPhtcJnOIWmecRIzLxAn5anF7zrURKyOOBa9b9lwRdbCLGqLNMfg/s1803/20171023-_MG_7728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1803" data-original-width="1314" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8GdHZ2Ti0Zxql632YaftzSIDGSXgQKSsf_eL4sI8RXMfLuJHTzgH8cUbbnxq5n6BA-3CxLnL9LuZMmb452lvL0xcqQ3CB0kl3W0qe6-NcATFLGjfxsPWEd33I7IEw5zdQLUaQRmPhtcJnOIWmecRIzLxAn5anF7zrURKyOOBa9b9lwRdbCLGqLNMfg/w289-h396/20171023-_MG_7728.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><p> It's great having a good brother. He's always someone I can bounce DIY engineering plans off of, or revel with about some new activity, or use as an excuse with my long-suffering wife; "Well, Amy let Mark do it!" Doesn't always work, but it's worth a try. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkWEOxG_7u1dGn8IAfn_YNkmV5gvpNBDVPoMl3wVV1N-xilxc0eMdfLiX0TzCVGFuUpfjgpaWXBq2PR2Nnp5TsHx5eHhnZFBqaeCFzRR5Z2s3KOC1w2t3e5kizO8OQcXC-_OOrK4Kc5VQU9ZL55B7aBtdd0XtzitwDPafkoJsLtHtpMlsBhRzMo5dQA/s1969/20210903-DSCN2834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1969" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkWEOxG_7u1dGn8IAfn_YNkmV5gvpNBDVPoMl3wVV1N-xilxc0eMdfLiX0TzCVGFuUpfjgpaWXBq2PR2Nnp5TsHx5eHhnZFBqaeCFzRR5Z2s3KOC1w2t3e5kizO8OQcXC-_OOrK4Kc5VQU9ZL55B7aBtdd0XtzitwDPafkoJsLtHtpMlsBhRzMo5dQA/w451-h339/20210903-DSCN2834.jpg" width="451" /></a></div><p> I hope that your siblings are anywhere near as good as my kid brother.</p><p>David</p><p><br /></p>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7484001461540044973.post-60324569578339843702022-05-20T12:11:00.002-07:002022-05-20T12:18:41.847-07:00Crazy ideas of (fairly) old guys<p> When we lived on a 'gentleman's farm' in then-rural Fairfax County, Virginia, my parents raised lots of different animals, including goats, specifically milk-producing Saanens.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9OPC-hZ-SYbp_-WzPA-GwiYBPLcuV2TiCSzATEHega0a8A7_dBSEkpgwZB3UpLPW7Y3PmtR_K7oncryrW79OyvsTpwoZK4sKTHPL4CHaMkR3uUN4OXQKmFE_kEchqL84_L_MAbII2C5ThumosjqRxaRG9y_2HRVJpMdgk42WGaDJ5kSCq5JfBM6Uag/s2304/20220129-1960%2004%2009%20MHH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1567" data-original-width="2304" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9OPC-hZ-SYbp_-WzPA-GwiYBPLcuV2TiCSzATEHega0a8A7_dBSEkpgwZB3UpLPW7Y3PmtR_K7oncryrW79OyvsTpwoZK4sKTHPL4CHaMkR3uUN4OXQKmFE_kEchqL84_L_MAbII2C5ThumosjqRxaRG9y_2HRVJpMdgk42WGaDJ5kSCq5JfBM6Uag/w353-h241/20220129-1960%2004%2009%20MHH.jpg" width="353" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Mom had a friend named Bob Black who raised Saanens also, and who owned a Piper Cub. One day he noticed that our fields might make a decent runway. He flew his plane in, and Mom charged him $5 instead of the $10/mo. tie-down fee at Manassas Airport. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqgcug2XoFxlhePI0R4ADV6nky92WG3CxGmxNViY9z0Oc9qdSBY-DWB3xy4XaSjWQ0_8MsP-L26KTR8IPAMrskwqra3jueFbF2XfbI_4ZUysuoAYJ1h7mYr8UXRnmFhzsUsSLnMwl447WlmjNBr0gkLo9wVON3jfhpS5zLZBukuuGFWBuEosBv1rlcnQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="384" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqgcug2XoFxlhePI0R4ADV6nky92WG3CxGmxNViY9z0Oc9qdSBY-DWB3xy4XaSjWQ0_8MsP-L26KTR8IPAMrskwqra3jueFbF2XfbI_4ZUysuoAYJ1h7mYr8UXRnmFhzsUsSLnMwl447WlmjNBr0gkLo9wVON3jfhpS5zLZBukuuGFWBuEosBv1rlcnQ=w278-h406" width="278" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> OK, maybe not so flattering a picture (that's me in the middle, probably not destined for swim suit model), but that's the cub in the back field.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> A normal Cub only has a 65 horsepower engine and no starter, so when I was about seven years old, Bob taught me how to sit in the front seat, hold the toe brakes and operate the engine controls while he swung the propeller to start the thing. That was terrifyingly cool, and although Bob never had a license and couldn't take anyone up (and was probably not to be trusted anyway) I became an airplane nut.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When I was fifteen, my friend Lloyd Hill and I convinced our parents that we should get a job at the Warrenton-Fauquier airport and in a weak moment they said OK! We would open the office of the Fixed Base Operator on Saturday mornings, and we were often the last ones to leave in the evening. We fueled and washed airplanes, changed runway lights and of course cleaned the bathroom, but in the end, we both earned our Private Pilot license, mine when I had just turned seventeen, the legal limit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I flew some that summer, and a little in Utah when I went to college that fall, but less and less because of the cost. When I returned from my two-year mission for the Church, I visited Lloyd in Florida, and one of my last logbook entries involved flying to one of the Keys with him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Then life intervened with college, marriage, medical school, residency, kids, private practice, etc., etc., etc. and when I brought the subject up once, Paula wisely put it back down; "You've got five little kids! Are you nuts?!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzmGCBSUltcc0xn41SqOhHGgOfRqgOs98f9I6cvSXJbLdOJeFdoU03NjbEXA3pJDqBGusa-a7G5X-JFtTmrTvYkyZywsqzcHgywMExqsJsCy3x8t0iMrxTBh3cyaJhnsqhxh26GXrtYcCsT8QfCdc-6DgP0lWLlIJ_V64XVKDsLfuW2ELEIeN-_lSZA/s2663/20210129-1994%2008d%2002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1818" data-original-width="2663" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzmGCBSUltcc0xn41SqOhHGgOfRqgOs98f9I6cvSXJbLdOJeFdoU03NjbEXA3pJDqBGusa-a7G5X-JFtTmrTvYkyZywsqzcHgywMExqsJsCy3x8t0iMrxTBh3cyaJhnsqhxh26GXrtYcCsT8QfCdc-6DgP0lWLlIJ_V64XVKDsLfuW2ELEIeN-_lSZA/w375-h255/20210129-1994%2008d%2002.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> She must have picked up a brain-eating parasite in South America, because while we were there, she mused one day, "You know, I think I'd rather have you auger in flying when you're 75 than change your diapers when you're 90." I wrote it down, but didn't actually make her sign it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Over the last year or so, the idea has entered my mind again, though for what reason I'm not sure. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Luckily, I know a guy. One of my four close friends from back to Cub Scout days, almost 60 years ago is a fellow named Dave Nelson. I had the honor of giving him his first flight in a small plane, although he had flown plenty commercially, his dad being head of operations for United Airlines at the (then) Washington DC airport and Dulles. He liked it, did Air Force ROTC at BYU, and eventually ended up as one of the chief test pilots at Edwards AFB, with the most hours in the F-22, which was being developed at the time. After retiring, he was hired by Lockheed and became the chief test pilot of the F-35, from which he retired about four years ago. He has flown, as far as he can tell, seventy-seven different aircraft, and actually flew with Chuck Yeager. Twice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> For my 68th birthday (that many?!) Paula let me travel to Palmdale, California where Dave lives, and we went flying! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaahDO_LlCJ3VheODKpFOUvmOWVjhvuNKwyglCJ-XSz1vyUuWaRCi3YlqAfej5swNFHs-TDMKDm-ps-pG8Sh0N7vJSDn6ldzy8DfQfbPTHqKdUxgt4q2fCrAf5qwN6yRDv7H7nTlrv139KHhBrAbSSjU9rNtudyn9vtPsHxqiHjBLO8GdE_ESa7Cxcg/s3648/20220310-20220310_174802.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaahDO_LlCJ3VheODKpFOUvmOWVjhvuNKwyglCJ-XSz1vyUuWaRCi3YlqAfej5swNFHs-TDMKDm-ps-pG8Sh0N7vJSDn6ldzy8DfQfbPTHqKdUxgt4q2fCrAf5qwN6yRDv7H7nTlrv139KHhBrAbSSjU9rNtudyn9vtPsHxqiHjBLO8GdE_ESa7Cxcg/w396-h297/20220310-20220310_174802.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> He turned out to be the best instructor I have ever worked with and he did a lot to tune me up and get me back on track legally. With that good start, I've been doing some local flying here. Again, the reason for all of this is unclear, but it feels like a good thing to do at the moment. It has at least led me to study a lot, never a bad thing for an aging brain. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> So, I guess the moral of the story is this - if you want to learn to fly, tell your mother she needs to get some goats. Saanens, that is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dave</div><p></p>UnkaDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659489593294755934noreply@blogger.com1