Category Archives: travel

China and the Yangtze – a step back in time

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CHINA – The name alone evokes a myriad of emotions and images; the worlds largest population, communism, take out food, Chairman Mao, tai chi, the Great Wall, and tea. The country is all this and more. The enormity of the country is as intimidating as it’s history and we feel the three weeks we spent there in 2000 barely scratched the surface of this fascinating culture.

Grand China and the Yangtze was our third tour with my company, Grand European Tours, and our first experience traveling to the world of eastern medicine, culture and food. Summing up the overwhelming experience that is China is a difficult challenge. Rich in history and culture, China as a country also faces great challenges of it’s own. The immense population has created some of the worst traffic and pollution we’ve experienced, before or since. Continue reading →

Foto Friday

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Bugs, insects, annoyances. However you like to refer to them, they’re the bane of every travelers’ existence. From the deadly, malaria carrying mosquito to the astonishing strength of the the dung beetle. From the vicious no-see-em’s that strike w/ no warning and whose bites itch unbelievably, to the enormous, beetle-like creature shown below. In a rare move, Foto Friday this week is actually two photos. The first shows a close up of this terrifying bug and the second showing it’s true size compared to a bottle of the worlds best hard cider; Savanna Dry. Be glad you’re not camping in the Namibian bush with him tonight!

 

Fall Camping Oregon – As good as it Gets

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We LOVE off season camping. We love open campgrounds, fewer crowds, empty beaches, and the joy of fall in Oregon. During the “discovery” season from late September/ early October until May 1st of each year we never make campground reservations, preferring to simply flip a coin on the way out of town to decide where we’re going..

 

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Le Page Park – camping on the John Day

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With fall approaching upon us, we wanted to get in as much late season camping as possible and fishing on the John Day was calling! Le Page park is one or favorite getaways, with the climate and scenery of the high desert of Central Oregon, but just a 2-hour scenic drive down the awe-inspiring corridor that is the Columbia Gorge.

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Lake Billy Chinook – Oregon

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After a shocking one month break from camping, we headed to Central Oregon to Lake Billy Chinook with our new black dog, Porter, and our camping buddies, Ron & Dario. Our favorite moments are spent in the camper, and we were missing it greatly. Although we have a very comfortable house and quite fantastic back yard/palapa we’ve learned that being on the road is where we’re most at home.

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Taj Mahal – The Greatest Symbol of Love?

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If you missed our third installment of our 18 day driving tour through Rajastan catch up with it here. Now, our final post on this amazing journey.

By this point in our drive we were, quite frankly, fed up with India. The crowds, cow traffic jams, garbage everywhere, open sewers, bad roads and chauvinistic men had caused my temper to be at the point of breaking. As we neared the end of our tour in the North we were at the point of just wanting to get it over with and head South to see if we could re-capture the magic of Incredible India. But first, the Taj Mahal, routinely viewed as the most majestic symbol of love the world has ever known. Continue reading →