tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201359662024-03-13T20:49:13.151-07:00Kerfuffle-to-GoClaire's Sit-Com Life.Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.comBlogger964125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-36532864253840277772023-11-18T18:47:00.000-08:002024-02-13T22:30:13.039-08:00Journey to Mother Africa!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtFlrzeQvZnJea8QEBVifXyIDiHTd7nY6zIfs1tt6hVed87lM794hzPs3F520kH23zTEBow77FbqJti-bxR0BaKVcfywDKOUvVT8dzHExYk4UIGbjjk9Svz4g2wB12OCpZYIQLZf64w5q6c8D-91tyDhUvaHsX-OuiqRyVW5IRs1oPUnD36Glig/s4000/20231127_144950.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtFlrzeQvZnJea8QEBVifXyIDiHTd7nY6zIfs1tt6hVed87lM794hzPs3F520kH23zTEBow77FbqJti-bxR0BaKVcfywDKOUvVT8dzHExYk4UIGbjjk9Svz4g2wB12OCpZYIQLZf64w5q6c8D-91tyDhUvaHsX-OuiqRyVW5IRs1oPUnD36Glig/w640-h360/20231127_144950.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wings over Greenland, & headed for Africa</td></tr></tbody></table>Can barely believe I'm going on a safari in Kenya and Tanzania. I have to get there first though, and therein lies the rub. I'm traveling with my long time travel buddy, Ila, and while she took an aisle seat on the opposite side of the ten seat row, I'm at a window. Not sure that choosing a window seat isn't a tactical error on my part, but I'll see. <p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5uT6WlFaJkoyGnQSy9dWpQQpqp1u3NrERtEjlMIOXXxsFjLpum8CyZ3h-3Xt4T9BId-S9z_mXY9A40dfnyO0ykebNj8mqdopf9f98pj0SkrYGWvbHVa9-v0vCk_jpugI-YV0uWoZvGne67H1rU8k5WtbGzbHww1fhuuuGnrH3aXc-yw7GaCh1g/s4000/20231127_100313.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5uT6WlFaJkoyGnQSy9dWpQQpqp1u3NrERtEjlMIOXXxsFjLpum8CyZ3h-3Xt4T9BId-S9z_mXY9A40dfnyO0ykebNj8mqdopf9f98pj0SkrYGWvbHVa9-v0vCk_jpugI-YV0uWoZvGne67H1rU8k5WtbGzbHww1fhuuuGnrH3aXc-yw7GaCh1g/w640-h360/20231127_100313.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris airport, all done up for the holidays</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>After my trip last year, though the gawdawful Amsterdam airport, for this trip both Ila and I did not hesitate to pull the 'old lady card' and opt for wheelchair assistance. Hate to do it, but if we hadn't used it on this trip, 2 weeks from now we'd still be roaming the Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, trying to find the right damned gate. And we were tired, as the flight from Seatac (Seattle) was a 9 hour flight (our pilot managed to trim a full hour off the flight - good tail winds I suspect. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc7KZHN4MTx4WtKrm8GGi4YFMpk93sxF5v_-5x0yj5msgr5BGWnH-A4mjt2W-V-xQL1sDyXZESUUBRmjnZ21gZ4N0zKpthbWCjRpHdZ2sfyzCfYZu7wEo7SZLrL1dgbTXZTtWBouxoHI_-_ZT2YO7bOUq1buE-gddJ3J5yZbZNWb3kgcWOVJE8A/s4000/20231117_153937.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc7KZHN4MTx4WtKrm8GGi4YFMpk93sxF5v_-5x0yj5msgr5BGWnH-A4mjt2W-V-xQL1sDyXZESUUBRmjnZ21gZ4N0zKpthbWCjRpHdZ2sfyzCfYZu7wEo7SZLrL1dgbTXZTtWBouxoHI_-_ZT2YO7bOUq1buE-gddJ3J5yZbZNWb3kgcWOVJE8A/w400-h225/20231117_153937.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The flight down to Nairobi, Kenya would also take 9 hours. The cabin of the massive jet was dark. When I got up to hit the restroom, I was startled to see it was not dark outside the jet. The French jet had windows without shades, but that could go electronically go from clear to dark blue, simulating nighttime. The dark navy windows certainly fooled me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-n93l_sOWY4u4uLyZhSnfjvsan_cdbTHtYhCPcdL0Yqh3AkFTFlfTQfdh1x5jd901Rk3wYmCmhbF_A1rbedq15eumF1wBWYmrPRJ_9NUkx2z3slDQW3Ap8a-FKUeQoUbbJ2PSIZBIwtzOAZqou5uKKBXjA-GZmkxW9qRZoNVeFCr7PAGS2OQjQ/s4000/20231117_153945.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-n93l_sOWY4u4uLyZhSnfjvsan_cdbTHtYhCPcdL0Yqh3AkFTFlfTQfdh1x5jd901Rk3wYmCmhbF_A1rbedq15eumF1wBWYmrPRJ_9NUkx2z3slDQW3Ap8a-FKUeQoUbbJ2PSIZBIwtzOAZqou5uKKBXjA-GZmkxW9qRZoNVeFCr7PAGS2OQjQ/w400-h225/20231117_153945.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">desert sands</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Having checked with the in-flight views on my seat's movie screen, looking out the clear jet porthole, I knew the jet was soaring over the Sahara Desert; white as Greenland's snow, but as frigid as snow? Uh... not so much. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Three movies, a landing and a long distance taxing of the KLM jet,I stood just outside the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi Kenya. I was dazed and tired with a numb butt and my constriction socks were ready to drop. Exiting the airport there were dozens upon dozens of signs held up, showing company and customer names. We stood by our luggage and eventually someone from Gate 1 representative found Ila and myself. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNAvs5vW_llmcPCHw4nN1Kw2IVJlFmpxON4MAWAv-CG0IpD60d5o4Mq41hORH1oukFZu7ekxTcP8ri1suHyexoWbNaPIojrMNn_0VYsvmdaZ-uIjulBLs7GGcBeEshAY9FvLJtfkCOisDQhDQShdcytFQHaIBm-f-HNEETGkLMVA82supDYx4Yg/s4000/20231117_213707.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNAvs5vW_llmcPCHw4nN1Kw2IVJlFmpxON4MAWAv-CG0IpD60d5o4Mq41hORH1oukFZu7ekxTcP8ri1suHyexoWbNaPIojrMNn_0VYsvmdaZ-uIjulBLs7GGcBeEshAY9FvLJtfkCOisDQhDQShdcytFQHaIBm-f-HNEETGkLMVA82supDYx4Yg/w640-h360/20231117_213707.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Nairobi Airport</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">After a 40 minute drive we arrived at the Sankara Nairobi Autograph Collection - the unusual name of the hotel we would spend one night at before heading 'out to the bush'. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhPrMN4Pv6co2eZPoPHITietkAw10TdsSWJkRVmUGyGkOSOrSB9l3radpCflWle4__gNOBh7vfU4qwkAB5I3tUg2KRdj-6x7n5xEFPxjJfN-s_Nd9CXYByD4xRq-Tzvl1P7wZRTc7_WHh1kWGkdPBIPZD9HAgW3lkuHxj4DVfXWorXnUGyPZ9eA/s4000/20231117_223407.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhPrMN4Pv6co2eZPoPHITietkAw10TdsSWJkRVmUGyGkOSOrSB9l3radpCflWle4__gNOBh7vfU4qwkAB5I3tUg2KRdj-6x7n5xEFPxjJfN-s_Nd9CXYByD4xRq-Tzvl1P7wZRTc7_WHh1kWGkdPBIPZD9HAgW3lkuHxj4DVfXWorXnUGyPZ9eA/w400-h225/20231117_223407.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ__f0jU8nTSWaJfMfU128JjOROhzIRa1RwXX0ONaokB8-6peDWXBMH46vb8G6pPPPHS9abN2l-BvN5DVw4S8AQoHFFU6kmYRGMXEAAMfh4oqlgtmEw-S62U69XMHZd_K33khtyXZyax9_oG0RNgpQwuDfN4B35lTvGVWMARlnmoUVrOvxH034g/s4000/20231117_223430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ__f0jU8nTSWaJfMfU128JjOROhzIRa1RwXX0ONaokB8-6peDWXBMH46vb8G6pPPPHS9abN2l-BvN5DVw4S8AQoHFFU6kmYRGMXEAAMfh4oqlgtmEw-S62U69XMHZd_K33khtyXZyax9_oG0RNgpQwuDfN4B35lTvGVWMARlnmoUVrOvxH034g/w400-h225/20231117_223430.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSev76ggQCHEFpMKsHHYjlK65gDvdIPcp5sbT2ecKFoOnq53FxHgY9lvIzaz13YQMEznaFqRI_U1gKgIpyanekFiYWs98pxwgNZQAd4XqUPpOeACL7jrzSsJTaIBZU90pABKSRRU8aAzNrYikW7qNgm6Jox3TnNyiYaz3_nFShEyjLO4ZEC53qg/s4000/20231117_223649.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSev76ggQCHEFpMKsHHYjlK65gDvdIPcp5sbT2ecKFoOnq53FxHgY9lvIzaz13YQMEznaFqRI_U1gKgIpyanekFiYWs98pxwgNZQAd4XqUPpOeACL7jrzSsJTaIBZU90pABKSRRU8aAzNrYikW7qNgm6Jox3TnNyiYaz3_nFShEyjLO4ZEC53qg/w400-h225/20231117_223649.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blinds, when closed, visually separated a the <br />sleeping area from the lush bathroom</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></div></div>The following morning we got up, repacked our luggage, then headed off to breakfast on the 2nd floor. Our meals are inclusive for the trip. This hotel offered what I've grown used to on the past few travels - a buffet breakfast. The offerings ran from basic, like fresh fruits, bread & butter pudding, Bircher Museli (whatever that is), smoothies, beetroot & cranberry detox drink, raw honeycomb(?) and a tower of breakfast bakery items.<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/AVvXsEg0eObJnMO7AjWoPZ9u6x5J8nQfsIC0LFKcQi3Na-wXgrfNjaa0cZu27qyPUUrW3G1Sswjea7fRs6OieEcBkiuI5AiHzyA99UqnLsc4MTI-NCfNRumDt3RZ43AQi9POK4giVmVlg1fGyxA3U-fKLnynSmvTIeerE1GNdRcyeW7qj3nJtPueGIdFDQ/s4000/20231118_063951.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eObJnMO7AjWoPZ9u6x5J8nQfsIC0LFKcQi3Na-wXgrfNjaa0cZu27qyPUUrW3G1Sswjea7fRs6OieEcBkiuI5AiHzyA99UqnLsc4MTI-NCfNRumDt3RZ43AQi9POK4giVmVlg1fGyxA3U-fKLnynSmvTIeerE1GNdRcyeW7qj3nJtPueGIdFDQ/w400-h226/20231118_063951.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BQYkvRUm6_GzMZx_Y3S0ZkwfUqHFQyxqjxDptw28GSGJovfwNy3Cbi4VOYpnO5rQnjp54SOzUXJnTU0PVP4GrNo2SL5KgxL-4ojH3WHl-d24klw_g7M13_up0WhRJ5WFwgjsOBNACWOCyk6VaSpOGzINxihfNosYYkNcyx4sveIpLnJrarb_7A/s4000/20231118_063634.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BQYkvRUm6_GzMZx_Y3S0ZkwfUqHFQyxqjxDptw28GSGJovfwNy3Cbi4VOYpnO5rQnjp54SOzUXJnTU0PVP4GrNo2SL5KgxL-4ojH3WHl-d24klw_g7M13_up0WhRJ5WFwgjsOBNACWOCyk6VaSpOGzINxihfNosYYkNcyx4sveIpLnJrarb_7A/w400-h226/20231118_063634.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw Honeycomb<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQCYN0WIdE6OU39gxMgeOUDgFX-79iEZu6xzzogoLX56A7zKi61tkuhQNh-ReKYjPLjdnLFXP3xbEag96yj5-BGPHAgtuUrVrP5eE-8fZNWH0y_Z2MpbKIwx3YmCFbA5QwexFMcq6f04ft-xmHjq4pC2C_WHaecfTw1AgVOZ04Z_aPYQDEDkJ0A/s4000/20231118_064009.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQCYN0WIdE6OU39gxMgeOUDgFX-79iEZu6xzzogoLX56A7zKi61tkuhQNh-ReKYjPLjdnLFXP3xbEag96yj5-BGPHAgtuUrVrP5eE-8fZNWH0y_Z2MpbKIwx3YmCFbA5QwexFMcq6f04ft-xmHjq4pC2C_WHaecfTw1AgVOZ04Z_aPYQDEDkJ0A/w400-h226/20231118_064009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower o' baked stuff</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPzpTYdfn8tG_CpItivwPLU8X7kQ5BjmJOhkQ1wWmLyi9WE8IAsm1__RYH3Y7cW0Td4jxn0G_Xo0bYiQW2jEld9pOP3yIczfQbS-CM7FHQz_gEHlubs0KfwQ-RX9AOhULEuZXpYKtYVnvH8qLqgYF3RfE_66WFTV6ezYum-AvNPhObBPp1dqbOg/s4000/20231118_064220.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPzpTYdfn8tG_CpItivwPLU8X7kQ5BjmJOhkQ1wWmLyi9WE8IAsm1__RYH3Y7cW0Td4jxn0G_Xo0bYiQW2jEld9pOP3yIczfQbS-CM7FHQz_gEHlubs0KfwQ-RX9AOhULEuZXpYKtYVnvH8qLqgYF3RfE_66WFTV6ezYum-AvNPhObBPp1dqbOg/w400-h226/20231118_064220.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My breakfast, complete with African grown Arabica Coffee</td></tr></tbody></table><div>Following breakfast, the entire group - ten total, plus 2 guides - met up with our Kenyan Gate 1 tour leaders. It was the first time we were all meeting each other. Our guide, and his assistant welcomed us all to our tour. Everyone introduced themselves. The only non-married couples were Ila and myself. Most of the group had previously traveled before with the Gate 1 company. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zpDq-BGSnfcs7BV-c_drx_I8gTOVlTq6_YU5_PJSBb4inv-hI5e-KwtlI8Zeg6BQIhMOMnlIJ2pBAC7hmw3CHVfJHQmpLkXHGM5sJvovo2ZFJDzy5YWEKfdRner2NRW0KWGYQd4O2oNWjX2-Jt5Dp__T1tVqCdp6F8FK8LY2fZn-b-9-sCubkw/s4000/20231118_073820.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zpDq-BGSnfcs7BV-c_drx_I8gTOVlTq6_YU5_PJSBb4inv-hI5e-KwtlI8Zeg6BQIhMOMnlIJ2pBAC7hmw3CHVfJHQmpLkXHGM5sJvovo2ZFJDzy5YWEKfdRner2NRW0KWGYQd4O2oNWjX2-Jt5Dp__T1tVqCdp6F8FK8LY2fZn-b-9-sCubkw/w400-h226/20231118_073820.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ila and I were the first ones to arrive, other than a guide<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">We were told what to expect all around, from road conditions (rough), to specific rules, that we should never, ever, </span><i style="text-align: left;">ever</i><span style="text-align: left;"> photograph military facilities or persons, least we get carted away to a holding cell.<br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJjzOKvXrr3_0fUQ3fwBtdPUm8Lm5kE65J1tIdPrSTWvZMbUuCQJ-g61LKOgH16Ktl3ClGECZfimSuDwr5x7pLNNghv5TCCgmKU0vSnbBgNf9Ybi8vkB4zAYLDpg7Cu3u3N7hQD73dzJNUhmbJg1NtJF5S90OLzkk21oylizcCXDieabERJLo7g/s4000/20231118_073841.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJjzOKvXrr3_0fUQ3fwBtdPUm8Lm5kE65J1tIdPrSTWvZMbUuCQJ-g61LKOgH16Ktl3ClGECZfimSuDwr5x7pLNNghv5TCCgmKU0vSnbBgNf9Ybi8vkB4zAYLDpg7Cu3u3N7hQD73dzJNUhmbJg1NtJF5S90OLzkk21oylizcCXDieabERJLo7g/w400-h226/20231118_073841.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up from our seating area - an atrium of hotel rooms</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AcKjOKEf2mUraj3a3jKk01S3T-aGntJI3s0IlrJnTAIMKVfe6ZbH4wtAL_D7JqMoVK1LA_GWMIu3L4oArN5W2tViRUEYOGBN72QmMpeCQLoHoOkJIE3sJ85bsEyqL4TQF3UiHyyKPwJlSL_4FMy0rK2eBbtIycXx4tMmPjEATsc5KG-SLN_7MQ/s4000/20231118_073633.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AcKjOKEf2mUraj3a3jKk01S3T-aGntJI3s0IlrJnTAIMKVfe6ZbH4wtAL_D7JqMoVK1LA_GWMIu3L4oArN5W2tViRUEYOGBN72QmMpeCQLoHoOkJIE3sJ85bsEyqL4TQF3UiHyyKPwJlSL_4FMy0rK2eBbtIycXx4tMmPjEATsc5KG-SLN_7MQ/w400-h225/20231118_073633.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div>Finally, we were given free thingies for our trip. Our largess included each of us receiving our name tag lanyards, a metal water bottle with Gate 1 logo on it, and a rugged Gate 1 safari hat. My favorite item, and contrarily Ila's least favorite item was a small bolt of Masai style tartan cloth, called '<a href="https://www.gadventures.com/blog/story-behind-maasais-shuka-cloth/" target="_blank">Shuka</a>'. I. Was.<i> Thrilled </i>to get it! among us. So v. Happy! </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2_4UdnKUQ1SCL8tj8GYBIvNhFK6jdE_Rn6EM1YlxMaYzfJPZeVq2nvMqpH52YsKcY7d9mTyc-7WMo8TOJhVpeFuJ3NntK8JW2hsqEd-c7aWrHcYS_c6Xb2Fun0ycmWyHu-co7lpa5z4Kpf1qWS-nJnWowv_J5JcnDsYpFOb-dwSLaiX3epjwHg/s4000/20231118_074306.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2_4UdnKUQ1SCL8tj8GYBIvNhFK6jdE_Rn6EM1YlxMaYzfJPZeVq2nvMqpH52YsKcY7d9mTyc-7WMo8TOJhVpeFuJ3NntK8JW2hsqEd-c7aWrHcYS_c6Xb2Fun0ycmWyHu-co7lpa5z4Kpf1qWS-nJnWowv_J5JcnDsYpFOb-dwSLaiX3epjwHg/w640-h360/20231118_074306.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pile of the goodies that were distributed among us.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgOfV8B6EmUvke9CmuCqyvpJdJyDqtO36EanbAlUWm5caVrzxrp73XrmY1jzQw4tpfCUw4uGW_JsocMg_Sbcxk50cewwcWwI3ld8Dt3AtugGVEQQmZhCAvTuvntVPCXyoOOUKp8FFuWaOs4THoqVySE98piVOW4KY70Ah-coJv0lFHm2hkodoyw/s539/masai%20woman%20in%20tartan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="334" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgOfV8B6EmUvke9CmuCqyvpJdJyDqtO36EanbAlUWm5caVrzxrp73XrmY1jzQw4tpfCUw4uGW_JsocMg_Sbcxk50cewwcWwI3ld8Dt3AtugGVEQQmZhCAvTuvntVPCXyoOOUKp8FFuWaOs4THoqVySE98piVOW4KY70Ah-coJv0lFHm2hkodoyw/w142-h229/masai%20woman%20in%20tartan.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masai Lady</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxN71f_Bvcsfj-gyLmn8VeWIbiUZcjlRL3NkHNg5KYVqzs2U7GsrPcuIXP7x2K_vcbG7mRYXV4AeA-59npgMgEMXJa_k85A8ZUMYjkTKcAclcU5j1geVnVEcjXsVGRXODEmdPEKNEH4gxHRd8sq5s4zd5KYPbQrWvYCgNX-sTbpgcGQlyQch1YA/s225/viking%20costume.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxN71f_Bvcsfj-gyLmn8VeWIbiUZcjlRL3NkHNg5KYVqzs2U7GsrPcuIXP7x2K_vcbG7mRYXV4AeA-59npgMgEMXJa_k85A8ZUMYjkTKcAclcU5j1geVnVEcjXsVGRXODEmdPEKNEH4gxHRd8sq5s4zd5KYPbQrWvYCgNX-sTbpgcGQlyQch1YA/w188-h188/viking%20costume.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking Lady</td></tr></tbody></table>Ila was not tickled with her Shuka cloth, feeling it was too much to expect people to have to pack and carry around the small bolt of cloth for the next 2 weeks. So, generous me, I did Ila 'a favor' by taking her Shuka. Now I have both of the tartans that were given out. True that as yet, I have no clue what to do with my Shuka. But I am so enchanted with them, I will be bringing home a bit of the Masai culture. It is rather a dream come true, as I've always admired the Masai people. How lucky am I. I wish I'd been that lucky in Norway last winter and I'd come home with 2 Lady Viking's dresses!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now all of us in possession of instructions and goodies, it was time to load ourselves into the 2 vans we were to journey in, and head off to Lake Nakuru National Park. The journey begins!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWTajlyeOZiJlAZ_Whzq6Upk8x-guWz7tK8ebBahpHFtv0XAvau2MBLuEGaQG4_363TdWg8Dm4zjc3C6eM6yxbMS9RPYmZpGSbeXp0hS-jnQc-XC08_NHX4miLr99xGaPRIRYMtbyOF7hH2HBo3dpFsap3ao-ILZ2jHWU7l-tDdnHi9Jv_lOv9w/s4000/20231118_090759.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWTajlyeOZiJlAZ_Whzq6Upk8x-guWz7tK8ebBahpHFtv0XAvau2MBLuEGaQG4_363TdWg8Dm4zjc3C6eM6yxbMS9RPYmZpGSbeXp0hS-jnQc-XC08_NHX4miLr99xGaPRIRYMtbyOF7hH2HBo3dpFsap3ao-ILZ2jHWU7l-tDdnHi9Jv_lOv9w/w640-h360/20231118_090759.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-31670828454904255472023-10-09T08:58:00.000-07:002024-02-13T21:30:58.480-08:00Time for Pumpkins<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwY5h2OJD9X7oXeYr9ExJcKVDubb0xmMTbeJQyq91jJm5RFd0jOttIVCrQFWOZrixO6zlM-0t8N1YkstW3SlZ1bwMB5XwbueHK70rAXe1It04ilH3H0u3j-ZbqH-LL4GN46zBOM6FwG26wc2WpB8QoITzuArAUqYZa9lFWwt9YQRiJ8JPAGwiLQ/s4000/20231018_155907.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwY5h2OJD9X7oXeYr9ExJcKVDubb0xmMTbeJQyq91jJm5RFd0jOttIVCrQFWOZrixO6zlM-0t8N1YkstW3SlZ1bwMB5XwbueHK70rAXe1It04ilH3H0u3j-ZbqH-LL4GN46zBOM6FwG26wc2WpB8QoITzuArAUqYZa9lFWwt9YQRiJ8JPAGwiLQ/w640-h362/20231018_155907.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old timey truck, loaded up with fall harvest</td></tr></tbody></table> It's nearly Halloween and Pumpkin time! My exercise trainer Karina, suggested it is time we got out and hunted down some seasonal decor. So Karina picked me up and we visited a nearby neighborhood Pumpkin Patch, just off the Old Olympic Highway. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_h828km_FjFb-qzXxtOLbxLO74Ict_yK4TBJH2JXGKp58L3hCWn9yciNITaRtY9StzjO0jKboJFlNmRko9c5LefPk3sMWc6rbNybfSXqxILIpCrpBz3rd_eyuUXm6TCj7fns_EINhsyRU9CK0to1kl58xsqUj6JzTL7B2TCRgv6JqncooY5mhA/s4000/20231018_154121.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_h828km_FjFb-qzXxtOLbxLO74Ict_yK4TBJH2JXGKp58L3hCWn9yciNITaRtY9StzjO0jKboJFlNmRko9c5LefPk3sMWc6rbNybfSXqxILIpCrpBz3rd_eyuUXm6TCj7fns_EINhsyRU9CK0to1kl58xsqUj6JzTL7B2TCRgv6JqncooY5mhA/w640-h362/20231018_154121.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karina picking up a pumpkin. Last year we did an hour's worth of exercising using a pumpkin as a weight so this year</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Last year for Halloween she had us exercising using pumpkins as weights. This year we won't be exercising with them, just picking them. The pumpkin patch had little wagons for piling on your pumpkins and toting them around. Karina and I each chose 2 or 3 pumpkins that seemed to 'call to us' to take them home. It was fun, wandering around the sunny field, finding just the right pumpkins. <br /><br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTomU2GqwS9uSFu66rUU7uwGbtzcRjvtzbQd2MmC3dpf0uzALiMAc6t6jE7h43SFNhasFuXIo8etuH7A_y5bKAcET2bVHwUtJ1imZQMx6V9g2o-VpMrjYuQmPii36ZHujsu0pnQ6l-ZPRdk8Mn1rxbh9e2gBQQKFjBzCA1hy2nBs0SK6k3qbZotA/s4000/20231018_154055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTomU2GqwS9uSFu66rUU7uwGbtzcRjvtzbQd2MmC3dpf0uzALiMAc6t6jE7h43SFNhasFuXIo8etuH7A_y5bKAcET2bVHwUtJ1imZQMx6V9g2o-VpMrjYuQmPii36ZHujsu0pnQ6l-ZPRdk8Mn1rxbh9e2gBQQKFjBzCA1hy2nBs0SK6k3qbZotA/w640-h360/20231018_154055.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />Come to think on it, I've never been in a pumpkin field before. I recall back in California one year, several Indian Museum docents and I walked - and got lost - in a Halloween corn maze. That was fun, and no pumpkins were josled or poked. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiELynG2fbiCgZBetIYWOTW1rQMbZVePrL62gwNlEdJJMpJpU7I-yYBbMJi6yroY9MBVTJ6o7KfNa46JXX2lg93GV64LxHV7QprZRAVLBTjBnsiZYIGUzPsSlaQ4PBJzzNzqfjj-mLmEdees4oi14IhRxewSpcE2AoRiwPWnxP4HzdP7XcaML6A/s4000/20231018_155234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiELynG2fbiCgZBetIYWOTW1rQMbZVePrL62gwNlEdJJMpJpU7I-yYBbMJi6yroY9MBVTJ6o7KfNa46JXX2lg93GV64LxHV7QprZRAVLBTjBnsiZYIGUzPsSlaQ4PBJzzNzqfjj-mLmEdees4oi14IhRxewSpcE2AoRiwPWnxP4HzdP7XcaML6A/s4000/20231018_155234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYDk2qMptbLftmqmWu5XA-Z72ofNQ1BK1N4E2EjEWzsfu4JWZ53K-aIzPUasmOeA9KU2GY5xYIEQ2AUCwVNFuu5-IP9zEk6QOhN14o5cyBsyv3RsjH7Lu8wG1dtJb77drCn4KAXr6DsBeXNyRizLCwpAlccRrO2KZQrGOFaZ-DxgstTkyWm1ggA/s4000/20231018_154223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYDk2qMptbLftmqmWu5XA-Z72ofNQ1BK1N4E2EjEWzsfu4JWZ53K-aIzPUasmOeA9KU2GY5xYIEQ2AUCwVNFuu5-IP9zEk6QOhN14o5cyBsyv3RsjH7Lu8wG1dtJb77drCn4KAXr6DsBeXNyRizLCwpAlccRrO2KZQrGOFaZ-DxgstTkyWm1ggA/w640-h360/20231018_154223.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The ginormous field today was full up with pumpkins great and pumpkins small. It wa also full up of people - the big and the small - all picking out pumpkins of their choosing. <br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtLHkICNxdYhBu6WKWvSE7EJ66rVjyKeEScRn1NYkKQI5W07ETs8bx4rkykPmLOlzvpIiyMdfE3R-Of3M2szjgy6d-fnVNFj89-CBS0DOE6g10DQ7Pko1mpnHbxbIL4zSNKlN_ePhoGiMO-a61aVd1M_ro-Is9wwbkrx7LNG5WrwI6-wsCOu0TA/s4000/20231018_154214.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtLHkICNxdYhBu6WKWvSE7EJ66rVjyKeEScRn1NYkKQI5W07ETs8bx4rkykPmLOlzvpIiyMdfE3R-Of3M2szjgy6d-fnVNFj89-CBS0DOE6g10DQ7Pko1mpnHbxbIL4zSNKlN_ePhoGiMO-a61aVd1M_ro-Is9wwbkrx7LNG5WrwI6-wsCOu0TA/w640-h360/20231018_154214.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The largest of the pumpkins were rather tall. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8TtRJK4Q5w-CoLjjkM4_Bbj1Sj7RzS45H_Am8RnNbFpkDuq0Tysk_oM2-x2iF9TBhIR8ruYc_uVqc66N5Umrq-gkyVzGDRVvrVNYYlcXxiNORZpKXUtdIKRfF9pzfho1e5qws6_eO5znoVnWPZOtxCLgtBVRJ8FMKG7c-1YVw5ntO0yzFAD8zQ/s4000/20231018_154410.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8TtRJK4Q5w-CoLjjkM4_Bbj1Sj7RzS45H_Am8RnNbFpkDuq0Tysk_oM2-x2iF9TBhIR8ruYc_uVqc66N5Umrq-gkyVzGDRVvrVNYYlcXxiNORZpKXUtdIKRfF9pzfho1e5qws6_eO5znoVnWPZOtxCLgtBVRJ8FMKG7c-1YVw5ntO0yzFAD8zQ/w640-h362/20231018_154410.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a baby pumpkin, all green and not ready for picking.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiELynG2fbiCgZBetIYWOTW1rQMbZVePrL62gwNlEdJJMpJpU7I-yYBbMJi6yroY9MBVTJ6o7KfNa46JXX2lg93GV64LxHV7QprZRAVLBTjBnsiZYIGUzPsSlaQ4PBJzzNzqfjj-mLmEdees4oi14IhRxewSpcE2AoRiwPWnxP4HzdP7XcaML6A/w640-h362/20231018_155234.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice assortment of different pumpkin varieties<br /> on a picnic bench under an old apple tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div></div>The pumpkin patch is just a few hundred feet from the merchantiles. We had to go there to pay for our pumpkins. But just before we did that, we visited the little two little piggies. They were in a large wired pen, surrounded by pumpkin shells, apples and hay. I think by mid December they are going to be the piggies might reach the size of semi-trucks. <br /><br /><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/AVvXsEiVrXIR3z6ZchBaiE7ILOSWYu4Cn61ozCcCJJmWp7L9sVg_-W9k_tumh-qMM5f4TH94PMcHvS4jQL_FqjTMslyQJUFTSA4UBaTnNFzioy9Ah8xEqb0y2Nw4zT0mKID1QTQcdkI63Ni-fF1qb19ox9a_LfyrTDHIFu5GTc5-oMOgFqiPe-XE1xnaUw/s4000/20231018_154954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrXIR3z6ZchBaiE7ILOSWYu4Cn61ozCcCJJmWp7L9sVg_-W9k_tumh-qMM5f4TH94PMcHvS4jQL_FqjTMslyQJUFTSA4UBaTnNFzioy9Ah8xEqb0y2Nw4zT0mKID1QTQcdkI63Ni-fF1qb19ox9a_LfyrTDHIFu5GTc5-oMOgFqiPe-XE1xnaUw/w640-h362/20231018_154954.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Speaking of little piggies, When I brought home my pumpkins, they went right under the Flown Piggies Farm Sign, where I think they look pretty darn good.<br /><br /></div></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnq5wQ47Wz9zwuFIQlQLGjvVm7NzaI3UpocOxII9KxE9dGDroHUNww9Vk0APHfC0qRdrOFVKHqfgtbnVhG0kk3pUI4sOaDYQIoSbSDIXwKLp7pkIFJp5eD3dtDMN0_M3k9EMLdkekyza7WDh6_nKJ1rbKNrJGNfsWvBJbPxgsbHSpkS7f4yTEWg/s2558/Flown%20Piggies%20Sign%20with%20Pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="2558" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnq5wQ47Wz9zwuFIQlQLGjvVm7NzaI3UpocOxII9KxE9dGDroHUNww9Vk0APHfC0qRdrOFVKHqfgtbnVhG0kk3pUI4sOaDYQIoSbSDIXwKLp7pkIFJp5eD3dtDMN0_M3k9EMLdkekyza7WDh6_nKJ1rbKNrJGNfsWvBJbPxgsbHSpkS7f4yTEWg/w640-h564/Flown%20Piggies%20Sign%20with%20Pumpkins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-89985743757065839042023-07-29T21:09:00.109-07:002024-02-14T11:53:46.922-08:00Hula Returns to Sequim<p style="text-align: center;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzapCnjLpupv97B0WxioijkgZvgtleWte9XngqTgeW1LuLXgiK5dcVRdiqbKGnje49cR5zjJzMl-YMt4BQfM-PejwLSwD-aBXG45WhFg0fCgQR-NxLL4V5SmjYWgyMNSdQnC8umitzwE8KcKWVcGL0QSYIznAunKDwOoZDrl869dWIJ8xJ4cF_xw/s4000/20230729_140506.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzapCnjLpupv97B0WxioijkgZvgtleWte9XngqTgeW1LuLXgiK5dcVRdiqbKGnje49cR5zjJzMl-YMt4BQfM-PejwLSwD-aBXG45WhFg0fCgQR-NxLL4V5SmjYWgyMNSdQnC8umitzwE8KcKWVcGL0QSYIznAunKDwOoZDrl869dWIJ8xJ4cF_xw/w640-h362/20230729_140506.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Honored Elder & Dance Teacher, Mokihana Melendez on the right</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">OMG! So excited that like last year, a Hawaiian group graced Sequim with its presence. I get positively giddy with excitement hearing live Hawaiian music, and so close to home. I wonder if it's fair to say I'm homesick for Hawaii though I've never lived there, lol!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcU4oGOZUWxDFpJwyzCI4KvPuSnmTY4bPoXP3PX2xlSWfBNvIc71iu7PrhtO6IQRSHwjAqpAHx9bJW78QxoxAlZ0M7AVo1m0rop8kOF-ap2aU_7rorR2F-0lKzp4HRBLMUofwmr8jWR3V5cPs368dm6HAIF0q6yV1lb0jXmWveOBQN84ZRkFZHQ/s4000/20230729_140901.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcU4oGOZUWxDFpJwyzCI4KvPuSnmTY4bPoXP3PX2xlSWfBNvIc71iu7PrhtO6IQRSHwjAqpAHx9bJW78QxoxAlZ0M7AVo1m0rop8kOF-ap2aU_7rorR2F-0lKzp4HRBLMUofwmr8jWR3V5cPs368dm6HAIF0q6yV1lb0jXmWveOBQN84ZRkFZHQ/w640-h362/20230729_140901.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Honored Elder & Dance Teacher, Mokihana Melendez on the right</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">My head is spinning with all the interesting things we were told. Hula elder, Mokihana Melendez who hales from the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Her dance career began at the age of two. Her training in Hawaiian chanting began at the age of five. Now she is an honored elder, who teaches Hula. I wish she had a dance studio here in Sequim.<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANrUoD8B7Wp_q3mZigFJFiTzXznARjPDNmOx7LgKka-yBOPHjS_xQbOjEl0snLIgFu24yHDwAs2f1AozorUnBsF0IFBGWEik0h_D0r1SAmPSl9YJE0fHo012MOUVals7t9FCwSzj3v6nw8HsMJFA3MbM3VuC3VF0bzf_nrGSdXfXMS2ad8_l7XQ/s1453/Mele%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1453" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANrUoD8B7Wp_q3mZigFJFiTzXznARjPDNmOx7LgKka-yBOPHjS_xQbOjEl0snLIgFu24yHDwAs2f1AozorUnBsF0IFBGWEik0h_D0r1SAmPSl9YJE0fHo012MOUVals7t9FCwSzj3v6nw8HsMJFA3MbM3VuC3VF0bzf_nrGSdXfXMS2ad8_l7XQ/w640-h317/Mele%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On to lively, non-traditional Hula</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>'I was today years old' when I found out that although the many Hawaiian islands share similar dances, songs, etc., e</span>ach Hawaiian island has its own 'flavor' of culture and traditions. So today we heard one of the company give us an island chant, the meaning of which was explained to us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><br /></span></div></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/AVvXsEj_283D5sN60HLzt0mqAdxGVETsFo4O2TUB6SR65149OB8vEXjQyEpVaVX-8t8OCs999e9PaoJhnudmr8uMoaNwYi8D4k12FdUFbEIbELbtl4Tzpw_qgieMwBJrIHUt1HEo4ehgSW3-c6V3q_iHum4-fGCSaxo6HJsmHFHQpJBt3MHVTUiqL5rR9Q/s1200/Mele%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1200" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_283D5sN60HLzt0mqAdxGVETsFo4O2TUB6SR65149OB8vEXjQyEpVaVX-8t8OCs999e9PaoJhnudmr8uMoaNwYi8D4k12FdUFbEIbELbtl4Tzpw_qgieMwBJrIHUt1HEo4ehgSW3-c6V3q_iHum4-fGCSaxo6HJsmHFHQpJBt3MHVTUiqL5rR9Q/w640-h460/Mele%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The young women performed one dance which the keiki - children - were taught refers to blushing cheeks. That is a double meaning because the alternate meaning of the song title, refers to red cheeks, of the sort that can be sat upon! The keiki may have been curious as to why their elders thought it was funny hear them perform the song, but the keiki would not ask why the laughter. That is because the keiki were taught to do as they were told and not ask questions. Hum... sounds when I was a kid, I must have been a keiki too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVv76OKVwLOIKV-267bchz23GenFTSgcui4Ao0GJuyzvV6pd8Kshfkf0Y5piW9cHMPE06y1nxVMSSs9AjIc5FYdnv64jIDDeaofO254edaU2hfPTPWu5LwnHF5CyQw9u36j5QQrCTssVqF7JHQu62klKKhivhBiXNtW2i3sp94C43HN6u7MYVrw/s4000/20230729_145700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVv76OKVwLOIKV-267bchz23GenFTSgcui4Ao0GJuyzvV6pd8Kshfkf0Y5piW9cHMPE06y1nxVMSSs9AjIc5FYdnv64jIDDeaofO254edaU2hfPTPWu5LwnHF5CyQw9u36j5QQrCTssVqF7JHQu62klKKhivhBiXNtW2i3sp94C43HN6u7MYVrw/w640-h362/20230729_145700.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Just as last year, this year the show ended with anyone who wished to, could get up and have a Hula lesson. <i>I LOVE dancing Hula.</i> This was my 3rd ever chance to dance non-traditional Hula and I am chagrinned to say, unlike my previous lessons, this year I absolutely could not keep up with the dance! That rather surprised me, but oh well, there's always next year!<br /><p></p><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e-vEuu1nm2o" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></center>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-53118518006847247922023-05-19T22:33:00.050-07:002023-08-04T12:58:46.946-07:00Touched by an Omen<p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzpZkoJ4ppgzTx8i8YVZ5HXX3_0OV6OqgVHkyHr-Re6sQKN6fR13i9wkCHWKN2EeY0b5MSXF33bHuaaJmGrKhA-Ll4KSbwQ7qKdvLchSE7S_yZsjVutQ4LJ4j_pCCn39Q6ooCkLzKTO8KzhfdUA-vFWUMFqJ5sKsPZfeZNTs7PMKEeUdhWAiGqQ/s947/3%20Crabs%20Baldies%201.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="947" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzpZkoJ4ppgzTx8i8YVZ5HXX3_0OV6OqgVHkyHr-Re6sQKN6fR13i9wkCHWKN2EeY0b5MSXF33bHuaaJmGrKhA-Ll4KSbwQ7qKdvLchSE7S_yZsjVutQ4LJ4j_pCCn39Q6ooCkLzKTO8KzhfdUA-vFWUMFqJ5sKsPZfeZNTs7PMKEeUdhWAiGqQ/w640-h436/3%20Crabs%20Baldies%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bald Eagles overhead</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I posted once before, I'm getting into a new hobby - book binding. Thus far I've only binded blank books with intent to figure out something interesting to go into the books later on. Recently I came across 2 of my old field notebooks and illustrations from the summer of July, 2000. That was when I took part in a fantastic <a href="https://www.passportintime.com/" target="_blank">Passports in Time</a> (PIT) project, called 'Follow the Smoke. I decided my notes from that delightful and fulfilling adventure deserved to be combined and bound into a small book.</div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTVGfN6KiPb7lupvZ1zWvwqYwiOqV-Gjmu04829wfr8dpX44qGR8gt_TQc2FXEC6QPEBb0HQVtVvy3ztqGzCgp6-NjqbAgmmq_i_6hbwKtJ03UI8OXX4DwD4OESINEBwPl36N-DxcoWi9X9zFW8nmpw3W3kaSbhY3MjdWmVYBg3sbAQyh7Po/s1327/20230327_101214.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1327" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTVGfN6KiPb7lupvZ1zWvwqYwiOqV-Gjmu04829wfr8dpX44qGR8gt_TQc2FXEC6QPEBb0HQVtVvy3ztqGzCgp6-NjqbAgmmq_i_6hbwKtJ03UI8OXX4DwD4OESINEBwPl36N-DxcoWi9X9zFW8nmpw3W3kaSbhY3MjdWmVYBg3sbAQyh7Po/w640-h408/20230327_101214.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pages from my 'soon-to-be-properly-bound' Book</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzluY9VjHBKiXP5ZUCzlxiQo0VVfuNUeQUSkxnEd8wozOzEE-bMzHj-dKbKuxxz4UY9eiaT9OcxJm5TKhjBGOif8BykWexSKwcRa1gmbcxkOEBfRNjhVVJMYhzvTKg93HuTXTBOuOiWYiE8cGBAlQIcrOlcvvR8zbcEqwjXyDjYBepg6s1c4E/s777/20230327_102540.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzluY9VjHBKiXP5ZUCzlxiQo0VVfuNUeQUSkxnEd8wozOzEE-bMzHj-dKbKuxxz4UY9eiaT9OcxJm5TKhjBGOif8BykWexSKwcRa1gmbcxkOEBfRNjhVVJMYhzvTKg93HuTXTBOuOiWYiE8cGBAlQIcrOlcvvR8zbcEqwjXyDjYBepg6s1c4E/w273-h400/20230327_102540.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First page from my 'PIT' diary</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I gathered up all of my notes from the project out of notebooks and organized them. Then by chance I found a good method for binding them, via YouTube, i.e., America's classroom. </p><p><br />I decided I needed an introduction to what the book chronicled. After writing up my intro in pencil on one page, I went outside on my 2nd floor patio to spray the page with the stinky fixative (which prevents the pencil graphite from smearing). </p><p>I paused, looking up, and saw a pair of magnificent Bald Eagles. As they passed over my head, I called out, asking them to take blessings to my Mother, and to all of my recently deceased Aunts, Uncles and cousin. I'm sure the eagles will grant me that favor. I thought the sudden presence of the eagles, was a good omen for my new binding project. Omens don't get any better than soaring Bald Eagles.</p><p><br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gPOkJjh3zTqb8zjAT7q1Ipl82ooqyxjrTw2WdkcXD_P4SO3DUHKi890v3fh2R5tYB8PiOdQqQrvYxwyhU-_WXg4CV_6Xp7rdDZ6XYxqRJgqMzqAmcKMXRmxbpyEums8cvrq2eMGSwNsmHnSEa_NUXBPMTjHdl6OtU4LjvLNvo5U9TZyM9l4fGg/s832/P1050004B.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="832" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gPOkJjh3zTqb8zjAT7q1Ipl82ooqyxjrTw2WdkcXD_P4SO3DUHKi890v3fh2R5tYB8PiOdQqQrvYxwyhU-_WXg4CV_6Xp7rdDZ6XYxqRJgqMzqAmcKMXRmxbpyEums8cvrq2eMGSwNsmHnSEa_NUXBPMTjHdl6OtU4LjvLNvo5U9TZyM9l4fGg/w640-h424/P1050004B.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little Baldie aerial ballet</td></tr></tbody></table>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-81895327911221933582023-04-12T18:23:00.098-07:002023-08-16T18:06:20.019-07:00Sailing the Salish Sea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15Dg7AJ9kdrP0dBD0R8cxehmYujQRWphdcUxZnIcVX5kSajYchUzCdQXTlau8L9D5W-72r3No4rq4-0mFNTB2dxIInFFLBTopOMMRAPDDyXYQJJRoiYoU9rJ6vADwur_cVvrlLH5-XzR67t0awEBv66n04aKehZJ0GOevOivzvhntj4jsjSPDvg/s680/The%20Isles.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="680" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15Dg7AJ9kdrP0dBD0R8cxehmYujQRWphdcUxZnIcVX5kSajYchUzCdQXTlau8L9D5W-72r3No4rq4-0mFNTB2dxIInFFLBTopOMMRAPDDyXYQJJRoiYoU9rJ6vADwur_cVvrlLH5-XzR67t0awEBv66n04aKehZJ0GOevOivzvhntj4jsjSPDvg/w640-h496/The%20Isles.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In 2019, when I was living in Port Angeles, I signed up for an Audubon sponsored 3 day sail trip, north into the island strewn waters. I signed on & paid up immediately. Then, guess what - COVID! Long story short, the trip was put on hold... <i>for 3 years</i>! This year the wildlife tour finally set sail. <br /></div><div><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5Qgv6yGht7KnIy7UvmJBdxhBq6TD3b5FClPYi5WooNNyP4MFqrHMlmMfDHwukozOE1--IBl0wtmOgC5Bgl36jt6aYhgGrBGONbhGmdIl9w3BKXv4ozUUTfhi5EVqv2E4dJ51Yw8QZ-ZWiVTPEPCA8V3aTrKZM8uYno3EPyGplL-1WWEyD4fe2A/s4896/P1040647.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5Qgv6yGht7KnIy7UvmJBdxhBq6TD3b5FClPYi5WooNNyP4MFqrHMlmMfDHwukozOE1--IBl0wtmOgC5Bgl36jt6aYhgGrBGONbhGmdIl9w3BKXv4ozUUTfhi5EVqv2E4dJ51Yw8QZ-ZWiVTPEPCA8V3aTrKZM8uYno3EPyGplL-1WWEyD4fe2A/w400-h225/P1040647.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girlie Belted Kingfisher on Rigging at Sequim Port</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeGYaf2CrVrHBesp0IfevRAFjFirftcaevnvQSPNYBohpJqFj7BLi0iNsiikYRZn-uUY1AGKZQcRvIOXgDvupt-XJ5emc7rekvHDnDTcY8l7FISFvmXnyjLiXio0IAqB6ygr4tZPnqv5UPs3sEGJ7sS4xf9cf9RZs7VhIYLZQoPC2ZipS1P8INQ/s4896/P1040841.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeGYaf2CrVrHBesp0IfevRAFjFirftcaevnvQSPNYBohpJqFj7BLi0iNsiikYRZn-uUY1AGKZQcRvIOXgDvupt-XJ5emc7rekvHDnDTcY8l7FISFvmXnyjLiXio0IAqB6ygr4tZPnqv5UPs3sEGJ7sS4xf9cf9RZs7VhIYLZQoPC2ZipS1P8INQ/w640-h360/P1040841.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the left, the Glacier Spirit</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>The 'voyage' was 3 days, 2 nights sailing around the San Juan Islands, in search of birds and marine mammals. I was a tad disappointed because back in 2020, the trip promised the 2 nights were to be at a Canadian Bed & Breakfast. This year we'd be staying in Washington state on San Juan Island. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Glacier Spirit was docked in the John Wayne Marina, only about 20 minutes from my house. In California I always had to drive some 3 or more hours to get to whatever boat I booked, often spending the night prior to the trip in a local hotel so I wouldn't have to leave Fair Oaks at 3AM to get to my ride on time. So that's points for convenience.</div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M6taAFhGXiA1j94h3F6r-8Q165p0M6X7oCHLrAeAWKWWh-o1QAWOkQdFLx-O_mckP55DRgQIAt58ctSNxi0JFn9AJxctr-1K5PzxpZHmP_zSLiTf6nG0apHrQQibdjM2cpbETjz3yLc-6GzrJKQqGXeJtwgT_iX52fXtfqZpb2FkbH-hFbphiQ/s4000/20230412_110510.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M6taAFhGXiA1j94h3F6r-8Q165p0M6X7oCHLrAeAWKWWh-o1QAWOkQdFLx-O_mckP55DRgQIAt58ctSNxi0JFn9AJxctr-1K5PzxpZHmP_zSLiTf6nG0apHrQQibdjM2cpbETjz3yLc-6GzrJKQqGXeJtwgT_iX52fXtfqZpb2FkbH-hFbphiQ/w640-h360/20230412_110510.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inner cabin where most of my time was spent<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I have to say, I was rather disappointed but that was on me, not the trip itself. I have been used to Jaunts on the Pacific Ocean, where you can find Albatross, Petrels, Shearwaters, exotic gulls, and don't get me started on the whales and other marine mammals! This however is the Salish Sea, inland from the Pacific Ocean and therefore I wasn't about to see any of the above mentioned pelagic birds. Duh, right?<br /><br />I think the best time for birding the Salish Sea is in winter when certainly the great flocks of waterfowl and other species (I'm looking at you Ancient Murrelets!) are at hand. So there were birds, but they could just as easily be seen from shore. So I relaxed, and just enjoyed what birds were available for staring at. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtKoSrlDVYt8aLOyK10M417dQZ1qLws0xRSkNsOVmZye-gja3MwfEf8ERbkEtUcf8yZH99tdVuOioZoqjL9wxWIF445CuFwgpEPpfwOZClBPUsKuBxCtUXEvIB2e6o-Fzh5hlOXF_gajrKXy209ZHstc8Mc2FYo4sETmtdMDLmw_I00qQfb7Ckg/s1296/P1050017B.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1296" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtKoSrlDVYt8aLOyK10M417dQZ1qLws0xRSkNsOVmZye-gja3MwfEf8ERbkEtUcf8yZH99tdVuOioZoqjL9wxWIF445CuFwgpEPpfwOZClBPUsKuBxCtUXEvIB2e6o-Fzh5hlOXF_gajrKXy209ZHstc8Mc2FYo4sETmtdMDLmw_I00qQfb7Ckg/w640-h429/P1050017B.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Grebes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC15Pbg0UFGyQm0HoMoM4VNDhGoAy94Mby6gbSD94MLkG1dNEIwqf0Ymi2xBNH4VXjBPQJXPX3u2gNQ5NLE8QBH89yeRmxkISttovj3hEA98ak8fU0tpq78MnxCtW2CQCRehTkyYZwwqn7W4tCa9tpTVyp9T33O_cWhQuMeiwm-4uL8-YrnEafrw/s1185/P1040786B.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1185" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC15Pbg0UFGyQm0HoMoM4VNDhGoAy94Mby6gbSD94MLkG1dNEIwqf0Ymi2xBNH4VXjBPQJXPX3u2gNQ5NLE8QBH89yeRmxkISttovj3hEA98ak8fU0tpq78MnxCtW2CQCRehTkyYZwwqn7W4tCa9tpTVyp9T33O_cWhQuMeiwm-4uL8-YrnEafrw/w400-h246/P1040786B.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short-billed Gulls</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA3X-6QuIVWtpJANKOPvtmLZzxX77lps2myfR0ONyDGqDlD0v2EmHAkDLP480lYUrcMjgV-43aaxKVaM36KHOZe94RcwF4F8lXsCsj1XpC_cFVF5d399EYtKVrLjS0-4Adphv8pfaGYE1FrgdGcOISxt2SzS4cx76CRPPzTC0O3M0gv_rOtT7MA/s4896/P1050091.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA3X-6QuIVWtpJANKOPvtmLZzxX77lps2myfR0ONyDGqDlD0v2EmHAkDLP480lYUrcMjgV-43aaxKVaM36KHOZe94RcwF4F8lXsCsj1XpC_cFVF5d399EYtKVrLjS0-4Adphv8pfaGYE1FrgdGcOISxt2SzS4cx76CRPPzTC0O3M0gv_rOtT7MA/w400-h225/P1050091.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lonely Pelagic Cormorant</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzPJ2MryMF2RjHPvKLGCgTJKIbRlPXNtH7QZ8vAckBkX88KDwEfJ3p1Mpoa0hT5zT00IJFnvS1Wc7UgMSrotib_P1zMDdioFRQDDC32xT3Hh0eMogcQK9TVFLgc7G8Frfkh-2w9xRTuXI_mLrWdu6TS4e0lkrUo2p1GNKiXvfIL4e6zHYYMUy_w/s834/P1050105B.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="801" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzPJ2MryMF2RjHPvKLGCgTJKIbRlPXNtH7QZ8vAckBkX88KDwEfJ3p1Mpoa0hT5zT00IJFnvS1Wc7UgMSrotib_P1zMDdioFRQDDC32xT3Hh0eMogcQK9TVFLgc7G8Frfkh-2w9xRTuXI_mLrWdu6TS4e0lkrUo2p1GNKiXvfIL4e6zHYYMUy_w/w614-h640/P1050105B.JPG" width="614" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonapart's Gulls in rear, Short-billed Gull down front</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl5g6IKJ_0N7og44B4UAcKi853obmfszz11bEh1V8Rts9_3wmE8JNENXJvxrf4Yvf5Jm-Gx4E3M689w0JMTfB1HEGHa48HYVmuInTsgJkdaNtJzyfUTCT0hZ9ThlFU9VWcRA-PYtaBWQ__UASXj9xQewbDrHl8vPDBi_j5EeL2Mf4TtHGjsJQwQ/s1213/P1050136B.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1213" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl5g6IKJ_0N7og44B4UAcKi853obmfszz11bEh1V8Rts9_3wmE8JNENXJvxrf4Yvf5Jm-Gx4E3M689w0JMTfB1HEGHa48HYVmuInTsgJkdaNtJzyfUTCT0hZ9ThlFU9VWcRA-PYtaBWQ__UASXj9xQewbDrHl8vPDBi_j5EeL2Mf4TtHGjsJQwQ/w640-h462/P1050136B.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surfbirds, so hard to photograph from a pitching boat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrzaifbL303lF-Xgk7cFVfwm6biU-rO4JqcoO8rpm2O8s9ArvC3x8yzY8Y_iLe8lRBIpTBy8hQZ486sIDbMGozRtI0Mv15WG7_XND7DZ6z0exvLtLgG3pcm-CSouussal9VNq9_UQUAVWX-WfJJlSTyHDYAgjeFz4urrxFNbkao6OaPYJng90ng/s1147/P1050152B.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1147" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrzaifbL303lF-Xgk7cFVfwm6biU-rO4JqcoO8rpm2O8s9ArvC3x8yzY8Y_iLe8lRBIpTBy8hQZ486sIDbMGozRtI0Mv15WG7_XND7DZ6z0exvLtLgG3pcm-CSouussal9VNq9_UQUAVWX-WfJJlSTyHDYAgjeFz4urrxFNbkao6OaPYJng90ng/w640-h422/P1050152B.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were about 16 Surfbirds on shell covered rocks, which was <br />a thrill as I've seldom managed to see more than one at a time, per decade</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We were also on the lookout for marine mammals, and there were several species to see.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuLrqDuOA13gHxCsOaKnALM4GCplA-RvKK8OwG1sA_ZiL5Rl9eZHJ26yi_PWinoT8EoOF33S_ZxipCBOJYadYeVKJaga20lsSAX2GH8Yj8vyaCIXfNC3s5eJzORrfCOuCDulfe82JPZBVOkKXesbVywPVbXtqOpgoyCgUXIvGd_W6Z82ap0neJA/s4896/P1040664.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KpDJUK6O_TvDn1FdJFiz6eG_mwc_kL0bC8bwFoH7n0uf2QtN9uol592drlhJ7JctFt8H-puN7vygIvJAsgLj4qTtmKbUl6T4yOn3t00g-ynYYBmV7OTcAnw7_QtSmS6jo16Y8fZEl_GPqrvq3Tt_C9QwjLdAIt2P5nBwGVD2j_6BbmCQdN2jXA/s4896/P1040663.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KpDJUK6O_TvDn1FdJFiz6eG_mwc_kL0bC8bwFoH7n0uf2QtN9uol592drlhJ7JctFt8H-puN7vygIvJAsgLj4qTtmKbUl6T4yOn3t00g-ynYYBmV7OTcAnw7_QtSmS6jo16Y8fZEl_GPqrvq3Tt_C9QwjLdAIt2P5nBwGVD2j_6BbmCQdN2jXA/w640-h360/P1040663.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snoozing mob of Stellar's Sea Lions</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuLrqDuOA13gHxCsOaKnALM4GCplA-RvKK8OwG1sA_ZiL5Rl9eZHJ26yi_PWinoT8EoOF33S_ZxipCBOJYadYeVKJaga20lsSAX2GH8Yj8vyaCIXfNC3s5eJzORrfCOuCDulfe82JPZBVOkKXesbVywPVbXtqOpgoyCgUXIvGd_W6Z82ap0neJA/s4896/P1040664.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMXkQ9gBBi1-WtWCOsrkyXCu-cYRH9rmLGRrUqN5dpEcQGn2WNGUKpzSaqFMfrg10VBXSOcjDFO3nXZGPqsF0v7sd-TFbV2axVCcThZtpi0JKx5IWgmBCL72XPSaCxJ5MBWVGtc7O6Jjf-TLfhkoqT_mpjfGWTOli9VadZwj3FHY6T3E27roSTg/s4896/P1040673.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMXkQ9gBBi1-WtWCOsrkyXCu-cYRH9rmLGRrUqN5dpEcQGn2WNGUKpzSaqFMfrg10VBXSOcjDFO3nXZGPqsF0v7sd-TFbV2axVCcThZtpi0JKx5IWgmBCL72XPSaCxJ5MBWVGtc7O6Jjf-TLfhkoqT_mpjfGWTOli9VadZwj3FHY6T3E27roSTg/w640-h360/P1040673.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuLrqDuOA13gHxCsOaKnALM4GCplA-RvKK8OwG1sA_ZiL5Rl9eZHJ26yi_PWinoT8EoOF33S_ZxipCBOJYadYeVKJaga20lsSAX2GH8Yj8vyaCIXfNC3s5eJzORrfCOuCDulfe82JPZBVOkKXesbVywPVbXtqOpgoyCgUXIvGd_W6Z82ap0neJA/s4896/P1040664.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtIwPb2_6hUzpmqnGZT_FERq04YS0XmwggWXTVLwh-eB6sBjIvJfyRQgQT7nlKG5j61JnjV93u1nCoE-Tuql6X6KNjoSph0C5SfZvxCg-9Ei5mCUprAd_d3AoPnFu20C7WPaI-7qLw62NO-1YcO8duZiKr4dnhxp2Iyx_qP_jsnj80WpPKe52tQ/s4896/P1040674.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtIwPb2_6hUzpmqnGZT_FERq04YS0XmwggWXTVLwh-eB6sBjIvJfyRQgQT7nlKG5j61JnjV93u1nCoE-Tuql6X6KNjoSph0C5SfZvxCg-9Ei5mCUprAd_d3AoPnFu20C7WPaI-7qLw62NO-1YcO8duZiKr4dnhxp2Iyx_qP_jsnj80WpPKe52tQ/w640-h362/P1040674.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyn0y346QT4gtxrBLfTu_f_XxeHIK7QdlFADAOVVTSbOZ_SoXFeuQbmDNFTMV3lFbXFYLyog9pDHONf3HRB8cZqmZvxX0-LAqz7X4t6puPKkNGiM5hJ0r2QG5fRJ3LBnjpC5fPy8zJx-pmChaM1XDK-87ROZTuHy5LJxoOU3Oc4QO1mcDPQEf4w/s4896/P1040679.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyn0y346QT4gtxrBLfTu_f_XxeHIK7QdlFADAOVVTSbOZ_SoXFeuQbmDNFTMV3lFbXFYLyog9pDHONf3HRB8cZqmZvxX0-LAqz7X4t6puPKkNGiM5hJ0r2QG5fRJ3LBnjpC5fPy8zJx-pmChaM1XDK-87ROZTuHy5LJxoOU3Oc4QO1mcDPQEf4w/w640-h360/P1040679.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping Sea Lion with its body guard - a Black Oystercatcher on the right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwyaOH0mVTHmXkckc7KMXvBCUvhZr-rF-WnESxnVZZNW5AbOEJxdREn2BUmxB6bJW1YxH-_Urtt_G3jPFBnG2qFCrGATfax1_QTi53nsfzfBi0y64FbLYbGowKriKKN1e9NPojKYdRPiMwUYVRmK6HPwlY4kfvLKMJ1YUAl-VPO6eCT6KF4TKnw/s4896/P1050159.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwyaOH0mVTHmXkckc7KMXvBCUvhZr-rF-WnESxnVZZNW5AbOEJxdREn2BUmxB6bJW1YxH-_Urtt_G3jPFBnG2qFCrGATfax1_QTi53nsfzfBi0y64FbLYbGowKriKKN1e9NPojKYdRPiMwUYVRmK6HPwlY4kfvLKMJ1YUAl-VPO6eCT6KF4TKnw/w640-h360/P1050159.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saw dozens and dozens of these 'sea puppies', i.e., Harbor Seals</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>On the first day we got one short look at a Harbor Porpoise, and I was astounded to manage this one photo that's not ready for prime time. There were more marine mammals to come on the final day the voyage.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHfbg5bBoBzzWpx5WU_y-OPTQlBMLeflWadeCZcx1-cWnWmRCZJMoBWmcoKLTk2tjsWf1flIItOILLb4XipuKBlkRGo6iHl9KMM9yk4sHHSbz17pLg1mbt7WKNyvEujoAZgIVkEmwyGQRT2reLCMUsEXECbyva0riCFREdJYXUgWLZPT0PEak5A/s842/P1050084B.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="842" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHfbg5bBoBzzWpx5WU_y-OPTQlBMLeflWadeCZcx1-cWnWmRCZJMoBWmcoKLTk2tjsWf1flIItOILLb4XipuKBlkRGo6iHl9KMM9yk4sHHSbz17pLg1mbt7WKNyvEujoAZgIVkEmwyGQRT2reLCMUsEXECbyva0riCFREdJYXUgWLZPT0PEak5A/w640-h400/P1050084B.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headed away, 'natch<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7oE9CbdlB2S1s53HK1RteuWIw8j_9p9AAuuWHevNwkiL8-xbHGYeJYvNCKZ_z4Xe65Ba1O_QJP0BofFPex6Taz68bY_4fmuA-SCDSbp-LW1W-mBGtDxH4fle_4jWgBqFEmNKxgIgexSc2bT6kFnRdcLwCR5ZzjiNrSlYg9ia5Q0sdtl5xzzEVw/s4896/P1050337.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7oE9CbdlB2S1s53HK1RteuWIw8j_9p9AAuuWHevNwkiL8-xbHGYeJYvNCKZ_z4Xe65Ba1O_QJP0BofFPex6Taz68bY_4fmuA-SCDSbp-LW1W-mBGtDxH4fle_4jWgBqFEmNKxgIgexSc2bT6kFnRdcLwCR5ZzjiNrSlYg9ia5Q0sdtl5xzzEVw/w640-h360/P1050337.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orcas!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the final day of the trip, the captain located a small pod of Orcas. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The captain is quite familiar with the San Juan Island Orcas and their kin. He said what we were viewing was a pair of female Orca, accompanied by their large, yearling calves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-OLn50Jj3apFvsLWLK44f-vvWFwDAAEjeNmLl9JjalBD54eOSP7fgUhnPWYaCZCd2G83TDR9jcftoX-zA5tpAm6Pd0HA-2YHO7mCva1n794Wp7HjUelEkp9S5_TspILgO22zu8GJCDBx_h3wFjoeVQ5xrprO7sDuOazxWs3VMN7fPFOIyKaPSw/s4896/P1050334.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-OLn50Jj3apFvsLWLK44f-vvWFwDAAEjeNmLl9JjalBD54eOSP7fgUhnPWYaCZCd2G83TDR9jcftoX-zA5tpAm6Pd0HA-2YHO7mCva1n794Wp7HjUelEkp9S5_TspILgO22zu8GJCDBx_h3wFjoeVQ5xrprO7sDuOazxWs3VMN7fPFOIyKaPSw/w640-h360/P1050334.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's always a great day when I can watch whales</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK55jx3_NIzDSvx6TaAsPAY9HxCEZ6Gsyn6UsQMjVJKtL_OYl_xqGNO2YdyANNu-JEn1LyesCOiiJJ8QSeoP0gT4erQLnU0AIW9YmiW80lMmIZblFCClOSlFsUML4vNqG3TQDvUF_hnKRZLcB0Dzzw-eL417E2iaef4YkyaIN63c-Gka_GsTPCfg/s4896/P1050335.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK55jx3_NIzDSvx6TaAsPAY9HxCEZ6Gsyn6UsQMjVJKtL_OYl_xqGNO2YdyANNu-JEn1LyesCOiiJJ8QSeoP0gT4erQLnU0AIW9YmiW80lMmIZblFCClOSlFsUML4vNqG3TQDvUF_hnKRZLcB0Dzzw-eL417E2iaef4YkyaIN63c-Gka_GsTPCfg/w640-h360/P1050335.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztZNiRFNZgBsAspmup_PDiJrhodZnfByUiveFuYqbJL7JNCzVTVqYnqQ0P67TwdScNULM27qVlUWhgQgE869Rb29RETkqU6gFXyESkPbXrkMdZaS9So3gziX5Je2GUeKD2qkcFtEa73_rR4xJukUIslljiP9SsIo20aTebmL2Orsdy5oGQC2Pxg/s4896/P1050337.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztZNiRFNZgBsAspmup_PDiJrhodZnfByUiveFuYqbJL7JNCzVTVqYnqQ0P67TwdScNULM27qVlUWhgQgE869Rb29RETkqU6gFXyESkPbXrkMdZaS9So3gziX5Je2GUeKD2qkcFtEa73_rR4xJukUIslljiP9SsIo20aTebmL2Orsdy5oGQC2Pxg/w640-h360/P1050337.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom Orca and her yearling calf</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />All of the above showcases the days at sea. Now for a little on the late day time spent on the island of San Juan, in Roche Harbor. <br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TPEh_6EbKws1kk88Rgf4ty_0zG_z8P7ueSNTcI-4Yg8z7Lb8KpKvBoOARQLe5YxIHGTUBE4EFjcC9uEEddYYe44D79y1C2vu-cP9pwzxqQ5HxnEdv2Q1d9kVqyfTxe7Z_UlvbtfnJT3mvm4q3svm_J38MFQ5Qx_hAeaUSHcV3sCGoH3jsPVwHw/s4000/20230412_091032.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TPEh_6EbKws1kk88Rgf4ty_0zG_z8P7ueSNTcI-4Yg8z7Lb8KpKvBoOARQLe5YxIHGTUBE4EFjcC9uEEddYYe44D79y1C2vu-cP9pwzxqQ5HxnEdv2Q1d9kVqyfTxe7Z_UlvbtfnJT3mvm4q3svm_J38MFQ5Qx_hAeaUSHcV3sCGoH3jsPVwHw/w640-h362/20230412_091032.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roche Harbor, seen from the docks</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Both days on the island I took advantage of the proffered golf cart ride uphill to the condo where I stayed. Contrarywise, both mornings I hoofed it from the condo down to the dock to board the boat. </div></div></div>
The day on boarded started with a home cooked breakfast, and natch, later there was lunch. Around 3PM each day we were taken to Roche Harbor, a cute town on San Juan Island. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wT6fHjU3vCiUY51Wffs0-mJBSFoeZbz5a_2Tyur2xIl3-gTVkHmQtL-0p61gUNiWvfWGowVBJsp6UYxWseUdcp_L3NQc74DrzPN_6v1Jl399951Kx9T3fA-dVwjacvPhycKpJ-X7BITm3wLsbd75QkvfvLW1K7dkUJxA4DMZ6mZFR92Vtog4cw/s4000/20230412_080246.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wT6fHjU3vCiUY51Wffs0-mJBSFoeZbz5a_2Tyur2xIl3-gTVkHmQtL-0p61gUNiWvfWGowVBJsp6UYxWseUdcp_L3NQc74DrzPN_6v1Jl399951Kx9T3fA-dVwjacvPhycKpJ-X7BITm3wLsbd75QkvfvLW1K7dkUJxA4DMZ6mZFR92Vtog4cw/w640-h362/20230412_080246.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">View of the condo I roomed in</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At the end of each morning's hike downhill, during which I birded, the hike's end wended down to the town's cobbled streets and pathways.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3tyi_yiwePn1fRFY2ldT1042rUvPUC51AWJ0Yk2kMZTAEwKbOX7BEa5W_dtNmThpuq2zw3dyJR4r0YDzk_nBlGg9akzO75n_iJXqqKsrfhR_Fld77NAUPXhsCCXfkgnK6dNzrESczvQMvwujCVdJXEP4GZvMpHNUOfsbNw4wCfrxgcKJvHZ0dw/s4000/20230412_081949_005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3tyi_yiwePn1fRFY2ldT1042rUvPUC51AWJ0Yk2kMZTAEwKbOX7BEa5W_dtNmThpuq2zw3dyJR4r0YDzk_nBlGg9akzO75n_iJXqqKsrfhR_Fld77NAUPXhsCCXfkgnK6dNzrESczvQMvwujCVdJXEP4GZvMpHNUOfsbNw4wCfrxgcKJvHZ0dw/w640-h362/20230412_081949_005.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cobbled walkway under arbor that leads down to to the piers</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zKsAoF5r2xxTFv5UW2RkgaZtCGRmDEAr0_pV6wGduXPO96TQmvcXx39SN8JRq3F5jVwslD8XUi-05LhlWVkZWmr9DhCp2TdcnH9AWUheR0LFhoD1n0zz7X_kPah2Q9bZBZNZGsnm2E37oOs70lC9yCDKTwC1-EKa6_9dM1vgw7yN6iWCXb0rQg/s4000/20230412_081000.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zKsAoF5r2xxTFv5UW2RkgaZtCGRmDEAr0_pV6wGduXPO96TQmvcXx39SN8JRq3F5jVwslD8XUi-05LhlWVkZWmr9DhCp2TdcnH9AWUheR0LFhoD1n0zz7X_kPah2Q9bZBZNZGsnm2E37oOs70lC9yCDKTwC1-EKa6_9dM1vgw7yN6iWCXb0rQg/w400-h226/20230412_081000.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckets of Hyacinths and Daffodils <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPyZ7gM28Gk2g0kq6kDNGr7AjSHzORUmhhZFY49X9FRgcLSqpyqAY8IhJqtrPTclK-5X4Wq-79i8iuVHMNPZW1mdcc2HmWNgFAcGr03C0ZgTm_xrfB6jpWVSwZITZlHyVRM06fU6hD7zc1HEOAmqQUzV76rdAM9R4YHS-GRiJahTh5WDtMFmjwA/s4000/20230412_082015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPyZ7gM28Gk2g0kq6kDNGr7AjSHzORUmhhZFY49X9FRgcLSqpyqAY8IhJqtrPTclK-5X4Wq-79i8iuVHMNPZW1mdcc2HmWNgFAcGr03C0ZgTm_xrfB6jpWVSwZITZlHyVRM06fU6hD7zc1HEOAmqQUzV76rdAM9R4YHS-GRiJahTh5WDtMFmjwA/w400-h226/20230412_082015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Hellebore</div><div style="text-align: start;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I love spending as much time as possible on pelagic cruises. So I was a tad sad as the boat headed back to the docks at John Wayne Marina. But wait! There was one more surprise. There, as the boat pulled up to the pier, I spotted a small brown 'dog' lolling on its back, on the wooden deck. Then the 'dog's' long tail swung around I realized it was a wild River Otter quickly skittered off and dove into the water. A lovely last minute trip bonus, and somehow I was the only one who spotted the slick and slender marine critter, a lovely welcome home gift just for me. </span></div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-54961412433539225312023-03-22T21:00:00.001-07:002023-08-16T18:07:03.010-07:00Neah Bay<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEkW0facON76GuwSK9jcBUifmgmP0n2SndY3PIbahfqlQOg-TbkzDr3_Rax6pHw8foFyjgYjpQbwqEmwPRB7K9dDZ7OUkVKbDHuUv_fCuiy-ZgKLSF9oBlIE57Dzn2ruk-XomLNjUNZjWVIaxxOXSF7eLZvPDotRdIB17AJngMlwRwupjk6A/s4000/20230322_124245.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEkW0facON76GuwSK9jcBUifmgmP0n2SndY3PIbahfqlQOg-TbkzDr3_Rax6pHw8foFyjgYjpQbwqEmwPRB7K9dDZ7OUkVKbDHuUv_fCuiy-ZgKLSF9oBlIE57Dzn2ruk-XomLNjUNZjWVIaxxOXSF7eLZvPDotRdIB17AJngMlwRwupjk6A/w640-h360/20230322_124245.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little bay not too far from Neah Bay</td></tr></tbody></table> <br />Twice a year I visit Neah Bay, which is in the most Northwest corner of the 'lower 48'. I mostly go there to see water birds, but it is worth the 2 hour drive just to see the scenery.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoZpfSiLRLpKLUNe00eu3-CilngaNFwVcQ7N_DVJJYZOWIWWOaeW2vCZHeN3ySG14uM0oUyNR7dmLNQgDBb9vB_cem7BZdQWylpeIkMsjKnb9bZyghSV-400_9kBl4HEgDJ8gYxJE4fiyY_Ok6JabIcjuIKyNQD6Bpv0Mv4MDQLzxOaxnEpQ/s4000/20230322_124105.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoZpfSiLRLpKLUNe00eu3-CilngaNFwVcQ7N_DVJJYZOWIWWOaeW2vCZHeN3ySG14uM0oUyNR7dmLNQgDBb9vB_cem7BZdQWylpeIkMsjKnb9bZyghSV-400_9kBl4HEgDJ8gYxJE4fiyY_Ok6JabIcjuIKyNQD6Bpv0Mv4MDQLzxOaxnEpQ/w640-h360/20230322_124105.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Am sure these 2 rocks have a name but I don't <br />know what it is. Let's call it 'The Two Sisters'<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Last year I also visited Neah Bay. Getting hungry, I stopped by a cute and tiny diner that was far from the main roads. As I climbed the stairs to the Cafe door. it opened. A man there looked at me, and told me the diner was closed. My disappointed face must have looked as hungry as I felt. He told me to go to the main entrance to the cafe and go on in. I did, and there were 2 ladies there, whom I soon found out were members of the Makah Tribe. They were quite friendly, and we immediately began to chat. The man appeared with a menu and urged me to choose something to eat. I eagerly settled on a burger with fries and some kind of interesting beverage - Ginger beer?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvteVNc51bsaox5CJDpxDrwNiusdS40Pcsf_CTiBuonIQrMm02G5Ml5iOGLUogCS1Nraip7t2K8Jo-GZXWJXg8Ks9NaxEfvPPLajMf_rwmMzy5ju6U36XybTEaEf6vJaqgZwPwnwdfDWqv8EYaBHKb3Nc_42m9Vvtg3GE-ILiY4bMVxC1Bgg/s302/Makah%20Hat.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="302" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvteVNc51bsaox5CJDpxDrwNiusdS40Pcsf_CTiBuonIQrMm02G5Ml5iOGLUogCS1Nraip7t2K8Jo-GZXWJXg8Ks9NaxEfvPPLajMf_rwmMzy5ju6U36XybTEaEf6vJaqgZwPwnwdfDWqv8EYaBHKb3Nc_42m9Vvtg3GE-ILiY4bMVxC1Bgg/s1600/Makah%20Hat.JPG" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A grass and cedar Makah hat <br />not the one that was shown to me</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> Italian Soda? I can't quite recall. While the man preped lunch, one of the ladies showed me a photo of a beautiful hat she made for her granddaughter. The hat featured a wolf head - I think they were of the Wolf Clan. The hat was woven of local grasses and strongly reminded me of the Maidu and Miwok hats I used to see at the California State Indian Museum back when I was a docent. <br /><br /><div><div>Soon the man (Mike?) came out with my lunch in a to-go box. I started to dig in my purse to pay for the meal. <div><br /><div>"No, that's alright," he said, "Just don't want you going hungry out here, its on the house."</div><div><br /></div><div>I. was. flabbergasted. </div><div><br /></div><div>My cheeks went all red and I profusely thanked him, and the ladies. When I got home that day I sat right down, writing them a 'thank you' note I dug up the Cafe's name and address on line, and the following day I mailed it. </div><div><br /></div><div>A week later the note was returned to me with "Not deliverable at this address" sprawled across the envelope. </div><div><br />So that was my secondary task today - to hand deliver the thank you note to the Café. No one was there today so I jammed the envelope into the back door. I hope they find it before rain makes the card into a pile of paper pulp. Oh well, <i>I tried! </i><br /><br />After dropping off the long delayed thank you note, I briefly toured the Makah National Fish Hatchery.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_7fR1EH3hjCTU3W74W13Ubk3-A8Q57sKnn8jBLX25tjdvtWgl0hHYFchr_xSrIXS3C5cmCZtDlZk1JrWuP6xfiGtvZ6JNBYluRymsQ0zTvjmzgcgjdQUMlKCiWfyjo_DhezF5TheXEvTKJaokkfSLexwlibHsdkWnDuG8GHSJADX1ZFrANc/s4000/20230322_124753.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_7fR1EH3hjCTU3W74W13Ubk3-A8Q57sKnn8jBLX25tjdvtWgl0hHYFchr_xSrIXS3C5cmCZtDlZk1JrWuP6xfiGtvZ6JNBYluRymsQ0zTvjmzgcgjdQUMlKCiWfyjo_DhezF5TheXEvTKJaokkfSLexwlibHsdkWnDuG8GHSJADX1ZFrANc/w640-h360/20230322_124753.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>By the roads into the hatchery, there were oodles of blooming 'Skunk Cabbage'. They aren't exactly a rare plant, they're found in my area, but they are always cool to see. I know the young shoots are edible but I've not yet worked up the courage to forage for any. Some day!</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofBwodndCyL4rQyR6mQhlAFqNk690I2zZT2Qb2XXGP7WOVMhYxW1tTE9rynvBYvQLUM0Ut5CUOCEwBmW2ymewKoNtiW0nHYSeF-dE8AqcI9GJRi5X1K9HziJrfm__z2ntfyqjefuKKTQROWfQMN51poOMxPIikAz1bWSSjJsOswnZYm45m_w/s4000/20230322_124600.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofBwodndCyL4rQyR6mQhlAFqNk690I2zZT2Qb2XXGP7WOVMhYxW1tTE9rynvBYvQLUM0Ut5CUOCEwBmW2ymewKoNtiW0nHYSeF-dE8AqcI9GJRi5X1K9HziJrfm__z2ntfyqjefuKKTQROWfQMN51poOMxPIikAz1bWSSjJsOswnZYm45m_w/w640-h362/20230322_124600.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skunk Cabbage everywhere!</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></div>The scenery along the Pacific NW coast always makes me think of the book, "The Island of Blue Dolphins'. Not that I would want to be abandoned to live alone, but just the beauty of the Pacific Ocean is breathtaking. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7llz7GcoU_YTsk-0Ygc-TRSOlQvbs5fP71rNYoGMr6vp_w2MbPtHD73pxfnaB3Mke6FdKuobbDXnAyo1Kb0W0OODskSZqQMxCktB1yi0SFgelzjh7ec5pq5o__tFR8TtaS3H5hmYa23Vw0t7btcj1Ojby20HrHYwQ_zSqNs7fQyToGhO9ZaY/s4000/20230322_123330.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7llz7GcoU_YTsk-0Ygc-TRSOlQvbs5fP71rNYoGMr6vp_w2MbPtHD73pxfnaB3Mke6FdKuobbDXnAyo1Kb0W0OODskSZqQMxCktB1yi0SFgelzjh7ec5pq5o__tFR8TtaS3H5hmYa23Vw0t7btcj1Ojby20HrHYwQ_zSqNs7fQyToGhO9ZaY/w640-h360/20230322_123330.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pacific Ocean</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49zUWgOrqAMety_sa7Ri7C74TuDEADyf9_rstud4bR7V8JAdX5cjGptUkLRj1_CALYoJqwxdIfw2Qgvez5PCtesgfA6HZL7MJmCEdlJoQIQRIgpAbYj7Vm3f9u4Tq3hqO4ZkQpTUmMqF0DEmM3ETMuz1CVu8gB3HRYVk-zWGr9NoXSFT7tfU/s4000/20230322_123311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49zUWgOrqAMety_sa7Ri7C74TuDEADyf9_rstud4bR7V8JAdX5cjGptUkLRj1_CALYoJqwxdIfw2Qgvez5PCtesgfA6HZL7MJmCEdlJoQIQRIgpAbYj7Vm3f9u4Tq3hqO4ZkQpTUmMqF0DEmM3ETMuz1CVu8gB3HRYVk-zWGr9NoXSFT7tfU/w640-h360/20230322_123311.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>So much for the scenery, as my true purpose for my visit to Neah Bay was birding. The first feathered wonders I spotter were several Bald Eagles up a tree on Neah Bay's main drag.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5tSCv0KKuTyHzEt05wJoDK1ZvFX-k4k1eeVppQ-N7M47sY_r30fP5BhnheKTer7i_WenBzL0BrtPM2WiF8-JMP1sZNgACKOxlIIcKlNibAfmxgAMuWH9eJ7v4zYuhaUlFj8YZHLMfs4WCVHqdtu_Vc8Vxwei70EtqGM8nim2K5H0i75o5ru-8w/s4896/P1040410.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5tSCv0KKuTyHzEt05wJoDK1ZvFX-k4k1eeVppQ-N7M47sY_r30fP5BhnheKTer7i_WenBzL0BrtPM2WiF8-JMP1sZNgACKOxlIIcKlNibAfmxgAMuWH9eJ7v4zYuhaUlFj8YZHLMfs4WCVHqdtu_Vc8Vxwei70EtqGM8nim2K5H0i75o5ru-8w/w640-h360/P1040410.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK, count the number of eagles in this tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOqO9w4k0JFoWBJvD_TzAlQoig8FsPf_Mk-5LWRkntT7xHSCuPuciLUjVhKqD__jpWJXVCsGLoR6yhj_ZujVkTE7Mwa2RPP3d85dDmKx-XMquUH3NUxIaU1OEXjK1qp2mCXFySB43M_5CMuivfd4-zQE8mToe_ih1jNMM6tVQEICfnK4qYxyYmw/s4896/P1040414.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOqO9w4k0JFoWBJvD_TzAlQoig8FsPf_Mk-5LWRkntT7xHSCuPuciLUjVhKqD__jpWJXVCsGLoR6yhj_ZujVkTE7Mwa2RPP3d85dDmKx-XMquUH3NUxIaU1OEXjK1qp2mCXFySB43M_5CMuivfd4-zQE8mToe_ih1jNMM6tVQEICfnK4qYxyYmw/w400-h225/P1040414.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the most obvious eagle</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFyZ7SwSj6185_WCIm6KxzapwQ1w8kib3NW_c8tfvyoaeBUe98CXvIYiTsKQtJ73eQuRN3c0g8RfpAjolhfRg2inQfSJc4j1oAOVWUH7QW1aAXvHKd-MdwMpv1TfF8OIJRufpv-x900YWfSI2psIQZGn3QK1RvxGIQoFt5Wz8IVY3RPP4R4HrdQ/s1429/P1040410B.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1429" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFyZ7SwSj6185_WCIm6KxzapwQ1w8kib3NW_c8tfvyoaeBUe98CXvIYiTsKQtJ73eQuRN3c0g8RfpAjolhfRg2inQfSJc4j1oAOVWUH7QW1aAXvHKd-MdwMpv1TfF8OIJRufpv-x900YWfSI2psIQZGn3QK1RvxGIQoFt5Wz8IVY3RPP4R4HrdQ/w400-h250/P1040410B.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TADA!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>The main road through Neah Bay parallels the actual bay. In winter there are many species of waterfowl present. Often the birds are quite far out, so only a few, in relatively good focus are showcased here. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BOan9moudAgqgybteJ_0amwXe0C20gJbwYbaatGGSoL6onyR4oGKsjmacODc_PVe2dxa9Qu5BFNtsDS4Mu_bLDzkNtAqlMUUtEvAs5pv0IKDsVCGLc9jBSrctnIoWQ8ipIFa9Wt5-hVGRMZ9GB_RZgot-J8d-Pk28cKLu9m1RBykdjLlAEqa_g/s1251/P1040435B.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1251" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BOan9moudAgqgybteJ_0amwXe0C20gJbwYbaatGGSoL6onyR4oGKsjmacODc_PVe2dxa9Qu5BFNtsDS4Mu_bLDzkNtAqlMUUtEvAs5pv0IKDsVCGLc9jBSrctnIoWQ8ipIFa9Wt5-hVGRMZ9GB_RZgot-J8d-Pk28cKLu9m1RBykdjLlAEqa_g/w640-h370/P1040435B.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Loon in its plain pajamas (non-breeding plumage)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lyzuBaXqaXVg7jAQ7C9w8ML4tEkt-HSO9MBGNvAWx5fXBX5arJvTGgwy533HMeNA2jkb9NqlMjFb1o_8Q8m6Ta1HBYrYLbvCloFD3yuc-xKSeJVFd-hB1eldGVtNpFBJlCwueuPB6lakaaB6_FZCPvjHkpx9yRUdCcDpmhVxyiMUxaNlCzv6mQ/s922/P1040439B.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="922" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lyzuBaXqaXVg7jAQ7C9w8ML4tEkt-HSO9MBGNvAWx5fXBX5arJvTGgwy533HMeNA2jkb9NqlMjFb1o_8Q8m6Ta1HBYrYLbvCloFD3yuc-xKSeJVFd-hB1eldGVtNpFBJlCwueuPB6lakaaB6_FZCPvjHkpx9yRUdCcDpmhVxyiMUxaNlCzv6mQ/w400-h297/P1040439B.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Goldeneye sea duck</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mXA4Se1-JOkKB8JCQid56-gj0cq3eWapOL4o4yrYZaaZUoWwmtSrnW9KNb64QH0laMCpzk6GvqnAYhab7SZFWpSpncDSERWpaAPiK1-hipPZVl4sp1vwaFxPVpjU6-SbTN0hP4FZUTIvFRLDXWToSDM6UJqxS8wBZR4CL-xwlHpHjRbkK_8K5w/s4896/P1040491.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mXA4Se1-JOkKB8JCQid56-gj0cq3eWapOL4o4yrYZaaZUoWwmtSrnW9KNb64QH0laMCpzk6GvqnAYhab7SZFWpSpncDSERWpaAPiK1-hipPZVl4sp1vwaFxPVpjU6-SbTN0hP4FZUTIvFRLDXWToSDM6UJqxS8wBZR4CL-xwlHpHjRbkK_8K5w/w640-h360/P1040491.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Armada of White-winged Scoters - a fav of mine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQdood3ixJ0AzV3XIi0LUfINA7OP5pk8YGZJ-ctwgaJvYEp50xAuwDgJDpoNQOdaX9pcrc3cZwAIWnmb89tNyU-5iaGb9IblUuLZonkPSmwgPu0KUQzqHQTRU5m1nwz0xWi1P7oHRCB39KbLfSkpLzFWr4pihd0l2WUf7zD_bnp1TYrR0PiihuA/s963/P1040447B.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="963" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQdood3ixJ0AzV3XIi0LUfINA7OP5pk8YGZJ-ctwgaJvYEp50xAuwDgJDpoNQOdaX9pcrc3cZwAIWnmb89tNyU-5iaGb9IblUuLZonkPSmwgPu0KUQzqHQTRU5m1nwz0xWi1P7oHRCB39KbLfSkpLzFWr4pihd0l2WUf7zD_bnp1TYrR0PiihuA/w640-h454/P1040447B.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pigeon Guillemot, showing a hint<br /> of its crayon red legs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>After driving to the Café, where I dropped off the thank you note, Common Mergansers were found on a riverway.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOEaek-gzaNdn1Sl6J1gk0Qj_jJZ0pnt7v7j7NCsis-L98ny_4eRZjjgIE4Ac5v-Prb1keZNTjKf4qjIRvm_juHbHKLAbSaVPV_EVbfyiX6oxh4XT-ldrCW-98ejJ9e36nEX0dZlA0iBl-tTEdPP0Gukqu8nVSfvMjvMecxnrfzXm5E62tSlHpQ/s4896/P1040465.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="4896" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOEaek-gzaNdn1Sl6J1gk0Qj_jJZ0pnt7v7j7NCsis-L98ny_4eRZjjgIE4Ac5v-Prb1keZNTjKf4qjIRvm_juHbHKLAbSaVPV_EVbfyiX6oxh4XT-ldrCW-98ejJ9e36nEX0dZlA0iBl-tTEdPP0Gukqu8nVSfvMjvMecxnrfzXm5E62tSlHpQ/w640-h362/P1040465.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Merganser drake and two hens</td></tr></tbody></table><br />When I finally had enough of Neah Bay's waterfowl, I headed back to Sequim. I can't wait to visit Neah Bay this winter when the number of waterfowl will be at its height. Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-41192334510291222792023-01-26T18:48:00.015-08:002023-05-02T21:05:46.879-07:00NC to CN <p>Tiny announcement. Today in Clallam County Court, P.A. Washington, by order of a v.kindly and sweet County judge, my name was officially changed from Norma Claire, to Claire Norma. That is all. You may resume your normal activities. </p>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-59651030786743005922022-12-23T12:32:00.074-08:002023-05-25T21:02:49.345-07:00Snow Days!<p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizY0wvf-g2c0rdDLqGRw4WgB7V2GPY1bhoxhbMM6Wd3iFMYR7GOL6s2JZoslbNRFn2HwlhTDujrJ_eHnMDD-8CEkkhvP44X45HAQr3Jbh2t2IH1REnkmjuiDxuMW91rAZJ-OqNAEeEW43YjtL1v6q9AZwItm_FNVPUBU4QeVW4pixjfNmPbKQ/s3982/20221221_085818.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1941" data-original-width="3982" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizY0wvf-g2c0rdDLqGRw4WgB7V2GPY1bhoxhbMM6Wd3iFMYR7GOL6s2JZoslbNRFn2HwlhTDujrJ_eHnMDD-8CEkkhvP44X45HAQr3Jbh2t2IH1REnkmjuiDxuMW91rAZJ-OqNAEeEW43YjtL1v6q9AZwItm_FNVPUBU4QeVW4pixjfNmPbKQ/w640-h312/20221221_085818.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning view of snow along the Dungeness Spit<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;">Inside of me there is a five-year old girl and she <i>loves</i> snow. More than once I've climbed out of bed, sluggish at 3AM. I slog towards the bathroom, but stop to stare out the upstairs hall window. There, by the miracle of ordinary weather I see a moonlit blanket of white covering everything as far as I can see. What can I do but shout 'YIPPY' and then skip towards the bathroom. </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcbJ_9fMTDN3lFPYbla5UKjPpXhWgCVuP8eUncCrinDDDmymeC8AFsxt1OeBGtulNyr_keAoqHSemAoNPGK9uJZbhgdddAX5XAb2xRFYEZqzE9_c80m_OnEwkIBUOu1QqTmbrZjr1mEkWMzQg1RLqtnaE0_IC84Tl8WCBH1--8SkrnSzK5v4/s4000/20221223_102735.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcbJ_9fMTDN3lFPYbla5UKjPpXhWgCVuP8eUncCrinDDDmymeC8AFsxt1OeBGtulNyr_keAoqHSemAoNPGK9uJZbhgdddAX5XAb2xRFYEZqzE9_c80m_OnEwkIBUOu1QqTmbrZjr1mEkWMzQg1RLqtnaE0_IC84Tl8WCBH1--8SkrnSzK5v4/w640-h360/20221223_102735.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Far off, the Olympic Mountains to the south,<br />as seen from my 'play room'</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I wonder sometimes if I'm not just crazy, as my friends/neighbors HATE the dread white stuff, fussing on how difficult it is to drive on snow, how cold it is and yatta, yatta, yatta. But me? I'm all "Yay, SNOW!"</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajAp2aQQ4sbLXHordArUJUoirRa8Ni2LHNFreVEpnls-dJMeAcr6Mqo30od31cA_ecRedf3rrSSBxROg3g36LHXpvoqXR2WwOILv6iyFXwRpRgXNbdtVAN_uKDnqk5GnTEa7-WZ77hE3cCVbyAN9CCN7IYDd8CdknL--aCSnrjtg0CieFUio/s4000/20221220_144440.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajAp2aQQ4sbLXHordArUJUoirRa8Ni2LHNFreVEpnls-dJMeAcr6Mqo30od31cA_ecRedf3rrSSBxROg3g36LHXpvoqXR2WwOILv6iyFXwRpRgXNbdtVAN_uKDnqk5GnTEa7-WZ77hE3cCVbyAN9CCN7IYDd8CdknL--aCSnrjtg0CieFUio/w640-h360/20221220_144440.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bushtits don't mind the snow, <br />as long as I keep the feeder full</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Snow around here can be fleeting. Mornings I slump into the hall and peer through the window to see the snow fall of the previous night. Then, not a morning person, I'll crawl off to drink my coffee. A couple of hours later I'll check out the window, saddened to see the snow has already melted away. But this week we... or at least "I" am in luck. The snow fell and has lasted a few days. Nope. I don't build snowmen, I don't use a sled and I don't cross country ski. I just love looking at all that cold stuff. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15P_E4DEVd0GTsCzgE0NmRFyWD2HxycfC4YW8qNt-Wm_8tyU4choXn7ksBtgXBG0K7C5iQbr8Cof-j7TQ-ZyTyPSkVRjzAl1CKTpXXznNB0bMZ6Y5Ij3GT8i1_N_N5z7TfXW9HDp-0pQx6gtkQ0ke_YyFjtgZ_JDEAFtJW-A_FH9STiMIKPQ/s4000/20221220_085505.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15P_E4DEVd0GTsCzgE0NmRFyWD2HxycfC4YW8qNt-Wm_8tyU4choXn7ksBtgXBG0K7C5iQbr8Cof-j7TQ-ZyTyPSkVRjzAl1CKTpXXznNB0bMZ6Y5Ij3GT8i1_N_N5z7TfXW9HDp-0pQx6gtkQ0ke_YyFjtgZ_JDEAFtJW-A_FH9STiMIKPQ/w640-h360/20221220_085505.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't even see the road under all that snow</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjqZ0IC53bxl3MMFPc4WXtO3DPtrKQamX_fAEpNAwjRLHXaeoajJgMvX4yCBevlqDXZc6VpvOGp6d9y0mx68LCu3pLaZpBuwa7QtEQ21yb4TsEAIrUmnqLlm47aDtl5s6s7kCsqlpkGk917VjaquSE6zWX6LleTXSutcl6kGRpQL2CebNT7Q/s4000/20221221_085809.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjqZ0IC53bxl3MMFPc4WXtO3DPtrKQamX_fAEpNAwjRLHXaeoajJgMvX4yCBevlqDXZc6VpvOGp6d9y0mx68LCu3pLaZpBuwa7QtEQ21yb4TsEAIrUmnqLlm47aDtl5s6s7kCsqlpkGk917VjaquSE6zWX6LleTXSutcl6kGRpQL2CebNT7Q/w640-h360/20221221_085809.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mountains on the other side of the San Juan Straits are in Canada</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoiQBdHdGUJPM_nRlwMlp1R4v2WicM7lbznRvaD8SQs1GTP_VY-MSAAI-ZuSwaobHM897q3Jtm0ovQmmdgX_h_L4Ua4tDnVKe6kUu8E0ZfIhHWbZ7jwoGTF9H7QFk0kD4UmnXw82ekowhZ8AB_9QSPMV4_PIgASBxKSyoQAHUedQa5NrlOdo/s4000/20221222_100918.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoiQBdHdGUJPM_nRlwMlp1R4v2WicM7lbznRvaD8SQs1GTP_VY-MSAAI-ZuSwaobHM897q3Jtm0ovQmmdgX_h_L4Ua4tDnVKe6kUu8E0ZfIhHWbZ7jwoGTF9H7QFk0kD4UmnXw82ekowhZ8AB_9QSPMV4_PIgASBxKSyoQAHUedQa5NrlOdo/w640-h360/20221222_100918.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old farm house</td></tr></tbody></table><div>That's all she wrote. Just wanted to wax sympathetically over all that frigid, brrrrrr stuff. </div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-42013120007286486242022-12-11T13:13:00.202-08:002023-08-16T18:07:33.320-07:00Ha Det Norway!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXES9qdWGJUg3q6jGzOWyG2ZC9fOm9gvopDrBV1RrVE3cxkDfEv69NvwY75xt8UjFl3-7StD81jOxAP8jik1sYtNEFcXJ5sq5akBW931-ykNg24swbDS54cus-_lQNU6KGlUfv_U_PD6TE82qoVc8H1aFeemEG0FeI56yHmqWTiEVaOD3QHE/s4000/20221212_045017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXES9qdWGJUg3q6jGzOWyG2ZC9fOm9gvopDrBV1RrVE3cxkDfEv69NvwY75xt8UjFl3-7StD81jOxAP8jik1sYtNEFcXJ5sq5akBW931-ykNg24swbDS54cus-_lQNU6KGlUfv_U_PD6TE82qoVc8H1aFeemEG0FeI56yHmqWTiEVaOD3QHE/w640-h360/20221212_045017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bergen Airport directions</td></tr></tbody></table><p> On our last morning in Norway, we took a taxi to the airport Clarion hotel, located right next to the airport. Our flight out the following morning was an early one so our hotel hop was for convivence. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsZX0gEXTkHGPdkXBmd12ypI5Zlz3LsDoUkxGYBP0BslgBzEz5M18Hm3GrVXbuUXzDFZLRUOLN8-NW69e2nVpWNBe5SvdEoycbuVQL2Ob7rl5GzzjNNofZP95zzcQ0oCFDvAyHm_sGtZAbXxxWq1OkjPUPVl0fkaa5_66ptrNM4-lecrrMrE/s4000/20221211_122443.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsZX0gEXTkHGPdkXBmd12ypI5Zlz3LsDoUkxGYBP0BslgBzEz5M18Hm3GrVXbuUXzDFZLRUOLN8-NW69e2nVpWNBe5SvdEoycbuVQL2Ob7rl5GzzjNNofZP95zzcQ0oCFDvAyHm_sGtZAbXxxWq1OkjPUPVl0fkaa5_66ptrNM4-lecrrMrE/w400-h225/20221211_122443.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clarion Lobby</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Travel weariness had set in nicely, thank you very much. So after getting our room, neither Ila nor myself, felt too adventurous. We decided to walk over to the airport so as to avoid surprises in the morning, when we would be dragging our luggage along with us. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDK68_BSZI2u0nocFhA_GMPtrCNuhesZvi8LAm_dcUTMcVti8cAC5876MsDvYDGiQmCUkR6qCBsDH0sggdS6N-6_sbRewRlj1sX35zm8bgDcW5Qw97MVh8sTJGOU23XxWnyQVVz5Bqg-8t7KRNl_3_ZEvcgMZK7qTLV4acmMM3EGu0M2xiCXA/s4000/20221211_122434.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDK68_BSZI2u0nocFhA_GMPtrCNuhesZvi8LAm_dcUTMcVti8cAC5876MsDvYDGiQmCUkR6qCBsDH0sggdS6N-6_sbRewRlj1sX35zm8bgDcW5Qw97MVh8sTJGOU23XxWnyQVVz5Bqg-8t7KRNl_3_ZEvcgMZK7qTLV4acmMM3EGu0M2xiCXA/w400-h225/20221211_122434.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And even more lobby</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXT3ED9Xogzy0JEa1oO2Gzug6ztelRrBhxNxIf2wt0pzSVsGtJu4JjhFrd9pJNhKzjj44ec9_gn5SOyXbkHllyX4oJdnfo36qfmmDQpCAg_IQhZpi5O5zMBPtqLN9_ljrC5blWrXw9E6micWEdYsz8dAcxPSEd3gEZmMDgbHh_a1WW_bdkdY/s4000/20221211_131802.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXT3ED9Xogzy0JEa1oO2Gzug6ztelRrBhxNxIf2wt0pzSVsGtJu4JjhFrd9pJNhKzjj44ec9_gn5SOyXbkHllyX4oJdnfo36qfmmDQpCAg_IQhZpi5O5zMBPtqLN9_ljrC5blWrXw9E6micWEdYsz8dAcxPSEd3gEZmMDgbHh_a1WW_bdkdY/w640-h360/20221211_131802.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hotel buffet area, with a string of gas lights along one side</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Cp42RR7kwGNN1L1nFhiGxGrx-QgxQqDxedz4ngYFsfK1gFNXrw6uF-HUvu7M8O5kKkRvco-Ue7ooTHwlbK7kBaip8lDs-z8oMzTRh1iNcn0LsceYBMNw9EdvVx6cvM0cZqWn_cpu0JcnsMAYSOykLSxk_u8eQQIs8zbjoIOvBPN33mGnXmw/s4000/20221211_141114.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Cp42RR7kwGNN1L1nFhiGxGrx-QgxQqDxedz4ngYFsfK1gFNXrw6uF-HUvu7M8O5kKkRvco-Ue7ooTHwlbK7kBaip8lDs-z8oMzTRh1iNcn0LsceYBMNw9EdvVx6cvM0cZqWn_cpu0JcnsMAYSOykLSxk_u8eQQIs8zbjoIOvBPN33mGnXmw/w400-h226/20221211_141114.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />When we returned from the airport trek, I noticed the hall on my floor had chairs set in front of a window facing the airport. Decided to do a little reading and jet watching. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2Jfc1S942fqP5CM7837fAystEtLNUSIAK5cT06Kp1lQDA5zgdZkgtRG0mC8BqP1X1cKc-1yThdHgm8nqkN8narGOW00czNDATktJJ9xDwigwEYM7_8VhaOIq8OmkFpjS_SPqbLdQ_7K2xo16XSjqbByjvYdgjgtp-tCQ8r46LaBhOW5vD8M/s4000/20221211_133218.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2Jfc1S942fqP5CM7837fAystEtLNUSIAK5cT06Kp1lQDA5zgdZkgtRG0mC8BqP1X1cKc-1yThdHgm8nqkN8narGOW00czNDATktJJ9xDwigwEYM7_8VhaOIq8OmkFpjS_SPqbLdQ_7K2xo16XSjqbByjvYdgjgtp-tCQ8r46LaBhOW5vD8M/w640-h360/20221211_133218.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I was facing a side lot where out of service jets were stashed and/or serviced</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG_ah8jll1SsLeUQWI9RQ2bc5euuRI8-gPl1wV71vUYf5UxFGPEQnSnWMDbtzz__b6vab-M9E7zBxJTbk7IAf6_o4dltTWTIszCHLE4k9sGGMVMhF2zJGLbgZUwJDqcv_W13l5D70IHd1GUw3uSLH7fk19DEM3VBXfWJadng3SFLmZId_ztA/s4000/20221211_133209.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG_ah8jll1SsLeUQWI9RQ2bc5euuRI8-gPl1wV71vUYf5UxFGPEQnSnWMDbtzz__b6vab-M9E7zBxJTbk7IAf6_o4dltTWTIszCHLE4k9sGGMVMhF2zJGLbgZUwJDqcv_W13l5D70IHd1GUw3uSLH7fk19DEM3VBXfWJadng3SFLmZId_ztA/w640-h360/20221211_133209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a view of the parking lot, featured <br />here only for the colors & clouds in the sky</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U9iGf3AU-UxNtXISH3yYZstWWXWu0HlwwAssP1vWPUn-TmRJ6FacCcIpp6XHslTgA31w3WYZmPQKZ3NjEKUUlyXMoQS9ActE7_ppwYFF4GPHjDDf5WKC3NW_TlhnporEduihXP4MOXU29JrT2QEdpngWS7cG7f5gMh9NKlfAZE__1goXldo/s4000/20221211_191213.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U9iGf3AU-UxNtXISH3yYZstWWXWu0HlwwAssP1vWPUn-TmRJ6FacCcIpp6XHslTgA31w3WYZmPQKZ3NjEKUUlyXMoQS9ActE7_ppwYFF4GPHjDDf5WKC3NW_TlhnporEduihXP4MOXU29JrT2QEdpngWS7cG7f5gMh9NKlfAZE__1goXldo/w400-h225/20221211_191213.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />That night, we had dinner at the hotel's restaurant, which was - kind of funny to me - once again a decidedly NON-Norwegian fare. My dinner was in fact, a HUMONGOUS side of Louisiana BBQ beef ribs with a life-time supply of French fries and of course, a side of cabbage. Oh, and Ila had genuine Norwegian chicken tacos.<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_rf_U82hWdh-V82tQtkWIEYPWJBBZFxAGUMtPP1FG8JZt9dHbWHW79Ul7OE-PNWyHqMG10adXLgUjK7y2BL6o-R3N8B98YcqbcUbzy9FCwP2uIsQGWK5UH36kioNyVSiDNjsplga6JaS-Kb2Gi1nhXyf9d5WmCHf5t_Q_vpNq59a08ktqkM/s4000/20221211_161746.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_rf_U82hWdh-V82tQtkWIEYPWJBBZFxAGUMtPP1FG8JZt9dHbWHW79Ul7OE-PNWyHqMG10adXLgUjK7y2BL6o-R3N8B98YcqbcUbzy9FCwP2uIsQGWK5UH36kioNyVSiDNjsplga6JaS-Kb2Gi1nhXyf9d5WmCHf5t_Q_vpNq59a08ktqkM/w640-h360/20221211_161746.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the hotel window, facing the airport across the street</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />The following morning we were up at 3:15AM (which is why we needed to stay near the airport!) and we slogged ourselves and our luggage over to the airport. The morning was cold and it was snowing, and for only the second time in my life I saw the moon with a rainbow halo. I'd have taken a photo but LUGGAGE and SNOW! </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/AVvXsEhW5mgQ9YfEpeSxNm-VOxbCsVv-fTo0FR9j03ZCGMU4Bv5erwLzoMNbizTqOVrkU9koRtXPn5bxEsaN70ck7aXAgLJqcJFt_o61Q4J-6kHxDxlN5V4Xbs4RGcONQEfriE7rqpiYfW_f-oFg_De-YzvycUZBC70ey9H4KnBnY_wZfKAPQ28VaX0/s4000/20221212_042307.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5mgQ9YfEpeSxNm-VOxbCsVv-fTo0FR9j03ZCGMU4Bv5erwLzoMNbizTqOVrkU9koRtXPn5bxEsaN70ck7aXAgLJqcJFt_o61Q4J-6kHxDxlN5V4Xbs4RGcONQEfriE7rqpiYfW_f-oFg_De-YzvycUZBC70ey9H4KnBnY_wZfKAPQ28VaX0/w400-h225/20221212_042307.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Saw my final Norwegian Doggie, a traditional Norwegian Boston Terrier.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVONv62z1XDGD60_GDaYYlKZx7k5R2NBCp7pmxScDNwiWb7fpqwQYSTY-ywREggOTMgQextBQUfup2VexetYFuporeYsqgtIu6k_Q0FQgRblzGfffU7CtL50biwxvvvANr3NnsjLRWQ_U0MlBGGWUxPqM8oWmzqG39o6ReMcHcCi9NC5FSA58/s4000/20221212_044615.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVONv62z1XDGD60_GDaYYlKZx7k5R2NBCp7pmxScDNwiWb7fpqwQYSTY-ywREggOTMgQextBQUfup2VexetYFuporeYsqgtIu6k_Q0FQgRblzGfffU7CtL50biwxvvvANr3NnsjLRWQ_U0MlBGGWUxPqM8oWmzqG39o6ReMcHcCi9NC5FSA58/w400-h225/20221212_044615.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Airport Lady's Room</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Our flight's only stop was the Amsterdam Airport (aka Airport from HELL). Both Ila and I opted to play the 'Old Lady Card' because that airport is too freakn' gigantic and scary-as-hell. Long story could follow up on all that but you are being spared. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYnV1wIE1_5fKvXLqtd5TVUQ8ETtUI8T7V455FFO35kRukzAq7fjKyDMgD12FbdvA4bjZ8Q6XUFs3tgblB1zFiz92z-vIS688_m9HADijuBbGKIUWW_6YWFFC50iLG1jPDA7uWhS9Lc4NOr6nTVnaRw6KcXFzdIMDK0susaAvPMTmQmB7a-4/s4000/20221212_110457.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYnV1wIE1_5fKvXLqtd5TVUQ8ETtUI8T7V455FFO35kRukzAq7fjKyDMgD12FbdvA4bjZ8Q6XUFs3tgblB1zFiz92z-vIS688_m9HADijuBbGKIUWW_6YWFFC50iLG1jPDA7uWhS9Lc4NOr6nTVnaRw6KcXFzdIMDK0susaAvPMTmQmB7a-4/w640-h360/20221212_110457.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My view from the jet of the wings getting<br />a nice bath to remove the snow and ice before takeoff</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After Amsterdam the flight back to Seattle was, to my mind, wonderful. I always enjoy long flights, short flights, whatever. I just like flying in general. Airports, not so much...<br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn_vb8D0OOE9rv7VluTAVQimqIA2J6dkDJI42KdzlzxSWLRz5bigBOZDy6qTrM5yEqjhnqVVW4n55Vk50alq32bCRR_WyDpjp5PWIv9NEjdv9O5pBcyTRs4ZWuZxKlaynFUsMeIyZFrgqF98ZE6OpUvSnphCK8nCnJro9erZSh75T0bM9KQo/s4000/20221212_112742.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn_vb8D0OOE9rv7VluTAVQimqIA2J6dkDJI42KdzlzxSWLRz5bigBOZDy6qTrM5yEqjhnqVVW4n55Vk50alq32bCRR_WyDpjp5PWIv9NEjdv9O5pBcyTRs4ZWuZxKlaynFUsMeIyZFrgqF98ZE6OpUvSnphCK8nCnJro9erZSh75T0bM9KQo/w640-h360/20221212_112742.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye Bye Amsterdam!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpgiEnznZpSvu__qR19GjJoI3sXOhiQicSaGzw2adHgvhcv5QSW0znETIrJmXw0pYvOPt8GqeptUMhwncmbZcdvC-oqdvCeqSrAVlXlXFCzYiNDIFEadKxoWSzWN8vdQo_Nu486pTBoiDYaV2H81-05vMA2YZQLUMisy9OgN1nHXPkPatrvo/s4000/20221212_125021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpgiEnznZpSvu__qR19GjJoI3sXOhiQicSaGzw2adHgvhcv5QSW0znETIrJmXw0pYvOPt8GqeptUMhwncmbZcdvC-oqdvCeqSrAVlXlXFCzYiNDIFEadKxoWSzWN8vdQo_Nu486pTBoiDYaV2H81-05vMA2YZQLUMisy9OgN1nHXPkPatrvo/w640-h360/20221212_125021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suitably Iced, Iceland</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1Xfm9By0cK5Q-B9EmhjTuDqZVyTpurbmWySFv_gy5cURlClouIHYfR3RwqtO9FNzSe-PA95j3AviP2OB83nm_ZhDe7AKwgoQj7r0KOEtO43l6r2i5_ss_VmBkocrja6WiNOq-XLjpx6r8-kLW8KrTGtVmu183mTjcyodBHr7160FbMahMs0/s4000/20221212_134350.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1Xfm9By0cK5Q-B9EmhjTuDqZVyTpurbmWySFv_gy5cURlClouIHYfR3RwqtO9FNzSe-PA95j3AviP2OB83nm_ZhDe7AKwgoQj7r0KOEtO43l6r2i5_ss_VmBkocrja6WiNOq-XLjpx6r8-kLW8KrTGtVmu183mTjcyodBHr7160FbMahMs0/w640-h360/20221212_134350.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not exactly green, Greenland</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">I had at one point sworn off cruises, but I could totally do a Hurtigruten cruise again some day. <i>Ha Det Norway!</i></div></div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-89519036004651346972022-12-10T22:43:00.204-08:002023-08-16T18:08:13.573-07:00Bergen - Up Top!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6UEiUAUqxagTc8nKfjX2fGHskNFva4_SEWlUQ8OBuyH2NvIFmfm92z6d4bntFBXjfQciFVE0gr97hx6dF9TtkxpHbMEwXPALLY439xYDOCGATKaqHg_lSWZKGJe0rJx_oJjKM0w_5_GtkNq1HlVpfqCJ0kEB3OXOMZbTOYzWQPdpg-rQrLM/s4000/20221210_121003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6UEiUAUqxagTc8nKfjX2fGHskNFva4_SEWlUQ8OBuyH2NvIFmfm92z6d4bntFBXjfQciFVE0gr97hx6dF9TtkxpHbMEwXPALLY439xYDOCGATKaqHg_lSWZKGJe0rJx_oJjKM0w_5_GtkNq1HlVpfqCJ0kEB3OXOMZbTOYzWQPdpg-rQrLM/w640-h360/20221210_121003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Bergen from atop </td></tr></tbody></table> Warming up at a hanging fire second day of roaming included visiting the Fløibanen funicular, a tram which carries locals and tourists up a steep hill to view the panorama that is Bergen.<div><br /></div><div>We got instructions at the hotel on finding the tram, but we got a little lost. Imagine how cranky I was hoofing it, then discovering I had no idea where the silly tram was. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9AKhmuKCbkV6mgm0vBi9SgQrIL5YpVFuzs5_Wq49yujrkjNc0CpJgw3E7v4ty7Zw1rlHL_Jc5n7Av4aEO1zfn9wlki0hTW2E0jEOyq7PdyMBAxcL-Uy1DK89rMJUrNUfTY7WDWynhh15fqBI9VrvDgBShrVvu3GUojvCxFAB8eV6dhM7gfI/s4000/20221210_112511.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9AKhmuKCbkV6mgm0vBi9SgQrIL5YpVFuzs5_Wq49yujrkjNc0CpJgw3E7v4ty7Zw1rlHL_Jc5n7Av4aEO1zfn9wlki0hTW2E0jEOyq7PdyMBAxcL-Uy1DK89rMJUrNUfTY7WDWynhh15fqBI9VrvDgBShrVvu3GUojvCxFAB8eV6dhM7gfI/w640-h360/20221210_112511.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even when lost, the town was soothingly beautiful to me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZoG7N9a3lWvAt488kJTMvECkgkfdL9t7u3TqDPqLe9ofjPowNgoI6bEsP9bH1g_SMcAbDtsH5mF3zQp4mzHhwCfzV8IXT94l1evcn-DXNaQglN91SymW_NDqP56TVDcnFruYKYUSC3O3xfT1oOJuKj7M_d6AcYox9bTtHWvFrPQSuEfw6ps/s4000/20221210_112618.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZoG7N9a3lWvAt488kJTMvECkgkfdL9t7u3TqDPqLe9ofjPowNgoI6bEsP9bH1g_SMcAbDtsH5mF3zQp4mzHhwCfzV8IXT94l1evcn-DXNaQglN91SymW_NDqP56TVDcnFruYKYUSC3O3xfT1oOJuKj7M_d6AcYox9bTtHWvFrPQSuEfw6ps/w640-h360/20221210_112618.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>Though lost, we managed to convince ourselves that we'd wandered down this particular road, with intent to see the clever and interesting artwork along the way. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1OkT2bAprQsMmRrNl8jgH-E3Quioi1giNtTHNFSyzPcOkEVnEcUAkYTVhMgfhh4OIXBU2lB6mmIyXv3YzWP1hK37rWprAHMfCyMD3eKJSEKAyDbPbo-PAVDgEhKUHetmFMV97c81A_iIpqcrtZ090sEid8efOMnfooYgvAfTG4kGA7_Cveg/s4000/20221210_112911.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1OkT2bAprQsMmRrNl8jgH-E3Quioi1giNtTHNFSyzPcOkEVnEcUAkYTVhMgfhh4OIXBU2lB6mmIyXv3YzWP1hK37rWprAHMfCyMD3eKJSEKAyDbPbo-PAVDgEhKUHetmFMV97c81A_iIpqcrtZ090sEid8efOMnfooYgvAfTG4kGA7_Cveg/w400-h225/20221210_112911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8j_T5OfPbFmVBwjz7XT4KoQsrOloWG_ya-TFyn1TIXS88uvHJVA5a2ejTJCGWozbEVXZJRgL1xY3wZxPhZWks7hGOQ1LYMQzkTfbPoCyysx12qbLv3r1X1YM4Gkem0RutsElGGgC8UqEfTJL2-hLPx-DMPhCsWJ9X0nxFDOjivqExZf6os8/s4000/20221210_112923.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8j_T5OfPbFmVBwjz7XT4KoQsrOloWG_ya-TFyn1TIXS88uvHJVA5a2ejTJCGWozbEVXZJRgL1xY3wZxPhZWks7hGOQ1LYMQzkTfbPoCyysx12qbLv3r1X1YM4Gkem0RutsElGGgC8UqEfTJL2-hLPx-DMPhCsWJ9X0nxFDOjivqExZf6os8/w400-h225/20221210_112923.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><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/AVvXsEhmhsK7pRlcY07iS_8MoQIWtMMH7I-_a31h-tcCKlrmkfbCwlSlRTLLWAs0v2ffHrruX_7MQMgH8fPcJljRi90GuKnhUFqUmvzuaBjThzeK0QsUdNWRFW3nHYWyTzTo9JQUIEm22sEzRWTUtepxF8SQqdiuPuQdwsnCVROm8xinCsWEpmzFGXg/s4000/20221210_113434.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhsK7pRlcY07iS_8MoQIWtMMH7I-_a31h-tcCKlrmkfbCwlSlRTLLWAs0v2ffHrruX_7MQMgH8fPcJljRi90GuKnhUFqUmvzuaBjThzeK0QsUdNWRFW3nHYWyTzTo9JQUIEm22sEzRWTUtepxF8SQqdiuPuQdwsnCVROm8xinCsWEpmzFGXg/w400-h225/20221210_113434.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After queries at a local book store, we found our way to the Funicular and its ticket office. We paid for our fares, then headed to the gateway (shown below). The impressive entrance reminded me of the World's Fairs I visited a zillion years ago, in New York City and Montreal Canada. The SHINY!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCbbJG1LMrQae0EGfEP1oTsT-hZYZKyZbwEyDoUbZLDFJ7Vvuoi722NEktt-TngjGpH8oMszocBejRDwRs58oix4YwAru-Tt0zLY6zNERiIdvriar8-JhnFsctIeaYF-6CmLpSA5nC3yW950Y5DVvtkaqJxiY-s3dhREmdf4z5sVOOaxtIfc/s4000/20221210_114712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCbbJG1LMrQae0EGfEP1oTsT-hZYZKyZbwEyDoUbZLDFJ7Vvuoi722NEktt-TngjGpH8oMszocBejRDwRs58oix4YwAru-Tt0zLY6zNERiIdvriar8-JhnFsctIeaYF-6CmLpSA5nC3yW950Y5DVvtkaqJxiY-s3dhREmdf4z5sVOOaxtIfc/w640-h360/20221210_114712.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The tram fare was reasonable and we were soon boarding the tram. More on that ride later. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pyI042A2NqVWppTE7sYpWIlBRRKmH_uNc_Rdl74Liah0kHWRkjkG6eQgJBCF-JnuFKbBtvsV3Ad5mrcPCvdscwndPMcWJg7xYMKddDnK2uTDTBrRJXNk0QcO1wjoU4FpDRhJQLXetMcFvIPKTYJCVRVVZ62-a8B70TbW0gjXJYVBxd4Rr_I/s4000/20221210_121028.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pyI042A2NqVWppTE7sYpWIlBRRKmH_uNc_Rdl74Liah0kHWRkjkG6eQgJBCF-JnuFKbBtvsV3Ad5mrcPCvdscwndPMcWJg7xYMKddDnK2uTDTBrRJXNk0QcO1wjoU4FpDRhJQLXetMcFvIPKTYJCVRVVZ62-a8B70TbW0gjXJYVBxd4Rr_I/w640-h360/20221210_121028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">End of the line, atop the mountain</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The end of the line was the beginning of adventure on the mountain top. There were all sorts of nature trails to hike (no I didn't), a few shops of souvenirs, a beautiful restaurant, and even a play ground for the kiddies. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqH_c7FXUP0pr-29UPCgPwmNTxP1aT1j1M3hQ2qWTNv0QRGsjJYTOk8SaTN7m309cxr57G7RuIuyjvAKQkQnmSdYNm2lXwfdhYRZYKB4OkA_DFG2iCLsE_vFNvGhv-r9zqinx7EpTegSmiIJ21RsGDI9YOS-HrzOKoAO4cDvglDp8ex0h_D0/s4000/20221210_121501.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqH_c7FXUP0pr-29UPCgPwmNTxP1aT1j1M3hQ2qWTNv0QRGsjJYTOk8SaTN7m309cxr57G7RuIuyjvAKQkQnmSdYNm2lXwfdhYRZYKB4OkA_DFG2iCLsE_vFNvGhv-r9zqinx7EpTegSmiIJ21RsGDI9YOS-HrzOKoAO4cDvglDp8ex0h_D0/w640-h362/20221210_121501.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come for the view, stay for the 'mat' (food).</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoM7IRsbyxrvuzfW3XmLGPIeIpLl1NH-bZVlofH9CpyXuISSoMMk_FUj8cRNgaZe7t98QZq6erjXmYiXisWwxEF3A_bp15ZHT7epnrw0jvQc5E-aFn490-jsbTf3FyhWxF73vZ51su7D9qiFfbtfTBn2xRtgsKcw5ogzEGCZNvUZlrHa8CAo/s4000/20221210_123047.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoM7IRsbyxrvuzfW3XmLGPIeIpLl1NH-bZVlofH9CpyXuISSoMMk_FUj8cRNgaZe7t98QZq6erjXmYiXisWwxEF3A_bp15ZHT7epnrw0jvQc5E-aFn490-jsbTf3FyhWxF73vZ51su7D9qiFfbtfTBn2xRtgsKcw5ogzEGCZNvUZlrHa8CAo/w640-h362/20221210_123047.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The restaurant, further uphill</td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJc6k0ehW86If-x48EI6WbxSxS9xoV-PNjA2xdYft-c7p9NRnCB-uvKF79SsayPUNHcwfyAOMvDP2IpV7r5c-FK8I_H4S94OM0YCdnHJB1lgyPa-1Xx4-C8e8aSgYOeQ9h4QdkewOraqsUh1Y9Tg9rSVo27Bbw3Oo4HfGL06SXOKC7vLSXl0/s4000/20221210_121157.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJc6k0ehW86If-x48EI6WbxSxS9xoV-PNjA2xdYft-c7p9NRnCB-uvKF79SsayPUNHcwfyAOMvDP2IpV7r5c-FK8I_H4S94OM0YCdnHJB1lgyPa-1Xx4-C8e8aSgYOeQ9h4QdkewOraqsUh1Y9Tg9rSVo27Bbw3Oo4HfGL06SXOKC7vLSXl0/w640-h360/20221210_121157.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Floyen you can even see your way to New York, off on the right I believe</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I spent a lot of time trying to spot birds, but the only one I really got any sort of look at was this European Magpie. I miss Magpies!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqFsVI6uQV3xu01tu0X2ByJVPxHrgo1WF7WPkFh7qM-sRbdKz3hMaMKJD9EwmL7H_kT2YdDPt6EOsdspHjXMrTX441bQ1c5L3oxtgz6qHlNNdY--A4RgYJTs-EaE339CxTwVaZxs8zeVjc2gVdnMiI0spRXWeo6U_bI6K3JxQWRpFAaudxuQ/s4000/20221210_123553.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqFsVI6uQV3xu01tu0X2ByJVPxHrgo1WF7WPkFh7qM-sRbdKz3hMaMKJD9EwmL7H_kT2YdDPt6EOsdspHjXMrTX441bQ1c5L3oxtgz6qHlNNdY--A4RgYJTs-EaE339CxTwVaZxs8zeVjc2gVdnMiI0spRXWeo6U_bI6K3JxQWRpFAaudxuQ/w640-h360/20221210_123553.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VHyyjYiJ0-f1zJ3_REblU-nbwDhHpco87wejV6BohfHdyPTKQgqK33b_2WrT08sQGajo9k5tabbULqIfslh1Z30aeQpZOhuWYOpC_a4mrQv1OfiD6LfCND68SDMLz16FEUbTRl4eKOVAe9Er6Qyfhnbyvij1sHxh1SCB83U4Y8SoeK87Tq0/s4000/20221210_123749.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VHyyjYiJ0-f1zJ3_REblU-nbwDhHpco87wejV6BohfHdyPTKQgqK33b_2WrT08sQGajo9k5tabbULqIfslh1Z30aeQpZOhuWYOpC_a4mrQv1OfiD6LfCND68SDMLz16FEUbTRl4eKOVAe9Er6Qyfhnbyvij1sHxh1SCB83U4Y8SoeK87Tq0/w400-h225/20221210_123749.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon Setter</td></tr></tbody></table><div>I also enjoyed a great deal of 'dog watching' on this trip. On Floyen I 'spotted a Gordon Setter, a Scottie dog, and a Husky. I saw a total of 12 dog breeds on this trip, including Dalmatian, Greyhound, Britany Spaniel, Cardigan Corgie and Pekinese. But know what? Not a single Labrador or Golden Retriever! Quite shocking considering how many you see in the states. </div><div><br /></div><div>Best spotted breed? Two <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-norwegian-lundehund/" target="_blank">Norwegian Lundehund</a>! Sad I couldn't get a photo of the facinating little breed. </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTEDIXlP65Po2gWDnAz0thU6Xv1zOggsSKQut08P4EpAHCnGeifnM8wvnG-gx4CimJnwtgsXTpWrjqJUI0XFNenZJRd2qrLX3iB5pzodLY3xBYlqNIv7raOsZaLkfQX2WLpL2I_X1uTaPQG4rXpf51tPfjx2-rYmc9r5yDVjqyt6SHwjZZYM/s4000/20221210_134336.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTEDIXlP65Po2gWDnAz0thU6Xv1zOggsSKQut08P4EpAHCnGeifnM8wvnG-gx4CimJnwtgsXTpWrjqJUI0XFNenZJRd2qrLX3iB5pzodLY3xBYlqNIv7raOsZaLkfQX2WLpL2I_X1uTaPQG4rXpf51tPfjx2-rYmc9r5yDVjqyt6SHwjZZYM/w400-h225/20221210_134336.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">V. Silvery Scottish Terrier</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjes_D49feOkf6Aw3cuNrHmKPrb_g1L2sYovlycdkLCtbBQPtagK0pTt1UdaR6v9L_S-r5uFlAvL52X68oooHnfrSNbRKkoeCd2mohzTiT4fQeWR9ahlvCo2tLqFjvJ12_XYh1MOSlErG7cvrCnAjrlLv5n7ms0SLoAeUH285TWRW4lyHpPF4A/s4000/20221210_124048.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjes_D49feOkf6Aw3cuNrHmKPrb_g1L2sYovlycdkLCtbBQPtagK0pTt1UdaR6v9L_S-r5uFlAvL52X68oooHnfrSNbRKkoeCd2mohzTiT4fQeWR9ahlvCo2tLqFjvJ12_XYh1MOSlErG7cvrCnAjrlLv5n7ms0SLoAeUH285TWRW4lyHpPF4A/w640-h360/20221210_124048.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling peckish, we headed up hill to the big restaurant</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXn_NHleNc0Zbd4woTyelPgNdU58257vNS8u9IWT7QdBx-OKdKtuUYsJlLS7rnFcVaymCfWkfk_NMQ_pAB5--TGz2-dZTPtvfD2gQKDGB6isp7vqPTu70Yb_t8vZdSpkJfJuEVglAU7aI4q_C7AJTVhhhBTpqTST1J1Th9Tu3TY6OpeCPT_c/s4000/20221210_124444.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXn_NHleNc0Zbd4woTyelPgNdU58257vNS8u9IWT7QdBx-OKdKtuUYsJlLS7rnFcVaymCfWkfk_NMQ_pAB5--TGz2-dZTPtvfD2gQKDGB6isp7vqPTu70Yb_t8vZdSpkJfJuEVglAU7aI4q_C7AJTVhhhBTpqTST1J1Th9Tu3TY6OpeCPT_c/w640-h362/20221210_124444.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes... the restaurant had me at the doors and doorknobs!</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNxVULLGHJTUPVspcscg9qERzz9RlmodnJnmsaPnTnvufGq3s-Bin0OZP20VEyrNXXDdQCWLxCjS2xjwM3cePiFaIbGwbYCeGPt-vJHRZEYHpGR3mzs135j43uIdjxhUO4eDzagXBFIT6_CCpXnXv7J8rriZXrO92MFYPJ81qBQEOswIrMRw/s4000/20221210_124528.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNxVULLGHJTUPVspcscg9qERzz9RlmodnJnmsaPnTnvufGq3s-Bin0OZP20VEyrNXXDdQCWLxCjS2xjwM3cePiFaIbGwbYCeGPt-vJHRZEYHpGR3mzs135j43uIdjxhUO4eDzagXBFIT6_CCpXnXv7J8rriZXrO92MFYPJ81qBQEOswIrMRw/w640-h362/20221210_124528.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful venue with window seats that take in the panoramic view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCU_ulCN0zptF6KsC7p_n40sSO5SNtInOS8k8WItX8fA9ogzenq6UcR6WeyttbqQhc6BiuJIEwROuqJndOpT-styJvZdWgXGmMwAW6AdTFl4C1BP4EkagavxU0iJ5r9eVcm8g23sADKWxgfTiFzNg-OIvEEQK8JBYR5yZlo92XGCWZ9uhyMg/s4000/20221210_124713.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCU_ulCN0zptF6KsC7p_n40sSO5SNtInOS8k8WItX8fA9ogzenq6UcR6WeyttbqQhc6BiuJIEwROuqJndOpT-styJvZdWgXGmMwAW6AdTFl4C1BP4EkagavxU0iJ5r9eVcm8g23sADKWxgfTiFzNg-OIvEEQK8JBYR5yZlo92XGCWZ9uhyMg/w640-h360/20221210_124713.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of luncheon choice, including huge pots of several soups</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfGMGEHnqCIec75LjEGHjGR1BVXuTDCn1YgKPATgZ_yImCb0tx4usleE1a731T_rjAzJPJXpLXz-9v5gVZXF7x9OMIAg50CNqLvPrkPgwaPWwZ-ghWy0F1M6JqNjNAWWsgyDW7JkWK6R1qCwrjxRiMBV-STtPlZv6MHHVjEZKKIuh1Bd0pds/s4000/20221210_125847.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfGMGEHnqCIec75LjEGHjGR1BVXuTDCn1YgKPATgZ_yImCb0tx4usleE1a731T_rjAzJPJXpLXz-9v5gVZXF7x9OMIAg50CNqLvPrkPgwaPWwZ-ghWy0F1M6JqNjNAWWsgyDW7JkWK6R1qCwrjxRiMBV-STtPlZv6MHHVjEZKKIuh1Bd0pds/w640-h362/20221210_125847.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I talked myself out of getting dessert, but I did enjoy <br />a Shrimp salad with cucumber and plenty of lemon juice. </td></tr></tbody></table></div><br />AH! Now back to the tram. Here's a super short vid of the ride on the Fløibanen funicular. <br /><div><br /></div><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O8RtlOKsbE0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-15608623285044727552022-12-09T22:45:00.353-08:002023-08-16T18:10:53.232-07:00Bergen and the Christmas Market<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBQZBmpnSKZtkQY6Orf0O2tI8q7FiA2T79beLCMXFGGFIyYdXJdWQwSrIvrNiAtw5V7K8UE5bvExng7a7GPf59sW14pk15gEX6zpOeJ-sS-7cxa8Sa6W-IxE8C0exrGxFiZJQLvcAhqAYEnIoa9iUFAioYfpytHkPoyrsfaPPpTu4dehBgqQ/s4000/20221209_111337.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBQZBmpnSKZtkQY6Orf0O2tI8q7FiA2T79beLCMXFGGFIyYdXJdWQwSrIvrNiAtw5V7K8UE5bvExng7a7GPf59sW14pk15gEX6zpOeJ-sS-7cxa8Sa6W-IxE8C0exrGxFiZJQLvcAhqAYEnIoa9iUFAioYfpytHkPoyrsfaPPpTu4dehBgqQ/w640-h360/20221209_111337.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You a city has woed you when even the manhole covers seem romantic</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">The stay in Bergen lasted 2 days and 3 nights. Each day we feasted at the Thon Hotel's incredible breakfast buffet. After having enjoyed the daily buffets on the Hurtigruten cruise, we were surprised to discover there was more than one fantastic buffet venues to be had in Norway!</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegW5SRZ-lA5BPnq117DiMRd5iHsbwbKxFScMMqebSBhhzDiUoqTaFdKAplZiuce1UdHOOR36gz5yp-ui5VmsIbNasWO--YI4-2cGgyMrtkEXXzs_bmhNdwxNORM1ewaPfD3Vu5yfJk1Rk21DbOItAv91SOB_xXtK2MSNW1xAhYQdHMKGCc7A/s4000/20221209_082931.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegW5SRZ-lA5BPnq117DiMRd5iHsbwbKxFScMMqebSBhhzDiUoqTaFdKAplZiuce1UdHOOR36gz5yp-ui5VmsIbNasWO--YI4-2cGgyMrtkEXXzs_bmhNdwxNORM1ewaPfD3Vu5yfJk1Rk21DbOItAv91SOB_xXtK2MSNW1xAhYQdHMKGCc7A/w640-h360/20221209_082931.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You could find every kind of egg dish you fancy at this Thon breakfast station</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BbzJ1UBy69lKUnnX7fB25nqpXoZsGRJlMCO5Nc3cYG-wMY1bgU5jGd5DwLWIgo2IsbBLteUNGMKgK1NbuykS_pRwezAEP4UryXT4eF5ZN2rgj9Hv0w7uzdcg2TSNPHCXmA-oQQduFEk_QKc5rTNM6JNmma-9UKHEArrKt8_ytJqQociPYpQ/s4000/20221209_083010.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BbzJ1UBy69lKUnnX7fB25nqpXoZsGRJlMCO5Nc3cYG-wMY1bgU5jGd5DwLWIgo2IsbBLteUNGMKgK1NbuykS_pRwezAEP4UryXT4eF5ZN2rgj9Hv0w7uzdcg2TSNPHCXmA-oQQduFEk_QKc5rTNM6JNmma-9UKHEArrKt8_ytJqQociPYpQ/w400-h225/20221209_083010.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prefer a quick smoothie for breakfast? You're in luck!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ap0vTOwU275e3VFFCaqlOEccIMqgb0ihNac9J3_F_APcA-PONyl6MarHz94YnJIjDCFBQkG08frKuCFOZq-YZqBDQvGuMhmUqJfkik7IL6rWFehT_rFhQgfOW5HjZhNOkxHKm6WiLJliw83vRGM7fc2tOWYIRErPpkHRHghIvzbV-DJW_aQ/s4000/20221209_083527.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ap0vTOwU275e3VFFCaqlOEccIMqgb0ihNac9J3_F_APcA-PONyl6MarHz94YnJIjDCFBQkG08frKuCFOZq-YZqBDQvGuMhmUqJfkik7IL6rWFehT_rFhQgfOW5HjZhNOkxHKm6WiLJliw83vRGM7fc2tOWYIRErPpkHRHghIvzbV-DJW_aQ/w400-h225/20221209_083527.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do-it-yourself Muesli Station</td></tr></tbody></table> Once crammed full of breakfast, we ventured forth onto the streets of Bergen. Our game plan? Uh... didn't really have one. In fact, a couple of times we just jumped aboard whatever bus was nearby, and let it take us on a little discovery tour. Where did the buses take us... uh... I don't actually know! <div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq1itq-fHIbcT2U0Xxd-uM5tmBJZgRurLS4rYP9vDN66sLYGX9JOIFgE9q4jx9aeDOiHdHCy719xEoLxY6OZKBklzjt8aNOJam1aFFiNhKSA0loNKMfz_r-zJUvBh1LSo79eUw8ZcobkkZb6-7etK2a4G6LkJowVHt1jB5DU9nWU9mOqWzUs/s4000/20221209_115400.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq1itq-fHIbcT2U0Xxd-uM5tmBJZgRurLS4rYP9vDN66sLYGX9JOIFgE9q4jx9aeDOiHdHCy719xEoLxY6OZKBklzjt8aNOJam1aFFiNhKSA0loNKMfz_r-zJUvBh1LSo79eUw8ZcobkkZb6-7etK2a4G6LkJowVHt1jB5DU9nWU9mOqWzUs/w640-h360/20221209_115400.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had to traverse this beautiful cobbled street every day while in Bergen<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUfr14wj8GHqfwNc_tp2BzC23Uk-HkSYVxYyGQpZPjeGzhBi9_M2n_z-AsKlW-Tu-fNZ7gBAaL5LG0EtH2JZH7IViJNjNJAHFExFYCdKEpP620HtRiYeRdmxQdZ6RnYkP2me4JSjEdm7B4uXyvspUqmSTxbertKrvUZu7GBcAZ3sGwAnGSWc/s4000/20221209_115457.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUfr14wj8GHqfwNc_tp2BzC23Uk-HkSYVxYyGQpZPjeGzhBi9_M2n_z-AsKlW-Tu-fNZ7gBAaL5LG0EtH2JZH7IViJNjNJAHFExFYCdKEpP620HtRiYeRdmxQdZ6RnYkP2me4JSjEdm7B4uXyvspUqmSTxbertKrvUZu7GBcAZ3sGwAnGSWc/w400-h226/20221209_115457.jpg" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I loved browsing the cute Jule decor, so entertaining.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRiMOQaY5iIuBq4IbJ-elhLC6NmSm3gLEhrtMcDiASTIPG8jcyT8LXsr-ImU0O0CfdO1oLvMbJqGy6FSJfrsS6WWHLI1-AgqqTsEDdBtrrxsH-s0rRLKPGregkn-bM_HZRQLjP852TpTiyWCpId5tCuQi2z9mEzACQPj_b5PozyTSkMiycNI/s4000/20221208_190316.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRiMOQaY5iIuBq4IbJ-elhLC6NmSm3gLEhrtMcDiASTIPG8jcyT8LXsr-ImU0O0CfdO1oLvMbJqGy6FSJfrsS6WWHLI1-AgqqTsEDdBtrrxsH-s0rRLKPGregkn-bM_HZRQLjP852TpTiyWCpId5tCuQi2z9mEzACQPj_b5PozyTSkMiycNI/w400-h225/20221208_190316.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or entertaining for me anyway...</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjgk96gqcmNkDwxe1oKLkiPZ700q7Kh-OJCs-VbJk4FWTaYiqpw2jLc33s3M1scypbXX_gYqEafwUxTlYS26RBAh4sWACkGyAgJtNkS7XHikVYp6p9AojGBjAMaQRq1aJqdEZbQuxSZ8UU901WLAxufPDDt0ekO-EY5tympe_QTXnvCR45MU/s4000/20221209_121359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjgk96gqcmNkDwxe1oKLkiPZ700q7Kh-OJCs-VbJk4FWTaYiqpw2jLc33s3M1scypbXX_gYqEafwUxTlYS26RBAh4sWACkGyAgJtNkS7XHikVYp6p9AojGBjAMaQRq1aJqdEZbQuxSZ8UU901WLAxufPDDt0ekO-EY5tympe_QTXnvCR45MU/w640-h360/20221209_121359.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><p>On day one there was a little souvenir shopping. I don't buy too many souvenirs, as photos tend to do it for me. There were some interesting shops to explore. My favorite was a silver shop that sold many items that were made by the Sami. I got a few small items.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZ_2MHnJv5dD0GSz-e__158w-9xjrOvjmFMuWMgL52f0R351dy_3Bbep95Uk2bMzpXNgcOjuf6f5otdM0d-ShSZRE5SmLssXiwIr23FSh1SWl8UPgqicumsxtdJxSt22OsUv8Tag4fhUCs85qYdiQtckdbgNirERBzynJlxhvNxtJv0ul0gQ/s4000/20221209_145120.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZ_2MHnJv5dD0GSz-e__158w-9xjrOvjmFMuWMgL52f0R351dy_3Bbep95Uk2bMzpXNgcOjuf6f5otdM0d-ShSZRE5SmLssXiwIr23FSh1SWl8UPgqicumsxtdJxSt22OsUv8Tag4fhUCs85qYdiQtckdbgNirERBzynJlxhvNxtJv0ul0gQ/w400-h225/20221209_145120.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only Norwegian Fjords I saw on this trip</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><br /><p></p>At another small souvenir shop, I spotted the only Norwegian Fjord Horses I saw on the whole trip, and since they were figurines, as opposed to genuine hay burners, but at least I saw some... sort of.<p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHC1DPJ7eMaAaoAtINHoF6PlpYkt8cbstehabdzGpScY--0DjLzM_oCqBtwwCrKm9nz0jBfHc3RqBRIxpqbAZGKNon--90ySjBUR-gAc9Zz9HqEVzyXZDz5dTK-zRzbWVI-aq3L-4PNrUCAljAX9lIqsR8ehpQTBBss1d_fc9ZXHH8b6AgEg/s4000/20221208_160005.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHC1DPJ7eMaAaoAtINHoF6PlpYkt8cbstehabdzGpScY--0DjLzM_oCqBtwwCrKm9nz0jBfHc3RqBRIxpqbAZGKNon--90ySjBUR-gAc9Zz9HqEVzyXZDz5dTK-zRzbWVI-aq3L-4PNrUCAljAX9lIqsR8ehpQTBBss1d_fc9ZXHH8b6AgEg/s320/20221208_160005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />We managed to take one bus that took us to the Bergen Julemarked, we'd passed on our first night in the city. <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2c2JaQSoJjFjClwubUVgyXaRaPNDT48mLp0lQNZsuXshfslIViPPK5nSdKQThWCPb-VR51ZO5xofaIuNBjHck8tIxy-AEVhF4O1OzFhHQLAlMNZL7aDE6MfmHADloGON7ArxgCaHIdk9bfPcvEN1qB25hZUSHBei95LvtKZzbLZ499Qk0pFo/s4000/20221209_140344.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2c2JaQSoJjFjClwubUVgyXaRaPNDT48mLp0lQNZsuXshfslIViPPK5nSdKQThWCPb-VR51ZO5xofaIuNBjHck8tIxy-AEVhF4O1OzFhHQLAlMNZL7aDE6MfmHADloGON7ArxgCaHIdk9bfPcvEN1qB25hZUSHBei95LvtKZzbLZ499Qk0pFo/w640-h360/20221209_140344.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julemarked Polar Bear guarding a tent full of goodies </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdBx97hQjjg7G417Qam2eaWsOKNdaYvf9CTcu9Hwcnr9VsdRKYMuboA4kcsEUFq1S81_jvB6Rwch1YWE-XRXkeSPYQ2O3ileLEvQIlLyGDxwwGM69Vv-dUeLl3INUQu7v3hGzkxwOYi4sfBv_rz_SWFrE7taPuKvHcZ-y2voNkgCTo4xENmw/s4000/20221209_131751.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdBx97hQjjg7G417Qam2eaWsOKNdaYvf9CTcu9Hwcnr9VsdRKYMuboA4kcsEUFq1S81_jvB6Rwch1YWE-XRXkeSPYQ2O3ileLEvQIlLyGDxwwGM69Vv-dUeLl3INUQu7v3hGzkxwOYi4sfBv_rz_SWFrE7taPuKvHcZ-y2voNkgCTo4xENmw/w640-h360/20221209_131751.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The Julemarket had many aisles to stroll alongside the locals.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNYah7jPP_noskkhjGEHdbtBHMSDWRSPvsUV9x7nMBlovF8KXT5AubvczxnadM_-JCZW6xvvUdc7Ef8Q5_V3ntctUqduEs2ZM4zk_JRV7WVmOx6IM8A4pD10P1WwJd3i-Udxgn22Hkq7ELnm_pRo8LZwhKIX9j8-39rhzy-RUEAJRV12oVVo/s4000/20221209_132035.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNYah7jPP_noskkhjGEHdbtBHMSDWRSPvsUV9x7nMBlovF8KXT5AubvczxnadM_-JCZW6xvvUdc7Ef8Q5_V3ntctUqduEs2ZM4zk_JRV7WVmOx6IM8A4pD10P1WwJd3i-Udxgn22Hkq7ELnm_pRo8LZwhKIX9j8-39rhzy-RUEAJRV12oVVo/w640-h360/20221209_132035.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Um.... Cheeses!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpDe5Q9bpofrz8QGbVENmED3YaWJCoJuYzuhZF8CDRLUxmMeeP8-yGo0lBF9wCXa7oq_Z14_aQabORV2kqguuIBR3YAtBAy5p8WVpOAP2AY4pNvxVuQiydDHyhHvGOtCOzRs-NMk6u1O8FKlvzHN8DBdH1wt1wKfmrnlv6v20G08X18Gr7z0/s4000/20221209_133121.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpDe5Q9bpofrz8QGbVENmED3YaWJCoJuYzuhZF8CDRLUxmMeeP8-yGo0lBF9wCXa7oq_Z14_aQabORV2kqguuIBR3YAtBAy5p8WVpOAP2AY4pNvxVuQiydDHyhHvGOtCOzRs-NMk6u1O8FKlvzHN8DBdH1wt1wKfmrnlv6v20G08X18Gr7z0/w640-h360/20221209_133121.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the goods shown here are made of chocolate, even the 'rubber duckies'<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvzBVmfcKMQ66-JhJaOyjldfgRYx1J1sxJwHSDzXhtRI62EQg0NddXS_IDk1LzWufHPjoQaZRuV2NKQ6QJvcgvREDOMiNZYJOVqAjyCDnMiAUWxopIBjYpTZpk03JKMiU3x19eHPTzldlR9a9dbzxZ9cutr0cyQE5QjcIaRAUIUHkPNJXvjE/w640-h362/20221209_133614.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took time out for a hot snack at a dining tent</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cUISGpiWPGUt-wQf42fSUulFwsvWovT4TfEA1IzYjedSKEUJIW1dxKV33EaXLgKE_M8iT-mi65WQWfL_eLK19sQKOfjzbKTSs7-Obe1Jhn603pakTJ5PB3FLz_dUB_RWD20ZGcM8Apg_yOKH16fcJGREjI-gxesNonkwU-6vfGKZjCyfoJ4/s4000/20221209_131500.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cUISGpiWPGUt-wQf42fSUulFwsvWovT4TfEA1IzYjedSKEUJIW1dxKV33EaXLgKE_M8iT-mi65WQWfL_eLK19sQKOfjzbKTSs7-Obe1Jhn603pakTJ5PB3FLz_dUB_RWD20ZGcM8Apg_yOKH16fcJGREjI-gxesNonkwU-6vfGKZjCyfoJ4/w640-h362/20221209_131500.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warming up at a hanging fire</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div>At day's end, as we walked back towards our hotel, a local bakery/deli was spotted. The little shop became our source of dinner the days we were in Bergen. <div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T5rze9JptPruH0gfZ2kyoC5o2Rchxn42mfBJQwDf2jZIZKM4ZQL-w9uCcBn76wbjSS5dkO1KyvlfCD0q9VBLy2t6IQ0EeuFdrvQ0nra5aZAQ9wF26pZQjCFvVGeFFoX-VMqEnTTXPkkv5mKhee1iR35YIw1Ms7CQbNaQJgJsMxh8pjgPmtw/s4000/20221209_143710.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T5rze9JptPruH0gfZ2kyoC5o2Rchxn42mfBJQwDf2jZIZKM4ZQL-w9uCcBn76wbjSS5dkO1KyvlfCD0q9VBLy2t6IQ0EeuFdrvQ0nra5aZAQ9wF26pZQjCFvVGeFFoX-VMqEnTTXPkkv5mKhee1iR35YIw1Ms7CQbNaQJgJsMxh8pjgPmtw/w400-h225/20221209_143710.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely deli for sandwiches and hot chocolate</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWV8a-052nXgLcihJw2yT3CGC-wEH0blxRwhgDKl7vlF44ycwGbzm7usbEK-PXe19n3b-5X0SGoLJkAo056AB-kF_HdihBVL6IPgpFV39PcaMF8iwIiTq_I1IKLJJK6r0fNMrXUdcVkrlLEsNmDIqgKj6r7Tz9gnoGmgr9BuLm2vzKrwtesM/s4000/20221209_143232.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWV8a-052nXgLcihJw2yT3CGC-wEH0blxRwhgDKl7vlF44ycwGbzm7usbEK-PXe19n3b-5X0SGoLJkAo056AB-kF_HdihBVL6IPgpFV39PcaMF8iwIiTq_I1IKLJJK6r0fNMrXUdcVkrlLEsNmDIqgKj6r7Tz9gnoGmgr9BuLm2vzKrwtesM/w400-h225/20221209_143232.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only complaint? Too many tempting treats for sale</td></tr></tbody></table> </div>Each evening after a day's roaming the city, I'd end my day in the hotel lobby. There were two lovely sitting rooms where hotel guests could watch a Norwegian football game on a large screen TV, or hunker in front of an open fireplace. Myself, I always sat on a comfy chair, busy scribbling into my travel journal, always a perfectly cozy way to end my Norwegian adventure day. How about a quick view of the lobby, and my love affair with its Nespresso machine. <br /><br /><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/41PZoLuoJrA" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></center><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: helvetica;">[UPDATE: For no real good reason, here is my Nespresso, in its sacred spot on my upstairs coffee corner. Beware... there be dragons here...]</span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkV8ampaGYbffaOjk4EjH5uoq8nU2siDDnUA1c-_lnJS5l9lqr3PMxa3UbFWzYQWx4wQBpRRp2OA2GgkDRw1zNY7ghH-5cHGbR_NjyBTNdVBADzZ2EM1DfXNBWM1O3CIgv2n2EfMymaV2fQMFENl4tfyLkLw6RncIE43FlsjdWnl5iiIm1SQ/s2490/20230505_072231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="2490" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkV8ampaGYbffaOjk4EjH5uoq8nU2siDDnUA1c-_lnJS5l9lqr3PMxa3UbFWzYQWx4wQBpRRp2OA2GgkDRw1zNY7ghH-5cHGbR_NjyBTNdVBADzZ2EM1DfXNBWM1O3CIgv2n2EfMymaV2fQMFENl4tfyLkLw6RncIE43FlsjdWnl5iiIm1SQ/w400-h361/20230505_072231.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-17756452015523199132022-12-08T19:38:00.001-08:002023-08-16T18:11:50.273-07:00Onward to Snow and Bergen<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlnWJ2g7IjCLwBcZFYPMI8AE6xd5p4pOct-6rhHQ4XDEopmwaYgdFJC9IX61oKvNw_jEFWXSRMroS6Nd-ySdKDIBMOk2Ikm91p6H8X0PFwTIlqM7_eO97ava9qPD3BuPkw8SuFIEOnE1rRzBLGLbQxIAPfmsp2lCSzIwpEpLeivgFIUZDv3M/s4000/20221207_065505.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlnWJ2g7IjCLwBcZFYPMI8AE6xd5p4pOct-6rhHQ4XDEopmwaYgdFJC9IX61oKvNw_jEFWXSRMroS6Nd-ySdKDIBMOk2Ikm91p6H8X0PFwTIlqM7_eO97ava9qPD3BuPkw8SuFIEOnE1rRzBLGLbQxIAPfmsp2lCSzIwpEpLeivgFIUZDv3M/w640-h360/20221207_065505.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late night view of the first snows, through room porthole</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>When the good ship <i>Richard With</i> headed south, back to Bergen, snow began to fall. It snowed all afternoon, and on into the evening. I was scheduled for an excursion for an underground boat excursion into a Bergtatt marble mine, but the snows cancelled out the trip. The trip was to take place all evening, with a special late night 'feed' upon the tour occupants return, but honestly - one look at the snow out the window and you knew cancelation was the only sane option. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBfqpOrk-aQ3gowD6xSRFRXKdzTUg8KSCpu5vNnXHhfRJuxotHLSorZS4TGxv-chyycXW80imDNObD9X0YMDqaTpeBTp_q1GChokS_3XNG-Y6UlOjvYpeqbnW1-4Y6hl18HOwKbX6M1cM72UBGr966Ap9aBD2IaMEyJ7niiWGwuiinYAXnJY/s4000/20221208_105250.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBfqpOrk-aQ3gowD6xSRFRXKdzTUg8KSCpu5vNnXHhfRJuxotHLSorZS4TGxv-chyycXW80imDNObD9X0YMDqaTpeBTp_q1GChokS_3XNG-Y6UlOjvYpeqbnW1-4Y6hl18HOwKbX6M1cM72UBGr966Ap9aBD2IaMEyJ7niiWGwuiinYAXnJY/w400-h226/20221208_105250.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cormorants on a bouy</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The final afternoon onboard ship, I was pretty bummed that the wonder cruise was almost at an end. Spent most the day attempting to bird as snow covered islands and other interesting landmarks appeared to float by.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The lump on the islet below to the left is the 2nd of two White-tailed Eagles which were either too fast, or too far off for me to get a decent photos. </div><div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiLzwfJ2J7vbdI3TtRW8LtXbgEuLFkGuWC3TsgWJkv0lBKZWYfHnR073VyPWEVUXyIumuj12SY473X5YGgK8-nGKtBY-W5z2uHrWfL8IbQeSIuFY5joNSKzeQQ-VvcheuP5wo692CVaWM9yL2MPSaMmQIzInsAJ1TQFxWndCTxXqH3b36U2k/s4000/20221208_105000.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiLzwfJ2J7vbdI3TtRW8LtXbgEuLFkGuWC3TsgWJkv0lBKZWYfHnR073VyPWEVUXyIumuj12SY473X5YGgK8-nGKtBY-W5z2uHrWfL8IbQeSIuFY5joNSKzeQQ-VvcheuP5wo692CVaWM9yL2MPSaMmQIzInsAJ1TQFxWndCTxXqH3b36U2k/w400-h226/20221208_105000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KzHIXLcLuZ4gQyNDg44E5BMV_l-n_DTgufXXsWQACysjI1O6oZQHIssLQ0eMdw22n4-qx6r38FEwUyryVAHVqra5n5wmDypPHmgHDsIyQ4gDLfuUoH6IF5xQ-5Pb6Dx7V1lSQOovAj8qSixp6Z8DMa9c1RWNSnsQjxMHBWzckJ1Qcp49oLc/s4000/20221208_105017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KzHIXLcLuZ4gQyNDg44E5BMV_l-n_DTgufXXsWQACysjI1O6oZQHIssLQ0eMdw22n4-qx6r38FEwUyryVAHVqra5n5wmDypPHmgHDsIyQ4gDLfuUoH6IF5xQ-5Pb6Dx7V1lSQOovAj8qSixp6Z8DMa9c1RWNSnsQjxMHBWzckJ1Qcp49oLc/w640-h360/20221208_105017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'lump' is a majestic White-tailed Eagle - take my word for it. </td></tr></tbody></table><div>In the late afternoon the ship docked in Bergan. While we waited for the announcement for our ship level 3 to leave the ship, I spotted a pair of Swans flying in to the little harbor. The uncooperative birds didn't come close enough for me to ID them. <br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObiwd6K3WajoSQYM6TZI23pt3TJsqYaJ1xro1fc903htbiY8UxEbI13xB6kWPeHZDnm03i4nTjdyMUPaJtim0IsudH96UfCwh-_rApKevZyZEFs7zyjsIhZXW5U6_ulbw1T48khWsMnP7qmGx8MoEc18r0MC2KIQx199ceRyndkUz3xTndYE/s4000/20221208_143959.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObiwd6K3WajoSQYM6TZI23pt3TJsqYaJ1xro1fc903htbiY8UxEbI13xB6kWPeHZDnm03i4nTjdyMUPaJtim0IsudH96UfCwh-_rApKevZyZEFs7zyjsIhZXW5U6_ulbw1T48khWsMnP7qmGx8MoEc18r0MC2KIQx199ceRyndkUz3xTndYE/w400-h225/20221208_143959.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuHecDD9DBbH0JLg0wAg2VliDA5mTc5v_wU1Z_MBTYXVhpK0nKp3510ojnwdM0vR1adhJnmLVf4rXquvGiRYZ7fHAS86xol1ueqiyR6g4TF2XT2_ssKJfM8_-lTyhCKMsS6E5_xOOCnWQu9RwLvtnxFXdvBvDxsqdVX9rE04Kg5-pk8lff3s/s4000/20221208_144021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuHecDD9DBbH0JLg0wAg2VliDA5mTc5v_wU1Z_MBTYXVhpK0nKp3510ojnwdM0vR1adhJnmLVf4rXquvGiRYZ7fHAS86xol1ueqiyR6g4TF2XT2_ssKJfM8_-lTyhCKMsS6E5_xOOCnWQu9RwLvtnxFXdvBvDxsqdVX9rE04Kg5-pk8lff3s/w400-h225/20221208_144021.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncooperative Waterfowl</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>The ship decks (levels) disembarked one by one. Soon deck 3's time to leave ship was announced and soon I was on shore, pulling my luggage off the baggage carousel. The plan was to visit in Bergen for a couple of days before heading back to the states. And rather than a cab to our hotel, we took a Hurtigruten tour bus that would drop us off at our chosen hotel. It was still daylight when we got on board the tour bus, and it was dark by the time we got to our hotel. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3k8aTR6UX9e8WzBCm4AzpoFgp0tVtC5qNxyGj7D_78hD1yHlLlx7vceajm-5wjGm0r_-xxSz9aF1s00-RGgsMBxJzDGr_BAJ-NK-F3SltIdEgo4-3J-wuEZuvYF4-FiCz5BbpAxrBTBN_L6e99fHJsj_OuCLLA-1hqz_97fIBq5bolGRHBM/s4000/20221208_152213.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3k8aTR6UX9e8WzBCm4AzpoFgp0tVtC5qNxyGj7D_78hD1yHlLlx7vceajm-5wjGm0r_-xxSz9aF1s00-RGgsMBxJzDGr_BAJ-NK-F3SltIdEgo4-3J-wuEZuvYF4-FiCz5BbpAxrBTBN_L6e99fHJsj_OuCLLA-1hqz_97fIBq5bolGRHBM/w640-h360/20221208_152213.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful downtown Bergen</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvic5Gscj4zQ9bfjqtYbgETSpT5sQZYJl71kDSZ3d_6z_HnnQLbn4m_PBCtuo90XTwMdSj4HaV5q5lsmONvCmWlzffWl5yPil25Z3qesQNqONCdFOxytnFShhB791ULTim_w8dF3pLc8875egsiWcVW8D3_fE1BT4EcEbWmpRZqBhKVSXuB9g/s4000/20221208_153056.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvic5Gscj4zQ9bfjqtYbgETSpT5sQZYJl71kDSZ3d_6z_HnnQLbn4m_PBCtuo90XTwMdSj4HaV5q5lsmONvCmWlzffWl5yPil25Z3qesQNqONCdFOxytnFShhB791ULTim_w8dF3pLc8875egsiWcVW8D3_fE1BT4EcEbWmpRZqBhKVSXuB9g/w640-h360/20221208_153056.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many buildings date back to the 1600s</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Outside of the National Theater is a statue of Henrik Ibsen, famous author of The Doll's House, which my Colorado cousins saw a couple of years ago on Broadway. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnONIxEGEytUh0ub17Ekz9ChTTMVzeHcTUND0eZPdBpiMiWHxwk-nZhmnO41jEW0Sdgwhh0O1lMlEFMpRlye1cDr2OtEOQUEfZITcTk5peyDEfRBdiQTC1ftucLNbN6ZBnurdS3fT5gp-kq25SEetIhXFfLSVThLcj5LTnxzqoI5lXyI3yDmQ/s4000/20221208_153425.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnONIxEGEytUh0ub17Ekz9ChTTMVzeHcTUND0eZPdBpiMiWHxwk-nZhmnO41jEW0Sdgwhh0O1lMlEFMpRlye1cDr2OtEOQUEfZITcTk5peyDEfRBdiQTC1ftucLNbN6ZBnurdS3fT5gp-kq25SEetIhXFfLSVThLcj5LTnxzqoI5lXyI3yDmQ/w640-h360/20221208_153425.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow dusted statue of Norsk playwright Henrik Ibsen</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBw2z1WNQPIVx-qd2dp5_7QeAzLuEMSG69EosDajG4XvEohtXc11xWJxLu6EFH1FS0YWvHy0CkuLQONLvnqV-oY--6n6uSCuW2zkmHBaFTQ2b2jORCXhZ3KRvD0IPsdjEpnGWmgZMrTdMN8__AsxzCukvmKqO94RpfN_hkWrie49mDpFg1TXQ/s4000/20221208_154926.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBw2z1WNQPIVx-qd2dp5_7QeAzLuEMSG69EosDajG4XvEohtXc11xWJxLu6EFH1FS0YWvHy0CkuLQONLvnqV-oY--6n6uSCuW2zkmHBaFTQ2b2jORCXhZ3KRvD0IPsdjEpnGWmgZMrTdMN8__AsxzCukvmKqO94RpfN_hkWrie49mDpFg1TXQ/w640-h360/20221208_154926.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Fair, which we WILL return to visit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5dXnyoFcErSD7oTpB-iwQUu1EaKguUoJ2d35rgBXGRNeQSWd5rtl2q7v7pym9Z1RDVXN_p--u1dyRZOWw5B_0IbyfdDyM241JknOaQAEMjdVl7H_F7qAq0cJBvjkNw4ZNAIhyU91ko7hldY6yG_bOP9qJel7uzVX73ZH1MYm1cdjl5HkMNE/s4000/20221208_154344.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5dXnyoFcErSD7oTpB-iwQUu1EaKguUoJ2d35rgBXGRNeQSWd5rtl2q7v7pym9Z1RDVXN_p--u1dyRZOWw5B_0IbyfdDyM241JknOaQAEMjdVl7H_F7qAq0cJBvjkNw4ZNAIhyU91ko7hldY6yG_bOP9qJel7uzVX73ZH1MYm1cdjl5HkMNE/w640-h360/20221208_154344.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. John's Church in the distance</td></tr></tbody></table>'The Academic Quarter' (below) is student run housing, that hosts lots of cultural events throughout the year. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkC42diPzt5f161E_Pt_ITOYZQEdGQKZOaE_jmwSF1blvoqxggY4ExYJXmuwLfMLAGb9mEW-ryCriaD18VXXbYc-gc2d8Tu55JZn2BnwvNKcyeCVmomK22XPzSalayaPJ46wCCrk4b8zuFAslHiKRwV_PLzmY7vUDqDW24V10jYGPJplxvjs/s4000/20221208_154435.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkC42diPzt5f161E_Pt_ITOYZQEdGQKZOaE_jmwSF1blvoqxggY4ExYJXmuwLfMLAGb9mEW-ryCriaD18VXXbYc-gc2d8Tu55JZn2BnwvNKcyeCVmomK22XPzSalayaPJ46wCCrk4b8zuFAslHiKRwV_PLzmY7vUDqDW24V10jYGPJplxvjs/w640-h360/20221208_154435.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Academic Quarter </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNOBltmptB_fYA0K-toxVwuSPIkVQlmFK5HEFTeQERKByNJGdpCqfeHGwesy2JqMHNnXrOmIeX77YgXWIHld3WxCKK6Qrtk8HEGIWXMRLIApZHbb3hLHDONM1gQsugoRoj-h8H35xJURpmcj9ZdUrtqPD0P4Vhvo2igSqFh7B9ELVQBiTMtw/s4000/20221208_161357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNOBltmptB_fYA0K-toxVwuSPIkVQlmFK5HEFTeQERKByNJGdpCqfeHGwesy2JqMHNnXrOmIeX77YgXWIHld3WxCKK6Qrtk8HEGIWXMRLIApZHbb3hLHDONM1gQsugoRoj-h8H35xJURpmcj9ZdUrtqPD0P4Vhvo2igSqFh7B9ELVQBiTMtw/w400-h225/20221208_161357.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of Jule lights along the route</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pLl_Wxafq2XMBPIWI7FeidRWNJdPvhS09BaY7edOZ5WWQqtJUWvmuNsow3ztD8uqa9Rw-btxubpMk_I08jocOHNcM4zaMCYkJQ7fPQ3GnFQ9Mm6482OHWxQ28vSN4OEtdQVBSaLdhsyqvDdGy9LFRcFYa4JkZAHKr1lkqBMVqdSLoi-fvok/s4000/20221208_161504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pLl_Wxafq2XMBPIWI7FeidRWNJdPvhS09BaY7edOZ5WWQqtJUWvmuNsow3ztD8uqa9Rw-btxubpMk_I08jocOHNcM4zaMCYkJQ7fPQ3GnFQ9Mm6482OHWxQ28vSN4OEtdQVBSaLdhsyqvDdGy9LFRcFYa4JkZAHKr1lkqBMVqdSLoi-fvok/w400-h225/20221208_161504.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the glowing school of fishies?</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZKMmLqLhjsczsBhcF8pf_gSI4MCePhJQzXVIw9xHyQKdRk-aULahzQDUtEnlO1ipjbRECmr3OyytR-JVQroctnIARALhDPid_NXez4ZlRDoU9IWBxzSFoF4_6FdqvGIS_NiHqq7IftSnwB8GG32KctI7L3ohEeopfgIflCpABkjE5Ji3IzI/s4000/20221208_161216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZKMmLqLhjsczsBhcF8pf_gSI4MCePhJQzXVIw9xHyQKdRk-aULahzQDUtEnlO1ipjbRECmr3OyytR-JVQroctnIARALhDPid_NXez4ZlRDoU9IWBxzSFoF4_6FdqvGIS_NiHqq7IftSnwB8GG32KctI7L3ohEeopfgIflCpABkjE5Ji3IzI/w640-h360/20221208_161216.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a block from our hotel, the Thon stands the historic <br />Rosenkranz Tower, the oldest castle in all of Norway</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div>All comfy in our room, we headed out on a hike to find someplace to have dinner. That was more of a chore than expected, it being the holiday season. We found most restaurants were pre-booked. We finally settled on a bar/cafe where we feasted on traditional Norwegian Nacho Supremes. Yeah, I know, but the tortilla chips crunched with a Norge accent. Tomorrow we tour Bergen. </div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-56238920975903065472022-12-04T13:33:00.008-08:002023-08-16T17:27:46.121-07:00Hammerfest and Nordkapp, Norway<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KaHMUfwry_f-7q1XQoYJEyuZ5VKR0L1da6AmUqNVOFYOl3vSiZdmTpfsrgM9VdAYp3MbDdhqx4uziVligYvVfx6V7mC-RoW2kh5EYxFb0Ke4BjsgRCICCIB-KmANMkv8-jEdJGyUXXP8lt15m_9ZVlzrb-4hsERuTZi4rLNcvwCjVWP7XI4/s4000/20221204_115350.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KaHMUfwry_f-7q1XQoYJEyuZ5VKR0L1da6AmUqNVOFYOl3vSiZdmTpfsrgM9VdAYp3MbDdhqx4uziVligYvVfx6V7mC-RoW2kh5EYxFb0Ke4BjsgRCICCIB-KmANMkv8-jEdJGyUXXP8lt15m_9ZVlzrb-4hsERuTZi4rLNcvwCjVWP7XI4/w640-h360/20221204_115350.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Hammerfest harbor with Richard With (cruise ship) moored in the distance</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4w1dvXBAdB5mQGf5riNkk6xxYFaX4nL3ziS_0ORcZM7YhtbhySw-pilK-iPtggJ9aFx71VgVsv9-oQU0k8xwxY73x6CEUjQQZoA4rXEy6PAJpbYTWcwia4swwh3-japymR0F70ANfnQMwEo5wOQYWxYz8JcJC-2eDZ953fwNTSfQWsnepCw/s4000/20221204_112008.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4w1dvXBAdB5mQGf5riNkk6xxYFaX4nL3ziS_0ORcZM7YhtbhySw-pilK-iPtggJ9aFx71VgVsv9-oQU0k8xwxY73x6CEUjQQZoA4rXEy6PAJpbYTWcwia4swwh3-japymR0F70ANfnQMwEo5wOQYWxYz8JcJC-2eDZ953fwNTSfQWsnepCw/w400-h225/20221204_112008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />At the ship dock, this polar bear mascot welcomes visitors to Hammerfest. <p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13QWgO3XPkxYClq3q2WnAQE3qugHWhoKOyZckqN489xvjbswCqDVCfCtf7plAujtKwCikOmzIzgJ9xVPpgEbSCqz5-UMYnM7EDKW5YE4zeCltv1oGjFuDJ3Op71JH3SbTtT-C-V33BAUGOcUHh7CWnuFwffxl3Wt6ud3SBo4DxfXzZGgk5JA/s4000/20221204_115111.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13QWgO3XPkxYClq3q2WnAQE3qugHWhoKOyZckqN489xvjbswCqDVCfCtf7plAujtKwCikOmzIzgJ9xVPpgEbSCqz5-UMYnM7EDKW5YE4zeCltv1oGjFuDJ3Op71JH3SbTtT-C-V33BAUGOcUHh7CWnuFwffxl3Wt6ud3SBo4DxfXzZGgk5JA/w640-h360/20221204_115111.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An ancient Sami thatched type house</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQe-T7Tnv8kSfv_5u1MP2INB9yPZuw-Sf-srY0gOQAYC00yefzg6oa1iKG1xCDyVK8s4AkX9HfQbMyjpu-PfAJ5c6aY44O-ms3iozI7I_QuQeTZ627WHUteJQoDMC4SMvhf-CSU4_S99V7BEhRzxM-jdcM_rfCCO-mNwavRnm-ZBk0F65WHrc/s4000/20221204_115313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQe-T7Tnv8kSfv_5u1MP2INB9yPZuw-Sf-srY0gOQAYC00yefzg6oa1iKG1xCDyVK8s4AkX9HfQbMyjpu-PfAJ5c6aY44O-ms3iozI7I_QuQeTZ627WHUteJQoDMC4SMvhf-CSU4_S99V7BEhRzxM-jdcM_rfCCO-mNwavRnm-ZBk0F65WHrc/w640-h360/20221204_115313.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0mDgtDTS8oCOuzQmG_tbVOwU19eYZPet9bVZX4Laf_fd-tRr4nvXC2E-3sj_Y5QoZu016I0ijp08ZkDONJ6EjZnV_VUPKuCz-kmfIRREmQnL-gMT4HthmR_51uzUPl4ZSgUM9WxrfCU-rggUvrM0FAk6dCI7HvkSa82LIWrMhbCeFX8B4Oo/s4000/20221204_120730.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0mDgtDTS8oCOuzQmG_tbVOwU19eYZPet9bVZX4Laf_fd-tRr4nvXC2E-3sj_Y5QoZu016I0ijp08ZkDONJ6EjZnV_VUPKuCz-kmfIRREmQnL-gMT4HthmR_51uzUPl4ZSgUM9WxrfCU-rggUvrM0FAk6dCI7HvkSa82LIWrMhbCeFX8B4Oo/w640-h360/20221204_120730.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bussing though the holiday lit town</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4aeKrB79cqgQRBh0NUJ94uuLXMZmqNjpTAdq7V-BvYEz2TOCCKPYcgT4ybvmqCX4XsPGF6JXf4HXZ3mRnoVbUhIBH6oMPIc-xGI02Sj_C_mfJR1VhUYkmH_7L4qK3ZVs4psWjNC0noa83bXszAdS82j0u1FDN4eKRILde3Z6UTcvA-iZt68/s4000/20221204_121021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4aeKrB79cqgQRBh0NUJ94uuLXMZmqNjpTAdq7V-BvYEz2TOCCKPYcgT4ybvmqCX4XsPGF6JXf4HXZ3mRnoVbUhIBH6oMPIc-xGI02Sj_C_mfJR1VhUYkmH_7L4qK3ZVs4psWjNC0noa83bXszAdS82j0u1FDN4eKRILde3Z6UTcvA-iZt68/w640-h360/20221204_121021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hammerfest's Musuem of Reconstruction</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvS93kWuF11FSdSjJdJfzC9K0_kLZ0lR6HpVjkmSSh1GMwXbWDHNFR9ogkN5XXi5Mzmw9UQ_DLse7Gf_8UpMRIks0Vds2JTebnD9YWOOq8CuHyLo0MzPAP4NpJL1n9HsaTFNRgMo9usOaIOAem3kU6RSfx9X8bzSQC-9eH1Dnykmv_Z36VHg/s4000/20221204_121156.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvS93kWuF11FSdSjJdJfzC9K0_kLZ0lR6HpVjkmSSh1GMwXbWDHNFR9ogkN5XXi5Mzmw9UQ_DLse7Gf_8UpMRIks0Vds2JTebnD9YWOOq8CuHyLo0MzPAP4NpJL1n9HsaTFNRgMo9usOaIOAem3kU6RSfx9X8bzSQC-9eH1Dnykmv_Z36VHg/w640-h360/20221204_121156.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">museum mock up of an old fashioned dry goods store, complete with hanging stockfisk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LASF4qD3OmC4mRhcRYTg0lTjt46bYd_DFOhwzZoOOPwj4FaFKLqWDp9Y9qIBw-slwQS7A9bbSGBQPhalBl32GBVua3Ul0ogQSgEqOWVa6fWnuj5qHbH8svdarc9RN-C_Ia3AfXXSKbQyoobVAOs4WHfgWAXPKY17dBD_yPA3lRN58kBFkDo/s4000/20221204_121244.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LASF4qD3OmC4mRhcRYTg0lTjt46bYd_DFOhwzZoOOPwj4FaFKLqWDp9Y9qIBw-slwQS7A9bbSGBQPhalBl32GBVua3Ul0ogQSgEqOWVa6fWnuj5qHbH8svdarc9RN-C_Ia3AfXXSKbQyoobVAOs4WHfgWAXPKY17dBD_yPA3lRN58kBFkDo/w640-h360/20221204_121244.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fanciest, hand carved keychains EVER!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2xWnkJLXrD_C-L55lKBRzPUs5Ubnl2TrZZpq3roGF9-i4dheIy8_dDkv9Ne5ZpjuxyrT96OQNVagsgOAxV-KIrdON8I7KedfPG6keWvvUmSGqqw5weIJt1C_973Hd7XMW_P_zC9gEwiaJhtvujxJPuyiO24bxT-1uR0gjmeueObfGT61q0Q/s4000/20221204_121504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2xWnkJLXrD_C-L55lKBRzPUs5Ubnl2TrZZpq3roGF9-i4dheIy8_dDkv9Ne5ZpjuxyrT96OQNVagsgOAxV-KIrdON8I7KedfPG6keWvvUmSGqqw5weIJt1C_973Hd7XMW_P_zC9gEwiaJhtvujxJPuyiO24bxT-1uR0gjmeueObfGT61q0Q/w640-h360/20221204_121504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFlhJDrA2Aqrg7VOHOMpbxZ8--8ITqYOaZNSuXHMhJ7-A3hBVdkSgEzHuhvnsexh2GMAnNLn-lWaYzIJ2JrMjfnu901NBce6wiRS9er8x5xHGdCXaYWigOoyjzV9xUfIv75U-Fx2sZEK3OrjVXkh-TCJKgZsuGlZ04lyj8rcrdyKMeY9BbPU/s4000/20221204_122142.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFlhJDrA2Aqrg7VOHOMpbxZ8--8ITqYOaZNSuXHMhJ7-A3hBVdkSgEzHuhvnsexh2GMAnNLn-lWaYzIJ2JrMjfnu901NBce6wiRS9er8x5xHGdCXaYWigOoyjzV9xUfIv75U-Fx2sZEK3OrjVXkh-TCJKgZsuGlZ04lyj8rcrdyKMeY9BbPU/w400-h225/20221204_122142.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div>A 'Julebuckk'; straw ornament of a goat. Perhaps this one helped pull Thor's giant sled. In the 19th century it was a goat that delivered Jule prezzies, not Santa. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxkbd1M7VtWFqTGod-0gD3a8O79YfrVFtNaA-SYJnc2xivdZ5_NbBjyRZGzVVwUApgQ7piaTXM7WVWzXHbhYeTVA99p7SnDvNgPcElBUpf3mf8IhYPDrhVAB3k_6WTiQ-27BF5aq2NcQB5wpGURieH9VAZD8RVcuviUQ4jSgln2F8jWDRlfU/s4000/20221204_122149.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxkbd1M7VtWFqTGod-0gD3a8O79YfrVFtNaA-SYJnc2xivdZ5_NbBjyRZGzVVwUApgQ7piaTXM7WVWzXHbhYeTVA99p7SnDvNgPcElBUpf3mf8IhYPDrhVAB3k_6WTiQ-27BF5aq2NcQB5wpGURieH9VAZD8RVcuviUQ4jSgln2F8jWDRlfU/w400-h225/20221204_122149.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr & Ms. Straw Troll</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAPQzJJvxtdgmqFoI-gvse5cykiGbgRAEr6FdFZxBtX3oeV2I4TB22dbq3quzGZm7yj7TkIdX6uDCkSHKYxrC1WvjUexQsFoVWva6O4K1Faxz__Qf_4ejkjFzVl7v2U_k__ktaffelKvFWOZC_9ayrNCyNe_8J3qxm6Hi0GBoZxE-OD2MBko/s4000/20221204_123359.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAPQzJJvxtdgmqFoI-gvse5cykiGbgRAEr6FdFZxBtX3oeV2I4TB22dbq3quzGZm7yj7TkIdX6uDCkSHKYxrC1WvjUexQsFoVWva6O4K1Faxz__Qf_4ejkjFzVl7v2U_k__ktaffelKvFWOZC_9ayrNCyNe_8J3qxm6Hi0GBoZxE-OD2MBko/w640-h360/20221204_123359.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A last view of Hammerfest on the bus back to the ship</td></tr></tbody></table><p>One of the few times... er time... I ventured on shore by myself was in Nordkapp. The ship was docked only a short time for loading & unloading of passengers and supplies. I took the chance of hitting the town in search of prezzies. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcmChd1R5lX84niPCVMD0N3efbNhvoDvfrniJDVL1sgwSYBfRNs8wAwqptpVC4VVKjrtLa4lX-ZssNexpWh5uwU4WWW9cM1fSikm0mL7fjbRLt_fF59inn5Oi0CShrIyZ8LOnseQEc50DfOple9DvdqVyK36SmcgHIctfMyknRKtl1BHRpFY/s4000/20221202_122631.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcmChd1R5lX84niPCVMD0N3efbNhvoDvfrniJDVL1sgwSYBfRNs8wAwqptpVC4VVKjrtLa4lX-ZssNexpWh5uwU4WWW9cM1fSikm0mL7fjbRLt_fF59inn5Oi0CShrIyZ8LOnseQEc50DfOple9DvdqVyK36SmcgHIctfMyknRKtl1BHRpFY/w640-h360/20221202_122631.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit of Nordkapp</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykyAk3f5Bjw56bOHxrYN9B3RYGHCmHIa1fRXL3NYIPNzQGPWDauahxv9lMAq39UdQhCxuU_YlqqvrgkUTvAdETGKWwDpfxcHqlVaoZEkZg6J9p_uIqxeHusQAtoCMZ7r5f0SjmsrDLp2bm3uBl-nMDuuCtfAB3S257JFinjkUBS2hqGM0NkE/w400-h225/20221202_122554.jpg" width="400" />Took this photo because I could actually understand the sign, which of course thrilled the crap out of me. The lower bit 'Mat og Drikke' is 'Food and Drink'. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WVmEh1YXOXWQ1VMdiRLaKju2S5QzYco_37yCNxiwXkBaroJmyRHe57WQ7GBAh2YA69G8SJ6Upj5WqdKH7gvqTWJ7niLr5AKenRRVCrRQYy0mQ4mXbEAc4zgqY4IZx7SPT-h1Yu7sf-1Di5e8Kw6bgX7shO8NO53c5-WwBBIBf6lOwRB4Dzk/s4000/20221202_124027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WVmEh1YXOXWQ1VMdiRLaKju2S5QzYco_37yCNxiwXkBaroJmyRHe57WQ7GBAh2YA69G8SJ6Upj5WqdKH7gvqTWJ7niLr5AKenRRVCrRQYy0mQ4mXbEAc4zgqY4IZx7SPT-h1Yu7sf-1Di5e8Kw6bgX7shO8NO53c5-WwBBIBf6lOwRB4Dzk/w640-h360/20221202_124027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The neatest thing in Nordkapp was an art center, which was currently featuring a display of gingerbread thingies of all sorts. I am pretty sure the gingerbread builders (and icers) were completely amateur. The cookies and buildings and boats, were fanciful, somewhat rough in appearance and sooo damned adorable! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClYFqKtafQaGhs-UNWS-4mVe_45Enf6LG__GCOkDnp_98yE1Yx7Hv-peLqxqzWJzIBRjGNTmesqi4yJtxPSHvfSRc9IFF-93yDyzdZKv0g3mUWLls37Y3kgUjqzlhdnHT_uyBEhfy-Xo1eP0oWCJ9dS8MmGJdQgXNq70mgQFLWF4umUbwnTc/s4000/20221202_124111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClYFqKtafQaGhs-UNWS-4mVe_45Enf6LG__GCOkDnp_98yE1Yx7Hv-peLqxqzWJzIBRjGNTmesqi4yJtxPSHvfSRc9IFF-93yDyzdZKv0g3mUWLls37Y3kgUjqzlhdnHT_uyBEhfy-Xo1eP0oWCJ9dS8MmGJdQgXNq70mgQFLWF4umUbwnTc/w640-h360/20221202_124111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCGEi5azitdypPX-WhnSopmH8jK9jQoo9PwM9CkJ1hQMHIUrFNReqb8RQd9iKnVMoVcQ9SCgv05_LAqitsdPp3Aj2f-bAcopu5EH8DtmmLpDeZQs89katbTWRNaueTXC4x6vedKG9AvC5RLOaZKsYOwriXurV7KlRcCsO9vapw1Qw2NbCMNM/s4000/20221202_124122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCGEi5azitdypPX-WhnSopmH8jK9jQoo9PwM9CkJ1hQMHIUrFNReqb8RQd9iKnVMoVcQ9SCgv05_LAqitsdPp3Aj2f-bAcopu5EH8DtmmLpDeZQs89katbTWRNaueTXC4x6vedKG9AvC5RLOaZKsYOwriXurV7KlRcCsO9vapw1Qw2NbCMNM/w640-h360/20221202_124122.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZPlIptGUCRtHR8sbJnw5sv3S1H3FgZXbr8MMWWokGDpqOVE_9nUIkqdn0026QUjBgN10JHEGtv7RzX52ycwGMcgdWCiTamVvitCl721cq13pduhty0WsoSfFYrVj12pNyEqSywTBo4WfIO6HDEp2zzuYWZZdrTzxBZ2zI1wQ5G1RzwHNB3s/s4000/20221202_124428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZPlIptGUCRtHR8sbJnw5sv3S1H3FgZXbr8MMWWokGDpqOVE_9nUIkqdn0026QUjBgN10JHEGtv7RzX52ycwGMcgdWCiTamVvitCl721cq13pduhty0WsoSfFYrVj12pNyEqSywTBo4WfIO6HDEp2zzuYWZZdrTzxBZ2zI1wQ5G1RzwHNB3s/w640-h360/20221202_124428.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6-c607bhMKdwuePXuzpcZVpXmnVxLCJ0g1J_WX8qD2A0ynmY4Qsd4dry4WFvl3sXyE4lvS1Vc9Fg220kOqaBwhJI5U1tLO0fCbXq6nMH1IQlE5V1vsWhM91--JyVPegxEaQ8mCIa78MDLnHfrOypB2XuSVXuMRANOrgQexnI7aoDK8GVi58/s4000/20221202_124443.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6-c607bhMKdwuePXuzpcZVpXmnVxLCJ0g1J_WX8qD2A0ynmY4Qsd4dry4WFvl3sXyE4lvS1Vc9Fg220kOqaBwhJI5U1tLO0fCbXq6nMH1IQlE5V1vsWhM91--JyVPegxEaQ8mCIa78MDLnHfrOypB2XuSVXuMRANOrgQexnI7aoDK8GVi58/w640-h360/20221202_124443.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gingerbread Viking Ship, on the prowl</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMqv5ppCdGgJGlz3kH8au6lWyuO2BW8en87MeIkDZiCVIWtPEQwuTNfw2KTpIuad5yWzAGeKw8opeCIoErVo7g7cUCd_cF16RYEHVeeS3NgmfVZCbuaaCJ1wUMr6Rhd7dB9976u0cdrMU7iv_oCeJZ59VJ78VLr-_i8zc8bgPYKfyQmvIEYM/s4000/20221202_124454.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMqv5ppCdGgJGlz3kH8au6lWyuO2BW8en87MeIkDZiCVIWtPEQwuTNfw2KTpIuad5yWzAGeKw8opeCIoErVo7g7cUCd_cF16RYEHVeeS3NgmfVZCbuaaCJ1wUMr6Rhd7dB9976u0cdrMU7iv_oCeJZ59VJ78VLr-_i8zc8bgPYKfyQmvIEYM/w640-h360/20221202_124454.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gingerbread horsie in front of gingerbread uh... huts?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliOGGmC-kpwNOwtIvBO2ElKk0MZiPtYudT8vfSToYIrZcTUNKgc_djTsAJXLh4G8lqikiFKBksZ67W3al8ftr5PmFZCgTKp-RF6P43oESrHQ_D00jPj8_t9ickScIMt7zkatjDRNsoymZdjk_iJ16_EaUtMz7HtC4G9_9Rfob7Kzw-72QLQI/s4000/20221202_124529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliOGGmC-kpwNOwtIvBO2ElKk0MZiPtYudT8vfSToYIrZcTUNKgc_djTsAJXLh4G8lqikiFKBksZ67W3al8ftr5PmFZCgTKp-RF6P43oESrHQ_D00jPj8_t9ickScIMt7zkatjDRNsoymZdjk_iJ16_EaUtMz7HtC4G9_9Rfob7Kzw-72QLQI/w640-h360/20221202_124529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trolls standing guard over smartie coated gingerbread house</td></tr></tbody></table><p>My little shopping expedition from the good ship <i>Richard With</i> went well, as in the boat was there when I returned to it, so all was well. SKÅL!</p>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-58313041741311311942022-12-03T22:32:00.002-08:002023-08-16T17:30:47.190-07:00Check One off the Bucket List - The Northern Lights<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc4LZSEsTv5SjhA6-b7S75TpRf-pN_J6Y8tUkOVLfoGc6VCmAw8nKONczhrx2J9ehQzBqgG8_1oG3_CFoCljSHAgf-FX7IFD_I108gl_jJMtHUG89zR7GhS-WUidbge_fxRQicjlmPW_HL2xMA3Y8lxq08ZXDgH3kuugLGFiPE-4239vynas/s4000/20221204_162217.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc4LZSEsTv5SjhA6-b7S75TpRf-pN_J6Y8tUkOVLfoGc6VCmAw8nKONczhrx2J9ehQzBqgG8_1oG3_CFoCljSHAgf-FX7IFD_I108gl_jJMtHUG89zR7GhS-WUidbge_fxRQicjlmPW_HL2xMA3Y8lxq08ZXDgH3kuugLGFiPE-4239vynas/w640-h360/20221204_162217.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora Borealis over a coastal town</td></tr></tbody></table> One reason I took this cruise was to see - at long last - the Northern Lights. I've spent other times above the Arctic Circle, in Alaska and in Iceland, without lucking out on seeing the lights. I guess the umpteenth time's the charm!<p></p><p>On day 5 of the trip, after returning from the Viking excursion, a shipboard announcement said there were weak northern lights seen, get on deck! There followed a stampede up to the 7th floor deck!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUA_ui1aAFqyPKuR9fwh981IWDRVIxFobCsz2kefHog-nQVuUoMYjG3ICDCQYXVpdDuCjPRYMRlYWcYZgW4SUsas58LHkQ6kB8MydIjFcSzrPEJadlqGap3zHpTlPlFHMX-T_qzmUfsrGcWVBVGt7syxKC8iDLqn0VllI91gNQkVfKLlhB-M/s4000/20221130_225829.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUA_ui1aAFqyPKuR9fwh981IWDRVIxFobCsz2kefHog-nQVuUoMYjG3ICDCQYXVpdDuCjPRYMRlYWcYZgW4SUsas58LHkQ6kB8MydIjFcSzrPEJadlqGap3zHpTlPlFHMX-T_qzmUfsrGcWVBVGt7syxKC8iDLqn0VllI91gNQkVfKLlhB-M/w640-h360/20221130_225829.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That first night's viewing was in fact weak, but hell, it was a start!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45Xffq0SYMR-3IliJrSx_Gqljl7Z7iPKGF1KtBpXn265dxk5ACvHDZ3cpqymHnypan4Q61Rk3P0cW5TW4JTTPTQ1Sr193QMZPOWky90s2XXiX_pawzc5QEdoB2R7bxNjk52ohh-zW3XOgNOYC2-542xQCFL4XiMGhDe94fBKDYH8hYFmenoE/s4000/20221203_215708.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45Xffq0SYMR-3IliJrSx_Gqljl7Z7iPKGF1KtBpXn265dxk5ACvHDZ3cpqymHnypan4Q61Rk3P0cW5TW4JTTPTQ1Sr193QMZPOWky90s2XXiX_pawzc5QEdoB2R7bxNjk52ohh-zW3XOgNOYC2-542xQCFL4XiMGhDe94fBKDYH8hYFmenoE/w640-h362/20221203_215708.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few nights later the lights were back and were much stronger</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVtKlP55IgnUYTns4SVccn2AmqbHYhBRsXrm95xAF0qvMS-dm8aWVbmNjJOJ7r6fKpBR6Y-LActclwceZHwm7ImWOL7AcLV6SduxkRnDAu0IGW2fHwmDAXPLlxfyTHV7qJU_Ew5rakoAE3cd4-rvzU4Odrp530SehBw682lipNJ3Vv7gJZX0/s4000/20221203_205218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVtKlP55IgnUYTns4SVccn2AmqbHYhBRsXrm95xAF0qvMS-dm8aWVbmNjJOJ7r6fKpBR6Y-LActclwceZHwm7ImWOL7AcLV6SduxkRnDAu0IGW2fHwmDAXPLlxfyTHV7qJU_Ew5rakoAE3cd4-rvzU4Odrp530SehBw682lipNJ3Vv7gJZX0/w640-h360/20221203_205218.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3es3ZWfegPQNaa4DMA1Q4tx6PJ7LzBtjeXQ0klCkWXnKu4Bji8ir7gHdCO0kr9TYEgoWxc2uiQFc98_0lhZYQlQGmfRlElPh98jom-8wmyxsOLsUJz6vJ3uRheidhuWI1fuvo2cblFjf1RbxZ87pbkXPlcghzJBU9uLb7dl0zIOcEEPXS94/s4000/20221203_205438.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3es3ZWfegPQNaa4DMA1Q4tx6PJ7LzBtjeXQ0klCkWXnKu4Bji8ir7gHdCO0kr9TYEgoWxc2uiQFc98_0lhZYQlQGmfRlElPh98jom-8wmyxsOLsUJz6vJ3uRheidhuWI1fuvo2cblFjf1RbxZ87pbkXPlcghzJBU9uLb7dl0zIOcEEPXS94/w640-h360/20221203_205438.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The white specks are stars</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Unlike what is normally shown in videos of the lights, they did not dance or bounce about. Mind, they moved, and you could see them move, but the moves were slow, rather like watching smoke. Getting shots with my 'good' camera was a crap effort. I soon depended entirely on my Galaxy S22 for shots. For one thing, the cellphone has a 'Night Shot' setting and that was how I got shots worth keeping. My phone - as always - was hand held so sometimes the results were a bit blurry, but I got pretty good at holding still fairly quickly. </p><p>The Aurora Borealis can come in different colors. Mostly what I saw over many nights were green, but I did manage one night to catch a glimpse of pinkish light. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6SEtcqKwJBSkOl86Ap3zkWqbYWatnwy2wZSkOkswdm_VGlsjxCN93JNmICFlwD-JV_-WGcgt59sWkRSJmODkTtyEkpDqNxcqB7zXV3GgVRbxCFt0zwu5pFVBVIipUnjKoDDqVnL_PretHSLM84dYLck7qANmKwDRQbaH1iYsSRGUr_7RUek/s4000/20221204_154906.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6SEtcqKwJBSkOl86Ap3zkWqbYWatnwy2wZSkOkswdm_VGlsjxCN93JNmICFlwD-JV_-WGcgt59sWkRSJmODkTtyEkpDqNxcqB7zXV3GgVRbxCFt0zwu5pFVBVIipUnjKoDDqVnL_PretHSLM84dYLck7qANmKwDRQbaH1iYsSRGUr_7RUek/w640-h360/20221204_154906.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Band of pinkish lights</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the first couple of nights photographing and staring stupidly at the lights, it became rather routine. The announcement would tell everyone the lights were up, and everyone would calmly gather on their heaviest gear - it was freezing arse cold - and race up to gaze at the wonder that is the Aurora Borealis. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF-kqLsnW_qSSWVlG1_H3t0jjK-sMFgv-kygXo_ociLW7dmLhDwIJvLOXCQO2vNXO4Wi25Ka1C_sAwYlAqJnV0fJBXg0os4I1k1fzrXwoUOow6jBroh04WFkEbpExprrJBEARf2ID7Jvsv3vn4kw9_cTzrJHlwASizjt8nJRZSv-clXnhTjI/s4000/20221204_155328.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF-kqLsnW_qSSWVlG1_H3t0jjK-sMFgv-kygXo_ociLW7dmLhDwIJvLOXCQO2vNXO4Wi25Ka1C_sAwYlAqJnV0fJBXg0os4I1k1fzrXwoUOow6jBroh04WFkEbpExprrJBEARf2ID7Jvsv3vn4kw9_cTzrJHlwASizjt8nJRZSv-clXnhTjI/w640-h360/20221204_155328.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved the lights shining over mountains, looking like a volcano spurting green steam</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoREW2yAFoJobZCHhhNF2PsGkBE7Iy_zEWcsI3YxqkdZanTcrE3bG5eco1orp8rTL9MbdX5gvfiPNigNy3gVa4eGdkBz87CqB2CmfnxYWCOdl4l-efmiEZIDNt6wqqbGVaeBv26EL26EHIcMbzAEC7EgXDm0SLoCi-OCgVMO1Td8e66eHAcs/s4000/20221204_163014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoREW2yAFoJobZCHhhNF2PsGkBE7Iy_zEWcsI3YxqkdZanTcrE3bG5eco1orp8rTL9MbdX5gvfiPNigNy3gVa4eGdkBz87CqB2CmfnxYWCOdl4l-efmiEZIDNt6wqqbGVaeBv26EL26EHIcMbzAEC7EgXDm0SLoCi-OCgVMO1Td8e66eHAcs/w640-h360/20221204_163014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teensy bit of Pink in the middle band</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_mg9AJjcd6febjZ21tRMsCRekDeBEC_seMV7Aq1Q0LeD2w7k6DJLREzvMLmGK3IKBdvyPstMUa_TfhsHdpJq6aDPkhUlao2aHEprl_qidZG6vSNXMRyKeXoKdGmPdMDXp2-sFsaEwHQZ-zpMLOE0untHT31dPFqyl74KDeR-NzYeLe-QNNU/s4000/20221204_162935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_mg9AJjcd6febjZ21tRMsCRekDeBEC_seMV7Aq1Q0LeD2w7k6DJLREzvMLmGK3IKBdvyPstMUa_TfhsHdpJq6aDPkhUlao2aHEprl_qidZG6vSNXMRyKeXoKdGmPdMDXp2-sFsaEwHQZ-zpMLOE0untHT31dPFqyl74KDeR-NzYeLe-QNNU/w640-h360/20221204_162935.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfulMB7CAQ8tdgPbF9RvUtq7bJhw1oaV4f9SwI0dKMJh6DlL-4fxDmnRUO878QFis9L6lqVVvUzuBNJjaVkRqMVxL0TJv2Ie3UpvuXC4BXzAprj0yBbeKXdaeUnF5BxomyJ70zlPuHgERxpOFICh2hrBbgnovj-sAFF3x69n5DFopd4PBNALs/s4000/20221204_162349.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfulMB7CAQ8tdgPbF9RvUtq7bJhw1oaV4f9SwI0dKMJh6DlL-4fxDmnRUO878QFis9L6lqVVvUzuBNJjaVkRqMVxL0TJv2Ie3UpvuXC4BXzAprj0yBbeKXdaeUnF5BxomyJ70zlPuHgERxpOFICh2hrBbgnovj-sAFF3x69n5DFopd4PBNALs/w640-h360/20221204_162349.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unbelievable how good cell phone cameras have become</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEinee7ahM5iXpC4xZ2z9JugImiB7jc6-9mCq8ZpfzhduZv-oyx9MZO3lnR8pZXMrK2YcHcvtCJW0vXZa1MkZ5lnIS2N2yPAnrhTdShQNacTpiqoyyXlV2iZ3fsLdyXB7YiCN9TyievN1zWzewPR3tm-Pql7j7j80bSeKboMGt-8FMLGCvvmXFA/s4000/20221130_230500.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinee7ahM5iXpC4xZ2z9JugImiB7jc6-9mCq8ZpfzhduZv-oyx9MZO3lnR8pZXMrK2YcHcvtCJW0vXZa1MkZ5lnIS2N2yPAnrhTdShQNacTpiqoyyXlV2iZ3fsLdyXB7YiCN9TyievN1zWzewPR3tm-Pql7j7j80bSeKboMGt-8FMLGCvvmXFA/w320-h181/20221130_230500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div style="text-align: left;">The lights were just wonderous. One of the nights after everyone on deck was an icicle, the game ship crew brought out the hot boozy chocolate. What heaven to hold a hot tin mug in your stone, cold, hands.<br /><br />They also gave out hot potato dumplings. Yum!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUI8lYCdM1zXBw-phhxUpA50S3Kj3_YN-a1wMbWALDq_SYj6RNpKGcv2sq1nsL-pmByZ-5VaVC0XhjybLCCwrDmoOVEw_2RgJlqtiZ8MDurBt8dKKeeBrNUF0znAaSn966h_HkvaWNVJCqw1sBnnpe09knk3gOgpdojrnq9R8QQdgzZen8P0/s4000/20221130_230425.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUI8lYCdM1zXBw-phhxUpA50S3Kj3_YN-a1wMbWALDq_SYj6RNpKGcv2sq1nsL-pmByZ-5VaVC0XhjybLCCwrDmoOVEw_2RgJlqtiZ8MDurBt8dKKeeBrNUF0znAaSn966h_HkvaWNVJCqw1sBnnpe09knk3gOgpdojrnq9R8QQdgzZen8P0/w640-h360/20221130_230425.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot Potato Dumplings for all</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ocln2FuZiniIhiKYgZI3dAWYuzwbkuQU8J2Nn_c1Kb2T30qP-CAZB3gc5-zuFJKKvHyadssVlMqpLbi2eHRprWTEcuxNfuXuvfve30isERvbJECMMI_ZEOWGHEV7zPeYldzQXOHo36eWrNHBjRDXHnhhypKEmZNAmY7wVXkoV9znCa5zlGc/s4000/20221130_230452.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ocln2FuZiniIhiKYgZI3dAWYuzwbkuQU8J2Nn_c1Kb2T30qP-CAZB3gc5-zuFJKKvHyadssVlMqpLbi2eHRprWTEcuxNfuXuvfve30isERvbJECMMI_ZEOWGHEV7zPeYldzQXOHo36eWrNHBjRDXHnhhypKEmZNAmY7wVXkoV9znCa5zlGc/w640-h360/20221130_230452.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting prepared to dish out the hot drinks</td></tr></tbody></table>I wish I could have videotaped the Northern Lights but as I said, it wasn't as if they were bouncing around. They just wafted overhead, bringing feelings of wonder to everyone's heart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_GFRftpRnnNrW1rDQDN1_s3JZwTfq8NW_r7ZoorUjrG5o1E9fqbCAyk6Z2bXgWdcixLmUm_L6gUn7TwwvLFataIJC4mwVDrdE68MepQuVt0iwalcPUSSIvmF-61_w_FzLFWrHMS3QIYVS1i8u_Th687Gt_N7Jq3mBJFzKpZQ6JKq_9jmn-E/s4000/20221204_155803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2252" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_GFRftpRnnNrW1rDQDN1_s3JZwTfq8NW_r7ZoorUjrG5o1E9fqbCAyk6Z2bXgWdcixLmUm_L6gUn7TwwvLFataIJC4mwVDrdE68MepQuVt0iwalcPUSSIvmF-61_w_FzLFWrHMS3QIYVS1i8u_Th687Gt_N7Jq3mBJFzKpZQ6JKq_9jmn-E/w360-h640/20221204_155803.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-21402556615824920252022-12-03T12:57:00.001-08:002023-08-16T17:35:56.571-07:00Adventure in Kirkenes<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yYNC8IUHdkpVWqIXRAZRqwPryeXubAzrMSBZVCdt3r8dgs9evhYWnlEtAJH8IMItSRyqdZxZB49StFhmuvjOhqQ0jPV_6bNmyjwqvuml6erlgM3-u4fSfr6aWd3m-krm8qEkm4SUeHGa6Xqz_kG4tGsNCSTqX6PyahUoEcHHOhPeJYPVog8/s5184/DSCN5741.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yYNC8IUHdkpVWqIXRAZRqwPryeXubAzrMSBZVCdt3r8dgs9evhYWnlEtAJH8IMItSRyqdZxZB49StFhmuvjOhqQ0jPV_6bNmyjwqvuml6erlgM3-u4fSfr6aWd3m-krm8qEkm4SUeHGa6Xqz_kG4tGsNCSTqX6PyahUoEcHHOhPeJYPVog8/w640-h480/DSCN5741.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you aren't the lead dog, this is the best view you're going to get</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkv6JFMOPiZJmkzOQtKNsbhjvkkgrbYjlMMAsrB4LtBNZV4ESKSb3EEZjZ537ZFnVzX03P05YfFTOVqSKryNa6BnutA-r7baZJFbV2BcUjyLhoYGfsrYH3uW_iCh31IRdspraFADmlEXrvteAybNKwjnh6yITUO75VUdqHqQvj4ssH1f0wmw/s387/Call%20of%20the%20White%20Fang.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkv6JFMOPiZJmkzOQtKNsbhjvkkgrbYjlMMAsrB4LtBNZV4ESKSb3EEZjZ537ZFnVzX03P05YfFTOVqSKryNa6BnutA-r7baZJFbV2BcUjyLhoYGfsrYH3uW_iCh31IRdspraFADmlEXrvteAybNKwjnh6yITUO75VUdqHqQvj4ssH1f0wmw/s320/Call%20of%20the%20White%20Fang.JPG" width="222" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>Ever since a visit to northern Minnesota in 2007, I promised myself to one day ride a dog sled. You know, shades of 'Call of the Wild' and 'White Fang'. For this trip, initially I signed up for 2 individual dog sled rides, scheduled in 2 different cities for the cruise. The first sled ride was canceled due to the lack of snow. So sad! The second dog sled ride was at the farthest northern stop off, in Kirkenes (pronounced 'Shirk-ee-nez') and there was snow so dog sledding was a <i>'go'! </i><br /></p><p>The site with the dog sled rides was also the venue for the Ice Hotel. I could have visited the famed hotel, but I wasn't about to waste my energy getting there over a slippery surface of iced snow.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy05b8mNJZGlQ1JtVyA6S7R5rYkOLw5bITWnxwmno7Y72F7Iq34sKO7aW1QNRaB4rVAZbilMfISfeDs8ujHbq8VLby6W-ZzOwvxwh04O7bdbfx1rlRyqRjtIfXaLHDnyuX_joFjLOqqSW8itaobwQkwx9VRnehk54_cHq0gs7gsChUPaEyG_c/s5184/DSCN5669.JPG" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy05b8mNJZGlQ1JtVyA6S7R5rYkOLw5bITWnxwmno7Y72F7Iq34sKO7aW1QNRaB4rVAZbilMfISfeDs8ujHbq8VLby6W-ZzOwvxwh04O7bdbfx1rlRyqRjtIfXaLHDnyuX_joFjLOqqSW8itaobwQkwx9VRnehk54_cHq0gs7gsChUPaEyG_c/w400-h300/DSCN5669.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty much as close as I got to the ice hotel</td></tr></tbody></table>The ice hotel's interior is entirely just that - ice. Including the bar and the hotel rooms. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhmhiZoDwfhby2bLne1mja4EPdzxVF_JCEVi31C5N4t28S-NUQGQBTIT3tmdUPTUvSRSNaCbFjfoXDOt5C692-b1u7y0_cthHxXS6o10XcsJSFijNEh0MSDOaVHU-w5Kbh2OFgAuGRupYrRbJ916bu5B-FjPWTFHi12M3M0jfRTA149ZY9dI/s5184/DSCN5674.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhmhiZoDwfhby2bLne1mja4EPdzxVF_JCEVi31C5N4t28S-NUQGQBTIT3tmdUPTUvSRSNaCbFjfoXDOt5C692-b1u7y0_cthHxXS6o10XcsJSFijNEh0MSDOaVHU-w5Kbh2OFgAuGRupYrRbJ916bu5B-FjPWTFHi12M3M0jfRTA149ZY9dI/w400-h300/DSCN5674.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Also included in the Kirkenes excursion was a close up view of reindeer. Everyone carefully walked up icy stair steps to a wooden walkway poised over the reindeer pen. From there, several of Santa's best walked over to stare at us in return. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbVbYLg4TcYfReZFYrB4wf_JIGy4s1t_yS8OzgME_fQ64i8RuJLyb8pGOvLR697cqLTzqwcHyjoJNI7zC5IydpuVAYF4rSKrExR47Be1XvfE8ykokkXubhRUhI1FIfs9AZtvjSrM24N9NV4-2khE3ClzBmcUVRFGfjTvSYrvY-b2gAXz0M8k/s5184/DSCN5672.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbVbYLg4TcYfReZFYrB4wf_JIGy4s1t_yS8OzgME_fQ64i8RuJLyb8pGOvLR697cqLTzqwcHyjoJNI7zC5IydpuVAYF4rSKrExR47Be1XvfE8ykokkXubhRUhI1FIfs9AZtvjSrM24N9NV4-2khE3ClzBmcUVRFGfjTvSYrvY-b2gAXz0M8k/w640-h480/DSCN5672.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see all the tourists on the right on the walkway</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK-_ZJ7JJUf6N3P3OScdk1Zv71JdCcjPhskLEIpChNeJyWNsiT1eYs19e-MO00q7bkcdhzmPXWQWeDNDoeAnOpsEOTCjU4C-Q90ahRTf__hrJjifNrsU8adYsL9v8y3A-mX1PK1SFoSetaZ60fwaas37mimhMoE5F5ephrybu0yeh1xI-aiA/s5184/DSCN5680.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK-_ZJ7JJUf6N3P3OScdk1Zv71JdCcjPhskLEIpChNeJyWNsiT1eYs19e-MO00q7bkcdhzmPXWQWeDNDoeAnOpsEOTCjU4C-Q90ahRTf__hrJjifNrsU8adYsL9v8y3A-mX1PK1SFoSetaZ60fwaas37mimhMoE5F5ephrybu0yeh1xI-aiA/w640-h480/DSCN5680.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am always surprised to see that reindeer are much smaller than moose<br />I suppose that has something to do with 8 of them pulling a massive, toy filled sleigh</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAdTjd7HtySa5TTjTfKu5EUu-j12JbT7qW8r3rozULTWcE5cJcitbV4SB-x-F_Xm3vbXSVprJBPB5NAgc1YeuuzNb1tcDmzFrLxI1hJAXP5Fu3hg8ynhla6u7jUYNcwfKLOL8mXfDZNE056qjd5rtUaH_F71EMZzK-EtIaY-lS3CXurWEjN4/s5184/DSCN5684.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAdTjd7HtySa5TTjTfKu5EUu-j12JbT7qW8r3rozULTWcE5cJcitbV4SB-x-F_Xm3vbXSVprJBPB5NAgc1YeuuzNb1tcDmzFrLxI1hJAXP5Fu3hg8ynhla6u7jUYNcwfKLOL8mXfDZNE056qjd5rtUaH_F71EMZzK-EtIaY-lS3CXurWEjN4/w640-h480/DSCN5684.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reindeer have the best hooves, all toe holds for not slipping on snow & ice</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7aM7-Gg9dh6Lmy-M7W53w29PI3Jm0IxhOOPeiTfmmsKmj_3tWGDfThQu30Ib93Cmd-O0m9P15DOTh4NnEklWcVkUkMa7HirVkqqhrY7Lk31pHUT-Q3oRZ3lELLWJP6QKlRMAOZMjIhm58bGIq9rRJq7lYM4uyUO_sN7sWGSF1X8Jp1LowqY/s161/Balaclava.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="137" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7aM7-Gg9dh6Lmy-M7W53w29PI3Jm0IxhOOPeiTfmmsKmj_3tWGDfThQu30Ib93Cmd-O0m9P15DOTh4NnEklWcVkUkMa7HirVkqqhrY7Lk31pHUT-Q3oRZ3lELLWJP6QKlRMAOZMjIhm58bGIq9rRJq7lYM4uyUO_sN7sWGSF1X8Jp1LowqY/s1600/Balaclava.JPG" width="137" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balaclava</td></tr></tbody></table>Done playing with reindeer games, we headed over to a shed where we could take advantage of cold weather gear, free to use for anyone hoping to not freeze to death on the sled ride. Available, were heavy duty gloves, full body snow suits and balaclavas (woolen face masks). In my excitement I asked a clerk for a 'baklava' (a dessert), then in a further flurry I spurted, "I meant balalaika", (a string instrument). I was joking of course (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). </div></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYRuDZtXH6KqhbR_zXStLG1-BWSew72Jr4gEMQ3uS3uclGINYrY1MBI4soAAlcEkr0ttJAC4cWj1QGBFkfXH_RjAwS_vkG2VSgPC3pSVbu97rInqmqOeCEed6WssKVcOYMjGrPadPyL0fCXJYh-8wcHU0sMn2-wxtyujkI1IXsuvnZ8knVMk/s5184/DSCN5721.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYRuDZtXH6KqhbR_zXStLG1-BWSew72Jr4gEMQ3uS3uclGINYrY1MBI4soAAlcEkr0ttJAC4cWj1QGBFkfXH_RjAwS_vkG2VSgPC3pSVbu97rInqmqOeCEed6WssKVcOYMjGrPadPyL0fCXJYh-8wcHU0sMn2-wxtyujkI1IXsuvnZ8knVMk/s320/DSCN5721.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Tit (told ya!)</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div> Geared up in all the equipment listed above, I resembled a massive toddler in a snow suit. I stumped outside for a look around prior to our sled ride. Next to the gear shed was a pen full of playful Husky puppies. After a brief look at the pups, I waddled to a nearby group of pens where the local birdlife were gathered around some feeders. I took only crap photos, which I will blame on the gear I was wearing, not the photographer. There were the usual Hooded Crows, some Great Tits (get your mind out of the gutter, they are a type of tiny bird), European Magpies and the usual House Sparrows - I know you don't care but it's important to 'moi'.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJwgCEwV_7j9PTnDGD1qS5aucUoUKqHH_aB3sSfd7Q6hDRzrcIR95fq1td9wqxgvxuebJ5OsZPyPHpXRFN_gpW0j4IXxdtS6Gxb707BRenYPXxb7cqZ0NV8eeDjX5mGabiEyuEZdf6oT6oGMQRQt5_gdT2fLHAoMicuebVRoBvx4nVB4Am7Y/s5184/DSCN5747.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJwgCEwV_7j9PTnDGD1qS5aucUoUKqHH_aB3sSfd7Q6hDRzrcIR95fq1td9wqxgvxuebJ5OsZPyPHpXRFN_gpW0j4IXxdtS6Gxb707BRenYPXxb7cqZ0NV8eeDjX5mGabiEyuEZdf6oT6oGMQRQt5_gdT2fLHAoMicuebVRoBvx4nVB4Am7Y/w640-h480/DSCN5747.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shortly before the ride began</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In my imagination leading up to dog sledding, I was going to video the entire ride, however there is the matter of my massive snow suit. I'd put my cell phone -which frankly takes better pix and videos than my actual camera - into my jeans pocket and through two layers of outer clothing I could not access my jeans pocket to save my life. Ended up with sparse photos of the ride itself. Maybe next time, right? </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeKam1guPnlayl_Zy1IxVI4c6IMHAH-Ofl3-I5-NyYjcjvDRTSDVwjzIJVtOuKtUSZ5ibfEnIm8SrTUd2gxiN8hM6jNx77DV5o547e_TXJo3SuLh-7KUwcy1-om-mayvoEIVcgs2EG1P136yCYSkCIGZyihiF2l_af4M5SiTKer_8AkdcT9c/s5184/DSCN5754.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2920" data-original-width="5184" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeKam1guPnlayl_Zy1IxVI4c6IMHAH-Ofl3-I5-NyYjcjvDRTSDVwjzIJVtOuKtUSZ5ibfEnIm8SrTUd2gxiN8hM6jNx77DV5o547e_TXJo3SuLh-7KUwcy1-om-mayvoEIVcgs2EG1P136yCYSkCIGZyihiF2l_af4M5SiTKer_8AkdcT9c/w640-h360/DSCN5754.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My only photo of the actual ride, over Ila's shoulder</td></tr></tbody></table>Enough complaining... the ride was so fun! The dogs were amazing, easily pulling passengers and their lady musher. The lady driver was wonderous. She told us her life story, having recently emigrated from Hungary to Norway to improve her chances of making a decent living. So here she was now, at her dream job, working with happy Huskies for more cash than she could earn as a teacher in Hungary. <div><br /></div><div>I wasn't sure how far or how long the ride would last. I had imagined a route over hill and dale with us arriving in a different town. Nope. There is a route, a large loop that traverses perhaps a mile total, and we traveled over the trail twice. The air was frigid and at one point we rode past a frozen lake where Hooded Crows hopped around the shoreline. It was fun, and now I'm doubly disappointed the first dogsled ride in Trombo had to be canceled. </div><div><br /></div><div>The video below was quickly and expertly filmed by our lady dog musher. That's Ila in the front of the sled, and the giant tot in a snowsuit & Balaclava behind her is guess who? Scål!</div><center><br /><div><iframe 640="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9yuvCD36DHU" title=" Pre-sledding glimpse” width="></iframe></div><center></center></center>
Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-14744946764688690332022-11-30T19:21:00.279-08:002023-08-16T17:43:31.966-07:00Meet the Vikings<p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY667HrgmPvrCL4yNtPezhqO2uCBOSGdCDKzmMxmRAHnPSo2lU-nFGT4nNVnkXoAsh3xqIwbdJXgVsCDKzc-lsDSO2dchspSgYzBz-0cwmVj3LqnE-zUFw2Mr8E4vV5f-TWYDEBoOXX-CgztPuAlHNYfBJj9QpOTqjYxwi0JXO5mncACTrydI/s4000/20221130_200755.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY667HrgmPvrCL4yNtPezhqO2uCBOSGdCDKzmMxmRAHnPSo2lU-nFGT4nNVnkXoAsh3xqIwbdJXgVsCDKzc-lsDSO2dchspSgYzBz-0cwmVj3LqnE-zUFw2Mr8E4vV5f-TWYDEBoOXX-CgztPuAlHNYfBJj9QpOTqjYxwi0JXO5mncACTrydI/w640-h360/20221130_200755.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chieftain's wife greets all at the Viking longhouse</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4nZDh7GGfBXEkLa_tr86PIBqoGm_icClvhytDYYlkkrfOtlWHJtnuEQGtApKqnPJj5GUWdPzOacdOdXahvYuW42lKxHM2azNuGCXkUhm_tl8AlvDh-hPt9Uq6uoRVqe0-ra0XLu_Uh7nI7LWYa3YmXP6YyIGcxGGb2P83lKC9QHvDZdfFbk/s4000/20221130_200656.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4nZDh7GGfBXEkLa_tr86PIBqoGm_icClvhytDYYlkkrfOtlWHJtnuEQGtApKqnPJj5GUWdPzOacdOdXahvYuW42lKxHM2azNuGCXkUhm_tl8AlvDh-hPt9Uq6uoRVqe0-ra0XLu_Uh7nI7LWYa3YmXP6YyIGcxGGb2P83lKC9QHvDZdfFbk/w400-h225/20221130_200656.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">A small view of the v. massive longhouse</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;">I so looked forward to this excursion. Being addicted to cosplay, I even considered attending this event in full Viking maiden costume. Thankfully I decided no one really needs </span><i style="text-align: left;">that </i><span style="text-align: left;">spectacle. <br />The excursion bus was boarded at Stamsund. Throughout the drive to the <span face="Roboto, Noto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lofotr Viking Museum, </span>a rather somber Viking told a bit of Viking history. Inside of an hour, we departed the bus at the site of a massive recreation of a Viking longhouse, based on an original one dated to 900 AD. </span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRue4eo5tF1tpQavYzKEGjKA-mrLCnExImEL9RND6NC94UnzfG-Gh9dmzZilnKbAymni2MpfJkF0xtd9nFHePDag2lmv28D_4YtlCXucTgzAoa42tZ5GOyTqLiTPaDYEmHMJv12HRpkaGFETGCdcOCzHOrLbEtenM4_QvzmycUNO22KNjEy0/s4000/20221130_201206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRue4eo5tF1tpQavYzKEGjKA-mrLCnExImEL9RND6NC94UnzfG-Gh9dmzZilnKbAymni2MpfJkF0xtd9nFHePDag2lmv28D_4YtlCXucTgzAoa42tZ5GOyTqLiTPaDYEmHMJv12HRpkaGFETGCdcOCzHOrLbEtenM4_QvzmycUNO22KNjEy0/w640-h362/20221130_201206.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of atmosphere in the longhouse</td></tr></tbody></table>The ship's passengers including me, were the honored guests to the Viking Cheftain's household. The feast began with the chieftain's wife beating a hand drum to open the required ceremony of sacrifices to the Norse gods. The sacrifices would hold the end of the world, aka Ragnaorok at arm's length. <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANKXMln18K8YkD985NyWJOVNqqTs0QmK2rWKoryMRq-ViXdUNsGpgArKynK-m38iWnrO0AamM51aPq2Je7ws82FTNA_sHiIvETz72EP9eH0-AlD9U8zCR8rSc43UdxRu2lHnKk7zBqAnQ9EoavK66UgAT3oS8YaCC1SQCgUVx8MVY_ueYFL4/s4000/20221130_201543.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANKXMln18K8YkD985NyWJOVNqqTs0QmK2rWKoryMRq-ViXdUNsGpgArKynK-m38iWnrO0AamM51aPq2Je7ws82FTNA_sHiIvETz72EP9eH0-AlD9U8zCR8rSc43UdxRu2lHnKk7zBqAnQ9EoavK66UgAT3oS8YaCC1SQCgUVx8MVY_ueYFL4/w640-h360/20221130_201543.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Next, the resident witch entered the room and spoke the words that would keep us all safe. </span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h7S-Rdi8ocrV4ryK9jSgfQkc3vqsHXil2p9I5D6yKqg3l3WFOU0JGMtaqx4MIc6Lg8nvcQ3uFJkop1msJWTAV8x1RezcaONwASNDdyd5RULSzp1TPAsVEQWODAYknhpV9GYZ7Gdt4e79M2ItPFLaXYbE4GR4gkdgiMR7nCun01Q4Ad_ybis/s4000/20221130_201630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h7S-Rdi8ocrV4ryK9jSgfQkc3vqsHXil2p9I5D6yKqg3l3WFOU0JGMtaqx4MIc6Lg8nvcQ3uFJkop1msJWTAV8x1RezcaONwASNDdyd5RULSzp1TPAsVEQWODAYknhpV9GYZ7Gdt4e79M2ItPFLaXYbE4GR4gkdgiMR7nCun01Q4Ad_ybis/w640-h360/20221130_201630.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The Viking cheftain next made his plea and vows to the gods (sadly, it's a rear view of the chef, draped in bearskins).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjss5ZSnYZ3Mq55AGaG0e8SNHlr-eNfHs0imRvBd2nKMkWFtiKvvrsDtd2ZyZIOyUgsovpLD0EuTuk2CTSNXlFBvZ6m-7kTK1425lnnh-skUNdSy-olkdcTj9lrKC1GIEl5VBcsp8AVjylgzgTP_2DLFa0OkI9c2BFOMlu0sl_pJjs198mMT_U/s4000/20221130_201755.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjss5ZSnYZ3Mq55AGaG0e8SNHlr-eNfHs0imRvBd2nKMkWFtiKvvrsDtd2ZyZIOyUgsovpLD0EuTuk2CTSNXlFBvZ6m-7kTK1425lnnh-skUNdSy-olkdcTj9lrKC1GIEl5VBcsp8AVjylgzgTP_2DLFa0OkI9c2BFOMlu0sl_pJjs198mMT_U/w640-h360/20221130_201755.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><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/AVvXsEgLLFLSxhI7Xj-auN2L8MIPn9pHLaBfi-3Tc-F3zCAyR9yj301GukxpP9TsYxcGAhlbibZN9te6dR4TWXlLp6NLyRy69-f7HwHcMGJ2eehbgyQcRZJc3DEuM-8OQklM9ZLCkWOJrTrMfB7pXNIj6vC7lMzhUuQiHeHecdr6KOcEl4-CJLutW-c/s4000/20221130_201352.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLFLSxhI7Xj-auN2L8MIPn9pHLaBfi-3Tc-F3zCAyR9yj301GukxpP9TsYxcGAhlbibZN9te6dR4TWXlLp6NLyRy69-f7HwHcMGJ2eehbgyQcRZJc3DEuM-8OQklM9ZLCkWOJrTrMfB7pXNIj6vC7lMzhUuQiHeHecdr6KOcEl4-CJLutW-c/w400-h225/20221130_201352.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The ceremony complete, din-din was served. Here below is mine. Roast lamb with loganberry sauce, barley, carrot and turnips. There was a plentiful serving of sour cream and very old style triangles of grainy bread. All of it was delish and it was a delightful recreation of a genuine Viking meal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ03Z1m_lOINDWQcc0J6Sc5WmyzPENORsAmMuGPnAp_1D6kbXi1o2tsYL4x949EcxM1Bmxy4v3uMYhvbz8Jw8VesWNINZ9ck8mKU4YMR20ZhOUTdJJqTgKfOVqY-xkQ80IPdM0_pB3-i4PpsDHbC-CE6hVWp3rzP3ZirTCgBV2HY7ioNHK0X8/s4000/20221130_202453.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ03Z1m_lOINDWQcc0J6Sc5WmyzPENORsAmMuGPnAp_1D6kbXi1o2tsYL4x949EcxM1Bmxy4v3uMYhvbz8Jw8VesWNINZ9ck8mKU4YMR20ZhOUTdJJqTgKfOVqY-xkQ80IPdM0_pB3-i4PpsDHbC-CE6hVWp3rzP3ZirTCgBV2HY7ioNHK0X8/w640-h360/20221130_202453.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drinking glasses contain water on the left, and mead (honey wine) on the right</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As the meal began, everyone's glasses, containing mead were hoisted up, everyone shouting SKÅL! along with our hosts. Scål,(which in English is 'Skol' which means Cheers or some such). Anyway, Scål was shouted with vigor at any and all excuses. <span style="font-size: medium;">Scål! </span>See what I mean?</p><p>While the guests dug into their hearty meal, the hosts entertained all, with flute music and song. <span style="font-size: large;">Scål!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDaKmUscc1uRzZTgh353xHb4peFY2DdEdO5RC-bMxaM5p7VexUQqMClu2_-MTO13lXNdzz2YW5LmaS8jMNJUjg8LQk7sDP_vueHcDP2DjqUDIWxx0DWcPHp4_71W2XLydQJLW1Jc1KDSznMAw3SSFYyWH2A1ovgN7BbzxMNSYpMKaRYE3wWM/s4000/20221130_204040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDaKmUscc1uRzZTgh353xHb4peFY2DdEdO5RC-bMxaM5p7VexUQqMClu2_-MTO13lXNdzz2YW5LmaS8jMNJUjg8LQk7sDP_vueHcDP2DjqUDIWxx0DWcPHp4_71W2XLydQJLW1Jc1KDSznMAw3SSFYyWH2A1ovgN7BbzxMNSYpMKaRYE3wWM/w640-h360/20221130_204040.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Guests were also invited to take part in a dance around the room. Shockingly, I for once didn't partake - I wanted to film it instead, and the dance video is at the end of this post.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSxzHRD1E9lLjqyNN76K7UjLmpxYsduwJoFVD8z3uHh8hppD_SpuS9oauidOSM62_oTdw-t1zyByf9i12Lttr896B0TEi7x2hlWqzwXDm3K2Hbgn6l7cd-KMBX-EJukaO9gBmvgaDBRbkjefFqD54SvWB-66djgd4ym-6c-HPG0CS7gmssz4/s4000/20221130_205701.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSxzHRD1E9lLjqyNN76K7UjLmpxYsduwJoFVD8z3uHh8hppD_SpuS9oauidOSM62_oTdw-t1zyByf9i12Lttr896B0TEi7x2hlWqzwXDm3K2Hbgn6l7cd-KMBX-EJukaO9gBmvgaDBRbkjefFqD54SvWB-66djgd4ym-6c-HPG0CS7gmssz4/w640-h360/20221130_205701.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stockfisk, split down the middle, then hung to dry</td></tr></tbody></table>The meal was finished - <span style="font-size: large;">Scål! - </span>at leisure and we were told we could then visit the Viking Museum in the next room over. Entering the room you cross under 'stock fish' which are a type of cod, hung on long rods. The stock fish remain a valued export of modern Norway. <span style="font-size: large;">Scål!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNKsR6FXdCzRkVQkcVPSaoJJ97Nh7djyu9_KXswv8UJ6ecAn7N83icg9PsuAKCUOr9sju3QAgJiviyKXwPck8uklr3JMDxEVEkbtxA9ruGbwVee8BG_Sxi33pV9w8SM1-9vMGcL0zfmBhai0jh0Ea1nuESdWZzb69OBehmouOh5oM-EvCusY/s4000/20221130_205720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uqBd33TOyRyUxHF66spR9F3jTurS0dt84UuNsNjQzAGMtOToVu55O6RFFr3BoA1cuwqLQTeenKJHbAbOcolrw2rlAMLUpZGKxtMFCJS8BsN5CiGGdtKzqJfHHE4cQtsFMGJHcGSkuqcJG6HSPDgJEG2fs_GQCGXVyw3NQxWSMTF1wsjJxII/s4000/20221130_205800.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uqBd33TOyRyUxHF66spR9F3jTurS0dt84UuNsNjQzAGMtOToVu55O6RFFr3BoA1cuwqLQTeenKJHbAbOcolrw2rlAMLUpZGKxtMFCJS8BsN5CiGGdtKzqJfHHE4cQtsFMGJHcGSkuqcJG6HSPDgJEG2fs_GQCGXVyw3NQxWSMTF1wsjJxII/w640-h360/20221130_205800.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing spears and other 'old school' tools</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTmXXztBL4HWGe2uTugXhpLgXrW2AE8U_lpzoRakAxkWGvRcoCP9pasFZ0F2zm_14dEGTYfekYhN_W_z92KvVRLnuVsodBp2RdXbD2siroO5r7IDOIwrocZlySTa1_1Kt2GeWGx7CEGGFoAqNac_NAXrotJVnQ6qz6BFqSd6xGfAjbXD92G4/s4000/20221130_205833.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTmXXztBL4HWGe2uTugXhpLgXrW2AE8U_lpzoRakAxkWGvRcoCP9pasFZ0F2zm_14dEGTYfekYhN_W_z92KvVRLnuVsodBp2RdXbD2siroO5r7IDOIwrocZlySTa1_1Kt2GeWGx7CEGGFoAqNac_NAXrotJVnQ6qz6BFqSd6xGfAjbXD92G4/w640-h360/20221130_205833.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A separate room held a Viking asleep in his bed and sundries - <span style="font-size: x-small;">Scål!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNKsR6FXdCzRkVQkcVPSaoJJ97Nh7djyu9_KXswv8UJ6ecAn7N83icg9PsuAKCUOr9sju3QAgJiviyKXwPck8uklr3JMDxEVEkbtxA9ruGbwVee8BG_Sxi33pV9w8SM1-9vMGcL0zfmBhai0jh0Ea1nuESdWZzb69OBehmouOh5oM-EvCusY/w640-h362/20221130_205720.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A huge ceramic Sea Serpent traversed the room - symbolically anyway...</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5Dvkq48b0AnhrxpGlHN_fQbLoHK18VxKWAKTipiOR3Pv7gX2rfBdTy7NSplIwA23Ks48pZvh6ceUfPLG_x9RinPBvQpynzcO1XZhTbGxSnz9p1rM_9XGjgPrlIquRwvR1k7uZCDCEUCDtVfu0dwmvdOhuwF24PwF7DaPfECWyTbI-ztv_N4/s4000/20221130_205727.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5Dvkq48b0AnhrxpGlHN_fQbLoHK18VxKWAKTipiOR3Pv7gX2rfBdTy7NSplIwA23Ks48pZvh6ceUfPLG_x9RinPBvQpynzcO1XZhTbGxSnz9p1rM_9XGjgPrlIquRwvR1k7uZCDCEUCDtVfu0dwmvdOhuwF24PwF7DaPfECWyTbI-ztv_N4/w640-h362/20221130_205727.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Sea Serpent devouring a hapless eel</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBraBzoKaTjgY7aWjhoNi5JMbBYRklz0AFvFGyzh9m_5KOaH-98HPg-YhUhLaNxk5WCkSqU3d7OLWJAwLei0u1vOfFNBLh-hmiL2IwUPqUVtygmDJYOeGgW67lG6WcZqr3H9_IRunv8UEjTDNB9p4d_tOkqVA3grYcUM-EaZS8wPgwoeHATX4/s917/20221130_201251B.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="558" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBraBzoKaTjgY7aWjhoNi5JMbBYRklz0AFvFGyzh9m_5KOaH-98HPg-YhUhLaNxk5WCkSqU3d7OLWJAwLei0u1vOfFNBLh-hmiL2IwUPqUVtygmDJYOeGgW67lG6WcZqr3H9_IRunv8UEjTDNB9p4d_tOkqVA3grYcUM-EaZS8wPgwoeHATX4/w244-h400/20221130_201251B.JPG" width="244" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>After a brief tour of the museum, I nervously left the longhouse, to traipse downhill along the well lit path, to the Museum store. No photos there because I was too busy gawking at the AWESOME goods for sail, the most tempting being the tankards identical to the ones from which I quaffed my mead and water. The metal bits were hand crafted by blacksmiths, and the glass, no doubt, hand blown. Sooo tempting! <span style="font-size: large;">Scål!</span><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>How worried I was about missing the bus is that even though the bus only had 2 of the many passengers on it as yet, I didn't want to risk going back into the museum store and somehow miss catching the bus. </p><p>When the bus was finally full of happily stuffed folk, the bus headed north. The cool thing was although we disembarked the ship in Stamsund, we were to catch up with and get back on board in the town of Svolvaer.<br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br />Here is the short vid of the evening of wining and dining with the Vikings, without any worry of the<br />delightful calories consumed at the meal. </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Scål!</span> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oNChFA86RrY" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>ere </div><center></center>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-81500458428515552042022-11-29T11:22:00.005-08:002023-08-16T17:50:20.049-07:00What to do, What to do during 'On Board' Days<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphB2FEV3isS1y-qplv9D9IBXUTHXAdB6otFlwyigT9nV6SAstZjpOw8F3bUSMjjy5ZUjFwKpOg1majO9vjxpv92awAacOpW82QCwqq0jFKP9nMOoGQjSZNVjIkpBYp6B0X0yNqaqNmiwSpx5W3k09A5VaPfOZZC33BNnelru58xOMiBVRWug/s4000/20221130_121615.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphB2FEV3isS1y-qplv9D9IBXUTHXAdB6otFlwyigT9nV6SAstZjpOw8F3bUSMjjy5ZUjFwKpOg1majO9vjxpv92awAacOpW82QCwqq0jFKP9nMOoGQjSZNVjIkpBYp6B0X0yNqaqNmiwSpx5W3k09A5VaPfOZZC33BNnelru58xOMiBVRWug/w640-h360/20221130_121615.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo, taken above the Arctic Circle, where <br />the sun never rises above the horizon, <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>How wrong I was about life above the Arctic Circle! I've been north of it several times in Alaska. Those trips were during the summer, with 24/7 sunlight. So I 'assumed' being above the arctic circle means 24/7 dark. Nope. I was wrong. There <i>are </i>spots above the arctic circle that are in the dark 24/7, but generally I mostly just experienced very short spans of daylight. We were poised on planet earth, just at a point on the earth's axis that the sun, was just below the horizon. </div><div><div><br /></div> Oh... and the food... OMG! The food was served buffet style for every breakfast and every lunch. Dinners were different. Ila and I were assigned to table 47. Our dining time for dinner was between 6:30 and 7 o'clock. <br /><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/AVvXsEho5ZfEt7YtuX1jN1KBiFf6U_nCwGt5VG2PKENZHIroTAFsrNgZ_g3JJsc14tn8Dsw0bIDvdwZcX2KfRqwbguFBdkC5NfgYSMBhLzIocM_FOBeP4Hg7rvVjBET_AT8FHNNobNB3Yg4tm-xZzv6kUZtnM4fPheK-gXWB10Wy2drs8TOsyOhklRg/s4000/20221128_173908.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5ZfEt7YtuX1jN1KBiFf6U_nCwGt5VG2PKENZHIroTAFsrNgZ_g3JJsc14tn8Dsw0bIDvdwZcX2KfRqwbguFBdkC5NfgYSMBhLzIocM_FOBeP4Hg7rvVjBET_AT8FHNNobNB3Yg4tm-xZzv6kUZtnM4fPheK-gXWB10Wy2drs8TOsyOhklRg/w640-h480/20221128_173908.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got to know our table neighbors and our server Chris, all 6 foot 2' of him. Nordic men are as tall as Watusi Warriors. Chris was quite friendly and didn't mind being bombarded with our questions. Some nights dinner too was buffet, it depended a lot on the number of passengers picked up and dropped off... I think. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every night our menu was based on a city we docked at that day, and the food picked up there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is typical shipboard dnner 'Mat' (food):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Starter:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtA5CloKoAG516NCY2_8e-riWp3VFx1AbASOJ2qf-WWnv93urnUyWRjEYo6Ss-PfkT9TeGlJVizxMI8WGIT_B_Wu5FaTZsUZqVEzPq965Nuj-WgTWz7MRMPemuaZxZhjR-CTbl9qT5pJF5VVBldCJg7sztxsVkycK4tqrj4zV1lK8NU3Wrj0/s4000/20221202_181008.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtA5CloKoAG516NCY2_8e-riWp3VFx1AbASOJ2qf-WWnv93urnUyWRjEYo6Ss-PfkT9TeGlJVizxMI8WGIT_B_Wu5FaTZsUZqVEzPq965Nuj-WgTWz7MRMPemuaZxZhjR-CTbl9qT5pJF5VVBldCJg7sztxsVkycK4tqrj4zV1lK8NU3Wrj0/w400-h225/20221202_181008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTkVdvK437xGfaircOiMcHh35k1M5Nhhsz7JxcMYzJjysWKaA53idCQkx3H2LFv7whpocVaE_L5zkK3X29H_Us5DyafNtTs_HjDgYHBzMDnquBNB1xAkx0611SWvm_r_usKoVKMN9bxyPfWkFhCHh1c3lWuSjjIQSlfrFyDXY6kSczN4enpQ/s4000/20221202_181052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTkVdvK437xGfaircOiMcHh35k1M5Nhhsz7JxcMYzJjysWKaA53idCQkx3H2LFv7whpocVaE_L5zkK3X29H_Us5DyafNtTs_HjDgYHBzMDnquBNB1xAkx0611SWvm_r_usKoVKMN9bxyPfWkFhCHh1c3lWuSjjIQSlfrFyDXY6kSczN4enpQ/w400-h225/20221202_181052.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Entree:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5YmabfuEcuIylv0oCDyLebmrLku77Qs5ei8FDzQhbJhtOQkB0SDeA4chHGECqLTZPdkobAN_TNf0FVDrAtVWTraHxL0MYJWMGPWLgHIm0ho5ftwzCUU2TIwxL9nRApG9dtvCSmlCtFPAshJx6yKqDbwKEZMmXEljtkTFFqLeM4PGZPI-ejs/s4000/20221202_182117.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5YmabfuEcuIylv0oCDyLebmrLku77Qs5ei8FDzQhbJhtOQkB0SDeA4chHGECqLTZPdkobAN_TNf0FVDrAtVWTraHxL0MYJWMGPWLgHIm0ho5ftwzCUU2TIwxL9nRApG9dtvCSmlCtFPAshJx6yKqDbwKEZMmXEljtkTFFqLeM4PGZPI-ejs/w400-h225/20221202_182117.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duck leg confit</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></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/AVvXsEj9RxJ-MoMH08DygnX71hjB5923ic0OjRdRRN-2dAXYEocsdFSZ2k9Oi5yoE44p3x6w7B_ys4FIKHPupi3dFgMxONPLU54J5_0_GC3HzaJTIvli4brLHjusG7v4D3ansJ4qLN79jYTS-gFWRtv_JLxlzLO6Gwm3cwZ2e6KNU1RS01nBkpuxBcI/s4000/20221202_181643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RxJ-MoMH08DygnX71hjB5923ic0OjRdRRN-2dAXYEocsdFSZ2k9Oi5yoE44p3x6w7B_ys4FIKHPupi3dFgMxONPLU54J5_0_GC3HzaJTIvli4brLHjusG7v4D3ansJ4qLN79jYTS-gFWRtv_JLxlzLO6Gwm3cwZ2e6KNU1RS01nBkpuxBcI/w400-h225/20221202_181643.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And yummy dessert:</div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yTb47j9S4iU1H_7mKs-7_cz_2vjsZMhEQQdrfZGtf8kNAqT5CIQ-6pTww7IeFD50_sH3Nq_GtmPEIYXmmSQVMCoIj0qtbfsg_tucCUOdZWfbX5cBw-EzdxQlcyLCiOvE4j3tsqN34kCM-CbtLFGzQ178fS6-IYGmPkM_HSmuy9STyv6gDVc/s4000/20221202_183857.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yTb47j9S4iU1H_7mKs-7_cz_2vjsZMhEQQdrfZGtf8kNAqT5CIQ-6pTww7IeFD50_sH3Nq_GtmPEIYXmmSQVMCoIj0qtbfsg_tucCUOdZWfbX5cBw-EzdxQlcyLCiOvE4j3tsqN34kCM-CbtLFGzQ178fS6-IYGmPkM_HSmuy9STyv6gDVc/w400-h225/20221202_183857.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks weird, tasted like heaven on a plate</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_bg7_Ib7kzoPQCTjuuD9L84DpWPQfsMdhYypbF9Hg1NRmioSIfmBf-RjzdQd_WKzbIMheNidbIHDxtzVcdU8js32j2deE_hC_cnkQmJDB3dVGPpiZ3yoBAucuE_iv4UonURfWcv0i1wOI7JKqAMuSH_LDTMICz__WOrx3U62ighb6WQavwM/s4000/20221202_181648.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_bg7_Ib7kzoPQCTjuuD9L84DpWPQfsMdhYypbF9Hg1NRmioSIfmBf-RjzdQd_WKzbIMheNidbIHDxtzVcdU8js32j2deE_hC_cnkQmJDB3dVGPpiZ3yoBAucuE_iv4UonURfWcv0i1wOI7JKqAMuSH_LDTMICz__WOrx3U62ighb6WQavwM/w400-h226/20221202_181648.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite meal of the day is always breakfast and after the first day I had my routine down. Hot porridge topped with loads of cut-up fresh fruit, followed by a plate with fried egg, perhaps some potatoes, one or two of the many cheeses, salmon served every which way, i.e., smoked, peppered, and bread with fresh butter and a dollop of cloudberry jam. Norwegian bread was to DIE FOR! So grainy and yummy! I must learn to bake my own grainy bread. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJG9EVECcBJ9YXEmdcoUQN-lj0TiZ7TWDoiCOYbd9li5x3f7qmjGdwc7HGM8S5kCpZaDL-Wvti7PcTWsxlRop8SU_Zz99OakI1JyQUuANM5qI0A_Cu6uu7jCIeTwFqTR4OewsxQo4CAJFpEJ2BzcvMPb1wWdCatpBW1n3_RSVyO0tZPovCOK4/s4000/20221205_115420.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJG9EVECcBJ9YXEmdcoUQN-lj0TiZ7TWDoiCOYbd9li5x3f7qmjGdwc7HGM8S5kCpZaDL-Wvti7PcTWsxlRop8SU_Zz99OakI1JyQUuANM5qI0A_Cu6uu7jCIeTwFqTR4OewsxQo4CAJFpEJ2BzcvMPb1wWdCatpBW1n3_RSVyO0tZPovCOK4/w640-h362/20221205_115420.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ate enough reindeer at the buffets to horrify my inner child</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Up on the 7th floor was a gelato shop, where I purchased Beer Gelato, Brown Cheese Gelato and even Fish Gelato. The latter was way tastier than it sounds, even with the ensy fish bits in it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwcx01I2XyfKgoRJje16yUtEw24rA3uO391waPVCqMJr5mZLfvCWTixPqWdpC-mO1oAQKwE_6OiXibJMzvcFv_QxNr161hLI70QCZzf2JKKdbIxv1-64rBa-urJOhOfFix_44okAvypIX20sRU3j-MLAcOzgSuOaZ3UN1DtwDX_kxhbjAnko/s4000/20221128_134711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwcx01I2XyfKgoRJje16yUtEw24rA3uO391waPVCqMJr5mZLfvCWTixPqWdpC-mO1oAQKwE_6OiXibJMzvcFv_QxNr161hLI70QCZzf2JKKdbIxv1-64rBa-urJOhOfFix_44okAvypIX20sRU3j-MLAcOzgSuOaZ3UN1DtwDX_kxhbjAnko/w640-h480/20221128_134711.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Alongside the gelato were amazing pastries which meant I tried to avoid the shop altogether so I could manage to still fit through the deck doors. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></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/AVvXsEgEscKjRvhzcbB67g6Av6dxEJNEjHm6NQzIqnq_V3Jnq-fYWBgzbe6Gg3Qd71QvxzXqzfUXU93m3x0BCCBDzcwnor1rQH2Hfvo0lKAXhVLFmI0LN8J0756na3LvAHYoHYF7MO1yEwGljNyMhGUVCBUloOwmJe1yfIr2Ty4gNIvn9g6hdpVPn0Y/s4000/20221128_135159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEscKjRvhzcbB67g6Av6dxEJNEjHm6NQzIqnq_V3Jnq-fYWBgzbe6Gg3Qd71QvxzXqzfUXU93m3x0BCCBDzcwnor1rQH2Hfvo0lKAXhVLFmI0LN8J0756na3LvAHYoHYF7MO1yEwGljNyMhGUVCBUloOwmJe1yfIr2Ty4gNIvn9g6hdpVPn0Y/w640-h480/20221128_135159.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><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/AVvXsEiUyaxrqfpchsK1MvbSak0gDSRveenGeULCYVK0-ehneiM1PwJ_ioMO9f4l4ZU7YjA92hWIodpHkoqFAyWr6zrqUQIt1Yv5LN3SXJ3j8tnpYXmpml5XUhtpfZAmphMRnTKOzE79bTJRGgBZFKqpcuUptJigMJnHFKTfwQVvjbq9eXYEfphWlPA/s4000/20221130_230500.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyaxrqfpchsK1MvbSak0gDSRveenGeULCYVK0-ehneiM1PwJ_ioMO9f4l4ZU7YjA92hWIodpHkoqFAyWr6zrqUQIt1Yv5LN3SXJ3j8tnpYXmpml5XUhtpfZAmphMRnTKOzE79bTJRGgBZFKqpcuUptJigMJnHFKTfwQVvjbq9eXYEfphWlPA/w400-h225/20221130_230500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Ah! But that wasn't the only opportunity to stuff one's jowls. Special events were held up on the 7th floor deck outside. A couple of nights I purchased drinks. The drinks were in adorable tiny tin mugs were dedicated to Norge Trolls, and filled with Aquavit, a tasty liquor that is 95% potato. Another frigid night the tiny mugs were sold containing a wonderous spiked hot chocolate. SKOL!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Daily, there were presentations offered in English and German, to keep us updated on what was on for the day's excursions, but also to educate us on various topics. It was amazing to hear our presenters switching from English to German on a Kroner, plus of course they also spoke Norwegian. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />One of my favorite lectures was on the Sami people of northern Scandinavia. The Sami were the indigenous peoples who originally lived by herding reindeer. Many still do that, but many have taken on traditional roles. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOkRizcAn1yj9-AKdWiYf8KUf1gH0L92bRNYcDQTUMs2SuRvkGEVTSyraAZlPc_Zy4WeudsHF09sjh8z6-NaKcwz6wAb899XwcR1FEPgyf32RZ0zoh9P9BCj-mUpmjIQS3hB-e9oxFKxwiXgONLt0WpcIyIGnvB4_WzzA6PFxHGUKbszkgg8/s4000/20221201_110208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOkRizcAn1yj9-AKdWiYf8KUf1gH0L92bRNYcDQTUMs2SuRvkGEVTSyraAZlPc_Zy4WeudsHF09sjh8z6-NaKcwz6wAb899XwcR1FEPgyf32RZ0zoh9P9BCj-mUpmjIQS3hB-e9oxFKxwiXgONLt0WpcIyIGnvB4_WzzA6PFxHGUKbszkgg8/w640-h360/20221201_110208.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reindeer herding by Sami people</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xJTwrmgvZ1DsDAEzwv8xbSweQF4Hn1i62-0fmHgUgRTfsQjudSQzNf5E3ovZcbcXXTd-rYfMQKi_8X5gds59XhEV4NWrNQmvkOA8sWNWDRmJ8tjazGpQNND-5fSvgRUvvVSLIznmKUDgyCZ4hYDkfkRGy7dP4ZTdhqZfr7hASMKCi38UZho/s4000/20221201_101217.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xJTwrmgvZ1DsDAEzwv8xbSweQF4Hn1i62-0fmHgUgRTfsQjudSQzNf5E3ovZcbcXXTd-rYfMQKi_8X5gds59XhEV4NWrNQmvkOA8sWNWDRmJ8tjazGpQNND-5fSvgRUvvVSLIznmKUDgyCZ4hYDkfkRGy7dP4ZTdhqZfr7hASMKCi38UZho/w640-h360/20221201_101217.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the Sami clothing</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another day I was fascinated by a lecture on the similarities between Norwegian, Swedish, Danish and the Icelandic languages. The 4 languages are from the same branch of the language tree so all four language speakers can pretty much understand each other. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NXjV_OH7Vyqp93XbiHeLkgxHphoB-ctynr1nh_C7DLwwhR53oyx3bFsmtnI-CpdgFxlVkS5RSzFU-7owMvUxenJKnDJjqEYy_cIksN83FD7idahGiiYM2JWCVtGLQCeEeYBxV0dagcC9laALBAuJYh0m2oGWbI2i5On50BWU2vijBIlFhnE/s4000/20221202_150721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NXjV_OH7Vyqp93XbiHeLkgxHphoB-ctynr1nh_C7DLwwhR53oyx3bFsmtnI-CpdgFxlVkS5RSzFU-7owMvUxenJKnDJjqEYy_cIksN83FD7idahGiiYM2JWCVtGLQCeEeYBxV0dagcC9laALBAuJYh0m2oGWbI2i5On50BWU2vijBIlFhnE/w640-h360/20221202_150721.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGjWFBhSYJQoqFmVZ_eSNpGS2vOsnelyo0SMxjsV_xS21KF2dDZUaY9fquBwhPqBZlizye5Ht5c5mzJQx6Mcr2taSX56FQ4pH6b5uNkLQPofIAPa8vz9ytwpfqFArF0LBS1UhfydiDD5GoQxi2ptxGto31xdWYPuCtJU4Qh7gTSlrow8-OGk/s4000/20221202_150642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGjWFBhSYJQoqFmVZ_eSNpGS2vOsnelyo0SMxjsV_xS21KF2dDZUaY9fquBwhPqBZlizye5Ht5c5mzJQx6Mcr2taSX56FQ4pH6b5uNkLQPofIAPa8vz9ytwpfqFArF0LBS1UhfydiDD5GoQxi2ptxGto31xdWYPuCtJU4Qh7gTSlrow8-OGk/w640-h360/20221202_150642.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But quirkily, Finnish is from a different, <i>v-e-r-y </i>different language family so it is the odd fellow out, and it is not understood by it's neighboring countries. Interestingly enough, the Sami language is of the same language family as is Finnish. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-rh4aVtmNIg8IdE4S7Pu_UVpQeRMMAaU6pDNBlfM8lhMA01wq-6DfSzAZzweXu5g438ZZY1Cb0HIt4H1GlHO5t_EXAdpUKMImg0kMPZjH-DJnjyNiZnhtSx6XOXa7aTeH8AQhNakXJ7_OUngvAiTywTlqyaZbW1yMFq-RV49FG7PrttBU6Y/s4000/20221202_150830.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-rh4aVtmNIg8IdE4S7Pu_UVpQeRMMAaU6pDNBlfM8lhMA01wq-6DfSzAZzweXu5g438ZZY1Cb0HIt4H1GlHO5t_EXAdpUKMImg0kMPZjH-DJnjyNiZnhtSx6XOXa7aTeH8AQhNakXJ7_OUngvAiTywTlqyaZbW1yMFq-RV49FG7PrttBU6Y/w640-h360/20221202_150830.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"My Name is" in 4 languages and you can see Finnish is the odd language out</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did a little 'Duolingo' studying of Norwegian (Norge) before the trip, but as pretty much all Norwegians speak English, learning Norge was really not necessary. The most 'Norge' I used was "Takk" (thank you), "Tusen Takk" (A thousand thanks, aka many thanks) and "Takk for Matten" (Thanks for the food!). I wore those 3 phrases to shreds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How did we know where we were each day? There were occasional shipboard announcements, spoken in Norwegian, English, then German. After a while I was hallucinating that I could understand all three languages. There were also monitors strategically placed around the ship, that wised us all up on where we were, where we were going that day, as well as the current temperatures, and such.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NY5GGXVC9f4lfDe_9Bj--OpZe_XsB5MFGzRvIf_OGNIfuV2PKNag8AhAO5tiUTPajCKOu7gEFMeVoD-4JtCp6R0ytBEH4BMmvzK7pWWuH8h7jr_zQ081PSW964fyUj82z_datpzdfLOC8n2mJKBUG-vwaEhS88nRcJjDU0GWXijY-YVLh_Q/s1395/Capture.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1395" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NY5GGXVC9f4lfDe_9Bj--OpZe_XsB5MFGzRvIf_OGNIfuV2PKNag8AhAO5tiUTPajCKOu7gEFMeVoD-4JtCp6R0ytBEH4BMmvzK7pWWuH8h7jr_zQ081PSW964fyUj82z_datpzdfLOC8n2mJKBUG-vwaEhS88nRcJjDU0GWXijY-YVLh_Q/w640-h368/Capture.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where the heck are we today?</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On ship bound days (my choice as I could have disembarked but I developed a weird fear of getting left behind on shore). I spent my time journaling the trip in one of my many, many travel journals, and otherwise I watched the beautiful scenery skirting by. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0Cv3h72NPBbhpkLpOsfNbAbE3ahV4dimdLk5tBqpaFpd6ldNRUAOmdsFgOLzix-y495B29ihhTu3I_H3jGQhyHrGjzPk9eF24IsLMwPkLzpsyLnebS1gaYi2t27s5vU3QS6-74SE9CAK624ZA6hTpFzV4HpBij2zanXddX_AJPipL0XN7Dc/s4000/20221206_095100.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0Cv3h72NPBbhpkLpOsfNbAbE3ahV4dimdLk5tBqpaFpd6ldNRUAOmdsFgOLzix-y495B29ihhTu3I_H3jGQhyHrGjzPk9eF24IsLMwPkLzpsyLnebS1gaYi2t27s5vU3QS6-74SE9CAK624ZA6hTpFzV4HpBij2zanXddX_AJPipL0XN7Dc/w640-h360/20221206_095100.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Mountain that is likely named Mt. Ski Cap</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKmg-rODOMWc2EzDzwvSzazfkRN4xIyirwyNuxov5iZllKF0S94AoUA17aIkhoFWxyBZFkJJ6AThqCFpcbzCXrubZZJ5fhrGRGf2_lPMFXoRuzT301-y8em-RSevddMRLJjqOtmTQM3n7QhHhofvdae24kfOq7KGS3vCSaXqNL4Ps8VOwhc8/s4000/20221206_104725.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKmg-rODOMWc2EzDzwvSzazfkRN4xIyirwyNuxov5iZllKF0S94AoUA17aIkhoFWxyBZFkJJ6AThqCFpcbzCXrubZZJ5fhrGRGf2_lPMFXoRuzT301-y8em-RSevddMRLJjqOtmTQM3n7QhHhofvdae24kfOq7KGS3vCSaXqNL4Ps8VOwhc8/w640-h360/20221206_104725.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little Norwegian Fishing Village </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXmBMRZu7dheNMmPTt_4H_W8fHcgiBNhVxgP-PzWWMnxiGvgiuKKJmLMffJy3BaDCGqcMyQ2ZMxHTOmT22vffmixeUyg7MVmhDTs7m4oqxTippzB-jqC-rVSbFFi9GcTtebp_WwN_a4q6Y7az8hX1-sNyiCjdbAekPJRZtX1Wn4EDtr6eOm8/s4000/20221201_183000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXmBMRZu7dheNMmPTt_4H_W8fHcgiBNhVxgP-PzWWMnxiGvgiuKKJmLMffJy3BaDCGqcMyQ2ZMxHTOmT22vffmixeUyg7MVmhDTs7m4oqxTippzB-jqC-rVSbFFi9GcTtebp_WwN_a4q6Y7az8hX1-sNyiCjdbAekPJRZtX1Wn4EDtr6eOm8/w640-h360/20221201_183000.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising past a colorful Yule Fair</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">A quick look at a nighttime amenity offered to passengers on the top deck. </div></div></div></div><br /></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yb6d2DbDawk" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></center>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-47071105454787892962022-11-28T23:00:00.160-08:002023-08-16T17:54:07.884-07:00Excursion Time: Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim Norway<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OhNg2xObJ3SAngIjT71iVdGbhVuNq2el2L-kWrisVNvin_zyYy_AyIA2sELjYJ5NnuuZZZLCTCv9mOf9FnCZN--3igQrFyIFjdL7fh5ZBKHJ-PmyWqLGlfjfM5T9OUt7cCTWfKJwr0IgL4mNeHRgu6Nbgp3sjsFZVFWzQxq39gNoPlkn33Q/s4000/20221129_102043.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OhNg2xObJ3SAngIjT71iVdGbhVuNq2el2L-kWrisVNvin_zyYy_AyIA2sELjYJ5NnuuZZZLCTCv9mOf9FnCZN--3igQrFyIFjdL7fh5ZBKHJ-PmyWqLGlfjfM5T9OUt7cCTWfKJwr0IgL4mNeHRgu6Nbgp3sjsFZVFWzQxq39gNoPlkn33Q/w640-h480/20221129_102043.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nidaros Cathedral, Norway</td></tr></tbody></table><p>This morning I was up and finally, off the good ship Richard With. Ila and I were on a bus and off on an excursion to visit the town of Trondheim, with the Nidaros Cathedral as the main focus. The massive stone building dates all the way back to the cathedral's completion date in the ridiculously ancient year of 1300. It took 280 years for the cathedral to be deemed 'done'. Mind, the building has suffered many fires over the years, so bits of the cathedral have been destroyed then rebuilt. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NDKRYqyvsUy4foJjY9tNQv3yGcRLcEKyfNA0GG2aU4ZnG7EOhX-p-GZxWGRlNKdOys_YOZSfr53pXbKgrLUyXhdt3cWHX-X7fgwP0-whd0Ra0M8Ha_p6ObgHh_G3eTF-pYAJGWtvNoSIZOwXdmFILijc0hOyUCiWfrE2OxUCmCHxYv2Gkhw/s4000/20221129_102056.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NDKRYqyvsUy4foJjY9tNQv3yGcRLcEKyfNA0GG2aU4ZnG7EOhX-p-GZxWGRlNKdOys_YOZSfr53pXbKgrLUyXhdt3cWHX-X7fgwP0-whd0Ra0M8Ha_p6ObgHh_G3eTF-pYAJGWtvNoSIZOwXdmFILijc0hOyUCiWfrE2OxUCmCHxYv2Gkhw/w640-h480/20221129_102056.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A host of saints line the front of the cathedral</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumzL4VRB1h0Bf_cGBCBE_r488uf3TGPQmh0OU7ypJV-odDe2X38Mq72mIw9HKOLoAhEF9jpJ6YkEQyo6Pgyg8ZEIPZKCLntJEYJaLWd1tKv2AeqENG3G1L1Uuwe2l2d2cbDp-VhyqTBcUkDRsMlaO6eOviqNC73F-DJ8_v2Vc1APJpkYYd0s/s4000/20221129_103307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumzL4VRB1h0Bf_cGBCBE_r488uf3TGPQmh0OU7ypJV-odDe2X38Mq72mIw9HKOLoAhEF9jpJ6YkEQyo6Pgyg8ZEIPZKCLntJEYJaLWd1tKv2AeqENG3G1L1Uuwe2l2d2cbDp-VhyqTBcUkDRsMlaO6eOviqNC73F-DJ8_v2Vc1APJpkYYd0s/w640-h480/20221129_103307.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny bit of the Cathedral Interior </td></tr></tbody></table></div></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The tour was lead by a knowledgeable & robed tour guide. The basics were the cathedral was founded when king, and later Saint Olav was buried on the site where the cathedral was placed. The build took a bit over 2 centuries to complete. I know! The second fascinating fact to me is the cathedral is open for use by any denomination. From Lutheran, to Protestant, Catholic and whomever: all locals can command use of the cathedral. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyEvzmKQiF8gXGVnCPcmx47eNUfskdVgkWrP94a0l7BcwoVumIJ_M15jX8uYpuMk5wWGGhFXn52pPqxNnXZeRYPXFc0n_6oMPx4rRymatfYuS9ziDauegbrO2zNvN7uWc0ijK87zz731WCYTrMyW2qV5HwaWY_-wpJLB0J6Qu_FL5NhRIo4M/s4000/20221129_103400.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyEvzmKQiF8gXGVnCPcmx47eNUfskdVgkWrP94a0l7BcwoVumIJ_M15jX8uYpuMk5wWGGhFXn52pPqxNnXZeRYPXFc0n_6oMPx4rRymatfYuS9ziDauegbrO2zNvN7uWc0ijK87zz731WCYTrMyW2qV5HwaWY_-wpJLB0J6Qu_FL5NhRIo4M/w640-h480/20221129_103400.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heads up - dizzying view overhead inside cathedral</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbdfQ4vbe-c3O-jNfJL5NWYJ_pVweXBMWnkqIUdSRVWjHQ-ZJH13_V2w2w9V7ka3Dwzu4aplEgcUMRbfPtwV7qdazejjvdQFdZhiupsFPutQdTFAU6VlmsSVwhRP_Lvx-eM-9BvFgU2uvG883m1hc53J3oc3OiJvA_WX3Qu5MbVU2AaCeQwE/s4000/20221129_103324.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbdfQ4vbe-c3O-jNfJL5NWYJ_pVweXBMWnkqIUdSRVWjHQ-ZJH13_V2w2w9V7ka3Dwzu4aplEgcUMRbfPtwV7qdazejjvdQFdZhiupsFPutQdTFAU6VlmsSVwhRP_Lvx-eM-9BvFgU2uvG883m1hc53J3oc3OiJvA_WX3Qu5MbVU2AaCeQwE/w640-h480/20221129_103324.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wagner Organ, with golden pipes above - circa 1741</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbFPDJ4F6a-w_-iuOQ9vphabK_VC9OdG0C39cFjFoK1PWBFQB8IzV8veFXxD9dOF7tMX4Wq5Wrp7ULrC2qa2Wg_WTRMrNAy0x3Gx1JPPIV5hLWbJeNXx0TVhKc4A3Prd-RDyvCA6Gxbl5mlE8s8JHPWGCPzxKn43WPHfQbBXV3sK9G-tzYJA/s4000/20221129_105724.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbFPDJ4F6a-w_-iuOQ9vphabK_VC9OdG0C39cFjFoK1PWBFQB8IzV8veFXxD9dOF7tMX4Wq5Wrp7ULrC2qa2Wg_WTRMrNAy0x3Gx1JPPIV5hLWbJeNXx0TVhKc4A3Prd-RDyvCA6Gxbl5mlE8s8JHPWGCPzxKn43WPHfQbBXV3sK9G-tzYJA/w400-h300/20221129_105724.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>Stone baptismal Font, circa 1905</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbykU8hg89K4e4hGIUTcbUOFRowwla5nopHmW1noVW7D9TKcHLxmHOzvBG1vr2vlA5d8smoEFuRFZNi42sXLNj4fp7hw0vxHcRuhJeiPc7YYAh0woL9ILEk2CtZ48cJwx1HGf9rEgAJd9dDa8Ja4MtVnj92kPtFHzmudQjJSHHDxmyz7-GCU/s4000/20221129_105751.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbykU8hg89K4e4hGIUTcbUOFRowwla5nopHmW1noVW7D9TKcHLxmHOzvBG1vr2vlA5d8smoEFuRFZNi42sXLNj4fp7hw0vxHcRuhJeiPc7YYAh0woL9ILEk2CtZ48cJwx1HGf9rEgAJd9dDa8Ja4MtVnj92kPtFHzmudQjJSHHDxmyz7-GCU/s320/20221129_105751.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knock, knock... who's there? Meg! </td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMls5XreKGhQu6UQbAOQ2XEmkkMLxvlGAiRLNvTTdBbmIccCtDAdRRgcwOAeXRSVm-9PCBYht1jXf-TT5gNA5YeQ0nTJ3x14xEF3qYTKmCphpzYSAQl6j3_I9Quyp04wY6YH9hqtqNy6ikKzarhjONCCJT74HEArYeJtbofvCW6aPgGOLBmk/s4000/20221129_105904.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMls5XreKGhQu6UQbAOQ2XEmkkMLxvlGAiRLNvTTdBbmIccCtDAdRRgcwOAeXRSVm-9PCBYht1jXf-TT5gNA5YeQ0nTJ3x14xEF3qYTKmCphpzYSAQl6j3_I9Quyp04wY6YH9hqtqNy6ikKzarhjONCCJT74HEArYeJtbofvCW6aPgGOLBmk/w640-h480/20221129_105904.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marble flooring with medieval creatures of reality and fantasy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMnEEwKw-LZ4QTqRA7UHdnibmoq9HXor6_oumW2R8se9Gg7vKivmEvOL5Bj7sdNDFg0BPpyZKT-8B81HNGYbhnEVUVeSTuS1Fdm9yL7zF6ewrxk1LZMzYMGZnGatFm6GahfI5tLIXi29m7TiBb2o_qUyntAdW8ZkaE1ngJV2Qu0KkoB_tqcY/s4000/20221129_110615.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMnEEwKw-LZ4QTqRA7UHdnibmoq9HXor6_oumW2R8se9Gg7vKivmEvOL5Bj7sdNDFg0BPpyZKT-8B81HNGYbhnEVUVeSTuS1Fdm9yL7zF6ewrxk1LZMzYMGZnGatFm6GahfI5tLIXi29m7TiBb2o_qUyntAdW8ZkaE1ngJV2Qu0KkoB_tqcY/w400-h300/20221129_110615.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVziVdwqu0WRVeUuMCvpHYIaovO4tetdaCJsoEdx4XyFuTlBAh2DLOI_k2zxDp3WwwA2ZORX2QAhkP-CTwFX3_NV-M0_pOn3CmtN2nuKU6bDCM-wJP3SrbHJ7tTZwIuJatrmaxTnS4eYXBCrit_yJrarXHNfqsjGvPHE4D6B4HFMwneGtWipc/s4000/20221129_110628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVziVdwqu0WRVeUuMCvpHYIaovO4tetdaCJsoEdx4XyFuTlBAh2DLOI_k2zxDp3WwwA2ZORX2QAhkP-CTwFX3_NV-M0_pOn3CmtN2nuKU6bDCM-wJP3SrbHJ7tTZwIuJatrmaxTnS4eYXBCrit_yJrarXHNfqsjGvPHE4D6B4HFMwneGtWipc/w400-h300/20221129_110628.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">A beautiful building next to the cathedral, houses one of my favorite things - the gift shop! Once again I restrained myself, not buying anything because, well, I have enough 'stuff' to last for the rest of my life. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXkQ8sz21KMG3Hboec7Du6q1fV5YafOtp7_o7Jypx3ipXw8YRKduJRcIV_rILR0NbsCTAOpKCqjvfGWJrpyilRrPrbu2L3SU8Gie4ZCdb4bQcYRsKF2lUp__CxVXqjlfBTnoIV0Ja8yObDhwoBp6Zl43KIq0XuOFZxT-R0fpBCZxcD_V0xdk/s4000/20221129_111151.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXkQ8sz21KMG3Hboec7Du6q1fV5YafOtp7_o7Jypx3ipXw8YRKduJRcIV_rILR0NbsCTAOpKCqjvfGWJrpyilRrPrbu2L3SU8Gie4ZCdb4bQcYRsKF2lUp__CxVXqjlfBTnoIV0Ja8yObDhwoBp6Zl43KIq0XuOFZxT-R0fpBCZxcD_V0xdk/w400-h300/20221129_111151.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning Christmas ornaments for sale</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hGz3XgeldkWQ2DW9WiigwQZqCeEMKN1KtfAOtetLJkeXDN4HkCP_mHaRvTHs9ruGnf7ybb6_BWv7D77-bnemxf__bV5lbzOMYsT8DwiYlBBL0baEd4vSQaIPfudSdCw0l5hsL4991s3ekTMosy4IVq7yxGi1wCdJOEPxPECeSLiUFV29LC0/s4000/20221129_111045.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hGz3XgeldkWQ2DW9WiigwQZqCeEMKN1KtfAOtetLJkeXDN4HkCP_mHaRvTHs9ruGnf7ybb6_BWv7D77-bnemxf__bV5lbzOMYsT8DwiYlBBL0baEd4vSQaIPfudSdCw0l5hsL4991s3ekTMosy4IVq7yxGi1wCdJOEPxPECeSLiUFV29LC0/w400-h300/20221129_111045.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classy Toy medieval helmets, and weaponry</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Facing the square in front of the cathedral was this glass window, featuring children's artwork, transformed into a striking stained glass whatchamacallit.<br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS846nJfuyS3m7cikfFUIdlyeiy45bSHyMGbHmQUOIbv0fAGyipuVnJ1eEfXnOSXz9jjvTOuCIZsTs0BCCIrFQfV4IEmSKdhA87GGgTgpfkzHOvCE-Z_UpVPBqxKRSPV8gQU2gfES91mtUbMT9MsRL3Vfs6ShMoYeAUuqaRLnaqNMQPNmU1g/s4000/20221129_111217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS846nJfuyS3m7cikfFUIdlyeiy45bSHyMGbHmQUOIbv0fAGyipuVnJ1eEfXnOSXz9jjvTOuCIZsTs0BCCIrFQfV4IEmSKdhA87GGgTgpfkzHOvCE-Z_UpVPBqxKRSPV8gQU2gfES91mtUbMT9MsRL3Vfs6ShMoYeAUuqaRLnaqNMQPNmU1g/w480-h640/20221129_111217.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZw2oAlXHP_2N65YIxBQAfWOqFH6tZ-q-7p_cMCMl3ua_t6KL50Q50xAY-BgztSekCMymiq6vtbT2BgvmzQtP0ECJYbTNOqrdBaO7KZ7ZgGYdu4Hs6Bi6yOcWOeZ5TBBzR8bi3TzsYpPhNyltdFxppYuKEREgBZ0HB_qO5aLRWnxibUCHW7E/s4000/20221129_111234.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZw2oAlXHP_2N65YIxBQAfWOqFH6tZ-q-7p_cMCMl3ua_t6KL50Q50xAY-BgztSekCMymiq6vtbT2BgvmzQtP0ECJYbTNOqrdBaO7KZ7ZgGYdu4Hs6Bi6yOcWOeZ5TBBzR8bi3TzsYpPhNyltdFxppYuKEREgBZ0HB_qO5aLRWnxibUCHW7E/w640-h480/20221129_111234.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail...in case you doubt it is kid's artwork</td></tr></tbody></table><br />At some point, after having tramped through the cathedral's back rooms, and after viewing the beautiful souvenirs, I realized, I couldn't spot anyone else from the tour. WTH? Yeah, I had missed the tour bus departure. In full panic mode I raced to the bus area - my bus was absent. I ended up in the gift shop where I was assured 'No big deal, you'll be back on the boat with much time to spare'.' That was true enough. The kindly lady clerk called a cab for me. As I was assured, made it back to the ship before Ila and the rest of the tourists returned. Don't tell anyone I told you that! Sooo embarrassing (and quite the adventure!)Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-27981479194300371482022-11-28T18:56:00.479-08:002023-08-16T18:04:16.123-07:00On Board for Norway<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVm60Npv_O1IE9HrdRCO3nFt37JLXEOZOIVsILDHnH46MlAvEX6bAYiVJ9hMG7xZl5ye73zaIj6O2FwgdwDfUW0o71gRz3AS30Kwpz0cpbMNOfMASS1bTm5a9oDScqQMJgf1qwz15CI1K8m2gfA9J6r0SwNs_c1ick1otoKlScrVIRRtAIXIo/s4000/20221126_134815.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVm60Npv_O1IE9HrdRCO3nFt37JLXEOZOIVsILDHnH46MlAvEX6bAYiVJ9hMG7xZl5ye73zaIj6O2FwgdwDfUW0o71gRz3AS30Kwpz0cpbMNOfMASS1bTm5a9oDScqQMJgf1qwz15CI1K8m2gfA9J6r0SwNs_c1ick1otoKlScrVIRRtAIXIo/w640-h480/20221126_134815.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seattle to Europe sail past Mount Rainier</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0sPZCwclckN0n0cIzpN4zvQAyBa_pSKrP9SzPJTAyS7s-z1XO5wm7MvdlOTkK2m1F9JeVSccDrBCdwnId9-ksjCCgeHUlgz-5UmnzuRRVh6JXCCl8TJHcqe_j_IprJVi5f2y9XxtQjTDZHimE1f0N_iXvtukj3aORc60FIB6V96MOu1Ic4E/s4000/20221126_134806.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0sPZCwclckN0n0cIzpN4zvQAyBa_pSKrP9SzPJTAyS7s-z1XO5wm7MvdlOTkK2m1F9JeVSccDrBCdwnId9-ksjCCgeHUlgz-5UmnzuRRVh6JXCCl8TJHcqe_j_IprJVi5f2y9XxtQjTDZHimE1f0N_iXvtukj3aORc60FIB6V96MOu1Ic4E/w400-h300/20221126_134806.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Rainier</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've never visited Mt Rainier National Park but I have flown past it many times. On Saturday I met up with my travel buddy Ila - the brains of the outfit - and we headed to Bergen, Norway with a short layover in Amsterdam. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtfu8bDa4kk25NbiR-P7YUty0BBXJ_X_0VGPuhtIgwur2VzP56-Lq_vPczA8xeVNNI7D6AfdrKr-NIFU9QM1hQ5JIEnRMf6U_hXNPUeo70UNezSAMhrpijrGkedvT0bFtE0wGxYrpferlrEULGCoUzpLq_8OI3A-r6x4zisToOoacj25wsyI/s4000/20221126_234945.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtfu8bDa4kk25NbiR-P7YUty0BBXJ_X_0VGPuhtIgwur2VzP56-Lq_vPczA8xeVNNI7D6AfdrKr-NIFU9QM1hQ5JIEnRMf6U_hXNPUeo70UNezSAMhrpijrGkedvT0bFtE0wGxYrpferlrEULGCoUzpLq_8OI3A-r6x4zisToOoacj25wsyI/w400-h300/20221126_234945.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The MIRACLE of the tram ride </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The flight to Amsterdam was a breezy 9 hours 15 minutes. The Amsterdam International Airport is HUMONGOUS. Its gates are miles apart, I swear, and navigating that airport feels like one is on a death march. Just taxiing to our gate took the jet almost 20 minutes. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once in the terminal I was instantly in panic mode because we couldn't find the gate number for our next flight on the monitor. Waving my boarding pass, I threw myself in the path of an oncoming tram. Instead of running me over the lady tram driver pulled up. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I bombarded the tram driver with queries on the gate for the jet to Bergan. I looked - a bit - as if about to burst into tears. Then a miracle occured, the lady tram driver invited Ila and myself on board. And... get this... she drove us to our gate! I was soooo grateful, having been seriously worried that we wouldn't be able to hobble over to our gate in time to make our flight.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whomever that lady was, to me she is an airport angel. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMkWhdx6sPapTV89XS-ELkge1SFhUHg8uglocba8cB9232jYzigr5xMYChohqivU_VSey_fpA-BHQVhTQa2LLloM51Sd-BZeirfqmIPpDIT02oMbHmG9TPY_CzuMtubKqWsD2NLgb7tqLzQMBqG6HqtLeGdjdWQfyyHiuYBcMFMUZpNTN0Bs/s4000/20221127_132924.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMkWhdx6sPapTV89XS-ELkge1SFhUHg8uglocba8cB9232jYzigr5xMYChohqivU_VSey_fpA-BHQVhTQa2LLloM51Sd-BZeirfqmIPpDIT02oMbHmG9TPY_CzuMtubKqWsD2NLgb7tqLzQMBqG6HqtLeGdjdWQfyyHiuYBcMFMUZpNTN0Bs/s320/20221127_132924.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flight into Bergen - stripes are<br />stripes are shipping lane markers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The flight from Amsterdam to Bergen was just short of 2 hours. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z0BJIPD81DEjIeHbusXINev0C39zogTSA8btN3hsOdCox2XKrutxnCGi9mjTvMC7PRJD6l815NhZRh8BJqmMvoE1Te0NV4OKuAei7f_hqVIvrxEXS-fk9cWpQB5tl08pkjbxwurkVz8EhnLa5WqmfpR8u7CWPDD15GUVHNvoUyJ5sbMYlU0/s4000/20221127_134603.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z0BJIPD81DEjIeHbusXINev0C39zogTSA8btN3hsOdCox2XKrutxnCGi9mjTvMC7PRJD6l815NhZRh8BJqmMvoE1Te0NV4OKuAei7f_hqVIvrxEXS-fk9cWpQB5tl08pkjbxwurkVz8EhnLa5WqmfpR8u7CWPDD15GUVHNvoUyJ5sbMYlU0/w640-h480/20221127_134603.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Bergen Airport, Reindeer (stuffies) & a media big screen, greeted us </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SASfR1tXtCdZJgrgjL277edAAq9IuzRGm099uMGNJeyjppr878MeBF8w_7C8FmuIilJiQ7DqEi1lo0yuG2GswhlmytKQYG6z--bANxOm_i5f8sjq9FpsFaV5s8bxnV-kWC4aorpaTzo2RGRrUZ2uUs-3j_yDKyWndO3GzkSxwBBTgNaZTd8/s4000/20221127_140121.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SASfR1tXtCdZJgrgjL277edAAq9IuzRGm099uMGNJeyjppr878MeBF8w_7C8FmuIilJiQ7DqEi1lo0yuG2GswhlmytKQYG6z--bANxOm_i5f8sjq9FpsFaV5s8bxnV-kWC4aorpaTzo2RGRrUZ2uUs-3j_yDKyWndO3GzkSxwBBTgNaZTd8/w640-h480/20221127_140121.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bergen Airport walkway</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ila had wisely booked us a bus ride to the Hurtigruten dock, a 40 minute or so ride. There, we got ourselves checked in, our luggage was hauled to our cabin, and we were ushered to the passenger lounge to await ship boarding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While waiting, passengers helped themselves to fresh, hot fish soup (<i>much </i>tastier than it sounds) and many different beverages. Then everyone had to watch a safety movie and once we all were deemed trained, we boarded the <u>Richard With</u>, our home for a dozen days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBITNpQBJtZ7GiC8n4cKeazmx7CqO1SCxQjPv9fblqOsUuuNK0E1YPZa4U9a7ft5ILGH_JIXK-iSCrbVUOOJ8rFXDalTvkhUyraHd6_e-KwMoM_1suUZTz3-qDBPSkZguj4y5_DC9b_P7IBW0n74Ol4SWfM2rNJNmWnpPhfqv1olvxDHCczN0/s819/Richard%20With.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="819" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBITNpQBJtZ7GiC8n4cKeazmx7CqO1SCxQjPv9fblqOsUuuNK0E1YPZa4U9a7ft5ILGH_JIXK-iSCrbVUOOJ8rFXDalTvkhUyraHd6_e-KwMoM_1suUZTz3-qDBPSkZguj4y5_DC9b_P7IBW0n74Ol4SWfM2rNJNmWnpPhfqv1olvxDHCczN0/w640-h408/Richard%20With.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Richard With, docked in Hammerfest, Norway</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHT-a5SHh10jnTmJ19rMez8bZ-c72Fl9CcXoz7ngFjjsHcy7_0S8mr_7Vy_ER-RXSv-PzTQ_ithzeYM7Ao0yjcwv55ZBR2p_k9qeFY6O3G0NoxaEWpHXz9HBt5rY4RoqSgCBx31J-yIBkS9Viaq4LrVu0cIFtBHJXsFH8mgOuzg9D9-w-Mdk/s4000/20221206_133620.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHT-a5SHh10jnTmJ19rMez8bZ-c72Fl9CcXoz7ngFjjsHcy7_0S8mr_7Vy_ER-RXSv-PzTQ_ithzeYM7Ao0yjcwv55ZBR2p_k9qeFY6O3G0NoxaEWpHXz9HBt5rY4RoqSgCBx31J-yIBkS9Viaq4LrVu0cIFtBHJXsFH8mgOuzg9D9-w-Mdk/w400-h226/20221206_133620.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little bed on the right was pretty comfy. </td></tr></tbody></table>Our cabin was... uh.. snug! As it turns out, it didn't matter how small the room was as neither Ila or I only used the room for the 3 Eses: sleeping showering and stowing stuff. The rest of the time we were out and about either in ship lounges or on off ship excursions but I'll get to that in future posts. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZDysbUZrKNK1Zc1siFaS4wpgQmTZ-DrYngzPFDh3XKIhX8TaftdzxfwqVF5zY9INRSg_EeMT9vtNumL5beTLESm0fLJhBbEMW6R6Xy3-REYeq9kYpcOrbeBSTjgzQ8bpePDc6Bi4uLRtdVeBwe9A13VeOS9pUMDbSUbzRswPxu2aJLwc_gk/s4000/20221206_133639.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZDysbUZrKNK1Zc1siFaS4wpgQmTZ-DrYngzPFDh3XKIhX8TaftdzxfwqVF5zY9INRSg_EeMT9vtNumL5beTLESm0fLJhBbEMW6R6Xy3-REYeq9kYpcOrbeBSTjgzQ8bpePDc6Bi4uLRtdVeBwe9A13VeOS9pUMDbSUbzRswPxu2aJLwc_gk/w400-h226/20221206_133639.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The bathroom, as teensy, but serviceable. Every time I took a shower I flooded the bathroom floor. That didn't happen when Ila showered. I have zero explanation for that!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I signed up for 5 excursions on this cruise, with my primary goal to see... hope, hope, hope, the Northern Lights. So there were days when I didn't even leave the boat. What did I do when I was to be on board all day? I journaled, read, and spent a lot of time staring at the scenery the ship sailed past. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Below is a view of the 4th floor lounge where I spent a lot of time in a comfy booth, writing or staring at the bypassing scenery. The art at the center of the photo is actually a large TV screen that mostly showed a Hurtigruten movie on the Aurora Borealis 24/7. <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCTbI54bLCKxjrOm9BiPpR7LxUg0ctVfvm4EF-1VHNnQFRaaVaMcCHTvWxucLoJy_p1XhhHPgjg9ZV78AJxuVmrbyyx9CDh5sOSiVcwd6IVjCpsK6ECMdCLyl6FIUjggMzIqWMN2t4sjzQTZwmcRzo8ZtoF3HQOOqJdS8boNvVOXJSSB1y5k/s4000/20221130_111112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCTbI54bLCKxjrOm9BiPpR7LxUg0ctVfvm4EF-1VHNnQFRaaVaMcCHTvWxucLoJy_p1XhhHPgjg9ZV78AJxuVmrbyyx9CDh5sOSiVcwd6IVjCpsK6ECMdCLyl6FIUjggMzIqWMN2t4sjzQTZwmcRzo8ZtoF3HQOOqJdS8boNvVOXJSSB1y5k/w640-h362/20221130_111112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The scene below is on the deck 7, the topmost floor of the ship. To right there is another lounge with a bar where you could get free coffee or tea or pay for alcoholic beverages (I bought a hot rum drink there one chilly night). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YeahEqBl5ECkjF5FPKEOcIkcUaWrwU3CVbhQPQgqP-oimXKDBBwvit0NnHZ3Hhout9ZX18grG4PY_C5uWNeBHkRWzbbT1IB0SCf20s8gc9fSJ6NMBPKqMBgv7JKjLV0XwypZcrn8Trp6kM3eaNHAa0lQSN9ZA-SDVdWyRmzHJMEr1pIwZN0/s4000/20221128_105319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YeahEqBl5ECkjF5FPKEOcIkcUaWrwU3CVbhQPQgqP-oimXKDBBwvit0NnHZ3Hhout9ZX18grG4PY_C5uWNeBHkRWzbbT1IB0SCf20s8gc9fSJ6NMBPKqMBgv7JKjLV0XwypZcrn8Trp6kM3eaNHAa0lQSN9ZA-SDVdWyRmzHJMEr1pIwZN0/w640-h480/20221128_105319.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And the scenery we sailed past? Awesome!<br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbAePHyioCY7Pnd11culWUkbFtaSlEQ1kZ8ECarYIVoCp3TIUWmOenNYNTRIvJcoOSXVikfLs3Cvy7_zgNxV1kEC05_rZbJQIyatMBuEt5YovZwRykyzTSwNQWJYXEyi3ZvWIb6ReWwoTGbfm-lnpZhJz1fYszFw2VZ6G7hsyCYVFO3kKShA/s4000/20221130_094850.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbAePHyioCY7Pnd11culWUkbFtaSlEQ1kZ8ECarYIVoCp3TIUWmOenNYNTRIvJcoOSXVikfLs3Cvy7_zgNxV1kEC05_rZbJQIyatMBuEt5YovZwRykyzTSwNQWJYXEyi3ZvWIb6ReWwoTGbfm-lnpZhJz1fYszFw2VZ6G7hsyCYVFO3kKShA/w640-h480/20221130_094850.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical scenery we sailed past daily</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUri_p0XM986FuEqVw44JFAEV7FD1PuAC520lqsMXzoukbNZYg_ZMweo-ATeSwFNAuLZz665UasHnt4XGwyVu3r3JQZQIyI7MNHqs5epACgVMcRDB_1Hbrt4hClGoV6ZxC35478crGKjWnPQF2SFrSY223G_Ch8Eo7F7xz386N-78_083PEU/s4000/20221130_102610.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUri_p0XM986FuEqVw44JFAEV7FD1PuAC520lqsMXzoukbNZYg_ZMweo-ATeSwFNAuLZz665UasHnt4XGwyVu3r3JQZQIyI7MNHqs5epACgVMcRDB_1Hbrt4hClGoV6ZxC35478crGKjWnPQF2SFrSY223G_Ch8Eo7F7xz386N-78_083PEU/w640-h362/20221130_102610.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little fishing village on one of Norway's umpteen islands</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The ship moseyed along the Norwegian coast waterways headed north. There were many stops at various cities along the way. Most of the stops were short, perhaps 30 to 45 minutes, picking up or dropping off passengers. I had thought Hurtigruten was a cruise ship company. Wrong - it is a ferry system that services the coastal cities of Norway. People get on and off at the stops and the ship picks up its fresh food supply daily as it sails along. Didn't take much time to feel at home on the ship, and settle in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">[<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: courier;">UPDATE: Although Hurtigruten ferries along the coast of Norway, it also is a cruise ship company. There are Hurtigruten cruises to be had in Europe and all of the Americas. I hope to someday take their cruise that starts off in Colon, Panama (where my father was born) and then heads east along the northern coast of South America, ending at Bridgetown, Barbados, where my mother's family originated}</span></div></div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-1032703967413132222022-09-23T09:37:00.000-07:002022-12-23T09:39:46.473-08:00Apples Take a Turn<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFb9DDT-Jx5KMcwxZo2HYYkl1D6hpGtnq1Sp8uhVgNdmL8PnlTd3SBGlx_vGEoF0X3peBAj5OHcJTCIryA_72Y9gV8emK2Rvia9qwMYUxZnkFjHmCEXV4i-vjoQEUGKwIM9uo1gnoAA9C4j5g9mcRfyF86RFx4fXcxXWi0L7c5A-g35fN67E/s4000/20220917_143627.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFb9DDT-Jx5KMcwxZo2HYYkl1D6hpGtnq1Sp8uhVgNdmL8PnlTd3SBGlx_vGEoF0X3peBAj5OHcJTCIryA_72Y9gV8emK2Rvia9qwMYUxZnkFjHmCEXV4i-vjoQEUGKwIM9uo1gnoAA9C4j5g9mcRfyF86RFx4fXcxXWi0L7c5A-g35fN67E/w640-h480/20220917_143627.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oddly sweet crab apple tree on left,<br />sweet pink & yellow apples on the right</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Flown Piggies Farm has zero pigs, with or without wings, but what it does have is apples - and lots of them. </p><p></p><div>There are uh.... like maybe ten apple trees and the size and taste of each apple type varies wildly. There are ensy red 'crab' apples that actually taste pretty good. There are humongous yellow and pink apples in the rear of the cottage. This year, that particular tree only put out about half the number of apples it normally does. In a good year it produces hundreds of apples, but this year it yielded just short of 100 apples. No surprise, each tree's yield depends when the fruit trees bloom in the spring, and how many honey bees, bumblebees and other insects are available then to fertilize the tree's flowers. Spring weather and number of flower fertilizing insects can vary wildly from year to year.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz03sP_PK5gMg9walng5AnryRlW-dKsc8Agl4LSnpVSieg7ARjdA10KHttcJAhbRNaXQDnx7bUGK2pQP_TfhJ5HKEkROeoAEaL6fmAgH7V5_cnpCoK7VFfaOuLZM7BeynuNdJPvxCloE8SzUUwdQVrySfsbM7PL34oTjjY3Az8be7CDY7B0w/s3455/20220917_144014.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2365" data-original-width="3455" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz03sP_PK5gMg9walng5AnryRlW-dKsc8Agl4LSnpVSieg7ARjdA10KHttcJAhbRNaXQDnx7bUGK2pQP_TfhJ5HKEkROeoAEaL6fmAgH7V5_cnpCoK7VFfaOuLZM7BeynuNdJPvxCloE8SzUUwdQVrySfsbM7PL34oTjjY3Az8be7CDY7B0w/w400-h274/20220917_144014.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entire crop of one of the apple trees</td></tr></tbody></table><br />There is one tree that the past 2 years didn't produce a single fruit. Didn't think it was an apple tree. Now this year, it managed to produce - a single fruit. Not sure what the tree's problem is, but its lone apple was pretty, sweet and crunchy. Yum! Hope I get a second apple next year...<br /><br />Now what happened with this year's apple crop of Flown Piggies Farmj apples? Some apples were eaten as is. Not a single apple made it into the many pies, tarts, Danishes, puff pastry, or apple sauce that I dreamed of making last year when the entire crop of apples fell from the trees virtually overnight. That was due to a storm and not a single apple was gathered by a human, although the local deer made out like the bandits they are. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXU1J3KLPGw5tJRdv3N8TSmQKqiSLTKXiT5ijkhKrEaoWOHdSP9CUJ1SIG0wNYy8nexpVfhcuyOhRAo9ZmygMLoWWggixyFuLHDIDDiHDrXV8-MD-3kEDvDql5lakfBAN6IMtggf3-JiGbJ1MzD2Skj2eVeQzAkkjhqjZM_hvmxOwCyUVFUk/s4000/20221004_130509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXU1J3KLPGw5tJRdv3N8TSmQKqiSLTKXiT5ijkhKrEaoWOHdSP9CUJ1SIG0wNYy8nexpVfhcuyOhRAo9ZmygMLoWWggixyFuLHDIDDiHDrXV8-MD-3kEDvDql5lakfBAN6IMtggf3-JiGbJ1MzD2Skj2eVeQzAkkjhqjZM_hvmxOwCyUVFUk/w640-h480/20221004_130509.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah buddy... Got my eye on you, sneaking over to the apple orchard<br /> trying to look all innocent like you don't have apple scented breath</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Not to brag, but this year many apples this year made it into the dehydrator so SCORE for that! </div></div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-10081139016744861832022-09-17T08:55:00.000-07:002022-12-23T09:01:03.527-08:00Pear Harvest Time<div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PmuzIrBIovxRCVRiuT2DQTS10AWziaRus5AJjmcCu-BmPCB4Jk877FXkOuGRtmNQ2K3mu-rS25Rt0f-R2n578jd6-52q-ta68qFW8Yi462GNxZ3W7IO4Qm0mKSGy-aZ035nywIBvP3Mtsv0Ci2dPzsSwrwSeOYbRoKuYl4TaRu0-EolxsBk/s4000/20220917_142732.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PmuzIrBIovxRCVRiuT2DQTS10AWziaRus5AJjmcCu-BmPCB4Jk877FXkOuGRtmNQ2K3mu-rS25Rt0f-R2n578jd6-52q-ta68qFW8Yi462GNxZ3W7IO4Qm0mKSGy-aZ035nywIBvP3Mtsv0Ci2dPzsSwrwSeOYbRoKuYl4TaRu0-EolxsBk/w640-h480/20220917_142732.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the red pears</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>It's that time of year again, the orchard fruit are fat and ripe or nearly so. The apples outnumber the pears, the latter being favorites. The pears do not store well, but I'm not going to can any. Yes, my 'country gal' persona ends where the real work begins. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>My first year on Flown Piggies Farm lots of pear desserts were made, and yes, many lbs were gained. (Oh shut up, you'd have gone nuts with a glut of fresh fruit too!). Last year, 2021 the pears and apples fell from the trees so fast - literally overnight - that not a single piece of fruit was enjoyed, except by my neighborhood's population of chubby deer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Flown Piggies Farm boasts 3 pear trees. The closest tree to my house has Bartlett type pears. They might be Anjou pears but would not a pear by any other name still taste like one or the other? </div><div><br /></div><div>The second pear tree is itsy bitsy at perhaps 10 feet tall, and it bears small red pears - which are my favorite. This year the dinky tree yielded a <i>whopping </i>seven pears! To be fair to the tree, it being so small, it is possible that many of its fruit were taken early on by deer, who stand on their hind legs like trained poodles, and pluck fruit. Stupid deer. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKapk8nLFViukfe05Mm3PHsy-lbrr_MdsDIHBGxVWSD0sP6g80RERdLdgqJSBDaryzpoUL6JwyMEqYmRiau57pN6QEObTt2ivI-14KNMDOubukHMov2quTk5CCp3aznLJ8_3VLBL-YipUaTMiqlKe0C2sxUufbFcMs04gg6jIrk-JBJcCrYk8/s4000/20220917_143559.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKapk8nLFViukfe05Mm3PHsy-lbrr_MdsDIHBGxVWSD0sP6g80RERdLdgqJSBDaryzpoUL6JwyMEqYmRiau57pN6QEObTt2ivI-14KNMDOubukHMov2quTk5CCp3aznLJ8_3VLBL-YipUaTMiqlKe0C2sxUufbFcMs04gg6jIrk-JBJcCrYk8/w640-h480/20220917_143559.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The massive Bosc Pear Tree, sans Partridge</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div>The third pear tree is around 20 feet high and has what I am 99 <span style="font-size: x-small;">44/100</span>% sure are Bosc pears. The fruit are brownish gold, large, fat and they have skinny necks. The Bosc are a week or two, if not three</div><div> weeks from ripening. There's no clue what to do with them when they do ripen. The tree has hundreds and hundreds of fruit on it. I do know they are the preferred pear for fancy desserts like pears poached in wine. I can feel my jeans tightening just thinking about it. </div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N4T9fI7FZx6NCjYAS7tEUeBefe63oqfreUWLsUZ870ZLYng4xW6PuNDF2eyx8drS-cj3F02tDSO0-p0HtefKoW7hBs6DU4rOXok0pBvYYh_a5ORKfYgtLwFH79pExResElTcU0cBrpWrNJnvTD9TMwDmVJuYo6xabG_lH6S3Z9NDTnGys7o/s4000/20220917_143603.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N4T9fI7FZx6NCjYAS7tEUeBefe63oqfreUWLsUZ870ZLYng4xW6PuNDF2eyx8drS-cj3F02tDSO0-p0HtefKoW7hBs6DU4rOXok0pBvYYh_a5ORKfYgtLwFH79pExResElTcU0cBrpWrNJnvTD9TMwDmVJuYo6xabG_lH6S3Z9NDTnGys7o/w640-h480/20220917_143603.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And more Bosc...</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> I'm bummed that pears can not be stored in the manner of apples. Apples you buy in grocery stores may be as old a year. And pioneers used to be able to store fresh apples in cold cellars, but pears are not so obliging. My neighbor Nita decided that the crop of 2022 was not going to go to waste. She has her own pear tree but it is a couple of weeks behind my trees in fruit ripening. </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudWYxpatmMpVSYegJUU7M-iisvcRM1hM6x6Gfij-SJbUSHz2EPpmgZ20pm7LGrKuuaFGkLmWtAxdqi56dQolw8TNLYjjTR0MMCTFeIRO_BI4VVBBSQktVGfTGPxlgrLDPNKc16TmPtylASnu4-vrIudkeRwok2jTxCbAxScsPiklWoi_N9VU/s4000/20220917_143114.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudWYxpatmMpVSYegJUU7M-iisvcRM1hM6x6Gfij-SJbUSHz2EPpmgZ20pm7LGrKuuaFGkLmWtAxdqi56dQolw8TNLYjjTR0MMCTFeIRO_BI4VVBBSQktVGfTGPxlgrLDPNKc16TmPtylASnu4-vrIudkeRwok2jTxCbAxScsPiklWoi_N9VU/w640-h480/20220917_143114.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nita picking the bartlett pears</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Nita brought over her orchard ladder and and we (OK, mostly <i>she</i>) picked a nice load of pears. </div><p>I picked all the red pears off the little tree and soon we were hauling a big box of bartlett pears into my kitchen. </p></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFT5pCbwAAcVPBgK9mrEax47PsMNdhRNZ2wOQlEvsYQNTjTQVZd_njRUpAT9g5fZKSGISrEunoejhxFFsfB8jLqdfA1ba7I60WaIFCfNUGcNRS3fRCUN6ks6FpJD1uwotmXTj-xZ3rmhQzyghK5qrFaqDcG49YCQ77E5n4yGGprIObSV5jacU/s3976/20220917_184037.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="3976" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFT5pCbwAAcVPBgK9mrEax47PsMNdhRNZ2wOQlEvsYQNTjTQVZd_njRUpAT9g5fZKSGISrEunoejhxFFsfB8jLqdfA1ba7I60WaIFCfNUGcNRS3fRCUN6ks6FpJD1uwotmXTj-xZ3rmhQzyghK5qrFaqDcG49YCQ77E5n4yGGprIObSV5jacU/w640-h298/20220917_184037.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The pears are lined up for ripening, one precious globe at a time. </div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJBhgY4Hq8nnbzHDDz2z7seR8OzBToMyIF7Z6x-0o9nVksfdMd-56RzAhQJ341KiXkNXOV1MxgbLeV8n8rFyPxfMXg08Y62-T0OmGiVFgBZEM1GNMBHddpM8DdkZ3aO0C8q9usGiUl4NhqQ3SPdwVoph2cMuIoWvRBKVXtL5h1nUwEGvs-G0/s4000/20220921_121016.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJBhgY4Hq8nnbzHDDz2z7seR8OzBToMyIF7Z6x-0o9nVksfdMd-56RzAhQJ341KiXkNXOV1MxgbLeV8n8rFyPxfMXg08Y62-T0OmGiVFgBZEM1GNMBHddpM8DdkZ3aO0C8q9usGiUl4NhqQ3SPdwVoph2cMuIoWvRBKVXtL5h1nUwEGvs-G0/w300-h400/20220921_121016.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for drying</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>A number of pears were ready to go and Nita again came to the rescue. She loaned me one of her dehydrators as well as a slicer (a mandolin) and we set to work, slicing up the ripest pears and settling them on the dehydrator trays. Thanks to the mandolin, we also each in our own kitchens, sliced up our thumbs. Ouch!</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Below is a bowl of the resulting dried pears. They look ghastly in the picture, but they are sweet and tasty. I currently have a zillion or so bags of dried pears. I've practically handed them out to whomever comes within a quarter mile of my home. Gotta get that fruit eaten before next year!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6kYpoN6qOYiG7dJK8CA2lwoA_m747kRio1QU-d5sf_bSpghS3thJldgETbKamy7P6NRFD4Aqjvt5ielB7_QlVRlmg_QS8-cp25MDOkV75W8YJW5mJZ7AgZkWo533_h43KX-XlaXYeUcFf0kuRA6G7vqvjb3X7o81-B-ZdTg3zOgia8Domys/s4000/20220920_123505.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6kYpoN6qOYiG7dJK8CA2lwoA_m747kRio1QU-d5sf_bSpghS3thJldgETbKamy7P6NRFD4Aqjvt5ielB7_QlVRlmg_QS8-cp25MDOkV75W8YJW5mJZ7AgZkWo533_h43KX-XlaXYeUcFf0kuRA6G7vqvjb3X7o81-B-ZdTg3zOgia8Domys/w640-h480/20220920_123505.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried pears which resemble dried ears (I know... EEEW!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div></div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-14013812052095265872022-09-04T09:19:00.000-07:002022-12-14T16:35:09.565-08:00A Pleasant Sunday with Family and Back to Denver<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4U5kCRkf5CzZUNt1Oc5MWoHBL9Wlvgailm9a4u72Fz12dpzEVIw80cIWcn864ggiamPkKJejuWKtgpXkbNluzydxKKwtiqtuUYb3z23i0sf9JG9lL2JT0o3IJlddcKQrYp40QlcptyziHbyZf1aGlz5Q8GJsUFU_Bc7WnXXrrvojeAs2Z9Cw/s1069/Screenshot_20220904-171538_WhatsApp.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1069" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4U5kCRkf5CzZUNt1Oc5MWoHBL9Wlvgailm9a4u72Fz12dpzEVIw80cIWcn864ggiamPkKJejuWKtgpXkbNluzydxKKwtiqtuUYb3z23i0sf9JG9lL2JT0o3IJlddcKQrYp40QlcptyziHbyZf1aGlz5Q8GJsUFU_Bc7WnXXrrvojeAs2Z9Cw/w640-h496/Screenshot_20220904-171538_WhatsApp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Aunt and my Cuzzies at the golf course against the Denver Skyline</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A full day in Denver was planned for Sunday and we made a wonderful day of it. It started with some family chat time on the front porch. I discovered I have at least one cousin who is addicted to the New York Times Spelling Bee. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2nieUmQn-O0_ZDq8gl2T6ON-0YchZWom93i1ECgwO1ZP2X4AahmCG8vGUM4VWWhZad36H8gUtCJMVz-W6Lfut0RvMjWKMIW1MD8EjNprQynkmJIpyG3YU4Z5eUmgvccBJQ-1wp0TTsNrFJj3XiVhxthOf5OHLLPkXadxkTdsfe576icFT3w/s4000/20220904_102447.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2nieUmQn-O0_ZDq8gl2T6ON-0YchZWom93i1ECgwO1ZP2X4AahmCG8vGUM4VWWhZad36H8gUtCJMVz-W6Lfut0RvMjWKMIW1MD8EjNprQynkmJIpyG3YU4Z5eUmgvccBJQ-1wp0TTsNrFJj3XiVhxthOf5OHLLPkXadxkTdsfe576icFT3w/w640-h480/20220904_102447.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom, Jonni, & siblings Eric & Yvonne</td></tr></tbody></table> <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlImEBB3bkb5qllmyDAzQNnylkT7qd-8M5nYknJ5jjEHyUlKFnie6c1Q9dnAJPnrtFsONr4UIBq0VYuzGg5QKy40e--YvY3_7Nt7XvhID721wcXiRPy1sHAWqPlUzmAHnDxP_XpSR5T-Euo5cNBTAI0cLRmt4Qrb4zfDyo6FRYpVK_BSTlNwk/s4000/20220904_124519.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlImEBB3bkb5qllmyDAzQNnylkT7qd-8M5nYknJ5jjEHyUlKFnie6c1Q9dnAJPnrtFsONr4UIBq0VYuzGg5QKy40e--YvY3_7Nt7XvhID721wcXiRPy1sHAWqPlUzmAHnDxP_XpSR5T-Euo5cNBTAI0cLRmt4Qrb4zfDyo6FRYpVK_BSTlNwk/w400-h300/20220904_124519.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Then we were off for breakfast at the Denver Public Golf Course. <br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgo5kKXT1sa3PRfeBqnusIutzNnytZu2HntiGjt3Y5DkRIRSSofBrvNF2nsZhWsaKBAcUWTrjfTs2N0VG75rZ3TETBNM3hsZ8qfdt7eVqUwOEtBiGgI2hxaCE81d9xKn8XGwZYEZpnB_L-4wPheLHq5Lo_zW-45C1xLw8PhiqAwaSCraTJEQ/s4000/20220904_124511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgo5kKXT1sa3PRfeBqnusIutzNnytZu2HntiGjt3Y5DkRIRSSofBrvNF2nsZhWsaKBAcUWTrjfTs2N0VG75rZ3TETBNM3hsZ8qfdt7eVqUwOEtBiGgI2hxaCE81d9xKn8XGwZYEZpnB_L-4wPheLHq5Lo_zW-45C1xLw8PhiqAwaSCraTJEQ/w400-h300/20220904_124511.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once full of coffee and filling breakfast foods, we had a special local in mind. Cousin Yvonne did her homework before arriving in Denver. She read about an African American owned coffee shop, the <i><u>Whittier Cafe</u></i> and we headed there to enjoy some additional liquid eye opener, with perhaps, a dollop of cream.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8my9YaZRA708BAHKXnPaYRoNWhDRCCrqEVjBhbSnAcs-mJbyrI3gspDBXrVr79tkCi88vJCHHnqGY_rQ_ru_ut85UJuB44RGMjpgzAKo8j1Qv58jx3Cxba2A31roC9H1f-3M1BkWctkrdkKf2ZpCHg0PpDwwFYO4x99vT1ay8uhuXyL2ZIM/s4000/20220904_134714.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8my9YaZRA708BAHKXnPaYRoNWhDRCCrqEVjBhbSnAcs-mJbyrI3gspDBXrVr79tkCi88vJCHHnqGY_rQ_ru_ut85UJuB44RGMjpgzAKo8j1Qv58jx3Cxba2A31roC9H1f-3M1BkWctkrdkKf2ZpCHg0PpDwwFYO4x99vT1ay8uhuXyL2ZIM/w640-h480/20220904_134714.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The little shop had a surprise - an Ethiopian coffee ceremony was scheduled for today. One of the reasons for the ceremony is to welcome guests. We were ready to be welcomed! So in we went - our Carter luck revealed the traditional ceremony had just begun. Soon we were each clutching a warm or cold cup of beverage and settled down to watch a young, Ethiopian born woman perform the Coffee Ceremony.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UUYHmQOQVS2KQrr2OFCztLaerE1CeBc70NFcYelVlImekhJt6v9baTtvUSkb0Qt5tcA2S9LAprVT4awB7h5H3k2Lly8n4iY6bDX4d0Op-_QjpzRQ-Yq4QW9ctUZLNMU2zh8q6iSSRCIukfFjRf6M5cjGS23ZgmnUbZHVB4SWZzisEjVF1Uo/s4000/20220904_134829.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UUYHmQOQVS2KQrr2OFCztLaerE1CeBc70NFcYelVlImekhJt6v9baTtvUSkb0Qt5tcA2S9LAprVT4awB7h5H3k2Lly8n4iY6bDX4d0Op-_QjpzRQ-Yq4QW9ctUZLNMU2zh8q6iSSRCIukfFjRf6M5cjGS23ZgmnUbZHVB4SWZzisEjVF1Uo/w640-h480/20220904_134829.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The gist of the ceremony is the pouring of hot water over beans, and there is a progression of three times in which water is poured onto the original coffee grounds. The first brewed pot is STRONG. With each of the additional brewing, the coffee is progressively smoother. After each of the 3 brewings, the young lady poured coffee into sampling cups and passed out the samples to her eager audience. </div><div><br /></div><div>The ceremony certainly gave feelings of friendliness and inclusion, and in that light, the Carter family chatted among themselves and with other customers watching the ceremony. And the coffee samples? Delish! Each round of coffee was notably different from the preceding round. <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1bVIuL5WF0LgQfRg7_poi-AfNfw-fmWM3Q15ItT7dCrOR4dhSnamKmdobYt4PRIiI4puax7AL3klrYfijOFiXHh71rbJprLEs0tamfAXEpp9rWKYlBMYKcHeyAjfvgfWlCYRB33JD85Poyan0DpxxxFpvNURzCGBtvusw4DDWexTH2PC8os/s4000/20220904_152117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1bVIuL5WF0LgQfRg7_poi-AfNfw-fmWM3Q15ItT7dCrOR4dhSnamKmdobYt4PRIiI4puax7AL3klrYfijOFiXHh71rbJprLEs0tamfAXEpp9rWKYlBMYKcHeyAjfvgfWlCYRB33JD85Poyan0DpxxxFpvNURzCGBtvusw4DDWexTH2PC8os/w320-h240/20220904_152117.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mural</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>The last round of coffee served up is called 'Baraka'. That final round of coffee is considered a blessing and is known as the “one for the road”. So having had our 'one for the road' we prepared to leave, but first we requested the young lady join us for photo op in the outdoor dining area of the shop. </div><div><br /></div><div>Alas, the end of our Carter Colorado Pop-up Reunion is nigh, for tomorrow we all head home. We had a lovely time cousins! Can't wait to do it again. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIttxSCaLXcKEE_ThNaxaT0QOyv-XNwEHDrQ5ogevHlA4aBrFOR-JvGBfDenuaDwzhZN6spy-v6i2t7a8jZ56px8qKSoXkI53IkeK8LVoWQ0RRm2xz4yWdq-AC3HKqobFOcceVRQaCAVkqUjik3oWaC7-_pt8PnY9OTZva9tWl7p0W0kh_5hA/s1024/IMG-20221214-WA0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="1024" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIttxSCaLXcKEE_ThNaxaT0QOyv-XNwEHDrQ5ogevHlA4aBrFOR-JvGBfDenuaDwzhZN6spy-v6i2t7a8jZ56px8qKSoXkI53IkeK8LVoWQ0RRm2xz4yWdq-AC3HKqobFOcceVRQaCAVkqUjik3oWaC7-_pt8PnY9OTZva9tWl7p0W0kh_5hA/w640-h378/IMG-20221214-WA0002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-54695696727285941532022-09-03T22:38:00.096-07:002022-12-14T16:32:55.989-08:00A Tractor, a Tale and Wagging Tails<p> Another gorgeous day in Colorado with my family. For starters, several of us lolled about on the ranch house's front porch. All were tickled to see a dust cloud in the distance which turned out to be Cousin Jonni, driving herself along the road in one of Tom's Aunt Judy's farm vehicles. Jonni had the company of 2 of Aunt Judy's friendly Border Collie dogs. We had fun fussing over the pups.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcWGPMs2JzxqT7pJbTXsyuWqzVvIlWnKB4LSWeHyS68VgDyRkK5R25K4NExGLQ6rJhvcq5Ouy7o5kjTbaRb4SXAUL1HcJR0AUkpSGK9V2ZTf0PuFBAOzEfTY64RSY7kdAMcrYHBloC5sMbNqK1dOkODtsXRatuxAE3to2OjjKtQBSUSHp_e0/s4000/20220903_102629.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcWGPMs2JzxqT7pJbTXsyuWqzVvIlWnKB4LSWeHyS68VgDyRkK5R25K4NExGLQ6rJhvcq5Ouy7o5kjTbaRb4SXAUL1HcJR0AUkpSGK9V2ZTf0PuFBAOzEfTY64RSY7kdAMcrYHBloC5sMbNqK1dOkODtsXRatuxAE3to2OjjKtQBSUSHp_e0/w640-h480/20220903_102629.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom, and Jonni-ann with her pup companions</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But suddenly the dogs jumped off the porch, bulleting down the road. David said they must have heard Judy's car coming, but nope! It was Judy alright but she was driving her HUMONGOUS green tractor carrying a round bale of hay with Cousin Charlaine as her co-pilot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryH37uEj_H93I_riII9iXls1kKcvR-EVYkHOXGYrFyTjTrBVExnaOqytPvsrcWOxc3fef-54D__1LI7Zhj_16XKUmyaaavF_y0FsZ6HVcgun9sS1KEC_iAi63UU9WbH6P96DeoOAA3R8C_IfbJoRoslxnkptfFF9Nkik5BAuSzY5kQrjSz_8/s4000/20220903_103334.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryH37uEj_H93I_riII9iXls1kKcvR-EVYkHOXGYrFyTjTrBVExnaOqytPvsrcWOxc3fef-54D__1LI7Zhj_16XKUmyaaavF_y0FsZ6HVcgun9sS1KEC_iAi63UU9WbH6P96DeoOAA3R8C_IfbJoRoslxnkptfFF9Nkik5BAuSzY5kQrjSz_8/w640-h480/20220903_103334.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judy, Charlaine and doggos, headed for the porch</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">None of us had any idea what a treat we were in for. Judy had rummaged her files back at the ranch. She chose poetry inspirationally written by Tom's grandfather. The poem told the tale of Tom's grandfather, out checking three cows, who had birthed their three calves, all in the deep snow of a winter blizzard. I wish I had the poem to post here, which contained true cowboy humor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was like watching one of those CBS Sunday Morning reports which are so beautiful that I feel sad that I wasn't there to soak it up. But here I sat, live, in person, enjoying the sensations of poetry as it washed over me, setting me down in a snow coated rangeland, blinking as snow flakes landed on my eyelashes, and the moos of livestock serenading my ears. Yeah, that was heaven.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseUyoDjvI7RPbQuKDaL5E_MntLIzKDnY6eBK956HSDZiaEJzYiGvc9e25qzdd1Ga1YcPfeqGizDFGSpXWTVhwEtnn6_T9ny98jNL8lh-L0ygIm2AQJwYPNZgecIKi1YtP4bfrR4HHW6es6iYup7NM_-ciYxEFAXMBAnFVfVJCErOKGxMdA7U/s4000/20220903_103714.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseUyoDjvI7RPbQuKDaL5E_MntLIzKDnY6eBK956HSDZiaEJzYiGvc9e25qzdd1Ga1YcPfeqGizDFGSpXWTVhwEtnn6_T9ny98jNL8lh-L0ygIm2AQJwYPNZgecIKi1YtP4bfrR4HHW6es6iYup7NM_-ciYxEFAXMBAnFVfVJCErOKGxMdA7U/w640-h480/20220903_103714.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judy, the Williamson family historian</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-94lV7UzTDIHhj4ND8ZH797t8L8hhoxcTv3J7vM8ptVUHef6HBtWCewiA2zuLKCuhbo-9A2dqPhWth2hA1wDTNv4-829vXnQ_JDS56PELkAUkfCLzbJgE7hIMMDIIyXQ20VgIWpb5lwljngApVWg8kt_LSxo2KDefTIWVHODwIUH946PdGk/s4000/20220903_103709.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-94lV7UzTDIHhj4ND8ZH797t8L8hhoxcTv3J7vM8ptVUHef6HBtWCewiA2zuLKCuhbo-9A2dqPhWth2hA1wDTNv4-829vXnQ_JDS56PELkAUkfCLzbJgE7hIMMDIIyXQ20VgIWpb5lwljngApVWg8kt_LSxo2KDefTIWVHODwIUH946PdGk/w640-h480/20220903_103709.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeC3mAg9b15SchLbzJSrO3d7vbMRQuY6ORHP04uVsKnL7Cimgk9fnx0BQlFsa0yU8xSbXLMh-kpXO0wkk93J5_6QvCrjIpNwQ6BflkTK8Ljpf94aIDLQsokA1jlqVRnNSXvZxGfx1EHUnmU0NgONodPxAC0mOupnJSeLIVEYaV96IoNqJPmw/s4000/20220903_105049.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeC3mAg9b15SchLbzJSrO3d7vbMRQuY6ORHP04uVsKnL7Cimgk9fnx0BQlFsa0yU8xSbXLMh-kpXO0wkk93J5_6QvCrjIpNwQ6BflkTK8Ljpf94aIDLQsokA1jlqVRnNSXvZxGfx1EHUnmU0NgONodPxAC0mOupnJSeLIVEYaV96IoNqJPmw/w400-h300/20220903_105049.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rings on the coasters are beautiful</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />As if all that wasn't gift enough, Judy had risen early that morning, and set to sawing segments of the ranch's ancient & aged fence posts into slices. Everyone got a set of the beautiful ringed tree, drink coasters. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That was the best of the day in my opinion. After Judy's visit the whole fam got busy packing and making at least some effort to leave the ranch house in good shape. There was some disturbing news, concerning Tom's father which had us on tenterhooks on the drive back. Tom's dad had suddenly taken ill, to the degree that Tom's sister was flying in from out of state. We all worried along with Tom and hoped he and his sister would be able to handle the crisis and that their father should survive it as well. Family means having to handle such crises and we know Tom and his sister are up to the task.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back in Denver we all had quiet - or as quiet as we manage to be - evening. For dinner we all ordered pizza at a v. close restaurant and some of the more energetic cousins (yeah, not me) walked over and picked up the orders for all of us. We had a lovely dinner, loads of chatting and happy anticipation of tomorrow's activities. </div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-37124662661915811302022-09-02T22:11:00.293-07:002022-12-14T16:01:29.933-08:00Bridge Party!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QVC7n8k2lBzEM1wsk_aFJYmUfaGak9n5rHfUYkRP21ZsJlYM26AVb4FO_MXv3CvVHBEiuTdm2lGvcDgKuCEov5u1MuaPJFLn4vWSPo3bod_71vgQa60vjs54mx_mR_jwF8uqQYh_TQCgXPcTNnEdyKxZV9MHYmgCX2YVnP9b08eDnWJRQjo/s4000/20220902_191439.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QVC7n8k2lBzEM1wsk_aFJYmUfaGak9n5rHfUYkRP21ZsJlYM26AVb4FO_MXv3CvVHBEiuTdm2lGvcDgKuCEov5u1MuaPJFLn4vWSPo3bod_71vgQa60vjs54mx_mR_jwF8uqQYh_TQCgXPcTNnEdyKxZV9MHYmgCX2YVnP9b08eDnWJRQjo/w640-h480/20220902_191439.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the ridge about a quarter to 'Alpine Glow'</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYEHsSWUaGPsQYV7TNQA3kQ4u3pxZ2QG0xz3ErDZ5nsYQgPMyoVEokUeNIGRIAgiuHIyZsuPIKy6HFlFLYhCG2rVSYN_TgGn5bauJ-jB4hetamlwBbMiPwDjbbn2TETpfVKmmA8C8yhBGDzRAwZgDk1VjJdec1A9i-U34bqzipiR_9sMO_h0/s2703/20220902_084501.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2703" data-original-width="2684" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYEHsSWUaGPsQYV7TNQA3kQ4u3pxZ2QG0xz3ErDZ5nsYQgPMyoVEokUeNIGRIAgiuHIyZsuPIKy6HFlFLYhCG2rVSYN_TgGn5bauJ-jB4hetamlwBbMiPwDjbbn2TETpfVKmmA8C8yhBGDzRAwZgDk1VjJdec1A9i-U34bqzipiR_9sMO_h0/w398-h400/20220902_084501.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Morning morning coffee around the campfire<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p>It was pure bliss waking up at the ranch house and then sniffing about for that all important cup of java. <span style="font-size: x-small;">NO, I am not addicted to caffeine, and how dare you even think such a thing! </span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div>When I was showered & dressed I noticed several of my cousins were either still in bed, or were... where? I found a 'mess o' cousins' outside sipping their coffee at Dave & Tom's new (to me) fire ring. While we chatted cousin Eric sent up his drone to explore the surrounding hills. Great way to start one's day - the coffee, that is.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmN6szKZnmhdX2-XM4Xg5x6CAVjmWBwoWt7rxlVGny5IFb8T--n9HM9Ghu2OT01QPqMkaoCJ530vXjEpdeh1k5oozCw_nBJAdRSxUdSCybMdjqge2YgJPJKasDrfI2okRiMyokejEFNItHkLcCbvMeLHnZjsPkDjv7MeIzfetifxYx1_zszY/s4000/20220902_083248.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmN6szKZnmhdX2-XM4Xg5x6CAVjmWBwoWt7rxlVGny5IFb8T--n9HM9Ghu2OT01QPqMkaoCJ530vXjEpdeh1k5oozCw_nBJAdRSxUdSCybMdjqge2YgJPJKasDrfI2okRiMyokejEFNItHkLcCbvMeLHnZjsPkDjv7MeIzfetifxYx1_zszY/w640-h480/20220902_083248.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fire ring is a new addition </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegZ33At1SMBoWLA_2EAJ58NODTn9fSV17VPK9o5mPjoyaD6q0JAQRjVH9T8bF63SkLbBzCcV2nrsrV6a28HsjwDamoAEzZcyW82h6W0-tVl7qguYAkryoq-6815saPLD9YsgY7hE52iKLK6wCGh9jEotQf77VH8V0kXx4fyzLe_bEOOHihWM/s4000/20220902_111105.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegZ33At1SMBoWLA_2EAJ58NODTn9fSV17VPK9o5mPjoyaD6q0JAQRjVH9T8bF63SkLbBzCcV2nrsrV6a28HsjwDamoAEzZcyW82h6W0-tVl7qguYAkryoq-6815saPLD9YsgY7hE52iKLK6wCGh9jEotQf77VH8V0kXx4fyzLe_bEOOHihWM/w640-h480/20220902_111105.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">None of us went hungry for breakfast today</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After coffee, Dave & Tom served up another tasty & hearty breakfast with loads of bacon and sausage. Then our gratious hosts offered to show us a recently built beaver damn, just a little ways up the road. . <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit58RtBImV9sOly_aijKUUgsih3tchJjFdqNSNc51HRF-rj2s7IJu-nNrh7gQUKqFzucTFEl-izvT_3Lrvl1DLJynbehcsYRtP9EVYmu5O5ayGEIsANXeTMkAjzjfO3r73LLnQI3-nJVvqrtyaP2-mkf9a-QS0OmHG2hthoPKv_VcR-xQsC9w/s4000/20220902_090009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit58RtBImV9sOly_aijKUUgsih3tchJjFdqNSNc51HRF-rj2s7IJu-nNrh7gQUKqFzucTFEl-izvT_3Lrvl1DLJynbehcsYRtP9EVYmu5O5ayGEIsANXeTMkAjzjfO3r73LLnQI3-nJVvqrtyaP2-mkf9a-QS0OmHG2hthoPKv_VcR-xQsC9w/w640-h480/20220902_090009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beaver dam of sticks and mud & the pond it created<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWThOh9wBxzM_vPJENUDYIyQpLdbyw-JyjnNEVOwFdr4KoJobUjlLax0gjVWTVgh8_sEaea5-tPMkODW_KBA_TpiXNj_3rHvjhWOjC4AxF0KGcmz67SkXWiHHMFH6KqNc39JNzUZiGVLT2_E15IHy3bYutyrjeJUsskmcsTF08eZ5sdMPrho/s4000/20220902_090016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWThOh9wBxzM_vPJENUDYIyQpLdbyw-JyjnNEVOwFdr4KoJobUjlLax0gjVWTVgh8_sEaea5-tPMkODW_KBA_TpiXNj_3rHvjhWOjC4AxF0KGcmz67SkXWiHHMFH6KqNc39JNzUZiGVLT2_E15IHy3bYutyrjeJUsskmcsTF08eZ5sdMPrho/w640-h480/20220902_090016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JZunaWv9nq2s82BDME3SJGY9McVHMRkZQMHhme-X2an35Ou2_DBek4z29LATK9lBT_K-C1g2fBq7uUgqlE54BxpFsFfoG_XzL70gFr26rDIABTEpqlUWelGexmlDPdi3pegyiBhIhnjRLgaJYe_Usz_rVdZ-Gc-w_oKiG-PjQ9HEz8BzraI/s882/Screenshot_20221009-211957_Photos.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="882" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JZunaWv9nq2s82BDME3SJGY9McVHMRkZQMHhme-X2an35Ou2_DBek4z29LATK9lBT_K-C1g2fBq7uUgqlE54BxpFsFfoG_XzL70gFr26rDIABTEpqlUWelGexmlDPdi3pegyiBhIhnjRLgaJYe_Usz_rVdZ-Gc-w_oKiG-PjQ9HEz8BzraI/w400-h235/Screenshot_20221009-211957_Photos.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Hops</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The beaver dam was not the morning's only natural history lesson. There was a fruit laden, wild current bush and several of us ate a berry or three. And we noticed strange looking pale green 'thingies' growing rampant along the roadside. David told us the greenish bobbles were hops, of the sort used to flavor beer - how convenient!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxpjnoicsGKZPUI4vgw6RNRuVbwsORBjpHH1kfaxKgg0CyowVO6j1sE8OZ9QeyaUAp9DH79nAjmL6XM87581z1NyZrbW5jRzFsMPnkwG4G8dyFkezNwWBJ0gRHn6CpZ6xb-Y51BnhG-XoIkhRSyCXzJM1q8MtB7EENkoveCSN2xNTchSSDtQ/s4000/20220902_085028.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxpjnoicsGKZPUI4vgw6RNRuVbwsORBjpHH1kfaxKgg0CyowVO6j1sE8OZ9QeyaUAp9DH79nAjmL6XM87581z1NyZrbW5jRzFsMPnkwG4G8dyFkezNwWBJ0gRHn6CpZ6xb-Y51BnhG-XoIkhRSyCXzJM1q8MtB7EENkoveCSN2xNTchSSDtQ/w400-h300/20220902_085028.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden Tiger Moth</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another discovery was back at the house - a beautiful moth, wearing what appeared to be party clothes. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><span style="text-align: left;">The rest of the day was spent with Aunt Arna and the cousins playing cards at the dining room table. But the majority of the time was spent - by David & Tom - preparing for the big event of the day, the Bridge Party up at Tom's Aunt Judy's Ranch. </span></div></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">At day's end we were all dressed in our Colorado Carter Family Reunion tee shirts. David and Tom had spent the greater part of the afternoon preparing dishes for tonight's 'Bridge Party'. A little background here... Tom's gracious Aunt Judy throws Bridge Parties for guests. She did so for us Carters in 2018 at which time my cousins thought we were going to a card game party, so they had beefed up on the instructions for playing Bridge and bought new card decks and such, only to find out they'd been invited to a Party, taking place on a Bridge. <br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">Here are we are at our 2022 Bridge Party, as photographed by Cousin Eric's airborne drone. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKz3yxKUKrtD8dWI7Crrf8NvAgBWgg0wPuG_NIo1lvx8uBut-hlXhHOP1f9wddRjdCKU_-wUANZMm8jfgXSHQlx62v_D2PlQOeX42N3921TeHAbApjvOcV_tupFF-ojVZXFFw3baTv6WeCEmdZrLl09exC1gT-zePJshQ5ZLuZAOS_xd_5i0/s875/Screenshot_20220906-163939_WhatsApp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="875" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKz3yxKUKrtD8dWI7Crrf8NvAgBWgg0wPuG_NIo1lvx8uBut-hlXhHOP1f9wddRjdCKU_-wUANZMm8jfgXSHQlx62v_D2PlQOeX42N3921TeHAbApjvOcV_tupFF-ojVZXFFw3baTv6WeCEmdZrLl09exC1gT-zePJshQ5ZLuZAOS_xd_5i0/w640-h364/Screenshot_20220906-163939_WhatsApp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yWpKqTuqkw-06Y9AjGT6MFrXqOYjSePGNnhNXfD9UcXx4ptjAnZIzfI-HlYIa-zz55BGBX5ukGhKuZDtNXrKD2IGzHzcOqEJSo0pqQKB_0fZt46rxTI-PppZWvAxjfMY9DC13kqCbUPTEsrxSVfSrYVPS_A0VBcFX3RC09QcvPuRurevmag/s4000/20220902_185513.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yWpKqTuqkw-06Y9AjGT6MFrXqOYjSePGNnhNXfD9UcXx4ptjAnZIzfI-HlYIa-zz55BGBX5ukGhKuZDtNXrKD2IGzHzcOqEJSo0pqQKB_0fZt46rxTI-PppZWvAxjfMY9DC13kqCbUPTEsrxSVfSrYVPS_A0VBcFX3RC09QcvPuRurevmag/w640-h480/20220902_185513.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting of the Matriarchs <br />Tom's Aunt Judy & the Carter's Aunt Arna</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was quite the Carter day, as we weren't the only Carters up for an occasion. Judy had invited family friends who we met at the last Bridge Party in 2018. The kids we met them are quite a bit older now (Duh, right?) and the youngest, ironically named Carter, is today's birthday boy! We serenaded him with a not-quite-ready-for-prime-time round of "Happy Birthday" over a lovely, candle spangled cake.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByAQDz7ifoJVgW0Ne68yQU-Xyytr4izgerh6L9NWUzVPFwLZVymQ9nwvGwkIELc2cXNqQvubAZHk87Gajm0ebYMS24uTMBPsgOpZgkcl8j1J1Lign1qd4HF5MWLL_PRZPf4GuLHmyK7LwaAUTLSETAifI2ja3GU2NaE1PDkrNLJYZahhv0P0/s1253/Carters%20for%20Carter.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="1253" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByAQDz7ifoJVgW0Ne68yQU-Xyytr4izgerh6L9NWUzVPFwLZVymQ9nwvGwkIELc2cXNqQvubAZHk87Gajm0ebYMS24uTMBPsgOpZgkcl8j1J1Lign1qd4HF5MWLL_PRZPf4GuLHmyK7LwaAUTLSETAifI2ja3GU2NaE1PDkrNLJYZahhv0P0/w640-h338/Carters%20for%20Carter.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy birthday to the Carter of the day!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS3VHuGgWp8644OrUQRbAvEUEDUQh5JzxPzebLY-SqPW_OMQkHFGB_2I7oIuYuajrHJ66KOF9i2blQkelMSyhr6kqDQ6JSYmuyB4EHKPCZSm-36UB27HM4LzDQxAndn0g3tQp42dQQEeAw1wFCtFyW264Lrc21_oz8-k35IQtOb8OFGxEy2o/s4000/20220902_192927.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS3VHuGgWp8644OrUQRbAvEUEDUQh5JzxPzebLY-SqPW_OMQkHFGB_2I7oIuYuajrHJ66KOF9i2blQkelMSyhr6kqDQ6JSYmuyB4EHKPCZSm-36UB27HM4LzDQxAndn0g3tQp42dQQEeAw1wFCtFyW264Lrc21_oz8-k35IQtOb8OFGxEy2o/w640-h480/20220902_192927.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;">It gets cold when the sun sinks behind the eastern ridges. David & Tom offered anyone under prepared warm coats and jackets. For Aunt Arna, a beautiful mink coat came out of the hall closet. It used to belong to David's Mom. It kept Arna snug, warm and fashionable for the evening. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWexJmI6c7t9zol1fyyhI26eAtWwP9lTh7dDKfOi3JLLQ95VI3k_o6mii9shSm4A1WGfedh23m7jD7Jeuuynx7rblMIhRQ72MRS64L_wKlswuPykEruOjTyUp_Mu4YwU7XO4j5UTdM1cKxF8r9nibvnT8V57ysaao6kXeLDxT_LwsFeE5Ajk/s4000/20220902_185251.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWexJmI6c7t9zol1fyyhI26eAtWwP9lTh7dDKfOi3JLLQ95VI3k_o6mii9shSm4A1WGfedh23m7jD7Jeuuynx7rblMIhRQ72MRS64L_wKlswuPykEruOjTyUp_Mu4YwU7XO4j5UTdM1cKxF8r9nibvnT8V57ysaao6kXeLDxT_LwsFeE5Ajk/w640-h480/20220902_185251.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arna and Charlaine</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was a lovely evening for sitting, chatting and catching up. One of the family friends (and of course being a bear of little brain I can't remember her name - sorry what's yer name - shared genealogy stories from her family. We were surprised we had roughly similar stories either of which would make a great episode for either <u>Who Do You Think You Are</u> or <u>The Maury Povitch Show</u>. Both of us have a male relative from ages ago who had not one, but two wives, who didn't know their man had 2 separate families. Shocking! That made us think maybe such things are not as rare as one would think. For the record, the bigamist in my family is not a Carter, but a Miller... fascinating stuff. <br /><br />Our Bridge Party gathering went on well into the dark of the night, when slowly we all gathered our things, said our 'Irish Fairwells' and headed back to the ranch house. Tomorrow is another busy day.<br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitup7tjipOdC6uYJoJhW9UIshuPFkD0tr2tRp8MbOcWZgAyoFGReqWMRBN9z8hLrEzGnmIMuK9NaiZWoFcnkKiUKGsflgLOTnXbnEpI3uqmsLaI7fOhXhQ5b9ao-yGPOmF5Gc0-uI-qV6NUI8ZDEXb98QyQWMD8G8WSNDXQmF5lCUZYe3Cjfk/s4000/20220902_184601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitup7tjipOdC6uYJoJhW9UIshuPFkD0tr2tRp8MbOcWZgAyoFGReqWMRBN9z8hLrEzGnmIMuK9NaiZWoFcnkKiUKGsflgLOTnXbnEpI3uqmsLaI7fOhXhQ5b9ao-yGPOmF5Gc0-uI-qV6NUI8ZDEXb98QyQWMD8G8WSNDXQmF5lCUZYe3Cjfk/w640-h480/20220902_184601.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20135966.post-32552842814156793692022-09-01T22:54:00.001-07:002022-12-31T18:45:39.357-08:00Off to the Ranch <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9xjRMjUCw5gpqtyuT8KvECAlYayy3WuL9piiXUM7lB_3OSdJMiO1FKNIKOHiOG0czqd5bzYnNw3_r2PrEGM1qTMYTKXq1hFjwo2SPMVzvRGs2VuraiDqdQX3X00i1zLmQRqRxq1vdb5qROGLxGiLQG6A6126L5GGIiFNhVbd-ga9DcTalUo/s4000/20220901_144326.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9xjRMjUCw5gpqtyuT8KvECAlYayy3WuL9piiXUM7lB_3OSdJMiO1FKNIKOHiOG0czqd5bzYnNw3_r2PrEGM1qTMYTKXq1hFjwo2SPMVzvRGs2VuraiDqdQX3X00i1zLmQRqRxq1vdb5qROGLxGiLQG6A6126L5GGIiFNhVbd-ga9DcTalUo/w640-h480/20220901_144326.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorado scenery along the way</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>All were up at leisure this morning, chatting and packing enough stuff to see us through the next few days. After another great David & Tom prepared breakfast we were nearly ready to depart. For togetherness and ease, the fam rented a large van. Like a well organized mini-army the van was packed.and we took off late morning for the 4 hour drive up to the ranch house SW of Hayden, CO. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAQbtRaLdTS8tzhPEOX513eL5P6UtYU8iQwxAFmpFBCL2_ENLxQnt9wqWXJy6zMrlKOMyvswaXrz37-0nR1BhFaRQyZfm_1agWYvLDGA8zAgWtPwINNpKmIVAhMSSqyLHfJBirGltWVkOG9UVa7qEVGmDK4JTyFpEkF62VgfVfIhUPybPcRE/s3648/20220901_145149.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAQbtRaLdTS8tzhPEOX513eL5P6UtYU8iQwxAFmpFBCL2_ENLxQnt9wqWXJy6zMrlKOMyvswaXrz37-0nR1BhFaRQyZfm_1agWYvLDGA8zAgWtPwINNpKmIVAhMSSqyLHfJBirGltWVkOG9UVa7qEVGmDK4JTyFpEkF62VgfVfIhUPybPcRE/w400-h300/20220901_145149.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking all sharp in our matching Bajan Tees<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Our cool new Carter Family tee shirts were worn for the drive. We chatted & snacked along the byways towards Hayden. </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJKM4jcaYXlYqKsPlljx5hfVsSS1y0gPq0kEEny3im3RuSTaA-UvPC5D-XA0M6mPMC2dn1F6fZrBmjpnXbcaZV6Oaz6xMwE5yVj-nT5PWQumMAxjvTbj2gmWlCsiK0jmW0Bnlv1nUYv-6R5APsu5pxMSMfaJD4lVSu4o_DlUqYjhbtEbOfyk/s4000/20220901_170740.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJKM4jcaYXlYqKsPlljx5hfVsSS1y0gPq0kEEny3im3RuSTaA-UvPC5D-XA0M6mPMC2dn1F6fZrBmjpnXbcaZV6Oaz6xMwE5yVj-nT5PWQumMAxjvTbj2gmWlCsiK0jmW0Bnlv1nUYv-6R5APsu5pxMSMfaJD4lVSu4o_DlUqYjhbtEbOfyk/w400-h300/20220901_170740.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom and co-pilot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Colorado scenery is spectacular, and though we didn't get any pix, we spotted several herds of Pronghorn Antelope. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTc8VIK4_eK6FjbMDf-_Ti0Rk2WYcvdmqrIB6S8tyeoyY7EiPv8fG-1cJ-EGJtC5ZVSWUDkkBdm5Ve-BH03kGI1ivWPiMXZtbO9K-bZOyQOCgyzfyId2QAlyTP03Qsiu80LLWzbzpaqxXXzP2qOScGbt9HPN83-u6TyZ_J_rh0GVCiUTsUobU/s630/Screenshot_20220903-153134_WhatsApp.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="630" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTc8VIK4_eK6FjbMDf-_Ti0Rk2WYcvdmqrIB6S8tyeoyY7EiPv8fG-1cJ-EGJtC5ZVSWUDkkBdm5Ve-BH03kGI1ivWPiMXZtbO9K-bZOyQOCgyzfyId2QAlyTP03Qsiu80LLWzbzpaqxXXzP2qOScGbt9HPN83-u6TyZ_J_rh0GVCiUTsUobU/w640-h492/Screenshot_20220903-153134_WhatsApp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before we knew it, we were lolling about on the ranch house porch</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></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/AVvXsEiFxh7t_tugB8YHtlg4W4VsTmyrXp6-3w0DwdEHO1LAKsGnEGo4cA748YcZOy7nmTGVTYecvPO2eX83UpUmDQ2Wg1SaNE3PXSvD5XiWdsOdDlpYhAe_6OVszgRTuoDF0PwM1bERX0iziepVVbUA3dYoyYcVLlVAL6tsBZs2yjwqswTW3lAGHVQ/s4000/20220901_192404.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxh7t_tugB8YHtlg4W4VsTmyrXp6-3w0DwdEHO1LAKsGnEGo4cA748YcZOy7nmTGVTYecvPO2eX83UpUmDQ2Wg1SaNE3PXSvD5XiWdsOdDlpYhAe_6OVszgRTuoDF0PwM1bERX0iziepVVbUA3dYoyYcVLlVAL6tsBZs2yjwqswTW3lAGHVQ/w400-h300/20220901_192404.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">David and Tom outdid themselves on dinner. Tom served up marinated & freshly BBQ'd chicken which was delish & very pleasing to the carnivores amongst us (that would be me), </div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroeqhuJ0G0LD2UPy7NHKml4olQHtsDtIIsZnUcv--oG_Wj2SiFCW5PvUERUgi7TSYLFKfLKA6fjUpEj0-eTS8vzgHr_jSG9KHAdkBK4pYc9jGFguJRv54a5-0rbgtyLCRAlXPg6IKBq8Ku9aGt0-Huu1_7dAVVwQpPQWmMxY3Wfikswd-GyA/s4000/20220901_192414.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroeqhuJ0G0LD2UPy7NHKml4olQHtsDtIIsZnUcv--oG_Wj2SiFCW5PvUERUgi7TSYLFKfLKA6fjUpEj0-eTS8vzgHr_jSG9KHAdkBK4pYc9jGFguJRv54a5-0rbgtyLCRAlXPg6IKBq8Ku9aGt0-Huu1_7dAVVwQpPQWmMxY3Wfikswd-GyA/w400-h300/20220901_192414.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdc1iIaLkFfMikWqX7ADnQgSWHehNgS9vrv2pvarNBdQPHInHwf4Blck1U_VqMtN8vz9NbBJR0kW-Xrw9ftUWcoP7_h2zSfibZeqQ-OxObJ2Jkv6ndV86xwLaWHuEJI1_SXqO9Q98FwDu0HqdFr_Ja1QU5Ld-MLRlhdWnJcAyHfG3M86e5p0/s474/color%20gnocchi.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="474" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdc1iIaLkFfMikWqX7ADnQgSWHehNgS9vrv2pvarNBdQPHInHwf4Blck1U_VqMtN8vz9NbBJR0kW-Xrw9ftUWcoP7_h2zSfibZeqQ-OxObJ2Jkv6ndV86xwLaWHuEJI1_SXqO9Q98FwDu0HqdFr_Ja1QU5Ld-MLRlhdWnJcAyHfG3M86e5p0/w200-h159/color%20gnocchi.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gnocchi, not Enoki </td></tr></tbody></table><br />David made 'Gnocchi', which are potato dumplings that were fried in butter with veggies. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaTY9FR8xe7KmZkCe2KeMDzL9joXuV1wFEh1ObM7ERYzgMV4DWPzyCL9d8H8PlAJ08dJlx83lUsfLBRcEzki41YG-vjm6MI6WW3--gpf2r9eDNTg_hNFZ4GyXxO8U-9cpzRhFCsd4RNxEqkQPfiHU8VA6Uvy23TzeNqQzCm8w7gmT6aWFBhA/s270/Enoki.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="270" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaTY9FR8xe7KmZkCe2KeMDzL9joXuV1wFEh1ObM7ERYzgMV4DWPzyCL9d8H8PlAJ08dJlx83lUsfLBRcEzki41YG-vjm6MI6WW3--gpf2r9eDNTg_hNFZ4GyXxO8U-9cpzRhFCsd4RNxEqkQPfiHU8VA6Uvy23TzeNqQzCm8w7gmT6aWFBhA/s1600/Enoki.JPG" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enoki not Gnocchi </td></tr></tbody></table>I dug in to the delicious little morsels, all the while wondering 'Where are the Enoki mushrooms?' I guess I haven't previously heard Gnocchi pronounced correctly, if at all. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">David set me right, and we all wolfed down the tasty gnocchi fried all crisp and tasty. Several of us decided we have to try fixing gnocchi on our own. And there was also a tasty side of delicate asparagus spears. <br /><br />Much later, we ran out of steam, but not out of conversation, it was time for bed. Eric & I planned to camp out on the front porch. However, David & Tom brought out the air mattresses, so between the 3 bedrooms with numerous beds, the couch and air mattresses, everyone ended their day all snug & comfy - and all of us inside. But honestly, I'd have happily snoozed out on the porch, dreaming of roaming Mountain Lions, the odd rattlesnake. </div></span></div></div>Clearly Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575924488014945812noreply@blogger.com0