July 23, 2012

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Île de Ré, France in July 2012

There’s something about islands anywhere. We love the finiteness and inclusion of a place that requires at minimum a bridge to come and go. Our adventures in Hawaii are made more interesting because we’re at a place in the middle of the sea, a safe distance from the daily life that we escape every time […]

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July 13, 2012

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Perigord in July 2012 – Prehistoric art

Today was our last full day in Perigord and we saved the best for last. We timed our rise, breakfast and drive to be at the ticket window when it opened at 9:00am. We heard beforehand about crowds but were surprised to have no trouble getting tickets for the 10am tour in English. Lascaux’s discovery […]

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July 13, 2012

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Perigord in July 2012 – Underground and atop the rock

Still tired from the previous day, we slept in a little more and got a late start to our next adventure, the Gouffre de Padirac (Cavern of Padirac). Located in the west of the Department of Lot, we were technically out of Perigord by a few kilometers where the land is less wooded and the […]

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July 11, 2012

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Perigord in July 2012 – Around Sarlat-la-Canéda

The following is a continuation of Perigord in July 2012 – Saint-Nazaire to Sarlat-la-Canéda. Our first full day in Perigord was our chance to begin to tour the countryside nearest where were staying. We decided to head to the Roque de Saint-Christophe, a city that once had as many as 1,000 people living in a […]

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July 10, 2012

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Perigord in July 2012 – Saint Nazaire to Sarlat-la-Canéda

Jeanne vacationed in Perigord with her family when she was a child and talked it about so often that we knew we had to go there together. With three weeks in Brittany this summer, we finally a stretch to spend a good amount of time in this region famous for its cave art, castles and […]

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July 8, 2012

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Mont Saint-Michel in July 2012

The Normandy Coast is just a few hours drive from the West Coast of Brittany where we spend our summer vacations. We’ve talked many times about seeing Mont Saint-Michel and this time we were determined to make it part of our plans. We packed a lunch of white asparagus, baguette sandwiches of jamón serrano and butter, […]

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June 9, 2012

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Canyoneering Eaton Canyon’s waterfalls

We’re very fortunate to live so close to Eaton Canyon. Only blocks from our home, we hike there several times each week and it has been our preparation spot for bigger hikes like Mt Whitney, Mt Shuksan and even the Himalaya of Nepal. One of the greatest adventures in our own back yard is canyoneering […]

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June 7, 2012

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A weekend in Santa Barbara County Wine Country

Sometimes the most amazing adventures are found really close to home. If you live in LA, there are few more beautiful places to visit as close by as Santa Barbera County Wine Country. And there are few better ways to see it than by motorcycle. Santa Barbara is just a couple of hours away but […]

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May 28, 2012

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Mt San Gorgonio by Vivian Creek on Memorial Day, 2012

Mt San Gorgonio in the San Bernardino Mountains is more than the highest peak in Southern California at 3506 m (11,503 ft)…it is also also the 18th most prominent mountain in the United States. The peak is visible from great distances and nicknamed “Old Greyback.” It has the strange distinction of claiming the lives of […]

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May 20, 2012

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Food and fun in Birmingham, AL

What do you think of when you hear “Birmingham, Alabama?” Do you think of the Old South and Steel Industry or do you instead see a city of rolling hills and great restaurants being remade in the model of New South? Birmingham is a surprise for those who haven’t been there. If you look around, […]

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