Egypt.  Let me start by saying that #1 on my “top 25 things I want to do before I die list” is to live an obligation free life. I’m holding on to that. Number two is to live in Italy for a couple of months and learn to cook authentic Italian food.  Beyond those, the order of the rest of my list doesn’t really matter.

We’ve just hiked our way to the top of a plateau known as Upper Table Rock and the view is breathtaking!  It’s so quiet I can hear my heart pounding as it settles back into a normal rhythm after our ascent.  The dark gray rain-filled clouds are hovering and ready to burst.  The air is cool while the birds soar in silent flight.

Just recently I shared with you our discovery of a long-forgotten blink of a town known as Hilt. It’s  just a few miles south of the California Oregon border.  When I told a friend of mine about our discovery, she asked me, “Did you know there is a Buddhist Temple just beyond Hilt?”  Um, no!

Hilt, California.  Yesterday, we had a few hours to call our own so we grabbed our jackets, the camera and a water bottle and off we went.  We knew the weather was going to change quickly and dramatically. But, at least to start with we were enjoying the sun.  We opened the moon roof and hit the highway.

Innkeeper.  In my last post I told you about the benefits a traveler can find by checking into a B&B.  I thought I’d turn the page and tell you what the average day of an innkeeper is like.  Although I’d be happy (kind of) if it did, the daily routine of this innkeeper does not include eating M&M’s and watching television.

Bed and Breakfast.  Hands down the question we get asked the most often is,  “When you travel do you stay at B&B’s?”  We always smile and answer, “No,” which of course leads to the second most often asked question, “Why not?”  Well, because it’s kind of like being at work.  And that’s the truth.

Is there such a thing as smoke free travel?  Before I try to find an answer to my own question, let me say right up front this post is not meant to offend anyone who happens to smoke, it’s just my perspective; how it impacts my life and our travels.

Fat Bike Tour. We did so many fun things and saw such great sites while we were in Paris, it’s hard to pinpoint favorites, but our day pedaling around Paris is definitely way up on the list.

Chateau Fontainebleau.  The forecast for January 25 was a brutal 26 degrees, by far the coldest day of our stay.  We gave thought to whether it was a good idea to stay in Paris for the day, roaming, or get on the RER and head out to Fontainebleau.

G.H. Mumm Champagne. Here’s to the day of the bubbly!  Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime experience; touring the caves of the G.H. Mumm champagne cellars and then tasting and comparing pourings of the beloved bubbly.  Yep, makes for a pretty great day.  Oh, and what topped it off?