tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333541802024-03-07T01:40:22.093-06:00Mike's Touring JournalAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-84221174774302002652017-02-10T18:09:00.001-06:002017-02-20T06:29:36.448-06:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br />This morning a friend and I hiked back to a very remote, beautiful lake / slough, complete with a beaver lodge and dam. Hopefully it will be a future site for my amateur wildlife photography.<br /><br />Below, a few of my recent photographs, taken locally. As always, comments are welcome!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Red Shouldered Hawk</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJcJJEdTRaw/WKC-HTwhqvI/AAAAAAAAWEY/1YxZL_PB9x4f_F9bsTTw0AKK1kHAMSnHgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4814-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJcJJEdTRaw/WKC-HTwhqvI/AAAAAAAAWEY/1YxZL_PB9x4f_F9bsTTw0AKK1kHAMSnHgCLcB/s400/IMG_4814-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfBjz-ASK9L5qR7KBHpfLlNo9dwe-s0pZxcUAhcyzSjafhsvtUdu2TJ2qiwD_uAmE0qQbs6_02csglWfCyWQU8tPZg9BV2o3b0qb80vySwI7pmvJXxRhSxC-9i1GfeAlxiMd2/s1600/16426277_1198641853523228_6319129905350618122_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfBjz-ASK9L5qR7KBHpfLlNo9dwe-s0pZxcUAhcyzSjafhsvtUdu2TJ2qiwD_uAmE0qQbs6_02csglWfCyWQU8tPZg9BV2o3b0qb80vySwI7pmvJXxRhSxC-9i1GfeAlxiMd2/s400/16426277_1198641853523228_6319129905350618122_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCUvIdDPwLYshnBPmzW4HaeEgtWzKOXmlilPhzgTqSP127U0MVighLtTpYhqX_kPIVgf1fbIS3HUmdB7Jw2UXdmdT1OwuP6_5BVdl7b14C1YTiH0qdSJQS_McRDZYRBQevHLE/s1600/IMG_4508-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCUvIdDPwLYshnBPmzW4HaeEgtWzKOXmlilPhzgTqSP127U0MVighLtTpYhqX_kPIVgf1fbIS3HUmdB7Jw2UXdmdT1OwuP6_5BVdl7b14C1YTiH0qdSJQS_McRDZYRBQevHLE/s400/IMG_4508-Edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tufted Titmouse</div>
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Northern Mocking Bird</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EuLThs16Jp0/WJ5T5kSCXiI/AAAAAAAAWAo/gkp-Yf3q2cImDMvYo8KEziACvaDI-iEbgCLcB/s1600/16473192_1198885610165519_5236252974513201031_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EuLThs16Jp0/WJ5T5kSCXiI/AAAAAAAAWAo/gkp-Yf3q2cImDMvYo8KEziACvaDI-iEbgCLcB/s400/16473192_1198885610165519_5236252974513201031_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Northern Mocking Bird</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vqsW9aATBZIXeGYCGp8lryNTSIL1u_7VInn_1XOKFWrBrPVitVt1fsIe50VJBJgkU3WrxcN-J8ll3y5fOoBpfej_uRUdX8IG09sUjLemkFHyaNoCepZB_bKdxLC7h4j8ne_Y/s1600/16487769_1198874616833285_3557549400364558644_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vqsW9aATBZIXeGYCGp8lryNTSIL1u_7VInn_1XOKFWrBrPVitVt1fsIe50VJBJgkU3WrxcN-J8ll3y5fOoBpfej_uRUdX8IG09sUjLemkFHyaNoCepZB_bKdxLC7h4j8ne_Y/s400/16487769_1198874616833285_3557549400364558644_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dark -Eyed Junco</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">American Goldfinch (Winter Plumage)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYsWdrlGz5szyIAcMnj2QDMqI6s1y7SDYPC-nKI9Eojc8OGT38IN30cRK21VY-G1h9x4T4QrAZkSL8eF0X0F9mlWzdP1Dg0H55-Ke09-oSgRyh05B5TFqCZ_O0iBASukDD0u7/s1600/16587110_1201596956561051_1814210624447952770_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYsWdrlGz5szyIAcMnj2QDMqI6s1y7SDYPC-nKI9Eojc8OGT38IN30cRK21VY-G1h9x4T4QrAZkSL8eF0X0F9mlWzdP1Dg0H55-Ke09-oSgRyh05B5TFqCZ_O0iBASukDD0u7/s400/16587110_1201596956561051_1814210624447952770_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">American Goldfinch (Winter Plumage)</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kc7XJ9p3Drg/WJ5XXif8b5I/AAAAAAAAWBc/1CEvGX3RoSAG9MJaTn-JzmBHXqIMUxLkwCLcB/s1600/16707694_1201632096557537_2615899414766565325_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kc7XJ9p3Drg/WJ5XXif8b5I/AAAAAAAAWBc/1CEvGX3RoSAG9MJaTn-JzmBHXqIMUxLkwCLcB/s400/16707694_1201632096557537_2615899414766565325_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">American Goldfinch (Winter Plumage)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnZs4eWdCyN2NrBV9WtT_45rPjMRDFU4FCuJAZBgYUVO-7-CgB2AmuJf25uimKc9L-6vMS2vx6b1bSPWT102lTfwJsOsDZq8DMebep4yjdfj-21eeWJ_OoXfpthD5DLOpJrjr/s1600/16507916_1201709803216433_7549765618971446885_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnZs4eWdCyN2NrBV9WtT_45rPjMRDFU4FCuJAZBgYUVO-7-CgB2AmuJf25uimKc9L-6vMS2vx6b1bSPWT102lTfwJsOsDZq8DMebep4yjdfj-21eeWJ_OoXfpthD5DLOpJrjr/s400/16507916_1201709803216433_7549765618971446885_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Crow in bright morning sunlight.</div>
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The Common European Starling</div>
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White-throated Sparrow</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lL1xm37jr_A/WJ5UP3fI1-I/AAAAAAAAWBE/RqzQr9KevgA8kZPRxP1O8FtssOJLMTOmQCLcB/s1600/16640742_1199972563390157_4040593411769090341_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lL1xm37jr_A/WJ5UP3fI1-I/AAAAAAAAWBE/RqzQr9KevgA8kZPRxP1O8FtssOJLMTOmQCLcB/s400/16640742_1199972563390157_4040593411769090341_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Amercan Dove / Mourning Dove</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7KN2ugwsEbzKnSTGKFXaLLOIr817B1cPvFJegUfs-u-ZF8Ic43TC5SFd4x7z_Yz7U-byDJI1h7JGw8fAL9FCEmBeCowvgGEePm4kNteKidHqAQttaIldwDGwASudBFH0VXgL/s1600/IMG_4696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7KN2ugwsEbzKnSTGKFXaLLOIr817B1cPvFJegUfs-u-ZF8Ic43TC5SFd4x7z_Yz7U-byDJI1h7JGw8fAL9FCEmBeCowvgGEePm4kNteKidHqAQttaIldwDGwASudBFH0VXgL/s400/IMG_4696.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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White Pelican (below Barkley Dam)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3ftG330Z5hHGnrUDNqpWeuiNUJRrSsAI44AU4Dec6YNX-Mi-IAI5sKNVY_XQDuL5x59aE95Ggv2cCCQCO_Z-vleb8IXSMr-7J85oD2QIB-QQXY6dofvx68HBPklGyq6ba2Gz/s1600/16403431_1197948146925932_4509036797145918000_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3ftG330Z5hHGnrUDNqpWeuiNUJRrSsAI44AU4Dec6YNX-Mi-IAI5sKNVY_XQDuL5x59aE95Ggv2cCCQCO_Z-vleb8IXSMr-7J85oD2QIB-QQXY6dofvx68HBPklGyq6ba2Gz/s400/16403431_1197948146925932_4509036797145918000_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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White Pelican (below Barkley Dam)</div>
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White Pelican (below Barkley Dam)</div>
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White Pelican (below Barkley Dam)</div>
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White Pelican (below Barkley Dam)</div>
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Killdeer</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2y6j8SXwPo/WJ8JkJjuh-I/AAAAAAAAWDA/3SSh5jsYDPwVQl7ffnHDU6ad6RhP9FgxQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2y6j8SXwPo/WJ8JkJjuh-I/AAAAAAAAWDA/3SSh5jsYDPwVQl7ffnHDU6ad6RhP9FgxQCLcB/s400/IMG_1192.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Killdeer</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41p22QrRdyJ5SLhqPyrVwrweFcaqJWfYFUYdORSSC6TGB94gCjnIa4zDz3WOP6Efhq59h-dpNlaj8DNx5D3lGdl0n3LaFnEIpwyFWnZxnU4V4A8jIDwb3leh3PxEL9wVmj4bx/s1600/IMG_1194-Edit-Edit-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41p22QrRdyJ5SLhqPyrVwrweFcaqJWfYFUYdORSSC6TGB94gCjnIa4zDz3WOP6Efhq59h-dpNlaj8DNx5D3lGdl0n3LaFnEIpwyFWnZxnU4V4A8jIDwb3leh3PxEL9wVmj4bx/s400/IMG_1194-Edit-Edit-Edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Northern Cardinal (Female)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup63wH4s1mJ7nhqZKICoDQyZrcm6RJkt52mnLjf50ySRJD6UjDLcChF0RETI2CS6N2oFAd6zkCyJl1A_s9H0kK7DAmixGxmuSY4tVrnHOsdAzbYfPuq3fJ89pLNpURlBKM3VT/s1600/IMG_4744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup63wH4s1mJ7nhqZKICoDQyZrcm6RJkt52mnLjf50ySRJD6UjDLcChF0RETI2CS6N2oFAd6zkCyJl1A_s9H0kK7DAmixGxmuSY4tVrnHOsdAzbYfPuq3fJ89pLNpURlBKM3VT/s400/IMG_4744.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>
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Northern Cardinal (Female)</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fOPeHcYwfxA/WKoMHSpdrPI/AAAAAAAAWGA/Qc9JW3bIbi0ospuHDnoBc6nG_6Ead-S0wCLcB/s1600/IMG_4752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fOPeHcYwfxA/WKoMHSpdrPI/AAAAAAAAWGA/Qc9JW3bIbi0ospuHDnoBc6nG_6Ead-S0wCLcB/s400/IMG_4752.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ring-billed Gull</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKa_-zPyyiccqxoLkQnqW5AreaM47feQRAvdPtk4frxii1ThBKRBPDn2r404mTgRZmwK_k9IUg46tpkcEuovLy9KSM9NJ8phfnquoPZIB8CLJF-fIGRjxrbO43p6Kdx3mp9Ed/s1600/IMG_4865-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKa_-zPyyiccqxoLkQnqW5AreaM47feQRAvdPtk4frxii1ThBKRBPDn2r404mTgRZmwK_k9IUg46tpkcEuovLy9KSM9NJ8phfnquoPZIB8CLJF-fIGRjxrbO43p6Kdx3mp9Ed/s400/IMG_4865-Edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Composition is the strongest way of seeing." ~ Edward Weston</span></i></b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-22069076786543347312017-01-29T08:31:00.005-06:002017-02-10T20:03:05.882-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My office at Emerson Point Preserve</div>
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December 27, 2016, after spending Christmas with our daughter and family, my wife and I drove south for an extended, five week vacation in a beautiful rental home on Perico Island, FL. (Near Bradenton and Sarasota) We have had a wonderful time with good friends and family, enjoying the warm weather, sights, and the excellent seafood! </div>
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This trip also afforded me an opportunity to pursue my hobby of amateur wildlife photography, specifically birds. Perico Island has no less than six wildlife Preserves on, or very near, brimming with wildlife. My favorite turned out to be Emerson Point Preserve near Palmetto. I have posted a few of my favorites below. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Click Pictures to Enlarge)</span></div>
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Daybreak at Emerson Point Preserve</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UMlYQJ9fSSE/WI4Oja5EmaI/AAAAAAAAV-4/AVdTRwHVEPAiGFm9ebPIYoegCYxBJNF9QCLcB/s1600/16179667_1189625054424908_649664629304264261_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UMlYQJ9fSSE/WI4Oja5EmaI/AAAAAAAAV-4/AVdTRwHVEPAiGFm9ebPIYoegCYxBJNF9QCLcB/s400/16179667_1189625054424908_649664629304264261_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Daybreak at Emerson Point Preserve</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G7MENAOByxw/WI4WVURY9jI/AAAAAAAAV_Q/BD9UgMauShkWp0vNXSz2nJ-EQ8oS1zAuwCLcB/s1600/16143661_1181567595230654_3432283740454002807_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G7MENAOByxw/WI4WVURY9jI/AAAAAAAAV_Q/BD9UgMauShkWp0vNXSz2nJ-EQ8oS1zAuwCLcB/s400/16143661_1181567595230654_3432283740454002807_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Bald Eagle (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pqhkyIxLY3o/WI378sMOFgI/AAAAAAAAV8Y/UhovitNentwuiPCLH8AEdVMp7HLiDwUIwCLcB/s1600/15822638_1171553392898741_1358172347008397593_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pqhkyIxLY3o/WI378sMOFgI/AAAAAAAAV8Y/UhovitNentwuiPCLH8AEdVMp7HLiDwUIwCLcB/s400/15822638_1171553392898741_1358172347008397593_n.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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Double Crested Cormorant (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQCW-igBRBM/WI378mS8BLI/AAAAAAAAV8c/DXTUUhSEoZsjlhnIQk2Plm_SOIczdhNbwCLcB/s1600/15894280_1175572679163479_3525888246877479316_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQCW-igBRBM/WI378mS8BLI/AAAAAAAAV8c/DXTUUhSEoZsjlhnIQk2Plm_SOIczdhNbwCLcB/s400/15894280_1175572679163479_3525888246877479316_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Double Crested Cormorant (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjnKlliBeLA/WI4CGLJjLoI/AAAAAAAAV98/BXWKMwa5IMAGe3DppRJYfn1rNI7L27dNQCLcB/s1600/15965374_1178914158829331_3326888711194873270_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjnKlliBeLA/WI4CGLJjLoI/AAAAAAAAV98/BXWKMwa5IMAGe3DppRJYfn1rNI7L27dNQCLcB/s400/15965374_1178914158829331_3326888711194873270_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Great Blue Heron (Perico Island, FL)</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8cU_RB86o7Y/WI378ZAJu_I/AAAAAAAAV8U/zSDSUniQkFoPB1P34OL00NyrNRBQCODbwCLcB/s1600/15896332_1174214082632672_5278542345079838105_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8cU_RB86o7Y/WI378ZAJu_I/AAAAAAAAV8U/zSDSUniQkFoPB1P34OL00NyrNRBQCODbwCLcB/s400/15896332_1174214082632672_5278542345079838105_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Great Blue Heron (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-llIbtwgbs5k/WI4DtHSXifI/AAAAAAAAV-I/9SbwScNzIesdTS7_PvBrImhIYVAuohR-QCLcB/s1600/16251736_1188697724517641_3181490252939454188_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-llIbtwgbs5k/WI4DtHSXifI/AAAAAAAAV-I/9SbwScNzIesdTS7_PvBrImhIYVAuohR-QCLcB/s320/16251736_1188697724517641_3181490252939454188_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Great Egret (Perico Island, FL)</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ltJus8AQPiM/WI379fMauxI/AAAAAAAAV8s/hvTp0Ja-_4MDf6ffkZ9aaEEIRis_DLInQCLcB/s1600/15977438_1179163115471102_3408740916891464691_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ltJus8AQPiM/WI379fMauxI/AAAAAAAAV8s/hvTp0Ja-_4MDf6ffkZ9aaEEIRis_DLInQCLcB/s400/15977438_1179163115471102_3408740916891464691_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Black Vulture ( Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG3SOAwcPkQx0QPK2vr2TA91ha7GhbGNCgg-jRTbB-fbk2JzrIRW4lM2fYjgXVUftgyQmLR5B2ICWSQ5Wpd21KF_RmbUZ9jlmR9JBUjhHeL2rc6FIYTJoUbxnsUOdHmF3tTfq/s1600/16112723_1180421165345297_7123381339713105584_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG3SOAwcPkQx0QPK2vr2TA91ha7GhbGNCgg-jRTbB-fbk2JzrIRW4lM2fYjgXVUftgyQmLR5B2ICWSQ5Wpd21KF_RmbUZ9jlmR9JBUjhHeL2rc6FIYTJoUbxnsUOdHmF3tTfq/s400/16112723_1180421165345297_7123381339713105584_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Osprey (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BYRFwWamfUo/WI4EbFmKQYI/AAAAAAAAV-Q/EEeBnry27_UjsTV8yIqY4tIGs9jexIijACLcB/s1600/15940438_1176434565743957_7585886960091285691_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BYRFwWamfUo/WI4EbFmKQYI/AAAAAAAAV-Q/EEeBnry27_UjsTV8yIqY4tIGs9jexIijACLcB/s400/15940438_1176434565743957_7585886960091285691_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Osprey (Perico Island, FL)</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ucGCRofLbtQ/WI379piLAdI/AAAAAAAAV84/b0M7aaMlz88DgFiqXklWUu3IQx4EED-FACLcB/s1600/16112723_1180431112010969_7965172510218001069_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ucGCRofLbtQ/WI379piLAdI/AAAAAAAAV84/b0M7aaMlz88DgFiqXklWUu3IQx4EED-FACLcB/s400/16112723_1180431112010969_7965172510218001069_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Osprey (Perico Island, FL)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdJGHHf2TEwx6yxCjVZg9UXKRvy4Ujbnc0FuqfkAsORsqmp_pNpn0_GJxod3_WNqJ4GsrQtxxhoZdHoGvyPuUFh8-hUfDUQWrJVLIjVHAJ1Iry51S5jpHq-roF7J1Q40bB7Mj/s1600/16143297_1188753304512083_7819492685027838415_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdJGHHf2TEwx6yxCjVZg9UXKRvy4Ujbnc0FuqfkAsORsqmp_pNpn0_GJxod3_WNqJ4GsrQtxxhoZdHoGvyPuUFh8-hUfDUQWrJVLIjVHAJ1Iry51S5jpHq-roF7J1Q40bB7Mj/s400/16143297_1188753304512083_7819492685027838415_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Osprey (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4r9RvDWA5o/WJ5v3OmoxvI/AAAAAAAAWCs/ExCbmNC3qjAg_yjJkCW5pO2eJqeXSsJRACLcB/s1600/IMG_2884-Edit-Edit-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4r9RvDWA5o/WJ5v3OmoxvI/AAAAAAAAWCs/ExCbmNC3qjAg_yjJkCW5pO2eJqeXSsJRACLcB/s400/IMG_2884-Edit-Edit-Edit.jpg" width="386" /></a></div>
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Roseate Spoonbill (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWrDqr5_mwGOqhMpGkyGNSiz8ILEouxispT8S0AcTsB1vX3Dgm4TDMRekZe0ie8XBOsRkSTkkIvLyNp1GEjFuuI3dGb_nzdE0cEvCOQcwmQgWGSXNSg341wb7DTWVhXK7Q3V1/s1600/16143716_1186809888039758_8948588243208296762_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWrDqr5_mwGOqhMpGkyGNSiz8ILEouxispT8S0AcTsB1vX3Dgm4TDMRekZe0ie8XBOsRkSTkkIvLyNp1GEjFuuI3dGb_nzdE0cEvCOQcwmQgWGSXNSg341wb7DTWVhXK7Q3V1/s400/16143716_1186809888039758_8948588243208296762_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Wood Stork (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pyv3LnsPzbQ/WI38A5gSUdI/AAAAAAAAV9Y/pjSf3jI9e0UVVWhUCHfcQltJNsqDsaDlACLcB/s1600/16177769_1181501138570633_804598498645692945_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pyv3LnsPzbQ/WI38A5gSUdI/AAAAAAAAV9Y/pjSf3jI9e0UVVWhUCHfcQltJNsqDsaDlACLcB/s400/16177769_1181501138570633_804598498645692945_o.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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White Pelican (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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White Pelicans (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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Brown Pelican (Perico Island, FL)</div>
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White Pelican (Emerson Point Perserve)</div>
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American Ibis (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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Willets (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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Hooded Merganser (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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Anhinga (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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Snowy Egret (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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Snowy Egret (Emerson Point Preserve)</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Northern Shoveler (Perico Island, FL)</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-30093292203463634732016-11-18T20:56:00.000-06:002017-02-09T12:03:21.062-06:00The Four Question Challenge<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Recently I was nominated, along with three other bloggers, to participate in a <b><i>Four Question Challenge</i></b> i</span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">n which the nominee must provide four answers for each question. I have seen many variants of this game circulate on Facebook, and I typically don't participate, but, like my friend Barb, who challenged me said, doing this in a blog is a new and different experience with more room to expand on the answers, so here goes. (Click pictures to enlarge)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>The four questions are:</b></span><br />
<b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">1. What is your favorite food?</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">2. What is your favorite drink?</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">3. What places have you visited?</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">4. What names are you known by?</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>1. What is your favorite food? </b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I have always said "I have no favorite food." I love to eat, and like almost anything, if well prepared. Truthfully? I do have a few "weaknesses." </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I am the true "Cookie Monster." I love homemade cookies, preferably generous sized, and full of yummy things like nuts, raisins, or cranberries. In a pinch, I will accept a delicious, high end bakery cookie. Chocolate is just one of many flavors I like.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;">I also have a lifelong weakness for any good pie, preferably, but not limited to, berry pies. While growing up, my mother, at my request, would always make me a blueberry pie for my birthday. Cakes? Never eat cake if there is a good cookie or pie around! I</span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">n the interest of full disclosure, let's not forget my obsession with fresh Italian and French croissants!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Revel, France</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">At home I love comfort food in the winter. Homemade stews, chili, fresh, warm bread, and slow cooked pot roast. A juicy, rare, Porter House or Rib-eye steak ranks high on my list as well. In the summer, I love to grill chicken, ribs, steaks, and seafood. I love to cook, and truth told, I prefer to do so with a very good glass of wine in hand.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duck - Saint Cirq Lapopie, France</td></tr>
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Our foreign travel has only accentuated our "foodie status". Carolyn and I love a really nice restaurant, serving beautifully prepared food. Conversely, we also love small, local cafes, and rural, town markets. Sometimes it seems our travel centers around the wonderful food of the region.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Revel, France Saturday Market</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4uEHnA6q8qppR3kBpq-amYpOBLeQmqZUv6Of9uUtWUI2pmSkOt1S_KHEhnnMBXs1XkpE27VOIOVuiELqkG8G8qKJrhCF7CD5aC1UqTH5UEMojQy17k7u8q_VWrU4TpO3sLxs/s1600/Image-9722610-246870252-2-WebLarge_0_1548aa1b4c45799c6242717646b1b6e1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4uEHnA6q8qppR3kBpq-amYpOBLeQmqZUv6Of9uUtWUI2pmSkOt1S_KHEhnnMBXs1XkpE27VOIOVuiELqkG8G8qKJrhCF7CD5aC1UqTH5UEMojQy17k7u8q_VWrU4TpO3sLxs/s320/Image-9722610-246870252-2-WebLarge_0_1548aa1b4c45799c6242717646b1b6e1_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ducale Cafe, Paris, France</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>2. What is your favorite drink?</b><br /><br />At home I drink coffee, tea, and water. I *<i>LOVE* </i>a great cup of rich, dark coffee! In Europe I have cultivated a taste for espresso. I am not much on adding anything to my coffee, preferring black. I have no interest in soft or flavored drinks whatsoever. Occasionally, I will have fresh juice, most often in a nice hotel.<br /><br />My tastes in wine fall between a really good Cabernet Sauvignon, and a great Italian Super Tuscan. (Slight nod to the Tuscan Reds) I can enjoy either and be very happy! We have toured many wineries across Italy and France, as well as here in the US, and I have enjoyed many different varietals! I have no taste for sweet wines.</span><br />
<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">In the past few years, I have joined the Craft Beer craze. I seem to favor an IPA with a fair amount of bitterness, although I do like a dark ale as well. I am only *so, so* when it comes to Porters and Stouts. While in Ireland, in fear of deportation, I dared not let the locals know I thought the renowned, much loved, Guinness was flat and tasteless. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ORlwhLO97xE/WC-fzD2Fx_I/AAAAAAAAV5o/pMwwCuvFmzAePRmQ7UeaiaYd2wmMIl0wgCLcB/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ORlwhLO97xE/WC-fzD2Fx_I/AAAAAAAAV5o/pMwwCuvFmzAePRmQ7UeaiaYd2wmMIl0wgCLcB/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schlafly's Tasmanian IPA</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>3. What places have you visited?</b></span></span><br /><br />Well, let's see. Back in the mid-to-late 60's I was in the Navy Seabees, and was afforded all expense paid trips to schools in California and Rhode Island. The bulk of my service was in Adak, Alaska, Dong Ha, Viet Nam, and the, (then), three American bases in Antarctica.<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I spent my entire professional life in sales. As most people know, work travel is rarely glamorous, that is, unless you enjoy airports, motels, and hotel meeting rooms. However,</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151;"> I count myself extremely lucky to have been </span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">with a very good company during it's most prosperous years. W</span></span></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151;">e stayed in some of the best hotels, and it afforded me an opportunity to learn a great deal about the finer things in life.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">Aside from our daughter, the one constant in our marriage has always been our shared passion for travel. Early on, m</span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">y wife and I traveled as often as our meager budget would allow. That travel took us across the US and included California, and the west coast, Hawaii and much of the eastern half of the country. Later, we were able to include Canada, and many other states. Soon after my daughter graduated from college, she and I had an amazing opportunity through her work, to travel by riverboat down the Amazon River in parts of Peru, Colombia, and Brazil.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4CfA5N7o7WU/WC-aE_mub3I/AAAAAAAAV5A/1_2OVcj7umoRAqVoZi8eH2x33jSNLBulwCEw/s1600/DSC00857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4CfA5N7o7WU/WC-aE_mub3I/AAAAAAAAV5A/1_2OVcj7umoRAqVoZi8eH2x33jSNLBulwCEw/s320/DSC00857.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alaska, 2007</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">Long before I reached my planned retirement age of 60, my goal was to use my fervor for travel to help make the transition into retirement as easy as possible. </span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">I returned to motorcycles in my late 40's, and moved up the motorcycle weight classes until I was comfortable on a large touring </span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">bike, while developing all the skills necessary for solo travel. In addition to all the bike rides I did on weekends and vacations, my wife graciously allowed me to pursue some of my more lofty motorcycle goals for the two year period between our retirements. I have ridden to many <i>Motorcycle Touring Forum</i> (<i>MTF</i>) functions, Ride to Eats, and even a rally. The one rally I did was a lot of fun, and chocked full of great people, but not really my cup of tea. I guess, after 40 plus years of competition at work, I now prefer to limit my competition in retirement to personal challenges. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2k2p40yI6tvFpXTM8pgihMdKvB56WjfJt_LjbQyBiFVRE7TLWoIYHIglXNOubFNz1ryCqp7FshqA061Z22WLaPo1Af5pKDpgvrIjGyA7frOLY6oJ0dN2Kt1FFMkL-XISF6ys/s1600/4CT+Jpeg.bmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2k2p40yI6tvFpXTM8pgihMdKvB56WjfJt_LjbQyBiFVRE7TLWoIYHIglXNOubFNz1ryCqp7FshqA061Z22WLaPo1Af5pKDpgvrIjGyA7frOLY6oJ0dN2Kt1FFMkL-XISF6ys/s320/4CT+Jpeg.bmp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The SCRA Four Corners Route</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHexl8klRdVWeDtj50Vm0cihIk0ro1FhYxn3LMDn_giQ8BmWRdcKLjo3Hc7CJvAcT6zxX1GY43kNvbs5yOlE2boV9ymMrdMVE8afHvnW-a8aJK36L-JmNBeWf6FJZTuuQ8F6E/s1600/DSC03469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHexl8klRdVWeDtj50Vm0cihIk0ro1FhYxn3LMDn_giQ8BmWRdcKLjo3Hc7CJvAcT6zxX1GY43kNvbs5yOlE2boV9ymMrdMVE8afHvnW-a8aJK36L-JmNBeWf6FJZTuuQ8F6E/s320/DSC03469.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madawaska, Maine - The Final Corner</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent;">Most of my motorcycle rides were chosen specifically to visit different places in our beautiful country. </span>I was fortunate, early in my retirement, to have the opportunity to do a six week, 9,000 mile ride to Alaska and down the west coast. Probably the ride I enjoyed most was the solo, 12,000 plus mile, Southern California Motorcycle Association's <a href="http://sc-ma.com/rides/usa-four-corners-tour-site">Four Corners Tour</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">Speaking of personal challenges, I also enjoyed several scenic forays into the world of solo endurance rides with </span><a href="http://www.ironbutt.com/about/default.cfm?CFID=23343993&CFTOKEN=32797671">The Ironbutt Association</a>. <br />
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Ironbutt rides I completed include:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">1. Saddle Sore 1,000 miles in 24 hrs.<br />2. Saddle Sore 1,000 miles inside KY in 24 hrs.<br />3. Bun Burner 1,500 in 30 hrs.<br />4. Bun Burner Gold - 1,500 miles in 24 hrs.<br />5. Saddle Sore 2,000 - 2,000 miles in 48 hrs.<br />6. The National Park Tour - Gold<br /><span id="goog_733926225"></span><span id="goog_733926226"></span><br /><br />I have had the good fortune to ride my bike in every state in the union, with the exception of Hawaii, as well as many other pleasure rides across the country with my wife and friends. I have no idea how many miles I have ridden, but would conservatively guess it is well above 200,000. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-thOPNd8Cj2s/WC-c6y4WgJI/AAAAAAAAV5U/uoYgYeMxlDU6oSoC-nl4ff5_xlPw5-OfACLcB/s1600/Image-9722610-190316324-2-WebLarge_0_a55bba19d5db0b94ab84a2bb63ebce3f_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-thOPNd8Cj2s/WC-c6y4WgJI/AAAAAAAAV5U/uoYgYeMxlDU6oSoC-nl4ff5_xlPw5-OfACLcB/s320/Image-9722610-190316324-2-WebLarge_0_a55bba19d5db0b94ab84a2bb63ebce3f_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Colosseum, Rome </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">As soon as my wife retired, we set about pursuing our shared life long dream to explore as much of the world as we could, doing so while we continued to have the desire, and the good health. Since retiring, we have had the good fortune to visit Italy, The Vatican, Monaco, Hungary, Austria, The Czech Republic, Germany, France, Spain, Andorra, Ireland, Thailand, and China.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3t_LxSIcitz8PU4iVzkcvZOJJw1ASkcoM8rzx_bgSEoZdIL1onJb3932Q1mdqqGxKmJnH3oM08Z_IWuXGOsWhGZx-I3dKPhQ1RsbOqWASodlWYZ5VhL7C4Aak_fZEK1BU7ac/s1600/Image-9722610-202912333-2-WebLarge_0_943b6da1d07d32f201cd2868b60b2d84_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3t_LxSIcitz8PU4iVzkcvZOJJw1ASkcoM8rzx_bgSEoZdIL1onJb3932Q1mdqqGxKmJnH3oM08Z_IWuXGOsWhGZx-I3dKPhQ1RsbOqWASodlWYZ5VhL7C4Aak_fZEK1BU7ac/s400/Image-9722610-202912333-2-WebLarge_0_943b6da1d07d32f201cd2868b60b2d84_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great Wall of China</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdvIsTlG_qRppL6BEE1jnUZKhyphenhyphenRFLyF-M-ziQiGdEONtUkgOh1ZRGT3sS3g2ZyYNGTFLjUlSn6v31jNPOMvjFcP3jGGBYu0DtUCm95Z9lLNOY5dEtQaIeyXQwRClPKv576VUB/s1600/Image-9722610-246899782-2-Web_0_ce5ed16a0229895bfb278b5763ba226b_1+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdvIsTlG_qRppL6BEE1jnUZKhyphenhyphenRFLyF-M-ziQiGdEONtUkgOh1ZRGT3sS3g2ZyYNGTFLjUlSn6v31jNPOMvjFcP3jGGBYu0DtUCm95Z9lLNOY5dEtQaIeyXQwRClPKv576VUB/s320/Image-9722610-246899782-2-Web_0_ce5ed16a0229895bfb278b5763ba226b_1+%25281%2529.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Eiffel Tower, Paris</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">Immediate future travel plans include 5 weeks in Florida this winter, followed by a 6 week trip to New Zealand, and Australia, in March of 2017.</span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>4. What names are you known by?</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This one is very limited.<br /><br />Like most children, my mother often used my full first name, Michael. I knew there was trouble brewing when I heard all three of my names called! Now, my wife is the only one who uses Michael. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><br /><span style="color: #515151; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Most call me Mike, including family, friends, and past business associates. Early in my internet days, I did have two handles, Quickscribbles and Simply Mike.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;">So that is about it....my four-part answers to the four questions put to me.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/">Mike & Carolyn's Travel Albums</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-30491220025488839882016-06-28T20:21:00.003-05:002016-10-29T16:08:26.253-05:00<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">As many of our friends know, we recently returned from an adventure to Spain, Andorra, and France. The four new slideshows are listed below. If interested, we suggest viewing the slideshow, full screen, with your sound on. As always, we love comments!</span><br />
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<a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/">Mike & Carolyn Blevins Travel Albums</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">"It's a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks the same, feels the same, even smells the same. You realized what's changed is you." </span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">~ F Scott Fitzgerald ~</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.26px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"He who comes home with the most money doesn't win. He who comes home with the most experiences, wins" </span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.26px; white-space: pre-wrap;">~Steve Smith~</span> </blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-70623143196590156852016-04-25T17:56:00.001-05:002016-06-19T11:43:51.660-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8sDX46m63X-cvnqMfuZ1lDiV8zQER-ogSvfwjaYpL8ckHl-c5GmGUVyz9oeuYI7yLvZpTMxjuXX4GzL3UMRdRTRjJ0oHBobO61XUdz3VwdHS4wncMAlu2y16-RWQWVhrT2cu/s1600/BB+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8sDX46m63X-cvnqMfuZ1lDiV8zQER-ogSvfwjaYpL8ckHl-c5GmGUVyz9oeuYI7yLvZpTMxjuXX4GzL3UMRdRTRjJ0oHBobO61XUdz3VwdHS4wncMAlu2y16-RWQWVhrT2cu/s400/BB+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We recently returned from a 3,150 mile driving trip to central and south Texas, (March/April) with an emphasis on the <i>Texas Bluebonnet Hill Country</i>. The trip slideshow is listed below. If interested, we suggest viewing the slideshow, full screen, with your sound on. As always, we love comments!<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;">"We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment." - Hillaire Belloc</span></blockquote>
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<a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/">Mike & Carolyn Blevins Travel Albums</a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-45505050536129099822015-11-24T18:56:00.004-06:002016-08-02T07:02:20.262-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAIzc_pifOY/VlUHOqaHsVI/AAAAAAAAVps/koscnbC9Mig/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAIzc_pifOY/VlUHOqaHsVI/AAAAAAAAVps/koscnbC9Mig/s320/IMG_0084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Islamarada, FL - Click to Enlarge</div>
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In August, Carolyn and I spent time with friends in South Florida. Unlike our usual trips, I took time off from my 35m and just took a few phone pics. If interested, you will find them on the link below. <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">For best viewing, suggest clicking slideshow, full screen, with your sound on. </span><br />
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Click here > <a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/">Mike & Carolyn Blevins Travel Albums</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">“It’s better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times…”<br /> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">~Anonymous~</span></span></blockquote>
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..Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-81545875592746216222015-11-14T15:45:00.001-06:002015-11-14T15:47:47.775-06:00<div style="text-align: center;">
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of France!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-39319918873962786002015-09-20T15:28:00.003-05:002015-10-12T09:18:28.296-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h54FL6zM18s/Vf8WdZCGsRI/AAAAAAAAVoE/KHvf50IVDpQ/s1600/11926457_10153385820811743_2110566935_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h54FL6zM18s/Vf8WdZCGsRI/AAAAAAAAVoE/KHvf50IVDpQ/s320/11926457_10153385820811743_2110566935_n.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
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We are home from from our month long trip to France. The French Riviera, Provence, and two Paris slideshows are now posted in Phanfare. We hope you enjoy viewing.</div>
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Click Here > <a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/">Mike & Carolyn Blevins Travel Albums</a></div>
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For best viewing, suggest clicking slideshow, full screen, with your sound on. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: georgia, serif;">It's better to look back on life and say: I cant believe I did that. than to look back and say: I wish I did that. ~Unknown~</span></blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-47923691535509068292015-08-08T03:41:00.001-05:002015-10-12T09:17:34.397-05:00As the new blog picture would suggest, we are currently in Monaco, Provence, and Paris. More about this trip, with slideshows, when we return later this month.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-doUqa5QmE5o/VcXAmFlfTnI/AAAAAAAAVmA/UvMqD6g_Qzo/s1600/11265034_850153345038749_6043686365396217289_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-doUqa5QmE5o/VcXAmFlfTnI/AAAAAAAAVmA/UvMqD6g_Qzo/s320/11265034_850153345038749_6043686365396217289_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-6170396872836807292014-09-17T20:44:00.001-05:002015-10-06T15:35:15.182-05:00Viking Danube River Cruise, Budapest - Prague<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VRdkF7WZzo/VBrL-UON2DI/AAAAAAAAVfo/Dyy_cNw4uEU/s1600/Image-9722610-223623824-2-Web_0_64b8e73420d2ca45801ef71b07343f65_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VRdkF7WZzo/VBrL-UON2DI/AAAAAAAAVfo/Dyy_cNw4uEU/s1600/Image-9722610-223623824-2-Web_0_64b8e73420d2ca45801ef71b07343f65_1.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">Once again, and as promised to friends and family, the three slideshows from our latest trip are now online. (1) Budapest, Hungary (2) Viking Danube River Cruise (3) Prague, Czech Republic. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">These were made to preserve our trip memories. We consider it a bonus if others enjoy them as well. If interested, we suggest viewing in Slideshow, Full Screen, with your sound on. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">Comments are always welcome! </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 20px;">We hope you enjoy! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">Click Here - <a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/">Mike & Carolyn's Travel Albums</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">For best viewing, suggest clicking slideshow, full screen, with your sound on.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-39838703078349685492014-06-13T19:31:00.002-05:002015-10-06T15:36:39.419-05:00The Republic of Ireland <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WkQ4zmlWdV0/U5uYSugCBmI/AAAAAAAAVaM/iXEZHh0Lvq4/s1600/Image-9722610-216470520-2-WebLarge_0_1192a4cffb314fd856d8debcfe87e39f_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WkQ4zmlWdV0/U5uYSugCBmI/AAAAAAAAVaM/iXEZHh0Lvq4/s1600/Image-9722610-216470520-2-WebLarge_0_1192a4cffb314fd856d8debcfe87e39f_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kylemore Abbey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Connemara, Ireland</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">As promised to friends and family, the two Ireland slideshows are now online. Keep in mind, these were made to preserve our trip memories. We consider it a bonus if others enjoy them as well. We suggest viewing in Slideshow, Full Screen, with your sound on. We hope you enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/"> Ireland Slide Shows Here </a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;">For best viewing, suggest clicking slideshow, full screen, with your sound on, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitCqN4rB0k8ae5CpRywxggas7JouLCf5iveD5PEkeo8UuZ3XQwCMqtqb875bhZCCbeLicE9hNZ_bHhYMF0oNNiIVC9RSD9WAKqaWMpBY9hCCsZjEarPeWcu5eXaDlRsdfdwKT/s1600/IMG_8557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitCqN4rB0k8ae5CpRywxggas7JouLCf5iveD5PEkeo8UuZ3XQwCMqtqb875bhZCCbeLicE9hNZ_bHhYMF0oNNiIVC9RSD9WAKqaWMpBY9hCCsZjEarPeWcu5eXaDlRsdfdwKT/s1600/IMG_8557.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 700 ft Cliffs of Moher</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liscannor, Co. Clare, Ireland</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.100000381469727px; text-align: start;">“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” ~</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Louis_Stevenson" style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #225e9b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.100000381469727px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Robert Louis Stevenson</a>~</blockquote>
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.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-79503199676246323252014-05-19T18:18:00.000-05:002014-07-02T16:38:41.979-05:00Travel Slideshows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lf6QffFWpz8/U3qQbl0NcWI/AAAAAAAAVZE/L9iG1G5MClo/s1600/IMG_8883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lf6QffFWpz8/U3qQbl0NcWI/AAAAAAAAVZE/L9iG1G5MClo/s1600/IMG_8883.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A complete list of our travel albums, with links, can be found here;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/">Mike & Carolyn's Travel Albums</a></span><br />
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People Don't Take Trips, Trips Take People!<br />~John Steinbeck~</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-3030835963021745632014-03-13T21:47:00.003-05:002014-07-02T05:55:52.906-05:00Florida, Late Feb - Early Mar 2014<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oReVGfC-ryf9n6aiiQDgCQam-1kiuc15AR0Xcryan4mjRFw6cWvb-XDm3wtED312-g6vOO6dw5XBdEbZnHTZz9TvECPGY7fO1C7oE9tpM3ervaZo1tmjNxXDF_o6IHAtwE33/s1600/IMG_7327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oReVGfC-ryf9n6aiiQDgCQam-1kiuc15AR0Xcryan4mjRFw6cWvb-XDm3wtED312-g6vOO6dw5XBdEbZnHTZz9TvECPGY7fO1C7oE9tpM3ervaZo1tmjNxXDF_o6IHAtwE33/s1600/IMG_7327.jpg" height="316" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anna Maria Island, FL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As many of you know, Carolyn and I just returned from Florida. This was a very good time to be gone, considering the late winter ice storm that blanketed Western KY while we were gone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As usual, I have made a slideshow to preserve the trips memories. If you are interested, we would love to share. I suggest clicking Slideshow, Full Screen, with your sound on. As always, comments are welcome! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many thanks again to our good friends Mark & Paula Unger!</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/6449026" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">http://mikeblevins.phanfare.<wbr></wbr>com/6449026</span></a></div>
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.<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.639999389648438px;">“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard</span></blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-31918224805782412832013-12-01T10:32:00.000-06:002014-04-11T15:12:21.387-05:00Thailand & China<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRglwAFL5oU/UzAxFq5jCpI/AAAAAAAAVVg/BngUTuoh59I/s1600/IMG_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRglwAFL5oU/UzAxFq5jCpI/AAAAAAAAVVg/BngUTuoh59I/s1600/IMG_0034.jpg" height="255" width="400" /></a></div>
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Elephant Ride - Thailand</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;">R</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;">ecently, my wife and I received an invitation from my cousin, to visit Thailand and China. She has lived and worked in Asia for many years, and volunteered to be our guide. What an amazing guide she was! The trip was nothing short of extraordinary! We are so grateful for the experience!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;">If you are interested, we invite you to share in the beauty of Asia. We suggest you click Start Slideshow, Full Screen with your sound on.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/6316348">Thailand (1)</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/6318123">Thailand (2)</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/6319663"><br /></a></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/6319663">China</a></span></span><br />
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The Great Wall of China</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.639999389648438px;">“Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by.” – </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #0f457c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.639999389648438px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Robert Frost</a></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px;">“Travel's greatest purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px;">-William Hazlitt (1778-1830)</span></blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-60607910905893687912013-08-18T18:30:00.002-05:002014-03-23T19:20:13.588-05:00The Great Lakes Ride<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7PPUP5gGa0mKCPqNgSY-lhMssZllBWLzi9YzM3VxDwYNrpLvdwBd36TmObOd2APjegDrWlig-BVkxhqPZWmkMynYb-LTgwlVHzffQ7OzeoVWvMplTcE2m7lUJv1Rg9O37eQ-/s1600/Image-9722610-194994182-2-WebLarge_0_d143dd7b0caa2df97a8618252ed940a9_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7PPUP5gGa0mKCPqNgSY-lhMssZllBWLzi9YzM3VxDwYNrpLvdwBd36TmObOd2APjegDrWlig-BVkxhqPZWmkMynYb-LTgwlVHzffQ7OzeoVWvMplTcE2m7lUJv1Rg9O37eQ-/s400/Image-9722610-194994182-2-WebLarge_0_d143dd7b0caa2df97a8618252ed940a9_1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">(Click to Enlarge)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;">The Cove Island Lighthouse </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Recently Kevin Pugh and I had the opportunity to complete a nice, week long, ride around Lakes Huron, Superior, and Michigan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">For those interested, you will find a link to the pictures and comments below. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">recommend viewing the slideshow, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in full screen, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">with your sound on. You will notice the needed controls at the bottom of each picture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/6192434">The Great Lakes Ride </a> </span><br />
August, 2013</div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“Boredom is your mind and body’s way of telling you you’re not living up to your potential.” </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">~ </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2929100.Hal_Sparks" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Hal Sparks</a> ~<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 13.600000381469727px; text-align: left;">“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” ~Gustave Flaubert~</span></blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-49924152939439119572013-06-27T16:53:00.000-05:002014-04-11T15:02:20.218-05:00Italy, the second time around! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnOowOOZzQ0A7CK-OypVXc067v-Y1LPq_xsxA863lTh-IBxkNQho5HO98m4qQ-83T-g6w1LODWl9xaaTaPUrD5bWj1xhIt9mQZe1HXQ2PTndtxzXqQqr8M0p9sE_lK6KU9swY/s1600/IMG_7761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnOowOOZzQ0A7CK-OypVXc067v-Y1LPq_xsxA863lTh-IBxkNQho5HO98m4qQ-83T-g6w1LODWl9xaaTaPUrD5bWj1xhIt9mQZe1HXQ2PTndtxzXqQqr8M0p9sE_lK6KU9swY/s400/IMG_7761.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Capri Island, Italy</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">(Click to Enlarge)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">June 2013</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Carolyn and I just returned from a wonderful, three week, adventure in Italy. We were in Rome the first week, the second week on The Amalfi Coast. The third week was spent in Pompeii & Tuscany, with a small Tuscan apartment and a rental car, exploring the hill towns, castles and wineries.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">If you are interested, a slideshow for each week can be found here: </span><br />
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<a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/6122654">Rome</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/6126220">The Amalfi Coast</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/6129673"><span style="font-size: large;">Pompeii & The Tuscan Hill Towns</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">We recommend viewing the </span><span style="font-size: large;">slideshow,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> in f</span><span style="font-size: large;">ull screen, with your sound on. You will notice the needed controls at the bottom of each picture.</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
"I travel a lot, I hate having my life disrupted by routine."</blockquote>
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~ Caskie Stinnet ~ </blockquote>
.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-73491248558447648142012-12-07T18:45:00.000-06:002013-09-02T19:07:02.121-05:00Castle Post, Lexington, KY<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fcEwuJSKiv3KWYYAysUhlOcpSRu4BIfMyfgC7nEAlC4VCiYtRIvt8O4BnpdJqLWPFMxVJOgxR4eYvS2-TGhuGmWvpCPuRdbWFUJp3xWIrbkEX7xiOmI8N6w1rbeUS3YAD-S1/s1600/Image-9722610-174844123-2-WebLarge_0_d0449bec3775378c1bab46db508b89b5_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fcEwuJSKiv3KWYYAysUhlOcpSRu4BIfMyfgC7nEAlC4VCiYtRIvt8O4BnpdJqLWPFMxVJOgxR4eYvS2-TGhuGmWvpCPuRdbWFUJp3xWIrbkEX7xiOmI8N6w1rbeUS3YAD-S1/s400/Image-9722610-174844123-2-WebLarge_0_d0449bec3775378c1bab46db508b89b5_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">(Click to Enlarge)</span>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.thecastlepost.com/">Castle Post, Lexington, KY</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Many of you will remember "The Castle" on Hwy 60 (Versailles Road) as you enter the west side of Lexington, KY. I am sure many have also wondered what the castle looked like inside. Recently, Carolyn and I were invited by our long time friends Bub & Joann Gamble of Versailles, to attend the Castle Christmas Charity Open House. The Castle Post is a privately owned, exclusive hotel most of the year, and is only open for public viewing the first weekend of December, as a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">benefit</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">charity for the Salvation Army. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Castle sat empty for many years, unfinished, and was eventually purchased and completely renovated by Tom Post, a Miami attorney who graduated from the University of Kentucky. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Carolyn and I found touring Castle Post a truly unique experience and we invite you to enjoy it also.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A special "thank you" to Bub and Joann for a great day with good friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We suggest clicking on "Slideshow and Full Screen". Also, be sure your sound is on. </span></div>
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<a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/5862706"><span style="font-size: large;">Castle Post, Lexington, KY</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;">“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveller only who is foreign.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~</span></blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-44437184182059187042012-11-15T05:46:00.002-06:002013-08-29T05:05:12.177-05:00Sarasota, Tampa, Pensacola ....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ljGO1gLEjqQ/UKQ3wT8N6tI/AAAAAAAATik/FElne7XGeFA/s1600/541143_4629409098341_2056271907_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ljGO1gLEjqQ/UKQ3wT8N6tI/AAAAAAAATik/FElne7XGeFA/s400/541143_4629409098341_2056271907_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">(Click to Enlarge)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/109423954367311871834/112012Florida#slideshow/5810830429509241314">Pictures from our recent Florida Trip</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">^ Click Here ^</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;">“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” ~ Mark Twain ~</span></blockquote>
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.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-72363120634275968672012-10-26T19:26:00.000-05:002013-01-05T06:43:41.187-06:00Outer Banks, NC <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Picasa Web Album <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/109423954367311871834/OuterBanksNCOct2012#slideshow/5803745724567392530">Here</a></div>
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Click Pictures to Enlarge</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-epzjFSH5vbk/UIsL_KeIERI/AAAAAAAATTs/Oj8mI7Upx00/s1600/IMG_4044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-epzjFSH5vbk/UIsL_KeIERI/AAAAAAAATTs/Oj8mI7Upx00/s320/IMG_4044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mike Blevins at The New River Gorge, WV</div>
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Kevin Pugh at The New River Gorge, WV</div>
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Kevin Pugh at The New River Gorge, WV</div>
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The New River Gorge, WV</div>
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Mike Blevins at The New River Gorge Bridge, WV.</div>
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Kevin Pugh at The New River Gorge Bridge, WV</div>
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The southern entrance to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel</div>
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A US Navy Ship passes over The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel</div>
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Kevin Pugh watches a US Navy ship pass over The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.</div>
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The bridge-tunnel crosses at the mouth of The Chesapeake Bay.</div>
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We had a sunrise breakfast at the Sea Gull Pier Restaurant, located three mile out, on the bridge.</div>
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A quick stop at the Visitor Center at Currituck, NC.</div>
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The Bodie Island Lighthouse, currently under renovation.</div>
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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse</div>
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On the short ferry crossing to Ocracoke Island.</div>
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One of the beautiful Ocracoke Island Beaches.</div>
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Ocracoke Island Light Station</div>
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A fisherman seining bait fish at the entrance to Ocracoke Island Harbor.</div>
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<a href="http://theanchorageinn.com/">The Anchorage Inn</a>, Ocracoke Island, NC</div>
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The bikes loaded on the ferry to Cedar Island on the mainland. </div>
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Adios Ocracoke Island and The Outer Banks</div>
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Virginia's own, Chesapeake Wine - Blue Crab Red</div>
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We had beautiful weather for the entire 2,100 mile trip. I left Kevin near Gatlinburg, TN where he met his wife and Sunday school class.<br />
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My weather good fortune came to an abrupt end near Nashville where it started to rain, hard, and the temps quickly dropped 17 degrees (60 to 43) before I made it home to Paducah. Ah well, rain is almost always a part of any good ride!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #464646; line-height: 22px;"> “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” ~</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: grey; font: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">George Eliot~</em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: grey; font: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday." ~Unknown~</span><br />
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.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-73227679705877346612012-06-18T05:37:00.002-05:002013-10-15T11:29:23.570-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><i>Ride Smart!</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tLSRI_Z_SehWTUTxyrMO0kDqfoYSz72r4VVNcn1q0-u8CUbLCKGyMoA-y2HVSXogkjfqcw2cDg61nebEKgRV2VZJot9Jo583W_8UvhodbYMI65YpUvbBFQwKRRGD-G81ktFc/s1600/AGATT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tLSRI_Z_SehWTUTxyrMO0kDqfoYSz72r4VVNcn1q0-u8CUbLCKGyMoA-y2HVSXogkjfqcw2cDg61nebEKgRV2VZJot9Jo583W_8UvhodbYMI65YpUvbBFQwKRRGD-G81ktFc/s320/AGATT.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">AGATT- All the Gear, All The Time</span></i></b><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;">Determination and Open Mindedness Will Allow You to Have Experiences </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;">Far Beyond Your Expectations ...... Age Does Not Matter ~Unknown~</span></blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-64494801154747540602012-04-05T05:29:00.001-05:002016-11-18T18:10:47.612-06:00Toes in the Water blog: We named the boatAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-75319037366170625002011-10-25T16:53:00.002-05:002013-08-28T05:44:53.291-05:00A Tuscan Adventure!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmhH-IfwbR7w3Ox1I8E2eWyR6LxmnO5P5tf0f3B9TfwZtUPYEjVNCokdK94qju8cllERR9ce9AOURBQSDbTsdsq_FmxATF_AbWaXbg9bU9x1F2PJD66FXN2PpQuN8WIS86U8o/s1600/Vinyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmhH-IfwbR7w3Ox1I8E2eWyR6LxmnO5P5tf0f3B9TfwZtUPYEjVNCokdK94qju8cllERR9ce9AOURBQSDbTsdsq_FmxATF_AbWaXbg9bU9x1F2PJD66FXN2PpQuN8WIS86U8o/s400/Vinyard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Our latest adventure took us to the beautiful hills of Tuscany in northern Italy. We were part of a small tour (16) which included </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Florence</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> and the Tuscan hill towns of Cortona, Radda in Chianti, and Siena. We enjoyed some of the most amazing food and wine, along with the beautiful countryside, the wonderful Italian people and the very best traveling companions. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have made three slide shows from the pictures we took while in Italy. We would love to share them with anyone interested. These slide shows are best viewed in full screen with your sound turned on.</span><br />
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<a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/5306000">Florence, Italy</a> (about 30 mins)
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<a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/5309903">Tuscan Hill Towns - 1</a> (about 15 mins)<br />
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<a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/5312213">Tuscan Hill Towns - 2</a> (about 15 mins)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="bqQuoteLink" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 26px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/gilbertkc100091.html" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="view quote">The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.</a></span><span class="bodybold" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">~ <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/gilbert_k_chesterton.html" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="view author">Gilbert K. Chesterton</a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> ~</span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333300; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21px;">4th of July, 2011 <br />Norfork, Charlottesville, Va. & North Carolina</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333300; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">From Paducah, we headed east to Morehead, KY, where we left the Interstate and drove the scenic Appalachian backroads of Eastern KY and West Virginia. We crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains and continued on to Norfork, VA, where we enjoyed the The Fourth of July Holiday with some good friends from Florida.<br /><br />This trip included Martinsville, Norfork, Richmond, Charlottesville,VA, and Charlotte, NC. Along the way, side trips were made to various historical sites, as well as Mt Mitchell and Grandfather Mountain in The Blue Ridge Mountains and a two-lane Kentucky back road adventure home. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333300; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333300; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">This slide show is best viewed on full screen with the sound on.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333300; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://mikeblevins.phanfare.com/5327280">Norfork, Charlottesville, Va. & North Carolina</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="bqQuoteLink" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 26px; text-align: left;">"<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/aldoushuxl108145.html" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="view quote">To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries."</a></span><span class="bodybold" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">~ <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/aldous_huxley.html" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="view author">Aldous Huxley</a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> ~</span></span></blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-23631832129575093912011-06-22T20:04:00.001-05:002011-06-22T20:04:23.489-05:00Why Do I Travel?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Excerpts from a poem written by NYC sculptor, Sana† Musama.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It is on the road that my inner voice speaks the loudest and my heart beats the strongest.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It is on the road that I take extra pride in my wooly hair, full features and lineage.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It is on the road that I develop extra senses and the hairs on my arms stand up and say "Sana, don't go there", and I listen.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Its when I safety pin my money to my underclothes and count it a million times before I go to sleep,</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It is on the road that I am a poet, an ambassador, a dancer, medicine woman, an angel and even a genius.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Its on the road that I am fearless and unstoppable and if necessary ball up my fist and fight back.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It is on the road that I talk to my deceased parents and they speak back</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Its on the road that I reprimand myself, and set new goals, refuel stop and begin again.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It is on the road that I experience what freedom truly is.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It is my travel that has transformed me making me a citizen of the world. When my humanness, compassion and affection are raised to a new level and I share unconditionally.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-12433905069239887032011-06-15T19:14:00.003-05:002011-07-10T21:05:35.230-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">"There's a race of men that don't fit in,</span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">A race that can't sit still;</span></span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">So they break the hearts of kith and kin,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> </span></span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">And they roam the world at will.</span></span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">They range the field and rove the flood,</span></span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">...And they climb the mountain's crest;<br /><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Their's is the curse of the gypsy blood,<br /><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And they don't know how to rest."<br /><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~ Robert W. Service ~</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354180.post-89946303897709281642011-05-02T10:40:00.002-05:002011-05-02T14:26:20.176-05:00Enough Said about bin Laden<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">I've never killed a man, but I've read many an obituary with a great </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">deal of satisfaction. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">~<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;">Clarence Darrow</span>~</span></span></blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05769031056188665377noreply@blogger.com0