https://seasonedvagabond.com/blog daily 0.75 2022-05-06 https://seasonedvagabond.com/blog/austintraffic monthly 0.5 2022-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/4cae432b-4793-4f7b-865c-1f16e1d8667c/Austin+Traffic+by+William+Tecku.jpg Blog - Austin Traffic - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://seasonedvagabond.com/blog/aliveandkickin monthly 0.5 2022-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/8b511127-ca97-494f-a15b-91ef9933d0c4/ALIVE+and+Kicking.jpg Blog - Alive and Kickin’ - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://seasonedvagabond.com/about daily 0.75 2019-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1572539639730-MONS007MA1Q2BRKFPZ07/image-asset.jpeg About “Not all who wander are lost.” J.R.R Tolkien Over 40 years of publishing stories and photographs has taught seasoned vagabond, Jim Umhoefer that where you go is not as important as how you experience the moments along the way. In short, the journey is truly more valuable than the destination. Travel stories are meant to be shared. As the Seasoned Vagabond, we share tips and tidbits about travel as well as hear about yours. We’ll discuss traveling with kids, camping, resorts, tours, photography, planning a trip and coming back home. We’ll laugh at our misadventures and contemplate the beauty and insights into which we’ve wandered. Jim Umhoefer is a freelance travel/outdoor writer and photographer from Sauk Centre, Minnesota. He has written over 350 travel and outdoor articles for newspapers and magazines, including the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Denver Post, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Better Homes and Gardens, Country Magazine, Home and Away, Snow Country, The World & I, Odyssey and others. In addition, over 3,500 of his photos have been published in regional, national and international markets, including text books, calendars and posters. https://seasonedvagabond.com/home daily 1.0 2023-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574393596484-0ZREB30ULB55X3AVXCJI/header+2.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574393669502-XIUAHN0SVIM0QO2SBV6D/header+3.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1605663708569-B81C3RZESXY4Q5OOB3L9/1Dashboard+view+of+the+Jose+Miguel+Gomez+Monument+in+Havana..jpg Home - Booking a trip? Submit a story to be published on Seasoned Vagabond & Co! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574393802648-XCQSXTK22H7H6D9PUF5R/header+4.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581480197920-AOA9X05XEQ142BB9CYVE/xIMG_0757.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574274528006-AHGJVAA4COH6OH97Z00G/5.+John+Latsch+State+Park--MN+%283%29.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574272127015-91EHBAJJO97BN4BJNMSX/Icon.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574393871469-1IHGO8P3S23SK8QG2LDW/header+5.png Home https://seasonedvagabond.com/rome daily 0.75 2019-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574096520733-O4MWCSMLY6IVHTAVXKAJ/1.+IMG_0125.JPG Rome - Our group of six friends soon found out on arrival in Rome last May that it would take more than one brief visit to understand it. Yet we didn’t travel to Rome to study it. We came for fun. Architecture, monuments, art, culture and history come alive here. Of course, cozy cafes with outdoor seating, good food and wine also animated our group. As glorious as Rome is under sunny skies, it was the Vespa sidecar tour at night that spawned the distinct experience of our stay. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574096814518-NFWMIR5CPW4HSEELVVIN/5.+Piazza+del+Quirinale.JPG Rome - THE TOUR As we navigated thoroughfares, side streets and alleys, the Vespas continued to attract smiles and waves. Luca led our caravan to Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, People’s Square, St. Peter’s Square, the Pantheon and Colosseum, among other landmarks. We wove through narrow lanes lined with cafes, bars and restaurants. Morning Vespa tours include a breakfast stop with cappuccino and cornetto, an Italian pastry. Afternoon tours feature a tasty stop for gelato, an Italian frozen dessert. For our night-time tour, we enjoyed the atmosphere of a wine bar. We learned snippets of Roman history, art and architecture on our guided tour. Luca was also free with his commentaries on Roman and Italian politics. Regarding Roman traffic, he said it’s lighter at night and heavy in the morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574096905863-9UIWE49TYSBK4W2FB4GH/10.+IMG_0258.JPG Rome - “Well dressed drivers on their way to work repeat every bad word you can think of!” he joked. Night time vehicle traffic might be less hectic, but we found the street life more vibrant under the lights. We made several stops for photos and to admire vistas of the Eternal City at night. As grand as the bird’s eye view of the city from the crest of Gianicolo Hill was, for example, it was the pulse of people on the streets, pausing to window shop or lingering over wine and pasta at an outdoor cafe that made life in Rome both real and immediate. That, and of course the wind in our face as we rolled through one of the world’s most loved and visited cities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574096644351-9OQU3TSDORAEVPZ82CU3/2.+IMG_0157.JPG Rome - THE PLAN Our group likes to plan ahead. Before heading to Rome, we gathered at our house in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to research potential tours, attractions and activities while in the “capital of the world.” We booked tours of the Vatican, Colosseum and the usual famous highlights. We studied maps for our exploration hikes as well as for bus routes. While doing web searches, we stumbled upon the Vespa side car tours. Though the tour guide advertises morning and afternoon rides, we asked if it was possible to book an evening ride. No problem. THE VESPAS Sleek and shiny, the three Vespas were waiting for us at the Piazza della Repubblica as we stepped out of our shuttle van. Luca, the owner, greeted us and introduced his two other drivers for the evening. As the setting sun bathed the piazza in a warm glow, Luca gave us an orientation to the Vespas and the tour. He suggested that the women could ride in the side cars for comfort, if they wished. The guys would sit behind the drivers. The early May evening was cool, so we came prepared with warm jackets. Luca handed out helmets with disposable head covers. Once on, he tested the in-helmet speaker system that allowed each of us to hear his narration during the tour. His first message was that our usual speed would be less than 25 miles per hour. That gave us a chance to snap some quick shots while tooling past city highlights. Then we climbed aboard while a phalanx of onlookers admired the Vespas, taking photos of the unique side cars. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574097341730-UGHSMWH4KLJZSADF8DXY/3.+IMG_0148.JPG Rome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574097343375-LG08TND5D50U5MP67VPO/4.+IMG_0130.JPG Rome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574097343515-8I27E6QS1UTJZ20455S5/6.+Trevi+Fountain.JPG Rome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574097343900-HQDBAI00QAHXHZCKNTZL/7.+IMG_250.JPG Rome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574097342228-XEAOPB1Z08PUHRBB6ZH2/10.+IMG_0258.JPG Rome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574097344517-DO3V7S1X1J0UJVFD96R1/13.+IMG_0321.JPG Rome https://seasonedvagabond.com/sedona daily 0.75 2019-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574276977433-MLBQHKLYR5EFZYLZWSR3/Slide+Rock+State+Park.jpg Sedona - To my family, lingering at an overlook under the moon and stars didn’t make sense. An evening in the hotel pool followed by an in-room movie was more their style. Therein lies the seduction of Sedona. “If you can’t find what you like here,” a local saying goes, “then you haven’t made up your mind what you want.” The striking red rock country circling Sedona has lured people for centuries. Guarded by the Mogollon Rim and surrounded by fanciful spires of red sandstone, Sedona is a serene, inspiring marriage of mountains and desert. To the Anasazi Indians who settled here around 1000 A.D., this was sacred ground. To the scores of resident painters, writers, sculptors and other artists, Sedona is a magnet of regeneration and creativity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574276649395-MSSARO6TS8QZ09Y5T1BL/Mountain+biking+near+Bell+Rock.jpg Sedona When we wanted to escape the t-shirt shops and downtown hubbub, we simply drove out of town. Sedona is surrounded by the 1.8 million-acre Coconino National Forest and over 300 miles of trails. An early morning hike in the Munds Mountain Wilderness, just southeast of Sedona, was a family favorite. We scrambled through junipers and prickly pear below crimson rock spires. To the west, a fading full moon slipped to the horizon while the rising sun ignited the formations towering like sentinels above the town. The spires and buttes have acquired names that reflect their shape: Bell, Coffee Pot, Snoopy, Submarine, Elephant. You can visit them on foot, two wheels, four wheels, horseback, hot-air balloon or helicopter. Hollywood has taken note of the area’s scenic grandeur, too. More than 90 westerns have been filmed around Sedona and the red rock country. Movie stars such as John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda and Robert DeNiro rode horseback through the same scenery as did our family. While riding horses was a gentle way to be part of the landscape, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574276949933-FD7KN62AG7Q59HJI0VS9/Downtown+Sedona+at+dusk.JPG Sedona - Culturally, Sedona is as diverse as the people it attracts. Festivals abound, focusing on art, crafts, film, photography, music and more. Stir in an eclectic mix of special events, including running, yoga, history, nutrition, health and entertainment, and you’ll find a fun menu of activities year-round. All of this reflects the potpourri of people who play and live here. There is a delightful melange of cowboys, artists, psychics, past-life acupuncturists, retirees and nature lovers who call the place home. The 10,000 plus residents welcome over 3 million visitors each year who come for the natural beauty as well as for the art galleries and spas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574276496117-YGAC68X34NSTPAV88L00/Horeseback+Riding.jpg Sedona - mountain bike riding the next day was all action. Though more extreme trails exist, our family enjoyed the network of easy to moderate trails that skirted the base of Bell Rock and Court House Rock. We also experienced the back country on a jeep tour. Guides focus on geology, history or spirituality, depending on visitor taste. Our guide (from Pink Jeep Tours on our latest visit) had a background in geology, writing and counseling. He was happy to tailor his comments to our interests while bumping over boulders on the steep trails. When asked for his take on the vortex scene, he was tactful and articulate. “You get what you need. For some, it’s the chance to be close to amazing natural beauty. For others, it’s a thirst to find a spiritual home—a willingness to be available for whatever lesson comes their way. Few leave without being inspired.” On both of our Sedona visits, we treated ourselves to a drive up Oak Creek Canyon toward Flagstaff on Arizona Highway 89A. On the first excursion, two middle school children in tow, we pulled into Slide Rock State Park. The park preserves the Pendley Homestead, a 43-acre historic apple farm. Though the homestead held our kids’ interest for maybe 5 minutes, their goal was the famous Slide Rock. Slide Rock is a stretch of of slippery creek bottom that serves as a natural water slide. We had a grand time running the rocky chute on our bottoms. That was then. When my wife and I drove this curvy, climbing route last year minus kids, we were content to vicariously enjoy the antics of other families splashing and sliding in Oak Creek. Looking back on both Sedona jaunts, the land and how we related to it were all that really mattered. We’re still not sure if the vortexes are real or not. We definitely left Sedona both relaxed and revitalize. And that was enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574276592143-7FQKKOHPD8T5GHIB3WM5/Cathedral+Rock+at+sunset.jpg Sedona Besides its pervasive physical beauty, Sedona enjoys a reputation as a place where energy emanates from special sites called “vortexes.” The writer Page Bryant first used the term “vortex” in 1980 to describe Sedona’s four renowned energy sites: Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Airport Mesa and Boynton Canyon. These vortexes are spiritual, magical, extraterrestrial, geological or just plain fictional—depending on who offers the description. Whether it’s a spiritual phenomenon or just some outlandishly beautiful scenery, Sedona has a strong pull for seekers of many sorts. In other words, Sedona can be appreciated for its physical beauty alone. You could also appreciate the area for the mental stimulation to be had when so many artisans and intellectuals gather in one spot. Then there is the distinct possibility of emotional revitalization and relaxation as a result of time spent here. And, for some, there is an elevated awareness or a spiritual shift in values experienced amidst the red rocks. However your choose to experience Sedona is the right way. For our family, this meant getting outdoors. We hiked, biked, rode horses and took a jeep tour in the back country. For others, there’s plenty to do at the luxurious resorts, upscale shops and golf courses. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574277117797-YWMAWNHBF6C9571SCPB3/Arizona+Hwy.+89A+north+of+Sedona.JPG Sedona https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574277117666-7VI1Z7TX8MZQVF4BEZG7/Backcountry+driving+northwest+of+Sedona.JPG Sedona https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574277118435-GY18W8ND866RJZPLJI8B/Hiker+crossing+Oak+Creek+north+of+Sedona.JPG Sedona https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574277118434-5ZZCUJGJD89ES777SD81/Jeep+tour+guide+discussing+ruins+of+the+ancient+Southern+Sinagua+people.JPG Sedona https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574277117320-AIYYO74JJ7WQZL1HFPX4/Moonlight+over+Sedona%27s+famous+red+rock+formations.JPG Sedona https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574277118134-GLDKJ1VNXV1DY1Y568W6/Oak+Creek+Canyon+swimmers.JPG Sedona https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574277118891-GEUBH6PI0EPRE24YCYDM/Pictographs+observed+during+a+jeep+tour+of+Sedona%27s+backcountry.JPG Sedona https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574277118778-9DTVJ8O8H4LEW52H0PTM/Pnk+Jeep+tour+in+Sedona%27s+backcountry.JPG Sedona https://seasonedvagabond.com/midwestroadtrip daily 0.75 2019-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574277955004-FSJ512G46JRL5HVFX9SB/2.+Young+Mississippi+River--Bemidji%2C+MN.JPG Midwest Roadtrip - Like the river in Siddhartha, the Mississippi River flows on, yet is always there. It seems the same, yet is ever changing. How can the boisterous brook in Minnesota’s Itasca State Park be the same broad-shouldered river that powers past Wabasha and La Crosse? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574278089204-BUJ6Q5WDL9JNZQ7G3R8U/6.+Wisconsin+Great+River+Road-Hwy+35.jpg Midwest Roadtrip - Lucky for road ramblers, there’s a network of highways and byways that lets you get close and personal with the Father of Waters. The Great River Road (GRR) was established in 1938 as the national parkway of the Mississippi River. If you were to take in the whole route, you’d put on 3,000 miles through 10 states. Just follow the distinctive green Pilot’s Wheel road signs from Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. If that seems a bit long for a weekend jaunt, try the Minnesota and Wisconsin segments of the Great River Road. In the Gopher State, that means about 565 miles of river rambling and about 250 miles in Wisconsin. Minnesota’s Great River Road has two components: the federally designated National Route (marked by the pilot’s wheel symbol on the Minnesota state highway map) and a state designated alternate route. Except for two northern road links to Ontario and Manitoba (through International Falls and Warroad), the Great River Road network generally traces the course of the Mississippi River through the state to the Iowa border. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574278022124-N224JYJE46I0EV4FBGFN/10.+Perrot+State+Park--WI+%282%29.JPG Midwest Roadtrip - One of my family’s favorite hikes is to the crest of Brady’s Bluff in Perrot State Park, near Trempealeau, Wisconsin. The upper Mississippi River attracts over 60% of all the bird species in North America. You’ll be able to spot eagles and hawks gliding in the updrafts. At this height, GRR traffic on the Minnesota side looks like ants. Though the vistas offer grandeur, the river towns like Maiden Rock, Pepin and Ferryville give the road its character. You might even chance upon a storyteller like Kenny Salwey, a self-proclaimed “river rat” from Alma who likes to say that he “cut his teeth on a canoe paddle and seasoned it with Mississippi mud.” A journey on the Great River Road is about taking time, not making it. The highway, like the river it traces, keeps its own appointed rhythms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574278153418-F6QBFKYNTFVMUD3XNYPH/9.+Perrot+State+Park--WI.JPG Midwest Roadtrip - The fun part for motorists and bicyclists is that you can catch the GRR at any point and discover something new about the river, its towns and the state. Our family always enjoys wading across the infant stream at Itasca State Park or gazing over the vast river valley from a lofty perch like that at John A. Latsch State Park on Hwy. 61 between Wabasha and Winona. Of the two states, Minnesota’s GRR offers a greater range of river experience. You can trace the Mississippi from its humble headwaters through wilderness and pine-studded lake country to rolling farmland, the Twin Cities and on to the soaring bluffs and backwaters below Hastings. Over on the Cheesehead side of the river, the GRR is a ribbon of adventure that hugs the banks of the Mississippi River as it forms Wisconsin’s western border. Along the way, the road (Hwy. 35) nestles between the river on one side and towering headlands on the other. This portion of the GRR is one of the most scenic drives in mid-America. As majestic as the route is, it only comes alive when you get out of your car. You can enjoy both close-up and bird’s-eye vistas of the grand river valley from numerous pullouts, picnic areas, overlooks and parks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574278209736-N066K6RGMBRUJX9NYX1O/1.+Itasca+State+Park--MN.JPG Midwest Roadtrip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574278209549-ZCQPAP5R4WWTIO8KSBC5/2.+Young+Mississippi+River--Bemidji%2C+MN.JPG Midwest Roadtrip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574278209738-3SJKCOBNFYKBWNYF02CM/3.+Red+Wing--MN.JPG Midwest Roadtrip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574278209204-8FS729WLME6J03A1LH5H/4.+John+Latsch+State+Park--MN.JPG Midwest Roadtrip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574278209153-LV6JUR85K3G78EUIKGT7/5.+John+Latsch+State+Park--MN+%283%29.JPG Midwest Roadtrip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574278209505-2CPEKIDW0A2RUZAV7NPW/7.+North+of+Alma%2C+WI.jpg Midwest Roadtrip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574278210280-3YLW6G93RBY5GS06Z94G/8.+Pepin%2C+WI.JPG Midwest Roadtrip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1574278210446-TZBIBJH53I84EB3NYJ7O/11.+Villa+Louis--Prairie+du+Chien%2C+WI.JPG Midwest Roadtrip https://seasonedvagabond.com/on-top-of-the-world daily 0.75 2020-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581468894902-8PHO9HVH1WZLN1U3V2KB/IMG_0655.jpg On Top Of The World - Overhead, the broad sky was sunny and dappled with fleecy clouds. Yet the weather changes fast in the mountains, and our rental lookout tower was in the path of a swift-moving lightning storm. In the midst of high winds, lightning and thunder that shook the tower and pelting rain that erased the grand vistas of the Bitterroots and the St. Regis River drainage, we were safe inside our cozy refuge. The show was intense, but short-lived. While it still spit and blew overhead, we caught glimpses of clear sky to the west. Soon the storm churned past and the sun warmed our refuge. On the east catwalk, rainbows arched over the mountains now in the path of the storm. Up Up Lookout (elevation 5900 feet) is a 40’ tall treated timber tower perched on a scenic rock pinnacle. Built in 1966, it replaced a 1930s tower. Constructed on an exposed peak in order to scout for fire, Up Up is designed to withstand staggering winds and direct lightning blows. Lightning rods and grounding cables protect the lonely sentinels. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581470571072-EVRHP4JKUYPS3QSHCGDW/xIMG_0761.JPG On Top Of The World - Weather can be fickle in the mountains. We prepare for cold and heat, sun and rain (or snow). Some lookout rentals have two single beds, some have one. The lookouts can sleep up to four people, so guests should bring additional sleeping pads or cots as needed in each unit. We always pack sleeping bags, pillows and mattress pads on our outings. Up Up has a campfire ring and a picnic table nestled in the trees at the base of the lookout, but this also varies among rental lookouts. We consider our rental lookout adventures to be “camping with a roof over our heads.” Since we don’t know exactly what supplies, if any, are in a particular lookout, we are self-sufficient. We pack out what we pack in, as is requested at all back country hideaways. Bathrooms are sturdy outhouses, to which we bring toilet paper, just in case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581470084103-9ZCNV21ULKC0AQGSHMZD/IMG_0726.JPG On Top Of The World - WHAT TO EXPECT Up Up Lookout, like other rentals, is remote. Road access can be steep and rutted in spots, with abrupt drop-offs and no guard rails. Count on slow drives on narrow, primitive roads. You won’t need a four-wheel drive vehicle to navigate these roads, but your vehicle should be high clearance. Some lookouts have no road access, requiring backpacking or horsepacking your gear. Amenities are sparse and vary among rental units. There are no cooking facilities, refrigeration or electrical service available. You will need to bring water for drinking, cooking and cleaning, as well as cooking equipment and fuel. Cots, bedding, towels, soap, cooking and eating utensils, matches, toilet paper and garbage bags are not provided. Up Up Lookout has propane lights and a heater, though we always bring our own lanterns. Propane heaters make for a warm space, but may not be provided in all units. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581469140504-D8M37NTQBUF1BW7Q541Q/IMG_0727.JPG On Top Of The World - WHY WE DO IT So why have Phil, my photography business partner, and I exposed ourselves to such raw displays of nature’s power? Because after renting over 30 fire lookouts over the past 25 years, we are addicted. Each lookout has its own charm and story. We’ve watched from above as bear, elk and deer forage at the base of the lookouts. We’ve looked owls and hawks in the eye. On clear nights on a fire tower, the stars seem to graze the cabin roof. If we’re lucky, the primal glow of northern lights paint a living canvas that stretches overhead. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581469974568-U920FAU37T1IS7LZXIAO/IMG_0757.JPG On Top Of The World Even a sliver of waning moon casts distinct shadows through the windows. The silence, at first overwhelming, doesn’t really exist. Wind and wildlife take over from vehicles and voices. From snow to rain and early dawns to speechless sunsets, renting a lookout offers a new vista in every direction. And, if you tire of the view from one direction, just choose a different panorama. The rental lookouts are usually 15-foot by 15-foot cabins circled by a catwalk. Most were built or remodeled in the 1960s to house fire watchers, with windows surrounding the cabins. Counting the steps carved into the rock pinnacle and the three flights of steep stairs on the lookout itself, it took over 60 steps to reach the catwalk atop Up Up. Other lookouts are perched just off the ground on bald peaks. The views are always spectacular and vast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581471058437-6IB733678JGYHJNPDVW7/xIMG_0713.JPG On Top Of The World - Those that come to these isolated aeries are grateful for the experience, judging by entries in the log books provided. We have always found the lookouts to be clean and neat on our arrival, and we make sure to leave it in good condition for the next lucky renters. Phil and I like to explore the mountain country surrounding the lookouts. At Up Up, for example, the Ridge Trail winds into the beautiful Ward and Eagle peaks roadless area, climbing to some scenic alpine lakes and connecting to other national forest paths. Photography, wildlife viewing, berry picking and even fishing provide great temptations to explore. The trail meanders all the way to the Idaho state line, near Ward Peak. To us, two adult kids, whatever the wear and tear on on truck or body it takes to reach these lofty refuges is worth it. If only we can continue to convince our wives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581469417614-ZXIAYH929FBTN8IVGAR9/IMG_0717.JPG On Top Of The World - I wrote the following ditty in Up Up Lookout’s log book last summer, attempting to put in verse why it’s worth spending time on top of the world: ODE to UP UP LOOKOUT by Jim Umhoefer The day was fair when we reached Up Up A lofty home to enjoy our sup! Though hauling gear made us two sore pups, We were certain to enjoy our cups! O’er 30 lookouts we’ve loved to share; We’ve seen pack rats and we’ve seen some bears. Though lightning strikes bristle our neck hair, Life in the sky means we have no cares! Some come to rest with good books to read. Some come for fun, bringing wine indeed! Some come to pause, searching souls to feed-- Yet we all come here, getting what we need! Up Up cares not ‘bout what goals we chase, The gains or loss in the worldly race. So see, feel and act with a slower pace; ‘Tis why this lookout’s such a special place! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581470404774-K0W1DERF2669UAKVIT5O/IMG_0768.JPG On Top Of The World https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581470407974-J2RLE5P855T7RE4ZRA11/IMG_0741.JPG On Top Of The World https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581470409704-A8MN1PZIXYKP82IEFX5K/IMG_0695.JPG On Top Of The World https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581470413041-JGUNWAORA1LNSRCO9TEC/IMG_0779.JPG On Top Of The World https://seasonedvagabond.com/saigon daily 0.75 2020-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581475807842-5MU7GS6QTNK26OO2TE7C/IMG_0246.jpg Saigon - “Does anyone have the right of way in Saigon, or do you just go?” asked a woman from our tour group while the bus navigated through surges of motorbikes and pedestrians. Luc, our genuine and amiable Vietnamese guide answered “You just go. Whoever goes first has the right of way!” He was our escort and companion on a 12-day tour of Vietnam, greeting us in Hanoi and saying farewell to us at the airport in Saigon. Though we experienced stunning vistas of Vietnam’s mountains, seascapes and countryside, three days in the country’s largest city was a symphony of sights, sounds, tastes and smells. About 10 million people populate Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Motorbikes are everywhere, swarming like gnats and buzzing like bees. There are about 7.5 million registered motorbikes in Saigon, though 8.5 million cram the streets each day from the city and surrounding area. Horns are the music of the streets. People beep constantly, not so much in anger, as in a warning: “Look out--I’m near!” Everyone seems to cut someone else off as they nudge ahead on packed thoroughfares. We had ample opportunities to experience Saigon on foot, browsing the shops, tasting pho (a type of Vietnamese soup) at local restaurants or lingering on a corner to witness the waves of humanity flowing by. Yet the bus provided a chance to catch snippets of city life while on the move or paused at a signal light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581475957538-7H01482SARUTCI5RWN9X/IMG_0190.jpg Saigon - From our seats perched above the street, the glimpses of Saigon through the bus windows were spiced with Luc’s narratives and answers to our child-like questions. Upon seeing bundle-laden pedestrians crossing bustling avenues flooded with motorbikes, buses and cars, someone asked Luc, “How do you cross the street safely here?” “You start at a curve or light where vehicles must slow down. Then step out and keep moving steadily forward. Don’t stop. Don’t run. Don’t back up!” And, upon seeing traffic piled up for blocks, Luc said “One of Saigon’s specialties is the traffic jam. Some motorcycle drivers think that red lights are just a suggestion!” In the morning, people gathered for coffee along the streets. One man napped on his motorbike, while another, barefoot, lounged on his, sipping coffee and reading a paper. Meanwhile, the ubiquitous motorbikes ooze, sift and creep through the masses, sometimes riding on sidewalks to gain space, often running red lights or squeezing between our bus and the cars in the next lane. Some carry crates, animals or heavy loads. One carried a family of five. Well-dressed women sit sidesaddle behind a driver, maybe on their phones or with their hands serenely resting on their lap in the midst of morning traffic. Though the pulse of Saigon is best felt on the street, observing its rhythms from the bus window put the heartbeat of the city in perspective. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476229074-4JYHP6U3H02HITYQLH9K/IMG_0153.jpg Saigon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476276967-3ACSCAD211Q5NSF4IEZA/IMG_0206.jpg Saigon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476242280-MRTHF2ZYM50E2RWXJ4ZF/IMG_0223.jpg Saigon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476220895-3FR39DSYUG72IKCLPZ5H/IMG_0226.jpg Saigon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476243216-XLRKZG02UOYHSEKXY256/IMG_0245.jpg Saigon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476300752-0ONF3GN6IYI5FSSWTMSV/IMG_0250.jpg Saigon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476314707-PEX74EN8VJY73N12FLBA/IMG_0267.jpg Saigon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476330720-X0EU29RFMZ8OE98S662V/IMG_0277.jpg Saigon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476317224-X1WK34O9S9SPH8LMUEIW/IMG_0279.jpg Saigon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476348779-25NGF0OFAIRQ2JOJN35N/IMG_0701.jpg Saigon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476351841-QBZ5KCPHO6733FFOVLD8/IMG_0706.jpg Saigon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1581476374747-N6VPB84QHPL565BB57G0/WAR+REMNANTS+MUSEUM.jpg Saigon https://seasonedvagabond.com/lake-carlos-state-park-mn daily 0.75 2020-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1584741986947-HLZ3EY7ZA5JTCWXFFVJ2/IMG_0011+A.jpg Lake Carlos State Park, MN - Moonlight has always embodied mystery. Maybe it’s the surrounding darkness that moonlight fairly dispels. Maybe it’s the changing nature of its light: obscured by drifting clouds, waxing, waning or full throttle. You can bask in moonlight through the bedroom window when the lights are off; catch a glimpse of it between buildings while on foot or in a vehicle. But to experience moonlight in it’s glory, you must be outside and hidden from streetlights. It’s easier on a summer’s night, when the air is mild and the urge to linger is strong. Or perhaps on an aromatic eve in spring, when the moon shines through young leaves. And donning a jacket to witness an early autumn moon rise through the season’s fading light is not such a chore. Yet to be outdoors on a full moon night in the grip of winter requires resolve and planning. Resolve, because, well, it’s winter and it’s colder out than in. Planning, because you need to be comfortable if you wish to spend some time outdoors in the stark light of a winter moon. Which brings us to the rare joy of a candlelight snowshoe hike under the ghostly glow of a full moon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1584742067551-STQ1LRDH49V6CTD7RDKV/IMG_0015+A.jpg Lake Carlos State Park, MN - THE SETTING We live about 40 minutes away from Lake Carlos State Park, located on Lake Carlos, north of Alexandria, Minnesota. Our family and friends have enjoyed this park year-round for its camping, swimming, bike riding, hiking and cross country skiing. The park’s 1,154 acres are a scenic mix of rolling mature hardwood forests and prairie meadows, graced with 1.4 miles of lakeshore and numerous wetlands. Though we prefer cross country skiing in the park during winter, sometimes the trails are too icy or there’s not enough snow. Rather than stay home this year when ski trail conditions weren’t good in early February, we gave snowshoeing a try, finding out that we could rent them in the park. We navigated the 1.2-mile Maple-Basswood Trail loop without too many mishaps. The trail was mostly level, traversing a frozen meadow and then twisting through the hardwood forest. Feeling proud of ourselves, we even made a second loop. While returning the snowshoes, the park manager invited us to return for one of the parks Candlelight events. Free to the public (a vehicle park pass is required), these events are held at a number of Minnesota state parks during winter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1584742255005-YQRKMDL1CEILBFNY69U0/IMG_0008+A.jpg Lake Carlos State Park, MN https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1584742138634-J50YTUEOFS137U0Z41OY/IMG_0018+A.jpg Lake Carlos State Park, MN - THE EVENT Intrigued, we checked the weather forecast, chose layers of clothing to wear, packed a water bottle and drove to Lake Carlos State Park. The sky was cloudy, but occasional glimpses of the full moon teased us on the way. After checking our vehicle pass, a volunteer directed us to the parking lot near the snowshoe trail. We spotted an inviting line of luminaries stretching from the meadow into the woods. The event ran from 6-9 pm on a Saturday evening. And, though not balmy, the winter night was pleasant with little wind. But no moonlight was visible yet through the blanket of night-time clouds. The parking lot was busy and we greeted families, couples and single adventurers of all ages. Volunteers helped people attach snowshoes to boots, while other volunteers made sure that everyone started out the right way on the one-way loop. My wife and I headed out across the meadow, guided by the luminaries spaced along both sides of the trail. Even with cloud cover, it was easy to see the trail and other snowshoers. Just as we were completing the 1.2 mile route, the clouds splintered and the white moon burst through like a spotlight over the park. Silver moonlight bounced off the snow, turning the night into a bright melange of moving shadows, candlelight and a starry vault overhead. Snowshoers paused to gaze at the moon, now dominating the night sky. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1584742284826-B6X5KTTNAQPY3W88IQ1L/IMG_0025+A.jpg Lake Carlos State Park, MN - THE TREAT Now pleasantly tired after almost 2.5 miles of snowshoeing, we followed another trail of luminaries to a warming house with an inviting spread of baked goods, hot cider, water and coffee. A couple of campfires outside attracted small groups lingering under moonlit trees with Lake Carlos stretching into the nighttime distance. Inside, a wood stove warmed the apres-snowshoe gathering. Laughter was the element that bound us together. That, and the shared experience of a wondrous winter’s eve guided by candlelight under a brilliant moon. https://seasonedvagabond.com/great-smoky-mountains-national-park daily 0.75 2020-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1590543061693-5R5JTU8QJO19JL45F4BS/Great+Smoky+Mountains+National+Park--view+of+Gatlinburg.JPG Great Smoky Mountains National Park - When commercial logging threatened the forests, Congress authorized the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1926. The park, established in 1934, is among the first national parks formed partially from private lands. The original charter specified that there would never be an admission charge and that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park would always be protected for the enjoyment of all the people for generations to come. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1590543338549-LQZGBG4SM39KXYM49ITX/Great+Smoky+Mountains+National+Park--Laurel+Falls.JPG Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Each of these sensations add to the visual feast that are the Smokies. Perhaps Kenneth Harris, in his book How to Make a Living as a Painter (Watson-Guptill Publications: New York, 1954) says it best when describing this region: “The mountains are as they always were—alive with dogwood, flame azalea, laurel, and rhododendron in the spring; heavy with the lush green of deep forest in the summer, or hazy with the strange blue mist that gives them their name; ablaze with color through the long Indian summer that comes in October; and white in winter with snow which makes clear the noble and rugged architecture of their ridges and ravines.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1590543706730-U874N25Q6IR3KAAVGUT0/Cades+Cove+Loop--tee+shirt.JPG Great Smoky Mountains National Park - “Meals On Wheels” proclaims a gift shop tee shirt in the Cades Cove Visitor Center. The shirt sports an image of a bear chasing a bicyclist on the famous Cades Cove loop road in the park. Though bear (and deer) sightings are not unusual along the popular 11-mile route, the only “wildlife” we encountered was a cluster of horses behind a fence and some wild turkeys. If you spot some wildlife, find a pullout to let traffic pass before snapping a photo. Traffic can back up quickly without a hint about what attraction lies ahead. You can rent bicycles to navigate the narrow, one-way paved road that circles Cades Cove. Because cars share the road, too, the park designates special bicyclist and pedestrian-only hours on the loop road in summer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1590544551864-9BH6YCFQ8K8OIX7KOAMI/Cades+Cove+campground.JPG Great Smoky Mountains National Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1590544486356-EV2RR6K6MDHBMCHM3BDC/Cades+Cove+Loop--horses.JPG Great Smoky Mountains National Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1590544218491-JLTRNQCJ4W7BKTFOIU3K/Cades+Cove+Loop--Visitor+Center.JPG Great Smoky Mountains National Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1590543496208-ZG93SXOOMSNFZVHF031I/Cades+Cove+Loop--bicycle+sign.JPG Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Like most national parks, you won’t be able to really know Great Smoky Mountains based on a short visit. Choosing which slices to focus on now and which ones to save for another time will make for a more relaxed experience. On a springtime weekend visit, for example, my wife and I chose an iconic drive, some hikes (including an exceptional waterfall trail) and some tourist time in nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge to fill our limited time. Though we hoped to explore more of the park by car, we found out quickly that twisting mountain roads are meant to enjoy at a slower pace. They’ll be other seasons and paths to explore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1590543816824-3ZGCTBVH6STK5PNRTU3J/Cades+Cove+Loop--Missionary+Baptist+Church.JPG Great Smoky Mountains National Park - A “cove,” in Smoky Mountain vernacular, is a relatively flat valley between mountains or ridges. Cades Cove claims its fame from some of the most inspiring natural and cultural treasures that the Southern Appalachian Mountains have to offer. There is a rare blend of wild country and human history here not found in many other national parks. To get the most of your jaunt in the cove, buy an inexpensive tour guide before starting out. Here you’ll find numbered references that match interpretive signs along the route. If you just drive the road, count on two to four hours, depending on seasonal traffic. We planned on more time, parking the car to hike the 5-mile round trip trail to Abrams Falls, for example. We also packed a picnic lunch to enjoy in a peaceful spot along the way. We made it a point to linger at historic structures, like the John Oliver cabin nestled up slope in the woods with a broad vista of the valley and distant mountains to the south. Other historic highlights were the old churches and cemeteries. My favorite was the Missionary Baptist Church with its cemetery, outhouse and views from the trees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1590544113100-BK0MN5YDULXGO80DA9IK/Great+Smoky+Mountains+National+Park--observation+point.JPG Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Laurel Falls Trail Though we took our time on the park roads, stopping at overlooks and walking short distances to bask in the sounds and sights of forest streams, we particularly enjoyed the hike up to Laurel Falls. The trailhead parking area is about four miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center along Little River Road. Laurel Falls is a photogenic 85-foot waterfall. The hike uphill is moderate with some steep drop-offs beside the trail. Plan on at least two hours for the 2.5-mile round trip hike, especially if kids are along. On our spring outing, the leaves hadn’t filled out yet, affording glimpses of mountains through the young leaves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1590544707486-TUBQPURB2XREXTV33W4C/Cades+Cove+Loop--Missionary+Baptist+Church+interior.JPG Great Smoky Mountains National Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1590544686087-OKP2CXH593U8H5N5DKN3/Cades+Cove+Loop--Missionary+Baptist+Church+%281839%29.JPG Great Smoky Mountains National Park https://seasonedvagabond.com/cars-in-cuba daily 0.75 2020-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1605661618360-GSI9539VEDXMQ0QFXD6N/1Rainy+day+drive+in+Havana..jpg Cars of Cuba - Yet it’s the country’s classic cars that snag the imagination, defining Cuba along with its celebrated cigars and images of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. You don’t have to be a car buff to appreciate the parade of autos from the 1940s and 1950s that navigate the island’s streets and highways. Like a time machine, these distinctive American automobiles link past and present. Some shine with polished chrome and lustrous paint jobs. Others are patched with scrap metal, running with salvaged or cobbled-together parts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1605661543168-KUHAU905YM1CWY9TK61D/1A++trio+of+classic+cars+wait+outside+El+Jardin+d+los+Milagros+restaruant+in+Havana..jpg Cars of Cuba - CUBA’S CAR HISTORY About 60,000 classic American cars are on the island. According to the website www.anywhere.com/cuba/travel-guide, about half of these are from the ‘50s and about 25% each from the ‘40s and ‘30s. They were imported from the United States for 50 years or so, beginning in the early 1900s. When the Cuban revolution ended in January of 1959, the U.S government enacted an embargo. Castro, in turn, banned the importation of American cars and the parts to keep them running. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1605661903314-TH13F9AEGFICJMWWF1Z1/1Dashboard+view+of+the+Jose+Miguel+Gomez+Monument+in+Havana..jpg Cars of Cuba - Maylin, our Cuban tour guide, explained that many classic car owners gladly offer their cars and driving services for personalized tours in Havana or around the island. As on our ride from the hotel to the restaurant, owners typically charge a flat hourly rate. In general, rates vary from CUC25-CUC40 (one CUC is roughly the same as one US dollar). Many of the taxis in Cuba are also antique American cars. You will often see lines of these taxis, as well as privately owned cars, in the areas where visitors frequent. In Havana, this means that popular attractions like Old Havana or the area surrounding the National Capitol are good bets to find a ride. Of course, the cars are camera magnets and provide a unique photo op before your driver pulls into traffic for your tour. Our driver was proud of his car and laughed when asked about how hard it was to keep it running. “Very different ways. Some Russian parts. Some Chinese. My friends help me when it needs work. Sometimes it is more time working on it than driving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1605661596394-UOPNTQUUBXXDOSQ8URCA/1At+the+city+square+in+Santa+Clara..jpg Cars of Cuba - That’s how Cuba became a living museum of classic cars. Living is the key word. The old American cars are often kept on the road with parts and pieces for which they were not designed. A mint Chevy Bel Air might be powered by a Soviet diesel engine. Handsome hood ornaments might be crafted from scrap metal. Nostalgic to us, they become Cuban family treasures, passed to the next generation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1605661875705-HAF1XSK5PSCR7PSSVWL0/1Seat+covers+extend+the+interior+%27s+lifespan..jpg Cars of Cuba - THE RIDE After our tour group settled into the Hotel Presidente in Havana and enjoyed cocktails on the veranda, we were treated to a slow ride to El Jardin de los Milagros restaurant in one of these automotive showpieces. Choosing which gleaming car in the lineup to ferry us through the city was almost as difficult as choosing a main course. My wife and I, along with another couple, chose a robin’s-egg blue 1956 Chevy Bel Air with an American flag air freshener that dangled from the rear view mirror. Our driver was friendly and curious about the United States. We didn’t speak Spanish, but his English was serviceable enough to have a simple conversation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1605662074260-8OJD34NAV6MSES9RH70T/1Classic+convertibles+at+the+Jose+Marti+Monument+in+Havana..jpg Cars of Cuba https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1605661986382-YAGV10TAVUVVEZ6NMDT0/1Posing+in+a+classic+convertible+in+front+of+the+Grand+Theater+of+Havana..jpg Cars of Cuba - We cruised past Havana monuments, waving to other smiling riders in other shining cars enjoying a magical evening equally as unforgettable as ours. As the tropical sun nestled near the ocean, our driver kept a leisurely pace along the Malecon, a five-mile long seaside roadway that offers wonderful sunset scenes. The locals and visitors who linger on the seawall in the evening enjoy two treats: the spectacle of the setting sun and the steady flow of the well-preserved throwback cars that add to the color and culture of Cuba. Too soon, it was time to step out of our comely time machines and stroll into the restaurant to get a different taste of our Cuba adventure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1605661643153-LE03DF5K7NYKACC1C08R/1Keeping+these+beautiful+cars+running+takes+engenuity+and+persistance..jpg Cars of Cuba The lack of authentic parts for these eye-catching relics has spawned a creative culture of mechanical magic to keep the beauties running. You might spot an old car on blocks on a side street in Havana with two men bent over the engine or repairing the suspension. Sometimes, these self-taught mechanics lack the right tools as well as the needed parts. A junked Russian car might, for example, be dissected for the benefit of an Oldsmobile or Ford. If a 65-year old American car is no longer serviceable, its remnants live on to keep other such cars on the road. Ingenuity, persistence and necessity, in other words, help to preserve Cuba’s unique car culture. Since 1959, Cuba imported cars such as the boxy Russian-made Lada. Other common cars include Citroens, Nissans or the Chinese Geely. The Cuban government has allowed its citizens to buy and sell cars freely since 2011. Although this has loosened up the car market, new car sales are tightly controlled and very expensive. A Volkswagen might go for $70,000, far beyond the price range for most Cubans who earn about $20 per month. But visitors to Cuba don’t long for a ride in a Lada, Volga, Geely or a coughing, belching beater. They want to see the sights in a vintage Pontiac, Dodge or Buick, not caring about the heritage of its engine or that the Chevy convertible’s vivid color hides some panel work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1605662127560-GS8K3MP1QJM5XUXF0FFT/1Roadside+scene+in+western+Cuba..jpg Cars of Cuba https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1605662100909-RKR90H4Y74XLMRH9X681/1Whether+from+Havana+or+visiting%2C+classic+cars+catch+the+eye..jpg Cars of Cuba https://seasonedvagabond.com/store daily 0.75 2022-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/e914fc84-73d4-4e09-9507-486f2aa18e2b/Dashboard+view+of+the+Jose+Miguel+Gomez+Monument+in+Havana..JPG Store - Make it stand out Dashboard view of the Jose Miguel Gomez Monument in Havana. Copyright Seasoned Vagabond https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1649708959327-GBJGBWESCVZ91O32S658/12.+The+Pantheon.JPG Store - Seasoned Vagabond Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1649708959186-DYXVEHJ8LFGFABDMMJ0C/8.+IMG_0268.JPG Store - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://seasonedvagabond.com/route-66 daily 0.75 2022-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/4e4a5a5b-3759-4256-9a65-b848889f8a41/ximg309.jpg Route 66 - Getting their kicks on Route 66 was not what our 13 and 9 year old kids had in mind as we drove from Hoover Dam to Sedona, Arizona in the fall of 1999. As the family patriarch and primary driver, I thought it was a wonderful plan. We would be passing through Kingman, Arizona where we had a choice. As I phrased it, we could take the dull, boring interstate (I-40). OR, we could strike off on the most legendary road in the country, Route 66! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/c2e2b59e-826a-4d38-bdab-424cb55d4eaf/xDELGADILLO+BROTHERS--Angel%2C+Juan+and+Joe.jpg Route 66 - When it opened to traffic in 1926, Route 66 soon became one of the main cross-country arteries in the newly established U.S. Highway system. It was officially called the Will Rogers Highway and was the country’s first all-weather road. Route 66 became a life line to the small, rural towns along the way in an era when extended road travel was a new concept. The Great Depression of the 1930s spawned a massive migration, as those who wanted to escape the Dust Bowl packed up and left home. Route 66 was the asphalt river that carried migrant families to California, looking for a better life. John Steinbeck coined the term “Mother Road” in reference to Route 66 in his novel, The Grapes of Wrath, which depicted the human struggles of this decade https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/608bc910-93f6-4f32-ab30-be36e93236f6/ximg312.jpg Route 66 America’s Main Street was also immortalized in the 1960s television series, Route 66. The show featured two young men on a cross-country adventure in a Corvette convertible. The postwar decades also launched the construction of new interstate highways, often bypassing the small towns that once relied on two-lane roads for their growth and prosperity. Route 66 was one of the casualties of this trend and was decommissioned in 1985. Today, Route 66 is a romanticized symbol of the lure of the open road and the optimism that thrived in the postwar years. A time in which classic cars handled the road’s twists and turns under expansive skies. When mom-and-pop diners and motels welcomed those who pulled off the road in a small town. A time when the friendly attendant washed your windshield while he pumped gas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/2862eb9d-63f7-416d-a33b-3762d6720d90/ximg306.jpg Route 66 - When World War II ended, Route 66 embodied the country’s postwar economic boom. Thousands of veterans headed west on the highway to start new lives. Vacationing families relied on Route 66 as the fastest way to reach the Grand Canyon and other scenic wonders of the West. Route 66, which connected the Main Streets of the communities along its way, gained a new nickname, “America’s Main Street.” Its fame skyrocketed in popular culture, starting in 1946 with the blues-based song “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66” by Bobby Troupe. The song has enjoyed a following of its own, being sung by artists such as Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry, Bing Crosby, the Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode, Van Morrison and many more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/26391213-ec14-4f95-8d3f-cb49f3e02620/xHACKBERRY.jpg Route 66 - THE “GUARDIAN ANGEL of ROUTE 66” The Mother Road has taken firm root in the psyche of America’s highway culture, benefiting from efforts to preserve its legacy. It is officially recognized as the Route 66 National Historic Trail, part of the National Park Service. Highway signs mark portions of the original road as Historic Route 66 while other sections are part of the National Scenic Byways program. The daunting task of saving Route 66 from being erased by the interstates and time began with a barber and business owner from Seligman, Arizona named Angel Delgadillo. Angel was born in 1927 along Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona. He watched the exodus of the Okies due to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s and the movement of men and material during World War II. He witnessed the road’s rise in popularity in the postwar years and its decline with the opening of I-40 east of Kingman in 1978. When the ribbon was cut on the new interstate, it simultaneously cut off the traffic and economic lifeblood of small towns along the famous, but now retired, Route 66.“It was like the tap was turned off and nobody drove through Seligman anymore,” Angel told me while we chatted in his one-chair barbershop on Historic Route 66 during our 1999 visit. With the loss of traffic and the business that it brought, Angel Delgadillo got busy. He recognized the road’s heritage and fought for its revival. Angel formed the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona in 1987and ultimately convinced officials to designate Route 66 as a historic highway. Eventually, Route 66 Associations were founded in the other states through which the America’s Main Street ran. Angel became an attraction himself as people stopped in his shop and the neighboring Route 66 memorabilia store that he and his wife, Vilma, owned. The barbershop is papered with business cards from visitors from around the world. Angel is mentioned in multiple guide books and websites about Route 66. He paused during our conversation to greet tourists from France and Japan who poked their heads in his shop. John Lasseter interviewed Angel in Seligman while researching Route 66 history for the 2006 Pixar movie, Cars. So it is, then, that the affable Angel became known as “The Guardian Angel of Route 66,” “The Ambassador” and the “Mayor of the Mother Road.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/62323f8c-0e69-4836-b5bc-03d0b688a1c4/xSELIGMAN.jpg Route 66 - OUR FAMILY’S MOTHER ROAD ADVENTURE Meanwhile, I hummed “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” after the left turn onto the Mother Road in Kingman. The late afternoon sun bathed the mountain ranges and sage-covered valleys in a warm glow. The legendary road was right there, singing its highway song under our wheels as it had for legions of other travelers in its heyday. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/87f66e17-34f1-436f-874b-3e2f5568e482/ximg303.jpg Route 66 - SELIGMAN, “THE BIRTHPLACE of HISTORIC ROUTE 66” Just past dusk, we pulled into Seligman and ate a late supper at the famous Copper Cart Restaurant. (The restaurant is now closed but enjoys a new existence as the Copper Cart and Route 66 Motoporium, a gift shop and vehicle museum). During our 1999 excursion, there were no chain motels in Seligman. We chose the Supai Motel which offered clean but simple accommodations. We watched a movie on the cable TV and fell asleep on Route 66. Early the next morning, I ventured into the sunny Seligman dawn to buy breakfast groceries while my family lingered in bed. My real hope was to bask in the atmosphere of the “Birthplace of Historic Route 66” before we drove to Sedona. While exploring Main Street, I passed the Rusty Bolt Gift Shop just as the front door swung open for business. A 1959 pink and white two-door Edsel was parked in front with a waving, stocking-foot female mannequin in a poodle skirt standing by the front grille. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/c7133a33-0651-45da-9bbe-34b53618b80c/xANGEL+DELGADILLO+in+his+barber+shop+in+Seligman.jpg Route 66 https://seasonedvagabond.com/key-west daily 0.75 2022-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/a63bbc56-0709-4e92-b79a-d0e73b2e46ad/12.jpg Key West - Making our way down Duval Street in search of a seafood supper, we passed a street performer reading aloud from Dickens’ “Great Expectations.” The hand-lettered sign at his feet proclaimed “I READ FOR MONEY.” His donation jar held slim pickings, however. Almost two hours later, strolling back to our car, we came upon the same man, reading with fervor but still no prosperity. A couple in front of us slowed to drop a few dollars into his jar. The reader didn’t miss a beat until he paused long enough to notice the folding money, then pumped his fist into the air and yelled “YES!” It was a funny, spontaneous moment for us in a place that epitomizes the laid-back ambiance of the Florida Keys. Island life is, after all, a break from the ordinary. And life in Key West, as we discovered, is anything but ordinary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/bb548f66-711f-4070-8524-f173a009007d/7.jpg Key West - GETTING THERE: THE OVERSEAS HIGHWAY Part of the fun of Key West is getting there. It is literally the end of the road, closer to Havana than Miami. The Florida Keys are a 125-mile long island chain that wraps around the south coast of Florida, pointing into the Gulf of Mexico. The islands, or “keys,” are linked by the scenic Overseas Highway (U.S. Highway 1). Though the towns of Key West and Marathon have airports and car rentals, we have always preferred the charm of driving through the islands. Part of the attraction for us is the notion that time is not so important that we can’t pull over to admire an expanse of turquoise ocean or explore a state park with an inviting beach. The Keys are well-loved and this means that traffic is sometimes slow on the Overseas Highway. But we don’t care. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/dae34363-5f2e-4ac5-ad55-fa537122ccbb/13.jpg Key West - When people speak of the Key West Conch, they could mean the large sea snail that lives in the waters surrounding the Florida Keys. But they are probably referring to a native of Key West. To this day, if you are born in Key West you are a Conch. If you come from someplace else but live in Key West for at least seven years, you become a “fresh water conch.” The Key West high school sports teams are the “Fighting Conchs.” Conchs are also a culinary treat. The meat is edible and you can taste it in conch fritters, conch stew, conch salad or conch chowder. And, of course, you can head home with a large conch shell souvenir, wearing a new “Conch Republic” t-shirt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1139dcd4-02ba-466f-810c-50b0ff33f8d9/1.jpg Key West - It’s really about the process of living life on “island time.” Striking up a conversation with a couple in a cafe along the way, we mentioned that we were heading to Key West. The man said “Oh, Key West is a lot of commotion and T-shirt shops!” His wife added, “Yes, but it is so much fun!” They were both right. Key West is an elegant mixture of 19th Century charm and modern attractions spiced with a relaxed citizenry who proudly claim to be part of the Conch Republic (pronounced “konk”). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/a6325b15-d8de-4e34-82f4-42bdc2cd4115/xSloppy+Joe%27s+Bar+on+Duval+Street.jpg Key West - Key West is a 2 x 4-mile subtropical island with a population of about 23,000 people. The island’s lush environment and colorful characters provided inspiration for resident writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Robert Frost, Winslow Homer, Mario Sanchez and Judy Blume. Singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett lived in a second story apartment in town during much of the 1970s. Key West was a big influence on his musical career and the place where the legendary Coral Reefer Band was born. President Harry Truman had his “Little White House” in Key West, often enjoying a taste of his favorite dessert, Key Lime pie. John Audubon also lived here. The rich and famous, like every visitor since, have savored the seasoning that the island’s delicious commotion offers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/4ae877bc-3361-44c5-861d-f71d32208fe6/5.jpg Key West - SUNSETS AT MALLORY SQUARE If you hear the phrase “See you at sunset” while visiting Key West, there is only one place it could mean: Mallory Square. The daily “Sunset Celebration” begins about two hours before sunset on the waterfront plaza in Key West’s historic Old Town. The spontaneous gathering attracts hundreds of tourists and an enthralling blend of jugglers, magicians, acrobats, artists, musicians, food vendors, psychics and characters. Arrive too late and you still might glimpse the sun sinking into the Gulf of Mexico through the cell phone forest of the crowd. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/e4403b0a-5ebf-482a-9e70-0a38ae73329d/4.jpg Key West https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/2bab5e19-810f-4337-8972-707f9ae26eed/10.jpg Key West https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/4463e1f6-65d9-4b24-a56d-d27c648cea67/14.jpg Key West One of our biking explores led us to the Key West cemetery. The tombs here are stacked because of the high water table and rocky soil. As a reflection of the island’s trademark eccentricities, there are some clever epitaphs inscribed on the tombs. My personal favorite: “See, I told you I was sick.” Island life is defined by water. A variety of salt water adventures await if you want to take in a fishing charter, kayak tour, sail boat ride, sunset cruise or a diving/snorkeling outing. For a longer excursion, you can board a swift catamaran for the 70-mile voyage from Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park in the Gulf of Mexico. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/70a0a513-35e1-47ad-b521-3216b86a625d/15.jpg Key West - Key West has been a favorite destination of our family for years. Each visit inspires a different experience. We soon discovered that navigating the narrow, busy Old Town streets in a car can be a challenge. Renting coaster bikes has turned our excursions to attractions like the Shipwreck Treasure Museum or Hemingway’s House into a more relaxing outing. On our bikes, we have meandered the enticing streets and lanes of Old Town with its colorful Caribbean architecture and old homes constructed of coral rock or salvaged ship boards. We’ve pedaled to such attractions as the Audubon Home and Gallery, the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, the Key West Aquarium, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and the Truman Little White House. And we have, of course, taken a selfie at the Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S. marker. https://seasonedvagabond.com/ghent-belgium daily 0.75 2022-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/b3a8f9d4-f5da-4a4e-bfc4-b936c7ebe712/11.jpg Ghent, Belgium - The skies never opened. The light rain, though, added a sheen to the cobblestone streets and an intimate feel to the architectural feast before us. Ghent, capital of the Belgian province of Flanders, has always benefited from its location. At the geographic heart of northern Europe, neutral Ghent enjoyed the status of a major market center for centuries, attracting German, French and English traders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/5bdc26aa-5a50-46bb-ac7a-c8471012f762/10.jpg Ghent, Belgium - Today, the city center still attracts a crowd. Part of the draw is a vibrant night life and the network of narrow streets lined with distinctive shops. Old Town is pedestrian-friendly, making it easy to window browse or just pause to bask in the atmosphere of architecture, culture and people without impatient horns to hurry you along your way. The city center is laced with intersecting canals that add a scenic foreground to your Old Town photos. The waterways are easy to walk around or you can take in a 40 minute canal boat tour. The canals are popular with kayakers and those who choose to rent other watercraft. The Leie River winds through the heart of Ghent and divides two attractive city center quays: Graslie (along the right bank) and Korenlei (along the left bank). It’s fun just to sit on the cobblestones on either side of the river and become immersed in the melange of people and tour boats in this scenic medieval port area. Since our Sunday morning exploration time in the Old Town was limited, my wife and I focused on the famous Gravensteen Castle and wandering through Patershol, the medieval quarter near the castle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/c8d6f317-16eb-4d2f-a7df-80600453a630/3.jpg Ghent, Belgium - Luckily for us, though, Gravensteen hosted a medieval spring festival on the day of our bike tour into Ghent. Red banners dangled from the gray stone ramparts. Minstrels welcomed us as we entered the castle gates. Wide-eyed as kids, we feasted on the sights, sounds, tastes, smells and textures of medieval castle life as costumed interpreters went about their daily life in the 13th century. It was hard to know where to look next. A fire-breathing performer spat out tall tongues of flame from atop a castle wall. Blacksmiths sweated over hot metal while sparks flew with each hammer blow. A mischievous medieval lad played hide and seek with an unsuspecting modern boy, peering around a corner to catch the curious eye of the youngster while his father tinkered on a cell phone. In the ballroom, castle ladies danced with visitors to an estampie, a medieval dance and musical form. A tight, winding stair case led to a lofty viewing area that offered a 360° view of the spires and facades of Old Town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/8b7fce7c-d5ed-4208-9110-be3adf05df18/1.jpg Ghent, Belgium - Gravensteen, an imposing stone castle built in 1180, looks as if it is floating on the Lieve canal. It was the home of the counts of Flanders until 1353. Since then, the majestic structure has served as a courthouse, prison, mint and even a cotton mill. It was restored in 1885. Normally, the castle welcomes visitors who can purchase a 90-minute audio guide that points out highlights on a walk-through tour. Part of the tour includes an armory museum and a torture museum that displays the gruesome tools of medieval justice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/210134c9-0f8c-433b-8355-4a709dd26e60/6.jpg Ghent, Belgium https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/b89904d2-5b1c-4ea9-80b9-818c495029a6/8.jpg Ghent, Belgium - Upon leaving Gravensteen, we found ourselves on Kraanlei, a small street where we stumbled upon Julie’s House. We lingered over an excellent cup of coffee and fresh-baked scones. Continuing our culinary exploration, we settled on a dessert of chocolate at In Choc Gent, just a short stroll from the castle. Yet, realizing that one cannot pedal a bike fueled only on scones and chocolate, we bought some cheese, crackers and yogurt for our picnic lunch along the bike route. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/f2478e02-ebff-448b-98dd-67125f77b2f2/Gravensteen+Castle+ladies.JPG Ghent, Belgium https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/27c352ae-20a0-4820-8e6d-ba3a569c5b76/2.jpg Ghent, Belgium - Watching our time, we reluctantly left Gravensteen to explore Patershol, the attractive medieval quarter near Gravensteen. The Patershol neighborhood is a popular destination noted for its maze-like warren of narrow streets lined with inviting shops of all kinds. Restaurants, bars and galleries abound. Foodies, in particular, will want to wander the length of Oudburg, a street known for its restaurants and cafes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/49ac0b7a-2361-4d28-8dac-62620d4d6cdb/12.jpg Ghent, Belgium - Then it was time to head back to our bicycles and fellow travelers. Hearing the strains of an outdoor concert in a city center square, we took a short detour to enjoy one more cultural diversion on this stimulating Sunday morning in Ghent. With our memories of Old Town still fresh, we pedaled out of city center and on to more Belgian adventures https://seasonedvagabond.com/submissions daily 0.75 2022-05-10 https://seasonedvagabond.com/whitewater-rafting-on-idahos-salmon-river daily 0.75 2022-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/82e4ef32-656e-4737-b1ff-8502c079502f/8.jpg Whitewater Rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River - By the time I saw the wall of water burst from behind the boulder to my left, it was too late. Tossed like a toothpick on Idaho’s Main Salmon River, I was able to grab the paddle and the side of the inflatable kayak. Sputtering in the powerful current, I held on until the kayak caught on a shallow gravel bed. With the insistent Salmon tugging on my legs, I flipped the kayak, crawled in and paddled to the peaceful cove where the river guides and my party awaited. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/fec63132-89c2-48ab-bcd9-759e0949934a/7.jpg Whitewater Rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River - “Nice self-rescue, Jim,” Tom, the senior member of our crew of five guides said with a slight grin. He did, after all, warn the other guides to steer their 16-foot rafts clear of this ledge while negotiating the day’s last set of rapids. Swallowing river water along with humble pie was a cheap lesson on The River of No Return. The Salmon River doesn’t care if you spill or chill while on its course. It does demand, however, that you navigate its currents on its own terms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/28799887-f94f-4562-989b-fc9c23afd874/9.jpg Whitewater Rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River - The river slices through the second-deepest gorge on the continent (Hells Canyon on the Snake River is the deepest). The Salmon’s granite-walled canyon, over 1,000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon, cuts more than a mile into the earth for about 180 miles. The lyrical moniker, The River of No Return, has its origin in the realities of early Salmon River travel—you could float down, but it was darn near impossible to get back up. Today, jet boats take care of that problem. For more than a century after the first European Americans arrived, though, only down river journeys were possible. Wooden scows, carrying heavy loads and able to weather the whitewater, did the job. At the end of the odyssey, the scows were dismantled and used for lumber. Thus, no return trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/79256eeb-17d8-43ab-ad23-ac0ceae6899d/2.jpg Whitewater Rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River - The terms are simple--this is a wild, undammed river. Flowing 425 miles all within the state of Idaho, the Salmon drops from elevations above 8,000 feet in the Sawtooth Mountains to 905 feet at its confluence with the Snake River near the Idaho-Oregon border. It is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states, cascading through the country’s second-largest wilderness area in the lower 48, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. It also flows through the Gospel Hump Wilderness Area, and the Payette and Nez Perce national forests. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/44095300-e417-4179-ab35-9940874f031f/10.jpg Whitewater Rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/0f61a6f6-2d48-4480-8f6a-2381fe4be2ab/5.jpg Whitewater Rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River - Returning home was the last thing on our minds as our group of six excited Minnesota friends pulled into Salmon, Idaho. Salmon is a bustling river town of 3,100 nestled in the shadow of the Bitterroot Range to the east. Our group, along with our 13 other trip mates, met with Alison Steen, owner of Yellow Jacket River Guides, for our orientation meeting the evening before our put-in. Her company is one of about 30 licensed outfitters that serve visitors on the Main Salmon River. Each one is a good bet for professional guides, gourmet food and a great time. Families are welcome and are in for a rare treat—a safe, thrilling wilderness river float trip in relative comfort. Like most outfitters, Yellow Jacket provided three choices of transportation for group members. We had three 16-foot, self-bailing, oar-powered rafts which a guide controlled with two large oars. We could also choose to ride on a smaller 14-foot paddle raft. Four to six people paddled while a guide steered. In addition, the guides brought along two inflatable kayaks (single and double seat crafts) in case anyone wanted to try their luck. The fifth guide handled a sweep raft which carried all of the camping gear. The Salmon is a “pool and drop” river, meaning that at the end of each rapid is a slow moving pool of water inviting you to jump in for a swim. With daytime temperatures between 85-95 degrees and the fresh, cool river, water wars were inevitable. Therein laid the appeal of our group’s wilderness float trip—fun, sun, scenery and engaging company. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/d422b194-e7cd-4a2d-985e-9b6686d56c2b/13.jpg Whitewater Rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River - On the pools, the guides pointed out geologic highlights and told river tales. We would beach at times for short hikes to get glimpses of the region’s past: historic sites of early Nez Perce and Shoshone Indian settlement as well as abandoned homesteads, cabins and mines. One stop involved an uphill scramble to reach Barth Hot Springs, where we took turns basking in the soothing water. Our floating caravan paused above sets of rapids to plan our approach. As much fun as the guides had in joining in the calm water fun, they were all business on the whitewater. The Main Salmon is famous for its Class III rapids, with names like Salmon Falls, Split Rock and Whiplash. Class III rapids are moderately challenging to experienced boaters. Our guides had to sometimes make complex maneuvers in fast current, requiring good raft control in the tight passages or around ledges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/18f51d47-317f-4c58-8510-4d9341b30431/11.jpg Whitewater Rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/cf5ea7cb-b820-4b00-a2c7-026fe3984a17/4.jpg Whitewater Rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River - The guides brought along tents for those that wanted one. Most of us chose to sleep on the beach, laying our sleeping bags on pads while falling asleep under the stars. On the third night, we beached at China Bar Lodge. Hot showers, beds and a tasty ranch style dinner and breakfast awaited us. Brian, one of the guides, produced a duffel bag of costumes for the occasion. Everyone found something fun to wear while we feasted. Later, we sat around the beach campfire while the lodge owner and two guides played guitar and sang. It was a pleasant accompaniment to the music of the river with the starry vault stretching overhead. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/bb7cca6d-735c-42c3-b912-4178155112c5/15.jpg Whitewater Rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River - Too soon, it seemed, the last day came. After a short twelve mile paddle, we beached the rafts at the take-out and gathered our belongings. With a raft of memories and sand everywhere else, our group of happy campers headed home to the tune of shared stories and laughter. For us, the River of No Return is definitely worth a return trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/05f602d3-cbc2-4736-b76a-108f6570baae/6.jpg Whitewater Rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River - On the paddle boat, our guide encouraged us to take turns sitting on the bow, hanging on to the boat while she shouted paddling instructions to the other four. This was like riding a bronco through the rapids. Sometimes a wave would knock one of us off balance with feet shooting in the air and arms pulling us back in. If one of us was not paddling hard or in unison with the others, she called us “Lilly Dippers.”The guides were as professional and fun in camp as they were on the river. Three of the four nights our group camped on beautiful white sand beaches. While the guides prepared hors d’oeuvres and gourmet meals, we hiked, swam, fished, read or enjoyed a cocktail or hot drink by the campfire. Our menus included fresh meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. The Dutch oven lasagna was a favorite, along with special desserts each night. We awoke to the smell of coffee and hot breakfast. Lunches on the river included deli sandwiches, salad and other treats. https://seasonedvagabond.com/gallery daily 0.75 2022-04-18 https://seasonedvagabond.com/gallery/p/country-feast-set-3y2bb monthly 0.5 2022-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1600708893896-325AKTDK2UTS2Y4VSD0K/product-detail-4x5_1.jpg Gallery - 11x14 Prints of Cars in Cuba https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1649707297468-MCSABVJ83EGJM0ATT71N/1Dashboard+view+of+the+Jose+Miguel+Gomez+Monument+in+Havana..jpg Gallery - 11x14 Prints of Cars in Cuba https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1649707298044-0GNULRXNENDGXGL4UAWY/1Rainy+day+drive+in+Havana..jpg Gallery - 11x14 Prints of Cars in Cuba https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1649707300410-GYB8QL68BVHYLPX2PM9T/1Roadside+scene+in+western+Cuba..jpg Gallery - 11x14 Prints of Cars in Cuba https://seasonedvagabond.com/gallery/p/country-feast-set-3y2bb-t3fg5 monthly 0.5 2022-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1600708893896-325AKTDK2UTS2Y4VSD0K/product-detail-4x5_1.jpg Gallery - 11x14 Prints of Rome at Night https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1649708959186-DYXVEHJ8LFGFABDMMJ0C/8.+IMG_0268.JPG Gallery - 11x14 Prints of Rome at Night https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1649708959327-GBJGBWESCVZ91O32S658/12.+The+Pantheon.JPG Gallery - 11x14 Prints of Rome at Night https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d792e612f5ce11fb0904f67/1649708959722-1HT43Z4YT62ETMEWFMYE/14.+IMG_0302.JPG Gallery - 11x14 Prints of Rome at Night