ROAD TRIP! ROAD TRIP! 

Get your kicks on Route 66

28 December 2024

Heartfelt appreciation for hot coffee this morning. We may be in high dessert, but it is cold out there. We pack up the “Prius mule team” and head east into the Mojave Desert.

The railroad tracks across from our hotel acted as the final destination for the 20-mule teams traveling some 165 miles from the Death Valley borax mines to our north. Our drive will be considerably more comfortable and speedier. 

(more…)

ROAD TRIP! ROAD TRIP! ROAD TRIP! 

Central Valley minus Grandma Joad

27 December 2024

A road trip is an anonymous freedom on four wheels! Radial tires humming along open roads with endless horizons stretching out before me. Every mile brings a potential discovery of an unexpected gem of Americana. Along with my travel buddy, we are hitting the road set on discovery, relaxation and fun.

(more…)

Rio – Historic or Shabby Chic?

27-29 September 2024

There exists far more to Rio than sandy beaches, Carnival, and volcanic plugs. The city is a jumble of wide chaotic streets, a fusion of colonial and modern, and a population of 6 million. Colorful favelas (slums) crawl up the hillsides.

But Rio is also surrounded by bays, hills and forests of natural beauty. Rio looks a mosaic from a distance but up close its heartbeat is robust, loud and lively. Exploring Rio represents a definite real-life experience. 

(more…)

Free-Range Thoughts – Brasil

24 September 2024

Life is good. I sit in the hotel bar in Rio de Janeiro, enjoying a cold Antarctica Original Cerveja, catching up on writing, watching YouTube, checking out news, hearing English around me even tho sometimes drowned out by fire alarms blasting.

The bartender goes about his business. I do too.

It has been a very busy 3 weeks. Time to collect my stream-of-thoughts. So many impressions, experiences, feelings. To answer the muzac piped into the lobby, yes Cindy, “girls they wanna have fun.”

(more…)

Porto Jofre – Yaguará Patricia and Mikaela

22 Sept 2024

Natural alarm clock, not to be ignored!

I awake to an opera of birds. One cannot describe it as a symphony as it is too discordant, too raucous. The Curicaca’s endless squabbling as they chase about the grounds and into the trees will wake the soundest sleeper. It begins at first light and continues for hours. The beautiful pair of blue Hyacinth Macaws and the Taco Toucans cannot compete.

Also in the yard is Eddie. I call him this because I cannot look at the floppy long-eared jackass and not think of Shrek, the movie. Eddie silently stares, calmly ignores the monkeys and scurrying birds at his feet, and continues to search for a blade of grass.

(more…)