In August 2021, when COVID seemed to be in decline, Inge and I went to Europe. In the Netherlands we spent three pleasant weeks which included a family wedding and a one-week cycling trip. In September I went to Spain to finish a walk I started in 2019 while Inge stayed on in the Netherlands. … more
A book recommendation for winter nights in the northern hemisphere. (Those of you in the southern hemisphere can file this away until your summer is over.) A Philosophy of Walking is a thoughtful and beautifully written book by French philosopher Frédéric Gros. The book is a mixture of his own thoughts and his commentary on … more
(Updated June 2020 to remove Rogers and Fido Mastercards which now only rebate fx fees on US currency.) Canadian banks love it when you travel. When you travel outside Canada and use your credit card or withdraw cash from an ATM, your bank converts the amount you charge or withdraw into Canadian dollars at a … more
Last Friday, August 30, we arrived in Menton on the Mediterranean, the end of our trek through the French Alps. Since our last post a week ago, we have had mostly good weather with more late afternoon showers and, as we approached the sea, warmer temperatures and more haze. On Saturday we left the GR5 … more
Another day off after an excellent but tiring week of hiking. This week we have spent most nights in valley towns. Each day has been a climb over one or two cols and an afternoon descending as much as 1100 m. The trails are rocky, steep and sometimes exposed. It may seem odd if you … more