Weekend Wanderings

August is a great time to hike in the Pacific NorthWest. We've fit  a couple adventures in the last few weeks...

Guemes Channel Sunset

Rental Review: Fiat 500

In travelling for work, I get the opportunity to drive many different makes and models of rental cars. Sometimes they're boring (Hyundai Elantra),  sometimes they're frustrating (the seats don't  fold  down in a VW Passat: Wolfsburg edition. Don't leave your keys in the trunk!), sometimes they're pigs (Chevy Captiva), and sometimes they're trippy (Nissan Altima with CVTransmission). It's about  time I started doing reviews ;)

Today, I give you the Fiat 500

I-15 (Mormon Alley)

I have had back-to-back weeks of training, which has meant back-to-back weeks of travel. I had a few days of R&R before flying out to Salt Lake City and immediately driving north along I-15 to Blackfoot, ID.

Good evening, Pocatello!

Not-Quite-Bavaria

I have a bad habit of seeking out any part of a state that claims to resemble Germany. There was the infamous Oktoberfest road trip to Helen, GA two years ago, and those first and second visits to München last year. Any town that claims to resemble Germay - or the American vision of Germany - is a potential target. So, yesterday I found myself driving north to Frankenmuth, Germany.

Photo from a Frankenmuth advertisement site

le Citadelle de Quebec

In my previous 3 trips to Quebec City, I have never had a chance to visit the "castle" at the top of the town. Two weeks ago, I took the Saturday before the party to wander the Plains of Abraham and learn a little more about the active fortification.

a sunny Sunday on Lake Union

 Emily asked a few weeks ago if I could pick her up at the airport on Sunday. It was the perfect excuse to spend a sunny day neighborhood-hopping in the Emerald city.

Our first stop was the Center for Wooden Boats, where we snagged a beautiful little lapstrake skiff and rowed up wind onto Lake Union.

Skillfully maneuvering us out of the harbor

Coasting back to town with a tail wind

Fun times in Hockeytown

I've heard the Quebecers say that "Calling Detroit 'hockeytown' is like calling Montreal 'motor city'." Detroit disagrees.