Biking in the Bois de Vincennes

The weather is turning colder so we wanted to take advantage of the fine weather earlier this week to take a bicycle ride.


We live near the Bois de Vincennes on the southeast edge of Paris. The Bois (woods) is huge - about three times the size of Central Park in NYC. It offers several miles of trails for walkers, runners, equestrians, and cyclists. It has four lakes, a zoo (currently closed), a botanical garden, and a chateau.


Patrice is the proud owner of a new second-hand bicycle - a surprise to friends and family who know him better as a motorized guy. He got his first motorized cycle - a Solex - at the age of 11.


So the fact that he is pedaling and then carrying both our bikes up and down the steep stairs to the cellar means he must really love me, right?

Vacation photos

We've finally sorted through the 1500 photos that we took during our recent vacation in the western U.S. Here is a link that will take you to the Picasa album that Patrice put together - selecting just 244 photos to illustrate the highlights of the trip. Patrice has also added captions (in French, of course) that reveal the most interesting or unique aspects of the trip from his point of view.

Château de Guédelon

Patrice and I took advantage of the gorgeous weekend weather to take an excursion to visit the Chateau de Guédelon about 200 km south of Paris. But this isn't just another castle -- it's a 13th century castle currently under construction -- being built from the ground up using medieval building techniques.

Work began on the project in 1997 and will take some 25 years to complete. In the meantime, the public is invited to visit the construction site. All of the building materials are found nearby and the castle is being built using only hand tools which are also produced and maintained onsite.

Here is what the site looked like in 2005:

And here's what it looked like when we visited on Saturday:


The chateau will require about 60,000 tons of stones which must be split


And shaped


And lifted into place


Without using any modern machines.


Can you see the two guys in the "squirrel cages" who turn the wheels that lift the load?

The blacksmith keeps the tools in shape

Using a foot pedal to turn the sharpening wheel



And the rope maker creates all sizes of ropes from the hemp and linen that grow nearby


Guédelon is surrounded by an oak forest. The woodcutters use hand saws to fell the trees, then transfer the task to the carpenters who fashion everything from the timbers supporting the roof, down to the wooden tool boxes, interior doors, and cart wheels.



When finished, the château will look like this:


Here is the website so that you can plan your own visit.

Back in Paris

We've arrived back in Paris and are fighting jet lag. We are also sorting through hundreds of photos to select the stories and images that most capture our wonderful trip in the American West. Thank you for your patience!

On the road again

After a short stay in Denver, Patrice and I are on the road again. This time, our itinerary includes Cody, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park, Seattle and Portland.

I'll be posting along the way if and when I find a reliable internet connection.

Thanks for following!

Angel's Landing

We are in Zion National Park in southern Utah. It's hot! Almost 100 degrees F, (37C), and we are taking some incredible hikes.

Today, we took the famous hike to Angel's Landing - so named because "only an angel could land on it." The route gains 1,500 feet of elevation in 2.5 miles and is characterized by steep drop offs - here is a poster warning of the danger. Six people have died here!


The view from below


It requires great physical stamina and is not recommended for those who have a fear of heights. In fact, neither Nathalie nor I made it all the way to the top - we stopped before the end of the trail when it gets very narrow and steep. The path is less than 1 meter wide in places.



There is a chain to hold on to, but it's still pretty scary --


especially since the path includes sheer cliffs on both sides. Here's what it looks like if you look down. See the small shuttle buses in the upper right corner of the picture?


I was very proud of Patrice who made it all the way to the top - shortly after his 67th birthday. "It's amazing what falling in love with a Colorado girl will do - I'd follow her anywhere." he said.

And here is a picture of a very happy Patrice with his souvenir pin that says: "I climbed Angel's Landing"

The West

We're enjoying the wide open spaces of Colorado and Arizona. Here are a few photos from the last few days . . .

The Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado


With some impressive deer


Mesa Verde cliff dwellings in SW Colorado


Monument Valley - just like in the western movies



Sharing the narrow Kaibab trail with mules in the Grand Canyon


We're not in Paris anymore!