Water Town 5/9/14

There are a number of 'water towns' in China, ancient fishing villages with narrow canals running all through like streets; this one is Zhouzhuang, located a couple hours drive from Shanghai.

Shannon and her brother Reid

 

 

Many narrow lanes offer stalls of food, art, artifacts, clothing.

 

Lunch among the locals

An excellent opportunity to practice chopstick skill with peanuts, one at a time.

When they say ancient water town, they mean it.

 

It was a rainy day, as befits a visit to a water town.

 

Asia

As soon as I took this shot, I knew it would likely turn out to be the best of the trip

Asia 5/5/14 to 5/23/14

 

TOKYO,  JAPAN

Here we are at the moat surrounding the Imperial Palace, downtown Tokyo.  Much has changed there since I was stationed in Japan in the Army forty-odd years ago.  Most noticeable was the improved appearance of the average Japanese person's dentition.  

First full day there we rode the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) from Shinagawa Station down to Kyoto, where Reid had business to conduct.  Shannon and I toured the Old Imperial Palace and grounds, after obtaining 'Special Permission.'

Of course there are classic gardens as well. 

Then we went on to the Nijo Castle, a famous specimen of architecture from the Samurai days 400 years ago, complete with floors purposefully built to squeak so as to prevent sneak attacks.

Now this was a very neat place.  Classic gardens of its own, of course.

After three days in Tokyo we flew on to Shanghai.

At four on 4/4/14

Shortly after four o'clock yesterday 4/4/14 we pulled in at our driveway, ending a 10,000 mile winter sojourn (7000 driving, 3000 sailing). 

We'll take a month off before our next major adventure, to Asia.  

Well, maybe a few days in Moab.

To recap:

4/2/14. The highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Mtn, at 7842 ft. The wind blew 60-70 mph through the campground overnight. 

The trail up:

 

4/3/14. Dusty II with its top popped up on a peninsula in Elephant Butte SP, where primitive camping is only $4 a night. 

4/4/14. My favorite plate todo mundo, the pollo adovo at El Bruno's restaurant in Cuba NM. Our last stop before home. 

Waders

Wading in the Rio Grande at Boquillas Canyon, Big Bend. 

Other sights in Big Bend NP:

Roadrunners can go as fast as 20 mph -- but coyotes have been clocked at 43!

Ocotillo blooming at sunset.

 

South Rim

At 7375 ft elevation on the South Rim of the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend, a fourteen mile hike up to the 2500 ft escarpment overlooking the Rio Grande and Mexico. 

Texans have a saying: you're not a real Texan unless you've been to the South Rim. Well, there we are.

Many years ago I was up here backpacking with my bud Terry Banen.  The view, as Terry was wont to say, is "intense."

French Market

Hot apple beignets at the French Market. 

St Joseph Peninsula State Park

Very nice out-of-the-mainstream park. But the wind!

Yellow flag warnings in the morning. 

Red flag in the afternoon. Sure does hold down the crowds. 

Sun went down, wind went up.