Change of plans

[taxfree4]

Was all set to head to Alaska, rooms booked etc. but was decided on a trip to France, never been across the pond. Being I did the x-country last year, change of pace. So I contacted Borreal Lodge, Heidi is a Sweetheart, and Chena Hot Springs in Alaska and just made them move the reservation to the same dates in 2024. Brooks Camp in Deadhorse I had to cancel but I can rebook in 2024, plenty of time. Flight to Paris on a 777-300 then an hour flight on a A318 to Lyon, then a 46km drive to the studio apt I snagged for $51 a day for 2 weeks. July 2 to July 15. If I wind up in the drink I want the F6B to be given back to Wayne who sold it to me. Anyway, I'll take a lot of pictures and post them. How often do you see hairy underarms and legs on women that aren't trannies. Au revoire. I have to brush on my French.

I attached France's new national flag

[willtill]

Just remember Mike, the French hate everyone... including themselves.

Have fun on your future trip. For the record, I did 9 years in Germany and travelled all over Europe off and on. I never went to France except once, and that during a liaison visit. Had lunch at a French army barracks. Wurst, broth soup and mediocre bread. That was it. The French soldiers in the mess looked like convicts and stared at us like we were from another world...

[Phantom]

Just remember Mike, the French hate everyone... including themselves.

Wurst, broth soup and mediocre bread. That was it.

Soooooo TRUE !

My first visit to France was in 1986, I did the Eurail Pass through Europe with my brother. Was not impressed with France, my uncle lives north of Paris.

The French HATE, I repeat HATE Americans. They can't stand the fact that they were cowards during WWII and we saved their asses. To this day they resent the fact that our brave men have kahunas and the french men have their poodles.

I have family all over Europe, I've visited Europe over 15 times, I was there this past October and will return this summer.....

The BEST kept secret and the #1 European destination for Europeans..... PORTO Portugal and the surrounding areas. Incredibly delicious food, beautiful, rich history and the best Port Wines in the world.

I returned to France 11 years ago (per request not by choice), I did a small tour of Northern Portugal with American friends (they still talk about it to this day) one of the couples had to see Paris... so we spent 3 days there, the food sucked at every restaurant except one small hole in the wall place where the pork chops were very good. Then we flew over to Portugal for 10 days..... At the end of the trip , everyone thanked me and said... "we should have spent the entire trip in Portugal" .

France is nothing ... The Eiffel Tower is no big deal, Eifel was a structural engineer and also designed the PORTO bridge with the lattice steel slats identical to the Eiffel tower.... to show off French engineering in the late 1800's

There's a Medieval Village called OBIDOS , still thriving and you can walk the walls.
There are Roman ruins, Batalha Monastery and so many other unique and beautiful towns.

TaxFree... change your plans again... You'll be comparing France to stepping on dog poop or even worse to your EX-wives.. after day one or day two... it will start to stink..... your room rate is cheap because no one wants to visit there....just my 2 cents

[taxfree4]

Just remember Mike, the French hate everyone... including themselves.

Have fun on your future trip. For the record, I did 9 years in Germany and travelled all over Europe off and on. I never went to France except once, and that during a liaison visit. Had lunch at a French army barracks. Wurst, broth soup and mediocre bread. That was it. The French soldiers in the mess looked like convicts and stared at us like we were from another world...

I am staying at a location 6000 ft. up a mountain, LA Salette, Falavaux, nothing but hills, hiking and solitude, it's a reboot. As my tag line translates from the Latin "Walk alone walk further". Fatima in Portugal and Loudes in France are tourist sites, I don't like crowds. It's basically a personal pilgrimage. I am what the recent FBI files revealed as enemies a "Traditional Catholic", have been for 25 years and these 3 places are very significant locations. I picked the most secluded one. I know my posts don't always reflect that but it's like that old Indian chief Sitting Bull said "Inside of me there are two dogs. One is mean and evil and the other is good and they fight each other all the time. When asked which one wins I answer, the one I feed the most"

As far as food I have been Keto, One meal a day, sometimes I do a 48 hour just to cleanse, for 3 years and strictly carnivore for 6 months so all I need is a pound of 80/20 chop meat a day, a little salt and I'm good. In regards to being hated, I'm from Brooklyn we're hated all over world, bring it on. I was thrown in jail in Dunn, North Carolina, with my dog in the 80's for a speeding ticket. The cop writing the ticket said when he was a kid he used to go by the highway, Dunn is right off I-95, and throw rocks at the cars with NY plates.Will, you are from another world, you're an American soldier/sailor, the greatest fighting machine ever made. Phantom, what's with the Port wine, are you Jewish? That stuff is sweet.

The Alaska trip will be more significant, for me anyway, next year as I'll be 63, my father died at 63, 33 years gone as of yesterday. My grandfather died the year I was born, 1961, his son, my father, died the year my son was born, 1990, I broke that streak 4 times over, 3 grandsons, 1 grandaughter. The way I look at it France came along for a reason, whatever it may be. I put myself in discomfort every day, working out, getting past the discomfort is key. So to plop myself where I don't know the language, may be hated and have to figure it out is nothing, I'm not interested in being liked, as some of my posts have conveyed. You know I'm going to try and camp out in those hills. Phantom, try some wines from Umbria they're spectacular.

[maxrider]

Mike your inbox is full, time to create space.

[taxfree4]

Mike your inbox is full, time to create space.

All done Max

[maxrider]

I send you a PM

[FarsideF6B]

I haven't been across the pond yet! The wife and kids have a few times now. Sounds like a great time to regroup. I hope you enjoy as it sounds like some good advice in previous post. Safe travels. :cool:

[taxfree4]

I haven't been across the pond yet! The wife and kids have a few times now. Sounds like a great time to regroup. I hope you enjoy as it sounds like some good advice in previous post. Safe travels. :cool:

Thank you Farside, it'll be my first time over. I decided to change the plans a little. I shortened my stay at La Salette and will be spending 3 days in Paris before I go home. I figured while I'm there I might as well do a little sight-seeing being I'll be in the mountains for 9 days. It pays to buy the flex plan on long hauls.

[taxfree4]

I haven't been across the pond yet! The wife and kids have a few times now. Sounds like a great time to regroup. I hope you enjoy as it sounds like some good advice in previous post. Safe travels. :cool:

Thank you Farside, it'll be my first time over. I decided to change the plans a little. I shortened my stay at La Salette and will be spending 3 days in Paris before I go home. I figured while I'm there I might as well do a little sight-seeing being I'll be in the mountains for 9 days. It pays to buy the flex plan on long hauls.

A little drone footage of the shrine:

https://youtu.be/gjgeWMZ0Dy0

I mute the music

[jm21ddd15]

Well, hope you enjoy the trip. Personally, I rather feel as Phantom does, when it comes to France. I won't go to a socialist country. We got plenty of those idiots here. No need for me to go among them. And you said you don't like crowds. Well, you're living in Brooklyn??? Just wondering . Well, Alaska will be more fun for you next year, I think. Anyway, enjoy the trip.

[taxfree4]

Well, hope you enjoy the trip. Personally, I rather feel as Phantom does, when it comes to France. I won't go to a socialist country. We got plenty of those idiots here. No need for me to go among them. And you said you don't like crowds. Well, you're living in Brooklyn??? Just wondering . Well, Alaska will be more fun for you next year, I think. Anyway, enjoy the trip.

By the way, Menomonie is my second favorite name for a city. Temecula is the first and Truth or Consequences, NM coming in third. Anyway, the fact I do live in the city is the reason I hate cities but because of family, grandchildren mostly the parents you can have, business reasons I am here, not too much longer though. The last thing I want to do is go from a congested, filthy, multicultural cesspool and vacation in another. But since we are in a socialist country, and have been since 1933 when they took the gold and replaced it with fiat currency, it should be an easy fit, minus the body odor and underarm hair, and that is just the women. 2 days of Paris after 9 days of prayer, relaxation, camping and contemplating in those green hills I can do. A picture by Notre Dame, which used to be Catholic and the Eiffel Tower I'm good. Grab a bottle of wine and head to the hotel. Like any trip by the time it winds down you just want to get home.

[FarsideF6B]

[QUOTE=taxfree4;190650]Thank you Farside, it'll be my first time over. I decided to change the plans a little. I shortened my stay at La Salette and will be spending 3 days in Paris before I go home. I figured while I'm there I might as well do a little sight-seeing being I'll be in the mountains for 9 days. It pays to buy the flex plan on long hauls.

A little drone footage of the shrine:

https://youtu.be/gjgeWMZ0Dy0

I mute the music


Wow:8:
Very nice, thx for the link to the drone view. Sounds and looks like a great place for a "come to Jesus" overhaul. 'angel' I need one too!

[taxfree4]

[QUOTE=taxfree4;190650]Thank you Farside, it'll be my first time over. I decided to change the plans a little. I shortened my stay at La Salette and will be spending 3 days in Paris before I go home. I figured while I'm there I might as well do a little sight-seeing being I'll be in the mountains for 9 days. It pays to buy the flex plan on long hauls.

A little drone footage of the shrine:

https://youtu.be/gjgeWMZ0Dy0

I mute the music


Wow:8:
Very nice, thx for the link to the drone view. Sounds and looks like a great place for a "come to Jesus" overhaul. 'angel' I need one too!

Don't we all

[jm21ddd15]

Are you planning to rent a cycle, while your there? that could make the trip more fun.

[taxfree4]

Are you planning to rent a cycle, while your there? that could make the trip more fun.

Didn't even think of it, have a car but those hills in the countryside look mighty enticing, I'll inquire thanks jm

[willtill]

I'm actually a little excited about your trip Mike. I hope you take lots of pictures and post the here. This is definitely off the beaten path tourists wise in France, I'm sure you will reconnoiter and discover some good eats over there. Go where the locals go.

Whem I Was in Germany, I would go to a local metzgerei in the village, and a local bäckerei too. Pick up fresh worsts, cold cuts, and then hit the bäckerei's with all of their wonderful baby butt soft milch brotchens, wasser brotchens, ect, and other brot freshly baked and warm... It's all you need, we'lll get some kasi and butter and senf, you would then have a astronomically complete and abundant breakfast to put yourself right back into a midmorning foood coma.


The german breads (and the sweeties) are the BEST!

[maxrider]

Subject: The Pastor and his donkey


A Pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won.

The Pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the race again and it won again. The local paper read: PASTOR'S A$$ OUT FRONT.

The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the Pastor not to enter the donkey in another race. The next day the local paper headline read: BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S AS$.

This was too much for the Bishop so he ordered the Pastor to get rid of the donkey. The Pastor decided to give it to a Nun in a nearby convent.

The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day: NUN HAS BEST A$S IN TOWN.

The Bishop fainted. He informed the Nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey so she sold it to a farm for $10.

The next day the paper read: NUN SELLS AS$ FOR $10 This was too much for the Bishop so he ordered the Nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild.

The next day the headlines read: NUN ANNOUNCES HER A$S IS WILD AND FREE.

The Bishop was buried the next day.

The moral of the story is . . . being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery and even shorten your life. So be yourself and enjoy life. Stop worrying about everyone else's a$$ and just cover your own !!! You'll be a lot happier and live longer!

[taxfree4]

I'm actually a little excited about your trip Mike. I hope you take lots of pictures and post the here. This is definitely off the beaten path tourists wise in France, I'm sure you will reconnoiter and discover some good eats over there. Go where the locals go.

Whem I Was in Germany, I would go to a local metzgerei in the village, and a local bäckerei too. Pick up fresh worsts, cold cuts, and then hit the bäckerei's with all of their wonderful baby butt soft milch brotchens, wasser brotchens, ect, and other brot freshly baked and warm... It's all you need, we'lll get some kasi and butter and senf, you would then have a astronomically complete and abundant breakfast to put yourself right back into a midmorning foood coma.


The german breads (and the sweeties) are the BEST!

One of the things I'm really looking forward to is being on that 777-300, 90,000 lbs of thrust from those GE's. The startup on those babies is worth the price of admission. I have looked at the local restaurants, there aren't that many being a rural community, but definitely Will, I plan to communicate with the locals. The shrine where I'm staying has a meal plan but they said they couldn't accommodate my food request of a pound of chopmeat once a day. Who can't make 4 burgers? Anyway, they'll be plenty of pictures and videos. I'll be hiking all day, my tent may be too bulky so I'll grab a tarp and definitely bring a sleeping bag. Being 6000 ft up, with no other light at night the star display should be massive. I am told by the girl at reception that there are farms where you can pull up and they'll have a whole bunch of goods i.e. raw milk, cheese etc, no one there just leave the $, like where I was in Vermont recently, which is a foreign concept where I grew up/ live. Gap is the nearest big town and there is a kayak rental place on this beautiful lake not that far away. It should be interesting. .

[taxfree4]

Subject: The Pastor and his donkey


A Pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won.

The Pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the race again and it won again. The local paper read: PASTOR'S A$$ OUT FRONT.

The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the Pastor not to enter the donkey in another race. The next day the local paper headline read: BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S AS$.

This was too much for the Bishop so he ordered the Pastor to get rid of the donkey. The Pastor decided to give it to a Nun in a nearby convent.

The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day: NUN HAS BEST A$S IN TOWN.

The Bishop fainted. He informed the Nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey so she sold it to a farm for $10.

The next day the paper read: NUN SELLS AS$ FOR $10 This was too much for the Bishop so he ordered the Nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild.

The next day the headlines read: NUN ANNOUNCES HER A$S IS WILD AND FREE.

The Bishop was buried the next day.

The moral of the story is . . . being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery and even shorten your life. So be yourself and enjoy life. Stop worrying about everyone else's a$$ and just cover your own !!! You'll be a lot happier and live longer!

If that could fit into a fortune cookie we could change the world

[taxfree4]

A slight change in plans, staying at the shrine for 9 days then flying back to Paris for 3 days. Was going to do the usual tour but then it dawned on me, the Normandy American Cemetary and Omaha Beach is only a little over 3 hours NW of Paris. To hell with the Louvre and Notre Dame I'm going to see the Boys of Pointe du Hoc. I have Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr's grave location. My dad wasn't at Normandy, he fought in Belgium for 7 months till schrapnel got him in the back but he was attached to the 4th Division which Roosevelt commanded. Anyway, I will take a tremendous amount of video and pictures and post them. If anyone has a relative there just let me know, I'll visit the grave.

[Cali261]

Enjoy your trip, looking forward to pictures. You can keep it interesting by casually mentioning that you retired at “55”.
����.

[taxfree4]

Enjoy your trip, looking forward to pictures. You can keep it interesting by casually mentioning that you retired at “55”.
����.

Thank you, actually, I retired at 47, but who's counting. BTW I passed right by Walnut, a little to the west, last year when I stayed in Santa Ana then headed NW to 101. Looks like a nice town.

[Eternalydamd]

Thank you, actually, I retired at 47, but who's counting. BTW I passed right by Walnut, a little to the west, last year when I stayed in Santa Ana then headed NW to 101. Looks like a nice town.

Well crap, I'm right by Santa Ana in Huntington Beach.

[taxfree4]

Next year I'll swing low on my return, after visiting Big Larry, and have a beer. I have people in Santa Ana and that Motel 6 there is sweet.

[Eternalydamd]

I might head up the coast too, I go up into Cambria and the surrounding area 5 or 6 times a year on average

[Cali261]

Next year I'll swing low on my return, after visiting Big Larry, and have a beer. I have people in Santa Ana and that Motel 6 there is sweet.

There is a great BBQ place not to far from Santa Ana, if you have time for a cold one and some great grub.

Sauced BBQ 1535 W. Katella Ave, Orange.

[taxfree4]

There is a great BBQ place not to far from Santa Ana, if you have time for a cold one and some great grub.

Sauced BBQ 1535 W. Katella Ave, Orange.

Roger that

[ridinglearn]

OOH, that's ok, enjoy your near future trips and tours.

[taxfree4]

Incorporated a trip, to Bruges, Belgium and then a 24 minute trip, from Bruges, to Ghent on July 14th, a day before I leave. My priest was from Ghent, Belgium, he was a WWII battlefield medic taken prisoner at Dunkirk, escaped from a Nazi prison camp posing as a German officer, whose uniform was given to him by a Catholic Austrian guard. He would never eat sauerkraut because escaping forced him to live in fields and eat grass just to live. He was an eye witness to British soldiers, at Dunkirk, smashing, with the butt of their rifles, the hands of Belgian military who were clinging to the railings of the ships to escape the Nazis. His ancestors were the first proprietors of Governors Island and Staten Island. Mel Gibson should do a story of his life.