We have all made it to France and moved into our villa in the Bandol region of Provence. We have shopped at two markets, eaten some wonderful meals, and laughed a whole lot! It’s so good to spend quality time with dear college friends!
As many of you know, Ed had a medical emergency a month ago. We were not sure he would be cleared or feel up to international travel. Thankfully, he was cleared by all his doctors and over the last week and a half has regained a good deal of his strength. So, for the next 4 weeks there will be a bit of a role reversal on this trip… I will be worrying about Ed vs him worrying about me.
Ed was cleared to travel by his surgical team. YAY!! We have changed our flights so that we only have one layover rather than two which will make the day more manageable. So stay tuned, we will be off exploring Europe again very soon.
What a fun, vibrant town! We enjoyed our four night stay in the Wyndham Village at Steamboat, courtesy of our dear friends, Jim and Maxine. We yet again benefited from their timeshare… what a treat. We spent three days hiking, biking, playing games and laughing. Friendships are precious but you have to keep them kindled. Mission accomplished ❤️
We finally made it to Red Rocks Amphitheater. We were lucky enough with the timing of our travels to catch Tedeschi Trucks while visiting friends in Colorado. The venue is amazing but bring lots of $$$. The merchandise and the concessions were incredibly expensive. The concert was great though we felt like the jams went on a little too long.
We spent the last 4 nights in a creek side camping site in the Smokemont section. It was so peaceful. The creek ran steady, sounding like a gentle rain throughout the day and night.
Smokemont Campground was wonderfully peaceful. We occupied sites F42,F44 & F46 right along the running creek. There are no hookups but generators are allowed in the F loop from 8:00AM to 8:00PM. There is absolutely no cell coverage. It was a great way to unwind.
We bid farewell to the Smokies but we will be back!
We have spent the last 4 days in Cades Cove, camping with the Riegels, the Wingfields and our favorite plus four (the Crowders and the Brauningers) staying in a delightful cabin in nearby Townsend. We had sites 20,21, and 22 of B loop which allowed us to use our generators between the hours of 8:00AM to 8:00PM. This was strictly enforced!
Our first full day we hiked the Middle Prong trail. It was perfect for our group of 10. It followed a creek and each segment was more beautiful than the next. The creek is a major habitat for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. It was remarkable how many we saw along the way!
While riding we came across this large adolescent bear enjoying a lunch of leaves. We would have never spied him from a car. At least, that is until someone else did and the bear ham ensued.
Yesterday started with a 6:00 AM wake up to be ready for a short bus ride to the largest flower market in Europe. The visit brought a whole new meaning to the beautiful bouquets and arrangements we enjoy at home.
Next up was a fantastic 30 mile bike ride to the North Sea and through the Dutch countryside. It was an idyllic day.
We had a fabulous day today riding through the Dutch countryside (and navigating through several towns).
