Halcyon News

Congratulations of arranging the new adoption. Hope to hear from the new family as they grow in C-Dorydom.

And to two of my real heroes, I wish you all the best in the new phase of adventure. You have been an inspiration to me and you have been the topic of many of my conversations. I hope we keep the legend alive, and will look forward to your posting here with new tales of adventures and insights.

Travel safe, and enjoy,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

The Leader of the Pack
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To keep you up to date on our transition to a post-C-Dory life style (a transition all you proud owners will move through eventually).

We just completed our Rhine River cruise, down tributaries in Belgium, up the Rhine through the Netherlands to Germany, where we took a side trip up and back down the Mosel River, a beautiful tributary through steep walls covered with vineyards (and the ancestral home of the Fieros, Palatine vintners who accepted an invitation from England's Queen Anne to settle in the New World, in 1710). They also cruised the Rhine and then crossed the Atlantic on the Wonder Fleet to settle in the Hudson River Valley.

We continued up the Rhine, lifting up thirty-three locks, and visiting towns on both the French and German shores (sampling great beer and wine) and a brief trip overland to experience Luxembourg. Then we continued on the Rhine on into Switzerland. After a few days in that area, we hopped the long flight home from Basel through Amsterdam and Detroit to Denver. Home to our lakeshore condo last night - a long day - sunrise in Switzerland to sunset in Colorado.

We're contemplating our next trip, after family camping/hiking time up in the Canadian Rockies. Hmmm- maybe down the Danube to the Black Sea.
 
Welcome Home ... after yet another Grand Adventure!

I'm sitting in Friday Harbor and licking my boat repairman wounds. I lost the trim tabs on the ride over from Anacortes yesterday. The problem "felt" like an electrical issue (ie. a fuse) but I wasn't able to find anything blown.

Fifteen minutes (and $90 later...) the the very competent Friday Harbor Marine guy found a hidden fuse that had blown; problem solved. Now the only item left unrepaired is my Ego ... and that'll get addressed in about an hour (SunDowner Time).

Life is Good (again).

Best,
Casey
 
Welcome back. Good to hear you enjoyed yourself. Looking forward to a river cruise myself not too far down the line. George. Have a grand summer
 
Hi guys we just got back from a 28 day cruise to the Med . We were talking about a river cruise Yours sounded great did you self -cruise or was it a small cruise ship?

You guys have been the inspiration for many of us to retire and enjoy our passions Thanks from all of us. You Guys rock .
 
Thanks for the kind words. We traveled with a commercial outfit. Much easier on foreign water - where charters, licenses, etc. can be difficult. Also, nice to have experts teaching us history along the way.

We looked into shipping a C-Dory over to Europe, and leaving her there for years while we cruised every year on those lakes and rivers, but the costs were too high for us.

We have sent you an email about the companies we have used for our overseas river trips.
 
To bring our C-brat friends up to date.

Our transition from live-aboards to land has been great. We spent most of July camping in the Canadian Rockies with family - long walks outdoors and marvelous times together. Camped from Waterton to Banff and back south in the mountains from Canada's Glacier Park to our Glacier Park in Montana.

Next week we fly to Prague for a few days to experience the history and culture of that Czech city. Then for two weeks we head down the Danube to the Black Sea on a cruise through Eastern Europe.

Retirement, for those of you looking forward to those years, doesn't mean rocking in a chair on the porch slurping pills. With the good fortune of health, those years can include living aboard a C-Dory to see America from a different perspective, and active travel on land to continue learning and experiencing.
 
As the man with the Toland says, "the journey is the destination". Still, I wouldn't bet against your getting a 16 footer someday. Have a great trip.
 
Sounds wonderful. Did you day hike and tent camp or something more permanent?

Jake
 
Prague - one of my favorite cities and I've had the good fortune of teaching a 2-week class there 4 or 5 times. Make sure you take a late evening to walk across the Charles Bridge. You get a great view of the royal palace all lit up and the street musicians and performances are wonderful. The same trip during the day is also lovely with many vendors and street musicians on the bridge. There's many great places to eat Czech food on the old town square - you'll have to get the svíčková at some place (marinated beef with a heavy cream sauce, served with a side of thick, stick to your ribs dumplings and a little dab of cranberry sauce). Match it with a good czech beer (try the original Budweiser - no relation to our crappy beer). I ate many a time at "Staromestska Restaurace (Old-Town Restaurant) on the Old Town Square. It's a light greenish building on the south side of the square, on the signs, next to the name of restaurant, is a Pilsner Urquel sign. Good food, authentic Czech, reasonable prices.

The astronomical clock tower is a must see but it will be crowded with tourists. It's worth the time and effort to wander up to the Petrin hill observatory and then wander back down through the old apple orchards below the monastery. Lovely views of town. On the way up, you can visit Prague castle. Also, if you have the time, take one of the river cruises.

Of course, be careful with your wallets and don't be surprised if the beautiful tourist areas you visit during the day (in particular the Wenceslas square) are a bit seedier at night. Multiple ladies of the evening will appear hawking their trade in a somewhat aggressive manner. Walking as a couple, you'll most likely be left alone, but a single guy walking around at night is a target for these gals. PM me if you want ideas or other information about Prague.
 
Jake -
We day hiked. Our 'tent' is the covered back of our Toyota pick-up truck. One night of strong wind, lightning, hail and heavy rain it was nice being in such a solid 'tent.' The kids were a bit 'rattled' that night.

Roger -
thanks for the great ideas - we'll e-mail you for more suggestions.
We will also be visiting Bucharest and Budapest, as well as small towns along the Volga. All ideas are appreciated.
 
The Iron Gates - the Danube slices through the southern Carpathian Mountains along the border of Serbia and Romania. This historic location along the northern border of the ancient Holy Roman Empire is a geological window into Europe's deep history - the geological roots of the continent.

Next week, El and I will cruise through the Gates - and what a thrill this will be. For those of you who love the water, and cruising, consider this marvelous site if possible.
 
Bill, wave to my relatives as you pass the shipyard in Komarno. The Carpathians up in the north and the whole Spiis region is beautiful. My father came from Poprad. Many miners from that region were recruited to work in American mines in the early 19th century. The American mining companies often built housing to resemble that which the immigrant miners left, like little dachas for those from eastern Europe and "brick rows" for those from Cornwall, England. Everybody comes from somewhere, I guess.
 
And yours from a beautiful area.
 
Just home from Romania - great trip down the Danube. Heartily recommend it for you away-from-North America cruisers. The geology of the Iron Gates was beautiful. Lower river very low due to drought in Europe this summer. But we did get to the Black Sea.
 
Glad you had a great trip!

Will you be posting any pictures or more details?

Steve
 
Steve -

Fall color in Colorado now, so we are off into the mountains every spare minute and no time for posting. Sorry.
 
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