Sea Pines Resort Bike Trail, South Carolina

We had a fabulous bike ride together on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Not easy for finding a couple of days without rain or strong winds.

Just to show you how lucky we got with our selection for being there!

Blue sky and no wind!

This is at the Salty Dog Cafe, South Beach Marina, where we went for a bite, outside on the terrace.

It is quite a drive to this paradise so we did book a 2-night stay at Hyatt Place in Savannah. 

From there it is easy to drive to Sea Pines Resort.

Getting a day pass for our car and 2 bikes!

South Carolina has a lovely coast with several islands and Hilton Head does have this private and gated resort area, hence the day pass.

We parked in Harbour Town and started our bike ride from there.

There used to be a restaurant in the lower section of the Lighthouse here at Harbour Town.

Even my Mom & Dad had lunch there with us and several dear friends... Fond memories.

Have not seen what it is now as it was under construction this time.

Close to the Lighthouse is the Broad Creek Marina

Also at Broad Creek Marina, such a lovely area!

All along the bike trail you find benches and it is convenient for taking a break and eating a snack, a mandarin and some chocolate...

Yep, peeling and orange and sharing a Toblerone...

The light is very harsh here!

But such a lovely ride and quiet, in nature with wildlife all around.

We seldom rode such a lovely bike trail! 

Also here we will go back again.

We were very lucky weather wise. 

Only 2 days later there was Gale Warning and strong winds - not good for biking!

Thank you for your visit and comment!

With Mom & Dad to Altenahr, Germany

It was on Tuesday, July 21 of 1981 that my late husband Frans and I drove with Mom & Dad to Altenahr in Germany.
Again, during my 3-week summer vacation and helping Mom & Dad out with picking gherkins in the greenhouse. 

A landmark in Altenahr is Hotel Zum Schwarzen Kreuz just click on link.

Early rising for departure at 6:00 AM for our journey to Altenahr in Germany.

Yes, this very rose pattern curtain I have crocheted for all the homes I've lived!

This was on the door of our garage in Horst, The Netherlands. See link below post.

Here we are in the Eifel mountains of Germany.

As I post these day-trips, made in July, I notice how cloudy it most times was!

For this trip we used Dad's Ford Fiesta.

Me in the Eifel mountains, Germany.

Here we are in Altenahr, Germany on a bridge over the river Ahr which flows through the Eifel mountains.
This is a very short video about the Ahr Valley - Das Ahrtal just click it for seeing its true beauty.
Already the Romans liked it there! Now it is well known for its vineyards.

We had lunch at Hotel Restaurant Ruland just click the link.

My choice then was: Tomato soup, Kalbsgeschnetzeltes in Sahnesauce mit Pilze - sliced veal in a cream sauce with mushrooms, rice and mixed salat. Chocolate with ice-cream for dessert...

To the right you see Ruland Hotel Restaurant where we had lunch.
The top photo from this post was taken in front of Hotel & Restaurant Zum Schwarzen Kreuz, seen in the center. The river Ahr is also visible and the bridge where we took one photo. 

While we had lunch, it rained...

I'm also wearing my hand knitted cardigan as it was rather chilly!

This is our walk in Reckerscheid in the Eifel.

We did stop by a dear friend for a visit before we went home.

By the way, my late husband's Mom was from this region as well.

A lovely area that I've visited for the biggest part of my life and also with husband Pieter together we have been there frequently.

Even our foster-daughter Anita has been there once with us, all the way from Indonesia.

We got home by 20:15 and in bed by 23:00.

Mauzie my dachshund had been fed and let out by my youngest sister as she did not travel with us this time.

Thanks for your visit and comment!

Related links:

Taking Mom & Dad to Bad Münstereifel in Germany | previous post by me
Day-Trip to Paris & Versailles with Mom & Dad | previous post by me
Mom & Dad Often Talked About Siegerland in Germany so we Went Back! | previous post by me
{Mom Did Wear Many Hats} | previous post by me
{My French DMC Rose Filet Lace Crocheted Curtains} | previous post by me

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FOUND the GUMBO and JAMBALAYA Recipe from New Orleans School of Cooking

While letting my two closed pelvic bone fractures heal, I did scan a mega load of things and among them also surfaced the recipe of the GUMBO and the JAMBALAYA that we made at the New Orleans School of Cooking.

Had searched for it when I wrote about New Orleans (link below post...).

So I would like to share them with you!

LOVED doing this and we enjoyed eating some good authentic Chicken & Andouille Gumbo for lunch after cooking it!

GUMBO recipe above

JAMBALAYA recipe above

Explaning about CAJUN/CREOLE

Hope you enjoyed it and thanks for your visit!

Related link:
We DID go back to New Orleans! | previous post by me where we enjoyed Chicken & Andouille Gumbo!
The Roosevelt New Orleans with View of Mississippi and French Quarter + New Orleans Cooking School | previous post by me

Taking Mom & Dad to Bad Münstereifel in Germany

During my final period of July 1983, I helped out in the greenhouse picking gherkins and French beans. Pieter made breakfast every morning before going to work.

This was the period after we sold our home and our belongings were on the Ocean, on their way to Georgia/USA.

Early August, I took Mom & Dad on a day-trip, while Pieter was for two weeks at the site of the new Campbell mushroom plant in Dublin, Georgia.

We visited the medieval city of Bad Münsereifel, even an old Roman city!

Nestled in the Eifel Mountains in Germany, a beautiful area.
Münstereifel got started in the year 830!

Here you see my sweet Mauzie girl with Dad and Mom after we climbed to the top of the old medieval city walls. 

Overlooking the quaint little city, to the left of my Dad you see Stiftskirche Church of St. Chrysanthus and Daria from Bad Münstereifel. Also the remains of the old Castle are above Dad's head and more to the left.
Top right you see one of the 4 Towers that were build inside the city wall.

The former collegiate church of the Benedictine order, today the Catholic parish church, received the relics of Saint Chyrsanthus and Daria in 844. Building was begun in the mid-11th century and completed in the 12th century. It is a romanesque, three-nave buttressed basilica without a transept, with west work and long chancel, as well as an important crypt. Restoration work has been carried out from 1876 to 1893 and since 1957. The interior of the church is well worth seeing.

You can see more here on this short video: Stiftskirche | Bad Münstereifel | Rhein-Eiffel. TV

Mauzie sure enjoyed the walk, as long as she could be near me, she was happy!
Those medieval city walls have protected the city in earlier centuries and they still make for a very special attraction of the little city.
To view the old Burg Münstereifel | Stadtmauer | Rhein-Eifel. TV click on link to see the old Castle and City Wall from 1.6 km length with its 4 Towers, before the word Bad got added for their Kneipp Kurort function (Spa Resort)
Sebastian Kneipp (1821-1897), German priest and hydrotherapist who introduced hydrotherapy.

Mom with Mauzie and Dad taking a rest from climbing and walking those city walls.
Such a perfect day with most pleasant weather!

Here you see Dad with Mauzie and Mom from the other side of Bad Münstereifel.
In the back you can see the old city wall were we walked in the above photos!
Also the Stiftskirche, Church of Saint Chyrsanthus and Daria is visible again to the right of Mom, but from the other side now.

Dad being happy and relaxed for enjoying one day of vacation and being a tourist!

Here we are in the gardens of the Kurhaus with its fountains.
This Kurhaus or Spa Resort in English got started in 1926 and drew lots of tourists and visitors.
It is a famous Spa Resort for which the word Bad (Bath), got added in 1967.

Dad, with his huge garden at home where many couples had their bridal photos taken, always was interested in trees!
Remarkable how much he resembles here my youngest brother Jan...

Inside the city, Dad had to walk up close to inspect this huge tree...
Some very stylish homes to be admired!

Before driving the 1.5 hour back home, I took Mom & Dad to my favorite Hotel-Restaurant-Café "TANNENHOF' (Tanne means Fir in English and Hof is Garden...
Bad Münstereifel Hotel Restaurant Tannenhof (click on link) has changed over the years and this is the only thing I found on the Internet.

Happily back home in  their own garden with pond...
So glad I did take them on this day-trip and for being able now to look back at fond memories with some photos.

Thanks for your visit and comment!

Related links:
Day-Trip to Paris & Versailles with Mom & Dad | previous post by me
Mom & Dad Often Talked About Siegerland in Germany so we Went Back! | previous post by me
{Mom Did Wear Many Hats} | previous post by me

THIS is Again in the Planning - Biking at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain

Sure we want to go back there!

Callaway Gardens is only 30 miles north of Columbus.

That's where we stayed for our RiverWalk bike and on the next day we biked here at Callaway Gardens before driving back home on October 6 of 2017.

Overlooking Pine Mountain Valley, across from Callaway Gardens Country Store.

Both of us were impressed with this area near Pine Mountain!

Behind Pieter you see to the right the sign of Callaway Gardens Country Store, across from Hwy. 27.
Callaway Gardens Property starts already to the right as well.

Standing at this overlook and Callaway Gardens runs on the other side of Hwy. 27.
We had no idea that Pine Mountain Valley would look like this!
Riding towards the Discovery Center for parking our car and using the restroom.

Behind the Discovery Center is a small restaurant.
First we opt for a cup of coffee before we ride our bikes!

And of course seating outdoors with such surroundings, here at Mountain Creek Lake.

Callaway Gardens can be reached from the crossing of Hwy. 27 and turning onto Hwy. 354 (for us it was a left turn, coming from Columbus which is more south.

The Gardens/Property Map just click link for Pdf of above map.

Bottom right you see the crossing of Hwy. 27 (coming from the left) with Hwy. 354.
The Lookout spot was top left of this map, where it reads: To Columbus, that's where the Country Store is and it is all along the vast property!

It is such a VAST area, we got overwhelmed.

Below this post is a short video, giving you a far better impression of Callaway Gardens.

Pieter enjoying his cup of coffee in such a beautiful surrounding of Mountain Creek Lake.

Yes, we WILL be back here!

Nature around you is incredible; this Great Blue Heron visited us.

Dreaming away while overlooking Mountain Creek Lake and wishing it would not be 2.5 hour driving distance from our home to BE here!

What a joy for being able to bike completely surrounded by nature, so quiet and safe biking too!

Here I stand looking at Hummingbird Lake, one of 13 lakes at Callaway Gardens...
The person who sat up this piece of Paradise deserves some kudos; post humously!

We both feel fortunate for living in such a great State as Georgia has so much to offer.
And for October weather, that compares to mid-summer weather in my birth country of The Netherlands... One BIG reason why we love it here!

Thanks for your visit and comment!

Related link:
Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia | short video about this 12,000 acres resort
Time for Repeating THIS... | previous post by me

Day-Trip to Paris & Versailles in France with Mom & Dad

Also during the summer vacation of 1977, we took Mom & Dad to Paris, France five days after taking them to Siegerland in Germany.

On Monday July 18, we picked the gherkins very tight and left early morning on Tuesday, July 19.

Dad pointing at the Eiffel Tower and explaining to Mom...
It was a very cloudy July day!

This is the route we took by car in 1977.
From Horst aan de Maas, in the south of the Netherlands, through Belgium into France all the way to Paris.
Roughly five hours for a one-way trip!

Bienvenue à Paris! 
Welcome to Paris...
We had a flat tire right on Boulevard Périphérique!

But here we are, viewing the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadéro.

My late husband Frans to the left, me with dachshund Mauzie and Mom, as Dad took this photo and forgot to use the camera vertical...

Me and Dad...
Sorry for the bad photos from that time!
It is all about the memories.

Mauzie my Dachshund has traveled to many countries and quite a number of States in the USA.

The men smoking... Dad enjoying his cigar.

Both my late husband Frans and Mom, did not want to ride up the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower, so Dad and I only went up.

On this picture postcard, you see the Trocadéro underneath the Eiffel Tower, from where we first viewed.

View from the Eiffel Tower down...

View over the river Seine...

View of the Trocadéro and its Jardin.
In the diagonal street to the left we had parked our car... Just across from the river Seine, which you see below with some boats.

Well, in a city like Paris, it is important to find a W.C. or restroom...

We did visit the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, here you see dachshund Mauzie, Me, Mom & Dad admiring the Western Facade of this architectural marvel.

Guess we were amongst ALL tourists...
We also did go to the Palace of Versailles.

Here we are on the left, me with Mauzie and Dad and Mom following...
To the right you see the Royal Chapel under renovation. It is the tallest building of the Palace.

Here you see Mom, my late husband Frans with Mauzie and Dad in front of the statue of Sun King Louis XIV on his horse.

Here you see Dad studying the Fountain Stag... Not working at the time.

My favorite was the Orangerie with its many planters!

A place to linger but we must start the long journey back because early morning the gherkins are calling us in the greenhouse!
Back in those days I loved wearing those bell bottom jeans!
And I had bangs...

Adieu Versailles!
I've been here twice with my late husband, this was my second time.
Went back once more in 1983 with Pieter and his best friend.
IF one had the luxury for staying just a couple of days to see it more in depth...
But we were fortunate for having done this.
Otherwise, Mom & Dad would never ever get to travel to France or Paris!

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Related posts:
Mom & Dad Often Talked About Siegerland in Germany so we Went Back! | previous post by me
{Mom Did Wear Many Hats} | previous post by me
{World Animal Day started in 1931 in Florence, Italy} | previous post by me with Mauzie photos