Ahhhhhhh...

 On the water : Lac Leman, CH

For the last eight years that I lived in the States, I kayaked. I've paddled on Tomales Bay, Elkhorn Slough, the Potomac River, and a few other places. I have my own PFD (personal flotation device, aka life jacket) and I was hoping to eventually buy my own boat. Then I moved to Europe. I live near the largest fresh water lake in all of Western Europe--Lac Leman/Lake Geneva and have yet to get out on the water. Part of that was knowing/not knowing where to rent kayaks. 

Maya and Jo show us how it's done, rudderless : Lac Leman, CH

Yesterday evening, a group of us joined organizer Charlene Jannerfeldt of SHEzone for a sunset kayak on Lac Leman. We started at Vergenon near Chambesy and paddled all the way up to Tannay, just above Versoix. About 10 km/6 miles. It was great to be on the water again! Here are a couple of pictures.

 Jo and Maya with the tip of Mont Blanc in the background : Lac Leman, CH

And now I know where to rent kayaks, so no more excuses! (Although, I'm not 100% sure I'm a fan of late-in-the-day lake kayaking. Too much wake. I may have to see about doing early morning paddling... I wonder if I can convince Maya or if it will even be possible to get a boat that early in the day?)

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 08/2012

Plitvička Lakes

Just one of many waterfalls in this beautiful national park in northern Croatia : Plitvička, HZ

We're off on a road trip again. This time, we're going to Croatia to visit Plitvice Lakes. Maya was there in the late 1980s and always talks about how beautiful it is. And she was right! Just a couple of photos from one of the most beautiful natural wonders I've ever seen. To see more photos from this beauty, click here.

The colors were so amazing. Bright greens, deep turquoise blues. : Plitvička Lake, HZ

The water was so clear. Just one example here. : Plitvička, HZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Interlaken und Brienzersee

 Lone Fisher : Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland : Canton Bern, CH

Located in the Bernese Oberland, Interlaken lies midway between two Swiss lakes: Thunsee (Lake Thune) and Brienzersee (Lake Brienz.) There are a number of gasthofs for overnighting and lakeside villages worth visiting. If you're willing to go as far as Brienz, you can also see Ballenberg, a park which recreates the regions of Switzerland and features architecture, food, crafts, animals, industries, and costumes unique to each region.

 Winter fountain in Interlaken and the Eiger in the background : Canton Bern, CH

This area is home to three of Switzerland's most famous peak's: the Jungfrau (Virgin), Monch (Monk), and Eiger (Ogre) and is also the location of the Schilthorn, billed as "The Top of Europe." The Schilthorn featured rather prominently in the 1969 James Bond film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", starring one-time Bond, George Lazenby, and the beautiful Dame Diana Rigg.

To see a few more shots of this area in winter, please visit my Picasa Web Album.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10