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

Trümmelbach Falls

Trümmelbach Falls : Trümmelbach, CH

On our last day in Lauterbrunnen, we drove back up toward Stechelberg. About halfway there, we stopped at Trümmelbach Falls. The falls are the glacier defile for the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. The falls are inside the mountain and accessible by elevator and stairs. They produce nearly 5,300 gallons (20,000 liters) of water per second. The falls are incredibly impressive and worth the 11 Swiss francs for admission.

The Corkscrew : Trümmelbach Falls : Trümmelbach, CH

The river at the end of the falls... : Trümmelbach, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/11

Fuerteventura : Part II

Western sand dunes : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain

Jan and Christa and their dogs, Felix and Candy, often go for long walks out to the coast. They took us on one such walk our first full day on the island.

Sand and sea : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain

Volcanic rock and sea sand : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain

Fuerteventura was once covered in active volcanoes, which explains the mix of sand from the sea and volcanic rock from the island combining to make these dunes. Here are a few photos of Fuerteventura's west coast.

The Blues : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Water

Sainte-Chapelle in a Glass : Paris, FR

Nothing too exciting today. Just a glass of water on a blue table cloth at a sidewalk cafe on the Left Bank a block away from Notre Dame. That steeple in the background and in the water is part of Saint Chapelle.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 08/09