Travelling in France

Hello again from Pine Mountain. I think winter is finally arriving. It has been raining and almost snowing for the last couple of days. The temperatures are in the 40's F ( 4 C ) in the day time and 30's F (-1 C ) at night. The snow level is down to 6000 feet ( 1829 meters ).


Squeekers my parrot, and I have been tending our winter garden in the attached
greenhouse. It is nice to be safe and warm at about 70 F (21 C ) while rain storms and wind storms swirl by. Squeekers gets scared when it really starts raining or when thunder roles. He goes and hides in the hollow tree stump that I made for him in the greenhouse. He looks out through the knot holes to see if the weather has returned to normal. The peanut plants that I planted are growing though I still have to keep them caged in chicken wire mesh to keep Squeekers from trying to pull them up.

The ranch is on the normal winter routine of tending to the farm animals early in the morning before daylight. We have a big breakfast about 0700 then four or five hours in the greenhouse tending the garden. We enjoy lunch about noon then spend four or five hours working on our internet websites, writing, answering email etc.Finally we have dinner about 1800 then read magazines or watch TV until about 2100 then we head off to bed only to start the next day at 0400.

Well enough about ranch life. This week we leave Germany and Austria behind and begin our travels in France.

If you are new to our newsletter here is how it is laid out.

Section 1 Ranch News

Section2 Alternative Energy

Section3 Health and nutrition

Section4 Travel for Less

Section5 Treasure Hunting

Section6 Traveling in France

Section 7 Pine Mountain Evening


Alternative Energy

Visit the Alternative Energy Store for great prices on solar and wind energy equipment!

Now that the global economy is going into a recession, everyone needs to find ways to conserve and use renewable energy. The Alternative energy store is a place to start. They can help you design a system that will make you energy independent. If you are a person that likes to do things yourself, The Alternative energy store has a library of books and videos to show you how to do things right.

Alternative Energy Handbook

Looking for a way to use alternative energy but you do not want to spend a lot of money. The Alternative Energy Handbook is the answer. There are simple step by step projects complete with illustrations that you can build for pocket change. Go to ==>Alternative energy and learn how you can cut your utility bill.

Hydrogen Fuel

Add an inexpensive hydrogen generator to your vehicle and increase power, reduce emissions, and increase your miles per gallon. Go to ==> Hydrogen Fuel and learn how while supplies last.

Ethos Fuel Additive

How would you like to improve gas mileage, reduce emissions, and have more power all at the same time. Ethos works by reformulating your gasoline so more air mixes with the fuel vapor. This causes your fuel to burn more completely with less emissions. More power is generated by more complete combustion of the fuel. Ethos is environmentally safe and non toxic. Go to ==> Ethos and learn more about this alternative energy supplement.

Nutrition and Health

These days everyone is concerned about nutrition and health. Most of our food is over processed and has very little nutrient value. Our food looks great but not much more. If we want to stay healthy in today’s world we are forced to take supplements. The question is: What supplements will provide what you need for the least amount of time and money? I believe one of the best supplements out there is called acaiplus. It is a blend of vitamins and minerals plus acai to promote health and long life. They also have vitamins to help improve your long term and short term memory. They also have an energy drink that gives you steady long term energy. To learn more about these products go to ==> Acaiplus . Check out Acaiplus, Feed My Brain, and White Lightning. Here on Pine Mountain we drink Acaiplus every day.

Travel for Less

Travel Secrets
Discover how you can fly around the world on a shoestring budget. There are ways to travel for free. These ways are easy to learn if you know the secrets.. Go to ==> Bargain Air Travel to find out. You will be glad you did.

Travel Writing

How would you like to get paid to go on vacation? Travel to all the destinations that you always wanted to travel to and be treated like a VIP. Travel the world on your timetable. If you can write a simple letter about your travels then you have what it takes to be a travel writer. All you need is a little instruction and you will be on your way to a rewarding career. Go to ====> Travel Writing and learn how to be a travel writer

Adventure and Treasure Hunting

Proper Research is the Key

Do you watch movies like Indiana Jones and wish you could do that in real life? Do you like a good mystery and a good adventure? Would you like to use modern methods and tools to find long lost treasure? All this is possible if you learn from the best. Stan Grist, world renown adventurer and treasure hunter has written a course complete with step by step instruction on how to become successful. Go to ==>Treasure Hunting and check out his course “Creating Wealth Through Adventure”Stan now has a new newsletter that tells about all his latest adventures. You can read it by going to ==> http://www.adventure-trader.com/ It comes complete with videos.

And now our feature story.

Travelling in France

We left Germany and Austria behind and entered France near the town of Strasbourg in the Alsace region. Strasbourg is a city of 702,500 people and is the second largest port on the Rhine river. The area is a mixture of French and German culture and is an important manufacturing center.

Strasbourg Cathedral

The center of town is actually an island and is the home Strasbourg Cathedral, the fourth tallest church in the world. Other buildings on the Grand lll island are the centuries old churches of St Thomas, St Pierre le Vieux, St Pierre le Jeune, and St Etienne. This whole center of town island was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1988.

Strasbourg Waterfront

Strasbourg is an ancient town and was first established in Roman times. The town celebrated it's 2000th birthday in 1988. In 1332 more than half the poulation died of a bubonic plague outbreak. In 1518 the dancing plague broke out and 400 people danced constantly for weeks until they died of heart attacks.

Strasbourg is also famous for the Gutenberg printing press which was developed in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg. Another landmark is the Henry's tower bridge that leads to the island.

In 2000 Islamic terrorists tried to blow up the Strasbourg cathedral but were stopped before they could accomplish their goal.

The city has many parks and museums including the Musee des Beaux Art which has paintings by Goya, Botticelli, Reubens,and other famous painters.

We spent several days marveling at the manificent buildings and fine art exhibits of the city. Finally it was time to head west and enter the rest of France.

Pine Mountain Evening

It is another cold winter evening here on Pine Mountain Ranch.

Squeekers is on his perch munching peanuts. Tonight I am enjoying Mocha Java from http://www.coffeefool.com/. This american roast coffee combines rich eithiopian mocha with the sweet taste of coffees from the Java islands. This makes for a complex and unique tasting coffee that goes well with homemade sugar cookies. Squeekers and I have been watching and old TV series called Highlander. My coffee and cookies are now history and my show is over. It has been a long day. I put Squeekers in his cage and turn off the fireplace. It is time for bed. Good night all have a great week. See you next week.

Resources

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strasbourg

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Munich and the Castle Tour

Hello again from Pine Mountain. Our strange winter weather continues. The rain stopped and our daytime temperatures have been in the 60 F ( 4 C ) in the daytime and the 30’s F (- 1 C ) at night. The snow level is up around 7000 feet ( ) It does not look like winter wants to arrive this year. Things are about normal here on the ranch. Early morning chores include milking the cows, collecting eggs from the chickens, and cleaning out horse, donkey and cattle stalls.

Breakfast is around 0700 then Squeekers and I work out in the greenhouse tending plants, fertilizing, watering, etc. Squeekers is my African grey parrot. This year I planted a few peanut plants but had to fence them in because Squeekers is trying to harvest them already. Peanuts are Squeekers favorite food.

Since it has been nice weather this winter, I take a ride on Rocket my horse about once a week. My old John Deere snowmobile sits in the barn ready to go but we have not had any snow yet this winter to bring it out.

Well enough about our boring ranch life. If you are new to our newsletter here is how it is laid out.
Section 1 Ranch News
Section 2 Alternative Energy
Section 3 Health and nutrition
Section 4 Travel for Less
Section 5 Treasure Hunting
Section 6 Munich and the Castle Tour.
Section 7 Pine Mountain Evening


Alternative Energy
Visit the Alternative Energy Store for great prices on solar and wind energy equipment!

Now that the global economy is going into a recession, everyone needs to find ways to conserve and use renewable energy. The Alternative energy store is a place to start. They can help you design a system that will make you energy independent. If you are a person that likes to do things yourself, The Alternative energy store has a library of books and videos to show you how to do things right.

Alternative Energy Handbook

Looking for a way to use alternative energy but you do not want to spend a lot of money. The Alternative Energy Handbook is the answer. There are simple step by step projects complete with illustrations that you can build for pocket change. Go to ==>Alternative energy and learn how you can cut your utility bill.

Hydrogen Fuel

Add an inexpensive hydrogen generator to your vehicle and increase power, reduce emissions, and increase your miles per gallon. Go to ==> Hydrogen Fuel and learn how while supplies last.

Ethos Fuel Additive

How would you like to improve gas mileage, reduce emissions, and have more power all at the same time. Ethos works by reformulating your gasoline so more air mixes with the fuel vapor. This causes your fuel to burn more completely with less emissions. More power is generated by more complete combustion of the fuel. Ethos is environmentally safe and non toxic. Go to ==> Ethos and learn more about this alternative energy supplement.

Nutrition and Health

These days everyone is concerned about nutrition and health. Most of our food is over processed and has very little nutrient value. Our food looks great but not much more. If we want to stay healthy in today’s world we are forced to take supplements. The question is: What supplements will provide what you need for the least amount of time and money? I believe one of the best supplements out there is called acaiplus. It is a blend of vitamins and minerals plus acai to promote health and long life. They also have vitamins to help improve your long term and short term memory. They also have an energy drink that gives you steady long term energy. To learn more about these products go to ==> Acaiplus . Check out Acaiplus, Feed My Brain, and White Lightning. Here on Pine Mountain we drink Acaiplus every day.

Travel for Less
Travel Secrets
Discover how you can fly around the world on a shoestring budget. There are ways to travel for free. These ways are easy to learn if you know the secrets.. Go to ==> Bargain Air Travel to find out. You will be glad you did.

Travel Writing

How would you like to get paid to go on vacation? Travel to all the destinations that you always wanted to travel to and be treated like a VIP. Travel the world on your timetable. If you can write a simple letter about your travels then you have what it takes to be a travel writer. All you need is a little instruction and you will be on your way to a rewarding career. Go to ====> Travel Writing and learn how to be a travel writer

Adventure and Treasure Hunting

Proper Research is the Key

Do you watch movies like Indiana Jones and wish you could do that in real life? Do you like a good mystery and a good adventure? Would you like to use modern methods and tools to find long lost treasure? All this is possible if you learn from the best. Stan Grist, world renown adventurer and treasure hunter has written a course complete with step by step instruction on how to become successful. Go to ==>Treasure Hunting and check out his course “Creating Wealth Through Adventure”

Stan now has a new newsletter that tells about all his latest adventures. You can read it by going to ==> http://www.adventure-trader.com/ It comes complete with videos.

And now our feature story.

Munich and the Castle Tour

We arrived at the airport in Munich Germany. We settled into our hotel and the next morning decided to go on the castle tour. We were at the Karstadt pick up stop at 0800. This stop is across the street from the railroad station.
Our tour bus was very comfortable and our guide gave us a history lesson of the whole area as we drove to our first destination.

Our first stop was Linderhoff castle. It was built in the French Rococo style by King Ludwig II and was used as a hunting lodge. We spent almost 2 hours at this castle then it was back on the bus.
Our next stop was the little town of Oberammergau home of world famous master carvers. It was incredible all the intricate carvings that can be made from wood. Finally we boarded our bus

and headed for our most famous stop, Neuschwanstein Castle.

This castle was built in neo Romanesque style by King Ludwig II and looks like a fairy tale castle. This is the castle that Walt Disney used as his model for the famous Disneyland castle. It was fall when we took the tour and the orange, red, and yellow of the leaves on the trees gave it a fantasy fairy tale look and really made the castle stand out. We spent hours touring this castle.
Finally we boarded our bus for the journey back to our pick up point. We saw many other castles perched on hills overlooking lakes and rivers. Our guide would explain the history of the castles as we drove by. Germany is a land of castles. There seems to be a castle on just about every hill and vantage point in the country. When you combine the fairy tale look of the castles and the fall colors of the trees of all the ancient forests, Germany is truly a land of enchantment.
We enjoyed our tour and finally returned to our hotel at 1700. The next day we did a little sightseeing in Munich then boarded our plane. We looked out the window of the plane as the land of castles was slowly left behind.

Pine Mountain Evening

It is a cool winter night as I sit in my easy chair next to the fireplace. The gas fire provides a warming heat.

Squeekers is on his perch munching peanuts. Tonight I am enjoying Pacific Expresso from http://www.coffeefool.com/. This is a full bodied dark roast Italian style coffee with a smooth and strong after taste. This coffee makes you think that you have gone to Seattle. The coffee goes well with a slice of apple pie.Squeekers and I have been watching and old TV series called Highlander. My coffee and pie are now history and my show is over. It has been a long day. I put Squeekers in his cage and turn off the fireplace. It is time for bed. Good night all have a great week. See you next week.

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Denmark and Castle Kronborg

Hello again from Pine Mountain. Our winter heat wave is slowly starting to end. It has been raining for the last few days and the temperatures are now in the 40’s F ( 4 C ) in the daytime and the 30’s F (- 1 C ) at night. We may even get some snow by tomorrow night if the temperature drops a few more degrees. Our temperatures are still about 10 to 20 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year. Right now the only snow is above 7500 feet ( 2286 meters ) and there is only 3 inches ( 7.62 centimeters ) even at that level.

It is 0700 and I have finished my barn chores and just finished eating breakfast. I will work on this newsletter until about 0800 then work in the greenhouse until about noon.

My little woodworking shop is nearly idle this year. Last year I had more orders than I had time to do them. The whole world seems to be slowing down. Just about all the countries in the world are having financial problems with no end in sight. Companies are laying off people right and left. Now companies have started cutting hours and wages. Most people were living from paycheck to paycheck before the economy went bad. Now even when they cut back to basic necessities of food and shelter there is still not enough to pay the bills. A lot of people now are paying for houses that are worth less than they owe on them.

Eventually people get so far behind in their payments that their house is foreclosed and they are out in the street. If this was just an isolated case it would be one thing but this is happening to whole neighborhoods. Then when there are whole neighborhoods of empty houses, the looters move in and strip all the plumbing and wires to sell for a few dollars at the scrap yards. The houses then become more costly to fix than they are worth.

The main problem is that for the last 40 to 50 years countries have built economies that are not sustainable. Everything became more and more urbanized with more and more people being crammed into smaller and smaller spaces.

The news keeps comparing the present economy to that of the depression of the 30’s but that is like trying to compare apples and oranges.
The economy of the 30’s was a rural one. Sure there were towns and cities but even most city dwellers had yards that could be turned into gardens if they needed them. Most commerce was local in nature. Things were made and consumed in a local area. The population was a lot smaller, in 1930 there were 122 million people in the United States and 2 billion people in the world.

Today there are 305 million in the United States and 6.8 billion people in the world. The majority of the population lives in the big cities. People are used to having things from around the world. Most people have cell phones and computers and can communication almost instantly with anyone just about anywhere in the world. The problem is all most people know is how to survive in the urban jungles that we have created. They count on a paycheck and if that paycheck is not there, they can not survive.

In the 1930’s when things did not work out in the city people could return to the family farm and at least survive. Today so much good farmland has been taken over by the sprawling urban cities and there are so many more people that even if people wanted to return to a rural lifestyle there is probably not enough workable land to go around. Even if people were given land for a garden they would have to be taught how to grow things since they never learned.

Here at the ranch we are lucky. Everything is paid for. We have our own Wind, solar and water power generating system so even if the grid goes down we are self sustained. As long as we can pay the property tax and total law and order does not break down so people swarm like locusts we will survive.

Well enough about the problems of the world. If you are new to our website, here is how things are arranged.


Section 1 Ranch News

Section 2 Alternative Energy

Section 3 Health and nutrition

Section 4 Travel for Less

Section 5 Treasure Hunting

Section 6 Denmark and Castle Kronburg

Section 7 Pine Mountain Evening

Alternative Energy

Visit the Alternative Energy Store for great prices on solar and wind energy equipment!

Now that the global economy is going into a recession, everyone needs to find ways to conserve and use renewable energy. The Alternative energy store is a place to start. They can help you design a system that will make you energy independent. If you are a person that likes to do things yourself, The Alternative energy store has a library of books and videos to show you how to do things right.

Alternative Energy Handbook

Looking for a way to use alternative energy but you do not want to spend a lot of money. The Alternative Energy Handbook is the answer. There are simple step by step projects complete with illustrations that you can build for pocket change. Go to ==>
Alternative energy and learn how you can cut your utility bill.

Hydrogen Fuel

Add an inexpensive hydrogen generator to your vehicle and increase power, reduce emissions, and increase your miles per gallon. Go to ==> Hydrogen Fuel and learn how while supplies last.

Ethos Fuel Additive

How would you like to improve gas mileage, reduce emissions, and have more power all at the same time. Ethos works by reformulating your gasoline so more air mixes with the fuel vapor. This causes your fuel to burn more completely with less emissions. More power is generated by more complete combustion of the fuel. Ethos is environmentally safe and non toxic. Go to ==> Ethos and learn more about this alternative energy supplement.

Nutrition and Health

These days everyone is concerned about nutrition and health. Most of our food is over processed and has very little nutrient value. Our food looks great but not much more. If we want to stay healthy in today’s world we are forced to take supplements. The question is: What supplements will provide what you need for the least amount of time and money? I believe one of the best supplements out there is called acaiplus. It is a blend of vitamins and minerals plus acai to promote health and long life. They also have vitamins to help improve your long term and short term memory. They also have an energy drink that gives you steady long term energy. To learn more about these products go to ==> Acaiplus . Check out Acaiplus, Feed My Brain, and White Lightning. Here on Pine Mountain we drink Acaiplus every day.

Travel for Less

Travel Secrets

Discover how you can fly around the world on a shoestring budget. There are ways to travel for free. These ways are easy to learn if you know the secrets.. Go to ==> Bargain Air Travel to find out. You will be glad you did.


Travel Writing

How would you like to get paid to go on vacation? Travel to all the destinations that you always wanted to travel to and be treated like a VIP. Travel the world on your timetable. If you can write a simple letter about your travels then you have what it takes to be a travel writer. All you need is a little instruction and you will be on your way to a rewarding career. Go to ====> Travel Writing and learn how to be a travel writer

Adventure and Treasure Hunting


Proper Research is the Key

Do you watch movies like Indiana Jones and wish you could do that in real life? Do you like a good mystery and a good adventure? Would you like to use modern methods and tools to find long lost treasure? All this is possible if you learn from the best. Stan Grist, world renown adventurer and treasure hunter has written a course complete with step by step instruction on how to become successful. Go to ==>Treasure Hunting and check out his course “Creating Wealth Through Adventure”

Stan now has a new newsletter that tells about all his latest adventures. You can read it by going to ==> http://www.adventure-trader.com/ It comes complete with videos.

And now our feature story.

Denmark and Castle Kronborg

Denmark is a small Scandinavian country that is north of Germany and South of Norway. People have lived there for 100,000 years. The last ice age from 70,000 to 12,000 years ago drove people south into Germany but they returned when the ice melted. The country has been inhabited ever since.

We landed at Copenhagen international and the caught the train north along the east coast of Denmark.

It was an interesting journey. The train took a while with all the stops but finally we arrived at our destination, Helsingor street. We left the station and made our way to Skandia Hotel where we spent the night.

The next day we made our way to Kronborg Castle. This historic castle guards the 4 kilometer wide Oresund waterway that separates Denmark from Sweden and leads to the Baltic Sea. The Castle was built in the 1420’s by Eric of Pomerania. The castle was expanded into a magnificent Renaissance Castle by Fredrick II in 1585.

In 1629 two workmen caught the castle on fire. Only the chapel survived. Christian IV rebuilt the castle but the inside never quite regained it’s original splendor.
In 1658, the Swedes under Carl Wrangel took over the castle. After the Swedes were driven back the castle was strengthened and a new wall called the Crownworks was added. Other Ramparts and fortifications were added and the castle was considered the strongest castle in Europe.
In 1739 the fortress became a prison. It was a prison until the middle 1800’s. From January to April of 1772 , Princess Caroline Matilda of Wales was held there. Kromborg was a military fortress from 1785 until 1922. The fortress was the setting that William Shakespeare used for his famous play Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Today the castle is a UNESCO world heritage site.
We finished our tour of the castle then went back to hotel Skandia. The next morning we took the train back to Copenhagen. We checked out a few shops in Copenhagen then it was time to leave. We went to the airport boarded our plane and left the country of Denmark behind.

Pine Mountain Evening

It is evening once again at the Pine Mountain ranch. Out doors it is raining but it has not quite become cold enough to snow. Inside I am warm and dry as I sit in my easy chair next to the fire in our gas fired fireplace. Squeekers, my African grey parrot is sitting on his perch eating his favorite snack, peanuts.

I have just finished dinner of chili, salad, and dinner rolls. Now I am trying a new flavored coffee from http://www.coffeefool.com/. Tonight I am trying Tanzanian Peaberry. This is an American roast coffee with a hearty flavor, a fruity taste with a touch of zing from the lower slopes of mount Kilimajaro in eastern Africa. It goes quite well with a plate of sugar cookies.

Well my coffee and cookies are done now and it is time for bed. I put Squeekers in his cage and turn off the fireplace. Good night all see you next week. I hope everyone has a good week ahead.

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Adventure in the Philippines

Hello again from Pine Mountain. We have been having a heat wave here on the west coast while up north and on the east coast they are having record cold. It is the middle of January. Normally we would have snow on the ground and it would be the middle of winter.Instead it is 70 degrees Fahrenheit.Meanwhile the north and east part of the country are having one of the coldest winters on record.

Here on the ranch I have been working in my greenhouse garden. Last week I planted a small peanut patch. This week the plants are already poking through the soil. Squeekers my African grey parrot peeps trying to eat the plants so I had to build a small chicken wire enclosure to keep him out. Well enough about the ranch.

This week our adventure takes place in the Philippines. If you are new to our site, here is how things are organized.

Section 1 Ranch News

Section 2 Alternative Energy

Section 3 Health and nutrition

Section 4 Travel for Less

Section 5 Treasure Hunting

Section 6 Adventure in the Philippines
Section 7 Pine Mountain Evening


Alternative Energy

Visit the Alternative Energy Store for great prices on solar and wind energy equipment!

Now that the global economy is going into a recession, everyone needs to find ways to conserve and use renewable energy. The Alternative energy store is a place to start. They can help you design a system that will make you energy independant. If you are a person that likes to do things yourself, The Alternative energy store has a library of books and videos to show you how to do things right.

Alternative Energy Handbook

Looking for a way to use alternative energy but you do not want to spend a lot of money. The Alternative Energy Handbook is the answer. There are simple step by step projects complete with illustrations that you can build for pocket change. Go to ==>

Alternative energy and learn how you can cut your utility bill.

Hydrogen Fuel

Add an inexpensive hydrogen generator to your vehicle and increase power, reduce emissions, and increase your miles per gallon. Go to ==> Hydrogen Fuel and learn how while supplies last.

Ethos Fuel Additive

How would you like to improve gas milage, reduce emissions, and have more power all at the same time. Ethos works by reformulating your gasoline so more air mixes with the fuel vapor. This causes your fuel to burn more completely with less emissions. More power is generated by more complete combustion of the fuel. Ethos is environmentally safe and non toxic. Go to ==> Ethos and learn more about this alternative energy supplement.

Nutrition and Health

These days everyone is concerned about nutrition and health. Most of our food is over processed and has very little nutrient value. Our food looks great but not much more. If we want to stay healthy in today’s world we are forced to take supplements. The question is: What supplements will provide what you need for the least amount of time and money? I believe one of the best supplements out there is called acaiplus. It is a blend of vitamins and minerals plus acai to promote health and long life. They also have vitamins to help improve your long term and short term memory. They also have an energy drink that gives you steady long term energy. To learn more about these products go to ==> Acaiplus . Check out Acaiplus, Feed My Brain, and White Lightning. Here on Pine Mountain we drink Acaiplus every day.

Travel for Less

Travel Secrets

Discover how you can fly around the world on a shoestring budget. There are ways to travel for free. These ways are easy to learn if you know the secrets.. Go to ==> Bargain Air Travel to find out. You will be glad you did.

Travel Writing

How would you like to get paid to go on vacation? Travel to all the destinations that you always wanted to travel to and be treated like a VIP. Travel the world on your timetable. If you can write a simple letter about your travels then you have what it takes to be a travel writer. All you need is a little instruction and you will be on your way to a rewarding career. Go to ====> Travel Writing and learn how to be a travel writer

Adventure and Treasure Hunting

Proper Research is the Key

Do you watch movies like Indiana Jones and wish you could do that in real life? Do you like a good mystery and a good adventure? Would you like to use modern methods and tools to find long lost treasure? All this is possible if you learn from the best. Stan Grist, world renown adventurer and treasure hunter has written a course complete with step by step instruction on how to become successful. Go to ==>Treasure Hunting and check out his course “Creating Wealth Through Adventure”

And now our feature story.

Adventure in the Philippines

Our Plane landed in Manila and after we claimed our luggage, our friends car and driver took us to the apartment in Cubao. The first evening we rested up from our journey and the next morning we explored the local area. We found a farmers market and bought fresh fruit and

vegetables for breakfast.

After breakfast we all piled into the hired jeepney. A jeepney is a stretched jeep that has a rear door and 2 bench seats one on either side. They normally can hold about 10 to 12 people and since were only six people we had plenty of room. The first day we went to Tanay Rizal and met other people that we knew. That evening we went to the local dance club and spent the evening listening to the music and even dancing a little.

The next day we toured the countryside then went up the mountains to a town called Baggio. There we saw the mountain people that they call Indians.

My sister rented a pony and rode around the small park. We spent the night in Baggio then left the next day for a ride down the coast.

We saw fish farms in the lagoon and rice fields everywhere. The farmers used the heated concrete of the road as a place to dry their rice.

We returned to Cubao that evening then the next day we took a tricycle to the market for more fresh vegetable. A tricycle is a motor bike with an elaborate side car added. They are used the same way we use taxis here.

After breakfast we took our hired jeepney and went to visit an old Marcos mansion called Palace in the sky.

We stopped at three sisters falls on the way back. Three sisters is a resort where many movies have been made. We spent several more days touring the islands and then it was time to head home. We said goodbye to our hosts and then took the long plane ride back to the United States..

Pine Mountain Evening

It is evening once more and I am relaxing here on Pine Mountain in my easy chair in front of the fireplace. The gas fueled fire in the fireplace takes the chill off the mountain evening. Squeekers my African Grey parrot is sitting on his perch munching peanuts.

I am relaxing with my coffee from http://www.coffeefool.com/. Tonight I am trying Raspberry Squared. This coffee has both red and black raspberries mixed with American roast coffee . If you like raspberries this is the coffee for you. It is just the right drink for a cold evening. Squeekers and I have been watching another Sci fi series called Highlander. Both my coffee and my TV show are over now. It has been a long day. I put Squeekers in his cage, turn off the gas fireplace, and head upstairs to bed. Good night all. See you next week.

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A Journey to Tasmania

Hello again from Pine Mountain. Well the first week of the new year is over. The holidays are now a memory until the end of the year. This week I finished taking down the Christmas decorations. They are now in there boxes for another year.

The snowstorm that we were expecting did not quite happen this week. We just had a little dusting of snow. You have to go above 7000 feet to find any real snow. There is about 6 to 10 inches( 2.36cm to 3.9 cm) above that level. Down here at the ranch it almost makes 50 F (10 C) in the day time. At night it is in the 20s F (- 6C). Our ever present wind makes it seem a lot colder. In about a week or two winter will really set in.

Well it is chores as usual here on the ranch. Nothing much changes there. I am glad for my greenhouse. Even when it is winter outside my greenhouse stays nice and warm at around 70 F( 21 C). I get to have fresh vegetables year around. These days with the economy the way it is, more people need to start growing vegetables to stretch their income. The next few years are going to be rough on just about everyone worldwide.

This year I have set aside a small section of the greenhouse to try and grow peanuts which is the favorite food of Squeekers, my African grey parrot. Peanuts need a sandy soil to grow well and they are planted deep about 2 inches deep. The plants need to be spaced about 7 inches apart. I watered them well when I planted them from raw peanuts. You can also plant them from seeds but it takes longer and you usually do not get good results. I waited until they sprouted to water them again. Peanuts have a long growing season about 130 days. They need to be watered sparingly or they will rot. We will see at harvest time if it was worth all the effort.

Well enough about things at the ranch this week we have a story about a sightseeing trip to Tasmania.

If you are new to our newsletter, Here is how this issue is laid out.

Section 1 Ranch news

Section 2 Alternative Energy

Section 3 Travel for Less

Section 4 Lost Treasure

Section 5 Journey to Tasmania

Section 6 Pine Mountain Evening

Each section has links to product websites. Just click on the colored words and you will go to that products website.

Alternative Energy

Visit the Alternative Energy Store for great prices on solar and wind energy equipment!


Looking for a way to cut energy costs but not really sure what you need? The knowledgeable folks at The Alternative Energy Store can help. They can help you plan your system with just the right components. If you would like to research your options yourself, The Alternative Energy Store has a complete library of books and videos to give you the education you need.


Alternative Energy Handbook

Do you need simple and inexpensive ways to save on alternative energy? Click on
==> Alternative energy and learn simple ways you can cut your electric bill.

Hydrogen Fuel

Would you like to increase your gas mileage, reduce emissions, and have more power. An inexpensive hydrogen generator can be added to your present fuel system to save you money.
Go to ==> Hydrogen Fuel to learn more while supplies last.

Ethos Fuel Additive

Do you want to increase your fuel economy and create 30% less pollution? How about increase your gas mileage and increase your power too. An environmentally safe non toxic product called Ethos will do just that.
It improves gas economy by reformulating your gasoline to allow more air to be mixed with the fuel vapor. This causes cleaner combustion and increases power. Your fuel burns more completely and thus produces less emissions. All you have to do is add a couple ounces per tank of gasoline or diesel. Go to ==>Ethos and learn more about this alternative energy supplement.



Travel for Less

Discounts, Incentives, Rebates, and Promotions

Are you tired of paying high airfares only to be crammed into a tight seat when you travel? Find out how you can save hundreds of dollars on your next flight. You may even be able to fly first class for the cost of coach if you know the secret. Learn how you can save enough money to take that once in a lifetime vacation. Go to ==>Cheap Travel and find out now while supplies last.



Travel Writing

Have you ever wished that you could travel for a living. Does the call of far off places thrill you? Would you like to travel the world on your own schedule and see the places that you want to see? Would you like to enjoy your vacation and get paid for it too? Long to travel on your own schedule and enjoy your vacation? Would you like to travel for a living and see new and interesting places every day? Would you like to be pampered like a VIP and enjoy life all for just writing about your travel adventures? Do you like to write letters to your relatives telling them about your recent vacation? Then you have what it takes to become a travel writer. All you need is a little instruction and you can have a dream job too. Go to ==> Travel Writing and learn how you to can become a travel writer.

Adventure and Treasure Hunting

Proper Research is the Key


Do you watch movies like Indiana Jones and wish you could do that in real life? Do you like a good mystery and a good adventure? Would you like to use modern methods and tools to find long lost treasure? All this is possible if you learn from the best. Stan Grist, world renown adventurer and treasure hunter has written a course complete with step by step instruction on how to become successful. Go to ==>Treasure Hunting and check out his course “Creating Wealth Through Adventure”

And now our feature story.

A Journey to Tasmania

Last week we were in the frozen north. This week it is time to warm up and visit the land down under. Tasmania is a group of islands 150 miles (240 Kilometers) south of Australia on the eastern side of the country. Tasmania is a part of Australia. And since it is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are the reverse of ours. Right now in January it is the middle of summer.

We flew into Hobart the capital of Tasmania from Sidney on Quantas. This time of year it is the dry season but even in the dry season it rains about every second day. The main island is slightly larger than the US state of West Virginia. Tasmania is 26,410 square miles (68,401 square Kilometers). About one third of the island is nature preserves and is in a natural untouched state. The northern coast is the most populous. Today almost 500,000 people live in Tasmania.

We picked up our rental car went across the Tasman bridge and took the east Derwent highway north to Bridgewater. At Bridgewater we turned on the Midland highway. We drove on until we came to Oatlands where we stopped to tour the old historical Callington mill.

Oatland is a town of about 500 people.

After lunch we continued north on Midland highway better known as highway 1. We arrived in Launceston just before dark and spent the night there.

The next morning we headed west on highway 1 through Westbury and turned south on highway 5 at Deloraine. We stopped for lunch at Liffey falls.

We kept heading south and went around Great Lake. We turned on Waddamana road. We took that to Bashan road and took Bashan road to Victoria Valley road. We continued on until we reached the city of Ouse where we spent the night.

The next day we headed south on Lyell Highway. We stopped for lunch at New Norfolk then on to Bridgewater then south to Hobart. We spent the night in Hobart and caught our plane to Sidney the next morning. This was another vacation where we needed more time to thoroughly explore the island. Maybe another year.

That was our Tasmanian journey.

Tasmanian History

The original inhabitants, the aborigines settled in Tasmania over 35,000 years ago. Tasmania was joined to mainland Australia until the end of the last ice age about 10,000 years ago.The first European to find the island was Abel Tasman in 1642. The island was later named after him.

The native population was about 10,000 when the Europeans arrived. In 1833 there ranks had dwindled to about 300 because of war disease and mistreatment. The last 300 were moved to Flinders island by 1833.

The first european colonies on the island were prison colonies in the early 1800's. Today the island is an Australian state.

Pine Mountain Evening

It is evening once more and I am relaxing here on Pine Mountain in my easy chair in front of the fireplace. The gas fueled fire in the fireplace takes the chill off the mountain evening. Squeekers my African Grey parrot is sitting on his perch munching peanuts.


I am relaxing with my coffee from http://www.coffeefool.com/. Tonight I am trying Moca Java . This coffee has a distinct taste of Ethiopian Mocha mixed with the distinct taste of coffee from the Java islands . It goes well with almost all deserts. It is just the right drink for a cold evening. Squeekers and I have been watching another Sci fi series called Highlander. Both my coffee and my TV show are over now. It has been a long day. I put Squeekers in his cage, turn off the gas fireplace, and head upstairs to bed. Good night all. See you next week.

resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmania

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New Year's in the Medieval Fairy Tale Town of Vyborg

Hello again from Pine Mountain. It is now 2009. Another year has begun and the holidays are over for another year. November and December went by so fast. Here at the ranch I started taking down the Christmas decorations. I put away the 6 foot snowman and Santa and his sleigh. I put away the electric Christmas candles and wreaths that were in every window in the house. Now all I have to do is take down all the strings of lights that outline the house and garage. The Christmas tree was taken down and put away yesterday. It will take me another week to take down all the lights.

The weather is sunny but windy today, but then it is almost always windy here on the ranch. The weatherman said we are supposed to get about 5 to 6 inches of snow tonight. Winter is definitely here.

We had our traditional New Years dinner yesterday.We had mashed potatoes and gravy with saurkraut served on the side.We had cranberry sauce, dinner rolls,corn, and mincemeat pie for desert.

Well enough about the ranch. This week our roving writer Roxana returns with a story about a New Year’s adventure in Vyborg. Vyborg is a Russian town that is close to the Finnish border.

If you are new to our Newsletter here is how it is arranged.

Section 1 Ranch News

Section 2 Alternative Energy

Section 3 Nutrition and Health

Section 4 Travel for Less

Section 5 Treasure Hunting

Section 6 This Weeks Adventure

Section 7 Pine Mountain Evening

Each one of the sections has links to websites and products. Just click on any of the colored words and you will go to one of our product websites.

Finally in section 7 we have coffee by the roaring fire in the fireplace and wish you a good night and a good week ahead. I hope you enjoy our newsletter and return at least once a week for a new adventure and new products and programs to improve your life.

Alternative Energy Store

Visit the Alternative Energy Store for great prices on solar and wind energy equipment!

Alternative energy is the way of the future.The Alternative Energy Store has the latest products at reasonable prices.
Do you want an Alternative energy system but do not know where to start? The folks at the Alternative Energy Store will be happy to help you plan an efficient system. The Alternative Energy Store has many books and videos that lead you step by step to an installed system.


Alternative Energy Handbook

Do you want to cut your electric bill? Are you looking for easy and inexpensive ways to save energy? Click on ==> Alternative energy and learn simple ways you can cut your electric bill.

Hydrogen Fuel

Would you like to increase your gas mileage, reduce emissions, and have more power. An inexpensive hydrogen generator can be added to your present fuel system to save you money.
Go to ==> Hydrogen Fuel to learn more while supplies last.

Ethos Fuel Additive

Do you want to increase your fuel economy and create 30% less pollution? How about increase your gas mileage and increase your power too. An environmentally safe non toxic product called Ethos will do just that.
It improves gas economy by reformulating your gasoline to allow more air to be mixed with the fuel vapor. This causes cleaner combustion and increases power. Your fuel burns more completely and thus produces less emissions. All you have to do is add a couple ounces per tank of gasoline or diesel. Go to ==> Ethos and learn more about this alternative energy supplement.

Nutrition and Health

These days everyone is concerned about nutrition and health. Most of our food is over processed and has very little nutrient value. Our food looks great but not much more. If we want to stay healthy in today’s world we are forced to take supplements. The question is: What supplements will provide what you need for the least amount of time and money? I believe one of the best supplements out there is called acaiplus. It is a blend of vitamins and minerals plus acai to promote health and long life. They also have vitamins to help improve your long term and short term memory. They also have an energy drink that gives you steady long term energy. To learn more about these products go to ==> Acaiplus . Check out Acaiplus, Feed My Brain, and White Lightning. Here on Pine Mountain we drink Acaiplus every day.

Travel for Less

Discounts, Incentives, Rebates, and Promotions

Are you tired of paying high airfares only to be crammed into a tight seat when you travel? Find out how you can save hundreds of dollars on your next flight. You may even be able to fly first class for the cost of coach if you know the secret. Learn how you can save enough money to take that once in a lifetime vacation. Go to ==> Cheap Travel and find out now while supplies last.



Travel Writing

Have you ever wished that you could travel for a living. Does the call of far off places thrill you? Would you like to travel the world on your own schedule and see the places that you want to see? Would you like to enjoy your vacation and get paid for it too? Long to travel on your own schedule and enjoy your vacation? Would you like to travel for a living and see new and interesting places every day? Would you like to be pampered like a VIP and enjoy life all for just writing about your travel adventures? Do you like to write letters to your relatives telling them about your recent vacation? Then you have what it takes to become a travel writer. All you need is a little instruction and you can have a dream job too. Go to ==> Travel Writing and learn how you to can become a travel writer.

Adventure and Treasure Hunting

Proper Research is the Key


Do you watch movies like Indiana Jones and wish you could do that in real life? Do you like a good mystery and a good adventure? Would you like to use modern methods and tools to find long lost treasure? All this is possible if you learn from the best. Stan Grist, world renown adventurer and treasure hunter has written a course complete with step by step instruction on how to become successful. Go to ==> Treasure Hunting and check out his course “Creating Wealth Through Adventure”

And now our feature story.

New Year’s in the Medieval Fairy Tale Town of Vyborg I have traveled for the New Year to Vyborg, a snowy fairy tale medieval town northwest of Saint Petersburg. Our trip began in Saint Petersburg. When all of us were seated on the train in our places, we set out to see off the old year (it is a Russian tradition seeing off the leaving year and welcoming the New Year). It was New Year’s eve morning when we arrived in Vyborg. We had breakfast in a small cafe. It was a good breakfast. They had red and black caviar but it was too early in the morning for salty fish eggs for me. The cowberry pies were very tasty. The trip from Saint-Petersburg up to Vyborg was very long. It took almost 5 hours with all the stops to make the journey. After breakfast in the café we made our way to the hotel "Druzhba" translated means friendship. We were tired from our night on the train so we checked into our rooms and slept up until time for the evening banquet. At the banquet we ate too much till we couldn't move,and also,for sure we had vodka with beer which we brought from Saint Petersburg. Hotel Druzhbah had an excellent nightclub. We finished our banquet and then we danced and drank vodka until the New Year arrived. We partied until after 2 AM then finally returned to our hotel rooms. The morning of January 1 began at noon for us. Our friends made us go on a walk in Monrepo Park. (It is a park on coast of Finland's gulf ) I was angry at first, that they made me go along because I was still hung over from the night before. But then I was shocked and amazed when I saw this nature. The pine wood, The rocks, silence, a sunny day " a frost and the sun - day wonderful ". (For those who have not understood. these are words from one of Pushkin's poems.) After that we drank water from a spring. So charming I wish I could always live like that. We ate dinner at the hotel (by the way, the russian cabbage soup there was excellent. It was the same taste like my mom cooks. After dinner we went for a walk in the town. It was cold and the snow crunched under our boots. We were glad when we returned to the warmth of our hotel room. The next day already the weather had changed. A cold crude wind was blowing. The water around the tower in the medieval lock all was frozen. But the city from height of the bird's flight looks super. Here I also have understood why round referred to ".. A medieval fairy tale ". In the second half of the day we took a bus to a mountain skiing resort. The road was slippery, visibility was bad and it was terrible. On and on we went. Everyone had already long lost their desire to go for a drive in the mountains. Finally we arrived and saw the snow. Everyone wanted to play games in the snowdrifts. We had ordered inflatable tubes in advance so we did not have to stand in line to ride the new snow down the mountain. Everyone played on the mountain up to weariness, and in the bus on the way back to town we were greeted with a surprise: vodka and salt cucumbers. The weather cleared up, and the way back to the hotel passed really fast. We packed our bags and boarded the train back to Saint Petersburg.I still have an unforgettable impression of Vyborg this small, but enchantingly beautiful city. If you ever travel to St.-Petersburg, you need to visit Vyborg. Vyborg History Vyborg is one of the oldest towns in Russia. The original inhabitants were Karellians. In 1323 after many decades of battles, Vyborg and much of the surrounding area became part of Sweden. In 1710 Vyborg was captured in the great northern war by Peter the Great of Russia. By 1809 all of Finland became part of Russia. Vyborg became Viipuri. During the Russian revolution of 1917, Finland including Viipuri became independent of Russia. Viipuri was part of Finland and became the second largest city in Finland.This lasted until 1940 when the Russians again took over the city during the winter war. The Finns reclaimed the town in August 1941. The Russians captured the town in June 20 1944. The towns name was changed to the present Vyborg and it has been part of Russia ever since. Today Vyborg is known for paper production and Tourism. It has a population of over 80,000 people. Resources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viipuri Pine Mountain Evening

It is evening once more and I am relaxing here on Pine Mountain in my easy chair in front of the fireplace. The gas fueled fire in the fireplace takes the chill off the mountain evening. Squeekers

my African Grey parrot is sitting on his perch munching peanuts.

I am relaxing with my coffee from http://www.coffeefool.com/. Tonight I am trying Snoodle Doodle Coffee. This coffee has a distinct taste of Swiss chocolate, coconut, cinnamon, and hazlenut mixed with American roast coffee. It is another desert coffee. It is just the right drink for New Year’s and it goes well with a plate of sugar cookies. Squeekers and I have been watching another Sci fi series called Highlander. Both my coffee and my TV show are over now. It has been a long day. I put Squeekers in his cage, turn off the gas fireplace, and head upstairs to bed. Good night all. See you next week.

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