Thursday, November 14, 2019

Planes, Trains, and Snowmobiles by Paige Shelton

JENN McKINLAY: I have a high bar for friendship, which basically consists of do you have a sense of humor and do you like baked goods. My friend, Paige Shelton, made me laugh out loud  the first time we met and we share a deep and abiding love of cake. As you can see, she's my people and her latest book, Thin Ice, is coming out in just a few weeks! I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek and it's fantastic! Here's Paige to tell us more about her journey to Alaska, the setting of Thin Ice.


Available December 3rd!

PAIGE SHELTON: I was watching the news the other night, and it seems a few airports are going to allow non-travelers through security so they may greet their loved ones at the gates, just like in the old days. I guess that’s a step forward, except I can’t think of many people I’d walk through the security line for just to greet as they deplane. Still, I appreciate the idea. 

I love to travel – but probably only in theory. In truth, unless it’s a road trip with no strict rules attached, the travel part of any good trip has turned into the worst part of the adventure. 

I do love to be at my destination, my bag hoisted up onto one of those folding luggage racks, the idea of unpacking already forgotten for the chance to head out and explore. That’s the good part, the destination.  

Except when it comes to traveling in Alaska. Not only was my research trip for THIN ICE made up of wonderful and interesting destinations, much of the travel was fun, too. 

The Juneau airport was a joy. It’s small, but not too small, and very easy to get from plane to luggage to rental cars or cabs. They even have giant freezers inside the airport to hold tourists’ caught fish until it’s time to head home. Everyone was polite, helpful, and didn’t seem to be in a crazy rush. When we landed, I wondered if we’d have the same luck when we took off for home again; we did. 

Though we rented a car, we used Uber a couple times in the city. One of our vehicles also contained a beautiful, friendly, and well-mannered Husky dog, so win-win-win there. I didn’t even know dogs weren’t supposed to be on board until recently, but I wouldn’t have protested anyway, and I will request a guest Husky every time I Uber now.

We took an Alaska Marine highway ferry over to Gustavus, which is where Glacier Bay National Park is located. The scenic route gave us four hours of good views, time to enjoy some snacks, and a moment or two for naps, though no whales were sighted. As we boarded the ferry, I noticed a job posting on the dock that said something like: “Tired of the same old, boring office job. Come work for us and you’ll never settle for ordinary again.” I thought briefly about taking the bait. 

We boarded a big tourist boat for the trip out to the glaciers. No napping on that one. Too much to see – birds, bears, sheep, tired kayakers who needed rescue (yes, really happened), although no whales there either. I was pretty sure they were watching us, though. I mean, it seems as if all the whales in the world travel near Alaska; I’ve seen the pictures. 

We finally found them! They were all around us as we roamed the ocean in a small fishing/whale-watching boat. Seeing the whales might have been the best part of the whole trip, even if the boat was small and the ocean was really, really big. We saw so many whales, I lost count. 

Photo of whales in Alaska from Pixabay

There were plenty of vehicles, like cars and vans, in the small town of Gustavus, but tucked inside barns and under tarps, snowmobiles and dog sleds awaited winter. I was told that the few paved roads are sometimes cleared, but other modes of transportation become necessary when the dark, snowy winters hit. I’ve ridden snowmobiles before, but never in Alaska. I’ve never ridden a dog sled. Maybe I’m going to have to go back in the winter. 

Just so we could experience it, we took a seaplane back to Juneau. I must admit, I was terrified, but the trip in the small plane, flying so low, was extraordinary. Like exercise though, I was glad I’d done it but don’t look forward to doing it again. Ever. 

I wish we’d had the time to hop on a train. I’ve heard that all the trips out of Anchorage are amazing.  Maybe I’ll have to go back in the winter and the summer. 

As expected, there were lots of cruise ships everywhere. We thought about taking a cruise, and it would have been wonderful, I’m sure, but I’m glad we saw some of Alaska the way we did. I loved the ferries and the other boats, and even the seaplane (kind of), but you can’t go wrong. No matter how you venture out to see this gigantic state, the transportation truly is as much fun as the destination.  

Safe travels!

So, how about you, Reds and Readers, what's the craziest travel transportation you've ever taken?



Paige Shelton is the New York Times Bestselling author of the Farmers' Market, Country Cooking School, Dangerous Type, and Scottish Bookshop mysteries. Her first suspense novel is Thin Ice, debuting in 2019. She's lived lots of places but currently resides in Arizona. Find out more at www.paigeshelton.com

60 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your new book, Paige. Can you tell us a little bit about the story?

    Your trip to Alaska sounds amazing. Alas, I have no crazy transportation stories to share, but I love small planes [my husband flies them] and I dislike going whale-watching because, well, as wonderful as they are, I get seasick just thinking about getting out there to see the whales. Sailing is better --- if you’re not in the ocean . . . .

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    1. Hi, Joan - I know exactly what you're saying about the ocean. I've been pretty lucky so far, but a little seasickness can ruin everything. I have never been sailing and would love to give it a try someday - though, also not on the ocean.

      The protagonist of Thin Ice is a thriller writer who was abducted by her stalker. He kept her in a van for three days. She escapes the van, though she can't remember the details of all that happened to her in there. After brain surgery to clear a subdural hematoma she got as she flung herself out of the van, she checks herself out of the hospital and takes off to Alaska to hide until her kidnapper/stalker is found. She realizes she found a place where lots of people are hiding or running from something, and then there's a murder. It's the first of a series, so, hopefully (a horrible thing to say), there will be a lot of murders. Thanks so much, Joan.

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  2. Congratulations on Thin Ice, Paige. The cover is gorgeous! Like, Joan, I'd love to hear some more about the story and characters. Over the years, Alaska comes up for my husband and me as somewhere we'd like to visit, but so far we haven't gotten there. Sounds like you had a great trip, and seeing the whales must have been amazing. I too a whale sightseeing trip the last time I was in Hawaii, and we did see one spouting, but never the whole whale.

    I don't know about it being too crazy, but when I took the very small plane, held 8, from Oahu to the island of Molokai, I wasn't too comfortable with it. However, just like your seaplane, Paige, seeing the beautiful sights from that plane was fantastic. Flying along the cliffs of Molokai was especially gorgeous. Then, there was the jeep my husband and I rented in Acapulco 40 years back, and driving (husband was) the downtown streets was quite the adventure, as there weren't any clearly marked lanes.

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    1. Hi Kathy - and I have never been to Hawaii. I hope to go someday. I think I would have to try a small plane again; the sights would be amazing. I'll pass on driving with no clearly marked lanes, though. Eek!

      The protagonist of Thin Ice is a thriller writer who was abducted by her stalker. He kept her in a van for three days. She escapes the van, though she can't remember the details of all that happened to her inside it. After brain surgery to clear a subdural hematoma she got as she flung herself out of the van, she checks herself out of the hospital and takes off to Alaska to hide until her kidnapper/stalker is found. She realizes she found a place where lots of people are hiding or running from something, and then there's a murder. It's the first of a series, so, hopefully (a horrible thing to say), there will be a lot of murders.

      Thanks so much, Kathy!

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  3. I went to Alaska a couple years ago. Great trip with so much to see. Brought back some great memories.

    Congrats on the new book!

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    1. It really is a one-of-a-kind place and experience. Thanks so much, Mark!

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  4. What a wonderful trip, Paige! Alaska is still on my list. I have, however, ridden in the back of a truck through the remote bush of western Mali. Does that count? It's starkly beautiful in a way opposite to Alaska. The air is hot and so quiet, the growth scrubby, the occasional baobab or other tree silhouetted against the sky. You often don't see villages from the road. Then a woman will appear, walking with a bowl balanced on her head, wearing gorgeous bright cloth. Not whales, not snowy mountains, but still beautiful.

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    1. Very jealous, Edith. Mali - definitely another on my bucket list. It's interesting you mention the quiet - I don't live in a noisy place, but I always notice when I'm somewhere without all the noise of city (ok, suburb) life. Sounds like a great trip. Thanks, Edith!

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    2. I lived in Mali for a year and Burkina Faso for a year. In the capital both times, with husband and young sons, but getting (way) out of town was amazing.

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  5. My husband would love to go to Alaska. You've made me think I might too.

    As for crazy transportation, we took one of those small plane tours on our honeymoon. I was younger and braver then so I thought of it as fun rather than terrifying. And we took a day-long scenic trip on a steam-powered narrow-gauge railroad a few years ago that was amazing.

    And, Paige, I'm totally with you regarding most trips and it being about the destination. The actual travel part is usually horrendous.

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    1. Hi Annette - the railroad trip sounds fabulous! Truly, I've heard wonderful things about the train trips in Alaska - a great way to see some of the state. Thanks, and safe travels always!

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  6. Congratulations Paige. Your new book comes out on my birthday. Maybe I'll buy myself a present.

    My craziest travel transportation?

    All you Anglophiles might want to skip this post. But driving/being driven in England was the most terrifying experience in travel ever. We were there in 2000 and again in 2018. They denizens of that fair isle are still driving on the wrong side of the road. And I use the word road loosely. When not on an M road, the lanes decrease from four or more to two to one and a half, and that's generous. My daughter Melinda took driving lessons when she first moved to Chester, and she was our chauffeur this last trip. She is an intrepid driver. I rode in the back seat and prayed.

    Seriously, those little lanes with high hedges on either side! And hair pin curves? Terrifying.

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    1. The first roundabout you hit in the UK is the true challenge, defying that instinct to enter on the right... Life or death, right there.

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    2. Ann - Happy early birthday! We visited Scotland a few years back and the traffic was terrifying - though probably not quite as much as in England. I've heard some stories. I never adjusted to the other side of the road. Good for Melinda taking lessons; that's the way to go. Thanks, Ann!

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    3. Hallie - so true! I've seen video of UK roundabouts. They take my breath away.

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    4. The only good thing about roundabouts is that once one them, you can go around and around and around until you figure out which exit is yours.

      Melinda works for USPS, and she drives a car with the steering wheel on the right. In Texas. It seriously limits her ability to take a ticket in a parking garage, go thru a drive thru anything, ATM, bank, Mickey D's.

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    5. Loved these comments because driving in the U.K. is one of the highlights of any trip there. Guess I’m the exception to the rule!

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  7. WELCOME Paige! The trip looks wonderful. I've been to Alaska twice--once for Bouchercon and once for my niece's wedding. She lives in Homer with her family so I know we'll be going back to that gorgeous spit of land.

    Yes please tell us about your book, and how you switched from writing cozies to suspense!

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    1. Hi Lucy - We fished out of Homer many years ago. It was an extraordinary experience, even when our guide pulled out a gun to take care of the gigantic (104 pound) halibut we wrestled aboard. It's just the way it'd done. I loved that trip, but I might still be in a little shock.

      I think the transition is just about writers wanting to write. Stories getting stuck in our heads. I'm fortunate to have an agent who puts up with me trying new things. Seriously, I'm not sure I'd put up with me.

      Thanks, Lucy!

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  8. Jenn, It may be a dry one, but I do have a sense of humor. And I love baked goods...as long as someone else is making them. So to quote singer Kim Richey, "Hello Old Friend". LOL

    I'm actually quite excited to read today's post. Not only because it is a great read in and of itself, but because I got to read an advance copy of 'Thin Ice' and do the Mystery Scene review of it!

    As for travel transportation stories, the first time I ever flew on a plane saw me taking a trip to Georgia to see my niece for the first time. My sister and I went down on a big plane to Atlanta and then we took a puddle jumper to Columbus. Not having flown before I was a little nervous. Not stiff drink and a tranquilizer level or anything but definitely cautious. On the puddle jumper flight, the pilot comes over the intercom to say that we'll be landing earlier than scheduled due to something having fallen off the plane! Turns out that one of the doors that closes over the wheels when the landing gear retracts into the plane had decided to "land" on the ground in midflight.

    All I could think was, "Great, I'm going to die because Skippy the plane crew guy forgot to tighten a screw".

    As you can see, we landed fine so all is well but I was not happy about being on a puddle jumper ever again.

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    1. LOL - you’re clearly my people, Jay. Of course, your love of comic books sealed the deal ages ago!
      I’ve been on one puddle jumper - Boston to Halifax - that was enough.

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    2. LOL Jay! I'm glad you survived Skippy. Thanks for reading and reviewing the book.

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    3. Jenn, comics were my first gateway into reading and despite what my teachers thought as i was growing up, they were a great start. That's why I give them out on Halloween to the young kids, hoping it will kickstart a love of reading.

      Paige, you haven't read the review so should you be thanking me right now? LOL! Just kidding, small spoiler alert, I liked it. But you'll have to wait for it to be put out before I can say more. :D

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    4. I know you have lots of books you can choose from, Jay. Thanks for choosing mine. Always an honor.

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  9. Congratulations on the book, Paige, I'm adding it to my list. I can't think of any crazy travel modes I've experienced, but based on how you said you got around in Alaska, I think you did it just right. You got to sample a lot of what the state had to offer.

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  10. Congratulations on your new release! I'm curious how you transitioned from cozy to suspense.

    I dealt with my fear of heights on a recent trip: I clambered up the side of the Great Pyramid to make the interior climb/crawl to the burial chamber, and took a balloon ride over the Valley of Kings.

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    1. Wow! That’s a bucket list item for me, Margaret! I’m so impressed and a teeny bit jealous.

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    2. I'm jealous too, Jenn. What a wonderful experience, Margaret! Wow.

      My transition to suspense is all about stories getting stuck in my head, and having an agent (Jessica Faust) who patiently guided the way. I got lucky.

      Thanks, Margaret!

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    3. We saw a couple of balloons over the Serengeti, which took my breath away with envy.

      That must have been an incredible experience, Margaret!

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    4. I've hot-air ballooned over North Georgia--it was FABULOUS. I mean--incredible. Flying. Magical.

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  11. I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska… It just sounds vast and gorgeous. I did read Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone. It had vivid descriptions of Alaska—for better or for worse. my craziest experience? I guess… Flying in the world‘s tiniest plane from Saint Kitts to Nevis. I sat next to the pilot, and I swear to you I smelled rum. And the pilot looked green, you know, as if maybe he had a hangover. Plus, there was a red emergency light on the cockpit dashboard, glowing glowing glowing, and the fuel gauge was almost to E. We made it, and we still laugh about it.
    Oh! Another time, I was flying to northernmost Vermont to do a news story, and our pilot was falling asleep. Seriously. It was a warm day, and the sun poured through the windows, and it’s one of those days that it’s hard to stay awake. I talked and talked and talked and talked and talked.

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    1. Eek! Smelling rum and seeing green would not be good things. Glad you made it - and can laugh. I might have also been poking the sleepy pilot.

      Oh, I loved The Great Alone. Kristen Hannah is such a great writer, and that book . . . it will stay with me forever.

      Thanks, Hank!

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    2. Yes, SO agree. It's haunting.
      Yes, poking was considered. I also gave him a lot of candy. xx

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    3. Sounds like the right plan to me.

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  12. we had a wonderful trip to Alaska - the inland passage - but never got on a dogsled. Only the bobsled on the Matterhorn ride at Disey. No balloon rides. Ever! (Margaret, I'm so impressed!) When I was massively pregnant and clambored down into a tunnel in the White Mountains. But the passageway was so narrow I had to back out... past a line of hikers behind us. Far too intimate.

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    1. So much to do - I would love to experience the entire passage. Someday. You took my breath with the description of the White Mountain tunnel. Claustrophobia by proxy.

      Thanks, Hallie!

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  13. How I love the cover of your new book ! It gives me the desire to open it and read what's inside especially after having read this post.
    I don't have crazy travel transportation to report. I certainly would travel more if I had a beaming machine. But travels are always great experiences for me.

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    1. Thanks, Danielle! From your lips (fingers) to all readers everywhere. Much appreciated, and I'd take a beaming machine for sure.

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  14. No strange modes of transpo for me, but I do love a good road trip. I've driven all the way west and nearly all the way east over the years, but taking the Alcan Highway to Alaska is one of my bucket list items. I also bake a fabulous lemon pound cake, and love a good laugh, so maybe I should call you and Jenn the next time I head out?

    Congratulations on the new book!

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    1. Gigi - yes, definitely! Sounds like you know how to do road trips the right way.

      Thanks so much!

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  15. Craziest travel experience recently was the cab ride from the airport to the hotel in Paris. “Ooh la la!” Daniel, our driver, yelled as he honked and gestured at other drivers, clearly feeling that the steering wheel was optional. When we got to the roundabout (12 lanes) at the Arc de Triomphe, I thought I was going to faint.

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    1. LOL! I love that he actually said "Ooh la la!" Sounds like the perfect Paris trip. And Paris always is a good idea. Thanks for inviting me to post, dear friend. XOXO

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    2. I love how you can so seamlessly work in my new title. LOL! XOXO

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  16. Congrats on the new book, Paige! Every time I see pictures of Alaska it renews my desire to go there. If only it didn't take so long from Pennsylvania. As you say, the destination is usually better than the traveling.

    The only crazy travel experience I've had (meaning the actual mode of travel) was driving in Puerto Rico - where "road signs" and "right of way" take on a very loose, casual meaning.

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    1. Oh, I know those kinds of signs. Terrifying. Thanks, Liz!

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  17. Whale watching! Sounds fabulous, as does the book, Paige.

    Alaska is the only state I've not visited, and I really want to make a long trip there. My husband has been there many times, between hunting and fishing trips, and working on a National Geographic project for three summers in a row. We keep talking about a driving trip from sea to shining sea across the top part of the continent, from the Maritimes to Alaska.

    I've had a couple interesting travel conveyance experiences: Sleeping on a 20-person boat in the Galapagos for four nights (and being seasick about half the time); a tuk-tuk in Urubumba, Peru, holding on for dear life; and practically living in a Land Rover for 12 days of safari in Tanzania. The dust was incredible there. At one point I realized we had reached the point of equanimity, with as much dust inside our bodies as outside.

    I'd very much like to try traveling in a motorhome, a small one that can be parked on a city street.

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    1. Karen - your travels sound wonderful, even with the seasickness.

      We saw the Nat Geo ships while we were there. They were filming whales. I was amazing by how the whales seemed to be taking direction. It was fascinating. Thank you!

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  18. Congratulations on Thin Ice, Paige and welcome to Jungle Reds! I remember your other novels too. Your travels to Alaska sounds wonderful! I meant to ask if Alaska has recovered from the oil spills? A friend used to live in Alaska and she mentioned rock slides on the roads because her car had cracks in car windows from the falling rocks. Someday I would like to visit Alaska. Whale watching would be cool.

    Adding Thin Ice to my reading list.

    Diana

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    1. Thank you, Diana. We didn't see any evidence of oil spill issues, but I wish I would have asked. Boy, those are some heartbreaking pictures. Hope you enjoy the book.

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  19. Okay, one crazy trip was the local Hershey Train, which runs from Matanzas to Havana (but since my brother & I were just trying it on for size, we got off in the middle of nowhere to await the return train.) Great way to see how the local folks travel in the country. Pics here....
    http://dalyght.ca/cuba2014/cuba2014-g.html#p10

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    1. Wonderful pictures, Susan. Thanks for sharing. I love "hanging in the middle of nowhere" trips.

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  20. Congrats, Paige. You’re a new author for me so thanks for JRW’s intro! Crazy travel story is many years ago my husband “surprised “ me with a helicopter flight to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. When we arrived at airfield and I spotted the helicopter my heart nearly exploded out of my chest. It actually was a fun experience!

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  21. Alaska has been on our list of places to visit for a long time! Interesting travel options? Frank won a trip to Puerto Vallarta years ago. We took a couple of side trips while there. One was a village/jungle/beach excursion with seating in the back of a Mercedes diesel truck. Sounds terrible but it was a lot of fun. On the same trip we flew in an old plane that held maybe a dozen passengers with the narrowest center aisle you've ever seen. The pilot could fly daylight hours only. We flew over the mountain and landed in a cow pasture. We spent the day in a village that was almost completely self sufficient. I think rice was the only thing they couldn't grown there. It was fun and I'd do it again! In India our tour group got to try all kinds of transport: pedi-cabs, buses, trains, local planes, open boats on the Ganges, and my favorite-elephants. We visited a fort on a hill. The approach was a long ramp parallel to the fort, a 180 degree turn onto another long ramp, followed by a third. We rode elephants up and rode Jeeps down. One of my favorite memories.

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    1. Pat - you had me at "elephants." They are the most amazing creatures, and your travels sound wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

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  22. I guess my craziest travel experience was during a shore excursion from a cruise to Mexico. We went on a mountain biking tour out of Puerto Vallarta. Our guide showed up with a gold AK-47 charm on his necklace. I thought "Oh dear God, I'm never going to make it home again." He turned out to be a knowledgeable and hilarious guide.

    These days, I'm not much of a traveler. (Hence, the Pasture Deficit Disorder - it's what I suffer from any time I have to leave our beloved Pasture.) I am currently obsessed all things Alaska though. I would love, Love, LOVE to travel there - but really spend some time there, not just a glossy highlights tour. Because of my Alaska obsession, I really enjoy every mystery book I can find that is set in Alaska. I've had your Thin Ice on my to read list for a month and a half already! Can't wait to read it.

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  23. PDD - Well, thank you, and LOL. I love your humor. I hope you enjoy the book. Thanks again.

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