Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Hermanus - The World's Best Whale Watching Destination

Hermanus: the best land based whale watching in the world. Hermanus town looks over the protected shallow waters of Walker Bay where the Southern Right Whales come to mate, calve and rear their young. Between June and December every year you can sit on the rocky cliffs overlooking the bay and watch the whales breaching, sailing, bobbing or just frolicking around in the waves. August is peak time for calving and August and September are the months you will find the most whales in the bay. An incredible site that cannot be missed!

Boat based whale watching is offered from Hermanus where one can get within a few metres from the whales. The Whale Show is offered, a unique whale and dolphin audio-visual presentation that runs twice daily (10h00 & 15h00) at the Whale Museum - A worthwhile show that provides you with detailed, fascinating information on our gentle giants.
Hermanus
Not too far from Hermanus is the Great White shark cage diving mecca, Gansbaai. Six nautical miles away is Dyer Island, possibly the best place in the world to view these magnificent predators. The island is a bird sanctuary and a breeding site for the African penguin and many other coastal birds. Adjoining it is a second, smaller rocky island called Geyser rock, which supports a large seal population. Separating Geyser and Dyer is a channel aptly named "Shark Alley", arguably THE prime spot in the world for encountering the Great White shark. The cage diving is an exhilarating experience and a "must do"

Blue Gum Country Estate kindly invited me to come and stay for the weekend. Accepting the offer with glee, I disappeared from the hustle and bustle of the city driving only 2 hours to arrive in the Overberg region. Blue Gum is situated on the slopes of the Klein River Mountains just outside Stanford only 20min past Hermanus. It offers a luxury country lodge feel, superb service, great food and beautiful surroundings. After arriving in the late afternoon, I was invited to the cosy lounge area to enjoy tea and scones with jam and fresh cream.
Hermanus
Unfortunately I chose the worst weekend to get away. The weather turned really grim and 3 consecutive cold fronts bringing massive amounts of rain, hit the western cape. Thousands of people were left stranded, homes washed away particularly in the poorer rural areas. The Klein River, which Blue Gum Lodge overlooks, came down in flood and completely washed the bridge away between us and the outside world! I must have arrived at about 16h00 and by 17h30 water rushed over the bridge preventing the remaining guests from joining us for the night. They were forced to retreat to Stanford.

Rain belted down during the night, thunder and lighting created a dramatic atmosphere. The guests huddled inside around large cosy fireplaces after a great 3-course dinner, the friendly staff offering nightcaps. I got chatting to a fun English couple, Douglas and Nicky who were visiting the area hoping to go Shark Cage diving. Much to their disappointment this was called off due to the bad weather. Douglas was celebrating his 40th birthday this day so we enjoyed a couple drinks over a game of Trumps, a card game introduced to us by Douglas. Louise the lodge manager joined us and merrily served us more and more tequilas and Jagermeister as the night went on. I retreat to my luxury spacious room before things got too out of hand!
Hermanus
In the morning we heard about a back route out from the lodge to Stanford that travelled through farmlands at the base of the mountain, a rough gravel road crossed by 3 little rivers that tested our off road driving skills in our low laying city cars. Nic, the owner of the lodge, led the way in his pickup truck assisting us where possible. The largest river at one point was approximately 25cm deep at its deepest point and about 6m wide, all very well if you were driving a 4x4, but most of us weren't! After a couple of knocks and bumps and much adrenalin racing through our bodies, we made it! Only to return again later in the afternoon once we had enjoyed our days excursions.

Blue Gum offers a number of activities although all weather dependent, such as horse riding, mountain biking, quad biking, tennis, hiking and boat cruising on the Stanford River. The Birkenhead Brewery is just down the road. From Wednesday to Friday at 11h00 and 15h00, one can enjoy a tour of the brewery and learn how the beer is made. The tastings can be enjoyed everyday at the restaurant and it is nice to combine it with a pub lunch. After enjoying the good service at Blue Gum, I was disappointed with the service here though.
Hermanus
I returned to the lodge for an afternoon nap, happy to see that the rivers had subsided a bit making the road a little less of a challenge. At 18h00 I awoke with a knock on my door. Delicious snacks and an aperitif were brought to me. What a nice surprise! I sat in the quietness of my room enjoying cheese and biscuits and fresh fruit served with white sherry while looking onto the beautiful Klein River Mountain.

Although Blue Gum Lodge is a lovely place to get stranded, we were all hoping that the rain would ease off. If more rain fell, even the back road would become a problem. All the rivers subsided nicely by the morning, I checked out and said my farewells to everyone at the lodge and commenced my journey home.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Green Miles

As one of the most rural in the country with a population of just 608,827, the Green Mountain State is also a free-spirited, rider-friendly citadel of real democracy, practiced through yearly statewide town meetings. There is even a secession movement in progress, with the goal of making Vermont an independent country. "Better for tourism," they say, so perhaps some Vermonters are also a zealous lot. Nevertheless, the state offers riders a chance to explore like no other with lush farmlands, picturesque villages, ski resorts and hundreds of miles of scenic, serpentine roads.

My riding partner, Joe "Mr. Happy" Loverchio, and I took off on a hot, sunny day from Sloatsburg, New York. We planned a zigzagging route, choosing as many scenic roads as possible, and rumbled north along treelined Route 17 to the New York Thruway, then Route 84 east to the Taconic State Parkway.
Green Miles
If I could ever fall in love with a four-lane highway, the Taconic is it. Restricted to cars and motorcycles, it rolls north snaking through forests and farms. At Route 295, we headed east to Route 22 North, a rustic road rambling through New York's hinterlands, then took Routes 7 and 9 into Bennington, one of Vermont's larger towns with a whopping population of nearly 9,200.

We stopped at the Bennington Battle Monument, which stands 306 feet and is the highest structure in Vermont. It offers scenic views of three states and honors the Revolutionary soldiers who defeated the British invading army in 1777. American General John Stark said to his troops before the battle, "There they are, boys! We beat them today or Molly Stark sleeps a widow tonight!" After losing the battle, British General Burgoyne said of the Vermonters, "(They are) the most active and rebellious race on the continent and (they) hang like a gathering storm on my left."
Green Miles
From the monument we rode Joe's Kawasaki ZG1000 Concours and my Nomad 1600 north on scenic Route 7A to Mount Equinox, the highest mountain in southern Vermont. There our machines easily climbed the toll road to the summit, where a spectacular view of mountains and countryside spread out before our eyes like a colorful inland sea. On a clear day, the view encompasses parts of New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Quebec.

The mountain preserve is owned by a Carthusian Monastery that acquired it from a private family, which explains the grave marker I found on a hike from the summit to Lookout Rock. It marked the burial site of the family dog:

Mr. Barbo

Born April 20, 1943.

We loved him and he repaid that love with enduring devotion that only a dog could give.

Shot and killed by a malicious hunter on Nov 2, 1955.

Clearly, Mr. Barbo was the victim of some feud, but being a dog person, I fully understood the family's desire to leave a loving marker in memory.

A few miles beyond Mount Equinox is Manchester, a postcard village that can be viewed from Lookout Rock, and the mansion Hildene. This 24-room Georgian Revival mansion was built as a summer home by Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham's only son. His descendants lived there until 1975. It's well worth a stop and the $10 admission charge.
Green Miles
From Manchester we rolled on to Route 30, then Route 11, zigzagging through the Green Mountains to Route 100, one of the most scenic roads in Vermont. We were heading north though farmland, forests and Vermont villages, as well as past Pico and Killington, two of Vermont's most famous ski areas, until we reached the Central Jersey Ski Club Lodge where Joe, a member, had arranged lodging for us.

After a night's rest at the lodge, we fired up the bikes and sailed north. Route 100 is a great road that zigzags its way north through small towns, farmlands and alongside mountains. Unfortunately, like many of Vermont's roads, it takes a beating in the winter, so unless repaved you bounce along on frost heaves and cracks in the roadway. Nevertheless, the sweet sounding rumble of my Nomad and the eye candy that is Vermont more than compensated for a few rough stretches.

We stopped briefly in the Green Mountain National Forest Visiting Center in Rochester and talked with Kevin Demeurers, a volunteer, who was very helpful with scenic route planning. The first side route he recommended was taking Route 17 at Waitsfield, and boy was he right. We rumbled up and down the sinuous mountain and then back to 100. What views!
Green Miles
Our next stop was Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury. These two self-described losers were part of the hippie migration into Vermont in the late '60s and early '70s. After failing at every attempt to make a living, they took a mail-order ice cream course, opened their first store, and soon became a nationwide corporation of peace-and-love ice cream, practicing the values of the '60s on a corporate level. But as with all fairy tales, they eventually sold out and Ben & Jerry's is now part of a conglomerate. Nevertheless, it's a fun place to see, and the tour of the plant is a worthwhile part of the visit.

We motored on to Stowe, the quintessential Vermont ski town at the foot of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. Although closed to motorcycles now, the last time I was here I took the Mount Mansfield toll road to just below the summit, and then hiked a relatively easy 1.5 miles along the ridge to the actual summit, where the views are awe-inspiring. I felt like an Olympian God gazing down from the heavens at massive Lake Champlain and New York's High Peaks region to the east, the White Mountains of New Hampshire to the west, north into Quebec, and south over the Green Mountains of Vermont. Today you can take a gondola ride and then hike, but that trail is more challenging than the one from the road, and so far there's no toll-road shuttle service provided.

Not wanting to take the gondola, we continued on Route 108 through spectacular Smugglers Notch, a scary ride near the top as the road narrows and makes hairpin turns. From there, we continued northwest to Route 15, which isn't the prettiest road in the state but does give you a taste of working-class Vermont, which was a nice change of scenery from the rural, yuppie postcard side. Then we took Route 14 South to Route 2, rolling into Vermont's capital of Montpelier, population 8,035.
Green Miles
People-watching is a great pastime in Montpelier, with folks from all walks of life-foreign tourists, hippies, coed lovelies, local farmers, yuppies, bikers, government workers and so on. With fine restaurants, stores and

the State Capitol building to experience, spending time in Montpelier is worthwhile. On my last ride here, Vermont's senior Senator Patrick Leahy's mother was actually conducting tours of the capitol building, an impressive structure with a gold-plated dome.

With the day growing late, we decided to head back to the lodge. At Kevin's suggestion we took Route 12 south and then 12A, which is really back-road Vermont. After rumbling through one minuscule town with a locals-only kind of feel, we reconnected with 12 and Route 107 along the pristine White River to Route 100 and back to the lodge.

Heading toward the White Mountains in New Hampshire the next morning, where we planned to camp for two days, fate and weather dealt us an unexpected blow. The Whites, notorious for their extreme weather, were shrouded in dark, ominous clouds. We stopped in the Visitor Center and spoke with a ranger who showed us the forecast for thunder and lightning storms, high winds, even the possibility of hail and flooding with no relief in sight.
Green Miles
"What do you think, Joe?"

"It's sunny in Vermont; let's go back there and camp," Joe suggested.

And so we did, but first plotted a back-roads route to Calvin Coolidge State Park. The sun followed us for a little while, but then the heavens opened and we were pummeled by a deluge. We couldn't see 15 feet in front of us and there was no place to safely pull over. We finally reached the town of Sharon, got directions at the general store and headed to Woodstock...and sun! After setting up our tents we built a fire and relaxed after a challenging day on the road.

Although the trip hadn't worked out exactly as planned, Vermont is a fantastic riding state with its picturesque villages, farms, rivers and mountains. As the newest Vermont slogan proclaims, "Vermont was green before it was cool." To that I'd like to add, "Vermont was cool before it was cool to be Vermont."

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Find Your Inner Child at Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris might not be every parent's cup of tea, but there is no question that kids love it. The opportunity to meet their favourite characters from Disney's ever-popular back catalogue, as well enjoy the themed rides, shows and entertainment will feel like a wish fulfilment, whatever their minders might make of it all. That said, even the grumpiest grown-ups won't be able to deny the surge of adrenaline prompted by Disneyland Paris's thrill rides. The internet is probably the best place to look for cheap holiday deals to Euro Disney.

Disneyland Paris is split into three distinct areas: the original Magic Kingdom, now Disneyland Park, where most of the main rides can be found; Walt Disney Studios Park, where visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of cartoon film making; and the Disney Village with its various Americana themed hotels.
Disneyland Paris
Once settled, most head straight for rides such as Space Mountain Mission 2, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and Big Thunder Mountain. Alternatively, younger children might prefer to stick to more sedate options; the Mad Hatter's Tea Cups and the Pirates of the Caribbean experience, for example. A few Gallic twists to attractions at Walt Disney Studios and Discoveryland's Les Mysteres du Nautilus, a chance to see the mechanical submarine from Jules Verne's '20,000 Leagues Under The Sea', are salient reminders that you are in Paris, not Orlando.
Disneyland Paris
Booking your visit during out of season is the surest way to avoid the crowds and to ensure you spend less time queuing. Since Paris doesn't benefit from the Floridian climate, late spring and early autumn probably represent the best balance between cold and crowds. However, it is possible to pre book the most popular rides through the "Fastpass" timeslot scheme. If you're visiting any time between 2 April and 8 November, it might be worth considering a Paris Visite travel pass, which gives cut-price entry to Disneyland Paris as well access to all metro, bus RER and SNCF services in the Greater Paris region.
Disneyland Paris
Visitors can choose from five official Disney Hotels as well as seven partner hotels. The official Disney Hotels share a kitsch American theme, ranging from Disney Hotel New York, apparently the Big Apple in microcosm, to the Disney Sequoia Lodge, a faux version of a National Park. For the full experience, the Cinderella-like Disneyland Hotel is ideally located at the park's entrance. Disneyland Paris is approximately 25km east of the capital, and is easily reached by train. Take the RER line A at Gare-de-Lyon or Nation to Mame-la-Vallee/Chessy station, which is just opposite the park gates.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Favorite Fireworks Spots at Walt Disney World

For many people the fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom is the perfect way to end a day at the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom. Watching the fireworks explode high above Cinderella Castle is truly a site to behold. The fireworks, music, and environment come together in a special and magical way that only Disney can create.

Watch Tinkerbell fly through the sky from Cinderella's Castle and the magic of Wishes begins. Jiminy Cricket hosts this stunningly spectacular event, accompanied by several favorite characters. Ask anyone who has visited the Magic Kingdom and they will not be shy about telling you their favorite place to watch all of the action take place.
Disney World
But with this experience you have a critical question to answer: From what location do you want to watch the show? There are many choices and each has advantages and disadvantages. Let's look at some of the options.

The Usual Suspects
Main Street, U.S.A. is a great place to watch the fireworks, but is often crowded and it is difficult for children to see without the aid of an adult's shoulders. Directly in front of Cinderella's Castle is another great location, but can also be quite crowded. If you get claustrophobic at all, don't choose this spot.

Ride and Watch
Some guests take their thrill seeking up a notch and add riding an attraction to their viewing. Popular choices for this are Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad. You won't see the whole show from either ride, but half the fun is doing two things at once!

Restaurants
Disney World
California Grill at the Contemporary Resort and Ohana at the Polynesian are both crowd favorites and they each have tables near the windows, allowing for especially great views. The Contemporary even has an outdoor viewing deck, which can be used by guests with reservations any time that same evening.

The Road Less Traveled
Maybe you want to find a spot that's a little less crowded and maybe near some food, but you don't want to have to have a sit down dinner to do it. There are options for that as well. Main Street near the ice cream parlor is a favorite, as is the patio at Starlight Ray's Caf. Outside Storybook Treats is another great spot to relax with a snack and watch the show.

Each Spot Is Special
Disney World
No matter what spot you select, you are sure to enjoy this nighttime spectacular - it's the perfect way to end your day at the Magic Kingdom.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Experience the Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge

Located right in a quiet forest right in the heart of Breckenridge, is the most luxurious and elegant condominium suites in town called Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge. This stone and timber designed lodge has a very stylish design and many amenities to satisfy even the worst critics of resort lodges.

The amenities include in-room high speed internet access, complimentary shuttle service to where ever you need to be taken around town, ski lockers to keep all of your recreation equipment, hot tubs, outdoor pools, and a state of the art exercise facility. The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge offers exclusive town homes to make you feel like you are in your own house, and beautiful condominium suites.
Mountain Thunder Lodge
The types of rooms that can be chosen at the Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge are one, two, three, and four bedroom suites, two and three bedroom town homes. Each unit comes with special extras such as multiple televisions, private balcony or patio, high speed wireless connection, DVD players, full gourmet kitchen, and a moss mock fireplace which is really beautiful in the evening when you and your family may be settling in after a long day of fun. The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge also hosts different activities within the lodge itself such as orchestra concerts. The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge is also a choice meeting place for many large companies that have workshops for their employees. This lodge has 43,000 square feet of meeting space that is used for corporate meeting, family reunions, and weddings.
Mountain Thunder Lodge
The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge also has a full service reservation center. The main representative of whatever event is being planned can contact this reservation center and plan everything about the event from the dining to the breakfast and everything in between. They can do it all for you from start to finish so you can concentrate on the event and not on the planning.
Mountain Thunder Lodge
The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge also has twenty four hour guest service, complimentary underground garage service, complimentary curb side service, laundry facilities, on-site bicycle rental, outdoor barbeque grills, DVD rentals, and state of the art fitness facilities. The Mountain Thunder Lodge Breckenridge also has year-round outdoor heated pool, pool house, deck and hot tubs. A beginning skier can also sign up for ski lessons with a fitness instructor in order to learn the basics of how to ski so that they don't miss out on all the fun.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Disneyland Paris - A Dream Destination

Disneyland Paris is a resort where you can experience the literal highs and lows of rollercoaster rides and where you can enjoy a holiday in comfortable accommodation - it is also where the vast array of Disney characters come alive. The place is perfect for family vacations as it offers that ideal mix of children's entertainment and facilities that can be enjoyed by their mums and dads.

Hotels
Disneyland Paris

You will have plenty of accommodation options to choose from if you opt for a Eurodisney holiday.
Staying at the resort itself is an ideal way of ensuring you see all the necessary sights - there is so much to see and do that it would be difficult to fit it all into a day trip.

Four-star hotels at the tourist attraction include Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Hotel New York, while you can reside in three-star residences at Newport Bay Club and Sequoia Lodge.

Hotel Cheyenne, Hotel Santa Fe and the Davy Crockett Ranch are the two-star hotels offered by the resort.

Let me entertain you
Disneyland Paris

Top rides at the Eurodisney theme park include Space Mountain: Mission 2, Big Thunder Mountain and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril.

Rock band Aerosmith also give their name to the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, which always proves popular with visitors.

Whether you are looking for simulator rides or child-friendly attractions, the resort has both of them in abundance.

Kids will love the Dumbo Flying Elephant ride and be amazed by Alice's Curious Labyrinth.

Adults are sure to be entertained by the various shows that take place throughout the week. Some involve magicians displaying their tricks, others host amazing stunts, while there are also traditional circus performances to sit back and enjoy.
Disneyland Paris

There is also a wide selection of places to dine at Eurodisney, so you will never go hungry. You can pick up food at stalls throughout the resort, or you can sit down and enjoy food from a variety of countries at a host of restaurants such as the Blockbuster Cafe and the Agrabah Cafe.

Join the fun
Disneyland Paris

Located in the eastern Parisian suburb of Marne le-Vallee, the resort is just a short drive from the airports of Paris, which is ideal for those arriving from elsewhere in Europe.
Millions of visitors have flocked to see the delights of Disneyland Paris since it first opened in 1992, so why don't you book a trip to see what you have been missing?

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Day African Uganda Jungle Safari - The Best

DAY 1
Arrive at Entebbe international airport in Uganda. We where welcomed by our Staff of Real-Africa-Adventures who transferred us to the IMPERIAL RESORT BEACH HOTEL. If you are a early arrival you will visit Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) for information about Uganda's unique flora and fauna. Have a feel of ex situ conservation and get in close contact with the lion, zebras, chimpanzees, buffalo, Rhino, water bucks, dickers, crocodiles, colobus monkeys, shoe bill stocks, and different species of birds and animals. Here you can feel the breeze of the lake and see a variety of fishing birds along the lake shores. If it's a weekend, you can enjoy a thrilling performance from local cultural groups. We had dinner at the Imperial Beach Hotel.

DAY 2
African Ugandan Jungle Safari

After an early breakfast we drive through Kampala Northwards through a series of districts. Lunch was at the Masindi Hotel (rambling colonial era hotel) - with an attractive wooded ground in Masindi town, this is a a gate-way to Budongo Forest and Murchison falls National Park. Watch out for the mighty tropical Budongo forest. More appealing is the green, leafy stretch of surburbia that runs north from the town center past the golf course. We visited the top of the mighty Murchison-falls and they where extra ordinary. There is a point where the water escapes through a narrow gorge forming splendid thunder and roar! We relaxed and and took some photographs at the spot with a permanent rainbow. Here their was a Ferry Crossing to Paraa Safari lodge with comfortable accommodation and typical Ugandan hospitality. We had dinner at Paraa lodge.

DAY 3
Late morning breakfast, and then we traveled into the northern part for a game drive. Watch out for the large elephant herds, we also saw buffalo, water buck, giraffes, lions, leopards, Uganda kobs, and a variety of bird and other animal species. After lunch, we enjoyed a two-hour cruise to the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls-an opportunity to see the amazing hippos, crocodiles along the riverbanks. We returned to the lodge for dinner.

DAY 4
African Ugandan Jungle Safari

Breakfast was served early as we greet the early morning rising sun. Ensure to be in time before the ferry crosses. We all carryed a picnic lunch for a long drive via the Albertine Escarpment of the western Rift valley on the way to Kibale forest National Park. Dinner and overnight at Ndali Lodge.

DAY 5
Today we had a very early morning primate viewing on a guided forest walk in Kibale Forest National Park. The activity starts at 6.00 am immediately after breakfast. This part of the country has the highest number of primates in Africa. Watch out for the wonder that is the chimp families, and the red Colobus monkeys swinging through the dense forest with birds, we all so saw butterflies and many reptiles as well as small insects which are a common feature in this park. A visit to Bigodi swamp eco-tourism site is amazing for an encounter of rare and beautiful flora and fauna. We had lunch at the Kanyanchu Tourist centre. This is the Fort portal on the way to the Semiliki National Park. Dinner and overnight at the Semiliki Safari Lodge.

DAY 6
African Ugandan Jungle Safari

We enjoyed our breakfast at 8:00 am and visited the Semliki Wildlife Reserve for a boat ride on the Lake Albert for some birdwatching. We return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch we drove to the Queen Elizabeth National Park in the afternoon. This is some beautiful scenery of the foothills of Mount Rwenzori and a game drive on the way to Mweya Safari Lodge. Dinner and overnight at Mweya safari.

DAY 7
After an early breakfast, set off for a game drive along Kasenyi track and Queens' Mile in the park and expected to see Lions, Elephants, buffalo, Warthogs and birds. We saw plenty. We got back to the lodge for Lunch. After lunch we took a trip on Kazinga channel for the amazing bird life in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Dinner and overnight at Mweya safari Lodge.

DAY 8
After a cup of coffee, we drove to the Kyambura gorge for a forest walk to look for the habituated chimpanzees and other primates, reptiles, leopards and many more rare species of animals. We carryed our own picnic lunch today. After tracking and some driving to the Bwindi through Maramagambo and Ishasha sector we enjoyed the game viewing. Here they have tree climbing lions. WOW. Dinner and overnight at the Buhoma Homestead.

DAY 9
African Ugandan Jungle Safari
After an early breakfast we departed to the National Park and began our gorilla trek. The Mountain Gorillas are wild animals, and sightings cannot be guaranteed - we saw them. We were led by experienced trackers on the slopes of the volcanoes. You start from the site where the gorillas were encountered the day before and from here the tracking begins. The gorillas, whose continuous search for food requires a nomadic lifestyle, determine the duration of the hike. The tuff trek can take between one and six hours, sometimes more, at elevations in excess of 7,500 feet and over rough terrain. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is invigorating, and the beauty of the forest and its inhabitants are fascinating. These massive primates are extremely rare, only approximately 650 remaining. When the gorillas are encountered, any fatigue is quickly forgotten. Few who have had this rare privilege would disagree. Each strictly regulated 60-minute visit passes all too quickly, and you depart leaving the gorillas to their fragile existence. We return to the lodge for a late lunch. If your trek was relatively short, you will have the opportunity for a forest walk with a guide. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

DAY 10
African Ugandan Jungle Safari

You will head to Kabale. The road to Kabale took us into the Uganda Highlands - the Switzerland of Africa - the great views and vistas of this lush green area is wonderful. From here we continued towards the Kampala on good tarmac roads to Lake Mburo National park. This small park offers a great variety of game including zebra, leopard, various antelope and hippo - as well as prolific birdlife. Here we went on a walk with a local guide. Dinner and overnight White Horse Inn.

DAY 11
We had an early game drive in Lake Mburo National park to view and take photographs of the impala, Zebras, Waterbucks, Eland, Hippo and a variety of Birds. We drove to the Ssese Islands via Bukakata. We took a roll on roll off ferry to the Bugala Island, this is the main island of the Ssese Islands group. After lunch activities we went for some bird watching and a nature walk where saw mant monkeys, ladybirds, parrots, and turacos they reside inside the forests. you will get a fresh breeze from Lake Victoria. We returned to the resort for dinner and overnight at Ssese Palm Beach Resort.

DAY 12
After breakfast, we participated in one of the areas most exciting activities in the fishing grounds. We returned to the resort to catch a ferry and then drive to Kampala. Dinner and over night at Namirembe Guest House.

DAY 13
African Ugandan Jungle Safari

After an early Breakfast, we drove to the Eastwards to Jinja. We enjoyed viewing the Sugar and Tea plantations, Mabira Forest, fruit and craft markets along the road to Owen falls Dam, We visited Bujagalli falls and the source of the Nile, where its long journey to Mediterranean sea starts. We had a picnic lunch. We drove back to the Hotel in Kampala.

DAY 14
The last day we took a transfer to the airport for our flight home via Johannesburg.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

A Guide to Breckenridge Lodging - One Town, Six Different Areas to Stay

Breckenridge Lodging, where do you want to stay, that seems like a simple thing to figure out. However, Breckenridge itself is made up of six adjacent, but very different areas that each offers a different style of lodging and vacation rental experience. For those of you that have never been, or have only been once or twice, booking your vacation rental can be a tough decision to make. The quality of your vacation will depend a lot on where you stay, how far it is from the ski area, what sort of transportation options are available, and what the surrounding area looks like. This is a brief guide to help the inexperienced Breckenridge traveler locate the exact type of Breckenridge Lodging that will help ensure a memorable vacation. I will present them in a close to the ski area first and further away from the ski area last format.
Mountain Thunder Lodge

West Breckenridge Vacation Rentals- If you want ski in and ski out, the west side of town offers several options. The west side of town is located at the bases of peaks 7, 8, and 9, prime ski area real estate if you are here for a hard core ski vacation. Some of the larger ski in and out properties include the Village at Breckenridge, Beaver Run, Trails End, Grand Timber Lodge, Tyra riverbend, Tyra, and Shock Hill to name a few. This area also provides a semi-close proximity to main street and free shuttle service anywhere in town.
Mountain Thunder Lodge

Central Breckenridge Lodging- This area of Breckenridge is central to everything, the ski area and the town. You have the ability to walk to the slopes, take the shuttle, and at many you can ski in and out. This area is also very close to town, so you have the ability to walk to town and back to your lodging very easily. Nice places to stay in this area include River Mountain Lodge, One Breck Place, Los Pinos, Mountain Thunder Lodge, and Sawmill Creek.
Mountain Thunder Lodge

South Breckenridge Lodging- This area is made up of older condos, most have been remodeled, that offer a very close proximity to peak 9 base, but are not really ski in/out, most of the rentals in this area require a car or the use f the town shuttle. However, if you are looking for a more affordable option, this is a great area to stay in. This area does also offer full size Breckenridge Vacation Rental homes for larger groups, some ski in and out. Warriors mark and warriors mark west are the two areas with many rental homes to choose from, and the Corral, Mountainwood, Village Point Townhome, and Powderhorn are a few nice condo complexes in the area.
Mountain Thunder Lodge

East Breckenridge Lodging- Consisting of mainly historic and rental homes, the east side does not have many condo lodging options. A good portion of this area is not served by the free town shuttle, so a car will be required. Most of the homes in this area a very large and have a higher nightly rate. The one very nice thing about most of the homes on the east side is the breathtaking ski area views. North Breckenridge Lodging- The north side of town is largely made up of rental homes, most in two neighborhoods called Silver Shekel and The Highlands at Breckenridge. A good portion of these homes are very large, 4 bedroom and up, and a few have nice views of the ski area. Most of this area is not served by the town bus, so a car would be needed. North Breckenridge is the home of the Breckenridge golf course.
Mountain Thunder LodgeBlue River Lodging- Blue River lodging is perfect if you are on a tight budget, but are still looking for a great place to stay. Due to the fact that most homes in this area are between 2-7 miles away from the ski area, the rates are much lower. This area is not services by the town bus, a vehicle is needed, and 4wd is recommended due to the alpine environment. These homes vary widely in size, layout, and location, so there is usually a home to fit every need. If you are looking for a quiet and peaceful winter vacation, this is your area. I hope this is informative and will help to be a guide for some of you looking to come to Breck. If you have any other questions about Breckenridge Lodging, or Breckenridge Events, please feel free to contact us. You can also find more useful vacation planning information on our Breckenridge Blog.

Monday, December 10, 2012

A Great Travel Destination The Lake Of The Ozarks

It is easy for those living in the Midwest to feel as though there aren't many options when it comes to traveling close to home. The Lake of the Ozarks, however, is an excellent getaway for travelers on any budget. With more than 55 thousand acres of surface area, 1,150 miles of coastline as well as 646 billion gallons of water it's no wonder why the "Magic Dragon" hosts nearly 3 million visitors yearly.
Mountain Thunder Lodge

 Development on the Bagnell Dam, which ultimately brought on exactly what we now refer to as The Lake of The Ozarks, began in 1929 and the 2,543 foot long structure completed in 1931. As a result, the place became one of the greatest man-made lakes in the globe, the single largest in the United States of America. This flood managed lake, which rarely rises no more than five feet in any provided year, was constructed for hydroelectric power but swiftly became a top tourist place. In the course of its conception, the area was first known as Osage Reservoir or Lake Osage yet the Missouri General Assembly rapidly changed the name to Lake Benton, after Senator Thomas Hart Benton. None, however, seemed to stick and the area became The Lake of the Ozarks.
Mountain Thunder Lodge
The Ozarks surrounds by twelve communities: Stover, Warsaw, Hurricane Deck, Camdenton, Versailles, Sunrise Beach, Climax Springs, Osage Beach, Eldon, Lake Ozark, Laurie, and Gravois Mills. All of these villages play a crucial job in Missouri's tourist business. As an outcome, they offer countless paid attractions from golfing, gift buying, water parks, airplane and helicopter excursions, float outings, para-sailing, and other water adventures. For families looking to enjoy budget friendly activities, there are plenty of free options to choose from around the area.
Mountain Thunder Lodge
There are 2 state parks in the place, Lake of the Ozarks State Park in Osage Beach and Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton both of which supply picnic places, rambling trails and beach fronts for swimming and sand mansions. Thunder Mountain Sanctuary, on Lake Road 5-88, supplies trails, archery ranges, and an 80 foot tower for site visitors. There are additionally 3 museums in the area, Camden Nation Museum in Linn Creek and Miller Nation Art gallery in Tuscumbia, and Willmore Lodge Museum and Dam Overlook in Lake Ozark. National Mom's Shrine in Laurie, Swinging Bridges & Shallows on highway 42-18 and the Tunnel Dam Whistle Shallows additionally offer complimentary activities for families.
Mountain Thunder Lodge
So whether tourists are aiming to keep at a boating resort in the Lake of the Ozarks or they're in investigating of wonderful cabin rentals in the Lake of the Ozarks, there is something for everyone and to meet any sort of spending plan. It's tough to believe precisely how far the site has actually come and precisely how much it has actually expanded since its creation in 1931 however for Midwestern locals, the Lake of the Ozarks is a fabulous place.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Crazy Horse - China Car Body Sticker - Wall Sticker Clock

Early life Crazy Horse and his band of Oglala on their way from Camp Sheridan to surrender to General Crook at Red Cloud Agency, Sunday, May 6, 1877 / Berghavy; from sketches by Mr. Hottes. Sources differ on the precise year of Crazy Horse's birth, but all seem to agree that he was born between 1840 and 1845. According to a close friend, he and Crazy Horse "were both born in the same year at the same season of the year", which census records and other interviews place at about 1845. Chips
Mountain Thunder Lodge

Conquering Bear, an Oglala medicine man and spiritual adviser to the Oglala war leader, reported that Crazy Horse was born "in the year in which the band to which he belonged, the Oglala, stole One Hundred Horses, and in the fall of the year", a reference to the annual Lakota calendar or winter count. Among the Oglala winter counts, the stealing of 100 horses is noted by Cloud Shield, and possibly by American Horse and Red Horse owner, equivalent to the year 1840-41. Oral history accounts from relatives on the Cheyenne River Reservation place his birth in the spring of 1840. Probably the most credible source, however, is Crazy Horse's own father. On the evening of his son's death, the elderly man told Lieutenant H. R. Lemly that his son "would soon have been thirty-seven, having been born on the South Cheyenne river in the fall of 1840." Crazy Horse was named at birth 'In The Wilderness' or 'Among the Trees' (in Lakota the name is phonetically pronounced as Cha-O-Ha), meaning he was one with nature. His mother's name for him was 'Curly' or 'Light Hair'; his light curly hair resembled that of his mother. Family Crazy Horse's father, a Lakota Sioux whose name was Crazy Horse ("His Horse is Crazy", born 1810), passed the name to his son, taking the new name of Worm (Waglula) for himself thereafter. (According to an account by Black Elk, a friend and close relative of Crazy Horse, the name was taken in reference to a vision that Cha-O-Ha had, and not passed on from his father Crazy Horse.) The mother of the younger Crazy Horse was Rattling Blanket Woman (born 1814), a Lakota as well. Rattling Blanket Woman was the daughter of Black Buffalo and White Cow (also known as Iron Cane). Black Buffalo is the one who stopped Lewis and Clark on the Bad River. She was the younger sister of Lone Horn (born between 1790 and 1795, and died in 1875) and also of Good Looking Woman (born 1810). Her younger sister was named Looks At It (born 1815), later given the name They Are Afraid of Her. His cousin (son of Lone Horn) was Touch the Clouds who saved his life at least once and was with him at the time of his death. It has been claimed Crazy Horse's mother was Minniconju and the sister of Spotted Tail, who was a Brule head chief. In the summer of 1844, Waglula (Worm) went on a buffalo hunt. He came across a Lakota village under attack by Crow warriors. He led his small contingent in and rescued the village. Corn, who was the head man of the village (painter George Catlin painted his picture while visiting the tribe in 1832 entitled "Corn, Miniconjou Warrior") had lost his wife in the raid. In gratitude he gave Waglula his two eldest daughters Iron Between Horns (age 18) and Kills Enemy (age 17) as wives. Corn's youngest daughter, Red Leggins, who was 15 at the time, requested to go with her sisters; all would become Waglula's wives. Visions Crazy Horse lived in the Lakota camp with his younger brother, High Horse (son of Iron Between Horns and Waglula) and a cousin he grew up with, Little Hawk (Little Hawk was actually the nephew of his maternal step grandfather, Corn). The camp was attacked by Lt. Grattan and 28 other troopers during the Grattan massacre. After witnessing the death of Lakota leader Conquering Bear, Crazy Horse began to get trance visions. His father Waglula (Worm) took him to what today is Sylvan Lake, South Dakota, where they both sat to hemblecha (vision quest). A red-tailed hawk led them to their respective spots in the hills; as the trees are tall in the Black Hills they could not always see where they were going. Crazy Horse sat in between two humps that were at the top of a hill just a bit north and to the east of the lake. Waglula sat just a little south of Harney Peak but north of his son. Crazy Horse's vision first took him to the South, where in Lakota spirituality one goes upon death. He was brought back and was taken to the west in the direction of the wakiyans, or thunder beings, and was given a medicine bundle which contained medicines that would protect him for life. One of his animal protectors would be the white owl, which according to Lakota spirituality would give extended life. He was also shown his face paint, which consisted of a yellow lightning bolt down the left side of his face, and white powder, which he would wet and with three fingers put marks over his vulnerable areas that when dried resembled hailstones. His face paint was similar to his father's, except his father used a red lightning strike down the right side of his face and three red hailstones on his forehead. Crazy Horse put no makeup on his forehead and did not wear a war bonnet. He was also given a sacred song that is still sung today, and was told he would be a protector of his people. Crazy Horse also received a black stone from a medicine man named Horn Chips to protect his horse, a black and white paint he had named Inyan, meaning rock or stone. He placed the stone behind the horse's ear, so that the medicine he received from his vision quest and the medicine that Horn Chips had given him would combine to make his horse and himself be as one in battle. Title of Shirt Wearer Through the late 1850s and early 1860s, Crazy Horse's reputation as a warrior grew, as did his fame among the Lakota. Little written record exists because the Lakota were oral historians and had no written language. His first kill was an enemy of the Lakota, a Shoshone raider who had killed a Lakota woman washing buffalo meat along the Powder River. He fought in numerous battles between the Lakota and their enemies, the Crow, Shoshone, Pawnee, Blackfeet, and Arikara among others. In 1864, after the Sand Creek Massacre of the Cheyenne in Colorado, the Lakota joined forces with the Cheyenne against the United States' military. Crazy Horse was present at the Battle of Red Buttes and the subsequent Platte River Bridge Station Battle in July 1865. Because of his fighting ability, Crazy Horse was named a "Ogle Tanka Un" (Shirt Wearer, or war leader) in 1865. Fetterman Massacre On December 21, 1866, Crazy Horse and six other warriors, both Lakota and Cheyenne, decoyed Capt. William Fetterman's 53 infantrymen and 27 cavalry troopers under Lt. Grummond from the safe confines of Fort Phil Kearny on the Bozeman Trail into an ambush. Crazy Horse personally lured Fetterman's infantry up what Wyoming locals call Massacre Hill while Grummond's cavalry followed the other six decoys along Peno Head Ridge and down towards Peno Creek, where several Cheyenne women were taunting the soldiers. Meanwhile, Cheyenne leader Little Wolf and his warriors, who had been hiding on the opposite side of Peno Head Ridge, blocked the return route to the fort. The Lakota warriors then came over Massacre Hill and attacked the infantry. There were additional Cheyenne and Lakota hiding in the buckbrush along Peno Creek behind the taunting women, effectively surrounding the soldiers. Seeing that they were surrounded, Grummond headed back to Fetterman to try to repel them in numbers. The soldiers were wiped out by a warrior contingent numbering almost 1,000. In some history books it is known as Red Cloud's War, but Red Cloud was not present that day. The ambush, known as the Fetterman Massacre, was at the time the worst Army defeat suffered on the Great Plains. Wagon Box Fight On August 2, 1867, Crazy Horse participated in the Wagon Box Fight near Fort Phil Kearny. Lakota forces numbering between 1000 and 2000 attacked a wood cutting crew near the fort. Most of the soldiers fled to a circle of wagon boxes without wheels, using them for cover as they fired at the Lakota. The Lakota took substantial losses from the new repeater rifles the soldiers carried, which could fire ten times a minute compared to the old musket rate of three times a minute. The Lakota would charge after the soldiers had fired, expecting them to be using the older muskets. The soldiers suffered five killed and two wounded, while the Lakota had between 50 and 120 casualties. Many are buried in the hills that surround Fort Phil Kearny in Wyoming. First and second wives In the fall of 1867, Crazy Horse invited Black Buffalo Woman to accompany him on a buffalo hunt in the Slim Buttes area in what is now the northwestern corner of South Dakota. She was the wife of No Water, who had a reputation among the tribe as someone who spent a lot of time near military installations drinking alcohol. It was Lakota custom to allow a woman to divorce her husband at any time. She did so by moving in with relatives or with another man, or by placing the husband's belongings outside their lodge. Although some compensation might be required to smooth over hurt feelings, the rejected husband was expected to accept his wife's decision for the good of the tribe. No Water was away from camp when Crazy Horse and Black Buffalo Woman left for the buffalo hunt. No Water tracked down Crazy Horse and Black Buffalo Woman in the Slim Buttes area. When he found them in a tipi, he called Crazy Horse's name from outside the tipi. When Crazy Horse answered, No Water stuck a pistol into the tipi and aimed for Crazy Horse's heart. Touch the Clouds, Crazy Horse's first cousin and son of Lone Horn, was sitting in the tipi nearest to the entry and knocked the pistol upward as it fired, causing the bullet to hit Crazy Horse in the upper jaw. No Water left, with Crazy Horse's relatives in hot pursuit. No Water ran his horse until it died and continued on foot until he reached the safety of his own village. Several elders convinced Crazy Horse and No Water that no more blood should be shed, and as compensation for the shooting, No Water gave Crazy Horse three horses. The elders also sent Black Shawl, a relative of Spotted Tail, to help heal Crazy Horse. Because Crazy Horse was essentially with a married man's wife, he was stripped of his title as Shirt Wearer (leader). At about the same time, Little Hawk was killed by a group of miners in the Black Hills while escorting some women to the new agency created by the Treaty of 1868. On August 14, 1872, Crazy Horse, along with Sitting Bull took part in the first attack by the Lakota on troops escorting a Northern Pacific Railroad survey crew. The Battle of Arrow Creek ended with minimal casualties on either side. Great Sioux War of 187677 On June 17, 1876, Crazy Horse led a combined group of approximately 1,500 Lakota and Cheyenne in a surprise attack against brevetted Brigadier General George Crook's force of 1,000 cavalry and infantry, and 300 Crow and Shoshone warriors in the Battle of the Rosebud. The battle, although not substantial in terms of human losses, delayed Crook from joining up with the 7th Cavalry under George A. Custer, ensuring Custer subsequent defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. At 3:00 p.m. on June 25, 1876, Custer's 7th Cavalry attacked the Lakota and Cheyenne village, marking the beginning of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Crazy Horse's exact actions during the battle are unknown. Possibly Crazy Horse entered the battle by repelling the first attack led by Major Marcus Reno, but it is also possible that he was still in his lodge waiting for the larger battle with Custer. Hunkpapa Warriors led by Chief Gall led the main body of the attack, and, once again, Crazy Horse's tactical and leadership role in the battle remains ambiguous. While some historians think that Crazy Horse led a flanking assault, ensuring the death of Custer and his men, the only proven fact is that Crazy Horse was a major participant in the battle and his undeniable personal courage was something several eye witness Indian accounts attested to. Waterman, one of only five Arapahoe warriors who fought, said that Crazy Horse, "was the bravest man I ever saw. He rode closest to the soldiers, yelling to his warriors. All the soldiers were shooting at him, but he was never hit." Sioux battle participant, Little Soldier, said, "the greatest fighter in the whole battle was Crazy Horse." On September 10, 1876, Captain Anson Mills and two battalions of the Third Cavalry captured a Miniconjou village of 36 lodges in the Battle of Slim Buttes, South Dakota. Crazy Horse and his followers attempted to rescue the camp and its headman, (Old Man) American Horse. They were unsuccessful, and American Horse and much of his family were killed by the soldiers after holing up in a cave for several hours. On January 8, 1877, Crazy Horse's warriors fought their last major battle at Wolf Mountain, against the United States Cavalry in the Montana Territory. On May 5 of that year, knowing that his people were weakened by cold and hunger, Crazy Horse surrendered to United States troops at Camp Robinson in Nebraska. Surrender and death Crazy Horse and other northern Oglala leaders arrived at the Red Cloud Agency, located near Camp Robinson, Nebraska, on May 5, 1877. Together with He Dog, Little Big Man, Iron Crow and others, they met in a solemn ceremony with First Lieutenant William P. Clark as the first step in their formal surrender. For the next four months, Crazy Horse resided in his village near the Red Cloud Agency. The attention that Crazy Horse received from the Army drew the jealousy of Red Cloud and Spotted Tail, two Lakota who had long before come to the agencies and adopted the white ways. Rumors of Crazy Horse's desire to slip away and return to the old ways of life started to spread at the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies. In August 1877, officers at Camp Robinson received word that the Nez Perce of Chief Joseph had broken out of their reservations in Idaho and were fleeing north through Montana toward Canada. When asked by Lieutenant Clark to join the Army against the Nez Perce, Crazy Horse and the Miniconjou leader Touch the Clouds objected, saying that they had promised to remain at peace when they surrendered. According to one version of events, Crazy Horse finally agreed, saying that he would fight "till all the Nez Perce were killed". But his words were apparently misinterpreted by half-Tahitian scout, Frank Grouard (not be confused with Fred Gerard, another U.S. Cavalry scout during the summer of 1876), who reported that Crazy Horse had said that he would "go north and fight until not a white man is left". When he was challenged over his interpretation, Grouard left the council. Another interpreter, William Garnett, was brought in but quickly noted the growing tension. With the growing trouble at the Red Cloud Agency, General George Crook was ordered to stop at Camp Robinson. A council of the Oglala leadership was called, then canceled, when Crook was incorrectly informed that Crazy Horse had said the previous evening that he intended to kill the general during the proceedings. Crook ordered Crazy Horse's arrest and then departed, leaving the military action to the post commander at Camp Robinson, Lieutenant Colonel Luther P. Bradley. Additional troops were brought in from Fort Laramie and on the morning of September 4, 1877, two columns moved against Crazy Horse's village, only to find that it had scattered during the night. Crazy Horse fled to the nearby Spotted Tail Agency with his sick wife (who had become ill with tuberculosis). After meeting with military officials at the adjacent military post of Camp Sheridan, Crazy Horse agreed to return to Camp Robinson with Lieutenant Jesse M. Lee, the Indian agent at Spotted Tail. On the morning of September 5, 1877, Crazy Horse and Lieutenant Lee, accompanied by Touch the Clouds as well as a number of Indian scouts, departed for Camp Robinson. Arriving that evening outside the adjutant's office, Lieutenant Lee was informed that he was to turn Crazy Horse over to the Officer of the Day. Lee protested and hurried to Bradley's quarters to debate the issue, but without success. Bradley had received orders that Crazy Horse was to be arrested and forwarded under the cover of darkness to Division Headquarters. Lee turned the Oglala war chief over to Captain James Kennington, in charge of the post guard, who accompanied Crazy Horse to the post guardhouse. Once inside, no doubt realizing the fate that was about to befall him, Crazy Horse struggled with the guard and Little Big Man and attempted to escape. Just outside the door of the guardhouse, Crazy Horse was stabbed with a bayonet of one of the members of the guard. He was taken to the adjutant's office where he was tended by the assistant post surgeon at the post, Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy, and died late that night. The following morning, Crazy Horse's body was turned over to his elderly parents who took it to Camp Sheridan, placing it on a scaffold there. The following month when the Spotted Tail Agency was moved to the Missouri River, Crazy Horse's parents moved the body to an undisclosed location. There are at least four possible locations as noted on a state highway memorial near Wounded Knee, South Dakota. His final resting place remains unknown. Controversy over his death A monument dedicated to Crazy Horse's memory. Dr. McGillycuddy, who treated Crazy Horse after he was stabbed, wrote that Crazy Horse "died about midnight." According to military records he died before midnight, making it September 5, 1877. John Gregory Bourke's memoirs of his service in the Indian wars, On the Border with Crook, details an entirely different account of Crazy Horse's death. Bourke's account was from an interview with Crazy Horse's relative and rival, Little Big Man, who was present at Crazy Horse's arrest and wounding. The interview took place over a year after Crazy Horse's death. Little Big Man's account is that, as Crazy Horse was being escorted to the guardhouse he suddenly pulled from under his blanket two knives, one in each hand. One knife was reportedly fashioned from the end of an army bayonet. Little Big Man, standing immediately behind Crazy Horse and not wanting the soldiers to have any excuse to kill him, seized Crazy Horse by both elbows, pulling his arms up and behind him. As Crazy Horse struggled to get free, Little Big Man abruptly lost his grip on one elbow, and Crazy Horse's released arm drove his own knife deep into his own lower back. Blood splattered all over them as the attempt to escape was still possible. The guard stabbed him with his bayonet in his back, already punctured. He fell and surrendered to the guards and his commentators. When Bourke asked about the popular account of the Guard bayoneting Crazy Horse, Little Big Man explained that the guard had thrust with his bayonet, but that Crazy Horse's struggles resulted in the guard's thrust missing entirely and his bayonet being lodged into the frame of the guardhouse door. Little Big Man related that, in the hours immediately following Crazy Horse's wounding, the camp Commander had suggested the story of the guard being responsible as a means of hiding Little Big Man's involvement in Crazy Horse's death, and thereby avoiding any inter-clan reprisals. Little Big Man's account, as related by Bourke, is questionable, as it is the only one of as many as 17 eyewitness sources (aside from one other account that states the eyewitness was "not sure" of the identity of the perpetrator) from Lakota, US Army, and "mixed-blood" individuals which fails to attribute Crazy Horse's death to a soldier at the guardhouse. The "last words" often attributed to Crazy Horse contains a terse implication of the guard. This widely published account directly contradicts the prior, witnessed statement made to the Post Commander: My friend, I do not blame you for this. Had I listened to you this trouble would not have happened to me. I was not hostile to the white men. Sometimes my young men would attack the Indians who were their enemies and took their ponies. They did it in return. We had buffalo for food, and their hides for clothing and for our tepees. We preferred hunting to a life of idleness on the reservation, where we were driven against our will. At times we did not get enough to eat and we were not allowed to leave the reservation to hunt. We preferred our own way of living. We were no expense to the government. All we wanted was peace and to be left alone. Soldiers were sent out in the winter, they destroyed our villages. The "Long Hair" [Custer] came in the same way. They say we massacred him, but he would have done the same thing to us had we not defended ourselves and fought to the last. Our first impulse was to escape with our squaws and papooses, but we were so hemmed in that we had to fight. After that I went up on the Tongue River with a few of my people and lived in peace. But the government would not let me alone. Finally, I came back to the Red Cloud Agency. Yet, I was not allowed to remain quiet. I was tired of fighting. I went to the Spotted Tail Agency and asked that chief and his agent to let me live there in peace. I came here with the agent [Lee] to talk with the Big White Chief but was not given a chance. They tried to confine me. I tried to escape, and a soldier ran his bayonet into me. I have spoken. The identity of the soldier accused of being responsible for the bayoneting of Crazy Horse is also debatable. Only one eyewitness account actually identifies the soldier as Private William Gentles. Historian Walter M. Camp circulated copies of this account to individuals who had been present who questioned the identity of the soldier and provided two additional names. To this day, the identification remains questionable. There is also a theory that Crazy Horse's guard Little Big Man was bought off by the white men and he was the one who stabbed Crazy Horse in the back. Photograph controversy Alleged photo of Crazy Horse in 1877 Most sources question whether Crazy Horse was ever photographed. Dr. McGillycuddy doubted any photograph of the war leader had been taken. In 1908, Walter Camp wrote to the agent for the Pine Ridge Reservation inquiring about a portrait. "I have never seen a photo of Crazy Horse," Agent Brennan replied, "nor am I able to find any one among our Sioux here who remembers having seen a picture of him. Crazy Horse had left the hostiles but a short time before he was killed and its more than likely he never had a picture taken of himself." In 1956, a small tintype portrait purportedly of Crazy Horse was published by J. W. Vaughn in his book With Crook at the Rosebud. The photograph had belonged to the family of the scout, Baptiste "Little Bat" Garnier. Two decades later, the portrait was again published with further details about how the photograph was produced at Camp Robinson, though the editor of the book "remained unconvinced of the authenticity of the photograph." Recently, the original tintype was on exhibit at the Custer Battlefield Museum in Garryowen, Montana, who have promoted the image as the only authentic portrait of Crazy Horse. Historians however continue to refute the identification. Experts argue that the tintype was taken a decade or two after 1877. The evidence includes the individual's attire (such as the length of the hair pipe breastplate and the ascot tie). In addition, no other photograph with the same painted backdrop has been found. Several photographers passed through Camp Robinson and the Red Cloud Agency in 1877 including James H. Hamilton, Charles Howard, David Rodocker and possibly Daniel S. Mitchell but none of them used the backdrop that appears in the tintype. After the death of Crazy Horse, Private Charles Howard produced at least two images of the famed war leader's scaffold grave, located near Camp Sheridan, Nebraska. The only confirmed image of Crazy Horse is a drawing a forensic artist made while listening to his description by his sister. This drawing belongs to Crazy Horse's family, and has been publicly shown only once, on the PBS program History Detectives. Crazy Horse Memorial Crazy Horse is currently being commemorated with the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota a monument carved into a mountain, in the tradition of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial (on which Korczak Zikowski had worked with Gutzon Borglum). The sculpture was begun by Zikowski in 1948. When completed, it will be 641ft (195 m) wide and 563ft (172 m) high. It is still incomplete because of funding constraints. Although the sculpture was originally requested by Henry Standing Bear and other Sioux elders, it has been criticized by some American Indian activists (most notably Russell Means) as exploitative of Sioux culture and Crazy Horse's memory as well as desecrating sacred ground. Crazy Horse's memorial statue depicts him pointing out toward his land in the Black Hills. His famous quote is "my lands are where my dead lie buried." Notes ^ Bright, William (2004). Native American Place Names in the United States. Normandy: University of Oklahoma Press, p. 125 ^ He Dog interview, July 7, 1930, published in: Eleanor H. Hinman (ed.), "Oglala Sources on the Life of Crazy Horse," Nebraska History 57 (Spring 1976) p. 9. ^ Chips Interview, February 14, 1907, published in: Richard E. Jensen (ed.), The Indian Interviews of Eli S. Ricker, 19031919 (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2005) p. 273. ^ Cloud Shield count, published in: Garrick Mallery, Pictographs of the North American Indians, 4th Annual Report, Bureau of American Ethnology (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1886) p. 140. Richard G. Hardorff, "Stole-One-Hundred-Horses Winter: The Year the Oglala Crazy Horse was Born," Research Review, vol. 1 no. 1 (June 1987) pp. 44-47. ^ a b c d e f g h The Authorized Biography of Crazy Horse and His Family Part One: Creation, Spirituality, and the Family Tree. DVD William Matson and Mark Frethem, Producers.(Reelcontact.com Productions, 2006). ^ Lemly, "The Death of Crazy Horse", New York Sun, September 14, 1877. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Authorized Biography of Crazy Horse and His Family Part Two: Defending the Homeland Prior to the 1868 Treaty". DVD William Matson and Mark Frethem, Producers. Reelcontact.com Productions, 2007. ^ "Fetterman Massacre", Encyclopedia Britannica-Online. ^ The Colonial Angle: Fetterman Massacre ^ Wild West Tech: "Native American Tech", 2004, The History Channel, broadcast January 9, 2008. ^ Capt. James Powell reported 60 killed and 120 wounded, but some estimates put the toll at over 1,000. ^ http://www.astonisher.com/archives/museum/waterman_little_big_horn.html#brave ^ Sioux warrior Little Soldier's account ^ Richard G. Hardoff (ed.). "Lakota Recollections", University of Nebraska Press, 1997, p.30 n.16. ^ DeBarthe, Joe. Account by Frank Grouard of Crazy Horse, Life and Adventures of Frank Grouard, University of Oklahoma Press, 1958, p.5354; at Astonisher.com. ^ Crazy Horse Memorial ^ "Crazy Horse: Who Really Wielded the Bayonet that Killed The Oglala Leader?", Greasy Grass, May 12, 1996, pp.2-10. ^ Brennan to Camp, undated (probably December 1908), Camp Collection, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. ^ Friswold, Carroll. The Killing of Crazy Horse, Glendale, California: A. H. Clark Co., 1976; reprinted Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 1988. ^ Buecker, Tom. "The Search for the Elusive (and Improbable) Photo of Famous Oglala Chief," Greasy Grass 14, May 1998. ^ Heriard, Jack. "Debating Crazy Horse: Is this the photo of the famous Oglala?", Whispering Wind Magazine, vol. 34 no. 3 (2004) pp. 16-23. ^ Dickson, Ephriam D. III. "Crazy Horse's Grave: A Photograph by Private Charles Howard, 1877," Little Big Horn Associates Newsletter vol. XL no. 1 (February 2006) pp. 4-5. ^ Dickson, Ephriam D. III. "Capturing the Lakota Spirit: Photographers at the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail Agencies," Nebraska History, vol. 88 no. 1 & 2 (Spring-Summer 2007) pp. 2-25. Further reading Ambrose, Stephen E. Crazy Horse and Custer: The epic clash of two great warriors at the Little Bighorn. 1975. Bray, Kingsley M. Crazy Horse: A Lakota Life. 2006. ISBN 0-8061-3785-1 Clark, Robert. The Killing of Chief Crazy Horse: Three Eyewitness Views by the Indian, Chief He Dog the Indian White, William Garnett the White Doctor, Valentine McGillycuddy. 1988. ISBN 0-8032-6330-9 Marshall, Joseph M. III. The Journey of Crazy Horse: A Lakota History. 2004. Guttmacher, Peter and David W. Baird. Ed. Crazy Horse: Sioux War Chief. New York Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 1994. 0-120. ISBN 0-7910-1712-5 McMurtry, Larry. Crazy Horse (Penguin Lives). Puffin Books. 1999. ISBN 0-670-88234-8 Pinn, Lionel Little Eagle. Greengrass Pipe Dancers. 2000. ISBN 0-87961-250-9 Sandoz, Mari. Crazy Horse, the Strange Man of the Oglalas, a biography. 1942. ISBN 0-8032-9211-2 "Debating Crazy Horse: Is this the Famous Oglala". Whispering Wind magazine, Vol 34 #3, 2004. A discussion on the improbability of the Garryowen photo being that of Crazy Horse (the same photo shown here). The clothing, the studio setting all date the photo 18901910. The Authorized Biography of Crazy Horse and His Family Part One: Creation, Spirituality, and the Family Tree. DVD. William Matson and Mark Frethem, producers. Documentary based on over 100 hours of footage shot of family oral history detailed interviews and all Crazy Horse sites. Family had final approval on end product. Reelcontact.com, 2006. The Authorized Biography of Crazy Horse and His Family Part Two: Defending the Homeland Prior to the 1868 Treaty'. DVD William Matson and Mark Frethem, Producers. Reel Contact Productions, 2007. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Crazy Horse PBS Biography of Crazy Horse A timeline of Crazy Horse's life Trimble: What did Crazy Horse look like?, Indian Country Today William Bordeaux's Crazy Horse sketch at Yale University's Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library Complete Crazy Horse Surrender Ledger "Crazy Horse". Appletons' Cyclopdia of American Biography. 1900. Crazy Horse at Find a Grave. 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Mountain Thunder Lodge

1877 deaths Lakota leaders Murdered Native Americans Native American people of the Indian Wars People of the Black Hills War People from South Dakota Red Cloud's War I am an expert from homedecorationsupplier.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China Car Body Sticker , Wall Sticker Clock, Wall Decoration Stickers,and more.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Cheap Holidays With Fleetway

After hearing story after story it was decided that Disneyland holidays were better over the winter months, cold aside the parks are much emptier and the prices are much cheaper. Travelling with young children, standing in queues for hours on end are never a good idea.We decided as a family that a Disney hotel was a must and the Davy Crockett Ranch suited us down to the ground. As one of the more relaxing hotels and a definite experience away from the norm, this hotel ticked all our boxes. It also had a range of activities within the hotel to as well as an indoor swimming pool. The pool was great in the afternoons, the waterslide was very entertaining. The tree-top adventure trail was great, and the perfect alternative to the bustling theme parks. There were also tennis and basket ball courts, we didn't use them but for sports fanatics they would be ideal! We went self catering but found ourselves eating out every night, the hotel restaurant was ok and the Disney Village was fantastic.
Mountain Thunder Lodge

Our favourite was Caf Mickey, this literally lit the kids faces up when Mickey came to the table. Staying at this hotel also gives you free entry to Hurricanes Disco in the village. We had a two bedroom lodge which had 2 bunks in the second room, this was perfect for the kids and the double bedroom for us. The Kitchenette was small but it would have been absolutely fine had we chosen to cook. I was actually really impressed by the fact that it had a full sized dishwasher. Food was relatively expensive in the parks but if you travel with that in mind, it won't get you down on arrival. At just 15 minutes walk from the park, you dont have to take the shuttle bus, but when tired it is an absolute God send! As the cheapest hotel of the Disney cluster, it definitely cannot be faulted. Staying in one of the Disney hotels meant that fast passes were given to us on arrival, we also enjoyed the "magic hours" in the park before it opened. Skipping the queues was great and definitely meant that we could enjoy far more of what we came to see. Our favourite park of the two is the original Disneyland Park with favourite rides varying amongst the family. My favourite is Thunder Mountain. The Rock "n" Rollin rollercoaster and crush's coaster in the Disney Studios Park were also family favourites. We only saw one show whilst we were there, next time I think we will make a bigger effort to see more.
Mountain Thunder Lodge

We did however catch Buffalo Bills, which most people favour the most. I must say that I totally agree and had a great night out. Getting back to the lodges in the evenings was really easy, even easier if taken on the bus. Evening drinks are great in the Davy Crockett Saloon Bar!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Cheap Holidays With Fleetway Travel

A group of seven friends and I have just enjoyed a 3 nights, 4 day getaway to Disneyland Paris. We actually wanted to go to Alton Towers for the same amount of time, but the prices were obscene and Disneyland Paris actually worked out cheaper! As it is a girly weekend away Disneyland Paris was completely acceptable to us, and we are now even planning our next visit! We opted for the Sequoia Lodge as it generally had really good reviews and we couldn't afford the Disneyland Hotel. Many recommendations sent us here and the fact that it is a lot cheaper than both the New York and the Newport, as well having a better reputation we went for it. I can honestly say that the hotel and the parks really were great.

Mountain Thunder Lodge

 I don't think I will even opt for another hotel either as the Sequoia Lodge really does have it all! I had never been to Disneyland Paris before so I was really hoping that it would be as enjoyable as Disneyworld in Florida - I remember loving that as a child and I hoped that Disney magic didnt get lost with age. I wanted to stay in a Disney hotel when we first started booking to go, just for the idea that it would be a Disney hotel! I thought at first it would be far to expensive but our trusty adviser at Fleetway Travel got us a great deal, in fact it was far cheaper than we ever expected to pay. We all decided on standard rooms as we wanted as much money as possible for the resort, we knew that there were nights out, food, trips to Paris and of course plenty of Disney bits and bobs to buy. When we got to the hotel we were pleasantly surprised with the rooms, they were all big, spotlessly clean, had big comfy beds and all the amenities we were expecting! We enjoyed a few drinks in the hotel bar that evening before hitting the parks the next day.

Mountain Thunder Lodge

 We went to bed fairly early as we wanted to be up in time to have breakfast and get to the parks for the magic hours, complimentary to Disney hotel guests. We actually managed to get on most of our favourite rides in the Disneyland Park before the queues built up, when they did we just simply used our fast passes. Favourite rides in the Disneyland Park have got to be Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain. In the second park, Disney Studios our favourite rides were Crush's coaster and Rock "n" Rollin Rollercoaster as well as The Twilight Zone, Tower of Terrors for some. Even the rides that were clearly built to entertain Disney's really young guests ended up providing us with a lot of fun too. For nights out we went to the Disney Village, hurricanes Disco was good as well as the sports bar and the Saloon. The best night out was when we hit Buffalo Bills Wild West show first, some members of the group weren't that keen on the idea but they all left on a high.

Mountain Thunder Lodge

 We even squeezed in a day in Paris which was perfect; being one of my favourite cities I was really excited. We visited all the usual sights and did plenty of shopping and eating to. Overall this was an absolutely fantastic holiday, everyone in the group loved it, some thought they wouldn't but were absolutely proved wrong. Thank-you Fleetway Travel for getting us such a great deal, the holiday was fab.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Breckenridge Pet-Friendly Hotels

So where can you stay with the family Fido on your next vacation in Breckenridge, Colorado? Pet-friendly hotels are readily available, from the most luxurious property to an economical lodge-style facility; no need to worry, the Kingdom offers the pet-owners a number of appropriate options. Starting with one of the more luxurious hotels in Breckenridge, the Village Hotel is part of The Village at Breckenridge complex, offering year-round shopping, dining, and outdoor events. As a guest of the hotel, you can take a walk with your pet along the pedestrian plaza; check out Breckenridge's historic Main Street; get on a ski lift at the base of Peak 9; or simply taking a walk in the nearby forested land. With so much to see and do within a short distance of the hotel, The Village Hotel offers a great location, superior convenience, and an excellent value. The fabulous rooms feature mountain ambiance and high-end amenities. Those amenities include flat-panel TVs, high-speed wireless Internet access, and personal valet service. Fido will love every moment at this pet-friendly venue!
Mountain Thunder Lodge

The Mountain Thunder Lodge is an elegant all-condominium-suite hotel ideally located in a quiet forested area of Breckenridge. Within walking distance to Main Street and close to local hiking and biking trails, the Lodge features mountain stone-and-timber design and superb amenities, including exercise facilities, outdoor pool and hot tubs. Wireless Internet access is also available to guests. The Mountain Thunder Lodge is a ski-in / gondola-out property that caters to humans and pets alike. The Great Divide Lodge is the only full-service slope-side hotel in Breckenridge. All the guestrooms in this hotel are spacious and inviting. The Great Divide Lodge offers rooms that will pamper your pet, featuring numerous amenities and outstanding service. The hotel is located 50 yards from the ski lifts and within easy walking distance of the historic Main Street of Breckenridge. A massive stone fireplace welcomes all guests in the magnificent, yet cozy lobby.
Mountain Thunder Lodge

An exceptional property, the Crystal Peak Lodge at the base of Peak 7 offers amazing views and easy access to the Peak 8 Fun Park in the summer. You can enjoy mountain biking and hiking trails right outside your door! A short shuttle or drive to Main St. offers a wide array of restaurants and shopping. The Crystal Peak Lodge features outdoor hot tubs with incredible mountain views. Guests enjoy a great fitness center, and complete business center. The Lodge is perhaps one of the best values in Breckenridge.
Mountain Thunder Lodge

There are a number of pet-friendly single-family homes, bed and breakfasts, and condominiums in Breckenridge that cater to your pet needs as well as the hotels above. All you need to do is walk down Main Street one evening and you will see that Breckenridge is one "pet crazy" kind of place!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Breckenridge Pet & Dog Friendly Lodging, Hotels, Condos and Accommodations

Breckenridge is Colorado's best place to take a pet on a ski vacation. Tons of facilities and lodging options are available for dogs and cats. Many hotels and condos cater to pets and are accepted at numerous properties. Whether you're coming for a winter ski vacation or an excursion with "spot" during the warmer months, Breckenridge is Colorado's quintessential mountain town catering to animal lovers and their families.  

Breckenridge Mountain Lodge
Breckenridge Mountain Lodge

The Breckenridge Mountain Lodge is one of this unique town's most economical lodging. Those on a budget will find the comfortable accommodations great for those traveling with their fury friends. A good location awaits those who visit Breckenridge. 

Great Divide Lodge
The Great Divide Lodge in Breckenridge is a classic style hotel lodge with great access to the ski resort and town. Pets including dogs are allowed at the Great Divide Lodge in Breckenridge.

Mountain Thunder Lodge
Breckenridge Mountain Lodge

This lodge has ski in ski out lodging for families with pets. 1 bedroom to 3 bedroom units boast good views of the Continental Divide and have hot tubs and pools.

The Lodge at Breckenridge
Breckenridge's best hotel with views, the Lodge at Breckenridge is a favorite for visitors with pets.

The Village Hotel
Breckenridge Mountain Lodge

Right in the heart of Historic Breckenridge and adjacent to the ski lifts, the Village Hotel is a great spot for families with pets. Winter and summer provide an excellent chance to bring the dog to the mountains of Colorado. in the winter, your dog will enjoy tramping through the snow and playing with the kids at the park. In the winter, a dog park called Carter park caters to your four legged friends with frisbee sessions and plenty of room to roam.