Shir Khan, Sacramento, California, USA

fam-united


Posted Sep 26, 2010, 6:27 pm
So here is my first post. I thought, that you maybe like to get some ideas of what is interesting for me to do and see. But be sure, that these are only some hints for you, everything will be fine for us as long as it is the way, that children can read it.

If you have any problems, please contact my owner. She surely will help you.

Please try to add the longitude and latitude to your update, so the map shows the places I visited.

Suggestions:

-Sit on a horse
-Cook with someone in Russia
-Collect recipes
-Ride the swanboats in Boston, MA
-Attend dragon festivals
-Attend dragon boat festivals
-Have my photo taken with someone dressed in Geisha-clothes
-Go on a fishingtrip
-Join a typically Polish holiday/party/dinner/game
-Eat pasta with a family from Italy
-Have my picture taken in front and inside of any store
-Visit churches
-Eat an icecream with my host in a warm country
-Go to an American Football game
-Join a family anywhere in the world for a boardgame
-Go to an icehockey match
-Watch the view from the top floor of a very high building
-Dance a traditional dance
-Go to a bookstore in Finland
-Have my picture taken with the flag of the country I am in, in as many countries/states as possible
-Have my picture taken with a policeman or anyone else in uniform
-Meet some girls in Harajuku fashion
-Meet a (local) famous person
-Go to a concert
-Read the newspaper in the countries I visit
-Read children books
-eat with chopsticks and try calligraphy in China
-To walk in the park Gaudi
-Spend with you one day in the institute / work / college / school
-Visit zoo / national park
-Touch sequoia and eucalyptus
-See the cherry blossoms and Fuji in Japan
-See the geyser or volcano
-Play football in Brazil or Argentina
-Take a picture with a person in national costume
-Play baseball in the U.S.A
-Get photos taken at the post office or/and mailbox
-Learn about flowers, trees and animals


To see:
-houses - not sightseeings
-Old houses in as many countries as possible
-Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
-The London eye
-Christmasmarket in Germany
-Chinese wall
-New York City
-Petronas twin towers, Kuala Lumpur
-The most beautiful sight in Denmark
-Leaning tower of Pisa
-Route 66
-Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
-The northern light
-Surfers on the beach
-Sydney opera
-Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
-Scotland
-Cristo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro
-Machu Picchu
-Nile and Cairo
-Nature, nature, nature...


You maybe want to know, how to do the updates and thing with the photos. So here I want to try to help you:

There are two possibilities to upload the photos. You can resize your photos on your computer via irfanview or photoscape or something similiar. Then you can upload the photos to the toyvoyager site directly. But you also can upload the photos to flickr or something and then you have the possibility to write a text - add a photo - write text - add another photo and so on. If you do it the first way - uploading to toyvoyagers site directly- you can only write a text and add all photos at the end. I hope, you know, what I mean. It's not that easy to explain in another language:), but I will try it again, if you didn't understand.

It is nice, if the photos aren't too small, but they also shouldn't be too large:)

Usually a toyvoyager stays for a month, but if you have any trip planned or even something else, of which you think, that it could be interesting, just let me know and the toyvoyager can stay with you a bit longer - as long as we stay in contact. I had toyvoyagers, that stayed at the same place for one year and we saw some great updates. One hint for the photos: The toyvoyager should be on each of them - only if you have to zoom (which should be seldom), then of course it would be too blurry with it. I usually hold the toyvoyager in armlenght in front of me and the camera close to me, so it isn't blurry. I try to take photos with more than an ear of the toyvoyager, if you know, what I mean - I saw many photos, which show only a small feathery edge of the toy:)



My travel plan:

arolissimo (Spain)

KCrawfish (USA)
fam-united


Posted Sep 26, 2010, 6:31 pm
Right now I'm helping my mum to prepare for school tomorrow. Then I will try to pack my package. I hope to start as soon as possible.
arolissimo


Posted Oct 17, 2010, 4:33 pm
Hi everyone

Finally I have done my first travel and I really like this because I’m visiting, Madrid, the capital of Spain.
I’m staying in a home with two young people, they are married and called Miriam and Arol, they haven’t children but they live with a friendly purple bear called Pepineaut.
When I’ve arrived Peipenaut opened my envelope and gave me so much hugs and introduced my new friends in Spain, another toy called Pericles.
In the second day I‘ve visited the Plaza Mayor, that is the major square of Madrid and one of the most important places of Spain. I love it because there are so many people playing, eating and taking pictures. When I see the people taking picture I wanted  this too and my friends Arol and Miriam take me pictures in the Plaza Mayor with the people and with the paint of Don Quijote de la Mancha, the best spanish book, written by Miguel de Cervantes.
This is just my firts post. My plan is stay here one or two week more visitng more places and Madrid.
I coming soon.

Shir Khan
arolissimo


Posted Nov 21, 2010, 8:16 pm
Hi everyone

I'm here one more time

Yesterday I've visited the the Teatro Real, is the most important theater of Madrid (and maybe Spain) and I love it.  :D

I can't take picture inside because we, the animals have some problems for access to the theater, but, here you have a picture of this famous and important place for clasic music
arolissimo


Posted Nov 21, 2010, 8:21 pm
In Madrid, Spain, have so much flores and trees with many colors. When I travel I like enjoy with this. Here I'm walking in the city with my friend @arolissimo

See you soon
arolissimo


Posted Nov 21, 2010, 8:34 pm
For finish my travel in Spain I've visited the Royal Palace of Spain's Kings. Is so pretty, and big. I like the little castle and the music around (because here, close, have musicians with violins)

First I've visited the Royal Palace and after I've went to Cathedral of Madrid, is very nice, big and have staris dificult for a toy as me, but see the picture, I try and I can upstairs :D

And when I finally finished up the stairs, @arolissimo and his wife Miri gave me an ice cream  :p

I really like this travel I and willl go to New Zeland... I like so much travel  B)
fam-united


Posted Mar 19, 2011, 10:32 am
I'm back at home from my travel to Spain. I think, I will have a short rest here and start to plan my next travel at once. I like to go to far away places:)

Thank you arolissimo for taking me to those places in Spain and letting me stay with you.
fam-united


Posted Apr 16, 2011, 8:06 am
I'm saying good bye to my family today. With some little stuff I travel to the USA to visit Kcrawfish. If it is warmer than here? Right now it is so cold in the house, but they say, that it will be like summer soon. I'm excited to travel to such a far away place.
kcrawfish


Posted Apr 28, 2011, 2:47 am
Hi Mum and friends!

I arrived in California today on Miss Kate's birthday just in time to deliver the gifts.  She loved the mango soap -- she said mango is her favorite fruit.  She said the tag for Zoe was so special -- especially with her photo on it.  But she seemed most pleased to have me!  :)

I met Sapphire, Edelweiss, Aslan and DuDette.  They are all very nice and welcoming. 

I was so tired, but I was even more HUNGRY.  So Miss Kate invited me to her birthday dinner.  Exciting to eat American food for the first time!  :D

Love,
Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Apr 28, 2011, 2:56 am
I couldn't wait to try American food, but does this look like American English to you??  Well, even if it does, it isn't!  ;)  It's Thai!  I think it means "delicious food for tiger kings."  ;)

Miss Kate's friend was very nice and let me try all the dishes.  You can see I had some water with lemon, as I was dry from 10 days of travel.  Then I had deep-fried sweet potatoes and papaya salad.  We also shared Pad Thai, which had shrimp and tofu, and mango salad with fish.  I have no complaints about any of it! 

When I got home, I was hit by jet lag pretty bad.  On German time, I had been up all night after all! 

~Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted May 1, 2011, 7:04 am
I am so glad to meet my new friends here in California.  They are Sapphire, Vanilla, Aslan, Edelweiss and DuDette.


kcrawfish


Posted May 4, 2011, 2:31 am
Mom dear,

Today we went to Capitol Park!  Miss Kate tells me you have lots of student work to mark.  I wish you could have come with us today because you deserve a rest.  DuDette and Sapphire stayed home because they already visited Capitol Park.  But I had fun quality time with Miss Kate today.

First, we saw the prickly plants, which were nice, but prickly!  I also found some lovely California poppies.  Miss Kate suggested we see the roses ... also prickly but very pretty, too.  It took me a long time to find the roses on the map because I was sitting on the rose garden!!

I decided to pose with every different color I could find, starting with white.  I liked especially the last one.  I think its colors are most perfect for me, so I have two pictures with that rose.  I'd like to pluck it and mail it to you, dear mommy! 

There is a lovely peace theme in this rose garden.  :)

Then we walked some and saw the Capitol building and a native California plant garden and a historical church, which -- according to Miss Kate -- is a nice example of Spanish Colonial architecture.  And it has great free concerts.

That's all for now! 

Love,

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted May 9, 2011, 10:28 pm
Hi Mommy! 

We decided to have lunch with Miss Kate's friend south of Sacramento.  DD and Sapphire and Zarafeh, too, went ... and, well, Zarafeh because he likes to stay in the car.  He asked that his daily view be improved with a car wash first. 

I got out to read the car wash choices but I forgot it would be in English.  I'm learning, but I asked Sapphire to do it for me. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/DuDette/IMG_2386.jpg


Look at those big wipers!  How thrilling!
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/DuDette/IMG_2387.jpg


Oh, those giraffes are so silly, looking away the whole time.  ;)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/DuDette/IMG_2388.jpg


All done and ready to dry!
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/DuDette/IMG_2389.jpg


Here are the delicious salads ... Greek salad and Chinese chicken with enough for all of us. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/DuDette/IMG_2364.jpg


After lunch, Sapphire and I played in the garden while everyone else watched the royal wedding.

Love,

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted May 12, 2011, 1:03 am
Hi everyone!

What a surprise!  Miss Kate said, "We're going to the coast for 2 nights!"  She barely gave us enough time to pack our TV tags!  ;)

Here are some of my pictures on the road.  The bunch of us figured out where we wanted to sit on the dash, and the first photo is of us going on a small highway across the marshy bay.  Did you know the San Francisco bay is like any big estuary, but it's special because instead of just fanning out, it closes up some to a small one mile wide entrance to the sea?  And that entrance is where the Golden Gate Bridge is.  That seems to make this bay special.  Anyway, we're going north and the Golden Gate is to our left.  We could see it, but it was too far for photos.

We stopped in Marin County to have a picnic lunch.  We found a shady spot with cows and eucalyptus trees.

Then we stopped at the teeny town of Valley Ford.  Do you like the boogie board in the window?  Why would a shark surf?  It makes as much sense as a tiger surfing. 

We also stopped at Bodega Bay, where Miss Kate said The Birds, a very scary movie, was filmed.  But, Mom, how can birds be scary?  I didn't ask Miss Kate because I didn't want to be rude.  The Tides is a well known restaurant because of the movie.  (Too bad we weren't hungry!)  It was used for the cafe, gas station and dock scenes.  (And Miss Kate said the farm in the movie where the farmer was killed by birds, well, that was in Valley Ford.  Pretty cool.)  There's also a cool store with both candy and kites.  I guess a lot of tourists like to stop there.  I know I did.  :)  This kite was my favorite.

We're back on the road!  On Highway 1, that is!  Here we were stopped at a stoplight that shouldn't be there except some of the highway fell into the ocean, so we had to share one lane with the other direction.  The van in front had a cool shark sticker, but I don't know if you can see it.  Miss Kate tells me there is such a thing as tiger sharks.  I'm intrigued.  :)

We took another pit stop at a little general store at Fort Ross.  Isn't it funny such a mix of things?  Fishing and snorkeling gear, wood, ice, DVDs to rent, a restaurant and post cards!  Good post cards, too!  You may get one.  :rolleyes:

More soon!

~Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted May 12, 2011, 1:15 am
Happy Mother's Day! 
kcrawfish


Posted May 12, 2011, 1:31 am
Finally!  After hours of driving we arrived at our destination, The Sea Ranch.  It was a beautiful day and a lovely evening at the ocean.  Can you see the water out the window?  But instead of walking on the beach at sunset, what did we do?  We watched the season finale of The Amazing Race!!  :o  Actually, I didn't mind, Mom, because I am hooked on that show, too.  :)  The team in last place at that moment was the Harlem Globetrotters, and the other teams hoped they'd miss the bus they were on.  So the young lady in pink and everyone else were yelling at the bus driver, the man in yellow, to go, go go!  Very exciting!

Love,

Your Tiger King

P.S.  If you want to watch the show, you can do it here;)

kcrawfish


Posted May 12, 2011, 9:04 pm

Hello Mom!

This is day 2 at the coast, and I want to see a real tiger shark!  We all got ready for a walk, except Edelweiss who stayed in our room to make a list of places she’d like to visit.  I think England and Germany were high on her list, but I don’t remember … I was too excited to be off on my quest!

We drove around The Sea Ranch, which is a pretty sleepy place.  It’s a nice change from busy Sacramento.  Miss Kate did the driving and we looked out for the waves on the cement.  Those mean a trail starts there.  Can you see me on the trail post?  You may need to get your noses pretty close to the screen!  ;)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/DDtrailmarker.jpg


Sapphire and I posed for a pic as we came out from the street to the bluff … but what you can’t see is that we’re holding onto that bush with all our might.  It was so windy!  We should’ve left earlier, as Miss Kate says every morning is still and the wind gets stronger as the day goes on, but DuDette insisted on our writing postcards first thing!  Oh, well!  A mouse in love …  ;)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/saphandshirkhantopoftrail.jpg


As we moseyed along the cliff, we found some lovely California poppies.  Down low it was a little less blustery. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/SK_poppiesatbeach.jpg


I asked Miss Kate if I could pick one and send it to you, but she said it’s not nice to pick California poppies – but maybe I can send you a post card with poppies.

Finally, we found the path down to the ocean.  I saw a caution sign but nothing about sharks …
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/sk_cautionsign.jpg


hmmm Looking for fins … but all I saw was green.  That’s kelp.  Miss Kate said it’s healthy, which just made me want to eat a steak.  May I have meat at my welcome home party?  Please?
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/sk_kelp.jpg


Miss Kate said this place is better for looking at the tide pools and that the tide was low, which is good.  Here I see a snail.  Miss Kate said Zoe would love that.  Huh?  Love it in what sense?  Wha?  Oh, I see.  Yuck.  Please see my comment above about the meat.  Thank you.  ;)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/ShirKhan_snail.jpg


Oh, well, I didn’t see a shark, but I saw a fish!  Can you see it?
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/skandfish1.jpg


It’s very well-camouflaged.  Can you see it now?  It’s looking right at me.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/skandfish1-1.jpg


Well, the wind was getting to us, and this isn’t the best place for sharks (unless they’re vegetarian sharks who eat seaweed!), so we walked back up the path.  I love these ice plants.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/ShirKhan_iceplants.jpg


We decided to walk along the trail and get to the road at a different point.  Group photo, group photo!  :D
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/grouponfence.jpg


That was it for now!  We just drove around and visited with Miss Kate’s friends and families.  But more photo ops tomorrow ……….  :D

Love,

Tiger King
kcrawfish


Posted May 13, 2011, 3:53 pm

Hello Mom and TV buddies!

We had to leave today, but first this seemed like a perfect cool breezy morning to enjoy the sun and the view.  The lounge chair was plenty big for all of us. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/group_loungechair.jpg


We were looking at a book on TIME magazine photographers.  Interesting.  Whenever I was tired of the book, I could nap or look at the ocean.  It was peaceful.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/ShirKhan_loungechair.jpg


After some snoozing and reading, we left Miss Kate to her book and decided to fool around in the yard.  We each found some ocean things that matched our colors.  I found a one that goes with my nose.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/ShirKhan_coral.jpg


We found some more interesting white things.  What do you think they are?
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/WhaleBones_closest.jpg


Any guess?
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/WhaleBones_closer.jpg


Yes, of course!  They’re ribs!  To a whale!  :)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/WhaleBones.jpg


On our way down Highway 1, we stopped to take a photo of a huge patch of California poppies on the hillside.  And only one month ago, Miss Kate and DuDette said, there was only one poppy.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/ShirKhan_Poppies.jpg


We also stopped just a minute before Jenner to take a picture of where the Russian River goes into the ocean.  There were seals on the beach, but I doubt you can see them in the photograph.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/ShirKhan_RussianRiver.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20May%202011/ShirKhan_RussianRiver2.jpg


We left at 1:30 and got home to Sacramento at 7.  It was nice to take a lot of stops and look around, but we were pooped!  :)

Love you!  Say hi to my family and friends in Germany!

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 4, 2011, 11:59 pm
Vanilla sent us such a cool card!  What a lucky bear!  B)
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 6, 2011, 3:14 am
Hi Mom!

Finally, we’ve gone somewhere!  I think Miss Kate, too, was happy to get out.  :rolleyes:

As you can see it was a very rainy Saturday, and our manes were drippy.  But it wasn’t cold. 

Miss Kate told Sapphire and me that Old Sacramento was where Sacramento was first built along the Sacramento River.  It was a good location after the Gold Rush of 1848 to build a store and do trading with all the miners that were coming to the area. 

We looked into some stores -- now they have souvenirs and candy, not ropes and gold pans -- and thought about going into Fat’s for lunch, but then decided to get something to go for later. 

That’s when we met the Sheriff and Deputy.  The Sheriff spoke German, Mom!  He talked to me and asked if the young woman I was with also spoke German.  Neither Miss Kate nor Sapphire understood any of our conversation.  He asked me if I had seen three cowboys that had been involved in a gunfight on Friday night.  I told him no, but I'm still not sure if he was kidding or if he was serious!  :o  But all I really care about is he let me ride his gun.  That was a little scary and a lot of fun!  B)

I didn't realize until now that Sapphire doesn't know any German, yet she's leaving for Germany next week.  I need to teach her a few words fast!  :stare:

Then we heard a train coming!  Miss Kate and I had to grab Sapphire's leg to keep her from hopping on the train and, yes, completing a mission ... but getting lost in the process!  Silly girl!  You don't see me jumping onto a passing bakery truck just to learn how to bake a cake.  :p  The primary mission of all toyvoyagers is to get home safely someday!!!!

Well, anyway, we stopped for some snacks at a restaurant called My Little Pita.  Sapphire and Miss Kate seemed strangely satisfied with vegetarian dolmas and tabouleh.  A pile of parsley, Mom.  A pile of parsley.  Very odd.  Mom, I would like a meat-themed birthday party this year.  Thank you.  ;)  :) 

I felt a little better that we ordered a crab and shrimp louis salad to go at Fat’s.  Frank Fat is famous in Sacramento.  He was an immigrant from China in 1919, an illegal one and only 16 years old, too, and started a restaurant here in 1939.  Miss Kate explained that it was close to the capitol, and politicians would go there and could order anything they wanted from Americanized Chinese food to their American favorites, and Frank Fat could keep a secret.  Now their family has 5 restaurants.  He is a big success story!

That was fun.  I felt like we went back to the old west.  I felt rough and tough and was ready for a nap.  :) 

I miss you all in Germany!

Love,
Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 7, 2011, 3:18 am
Time for your lesson, Sapphire!  Guten Tag.  Repeat, Guten Tag.  ;)  :)
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 8, 2011, 7:31 am
Miss Kate was feeling down for some reason today, so I asked her to sit with me on the sofa, bring her laptop and look at the nice photos by the nice people of her nice toyvoyagers. 

I think the rocks Aslan spied are amazing.  You can see how beautiful they must be in person.  Miss Kate showed me some stickers she has of the Grand Teton mountains, and it looks like they were dropped in the water off the coast of Harbour Grace. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Shir_Khan/IMG_2532.jpg


Maybe it’s the beauty of St. Nikolai or Clyde’s mention of a restaurant that serves mostly meat and ham, but I just had to give that horse an Eskimo kiss!
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Shir_Khan/IMG_2531.jpg


I am joining Edelweiss, PinkyHH and _Mishuta_ on the college grounds.  So relaxing!  And do I look smarter?  I think I do!  I think I look like I’ve been studying all day!
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Shir_Khan/IMG_2529.jpg


Jack the cat and I agree that those kids are fantastic chefs!  Or are they hamtastic chefs!
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Shir_Khan/IMG_2528.jpg


Now I am the model, Vanilla!  Aren’t I handsome?  Hamsome?  (Sorry!  That doesn’t make any sense, but it made Miss Kate smile :).) 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Shir_Khan/IMG_2527.jpg

I love a picnic on the beach and am not afraid of dragons!  Miss Kate shouldn't be afraid of them either!  And neither should you! 

Your wise wise Tiger King,

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 8, 2011, 7:36 am
Sapphire is safely off to Germany with a few important phrases and a love of adventure.
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 13, 2011, 4:10 am
A new toyvoyager has arrived!  Pipps from the Netherlands!  She is really good at hugging .................  :)
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 14, 2011, 6:47 pm
It's been busy busy busy around here!  Miss Kate threw a few bags and Pipps, Peach the Pooch and me in the car where Zarafeh was waiting eagerly for us.  :)

We headed out westward toward San Francisco.  Such a pretty Sunday!  You can see the California rolling hills are going from green to summer brown (or golden  ;)).

In the third to last pic are the hills that divide the dry Sacramento valley from the San Francisco Bay Area.  Miss Kate says this is where during the summer she always suddenly regrets wearing shorts to see her friends in the Bay Area. 

In Vallejo we took 37 northwest, looping around the north side of the Bay Area.  You can see we are on top of the hills looking down on the Bay Area.

Smooth driving!  Not much traffic.  Ocean here we come!  I wonder if I'll see a shark this time?  :D
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 14, 2011, 7:19 pm
Hey Mom!

Me again!  Well, we hit Highway 101 and headed north but quickly stopped for a Starbucks break.  Miss Kate grumbled about wishing it was a Peet's, but I don't know what she's talking about.  If she wants good coffee, she should drive a little farther ... maybe Germany??  :rolleyes:

We took a break in Valley Ford.  Yes, we're closer to the coast, and the air is already so nice and fresh.  We found a nice place with art and exotic California oils.  Also, do you like the cool bird houses?  There are lots of artists and artisans in these coastal towns.  I really like the bird house with the Ritz cracker tin lid roof.

Cherries!  Yum!

Love,
Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 18, 2011, 6:47 am
Hi everyone!  Hi Mom! 

I hope you’re enjoying your holiday!  I sure am enjoying mine!  :)
Here I am taking a walk with Pipps, Peach the Pooch and Miss Kate and enjoying the moon and the ocean.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2624.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2625.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2626.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2628.jpg


Look at the fog bank!  I am so glad the fog is staying far away from us.  I wonder what keeps it away?
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2627.jpg


After our lovely walk, we went to see Miss Kate’s family in Gualala and played Skip-Bo.  Have you played, Mom?  The goal is to get rid of your stack of cards by putting them in order on the stacks in the middle.  It’s a nice slow game, and it doesn’t require perfect English … so I loved it! 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2632.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2634.jpg


That was fun.  I enjoyed seeing those nice people again.

Love you!

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 18, 2011, 1:26 pm
Hi Mom,

Miss Kate is determined to get a nice sunset picture for us.  Well, especially for Pipps.  Do you like any of these, Mom?  Believe me, it looked beautiful.  And much less fog tonight. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2640.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2642.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2649.jpg


Awww there goes the sun …
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2661.jpg


But, wait, we turned around and the sky is so pretty still.  The road you see there is Highway 1.  We’re between The Sea Ranch and Gualala.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2670.jpg


Good night!

Love,

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 19, 2011, 5:39 pm
Hi Mom!

It's video time!  Would you and our family like to watch a little bit about Bodega Bay, the town I've visited TWICE?  :) :)  Here is the video.  While in Bodega Bay, we stopped at the Surf Shack.  Miss Kate bought a couple of things for a Dutch woman in Postcrossing Forum.  While she was shopping, we were checking out the surfboards.  But she just could not make up her mind and we didn't have all day ... a wooden postcard shaped like a surf board or a handmade surfboard key chain ... a Surf Shack bumper sticker or a Bodega Bay magnet?  We helped her make the right decision.  :)  Look at those two guys in the store.  The beard and the long blond hair ... don't they look just like surfer dudes?  ;)  They're cute but also brave for possibly facing the tigers of the ocean.

We got to The Sea Ranch pretty early.  The view out our bedroom window was lovely.  It is so relaxing here.  And much cooler than Sacramento.

Love,

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 22, 2011, 12:51 pm
Hi Mom,

I want to introduce you to a few friends.  Here is Gypsy Rose. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2678.jpg


Isn’t she darned pretty?  I think I am the first tiger she’s ever seen.  At least that’s what I’m seeing in her eyes. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2671.jpg


I would also like you to meet Luna.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2685.jpg


And you can also see Miss Kate’s dear cousin’s hand.  She is always very helpful, willing to give a hand.  haha  :)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2692.jpg


I am glad she held onto me because it was super windy. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2693_cropped.jpg


The views were beautiful, but it was a bit cold.  So Peach the Pooch, Pipps and I spent the evening writing cards. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2699.jpg


Too bad we’re leaving tomorrow ... So soon …

~SK
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 22, 2011, 1:05 pm
Hi Mom and family and friends,

This is our day to go back to Sacramento.  So we got up early, enjoyed some time hanging out together, Peach, Pipps and me. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2700.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2702.jpg


I also wanted you to see something, something that looks delicious.  I really embarrassed myself jumping at it until Miss Kate told me it was NOT lunch.  Okay, sure, I made a mistake, but it was an easy mistake.  What is an albino peacock except just a big white chicken?  hmmm Peacock nuggets … Kentucky fried peacock …  peacock cacciatore …  It all sounds good to me!  Miss Kate>”No means no.”
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2706.jpg


Miss Pipps is rather a better pianist than I with all those legs!  I’m quite sure she’s the best spider pianist of her generation.  I’m lucky to be making music with her!  ;)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2708.jpg


We also took one last walk and smelled some daisies.  Can you see me?
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2716.jpg


Now can you?
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2717.jpg


On the way out of town, we got some coffee and mailed our cards.  I told Miss Kate I was buying.  But she said I am the guest.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2710.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2711.jpg


Miss Kate wouldn’t buy this chocolate log for me.  So much for the hostess with the mostest!!  ;)  Okay, yeah, yeah, I want you to recognize me when I get home.  Don’t be calling me Garfield.  :o
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2714.jpg


Pipps did the honors, one card for each leg.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/TSR%20June%202011/IMG_2718.jpg


Maybe one of those is coming your way.  :)

Toodleloo!

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 23, 2011, 7:19 am
Mom,

Can you believe what a pretty day it is for a drive!?  :)

Love,

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jun 23, 2011, 7:48 am
Hiya Mom!

We went to see the famous Lipizzaner horsies of Austria.  I'll bet even Clyde who's with Marcie08 in Vienna would be a little envious of this German now. 

:)

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 4, 2011, 4:06 pm
Hi everyone!

We went to San Francisco on Saturday!  We drove west early in the morning. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2775.jpg


You can see the Bay Area down below us in this picture. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2776.jpg
This is where Miss Kate usually turns right to go up the coast, but her friend stayed straight.  Exciting!


We went across the Carquinez Bridge.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2777.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2778.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2779.jpg


Are we there yet?  Pipps suggested we turn around to see how much time to get to San Francisco.  Only ten minutes!  Not much traffic on Saturday I guess.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2781.jpg


Toll plaza here we come!
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2782.jpg


Oh my gosh!  Five dollars for the Bay Bridge!  Much scrambling for purses and dollars and change.  ;)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2783.jpg


Pretty bridge!  Any minute now Miss Kate says the city will be in view on the right side of the car.  I'm ready.  :)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2788.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2789.jpg


There it is, Mom!  I wish you were here with us!
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2793.jpg


Pipps and I had to keep a look out for the Fremont Street exit.  It was hard to pay attention and look at the views at the same time.  But we made it.  Here we are in downtown. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2795.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2798.jpg


Lovely buildings!
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2821.jpg


First thing we had to do was get some focaccia in North Beach.  We were all feeling hungry.  I wonder, do they have meat?
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2800.jpg
Miss Kate said the phone number is on the bricks there.  Garfield is part of the phone number ... G is a number ... A is a number, too ...  So if you know the area code is 415, anyone in the world could call and ask them questions about their focaccia, like ... why no MEAT focaccia?  Or where did you fogetcha focaccia?  ha!  Get it?  Forget your focaccia?  Okay, sorry ...  :cyclops:  ;) 


North Beach is the Italian neighborhood.  How do you know it is from this picture?  I'll give you one guess.  ;)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2801.jpg
I think DuDette and Cheerio's mom lives somewhere around here.  *waving hello to littlecablecars:)


Then we took a peek at Chinatown, found a parking spot – amazing to find one! – and we walked around and shopped a bit. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2805.jpg


Hey!  We found a cable car! :)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2806.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2828.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2827.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2829.jpg


Now, folks, it was time to have dinner at the oldest restaurant in California Tadich Grill.  Such history!
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2820.jpg


And such a Tadich Grill Platter!
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/SF%20July%202011/IMG_2814.jpg
Finally, some protein!  :D


After a delicious dinner, we went home.  It was a great – and a COOL – day in the city.  Would you believe it's 40 degrees in Sacramento?

Time to start packing for a big trip this week.  :)  I won’t tell to where.  ;)  (Mom knows where, but it'll be a surprise for some of you.)

Love,

Shir Khan

P.S. Mom, Miss Kate and I have been enjoying the vacation pics sooo much.  Denmark is beautiful, and it looks so nice to walk on the dunes. 
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 11, 2011, 4:39 pm
Hi Mom and family!

We got on a plane, had some pretzels and made it all the way to Denver.  Can you believe it?  We only had a few minutes between planes, but we saw a little of Denver.  There were some interesting things.  For example, they had tornado shelters!  :o  We're not in California anymore!  :thinking:  There was also an airplane hanging in the middle of the airport.  Shouldn't those be outside?? :p  mmmm But caramel apples make sense to me.  Yum!  ;)

Love,
Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 12, 2011, 6:45 pm
Hi!  Me again!

We made it to MSP ... that stands for Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport in Minnesota.  Do you like these t-shirts?  They didn't have my size.  :(  Anyway there are lots of Swedish people here.  Well, Miss Kate tells me lots of Scandinavians in general. 

Miss Kate's mother told us that there are pianos all over the state, just sitting and waiting for people to play them.  Pretty cool, huh?  Pipps was in heaven.  :)

When we were done playing the piano, we played on the escalator.  Can you see me?

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 12, 2011, 6:57 pm
We stopped at Tobie's Restaurant on our way up into the North Woods.  We were so hungry!  Some of the food is very different here than in California.  :)  Though I'm a fierce tiger, I am a little worried about real-life critters and bears.  :thinking:
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 12, 2011, 7:21 pm
Cute license plate!  I like the way the chickadees sing. 

We spent one day in Duluth, shopping for our time in the remote wilderness.  I was a little nervous, bears, badgers, wolves, moose, krispy kritters ... whatever those are.  And mosquitoes!! 

No, I'm kidding!  I'm not afraid.  ;)  I'm the tiger king! 
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 13, 2011, 11:23 pm
Mom!

We can see the Island from here!  We have the information, I found the schedules, Miss Kate has her ferry card and we're all excited about driving a car onto a boat.  The only worry we have is, have the other toyvoys made it to the Island safely by travelope??

Isn't the city of LaPointe cute?  I'm so happy!  :)

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 13, 2011, 11:30 pm
Yes!  They were here waiting for us!  B)  Ranil, Cheerio and Henrik ... oh, yes, and Peach the Pooch was freed from the comfort and safety of the suitcase yesterday.  :)
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 14, 2011, 12:58 am

Hey Mom!  Hello everyone!

It was time to see the log cabin ... from the outside ... and the beach and Lake Superior.  It was all beautiful.  And I think we're all getting along very well, too.  :)

Love,
Shir Khan

P.S. I am so pleased that I've added Colorado, Minnesota AND Wisconsin toward completing my mission of visiting 50 states.  :D
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 14, 2011, 9:05 pm
We went to town today and found a map to help us orient ourselves.  Miss Kate marked it up to show you where we are staying.

~Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 14, 2011, 9:23 pm
Miss Kate told us about a legend of a secret place where an old Chippewa Indian – they’re also called Ojibway – built a small village.  Maybe for wood elves.  Maybe for spirits.  Years later he was gone and one family for generations has continued to add to the Hidden Village.  She said it's hard to find, but we will try ... 

:thinking:
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 16, 2011, 6:01 pm
I was so excited today was our day to find the hidden village. 

We drove on a narrow dirt road and had to drive back and forth to find the start of the hidden path.  We weren’t sure we had the right place until we were pretty far into the forest from the road.  Then it was clearly a path.  It was starting to rain, but we didn’t feel anything, only the sound of water drops on the birch leaves far above us. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/IMG_2937.jpg


We walked through a cloud of mosquitoes but were intent on our goal.
Then suddenly … deep in the forest … a sign.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/IMG_2910.jpg


The first houses I almost didn’t see.  They looked like mossy rocks.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/IMG_2924.jpg


A few more turns of the path and there it was!  The village center!
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/IMG_2916.jpg


I took a peek in this barn to see if any small cows or sheep lived there.  You’ll see from the second photo that Miss Kate had a bit of a vertigo episode while slapping mosquitoes, poor dear.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/IMG_2923.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/IMG_2922.jpg


Off the main path, there were many hidden buildings under leaves and branches.  Most had no dates.  Perhaps these were built by the Ojibwe man.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/IMG_2931.jpg


Here you can see who built this, what it is and when.  This farm is more than 30 years old.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/IMG_2926.jpg


Finally, we all posed together on one of two bridges.  You can see we all enjoyed the hidden village.  I hope you did, too!  :)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/IMG_2929.jpg

Love,

Shir Khan



kcrawfish


Posted Jul 19, 2011, 5:51 am
Hi Mom!  Hi family!

Today we went on the ferry to the mainland.  It was a nice day, but a little bit of a cold wind.  Miss Kate made sure we didn’t blow anywhere.  ;)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_2943.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_2947.jpg


After our errands, Miss Kate gave in and took us to the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_2952.jpg


Do you like this wolf?  It was a little scary, but it was already in wolf heaven and not dangerous. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_2958.jpg


All along the shore of Lake Superior there are many sea caves.  But why aren’t they called lake caves?
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_2966.jpg


There are educational trails all around the center.  I could get a good view from the tower. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_2973.jpg


There were a few informational computers in the center.  We could’ve looked at the snowmobile trails (?!) but chose instead to see the other Apostle Islands around Madeline Island.  The red dots are lakeshore tours and the green triangles are campsites.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_2980.jpg


We also saw a 3-D model of Lake Superior.  We pushed the button for Native American communities and they all lit up.  Very cool. 
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_2982.jpg


It was time to go, but on the way out we met this very nice ranger.  :)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_2984.jpg


We drove all the way back to Bayfield and got in line for the ferry to the Island.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_2986.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_2991.jpg


A quick stop at the little island library to find a book about tigers.  :)  Thinking life missions!  B)
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/Madeline%20Island%20July%202011/Trip%20to%20Mainland/IMG_3003.jpg


Miss you!  :)

Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 19, 2011, 10:06 pm
Miss Kate’s friend found this amazing rock on the beach.  He did some research at the little library and found out it’s a volcanic bomb.  This is all very old rock around here, some of the first volcanoes were here, and this was spat out of one of them.  Or so I’m told!  :)  We were all very inspired to find our own rocks in the lake and on the beach.  I hope you like what we found.  Too bad we can’t take them home with us!  The best souvenir ever!  ;)
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 20, 2011, 6:19 am
Miss Kate introduced us to her Aunt Sal’s toys, Gecco and Anonymouse.  They are friendly and cute even if a bit weathered … not unlike the cabin where they live.  ;)  :)

Then Aunt Sal let us look at her ABC book.  It is in all the stores on the island and in Bayfield.  I felt like she’s a celebrity and asked for her autograph.  :) 

Under S, you can find sand and sailboats and all kinds of things … check Pipps’ update for more S-words.  Ranil was the first to recognize this was our beach.  You can see it clearly from the photos of the day before, but I am proud to say that I was the first to recognize Miss Kate, skipping stones, and Miss Kate’s Aunt April, looking for beautiful Lake Superior stones.  I guess Aunt April takes them out of the lake and Miss Kate puts them back in.  ;)  :)

After all that reading, it was time to do some writing … check your mail box!  :D

Do you see the post card of Big Bay lagoon?  We’re hoping to go there before we leave!  Fingers crossed!

Love,
Shir Khan

kcrawfish


Posted Jul 21, 2011, 5:55 am
Hi everyone!

I am so glad to report that a little time was made for us to go with Miss Kate and her two aunts to Big Bay Town Park. 

Do you remember the card with the lagoon?  Well, first we saw the lagoon and then we saw the bridge. 

We walked far into the park.  Henrik was very enthused about seeing other moose.  And I guarded the flank. 

We found many interesting things in the north woods.  There were mushrooms that looked like trees and trees that looked like swings.  ;)

Bye :)
Shir Khan
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 21, 2011, 12:51 pm
Henrik and Miss Kate took the ferry on foot to the mainland and came back with this most interesting creature.  I can’t wait to get to know her better.  :) 
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 22, 2011, 6:28 am
Hi Mom and friends,

I am sorry to say that this is our last night on the Island.  We had a delicious dinner.  We had macaroni and cheese, chicken and broccoli, eggplant, tofu, hummus and vegetable juice.  It was delicious! 

Then we were tucked in for the night, and Peach the Pooch, Ranil, Pipps, Cheerio and Henrik discussed our adventures.  The zebra mostly listened.  ;)

My next update will be from sunny and warm California.  B)

Love,
Shir Khan

kcrawfish


Posted Jul 26, 2011, 1:11 am
Cheerio's mom gave Miss Kate this book for all of us to read.  We learned a lot about lakes and about Wisconsin.  Like about "Wild Creaturs and Us".  I especially liked that part.  :)

http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/kcrawfish/IMG_3127.jpg
kcrawfish


Posted Jul 29, 2011, 4:46 am
Dear Mommy!  It's been great here, but it's time for me to go on to other adventures.  I got a big hug from Pipps who's leaving, too.  I will miss everyone here.  See you soon!

Love,
Shir Khan

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