I have watched Aurora apps, we’ve gone out on bitterly cold and icy winter nights, travelled to Iceland in December – all without a sighting! BUT, on Thursday, October 10, 2024 everything was aligned. The KP numbers were close to 8! There were minimal clouds. It was a fairly mild mid-October evening. And – it all happened between 8 and 10PM!!!
We drove to my little viewing spot on Rte 141 that has a NE to N orientation and could immediately see a pale green haze. Looking through the camera lens (iPhone) and snapping a shot at 10 seconds, the colors came alive. Looking to the east we could see the magenta and reds.
We decided to drive over to a more easterly viewing point.
And then when we got home – Dennis’s shed and the magenta skies from our balcony!
We’ve spent a relaxing week at a lovely rental home on Little Horse Island (part of Saint Helena island SC) near Beaufort and Port Royal.
It is so enjoyable just sitting and watching the marshlands vary with the different light and tide levels; the different birds; and the wild ponies who move around as they graze.
Great White Egret
The dogs, Ffly and Kenzie have had a particularly good time both here on the dock and on the nearby beach.
Diane and I went to a quilt show on Hilton Head and I came away with some ideas.
Azalea, rhododendrons, dogwood and wisteria are in full bloom.
A long weekend full of good times spent at a lovely airbnb in Vieux-Limoilou district of Quebec City. Just a short five-hour drive and we are immersed in a quasi european environment.
We’ve been many times, but this time we focused on eating really good food in good restaurants – and they did not fail us!
First of all on the evening we arrived at BEClub Bistro where we had Lake Walleye, Bison ribs, pasta and delicious desserts.
Views from The Plains of Abraham on a very brisk morning.
The next day we took a tour of the Quebec Parliament, which was very interesting and housed in a beautiful late 19th century building.
We loved their very red restrooms!
We ate a delicious and very leisurely lunch in the Restaurant Le Parlementaire.
wild mushrooms on brioche bread with poached egg
cod with leeks and parsnips
venison with root vegetables
To walk off the lunch we headed to Old Quebec to visit the Christmas market. Lo and behold we saw that the toboggan run was open! After short deliberations, Sue, myself, Judy and Rick decided to give it a try. We were told the toboggans were for four people and so Rick hauled ours up the slope to the top of the run. Well – maybe four small people!!! I was on the back and thought I was going to slide off or throttle Sue as we sped at possibly 70kmh (43.5mph) for probably all of two minutes to the bottom! Sue and I are both too long-legged to fit with two others on one toboggan!!! Next time just two per toboggan!
others coming down
view from half way up
us!!!!!!
To calm our nerves we had a glass of gluhwein in the Christmas market and amused ourselves taking silly photos!
Back at the airbnb
Sights around Old Quebec with Chateau Frontenac almost always visible.
Creche in Anglican Cathedral
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
Our final dinner was at Rioux & Pettigrew and turned out to be an amazing experience. We had the option of choosing from the small select menu or having the pris fixe menu ($79CDN) with the caveat that we ALL had to go with it and that we would NOT know what was going to be served. The waitress asked about any allergies or major dislikes. What an unbelievably lovely and absolutely delicious four courses we had!
Sights around Old Quebec with Chateau Frontenac almost always visible.
