Travel Blog

Along the Arkansas river there is an area called the Bighorn Sheep Canyon area. It furnishes a class 3 set of rapids and rafters can enjoy a 38 mile or 61 kilometer trip. The rafting season typically lasts from May though August, however as with all rivers, you should call ahead to make sure that the river is suitable for rafting at the time of year you are planning. Also you might need to make reservations, so always call ahead.

Although this river is called the Arkansas, it is actually located in the state of Colorado in the United States.

The Best Rapids

The best rapids along the Arkansas River include the following:

• Badger Creek,
• Tin Cup,
• Spider,
• Maytag,
• Devils Hole,
• Cottonwood,
• Texas Creek

This is a long section of river that is 38 miles in length and there are various alternatives for white water rafters, such as day trips, overnight trips and multi day trips that can including camping.

There are also various trips offered by a variety of companies that include all or a portion of this 38 mile river trip.  Some trips are as short as 5 miles while other half day trips can be 10 miles in length. Discuss your skill level with your guide and select the right trip for you and your group based on the lowest skill level of the group.

Arkansas Bighorn Sheep Canyon – Multi Day Trips

There  is the Arkansas Royal Gorge, the Browns Canyon and several multi day trips that can be booked.

This area is also known for the bighorn sheep that abound in the area.  It can be very exciting to catch a glimpse of these animals while on a rafting trip.

There is no guarantee that you will actually be able to see any of these sheep that dwell in the area. Keep your eyes peeled for them on the cliffs as you drift down the river.

They are often out in the early morning hours and the late evening hours. You can see them easily along some of the cliffs that border the river. It is always a fantastic site to see these wild animals in the wild. don’t forget to protect the environment and take everything out with you that you brought along with you on your trip.

Your guides will be responsible for all of your gear and ensure that you are able to maximize opportunities to see these beautiful animals along the Arkansas bighorn sheep canyon white water rafting trip.

Comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about this particular white water rafting opportunity.

Is it just me or is the news negative all of the time. Every time you read the headlines in the paper(for those of you who still read the paper), the online news or on TV. It does not matter what channel you go to. The main news channels or the cable news channels, the news is always bad.  Every once in a while they do add a cute story about a cat or dog, . Or something a good Samaritan has done. But these are far and few between.

Why is there such a preoccupation with bad news. Why do the networks continuously feed us this stuff?  Some people feel that if we do not know about it, we really have our heads in the sand. We should be aware of what is going on in the world and those things that can and do affect us directly.

Categories of Negative News

The negative news can be separated into several categories, some we can ignore because there is nothing that we can do about it, while with others we need to pay attention. Here is our list and the category of what we should pay attention to:

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In our last post about senior fitness training we wrote about a couple in their 80’s swimming a kilometer every day and how they got there.  In this post we wanted to write about senior fitness training in a more general sense. We wanted to give readers an idea about how they can increase their fitness level without even trying, regardless of what age you might be.

In the previous post we told a real true life story about a couple who were in their 80’s. They could not swim at all. They taught themselves to swim and now do a kilometer in the pool almost every day. Of course they swim slowly. But they do not stop until they have completed all of the lengths they need to do. We thought it was an amazing story and that is why we wrote a post about it on this diet website.

Not Everyone Can Swim as Part of their Senior Fitness Training Program

The truth is thought that not everyone has access to a pool. Not everyone has the guts to get into a pool when they are overweight. Some people will be deathly afraid of the water and will never go near a pool. The point of the story was not that you should be swimming all of the time, although it is a very good exercise to do, the point is to be active and do something that gets you moving and helps you to get into better shape. Continuous activity of any kind that raises the heart rate is an excellent way to improve your fitness level, particularly your cardio level.

If there is some activity that you enjoy that also has a fitness component, start slowly and gradually build up your fitness level and stamina. Almost anyone can do it, they just have to start slowly.  Go for a short walk and set yourself a goal to go just a bit further every day. Before you know it you will be walking faster and further that you thought you ever would. Even if it is just to the end of the driveway and back, or part way down the block, this increased level of activity will get you started towards being more fit.

Set up a Senior Fitness Training Program For Yourself

Many people are just plain intimidated by gym’s and all of these people who have spent their lives in a gym and look wonderful. Who wants to stand beside someone like that when you are overweight. No one does. That’s why we think that anyone who is worried about their weight needs to develop their own fitness program that they are comfortable with.

It does not have to be complicated. You do have to remain focused and keep at it. You need to move every day, whether it is walking, biking  or swimming and you need to watch your diet. If you are consuming a lot of calories everyday, make caloric reduction as part of your senior fitness training program as well.

It is so important to manage both of these issues in order to become more fit and to lose weight. Seniors have a much harder time losing weight since our systems tend to slow down. Exercise will help you achieve weight loss, better fitness and improved muscle tone.  Everything from balance to energy levels will improve. Within a month of walking every day or what ever exercise, you will begin to notice a difference.  Keep a diary to record what you do. It is an excellent way to track how much you are exercising, but it also will show you just how far you have come in the month in terms of improvement.

Get out there and get started today, even if it is just a short walk around the block! This could be the difference that extends your life by 10 years or more. For more information about health care, click here.

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There has been a lot of information available on a variety of news programs about high school bullying. It has taken center stage due to many unfortunate situations. Students have been harassed, beat up or worse killed or have committed suicide. This is a terrible situation and it is a good idea to shed some light on this situation.  It is about time, since bullying has been going on for thousands of years. The difference today is that it is not being shoved under the table!

News organizations are making it front and center. Facebook and Twitter are helping as much to hi-lite the situation as they are being used to contribute to bullying. Kids have more tools today in which to bully other kids than they did in the past. Kids have more ways to fight back.

Why Do School Officials Not Deal with High School Bullying?

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We passed through Searchlight Nevada almost every year on our way from Laughlin, Nevada to Las Vegas. We like to stop at the Nugget Casino for a coffee or lunch sometimes. There are actually two casinos in Searchlight, the Nugget Casino and another casino called Terribles. They also offer meals at McDonald’s and they have a gas station associated with their casino.

Nugget Casino Searchlight Nevada

There is not a lot going on in Searchlight. There are a few homes, a school and not much more. It is a place to get out of the car, take a break, maybe get something to eat and then head on to your destination. The casino is quaint and interesting, however, we do not expect that the odds would be very good in a casino like this.

It is also a place for the locals to come in and have a drink in the evenings or grab something to eat while they spend a few dollars on the slot machines. Searchlight is in the high desert, you can see for miles and there are four roads heading out of Searchlight. You can stay on the main road and head to either Laughlin or Las Vegas. There is a road which we have never taken which heads and connects with Interstate 15 between Las Vegas and California. There is a fourth road that heads down to the Colorado River and a state park. We drove down there one time, however, they wanted something like $20 to go into the park so we declined. We were staying in Laughlin and were just out for a drive that day.

The Staff at the Nugget are Friendly

On one particular occasion, we stopped for lunch at the Nugget Casino and sat at the bar. We must have been noticed as new people in town because the staff wanted to chat with us and find out where we were from and what we were doing in the area. When they found out that we had driven from Canada, this caused a lot of interest. Not many people pass through who have driven from eastern Canada.

There were friendly and courteous and the food was what you might expect in a small cafe that also happens to double as a casino. The only negative that we have to report is that a lot of these people have never seen a dentist. They are missing teeth and many are black with decay. It is a bit if a turnoff when you are trying to eat your food. Other than that they seemed to be really nice people!

Reviews of the Nugget Casino in Searchlight, Nevada

If you would like a more complete review of this casino, head over to another website, called, Las Vegas Reviews . This site provides reviews on many casinos we have visited across the US and Canada. There are many that we have not got to yet, but our objective is to go to as many as we can. The states and Canada are building so many that it is difficult to keep up with all of the new ones that are being added every year.

Send us your comments on any that you have visited. We would be glad to include them on our website.

We also checked out reviews on some of the other sites that cater to travelers and found no negative reviews. Most were informative and positive.  But let’s face it, Searchlight Nevada is the end of the road for many people and only a place that you might pass through for snowbirds and travelers. It is not a place where you will spend the night or any significant amount of time. It is an experience and we think that everyone should stop there at least once to see it and have lunch at the nugget Casino. It has much more character than the casino next door.

We should also mention that it is no relation to the Golden Nugget in Laughlin or in Las Vegas! For more posts about casinos around the country, click here.

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Well, we have spent 2 months in Palm Springs, California, and I have to say that it is one of the nicest places on earth to spend a vacation or to live. Sure, it is hot, particularly in the summer, and they do have earthquakes and the odd desert fire, but other than that, it’s a really great place to live or to spend the winter. We stay within three blocks of downtown and can walk to many restaurants and bars in the downtown area. Marilyn’s statue was installed this year and will remain here for a year before it goes to Japan. This statue is 30 feet tall and is in downtown Palm Springs.

We are sad to leave Palm Springs, however it is time for us to head north and avoid the really hot weather in Palm springs. We had a taste of what the summers are like for a few days in Palm Springs. The temperatures hit 107F for a few days. for those of you prefer Celsius, that is 43C. Either way it is pretty hot. For me, anything in the 90’s is just about perfect.

Palm Springs California

Imagine a lifestyle of biking in the cool mornings, going for a swim in the mid morning, going for a coffee at one of the local coffee shops and then have lunch and then back to the pool in the afternoon! Around 5pm, we have happy hour on the patio and then supper in the warm evening. Life cannot get any better than that. That is what we love about Palm springs , California.

Sometimes we go out to one of the many happy hours that are available at some of the restaurants in the area. Usually it is inexpensive beer and half price on appetizers, many of which are really great.

We have spent the months of March and April here and frankly we really do not want to leave, however we have no choice. Our lease is up and also our family misses us. It is time to head home to Canada and say good-bye for another year.

Things to do in Palm Springs

This year I have spent my time doing some of the following things here in the Palm Springs area:

• Hiking on the many trails in the desert and the mountains
• Biking around the area on various bike trails
• Swimming, it was the first time I have swum a kilometer in the pool
• Going to happy hours at local restaurants
• Playing tennis
• Writing posts on my website
• Lounging by the pool
• A bit of gambling at one of the many casinos
• And just generally enjoying ourselves

We also headed over to Las Vegas for a weekend to enjoy the Vegas night life. There is so much to do here that it is really impossible to be bored or not have something to do. The main thing is that it is really a healthy life style and this is the point of this entire post, believe it or not.

With so much to do in the Palm Springs area it is also impossible to not be healthy and live in Palm Springs.  We like to do all of these things and although we do not lose any weight, we are in much better shape when we leave than when we first arrived.

If you have never been to Palm Springs, check out the following link to appreciate all that Palm Springs has to offer. This is one of the many restaurants that we have reviewed in Palm Springs.

For more things to do in Palm Springs, click here.

We recently visited the Soboba Casino near  Hemet California and frankly had mixed feelings about the place. It has an advertisement at the front that suggests they have the loosest slots and have won awards for this.  What a joke that is! Based on our personal experience.

Now I know you are all thinking that this is just a marketing ploy and it is, but when you win absolutely nothing and then friends visit the same casino and do the same thing, you have to wonder. We did see people winning a little bit. But the Soboba Casino  certainly did not treat us well at all.

We tried a number of different slot games to no avail and as a result we will not be going back to this particular casino. We are in the Palm Springs area and it is a 45 minute drive to Hemet and it is just not worth the trip. Now for a short description of the casino.

Location

It is located just outside of Hemet, California at 23333 Soboba Rd. San Jacinto, CA. 92583. They run a golf course as well and what looks like a rodeo  or something similar.

They have 2020 slot machines, bingo and a poker room with 14 tables. All of the popular slot machines are in place and they have one of the largest non smoking rooms we have seen. In fact the casino is made up of three large rooms each filled with slot machines and the last room is a non smoking room which is excellent for those of us who like non smoking. Many Indian Casinos have not caught on to the non smoking craze, so the Soboba casino is definitely ahead of it’s competitors.

There are also three small coffee shops that serve a variety of food. They do not have a buffet and the coffee shops are small and located either between the rooms or along a wall in the casino.

Soboba Casino Hemet – Parking

There is a tremendous amount of surface parking available and they also have valet service if you would like this service. The people were courteous and friendly and even though they allow smoking in two of the big rooms we did not really notice the smoke like you do in some other casinos in the area.

There are really two tents and one building. However when you are inside, you really are not aware that you are in a tent. They have built ceilings that make it feel as if you are in a building and not really a tent. although we did not win at this particular casino, it is a nice place to visit and try your luck.

We probably just had a bad day as did our friends. Their payouts are probably the same as everywhere.  If you have been there and would like to leave your comments please feel free to do so. We will approve links back to your site, if you leave a worthwhile comment about the Soboba Casino.

The American North Fork river is in the state of California. It is considered a class 4 river. (see our post on white water rafting classifications if you are not familiar with this level.) The length is 10 miles or 16 kilometers. The season typically lasts from April until June, corresponding with the spring runoff.  Summer time flows are too shallow for white water rafting on the American river north fork. Unless there has been heavy rains or unusual amounts of rain in the season. There are a number of rapids which are named:

• Chamberlain Falls,
• Zig-Zag,
• Achilles Heal,
• Bogus Thunder,
• Staircase

American River North Fork

The North Fork is one of three sections on the American River system suitable for rafting. However it is the most challenging of the rivers, offering a class 4 section that runs about 5 miles, while the remainder is typically class 2 or class 3 level of rapids.

There are many intricate boulders, rushing falls and drops that combine to provide an intense white knuckle thrilling ride. this particular section of the river is not dammed, so the run is a truly natural wilderness run. This particular river is only suitable for white water rafting during the April to June period corresponding with the snow melt in the mountains.

Check before heading out with a local rafting company to ensure that there is sufficient water. You want to have a safe and thrilling ride through the boulders, falls and drops.

By late June, the runoff from the mountains will decrease to become a normal mountain stream so there may not be sufficient water cascading down through the gorges to provide a white water rafting experience.

This is a great set of rapids to challenge even the most daring folks who love to go rafting. The challenges will vary a great deal depending on the time of year and the relative amount of snow fall in the mountains.  If you are after a particularly challenging set of rapids, check with the rafting company. Speak to one of the guides to find out about the local conditions at the time you are planning to go.

Comments are welcome. let us know what you think about the American river north fork white water rafting experience.

We are staying at a resort and have an amazing fitness story to tell. This particular resort caters to all ages of people. One couple has caught our attention because they are in their late 80’s. They swim almost a kilometer in the pool 5 days out of 7! We have been urging people on this website to just get started. Go for a walk around the block every day and build up from there. Just get moving and increase that movement every day to get in shape , to lose weight over the long term and to improve your overall health.

This couple is an example of fitness for older adults. Many people also rent bicycles and ride every day. Once you get started and get over the sore muscle part of the adaptation, you will begin to look forward to every day getting outside and going for a walk, biking, swimming or whatever your preference is. Here is how they got started and why we wanted to write about fitness for adults today.

Fitness for Older Adults Training should start Slow

They did not begin swimming until their mid 70’s and they taught themselves to do the crawl at the age of 74. They started by swimming one length of the pool. This was all that they could manage and over time have built up from there. They believe in  fitness for older adults and try to swim almost every day. They do not swim fast, but they keep moving and they do not stop to catch their breath. We found that this was a really amazing story. They also walk a lot, in addition to their swimming. This is part of their fitness regime for the older adult. They are really the poster shot for older adults who want to strengthen their cardio systems.

They get out and go for a walk together every day for several miles, hold hands and enjoy life. If you were to look at them you might think that they were not in particularly good shape. They are both slightly overweight, however they have excellent respiratory capacity and they have a lot of energy for people who are in their late 80’s. They are not stuck in the lazy boy chair and can walk up stairs easily. We want to be like them when we get older.

People in Their 50’s Cannot Keep Up

At the pool were we swim, there are many lounge chairs around the pool with tables and chairs as well. It is an outdoor pool in a sunny warm climate of course, so it is very easy to swim every day. Many of these chairs are filled with 50 year old’s and up. Sadly they spend their days laying on these chairs sun tanning and not moving at all except to get into the pool once and awhile to cool off.

They watch this couple swim back and forth in the pool, admire them even and comment about how their swimming technique is. Most of these people will not make it into their 80’s with their current track record for exercise. They need to change their ways , get moving and lose a few pounds.

We swim in the pool and following this 85 year old couple’s approach are also swimming almost a kilometer as well. You feel great when you get out of the water. we started the same way although we were able to do more laps at the beginning and just built up after that by swimming a little bit more every day.

This is the best way to get started. Just begin with a short walk or in this case a swim and build up as you become comfortable with the level of exercise. If you have motivational stories such as this, please leave us a comment. Our readers and I will enjoy hearing about these fitness stories for older adults. For more information about fitness and lifestyle, click here.

Whether you suffer from bronchitis or asthma, you probably already know that catching a cold is particularly problematic for you. Both conditions can be made a lot worse and medication may be needed. It turns out that Bronchitis and Colds are not a good combination. If you can imagine your bronchial tubes in a normal situation suddenly attacked by a cold virus causing them to swell and also produce mucus leaving a tiny opening for air to travel back and forth from your lungs, you get the picture. This is exactly what happens when some people catch colds and suddenly find it difficult to breathe.

They probably also begin coughing a tremendous amount as well which is difficult for the person as well as those around him or her. Sleeping is particularly problematic. Taking cough medicine reduces the ability to get rid of the mucus in your throat which may make your situation much worse. Follow your doctors orders regarding taking cough medicine when you have asthma or bronchitis. Many asthmatics are told to avoid cough suppressant.

 Your Bronchial Tubes Are Inflamed

A cold will irritate your bronchial tubes causing them to swell and also produce mucus. It is this combination that is particularly bad for people who have chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is define by persistent bronchial cough for 3 months 2 years in a row. For most people they never need to worry about this , however if you are susceptible to bronchitis, then a simple cold will trigger an attack and it may take a long time for the coughing to subside. A long time can mean a minimum of several weeks to several months. It is a good thing to cough since you want to cough up any mucus that you might have in your bronchial tunes or your lungs. Do not take cough suppressant since this would defeat the purpose of coughing.

Bronchitis and Colds – Visit Your Doctor

If you suspect that this is your problem, it is important to visit a doctor and be properly diagnosed. Writing from experience, someone who has had several colds in the last year and a bronchial attack each time, getting diagnosed by a doctor is very important. It is also extremely important that you take the regularly scheduled medication. It will prepare and strengthen your lungs and bronchial tubes. Only take what has been prescribed by your doctor.

If you have chronic bronchitis it is important to note that your doctor has prescribed medication for a reason. You should not deviate.  Colds can attack at any time and like a prize fighter who is always in shape you need to have your lungs and bronchial tubes ready as well. This may seem melodramatic, but if you are supposed to take an anti inflammatory such as Singular and a puffer such as symbicort to assist your body in dealing with a cold then do it. The consequences of not following doctors orders are prolonged coughing and maybe even visits to the hospital.

Manage the Symptoms Immediately

Bronchitis and Colds and sometimes asthma as well can start over night, so be prepared at all times to deal immediately with the symptoms. Waiting even 24 hours can make a huge difference. I should mention that this is not based on any scientific fact. Instead it is based on experience in dealing with colds and having chronic bronchitis.

We are interested in hearing from other readers who have bronchitis and caught a cold. What happened, what triggered your bronchitis and what did you do to fight the attack? What do you do to deal with chronic bronchitis on a long term basis?  Any suggestions on how to deal with allergies, bronchitis, asthma are welcome. Any questions that you have as well are welcome and we will try to find some answers that make sense. Well written comments are welcome and we will even approve a comment with a link if it is well written and helpful to our readers.

For more information about asthma, click here.

Kettleman’s – Orleans – This location is now closed

One of the places we enjoy having breakfast at is Kettleman’s bagel restaurant in Orleans. It is located just west of the Orleans mall in the same parking lot as the No Frills store, the emergency clinic, and the blockbuster video store.  It is easy to get to from the 174 highway. Just take the same exit you would take to get to the mall and at the first light veer to your right and immediately right again at the next light. Kettleman’s in on the right, you cannot miss it.

Kettleman’s – Orleans – Why We Like Kettlemen’s

One of the reasons we like this restaurant so much is that they make the bagels the old-style way right on the premises. As soon as you walk in you smell the heat from the fire and the fresh bagels that are constantly being baked. they make all kinds of bagels but the whole wheat sesame bagels are by far the best, as far as we are concerned.

You can watch the baker kneading the flour and the bagels into their characteristic shape. They place them on boards and slide them into the open oven for baking. It is quite an art to slide these bagels into the oven and also turn them over so that both sides are cooked to the same degree.

We always have the breakfast bagel with scrambled egg, bacon done to a crisp, and Swiss cheese on it. They are fantastic and have a perfect breakfast along with a coffee in the morning.

The Decor at Kettlemen’s

The decor at Kettlemens is basic. It is not fine dining, but very functional and they do provide free WiFi for those customers who want to stay connected while they enjoy their breakfast. I like to read the news while having a coffee so it is perfect with iPod. I can even check my email, the markets, etc while I relax in the comfort of the restaurant area. One of the other great advantages is that it is always warm in the winter. The open oven keeps the entire area warm and it is so pleasant to visit on a cold winter day!  summer days can be a bit warm so sitting outside is also an option!

Locations

As you can see we like Kettlemens. They have a store in Orleans and another one downtown on Bank st in Ottawa. There may be others but these are the stores we have gone to. If you have a comment or like Kettlemens as well, leave us your comment. We will be happy to add it to our post provided it is constructive and well-written. We will even give you a link back if you do.

For more Ottawa Restaurant information, click here.

Have you ever noticed discarded shopping carts along the road. Or perhaps in a parking lot a long way from any store that might even offer shopping carts? Most people take a car to the store. When they are finished with the cart, put it in the designated space. A few really lazy people will just leave the cart in an open spot beside their car and drive off. These are despicable lazy people. Who will probably die of a heart attack because they do not get any exercise. They cannot even push a cart a few steps to the curb or to the return area.

Discarded Shopping Carts at the Curb

But wait there are worse people. Now at least when a shopper does not return the cart to the store or to designated areas in the parking lot, the store owner still gets his cart back. He has paid a lot of money for these carts. This cost works its way into the cost of the goods we purchase at his store. If a cart is damaged or is taken away from the store then the store owner has lost this investment.

I can understand that if you do not have a car to transport your groceries, that you might want to borrow the cart. Perhaps you do not have enough money for a taxi. You are trying to save every cent that you can. Use the cart to get your groceries home. Then take the time to return the cart. The exercise will do you good and you will reduce the cost to all of us who shop at that store. Instead what many people do is leave these carts in the entry way of apartments. Or worse on the street or on the sidewalk or worse in the ditch.
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We have written about terrorism in Belfast back in the 60’s and 70’s in the last two several posts. We thought we would provide an update on what is going on in Belfast to day. This information is drawn from various news articles from local newspapers in Belfast. This is about Dissident Terrorists in North Belfast. If you have more current information, let us know and leave a comment on this post.

It looks like there is still a small group of what are now called dissidents, formally called terrorists that are still trying to cause havoc. Recently these dissidents have tried planting bombs under cars belonging to the police timed to go off when the policeman started the car. Fortunately the bomb was detected prior to the bomb being set off. Fortunately there are less and less opportunities to take pictures such as the one above which was apparently taken during a national day of protest in Belfast.

There are all kinds of pictures like this one all over the internet showing some of the events that took place in Belfast when the riots etc were at their worst. Fortunately this is all behind them now and the Irish can get on with building a solid country without the fear that there has been for many years. If Ireland can recover from the recent economic down turn and get people back to work they will have less time for these kinds of activities. People with jobs are happier and have less time to plan bad things.

I was wondering what the difference was between a terrorist and a dissident. The definition is as follows:

Dissident Terrorists in North Belfast

The term Dissident Terrorists in North Belfast has become the primary term to describe Irish republicans. They are politically continue to oppose the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. They reject the outcome of the referendums on it. These political parties also have paramilitary wings which espouse violent methods to achieve a United Ireland.
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When you head off to do some white water rafting Nova Scotia there are several distinct choices to consider which many other locations cannot offer. There is the traditional white water rafting tours on the Shubenacadie, which is Nova Scotia’s largest river and something unique which is tidal bore rafting along the cost of Nova Scotia. Tidal bore white water rafting is probably one of the most unusual experiences you will ever have.

Tidal Bore Rafting

The Shubenacadie River and Tidal Bore Rafting Park are awesome places to raft with some of the highest tides in the world in the Bay of Fundy were the Shubenacadie River meets the ocean. This is a unique experience in the world and mentioned in many travel magazines and reviews such as the lonely planet. If you are looking for something really different to try in terms of whitewater rafting, tidal bore rafting could be the experience you are looking for.

Tidal bore river rafting is unique and powered by the world famous tidal bore. One moment you are floating on a calm, peaceful river and the next it is transformed into raging rapids! Every day twice a day when the tide changes, the tidal bore temporarily reverses the flow of the river. Creating incredible roller coaster rapids. Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie River is the only tidal bore in the world where you can experience this fun-filled thrill twice a day, every day!

Every 6 hours and 13 minutes, 100 billion tons of seawater rush in or out of this natural funnel, producing tides that are as high as a four-storey building. This one-of-a kind natural wonder has made it possible to experience an equally rare adventure: tidal bore river rafting.

Shubenacadie River White Water Rafting

The Shubenacadie River is one of Canada’s white water rafting oddities. At first glance, the river will seem like a dull muddy river. Once you get past the mudflats and sandbars, you’ll come across the mouth of the river. This is where things start going backwards.

Literally. Shubenacadie River is one of the few places to tidal bore raft in Canada. Instead of riding downstream rapids you’re rafting on the worlds highest tides. The tide water travels inland at roughly 50 km per hour, producing sixteen-foot waves. This kind of rafting is equivalent to many white water rafting excursions available in traditional rafting rivers across the country. Many people enjoy this thrill and the fact that is unique in rafting experiences.

Vina Del Mar in Chile is one of the beautiful places to visit in the world. This is the third post in a series about our travels in this part of the world were we worked for 8 months.  Vina is on the west coast east of Santiago Chile and just north of Valparaiso Chile. Valparaiso is an old shipping port for Chile. Vina Del Mar is where the residents of Santiago spend their summers relaxing along the ocean.

There are many condo’s and homes along the hills in front of the beach with funiculars to take you up and down to your condo. Funiculars are really outdoor elevators running on tracks up and down the side of a steep hill. They can be a little unnerving at times as they creak and shake up and down the side of a cliff, however they are quite safe. They are unique to South America.

Fog on the Beach

There is nothing better than to leave the big city, Santiago, drive for an hour and be at the ocean for the day or the  weekend.  We learned that the locals only arrive at the beach around 2 pm. Prior to that the fog is pretty heavy along the water and it is actually quite cool. In the summer the air is very hot, but the water in the Pacific in this area is cool creating the perfect conditions to produce a lot of fog. It takes the hot sun until 2pm to burn this fog away and then it becomes a glorious day at the beach!

There are walking paths, restaurants and bars along the beach and tourists from all over the world take advantage of the great weather. We found that people were really friendly and always wanted to chat with us since we were obviously not from Chile. One bar owner sat with us for a while.

It turned out that he had lived in Canada, in Edmonton for several years as part of the staff with the Edmonton Oilers hockey team. He told us many stories about his time with the hockey team and also treated us to several rounds of drinks as well. Nice people!

Parking at the beach

We have to talk about this subject since it is prevalent all over Chile and this was pretty typical. We were driving along the road looking for a place to park and spied one that was available. The problem was that we could not turn left to get into the spot due to the traffic on the road. As it turned out this was really no problem. Every where in Chile people are working and making jobs as best they can. Many people work as parking attendants. They help people get in and out of parking spots and other parking related issues.

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The Cities of Gold Casino has a full-service hotel with 124 guest rooms, a full-service restaurant with room service, an outdoor cantina (seasonal), free wireless, a laundry facility, pet friendly, a business center, and 6,600 square feet of meeting space. This casino is in the Santa Fe Area and close to winter and summertime activities at 6000 feet elevation in the mountains. We have not been to this particular casino yet, but look forward to going there sometime this year.

Guests have complimentary access to the modern gym and pool, located at the nearby Wellness Center. Free shuttle service is available to the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Downtown Santa Fe. Everyone should visit the old town area of Santa Fe and visit some of the artists that develop various items.

Santa Fe is a wonderful city to visit with an old town area that is vibrant with shops and artisans selling jewelry made by locals, and art of all kinds around the town’s central square.  In the central square, there are many native artisans that make all kinds of beautiful jewelry that can be purchased at reasonable prices. There are hotels within walking distance of the downtown area and lots of parking. Santa Fe also offers hiking, skiing, and horse riding among other sports in the area. The homes are southwestern and you can choose from local suburbia to homes up in the mountains overlooking the city. Spectacular!

Cities of Gold Casino – Slot Machines

There are over 575 slots at the Cities of Gold Casino. These slots feature Ticket-In, Ticket-Out (TITO) service meaning hassle-free, coinless operation. if you remember playing with coins and black hands from handling all of the money, these times are long gone. Paper tickets are by far the best improvement that Cities of Gold and many other casinos have made in the last few years. Play reel-type slot machines, video slot machines, Poker, and Keno.

The slot machines have denominations ranging from 1¢ to $5.

Table Games

You can play Three Card Poker and Blackjack from 4 pm until 12 am daily

Restaurants

The Gold Dust Restaurant offers casual, affordable dining with specialty dishes and Northern New Mexico favorites.

What We Liked

We have not visited this casino hotel yet. This is one more casino that we would like to visit soon. If you have been there please leave your comments for us and our readers.

What We Did Not Like:

We have not visited this casino hotel yet. If you have been there please leave your comments for us and our readers.

Slot Player Card

They are part of the Gold Dust slot player’s card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits and promotions at the casino, the hotel, and the restaurant.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. For example, free or discounted rooms, an email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Cities of Gold Hotel & Casino with surface parking.

Directions:

The Cities of Gold Casino & Hotel is located 15 scenic miles north of Santa Fe, New Mexico on US 84/285.

The Casino address is 10-A Cities of Gold Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87506. Toll-Free Telephone Number 1-800-455-3313

Getting out of Belfast. In our last three posts we talked about airport security in Dublin. Work conditions and also road side check points in the Belfast area, with guns leveled at you. The guards at the checkpoint interrogated you before they would let you go through.

Listening to my friend tell his story about how the guards that treated  him, his wife and his child were scary. Guns are being fired somewhere around this check point also added tension. Fortunately he and his family were ok and they made it safely away from that check point. This is one of the main reasons they decided on Getting out of Belfast. They wanted to leave the country all together.

Getting out of Belfast – Belfast too Dangerous for the Family

But this post is about how he decided it was time to get out of Belfast and emigrate to North America. Raising a family in the conditions that were prevalent in Belfast at the time was very difficult. Every time you left your home, you wondered if you would make it back. Would you be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or would someone mistake you for the opposite clan and you ended up dead.

My friend worked at the telephone company in Belfast. It was interesting about some of the stories that he told about his work there. Our previous post , Belfast Work conditions, talked about how he needed to have an armed escort every time he went outside the office to get supplies!

When you add up all of the issues that he and his family experienced, it is a wonder that he did not move his family sooner. They had an opportunity to emigrate to Alberta, Canada in the late 60’s. He got work for the local telephone company. They grabbed that and then ended up in Ontario later on in his career.

Making the decision was still a difficult one, since you are leaving family back in Northern Ireland. You are going to a new country were the customs and people are very different from what you are used to.
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One of the reasons we decided to talk about asthma on a diet web site is that people who suffer from asthma also have a hard time maintaining their weight. Being overweight also contributes to asthma as well. It is a vicious circle that is difficult to get out of. This post is exploring the relationship between asthma and colds from a personal perspective. I have had two severe attacks of asthma in the past two years. Both of them were related to a cold that I started off with. Actually I am not sure if it is asthma or bronchitis. However it does not really matter because both are equally bad  and uncomfortable for me.

Catching a Cold

I caught a cold from a family member. I really did not think much of it other than it was an aggravation. After all who wants a cold, right? It began the way all colds do, a sore throat, runny nose and headache. Next thing I know I am coughing like crazy and finding it difficult to get my breath. The first time it occurred I did not have a puffer or Ventolin treatments to take and so it got quite bad requiring several visits to the hospital.

The second time, I was prepared and took my medications. I still had an attack, but this time it was not nearly as severe. It took almost two weeks for the effects of the cold and the coughing triggered by the asthma to subside, but at least there were no visits to the hospital.

Asthma and Colds

It turns out that colds will trigger asthma attacks in people who have asthma and it is extremely important that these folks avoid catching a cold at any time.  Reading some material available it turns out that asthmatics lack some material that protects the lungs and makes them more susceptible to the impacts of colds.  The lungs and bronchial tubes are irritated and produce mucus to protect themselves. Unfortunately this mucus triggers a great deal of coughing and also blocks the airways. Imagine an airway that is already swollen due to the irritation now plugged with mucus and you are wondering why you cannot breathe!

My personal recommendation is too not ignore a cold. if you are supposed to take a regular puffer to deal with asthma or bronchitis, then make sure that you do take your medication all of the time as a preventative measure. Follow your doctors orders and do not deviate when you are exposed to people with colds. This is the best way to protect your lungs and ensure that they are as strong as possible when it comes to fighting a cold.

Asthma and Colds and Coughing

Whatever you do , do not stop coughing. This cough reflex helps to clear the lungs of mucus as well as the bronchial tubes. You really need to get this stuff out and coughing is the only natural way to do it.  Many people want to stop the coughing, after all they cannot sleep and no one around them can sleep.  It turns out that using cough suppressants is the worst thing you can do. What ever you do , do not take cough syrup or lozenges that prevent the cough urge, since this is the best way to get the mucus in your lungs out.

So What Does Asthma and Colds Have to do with Diets?

If you are busy fighting a cold and worse asthma, a diet will be the last thing on your mind. In addition, you may also find that you do not have the energy you need to be active due to lack of oxygen, hence you will not burn calories as effectively.

If you are trying to diet and lose weight you will have to work that much harder and be diligent about controlling the food you eat and exercise.  It is a tough life but you need to make the best of it.

That’s it for this post. If you want to make a comment or add to what we have posted here , please do so. valid and helpful comments are welcome and will be approved if they are helpful to our readers. For more information about asthma, click here.

We have combined 5 rivers in this post about Maine white water rafting trips. Each one of them has their own unique experience in terms of white water and scenic value. They are definitely part of the must do list of white water rafting trips to take in.

Kennebec River trips

The Kennebec river is one of the Maine white water trips that you can take. The Class of rapids is III-IV, the Length is 14 miles. Pricing we found to range from $74 – $114. Trips can be arranged from May – October and the minimum Age is 8 years of age.

Maine’s Kennebec River is one of the finest stretches of whitewater river rafting in the country. The Kennebec River originates in Moosehead Lake and runs over 150 miles toward the ocean.  It runs through some of the state’s most spectacular whitewater, scenery and wildlife. Go rafting through the Kennebec River Gorge or over the big whitewater rafting hit of Magic Falls.

Kennebec River whitewater rafting trips are reliable since a dam controls water flows from May to October.

The management at the dam test the turbines from time to time and release water at a significantly increased rate. There are four 8000 cfs turbine test water releases. These are the biggest waves around and the biggest water you’ll find on the East Coast, with whitewater rapids named after washing machines.

Dead River trips

Another Maine white Water rafting trip is the dead river gorge with class III-IV rapids and an overal length of 16 miles. Dates for trips must be scheduled and the minimum age is 12 years of age.

Trips on the dead river are dependent on scheduled dam releases and each release varies in the amount of water being let through the dam. Trips are different each time due to the unpredictable about of water let through the dam. There are six scheduled releases.

South Branch of the Penobscot River Canada Falls trips

Canada Falls White Water Rafting is another river that is part of the Maine white water rafting trips that you can consider.

The class level of the rapids is III – V and the length is two runs of 5 miles each. Pricing vary’s between $94 and $114. Schedule trips on Saturdays only in July and August with a minimum age of 112 years of age. The South Branch of the Penobscot River Canada Falls section is in the scenic and wild North Maine Woods. Canada Falls is a class V river, with steep drops. The whitewater excitement provides hydraulics around every turn.

West Branch of the Penobscot River Seboomook trips

The west branch of the Penobscot River has class II-IV and runs a total of 4 miles and 2 runs (total 8 miles). Pricing for 2 runs typically is $94 to $114 from May to September. There is  a minimum age requirement of 8 years of age.

Spring run off produces great waves and fast flowing water. While summer time flows are better for family outings and beginner or first time rafting excursions. There are ten ledge drops that create big waves. Also hydraulics, and rafting features that make this white water rafting trip exciting for everyone. Paddle hard through The Jaws, play and surf at Particle Accelerator and Move Maker.

West Branch of the Penobscot River trips

The last river we want to mention on their post about Maine White Water rafting trips is the Penobscot river with class III-V rapids and extending over 14 miles. Pricing is typically from $84 to $114 and rafting dates extend from May through October. there is a minimum age requirement of 14 years of age on this river.

This is Maine’s longest, steepest whitewater rafting river. There is stunning scenery and often you will even see a Maine moose.

The West Branch of the Penboscot River on the River Gorge and the Cribworks Section has high water and dam-controlled water flows. Steep and technical, these Penobscot River whitewater rafting trips have Class III – Class V rapids. They have ten-foot waterfalls, powerful holes, surfing and many more thrills along the way.

The Aria Casino is located in the new City Center complex developed by MGM Grand. This is a huge complex and we will describe it in other posts, however this one will focus on the buffet at this casino. The buffet is open and bright, with windows along two sides. This is unusual since many casino buffet rooms are inside and enclosed on all four sides. One side looks out on to the pool area, two of the hot tubs while the other looks onto the pool area entrance. So you have some great views while dining at the buffet and enjoying your lunch or dinner.

Aria City Center Casino – Casino Buffet

We went to the casino and tried their buffet during May 2011 and found it to be excellent. Our overall top buffet is at the Mirage Hotel and casino, however this one ranks a close second. The price is reasonable and the decor and serving dishes are unique as you may observe in some of the pictures. The deserts are excellent, small portions which is ok with us since this means you can try a variety of deserts without wasting a lot of food.

The day we went they offered crab legs hot or cold and of course shrimp. They had all of the other main menu items along with various nationalities as well from Indian,, Mexican, Italian and Japanese. There is definitely something for everyone including the traditional meat and potatoes which many people love.

You definitely will not go hungry here!

Buffet Details

Price Range:$$ $30 to $35 range

Accepts Credit Cards:Yes

Parking:Garage

Attire:Casual

Good for Groups:Yes

Good for Kids:Yes

Takes Reservations:No

Waiter Service:Yes

Outdoor Seating:No, but some seats have a view of the pool

Wi-Fi:Paid

Good For:Dinner, Brunch

Alcohol:Beer & Wine Only

Noise Level:Average

Ambience:Casual

Has TV:No

Caters:No

Wheelchair Accessible:Yes

All of the major auto manufacturers are offering some form of electric cars these days. Some are hybrid cards while others are electric only. Hybrid cars run on both gasoline engines as well as electricity. Most recharge the batteries utilizing the engine, the brakes etc to recharge the batteries. Electric cars on the other must be recharged each night. Or after discharging the batteries over a 40 or 60 mile trip depending on the what they are rated for and how you drive. The problem for many prospective new  electric car owners is were do I charge my Electric Car’s batteries and who will pay for the cost!

If you pay for your own electricity were you live, then there is usually no problem. But what do you do if you share the cost of electricity as in a condo or apartment building? What if there are no places to plugin your electric car for the night? then what do you do?

A Primer on Electric Car Recharging Systems

Some electric cars have two different charging systems. One system will accept 120-volt and the other will accept 240-volt power from a normal electrical outlet.

The normal 115 volt household charging system has the advantage of convenience — anywhere you can find an outlet, you can recharge. The disadvantage is charging time and what the owner of the outlet thinks about it.

A typical household 120-volt outlet has a 15-amp circuit breaker. This means that the maximum amount of energy that the car can consume is approximately 1,500 watts, or 1.5 kilowatt-hours per hour. The battery pack in a typical car needs 12 to 15 kilowatt-hours for a full recharge. So it can take 10 to 12 hours to fully charge the vehicle using this technique.

By installing a 240-volt circuit (such as the outlet for an electric dryer)(you will need an electrician to install this circuit). The car might be able to receive 240 volts at 30 amps, or 6.6 kilowatt-hours per hour. This connection provides significantly faster charging, and can fully recharge the battery pack in four to five hours.

What does it Cost to Recharge

Electricity in Ontario, Canada is 18 cents per kilowatt-hour at peak and 8.7 cents per kilowatt-hour at night. Assuming a full charge of 15 KW’s, it will cost you $2.7 during the day or $1.30 at night to recharge your car. Assuming 80 miles on a full battery, the cost per mile is therefore 1.63 cents per mile, assuming off peak charging. Gasoline costs $3.60 per gallon on average at time of writing this post. If we assume a car gets 30 miles to the gallon, then the cost per mile is 12 cents per mile for gasoline. A huge Savings!

Let’s assume you drive your car on average 15,000 miles per year, then the savings in gasoline alone would be $1635.00. Now while you are achieving these savings, someone has to pay for the electricity you are using if you are not recharging from your own homes system.

Were Do I Charge My Electric Car’s Batteries

So where will you recharge your car’s batteries? At home of course, but there may be other places as well, such as:

• While visiting a friend
• At work
• In a condo or apartment complex parking lot
• Public recharging places

While we are not talking about a lot of money, many people are going to not like the idea that they are paying for you to recharge your car. That is just the way people are and there is not much you can do about it. So if you are visiting a friend for the evening or for a few days, do you plug in your car? Do you offer to pay for the electricity? We think that yes you  should and you should have available the calculations to show just how much you will be using. We also think that most people will say, forget it when they see what it actually costs to recharge your cars batteries.

Some work locations will offer recharging as an incentive and a public relations incentive, so take advantage of this feature when it is offered. Otherwise you may have to negotiate with the property manager to allow you to plug in and recharge your cars batteries.

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We have met for coffee many times at the Café Latte Cino on tenth line in Orleans.  It is located at 2020 Tenth Line Rd, unit 2 , Orleans, ON, K4A 4X4. It is in the same parking lot as CAA and Farmboy. This is the south west corner of tenth line and Innes road.

Cafe Latte Cino, opened its doors in late 2006 and offers a variety of coffees and light meals sure to satisfy every taste. Beside the high end coffees, they also offer homemade soup, salads, and sandwiches, Fresh juices and smoothies, a selection of cakes, and of course Italian Gelato. Customers can also take advantage of free internet in a relaxing environment.

Café Latte Cino – Comfortable Chairs

This is a great coffee shop, always clean, dishes always removed and tables cleaned as soon as patrons leave. There are a group of comfortable padded chairs for groups of four as well as the standard tables and chairs. There is lots of room, unlike other coffee shops were everyone is crowded into a small space.

Free WiFi

The Café Latte Cino also has free WiFi available which has always worked every time we have been there. There is also lots of parking although it is shared with several other businesses in this mall.

We especially enjoy the south facing windows which provide a bright environment and warm sunshine in the winter and early mornings. If the sun is too hot, just bring down the shades.

Excellent Food

The food has always been excellent, the selection is actually quite good for this type of coffee shop and prepared individually by the waitress. The coffee is fresh and there are a large variety of coffees to chose from. A really nice service that they provide is that they fill the coffee cup with hot water, to warm up the cup before filling with coffee. This way your coffee stays hot longer in your china coffee cup.

They have recently added a loyalty card which provides you with a free coffee after you add 20 points to your card, through the purchase of food or coffee. All in all this is a great place to have coffee. It is more expensive than Tim Hortons or Second cup but then you are receiving better service and nicer surroundings than Tim Hortons. Second Cup for my money now has the best environment to sit and enjoy a great cup of coffee.

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There are only a couple of casino hotels in the Palm Springs area of California. There is the Fantasy Springs Casino and the Agua Caliente casino hotel. Neither of these hotels is actually in Palm Springs since they are located in cities nearby in the valley. The only casino hotel in Palm Springs California is the Spa casino hotel. It is located in downtown Palm Springs on Amado Road. This is two blocks from Palm Canyon Drive which is the main road through Palm Springs. It is in the middle of downtown Palm Springs surrounded by many restaurants of all types. All are within walking distance of the casino. There is also lots of parking for patrons available as well.

Spa Casino Hotels Palm Springs California

The Spa Casino Hotel in Palm Springs California has been reviewed on this website and we have visited it several times in the past 10 years. It has evolved from being in a tent attached to the hotel to a full-fledged casino in an elegant building with very pretty gardens and palm trees surrounding it.

The Spa Casino has a deli restaurant, a buffet, and several other restaurants that are higher-end. There are many restaurants within blocks of the casino and it is very safe to walk the streets in the area of the casino as well. With a combination of restaurants and condos surrounding this casino, it is a safe environment to park your car or walk from your condo to the Spa Casino.

In terms of gaming, there are all of the latest and popular slot machines along with a variety of table games as well. They have a small nonsmoking area, which is usually quiet since they did not put the best games in this area. the casino can get pretty smoky so if this bothers you, you may want to stay clear of it on business evenings or on the weekends.

They also have events at the casino. Slot tournaments, draws etc so if you do play a lot make sure you get a slot card and use it. You will be invited to various events that they host for their slot players and table players.

Palm Springs Convention Center

The Palm Springs Convention Center is also within one block of the Spa Casino Hotel in Palm Springs California. this convention center is a state-of-the-art center hosting many events over the year. Patrons and convention goers often go to the Spa Casino Hotel which is within walking distance. It is just one block away. There is ample parking for both the convention center and the casino. Of course, you can also use valet parking at the casino.

Restaurants in the Area

If you walk up to Palm Canyon Drive and turn left in the direction of the traffic (it is a one-way street), you will pass by all of the restaurants. There are quite a few, most with outdoor patios where you can enjoy a meal any time of the day. We are reviewing a number of these restaurants on another website that we operate.  If you are interested, click here, and select the category Palm Springs Restaurants. There are over 1000 restaurants in the area and of course, we will not review all of these, but the ones we have are the restaurants we have visited in the area and also enjoy.

That’s about it for this post on casino hotels in the Palms Springs area of California. If you have been there and would like to leave a comment, please do. We like to hear from other writers who can contribute and help out our readers.

There are lots of tools available on the web to help you do gas price comparison. They are available  in virtually every city across North America. We all need help these days with the price of gasoline going up so much.

One tool I use is called “Gas Buddy” which will show you the latest gas prices. It will tell you what gasoline is being sold for in the area nearest you. They rely on local people inputting to the web site to keep the prices up to date. They provide an excellent service to the public.

Gas Price Comparison

When you compare prices in this manner it quickly becomes clear that the prices really do not vary that much. You may find that the price will vary by a few cents per gallon or liter depending on were you live. The government has never been able to prove price fixing for the price of gasoline. But it is pretty obvious when the price of gas is virtually the same just about every were.

The only difference seems to be from the difference in taxes when you go from one state to the next. Some service stations will price their gas a little higher if there is no local competition. They claim shipping costs, but it is really because they can get away with it.

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The Spa Casino Buffet in Palm Springs is just not as good as many other buffets we have been to in other casinos and it certainly does not measure up to many of the other restaurants that are in Palm springs for the price.

We have not been to the buffet in a few years. We were surprised to find out that the price was $23.99 plus tax, less 10% if you have a slot card. This is on Saturday nights when they have their seafood buffet. We went for the crab legs and we were very disappointed. The crab legs were very small, filled with water and they had a fish smell to them. They just did not measure up at all.

Spa Casino Buffet Palm Springs – Other Items

The other items that were part of the seafood buffet at the Spa Casino in Palm Springs were fried calamari. They were over cooked and tiny shrimp. This was just not good , you expect much more for the price that you are paying, especially when they advertise their seafood buffet.

The remaining items were ok, although we did find that the desserts were quite small, which is ok, you can always take more if you are that hungry. We also were surprised when we were told that we had to get our own drinks. You can have as much as you want , just get your own! This is the first time we have seen this in any casino. It looks to us as if they are really trying to cut down on cost.

Hours for the Buffet

The buffet is also closed some nights. If you are planning to go during the week, check first to make sure that it is open. Also as a final note, if you are going to spend $50 on a meal for two, why not go to a nice restaurant were you are served and have something your really enjoy. We will not be back to the Spa Casino buffet.

If you have been there and would like to leave a comment please do. We have spoken with other patrons, unfortunately for us after the fact and found that they felt the same as we did. For more posts about Palm Springs Restaurants, click here.

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Consumers suffering from asthma must develop an action plan that leads to controlling your exposure to whatever is causing your asthma to flare up. This is the only way you can lead a normal active life. The best way to do this is to first of all see your doctor and then possibly a specialist. They will assess you for the best treatment and ongoing maintenance treatment you require.  Developing an asthma action plan is not that hard. Provided that you have good input from your doctor as well as your pharmacist and yourself.  Ultimately it is up to you to manage your asthma. Staying away from those things that trigger an attack, taking your medication as prescribed and paying attention to your body. all of these things will help you to lead a regular life and manage your asthma.

What is an Asthma Action Plan

The short version is that it is a series of steps that can help you manage your asthma when your symptoms get worse. The objective is to get it under control and keep it there so that you can avoid sudden flairs ups. These flare ups ruin your life and cause unneeded concern for your family and friends. Even your friends and family should know what to look for to assess when you are in distress and then what to do about it.

The following are a series of steps that you can consider that will lead to a personalized action plan for you:

• Visit your doctor for an assessment
• Discuss your medication with your pharmacist
• Take advantage of web sites like these and other asthma education centers
• Make a note of the possible triggers for your asthma attack
• Based on all of the input, formulate a plan that is tailored to your personal situation
• Review your plan often and customize it as you become familiar with all medications
• Once you reach your maintenance plan, leave a copy pinned to the fridge.  Your family can remind you of the treatment you need to take.

Asthma Action Plan – Treatment

An example of an asthma treatment plan for an asthma sufferer, based on recommendations from Symbicort is as follows (always confirm with your doctor):

• Take Symbicort every day, __ inhalations in the morning and __ in the evening
• Consider an extra inhalation if necessary for relief
• Take no more than 6 inhalations on any single occasion and take no more than 8 per day
• Always carry your Symbicort with you for relief
• Contact your health care provider if your asthma is getting worse, even after taking your inhalations.
• If you are unable to obtain relief from inhalations, find it hard to speak or are breathless, or have a sudden unexplained severe attack of asthma go to your local emergency room immediately.

Whether you use Symbicort or some other drug, this is a good plan. However always review this plan with your doctor and pharmacist to ensure that it is customized for your personal situation and condition. We all have different triggers and we all react differently to various drugs. It is vitally important to develop a treatment plan, adhere to the plan and notify the doctor if something significant changes. Your doctor should of course approve the plan in the first place to make sure that it is tailored to you situation.

Note: we are not recommending Symbicort in this post, instead we are using it is an example only . Talk to your doctor to ensure that you are prescribed the correct treatment plan.

Comments are welcome and we will even approve your link to if you provide a constructive comment that is useful to our readers. For more information about asthma related issues, click here.

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Terrorists Continue Bombing in Belfast – This entire series of posts about bombing in Belfast started because of a chance conversation with a friend of mind. He had mentioned what it was like to try and raise a family in Belfast back in the 60’s and 70’s. My friend talked about why he left the country with his family for a new country. He was  looking for a new job at the same time.

There are several posts about his experiences during that time frame both about work as well as private life. We then starting looking at the news from Belfast. We were surprised to see that there is still a lot of incidents going on were there are riots, there are bombs placed etc. Some of these bombs explode causing a great deal of damage. While others are detected and dismantled before they have an opportunity to do any damage.

This came as a total surprise to the writer who was under the impression that the violence had all but disappeared after the good Friday accord in 1998!  Certainly all of the politicians at the time took credit for this accord ushering a new life into the region free of violence and bloodshed. Obviously this did not happen. There is still a number of individuals who are bent on causing violence, and destruction of property and life as well in Belfast. Another friend of ours emigrated from Belfast. They decided to not have any children because she did not want to bring them into such a violent world. More on what is going on today.

Bombing of the Palace Barracks in Holywood Read the rest of this entry »

One weekend myself and 3 friends decided to drive over the Andes from Santiago, Chile to Mendoza Argentina. This was an 8 hour drive with stupendous views and a trip that everyone should do at least once just for the experience. I will write about this experience in another post, because this one is devoted to the Hyatt in Mendoza Argentina! We have such fond memories of this hotel and Mendoza as well so I thought I would write about it on this blog. This blog is written by a guy named Pablo who has traveled the world. He is writing about some of the experiences that he has had while traveling.

This picture on the left is a picture of this stately hotel as you approach the main entrance from the street. It is a grand old hotel with two huge veranda’s out front that are set up for dining in the afternoon and dancing in the evening.  We arrived after an 8 hour drive that in some ways was quite grueling very thirsty and hot. What would be better than to sit on the veranda shown in the picture below. Knock back a couple of really cold Argentine beers and enjoy a couple of empanada’s ! That is exactly what we did throughout the remainder of the afternoon.

Hyatt in Mendoza Argentina

This Hyatt hotel lives up to the standard set by Hyatt around the world.  High quality rooms, fine dining and a historical presence. Located in an old Argentine city at the foothills of the Andes.  We took time to enjoy the Casino as well on the property. Although we did not win while playing the slots, we thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance of the casino. We sat at the bar and talked about how lucky we were to be living in Chile Also able to drive across the Andes the way we did.

The Hyatt also has fine dining and of course when you are in Argentina, you have to try one of their famous steaks. Argentina is known for their beef and the Hyatt hotel in Argentina certainly lived up to this reputation. Can you imagine digging into a 14 oz sirloin steak with a baked potato and salad and it only cost $8 US! What a deal this was and at a Hyatt too. I am sure that prices have gone up since we were there. But at the time it was truly a fantastic deal as well as an excellent meal.

Entertainment in the Evening

In the evening they had a band playing and many people came to dance and watch the dancers. The Argentine women lived up to their reputation for beauty and skilled dancers, We were truly mesmerized as they performed the tango and other dances to the music. Talk about being sexy!

Things to do in Mendoza

Although this post is about the Hyatt and how much we enjoyed staying there, we thought we should include some information about the city as well. Argentina is of course Spanish so it is a good idea to know a bit of Spanish if you plan to go there. At the time we spoke very little and had little problems navigating to the city and around the city.

Mendoza City Information

The city lies at the foothills of the Andes Mountains. Mendoza is renowned for its wine produce and wineries. It is one of the nine cities worldwide within the “Great Capitals of Wine” network. Mendoza’s ideal location, with easy access to the Andes mountain range and Aconcagua (the highest mountain in the Americas), makes it a sports’ haven for adventurers interested in skiing, mountaineering, hiking and rafting.

Attractions close to Mendoza

• Cerro Aconcagua National Park
• Uspallata Village
• Las Lenas ski resort
• General San Martin National Park
• Puente del Inca – Natural Bridge over the Vacas River
• Potrerillos
• Wineries

If you have been to Mendoza, leave us your thoughts and comments. Our readers will value the additional information that you provide. If you leave a constructive helpful comment for our readers we will be happy to provide you with a link back to your own web site.

For another post about Argentina, click here.

White Water Rafting in Ottawa on the Ottawa River is only 90 minutes from the nation’s capital.  There are 12 km.s of rapids along the legendary Rocher Fendu rapids on the Ottawa river. With over 175 islands there are lots to see and do while on your single day trip or multi day trip. Some outfitters even have bungee jumping right into the river. Take away your own video of your jump into the Ottawa river.

Wilderness tours on the Ottawa River are offered by several outfitters as well as other activities that you can build into your mini vacation. They also offer over night accommodations for groups, families and couples. Rafting on the Ottawa river is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city in less than 90 minutes.

White Water Rafting in Ottawa

Rafting Trip – Rocher Fendu rapids on the Ottawa River

Description – There are one and two day white water rafting tours. The single day trip is usually a 6 hour trip with a BBQ meal on board a pontoon boat that meets you along the way. There are  also family trips that can be arranged with most outfitters. Some also offer additional activities such as beach front kayaking, canoes, pedal boats, volleyball and a nice sandy beach to relax on.

River Rating – The Ottawa river flows are pretty stable throughout the year due to controlled water releases at several dams. It does increase in the spring due to snow load, however there are predominantly 6 level one rapids , 4 level two  rapids,  2 level three  rapids and 3 level four rapids.

Number of Rapids – There are 15 rapids in total as listed above. In addition there are body surfing locations, beaches and several spots to go swimming. The water can be quite warm especially later in the summer.

Minimum Age – On family rafting trips the minimum weight is 90 pounds for adventure trips and 50 pounds on family trips.

Departure Dates – Most outfitters will run river trips from Mid May until the end of September . You can usually find a rafting trip starting every day, however it is a good idea to reserve a spot with one of the outfitters so that you are sure of a spot.

More Information

Boat Type – Rafts are typically sport rafts , up to 14 feet long and suited for up to 7 rafters. Some outfitters also offer kayaking as well either as an upgrade to a day trip or part of a two day trip along the Ottawa River.

What to Bring – Always bring an additional set of clothes that you can change into after your rafting trip. For a complete list of things to bring, check with your outfitter prior to going on your white water rafting tour in the Ottawa area.

Outfitters -OWL rafting is one of the companies that provides whitewater rafting tours along the Ottawa River.  Wilderness tours is another outfitter providing rafting services along the river.

For more things to do in the Ottawa area, click here.

Wangs in the Desert is another restaurant that we have been to several times for happy hour as well as for dinner in the main restaurant. It is located at 424 S. Indian Canyon in Palm Springs, California. the phone number is 760-325-9264. there is ample parking behind at the restaurant. As you enter the restaurant there is a bar in the middle with an outdoor patio area to the left and the main restaurant on the right.

Happy Hour at Wangs

We have eaten at this restaurant several times both in the restaurant as well as on the patio for happy hour. Note that happy hour is only in the patio and at the bar and usually runs from 4:30 to 7:00 pm. Well drinks are $2 and well martini’s are $4. There is also a happy hour menu of various  items all of which are good and very enjoyable.

The patio is enclosed and they provide heaters for cooler nights. This location is very attractive once you get inside, however it really does not look like much from the outside.  In fact we really never noticed it even though we had walked past Wangs in the desert several times while out walking in Palm Springs.  We were introduced to the restaurant by friends of ours who enjoy going there for happy hour.

Restaurant Meals at Wangs

There meals inside the restaurant are also very good. Although we have only eaten there once with a group of eight people, we really enjoyed the meal and the food. We would recommend that you at least try this restaurant once and form your own opinion. It is out of the way on Indian Canyon in Palm Springs. It is easy to never really notice it. Try it we think that you will like Wangs in the Desert in Palm Springs.

If you have been there, why not leave us a comment? Either positive or negative comments are accepted as long as they are well written and helpful to our readers.

For more posts about Palm Springs Restaurants, click here.

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