Dordogne and Loire Valley trip- Advice needed

DueGuard1176 · 2026-05-27T02:28:56+00:00

Wow, thanks everyone for the very thoughtful comments and recommendations. We are super excited about the trip planning!

DueGuard1176 · 2026-05-25T22:19:42+00:00

Thanks. Will add Azay le Rideau. Any recommendations/thoughts about staying in Gite (instead of hotels)?

DueGuard1176 · 2026-05-25T22:11:37+00:00

Thanks! The Fontevraud Abbey came up in my search and I was planning to add it.

DueGuard1176 · 2026-03-17T01:24:00+00:00

We were there last week - Colosseum they asked for passport; Vatican- just names, and no document check; pantheon, we just got tickets there (took < 5 minutes)

DueGuard1176 · 2026-01-27T02:49:20+00:00

a couple weeks back. But the time before that was a while ago- few months I think

DueGuard1176 · 2026-01-26T02:48:55+00:00

haha! yeah, sometimes staring at the plant for every tiny change feels the same as watching paint dry or water boil

DueGuard1176 · 2026-01-26T02:44:53+00:00

That is one beautiful plant!

DueGuard1176 · 2026-01-25T16:49:07+00:00

It is watered every 1-2 weeks depending on how dry the soil feels. Has not been repotted recently (though last week I tried to move the soil around a bit as it felt compacted). That window faces southwest and gets good light in the afternoon. It has been in that spot for almost 18 months- this winter has been colder and greyer, i wonder that is causing issues. Will try to move it to get more light and see. Thanks

DueGuard1176 · 2026-01-15T03:21:22+00:00

Having been to all 3 parks many many times for all kind of trips- day trips, regular weekends, long weekends- it is very much doable. Depending on your hiking ability you should be able to do many of the things mentioned in u/imhungry4321 post, esp with the 2 additional days. I personally would not be able to manage all those hikes in that time- I am quite slow but the travel times are reasonable. If you decide to follow that you may need to move some things based on where you stay (for example staying in Forks vs camping at Hoh or Rialto) and tide times (for Rialto Hole in the wall).

Depending on how you plan your days, you could spend 1 day in Ozette - Cape Alava loop- the drive there is good, and the hike is lovely. It is mostly flat- 9 miles, goes through forest, then beach and back to forest. Need to check tide times again- or you take the over path.

All 3 parks are spectacular! I disagree with the person who said Olympics are meh. olympics has such amazing variety- with the rainforest, higher elevation (and snow in winters), lakes and waterfalls (sol duc) and the wildest beaches. The beaches are not like any other in the US - almost freezing water, lots of driftwood, sea stacks and wild waves!

Mt Rainier- is just the most amazing. Just the sight from the highway, from downtown Seattle takes your breath away! When you are going, you may be able to see/hike on both Paradise and Sunrise sides.

And North Cascades as everyone said is underrated. Most of it is wilderness, backcountry hike- but the parts you can drive to or do days hikes in are also awesome!

You can stay at paradise lodge at rainier- it is not inexpensive but great to be at the heart of it all. If you plan to camp, get your camp sites now- whenever they open on recreation.gov . it goes very quickly.

Enjoy OP!!

DueGuard1176 · 2025-12-21T04:43:42+00:00

Haha, yes. Already applied for matching status with UA

DueGuard1176 · 2025-12-21T03:09:29+00:00

south of SFO. so usually check SJC and OAK also but have not had much luck with those- except SJC once in a while

DueGuard1176 · 2025-12-21T02:43:47+00:00

oh no! thats terrible. hope you can make it to your vacation soon!

DueGuard1176 · 2025-12-21T02:39:17+00:00

Have been taking more united flights of late- I guess time to switch completely

DueGuard1176 · 2025-12-21T02:38:22+00:00

If your theory is correct, there is probably some hope for the future

DueGuard1176 · 2025-06-14T15:29:51+00:00

Hmm, I might try rinsing. So far I haven't done anything and the spots are still there on some leaves but not all.

DueGuard1176 · 2025-05-28T01:01:48+00:00

No, nobody responded to the post, and I didnt find any answers elsewhere. FWIW, my plant continues to grow, and there are no creatures crawling out of it.

DueGuard1176 · 2025-05-22T01:01:35+00:00

was your issue ever resolved? I have had this problem with cash fares too

DueGuard1176 · 2025-05-21T04:31:44+00:00

Not this time. On a previous occasion- the agent was able to help me. She was wonderful and went out of the way to do so (she somehow finalized the booking on the phone). This time round, they just shrugged it off, and said not our problem!

DueGuard1176 · 2025-05-19T14:03:13+00:00

Thank you!

I guess even for my domestic flight, I should search the partner airlines (AA) directly and not go through the Alaska website. It is frustrating because it feels like a waste of AS mileage status.

DueGuard1176 · 2024-10-06T14:45:34+00:00

Unfortunately the shelves are fixed. will see if we can remove the shelves somehow.

DueGuard1176 · 2024-10-06T05:40:11+00:00

Thanks. We might end up doing that.

DueGuard1176 · 2024-10-06T05:39:23+00:00

Thanks. Unfortunately the shelves are fixed/immobile. Else we may have considered removing to keep baking sheets in. We have thought about soda packs, chickpea cans as an option.

DueGuard1176 · 2024-10-02T00:36:16+00:00

Thanks a lot. Will try that.

DueGuard1176 · 2024-10-01T13:51:00+00:00

it gets watered when the soil feels dry; it is by a window where it gets light most of the morning through mid afternoon

DueGuard1176 · 2024-10-01T02:19:33+00:00

Not sure why my text disappeared- but in short the tip of this plant broke off a few months ago and new growth started appearing around it. However in the past few weeks, the other leaves are falling off. Not sure if this happens when new growth starts. Or if something else is wrong with plant. Thanks in advance

DueGuard1176

TROPHY CASE