Finally some playtime

Submitted by earthling1 on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 6:00am
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Going on a road trip this morning (Tuesday) to Belknap Hot Springs east of Eugene, Oregon.
The resort has been open to the public since 1874 but archeologists have found evidence of Native American use for 8000 years.
We will spend at least the first morning soaking up the hot minerals and then a hike through the "Secret Garden". And then spend the evening soaking some more.
Hopefully on Wednesday I can break-in my new knees on a portion of the 27 mile long McKenzie River Trail and return to the hot springs pool to recuperate.
The McKenzie River is a jewel of Oregon with pristine waters, moderate rapids, and deep blue pools that are almost unreal looking.
Thursday we will head out the McKenzie Pass Hiway (242) and spend the night at Dee Wright Observatory at 5500 ft elevation and catch some views of Jupiter and its moons.
Breakfast Friday in Sister's and on the way home, lunch at In-N-Out burger in Keizer.
Since I will be out in the deep forests of the Willamette National Forest I will be incommunicado till Friday afternoon so you guys are on your own.
Behave.
Ha ha. Just kidding.
Run wild, I will be.
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Submitted by mimi on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 8:24am
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Submitted by mimi on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 8:18am
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https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/mystery-gas-leaks-hit-major-russ...

One shouldn't play with the pipelines ... otherwise somthing else will run wild.

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Submitted by mhagle on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 8:26am
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@mimi

[video:https://youtu.be/u6IIwltTM4Q]

Gonzalo blames the Americans.

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Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

Submitted by mimi on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 9:31am
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@mhagle

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Submitted by enhydra lutris on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 9:36am
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@mimi

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by mhagle on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 8:19am
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Hope you have a really nice time! Hot springs, yeah.

I'm going to write some comments today, just because I can. Husband is off on his annual week-long hunting trip with his brother and long-time friends. Although since most of them are over 70 now, there is quite a bit of napping that takes place.

Sitting up in bed with my chromebook to hang out with dogs and sometimes cats. Lost my two old dogs this summer Sad (89 and 102 in dog years) and two teenager basset hounds are taking their place. Wild things! With me are Hattie, the rescue puppy mill long-haired chihuahua, Toby, the now mellowed wiener dog, and Chrystal, our oldest cat.

Life out here in our corner of TX is all about animals. 14 cats, 5 dogs, 150 chickens, 8 turkeys, 15 guineas, 1 pig, and 12 little Nigerian Dwarf goats. Still a lap goat in the house, Josie, who at 9 months only weighs 7 lbs. When I get up I will go about tending the animals. My daughter takes care of the chickens and gathers the eggs. Extra eggs at the end of the week go to our neighbors who take them to church. Then they send donations back to our daughter.

The world. Politics. The future. Oh my!

Thanks to everyone here who writes about the goings on. I watch videos daily, mostly by The Duran and their counterparts. They have worked themselves into quite a good network of news. Gonzalo's "Round Tables" are very interesting as well. It is still shocking how the average American out there is just drinking the Koolaid and believing all the bullshit. Hopefully, some watched the speeches at the UN last week. They presented a pretty clear picture as many spoke out against the collective west. The story ought to change after the referenda are completed, shouldn't it? I like how Lavrov quoted Zelenski saying that Russians should leave because they are not welcome then Lavrov said, "they are just following your advice and leaving but taking their land and the land of their ancestors with them." Ha!

Also watching quite a bit of CGTN these days. I am amazed at the Belt and Road Initiative, the Pull People out of Poverty gains, and especially the agriculture in China. They are growing food in the desert! These massive greenhouses are amazing. 40% of their population work in agriculture? I wonder what it is like to work in ag in China. There are still small farmers operating too. It's like Big Ag in China has evolved without the corruption of capitalism. Sure, lots of these videos are "bragging videos." But at least they have something to brag about. In this country, we can't brag about fabulous infrastructure, lifting people out of poverty, or greening the desert and cleaning up the environment. The Chinese can brag about these things.

Taking care of animals and my family constitutes my existence these days. It's good. Things are moving along. Traveled a couple of weeks ago to help Dr. Deb Tolman pack tires for her underground greenhouse, being built in an earth ship style. https://debtolman.com/ Fun and educational. Her website is mostly about her former projects. Her current massive project is on Facebook.

Well . . . duty calls. It's been nice chatting at you.

Have a great day! I-m so happy

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Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

Submitted by earthling1 on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 10:17am
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@mhagle
for the update from your little neck of the woods. It sounds like you are surrounded with love.
I'm sitting here finishing my morning coffee and wondering what I may have forgotten to pack. Will be leaving soon.
We are in a new world of game changing events.
The referenda in Donbass. The BRI. The shift in world power centers. The collapse of defective economic systems and the rise of new, more fairer, effective ones that work for all peoples.
We are witnessing the birth of a brand new epoch of human existence.
Stay tuned. It's gonna get rocky, dusty, and loud while all this new construction builds us new world.
IMHO
Happy trails!

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by Sima on Sat, 10/01/2022 - 6:01am
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@mhagle
It's great to hear what's going on with you. Josie sounds like our Lily, who is now about 4 years old and weighs 25-30 pounds. She was a great lap/house goat, taught herself potty training and more.
And... 105 chickens? Wow! We've got 14, and that's enough for us. Once we had about 40, but it was too much for free ranging, unfortunately. Anyway, great to hear from you!

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If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 9:38am
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outing. Sounds like a great time and a great way to break in your knees.

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by CB on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 10:02am
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discuss the fact that Russian rallies in support of Putin are 50X greater than those in opposition.

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Submitted by CB on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 10:17am
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commander Olga Kachura, codenamed Korsa, speaks (Eng subs).

Alena served in her mother’s unit for four years. She saw her mother go on missions, and always to the most dangerous places. Olga commanded artillerymen. She was hated in Kiev and sentenced in absentia to 12 years in prison. Korsa was hunted by nationalists, and survived several attempts on her life.

Olga Kachura died as a result of Ukrainian shelling in August. RT Documentary team is making a film in Donbass about women who defend their native land from the Nazis.

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Submitted by Lookout on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 10:21am
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Just back from trade day and a dentist appt.

Earthling1, your trip sounds great! Right up my alley. I love hot springs and visit every one I can. Hope the new knees provide relief and good function, but don't overdo.

Hope everyone has a good day!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by humphrey on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 11:31am

https://news.yahoo.com/sabotage-suspected-nord-stream-pipeline-100001372...

Explosions were recorded before mysterious leaks in two Baltic Sea gas pipelines linking Russia and Europe, seismologists said Tuesday, raising suspicions of sabotage amid tensions over Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Photos taken by the Danish military showed large masses of bubbles on the surface of the water emanating from the three leaks located in Sweden's and Denmark's economic zones, spreading from 200 to 1,000 metres (656 feet to 0.62 miles) in diameter.

"It's hard to imagine that it's accidental," said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, noting that it was "unusual" for the leaks to happen at such a distance from each other.

The Swedish National Seismic Network recorded two "massive releases of energy" shortly prior to the gas leaks and near their locations off the coast of the Danish island of Bornholm, Peter Schmidt, an Uppsala University seismologist told AFP.

"With energy releases this big there isn't much else than a blast that could cause it," he added. "You can see that they are quite sudden. It is a very sudden energy release. It’s not a slow collapse of something."

Russia said earlier that it was "extremely concerned" about the leaks. Asked by reporters whether it could be an act of sabotage, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that at the moment "it is impossible to exclude any options".

Blinken seems to have a bridge to sell you.

LEVI

"Sabotage at Nord Stream is not in the interests of either side", Blinken said

Oh really

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Submitted by lotlizard on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 11:52am
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@humphrey  
The U.S. would put an end to it.

https://nypost.com/2022/02/07/biden-vows-us-will-end-nord-stream-2-gas-p...

I suspect that now we are seeing exactly what he — or his handlers who tell him what to say — meant.

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Submitted by humphrey on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:00pm

@lotlizard

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Submitted by CB on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:00pm
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@humphrey
Most of the American population has the attention span of a gnat. It will be easy for Blinken to get away with this lie once the MSM starts to parrot this.

White House hails Germany's decision to halt certification of Nord Stream 2 pipeline to punish Russia
February 22, 2022

The White House on Tuesday called Germany’s decision to halt certification of the new Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline “a major turning point in the world’s energy independence from Russia.”

Daleep Singh, who serves as deputy national security adviser for international economics and deputy director of the National Economic Council, made the comment during a White House press briefing in regard to steps taken by the U.S. and its NATO allies to punish Russia for its decision to recognize and send troops into two Moscow-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.
...
Singh began his remarks by highlighting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s announcement Tuesday that Germany was halting certification of the Nord Stream 2 project, a newly constructed natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany that critics said gave the Kremlin too much power over energy policy in Europe. Singh said the ultimate decision on the pipeline followed U.S. “consultations overnight with Germany.”

“That’s an $11 billion investment in a prized gas pipeline, controlled by Russia, that will now go to waste. And it sacrifices what would have been a cash cow for Russia’s coffers,” Singh said. “But it’s not just about the money. This decision will relieve Russia’s geostrategic chokehold over Europe through its supply of gas, and it’s a major turning point in the world’s energy independence from Russia.”

During a joint press conference with Scholz at the White House earlier this month, Biden vowed to “bring an end” to the pipeline if Russia were to move forward with an invasion of Ukraine, “that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine.” At the time, the German chancellor was less willing to echo this specific promise, saying only that he and Biden were “absolutely united, we will not be taking different steps.”
...

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Submitted by humphrey on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:06pm

@CB

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Submitted by CB on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:29pm
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@humphrey

Who sabotaged the Nord Stream tubes? The list of suspects is comparatively short — RT DE

So now both Nord Stream pipelines are damaged. And it is unlikely that in the West it will ever become public who is responsible for this.

Why? Well, the Baltic Sea is one of the best monitored bodies of water on this planet. Not only on the surface, where no ship is allowed to move without being noticed at all times, from both sides. Also underwater, where sonar and underwater microphones are used to monitor movements of submarines.

However, surface ships are hardly an option. This also applies to the US landing ship Kearsarge, which sailed the Baltic Sea last week left. However, this does not rule out an accompanying submarine.

The daily mirror called refers to an “insider” who speaks of special forces or submarines. The most obvious variant is a combination of both – combat swimmers starting from a submarine.

Just to clarify the general conditions of such a leak – the individual pipe sections of Nord Stream 2 weigh 50 tons; the metal tube is lined with concrete and then with bitumen and is buried under the seabed. I saw them being transported at Mukran, every single piece on a heavy truck that was only allowed inside the factory premises because the payload exceeded normal limits. The pipes lie at a depth of 40 meters. There are also technical divers who work at such depths, but their equipment is far too conspicuous. So basically only combat divers remain. Whereby it must be clear that the time of probable explosions does not have to be identical with the time at which the sabotage was prepared.
...
The operating company of Nord Stream 1 has meanwhile explained, “the destruction that occurred within one day on three tubes of the Nord Stream pipeline system is something unprecedented… and it is now impossible to determine the timeframe for the repair work on the gas pipeline structure”. The Danish Energy Agency stated, “There’s a lot of gas escaping, so it’s not a small crack, it’s a really big hole”.

Seismologists in Sweden and Denmark have measured one tremor, not three. If these were explosions in the pipelines, they must have occurred simultaneously in all three tubes. The double ignition on Nord Stream 1 would then have covered that on Nord Stream 2. However, the Nord Stream 2 leak was discovered well before the Nord Stream 1 leak.
...
The list of possible suspects is comparatively short. Kampfschwimmer own, in alphabetical order, Germany, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Austria, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa and the United States.
...
It may be that the United States found it necessary to put additional pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz in his full pants quarantine. It may also be that Scholz himself agreed to such an act because there is some panic in front of the angry population. In the first case it would be an act of war within NATO by one “partner” against another; in the second case, an additional round of treason by this federal government. In both cases it is a massive attack on the interests of the German population.

If there were a functioning German parliament that hadn’t succumbed to the NATO madness, it would have to demand that the federal government disclose all of its own findings, as well as the disclosure of the locations of all boats and units that the German side might consider possible. Since there is no such parliament and instead the vast majority wish the Germans many cold winters and a ruined economy, such questions will not be asked.

And one thing is abundantly clear, with or without the approval or involvement of the federal government, whichever NATO member was responsible for it – those who have such friends no longer need enemies.

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Submitted by CB on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:08pm
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Submitted by lotlizard on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:21pm
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@CB  
https://www.information.dk/telegram/2022/09/seismolog-eksplosion-ved-nor...

Measuring stations in both Denmark and Sweden on Monday recorded powerful explosions underwater in the same area as the gas leaks from Nord Stream 1 and 2.

Swedish broadcaster SVT reports.

"There is no doubt that these are explosions," said Björn Lund, associate professor of seismology and head of the Swedish National Seismic Center SNSN.

He goes on to explain that the first explosion in strength corresponds to a few hundred kilograms of dynamite, or a small dynamite charge, that has been affected by the gas from the pipes.

But it cannot be said with one hundred percent certainty that the explosions occurred in exactly the same places as the authorities have indicated for the leaks.

"At this point, we are looking at what the explosions might be caused by. We are now comparing this data with data we have from earlier on, for example, mines. We will see if there are any deviations," Lund told the TT news agency.

The first explosion was recorded at 02:03 on Monday night, and the second at around 19:04 on Monday evening.

The first is measured at a strength of 1.9, while the second is measured at 2.3. They were registered at 30 different monitoring stations in Sweden as well as in Denmark and Norway.

The last time a similar seismological event was recorded in the area was in 2016.

Lund told the tv station that the area where the tremors were recorded was not normally used by the military for exercises.

"We usually get information about blasts that happen underwater, but it happens that we don't get it. In this case, we have not received any information," he said.

One of his colleagues, seismologist Peter Schmidt of Uppsala University, told AFP that since it was a "very sudden" tremor and not a "slow collapse", it is "probably some kind of blast".

"With energy charges of this magnitude, there's not much more than a blast that can cause it," Schmidt said.

The leak in Nord Stream 2 was discovered on Monday when the pressure in the gas pipeline suddenly dropped significantly from around 105 bar to 7 bar.

Nord Stream 2 runs from Russia to the northern coast of Germany. It passes by the coast of Bornholm.

The pressure in Nord Stream 1, located on the same line, also dropped.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki believes there is sabotage behind it.

"We do not know the details of what happened at this time, but we can clearly see that there has been an act of sabotage," he said.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (Social Democrat) does not believe that it can be ruled out that this is sabotage.

"We certainly can't rule it out. It is too early to conclude yet. But this is an extraordinary situation. It's an unusual situation," she said earlier Tuesday.

Sweden's foreign minister, Ann Linde, told Aftonbladet that she was in contact with her Danish counterpart, Jeppe Kofod (Social Democrat). The two may have a meeting on Tuesday night, the newspaper reported.

Nord Stream 2 was largely ready for use and had been filled with 300 million cubic metres of gas when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced shortly before Russia's invasion of Ukraine that it would drop its use.

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Submitted by humphrey on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:21pm

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Submitted by humphrey on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 1:12pm

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Submitted by on the cusp on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 2:17pm

Hope your new knees are worth every cent they cost, and are better than what you came with.
My favorite hot springs were in Equador. The pools at the resort were hot springs, so I didn't have to schedule spa time.
"See" ya at the end of the week of all your fun stories!

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Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 09/28/2022 - 9:04am
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@on the cusp

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Submitted by on the cusp on Wed, 09/28/2022 - 11:02am

@enhydra lutris Great place. Great memories.

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Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 09/28/2022 - 6:04pm
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@on the cusp

here's some typical foliage at the top of papillacta pass
papallacta_foliage1

And here's the lodge and hotspring. Notice the gnomen on the sundial sphere is horizontal, that's only the case right at the equator

IMG_0187

be well and have a good one

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Submitted by on the cusp on Wed, 09/28/2022 - 6:27pm

@enhydra lutris line up, take your picture standing on the equator...watch demonstrations showing the sundial doing just that.
I have had 2 wonderful trips there.

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Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 09/28/2022 - 7:26pm
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@on the cusp

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by on the cusp on Wed, 09/28/2022 - 9:40pm

@enhydra lutris First time I went, the country was very left leaning, giving Assange asylum. Man, that second time...very right leaning. Extremely different environment. I once thought about going ex-pat there. After that second trip, not an option.
Although I didn't intend or plan birding, I actually did lots of birding both trips.

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Submitted by enhydra lutris on Thu, 09/29/2022 - 9:01am
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@on the cusp

pretty much unavoidable, if only for them.

be well and have a good one

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Submitted by peachcreek on Wed, 09/28/2022 - 12:31am

I've only been to Belknap a few times, but man it is nice. And I mountain biked the McKenzie River Trail a few years back with my son (he was amazingly patient, waiting for me at the top of the big hills). We've walked all those sections many times over the years. That is a really special place, along a very special river. And 242 to Dee Wright...another favorite. 242 is closed in winter and in the late spring they slowly plow it out. It is a skinny two lane road up to a pass and down to the town of Sisters, Oregon. They do snow removal from the Sisters side and from the McKenzie River side starting in May or so and when they get close to meeting it is announced when the road will be reopened. It is first opened to bicycles-only for the first week. And then it is open to everyone. Some years, near the top, we cycled along a tight two lane road with 20ft walls of snow on either side. And 100meters down the road it is sunny and hot. Dee Wright Observatory is a pretty special place too. CCC work from the late '30's I think.

I'm a bit jealous, since I haven't been up that way since the Holiday farm fire. Well, I've been upriver, but only 20miles or so. Not where you are going. Enjoy! And I hope your new knees are up to the task. From what I understand, it takes a while to get used to them. I think hiking on the McKenzie River Trail is the best test that I could ever come up with.
Feel free to DM and stop by if you are ever in the area. A local hike, a brew or tea, or a tour a few of the farms in the area would be some options. Have a great trip!

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