Greetings from Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains, in the French Alps! (Sorry about the tardy update. I’ve been hunkered down on a rewrite — mission accomplished.) On Saturday we caught a bus to Chamonix and took the tram up to Midi (more than 12,000 feet), which affords spectacular views of Mont Blanc and surrounds. Apologies for the mondo contrast — the sun was over the big fella when we arrived.

We had a good thinki in Helsinki and decided to take the ferry to Tallinn, Estonia. We stayed in an old hotel from the 1980 Olympic Regatta, right on the water. Lots of epic architecture in old town, but I prefer this shot of Patricia in a coffee shop.

On board, we met The Lightriders — Austrians Katrin and Martin, who were just returning from a seven-month bicycle trek the length of Norway to see the northern lights. See their amazing photos at https://www.lightriders.info . The coolest thing about the ferry was that it was mostly empty.

Have to finish up with dear Inger and Stig Johansson in Vaxholm, Sweden — one of the archipelago isles. They kept us very well fed with apples and grapes from their yard and loaned us bikes — suggesting we peddle out to Karlsudd.