Bobby on the Dragon Roof

Bobby on the Dragon Roof, originally uploaded by Room With A View.

Xiamen, China
After breakfast Flat Bobby and I went across the street to Marco Polo hotel to see the Chinese New Year decorations. Immediately Bobby jumped up on the roof of the small house where New Years food gifts were being sold. He felt like an action hero up on the dragon roof!

Bobby and Giant Chinese Coin

Bobby and Giant Chinese Coin, originally uploaded by Room With A View.

Xiamen, China - in front of the hotel Flat Bobby wanted to know if anybody could ever spend such a large Chinese coin. Sadly I told him it is just a decoration with the traditional Chinese New Year twins on either side.

Bobby at Narcissus Mountain

Bobby at Narcissus Mountain, originally uploaded by Room With A View.

Xiamen, China - still at the Marco Polo Hotel Flat Bobby stopped his adventures to pose with the centerpiece of narcissus which are a Chinese symbol of spring and newness and luck. They smelled wonderful!

Bobby Meets Baby

Bobby Meets Baby, originally uploaded by Room With A View.

Xiamen, China
On Chinese New Years Day Flat Bobby and I met some young friends for breakfast at Javaroma's, a nice coffee shop nearby.

Bobby Comes to Breakfast

Bobby Comes to Breakfast, originally uploaded by Room With A View.

Xiamen, China
Here Bobby is meeting my friend, Ampon and her daughter Alexis.

Does Babby Want Eggs?

Does Babby Want Eggs?, originally uploaded by Room With A View.

Xiamen, China
My friends offered Flat Bobby some eggs, but he was not hungry. It was Chinese New Year and Bobby wanted to play!

Flat Bobby Says Happy Chinese New Year !

Flat Bobby Says Happy Chinese New Year !, originally uploaded by Room With A View.

Xiamen, China - At New Years oranges symbolize prosperity and increased wealth so Bobby climbed these potted orange trees to wish you a year of great prosperity. He was pretty excited to learn about the red envelopes (hong bao) which the Chinese put money in to give each other for gifts too!

Flat Bobby Says Happy Chinese New Year !

Flat Bobby Says Happy Chinese New Year !, originally uploaded by Room With A View.

Xiamen, China - Koi are the symbol of long life in China and Bobby is sending wishes for good health and long life to all of you on Chinese New Year Day.

Flat Bobby Says Happy Chinese New Year!

Flat Bobby Says Happy Chinese New Year!, originally uploaded by Room With A View.

Xiamen, China - Flat Bobby and I went for a New Year's Morning Walk - and he climbed right up on these big firecrackers in front of a hotel to say Happy New Year to everybody.

FLAT BOBBY'S SHOES

FLAT BOBBY'S SHOES, originally uploaded by ESOX LUCIUS.

Flat Bobby's original Dutch wooden shoes are in the making. But making wooden shoes is a complex craft. First they have to be carved out of wood as shown by Flat Bobby right here. They need to rest after carving, because the wood can be 'working' still and sometimes these wooden shoes split for no reason. So a rest is in order. Then they have to be painted. Normally they will be painted in traditional patterns. Finally they get a glossy finish for protection against the weather. And then we have to find Flat Bobby a minipair that would fit him! That is no small thing. The wooden shoes are bought and payed for, but as you can see with your own eyes, there is still a lot of work to be done before Bobby will be walking in them...

HARINGVLIETDAM

HARINGVLIETDAM, originally uploaded by ESOX LUCIUS.

Flat Bobby and I went to inspect the great Haringvlietdam. This dam, with giants locks to keep ot our let in the sea at will, is part of the famous Dutch Deltaworks a damming project to keep the south of Holland from flooding. You must know, Amber, that for the most part Holland is below sea-level. Without these great dams we would drown. As a matter of fact important people from New Orleans and Louisana visited these Deltaworks only a month ago. Why? They wanted to learn how to keep the sea water out and how to prevent people from drowning like when Katrine caused that terrible flooding. So we explained those important people how to build dams and dikes. I will show Flat Bobby a dike in a little while. Cheers!

MAPPING THE SITES

MAPPING THE SITES, originally uploaded by ESOX LUCIUS.

Tom Tom Flickr. Lots of notes and still adding. This is for my friend Karen from Nebraska. It shows many of the locations my pictures were taken and some links to sets of my Flickr Friends. In green are marked the nature reserves. Light blue in the left is the North Sea. Dark blue bottom right is the Haringvliet a freshwater lake with Hellevoetsluis (8) clearly marked on its northern shore. North is the top of the map.
1. De Kwade Hoek
2. Scheelhoek
3. Voornes Duin
4. Annabos (the Anna-forest where the black swans live)
5. Quackjeswater and Quakgors
6. Oostvoornse Meer (a saltwaterlake)
7. Blokkendam (a dike of big concrete blocks in the North Sea, kayakingsite)
8. Hellevoetsluis (the red dot is where we live)
All nature reserves are easily within a 30 minutes drive from homeport Hellevoetsluis.

Indian rock and Bobby

Indian rock and Bobby, originally uploaded by salgal.

we found this amazing Indian rock when we broke ground for our new house in 1998, welcome to North Dakota Bobby, the best kept secret of the whole United States, I wish you could stay and watch our new babies foals being born, but that won't be until April and May, it's much too harsh a winter to foal outside here in the winter.

Hey, my shoes are ready!

Hey, my shoes are ready!, originally uploaded by ESOX LUCIUS.

Hi Amber, Flat Bobby is happy as could be. His wooden shoes are ready and they fit!
We had to take those wooden shoes out for a test walk, so here you see Flat Bobby standing in front of the great lake called the Haringvliet. In a note in the picture you can see Hellevoetsluis, the city where Flat Bobby is staying.

If you want to find the great Haringvliet on the map, go to Mapping the Sites.

FLAT BOBBY IN HOLLAND

FLAT BOBBY IN HOLLAND, originally uploaded by ESOX LUCIUS.

I first met Flat Bobby while he was still killing time in Nebraska. When invited he happily hopped over to the port of Hellevoetsluis, Holland. I'm showing Flat Bobby the Dutch sites and making sure he's stuffed with minicheese. Wait till you see the wooden shoes I bought him this very same afternoon.

If you want to find Hellevoetsluis on the map, go to Mapping the Sites and look for number 8.

This Flat Bobby trip is part of Amber's second grade class project. Check out his travels and contact StarrGazr if you can help him travel the world.

FLAT BOBBY IN ROTTERDAM

FLAT BOBBY IN ROTTERDAM, originally uploaded by ESOX LUCIUS.

Today I took Flat Bobby to meet my Dutch Flickr friend Wessel de Jonge: JoJo4Art.. He lives in the city of Rotterdam. and took this picture of Flat Bobby with the famous Westermeijer building in the background (left). That building is a monument. Rotterdam has few monuments because in World War II (1940-1945) the city was bombarded and almost leveled to the ground. Rotterdam is all about boats and ships and sea. Allthough the boat Flat Bobby is standing next to could to with a paintjob (...).For many years Rotterdam was the largest sea harbour in the world, but recently Sjanghai took that place. Today Rotterdam is the largest sea harbour of Europe and sports many, many architectural wonders. Like the cubical houses you can see in the back of where Flat Bobby is standing. People really live in those cubicals! Thanks Wessel for showing Bobby something of Rotterdam. Not the capital of the Netherlands, but that is because the people in Amsterdam got it all wrong :-)

Flat Bobby in the far north

Flat Bobby in the far north, originally uploaded by salgal.

if you look closely in the background you'll see a group of bred mares eating hay

Flat Bobby on our mantle

Flat Bobby on our mantle, originally uploaded by salgal.

look closely on the star, here he is, this steer head came off a steer that died during the horrible winter season of 96-97 in North Dakota

FLAT BOBBY IN HOLLAND

FLAT BOBBY IN HOLLAND, originally uploaded by ESOX LUCIUS.

I first met Flat Bobby while he was still killing time in Nebraska. When invited he happily hopped over to the port of Hellevoetsluis, Holland. I'm showing Flat Bobby the Dutch sites and making sure he's stuffed with minicheese. Wait till you see the wooden shoes I bought him this very same afternoon.

This one is just my size!

This one is just my size!, originally uploaded by nebrtwin.

Above in the small rocking chair is Flat Bobby; he is the experiment of a second grade class. They are trying to see how far around the world he will go by Feb. 10th and low and behold, he has made here to Nebraska.

"Nothing Runs Like a Deere"

"Nothing Runs Like a Deere", originally uploaded by FlowrBx.

Flat Bobby finds out that Nebraska is farming country and in farming country, the tractor is king.

(While visiting the local Cracker Barrel restaurant for a late breakfast.)

Flat Bobby finds Lincoln on the map

Flat Bobby finds Lincoln on the map, originally uploaded by FlowrBx.

Getting his bearings for his stay in Nebraska.

Flat-Bobby is seat-belted and ready to roll

Flat-Bobby is seat-belted and ready to roll, originally uploaded by FlowrBx.

Flat Bobby Gets Rich

Flat Bobby Gets Rich, originally uploaded by Foxicat.

Flat Bobby went with me to the library the other day and was very interested in this book. He figures he'll piece together the clues and find the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine and become obscenely rich!

You can read about the legend.

Capitol Rose - Arizona

Capitol Rose, originally uploaded by Foxicat.

During Flat Bobby's trip to the old Capitol building he stopped to smell the roses :-)

Flat Bobby in South Korea

Flat Bobby in Southkorea, originally uploaded by Rainmountain, back in Korea.

Flat Bobby in South Korea

Flat Bobby in Southkorea, originally uploaded by Rainmountain, back in Korea.

So, finally Flat Bobby arrived in Korea, after he missed Hungary and Germany.
Here he is visiting a little monument. I still don't speak Korean, so I can't really tell, what it stands for, but maybe somebody can translate it? ;)

Flat Bobby in Southkorea

Flat Bobby in Southkorea, originally uploaded by Rainmountain, back in Korea.

Flat Bobby in South Korea

Flat Bobby in Southkorea, originally uploaded by Rainmountain, back in Korea.

There are many graves in the forest around here. I don't know, if they still burry people like this, but you find them all over the mountains. Many of them have little statues around them and stones with engravings.

Unionville - Steppin' Out!!!

Unionville14, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Steppin' Out!!!!! You CAN hear the music they are dancing to can't you????

Unionville, look out Bobby, someone is sneaking up on you

Unionville, look out Bobby, someone is sneaking up on you, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Bobby visits the Happy Face Witch!!

Mark Twain in Unionville Nevada

Mark Twain in Unionville Nevada

Unionville

Unionville2, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

looks to me like it is snow up at Unionville

Unionville

Unionville3, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Bobby gets to see the BIG nail thru the tree!

Unionville

Unionville, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Imlay Classroom3

Imlay Classroom3, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Imlay Classroom

Imlay Classroom4, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Imlay Classroom

Imlay Classroom2, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Imlay Classroom

Imlay Classroom, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Imlay school is grades k thru 6, Kindergarten got to come in and sit with the big kids while Bobby and Judy were there.

All grades are in the same room except for kindergarten. Years ago all the country small country schoold were all grades in one room. Harry went to a school like that when he was in gradeschool.

All of the kids are going to work on something about their school, their town, ranch life etc. Bobby and Judy will go back in about 2 weeks and hope to to individual pictures with student names and what they have done to send with Bobby to Amber.

Imlay School

Imlay School4, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Imlay School

Imlay School2, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Bobby found the teacher's apple!

Imlay School

Imlay School3, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Bobby was disappointed that Judy didn't take him further up the slide!!

Imlay School

Imlay School, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

k-6

a link the kids may want to visit, Judy's journeys to Death Valley.

Lock Your Love in Lovelock!

Lover's lock3, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Lover's lock

Lover's lock, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Lover's Locks

Lover's locks, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Flat Bobby takes a look at the Lover's Locks

Flat Bobby takes a look at the Lover's Locks, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Lock Your Love in Lovelock!

Located in the historic Courthouse Park in downtown Lovelock, NV you will find a unique way to express your commitment to the one and only love of your life.

Patterned after the Chinese tradition of sealing a lover’s commitment by locking a padlock on a chain that is attached permanently to earth and then disposing of the key. Lovelock has provided a beautiful pavilion with two entwined Crabapple trees growing together to symbolize the permanence of relationships. The trees are surrounded by a pavilion with bollards and chains in place to lock your special padlock and dispose of the key. In China the tradition is that the relationship will be unending because it will be impossible to retrieve the key and unlock the padlock. Participants will have a symbol of undying commitment.

Flat Bobby at the Lover's Lock Pavilion

Flat Bobby at the Lover's Lock Pavilion, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Lock Your Love in Lovelock!

Located in the historic Courthouse Park in downtown Lovelock, NV you will find a unique way to express your commitment to the one and only love of your life.

Patterned after the Chinese tradition of sealing a lover’s commitment by locking a padlock on a chain that is attached permanently to earth and then disposing of the key. Lovelock has provided a beautiful pavilion with two entwined Crabapple trees growing together to symbolize the permanence of relationships. The trees are surrounded by a pavilion with bollards and chains in place to lock your special padlock and dispose of the key. In Chine the tradition is that the relationship will be unending because it will be impossible to retrieve the key and unlock the padlock. Participants will have a symbol of undying commitment.

Emigrant Trail

Emigrant Trail, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Judy is back to normal, we are all fine and dandy!! Thanx for those who were kind enough to ask!

Thursday we went to town and on the way we stopped at one of the Emigrant/California Trail markers. These are all along the I-80 corridor as when you drive I-80 in Nevada you are pretty much seeingwhat the pioneers saw many years ago.
Lovelock and the surrounding valley was called Big Meadows by the pioneers. It was a place greatly appreciated to stop let the cattle feed on grass etc. before they made their trip across the 40 mile desert to the west.

Bobby laid down the law

Bobby laid down the law, originally uploaded by Pink Pepper Photo.

Monday January 9, Bobby laid down the law,that Judy had to rest after a trip to the hospital ER on Sunday. He also said the data entry had to be done before we went any where else to take pix. Thanx to Bobby now the data entry is all done!! Hurray, so then we got to go to Rye Patch!!

hiding

hiding, originally uploaded by SingAsong.

Flat Bobby was hiding when it was time to say goodbye. He promised to come back and visit in the future.

Have a safe trip home Flat Bobby :D