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15 October 2025: The skies were in flux today, with sun and clouds alternating, and towards the end of the day some threatening clouds came in hovering low over the city. Got out a little bit, but just meandered around the 10eme close to home base, in case those skies opened up and let out a heavy rain…
14 October 2025: Took a nice walk “south” today, from our base in the 10eme, down passed the Arch that marks the start of the Faubourg St. Denis, then meandering along the Grands Boulevards for awhile before exploring some of the smaller streets along the way to the rue Montorgueil then crossing over to the rue St. Denis to head back north. There was plenty of cool street art, and some time to stop and enjoy a cafe as well as just appreciating the ambiance of the streets …
13 October 2025: Busy day, but made time for a cafe or two in between work and other projects today. Love how we can always make time to stop for a coffee here no matter how busy we get …
12 October 2025: Took a walk to the Canal St. Martin on familiar streets of Paris 10eme, enjoying the open air gallery of city walls dressed up in vibrant colors by graffiti artists. The weather is nice and the Canal is crowded with people out for a walk, a jog, or just a moment to sit by the waters edge and chill …
11 October 2025: Arrived in Paris and the sun is shining and it just feels great to be here again. Spent the day with friends and got adjusted to the timezone. Tomorrow will be getting out to “explore” a little bit…
10 October 2025: Heading to the airport for the overnight flight to Paris and looking forward to reconnecting with good friends and revisiting some favorite places in a favorite city…
THIS MONTH:
Returning to the “city of light” after a way-too-long hiatus and reconnecting with friends, favorite places and some urban exploring to change things up a little bit …
COMING UP SOON:
Taking part in a World War Two battle re-enactment at the Museum of American Armor on November 16th. The event features some of the museum’s armored vehicles in action during a simulated combat scenario from the allied liberation of France in 1944…
December is Holiday Roadtrip time, and this year we are heading back to a few favorite locations in the southeast as well as exploring a couple of new ones…
We will be taking part in an international overland expedition from the Sichuan Basin to the Tibetan Plateau in April, where we will be tracking snow leopards and working with local nomadic herders in cooperation with wildlife conservation efforts that aim to reduce human-wildlife conflict in one of the most remote areas of China…
USnomads.org is very proud to be presenting the fifth edition of the Nomad Rally in 2026. This is a unique kind of rally experience — a ten week event that participants can do from anywhere within the continental U.S.A. Competitors design their own routes as part of the rally, then drive it in a points-based online competition that includes optional activity tasks, quests and weekly challenges. The 2026 rally will run from 8 June – 17 August and is open to any driver within the United States who has an off-road capable vehicle — stock or modified. Registration for 2026 is currently open. For more information see the Rally website …
THE CANAL ST. MARTIN
The Canal Saint-Martin is a historic waterway in northeastern Paris, popular for its trendy, bohemian vibe. Today lined with cafes, boutiques, and restaurants, the Canal was originally built by Napoleon to connect the Canal de l’Ourcq to the river Seine. The idea for a canal came from Gaspard de Chabrol, prefect of Paris, who proposed building it as a way to supply the city of Paris with fresh water. At that time the city’s population was growing rapidly and Chabrol was looking for ways to help avoid diseases such as dysentery and cholera. Chabrol noted that the water could also be used to supply fountains and clean the city streets. Napoleon agreed and ordered construction to begin in 1802, funding the project with a new tax on wine. Once built, the canal was also used to supply Paris with grain, building materials and other goods, carried on canal boats. Two ports were created to unload the boats: Port de l’Arsenal and the Bassin de la Villette. By the 1960s, traffic had dwindled to a trickle and the canal narrowly escaped being filled in and paved over for a highway. Today, the canal is a popular destination for Parisians and tourists alike. Some take cruises on the canal in passenger boats. Others watch the barges and other boats navigate the series of locks and pass under the attractive cast-iron footbridges. The streets spreading east and west of the canal in the 10th and 11th Arrondissements are peppered with cafes, ethnic restaurants, and old favorites like Le Verre Volé, Chez Prune, and Hotel du Nord. As a place to see and be seen Canal Saint-Martin is especially popular with the under-30 crowd, though you’ll also find picnickers, poets, philosophers, and pêcheurs of all ages relaxing along the canal’s tree-shaded banks…
Nesconset | Paris | Belgrade | Chittenden | Winooski | Grand Isle | Brattleboro | Bridgeport
MORE NOTES FROM THE ROAD:
22-30 September – Vermont
13-21 September – Vermont
1-12 September – New York
16-31 August – New York
1-15 August – New York
July – New York
June – New York
May – New York
18-30 April – New York
8-17 April – Eastbound
1-7 April – Eastbound
22-31 March – California
17-21 March – AZ to CA
8-16 March – Arizona
1-7 March – Glamis
22-28 February – Roadtrip SW
15-21 February – Roadtrip SW
1-14 February – New York
January – Paris
23-31 December – Holiday Roadtrip
16-22 December – Holiday Roadtrip
18-15 December – New York
8-30 November – New York
1-7 November – Roadtrip South
23-31 October – Roadtrip South
15-22 October – Roadtrip South
8-14 October – Roadtrip South
1-7 October – Roadtrip South
Archive
ROADTRIP
An epic journey crisscrossing the USA from east to west and back again, exploring some of the beautiful wild spaces that make up our “public lands.” The roadtrip covered almost 15,000 miles, much of it off-grid and off-pavement, focusing on the deserts of the American southwest. Some locations were truly “iconic” while others were little known, and the segments of independent exploration where punctuated with some fun events across the region… [read]
SPECIAL REPORT
All about exploring ghost towns and abandoned places in the USA and beyond, with tips, and information on the many different types of sites to be found across the globe, including detailed guides for eight specific sites… [read]
