Winter 2016-2017




Well, it's been awhile, but I need to update everyone on our life.  After Bella Coola, we went back to Star Valley until everyone started leaving in the middle of September.  Left on Oct 1, but they had one week of bad cold weather, then was beautiful.  We'll see if we stay later next year.  Had played pickleball and then dry camped at Palisades Reservoir before we left.  On the way home, we visited the Valley of the Fire State Park in Nevada.  Had driven by many times, but finally stopped and stayed for a few nights.  Was still hot, but they have electricity so we had air conditioning. 

Back in Red rock country and dessert.
Yawning Indian and Bob

Looks alot like parts of the Wave






Then on to Happy Trails.  We arrived around Oct. 5th and started working  getting everything in the house from the rig.  Finally settled in.  Pickleball, Pickleball and more Pickleball.  with the normal doctor appointments for check ups.  Luckily no problems to take care of. 

On Nov 8th we went down to Los Cabo San Lucas with friends John Gullo, Kim Chase, and Phil and Karen Wisner.  Bob and I went Zip lining (Great)  and on a Snorkel trip that turned out to be a booze cruise.(wasn't what we wanted.)  But the rest of the  Great fun.

Greetings at Airport from Kim and John

View from Condo, Pool on Patio outside our bedroom
Another view from Condo

Wild Canyon Zipline  Lines go from one side of canyon to the other

Just one of the great sunsets.

Dinner with friends 
Life is a beach!



My gorgeous man





 One great day for fishing.  Thanks John for the trip.
Sunrise!

Kim's mai-mai


My Mai-mai, a little smaller

The one that got away was probably the largest, a 45 minute fight that the fish won.
 

Our condo was up in the hills and beautiful
I forgot to mention that we even played some pickleball in Cabo.  One day, the guys went to pickleball and the girls tried paddleboarding.  Not me, I wasn't ready to trust my knees.  But Kim and Karen tried, but alas, too much wind and surf to make it to standing position, but a good try, now ready for lunch and drinks.
Great trip with good friends.

Back home to Happy Trails.  We had friends over for Thanksgiving with the Standard Fare.  Nan and Kath, Boomer, John and Pat and us.  Good food, fun games and lots of drinks.  More friends came over later to play cards.  Kath and Nan took home the money.

Then on Dec. 3rd, we headed out to Barbados.This time just the 2 of us.  Never had been to this island.  Our accommodations were not near as fancy as in Cabo, but nice and friendly.  It was about a mile walking to the beach.

All Season Resort in Barbados

On way to Beach 1st day


Beach

 Took a tour of the island from the Harrison Cave, the Rain Forest, and Bathsheba.

Harrison Cave was one of the many caves on the island that is open to the public.  We rode a tram into the cave.  It is still a live cave meaning that the stalactites and  stalagmites are still growing.


From there to Welchman's Hell Gully.  This was a rainforest that we could possibly see the islands' monkeys feeding.  No such luck, but beautiful trees, plants and roosters.



Then on to Bathsheba.  Mineral pools and surf area.  No one surfing, but really beautiful.
  Finished with the best of all, Lunch at Pirates Cove and swimming with the Sea Turtles



 
Most of the rest of the week was walking the beach and finding a spot to sit, snorkel, and watch for more turtles.  Great time and relaxing.  There was a pretty good breeze and some shifting of the sands while we were there, therefore, most of the pictures were not really clear, but great for memories.

On the last day there, we decided to tour by public transportation and go to the north part of the island and visit the Flower caves.  This is a cave carved by water where the sea anemones flower.  Because of the amount of rain causing fresh water in the cave, all the sea anemones had died and had not been replaced.  The bus ride was interesting and the caves were great.  Also, the small bar restaurant there was great. Bob took go pro of the bus ride, narrow streets big bus.





This was also a great trip, a place we would go back to. But all good times must end in one place and start in another.

Back to Happy Trails and holiday celebrations.  W had friends over for Christmas ham and brisket. 
Harolyn and Don, Geoff and Nancy, Pat and John, and Don Banks whose woman had to fly to be with her sick mother.  Of course, card games for all.

Now we're down to Bob's swimming 3 days a week, massages every 2 weeks, and pickleball and walking for me.  3 to 5 miles walking everyday, depending on how hard the play is.  Or we hike.

Took a short  break in the daily routine to visit Laughlin and do a little gambling with Harolyn and Don, Dennis and Bunny and us.  Good food and too too much to drink. Great time again with friends.

Planning our next trip to New Zealand, North and South Island coming up on Feb. 10th. More to follow.


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