Kauai Family Time

Posted on December 20, 2024 by buskbob

The best part of travel is who you share it with.

Kauai 2024. This trip had its start Christmas 2023. With the kids we decided we needed a family trip and what better place than to the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. We were all in agreement and now we needed to let the grandkids know. We planned a big “reveal” on Christmas Eve Day, but we weren’t just going to tell them….they would have to work to find out. First they had to complete a number of challenges….the search for the missing reindeer, collecting snowballs with reindeer hooves on, puzzles, trivia….and with each completed challenge, clues were given and finally the last clue opened the page letting then know we were heading to Hawaii this coming July.

And here is a little video of the reveal:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JLQFlMGsa4M

Now this is a really BIG deal, for one, this will be the first time all of us will be going on a trip together that requires an airplane to get to the destination, and secondly, for Cody and Bradley, they had never been on a jet plane across the ocean. They both have life threatening allergies and being trapped on a plane would be a scary proposition should either of them have a reaction. But all precautions will be made and as scary as it is, mom and dad decide it is time.

So all year we wait and prepare for the trip. Plane tickets are purchased, rental cars rented, bags packed, possible itineraries sketched out. And Jamie found a way to get a few days off of work and will be flying out to join us a few days after we arrive. In total, 11 of us….in Hawaii !!!!

July arrives and we all convened at our our departure gate at SeaTac…excitement is in the air. Alaska Airlines was amazing to work with. They allowed the boys to board early and for Amanda to wipe down the seats and area with disinfectant wipes. They announced over the intercom that there were people on-board with severe nut allergies and to reframe from eating nuts or seeds, and when we landed in Lihue, the boys received flying wings! Nice touch.

Touch down right on time in Lihue. It is always fun to get off the plane in Hawaii. You are immediately greeted with warm, tropical air. It feels good, and smells good. You know you have arrived!!!!

We make our way to pick up the rental cars….one for each family.

We found the perfect rental that comfortably held all 11 of us. It is a double-condo, situated on the cliffs above Kalapaki Beach, by Nawiliwili Bay. Originally these were two separate condos, a mirror image of each other. But the owners opened a wall between the two living rooms making it one large condo. We had two decks, two living rooms, two kitchens, four bedrooms, four bathrooms plus pull-out couches in each living room. Space for all of us to be together, and also to have some privacy. There was ample parking and best of all, the view over Kalapaki Beach. And this beach was perfect for activities….safe and gentle, lots of sand, surfing lessons, stand up paddle boards and outriggers to rent. Good for swimming and splashing in the surf. And several restaurants (Dukes, Italian, Pizza) and a high-end resort are located just beyond the sand….and the biggest hit of all, an ABC store right next door.

One of Heidi’s Famous Coffee Cup Pictures…..our view from the deck.

It was time to explore and enjoy the island…..and we decided early on that there would be times where we would all do things together and there would be times when we would go our separate ways.

One of the group activities we really enjoyed, was the Inner Tube excursion down the old sugar cane canals. Soooo much fun. We all drove to Kauai Backcountry Adventure headquarters, just out of Lihue, checked in, grabbed our gear (helmets and headlamps and gloves) and loaded onto a bus…and away we went…up towards Mt. Waialeale and the start of the irrigation ditches.

When we got there, we had a quick safety talk and then sat our butts down into inner-tubes and away we went…floating, twirling, sometimes crashing into each other. You go through three or four tunnels…all dug by hand and some over a quarter mile long. This is where your headlamp comes into play, and your gloves to push yourself off the walls.

Ready to get our gear….crocs and one flip-flop

At the end we were treated to a picnic lunch, then back into the bus for the return to headquarters. At the end of our time in Kauai, almost everyone agreed that this adventure was the most fun.

Each day was a new adventure and everybody found something they loved to do. Some took surfing lessons, others rented Stand-Up Paddleboards, or rode the waves on an outrigger canoe. Trips were made to waterfalls, to put-put golf, and to beaches.

As a group we went to Anini Beach on the North Shore and found some epic snorkeling….eels, huge turtles, trigger fish, parrot fish, damselfish, boxer fish, unicorn fish, urchins, massive sea cucumbers, brain coral….so much more. The water was so clear and the beach is protected by a long reef just offshore. The beach itself is pretty narrow, but lots of shade. Such a fun day of snorkeling!!!!

One day, Heidi, Jamie, and I went to a real secluded beach and found seals, crabs, and of course, chickens.

and of course when you finish a hard day in the sun….you need refreshments and food!!!

And in the evening….game night!!!!!!

And whenever we are on Kauai, we always find time to meet with our long-time, really good friend, Rachel Furutani. We have known Rachel and her family for over 20 years and it is always a joy to meet and catch up on all the happenings. And Rachel treated us to a HULA PIE…decadent, delicious and oh so filling!!!!

When all the kids and grandkids went home, Heidi and I stayed on the South Shore for a few more days. And mostly we just sat at the beach and shared memories of the past week with family. Definitely a trip to remember!!!!!

The trip had fun times (Fourth of July in Hawaii)

And if there is one picture that capture the essence of our trip, it is this one ….fun, just a whole lot of fun.

St. Augustine

Posted on December 10, 2024 by buskbob

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag

St. Augustine, founded in 1565 by Spanish Colonists, is the oldest continuously inhabited European established settlement in the current United States. Everywhere you go in this seaside town are signs stating the oldest this, or the oldest that….We saw the Oldest House, The Oldest Jail, the Oldest School House…on and on and on. We had been in Orlando attending a conference and we had a couple days after the conference so we decided to rent a car and drive up to walk about St. Augustine.

We parked at one end of town and bought tickets for one of those hop-on, hop-off buses, and away we went. One of our favorite stops was the old fort – Castillo de San Marcos. Of course, it is the oldest masonry fort in the nation and the oldest structure in all of St. Augustine. The Fort was completed in 1695, came under fire for the first time in 1702 from British Forces. The Castillo was used as a military prison during the Revolutionary War, and at one time it held three signers of the Declaration of Independence within its walls. It is in remarkable condition and you can wander all about. Everyday, starting at 10:30 and repeating every hour until the last firing at 3:30, volunteers dressed in period costumes fire off one of the cannons.

Lightner Museum

Originally the Alcazar Hotel, built in 1888 by Standard Oil co-founder Henry Flagler, as a destination resort with a casino, a grand ballroom, bowling alley, huge indoor swimming pool (at the time the world’s largest), health facilities (a wellness center), Turkish Baths, and upscale rooms. Outside were tennis courts and croquet lawns. The Great Depression and the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and changing recreation tastes in the public brought an end to this luxury hotel and it closed its doors for good in 1931.

Today the building is home to the Lightner Museum, showcasing the vast, eclectic collections of Chicago publisher Otto Lightner. Otto wanted a museum as a “collection of collections”. Everything is in here, Victorian Art Glass, mechanical musical instruments, a shrunken head, an Egyptian mummy, toaster collections, baseball card collections, and so, so much more. And you can wander around parts of the old hotel, see where the pool was, the grand ballroom. Interesting fact, Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel (and held the record for quite a while for the fastest crossing) swam in the indoor pool.

Flagler College

Across the street from the Museum is another hotel built by Henry Flagler, the Ponce de Leon Hotel. This beautiful hotel closed in 1967 and is now part of Flagler College, a private, liberal-arts college founded in 1968. Besides being a dry campus, it is famous for the paranormal activity that is said to occur with some frequency. It is said that the mistress of Mr. Flagler, who lived in a room on the fourth floor, killed herself in a fit of despair. Her spirit has been reported roaming the halls. Mr. Flagler’s wife is also reported haunting the college. Mr. Flagler was able to have her diagnosed as insane, so he could then divorce her to be with his mistress. She spent her life in an insane asylum. And lastly, Mr. Flagler himself is said to traipse around the halls. When he died, his body was put on display in the lobby of the hotel and his spirit now keeps watch over his beloved hotel. We didn’t see any ghosts while we were there, just a beautiful building.

Lincolnville

Perhaps the most interesting time we had was visiting the Lincolnville Neighborhood just a little ways behind the Alcazar Hotel. Back in the late 1800’s, this neighborhood began as a “freeman” community, a place where emancipated slaves came to live. The neighborhood grew and thrived with churches, school, stores built. In the 1960’s, Lincolnville attracted nationwide attention for the roll it played in the civil rights movement. Demonstrations were held here. Martin Luther King Jr. stayed here numerous times. He was once arrested at a nearby Monson Motor Hotel when he stopped in to order lunch. The white owner, James Brock, refused to serve him and called the police to arrest Mr. King for trespassing. At a later date, James Brock poured acid into the swimming pool when black and white protesters jumped into the pool. All through this neighborhood are old homes with plaques describing the history. Quite the neighborhood.

And in this neighborhood we found our favorite little cafe, THE BLUE HEN…where Heidi, who happens to LOVE biscuits and gravy, found the very best here at the Blue Hen. And that is saying something for Heidi has tried buscuits and gravy all over the place.

Some other sights we saw…

The Old Senator…a live oak more than 600 years old

After spending a most enjoyable day at this old town, we headed to Cocoa Beach for a quick shopping trip at Ron Jon Surf shop and dinner at Coconuts on the Beach.

December Sun in Todos Santos….and Turtles

Posted on January 22, 2024 by buskbob

Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.
-Matsu Basho

Once again, we escaped the cold, the grey, the snow of Eastern Washington, and made our annual pilgrimage to Todos Santos. Two week respite of sun, warmth, and good food. Time to forget about the stress of work and just veg for a bit.

Turtles

We have a beach we like to call our own, just a few miles north of town. We like it as we are usually the only ones there. Usually we have nothing but sun drenched sand just waiting for us to lay down our towel, plant the umbrella and unfold the chairs, but today we found a beach being pounded by huge waves. It was hard to find even a small spot of dry sand. But find a spot we did, it looked safe, we set up and as the sun was shining we thought we’d wait a bit to see if the tide was going out and perhaps the waves would subside. No sooner had we sat down that we spied a baby turtle trying to make it’s way to the surf. The cutest little thing. The waves though were so fierce the turtle wasn’t able to make any headway and was being beaten back further and further. And then we saw further up the beach more turtles…some helpless on their backs, others in danger of being eaten by a flock of opportunist seagulls, and others tossed so far up the beach they were almost into the scrub brush. It appeared a nest of turtles had just hatched and these baby turtles were desperately trying to make their way to the waves. But with the conditions as they were, all were in danger of dying, so we got to work. Heidi was the spotter, and I scooped up the sand under the turtle and carried it to the surf, timing my release with the outgoing wave. One after another we watched our little hatchlings make their way into the ocean. A few we thought on the verge of death, found on their backs drying out in the sun, perked up as soon as the water hit them. The instinct in them to pursue the open water is amazing. We counted 27 turtles we saved. We felt like heros!!!!!

Go Little Guy!!! Go!!!

So Cute!!!!

While we busied ourselves saving the turtles, we failed to notice the tide was rising, the surf was coming up over the sand berm and washing inland. Our beach towels, chairs, and cooler were all washed inland. And scarier yet, our car was now surrounded by several inches of sea water. Quick as can be, we collected our beach gear, hopped into the car and escaped before becoming part of the ocean. But we had huge grins on our faces knowing 27 turtles made it to sea.

I think I’ll let some of our pictures do the rest of the talking on this posting.

Adios, Todos Santos….until next year!!!!

Sipping Our Way Through Okanagan BC Wine Country

Posted on January 21, 2024 by buskbob

“Wine is the most civilized thing in the world.” — Ernest Hemingway.

A few years ago, on a whim, we decided to take a drive north of the border to explore the wine country in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. “Just for the day”, we said, “to see what it is like.” Once we crossed the border, our first destination was Moon Curser Vineyards – a choice feuled by both the intriguing name and the captivating story they shared. During the Gold Rush days, unscrupulous gold-smuggling miners would cross the border, all under the cover of night, trying to avoid custom agents at all cost. Often, the light of the moon would foil their plans, shedding light onto their surreptitious travels and activities….Curse you moon!!!!! Besides their captivating narrative, we found we also loved the wine and the breathtaking view down to the lake.

“Let’s keep exploring!”…. off to nearby Nk’ Mip Cellars (pronounced “In Ka Meep”), the first indigenous owned winery in all of North America. The wine here was also good…so let’s try another….backtracked to Young and Wyse Collections for their Cab Sauv, then to Bordertown Vineyards and Estate Winery, located right off the highway. As the day unfolded, our enjoyment surpassed expectations, prompting us to extend our adventure into the night. A quick visit to the local grocery store for toothbrushes (we hadn’t planned to spend the night so we didn’t pack anything), followed by a check-in at the Nk’ Mip Resort (a sprawling hotel and casino), a delightful dinner at their restaurant, and we finally called it a night. Next morning bright and early we zipped back home in time for Heidi to be at work by 7:30 am, and made a vow to return soon.

And return we have, once or twice a year, always finding new wineries and places to stay and eat. We truly love this unique wine growing region of British Columbia. Similar to Wenatchee and Chelan, once known for growing apples, the Canadian Okanagan was world renowned for growing peaches. In both locations, grapes have surpassed the tree fruits as the predominant agriculture crop, and wineries are popping up all over the place.

Oliver

Just north of Osoyoos, is the town of Oliver. Oliver is home to over 40 wineries and calls itself ‘The Wine Capital of Canada’, and rightly so. Grapes grown here on the Golden Mile Bench enjoy a warm climate and it’s location on the west side of the valley gets morning, rather than afternoon sunshine, making it a little cooler than the Osoyoos area just south.

We found the greatest little villas here to stay, Hester Creek Villas. It is our preferred spot to stay. There are only 6 villas, each with a commanding view of the valley below. The rooms are exquisitely decorated, you are greeted with a complimentary bottle of Hester Creek wine, and each morning a scrumptious breakfast is brought to your room….hard to beat. They book up months in advance so you must plan ahead. Plus the winery at Hester Creek is amazing and their on-site restaurant, Terrafina, serves up delicious meals.

Some of our favorite Oliver Wineries:

VinAmité Cellars- A small family-owned winery right off the main highway. The first time we stopped here we sat on their sunny back deck, sipping some excellent viognier, gazing at the vineyard below. Over time we have become friends with the servers and regularly trade wines.

Nice little charcuterie plate with local cheeses, meat, jam, and mustard

District Wine Village – On the North Edge of town is the District Wine Village. It was built with a local community mindset, to celebrate artisan production and craftmanship. Currently there are 12 small boutique wineries nestled around a center stage (used for ice skating in the winter). We have found several wineries here we really like. (Apricus, Winemakers CUT, and Gneiss)

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery – Another winery with a great story. In 1980, the Burrowing Owl was declared extinct in the BC Province. Since 2002, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery has donated over one million dollars toward the captive breeding program, and now the numbers of Burrowing Owls have continued to grow. Each year approximately 50 breeding pairs of yearling owls are released into the wild….quite a success!!!! And they make great wine here, plus they also have villas (we are staying in one later this year) and on on-site restaurant, The Sonora Room.

Stone Boat Pinot House – Another family owned winery that specializes in Pinot Noir…really delicious Pinot Noir. And one of the servers, Ove, entertains us with his tales and stories.

Others we have visited and enjoy: Maverick Estate Winery, Church and State Wines, French Door Winery (really great Rose), Intersection Estate Winery, Nostalgia Wines Inc.(Formerly Oliver Twist), River Stone Estate Winery, Rust Wine Co., Platinum Bench Winery (and they make fantastic artisan bread), and Tinhorn Creek Winery (they have an amazing restaurant here, Miradoro)

We also visited Silver Sage Winery, Phantom Creek Estate (a little too pretentious for us), Road 13 Vineyards, Red Horses Vineyards, Kismet Estate Winery, Jackson Triggs Okanagan Estate, Covert Farms Family Estate Winery, and Black Hills Estate Winery. So we still have about 20 more to visit!!!!

Okanagan Falls (OK Falls)

North of Oliver, just as you pass Vaseux Lake, you take a right on Oliver Ranch Road and head up to a little valley full of vineyards and wineries. We happened upon this area just by chance and discovered several wineries we really enjoy. Bonamici Cellars is a small winery owned by two families. Noble Ridge Vineyard and Winery boasts an amazing view down to the lake and they have a picnic area where you can enjoy a picnic lunch and sips. Our favorite in the area is Stag’s Hollow Winery where two female winemakers put out some excellent Albariño and Syrah. We stopped for lunch at a winery on the other side of the valley, See Ya Later Ranch.

Naramata

Probably our favorite area to visit is the Naramata Bench. Set up above beautiful Lake Okanagan, this area sports perfect soil conditions for growing about 50 different grape varieties. The vineyards cling to the hillsides and are blessed with long days of sunshine. We have found some of our favorite wineries here.

Black Widow Winery – Everytime we would drive past this winery, Heidi would say, “No, I don’t want to stop there, I hate spiders.” But we kept hearing how good their wine was, so we overcame our arachnophobia and made our way into this amazing winery. The recommendations were spot-on, for the wine is delicious and well made, and the staff is so knowledgeable and friendly. We now can say we love Black Widow!!!!

Marichel – Excellent Syrah here, not the big, bold Syrah you find down in Walla Walla or Red Mountain, more of a medium-bodied temperate Syrah, but still with that slight peppery taste. The small little porch is a comfy spot to sip and take in the stunning view down to the lake.

On the Deck at Marichel Winery…we always get this corner table.

Lake Breeze Winery – We always stop at Lake Breeze, for their delicate wines but also to eat at THE PATIO, their on-site restaurant. The tables are shaded by trees and vines, the food is sooooo good, all farm to table, locally sourced. Once seated you just don’t want to ever leave!!!

Upper Bench Winery and Creamery – We come for the wine, but also for their cheese, and in the summer, for their wood fired oven pizza!!!! Pizza and Pinot Noir, such a good combination!!!

Other wineries we have visited and just love:

Bench 1775, Deep Roots, Hillside Winery and Bistro, La Frenz Estate Winery, Lang Vineyards, Poplar Grove Winery, Little Engine Wines, Roche Wines, Terra Vista Winery, Serendipity Winery, Tightrope Winery, Nichol Vineyards, Therapy WInery, Van Westen Vineyards. And we still have a few more to visit!!!

When we stay in Naramata, our choice of accommodation is Villa Magnolia, three tastefully decorated rooms overlooking the deep blue waters of Lake Okanagan.

Summerland

Each time we go, we tend to venture further and further, trying out new areas, new wineries. Last trip we made it to Summerland, on the west side of Lake Okanagan, pretty much right across the lake from Villa Magnolia. We enjoyed the wine at 8th Generation Winery, had the patio all to ourselves. Ventured up into the hillsides above Summerland to visit Silkscarf Winery, Lunessence Winery and Vineyards and Thornhaven Estate Winery. Had delicious Pizza and Sauv. Blanc at Dirty Laundry Vineyards.

We’ll be back again this year, ready to try out some of our favorites and explore new spots….heck, perhaps we’ll venture further north to try the whites in the Peachland and Kelowna area. Wine tasting is just a fun way to spend time together and explore beautiful spots in this world.

Malaysia Adventure…..What did we learn?

Posted on July 9, 2017 by buskbob

Well, our Malaysia Adventure is over. Quite an adventure it was, filled with many highs and unfortunately some lows. But through it all we have come away stronger and wiser.

We learned that people are the same all over the world. They want to love and be loved. They want happiness and joy, a roof over their heads, food in their bellies, and purpose.

We learned when you think about going to war that the people who will be hurt are the same ones you shared a beer with at the local tavern, or the little children you saw playing in the park, or the lovers stealing a kiss on the metro. Suddenly everything is personal. When you travel, you develop a love for other cultures, religions and lifestyles and you fully understand that people are our greatest treasures. We believe if more people traveled, there would be more peace on this planet of ours.

We gained friendships that now span the globe and found out some old friendships and relationships were not as strong as we thought. We learned that language is not a barrier to friendship and that kindness, empathy and understanding are more important than words.

We learned to embrace diversity and celebrate other cultures and customs. Ours is not the end-all, be-all. There is so much to learn from others.

We learned the world is a lot smaller than we thought.

We gained in confidence….we can drive on the left side of the road, navigate any airport, bus system, or subway system in the world, and order off a menu with nary a word in English. We can gather necessary visas, start up a bank account, lease an apartment, secure a phone plan, and find food for the kitchen. The world is not a scary place.

We learned to adapt. Travel and living in another country is fraught with the unexpected. You learn to go with the flow, you learn to substitute, to do without, to embrace new ways of thinking and doing things. What worked for you at home may not work in your new environment.

We learned monkeys are not our favourite animal and that durian will never be served in our home. We learned to take our shoes off at the door and business class is sometimes worth the investment. We learned to always carry some tissue with you for it is as handy as duct tape.

While our Malaysia adventure may have come to an end, our travel will continue. As such, we have decided to continue to blog. So our “Malaysia Adventure” continues. We hope you come along for the ride…..first stop, TURKEY!!!!!

Our Adventures

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

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