3950 miles in 63 hours

Drive is finally over and we are now at home2 for the winter. Got in around 8 p.m. on the 27Th, unloaded the car and started unpacking. Next morning left for coffee at Starbucks and ran into Todd at the stop sign, he was stopping by for a visit before he left town on business. Spent a large part of the day grocery shopping (so we don't have to Starbuck it again for awhile:( and the rest working around the house. Doug has a problem going on with his left knee and is in quite a lot of pain. Pharmacist recommended Aleve, keeping it iced and a pain patch at night and it seems to be getting a little better. He's not limping as much and says it feels better.

Yesterday Adam stopped by for a visit and said he is thinking about talking with the Navy recruiter again and asked his grandfather to maybe go with him.

Amber was by for dinner and got us all caught up on the wedding plans. Find it hard to believe that the little girl who used to sleep on her granddads chest is all grown up and getting married.

The plan for this winter is to remodel the flower beds and lay a walkway in front of the house. Temperatures have been in the 80's since arriving and we're loving every minute of it.

Two days

Where to start, the last two days have been long and knuckle breaking. Rain, more rain, tornadoes, and more rain.



Yesterday left Jim and Claire's very early and went looking for Starbucks, couldn't find them so ended up with Caribou coffee. Not quite as good. Down the road we go, into the wind and rain and that was the way it was most of the day. Pulled into Effington, IL for the night and had a spaghetti dinner the early night. Up the next morning and on the road by 8 a.m..



All day we again fought the wind and rain, except this time we were watching the tornado warnings. Was going to stop in Nashville and take a tour but when you can't see your hand in front of your face..... All radio channels cancelled their programs and just did the weather. Doug was following along with the map and we were staying just behind the worst of it. Couldn't really believe it as at times, especially when the trucks blew by, we would just be blinded. Hoped to be further down the road tonight but stopped in Alexander City, Ala.

With luck will be home2 tomorrow.

Rain

Saturday left Canada and headed for Prior Lake, Mn and the week end with Jim, Claire and the boys. Was at customs by 8:15 and didn't leave until almost 8:30. Custom agent wanted to know if we were driving a rental, said no, he checked our trunk, took passports into building and gone a LONG time. Doug said to keep watching the garage in front of us and if the door opened we were going in for the big check, luckily he came back and returned our passports and away we went. Stopped in Minot, N.D. for Starbucks and gas then headed out. Thank goodness Peggy packed us a lunch so we didn't have to stop for lunch as Mn is 600 miles down the road. Ran into bad weather late in the afternoon, it rained so hard we could only see the front end of the car. Arrived around 6:30, had dinner and then a nice walk around the neighborhood. Watched the movie Hangover and then time for bed.

Sunday has been a very relaxing day. Slept until 9 a.m. ,which is late for us, then up for coffee at Starbucks. Back home we had Belgium waffles then left and drove to a park for a three mile walk. Since it has been a wintery day Claire made Chili and Jim made Sliders and we have been relaxing, watching football and just taking it easy. Tomorrow we will head out early and finish our drive to Sarasota, hoping to arrive on the 28Th.

Still in Canada

Today (Friday) is the first really nice day we've had since arriving in Canada. Hard to believe but a warm 43 F, sun shining and no wind. Tuesday we visited with Aunt Joyce and Cousin Joyce in the afternoon and that evening out to Cousin Joyce and Terry's. We've always had a hard time finding their farm as no street is marked out in the country and traveling at night made it even worse. Got lost, of course, and after an hour told Doug we had 10 minutes to find their farm or I would be turning back towards town. Finally found them and they wanted to know if we had been lost and I told them to "quit Moving" their home. Had a fun visit and I smarted up on the way back to town and wrote down the mileage on every street with the right and left turns, will find out next spring if it works.

Wednesday we had coffee with the Aunts Joyce and Doreen. Was such a good visit we've scheduled another for today, wine will be the drink of choice at this meeting. That evening had a get together at cousin Glenn and Pauline's home with cousins Alan, Diane, Barb and Dick. We've really enjoyed getting to know the cousins better the last few years. Glenn and Pauline won't be able to come to Florida this winter for a visit as they are expecting their next grandchild in January. Alan and Diane will be down so hope to get together with them occasionally as they explore the state.

Yesterday drove to Regina so Peggy could have her check up with the cardiologist. She had a good report and doesn't have to return again for a year. It was a long day of driving, three hours each way. We stopped in Estevan for shopping and dinner then home for coffee and cake with Gary and Merle. Bed at 11:30 and slept until 9 this morning, must have been tired :)

Canada

Another long day of driving, up at six on the road by 7:30 and arrived here before six. 600 plus miles with several construction areas to slow us down. We were to go with Peggy and Cecil to a Falls Dinner last night but got in too late. Peggy had dinner waiting for us ham, scalloped potatoes, and butternut squash.

Writing from the school library so no pictures until we get back down into the states.

Weather here in Carnduff is windy and cold brrrrrr. The sky is clear and it is beautiful a lovely fall day.

Poor Maggie, at least her leg is starting to feel better.

Well here it starts

First day and it was a long one 670 miles in nine hours. Went to Renton yesterday for Maya's birthday and what a party it was, nine little girls and I had forgotten how noisey we "ladies" can be. What fun everyone had, carving pumpkins,eating, singing songs, eating, presents, eating... Lots of good food as you can tell.

Left this morning from Renton and arrived in Bozeman, Mt around 7 p.m.

The travel is beautiful this time of year, the trees are turning. We live in a beautiful part of the world and I feel very blessed to be able to enjoy all of it.

Pictures will follow as soon as Doug gets them loaded.

Summer coming to a close

Been so long since I wrote on my blog not sure I remember how to do it but will give a try.

Little over a month before we close the Richland home1 and travel to Sarasota home2. Got most everything finished we planned on here so feel good about that. the only project that didn't get finished was the fish pond, our fish will extend their vacation next door until next spring. So very thankful the neighbors have a pond and willing to "pond" all our fish. Doug and I had decided to deepen our pond this summer and unfortunately while doing so the three pillars fell over (thank heavens Doug had gotten out of the pond as the biggest weighs 3200 lbs). Found a crane company that was able to come in, reach over the house, pick them up and reset them for us. It was a very involved process as we had another company come in at the same time to lay the felt and liner then cement the pillars in. We'll leave the laying of the rest of the liner and putting in the waterfall until next spring, that way we can enjoy the pond all summer.

Days Three, Four, and Five

Day Three we drove to Maude, TX and spent the afternoon and night with Verl and Lynda. We had a good visit and was up early in the morning and on the road. Day Three we drove to Exeter, MO and spent the afternoon visiting with my Aunt Phyllis and two cousins, it has been over twenty years since the last time we were together. Continuing our trip North spending the night (Day five) in Watertown, S.D. and hope to arrive in Carnduff, Sask., Canada tomorrow afternoon.

Day two....450 miles

The day started with an hour in the exercise room, breakfast, into the car and off we went. While driving we got out the National Park booklet and found we would be about 100 miles from the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum so decided to take a side trip. What history!!! Also spent a short time at the Tuskegee University and it is a beautiful campus but a little run down, of course it is very very old.

We drove as far as Greenwood, MS and here will spend the night. Hope to be in Maude, TX tomorrow to spend the day with Verl and Lynda.

Day One...420 miles

Had a great end of season party last night with all the family. Will miss them terribly but looking forward to seeing Bryan and his family.
Got up early, finished packing and putting the house in shape and was on the road by 9:30a.m. The drive was very nice until we got North of Tampa and for several miles it was stop and go, took a half hour to drive 7 miles at one point. In three hours we only put 115 miles on the car. At this time we decided to leave HWY 75 and take a secondary road which was slow but faster than the highway. We finally got into Alabama and spending the night in Dothan.

Parintins, Brazil Feb 15

Parintins lies on the right bank of the Amazon on the island called Tupinambaranaa. This is the largest group of fluvial islands in the world. Parintins was founded in 1793 and has few landmarks or monuments, the people are what make it so special. In June they celebrate the Festival Folclorico which is second only to the Carnival in Rio de Janiero in numbers of attendees. The festival is called Boi-Bumba and tells the story of a scared ox which is killed because a farm workers pregnant wife has a craving for ox tongue. The townpeople are so upset that St John the Baptist brings the ox back to life. The Festival is a competition between two teams, the red and the blue, to see who can tell the story in the most spectacular way. Cocoa Cola sponsors the Festival and this is the only place in the world where you will see the sign in Blue

Manaus, Brazil

Valentine's Day Feb. 14, '10

Manaus is one of the largest cities in Brazil and until recently could only be reached by boat or plane. There are roads that connect with the rest of Brazil now but they are often closed in the rainy season.

Our ship is the Royal Princess, 355 cabins, 11 decks. A smaller cruise ship that is just right for the Amazon River.

Doug and I decide to take an excursion called Meeting of the Waters. This is where the brown Rio Solimoes meets the black Rio Negro and what a sight it is. The trip was combined with a journey to Lake January to see the meter-wide Victoria Regia water lilies. The water levels of the rivers can change up to 40 feet between the rainy and dry seasons. Homes are built on stilts or on balsa wood that float with the levels.

Back on board the ship sails at 7:30 p.m. Dinner the first night is open seating and we will meet our table mates tomorrow evening. Learn that of the 615 people on board almost 200 are doing what is known as a back-to-back, meaning they have been on board two weeks already and doing the return to Ft Lauderdale. Realize after dinner that with so little sleep the past two nights we are too tired to go to the welcome show that night. Couple glasses of wine, the rocking of the ship and we will sleep without stirring until the morning.

Amazon River Pre Cruise

Day one...Feb 12 '10



What a beautiful day, sun is shining, Todd and Shannon coming to drive us to Miami, but first Todd has to go in for a MRI on his left hip. The drive is very pleasant and we arrive in time to have a nice lunch at Tropical Pollo and then check in to The Miami Airport Hilton. Since we live in FL during the winter Doug has tried to get us out of this reservation but it is a package deal with the charter company that is flying us to Mansus, Brazil ... so here we are at the Hilton. Todd and Shannon leave us and they go on to Ft Lauderdale to visit with friends in their old neighborhood. After going to our room to leave our carry on bags we take a walk around the grounds, stop, have a drink at the outdoor bar and meet two couples that are on the cruise also. After a nice visit we go to the room for a nap before leaving for the airport at 10:00 p.m. From here on things get "interesting" for a few days. The 10 p.m. bus is loaded so we agree to take the 10:15 and find the couples from the bar also on this bus. We arrive at the airport at 10:30 and at checking find that they have us sitting in center seats, one behind the other. Doug tells them this won't do so they work their computers and get us two seats together. Arriving at Gate 17 we notice that our flight is "on time" but all the flights around us are several hours late, at 11:30 when we are to be boarding the plane the time changes to new departure time....1 a.m. Then to 2 a.m. Finally they make an announcement, flight has been cancelled as the plane is in Atlanta, Georgia and needs to be DE-iced but since this is a charter they have to wait for Delta to de-ice their planes so they will send us back to the hotel. We're informed that the hotel is sending buses for us, after 15 minutes our new friends form the bar ask us if we want to share a taxi to the hotel as they heard that no buses were coming. It is a mass exodus for the taxi stand where the airport has called in all available taxis. Everyone gets in line and things move along smoothly for several minutes until.......you guessed it someone at the back of the line hijacks a taxi then everyone jumps in the road hailing down the taxis. We were three groups from the front of the line at this time and the people in front of us were upset and the taxi dispatcher was trying so hard to make the taxis bypass the people and come up front without much success. We finally get back to the hotel, check back into our rooms, told to come down at 10 a.m. for a bus back to the airport. 10 a.m. we come down and are told no it will now be 1 p.m. After breakfast learn that the Atlanta airport had been closed all day and just opened back up for business that morning. We finally get to the airport at 10 p.m. wait around to leave at 12:50 a.m., exactly 24 hours after we were to leave originally.
Finally we arrive in Mansus and see a Delta plane has arrived first, also on the tarmac is an ambulance with their lights flashing. The crew informs us that Delta passengers are going through customs 50 at a time and we will have to wait on the plane until they have all deplaned and gone through customs. At this time medical personal come on board and check out a passenger who had been having chest/breathing problems. He convinces them he is okay and it is time for us to deplane. Do they let us off 50 at a time? No, everyone(350 people) off at once and into a room that is the size of our front room (okay a little bigger but not much)that has a turntable they can put maybe 50-75 pieces of luggage. People start taking the luggage off and placing it everywhere there is an open space so by the time Doug and I get there he has a hunting job tracking down our bags. By now all luggage is off the plane so Doug starts putting it back on the conveyor belt, finds ours and we start forward to customs. We had filled out custom forms on the plane but find out they need one more and it is passed out to everyone where we find that it is in Portuguese and no one can read it, guess work filling it out but do okay and finally pass through customs. Meet outside by the Princess people and bused to the cruise ship. We are informed that the ship will not leave at 6 p.m. as planned but later so the passengers that had side trips planned would be able to re-schedule them. It is now Valentine's Day and everything is turning around to be a beautiful day.