March 2019: November 2013

11 November 2013

What are we going to do, no more golf since the weather has gotten colder? Well, we will have to come up with something to do where the weather is warmer.

And we did! This is the month the Crofts and Russells have been waiting for. On the 8^th of November we rode together to Salt Lake City and boarded a Delta flight to Orlando, Florida. That night we stayed at the Marriott Suites. It was late but we were hungry so the group of us went to dinner at Denny’s.

9^th November early we boarded a bus chartered by Fun For Less Tours and off to the Everglades for the day before traveling to Cape Canaveral port. The trip to Wild Florida was an unexpected treat. We scooted over the Everglades in an air boat. Saw the birds, alligators, and beautiful waterways. We walked through an animal collection before we were back on the coach.

At 4:00pm we turned off our cell phones and stepped aboard the Carnival Dream cruise ship. This was the Crofts first cruise and so they invited Dorthy’s two brothers to help with the adjustments. That evening we were underway. Walking along the deck to the smooth sway of ocean travel, breathing warm air, makes one so glad not to be in Idaho in the winter.

10 November early morning we were docked at Cozumel, Mexico. The FFL party were off to the ruins on the island. Dawn, Dennis and I were shuttled to the Sand Dollar Adventure scuba dive school. After 15 minutes of instruction we were in the water. What a mistake with Dawn…..she loved it and as soon as we got home she signed up for scuba lesson so she can dive as a certified scuba diver. That afternoon we spent shopping for boots for my wife. We found them at the same boot shop where Steph got her boots in February and sold by the same clerk. Dennis, Dawn and I ended the day with lunch at Tres Amigos.

11 November after traveling all night we docked at Belize City, Belize. From two miles out to sea all the passengers were tendered in on boats to shore. Once we set foot on the dock Anita from FFL set us up with a tour bus and away we went to Altuna Ha ruin. After a 45 minute ride and lecture of our wonderful guides we arrived and it was hot and humid. Real jungle and real green! This is what it is all about …warm weather and beautiful blue skies walking around ancient Mayan temples. David Christensen read out of Alma as he addressed us atop of a Mayan Pyramid. He was wonderful and funny. Back in Belize City we waited for a boat back to the Dream.

12 November we arrived early morning at Roatan, Honduras. I was up early and walking around the top deck. Today was special for all of us. I was scheduled to dive with Anthony Key’s resort. Dawn and Crofts were off to a local grade school. We have photos of all the activities and memories that we will never forget. I was delighted in the two tank dive on the reefs five minutes from the dock at Anthony Keys. I will never forget the giant groupers, green turtles, parrot fish and the fast moving needle fish. The reef was one of the best I have seen. The coral and fish were so beautiful. It was a perfect day, then back on board to get underway to Costa Maya.

13 November upon arrival at Costa Maya we prepared for an adventure by traveling to Chaccoben ruins. The bus ride was great. The roads were great and in no time we had arrived at the ruins. Our Mayan guide (female) was animated and enthusiastic in handing out information about the ruin. THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE! I was so impressed with the magnitude and beauty of the restored ruins. Everything from “The Tree of Life” to spider monkeys, it was great. Costa Maya is a new town in the middle of the jungle with 1000 inhabitants there to serve the tourists. Totally tourist! There were shops everywhere. Dawn and I found a jewelry shop “Diamonds International” with tanzanite gems reasonably priced. She picked out a pair if sapphire blue ear rings and we had to hurry to make it back to the ship before departing.

14 November was an all-day boat ride back to Cape Canaveral. However, the food, entertainment, exercise room and good company were so enjoyable, the entire trip was such a treat. We had such fun with the Crofts and their family. Another unexpected adventure scheduled by FFL was a brief stop at Cocoa Beach, Florida. We walked along the sand and had lunch on this beautiful beach. It was a restful stop before taking a 2 hour bus ride back to Orlando.

We arrived early evening at the SLC airport where we met up with Crofts two girls who dropped off their car to shuttle us home. We made one stop in Ogden for dinner before our uneventful travel home. Thanks Crofts for taking your car to Salt Lake City. We will never forget this wonderful trip.

There was little time to prepare for Thanksgiving once we arrived home from our trip. Fortunately the weather has been good and we have been able to finish up outside before winter. I was able to get the Christmas lights up before the snow fell.

We had planned on replacing our car this fall. So we dropped in the Honda dealership and found out we could trade it in for a decent return towards a new car. In one day we drove home in a new Honda CRV. Sizing down and yet still retaining the features we desired.

We had to fill in at the temple for the Herbests who subbed for us. It takes a lot of our time but so worth it. Yesterday I met Laron Shumway and Bob Christensen, whom I had known in high school. Also, I met Yale Harker the son of Irene Harker my great aunt. I had not seen him for 50 years. Finally, I met David Fuller from Mackie, ID. He knows Isabel Rosencrance from Shelley, ID. Isabel is the one girl in high school every young man would want to date. Woody and I plan on meeting her in the near future.

Dawn and I getting ready for the summer athletic events in our life, first the three sisters (Holly, Steph and Robyn) are competing in a Boise Ironman in June. Holly will swim 1 ¼ mile, Steph will ride 60 miles and Robyn will run 13 miles. Wow, this is tough. Then Dawn and I are committed to run the Warf to Warf 10K in July with Robyn. We are running the Green Belt all winter just to keep in shape.

Finally, Thanksgiving has come and gone. We ate at Julia’s with Woody, Val, Ben, Julie and Will. We had a wonderful meal an played cards afterwards. Then had to get home early because Julia and Woody are leaving Friday for Bullhead City, AZ to spend the winter, they are leaving us behind. We will meet up with them in January.

That’s it!