Friday, September 14, 2012
Refugees
We took a boat trip from one end of lake Chelan to the other. A 100 mile round trip.
When we returned that afternoon the wildfires near us had spread and the lake valley was filling with smoke. We stopped at the ranger station and found that the main highway was closed.
We decided to become refugees and flee the area. Packing the car and including a picnic lunch we set off the following morning for the trek across the Cascades north of the fires. Unlike most of history's refugees we stopped several times to enjoy the view and snap a few pictures - shared below:
Monday, September 10, 2012
Across the Cascades
We traveled back to the mainland yesterday and crossed the Cascades to Lake Chelan in central Washington.
During the weekend a lightening storm started 80 fires. We saw several of them on the way in and can see a couple in the mountains around the lake.
Lake Chelan is about a mile wide and 50 miles long. We are staying at aunt Gene's waterfront condo a few miles up from the south side of the lake.
Deception Pass with a very strong current you can see in the water:
Wildfire smoke south and west that we can see from the condo:
During the weekend a lightening storm started 80 fires. We saw several of them on the way in and can see a couple in the mountains around the lake.
Lake Chelan is about a mile wide and 50 miles long. We are staying at aunt Gene's waterfront condo a few miles up from the south side of the lake.
Deception Pass with a very strong current you can see in the water:
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Gene White
We are on Whidbey Island visiting my aunt Gene. A remarkable woman who, although pushing 90 years old is still working full time as president of the Global Child Nutrition Foundation. http://www.gcnf.org/about/leadership/
She testifies before committees of Congress, has traveled, just this year, to Africa twice and China 3 times setting up school nutrition programs, and advises the UN on child nutrition matters.
It is humbling to have an internationally recognized nutrition expert bake me a cherry pie.
De Anne and I are providing a little help in organizing and streamlining the house before we all head off into the Cascade mountains for a week at her condo on the shores of lake Chelan.
A rare moment of rest - for her - not me.
The way on and off the island.
She testifies before committees of Congress, has traveled, just this year, to Africa twice and China 3 times setting up school nutrition programs, and advises the UN on child nutrition matters.
It is humbling to have an internationally recognized nutrition expert bake me a cherry pie.
De Anne and I are providing a little help in organizing and streamlining the house before we all head off into the Cascade mountains for a week at her condo on the shores of lake Chelan.
A rare moment of rest - for her - not me.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Whidbey Island
Between breakfast and lunch we saw the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. Our flight left Fort Lauderdale at dawn and by chasing the sunrise and the clock we arrived in Seattle at 11:00 am.
After a train ride and two buses we watched the North American land mass fade.
Ok.... It did not totally fade away since we are on an island just across the Sound, but we are between North America and Asia with a breathtaking view from the porch.
After a train ride and two buses we watched the North American land mass fade.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Breaking the Silence
It's been over two months since we returned from Ecuador and the travel bug has bitten again. The next trip starts a week from today and will be our longest yet. I am not looking forward to a six and a half hour plane flight; however, when you see the pictures from the 2 places we will be visiting I don't expect I'll get much sympathy.
De Anne and I agreed that a return to Ecuador was a must, so we will go back to Manta for two months starting in mid-October. Being ever so frugal we realized the per day cost of the flight would be half as much by staying twice as long.
Tune in again next week......
De Anne and I agreed that a return to Ecuador was a must, so we will go back to Manta for two months starting in mid-October. Being ever so frugal we realized the per day cost of the flight would be half as much by staying twice as long.
Tune in again next week......
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Ecuador wrap up
Our bus trip from Manta to Guayaquil was very relaxed. Linda booked us on a different bus line. The seats were wide, plush, and had adjustable foot rests. No Kung fu movies, just quiet background music.
The Guayaquil bus station is simply huge. After a bit of wandering we found the taxi stand. It was bedlam. Far too many people trying for too few taxis. We watched for a couple minutes trying to discern the pattern for successfully getting a cab. After losing out on the first few cabs, and with De Anne growing frustrated, I got busy. Stepping into the street I elbowed a local away from a cab not yet fully stopped and yelled inside "areoporto". "Si" was the reply.
The bus station is next to the airport. A walkway of a few hundred feet could connect the two terminals. Instead, walls prevent walking. Even going to the street and taking sidewalks is about a mile trip. That is one walk that should not be attempted after dark in Guayaquil by locals - let alone gringos.
The streets are set up with medians and a jumble of one-ways so that the cab ride between terminals is 15 minutes and about 5 miles. It was an exciting ride. As in Manta, and indeed all Latin America, the main driving rule is " There are no rules". As Linda told us and we observed it is a game of chicken combined with bumper cars. Grateful for my life, I tipped the driver a dollar. De Anne chided me for ruining the market for future Americans, but I retorted that he is now more inclined to pick up Americans in the future and they won't have to fight so hard for a cab. That's my story and I am sticking to it.
We arrived in Miami at 5:30 am and spent over an hour standing in line at passport control. After checking into three 3rd world countries in the past year and never spending more than 10 minutes for clearance it is embarassing to check back into the USA and be herded in long lines every time. We use the Citizens line. It is worse in the lines for foreign people.
Now, back in the land of high speed internet here are a few extra pictures:
Shy cat doesn't want it's face in pictures
The Point - name self-evident.
Woman fishing at the point
Blue footed boobie at the point
Tidal pools
Frigate bird
The birds show where the fish are
Linda's dogs join the beach walk
The Guayaquil bus station is simply huge. After a bit of wandering we found the taxi stand. It was bedlam. Far too many people trying for too few taxis. We watched for a couple minutes trying to discern the pattern for successfully getting a cab. After losing out on the first few cabs, and with De Anne growing frustrated, I got busy. Stepping into the street I elbowed a local away from a cab not yet fully stopped and yelled inside "areoporto". "Si" was the reply.
The bus station is next to the airport. A walkway of a few hundred feet could connect the two terminals. Instead, walls prevent walking. Even going to the street and taking sidewalks is about a mile trip. That is one walk that should not be attempted after dark in Guayaquil by locals - let alone gringos.
The streets are set up with medians and a jumble of one-ways so that the cab ride between terminals is 15 minutes and about 5 miles. It was an exciting ride. As in Manta, and indeed all Latin America, the main driving rule is " There are no rules". As Linda told us and we observed it is a game of chicken combined with bumper cars. Grateful for my life, I tipped the driver a dollar. De Anne chided me for ruining the market for future Americans, but I retorted that he is now more inclined to pick up Americans in the future and they won't have to fight so hard for a cab. That's my story and I am sticking to it.
We arrived in Miami at 5:30 am and spent over an hour standing in line at passport control. After checking into three 3rd world countries in the past year and never spending more than 10 minutes for clearance it is embarassing to check back into the USA and be herded in long lines every time. We use the Citizens line. It is worse in the lines for foreign people.
Now, back in the land of high speed internet here are a few extra pictures:
Shy cat doesn't want it's face in pictures
The Point - name self-evident.
Woman fishing at the point
Blue footed boobie at the point
Tidal pools
Frigate bird
The birds show where the fish are
Linda's dogs join the beach walk
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Goodbyes
The beach is all ours Monday through Friday, but on Saturday and Sunday the Ecuadorians flock to the beach. Parking attendants blow whistles and direct traffic for tips. Children in swimsuits, street clothes, or even pajamas play in the waves while adults lounge in beach chairs under rented awnings.
We left the Santa Martenta beach scene for our usual Saturday lunch at the Manta beach. We exchanged goodbyes with our ex-pat friends and made promises to return soon.
We arrived back in time for the best whale show yet. Two humpbacks were competing to see which could jump the highest. That was followed by the tail slapping competition. They were also thoughtful enough to put on this display near shore. It was just an unbelievable 20 minute exhibition. We will go to high ground at the rocky point tomorrow morning and try to get some pictures.
The month has gone by too quickly. Tomorrow we take a 4 hour bus ride to the big city. A 4 1/2 hour plane ride will put us back in the USA at 5:00 am Monday morning.
We left the Santa Martenta beach scene for our usual Saturday lunch at the Manta beach. We exchanged goodbyes with our ex-pat friends and made promises to return soon.
We arrived back in time for the best whale show yet. Two humpbacks were competing to see which could jump the highest. That was followed by the tail slapping competition. They were also thoughtful enough to put on this display near shore. It was just an unbelievable 20 minute exhibition. We will go to high ground at the rocky point tomorrow morning and try to get some pictures.
The month has gone by too quickly. Tomorrow we take a 4 hour bus ride to the big city. A 4 1/2 hour plane ride will put us back in the USA at 5:00 am Monday morning.
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