Love on the beach

Our less-than straight line route to Nova Scotia took us to the shores of Delaware Bay. It was so out-of-the-way that we had neither Internet or cell phone service. Our rustic cabin was on stilts which turned out advantageous when a high tide combined with a howling east wind turned our cottage into an island for a few hours on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, down in the sand, amorous horseshoe crabs performed a ritual dating back about 450 million years. Some of the horseshoe crabs ended up on their backs and stranded. My help in supporting the species for the next 450 million years was to kick them back over. I hope to get PETA credits for my altruistic efforts.

 

Lining the beach.

While dunes and the bay was the view on one side of the cottage, across the street was a salt water marsh.

Next stop - Deer Isle Maine.

Delaware Bay

We have had a great visit with Tristan, and a lot of tourist type fun in Washington DC. Alas, duty calls for him and the open road calls us.

Today we leave for Delaware. Taking the roundabout way to Nova Scotia. We have rented a cottage on the Delaware Bay for a few days. It is so rustic that I must give up Internet; however, De Anne finds it a small sacrifice in exchange for a beach.

How a trip happens

We have stored a few boxes for Tristan while he was in Deigo Garcia. Now that his special combat training is over he is in Washington DC for the next six months for language school. Before he deploys he must read, write and speak the local language fluently.

Since we had to drive 1,000 miles anyway we decided to continue north and explore Nova Scotia Canada.

Tristan has a high-rise apartment in Arlington, next to the river. This view is from the roof top terrace.

We will spend Memorial Day weekend here before heading north with a few stops along the way.

The other traveler

While we are currently (and temporarily) "trapped" at home for the next month I have lived vicariously through our oldest son and his world travels over the past three years. Truth be told, he has gone further than us although some of that travel has been compliments of the US Navy.

Below is a sampling of pictures from our young traveler; however, he was not diligent in a few places. He did not snap a few pictures in Hong Kong while acting as Officer in charge of Shore Patrol, touring bars and looking for misbehaving sailors. He also did not get photos of the famous B-girls in Singapore while on liberty. We shall make do with the following:

 In Japan aboard the Curtis Wilber:

He and a fellow officer climbed Mt. Fuji:

Two weeks in China:

In the Philippines - a visit to Corregidor:

Playing with a tiger cub in Thailand:

Going native in Cambodia (who talked him into that!):

Visiting Seam Reap in Cambodia:

I hope you enjoyed this little sidebar. We will be traveling again in June!

Happy New Year

I used an old saying on a previous blog that is quite apropos now: "Life is what happens when you are making plans".

Our tours of far away and out-of-touch places is being put on hiatus for a few years. We are making plans to buy an RV and make a few loops around the USA.

 Our elder son, a Navy Officer, was supposed to be stationed in Maryland for the next three years after two foreign tours in Japan and Diego Garcia; however, the government changed its' and his plans. He will return briefly to the States for special combat training and language instruction then ship off for the first of two overseas tours.

 Some day you may wake up and find an RV in your driveway. Be careful what you wear when you charge out the door. I do love a good action picture for the blog.

 De Anne and wish all of you a Happy New Year!

Free range wife

Our cruise was relaxing, a little exciting, and a herd experience. We have discovered the truth of the old World War I song "How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen Paree?".  We met some nice people and it was an overall enjoyable experience, but we have gotten use to doing what we want, when we want.

 I have a free range wife that does not like to run with the herd. In Belize I hung out on the waterfront while De Anne checked out a tourist shop. She discovered the back entrance to the store and a gate to the rest of Belize City. She just wanted to see the other side for a minute; however, a pair of military policemen turned her back into the tourist section telling her it was not safe past the gate.

 We did have a couple of snorkeling stops in Cozumel and on Grand Cayman that she really enjoyed. In Cozumel we took a cab to a beach bar where she could relax under a thatched cabana while I snorkeled the reef and vice versa. Our cab driver returned after four hours and he and I together stood on the pier and waved her in. On Seven Mile beach in Grand Cayman she snorkeled with an English couple while I watched everyone's beach bags. I had hurt my foot on a lounge chair the day before and therefore was relegated to guard duty. Seven Mile beach is De Anne's new favorite beach in the world (until her next new favorite).

 Our police escort leaving Cozumel.

On the waterfront in Belize City.

Roatan, Honduras. The importance of staying inside the channel markers.

Seven Mile beach. See the dive boats in the distance. Without fins, De Anne snorkeled almost that far out.

Plan B

It has been just over a month since our return from Europe. One might think a 100 days touring Italy, France, Belgium, and Spain would cure the travel bug for quite a while; but then, you underestimate the travel urges of my wife.

 Plan A was a trip to Costa Rica. The Pacific coast town we had our hearts set on proved difficult and expensive to get to. Alas, that trip was scrapped.

 After a few days of heavy sighs from my fellow traveler and life companion I found an alternative plan for her entertainment. An inexpensive, last minute booking that pleased the cheapskate in both of us.

 Plan B involves 3 countries, with some snorkeling thrown in. I am almost embarrassed to report we are taking a Caribbean cruise to Mexico, Belize, and the Cayman Islands. Not exactly our modus operandi for the past two years; however, it has one redeeming factor - De Anne liked the idea. We sail on Saturday.

Since this is a rather ordinary vacation I will report the trials and tribulations associated with luxury travel, endless food, non-stop entertainment and tropical seas in one blog entry upon our return.