Fish Tales!

Fish tales.......Up very early, we unloaded the boat at twilight, turned on our lights and left the dock for our favorite spot.  We were soon casting our lines into the indigo water of the bay....before the sun even peeped above the horizon.  The water swirled as reds hit our gold spoons, puting up a good fight, before being landed and put in the ice chest.  Soon we had five nice reds  and it wasn't long before Dale landed #6, the legal limit for the day.  Hooray!!! Then Dale measured his catch....it was just barely legal......but legal and it was only 8:39 am!  WOW!  Dale looked at his catch and decided to pitch him back in hopes of catching a bigger fish.  OMG....boy did I give him a hard time!  So we fished and fished for about the next two hours.....unable to catch a legal size fish.  We tried a couple of different spots and finally moved back to the spot we started at and finally we landed the sixth red at 10:33 am.  We had lots of laughs and I gave him a really hard time....even telling him no lunch until we got our 6th red!  Lunch was at Cathy's in Port O'Connor....yummy fried shrimp.

Gray skies...Good Fishing!

Gray, cloudy, overcast skies made for an eerie ride this morning as we skimmed across the mirror like surface of the water on our way to our favorite fishing spot. Pelicans watched us, as they perched on abandoned duck blinds and waterfowl loudly announced our arrival. With five nice reds in the ice chest before noon, we headed in to clean the fish and enjoy a seafood lunch on our way home at Bubba's in Seadrift.

Cayman With Friends

After a generous invite from my friends Dennis and Tamara, I was off to Grand Cayman to get in one more dive trip for the year..landing I picked up my rental car and gathered up all my courage to drive out to the East End on the wrong side of the road.  Safely arriving I checked in, unloaded and unpacked my stuff...it  great to see all my old friends at Compass Point and Ocean Frontiers.
I walked over to the Dietzel's condo where Dennis was preparing to grill steaks for dinner for all of us.  I had brought a bottle of a good Texas Merlot to enjoy with our dinner...it was great to see my old diving buddies.
The next morning I checked in to my dive boat for the upcoming week, Eastern Skies where I would be diving with Dennis and Tamara.  The skies were clear, winds calm....making for great visibility underwater.  We got in two great dives before lunch.  After lunch Tamara rode with me to the grocery store so I could pick up some stuff for my condo.
Diving was good most of the week.....but I did have a rough ride my last day of divng with five foot seas.  I had signed up to do the Kittiwake Dive and was lucky enough to find some Texas folks to drive into Georgetown with to catch the dive boat after lunch.   I was a little disappointed in that not much growth had occured on the ship and not much marine life was living in the structure.   After our dive we had lunch at Guy Harvey's Restaurant.

I signed up to do a photography class with Elly Wray, a very talented young woman that is the photographer on staff at Ocean Frontiers.  I am always looking for ways to improve my underwater photography skills.  Elly had me take photos,  look at the screen and then adjust my settings to improve the photo.  On the end of our dive, another diver alerted us to a seahorse which is always a welcome find.  I took several photos , hoping to get a great shot.
Dennis and Tamara invited me over for a party they were having for the staff around the pool after they got off work.  It was fun sitting around the pool visiting with everyone and talking diving.
I invited Dennis and Tamara to join me for dinner at a local East End restaurant, Southern Coast Bar and Grill on their last night on the island.  It was a great way to end the week and express my appreciation for their generosity.
I got in 13 dives during the week.....seeing lobster, rays, sharks, anemones, seahorse and lots of creatures.  The water was nice and warm, and we had no current on almost all dive sites.  It was a great week of diving.....with good friends....old and new!!
On Friday night the resort had a BBQ for divers up on the pool deck around the training pool.  Ribs, Chicken, Curried Goat, Poatato Salad, Rice and Beans, Cornbread, and Cake were on the menu....plus we watched photos and film of the dives the past week.  I enjoyed dinner with my new Texas Friends...Linda, Tammy and BJ.
After my last two dives on Saturday I drove down to eat at Vivines, a local place just down the rode.  I enjoyed my fried fish and fritters, with a ginger beer while overlooking the turquoise water of the Caribbean.
Packed and ready to go, I headed back to the airport to turn in my rental car before catching my flight home.  I was lucky enough to have all 3 seats to myself and strected out to watch a movie on the flight home.  We landed a little early and soon I was in my car headed home to my husband.  Another good dive trip in the books!!!
Goodbye Cayman!

Junkin Fun!!

Fall signaled it was again time for the Warrenton/Round Top Antique Fair….so Karen and I made plans again to attend.  We arrived just as the booths on the square in Round Top were opening up.  Making our way to our favorite vendors, we tried on some clothes in a makeshift dressing room…. after Karen cleaned the mirror so we could see.  I wanted to take some photos and we had lots of laughs trying to get a good photo of the two of us.   

We stopped strangers trying to get a photo taken to document our trip.  Hungry we drove over to Carmine to have lunch at JW’S Steakhouse.  Since I had been out of town for Karen’s birthday….I told her this was her birthday lunch.  A cute birthday card and a funny gift……travel size hand cleaner for my germ phobic friend.  Lunch was yummy and her birthday cake was a piece of coconut cream pie…..which we split!

Back on the road to Warrenton, we stopped at a large group of vendors we usually don’t stop at…didn’t find a thing we needed or wanted.  We did see a mermaid statue covered completely in flattened bottle caps......only $9,800.  In Warrenton we parked and split up to cover more area.  I was on the hunt for a pearl necklace for my new blouse and Karen was looking for a shirt.  We even stopped to try on some 10 gallon cowboy hats…but couldn’t make a deal on two of them. Our goals accomplished we hit the road home……a fun day!  Miles and miles of stuff!  Good fun, food……with a good friend!

Beach Birthday Gift!

Collecting on a birthday gift, we booked a condo in Port Aransas for a few days.  After a short drive we arrived, unpacked, and Dale grabbed a short nap before joining me in the swimming pool for a swim.  We walked down to the beach before dinner and enjoyed a long walk on the uncrowded sand.  Dinner was yummy spaghetti dinner, salad, and garlic bread with a glass of wine.  

We decided to do some wade fishing the next morning, and had fun even if we didn't catch a keeper.  Lunch was at our favorite place....Beach Station Street Grill.....yummy seafood.  Back at the condo, we relaxed, took a dip in the pool. Before sunset we grabbed two chairs and a bottle of wine...making the short walk over the boardwalk to the beach.  It was nice sitting at the water's edge as the day ended.  Boiled shrimp with a pasta salad on the porch was a perfect end to the day.
It was a great gift....perfect for me!  Guess he knows how much I love the beach?

Sunrise on the Water

Up very early, we unloaded the boat before the sun peaked over the horizon. We skimmed across the slick bay heading to our favorite fishing spot. The skies were clear and a hint of fall was in the air. A beautiful sunrise greeted us as we began to cast our lines in hopes of landing a nice red. I watched as the sun rose and grabbed my camera to catch a great photo of Dale silhouetted against the sunrise. Only minutes after our first cast we had a nice red in the ice chest. 
We drifted across the bay with the assistance of the North
wind catching a red now and then, but most had to be

thrown back to grow larger. Fishing done, a few reds in the ice chest, we headed back to the dock and loaded the boat. A stop at Bubba's in Seadrift for lunch was a perfect ending for a good day!

Colorado and Utah Bound!

On August 27, we loaded the car, and headed out early in the morning for Colorado and Utah. We had a long drive the first day, across Texas and spent the night in Dumas, Texas in the Texas Panhandle. Back on the road the next morning we soon crossed into New Mexico, enjoying a yummy lunch in Taos at Orlando's. We had some excitement as we got delayed by a film crew shooting a movie....The Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer. Arriving in Durango at Country Sunshine B & B we were warmly greeted by old friends, Walter and Jodi. It was great to be back and they began to spoil us as usual, especially Walter with his fantastic breakfast, warm cookies, and desserts at night. Jodi had booked our Durango/Silverton train tickets and we caught the train at Rockwood the next morning after Walter's wonderful breakfast. The weather was great and much warmer than our previous trip. Arriving in Silverton we walked over to Handlebars for lunch, then we walked around Silverton taking photos. I made sure to get a "After" photo of Dale with the wooden cowboy to compare with a previous pre-knee surgery photo I had taken of him in 2009. Soon it was time to board the train and return to Rockwood. We stopped in Hermosa and picked up a Calzone and salad to take back to the B&B for dinner on the porch. A glass of wine and a soak in the hot tub ended the day. The next day we booked a half-day Animas River float....even though the river was low we enjoyed an afternoon on the river, and our guide was very good...he even endured Dale's financial advice. Dinner that night was at Zia Tagueria in Durango...yummy Fish Tacos. Walter put on a show that evening serving all the guest Bananas Foster over ice cream....awesome! Our three night stay completed we packed and said our goodbyes heading onward and upward to Ouray. The drive up the million dollar highway provided breathtaking views and lots of photo opportunities. Arriving in Ouray we stopped to have a picnic lunch in a park....but the rain forced our picnic to be in the car. Spangler House B&B was our next stop and we checked in and unpacked. I had a surprise in store for Dale and told him I was taking him out for steaks at the Outlaw Restaurant for his birthday, which was the next day. Dinner was good and we were stuffed! I gave Dale his birthday card with his surprise...an all day jeep tour with San Juan Tours the next day. After a soak in the hot tub, we turned in early since we had to be up early the next morning for our tour. I had requested a driver called "Wild Bill"...little did I know he was 85 years old and quite the character...a Texas boy to boot. We had 3 other folks on the tour and off we went with "Wild Bill" at the wheel over Black Bear Pass to Telluride. OMG....what a ride it was...the road better known as a "Goat Trail" was narrow and very steep with numerous switchbacks...all which Bill handled like a pro! We had a few sprinkles and then we had a few minutes of hail on top of the pass. Dale loved Bill, who was an old WWII veteran and they really bonded. Arriving in Telluride Bill dropped us off for lunch at the Floradora Saloon, where the owner had a table ready for us. Bill joined us after he parked the jeep...more tall tales and stories kept us laughing with lunch. Back on the road we were headed across Imogene Pass at 13,114 ft., a very rough ride with what seemed like large boulders in the road...but Bill handled it like the skilled driver he was. We arrived back in Ouray about 5:30 p.m.....just in time for Happy Hour Bill said! It was a great day, Dale loved it and we had a fantastic time with Bill. The next day we decided to visit the Ouray Hot Springs for a long soak in the hot water. Since it was a weekend it was kind of crowded but we enjoyed our soak until lightning forced us out. After walking up and down the main drag we decided to have dinner that night was at O'Brien's Pub & Grill. Our stay ended we packed and prepared to leave the next morning for Grand Junction. The drive to Grand Junction was pretty bleak, not much to see in this arid, dry part of Colorado....Grand Junction sprawls across the Grand Valley and is an oasis. The Grand Mesa in one direction and the Colorado National Monument in the other. Sam and Judy were waiting for us at Bookcliffs B&B and welcomed us into their home. WE enjoyed visiting with them and listening to how they had made their home into a B&B. After breakfast the next morning we drove out to the Gateway Car Museum. We were lucky, that an elderly gentleman took us under his wing and showed us each vehicle...complete with the history of the vehicle. It sure did make our time at the museum special, and we got to see the latest purchase...a Oldsmobile F88 that they paid 3.2 million dollars for....WOW! After a picnic lunch on the way back we drove over the Grand Mesa, a beautiful landscape with Aspens already displaying their fall colors and home to more than 300 lakes. A stop in Palisades, Colorado the home of the famous peaches and lots of vineyards ended the day. Our final day in Grand Junction was spent with a drive out to the Colorado National Monument. A breathtaking drive with lots to see and lots of photos to take! We made another stop in Palisades to tour the orchards, vineyards, and wineries....plus pick up a few more goodies. Saying our goodbyes we were on the road again to Utah. We picked a drive to Moab along the river and were rewarded with a beautiful scenery and breathtaking views. We arrived at the Mayor's House B&B and were greeted by Dave...he quickly showed us around the place and we unpacked. The B&B had a large heated pool and an inviting hot tub with a beautiful red rock backdrop. After a yummy breakfast the next morning fixed by Carey, we drove out to Arches National Park. I've never seen so many red rocks....arches, windows, towers, plus other formations Mother Nature has carved out. I got some great photos and even attempted to get a photo of me holding a giant boulder...like Hercules! Dinner that night was Mexican food and then a swim and soak. After enjoying breakfast the next morning with all the guest, we packed up again and left for Colorado. The drive to Pagosa Springs took us by Mesa Verde, but we decided to skip it this trip and went on to Mancos for lunch at the Absolute Bakery & Cafe...a very good choice! Arriving back in Pagosa Springs we stopped at the grocery store for a few items, then headed out to our cabin at the Fireside Inn. Our cabin was so cute, we loved it. Relaxing down by the river was so peaceful and a great spot for a glass of wine. Driving back into town we went in search of the "Balloon Glow" that was taking place in the park. It was fun to see them fill the balloons and the "Glow" was very pretty after dark...got some good photos. Up early, early the next morning, temperature was about 39 degrees....5:30 am to be exact, we were off to find the Colorfest Hot Air Balloon Rally launch. Dale followed some balloon trucks and trailers and got us a good spot for the launch. Soon 17 ballons were in the air...OMG what a site!!! The setting was beautiful...the greens of a golf course, a small lake, the mountains in the distance, and lots of green pine trees. I was going crazy trying to get pictures with all three of my cameras. We even followed two ballons and saw them touch down and let the air out of the balloon....it was great! The next day we planned to visit the Pagosa Hot Springs after a yummy pizza for lunch. The Springs were not crowded, the weather was perfect and we had a relaxing last day in Colorado. We ended the day down by the river with a glass of wine....a perfect ending to a wonderful trip. Up early, we were off to Fort Stockton, Texas...the first leg of our trip home. It was a long day of driving and we pulled into the motel about 6 pm. After a good nights sleep we were back on the road and headed home to Victoria. Safely we arrived home after over a 3,200 mile trip. Dale had done a great job of "Driving Miss Daisy" ...that is what he likes to call our road trips. Colorado was beautiful, the temperatures were a welcome relief after our hot Texas summer. The Bed and Breakfasts were all different and unique....we saw many things, made new friends, and had a GREAT time! We are truly blessed to have experienced such a wonderful trip!