Hell’s Canyon Rafting

Embracing the thrill of adventure, I embarked on a week-long Salmon River rafting trip in Idaho, determined to conquer Class 3 & 4 rapids, and immerse myself in nature's splendor.

The prospect of sleeping under star-studded skies or in a cozy tent, surrounded by 19 spirited women from across the US, and navigating the river with all my essentials in one dry bag, fueled my excitement. With no electricity or cell service to distract me, I relied on my trusty flashlight to guide me through after-dark escapades to the “groover”.

Refreshing river baths awaited, with crisp 67° water invigorating my senses. Ingenuity and resourcefulness became my trusted allies in this breathtaking wilderness.

Though keeping sand at bay proved a futile battle, the freedom and beauty of the great outdoors more than made up for it.

Our eight river guides from Hells Canyon Raft were an amazing team, taking care of our every need. Whipping up delectable meals that satisfied every craving. From cowboy coffee, to baked Brie, to grilled pork tenderloin perfection, every bite was a testament to their culinary prowess.

Like a well-oiled machine, they set up camp each afternoon and broke camp each morning, loading and unloading everything onto the supply raft. Sounds easy, but try managing 10 tents, 20 tent pads, 20 chairs, 2 groover tents, 10 tables, 20 dry bags, propane camp stove and grill, water coolers, pots, pans, and dishes, ice chest, plus all the grub we devoured on the trip. Quite the operation! Plus every camp site was left in the pristine condition we found it.

Discussions with guide Haley revealed a wisdom beyond her years, born from navigating the river's unpredictability, dealing with people, and ensuring our safety. As I gazed up at the starry expanse on two unforgettable nights, a deep sense of inner peace washed over me, unshackled by the burdens of news and technology.

The trip exceeded my wildest expectations. The challenge…..five days of breathtaking beauty while navigating 82 miles of the Snake River checked off my bucket list.

The 4th in Port A

Checked into the Sandpiper Condo #705 to celebrate the 4th in Port Aransas, Lunchwas a Fins at the Marina......one of our favorites, followed by Gelato at Waves.

We walked the beach, swam in the pool, and enjoyed the views from our balcony.

We welcomed the 4th on our balcony in our pajamas. We stayed until Monday, July 7 and enjoyed a soeedy ferry ride off the island. Our usually quite beach area was jam packed with kids this year and police officers.

Sacked up the Reds!

572 Miles to Big Bend, TX

Loaded up and headed out to Big Bend for a few days. Booked a A-Frame cabin #8 called Stardust. Our rental was great and had everything we needed for our stay. We entered the park 2 days and drove River Road one day to Presidio. Unfortunately the mighty Rio Grande River was barely a trickle. At Santa Helena Canyon it was easy to walk over to Mexico and never get your feet wet! Star gazing at night was the best show and we even had a extraterrestrial encounter one night. The dark night skies are ranked as some of the best in the USA. The trip home was easy as we took 2 days to travel. Big Bend is such a unique place with raw, rugged beauty.

Our Little Gem!

Aruba has always been a favorite of ours, and a trip back to Sunset Beach Studios is always exciting.  We had the big middle, front room for this trip….which has a really nice kitchen.  We checked in, unpacked, and crashed after a long day of travel with American Airlines. The next day we took it easy, relaxed and I made a big Pasta Salad for the party after sunset.  All the guest were invited to a celebration of Eef’s birthday and meal in the garden after watching sunset. It was a beautiful evening and we enjoyed dinner under the stars.

Our days were filled with early morning walks, pool and hot tub time, snorkeling, and visiting with other guest.  No visit would be complete without a trip down to Baby Beach to checkout the progress of the Secrets Resort. Of course lunch that day was at Zeerovers.…fresh shrimp and french fries.

As a belated Anniversary celebration we had dinner at sunset on the beach at Barefoot’s Restaurant.  The food was delicious and we toasted our 17 years of marriage with a glass of champagne. 

For our final dinner we went to Smoky Joe’s for some finger licking good ribs.  We ate early, finished packing, and enjoyed a final visit with JP and Eef.

We always enjoy our stay and this trip was no different. Just sad to see all the development on Aruba……increasing tourism. At least our little resort is still out of main tourist area….for how long I don’t know! But money is the name of the game and it looks like increasing tourism is the plan.

Gaia Resort for 17th Anniversary

For a change of pace, we booked a week at the Gaia Reserve and Resort near Quepos, Costa Rica.  Loft Suite #133 was ours for our week long stay.  Our concierge for our stay was a young Costa Rican gal named Catalina. Thanks to WhatsApp she was available 24 hours a day….answering questions, booking dining reservations, and shuttles to the beach. The staff was amazing, always offering top notch service. Nestled on a hilltop surrounded by lush rainforest the views are breathtaking.

A quick ride down to the gate and we would catch a shuttle to Espadilla Beach.  Our concierge arranged for 2 lounge chairs and a umbrella for a relaxing beach day. 

The beach was beautiful, with gentle waves and warm water. The perfect spot to spend the day.  A school bus renovated into a restaurant served delicious burgers and fries.

La Luna, the restaurant at Gaia served a special menu for Valentine’s Day/our Anniversary. A spectacular sunset and a delicious meal with great service made the perfect pairing.

After a week of being spoiled it was time to head back to San Jose and our flight to Houston.  

Oyster Fest 2025

It was that time again to head to Fulton Beach for some fresh Texas oysters.  

Dale was recognized during the parade by some military guys…..really made him feel special.  Munched on fried and raw oysters, plus  some fried shrimp. Enjoyed some good music and got in a dance or two.  A great time down at the coast.