Kit and Carol on the Road

We finally arrived home about midnight on Friday. Our plane from Houston was almost 3 hours late--and by the way I was wrong about the time difference between Florida and Arizona--just 2 hours but the Caribbean where we mostly were is an hour later yet. Spent the weekend unpacking, grocery shopping, readjusting, etc. It was almost Oregon weather here--showers and 50's on Saturday though sunnier today. Alas tonight will be COLD. Just as I was starting dinner we discovered BOTH of our propane tanks were empty. No stove, no heat. Propane delivery here is on Friday but we hope they will take pity on us. Otherwise we will have to move into Ida (which does have propane) for Christmas.
Carol Harma--from my iPad

We were so pleased to arrive in time for our flight to Tucson. Just found out it has been delayed 2 hours. This means we will get there at 10:15 pm which equals 1:15am eastern time. At least we can drink beer here

One of the coolest things was all these ships that come over from Venezuela to sell fruits, crafts, etc in a tented market along the waterfront.

This is the port at Curacao (another Dutch island) one of the most colorful ports in the Caribbean and one of the places I was excited to visit. Alas it was Sunday and most of the museums were closed. So we walked and walked and took lots of photos. There is a pedestrian bridge between the ship and the town and when a ship goes through it swings open and you get to cross on one of the two ferries here. We were sitting in the bar under the umbrellas behind the ferries here when a tanker came through. The bar closed at 4 pm and so we got to take the ferry ride back.

The island of Bonaire has cacti that put Arizona to shame. We were surprised that there were so many cacti. This is the island where we did an bicycling excursion. It was fun but there were some heady hills. Relative back roads along ocean and lake. Kit figured with a whole day you could ride around the island. Bonaire is one of the Dutch Antilles off the coast of Venezuela.

Our ship arrived at Fort Lauderdale at 7 am. We got off the ship with the last group and through customs by 10 am. Lots of airport time as our flight doesn't leave til 2:44. We fly to Houston and then to Tucson. Will fill in the cruise as time permits


Sent from my iPhone

This is my first port with Internet and I have no phone photos to send. Finally seem to be past sea sickness but not rough seas. I wasn't feeling up to taking the tender into St Barts but Kit took lots of photos. Yesterday was St Lucia. Kit went on a sailing excursion that didn't sail. He was pissed until the captain put up a sail and let him steer. I went on a short taxi tour and visited the library. Today we have been at the museum. Had a local lunch with local beer and walked through town along river and sea. Celebrated Kits birthday yesterday. Got extra cake cuz they thought it was our anniversary too. I am not a cake fan so it's still in our room


Sent from my iPhone

Our first port of call. We had no real plans. Took a taxi to town. Hiked up the 99 steps to Blackbeards Castle but didn't go in. Walked past all the diamond shops. Hooked up with a local guide for a tour of this hilly island, including to the top of the mountain where there was a mega souvenir shop-- and a walk on the beach.
Came back to the ship for a late lunch. We are in the US. Could have mailed Christmas cards but I forgot addresses. At any rate we have ATT here so can do email

After 2 rocky days at sea we are glad to see land. And I have ATt here. We have no plans for the day but to walk and looks like we are a long way from anywhere

This is the view from our verandah
We still have several hours before departure

We made it through Dallas ahead of the ice storm. Having late breakfast in the only warm place in the US. Ft Lauderdale

Actually a lot of inertia has happened since I returned to Tucson but that's another story. Today is the big moving day for my mom. My sister in law is taking her for a long ride while brother and sis Linda sneak in and pack up all of her belongings and whisk them to McMinnville where hopefully they will have her room set up before she arrives. I am waiting to hear the outcome.
Meanwhile Kit and I are getting ready to depart on our big adventure. We leave at 6:30 am Thursday for Fort Lauderdale and off on the cruise on Friday. We have to leave our house organized because Gwen and Jim are coming down from Burlington on Wednesday night to house sit while we are away. They are arriving after dark so we will have a moonlight tour of garden watering. Our island neighbors/friends Bob and Omi are also in motion toward Fort Lauderdale in their around the US RV (Big Red) tour. We plan to meet Thursday night. And Joost and Marianna who are also island neighbors/friends are flying to Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday. We will be staying at the same Hotel and going on the same cruise--we did not plan this, it just happened. The motion we are most worried about is Kirsten who is driving down to Kalispell on Friday in temperatures close to -20. The battery is sleeping in the house but will her car Bob start. If she makes it to Kalispell she is flying to Seattle and hence to India.
Carol Harma--from my iPad