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December 16, 2010
Merry Christmas… Once more it is well wishes season. We thank God for His blessings during this somewhat hectic, but successful 2010.
Where do we wish for our 50th??? Greek Isles? Tuscany Italy or the Amalfi Coast? Many investigative days! We picked 3 of the Hawaiian Islands. Thinking it might be our final visit, we chose 6 weeks. Now, afterwards, we wish it all again. Six weren’t enough.
Got a steroid injection for the back injury suffered the last of Aug. 2009. Finally felt relief so opted for military Space-A departure the last of March. A week prior, developed Deep Vein Clots. Would self inject Arixtra daily while we were gone, to delay coumadin treatment.
Relatives put us up and endured our comings and goings. After only 3 days, we caught an 11-hr non-stop on an empty C17 flight; Andrews AFB (DC) into Hickam AFB (Honolulu). No cargo meant plenty of room to stretch and stroll about. Even made a “bed” for napping. Caroll couldn’t believe it. We even visited in the cockpit for close to an hour.
KAWAI - Barking Sands Cottages of the Pacific Missile Range for 2 nights. Ascended to the Waimea Canyon overlook. We chowed-down at Waimea Shrimp Shack. Then, the grand 1-wk togetherness stay “The Cliffs at Princeville”. Enjoyed beaches & falls. Drove along Hanalei Bay and out the north beach road to view “Bali Hai” mountains. The Garden Island, simply lovely.
MAUI - Enjoyed relaxing views for 3 short weeks from the resorts, Maui Schooner and Maui Sunset. Met acquaintances at Lahaina and Kaanapal for meals and chatting.
One day Haleakala was clear. Away we ran, up up and up. You would think we were on the moon, up there. Hawaii, the “big island”, could be seen from there.
Another day, an 11-hr drive of Hana Road (same length as our flight from DC) carried us all the way around the base of Haleakala. Many beautiful dilly-dally parks and beaches.
Lao Valley State Park’s Needle and Stream afforded us some gentler beauty.
At the market, amongst other things, we learned blanched green beans were delicious drenched in soy sauce with lime-juice drizzled over.
Hawaii – MaunaLoa then Kona Hawaiian Villages, 1-wk each. Flowers, palms, rustic bungalows, yummy eatery settings along the ocean.
Ooh too, the lovely settings along 270 to the northernmost points. Too, cliff views east of Kapaau. Weaved our way down mountainous ranch road 250 to Kaimea. Great restaurants there!
Scenes to the southernmost point of the United States were unique rather than pretty. From the wind farms on lava fields we headed toward the volcano. Thick misty rain and vog caused us a return to Kona. Another day we ventured Saddle Road to Hilo in search of the elusive lava flow. We chatted with locals where used-to-be routes were no longer.
Flew Hickam (Honolulu) to McChord AFB, WA (near Tacoma) to visit our son’s family near Portland. We all went up to Charter House for dinner. We got a view, Mounts Hood and Helen from that spot. Drove a rental to view Lake Tahoe, Yosemite NP, Death Valley, Zion NP, Bryce Canyon NP, and Hoover Dam.
We ended up at Tucson visiting my sisters and nieces.
We enjoyed a day trip to Coronado National Forest for a tram ride to experience the beauty of Sabino Canyon, one of the most unique in all of Southwestern desert.
Two car loads took an Elgin wine tasting excursion. We experienced some truly unique wine and picturesque views of hillside vineyards, rolling grasslands and scenic mountain ranges. We even had lunch with our favorite wines at the last winery.
Flew to BMI to rejoin our car. We got home the first of June. Our 50th had been well celebrated.
Completed coumadin treatment & got a 2nd steroid injection to the hurting back in mid-September.
My nephew retired with 21 years service. We attended their Maryland home ceremony on 25 Sep.
SIL has the storage-rm garage resembling the desired rec-room! Topsoil tons has been spread & seeded. More fences have been erected. A new improved patio door is replacing an old slider.
SIL wished to take 4-yr old GD to Disney Parks before Thanksgiving. Caroll’s Mom and sister we visited for 3-days near Tampa before checking into a Orange Lake 3 BR for 12 on 13 Nov. I picked-up DD, SIL, DGD and DGGD at the airport. Sister and mom (92yo) joined us also.
I had been huffing and puffing for a couple of weeks. On 17 Nov. I had an ambulance take me to the Florida Hospital ER. Blood clots were found at my lungs. Coumadin treatment was started and after 6 days I was released to outpatient status.
The younger set enjoyed alternating visits of the OL water parks and the Disney Parks. Caroll took them to catch their flight home on the 22nd. On the 23rd, Mom and sister went back to Holiday and our son flew down. I continued INR appointments.
The 3 of us had Thanksgiving dinner at Golden Coral. After another INR check, we drove to Mom’s for a 2-day visit. On our way home, we went by the clinic for one more check-up.
Our son proved to be a big help with luggage and driving.
Still have shopping to do, but what a year we’ve had.
Hope you’re not too tired from traveling with us.
Happy Holidays,
Caroll and Bob
Merry Christmas… Once more it is well wishes season. We thank God for His blessings during this somewhat hectic, but successful 2010.
Where do we wish for our 50th??? Greek Isles? Tuscany Italy or the Amalfi Coast? Many investigative days! We picked 3 of the Hawaiian Islands. Thinking it might be our final visit, we chose 6 weeks. Now, afterwards, we wish it all again. Six weren’t enough.
Got a steroid injection for the back injury suffered the last of Aug. 2009. Finally felt relief so opted for military Space-A departure the last of March. A week prior, developed Deep Vein Clots. Would self inject Arixtra daily while we were gone, to delay coumadin treatment.
Relatives put us up and endured our comings and goings. After only 3 days, we caught an 11-hr non-stop on an empty C17 flight; Andrews AFB (DC) into Hickam AFB (Honolulu). No cargo meant plenty of room to stretch and stroll about. Even made a “bed” for napping. Caroll couldn’t believe it. We even visited in the cockpit for close to an hour.
KAWAI - Barking Sands Cottages of the Pacific Missile Range for 2 nights. Ascended to the Waimea Canyon overlook. We chowed-down at Waimea Shrimp Shack. Then, the grand 1-wk togetherness stay “The Cliffs at Princeville”. Enjoyed beaches & falls. Drove along Hanalei Bay and out the north beach road to view “Bali Hai” mountains. The Garden Island, simply lovely.
MAUI - Enjoyed relaxing views for 3 short weeks from the resorts, Maui Schooner and Maui Sunset. Met acquaintances at Lahaina and Kaanapal for meals and chatting.
One day Haleakala was clear. Away we ran, up up and up. You would think we were on the moon, up there. Hawaii, the “big island”, could be seen from there.
Another day, an 11-hr drive of Hana Road (same length as our flight from DC) carried us all the way around the base of Haleakala. Many beautiful dilly-dally parks and beaches.
Lao Valley State Park’s Needle and Stream afforded us some gentler beauty.
At the market, amongst other things, we learned blanched green beans were delicious drenched in soy sauce with lime-juice drizzled over.
Hawaii – MaunaLoa then Kona Hawaiian Villages, 1-wk each. Flowers, palms, rustic bungalows, yummy eatery settings along the ocean.
Ooh too, the lovely settings along 270 to the northernmost points. Too, cliff views east of Kapaau. Weaved our way down mountainous ranch road 250 to Kaimea. Great restaurants there!
Scenes to the southernmost point of the United States were unique rather than pretty. From the wind farms on lava fields we headed toward the volcano. Thick misty rain and vog caused us a return to Kona. Another day we ventured Saddle Road to Hilo in search of the elusive lava flow. We chatted with locals where used-to-be routes were no longer.
Flew Hickam (Honolulu) to McChord AFB, WA (near Tacoma) to visit our son’s family near Portland. We all went up to Charter House for dinner. We got a view, Mounts Hood and Helen from that spot. Drove a rental to view Lake Tahoe, Yosemite NP, Death Valley, Zion NP, Bryce Canyon NP, and Hoover Dam.
We ended up at Tucson visiting my sisters and nieces.
We enjoyed a day trip to Coronado National Forest for a tram ride to experience the beauty of Sabino Canyon, one of the most unique in all of Southwestern desert.
Two car loads took an Elgin wine tasting excursion. We experienced some truly unique wine and picturesque views of hillside vineyards, rolling grasslands and scenic mountain ranges. We even had lunch with our favorite wines at the last winery.
Flew to BMI to rejoin our car. We got home the first of June. Our 50th had been well celebrated.
Completed coumadin treatment & got a 2nd steroid injection to the hurting back in mid-September.
My nephew retired with 21 years service. We attended their Maryland home ceremony on 25 Sep.
SIL has the storage-rm garage resembling the desired rec-room! Topsoil tons has been spread & seeded. More fences have been erected. A new improved patio door is replacing an old slider.
SIL wished to take 4-yr old GD to Disney Parks before Thanksgiving. Caroll’s Mom and sister we visited for 3-days near Tampa before checking into a Orange Lake 3 BR for 12 on 13 Nov. I picked-up DD, SIL, DGD and DGGD at the airport. Sister and mom (92yo) joined us also.
I had been huffing and puffing for a couple of weeks. On 17 Nov. I had an ambulance take me to the Florida Hospital ER. Blood clots were found at my lungs. Coumadin treatment was started and after 6 days I was released to outpatient status.
The younger set enjoyed alternating visits of the OL water parks and the Disney Parks. Caroll took them to catch their flight home on the 22nd. On the 23rd, Mom and sister went back to Holiday and our son flew down. I continued INR appointments.
The 3 of us had Thanksgiving dinner at Golden Coral. After another INR check, we drove to Mom’s for a 2-day visit. On our way home, we went by the clinic for one more check-up.
Our son proved to be a big help with luggage and driving.
Still have shopping to do, but what a year we’ve had.
Hope you’re not too tired from traveling with us.
Happy Holidays,
Caroll and Bob
shaggy
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