2023 Summer Garden Tour

 

April 18 2023 Trip to Flagstaff

 Drove up to Flagstaff on April 16. Took up Birthday and late Christmas gifts for Sierra.

Her Smart car battery finally died after six years. Sierra pulled the battery, bought a new one, then installed it.  All I did was mentor and supply metric tools. Had a nice family dinner. Got together with some friends, had lunch with them.  

Had to go check out Upper and Lower Lake Mary.  With all the snow it was completely full. Something I don't think I have ever seen. Meadows just last year were completely submerged, as were parts of some picnic areas.

Snowy Year For Flagstaff

 It has been a record year for snowfall in Flagstaff. 

Sierra has not been able to get her car dug out for a few storms now.

When the temperatures final started trending warmer, her friends came over and dug the car out.

The Garden in early February

 

Hawaii Cruise - December 17 - 24, 2022

 

Video links below.

It was quite the trip. We were late to the airport. Got through TSA and to the plane during mid board (no early help getting to our seats before anyone else) TSA forgot to give Sue her cane back so it was a VERY BAD start. We didn't have the time I wanted to charge all the Oxygen concentrators batteries. We managed. Thankfully the 787 has power outlets at each seat.

The plane to Hawaii after us hit bad turbulence and people were injured. So, we did luck out there.

Hate Honolulu airport with a passion. Crappy design and signage.

Got to the ship later, but that meant no lines, so yeah, we missed muster, but, no lines!

Settled in.

 

Monday 19, Went to Maui. Excursion was bus trip to other side of Island. Sue wanted to see largest Banyan tree in Hawaii, checked that off. Storm came up and lightning hit a ship in port a few hundred yards from us. Torrential rain, high winds. But we got around.  Had lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise.  I had a Cheeseburger in Paradise. Sue got some Dole Whip (turned out the ONLY one she was able to get). Got back on the bus and to the ship.  Next day there was a brief window of good weather and we went into town to Christmas shop. Then back on the Ship.

 

 

Tuesday 20, Went to Hilo. Took Bus excursion and saw beautiful gardens and waterfalls.  A really great day. 

Wednesday 21. Suppose to go to Kona, but storms damaged the dock the Tenders would have used, which also cancelled our Glass Bottom Boat trip. So instead the ship sailed around islands and we got to see a Humpback Whale pod.  Was a big hit!  I even got a video of a whale fully breaching.

 

Thursday 22, Went to Kauai. We went into town had a picnic lunch by the beach. In PM went to a plantation and rode a Plantation Train, then the Luau. Disappointing food. Our local Ono Hawaiian was LOTS better. But the show afterwards made up for it, was spectacular.

 

 

 

Friday 23. Went to the beach again, Sue got some beach time, I tried to go snorkeling but saw nothing except sand and rocks. Then I started having breathing issues with the snorkel, not getting enough air, so, that was that.  We got back to the ship before the next rain storm showed up.

 

Saturday 24. Back to Honolulu, Our flight was not until 11:30PM so we rented a car and went to the swap meet marketplace at the Hula Bowl stadium.  Did a LOT more Christmas shopping. Great cheap local food.  Good time.  Then drove down to Waikiki Beach, half way up Diamond Head, circled a park three times to find parking for a Waikiki beach shack restaurant. Glad we did, some of the best food on the trip, live music, and a killer sunset.  I had really bad time trying to get back to the Rental office at the airport. (see above opinion on Honolulu airport.), TSA was not too bad.  We waited for the flight and had enough time to charge all the batteries. Was a full plane this time but not a bad flight.

Got back in PHX about 7:00 AM picked up car, went home and crashed for awhile.

All in all a great adventure.  Enough challenges to keep things interesting.

 

 

 

VIDEOS

 

Departing Honolulu

In Maui

 

 In Hilo

At Sea

 

In Kauai

Back in Honolulu

 

2 of out 3 Cats prefer sleeping on the Loveseat

 Fluffy and Musette 12/09/2022

Advent Calendar 2022

 When Sierra was younger, one of our holiday traditions was to have an Advent Calendar filled with little bites, usually candy. Sue made one for Sierra this year. Filled with lots of little gifts ranging from small bottles of lotions to create an ornament kit. So far she has enjoyed the occasional $5.00 bill the most.