SNOWBIRDS

THE SNOWBIRDS ARE FLOCKING INTO OUR MOHAVE VALLEY.  THE RV PARK IS SLOWLY FILLING UP WITH NEW ARRIVALS DAILY.  IT'S A FUN TIME OF THE YEAR CATCHING UP WITH OLD FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND HEARING OF THEIR SUMMER ADVENTURES.

EVEN THE TRAFFIC ON THE MAIN DRAG (HWY 95) IS PICKING UP AND SLOWING DOWN.  IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES LONGER TO GET TO WAL MART AND SAFEWAY.

WITH THE ARRIVAL OF FALL AND OUR VACATION BEHIND US, IT'S TIME TO GET OUT THE "TO DO" LIST.  THE SPRING LIST ONLY HAS ONE ITEM, TO WAX THE PICK-UP, BUT THE FALL LIST IS ALWAYS LONG.

I BETTER SHUT DOWN THIS COMPUTER AND GET STARTED.  I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON MY PROGRESS.

"SUNNY & 80"

BACK TO WORK

MARY AND I WERE BOTH AMAZED.  ONE DAY YOU’RE ON A TROPICAL ISLAND WITH NO CARS, RIDING YOUR BIKE AROUND THE BIG PUDDLES ON THE SAND STREETS AND THE NEXT DAY YOUR ON THE DESERT IN BUMPER TO BUMPER LAS VEGAS TRAFFIC.  THE WONDERS OF AIR TRAVEL.

LEAVING BELIZE WE HIT THE DUTY FREE SHOP AND BOUGHT FOUR ONE LITER BOTTLES OF GENTLEMAN JACK.  A NICE SAVINGS WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY THE LIQUOR TAXES.  WE WERE EACH ALLOWED TO BRING BACK TWO JUGS TAX FREE.

THE DUTY FREE SHOP PACKS THEM UP IN NICE CARDBOARD BOXES, AND THEY HAND YOU THE LIQUOR JUST AS YOU ARE BOARDING THE PLANE.  INTO THE OVERHEAD BIN AND THE NEXT STOP IS HOUSTON TO PASS THROUGH “USA” CUSTOMS.  NO PROBLEM.

NOW WE’RE GETTING READY TO FLY THE LAST LEG OF OUR JOURNEY, HOUSTON TO VEGAS. SORRY SIR, YOU CAN ONLY CARRY ON 3 OZ OF A LIQUID.

“HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM”

FOUR JUGS OF TOP SHELF JACK DANIELS TENNESSEE WHISKEY AND WE CAN’T JUST THROW IT IN THE OVERHEAD BIN?  OUCH, WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS?

YOU HAVE TO PUT THE JUGS IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE OR LEAVE IT.  SO HERE WE ARE IN THE HALLWAY OF BUSH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REPACKING OUR LUGGAGE.  DID I MENTION THAT THIS IS HOUR NUMBER FOUR OF THIRTEEN HOURS WITHOUT A CIGARETTE?

THE TWO BOXES JUST WOULDN’T FIT IN MY BACKPACK, SO I OPENED ONE BOX AND PUT THE BOTTLES IN THE PACK.  WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THESE GLASS BOTTLES ARE GOING TO MAKE IT TO VEGAS WITHOUT BREAKING IN A BACKPACK?

AS WE WERE STANDING AT THE LUGGAGE CAROUSEL IN VEGAS TO CLAIM OUR BAGS, I COULD SMELL MY BACKPACK BEFORE I EVER SAW IT COMING AROUND THE RAMP.

I QUICKLY GRABBED THE SMELLY WHISKEY DRIPPING PACK AND TRIED TO DISAPPEAR IN THE CROWD.  I RAN DOWN A NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING JANITOR, COLLECTING THE GARBAGE, AND TRIED TO EXPLAIN I WANTED HIM TO GIVE ME A NEW EMPTY GARBAGE BAG.

THE PLASTIC GARBAGE BAG DID THE TRICK AND AT LEAST WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE A CAB TO TAKE US TO OUR HOTEL.
OPENING THAT BACKPACK IN THE HOTEL ROOM WAS NOT A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE.  BESIDES THE SMELL AND DRIPPING WHISKEY, WE HAVE BROKEN GLASS EVERYWHERE.

ON THE UPSIDE, MARY BOUGHT THESES SPACE SAVER BAGS TO PACK OUR STUFF IN FOR OUR TRIP.  THEY ARE HEAVY DUTY PLASTIC BAGS THAT YOU PACK YOUR CLOTHES IN AND THEN USE A VACUUM CLEANER TO SUCK THE AIR OUT TO SAVE SPACE, OR YOU JUST ROLL UP THE BAG TIGHT TO REMOVE THE AIR AND SEAL THE BAG.

THE BROKEN GLASS DID NOT PUNCTURE THE SPACE SAVER BAG.  ALL I HAD TO DO WAS SHOWER OFF THE OUTSIDE OF THE BAG AND MY CLOTHES WERE FINE.

WE LOST ONE OF THE FOUR JUGS, SO INSTEAD OF SAVING $60 ON OUR PURCHASE, WE ONLY SAVED $21.  NOT WORTH IT  !!!

SUSIE-Q WAS GLAD TO HAVE US HOME.




TODAY IT’S BACK TO WORK….

BUT IT’S “SUNNY & 80”

CAYE CAULKER WRAP-UP

ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END, AND TODAY MARKS THE END OF OUR CAYE CAULKER ADVENTURE.  IT WAS A WONDERFUL TWO WEEKS !!!

I’LL LEAVE YOU WITH A FEW FINAL PICTURES, AS WE FLY HOME TO NEVADA.

 

 

 

RAS CREEK’S BOAT…..

 

 

OTIS MAKES MARY “UNO MAS” DIRTY BANNANA.

 

BYE BYE CAYE CAULKER…

 

 

 

 

 

OUR MILLION DOLLAR VIEW FROM THE SPORTS BAR

 

 

INSIDE THE BARRIER REEF SPORTS BAR

 

 

 

 

 

COLLECTION OF SOUVIENERS

 

 

IT’S NOT ALWAYS “SUNNY & 80”

 

 

ENJOYING THE PACKERS VS VIKINGS

 

WELL MARY, WHERE IS THE COFFEE CAN TO START A NEW BELIZE FUND?

SYD’S, CAYE CAULKER

MARY TOOK ME TO LUNCH AT SYD’S ON CAYE CAULKER.  IT’S A LOCAL’S PLACE THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDING, BUT IT HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE OUR ARRIVAL FOR THE SLOW SEASON.  THERE ARE A TOTAL OF ELEVEN PLACES TO EAT ON THE ISLAND THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED FOR THE SLOW SEASON.




WE ATE ON THE GARDEN PATIO, AND I GOT A REAL THIRD WORLD CHARGE OUT OF THIS REFERENCE ON THE MENU.



“IN DINNING ON THE GARDEN PATIO WE DON’T RECOMEND FEEDING THE STRAY CATS.  THEY ARE FEED UPON CLOSING.  FEEDING THEM ONLY ENCOURAGES THEM TO STAY AROUND.”

GOD, I LOVE CAYE CAULKER !!!



HERE’S OUR TABLE ON THE OUTSIDE GARDEN PATIO.





COMPLETE WITH A LOBSTER BURRITO, GARNACHES, AND A FROSTY, ICE COLD BELIKINS.







“THANKS FOR LUNCH, MARY”

Belizian Artwork

 We have found some incredible artwork on the island.  Here’s some of our favorites.

 If you look at this one long enough, it takes on a 3D affect.  And I absolutely love the orange.


 A couple of island beach scenes, too bad the lighting isn’t great.


I love the peaceful, happy scene in this painting by a local artist Cooper.



 Not sure but I think this is painted on a dried leaf of some sort.  Didn’t think to ask anyone.


 The beautiful marine life inspires everyone-this painting was done by our landlady, Sally and I think it’s great!


 Another island beach scene.

 Beautiful pottery is also on hand……


as are shells.

The best thing about this artwork----it’s all here in Canuck Cottage and I have been enjoying it daily for over a week!