Elk Hunting - Did He or Didn't He?

Glenn's 2nd hunt of the season was soon upon us and it was time to head to Gunnison!  Since there weren't any cabins with kitchens that were near where he was hunting, he decided to just pull the 5th wheel over and park it at the campground at Blue Mesa!

We knew it was going to be pretty cold but we plugged into electricity and brought a couple of space heaters which ran MOST OF THE TIME in lieu of using the propane furnace!  I had plenty of warm clothes along and was still recuperating from that head cold so knew 5 days of rest and relaxation would be good for me!

Gunnison is normally the coldest place in the state!!  I'm sure our trip was no exception as it was 7 degrees a couple of the mornings...................we had a little bit of snow accumulate one day but the wind was horrible so it was blizzard like conditions for the day.  Glenn ended up coming home by late morning that day and spent the rest of the day in the 5th wheel with me!

Glenn was normally up by 5:00 and out the door by sunrise - I on the other hand slept in a little longer and had the whole day ahead to read, watch movies and do some swedish weaving!  I did walk down to the lake a couple of times and that water sure looked cold!

I tried to walk a couple of the campground loops every day just to get some exercise because otherwise all I was doing was sitting!  I believe I watched a total of 14 movies during those long days.................but it was fun since I don't normally do that!!

And did Glenn get that elusive elk?  No - he sure didn't - they seemed to be in hiding this year!  But he enjoyed walking the mountains and enjoying nature and that's what it's all about!!

Oh No - I Can't Be Sick!!

But I was................The Friday night after we got back from vacation I started coughing - figured it was just being back in the dry air after being in the humidity for 11 days!  I sure didn't want it to be anything because Jill's were coming down for the weekend but it was not to be.  By Saturday morning I had a full fledged head cold and the darn thing has lasted more than a week!  I shouldn't complain because I haven't had a cold for about a year and a half - guess I was way over due!

So as miserable as I was, I still enjoyed having the kids down and they found plenty to do without me entertaining them!  They were so excited to go out and play on the new playset but it ended up being really cold on Saturday and even drizzled a little bit so it was not a great day to be outside!  They always love getting in the hot tub though!

I fixed their usual snack of fruit and marshmallows that they use a toothpick to eat with!

 Robby kept really busy with the list I had for him!!  First he had to program both tv's to the new remotes we had bought - now with a push of the button, the TV, satellite and sound system come on - oh my gosh it is nice!!!  He also backed up the computers for me and installed a new switch as we just didn't have enough plugs on our router!  Lastly he worked on my small computer that I take when we travel as it still had Windows 7 on it - 24 hours later it finally had the new update!!!  Yes, our internet service is mighty slow at times!!

Jill and I enjoyed the hot tub and a movie downstairs on Saturday night while the guys watched football upstairs!  And before they left late Sunday morning, I gave Aleah a mini lesson on my keyboard - she has shown an interest in taking piano lessons and Jill wanted me to practice with her just a little.  I showed her a few things which she immediately picked up and she did seem very interested in learning how to play!  I would love it if one of our grand children would learn to play the piano!!  So Jill is going to check into lessons and I told her that after Christmas, Aleah could borrow my keyboard to practice!

And now it's a week later as I'm writing this and today (Sunday) is the first day I've felt decent!!  I better be well - we're going camping so Glenn can hunt this week (yes, I said CAMPING).  But more on that in the next blog!!

Reflections On Our Mexico Trip

I did a lot of thinking on our trip to Akumal - imagine that!  We both enjoyed the trip but the "magic" just wasn't there so I did some soul searching to figure out why.  And this is what I discovered...............

1)  I missed Colorado - I missed our new home - I guess we just haven't lived in our house long enough to get over the "newness" of living there.

2)  When you're retired, it's really not "vacation", it's traveling!  This is the first trip for Glenn and I to take a trip alone to Mexico since we retired - and the magic of vacation when you're WORKING is an entirely different feel when you're retired!  When you're working at a job full time, you need that vacation to de-stress, unwind, and sleep in.  But if you're retired, none of that really applies to you because you are already DOING THAT!

3)  Been there - done that!!  I started thinking about all the beach vacations Glenn and I have taken - and then I started writing them down...............since we've been married, we've taken 26 beach vacations out of the country!  That's a lot - a whole lot!!  And though we have enjoyed each and every one of them, I think we've both reached the point where we can say we're ready for something else!! (of course we already have one more planned for Feb so will thoroughly enjoy that, knowing it could possibly be our last one!!)  Just for reference here are the trips we have taken:  Kino Bay (4 times), Bahamas, Puerta Vallarta (2), Yelapa, Jamaica, Manzanillo, Puerto Morales, Playa Del Carmen, Cabo (2), Cozumel, Isla Mujares (2), Loreto (2), LaPaz, Belize, Sayulita, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Tulum, Akumal (2).  It's hard to believe all the wonderful places we have been to!

So that's my take on why the "magic" wasn't there..................but I'm already excited about planning some trips in the states to see places right here in the U.S. that we haven't seen before!

Swimming With The Turtles

What nice relaxing days we had!  Going out to eat for most of our meals was a real treat for me!  We usually go to the grocery store, buy groceries and do most of our own cooking.  But this time we decided to eat out most of the time since the money exchange was so good!  Glenn did cook fish 3 different times for us along with some veggies and potatoes and it was all very good!

One morning on the way to breakfast, this coati was raiding the garbage can!!  Right across from it, there were several garbage cans and there must have been 20 of those creatures digging in the trash!

 One day we went back to Tulum for shopping - I didn't need anything since I already have bookmarks and Christmas ornaments from that region but Glenn always likes to buy "Mexico" t-shirts - and he really did need some!  So found a spot and he got 3 of them so now I can retire some of his old ones to the everyday drawer!  He looked for a ball cap but didn't find one - I never knew him to be so fussy about caps but he is!!

We knew we wanted to eat at the chicken place and it was still there!!  I think for 1/4 chicken for me and 1/2 chicken for him with rice and a drink, it was $8.00!

 Look what was on the napkin holder!!  GO BRONCOS!!

 Another morning we went to the main beach (yes, where all the people are!!) but we went early enough in the morning that it wasn't too bad - this is the beach where you snorkel to see the turtles!!  There are guys waiting at the entrance to the beach trying to get you to hire a guide to see the turtles and it's a little intimidating if you don't know how to deal with them!  Luckily, Glenn just mentioned Francisco, the captian that took him out fishing and it was no problem to get past them!

The water was great that morning - I snorkeled around for quite a while before I FINALLY saw a turtle and then in the next 1/2 hour I saw 4 more!!  It's so neat to see them and to watch them surface and go back down!  Again, no underwater camera!

 Happy Hour under the palapas at the condo!

 Relaxing in the pool on an underwater bar stool.

 The grilled shrimp with garlic butter sauce is SO DARN GOOD in Mexico!  I just couldn't get enough of it!  And I'm not sure what they do with their vegetables (which are served with every meal) but they are fantastic!

 And one last gorgeous sunset before we headed home!

And then it was time to drive back to Cancun, turn in the rental car and head back to Colorado - another trip full of wonderful memories!

Terrific Tulum

I was more than excited for our "Tulum" adventure - but was also worried that the special beach place that we have frequented in the past would be boarded up like it was the last time we were there!  But we donned our swim suits and headed to Tulum.

It was fun to drive by the couple places we have stayed at and the restaurants we have eaten at - but it was also disheartening to see how crowded it was....................the road is very narrow and between the people walking, bikers and supply trucks, it was almost a hassle to drive along that long stretch.

We stopped at a cute little resort to have a smoothie (and use the bathrooms!) - we sat out on the beach for awhile and it was beautiful!!  We also talked to management and asked if we would be allowed to use their beach, just in case we couldn't get in at the other place and they graciously said it would be no problem!!

 We continued on through the park reserve and soon found the spot where we used to park and head to the beach - it was still all boarded up and marked private -  but a little ways further was a driveway to a "beach resort" so we pulled on in!  The place reminded me of an old hippie settlement - tents to stay in, a couple of buildings which housed bathrooms and showers and a bar, of course!!

A guy came over and informed us we were more than welcome to enter the beach area but there would be a fee unless we ate or drank there - no problem!!  Glenn ordered a beer and I ordered a pina colada (one of the best I've had) and we made our way to the beach!!  And it was just as empty and lovely as I've always remembered it..................

 I walked and walked on that soft sand.................and couldn't stop snapping pictures!

 We actually were under this coconut tree for quite a while till we looked up and then decided we better move our towels - you never know when one of those coconuts could come hurdling down!!

 We both thoroughly enjoyed our time there - we did go in the water but didn't venture out too far as the waves were really high that day!!

 As you can see by this next picture, the clouds came out in full force!

 About 8 young adults showed up a little later from London so had one of the gals take our picture - I never tire of seeing that beautiful water and the soft sand!

What an awesome day!!  We ate at Mateo's on the way back through - a great place that we've eaten before at with Teri and Jay and then again with Cindy and Rene'.  Lots of memories!!

It rained hard on the way back to the condo - lots of standing water and the humidity as you can imagine was HIGH!!  Later than evening we went into the pueblo of Akumal and ate at Tequilaville - a place we had eaten at the last time we were here - they had awesome hamburgers and french fries, but it was so hot in there that we could hardly enjoy them..............I was ready to go back to the beach restaurants!!

Breakfasts On the Beach

Oh to wake up each morning and look out from the bed to the ocean - and then walk to that wall of windows and check out the sunrise - that was amazing!

Our favorite place to eat breakfast was on the beach - La Buena Vida!  The food was fantastic and I especially enjoyed all the fresh squeezed juices!

 The view from our table - our condo sits close to the far end of Half Moon Bay as it's called!

 The restaurant has two of these treehouses - you climb up and your drinks (I assume beer only) are sent up via a bucket!  Looks like fun for the younger generation!!

 This restaurant is also famous for their Halloween parties!  We didn't go to the party but did eat dinner there earlier that evening and saw a few people dressed up!

 We headed to Yal Ku lagoon to snorkel - it's only 2 blocks from the condo and is a MUST if you like to see colorful fish!  I didn't have an underwater camera so don't have any pictures of what we saw but this statue is outside the entrance.

 We both snorkeled for a couple of hours, enjoying the gorgeous dark blue fish, the rainbow colored parrot fish, and of course Nemos and Dorys!!  The lagoon is always colder than the ocean but it does go out into the ocean so when you get to the one end, it's warmer, but also a lot rougher water!

After a restful afternoon we headed down to the restaurant Lol-Ha which is right on Turtle Bay and they cooked another set of Glenn's fish - we also enjoyed yummy mango margaritas!

The Broncos game was on that night so Glenn took me home and he came back to watch the game - the actual open bar to the beach closed at 9:00 but the game was still going on.  Since there were several there watching it, the bartender prepared drinks for whoever wanted them and he left - and a security guard stayed there until the game was over.................only in Mexico...................

Reading For Me/Fishing For HIm

This trip was all about relaxation - seems like we have done it all on our beach trips and we knew a couple of things we were going to do but for the most part, we were just going to relax!  I do that well - unfortunately Glenn does not.............

We walked to the beach Saturday morning to find a fisherman to take Glenn out to fish - the beach and water looked so inviting that morning!!

 Glenn found Francisco and his boat - they decided to go out the next morning to fish!

Saturday we went into the Pueblo to get some money exchanged -I remember the days when the peso was about 10 pesos to the dollar - now it's 17 to 18 peso to the dollar!!  So your dollar really goes a long ways!  We also went to the tortilla factory to get some fresh tortillas - but all they were making was corn that day! Eggs were 2 pesos apiece - what a bargain!

Glenn tried to fish a little that day off the point but it's extremely rocky so he kept losing his lures - I passed the time reading of course!  We ate that night at La Cueva del Pescador - the garlic shrimp and pina coladas were great!!  And I was in my pj's by 8:00 that night - we're such party animals!!

Seems like everytime we go to Mexico there is some type of construction going on and this time was no exception - they were re-tiling the steps - and we were on the 3rd floor - so for 3 or 4 days we were stepping over their work!

It was raining when I took Glenn down to fish on Sunday morning and rained quite hard on the way back to the condo - luckily we did have sunshine that afternoon!  But it came down so fast that it was leaking into our bedroom from the little balcony - there was quite a bit of water by the time it stopped!!  Luckily the maid was in early that morning and got it all  mopped up!  Oh, maybe I forgot to mention that there was maid service included EVERY DAY!!  How nice to have someone come in and make your bed, sweep up the sand from the floor and mop, AND do your dishes!!  I didn't complain a bit!

Glenn didn't take his phone the first time he fished but did the second time - these are pictures of the captain out in the ocean and some of the fish they caught!! But first, a picture of his boat!

 I enjoyed the morning relaxing under the palapa!

 And enjoying the view!!

 A restaurant cooked Glenn's fish that evening and we enjoyed eating it!!  On the way home the coatis were out in full force!!  They are cute!

Akumal Bound

It feels like forever since I've blogged - I guess it has................But once you return home from vacation, it's just amazing how much stuff there is to do so that's why I'm late in blogging!  BUT better late than never!

Our Akumal trip was for 11 days - wow - we have never taken that long of a trip!!  But we had a free condo stay and we used miles for our airline tickets so it was just our meals and rental car we had to take care of - still, that really does add up!!

We flew out on Friday, Oct. 21st - the same day that Jessi and her family were coming BACK from Cancun - I waved out the airplane as we missed them at the airport by a couple of hours!!

 Our flight was good - it still seems strange to only get WATER free of charge on the flight and nothing else - yes, this is Frontier - they may have great airline rates but you sure pay for all of the extras!!  Glenn had decided at the last minute to take his fishing pole so of course had to pay for that as a carry on!

We booked our rental car through Easy Way - seems like they change companies all the time at the airport!  Customs was a breeze as we were the only plane that had landed at that time and we even got the green "go" light!  It did take a while to find our guy to transport us to the rental place as he wasn't where the rest of them were!  But we got it all taken care of and drove off in our compact red car!

Glenn does a great job of driving in Mexico - now me, I'm nervous!!  The highway is wonderful though and it's an easy hour and a half to Akumal!  We were sure surprised when we pulled into the area along the beach - it was very crowded and much more commercialized than the last time we were down there!  There is virtually NO parking unless you pay - and of course that's where all the restaurants are so you had no choice!

The condo sits at the very end of the road - it's a couple of miles down to the swim beach and restaurants and it's always quiet at this end so that's nice!  But the condo we were supposed to stay in was NOT finished being renovated and we only found this out the day before we flew - so the owner advised us we would be staying up one more floor (3rd floor) but with all the same amenities.

That wasn't true - there was no a/c in the unit nor the bedroom - and there was no TV.  Now don't get me wrong, we don't go on vacation to watch TV but we also don't stay out in the evenings and party and drink - so most nights we were back to the condo by 7:00 or shortly after.................which made for a REALLY long evening for Glenn as he doesn't like to read like I do! 

But other than that, the condo was great - the absolute BEST was the view!!  ( notice all the steps in the condo - this makes for a view from every room, even the bedroom!!)

 There was a complete wall of windows facing the beach and I can't tell you how many hours I spent just watching the waves................

 There was a small outdoor balcony off the bedroom which overlooked the courtyard.

 One of the 2 swimming pools.

 Plenty of chaise lounge chairs and palapas to sit under!!

 Dinner that first evening was at La Buena Vida, our favorite restaurant.  The fish was excellent that night and the view was awesome!  It's so nice to sit outside on the beach and eat your meals!!

With the fan going, we both slept great, despite the humidity!