08/11/2015 It’s been a busy week. Chance arrived on August 2nd, after we picked him up at the airport we stopped by Big Bight to check out the beach. What a gorgeous area that is. It’s a great place to take the pups to run around and play in the water.
We came home and unloaded the car, changed into swimsuits and went to Turquoise Bay for the afternoon. The people there are so nice, they have comfy chairs and the drinks are excellent. We hung out for awhile, chillaxing, Bill and Chance got some food and I floated with my monkey la-la. It was a nice relaxing day.
Helping Paws Across Borders had another spay and neuter day on Sunday but I was not there to help out. That was the day Chance arrived and also the day they neutered the piggy (I missed that), he only weighed about 60#’s. Most of the vets/vet techs left on Saturday and the other vet left on Monday. There were 3 remaining techs on the island so Chance and I picked them up Monday morning in Oak Ridge and we headed to West Bay beach for some sun and snorkeling. It was a gorgeous day and the beach was not crowded at all. We sat at Bananarama because it’s right at the end of the road where we parked, their food is good, they allow you to use their chairs if you are consuming, they have bathrooms and a shower to rinse off and this is the view.
Thanks Bananarama for the great service!! Your employees are the best.
On Tuesday we loaded 3 pups in the car and headed to Big Bight. They had an absolute blast running around, chasing each other, jumping off things into the water, swimming, ramming each other and rolling in the sand.
On Wednesday our friends Carmen and Brett (from S. Dakota) picked us up in their boat at BJ’s and we went to their fabulous home on the water and relaxed and ate and drank, just a little. Then they took us snorkeling in their amazing backyard. I mean, talk about living on the water. They live right next door to our other friends from Snohomish, WA who will be moving down here full time soon. They both have very cool homes with incredible locations, you can’t get more “on a beach” than they both are. They can listen to the waves lapping on the shore ALL DAY LONG. So peaceful. We had a great time snorkeling, lots of stuff to see out there. The sea was a little churned up but not too bad.
It was a great day spent with friends on the water. Even when you are on their porch you are still “on the water.”
Thursday was another day of adventure. We went to Marcia and Dennis’s home for some first time newbie kayaking and some snorkeling. After a great lunch that Marcia made, she, Chance and I set off for the deep blue sea. Neither Chance nor I had ever kayaked so it was an experience to say the least.
We started off with a tour of the mangroves. The mangrove tunnels were built by the Paya Indians a long time ago. The tunnels allowed them to navigate from one area to another without having to enter the rough sea. I have been through the mangrove cuts before but not the tunnels and not propelled by the paddle in my hand. It was amazing.
Another fantastic day on the water, does it ever end? We left Dennis and Marcia’s and came home and napped. After the huge lunch she had prepared we didn’t even have dinner.
Friday was a day of running errands, getting food, trying once again to pay our cable bill (they can’t get the card to process) and a variety of other mundane things. Friday night we finally made it to Cal’s for dinner. We got there early and it’s a good thing we did because they were busy. We had a great meal, as always and most of the neighborhood was there!
Saturday I prepared eggs for the dogs, eggs for me, chopped veggies for the afternoon at Trish and Daves’ and a cucumber salsa that was refreshingly different. The recipe is as follows:
6 peeled and diced cukes, 1 can of Rotel, 1/4 c. cider vinegar, 1 package of ranch dressing, 1 chopped medium size red onion. I added a seeded chopped jalapeno also. Served with chips, it was really good.
We spent the day eating and floating in their wonderful pool. I feel so fortunate to have met Trish on-line and to have the friendship we now have!
On Sunday Chance and I picked up Brett and Carmen and went to La Sirena for lunch. We made a pit stop at Roger and Jeanies to clip Cessas toenails and take Roger some get well goodies (Gatorade and bananas). We had a great lunch @ La Sirena and some kick ass rum punches. Holy crap, Selena fills the glass 2/3 full of rum then adds a splash of punch. One is my limit, whether I’m driving or not, if I drink two I fall asleep.
Monday Chance and I ran around looking for things for him to take back to the girls. Once we got home I decided we should take the pups for a swim to the lagoon so Bill, Chance, Alexi and I loaded all 3 in the car and went to Parrot Tree. The pups went crazy again, they love to swim so much. They were not still for a minute. Bill noticed someone out in the middle of the lagoon swimming towards us, it was our friend Walter. He came over and talked to us for awhile and some lady walked over when she saw the pups on the beach. She loved watching them play, she said it made her miss her dogs. Once we got home I had the pleasure of bathing the 3 little monsters. That’s the only not fun part of taking them swimming is the bath afterwards but you have to get the sand and grit and salt water off of them, otherwise they will itch like crazy.
Tuesday was overcast, hot but not brilliant sunshine. Bill had a dental appointment this morning and then took his truck into get it fixed (trouble starting it) and Chance and I ran and got him. Next my car goes back in because the headlights smell like they are burning up, again. This was supposed to be fixed by the electrical guy but quite obviously something is amiss. UGH, this car shit it crazy. Last night between the cicadas and Frito wanting out at 2:30 AM, I took a 2 hour nap this afternoon. I needed that nap for my sanity. Kathy stopped by to give the dogs their final puppy shots and worm them and then we went to Cal’s for a “sad to see you leave dinner” with Chance. He heads home tomorrow, back to Rapid City, South Dakota.
We walked in to Cal’s and Lynda and Dave were sitting there, so happy to see them, favorites for sure! The last time Bill, Teri, Olivia and I rented here it was their house, Toucan Blue. They joined us for a windy dinner on the balcony, superb meal by Carl as always.
Today is a sad day, BOOHOO, Chance leaves, not ready for him to go home. It’s always so difficult saying good bye to the boys, one of the hardest things about living down here. I guess having their next visit to look forward to makes it semi bearable..I have to remain positive about these things and be grateful he came to spend some time with us.
Mermaid on a Raft 
awesome lifestyle, I do so want to come and see you, not in the cards for awhile. we are in Kentucky, will be visiting an old work friend then off to see Charlie Hays. In Sept we will be in Pensacola, will be having a mini HS reunion, Karen Shipman and husband, Elaine Mason and husband, they live there, Harry Ulmer and Carolyn Hess so far. Then in Ocy it will be a whole month in the Keys, Sunshine Key, just south of Marathon Ket is where we will be staying. Take cafe of the pups, they are so darn cute.
Anytime, my friend, anytime..
Lovely photos and the underwater selfie is great! Your pups in the water pics make me smile as you can see the joy and exuberance in the faces. Sounds like you had another wonderful visit with your son. I like the pictures of the mangrove tunnels, how cool is that? Seems very mystical. We like to kayak, too, hopefully, you can get to try it more.
Thanks Barbara, it was a great week. I was to go kayaking again today but it’s thundering and pouring down rain!!