Panama Canal Cruise

We just returned from a 10-day cruise on the Coral Princess through the Panama Canal. It was round-trip from Fort Lauderdale with stops in Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica and Jamaica. The Mr's parents invited us to tag along with them and we all had a wonderful time. We were thrilled to escape the Colorado cold and venture to more tropical climes. The engineers among us (self included) were very interested in the massive undertaking of human innovation. In preparation we had all read The Path Between the Seas, by John McCullough.

We flew from Denver to Miami and had a couple of days on either side of the cruise which gave us a full 2-weeks of rest and relaxation. After leaving Florida, we had two full days at sea before arriving in our first port. We enjoyed meeting new friends, and really recommend the Anytime Dining option. As the name implies, we just showed up at the dining room on our own schedule and were seated with new people every night. The food was marvelous, especially the abundance of fresh fruit at every meal. By the end of the cruise everyone had to loosen the belt. Besides eating, we played a little shuffleboard and Gran & Gramps tried to teach us Bridge. We took advantage of the interesting lectures offered through the Scholarship at Sea program, learning about the region, the places we would be visiting, and a little about the Gulf Stream and climate change. The evening shows were also fantastic. The Mr. and I took a few spinning classes and spent some time in the gym to battle the effects of the abundance of great food.

Our first port was Oranjestad, Aruba, Day 3. We sent the Grand's on a glass-bottom boat tour and we went on a snorkeling excursion. We visited a couple of different sites including the wreck of the Antilla. Our time in the water was too short, but we really enjoyed seeing a wreck site. The coral and fish activity was not as spectacular as Hawaii or the lagoon at Akumal. We eventually made our way to a dock where we had a bite to eat, then had a little beach time before returning to the ship. I regret not having pictures of Aruba. There is a strong Dutch influence in the architecture and the colors are bold. Our weather was spectacular, 80's with a pleasant breeze.

Day 4 brought us to Cartegena, Columbia. As we approached the city, a fisherman in a small boat was in the direct line of our ship. He was having engine trouble and eventually had to to get his oar and paddle so as not to get swallowed up by the massive cruise ship bearing down on him.

We took a tour to see the highlights of Cartegena including Las Popas, the fortress, and the Old City. Cartegena is a very large city, and it was recommended that we not venture out on our own. The sights were very interesting, but the rest of the city was extremely 3rd World. Driving through the streets, we saw barefoot children, a lot of garbage, homes made out of cinder blocks with tin roofs, and a very poor standard of living. At the tourist destinations, beggars and street peddlers were very persistent, and we were careful not to engage them or even make eye-contact. Our guide was very informative about the culture, the history and the region.

On Day 5 we set our alarm clock for 5:00 a.m. so as not to miss the approach to the Panama Canal. We staked our position at the front of the ship before sunrise and listened to the commentary.

We were lucky to have another ship alongside in the other lock, a smaller cruise ship. The Coral Princess is a Panamax ship, meaning it was designed to just fit through the canal. The "mules" tie off at the front and back to keep it from rubbing too much on the sides of the canal, but it is a very tight fit. I like the picture that shows the scale: there is a bus driving across the gate behind our ship as another large ship enters the canal on the other side. There are three locks on the Atlantic side that raise the ship 84 feet to the level of Gatun Lake, a huge reservoir. Once in the lake, we tendered to shore for our excursion. The Coral Princess would return through the Gatun locks to the Atlantic Ocean and we would re-board later in the day. We chose a shore excursion that would take us by ferry through the rest of the canal, through the Gaillard Cut and the Miraflores locks all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The majority of revenue for the canal comes from the large container carriers. The tug boat in this picture is performing a fire drill. A worst case scenario would be for a large ship to catch fire or get stuck in the Gaillard Cut, which can only accommodate one-way traffic. The bridges spanning the Canal were another marvel.

When we arrived at the Miraflores locks we found another ferry and four small yachts waiting for us. They would not want to waste the 26 million gallons of water that is released from the lake into the ocean by sending small craft through one at a time. After arriving at our destination, Panama City, on the Pacific side, we re-boarded our bus for a wild ride over curvy roads back to the Coral Princess docked at Cristobal. What we saw of Panama City was a beautiful, modern city, but the rest of the country outside of the Canal Zone was decidedly 3rd World.

Day 6 brought us to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. Eight days of torrential rain preceded us, but when we arrived the sun broke through and the weather was beautiful. Because of the rain, garbage trucks had been unable to pick up, so trash was everywhere and several rivers were running high. We boarded a small shuttle to visit a Sloth Sanctuary about an hour out of the town. On the way we saw monkeys and interesting birds in the trees. The sloth babies were adorable - especially the little guy sucking on his fingers. In addition to meeting several sloths up close, we took a canoe ride on a small river where we saw several birds and a caymen.

After another day at sea we pulled into Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on Day 8. We planned the Chukka Canopy excursion, a zip line traverse down the side of the mountain. This was the highlight of the trip - seven 2-line traverses and two "surprises." Our Jamaican guide talked about the region and the culture as we made our way to the start of the adventure on a 1-lane 2-way mountain road. After strapping into the harnesses and a quick safety demo, we hiked to the first traverse. After the initial thrill of being suspended in mid-air, it became easier to step off and fly through the forest. The "surprises" were descents that went straight down! We highly recommend a zip line adventure if the opportunity presents itself! Of the places we visited, Jamaica was the one we would most likely return to. The people were very friendly and laid back and it didn't seem as poverty stricken as Panama and Columbia.

After another full day at sea, we docked at Fort Lauderdale, back in the good 'ol U.S. of A. Our flight didn't leave until later the following day, so we rented a car and took a drive down to the Keys, stopping for lunch at The Wreck Grill, a place we remembered from our trip to the Keys a few years ago. They have the best Key Lime Pie! We also visited John Pennekamp State Park before we returned to Miami for the night. The next morning before our flight we did a driving tour of Miami Beach, starting at South Beach and driving north.

Our experience was almost 100% positive. One negative was a virus that was running rampant through the ship. We count our blessings: all stayed healthy, but it was Code Red and the crew had a hard time keeping up with the sanitization procedures. Over 300 did get quite ill and were quarantined. We were also in the minority regarding age - I could count on one hand the couples under age 65. But it was a priceless opportunity to share this experience with the Grand's.

The San Francisco Report

3 days to experience the city -we ate our way through San Francisco and loved every bite! The purpose of this little adventure was to get 1300 more miles on the Mr.'s account so he could maintain his Premiere status with United. Didn't happen.

Our trip started with a snowy drive to Denver the night before to catch a 6:00 a.m. flight. After a very short night in a hotel near DIA, we found ourselves in line waiting for the United check in counter to open. Early in the week we requested an upgrade using the Mr.'s Premiere perks and were already confirmed for First Class. =-) What a way to travel! The bag was tagged priority and was the first off the conveyor in San Francisco. We skipped the line at airport security and were the first ones on the plane. We were served OJ and water immediately and a full breakfast after takeoff. The seats are big and comfortable and the flight attendants are very responsive. I highly recommend flying First Class given the opportunity.

We arrived in San Francisco before 8:00 a.m. and called our shuttle service, Airport Express. They picked us up right outside and whisked us off to our hotel, Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf. A room was available for early check-in - YEAH! - so we left our bags and started our adventure! First on the agenda was to find a place to buy the Muni Pass giving us full access to the cable cars, trolleys and city buses. We walked through the Wharf area as things were just opening up. The weather was gorgeous - very clear and about 50 degrees and warming. We could see Alcatraz and the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges. We walked in and out of several piers and eventually made it to the starting point for the Hyde-Powell cable car where we could buy our 3-day Muni Pass. One cable car had just left and a queue as forming for the next one. We enjoyed visiting with a group of ladies who travel together once a year. After the next car was turned around we all hopped on. We rode all the way to the end of the line - the hills are incredible!

We jumped back in line to take the cable car back to Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world and the start of our walking tour. Several weeks ago I requested information from the San Francisco Visitor's Center and received several booklets, each with a 5-day plan for seeing the city. I picked the one booklet that best matched what we were interested in and we carried it as our guide, along with a good map. The highlight in this section of the city was Coit Tower. We chose to walk up the steps to this high point and the view was spectacular. We wandered around and found a back set of steps and followed them down - down - down. They kept going and there were little homes tucked into the side of the hill. It amazed me that people live perched on the side of the hill like that. It didn't appear that there was any street access except for these steep stairs.

We made our way back to the wharf area and purchased tickets for an afternoon Harbor Tour with the Blue & Gold Fleet. We found lunch at Boudin Bakery, famous for their sourdough bread. I had tomato basil soup in a bread bowl and the Mr. had a sandwich and clam chowder. We ate out on the patio with birds squawking and ready to swoop in if we happened to drop a crumb. After lunch we wandered through Pier 39, an area with shopping and street performers. A juggler was getting ready to start his show so we found a place on a bench, happy to rest our weary bones. At one point he needed a volunteer, but since no one raised a hand he chose the Mr. It was quite fun to see him in this awkward situation!

The Harbor Tour was recommended and we enjoyed it. The Harbor Seals were lounging on the docks as we left and bid us farewell with their barking. Out on the harbor the wind was whipping, but it was such a beautiful day. The PA system on the ferry kept a running commentary as we made our way toward Golden Gate Bridge. Sea Gulls followed and were rewarded as one of our fellow passengers held crackers up for them. We did a circle around Alcatraz and then toward the Bay Bridge before being welcomed back to land by the Harbor Seals.

Our next goal was the Golden Gate Bridge. We had a bus route planned that involved 3 bus lines. People were very helpful. On each bus we were recognized as the clueless tourists that we were and given assistance that made the next step so much easier. Walking across the bridge it was quite windy and chilly, but fun to do just to say you did. We walked about halfway then turned around and came back. There were lots of bike riders and we decided that the next time we visited the city we would plan for a day of biking. We found our way back to the Wharf by bus and then went to dinner at Scoma's, highly recommended by several friends. The Mr. had been to Scoma's twice before when in the city on business. It lived up to expectations and we walked away pleasantly stuffed.

Day two began with a Trolley ride to Sear's Fine Foods for breakfast. One of the "10 Best Places for Breakfast" in my Top 10 guide book was listed as a favorite for locals, and we agreed. It was busy and noisy, but our timing was good and we were seated right away. Service was great and the food was exactly what we needed to fuel the tank for the day ahead. After breakfast we walked down to the St. Francis Hotel where the Mr. stayed on his first visit to San Francisco as a college senior. He was interviewing for a position with an energy company and walked into this posh hotel with his TSJC duffel bag, the hick from the sticks on his first trip to the big city.

We hiked up Nob Hill to Grace Cathedral and then did a little shopping at Neimann Marcus. We rode the escalator up, did a loop of the floor, then rode the escalator up again, looping until we reached the top. On the 4th floor, my eye landed on a jacket that I just had to try on. It was strapped to the rack with a cable, but I was able to put it on and check myself out in the mirror. It was leather and velvet with a furry fox collar and fit me perfectly! I tried to get the Mr. to snap my picture, but he was trying to look inconspicuous behind a large plant. At this point a saleswoman came to see if she could help us, but I assured her we were "just looking." I took a quick look at the price tag as I hung it back up: $12,900! It was some jacket!

We popped in and out of several hotels and stores that were way beyond our means. Eventually we made our way South of Market to see the sights around the Museum of Modern Art and the Moscone Convention Center. The picture at right is a contrast in time: the little brick and mortar St. Paul's Catholic Church in the shadow of the towering steel and glass Marriot Hotel.

Our lunch goal was the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero, the sight of a very busy Farmer's Market on Saturdays. Throngs of people were wandering through vendor stalls outside and artisanal food shops inside. We found some soup and bread, and sausage on a stick for the Mr. and staked our territory on a bench overlooking the Harbor and the Bay Bridge. Pigeons and other dirty birds kept an eye out for any unattended bread that they might steal. The Hyatt Hotel near the Embarcadero and the Ferry building had a wonderful bathroom that we visited a couple of times that day. They also had amazing Christmas decorations in the lobby.

After lunch we trekked off in the direction of the Bay Bridge, which I thought was more impressive than the Golden Gate. At some point we also walked through China Town and marvelled at the blue duck for sale in several butcher shops. The Mr. has been to China and said it was much the same. Eventually we made our way back to Market Street where we caught the California Line Trolley back to Fisherman's Wharf. Dinner that night was at a tiny restaurant on a little side street a few blocks from our hotel. Albona Ristorante Istriano served food from Istria, a little country near northern Italy. It was very good, and very pricey, but not the most expensive meal we ate while in San Francisco.

Day three was cloudy and cooler, but still pleasant. We started with an early breakfast at Buena Vista Cafe, famous for Irish Coffee. (We took our coffee black and virgin.) Then we set off to more adventures. We had a 12:30 brunch reservation at Top of the Mark, so we spent the morning popping in and out of more classy hotels and stores. The brunch was by far the most expensive meal of the weekend, and probably the most expensive meal I remember eating, but it was marvelous. We had a prime seat at a window facing west. It was still a little cloudy but Alcatraz and the bridges were just visible. The brunch included all the expected delicacies, champagne and caviar, smoked salmon, prime rib, a variety of salads, vegetables, soups, fruits, cheeses and desserts. We took our time and savored the experience. Fat and happy, we had just a couple of hours left in San Francisco. We made our way to the Civic Center and popped into the main public library. At the Asian Museum we saw a sign that it was a free day, so we wandered in and spent the rest of our time looking at Asian antiquities. This was a rougher part of town than where we had been so far. There were a lot of homeless people and the police had a young man in handcuffs at the entrance to the library. What a contrast from how we had spent the morning.

Our shuttle reservation for the trip back to the airport was at 4:00, so we took a trolley back to the hotel. We requested a First Class upgrade for the return trip, and our names were on the list, but we wouldn't know until it was time to board. In the waiting area there was a monitor where we could watch the status of the upgrade. Half an hour before flight time, the monitor showed that the flight was cancelled. We hurried to United Customer Service and were one of the first in line. There were no other United flights that night, but everyone was re-booked onto a Frontier flight that was leaving about an hour later from another terminal. It was a long brisk walk, but we made it over there and checked in. No first class for us on Frontier; and as we waited for it to board we also realized that the Mr. would be 400 miles short on achieving Premiere Status! Bummer! So we are going to have to go somewhere else! Lucky for us the Air Force Falcons are playing in the Armed Forces Bowl on New Year's Eve. I think we'll follow them to Fort Worth and cheer them on!

San Francisco is a big city with all the problems that go with it. But we found the people very friendly and helpful. Our weather was beautiful and we covered a lot of ground on foot and by cable car, trolley and bus. Famous for food, we splurged in that category and spent more on meals than on everything else combined. We went home exhausted but glad to have had the opportunity to share the city with each other.

San Francisco on the Cheap (Not!!)

Several months ago we were planning to fly to the East Coast on Delta using reward points from my Visa. Long story short: we cancelled that flight after multiple and often humorous changes by the airline and flew United instead. The result was flight vouchers in our name at a travel agency in California which we hoped to redeem at a later date.

Fast Forward: the Mr. needs 1300 miles with United to reach Frequent Flyer Premiere status for this year. We put our noggins together and decided to venture off to San Francisco for a weekend. We have both been there on business, but never together. The Mr. hasn’t even seen the Golden Gate Bridge, though he’s been to the city 4 or 5 times. The first weekend in December seemed the only weekend we weren’t otherwise committed, and it lands sufficiently distant from Thanksgiving or Christmas so we are hoping for crowd-free travel.

To maximize the value, we are flying out very early on Friday morning and returning late Sunday evening. We will have almost 3 full days of sightseeing with only 2 nights in a hotel. Lodging in San Francisco is quite pricey. I found what I hope is a good deal with Expedia: Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf for a measly $179 per night. I’m still choking on that, but after my research this actually seemed reasonable for San Francisco. It might have been cheaper to stay out by the airport but we really wanted the whole city experience. We are also planning to take only one day off work, though now I’m thinking I may take Monday off to recover.

We are not renting a car, but plan to use the varied mass transit options. I mapped out the route from airport to hotel using BART and the bus/trolley system, but then I found an airport shuttle service that will eliminate the hassle of trying to negotiate mass transit in a new city with luggage. $28 per person round trip seems like a good value for the convenience. We plan to purchase a 3-Day Muni-Pass for $18, which will give us access to bus, light rail, trolley and cable cars.

I received the visitor’s pack from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce which included several 5-day tour plans based on areas of interest. I’ve been studying them and I have a plan of attack that allows us to maximize the sites in the limited time. We plan to do a Harbor Cruise, but otherwise won’t venture too far beyond the heart of the city. We will save the Wine Country, Muir Woods, and Monterey for another time.

The thing I am most looking forward to is the food. Several people have mentioned Scoma’s on Fisherman’s Wharf. We plan to get our names on the list early Friday evening since they don’t take reservations. For Saturday evening I have reservations at an Italian place just a couple of blocks from our hotel, Albona Istriana. It comes highly recommended on TripAdvisor and other websites. I also have reservations at Top of the Mark for Sunday Brunch. I expect each of these meals to top $100.
I admit I’m a frugalist. (I just made that word up - I don’t think it will work on Scrabble!) I like to feel like I’m getting the biggest bang for my hard-earned buck, especially in this economy! Technically, we didn’t pay for the airline tickets, but the rest of the package comes with a price tag. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if we can keep the cost of this little weekend adventure in San Francisco under $1000.

Biking Maine

We just returned from an awesome biking trip in Maine! This was in honor of our 25th anniversary as Mr. & Mrs. Getting There
Last Saturday, Oct. 4, we flew to Boston and rented a car for the trip north. Flights were on time and the hassle-factor was minimal. We were a little disappointed as we left Boston because the trees were mostly green - were we too early for the fall foliage? Our first night was a beautiful B&B in Dover, New Hampshire, The Silver Fountain Inn. (http://www.silverfountain.com/) It was a home built in the 1800's and beautifully decorated. Susan, the innkeeper, was extremely gracious and offered us tea or hot apple cider and a warm cookie. She told us the town was having an Apple Festival and gave us recommendations for dinner. We were too late for the festival, but did a self-guided walking tour of the river front and mill area, then ate at a restaurant very popular with the locals, Christopher's Third. Sunday morning breakfast at the Inn was over the top - the Mr. had banana waffles and I had a wonderful omelet with lots spinach, mushrooms and Havarti cheese. We shared our meal with two other couples and enjoyed visiting with them. One couple was from Texas and we had many things in common. The other couple was from Wales and he was a trumpet player in the BBC Wales orchestra. (I love the way they talk - Brilliant!) Dover was off the beaten path of I-95 and we were glad we made it our first stop.

We left Dover around 10:00 a.m. and headed north. At Brunswick we left the interstate and took Route 1 through scenic little towns and villages. As we continued north the color improved and there were small pockets of reds, oranges and yellows. It was very rural with occasional peeks at the ocean. Eventually we made it to our destination, The Claremont Inn, at Southwest Harbor. After checking in we met Tom, one of the guides, and were fitted for our bikes, 18-gear hybrids with upright handlebars. We met the other bikers in the bar before dinner and then ate in the dining room of the Claremont as a group. There were a total of 11 of us, plus the two guides.

The Characters

Guides - Tom & Cindy: Very energetic! They were fun to be with, welcoming, encouraging, and extremely knowledgeable about the area, the local people, the flora & fauna, and biking.

The "Other" Team Colorado - Kent & Shera: They were the most "seasoned" in our group and we enjoyed their company at dinners. From Denver, Kent had done Ride the Rockies, but Shera was a little nervous about the distance and the hills. She did great, just didn't do all the optional miles.

The Southern Couple - Jay and Debbie: Neonatologist and nurse from Tennessee, marathoners; Jay had a new camera and Debbie often showed up without him because he was taking pictures.

Sister Act - Helen & Patty: sisters from Chicago & Pennsylvania. Patty had done this trip before with another sister and convinced Helen to go this year. I wonder if I could convince my sisters to do something like this with me.
Mom & Daughter - Allison and Jessica: Allison is in Real Estate in Detroit and Jessica (the daughter) is studying Interior Design in Chicago. They were both very fit and had a great time with each other and everyone else.

The German - Goetz: Travelling by himself, he was like an Energizer Bunny. He did all the optional rides and hikes and took lots of pictures.

Swan's Island

The first ride was to the ferry for the trip across the harbor to Swan's Island. It was bright but breezy and chilly. We were glad for all the layers we had including gloves, ear warmers, wind pants and jacket. Lobstering is the main industry and there is evidence of it everywhere. We watched one lobster boat pulling his traps as we passed by. We biked around Swan's Island, stopping first at Saturn Press. The "old-fashioned" printing press of years gone by is still in use by the printer and all design is done upstairs. The process and the proprietor were very interesting. We especially enjoyed meeting Pica, the elderly French bulldog who greeted us.

Swan's Island is the year-round residence of about 300 families scattered around in small communities. There are no "services" but there is a post office, which we visited to take advantage of the facilities. We had a marvelous picnic lunch at Hockamock Head Lighthouse prepared by Tom. I think this was my favorite meal of the whole trip. Sunshine, ocean views, good company, and marvelous sandwiches of fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes and pesto on a hard roll. There were several shacks like this one on docks with all the trappings of the lobster trade.

After the ferry ride back we visited another lighthouse, Bass Harbor Head Light. We also rode past a yacht builder and saw a deer, smaller and darker than the ones we see in our neighborhood. Monday evening we sampled the local delicacies at Beal's Lobster Shack. It was very authentic, but sadly didn't agree with me and I spent the night re-visiting every bite. I don't think I'll be going out of my way for lobster any time soon.

We rode about 31 miles on Monday.

Kayaking and Hiking

We did not ride bikes on Day 2. After a wonderful breakfast, the kayak guide picked us up and took us to be fitted for life vests, polypropylene shoes and "skirts" that fit around the kayak opening to keep our bottom half dry. The tides and wind determine the destination and we ended up going across to Bartlett Island which is owned by the Rockefeller's. We saw a bald eagle, but not a lot of other wildlife. The wind was pretty strong and the water was choppy where it was not protected. The kayaks were 2-person boats and the person in back (me) was in charge of controlling the rudder with both feet. Great upper body workout, too.

After a few hours on the water we walked through the little town of Southwest Harbor and stopped at Eat-A-Pita for lunch, then back to the Claremont to prepare for the next adventure - a hike up Beech Mountain (elevation: 839 feet). This was the group photo-op (see above) and Robin, a local who happened to be up there with us, patiently took the group photo with every single camera. She was very sweet. The view was fantastic, though a little hazy in the distance. Guides, Cindy and Tom, pointed out the places we had been and other places we would be going.

Entering Acadia

Wednesday was the day to transfer from the Claremont in Southwest Harbor to the Manor House Inn in Bar Harbor. Most of the group chose to ride the first 9 mile option to Northeast Harbor. We missed the turn-off and added a few miles and an extra hill, but got to see Upper Hadlock Pond, which was beautiful. We felt like we were in the Amazing Race and had to make up for lost time, but we recovered and met Cindy at the van for re-fueling. In Northeast Harbor we visited the little general store to buy lunch to take into the park for later. Acadia National Park has over 50 miles of carriage roads reserved for bikes and horses, and several miles of hiking trails. It was spectacular. As the week progressed so did the patchwork of autumn colors.

We had lunch on the lawn at Jordan Pond House, then did the optional Day Mountain (elevation 583 feet). This is us at the summit. We saw a few horse drawn carriages and our bikes were equipped with bells so we could warn them if we approached from behind. We eventually rode into Bar Harbor and found our bags delivered to our room at the Manor House Inn.

We rode about 40 miles on Wednesday counting our detour to Upper Hadlock.

Dinner that night was on our own, and the Mr. & I chose Guiness & Porcinis, a little Italian place in Bar Harbor. Delicious!

Cool & Cloudy

Thursday we woke to misty rain, but the forecast said it would be clearing and it was relatively warm. After our morning Map Wrap we rode out from Bar Harbor and back into Acadia, stopping at Adelman's Deli for sandwiches for a later lunch. We rode for quite a distance along the Park Loop Road, a one-way road with cars and tour buses. Bar Harbor welcomes cruise ships and there were two large ships in port every day we were there. They dump the cruisers into the town where they queue up for buses then get shuttled around the park. The Park Loop Road follows the shoreline for a good distance with several overlooks and points of interest including Sand Beach and Thunder Hole.

We stopped at Bubble Pond for a picnic lunch. It had been overcast and dark all morning, but as we ate our lunch the sun was trying to peek through. At one point this branch was absolutely glowing as the sun hit it. It was spectacular and the photo does not do it justice.

By the time lunch was finished the sun was shining in all it's glory and we were ready to tackle Cadillac Mountain (elevation 1530 feet.) It was a 5 mile climb from Bubble Pond, and all but Kent and Shera tackled it. We shed layers for the uphill and worked up a bit of a sweat, but it was windy and cold on top so all the layers went back on. The down hill was great, and we had earned it!

We rode approximately 32 miles on Thursday.

That evening's dinner was at Maggie's in Bar Harbor. After dinner we went back to the Inn and Tom pulled out a dice game. We each had to pony up $3, and it was a dice rolling game of chance. The Mr. is usually very unlucky in such things, but he actually won the pot!

Last Day

Friday the sun was bright and according to the local news, the colors had reached "Peak." We rode back into Acadia and biked along Eagle Lake, Witch's Hole Pond and then did the Aunt Betty Pond option. The colors were indeed glorious. We were sad that this was our last day riding. We were back to the Inn by noon and said Goodbye to our new friends. We had a 6-hour drive back to Boston where we returned the rental car and had a short night before our early morning flight back to Colorado.

On Friday we biked about 16 miles.

We had a marvelous time! We give Tom and Cindy 5 out of 5 snowflakes for being excellent guides and hosts. We look forward to future bike trips and will definitely choose Bike Vermont (http://www.bikevermont.com/) for our next 2-wheel adventure.

Reward Travel

Our next planned travel adventure is a bike trip to celebrate our 25th anniversary as Mr. & Mrs. The actual anniversary was in May of this year, but the trip is planned to coincide with the prime color changes of October along the coast of Maine. We started planning for this trip nearly a year ago, and as I am prone to do, I was on the lookout for the best bang for our bucks. I chose Bike Vermont as the tour company, and locked in the tour and dates right after they announced the 2008 schedule. (In a future blog I will tell all about the trip, but as it hasn’t happened yet, my expectations are high.) This entry is about the adventures I’ve had so far in planning.

I have a Visa that accumulates reward points, and after many years of random purchases, I had enough points for two round-trip tickets anywhere in the continental U.S. In January I was thrilled to find a flight on Delta that met my criteria: it left Colo. Springs mid-morning and arrived in Bangor, Maine, before dark with one stop coming and going. This was not trivial, as Maine seems to be a difficult place to get to from here. I acquired these tickets using my reward points and was feeling quite proud of my conquest. Bangor was still an hour from our final destination and I was researching the optimal mode of transportation for the final leg – most likely a community shuttle. A rental car didn’t seem necessary as we were biking with a tour group.

Around March the emails started. At first, the flight times changed and we would be leaving Colo. Springs at O-dark-thirty in the morning. An additional stop was added, and we weren’t arriving in Bangor until very late in the day. I called the Reward Points travel agent, Ruby, who had set up the flight and was told there was nothing I could do to change flights or airlines. It started to get humorous as flight changes continued to occur every few weeks with notification via email from Ruby. At one point we were flying Colo. Springs to Atlanta to Cincinnati to Boston to Bangor, and the flight from Cincinnati to Boston left before the flight arrived from Atlanta. The last change took us west to Salt Lake City, then on to Atlanta, Boston and finally Bangor. (I was disappointed we were no longer going through Cincinnati as we had never been there.) The return trip included an overnight in the Atlanta airport, though Delta was not offering any accommodations or compensation.

Finally, in June, the Mr. said, “Enough!” He was afraid that by the time we arrived in Maine (if we arrived in Maine) we would be luggage-less and so frustrated we would vow to stay home for every future anniversary for the sake of the marriage. The Mr. flies United regularly for business and is close to earning Premiere status again this year, so he encouraged me to find another way to Maine, preferably on United. Ever the frugalist, I’m happy to report that I found $200 round-trip tickets from Colo. Springs to Boston with only one stop. As I said before, Bangor is one of those places hard to get to from here, so from Boston we are renting a car for the final leg of our journey. I reserved a room at a B&B in New Hampshire for the first night. We will enjoy a leisurely drive up the coast enjoying the colors before we join our bike group in Bar Harbor. I cancelled our “free” Delta flights. Don’t know if I will ever use the vouchers for future travel (which I have yet to see.) I think I will change my Visa to a cash-back program instead of Reward Points.

Watch this space for pictures and musings from our grand 25th Anniversary Biking Adventure.

Grateful & Proud

Yesterday was an Air Force Academy Football game. We've had season tickets for about 10 years, but these particular seats have been in the Mr's family since the beginning, sometime in the 1960's, I'm guessing. We were given the privilege of renewing them when the Aunts & Uncles who preceded us could no longer attend. We sit on the 50-yard line towards the top of the 2nd tier. They are really good seats and we enjoy the camaraderie of the same fellow fans game after game and year after year. The funny thing is, other than Air Force, we don't even follow football.

So we arrived early to the game yesterday, as is our custom. In fact, we were the very first ones sitting in our section. This year there is a new feature to our tickets - $5 to spend in the stadium on food or fan paraphernalia. Previous years we would pack a lunch and have a mini tailgate party, but now we go into the stadium and head to the Chik-Fil-A stand to buy lunch. Then we wander to our seats and enjoy the team warm-ups. As we sat in the warm sun eating our chicken sandwiches I remarked to the Mr, "We have a good life!" And he agreed. We couldn't imagine anything we'd rather be doing at that moment. It was a beautiful September day in Colorado, sunny and warm with just the faintest hint of cool weather to come. But we will enjoy it just as much in November when the sun sets behind the stadium and the temperature plummets to well below freezing and the flag is standing at attention from the gale force winds.

AFA Football is in a class by itself. Of course being at a military academy there is a certain pageantry that is not duplicated: the march-on of the cadets; the full-crowd participation in singing the national anthem; the parachutists that drop into the stadium with the American flag, the POW flag, and the game ball; the half-time show with the falconry demonstrations; the flyovers. Flyovers are a particular highlight. A formation of F-16's flying in formation directly overhead, then turning on the afterburners as they point noses toward space always brings a tear to my eye. The technology and good 'Ole American ingenuity that has culminated in such a marvelous machine makes my head spin. There are usually special presentations during breaks in the game. Yesterday, two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, circa WWII, were recognized. As we walk out out of the stadium, Lee Greenwood belts out "Proud to be an American," as he has after every game for the last 7 years.

And I am proud. But more than that, I am grateful. I'm grateful for this life, for this country, for this place that I live, and for the people who share all of this with me, and I am not too proud to say so. I'm grateful for the those Medal of Honor recipients who know the cost of our freedom and for the young men and women standing on the field just starting their military careers. I'm grateful for all the families who give their blessing as their own take a stand and are willing to lay down their own lives for a greater cause. I'm grateful for the men and women who started a great experiment in democracy almost 250 years ago, and I'm grateful for those that continue to work out the details daily at the local, state and federal levels. I'm grateful that I have opportunity to express my ideas and I'm grateful for those whose ideas differ from my own. I'm grateful that in a week of economic turmoil, the Mr. & I own our home debt-free and smile at the future. I'm grateful for so much more, and I am very proud to be an American!

Free Lunch

Saturdays are great for a little wandering.

After my Saturday Weight Lifting class at the club I like to visit my local green-grocer-to-the-max, Whole Foods. I always feel like an impostor in this store. Do they realize I am not one of them?


As I wandered the aesthetically engineered produce department I sampled fresh tortilla chips and guac, a little pineapple and Rocky Ford cantaloupe. Today's highlight in produce was a tiny fingerling potato (grown organically in Colorado) roasted in olive oil and seasoned just right. On a good day there are offerings at the fish counter. Today it was smoked salmon salad on a cracker - yum! In recent weeks I sampled tortilla chips and salsa that theoretically had all the Omega-3 good stuff as a serving of Salmon. In frozen foods I tried a couple offerings from Boulder Ice Cream, Raspberry White Chocolate being my favorite. Over in the meat section I found a chicken sausage that was quite good. I'm not a fan of cheese so I skipped through there and headed for the bakery. My favorite is Seed-duction bread though all the breads are good. There were not any sweet treats offered today from the Dessert Counter, but last week was a delicious Carrot Cake. Often there are several samplings throughout the store, but it was a little light today. Yes, it's true, I only came for the free lunch. Occasionally I actually buy something, but today I wandered back out empty-handed thinking through the list of things I needed from a REAL grocery store.


I like Whole Foods as a concept. And there are a few things that I regularly purchase there. I like the bulk section and stock up on oatmeal, local honey, and HempPlus granola which is great mixed in yogurt. In the vitamin section I buy Fish Oil tablets and Elderberry which the Mr. swears keeps the canker sores away. I occasionally buy sushi and eat it on the patio. Seasonally, the Cioppino (tomato based fish stew) warms me from the inside out when the wind is biting. If, in my wanderings, I see something that is on sale and a good deal, I will get it. But in general, things are more expensive and I just feel like I'm being taken advantage of for the sake of atmosphere and good intentions.


The big chains have come a long way in improving the environment and overall shopping experience. My local King Soopers now carries bulk foods and has an excellent selection of gluten-free items. My favorite Safeway is just finishing a major remodel and the ambiance of the produce department is as inviting as Whole Foods. I can find everything I need, and watching sales and using coupons make me feel like I'm getting a good deal. Savings at the gas pump doesn't hurt either. The big three, Safeway, King Soopers and Albertson's, are all within a few miles of my house, whereas Whole Foods is across town. During the course of a week I typically visit them all. But the main reason I will continue to do the majority of my grocery shopping at Safeway and King Soopers is I feel like I belong there. When I visit Whole Foods for my Saturday free lunch I feel like a wedding crasher.