September 29th, 2015

We are here in Iceland and what a great time so far. The weather has been cool, rainy, sunny, windy but no snow. After arriving in the dark this morning in Iceland we were able to check into our little apartment at the Rey Apartment in the heart of Reykjavik and then off to a small Cafe Bakery called the Sandholt for a delicious breakfast. By now it was 9am :-) A nice long walk was next on the agenda and our travels took us to a tour of the Harpe, the magnificent cultural centre on the water front. Up and down streets, along the water front, into a huge Luthern Church with a huge pipe organ and risque paintings, down more side streets. The afternoon was spent at The Blue Lagoon and what fun. A huge hot spring formed 800 years ago and has been providing a treat for everybody over the years. We spent 3 hours in and out of the water and it was so nice as the air temperature was 9. The wind was blowing so the whole lagoon was covered in steam. It looked like a snow storm. We did mud packs on our face, had a cool drink, laughed through a heavy rain shower , and enjoyed the sun a few minutes later. The landscape on the drive to the Blue Lagoon was barren, rocky and quite different. Mostly lava rock. After our drive back into Reykjavik (we all had a snooze on the bus) we popped into the Seabaron Restaurant and had a delicious dinner of fish, veggie and potato shiskabobs eaten at a picnic table on the 3rd floor of a small old building overlooking the harbour. Tired from the  flight and the busy day we headed back to the apartment. Made it as far as the Apotek Bar where a delicious dessert beckoned us from their display window. After dessert and Irish cofFee we called it a night. In bed at 9 am.

September 18, 2015

10 more sleeps and then we are off to Iceland, France and Belgium with Vicki and Blake

April 27th - 29th, 2015

Another day on the road - up the 87, across the Mass Turnpike to the 495 and then onto the 95. Amazing how the traffic lessens as we head north to the Canadian border. We pulled off the road at Kennebunkport, Maine to visit Steve Lockhart and at the same time discovered we had a tire losing air because of a piece of metal embedded in the tire. Luck was on our side - fixed in no time at a tire store and then off to spend the afternoon and night with Lock. Mary is in Singapore.
Last day in the States - easy drive to the border near Centreville, across with no problems and arrived at Grammie's early afternoon to spend the night. Everyone fine in Carleton County. Wednesday we are off down the road late morning , grab a Tim's and head to Moncton to pick up Christoph at daycare and have supper with Derek and Katja. Arrive in Fort Lawrence around 7:30, quick visit with Jeff and crew and roll into our yard at 8:30. Everyone is fine. We leave in the snow, drive 9700 kms and arrive home to snow still in our yard. May the 10th it left the main yard but still in the woods

April 24th - April 26th, 2015

Friday, our last day. Yoga on the beach, packing, swimming, relaxing, barbecue steak, saying goodbye.  On the road Sat morning by 6:45 - up Park Blvd, 275, 75, 301 (stop at the Orange Shop), 95, 321 and the 77. Off the road at Statesville, NC at a Ramada Inn. Beth and Pete pulled in just ahead of us after leaving the same time and came up the 95, 26 and 77. Our drive was a little shorter, slower but more relaxing. Had a great evening with them. Sunday they left at 6:15 and we left at 7:45. Rain, fog and then the sun appeared for most of the day - traffic was steady and we (I) had enough by 6pm so we pulled off at the junction of the 84 and 87 into a HoJo's with a delicious Italian restaurant near by. Beth and Pete went as far as Worcester. Not much more you can say about driving :-)

Sunrise over Tampa

The rolling sun

Foggy morning on the 81

Beautiful spring blossoms on the 81

April 17th - 23rd, 2015

We have had beautiful weather - temperature in the high 20's, water at 25, breeze most days. Over the last few days we have had a day visit from Gisele and Fred, a yearly visit to Rainbows End quilt shop and classic car dealership, daily stints on the beach, swimming, a four day visit with Paul and Judy at Far Horizons, the best crab cakes ever at The Pub at Indian Rocks, barbecues, first rain since Mar 27th on Monday, April 20th, a shopping morning with Judy, yoga on the beach, a rainy morning at John's Pass and drive along the strip to Pass a Grill, lots of reading and relaxing.

April 11th - 16th, 2015

A full six days of fun, friends and fantastic weather. The sun has shone everyday since Mar 27th and have had one little, little shower one afternoon. The Hatheway's have spent time with us everyday under our umbrella enjoying a relaxing time reading, swimming, chatting, socializing with the VanVulpens, the Estabrooks and the Smiths down the beach. We have had a feast at Roy and Sharman's, barbecue at our little abode, watched the Masters and had supper at a pub in downtown St. Petersburg, dinner at the Salt Rock Grill on the patio by the Inter Coastal Waterway, dinner of wings and salad at the Hatheway's condo at the Sandlewood, and last night at The Pub on the patio by the water. Marla, Kevin, Jen and Rick wandered over from Orlando to spend a day and night with us at Far Horizons. Lots of laughs. Our one day of golfing at the East Bay golf course with the Smiths, Hatheway's and Donna and John was hot, full of good shots, bad shots, alligator, parrots , a pink flamingo, lost balls and lots of laughs and stories. We and the Hatheway's took in a Smokey Robinson show at the Mahaffy Centre in St Petes and he still has a voice that can belt the songs out and a very energetic man. Last night was Katherine and Jim's last one in Florida so after dinner we took in some live music at JD's and PJ's but no Friendly's karaoke tonight. The Long Islanders Ice Teas were very enjoyable - they sure make them different in the U.S.  

Marina downtown St Petersburg

Jim, Jen, Pete, Katherine, Bernie

Baby alligator at golf course

Sand sculpture

Kevin, Marla, Jim, Katherine, Jen, Bernie and Jen

Smokey Robinson

April 9th - 10th, 2015

The guys are back and happy to have them back. They had a great time in Daytona - golf was good, weather was good, food was good and the water was cold ! Katherine and Jim are staying for a week at North Redington Beach so we have set up our little spot on the beach - 2 umbrellas, four chairs, a little table and all is well. The weather has been unbelievable, sunny and in the high 20's and low 30's with a nice little breeze. Last night we had a delicious outdoor dinner at Petey Joe's ,( friends Joe, Pete, Beth and Marlene's digs ) watched the sunset, talked, laughed, watched chinese lanterns being released into the dark night and listened to the waves. Perfect.

Jenn and Jim at Sea Breeze restaurant

Jenn, Beth, Marlene, Sharman and Katherine

Jim, Bernie and Roy

Sunset on the beach

April 8th, 2015

Alan's and Rosemary's birthdays - hope they had a good one !
Saw Michael Bolton in concert at the Capital Theatre in Clearwater. Loved the show especially when he sang to us from the aisle beside our seats . Made a mistake and went to the Ruth Eckerd Hall first and found out it was at the Capital. Thank goodness they are only 10 kms apart

April 5th - April 7th, 2015

Another 3 days of beautiful weather - sunny and temperatures in the high 20's. Perfect for walking, swimming, relaxing and welcoming new arrivals to the beach. Katherine arrived by air on Monday and Beth, Pete, Marlene and Joe arrived by car on Saturday. All glad to be here. Tuesday was a busy day with a long walk in the morning, beach time, lunch at PJ's Pub with a crew to listen to Eddie Coffey sing (Nflder), beach time, then a walk to Friendly's Tavern for dinner and karaoke. It was a fun night with Katherine singing - great representation for NS. Had great skype time with all the little guys on Sunday (and the big guys and Mom). Even a special kiss from Christoph

Katherine, Sharman and Linda

Gayle and Brian

Jennifer, Donna and Vivian

Jenn and her friends

April 2nd - April 4th, 2015

The days on the beach with all its sounds and visions - the water changing colour by the hour from dark blue to aqua to green to blue, the sand cool on the toes, the constant sound of waves breaking on the sand, the scream of the gulls and the beautiful flight of a pelican as it skims the water, the cries of little kids as they play and the constant chatter of people, all the shapes and sizes of people as they walk, run, stroll, shuffle along the beach going in both directions, the array of outfits, the dozen of umbrellas blowing in the breeze, sandcastles of every description dotting the waters edge, dolphins dancing off shore, seadoos and sailboats and motor boats and paddle boards do a parade in front of our eyes, kids and big kids attempting the art of skim boarding along the water's edge, weddings on the beach, pedal bikes of all shapes and sizes flying by, fishing off the pier and land, people searching for the perfect shell, soccer games and volley ball games and football games and bocce games at different times of the day, relaxing under an umbrella enjoying a good book and a cold drink, hanging out with friends and sharing stories and laughs, people watching, swimming, floating, watching helicopters and small planes and wind surfers buzz by just off shore, evening drink on the balcony, and a different sunset every night. I'm sure I missed many more sights and sounds.

Beach between the piers - 1 mile

Kevin our beach boy who puts up the umbrellas

Had to be a bachelor party or a dare 

Beach crab

March 28th - April 1st, 2015

The cold front has moved in and has driven everybody to don their sweatshirts. The number of people on the beach has dwindled but the weather has made a great couple of days to wander the market at Dunedin, skype the kids in Riverview (poor Christoph kept going to the door to find us - he was having a hard time figuring out where we were), visit a Fine Arts Show with Fred and Gisele in Tarpon Springs, face time the Fort Lawrence crew and relax on the deck at the condo

Fred, Jenn and Gisele

The days warmed up again and everyone hit the beach. On Monday we had a great visit from James and Karen McIver. They arrived early afternoon for a few hours on the beach, swimming, walking and chatting. We wandered down to Sea Breeze for a delicious dinner on the outside deck by the Intercoastal Waterway and they stayed at Far Horizons for the night.

Tuesday and Wed - beautiful days in the low 80's and full days. Carl and Judy appeared on the scene at Sharman and Roy's so the days were spent golfing, shopping, lunch with the Nfld singers at PJ'S, a few hours on the beach, sunsets, barbecue at the condo, touring, and dinner at Sea Breeze again. Fun, fun

March 25th - 27th, 2015

The days are still great in Florida. Reading on the beach, swimming, sunscreen, barbecues, sunsets, night out with the girls (Sharman, Jennifer from Nfld, and Linda) to supper and a show, shopping at Ellenton Factory Outlet Stores, rain and wind and the surf is up, relaxing.

My beach boy

Surf is up after a rain storm

Sunset after the storm