Fish River Canyon May 9th 2006 It is only day four and yet I am becoming familiar with the rhythm of the trip; tents down 6 AM, breakfast 6:15 AM, on the road by 6:45 AM. Gone is my old morning routine; wake up 5:45 AM, walk dogs 6:30 AM, at work by 7 AM, get coffee and read emails 7:15 AM., morning meetings, etc. I don’t miss it. This new pattern feels good, comfortable. Climbing in and out of the big truck is becoming less difficult and hopefully a little more graceful. Once on the road I settle into the [View Full Entry]

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I felt bad that there were no photos of Guam so here are some of mine. Hope you enjoy. [View Full Entry]

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This again is going to be more of a photo journal until I have time to update the journal entry. Hopefully I will find the time. In the meanwhile I hope you enjoy the photos. The hotel I stayed at was Manta Ray Bay Hotel and I dove with Yap Divers, a dive shop attached to the hotel. The staff at both the hotel and the dive shop where amazing. Alex my dive buddy was the greatest and got me to do things I swore I would never ever try i.e. a twilight or night dive. If you are planning a [View Full Entry]

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A hundred different shades of green and blue. White foam of surf breaking on the reef, the sapphire blue of the deep and the turquoise green of the shallow. Air that does not have the heavy scent of salt, but the strange and unfamiliar luring sweet of the mangrove blossom. A breeze blows the faintest hint of plummera. I follow a village elder and a small group of tourists down a mossy stone path, through small taro patches and betel nut palms. This ancient path, made difficult to keep prying eyes from looking up and into neighbors’ homes, is slippery and [View Full Entry]

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Underway on the USCGC WALNUT My short fly by to check on the house in Alexandria and the fam in California done, it was on to Hawaii. So what did I do in the first few days after I was out of the Coast Guard? Well I was out on the 1st of July, swore in to the Reserves on the 7th of July and flew out to Hawaii for a week underway with Meg on the WALNUT on the 15th of July. So much for flying solo. It was great to see Meg and get underway again. I hadn't seen [View Full Entry]

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After almost completing a long list of projects, my pregnant sister in law became very dizzy. Whether it was the rapidly rising southern California heat or the paint fumes, no one knew but after several hours at the local hospital the doctor prescribed home and lots of rest. My brother having gone back to school was in his last week of finals for the summer session which left me babysitter of choice. I was not very qualified, but I was free and already in the house so much to the frustration of my former boss, I delayed working on my required [View Full Entry]

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As we start our decent for BWI we fly low and slow over Annapolis. She is full in her summer beauty. It is early evening and the sun has just begun to set. The sky, a golden yellow, reflected off the water, breaks into a million little dancing prisms. There are still hundreds of sail boats on the water. I do miss that sight. It is America at her most beautiful. The weather is in the 80’s according to the pilot. It looks like it has been a sunny day but the dark clouds of an impending summer storm lay heavy [View Full Entry]

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Passport Control Keflavik Happy to finally be the next in line I stepped forward, smiled and handed over my passport and onward ticket to the large blonde Immigration Officer in uniform. He looked to be in his mid 40’s, his light blue shirt matched the color of his eyes. He took my passport and without looking up mumbled something to me in Swedish. I was a little surprised given he was holding my passport that had United States of America stamped all over it, but maybe because my name is Scandinavian he assumed I spoke Swedish. Tried and lazy, knowing his [View Full Entry]

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Marrakech to Paris Heather and I woke up early this morning to head to the Marrakech Airport. It was sad leaving the riad. With both of us on different coasts, all grown up, and competing demands there is precious little time together anymore. One week of crazy adventures every two years is not enough. On arrival the airport is scattered with tourists. It is the low season but flights for Nice and Marseilles are being called. At check in I discover my luggage is 3 kgs overweight and I must pay a fee. This being a European system it involves another [View Full Entry]

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Nikki Beach Club How to describe Nikki Beach Club? We arrived around 4PM in attempt to escape the sweltering African afternoon heat to a high white painted wall with two white directors chairs and table in front of the entrance. There was a modern floral display of white calla lilies and grass on a table covered in a pristine floor length white tablecloth. Five men all clothed in white smiled at us as we handed them the invitation card from our riad. It was all screaming South Beach. “Oh yes please welcome” Ok, I don’t know what Heather is thinking [View Full Entry]

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