Kudos to Barbados

Brrr!   The 2013-14 winter months are long and we are experiencing unusually bitter cold temperatures.  We need a break from winter.  So, we book ourselves on an 11-day Southern Caribbean Cruise. 

Day 6:  The ship docks in Bridgetown, Barbados.  Today, we are participating in the “Barbados Turtle Encounter”. 

Our tour is operated by Ocean Adventures.  We board the Silver Moon II with Captain Tony and his crew.  After we cruise across the bay, we arrive near Payne's Beach where we anxiously anticipate snorkeling and swimming with the sea turtles.  We are here for 1.5 hours and no sea turtles are seen.  Just before Captain Tony calls us back onboard, we see one sea turtle.  Usually there are 20+ sea turtles (they were here this morning).  The lack of turtles is a rare experience and we have the unlucky timing of being here at the wrong time.   We climb onboard the boat and Captain Tony moves us closer to shore.

  

Sea Turtle Encounter

At Payne’s Beach, we climb down the boat’s ladder and swim a short distance to shore.  From here, we “slip” onto the banana boat for an “appealing” ride and then we climb aboard an inflatable over-sized lounge chair (up to four people) for another thrilling water ride.  The motor boat speeds across the water and our ride bounces across the wake of the speed boat.  This is a fun thing to do but beware that it is not suitable for anyone with neck or back problems.

  

Banana Boat Ride

We return to the Silver Moon II and sail back across the bay to return to the ship.  We wave good-bye to Barbados as the ship sets sail for St. Lucia. 

Startin' in St. Martin/Sint Maarten

Brrr!   The 2013-14 winter months are long and we are experiencing unusually bitter cold temperatures.  We need a break from winter.  So, we book ourselves on an 11-day Southern Caribbean Cruise. 

At 8:00 a.m., the ship docks in Phillipsburg (along with four other cruise ships in port today).  This morning, we are participating in the St. Maarten Eco Tour.  We meet our tour guide Eva and bus driver Gabriel.  We make two photo stops - one at a protected area where visitors can access an elevated wooden deck and do some whale watching and the other stop is at Paradise View.   

Paradise View

We drive through the French Quarter before arriving at the St. Maarten Zoo.  The zoo surprises me ... it is small but it is more than I expected.  Prudence (our zoo guide) walks with us through the zoo and introducing us to the animals.  We see lots of birds like the Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrot (bright green in color), peacocks (one male is strutting his stuff - proud as a peacock!), Anna the white Umbrella Cockatoo, the rare Spectacled Owl with huge eyes, peach-colored Ibis, Red-Billed Toucans, Goats, Capybara (a huge rat with no tail), Vervet Monkeys (you can feed the monkeys), a Bush Dog, turtles (you can pick them up – they are big and heavy … and not potty trained!)), a Collared Peccary (aka Javelina - looks like a pig), a raccoon, African Fruit-Eating Bats, a Cayman Crocodile, an Ocelot (member of the cat family), and a domestic kitty wandering through the zoo - maybe to visit the Ocelot. 

      

An Ocelot

       

  Show-Off Peacock    

 

Vervet (Greeen) Monkey

We leave the zoo and cross the short National Bridge.  Here, a marker and flags designate the border line between the Dutch Sint Maarten and the French St. Martin

Border Line

We return to Phillipsburg where our tour ends near the pier.  Tomorrow, we have a leisurely day at sea.

Lake Michigan - Frozen in Time

During a typical winter season, only 30% to 40% of the Great Lakes are covered by ice.  But in this 2013-14 winter season, the ice coverage on the Great Lakes is just over 92%.  Predictions for this winter season indicate the Great Lakes ice coverage will not break the record of 94.7% ice coverage measured in 1979.    

It has been 20 years since the Great Lakes has seen this kind of ice coverage (measured at 90.7% in 1994).  So, we take advantage of this rare opportunity to see a frozen Lake Michigan ...   

We arrive at the pier to the Grand Haven Light early Monday afternoon.  There are plenty of other people just as curious as we are to see and experience this unusual frozen environment.  It is windy along the lakeshore and the wind chill is making the air temperature feel “refreshingly cold”.  We dress in layers and begin our walk down the pier.  Because the sun is shining and the temperature is above freezing, the snow on the pier is melting.  I feel like I am walking on a slushy drink.  At the end of concrete pier lies Lake Michigan.  People are scrambling over the huge snow boulders and walking on frozen water.  Large, thick slabs of ice are piled up along the edge of the concrete pier. 

            

We get to view the two red lighthouses from the water – an angle we have never seen since we don’t own a boat to motor in/out of the channel to Lake Michigan.  This is a rare treat but, quite honestly, I am more than ready for winter to end.  Come on Spring!! 

Come & See Manistee, Michigan

Usually when we visit Manistee, MI (USA), we drive over the drawbridge and cross town to access nature trails or to see Manistee’s Lake Michigan Lighthouse.  However, this Sunday, we are heading downtown to spend the night at the historic Ramsdell Inn.  It was a bank in one of its former lives (the vault now serves as a gift shop – how cool is that!?).  The two floors above the lobby used to be offices.  They have been converted into the 10 guest rooms (8 rooms and two suites - all with private baths). 

               

Ramsdell Inn               View from our room

Because this is an old building, there are not any elevators.  We walk up the 53 steps to our fourth floor room located at the end of the hall.   Natural light fills this two-room corner suite which includes a king-size bed, a sitting room with a loveseat facing a gas fireplace, and at the corner of the room is a curved turret/alcove where a small table and chairs are placed.   From here we have a nice view of the downtown and the Manistee River. 

Twilight time brings a light but steady rain to the downtown area.  The wet pavement is reflecting the street lights – a double delight for the eyes.  I have to get my camera out to take advantage of this photo opportunity. 

                     

 Manistee at Night                              Downtown Manistee

We take a stroll along the Manistee Riverwalk.  This 1.5 mile path stretches from downtown to Lake Michigan.  It is a great place to watch the boats go up and down the channel or people watch. 

 

Manistee Riverwalk

May I suggest visiting the following websites to help you begin planning your trip to Manistee:

Visit Manistee

Visit Manistee County

Catch You in Ketchikan AK & Misty Fjords NM

Ketchikan is known as the “Salmon Capital of the World” and its nickname is “the First City”.  It is the gateway to the glacial-sculpted Misty Fjords National Monument (a wilderness area almost four times the size of Rhode Island).   That is where we are heading today …

You Know 'Bout Juneau - Sled Dog Discovery & Mushers Camp - Juneau, AK

This visit to Juneau, we are doing something we have never done in Alaska – the “Sled Dog Discovery & Musher’s Camp”. 

The musher’s camp is located on Douglas Island (across the channel from Juneau).  A small bus takes us to the rustic camp where four teams of 16 dogs each are anxiously waiting for us.  When we arrive, we meet Shanie (our dog team musher).   These dogs are her babies.  They are barking and jumping in the air with excitement and eager to start running. 

Once the dogs get running, they are all business.  Our mile long ride takes us down dirt roads through an old-growth forest.  When Shanie gives commands like “Gee” for “right” and “Haw” for “left”, her voice is gentle but firm. 

After the ride, we are introduced to the dogs in our sled team.   Petting the dogs and interacting with them is strongly encouraged.   We have some Q&A time about the care given to these beautiful dogs, the Iditarod, and dog sled training.  Finally, we get to hold the puppies. 

For more information about the Iditarod, check out the following link:

Iditarod