On the Road and from the Sea with Bobbi and Carl

Manatee Springs State Park, Chiefland, Florida

2012-01-18T16:20:00.000-08:00

We stumbled upon this State Park and were beckoned to stop for the chance to see Manatees. We had only gone about 40 miles for the day but this park was a gem and we wanted to check it out. We were delighted with what we found. The springs area were gorgeous and there were swimmers. Although it was beautiful it looked cold. They assured us it was room temperature.

There was a half mile trail to the river that was gorgeous. The reflections were awesome and the shoreline held many little surprises.

It only got better as we walked along.

At the end of the trail there is a gazebo, where you can sit and take in nature. We did see a few noses and backs of manatees but they were a distance away. Our Kodak moment came when one of the “chicken hawks” landed right next to us. The black spots in the trees and in the sky are hundreds of chicken hawks. They are scavengers so the area must provide them with enough food but we just saw them either sitting or swooping.

Note to my scrapping friends. The layouts were all down with My Memories program. It quick and easy, a pure joy to use. Really loving it.

December 16–26, 2011–Christmas Week

2011-12-23T16:45:00.000-08:00

Finally got to Florida.

Christmas on the beach RV style.

It was late when we got to the campground. Since the sun sets before 5 we have to push it to enjoy the sunset. We weren’t disappointed.The next day we walked the trail to see the Fort. Along the way we were delighted with all the sights.The marsh lands are breeding grounds for many wildlife species.

Just loved the reflection of this tree and this butterfly just posed so nicely to have its picture taken.

Saw the Heron the next day when the fog was incredible. We have one of these that visits at our place in Kona.

Arrived at the Fort and had a guided tour by a Ranger who is also the historian of this National Park. This was one of 4 forts that was built to defend our shores from other countries but only saw action during the Civil War.

Next day had lunch at We Have Crabs. Ate there last March. Food is great, service outstanding and it is right on the water.

I had the clam basket and Carl had the combo platter. The yellow “presents” are half a lemon tied up in yellow netting with red ribbon. Great presentation.

This sunset was waiting for us as we hurried to get back to out camp site for sunset.

Look what we found. Recommended by the hair dresser who cut my hair. Sorry no picture of our meals. We devoured it before we even thought about a picture. I had Saimin to the Max and Carl had Chicken Katsu and Primo Beer. Do we sound homesick or what?

Another beautiful day and another gorgeous sunset.

We’ve made the decision to stay here for Christmas. Weather was very active today and we still have things we want to see here.

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Mele Kalikima to all our family and friends.

Mele Kalikimaka

2011-12-12T08:04:00.000-08:00

I havn't post the Thanksgiving pictures yet but I did want to get this posted before it's a new year. Mele Kalikimaka.

The Miracle of Christmas Branson, MO

2011-11-26T11:12:00.000-08:00

We went to Branson two weeks ago to see this show. It was Veterans weekend. What were we thinking? There were zillions of people in town for the occasion and we were not able to get tickets. So much of our journey has been dictated by fate and this was to be no exception. We went back to Oklahoma to say goodbye to our kids as we left on our next six month journey.

When we went to Broken Arrow to see Shantel and Mike they were celebrating Ryder’s second birthday. What a treat for us. Living so far away from family has major draw backs regarding sharing family events. It was a great day for us.

We were leaving Oklahoma City after saying goodbye to Chuck and Lura Lee when we discover the macerating was not working. We couldn’t find an RV dealer that would help us so we headed back to Rogers, AR where Hoss was able to solve the problem and take care of us.

Branson, MO

2011-11-14T20:34:00.001-08:00

We stay at Branson City RV park on Tanneycomo Lake. It’s pricier than we usually spend but just love the water fowl, fishermen, and boats coming and going. The location is great also. It’s right down from The Landing and the old downtown.

We were so excited to be able to come here at this time of the year. From Nov. 1 until the end of Dec. they have all the Christmas shows and all is decorated to the hilts. Well, you can tell we are retired and never know what day of the week it is much less if it is a holiday weekend. We showed up last Friday with no reservations to discover that Branson celebrates Veterans Day for a whole week. People come from far and wide and have reservation for a year in advance.

We did get an RV spot, not by the water the first night, but were able to move the next day. We weren’t as lucky to get tickets to the Christmas Shows. They were sold out until the week of the 21st.

We were able to see one of the drive thru Light Shows on Monday night. It was rainy but that didn’t distract from the beautiful presentation.

Still having problems with Christmas Music, Lights and decorations before eating turkey but it was beautiful and we are glad that we were able to experience it. Still very disappointed we couldn’t get tickets for The Miracle of Christmas. We will just have to save that for the next time.

Arcadia Lake, Edmond , Oklahoma Sept., Oct. Nov. 2011

2011-11-11T06:39:00.001-08:00

We have been in Oklahoma due to medical issues. All is well now but did want to share where we have lived. We are often asked how can we affor KOAs at $45 a night. We don’t do KOAs but prefer Corp of Engineer parks. They are almost always on water, the spaces are large and the scenery and wild life are exceptional. They are usually $18 to $20 a night and half price for price America the Beautiful card holders. The colors right now are gorgeous. We are on our way Branson, MO for the Christmas lights and The Miracle of Christmas show.

Roadtrek Balloon Fiesta Rally -Sept. 30 - Oct. 3, 2011

2011-10-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

Click on the video below to start the music. Then scroll down to the slide show below it.

This is what a balloon glows looks like

Branson, MO - 2011

2011-09-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

We have been in Branson for over a week now. It is one of our favorite places to be.
The Branson City Lakeside RV park is a delightful place to stay at. It is right on the water, which offers it's own kind of entertainment. It is right next to the Landing which has great shopping and lots of good restaurant. If you like, you can walk to Historic Down town or catch a free trolley.
We went to see Noah the Musical and loved it as much as the first time. The sets are remarkable. The behind the scences tour is wonderful.
The water fowl are always our favorite and this year delighted us with their new babies.
The weather has gone from a high of a 103 to a low of 51 degrees. The lake is so cold that the breezes feel like air conditioned air. It is a world famous trout fishing lake which is stocked from a hatchery which we went to visit.

Muncho Lake, BC-May 2011

2011-08-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

This was the most beautiful lake we had ever seen. It was the most beautiful aqua color. Most of the lake was still frozen except around the edges. During the day when the sun was shinning on it you could hear the ice tinkleling as it thawed out. We spent 3 days here , using it as a home base and sight seeing on day trips.

As I write this it seems like such a long time ago that we experienced this. Hate doing this after the fact but wasn't able to do it in real time because of the remoteness and lack of internet.

Denali National Park

2011-07-03T17:36:00.000-07:00

We have been at Denali for 4 days now. It has been cloudy and rainy most of the time. We did get a glimpse of that magnificent mountain the day we took the 10 hour bus ride. You can see the snow covered tip and part of the right side. Look how much talker it is than the mountain range that is in full view.

6-17-2011 - Kenai, Alaska

2011-06-17T18:43:00.001-07:00

Didn't know I got this picture of the mother eagle getting a stick for her nest. I just kept clicking away hoping to get her wings in flight. When I unloaded the pictures I was delighted. We stopped at the Capt. Cook Recreation area and there she was sitting on the piece of drift wood.

Each day we are surprised with the beauty of Alaska. Today the sun was shinning and the mountains shoned in all their beauty.

We are staying at Diamond M RV resort. Tonight they are hosting a sea food dinner.

5-17-2011 Pink Mountain to Toad River, BC

2011-06-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

The community is mainly a travel- and tourism-related stop with highway maintenance, lodging, restaurant, gas station, telephone, private 3000 foot airstrip. Toad River Lodge includes a collection of over7,000 hats , many of them donated by those who have passed by while traveling on the Alaska Highway.

One of our group left a Roadtrek hat but we couldn't find it.

We couldn't decide what this was. Finally decided it was a caribou.

May 15, 2011 - Start of 2011 Roadtrek Walk About

2011-06-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

I'm posting whenever I have connectivity to support it. Talk about "rural".

Twenty four rigs gathered at Dawson Creek on May 15, 2011 for the start of " Roadtrek Walk About" which was the brain storm of Wendel Nunes. The loosey goosey format was we would meet up at weekly to 10 day intervals following a skeleton outline. The specifics and details were left up to the individuals. It works for us as we don't like to get up early or travel for long hours.

Walk About Road Trek -

2011-05-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

The top picture is our group picture at the start of our trek in Dawson Creek, Canada. This indeed is a loosey goosey trek. We have meeting points along the way over the next 3 months and in between those points we go and come where we choose.

Second picture is in Taylor, British Columbia. This was our first information stop after we left the group. Armed with tons of material - hate paper but internet is limited here. This lady was a wealth of information.

Have more to post but will have to wait until we have stronger internet. We are stopped outside of a closed casino in Dawson City. The date today in 5/28/2011

Kona Reef Tsunami Damage 3/11/1011

2011-03-13T08:47:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of the Tsunami damage incurred at the Kona Reef. The damage was all on the first floor ocean front units. We are on the 4th floor so all is well with our unit. The pool and surrounding areas had significant damage but will be opened by the 15th, just 4 days after the Tusunami.

The video is showing the after surges in downtown Kailua.

Launch and Landing of Final Discovery Shuttle

2011-03-12T15:54:00.000-08:00

We were fortunate to be able to attend the launching and the landing of the final Discovery Space Shuttle flight. The launch took place on Feb. 24, 2011. We got there three days before the launch and spent 2 days in Wallmart's parking lot and the last night on the street at Space View Park which was directly across the river from the launch pad. Words cannot describe the anticipation before the launch. The sight of the launch was breath taking as well as extremely emotional. Since we were staying in Florida for several weeks we made the decision to go back and see the landing. Both the launch and the landing were so memorable that words and even pictures cannot describe what we were so fortunate to witness. What an awesome experience.

Our God Daughter Michele and Husband Norman

2011-03-07T11:12:00.000-08:00

Michele is our friend Caroles' (from MN and AZ) daughter. Carole, Carl and I were classmates from grade school to graduation. Carl and I are Michele's' god parents. She lives in Jupiter, FL. After our stay in Titesville for the launch we were able to spend the day with Michele and her husband Norman in Jupiter. After lunch on the water at Crab House, first time for Conch fritters, we spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the local sights. We can see why they enjoy living there. It really is a beautiful place. Can't wait to spend time with them again. Thinks they are planning to visit us in Hawaii.

Launch Day-2-24-2011

2011-02-26T19:20:00.001-08:00

What a thrill. We made a memory for a lifetime.

Dec. 28 - Jan. 2 - Las Vegas, Nevada

2011-01-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

We arrived in Vegas on the 28th. Main Street Station in downtown Vegas has an RV park. We were meeting Wendell Nunes who is also an RVer and Lei. We also ran into Jackie and Alvin Hayashibara from Honolulu. Jackie and I worked together. I just added a Face book Picture badge - not sure how it will work but it is suppose to display the pictures I just added.

Bobbi Braun | Create Your Badge

Hawaii Five-O Theme Song

2010-10-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

This is great - watch for the marching band performances on the field.

New Accessory - Aug. 2010

2010-09-06T14:02:00.000-07:00

We were in Elkhart, IN, which is where we picked up the Roadtrek three years ago. We happened to be at the same campground where they were having a big Rally for the Class A motorhomes. We were able to go to the vendor display and bought a flag holder and three flags - USA, Hawaiian and Air Force. We usually display it on the front but here at Lake Monroe we parked nose first so we displayed it on the back. Pretty cool, huh?

Labor Day - 2010 - Indiana

2010-09-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

We haven't posted in ages because we had major computer problems. I'll post the most current and work my way backwards until I get caught up.

We are spending Labor Day weekend at Monroe Lake outside of Bloomington, Indiana.
We arrive here Thursday night with no reservations. They place has over 200 sites but they were completely full until the day after Labor Day. First they said we could stay one night without any electricity at a tent site. But after visiting and touring the Roadtrek they found a site with electricity that we could spend the night. We got set up and shortly they showed up to tell us we could stay as long as we liked. They contacted the person who has reserved our site and she had also reserved two other sites so she gave this one up to us. All the sites are in the forest, so lots of shade.

There is a trail that you can walk down to the lake through the forest. We did that the first day and drove down the second. The hill coming up was a killer. This lake has the nicest swimming area that we have ever seen at a lake.

On the way back we saw our first sign of Fall - the leaves are starting to turn. We are heading South.

San Antonio River Walk

2010-07-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

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I created this last month and had problems posting it than forgot to do it. The River Walk is just gorgeous and a fun place to visit. When I went to school here almost 50 years ago it was a dirty, scary place. We had a great time.

The Bridges of Madison County and John Wayne

2010-07-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

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We arrived in Iowa a few days ago. We have the outline of a map that we fill it with a sticker of the state once we have visited that state. I can't see filling it in if we are just driving through. We have to do something to make a memory before we can fill in the state.
I searched and searched the Internet for something memorable to do or see in Iowa and there really was not a whole lot. But as it happened I stumbled upon "Bridges and Madison County" on the map. After investigating I found out that's where the movie The Bridges of Madison County was filmed in 1995. I loved that movie. Think I've seen it 5 times or more and still cry as if it was the first time. We decided to take a ride out there and what a serendipity day we had.

Our Lady of the Lake - San Antonio, TX

2010-06-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

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We went to visit Our Lady of the Lake College where I went to school in 1961 and 1962. The name has changed to Our Lady of the Lake Univeristy, it is now coed and the campus is much larger than it was when I was there.

COE Campgrounds

2010-06-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

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If possible we stay at Corps of Engineers campgrounds. They are almost always on or near water, the sites are generous and if you are 62 or over they only cost half the amount to stay. The sites are usually $20 or so a night so that means we stay for $10. Not bad for water front property.

One of our most memorable stays was in Waxahachie, TX in COE campground which was on the water but was thickly wooded. Shortly after sundown we were surrounded by thousands of fireflies. I did not take this picture as my camera is not able to do this. I took it off the internet but it does show a little of what it was like for us the three nights we stayed there.

Great Visit

2010-06-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

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While in San Antonio we were able to visit Lydia Rood and her family. Lydia and I worked together in Honolulu during the ISPED days. Her husband Rob is in the Air Force and they have been stationed in San Antonio for the last couple of years. They are on their way to Germany, their new assignment, by the end of this month. Carl and I were so grateful that they took time out from their busy schedule to have us over for the most delicious salad and pizza.

May 2010 Start of Trip

2010-06-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

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I did this ages ago and forgot to post it. Sorry about that.

Corpus Christi, TX

2010-06-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

We went to Corpus the Tuesday before Memorial Day and spent the week there. Used the RV park as our home base and did day trips. The day temperatures were in the 100s. The RV park that we were at had huge trees that was a big help to keep the temperature livable. We are changing our plans and heading north. It is way to hot to tour the South now. We'll go north and come down the east coast and do the south in the fall.

Reunion Time

2010-05-22T16:03:00.001-07:00

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Hilyard, Carl and I were classmates in Hilo where we all grew up. After Hilyard got out of the Navy he went to TX to attend college there and never moved back to Hawaii. We had lunch and spent most of the afternoon at the Talett's beautiful house. We had to leave for a while because the tornado was heading straight for us. We were afraid of hail damage to the motor home. The tornado touched down in an open field so there was no damage. We returned after it past and finished our visit. Both Hilyard and Phylis are great singers and were performing with the symphony that night and the next. We were planing on going to see them but the campground gates closed at 10 so we weren't able to attend. Very disappointed - thought we were over the curfew years. We had hoped to get together with Air Force friends who also live in Waxahachie but we never able to get in touch with them.

Oklahoma_May 2010

2010-05-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

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May 4th - May 19, 2010

We left Kona on May 4th. Long trip - we went to Honolulu, Las Vegas, Denver and finally Oklahoma City. Carl had his doctor's appointment and stress test the following day. All went well. Friday night was spent with Gay and Charlene Morrison in Midwest City and Jaydene Morrison, who just happened to be in town for her granddaughters graduation. Charlene and I taught together when we lived in OK.

Visited with Chuck and Lura Lee in Harrah then up to Broken Arrow to see Shantel and Mike. First Mother's Day that we were near the children in 15 years. The weather was predicted to get very bad so we left in a hurry the next day. Went to a campground that we were familiar with, Red Rock Canyon, and stayed a couple of days. 21 tornadoes touched down and 5 people were killed. Lots of damage and very close to where Chuck lives. Our friend Pats house had damage but the police were not allowing any one on that street unless you lived there.

We planned to spend the night at Lake Thunderbird in Norman but when we got there it was closed to do major damage from the tornadoes - the whole marina was wiped out.

The next day we moved on to Sulphur, OK. Had a great spot on the water and very few people. Spent 4 days there then moved on to Willis, OK. Both places were really nice Corp of Engineer parks and like Sulphur very few people also.

We are leaving for Texas tomorrow.

2009 Christmas Eve - Tulsa, OK

2009-12-24T21:48:00.000-08:00

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We arrived in Broken Arrow two days before the Second Blizzard on record for this area. We had known about this storm for over a week. Our first inclination was to stay in Arizona for the duration of the month, store the motorhome in Phoenix and fly out of Arizona. But we really wanted to be part of our new "grand baby", spend Christmas with our children and their extended families and touch bases with Carl's heart doctor. We got all we wanted and then some.....We have wonderful children, who have wonderful spouses, who have wonderful families, and a hell of alot of White Stuff.

Raymond from Quebec

2009-12-13T17:31:00.000-08:00

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Raymond came to Mesa to pick up his new RV. We showed each other our rigs and enjoyed great conversation and stories of our adventures on the road.

Shantel and Mike are Grandparents!!!!!!

2009-11-24T12:21:00.000-08:00

What a nice Thanksgiving present. Isn't he adorable?

09_ Nov. -Ann and Duane at El Cajon, CA

2009-11-21T17:35:00.000-08:00

November 12, 2009

Ann is Capt. Carl Warner's sister. We met Ann and Duane in Hawaii and saw them again at the Warner's reunion in Estes Park, CO. last year. They are getting ready for their move to Hawaii, Their beautiful place is up for sale in El Cajon as they have already found a place in Kona.

Ann and Jim's Vineyard_Ukiah, CA

2009-10-31T14:09:00.000-07:00

We spent two days visiting with Ann and Jim. Ann is one of our hula sisters in Hawaii. Their place is gorgeous. We really enjoyed the time we spent with them and the time they spent showing us around. They are truly special people. I shared the slide show of the June Halau performance with Ann and we danced This Is Hawaii together.

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Oct. 10, 2009_ Anacortes, WA_Roadtrek Meet and Greet

2009-10-24T21:55:00.000-07:00

On our way to British Columbia our Roadtrek email indicated that a group in Washington wanted to gather. The timing was right and we were able to participate. I was very excited because Nick and Oscar were going to be there. For years before we entered this venture I followed Nick's website because he fulltimed in his Roadtrek. New friends and new memories were made.

British Columbia-09-28-09

2009-10-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

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We went up to British Columbia to see our friend Wendel Nunes. We were suppose to have gone there at the end of July for a Roadtrek rally. Because Carl had some medical issues to take care of we were not ablt to make it. The weather was gorgeous and the invitation still held so we decided to make the trip. The temperture was over 100 degrees in July and the salmon were not running at the time. We missed the rally but we got to spend time with Wendel, and see the salmon running. It was incredible. Had a really great time.

09-British Columbia

2009-10-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

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We finally got to BC. We were suppose to have been here for the Roadtrek Rally in July. This is where Carl and I were going to dance the hula. Because Carl had to have surgery again we didn't make the Rally. We thought it was to late in the year to start off for Canada but the weather has been outstanding. Wendell invitation was still standing so we took a chance. Other than rain the first day we arrived the weather was wonderful. Had a great time and made some wonderful memories and renew old friendships with Terry and Peggy Kelly from Hawaii.

09-UT_Zion National Park

2009-09-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

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Really enjoyed our stay at Zion. They have a mandatory shuttle system to control traffic and emission problems. The campground was right across from the Visitor center so we just had to walk across the street and we could catch the shuttle to the points of interest we wanted to visit that day. There was even a shuttle to the town of Springdale right outside the park. We left Zion and headed for Kolob Canyon and Bryce Canyon. If I have good connectivity tomorrow I should be able to post those pictures.

Grand Canyon

2009-09-19T18:57:00.000-07:00

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Here's a sampling of our Grand Canyon trip. It was awesome.

09 -AZ-Meteor Crater

2009-09-19T16:08:00.000-07:00

We finally have good conectivity so I'm trying to catch up with posting pictures of our journey. We are actually at Bryce Canyon in Utah. Right now we are in the middle of a thunder and lighting storm. It seems to happen every afternoon around 4. They call it the monsoon season. We leave here tomorrow heading for Capitol Reef National Park.

9-09 AZ - Petrified Forest

2009-09-18T16:41:00.000-07:00

We are finally at a place that has strong enough connectivity that I can upload the pictures.

Will try to get more posted in the few days that we are here. You can click on the link above if you would like to know more about this National Park.

Bedroom Update

2009-06-02T20:39:00.001-07:00

The bedroom is finally done. As usual Carl did a great job and of course his work is meticulous. Now the bedroom has that same attention to detail as the rest of the condo. Love it.

I believe I can Fly

2009-06-02T20:19:00.001-07:00

Ten days from birth to independence - Amazing!

Babies Born At Pualani Estates - May 11, 2009

2009-05-15T11:04:00.001-07:00

Our friends Roger and Ric who live at Pualani Estates in Kailua have lived in their new house for two years. Ric has worked very had with the landscaping. On the side of the house outside of the kitchen window is a lemon tree that is barely 5 feet tall. Last month or so a little majito built this beautiful intricate nest in the lemon tree. She layed 3 eggs and tended to them until they hatched last week. We had a tremendous rain storm that night but all was well in the morning. to date they have not been named.

Hula Halau December Performances

2008-12-20T18:00:00.000-08:00

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Most of our December time was spent with my Hula Halau (group). We had three performances culminating our lessons from June to December. Since I was gone most of that time I had a lot to catching up to do and spent most of my numbers just following the others. My Halau is very unique in that most of us are over 50 and we partner with a group of Special Olympic young men. We had a great time. Mele Kalikimaka to all of you.

Lura Lee and her friends at Halloween

2008-11-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

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Lura Lee, our daughter in law, is a librarian at an elementary school in Harrah, Oklahoma. Here are pictures of some of the faculty and one of her students who dressed up for Halloween.

Balloon Fiesta - Albuquerque - Oct. 2008

2008-10-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

Our pictures do not do the Balloon Fiesta and Roadtrek Rally justice.

Click on the Title - it is a link that will take you directly to the Fiesta site for detailed information.

It is next to impossible to share the experience of over 600 balloons launching, landing and glowing unless you were there. We share these pictures to help jar our memories in the future and to give you a small sample of how incredible it was.

We had a great time meeting friends from previous rallies and making new friends at this one. The Rally masters, Jim and Sharen Koch, Walt and Jo Dene Ratcliff and Wendell Nunes, did an outstanding job coordinating, making all feel welcome and sharing their knowledge and experience. Much aloha for all your time and effort.

We, along with half a dozen others, were fortunate to be able to stay for the rest of the week after the rally. The weather gods were with us for all of the week except Saturday and Sunday. What a thrill we had to wake up and either see the balloons landing or launching, depending on the winds. right out side of our RT. Talk about making memories - we will be talking about this Rally and experience for a long time to come.

Arnold's Dinner 9-13-08 Rapid City, SD

2008-09-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

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This place was so cute we just had to try it. It was okay but nothing to write home about.

Happy 65th Birthday

2008-09-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

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We celebrated Carl's birthday at Olive Garden in Rapid City, South Dakota the day before we were going to the Roadtrek Rally. We had wonderful memories of Olive Garden and often wished we had one in Hawaii.

Colorado Sleep Overs - July 08

2008-09-15T12:17:00.000-07:00

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These are the places we spent the night during the month of July.

Estes Park RV Park & Rocky Moutain-7-8/08

2008-09-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

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We stayed at the Manor RV Park for a week. We picked it because it was only a mile out of town and they had a special price for Motor Homes that were smaller than 26ft. The setting was beautiful, the wild life surprised and entertained us almost daily and the people there were so friendly.

The town of Estes Park has shuttles to take you to various parts around town and one that will take you to Rocky Mountain State Park. We decided to visit the park this way rather than driving. We were not going to camp at the Park since it did not have electricity but we did want to see it close up. It was great not to worry about traffic and the hassle of driving the narrow mountain roads. This was a great idea. We had a wonderful day trip.

Sights and Tastes of Estes Park, CO 8/08

2008-09-08T16:26:00.000-07:00

Lona, Carl, Ann and Duane left Estes Park on Sunday morning Aug. 3rd to fly back to California after the reunion. We decided to stay for a few more days because there was still much to see and experience. Our RV park was right our side of town, the scenery was spectacular (complete with deer meandering) and the people were great. If you stay more than a few days you become life long friends. Estes Park is really a very touristy place but a very touristy friendly place. There are free parking lots all over the place, beautiful flowers and landscaping that adorn the streets, adequate signage and public restroom every few blocks. They have free trolley service that takes you from one end of town to the other or others that take you to the various recreation areas including Rocky Mountain State Park.

Estes Park , 2008 - CO - Moeller Reunion

2008-09-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

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Carl and Lona Warner are our dear friends from Kona, HI. Every three years Carl's family has a reunion. Since we were going to be on the road in our Roadtrek they invited us to join them at Estes Park, Colorado while they were there for the reunion. We did and the pictures tell it all. We had a great time and loved meeting many of their family members and being included.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

The first night was pizza night. The second day was picnic and picture taking. The third day was breakfast on the terrace and the fourth day was dinner on the terrace. There was plenty of free time to explore. Great reunion and great place to have a reunion.

San Luis, CO 7/08

2008-09-07T15:53:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The oldest town in Colorado, San Luis is also likely the most spiritual. Populated by the primarily Hispanic families who settled there in 1851, the town remains small and, in some ways, unique.

Situated in south central Colorado, not far from the New Mexico border, San Luis boasts the oldest church in Colorado and La Vega, a rare public commons - a place where communal grazing of livestock is allowed.

The town is most famous, however, for its Stations of the Cross, a string of bronze statues climbing the mesa adjacent to town. Each station represents a moment during the crucifixion of Christ, and the locale is a Mecca for Christians each Easter. Art aficionados might like to visit the sculptor's studio, located in town at the bottom of the hill.

San Luis also celebrates an annual posada, a Christmas-time procession representing the journey of Mary and Joseph from house to house, seeking shelter for the birth of their child.

A local museum showcases not only the area's history, but also the wares of local artists and crafters. If you spend the night, check in to El Convento, a bed-and-breakfast housed in a former convent. Your alarm clock will be church bells.

Community Resources:
San Luis Visitors Center
408 .5 Main Street
San Luis, CO 81152
719-672-3002

Visiting Friends in Nederland, Colorado 7/08

2008-09-07T13:46:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

Charlene Morrison and I taught together when I lived in Oklahoma. Jaydene, who is Charlene's cousin in law, and I worked together after I moved back to Hawaii. They both had summer cabins in Nederland. Five years ago Jaydene sold her cabin next to Charlene and built this gorgeous house next to the creek. She and Russ now live half the year in Panama and half the year in Nederland. Gay and Charlene summer in Nederland and live the rest of the year in Midwest City, OK.

It was great seeing them and catching up on old times. Charlene's oldest daughter was there with her husband and children. Can't believe I didn't get a picture. Charlene had all of us over for dinner and after dinner took us on a tour of some of the local sights.
Jaydene and Russ let us plug in and camp out for longer than we intended. I had computer problems and we had to stay until all was well. They took us to town for a fund raiser pancake breakfast. The food was delicious and we had fun checking out the town. We spent many hours swapping stories and getting caught up with the years and stories since we were last together. It was great seeing them and enjoying their beautiful house and surroundings.

My Cousins' Place - Alamosa, CO - July 2008

2008-09-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We visited my cousin Gilbert in Alamosa, Colorado. We, all seven of the cousins, grew up in Hilo, Hawaii. His dad was my mother's brother. He moved to Colorado over 24 years ago. It just happened that one of his daughters, Raylia, and her family were visiting also. It was a special treat for us since we had never met.

Royal Gorge - CO - July, 2008

2008-09-06T16:27:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The slide captions pretty much sums up our Royal Gorge adventure. There were tons of people there who seemed to know what they were getting into. There were bus loads of people paying the $25 entry fee. They charge you to walk, drive or fly across the bridge. Oh well, the drive to and from The Royal Gorge was pretty.

Friends - CO July, 2008

2008-09-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

We were stationed with Phil and Mary Stamper and their sons in Sembach, Germany in the early 70s. We had kept in touch-usually at Christmas-over the years, until about eight years ago when we started our business and did not have time for Christmas cards or much else. We were driving through Colorado Springs and out of the blue Carl remembered the name of the street that they lived on. We checked it out with a local phone book and low and behold they were still living there. We were able to get in touch with them and had a very nice visit. It was so good to see them again and share stories of what we all have been up to since the 70s.

Garden of Gods - Colorado Springs - July 2008

2008-09-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

On our way to the AF Academy we drove through the Garden of Gods State Park. I have pictures of me at this park when I was 16 and represented Hawaii at the Girl Scout Round Up in 1959.

The day was beautiful and the summer crowds were out in force. It's a neat park as you can drive through it and get an overview and or get out of the car and explore the various trails.. The Visitor Center presented a nice history of the area.

July 20, 2008 - Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs

2008-08-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We spent the day at the Air Force Academy. Carl was in the Air Force during the late 60s and early 70s so the Air Force is dear to our hearts. The Academy was a "must see" for us.
The captions of the slide show will give you a play by play of our visit.

I'll Show You Mine If You Show Me Yours

2008-07-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

June 22, 2008 - Bass Pro Parking lot - OKC, OK

Here we are with our friends and neighbors from Kona, Tony and Linda Keeling. They had picked up their Pleasure Way, Motor Home in Arkansas a few days prior. They were passing through Oklahoma City when Carl had to be admitted to the hospital. We were on our way to the hospital in OKC after we left Ardmore when we met up with them to show each other our rigs. Tony has had a by pass heart surgery over nine years ago so he was very reassuring to us that all will be well. We are hoping when we get on our way again we will be able to meet up again.

All Wired

2008-07-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

June 20 -22 - Mercy Hospital, Ardmore, OK

Here's Carl after the first hospital stay, all wired for sound. We were on our way to the Gulf Coast off of Texas when he started experiencing chest pains. He as admitted to a small hospital where they determine he might have problems with his heart. After three day we left this hospital in Ardmore, OK and came back to Oklahoma City which has a special Heart hospital. After many tests, it was determined that he indeed did have 4 arteries that were blocked. The doctors inserted a catheter through a vein in his groin and narrowed the blockages with balloons. Next they implanted metal stints to keep the arteries open. He was able to leave the hospital after only an over night stay. He is doing great. He needs to take it easy for a few days and then we can get back on the road. Boy are we glad we were close to a big city that had the expertise needed.

Cousin Comes to Town

2008-02-11T14:41:00.000-08:00

My cousin Gilbert was in town for a couple of weeks to visit his daughters and grandchildren. He caught a nasty cold so he didn't get in touch with us until the last week of his vacation. His daughter Christine lives on the Kohala mountain and works in the little town of Hawi which is about an hours drive from Kailua. We drove out there on Saturday and picked him up. He spend the night with us. We shared stories of our last 40 or so years until the wee hours over bowling ally saimin. Sunday we went to chuch in the outdoor tent since our church was badly damage in the earthquake over a year ago and is still being repaired. We went to the Royal Kona Resort for lunch then drove back to Hawi to take him back to Christines. There were two horses waiting for him when we got to the drive way of her place. Really enjoyed our visit. Had hoped to see Gordon also but he was on Maui for the weekend with his dance gang.

Life Is Good

2008-01-11T22:38:00.000-08:00

We were invited to dinner at the Yatch Club with our neighbors Tony and Linda. On Tuesdays they have "horse races" and then dinner after the sunset. The pictures are the little harbor off the club. The kids on the right were fishing using an eel for bait. They caught a pretty good size tako (octopus). Shucks, didn't get a picture of it. I was to excited and forgot. The one on the left is the Sunset Cruise on the Fair Wind docking. The center picture speaks for itself. Another beautiful Sunset in Kona. Another beautiful day in Paradise.
To see more picture click on the link to Snapfish:
http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=213081200/a=100373942_100373942/t_=100373942

Christmas Eve - 12-24-07

2008-01-02T19:32:00.000-08:00

We drove to Pepeekeo to spend Christmas Eve with Carl's Aunty Gerry and his Uncle Clement and his cousin Fayette and her children who were visiting from Washington. It poured the whole way there and all night. Fayette and her children had been visiting for two weeks. Poor things, it rained everyday except one. She cooked a wonderful dinner with all of the trimmings which we all enjoyed. Uncle Clement is recovering from hip surgery but he and Margy came by for dinner. We spent the night but left early because we were hosting Christmas dinner in Kona that evening. Twenty minutes out of Pepeekeo the weather cleared and we had wonderful views of Mauna Kea covered with 6 inches of new snow that had fallen the night before.

To see more pictures click on Snapfish link:

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=213064435/a=100373942_100373942/t_=100373942

Snow - Sun - Surf

2008-01-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

I did these some time ago and forgot to post them. Chuck and Lura Lee always have a neat Christmas picture card ever year. I made this for them as a possible suggestion for this years card but I forgot to send it to them. Oh well, there is always next year.

The picture on the right shows the chandelier that Chuck made for their dining room out of a surf board that he bought on ebay. Pretty talented, huh? But this was another page that I scrapped and didn't share with them or anybody else. Here it is - better late than never.

Christmas Parade - 12/15/07 - Kailua-Kona

2007-12-16T19:18:00.001-08:00

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

10/3 - Joliet, Il - Start of our Route 66 Adventure

2007-12-09T23:36:00.000-08:00

We left Windy City for Joliet, Illinois. They have a small but informative and delightful museum that helped lay the foundation for the rest of our trip. The gift shop is staffed by a wonderful lady who shared her experiences and stressed to us that Route 66 was more than a road but the people who kept the road alive. She encouraged us to take time to meet and listen to the stories.

The museum had sets like a theater with seats that replicated the car seats of the 50s. There was an hour and a half video that had been put together by American Airlines for television. We were so glad we made the decision to sit and watch the whole thing. What a wonderful foundation for what we had ahead of us.

The sets that surrounded the theater seats depicted the unique and exciting experiences of the time, like drive-ins with car hops, 77 records, roller skates and motels with television sets. The picture of the VW camper got us so excited. It was exactly like our second camper that we had owned in 1970. These campers were custom conversion of the VW vans. The owner is a famous artist, Ralph Waldmire whose VW Bug and Camper was the bais for Disneys movie "Cars".

11/22 - Thanksgiving

2007-12-09T22:48:00.000-08:00

We shared Thanksgiving Day with Linda and Tony who are also owners at the Kona Reef. They have lived on a boat in the South Pacific for the last nine years. They recently sold the boat and are now living here in Kailua.
The weather was wonderful, the company great and we all enjoyed sharing each others recipes and sharing past experiences.
We are very thankful for all of our family and all of our friends regardless of the distance. We are very fortunate to have been touch by all of you.

10/4 - Pontiac, Ill.

2007-12-08T19:24:00.000-08:00

Reached Pontiac late in the afternoon. We stopped at the information center in the middle of a very picturesque and charming town. The lady there heaped a bagful of information and items that were for sale in the shop but were given to us. The Route 66 Museum next door was already closed so she drew us a map to a near by 4H campground that wasn't even listed in the camping guides.

We drove out to the campground and found a very country, peaceful area, just a few miles from the town. No one was there to admit us but there was an honor system box at the entrance - too cool. The grounds were full of trees, squirrels and apples. There were about 15 campers there, about half of them full timers who work at the Caterpillar plant down the street. Our camping neighbor had a toy hauler camper and he was very anxious to see the inside of the Honu and reciprocated sharing his hauler to Carl's delight.

The little town had much to see and the campground was so peaceful we decided to stay for a couple of days. There was a Route 66 Museum, housed in an old Firehouse maned by elderly volunteers who had many stories to share. Like the story of the picture of the License Plates that belong to one family from the community. The small ones like that one that is circled in the picture were made of soy beans during the war because the metal was needed in the war. Not many survived because the cows ate them. An art benefactor commissioned 3 large Metal Sculptures that were displayed in a neighborhood park that we sought out and also the three swinging bridges and the beautiful Victorian homes with unique front doors that the town was noted. One of our big finds was when we stumbled upon the original marking of the road west which is now a route 66 icon (they were still making the 66 signs) while we were looking for the park with the sculptures.

We had a great time, the town and the people had much to offer.

How Cool Is This?

2007-12-08T16:07:00.000-08:00

I found some old slides of our first campers. We bought the White VW used right after we got to Great Falls, Montana in 1968. It was a homemade conversion but we went all over in it.

In 1970 we went to a Spring car show in Los Angeles and ordered the custom conversion Safari which compared to the Casper was luxurious. Chuck was almost five months old when we picked it up in LA and drove across country to New Jersey and had it shipped to Germany. Carl was stationed there for four years. We went all over Europe first with one child and than two when Shantel came along.

Great Times. Great Memories.

Check out my Slide Show-Picking Up the RoadTrek!!

2007-12-08T14:40:00.001-08:00

9/29 - 10/1 Size Does Matter

2007-12-01T19:18:00.000-08:00

This was our first sight of the Motor home when we drove up. Gary, the man that preps all the RVs bought through RV Direct, had it sitting in the entrance of this a very large warehouse. It's a van alright but Oh My Gosh it is a BIG van.

Before we even left Hawaii we had planned to stay in Elkhart for a few days to make sure everything was working okay and we felt comfortable enough to hit the road. We were also so grateful to Jodi and Jon that we were able to stay with them while we got set up.

After meeting with Gary we decided that was a good plan - there was much to learn. This was very sophisticated compared to what we had in the past. We felt very comfortable knowing we were 5 minutes from Gary if we had any questions or concerns. Over the three days we had tons of questions and Gary was more than patient with us.

Elkhart is considered the Motor Home capital of the US. The campground is run by the city for people like us that are picking up their rig or are there having repairs done.

OK tomorrow we hit the road. The plan is 200 miles a day. The kids say at that rate we won't reach Oklahoma until New Years. Route 66 here we come.

Click on link for pictures of what the inside looks like:

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=190242730/a=100373942_100373942/fromupload=true/t_=100373942

9/ 27 -9/28 - Aloha Spirit in North Bend, Indiana

2007-12-01T17:04:00.000-08:00

9/27 and 9/28 - 2007
We arrived in Chicago at 4:30 in the morning. We rented a car and drove to Elkhart, Indiana to pick up our Honu Hale. It was lunch time when we got there so we had to wait for Gary to get back. He spent almost 3 hours going over everything with us. It was gassed and ready to go but we weren't. It was just way too much information to process on top of jet lag. He assured us we could pick it up the next day. There was also a problem with the title and the corrected copy hadn't arrived yet.
Jodi Awaya, who I use to work with in Honolulu, had invited us to stay with them. They live in South Bend which was just 15 miles from Elkhart. They have two dogs named Kona and Kai and a beautiful Townhouse which is very close to Notre Dame. We went to a darling pub for dinner and drove around the campus which was very impressive. We ended up staying a second night because it took us forever to get all that we needed for the Motor Home and to return the Rental Car. By the time we got the Motor Home packed it was dark. We went to an Italian restaurant which was very good.
We had breakfast with Jodi at Perkins which is a very nice family restaurant that was located right next door to their place.
Hated to leave Jodi and Jon and their wonderful hospitality but we wanted to go back to Elkhart and actually stay in the Motor Home. We wanted to make sure all worked and most important we knew what we were doing.

Full Moon-Talk Story at Mauna Lani Resort

2007-12-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we were invited by our neighbors Linda and Tony to go to the Mauna Lani Resort to attend the Talk Story session that they have monthly. We didn't quite understand what we were going to so we weren't dress for the evening coolness. The wind was blowing like crazy so it was more like "freezing".

This program happens once a month on the Saturday closest to the full moon. You never know who will be there but there is music, singing and talking story. We got there early and the crowd was assembling as you can see in the bottom picture. By the time it got dark and the program started there were tons of people all with beach chairs, mats, food and various liquids. The full moon was gorgeous as it came up through the clouds.

We were so lucky to be there when Raiatea performed. She is only 19 and is a multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award (Hawaiian music Oscars-sort of). It cost big bucks to go to one of her concerts.

The format of the program is the performer sings or plays something then Danny Akaka (Senator Akaka's son) "talks story" with them. They are all sitting on rocking chairs on the front porch of the Cottage. Very informal but very special in the gorgeous surroundings. We were fascinated when Raiatea said she grew up in musical family on Molokai but they didn't sing in Hawaiian. When she went to her brother's Song Fest at Kamehameha school when she was 15 years old she heard someone sing in the old Hawaiian Falsetto. She fell in love with that type of music. She went back to Molokai and taught herself to play the Ukulele and to speak and sing in Hawaiian. Two years later at 17 she won her first Na Hoku Hanohano Award. Today she is a very famous performer both in Hawaii and Japan.

Unfortunately we left at half time because we were freezing to death. We only had shorts and tee shirts on and the wind chill factor was at least 65. Even the tourist had jackets on. It was great and we are looking forward to going again in the near future.

9/27/07 Ohare Airport - Elkhart, Indiana We're On Our Way

2007-11-24T17:14:00.000-08:00

We arrived in Chicago at 4:30 in the morning. The plan was to drive the rental car to Elkhart, Indiana to pick up the Motor Home. The rental agency had trouble finding the car they assigned to us. We were finally on our way but, oh joy, it is now rush hour in down town Chicago. Not bad but it still was an experience.

On the toll road to Elkhart the fog was sooooo thick. This went on forever - We actually heard, than saw a three car accident that happened on the opposite side.

Our fast food breakfast didn't want to stay with us either so many stops later we finally arrrived in Elkhart.

We are using a GPS system in the laptop. I practiced at home but boy is it different in real time. If she says "off course" one more time I'm going to scream.

Click on to see more pictures at : http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=190241169/a=100373942_100373942/t_=100373942

9/26/07 We're Off to get our Honu Hale

2007-11-24T16:57:00.000-08:00

We're off to Elkhart, Indiana to pick up the Motor Home. It's finally ready. Yeah can't wait.

It looks like we have tons of luggage - we do - 8 bags for two people. Two of them are lap tops and the big red one has linens and pots and stuff for the kitchen. Stillllll!!!!!!

Stayed overnight in Honolulu - had to see the eye doctor. She's not going to be there when we get back.

Click on link below to see more pictues http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=190240334/a=100373942_100373942/t_=100373942

Imiloa

2007-09-06T02:12:00.001-07:00

We spent most of our second day in Hilo at Imiloa at the University of Hawaii - Hilo campus. There is so much to see and ever so much to experience. The exhibits are coordinated with Science and Hawaiian History and are so rich with hands on experience. We did not even scratch the surface of the wealth of information.

There is a Planetarium which has several different shows through out the day . We saw two of these shows which were exceptional in presentation and inforamtion.

There is a cafe that serves Breakfast and Lunch. They will be serving dinner in the near future. We did not eat there but the surroundings were pleasant and the menu looked very inviting.

Inside the lobby a large skylight hovers directly over a tile mosaic in the floor entitled "Voyage of the Navigator," which celebrates several aspects of Hawaiian culture: the ocean, the voyaging canoe, Maunakea, and the constellation known as Manaiakalani or Maui's fish hook. We met the artist that did the signature painting which was reproduced in a tile mosaic in Italy and is the logo or signature piece for Imiloa. We bought the poster which he autographed for us.

Pepeekeo

2007-09-06T01:18:00.000-07:00

Had to go to Hilo to pick up the micro wave that was there for repair. Called Aunty Gerry to let her know we were going into Hilo to see if she wanted anything from CostCo.

After all these years we are still in awe of the grounds of the property and the wonderful fruit that is available.

We picked three avacados that morning and enjoyed them the following week. Need to share the recipies -

Avacado with stuff Shrimp

Avacado with Chicken and Salsa and Cheese Chips

Don't know what I will do with the third one but I can tell you the avocados are like nothing you buy at the store. Almost makes us want to own a home.

Super Ferry

2007-09-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

A couple of Saturdays ago we were invited to visit on the new Super Ferry that will be going between the Islands in the near future. Actually service should have started last week between Honolulu, Maui and Kauai. Service to the Big Island should start early 2008.

It's big, beautiful and you can take your car with you - that

is a plus compared to flying. Price is a little less than flying

and cost of shipping the car if you are staying for awhile is

a lot better than renting.

Right now service has been halted because of opposition from residents on Maui and Kauai. They are demanding environmental studies.

It was a fun day for us and we are looking forward to using this service in the future.

Flossie Fizzles

2007-08-24T21:11:00.000-07:00

We weren't prepared for Cosme that threatened the Islands in July because we had no kitchen - it was all torn up. It turned away from the Islands but we had tons of rain and huge surf for several weeks.

So when Flossie appeared we decided we needed to be ready for this one. She was the biggest hurricane and came the closest since 1992 when Iniki hit. We found out the escape route and where the shelter was if we had to evacuate. We bought bottle water and can goods. The Reef boarded up the glass panels by the pool and took down the pool side umbrellas. School was closed. All water activity was shut down. Businesses closed by noon. We were all ready.

And nothing happened - not even rain.

So now we know what to do and where to go. Let's just say it was good practice.

Paul - Maintenace Person at Kona Reef

2007-08-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a neat story about Paul, one of the maintenance men at the Kona Reef that has been helping Carl with the remodel.
http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2007/08/05/features/features01.txt

Low Carb Chocolate

2007-07-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/recipes/a/lowcarbchocolat.htm

Links to Low Carb Recipe Sites

2007-07-24T11:28:00.001-07:00

These are links to Low Carb sites that I get recipes from.

This link is to a LC TV food show.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/episode_archive/0,1904,FOOD_16177_425,00.html

This one is from a lady that has been LC for about 12 years. Be careful with hers because she uses Net Carbs. Just add the Net Carb number to the fibre number to get the true Carb number. This site has the margarita LC recipe.
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/recipes/Low_Carb_Recipes.htm

These are some recipes that I have saved in my House and Garden account. Most of them are LC but check the nutritional statistics. Some I saved because they would be good on Maintenance or they would be good for a party.
http://recipes.bhg.com/bhg/mybhg/clippings.jsp?clipTypeId=0&selectedChannel=S3&page=1

Here's the LC - LF from Kimkins Site
http://www.kimkins.com/index.php?option=com_ricettario&Itemid=56

LC Bread

2007-07-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

Low Carb Bread very good – made twice
Found this somewhere it is VERY good Bread .....
4 egg yolks – increased to 6 whole eggs – to fill the baking sheet
4T. sour cream – increased to 6 T
(optional) salt & pepp... italian seasoning...grated parmesan// or other desired seasoning1 t vanilla – didn’t show up in tastes but smells wonderful when baking
6 egg whites beaten very stiff with 1t cream of tartar
Preheat oven to 350
beat the (real) egg whites (very stiff) witht the cream of tartar
Mix together the sour cream, and the yolks with seasonings gently fold mixture together
dump it out onto parchment lined cookie sheet and spread...
bake for about 30 to 40 minutes...slice into sizes you want and store in plastic bag in refrig...I made a slice of pizza with this bread.. it was VERY good... just put plain sauce and lo fat mozzeralla and a few mushroom slices... bake in 400 oven till cheese melts....YummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmI also had a chicken sandwich. It is excellent, and the texture is great too!
got this from Kimkins site

Low Carb Muffins
Laura Dolson
At a Glance
Special : Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Sugar-Free, Wheat-Free
Type of Prep : Bake
Low Carb Muffins
From Laura Dolson,Your Guide to Low Carb Diets.Stay up to date!
These versatile sugar-free and low carb muffins can be the basis for many variations, including low carb blueberry or apricot muffins.
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups almond flour (almond meal)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
4 eggs
1/3 cup water
Sweetener to taste - about 1/3 cup usually works well - liquid preferred
PREPARATION:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.2) Butter a muffin tin - you can really do it with any size, but I'm assuming a 12-muffin tin.3) Mix dry ingredients together well.4) Add wet ingredients and mix thoroughly (you don't want strings of egg white in there - and you don't have to worry about "tunnels" when you are using almond meal).5) Put in muffin tins (about 1/2-2/3 full) and bake for about 15 minutes.6) Variations: Add 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries for blueberry muffins. For apricot muffins take a teaspoon of sugar-free apricot jam on each muffin and push it in slightly (it will sink more during baking). Nutritional Information: Each of 12 muffins has 1.5 grams effective carbohydrate plus 2 grams fiber, 6 grams protein, and 185 calories.
This About.com page has been optimized for print. To view this page in it's original form, please visit: http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/breads/r/lowcarbmuffins.htm
©2007 About, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.

LC Beef

2007-07-21T18:19:00.000-07:00

Warm Fajita Salad

4 main-dish servings
Prep: 25 minutes Cook: 10 minutes

· 1/4 cup lime juice
· 1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
· 1 tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 1-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
· 3/4 pound boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut into thin, bite-size strips
· 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
· 1/4 teaspoon salt
· 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
· Nonstick cooking spray
· 2 small onions, cut into thin wedges
· 2 small green, red, and/or yellow sweet peppers, cut into thin strips
· 1 tablespoon cooking oil
· 1 10-ounce package torn mixed greens (8 cups)
· 12 cherry tomatoes, quartered
· Baked Tortilla strips (see recipe below), (optional)
· Red or green salsa (optional)

Directions
1. Combine lime juice, chicken broth, cilantro, garlic, and cornstarch. Set aside.
2. Sprinkle beef with cumin, salt, and black pepper; toss to coat. Coat an unheated large skillet with cooking spray. Add onions and sweet peppers. Stir-fry over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove vegetables from skillet.
3. Carefully add cooking oil to the skillet. Add beef strips; stir-fry about 3 minutes or until desired doneness. Push to side of the skillet.
4. Stir lime juice mixture; add to skillet. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir 1 minute more. Stir meat and vegetables into mixture in skillet; heat through.
5. To serve, arrange greens and tomatoes on four dinner plates. Divide beef-vegetable mixture among plates. Top with Baked Tortilla Strips and serve with red or green salsa, if desired. Makes 4 main-dish servings.
Baked Tortilla Strips: Cut two corn tortillas into 1/8- to 1/4-inch-wide strips. Place strips on a baking sheet. Coat with nonstick cooking spray. Combine 1/8 teaspoon paprika and 1/8 teaspoon chili powder; sprinkle over tortilla strips. Bake in a 400 degree F oven 5 minutes. Toss; bake 3 to 5 minutes more.

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition facts per serving:
· Servings Per Recipe 4 main-dish servings
· Calories 242
· Total Fat (g) 12
· Saturated Fat (g) 4
· Cholesterol (mg) 57
· Sodium (mg) 235
· Carbohydrate (g) 13
· Fiber (g) 3
· Protein (g) 22 Warm Fajita Salad

Sights, Sounds and Tastes

2007-07-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the things we did and places we saw.

Click on the link to see more pictures
http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=170779221/a=100373942_100373942/t_=100373942

Swimming with the Dolphins

2007-07-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

What a memorable day we had - It started out with having our own chartered boat for the day - Next totally unexpected getting to swim with the dolphins in the wild, deep Pacific ocean and finally getting to share Chuck's favorite snorkeling spot, which he had experienced when he was 12 years old, with his wife 25 years later.

Click on the link for some fantastic pictures.

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=170769298/a=100373942_100373942/t_=100373942

Click on link to find out about the snorkeling spot.

Feeding the Eels

2007-07-18T15:53:00.001-07:00

One of our Favorite past time things to do is feed the eels. We save the chicken bones from hot wings until we have a baggy full then we're off to feed the eels in the tide pools . http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=163751765/a=100373942_100373942/t_=100373942

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Lura Lee and Chuck in Kona this Week

2007-07-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

Kona here we come. Chuck and Lura Lee arrived in Kailua, Kona July 15, 2007.

See more pictures http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=163732343/a=100373942_100373942/t_=100373942

Absolute Delight or Sheer Madness

2007-07-13T20:10:00.001-07:00

Kona Remodel - Started April 2007

We must not be dealing with a full Deck taking on another major remodel - the 2nd one in the same year. We finished the Aiea remodel at the end of January this year. This picture can serve as our before picture for the kitchen. Since the original counters were Corian we are having them refinished and adding a new edge to them . The workers are removing the counters to take them to the shop to redo them. Shortly after the counter left the cabinets came out. Since arriving here on April 20th Carl has put in a new closet system, removed the tile and re tiled the bathroom, replaced the toilet, vanity, medicine and storage cabinet, removed the tile and replaced it in the kitchen and removed the old cabinets. New cabinets and appliances go in this weekend. Click on the link below to see more pictures.

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=163639209/a=100373942_100373942/t_=100373942

Pirate Ship Arrives in Kona

2007-07-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

July 8, 2007

Privateer Lynx - Classic replica arrives in Kona

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=163639211/a=100373942_100373942/t_=100373942

The 122 foot square topsail schooner is an interpretation of a privateer, or naval schooner, deployed in the War of 1812. Even the crew is decked out in period style uniforms as they operate the vessel in keeping with the maritime traditions of the era. The expertise of the non-profit Lynx Educational Foundation that manages the schooner and organizes the educational voyages is so highly regarded that they were hired to train the cast and crew of Pirates of the Caribbean. The foundation couches hands-on-lessons in Celestial Navigation, Life and Earth science, Sail and Wind Theory and, in this case Polynesian History, in the context of early American maritime tradition.

Description of ship taken from article in Big Island Weekly, July 4th, 2007 writen by Kristine Kubat

We Bought It - RoadTrek Popular 210 - 2007

2007-07-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

May 6, 2007

http://www.roadtrek.com/motorhome.aspx

We ordered the RoadTrek, sent the down payment in and are awaiting word that it is ready for pick up. Should be ready around the end of July or early August. We will be picking it up in Elkhart, Indiana. Route 66 here we come.