Here I go...

One Adventure After Another!

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Feliz Navidad!

 



I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!  I found this cool banner online - not sure who originally made it but it seemed fitting.

In April/May 2024, both Joe and I will be taking a group of pilgrims on the Camino. We're very much looking forward to being in Spain again!  I've been busy making reservations and let me tell you, it's going to be a BUSY season!  Many lodgings are already booked up for Spring!

I plan on leaving early, around 9 April, for Spain to do some training. My friend, Paula, is going with me and we'll walk half-stages for a while, slowing increasing distances until I pick up my group in Pamplona.

The last time I walked the Camino, I didn't get sick until I returned home and just a few days after my return, Covid hit. The illness itself wasn't bad, lasting only maybe 3 days, but the long term affect has been awful. It really kicked my butt and my stamina seems to have flown out the window. So it will be interesting to see how I do on the trail. That combined with the Oregon rain won't make it easy to train here, so my plan is to do light weights and walk when I can here at home, but do most of my training on the trail in Spain. 

I had a quiet Christmas this year. We agreed not to buy gifts for the adults and I have to say, I missed opening presents. Isn't that funny? There's really nothing I need, but since I was in Hawaii until the week before, I didn't even get out my tree and decorate, so it didn't feel like Christmas to me. Next year, I think I'm going to decorate and buy gifts, needed or not. I miss that.

My eldest son and his family did come to Dallas and we had a nice breakfast at my youngest son's home. Hiathan was home from Annapolis and it was so good to see him. 

Joe has left for the desert for the winter and my plan now is to clean and organize the house then get on a routine of diet, exercise, and Spanish. 

Wish me luck!

Annie

Sunday, December 24, 2023

What's Goin' On

 


It's been a few months since I've posted so I thought I'd catch up.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 
My middle son and ex-husband (the boys' father) came from Georgia and my eldest son brought his family from Portland. We met at my youngest son's house for a traditional Turkey dinner. 

Soon after, I took a two week vacation in Hawaii. 
My Camino friends, Paula and Gil, invited me. I spent 7 days in Kauai. It was my first time and it was absolutely GLORIOUS! We had so much fun!

The sunrises at breakfast . . .

Beautiful beaches

Museum Visit

Feather Lei

Waterfalls with Gil and Paula

Shaved Ice!

Malasalas (my grandmother never filled them!)

One of the highlights of the trip was seeing the nesting Albatross and learning about their lives. 


This male got up to let us see his egg.

More sunrises

Gil, Ollie, Frank, and Paula

Coffee and cake at the Lodge

More sunrises

Sadly, I missed the turtles but everyone else saw them

Breakfast at sunrise

Relaxing


The FOOD was sooo good!

We went tubing!

Warming our feet by the fire. 

On the 8th day I went to Oahu to visit my friend, Shelaine Carvalho. She was a very gracious hostess and I loved meeting her family and spending time with her. We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center one day/night. What a great adventure!
More photos...

Shelaine

Shelaine and her twin daughters

We met the King!

At the Luau we were right up front


Our wonderful guide

It was an incredible trip and I'm already saving my money
for NEXT winter!