Back to Cinnamon Bay

It's been three years since we camped on St. John, so it was so great to be back for almost 4 weeks!

Can't say that after probably 20 visits, starting in 1977, much has changed.  We've all gotten a little older, but the general store still runs out of staples, coffee isn't ready until around 9am, and no hot water showers.  But, definitely not complaining.....CB has one of the most beautiful beaches, and bare site tent camping for $37 can't be beat.

Having time to enjoy the island....we did!!  Our friends, Ray & Ann joined us for part of our stay and we loved showing them the island.  Together we traveled around St.John in our rented Jeep including brunch at Miss Lucys and surviving the drive to Little Lameshur Bay for some great snorkeling.

Took walks to Maho Bay and snorkeled in search of Queen Angel fish -- success!!  We hiked almost 7 miles roundtrip to Waterlemon Cay, swam and snorkeled round the island, and then a stop on the way back at Maho Camp (sadly closing for good this May) for rootbeer floats Island rootbeer and Ben&Jerrys HeathBar Crunch -- YUM!!  Taxied into town, Cruz Bay, for Woody's and the BarBQ.  Somehow the time went by too fast. 

We also volunteered for a day with the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park.  Were given a huge lopper, some well worn gloves, and off we went to clear the trail to the old Danish ruin on the hill overlooking Waterlemon Cay.  A rewarding experience except we learned to be careful of the cactus.  So rewarding that we came back to picnic at the estate house that days earlier, we had helped clear from the fast growing trees and plants.



CHEERS!  Already looking forward to when we can come back to Cinnamon Bay.

All is good !!!

On the drive to Michael & Jess's home today, Danny called to say that he had checked out our house on the Jersey Shore and all is GOOD !!  Most amazing is that with the over 100 MPH winds and the high surf and tide, we had no visible damage (not even water in our garage which was at grade), and we did NOT lose power.

We feel bad for all of the family dislocations and trouble caused by the Super Storm Sandy; but we are very fortunate that we did not have these troubles.  Thanks to our shore community for all of the great work before, during, and after the storm!

We take a bath, while our Avalon home gets a dunking

Can't say that we stopped at the Buckstaff Spa in Hot Springs, Arkansas to celebrate Hurricane Sandy's landfall at our Jersey Shore home.  First time ever for Morey...a hot bath, sauna, and full body massage; same for Ruthie (but not her first).  Good tension relaxation as we think about our shore home in the midst of Hurricane Sandy.

Then back to the National Park campsite where we hooked up to power and tuned in a Little Rock television station to watch the events back home.  We're in beautiful weather here, wish for a good outcome at our home.

Back to Ruthie's mom's first home in the U.S.

Ruthie's mom came to this country in 1928.  Passed Ellis Island, and immediately boarded a train to Okeene, Oklahoma.  We took a detour off of I40 to check out Okeene.  (A much easier trip for us.)   Ruthie's mom worked for the local town banker....and State Guarantee Bank still exists on Main Street.  Then off to check out the town and the cemetery where some relatives are interned, along with friends of the family. 

Following our driving and sojourn to Okeene, found a Army Corp of Engineers campsite right on the Arkansas River.  We love the Army!

Enjoying Georgia O'keeffe country

We have found that only Georgia O'keeffe can capture the Southwestern USA.  Photographs just don't do it. 

We spent a few days in New Mexico traveling across the Rio Grande canyon and then camping by the river.  Stopped in Taos to visit the oldest Pueblo in the US, and then continued onto Santa Fe where we visited the O'Keeffe museum and shopped many of the great galleries.  Santa Fe is the place to walk art galleries.  We will need to come back.

Following, we said goodby to our friends, Ray & Ann, at the Lamy Amtrak train station.  We had a terrific time together while in the Southwest.

10-23-2012 A Momentous Day

We did it!!  We last visited 4-Corners in 1985 -- Can't believe it took us 27 years to get back.  Can you tell who was in what state in 1987?  There's Ruthie (mom), Becky, and Michael.  Where's Danny? -- maybe taking the photo?

We're back in 2012, can you guess who was in what state??  (Answer:  Morey-Colorado, Ruthie-Utah, Ray-New Mexico, Ann-Arizona).  Must comment that the Navaho's have done a nice job of fixing the place up.  Lot's more space to purchase Navaho chatzkas.

Hovenweep National Monument

 
Near the 4-corners area, is this rocky, rugged, open country that was home to a large civilization of Anasazi who built two and three story structures throughout the canyon.  We walked the 2 mile loop trail and viewed the structures that were amazingly intact for being over 800 years old. 

Camped here for the night.  Another small, but really nice national monument campground.