Letting Go of the Bay Leaf: April 2020

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Mosaic Monday #77: Looking Forward by Looking Back

If you know me at all by now, you know I am a planner. So it won't surprise you to discover that brainstorming for an epic 30th anniversary getaway has already commenced. And just when is our 30th? August 2021. Yes. Fifteen months in advance.

Of course, these dreaming sessions began before I had even heard of COVID-19, and the advent of the pandemic has thrown quite a bucket of water on the whole process. But BEFORE that wet blanket, Spousal Unit and I mused about what might define an "epic 30th anniversary getaway". We found ourselves wandering through the memory banks of "excellent" vacations, and "not so good" vacations, and distilling those experiences into a set of critical criteria.

So what's important? Scenic beauty. Cultural experiences. Pampering for part of the trip.

As I initially pictured my ideal, my mind kept returning to our 20th wedding anniversary, a trip to Rosewood Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda. Scenic beauty? Check. Pampering? Check. Cultural experiences? Not so much. But this is how you get the hang of asking the right questions about vacation destinations! Coincidentally, this is one of the trips that I documented in my travel journal as featured in this post. So, come with me, back in time, and we can explore the pros and cons of this locale!

The British Virgin Islands, officially simply the Virgin Islands, are a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, to the east of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. In other words, a long way from Cleveland, Ohio, where we lived at the time. Our flights routed us from Cleveland to San Juan to Tortola, where we were met by the Rosewood Ferry for transport to the resort. And so the pampering began. Yes, the resort had its own ferry, which on this day was our own personal boat seeing as no other guests were on board. We had enough time to sip two glasses of complimentary rum punch before the boat shimmied up to the dock.

We immediately noticed the British influence at the resort, from the classic red mail box to the British general manager that we met at one of the manager's happy hours. Since Spousal Unit is a Brit by birth, this familiarity brings comfort, but if a new cultural experience is on your wish list, then it might leave you a bit hungry.

The indulgence continued with the complimentary bottle of champagne (it was our anniversary) and bottle of rum (argh, matey!) that we found in room 116 upon our arrival. I was bemused and impressed to find that the resort did not give out keys to its rooms/suites. Exclusive and secure - are we locked in or are others locked out?

On our first night, we walked into Spanish Town for dinner at the Rock Cafe. My journal says nothing about the food or the town, nor do I have any pictures of the evening. But both of us remember being distinctly underwhelmed by the look of the town. Suffice it to say that we did not return to town for the rest of the trip. In hindsight, we could have learned more about this before our trip - on an island as remote as this, it is reasonable that it won't have a main street with boutique-y shops and hip pubs. But no museums, old churches and the like? To this day, I don't know anything about the history or the people of Virgin Gorda.

Breakfast at the resort was served in the Pavilion, part of the peaked roof structure you see in the second picture of this post. Delectable fruits, cheeses, breads and other items were available buffet style, and you could also order a la carte items. Every morning, the staff would bring a handout to our table, featuring news articles and crosswords. So civilized, my darlings! I would have been content to settle back in my chair, sip coffee and look out at the view.

But adventure beckoned, so we hiked a short distance from the resort to Savannah Bay, billed as Gorda's loveliest beach, a long strand of powdery white coastline lapped by placid waters. Numerous hermit crabs and even some goats shared the trail with us. Giant termite mounds were visible among the dense foliage, and I tried not to point out the snakes to Spousal Unit - he's not a fan! Once at the bay, we snorkeled without noting any unusual fish or other features. We did have the place to ourselves!

Back at Little Dix Bay, we snorkeled in the rain and spotted four large squid and one massive barracuda. We luxuriated in a couple's massage at the on-site spa - pampering with a capital P!

In this post, I wrote about our first experience scuba diving following our certification as a family. The trip to Gorda marked our second time diving, and how different it was! Two dive masters led us and another couple on an underwater tour of the RMS Rhone, a UK Royal Mail Ship. She was wrecked off the coast on October 29, 1867 in a hurricane, killing 123 people. Now a popular dive site, the area around her was declared a national park in 1980.

That evening, we savored a beach-side dinner at the Saw Mill, one of the restaurants at the resort. Afterwards, we played a few hands of Gin Rummy at the bar - Spousal Unit was winning when we quit for the night.

One of the amenities offered at the resort are Beach Drops. There are seven secluded beaches on Virgin Gorda, several of which can only be accessed by sea. On request, the resort transports guests via water taxi to the beach of their choice. An umbrella and towels are provided, and the resort's chefs can prepare a gourmet picnic lunch if desired. It doesn't get much more romantic than that!

Yes, that is our umbrella. And yes, we had the beach to ourselves.

We chose Devil's Bay, which features an additional attraction of the Baths. Giant boulders or batholiths, brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions, are scattered about, forming a beautiful grotto and tranquil pools. It was a thoroughly pleasant afternoon, sunning on the beach, rock climbing and snorkeling.

Left: I loved how this tree grew among the boulders. Lower right: some parts of the Baths had ladders to enable you to climb through openings or get a better view.

Dinner found us at the Saw Mill once again, with live music provided by Morris. We continued our Gin Rummy tournament at the bar, and I prevailed!

Thursday's dive trip arrived, and we had the boat and the dive master to ourselves. My travel journal says nothing more about the diving, presumably because I documented our sightings in my dive book! In the afternoon, Spousal Unit took a sailing lesson while I made the most of the spa facilities with a facial. Before dinner, we strolled the grounds and spotted a sting ray and turtles from the dock. During our visit, it was very common to see pelicans fishing in the bay.

The final night of our stay, we opted for dinner in the bar. The food was still high quality, but the environment was more casual. This would have been our first choice over the Saw Mill, but we didn't discern it was an option until later in our visit. You live and you learn! My travel journal notes tell me we played Scrabble in the bar that night, but not who won. It looks like we had fun, doesn't it?

By now, you have probably forgotten that this post began with dreams of an epic 30th anniversary trip. So where are with our brainstorming? We have focused on Europe because we will be there in the fall to visit my in-laws, our standard time of year to be in the UK. Although I feel we have barely scratched the surface, here are some early ideas:

(Internet) - Grossglockner Mountain

Austria - Grossglockner Road: more than 50 miles of alpine beauty; mountains, glaciers, lush valleys and dozens of pretty villages in which to seek a good meal and a simple overnight guesthouse.

(Internet) - Dordogne

France - Dordogne and Cave of Lascaux: Hilly but not mountainous, the Dordogne is perfect walking country. This scenic corner of France is also rich with flower-strewn valleys, Romanesque churches and medieval hamlets. The Cave of Lascaux contains the world's most extraordinary repository of prehistoric wall paintings. The original cave was closed to the public in 1963 to prevent deterioration, but a dazzlingly accurate replica was made in the 1980s, only 200 yards away.

France: Corsica: Are we allowed to return to one of our favorite places? We went on holiday to Corsica twice when our kids were young. Looking back on it now, we realize that we experienced a miniscule portion of this island, which resembles a mountain in the middle of the sea. Corsica is a place of astonishing natural beauty, and its charm is evocative of the old Mediterranean.

Corsica - 2006

For all those world travelers out there, do you have any suggestions that fit our criteria? I look forward to hearing from you. And here's praying that world travel will be a part of the new normal for all of us that dream of it!

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.

Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Mosaic Monday #76: A Silver Lining

Colored Sulphur on Broadleaf Arnica plant

Silver linings. All of us are looking for silver linings these days. As I thought about my post for this week, I chose to highlight a hike from September 2017. It is the next hike (in chronological order) that has not appeared in this blog, but perhaps more importantly, it is a reminder of the ease with which we take something for granted.

Thursday, September 7, 2017 - Upper Two Medicine Lake - 11.1 mile loop (Entry 22 in Hiking Journal)

This hike began from the Two Medicine campground, as did my last hiking post, part of a two-night camping trip to the east side of Glacier National Park (GNP).

Two Medicine Lake

Perusing the pictures from the hike, it prompted memories of the forest fires in the summer of 2017. It was for precisely that reason that we were on the east side of the park, trying to escape the worst of the smoke. And yet, the hazy nature of the photos shows we were only partly successful. As I wrote in my journal "The day was much smokier and very still, which gave a misty/gloomy/somewhat surreal look to everything."

Pumpelly Pillar
Left - this hike in Sept. 2017
Right - the same spot in July 2018 - how the sky is SUPPOSED to look

Pumpelly Pillar leads you like a beacon toward Twin Falls, which were flowing well despite the advanced stage of Autumn and the summer drought. Man with Hat had to drag me away from taking pictures of the falls, Arnica and Colored Sulphur. In these closer shots, you can almost pretend there was no smoke that day.

Throughout the hike, we encountered fellow travelers who had "just" seen a moose. Each time, we quickened our pace in hopes of glimpsing Alces alces. Unfortunately, the closest we got was a very fresh pile of scat (not pictured). Of special note was a family group of three seen near the pond just below Upper Medicine Lake. By all accounts, the moose gathering caused a traffic jam on the trail. Well, neither the traffic or the moose were anywhere to be seen by the time we passed that way.

Lone Walker Mountain at the west end of Upper Two Medicine Lake

Rock cliffs towered over the trail, which quickly led to Upper Two Medicine Lake. We enjoyed our lunch, but the fishing was not fruitful, and Man with Hat suggested we return to the pond - apparently others had gotten lucky there. I was up for that - maybe the moose would put in an appearance!

Sure enough, he caught three lake trout (all released)!

But no moose.

We retraced our steps to Twin Falls and then took the right fork toward the boat landing. Along the way, we were grateful for the pit toilet. (Can I hear an AMEN from my fellow lady hikers?) Toilets may not be an appropriate subject among polite company, but they are a reality in the backcountry and deserve a heartfelt mention for those who construct and maintain these facilities. I am often amused by the creative/humorous touches on some of them, as shown below.

Shortly we arrived at the boat launch, chaotic with people queuing for the boat that would save them a walk back to the campground. We had no plans to board, but it was clear that people near the end of the line were concerned about making it. You know that behavior - when everyone is watching everyone else to ensure that no-one cuts the line? Sometimes the tension is almost visible, vibrating in the air. In light of our current circumstances, doesn't it seem almost silly?

It was a different, serene world after the boat had disgorged a large tour group, EVERYONE who wanted a spot on the boat boarded, and the Sinopah puttered away. Man with Hat and I were left alone with the still water and a family of mergansers. While he fished (no luck), it was delightful to remove my boots and socks and plodge in the water (I promise I wasn't scaring off the fish). The temperature difference between the river (freezing) and the lake (ok) was marked, and I didn't linger in the river.

Upper right: Horsetail plant Lower: river entering the lake with boat shelter on left

The final leg of the hike skirted the south side of Two Medicine Lake. We were pleasantly surprised to discover Aster Falls and a set of beaver ponds in the final mile and a half.

Upon arrival at our campsite, we played cards while enjoying first-class appetizers with our wine and beer. Later, Head Chef would prepare a gourmet meal, and we would collapse into our tent shortly after nightfall.

I am sure that at the time, I was not completely pleased with this hike. The

views were diminished, the air quality was poor, and I didn't see any moose! However, with the benefit of hindsight, I am grateful for all of our GNP excursions, smoky or not, moose or not. Similar to many other national parks, GNP is closed and it is unclear when it will open. We've had no communication from the Backcountry Office to know whether it is processing the camping applications that we submitted a month ago. At this point, I would be happy to get any kind of access to the Park, and I am berating myself for my past childish, selfish point of view.

I dare to dream that the pandemic will come to an end. I dare to dream that we will embrace the presence of others, rather than seeing them as a threat to something we want. I dare to dream that we will have more patience, and more gratitude for the simple things (even when they are not "perfect"). That could be enough silver linings for me.

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Mosaic Monday #75: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Coyote - November 7, 2019

And no, I am not talking about the coronavirus!

I am talking about trail cameras. As faithful readers know, my personal trail cam has captured everything from bears to sandhill cranes to badgers. I have also had the good fortune to have access to two other cameras that belong to a neighbor. Recently, I retrieved her disks, which had not been checked since August. While this meant scrolling through several thousand photos, it also meant a bonanza of wildlife. Join me for a walk on the wild side!

By far, deer have populated the majority of the photos, with coyotes in second place. In most cases, only one coyote appears in each frame, so it begs the question whether it is the same coyote each time. As you study the pictures throughout the post, let me know your conclusion!

Coyote lopes up neighbor driveway - October 30, 2019

Note that this snow had melted by November photo above

Click on collage to enlarge

Sometimes, I have wondered what is happening just out of view of the camera. For example, check out the stance in this photo - doesn't it look like it sees something? And the legs are pushed down and bent, as though it is ready to run off in the other direction. Very different than the normal loping style.

Once the camera detects motion, it takes three shots in rapid succession, so at times I feel that I am watching a video as I flick through the photos. (It reminds me of those flip books some kids used to make in school; a slightly adjusted image on each page, when flipped quickly, mimics motion.) In this series of pictures, one coyote sits (patiently) in the background (look closely), while another paces (not so patiently?) on the driveway. (Please note that I tried something new in this post - using Movavi photo editor to turn still photos into a "video". Since I was not willing (yet) to pay for the full version, a watermark shows up on the video periodically - sorry for that. I was looking for something that gives you the feeling of motion. Let me know what you think of this and the other "videos" in this post.)

Does are so ubiquitous that I didn't bother to save any of their photos. Not so with bucks. They are so rare on the trail cam, it's enough to make me question where they all go in the winter.

The turkeys also have a disappearing act. These shots were all taken on the same day in September, not to be repeated on either camera. I can only assume that they head for lower ground with more plentiful food sources. The first time I saw this series, it made me laugh out loud how they parade UP the driveway, and then DOWN the driveway.

A feral cat also appeared on the camera several times, always on the driveway (sorry, I didn't keep any of those pictures). In fact, most of these shots are from that set-up. It surprises me - wouldn't the animals prefer an area that is protected by the cover of trees and bushes? Perhaps the driveway offers an easier path with snow made shallower by the sun. Only they know!

The following series shows three coyotes in one of the shots - very unusual based on the time I have been monitoring this site. Were they comparing notes? Preparing to hunt together? Coyotes normally hunt alone or in pairs and rarely as a pack, unless the prey is a deer or other large animal.

One Two (in trees) Three

As winter continues, I think about the struggle for survival for all of these animals. Were these coyotes running after something or FROM something?

In the following shot from March 1, the coyote certainly looks healthy and well-fed. In Northwestern Montana, coyotes can become prey to bears, wolves, mountain lions, and other coyotes, not to mention man. In past posts, I have shown a picture of a wolf in almost the exact same location as the shot below.

And lest you think I joke about mountain lions … this brings me to the highlight of this post. The following pictures show the mountain lion crossing the driveway at a point that would be directly behind the coyote in the picture above. I know that mountain lions live in this area, having seen other trail cam pictures and having walked along a path left by a mountain lion dragging a deer for a half a mile. Somehow, seeing these pictures from a trail camera that I placed and that I check regularly, is an extraordinary moment.

January 27, 2020 - 6.13 AM

******

Happy Easter, everyone! I have been working diligently on my attitude the last few days, and participating in Holy Week Masses via live stream has certainly helped. At times like this I also turn to Christian music, and I was struck once again by the words to the song Indescribable by Chris Tomlin.

"You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same." What peace this brings to my heart and soul. The ultimate Gift that keeps on giving. I pray that you are finding peace and encouragement during these tough times.

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.
Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Mosaic Monday #74: Let's Go to the Beach!

Sand between my toes. The smell of salty air wafting on the breeze. A rum-infused cocktail nestled in my hand. I have been day-dreaming about all of this, especially since it is a given that our planned family vacation to Grand Cayman in early May is now nothing but a dream.

Coincidentally, I recently cleaned out my bed-side table (so much free time on my hands!), and was tickled to get re-acquainted with a travel journal I began in August 2011. Would you believe the first entry was about our trip to Belize? Yes, another beach vacation. So, I thought this would make a great post for today. I may not be going to the beach anytime soon, but I can certainly re-visit one through my memories. Pull up a sun chair and a Rum Runner and let's go!

The journal - 2011 to 2014

Belize is a nation on the eastern coast of Central America, with Caribbean shorelines to the east and dense jungles to the west. Offshore, the massive Belize Barrier Reef, dotted with hundreds of low-lying islands called cayes, hosts rich marine life. And that is why we traveled there. In the spring and early summer of 2011, all four of our family members became certified scuba divers, and Caye Caulker would become the first place we utilized our new skills in the ocean. Exciting and a little bit terrifying.

Sometimes you have to participate in something to know it is an experience you don't want to repeat. Such was the case with our diving on Caye Caulker. Quite simply, we didn't know what we didn't know. Here is what we learned. One: drift diving has some risks. On one dive, #1 Son had trouble with his ears, and when he re-surfaced with Spousal Unit, the boat was 400 yards away and the boat driver couldn't hear them shouting (the fact that he was listening to music with earbuds didn't help). They eventually got his attention and he returned to pick them up.

Two: diving beyond the protection of the reef means wave action, an abundance of wave action. Fortunately, none of us tend to get seasick, but it certainly offered some challenges when entering the water. We still tell the story about #1 Daughter and how she was the first one to leave the boat on our first dive ever - she showed no hesitation when she flipped backwards off the side while the boat was pitching up and down!

Three: we like to dive in clear water. On a couple of our dives, the dive master said "head down to the bottom and I will meet you there". Five minutes later, we huddled near the sand with our dive buddies, and we can't see a thing beyond our fins. If we can't see him, how will he see us? Obviously, we all survived, but it doesn't do much for the length of your air supply when you are sucking it down due to nerves!

#1 Daughter found this conch shell in the water near the beach

Sign says "Amanda's Place"

Lest you think that our trip was a total bust, I can say that we enjoyed the small pool that came with our accommodation, a house called Amanda's Place. Amanda lived across the street, and we felt an immediate connection with her since she was originally from London. At one point during our stay, the kids fixed the pump cover in the hot tub, and she treated them to ice cream at a shop down the street. Her dog was called Scrumpy, and her cat Boy was a regular visitor to the yard around our house.

As with all tropical environments, flowers bloomed in profusion. At our guest house, a hummingbird frequented the hibiscus. Small lizards skittered among the foliage, and Amanda explained that those you find outside the house are called a wishwilly. Lizards inside a structure are geckos.

Exploring the island was a simple affair since you can stroll from one side to the other in 15 minutes. No cars are permitted on the island; the most you had to watch for were speedy golf carts! We witnessed a wedding on one of the beaches, and were amused to see children playing soccer with a shoe on the kicking foot and a long sock on the other. Of course, no beach vacation is complete without stunning sunsets; we liked to watch ours from the Iguana Reef Inn.

We sampled a number of restaurants on the island. Our favorites were: the Happy Lobster due to variety on the menu; Syds, known for its superb Fry Chicken with stew beans and rice; the Bakery - piles of sticky, gooey, yum yum baked goods.

Caye Caulker main street

Fiddler crab

Christmas tree worms (Internet)

Snorkeling is a must-do on an island like Caye Caulker; we did plenty on our own and also purchased a snorkeling tour that was a good value. A green Moray eel came out of a crevice and began free swimming when the tour guide clapped his hands under water. Part of the tour included Shark and Stingray Alley; the tour guide would hide food in large, empty conch shells, and the animals would find it. I was fascinated by the Christmas tree worms, the common name for Spirobranchus giganteus, a marine worm that lives on tropical coral reefs around the world. When startled, the worms rapidly retract into their burrows.

The excitement just kept coming, as a tropical storm began to threaten the island at the end of our stay. The last day of our visit, we left the island on the first boat, earlier than planned. The vessel was crammed with people who all had the same idea. We made it safely to the mainland, and stayed overnight at a Radisson. I had a new appreciation for the term "batten down the hatches" as we watched workmen install steel shutters on the restaurant windows while we ate ~~our last supper~~ brunch. Fortunately, the storm landed south of us, without affecting our return flight. From beginning to end, it was a memorable trip!

Mosaic Monday