Slip slidin' away...

After two days of frozen rain, our driveway is a solid sheet ice, impassible without crampons. The cars are frozen shut, with the doors sealed by a half inch coating...


Everything is iced over...

Llama-sicles...

I made my way down to the llama feeding area yesterday. I risked life and limb to do it, as the icy ground had zero traction, even to my hiking-boot clad feet. Instead of walking down the driveway, I had to climb down through the trees on the hillside, using the branches to keep from sliding all the way down. The llamas did not llook happy.

The weather outside is frightful

We are snug at home, albeit without running water due to frozen pipes.

Smudge

Smudge Lucy Fur Voldemort kitten

4th Cruise Port, Cozumel Mexico.

We tendered to shore, paired up with a nice older couple and caught a taxi to Chankanaab park for a day of snorkeling. The park has a great botanical garden that is rife with lizards, both Basilisks (the Jesus Christ lizard, because it runs on water), and gigantic iguanas.

(NatGeo video--I did see one, but it dashed off too quickly to photograph(on hind legs of course.))








Amy stopped to check what the calendar said…


The lagoon that gives Chankanaab its name. The beach is on the other side of the lagoon.


We had a good view of the cruise ship parking lot from our chairs…


We snorkeled until we were exhausted, then retired to our chairs for some reading…


Amy modeling her “Jungle Chic” fashion…


I had seen some strange tracks on the beach, and finally found out what had made them…


The QM 2 was berthed at the docks. Some lady on our tender complained ad nauseum about how they didn’t use a “Royal” font for the lettering…


After a showering, we watched the sunset from the balcony.


We dressed for a “smart casual” dinner…


This was our second-to-last night on the ship, with all the next day spent at sea…

New Year's Day Ride

Our traditional January 1 ride this year took Lee, Tom, and me on some very small backroads near Fredericksburg, Texas.



The first of the small roads I'd mapped was SO small that it was no longer a public road. Lee rode up the driveway, and saw that it was now private property. Oops! We had better luck on the next one...



We found a cool old stone observation tower and what looks like an ancient hotel out in the middle of nowhere.


















No Super Slab for us, but we did find some Slick Slab!




But it rode just like the rest of the great Hill Country roads...


Then we stopped in to Luckenbach for some coffee, hot chocolate, grilled cheese, and people watching....


Then back home for a quiet evening with the sweetheart...

Hero Worship

You know, I haven't been one for hero worship since I was a teenager, but I think I just found my new role models (click here):

Hmmmmmmmm, the old grey matter is kicking into overdrive right about now.

3rd Cruise Port - Belize

Our third destination port was Belize City, Belize (Formerly known as the British Honduras). We opted for the “Private Island” excursion, having heard that the city was not a good choice for wandering about unescorted.

A tender boat picked us up around 9:45 a.m. and whisked us off to Bannister caye. It was a sculpted little island, about 1 ½ - 2 acres in size. It had a small swimming beach, a restaurant, a couple of stores, and lots of chairs. We swam for a bit, then wandered the docks.





The rocks bordering the shallow water by the beach were covered with small shells. I picked one up. Hmmmmm, looks empty.


Surprise! All of the shells had little hermit crabs in them. I let this guy crawl around on my hand for a few minutes, the put him back on his rock.


I thought the stars in Texas were big, but this starfish was the size of both my hands.


We took a two hour snorkeling excursion, and saw a small bit of the underwater beauty Belize is known for. The purple fan coral was amazing. We also saw a stingray. There were no fatalities. Our guide, Mr. Big of Hammerhead tours, was a funny guy, and very knowledgable about the reef and sea life.

After departing private island and returning to the Grand Princess, we caught another tender in to Belize City for a bit of shopping. We saw these folks (who we had also seen on the ship several times), and wondered if the matching hats and shirts were to avoid getting separated, or had a less obvious purpose. This couple had at least three other sets of shirts and hats, in different colors (lime green, etc.). Nothing says, "I'm on vacation" like a pair of huge floppy fur-fringed hats.


We did some shopping and bought a few souvenirs, and a beautiful table runner for our house, then headed back to the departure dock.

Apparently, it is a law that you have to stop and have a local beer (Belikan) before you can leave. Always the law-abiding, Amy and I complied.