We have been in Las Vegas about a week and a half, visiting our daughter, Diana and her family, my grandson, Chris and his family and my granddaughter, Dale and her family. So we have had a good time, renewing our bonds, and of course getting together with all the great grandchildren. There are five great grandchildren in all.
We are parked up at a BLM campground West of Las Vegas. It is a beautiful place with lots of good hiking and beautiful cliffs and mountains. So far the weather has been pleasant – up in the high 80’s to low 90’s in the day, down in the 60’s as soon as it gets dark. Next week, hotter weather is predicted, and we may move to higher altitude.
As you can see in the pictures below, there is a wild crowd here in Las Vegas. Wild indeed, we have seen a coyote hunting in our camping area, and there are lots of long- legged jackrabbits hopping about. We were riding around the other day and saw several wild burros. They are protected here. There is a picture of them below under the shade of a Joshua tree – so you also can get an idea of what a Joshua tree is.
Of course many people come to Los Vegas to gamble. I have decided that I don’t like to gamble at all, so that is not much of a temptation for me. It is surprising how pervasive gambling is here, with slot machines widely distributed in area far outside the strip. In the grocery stores and in gas stations there is usually a small area set aside for slot machines.
I wonder how ordinary people could afford to feed that thing for an hour or so every day. Anyway, it seems to be a normal thing here.
We have just done a little hiking. We went on a 3-mile trip the other day. It gets too hot after 11:00 to be very comfortable walking.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Deserts
Today we are in Los Vegas, NV, visiting our daughter and her family and our grandson and his family. We are camping in Red Rock Canyon, which is a park, operated by the BLM with a small campground. So we are again out in the desert, pretty much surrounded by mountains. We are dry docking, but with all the sunshine here, our solar panels are keeping us in pretty good shape.
From here, we will head for Boulder, CO around Memorial Day. We have not decides whether we will participate in the 8 kilometer race/stroll. I am having some issue with my hips, which may make the walk a little risky for future summer hiking.
I am reflecting that in a little under 90 days we will have encountered all four of the great American deserts: the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, Mojave, and the Great Basin Desert. It is somewhat confusing what distinguishes one desert from another, and I gather that the demarcation between them is not sharp. I believe the Sonoran Desert is is characterized by the giant Saguaro cactus. There is a picture below of one of these, said to be one of the largest in Arizona and New Mexico. It is in the Escapees RV Park near Congress, Arizona. Joshua trees grow only in the Mojave Desert. However that is confusing. On the road to Los Vegas from Phoenix, there is one spot where both Joshua Trees and Saguaros grow! In any event deserts can be very beautiful. When the sun is low in the sky in early morning or evening, the colors of the stones in the mountains come out, with many different shades. There is a surprising amount of life in the desert. Here where we are camping we see lots of jackrabbits and an occasional coyote.
From here, we will head for Boulder, CO around Memorial Day. We have not decides whether we will participate in the 8 kilometer race/stroll. I am having some issue with my hips, which may make the walk a little risky for future summer hiking.
I am reflecting that in a little under 90 days we will have encountered all four of the great American deserts: the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, Mojave, and the Great Basin Desert. It is somewhat confusing what distinguishes one desert from another, and I gather that the demarcation between them is not sharp. I believe the Sonoran Desert is is characterized by the giant Saguaro cactus. There is a picture below of one of these, said to be one of the largest in Arizona and New Mexico. It is in the Escapees RV Park near Congress, Arizona. Joshua trees grow only in the Mojave Desert. However that is confusing. On the road to Los Vegas from Phoenix, there is one spot where both Joshua Trees and Saguaros grow! In any event deserts can be very beautiful. When the sun is low in the sky in early morning or evening, the colors of the stones in the mountains come out, with many different shades. There is a surprising amount of life in the desert. Here where we are camping we see lots of jackrabbits and an occasional coyote.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Spring in the Desert
Since our last posting we have gone from Texas to Clifton, Arizona and on to Roosevelt Lake. The trip through Texas was very hot and uncomfortable. One day we were told the temperature got to106. We finally arrived at a higher altitude at Van Horne, Texas where the climate and the scenery were more pleasant. Whew! It does seem nice to get west again.
We paid a quick visit to Clifton, Arizona. We have a member of the family there who is extremely ill. We visited him and his daughter, was also visiting. It was sad to see a person so devastated with illness, and we hope he gets feeling better.
After Clifton, we worked our way west to Roosevelt Lake, which is about 70 miles northeast of Phoenix. We stopped a few days to relax a bit and catch up on stuff. It is spring in the desert now. Although they are in the middle of a multi-year drought here, there are still some spring flowers. The cacti are beginning to bloom, and of course the some off the trees and desert flowers are in bloom. A few pictures of the desert are attached.
We paid a quick visit to Clifton, Arizona. We have a member of the family there who is extremely ill. We visited him and his daughter, was also visiting. It was sad to see a person so devastated with illness, and we hope he gets feeling better.
After Clifton, we worked our way west to Roosevelt Lake, which is about 70 miles northeast of Phoenix. We stopped a few days to relax a bit and catch up on stuff. It is spring in the desert now. Although they are in the middle of a multi-year drought here, there are still some spring flowers. The cacti are beginning to bloom, and of course the some off the trees and desert flowers are in bloom. A few pictures of the desert are attached.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Thoughts on Cosmology while Travelling Thru Texas
We have an abrupt change in plans. Rather than go to Red Bay, Alabama to work on the rig, we have decided to go to Arizona to visit a relative who is ill. So this morning we are in an RV park in Tyler, Texas. The temperature was 91 degrees yesterday, but it cooled off nicely last evening. I had forgotten just how big Texas is. It takes a lot longer than a day to cross, if one wishes to make a reasonable RV driving day (5 to 7 hours).
While driving on this trip, I have a chance to contemplate the contretemps between the believers in evolution and creationism. (I feel this is a dispute by those who feel they must make a choice between science and religion.) However I do not want to walk through that worn dispute. What I do want to think about is the wonder and mystery of the way the actual universe is put together.
One of the delights of story of the creation in Genesis, is the imaging and differences in the world as we know it today and during the time of creation. However, what we know now about the way the universe is put together and the way it was formed seems to me to have mystery far surpassing anything ever conceived even a century ago. We know that in the universe there is a huge amount of “dark matter” and energy, whose properties we do not understand. Atoms are far from the basic building blocks of matter. Rather matter is made up of quarks, which change to charms and on to top quarks if stimulated with sufficient energy. And perhaps even the quarks are not the basic form of matter. The fundamental unit may be tiny forms of energy/matter called strings. As if that were not enough, physicists are postulating additional dimensions, some large and some tiny, rolled in tubes. And the “ Big Bang” seems to be an event that occurred with certainty. To think everything was at one time concentrated to the size of a pinhead. As far as I can tell, no one knows what happened before the “Big Bang”, if anything. Did time exist? Could time exist if there is no space? The wonder of the universe (one of many universes? Perhaps!) and it’s creation seems so marvelous, that it does not seem to me, we need a supernatural explanation of the nature of things. I do not believe we have to have a supernatural explanation of the universe to have religious and ethical concepts of our life.
While driving on this trip, I have a chance to contemplate the contretemps between the believers in evolution and creationism. (I feel this is a dispute by those who feel they must make a choice between science and religion.) However I do not want to walk through that worn dispute. What I do want to think about is the wonder and mystery of the way the actual universe is put together.
One of the delights of story of the creation in Genesis, is the imaging and differences in the world as we know it today and during the time of creation. However, what we know now about the way the universe is put together and the way it was formed seems to me to have mystery far surpassing anything ever conceived even a century ago. We know that in the universe there is a huge amount of “dark matter” and energy, whose properties we do not understand. Atoms are far from the basic building blocks of matter. Rather matter is made up of quarks, which change to charms and on to top quarks if stimulated with sufficient energy. And perhaps even the quarks are not the basic form of matter. The fundamental unit may be tiny forms of energy/matter called strings. As if that were not enough, physicists are postulating additional dimensions, some large and some tiny, rolled in tubes. And the “ Big Bang” seems to be an event that occurred with certainty. To think everything was at one time concentrated to the size of a pinhead. As far as I can tell, no one knows what happened before the “Big Bang”, if anything. Did time exist? Could time exist if there is no space? The wonder of the universe (one of many universes? Perhaps!) and it’s creation seems so marvelous, that it does not seem to me, we need a supernatural explanation of the nature of things. I do not believe we have to have a supernatural explanation of the universe to have religious and ethical concepts of our life.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Spring Training and What's Next
It is spring, and I took the opportunity to go to three of the Cardinal spring training games in Jupiter, FL. I saw them play the Dodgers, Marlins and yesterday I saw them play them their last spring training game against the Mets. The Cardinals look pretty good this year, but perhaps not as good as last year. There seems to be some weakness at second base, and in the paper today I saw that Miles won that position. He does not look nearly as good as Grudzielanek looked last year (although his name is easier to spell). I don’t see any super hitters in the outfield. Edmonds seems to be dragging a little; I am not sure why. According to the newspaper, Cardinal pitching is said to be in good shape, and I suppose that, more than anything will be the key to a winning season.
Anyway, it is lots of fun to go to spring training games. The stadium is small. So all seats are pretty near the field. There are lots of Cardinal fans here at the games, so that makes for a friendly filed. Lou Brock and Bob Gibson are here as advisers. I didn’t see Gibson, but Brock is about on the field, and seems friendly --- signing autographs, and doing the honors with visiting kids on the field. Red Schoendiest was managing the first game I saw (I think La Russa was out of town), so he brought out the lineup for the umpires. He looks good, and it made me nostalgic for the old days in Saint Louis when he was manager.
Tomorrow, we start on our migration west. We will go to northern Florida, where I will visit my sister and Niece for a few days, and then it will be on to Alabama to get a little work on the rig.
We have changed some of our plans. We cancelled our trip down Grand Canyon. I was getting apprehensive, because of some health concerns. The problem is that once you start the trip down the Canyon, there is no turning back unless you have a helicopter come and get you. That is a very big deal, and a rather expensive emergency. Amore likely outcome is spending a series of miserable days on a raft, until the trip is over. I hate to give in to what I guess is aging, but probably it is a wise decision.
Anyway, it is lots of fun to go to spring training games. The stadium is small. So all seats are pretty near the field. There are lots of Cardinal fans here at the games, so that makes for a friendly filed. Lou Brock and Bob Gibson are here as advisers. I didn’t see Gibson, but Brock is about on the field, and seems friendly --- signing autographs, and doing the honors with visiting kids on the field. Red Schoendiest was managing the first game I saw (I think La Russa was out of town), so he brought out the lineup for the umpires. He looks good, and it made me nostalgic for the old days in Saint Louis when he was manager.
Tomorrow, we start on our migration west. We will go to northern Florida, where I will visit my sister and Niece for a few days, and then it will be on to Alabama to get a little work on the rig.
We have changed some of our plans. We cancelled our trip down Grand Canyon. I was getting apprehensive, because of some health concerns. The problem is that once you start the trip down the Canyon, there is no turning back unless you have a helicopter come and get you. That is a very big deal, and a rather expensive emergency. Amore likely outcome is spending a series of miserable days on a raft, until the trip is over. I hate to give in to what I guess is aging, but probably it is a wise decision.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Parenting Issues
I read an interesting article by David Brooks, the conservative, but reasonable columnist for the New York Times. He discussed a book, Unequal Childhoods, by Annette Lareau. She is a sociologist who has written about how parenting style influences the behavior children when they become adults. While, it may be oversimplification to generalize, the article discussed how working class parents raise their children compared to upper-middle class parents. .
Working class people tend to think adulthood comes soon enough, and make a sharper boundary between childhood and adult life. Children of working class people tend to be more relaxed, with less whining. Parents tend to give orders, without discussion.
On the other hand, upper-middle class children seem to involve their children involved in many “adult-supervised activities” (thus, for example, we have soccer moms). Children are given choices, and there is a lot of discussion, even arguments, which turn into battles, on what is to be done. However, from this children learn how to talk to adults, and how to navigate in an adult world.
The final outcome? Well although the child’s world in the upper-middle class life is turbulent, as adults, the children seem better prepared for life. They are better able to compete in the world. The children have higher expectations and demand more, whereas the children of the working class parents seem to be less able to compete. David Brooks concludes. “ …. Today’s rich don’t exploit the poor; they just outcompete them.”
I am not sure I agree with Brook’s conclusions. Certainly the availability of a college education is vastly different between the rich upper-middle class and the working class. If it is going to cost $40,000 to $50,000 to send a child to college, obviously a child of a working class parent may well have lower expectations than a child of an upper middle class parent. Nevertheless, there may be something to be said for raising children in an environment more in tune with teaching children at an early age how to interact in an adult world.
Working class people tend to think adulthood comes soon enough, and make a sharper boundary between childhood and adult life. Children of working class people tend to be more relaxed, with less whining. Parents tend to give orders, without discussion.
On the other hand, upper-middle class children seem to involve their children involved in many “adult-supervised activities” (thus, for example, we have soccer moms). Children are given choices, and there is a lot of discussion, even arguments, which turn into battles, on what is to be done. However, from this children learn how to talk to adults, and how to navigate in an adult world.
The final outcome? Well although the child’s world in the upper-middle class life is turbulent, as adults, the children seem better prepared for life. They are better able to compete in the world. The children have higher expectations and demand more, whereas the children of the working class parents seem to be less able to compete. David Brooks concludes. “ …. Today’s rich don’t exploit the poor; they just outcompete them.”
I am not sure I agree with Brook’s conclusions. Certainly the availability of a college education is vastly different between the rich upper-middle class and the working class. If it is going to cost $40,000 to $50,000 to send a child to college, obviously a child of a working class parent may well have lower expectations than a child of an upper middle class parent. Nevertheless, there may be something to be said for raising children in an environment more in tune with teaching children at an early age how to interact in an adult world.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Still in Florida, Musing about Health Care
We are still in Florida. Madeline is spending much of her time with her grandchildren and of course, her son and daughter-in-law. Over the last month or two we have spent a lot of time maintaining our health, but also we are seeing some of the problems that friends and other elderly members of our family dealing with health care issues.
We seem to be very fortunate in implementing the new Medicare prescription program. We were able to access the Internet, and price out various options with a wide choice of providers. There are puzzles that I don’t understand. We are technically Texas residents. If we were residents of another state, our premiums could be either more or less. Why?
I believe the program will end up lowering drug costs by a considerable amount. The price drug companies charge for drugs when purchased via a health provider, seem to me to be a lot less than were the costs of the drugs formerly when we got them from our pharmacy. Also, information is provided on the web sites giving the cost of similar, but not exactly the same drugs from generic sources. Thus, one could reduce their drug costs even more by investigating these generic options.
What is alarming about the new program is that it is very complex, and one really has to be able to use the Internet to investigate the options in a rational way. Of course many elderly people – many whom we know - are unable to use the computer in this way, and in fact do not even own a computer. Without doubt these people in many cases will just go to a provider they trust --- it may not always be the best choice.
We are of the age where nearly all our health care is paid by Medicare or Medigap health insurance. It is difficult to see what is the future of the Medicare entitlements. I know we get excellent health care. If government programs are to be curtailed, it will still be necessary to find a way to provide health care for everyone. It seems to me the main argument is whether it can be done with less costs if paid by an individual rather than the government. Anyone that has ever had the unfortunate experience to compare the cost of medical care when the price is negotiated by an insurance company as compared to a price dictated to an individual, understands clearly that an individual seeking medical care has almost no negotiating power, and his (or her) medical cost will be of several magnitudes of what they would be,, if negotiated by an insurance company. “Nuff said, the “good old days “of individuals paying their own medical bills will not work!
We seem to be very fortunate in implementing the new Medicare prescription program. We were able to access the Internet, and price out various options with a wide choice of providers. There are puzzles that I don’t understand. We are technically Texas residents. If we were residents of another state, our premiums could be either more or less. Why?
I believe the program will end up lowering drug costs by a considerable amount. The price drug companies charge for drugs when purchased via a health provider, seem to me to be a lot less than were the costs of the drugs formerly when we got them from our pharmacy. Also, information is provided on the web sites giving the cost of similar, but not exactly the same drugs from generic sources. Thus, one could reduce their drug costs even more by investigating these generic options.
What is alarming about the new program is that it is very complex, and one really has to be able to use the Internet to investigate the options in a rational way. Of course many elderly people – many whom we know - are unable to use the computer in this way, and in fact do not even own a computer. Without doubt these people in many cases will just go to a provider they trust --- it may not always be the best choice.
We are of the age where nearly all our health care is paid by Medicare or Medigap health insurance. It is difficult to see what is the future of the Medicare entitlements. I know we get excellent health care. If government programs are to be curtailed, it will still be necessary to find a way to provide health care for everyone. It seems to me the main argument is whether it can be done with less costs if paid by an individual rather than the government. Anyone that has ever had the unfortunate experience to compare the cost of medical care when the price is negotiated by an insurance company as compared to a price dictated to an individual, understands clearly that an individual seeking medical care has almost no negotiating power, and his (or her) medical cost will be of several magnitudes of what they would be,, if negotiated by an insurance company. “Nuff said, the “good old days “of individuals paying their own medical bills will not work!
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
January in Florida
Since our last posting we have traveled over the Florida. We spent Christmas week in the West Palm Beach area, then after New Years Day traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for our annual physical exams.
We survived the physicals. Madeline came through with flying colors, with only the confirmation that she needs new glasses. Dan was evaluated for a cochlear implant. Although the specialists agreed he was quite deaf, he still is not deaf enough to qualify for in implant. We have mixed feelings – relief not to have to go through the extensive work to learn to use an implant, but disappointed that some substantial help is not in sight. Probably we need to investigate new hearing aids.
From Jacksonville we went to Crystal River to visit Dan’s sister and his niece. We found them doing well, and had a good visit. Now we are in Lakeland to attend a wedding of Madeline’s grandnephew (or is it a nephew once removed?)
No big adventures so far. We are enjoying the nice Florida winter weather, but we do miss the Mountains out west. We are looking forward to getting west this summer.
We survived the physicals. Madeline came through with flying colors, with only the confirmation that she needs new glasses. Dan was evaluated for a cochlear implant. Although the specialists agreed he was quite deaf, he still is not deaf enough to qualify for in implant. We have mixed feelings – relief not to have to go through the extensive work to learn to use an implant, but disappointed that some substantial help is not in sight. Probably we need to investigate new hearing aids.
From Jacksonville we went to Crystal River to visit Dan’s sister and his niece. We found them doing well, and had a good visit. Now we are in Lakeland to attend a wedding of Madeline’s grandnephew (or is it a nephew once removed?)
No big adventures so far. We are enjoying the nice Florida winter weather, but we do miss the Mountains out west. We are looking forward to getting west this summer.
January in Florida
Since our last posting we have traveled over the Florida. We spent Christmas week in the West Palm Beach area, then after New Years Day traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for our annual physical exams.
We survived the physicals. Madeline came through with flying colors, with only the confirmation that she needs new glasses. Dan was evaluated for a cochlear implant. Although the specialists agreed he was quite deaf, he still is not deaf enough to qualify for in implant. We have mixed feelings – relief not to have to go through the extensive work to learn to use an implant, but disappointed that some substantial help is not in sight. Probably we need to investigate new hearing aids.
From Jacksonville we went to Crystal River to visit Dan’s sister and his niece. We found them doing well, and had a good visit. Now we are in Lakeland to attend a wedding of Madeline’s grandnephew (or is it a nephew once removed?)
No big adventures so far. We are enjoying the nice Florida winter weather, but we do miss the Mountains out west. We are looking forward to getting west this summer.
We survived the physicals. Madeline came through with flying colors, with only the confirmation that she needs new glasses. Dan was evaluated for a cochlear implant. Although the specialists agreed he was quite deaf, he still is not deaf enough to qualify for in implant. We have mixed feelings – relief not to have to go through the extensive work to learn to use an implant, but disappointed that some substantial help is not in sight. Probably we need to investigate new hearing aids.
From Jacksonville we went to Crystal River to visit Dan’s sister and his niece. We found them doing well, and had a good visit. Now we are in Lakeland to attend a wedding of Madeline’s grandnephew (or is it a nephew once removed?)
No big adventures so far. We are enjoying the nice Florida winter weather, but we do miss the Mountains out west. We are looking forward to getting west this summer.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
The Day after Christmas, Lake Worth, Florida
Since our last posting we have traveled from Livingston, TX to Lake Worth, Florida. (Lake Worth is a city South of West Palm Beach, north of Fort Lauderdale.) The trip east was uneventful. We stopped in northern Florida to visit my sister for a day and then moved on to Southern Florida.
I must say it was nice to reach the warm weather. It gets up in the 70’s during the day and perhaps in the high 40’s at night. It is fun, although really a little bit obnoxious, to read the weather page to see how cold it is where we have been, and where are friend and relatives live.
Christmas was fun. We spent it here with our son’s family and our daughter-in-law’s brother and parents were also here. It seems funny to have reached the stage of life where one does not really want presents. Living in an RV, there is really very little room for anything new, and we both pretty much have everything we need anyway. So – we had a very nice Christmas, got a few gifts, but happily not more than we can absorb.
Next week we go to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, for our annual medical stuff. The big event will be Dan’s evaluation for suitability for cochlear implant. We will keep you informed.
Following our cruise through the Caribbean, I have been thinking about what there is that makes different countries develop differently. Cost Rica, for example seems quite prosperous, and to be socially progressive. Jamaica, seemed very poor, and much of the population unschooled and barely getting by. Grand Cayman seems to do OK, probably much as a result of being a center for off-shore banking, which I gather is a scheme for tax avoidance by British and American citizens. Mexico, seems to have an emerging economy that stumbles much more than it should, given the resources the country has -- particularly in oil and agricultural capacity. It is hard to figure out why societies evolve so differently.
The Cost Ricans apparently attribute much of their prosperity to the fact that land was given to people to raise coffee, years ago, resulting in a prosperous middle class. I think slavery probably set back a substantial developed middle class in Jamaica. Still, I think there is something we are missing, to know why some societies develop with absence endemic widespread poverty.
I must say it was nice to reach the warm weather. It gets up in the 70’s during the day and perhaps in the high 40’s at night. It is fun, although really a little bit obnoxious, to read the weather page to see how cold it is where we have been, and where are friend and relatives live.
Christmas was fun. We spent it here with our son’s family and our daughter-in-law’s brother and parents were also here. It seems funny to have reached the stage of life where one does not really want presents. Living in an RV, there is really very little room for anything new, and we both pretty much have everything we need anyway. So – we had a very nice Christmas, got a few gifts, but happily not more than we can absorb.
Next week we go to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, for our annual medical stuff. The big event will be Dan’s evaluation for suitability for cochlear implant. We will keep you informed.
Following our cruise through the Caribbean, I have been thinking about what there is that makes different countries develop differently. Cost Rica, for example seems quite prosperous, and to be socially progressive. Jamaica, seemed very poor, and much of the population unschooled and barely getting by. Grand Cayman seems to do OK, probably much as a result of being a center for off-shore banking, which I gather is a scheme for tax avoidance by British and American citizens. Mexico, seems to have an emerging economy that stumbles much more than it should, given the resources the country has -- particularly in oil and agricultural capacity. It is hard to figure out why societies evolve so differently.
The Cost Ricans apparently attribute much of their prosperity to the fact that land was given to people to raise coffee, years ago, resulting in a prosperous middle class. I think slavery probably set back a substantial developed middle class in Jamaica. Still, I think there is something we are missing, to know why some societies develop with absence endemic widespread poverty.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
In the Middle of the Sea Again
Wednesday, December 15, 2005
Since my last note, we spent a day in Jamaica and a day in Grand Cayman.
First Jamaica; we landed there on Tuesday. We took a guided tour of the island in a jeep-type vehicle that covered a lot of the backcountry. We drove through some sugar cane fields and several orange groves. The people in Jamaica seem to quite poor. The people we talk to, admittedly not very many, talk a lot about the years of slavery and the slave revolt(s). Jamaica got rid of slavery somewhere about the 1830’s or 40’s, a full twenty years before we got rid of it in this country. I gather, though, no land reform ever occurred, so much of the land is still held by descendents of the plantation owners, and there is not much of a middle class. People are either rich or poor. The most surprising thing we learned was even that today, there are no free schools.
The Cayman Islands were once associated with Jamaica, when Jamaica was a British colony. When Jamaica became self-governed country, the people of the Caymans decided to remain British. The island is quite small, with very few trees. It first was prominent with sailors as a source of sea turtle for fresh meat. Even today there is a farm, where sea turtles are raised. (Indeed, in my former life at Purina Mills, I used to formulate all the sea turtle feed that was exported to Grand Cayman Island). The Island seems fairly prosperous. I think the main industry is offshore banking.
Today and tomorrow we are at sea, and will return to Galveston on Saturday.
Since my last note, we spent a day in Jamaica and a day in Grand Cayman.
First Jamaica; we landed there on Tuesday. We took a guided tour of the island in a jeep-type vehicle that covered a lot of the backcountry. We drove through some sugar cane fields and several orange groves. The people in Jamaica seem to quite poor. The people we talk to, admittedly not very many, talk a lot about the years of slavery and the slave revolt(s). Jamaica got rid of slavery somewhere about the 1830’s or 40’s, a full twenty years before we got rid of it in this country. I gather, though, no land reform ever occurred, so much of the land is still held by descendents of the plantation owners, and there is not much of a middle class. People are either rich or poor. The most surprising thing we learned was even that today, there are no free schools.
The Cayman Islands were once associated with Jamaica, when Jamaica was a British colony. When Jamaica became self-governed country, the people of the Caymans decided to remain British. The island is quite small, with very few trees. It first was prominent with sailors as a source of sea turtle for fresh meat. Even today there is a farm, where sea turtles are raised. (Indeed, in my former life at Purina Mills, I used to formulate all the sea turtle feed that was exported to Grand Cayman Island). The Island seems fairly prosperous. I think the main industry is offshore banking.
Today and tomorrow we are at sea, and will return to Galveston on Saturday.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Caribbean Sea, Dec 12
Caribbean Sea, Dec 12, 2005
Last Friday we landed at Cost Rica and spent most of the day on a tour. We traveled into the mountains and went on a tramway through the rain forest. The idea was to observe the jungle at all levels, particularly the canopy. Although we could certainly see that the jungle differs as you go higher, with definite changes in vegetation, we were a little disappointed not to see any wildlife to speak of. I think that since the tramway goes through an unchanging route, the wildlife probably avoid it.
On the way to the mountains we passed lots of pineapple farms and banana plantations.
We sailed that night, and early yesterday arrived at Colon, Panama. Our cruise ship entered the Panama Canal. Going through the locks was very interesting. There was about one-foot clearance on either side of our ship. They have tugboats on alert as we enter the locks, ready to give us a little push, if the heading is not just right. Once in the lock, they attached line to the port and starboard side, and pulled them tight to ensure we did not hit the sides of the canal. The “locks” were a series of three locks; we gained about 85 feet in elevation. There are three locks on the Atlantic side and three on the Pacific side. The boats are raised 85 feet. Instead of making a passage thru the mountains they flooded the area made one of the worlds largest man made lakes and raised the boats up 85 feet to go over the mountains back down to sea level and out to the Pacific ocean.
After going through the locks and anchoring in Lake Gatun, we took a tour in a very small boat around a portion of Lake Gatun. A dam formed the lake, so it is actually a flooded valley, with mountains (Really hills, I think, but they call them mountains here.), which became islands in the lake, are populated by wildlife that formerly inhabited the valley. Anyway, we saw lots of wildlife including three species of monkeys and several sloths. The monkeys were quite active and moved about a lot. The sloths were slothful.
Today we are at sea, enroute to Jamaica.
Last Friday we landed at Cost Rica and spent most of the day on a tour. We traveled into the mountains and went on a tramway through the rain forest. The idea was to observe the jungle at all levels, particularly the canopy. Although we could certainly see that the jungle differs as you go higher, with definite changes in vegetation, we were a little disappointed not to see any wildlife to speak of. I think that since the tramway goes through an unchanging route, the wildlife probably avoid it.
On the way to the mountains we passed lots of pineapple farms and banana plantations.
We sailed that night, and early yesterday arrived at Colon, Panama. Our cruise ship entered the Panama Canal. Going through the locks was very interesting. There was about one-foot clearance on either side of our ship. They have tugboats on alert as we enter the locks, ready to give us a little push, if the heading is not just right. Once in the lock, they attached line to the port and starboard side, and pulled them tight to ensure we did not hit the sides of the canal. The “locks” were a series of three locks; we gained about 85 feet in elevation. There are three locks on the Atlantic side and three on the Pacific side. The boats are raised 85 feet. Instead of making a passage thru the mountains they flooded the area made one of the worlds largest man made lakes and raised the boats up 85 feet to go over the mountains back down to sea level and out to the Pacific ocean.
After going through the locks and anchoring in Lake Gatun, we took a tour in a very small boat around a portion of Lake Gatun. A dam formed the lake, so it is actually a flooded valley, with mountains (Really hills, I think, but they call them mountains here.), which became islands in the lake, are populated by wildlife that formerly inhabited the valley. Anyway, we saw lots of wildlife including three species of monkeys and several sloths. The monkeys were quite active and moved about a lot. The sloths were slothful.
Today we are at sea, enroute to Jamaica.
Friday, December 09, 2005
At Sea in the Caribbean
At Sea in the Caribbean, Dec 9, 2005
We took the bus to Galveston, TX from Livingston, last Monday. We boarded our boat and began our cruise. We were pretty surprised at how luxurious the ship was. It turns out it is pretty nice to be waited upon also. The food, as everyone predicted, is fabulous.
We were at sea all night and all day Tuesday. Somewhat to our surprise, the boats seem to rock a fair amount. We have heard that a few people were motion sick, but Madeline and I have no trouble.
Wednesday we landed at Costumel Mexico, where we went to visit an ancient Mayan City. Thursday we landed at Costa Maya Mexico. There was not too much to do there. We shopped a little, and walked about town, and then returned to the boat. After we were at sea, we swam, sunbathed, ate, read, napped and lots of other strenuous activities.
Today, we are at sea, and will land at Costa Rica tomorrow.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Monday Dec 5 2005
Monday, Dec 5, 2005
We left Virginia last Monday and spent most of the week traveling to Livingston, Texas.
It was cold and rainy when we left, and warm and sunny when we arrived Friday. It is a little chilly yesterday, but compared to the snow our New York State brothers reported, we feel pretty fortunate to be back in the South.
It is nice to be back in Livingston, our official home and site of our mailing and voting address. We are in a large RV park owned and operated by our RV club, the Escapees. We are surrounded by nomads of similar interests and outlook.
Today we are embarking on a 12-day cruise in the Caribbean. We will try to keep you posted on what we are doing.
We left Virginia last Monday and spent most of the week traveling to Livingston, Texas.
It was cold and rainy when we left, and warm and sunny when we arrived Friday. It is a little chilly yesterday, but compared to the snow our New York State brothers reported, we feel pretty fortunate to be back in the South.
It is nice to be back in Livingston, our official home and site of our mailing and voting address. We are in a large RV park owned and operated by our RV club, the Escapees. We are surrounded by nomads of similar interests and outlook.
Today we are embarking on a 12-day cruise in the Caribbean. We will try to keep you posted on what we are doing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
