Jan 2014 - Cancun Jan 17-26

I needed a sun break and with a resort week to use, went to Cancun the 3rd full week of Jan.  While there, I met a friend and experienced some wonderful scuba diving.   He was also back with friends between university semesters.  I flew into Cancun and this time stayed at the Grand Oasis right on the main part of the Cancun island  resort strip with the beautiful wide, white sand beaches and amazing, warm,  colorful ocean.
The huge resort had lovely grounds, multiple pools, all inclusive, and a great, almost Las Vegas type show 5 nights a week in the huge vaulted main building .   The shows were free to all guests also.  Having been to Cancun multiple time, I mainly took it easy for most of the week, with lots of pool and ocean time days and watched the shows in the hotel 5 of the nights.   The Oasis really had lots to do with many venues and restaurants.
The highlights of the time there were a couple scuba dives.   The water is so clear and on one dive we saw the sunken underground city of statues, buildings and even a submerged Volkswagen.   It was fascinating to dive in and around everything there in about 35 feet of water that was as clear as air and very warm.     On another dive , I got some great pics with my little Panasonic underwater camera of a turtle.    They are so graceful and so beautiful to see swimming in the ocean.   All in all it was the perfect mid winter break !  I hope you enjoy the photos.

Grand Oasis and main pool

Vaulted central atrium of Grand Oasis

Me at Grand Oasis where I stayed and one of the 4 outer buildings over my right shoulder

one of the several peacocks on the huge, lovely grounds

unique "bubble walk" they had for kids

vast, beautiful beach and ocean in front of Grand Oasis

Me enjoying the January week long break

The "foam" dance party late one afternoon just above beach

incredible costumes on stilts during the  1st night Mayan show

Huge Atrium filled with color, sound and action during another show

another scene during lst nights show

and another color filled scene

Me enjoying a photo op :-))

headed out for lst days scuba diving

My diving partner, Bogdan

Exploring the reef in the crystal warm waters

Bogdan, checking out the lst of the statues in the underwater city

approaching the "city" with the 1st house to my right

Bogdan, exploring more and more of the many statues

me  turning in an open sandy plaza in the city

Bogdan , and yet many more statues

checking out another group of smaller statues

looking at the submerged VW

me about to lean on the right front of VW

Bogdan, grandstanding above the windshield of the VW

several of us and a "crowd" scene in the underwater city

a final look at the amazing underwater city

A graceful school of angel fish above a sandy bottom

3 of us approaching the turtle on another reef and later dive

The graceful turtle in the crystal clear waters

The turtle with me behind it.

Bogdan showing off earlier at the entrance to the underwater city

Me surfacing, about to return to dive boat

about to struggle up the boarding ladder with all my gear

coming over the side with a helping hand

thinking of the unforgettable experiences of the underwater day of wonders

Aug 2010 - Grand Canyon grand adventure

I had visited the Grand Canyon many times since my lst trip in 1963,   I had peered over both the North and South rim visitor centers on numerous visits, like the vast majority of its visitors, but never actually went down into the canyon.  Finally on a late March spring break trip in the late 90's when my 3 kids were still in college that all changed.  It was an unforgettable  family hiking trip that took 4 of us ( all but my son Mark) from rim to river and back the same day.   We left at dawn down the shortest trail, South Kaibab, to the river near Phantom Ranch and then back out the longer Bright Angel trail.   The 16 mile hike  took us about 14 hours and was one none of us will ever forget !
 For years I had also dreamed of rafting the Colorado in a transit trip.  It finally happened.   When I was on the golf course near my 2nd home near Tucson, I met a new friend,  who later invited me to join him in  August the following year.  He lived right near the launch area where the rafting trips started, and as a business man there,  had won 2 places on a river trip.   When shortly before the trip, his friend could not go , he called me and asked if I wanted to join him.  He said that he would lose the trip if it was not taken in 2010.  I then flew to Phoenix in late August and drove to overnight near the Glen Canyon dam, before starting the epic rafting trip the next morning.   The adventure is one that you have to experience in person, and is almost spiritual.   Once your rafts push off , you are on the river for most of 2 weeks, mostly out of communication with the world.  The guides have satellite phones that only work briefly each day when a satellite is directly over the narrow, high canyon walls.  There were 8 of us and 3 guides on our trip.   At night, we made camp on the sand bars along the river , with mid day stops for leisurely lunches.  Each day we took wonderful side hikes up the canyon walls or hikes into some of the canyons to see the more scenic waterfalls.  We also took a midday hike from the river up to Phantom Ranch.  We viewed the old cabins and relics there and treated ourselves to a cold drink.  The Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is truly one of the greatest adventure trips of all and deserves its top ranking.  If you ever get a chance, it is the trip of a lifetime and is a wondrous and spiritual experience.

The 8 of us about to enter rafts to start our adventure

Gathering gear at the launch site just below Glen Canyon Dam

My friend who invited me on the trip

under way and the only river crossing until Hoover Dam near Las Vegas

Mule deer at river edge

coming ashore for a lunch break on a sand bar

our 1st big white water rapids

Canyon walls becoming ever higher and more colorful

a placid stretch of the river

caves in the canyon walls

huge river edge cave and sand bar, our lunch break

view out from the overhanging cave

another view out, showing the vast  size of the overhanging cave

caves and arch on opposite side of river

1500 vertical foot climb up towards indian ruins,  the most photographed view on the river here

nearly to the extensive indian ruins and storage enclosures in the canyon wall

close up view of some of the ancient storage enclosures in the canyon wall

on the river with the towering canyon walls and endless beauty

view of a rare remaining indian relic left in hidden side canyon we hiked to

welcome lunch break at mid day.

leaving rafts and river for side trip hike back to Phantom Ranch

Phantom Ranch historical sign

exiting Phantom Ranch with glass of their famous iced lemonade

rock rimmed bathing pool in Bright Angel Creek

Bright Angel Creek historical sign

Higher walled canyon below Phantom Ranch on the way down river

cruising down a slower stretch of the river

typical lunch stop on a river sand bar with beauty all around

famous duck rock formation on top of canyon wall

beautiful, famous side canyon and stream to explore 

hiking up lovely stream and canyon

beautiful falls and inviting pool

Yours truly enjoying a wonderful cool wade in the stream pool

another never ending scene on the river

hiking up another very narrow side canyon during a stop

view of spectacular, narrow side canyon walls

3 of us as far as we could go in the narrow canyon

me cooling off during trip up a side stream in another mid day stop

raging white water rapids the Colorado is famous for.

lounging during lunch break

2 more big horned sheep at river edge

hiking back to one of the most famous side stream falls near river

me cooling off in pool at base of  high falls

me enjoying extended break at noon stop by falls and pool

getting ready for our dinner after a day on the river

same camp with "happy hour" about to start.  We overnighted here

yet another side canyon to hike and explore

The stunning sides of this very narrow side canyon

group wading up a pool while exploring this same side canyon

a calm, very beautiful stretch of river between rapids

cruising lower river now with towering walls

some of the more interesting rock towers and formations on canyon walls

one of the last big rapids on lower river as we neared the upper end of Lake Mead

famous "bee hive" formation at river edge

3 guides on "dress up night" our last night on the river

scenic landmark and rock formation near our pull out and trip end.

bus waiting to take us up the rough, rocky, steep road in the only side canyon access to the river by motor vehicles