We are off on a new adventure...and finally warm!

Our Hawaiian Air flight was one hour late leaving the gate.  Inside the cabin it was FREEZING cold.  I  requested a blanket but was told that I could only BUY a blanket!  They were selling the blankets for $10.00!  I was not about to buy a blanket to add to my carry on luggage so instead I wore the only piece of clothing that we had in our carry-on… Capt Paul's pants…legs as sleeves!  Oh, yes…it kept me warm (enough) for the six hour flight... and it amused Capt Paul so much that he took a picture with his phone!  

There was a huge traffic jam once on the ground in Honolulu!  It took over an hour to get to the Courtyard Marriott Waikiki.  We never went to see the beach!   My first impression of the Waikiki area:  expensive…not impressed. I liked the Kona area better which included my visit to the Seahorse farm and diving with Manta's in 2013.  Of course we were only there for a one night stay and did not see any of the rest of the island so perhaps on another longer visit Waikiki could change my mind!  

 The next morning our Hawaiian Air flight had only around 100 (I overheard the headcount) people on an Airbus 320!  This flight was perfectly comfortable!  Not only was the temperature just about perfect…but the same flight attendant that had wanted me to buy a blanket the previous day came up to our seats and gave me two more blanket/pillows!  As she gave them to me…she smiled and said she wouldn't want to see me wear those pants again!  We all got a great laugh!  Long flight (9 hours) but I  got up a lot and even went to the two seats in front of us and curled up for awhile while Capt Paul snored!

Flight arrived 30 minutes early!  The ground staff were extremely helpful getting Capt Paul AND our luggage to a taxi!  No tips were necessary…in fact they refused the offer of a tip!  It was so wonderful to be greeted with such friendly and helpful people!  The taxi took us straight to the marina…and lo and behold after a call from the taxi driver to Capt Wayne…there he was!  With our luggage in a dock cart we followed Capt Wayne to his sailboat...Dances with Dragons... waiting patiently in a slip in Manly Marina, Queensland, Australia.

We are off on a new three month adventure... and finally warm! 

All About Mothers (and Seahorses)...Roatan

Happy Mothers Day!  I spent most of the Mothers Days in the last 8 to 10 years out of the country.  My adult children are, and have been wonderfully supportive and pleased that I have been fortunate enough to travel and enjoy.  Without bragging (that would only be on Facebook, yes?...Ha ha ha)...they are three of the finest! 
So I am taking this Mother's Day morning (after cooking breakfast for my mom...and a little later when the grass dries out mowing her lawn) putting together a video gift to all mom's that enjoy Seahorses!  All moms...especially those that I was most fortunate to go diving with while in Roatan!  In order to upload it I have to downsize it tremendously...full screen distorts all the pictures...I still have a lot to learn about putting these up!  But if I am successful....view small screen...enjoy and be HAPPY!!     

 

Finally, an update!!

 

 

A few years ago...I was reminded that I should update the blog.  I didn't because there was nothing going on that would be consistent with our blog's name.  SV Lady H was no longer sailing anywhere.  Yes, we were enjoying living on the boat and I was enjoying the diving in Roatan but we were not traveling anywhere to speak of.  As Capt Paul's mobility continued to decline, I felt there was writing on the wall for transition to a trawler.  Late spring of 2012 I was offered a job back in the states...and took it.  Capt Paul continued to live on the boat in Roatan with it up for sale.  Much longer story made shorter...the boat is now in Kemah Texas for sale, Capt Paul is recuperating from multiple surgeries at his daughter's house in Tennessee, and I...well, I'm still working.  As we all know, working means there HAS to be vacations.  Part of my vacation in March of this year was diving in Palau.  I will be hopefully uploading a movie I made of pictures and video.  Not real pleased with how the video portions turned out...but I left a few in so you could hopefully see the diversity and multitude of underwater life.  Of course, now that I figured out how to make this 20 minute long movie and saved it in HD...the BlogSpot does not seem willing to upload it...too large a file!

 

SO...I've been spending some time and have figured out to shorten it...

If this is successful, I will be making one or more movies of under the water in Roatan and posting it to the blog as well.  Great memories with great divers and friends...miss you all...

Yes, an update...maybe not what you expected...but hopefully one you can enjoy!    

 

 

  

Paradise explained...

It has been awhile since I've blogged.  Been staying busy with diving cruisers...diving! 

 There has been the word paradise thrown around in my world for awhile especially lately and it got me to thinking. What really does paradise mean?

So I looked it up (so happy for internet on the boat) and found "It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and idleness". 

 Looking at this definition brings a few things to mind.  The first sentence of the quote probably has the most thought provoking ideas...but then defining peace, prosperity and happiness?  Too much thinking for me...so I like the second sentence. 

 Contentment...that needs much less definition and just understanding what contentment for each individual is.  I like the "not necessarily a land of luxury" as well as we all know those who need and have less and yet seem to be so happy!  And, to include that paradise is not necessarily a land of idleness...well, that I can identify with!  I remember many years ago when I was riding my bike every day (many miles and another story).  There were days when my kids would think I was being...hmmm...for lack of a better word here...crotchety?  They would tell me "Go on a bike ride mom!"  And, yes, I would heed their advise.  When I would come back from the 20 mile or so bike ride...the world was quieter...had my perspective change?  

 This now has become a "Joyce needs to go diving" piece of advise.  I still heed the advise and it still works...paradise...to each...is his or her own.  And, I just have to add...orange was my dad's favorite color...

If you have to be in a Marina

Friday Jan 6 2012

Well we have been here for a week. Wow....if you wanted to design a place where cruisers can feel wanted and have fun in paradise....this is it. Mike and Lilu, who were cruisers have made it fun again. I was getting a little depressed over at Fantasy Island....no cruisers, just the staff at the dive shop. We were the 1st boat in Brooksy Point Marina and for sure will not be the last. The word is our on the SSB nets that this is the place to go. He charges $15 bucks a week for cruisers out on the hook..for that they get a dump for their garbage, washer and dryer ($5)free bus to the market on Sat, 4-8 happy hr with $1 beers, clean hot showers,free trip into Coxen Hole, free movies, Saturday Potlucks,free wifi, free coffee in the AM, Pizza night every Thursday. I needed to go to the Clinic on the other end of the island.....Mike drove us....would have been a 20 dollar cab ride..... ...last night Jim, out on the hook came in for pizza in extreme back pain, they called and made an appointment for today and took him over this AM. Of course there are those who are trying to take advantage of all this. One group would have 1 pay the 15 bucks, then pass the password around to the rest of the group so the could steal WIFI signal, use the garbage, sneak in and the the washer, not pay their bar tab before the left.....so I have appointed myself as chief pecker-head in charge of making sure these sorry excuses of cruisers are run off.Which means most of the French and a few other lowlifes have left or decided to stay away.

And today, I had my 1st bite on the boat. We will sea where that will go.

Joyce has found a dive buddy, so she is now happy. So all is well for now.....