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December 23, 2008
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Mike's official RETIREMENT
Here we are with Christina, this is the civilized part of the party. You can see how serious it is, because Mike is wearing his TUX. This was before the nerf machine guns, silly stri  ng and flying dinner rolls. Check out the awesome cake! The plane says, "Leavin' on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again" Mini frosting Mike has his arm out the window for a thumbs up!!  Labels: 2008 Highlights, Washington
December 17, 2008
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San Antonio by Segway
We had a blast tearing around San Antonio on the Segway tour. These are so easy to operate, we recommend them highly for anyone! Here we are at the Alamo, which amazingly is right in downtown San Antonio. Rich history, truly brave men and women.  Labels: 2008 Highlights, Texas
October 31, 2008
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Sunset in Seattle
This is the view from the balcony in our condo in downtown Seattle right above the ferry dock. There's no place like home...isn't this a spectacular sky? My mom (the artist) would say that if you painted a sky like that no one would believe it!  Labels: 2008 Highlights, Washington
October 22, 2008
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Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
This part of the Fiesta is called "special shapes". The beer mug was a definite crowd favorite!   Labels: 2008 Highlights, New Mexico
October 14, 2008
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Jackson Hole, Wyoming
This is the central plaza in Jackson Hole, and the archway here is made out of antlers. I finally went to the doctor about my rib after a local said to Mike that ..." things are kind of rugged here in Wyoming, are you going to take your wife to the doctor or are you going to put her down?"  Labels: 2008 Highlights, Wyoming
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Captain Mike flies the Eclipse 500
Eclipse Aviation http://www.eclipseaviation.com/ had a fly-in at Sunriver, OR. After waiting seven long years, Mike finally got to pilot an actual Eclipse 500 (I got to ride, too!). It was a sweet ride and a nice treat on his actual 60th birthday!  Labels: 2008 Highlights, Oregon
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Rainbow Bridge, Lake Powell
 By far the most popular destination on Lake Powell, Rainbow Bridge stands majestically above the clear blue water creating an awe-inspiring sight. Photographs simply cannot capture the size of this monolith. The world's largest natural bridge, Rainbow Bridge is 290 feet tall, spans 275 feet, is 33 feet wide and 42 feet thick. It is called "Nonnoshoshi" by the Navajo people, or "rainbow turned to stone." The stone bridge is formed of Navajo Sandstone at the top and Kayenta Sandstone at the base. Its deep spiritual significance is respected and we were asked not to walk beyond the viewing area. Labels: 2008 Highlights, Arizona
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Romancing Lake Powell
Lake Powell has lots of cool shady slot canyons to swim in - they get so narrow you have to squeeze in. By the way, Mike and I are three years married and still going strong!   Labels: 2008 Highlights, Arizona
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High activity adventures @ Lake Powell
That top photo might look a little innocent, but it was followed by a MAJOR battle for king of the floating island, complete with  water cannons and dunking. (Congrats to nieces Aimee and Ashley who held down the fort while the guys attacked each other!) The bottom photo was the incredible ZIP LINE set up by our guides - it went from the rocks about 160 yards up in the air down to the water in Lake Powell. It looks like Mike is balancing his tip toes on the rock, doesn't it?  Labels: 2008 Highlights, Arizona, Highlights
August 5, 2008
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Sumo wrestling in Seattle
 The winner of a sumo bout is either: 1) The first wrestler to force his opponent to step out of the ring. 2) The first wrestler to force his opponent to touch the ground with any part of his body other than the bottom of his feet. 3) The guy wearing the cute pink thong (that would be Mike)!! Labels: 2008 Highlights, Washington
August 1, 2008
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Celebrity hobnobbing in Vegas!
 There was a very interesting woman we met, named Madame Tussaud. She introduced us around! From the top, I gave Tiger some advice on putting (he'll be back on the tour in no time), sang a song with Stevie, and last but not least, whispered some sweet nothings to HEF himself!!!  Labels: 2008 Highlights, Highlights, Las Vegas
June 4, 2008
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Soldiers for a Day in Halifax Nova Scotia
The Citadel in Halifax is a military fortress hidden in a smooth grassy hill inside the city. The British established it to fend off the French, who were seen as a threat to the New England colonies. No longer in active military use, they do have military guards in 1870 period uniforms patrolling the grounds  , firing cannons and drilling people like us on how to MARCH and fire RIFLES. Macho tasks indeed. Did you ever think you'd see Mike wearing a kilt?? Question: What do you wear under a kilt? Answer: Shoes  Labels: 2008 Highlights, Canada, Highlights
May 26, 2008
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Benjamin Franklin in Boston?
We were surprised to see him...we thought he'd be in Pennsylvania, but apparently he was born in Boston in  1706 and still likes to hang around here. He's getting up in years, though, good thing he invented those bifocals! Labels: 2008 Highlights, Massachusetts
April 27, 2008
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At the Tulip Festival Skagit Valley, WA
 Surrounded by thousands of tulips, it definitely feels like spring! There were tourists here from all over the world - we heard German, French, Japanese and Russian spoken. Everyone was taking photos of each other - no translation required... not sure we'll see anything like this in Vegas! Labels: 2008 Highlights, Washington
April 8, 2008
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Las Vegas, baby!!
Taking in the fabulous view from the Voodoo Lounge atop the Rio...and deciding whether or not we want to have Sin City as our home base in the future. Vegas is constantly reinventing itself, with the next new hotel, show, headliner - and now condos. Who knows? Do you think anyone will come to visit us there - maybe before a plane ride in the Eclipse 500?!  Labels: 2008 Highlights, Las Vegas
February 28, 2008
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Lunar Eclipse Party, British Virgin Islands
  Holy Cow... Da Bomba Shack on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands is THE place to be for the full moon party, not to mention when it's a Lunar Eclipse! We had a great view of the moon, but this place is wild! Dancing, drinking mushroom tea (no we didn't) and other libations, ladies undies hanging everywhere, gawking at the moon, more dancing...party central, mon!! Labels: 2008 Highlights, ALL TIME GREATS, British Virgin Islands
February 27, 2008
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At the Soggy Dollar Bar, British Virgin Islands
 The Soggy Dollar Bar is famous - the idea is you swim from your sailboat to the bar, so your money is all wet by the time you get there (hence the name). Above the cash register, they have a clothesline with soggy dollars pinned to it for drying!  Labels: 2008 Highlights, British Virgin Islands
February 14, 2008
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Scuba Diving in the Galapagos Islands
Kicker Rock is actually split in two, and we dove in the channel. The currents were VERY strong - this is definitely not for novice divers. There was such a surge in current at the bottom that we had to hold onto rocks to maintain our position without moving 10 feet back and forth each time the waves came through, even though it was relatively calm on top.  Galapagos is located at the confluence of five ocean currents, so you never know which way the water is going to go. The water was mostly very cool, but once in a while you'd hit a really icy current for a few minutes. The current was so strong that I was unable to swim back to the boat after the dive, which was a little scary. They had to motor around and pick me (and Mike, my trusty dive buddy) up on the other side of the rock. We had really hoped for hammerhead sharks, but didn't see any. Plenty of reef sharks, sea lions, lobster, eagle rays, and a bazillion small to mid sized fish of every shape and size. The sheer quantity of marine life is amazing! Labels: 2008 Highlights, Ecuador, Highlights
February 12, 2008
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Watching the Giant Tortoises have fun
 The giant tortoises were amazing. Prehistoric looking and huge. You can get an idea of the scale looking at the road this guy is travelling on, which is big enough for a jeep. This guy weighed about 700 pounds. They travel at the blistering pace of 1/6 of a mile per hour, and cover 15 miles from highlands to the beaches in about 5 weeks each year. Observing the mating rituals of giant tortoises wasn't on our list of things to do, but it was interesting!! The male has to chase down the female (survival of the fittest, again!) The process happens once a year and takes 3 HOURS.  Labels: 2008 Highlights, Ecuador
February 5, 2008
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Sea Lions in the Galapagos Islands
  Sea lions are a plentiful and friendly species here. Recommended distance is 6 feet, as they may bite. We swam with them, posed with them, stepped over them and talked to them. We saw many nursing babies up close. Many was the day we went back to our boat to shower off our essence of sea lion!! Labels: 2008 Highlights, ALL TIME GREATS, Ecuador
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At the equator line in Pichincha, Ecuador
  Here is the spot! El Mitad del Mundo, the middle of the world and the actual equator line, at the highest point in the world. Thumbs up is the traditional pose here, as you are actually lighter on the equator by a couple of pounds :) They did a demonstration showing how water drains straight down on the equator, and spins (the Coriolis effect) clockwise and counterclockwise within 6 feet of the line!! Labels: 2008 Highlights, ALL TIME GREATS, Ecuador
January 25, 2008
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Zip lines at Monteverde cloud forest, Costa Rica
  The longest zip line canopy tour in Costa Rica took us through 2 miles of cable with 18 platforms through the cloud forests. We gave our best Tarzan yells! Here we are, a little muddy, with Jack Haggerty, who was in pilot training with Mike and just retired as a FedEx/Flying Tiger captain. Labels: 2008 Highlights, ALL TIME GREATS, Costa Rica
January 23, 2008
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Rappelling in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
  What a fantastic adventure with Pure Trek Canyoning in La Fortuna, Costa Rica - rappelling down 4 different waterfalls. The longest was 195 feet and the water was warm. It's lush and tropical, but not too hot. Labels: 2008 Highlights, Costa Rica, Highlights
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