Kelly and I took a break from the shutdown work in Pascagoula and attended Jonathan’s Army Boot Camp graduation in Lawton, Oklahoma. It has been a long time since we saw Jon…it was actually the week before Thanksgiving. It was real cold in Lawton, it hailed and rained on us for a little bit, but then just stayed cold. We arrived in Lawton on Wednesday afternoon and didn’t get to see Jon until Thursday, which was family day and he was able to get off base. This was a fast weekend, as we flew back on Saturday morning to go back to work Saturday night, but it was worth it all.

We went to Geronimo’s grave, which is in an Indian cemetery located at Fort Sill Army base. We also went to the Great Plains museum and the Artillery museum. The graduation ceremony was on Friday and it was great to see so many young adults taking the oath to protect us and our country.

We thank all our troops who serve and protect our country! God Bless America and our troops past and present.

Pvt. Jonathan Mays- my son…so proud

Prairie Dog

this was one big buffalo

Standard Oil…nice

Lawton Fire truck

Fort Sill Army Base

Apache Indian Cemeteries

Geronimo’s grave

Base flags

Taking the stage

Drill Sergeant and Jon

Jon’s Army ring

We spent our last day at St Maarten on the sailboat Random Wind. What a GREAT trip…The owner of Random Wind is Diane (I’m afraid I don’t know her last name…)…she and her two children live on the boat. She is a single mom, and does an amazing job…she makes the trip so much fun. You feel so welcomed and comfortable….you can have whatever you want to drink, from Bloody Marys, Margaritas, Rum Punch, Beer, Soda, water…what ever. She cooks and feeds you a wonderful curry chicken with rice and green salad with bread for lunch…there was a mid-day snack and an afternoon snack.

She picks you up in her dinghy and takes you to the boat…she serves everyone a round of drinks and she starts visiting with everybody…it is a nice leisure sail to a beach where they anchor…you can go snorkling and swimming…you can swim to the beach…while lunch is being prepared. After lunch we sailed to another beach. Kelly and I rode up on the Bow seat at the front of the boat…that was a lot of fun. It was like being on a rollercoaster…I highley recommend trying the seat if you ever get a chance.

The second anchor spot, they set up a trapeze swing from the spinnaker boom…that was soooo much fun. You climb up onto the top rail and you hold onto the trapeze bar and they tell you when to lift your feet and swing out with the rock of the boat…then you let go and drop into the sea…fun…Kelly and Scott did the trapeze about a dozen times or more…Every one on board tried the trapeze at least once. Then we headed home…It was an amazing day…a nice way to end a great vacation.

If you are ever in St Maarten, we highly recommend booking a trip with Random Wind, it is worth every penny…..  Randomwind.com

Because I was so busy having a great time swimming and holding on…I am afraid, I didn’t  take many photos…

Captain Diane – Owner of the Random Wind…an amazing women

The Random Wind

Kelly and June on the Random Wind

June and Kelly riding on the Bow Seat

Kelly swinging on the trapeze

Kelly…getting ready to drop into the water

Diane was in the water and caught Kelly in mid-air turn

Scott swinging on the trapeze

Scott making a splash…

One of the days at St Maarten we took the ferry over to St Barth Island…actually Scott, won a free ferry ride to St Barths….playing bingo…which was great….St Barths is French…we rented a very small car to visit the island. The ferry ride was nice…it include beverage service..the Captain told us all if we did good (don’t get sea sick) on the ride over we could have all the beer we wanted on the return trip home…which was included in the price of the ticket..it was a nice deal…of course the only beer they served was Coors…not really my favorite…but…I could say…it was the thought 🙂

Here are the photos of from St Barths….it is a very expensive island..they use the Euro but will accept US dollars…it was a great day…All the beaches have tile signs with the name of the beach..we made it to most of the beaches…but not all..we didn’t have that much time on the island. I would say the sand is very fine, very soft…..very white…it is slightly different then St Maarten. It was a great day!

The first thing I see as we pull into Port at St Barth’s

St Barth’s Airport…that is a really short runway.

Sign for St Jean Beach

St Jean Beach….very nice..pretending that is our yacht anchored at the beach…I wish…

Grand Fond sign

Grand Fond Shoreline – St Barth’s

Saline Beach Sign

Walking to Saline Beach

Kelly sittting on Saline Beach…enjoying the day

Saline Beach – St Barth’s

Gate to board the ferry back to St Maarten…goodbye

Ferry pass back to St Maarten

We had the great pleasure of going to St Maarten for a week (7 days on St Maarten) with Scott and Diana Cross…We had a great time! Weather was nice….beaches nice…great friends…Here is the first over view of the trip and there will be two more post for the special day trips we took while on the island.

We took our time traveling which was great…no pressure. Our trip started Wednesday night. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, Burlingame for an early flight on Thursday morning. We shared a room…they said the beds were queens size…I’m not sure I agreed..the beds seemed very small…It was hard to sleep because we were all excited to go. We went to dinner at Steelhead Brewery in Burllingame…it was a great start.

First night dinner at Steelhead Brewery in Burlingame

Took the hotel shuttle to the airport and bright and early Thursday morning. Made it to Miami Florida with no problems. We had separate rooms at Miami Hilton…we had the Hilton Honors status and had a room on the 12th floor…very nice view.

Hilton Honors room at Miami…we each had our own room…nice

Our view from our room in Miami Florida

We found this great restaurant called the 94th Aero Squadron, it was set up like a Normandy Farm from World War 2 with military equipment..it was right across the street from Miami Airport…we had a great food and a really good time..

Dinner at the 94th Aero Squardon..excellent place to have dinner

Kelly, Diana and Scott – 94th Aero Squadron restaurant

Awwww – Scott and Diana stealing a kiss at dinner

Watching the clouds during dinner

No problems on our flight from Miami, to Saint Maarten…We made it….Views from the plane and our room and from the bar on the beach…

Flying to St Maarten…what a view on the plane

Welcome to St Maarten

View of pool from our room

The bar in the pool..nice….just down the elevator

View from the balcony

View from the balcony…Simpson Bay

View from our balcony…Simpson Bay

Diana….feet in the water…we are sitting at the bar at the hotel…..nice, we made it!

Sott….feet in the water…we are sitting at the bar at the hotel…..nice, we made it!

 

June….feet in the water…we are sitting at the bar at the hotel…..nice, we made it!

Diana & Kelly….feet in the water…I’m not sure how we didn’t get a solo photo of Kelly…must have been one to many drinks?? or we must have relaxed really well.

We did get Kelly relaxing in the pool.

We hopped on the local bus system and took a day trip to Philipsburg…definitely toursist central…….but a fun day wandering through the shops and having lunch..

We are in Philipsburg..the usual sign board photo..you just have to do it! This is Scott and Diana

Ok, so now it was our turn in the sign board photo..whoo hoo.

Interesting Bar…it wasn’t open yet, when we went through town.

Beach at Philipsburg, St Maarten

We went across the street from our hotel and had dinner at Skip Jack’s restaurant….

Kelly and Diana picking their dinner at Skip Jack’s restaurant

Dinner selected…

Dinner served…

These are photos as we wandered about St Maarten…

This is Saba Island….view from our room

Recycled anchor balls ..into art, at one of the many beach bars

Can’t help myself…you have to try for the artist photo…

Nice paint job on a scooter on the French side of St Maarten

Nice paint job on a scooter on the French side of St Maarten

One evening we went over to the Sunset Bar and Grill which is literally at the end of St Maarten Airport runway. I saw it when we flew into St Maarten..this resturaunt is on one side of the runway…you watch the planes come in and land and take off..you can watch and see the jet wash rough up the ocean…it is really a sight to see…the planes coming right at you..there are a lot of signs posted about the jet wash and not standing on the road…of course there are always people who don’t have a clue and will stand there…it was a great place to watch the sun set and the flights come and go…

Watching the planes at Sunset Bar and Grill

Watching a flight leave St Maarten…sitting at Sunset Bar & Grill

Photos on our last day…it is always so hard to leave..but you also get excited to go home and be in your own bed..and see your pets and family…had a great time..would do the trip again!! Thank you Scott and Diana for sharing your trip with us..we enjoyed it very much!!! Whoo Hooo…Kelly and I also got two stamps in our Passports!…simple things can make us so happy..

Enjoying the view..our last day…and our last drink at the bar at the hotel

Good bye St Maarten..that is our hotel right at our wing tip…

Heading home…farewell…St Maarten..hope to see you again

Flying to Miami…tail end clouds from Sandy…

 

It has been great getting the chance to come see Terry (Kelly’s brother for those who don’t know him) race. We spent the last two Friday nights at Watsonville Speedway…what fun, 1/2 mile dirt track. The first time we sat in the regular grandstand, the second time we paid to go in the race pits…On this Friday night Terry’s future son-in-law Phil was also racing Terry’s smaller other car which they call it the 4 banger #83 Boardroom Racing. Phil is getting ready to be deployed again…go Navy! Well, Terry and Phil did not take 1st place, but both finished the race and we all had a great time…look forward to watching more racing when we are back in Morgan Hill…go Terry and Phil…here are a few of the photos from race night…enjoy

WatsonvilleSpeedway

Brothers – Terry and Kelly at the racetrack

The Happy Couple – Phil and Kelsea

Double #83’s – Terry and Phil

Phil receiving instructions on the race car

Phil going to the track for the first time in #83

Good Luck Phil

Getting ready to race – go Terry

Terry heading out for the first race

Terry going to the track

Friday Night Race

Go #83!!! Terry did come in  3rd…

Well, the weather in Idaho has not been the best…it has been cold and super windy…30 mph+..it makes the motor home rock pretty good and we are parked. Here are a few fun pictures we took around camp when doing our daily walks…

Interesting signs in the campgrounds in Idaho

More interesting signs….

Our view of the Snake River -Idaho

Local horse at the campground

The graduation…the reason we are here…FAMILY…congratulations Shelbie!!!! We are so glad to have been able to share this time with you. Great day!

Burley High Class of 2012 – Idaho

Shelbie Wilkinson – our Granddaughter the Graduate- 2012

Proud Grandparents – Wilkinson family

Proud Grandparents – Campion family