Travel

Caribbean Adventure Tour 23 to 29 August 1999

Day 1 - Departing Dallas

We managed to get to the airport on time, actually with plenty of time to spare! The sun was shining in a regularly warm Dallas, however when we finally arrived in Miami, the rain was drenching the airport, that along with the lightning, required us to be grounded before disembarking for about 45 minutes. Naturally we were an hour late taking off. Both of us were just wishing we were there.

Side-note. Don't stay up all night prior to flying.

ANTIGUA

The cab ride from airport was AMAZING. Fast and maniacal, is the only way I can describe it. At one point we stopped for gas, or so we thought, he (the driver) was checking out the petrol pump attendant. I think this should have been a warning about the way life is on the islands.

Hotel is nice. Greeted by Karen - the handshake is a nice touch. She arranged for sandwiches. These are hospitable people.

Seems this island is liked by the British, as we have heard many already.

The crickets are also amazing here, as they sound like a birds tweeting constantly, or like a spring in need of an oil.

4 July
Independence Day!

Scottsbluff put on the best July 4th Fireworks celebration I've ever seen (which actually wasn't too hard, given this was my first). It was amazing. The city (fire brigade) put on a display, and then during short breaks, the "city" people would respond with their own display. It was almost a tit-for-tat fireworks extravaganza!

8 July

Scottsbluff and Gering have the Oregon Trails Festival this weekend, so we have to move out of our hotel for the weekend. We have a hotel in Alliance, Nebraska which is about 47 miles north-east of Scottsbluff. It will mean that Chris has to leave at a more ungodly hourly to get to work now - oh well,it's only two days :-)

9 July

Today was Chris's first day off, so we heading to South Dakota to the Mount Rushmore National Monument. We also visited Deadwood, South Dakota, which is a whole town listed as a National Historic Landmark, and the burial place of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.

15 to 20 June
Key West, Florida.

After flying down to Fort Lauderdale, we spent the night at Loews Beach Hotel in South Miami Beach. A 3 hour drive down the southern tip of Florida and you arrive in Key West. Spent the days just enjoying the sunshine, the wanderings and the tours. An amazing place to visit is the Dry Tortugas National Park. It is an island 70 miles west of Key West by boat. It is the home of Fort Jefferson, a former non-functional fort and prison (used during the Civil War).

26 June
Pool Party!!

As Chris and I were away for my birthday, and were going to be away for another friend's birthday, and a friend from England was visiting, we decided to have a pool party and drink lots and swim lots. This was achieved!!

28 June

We continued to help Mike and Tim move stuff today in preparation of their move out of there house. Chris was paged today, so we are heading off to whereever soon.

29 June

We left today to Scottsbluff, Nebraska. I decided to head out with Chris, as we would get to see some of more of middle America. After travelling through Oklahoma, we stopped at Hays, Kansas. The hotel (a Holiday Inn proper) was horrible. Avoid this hotel if you ever end up in Hays, Kansas.