Superlative Sunshine Skiing

Frozen saguaro? Desert pines? Just some neat images from yesterday's cross-country ski outing...these baby pines are struggling to reach the sun through the wind-sculpted snow!

The ice crystals on the branches are like jewels against the sky! And the trees... encased in feathery white coats....this must be heaven! Dick (one of our septuagenarian ski buds) says so...

Brad, our leader, surveys the view....this is a great spot for a snack & some hot tea!

Rocks along the edge of Nickelplate Lake rise like small snow pyramids....

"Mike, where are your feet/boots/skis ??"....we encounter some deep snow as we cut across this corner of the lake....Brad (in red) & Dick follow behind...

There were 6 of us out enjoying this beautiful day!

l to r: Dick, Margaretha, Brad, Fran & Art

but all good things must come to an end, so it's homeward bound, til next time!

Where the h--- is Molson??

Well, howdy, pardners....just taking a break from all that "red stuff"....ya' know, cinnamon hearts, flowers, chocolate whatevers wrapped in red!

So Molson is "almost" a ghost town, as you can see by the sign.....better to be visited in summer/fall (Memorial Day to Labour Day to be precise)....nothing open here today! But apparently it has a very good museum (and they serve homemade pie & coffee....mmm, well let's hope!) So we will make a return trip....but this was a good day outing with some interesting things to see along the way....the buildings of old Molson, other old abandoned homesteads, and the pioneer cemetary( plus this "Easter Haybale Bunny??"...someone's anxious for springtime!)

If you want to learn more about Molson, Washington (USA) go to this website:
www.ghosttownusa.com/molson.htm and you'll find out about the "Canadian" connection!!

So back at home on our "ranch"....(a little cosier than this old homestead!!) we enjoyed prawns in garlic & ginger, white wine & Caesar salad....yummy, what could be better!

Happy Hearts Day, y'all!

Sun Fun in Puerto Vallarta

Just a week ago today we were lounging poolside, tequila (& other) drinks in hand...contemplating our week at the all-inclusive....and somewhat reluctant to board the plane back to "winterland". We'd had a fabulous week, with the highlight being our Outdoor Adventure tour with Vallarta Adventures! This included a zodiac ride across Banderas bay (whale-sightings "gratis"),

hopping off on the beach, we then boarded 1969 Mercedes German army trucks for our trip up in the hills to the "ranch".....there we were outfitted with our harnesses (leaving all worldly possessions behind, incl. cameras). We marched up to the stables & mounted mules for a steep, dusty ride up the trail to our "launching platform"....This was the start of a new experience for us - ziplining - having had our safety/instruction talk, we were now ready to be attached to a pulley line and fling ourselves down the 558 ft line, 115 ft in the air...WHOA! This action was repeated (joyfully!) another 8x....with some rappelling thrown in for added excitement (new to us, also!) There were 3 of those, in all a) an assisted rappell b)a rappell down a waterfall (98 ft) and c)a "freefall" rappell (100ft) where you dangle & drop off a platform into a waterfall pool below....amazingly, we survived all of this! (and were ready for more!)

We also met up with Carol & Bing for a water taxi ride to spend the day visiting the small village of Yelapa (40 minutes from P.V.)

We enjoyed our "flaming" after dinner "especial cafe"...see video below!

and sadly we say, "Adios,

Puerto Vallarta"....hasta la vista!