We found the Promised Land...

We did, in fact, find the Promised Land, a state park in northeastern Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, and it delivered just what we were looking for; peaceful seclusion in a beautiful fall setting.  I think we are feeling overloaded on sightseeing in crowded, high traffic, tourist destinations and ready for a few days of hibernation. So here, quietly, are a few photos of our surroundings:

The trees are shedding their golden leaves and there is a chill in the air.  Deep breaths!

Freedom, friends and a few fun facts!

Here on Roatan Island, we have exhausted all within our walking abilities.  Tired of hiring taxis, and wanting to be un-tethered from the West End, we started talking car rentals.  Marco, our new friend and co-owner of the beautiful private estate with the exotic name of Xbalanque, where we walk past most days to the beach, made a few calls, then drove us into town to pick up our Toyota Rav 4.  Though we got a reasonable weekly rental rate, it was not cheap by any means.  The number one vocation on this island, without a doubt, is being a taxi driver! 

Xbalanque

The beach

Our Rav 4

A few years ago, on Vancouver Island, we visited a bookstore in Victoria, and purchased Backroads of Vancouver Island, then explored every one; all the way from Port Renfrew out of Victoria to Port Hardy and west to Cape Scott Provincial Park....in the jeep of course.  

And that is our plan now that we have our own wheels...Freedom is here!  Our first adventure was to drive all the way to the island's most eastern tip, crisscrossing the mountains from south to north.  Facts:  The island is approx. 37 miles long and 5 miles across at its widest, with a high point of approx. 1000 above sea level.

From one of the higher viewpoints

  
Getting to the Eastern End took us off the main highway on a dirt road for about 12 miles. Colorful handmade signs along the way promised food and cold beer.  That is how we found Camp Bay Beach Dive Resort & Restaurant, and met the amazing Dr. Jami Epstein.

With Dr. Jami;  therapist, dive instructor and resort owner

At Camp Bay Beach Resort for lunch

La Sirena, on Camp Beach

What more perfect way to celebrate our new-found freedom than to go for a sunset cruise; once again offered by our new friend, Marco, and usually reserved only for guests of his resort.  No cost for the cruise, just join them for dinner later. And what a fabulous dinner we had; grilled grouper with a fresh mango salsa, potatoes au gratin, stir-fried veggies, and flan with grated coconut for dessert.  

Marco on the right

  

The cruise begins

A large ball on the horizon

Beautiful setting

Patsy, Marco's partner, furnished Xbalanque from trips to Bali and Indonesia

And while we're introducing new friends and new adventures, along with a few Roatan Island facts, here are Carleen and Marlin, our gracious hosts here at the Villa Delfin.  Carleen, a young woman of many talents; cartoon animator, local vocalist/entertainer,  and hands-on owner/operator, does it all.  Every weekend she has a gig at either West Bay or West End and has a powerful Janis Joplin-like style. We have so enjoyed them on many occasions.

Having lunch at Infinity Bay where she also entertains!

A few more facts:  Gas is $5/gallon by the time you do the liter and currency conversion.  Five gigs of highspeed internet costs $30, cheaper than Verizon, electricity is not always dependable and very expensive, cruise ships dock daily, and last but not least, the beaches and reef snorkeling are amazing!

Scary big!

Snorkeling at West Bay on the reef

Top 20 Travel Destinations for 2012

1. Anza Borrego Desert:  Our new year most always begins here. This is our happy place, our attitude adjustment, our return on investment. Overwhelmingly beautiful, yet fierce and unforgiving; it suits our fancy.  Boondock favorite...

2. Ajo, AZ:  We've buzzed through Ajo many times on our way to other destinations, but enough friends and bloggers convinced us it was a destination! We stayed a month, boondocking, off-roading, photographing, and enjoying the great little town.

3. Pismo Beach, CA:  The State Beach Park has large, grassy sites with no hookups.  Paths lead to huge sandy dunes with blooming ice plant, and groves of gnarly Eucalyptus trees housing seasonal migrating Monarch butterflies.

4. San Francisco:  We never tire of this beautiful City by the Bay, though there are several; New Orleans, Vancouver, and Seattle, to name a few. But this is the only one with...The Golden Gate Bridge!

5. Bridgeport, CA:  A plan had been percolating and Highway 395, in the Eastern Sierras, took shape.  Thus we discovered Bodie, a genuine ghost mining gold town near Bridgeport... 

6. Mono Lake:  Continuing on 395, Mono Lake became a fascinating photo challenge.  We would depart our June Lake home base for early morning and late afternoon shootings of tufa towers, and calcium carbonate spires and knobs.  The lake is 2 1/2 times as salty as the ocean...

7. Bishop, CA:  Bakeries and bristlecone pines awaited us about 50 miles south.  The world famous Shats Bakery would become a regular stop on our daily outings to commune with the bristlecone pine forest, ancient sentinels over 4000 years old....

8. Lone Pine, CA:  The last stop on our 395 adventure but certainly not the least!  It is the gateway to Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 49 states, sweeping upwards of 2 vertical miles from this high desert location.  Nearby, the Alabama Hills presented an enchanted, convoluted vision of keyhole canyons and steep slopes of shattered granite boulders...

9. Port Townsend, WA:  A slice of pure heaven; friends, views, even the weather cooperated though August is the premier time to visit this favorite Northwest location.  We have waterfront parking at the Point Hudson Marina.  A Victorian Seaport and Arts Community...

10. Arches National Park:  Our arrival in Moab was a bit overwhelming; the crowds, the uncertainty of our stay. And we have a schedule which precludes our usual ability to be spontaneous, in an effort to re-visit many of the National Parks in Southern Utah.  Though we did prevail....

11. Canyonlands National Park:  The northern part of Canyonlands is known as The Island in the Sky.  A scenic drive follows the rim of this sheer-walled mesa with pull-outs where you get amazing views of the surrounding country virtually 1000' straight down, including canyons that have been carved by the Green and Colorado Rivers... 

12. Bluff, UT:  Goosenecks, Gods, and Petroglyphs were all in a day's drive from our fabulous boondocking site at Sand Island BLM Campground.  We had never heard of, much less seen the phenomenon awaiting us at Goosenecks State Park or the wonders of The Valley of the Gods, a miniature version of Monument Valley... 

13. Capitol Reef National Park:  Arriving at Capitol Reef was like finding an oasis in the midst of colorful red cliffs, massive domes, soaring spires, and twisting canyons.  Named Capitol for the white domes of Navajo sandstone, and Reef, the local word referring to any barrier to travel, describing the rugged upthrust known as the Waterpocket Fold.

14. Snow Canyon State Park:  Just when I think we topped the charts of landscape beauty, we drive into Snow Canyon, and there is a jaw-dropping moment of complete sensory overload.  Scenic is an understatement for this park tucked amid lava flows and soaring sandstone cliffs, petrified sand dunes, and volcanic cones; a strikingly colorful and fragile desert environment... 

15. Zion National Park:  An easy day's drive from our St. George location for the Huntsman World Senior Games.  Zion...A sanctuary, a refuge; a sacred place considered perfect of ideal!  Zion National Park is all of that and more.  Everything takes life from the Virgin River's scarce desert waters.  Water flows and solid rock melts into cliffs and towers... 

16. Pagosa Springs, CO:  We arrived in Pagosa Springs, east of Durango, on a crisp, sunny fall day mid-October.  This was to be our birthday celebration so for 3 glorious days spent at the Healing Waters Resort and Spa we sunned and soaked and enjoyed great dinners out.  The fall colors were worth the drive alone...

17. San Juan Islands:  Anacortes, WA is homeport to the San Juan Islands and conveniently situated half way between Seattle and Vancouver, BC.  The Washington State Ferries are at our beck and call for those day trips to the San Juan Islands and Victoria on Vancouver Island...

18. Big Sur Coast:  Touted as one of the world's top driving tours according to National Geographic, though doing it in a motorhome takes on a whole new perspective!  This rugged and picturesque narrow two-lane road twists and turns, suspended precariously over deep chasms, held in place by viaducts, and threatened by landslides...

19. Petaluma, CA:  During spring and late fall our migration pattern brings us into home territory where Petaluma becomes our home base. This lovely historic town with its old Victorian architecture offers up great restaurants, cheese factories, sustainable farms, with the Napa Valley wine country just a short drive away.  And we have family....

20. Half Moon Bay:  The Coastside area is home to commercial fishing, pumpkins, flowers farms and giant waves known as Mavericks.  Just 30 miles south of San Francisco on narrow, windy Highway 1, this sleepy coastal town was "discovered" during the Silicon Valley tech explosion.  This is home territory for yours truly...  

Gotta love a parade!

Petaluma in one of those great small towns with just plain good genes! The location here in the Sonoma County Wine country, along the Petaluma River, is just 30 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.  

For decades local residents have worked to preserve the local Victorian-style architecture and maintain its mid-19th century charm.  

Throughout the year the town celebrates its heritage through fairs and festivals. 

The recent Veterans Day Parade and Vintage Airplanes Fly-In brought everyone out on a beautiful fall day to honor our Nation's Veterans.  Here at the Municipal Airport.... 



I know nothing about war planes but soon got caught up in the excitement and now know that..

This is the P-51 Mustang Fighter...

...And the Martin B-26 Marauder Bomber..Notice the ladies in period attire and the Corvette!

The pride of this lovely town that has now become our second home is contagious... 

We hurried into town as traffic backed up and secured parking, schlepping our chairs to Petaluma Blvd. to get a choice parade-viewing spot.

There were Biker Vets and

Vets with Vettes...

Rosie the Riveter...

..and Gaucho Marching Bands!

And even a precious Daisy Scout that happens to be our 6 yr. old granddaughter, Christina!