Return to St Lucia - Day 5

Celebrity Reflection at Dock 
Castries, St Lucia
September 24, 2025

 It has been 14 years since Chris and I visited St Lucia. We enjoyed a great week then with my sister Pennie and her husband, Scott. 

Yesterday, we made our return to the island and were not disappointed. We made port in Castries, the capital, and took a bus tour of the northern part of the island. Lush vegetation was everywhere. The roads were as bad a I remember, rough but passable. We further enjoyed a beautiful but hot day from the comfort of an air conditioned bus. 

A Hole on a Sandal's Golf Course
St Lucia
September, 24, 2025

During our three-hour tour, we discovered a golf course built along the Atlantic Ocean that I would love to play. It looks to be a lot of fun and a definite difficult challenge with the narrow fairways and ocean breezes.

We also revisited Pigeon Island, where we had visited during our previous adventure on St Lucia. It was much the same, except this time we did not enter the fort. 

We made our way back to the ship for lunch and an afternoon of relaxation. 

Sunset over the Ocean
Atlantic Ocean off St Lucia
September 24, 2025

The final bit of St Lucia enjoyment came during dinner as we witnesses a stunning sunset over the ocean near the northern tip of the island.

We have not enjoyed many sunsets on this cruise because we have been blessed with many storm clouds, but few sunsets. I took the image through the somewhat cloudy windows in the dining room. But it was a sunset to enjoy. 

-- Bob Doan, St Johns, Antigua

St Kitts and Nevis, Day 4

Chris at the Port
St Kitts
September 23, 2025

 Our cruise continues and yesterday we made our first port: St Kitts and Nevis. Although the weather forecast was for showers and thunderstorms, they did not arrive until the day was complete. 

We did not have a planned excursion and so we got off the boat and walked around the port area for a couple hours. Our ship was the only one in port meaning that the shops were not crowded. The day was hot! The sun was hot! But we enjoyed ourselves, even stopping at a local bar for some refreshments. 

From the Pier
Basseterre, St Kitts
September 23, 2025

The island is picturesque with its volcanic hills running right into the water. The hills are green and lush. In retrospect I wish we had done an excursion to explore the island a bit more.

The ship departed St Kitts about 6 PM and headed for St Lucia, where we are about to enter the post at Castries. We are looking forward to a bus tour around the island which will allow us the opportunity to see how the island has changes/grown since our visit some 14 years ago. 

More fun and adventure is in store. 

-- Bob Doan, Castries, St Lucia 

At Sea 2, Day 3

Out the Stateroom Window
North Atlantic Ocean
September 22, 2025

 We enjoyed another Sea Day yesterday. The ship was alive with things to do and see. 

First though, the scene out my stateroom window has only this morning changed since we are porting in St Kitts. But for the past two days it has been unending blue ocean with the skies varying by the clouds. 

The seas moderated from our first day and the sailing has been very smooth. 

Riedel Wine Glass Tasting
Celebrity Reflection
September 22, 2025

The highlight of yesterday's activities was a Riedel Wine Glass tasting and demonstration. We thoroughly enjoyed the tasting and were reminded that glassware really does affect the taste of the wine. We compared four wines in Riedel glassware, standard unnamed glassware, and a plastic glass. Glassware definitely makes the difference. Of course we knew that, but it is good to be reminded. And I was reminded why wine in plastic glasses served on airlines tastes so bad! It may be cheap wine as well.

We enjoyed a great day, some great meals, and good fun. 

The only damper on the day was the Ravens not showing up for their game against Detroit! Ugh.

-- Bob Doan, St Kitts

At Sea, Day 2

Chris and I on the Ship
Celebrity Reflection in the North Atlantic
September 21, 2025

 Since Chris and I are at sea aboard Celebrity Reflection, there will be no Monday Musings today. 

Day 2 was a Sea Day, as is today, Day 3. Beginning tomorrow we will be making port calls on 5 successive days. I forget the complete order, but tomorrow is St Kitts and Nevis followed by St Lucia on Day 5.  

Yesterday, Chris and I relaxed and enjoyed some hot tub time along with wandering around the ship. Oh wait, we did a World Wide Wine Tasting of six reds and six whites from around the world. Yes, there were twelve wines. The wines presented well, but the tasting was more of a free-for-all rather than being a structured tasting with each wine being introduced and tasted along with a food pairing. Even so, we had a lot of fun.

We managed to watch some of the Cowboys loss to the Bears and earlier we saw the Steelers steal a game from the Patriots. Congrats to the Commanders and Chiefs for their wins. Tonight the Ravens play and I'm hoping for a good result. 

The evening was a dress-up night and we enjoyed a very nice dinner. Our table is next to a window and being on Deck 3 we are much closer to the ocean. It is amazing how different it looks compared with our stateroom Deck 10 view. What looks to be a mostly flat ocean from above is actually 2-3 foot swells as we get closer. 

I am enjoying the veranda as I have an ocean front view! Those are hard to come by on land unless blessed with millions of dollars. I enjoy sitting on the veranda reading and writing, although this morning I am in the stateroom waiting for our coffee order to arrive. 

-- Bob Doan, Celebrity Reflection, North Atlantic Ocean

And off into the Caribbean, Day 1

Grand Foyer of Celebrity Reflection
North Atlantic Ocean
September 20, 2025

Our cruise departed Fort Lauderdale yesterday dodging rainstorms and 4 foot swells. Fortunately it is a big ship, not the biggest, but far bigger than the 23 foot boat I use from my boat club. Being massive, the waves hardly affect it but the winds cause a perpetual rocking motion.

It is the kind of motion that will either make you sick or rock you to sleep. It rocked me to sleep, but only slightly. I can report that the swells moderated overnight and are much more tame today. 

I stood out on my veranda at about 10 PM last night and looked at the stars in the very black sky. I do not see such a black sky devoid of ground light very often. I saw stars that I had forgotten existed between the clouds and the smoke from the Reflection's engines. We were traveling at about 18 knots--a solid speed for a cruise ship facing two sea days and needing to be somewhere in less than 48 hours. 

I remembered how small we are in the universe and that what happens on our rock called Earth matters only to us and in the larger scope of the universe we are insignificant.  A speck. 

Yet, we are all that we have and we can't seem to get along. 

We need to do better. 

-- Bob Doan, North Atlantic Ocean

Travel Day

Classic Car Entering the Street
Tequesta, FL
September 19, 2025

 Chris and I are off to the cruise port in a couple hours. 

The excitement is building and the bags are packed, mostly. 

As we were out doing final errands yesterday, I saw a great classic car. I'm guessing 56 Chevy Bel Air. I didn't get a great image of it, as I had to use my Meta glasses. So, I zoomed in a lot and lost some detail. But she was a beauty. 

I'm hoping that Saturday traffic is light and our trip to the parking lot is smooth and easy. Heading into Ft Lauderdale can be a pain, even on a good day. It is not as bad as driving around Houston, but can still be challenging.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Day Before

Celebrity Reflection
Key West, FL
September 24, 2024

 Well, the sun arrived with the morning today. 

That was a welcome change. 

Chris and I are in the "day before" mode. Packing and preparing the house for our upcoming Caribbean Cruise. I expect to be able to continue blogging while on the cruise. 

We are excited because it is a longer cruise, 9 days. The short cruises, 3 and 4 nights, seem too short. On those cruises we just begin to get into the vibe of the ship and learn the crew members names and then it is time to disembark. 

Did you ever notice that cruises are sold in terms of nights and not days? 

The image is of our cruise ship from last year when we made a port call in Key West. 

We are excited for the cruise because we will be visiting three new Caribbean islands and by the end of the today we will be ready to head to the port to begin the adventure. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

And We Made it Home

Image of the Seat Back Video Taxiing to Depart Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
August 27, 2025

 Chris and I arrived home to a very happy Finnegan this morning just after 1 AM! The people caring for him dropped him off earlier in the evening so that he would be there to greet Chris. I am not sure who was more excited at the reunion, Finn or Chris.

Image from Houston Airport
Houston, TX
Auguat 17, 2025

The flights were, again, fantastic and on-time! Yay, Delta! They were 4 for 4 on this trip. We even dodged a few thunderstorms around Houston. It is always somewhat eerie arriving after midnight into a deserted airport as we did early this morning at PBI. 

We especially appreciated the hospitality of Pennie and Scott. Thank you again. It was good to spend time with you and of course see Dad.

Chris and I are excited that we have a break in our travel schedule, for just over three weeks, until we head out into the Caribbean for a cruise!

As we put an exclamation point on the Houston trip, we are happy that it was both successful and enjoyable. 

And now,  it is back to our regularly scheduled life. I know there is a palm tree around here somewhere. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Out the Airplane Window

Open Pit Mine
Nearing Atlanta, GA
August 22, 2025

 I rarely sit next to the window on an airplane. I did, however, sit next to the window on the flight last week from Palm Beach to Atlanta. Most of the flight the I kept the window shade down, it was a cloudy and there was bright sun above the clouds and I was on the East facing side of the jet. 

I opened the shade after the jet descended under the cloud deck to land in Atlanta and was amazed to see a very large open pit mine. The mine was pretty much in the middle of an industrial area and along side a major highway. I figured it was an active mine since the bottom had not filled with water. 

It is interesting to see some of the features outside the airplane window. 

Today is a travel day. Chris and I are completing our trip and heading home to Finnegan. Hopefully the flights are as smooth today as they were last week. We have had a good visit with Dad and the Houston-area members of the family.

-- Bob Doan, Weston Lakes, TX

Visiting Dad

Dad
August 22, 2025

 Chris and I arrived in Houston. where we were greeted by my sister Pennie and her husband, Scott.

As I wrote yesterday, we enjoyed some good flights. That we enjoyed flying was no small miracle given some of the horror stories we have been hearing from recent travelers. 

The purpose of this visit is to see Dad and we are having a big celebration for him this afternoon. 

He was in good spirits when we surprised him with our arrival yesterday afternoon. It was good so see him. We spend some quality time with him before he was wheeled off to dinner. We are looking forward to seeing him again today and, for that matter, every day during our trip. 

It is 74 degrees this morning in Weston Lakes. I find it very refreshing as the humidity is also low. I have not enjoyed a 74 degree temperature in South Florida since about April. So I will enjoy this bit of summer while preparing for the day. 

-- Bob Doan, Weston Lakes, TX

Off to Houston

Sunrise over our Jet
Palm Beach International Airport, FL
August 22, 2025

 Chris and I are traveling, again.

Finn is off to spend time with his second family. They love him, especially Cody. 

It has, so far, been a great travel day. I know that there are lots of travel impediments right now, but we have so far been spared. And we have enjoyed the Delta Sky Lounges!

The flights have been easy and on-time. I am actually writing this from my seat on the second flight of the day. Yay! 

It has been a different kind of travel day. Chris and I are flying to Houston from Palm Beach International (PBI) on the same plane. It is one of those weird days when the plane we flew from PBI to Atlanta is the same plane that we flying to Houston from Atlanta. 

The flight deck crew is the same and we enjoyed a great landing in Atlanta, but the cabin crew changed in Atlanta. Weirdly, the new cabin crew is all guys! How often does that happen?

We are looking forward to arriving in Houston about noon and will likely get to see Dad before the sun sets today.

Another positive thing is that I am getting free WIFI on the flight! Wow. Southwest doesn't do that for me!

Well, it is really encouraging that some things work sometimes!

Chris and I were not able to get adjoining seats on today's flights due to the short notice booking, but on this flight we are across the aisle. 

Rock on!

-- Bob Doan, Airborne over the Southeast United States

#deltaairlines #traveldays

Getting over Hump Day

Loxahatchee Bridge
Tequesta, FL
August 20, 2025

 Well we I made it to the second half of the week. I did enjoy a nice 19-mile ride yesterday around Tequesta. It was my usual route, but I still enjoy getting out and seeing the changes. 

I snapped a quick image of the day as I traversed the North Fork Loxahatchee Bridge yesterday, just to remind me of the clear beautiful day that we enjoyed. It was cooler in the morning, yes all of 78 degrees, but it made the ride enjoyable. 

Tomorrow is another travel day. Chris and I are headed to Houston, OK, Weston Lakes actually, to visit and spend some time with Dad. Yes, this trip is somewhat sudden as we only returned from Maryland a week ago, but it happens. 

Hopefully, today will be a bright and beautiful as yesterday was although the temperature is expected to top 95 degrees making it the hottest day of the year, so far. With the hurricane stoked surf, it will definitely not be a beach day. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Touring South Carolina

Mount Pleasant, SC
August 15, 2025

 The trip back to Florida for Maryland was unique. We left our usual I-95 in southern North Carolina and headed for Murrells Inlet. Talk about an overland route! Wow! Between traveling yesterday to Murrells Inlet and today's trek back to I-95 to complete our journey to Tequesta, Chris and I traversed a lot of South Carolina.

Upon arriving, we were treated to a great lunch along the banks of the inlet. I guess I just like being near water. It was beautiful day, right up until the afternoon thunderstorm rolled in. I was glad we were off the road. 

Today, we traveled around Charleston and enjoyed the wide wetlands and forests on mostly Route 17. Yesterday it was a number of roads, many of them really small, to avoid Myrtle Beach and get to Murrells inlet. 

What a great place to drive through. Both Chris and I were impressed. 

Today's drive took 10 hours--a full day and we did not get home until just after 6 PM--but we made it home. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Out the Hotel Window - Dunn, NC, Aug 2025

Out the Hotel Window
Dunn, NC
August 4, 2025

 Yes, Chris and I are back in Dunn, NC, along with our trusty dog, Finn. Dunn has become the place where I like to stop for the night as we travel north from our home in Florida. It is about 2/3 the way to Maryland, maybe a bit more, but given the traffic around DC having a short second day is desirable. 

The view for this stay is one of the best in a long time. I have to giggle a bit at the Burger King sign. I believe it has been over a year since the sign was damaged. I wonder if it is ever going to be repaired? 

I enjoy looking at the flags and of course the cloud filled sky. 

The trip, thus far, has been one of the best. The clouds kept the hot sun away for most of the day. We only encountered one brief rain shower and were blessed with no long delay traffic incidents. We lost only 48 minutes during the trip for stops--our best ever. When we left Tequesta, Apple Maps predicted a 2:13 PM arrival time and we arrived at 3:02 PM. Chris packed some power bars, which we decided would be lunch and so we never stopped for food, so only one gas stop and three bio breaks.

Finn was his usual trooper self, once he settled after realizing that he was being loaded into the truck after the suitcases. He is funny when he sees suitcases and makes it a point to be underfoot so he won't be forgotten. 

Well, time to start today!

-- Bob Doan, Dunn, NC

Looking at the Clouds

I-95
Oak Hill, FL
August 4, 2025

 We are on the road north. Looking out the window this morning at the clouds in the sunrise was a spectacular sight. We have been on the road for two hours and completed our first driver swap which allowed me to do the Wordle and write the blog. 

I made the decision to let Chris drive when the driving is usually easiest; through the wilds of Florida. I all too often hand her the wheel just in advance of construction and thunderstorms.  While she drives through them great, it isn’t fair for me to do the easier driving. 

We are headed for an overnight stop in North Carolina before finishing our trip in Maryland tomorrow. 

— Bob Doan, I-95 in Florida 

Florida Oceanographic Society Coastal Center

 

Nurse Shark
Florida Oceanographic Society - Coastal Center
Stuart, FL
July, 9, 2025

Wow--what a long name. 

I have wanted to visit the Florida Oceanographic Society Coastal Center for a long time. Yesterday, it became a reality. The Center is about a 40 minute drive away on Hutchinson Island. It is close to the Elliot Museum, which has an awesome antique car collection. 

Nurse sharks
Florida Oceanographic Society - Coastal Center
Stuart, FL
July, 9, 2025

The Coastal Center is mostly outdoors and the highlight is a 750,000 gallon saltwater lagoon which has an impressive collection of fish including nurse sharks, a remora, tarpon, and many more fish. The sharks, of course, are the show stealers. They are big and impressive. Chris and I have snorkeled with nurse sharks. While their presence in the water makes us very aware of the surroundings, nurse sharks are generally not a problem unless provoked.

The Center also has a ray petting tank and other hands-on tanks to enjoy a close relationship with other marine creatures. There are also walking trails which allow close-up and personal observation of the other animals, not all marine, which inhabit the Florida coastal ecosystem. 

We had a great time exploring the center. We were advised not to attempt the walking trails which cross the 57 acre facility due to the mosquitos. And so we did not!

It was a great visit followed by lunch at a nearby beachside resort.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Frost Science Museum, Aquarium & Planetarium

Fish in the Aquarium
Frost Science Museum, Miami, FL
June 23, 2025

 Chris and I agreed to take Jeremy and Julie to the Miami Cruise Port yesterday. We decided to make it a day trip and planned a stop at the Frost Science Museum after dropping them off at the port. The museum is located near the cruise port and it was fairly easy to get from the port to the museum. 

The museum has its own parking garage, which I found a bit expensive at a flat rate of $18. But, the museum is right in the downtown area of Miami and the prices are not that high when considering other cities like Baltimore or NYC. 

Moray Eel
Frost Science Museum, Miami, FL
June 23, 2025

While at the museum, I was able to get a nice image of Freedom of the Seas, Jeremy and Julie's home for the next four nights, from the fifth floor observation deck. But that was just the beginning. The museum if full of exciting things to do and the centerpiece is the three-story aquarium with associated exhibits about Florida environs. Fantastic!! I  one of the Florida specific exhibits, I saw a barracuda that would definitely make me leave the water. 

Three Wheel Enigma
Frost Science Museum, Miami, FL
June 23, 2025

But wait! There is more to the five-story museum. Currently, an AI exhibit is being hosted and the museum also has a planetarium and a dinosaur exhibit titled, "The Dig." We did not explore the entire museum, saving some for a return trip. 

I was very excited about the AI exhibit. Inside of it I found a a three-wheel Enigma machine from WW2. There were also 1951 letters to and from Alan Turing discussing the possibility of a chess playing machine. 

There is a lot to see and experience in the museum. And, there is a very nice cafe to obtain beverages and food. 

It was definitely a great way to make the most out of the two-hour each way trip from home to Miami! Maybe next time I will use the train. 

Recommendation. The Frost Science Museum, Aquarium & Planetarium is a must visit when in Miami. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Final Leg Home

 Happy Fathers Day 2025

Locally Heavy Rainstorm
Ft Pierce, FL
June 14, 2025

Yesterday's final leg home took just over 4 hours. I would like to say it was an easy drive, but driving through Florida during the summer (OK, technically not summer, but tell that to the weather!) means rain and thunderstorms. We had rain yesterday. Locally heavy rains. Fortunately, the storms while at times fierce were localized and we drove through them after a few minutes. 

Finn on the Luggage Cart
Kingsland, GA
June 14, 2025

We began the day in Kingsland, GA, and enjoyed a quick breakfast before loading up and driving away. I usually gas-up the truck the night before, but decided to do it as we pulled out in the morning. I won't do that again. I like getting to the highway expeditiously after leaving the hotel. Finn enjoyed the ride from the room to the truck on the luggage cart. He is a trooper and is very good at our hotel stops. There were other dogs on the floor. How do we know? We heard them barking, yet Finn did not return their calls.

I-95 FL-GA Line Going South
June 14, 2025

I determined that when we can make it, Kingsland, GA, is my stopover of choice. It is a few minutes from the Florida-Georgia line and Florida always seems like the longest part of the trip. I-95 traverses many open uninhabited areas which make the drive seem longer. Not to mention that it being the second travel day, we just want to get home by that point. 

We arrived home safely and were very happy to have returned. Being mid-June, we have noticed that the daylight is significantly longer in the north. I looked it up and discovered that today the daylight is 1h6m longer in Elkridge, MD, than it is here in Tequesta! Of course, it goes the other way during the winter season. 

Well, that wraps up the travel south and we are getting back into the rhythm of life here.

As a final thought--Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers. Being a father is a special calling.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Escape from DC

 

South of the Border
South Carolina
June 13, 2025

We are on the road headed south. I made a point of getting away from the DC area before the Flag Day festivities get out of hand. 

Or is the 250th Anniversary of the US Army?

Or is it a birthday celebration?  

Who knows?

Tanks will be rolling through our nation’s capital. 

 Chris and I decided to escape before the roads become gridlocked.

We have been driving about 6 1/2 hours and are in South Carolina headed into our first rainstorm of the day. 

Travel days can be so much fun.

— Bob Doan, near Dillon, SC

We Made It!

81st Anniversary of D-Day 

Our two-day I-95 fun drive was a success and we arrived in Elkridge yesterday afternoon. I had correctly discerned the weather from the projections and we only had rain for about the first 45 minutes of yesterday's six-hour highway event. It was supposed to be only five hours of road fun, but as usual, traffic delays that began in Richmond and continued through D.C. and into Maryland. 

View of the Roads Ahead
I-95 near Fredericksburg, VA
June 5, 2025

 During the drive, I especially do not enjoy getting a message like the one at the left. A 41-minute traffic delay is no fun at all. This message was from Wednesday as we were trying to make our way to the hotel. The day began with the mapping program estimating a 2:33 PM arrival at the hotel, based upon the need for gas and rest stops I had estimated 3:30 PM, and we finally got to the hotel at 5:02 PM. Having departed home at 5:07 AM that made for a very long day. 

We are looking forward to visiting with friends and family and reconnecting, before reversing our route and returning to Florida.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD