Back in the USA - the Blue Hole

On of our favorite stops are on our way back from the mountains is the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. The Blue Hole is a sink hole that is continually fed with spring water that has a constant temperature of 64 degrees. Since I was little, my mom has taken us to see the Blue Hole. In the last five years or so, not only have we stopped to see the Blue Hole every year, but it has become a tradition to take a quick dip in the extremely cool water. It is a bit of shock to your system but you leave feeling refreshed.

 Andrea and Macie jumping in while Kat, Logan and I are waiting for our turn.

Logan's turn. Macie and Andrea show their shock from the cold water. :)

Had to put two pictures for Katrina and myself. Why? Katrina was a little hesitant.































Kat finally jumps!

I included two of the portraits. This picture doesn't have everyone who was at the Blue Hole - Mona's mom was taking the picture. The picture that follows has everyone but there are some shadows.

Mona wanted me to take one of my infamous self-portraits.
 I like this picture - don't think anyone was ready.

After jumping into the Blue Hole, we usually go to a nearby pond/swimming pool.
The lake is feed by the same spring but it is not nearly as cold.

Back in the USA - going to the mountains # 2

Fishing -

 Andrea helping Kyla by putting bait on her line.

Mom walking with Kadence and Misha. Kadence actually caught a fish but was not too happy when we the fish touched her while we were trying to take a picture.

Alex with Chi Chi - neither one was too excited about getting close to the water.

Macie and Chi Chi.

Amber and me fishing the Cimarron River. I like this picture because I caught a fish shortly after this - Amber showed me where the fish was rising but she couldn't get it to bite. :)

Katrina helping Jaxon with his pole with mom looking on.

Neat picture of mom and the kids.

Couldn't leave out Cha Cha.

Back in the USA - going to the mountains #1

One of the things that we love to do is taking a trip to the mountains. It something that we look forward to - especially during the summer time.

The cousins outside our cabins - Sierra Bonita.

On the streets of Red River.

Waiting for the 'gunfight' in Red River

Posing with mom.

The kids love playing in the fire pit.

Extremely cold group at Eagle's Nest Lake

Playing in the Cimarron River.

Amber talking, Kat trying to fish.

Back in the USA - Bucky Bash 2016

After a 12 hour plane ride, we landed in Dallas and went straight to our annual family get together called Bucky Bash.We were true time travelers - leaving Tokyo on Friday at 6:30 and arriving in Dallas on Friday at 4:30. Surprisingly, the jet lag did not seem to bother us too much. It was a great weekend - and it was great to be back home.

Macie's going to high school and we are going to Texas (for vacation)

Macie finished her last day of middle school yesterday. She is so excited - mainly because summer is finally here and we are going back to Texas today. Bucky Bash, here we come.

Out on Monkey Island

Monkey Island (Surashima Island) is the only natural island in Tokyo Bay - it just happens to be only about a mile offshore from Yokosuka. We finally decided to take the 10 minute ferry ride this weekend. Macie wanted to try going into the water but unfortunately the beach is only open from mid-July to August. Why? It is really too cold right now - I don't think we have had a day over 78. So, the weather is really nice right now. But we have heard that around mid-July it will start to get really hot and stay that way through mid-September.

I told everyone that I would be a little nervous if we were riding this boat -
nobody knew what I was talking about. They had never heard of the movie.

In Tokyo Bay, you see a lot of these small commercial fishing boats. What was interesting
was that when we passed by, the fisherman working the lines were actually four women.

Monkey Island as seen from the ferry. It is hard to see but there is a line of people waiting
to go back on the ferry that goes from the pier all the way past the buildings to the right.

The island is a favorite area for the Japanese to picnic and especially barbecue.

The Sarushima entrance sign. Notice the monkey - we were disappointed to find out that there are actually no monkeys on Monkey Island. The name comes from a legend that a long time ago, a monk traveling to Kamakura got lost and a giant white monkey from the island showed him the way. Another variation of the story is that the monk was drowning and the monkey saved him.

                        The island has been used at various times as a fortress to protect Tokyo Bay.

                        Macie and Andrea in front of the magazine area where the explosives were stored.

                                     This a view from the island of the Yokosuka Naval Base.

               This is a view of the cranes that load and unload ships in Yokohama. They are as tall 

               as a 30 story building. I included this picture because when I walk the dogs I see these 

               cranes and they always remind me of a herd of brachiosaurus.

Mount Takatori

It is so nice to have so many outdoor activities that are easily accessible from Yokosuka - ski resorts within a couple of hours, several beaches that can be reached in 20 to 30 minutes and lots of parks and forested land to go exploring. We decided this weekend to hike the trail to Mount Takatori - right next to the Ikego Base and about 20 minutes from Yokosuka. Although we decided to drive there, we could have taken the train, then walked over the mountain and boarded a train on the other side to go back to Yokosuka (start at Jimmuji Station, head the opposite direction from Ikego, turn on the road before Zushi Junior High, the road turns into the trail, at the top of the mountain take the trail to the right (away from the temple), then you will exit the trail at Takatori Elementary school and walk about a mile to the Oppama Station).

It is always fascinating to see the Japanese touch - whether it is
 figures like those above or the signs below.

This rooster and several others were across the path from a medical center/nursing home.

Hard to tell from this photograph but the bush had very large blue flowers -
I found out that they are called Blue Hydrangea.

                             A lot of the trees had buttress roots - not sure what kind of tree it is.

                                    Macie and I were pretty peppy as we started up the hill.

                 By the time that we got to the top of the first part of the hill, we needed a break.

                             It was amazing to think how long that these steps have been used -

                             these trails have been used for hundreds of years to get to Kamakura.

     Once you reach the ridge, there is a temple on the left. As you go up the stairs, you pass through
     the area seen in the picture above. If you look closely, you can see a small box at the top of the
     steps. While we were waiting, a hiker walked up to the box, said a prayer and put a coin in the box.

     How did we know that this was temple and not a shrine? Several things - one, there was not a torii
     gate. Two, the name of the temple was Jinmu - ji (if the name ends in ji, it is probably a temple).
     Lastly, there was this: