HOME AGAIN .... Martha and I returned safely from our Alaskan Cruise / Cabo Vacation trip. Martha's shared most of our experience so I'll try not to be redundant. Alaskan Cruise highlights: (1) the helicopter trip to and walking on the Mendenlhall Glacier in Juneau and (2) the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad trip from Skagway up into the scenic and historical "gold rush" territory. Alaskan Cruise disappointments: (1) the very cold, wet, windy and dreary "Rochester gray" weather, (2) the monotony of the Alaskan landscape (the snow capped mountains on the port side and the snow capped mountains on the starboard side, with minimal wildlife observed), and (3) the Princess Sapphire ship's food (poor salmon and no Alaskan king crab legs!). Our second week in Cabo San Lucas saved the trip with its perfect sunny warm weather. We warmed and tanned up nicely. Staying in Cabo during the G20 summit was "interesting" ... tons of Mexican military (troops, vehicles, riot gear, ships and helicopters) armed with machine guns, riot and combat gear. We continue to believe Cabo is one of the safest parts of Mexico and would visit again and again. Martha just informed me she's uploaded a few pictures from our trip ... just click on our Weebly site's "more ... Our Travel" tab to view.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAARJEELING .... Our beloved cat "Daarjeeling" turned a remarkable seventeen (17) years old on June 24! He celebrated the day enjoying some frosted cake at Grandy's house as we were flying home. We're planning another trip to the beach with Darjie (to experience firsthand some really fresh seafood!) to celebrate his birthday when it cools down a bit. He's got a good life here in SC ... well fed, sleeps a great deal ... still pretty agile and climbs our hardwood stairs like a champ!
A VERY GOOD CT SCAN and CHEMO ROUND 21... thankfully my 15-week CT Scan this past Wednesday (June 27th) again showed my chemotherapy protocol keeping my cancer "stable". Praise the Lord and the good work He's doing working through our Charleston Hematology and Oncology Center team. I received chemo round 21
on Wednesday (June 27th) as planned with just the expected side effects (fatigue, flushing, bout of hiccups, and some nausea). Keeping up the tough fight ... and back to our every 3-week chemo schedule again.
EDISTO BEACH TURTLE PATROL ... we found a Loggerhead turtle nest during our beach patrol the day before leaving for our cruise and another nest upon our return this past Thursday! We learned how to and successfully relocated the first nest to higher ground since it was too close to the tide line. The second nest was above the tide line so we simply had to locate / document it and take the customary DNA sample from one egg. Very exciting and educational "work"! Edisto Beach has now documented in excess of 100 turtle nests this season ... a very good number of nests. Hatchlings should start emerging within the next few weeks so we'll be busy helping as many as possible make it successfully to the ocean for the swim of their lives. The Loggerhead takes an incredibly long journey around a large portion of our planet with only (approximately) 1 in 10,000 surviving to maturity (age 20-25), returning to the southeastern U.S. coast to lay their eggs to continue the survival of the species. Check out the DVD titled "Turtle - The Incredible Journey" sometime. Well done movie with terrific cinematography documenting the fascinating and challenging journey of the endangered Loggerhead turtle.
Planning a road trip to Friendship the end of July to attend my high school Class of '67's 45th reunion (yikes!), celebrate Aaron and Stefanie's marriage with our upstate NY family and friends, and to visit with dear family and friends we haven't seen in quite a while. Looking forward to seeing many of you the end of July.
Once again we send our best ... may God continue to bless you and yours.
Dan