Trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a fascinating place, and breathtakingly beautiful! The sight of the magical city from high above at the Intipunka, Gate of the Sun, is a magical experience. After four strenuous days of hiking on the Inca Trail at altitudes up to 13,800 feet, and negotiating over 9000 stone steps, we felt like we really earned the right to explore the Lost City of the Incas! We also spent four days in the ancient capital city of the Inca Empire, Cusco. Here are some of my favorite photos . . . .

On the Columbia River at Crescent Bar

Crescent Bar is on the Columbia River about 30 miles south of Wenatchee, surrounded by 1000 foot high cliffs that form the river gorge. This view is from our condo looking south down the river, toward the Gorge concert amphitheatre.






Here we're looking north from our deck, up the Columbia towards Wenatchee and the Cascade Mountains. In the winter and spring there is snow on the highest hills above the river.








We get 300 days of sunshine here, and on the infrequent rainy days there are rainbows!!













If you get up early here, you can see the rising sun turning the cliffs pink . . . .





And the clouds too . . . .

As usual, Kibo and Moshi are the King and Queen of the house, as you can tell from their regal poses . . . .they love it here, as there are lots of high places for a cat to survey the territory . . . . and there are stairs!!

Susie and Shannon exploring the river's backwaters in kayaks . . . .looking for eagles, beavers, herons, otters, kingfishers . . . . . .

Maui

This is the view from our deck at the Punahoa in Maui - pretty much perfection. From this vantage point we can watch the parade of whales passing by, spouting and jumping, or the turtles swimming among the rocks, or the surfers on the beach, or the setting sun, or the moon on the water at night, or the fantastic cloud formations, or the play of the wind on the water, or the surf crashing below us. You'd think we'd never leave, but we also have been golfing, snorkelling, beaching, and soon-to-be hiking and surfing on a paddle boat.

Two Roadcats (Bob and Susie) are in Maui soakingup the tropical sun, while two (Kibo and Moshi) have to stay home, poor babies. They're being well taken care of by neighbor Peggy, who spoils them outrageously, giving them tuna and treats and playing games with them. We miss them . .

Every night there's a spectacular sunset, each one different and beautiful.

Playing Mexican Train with Penny, Mark, Chet and Georgia.

Another gorgeous sunset . . .

If you get up early enough you see the the clouds turning pink as the sun rises over Haleakala, and the moon on its way down.

Susie's new sun hat . . . . .

Bob is graduating from the guitar to the ukelele, here practicing on Chet's ukelele.

At 8000 feet, hiking down into the crater of Haleakela.

This is what you see when you hike up Waeihu Ridge . . .

A black and white trio at the Seawatch Restaurant in Wailea . . . .

Elizabeth's New Winter Retreat in Tucson

Congratulations to Elizabeth - she is the proud owner of a charming little house in Tucson - her "winter retreat". Bob and I happened to be in the neighborhood (well, Phoenix), so we drove down to check it out, and I can report that it is a very special place, complete with a casita! And an overgrown butterfly garden in the back yard that Liz is quickly turning into a peaceful oasis. Of course she lost no time purchasing a wheel barrow, pruners and various other implements for gardening, some of which you can spot in the pictures below. She has already ripped out all the carpeting and replaced it with stunning Mexican tile, and has had the interior completely repainted since we saw it. Can't wait to see it when she's finished with it!







This is the backyard - notice the casita! There's desert behind the backyard wall, with coyotes and those wild pig things (can't remember what they're called - oh yeah, havalinas), and many varieties of beautiful cactus.


Celebrating with a Coke (with champagne later!!) . . .

This is Saguaro National Park, a mere 5 minute drive or bike ride from Liz's place. People come from all over the world to see the cacti there, and the spectacular mountain scenery.

Borrego Springs in Bloom

A sea of purple, white and yellow flowers growing in the sandy desert near our Park.

Wildflowers of all descriptions in Palm Canyon - even the ocotillo is blooming . . .

A quartet of colorful golf flowers, the Borrego Broads - Brenda, Judy, Joan and Susie.