Sunset Cruise in Aruba

The sunset Cruise that we were going on went from a dock behind the Rio Hotel in the Highrise section of Aruba

After going through the hotel and down the stairs and pass the pools we arrived at a wharf with a nice bar on it

We waited here for the tender to take us out to the boat

The boat was a small sailboat built in 1925

We all found our spots on the boat and off we sailed

The cruise included free liquor but no beer.  I had all the Margarettes the girl could make in two hours.

We cruised for exactly one hour up the coast under full sail than turned around and headed back.  It was to be only a two hour cruise.

This is the Rio Hotel as seen from the water.

The sunsets in Aruba can be quite beautiful.

Senior Frogs

Senior Frogs in the Highrise section of Aruba is always a fun night out

The game wheel is brought around to the tables and you spin to win a prise.  I got a shot glass full of something good (I don't know what)

The couple next to us were just visiting Aruba on their honeymoon.  she didn't speak too much English but he had worked at the oil refinery at one time for 3 years and was showing her Aruba.  I met them because they were lucky enough to spin the wheel and have to by a drink for a stranger.  That was lucky me.

This guy made balloon hats for everyone.

Fran, Stan and Ann Marie

The whole gang.  Stan took the picture

Nice hats

If you sit in one of the bar stools it gives you a nice ass.

Super Bowl in Aruba

You could take a bus anywhere on the island for $1.30 so Sunday we toured around a little bit. 

We found tat the wildlife on the island  were not afraid of people and could even be quite a pest if you had food out

We were staying in what they called the low rise area which was a series of beach resorts with ours being the tallest at about 5 floors.  We took the bus into the High Rise area where all the big retorts were and many of the night clubs

Senior Frogs

We had lunch at a outdoor Brazilian Bistro 

Sunday evening Peter and I found a nice little beach bar that looked like a boat. We stayed here for the Super Bowls because we got a bucket of beer (6 small bottles) for $25. and watched the Super Bowl on their TVs.  They even gave us free food.

Flying to Aruba

The next morning we were up early and took the free shuttle to the airport.  Check in went quick but than it just meant we had more time to wait for the plane as not too many spots were open that early in the morning. 
We flew Trans Air, which is a no frills airline.  We could have free coffee, pop and juices but that's all unless we bought it.  There were no TVs.  We had one stop in Atlanta Georgia where we changed planes.  It took about two hours to get to Atlanta.  Unfortunately Atlanta had had a power failure that morning and many passengers had to have hand written tickets etc.  This slowed down the boarding process and because they were doing everything manually it took several tries at counting the passengers to match up with there records  We were two hours late taking off.  When we finally arrived in Aruba. which surprisingly was a five hour flight from Atlanta, it was raining.  Lucky it only rained for a short time.  Because we were two hours late in arriving, our spot in the terminal wasn't available.  We ended up sitting on the runway until they decided to bring out portable stairs and buses to get us to the terminal.

We got a taxi to our hotel Casa Del  Mar just in time for Happy Hour

We quickly dropped everything off in our room

Our place was not too bad, a full kitchen, but no dishwasher, living room dinning room and 1 large bedroom with en suite and 1 small bedroom with 2 beds and  next to a washroom with a large walk in shower. We also had a large deck.

We hurried down to Happy Hour and that when we got another surprise.  Happy Hour was two for one drinks, but, you had to drink both of them you couldn't give one to someone else.  That wasn't as bad as finding out that a regular can of Coors Light was  $11.00 US.  Supper at the restaurant that night for Ann Marie and I  came to over $70.00 US and I didn't have a drink and Ann Marie only had  one glass of wine 

O ya Internet wifi in our room was to be $35.00 per week per computer.  I cheaped out.

First day of our trip to Aruba

Our holiday started on the wrong foot right off the bat.  We were to spend the night at a La Quinta Hotel in Buffalo and fly out in the morning at 6:00 am to Aruba.  We started out heading to the boarder, going the old man way (taking all the back roads) along highway twenty.   We were almost the only ones on the road and the stinking Lincoln was just motoring along while we listened to the radio.  When I slowed down for a red light I looked in the rear view mirror and there was a unmarked cop with flashers going and sirens (so he says, we didn't hear them)  The cop claimed I was going 112 in a 80 zone.  We told him we were just starting our holidays and were on the way to the boarder.  After a lecture AND A TICKET, we were on our way again.  The cop could have saved me some further aggravation by telling me the bridge, just ahead over the Welland Canal, was closed for repairs and I could not get to the boarder that way, but he didn't.   When we got to the bridge I should have turned around right then but I didn't as I thought we could follow the detour.  For the next half hour we were lost until we came to the QE (the road I was trying to avoid)  just beyond the bridge at ST. Kitts.  Then I missed my turn to Niagara Falls and was on the road to Fort Erie.   I wanted to cross at Niagara Falls so I went off on Lundy's Lane and headed for the bridge.  Lundys Lane at one point was under construction and a workman flagged us down a side street.  Lost again.

We finally got to the boarder and of course picked the line where they had to talk to the car in front of us for ever it seemed.  When our turn came the girl boarder guard suddenly felt the need  to talk to her boyfriend who just walked by and left us sitting again.  When she came back,  with out a word or a question said we could go.  Hurray we were on our way.  Next because of big snow banks I missed the turn onto the through way and ended on a back road full of pot holes.  Because I had been that way before I was not lost and soon we were on the right road and headed to the La Quinta Hotel. 

 We found the hotel and Fran and Peter had just arrived there also.  Fran informed us that they were going to give us the senior rate.  Where things looking up?  No!  Now we had to pay $35 per week to park our car which was free under the old rate. 

We had a nice adjoining room with a shower bath, couch and desk

 That night we went out to get some beer to drink in our room.  We found the biggest Liquor store I have ever seen but they had no beer.  The gas station we stopped at, because they sell beer in the States, had lost its license.  I gave up and drank wine that night.  We did find a place that was called the Brew Pub and went there for supper.  It was reasonable and the beer there was good.  When he found out we were Canadians the owners son came over to talk to us.and welcome us to the Pub.  It certainly was a place I would go again.  

Ice Fishing 2011

Before I forget to post it we went on our annual ice Fishing trip. 

This years trip was to Temagami Ontario and because of the long distance and possibility of bad weather slowing us down we left Thursday night Jan 20th. right after Jeff and Mike finished work.    Our first stop was in Huntsville where we booked into the Econo Lodge.  It was only about 9:30 at night when we got there and we drove around town looking for some entertainment.  We found the town was closed down and the sidewalk rolled up and put away. Even asking at the Econo Lodge didn't help. The manager on duty didn't know of anywhere in town that might be open in the winter.  We persisted driving around until we found Moose Delaney's a nice little pub where the locals go.  They were all standing at the bar watching Jersey Shores and they were laughing at how they looked. We were laughing at how they looked  After a few beers, Nachos and a couple games of pool we went back to the Econo Lodge The next morning we met Joe and Steve at Tim Horton's and took off the Ravenscroft Lodge  A stop in Sunridge  for breakfast found the store Joe and Steve wanted to go to had gone out of business.  The restaurant on the main street was too busy and no tables were available.  We did find a small restaurant on a back street and had breakfast there. It was kind of disappointing as breakfast was expensive and arrived luke warm  We briefly met 5 other guys in the restaurant also heading up north for their annual fishing trip.

From here we headed to the Ravencroft Lodge 

Shortly after we arrived Joe's dad arrived to make the sixth member of our ice fishing adventure

We unloaded all our stuff into the cottage and prepared to go out to the Ice Huts for our first day of fishing

We were taken out to the hut by a small Caterpillar pulling a ice hut on skis which we all piled into.

Each 3 man team had a hut which was heated by a propane heater.  Ours although bearable the heater never quite took the chill off but when Jeff caught the first fish it was forgotten

Shortly after that we heard a lot of laughter and carrying on and it turned out to be the 5 guy we met at breakfast in Sunridge.We fished the rest of the day until 6:30 but no more fish were caught by anyone.  I didn't even get a bite.We then headed back in for Supper which was provide by the Lodge and tonight it was schnitzel.  Everyone got a piece as big as their plate with potatoes and veggies and a piece of pie.

It was delicious. 

 After supper we played a little pool

And over the organ was a dart board and we had a quick game of darts.

Then we went back to our cottage

Ravenscroft Lodge is on Jumping Caribou Lake which is just be side highway 11 before you get to Temagami.  It is not a very wide lake but goes for 6 miles and connect to other lakes.  It is a very pretty area. 

Steve had brought his own ATV

Mike had a quick ride along the lake and than the rest of them went back out to the ice huts for a little night fishing

Michael and I stayed behind because right beside our cabin was a cabin with a hot tub and we went in and boiled our selves for a while.

When they got back from the night fishing Jeff had caught 4 Ling and the others had caught one each as well.  Ling is a fish that looks a little like a eel but is supposed to be very good eating.  Jeff had caught a large one the year before.  This year they decided they were not going to keep these ones and let them go before heading back for a little Texas Holdem

The next morning, after a good breakfast of bacon and eggs, we headed out to the ice hut.  It was 45 below and the heater in our hut just wasn't doing it for us. Jeff tried to redirect the heat by covering it with foil but it just wasn't working  

Lucky for us Steve came over and lent us a small propane stove that he had and with the two going it made it nice and warm in the hut as long as you didn.'t open the door.  We fished all day, drank our beer and occasionally went to the outside John

Not one fish was caught.  Both Mike and Jeff got too close to the propane stove and ended up with burnt gloves and coats.With eight fishing holes in the floor of the hut anything you drooped was bound to find one of them.  Mike lost his sunglasses and a lure 

On the way back that night Jeff held onto the door of the travelling ice hut and ran behind it

Supper Saturday night was roast beef so tender you could cut it with your fork.

Because the hot tub had been shut down for cleaning we all went and sat in the sauna. 

 Jeff felt he was so warm he walked back to the cottage in minus 45 degree weather without getting dressed.

Because Jeff had caught several Ling as well as his Trout he was declared the 2011 fishing winner and was presented with the trophy which read " Jeff Ling Hill 2011" and a substantial prize pot.

Another round of  Texas Holdem was played with Mike being the winner again. 

 We all went to bed tired

The next morning after another good breakfast of bacon and eggs we backed up

 and headed home.