Tree Top Flyin': October 2008

Salmon River, Idaho - August 1-6, 2008

We weren't lying when we said there'd be a 2nd...

Hughes River Trip 2008

This was the crew... I think there were 30 of us, including the guides. Strangers in the beginning, friends in the end. A phenominal way to meet some phenominal people.

These are the rafts lined up for the evening. Float Boats (the lazy boats), Paddle Boat (you've actually got to work all day on this boat), The Swamp Boat (the one that hauls all our gear), and a couple kayaks.

It's official... Greg & Eileen are pregnant! Have we lost our travel-buddies for good? Only time will tell. What's so great about babies anyway!? Just kidding. We're very anxious to meet Baby Prugh!

I fished the entire trip. Something about fishing... it simulates gambling - and I admit it, I'm addicted.

Here, Greg is hiding a Bud-Light. This picture succeeded a picture of him WITH the beer, and me saying, 'Can we please have some pictures without Bud-Light!?' The truth is, I'm just as guilty as the rest of them - I'm just more of a nag. Here, Greg humors me.

This is 'Barker' and the boys. Barker was a guide, who spends his life guiding rafts through rivers from Idaho to Costa Rica. He wears river-logged Chuck Taylor High-Tops, and steers a mad raft. He's a GOOD guy.

This is 'California Bob'. Bob runs the river for Hughes in the Summer, and spends his Winters as an Island Boy - in the British Virgin Islands, 'Captain-ing' a yacht/sailboat. He's rugged and woodsy - but also genuine and soft. He's kind of like a real-live Indiana Jones. Dreamy.

Seriously, toGETHER - these two are a constant comedy show... my gut-laughs are ENDless. They easily become senseless & asinine, and I'll admit - from time-to-time Gregs' comedic insults will make me cry. But for the most part, I must say - Eileen & I are lucky broads!

This day, when the guides were one man short - Jim & I volunteered to float down on The Swamp Boat (the gear boat). We set up 9 tents in under an hour... when you're with Jim, beware - you're always up for hire!

The End

'Travel Related' - October 9th, 2008

This is a picture I took tonight - when I looked out my living room window...

The thought? Though it lacks brilliancy - is startling, and clear every time it hits me... Why do I spend all my time leaving this place - when I LOVE it so much?... I even have a blog about leaving it!?

I like to think - that no matter what the view is like from home, the feeling is Universal. I have similar feelings attached to a picture taken 3 years ago... It's me, painting my apartment walls orange (despite the rules), and wishing that the cigarette-smoking neighbor from accross the way would PLEASE move out. Same feeling. It's Home.

When I was little - It seems like I was constantly home-sick. Sleep-overs? Forget it! From Misty Moore's trampoline I could see my house accross the vacant lot. But still - I'd end up in tears, and Misty's Mom (flash-light in hand) would walk me (one-house) home.

I still get homesick and call my Mom at 3am... Almost 30 years-old, and still miss 'home'.

My point (sigh) awww, I don't know...

Home is Home. And at the end of all our travels, as great as they might be... Home is where we all wanna be.

St. Lucia (Eastern Caribbean) March 1-8, 2008

Aaaahh, how could I have forgotten St. Lucia. I was driving today - scrolling through our trips in my head, and realized - I'd missed this one!
'Here-Here' to the Travel Blog, and to NOT letting memories slip through the cracks. I almost let this one go!

We go to these places and we're like little kids (me especially). I have yet to be calm & collected, like a lady ought be. I gawk, and I giggle, and I 'wow' out loud! I can't help it... and quite honestly - I hope I never can!

This is a view of Castries... The Capital City of St. Lucia, and a port of call for cargo boats, ferries, cruise ships, and yachts. 1/3 of St. Lucia's people cram into this crowded city - as the country relies quite heavily on the tourism that comes through.

This was a small 'Condiment Stand' (as if we've ever heard of such a thing) where I bought my Momma some Banana Ketchup... something very popular on the island - due to their major natural supply of banana plants. That's right folks - bananas grow on PLANTS - not trees... news to me! The St. Lucian's had to get creative when they lost 'The Banana Wars' in the 90's... hence, a Condiment Stand selling Banana Ketchup! Tastes JUST like our traditional tomato Ketchup!

'The Banana Wars'

The Banana Story - is actually pretty sad for the people of St. Lucia... and was something we heard a lot about from the locals while we were on tours and such. I didn't really understand while we were there -but have since done some reading.

It started with Bananas in Europe...
St. Lucia didn't become its own state until 1979. Up until then - Great Britain had control over the island as well as a few neighboring islands.

So in the 1950's - Great Britain, seeing the island as 'one of their own', encouraged the island to focus on banana production. They limited imports from elsewhere, and gave the islands preferential treatment in banana growing. They took the stance that banana production was essential to the islands' economy & social well being. In turn, the people responded by making banana growing 'THE way' to make a living on the island. By the 80's 1/3 of St. Lucia's people worked in banana plantations.

But in the early 90's, Chiquita Banana & it's close competitor Dole Foods, both poured money into production - and flooded the European market with bananas. With more bananas - than buyers... prices - and in turn, profits - plummeted.

Since then - St. Lucia has struggled... but has promoted tourism, and is now primarily reliant upon visitors like us!

A lot of tourism, and a little Banana Ketchup!

We took a Jeep Safari for a day - this was our educational day, and one of my favorites! The Jeep in the pic was the lead, and we followed behind - where I was busy fearing for my life. High-speed hairpin turns, overlooking cliffs of jungle - THAT was not in the brochure.
One of the Guides.

This was a guy on the side of the road where we stopped to take a dip... he was carving bird-feeders out of coconut shells. You can see his fire burning in the background... this is to keep the snakes away, while he carves!

Horseback Riding.

A little tough staying on these suckers once the saddles come off... but quite the experience!

This was the view from our room. It was brilliant and subtle. Something I thought could only be seen in the movies... with false lighting, and staged props. But nope, it exists.

This is us golfing... FYI - Jim doesn't like golf much - and I'm a big fan! He's SUCH a good sport about it! One of these days he'll get 'the bug'!

Okay! THIS is hilarious! This is right before Jimbo does the unthinkable...

...and this is our ever-so-sweet caddy, Elijah. He's fetching Jim's club - shortly after it slipped from his hands on a fairway shot... we'll just say this was a first for Elijah!