SUMMER '23
A lot has happened since our April update including a house sit in Colorado and Boise, Idaho; helping daughter, Ashley, move (Houston/Dallas) and two months in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) aboard our charter sailboat, Breezin.
In Colorado we enjoyed numerous late season snowfalls. There is nothing as beautiful as awakening to snow covered trees and mountains inside a warm house with a fire in the fireplace. In those moments you can’t help thinking, “Life is good!” We spent almost every morning hiking from our back door through the national forest with one of the owner’s dogs. Daughter, Amanda, also spent time with us in the mountains and in Denver. The trails were endless across the spectacular mountains. We expected the mountains of Colorado to be good, and they did not disappoint.
Our annual family vacation has become travelling to the BVI and hanging out aboard Breezin. It is a wonderful experience for family time with no television and limited screen time (both adults and kids). In other words, it’s expensive camping that creates strong family bonds. We are blessed that in the two years the family sailed together there has never been harsh words or squabbles. We enjoyed swimming and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters, which our pictures do not do justice to the natural beauty. Evenings were spent on board eating home cooked meals and having dance parties on the bow.
July is a big family birthday event so we had numerous birthday celebrations including a a mustache birthday party aboard Breezin with Amanda and Ashley’s best friends. It was a hoot!
Immediate family joined us for two weeks, Breezin was booked for a week, then we returned with good friends for another two weeks. What to do during the one-week break? Continue the birthday parties of course! JoDon and I flew to Austin and were surprise guests to daughters, Amanda and Ashley’s, 40th birthday party. Great to see so many S. TX friends in Austin + the added privilege of having two cousins and their families from CA and WA join us for the party/mini family reunion. It was a lot of fun!!
We finished up our last two weeks of the sailing season having a fantastic time with friends, including lobster dinner at Anegada. Saying goodbye to them, we returned Breezin to the marina and headed back to Texas/Oklahoma.
Next up? A drive to Boise, ID for our second house sit of the year. Our summer surprise was Boise, Idaho, “The City of Trees.” French trappers named the area ‘boise’ meaning ‘wooded’. Despite located in a high elevation desert, the Boise River runs through a low valley that supports a forest of trees. Due north there are foothills and winter mountain skiing that is within a 45-minute drive.
Along the Boise River is an area called ‘The Greenbelt’ which is a 25-mile tree-lined pathway that follows both sides of the river through the heart of the city and provides scenic views and wildlife habitat through many of Boise’s most popular parks. Walking, jogging, dog walking and biking are very popular and its great to see so many people enjoying the outdoors. The area is really nice and enjoyable, especially since we had E-Bikes to cruise along the trails. Boise is a college town (Boise State) and state capitol, so there is always plenty to do. Everyday we would hike the foothills from our back door. We also enjoyed a balloon fest, local city fests, ate at Basque restaurants, and we saw the blue turf during a Boise State football game. Of course, Amanda joined us for a week and enhanced our fun that included a behind the scenes tour of Mountain Home Air Force Base by good friend and fellow McAllen-ite, Carlos O. During the tour Amanda and I sat in the cockpit of an F-15 fighter jet. Very cool!
Along the Boise River is an area called ‘The Greenbelt’ which is a 25-mile tree-lined pathway that follows both sides of the river through the heart of the city and provides scenic views and wildlife habitat through many of Boise’s most popular parks. Walking, jogging, dog walking and biking are very popular and its great to see so many people enjoying the outdoors. The area is really nice and enjoyable, especially since we had E-Bikes to cruise along the trails. Boise is a college town (Boise State) and state capitol, so there is always plenty to do. Everyday we would hike the foothills from our back door. We also enjoyed a balloon fest, local city fests, ate at Basque restaurants, and we saw the blue turf during a Boise State football game. Of course, Amanda joined us for a week and enhanced our fun that included a behind the scenes tour of Mountain Home Air Force Base by good friend and fellow McAllen-ite, Carlos O. During the tour Amanda and I sat in the cockpit of an F-15 fighter jet. Very cool!
After our house sit we headed north to the Sawtooth Mountains. Impressive! The mountains are a compact version of The Tetons and the hiking was superb.
We are now working our way to Santa Fe, New Mexico for another family party, Joe Castillo’s 40th.
Life is good!
Brian and JoDon
We are now working our way to Santa Fe, New Mexico for another family party, Joe Castillo’s 40th.
Life is good!
Brian and JoDon