Second Annual Tortugeezers Reunion

There were 13 of us this year: from top left, Dave, Dave, Renate, Jerry, Don, Scott, Jim, Breck, Ellen. Bottom from left seated: Heather, Deborah, Sally and Rosie

Tortugeezers, in case you're wondering, is our made up designation for cruisers who made Tortugal Marina in the Rio Dulce, Guatemala their second home over the years. When the pandemic started we began to Zoom every Saturday at 12 Noon EST in the U.S. Friends and Buddy Boaters from all over the world came together to share stories and updates on our boats and ourselves. In 2021 Roy and Dale, from S/V Wahoo invited everyone to a reunion in their home town of New Orleans, LA. for August 2022. It was a fantastic time and happily, Rosie & Don of Chickcharne volunteered to host this year's reunion at their home in Montana in Polson.

This is one of 5 cottages on Rosie & Don's 
estate. We had this lovely place to ourselves. It
was right on the beach and below the main house

Our deck and the view down the lake!

The main house looking up from our cottage

After a few days up at Glacier National Park with Renate and Jim, we drove down to Rosie and Don's beautiful home on Flathead Lake. The lake is 30 miles long and 16 miles wide. It is one of the cleanest lakes in the populated world for it's size and shape (Wikipedia). We really lucked out on the weather, It was sunny and in the 70's all week. 

The Red Sleep Road at the Bison Range
stretches ahead up and around the hills.

Views of the mountains stretched in all directions

This was the view from the top of the trail we hiked off the road

We saw individual and small groups of bison with
3 large herds. 

Sometimes they were close up to the road!

And always very imposing!!!

The views changed so much - here rolling hills
and grazing land.

Scott stops to take photos.

Trees lined the road occasionally but mostly
it was open plains

It was such a relaxing time. A group of us took off each day for a trip locally. The first was to the Bison Range, home to around 350 bison. This area was originally owned by local Native Tribes but was stolen from them by the Federal Government by the Allotment Act in 1906. After decades of legal battles the tribes finally regained ownership in 2022. We took the Red Sleep self-directed driving tour - 19 miles winding through the reservation. We saw lots of bison and lovely scenery. Many of us hiked up the highest knoll for more distant views.

Jerry, Breck, Deborah, Sally, Heather, Ellen, Scott and Dave before our walk down to Kerr Dam.

Close to the start of our hike we had a glimpse of
the dam below.

The Flathead River above the dam.

Scott, Sally and Breck coming down the long
steep stairs to the dam.

The formerly named Kerry Dam generates
electricity and provides constant water levels
for recreation.

Another day we visited the Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam, built in 1930 and since 2015 owned and operated by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. A long stairway has been built leading to several viewpoints over the dam and lake. It was a fun hike! 

A pleasant walk along the lake stretches around
downtown Polson. 

Several fishing piers extended out and were 
popular with local fisherman. We heard an
exciting story from several about the "one that
just got away!"

Sally and a Grizzly on display at 
the Miracle of American Museum.

Our last walk was along the lake in Polson followed by lunch at a restaurant overlooking the lake. We also visited the Miracle of America Museum nearby. Nicknamed appropriately "The Smithsonian of the West" it is a jumble of every artifact you can imagine in any period in American History. If you actually looked at every item, it would take a week! I especially enjoyed the WWII exhibits, especially around the contribution of women and minorities. 

But the main events at our reunion were the times spent eating and drinking and talking on Rosie's deck and "ours's". Leisurely breakfasts and lunches were enjoyed at various times during the day allowing lots of catching up on everyone's news. Rosie and Don had prepared delicious meals for dinner. We also enjoyed one night out at a local restaurant. 

Thanks so much are due the host and hostess of this year - Rosie and Don of Chickcharne. We all hope for a Third Reunion next year! We'd love it to be here in Vermont.

Dave entertained us one night with lots of our
favorites. I get a little teary when I hear "On the
Rio Dulce" or "Bonacca Town".

You can see the view of the lake from Rosie and
Don's home.

Jerry, Don and Deborah at the buffet table.

That's "our" cottage as viewed from the deck
above.

Another night we had drinks down on "our" deck!

Dave "Odyssea", Dave "Cordelia", Ellen & Rosie

Renate & Sally

Jim, Dave, Renate, Sally, Rosie, Breck, Don, and Scott

Glacier National Park - Briefly

That's the Road to the Sun etched along the mountain behind us.

There were many waterfalls off
in the distance

Jim, Renate and myself with our rental car

Over 150 glaciers were known to have existed a hundred 
years ago, but now there are about 20 left. It's predicted that
they'll all be gone by 2030.

Our second annual reunion of Tortugal cruiser friends (Tortugeezers) was in Montana this year. Our buddy boat cruiser friends, Renate & Jim drove their trailer from their home on Vancouver Island, so we decided to spend a few days with them before joining all the others. Our flights from Boston to Missoula, Montana were on time but our second flight was overbooked so they had to ask for volunteers in order for us to be seated.  Luckily one couple took the $700 offer. This has convinced me to reserve seats in advance from now on. We had chosen the cheapest package and now I know what that means. I upgraded to the next level for the trip back.

The road is an engineering marvel and mostly 
built by hand.

We didn't see any goats but lots of deer.

The road is narrow and often has no shoulders.

We picked up our rental car quickly and were off for the 2 hour drive up to Columbia Falls near the west entrance to the Park. Our Airbnb was a "tiny house" and they weren't exaggerating. There was room for a double bed (two pillows!), one chair and a kitchen counter with the basics and frig. The bathroom had a stall shower so we really had all we needed, except two more pillows. We wadded up our fleeces! But it was cheaper than any of the hotels and conveniently located near our cruiser friends, Renate & Jim's RV park. 

We had only one day together in Glacier National Park but it was a full one. We lucked out with beautiful mostly sunny weather, but as a result, encountered crowds of people. It was the first day that entry reservations weren't required and that meant many of the popular parking areas were full. But we found lots of spots to pull over and admire the views and take short walks.  The big thing to do here is to drive the Highway to the Sun and we did it twice, traveling east first and then reversing. 

There are hundreds of lakes in the park, 131 of which are named. 

We saw touches of color, mostly berries and low shrubs.

The park was established in 1910 and the road completed by the CCC in 1932. This was Scott's first visit but I spent a week back packing through the park with a friend in the early 1970's, During that trip we camped at both spots where in 1967 two young women were killed by grizzly bears. It was more than a little frightening for sure. Before leaving on that trip, all hikers were made to watch a safety film explaining what to do if encountering a grizzly. As I remember it, "Take off your backpack and throw it away. Stand up as tall as you can and wave your arms over your head. If it starts towards you, roll up on a ball on the ground and pretend to be dead."  "Don't run!" We wore bells around our neck, traveled in a group and sang songs when the trail wasn't visible ahead.  It was a great trip!!!

The trails were all very inviting but we didn't
have time for any long hikes

Built by the Great Northern Railway in 1914-15
the Many Glaciers Hotel sits on a big lake. The
lobby here was really grand rustic.

Renate and I enjoy some time in the sun at the
viewpoint inside on the tunnels

 A fleet of restored 1930s White Motor Company
 coaches, called Red Jammers,
offer tours on all the main roads in the park.
The drivers of the buses are called "Jammers",
due to the gear-jamming that formerly occurred
 during the vehicles' operation.

On the Road Again, and Again...

The view from our timeshare at the Bethel Inn in Bethel, Maine 

Recently a good friend and neighbor here in Shrewsbury, after hearing a recital of our coming trips, asked, "Do you really love all this traveling?" Well, I had to admit that I do.  I've had itchy feet since I was born and an excess of energy. But it is true that some of the trips this summer and coming in the fall have been stressful and keep us away from what normally would be our season at home. My sister Paula's stroke and dealing with her future and finances has been and will be very difficult. Although the four weeks we're spending with our youngest son and his new family are wonderful, we do miss enjoying our home here in Vermont. 

We enjoyed a walking path along the river

Rowan generally loves his dinosaurs, but this 
was a little much!

Happiness is....

We had a lovely morning at the Bethel
Inn's Lake House.

Last week we were in Maryland, this week in Maine (with Sean, Will and Rowan) and then directly on to Montana for our second Tortugeezer Reunion (Cruisers from the Tortugal Marina in Guatemala). After a while home with several visitors, we're back to my sister's to finish cleaning out her apartment.  We'll spend Thanksgiving with our daughter and her family in Palo Alto, CA. After Christmas at home, we're heading out across the country again this coming winter. We'll leave on the first of January and plan to return the beginning of May. This year we'll stay further south and turn around in Arizona. We already have 3 weeks reserved near the National Seashore in Florida and almost a week in Big Bend National Park. On the way home we'll visit our oldest son Josh and his family in Dallas and see the total eclipse of the sun on April 8. 

Scott's brother Brent came for a visit with his wife
Wilma but this is he, their cousin Lisa and 
Scott on a hike.

But I'm determined not to face the 2 or 3 feet of snow we had to dig out of twice and the icy driveway and roads. We'll drive our RV down to Maryland, in early December, leave it there and visit Paula.  It will stay down there until we drive back January 1st.  

I can foresee however our RV cross country traveling days slowing down.  But no sense planning ahead that far now! And there will still be a road beckoning ahead for sure. 

Summer Catchup!

Recent Photo of Rowan

Scott and Rowan

Heather singing to Rowan

Sean nursing

Will and guess who?

Zoë laughing at one of her great jokes

 

It's been a long time since my last post. Our new grandson Rowan is now 6 weeks old and thriving. His Dads, Sean and Will, are tired at times, like all new parents, but loving every minute (well, almost every one). And so are we! Scott and I were down helping for the first two weeks and then returned for another visit while our son James and his family came up. Our oldest son Josh and his kids flew into town to meet their new nephew/cousin and our daughter Zoë came for a week. So it's been wonderful family time. 

Playing with Kolya on the beach in Boston

Wine tasting with my appetizers at Pierce's
Store in Shrewsbury

Our friends Kristi & Roxanne 
entertain us at the wine tasting.

Spring Lake in the evening during our dinner at our friends
Lily & Eldred's cabin.

Just a few of the 20 people who came.

A corner of the Art in the Park in Rutland.

Cookie, Joshua, Heather & Scott in Sean & Will's 
backyard.

Jonathan, Shira, Maya and Michal

Morgen & Kolya

James admiring his new nephew.

The bad news for us was that my only sister Paula had a fall and a stroke down in Maryland. Her cognitive ability has not been compromised but after a month in Rehab she still hasn't been able to get out of bed and stand, let along walk. Scott and I went down for a week in late July and will be there again next week. We are looking at long term health care facilities for her here in Vermont and down in Maryland. 

Everyone enjoyed the Lake and all three of the
kids made it out to the swim raft!

We bought a Corn Hole game for the yard.

Bill, Kolya, Nora, Gracie, Claire, James and 
Morgen at the Fourth of July gathering.

Leslie shows off her Flag Cake. She's been making
it every year for our gettogether.

The stream was a fun adventure for all the kids.

James and Morgen.

Doug with his Indian takeout meal.

 

We had a wonderful Fourth of July gathering again this year. A total of 22 people came over 5 days. Sean & Will and Dick & Debbie were the only absentees (and of course a few of the second generation). James, Morgen and Kolya came up from Washington DC with Morgen's sister Claire and her family - Bill and their two girls, Grace & Nora. Marty & Russ with daughters Jenny & Julie, David & Leslie with son Scott and his family - Laura & Calvin, Larry & Zuzia and Larry's son Luke, Doug & Pat - and Scott & I. The weather mostly cooperated with lots of swimming in the Lake and exploring our stream and woods. There was a trip to the Montshire Museum of Science and the King Arthur Flour store. But mostly we caught up on our lives and current events over lots of food and drink. Unfortunately we forgot to take a group photo this year and in fact, very few photos got taken!

My sister Paula in the hospital.

Shrewsbury, our home town, is chocked full of events. We attended concerts, a wine tasting with appetizers (I made 20 plates of antipasto), Bone Builders, and many dinners over with friends. One day we drove into Saratoga Springs to attend a Lincoln Center String Quartet concert at SPAC and afterwards walked around town and ate dinner at a sidewalk table. We also saw two performances of  Opera North over in N.H. and Fidelio at the Middlebury Opera. Another String Ensemble concert was held in Woodstock. If we'd had time, we could have done 4 times more! We enjoyed Art in the Park on the Rutland Green with craftspeople, artists, food and live music. 

Scott is busy with 2 Boards, the Rutland Farmer's Food Center and Green Mountain Neighbors. I volunteer at Pierce's Store and I'm active in the Rutland Garden Club. Scott and I designed the website for them and run it, including a blog. We both volunteer also at our library and ferry new immigrants that have recently settled in Boston from Syria around the Rutland area. 

Last shot - and it's Rowan!