It is our last Saturday in the Cayman Islands so we got up early and went to Seven Mile Beach for a stroll (and a sit!).  It was absolutely beautiful!  I got a great picture of Dennis and Lucy in the Land Cruiser.

Situated only a half hour from Grand Cayman, Little Cayman was the perfect destination for a mini get-away.  A flight on a Cayman Airways Twin Otter immediately sets the tone for the quaintness of the island.  Dennis and I rented bicycles and peddled around the tiny island (which is only ten miles long and a mile wide).  We stopped at a quiet marine park and experienced the most amazing snorkeling at a mini-wall.  The water was the clearest we'd ever seen.  We enjoyed the pristine nature, the quiet beaches and the seeing things we don't see on Grand Cayman, such as the Rock Iguana.  We dream of returning to this island one day.

We wish everyone a very merry Christmas!  We enjoyed a lovely snorkel and swim at Seven Mile Beach.  The weather was just wonderful today and the harbour was smooth as glass.  We took some amazing photos from our front yard.

We've moved and now have the most amazing location in Grand Cayman!  The photo on the left is a shot of our place from across the canal.  Check out the view from our patio!  Seven Mile Beach is only a ten minute stroll from our front door.

Most of Cayman dodged a bullet with Hurricane Dean, which raked the Cayman Islands on Monday, 20 August.  Dennis, Lucy and I took shelter at Appleby (my employer).  We arrived Sunday mid-day and were not able to leave until Monday at 2:00 pm when the national curfew was lifted.  Appleby organisers made all those taking shelter feel very welcome and Dennis and I slept quite well on the floor in our "suite" (an attorney's office).  The south shore suffered damage from high seas.  A friend of ours returned home to find the front of her apartment gone and the beach and sea inside.  We lost some trees in our neighborhood.  Overall though, residents of Cayman are counting blessings this week.

I took a whirlwind week long trip to Winnipeg during the last half of July (Dennis stayed in the Cayman Islands as he gets one less week of vacation.)  The trip was amazing!  We had lots of family outings, including a couple of days we spent at Winnipeg Beach at the cottage.  It was HOT in Winnipeg this summer, so we all enjoyed cooling off in Lake Winnipeg.  I would love to post pictures of everything we did and all the people I saw, but I would run out of room.  If you want details, just email! 

March was wonderful!  We were thrilled to host Lorraine and Tyson for (almost) a week.  We snorkeled four out of five days.  The undersea life was incredible -- sometimes the fish seemed as curious of us as we were of them.   There is something amazing about being surrounded by schools of fish.  Less amazing is being followed by a four (five?) foot barracuda! 

Mom chipped in and arranged for a private boat ride for us (with Absolute Divers).  It was an unforgettable excursion!  Our first stop was at Stingray Sandbar where we interacted with the spectacular rays in only a few feet of crystal clear blue water.  The captain then took us to the Barrier Reef where we snorkeled and had the great pleasure of seeing a five foot nurse shark (among other amazing sea-life).  Our final stop on the boat trip was at Starfish Beach, where we saw only one starfish, but were in awe over the pristine view.  We also enjoyed some great meals during the week.  We barbequed fresh tuna steak a few times, enjoyed coffee and conversation at Smith's Cove and were treated by Lorraine and Tyson to a spectacular sea-side lunch at Portofinos on the east end, where we found some time to relax sea-side.  Such incredible memories!

This was the best seat in the house!  We enjoyed an incredible evening at the Grand Old House.  Dennis ordered a potato encrusted tuna steak and I had the seafood symphony (three types of fresh fish on a bed of couscous).  We watched a cruise ship head out to sea as the sun set and enjoyed classical piano performed by a Cuban pianist.  Everything was amazing!

We'll call this entry, "Crash Diet at Sea" (or "Shore Dives Rock!").  A friend of ours (Robert) is visiting Cayman so the three of us booked a boat dive at the east end.  It was a half hour drive along the coast to the dive shop and we couldn't help but notice that the sea was choppy and that the crashing waves at the breakers were all too visible, but, coming from Bermuda where dives were cancelled if seas were too high, we eagerly continued on our way.  Surely if one side of the island was too rough, we would ride around to the other.  So, we got on the boat still blissfully believing that we were heading to an area with calm seas....most likely inside the reef due to the conditions. 

We were all told to be at the back of the boat when crossing through the channel (passageway through the reef to the open seas).  There were 12 of us on the boat.  The young captain was up on top, a few divers were sitting on the bench seats along the sides at the back and the rest of us were inside under the covered section (the "dry" area).  Robert was standing in order to see out the front window.  Dennis and I were seated sideways.  Everyone was holding on.  We were riding through the roughest water many of us had ever experienced.  We were riding up over the four to six foot swells which were forming and breaking at multiple angles as they made their way over the reef and through the channel (it was like being in a washing machine).   We were rising and dropping and taking the wrath of the white water.  Then it came.  Robert saw it coming, as did a couple of others who were watching out the front.  We'll call this wave, "Do you feel lucky?".  "Hold on tight!" someone yelled.  We did.  Thankfully.  Suddenly we were riding up what must have been fifteen foot wave.  We did not make it over the wave before it broke.  We were inside the crashing wave and it was wild.  When we came out someone was rushing to keep things from washing overboard (I think only one sandal was lost).  I'm sure the staff did a quick head-count!  Everyone and everything was drenched.  One man at the very back of the boat was not impressed.  Like us, he hadn't seen the enormity of the wave before it hit.  Robert said that when he saw it, he thought there was no way we were going to make it.  When it was over, we all felt lucky that the boat was still upright. 

Okay, NOW we must be heading somewhere where seas are calm.  Somewhere away from the four to six foot swells.  Or maybe not.  A couple of minutes later the boat anchored and we were at our destination.  The water was rough at the surface, so we were all eager to descend.  Unfortunately I didn't have enough weights on so had to be pulled down from the swelling water in the top 5-10 feet. We quickly descended to 60 feet to the sandy bottom and swam along the inside of the wall until we reached a tunnel.  It was just a small opening - single entry only, very angular and narrow. Making our way through the tunnel we descended from 60ft to 100 ft.  Once through the tunnel below us was a 6,000 foot drop to the sea's floor.  It was a phenomenal feeling.  Located near turtle nesting beaches, this steep wall is filled with deepwater sea fans, sponges, and is a great place to see green, hawksbill and loggerhead sea turtles.  We saw one young turtle, who's curiosity allowed us to spend a lot of time watching it's graceful movements.  Back through another narrow passageway we were back at 60 feet and the wall dive was over.  Phenomenal. 

Unfortunately, the seas hadn't miraculously calmed while we were under.  After such a deep dive there are mandatory decompression stops during the ascent.  I had difficulty near the top, where due to my buoyancy (not enough weights) I was pulled up by the swelling seas.  It was crazy at the surface and we were tossed around like a bull-riders as we hung on to the boat's ladder under water while trying to take off our fins and to climb onto the boat.  This is when the sea-sickness hit.  While sitting on the boat for half an hour between dives Dennis and I quickly became green.  The half hour wait and the ride to the next dive site initiated our "crash diet at sea".  By the time we were moored at the second site and briefed about the dive, neither of us thought we could take ourselves away from the edge long enough to gear up and get back in the water.  It was the best thing to do though, so we did.  This was a shallow dive (approximately 50' maximum depth) at a gently sloped reef. It was a beautiful spot with schools of French Grunts and Blue Tangs, not to mention lavish corals, giant sea fans and beautiful sponges as far as you could see. Dennis and Robert saw a spiny pufferfish the size of a small cat!  After another tumultuous rise to the surface, the same rough sees faced us and the crash diet was upon us again.  After another twenty five minutes on the boat (waiting for all the divers to ascend) we were ready for dry land.  It was a very quiet trip back, and fortunately less eventful!  We rode a wave back through the channel and enjoyed a relatively smooth fifteen minute ride to the dock.  There were only three of us who succumbed to sea-sickness, but most of the other divers said that the reason they were so quiet on the boat (where normally the divers would be sharing stories and getting to know one another) was that they were fighting nausea with every ounce of energy.  We experienced two different water worlds today, and much preferred the undersea one! 

On this long-weekend we enjoyed an amazing brunch at The Ritz.  We later lounged by the pool with tourists and a gorgeous iguana.  He ate for free.

Enjoying coffee on the beach on Sunday mornings is one of our favorite things to do.

We enjoyed visiting family during our yearly trip to our Canadian cottage.  A big thanks to everyone who made the trip out to spend time with us!

Being out on the sea is something we just don't get tired of!  We joined a group of people on a catamaran for the afternoon (a big one with a bar, a cabin and bathroom) .  We sailed in the North Sound for a while, before stopping to swim with the great Southern Stingrays at Stingray Sandbar (the water there is 4 feet deep and crystal clear).  We then picked up anchor and sailed over to the protective reef that encompasses the North Sound.  The fish were plentiful and not at all bashful.  Dennis experienced his second fish bite on his toe (this happened once in Bermuda!).  I witnessed both bites.  It's hard to laugh in a snorkel, but can be done!  Here's a nice aerial view of Stingray Sandbar. 

In April we welcomed Bob and Eileen, who enjoyed many of the islands points of interests.  With just one week to see and do as much as possible, they kept very busy.  They visited Rum Point, the Turtle Farm, Hell, and the Botanic Park.  They went on a submarine ride, snorkeled at Coral Garden and fed the rays at Stingray City.  They watched the tarpon feed at The Wharf, dined out in style at The Lobster Pot while watching the sun set over the ocean, ate conch fritters and local conch at Sunset House, and of course took a long stroll down Seven Mile Beach, while still making time to relax by the pool at Secret Garden.  I'm sure I've missed something, but you get the idea!  It was a full and wonderful week!

We went diving at Turtle Reef today (it is located across from the turtle farm in the west end). The dive operation out there is DiveTech,  which provided great service.  It was a shore dive.  We entered the water from a ladder (there are many sea urchins at the bottom of the ladder, so beware!) then snorkeled out to a buoy to a mini-wall which has a maximum depth of 60 feet.  If you are adventurous (and up for a longer snorkel) you can go further out and dive at the main wall.  We will save that for another day!  The dive was wonderful.  The reef was full of interesting fish, including a big school of tarpon which didn't appear bothered by us in any way.  Without scale in the pictures it is difficult to tell that the tarpon are about three feet long.  Along the sandy bottom divers often see turtles and rays.  We did not see these creatures today, but did enjoy the squirrel fish with their big dark eyes and bright yellow dorsal fins.  It was a wonderful day!

The end of "March of the Penguins" was near and we were sitting in the dark living room when Dennis spotted the intruder.  The scorpion  didn't stand a chance against Dennis' shoe.  Scorpions, nocturnal arachnids, have stingers on their tails which cause extremely painful stings (similar to the bite of a black widow spider).  We're not in Manitoba anymore!

We have been fortunate to have had some visitors in January and February.  Our first visitor was our friend Wendy from Bermuda.  Wendy rented a bicycle for $10/day and peddled around Grand Cayman for the week, keeping very busy with friends and excursions. 

Two days after Wendy's departure, Mom C. arrived for a week's visit (too short!).  We hit lots of tourist destinations including the Turtle Farm, the Botanic Park, the Butterfly Farm, Hell, Seven Mile Beach, Rum Point, and Stingray City.  We also went down 102 feet in a submarine!  We were quite pleased with ourselves!

Our most recent visitor was Andrea from Ottawa, who kept busy walking on Seven Mile beach in the afternoons, or shopping for all of her friends back in Canada.  We enjoyed a walk in the Botanic Park, where we encountered several blue iguanas and a snake!  Andrea treated us to a wonderful sea-side dinner at The Wharf (thank you Andrea!). 

We've certainly had a great winter so far!   

Christmas is nearing and we are enjoying our fifth green Christmas.  Last night we attended Appleby's Christmas party.  We dined sea-side at The Wharf restaurant on the south shore.  The venue was lovely.  From the patio we could watch the Tarpon swimming about.  They come in to feed every evening.  Many restaurants feed the Tarpon on a nightly basis, so it is a great way to see some big fish!  Here is a picture of Dennis, Lucy and I before we headed out for the evening.

Dennis with the hatchlings

Sandra holds a sea turtle

Dennis holds a sea turtle

Our pool in April 2005

Our pool in November 2005