Category Archives: Travel

a four-hour tour

08.13.10

From the way-back department, a couple of video clips I took on a jet boat tour we went on out in Oregon. The weekend we were in Grants Pass, the “Boatnik Festival” was going on. It’s a carnival in the city park and boat racing on the river.

While we loaded the boats, there happened to be drag boats racing just upriver. Rhiannon, Tricia, and I ended up on the one jet boat that took the drag course. It was slow and gentle compared to the drag boats that had to be towed around using wave runners, but I believe that our boat with around 60 people on board high 50mph heading upriver.

The boats can operate with a full passenger load at full speed in the just a few feet of water, and since they are flat bottomed vessels, they can spin around pretty well. No promises were ever made about staying dry, and yes, my camera survived the trip.

Jet Boat Tour from Chris&Rhiannon on Vimeo.

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sit down you’re rocking the boat

07.20.10

Not really. When the boat is a large pontoon, it isn’t quite as easy to rock. And it’s very easy to walk around on. So stand up. Let the kids drive.

Really, what the worst that can happen? It’s not like any babies who don’t know how to swim, can barely walk, and don’t grasp the concept of what a lake really is where on board.

Besides, three person tubes are pretty stable.

The worst that could happen to anyone was a little sunburn, and that was mostly just me and my legs that haven’t seen the light of day in a few years. I just have to figure out how to get one of those boats for myself. Relaxing is an excellent description of the two days we spend on the water. Thanks to Joe for taking all of us out.

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stop looking up

07.19.10

Whenever I visit a new city, I’m constantly amazed that I do not run in to more things. Of course, it helps when the things one might run in to are really big and obvious.

Yeah, the Space Needle is probably the epitome of tourist destination, but then, doesn’t that mean that it is something to see if you’re just visiting? I’ve never understood the negative connotation associated with being a tourist and doing tourist type things.

Why does it feel like it was two years ago that we were on vacation on the west coast instead of two months ago? I think we hit the ground running when we got back and I’m not sure if we’ve stopped yet.

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she’s a biter

07.14.10

We made it safely back to Colorado a few days ago. The night before we were going to leave, we briefly discussed setting an alarm. But really, who needs to set an alarm when you have a baby that doesn’t know the definition of sleeping in, even when on vacation.

She slept in almost 90 minutes later than any other day.

We hit night road construction on the interstate what should have been less than 45 minutes from home. 25 minutes to go one mile later, Brooklynn was going a little stir crazy in the back seat. I wasn’t sure if it was a human child or a hyper-active monkey on the brink of a meltdown.

As soon as we cleared the construction, we stopped for some ice cream.

Ice cream makes everything better. She learned this from her Grandpa in North Dakota.

It seems like the lesson stuck.

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just breathe and relax

07.07.10

We’re on vacation this week. No scheduled work, no overtime, no firm commitments. Unfortunately, being parents also means no sleeping in, but I guess I shouldn’t be picky.

Especially when it means that Rhiannon gets to have coordinating holiday outfits for the baby (thanks to some generous friends).

Hopefully your week is as relaxing as ours. Rumor has it that if the weather holds, we’re going to get out for a pontoon ride on a lake at some point over the next few days. I could get used to this life in a hurry.

(I’m guessing the in-laws would kick me out at some point after realizing that I was just freeloading.)

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