This is our first long trip together. In early summer, we spent 6 nights together on a trip to Cancun, which we both really enjoyed. Travel is always exciting, and to do it with the one you love, it's just so much more enjoyable. Sharing experiences and adventures give a common base of life that makes the bonds grow ever stronger. This trip of nearly 3 weeks has continued to strengthen that bond. Janice is a good travel partner, and I love having her with me when we travel.
I always thought that travel was tiring. Now I have some "proof" of why. The activity tracker has recorded that we've done a lot of walking. If we were to keep up this pace for all of November, we'd walk 102 miles this month! So, this tired feeling we have is well earned. It has been very enjoyable, but tiring.
The trip has met my expectations. We had 4 phases on the trip: 1) San Francisco, 2) Honolulu, 3) Cruise, and 4) Maui. Each was different but great. I can't say that any one was the best; but I can say that the cruise and Maui were the best by a small margin. Having never experienced a cruise before, I can't compare it to others. But with a full balcony, great food, and wonderful entertainment, I don't know how another cruise could top this one. Expensive, yes, but a wonderful experience. And Maui, even though we had only 3 nights there, was great. Riding around in a Mustang convertible, going to the top of Haleakai volcano for a sunset, coupled with a motorcycle ride on the Road to Hana made Maui unforgettable. The motorcycle ride was a birthday present from Janice. So, we celebrated my 67th birthday and riding in my 50th state in Maui. Life is good!
The Road to Hana is a lot of hype on the issue of level of difficulty. We encountered only one real challenge-a hairpin turn going up a steep incline while meeting a car mid-turn. We had no problems with it; however it was a tighten-up moment. The dirt section was not difficult at all, but there were several miles of patched asphalt that shook us and the bike a great deal. Not difficult, but not comfortable.
And the bike itself was a mixed bag. Great clutch and first gear. We were able to pull away on steep inclines with ease, compared to my RT where these inclines are a challenge due to a steep first gear. It rode pretty well, but didn't handle nearly as well as my bikes. And it was not nearly as powerful as mine. But it was not a bad bike at all.
The trip has been wonderful. We've seen so much natural beauty. We've met the nicest people along the way. We've had great weather. It has been a trip of a lifetime for both of us.
Thanksgiving is only 2 days away, and I have so much to be thankful for. Here are just some of them: Having the love of a good woman and being able to share my life with her; Having a son and daughter in law with two wonderful grandboys who love me in spite of my numerous shortcomings; Having a brother and sister who loves me even though I've not always been a good brother to them; Having good friends who love and put up with me. They know who they are; Having wonderful neighbors. Carl and Mae enrich my life so much and take care of me so well. They make it easy to travel by taking care of my mess while I'm away. I love them both; Having the love and respect of Janice's children and family. Pat, Nicole, Matthew, and Wilbur have accepted me into their lives; Having the ability and resources to travel and buy as I wish. I'm not a wealthy man by a long shot, but I am so fortunate to be able to pretty much do as I want; Having health to allow me to enjoy life in this sunset of life. I do tire faster than I used to, but at 67, I should; and most importantly, I am thankful that God has looked out for me as He has. I certainly don't deserve it-I've sinned in many ways over my life. But He still takes care of me anyway. I don't understand what I've done (or could do) to deserve His love and care.
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