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We went back to our favorite spot in Minnesota, Lutsen. Of course we waited until the crowds from
leaf peeping season and MEA weekend were gone so we could enjoy hiking and exploring with as little human interaction as
possible. We stayed at the Lutsen Sea Villas again, where we had the entire block to ourselves. Of course Remi came with,
and we had decent weather for the end of October on the North Shore. Rain stayed mostly overnight, and we even got some nice
sunny moments here and there. A relaxing trip to re-energize the batteries.
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Bonaire is the shore diving capital of the world. It is a trip that has been recommended to us
by many divers we've met over the years. It doesn't hurt that it's a Dutch island which appeals to the Dutchman in me...
We saw many incredible things, including our first ever seahorse, and Bonaire is one of the largest natural breeding grounds
for the flamingo. Check out our many cool dives and some other wonderful sights and eats!
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We're spending another spring vacation blowing bubbles, this time in Roatan, Honduras. We have really
enjoyed scuba diving since getting certified, and we're trying all the recommended places in the Caribbean. Roatan came highly
recommended by several people in Belize last year so here we are! We're only on day 3 but so far the trip hasn't disappointed. Follow
along as we go diving and spend some time exploring Roatan!
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We decided to head to the north shore again for our anniversary this year. We usually go
after MEA weekend and after the leaves have changed to avoid the crowds. It limits dining choices slightly and the leaves are
all down but you can spend an entire day hiking and maybe see a handful of other people. Definitely our speed! The hiking was
great thanks to good weather, and the Sea Villas provided a cozy home away from home, to build some fires in the fireplace and
spend the evenings reading. Clear skies and no moon provided some very pretty starscapes but no pictures this time even though
I brought the correct lens and tripod.
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After getting skunked on our diving plans for 2021 in Key West due to extremely high winds, we decided to go all in and
book a vacation on a private island dive resort 30 miles off the coast of Belize! We went to
get our Advanced Open Water PADI certification, and spent 6 days blowing bubbles. The resort was awesome, and the diving
was nothing short of spectacular.
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With the COVID19 travel restrictions on international travel, we decided to head back to Key West
this year. We are staying in a condo in the Truman Annex portion of Key West, almost as far south as you can get in the
United States! We had planned to do a fair bit of diving, but high winds might put a damper on that. Follow along as we find
other interesting things to do in Florida's playground.
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Our 20th anniversary was supposed to be a dive trip to Cozumel, but unfortunately the COVID pandemic put a damper on that.
Instead we decided to go back to the place of our honeymoon, in Lutsen, Minnesota. We spent the
week hiking, reading, and just enjoying the sights of the north shore. As a bonus, our dog Remi was able to come on vacation
with us! He even got to ride in a gondola.
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After years of no interest in going on a cruise, this year we are heading out on the
Carvival Fascination in the Carribean. This is what is called a "starter cruise"
because you stop in a port on every day but one. We flew in a couple days early to sight see in the home port of
San Juan, Puerto Rico. Then on to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and finally Barbados. We look forward
to enjoying the Dutch island of St. Maarten, and sort of a homecoming to where we got SCUBA certified in St. Lucia!
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After an 8 year wait, We are headed back to the great state of Hawaii! This
year we will visit the big island, and unfortunately the volcano no longer has active lava
flows, but we will be exploring many other things on the island, including a world renowned
SCUBA night dive with mantarays! We are doing a trip to the top of Mauna Loa for some fantastic
stargazing, and many other wonderful tropical things. Watch this space for pictures and Greta's blog.
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We have decided that the Caribbean is a great place to spend a week to take a break during
the cold winter months in Minnesota. With so many destinations, and with our
SCUBA certification last year, we're trying to hop around and visit different places.
This year, we are spending a little over a week in Grand Cayman
with our friend Jim and Trina. Diving, relaxing, and great food is on the agenda.
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A real vacation! We try to go somewhere warm every couple of years during spring
break, but last year we were busy with out big move, so we wanted to make sure we got away
this year. Saint Lucia is the travel destination, picked
because the island, unlike many carribean islands has lots of vegetation, and we wanted to
get some hiking in the year. We also finally put in the work beforehand to get PADI SCUBA
certfied this year! Check out the pics of our first open water dives, and plenty of other
beautiful spots on the island!
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For our 15th Anniversary we spend a long weekend up north at a quiet getaway on Elbow Lake. Check out the pics
from the Soudan mine tour we did Saturday, some hiking pics from after the Vikings game (we did find a bar with the game on, we're not
savages) and a gorgeous lake cruise Monday. Oh, and some pretty sweet Milky Way shots over the lake Saturday. The weather was outstanding,
and it was a great time relaxing in the wilderness.
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Spring Break 2015! While the weather in Minnesota this winter has been relatively mild (not even 30 inches of snow this
winter, an unusually low number, usually we're at 60 by now) and the real cold has been contained to a couple weeks at
the end of January and beginning of February, when Jim and Trina approached us with a week on the beach in Key West,
Florida, the answer was "of course!" We enjoyed great weather, great food, and the company of great friends as we sampled
local cuisine, and spent some time on the water doing some snorkling, kayaking, and cruising.
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For our 14th anniversary, we decided to head back to one of our favorite spots in Minnesota, The
North Shore. We stopped and visited our good friend Loren on the way up, enjoyed three days full of hiking and breathtaking
sights, all within a few hours' drive of home.
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Summer is here, and we went on a real summer vacation to Lake of the Ozarks. A ton of sun,
hanging out with three other couples, lots of floating, good food, great times.
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A cold spring continued into Memorial Day 2013. but we went down Thursday to enjoy the
one nice day forecast. Turned out Memorial day afternoon was really nice too!
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Vegas Baby, Vegas! For our spring break we decided to head to Las Vegas this year. Greta
hadn't been since she was little so we decided to go check out the sights. We stayed at the MGM, and hit all
the hot spots, including old Vegas downtown!
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Back in Saylorville for Memorial Day. What a great tradition! Thanks again for the
hospitality Jim and Trina!
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We're going to the Caribean for the first time in Aruba this year to get away from
the mild winter we've been having in Minnesota. Check this space for pictures as we snorkel and explore this
tropical desert island!
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A little cooler on Saylorville this year for Memorial Day. We spent a couple days
in Des moines doing other things like visiting the museum.
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We went back to Hawaii in 2011! Check out Greta's daily blogs and pictures from
Oahu and Kauai as we spent ten days in paradise!
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For our 10th anniversary, we headed up the North Shore to Tofte, Minnesota. Three days
of relaxing, reading, hiking with Brock, a beautiful lake, hot tub, sunrises and sunsets, and stars.
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We had a few people out on Saturday the 3rd for Independence Day. My brother's family,
and a coworker and his wife all came out to play at the lake, and let the puppies play with Brock.
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Saylorville was a good host again this year for Memorial Day. Best weather we've
ever had out there, with five straight days of 80's and no rain.
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My buddy Loren and I decided it was time for a boys' weekend in Las Vegas. Stayed at the Luxor, visited
the Hoover dam, and most important, got away from the cold weather in Minnesota for a few days.
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It's almost like Saylorville is a tradition for Memorial Day. We had some great weather
again and it was a very relaxing few days away from work.
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Our 6th anniversary was spent in Colorado, where
Greta's brother Grant was getting married. We got there a day
early, and spent Friday in Rocky Mountain National Park.
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Back in Des Moines again for Memorial Day 2006. Jim and Trina's boy
Calvin is almost a year old, and it was a little too soon to teach him wakeboarding. Maybe next year!
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2005 was a good year for going on vacation I guess. We spent our 5th anniversary
in Lutsen, the same place where we spent a week for our honeymoon. This
time around we brought our dog Brock, who loved the outdoors as much as we enjoyed it. We
spent an entire week relaxing, reading, hiking, and dining, and since our anniversary falls
between peak fall colors and ski season, it was nice and quiet there.
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It has become a tradition that we spend Memorial day with our good friends
Jim and Trina in Des Moines. We are
both boating fanatics, and this year we spent skiing and wakeboarding.
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In the spring of 2005 we went to Maui, Hawaii. This is
the first time either one of us had ever been to Hawaii, and it is a special place!
Neither of us wanted to leave, and I'm sure we'll go back someday.
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In 2003 we went canoeing again, this time in the
Quetico National Park, the canadian version of the BWCA. Like the
BWCA, almost the entire park is off limits to motorized boat traffic. We did take a shuttle
from our entry point into the park with our gear so we wouldn't have to paddle the
huge first lake we would have to cross with lots of boat traffic.
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In 2002 I went canoeing in the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area, a million acre lakes chain near
the canadian border. Almost the entire park is off limits to motorized boat traffic,
which makes it one of the most peaceful places I've ever been.
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After our wedding, I wanted to introduce Greta to my extended family,
most of whom still live in the Netherlands, and show her
around the Dutch countryside and some of the cities.
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The week after we were married in October of 2000 we spent on
Minnesota's North Shore, hiking and just
relaxing. We rented a lodge with a cozy fireplace and a hot tub!
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A work trip in the spring of 2000 brought me to
San Diego and a brief stop in Tijuana. Cross
border excursions into Mexico are always interesting...
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