Not Our Everyday Hike..., Civic Plaza, Albuquerque, NM, 5/24/16

Trump held a rally at the Convention Center yesterday in preparation for the June 7th primary. Outside, people held an anti-Trump rally. We joined the crowd represented mostly Hispanic people, Native Americans, and some Anglos like us.  Anti-Trump feelings against his treatment of minorities, immigrants and people with disabilities ran high. We marched for about two hours and did not see violence of any kind. Apparently, after most marchers (like us) had gone home, emotions ran high and spilled into rioting.

La Luz Trail, Sandia Mountains, NM, 5/21/16

Springtime in the Sandias.

We decided at the last minute to go for a hike and planned to travel up the the Loukout, 4.3 miles up.   Didn't quite make it, but did hike about 5 hours, ~ 6-7 miles and ~1500 feet up.

Scuba diving outing, Saint Lucia, Antilles, 1/28/16

 We did not get to go hiking much on Saint Lucia but we did sign up for several fun outings, including a scuba diving day out. 

 On board with us were mostly divers, equipped to the gills (no pun intended.) Only another woman, Jim and I snorkeled. 

Rodney Bay Beach, Saint Lucia, Antilles, Jan 22 to Feb 2, 1016

A running beach! My dream!  We selected our rental cottage on Saint Lucia with the beach in mind.  It stretched half a mile and three round trips added up to a 3-mile of run. We arranged our schedules so I was able to run every other day - bare foot on the hard sand. Definitely, paradise on earth!   After a few days, locals started to remember me passing by and would joke with encouragements. Above, view towards Pigeon Island.

The Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC, Canada, 5/14/16

We strolled for two hours in these manicured gardens stretching over 55 acres and created in the early 1900's by owner Jenni Butchart.  Above, a work-out lime quarry that provided lime for the nearby Portland cement plant, now a beautiful garden.  I didn't particularly care for the many flower beds in screaming colors but the plant and tree selection was impressive. 

The Butchart's family cove and boat landing.

Japanese gardens and, below, gate to the Japanese gardens.

Capulin Volcano National Monument, NM, 3/21/16

We drive to Denver once or twice a year, pass the road to Capulin Volcano, and every time we have a discussion about whether to make the side trip.  I admit I have been reluctant to add another 70 miles to our already 7-hour long trip. This time we finally decided to visit.  And what a delightful surprise we got!  The caldera is about 1/4 mile across and a trail follows the rim of the caldera and offers 360 degree views. 

Baby Capulin

Trail to the center of the caldera across lava flow and spatter hill.

Castlewood Canyon State Park, CO, 3/20/16

Yearly Denver hike.  The trail ran along Cherry Creek to the ruins of 1890 Castlewood dam. The dam broke on August 3, 1933, and created the worst flood in the history of Denver. Wonderful varied landscape with five different ecosystems. Above, grassland and conifer forest.

Scrub

River

Not an ecosystem :) 

Caprock

Pigeon Island, St Lucia, Antilles, 1/25/16

 First and only hike on Saint Lucia.  Climbed to top of Pigeon Island, on the NW coast of the island and close to our cottage in Rodney Bay.  We rode the local Toyota van (= public transportation) and then walked along several beaches and two fancy resorts to Pigeon Island. Saint Lucians are very friendly and musical.  Their mix of reggae and calypso is wonderful.  See video above.