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Author: richardt

Dunn’s River Falls

On Tuesday we did the Dunn’s River Falls excursion. This one was close to the resort, only about 10 minutes away. We had to wait at the top for more people in our group.

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The climb up the falls starts on the beach.

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There is another excursion that takes you on a catamaran from the resort beach to the falls and then back again after you climb the falls. Brad and Chelsea and some of their friends did this later in the week.

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In some places everyone holds hands to form a human chain as you move up the falls. Our guide said he doesn’t like that all the way up, so there were only certain spots where we held on to the next person.

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Here is everyone from our group, Susan, Lori, Dale, Carolyn, Mom and Sue and Dave.

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Each group is assigned a group videographer who takes video/photos of the group all the way up. At the end they try and get you to buy the DVD.

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Our guide with his flip flops in his shorts.

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Watching more groups behind us, it was a steady stream of people.

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Carolyn was pulling Mom from the front in some places and I was pushing her from behind.

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Sue and Dave.

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Every so often there are pools of water between the falls.

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Dale lending a hand.

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The guide rallying the troops.

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The videographer taking another group shot.

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The water was a little chilly on the back.

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And just like that there were periods where there was no one behind us.

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The guide checking with Momma.

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Shaking hands with “Tall mon”.

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We all made it to the top.

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On the way out you have to navigate through a market.

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In Jamaica, it is “Give Way” instead of “Yield”.20160510-P1030102


Around the Resort

Some photos from around the Riu Ocho Rios resort. This was the lobby.

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The beach.

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The Red Stripe beer truck.

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One of the guys pulling a cart of Red Stripe beer cases.

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More beach.

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The Jerk Hut that was closed most of our stay.

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The main pool that closed on the Tuesday after we arrived. On the Sunday we noticed signs that the main pool was going to close from May 10-17th for “emergency” repairs. From what I have read it was to replace the filter system. It involved jack hammering the bottom to replace parts. The jack hammering went on from 6:00-7:00 in the morning until 19:00-20:00 in the evening.

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The closed pool meant that everyone could use the Deluxe pool over on the other side, of course it was smaller and unless someone went early (thanks Mom and Di) to save some loungers, there was no chance you would get one later on. Even the beach at the other end was busy compared to the side near the construction zone.

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The calming blue sea did make up for some of the inconvenience.

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We spent some time in the infinity pool which was separate from the swim up bar pool.

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This was the swim up bar part of the Deluxe pool.

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Blue Mountain Bike Tour

On Monday, Shanna, Jesse, Sue and Dave (Lori’s friends) and I went on the Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour. It was about a 2 hour bus ride from the resort to the mountain. This James Bond Beach, not far from Ian Fleming International Airport.

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Some of the towns we drove through on the way to the starting point.

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A jewellery store.

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Courts is like a department store, according to the bus driver.

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A KFC.

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This was our tour bus.

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The weather was cloudy and showers off and on on the way to the starting point.

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My “Uncle Danny” sighting.

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At the start of the ride the mountain was in fog. They feed you some brunch and then drive you further up the mountain where you get on a bike and start the ride downhill.

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Listening to the guide talk about something.

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He was picking plants and explaining what they were.

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They provide the bike,helmet, elbow and knee pads.

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Everyone walking their bikes across a bridge.

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Garbage bins at the side of the road.

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One of the photographers with all spice leaves in his nostrils.

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Some of the flowers near the food stop. You end up back at the stop for brunch where they feed you some lunch, before getting back on the bikes and heading down to the waterfalls.

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Coffee beans on the plant.

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Here is the guide talking about the coffee plants.

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The bikes we were riding, they had coaster brakes and a front hand brake.

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The ride ends at a secluded waterfall, as it is described in the web sites, yet waiting for the bus is a whole gaggle of people trying to sell you beer, drinks, and marijuana.

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Only a couple of New Brunswicker’s went swimming.

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There is a guy there who will dive off the top and them come looking for tips. The back of his shirt actually says “Diver”.

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It was then back on the bus for an 90 minute ride back to the hotel. Made it back in one piece after the bus driver narrowly missed some guy who decided to do a U turn in front of the bus on the highway.

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Along with KFC, there is also Pizza Hut in Jamaica.

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Jamaica Vacation

Sunday, Mother’s Day, was our first full day in Jamaica. In the morning we attended the Sunwing Tour presentation. They tell you when to check when your bus leaves for the airport and then about the excursions available.

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These guys go around the beach collecting the plastic drink cups.

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There were also guys going around offering coconut drinks.

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The weather was great.

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The main bar area.

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The Deluxe pool that wasn’t available to us on the regular side, until they closed the main pool. More about that later.

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We all met for dinner at the St Ann’s buffet.

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Shanna and Jesse.

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The evening entertainment, it was a show called Africa.

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Madison, Wisconsin 3

I spent the week of April 25-29th in Madison, Wisconsin for work. It was the Spring meeting for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program. This year I am Chairing the Technical Subcommittee and the Joint Committees portion of the meeting at both the Spring and Fall Meetings. In November, the meeting is being held in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Here is a photo of the Capitol Building, the hotel is located across the street. This was the third time I have been to Madison for the meetings.

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First Blue Jays Game of the Season

We headed down to our first Blue Jays game of the year for Josh Donaldson Bobblehead Day.

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As you can see in the photo, we got there early and it was a little on the chilly side.

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We drove down and parked over towards Spadina and Queen, not a good idea, getting out after the game was a zoo.

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The roof was closed.

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We were pretty high up, after last year’s playoff run, getting tickets was harder this year. We were seated in Section 515R, seats 8-11.

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The Blue Jays won the game 6-3 over the Oakland Athletics.

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We Need a Bird Feeder

Chloe keeping watch in the backyard from intruding birds and squirrels.

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Despite Chloe’s patrols the neighbours tree still gets Cardinals. I was out with my big zoom lens.

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And American Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus).

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He was in the tree after Chloe chased it from the fence.

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The Cardinal’s mate.

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The squirrel back on the fence post.

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An American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis).

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New Wheels

We picked up our new truck on Saturday. It is a 2016 Toyota Tacoma.

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Grand Slam of Curling

Gillian and I headed down to Maple Leaf Gardens to watch the 11th and 12th draws of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Players Championship. First up were the mens draw.

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Glenn Howard was playing in the feature game on Sheet C against Reid Carruthers and won 7-2.

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Brad Jacobs lost 5-2 to Charley Thomas.

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Mike McEwen beat John Shuster 6-3.

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Brad Jacobs.

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The women were up in Draw 12. Rachel Homan and Emma Miskew.

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Jennifer Jones was the feature game against Val Sweeting.

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Rachel Homan.

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Jennifer Jones taking a commercial break.

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Rachel Homan was playing Silvana Tirinzoni from Switzerland.

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This was the second time in a row Gillian and I have watched Homan lose in person. They fell 6-2 after Tirinzoni stole 5 points over the last four ends.

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Crazy beard guy rooting for Team Paetz. This is Hans Madsen who is from Yorkton, SK and is at a lot of curling events with his beard dyed in different colours.

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Backyard Birding

A couple of the birds that were in the backyard this morning. A Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinals) in our tree.

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A Slate Coloured Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) taking off from the fence post.

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