Ranch bound

One morning in Hawaii we got up early to head on out on an excursion with Mary Jo and Randy.

We stopped at a ABC store to pick up something.

These stores are EVERYWHERE!!

On the bus trip to the ranch we passed by this area the government stated we were NOT to trespass on.  Oh darn, it really looks like somewhere I'd like to go.

Not.

As we got closer the scenery just got better and better.

Mary Jo and Randy were excited!

 

We arrived at the ranch. 

We're ready for some fun.

Interesting......

Our first activity was a jeep trip.

Everyone is ready.

We stopped for pictures.

The jeeps await.

Cows were disturbed by our adventures.

They were good sports.

Mark checked it out to see if he was tall enough to ride the horses.

Randy was a bit concerned as well.

Well, we went with ATVs. 

Mark looks like he's rocking it, doesn't he?

I was rocking it.

Mary Jo was rocking it.

ATVs await as we stop and admire the scenery.

They filmed part of Jurassic Park here. 

I enjoyed riding the ATVs.  I'd never done it before.

It was a bit hard on the thumbs, Mary Jo and I made it work (with our crazy thumbs), and fun was had.

Randy is rocking it!

 
We wait for the bus to arrive to take us back to town.

 

I wore my bracelet celebrating Cody Smith's life: he was a good friend of Doug's.

I think Cody, who was quite the adventurer, would have approved of Mark and I giving ATVs a try.

It seemed fitting to think of him this day.

What a beautiful location.  How lucky were we to be here?  SO very lucky.

Snokel anyone?

One of our favorite days in Hawaii was the day we took off and went snorkeling.

Here we are on the bus, early in the morning, driving out of time.

The bus driver explained that they used the dividers to change the lanes coming into town, increasing the lanes coming into town (he stated this was so that folks could make it into town faster and get to work!).  Then they would move the barriers over and the lanes would be revert back to normal.

We got to see the barrier mover in action: it may be hard to see, but here the machine is at work.

 

We got to the boat dock and waited for the boat to arrive.

Here it is!

Off we go.

Amazing scenery.

Mark hung out with the captain, and he had a blast.

The first part of the trip was dolphin watching.  We saw so many!

 

We then went back to the dock, and the folks that were only taking part in the dolphin watch took off, and the rest of us waited while they prepared the boat for those of us who were going snorkeling.

Here I checked out a small cemetery for those lost at sea.  It was very touching.

The majority of them were homemade, and very special.

We then got back on the boat, took off, and they showed everyone how to get ready.

I didn't go snorkeling, so I took pictures.

Here they get ready to go.

Mark checks out the surfboard they towed behind the boat.

 

I ended up swimming off the back of the boat, going between the tow line and the surfboard.  And I LOVED it!  I can't wait til I can do it again.

Everyone had such a good time.  We are ready to go back.

Tigard Football

Today was the Tigard HS 'chicken and beans bowl'.

At this time each year the varsity team plays a game:

the winners eat chicken and the losers eat beans.

Trust me, each team really wants to win, LOL!

Before the varsity game the freshmen and the jr. varsity teams play 30 minute games.

Basically scrimmages.  But still fun to watch!

Coach Mark was having way too much fun out there.

Here the freshmen are ready to start.  The freshmen don't suit up for this game.

I really like the new scoreboard.

Look at the view: I love having Mt. Hood in the background.

We are so lucky!

Guess who came up and sat in front of me, and didn't even notice me? Ha!

Silly coach Mark!

One of our favorite experiences was to see the Royal Palace Guards perform at the King's Village Shopping Center. 

http://www.kings-village.com/shopping.php?id=royal-palace-guard

This statue stands guard at all times.

After they perform they take the time to take pictures with everyone who would like a picture.

It was fun to see the young women want to pose, and take crazy pictures, looking like Rambo with the gun! 

They were so kind.  Some pretty impressive young men.

Mark enjoyed talking with the man who leads them.

And see what I mean in the background?  She was just one of the gals who got a kick out of this.

Their drills were so well done, and I liked seeing the discipline. 

If you ever get the chance go and take part in this.