Every five months I get a month off, in August I didn’t leave the island for a full vacation – we were a little busy at the hotel with summer guests and several large functions so I stayed here and spent a few weeks trekking the other side of the island with Dakota.  The deal was that I could take a few weeks later on.

Tickets are purchased and a few plans are being made.  So far just the basics – I leave December 18th for Portland where I have rented a midsize SUV to act as my mobile home.  I’m taking the first few days to head up to Seattle – to checkout the NOAA Dive Training Courses,  specifically I’m interested in the Diving Medic courses.  Then over to eastern Oregon for Christmas with Mom,  then… well then is a two week road trip with mostly no itinerary or destination.

I’ll try and get in some skiing in Idaho and Utah, some desert time in Nevada, wreck diving in Southern California, then head north on the 101 relaxing and taking in the sites of the coast, detouring only for good reason, bad weather and of course the Temecula, Sonoma and Napa Valley wine country.  (cant beat a good glass of red next to warm fire right?)

Eventually making my way back to Portland (or Seattle) where as expected I’ll do some last minute shopping and fly back home.