Lake Norris!

Today was excellent from top to bottom.

First, I of course was off work today, in lieu of our impending mini-getaway into the Tennessee Smokies. That lent me the chance to drop Sydni off at her bus stop, something I haven't been able to do since her first day of school exactly one month ago. We got an early start, so we made a pitstop at the gas station to get mama some coffee, and an extra cup for apple juice for Sydni. Then we were off to the bus stop, where we sat for a few moments alone together eating breakfast before the other kids started showing up.

"look mommy: i look like i'm drinking coffee!"
.... (she isn't... she isn't.)

Sydni boarded the bus and Mindi gave me some final tips on what to expect and what to avoid on our trip to Norris, then I was off to head home and get going.

I read this cover to cover on the way down:

:) 

^ It's a little romantic in nature, but every once in a while, it's nice to absorb something painted a little more brightly than some parts of the real world around us. I borrowed it from my first trip to the Oakley library earlier in the week, and finished the last page just as we were entering the foothills of pure mountain landscape.

I might not leave this place. ;)

I got the bright idea to do a mini video-tour of the cabin property, instead of try to piece together 25 pictures that would do a Picasso job of the same task. Here it is: our mountain-set, lakeside slice of Heaven that we'll be inhabiting for the next two days. You can find us at the bottom of the half-mile gravel driveway ;)

It is... sublime here.
Rob and I made it in first, surveyed the scene and then left the boat parked at the top of the gravel driveway that required 4WD to travel down to the cabin. We unloaded, set up our little camp for the weekend and awaited Jesse's arrival.

I was immediately drawn to the boat dock, where I headed with yoga mat in tow.

inversions. inversions... inversions.....
#scorpion.

more work. 

Jesse arrived an hour or so after we did, so the three of us set off in search of a boat ramp, loaded in and took off for our first cruise of Norris Lake.

here we go! 

floating houses! 

Within minutes, I fell in love with this place. The water is green, but not because it's toxic. You can see the bottom in many places, and the shoreline for this place extends for several hundred miles.

We cruised until eventually we found ourselves at Shanghai Marina, where we stopped for the evening to explore and eat. We snagged a map of Norris while we were at it, certain that it's going to be put to good use tomorrow.

shanghai marina | norris lake
lafollette, tennessee

Here we are now, back at the cabin. Tomorrow will be our day to play on Norris and see what this place is really about. We already decided that our next trip here will span over more than two nights, and with any luck, we'll plan it more than a week in advance ;) Hehe.

G'Night, Rocky Tops!

xo | cmd

Farewell, Jamaica! [For NOW, That Is!]

Checking out of a hotel is either a relief or a disappointment for me, but rarely ever both. Today was the first time I have ever had a perfect blend of both of those emotions. I am of course disappointed because we've been spoiled rotten for the past week here. I'm excited though, to get home and see Sydni, and basically start over in planning for the next vacation, in 2015. Because hey - that's what you do immediately following a big vaca, isn't it? ;)

We dragged our bags down to the lobby just after 7am, followed shortly by Cassie and Shayne, then Tara and Jordan. The six of us sat down for a quick breakfast and some last minute absorption of what the last five days have been.

legends sunrise panoramic

We included some love for the management; that's Clayton in the front and Adrian to the back right, they are awesome, and we will be back to see them & Jamaica, ASAP!

so i probably should get out of the shadows... haha..

At the front, some of the cab drivers and guides with whom we've connected over the past few days left us with farewell [for now] hugs, warm wishes of safe travels and those big, happy, contagious smiles that pretty much make a repeat trip to this place a done deal.

The trip back to the airport felt normal compared to the initial ride out six days ago. Riding on the left side of the road felt less foreign and the erratic driving culture didn't phase us as we careened on through the hills and open roads back to Montego Bay.

At the airport, we passed through security and customs to be immediately greeted by an Americanized food court. This is our normal, but felt vaguely unfamiliar in contrast to what we've just done. It's funny how just a week of adjusted living can make us feel!

'murica.

Also, it wouldn't be a last hoorah at the airport without a stop off at Margaritaville for some refreshment.

margaritaville | montego bay, jamaica

... in margaritaville!

"come back, come back to jamaica"
..... yes, yes i think i will!

seeing doubles!
... could you imagine two of this guy? haha...

And... a group pic to commemorate our final moments in Jamaica:

rob. cori. cassie. shayne. nate. audrianna. jordan. tara.
new friends from jamaica 2014!

Finally, despite our last-minute protests, we boarded the flight and waved goodbye to this beautiful island.

boo. hiss.

Three hours later, we were back on the ground in Cincinnati, where we said goodbye to the newlyweds Tara and Jordan, and to our other couple friends Cassie and Shayne. Our cab carried us away from CVG and before we knew it, we were dragging our luggage back up our driveway and into the house.

Our dogs were more than ready to see us. A MILLION thank you's again to Becky for pup-sitting them while we were gone! WE. OWE. YOU!

hiiiii babies!!

Of our little group of couples, Shayne and Cassie happen to live within an hour's drive of us; we immediately agreed to make plans in the near future to hang out soon, but we didn't figure it would be this soon: 

well all right then!

With that being said, we unpacked, did some laundry, loved on our dogs and took power naps before we were up again, showered and out the door down to see our new friends back on US turf.

with our new friends.. in cinci!

rob. cori. jessica. cassie. shayne

ladies!

We are back on American soil now and have one day to buffer us from the reality of returning to work on Monday. We'll be sleeping in, for sure, and with any luck, doing absolutely nothing with it before our routines find us again.

Good night, Cincinnati! It was beautiful abroad but it's nice to see you... and my own bed.. again ;)

xo | cmd

Jamaica Day 4 : Chukka Kayaking & Ziplining | Samsara Dinners

We've been waking up each day here at an alarmingly early time... somewhere between 6 and 7 am local time. I don't know if it's the change in atmosphere or what, but Jamaica's only one hour behind Ohio, and yet we're still wide awake before half the place is even open. No complaints, though; it's never misery to wake up to white sand and an ocean at your fingertips!

good morning, negril!

After breakfast, we joined Cassie and Shayne for the trip out to Chukka [which means Play] for a day of ziplining and kayaking. This is another one that is best explained in pictures..

here we go! [beginning of the day = clean & nice hair, hahh]

neighbors

pitstop on the way

We finally arrived at Chukka!

chukka - "play"

cassie & Shayne

my love!

Once we suited up, it was a short kayak out to the zipline course, and from there, it was all airtime!

tree-mounted platform

cassie

Shayne

rob

the gills

love him!

After the zipline course, we hopped back in the kayaks and headed on down the river for some more beautiful scenery and of course, chukka!  

♥ ♥ ♥

We stopped off for some rope swinging & plant observing, as well :)

cori. rob. shayne. cassie.

And finally, we circled back to the launch and grabbed some jerk chicken to go [Jamaican fast food ;), hahh]

onsite chef

Whew! Time to head back...

awesome day with this guy :)

Back at Legends, we rendezvoused with the newlyweds for a bit, then all dispersed to our rooms to shower and change for dinner at Samsara. The six of us enjoyed an outdoor dinner and bar service at the cliffside sister resort before coming back to Legends. Unfortunately, something on the menu did not sit well with Rob, and he was room-bound for the last part of the evening.

babe!

cincinnati girls!

ohio hangin' out in jamaica!

with these beauties - tara & cassie

 

This is of course a back-dated entry, because here in Jamaica, on the beach at least, the parties don't end until around... 5am.

Tonight was the night that most of the people we've seen since CVG here with us decided to really party and see what the Negril beach nightlife is all about. We started at Legends..

oh boy..

it's a party with the staff!

next door on the beach @ bourbon bar | negril, jamaica

 And then.. well, allow me to introduce: Bourban Bar.

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is our last day here. I have to say I'm pretty proud of us for making the most of this week; we haven't really rushed anything and we didn't over-plan ourselves. Tomorrow, we along with the other two couples will be heading out on a glass bottom boat tour to one of the mini islands for some snorkeling and lunch. It's another early riser!

G'Nite, Mon!

xo | cmd

Jamaica Day 3 : Mayfield Falls

It's excursion time!
We wasted very little time this morning getting prepared for the day; it started with an ocean-front breakfast and some chit-chatting with the resort staff before we loaded up on the shuttle for an hour's trip into the hills of Jamaica for a day at Mayfield Falls.

This'll be best in pictures, so here.. ya go :)

Part 1: LAND SCENERY OF MAYFIELD FALLS

pineapple plant

baby pineapple!

lunch huts

 

birds of paradise plant

birds of paradise

coffee tree!

coconut tree snails

 

 

And..
Part 2 : WATER TIME!

Lastly,
Part 3 : LUNCH!

When the trip finally came to a close, we were dropped back off at Legends just in time to switch into dry clothes and join the small crowd already gathered in the restaurant to watch the Ned v. Arg World Cup game. I of course was rooting for the Netherlands, in honor of my Dutch sister, but witnessed their unfortunate fall to Argentina. This should make for a solid final match on Sunday when they play Germany!

What do you do after you climb through waterfalls and watch World Cup soccer in Jamaica?
-- You nap. And so we did, in our room with the balcony doors open to let in the sound of the ocean [which will never get old to me... just saying]. When we awoke, it was time for dinner, so we headed down at just about the same time Tara and Jordan arrived. It was a dinner for four, followed by a walk along the coastline and some more conversation with the locals.

I'm head over heels in love with this place.

Excursion #2 is on the books for tomorrow: Kayaking and Ziplining through the mountain forests here... and I can't wait!

See you then!

xo | cmd