Merry Christmas

2005 has been busy for us with the new hacienda under construction.

Trail Riding

During the summer we purchased a Polaris 4-wheeler for the farm and joined up with the Uncompaghre Trail Rider Club.

Other Doings

In between all the construction work, we squzzed in a little playtime, just to take the edge off and maintain some degree of sanity. We took in the Montrose balloon festival during the summer.

La Hacienda Grande

Photos

Since moving to Montrose June a year ago, we've finally gotten all the planning and preliminaries behind us, and have started our "Hacienda Grande", high our the hilltop of our estancia south of Montrose.

Martha Peery

On June 1, after a long bout with severe pulmonary illness, my youngest sister, Martha, passed after refusing her only choice remaining of being hooked up to a respirator.

Annee's Operation

After having a lil female type surgery in January that went south on her, Lil Annee was scheduled to have it all redone by a Denver specialist on July 5. So, in lieu of a July 4 parade and fireworks, we headed to the front range, and checked into the hospital guesthouse.

Lewis & Clark

. . . On their voyage of discovery they passed through the very area of Montana where Charlie Sydnor and I worked for his Uncle Jack Brenner in southwest Montana for several summers back in the 60s.

La Riviera Mexicana

Barcelo Caribe

For the last five years now, Lil Annee and I have been taking off for the warmer climes of Mexico during the winter, to partake of lots of sunshine, warm beaches, and muchos margaritas.

Cozumel

On our previous visits, our explorings consisted of visiting historic sites in Quitana Roo and Yucatan. This year we wanted to do a day trip to Cozumel Island . . .

Water Sports

There were lots of water options at Barcelo. The two huge fresh water pools provided plenty of swimming opportunities sans sandy bathing suits.

Punta Allen

South of Barcelo, near Tulum, a two lane road turns off to the sea, then swings south down a narrow peninsula for 50 miles to the small fishing village of Punta Allen. Most of the road lies within the Sian Kian biosphere ecological park . . .

Playa

One afternoon we headed into Playa Del Carmen for shopping and dinner. Our taxi dropped us off at the newly completed shopping mall close to the ferry docks, and Annee & Sherril took to doing what they do best . . .

Updates

Palomas Y Patos en Mexico

Sundance Safaris

In early December 2004, after all the duckin' here froze out, I was getting the hankering for another warm Mexico hunt down with The Big Gabino, Frank Ruiz, in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico. Had hunted three times with Frank previously . . .

Palomas

Our first day Jorge woke us up at 5 AM for breakfast. Promptly at 6AM , German had us loaded and off to the dove fields. Our crew, plus Montana Matt & Tom, Pete, and Skip, the pilot for the Texas boys, all rode together. . . .

Patos

By 3:30 we were up and camoed for early coffee, then loaded up with German by 4 for the long ride down south to Navajoa and beyond to the tidal marshes off the Sea of Cortez. Hugo's finger and shoulder continued to be annoying. . . .

Palomas Y Patos

The plan for day 3 was a morning dove hunt in close to town and an afternoon duck blast on some fresh water ponds. Wakeup was a leisurely 6 AM for breakfast, and by 7:30 we were at the dove fields on an estancia of pure bred Charloais. The hunt was again over standing sorghum and low and behold . . .

Updates