Honestly, 2-3 years ago, I had never heard of Turks and Caicos (in the Caribbean). But, I saw the place featured in a House Hunters International tv episode a while back (on the HGTV channel), and I was hooked as soon as I saw the beaches... Prettiest beaches I had ever seen... I knew I had to go there... I started dreaming of taking a trip there one day...



Now, I've been on my gun buying odyssey for 15-16 years now. In a never ending quest to put little back, metal objects (and sometimes little silver ones) into my gun safe... Never happy enough to stop buying -- always wanting another one and another one and another one... (probably planning future purchases... 3 to 4 guns out)

Earlier this year, I decided to take a break on the gun buying... I'm getting older, and I wanted to start collecting smething different -- vacations. I wanted to start seeing places instead of just putting another piece of metal into the safe... (I know - this is sheer heresy to say on a gun forum). It would be nice to have some memories instead of possessions locked up in a safe. And, I think I'm happy with what I currently own (gun wise)...

Anyway, I took a fun hockey related trip to Philly earlier this year... It was awesome... And, I had some extra money left over from that, and also accumulated some more $$ this year from a couple of gun sales, and from also selling some different accessories and flashlights. I had plans for maybe 2 more trips to Philly (once this blasted NHL hockey lockout is over). But, one day I looked at Expedia, and saw I could actually finagle a trip to Turks and Caicos.

My wife and son (and mother) are going to China for the holidays -- because she hasn't been back home in 10 years (they just left today, in fact). And, with my two bad knees, I can barely walk a block or two. I've been to China more than once already, and there was no point in paying all that money to sit in an apartment while they went everywhere sight seeing. Otherwise, I wouldn't be walking when I got back home...

I started to think about taking my own trip during the holiday break time (I have 2.5 weeks off of work right now)... What better place to go than a beautiful beach... I could just stay at one place and not really have to walk ANYWHERE, if I don't want to... And, the temperature would be a perfect 81-82F, with a slight wind... Warm enough to swim, but not hot enough to even break a sweat.

So, that's what I did... It really was an amazing trip, too! I left Sunday and came back Thursday (got there at 2:30pm on Sunday). I spent most of my time kayaking out in the ocean. The resort had free paddle boards and kayaks. I went out 2x a day, for 3 straight days. I went out probably a mile and a half a couple of times. It was just awesome. The very first time I went out paddling, I had a huge smile on my face I am sure...



I would have liked to have gone with my wife - and I was willing to put the trip off up to 6 months to work that out... But, she only gets Christmas and spring break off (with pay) every year, as she works for a dentist. We rotate these holidays at my job, and I get neither Spring Break or Christmas off for 2013 (but, I can take time off any other time in 2013). Co-workers of hers have previously taken an extra week off here or there without pay - but she refused to even ask her boss for that. As I wasn't gonna wait 2 years for a needed break (I can have Christmas of 2014 off - but no way I'd go anywhere to any beach during Spring break)... So, I just decided to just go by myself...

Yes, I know thats kinda strange... People looked at me funny when I said I was going alone. But, I wanted a break. And besides, it would be like normal. I can barely pry my wife off her computer every night to spend time with me anyway. Her laptop is like her 2nd husband, so it wouldn't be much different than all the other times she declines to go to events with me...

The first day, I kind of wished someone had gone with me. After the first day, however - I didn't really care about that anymore. It was a fantastic trip! The peace and quiet was much needed... I can't even complain about 1 thing (other than coming back into Miami and going thru customs and immigration and security - man, that sucked).

I did take one excursion from the resort - to the Undersea Explorer... Basically a boat that is like a submarine. You sit inside of the hull, and there are large windows to look out from. They sail in and around the reefs, and you get to see some awesome sights. I had read about it online before I left, and it was reasonably priced. They even come pick you up from where you are staying at, and they drive you back too. It was really cool.

Other than that excursion, and 1 trip to the grocery store on my first day there - I just hung out the rest of the time. I really can't wait to go back again... And, that's saying a lot for a guy who just really hates to fly (for years - if I couldn't drive there, I didn't go)...

And for people who aren't beach people... Going to a beach and sweating your butt off in the middle of the summer DOES suck... That is boring to me. A trip to the caribbean is totally different...

Well, here are a few couple more pics to show you guys...