10-16-17

"Take me with you, pleeeeeezzzzz!"

Poor Harley. Sad Dog.

All packed up. Tomorrow we fly!

I will post all about our trip when we return in November!

Doggie Hugs. :-)

10-15-17

Inviting you to Kilimanjaro! - says random giraffe :-)

I've seen this photo often when searching Kilimanjaro information on-line (no photo credit listed). It's a gorgeous pic & it gets me even more excited for our adventure ahead. If you're interested in our trip itinerary see below...

10/17 Leave Phoenix. Fly. Arrive Philadelphia. Leave Phili. Fly...

10/18 Arrive Amsterdam, Netherlands. Check into our houseboat on a canal!

10/19: Tour Amsterdam (Anne Frank home, Van Gogh museum & more)

10/20: Bike around Amsterdam and sight-see.

10/21: Leave Amsterdam. Fly. Arrive Kilimanjaro, Africa. We'll be picked up by our tour company called Climb Kili. Stay at Summit Safari Lodge in Arusha.

10/22: Free day in Arusha. We will meet up with Climb Kili guides & 3 other hikers in our group to go over details about our trek. Finalize hiking packs.

10/23: BEGIN our hike to the top of Kilimanjaro!

Start at 7,742' elevation. Hike up. Camp @ 9,498'.

10/24 Hike up. Camp @ 11,500'

10/25 Hike up. Camp @ 13,800'

10/26 Hike up & down. Camp @ 13,000'

10/27 Hike up & down. Camp @ 13,100'

10/28 Hike up. Camp @ 15,300'

10/29 Begin hiking at MIDNIGHT. Approximately a 6 hour strenuous hike up to the summit. Mt. Kilimanjaro (aka Uhuru Peak) stands tall @ 19,341 ft. We'll take in the sunrise on the top of Africa! We'll say "Cheeeeeese" in front of the Kilimanjaro sign. :-) And hopefully we will be happy & warm with no altitude sickness. We'll take a few pics, absorb the moment and without delay the guide will get us hiking down fairly quickly. We'll trek a different trail to low camp at 5,895'. This will be ONE BIG DAY of hiking & effort. Please keep us in your prayers for 10/29!

10/30: Wake up and continue hiking down. This is an easier day with much celebrating at the finish line! :-) And much desire for a warm shower & soft bed!

Stay the night at Summit Safari Lodge in Arusha.

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10/31 Day 1 of Safari!!!

Fly to the Serengeti: Giraffes, lions & ?

11/1 Serengeti: Zebras, cheetahs & ?

11/2 Ngorongoro: Elephants, gazelles & ?

11/3 Ngorongoro: Hippos, warthogs & ?

Drive back to Arusha.

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11/4 Leave Arusha. Fly. Arrive Amsterdam.

11/5 Drive to Rotterdam, Holland. Stay on a canal in a cardboard house!

11/6 Sight-see Rotterdam & countryside. We'll be looking for the Dutch windmills.

11/7 Drive to Amsterdam. Leave Amsterdam. Fly...

11/8 Arrive in the USA

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11/9 Jet Lag.

Zzzzzzzzz. 

10-14-17

New mittens arrived in the mail yesterday. These had great customer reviews for keeping hands warm in the coldest of conditions. Hope that's the result when I wear these on Kilimanjaro. We leave this Tuesday for a BIG adventure to the top of Africa!

PS: These final packing details are taking a lot of time. :-/

PPS: I'm having some nervousness about the high altitude. :-( Kilimanjaro is 19,341 ft.

PPPS: I'll post our itinerary tomorrow or Monday. :-)

10-13-17

Happy Birthday, Wela!!!

From Harley!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

From Bob

Happy Birthday to my mother-in-law!

From me

Hope YOUR day is fantastic! Bob & I had a good time looking at some old pics to post on the blog. We sure have fun when we're all together. You are special to us, your family & your friends. We love you! 

Harley, Bob & Jane

Happy Birthday!

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Speaking of birthdays, I want to post belated birthday wishes to Rose & Marie! Their birthday was October 6th.

Marie & Rose turned 12 years old. Beautiful nieces!!

And talented! They are both enjoying cross-country and are doing great.

We are proud of you two & love you, Marie & Rose!

Uncle Bobby & Aunt Jane

10-12-17

Deep Thoughts

by Harley

I have some good guesses on what she's thinking. But wouldn't it be fun to be in the mind of our pet!

10-11-17

This morning's empty track after our group workout was over. Abbie & I are sticking with our Wednesday run routine. #sunrise #running #carpediem

10-10-17

Like my new tattoos?

If I ever wondered what I'd look like with ink all over my arms...I now know. Wearing my new arm sleeves for biking might draw some 2nd looks. Bob bought these off Amazon and they're kinda fun(ny).

PS: I've decided to stick with fake tattoos. :-)

10-9-17

While I was in Iowa Bob had 2 days of flying and 2 days at home with this doggie. The pressure Bob feels to take Harley for a walk is real; Harley looks at Bob with those puppy dog eyes, she doesn't blink & she stays there until he gets off the couch, puts on his shoes, grabs her leash & heads out the door. Harley says she needs to see the sights and smell the smells. Same pressure is put on me when I'm home. Lucky Dog... Bob & I gladly cave to her pleas.

10-8-17

Sunday afternoon drive with another ice cream stop! :-)

We had morning visits from Jacey, Whitney, Monte & Emily. This was my last full day here. Tomorrow I fly back to AZ & it will be hard to leave mom. 

Thankful for precious memories. Thanks mom for being YOU!

10-7-17

Today I drove 3 hours to Sioux Center to see a bunch of family & participate in The Buddy Walk. The Buddy Walk brings awareness to Down Syndrome by bringing family & friends together to walk, eat, play games and visit with one another & the public about these awesome kids.

It was a fun day celebrating Keelan and just great to see these 3 cuties. We miss having Riley, Keelan, Kavan, Janna & Andrew in Arizona.

But it's so fantastic to see how happy they are in their community of Sioux Center. This is Andrew's 2nd year of teaching art, Kavan is in Pre-K and Janna has made many mom friends. On top of that Janna's brothers, Jerod & Jerome with their families live only 30 minutes away. Jaime & her family is 2 hours away. Janna's folks and her youngest brother, Jacey & Whitney are back on the farm (3 hours away). 

Jaime, Lisa, me, Sonja, Janna

My brother Brent along with some of his kids & grandkids came too...

Owen, Leah (+ their 4 girls) and Lisa (+ her 2 kids) came from Byron, MN & Sioux Falls, SD. Great to see everyone.

Photo: Ada, Nora, Clara, Miles, Elsie, Greta & Aubyn

Monte & 4 of his grandkids during the Buddy Walk. I would guess about 300 adults & children turned out for this nice event.

Roman Hoegh Van Kley. #13 grandchild for Monte & Emily. #4 boy for Jaime & Chad.

33 Hoeghs turned out for this fun day!

So glad I picked up Aunt Sonja to ride along with me to Sioux Center. On our way home we stopped in Le Mars to visit my Aunt Mary and Uncle Roger. #sisters #love #family #greatday

10-6-17

What's more fun than visiting your home town meat locker?!

Watching some of my brother's cattle made into yummy steaks.

Got Beef? :-)

I had a full day with mom which included a manicure at the care center, lunch and then an afternoon drive in the country.

It was a rainy day but we didn't mind. We stopped at this farm to view Arnie's metal work. Check out that large display on the wagon; beautifully detailed corn stalks and pheasants. I went inside his shop to see many other great items he sells. Arnie is a retired farmer that became a metal artist.

Another stop was Henningson's farm. They have a bountiful harvest of pumpkins and interesting gourds.

Everything is creatively displayed & on the honor system for buying. 

Look at this cute little Tic-Tac-Toe table. I want one!

Another stop for ice cream and we were back to the care center for supper. A good day.

10-5-17

I flew back to Des Moines this morning, rented a car & drove to Atlantic to see my mom.

Stopped by the local HyVee grocery to buy snacks for the drive & was greeted with pumpkins.

Fall is in the air in Iowa!

Arrived at the care center at 3:30pm. It was so good to see my mom! She's made many improvements since being in the Des Moines hospital; swelling down significantly, no more supplemental oxygen needed, eating well, & she's content without any significant pain. Mom has not gained enough strength to use her walker anymore. Hate that she is restricted to a wheelchair & needs two nurses for several daily tasks. But...mom is still mom and we rolled down to the activity room to play hymns on the piano.

10-4-17

Friends!

So great to have lunch with Shelly today. We became wonderful friends 20 years ago (maybe a little longer). Love her.

10-3-17

We are liking our biking mornings! After our Tuesday ride with the large group, Olivia, Bob and I did some extra miles around Ahwatukee.

10-2-17

Such a sad day. Turned on the news this morning to the horrific news of a massacre in Las Vegas. 

Pray...for them.

10-1-17

Well, this morning's hike didn't go as planned. Rich, Bob & I had a great start on a trail in the McDowell Mountains but at 1 mile Rich had a fluke slip on some loose rock. None of us thought it was a bad fall until Rich held up his hand & it looked strange. We headed back to the car & off to ER for x-rays. Rich broke his wrist. Bummer. A few weeks in a cast & he'll be good as new.

#iwearmysunglassesinthehospital