Voir Dire

Wailua River pictured here and the Wai'ale'ale mountains and Kawaikini point in the background.  Reputed wettest spot on earth with an average of about 450 inches of rain a year. The Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali (the cliffs) Coast in the north of Kauai is an ancient Hawaiian route that is about 11 miles.  The Haoles, (white, foreigners) went about 3/4 of a mile, had a sandwich and headed back to Kee Beach. My most pleasant traveller. View coming into Kee Beach after the Kalalau Trail. Came back to the beach and found Dean doing some schoolwork, he was working on handwriting.  With the current equity grading system in Oregon I think he has met all requirements to graduate High School.  Too bad he didn't capitalize his first letter, he could have graduated with honors. Still thinking about leaving Dean here, I think he has found his home.  

Has there ever been an easier time to travel this world than today?  The Garden Isle, Kauai, of the Havaiki chain of islands in the middle of the Pacific is no exception.  It just couldn't be any easier or convenient.  In a way, our trip hasn't even really begun.  We flew into Lihue, Kauai, got an Uber to Banyan Harbor resort and were up the next morning at the beach around 5:30 am (gringos adjusting to the time zone).  It became even easier after I looked up a friend I had not seen in 30 years, Nakoa Martin.  He got us into a vehicle and by day 3 we were driving around.  Is Kauai expensive?  I'm not sure, we are from Bend, OR.  I haven't flinched at the cost of anything.  Making our way around the south using the SHAKA app we take a self-guided audio tour connected to Google maps explaining the history of certain points of interest.  The tour takes us through the coffee plantation of Kauai Coffee Co. in the south on our way up thro...

Typical School Day today: footwork drills for infielders/outfielders, conditioning and batting practice...last day at el play in Guayacanes...kids are working hard...6 days a week, often times a morning practice, lunch and then the afternoon session...great group of muchachos led by Robersy from SCORE International in Juan Dolio, if you ever want to help out look him up. As for our family we will say, "Buenos Dia..."  "Buenos Tardes..." y, "Buenos Noches..." ....adios de La Republica Dominicana.  Tenga buen dia y nos vemos... Rom.  11:36 Porque de el, y por el, y para el, son todas las cosas.  A el sea la gloria por los siglos. For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.  Don't forget about the girls....they CAN hit.

 Another Sunday showdown at the local Gallarda in Guayacanes....weigh-in about 4:30.... Gets your bets in for these 1 Round, 10 minute fights. Newly renovated Dodgers complex outside Guerra, RD....the original Academia de Beisbol in the Dominican, built in 1984....muchachos sign if 16 before July 1st and will stay at the the Academy for as little as a couple months or up to 3 or 4 years....the goal is to get invited to the Gulf Coast League in the US and start working you're way up the minor league system...a lot of hard work from a very young age...they deserve every dollar they make. A little snack before a Saturday morning practice at el play, Barrio Mexico in San Pedro de Macoris...advice: don't drink the street coffee...    Progress on the Proyecto...about 280 feet of footings dug with a shovel, pick and bucket...2' wide and about 3' to 4' deep...rebar thrown in with some verticals and the blocks laid down...almost ready for a r...

 Rolling hills of tobacco in the central north part of the country near Santiago.  Rich black soil with a tropical/temperate climate naturally leads to largest cigar producer in the world. Resorts hugging any coastline with the white sand. Casa de Campo in the south near La Romana with many world renown golf courses including Teeth of the Dog and Dye Fore. Rugged, rocky coastline probably makes up the majority of the coastline, but it also shakes the gringos out usually. The boat on the left is the livelihood of a local fisherman in Guayacanes....used yesterday and today...it brings in some pesos.....not too far away in the Casa de Campo Marina also sits a boat.....some have a lot and some little, don't worry about it, just consider it.   We've been working on the concept and now have dug the footings for the future site of two Dormitorios y Cocina y una Common Area...its been the vision of Dr. Jhonny at Score International for years to have a p...

Based on the apparent chaos of driving San Pedro de Macoris and the general lack of following any traffic laws outside el play....el play is organized and managed extremely well.  Here, at Barrio Mexico, across the street from the prison in the background, different ages, ligas and entrenadores all function on one field.....this is a typical morning with groups scrimmaging, practicing and doing drills on the side.....great effort from the kids and the entrenadores should be thanked for the work they do and the opportunity they give to kids in the different Barrios....   El gringos here always needing cold water. Who's gonna make it?  That is the question and the absolute goal...the conditions create the ambition to do your work on the field, sign a professional contract and take one step up and out of the poverty that surrounds you...a few guys here in the middle: Sebastian in the red hat, Frandy no hat on and Victor in the catchers gear, along with other ami...

The Art of the Deal taking shape here...the grandparent fresh off the plane, three grandkids eyeing things they really want.....looks like check-mate.....cuanto cuesta?  Toyota Prado turbo diesel....get to the areas a little away from the main tourist channels, even though we are tourists....es no facil, pero es posible.   Rain clouds starting to form around a tranqui town in the south.....probably the last artistic photo that will be uploaded. We're all slow to change a little, but still gettin it done on the donkey cart....you can have your building material delivered no problema....garbage service pick up is also offered by donkey cart in San Pedro de Macoris....its actually probably one of the more safer ways of getting around San Pedro.  Ruby is still a little confused on where we are exactly and whats going on.