Treasure Beach 2020 Who’s Down When???

[johng]

Rumghoul, hey_mon and all the great people who may read this. It is my ultimate hope that everybody is healthy and safe. Here on the Right Coast things are leveling off but the amount of ignorance of those not following common sense is troubling. Many people out and about without face masks or social distancing is alarming. It seems that people believe it's safe to resume life as usual yet the virus is still hospitalizing and killing hundreds by the day. Rumghoul I see the call has been made to "Liberate Michigan"!! hey_mon what's going on in Winnipeg and Canada as a whole (I know really sucks without the NHL Playoffs!!). I'm staying quarantined at home with my family and "Knock on wood" we're all OK. I haven't heard much from friends in JA but I'm hoping that things are survivable!! God Bless Everybody!!

[Rumghoul]

Yes - people of Michigan had enough not so much that the stay at home order was extended, but they really doubled down on a few things - like landscaping people cannot work (tons of small businesses out of work - plus older people cannot have their grass cut), you cannot go out in a boat with a motor (a lot of people fish in the great lakes for food) and several other things. Most people feel our governor is trying to get attention to become VP and not really caring about the people of the state. We are fine though. Glad you are too! I keep in touch with a few friends in Treasure Beach - they are all good so far.
On another note - if anyone watches the voice (I never have, but I have started this season), a friend of ours - Todd Michael Hall - is on it. He is on tonight in some battle where the public votes so if you are interested tune in! Stay safe everyone!!!!

[hey_mon]

Hey guys, gals, and all lovers of treasure beach! Always good to hear everyone is healthy! Still doing the social distancing, self isolating up here. That’s really unfortunate Rumghoul about the restrictions on grass cutting and fishing. I think this is such an unknown thing and everyone is flying by the seat of their pants, some things make sense, some not even close. And then politics comes into play, and well, all common sense leaves the room. At least we can escape it each year for a few weeks, and play in the sea and laze in the sun and drink too much rum and beer! Our numbers in Manitoba are very good and the premier will be making an announcement this week coming where I believe they will be relaxing some restrictions. I will remain cautious, believe I will be working from home for a few weeks yet, so I can go out in the yard at lunch and get some good old vitamin D. Spent the last couple of days getting the yard raked, leaves cleaned up and tomorrow is patio furniture wiping down and yard set up. Boy oh boy are we missing our hockey. This is my favourite time of year for so many obvious reasons, but playoffs are always the hilite. Saturday nights seem flat without a good game to watch. We officially lost our beloved Byfuglien, and that’s a big hit for the Jets, and the fans, as he has been a fan favourite since he came here. Watching him haul two guys out of a fight by the jersey and skate away is legendary around here. Oh well, wait and see how the NHL is going to handle things. Have also been checking in with some friends in Treasure Beach as well as Negril, and all is well so that’s good news. Take care guys, stay safe and healthy. SNL is doing another episode from home tonight Johng, enjoyed the last one. Cheers!

[Rumghoul]

The silly restrictions in Michigan have been loosened a bit, stay at home extended to May 15 (with talk of extending further). The weather is making a nice turn-around so we have also been able to be outside - get some vit D and fresh air!! I hear ya on the hockey - I grew up in Detroit. Hockey Night in Canada was huge in our house!!

[Rumghoul]

Just checking in to make sure everyone is safe. We are fine - first Covid, then major flooding (two dams broke not too far from us - luckily we did not get any of the water, but many people lost their homes), now the heat. All is good as we are safe and healthy. Worried about our February trip - who knows what will happen by then, but we have the place booked, have not looked at getting airline tickets yet (not excited about flying any time soon). We are taking a few road trips this year - have not been to the UP in Michigan for years, so rented an isolated cabin. Also thinking of heading to the smokey mountains in September - again, driving and renting a cabin. Not sure I am liking the new normal, but it is what it is - hope everyone is ok!!!

[hey_mon]

Hey Rumghoul, how are you guys keeping. Have things settled down virus wise in your state? Our province blew up in the fall and we have been in full lockdown, but all of us have stayed healthy so can’t complain. Are you heading south this year? I am hearing zero cases of covid in treasure beach so that is great news! Johng, all good with your family as well? Seems weird not planning for a trip this year, but we kind of planned on skipping this year as we redid our roof at home, bumped up some insulation and did some overall Reno’s, so knew we were directing funds elsewhere. We couldn’t have picked a better year to skip I guess....do find myself pouring through pics and and yearning for some warm sun and sea smells!

[Rumghoul]

hey_mon - great to hear from you - have been thinking of you. Also glad to hear you have all stayed healthy!! We have stayed healthy also. Our state has eased some restrictions and there is talk about opening restaurants in the next month or so - we will see. I have been happy to see many places are starting to embrace winter and making outdoor spaces with firepits and just being creative. We spent 2020 traveling around Michigan and have plans to do so again in 2021. Treasure Beach has to wait another year for us also - you did pick the right year to skip for sure. They have not had any cases and times are very tough for them but at the same time I am not sure they want tourists coming in right now. I have talked with a few friends in Treasure Beach and when I told them we decided to push our trip back a year not one of them has said we should reconsider and come. It makes me very sad not to be looking forward to our February trip but photos and great memories will have to do this year.

[hey_mon]

Yes, pictures and memories have to suffice for this year. Will make the next trip down that much sweeter for sure! We spend summers at our cabin just an hour north of where we live so every weekend from mid May to mid October this year as the weather was great. We don’t venture up in the winter even though it is a four season. Got used to staying in the city as all of our kids played hockey so never the time to spend at the cabin, only the hockey rink. Now that they are older and only play beer league we could, but the break is nice to hunker down at home for the winter. Not really much of a winter person, more of a let’s take off to jamaica person!!! Have you been watching any of the world Junior hockey? We have just beat the Russians so tomorrow night it’s either the Finns or Team USA! I love watching this age, they play with such passion, and with no NHL up to now it has filled a great void. You had mentioned that you were thinking of renting a cabin in the Smokey mountains? Where abouts, and when? What state would that be in, Tennessee? My travel through the states has been limited to the Dakotas, Minnesota and Tennessee. Did the Beale Street Music Festival with 4 girlfriends for my 50th. We stayed for 10 days, did the festival, did Beale Street, shopped, ate, drank, and had a blast. My 60th is coming up this May but can’t even think about where or what I could do for that. Will we even be travelling.......I kind of doubt it. Our eldest son lives in Vancouver in BC so maybe go out there for a week. Who knows, such a crazy world we are living in these days. Glad to hear you guys have stayed healthy! Keep in touch, always nice to hear from you. I know this is a Jamaican forum but feel free to pop up some Smokey mountain pics or other travels through Michigan. That’s a fairly close drive for us, have a sister in law in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, so just over the border from there! Take care, stay healthy.

[Rumghoul]

We ended up cancelling our Smokey Mtn trip too - we were going to stay in the smokeys in North Carolina, then hit Asheville for a few days before coming home. For that trip we originally were going to go to Sardinia Italy, that got cancelled so we looked at North Carolina, that got cancelled so we went to Frankfurt Michigan - still had a great time. Once you can get into Michigan (I think borders are still closed both ways but not sure) you should visit the UP - we hiked the pictured rocks this summer and had a great time. I have not been to the UP in so long - we are going back this summer. Although if you have a cabin close to home that is a nice option. I have never been a winter person either, but I really like snowshoeing. I think if we had winter here I might like it more because I could do something outside (I don't ski - never liked that - could be the heights I don't like). Here is a picture of pictured rock hike - we did the long hike (I think it was 7 or 8 miles) but the views were worth every step! Stay safe and keep in touch!

[Nilero]

We ended up cancelling our Smokey Mtn trip too - we were going to stay in the smokeys in North Carolina, then hit Asheville for a few days before coming home. For that trip we originally were going to go to Sardinia Italy, that got cancelled so we looked at North Carolina, that got cancelled so we went to Frankfurt Michigan - still had a great time. Once you can get into Michigan (I think borders are still closed both ways but not sure) you should visit the UP - we hiked the pictured rocks this summer and had a great time. I have not been to the UP in so long - we are going back this summer. Although if you have a cabin close to home that is a nice option. I have never been a winter person either, but I really like snowshoeing. I think if we had winter here I might like it more because I could do something outside (I don't ski - never liked that - could be the heights I don't like). Here is a picture of pictured rock hike - we did the long hike (I think it was 7 or 8 miles) but the views were worth every step! Stay safe and keep in touch!

Nice picture, please stay safe. Lets hope all of this world health crisis will finish soon