LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE

Wow the last 8 days have been surreal. We are half way through our Plains of Africa tour and I can't believe all that we have seen. We are only missing 1 of the BIG 5 and that is the Rhino...otherwise we've had plenty of sightings of the leopard, elephant, buffalo, and lion. Hopefully tomorrow the Rhino will be in our sights. We've seen so many giraffes that we don't even get our cameras out anymore...today someone in the safari jeep compared it to us with deer.

We have done 5 game drives with 4 yet remaining. Several local tribes have entertained us and made arts and crafts for us and the scenery has ran the gammit from poor huts to 5 star hotels. A very different culture with unique customs. This is definitely a trip of a lifetime!

Looking forward to the second half of our trip!!

Tracy

AFRICA - HERE WE COME!

Well the voicemail is changed, the email is being answered by the auto office assistant, and my bags are packed! Our group is getting VERY excited (even though dreading the 24 hour travel day tomorrow) and we can't wait for our African Safari...

I won't be posting due to the extreme remote area we are traveling to but you can plan on hearing from me when I return on February 4th! Have a great January and stay warm...I know we will:)

Tracy

JUST IN TIME!

As I look out my office window guess what? YES, it's snowing, blowing and getting VERY cold the next few days. Guess our trip to Africa couldn't have been planned for a better time...we depart Wednesday for a trip-of-a-lifetime and now that my shots are over, clothes are packed, and desk is getting organized, I AM SO READY! Looking at the information, we will experience 75 to 80 degree weather during our two week stay which is a welcomed thought.

Lots to do the next two days to get ready so everyone stay warm and we'll chat when I return.

Tracy

SNOW SNOW GO AWAY!

The office is very quiet today. Helen and Joy are on a "office shutdown" and won't be back in until next week so it's just Lindsay and myself plugging away. This time of the year the phones are always quiet which makes us nervous. As I finish up my year-end books and get ready for this year...I happen to look outside and it's snowing pretty good...well it is January I guess but it makes me look forward to departing for Africa in two weeks. With all the shots taken care of...yuck! the next hurdle will be packing for our 16-day adventure. Well time to get back to work so more later...

Tracy

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I sure hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and the start of a fabulous New Year! I am back in the office trying to get motivated again after some needed time off. The whole family was home for the holidays this year and it was amazing. With parents wanting to go where it is warm, siblings living distances apart, and children on their own, it is an occurance that doesn't happen very often and may not for some time to come.

2011 will again be a busy year for Personalized Tours & Coaches starting with a 16-day tour to Africa in a couple of weeks...I'm getting excited so watch for posts and pictures at a later date...we are doing 9 game drives so access to computers will be limited.

Well back to work...have a great week!

Tracy

A GREAT DAY

Vermont is spectacular! We visited everything from the Rock of Ages granite quarry, the resort town of Stowe for lunch at the Von Trapp Family Lodge (delicious I might add) to a gondola ride up the mountain during peak color....Emily's covered bridge was our photo op enroute to Lake Morey and our Inn for the night. The height of our coach is 12'4" and the bridge clearance is 8'6" but our crazy group tried to convince Jim that if he got a running start we could be the FIRST and LAST coach to cross the bridge! I am so glad HE is driving and NOT them.

Another beautiful sunny day in New England. This group even asked our local guide if Jim could put the Packer game on the radio for the last 2 minutes...unreal! They won out...only Packer Fans!!

Well, I am going to turn in early (9:30p) because a group of us are meeting in the lobby at 5:00a to enjoy a 5 mile walk around the lake before breakfast and departure. It helps ease the pain of all the food we've been eating...and interesting and informative day - a successful day!

Tracy

TRACY'S FAVORITE

Everyone that knows me, knows that Fall is my favorite time of year - (to travel). And the New England states are my favorite place to do that! With the crisp air you can alomost "smell" autumn and you can most definitely "see" mother nature at work. Yesterday was an absolutely fabulous day. We woke to the sun shining brightly and a local guide whose knowledge of Vermont is endless. We visited the Morgan Horse Farm (UVM / University of Vermont Middlebury), Shelburne Vineyards (and yes, Bonnie Heili controlled herself with only 2 cases of wine, not nearly breaking her record of 13), a cruise aboard the Ethan Allen on Lake Champlain, (and NO Champ was not spotted), and a very expensive stop for the women at Dan Forth Pewter...even I did more damage than planned. We ended our full day with a delicious meal at the Countryman's Pleasure where the sauerbraaten was deemed the favorite.

Looking forward to heading north and into Stowe today with lots planned and our weather looks like it will cooperate.

Tracy