I wrote the number 66 in big red numbers on the white board in my office. It was official the countdown had started. My brother Dave and I had agreed, the count down couldn’t officially start until the tickets were bought and we had our seats on the plane.

We started talking about this next trip to Bonaire in May. When did we want to go, would our schedules permit us to get away, could we get a decent price on airfare? All of the usual pre trip planning questions that had to be addressed if we were going to relieve our PBD. Our last trip ended in February, and PBD set in as we boarded the AJ plane for the trip back, and it hasn’t let go.

Well, early last month we pulled the trigger, we found a decent price on Continental, Dave made the rental truck and condo arrangements, Leslie started prepping her camera, and I wrote on my white board. The countdown officially started. We were going back to Bonaire.

There has been a flurry of daily e-mails, a frenzy of new gear purchase, and an overwhelming excitement in preparation for the trip. I’ve realized my PBD has subsided and given way to PBA (Pre Bonaire Anticipation). It won’t be long and we’ll be stepping off the pier at Sand Dollar, dragging our gear down to 1000 steps (and back up again), and snorkeling out to the Lake. Yes the diving will soon begin, followed by Brights at the waters edge, great cigars, and of course excessive quantities of Lover’s Strawberry ice cream.

41 more days... I can’t wait...

I can't wait either,first trip to Bonaire but we have 189 days! Oh well thats okay I can keep reading reports till them. Have a Great trip!

Bro,

Pretty good capture. I'm impressed!
Except.....

Word has it that the pier at SandDollar is under construction. We won't be able to use it.

Instead, how about "....stepping off the ledge at Oil Slick Leap,...."

Otherwise, you nailed it 100%.

20 more days can't waitt
es

You lucky Goodwins!
I am really looking forward to your reports.
Skip

Your post made we even more excited about my upcoming trip, only 15 days til wheels up.

Your post reminded me of the weeks of planning and then months of agonizing waiting.

I have to show your post to my wife. She`s been calling me crazy because i haven`t stopped talking about our incoming trip to Bonaire for the last 3 months. Now, 43 days to go, thanks for your "support". Let`s keep on talking Bonaire!

Testify! 48 days and a wakeup to trip #9!!

13 days & counting.....

20 days..but who's counting?

Snigger. Tee Hee.

One day and counting....

EAR-GRIN-EAR

Trevor & Carole & Sam & Nic

Wow can those Goodwin boys write or what???

48 days for me - WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Man...approximately 9 months for me. I hope all of you write trip reports and post a lot of pics!

14 long days until wheels up.

Months of planning and waiting are about to pay off!

I love the countdown calendars!!! Especially when they are MINE. How many days is it until November 8th? I could start my Bonaire Countdown Calendar now!

MzFish, the countdown can start anytime after the airline tickets are purchased. 97 days until 11/8.

28 days and counting ....

146 days of anticipation! It's been almost 4 years since our last trip!

1.5 days. I can't sleep. It is 11:29 EST.

We are right behind Jim, leave the night of Aug 8 and 11:30 pm from Houston. Getting pretty excited.

Hey Jim, Andy & Dave, will be on island same time as you all, maybe we will be able to meet up at some point?

You made me check the calendar and start the countdown too. 71 days until Oct 14. Then we are there for 4 weeks!!!Yahooooo

We are leaving next month, but are already talking about a trip in March '09 as well. So now I'm at 38 days for the next trip and 208 days until March '09.

Ain't this FUN!

200 days 14 hours 18 minutes 'til scheduled arrival

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quote:

200 days 14 hours 18 minutes 'til scheduled arrival

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50 DAYS...13HRS....16 MINS.... till our first Bonaire adventure. Not that we're counting

35 and DEFINITELY counting...

6 days, 12 hours, 20 minutes till wheels up!

22 days until another Dave & Leslie Wild Adventure!

You made me stop and count....60 days left.

15 days until another Dave & Leslie Wild Adventure!

How many for you Geoff?

Good morning all, First time poster here. 10 more days to diving in paradise. This will be our 3rd time in Bonaire spending 2 weeks this time, we feel like it is home away from home. Can't hardly contain myself.

Welcome to BT, Arnita. About time to come out of lurkerdom. Have a great time on Bonaire and we except daily updates with lots of pictures, because we have no life when not on Bonaire .

Cecil - how true that is......

14 days!

I'm down to 21 days... Lover's Strawberry Ice Cream... Feet up with a bucket of Brights... Great diving...

Cecil - not sure about daily updates, we are taking the computer but not sure if we will be on-line. I will check with Michael, I believe that is his name, at the chat n browse but we are computer slow (illiterate)about some things. Definitely a trip report when we get back.

2 weeks from right now, we will be having lunch on our SandDollar veranda, fresh from our orientation dive, deciding which spot to do next...

I don't know what's worse: not being there, or the anticipation of going....

Actually, I know the answer.

I have a new goal for this trip. I have got to learn to pee in my wetsuit. It will make the second half of the dive more enjoyable. Plus, I won't have to make that mad dash to the bushes after taking off my gear at the end of every dive.....

How can I practice that before leaving?

Funny, Funny Dave!!!

Of course, to practice you can always wear your wetsuit in the shower...

My Bro-in-law gave us a BIG smile after a dive on Bonaire, saying in his North Carolina drawl, "I didn't pee in my new wetsuit. But, I'm not wearing my new wetsuit today!"

Wearing my wetsuit in the shower won't help me practice.

I don't have any problem whatsoever peeing in the shower - with out without a wetsuit......

(wonder how long the mods will let this go on)

68 days for us, can't wait. Bonaire is such a special place for us. No other place like it.

Sounds like you won't need any practice, just some good wetsuit shampoo for after your dives! Otherwise, you are going to smell like.... P.

Dave,

I don't know what the pig deal is about releasing in your wet suite. I did in the half mil you got from me... So it's not like you haven't used a soiled wet suit already. The trick is stay in the water until you go. Then a few minutes after that to rinse...

I meant big deal, but i guess pig deal also works.

Good monday to all. 5 more days to dive, dive, dive for two weeks. Question - Does anyone know of a hotel or motel in Bonaire that was bought recently by a woman from the Kansas City Missouri area? We would like to look her up next week to say "that a girl" and check out her place for future stays. Have a great week and don't forget to think about me next week in paradise. Am I rubbing it in? YES!!! hehe.

8 days.....

Anyone on the Houston-Bonaire flight September 5th?

I'm on it September 12th...

I am on it Aug 30. Happy Days

7 days......

I can almost feel the saltwater flooding into my suit as I step off the ledge at Oil Slick Leap.

Time to finish up the packing.

We're on the Sep 5 flight. 2A&B thanks to a good deal using miles, though we're flying into Houston in coach

I'll be the guy wearing the dive shirt

(probably the one trying hardest to look sober enough not to be denied boarding after a 5-hour layover of drinking cocktails)

I can't help it........ 5 days!

I feel like some junkie waiting for his next fix.

(Message edited by Dave Goodwin on August 30, 2008)

1 day.....

I count it as two, but share the feeling. What time do you get into Houston?

Greg,

I tend to round down before I leave on the trip and round up while on Bonaire.

We get to Houston around 8-ish....

Now it's one day. Less than 22 hours before I board my flight to Houston. Which reminds me, I had better start packing.

We went to the Melting Pot last night because their online menu said they had a Caribbean fondue special, made with gouda cheese. What could be more appropriate before a trip to Bonaire? Of course when we arrived, we found they were changing out that menu and no longer had the gouda, but at least we tried.

See ya tomorrow night.