Home Bound?

Well, howdy from the Frozen North. It's a blizzard outside, w storm warning tonight, tomorrow, and all day Thursday with snow to 100%, accumulation a couple of feet I guess.
Thank God Mike Rising is stepping up to the plate: he has agreed to feed and care for the cows since we have no cow care for the winter..
Our plan I think is to travel home Friday but may try it tomorrow. Have a good truck but it'll be a long slow way to Globe..Ugh. Love to all, DAD

Plans

OK; felt entirely too lethargic today so still in TUS.

 Up early in am, then to ranch a day later than planned. Will probably come back to Tucson and be here for the New Year.

Love to all, stay warm, DAD 

Test

OK; this is a test, see if you get notified of a recent blog posted by me. Let me know??

 Hope your Christmas was a great one!! Love DAD/UR

Plans for the Future!

Travel/ranch plans for the Future:
12/24-12/25 : To Scottsdale to spend Christmas Eve/Day with Inger, Ash, Paul,
and Jeff, not to mention the Grand-kids!
12/26/12/27 : Sara and John visit in Tucson!
12/27-12/31 : To Ranch and the cold weather and the (hopefully) little snow and
fireplaces etc.
The New Year : work in Tucson, 2 weeks, the week of the 3rd and the 17th.
The next adventure trip will be to Kansas, vist my mom, see some cousins. Will
either drive or take the Bonanza, the week of the 22nd.

We leave for a couple of weeks for San Diego and the Cruise ship Azamara Line for Fort Lauderdale via the Panama Canal!
These are the immediate plans, more to come later.

NFR travel

Once again, the annual trip to the NFR in Las Vegas! Always a fun time, this time w Judy and Nick Montalto. This time we are staying at the HGVC on the top of the strip, so we are a bit away from the main casinos. We had a nice flight up in Droughtbuster and brought a friend/tennis player/ex navy pilot Ken McGlamery with us. He's visiting another friend up here so we won't see him.
We've done the HGVC update and done the Sands Convent center cowboy Christmas, and had a nice dinner last night w Charros friend and good guy Don Reeves. He's an ex roper of all things, a good guy. Tonight we head down to Cesear's for a dinner somewhere, then off to see a show of dubious reputation....Tomorrow night we are going to see Boccelli in concert at the MGM Grand. Always a fun time, but haven't seemed to do much Western stuff yet this time! Bummer. The rodeo awaits! Love to all, DAD

UpComing Stuff

Now, I'll post some travel info for anyone interested..
Today in Tucson, and I'm going to sight in the ol' Muzzleloader for a deer hunt down by Ft Huachuca. But before then,
Pot luck supper tonight;
Get ready for Vegas and the Nat'l Finals Rodeo, and hunting trip Tues/Wed.
Wednesday night get to go to Basket ball game w Judy Flynn!
Thursday am early flight w Bonanza to Las Vegas. Henderson, actually, then the free shuttle into the strip. We will stay at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club at the top of the strip this time. It's Cowboy Christmas in Vegas, w the Montalto's and Don and Ginny Reeves. Reeves is a Charros rider and an ex roper; even he made it to the NFR in his day.
Fly back Sunday am, Susan does a wellness presentation at a friend's house, we both maight get time to visit the neighbors who are having an open house, and then I leave for the deer camp. I plan to be back Thursday pm at the latest since we are having our own open house for a couple of hours..then it's the week-end and I go back to work the week of the 22nd. And that's it..we'll see how much actually works out..

Ranch stuff/happenings:

Just got back down from Elk Ridge Saturday night. Went up Wed am early, had a nice early lunch @ La Paloma Mexican restaurant in Solomon (outside Safford), and made it all up ok w Autie. Was cold when we got there but the rest of the week was beautiful and nice temps.
Did the usual cow repair/fence eval stuff. Didn't get any more racoons so maybe we are free for a while. Barn Cat will like that part of the equation. More food.
Had the Chipman's over for dinner one night, a delicious antelope roast!! And we visited Derrick's one night for supper as well.
We went out and found a beautiful Christmas tree, cut it down, lugged it into the pick up, and then took it back to the barn. We went w the Derricks' and they bought one too. We hauled it up w the block and tackle, trimmed it some, and we hauled it down to Tucson Sat late afternoon. It's real pretty, maybe the best we've had for several years! And now, no kids to come play around it!! Oh well, life goes on.
++ Our next visit up will be the 26th of December for a week, then we come home for a New Year's Party here in Tucson +++. We Love Visitors! See travel plans as well...
Love, Dad

Visit to the Ranch:

OK, forgot about this for a while; taking a little break since return from the trip I guess:
Anyway, this is the 2nd visit to the ranch to check on the cattle, run the horses a bit, and tend to the barn. Last visit w Rich Flynn got to sneak over to Silver Creek a bit for a good day of fishing! Caught some nice fish but the Droid X got over-exposed to the moisture over there I guess and it went totally dead. After some discussion, I got a new one. That's all.
Came up here again d-r-i-v-i-n-g, my nemesis, to bring up the Subaru, my least partial car. Came up this time for some general R & R, and to bring the horses down so I exchanged the Subaru for the diesel and we'll take off tomorrow am early, providing I can capture the horses..
Did some more racoon control: that makes 5 in the last few weeks. No wonder Barn Cat has been so agitated; more than usual, that is.
It's cold finally; low 20's in the am, but up to low 50's during the day. Yesterday had the first snow flurries of the season, but didn't stick.
Tomorrow is Ash' and Paul's wedding anniversary: Congrats to them! Also, Susan turns 54.
So, it's me and Autie, and home we go tomorrow. Have a Christmas Tree permit, and the next time we're up will be around the 1st of Dec, just after Thanksgiving week-end.
Love to all, Come Visit! Dad

Last Day on the Hühnsruck..

Well, it had to happen; this is our last night in Germany. We had a wonderful day again here traveling with Gerlinde and visiting old friends.
First we had a long breakfast, talking, laughing, eating, planning. The first thing we did was go to Kaefer´s (aka Three Sisters)which was and still is very nice store in Sohren. When our family was here before it was open, still is, and still operated by one of the children who was only 22 when we were here but is still going strong. She produced a book that she started keeping for returning Americans who were stationed @ Hahn and of course I wrote a few lines, names, dates, etc. Bought the usual crystal and doodads at "cheap" prices and had a good time there. Was nice to see a familiar sight after touring Hahn yesterday w Peter Shittko and Gerlinde and finding Hahn to be quite a different place! My old hospital is gone and the sight now we believe is a parking lot! We also did a dry run to return the rental car, catch a bus to Frankfurt, and go from there. No one wants to leave.
We then went to the church and the gravesite. I wanted to see where Carsten rests. Was very poignant for me, enough said.
We then traveled down to Burg Eltz! I took the family down there 30 years ago and we had a wonderful time. I ate yet another schintzel, a Bitburger Pils, then walked 1 mile to the castle. Is very cool and I know Susan enjoyed it too. Gerlinde is quite a walker.
We then visited Helmut Fuchs, another old team-mate. He heard I was around and we recognized each other immediately. Yet another very nice reunion.
My German friends have been so wonderful to Susan and I, very warm and gracious. The day yesterday w Peter was so much fun, and Gerlinde´s continual presence is priceless. I have fears we will not see her again; she will have to form a new life for herself and it probably will not include travel back to the US, especially to Arizona. I don´t know if or when we can come back here. Maybe we can meet somewhere in the future. Peter and Jorg promise to come to the States in the near future and stay with us some, but I am sad for and about Gerlinde. She is a very strong woman, though, and I know she will do fine where-ever life will take her.
This has been a very special trip with many very special friends and experiences. I will miss these wonderful people and this wonderful place for a long long time.
Tomorrow we catch the bus, catch the plane, and hopefully to end up in Tucson.
Love, DAD

To-From Basel;

I have no idea what day of the trip this is: all I know is that we just yesterday said our good-byes to new friends, promises to try to keep in touch, visits, etc.. got the taxi to the Bahnhof, took the train up to Mannheim, met Margit Wingerter, got the rental car, and followed her to her home in Deidesheim. Jorg met us. What a time we had with them in their home! We had so many fun rememberences, read the scrap book entrees w newspaper clippings and photos (all in the local Kirchberg paper about the new tennis team..) and had a wonderful evening. Got up kind of late because all we,ve done lately it seems is drink more wine, and had a fun breakfast. Jorg and I walked about 200 yds to the local bakery, bought some fresh bread stuffs and vegetables, and walked back to their house. They have such a healthy lifestyle over here which is good because they are truly taxed to death!! Unbelievable what taxes they have to pay!
Anyway, what fun it was to see them again and have such a good time. We then headed up to Kirchberg and that is where we are now.
Kind of a tearful reunion w Gerlinde. We just hugged, and I told her in German how sorry I am that I am too late, and we shared some tears then and there. She is a really fun and great lady. We have become settled, had some coffee and torte, then went for a long walk. We went to Carsten and Gerlinde´s first house by the tennis courts, and then went to the house where Carsten´s mother Frau Koppke lives. She is 92 and her mind is sharp as ever. She remembers me well, remembers Inger and Ashlez and Erica, and we talked about the old days IN DETAIL! We remembers my 2 matches w Jorg, the one that I won and the one I lost, and we had a great time. For the life of me I do not know where my German speech is coming from, but we talked quite a while with Gerlinde as a helper now and then. She enjoyed meeting Susan, and it was quite an experience. She is a gracious elderlz lady, has a sharp memory about lots of things over the last 60 years or so, and she is quite interesting. A world traveler for sure.
Walked back to Gerlinde´s house, she cooked up a fantastic dinner, more wine, and now I´m struggling to type some blog stuff on an European computerö the keyboard is quite different in several respects..
But, now, to bed. Tomorrow another team mate from the olden days comes and we will tour the area. There is a completely new autobahn that connects the old Flugplatz Hahn with the Rhine autobahn, and it by-passes Simmern, Kirchberg, and even Beuchenbeuren. There are now wind turbines all over the landscape of the old Huhnsruck and of course I do not like it one bit. And there you go. I should have returned many years ago. love to all, DAD

Day Whatever; Strasbourg!

Well, first, to complete yesterday's story;
I was sitting just off the boat with some new friends enjoying a HefeWeizen, when Susan comes up and taps me on the shoulder (she was still on the boat); she said she had a surprise for me; I looked up and lo and behold there was Margit and Jorg Wengerter!! My kids, you probably remember, you have heard about him all your lives. He was my main doubles partner in Germany from '77-'80, and we did quite well together. He is now a Judge, of all things, and still does not speak English well. His wife Margit, a really fun gal, speaks excellent English since she was raised in South Africa. Anyway, what an incredible reunion. It was so unbelievably fun to see them again. They made the trip in the hopes of meeting the boat before it sailed since his doctor's appt ended sooner than expected, and so they came on down to the pier. We only had about 1/2 hour together, but what a time. We are to meet them again in a couple of days to spend the night and have more time to reminesce. He is a great guy and was a great partner.
After we had to leave them and board the boat, we traveled to Strasbourg. It is another incredible European town, going back and forth from German to French to back to French. The Cathedral is amazing, and the clock inside still works from the year 1450 or so. We spent the day in Strasbourg, had a boat tour in the canals (it is the "Venice" of France. The problem for me was, now we were expected to speak FRENCH. I don't like that language, no one spoke either English very well or let alone German, and so it goes. Susan was not really prepared so she wasn't that helpful...still, she managed to buy a pretty table cloth; I bought the Eclair Chocolat for breakfast tomorrow. Our friends will be jealous. Maybe; they aren't exactly starving us on the boat, and the wine flows freely. The nice German white wines, that is. We walked and walked along the little cobblestone streets, by the canals, and window shopped. It is expensive here and the value for the $$ that would be spent is not good. Unfortunately, there are one-of-a-kind items here that are quality made and it's tough to let some go bye. But we did...
Tonight we already had a disembarcation briefing. It is sad; we've made some great friends and we will miss their fellowship. Tomorrow though is yet another day, to Colmar (a medieval French town), and another one in the afternoon. Tomorrow night is the Captain's farewell dinner. Ugh. It will very hard to leave. BUT, then we get on the train, head for Mannheim to once again see and stay with the Wengerters', then on to Kirchberg and stay w Gerlinde Koppke. We will also see Peter Shittko and spend a day with him in the Huhnsruck. Still so much to look forward to but we've found a niche of friendship that has just seemed to mesh.
Love to all, DAD

My goodness, Day 11 already! In Speyer

Well, I can't believe it's been so long since I've been able to post something. The coverage is spotty for sure, and so much has happened, and it's all been such a wonderful trip.
We sailed down the Mosell and stopped at 2 old stomping grounds, Bernkastel-Kues and Traben-Trabach. We did more wine probes, wonderful and fun-filled dinners, and tours. I can't remember drinking more German white Reisling wines that I have these past few days and maybe that's part of why I haven't posted, not sure. But, we have lots and lots of pictures to share.
I've had chess games on top of the boat, great discussions with new friends, such a fun trip (have I said that?)
Anyway, yesterday was Rudesheim (on the way we ran the gauntlet down the Rhine; about 12 castles with running commentaries and wine of course en route), and did another tour of the town of course. Last night's dinner was a really fun time with a band, lots of people out for the dinner, and it was in a restaurant in the town itself. Got back about 10 and then stayed on top of the boat sharing another bottle of wine with friends. We need to be getting to bed earlier I think.
Tonight we dine on board, then have a KriskindleMarkt on board as well en route to Strasbourg. Strasbourg is the "Venice" of France and I've been there before. Promises to be another great day for sure; we continue to have great weather without rain to dampen our journey.
No one's missed any more boat deadlines, but the subject still comes up once in a while..
The antiquity of these places boggles the mind. Speyer dates from about 2000 years ago, first a German tribe settlement, then Roman, then German tribe again, then the Franks, then the Holy Roman Empire property, then this and then that and so it goes. A common thread is that everthing gets destroyed about every 300-400 years or so, then re-built. The cathedral here, though, was built in the 800's and stayed pretty consistent. It's Romanesque (as opposed to Baroque) and it shows. It was Here in This cathedral that Martin Luther started his move to reforming the Catholic Church, which, of course, resulted in the great schism. Anyway, it's an exciting place to be and to be able to sit in these places and listen to the stories. We've had great guides as well.
We've seen ancient city walls, cathedrals, castles, parts of castles, and so on.
Soon we will leave this ship and our new friends, and head up to see some old and dear ones. Hope all is well in Arizona! Go Cat's! Love DAD

Day 6, maybe: To Trier!

Ah, cruising down the beautiful Mosel River valley: spent a great day in Cochem yesterday, with a bus excursion to Eideger. The castle at Cochem is very cool, neat little town, and it's wonderful to be here again. On the way back to the bus we stopped into a little mustard mill, very old, and bought some German Senft. Goes great with Bratwurst! (more about this later...)
The side trip to Eideger was very interesting as well. We took a bus to the small village about 20" away, were met by the Burgermeister, he gave a little talk of welcome, then we trooped in a procession to an ancient little church and we had a little concert! He was in medieval attire, had the "keys", and it was really fun. We also had an official wein probe at a local winery, and the wines we sampled were soooo good. So, we bought 2 boxes; one for Gerlinde when we see her, and one we hope to get home somehow.
When we got back to the barge, Susan volunteered to go help another couple buy some mustard at the mill that was close by, as above. Of course by the time they got back they had missed the boat and we had left the dock. Well, timing is crucial on the Mosell because of the locks, and so we had to get going. After a conversation and some pleading with a French captain on another barge that was tied up a bit upstream, he agreed to let the threesome board that vessel, cross to ours as we tied up alongside. After the proper maneuvering the miscreants got boarded much to the amusement to our fellow passengers. Susan had the fortitude to apologize to the Captain, and the Cruise director; they were very gracious and no harm done "this time". The incident served as pretty funny conversation last evening and this am though.
I see we have a travel advisory for Americans in Europe for possible terrorist attacks. I really feel we are fine here in the Huhnsruck, but as we travel down toward the bigger cities we'll just have to see. My erstwhile friends back in Tucson it seems have already divided up the pick-up, sold the plane, and are working on selling the ranch. No one seems to want the midget cows or my golf clubs. Haven't mentioned Auti yet either come to think of it.
Today we did walk into Trier; did you know it is the oldest city in Germany? Did you know the cathedral there dates from the 3rd century? Did you know they can make the best chocolate sundae there in the world? OK, maybe you don't know all that, but they can. Had another wonderful and informative lecture/tour, we're all back on the barge : where's Susan? Oh well, sure she's around here someplace!
Tonight we sail for Luxembourg, see the American cemetery and pay homage to General Patton, then turn around, head north, and stop at Berkastel-Kues. I hear we get to spend some time in Traben-Trabach as well. That's great news for me since that's one of my old haunts for wein-probes in the olden days.
Had a nice little break in the day and discussed the world's islamic problems w a couple of Canadians and a guy from Holland. The Canadians are pretty much in agreement w the American view, the Holland guy kind of said how tolerant they are in Holland and then wrung his hands a lot; too bad about the writer and the film director who were murdered for insulting their mohammed. Was a fun discussion.
Going to have another wine, then more food, then take a nap...more tomorrow I bet.Love DAD

Day 4 or so; Koblenz.

Well, we certainly had fun in Koln, and the trip up to the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine was very cool; lots of barge traffic, some missing us by about 10' or so. We passed by Remagen about 4 am, which was too bad because while I was up, too dark to see anything..this was the site of the "The Bridge Too Far" fame of WW II.
Turned the corner at the Moselle, lots of very interesting things here, for sure.
Statue of Otto von Bismark to commemmorate the reunification of Germany about 1880 or so.
The original church in which Charlemagne divided up the Holy Roman Empire and gave 1/3 to each of sons, hence starting the mechanism for centuries of warfare! It is here @ Koblenz, on the border of the outpost of the Roman Empire. Very cool; We had a great walking tour of Koblenz, and then after lunch explored Marksburg Castle. It is one of only two that have never been destroyed by either the French or WW II; great tour. There is of course the mandatory dungeoun/torture chamber, but also an excellent collection of original armor, broad swords, cross bows, etc. Incredible how the people lived in the middle ages, for sure.
So far we've had good weather and the food is excellent. We haven't even had to dip into our emergency chocolate stores that we bought in Koln @ the factory!
We've had regional wines paired w the dinners, some entertainment from local people, and some really good guides and talks about the area.
We are meeting some very interesting people and compare travel stories, family stories, etc. Last night, maybe I discussed it, but a couple escaped the barge with me (Susan went to bed early) and we went out for a couple of biers in a little bier stube. It's so fun to hear German and even speak it again. I've been studying my Rosetta Stone on the computer and it's working!
Tomorrow we head for Cochem; we get to meet the mayor and he gives a little welcome speech and then we go to some vintners for some wine testing and then to the local village streets for the WeinFest; the wine harvest is in full swing around the Mosel and Rhine Valleys and it is indeed a good time to be here! Now it's off for another supper, a little white wine of the Moselle Valley, and then I'm getting off the boat again for some more local experiences..The boat doesn't sail again until a little after midnight and I've made every deadline so far. All three of them! Hope all is well in Arizona!

Barge Trip, to Koln

Well, we Did see Amsterdam, walked around after the library/internet trip, and quite a time of it. Amsterdam, in the old section, is like Las Vegas on Steroids. Coffee houses with cannibis, ladies of the night in their glass covered cubicles right on the street, intersposed with other shops as well. Very interesting...after that we came back to the ship, ate a very nice dinner, and then sacked out. The next morning, which was yesterday the 30th, we did the tour. Of course we did the Rjicksmuseum, which was excellent with a very knowledgeable and animated tour guide, and greatly enjoyed learning more about Rembrandt, Vermeer, and others with the Dutch masters. Those paintings are beautiful and 600 years old or so. Just didn't have enought time there! We were hustled out to join up with a canal tour. After another hour, we bussed back to the barge, then by 1 or so headed upstream.
We meet lots of river traffic, going and coming, some missing us by about 3 feet or so! I love seeing the German flags flying and even the bridges are very interesting and colorful
The meals are excellent thus far, and we docked at Cologne at about 1 today, the first of October.
I love Germany. We left the boat ahead of the others, started walking with a good map, and headed for the Cathedral @ Koln. Allegedly the relics of the Magi are stored here, and the cathedral is indeed wonderful. We then just walked down one of the main shopping streets, window shopped around, and stopped into a local pub for a beer or two. Delicious!
In contrast to Amsterdam, where one either heard Dutch or English, here there is all German. Thanks to the Rosetta Stone German review course I'm doing rather well actually, and am getting by just fine. We stopped in a store that specializes in hand made wooden Christmas items and found some little candles for our pyramid as well. Of course people know I'm not German but they tolerate my German well so far and have not foisted English off on me. Susan found a hardware store, her specialty, and enjoyed the handmade tools and craftsmanship. I love it, getting back off the main steets, the cobblestones, the church bells ringing on the hour, the cleanliness, the majesty of the spires of the cathedral, all of it. Gives one much food for thought. This cathedral was first built in the late 800's, finally done in the late 1400's. The bones/relics of the Magi brought here from Milan in 1270 A.D. or so...
It is so much fun to be back in Germany. We are meeting a lot of interesting people from all over (mostly Canada..) and are enjoying the trip. Jet lag is improving but still messing me up. Still, found time to buy some chocolate at the chocolate factory next door!
Hope all is well in Arizone, etc. We sail tonight about 11:30 for Koblenz I think, then down the Moselle!
Love Dad/UR

Day # 2 : Amsterdam!

Howdy Howdy from Amsterdam! After a shaky start, things are looking up! Especially considering we did not get our cruise documents until 8 hours before we left home, and considering we had no transportation reserved from Schiphol to the cruise dock. We just found the grumpy lady with the sign and bummed a ride on the same bus. So, here we are! Short walk from the dock over the bridge to the new library, and now through the train station and into the city.
Flight over was great; still fly in steerage but it was a new plane and, importantly, was only just a little less than half full! Had room, access to bathrooms (important..), and was just a nice flight. Didn't sleep though so am flying (still) high on some Provigil. Right NOW in the Amsterdam public library, which is really cool, and tons of free computers w online access!
The boat is well appointed, but Susan is by far the youngest person on the boat, maybe by about half. I might be the 2nd. I'm hoping no one dies.
This afternoon (it's only 1130 here now) and we're going to do a little Amsterdam shopping on our own. We just need to be back on the boat by 6 pm, and I think that's possible unless I fall asleep somewhere.
Love to all, DAD

Rhine/Mosel Barge Trip Prelim!

Packing, packing, making lists, losing lists, packing.
EJ: glad you know gmail is google.
Lv TUS Tues AM to HOU, then Amsterdam 0830.
To river boat, then do stuff on boat/villages/tours.
To Speyer, get met by Wingerters', party for the day, then find boat.
To Basel Switzerland, then train to Mannheim, spend day/night w Wingerters', then drive to Huhnsruck. Spend 3 days/nghts with Gerlinde.
Fri am to Frankfurt, drop off car, catch plane to HOU/LAX/TUS.
Drive down to ranch for day and half of Charros.
Doug comes into town for conference @ D-M. Hope to play some golf, visit; everyone welcome to come visit too!
Then it's late October already! Next stop, Amsterdam! Hope there's wi-fi!
Love DAD

The Return!

Home now, finally.
The saga started in Ft Sumner at 7:30, wanting to go to Belen (on the way) for fuel. Weather wouldn't allow that, so flew up to Santa Rosa (on I-40). Taxing out, blew the nose tire...Nothing is at Santa Rosa, only a coin operated fuel pump.
Short story: inflated tire by Ortega's truck wrecker who came out, promptly deflated, and there I was with antelope in the plane. There is NOTHING in Santa Rosa; no car rental, no bus stop, no nothing, and the open (Sunday) auto mechanic shops on the interstate refused to touch it. The airport manager came out with two kids, hung on the tail, elevated the front wheel, and we took it off together. Supported the plane with a big rock, took the wheel to his house where he had a rather complete shop, dismantled the wheel, found the leak in the inner tube. Albuquerque Beech dealer would bring new one MONDAY and it would cost about 900 bucks due to travel time, etc...So we went to NAPA, bought a 4 dollar repair kit, and patched it. Blew it up, it held, so I non-stopped it to TUS and held my breath a little bit on landing...did Great. In fact, I think it did so well I would just leave it. Harlie says "No Way", so I get a new inner tube. All's Well that ends well, and the Antelope is in the freezer! I'm done with this ranch week, but was a good one. Now, back at work; for my last week. Love, UR/DAD

Very nice couple of days w Sara and John; today is cloudy, light rain. Been a nice break and it's only Monday! Last night was a fun camp fire @ Atlas's for his surprise birthday party. A beautiful night but the early morning hours ruined by all these bull elk in the area getting their dander up...
On Sat when I came up, it was the day after our 16 th Wedding anniversary. Wow, how time flies! I spent the evening w some friends with whom we had shared our anniversary in Greece last year! I think Susan was with Gerry Hogan, one of our neighbors.
Tonight we are going out to dinner in Alpine to the new(er) place, Brushy Valley. Ashley has been there with me once; a nice little place. Tomorrow it's up early for the guide trip Tues and Wednesday, and the Fulfer's come up tomorrow night for one night (I think) en route to their Mule Clinic. What a fun place, but I think we wore Sara and John out.

Sunday the 5th of Sept.

Greetings to all, from the ranch: have had a little trouble signing in to write stuff so not much new here.
Susan arrived Fri after leaving the house about 5 am; I went to work at Casa Grande, back home to Tucson to watch the game at TCC with a bunch of friends, then flew up Sat am early.
We all met up at the airport with Chipmans' and headed for Taylor AZ for the "Sweet Corn Festival"...now that was interesting..Back home, piddled a bit fixing some stuff at the Headquarters bldg, then off to Derricks' for drinks.
Sara and John came up for dinner, and a friend of mine Tom Robertson came over from the X-Diamond for dinner as well (yum, Ribs on the Barbie, frest Sweet Corn (see above..) and overall delicious meal. Lots of social activities planned with friends up here, then Tuesday and Wednesday I have to WORK! Taking a guy fishing 2 days in a row, using float-tube and kayak. A tough job, someone has to do it.
Beth and Bob Fulfer coming up Tues night, spend the night, then they head for Alpine for a Mule Clinic. Friday am early I fly over to Fort Sumner N.M. to hunt antelope and maybe dove for a day or two, then home to D68 Sunday AM, then back to TUS, then to work Monday at the real (but TEMPORARY) job.
And, did I say, we seem to be getting a donkey? that's another story.
K.I.T., come see us!! Love Dad

Sailing in San Diego Bay

Greetings! Back in Tucson after a really fun trip to San Diego. Only went 3 days, and it is indeed a long, boring, hot, drive. We did drive because by Bonanza the flight home would have been so hot, better off on the ground.
Up early on Friday, stayed at the Navy Lodge at the Amphibious Base Friday and Saturday night. Had dinner with the Tom and Cindy Robertson and their old Air Force friends Saturday night, and had a great sailing day with them on a 45' sail boat all day Saturday.
Kristin was in the area and made a the effort to meet up with us for a couple of drinks at the Coronado Yacht Club where we also had dinner. Was great to see her!! That was all in Friday!
Saturday night we had another great dinner and we were joined by Uncle Ken and Aunt Susan! In bed way too late, but up the next morning and took off. UK and AS met us in our room on the base, and then we ate an excellent brunch at Cafe 1134 on Coronado Island, tehn drove home across the great desert. Now, back in hot Tucson.
Pics will be uploaded on Snapfish soon....I hope.. Love DAD, UR

Oregon, Last Note

At home, good trip. Left Oregon Thursday am, arrived Phoenix Gateway (a nice airport btw), taxi/limo to car, to Sara's to pick up Auti, then drove through serious monsoon storms to Ranch. Was great to be "home".
The Nutrioso bar-b-que was really fun as always, was almost rained out.
Left the Bonanza up in D68 due to low ceilings/rain this am, drove back to TUS instead. Back safe and sound, getting ready for work.

Next Trip: Have accepted friend's invite to go sailing for a day in San Diego on the bay! Will be a quick over and back, leaving Friday, home Sunday. Depends whether or not we can get a room on the Navy Base.

Oregon Travel

Today another good day of sight-seeing; up a little late, but good breakfast @ the Shiloh Inn, then hit the road to tour:
a) the Tillamook Cheese Factory; very interesting and tasty exhibit!
b) the Blue Heron Cheese Factory, a French cheese factory.
Both of them use all the dairy products from the Tillamook Valley and watershed and they are great. Early pioneers tried to grow crops when the forests were cleared but too much rain. Cattle were perfect and they morphed into the dairy business and never looked back.
We then continued south and hugged the coast line, visiting a lighthouse and ended up in Newport, a neat little seaside village and bay wharf. Dungeness crab and fish stew: Yum.

Oregon Travel

What a beautiful place this area is!! We traveled to Astoria yesterday along the Columbia River, following Lewis and Clark trail. Once in Astoria it was plain to see there was lots to do, so we just found a really quaint B and B, walked around the little town (established 1811, named after John Jacob Astor) and had a nice little dinner. We got up this am, had breakfast with the owner and the other guests which was really fun, and then we toured the town (you know the drill; Maritime Museum, old Queen Anne style house museum, and then my Mecca, Fort Clatsop). I just love the Lewis and Clark story and to see where they spent the winter was so cool.
We didn't leave there until about 3 but drove all the way down to Tillamook. What a beautiful drive, we took lots of pics, and finally found a motel and had a dinner. I am engorging myself on Seafood; RazorBack Clams, Fish and Chips, Steamer Clams, etc. We were able to get a LITTLE exercise by a 2 mile hike along (you guessed it) another Lewis and Clark path.
Now we are in Tillamook and plan to tour a cheese factory tomorrow and then head further south. It's only Monday (I think..).

Oregon Travel

OK; we've just returned to the hotel in Portland after a nice day and evening in Portland!
This morning Susan, Era Cherry, Greg Cherry, and his lady friend Myrna (from Atlanta) all went down town and had a nice breakfast (I had Lox and Bagel on Cream Cheese,etc)..yum! Then we went to the Saturday Open Market (kind of a glorified 4th Ave thing in Tucson...) and I really didn't see too much there of interest. Then, however, we went across the street to attend the Annual Beer Fest here in Portland. This event was really fun, quite interesting. People from all over the US and Europe attended, and you could sample lots and lots of different beers. Was a fun time!
We then headed back to the hotel, rested a bit, got cleaned up, then headed over to Karen and Brian's place for the wedding. Had to admit, had my doubts after last night's "rehearsal", but it turned out real nice. The back yard setting w the small pond and fountain, the stream, and lighting all made for a beautiful setting. Brian looked very handsome in his vest and nice outfit, and Karen was beautiful. It was presided over by John ..., a pastor from Grant's Pass who knows the family, and the ceremony was very nice. We wish them all the best. Susan and I just said "good-night" to Gregg and Myrna, and then Era . We will see Era here @ breakfast and then I guess we will make a spot visit back to Karen and Brian's before we go on our way. Don't have any idea how to put some pics up because Inger didn't show me how....Love to all, DAD

First day of "the Blog"

This is the first day of this dinosaur's experiment w "the Blog". Inger is helping with this endeavor. We will see if it is interesting to anyone trying to find me or see what is new in our family!