Updates:

Hello all, Just some notes and some updates. Just got back from a really nice visit in Kansas: took the Bonana to the ranch, spent a couple of nights, then flew "almost" non-stop to Emporia. Gassed up in El Dorado. Got there in good shape, then Jim and I were joined by Wayne and Anna in a cutsey little bar there on Main street, Emporia, for a couple of libations. While there we witnessed the Emporia Kansas Christmas Parade! I did spend a couple of days with Mom aka G'Ma in Brewster Place, had a couple of nice drives, a couple of nice lunches. As you all know, she isn't doing very well. I spend the nights with Augusta and cousin Jim and had a lot of fun. One really nice dinner was in Cottonwood Falls in an old hotel dining room that's been there from the get-go; cattlemen era, with buffalo on the walls. It was a great evening with Uncle Bill, Aunt Naomi, Wayne/Anna, and Jim and Joyce and Augusta. Another evening I had dinner with my old friend Bob Dyck in the Blind Tiger, that little barbecue/bar-grill in Topeka. I started home Friday am accompanied at the airport by a group who wanted to see the airplane and take off, etc. Made all the way to Tucson with a couple of stops in between for fuel. It's going to be busy around here for a few days. Tonight is the Kansas State football game vs Texas; if we win that, Fiesta Bowl in Tempe! We are all hoping Mark M will join us if he can down from Kansas City! Our first of a couple of Christmas parties starts tonight as well. Wednesday Lynn and I head for Las Vegas NV in the Bonanza for the Nat'l Finals Rodeo time again! Love it up there this time of year! Watching Georgia play Alabama right now: in defference to Kristin, Go Georgia!! Love to all, UR/Dad

Travel Plans!

OK all! Reservations made! Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa, 20 Sept - 23 Sept!! Can't wait! (Here's hoping it's the right place!!) Right, U.K. ?? It's all quiet here at the ranch again; Lynn (and Curly)is on the road to Tucson to work (ugh), and Jeff and Erica (and Seamus) just left for Phoenix. It's been a wonderful several days. All quiet on the Western Front. I'll be staying on for a couple more days, then flying Drought Buster back to the Hot Country. Love to all, Dad/UR

The Great Experimental Camping Expedition..

Well, haven't written for awhile. A brief catch-up:
Calgary was fantastic; had a private concert in the Calgary Petroleum Club by the #1 C-W singer in Canada, lots of dancing and fun; a great trip.
Got back, did some more clean up and ranch work.
Went to Tucson, worked a week, as did Susan.
Susan comes up Thurs night, I work 'til Friday. Goal was to fly up Sat am early; plane didn't start, still wouldn't start after 24 hr battery charge, so gave up and just drove up yesterday. Susan moved cows around, and then got caught in a situation with a poor first time birther (a big British White). Calf wouldn't come, then died, then the cow got all septic, then they had to shoot the cow. What a tragic mess. Had a picture of Susan up to her arm pit in the cow trying to get that calf out...was offered a job by the local cow calving expert. Jeesh. I taught her all she knows...but, poor calf.
Ranch looks like a war zone: piles of straw on the pasture next door, 4 helicopters coming and going dropping huge piles of straw with seed/fertilizer on the burn areas. Gov't paying $550 per acre.
This am early Susan gets up and heads for Tucson. Goes through a flood in Alpine (made the news in Phx), and I headed out to Cortez and then Telluride CO. All to meet up with Paul and Ash and the kids. Well, I FOUND the campground, it's on the Delores River 40 mi south of Telluride. No cell service but there IS Wi-Fi! So, I'm sitting in my truck, in the rain, mom's in Topeka and I'm not drinkin' anything but if I were it would make a good country song for sure. I can see 21 R-V's, all w/in 100'. This will be interesting. Grand-pas will do anything for grand-children...But, it's nice and cool, they just drove up, and life is good!!! Love to all, Dad/UR

Calgary Stampede!

Good Morning all:
First, thanks to Erica for a wonderful evening in Phoenix two nights ago at the Stockade! A fun time, great meal, really cool surroundings. Then to Ashley and Paul's house for desert and more great family time! Always a great time with Noelle, Addie, and Mateo. They grow so fast (but I doubt if Ash and Paul appreciate that right now..) Thank you for our time there.
Susan and I spent the night there, then up to Calgary, where we were met by Cathy and Brian Hallamore, our friends from last fall we met on the Rhine cruise, Plus a country band at the gate playing their hearts out for the Stampede. We got branded there as well by the "welcoming committee". The town seems to go all out, kind of like Tucson does in the winter for the Vaqueros rodeo!
Cathy and Brian's house is beautiful. Beautifully appointed, and they are great hosts. They have a beautiful view looking west into the Canadian Rockies where there is snow all ove the mountain tops. We will borrow their Volvo SUV today and drive up to a ranch for the Juice Plus meeting (tax deduction!!), and then they are having a party tonight here in their home to meet some neighbors and friends. Fun!
It looks like we have a very full week here, whew. Watched some on TV last night, the Chuck Wagon races, and that looks amazing: we'll see it in person Monday night.
Love to all, Dad/UR

Off to California:

First, apologies to Mark; he's been in the dark; had the wrong email written down.
This note, however, will ignore the fire as we are trying hard to do. Tomorrow we will drive to Carlsbad for a week at the Mariposa Hilton Grand Vacat Club for some R and R. Last week and into Tuesday took a lot out of us with this unbelievably huge and fast growing fire. Old Dad/UR got a little air time to boot, going on 2 TV stations in Phx and Tucson. Kind of interesting..
For an update, we did not get "the call", so we assume our cabin has not burned. The fire line is just feet from our front door it seems by a good map of the fire, and our valley appears out of the flames. Hope it's accurate!! We've had friends/acquaintances lose homes, and there's bound to be some extensive smoke damage, but we can deal with that. Cows are separated in two different pastures miles apart, horses in a third, but I'm not going back up now (been up twice) until they let us back into the area. Don't know when that will be, so why stay in Tucson and sit and worry when we can worry in Carlsbad?
Anyone know anything particular to do in San Diego? Looks like it'll be Susan and I in a 2 bed room penthouse for the bulk of it, then Erica will join us for the last 2-3 days or so, or at least that's the plan!
But, we are safe, animals I think are safe, now it's wait and see what the mountains have yet to offer.
Check out www.wunderground.com, search for Alpine, look for "wundermaps" on the right side in small print, scroll down to see "fire" box and check it, uncheck "smoke" or it's hard to see. Keep exploding it and you can see the area where our little ranch is/was..is hopefully!
Love t all, Dad/UR

Utah

Sitting in the airport, heading home, after a really nice few days. Fishing could have been better, but the water is really high after 130% snow pack this year in Utah. It is really pretty around here as the snow lingers on the mountain tops, ice still on some of the lakes.
Home today, where it's 90 degrees.
Love to all, Dad, UR

Park City/Utah Trout trip

Howdy all, greetings from Park City, Utah! Came up here at the invite of a friend from Tucson to stay in his condo with a few of his old med school friends. We flew commercial into Salt Lake, then rented a van (there's 5 of us) and drove up. It snowed here last night and it's still chilly, but it's great to be up here! The high mountains are beautiful and can't wait to get to those fast flowin' rivers!
Staying here until Sunday mid morning, then returning to Tucson to meet with Wayne and Anna Symmonds. They will stay with us from Monday eve (at least that's the plan) until Wed am. Thursday am I plan on taking the horses back up to the ranch, and meeting a guy who has bought one of our heifers to help transport.
In the mean time, here's to big Browns and tasty Brookies! Love to all, UR/Dad

The Semi-Walk-about.

First: Love the info coming out of Grand Cayman!!! Thank You Jeff for playing along, joining in! Sounds like you guys are having a great time. I'm hoping it may whet the appetites for some P.V. time next spring!
my little journey: well, it's beautiful, good to have some down time, and the site was just amazing.
Up at 4:30 in Holbrook, saw the false and true dawn coming from AZ into New Mexico. The colors on the rocks/mesas were beautiful.
Along The Staked Plain in the Panhandle of Texas, imagination runs wild. Stopped in Amarillo for a museum and welcome center, stopped in Borger TX another museum, of course found some guy there traveling from Kansas and we have friends in common. Of course.
Got a map, finally made it to the Adobe Walls site. It's in a beautiful river valley that comes out of no-where. Very desolate and lonely, wind swept, came across a herd of mulies. Perfect.
I'm tired; turning in @ Liberal KS. What a town, nothing good here for sure. Ah, the stories.
Tomorrow up early, see my cousins, murder turkeys, maybe.
Be careful in the ocean; I know you guys down there must be really having a great time, shoring up some lifelong wonderful and fun memories. Thank you Both for letting us all be a part of it. And I mean All of Us, from California to Georgia to Alaska! Wheee!
Love to all, DAD/UR

Texas/Kansas

Now in Casa Grande, finishing up a work week, then heading north and east. End of week always finds me tired out, especially now after the famous Last Week-End. It's been busy with ups and downs, but it's Freedom for a whole Month!
Points of travel include up to Flag, east to Lano Estadilo, down to Amarillo area, up to Canadian (Adobe Walls), north into Kansas.
waiting for an update from the Grand Caymans!
Everyone, have a great week-end! Love, DAD/UR

Puerto Vallarta

Good morning! Here it is another cloudless day early in the morning. We can see egrets flying down along the misty river and the resort is starting to wake up. The sprinklers are going down on the golf course (can see it from our 7th story) and that's where I'm heading this morning!
Forgot to mention our trip in Puerto Vallarta a couple days ago. A fun bus ride on a fairly modern bus down to the local WalMart, then switch to a local bus for the rest of the 20 minute trip into the center. That bus I'm almost certain is fresh out of the jungles of Nicaragua or the like, but you just get in and hang on. Once down town we strolled around, shopped a little bit, and had a little bit to eat on the beach. While sitting at the beach we saw whales, and one large one must have breached clear out of the water because just as I looked up there was this huge splash. Following that even from probably about 1/3 of a mile or so you could clearly see a smaller little whale jumping out of the water, 2 or 3 times, with a smaller splash but clearly having fun. After a stroll along the mercado we caught the old blue school bus, then the better bus, then had dinner along the way home. Getting brave here.
Tomorrow we head home; this is one of more relaxing vacations we've had, for sure. Susan has had a few spa days and I've played the golf. All that's included in our weeks so except for the club rental it's all included. Nice. Home tomorrow via Phoenix but then on to Long Beach for a couple of days the finally Tucson on Sunday.
Love to all, DAD/UR

Puerto Vallarta

Howdy from the Grand Luxxe, P.V. It's occurred to me I haven't described the place..
but first: the golfing is really fun. They only have 15 holes open right now, but even during our stay here they've put in a whole new fairway. When one plays, one just kind of finds 3 additional holes and then play on for full 18. Watch for crocodiles and iguanas. You have to have a golf cart and caddy, and the course is amazing with palm trees, the appropriate water hazards, sand, etc. It seems to be a rather forgiving course, but then it gets hard. But, I've broken 100 twice! With a couple of mulligans of course, but, still, that's News.
About the company; the new name is Gruppo Vidante, and we have the ownership in the Grand Luxxe part, a "Villa". We have 1 bedroom now with a big living room and ktichen, and have access to 2 more separate bedrooms and can sleep a bunch more. All with very nice amenities. From the "bottom" up, there is the Sea Garden, the Mayan Palace, and the Grand Mayan. The "hierarchy" is defined by the size and quality of furnishings, and amenities included. Then there is the Grand Bliss and the Grand Luxxe which are REALLY nice, spacious, with big decks and our own bubbly little deck pool, etc. The amenities that come with this level include 12 rounds of "free" golf, 2 massages per week, and we can make reservations 12 months in advance. We love it and I Am enjoying the golf! We just really look forward to having some family with us, maybe next year(??), to play and enjoy the pools and golf courses and beaches. How fun that would be.
Era left today from her own ownership suite, and we come back to the US next Thursday.
Hope all is well around the country; Love Dad/UR

Puerto Vallarta

Greetings from P.V.: it's been a week it appears since I've written anything! The time sure flies down here it seems. We've had a real nice visit thus far. The weather is beautiful, the beach is a very nice powdery texture and the resort keeps it very clean. We've had a couple of wonderful dinners right on the beach and have eaten in the room a couple of times.
Today I played golf for the 3rd time, and Era and Susan went off on some bus ride to somewhere up the coast to explore. They've been into town together and Susan's been able to get a massage while I've spent some time on the golf course! Three times, in fact, and I'm sure I'm getting ready for the tour! OK, I have some bad days, and a good day, or close to it, but it's fun down here and I've met some fun people.
The pools are relaxing and really nice, and all in all this is a really nice resort.
I think Susan and Era are heading up north close to where Pita (Paul's sister) got married several years ago, in fact.
Other than that, it's just been a real nice relaxing vacation and we are enjoying it a lot.
We've been here a week already, home in another 6 days. Love, Dad/UR

Arrival, Puerto Vallarta

Well, here we are! Easy trip, smooth as silk. Didn't take long either: and I've got to say, this is the most elegant place we've ever stayed. The suite is spacious, the bedroom is large with large flat screens in each room, and the kitchen is ultramodern. We have "free" internet in the room plus poolside. There is a docking station for the iPod. There is an assigned concierge that brings us coffee every morning. I am impressed...the place sleeps 4 and we're here for 2 weeks so Come on Down! yea, right; I know.
Anyway, have some pictures already, and if the Droid will work as well w the internet maybe I can get some off sooner than later.
Anyway, we're alive and well, and looking forward to a relaxing 2 weeks! Love to all, Dad/UR

Panama Canal, day 14.

Just a quickie today: this is our 2nd consecutive day at sea, going to interesting lectures, reading, and, on occasion, eating. (burp). Actually, starting to do fine on that department getting a little more self discipline..
Had some rougher waves yesterday which made the sail interesting, but today it has been nice and smooth. We rounded the tip of Haiti which was clearly visible in the not-so-far distance and saw some fishermen in their boats. No whales/dolphins for some time now.
Right now it is raining; first rain we've had and it is a nice variation! We will probably start to pack this eve, but for sure tomorrow. Home soon; Hope all is well, Love to All, Dad/UR

Panama Canal, Day 13

Tonight is 11 February: a couple of milestones!
Addison is 4! wow. Here's hoping Ash and Paul can give her a hug and a kiss from Grandpa and Grandma Dickson! We have been thinking about her.
We just left seeing Mark! We got to the pier in Cartegena, Columbia, a couple of hours earlier than planned and had the opportunity to see a couple of the local sights around the docks...taxi drivers that would NOT leave you alone, hawkers of various junk stuffs that would follow you everywhere, and then we met up with Mark! Was great to see him, spent several really fun hours together, and saw old town Cartegena up one side and down the other. Visited a couple of museums inside the old walled city, hired a guide for the Inquisition Museum which dated from 1622, all the good stuff. Finally got back to the ship by a little after 11 before the gang-way went up. Now we're under power already, leaving the harbor. Thank You Mark for a really good time in Cartegena!! The weather, incidentally, was wonderful, but was too hot and steamy for this desert rat. Reminded me of Charleston SC in June-August!
Now we have 3 days at sea, heading North by North-East, for Miami. Get there early morning on Tuesday I think, then to airport, then to Houston, then to Tucson. whew.
Love to all, thinking about each and every one of you guys, DAD/UR

The Canal

Today is Thursday, the 10th of February: right Now we are traversing the locks of the Panama Canal! This is a very cool experience. They've given lots of history of the building of the canal, and it's an amazing place. WE've watched the process starting on the forward deck sipping our morning coffee and just watching the tug boats assist, the locks open and close, and the "locomotives" that act as mules to help stabilize the ship as it sits in the locks. It seems they have an active Web camera that continuously broadcasts the activity, so I'm pretty sure we were famous for about 15 seconds..What an experience!
Next we go into the huge man-made lake, Gatun Lake, then it's on to the the Gatun Locks, then a shorter canal voyage to the Caribbean. The whole process takes about 9 hours. We have about 15 miles to go before we get to the Lake itself.
Love to all, I'll be in touch..after this we travel to Columbia, then after an afternoon and night there (leave at midnight), the it's a 3 day sail to Miami. It's going fast!
Love, DAD/UR

Panama Canal Cruise, Day 10 ?

Day 10, I'm pretty sure.
We are just leaving Punctarenas: lots of adventures the last few days.Looks like I've been absent a bit.
On day 7 we were at sea all day, trying our best not to starve; more like trying our best not to miss anything even remotely edible. Susan was still sick, I was at 75%, getting better. Was a good day reading on deck, lounging by the salt water hot tub up front, and went to a couple of real interesting lectures. One guy is traveling with us and talks about the forensic use of DNA going back to the mid-90’s. He’s a professor somewhere specializing in cold cases and he has some great stories.
On day 8 we docked in Nicaragua. Now THAT’s an interesting but poor country. We got off the boat, each was assigned a machete and/or AK-47, and plunged into the jungle. Well, not exactly but close. We had a great tour leaving the coast and went deep into the country. We arrived at Lake Nicaragua, fairly large, and it has about 300 small islets around the shore, very tropical with a big central island of active volcanoes. We took a little boat tour in and around the islets, seeing some primitive homes and some really nice ones. We saw beautiful flowers, birds, and monkeys, and how some of the islet people fished and lived.
Everyone seems to have a close eye on the next election, at least our guide does, and hopes the “Ortegan’s” do not regain power. We didn’t run into any Contra’s or Sandinistas this time, but they are out there I guess. After the boat tour we traveled into a little town called Granada. This is the oldest town established on the western hemisphere, North or South America, and was started exactly Dec 8, 1522. That’s where we had lunch, and then started the long and bumpy bus ride back to the ship. We did have a good guide, lots of great discussions, and scenery is beautiful. After we got back we cleaned up, and came back into the American 21st century. We had signed up for a wine-pairing special dinner that night, and it was even more spectacular that what we’ve had thus far. The Cruise Director joined us, we had about 6 courses, each accompanied by a special wine. What a treat.
Today we got up early, found ourselves in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, and had another fun day. We had to travel 3 hours in a bus on little, narrow, twisting mountain roads, through jungles, deep into the country in the mountains, crossing a couple of mountain ranges. The area is punctuated by several volcanoes, still active. There is a resort "way up there" that has diverted a naturally hot little stream into a series of waterfalls and pools and it is an amazing place. We had our swim suits and in we all went! Beautiful flowers, hot flowing mountain/volcano water, etc. Had a nice lunch up there, just got back, and we are ready to go “out”. What a wonderful couple of days, and can’t wait to show the pictures and hope we get the opportunity in near future. Tomorrow we will wake up entering the Panama Canal, take the day to travel that into the Caribean, then head for Cartegena and Mark! What fun!!! Now it’s off to eat Escargot, Cornish hen/pheasant breast/duck combo. It just seems to go on and on. Tomorrow I diet….Love to all, UR/DAD

Day 4, Mazatlan

Good; yesterday we Did see whale or two spouting, way off in the distance. Was still a cool thing to see. The porpoises were much closer!
For dinner last night we had the usual sumptuous fare, that of a small filet with lobster tail, etc etc. This is a Really Nice ship...!
Sailed into Mazatlan this morning. The dock area is rather dreary actually, and the 6 of us took a taxi to the old town, had a nice lunch, a short walk around some real pretty neighborhoods and an old square dating back to 1841, and then taxi'd it back to the ship. We had lunch where the Richard Burton's and the E. Taylor's and the J Wayne's used to back in the days..time marches on. The little bay is pretty, reminds me of the bay in Rocky Point. We didn't get to go up to the "new" area where the big hotels are.
Came back to the room and found a notice where they had changed the itinerary so that now we get to Cartegena on Fri afternoon, leaving about Mid-night. Wer'e hoping that won't preclude a nice visit with Mark! Wish they'd just skip Aculpuerco (sp??);
Having a nice trip, relaxing, good food and company. Thinking of you all,hope all is well. Love, Dad/UR

Panama Canal Cruse, Day 1

OK : we are still in Tucson, but I'm pretty sure this is the day we leave. horses are trailered, dog outsourced,lights are shut down, we're a little overdue for headin' out of town. My apologies to Foster and Lloyd.
First stop San Diego, and Ken is supposed to meet us if he can get over the giddiness of KU finally winning a home basket ball game...over KSU. At least the fighting U of A Wildcats took care of business vs the LA Basin schools: sorry Kristin but not really too awful sorry.
I'll be in touch; meeting the Chipman's and Montalto's and away we go for a big adventure to Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Columbia, Miami, then home.
ps: Cell phone is suppposed to work via some magic on ship; But it's outrageously expensive so just use email unless emergency. Use the gmail address, I'll get it sooner. The ship is Azamara Journey and I should be able to check emails in case of emerg..I even think you can get a ship phone # if you go to the web site, www.azamaracruises.com. I just don' have it now.
Love to All, Dad/UR. See you soon Mark!

Life at Elk Ridge

Back in Tucson; a real nice but always kind of poignant trip back to Mom. Her memory is getting shorter and shorter, really poor at night. Still, had some nice drives with her, lunch out (at Annie's), and breakfasts together at B.P. Was so fun to have Inger with; thanks for all your help with her. We got to see the Symmonds and spent a couple of nights with Jim and Mary Shepherd. Augusta looks great and Judy came up from Wichita.
That Allegiant Air sure does nickel and dime a person but all in all it's a good way to travel...now we are packing for our biggie: The Canal!
So, stay tuned...Love to all, Dad
ps: Kristin & Doug; I only have 10 addresses I can use on the auto send for the blog. Your dad, Jayhawker that he is, did not make the cut. Feel free to send these along however. Mark : *** See you Soon *** Hey, can we see a real drug lord?