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.