Thirty Seven and Counting

Well as of today WB and I have been married thirty seven years. And as usual I remembered it was our anniversary. WB usually remembers when she wakes up or the night before, but not this year. She was printing pictures of Biscuit and watching Gilmore girls last night and not a word about our up coming anniversary. So this morning while she was in the shower I put the card with the ear rings on her hair dryer. When she went to dry her hair it hit her. She had forgotten. It is kind of fun since I have always remembered. But this is the first year that I think WB really forgot. But I am sure she will take me out to dinner tonight.

My friend and her eight year old daughter make the ear rings. There little craft company is Bumble Beads. I bought them at a craft fair a couple of weeks ago. She makes nice stuff just Google her business name and it should find her Web Site.

Adverbs and such...

Did I ever tell you that I had to pass this essay exam thing to graduate from college. Well writing has never been my thing. And at Iowa State you had to write a 500 word essay in on of those little blue books with no more than 5 errors. Well I started as soon as I could the first Quarter of my Jr year and finished the last Quarter of my two years as senior. I took every stupid study class for writing Iowa State had, but I made it finally. Needless to say writing is not my thing. WB let's me know the errors I have made in the Blog but nothing to big. Just spelling and dangling this or that. I think I was around forty when I figured out what, too, really meant. I just used it where ever, spelling was correct not big deal.

But I did it this year I wrote the Christmas letter. That's me holding the result. Not bad uh. It took me a couple of edits, Mrs H one edit and WB around four or five. The last on being just before printing so it was on the computer. WB loves Word and computers a couple of minutes into the final edit. There was the I hit something and it's formatted all wrong. I had told WB miss it up and you have to fix it. Oh well a couple of clicks here and there and things were OK. Thank God I can do a few things.

So if you struggle figuring out what I am saying. Just deal with it.

I think Christmas is finally figured out. Party at Mr and Mrs H on Sat. Get to stay over night. Fun with Biscuit on Sat, stocking shopping, and Party at Mr H's parents house on Christmas eve. Than home.

Our Christmas with Biscuit and Mr and Mrs H the next week on New Years eve day or New Years day just need to hear from Mrs H. Could stay overnight and celebrate New Years eve with two (too) old folks. I pointed out to WB that any last minute gifts could be bought at the after Christmas sales.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. And if things work out I may do the letter again next year.

Cleaning Pays Off

The middle of the month is when I pay the bills. Well today I while balancing the checkbook I decided I should clean out the envelope I keep the ATM receipts. After slowing going through the thick envelope, reviewing old gift receipts from Christmas's past. It happen a $100 bill wow. I wonder how long that had been hiding in there. Now what to do with it. Save it. Buy that Epson printer I have looking at. I will have to think very carefully. Nice touch to the day off to make nice vacuum lines.

The Year of Socks

The Christmas tree is up and complete. I put on about 30 ornaments this year. A record for me usually WB does all the decorating. I finished putting all the decoration boxes back out in the garage. The garage is getting very full and not in a very neat and orderly.

I did write the Christmas letter this year.

This year just about everyone asked for socks. WB did not but she wanted new red pots and pans from Walmart. They are just waiting to be wrapped and put under the tree. Everyone else wanted socks, son-in-law, oldest daughter, and me. So there are now lots of socks under the tree. With the youngest in Asia she just wanted money which she got just before she departed at the end of November.

I finally backed up all my photos on my early Christmas present and external hard drive. Which I bought on sale the day after Turkey Day. I just have an empty wrapped box under the tree. I thought this will be a quick 10 minute back up. Well I guess I had a few more photos than I had imagined. Photo Shop kept asking me to back them up every time I opened the program. So, today I did, 1 hour and 30 minutes later all the photos were backed up on my new 250 gig external drive. All Two thousand and four hundred and forty one photos. Not sure but I would bet about 50% are of Biscuit.

Not sure how many retailers are doing this Christmas but I will say Apple should have a good year. I wandered in the local Apple store in the mall two weeks ago and was looking at a new Mac computer when the sales guy came over. We talked and I had quite a few questions so he suggested I use there new program where I could make an appointment on line for a future date with the stores Mac specialist. So I did. Yesterday was my appointment. Off to the mall after my workout at the Gym. Memory stick in hand with those PC files, photos and a few other files for fun. The guy's name was Chris. Very helpful, that new Mac read all those PC files and could make them open. After about an hour I have to say my next machine will be a Mac. They do seem to be easier to use and more intuitive. Just a few odd things like on a PC the little red X is in the upper right on a Mac it is on the upper Left and it's a little Red circle. But he claims only four known virus out there on the net to worry about. But they are a little pricey. But was that store busy, i-pods were flying off the shelf. But I did notice a couple of unhappy i-pod folks back trying to solve problems. But they are ready to sell each sales guy has his little ear phone and wireless reader just waiting for your Credit Card. But they were very helpful. Best Buy now sells Mac and the guy in the local store was also very up beat about the Mac. Oh well next year. Really hoping WB will buy me an i-pod.

That's all for now.

Christmas

Every year we struggle with doing the annual Christmas (brag) letter. Well this I am going to do it for the first time. That should be interesting. It will be fun to see how many edits WB decides are needed.
I also have decided I need to post on my blog on a more regular basis. I noticed I have not put anything on it since October. I am using Google's new beta version on e-blogger they said it was improved but I do not see any difference yet. But I can restrict who sees it which would make WB happy.

This should be a less expensive Christmas than last. The youngest is in Cambodia, and has her Christmas checks deposited. I put in for socks, and to have my external hard drive, box and National Geographic book wrapped and put under the tree. WB wants new pots and pans from Walmart. Oldest daughter wants socks. And Biscuit I am sure will get a large amount of WB finds. Just need a list from my son-in-law and we should be set.

Well it's off to start the letter.

Done and Old Guy Arms

I took the ladies advice at the sewing machine repair store and bought some new thread. She commented when I took the machine in and read the label on the thread that it had been a long time since thread cost 30 cents. I guess she was correct the two spools pictured cost $7.31. The machine runs like new. I can't sew very straight but the machine works great. As you can see I have finished my Camelbak water holder for my backpacking adventures. It is true I could have actually saved money by purchasing the Camelbak version for 40 bucks. But I had fun and I feel it turned out fairly well all things considered. My own design complete with velcro attachment points on the back.

Now on to the other discovery today. When I helped with the Russian River clean up I shared a canoe with my friend who is 65 and retired about 4 months ahead of me. He is a guy who use to run the Western states 100 and other ultra distance events. So to say the least he is still in very good shape. While we were paddling I kept thinking I wonder if I will start to wrinkle that much over the next five years. Gravity seems to move everything downward. Since retiring I have almost hit the same weight I was when I graduated from High School just .8 pounds more to go. But low and behold while doing my weight routine at the Gym today I noticed that when I bent my arms wrinkles appeared just above the elbow. Old Guy arms are here. I wonder what the next five years have in store. Oh well I feel great had my best ride in a long time up to Sugar Loaf Ridge state park last week. So I guess all the exercise etc is paying off.

I got to watch Biscuit this week. I must admit I was fairly nervous since 11 month olds can be very active. WB was going to come with and get me started on the day but when she determined that she had to drive herself home she backed out. But, Biscuit and I had a good time. I told my oldest sister this summer that Biscuit was the world's cutest Granddaughter. She has 22 plus grandkids. She said she had a couple she thought could compete. Now I think I need to tell her Biscuit is the world's smartest Granddaughter. She could really get me to do what she wanted. I did not know we could make so many trips between the family room and the other end of the house. When we were eating lunch anytime she heard a plane fly over she would point outside and up the in the air. On our walk all of a sudden she leaned way out of her stroller and was watching her shadow. She had discovered that she could make her shadow move by wiggling her feet. I thought that was pretty smart for an 11 month old kid. At least it impressed Grandpa. We had a good time and she kept me so busy I did not get any pictures of her for WB.

I need to get on to the next project, presents for Biscuit's b-day. And WB's b-day four days later.

We own nothing sharp

As Mr and Mrs H would tell anyone this house has no sharp knifes. And I found out this am that it also has no sharp scissors. I made my pattern for my water bladder holder out of fine newspaper. After ironing the nylon fabric and tracing my pattern on to the fabric with a piece of chalk WB found I attempted to cut the fabric. And guess what the scissors would not cut at all. After a couple more pairs were tried I finally found a scissors that was up to the job. After getting all the parts cut out I fired up the old sewing machine and it sort of sewed on my test piece of fabric. After and hour of tension hell and all I was getting was broken thread I decided to go on a ride. As I had mentioned in the last post I have started looking at touring bikes. After visiting Biscuit and Mr and Mrs H yesterday which put WB in a very happy mood. We stopped at REI and I looked at the REI touring bike. One my size in Berkeley. So I decided today to visit Santa Rosa Cycle during my ride since they sell Cannondale bikes and Cannondale has a sweet looking touring bike. Since touring bikes are not big sellers I was sure the shop (It is a little out of the way hole in the wall place. ) would not have the T-2000 top of the line Cannodale touring model. I should have more faith, they had my bolt I needed last spring when everyone else said three weeks to get after ordering. The young lady said we do have that bike right here. But it was too large of a frame. However their other store down the road has one my size and it can be here on Tuesday just a phone call away. It was a pretty sweet bike. Just like the young lady said a nice piece of eye candy and hard to put back. So I guess it is a bike ride to the next town tomorrow to check out the correct size. Being the cheap person that I am the REI bike is half the price. But the components are a step down. It took me 2 years to buy my current bike so I don't think I will do anything too brash. On the way home from the bike store I stopped at the local sewing and vacuum repair store. I am sure not too many old guys stop by on their bike and ask about sewing machine tune ups. The nice lady said $60.00 to tune it up and make it work like new. So I guess the machine goes in the WRX on Tuesday for a ride to the repair shop. Came home had lunch and joined Adventure Cycling a place to get all the maps etc. for the up coming 07 halfoz bike tour. Got a deal for being 60+. Comes with a magazine subscription. The bike is Black. What color panniers should I get to go with that???? If I buy red WB's family will never let me live it down. How about yellow??

Off RV'ing

It has been awhile since I have done a post. Have been working on chalking the front window. Took the advice of a guy I meet on the bus in Yosemite valley that once you retire you take three days to do a project you use to do in one. Day one look it over and think about what needs to be bought. Day two plan some more, start the clean up etc buy parts, paint, chalk etc. Day three finish off the project. Worked OK still needed to make an extra Ace hardware stop.

Today off to Sacramento to look to go to the RV show at the fairgrounds. Really don't want a big RV but a small easy to pull fold out trailer may be OK.

Wanted to go to Yosemite this coming week but the Campground in Tuolumne meadows closes after today. So I guess I will wait and go when WB goes to New Orleans to do her Jr League volunteer thing. Need to get fall pictures.

Did my first volunteer thing yesterday. One of my paddling friends from work always helps with the Russian River clean up day. So he called and asked if I was interested so I said yes. Another friend who retired before me also helped so we shared a canoe. It was interesting to compare retirement notes. It was fun seeing all the junk we pulled out of the river. Two air conditioners, dish wisher, dining table chairs. Lots of plastic out of trees, bear bottles full and empty, soda, water bottles etc. And lots of t-pee paper on the beaches from those I just need to visit the bushes. We saw the kitchen sink and living room couch frame but were out of room. Will do again next year nice to help plus it was a beautiful day on the river.

Well off to the RV show. Next big project Touring bike. Started looking, more later. Plus I need to finish my sewing project. Went to the fabric store and they were very helpful with my dumb guy questions. Learned a fair bit about sewing machine needles.

The Parts are found...

The parts are found for the sewing machine. WB found them last night in the closest. Started looking through my old sewing stuff this afternoon and discovered that REI use to sell sewing paterns. Check out the photo on the left. I doubt you can find sewing kits on REI.com. I also found an old Frostline Kit catalog in with a kit I did not finish. A pair of knickers for cross country skiing. They use to be what you would want to be seen in. About 30 years ago. I put some thread in the machine and it seemed to make an OK seam on my test piece of nylon fabric that I found. I think I have enough to make my holder for my Camelbak. I also found some velcro so when I get the stiffening stuff in the mail from Mrs H. I will sew away.

Off to look at my old catalog from 1976.

Toys are put away and missing parts.....

We had a great Labor day weekend. The youngest came home from So Cal. She in her heart is still a Nor Cal girl. Yeah, I do not miss Southern California. Not sure why Mrs H complained about Biscuit not sleeping while camping . She fell sound asleep in the most uncomfortable position at our house. Picture explains all. I am sure Mrs H. Does not remember having to be driven around the campground in our 1972 WV hippy bus until she stopped crying and went to sleep. I think it runs in the family. Better luck next trip. While Biscuit and Mr and Mrs H were over Mrs H took pictures of all her projects and I burned the pics to a CD for later posting. This got me thinking I should show some of the stuff I have made over the years. So I dug through the closest and found WB's original outdoor jacket my down vest. Used just two weeks ago backpacking in Yosemite. My 1/2 oz stove, windscreen and a photo. I sewed lots of other stuff but I believe Garage Sales and Goodwill have removed most of it from the house. Wanted to start some outdoor sewing projects again after my backpacking trip. The first thing I needed to make was a holder for my Camelbak water bladder. Mrs H is sending some stiffing material via snail mail. Cleared off the old sewing machine today and opened it up. Low and behold missing parts most importantly the power cord and foot pedal. Hope WB knows where it is.

Anyway stay posted I will ask tonight when she gets home. Oh by the way the toys are all put away at the side of the house and garage. All ready for the next visit. I think Biscuit like pulling pedals off of the flowers the best.

Miles Of No Roads...

and very few people. Well after a 145 photos taken I decided on these three of the trip. The top one is of a very nice swimming hole just below California falls on the Tuolumne River. Nice and chilly I went for a short dip. The middle one is a view into the back country of Yosemite just north of Tioga Pass Road. Three miles from the road and I saw two folks. The last one is a close up of flowers by Water Wheel falls.

It was a great trip three nights, four days. I wanted to do some of the Trail that connects the five High Sierra camps. So the trail had a fair amount of people but not bad. Most of them were hiking camp to camp and very friendly. I asked each group which camp was the best. The favorite answer was they are all great each one showing a different slice of the Sierra back country. I saw two of the camps. May Lake and and Glen Aulin. May lake being a beautiful high sierra lake and Glen Aulin at the base of the White Cascade. The goal of the hike was to see Water Wheel Falls. I have been wanting to go there for 20 years and it was worth the wait. It has to be just fantastic in early July just when Tioga Pass opens. I hope I can get WB to do at least one or two of the High Sierra camps next year. I am going to put in for the lottery next year and see. Got many hints from hikers along the way. Maybe Biscuit, Mr and Mrs H would like May lake only 1.2 miles from the trail head. Great hiking, swimming, views and nightly fun I could hear from my camp at Raisin lake 1.5 miles away. Complete with showers, and flush johns. WB liked hearing that.

I did all my cooking on my halfoz Pepsi can stove. Worked like a charm. I was very pleased at how it performed. I thought I would need 24 oz of fuel came home with 8.35 oz remaining. And I did not conserve. The only problem I ran out of coffee.

It was interesting once I was within 1 mile of the Tuolumne meadows campground, visitor center etc. Folks looked cleaner and in a much bigger hurry. By the time I got there I was tired, (funny my feet hurt on the bottom first two days and on the top last two days) hungry and ready for a sandwich. Walked right into the store pack and all. Asked where are the sandwiches the clerk pointed me to the cooler. Picked out a nice $6.00 turkey and cheese. When I went to pay the nice young lady said this is expired let me get you a fresh one. Wonder if she would have done that for the other folks. Went next door and got a large fresh Seattle coffee. ($1.85). Went outside and set on the picnic table and started to eat. Looked at the guy at the next table. On his leg was this very large knife in a holster at the ready to protect the family from those Yosemite Bears. The crowd was so different from two miles up the trail I thought as I sat there and watched the RV's go by I had a great trip with 37 pounds of stuff on my back and these folks need a $100,000.00 RV to see 1/10 what I was able to see. Oh well, they just don't know what they are missing. Hope the guy kept the fam protected.

Off to Yosemite

Off to Yosemite in the morning. Hoping to get a permit to start at Tenaya lake. First night camp at Polly Dome lakes. Short day hike to May lake to see High Sierra camp on Wed and than off to McGee Lake for two nights. Day hiking on Thursday to see the many falls on the Tuolumne River and than out to Tuolumne meadows on Friday bus back to car and home.

Should be fun. Hope WB gets along OK by herself. Blogger would not upload my pic :(

You are Getting Older When...

the aircraft you learned to fly in are now in a museum. I went to the Sonoma county airshow yesterday. It is a good small town airshow put on by the Pacific Air Museum. A nice local Air museum. It was interesting all the planes that were on the Kitty Hawk and the ones I learned to fly in are now antique. They had the latest military primary trainer. It did a demo with the AT-6 the primary trainer for WW II. I learned to flew in the second generation of trainers the T-34. The newest trainer the is the fourth Generation of military trainer. I guess time marches on.

Getting ready for another backpack trip. This time the halfoz stove is it for cooking. Also need to update the toy additions that keep showing up in the Garage. Should make for an interesting entry.

Off to Costco.

Pictures of Desolation Wilderness

A few pictures from my trip to the Desolation Wilderness by lake Tahoe. It was just a one night trip. But, it proved to be a good tune up for my next trip to Yosemite.

The weather was great not too hot or cold. I went in the middle of the week and was surprised at the number of people at the trail head. Most likely since I picked one of the most popular places to enter the wilderness. And there were lots of vacation cabins around. So parking was a bit of a hassle.

Once I got off the main trail this is the only person I saw on the trail. At the lake there were two guys fishing but they departed at the end of the day. So I had the lake all to myself and the mosquitoes.

My little Sony camera still works great the more I use it the more I like it. Trying to make my load lighter for the next trip. I think I will go back to my biviy instead of a tent and maybe my lighter Therm-a-rest, and my UL pack that will save about 5 - 6 pounds. Stay tuned.


Campsite, lake and flower pictures.




Lake Tahoe

Pictures of Desolation Wilderness

A few pictures from my trip to the Desolation Wilderness by lake Tahoe. It was just a one night trip. But, it proved to be a good tune up for my next trip to Yosemite.

The weather was great not too hot or cold. I went in the middle of the week and was surprised at the number of people at the trail head. Most likely since I picked one of the most popular places to enter the wilderness. And there were lots of vacation cabins around. So parking was a bit of a hassle.

Once I got off the main trail this is the only person I saw on the trail. At the lake there were two guys fishing but they departed at the end of the day. So I had the lake all to myself and the mosquitoes.

My little Sony camera still works great the more I use it the more I like it. Trying to make my load lighter for the next trip. I think I will go back to my biviy instead of a tent and maybe my lighter Therm-a-rest, and my UL pack that will save about 5 - 6 pounds. Stay tuned.


Campsite, lake and flower pictures.




Lake Tahoe

Halfoz Works

I had this all done last night when I went to spell check and it would not work. So I hit the back arrow and away went my draft.

So here is try number two. Anyway after retiring; car camping; trip to Europe; and trip to Iowa. I finally made it out on an overnight backpack. WB wanted to watch Biscuit before returning to work. And I wanted to backpack up by Tahoe. So I dropped WB off at Mr and Mrs H's house. And I drove to the Desolation wilderness for and overnight.

While loading my pack I noticed my halfoz Pepsi can stove just setting there. Since I gave them as Christmas presents I figured I should see if the thing really works. So I packed it in my Bear Canister and took about 5 oz of Denatured Alcohol for fuel in and empty water bottle. WB made sure she put the skull and cross bones on with a Sharpe pen so I would not mistake it for water.

The one error I made was my windscreen. Even though it was made for my pot it was not finished. I had not put the holes in for the stakes to go through to hold the pot. So I put halfoz on a rock and turned the wind screen over and put the stakes through the vent holes. See picture. As you can tell it works. Better than I had hoped. With that small amount of fuel I made two meals and six cups of coffee plus some dish washing. I did take my regular backpack stove as a back up but did not need it.

I will publish some other photos next time. It was a good tune up. I had forgotten it takes a trip or two to get used to the pack and break the feet into the boots. Next trip Yosemite.

Iowa and Gardens

When I go back to Iowa I go and visit my sister in Ross, Iowa. It is a very small collection of maybe 20 houses the loacal church and more dogs than people. It is a great little place. When I was in Grade school I use to get to go the two miles to my sisters house for vacation. Usually lasting about two to three days. I always had a fun time playing with my newhews and neices who are about my age. The one thing as my sister and her husband always had was a large garden. As you can tell by the picture it is nice and green with many vegtables doing very well. They grew just about everything plus, apples and several types of berries. And they canned and froze everything in very large quantities since they have a bunch of kids. But when I got older I have always had a garden but it does not compare to my sister and her husband who are 79 and 82. But I keep trying. The other photo is the Grain Elevator we use to play in. It must be almost 100 years old. They should make it into some kind of historcal monument. It has been around a long time and still looks fair from the outside. The inside is not a place I would let my kids play. But I am sure the kids in Ross still visit the place.

We went to Iowa to attend WB's moms funeral. Nice event she was 92 almost 93 hope I last that long. Now that we are back in sunny California it is time to do some outdoor stuff.

I finally got the new gears put on my bike that Mr and Mrs H gave me for my B-day. It was a great addition to the bike. Finally going to do a one night backpack. I need a tune up before doing something longer. I am taking what halfoz is all about will report back how things worked in another post.

100,000 mile tune up

Well after turning 60 it was time to get an old guy check up. After we went on Kaiser they called and told WB you need a Doctor and here is a good one. So WB set up check up for herself and me after the family trip to Europe. Something that I did not look forward to. But I know I needed to do.

Anyway, with everything on line now you can see everything about your Doc and health records. So, I took a look, the Doc enjoyed riding so that was a good thing. Showed up for the appointment and of course was put in the little room and told to take everything off. The Doc showed up. Now he can just set in front of the computer and type away. Had a nice chat about bikes and riding. He even had done a double. Little did I know in all that typing he was doing I was going to donate many things. It was a nice chat until I saw the famous glove and lube being applied. But, I knew from previous experience to make sure the bladder was empty ahead of the appointment. Nothing new correct size for and old guy and no extra bumps. Whew, that's over. Report to the lab since you did not eat and I will see you if I need to. Bye Doc, nice meeting you total time 15 minutes.

Off to the lab where I got to talk to some clerk who I don't think liked her job. Started off with I don't know why all these Docs order urine tests. As if she has the education to know. Hands me the let's check for blood in your poop. ( Great invention later for that one. ) In a paper bag and asks me if I know what to do. I say yes and proceed to the bathroom. Having made sure I was not well hydrated I did not over flow anything. Than off to be drained of blood.

Fast forward 24 hours. Did you know you can have 0 - 2 Red blood cells in your urine. I had 5 -10 and of course high Cholesterol. With everything on line the Doc writes in all caps. Re do urine test don't ride the bike for 3 days and make sure you are hydrated. Would have been the first time but I knew the glove was coming. And your Cholesterol is too high set up phone appointment. PSA pending. Great, so I set up the appointment. Took the bike to REI for a tune up and started to hydrate.

Of course with the power of the net you can work yourself up that the next step is the dirt nap. Keep checking for the PSA results. Oh no he is going to give me crappy news when I call and the next step in miniature hedge clippers to take samples from areas I would rather not have sampled.

Fast forward, went in well hydrated, same clerk but in a much better mood, gave the sample. Did you know they have directions on line of how to pee. Followed them to a tee. Came home and the mail was here. I PASSED the PSA oh happy days are here again.

The Doc called me at the appointed hour, said Cholesterol was too high diet along would not do it, here is your first life long prescription. Fasting Glucose a little higher than normal. Funny five years ago that was an OK number. Take the Kaiser nutrition class. Good thing I believe. Have a blood test in three months. Can cause muscle weakness or soreness. And DON'T take with Grapefruit. Mail or do you want to pick up. I'll pick up. That took under 5 minutes.

So, now WB and I set down to eat and take our medicine's. Old age is here. But I must say I have had only one other prescription in 60 years and that was to get rid of an intestinal bug from bad water. So I guess not to bad.

Invention sample as soon as the cereal box is empty. Off to ride before the thermometer hits the century mark.

Sierra vs. Alps

During the trip there was some discussion which is better the Alps or the Sierra around Yosemite. Mr H, the youngest and myself made many comments. I must say I was the hold out that Yosemite was the best. But after the cable car ride up Mont Blanc I was starting to agree the Alps had an edge. But I must note that when the youngest and I were shopping for those European hiking pants for men we ran into a sales clerk in Chamonix that had traveled in the US for six months and said the Eastern Sierra around Bishop Ca was by far the best mountains in the world. She had hoped to get to immigrate to the US but found it almost impossible. So she resigned herself to be a US citizen in her next life.

Anyway yesterday I took a drive up towards Tahoe on highway 50 for a short hike out of Wright's Lake into the Desolation Wilderness.

So here are a couple of Sierra pictures from yesterday and a couple from the Alps. You can decide for yourself. I must say the Sierra's only cost $35.00 for gas. The Alps came in at a bit more.

The Sierra pictures on top. Alps below. Mountains and wildflowers from each area.

Back Home

I have now been working on this post for two days. Each time I get a good start I goof up and need to start over. So I think I will break it down into a couple of shorter posts.

Enough of problems. We are back from the trip to Switzerland and France. It was a great trip. I believe everyone had a good time. I know I did. Traveling with the whole family does take a bit of give and take.

For me it was the first time I did not take a film camera. I only took my Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P200. See www.sony.com for more details. Mrs H took her film camera and digital so I am looking forward to comparing photos.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip. The trip started in Adelboden Switzerland and ended in Chamonix France. Home of Mont-Blanc highest peak in Europe. That's it in the upper right corner of the ice tunnel.































As you can see Biscuit was a good traveler. She did not complain a bit and seemed to enjoy her carrier.

I think I will stop here for today and not push my luck.

2212

Last bike ride for June today. Two Thousand Two Hundred and Twelve miles year to date. Not bad for and old guy. All packed up for Switzerland. Luggage weighted 48.2 pounds. Moved the Trail mix to WB's suitcase should save 3 pounds. Things much better today. This time tomorrow the youngest and I will be on the plane to London. Starting to get excited about the trip should be fun. I will take notes and do a big post when back with pictures.

Looked up Lassen National park in preparation for in the Footsteps of Mom. They still have about 15 to 20 miles of park road to plow. August looks good. Hope Switzerland gets the old legs ready for the climb. Saw a picture of Mr H with the Granddaughter in the Carrier. Everyone looks ready to go both had big smiles. WB says babies can't go that high. Need to check it out. All for now. Need a cold beer and dinner.

Wish us luck on the Trip.

Packing Up

Well in less than 48 hours the youngest daughter and I will be well on our way to Switzerland. As you can tell by the picture we shouldn't starve once we are there. Just need to get it all packed up and go now. Last minute things were done today. Trip to the magic money machine (ATM); haircut; gassed the car up; added to the calling card etc.

Starting to look forward to the trip. Hope the fam finds it relaxing. Today was a bit stressful. Not as well planned as WB would like. But it should work out. Copied and pasted all the idea's into word so folks can talk over. Taking several books.

So wish us luck. And I will report back. That's all for now. Need to go iron.

Six Zero and other events

It's been a busy two weeks since my last post. The old guy on the right turned 60. Another decade down the drain.

And two days ago the good looking gal on the left Graduated from college. Way to go. So one almost done and one just starting out.

My other daughter will be getting her MBA next Saturday which will be neat.

WB had a surprise B-day party for me which was a complete surprise. Got to see some of my good friends from where I use to work. And my old friend that moved south a couple of years ago came up for my B-day that was great. From my oldest daughter and son-in-law got a great gift. A new cluster for the my trusty bicycle. Have not put it on yet but will this week along with a new chain.

Next big event is the family trip to Europe. Must say I am very nervous about the trip. Still need one more reservation which I will do tomorrow. I am hoping everyone can relax and have fun. I will be just satisfied to drink coffee, take pictures and see the Alps.

In the Foot Steps of Mom

Just finished buying the train tickets for the big European family vacation. The trip is all planned and paid for except for one nights lodging. Now off to the next big adventure. In the picture on the bottom, the guy with the sunglasses is my old friend Bob S. The little person in the middle of the picture is my oldest daughter when she was about 18 months give or take a few sound asleep at the top of Mt Lassen. The good looking guy in the picture on the top is me with my oldest daughter on a hike to the top of Mt Lassen.



This picture is me 30 years later still a good looking guy with no hair. The little person on my back is the our Granddaughter also very cute. Now for the next moving on project.

I checked the Lassen National Park website yesterday and they hope to have the road plowed to my favorite campground by mid July. They had 170 - 190% of average snowfall this year. So by early August I think it will be time for the Granddaughter to follow in her moms footsteps and make that climb up Mt Lassen. As grandparents we now have 2 baby carriers. One is a present for Mr H's B-day. But this one is for me. Oh it has a great sun shade. WB found it at a garage sale for only $20.00 such a deal. I do think for the hike the honor of carrying will go to Mr H. What does Mrs H think?? I can carry water and maybe a diaper or two. I will need to work on WB to get her in shape. Did the hike about five years ago. WB made to the tip so I know it can be done.

I did break WB's rule I have now posted pictures of people. Oh well. No names.

Enough for now off on a short bike ride to see if the legs still work after the Dais Double.