Blue Berries, Bark and Boats

I took today off so that I could be with Dad and Kim. Sylvie and I wanted to take them for a drive and just hang out. It is really the journey that is fun. We have a chance to just talk in the car and hang out.

We headed south on Route 7 on a gorgeous but coolish day. We decided to stop at the berry farm and pick some blueberries. Well you had to look pretty hard to find decent ones and that kind of made them tase so much better. We run all over the palce trying to find the few patches of remaining blueberries. It was a great opportunity to take some pictures, have some laughs and be kids.

Next we headed to the Lake Champlain Museum to show Kim my pictures of the boats from Portugal and Italy. Just a nice drive down to Ferrisburg.

On our way back we stoppped at a small museum on route 7 called the Rokeby Museum. It was interesting but I was really facinated bu the tall trees. There were huge Black Honeysuckle with just amazing bark. The bark was ribboned and rough and full of texture. I though it would make for a good black and white photograph. I will always remeber when we were in Mexico in 1969 and we had stopped in the middle of a dirt road in the the desert on the Baja pennisula. Dad had walked to the side of the rad and spotted a dead cactus about 10 yards away. "Look at this" he cried. "What and incredible looking cactus" "Look at the colors" as he pointed to a rotting hole in the top of the plant that was oozing and putrified. I could not see the beauty of such a thing at my age. My dad saw not a rotting cactus but the vibrant colors and textures that could only be found in a plant that was decaying away. My dad has always looked for and found the good in both things and people. There is always a good side. There is always a story worth telling. To my dad people are good by default, and all things in nature can bring pleasure on some level.

We found some nice nature paths to follow. Dad gathered wild flowers, dead leaves and other assorted fauna for later use. A perfect day for all of us!

Pamplona Redux - A bull turns 50!

Ok so Bob calls me on Friday to say that he is going to his camp (friend of his family) and asks if I want to come and help him do a few things up there and that we would look for moose. Well that is all he had to tell me... MOOSE!

It was a bit of a gray day overcast and a somewhat coolish but we had a nice two hour ride up. We put in a good day stocking wood, fixing the two posts for the woodshed and finally putting new stays on either side of the chimney. We had a few sandwiches after most of the work was done,. I was quite tired on the way home but asked Bob if he wanted me to drive. He said he was fine and I nodded off here and there as we worked our way west along Route 2.

We arrived at his driveway and he asked me as we drove up if I noticed that he had recently fixed his driveway "Uh sure, yeah looks great Bob" But just as the last bend in his driveway came into view I saw a whole bunch of people standing in the bend and they were all wearing white and red. "What the..??!!" I thought to myself. This must be some kind of surprise for Erika or one of the kids. Shit there is my dad and Kim!! Then I see Sherry, I look over at Bob and he has this huge grin on his face. I am absolutely speechless! I could not have been more surprised. My birthday was still 3 weeks away! Here right in front of me were the very most important people in my life. The people who I love and who are most dear to me under one roof, in one room!! My whole family (I was almost brought to tears when I saw Max and Shaun) and all my friends. I mean ALL my friends. Clayton, Jim, Kerbo (they arrived a little later)and all the Big Dogs.

Getting out of Bob's truck I was at a loss. Just amazing.

I have seen the most incredible sunset from Lorelei's Bar in Key West Florida.

I have watched the Palio horse race in Siena Italy.

I have windsurfed on the Northern coast of Maui.

I have photographed blue whales, the largest animal on this planet from 12 feet away on the southern coast of Mexico.

I have watched (and taken part in) one of the most incredible events in Pamplona Spain.

But next to watching the birth of both Max and Shaun, I have never experienced, anything nor will I again in most likely hood, quite like the sight that I awaited me as Bob and I drove up the driveway on Saturday

Slowly we walked up to Bob and Kris's house as I hugged my dad, Kim, Sherry Mom, Derrick etc. We finally walked in the house to the sounds of the Gypsy Kings. You can shoot me now 'cause I am in heaven!! Just incredible. It really took me about an hour (and 3 beers) to get with it. I was just so surprised and Bob had played the whole day so close to his vest that I was caught completely unaware.

There was Sylvie in the middle, quietly, the master orchestrator who had pulled this together over god knows how many months watching the spectacle unfold! She kept asking me if I was surprised. This is going to be one great evening, I thought but I want to make sure that with such a special group of people, I make sure to try to spend some time with as many as possible. This was not a party to get "toasted" at. No way, I was going to spend time, quality time with these incredible people who took time to spend my birthday with me. Let's Party!

The sun was just getting ready to set. The light was golden so I kind of ushered (read, threw) everyone outside onto the back porch. I NEED A PICTURE!! Derrick and I had everyone line up on the staircase just as the sun was starting to dip below the horizon. Mark was handed the camera and he quickly snapped off a few shots. PERFECT! When I am much older, sitting in a wheel chair and dribbling I will clutch this picture in my hand and remember one of the best moments in my life!

I was afraid of what would happen, though we partied until 4:00 in the morning the party seemed to last no more than about 20 minutes. A terrific time thanks to Sylvie (especially Sylvie) , Derrick and our most gracious hosts and dearest friends Bob and Kris.

Sylvie commissioned one incredible painting by dad and Derrick designed these unbelievable invitations. He blew one up to poster size on stretched canvas poster frame WOW!! Most of the group had left by about 11:00 PM and it was time to whip out the cigars and do some shots!! We laughed told jokes and had a few terrific little corona cigars that Bill brought. Back to our house at about 1:30. Everyone hit the hay except Claybo and Jim so we headed for the "pub" for a few nightcaps (or should I say, eye openers). Of course we died laughing. Amazing how the same jokes and stories can elicit some good laughs even 20 + years after!!

Thank you Sylvie, I love you........

First Windsurf of the Season !!

Yeaaahhh!!!
Finally I get on my faithful Seatrend. Ok the wind was not great but hey, I was windsurfing! A few runs but not quite fast enough to get in the straps except once. I rigged my 6.1m sail. I really like to sail the smaller sails but I still had fun. The lightning was slowly crossing on the north side of the sandbar and I decided not to temp fate any longer.

I packed up my gear as it started to downpour but not berfore I walked across route 2 to the park to watch some of the aluminim boats roll along the beach fron the unbeleivable wind. Wow, the sand was stinging me as the wind shifted 180 degreees.

Big Dog ride to Grand Isle

We did a nice 18 mile ride with the Big Dogs in Grand Isle. What a great night for a ride. After all my work on the rad bike over the past few weeks it is starting to pay off. I was able to lead the Big Dogs much of the way. I flet strong and was able to push up the hills and inclines without any problems.
Clyde hosted and everyone (except me) went for a swim in the lake post-ride. A few nicly cooked burgers on the grill then we just relaxed in front of the fireplace sipping beers. The wind was blowing right towards me but washed the warm air from the fireplace all over me without any smoke. I was in absolute heaven. Clude gave us a tour of his house and his small flotilla of kayaks etc.

Soaring on Sunday

Another great day. We took the kids out to Stowe to do some gliding. We arrived just after 11:00 Am and the kids were seated in the rear seat of the sailplane by 11:15. A perfect day for soaring. They were towed up to about 2,000 feet and then the sailed for a good 30 minutes. They both really seemed to enjoy it.

Stopped for lunch in Waterbury for soem sandwiches at the Green maountain Cafe in a restored train station. Stopped by the Waterbury flee market on the way home, not much to see/buy. I spent the rest of the day finding stain and staining the deck. A short 38 minute bike ride in the dark.

A perferct Saturday!

What a great day today. Shaun was up early so Sylvie Shaun and I went for a hike to Mud pond. It was a cool day but we did not see any wildlife to speak of. We found the huge tree on Knob Hill. Wow! What a tree it is! The light was not great for taking pictures so I will have to return maybe in the fall or winter when there are fewer leaves to block the view. A quick stop at Starbucks and the we drove to the farmers market on the village green.
We ran into the Montgomerys and had a chance to chat with them. They were on their way to northern Vermont for their anual vacation in Quimby Country. We aslo saw Lee and Mike Grillo who had a vegetable stand with produce from their new home.

I spent most of the rest of the day working on the deck and pressure washing it so that it could be stained. I took a few pictures of the flowers on the deck and a tiny hummingbird. A quik nap and then a good 16 mile bike ride to Hinesburg and back. Boy was my butt sore! We stopped at Todays Gourmet where Max was working and had a quick (very quick) dinner and then we went to the movies to see Rush Hour 3. What a terrible movie. I really do not like buddy movies.

We came home and finished watching The Maginificent Seven7. Now that is a great movie!