Sat - October 1, 2005

San Francisco 

Nancy and I drove up to northern Virginia, where we checked into a hotel, the Hampshire Inn Cascade, near Dulles. It was in shopping mall, so we could park in the lot and leave it for a few days. Philip drove up after work, and we went out to dinner with him.
Our flight left the next day, first we had to fly to Atlanta, and then we changed planes to San Francisco. When we arrived, we took the BART train to Union Square. This is new since the last time I was here, it did not used to go out to the airport. It's still a little goofy - you have to go down to a certain level in the parking structure, then go across to the other side of the structure, then take an elevator back up to a station for a shuttle that stops at various terminals in the airport, including the BART station. From the station, though it is a straight shot to Union Square.
Our hotel, the Westin St. Francis, was right on Union Square, so we checked in, then scouted around the general vicinity.

Here is Nancy in Union Square.



The next day, we went out to be tourists. First, we caught a cable car from Union Sq. To Fisherman's Wharf. Here is Nancy on a cable car.



Of course we went to Pier 39 to see the sea lions - though most were gone for the summer.


We tried to get tickets to see Alcatraz, but were unable to.

Hyde St. Pier has many old ships on display.


Including this one.


A Brugmansia, growing in Ghirardelli Sq.


The mermaid fountain in Ghirardelli Sq.


An outdoor cafe near Ghirardelli Sq.


A carousel near Fisherman's Wharf.


Lombard St, from the top of the hill.


We walked down Lombard St. There was a constant line of cars - almost all with out of state licence plates, lined up to go down.


The bottom of the hill at Lombard St.


A beautiful Bougainvillea on Lombard St.
 

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Wed - July 20, 2005

Western Trip 2005 - Montana 

Nancy and I arrived in Missoula, Montana on June 24, 2005, picked a rental car and also picked up our two sons, Geoff and Philip, who arrived on a later flight from Washington, DC. We went to the Missoula cemetary where Nancy's father is buried.



On Saturday, we had a short internment service for Nancy's mother, Yoshiko. My brother Jim, his wife Carol and his daughter Kate drove in from Spokane to attend as well. Two landmarks in Missoula are Mt. Jumbo


and Mt. Sentinel (the M is for the University of Montana).


Between the two flows the Clark Fork River, which continues on through the city of Missoula. We climbed up Mt. Sentinel, to the M. I took pictures of Missoula from there. This picture shows the Clark Fork, the University of Montana campus on the left side of the river and downtown Missoula on the right side.


Here is a closeup of the theatre building - where I worked in the 80's.


Here is another picture of Missoula, taken from Mt. Sentinel, with the campus at the bottom.


On Saturday night, we went to see the Missoula Ospreys baseball team play - here is their mascot.


And here we all are - Geoff, Nancy, Philip and I at the ball game.



On Sunday we went to the church we once attended - Holy Spirit Episcopal.


Later we went to the hospital where Philip was born - Missoula Community Hospital


We also drove to the top of Lolo Pass. On the way there, we got a good view of Mount Lolo


At the top of the pass, I took this picture


On Monday, Geoff and Philip flew back to Washington, and Nancy and I drove down the Bitteroot valley on our way to visit friends in Idaho. Here is the Bitteroot valley.


The is a picture of the Bitteroot Range



 

Posted at 08:21 PM    

Wed - June 29, 2005

Western Trip 2005 Denver

On Sunday, June 19, 2005, Nancy and I flew out of Lynchburg. We changed planes at Atlanta, and arrived in Denver about 11 pm. We had to wait a long time for our rental car, so then we drove down the toll road 470, all the way to Highlands Ranch, reaching my mother's house about 12:30 am. The next morning, we took a nice walk along the path that follows 470, then we drove up I-25 to Thornton, where we met Nancy's uncle Buster at his assisted living facility. We took him to a restaurant, the Black Eyed Pea in Thornton. We stayed with my mother in Highlands Ranch, south of Denver.
On Tuesday, we drove east of Denver outside of the suburban development that covers so much area, to Bennet, a small town on the high plains where we visited friends.
Although there is some development in this area - real estate appears to be almost a mania in Denver - it is so far fairly undeveloped.

Here is the view from our friend's house.


We saw a pronghorn antelope while sitting on their deck.


and a very nice sunset on the high plains.


On Wednesday we visited family in various parts of the Denver area, and we also went up to Mt. Lindo, where my father's ashes are scattered. There is a fine view of Denver from there.


Denver still suffers from smog in the summer, but it has improved somewhat over the last 10 years or so. Here is downtown Denver, viewed from Mt. Lindo.


On Thursday Nancy and I went to downtown Denver. One of the places we visited was Sakura Square. Here is a garden outside of the Buddhist temple there.


Here is a statue in that same garden.


We also went to the Denver Center of the Performing Arts. I have seen some fine performances there in the past, but nothing was going on this time of year.


This was our last evening in Denver.

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Wed - March 16, 2005

SETC in Greensboro

On Tuesday, March 1 I left Amherst at about 2 pm for Greensboro, North Carolina, where this year's South Easter Theatre Conference is being held. We had about three inches of snow on the ground when I left, and as I went south on US route 29 it remained about 3 inches on the ground until about the town of Danville, where it dwindled to about an inch. This map can be found at tripinfo.com.
In North Carolina it continued to dwindle - by the time I reached Greensboro it was still cold and windy but there was no snow on the ground. Route 29 continues from the Virginia state line to Greensboro. This map was found at infoplease.com.



Once reaching Greensboro, I got on Interstat 40, and took it to Highpoint Rd. (route 68), wher my hotel, the Sheraton Four Seasons was located. This map is from expedia.com.



I stayed at this conference until Sunday, March 6, when I drove back to Amherst, Virginia by the same route, US 29 all the way back. Unfortunately, there were so many meetings that I never saw anything of the city or the area except for the hotel, the convention center and the four seasons mall nearby.

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Sun - March 7, 2004

Return to Virginia

I got up early -5:30 am and drove from Chattanooga Tennessee to my home in Amherst, Virginia. The drive was easy, it was dry, clear and fairly free of traffic. I returned by the same route I came, Interstate 75 north to Knoxville, the Interstate 40 to Interstate 81 to Bristol, where the highway crosses into Virginia. This map can be found at Worldsite Atlas.
Once in Virginia, I stayed on Interstate 81 to Roanoke, which I reached about noon. At Roanoke, I took US 460 to Lynchburg, and then US 29 from Lynchburg to my home in Amherst. This map is from tripinfo.com.

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Thu - March 4, 2004

Chattanooga

Today I took a walk along the waterfront in Chattanooga. They have fixed up the area bordering on the Tennessee River beautifully. The centerpiece of this development is the Aquarium.

I went to the aquarium, where I saw these Dragon-fish (a relative of the sea-horse, adapted to camouflage as kelp.


and these turtles:



Then I walked across the Market St. Bridge.


I went to see the Chattanooga Theatre Centre


I walked back over the pedestrian bridge, walked along the river front


I saw the Mahonia in in bloom.



and returned back to my hotel. All in all, a beautiful day.

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Tue - March 2, 2004

Tue - December 30, 2003

Our drive from Georgia to Virginia

We started out in Madison, Georgia, and went on US 129 to Athens. From there we took US 441 to Commerce, where we picked up Interstate 85 that we took to the South Carolina state line.

We conitinued on I-85 through South Carolina, passing through Greenville and Spartanburg to the the North Carolina state line.

\

We stayed on I-85 through Charlotte and Greensboro, and at Greensboro took US 29 north to Danville, Virginia, and on into Lynchburg and the Amherst.

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Mon - December 29, 2003

Drive from Florida into Georgia

Today we left St. Georgia Island, driving along the causway to the mainland of Florida at Easpoint.

At Eastpoint, we pick up Florida 319 heading north, which takes us takes us into Tallahassee, where we leave my mother at the airport.
Continuing on 319 takes us to Tifton, Georgia. We then take Interstate 75 to Macon.


From Macon, we took US 129 up to where it crosses I-2 at Madison. We discovered a museum dedicated to Joel Chandler Harris at Eatonton - his hometown, and spent the night in Madison.

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Sun - December 28, 2003

St. George Island

On the 26th, Geoff and Philip left to drive back to Virginia, but Nancy, her mother, my mother and I stayed for three more days. On the 26th I drove to Apalachicola to a nursery to look at plants, and we went into the little town of St. George to shop.
On the 27th we went over to St. George Island State Park. This historical marker tells about William Bowles who ran aground here in an attempt to get the Creeks to attack the Spanish at St. Augustine.


A seagull watched as we ate a picnic lunch.


The island is full of slash pines that are very picturesque because of the constant wind.


On the bay side of the island the mainland can be seen in the distance, beyond the strait.


On the 28th we spent as much time in the sun as possible - here is my mother walking out to the beach.


Here is Nancy's mother, looking for shells.

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Fri - December 26, 2003

Christmas on St. George Island

Christmas Day was sunny but cool - the high was only about 58 and the low was in the 30's. After opening our presents - Geoff gave me a lamp for my desk, Philip gave me a book about Sr Francis Drake, Nancy gave me a copy of Captain Blood, and my mother gave me a very nice black turtleneck. Of course, our real gift was the digital camera, which I have been using on this trip, and today started with the sunrise over the gulf.

Here is our little Christmas Tree.


Here we are opening gifts.


Later we gathered on the beach for formal groupings


Nancy even took a picture of me.


And finally, Christmas Dinner.

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Wed - December 24, 2003

Apalachicola

We spent the morning walking on the beach on St. George Island. Here are some seagulls in the
surf.



Nancy and Philip, on the balcony outside of our bedroom.


Philip running on the beach.


At lunch, we drove off the island and west on US 98 to the town of Apalchicola. It is a charming little resort town, and we ate at a restaurant with a view of the Apalachicola River.
Nancy took this picture of me, my mother and Philip in Apalachicola


We returned to St George Island and watched the sun go down.


Philip and Nancy watching from the balcony.


We spent the evening decorating our little tree, and wrapping presents. Here is Geoff in our condominium.

Posted at 05:29 PM     Read More  

Tue - December 23, 2003

St. George Island

Today was our first full day in the condominium we have rented on St. George Island on the Gulf coast of the Florida panhandle.



It was a beautiful day today, so we spent a lot of it outside. Here I am, reading on the beach with Philip.


Here is Nancy, taking a walk on the beach


Here is Geoff, coming back from his run.


Another picture of Nancy with Philip


We have Nancy's mother with us.


And my mother has flown in from Denver to be with us.


Finally, a beautiful sunset over the Gulf.

Posted at 10:45 PM     Read More  

Mon - December 22, 2003

Sun - December 21, 2003

Drive from Georgia to Florida

We started from Forsythe, Georgia, just north of Macon. It was a cold morning, only about 20 degrees, when we woke up. Forsythe is in the very southern end of the Piedmont, but as we left it on interstate 85 going south, we started to lose altitude quickly.


From Macon, we were in flat, piny wood country, and soon we stated to see live oaks mixing into the pine forest. At Tifton, we left the interstate and followed US 319 into Tallahassee. By the time we got to Tallahassee it was sunny and much warmer, about 65 degrees. We went downtown and checked into a Holiday Inn near the campus on Tennessee, then we picked Geoff up at his apartment and he took us to a Cuban restaurant for lunch.

We then did some Christmas shopping, and then we went out to the Tallahassee airport to pick my mother up who flew in from Denver. After having dinner, we spent the evening in the hotel watching the Denver Broncos play the Indianopolis Colts.

Posted at 09:36 PM     Read More