Christmas 2009

Been a while since we updated this, so thought I'd post some photos of Christmas 2009 here in Vancouver. We hosted Rita's Mom, her sister Bobbie and Bobbie's husband John for Christmas dinner. Rita prepared a great meal and we generally spent the day relaxing and enjoying each other's company. We also played a domino game that Mom likes called "Train" that lasted into the early evening.

The photos above and below show what the girls looked like that day - am afraid the boys weren't available for any photo ops.

Mom has recovered completely from her little "episode" back in November, which now appears to have been due to physical overexertion while working in her yard one day combined with dehydration.



Hamilton Mountain Hike

Rita got me a pair of Leki hiking poles for Christmas, and on the 28th it was actually a nice enough day to try them out for the first time on a quick day hike over to Hamilton Mountain on the Washington side of the Gorge.

Wherever we've hiked on our travels we've seen hikers from Germany or Austria invariably using the Leki poles - it was always a dead giveaway that if we saw people hiking with them we could safely bet that they were either German or Austrian. Their use was so prevalent I started to wonder if maybe they were all stockholders in the company. I had always wanted to try them out to see how much of a difference they made but was basically too cheap to buy a pair - I usually relied on a walking stick I'd fashion from a bit of tree branch or something.

Turns out they make a BIG difference. The Hamilton Mountain hike has gotten to be one of my favorites because it's a short 45 minute drive from Vancouver and provides a pretty but challenging 8 mile day hike with an elevation gain of 2500 ft. to the summit. It's a pretty good workout - especially with a full day pack. I was frankly amazed what a difference the poles made in minimizing the wear and tear on my knees and back. I figured they would help with balance, especially on a wet or icy track, but didn't realize how effective they were just spreading the load around. Anyway I'm hooked, and can see why the Germans like them so much.

I figured there would be snow on the trail the higher I got, and I wasn't disappointed as you can see. Here are some photos.




Looking up at the top from the beginning of the hike - only a little dusting of snow down here.




Passing one of several scenic bridges across Hardy Creek - starting to see more of the white stuff.




Rodney Falls - a local landmark on the way up the hill and a popular destination in it's own right for families and day trippers who enjoy a picnic at the falls...on a warm day that is.



The trail loops up to the summit and back.



More snow the higher I got - and colder too. Note the frozen waterfalls on the face of the rock wall ahead.



Lots of pretty views along the trail. The snow wasn't deep enough yet to be a problem, even for low-topped hiking boots.



Approaching the summit.


The north facing slopes had a lot more snow that those on the south slopes, which is why the Washington trails along the Gorge are usually open weeks ahead of those on the Oregon side come Spring.


The summit, with a feature called the "Saddle" leading up to it. The wind absolutely howls over this section, and on a winter day the wind chill cuts right to your backbone as you hustle across the exposed area to get into the protection of the woods on either side.


Only two more weeks until we head for Valdosta - can't wait to see everyone again.

Side Trips to the Eastern Shore and Pax River

During our stay in Annapolis we drove across the bay bridge to the Eastern Shore. It's a quiet, scenic and very rural area, and was the setting of James Michener's novel Chesapeake back in the 1970's - still one of our favorite books.
Drove down to the little village of St. Michael's, which is where Rita is standing in the photo above, and had crabcakes for lunch in a waterside cafe. Also drove over to Easton and just walked around the town on a pretty Autumn day. Made for a pleasant sojourn from the hustle & bustle of Annapolis.



After the reunion festivities wrapped up we departed Annapolis on Monday the 2nd and drove down to the Patuxent River area, which is where we lived 3 different times during postings to the Test Center and later to NAVAIR in Crystal City from '89-'91.
Stopped enroute to walk around the little town of Solomons just across the River from Pax. It's a popular summer destination for the folks from the DC area - especially boaters - but usually gets pretty quiet by November.


Enjoyed stretching our legs walking around the town - and having lunch at the old Solomons Pier Restaurant (crab cakes again).



Stayed on base at the Navy Lodge and explored the area again after being away for many years. The base has changed quite a bit thanks to the relocation of both the Naval Air Systems Command and the Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division to southern Maryland from DC in the 90's. What used to be a quiet little rural base is now bustling with activity (and people) and the two-lane corridor of Rte. 235 is now about 6 lanes going into and out of the base.
We drove out to St. Mary's City west of the base and down to Pt. Lookout to the south and they both appeared to be untouched by the development near the NAS - still as charmingly rural as ever.
We usually drive by our old houses to see how they're doing...and to see how all of our old plantings of trees, bushes and trees are doing. The photo above is our last house on Aspen Lane in Wildwood - still in pretty good shape after we sold it in 1991.



This is our first house on Town Creek Drive, where we lived from '77-'81. Loved it when we lived there but the neighborhood looked a little dated. Afraid the house was showing its age too.





This was our home on Defender Street near gate 3 to the base. Used to be that the forest began just behind it and ran about a mile along a winding dirt road to the bay - now it's all developed...nothing but condos and small single family homes.




We also swung by the schools that Kevin and Mike attended. Here's Little Flower School in Great Mills - still looks the same.
Below is St. Marys Ryken High School, which had a lot of construction going on near the entrance. Am sure that enrolment has increased dramatically with the expansion of the base in recent years.



All in all the area was still pretty much as we remembered - especially south and west of the base where the area from St. Marys City to Point Lookout appeared to be unchanged from our time living in the area all those many years ago.
This has always been one of our favorite areas - lots of good family memories here and we always enjoy returning whenever the opportunity presents itself.

We were looking forward to flying down to Valdosta to see the kids and grand kids, but received word late one evening that Rita's Mother had been taken to the hospital with stroke symptoms and so cancelled everything and flew back to Vancouver to be with her. Tests indicated that it wasn't a stroke after all but it was quite a scare for everyone nevertheless.
She's home now, mentally alert but physically still pretty weak. Rosie flew back from South Carolina, so all of the sisters are here providing support.

From the Archives

Bob Fawcett from our old 16th company provided a bunch of photos from our days at the Academy together - between 1965 and 1969. Here are a few that show what Grandpa looked like about 40 years (and 40 pounds) ago.

The one above is a shot of our company marching off the field after the last dress parade of June Week - June 2, 1969 to be exact.


Me with Bob Fawcett. - Christmas 1967.


Life (such as it was) in Bancroft Hall


We were divers once - and young. Suited up for a dive in a rock quarry on an Autumn day - probably Second Class year. We were pretty hard up for dive destinations back then, but everyone was freshly qualified so off we went.

More Reunion Photos

Couldn't resist the opportunity to put up some more photos of a very enjoyable weekend with the old company-mates. From L-R above are Myles Fisher, me, Bob Fawcett, Don Tanaka, Brian Kinsley and Tom Reeve. Tom was the guy who arranged the blind date where I met Rita back in 1967. He's a lawyer now and lives in San Diego. Myles is a terrific, outgoing, big-hearted guy who's now retired and living in Pensacola. Bob retired from the Marine Corps in '99 as a Colonel, and says that the highlight of his 30 year career was being Commanding Officer of The Basic School at Quantico. He's now living in Virginia Beach. Brian was in our wedding, and is the HR Manager for Columbia Forest Products and in presently living in Olean,Vermont. He's promised to teach me how to fly fish if I can ever get to Vermont between snowfalls.



First guy on the left is Ted Woodruff - my Plebe summer and Plebe year roommate. He was the first classmate I met on June 30, 1965 - the date of our swearing in. He was also in our wedding. Ted was an airline pilot for Delta for 20+ years, recently retired, and now lives near Atlanta.

Third from the left is Roger Vehorn. I had last seen Rog in 1990 at NAVAIR in Crystal City where we were both Class Desk Officers. He retired from that to go to work for Boeing near Seattle (turns out we're neighbors). He was recently certified an Anglican Minister and is the Assistant Pastor of a church in Oak Harbor, WA.


Brian Kinsley and Don Tanaka - two of my roommates our First Class year.


The Three Amigos.


Another group shot of the 16th company guys.


Two former 16th Company Commanders. Bob was CC for Fall & Spring sets and I had it for the Winter set back in 1969. Bob was also a Brigade Boxer. He narrowly lost the championship bout our last year to a guy who later became the only undefeated, 4 year champion at his weight class.


Ted Woodruff and his wife Sheila.


Heading for the Reunion Dinner on Friday night. First time I'd worn a tie in 3 years - I was again reminded how great it is to be retired. Rita bought this dress in Paris and looked great in it all night.


Tom and Pat Reeve.


Heading for the "Prom" with Don and his wife Susan.

Annapolis

Here are a couple more photos of our day with Dick & Saundra. Walked around Fairfax Lake on a glorious Autumn Day in Virginia.



Then it was on to Annapolis for my USNA 40th reunion. We opted to stay for a week this time rather than trying to jam everything in to the few days of scheduled events. We had done that before several years ago and, although it was still fun, it was pretty hectic. This time we arrived several days before the formal class events began and so could meander around the town and the yard (as the Academy campus is called) at our leisure.



This was one of the old "Drag Houses" where the girls who were dating midshipmen would stay for the weekend during visits. Back in the day it cost the girls $10 to stay here for the weekend...and they would have to share a bed with another "Drag". Rita recalls staying at this one...42 years ago.


The view up Maryland Avenue towards the State Capitol - this is the main street from the Academy gate into the town. As you can see the town of Annapolis was laid out WAY before the era of automobiles. Parking is always a problem. The town generally spruced itself up for the bicentennial celebrations of 1976 - the city dock area outside the main gate, and near the old crab market, used to be pretty seedy. Now it's all trendy restaurants and Irish Pubs - definitely a change for the better.


The little house we booked for the week. Turned out to be a great call. Not only was it a lot cheaper than the event hotel a few blocks away, but we were able to host our old 16th Company classmates one night for a social icebreaker in a very private setting.


In front of the Naval Academy chapel. The crypt of John Paul Jones is in an apse beneath the dome.


With my old room mate Don Tanaka in front of Bancroft Hall - the midshipman dorm. We sweated thru many days, and nights, here over the course of 4 long years. Don is one of the finest men I've ever known.



Here's the assembled group on the evening of our social gathering at the house. I hadn't seen many of these guys for the full 40 years since we graduated back in 1969, so it was a real treat for us all to be together again. We talked ourselves hoarse getting reacquainted. These are some of the best men I've ever had the pleasure to be associated with - and the wives were still looking good too!

Visit with Dick & Saundra Weller

On the way up to Annapolis for Homecoming at the Academy we stopped off in Fairfax, VA to spend a night with Dick & Saundra Weller - old friends from both VS-28 in Jacksonville and later at TPS in Pax River. Hadn't seen them in probably 15-20 years, but you wouldn't have known it from the ongoing conversations. Seemed as if we picked up a discussion from a few days earlier rather years. Their younger son Geoff was there too, so we got to meet him again - this time as an adult - and spoke with him at length. Appears that he's grown up to be a fine young man, which means he obviously takes more after Saundra than Dick.

Can't tell you how much fun it was to spend a couple of days with them. The gentle teasing that went back and forth had us smiling and laughing for hours - haven't laughed that much in years.

As you can see from the photo they haven't changed too much either. Dick is working for one of the beltway bandits in DC and Saundra is working with a local Medical Facility in the area. Both remain quite busy with their professional lives, although both remain as sweet-natured as we remembered from all those many years ago. Great time!

Jamestown & Williamsburg

Rita in front of one of the Indian hogans at Jamestown settlement

We're in Annapolis this week at the 40th reunion of my Naval Academy class. Really enjoying ourselves seeing a bunch of old geezers we haven't seen in years. Will get some photos out in a day or two, meanwhile here are a few photos of a couple of side trips we made from Yorktown last week, first to Jamestown and then to Williamsburg.


Artisan in period dress hard at work

Jamestown was the first English settlement in North America - believe that only St. Augustine (Spanish) predates it. The ships arrived from England in 1607 and by the end of the first winter only about 80 of the original 500 settlers were still alive. They had a love-hate relationship with the local Indians, who helped them thru the first difficult years only to be dispossessed later as more settlers poured in and established the Tidewater plantations that began the lucrative cultivation of tobacco from the West Indies. Once that cash crop got established the local tribes never had a chance.

This is the land of Pocahantas and John Smith - Smith was the first military commander of the settlement.


Talking to the armorer about Indian attack prevention


This guy was former Navy Enlisted...living in the area


Rita with Pocahantas. Rita's the one on the right. Interestingly they have Pocahantas in the garb of a plains Indian


The actual landing site and original fort was about a half mile down the road from the touristy Jamestown Settlement with it'e reenactors. There's been an excavation ongoing for years at the original site. One of the "finds" was about 20 graves that they've dated from the era, and which they believe belong to some of those who perished the first winter based on artifacts buried with them...and the evidence that they starved to death.


The original Statehouse which dates back to Jefferson, Washington, and the Virginia House of Burgesses that set the stage for American Independence in the southern colonies.

Spent the last pretty day in Williamsburg just up the road from Jamestown. In fact the capitol was moved from Jamestown to Williamsburg in 1692. We had been here many years before but never had time for a stroll. Really a pretty place, lots of history, and the College of William & Mary helps mellow out the local ambiance. Turned out it was homecoming weekend at W&M so there were a lot of old grads back in town.

A pretty little town on a pretty Autumn Day



One of the incandescent trees in Autumn dress that decorated the town. Had lunch in one of the old pubs dating from 1750...the kinds of places where the Founding Fathers debated, argued and generally hashed out the principles that begame the idea that became the United States. A neat place - we enjoyed it very much.

Spent a night with the Wellers before we headed to Annapolis. Great time reconnecting with them. Will get the photos up tomorrow.