Weekend at West Point

My brother, Rich, and I joined our friends Rick and Harold Timboe for a weekend at West Point in New York.  Rick and Harold both attended and graduated from the United States Military Academy.  Harold went on to become a two-star general and Rick, a captain.  We were treated to a thorough tour of the academy, ate in the mess hall with 4,000 cadets, attended a parade on the grounds of West Point, and enjoyed a good football game between Stanford and Army.  Then it was off to Times Square for a good time in New York City where we walked Central Park, ate at Carmines Deli, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the big city.

Summertime Beach Party

We've been doing it forever.  Break out the potato salad, hot dogs, beach chairs, firewood, and S'mores and head for the beach in the late afternoon.  Various cities are considering eliminating fire pits on the beaches but beach parties are an American tradition and need to be preserved for future generations.

Family Wedding in Mariposa

Travis Keller married Lennel Mendoza in Mariposa, California this week.  The wedding was attended by family members who traveled from as far away as Japan (Morgan and family) and Australia (Neal).  A Friday night reception was followed by an outside Saturday wedding at Carter Ranch.

Celebrating our 40th Anniversary

We spent three days and two nights at the St Regis at Dana Point.  We also enjoyed spending time at San Clemente and Laguna Beach.

40th Anniversary

                                                   August 4, 1973 - August 4, 2013

Return to Campfire Lodge

Our good friends, Bob and Toni Bowers, joined us for a vacation at the Campfire Lodge on the Madison River near West Yellowstone.  We vacationed together at this site approximately thirty years ago when our kids were toddlers.  On this trip, the fly-fishing was good as multiple rainbows and a cutthroat were netted -- with one measuring 19 inches!  We saw plenty of animal life including a big horn sheep, otters, and elk.  We enjoyed a day long trip to Jackson Hole near the Tetons, taking a boat on Jenny Lake to a destination where we embarked on a formidable climb

to see a remarkable waterfall.  We spent some time in West Yellowstone where we shopped and watched "Alaska" at the IMAX theater.  The weather ranged from warm to really cold, with hail falling in big chunks at one point.  Breakfast at the Campfire Lodge Cafe on the river was delicious as we were entertained by Osprey hunting for and securing trout for their young out of the river.  We'll be going again.

A Little Fellow Follows Me

I was cleaning out my garage and found a picture of a very young Ryan fishing with me on a dock many years ago.  Linked to this picture is a poem entitled, "A Little Fellow Follows Me" by the Grailer Society, Inc., and shared with me by the late Skip Rowland.