Canyon de Chelly

We wanted to visit Canyon de Chelly last year on our way north but ran out of time so
we managed to spend a couple of nights there this year.

The first day we drove along the south side and the second day we spent all day in a 6 wheeler Korean War era ammunition carrier in the Canyon on a tour.

So much to see.

Much to imagine about life in the canyon although people still live and farm there in the summer.

Monument Valley

We decided to drive through Monument Valley this year on the lookout for John Wayne and John Ford.

Alas, we saw neither - didn't expect to for obvious reasons.

Gorgeous monoliths though.

Canyonlands National Park

We spent a day driving and a little bit of hiking around Canyonlands National Park.

We had a great time but it appears that if you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle with good clearance you could do and see so much more.

Sue's Presentation in Boise

We planned our trip south to allow us to stay in Boise, Idaho, when Sue Veseth was giving her presentation of my ancestor's knitted lace and patterns - the Robbins family.

When my Father passed away we found handwritten patterns for laces from the 1800s and examples of knitted lace that I took to Sue to look at.

Sue did more than just look at. She examined the lace, washed it, laid it in the sun to naturally bleach during the summer days (actually there were quite a few that year) and then tried to knit some of the patterns.

From there she researched my ancestors, redid the patterns with modern techniques and.........

Great presentation - Michael said he learned more about my family during that talk then he had in thirty years!

Sue passed out a pattern to each Knitting Retreat participant to try and knit - very interesting to watch.

Thank you, Sue.

Sue also gave me homework for the project which I am very slowly accomplishing.

A visit with my Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Carvel

On our way to Tucson we stopped in Yakima/Selah for a visit with my aunt and uncle.

Spent the day catching up on family news then reviewing the family photos that I have managed to scan so far.

Then to dinner and back to our motel to rest up for out trip to Boise and Sue Veseth's presentation on the Robbin's knitted laces and patterns.

Visiting Cruising Friends in Friday Harbor

After several years of promises we finally made it up to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands of Washington to visit some cruising friends we met in Menorca.

They sailed on Gambit - a custom made catamaran from South Africa - which we visited in Roche Harbor while there.

Michael, Don and I had an anniversary drink at "our table" where we met 30 years ago.

Don and Sue Leff's oldest daughter, Joanna, was away at college but the youngest (not so young anymore), Rebecca, was home and she challenged Michael to many a ping pong game.

They also have a nice young Swedish girl, Emma, as a foreign exchange student at the moment.

Saturday we went to the girls soccer game - they won!

On Sunday we explored the island a bit and climbed up to Mt. Young and saw the incredible views. Walked down to English Camp, the West side lighthouse and Roche Harbor. San Juan Island is still a lovely place to be.

On Monday we got in line for the ferry early then spent time walking around downtown Friday Harbor with Don and Sue.

Had a wonderful trip!

Moving the Piano from our friends' home

The piano Michael's parents bought for him when he was a very young child has been stored in the Pliskows' basement since 1990 when we left to go cruising.

We now have a home for it in Tucson so we hired Big Al's Specialty Movers to pick it up from their home, take it to their warehouse in Vancouver, and when we arrive in Tucson to deliver it to us on their next trip south.

Apparently Big Al is just that. 6'8" and 340 lbs. He is from Samoa and one of the movers was also from Samoa.

One of those quirks of fate - we know some of the same people in Samoa!

The guys were great!