Peru -- In the beginning, the Amazon basin.

   After a weekend with the Kringels (including Ever's graduation ),

we headed for Lima at midnight, Monday, June 6 --  an eight-plus hour non-stop flight on LATAM airline.  Arrived in Lima about 10 am.  It's cloud-covered most of the year, and the coast is a desert.  No pictures.  Hung out at the hotel at the airport all afternoon -- too tired to try to do anything else.  Besides, wouldn't have known what to do.  The airport area in Callao is not a good location for wandering around, we were told.  The rest of the tour group arrived late that night.  We took off early the next morning (June 8) for Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon basin.  Once we got above the clouds, we could see the Andes.

  After landing, we left our bags in storage and took small carry-ons to the river. 



We boarded our boats and headed down the river for a 20 minute ride to our jungle lodge.  We were told the elevation here was only about 600 feet above sea level.  After flying over the Andes -- and our stopover at Cusco at 11,000 feet en route -- it was hard to imagine that the bulk of South America was so flat.  If the rivers only drop 600 feet while flowing 2,500 miles or so, it's no wonder they are wide, deep and slow moving!

Our home for the next two nights:

Did a jungle walk in the afternoon.  It was most interesting to see that the jungle isn't much different that our Hawaii jungle.  Many of the same trees and plants

 

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to load my camera pictures -- only the ones from my iPhone.   After dinner, we took an evening ride down the river looking for copybara and cayman.  Saw a few of each.  The next morning week saw these macaw and a parrot at the lodge.

After breakfast we headed over to monkey island.  The monkeys like bananas, so come for treats.

   After monkey island, we ate on the boats and headed back into the jungle for a trek to Lake Sandoval. 

Saw several walking palms. 



And some ants.

In the canoe on the way to the lake.

  We were fortunate to have cool weather.  It had been 90 degrees the day before we arrived.  But we were greeted with a cold wind from the Andes and temperatures in the high 60s.  Perfect!

  Early the next morning, we went into the jungle to see parrots feeding on a clay bank. 

  It was a nice sunny morning as we headed back to Puerto Maldonado. 

Saw several cayman along the way.

  Back to the Golden Gate.

    Had a few minutes to walk through the local markets.

   Then back to the airport where we said goodbye to our jungle guides before flying off to Cusco.

  'Twas a nice way to start our adventure.  Stay tuned for more.



March Trip

Haven't been posting, in part as I couldn't get pictures to upload in Internet Explorer.  Chrome seems to be working, so here goes.  In March, I went to the ACTEC meeting on Marco Island, Florida.  Florida looks a little different -- especially the Gulf Coast.  A few pix coming into Ft. Myers.

 Florida always seems so flat!

 Stayed in Naples, as the conference hotel was booked.  Did get one nice afternoon by the pool.

Next stop Washington, for a visit with Court and Dustin.  Approaching Reagan International.  Not used to seeing so much snow and ice back there!

 Court & I got to spend some quality time together.  When she asked me what I wanted to do, I said simply, "Walk and talk."  So we started out at the C & O Canal by the Potomac.  The canal was frozen solid.

Lots of water in the Potomac!

 A bit chilly, but beautiful!

Afternoon was into the city:  a little Air & Space (see Court's blog) and dinner with Dustin.  End of the day visit with Martin Luther King.

 Anybody listening?

Next day, we had an "awesome" visit to the Capitol, courtesy of Katherina of Rep. Gabbard's office.  Just Court and I and an intern in their office with Katherina.  The contrast with our previous experience a couple of years ago was amazing.  Spent over two hours in the Capitol, including time on the House floor and where we had the opportunity to cast our votes.  Sorry, no pictures, but here's Father Damien.

After the Capitol, we spent a few more minutes at Air & Space, then picked up Dustin for a trip to Annapolis.  Got there just in time for a few minutes in the State Capital.

 Then down to the harbor and and delicious dinner.

Lots of ice in the harbor!

Spent a couple of days in Utah visiting with Mom and helping Terry & Liz clean out some of the accumulation of stuff in the Springville house.  Last stop was Reno -- where I was able to spend the weekend with the Rob & Anna's, skiing with the family a couple of days and celebrating Clara's 8th birthday.  

Lucky to catch the end of the ski season.

 Feels good to still be able to keep up with my boy!

All in all, a great couple of weeks!

Sierra Buttes Hike

Courtney did a great job with the narrative of our Monday hike, so I'll just add my pictures.  Blue clear skies would have been nice, but we all enjoyed the cool of the misty air.

The views were spectacular.

Fortunately, the kids weren't afraid of heights.

Toward the top, we got help with rails and steps.

Love the rocks and snow!

On top is an old fire lookout station.

Here's the green side.

Trail below.

Don't look down!

Stairs were amazing!

Plaque and stone at base of stairs to top.  Stone could have been mine, almost.

Ready for our descent.
 Rained on the way down, so no more pictures.  It was a wonderful way to spend the morning.

Mom's Story

  Just finished reading Mom's Life Story.  Thanks so much to Liz and Mom.  Although I'd heard most of the stories before, it was amazing to read it all.  Usually 4-6 pages is about all I can manage before falling asleep at night.  However, this kept me awake for 20-30 pages or more, and I still wasn't tired!  Mom and Dad had a wonderful life together.  It makes me appreciate all the more the wonderful parentage and family I have so often taken for granted.  (It also made me wonder if we should start having fun before it's too late!)