Oct. DC Trip

On October 9th we flew (AirTran) from Dayton to DC to visit Leah and Julian. The flight was at 7am, so we only got half a night's sleep with travel and early check-in! We hadn't seen them in half a year, so it was a nice reunion. We had beautiful weather, and had fun seeing some new sights.

Leah picked us up at the Wash/Balto airport - which was about an hour from their place - on Thursday morning. Since we got there early, we waited for about an hour in the Observation Gallery upstairs. It was very comfy and quieter than the other areas.

We met Julian for lunch and dined near his office at a Thai Restaurant that was one of their favorites.

We stayed at a Marriot Hotel one mile from their apartment.... very convenient! Leah and i shopped for groceries and she and Julian cooked supper for us at the motel kitchenette. They made all their favorites: Plantains, Guacamole with chips, and some round bread cheese things.... i threw in the broccoli! We were stuffed.

*Leah and Julian rest on the sofa in our Hotel room*

Our Hotel had a wonderful full breakfast. Leah joined us on Friday morning before Jim took the metro into DC to enjoy some museums. Later, leah and i drove about 15 mins. south to David's Bridal where she chose a beautiful dress - on clearance! I won't give it away, but it fits her perfectly and was the first one she tried on!

We were done with the dress search by 12:30, and stopped for frozen yogurt to celebrate! We drove back north to Tyson's Corner Mall for a look around. It was way too pricey for me so we went to Marshall's where leah found a pair of jeans for $10! I bought a night shirt tee. We were at the end of our time limit to pick up Julian from work, so leah left me to check out while she picked up Jim and Julian, then came back for me and supper at a Kabob place nearby.

Back at the Hotel, we played a game of Canasta.... teaching Julian along the way. It was a fun evening!

On Saturday, we drove to the city, and found a place to park near a construction site. The guy working there said it was OK to park in the "Non" spot, so we did, and it turned out to be OK! We walked past the Washington Memorial to the World War II Memorial. Took lots of pics. It was so pretty with the bright blue sky as a backdrop.

*the people on the "movers" were on a tour!*

We then walked back to the Natural History Museum to see a live butterfly exhibit. The enclosed area was very warm and moist for the tropical insects. It was very nice and we took lots of pics. I was the first one out due to the heat.


*Natural History Museum Rotunda*

After a short snack break in the shade, we decided to walk back to the Tidal Basin.... it was farther than i realized!

* This mounted policeman was having a hard time controlling his horse near the tour bus*

By the time we got there we only had a moment before we had to go back to get to the car and drive to Union Station where their church is -- in the basement of a coffee shop. After church we walked the 1/2 block to eat some supper at the Union Station food court and take some pics. It was a long day, but very nice!



*Leaving the city at night*

Leah and Julian met us at the Hotel on Sunday morning and since they were busy with breakfast in the car, Jim drove to the airport! Our flight was on time, and we had an easy trip back.

Camping in Michigan

August 7-10, Jim and I hitched up the Little Critter & our bikes, and headed north to
'God's Country' to visit family and the lake.
We didn't get out of Sidney before the newly positioned bike rack fell off the back of our camper scraping up Jim's new "fezarri" bike on one side. It was not a good beginning, but we put his bike in the back of the car, strapped the tandem to the back of the Subaru and continued on.
We eventually got to Montague Michigan and the "Trailway Campground." This was not our typical campground with a fire ring at every site, but more like a mini RV park. It WAS, however, right at the edge of the local bike trail... very convenient.
The next day was Friday 8.8.08 - and the opening of the Summer Olympics in Beijing China!
Jim found out ahead of time that this park offered full cable hookup, so we brought our little 13" TV from the kitchen along this time... a first! He was all snug in the camper that evening watching the Olympic opening. I was interested and would have watched, but my sisters were there visiting, and the LAKE was calling me with a beautiful sunset.
I opted for a walk on the beach and watching a magical sunset with my sisters over the tiny trailer and the olympic opening this year... life is short!


Cathy's grandaughter Hannah joined us at the beach too... she even took our picture!




Jim enjoyed some longer solo rides on his bike... exploring the trail and the quaint town. We also took the tandem out every day... here area few pics of the trail and some sights along the way.















*Twisters Ice Cream, next to the park*


*world's largest weather vane*


*one of many dozens of Swans in the area*

On Saturday, we decided to drive up to Ludington to visit Mom & Dad, so they wouldn't have to make the trip down as rain was predicted. We had a nice meal together and played a GREAT game of canasta in which the women won handily!

At sunset that evening Jim and I drove around White lake to the closest Lake Michigan beach area at the White River lighthouse point. It was a nice way to end the day.










On Sunday we took a last ride on the tandem



After packing up, we were on our way...



We drove past the Muskegon State Park, beach & distant lighthouse on the way south...


*close shot of Muskegon Lighthouse*


*Good bye sweet beach! ... until next year!*

We were doing well for time until we heard a loud noise from behind just north of Ft. Wayne, Indiana on I-69...... the driver's side tire on the trailer had given out... shredded. We dug out the spare and wrench and Jim changed it in 15 minutes; a new record! I stood at the back of the trailer hoping the passing cars saw me and would get into the other lane! some did.
So even with our travel difficulties, it was a magnificent Michigan trip!

End of July!

The end of July has been full of fun and interesting activity!
At work, the summer reading program ended with a bang with the "Carnival Day" on the 19th. Jim helped us set up and tear down the many tables and games that were provided in the Library yard. I was on desk duty in the basement with Dawn, so i didn't get to witness the outdoor festivities, which actually wasn't so bad, since it was a humid day in the upper 80's! AC is a good thing in Ohio!

The next day (Sun. 20th) we drove to south Dayton to meet the family at a Red Lobster for Mom O's 86th birthday. We decided on this location, so that mom and dad could use their RL gift card from Christmas! It was a nice afternoon.

On Tues. the 22nd, we had an afternoon visit from our godson, James. His dad dropped him off at the library at the end of my shift and we went to the grocery, then home where we rode bikes in the neighborhood and got out the squirt guns. When Jim got home from work James was ready for a water gun duel!

On the 23rd, i drove south to Piqua where "Group Work Camp" was in full force. Teen church groups from all over the US were helping to repair homes of elderly or low income families all over town. I had the fun job of taking pictures of the workers at many sites to be included on a complimentary CD our church was providing as part of our hospitality ministry to them.
Here are a few of the groups:

On Thursday the 24th, Leah flew safely from Berlin to DC to be reunited with her husband, Julian. She also got to meet his sister, Monica, who is working in DC for the summer. They had a fun day at the Chesepeake Bay Beach on the weekend. See L's blog for more pics!

We enjoyed a short visit from James and Stephanie Keefer on Friday evening. They were on their way back to Baltimore from Iowa where they attended S's 30th school reunion & visited family!

On Saturday the 26th, Jim and friend Randy Howard had an adventure kayaking down the Great Miami River from Sidney to Piqua. They got a late start, and took a spill mid way - where Jim lost his glasses to the swirling waters; they returned home wet, tired and sunburned around 4pm.

Ahh, Sunday the 27th.... our day of rest. Well, maybe next week. On this day we traveled to the south of Dayton with 5 other adults, and 16 'Power House' kids to Splash Moraine, where we enjoyed the waterpark there. The Lazy River, wasn't so lazy when i was chasing my group of 3 very speedy girls! The slide was fun and the wave pool was amusing!


On Tuesday the 29th i observed a wild canary eating seeds from the cat nip blooms under our blue spruce tree in the front yard! I took the pics from inside with our great zoom!













Finally.... July 31st... today! Bryan came over last night to visit us and friend Nick T. Today, our former exchange student from Spain came to visit. Hector arrived in the states on Tues. - late... and today his friend Peter drove him up from Dayton. We went to lunch at CJ's where Jim joined us.













Frpm CJ's resturant, we drove by SHS and were pleased to find B & H's high school counselor, Barb Kerr was in her office - they recognised her blue volkswagon! We waited a bit for her to finish up with a student, and had a very nice "reunion." She was very gracious to let us interupt her day on her 2nd day back at school after summer break.


We called Peter from the car and he had his taxi waiting to take H back to Dayton when we got back home.

Bryan and i decided to take the bikes to the new trail which begins at the back of Graceland cemetary near the 'Big Four' bridge. B pumped up Jim's old red bike tire, and we were off. When we got to the trail, the bike tire was flat, so we decided to walk part of the trail. It was very hot and sweaty, but a nice time. On the way out, just under the railroad bridge, B spotted a very small salamander. It was about 2.5 inches long head to tail.... and WHAT a tail. Brilliant blue!












Whew! So that was July..... i wonder what August will bring?