Travel

8 Jul 21 Seattle

To "do" family and friends and escape Tucson heat we burned some frequent flyer miles and went to the Northwest. They had just finished a record-setting heat wave so the weather was perfect for our visit. The airports and planes were packed, Covid must be over! We stayed in Seattle for two nights then had a Vrbo on Bainbridge Island (as short ferry ride) for the two nights there.

Met nephew's wife, Sara, and son Miles at Green Lake Park

So nice to see lush gardens

Lauve's friend from work, Michelle and her partner Karen met us in the afternoon to see some Seattle sites.

Michelle on the left

An interesting exhibit at the Museum of Industry & History

Dinner with a view of Lake Union

Dessert and magic at their house after dinner

Our Seattle hotel - the Waterfront Marriott had views of the city, but mostly a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship!

9 - 11 Jul 21 Bainbridge Island to visit brother Steve and his wife Susie

Flowers everywhere

Beach walk with Steve, Miles and nephew, Beau

9-holes with Steve at Meadowmeer Golf Club

9 - 13 June 21 Visiting daughter Julia, and her family

Tad and his girlfriend McKinsey

Helping Nathan tear down swing set we built 15 years ago

Hike on Mt Kearsarge ~3 miles, 1100 ft.

Pond on our loop walk near Julia's house

13 - 18 June 21 VBT guided bike tour in Vermont

This was a classic VBT trip near Lake Champlain. We did day rides out of two hotels - Swift House in Middlebury and Basin Harbor Inn on Lake Champlain. There were 6 days of riding of about 25 - 30 miles through rural farm land with rolling hills. The longest ride was 45 miles.

Swift House Inn Middlebury

Typical snack stop. Road bikes were 105 Fuji carbon - plenty good

Dairy is the major industry, but is in decline

One of our big lunches after the ride

And dessert, of course

Kayaked one day after the ride

Lobster dinner the last night

Where the Morgan horse breed started

Basin Harbor

Bridge across Lake Champlain - VT to NY

Our group - pretty homogenous

20 June 21 Visited Linda and Paul Brouard, friends of Lauve's from work

Working on creek bridge repair on their lot

Paul and Linda's flower bed

21 - 23 June Newport, RI to see the mansions

The people that built the mansions, Vanderbilt's and other titans of industry, often called them cottages and most were only used during the Summer. Their heyday was the late 1800's till the 1920's when the owners were struck by the introduction of Federal income tax, the depression and the rising cost of employing upwards of 70 people to serve and maintain the houses.