Travel:
I've been  fortunate  and have seen a lot of the world.  My  wife and I enjoy the escorted  tour format.   We got hooked when we took our first  tour in 1987.   In addition to where my Air Force career has taken us, we've been to Europe (England, Holland, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Northern Italy), Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Alaska, the Bahamas and Canada.  We hope to go to Ireland and Hawaii (Maui, again) over the next few years. Our Maui marathon trip was completed in March 2000 and the New York Marathon  trip in November of that year. Some vacations that involve visiting family include special side trips like Disneyworld with the grandkids. Our Southern Italy  3 week vacation, covered 2900 miles with visits to Rome, Naples, Capri, Caserta, Sorrento, Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, Taormina, Taranto, Alberobello, Parma, Venice, Padua and Milan. The vacation  included a visit with cousins in Padua, before ending on Oct 5, 2003.

In September 2005, we ventured off the the guided tour format and decided to try Washington DC on our own. If you are a history buff this is the place to visit.  I think that there are more sites to see in central DC than in any city in the country. Another place we visited recently (Feb.06) was Estes Park, Co.. specifically to see Rocky Mountain National Park. Although travel was limited in the winter, we look forward to a summer visit.

September 2006: Branson, MO. This was our first trip ever to Branson. We heard so much about it that we decided to take a look for ourselves. It was great. We saw 8 shows in 5 days and will be going back for more.

September 2007: Universal Orlando. We've done Disney but never universal or Sea World, so we went 23-28 Sept. It was worth the trip despite the heat and humidity and lots of walking. The crowds were small and the ride waits were under 15 minutes.  Of all the rides I liked the Mummy ride the best.

August 2008: A week at Bellows A.F.S, Waimanalo, Oahu. Rented a cabin on the beach. Saw some things we hadn't before like the Battleship Missouri, Dole Pineapple Plantation (maze), one of several Botanical Gardens, Ala Moana shopping center (one of the largest in the world, a house we lived in there 40 years ago and Sea Life Park to include its evening Luau. Outside of the long 9 hour flight, it was a great vacation.

2009: No vacation taken. Spent most of the year training to run the American Discovery Trails Marathon in September From palmer Lake Colorado to Colorado Springs.

September 2010: Vacation this year was a road trip west. Dee and I decided we would check out some of the national parks in western Colorado and Utah. After a week and 1300 miles we had seen Blue Mesa reservoir, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, traversed US 550 (the million dollar highway), Durango, Cortez, Mesa Verde National Park, the 4 Corners Monument (in New Mexico), Moab Utah and the National Parks Arches and Canyon Lands, then back through Colorado to Colorado Natl. Monument Park (Fruita), Lakes Dillon and Grand, through Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park and back to the Springs.

August 2011 vacationed in the San Joaquin Valley to see  Yosemite, Kings National/Sequoia, orchards, wineries and some interesting area sites. Temperatures for the week averaged 102 degrees. Fruits were delicious and the sites were incredible. Driving in California takes some getting used to.