nother year is flying by with lots of travel, work and time with friends. Cycling took me to Oregon three times: down to the home of Bill and Kay Howitt for the Spring Sutherlin Classic to get an early start on the season. Then mid-summer both Robin and I took off to ride in the Week End Cycle Oregon ride, and also to be part of the wedding for Eluise and Matt. Eluise is the daughter of Robin’s cousin, John. Finally, in the fall it was back for the week long Cycle Oregon for me. When the ride was over, I flew up to Seattle and joined Robin for a flight to Italy for three weeks, which included a week of cycling.

Cycle Oregon Week-End (p1) -Cappuccino break (p2) -Start of Tuscany Cycling (p3)

The cycling in the Pisa to Florence part of Italy was preceded by a week of hiking in Sicily and the Aolian Islands to the north: Lipari, Volcano, Salina and the volcanically active Stromboli. Stromboli is the most active volcano on Earth, and the hiking path allowed spectacular views at night, looking directly down into the actively exploding crater, which sends up blasts every 10 to 20 minutes. The hard hats issued did not feel very reassuring.

  Hiking Salina Island (p1) -  Stromboli erupts (p2) -  Fumaroles on Volcano (p3)

Alaska is also a spectacular place. We took several hiking trips with friends to such places as Cordova and to the Jumbo Mine near the old Kennecott Copper Mine. Both of us continue to work at part time jobs. Robin is an elected member of the local road service board, and she sits on the HALO Board (home and land owners association).