With the house and most furniture sold and closed, and our few remaining belongings in climate controlled storage or packed into the Subaru Outback, we were free to go West...

Enjoyed a speedy trip to Perry Park, Colorado via route 70...Cap'n G at the wheel .

Grey & drizzly mid-40's stayed with us from Bedminster NJ, all through rocky hills, tunnels and the rolling amish farmland of eastern PA. We finally drove into clearing skies near our stop in Bedford PA @ 1900 hr

Got an early start @ 0630 Sat and drove 2 1/2 hours to Wheeling WVA, where our "Where the Locals Eat" guide suggested a 15 mile detour to Moundsville WVA for the best breakfast...it was worth every mile local harvest Buckwheat pancakes, deep golden yolk eggs, sausage patties and indeed the locals were in full force, their soft country twang and local slang adding just the right background serenade for our eats

Drove on through the rugged hills, coal mine country to the rolling wooded hills and farmland of the Missouri river valley to Columbia MI and on to St Louis MI. We enjoyed a day listening to a book on tape (thanks to the Johnsons), Truman, written & read by , very appropriate, as we were traveling through his homeland, and could follow the moves the family made on the state atlas.

2000 hrs sat for an hour in traffic jam in E St Louis, a frustrating end to day 2, but soon got out of town & found a motel w/Ron's Family Restaurant and the Sat nite special of "all you can eat" country fried chicken.

Sun 0620 hrs on the road again and drove 'til 0900 for re-fuel...both car & us @ Bob Evans home of great waffles & mile high biscuits

Drove through miles & miles of miles & miles, sprouting winter wheat fields and grazing land of Western Missouri & to Kansas City. We realized could make Perry Park by 1700 hrs with a shortcut our friend Bob Murphy told us about.

This was a great chance for Sunday phone calls and low 70's for Broncos football...we were 1/2 day ahead of projected time with light traffic and 75 mph speed limit...flat prairie with occasional tree lined creek

Just as the Broncos finished yet another win (undefeated so far) we caught our first glimpse of Pikes Peak....an hour later over hill & dale in Castle Rock area we saw the familiar mountain range outlined by the deep rose sunset. In no time we were enjoying warm hugs and the wonderful sight & smells of Donna & Bob Murphy's beautiful contemporary home at, 6850 ft elevation, in the pines near Pike National Forest.

Perry Park Colorado
Sunday 1700 hrs 11.22.98 to Friday 0930 hrs 11.27.98 We treasure this brief block of time with dear friends in Perry Park CO. The latest snow is melted, the temperature balmy. We have enjoyed visiting our old house, again on the market, walking the old familiar roads and views of the golf course and Lake Waconda all framed by distinctive red rocks formations and deep azure skies, serenaded by the "ocean surf"- like sound of the wind in the pines. A terrific spot for R & R and Thanksgiving '98

On an early am walk up our old street, (0700 hrs) we saw Dave Carson driving to work - we waved - I jumped up & down waving as he drove by and he backed up, said good morning, can I help you?" G said "Is this Cheyenne Road? Do you know Dave Carson? I'm George Thorne" Dave said, "hi, how are you, oh my god how are you?" He got out of his car, big hugs all around. He was really surprised. Had good laugh, he had to get to work so called Bev on the cellphone to tell her we agreed to make plans to get together for dinner.
Walked by the old house - looks good

Donna organized a group dinner in the grill room at the golf club, Tuesday pm, with drinks at their house first. Bev & Dave Carson, Gerry & Reatha Baker, Raleigh & Craig Johnson & daughter Lisa. We had a good visit, and heard the news of all kids including Maren Baker's wedding on Kuai.

Donna & Bob gave us the grand tour of PP, including some of the wonderful custom homes Bob has built in the area with contemporary southwest feeling & incredible views of rock formations. Bob & G fed horses twice a day and Donna & I visited some of her interior design projects in progress and gabbed, catching up on news & her recent spa visit. They were astounded that it took multi dumpsters and almost a year for us to cull our "stuff", and are just beginning that project too. They have a gorgeous lot and rough sketches of their next home.

Park Colorado
We drove for two long days to Boise ID to visit George's cousin Ann, husband Bill and family. It was a whirlwind weekend, these terrific folks have so many friends and a busy social life that always seems to include anyone visiting too.

It was Ann's birthday and we celebrated with dinner at their club, and the next night they generously gave us their tickets to a Reba Macintyre concert and went on to another outing. Sunday brunch was with a group of their friends we had met several years ago at their daughter Julie's wedding. A long walk with the dog along the Riverwalk and then a visit and dinner with Julie, husband Brett and their darling son Brian.

Silverton Oregon
Only a 10-hour drive along the beautiful Columbia River gorge, through Portland OR to Silverton to visit with George's folks. They welcomed us to our "winter '98-'99 homebase". Lois spoiled us with great dinners and her tasty baked goodies.

They generously made room for our excess luggage and car from December to April when we were in Canada for Christmas and Easter, at the Oregon beach, or in Asia. We had many visits between our trips and got to meet their breakfast and Elks Club buddies, teasing that you never know when the kids will move back home again. Visits with Lois' family and area tours enlivened our routine as we caught up on forwarded mail, enjoyed walks in the countryside near their home and planned the Asia trip. We all took a December trip to the Oregon coast and in April visited Earl's local favorites, a candy factory, a winery and a Dutch bulb farm.

We had a couple of visits with John and Carol Hardiman, friends from G's medical school years. They moved into their dream home on the Willamette River 2 years ago. A gorgeous contemporay ranch with walls of glass, naturalized landscaping and decks and pools that seem to "have grown" along the riverbanks.

John has a very busy Orthopedic Surgery practice.

With the balmy weather, we even managed a visit to their sailboat...an early 1970's sailing trip with them from Anacortes WA via Puget Sound to Victoria BC was my first overnight sailing adventure. Carol and their 3 children spent summers cruising Puget Sound, Straits of Georgia, and wonderous places like Pirates Coves and Desolation Sound, with John joining them for a week whenever his schedule allowed. They built a Summer house on an island that became their homeport for their summers under sail. They and their younger daughter, have raced the Transpac to Hawaii several times.

December 20, Earl & Lois flew to Lois' son's in Sacramento CA. Tracey & Geoff arrived in Portland for our Christmas trip to see Joan's Mom on Vancouver Island Canada. We all planned to greet the New Year together at the beach. But fog and bad colds kept Joan's Mom home and delayed Earl & Lois' return so had time only for a visit and dinner before getting Trace & Geoff to their plane on New Years Day.

A great year end filled with visits to many friends and family.

Joan & George