Montreal Road Trip, August 2015

This summer's major trips have focused on reconnecting with friends and relatives. August's trip (8/9 -8/27) to Montreal (crossing into Canada at Sault Ste Marie, MI) found Jim's brother John in fine health. We had been concerned because he had heart surgery in the winter. His friend Julie keeps an eye on him. Thanks!

Jim and John at the lookout on Mont Royal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Driving was our mode of transportation and we decided to try out our camping skills along the way. The weather was not always cooperative, but I have high praise for Michigan and Ontario parks. 

First night at Little Bay de Noc in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Some trip highlights:

Roger's Cup (tennis). Men this year alternating with the women next year who were simultaneously at Toronto. The ball goes so fast! And the big guys are so TALL! Fun day.

Jeremy Chardy vs Ivo Karlovic. Guess who won.

Watched Andy Murray play doubles on a smaller court. We were close!

The Murray brothers shake hands. Andy and Leander Paes lost.

Museums in Montreal. There are dozens of museums and we managed to see quite a few. My favorite was probably the Ponte-A-Calliere (The Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History). One is literally on top of the original structures that were ancient Montreal and the museum's underground walks guide you through the building and the changes to the city. Ironically, the current special exhibit was The Aztecs with recently discovered artifacts from Mexico City and a very accessible review of the glorious and tragic Aztec history.
 

What a treat to see a special Rodin exhibit at the Muse de Beaux Arte! I think there were more pieces than what I saw at his studio in Paris. (I still look at the hands and feet and believe they were done by Camille Claudel.)

Opera in the Park. Our trip coincided with the last few days of the Italian Festival and the ending celebration: opera in the park (Barber of Seville) with Italian performers and a live orchestra. Perfect evening, amazing neighborhood. 

Botanical Garden and Insectarium. We took the Metro out to the "Espace pur la vie Montreal" where the 1976 Olympics were held. Great space! Lovely gardens and a way too chaotic insect museum. Screaming kids everywhere, but the bugs were very cool.
 

Can you see the ants carrying the leaves?

Shriner's hospital dedication. John's involvement in the Masons of Quebec is longstanding. He is a Past Grand Master of Quebec. He currently keeps busy as the Shriner's Hospital foundation secretary and a couple other posts I can't remember. 

We were there for a tour of the old hospital and the dedication of the new. They fund an amazing operation and help so many children. Although I sometimes smirk at the trappings of the Masons and Shriners, I am humbled by the good work that they do.

Walking. One of my favorite urban activities is walking and people-watching. John lives near the heart of the hip culture and walking up St Laurent and down St Denis exhausted me until we stopped for special coffees at a sidewalk cafe. So cosmopolitan. 

Coffees at Brulerie on St. Denis

A more serious walk took us to the top of Mt Royal with it's fine view of the city.

Great food of all sorts. Italian, Portuguese, Lebonese, Indian, African not to mention "the best burger in Montreal" and a little home cooking, of course. 

Julie and John at Khyber Pass Cuisine Afghane in Montreal.

Brotherly love. Electrical repairs, fence and railing painting, and lilac pruning. You can't be a tourist every day!

John's house on St Urbain, Montreal.

John volunteered the side of his house for the annual Montreal Mural Festival.

I photographed many murals as I walked the streets of Montreal. They truly transform ugly or unused spaces. Follow the link above for more information and samples.

Posing at the Westmount overlook. Me with the patient brothers.

Final thoughts on the 2+ week trip: 

It's hard to combine trips (camping and urban site-seeing). Packing and finding things in the car would be easier with one goal.

Books on CD make the driving go faster, although new scenery is always fun for me. The media of choice on this trip was Cold Storage Alaska on the road and Americanah for reading in the evening. I'd recommend both.

To truly appreciate a park you need to stay longer than one night. Our timeline or the weather pushed us on. We intended to stay longer on the shore of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but it was cold and rainy and windy. This photo's blue water was short lived. I hope to get back to the Picture Rocks.

 
The jury is out on camping. Our cabin up north was a respite on the last night before home. We pitched the tent on the pontoon, watched the stars, and listened to the loons. Fun end to the trip.

Now it's time to be home for a while.

Book Group: Summer 2015

Book: The Signature of All Things
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Meeting: July 21, 2015 at Nadine's
Dessert: NY Style Cheesecake w cherries

This was my choice based on daughter Heather's recommendation. Women scientists. Funny. For most of this book the term scientist was not in existence. Story centers on Alma Whittaker and her love of mosses. Epic story. I enjoyed reading of her father's adventures with Captain Cook. 500 pages but reads fast. Gilbert is a great storyteller.


Book: China Dolls
Author: Lisa See
Meeting: August 18, 2015 at Barbara's
(I did not attend because of trip to Montreal.)

Grace, Ruby, and Helen; three Asian women thrown together in the Chinese-American nightclub scene of the 1930s and 40s. Takes place mostly in San Francisco's Chinatown. Each has a vastly different background and chapters alternate among the women in their own voice. I had a problem discerning which voice was speaking. Fiction, but based on interviews. Interesting times.

Book: Americanah
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Meeting: September 15, 2015 at Crystel's
Dessert: plum tart and ice cream

I read this book while on the Montreal trip. Nigerian woman immigrates to the United States for school; boyfriend expects to follow her. Years later her blog on race becomes her livelihood. Overall this is a love story, but I appreciated the insights into misconceptions of the African in the US experience as opposed to the African-American experience. Long, but a good summer read.

Seattle, WA and Sitka, AK Summer 2015

This was a trip more about reconnecting with old friends than about visiting places. But, the places we visited were spectacular and the friends more special than remembered.

We spent three days in Seattle on our way to Alaska. Jim met Twit (Howard Conway) in Antarctica many years ago. They stay only sporadically in touch but have a definite bond. 

Twit and Jim on porch in Seattle.

We've been traveling to SE Alaska since the mid 70s but hadn't been to Sitka since 1988. Our dear Madison college friend Jim Downs moved there and worked for the Forest Service until he was lost in a helicopter crash. We've stayed in touch with his wife Kitty LaBounty. And time marches on. . .

Kitty and her island taxi in Sitka.

But first, some photo highlights of Seattle:

We climbed to the top of the water tower (Agua Pura).

Spectacular views from the water tower.

Dale Chihuly Museum at the base of the Space Needle.

A glass ceiling inside the Chihuly museum.

Interior glass gardens in the Chihuly museum.

Remotely lit luminescent Chihuly forms.

Gardens with complimentary Chihuly glass forms.

Can you tell that I loved the Chihuly museum! We also visited the Seattle Public Library, toured a lock system with underground viewing of a salmon ladder, and took a ferry to Bainbridge Island. Twit's university office has a patio with a view of Mt. Rainier. What beautiful country.

Sitka, Alaska / June 28 - July 12, 2015

Then we flew to Sitka where Kitty kept us busy for the next two weeks! She lives on an island (a 10 minute boat ride to Sitka) and parks her boat at a dock about a half mile from her house. One walks on a trail with a partial boardwalk to get to the house and grazes on blueberries and huckleberries along the way.

Kitty's bedroom window looking south.

Kitty sunning in her garden.

Eagles everywhere (especially when the neighbors clean fish).

Kayaking around the island. Kitty made her kayak!

 

Totem poles at the Sitka Natl Historical Park.

Totem design detail.

I'll interrupt the photos for a couple comments. I love this park. The totem poles are placed along a path next to the ocean and they sneak up on you as you walk. The curvature of the lines is quite defined although there was one new pole at the park that breaks the rules. 

The following picture was taken at the Larkspur Caffe which is on the first floor of the Raven Radio station building in downtown Sitka. Members of the group (The Balkan Conspiracy) are friends of Kitty's. While they were performing, the "groupies" played a free-form version of Scrabble (no scoring, loose rules, and you can play outside the grid). Quite a boisterous game. Note: It is about 9 pm and the sun is streaming in the window. It doesn't really get dark this time of year.

The Balkan Conspiracy at the Larkspur Caffe, Sitka, AK.

Heather and Greg arrive in time for the "tuneup" hike to Indian River Falls.

A much needed break and lunch on the 4.5 mi. hike up to the falls.

Spectacular falls. Note Kitty and Matt in lower right.

Reindeer Redhots at the Saturday (July 4) Farmers Market.

Captain in a dress for the 4th!

4th of July parade where everyone throws out candy!

Tour at Sitka Salmon Shares (we subscribe): processing king salmon.

3-Day trip to Fred's Creek Cabin on Kruzoff Island.

Heather reprises her AK 70s pink pants look for her dad.

Beachcombing; lookng back toward Sitka.

Hiking up Mt. Edgecumbe with Steve, Kitty and Mary Beth.

The volcanic summit appears.

Mt. Edgecumbe, a 7 mile climb (6 gentle, 1 vertical).

Gandolf (Greg) and I turn back before the vertical climb.

Sea otters cavorting in front of the cabin.

Checking out Kruzoff tide pools on a rainy day.

Waiting for our ride back to Sitka. Heather is knitting socks with an ocean pattern.

The few days left were all partially rainy, but it didn't stop us from shopping (great NW fabric patterns at the Ben Franklin), kayaking, hiking, eating seafood, playing games (Cantan), helping with chores, and visiting other Sitka sites like the Raptor Center where we saw eagles and owls and ravens and all kinds of birds. I managed to slip on the boardwalk on my final hike from Kitty's to the dock to the airport. No lasting damage. Whew! Knees are safe for tennis when I get home. Great trip. Thank you, Kitty.

Jim Downs: the only thing missing from the trip!

Schreiber Cousins Picnic, June 2015

There were 18 cousins born into 5 families, descendents of Robert and Emily Schrieber of La Crosse, Wisconsin. I grew up next door to Grandma and Grandpa and had the benefit of seeing all of the cousins as they visited my grandparents and parents. Now, we are mostly scattered and few keep in touch. My mother Ruth was the great communicator. She knew everyone's birthday and sent cards religiously. At her funeral last September the oldest cousin Tom proposed getting together and he would organize it. He created a Facebook page and reserved a shelter and made it happen on June 21 outside Minneapolis. 

This is the group who attended. 

More photos to come.

Book Group: June 2015

Book: The Secret History of Wonder Woman
Author: Jill Lepore
Meeting: June 16, 2015 at Ginny's
Dessert: Raspberry cheesecake with fresh strawberries and blueberries

Don't pick this up for a light summer read. Although the story of the family behind the cartoon character is fascinating and kinky, Lepore's writing is more like a well documented thesis. The links to the suffragist movement in the early 1900s and Margaret Sanger's crusade for birth control kept me interested. I didn't know that Sanger's Birth Control Federation was the name of the organization that became Planned Parenthood. And how does she relate to Wonder Woman? Read the book!

Tour de Cure - Twin Cities 2015

The annual Tour de Cure ride for diabetes saw a few twists this year. 

(For a detailed explanation of daughter Heather's diabetes journey you can follow this link to last year's post on this blog:
http://aviewofaging.blogspot.com/2014/06/tour-de-cure-2014.html  )

Heather asked me to co-captain so I could help out with the details. I mostly jumped in crafting things to expand our logo identity. First I transformed my helmet using Outdoor ModPodge and then I did Heather's. Quite fun. I was glad they weren't tested in a downpour!

Working on the Pancremaniac helmet for Captain Heather.

Heather and I with our ModPodged helmets.

The logo (and inspiration for my crafting) was designed by Treden Wagoner. This photo of Pat and Bob shows off the logo quite well. I congratulate them on braving the cold weather to reveal the logo. I never took off my black shirt!

Pat and Bob look swell in their Pancremaniac jerseys.

Friends from Madison joined us again this year. Judy was raring to go but Jimmy was a little under the weather. Thanks for riding with us! 

Jimmy and Judy drove up from Madison to join the ride.

Pancremaniacs ready to ride the 45 mile loop.

The photo above of the group riding the 45-mile loop includes two new riders this year. On the left is Lee who was the most enthusiastic participant. He is a neighbor/friend of the Charles family who ride every year. The circle grows. And on his left is Rosey. She started a modest Facebook challenge asking for a $1 donation from all of her FB friends hoping to get the necessary $200 minimum. (She even offered to pick up the donation.) By race day she had raised over $850. You go girl!!!

The other new "celebrity" rider is Rebecca Young a T1 diabetic speed skater from Milwaukee (on the left side of the photo below). She has legs of steel. Here she poses at the head of the 29-mile pack with Heather and Scott Johnson. The community support was everywhere that day. GO RED RIDERS!!!

Rebecca (T1 speed skater), Heather, and rock star Scott Johnson. (Becca is in the trailer behind Heather.)

My final crafting for the year was Pancremaniac bottle caps given to all the riders. Won't you join us next year?  (Always the Saturday after Memorial Day, in Minneapolis, MN.)

Pancremaniac bottle cap magnets to thank riders.