Hannah Strange Climate change is forcing growing numbers of people in the developing world to flee their homes and seek refuge abroad, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warned today. Announcing findings that the number of refugees worldwide had risen steeply for the second year running, António Guterres said that environmental degradation induced by climate change was forcing greater displacement as resources became increasingly scarce.

Another beautiful morning in the Smokies and we have a busy day planned. On Saturday we bicycled the loop road in the isolated valley tucked in the mountains called Cades Cove. There isolated structures remain of a remote agricultural community that developed in the mid 1800’s and was purchased by the National Park Service in the 1930’s. Many of the structures that remain are primitive of log and rough-cut lumber.

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We are “home” again even if only for less than a week to see Chuck’s parents, our daughter, our house, and a bit of that good old South Mountain springtime. We drove here yesterday from Cherokee where our motorhome remains waiting for our return this weekend. The drive was long and the Ford Focus is not the most comfortable vehicle for a long driving day, but the radio and a book on tape made the time go by more quickly. The greening Appalachians and blooming dogwoods and redbuds provided fine scenery.

We have returned from the Dry Tortugas. We enjoyed six days there residing three nights on the boat and three camped on Garden Key. Scored five life-birds and probably twenty year-birds there. Were enchanted by the stark scenery and dramatic wildlife above and below the surface of the turquoise sea. Met wonderful people on our boat and other boaters, campers, rangers, and volunteers.

Greetings and a short note from Old Key West. We board the "Playmate" this evening to join our bird tour of the Tortugas over the next three days. Then on Monday morning we will leave the boat to camp for three more days on Garden Key in the Tortugas. On Thursday, we will catch a ferry to return to Key West and then drive back to Key Vaca (Marathon).

went to assisi on our way to florence yesterday. saw the churdch built in memorium of st. francis (san francesco), where his tomb is below (which i also saw). again, gorgeous and very sacred. also saw the tiny little church in which he originally preached- it has been preserved by another huge church built around it. the tiny building where he died has also been preserved, it is inside the same church.

Save the date? Mike's bday and Hesler catered reunion in Guilderland