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