Niagara Falls

It was time to get our MINI Cooper serviced, and with MINI Coopers you MUST go to an authorized MINI to get the service (even BMW dealers aren't supposed to service MINIs unless they are also a franchized MINI dealer! For us that means a couple of hour drive to Williamsville, NY which is near Buffalo. So, we decided to make a mini-vacation of it.

On the first day, we drove the loaner MINI to East Aurora, New York (which is about 150 miles west of Aurora - go figure) to check out the Roycrofters museum and complex. If you are into the craftsman style, this is a worthwhile trip. East Aurora is a nice little town - and that's all I have to say about that.

We spent the night in the Quality Inn and Suites in Niagara Falls, NY. We have stayed there several times before and don't find any problems with the hotel. It is conveniently located within an easy walk to the New York side of the Niagara Falls park area and is very close to the Rainbow Bridge to Canada.

We did the obligatory walk down to the US falls. If you have never been there, it is a US vacation destination you have to try. Unfortunately, the best views of both the US and Canadian falls is from the Canadian side, still, both sides are impressive.

On Saturday, we drove over to Canada and drove north along the Niagara Parkway stopping by two Canadian Wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake area. Their wineries are different than the Finger Lakes New York wineries. Their tastings are more tightly controlled by the Provincial government - limited to just 4 tastings not to exceed 1 ounce each. Makes it hard to get a tasting of the full range of wines. Pellar Estates is my favorite of the wineries in the area, but it is an upscale tasting experience.

We walked around Niagara-on-the-Lake checking out the numerous shops and stopped at the oldest golf course in North America for a beer on their patio. Later, it was lunch in the Angel Inn - our favorite dining location in that area.

Back to Niagara Falls, NY for a final night and then back home along the southern edge of Lake Ontario and then south to Elmira.

Olympic National Park

After an extra night in the Hampton Inn in Bremerton, we struck out on Route 3 north from Bremerton until we got to Route 101 and followed it for the next two days.

Along the way, we spied a lavender farm and stopped for a visit. Apparently, the valley in that area makes for some of the best lavender growing in the country - but we didn't buy any plants.

We stopped for lunch in Port Angeles, right on the Strait of Juan De Fuca. We had intended to go into the National Park here, but turns out the it was a Monday and the road into the park is being worked on during the week so that was out.

Continuing on Route 101 heading west, we came to a small park with a trail to Mary Falls, needless to say, with a name like that we had to make the trek. Into the woods we went, and the feeling was primordial forest! Large trees, very large trees, moss growing on almost everything since this is close to a temperate rain forest. The falls weren't that spectacular, but it was a nice little respite.

We kept driving and saw on the map a place called Rialto Beach. That was one of the most spectacular beaches I have ever seen - and I have seen a lot of beaches from Australia to the Mediterranean, South America and the Caribbean to England - and this was the greatest! Many huge logs have drifted onto the beach, many 5 to 6 feet in diameter and all of a driftwood texture. Off shore there are many sea mounts adding to the effect. That night we stayed at a cheap motel in Forks, WA.

The next day we continued south and stopped at a couple more beaches, but none as impressive as Rialto beach.

A side trip into the temperate rainforest of Olympic national park and some more "primordial" forest that we will remember all lives.

Then the long trip back to the Seatac airport area for our last night in Washington.

This day was also Mary's birthday so we went out to dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate.

In the morning, up and at it, shuttle to the airport and on to a USAIR flight home. USAIR sure knows how to do domestic first class a lot better than NWA.

Navy Nuclear Weapons Association 22nd Annual Reunion

Hosted by John Gray, the Navy Nuclear Weapons Association held its 22nd annual reunion in Bremerton, WA. Our host hotel was the Hampton Inn located right on the waterfront of Bremerton. The hotel is part of a complex which includes the ferry landing, the USS Turner Joy destoyer floating museum and the Kitsap County's convention center. All in all a pretty good venue for the reunion.

With about 120 attendees, many old friendships were renewed and new friendships forged.
The Navy Nuclear Weapons Association (NNWA) is a nationwide organization of military and civilian participants in the US Navy Department nuclear weapons program during the years 1946 to present. Many of its members meet annually in September or October at various locations across the US to reminisce with long-lost friends, provide support with veterans affairs and medical information, visit historical sites, enjoy quality entertainment in hospitable environs, and salute our departed. The NNWA website is http://www.navynucweps.com/.

The reunion began on Wednesday, September 24th with registration and gatherings in the hospitality suite. On Thursday, the scheduled event was a Group Bus trip to Clearwater Casino for dinner and entertainment.

Several of us decided to go on a Gray Lines tour of the Boeing factory north of Seattle. After taking the ferry back to Seattle (again), we were met by the bus at the waterfront and taken on our tour. Unfortunately, Boeing's mechanics union has chosen this time to go on strike!!! We didn't get to see the factory where the Boeing Dreamline is being built. We did get to see a private collection of military aircraft, but it wasn't the same.

After the tour, several of us went out to dinner at the Thirsty Owl, an Irish pub close to the Seattle waterfront - good beer (as always) and good food and good friendship

Friday found us on the scheduled DUKW tour of Seattle (woth the time and effort) a great lunch at, of all places, a brew pub.

As an aside, the best beer we found in Seattle was Mac & Jack's ale!

Friday night, many of us went to dinner at Anthony's at the waterfront in Bremerton.

Saturday - morning taken up with the Association's business meeting, afternoon free and Saturday night's dinner dance at the Kitsap Convention center.

Sunday morning, folks packing up the historical items and saying their final goodbyes.

Mary and I got a ride to the Seatac Airport area with John and Nancy O'Malia where we rented a car for our final days in the great Pacific northwest.

Before returning to Bremerton, we drove to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. As members of the Corning Museum of Glass, we have reciprocal admission rights so it cost us nothing. The museum is nice enough and their hot glass demonstration was most interesting, but the museum is small and their galleries don't hold a candle to the Corning Museum of Glass.

Looking forward to the next NNWA reunion to be held in the Dallas area in 2009.

Mount Rainier

On the Monday following the AMS Users Group Power Users Seminar (another pitch for AMSUG), Jack and Marge Grieves and Mary and I met at the ferry landing in Seattle and then joined a Gray Lines tour to Mt. Rainier.

The weather was very pleasant, sunny and not too warm, when we left and stayed good most of the day. The bus trip to Mt. Rainier took longer than I expected, after all, you can see the mountain from the Seattle area!

At Paradise lodge, we stopped for lunch at the lodge (good food and great Mac & Jack's beer. We did experience the first snow of the year for us and the wind was strong and very cold - wind chill had to be close to zero or below some of the times.

Among the sites we saw were some huge first growth forest trees and streams that had experienced some fairly violent floods We also saw, in the distance, at least one glacier (my memory plays tricks on me, thought we saw a bunch of them but unless you are closer it is hard to tell a glacier from a snow covered valley WAY up there.

We did get some grat views of the peak but it was obvious that the peak was not the place to be - snow was blowing off the peak under very strong winds.

Two days of AMSUG Power Users seminar in Seattle

So, it is up bright and early to catch the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle for the AMS Users Group Power Users Conference. There is no cost to take the ferry to Seattle and it is a pleasant one hour ride with lots of scenery and a dramatic view of the Seattle sky line as the ferry comes in to the waterfront. The ferries are clean and comfortable and it is obvious that lots of folks take this ride everyday to work. Many of them fly to their favorite seats and catch up on their sleep during the ride.

From the maps I reviewed prior to making this trip, it looked like an easy 6 or 7 block walk to the conference hotel. What I didn't realize was that it seems to be all uphill, all up a VERY STEEP hill. I am sure it is steeper than San Francisco! And I knew that I would have to repeat this envigorating morning intensive workout tomorrow (glad the meeting was only two days long).

The Power Users seminars are always a great experience, and this one was not to disappoint. Many of the same faces I see yearly were there again and it is good to see old friends. The food was good and facilities comfortable.

Getting back to the ferry was much easier - all downhill.

The second day of the conference ended with a meal with the Power Users Committee at Anthony's - great chow!!

Caught a cab back to the ferry landing and got back to Bremerton to join Mary for a couple of drinks.

From here on it is all free time and the Navy Nuclear Weapons Associations 22nd annual reunion at the Hampton Inn as our reunion base hotel.

Elmira to northwest Washington state

We spent about two weeks in northwest Washington and it was a very good trip.

Getting there wasn't as exciting as we wished - our original flight from the Elmira NY airport was delayed so we wouldn't have made our Philadelphia flight. USAIR folks sprung into action and quickly booked us on Northwest leaving a few minutes after we got to the airport (1 hr 20 minutes early). Hopped on the flight to Detroit where we waited around for a while. When we boarded, we were into the same row, but in window seats. Would either of the two folks in the aisle seat change with either of us? No way, both insisted they had to go to the bathroom a lot (on the flight, both of them went a total of three times). Luckily, a couple of guys in the row behind us gave up their seats.

Now, that was the most disappointing first class flight (Detroit to Seattle) that I have ever traveled. The evening meal was a cold Cobb salad. There is no movie and no music or entertainment. The only thing first class offers is more seat room and lots of booze. We definitely took advantage of the booze.

Any, we got to Seattle about 1/2 hour later than originally scheduled and got a shuttle to Bremerton that dropped us off right at our hotel, the Hampton Inn at the waterfront in Bremerton. We got there about 11:30 and I had to take the ferry out the next morning at 6:20 - not too much sleep and I was going to get really familiar with the Seattle/Bremerton ferry over the next 10 days or so.

The "Crink in Neck"

After seeing one neurosurgeon who we basically "fired" after it took two months for him to even get a test scheduled, I saw a neurosurgeon who quickly diagnosed my "crink in the neck" as spinal stenosis. Over the past several months it has gotten quite severe and surgery seems to be the only solution, but I told the doctor that I am going to Seattle for the Navy reunion. He said to go ahead and if I had any problems that there are good neuorsurgeons in Seattle.

Let's keep our finders crossed.

From England to Germany

It has been a while - it is hard to keep this up - maybe I will get more into it some day.

Anyway - after the tour of the south west of England, we spent about three more days in London doing all the touristy stuff. The British Museum is really all it is advertised as being. The Rosetta stone, the Elgin marbles, the Portland Vase and all the other stuff. Then there is the London Eye - great views of London and even though I am afraid of high places, this didn't bother me.

Finally it was off to St. Pancras Station to catch the Chunnel train over to Paris. Thought that it would be really exciting, but the train goes into a tunnel, stays there a while and comes out in France. Really is a speedy way to get across the channel but not terribly exciting.

From Paris we took a DeutscheBahn high speed train (almost 200 MPH!) to Saarbruken in Germany, spent the night then off to Lubeck. Lubeck was the largest city in the old Hanseatic League (check out your history books for more on Lubeck). A charming town with good beer and a hotel room right next to the train station.

Then it was off to Berlin for a couple of days. We stayed in an apartment for the price of a room and were in walking distance (but a long walk) from Berlin's new train station. Took a bus tour and saw most of the sights. Dinner found us trying out beer and eating traditional German fare. The schwarzbier that I got was almost as good as Guiness - and that is high praise from me.

Next on to Permassins to stay with Mary's relatives for a couple of days. Permassins is in the Saarland region and is near the French border.

Gudron and Herman Kress and their three children (Ulrike, Matthias and Uta) were truly wonderful hosts and the family members were so welcoming that we dream of going back again some time. Went to a restaraunt in France one night and then took our hosts to lunch on another day to an extremely nice restaurant.

Next it was Nuremberg. One reason we went there is that the old town is a walled city and the wall is mostly intact, we were told that it was similar to Rothenberg ob de Tauber, another walled city, and it was similar but much more modern in feel. Again, good German food and drink.

We then went to a US Miltary recreation center in Southern Germany near Garmisch-Partinkirchen (the Edelweiss Lodge). Interesting experience, as soon as we got onto the property, everyone spoke in English and the American dollar was the currency in use. The lodge is only a couple of years old and the facilities and staff were outstanding.

While at Edelwiess, we took a bus trip to Mad King Ludwig's fairy tale castle, the one that Walt Disney used as inspiration for his Magic Kingdom castle, Neuschwanstein Castle. Even though he only lived there for a short period before he was murdered for spending money on castles and not on war, one can imagine how life would have been lived here.

Finally - one last night in Germany in Munich. No stay in Munich would be complete without having a meal and more fine German beer at the Hofbrauhaus. It is amazing how big that place is - and a fine oompah band is playing most of the day. Lots of atmosphere and beer.

Then back home around Memorial Day! Next year, maybe, another trip across the big waters.

England and Germany

Since the last post I have fallen down on the job. Let me do it piece by piece and we can go from there.

England - Left from Elmira, NY on USAIR connecting in Philly to Gatwick in London. Fligts on time and comfortable (at least considering we were in coach class). Picked up on time in Gatwick by Globus travel and delivered to our first night's hotel, Novotel on the west side of London. Hotel was nice, location was out of the way a bit but close enough to a tube statiion. Dinner in the pub was good but breakfast (the famous Full English Breakfast) was outstanding.

For those of you who have never had a Full English Breakfast, think of the Sunday Brunch at most US hotels - and make that happen every morning. Granted, there were no Mimosas or Bloody Mary's, but the food was all there and good. I like breakfast anyway so the Full English is near and dear to my heart.

Second day in England and in th morning, the Globus tour bus was there to start us out good and early.

Over the next several days we would stay in Plymouth (embarkation point of the Pilgrims) and go to Land's End, see. St. Michael's Mount, the costal town of St. Ives and Lynmouth. Spending a night in Bristol and on back to London. But between London and London we would see Bath (the Roman baths), Stonehenge (for the third time - still inspiring), visit an Abbey, go for a short train ride and drink beer in several pubs - and pubs in England are so unlike our bars or restaurants. We have a couple of favorite pubs - in Oxford it is the King's Arms and in Salisbury it is the Queen's Arms - no support of the royalty from us!

When we returned to London, we spent one night in a hotle right across the street from Kennsington Park and then walked to Kennsington Close hotel for the next three nights.

We road the tube all over the place - hitting some great pubs like the George south of the Thames - a public house so old that it is in the National Trust, the Windsor Castle pub and the Churchill Arms (with a good collection of chamber pots and pictures of American presidents).

We went to the Tate Modern art museum for a brief visit, rode the London Eye, went to the British Museum and walked around the wonderful city.

Only downside, Ray developed a "crink in the neck" the second day in England and it continued to plague him.

Then it was time to leave for Germany.

It is actually several months later, but to continue the recap of the visit.

Reno, NV

Recently traveled to Reno, NV for an AMSUG Conference. We stayed at the Silver Legacy (nice enough, but the rooms were small, no safes, no hair dryers but well cleaned daily and a great view). When I checked out there was a charge for a bar visit that I didn't make, but the front desk cleared with with no problem.

Conference was held at the Reno Sparks Convention Center and the facilty was roomy and clean - only issue was getting there daily but the AMSUG had chartered sufficient buses to make the trip easy.

What was exciting about the trip?

• Windstrom with hurricane force winds on Monday
• Power outage in the conference center at about 5:00 or so
• Power not fully restored in the conference center until late morning on Tuesday
• Snow storm on Tuesday morning
• Earthquake on Tuesday morning

Now, don't tell me that Reno can't generate some excitement!!!

Air travel was obtained from USAIR and almost all flights were on time. The only delay was on the final leg of the return trip - twenty minute delay on a normal one hour flight - but we still got back to Elmira just about on time. Didn't save any fuel on that leg of the trip.

Next trip - Friday, May 9th to Europe, so stand by for more travel adventures.

Time to Catch Up

Since the Member-only Reception for the opening of Reflecting Antiquities at the Corning Museum of Glass, we have been back twice - once for 2300 Degrees and once for a Meet the Artist series presenting Karen Lamot - a glass artist working out of Prague, Czech Republic.

Everything that the Corming Museum of Glass does it first class! The Museum is outstanding, the staff and volunteers incomparable.

Corning Museum of Glass - "Reflecting Antiquity"

Mary is a docent at the Corning Museum of Glass and I am a member so last night we attended the members only opening of the newest show - "Reflecting Antiguity" - The first major exhibition to focus on the influence of ancient Roman styles on the glassmakers of the 19th century, “Reflecting Antiquity,” shows modern works along with an exceptional grouping of rare ancient Roman glass.

Corning Museum of Glass is not only a world-class museum, but it also knows how to throw a members only opening party.

Exhibition curators David Whitehouse, executive director of The Corning Museum of Glass, and Karol Wight, senior curator of antiquities for the J. Paul Getty Museum, will introduce the exhibition with a short lecture in the auditorium, followed by a reception and book signing in the galleries with the show open to members this evening.

Entertainment was provided by classical guitarist Bill Groome.

If you are in the Steuben county, New York area and you don't stop by the Corning Museum of Glass you are missing a real gem.

Ain't airlines Great?

So, several months ago, October 1st to be exact, I made reservations for three of us from work to fly to Reno, Nevada, for a conference. Got great flight times getting us into Reno about 1:35 with plenty of time to get ready for the first night's events. On the return trip we we scheduled to leve Reno at 9:30 and got hom at 10:23 with a 1-1/2 hour layover in Philly.

Well, so I checked the reservations for our April flights last week and there is a message that there are some changes that need to be made.

I contacted the airline and now we get in at 3:30 (just barely enough time to get ready for the 5:00 starting time and then on the return trip we have a 3 hour and 20 minute layover in Philly and get home at midnight.

What good does it do to make reservations well in advance if they change the flight times to make it more inconvenient for the travelers? Doesn't seem fair!

We will survive - always do. Let's hope we get bumped from a flight and get that free travel voucher. Been trying for that for years and haven't been lucky yet.

Wine and Car Trouble

The Finger Lakes area of New York is well-known for its wine and scenery. So, we decided to make an early Valentine's Day celebration and hit some wineries before dinner in Ithaca. Unfortunately, we only got two two wineries before car troubles caused an early end to the day. We did get to Hazlitt Winery on Seneca Lake and then Knapp Winery on Cayuga Lake. At both wineries we ran into a lot of folks celebrating Mardis Gras a bit early. In fact, the Cayuga Wine Trail was having a Mardi Gras weekend so it was fortunate for us that the car troubles brought us to an early end. Trying to battle the masses of Mardi Gras celebrants at the wineries could be frustrating. Because it is winter up here - the local falls (and there are a lot of them) tend to be a little icy. Here is Hector Falls, just north of Watkins Glen.

Now, I owe Mary dinner at Thai Cuisine in Ithaca for Valentine's Day - they have some great Thai specialties and are well know throughout this part of Upstate New York.

Robert Burns 249th Birthday Celebration

Last night, Mary and I attended the local Scottish-American Society's celebration of Robert burns 249th birthday. It was a good night, complete with Pipes & Drums of the Caledonian Highlanders, Irish dancers from Ring of Kerry dance school and Pat Kane, a local Irish entertainer. On top of that there was the presentation of the Haggis and the recitation of the Address to a Haggis written by Robert Burns.

We brought George Eisinger, a local retired Pathologists and also at our table were Dick and Marilyn Kozacko (friends from the Polish Arts Club), Dr. & Mrs. Forrest. Once Mary learned that Mrs. Forrest had recently returned from Poland, she pumped her for all sorts of information about Poland (probably the subject of a future trip for us). I talked to Dr. Forrest about England as he had been stationed there when he was in the Air Force Medical Corps.

Plans continue to gel for our May 2008 trip to England and Germany with only a couple of reservations yet to be made.

Arline Reservations to be made

We have cleared it with work, made reservations at the Edelweiss lodge so it is time to make the final airline reservations that will serve as the framework that we will have to work within. Looks like it is 12 days or so in London, the Chunnel train to Paris, a train to Cologne, Germany and then trains throughout Germany to Lubeck, Berlin, Permasins, Nuremberg, Garmisch and Munich to catch the homebound plane. Mary is having so much fun planning this trip!

Brotherhood of Doom

Just finished reading Jim Little's "Brotherhood of Doom". I thoroughly enjoyed the memoirs of a man (and friend) who entered the Navy as a Seaman Recruit and retired as a CWO-4 after spending almost his entire career in the Navy's Nuclear Weapons field.

You can check our Jim's blog at http://oldgunner.blogspot.com/

Planning continues for 2008 travel experiences

Mary continues to make arrangements for European Vacation in May. It is amazing how many different prices can be located for the same hotel/tour/plane flight! We had seen at least four prices for the same hotel on the same dates in London - finally a local travel agent was able to get us a confirmed (pre-paid) reservation for 60% the prices on the Internet.

The Seattle area will be our travel destination in September. The Navy Nuclear Weapons Association is having their 24th annual reunion then. This is a great time for us old sailors who worked in the Navy's nuclear weapons field to get together and reminisce about the old days. Check out the NNWA's website at http://www.navynucweps.com/.

Just a comment - haven't made airline reservations yet, but found out that US Air changed (last year I think) the upgrade rules for European flights. Unlike any other upgrade rules, your ticket must cost at least $1200 round trip before they will allow one to upgrade. At least my miles aren't expiring on me! It would have been nice to get a pair of first class seats for those long flights!!

First Post

January 16th is the first post on this blog. We are in the midst of planning a trip to England and Germany in May. Weather in Elmira is cold (no surprise). Further blogs will bring you up-to-date on what goes. We just bought a used 2003 MINI Cooper to be Mary's car and it attracts a lot of attention.