Ione Weekend

What a wonderful weekend getaway with long time friends from the Stockton/Lodi area whom we met in the early 1990's while riding the California Tour North, a 5-day supported bike tour organized by Imagine Tours. My thanks to Kev for pulling us together for a weekend adventure. We rode from the outskirts of Stockton to Ione and back, with respective mileages of 44 and 48, staying overnight at the historic Ione Hotel. Lucky for us, we had a coolish weekend with temps in the 70's, perfect for riding and much better than the 100's we endured the previous weekend. A benefit of so many vineyards and wineries scattered about the foothills these days is that they also make great rest stops. The historic Ione Hotel was the only place with rooms in this small town of 7,900 people with several eateries and bars, including their own steakhouse where we dined. The place was old, as expected, but clean and comfortable with very hospitable staff and owner. We just didn't anticipate the loud, and I mean very loud, punk rock music which played until midnight vibrating through the floors of our upstairs rooms, but the unexpected is what makes things fun. It was a great weekend. Click on the picture below to go to my photos in Picasa.

Half Moon Bay

For a quick change of scenery and a break from the valley heat wave, Kay and I decide to take a drive, via the Golden Gate Bridge, to Half Moon Bay located on the coast just south of San Francisco for an overnighter. Click on the image below to go to the pictures in Google's Picasa.

A beautiful day for a ride; the gang at the top of Cantelow Rd.:

Picture from Geno's Iphone

The Nursery

Ten days after my first sighting of the two chicks, there is now just an empty nest since they have become fledglings, which means the chicks have developed enough feathers to take flight into nearby trees, however, they will still be dependent upon the parents for their feedings, at least for another two weeks or so. It was a phenomenal window view while it lasted. Click on the image below to see additional pictures, which are maintained in Picasa.

Goodbye Mrs. Look

Goodbye to my mother-in-law, the dearest of our family, who passed away within our arms on June 3, 2012 at 10:05 p.m., 6 days after a stroke ended her miraculous recovery from a fall and broken femur 22 days ago. The ups and downs of our end of life journey with Kay's mother at home under Hospice Care was not an easy road to travel as we witnessed her physical struggle, in spite of her mental willingness for closure, but it was a necessary sojourn that was very much a part of her life. I am glad I was there. May she rest in peace.