Boring Holes Through Space/Time, (Western U.S./Summer 2015)

In June, we had our annual flight up to Wenatchee, then Leavenworth, where I backpacked up to Colchuck Lake, featuring Dragontail Peak.  That's Asgard pass just to the left, the entrance to the "Upper Enchantments," (I only made it to the "Lower Enchantments," boo hoo!).

Holy Catballs, it still shocks me to camp so close to spectacular peaks.

YeeGawds, nice, eh?!

Food art for my Brother-in-law Brian's Birthday.

A short weekend work trip down to Orange County, and the Boss allowed Suzanne to go to!  We stayed at the well-positioned Bay View Marriott on the upper Newport Back Bay.

On one of our numerous trips to the Pacific Northwest, a fabulous view of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier.

Camping at Charbonneau Park on the Snake River, WA.

Having failed once before due to a nasty snow storm, this summer, with somewhat better weather, I made another heroic attempt of Mt. McLoughlin, a "lofty" 9, 495'.

Hooray!  Victory is MINE!

Otherworldly environs of Mt. McLoughlin, OR.

Emerald Bay, South Lake Tahoe

Thanks to Jen for this deliciously calm respite from the storm of life, on the lagoon in magical Stinson Beach

While visiting Stinson Beach, over the years, I've often gazed longingly up to the hills above, and FINALLY, this time we went and discovered the killer West Ridgecrest Blvd.  Can't wait to take the S2K!

Of course, the Mighty MDX is a good car also...

Suzanne absolutely delights in the water-sports at the lagoon, and her delight delights ME!

Once again, this year I was able to attend three of the "Open Rehearsals" of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music,  catching almost all 15 of the pieces they performed in concert. That's We Wei on the left, about to run through the orchestra's first try at "The Color Yellow," a concerto featuring the Chinese Mouth Organ!  (an instrument I've never even heard of).  Like every single rehearsal I've ever heard Marin Alsop conduct, it was indescribably wonderful--you gotta go next year!

For years I've yearned to clean our backyard and garage, so right around 3:30, one afternoon a couple weeks back, we called a professional hauler, and then worked our cabooses off, hauling it all out to the driveway before his arrival at 7:00 P.M. that evening.  Just like that, poof!  Swanson Selectric Service (as well as a lot of other stuff) was virtually dissolved.

YAHOO!!! POOL PARTY!  Lynn and Steve, and her parents Carol and Vic are the BEST FRIKKIN' HOSTS!

Happy Revelers

After mimicking marine mammals the previous day, we kayaked and canoed out from Moss Landing, to live among them for awhile.

40 years ago, I arrived at UCSC in a station wagon with my family, who dropped me off, with a few possessions, and I began a new life.  It took me 13 years to finish my Undergraduate College career, and in that time I built a tree-house, and a "burrow," an underground room.  From 1980-2013, for 33 years, I repaired IBM typewriters, all over campus.  Last week, I rode my bicycle throughout the campus, exploring new buildings, and reliving memories in all the old spots.

The students haven't returned from summer break, but many of my old friends were still around.

I found a nice oak tree, right on the edge of the great meadow below McHenry Library, and spent the night, much as I had many times over the past 40 years.  Who needs a dorm, when there are a million spots to sleep?

So much fauna amidst the flora--I had encounters with a mature buck, (who bounded right over me in the woods), what looked like a wolf-husky mix, running after the buck, several wild turkeys, and many, many deer.  Zeus Bless, I love Santa Cruz!