- Desert Biking Adventure -

Fall is always a great time of the year to visit the Southwest Desert areas of America. So we headed out to our favorite WorldMark timeshare in Indio for some "R & R". Yes, we needed a break from our hard work of retirement. While there we participated in the Palm Desert 50 Mile Bike Ride. Such a beautiful morning for Nancy to bike her farthest ride EVER. And in under 4 hours too!!! Next we ventured to Yuma, Arizona. Yes, Yuma. Why? To visit the famous Yuma Prison and just be a tourist in a city we have never visited. We also found a cool bike trail while in the visitor's center, go figure. Next stop, our main goal, Tucson, Arizona. A beautiful WorldMark timeshare was waiting for us in Oro Valley at Rancho Vistoso for five days. We did all the tourist things and particpated in "the thing to do", the Tour De Tucson Bike Ride. Around 10,000 bikers rode in this year's event. We were so lucky to have overcast skies with temps around 74 degrees and NO wind! The southwest is a very fun area to explore and visit, do it sometime soon. To view photos of our adventure, just click on "Desert Biking Adventure Photos."

-A Vacation in Alberta, Canada-

One of the beautiful parts in North America is where we visit for one full week in early September. Canmore/Banff in Alberta, Canada is an amazing place to visit anytime. There was so many people hiking, road biking, mountain biking, rock climbing, canoeing and sight seeing that it was invigorating. We had the perfect trip, everything went great for us. We stayed at one of our WorldMark Timeshare resorts in the town of Canmore, which is 15 minutes from Banff. We spent every minute taking in the wonders of this beautiful region. Check out just a few (not) of our photos by clicking on "Banff Vacation Photos." Once you get to our picasa site, click on there just click on slideshow to view the photos in the best format. Have fun, we did. Let us know what you think of the photos by emailing us at mdstew48@gmail.com

-A Family Vacation-

Yes the first week of June was a "family vacation." Nancy and I headed to our membership campground at Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes in Menifee to set up camp. On our first day we hooked up with a long time coaching friend Jim and his wife Linda. We had a great dinner at the Texas Roadhouse before heading over to their beautiful house in Murietta. So fun to connect with people we have not seen for a while but have known each other for "ages." After a short bike ride on Friday we drove to the "Temecula Balloon Festival" at Lake Skinner with Laura and John. Such a fun time to we had eating, sipping wine and watching the beautiful balloons inflate. On Saturday we were lucky enough to have Heather, Josh and Collin drive over after their balloon festival experience to our trailer to celebrate Collin's birthday. Great time with a three year old touring around the campground in their miniture train and opening presents. After packing up and heading to Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon for one night, we drove up to Mammoth Lakes RV Park to visit with Trevor and Devun. We had a wonderful three days visiting with Trevor for dinners and lunch at our trailer. We also visited him at his work place of the "Trout Fitter" in Mammoth Lakes. Devun is such a good boy and very alert of his surroundings. We also had a surprise to have an old college friend of 44 years Steve, find us through Facebook. Yes, through Facebook. We discovered he was also in Mammoth in the same RV park only 100 yards from our trailer. Small world! BTW, Mike cut off Nancy on a Mammoth Lakes Bike Path ride where she fell hard and broke her collarbone. Both of us are now home where Mike is the "nurse" and Nancy is the "patient." To view some very good photos just click on "Family Vacation Photos" and then click on slideshow to view them at full resolution.

-Pennyslvania Graduation Vacation-

Our recent vacation in mid-May was due to the celebration of Matt's graduation from the University of the Arts in downtown Pennyslvania. The entire family is so proud of him! We were lucky enough to arrange for a free camping cabin for one week at the Thousand Trails Hershey Preserve about 90 miles from Philly. So we stayed near Hershey for one week to explore the beautiful countryside. So much to do there. And we were lucky enough to have great spring like weather except for a few showers in the area. We visited the Hershey Chocolate World and Museum, Gettystburg National Battlefield, Echo Caverns, the Green Dragon flee market, local Amish countryside, the Good & Plenty Restaurant, local covered bridges, Lebanon Valley Rails to Trails bike ride, and quilt shopes. After our fun week in Amish Country we headed to Philly to meet up with Heather, John and Debbie. We all explore the historic Philly area while eating in almost every restaurant there is. Graduation Day was a treat. The ceremony was held in an old theatre, we headed to a restaurant Matt had worked for dinner. There he sang to us and the other attendees during dinner. From there we proceeded to the Walnut Theatre (oldest one in the USA) to watch Matt in the Buddy Holly Story play. It was all wonderfully fun. To view lots of photos just click on "Hershey Vacation Photos."

-Springtime Desert Vacation-

Nothing better than heading to the desert in the springtime. So we did. We ventured to Palm Springs for one night then onto Tempe for a daytime Dodger and Angel game before heading to Cottonwood in Arizona. Our destination was the Thousand Trails Preserve at Verde Valley for a week in their nice camping cabin. We were lucky to have great weather during our visits to Jerome, Sedona, Old Cottonwood, Fort Verde, and the wineries in the valley. However, the last two days we were greated with a snow storm that blanketed Flagstaff, Sedona and the lower desert regions with lots of snow. After our week in Arizona we drove to the WorldMark Timeshare in Indio. Nice temps again allowed us to bike and just be relaxed tourists. We had a great time on our two week spring vacation! See the photos by clicking on "Desert Springtime Vacation."

-Stewart's Going Ahead-

Well, what a year it has been for the "Stewart" side of the family. We were greeted to a new grandson, Devun, in 2011 care of Trevor. Such a great looking boy that has overcome many roadblocks along the way. Matthew is graduating from University of the Arts in Philadelphia in May. He has also been spreading his musical talents in New York recently. Just view the "Utube Video" by clicking on that link. Heather has just received a raise in pay at Apple Valley Community Hospital and is now also "vested." Josh is heading fast to completing his masters in August at the Cal State University San Bernadino. While Mike and Nancy found out "retirement" is more work than they ever thought. With all their trips and house renovations, there is little time to relax. So, up and onward we continue to bigger and better things.

-Only One More House Project!-

Yes, the "remodeling" is almost finished. All that is remaining is for wall cabinets to be installed in Nancy's office. Thank goodness we are retired. Being retired allowed us time to figure out what we wanted to do, call the people to do it and for us to move a lot of furniture and house contents. Wow, are we tired and so glad the we now see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have finished in the past year is: 1- removed all plants in the backyard, 2- remove two outdoor storage sheds, 3- install a new storage shed, 4- plant new drought tolerant plants, 5- paint the outside of the house, including the patio, 6- remove family room, guest bathroom & kitchen linoleum, tiles and carpet, 7- install new tile in the kitchen, family room and guest bathroom, 8- install all new windows and sliding doors, 9- paint the entire inside of the house, 10- refinish and paint the kitchen cabinets, and finally 11- replace old lighting fixtures. Hopefully this project lasts for at least 25 more years because we will be 90 years old then and living in a senior center or with our kids. Enjoy the photos by clicking on "House Remodeling Photos

-Another Beautiful Grandson-

Yes, life just keeps getting better. We have some new photos from Trevor of our Grandson Devun. He is so cute! Must take after his dad. Enjoy the photos that are posted here. Hopefully more will come our way.

-Two Days in Two Days-

Yes, winter time in Southern Cal was rough this year. When we took a weekend to visit John and Laurie it had to have been at least 75 degrees with clear skies and full sun. Our goal was to enjoy the weekend visiting John and Laurie at their new home in Canyon Lake in Riverside County. Such a beautiful place they have just purchased. Heather and Collin were able to join us for a great meal and a fun boat ride from their own dock. The next day we ventured into the Temecula Valley Wine Country for a great time of eating and sipping wine at some beautiful wineries along Rancho California Blvd in Temecula. Whenever John and Laurie want to have us come visit again, we will jump at the chance. To view a view fun photos just click on "A Weekend with the Days."

-Edna Valley Wine Trip-

Wow, what a day. A fantastically beautiful day on our Wine Tasting Bus Tour in Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo County. Such a fun time while riding the bus along Highway 101. The sky was clear, the hills were green and the weather was warm on this first week in Feburary. Thanks to Steve and Diane for inviting us on a very fun day trip up the California Coast with some great people. To view a view of the phots just click on "Edna Valley Wine Trip."