The place of Adventure, Travel to East Africa: Djibouti, India, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Kenya, Jordan, Egypt, Cyprus and Disneyland.  Now adding Hong Kong, China, Korea, Japan and Disneyland.  Mexico and Disneyland.   Disaster, Earthquake and Emergency Preparedness and Services for San Francisco.  We also like Disneyland.

Summer Camping trip 1998.  Dad, Boys and friends.

Here are the boys and a friend climbing Hartley Butte in order to plant the American Flag on the top of Hartley Butte.  This is about 1/2 way up the rocky crag.  As you can see, we are above the tree line!

We make it to the top.  The flag installed, the little heroes (and heroine) admire their work.  Safe rock climbing techniques have made this climb safe and fun.  Good news!  No rattlesnakes spotted this trip.  They are rare here, but not unheard of.  The boys call their Mom, as we can hit a Nextel node from here.  It is West of us, but there is only wilderness there!  Where is the node?

Back at base camp, wildlife is abundant - TOO abundant!  The place is achase with squirrels! The campground is obviously a friendly place for them!  On the left, one of the little critters discovers a box of stale doughnuts in the camp.  Even with all of us looking on, the little guy finds his way INTO the box to help himself, while all watch from a couple of feet away.  I grab the camera again and there he is - INSIDE the box.  He scored!  On the right. is that photo.

Back at the wooded cabin known as Tahoe Acres, the adventure is complete.  As my children's friends prepare to depart, we pose for a quick snapshot.  In retrospect, Christopher has described the trip as a "disaster".  He got sick twice, and needed to see a Doctor in town.  This caused a multiplicity of problems.  The young lady suffered  twisted ankle in a 'kid climb'.  The older boy in this photo became unwell for awhile.  Only my eldest  Son (on my right) escaped somewhat unscathed.  Nevertheless, Christopher is ready for adventure 1999!

Here is a photo taken while camping in 1997, at Stony Gorge Reservoir.  Colt is being tickled by his little brother.  If you look at Colt's expression, you'll understand why I call this picture "A CHILD'S DELIGHT!"

Here I am, July 1997, on top of the world!  At 7800 ', Hartley Butte - about 40 miles North West of Truckee, CA - has a commanding view.  The Adventure Lads and I have a little tradition of mounting an American Flag there, just before the 4th of July every year.  We did it in 1998, too.    Photo credit is the boys themselves.

In the summer of 1997, the boys and I were able to get Mommy's permission to take the boys out of the country - To Canada.  Here they are in front of British Columbia's Parliament building.  When we went out to dinner, it was still light out.  As we returned it was dark.  We rounded a corner and the building was right there.  "Daddy!  That building!   It's so BEAUTIFUL!"  It made the whole effort worthwhile!

The next day, we made our way to Victoria's main fire station, where we were warmly received.  So began the boy's patch collection, and an addition to mine. 

Spring break 1998:  The boys and I took off on a 10 day break.  Five in Disneyland.  Five more aboard the "Viking Serenade" as we cruised from Los Angeles to San Diego, Catalina and Ensenada, Mexico.  The boys second visit to another country!  Their Mom can now rest assured that I'm not running off with them!  Well - I will, but I'll always bring them back!  Here is a pair of photos from our day in Sunny Mexico!

Here's a shot without my kids.  They're back home while I adventure in India and East Africa.  My sister and her boys are along for much of the trip.  Here, I (like to think), give wise and sage advice to my nephews in front of India's Taj Mahal.  It must have worked!   They got back home safe and sound!  From the Africa 1996 tour collection.

Strange things can happen in the jungles of Madagascar.  Here, I'm being accosted by two Lemurs (Little Monkeys).  "LEMUR FAMILY, TABLE FOR TWO!" They are after a banana I'm holding, but not for long!  They make a meal of it!  They are friendly little things and live off of scavenging and tourists.   The thing under my arm is not a weapon, it's a small boat I just bought for my boys!  I wonder whatever became of it.   From the Spring 1996 Africa collection.  

 November, 2000:  I still have the "Indiana Jones" hat, given to me as a gift some years ago.  It's still going strong!  I wore it in China, I wore it last weekend!  I wear it all the time.  Thank you for the quality gift!  No, I don't wear it to hide a lack of hair!  I wear it to keep it!