Pretty Patricia and I completed our summer sojourn with more than marginal success. We did not entirely escape the heat and I did not deplete all the red wine in California. Other than these two minor impediments, the trip had its rewards. I have now visited all of the states except Alaska. Our two California daughters and their families joined us during a portion of our month stay on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe; and we saw a portion of the country that we had not visited before. After Tahoe we went on to San Francisco. I think we walked up and down every hill in the city including Nob, Telegraph, and Russian. Our hotel was in Cow Hollow! And we walked to Fishermen’s Wharf, North Beach, Chinatown, etc. We also did all the touristy things. During one of our walks we found ourselves in the middle of a Japanese festival where we were able to placate our palates and quench our thirst by sampling some authentic cuisine and brews from the land of the rising sun. We departed SF over the Golden Gate Bridge in the direction of the Redwood Forest area. After a brief stop in Santa Rosa to visit the Charles Shultz "Snoopy" museum and shop, we decided that the raging forest fires in southwest Oregon (Biscuit Fire) would mar a successful visit to see the redwoods, so we detoured to Crater Lake in Oregon where they were having their centennial celebration. From there we decided to follow the Oregon Trail to the Yellowstone National Park. We were able to rent a very rustic (no telephone, television, or radio) one room bungalow in the park. We did, I believe, see every geological feature the park offers, but did not see any bears or wolves. I was a little disappointed, but we did see bison up close, very close; also elk. We saw, firsthand, the ravages of the intense 1988 forest fire. According to our guide, it will take 100 years plus to re-grow the lost trees. After Yellowstone we proceeded in the direction of Mount Rushmore along the back roads of Wyoming .If you are really looking for excitement or adventure take highway 14 across the Rocky Mountains. Pretty Patricia drove and I gripped and puckered. The plateaus were breath taking, but the road in and out of the mountain was very narrow and very steep. Not a place where I would want to live. We went on to the Black Hills of South Dakota and Mount Rushmore where we got caught in another forest fire. We cut our visit short and headed for the interstate. By this time, we were getting weary of traveling and decided to head in a Southeast direction toward Florida. We stopped to visit Alabama relatives in Birmingham and classmates who are now living in Auburn. In summary, we enjoyed the summer while at the same time we realized we are really East Coast folks. We arrived safe and sound back in Florida in time to participate in the UCF football activities and to complete the remodeling we ran off and left unfinished.

Clyde R.

Dear Chuck, Erline and Classmates:

Circumstances here in Central Florida will not permit us to attend the September reunion. Of course my thoughts will be with you. Considering all of our travels, Pretty Patricia and I have only visited Panama City one time, back in 1957, the year before we were married. We were indeed looking forward to being there with you all.

Say hello to everybody and stay in touch.

Clyde R