2021

Looking back at the year on New Year's Eve I realized I hadn't made a single blog entry this year. It is tempting to write the whole year off. The pandemic overshadowed everything and kept us close to home much of the year. But we were careful and avoided getting sick with Covid or anything else.

A look back also reminds us of some good times in the midst of it all. I have posted some photos to help us remember the year. We look forward to better times to come in 2022. You can click on the photos to see a larger version.

The year in review-

In January we spent a week at our friends' cabin in the deep northwoods. Temperatures reached the -20°s at night and stayed below zero during the day. But we loved the escape from quarantine to the solitude and quiet of a Minnesota winter, enjoying snowshoe hikes on the frozen lake and through the snowy woods. 

 

 

Otter and wolf tracks were fun to see in the snow.

 

 

We are thankful for our generous friends' offer of their beautiful retreat for our respite.

 

 

February and March brought vaccinations and a hope for a return to more normal life. I resumed volunteering at Urban Boatbuilders, a now quiet boat shop which had been closed by Covid for much of the past year. Classes and the apprenticeship started up again in the fall, complete with masks for all.

 

June marked 50 years of marriage for Kathy and I, and news of a growing family, which we celebrated in the mountains of Colorado with the kids. We enjoyed some epic hikes, including a wild dash down a mountainside to escape lightning and a hail storm. The highlight was a surprise world-wide zoom call with family members from the U.S. and Spain to watch a slide show of pictures from 50 years together. We are indeed fortunate to have such a great family with whom to share our memories.

In July we returned to the northwoods cabin for some dog sitting duty and summer fun while our friends attended a wedding. Fat tire bikes and endless games of fetch were just a perfect antidote to canine energy and Covid fatigue.

 

 

 

There is nothing better than a quiet summer paddle with loons and a dog on a wilderness lake in Minnesota.

In September we traveled to Perch Lake and the Rainbow Wilderness in Wisconsin for our only camping trip of the year. We did some paddling on Perch Lake, hiked into the Rainbow Wilderness and took a side trip to hike up St. Peter's Dome- the highest point in the Chequamegon National Forest. Time in the natural world is so important.

 We hope to get back to regular camping in 2022.

 

 

The hike to the summit of St. Peters Dome was a beautiful and peaceful walk in the woods with a wonderful overlook of the fall colors at the end. It was possible to see all the way to Lake Superior some 30 miles distant as the crow flies.

 After a refreshing few days we packed the trailer and headed home.

In October, Kathy traveled to St George Utah for her annual appearance in the Huntsman Senior Games volleyball tournament. I drove to Denver to meet up with her on her way home for a visit with the kids. We helped with a few home improvement projects and enjoyed a short visit.

We closed out the year with a trip to Palm Springs to visit Kathy's cousin and to celebrate Christmas with her and our daughter. We visited the Coachella Valley Preserve for a nice hike and enjoyed hanging out at the very nice condo with a private courtyard and beautiful grounds. We had a memorable Christmas Eve dinner and a relaxing Christmas.

 

 

 

 

We took a nice hike on a rare rainy day along Hurkey Creek in the San Bernardino National Forest.

 

A highlight was a walking tour of a Palm Springs neighborhood that took Christmas lights to another level.

We also drove up to Los Angeles to see our daughter's apartment, tour the sites and had some memorable meals. We enjoyed a drink at a legendary Hollywood spot.

We left Palm Springs in beautiful sunshine, marred only by Sun Country canceling our flight and leaving us on our own to find our way home. Delta Airlines came to the rescue and we only lost a day. The Palm Springs airport is very nice- the outdoor waiting area was appreciated on a pandemic-tinged travel day.

We survived the Sun Country Airlines holiday travel debacle and made it home in time to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

Here's hoping for health and good fortune for all in 2022.