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Vancouver Island
We enjoyed our biking adventure in western Canada this year. We flew into Victoria, a city in British Columbia on Vancouver Island. Before the trip, I did not know the difference between Vancouver and Vancouver Island; I had to ask a local. Vancouver is a major city in British Columbia. Vancouver Island is home to the city of Victoria and Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. Geographically, we were about 60 miles from both Vancouver and Seattle, Washington. We were in the southern portion of Canada, below the 49th parallel.
We began our journey, stopping in Montreal and arriving in Victoria after dark. A wonderful city, easy to walk and fun explore, was ready for us to see. To acclimate to the time change, being out west, we walked and enjoyed all Victoria had to offer for a full day prior to the beginning of our biking tour.
We had in mind prior to our visit to see the Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria. It was a bit of a long walk; we enjoyed the neighborhoods along the way. The “castle” was a good stop. The building itself had been a private residence and at one time a college.
The highlight of our first night on Vancouver Island was exploring the Butchart Gardens and seeing their final fireworks show at the garden for the season. Walking around the gardens at twilight and evening with lights on the pathways lent a different feeling to the gardens. We really enjoyed the experience and were glad to take part in it.
Pictures do not do justice to the grand fireworks show. It was unlike any I had seen. Sometimes it looked as if the fireworks were walking across the garden. I saw several YouTube videos filmed during one of the shows. Even they do not do justice to the amazing show set to music. They do provide some sense of the show.
At night the capital building is all lit up and looked terrific. We were staying in a hotel next to the capital building.
This is not the first adventure for our group of dedicated biking friends. VBT does a wonderful job arranging the trip and providing bikes. We show up, enjoy the tour and pedal.
Our biking group for Canada: Vancouver Island
We all started walking in downtown Victoria waiting for the bike adventure to begin. We had previously been on a bike tour to the Florida Keys and had our picture taken at Mile Zero in Florida. We were happy to have that landmark for us to walk to as we traveled around Victoria.
Our first ride was just around the streets of Victoria. It is a pretty city and we enjoyed the ride. We saw a giant totem pole, and we all stopped at the Mile Zero marker this time in our biking gear for a picture. We also pedaled though a park. They have beautiful gardens in Victoria.
On the second day we biked to the ferry and took it to Pender Island. We then rode across the island to our hotel.
Near the hotel, riding from the ferry, my wife and I could not resist stopping at the Enchanted Forest. You would have stopped as well. We took a hike to the forest after our biking adventure the next day. It was a fun place; we spotted several faerie doors hidden throughout the forest. If you find yourself on Pender Island, the view from the forest was worthwhile as is the path through the forest. It was a fun day.
I really enjoyed our time at Poets Cove Resort & Spa on Pedler Island. We could not get enough of the view from our room and the resort. The food was terrific and the accommodation was wonderful.
My wife loves kayaking. Part of this journey was a sea kayaking guided tour. We were treated to sweeping views of Boundary Pass, the Strait of Georgia, the San Juan Islands, and Mount Baker. I did not bring my phone on the kayak. But I am happy some of our friends did.
After kayaking, we went for a quiet bike ride to Brooks Point Regional Park. It was the shortest day of biking for us. We did have wonderful views and took our bikes over to the Enchanted Forest.
We were almost sorry to leave Poets Cove Resort, but we were looking to ride more and explore. We rode our bikes back to the ferry and back to Vancouver Island. After leaving a small island for a larger one, we were back on the bikes. We went to the family owned Sea Cider Farm & Cider house. After a fun lunch, we pedaled to the Oak Bay Beach Hotel in Victoria. We enjoyed taking a dip in the hotel’s heated seaside mineral pool.
We had a fun breakfast with the group and a final briefing on our last day’s big ride.
We took our longest ride from Victoria to the Butchart Gardens. We enjoyed the scenic ride and managed to get a little lost on the way; we found our way back to the path with the help of our guides and fellow bikers. We started early so we could have plenty of time to explore the gardens.
We enjoyed our second visit to Butchart Gardens. It was all in the daylight and we were able to take our time and see some of the sights we missed on our first visit.
Some of the members of our group wanted to ride the Rose Carousel. The carousel is comprised of 30 hand-carved wooden animals and two chariots. The artwork was very pretty, and it was a fun diversion from biking and walking around the gardens.
The gardens are the main attraction, and you will have to visit. It is well worth it. A beautiful layout of flowers, trees and shrubs. Every garden just flowed and it was hard to put the camera down.
We eventually got back on our bikes and pedaled back to our hotel. It was a good day at the gardens, and we were happy to visit twice.
We managed another day of wayfaring around Victoria prior to our plane leaving in the evening. The parks and inlets are gems. We enjoyed taking in the sights in and around Victoria, including palm trees in the yards.
It was sad to say goodbye to Vancouver Island. It is a place to visit again. Fortunately for us, we have signed up for another bike tour in 2026.
Other fun:
I was able to go on a few runs in and around the area. One of my favorite runs was along the water in Victoria and crossing bridges.
I was also able to run on the other side of Victoria after our return from Pender Island.
Of course, we prioritized stopping for ice cream. Or was it dinner? It was good, especially after a fun day of biking.
Getting in shape for our ride, we took a few rides on our local bike path.
See you on the road.
Charlotte Running – Want to Run a Half Marathon?
Looking back on it, every time I visited my daughter and son-in-law this year, I went running. So, when my daughter asked me to join her in running the Charlotte half marathon, I had to say yes.
This means I began training again with Tri-State Running and working on their fall half marathon plan. I had previously just signed up for the spring running group. The fall group trains in the summer months and it was hot on several runs.
When we visited our daughter and son-in-law after our anniversary trip to Florida, I was training to run the Flying Pig half marathon in May and wanted to go for a run or two during our visit. My daughter was just getting into running and since she had a running buddy, we went for a run together. I guess that was the seed that germinated into her wanting to run the Charlotte half marathon.
Fast forward to the fall, and we got together a month prior to the half marathon. We did a run on the Charlotte greenway. And, because I wanted to see the course that we would be running in November, off we went later in our visit to downtown Charlotte. Together, we ran the virtual Army ten miler. It was a good experience, and we learned a lot about the course.
My daughter and I did a warmup run prior to the half marathon–a fun trail run in Shelby. I liked the suspension bridge. It was a good day, and we felt ready to run the half marathon.
Like all good events, we enjoyed the expo the day prior to running. It was a beautiful day in downtown Charlotte, and the city was full of runners excited for the event. My wife enjoyed making a sign so she could cheer us on as we ran by. We saw some fun events and sampled some good products for runners.
My wife and son-in-law cheered us on from the road. It was great to be at an event where I knew the person cheering. At least my other events have had people cheering. Thank you if you are someone who cheers for people they do not know, it makes a difference.
Both my oldest son and my daughter ran the half marathon. We all ran separately as my oldest finished an hour prior to my finish. It was a perfect day for a run. Although I was not too fast on the course, I felt good about the effort.
Other Fun:
Road sign at a West Virginia rest stop.
The day after our ten mile run, we went to Chimney Rock and climbed to the top, and beyond. I was last up here in 2017, and it recently re-opened after all of the flooding in the area.
We went to the nearby town for lunch and toured some of the devastation that is still in the area. Our drive to and from Charlotte was impacted by the on-going road work. There is still a lot of work to accomplish.
We visited Cherryville, and of course we had ice cream downtown. We also ate dinner downtown and discovered a Halloween-themed party that had part of the downtown streets closed. It was fun.
I was able to get in all kinds of practice running. Summer is hot; I learned how to better run in the heat. I was not yet ready for the quickly changing temperatures in October and November. We had snow and then heat. The leaves have now come down, but I ran in a wide variety of conditions getting ready for the Charlotte half marathon.
Just prior to the Charlotte half marathon, I ran the Honor Run 10K. It was a fun event for me and a worthy cause to support.
Other runs in the area included the 10K run at the 29th annual Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio.
No biking on this adventure. See you on the road.
Alumni Band Reunion 2025
This year we began our alumni band adventure the same way we began our Michigan State University marching band career years ago. We ran together. As students, we needed to have enough breath for the pre-game show. We defined “in shape” arriving on campus as able to play the pre-game fight song after entering the stadium and kick stepping for the event. We ran around campus during band camp, singing the fight song. The alumni band does not perform in the pre-game show. We just show up in our current shape, whatever it may be. However, two of my friends from the band and I ran the Big Ten 10k in Cincinnati. We chose a flat area, the same terrain that the participants in Chicago experience when running the Big Ten 10k. We ran at the same time, just in a different location.
This summer, we played music together, had a fun reunion and began looking forward in earnest to the alumni band weekend. It is good just to sit around and chat with friends. A good steak dinner also helps when celebrating our Big Ten 10k run.
For the fall alumni band, we started with a rehearsal on campus. It feels real when we all get back together. We can still play these instruments. Some of my fellow alumni are, or were, band directors and professional players. Several of my fellow alumni band members are like me, still playing and retired with time to come up for the weekend game.
After the rehearsal we enjoyed the reception for the band members, especially as it allows us to catch up with people we may not have seen in a year or several years. We also meet new people as well.
Saturday begins with us watching the Spartan Marching Band rehearse the show. I always wonder if we were that good. These guys are terrific! We join them and learn our spots in the drill and the music where we march and play, just like the old days.
This year the band is recognizing Tom Izzo, the Michigan State University Hall of Fame basketball coach. He came and gave us a pep talk after our rehearsal.
We had some time after our rehearsal to enjoy the campus and see some of the impressive tailgating that goes on during the home games. I am sure every stadium has traditions for tailgating. My favorite was the “green flamingos” who were setting up when we arrived. They were recognized as the tailgating showpiece of the week. I am glad I stopped by.
The marching parade to and from the stadium is one of our joys. It is one of the things we can do as the alumni band that we did when we were students.
It takes a while for 650 alumni band members to get seated. We arrived about an hour before game time. The pre-game show was wonderful; we all enjoyed watching the current students perform, and some of us were happy not to have to run onto the field and kick step. Near half-time we all snake down the stands and get ready for our portion of the show. It is so much fun on the sidelines. We get to march on the field, just as we did when we were students. The show is remarkably well done, thanks to the directors and band members watching out for us. After the game we go back to the field and perform a post-game concert before lining up and marching back to demonstration hall.
Other Fun:
We ate at the Brody cafeteria. If you had told me, when I was a student that I would come back into this cafeteria, I would have said “no way.” It has been torn down and re-built. It is a good dining experience. We ate there after the game, so we did not have to drive anywhere.
I did my traditional run on campus on Sunday morning after the game. It is good to explore the campus. Generally, no one is out in the morning after a football game. It brings back memories of seeing some of the buildings that I took classes in and remember from my days as a student on campus.
I played disc golf about 3 miles from campus on a relatively new course. It was okay and I may go back, but I will look for another choice as well.
See you on the road. No bike rides on this trip.
Alumni Band Weekend!
The Alumni band weekend was a perfect September weekend at Michigan State University. Someone asked me recently if I ever played in front of people, and I was able to reply that I just played for 78,000. Of course, they were not in attendance to see me or my friends. It was a football game, and we were the half-time and the post-game show.
I shared with my fellow E-flat cornet player friend Bill the saying “you cannot go back.” However, this is the only event we can do on campus that we did when we were in school. It was great to connect with my friends and fellow band members.
We started with a rehearsal on Friday night and then a reception where we looked at the memorabilia from the star of the show this year—Dave Catron. Professor Catron was my marching band director and held the position of director of the Spartan Marching Band (SMB) for many years. It was great to see him and be able to honor the legacy of his time in the program. It was fun to see some of the memorabilia and charts. My fellow-E flat cornet player friend Tom told us how he (as a part of the band communication team) drew cover pictures and other items on the display table.
The alumni band organizers had Saturday well planned, and registration was a breeze. We all met and watched the SMB run through their rehearsal; they sounded great! We had a run through of our combined program: imagine 575 alumni members joining 300 SMB members on the field. It took a few minutes to get us going into the designated spots.
After the combined rehearsal, we heard from Dave Catron and the Athletic Director and then the University President. It was great to see them all. Of course, one of my friends reminded me that we are all potential doners.
After the morning rehearsal, we enjoyed lunch and visiting prior to lining up for the march to the stadium.
One of the best moments of the weekend comes when we are marching to the stadium from the music building. The 575-member alumni band gets to march and play just like we did when we were students, except without the hot uniform and inspection. Dave Catron was on hand to watch us and cheer us on. The alumni band marches first and a little later the SMB marches separately. This moment is when most think we are back at school with the crowd along both sides of the street and the drum cadence from our playing days. We strike up the fight song and the crowd cheers. They are as excited as we are.
We perform this march to the stadium in good order; before we enter the stadium, we sing the alma mater at the entrance. It takes a while for 575 of us to find our seats. We enjoy the warm fall day and admire the band’s pre-game entrance wondering if we were ever that good.
It is awesome for us to be back on the stadium turf. Entry to the playing field takes several minutes of the second quarter and we get to see some of the action at field level. I also get to catch up with some of my buddies from last year as we get ready to perform. The highlight of our marching is to spell out “CATRON” in honor of the former director of the SMB. If you look closely, I am on the left side of the “A.”
After the half-time performance, we had our traditional apples, played more pep band songs, and played again on the field for the post-game show. We then are left with our memories of another fun day on campus as we march and play on our way back from the stadium to Demo Hall.
Lessons learned:
- Marching with the band was a great experience. Each year marching with the alumni band continues that great feeling. I can go back and experience some of the fun as an undergrad.
- Live and in person at a Big Ten football game is an energizing experience. Win or lose all season, this is the school I graduated from and the weekend at the stadium with 78,000 other fans is terrific.
- Meeting and spending time with friends and over 575 alumni is an experience like no other I have had in retirement. I practice my trumpet so I can continue to play with this awesome group.
Other fun:
Running on campus. My training plan called for a four-mile run and I did it on Sunday morning in and around campus prior to driving home. I had never been to the Lewis Landscape Arboretum (dedicated three years after I graduated). It was great to explore the garden a little while I was running. I also managed to walk along campus after eating breakfast at Brody Hall, where I ate as a freshman and sophomore. They had re-done the building and the experience, but it was still a quiet place to eat on Sunday morning. I understand it is one of the largest if not the largest non-military cafeteria in the world.
On the way back from Michigan, I decided it would be interesting to visit the Neil Armstrong Museum. I have seen this museum on I-75 going to and from Michigan. It is a fascinating museum and has more than just great Neil Armstrong memorabilia. It did make a great to stop; I am glad I visited on my way back home.
No bike rides on campus, although I did ride as a student.
Vermont is Green
We left a hot and humid Kentucky, where it had not rained for a few weeks, and traveled to Vermont, where we hoped the weather would be cooler. It was not. But it was green and it had rained. The green landscape was a big contrast to our brown lawn at home.
In telling a friend about the trip we had planned to Vermont, he remarked, “Well, at least it is flat.” I said he was incorrect and asked if he had heard about Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys from the Revolutionary War. Apparently, he missed that class.
Vermont is not flat. It has the Green Mountains. They are not in any way near the height of the Western State mountains, with a high point of Mount Mansfield 4,393 feet above sea level. Although we did not bike in the mountains, the terrain was still hilly as we climbed them on regular bikes. It was fun and hard work all at the same time. It did threaten to rain at the beginning of the bike trip, but the weather held out and we did not get too much rain while riding.
We participated in a self-guided bike tour in Vermont sponsored by VBT. It was a good set of daily rides, and the accommodations were wonderful. Every day we saw the Green Mountains or the Adirondack Mountains. We also rode to and from Lake Champlain. I was reminded of my travels to the Rocky Mountains as the views were great. We also saw farms and cows, as expected.
We stopped at the monument for Benedict Arnold and his Revolutionary War victory on Lake Champlain at Arnold Bay. It was good to read about this victory and see him in a positive light. Arnold is also talked about in the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum we visited (pictures near the end of this blog).
We learned in our orientation for the bike rides that the state animal of Vermont is the Morgan Horse. We had a stop at the farm on our first and last day of riding. I had to look it up and found that the Kentucky state animal is the gray squirrel. I had no idea we had a state animal, let alone what it could be.
My favorite day of riding and relaxing was the day at the Basin Harbor Resort. We had a charming bike ride along Lake Champlain and enjoyed kayaking on the lake. We were taken in by the beauty of the lake as well as the resort.
Our ride to the Basin Harbor Resort was a long and hilly ride on a hot (over 86 F) and humid day for Vermont. We rode over 45 miles and climbed over 2,000 feet of elevation gain.
We were part of a group; however, as it was a self-guided tour, we used Ride with GPS and were following the routes and prompts using that app. We frequently saw the other riders, although we did not ride with them as often as we had on our guided bike tours, which also used the Ride with GPS app. It was good to know that other riders were around. I would do a self-guided ride again since my riding buddy, my wife, likes these tours as well.
The scenery was amazing, besides the mountains. We enjoyed the open roads, not too much traffic, and the destinations.
Biking or Disc Golfing?
Before traveling to Vermont for this biking trip, I looked for ways to play some disc golf. Did you know that two of the top ten courses in the world are in Vermont? Prior to starting our bike tour, I was able to play them both as they are conveniently located at Smugglers’ Notch Resort. Adding to my fun, I also played Maple Hill in Massachusetts after the bike tour was over, allowing me to notch three of the top-ten disc golf courses in the world in one trip.
The first course I played was Brewster Ridge. It was not raining at the first tee box, but we got out raincoats as it began raining on the way to the second tee box, and rained for the rest of the 17. It was a great course, although I would have enjoyed a little less water. I made the most of the time I had to play this top course.
The next morning, I played the companion course, Fox Run Meadows, another top ten course. It was an excellent disc golf course. Fox Run was a little more open (less woods) and it was the day after all the rain, so I did enjoy the experience a little better. Fox Run does not have the cement or pavers for the tee pads.
It was quite a treat to for me to go out and play Maple Hill, one of the best courses in the world. One of the reasons this and the other courses I played on this trip are so good, is that for a player like me they are accessible. I played Maple Hill a few years ago with my son and we played the red, white, and blue option, rotating from easiest (red) to a harder (blue) configuration. Maple Hill and the other courses I played also have a professional level option, all on the same course, with some different configurations.
After reflecting on playing these top courses, one of the reasons they are so good is that I was able to play them well at my level of play. I can say I played the same course as the top touring professionals in Disc Golf. Each round was enjoyable because it was challenging for me but not impossible for me to play. For the record, I played all three of the top courses at the white (novice not beginner) levels. Next time I think I will have to play at the blue level.
I also played the Basin Harbor 9-hole course. I was happy to find disc golf at Basin Harbor, but this course will not make the top 100 anytime soon.
A highlight for me was spending time with our grandson. He loves to run, and we all did a lot of that with him. He also learned to fly a kite and play baseball with a tee.
We were able to spend time with two of our kids while visiting. We enjoyed walking in Providence, and having ice cream was a bonus for us.
Other fun
We rode through a covered bridge (twice) and got to view the Middlebury Falls from a big chair.
We were excited to see the Vermont Jazz Ensemble performing near our hotel at the Middlebury Festival on the Green and took advantage of learning a swing dance from the free lesson during the performance. We enjoyed dancing on the street in Middlebury.
Near the Basin Harbor Resort is the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. We arrived after the museum closed, but we were able to walk around the museum’s outside exhibits. Some in our group went through during the day and enjoyed the exhibits; I am sure we would have as well. I am glad they had so many outdoor exhibits open for us to explore.
We rode past a road sign about Silas Wright who was known for being from the area, although he was born in Massachusetts. This was a big monument and area. I learned about him reading the sign. He would be an important early figure forgotten to history for me if not for the sign we encountered.
I did some biking with friends in Kentucky prior to starting my bike adventure. It was good training to ride with a group of friends and tackle the hills near the Ohio River.
What a fun couple of July weeks. I was able to run, kayak, bike, and swim while away from home. I participated in the Red Legs 10K in Cincinnati in June as part of my preparation for the Big Ten 10K that I ran virtually in Middlebury in July on the first day of our bike rides. I should have chosen a flatter course for the Big Ten virtual 10K.
Our two hour kayacking cruise on Lake Champlain was just what we need to contrast with the bike riding. We did enjoy kayacking from Basin Harbor. We went a few miles, saw an island, enjoyed the breezes and perspective of being on water, so different from being on a bike.
I joined one of my sons and his training buddy for an early morning swim at the YMCA. It was a different experience for me as the pool was much wider than my normal pool. This event completed the weird vacation four sport activity of swimming, running, kayaking and biking.
Vermont has a “creature” called “Champ” and we were challenged to find Champ on our rides by our local host at the start of the biking adventure. We only “saw” bigfoot. We did come to learn that Champ was the sea monster of Lake Champlain and is like the Loc Ness Monster from Scotland.
See you on the road. And as the Basin Harbor sign says, try to have a little fun every day.
Cherryville Express
Our daughter and son-in-law moved to a cute little town in North Carolina. We thought it was great that they just happen to be near a train track that runs through town. This was our first visit to their new place. Being retired, we can go anytime. It was great to go over Memorial Day weekend as the kids were able to spend time with us without needing to take time away from work, kind of like us!
We were delighted with the town of Cherryville. The downtown area boasts of several murals painted on the walls of the buildings. We had a first-rate walking (and running) tour of the downtown area.
We were also able to hike Mt. Crowder, a moderate trail nearby. The scenery was wonderful and the hiking was pleasing. We hiked about 6 miles. It is awesome to see the kids in such great shape.
In looking for a place to run, we ran on the campus of the Cleveland County Community College. I discovered the most interesting mascot–the “Yetis” or as I like to say, big foot.
I did run with my daughter at the college. However, we liked running downtown better due to the sidewalks and interesting murals. We managed to run a little over 8 miles while I was in town. It is fun to run with family members.
We did several projects with the kids around the house; their new home is looking super. I am sure that we will see them both again before too long.
Other fun:
I managed to play a round of disc golf at a short course nearby. It was satisfying to play.
We had ice cream in a few locations in town. It is refreshing on a warm Memorial Day.
No bike rides this trip. See you on the road soon.
Walking and Visiting with Friends and Family
In late 2023 and early 2024 we took a few trips, visited kids and grandkids, and saw a presidential library.
It is enjoyable seeing family and friends. Sometimes we do new things. Sometimes we just repeat. It is a joy to be present for birthdays and celebrations like Christmas. Of course, any excuse to see a grandchild is good.
This last spring/winter we went back to see our grandson and reveled in him opening Christmas presents. We also went back again a few months later for his birthday. He had a good party. It is fun to turn three.
While we are in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, we do get out and walk. There are several local parks to visit. We enjoy the Gertrude M. Boyden Wildlife Refuge, near where the kids live, as a place to hike in all seasons. With 50 acres, this is a popular local spot for walking dogs. The scenery near the three-mile river is great as well.
I am again part of a local running group, and I am training for a half-marathon in May. This year, one of my kids will join me to run, so, it is good for me to keep in shape. I hear that exercise is important as we age. I will run for as long as I feel I can safely run. Of course, my kids call what I do jogging. Wait until they are my age and then see what they call it…I completed the Frozen 10k run and the 15k Heart mini, as well as running in Massachusetts and Rhode Island on our travels.
In the spring I flew out west to LA; one of the highlights was visiting the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum (besides visiting my youngest). I did not know that a retired Air Force One and Marine One were inside. It was a fun tour, and as usual with museums, I could have spent more time viewing the exhibits. I learned that Reagan kept a journal of his time in office and he liked to write note cards for speaking ideas. I also saw the jelly beans around the replica Oval Office and came away impressed with all he had accomplished.
I flew in and out of the Burbank airport. I did not realize it was an old Lockheed Martain facility. I was delayed in leaving due to the high winds, so I got to explore Santa Susana Pass, an area nearby. Walking through the park, I could just imagine the early settlers on horseback going through this area. Of course, Reagan was on my mind, and I can see where they could have filmed some old westerns here as well.
When in California, I am amazed at the plants that just grow along the roads and bloom. They look unreal to me. A bird of paradise? I do not see that very often where I live.
I did play disc golf at a couple of local courses. Elephant Rock was a favorite. It only had 12 baskets for discs, but the rock was interesting and the layout was fun.
When I got home, my local course was in full bloom, so it was nice to see spring coming to the area.
My friend Gary was one of the directors or judges for a national bridge tournament in Louisville. It was exciting to see all the bridge players and the tournament setup. We did see some games in progress. Maybe we will play next time we go to the tournament. We enjoyed time with Gary and our time in Louisville.
Other Fun:
Apparently, California passed Proposition 65 years ago to get labeling correct on their water, answering the question, “Is my water safe?” Unintended consequences happen. On my rental car was the notice that I should not breath the exhaust from the car. I now consider myself warned.
My only bike rides have been in the basement, getting ready for a trip in April. See you on the road.
Alumni Band Weekend
It must be fall; football is beginning and the kids are back in school.
For me, it was the perfect weekend in the state of Michigan for the Alumni Band to get together. The Michigan State University (MSU) Marching Band has around 300 players. This year the Alumni Band had about 450 participants from 23 states. Together, we had over 700 marching at half time on the field. And we did drills.
It all started with an email from the Alumni Band asking for us to sign up. I waited a while and decided to go for it. Better now while I can still march and play. My former roommate and fellow E-flat trumpet player Steve said he would join me to march. Another one of my friends could only join for the game day due to a Friday night commitment.
They say you cannot go back. We did, and we had fun doing it. I have not played so much in 24 hours in a long time. The last reunion I attended, my second, was in 1991, ten years after I graduated. I do not remember the Alumni Band being so big.
The weekend started with a group rehearsal on Friday night; like we were still in school, bright and early the next morning we went over our drill with the students—who looked sharp. We marched to the Stadium after grabbing a lunch and performed in the stands and then on the field for half-time and again in the stands and then on the field again for a post-game show before marching back from the Stadium.
As a special treat on Friday night, after our rehearsal, before we were dismissed, we heard from the new women’s basketball coach, some former football players, the band director from my era (I did not even know I was part of an era) and the University interim president. I then went to the hotel room with my former college roommate Steve and spent the night again sharing a room. I feel younger just writing this.
During the Saturday morning rehearsal, the alumni members were corrected or reminded how to march. It is amazing how quickly it all comes back and how much faith the directors have in us. The show came together without too much trouble.
On Saturday morning, it was a treat to practice marching and join the Spartan Marching Band (SMB) on the practice field. This field is so much better than what we had, including a taller platform for the directors to see how we are doing. The students did not have a paper copy of the drill like we all did; they had it on some app on their phones. Times have changed. The SMB all had matching t-shirts and looked and sounded great. It has been over 40 years since I was part of this group.
During our practice, it was great to see that the SMB and the Alumni Band have several fans in the stands next to the band’s practice field. I was happy to see my fellow E-flat trumpet player Bill in the stands to greet us.
The march to the Stadium after lunch was one of the highlights of the day for us in the Alumni Band. We formed up on our former practice field, near the music building, and the alumni band marched to the Stadium. The SMB followed later. We marched to the familiar drum line cadence, which the Alumni played to perfection, we tried to keep in straight line, and play the fight song, as well as cheer and sing as we marched to the Stadium.
We had great seats for the SMB’s pre-game show and, of course, the football game. We did not know any of the drama that the football program would go through in the coming days and weeks with the firing of the head coach for our game. It is just as well that we could enjoy the moments for us and our fellow Alumni Band members.
Once the game began, we joined the band in playing for exciting moments in the game and then suddenly it was time to leave the stands and get onto the field to march the half-time show. Several good memories came flooding back playing in the Stadium that is now 100 years old. Just the exhilaration of being part of this big thing we call the marching band was an awesome time.
Halftime went well. Thanks to the guidance from the SMB on field, I hit my spots and remembered how to turn.
The postgame show was a blast, even though it took us a long time to exit the stands and get back onto the field. The SMB performed a number and then we joined them for Everybody’s Everything—which was fun to play and move with the band.
Until next time, we formed up and marched through the tunnel and marched and played on the way back to the Demonstration Hall where we began our Alumni Band journey on Friday night. I think the experience was typical from what I remember from being part of the SMB. It is a long day; it was 11 hours after we first came to Demonstration Hall Saturday morning to warm-up that we were done for our day. The SMB probably (as we once did) had an after-game party to attend. Our group went out to dinner and we were tired.
Lessons learned:
Wear a hat—the sun was great; I just was out in it for hours and needed a hat.
Bring the music for the post game show—I had to look on with a friend to get the parts. Now I know what to bring.
Other Fun:
Spending the weekend with my friends. Do we look any different?
This is us at the last alumni band day we attended in 1991:
I am happy to report that we all remembered our band jackets and they still (mostly) fit. It does get cool in September on campus at Michigan State University.
I drove by the house where I grew up and my old high school on the way home. I also stopped and played some disc golf as well. Always a fun time.
I was happy to spend time with my buddies from school and play my trumpet all day and catch up with friends and band members that I had not seen in a long time. I think I will have to go back next year.
As I was walking back to the stands after the half-time show, I met the trainer for Zeek the Wonder Dog IV. It was a good conversation and Zeek, to his credit, ignored the 700 of us mingling around him. I remember the first wonder dog. The trainer has been working with II-IV. A fun job going out to the field and throwing frisbees.
Walking to the Stadium and having to park for the early morning rehearsal, we walked by several alumni fans who were setting up their tailgate parties. We were amazed at the elaborate tailgate setups. Something new for me was seeing “Fowling.” I had not previously heard of this game, bowling with footballs. I was assured that Fowling is a Michigan based game. I will look for it to catch on next year across the country.
No bike rides on this journey. I did get a run in on a sleepy and foggy campus on Sunday.
See you on the road.
Novelty and Reality, I will try not to repeat the same story again…
The kids are back in school, and as was the case when I was a child, I wanted to report on what we have been doing this year since our travel to New Zealand. We have repeated many of the same travels in 2023 as we did in 2022. My family is in the same places. As we visit these places, I will point out a few new sights along the way as well as a few favorites. We have been to Massachusetts and Rhode Island as well as to North Carolina. One such change was running a half marathon with my two oldest in Providence this year.
We were able to celebrate Christmas with our grandson and his birthday (two already!).
Visiting Block Island, which is part of Rhode Island, was a new experience for us. It was a nice day to walk the beach and bike around the island. Happy that one of our sons took the day off to enjoy the adventure with us on the Island.
We did learn about fog warnings. The boat taking us to the island used a fog horn several times. We were safe and enjoyed the island. I was pleased to stop in the visitor’s center and receive a discount on the rental bikes. We also received good information on where to go and what to see at the center.
After the sun came out and the fog cleared, we had a satisfying bike ride, including riding to all four points of the compass on the island. At the end of our ride, we enjoyed some ice cream before going back to the harbor and turning in the bikes. All in all, a good day at the beach and on an island.
The way to and from our house to visit family in Massachusetts and Rhode Island is through Pennsylvania. We have gone several ways, including going though Erie, PA, the most northern edge, and taking I-76 on the southern route as well as I-80 through the heart of the commonwealth.
As we get older, we cannot drive straight through (like our kids sometimes do) for a 15-hour (not including stopping) car ride. We break it up. Where to stop in Pennsylvania is a planning challenge; it can be fun to think about alternative stops in the state.
We often take a different route home than we did on the way to Massachusetts. I have a friend who lives near Wilkes-Barre, not too far out of our way. It helps to have a place to spend the night. He and I recently stopped at Ricketts Glen State Park for a hike before continuing home for me. It was beautiful to hike, and had so many waterfalls. I am not sure I would have ever stopped at this park without Rob pointing it out for me. In reading about this park, it was slated to become a National Park before the Depression era budget cuts and WWII began heating up. Pennsylvania has turned this into a magnificent and underappreciated park.
We stopped to hike here in July as well, but we did not make it back to the car before the rain came. Fortunately, we had a set of dry clothes in the car.
I ran the Great Appalachian Valley 10K, which also counted for my virtual Big Ten 10K run. As we were driving to Massachusetts, we enjoyed the Shippensburg campus and the disc golf courses. The Great Appalachian Valley run was small (about 250 runners); we were happy that we could all start early even though we were running on a rail trail. It worked out great for us.
We have been back to North Carolina visiting our newlywed couple. Again, a fun trip and not too much new. We did get a family trip to one of the Charlotte area disc golf courses.
Other repeated travel this year has been to visit my mom and my in-laws as well as family and friends along the way.
Other fun:
Traveling on holidays can be interesting. We were in Pennsylvania for Valentine’s Day and had a great meal out; and I spent the day (in the car) with my lovely wife. Even more creative, on Christmas day we had dinner in the hotel in Pennsylvania, as all the restaurants are closed on Christmas day. My wonderful wife planned ahead, so we had all the trimmings for a fancy dinner in the lobby, alone. It was great.
I participated (a repeated story) in the Tri-State Running Group. This year the Frozen 5k went off as planned. The Heart Mini was cold but provided the right distance training (a 15k run) as we prepared for the half-marathon. We had several runs in and around Cincinnati with the running group.
As part of my training for the Providence half-marathon, I was able to do a training run in Providence. It was an eight-mile preview of the half-marathon course. This is a similar process that my running group was doing in Cincinnati on their half-marathon course. It was only 11 degrees when we started, but it was my opportunity to train and experience running on the Providence course.
I ran the Red’s Run, a 10K as part of my training that benefits the Cincinnati Red’s Foundation. This run made my training schedule to get ready for the 10K in July.
I played disc golf at a few new courses (for me). My favorite from my recent travels though Pennsylvania is the Faylor Lake DiscGolfPark. This is the top-rated free disc golf course in the world according to the 2023 UDisc ratings. I agree.
I did get to play the number one UDisc course in the world, Maple Hill. Based on my game, I decided to move up from Red (easy course) to White (moderately difficult course) and when I did, I was so excited to see that I was already playing well at the next level on this course. I needed to move up. I am not yet ready for the next two harder levels on this course.
We were able to visit friends as well on our travels. It is wonderful to reconnect with friends in person.
The summer means bikes, and we took our bikes to Massachusetts. We enjoyed (again) the ride to Dighton Rock and the East Bay trail in Rhode Island.
We spent the evening at the Old Silver Beach on Falmouth (Cape Cod). The water was refreshing and we got to see our oldest play ultimate Frisbee while we played with our grandson.
Lessons learned:
We have choices on what road to travel, flying or by car. It is important to explore alternative options. In May, on the way home from Massachusetts, I stopped at a disc golf course at a brewery and picked up some tasty beer. It is a better experience to be open to the possibilities.
See you on the road.
Retirement Travel with Glen 