Vacations p2

From 8-4-14

This is a continuation of our "traveling" story. At Christmas, the boys basketball team would usually "let Coach off" for about 3 days prior to the holiday. On his first day off, he would travel as far as possible to somewhere in Europe (London, Amsterdam. Zurich. Berlin, or some other "far-off" place). He would then tour on the 2nd day, & fly back home on the 3rd day--with a stern warning from me, "You'd better be back by Christmas!!"

Years ago when it was safe to do, he would tour Europe during the day while traveling by train at night (to avoid hotel expenses)! On a trip he & our son, Bill, took to the island of Mykonos in Greece, I had to make sure the beach pictures mysteriously disappeared (as some of those poor people on that island couldn't afford clothes!). I was smarter than to go on some of these trips.

Many of our trips were spontaneous. I was at my monthly bridge club when the telephone rang. Several of my friends said, "I'll bet that's my husband calling me." I replied, "I KNOW it isn't my husband, because I forgot to tell him where we were playing today!" When the hostess came back, she said, "Jan, Ronald wants to speak to you." I went to the phone, and he said, "I just wanted to let you know that we are going to London tomorrow." That's the way we traveled! Ronald went to Japan, he flew to New Zealand (which is below Australia, in case you forgot your geography), stayed for 4 hours, had his picture made with the statue of Jean Batten (who set several world flying records) outside the airport, which was inscribed, "BORN TO TRAVEL".--( which pretty well could be a description of him (Ronald), except it should read, "Born to coach--and travel!"). We made several trips to Las Vegas. One remarkable trip was with Frank & Betty Christian, our dear lifetime friends. On a venture into the desert one day, we suddenly found ourselves completely surrounded by a herd of wild donkeys! We could plainly see their large teeth and mouths as they "nibbled" at the window, without moving for our car. We sat there for a few minutes, then Frank said, "I think we're 'donkeyed' in!" (It was hilarious and we captured some of it on video!). We finally made it to Canada, we saw Mt.Helens (in Oregon--after the eruption), made a trip to Trinidad, (not all in the same trip--but it sounds like it could have been--the way WE travel!) We visited Bob H. (& his sled dogs which he had trained to run in the Iditarod race), flying over Mt. McKinley 3 times in one day (flying between Prudhoe Bay & back to Anchorage)! We made several trips to Austria--(I could hear our granddaughter, Alicia, singing her role of Maria, everywhere we went!). Ronald had to make 2 different trips to London in order to plan his basketball team's tour of Europe & Russia. He also made a 1-day trip to Maui to go jogging--can you believe that? We made several trips with dear friends, Johnny & Peggy Capes. On one occasion, Peggy & I toured England, Scotland & Wales, while Ronald & Johnny toured Russia, Poland, & Scandinavian countries. When Ronald told me about the first "bathroom stop" in some woods in Russia, I knew we had made a wise decision in not going with them! Our dear friends, the Frank Christians, introduced us to the beautiful beaches in Panama City, Fl. We bought our first beach condo (we didn't even know the meaning of the word back then) in P.C., where they owned one, and we have have owned several since then. On the way to Chicago from London, Ronald came up with the bright idea to catch a 747 to Korea for the Olympics (I went to D.C. to see the grand kids!). One day he was out for a jog, "found" himself running on a track---the Olympic stadium! How that happened, I can't imagine! But that's the way we travel!!!