Double Dose of Friends
Sep 10 2009
The military life has many benefits and one is the number of friends to be made. My wife’s career was not lacking in this – we made many great friends. Thus, as I’ve written before, one of the goals of the trip was to catch up with these friends.
Our pass through Canada and into the Midwest gave an extra benefit in this area – we met up with friends for the second time. First, we stopped in Rideau Ferry, Ontario to see Thom and Joan Besch again. We actually met them on the road as they were doing the same trip we are, except he’s a retired Army type.
They found their final home in upstate NY after a long search, but invited us to their family’s retreat in Ontario before they had to get their kids in school. The stay was great in so many ways. Their kids (along with a few family cousins) took our kids to swim in the river, jump off the boathouse into the river, sail, kayak, sleep in tents, and have water wars. It was great to watch. Check out all the photos!
Meanwhile Thom tried to teach me how to sail, and taught Mary Claire how to sail. You can judge the results of his efforts by my choice of words. I just have a problem relaying the sound of port or starboard into my head, having to translate it to left or right, then get my brain to tell my hand which way to steer the tiller (or whatever that thing is called). My results were not emblematic of the teaching though. I am the first to admit: great teacher, poor student.
After a few days there we tooled through Michigan (with a great overnight in the Lansing Wal-Mart parking lot – they offer free RV overnighting) and on to north of Chicago to meet up with Dan and Mary Dirnberger, who we saw last in San Antonio. It was great seeing them and their kids again. This time though, all ten of us did not end up sleeping in the RV (as we did at Padre Island National Seashore).
With these stops, we were invigorated and ready to roll west for more friends, National Parks, and to find a spot to settle (and to find a job for me – know of any?).
Water Wars!
The teacher becomes the student
Dear Wahl family. What a wonderful site you have. I retired many years ago, but I wanted to let you know that I enjoyed all the stories of your travels. I am from New England, (Massachusetts). Was stationed at Otis AFB when it was an active AF Base. I have done many of the things that you experienced, and it brought back many memories. Booth Bay Harbor is where I worked on a worming farm for a few weeks in the summer with a friend who’s sister owned the business. We would dig worms and then pack them in seaweed, and ship them to the cape to the fishing/tackle businesses. I did not do well with the counting, so I got to dry the seaweed. A much better job.
I also have been stationed in Japan and Germany. A wonderful experience. I have a nephew stationed at Beale in the U2 Program. They live in Grass Valley, and love it. Where ever you settled, it seems that you will be extremely happy. God Bless You all.
Joan
@Joan,
Great read your comments. What the heck is a worming farm?
I would be interested to talk to you nephew about Grass Valley. Would he be willing to email me at wahl5@mac.com?
Thanks.