Lots of Ups and one Down

Hi all...been awhile since the Portlanders have posted.

I'll do highlights bulletpoint style:

-Justin had an awesome semester!  Straight A's (not that any of us thought he would get anything less) and an extremely complementary email from one of his professors about what a great student Justin was this term.  Yay Justin!

-Justin and I are house hunting!  Yes, house hunting DESPITE the rainest June on record (I am definitely ready for summer).  We are looking to set down some roots and are having a great time looking at houses.  I never knew I cared about the size of the yard or about where a bathroom is located.  When/if we find something we love, we'll keep people updated.

-Justin is still training away for his ultramarathon...running lots of hills and lots of miles.

-Here is the one "down." I crashed on my bike about 2 weeks ago.  I'm okay and thankful it wasn't more serious.  I have a large hematoma on my right leg (I call it my alien water balloon) and some bruising.  It's been a pretty big training set back but I'm powering through.  For those interested, here's a photo:

-My dad had a stellar retirement party last weekend.  I flew down for a short trip, it was great to see him and a bunch of my old teachers.  To the teachers in the family, wait til you have students come back 20 years later!

-Justin went on a fun bike camping adventure.  They parked the car somewhere and biked to the camping spot and then biked back.  Sounded like lots of fun!

I think those are the major updates.  We are really looking forward to seeing you all very soon!

Dad and Mom at play

(If you wish to see any of these pictures larger, you can click on it. I imagine you already know that but in case you didn't, ................................)
This is most of the clan out on the deck: L to R. David Jurasek and his wife Michelle (Portland), Bob Ervin (San Leandro), Sharon, Don, Bob, Brub, Ernie Rick (San Carlos), Maureen Ervin, Gary, Nancy, and husband Roger Cox (Hayfork).
My "cousin's reunion" was three weekends ago at the home of my cousin Sharon and her husband, Don, at Lake of the Pines between Auburn and Grass Valley. Marsha and Helen were the only two not in attendance. Their home over looks the lake and a path leads down to their docked boat.
Carol and Brub and I stayed in their home, as well as cousin Nancy and Roger. The others stayed at a house nearby.
Don took us out in their pontoon boat for a tour of the beautiful lake. Sharon's sister, Sandy, and her husband, Ernie, are in this picture. He has MS and is wheelchair bound.
Don and Sharon, our hosts.

Don gave Brub and me a ride to see another home.

Last week Dad and I rented Holiday Harbor's smallest boat, the Diplomat (not in the picture).
We are headed away from the marina on a wonderfully full lake.
Mt. Shasta was glorious!
Our first night we tied up in a cove in Little Squaw Creek. There seemed to be a butterfly convention going on.
Big, full-of-water, lake made it hard to find the fish! This is a little perch Dad caught and threw back! Dad did let a huge (2 1/2 foot long) catfish break his line as we didn't want it!
Early morning (6:00 am) sunrise as we drove out to his favorite fishing spot. The lake was fairly calm then; most days it was pretty windy so we did a lot of rocking and rolling.
This was early morning. Most of the time we were in swim suits but the weather and wind made it too cold to swim - I only went in once briefly!
Dad did get 3 keepers: a salmon (which I ate there!) and 2 trout.
When we got home Friday evening Cris, John, and family had a lovely surprise greeting and dinner awaiting us!

Now we're looking forward to seeing each of you in Maine and wishing you a fun and safe touring trip getting there!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!