The wedding at Napa Valley

Mike and Alison's nephews (and Bobo)

cocktail reception after the ceremony

Uncle Dick with Alison's cousins

Alison's Aunt Barbara and Grandma Maggie

Parents of the Groom
"Uncle" Vin , Julie and Uncle Dick
JIm, Kayla and Shelley Martin
BJ and Janey Gill
Robyn, aunt Elsie and Judy
Natalie and Chris Gill
The daughters-in-law, Theresia and Jen
Mike and Alison with "Uncle" Vin
Mike DePauw, Dave and Aaron

The wedding was just as Mike and Alison had planned and we were especially touched by the very personal ceremony that they had written and was presented by Uncle Vin. At the cocktail hour there was great food and an assortment of wines for tasting. We proceeded into the main ballroom for the toasts, dinner, dancing, and the usual wedding traditions. The band played until midnight and we were even treated to a "croon" by Uncle Vin.

Napa Valley wine tour and Rehearsal

Rehearsal Dinner at Marriott- Mike and Aunt Elsie
Good friends, Jan and John Bennett and Judy
Alison with sister Jennnifer from Austin, Texas - Mike's best Man, Mike
Alison's "uncle" Vin and sister Julie from New Zealand

She just came in today and has a little jet lag.

Larry and JIm Martin at the Sterling vineyards
Shelly Martin and Judy in the wine tasting room
Jacob Haley and his Dad. He always has something in his hand.
Eleanor, Shelley, Jen, Kayla and Jim at Sterling Vineyards.

Friday, we went with the Martins, Jen's mother Eleanor, Aaron, Jen, and Jake for a VIP tour at the Sterling winery that Jen had arranged for earlier. We were staying at the Fairfield in American Canyon where the landscape was very dry and arid. As you drive up Highway 29 to Napa and beyond to the wine country, the landscape is quite lovely especially this time of year if the vines had not been harvested. The climate here is similar to the Mediterranean so the vegetation that has been planted around the various wineries resembles what you see in that part of the world. The buildings are white washed like those you find in Greece. the winery is on the top of a hill and you ride an aerial tram to the top. After touring the winery, there is a room for tasting.

After the drive back to American Canyon, we had time to get ready for the rehearsal dinner at the Marriott in Napa. Mike had arranged for the dinner to be outside which was lovely as the weather was just perfect. We met more of Alison's family and participants in the ceremony. Uncle Dick and Uncle Vin were there. After the rehearsal dinner, Mike had invited the other guests to join us for food and beverage. Everything was delicious and it was great to see everyone. Jake was busy making friends with Alison's nephews.

Napa Valley- Piccolinos

Aaron, Natalie and Chris
Jacob Haley
Terry (Theresia's Mom), Theresia, Alison and Dave
Mike, Janey, Judy and BJ

Mike had arranged for any out of town guests who were around on Thursday to meet in the old downtown part of Napa for dinner at Piccolinos. We had a very nice group.

Seattle to Napa

We took a ferry over to Washington State and stayed in the Seattle area for 5 days. For 5 cloudy, damp days we toured Olympia, Mt. Ranier, Cascade and Mt. St Helens National Parks and Monuments with a day in Seattle thrown in there. Started driving to Oregona and made a stop at Crater Lake National Park before driving on to California. We arrived in Napa on Wednesday, and picked up Mike at the airport on Thursday.

Vancouver and Victoria

Parliament Building at night in Victoria

Butchart Gardens

On the ferry to Victoria. Look!!!! blue skies!!!!!

A statue of Gassy Jack in Gastown, Vancouver

Chinatown in Vancouver

The public Library modeled after the Roman Colosseum in Vancouver
The steam clock in Gastown
Another Rainy day and here we are at the Vancouver acquarium. This is our 10th day in Canada and we haven't seen but a peek of the sun. Couldn't take that quintessential stroll in Stanley Park so we opted to visit the aquarium. Had dinner in in Chinatown last night and then walked back to our hotel by way of Yaletown. Very Yuppie there. After the visit to Stanley park, we walked back to Robson street and over to The Bay to do some shopping. Had Thai for dinner and really enjoyed a sit-fry dish with mango, chicken, and cashews. Came presented in the mango shell. Not sure how they did that since I have to peel the mango to get the fruit off that pit.

The day we drove down to Tswassen to catch the ferry for Victoria, we saw lots of sunshine and made for a very pleasant and photographic excursion in the Butchart Gardens. Drove in to Victoria, found our B&B and then walked over to the Inner Harbour ( a 5 minute walk) and took loads of pictures at the Parliament building and the Empress Hotel. Today we walked along the seawall until the afternoon misty rain started and then we bought 2 tickets for the Royal BC Museum (An excellent museum). Had eggs benedict for breakfast this morning. I decided that every day in British Columbia Canada is a bad hair day but people don't seem to care about that. Everyone owns a coat that looks waterproof and has a hood. You do not walk out of doors without your umbrella. There are more Japenese tour buses here that we saw in the maritimes.

Tomorrow it is get on the ferry for Port Angeles and then tour Olympia National Park. Time to drive again and give our feet(s) a rest.

Judy and Homer

Radium Hot Springs and Kootenay

grizzley bear in Kootenay by the river
Homer at the Paint Pots
In the pool at Radium Hot Springs
Lunch on the Kootenay River

Canmore, Canada

Picture of our hotel in Canmore

view of the mountains and pool/spa from our room.We are on top floor
cloudy day at Lake Louise
at the end of the hike up to Lake Peyto on the Icefields Parkway
At the ridge by Smashed in Head Buffalo Jump
Homer trying not to fall again on trail to Peyto Lake

Devils Tower, Sunday October 2

Homer after his abduction on the top of the tower. He discovers he has been probed. Entrance to Devils Tower.Homer decided to climb to the top of the tower. I think I may have to use my needle and thread tonight on those pants or will they be going in the washer to remove some brown stains?

While driving into the monument area, I was constantly having flashbacks to the movie and thinking about the dead cows on the side of the road. Actually there was a controlled burn going on and we were smelling lots of smoke and the tower was in a haze. I was doing the same thing at Mt. Rushmore thinking of the movie North by Northwest. I had seen a show on TCM about that movie showing how the scenes on top of the monument was actually shot in the studio.

Today we drove through rain most of the day with an occasional snow storm thrown in there. Hopefully the moisture is moving through fast and we will have some partly cloudy weather after tomorrow. Right now it is still raining and chilly. WE head to Banff area tomorrow and only have a stopoff at Smashed in Head Buffalo Jump.

Custer State Park

Two females and a baby buffalo. Guess they haven't been rounded up and are escaping the buffalo auction. We won't be having any buffalo burgers.
Homer and Judy on the Needles Highway in Custer State Park. This was by a formation called the eye of the needle. Use your imagination. Originally it was discussed to create the monument in this area but the sculpter decided there were too many cracks and fissures.