We are now in Gilroy California and there has been a lot to do.

Over the Easter weekend we spent some time next to the Hollister Municipal Airport. With the three day weekend the gliders were going full tilt. We were able to watch them hook up to the tow plane and take off. I had my Ham radio tuned to the airport common frequency so we could track them as they reported their position around the airport and then we could watch them land. Using the binoculars we could watch the pilot concentrating on his or her landing. At one point I walked over to the fence and one of the glider pilots invited me in and showed me the whole range of gliders they have available for rent. Of course he was trying to get me to pony up $165 for a ride, and it was very tempting.

We met a group of Elk campers from Visalia, and joined them each evening around the camp stove for a sing along. The most popular songs were my old theme song, “Oh Lord it’s Hard to be Humble,” and my new theme song, “I Just Don’t Look Good Naked, Anymore.”

Glen and the family brought their Jeep over Saturday and we all took a trip to the Hollister Hills State Off Road Vehicle Park. Cody is now 16, so he got a turn driving over the obstacle course. That is until he got the jeep stuck and his dad, Glen, had to back it out. When Barb and Judy and I took got our turn we clawed our way to the top of the ridge. Judy and Barb took turns holding in the side of the jeep on the down cliff side. Glen decided against doing the obstacle course mud pit after we saw another rig with much more aggressive mud tires getting pulled out. We did initiate the skid pan going over a steep hillock. Glen was able to keep all four wheels pulling, so we made it over.

Back in Gilroy today Judy and I made a 20 mile ride on Path, the green dragon, our recumbent tandem bicycle. We rode to Morgan Hill and managed to impale the rear tire on an eight penny nail, (in through the tread and out the sidewall.) While we were putting a new tube and a boot in the tire we were in position to get a first hand view of a car wreck. A fire truck was easing into the intersection with siren blaring and lights flashing. One car stopped and another pickup simply drove into the back of the stopped car. Fortunately we were well off the road and were never in danger from the wreck. The two drivers appeared to be uninjured. Judy gave an eyewitness account to the Morgan Hill Police before we resumed our journey.

Now to round out our week we are helping tile another bathroom here at the Dinsmore house in Gilroy. The weather is quite pleasant this week. We ride back to the coach each evening just at sunset in our shorts, shirt sleeves and a vest.

Good bye to all from sunny California. We are sympathetic to our friends up in the northeast, but no we don’t want to come help shovel you out of the snow bank. Besides I thought the groundhog predicted an early spring.

Love and friendship to all from Gary and Judy.