We have taken our bikes on several vacations. The first trip took us to the Puget Sound area, landing in Seattle and travelling to Port Townsend by van, then cycling from ferry to ferry for week. Because the company we used liked some of the photographs we had taken well enough to use them in their catalog, in exchange for which we got a credit toward a future trip, we toured the California Wine Country of Sonoma, Nappa and Alexander Valleys. The cycling was wonderful, but you had to got easy on the wine tastings!

Our most recent trip was to Ireland, where we toured the Canemara Peninsula and stayed at lovely inns and Bed & Breakfasts. We could really understand why Ireland is called the Emerald Isle - I have never seen so many shades of green all at the same time. It rained a little every day, but only enough to warrant seeking shelter once (and then it was too early - the pub was closed).

On the Ireland trip, for the first time, we left our bikes home and rented ones from the tour organizer. This was primarily because we had heard that the road surfaces were not as kind to skinny wheels as those at home. Although the reports were accurate, I think we will bring our own bikes in the future, possibly outfitting them with heavy-duty wheels and tires.

Our latest adventure is tandeming. We bought a beautiful Santana Team Al and we are working to develop the teamwork needed to get the most our of it.

The next year, we spent a week at Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada taking lessons. I progressed from trepidation on the Green trails to being disatisfied with anything so flat... I also won the gold medal in the ski race with the rest of my (very beginner) class. On the way home we bought new skis for Sammi and I bought my first skis.

I used those skis for the next several years. They traveled with us to Canada three more times, all over New England, and to New Mexico for our Honeymoon. I replaced them after one of the bindings broke at the top of the mountain in Mont Tremblant in -40° weather. My new skis are slightly parabolic, a little longer, and much better.

We try to take at least one extended winter vacation to a ski area every year and make one or two weekend trips to areas close by.

In September of 1998, I decided I had taken enough time and that it is time to get going. Right now I am taking classes at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg Township, Somerset County, New Jersey. I'm only taking one course per semester, so this could take a while.

At the beginning of the Fall 1999 semester I selected a degree program: Associates of Engineering Science. My ultimate goal is a four-year Engineering Degree (probably Electrical, but I do not have to commit...yet). This is a very structure program with just 9 credits of electives (6 Social Sciences and 3 Humanities). As of the beginning of the Fall, 1999 Semester, I've completed English I, Calculus I, and Macroeconomics, all with A's. I am currently taking Calculus II and I'm hoping to obtain credit by examination for Introduction to Engineering (1 credit) and Engineering Graphics (2 credits).