Wow, you are way ahead of us!

Yup. Messing about in boats. That would be the life, alright.

Magical.

Shades of Ratty and Mr Mole.

Hi again,
"Tutti galli en tres partes est" or as the class clown would have it "all Gaul is quartered into three halves". We did learn about the Julian calendar, but alas it was with numbered days and no calends or ides. I wonder if caesar's reforms eliminated the rather awkward ancient way of telling the days. Things for small minds to ponder.
Cheers,
Keith

I knew we were on the same calendar now, but thought maybe the Roman one might have been discussed in Latin class. I took Latin also in high school - my generation must be about the last to offer it in a secular school - but I don’t remember much beyond the fact that all of Gaul is divided into three parts.

Hi Scott,

Lapsed Catholic here. The church uses the Gregorian calendar. Pope Gregory you know. So the news about the Roman calendar is also news to me. Ya learn something every day.

Cheers,
Keith

I've been trying to encourage Jeff to provide for inserting links and photos in these comments. But since we do not have that yet, I put a cow for you here: https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/tortes/the-weather/

I don't think I will ever get tired of those pictures of the volcanoes. Damn that Mount St. Helens for blocking your view of Rainier!

Those are both funny slips of the finger. I meant to say soles of course, since I brought both feet to the summit. Thanks for the careful read!

We’re counting days until departure, alright. We really have nothing to complain about in our winter weather this year - it’s been one of our milder seasons in recent years - but we’re definitely looking forward to some Sicilian sunshine. Also their sole food.

I have been smarting for a few days, after a visit with some of our German speaking friends and relations. They casually mentioned the "joke" I put into the email informing people of our impending journey to Austria. I ended it with a jaunty "Auf Wieder Zehn!". Only thing, Zehn means "ten". Seeing is Sehen, and the expression is properly "Auf Wiedersehen."

So why would I write all that here? It's just a misery enjoys company, I guess, as today we learned you were the only "sole" on the Butte.

I enjoyed all of today's story, especially empathizing with cafes and cold, just as we have here. Soon that will be just a shivery memory for us all! You leave a couple of days after us, but we will be trudging through the slush in Montreal as you soar overhead to land in Europe first.

Don’t worry. From the look of some of the dates up here it’s likely to still be here when you return.

The grass is always greener on the other side, so they say.

After 3 months of the browns, greys, and whites of Denver Metro winter, I really appreciate seeing this green!

After living in Portland for 30 years, it became too easy to fall into the bad winter habit of focusing too much on the dreary .. forgetting the emerald wonderland that's just outside the door.

One of our favorite rides included this hill.

Riverview Cemetery is so beautiful!