Vacation Galleries

Glacier National Park Reunion Trip by Friends of Geza_ Aug. 7-16, 2009 : Glacier National Park Trip by “Friends of Geza” Proves Successful _ By Bob Friend, Sierra Club Life Member Early in the summer of 2008 I came up with an idea to honor my old friend Geza Csapo. For a quarter-century Geza has introduced many hikers -- including me -- to the wonders of Glacier National Park, among other destinations. Geza fell in love with the “Jewel of the National Parks System” the first time he laid eyes on it. After many e-mails and phone calls to and from prospective Sierra Club travelers, the moment finally arrived on Friday, August 7, 2009, when most of the group boarded Amtrak’s Empire Builder line in Chicago and headed north and west for our big adventure. (A few of the rail-riding attendees had departed a couple of days earlier, and one’s embarkation point was Seattle.) South Bend-area Amtrak travelers were: Geza Csapo, Tim and Sue Lies, Dale and Jude Keltner, Bob and Linda Leliaert, Sun-Shing and Sik-Chuen Leung, Dave and Janet Norris, and Gamiel and Bibi Reeves. Paul Pearson lives in Westville, IN; Peter Van Dae is from Tipton, IN; Pete’s grandson Nate Van Dae lives in Washington State; John Reichert and Audrey Downey reside near Rochester, IN; and I am a native Hoosier now making my home outside Wauconda, IL (far northwest exurb of Chicago). Other attendees: Chuck Rupley of Mishawaka met us out in Montana (he’d traveled there in his durable Dodge pickup truck), as did ex-Hoosiers Ken and Zita Kovach, who drove their motor home from Arizona. That adds up to 22 total participants, and we were all quite pleased with such a turnout -- the largest-ever for this type of “home-grown” trip to Glacier N.P. Highlights included a Red Bus Big Sky Circle Tour via Going-to-the-Sun Road, hiking in the rain all the way up to and back from Grinnell Glacier, and a final-night honorary banquet for Geza -- which included presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award plaque and his being serenaded by the lovely voice of Janet Norris. While I appreciate the many expressions of thanks I have received for organizing the trip, it would not have been such a smashing success without the assistance of others, notably Dave Norris (who’s been out there more often than anyone else) and Bob Leliaert; Bob also served admirably as driver of our 11-passenger rental van. The spectacular scenery notwithstanding, perhaps the best part of the journey was our being able to rekindle old friendships and begin new ones. And one final thing needs to be made clear: Geza thoroughly enjoyed himself -- which was the main goal all along!

Glacier National Park Reunion Trip by Friends of Geza_ Aug. 7-16, 2009

Glacier National Park Trip by “Friends of Geza” Proves Successful ...

Updated: Aug 30, 2009 8:28am PST

SAGBRAW '08_ Bob and Kerstin Bike Across Wisconsin : Kerstin and I decided in the spring of ‘08 that we would do a bicycling vacation that summer -- the first one since we cycled in Viet Nam back in ’03. Kerstin did a search, and SAGBRAW (Schramm’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Wisconsin) emerged the winner; the daily distance (avg. 60 mi.) and terrain seemed about right for us. On Saturday, July 26, 2008, I drove our 13½ -year-old bulldog Daisy to the vet for boarding, and we finished our packing. On Sunday the 27th, we took Riptyde, our 8½-year-old pug, to “Grandma’s” house for a weeklong vacation of his own, playing with his doggie “cousins.” Then we hit the highway, bound for Kewaskum, Wisconsin (north of Milwaukee), where a downhill ski resort served as the staging area. After I unracked the bikes and handed them over to the crew loading the semi, we boarded one of the big buses that would transport us to La Crosse on the state’s western border. We stayed in La Crosse Sunday night, then began a weeklong journey on our bicycles, back to Kewaskum, staying at motels along the way. (Having tented on other such rides, e.g., RAGBRAI, in the past, we elected to go the “luxury route” this time; it was nice having a real bed and our own bathroom, but if we get to do another ride with the Schramms we will probably select their tent service, whereby they provide tent, tent set-up, chairs and towels -- that way we would not miss out on all the evening “action” around the campground and wouldn’t have to ride our bikes from a cross-town motel back to the school in the morning to get breakfast.) Directors Eric and Kathy Schramm, along with their assistants Becky, Annemieke and Spencer, did a wonderful job planning and executing this trip. The wrench-guys at Wheel and Sprocket, notably Noel and Casey, were awesome. And I must offer a huge thank-you to Andy Jones of Specialized, who allowed me to test-ride a $4500. Tarmac for the final two days of the tour after I blew a rear wheel on my own bike. (More on that later.) Well, as they say, every picture tells a story; I selected 177 photos that document our adventure -- hope you enjoy them. I recommend viewing in the “journal” format -- the captions are easy to read as you view the pix. For more information on SAGBRAW and other Schramm-led tours, visit www.bikewisconsin.com . These folks are pros! --“Pirate Bob” Friend Wauconda Township, Illinois

SAGBRAW '08_ Bob and Kerstin Bike Across Wisconsin

Kerstin and I decided in the spring of ‘08 that we would do a bicycl ...

Updated: Aug 21, 2008 1:20pm PST

Hawaii Highlights _ full-size _ 2005 :

Hawaii Highlights _ full-size _ 2005

Updated: Jul 07, 2008 9:14pm PST

Vol.1_Hawaii '05_pix 001~245_Jan.15~31 :

Vol.1_Hawaii '05_pix 001~245_Jan.15~31

Updated: Jul 07, 2008 4:52pm PST

Vol.2_Hawaii '05_pix 246~526_Feb.1~10 :

Vol.2_Hawaii '05_pix 246~526_Feb.1~10

Updated: Jul 07, 2008 4:50pm PST

Vol.3_Hawaii '05_pix 527~820_Feb. 11~18 :

Vol.3_Hawaii '05_pix 527~820_Feb. 11~18

Updated: Jul 07, 2008 4:46pm PST