We had perfect weather and a perfectly hot 128 F temp at the bottom of the canyon. Linda & Jake rode the mules, and Bruce went on his own two feet. We stayed in a rustic cabin at Phantom Ranch down there, with an air conditioner that dropped the temp in the cabin all the…

On the last weekend before Ryan hits the road for Cali and law school (with Jacob in tow as his traveling companion for the road trip), I craved some time with my sons. So after a leisurely Sunday morning I suggested a nice little day hike.  But where? My favorite trail, of course–The Wonderland, at…

San Diego de Tenango 2010 We spent a week in this village sponsored by Agros and UPC, getting to know the people, preparing the Corn Festival (more ways to eat and drink corn than I ever imagined), hand-mixing and spreading concrete floors, learning each other’s languages, praying, and admiring the beauty of life and this…

Jake kept the Baker dynasty intact, after 15 years, 4 children, 4 STP’s (Ryan did 3 of them, Natalie the 4th), 2 RSVP’s (Jillian & Jake), and over 1,000 miles of cycling.  Jake & I did the 185-mile ride from Seattle to Vancouver B.C. this past weekend.  He was awesome, full of willpower and leg…

          Sunrise, Mt Rainier. 4 friends. 120 miles. 9900′ of climbing. One awesome day.

Venerdi Santo (Good Friday) in Lucca, then Pasqua in Firenze at the Duomo, where we met Larry & Victoria after the fireworks and worship. Then we stayed with them in Cortona, under the Tuscan sun, of course.  Wow! What a beautiful place.  More Photos

Highs & lows in the city of light.  We had two days while Jake was on school holiday.  Great city, of course, but we toured Le Musee de l’Armee, WWI & II wings, so it was more war. Closed our visit with a moment at the deportation memorial, at the tip of the isle de…

History field trip. Such chaos and so many lives lost on those beaches and fields. So many battlements, armaments and plans; their end was destruction. In the struggle to reorder events, the only order now visible is in the neat lines, columns and diagonals of the cemetaries.  [Photos]