Historic Homes and Gardens of Georgia and South Carolina April 1 - 8, 2018

Saturday, March 31 - I took a Vancouver Cab at 2:30am from home to PDX.  I checked in at Alaska counter at 3:00.  I took a short flight to Seattle upgraded to First Class and a flight to ATL in Premium Class. I enjoyed the Cheese and Fruit plate during the flight.  I took a shuttle from the terminal to Hyatt Place Atlanta/Buckhead.  I photographed NGS Benchmark: DG2683 GA State Cap Arm Holding Torch as we drove by.  The 1889 building is modeled after the U.S. Capital. 

The hotel room was not ready so I sat on the lobby sofa and promptly fell asleep.  Check-in was 3:00pm but I did not get the room until 5:35.  I was on the second floor but it was fairly quiet.  I walked to nearby Kroger Market to buy a Chefs salad etc. for dinner and snacks.  I slept soundly.

Sunday, April 1 - Easter and April Fool's Day.  After a quick breakfast I took the hotel shuttle to nearby Caribou Coffee where I hosted a Geocaching Event from 8:30 to 10:00am. About a dozen Cachers attended.  Afterwards I found the nearby cache "The Buckhead Dragon".   Very clever. The silver trains were not working so I had to take the Magic Tube.

I walked to the MARTA Station where I purchased a BREEZE Card.  I got off at the Peachtree Center Station.  I photographed the station for an Earthcache.  I got back on MARTA, exited at Five Points and followed the signs to the Eastbound platform.  I took the train to E2 King Memorial Station.  At the street level I turned right.  I photographed the tall brick stacks (Benchmarks) and water tower.  I turned and walked to Hillard/Grant Street toward the tunnel.  I walked to Oakland Cemetery, a historic oasis at the highest point of the city. 

It was really hot so I was soon tired.  I photographed the huge marble lion dedicated to the Unknown Confederate Dead, a Virtual.  I returned to the station and rode back to the Buckhead N7 Station.  The hotel shuttle picked up me and several others at the Buckhead Station. 

I checked in with the Road Scholar program after 4:00pm.  We had Orientation at 5:00.  And buffet dinner at 6:00.  There are only 18 in the group.  We introduced ourselves.  And then it was off to bed.

I attended my Event, found a Multi Cache, an Earthcache, a Virtual (Monument was carved from a single block of Georgia marble) and three Benchmarks today.

Monday, April 2 - I had breakfast in the Conference Room with the group.  I went into the Dining Room though to get raisin bread toast.  We went to the Carter Presidential Museum at 9:00.  I saw The (Bill and Melinda) Gates Award for Global Health, President Jimmy Carter's Peace Prize, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's Presidential Medals of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, and an exact replica of the Oval Office.  The gifts given to President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter were quite impressive.  There was not enough time to really see everything.  I saw the gardens briefly.  I photographed "Sightless Among Miracles," a striking sculpture.  I wanted to spend more time wandering through the Presidential Museum instead.

We went to the Swan Coach House in Buckhead for lunch.  It was quite lovely.  Great place for Afternoon Tea.  We toured the Swan Mansion (1928) and Gardens.  A recurring motif are sculpted or painted swans throughout the house and grounds.  Most impressive were the 18th-century swan tables purchased in England.  I copied the Beaten Biscuits recipe displayed in the kitchen.  While the rest of the group walked through the quarry gardens I explored the Tullie Smith House (1840), a plantation-plain style house and the Farm.  We left for the hotel at 4:30.  After dinner at Gordon Biersch of Atlanta Buckhead we had an interesting lecture back at the hotel conference room on "Gone with the Wind" and author Margaret Mitchell.  I did not geocache today. 

Tuesday, April 3 - I had breakfast in the conference room.  I took my luggage down to the tour bus.  We headed for Charleston, SC this afternoon.  We left at 8:00am for Field Trip.  We drove past the red brick house where Margaret Mitchell wrote most of her novel "Gone with the Wind" in her small apartment.  We stopped at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  I saw two really large pieces of Chihuly art glass.  The orchids at the Orchid Center were amazing.  We had lunch at the garden's Longleaf Restaurant.  The Tour Bus left at noon for Charleston, SC.  We watched "Gone with the Wind".  Two bus tires had to be repaired at a crossroads just south of McDonough.  We had dinner at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Pooler.  We checked into the Francis Marion Hotel about 10:30.  I had Room 716.  I was exhausted!  I found a benchmark: DF2500 Forsyth N Mun Tank, and a geocache while the tires were repaired.

Wednesday, April 4 - Following breakfast buffet we left for a Charleston Field Trip.  We strolled through Washington Square, a quiet park in downtown Charleston in the Historic District.  The location of Washington Square once was the site of Corbett's Thatched Tavern. The city square was opened in 1818.  In the center of the park is a memorial (1891) to the Washington Light Infantry (Virtual).  The memorial is made of Carolina gray granite and is a miniature version of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

We did not get a chance to visit nearby French Huguenot Church.  Very disappointing. 

We briefly toured St. Michael's Church Charleston (1761), the oldest church edifice in the city.  The steeple is 186 feet tall; the weather vane is 7 1/2 feet long.  The entire steeple sank eight inches as a result of the earthquake in 1886.  (Benchmark: CJ0908)

We visited the Citadel which was established in 1842 and was originally located on Marion Square right across the street from our hotel.  It was moved in 1922 to the bank of the Ashley River.  Author Pat Conroy graduated from the Citadel and later wrote the controversial novel "The Lords of Discipline".  I photographed the Citadel Water Tower on Indian Hill, a sand bluff along the Ashley River (Benchmark: CJ1024)

We walked alongside the White Point Gardens.  We saw the dentist's pink mansion - how could you miss it.  I photographed the historical statue for a Virtual.

We had lunch at the hotel in the Parkview Room.  I left at 1:45 as I had reservations for Spirit Line Cruises for Fort Sumter.  The cruise departed from the Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square in downtown Charleston: 2:30 pm Ended: 4:45 pm.  I started walking.  SLC sent an Uber to pick me up. He arranged for me to board ahead of the crowd and told me where to sit on the boat.  There was a relaxing 30 minute narrated cruise to the historic fort.  I could clearly see the dentist's pink house among the Battery homes.  I had a great visit at Fort Sumter, the site of the first shots fired in April 1861 in the War Between the States.  I found the Virtual "Night Attack" and photographed the flag (Benchmark: CJ0864).  I saw several playful dolphins.  I could have easily spent another hour exploring.  We had dinner at the hotel.  I found three Virtuals and three Benchmarks today.

Thursday, April 5 - After breakfast we visited Middleton Place (1741), a National Historic Landmark situated on the Ashley River. This carefully preserved 18th-century plantation has survived revolution, Civil War, and earthquake.  It was the home of four important generations of Middletons, beginning with Henry Middleton (1717-1784), President of the First Continental Congress; Arthur Middleton (1742-1787), a signer of the Declaration of Independence; Henry Middleton (1770-1846), Governor of South Carolina and an American Minister to Russia; and William Middleton (1809-1883), a signer of the Ordinance of Secession.  Middleton Place is home to the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States. 

We had Lowcountry buffet lunch in the Middleton Place restaurant.

We toured Magnolia Plantation founded in 1679 by the Drayton family.  It is the oldest public site open to visitors in the Lowcountry, with the oldest public gardens in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1872.  It is informal English style gardening away from the very formal design earlier borrowed from the French style which I very much dislike.  We rode through the landscape on a tram.  We saw sights that evoked the plantation’s past such as a Native American ceremonial mound.  We had a buffet dinner in the Parkview Room at our hotel.  I skipped the lecture on Gullah Culture. I found two bottled waters compliments of the hotel in my room.  I prepared for morning check-out and then went to bed early instead.  I did not geocache today.

Friday, April 6 - After breakfast buffet, we checked out of the hotel and headed for Beaufort and Savannah.  We visited the Penn Center (1855) near Frogmore SC on Saint Helena Island.  Penn Center works to preserve the Gullah culture and Sea Island history.  We stopped to view the ruins of the Chapel of Ease (1740) which burned in a forest fire February 1886 and a mausoleum built in 1852 for Edgar Fripp and his wife Eliza in the adjacent graveyard.  We stopped at the Red Piano Too Art Gallery where I saw many bottle trees.  I purchased a novel: "The Secret of the Gullah Treasure" by Carl E. Linke.

We had a couple hours to explore Beaufort so I chose to find the Virtual "Hit or Miss?".  We stopped at the Visitor Center.  I walked west to The Parish Church of St. Helena near the corner of North St. and Newcastle. The bell chimed 12:00 noon. I took several photos for the Virtual of the brick wall and The Parish Church of St. Helena.  It was likely divine intervention that the mortar shot hit the brick wall rather than the church.

We stopped briefly at an old railroad depot to use the restrooms.  I photographed the Savannah Flare Stack (Benchmark: CK3991).  The stack is located at an old railroad engine round house and engine repair shop.  We stopped briefly at the Massie Heritage Center and at The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.  The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic cathedral on Lafayette Square. It is the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah (two Benchmark Spires).

We checked in at the B Historic hotel.  I did not get a chance to get a snack, shower and relax before dinner.  My room was diagonally across from the elevator.  The room was a nightmare of noise from the elevator.  Another RS couple changed their room also that was directly across from the elevator.  We went to dinner at Chart House.  I finally got Room #534 way at the end of the hall.  Great location.  I found one multi cache and four benchmarks today.

Saturday, April 7 - The buffet breakfast was terrible.  One covered server had a mound of raw bacon.  Very limited food choices.

Our Savannah Trolley field trip was led by a local expert. Of the 24 squares from General Oglethorpe’s original plan, 22 remain, shaded by magnificent live oaks and surrounded by homes, churches, and museums. Each is distinctive with a variety of fountains, memorials, and lovely landscaping.

We toured the 1820 Isaiah Davenport House, one of the oldest brick structures in the city. The two-and-a-half story urban dwelling contains a total of 6,800 square feet with a basement level (which originally housed the kitchen, storage, work space and possibly a sleeping area for the enslaved servants owned by Isaiah Davenport), the first floor containing the public areas, and the second and third floors which were bedrooms and storage space.

We visited the Ships of Sea Museum.  I was exhausted.  We continued on the Savannah Trolley.  We stopped at First Independent Presbyterian Church (Benchmark: CK3975).  In the opening scene of  "Forrest Gump" a white feather floats gently downward from the sky.  The first view of Savannah is not of Chippewa Square, but of Madison Square, the St. John's Episcopal Church in the background.  The film then makes a cut to Chippewa Square.  The white feather is seen floating in front of the steeple of the First Independent Presbyterian Church and then across the street, the First Baptist Church in the background.  It finally lands at the feet of Forrest Gump, seated at a bench beside a bus stop on the north side of Chippewa Square.  

The group walked through Forsyth Park, the largest in the Historic District.  Savannah has many beautiful fountains, but none is so striking nor memorable as the one in Forsyth Park.  The view of Forsyth Park’s fountain – seen at the end of a wide walk lined with moss-hung oaks – is one of the best-known sights in Savannah.  I chose to stay on the trolley.  We had delicious lunch at Elizabeth on 37th situated in a mansion from the early 1900s. 

We returned to the B Historic hotel.  After a shower and nap, I walked to a nearby six-story parking garage where I found a cache.  Great view of the city.  It was lightly raining.  I called a pedicab.  A young woman driver named Shelby dropped me at Starbucks where I had a light dinner.  I walked a couple blocks to the waterfront where I found a Virtual.  I had a rich chocolate and vanilla scoop of ice cream in a cup at Ben & Jerry's.  I called a pedicab from JJ's.  The same young woman showed up much to our surprise.  Back at the hotel I was glad to crawl in bed and get a good night's sleep.  I found one cache, one benchmark and one Virtual today.

Sunday, April 8 - The buffet breakfast was terrible again.  One covered server had a mound of French toast - cold and soggy.  The first plate I picked up was not clean.  Very limited food choices.

We checked out of the hotel and boarded our motor coach at 8:30 am for the ride back to Atlanta.  The drive back to Atlanta is about 250 miles, approximately 3.5 hours.  Along the way, we watched the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good And Evil” based on the book of the same name by John Berendt, an adopted son of Savannah.  During the entire trip when a film was not playing there was often a bouncing ball on the screen which irritated me.

En route, I had poor boxed lunch with a sandwich which I did not eat, salt and vinegar chips (did not like), a frosted cookie (rather have plain sugar cookie or chocolate chip cookie), and bottled water.  The sack lunch was likely made by the B Historic hotel.  Very poor food during our entire stay at the hotel.  And, of course, the room situation was a nightmare.  They really need to get their act together.

We arrived in Atlanta by approximately 1:30 p.m.  I was dropped off at the Atlanta International Airport.  It was confusing where to find the Alaska counter.  I checked my two free pieces of luggage.  I was given the wrong boarding pass from SEA to PDX which later caused a problem.  I had a light lunch.  I boarded the flight to SEA in First Class for a 4:02 flight, landing in Seattle about 6:30.  I took a short flight from SEA to PDX again in First Class.  We landed about 9:00pm.  It seemed like I walked forever from the plane to baggage pickup.

I got my luggage and boarded MAX light rail to Rose Quarter, walked a block and boarded MAX to Delta Park Station.  I caught the C-Tran bus to Evergreen and Broadway where I caught the #37 to Manzanita Street.  The entire ride cost $1.50.  Christopher met the bus and took my luggage.  We walked a couple blocks to our home, arriving about 11:00pm.  I was exhausted.   Great trip but good to be home.

Lessons learned: Request rooms directly with hotels.  Clearly mark luggage with colorful luggage strap.  Take nonstop, direct flights.  Check boarding passes.  Get enough sleep. 

Trip to Grays Harbor Cache Machine II, Dec. 29-31

We left Vancouver at 8:30AM on Friday, Dec. 29 for travisl's Cache Machine II in and around Aberdeen, Washington.  It was quite stormy.  We stopped at 9:15 at McDonald's Restaurant in Kelso for breakfast.  Christopher had a big breakfast and I had a hot apple pie.  We traveled north past Centralia to drive westbound on US12.  We stopped at the library in Elma.  I bought a paperback book - "Journey" a novel by James A. Michener, used the restroom and got a long drink of water. I did not realize until later that there was a cache at the library. I had even Bookmarked it.

We checked into the Comfort Inn at Ocean Shores.  We had a very large suite on the 4th floor with a view of the ocean.  We had a delicious lunch nearby at Alec's By The Sea.  Got candy and a bottled water at Ocean Shores Mini Mart.  No fresh baked cookies at this Comfort Inn.  Back at the room Christopher slept.  I curled up on the small sofa with my favorite fuzzy blanket and read a novel listening to the storm shake the building. 

I put earplugs in at 11:30PM so I couldn't hear the storm.  Slept soundly.  I got up at 7:00AM for breakfast.  Bananas but no yogurt.  We headed out for a day of geocaching.  The storm had passed.  The sky was clear with some puffy clouds.  Very cold though.  We saw a large herd of deer.  We loaned our 3 gallon water bottle of warm water at the 2nd cache of the day.  We had already found the water cache at the Interpretive Center.  We found 12 caches and one benchmark.  Actually Christopher found 12 caches and I just found ten caches.  We usually find 3 to 4 caches per hour however there was a lot of driving between caches.  I loved the Gnome House at the beginning of the Gnome Trail.  We attended the Grays Harbor Cache Machine II dinner at 5:00PM.  Good food and good conversation.  We retrieved our 3 gallon water bottle.  Long drive back to Ocean Shores but the Aberdeen area did not have any hotels as nice as the ones at Ocean Shores.

We woke up at 7:00AM for breakfast.  Packed the car and headed home.  We found six caches and did not find one.  We had mighty tasty lunch at Sheila's Country Kitchen in Raymond.  I had a toasted cheese sandwich with split pea and ham soup.  Christopher found a cache at Bush Pacific Pioneer County Park at Bay Center while I took a short nap.  When Hwy101 split I turned left onto US 4 to Longview/Kelso.  We stopped at McDonalds in Longview at 4:15PM for ice cream as the sun was setting.

We got back safely.  It was a very enjoyable trip.  There are four Cache Machines this coming year: Wenatchee III, March 24, Vancouver WA II, June 23, Colville, September 22, and Shelton, December 29.  Tri-Cities Geocoin Challenge is likely June 23 at the same time as Vancouver WA II Cache Machine.  We will likely go to the Shelton Cache machine depending on the weather.

Rose Red, Geocaching name

My Geocaching name is Rose Red from the Brothers Grimm's story "Snow White and Rose Red".  Snow White was quiet and passive.  I'm not.

I grew up admiring strong girls and women: Jo from "Little Women", Jane Eyre, Mary Lennox of "Secret Garden", Caddie Woodlawn, and, of course, the original Nancy Drew.  In later years I admired Katherine Hepburn, Katherine Graham of The Washington Post, Princess Diana, Hillary Clinton (for being one classy lady and for being a thorn in Donald's side), and Senators Lisa Murkowski (R) and Susan Collins (R) for standing up for what is right.

While we are on the subject of girls and women that I have admired over the years, who are the boys and men both fictional and real that I have admired?  Tom Sawyer ("Tom Sawyer"), Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck of "To Kill a Mockingbird"), Frank Towns (James Stewart in "The Flight of the Phoenix"), and Charles Brubaker (James Brolin in "Capricorn One").   I also admire President Jimmy Carter, President Barack Obama, John Dean (Watergate), Frank Lloyd Wright (as Architect not his private life), Tom Hanks (American actor, "Sully" etc.), Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation).

Amtrak Trip to Leavenworth, Washington

I left the house about 6:15AM on Wednesday, November 29 via Uber for Marshall Center.  I read "The Columbian" newspaper in Marshall Center lobby.  I checked in with the trip leaders at Leupke Center about 7:00.  We boarded two vans about 7:30 for the short trip to the Amtrak Station.  The 8:35 train did not arrive until 9:35! 

I had a window seat on the water side.  It was a very enjoyable trip to Seattle.  I walked a few blocks to Starbucks at 400 Occidental Ave S where I had the crackers, cheese, and fruit protein box, shortbread cookies and Earl Grey tea.  Nancy came in while I was eating and joined me for an interesting conversation.  We walked back to the King Street Amtrak Station.  The renovation is complete.  Stunning!

The train left for Leavenworth about 4:40PM.  It was soon dark.  Great view of the Christmas lights along the way.  Some snow at the 2,000+ ft. level crossing the Cascades at Stevens Pass.

We arrived at Icicle Station in Leavenworth about 8:00PM.  A bus shuttle took us to the Bavarian Lodge.  We each got a small sack with two chocolate chip cookies.  There was hot cider also.  I got my room key to 320.  It was on the back side of the Lodge.  I would not be able to enjoy the Christmas lights in the park from my room window.  Instead I overlooked the parking lot and houses.  Much quieter though.

I rose early for 7:00 AM breakfast Thursday morning.  We went on a wagon ride at Red Tail Canyon Ranch.  We had cookies and hot drink.  Back at Leavenworth I took an IPhone photo of the webcam photo of me at the park, wandered through many of the stores as snow fell and then looked for a warm place to eat lunch.  I had a roasted tomato, mozzarella cheese and basil pesto toasted focaccia, shortbread cookies and Earl Grey tea at Starbucks.  Most enjoyable.  I had chocolate ice cream mixed with toasted, chopped almonds in a cup at a nearby ice cream parlor.  I enjoyed the colorful Christmas lights in the park from the ice cream parlor window.

Back at the Bavarian Lodge I sat in front of the fire in the fireplace in the lobby.  I had planned to hear Bluegrass music at the Icicle Pub this evening but they had to run a Sounder game on television so the Bluegrass music was canceled.  Sad.  Later I had a glass of Riesling wine at the Lodge Pub.  We sat on comfy chairs in front of the fireplace.  I shared a bit of Nancy's bruschetta.  I watched some television in my room, packed, showered and fell instantly asleep.

I woke at 4:00AM on Friday morning, dressed and headed downstairs with my backpack and tote bag.  We boarded the van for the short ride to Icicle Station.  A few of us wandered over to one of the heated shelters.  The train was about 17 minutes late.  We got into Seattle about 11:00. 

I headed east to Starbucks at 505 5th Ave S. where I had the crackers, cheese and fruit protein box, shortbread cookies and two cups of Earl Grey tea.  I sat at a table with two very well dressed business people.  The woman, Laine, and the man, David, are writers/producers.  Big Story Productions.  Fascinating conversation.  They are currently working on presenting the story of the Panama Hotel.  I read the novel "The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" and have actually eaten lunch at the Panama Hotel where I saw through a glass floor panel the luggage that was left by the Japanese when they were interred during WWII.   I told David about Dave Ulmer; Jeremy, Brian and Elias at Groundspeak; and Geocaching. 

We caught the train about 2:15 for Vancouver, WA.  I once again had a view of the water as we headed south.  This will be the last time that I will have this view as the train will henceforth travel inland.  So sad.  We arrived in Vancouver at 5:30 about 17 minutes late. We took the vans to Marshall Center.  Carol gave me a ride home. 

Lessons from the Watergate Scandal

It has been 45 years since the bungled 1972 break-in at the Watergate offices of the Democratic National Committee headquarters by burglars tied to the president's re-election committee set off the Watergate scandal.  The burglars were there to repair electronic eavesdropping bugs they had installed the previous month.

The resulting attempted cover-up, abuse of power, perjury, news of the existence of a clandestine group called the Plumbers operating from within the White House, discovery of other crimes (break-ins, kidnapping, etc.) and the eventual resignation of the sitting president in 1974.

The free press especially The Washington Post played its fundamental role in bringing the scandal to light.  The Senate Select Committee Watergate hearings exposed the depth of the scandal.

Nearly half a century later, as another American president finds himself engulfed in scandal over claims of election misconduct, he and his staff may well want to read up on the Watergate scandal in the bestselling book All the President’s Men.  There are lessons to be learned!

Watergate was basically decent men who went astray.  It was a failure of decent men to follow their conscience.  They made tragically destructive errors and many even criminal conduct.

In the end, the lessons of Watergate contain both an assurance and a warning.

The assurance is that the American system works. The warning is that, no matter how high or important the post, if one betrays a public trust, the system will be brought into play.  Watergate shows that the odds of beating the system are strongly against a guilty person.

After what happened to Richard Nixon, only a fool would take the chance.  

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold

In 1973, thousands of people watched the seemingly endless testimony of Watergate figures - McCloud, Halderman, Strachan, Chapin, Magruder, and others - on television.  But the actual hearings were attended by only a few hundred people.  On Monday, September 24, I attended both the morning and afternoon sessions when the hearings resumed after a brief late summer recess.

After long hours of waiting, I and several other spectators solemnly filed past the blue uniformed guards who carefully checked each one for weapons, up the long, winding gray marble stairs, and into the spacious Senate Caucus Room, still 15 minutes before the Senate Select Watergate Committee resumed its hearings, taking seats in the last row or leaning against the back wall and large pillars.

Convicted Watergate conspirator, E. Howard Hunt Jr., 54, an ex-CIA agent, looking pale, thin and physically weak, was present to testify as to how he had become involved in the bugging and break-in of Democratic National Committee's Watergate Headquarters.  Hunt spoke for the first time publically about "the events which have befallen me."  

Hunt and his lawyer faced the solemn Senate Select Watergate Committee: Senator Lowell Wicker (R-CT), Senator Edward J. Gurney (R-FL), Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr. (R-TN), Senator Sam J. Erwin, Jr., chairman, Sam Dash, Chief Council, Senator Herman Talmadge (D-GA), Senator Daniel Inoyue (D-HI), and Senator Joseph M. Montoya (D-NM).

I heard recently that as a young lawyer Hillary Rodham (later Clinton) helped investigate Watergate.  She likely attended the hearing that day but I would not have known who she was.

To Hunt's left, a row of television cameras, lights powerful, glaring; photographers bobbing in and out, flashbulbs flashing until Hunt strongly protested; to his right sitting at long tables or leaning against the walls and pillars were reporters, news analysts - Sam Donaldson, Sally Quinn, Carl Stern, Daniel Shore, and others members of the press. 

Hunt read aloud a brief opening statement, his voice dry and lifeless, making it clear that he felt betrayed by his government.  He testified about his part in Watergate.  After the hearing was over for the day, Hunt rose slowly, warmly embraced his grown children, and was led away to spend the night at a Federal Bureau of Prisons "safe house".  Hunt would serve 33 months in prison for the crime and emerge a broken man.

Leaving the Senate Caucus Room, I paused briefly in the crowded rotunda for a last look back, turned and walked slowly down the winding gray marble stairs.  Behind me was almost a year of Watergate - "a third-rate burglary" as the White House once described it; the Senate Watergate Hearings - a "three ring circus" as its detractors referred to it; and E. Howard Hunt, Jr., - the spy who came in from the cold and did not like it.

Santa Fe and Taos, September 11 - 17, 2017

Monday, Sept. 11 - I caught a cab from Vancouver Cab Company at 5:30am to Portland International Airport.  I was pleased to be leaving the hot, smoky weather behind.  I boarded Alaska Airlines for a 8:00-11:45am flight to Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I changed my watch during the flight to Mountain time.  I collected my suitcase and walked to the Scandia Shuttle desk.  I didn't have long to wait.  However it seemed like we walked forever to board the shuttle! 

I arrived at the Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza Hotel, 100 Sandoval Street about 2:15pm.  I was given two bottles of water at check-in as I am a Hilton Honors member.  I waited about an hour in the lounge area to check into my room but it was worth it.  Great location on the top (3rd) floor overlooking the pool.  Spacious and beautifully decorated.  I purchased a sandwich and bottle of apple juice from the hotel shop for late lunch in my room.  My television did not work so I told the front desk the times I would not be in my hotel room the next day so they could fix it.  I was given a complimentary coupon for two glasses of wine and a cheese, fruit and crackers plate for the inconvenience which I used later in the week.

I checked in with the Road Scholar Group leader, Elizabeth Schroder, and received my folder with the updated schedule.  We had orientation and introductions in the meeting room from 5:00-6:00.  Buffet dinner in the meeting room at 6:30.  Interesting group.  I was not doing well at 7,200 ft. above sea level.  I went to bed early and slept soundly until time to wake up at 6:30am.

Tuesday, Sept. 12 - We had a breakfast buffet at 7:30am at the hotel.  The instructor, Elizabeth Schroder, gave a lecture at 8:30 on the History of New Mexico from its earliest Paleo-Indian inhabitants to the Spanish settlers and American merchants who followed.  We also heard about Santa Fe which is the oldest state capital in the country.  At 10:15 we departed for a guided walking exploration of the Santa Fe Plaza area including the St. Francis Cathedral/Basilica, Loretto Chapel (Chapel of Our Lady of Light) with its amazing spiral choir loft staircase, and a few other sites.  Santa Fe has three main styles of architecture: Pueblo, Territorial and Northern New Mexico.

We had lunch at Blue Corn Cafe, a local favorite.  I got a large wrap with slaw.  I saved half of the wrap and the slaw in my room refrigerator for a light dinner.  We departed via coach from the hotel for the Indian Arts Research Center at the School for Advanced Research.  We were allowed to see the Pottery collection: Acoma, Laguna, Santa Ana, Zia, Santa Domingo, Cochiti, Dine and apache, Taos and Picuris, Tesuque, Santa Clara, Ohkay Owingeh, San Ildefonso, Mojave, Zuni, and Hopi.  My favorite is the Black pottery from the San Ildefonso and Santa Clara Pueblos.

I went for a walk in downtown Santa Fe to find a couple geocaches: Santa Fe River Park and SFGT: La Fonda Hotel.  I ate the half wrap and cole slaw left over from lunch and the rest of the apple juice from the day before for a light dinner.  I went to bed early.  I fell asleep watching a television show "America's Got Talent". 

Wednesday, Sept. 13 - We had a breakfast buffet at 7:30am at the hotel.  Jerry Rightman, instructor, gave a talk and showed slides on Georgia O'Keeffe.  We walked a few blocks north through Burro Alley to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum which holds the largest collection of O'Keeffe works in the world.

After the instructor led a short tour through the museum I left to have lunch at nearby cafe, Sweet Lily.  I discovered that the owner had done some geocaching.  I had Quiche Lorraine with a green salad.  I sat at a table on the front porch.  It was quite lovely.  I visited the O'Keeffe Museum for a couple more hours.  My favorites were Bella Donna, 1939 and Black Hollyhock Blue Larkspur, 1930.  I own three large Georgia O'Keeffe prints.

I walked the few blocks back to the Hilton.  We departed from the hotel at 4:30 for Red Mesa Cuisine in Eldorado.  We had a presentation on Southwest Cuisine led by Chef Dr. Lois Ellen Frank, author of "Foods of the Southwest Indian Nations" and Chef Walter Whitewater of Diné (Navajo) Nation,  followed by a four-course dinner.  The dessert was Organic Mixed Berry Crisp with whipped cream, and Chocolate Pinon Torte with Fresh Berries.

Thursday, Sept. 14 - We had an early breakfast buffet at 7:00am at the hotel.   I requested that they unlock the doors to our breakfast room.  The Coach departed for Taos at 8:00am.  We visited Taos Pueblo for an hour and half.  Taos Pueblo has a certain mystic from afar that it does not have up close. 

We had lunch at Gutiz restaurant in Taos.  I had a Bacon, lettuce & tomato on a fresh baguette with a side of homemade mayonnaise. Served with a side of Gutiz potatoes.  Very disappointing. 

We visited the Millicent Rogers Museum.  In 1956, the youngest son Paul Peralta - Ramos founded the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos. The museum houses a large collection of Native American, Hispanic, and Euro-American art, with a specific emphasis on northern New Mexico and Taos pieces. It first opened in a temporary location in the mid-1950s, later moving to its permanent location in the late 1960s, a home built by Claude J. K. and Elizabeth Anderson, close friends of Millicent Rogers. Fascinating place.  Rogers initials are carved into the door frame of the original entrance, which is located in Gallery 11.

Afterwards we had independent exploration of the historic district near Taos Plaza.  I got a cup of ice cream and sat on the bench in front of the store talking to two men.  I walked quite a ways to the Kit Carson Memorial Cemetery where I found a geocache: The New Mexico Challenge - Taos Country.  I photographed Kit Carson's headstone.    

  

About 4:00 we departed for Santa Fe, stopping for a brief photo opportunity at San Francisco de Asis Mission Church on the way. This Spanish Colonial adobe building is one of the best known and most photographed churches in New Mexico. We had dinner at Santa Fe Bar and Grill in Santa Fe.  I had the Vegetarian Baked Lasagna (I prefer ground beef) and Mexican Flan for dessert.  Dinner was followed by a return to the hotel.

Friday,  Sept. 15 - We had a breakfast buffet at 7:30am at the hotel.  We had presentation by Ronald Roybal of flute music.  I was disappointed that he did not play the Spanish Classical guitar.  We departed for the Meow Wolf Arts Complex at 10:00.  The place is a real hoot! 

We boarded the bus at 11:30 to depart for lunch destination at Maria's New Mexican Kitchen.  The service and meal was a disaster. The only thing I loved was the complimentary sopapilla which was incredible. Thick but billowy, sprinkled inside with honey it made my lunch enjoyable after all.

After lunch we departed for Museum Hill for a visit to the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.  We departed for the hotel about 4:00.   I went for a long walk to find some geocaches: Guadalupe Shrine, Zandi 5 (a Virtual) and Veterans' Services Memorial.  I photographed San Miguel Mission.  Back at the Hilton I used my complimentary coupon for cheese, crackers and fruit with Chardonnay wine for dinner. 

Saturday, Sept. 16 - We had a breakfast buffet at 7:30am at the hotel.  We took a field trip to parts of the High Road to Taos.  We visited Chimayo. The Chimayó valley is a verdant oasis extending from the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountains to the expanse of the Rio Grande valley. The name Chimayó itself is from the Tewá Indian language meaning superior red flaking stone. 

We visited El Santuario de Chimayo, a Roman Catholic church.  We visited Centinela Traditional Arts weaving gallery.  Years ago I had purchased a stunning rug but ended up backing out of the deal.  We had lunch at Rancho de Chimayo, a charming restaurant housed in an old hacienda.  After lunch we traveled to Pojoaque where we visited the Poeh Cultural Center.  I saw a plethora of pots!  I purchased a small clay cat (Musa).  Afterwards we departed for the hotel.  Buffet dinner and closing comments.  I am just getting over Altitude problems and now it is about time to head home.

Sunday, Sept. 17 - We had a breakfast buffet at 7:30am at the hotel.  This was the last meal included in the Road Scholar program.  I was picked up at 8:00 by Al and Nola Funk (ACFunk).  I hosted an Event at Tribes Coffee House, 3470 Zafarano Drive.  Great turnout!  Afterwards the Funks took me to a Virtual and then back to the Hilton.  I stopped at the Lensic Performing Arts Center to get Symphony tickets for the afternoon concert.  I walked to the Plaza where I had lunch at the Plaza Cafe.  There was a Santa Fe Vintage Car Club Rally on the Plaza.  I attended the pre-concert talk at 3:00 at the Lensic Auditorium. 

The Santa Fe Symphony's 34th season kicked off with Van Cliburn gold medalist, Yekwon Sunwoo, performing with the full orchestra. Sunwoo, who has shared stages with Perlman and Marin Alsop, came to Santa Fe fresh from his Van Cliburn competition victory to perform Brahms’s four-movement epic, the Piano Concerto No. 2. The afternoon’s performance concluded with Elgar’s intimate and complex Enigma Variations, a Romanticist tribute to the composer’s friends and family.

I had an Almond Croissant and Earl Grey tea at 6:00 at Starbucks near Santa Fe Plaza.  I sat at the front window watching street life.

Monday, Sept 18 - I was given a complimentary full breakfast at the hotel.  I wandered over to the Plaza where I looked at Native jewelry under the portal at the Palace of Governors.  Back at the hotel I checked out of my room.  I contacted a Lyft driver.  He took me to the Capital Station.  I rode the Rail Runner to Albuquerque.  I took the bus shuttle to the airport.  I had a light meal of Granola and Yogurt with a Brownie for dessert at Black Mesa Coffee Co. cafe before going through security.  My flight arrived in Portland about 8:00.  I took MAX light rail and C-Tran home.  Long day.  Even though it was cold and rainy it was so good to get home!