Germany Trip September 2018

Barb and I spent a week on Berlin and another visiting some friends and relatives in the northern parts.  See more pics at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmtqjbFZ and https://flic.kr/s/aHsmr2Y8iR

This a view from inside the main Berlin train station.  Outside you can see the parliament buildings.  We stayed at a hotel beside the station.

Punta Cana Family Holiday

I enjoyed a week with four generations of the Jarchow family in May.  A very enjoyable time.

The only game where I can still beat the grandkids 

Beautiful sunrises every day

 Retirement is grand.

Light Festival at the Distillery District

I joined the Whitby Seniors Photography club soon after my retirement.  I hoped to revive my interest in photography and it did.  We have two meetings each month and periodically go on photo excursions.   The latest was to the Toronto Light Fest at the Distillery District.

See more pics of excursion  here

See more pics of excursion ..

A cold day at Niagara Falls

Barb and I went to Niagara Falls for the day (Jan 6th)  ice hunting.  It was frigid day and we were not disappointed with the ice. (see more photos here)

A small Caribbean cruise

During our stay in Florida we went on a small Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale.  Originally we were to go to the Turks and Caicos but the hurricane damage caused a re-route to the Princess Cays in

Eleuthera.  Spent the day at a nice beach and rented a Hobie Cat for an hour.

Back to Florida in November

Back to Florida in November for a visit with my sister.  Memorable times on the Naples beach at sunset and a visit to the dog races.

A cruise up the Norwegian coast in July.

The route we sailed.

The scenery was amazing.

Myrtle Beach Golf

In February I had the pleasure of playing a week of golf with friends at Myrtle beach.  My golf game was not exceptional but the courses and weather were top notch.

Off to Florida in February

It was off to Florida in February for another visit with my sister Heidi and in-law Wayne.   They have a great place in Naples and were amazing hosts.  Played some golf.  Lay on some beaches. Went for a boat ride.  Did some bicycling.  All in all a great visit.  Left there and took my mother to Key West.  That is always a great drive.

Budapest to Prague River Cruise

Barb and I went on another river cruise in November.  The weather was cold and wet much of the time but we had a great time regardless.  The trip consisted of a three days in Budapest. Cruising the Danube for a week stopping at a few ports most notably Vienna and then spending three days in Prague.
More pictures can be seen at this link.

Been Awhile

My goodness.  It's been awhile since I updated this blog.  Since the last blog Barb and I have been to Winnipeg a couple of times.  Her Dad was terminally ill and has since passed away.  The world lost a great one.
While I was in Winnipeg I found a great public garden in a park honoring a sculpture.
More pictures can be seen at Link to more pictures.

Cruise after from New Orleans

From New Orleans we boarded a cruise ship to do part of the western Caribbean


I made fiends with a dolphin named Marina in Cozumel.

I toured some Inca ruins in Belize.

New Orleans in February

Spent three days checking out the city with Barb and my mother.  My sister Heidi and Brother in law Wayne flew up from Florida to surprise my mother.  Wayne and I had a great time checking out the blues music on Bourbon and Frenchman's street.  It is an amazing city.

 

   

Photographic Club

I joined the Whitby Seniors photographic last year hoping to get back to taking photographs instead of snap shots. We meet every two weeks showing each other our photos on new challenges.  I found this to be a great way to gain some experience and knowledge from others.
I created a website for the Club at  http://www.wspc.website/ .  It is just getting off the ground so it is a bit short on content.
I put some of my own favorite photos up on a public album on Flickr at my public photos.
This one I took of a farm house window in Sweden seems to be a favorite of many.

I lost a great brother. The world lost an amazing man.

Some may have noticed that I have not made entries to this blog for some time.  I did not feel up to writing about this, and even now it is not easy.
Ralf touched the hearts of so many people professionally and with a large circle of friends.

Facebook Tribute Page

Brampton Guardian

Boston Sight Organization

Update condolences pour in

PDC article

Donation Site

Ralf's goal was to cycle across Canada.   On September 24th he was completing the last day of this goal when his bike slipped on a wet road into an oncoming car.

He started his first leg on July 3, 2011 cycling from Calgary back to his home in Brampton. He made it 18 days later and raised over $22,000 for the Boston Foundation for Sight. This was an organization he was grateful to for the work on his daughter. (Boston Sight)
He began his second leg in July 2014 from Kingston to Charlottetown P.E.I. raising money for the Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness.
On September 14th he started the final leg from Calgary to Tofino, B.C.   On the final day of this trek he had the accident.
Donations to the William Osler Health System Foundation (Donation Site) have totaled over $40,000.

Ralf leaves his wife Valerie, son Christian and daughters Robyn and Megan.

Ralf left the world a better place for all that knew him.

August Projects

August was spent enjoying some of the hot weather and golfing but I had a few projects on the go.
I touched up a few things on the motorhome.

 Overhauled the tow car dolly trailer and sold it on Kijiji.

 Our spot on the beach.

Winnipeg Anniversary Reunion

In mid July we drove to Winnipeg to celebrates Barb's parents 65th wedding anniversary.  This was an occasion for a Hawkins family reunion.

Barb and her siblings having fun.

They grow really big pumpkins out west.  They are heavy too.

The work between travels

 

After returning from Europe it's back to retirement work.  Replacing the brick window sills with stone.  Never thought retirement would be such hard work.

River Cruise through Germany

A high priority on the bucket list was a river cruise through Europe.  This was checked off in June as a dream fulfilled.  We spent three days in Munich.  Then took a train to Passau where we boarded the ship for a 10 day cruise to Basel.  After that we flew to Berlin and spent time with various friends/relatives in various places in the north of Germany.  We had an amazing trip.

 

 The Ship

 The Route

The Beer

3D Printer keeps printing

Dr. Who?