We just crossed over a fresh water bay on the longest railway bridge west of the Mississippi River and are now entering the city of Martinez. We could look below and see a Panama-registered freighter docked.
Decades ago - back in the 50s - when Brian and his family lived for a time in Stockton, he remembers his reporter father taking him along when he interviewed the captain of a British freighter docked there. If you look on a map of California you wouldn't believe it.
What Brian remembers is that they had tea in the captain's quarters and Brian's father had to explain to him later that tea was what British children drank, especially when there were food shortages during World War Two.
Funny what kids remember.
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.