Happy Holidays from Wine Country!

 

Wow, it is almost 2005! I want to wish you and your family happy holidays. I think about my friends and family this time of the year – especially those who I don’t see often and who may not know what I have been doing this year. I hope you enjoy my summary as much as I enjoy sharing it. Here are some of the highlights of my past year. I invite you to call, write or email me so that we stay in contact throughout the coming year. My email is tmills@sonic.net and my phone is (707) 526-5760.

One of the ways I stay in contact with my friends in Spokane is through volleyball. In January, I made my annual pilgrimage there to play in the Cranbrook Volleyball tournament. I always have fun seeing old friends and catching up with them. In August, I traveled to Spokane for the Spike and Dig tournament. There were over 200 teams and it was lots of fun. I did my best to see as many friends as I could. If I missed you, I will be back next year!

Most of the traveling I did this year was local to the area. In particular, I saw more of northern California. I went north about 4 hours to the Avenue of the Giants with my friends Chris and Gina. This is the largest grove of redwoods in the world. Two camping trips I took in northern California were to Prairie Creek and MacKerricker State Parks which are about 2-3 hours north of where I live. Prairie Creek has a resident herd of Roosevelt Elk. We enjoyed wild blackberries everywhere at MacKerricker.

In August, I met my dad, sister and brother in law in Seattle where we saw the Mariners beat the Dodgers in Seattle’s new stadium. We had excellent seats thanks to Valerie’s friend.

From Seattle, we went to my dad’s house in Port Townsend. My dad’s place has an incredible view. We spent a week together relaxing, boating and crabbing (that’s catching crabs J). My dad surprised us with his new boat. We took it for a few sightseeing trips and we dropped some crabpots in the ocean and came back for them the next morning. Picking up the crabpots was more of an adventure.

We had to get the pots out before the morning low tide - only there was thick fog. We (being Mills’s) decided we had to get them right then. So of course we took the boat out in the fog. Miraculously, we found the crabpots. Finding our way back to the dock was more challenging. We were slowly finding our way back when I ask my dad what depth we are at. We were at 15, 12, 9, 5 ft! Luckily my dad stopped in time before ramming into the shore. We turned around and finally found our way to the dock.

Those are some of the highlights from my year. I welcome you to visit if you like. I have a spare room and enjoy showing people the great places here.

I hope all is well with you and your family during the holiday season and in the coming year.

 

    Best wishes,