Ho-Ho-Hooping Around the Globe

Hello everyone:

Happy holidays. Wow. November got away from me. I didn’t send one of these little newsletters out. But I had a good excuse. I was down in the South Georgia Islands and Antarctica. My second adventure in that part of the world and my last. My last you ask? Yeah, briefly I don’t think it’s a place we should even travel to but that is something I will address in a later post. And of course, I hooped on that continent. My seventh because I am counting Madagascar as the 8th. Australia is the final hoop frontier.

Anyway, down to business. My three Tanzanian safaris in January and February are ready to go! And I’ve got the dates and cost for the ones in 2025. If you’re interested, let me know and I’ll send the details along. Very small price increase which was good news.

Personal note, especially for Sonoma and Marin people. My son Hunter is now cooking Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Casino in Bodega. This cute little town is where most of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds was filmed. It’s not a real casino. It’s just a wonderful dive bar full of eclectic characters — Sebastopol hipsters chillin’, ranch workers having a beer and shooting pool, the occasional tourist coming back from a day at the beach, and the police chief of Cotati and his buds are regulars. It’s such a cool venue and very family-friendly.

Evelyn started this bar in 1945. Now, at the ripe old age of 94, she holds court every evening from her stool at the bar. Dinner here is like a trip back in West County time. Except there’s nothing old-fashioned about Hunter’s food, it’s really really good. And I’m not just saying that.

Note my friend Brooks has the cue stick backwards. Smart alec.

After forty (yes forty) years I stopped my Monday Footloose Hiking group. It is bittersweet for sure. It was (and is) such an amazing group of people who have hiked together for decades. I will miss them.

As usual, here’s a lot of fun things to amuse you. Remember, just put this email aside and come back to it. There’s a lot here and if you’d like to be on the more frequent FRIENDS AND FAMILY list, send me an email. And of course you can always unsubscribe. And I never ever sell your information. I haven’t been offered enough yet. >:-)

Japanese modern dance troop - The Pleiades. Do not watch on your phone. It’s not long but so good. Subaru.

My friend Leo sends me the coolest links. Zoom in and use the slider to explore how our Western landscapes have changed over the decades. Look at any location from the Great Plains to the Pacific Coast.

Buddy Miles- Them Changes

Whiskers are more than just cute.

Barefoot and Pregnant!! Damn the Republicans and full steam ahead. I am counting on Taylor Swift and Beyonce to use their influence to get out the votes against tyranny!

Cooperation between aboriginal hunters and Killer whales. Who Knew?

We have been watching this slowly - LIFE ON OUR PLANET. The talents of Industrial Light and Magic are put to good educational use.