1990 – 1999

Hopi Nation Tour (March 1990)

I have long been interested in the American Indian reservations of the Southwest, in particular their arts and crafts. On the Canyon de Chelly trip in 1986 we drove through the Hopi Reservation but didn’t see much. There didn’t seem much to see. Little tiny forbiding villages on a rocky mountain top. But I discovered an interesting ten day tour of the Hope Reservation sponsored the Southwest School of Outdoor Education headquartered in Monticello, Utah. So I signed up and headed off by my self to one of the most amazing and exotic experiences of my life.

The group consisted of about 10 individuals from all over the country. We stayed in a motel in the Second Mesa village. Each day we went to a different village and learned about this most interesting and unique tribes.

Hong Kong , Bali, Yogojakarta, Jakarta, & Singapore (September 1991 )

One one of my trips to Sedona, Arizona I purchased a hanging Indonesian Hindu god in a gallery in Jerome, Arizona. Further research showed me that they were made on the island of Bali in Indonesia. Several of our helpers with dad were wonderful Indonesian women (three of whom were sisters). The Auyuahun sisters were from Jakarta. So I found a great multi-country travel package for my first trip to the Orient. Carolyn Watanabe, a friend from work in Corona, came along for our four country trip in September 1991.

Our flight from LAX took us to Hong Kong. From Hong Kong we spent five days in Bali. After Bali we went to the ancient capital of Indonesia, Yogojakarta. Then Carolyn and I split up to give me time to spend with the Auyuwhan family in Jakarta for two days. I rejoined Carolyn in Singapore where we had a stop over in Tokyo on our return trip home.

Albuquerque Balloon Festival (October 1992)

I was invited to go to the annual hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico with Kay Johnson and her family in October 1992. The trip was quick with an early early morning viewing of hundreds of balloons after an all night episode of heaving kids suffering form food poisoning or some sort of ailment.

Cozumel & Cancun (January 1993)

Kris Clark and I decided to take a week winter trip to the island of Cozumel and Cancun, Mexico in January 1993.

Fort Worth & Lake Ottertail (May 1995)

Keith Clarke a friend from work in Corona and I decided to go to Minnesota to visit our former boss, Bill Ketteman and his wife Patsy in May 1995. We decided for a one night stop over in Fort Worth to go the Mikey Gilley’s dance hall on our way to Lake Ottertail, in western Minnesota. We rented a car in Minneapolis and drove over to see what their life on a lake in Minnesota was all about.

New York City & Washington, D.C. (October 1995)

In the Fall of 1995, Dan Hall and I went back east to New York City. Dan had a trade fair to attend. I needed an excuse to go to the City. Afterwards we traveled by train down to Washington, D.C. and stayed with Kris Clark and celebrated her birthday on Halloween.

England (November 1995)

Kris Clark and I decided to spend Thanksgiving in England. I got all excited to see all the various castles and manor houses. The only thing I didn’t figure is that at that time of year everything closes around 4 p.m., if they are opened at all! It gets really dark, cold, damp and rainy at that time of year. In any event, we spent some time in London is a hotel room in Kensington that I could touch both sides of the room if I stood in the middle!

After that we rented a car and drove north to see Cambridge. Then we drove south and saw Leeds. We stayed in bed and breakfast type places. Where were quaint, damp and cold! One evening while Kris slept I got to watch the BBC interview of Princess Diana on television.