Panama Canal and Ballard Locks

From Panama’s tropics to Seattle’s bay, Two locks stand proud, in their own unique way. One spans oceans, a global trade key, The other links lakes to the Pacific’s spree.

Panama’s grandeur, a feat of its time, Gatun and Miraflores, engineering sublime. A pathway for giants, through jungle and heat, Connecting two worlds where oceans meet.

Ballard’s charm lies in a smaller scale, Freshwater to salt, boats set their sail. Fish ladders climb as salmon persist, Nature and man in a delicate tryst.

Both locks rely on gravity’s might, Raising and lowering vessels in flight. Water flows forth from reservoirs vast, A testament to progress that continues to last.

The Ring Cycle Operas

In Seattle’s halls, where Wagner once did reign, Frank and Lisa yearned for Ring’s refrain. From Rheingold’s depths to Walküre’s might,
Siegfried’s tale and Götterdämmerung’s light.

To Neuschwanstein they journeyed far, Where Ludwig’s dream touched every star. Wotan’s wisdom, Fricka’s grace, In stone and paint, each found its place.

Donner’s thunder, Freia’s youth, Loge’s cunning, Erda’s truth. Through arches round and towers high, Wagner’s world did touch the sky. In halls where Parsifal once sung, And Lohengrin’s sweet tale was spun, Our couple walked, their hearts aflame, With Ring’s grand vision all the same.

Now back in Seattle, hope burns bright, That opera’s stage will soon ignite. With sets as grand
as Ludwig’s dream, May Wagner’s Ring once more gleam. In this decade, let it be, The cycle whole for all to see. From Neuschwanstein’s lofty height,
To Seattle’s stage, Ring’s pure delight.

Vancouver Island Circumnavigation

We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started Through the unknown, unremembered gate When the last of earth left to discover Is that which was the beginning; Not known, because not looked for But heard, half-heard, in the stillness Between two waves of the sea. Seattle stillness between two waves of exploration one on the Alaska Inside Passage and one on the Wild Side of Vancouver Canada.

Ronda and Old Ronda

In ancient days, where mountains rise, Ronda stood beneath the skies. Romans came with roads and might, Built their bridges, strong and bright.

Through the ages, Ronda grew, Moorish arches, a stunning view. Minarets and gardens green, Echoes of a time serene.

Napoleon’s troops once marched through, In the hills, resistance grew. Bandits roamed, with hearts so bold, Stories of their deeds retold.

Hemingway, with pen in hand, Wrote of Ronda’s rugged land. Bullfights fierce, and tales of war, In his words, the town’s folklore.

Now a gem of history, Ronda’s charm for all to see. UNESCO’s list, a rightful place, A heritage of timeless grace.

Seville, Spain

From Roman roots to Moorish spires, Seville’s skyline tells tales of empires. Gothic arches reach for the sky, While Mudéjar patterns catch the eye.

Visigoths ruled, then Moors held sway, Their minarets still stand today. Reconquista brought Christian might, Baroque splendor, a dazzling sight.

Renaissance forms with classical grace, In plazas and palaces find their place. Modern structures dare to soar, Las Setas, a sight to explore.

Through centuries, faiths intertwined, In flamenco’s soul, their echoes we find. Gypsy passion, Jewish lament, Moorish rhythms, divinely blent.

Christian fervor, Andalusian heart, In dance and song, cultures impart. From persecution rose expression, Flamenco, born of this fusion.

In Triana’s streets, the art took flight, A testament to Seville’s cultural might. Architecture and music entwined, In Seville’s spirit, forever enshrined.

Recreational Vessels

Across the Waves, a Guzzwell Dream
In Trekka’s wake, adventurers sail, Small boats with big hearts, ready to prevail. Guzzwell’s spirit guides them through the spray, Inspiring voyages day by day.

From wooden yawl to racing multihull, Endangered Species, fast and powerful. Water ballast shifts for comfort’s sake, As sailors brave each ocean, sea, and lake.

Topside they stand, surveying endless blue, Horizons beckon with adventures new. In tiny cabins or on open decks, They find the freedom Guzzwell’s tale reflects.

So hoist your sails and chart your course with pride, Let Guzzwell’s legacy be your guide.
For in each small boat beats a mighty heart, Ready for the journey, eager to depart.

Cortona, Tuscany

Cortona, perched on Tuscan hills so high, A gateway to wonders that catch the eye. From here, Florence beckons with art divine, Where Leonardo’s genius continues to shine.

Saint Francis walked these lands of old, His spirit in Le Celle’s stones still bold. Vineyards stretch as far as one can see, Sangiovese grapes, Tuscany’s legacy.

Chianti, Brunello, and wines so fine, Super Tuscans that make connoisseurs opine. From Cortona’s heights, one can explore, The Renaissance treasures and so much more.

Art and faith, history and taste, In this Tuscan base, nothing goes to waste. A journey through time, culture, and land, With Cortona as your guiding hand.

Vendée Globe 2024

Explores the race’s technical, human, and historical dimensions, highlighting the Vendée Globe as a premier test of sailing skill, technological innovation, and personal resilience.

Historical Context
• Evolved from the 1968 Golden Globe Race
• First won by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
• Represents pinnacle of solo ocean racing technology and human endurance

Fallingwater

Perched above a rushing stream, Wright’s vision, more than just a dream. Cantilevered over nature’s might, A house that blends with day and night. Kaufmanns’ fortune built this place, Where art and landscape interlace. Einstein walked these hallowed halls, Jolie and Pitt admired its walls. A museum now for all to see, This organic architecture’s legacy.


Tiquilla and Boys in the Boat

Below is a discussion of UW Husky rowing, a film and the director’s Tiquilla. History of the Pac-12 Conference The Pac-12 Conference, originally known as the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC), was founded in 1915. The PCC was the first iteration of what would become the Pac-12, with initial members including the University of California (Berkeley),…