Postcards from the Ledge: The Big Picture

THE YEAR began with a winter of epic proportions, one of the wettest on record in California. And though a lake formed of considerable size on the back lawn, attracting a few ducks and an egret, it never triggered an evac. Rain and cabin fever aside, there were memorable moments throughout the year once things dried out. We traveled. The family thrived. As I write this, our youngest grandchild is learning to walk, while our oldest is learning to drive—a testament to the passage of time and how quickly they grow up. One of my daughters made the big move to Canada—okay maybe not quite Canada, but seventy miles from the border as the Canadian goose flies. It's been both exciting and bittersweet to watch them embark on their own adventure. Last year also found me spending forty days in Europe, half of those with my sweetheart Terry, cycling, sightseeing, mountain trekking, immersing myself in different cultures and creating memories that will last a lifetime. And let’s not forget the week spent in Yosemite Valley. Amidst all this fun, I passed a particular milestone that gave me some pause—the Big Seven-O. Yep. Rust never sleeps. Hence one must keep forging on, embracing life's bigger picture and coloring it in.

Here’s to life and harmony and snapshots from the past year…

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Living Large...

Morro Bay in February. L-R: me, Terry, Kevin and Denise—the California
contingent—and Patrick, Terry and Rick from Idaho. We've been doing this
winter rendezvous for several years now. Love the Central Coast.

One of the feature acts of the Glenknoll Elementary

Magic Show was sawing the principal in half. Clearly

my wife is having too much fun to retire.

Halloween Day at Fairmont Elementary, where I still volunteer for student drop-off in the morning and other assorted duties, such as keeping 5th-grade gorillas in line.

Family...

Terry, Randi & Kevin on a hike in Chino Hills.

Heather & Allie at the Riverside Mission Inn.

Doug, Noah, Penny and Brianna diggin' the beach vibes. Noah

is 4 yrs old now, and Penny is 14 months.

Heather & CJ, boondocking somewhere off the grid.

Logan and Hayden at sunset in Utah. Logan is 15 now, and

Hayden is 10.

Brandon, Wyatt and Allie celebrating Wyatt's 3rd birthday

last spring. Then, four months later, they moved to Idaho!

Wolfgang and Toby on the summit of Baden-Powell (9,407 ft).

France & Germany...

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

This iconic landmark needs no introduction.

The idyllic French village of Rodemack. The main attraction of our European adventure was a 7-day cycling tour down the Mosel River Valley, from Metz, France, to Cochem, Germany. Shoutout to Vermont Bike Tours, who organized this trip.

Cycling through Riesling vineyards near Trittenheim, Germany.

Hanging out in a Berlin beer garden with Terry’s brother, Dan, and wife Bonnie…and newborn Lily, the latest addition to the Mulcahy clan! Lily was only four weeks old when we visited. Dan & Bonnie are research scientists for Berlin’s Museum of Natural History.

Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

Italy...

The unforgettable Seiser Alm of the Italian Dolomites. Sprawling over 20 square miles, it’s the largest alpine meadow in Europe. I started my Dolomites adventure here, solo, deep in the mountains, staying in tiny Ladin villages that nourish the soul and renting mountain bikes by day to explore the endless miles of rolling trails. As close to Nirvana as one can get.

The primary reason for my Return to Italy extravaganza was to join eleven of my SCMA climbing mates for a week of hut-to-hut trekking in the Dolomites, climbing many Via Ferrata routes along the way.

Rifugio Lagazuoi, where we spent the second night of our trek.

Dining with the SCMA gang, where joyous camaraderie flowed like wine. I’ve known many of these good people for twenty years or more. The gent pouring the wine is Jörg Wilz, mountain guide and organizer of this trip, and owner of OnTop Mountaineering.

Pam on the final push up vertical ladders to the top of Toblin Tower.

Summit of Torre di Toblin.

Rowing a gondola through the canals of Venice has been on my Bucket List ever since Terry and I first visited in 2018. So this time I took lessons—and it ain't easy. Singing opera is next.

Yosemite Valley...

At Vernal Falls with my long-time pal, Kevin. I led a week-long SCMA trip here in October, and Kevin drove up to join me. Good times in a magnificent setting.