Greg Gammack

Yesterday we attended a memorial service in Mesa Az. This was in honor of our long time friend Greg Gammack at his wife Patsy's home. He died of a heart attack while riding on the east coast in September. It was quite emotional but really a wonderful tribute to a great American. A large group of the Arizona Patriot Riders, who Greg rode with, did a service in his honor. This is a picture of Greg last year and one of his new bike he sent me before his final ride. He proudly carried the Marine and the American flag, as you can see. A few years back, on one of our many rides, I asked Greg if he ever received enemy fire as a medivac helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He said "hell yes almost every week, and on Mother's day 1968, I was shot down 3 times that day". He was each time given another helicopter and sent out again. Can you believe it! Many of his friends didn't come back from that war, so we owe these military men and women a lot for what they do. The way I see it, If you live in any country under the protection that military heros like Greg provide, You should support them or move out!

Laguna Beach, California

After getting settled in Arizona for a few days of R & R, Julie and I took a side trip to Laguna Beach to visit some good friends. We flew into John Wayne Airport, (Orange County) Monday afternoon and had our friends pick us up. We drove along the beautiful California coast in an open convert able. As we were stopped at a light, a car behind us started honking. We turned around and were surprised to see some great friends from Arizona. It was Sara and Gene who are taking care of our dog Bogey. So of course we got together for a few laughs. Now what are the odds of this happening as we come here from London.

Happy Thanksgiving

Here we are in sunny Arizona to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends. It is a little colder here than usual so all of the locals are complaining. They don't know how good they got it! Julie and I are not looking forward to our return to the already harsh UK winter and early snow. Check out the fuzzy friends we saw in the neighborhood here. This weather is why we moved here 10 years ago. It's the only place to be in the winter months.

HMS St Albans

This Royal Navy Frigate was open for the public to see yesterday. I have never seen the Navy ships open for tours before. This was a chance for the public to get an up close look at what Navy life is like. It was very interesting going aboard the ship's chopper and learning what it's role was. It's main function is to support the ship and can use sonar to detect subs. The Chopper can operate up to 300 miles from the ship and is equipped for search and rescue. This ship has a crew of 182 and I enjoyed talking with several of them. Even though I am American, I support the armed forces of the UK 100 per cent as I do the US military. We are both fighting the same war. These men and women are the Best!

The Royal Navy

Look what came through the locks and tied up at my dock yesterday. At 133 meters long, (over 400 feet), this is the largest ship I've seen here in Canary Wharf. Just back from 3 months of duty off the coast of Somali these British sailors get a well deserved break. This is a stop that the Royal Navy uses on occasion so I've seen several Navy ships here

The Clink

Here at London Bridge on the Thames River is the site of the Old Clink Prison. This is the prison that gave the name to all other prisons. I took a tour of the old prison today and saw a bit of London's unsavoury past. The Clink was opened in 1144 , and is London's oldest prison. It appeared that from the bad conditions and forms of torcher, that prisoners didn't have many rights like they do today. I got a photo here but would have been beheaded if I didn't get out there quickly. Bottom photo is US friends Paul and Mary who went there last week, but were a little scared to go in.