San Filippo Wine

We drove about 1 hour south of Florence Italy to the town of Siena. Here we were a little unlucky with the weather and got caught in the rain. Still we walked the Tuscany village of Siena to the city center and had lunch. From there found the San Filippo winery, thanks to the GPS on Julie's I-Pad. The winemaker here was very proud of his wine and made sure that we knew they only made wine from there own grapes. As usual, we tasted the wonderful Brunello wine until they quit pouring before we started buying. Since I was the driver and we were 2 hours from home, I was a good boy and let everyone else have all the fun. So there we were, 6 American winos in the Tuscany vineyards of Italy....Life is Goooooood!

Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany is a 9,000 sq. mile area in central Italy with a population of 3.6 million. The capital is Florence and the region is most famous for its wines, and that's why we were there. For a week we shared a beautiful mountain villa with two couples from the US who are great friends. We all met in Rome last Friday, rented a van and drove 4 hours north to our villa. The villa, shown here had 2 bedrooms, a sleeping loft, a pool and a casita. In fine Italian fashion it came complete with a fireplace, barbecue pit and a pizza oven.

2010 Ryder Cup

This morning I got up at 4:30 am to start my journey to this years Ryder Cup. The trip from London was 2 underground tube rides, a 2 hour train ride, and a bus ride. I arrived at 8:30 am at The Celtic Manor Golf Resort in the South Wales city of Newport. As usual all phones and cameras were incarcerated at the front gate so I couldn't get a picture of me with the US team. It was a right fine miserable, rainy, and windy day. My feet were soaked in 3 minutes upon arriving and play was suspended 30 minutes later. So I only saw about 20 minutes of golf in the rain. Such is normal weather in Wales this time of year. I bought a pair of socks and found 2 small plastic bags to put over my feet, then put my wet shoes on. My feet stayed dry the rest of the day (Good idea). After 5 hours of waiting in the wind and rain, I headed back home to London and then watched the golf on TV as play resumed at about 5:00 pm. These disappointments will happen in life but maybe my little pep talk with our team just might make the difference in the final outcome. It warmed my heart to see such a huge turn-out of American fans here today. Go USA!

Weslaco Texas

This small town is located in the Rio Grande Valley and is 70 miles inland from the Gulf. This is hurricane season and the rain is plenty. Today it is 94 degrees and about 110 % humidity, which means it's darn miserable. I am here for to check on a commercial property and check out the economy. This area is still growing a bit and actually has some new construction in the commercial and industrial parts of town. It dangerous to go across the border now and US citizens are warned to stay away. Some Mexican businesses are moving to the US side to get away from threats and extortion from the drug cartels. Look at the gas prices here. They are complaining about the recent increase from $2.35 to $2.55. This might be the cheapest gas in the US now. I took a shot of the small Continental Express jet that I flew from Houston. These are 50 passenger planes with 2 seats on one side and 1 on the other. They are a little cramped but are fast and efficient providing service to many small towns in our biggest state. I am sitting here in Houston for 3 hours so I got time to blog. Can't wait to get to Seattle so I can sit another 4 hours waiting for my 20 minute flight to Wenatchee.

Best meal in Texas

Opened in 1955, Milano's Italian Restaurant here in Weslaco Texas is the place to eat. I've been to Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, but this food has got um all beat. I found this restaurant when I was here 6 years ago and was greeted at the door by the owner, just like I was family. Once again last night I walked in and was greeted just like before. The Milano's, both of Italian descent, were celebrating their 50 th wedding anniversary and I had a nice visit with them. I will be in Italy next month so we a bit to talk about. He told me about life here in the Rio Grande Valley and a little history. He also warned me to watch my back because the drug cartel was very active only 7 miles away on the Mexican border. I had a pasta with fresh Gulf shrimp...Dam good grubbin.

Texas business trip

Yesterday I got up at 3 am. and drove 1 hour to catch a 6 am. flight from Wenatchee into Seattle. Lucky for me, I met a friend from 30 years ago who was a pressman with me at the Wenatchee World newspaper. We had a visit on our flight and spent 3 hours catching up in the Seattle board room. Check out the pancake machine I found in the board room. I hit the start button and enter the number of pancakes I want and catch them with my plate in less that a minute. Amazing! After a 4 hour wait, I boarded my flight to Houston Texas. This is a fabulous picture of Mt. Rainer as we passed by about 12 noon. I should have been sleeping on this flight but met a fun Canadian couple who were involved in horse racing there, in the late 70's. They knew of my wife Julie, and the stable that she rode for in her Canadian racing days. So I didn't sleep but had to talk the whole 5 hour flight. From Houston I caught a 1 hour flight to Harlingen and from there took a 30 minute cab ride to Weslaco Texas, my destination. Finally I got checked in to my room at 10 pm, but had to beat 2 jumping roaches with my shoe before I could sleep. How come this kind of stuff always happens to me?

My friend Gregg

Long time friend Gregg Gammack died in a motorcycle accident yesterday in Eastern Pennsylvania. He was riding with his wife Patsy, who was on her own bike at the time. This is a difficult time for me as he was a wonderful friend for whom I now want to write in his memory. I helped Gregg remodel his Arizona home several years ago and he helped me do the same on my Arizona home in 2006. We became quite good friends while working these tough jobs together and putting in some long days. We have ridden thousands of miles together on our Harley's both with and without our wives. Gregg was a Vietnam vet, helicopter pilot, and in his civilian life a corporate pilot. He later hung up his wings but still worked in the aviation industry until retiring 4 years ago. During those working years when I knew him, he was always very serious and all business, but after retiring in 2006 I never saw him without a smile. He and Patsy shared some precious retirement years together on their farm in Kentucky and also at their Arizona home in the winters. I received a Happy birthday call from Gregg just 10 days ago and he told me all about his new Harley. He was so excited to be on that bike, that it made me want to be there with him. This is a photo of Gregg and I after a ride to the Superstition Saloon in Tortilla Flats, Arizona a few years ago. So My friend, while you take that ride in the sky, keep the chrome polished and watch out for me. I might just catch up for another adventure someday. We did have some fun! Julie and I both will sure miss you.

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GAMMACK, GREGG L.Synopsis:The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Gregg L. Gammack (0-89587), Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 361 (HMM-361), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on May 10, 1967. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Captain Gammack upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.Home Town: Seattle, Washington

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Adair Countian dies in motorcycle wreck in Pennsylvania A new Adair Countian, who recently moved here from Seattle, WA, and who had won many friends in his adopted Kentucky neighborhood, died in a highway tragedy in eastern Pennsylvania.Gregg Lee Gammack, Columbia, KY, was killed after his motorcycle left the roadway, struck a guardrail at Mile Point 19.8 in Greene Township in Pike Co., PA, on Interstate 84 on Thursday afternoon, September 9, 2010.A dispatcher with Blooming Grove Barracks of Troop R, of the Pennsylvania State Police, said that the accident was reported to the Pennsylvania State Police at 3:15pmET.The dispatcher said that Mr. Gammack was pronounced dead at the scene. She said that I-84 was closed for approximately 3 hours as a result of the wreck.Pike County is located on the eastern border of Pennsylvania. Blooming Grove Township is in the central part of the county.According to friends in Adair County, Mr. Gammack's wife was riding on a separate motorcycle and was not involved in the accident. She is being escorted back to Kentucky by neighbors who drove to Pennsylvania to be with her and see her safely home.