2001: Year in Pictures
California, January
January, almost right after New Year, found me attending a
wedding in San Diego. I couldn't resist a side trip to the famous
zoo 
. There was quite a crowd of Brits in the
party - the groom was from the UK - and all of us seemed to plan
a drive to San Francisco, up the coast, afterward. Most people
were planning to spend two or three weeks doing it, but I did
it in 4 days! Through the first proper storm of the season...
As you can see, Highway 1 was not busy 
. Even Hearst Castle closed the first
day I tried to visit - something that only happens every few years.
I did make it the second time I tried, though: 
. As ever on my travels
I stopped at the local air museums. This
Spitfire 
was at Palm Springs.
Lasham, Easter
One of my promises to myself when I returned to London was
to take up gliding again. I spent what was intended to be the
first of many days at Lasham over the Easter Bank Holiday 
, getting three flights under my
belt 
.
It was the also the last day I spent at Lasham in 2001. Grrr!
Finland, April
April found me in a small town in Finland, delivering presentations
for my job. It wasn't all work though - as this trip to the local
gallery proves 
.
Seattle, July
Seattle is one of my favourite cities. I've spent a lot of
time there professionally, and never really had a vacation there.
So this was my chance to spend a week visiting the town as a tourist.
I found the original Starbucks 
,
and admired the space needle 
(and its view!). The highlight was probably 
hiring a bike for the day, and then catching a ferry 
to Bainbridge Island. The route I followed was called the 'chilly
hilly', after a spring time club ride that follows it. The summer
doesn't remove the hills though, as the supplies 
I got through testify!
Of course, I visited the air museum: 
Vancouver, July
Immediately after Seattle, I had to be in Vancouver for my
job, coinciding with Canada Day 
.
Did you think I'd skip the local museum?
Austin, November
Last on the itinerary for 2001, another business trip, this
time to Austin, Texas. The capitol building is impressive 
, and the local coffee shops friendly 
. The Alamo was a fun day trip away
, listening to a CD of the hitchhikers guide
to the galaxy in the original radio version :o)
This page © John McAleely, June 2003
