Crusing the Rhine

We have just returned from a wonderful cruise on the Rhine (thanks Uniworld).

We stayed on a beautiful ship (the River Queen) and "lived on board" for 14 days.

Great food, well organized tours with learning and wonderful sights.

We started below sea level on a canal in The Netherlands.

Land claimed from the sea by pumping it dry into canals.

We traveled with good friends (the Cooks, Ron and Janice) from Columbus, but we met other great people along the way.

Many wonderful memories.

It was truly a delightful time.

Loved the charming villages that we were able to cruise to and visit.

Walton's Summer 08 Fun

We just love summer in Ohio!

We spent a week in beautiful and laid-back Lakeside.

Here we are playing cut-throat shuffleboard with Dawn and JP.

This is serious stuff ;-) Every inch matters!






Lakeside has a large number of Sunfish and Laser sailboats.

We can sail off into lake Erie and go for miles (Canada here we come!)

JP and I loved our sailing.






We were at the Bruce's cottage and JP and Dawn visited for 2 days.

It is a beautiful little cottage - very quaint.

Bob as a architect, has re-done such a large number of Lakeside cottages.

He has single-handedly beautified the entire town!

We also visited JP and Dawn's house in Lakewood.

It is only 3 blocks from the lake and an easy and delightful walk.

Silvia and Jim from Atlanta visited for the 4th of July.

Yes ... we did do the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!!!

Yikes! is it July already??i

ERIC'S TRIP TO INDIA

I attended the International Conference on Radio Science
ATMS meeting, Jodhpur, India

There was much ceremony at these meetings, and I was made to feel very welcome.

The streets of Jodhpur are filled with all types of cars, people and animals.
(even camels were not unusual)

The city is dominated by a HUGE fort from the 1200's
The Mehrangarh Fort (never captured)

Inside the fort is a wonderful palace all carved in red sandstone
(even the lattice-work screening)

After Jodhpur, we traveled to Bangalore

for the AMTA-INDIA meeting.

Our small scientific team representing the AMTA:
Myself, Don Bodner, Daniel van Rensburg and Janet O'Neil

Our host in Bangalore took us to a very interesting colonial era palace.

(Note the obvious British influence)

You can see ALL of my photos and some video clips at

http://picasaweb.google.com/7388FullWave

(just click)

Fall of 2007 for the Waltons

Well, Summer 2007 comes to an end.

Winter is coming!

We pull our boat out of the water on
a beautiful fall day.

Wish summer would never end,
and wish fall would never end.

The trees are just wonderful.
Next we visited St. Louis for
a technical meeting (Eric's work).

So ... of course we want to see (and go up in) the
St. Louis Gateway Arch.
I must admit, it really is impressive and beautiful.

Imagine the vision of the person who had this idea as a symbol of the city of
St. Louis (Gateway to the west!).

So simple yet so compelling a symbol.
It was so nice that my son Daniel
came to share the (partial) week with us.

Since I was getting an award, he especially wanted to be there.

Good kid.

THE WALTONS AT NIAGARA FALLS

We visited Niagara Falls this summer with my brother Dave.


It is hard to beleve that we have lived in Ohio for 30 years (gasp!)
and not seen Niagara Falls.

It really is exciting and fun.

We did all the tourist things.

Ride the Maid of the Mist.
No kidding, the Maid of the Mist
is really exciting.

The falls really are huge and noisy and

wet!!
It was a fun thing to do with my brother.

I think he liked getting wet.
We walked along the
raging (really!) river downstream of the falls.

It is a wonderful way to spend a weekend in
the summer.

Walton's summer of 2007

These are some posts for our friends and family;

We love our new daughter-in-law and her family.

Here is the new family; Eric, Dawn, Sharon, John Paul, and Daniel.

Wish we could get together like this more often.










Daniel (our San Francisco son)
works hard but sometimes takes a break.

Nothing like a hammock.

We love him and wish we could visit more often.

Note the cool shirt; Product logo designed by his
brother John Paul.

We recently did some sailing on Sandusky Bay. We chartered a beautiful 2006 Catalina 309. Shared the experience with john Paul and Dawn and their friends Dan and Monique.

As you can see, they both enjoyed the experience.

As I like to say; " Its "Jackie O", and not "Old man and the sea."

Dan Merk expecially enjoyed the "training" experience.

Here, we are demonstrating "Heave to", an expression that has nothing to do with seasickness (look it up).

We also had some "shore time." We really enjoyed the Sandusky Merry Go Round museum.

(go there and try not to smile!) See the video of Sharon on the ride!!

All in all, a winderful summer.

Who are the Waltons ?

I just looked over the blog and discovered that I have very few pictures of myself and Sharon.
So, for our many fans (all 4) here are some quick picks.

Yours truely.

Sharon with John Paul (dinner in Cleveland; JP's "graduation" party).
JP now has both a BS degree and an MS degree; officially awarded on his wedding day!

And here I am with Dawn, our new daughter-in-law.


We feel really blessed to have such a wonderful (slightly growing family). 

Hilton Head Island & Christmas

We spent a wonderful (Thanksgiving) week in Hilton Head Island with the Lukash family.
A beautiful rented house (Below as viewed from the beach).

Silvia and Jim were such great hosts!
Note view of bay in background; many dolphins!
Just a lovely area.


Next, we have a quiet Christmas at our home in Columbus.
(My brother David (R) visited from Virginia.)


The newlyweds; John Paul & Dawn visited.
Also Son Daniel (great guy).
(Google "Sonoma Wireworks, Rifftracker" to see what he is up to.)

 

Cook Wedding in Biloxi

We attended the lovely Cook wedding in Biloxi. We saw much of the Katrina devistation. (Even 40 miles inland.) This church was on a hilltop and was not damaged very much.

A beautiful bride! Lovely setting.

Sharon's excellent friend Janice Cook. (Mother of David, the groom)

Proud parents of the groom; Janice and Ron Cook.

 

Here are some more pics from "The Wedding"

Here are some more pics from John-Paul and Dawn's wedding.
Below: Younger son Daniel with Eliana.


And ... Jonathan with wife Emily and Anna.



Below: Sharon with Carol and Dave (wild thing).

Below: Sharon with Nancy Gwinn, long-time friend. We go "way back."

So, I hope that you have enjoyed seeing these photos.

We love all these people and were so honored that they all came!

John-Paul and Dawn Wedding

John-Paul Walton and Dawn Zidonis Wedding

Dawn is our favorite girl! We love her. (So does John-Paul)


A wedding brings friends together!
Below; Dulcy and Buff with Sharon; wonderful people.


Their first dance as husband and wife! (Oh my gosh!)

The family gathers. We love weddings!!



So, John-Paul and Dawn were married on August 19th, 2006. We will never forget how wonderful the day was for all of us!

May they live happily every after in love and fulfilment!!