DAY 69: WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA

Please meet Dick Merrill, retired Science Professor, excellent Cribbege player, and World Traveller.

Please say Hello to Shannon Merrill, also a retired Professor and World Traveller and Mother to a bevy of beautiful Daughters and her furry and feathered friends.

Dick & Shannon were shipmates on the Agean 1, sailing from Athens, Greece in November 1999 for 120 days around the World.

My walk route took me within five miles of Dick & Shannon. I have the pleasure to once again spend a few days visiting in their Walnut Creek, California home.

Although living in a large City, Dick & Shannon have an extended family of furry and feathered critters, all of whom know who Mamma and Daddy are.

I was so fortunate to visit during a Mini Reunion Luncheon of Bay Area shipmates also on the Agean 1 Round The World Mellinium Cruise.

Somehow, a place was made for me to join...

Around every Corner wait marvels justifying the effort to round that corner.

Bashful ?

A regular at the Merrills.

This little fellow and Dick have a up close and personal relationship.

Even SPIA was squeezed into the Merrills home.

Found and repaired the rain leaks - with the assistance of Dick's ladder to reach SPIA's roof

A typical downtown Walnut Creek building.

Truly a beautiful small City about 20 minutes from San Francisco by crossing the Bay Bridge and taking the Freeway through Oakland, California.

California Blvd. in Walnut Creek, California.

This is BART.

Taken from Dick's Hybrid Camray Toyota during a rain squall returning from thr Agean 1 Reunion


DAILY REPORT: Walked 6 miles into downtown Walnut Creek...Count 3 miles

SEE YOUR IMPACT.ORG: Credit 3 miles @ $0.02 = $0.06 for the day


It is now 8:30 am on Thursday, March 24, 2011 - 11 years since our Agean 1 Cruise.

In a few moments SPIA, SAM & ME will resume our walk to Key West, taking along new memories from old friends.

We will miss Dick & Shannon. Thank you - again - for taking me into your home.