May 25-31, 2003 This week started out most certainly with a bang and with my laptop's hard drive crashing definitely ended with a whimper. The added blessing to the computer not working has been that I've been able to get to sleep prior to 11 PM each evening. Sean at MacNetworks there in Santa Rosa is currently working on installing a new hard drive and then Bill will be bringing it to me in Council Bluffs. So my early to bed night will be over when we get to the Dakotas. One of the big treats for me this week was taking the two ferries on either side of Covington, KY. The first one that went into Augusta, KY was smaller than the one that left from Constance, KY to Anderson Ferry, Ohio. Floating on water is a combination of soothing and exhilirating. We may get to use more ferries between Washington and Oregon later along the Columbia River. In addition to all of the cardinals, orioles, buntings, and eastern bluebirds, we were also treated to two golden eagles after we left Augusta, KY. I noticed a large bird sitting on a wooden utility pole and said to Ron, there's a golden eagle. Just as I said that, we both noticed a second one that was just taking flight. Of course all of this bird watching is enhanced as we get closer to the Mississippi River! The Mississippi flywy is a wonderful place for any bird watcher. The hills in the western portion of Kentucky are gentler and the people seem more prosperous. The riding was good and the people I asked directions of were gracious, even when they had no idea of how far a place was. The only thing more prevalent than red corvettes (complete with for sale signs) sitting on lawns were Indiana casinos. The riverboats seem to be everywhere and there always seem to be a steady stream of people entering them. Reaching the Mississippi River was a milestone for me. I had been calling the Ohio, the Mississippi, for several days and now I'm finally there. I'm probably not as pleased and relieved as Lewis and Clark were but I'm definitely very happy. Many thanks to Steve for helping keep the site up to date. and That Was The Week That Was .... LaValle