Olis new found skills

And so it begins...Go Diago Go...

August 2008 USA trip...Burning Man!!

Well after a long long winter it was decided that I needed a US trip to do store visits, visit Ed and why not go to Burning Man seeing the time is right!!!

Started in the US visiting Ed...here he is in his lab...need to check out the cells and make sure they had not divided too much and consumed all the food!




Little Italy...goodness me this area was straight out of the Sopranos.


Mary, Ed and I out for dinner


The legendary Toms diner from the Suzanne Vega song and from Seinfeld.


Here we are (Claudia and Gendie) getting ready for Burning Man...traveling down the west coast to get the RV...then north into Nevada, Reno and the Black Rock Desert.

Drove down and stayed the night in Monterey lovely little coastal town south of Santa Cruz.



Went to Walmart (of course) to stock up for Burning Man...bikes and all...


Here is the 25 foot of love that was our home for 6 nights.


This is the drive through the valley into Black Rock Desert


Check out this link for a wicked Video of burning Man
http://www.vimeo.com/1713091

Dean, Steph and Kenji at the "Home Brewers Association" camp. With there 42 below party.





White Party...this was the night with Carl Cox...banging down his house..hard house of course!!


Me, Steph and Kenji (I wasn't going far pulling that load through the desert)


Night time on the Playa


Night time at the Deep End


Kenji and Steph at the Deep End - check out the smoke ring


Claudia having a boogie with our art car "Bacon without Borders"


Claudia at the sake bar...this was a clever gadget with cold sake from the tap at the top.


Dust storm..luckily we were inside for most of this...

Reagans 40th!!!!

Well life begins at 40. Or so we have to keep telling our friends as more and more of us turn the big four ohhhh.

We went down to stay at Collingwood to celebrate Reagan turning 40. The chilly south called and we answered. We traveled down with Kirst and Patrick, met up with Simon. Then Sparkie and Woody stayed joined us over the hill.

Great weekend of catching up, great food, clay shooting, checking out the Takaka property...etc etc Thanks guys

Celcius Cafe - Sparkies cafe in Motueka


Sparkie dishing up the goodies


The view from Reagan and Marys front lawn in Collingwood!!


Lady Luck - Mary and Reagans new purchase



Simon, Patrick and Kirst on the front lawn in Collingwood


Me and Birthday Boy


Couch time - Tim and Patrick


The great cooks!! Divine Mary.


We spent the afternoon clay pigeon shooting up on Takaka Hill. Using shot guns, and an Arnie gun!

Gendie taking her shot. Miss "Oh no I don't like guns" actually had a lot of fun.


Kirst and I strike a pose.


Tim taking his shot