These next two days are set aside for visiting our youngest son, Steve, our daughter-in-law, Peggy, and our granddaughter, Jordan. We got to sit around and catch up on how their life is going, how work is progressing, when their new baby is due, etc.

Since this is a retirement trip, it is only natural that when visiting our children that we reflect back on their childhood, how they are different as adults and how they are still the same. It's a pleasure to see how well they have done as men, and know they are going to be just fine without you.

We sat around in the afternoon and enjoyed our "reunion" together (photo 1), and then went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner (photo 2). Since I really like cheesecake, it seemed like a natural selection for me if I got to pick, and they let me pick. Silly people. In addition to eating at one of my favorite places, the place is very close to a bookstore. What more could I ask for, visiting with my family, eating at one of my favorite places, and then topping it off with a visit to the bookstore. Life is really good. Oh yeah, of course I bought a book.

The next day, day 51, I washed the bike and trailer. This is about the fourth time we've had a chance to do that. Finding a time and place to keep the bike and trailer looking good is not as easy as you might think. My granddaughter, Jordan, joined in and helped me dry the monster off (photo 3). Since she is a little weary about the bike, this is a chance to let her get used to the motorcycle while she's having fun.

Since Steve and Peg are having another baby in December, they need another room for their In-Laws visits. They have decided to convert their unfinished basement into a bedroom for guests. Steve and I worked in the basement for several hours sanding spackling compound and trying to get it ready for texturing. It's nice to see it coming along. This is what fathers are supposed to do when they retire, help their kids with their special projects. We didn't stay long enough to make much of a difference but every little bit helps I guess.

Later that afternoon, our nephew John dropped by for a visit. John lives in Utah but happened to be at a conference in Denver and drove the 30 minutes to Steve's house. Steve Bar-Be-Cued hamburgers for dinner and we all had a great evening laughing and talking till late in the evening (photo 4). We talked religion, politics, gun control, the justice system, the recall election in California, etc. We will see John again in about three days when we get to Orem, Utah.

These have been two really enjoyable days. Tomorrow we head off towards Utah for more visits with family while riding through some really spectacular scenery.