マーティンデール氏と八藤雄一先輩の手紙
| マーティンデール氏と八藤雄一先輩の手紙
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| April 28, 2002 |
| Dear Yuichi: Three days ago I returned from my first trip outside of Texas. I finally felt that I was ready to get some of my favorite type of exercise - walking the hills of San Francisco. I left on Thursday, the 18th. and stayed there until Monday morning when I was ready to come home. My feet were tired from all of the walking that I had done, but I felt good for having done so much exercising which my muscles had been needing. On the way to the airport I made a sudden change of plans. Ever since I was young boy I had been wanting to see the mouth of the Columbia River. This was the result of reading the journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805-06 which was sent by President Thomas Jefferson to find a water route from the Mississippi River to the Pacific coast. The 45 men went up the Missouri River, across the Rocky Mountains. down the Snake River and the Columbia River to its mouth ( near the present town of Astoria, Oregon ). The mouth of the river is considered to be the most dangerous entrance way into a port ( Portland, Oregon ) in the world. Many ships have been wrecked there because the strong river currents and ocean tides have created a very dangerous and changing sand bar at the mouth. The area is noted for the bad weather and the amount of rain that occurs there. Since this was one of the two remaining places which I have been wanting to see in the U.S. and the weather forecast for the next four days in the area was clear, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity. I flew to Portland and rented a car for the 85 mile drive to Astoria where I stayed for two nights. I saw the mouth of the river from both the south and north sides. The view from Cape Disappointment ( north side in Washington ) made my trip there worthwhile. I also saw some of the Lewis and Clark sites. The weather was very clear. I drove back to Portland Wednesday morning and took a three hour flight to Las Vegas for the night in order to break the trip into two short flights instead of a 6 1/2 hour one. The artificial environment of Las Vegas seemed to make the natural beauty of what I had seen more beautiful. Although my feet are still sore and my muscles have to recover from all of the exercise that I had on this trip, I am very glad that I made the sudden decision to full-fill another childhood dream. I know that I am now physically able to do some more traveling, but I will have to do it at a slower pace. My age and the need to allow for more time at the airports due to the increased security precautions since the New York City attacks of September 11 have made flying a little less enjoyable. I am planning to go to Philadelphia in June to see Bill Barrette's exhibition of the drawings of Tobita and Fujiki. I also want to go to North Carolina to see my youngest daughter. This trip is the only news that I have for the present time. I am looking forward to seeing Nori and Taeko in San Antonio next month. My best wishes to you and your family. Sincerely Bob Robert R. Martindale P.S. The weather in Astoria was about 38 degrees at night and 50 during the day. It is 90 degree F. here today. STAMP Mount McKinley.Alaska USA 80 ($0.80) MAP  Pacific County.Wash. Cape Disappointment Lewis and Clark Camp (Nov.1805) Astoria Fort Clatsop Salt Works MAP  Astoria Warrenton Seaside Portland Vancouver |
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如水会 実務英語研究会
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