I've been really disappointed in Nikon. I had always thought of them as a high-quality operation. Then we got a Nikon camera for the BCRC -- It was a terrible camera. Under optimal conditions, it can take good pictures, but if it has to use the flash, forget it. It makes people look like walking corpses. It also has a very poorly placed sensor. When I put my hand in a normal position, it covers the sensor and flash pictures are horribly underexposed. That problem was so serious, I thought the camera was defective, when we first got it. Now, I just have to remember to contort my hand if I'm using the camera.
Recently, I learned that Nikon is using the DMCA to make their image formats unreadable, except by 
bona fide software developers. In other words, if you own a Nikon camera, you can forget about using free software to work with the imagery. I guess I won't be buying Nikon cameras again anytime soon.
When I bought my last camera, I bought a Canon. It's been a great camera that almost always takes excellent pictures even under marginal circumstances. I did have to send it back for service once (it quit focusing), but for a camera that rides around inside my pocket most of the time, it seems pretty rugged.
Reading about the camera reminded me that last year, at the time, I was planning our Gettysburg Adventure. That was a fantastic trip -- one of the best vacations I've ever had. We had originally talked about going to the Hocking Hills this year, but there doesn't seem to be enough enthusiasm to make it happen. I'm a bit disappointed. I think maybe next year, I'll just pick a place to go (maybe Petersburg or part of the Erie Canal), just go, and people can come along or not. Humph.
It rained all day yesterday and into this morning, but by late morning the sun came out and it looked like good bicycling weather. Lucy and I got our bikes out and rode together across campus. It was Lucy's first ride, so she turned around at that point to avoid overdoing her first ride. I continued on along the bikeway connector, stopping at the grocery store for a bottle of soda, and then took the bike trail southeast. The wind was strong from the southeast, so I chose that route in order to ride into the wind going out and have the wind at my back coming home. I rode out about 7 miles to the end of the bike trail, then stopped for a rest, to let my Buff dry, and to drink my soda. It was a perfect temperature and air smelled sweet and clean after the rain. Going back with the wind was a joy. I flew along pedalling easily, and even going uphill seemed easy. I saw nodding trilliums and trout lillies blooming along the trail. Near the beaver pond, a couple of us saw a fat and sassy water snake, slithering toward the water. In the end, I rode 14 miles at 11mph, reinforcing my estimate that the new tires (and tune-up) have added about 3mph to my average speed. Next weekend, I'll have to aim for a longer ride -- maybe my "Circumnavigating the Connecticut River" ride.
Our cherry tree looks sad and bedraggled after the rain and the wind: a blizzard of pink petals flying in the wind and making drifts across the lawn. We got one good day: it was perfect on Friday. Sigh... There's always next year.
StevenBrewer