Rich Howe's Personal Home Page

Some of my personal interests:

• Flying
• Dancing
• Bicycling
• Motorcycling
• Music & Movies

A friend emailed this text picture of Tigger to me, and I just had to share it. 

Flying

Almost Home

I've been a private pilot since '92 and am always looking for a good reason (well okay, any reason) to go flying. There are quite a few good aviation links in my bookmark file.

I also maintain a couple Aviation related Web sites. First, there's The SLO FlyBoard, a place where local (Paso Robles to Santa Maria -- PRB, SBP, L52, SMX) pilots and non-pilots who would like to get together to go flying can meet. So take a look and let me know if you're interested in being on this list. I also belong to a great flying club, Cal Coast Flyers, and maintain our Web site.

Dancing

In addition to Karsten & Yiena's classes in Pismo Beach on Monday and Thursday evenings, I've also taken classes with the Cal Poly Ballroom Dance Club (Sunday evenings).  Other places in the area to get out and dance in the area include The Madonna Inn Tuesday through Saturday evenings, Mother's Tavern, and The Graduate.

My two favorite dance floors are the Casino in Avalon and the Carrillo Ballroom in Santa Barbara.

I also enjoy the fun of more conventional night club dancing ('80s New Wave is my favorite), but the challenge and grace of Ballroom has me hooked.

Bicycling

Every summer since '88, I've ridden the LA to Mono Lake Bike-a-thon. In '92, I rode solo coast to coast, and I've done several other bicycle trips here in California. I have made available some old trip itineraries that I have planed. I've also written a page about some of my favorite hill climbs. If you're interested in doing some touring together, please let me know.

I'm planing a new trip from the Salton Sea through Joshua Tree National Park and Twentynine Palms to North Palm Springs. The date has not been determined yet, so let me know when you'd like to go!

Motorcycling

However, all that fun can disappear at once if one isn't safe about it. Safety is a very important issue when riding. I try to apply the same care I learned in flight training to riding. In a car, there is a lot of steel for protection, but on a cycle, the most significant protection you have is your mind so you had better use it to think well ahead. There is a simple rule I always try to follow: If you can’t stop by the next point on the road you can’t see (or where something could move out into your path), you’re simply going too fast.

I highly recommend the California Motorcyclist Safety Program to anyone who is interested in learning to ride and to riders who haven't taken it yet. There are both beginner and advanced classes. Motorcycles are even provided in the beginning class! For more information call 1-800-CC-RIDER (227-4337).

Music & Movies

Of course, I like going to movies regularly. So what are some of my favorite films? Miracle Mile, Koyaanisqatsi, Creator, Alien(s), Lady Hawk, The Abyss, Die Hard, Hunt for Red October, Titanic.