Where's Armand?

The Last 1,000

He is home, safe and sound. Here's his trail (click the thumbnail for a larger view):

The last post placed him in (A) Laramie, WY, from there Armand drove through (B) Colorado Springs, CO, and spent the night in (C)Salina, KS, on Friday night.

By Saturday evening, he was in (D) Terre Haute, IN, dining at the Red Lobster and tonight he's safe and snug in his home in Morgantown, WV. A blazing 1,000+ miles over the weekend. Those of us on the Big Island consider a drive to Hilo and back as a long road trip!

I'll do my best to catch up with Armand this week, by phone. Before he packs up for ...?

Montana...Wyoming...Colorado

Armand left Yellowstone yesterday and drove to Laramie, Wyoming. There, he found room at the inn. His plan was to be in Colorado Springs by noon today, August 24. Unless there was something to hold his attention, I'm sure he was off to another state.

I'm often asked to explain the reason for his longevity. We'll let Armand explain it himself once he gets back home. I'll ask for a brief essay, which might prove difficult, at his age. In the meantime, this article I read in CNN today offers some suggestions: 100-Year-Old: Try Taking Cold Showers.

West Yellowstone

Homeward bound, is Armand. Yesterday he drove from Superior to West Yellowstone, where he chose to bed down for the night. Apparently, it's a happening place so I can't believe that no one has spotted Armand.

He's quite unassuming, really.  A deliberate hiker, he carefully watches his step and has been known to pass young people on a trail even with the use of a cane.But he's very friendly and will answer any and all questions you might have about the park, the rock formations, and what the park was like 50 years ago. He's a walking....encyclopedia! Find him! You won't be disappointed.

Those he left behind...

 Here's the photo of an exuberant Armand surrounded by  Mama Hill's happy clan in Sunriver, OR.  Armand's daughter, Ann, is in the second row holding a little one and Tomas is the "last man standing" on the right with both arms in the air!

If you were in the photo, identify yourself along with some comments. You are an Official Armand Siter.

The Armand 500!

I can understand why he hasn't been sited, he's moving too fast! Armand drove from Bellingham (WA) to Superior, Montana yesterday. According to Mapquest that was a total of 501.26 miles.

The man has to make a pit stop once in a while...get a bite to eat...talk to someone. Although he obviously does NOT need to ask for directions.

He's Backtracking!

Trusted sources report that Armand only spent the day in Vancouver. He was back in Washington, Bellingham to be exact, by nightfall Sunday. West Virginia, here he comes!!!

North by Northwest

Armand was in Sunriver, Oregon this past week. He stayed put long enough to sit for a couple of photos with Tomas' family, pictured here in full fan regalia. There's a second shot of the reunited family, with an exuberant Armand Singer that will be posted on this blog tomorrow.

If you missed Armand in Yosemite, Sunriver, or while he was at Crater Lake, you might have passed him on en route to Washington (scroll down for a map peek). He was on his way to visit Bill and Patti Savoy, his African safari companions, in Bellevue. Arriving safe and sound at the Savoy residence, Armand spent the night before continuing his journey north to Vancouver where he will visit fellow philatelist, Geoffrey Flack.

Then it's a solo drive back to West Virginia. What adventures lie ahead for Mondo? Safe journey, Armand!

Crater Lake, OR

There's no stopping this man! Here he is at Yosemite with daunting Half Dome behind him. Some climb it for fun, others climb it for more fun! I'll have to ask Armand how much fun he's had there. I'm sure there's an Armand/Yosemite story  within the last 70 years or so.

Today, Armand and the Hill Clan are visiting Crater Lake, in Oregon. The lake is a 6 mile wide caldera, formed when a volcano collapsed a "few" years ago. If anyone spots the intrepid Mr. Singer, please have your picture taken with him and send it to me.  He'll be on his way to Seattle tomorrow and then on to Vancouver. Back in the saddle again...sing it Armand!

Sited: August 6, 2006

by Celeste Lane from Beavercreek, Ohio:

Here is the proof!  We sited Armand at Dream Lake, Colorado, on Sunday, August 6, 2006. Our family (me and my husband Tom Lane, daughter Olivia Lane, sister-in-law Maribeth Lane, her fiance Joe Kwapich, sister-in-law Leslie Stauffer and her husband Mark Stauffer) was taking the shuttle bus to Dream Lake, Colorado, for a hike up the mountains (Rocky Mountain National Park).  Armand was sitting next to Leslie, when he began entertaining us with his story of being arrested for vehicular assault in Ohio, and being handcuffed and thrown in jail. (Being from Ohio, we were a captive audience!)  As we started up the trail, Armand shared with Maribeth and Leslie that he was taking the hike to Dream Lake in memory of his wife, because she loved spending time there.  We were amazed at how fast he was walking!  He was moving along at a good clip, and we realized, "Hey, we can't let this guy get past us!"  We continued up the trail, first visiting Nymph Lake, Bear Lake, and on up to Emerald Lake.  (I understand now why Armand and Mary enjoyed visiting the mountains and lakes -- the views are breathtaking.)  Hours later, as we were coming down the trail, we saw Armand!  He was on his way down too!  Olivia and I stopped to talk with him, and I told him "you are a real inspiration."  He just chuckled and said, "I certainly try to be."  He told us he is a Professor at West Virginia University at Morgantown, and Olivia told him she is a student at the University of Cincinnati.  He said "good, good, that's a good school too."  I promised Armand I would e-mail the picture to him, and then he insisted we visit the website of "my good friend in Hawaii -- she's keeping track of me -- she's got a blog -- Where's Armand? -- I'm visiting national parks."

This 92-year old gentleman is amazing, and we were blessed to meet him.  Armand is a National Treasure!  He can visit us in Ohio any time!

Roaming Free!

Armand and Tomas. Doesn't it sound like the title of a book about a bullfighter and a bull? Armand and Tomas.

Armand, and the husband of his only child, Ann, have been travelling west from Colorado to California. This week, they'll head north to their final destination: Sunriver Resort in Oregon, where Tomas' family is gathering for a reunion.

There was an Armand siting in Colorado by Maribeth Lane of Ohio. She and her family spotted Armand on the way to Dream Lake. By then, our notorious traveller had aroused a "Free Armand" campaign. According to Tomas, Armand doesn't get more than 15 feet away from his car before engaging someone in conversation. Mondo-logues Rule!

Some of their stops along the trail:

• Dinosaur National Monument
• Cedar Breaks National Monument
• Death Valley
• Sequoia National Park
• Yosemite National Park

If you spot Armand along Route 395 on the way north, say "Hi", snap a photo and send it to me. You'll have to be quick, he's a man on the move.