Although I do have some dull-colored, waterproof clothes, I find that an
umbrella is pretty helpful in the rain. I picked the idea up in Japan,
where the rain often occurs during warm, muggy weather that makes the
usual rain clothing very uncomfortable, and in Japan everyone carries
umbrellas, even in very light rain that might make us sneer and label
people "wimps." I've found umbrellas useful when leading winter birding
outings where we're concentrating on water birds and we don't have to move
quickly and often rely on spotting scopes. I'd like to find a way to hold
an umbrella on my body, maybe on my back, so I can hold binoculars with
two hands and move quickly.

Burt Guttman guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College Voice: 360-866-6000, x. 6755
Olympia, WA 98505 FAX: 360-866-6794

Reunite Gondwana!