So if I understand what has been said so far I am in a pretty good position. My RD is a deore which should handle an 11 - 34 cassette. And my Tiagra shifters are 9 speed which is no problem. The only information I do not know is if my current 11-32 cassette is a mountain cassette. I do know that it is a Sram unit (which I learned from the Bianhci homepage).

Which brings me to my next question; are mountain cassettes and road cassettes interchangable? If they are then my plan of ordering the cassette and removal tool at the same time is still on. If not then I need to order my removal tool now to determine if the current cassette is road or mountain.

And last but not least there apparently is a hierarchy within the Shimano cassettes. I will spend some time on Ebay today and try to find a Deore 11-34.

Thanks a bunch folks I usually spend time on either the Clydesdales (another reason I need the 34T) or C & V forum. Finding Bikeforums has enabled me to learn tons of stuff and eliminate costly errors. ANd as they used to say in those old Bartles & James ads "Thank you for your support".