A lot of time has passed since we last talked. I would like to say that I've been busy traveling and exploring and enjoying adventures, but most of that would be lies. I have traveled a little bit, but those trips were to familiar places where I visited familiar people. I don't blame anyone or … Continue reading Walking Through
Home, Not Home
With feelings of both anxiousness and anticipation, I slipped out of town one day in January and ended up in Chicago. Masked in my COVID costume, I rode the train into downtown Chicago and, after many wrong turns on foot, found my hotel, proved I'd been vaccinated, and settled into a room that was a … Continue reading Home, Not Home
Everyone’s a Stranger
I think most of us have been observers rather than participants over the previous year or so. By local and international restrictions, we've been forced to not stray far from our homes, which makes at least some of us a bit stir-crazy. I've certainly not wandered far, though I am able to get out on … Continue reading Everyone’s a Stranger
Touching Down
The first time I traveled to England, I flew from San Francisco to Dallas to Gatwick, where I touched down in a country I'd almost re-enlisted for when I was in the navy. I should have done it, that re-enlisting, but that's another "should have" story that has grown stale, which is what most of … Continue reading Touching Down
Closer to Home
I have known a lot of people who have traveled to a lot of different places. Most of them are braver than I am; they have sought out true adventures to countries that I avoid because, when all is said and done, I am not especially brave. I prefer destinations where I can speak English, … Continue reading Closer to Home
12-Bar Blues
I don't remember the details, but my first experience with a bar was when I was 4 years old. My younger cousin and I had made our way to some train tracks not far from where our parents probably assumed we'd play outside the apartment building like well-behaved boys. We didn't. We wandered away and … Continue reading 12-Bar Blues
Up and Down
Apparently, I'm older, fatter, and in worse physical shape than I imagined--and I've got a good imagination. My degree of physical conditioning was on full display a couple days ago when, on a whim, I arose early, filled a knapsack with a camera, some food, and plenty of water and then drove up into the … Continue reading Up and Down
The Long View
Last year's bike ride, which I've touched on before and will do so in the future, sticks with me. For just over a month I was on the move every day, and long after I got home I felt as though I should be doing something and going somewhere. I would re-live portions of the … Continue reading The Long View
Valley View
One place I don't get to visit enough is Yosemite Valley. Of course, I'm not alone--the park attracts many people, most of whom believe that an authentic outdoor experience involves sitting in traffic, following crowds, and eating pizza. My more memorable experiences in the Valley have been in the winter, and a few times I … Continue reading Valley View
A Tent with a View
Just about a year ago I camped for at night at Hite, Utah, after pedaling my bike for about 50 miles that day. I had been riding alone for a couple of days after my friend and I parted ways in Torrey, Utah, and I was exhausted, hot, under-nourished, very dehydrated, and not a little … Continue reading A Tent with a View
Down This Road 