“Fire, fire, fire…,” chants the crowd, as a longhaired man wearing bat-print pajama bottoms launches a flaming arrow into the 20-foot tall bonfire. It lights with a loud ka-thump! About then, another lovely fellow wearing a red ball gown and blond wig allows me to take some glamour-shots of him before moving on into the revelry that lasts into the …
A close encounter with Florida’s manatees
As I slipped into the water, the cold took my breath away, but soon the wetsuit did its job and I felt better. At first, I couldn’t see anything due to disturbed silt, but then a large form materialized in front of me and there I was, just feet from an adult manatee. I stopped a few feet away and …
A job with a view, Glacier National Park, MT
The drop-off behind this surveyor on the Going-to-the-Sun Road is at least several hundred feet. I’m not sure I could turn my back on it and work! Needless to say, he has the best view EVER!
Lower Two Medicine Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana
I took this shot from Highway 49 between East Glacier and St. Mary. It was about 6:00 a.m. Needless to say, the sun rises early there during the summer.
Cold Spring Shelter on the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is supported by a series of shelters which provide a convenient alternative to pitching a tent. Some are nicer than others. Cold Spring is best described as “historic” and it has a good dose of character. The walls are embellished with years of graffiti, the roof has a few drips, and the mice are friendly. All …
Trip Report: Backpacking California’s Evolution Valley
Laura Manina, my sister and fellow backpacker, shares her experiences and tips on backpacking a 57-mile loop to the Evolution Valley. Many thanks to her for this great post and pictures! You can learn more about her travels with her husband, Mitch, on CruisingSailors.com. ~ Evolution Valley. First, it was a suggestion, and then it was an item on …
Eating my way across Charlotte County
I travel to eat. At least it seems that way sometimes because I’m completely obsessed with trying local cuisine. My recent trip to Charlotte County, Florida, indulged my closet foodie. This is a region of Florida is known for its seafood. However, like most places, you need to know where to go. My trip was hosted by the local visitor’s …
Arizona Trail Petroglyphs
A few years ago, Mom and I did some hiking in Arizona. This photo shows some of the petroglyphs we saw on the rocks along the trail. I still think they are some of the coolest things I’ve seen while hiking!
Exploring natural Florida at Babcock Wilderness Reserve
I’m exploring Charlotte County, Florida, this week thanks to the Charlotte Harbor Visitors and Convention Bureau. The reason I am so interested in this area is that it offers abundant adventure travel options. Our focus during this trip is birding and eco-tourism. Today we visited the 90,000-acre Babcock Wilderness Preserve via a converted school bus run by Babcock Wilderness Adventures. I’ll …
Photo of the day: Why I cave
People ask what I enjoy about crawling around in dark, sometimes muddy, caves. Perhaps a picture is worth a thousand words, so here is my answer.