“… blogging about life, travel, books, food and the outdoors”
Just completed East Shore trail captures majesty of Lake Tahoe
Breathtaking. That is one of many superlatives to describe the East Shore multi-use path that opened earlier this summer. The nearly 3-mile paved route goes from Tunnel Creek to Sand Harbor in Incline Village. A few years ago, for a story I did for Lake Tahoe News, I...
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‘Dirt Around Lake Tahoe’ accolades; event, retailer lists grow
Check out this review from the Tahoe Mountain News about "The Dirt Around Lake Tahoe: Must-Do Scenic Hikes." There are two events coming up in the next week -- Aug. 22 at the Sports Basement in Berkeley starting at 6pm. This will be a presentation that includes photos...
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More diligence needed to break my straw habit
No straw? How the heck am I going to drink and drive? My first encounter with a strawless lid on a cold drink was this past spring at Costco in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I’m pretty sure if anyone was watching me, I looked pretty funny as I searched for a straw in the...
read more Just completed East Shore trail captures majesty of Lake Tahoe
Breathtaking. That is one of many superlatives to describe the East Shore multi-use path that opened earlier this summer. The nearly 3-mile paved route goes from Tunnel Creek to Sand Harbor in Incline Village. A few years ago, for a story I did for Lake Tahoe News, I...
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Concrete floors demand shoes at all times
Barefoot or socks, that’s been my usual preference for walking around the house. That was until there was only concrete beneath me. I haven’t been in a house yet in Todos Santos that doesn’t have concrete floors. It’s just how they build them. People have area rugs,...
read more Wineries, sporting good stores hosting ‘The Dirt Around Lake Tahoe’ events
There are a slew of opportunities in the next two weeks to get a copy of "The Dirt Around Lake Tahoe: Must-Do Scenic Hikes" directly from me. I will be at Rucksack Cellars in Placerville on Aug. 17 and on Aug. 24 at Lava Cap Winery in Placerville. Those who buy a book...
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Coping with wood splitting withdrawals
Missing the ritual of splitting wood by hand
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Flowers continue to dazzle at Winnemucca Lake
It’s always all about the flowers when hiking to Winnemucca Lake. Even this late in the season the flora is fantastic. While the flowers are past their peak, even on Aug. 11 Mother Nature was putting on a spectacular display. The area between Frog and Winnemucca lakes...
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Danger lurks when driving at night in Mexico
“Don’t drive at night.” It would be hard to find someone who would argue differently when it comes to Mexico. The danger isn’t what you think. It’s not bad guys or even getting stuck in the middle of nowhere – though those can be real concerns just as they are...
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Tennis — a lifetime sport that tests the body and mind
“The moment of victory is much too short to live for that and nothing else.” – Martina Navratilova “I think team sports probably teach you more about giving – about being unselfish and being flexible.” – Chris Evert “Tennis has a lot to do with your character and...
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Wrangler Wave – it’s a Jeep thing
It was back as soon as I was across the border – the Jeep Wave. I’ve known about this wave for years from when my ex drove a CJ-5. He’d wave to other Jeeps. Real Jeeps, as he would say. Not the Cherokees and later models. It was the Wrangler style he waved to, and who...
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Book Review: ‘The Great Quake’ entertains and educates
The 9.2 earthquake that shook Alaska on March 27, 1964, and created deadly tsunamis not only changed the landscape of the state, it fast-forwarded the scientific understanding of earthquakes and other geological phenomena. New York Times science reporter Henry...
read more ‘Dirt Around Lake Tahoe’ book event dates growing
"The Dirt Around Lake Tahoe: Must-Do Scenic Hikes" is now available in a multitude of retail outlets throughout Northern California and Northern Nevada. Events are scheduled now through the end of September where people may get a signed copy, be entertained with...
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Shootings too common; time for more than ‘thoughts and prayers’
Garlic and guns – certainly not a natural complement. It was a deadly ending for three guests at the 41st annual Gilroy Garlic Festival on July 28. While Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee at a press conference Sunday said attendees of the three-day event had to pass...
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Feeling safer on dog walks north of the border
Fresh mountain air. AJ seems to be thriving in it. It’s been a month since we have been back in California. This was AJ’s first time to the States in about 10 months. I had a vet appointment lined up before we left Mexico. I wanted blood work done to see how things...
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Cabo glass factory produces functional art
Artistry is found in so much of the merchandise available for purchase in Mexico. I want to drink from it. I was hoping to find wine glasses at The Glass Factory in Cabo San Lucas so I could bring them with me to California this summer. Part of the logic was if/when I...
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Palms dazzle, creating lush entrance to sandy oasis
“A spectacular beach at the end of a dirt road.” This could be the description of so many beaches in Baja California Sur. For Playa Las Palmas (Palm Beach) spectacular is an understatement. Palm trees – too many to count – line both sides of the dirt trail from the...
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Determined to speak Spanish in complete sentences
At some point I would like to delete Google Translate from my phone and to have it not be a permanent open window on my computer. It is a crutch I need to ditch. While my Spanish has improved in the last year, it’s still pathetic. It’s completely my fault. I’ve been...
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Gas station workers count on tips for washing windows
Tipping at a gas station in Mexico is one of those things that now seems normal. Tips are for services beyond filling up the gas tank. This includes washing windows, checking fluids and putting air in the tires. Like most tips, it's not mandatory, but expected. I tip...
read more Books and Brews in South Lake Tahoe
Hike and then hydrate, or something like that. I will be at Lake Tahoe Mountain Brews on July 19 starting at 4pm selling and signing my just released book “The Dirt Around Lake Tahoe: Must-Do Scenic Hikes”. Everyone who buys a book that night will receive $1 off one...
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Book Review: ‘Hummingbird’s Daughter’ a captivating story
Teresita was a woman who beheld healing powers that led to many calling her a saint. They flocked to her; seeking health, peace and a better life. Hers was a complicated existence. “The Hummingbird’s Daughter” (Little, Brown and Company, 2005) by Luis Alberto Urrea is...
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How Private Capital is Speeding up Forest Restoration in the Sierra Nevada that Benefits Water - Water Education Foundation https://t.co/xBLpOsCeM9