“… blogging about life, travel, books, food and the outdoors”
Evening hike to take in the sunset and moon rise
As the nearly full moon was rising before us for most of the first part of the hike, the sun was setting behind us. It was one of those perfect Chico nights to hike; not too hot, not any wind to speak of. We started from the Horseshoe Lake parking lot in Upper Bidwell...
read more Evening hike to take in the sunset and moon rise
As the nearly full moon was rising before us for most of the first part of the hike, the sun was setting behind us. It was one of those perfect Chico nights to hike; not too hot, not any wind to speak of. We started from the Horseshoe Lake parking lot in Upper Bidwell...
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Celebrating statewide writing award
Awards always feed the ego. They also make the long hours of hard, sometimes tedious, work worthwhile. When the award comes from your peers it’s even more special. Such is the case with having just been awarded first place for Enterprise News Story in the California...
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Bridges tell a story at Lake Oroville
Two bridges, the same name, and a whole lot of history. Both Bidwell Bar Bridges involve Lake Oroville. When the first Bidwell Bar Bridge was installed across the Feather River in 1856 it was California’s first suspension bridge. The 372-foot-long steel span...
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Book Review: Inspirational Story About First All-Black Crew Team
I’m a sucker for a good story about athletes overcoming adversity. A Most Beautiful Thing: A True Story of America’s First All-Black High School Rowing Team (Flatiron Books, 2020) did not disappoint. It was first published in 2015 under the title Suga Water by Wise...
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Marchers protest threat of abortion becoming a crime
https://youtu.be/-HjdOFqR9-E Hundreds of people took to the streets of Chico on May 14 to show their support for women’s reproductive rights. Women and men of all ages walked with homemade signs stating their position. Some signs were wrapped around coat hangers, a...
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Castle Crags — a breathtaking ascent into North State wilderness
One does not have to hike or climb Castle Crags to be impressed by this rock formation that towers above Interstate 5 north of Redding at more than 6,500 feet. But for those who don’t just drive by, you will be even more awed by the views. While sometimes...
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Drinking beer to help the people of Ukraine
Alcohol is often the drug of choice to numb oneself to the realities of life and war. But what if buying a beer or two could do something more, something good for others? Breweries throughout the world are being asked to brew RESIST—a Ukrainian anti-imperial stout. So...
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Mother’s Day may no longer be something to celebrate
It’s Mother’s Day. The way things are going in this country fewer women will want to celebrate this day. What if you never wanted your child? What if that child’s father is your rapist? What if your child’s father is your own father? Or your uncle or your brother?...
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Masks continue to be a regular part of my life
Each day that goes by I become part of a larger minority. I’m one of the few who still wears a mask indoors. I’ve never understood why people had such a problem with masks. I don't even understand how people can say they don't do anything positive. If this were true,...
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Book Review: Ephron successfully captures women as they age
Nora Ephron has yet to disappoint me. Her ability to turn the mundane into entertaining reading is artful. If only there could be more of her sassy, irreverence. Her collection of thoughts in I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman (Heartburn...
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