“… blogging about life, travel, books, food and the outdoors”

Appreciating a motor while peddaling
My old baby has a new home and I have a new baby. After a quarter of a century, I said goodbye to the first mountain bike I owned. She served me well. She was a Trek hardtail that I bought when I lived in Las Vegas in the mid-1990s. I rode her everywhere,...

Book Review: ‘Being Mortal’ proves medicine needs compassion
No one can avoid death. So, why then, is it so hard to talk about it? A large part has to do with how the medical community approaches the end of a person’s life. “We’ve been wrong about what our job is in medicine. We think our job is to ensure health and survival....

Nonprofit outgrows facility as community’s medical needs grow
Since its inception in 2016 the Padrino Children’s Foundation has outgrown its space three times. That is why the nonprofit is on a quest to raise $750,000 for a two-story, 5,000-square-foot building in Todos Santos. As the town’s population grows, so does its needs....

Changing terrain throughout Upper Bidwell Park
The problem with going down first is that the end of the hike will be uphill. Even knowing this ahead of time didn’t stop me from being a bit whiny as I trudged up the hill. Good thing no one was around me—I was that slow on this particular day. Some days are like...

Ex-Canadian paramedic secures ambulance for Todos Santos
As a retired deputy chief and paramedic, Paul Charbonneau was beside himself when he saw a picture of a Todos Santos ambulance broken down along the side of the road. Thus began his quest to bring an ambulance from his home country of Canada to Baja California Sur....

Book signing, free beer tasting in Todos Santos
Life is about pairings. What could be better than books and beer? I will be signing copies of my latest book Sleeping with Strangers: An Airbnb Host’s Life in Lake Tahoe and Mexico on Dec. 9 from 4-6pm at El Tecolote Bookstore in Todos Santos. Each sells for $20 or...

Todos Santos residents rally to stop dunes development
Updated Dec. 19, 2022 Rules are for other people seems to be the mantra when it comes to building on the dunes in the greater Todos Santos area. Another lot has a 5-foot green wire fence around the perimeter, with construction possibly starting this month. In a show...

Book Review: ‘Engineer’s Wife’ not on solid footing
Historical fiction can fluster me because I’m often wondering what is true and what isn’t—especially when I know little or nothing about the topic. Sometimes I have to tell myself to go along for the ride, so to speak. Such was the case with The Engineer’s Wife...

Bounty of Butte County ag tantalizes taste buds
With agriculture being a multi-million dollar industry in Butte County, it’s no surprise those involved in it want to celebrate what they bring to the table. That is exactly what the Sierra Oro Farm Trail is all about. For $40 (the cost this year) people were able to...

Happily Keeping Up-To-Date With COVID Vaccinations
I’m continuing to follow science when it comes to protecting myself from getting COVID-19. I got the latest booster last month. Arm was a little sore the next day so tennis was a no-go, but I could still sit at my desk and work. So, not much of a negative reaction;...

Unable to meet the requirements for a Real ID at the DMV
Logic and government seldom go together. And when the agency is the DMV, well, things always seem to go haywire. My driver’s license expired on my birthday this fall so I thought now would be a good time to get a Real ID. I tried and I failed. I still have a regular...