11-31 May 2018 – Zion, Overland Expo West, fast friendships and finally, the Grand Canyon: poetry in stone

Zion National Park, Utah “Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step, and from the beginning think what may be the end.” Edward Whymper nailed it in Scrambles […]

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6-10 May 2018 – Woody’s Wheels – Part 2, Ship Rock, the Valley of the Gods and a bit of Bryce

Woody’s Wheel Works, Colorado Roughly 1,000-killer-miles straight from Death Valley to Denver, we worked our cockadoodle guts to get there. But then our friend Woody is like L’Oreal, he’s worth it. A guy that can only be described with any real accuracy as Jack Nicolson meets Father Christmas. But first, it was a challenging test […]

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14 February – 18 March 2018 – I wish you were here or I was there but alas, we are where we are

“I really don’t want to go,” and pouted as I tried to internalize an unnecessary degree of petulance. Dispensing our warm goodbyes to biking friends in Borrego Springs, we saddled up and I reluctantly turned the key in the ignition. After multiple postponed departures, that is. A heavy sigh betrayed a sadness in parting from […]

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7-14 Aug 2016 – Still drunk on Juneau: Alaska’s wilderness capital

Where the city ends, Juneau Icefield begins—and keeps going and going. Undoubtedly, its centerpiece is Mendenhall Glacier. Like just about everything else in Southeast Alaska, it sits inside Tongass National Forest. Incredibly, a temperate rainforest no less, which in parts endures more than 16 feet of annual rainfall. No surprise that a fine drizzle falling on […]

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24 Jun-31 Jul 2016 – Exploring Alaska’s Inside Passage…

Regrouping with the Fishhook Fatties in Wasilla from coming down the Dalton, we jumped at joining them in celebrating Jade Laughlin’s birthday. Over a succulent hog roast (formerly known as Leona, hand reared by one of the younger Fishhook Fatties), and locally brewed beer: a refreshing Rhubarb Hefeweizen and Salted Caramel Red blend, which had […]

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19-23 Jun 2016 – Where there’s pinnacle pleasure, there’s Prudhoe Bay!

After perhaps the liveliest non-rallies I’ve experienced—Dust to Dawson—the road to Thompson’s Eagle’s Claw Campground in Tok beat backward under us. I rose the following morning muddy-eyed having burnt the candle down to a nub. Stepping out of Tok and leaving behind the fairytale of trees whose brindled bark reminded me of muscular animals overgrown […]

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