Coast Roadtrip: Gardens and Victoria

Two good things about touring the garden today: the grey skies prevented the sunshine washout in our photos, and there were very few people around.

Coast Roadtrip: First look at Vancouver Island

Since we were an hour’s drive away, that meant we had to get crack-a-lackin’!

Lighthouse and Sea Lions for Christmas

{Our trip begins with Day one.} I had told Arno the night before that I wanted to be on the beach Christmas morning for sunrise photos. It helps to tell someone else when there’s a good chance I’ll blow off my own plans. “Sunrise is at 7:52,” he announced as soon as I started moving. […]

Mono Lake, then north again

I was surprised at the numbers of birds there, assuming the water was somehow poisonous. But it’s not poisonous, just salty.

Dante’s View and Scotty’s Castle

Not one of them saw a return on their investment except Johnson, who got a mad storyteller and a desert guide out of the bargain.

Below Sea Level

Obviously the main attraction of Death Valley is the fact that one can stand on dry land below sea level. Moses ain’t got nuthin’ on southern California.

Northern California feels like home

I lived in Humboldt for over 7 years and Miss T has been coming back to see her dad her whole life. So the redwoods and the northern Pacific are home to us.

Other things you can do in Nagasaki

Spectacles Bridge was built by Zen master Mokusu Nyojo, and is the oldest stone bridge in Japan.

Yumihari Observatory above Sasebo

When we were done taking advantage of our hosts’ incredible balcony, they told us there was an observatory at the top of the mountain. Observatory turns out to mean, in Japan, a viewpoint.

Shinkansen from end to end

I hadn’t even time to settle into Iwakuni when it was time to hit the road again. Or, should I say, hit the rails, because I traveled by train. The Shinkansen is called the bullet train for good reason. It’s FAST! I envisioned spending my day leaned back in a comfortable seat, gazing out the […]