When I was growing up in my country of origin, I always heard that Finnish was the most difficult language to learn. As I later learned, that… Read more “The Language I Speak”
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Grief, Memory, and a Random Road from Yosemite | Monday Musings
Grief is a strange thing. So is memory. There’s a place you pass on your way from Yosemite to the Bay. It’s not a particularly noticeable place.… Read more “Grief, Memory, and a Random Road from Yosemite | Monday Musings”
Can You Bike through the Australian Outback? Totally—and it’ll be a Gorgeous Ride!
Cycling through 3,000 kilometers of red-colored desert might sound intimidating. Then again, almost all things worth doing sound at least a bit intimidating, so it might be just the perfect indicator of “you should totally do it.” And if you aren’t in a place where you can just take off on such an adventure right this moment, you should take off at least virtually. (After all, we all have some experience with that thanks to the world shutting down for two years.)
We Biked 3,000km into the Australian Outback (Amazing Experience!) is just the perfect journey journal to watch. With minimal but incredibly insightful commentary and stunning shots of the Australian Outback, follow the bikes’ track from the Great Barrier Reef to Uluru. Alee is a great visual storyteller and will have you traveling through the landscape in no time!
Hawaii, the Land of Life; Lei, Shrimp, Pineapples, and Love
Should you hold a gun to my head and tell me to describe the Hawaiian Islands in one word, that word would be “vivid.” And yes, I’d… Read more “Hawaii, the Land of Life; Lei, Shrimp, Pineapples, and Love”
This Christmas, I Thought of Them. (The Three Kings Came, Bearing Their Gifts.) | This is not a happy post.
This Christmas, I thought of them. I thought of Hancho, the sure-footed Morgan who carried me across the beautiful Point Reyes Natural Seashore trails. I thought of… Read more “This Christmas, I Thought of Them. (The Three Kings Came, Bearing Their Gifts.) | This is not a happy post.”
Say Hi to Majda, My New Adventure Buddy. She’s a Charmer.
Winter is knocking on the door in this corner of the world. Most days, there’s fog and mud and wind that gets under your skin and seemingly… Read more “Say Hi to Majda, My New Adventure Buddy. She’s a Charmer.”
Mauna Loa is Awake—and She’s not the Only One
There are a few volcanoes around the world that people tend to know by name—and Mauna Loa is one of them. Fuji or Vesuvius might also come… Read more “Mauna Loa is Awake—and She’s not the Only One”
“Being Vulnerable Makes You Appreciate the Kindness of Strangers:” Josh Reid & His 15,000km Journey Back Home
This week, I, once again, haven’t managed to write a beautiful, long post for you. There are things I could write about: my last days in Point… Read more ““Being Vulnerable Makes You Appreciate the Kindness of Strangers:” Josh Reid & His 15,000km Journey Back Home”
Into the Well: A Gnarly Way to Get to Know the Raw Beauty of New River Gorge National Park
“Into The Well: 100 Miles. 32 Hours. 200 Racers. is an outdoor adventure documentary feature film telling the story of personal endurance. An excruciating test of how far one is willing to push themself to accomplish their goals. Follow three West Virginians as they prepare for the first 100-mile ultramarathon in the New River Gorge National Park where they’ll take on a challenge far greater than they could ever have imagined.” (The Folkway)
To be honest, I went into this documentary slightly worried. Not only is it the length of a full-feature film; the first few seconds of anxiety-inducing music didn’t alleviate the tension. On the other hand, it did capture perfectly how it feels at the start of such an endeavor. It’s not like people die from DNF-ing (DNF = did not finish) challenges like this (not usually, anyway) but they still make the heart race, at least a little bit.
To worry I did need not. Yes, the documentary is the length of a full-feature film but it’s also of similar quality—in fact, it’s better than some of the films I’ve seen in my lifetime. It pulled me in quickly and didn’t let go; just like a race you have to keep coming back to until you finish it.
Rim to River 100 is an ultramarathon in the New River Gorge National Park. It takes its runners on an out-and-back journey up and down and down and up from the rim of the Gorge to down along the banks of the New River and promises winding single track and a few, shall we say, gorgeously gnarly sections.
“Along with the natural beauty of waterfalls, whitewater, & dramatic views, you’ll also find ghost towns, centuries-old cemeteries, & abandoned mine shafts throughout the course,” reads the official description on the Rim to River 100 website.
Intrigued yet? Or worried, just like I was? Well, I won’t write much more and, instead, let the documentary do its thing. Let the raw beauty of this challenging trail pull you in just like it did with me. Warning: this process apparently includes “shoes filled with blood,” as HollyAnn informs you within the first few moments of your own emotional journey.
Nothing is Eternal | An Excerpt from my WIP Manuscript about the Geology of the Pacific Crest Trail
I never thought I’d be here, working on a non-fiction book about geology. I didn’t have the grades to study science, and until one fateful rainy day… Read more “Nothing is Eternal | An Excerpt from my WIP Manuscript about the Geology of the Pacific Crest Trail”
Hit the Road with Me 