Free Your Inner Maude

Helping carry my bike box. A word of encouragement. Driving across the country to ride with me. Making me a cup of coffee. Intentional conversation. It started as soon as I was on New Zealand soil. Acts of kindness everywhere. Are Kiwis, especially those on the South Island, on average if not more friendly, at…

I couldn’t resist another trip to New Zealand. Even living in Santa Barbara with its year round wonderful weather the long nights of December still challenge my happiness and when we go camping the long cold nights in the tent get old quite quickly. I also hadn’t been on a long solo Bikepacking trip since…

I’m phone blogging, which means you will get mostly photos and very little text. Or sometimes it may mean the opposite because I often have trouble getting WordPress to upload my images. But wait a minute, you’re not in Arizona Maude! It’s true, but I’m behind. 😉 Jesse and I did a great trip together…

OK, well smoke did chase me to the coast for a few days while Jesse was visiting, but this summer (my third living in Oakridge, OR) was the first time I managed to be there from May through October. Starting with my first summer working at the Oakridge Bike Shop my intention was to stay…

I finished up the school year, saw some great music, rode some great trails and now I’m back in Oakridge, Oregon for the 3rd summer in a row. Last summer was so short and culminated in yet another wildfire threatening the town. We are all hopeful that this summer will finally be fire and smoke…

If I were a poet I would tell you about the air so hot and dry my skin cracks and my nose bleeds If I were a poet I would tell you about the wind red sky in morning, they say… hold tight to the tent, my dear If I were a poet I would…

Last weekend I snuck away for a much needed solo bikepacking trip in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. It was going to rain yet *again* in Santa Barbara and all of our forest roads and trails were still closed from damage following the heavy rain in January. This route developed by Kurt Refsnider is just…

Shocked, I remained on the ground. I had just tripped in camp and fallen backwards onto an eight-inch rock, landing squarely on my sacrum. The pain was excruciating. Was this it? The very first night of our trip and I was going to have to call for an evacuation? Is there any chance I would…

There is a reason I often head to the southern hemisphere in December and January — these long dark nights are for the birds! I know, I know… y’all are like “you live in Santa Barbara, give me a break”. It’s true most of the days here are absolutely perfect and gorgeous for outdoor adventuring….

Alternate title: Will democracy stand? The eve of election day is so incredibly fraught the last six years. Of course, I hoped that with the election of Biden (not my first choice, but still…) and control of the house and senate we would move in a more sensible direction. You know, one where a measurable…