Baja Mexico, Central Arizona, Southern Arizona, and still a trip cut short. Months ago Jesse and I started planning an exciting car-free bikepacking trip to Baja. We had train tickets from Santa Barbara to San Diego where we would then start pedaling the Baja Divide route for about 300 miles before taking a bus back…
My Life Feels Like a Country Song
You know: my dog died, my wife left me, and my truck won’t start. Or something like that. None of those things have actually happened to me, but the last week has been particularly trying and emotional. The past week also perhaps marked the most socialization and close contact we have had with other humans…
Leaning In To The Long Dark Nights
Over the long Thanksgiving weekend Jesse and I wanted to explore somewhere new, but also not drive too far. About a 40 minute drive from here is Happy Canyon Road which leads deep into the Los Padres. I’ve been to the end of the road several times for hiking. The road ends in a Wilderness…
Finding Flow in the Unknown
Resilience. Trust. Bravery. Flexibility. These are just a few of the characteristics required to leave behind secure employment for adventure and the unknown. You can infuse adventure into your life while keeping a full time job by planning big trips for your few weeks of annual vacation. You can also focus on micro-adventures that happen…
Filling In (My) Gaps On the Map
Following the bikepacking trip that Jesse and I did in northern NM, my realization that between fires, the plundering of public lands, and the likely increase in pandemics to come in the future, the time to see places on “my list” is now. This reality is driven home yet again, as a new fire just…
The Trails Will Always Be There, Right…?
I used to always think, well if I don’t get to a certain location/trail/bikepacking route one year, I can always do it the next year. However, with rapidly accelerating climate disasters and pandemics that stymie travel that assumption is becoming increasingly untrue. In that light it feels more imperative all of the time to get…
A Climate Refugee – Of the Most Privileged Sort
I’ll start with the beautiful. By early August the garden that Kai and I were cultivating was popping! We were eating green beans, corn, lettuce, cucumbers, beats, radishes, potatoes, zucchini — boy were we eating zucchini, also eggplant and tomatoes were just starting to come on, as well! It was also proving to be one…
Smoke and Mosquitoes
We are constantly bombarded with decisions to make. Some of great consequence, many not, though we probably still give them too much worry. Lots of amazing soul satisfying riding has been happening here, and sometimes you make the decision to go home early instead. On Sunday, Kerri, Sue, and I headed out to ride a…
Climate Change, What Climate Change?
I’m going with a photo essay this time! It’s ~115 degrees for the second day in a row. Fortunately we have a window AC unit to keep the temperatures in the house under control, but basically we are hiding out until things improve.
It May Not Be Huckleberry Season Yet, but Huckleberry Lookout Did Not Disappoint
I can’t believe I’m already almost a month into my Oakridge Adventure! I’m getting settled in the shop and really enjoy the atmosphere and my 3-4 days a week schedule. One of the big decisions I made when moving here was to stay car-free. I sold Sassy Sally in October 2019 when I left for…