I am on the train, having just left Seattle, Vancouver, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and my friends behind.
All that, of course, is for the blog. Sufficient to say that it was grand, and over all too quick.
* * *
I won’t deny that I was very depressed last night, a feeling that has crossed over into today. Part of it, without doubt, is the end of a vacation, a feeling we have all experienced. Given that it was my first trip in years, doubly-so.
Posted in The Journal
I must admit, first and foremost, that very little has been accomplished, short of starting a list of “dream” destinations. Then again, doesn’t every venture start with a dream?
Mostly this is due to my planning (and, as with any trip, stressing over) my upcoming Vancouver trip. With the exception of being a fifth wheel amongst my friends, I’m looking forward to the trip immensely.
Still, I can’t seem to quite shake that “solo” aspect of the trip. It plagues my thoughts as well in regards to the “round the world trip.” (Note to self: come up with a catchier title.) [(Another note to self: seriously, dude, it’s been over a year, you really need to come up with a catchy title already.)]
Posted in The Journal
Posted in The Journal
[So, here’s the plan: I’m pretty much just going to write word-for word whatever I wrote at the time. These bolded, bracketed comments are my thoughts from now, July 2011, looking back at whatever I wrote then.
Also: as always, I will appreciate comments, but I’m not sure I’ll be responding like I traditionally do. I dunno, commenting on comments on a journal post from the past that I’m also commenting on… at that point it all just gets a little meta, don’t you think? Then again, I do love the conversation, so…]
Posted in The Journal
No long-winded, poetic writing this time. Let’s keep it simple.
Life is about to change. Specifically, mine.
And with it, the very nature of this blog must change as well.
Posted in Random Thoughts, Work
Things have been a bit quiet around here, I will admit. Not for lack of anything going on, though, as I’ve been entirely TOO busy of late.
None of it, unfortunately, out on the trail.
But I plan to get back into the swing of things very soon. In the meantime, I just thought I’d do a quick post and wish y’all a happy 4th of July! And a happy belated Canada Day to my Canadian friends to the north. Now go out and celebrate!
Safely, of course. 🙂
Posted in Random Thoughts, Stuff I Like
This write-up is going to be a first for me: a trail that, as hiked, I can’t actually recommend.
This loop above and through Placerita Canyon takes in some pretty fantastic scenery, most of which can be seen if this trail were done as a simple out-and-back (which I’ll describe at the end). As I hiked it last spring, though, the first part involved a brutal uphill section which I doubt I will ever hike again.
Posted in Hiking
Last time, here at The GeekHiker Institute of Profound Philosophy Realized (The GIPPR), we discussed the various approaches people took to making difficult decisions. Wonderfully, opinions ranged across the board, which was completely fascinating (and very, very cool). If nothing else, it reflects the diversity and intelligence of the regular readers of this little blog.
No, don’t worry. I’m not brownnosing you for money.
Well, not yet, anyway. 😉
Posted in Random Thoughts
I’m not quite sure what drew me back out to Placerita Canyon State Park in April. Moreover, I’m not sure what prevented me from going out there in such a long time.
I’d first visited Placerita Canyon when I first moved to L.A., hiking the Canyon Trail on a brisk fall afternoon. As I recall, the canyon was dry (not surprising in Southern California) and the trail was overgrown, requiring bushwacking most of the way. Maybe it was that experience that led me not to put it on my regular hiking list, which is a shame. Finally returning there last spring, I re-discovered what a great park Placerita Canyon actually is.
I’ll be posting these two hikes in reverse order of how I did them, just for reference.
Posted in Hiking
I hate San Luis Obispo.
No, really, I do.
Mainly because I don’t live there. And because it’s not an easy place to get in to: the job market isn’t great, the housing is expensive, the dating market (mostly made up of young 20-somethings from nearby CalPoly) isn’t exactly conducive to someone in their… can I still get away with mid-thirties?
So, yeah, call it jealousy, envy, or whatever word you like out of your thesaurus. Bah. Humbug.
Posted in California, Camping, Hiking, Photography, Stuff I Like, Travel
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