Destinations
Fox on a Rock, on San Juan Island
It was a quiet morning down at South Beach, on San Juan Island. As usual, we had the whole place to ourselves. The group was strolling down the deserted, driftwood-strewn beach, while I was back by the van. I saw a red fox run through the grass, then he jumped onto a rock... Read article...
Tombstone, Arizona and Clanton Days
So there I was... with a notorious gunfighter! Well, actually with his namesake relative. The old Ike Clanton died back in 1887, before my time. The new Ike Clanton is alive and kicking, and hosting Clanton Days, an annual event in Tombstone, Arizona... Read article...
Edge of Taos Desert, a Woman's Adventure in Taos
Taos always brings me back to one of my favorite books - Edge of Taos Desert. In the early 1900s Mabel Dodge Sterne was a high-society New York city socialite. She decided to visit Santa Fe, New Mexico, a place hardly anyone in New York had heard of. Little did she know how this would affect her... Read article...
Shadow of a Shaman in Santa Fe
As the firelight flickered, the slow rhythmic chanting grew louder. The shaman lifted his arms to the heavens. He raised his voice, beseeching those in the spirit world to send the rain they so desperately needed. Soon, they heard a low rumbling of thunder, distant at first... Read article...
Kings Canyon - Fighting the forest fire
As we drove through King's Canyon, I knew there was a forest fire burning nearby. I just didn't expect one of the firefighting helicopters to descend right next to us! It came down to refill its bucket from the river. So there I was, filming it with an iPod out the top of the convertible... Read article...
Ireland - A vanished life in the Blasket Islands
The Blasket Islands are a set of small islands, 3 miles off the southwest coast of Ireland. The Blaskets are abandoned now, and visitors to Great Blasket Island today find only the crumbling ruins of stone houses, on a windswept island with glorious views...
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Orca whale watching in the San Juan Islands
One of the highlights of our trips to the San Juan Islands each year is an orca whale-watching trip. The San Juan Islands are a group of hundreds of islands, islets, and rocks located near Seattle, WA. Most of these are very small - in fact, so small that many disappear at high tide! ... Read article...
Sedona in the movies: Broken Arrow
I finally watched the 1950 Jimmy Stewart movie, Broken Arrow. I say "finally", because I've been meaning to for years. Sedona, Arizona was a big place for making movies, especially back in the days of the westerns. The thing is, for decades they were making movies here, but never calling it Sedona! ... Read article...
British Virgin Islands - How to get to the BVI
The British Virgin Islands are a paradise for sailing, snorkeling, diving, swimming, sunning, beachcombing, relaxing, and tropical drinks. Getting to the BVI isn't too hard, but there are options to consider. Here are some tips on how to get to the BVI...
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Back to the Balmy Breezes,Virgin Islands
It's one of the greatest feelings in the world. You step through the door of the plane, out onto the metal stairs. Sultry tropical air greets you, heavenly after the chilly plane. Palm trees sway against a bright blue sky, and in an instant, "normal life" is gone. You are now on a tropical island... Read article...
