Highlighting special places for anyone thinking of visiting Costa Rica. We’re just north of the capital of San Jose near the Poas Volcan National Park and the nation’s central valley. This is Cathy and my second time to this Central American nation, which roughly equals Missouri in population, 5 million, but is one third smaller …
From the Strawberry Capital of Costa Rica: Notes from five weeks travel. Read More »
The Saturday morning market along the Dordogne River in western France inspires me. It’s Pentecost weekend, lots of festivals nearby. In this ancient town enthusiastic crowds around the square in front of city hall meander, buy, eat, visit, hug, and kiss their friends. Booths spread into the narrow streets. Cathy and I have little trouble …
One of these mysterious bird sings downhill at 5 a.m. The world’s going to be new once again. Warm enough to leave windows cracked, love ballads from doves, owl warnings, frogs’ splashing, nuthatches prowling and eventually my neighbor Timothy whistling an aria as he walks down the gravel road eventually spur Cath and I to …
It began with a bang. Starting up water service in our cabin, immediately the plastic filter fell to the floor. The tank flooded the basement. Luckily thinking fast, I shut off the supply line. We had turned off the water for winter. Who left the filter off? I picked up the quart-sized plastic vase that …
All winter into spring we’ve wondered if we could trek to the desert. A few weeks before going one couple dropped out of our crew fearing travel from Oregon during pandemic. Six of us did make a mid-June 1,000+ mile Ozark-Utah trip to experience this stream named for a Native American tuber. Was running the …
Rocky bluffs line the Jacks Fork River along most of her 50 miles. It’s one of the two streams creating the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, which twists thru the Ozarks toward Arkansas. We’re lucky to have use of a cabin nearby. Cathy is taking in winter warmth. I’m remembering summer warmth downstream… “Let’s make a …
A month ago I was on one of the most spectacular cycling trips in the world, the Finnish Archipelago, some 20,000 islands stretching west toward southern Sweden across the Baltic Ocean. I never expected to be so knocked out by endless pine trees, sand dunes and herring three meals a day. Maybe it was just …
This story involves my growing up on the edge of the Ozarks. This may be the beginning of my roots in oral history projects. I think of ol’ Charlie all the time… Impressions staying the longest often involve rivers and dogs, or at least summer, when Charlie’s wife took off from working in a Kansas …
Hard to believe that it’s been six years since I’ve had a chance visit with folks in Ripley County. I’ve decided to post now this because Ray Joe is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. Whenever possible I stop by Doniphan, once known as ‘Railroad Tie Capital of The World’. History lurks everywhere …
I’d been warned twice about this place. Subtle warnings, but still I knew enough to avoid this end of the road. It came up quick. No place to turn around behind us, so I turned into the first place I could. Immediately my truck got stuck. Like up to the rear axle in deep river …
For two days I’ve been collecting catalpa worms from our bright green sapling. Her foliage has been shredded apparently by machine guns. Nope, it’s these bright green worms feasting away a lovely summer day! Let this be a warning to all you catalpa worms! Please don’t eat our little tree or you will become the …
Prickly Desert Outing: Volunteering at Paatuwaqatsi, the Hopi run for water and life This must rank as one of the most unusual running events anywhere: to cover 30 miles across Arizona during severe drought and heat. As winter sweeps across lands that once made up the Dust Bowl, I think about my time in the …
