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In April 2026, Dwight, two friends from the UK, and I backpacked Scotland’s Rob Roy Way. We had divided the trek into eight one-day sections, but one leg proved about five miles longer than we thought prudent. To manage the distance, we lopped off those extra miles by taking a country bus from Strathyre, where we had stayed overnight, to Lochearnhead on Loch Earn. There, we planned to pick up the trail again…

Since 2013 I’ve been posting something positive (usually) about each day. In recent years, each December, I’ve selected one Micropost from each month of the past year to include in an omnibus Post. The main theme of this Blog, “Journeys,” is what primarily inspires my choices for Microposts. I’m grateful my health journey continues to… Continue reading 12 Months of Microposts: 2025

I’ve often posted about the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, a 700-mile circular route around Shikoku, one of Japan’s main islands. Over the years, I’ve hiked to 31 of its 88 temples, some multiple times. This year, I visited temples 71 through 75 for the first time.

Rain this morniing, time to ride the rails and find a place Instagram influencers have yet to over-love: Tsutsuishi Station, on a rural line, approximately 60 riders a day (mainly school kids), in a 7-mile tunnel, 130 feet underground, no elevator. Click through for a photo journal.

Since 2013 I’ve been posting something positive (usually) about each day. In recent years, each December, I’ve selected one Micropost from each month of the past year to include in an omnibus Post. Here’s my 2024 roundup: All Microblog Posts | All Blog Posts | All Journeys

Back in the summer of 2017 we found ourselves with a tight two-month deadline to declutter our home. We’d listed our house for sale and anticipated a quick sale, leaving us little time to downsize into a rental apartment with half the square footage. We knew we’d be living in that apartment for about 15… Continue reading Summer of Declutter

On my Shikoku 88 temple visits, I have a tradition of photographing the temizuya (purification stations). Here’s the crop from my most recent trip to Japan.

These days, navigating a massive Japanese train station with its multi-level tracks feels less like studying a map and more like following a personal guide. Google Maps provides step-by-step instructions, delivered straight to my wristwatch. A gentle vibration tells me when to turn, making the journey to the exit for my hotel less stressful. This… Continue reading Applying a Large Language Model to Travel