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September 2016: I’ll land in Wakkanai, Japan’s northernmost airport capable of handling commercial jets. If the plane were to fly 30 miles further, I’d be in the Russian Federation. I’ll then take a boat to Rishiri Island. July 1848: Ranald MacDonald, 24 years old, half native American, half Scottish, landed on Rishiri Island. He represented himself… Continue reading Japan’s First ESL (English as a Second Language) Teacher

In 1968 Tiny Tim released his first album, God Bless Tiny Tim, and his falsetto Tiptoe Through the Tulips became a worldwide phenomenon. In 1996 he had a heart attack on stage at the Minneapolis Women’s Club, and was pronounced dead at the nearby Hennepin County Medical Center. It seemed strangely appropriate to start my hike to Tiny… Continue reading Trek to Tiny Tim’s Tomb

Around the turn of the nineteenth century, movers and shakers built some standout homes on Lowry Hill, Minneapolis. Last week I decided to get to know part of the neighborhood a little better. I’d had surgery the previous week, and the chosen day promised to be the hottest in four years. This would be my shortest urban hike,… Continue reading My Shortest Urban Hike Ever

My mind goes to a different place when I build models with Lego Technic and Mindstorms. This week, as I recover from surgery, a dose of Technic seemed like a good idea. I decided to work on my Lego Technic design aesthetic. Yoshihito Isogawa produces wonderful Technic books that demonstrate a pleasing balance of form… Continue reading Lego Technic Therapy

This week I’ll walk into a hospital feeling fit, with no symptoms. Dr. “Zap” will sit at a console at the side of an operating room. Across the room, a da Vinci robot will carry out his instructions via five small incisions. Good riddance to my prostate, a ticking time bomb. (I’ll miss it, though.)… Continue reading Steps to Fitness After Prostate Cancer Surgery

  We stood behind a crowd at Edinburgh Castle waiting for the one-o’clock cannon to fire. Many eyes were fixed on cell phones to catch the moment to share on Facebook. Bodies in Edinburgh, minds in other places. Meanwhile, my nephews were determined to climb up rocks where climbing was not allowed. Last month’s trip… Continue reading Small Experiences on a Big Journey

At the start of today’s hike in Northumberland, England, we came upon a hiker who had slipped and made a faceplant on the street. He was elderly, and his vision was sub-par. He was bleeding from cuts beside one eye and on his wrist. My brother-in-law had a surprising variety of wound dressings in his… Continue reading A Tale of Two Falls

Today we start an adventure with our nephews (7 and 8) and their parents.