Blog

I always pace around departure areas, so today was no exception at the Busan ferry terminal. A couple years ago, had I not been pacing around the Haridwar (India) station platform at 3:00 a.m. waiting for a train that never came, I might not have been spotted in the crowd by four backpackers. I would’ve… Continue reading Are you Trevor?

Tomorrow I go to Japan. I need a plan for a plan. The only fixed part of my “Japan Framework” is: March 22: Hydrofoil from Busan, South Korea to Fukuoka (Southern Japan). April 11: Check in to Sapporo New Chitose Airport hotel (Northern Japan)–I’m catching an early flight next morning. April 12: Fly Sapporo to… Continue reading Japan Framework 2013

The airport is awfully quiet, apart from the sound of a vacuum cleaner. Most of the flights to the mainland have departed. Dwight has just gone through agricultural screening, before boarding his flight to Phoenix. He’ll continue on to an unusually cold Minneapolis. Suddenly I’m all alone. We’ve had a wonderful time here on Kauai,… Continue reading Suddenly it’s Very Quiet in Lihue Airport

Until recently, when we went back-country camping, we’d bring a lightweight camp stove. That meant safe water from streams, hot meals, and an unlimited supply of the best Kona coffee… ever. (We also brought a Melitta coffee filter cone.) These days, when we back-country camp, we carry a very effective ultraviolet water sterilizer, which lets… Continue reading Travel Gear: Water Purification

March 14, 2013, Marriott, Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii Big Island January 2007, Marriott, Lihue, Mom and Dad to be We knew you were on your way, Caden. And in July 2007, we got to meet you for the first time. And the next year, 2008, we got to meet Davin. Wonderful memories. Hawaii, Big Island, 2012

2013: We’ve just hiked the Kalalau Trail for the fourth time. 1995: Here we are on the Kalalau back in our salad days:

March 11 and 12, 2013, our fourth time on the trail. Our first time was in 1988.

MSP–LAX:  I knew he was poison when he reached across my face and tugged on a guy`s sweat shirt (Sweat Shirt was boarding, walking down the aisle) which declared  ‘Fighting Sioux.’ Never mind the good citizens of ND voted that motif down. “Where’s the stupid, angry white person (SAWP)?” tee shirt, I was thinking. SAWP… Continue reading MSP–HNL 2013