What are we thinking? I’m in Japan. A lone crane swoops low over a large, exquisitely landscaped pond. There are two other bystanders; they smile contentedly as the crane reinforces a common bond, evoking fragments of mysticism, national treasure, longevity, good fortune, origami, the number 1,000, childhood memories, and current dreams. I’m seeing a crane… Continue reading Decoding a Crane
Author: Tom Wilson
Travel Gear: Portable Router
In Japan I like to go off the beaten path where guide books are not helpful. Daily research using the Internet becomes essential for me to navigate that often-opaque country. I use a portable wireless router because most Japanese hotel rooms have (free) wired Internet, but no wireless Internet. I’ve set up my router with… Continue reading Travel Gear: Portable Router
Superior Trail 2013
Photographs do not explain why I hike. Gorgeous vistas and little mossy vignettes float in and out of my consciousness, but they do not define the experience. I love the freedom I feel as I head out on the trail knowing our entire earthly possessions for the next few days are on our backs. My… Continue reading Superior Trail 2013
Gathering Gear
12EEEE and 12A. Today, I’m getting my brain in gear for a multi-day hike along part of the Superior Hiking Trail. To help me plan, I have some useful resources from previous trips. September 2011 Superior Trail hike: itinerary and GPS tracks (GPX format). The trail we followed is in dark red in the above map; the Canadian border… Continue reading Gathering Gear
Kale Chronicles
We grew kale this summer, so it has been our default vegetable for the past month. Kale is extraordinarily easy to prepare. Here’s a 20-second video (my first cooking show) showing how to quickly remove the stem and break up the leaf, all without the use of tools. This is one of my favorite kale… Continue reading Kale Chronicles
Reflections on Gold
Downtown Minneapolis from MSP, hazy August day Minnesota winters can be cold, bitterly cold. I don’t mind January in Minnesota: the relief Christmas is in the rearview mirror is enough to keep me going; besides, it’s a great month for quiet reflection and to play with my LEGO (Technics). Come February, though, my thoughts turn… Continue reading Reflections on Gold
Duckies in Space
A couple weeks ago we visited the Johnson Space Center near Houston. As well as procuring Space Shuttle Duckies for the nephews, we toured the sprawling, and still operational NASA facility. It was thrilling to visit Mission Control, still as it was during the Apollo missions back in the 1960’s and early 70’s. I sat… Continue reading Duckies in Space
Gnarly Minneapolis
No Trespassing! Normally when I head out on my bike, it’s to a world of lakes, rivers, and wooded areas. Yesterday, I decided to explore a more gritty side of Minneapolis. Under Target Field baseball stadium Refreshment stop at Corner Coffee, Warehouse District Crossing the Mississippi–mind the gaps Some missing boards had been recently replaced:… Continue reading Gnarly Minneapolis
Lake of the Isles to Minnehaha Falls by Bicycle
This wobbly 4-minute video shows my Chain of Lakes ride, this week, from Lake of the Isles to the fast-flowing Minnehaha Falls. Interactive Map On the way, I stopped at Lake Harriet’s Bread and Pickle for one of the best breakfast sandwiches in the Cities. The Twin Cities has an amazing network of dedicated bicycle… Continue reading Lake of the Isles to Minnehaha Falls by Bicycle
Travel Fails: Managing Expectations
A co-worker had just returned from a visit to the UK. “How was it?” I asked. “They don’t put ice in the water” was the reply. I’d learned enough about her trip, and about her. Rule when traveling: Avoid making constant comparisons with “back home.” If you don’t follow this rule, you end up bringing… Continue reading Travel Fails: Managing Expectations