It was time to get back in the saddle. A winter had passed, and a spring. It had been a winter of dark days in a cozy new home, a place where they would watch the storms from their couch as it crossed the mountain. Spring brought new beginnings, cherished visitors, new life, and loss. … Continue reading
Smoky summers are back here in Ashland and it’s about time we prepare to get out of town, fleeing to the clear skies in faraway hills and valleys and the coast. I always meant to write up a short post on our gear list in hopes of helping future travelers prepare for their journeys. Jeff … Continue reading
“You could be sad at how many stories go untold, but you could also be delighted at how many stories we catch and share in delight and wonder and astonishment.” The esteemed Brian Doyle (1957-2017) Cold, salty water seeps into the mesh tops of my cycling shoes, as the crunch of sand bites metal cleats. … Continue reading
Earlier this year, the Montana State Senate made national news when legislators proposed creating a $25 “touring cyclist tax,” which would require visiting cyclists to buy a permit in order to ride on 2-lane roads state-wide. Senate President Scott Sales was the most outspoken about the proposal, saying that cyclists were self centered and rude … Continue reading
Why do people live where they live? What draws them to come together, converging? And what causes them to leave? These are mysteries of humanity that may be contextual, or maybe just a result of our animal selves. We are driven by magnetism and hormones and fear and desire…to live by ample water and food … Continue reading
One of the biggest perks of working at a school (besides the joy of cafeteria food, never becoming a real adult, and always having opportunities to learn, of course) is the miracle of school breaks. Most of the time, we teachers really need the break, but unlike some of my colleagues, I am never one … Continue reading
I am continually blessed to live in Oregon, a state of oceans, mountains, deserts, and forests. A state of hearty soil that supports Douglas Firs and Hemlocks, Western Redcedars and Ponderosa Pines, Larches and Spruces. A state where Coyotes, Douglas squirrels, and Stellers Jays can be a normal sighting in one’s daily life. I spend … Continue reading
It was the perfect fall morning- bitingly cold and dry. Whispy fog lay low in the sky, pure white and sure to burn off. As we glided by the ponds and streams alongside Highway 6, a light mist hovered on the edge of liquid and gas on the surface. It danced in slow, rising whisps, … Continue reading
I can see why people live here and why it’s our nation’s capital for film and TV. This landscape is breathtaking- wide, infinite expanse of the Pacific Ocean, green rolling hills reminiscent of the Swiss Alps or the New Zealand hills in the summer. Being here renews my life goal of taking a road trip … Continue reading
in the midst 