Why all this outdoor stuff?
I've always been a big adventure and travel nut. As a kid I spent many hours camping with my family in the Florida Keys and the Florida Everglades, and we lived about an hour from both of them. We also did long camping trips from Florida up to Canada almost every summer.
I worked three jobs one summer so I could take my first major roadtrip to Prince Edward Island with Brad when we were both still teenagers. That summer taught me that life is short, and when an opportunity comes along, you gotta go for it.
After finishing my undergraduate degree and being overwhelmed with career options, I needed to think about where I really wanted to be in 20 or 40 years, so I headed out on my first solo three-month roadtrip across America. That adventure opened my eyes to what one lifetime on this awesome planet might hold for those who forego the accumulation of materialistic things and instead seek out happiness, love, beauty, and a really good campsite.
That led to the 1990 roadtrip, the 1992 rock-climbing tour with Ricky, another long trip in 1994, then a winter backpacking trip through Central America, including Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Wow! That was an eye-opener to how good we have it here, even though so many of us still seem unable to find true joy and happiness.
At the Panama Canal, a bunch of folks were headed south, but I needed to go home and work for a while... until the following year, when I took another four months to check out South America, including the Galapagos Islands, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Lake Titicaca. Life has been real good so far!
Mountains, trails, boats, bikes, and other excellent excuses
I would guess that free time at the ocean, in the mountains, and outdoors in general has been one of the major influences on my health and my journey through life. Like many of my friends, I used to be seriously out of shape, smoke too many cigarettes, watch too much television, drink too much beer, work too many hours, etc. Heck, half of my old friends are still like that. They may need to kill their television.
In the mid-80s I got into simple hiking and backpacking in a big way. That is why I did the 1987 Roadtrip, since most of that trip was week-long backpacking jaunts and ocean walks through National Parks. Places like the Grand Canyon, Grand Tetons, Olympic Peninsula, the Southwest Four Corners area, glaciers, volcanoes, and alpine meadows could fill a lifetime.
New England is truly an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. I've summitted 64 of the 65 highest peaks in New England. Mount Washington is awesome, Tuckerman Ravine is incredible even for spectators, Mount Monadnock is one of the best climbs for the effort anywhere, and Baxter State Park and Acadia National Park are two of my favorite Maine destinations.
Living in a small cabin in the forest on a pond, my decision every afternoon was always whether to canoe, kayak, bike, or hike for sunset and twilight. New England had it all, so get outside and enjoy!
Outdoor links
Wetlands, wildlife, weather, and the free show
Being an outdoor and environmental junkie, I've always been into wetlands. Nothing beats watching salamanders heading for the vernal pools during spring migration. Locally the beavers create all kinds of new wet areas and fascinating ecosystems, which I love to explore.
It seems like I almost always lived on a lake, which is a wee bit like living on the ocean, but for a fraction of the cost. I have studied aquatic insects, found shell middens from freshwater mussels, followed river and watershed groups, and kept an eye on endangered and invasive species.
I have always loved studying the weather, the spectacular skies during the day, the sunsets and twilights, and the moon, stars, and planets at night. I often know the moon phase and try to catch full moons by canoe or from a nearby peak, because a great sunset followed by a full moonrise is one of the best free shows going.
Nature & science links
Trips, roadtrips, ferries, hostels, and hot springs
Seeing the world is awesome, and learning, travel, and meeting new people have made life a lot more interesting. Nowadays I am more into pleasant day hikes than hard-core backpacks, and I still think hostels are some of the best places to meet cool travelers who are open to new adventures — especially if you like a real bed, hot shower, and kitchen without selling your truck.
Cape Cod is a vacationland, and camping or hostels are the way to go. The bike trails near Provincetown are awesome. Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are just a relaxing ferry ride away. Out west, hot springs were always a favorite hiking destination. I sure wish there were some in New England to soak in after a winter outdoor weekend!
So get out there and have some fun. Explore the world while you are still able. Kill your television, or at least put it in timeout, and go do stuff every chance you have.
Travel links
Important legal-ish disclaimer
Remember folks, these pages are just for fun. This site began as a simple page of links from my bookmarks/favorites folder and slowly expanded to include other topics that interest me. Websites come and go, change locations, die, etc., so you will likely find redirected or dead hyperlinks here.
The content and any views expressed on these pages are those of the author. This website does not reflect the thoughts or opinions of anyone except the author; all rights reserved; you may freely link to this site but you may not make a profit from it; no substitutions allowed; website is provided “as is”; reader assumes full responsibility; some illustrations may be slightly enlarged to show detail; terms are subject to change without notice; void where prohibited, taxed, or otherwise restricted; read only with proper ventilation; your actual mileage may vary; batteries not included; action figures sold separately; slippery when wet; sealed for your protection; do not read if safety seal is broken; keep away from sparks, open flames, pets, small children, and anyone who thinks outdoor fun is overrated.
