Category Archives: TRAVEL

From Salmon Arm to Moose Jaw

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According to Mapquest the distance between Salmon Arm, British Columbia and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan by the most direct route, the Trans-Canada Highway, is 741 miles, and takes about 14 hours to get from one place to the other. We avoided the Trans-Canada as much as possible, instead searching out back roads, sometimes dirt and gravel. So it took us nearly 1200 miles—and nine days. None-the-less, we feel like we have made good time. As Robert Pirsig said in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, the emphasis has been on good rather than time. We spent the first night camping … Continue reading →

Travelin’ Shoes

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Nearly everything we own is in storage, and what is left will be there soon. In a few days we’re going to hit the road. At this stage—looking forward—the trip is little more than bare bones. A window of time, maps, travel books, tickets purchased and bits of advice. All potential and possibilities. As Dr. Frank-N-Furter said, “Antici……pation.” The plan at this point is to load up the car and spend a few weeks traveling across Canada, perhaps as far as the Maritimes, Canada’s eastern provinces. Faye’s two brothers live along the way, one in Alberta and one in Ontario. … Continue reading →

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

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Today is my last day in Guatemala; tomorrow I fly back to the States, and expect to be home a few days later. I can tell it is time for me to leave because there are things annoying me that probably shouldn’t. The latest example is the color of the room I am staying in tonight. The bottom half of the walls is a particularly unpleasant shade of green, with some blue in it but not enough to be teal. The top half of three walls is baby blue, and the top half of the fourth is sunshine yellow. The … Continue reading →

Bird’s-eye View

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As far back as I can remember I have had flying dreams. And not just flying, but takeoffs and landings. When I was younger sometimes I felt a little apprehensive in the dreams, particularly about landing, but overall the dreams were enjoyable. The more I had them, the better I got, as if each dream was a practice session. And for many years my flying dreams have felt exhilarating, with no apprehension at all. I have no idea what they mean, if anything. A few days ago, I got the chance to go flying for real. An Aussi guy named … Continue reading →

The Old and the New

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To those unfamiliar with Guatemala it is difficult to convey what the country is like. There are the iconic weekly markets held in every village of any size that are a feast for the senses. And the psychedelic painted buses chicken buses that haul people, products and yes, poultry to and from nearly every place in the country, especially on market days. There are villages, towns and cities constructed almost entirely of concrete block, with buildings often left crudely unfinished, by our standards anyway, or painted in bright, unattractive colors. Advertising and political logos seem to be a pervasive design … Continue reading →