March 1, 2022

North to Canada, Part 1

A wise friend once told me that when you receive a nice invitation, you should try hard to accept. So last winter, when the ultimate planning Ripper cast out an invite for a Canadian Powder Adventure for 2022, My fellow Ripper and I happily agreed to be part of the posse. At the time we accepted, we hoped beyond hope that the whole world would be vaccinated, and Covid would be in retreat. Fast forward to 2022, the coronavirus stayed put and we started to wonder why we were leaving the country. Crossing the border takes preparation. Canada is serious about testing. It requires a negative PCR test within 72…

January 29, 2022

Waste Not, Want Not

In these pandemic days, it is easy to become a hermit. This is not exactly why I have been absent from these pages since last spring, but it is why I decided to focus on family and my responsibility to be present for 16 young children in the classroom. All the while trying to avoid the Coronavirus, which so far, I have managed to do. I certainly did not stop thinking about the challenge of finding adventures near and far. As my fellow ripper faithfully reports, we are casting our net as far as we dare in new directions while also appreciating what is outside our front door. But now…

June 5, 2021

A Rail Trail Around the Corner

I am a devoted train spotter and counter on our many travels throughout the country, so it should come as no surprise that on my “to do list” is the desire to explore rail trails. The Ripper and I came across a good one last summer. The Katy Trail crosses the state of Missouri and is known as one of the crown jewels of the system. We noticed a sign for it while we were on our way back to Park City from the East Coast last summer, on Route 70, so we peeled off the highway and enjoyed reading the historic panels at the restored station but had no…

May 14, 2021

How Does Your Story Begin?

We all know it, this past year was the start of something big. Just like with 9/11, we all remember where we were last March when it all began, and I bet that most of us haven’t moved far from that spot, at least physically. Our stories, however, will travel as storytelling always does, from one generation to another, and from friend to friend. I know where my story begins but, I find myself wondering, what comes next? One thing is for sure, I had plenty of time to think about what matters most to me, as I looked longingly out windows, at screens, and went on for walks with…