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Asia

ASIA

Great Wall (Gubeikou to Jinshanling)

Gubeikou (Beijing), China

Distance: 8 miles (12.9 km)
Elevation Gain: 2,003 feet (611 m)
Time: 4 – 6 hrs

Great Wall (Jiankou to Mutianyu)

Huairou (Beijing), China

Distance: 4 miles (6.4 km)
Elevation Gain: 1,291 feet (394 m)
Time: 4 – 5 hrs

Kampot Viewpoint

Kep National Park

Kep, Cambodia

Distance: 6.4 miles (10.3 km)
Elevation Gain: N/A
Time: N/A

Lang Biang summit (7,110 feet)

Lang Biang Peak

Da Lat, Vietnam

Distance: 6.4 miles (10.3 km)
Elevation Gain: 2,158 feet (658 m)
Time: 3 – 4 hrs

Thanks to an unprecedented winter here in Californ

Thanks to an unprecedented winter here in California that left much of the state recovering from some form of record-shattering snowfall, flooding, landslides or road closures, we didn’t begin to explore the state as broadly as we’d hoped. What’s more, a slew of recreational restrictions for dogs precluded us from the intensity of trail life we were looking for. Because of these limitations, I found myself in a never-ending battle of research. As much as I enjoy the challenge of an exhaustive enquiry into everything a region has to offer, the sheer futility and boundlessness of this one finally had me waving the white flag for the first time ever.

Despite the setbacks, we managed to forge our own little path here. It may not have been the one we expected nor the one we would have initially chosen, but it’s the one we had. And ultimately, it was a pretty good one.

We found our happiest place exploring the tidepools and beaches along the Pacific Coast. I never imagined we’d discover such an abundance of amazing marine life and, I have to say, the Sonoma Coast is truly an awesome place. Stephan and I got to admire the most beautiful starfish and anemone we’ve ever seen, while Sanchez found her joy rolling on the remnants of decaying sea creatures.

Back in the valley, we indulged in good food and good wine, and were spoiled with a staggering spring super bloom. With less time on the trail, Sanchez was able to hone some new skills, including tree climbing, artisanal cheese tasting, and discerning her favorite Michelin-starred pastries. She became an aficionado of the art of charcuterie, and enjoyed sunbathing in her very own backyard. Most importantly, though, we all got to share our own little slice of wine country with family and friends.

Thanks for the memories, Cali. Catch you on the flippity flip! ✌️

Advanced yoga: Hanumanasana while dangling from a

Advanced yoga: Hanumanasana while dangling from a ladder with several vertical feet between you and the bathtub. You know, for when you find yourself breaking into your house on the last day of your Airbnb rental. 🤦‍♀️
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Next pose of the year, @caryyogacollective?

Just when we thought the incredible spring super b

Just when we thought the incredible spring super bloom had come to an end, we found this little treasure down in Pacifica. It may have been a little overcast, but nothing could snuff out the brilliant glow of thousands of California goldfields and coastal tidy tips.

McWay Falls is a striking cascade that tumbles 80

McWay Falls is a striking cascade that tumbles 80 feet to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Depending on the tide level, the falls either spill onto the pristine sands of McWay Beach or directly into the turquoise waters of the Pacific. While beach access is not permitted and is, in fact, a citable offense, the tranquil waterfall can be viewed via a short overlook trail.
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A road trip down the coast had been on our radar since we arrived in Sonoma back in February. However, three months of pounding winter storms and ensuing landslides decimated huge sections of the Pacific Coast Highway in and around Big Sur. While a significant chunk of the road recently reopened, a roughly twenty-mile section of Highway 1 remains closed between Big Creek Cove and Ragged Point. Even though crews continue to work seven days a week, it will likely be several months before the entire route is fully open for travel.

Last weekend in Cali = Last minute road trip to Bi

Last weekend in Cali = Last minute road trip to Big Sur. 😎

Simplicity is the key to brilliance. – Bruce Lee

Simplicity is the key to brilliance. – Bruce Lee
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In a sea of thousands of flamboyant orange poppies, this unassuming, cream-colored bloom caught my eye. It may have been the least showy of the bunch, but I think it was my favorite blossom of wildflower season.

Yesterday, my last solo wandering for the week too

Yesterday, my last solo wandering for the week took me to Marin County’s sprawling swath of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. While Stephan and I have made a few trips out to the scenic reserve, a visit to one humble little lighthouse remained outstanding.

During California’s Gold Rush years, several hundred ships ran aground as they tried to enter the treacherous waters of San Francisco Bay. Because of this, the Point Bonita Lighthouse was built to help guide surging ship traffic through the Golden Gate Strait.
When initially constructed in 1855, the lighthouse sat 300 feet higher on the headland. Because the city’s notorious fog regularly obstructed the light, however, the original lighthouse was relocated to a more favorable vantage point two decades later.

Today, the Point Bonita Lighthouse is still active and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. Additionally, it’s the only lighthouse in the country that is accessed via suspension bridge. I have to say, I thought this was quite the charming little gem perched out on the Marin Headlands.

On Sunday I had to drop Stephan off at SFO so he c

On Sunday I had to drop Stephan off at SFO so he could fly back to NC for an in-person working session. Since I was driving all the way down there and it was a stunner of a morning, I figured I’d do a little solo exploring and check out a new corner of the city.

With very little open at 8 a.m. on a Sunday, I decided to head to Baker Beach. The mile-long stretch of sand lies on the western side of San Francisco’s Presidio. Now a sprawling urban park and cultural site, the Presidio previously served as a fortified military post from 1776 to 1994. Originally a Spanish fort, the site was seized by the U.S. military at the start of the Mexican-American War. It was used as an Army headquarters during WWII and, most recently, Desert Storm. After nearly 220 years of continuous military presence, the Presidio was transferred to the National Park Service in 1994.

Sitting just south of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio now offers nearly 1,500 acres of historic landmarks, beaches, and mixed-use space including 24 miles of trails. While I didn’t have much of a plan when I arrived, I just started wandering around until I improvised a short outing.

From the south end of Baker Beach, I headed up the Coastal Trail toward the Golden Gate. Paralleling Lincoln Blvd, the trail skirts the tops of the bluffs overlooking the Pacific for about 1.5 miles until it reaches the Golden Gate. After snapping a few obligatory photos, I returned to Baker Beach via the Batteries to Bluffs Trail. This route winds up and down the hillside via a series of wooden staircases, and offers some gorgeous views looking out toward the Marin Headlands. The wildflowers were still hanging on after their incredible weeks-long bloom, and it turned out to be an unexpectedly scenic little loop.

Sometimes I forget how fun it is to just wander without any regimented plan, final destination, or ultimate goal.

Saturdays are for salumi. With just two weeks lef

Saturdays are for salumi.

With just two weeks left in California, I asked Stephan and Sanchez to peruse my master list o’ fun to see how they wanted to spend their penultimate Saturday in wine country. Having sampled a couple of their chubs from Napa’s Oxbow Market, Stephan decided he wanted to drive up to Healdsburg for a salumi tasting at Journeyman Meat Company. Sanchez thought it was the most brilliant suggestion she’d ever heard.

The tasting platter that Journeyman puts together is pretty impressive, and allows you to choose six from their menu of about a dozen artisanal salumi. The meat is all locally-sourced and ethically-raised on small family farms, and the recipes have been passed down from the owner’s Italian grandparents.

While she’s stoked for the summer hiking season to soon get underway, I think someone’s really going to miss Sonoma County’s food scene.

Started in 1857, Buena Vista is one of California'

Started in 1857, Buena Vista is one of California's oldest wineries. Its history is convoluted and quirky, and helped make for one of the most unexpected and fun cellar experiences we’ve had here in wine country.

Our tasting began in the Press House, a gorgeous stone building that was constructed in 1862. From there, we headed over to the wine caves – Sonoma’s first. The time-worn tunnels were hollowed from solid rock by laborers in the 1860s using nothing but pickaxes. Alongside one of the original caves, a row of enormous redwood barrels invited a story – one of Buena Vista’s origins. One hundred fifty years ago, the unique vessels were one of ‘The Count’s’ many experiments for fermenting and aging wine. But just who was this ‘Count?’

The winery’s founder, the self-proclaimed ‘Count of Buena Vista,’ was a Hungarian immigrant who came from a wealthy family of vineyard owners. The Count had a colorful background. After moving to California and serving as a sheriff and then state legislator, he next became a metallurgist, both evaluating and smelting gold during the gold rush. With winemaking still a long-sought dream of his, he subsequently purchased 800 acres of land on Buena Vista Ranch in the 1850s where he planted his first grapes.

The winery saw tremendous success in its early years. However, in 1868, the restless and inquisitive Count absconded to Nicaragua to learn about sugar farming and rum production. The following year, the maverick jack-of-all-trades met his fate when he was eaten by a crocodile while attempting to cross a stream.

After losing its founder, the winery struggled. Like many other vineyards across the region, Buena Vista’s vines were stricken with an outbreak of grape phylloxera, a tiny aphid-like pest. Production eventually stalled due to financial hardship. With Prohibition soon following at the start of the 20th century, the winery sat dormant for more than half a century before it was revived in the 1940s.

Today, the winery is an eclectic mix of old and new. The charisma of the place is palpable when you visit, and the wine isn’t too shabby either (the private reserve cab is 🔥).

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