Tag: MapYes

Stockyards

The Fort Worth Stockyards are a mostly historical site that was part of the old cattle drives, though there is still some active business there, it’s primarily a tourist spot now. Still worth a stop if you’re in the area, and the girls enjoyed seeing the cowboys and the livestock.

RAGNAR

Running the Las Vegas Ragnar relay seemed like a good idea when I signed up, but a terrible one as it grew close. Life had gotten in the way of training sufficiently, and I had a deep sense of dread as the date approached. But I knew that the team of twelve wouldn’t quit or […]

Eaton Canyon

Rappelling, Jumping, swimming and hikingMy college friend Jayson Owens was in town for a work trip, and we were planning on hanging out. We’ve only seen each other once in the last 20-ish years, but got along like it was yesterday.Chris Jain had a permit for Eaton canyon and was looking for folks to do […]

Stonehenge and Windsor Castle

We headed back to London for our flight home, with quick stops at Stonehenge and Windsor Castle, literally hours before our flight.

Devon

My primary goal for the trip was to take the girls to see my Grandma. In her 90’s, she was still sharp and feisty, but had certainly slowed down a lot. We rented a cottage near her apartment, and had a great time. Each day we’d stop and see her in the morning, then normally […]

Farmhouse

We had a great stay on a farm here. Wonderful breakfast, and the girls loved the animals. The farmhouse was hundreds of years old, and we did have a moment of excitement when Margot locked herself in the bathroom! We did have a funny experience. Kim had just changed Margot’s diaper and was throwing away […]

Cutlers Orchard

We stopped at my Aunt Rosemary’s place. Growing up I had always loved visiting her and my Uncle Brian here, and I had been here less than a year prior for his memorial and funeral. My uncle Robert and cousin Martin came down, and it was really nice to spend a day with them. Martin […]

Ash End Childrens Farm

Certainly not a major landmark in England, but the girls loved it. Bouncy room, feeding cows and chickens, and really just enjoying the day that broke up our drive.

Lake District

My strategy for the drive from Scotland to Devon was to break it up. I tried to find places to stay near something cool, so we would wake, spend a good chunk of the day exploring and doing fun things, then drive a few hours each afternoon while everyone napped. Except me, of course. Although […]

Edinburgh

From Paris, we flew to Scotland and picked up a rental car. We had a couple days here, where we explored castles and discovered that Margot likes Haggis. From here we would start our drive down nearly the length of England.

Paris 2016

After London, we took the train to Paris, which was kind of a neat experience, but Hazel was disappointed. When I told her that it went under the ocean, she thought we would be able to see fish. Paris was fun and interesting. We had an Airbnb literally in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. […]

London

Our first stop on this trip, we had a few days here. We hit the normal tourist spots, rode the double decker busses, ate good food and had a great time. When we were visiting with old family friends Derek and Sue, we did have a moment of excitement. Margot was feeding the ducks outside […]

Vietnam Trip Report 2015

In 2005 we took a family trip to Vietnam. We had a few weeks total, it included time just the four of us, and then meeting up with extended family. Posts below

Hong Kong

Just weeks after welcoming our little Margot, we embarked on an adventure filled with delicious food and bustling markets. From the adorable red pandas that captured our hearts to the breathtaking hike on Lamma Island, every moment was a delightful exploration. Join us as we share the highlights of our journey, the hidden gems we uncovered, and the unique experiences that made this trip truly special.

Eaton Canyon Canyoneering

A fun canyon, local to me. Exploring with my friend Chris. Note: As of 2025, this area is closed due to the impacts of the tragic Eaton Fire.

Horse Shoe Bend

This run doesn’t often have water adequate for kayaking, so when it does it’s a rare treat, and when it does in September doubly so. I think this was my second trip down. Maybe third. A good writeup from AW here: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/287/main

Middle Fork Salmon River

Experience the thrill of the Middle Fork Salmon River, a true gem among western multi-day rivers! Our unforgettable journey began with a challenging road to the put-in, followed by 5-6 days of breathtaking paddling through stunning scenery, all while enjoying great company and delicious food.

Skyline to the Sea Trail Marathon

Many years ago, I was an avid runner, but after a long break, I found myself lacing up my shoes for the Skyline to the Sea Trail Marathon. With stunning views of redwoods and mountain streams, the course promised beauty and challenge. However, a wrong turn led to a grueling detour that tested my limits. As I pushed through the pain, I rediscovered my love for running amidst the breathtaking scenery.

Rarotonga, Cook Islands 2010

A few months ago, I found some cheap fares to Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands. Kim and I decided to spend our thanksgiving there, and had a great time. Rarotonga feels to me much like Hawaii in terms of the ocean life and the geography and plant life, though it’s much smaller than most of […]

Islas Coronado Scuba Diving, Mexico

Ok, calling it Mexico makes it sound more exotic than it is, but I had a fun weekend diving. Headed to San Diego with my friend Mitzi. Kim was invited, but declined due to an aversion for cold water. Saturday we did three dives at the Islas Coronado on the dive boat, the Lois Ann. […]

70.3 mile Triathalon

I went to San Diego to participate in a triathlon.  It was 70.3 miles, consisting of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run.   It was in support of Challenged Athletes Foundation, and thanks to the generosity of my friends and family, we raised nearly $2,500 to assist in providing facilities, […]

Catalina Island Scuba Diving

I (Geoff)  did a one day dive trip out to Catalina yesterday. Warm water (for CA), decent visibility, and saw some cool stuff. 3 tanks in water from about 25 feet to about 65 feet deep. Nice bunch of people on the boat.

Skydiving

Holy crap, I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane today! To celebrate losing over 50 lbs, Kim and I decided to go skydiving. The anticipation was nerve-wracking as we boarded the small plane, climbing to 12,500 feet. I was terrified, but as I stepped out into the open air, the rush of freefall took over. The sensation was unlike anything I expected—fast, loud, yet oddly calm. After a thrilling 50 seconds, we pulled the chute and glided down for 7-8 minutes of pure exhilaration.

El Whampo – Tahquitz, CA

Kim and i went up to Tahquitz and climbed El Whampo, a six pitch 5.7. I’ve hardly climbed the last few years, and was a little nervous, but led every pitch and felt surprisingly solid throughout. I really, really enjoyed it and have been looking at the calendar to add some more climbing days.

Santa Cruz Island

A really nice, relaxed trip to Santa Cruz Island. We took the ferry to Prisoners Cove, camped there and did a day paddle with hundreds of dolphins sighted. The next day we paddled to scorpion cove, camped there, and the third day got the ferry home from there. Was an awesome trip.

Tandem Bicycle Tour of Lake Tahoe

Last weekend, Kim and I drove to Lake Tahoe, parked the car in Squaw Valley, and rode about 50 miles around the Lake to South Lake Tahoe on Saturday. The route included everything from bike paths to rolling hills to a LONG climb that led to a screaming fast downhill. Super fun. We stayed in […]

Ecuador

Some of this has been copy/pasted from emails I sent, so if tenses shift midway, please excuse. I decided to take a Trip on Tuesday Jan 5th.  On Sat, the 9th I left for Ecuador. After some flight delays, I got into Quito at about 11 pm Sat. Night. I was pretty beat, and though […]

Kayaking the Black Canyon of the Colorado River

Join Kim and me as we embark on an unforgettable kayaking adventure through the stunning Black Canyon of the Colorado River! With our new Wilderness Systems Northstar Tandem, we set off with an incredible group led by the ever-energetic Jerry. From crystal-clear waters to breathtaking hot springs, each day brought new challenges and awe-inspiring sights. Experience the thrill of paddling against the current, soaking in natural saunas, and exploring unique caves. Our journey culminated in a visit to the iconic Hoover Dam, making for a fabulous weekend filled with great paddling and even better company.

Germany and England

I (Geoff) went to Germany recently for a work trip, but managed to do a little exploring while there. Flew over a few days early, and came back via England to see my Grandma.

Good trip.

Green River – Desolation and Grey Canyon Section

The Green River, through Desolation and Grey Canyons, is a gorgeous trip, with amazing scenery, camping, and fun rapids. I kayaked it over 6 days this year, and had an amazing time. A great time following in the footsteps of Powell on a spectacular river in one of my favorite areas of the world.

Middle Fork Feather

The Middle Fork of the Feather is described in the classic CA paddling guidebook as “This is it! The Middle Fork of the Feather River is the best wilderness self-support trip in California.”  It is one of the original “Wild and Scenic ” designated rivers.  Class V and 3 days.  I’d seen photos, and read […]

Backcountry skiing – San Gabriel Mountains

When I announced my move back to southern california, more than a few of my outdoorsy friends offered a mix of sympathy and concern.  Los Angeles is famous for many things, but it takes a connoisseur to know about the amazing recreational activities beyond the beach. For my first full weekend back, my old buddy […]

Sacramento Tandem Ride

A while back, Kim and I took out the tandem for an awesome tour of Sacramento and the Delta. About 36 miles. Loving the tandem, but I need to figure out some better bars, my hands go numb. We stopped for a quick snack and some warm drinks. Total we rode was nearly 40 miles, our longest tandem ride to date.

Snowshoe trip to Fuller Lake

Last weekend, we were fishing around for an idea for something to do, and had the brainstorm to go backpacking in the snow. Two sets of rental snowshoes and some furious packing later, we were heading to the mtns.