Category Nature
Trek, Day 3: Sunrise in the desert
The Berbers called out from their tent shortly after 5am: dawn was breaking over the desert. We crawled out of our stuffy tent, bleary-eyed and relieved, to see the early rays kissing the dunes around us. The sight was lovely to behold. Dust and clouds on the horizon weakened the glare of the sun enough […]
Trek, Day 2: Sleeping under the stars (or not)
We had the choice of sleeping in the tents (which were stiflingly hot and smelled like sheep) or under the stars. Since the windstorm by this time had died down, leaving an open sky and a light cooling breeze, we opted for the latter. As you can imagine, the spread of stars that you can […]
Marrakesh, Day 3: Other Hat
Wearing a hat with an eye toward fashion (as opposed to simply blocking the sun or staying warm) is kind of like wearing a bow tie. You feel some trepidation at first — because you don’t want to be the poser who can’t pull it off — but once you do pull it off, you realize that they’re just plain cool. I mean, […]
Madrid, Day 2: Hat!
I bought a hat today. It’s blue and trendy and completely unpackable — but I need something to keep the sun off my head in Morocco, and I think I’ll be able to pull this one off. We found the hat shop yesterday on our way from the Plaza Mayor to the chocolateria. The hats caught my […]
The Ride: You mean the hike?
What to do the morning after your neighborhood is socked by a derecho? Go on a long bike ride, of course. Because what better way to express solidarity with your 1.5 million neighbors who are struggling without power than to venture forth into the heat and humidity with a bike and a couple of bottles of fast-warming Gatorade […]
Derecho!
Last night the DC region was hit by a whopper of a thunderstorm. Amanda and I had turned in early (around 10pm) thinking we’d get some rest after a tiring week and be ready for an early start in the morning. Half an our later we were roused from our descent into slumber by what sounded […]
Day at the beach: Assateague Island
Nothing says “summer” quite like a day at the beach. As we move out of the lovely spring coolness and living in Washington starts to feel like camping inside a dog’s mouth, the beach beckons with its breezes, gentle waves, and hours of sun. That said, the beaches here are all at least three hours away […]
The Ride: Not all roses
You know that bit from the Teddy Bears’ Picnic song, where it says “It’s lovely out in the woods today, but safer to stay at home”? Well, I kind of wish I’d gotten a similar warning before this morning’s ride. Not that I was in any great danger (although I did end up bleeding), it’s […]
Memorial Day Weekend – Shenandoah National Park
What do you do on a long weekend in Washington, DC, when you’ve already gone jetskiing and hosted a picnic in your apartment? Well, one good option is to go hiking in the Shenandoah National Park. It’s about two hours west of here through rolling rural Virginia. The Skyline Trail traces the crest of the Appalachian Mountains, with […]
Memorial Day Weekend – Sunday Picnic
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, and nothing says “summer” better than a picnic with friends. Since actual picnics outside are complicated by potentially unpredictable contributions from Nature (bugs, dirt, humidity), I invited a group of friends from church to join me for a picnic in my apartment (where Nature is neatly cultivated […]
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 