Had fun researching some of the most bleak and obscure places on the planet. My first story for Outside Magazine.
5 Made-for-the-Movies Destinations
Can an asteroid-impact zone or the shores of a lava lake be beautiful? Absolutely.
By:...
There is no way to sugar coat this, or make it better, or describe the build up. I'll give it to you straight: two kilometres remaining in my 2nd mountain bike race, ever, and thirty...
We hugged like we'd known each other for years. We'd never met before.
As two who share the love of travel and writing, Sandra Phinney and I met online through an association and then started yakking; what we discovered is that we share so much more. I recall Skyping one time when I needed some ideas where to send a story idea; Sandra suggested some markets I'd never heard of, but what unfolded was profound. From the get-go she makes me think I can do more: be a better writer, and connect more to my writing. And, this is how it all began with us, this mutual admiration society. www.sandraphinney.com
"You looked shell shocked at the start line," says my bike buddy. Yes, waiting with one leg on the pedal, arms on bars, and poised to push off, all I could think: "what am I doing here?" And while the women around me in my 40-something age category tried to reassure me they felt the same way, I was stunned.
We're on a wide dirt road. Waiting. Waiting.
Ten second countdown. Heart is pounding outside my chest. Nine. Wow, that woman's legs look strong. Eight. Apparently, other people think you can do this. Seven. I'm 42. Six. Can I puke now? Five. Four. Three. Two. Off we go. I'm last.
The big race is tomorrow. I'm fine, really. I have talked myself out of the 'I want to vomit,' feeling. Actually, I'm just thinking of the post-ride beer. That, and a giant chocolate chunk cookie from La Gourmand coffee shop--it's more chocolate than cookie. Hey, don't judge. Everyone has their motivation. Actually, the motivation certainly goes deeper than a cookie.
Just to bring you up to speed, I did the pre-ride yesterday: it's two laps of a 6.8 kilometre loop full of twists and turns, burms and fast straight-aways. Only two big hills and it's not a technical course.
So, back to the motivation.