About two weeks after Rick and I decided to go on a whitewater river rafting adventure, I started to notice a few new wrinkles on my forehead. Not deep and permanent ones, but tiny stress-induced worry lines that had surely materialized because of a singular, gnawing fear: hitting my head on a rock while beingContinue reading “Thankful for Being Scarred for Life…In the Best Possible Way”
Category Archives: Adventure
Food, Friends, and Frankenfish on the Snake River
Living on the river for a few days sure can be rough…so I’ve heard. Fortunately for me, Rick, and our fellow river rafters, we were living the river life pampered-style. When we would take a break on the shore for lunch or when we would make camp for the night, the crew of Winding Waters,Continue reading “Food, Friends, and Frankenfish on the Snake River”
Slithering Down The Snake River
We got an early start to drive a couple of hours from Joseph, OR to the Hell’s Canyon Dam. That’s where we would “put in” and begin our rafting adventures on the Snake River. There were ten guests on this trip and at least that many staff and crew from Winding Waters, Plate & Pitchfork,Continue reading “Slithering Down The Snake River”
I Wanna Be A Cowgirl
Before coming anywhere near a raging river, we got to see some raging bulls. Well…docile, happy, and well-fed bulls and their lady cow friends. The Plate & Pitchfork part of the experience incorporated a visit to two different cattle ranches. Since steak would be on several of our gourmet menus during the trip, we gotContinue reading “I Wanna Be A Cowgirl”
Whitewater And Food? Yes, Please!
I don’t know what’s been in the water that Rick and I have been drinking lately, but we cannot get enough of outdoorsy activities. Maybe it’s a phase, but we’ve sure been bit by the adventure travel bug. Two of Rick’s guidebook-users, Paul and Penny, invited us to join their Winding Waters River Expeditions forContinue reading “Whitewater And Food? Yes, Please!”
Losing My Outdoorsy Virginity
As you might guess, I’m a big fan of the conveniences of modern life like electricity, running water, heat, and fly swatters, and I think whoever invented window screens is a genius. While I really enjoy running, I’d rather run on a treadmill than run outdoors so I don’t get sunburnt or rained on. AndContinue reading “Losing My Outdoorsy Virginity”
Sex and Catholic Guilt in a Tide Pool
A half hour ride away from our ship, our skiff beached itself on the coastline of a tiny island. Today we were going tide pooling, and one by one, we abandoned our vessel to begin our hunt for coastal aquatic life. The tide was out, and usually hidden treasures glistened under the early morning sun.Continue reading “Sex and Catholic Guilt in a Tide Pool”
Rick Steves Learns To Be Prepared…The Hard Way
If you know anything about my partner Rick, you know that he works tirelessly and passionately to teach people about traveling in Europe. He is one of the few people I know who, after working a 16-hour day (as he is prone to do when researching and updating his guidebooks or filming his TV showContinue reading “Rick Steves Learns To Be Prepared…The Hard Way”
Does A Bear $#&% in the Woods?
Does A Bear $#&% in the Woods? I can’t tell you that answer for sure, but I do know they catch salmon in a river. We had been kayaking for about ten minutes when our expedition leader, Laurie, got word on her walkie-talkie that a brown bear had been spotted at the mouth of aContinue reading “Does A Bear $#&% in the Woods?”
Ditch Your Fear and Seize the Day
I couldn’t even begin to look at the scenery around me: the glassy water, the powder blue sky, the regal mountains, and the lush vegetation along the banks of the bay. All my energies and all my attention were focused on not falling into the frigid Alaskan waters. I had no idea what I wasContinue reading “Ditch Your Fear and Seize the Day”