Hiking Adventures in the San Francisco Peninsula and Beyond
Pillar Point The year of the dog continues. Sure, in the Chinese zodiac, it is still the Year of the Rat, to be soon followed by the Year of the Ox, but my dog, a three year-old chocolate labradoodle named Roxy, could care less. She is a prolific hiker (and walker and runner), enjoying up to three … Continue reading Take a Hike!
Floyen, Bergen, Norway It is unfortunate that the act of learning and mastering a new language is generally viewed as a chore and not an opportunity. As for me, the first new language I learned was English, starting my formal (and informal) studies soon after I arrived in the United States in 1979, from the … Continue reading The Accidental Polyglot
The LBJ Master Biography (Volumes I-IV) - Caro From time to time, I am asked to suggest business and/or law books. For some reason, law books are less interesting. My favorite remains The Firm (Grisham). The Pelican Brief is not bad either. I have enjoyed some of the more specialized books, arguably not for the … Continue reading Top Business Books
As the sun sets on 2020, it is probably time to jot down a few thoughts and to think ahead to a better year for the traveler (and otherwise). For the traveler, 2020 was largely a dud. A road trip to Gold Beach, Oregon, just north of the (California/Oregon) border, in August was a pleasant … Continue reading 2020: A Travel Year in Review
It's early November, a few days after the US elections, uncertainty in the air. Indian Summer is over in Northern California, and Fall is finally in the air, cool, sometimes windy, with Winter right around the corner. While 2021 is still a few months away, it is always useful to think ahead, to set goals … Continue reading Motivation Theory (and Practice)
Fish sculpture This fish, comprised of ocean trash, caught my eye in downtown Bandon. I have always been sensitive to the health of the ocean, but this sculpture brought the reality home. An important message can be lost without the right presentation. Comments welcomed.
It is a tough time to be a travel writer. As a baker needs flour, so does a travel writer need fresh sights, smells, sounds, experiences, inspiration. Of course, writing about past adventures is an option. For example, I could tell you about a brilliant day last autumn, cool morning, warm afternoon, mild evening, starting … Continue reading Spanish Steps
Friends, I am considering a number of topics for new posts, including Indian Summer (in Northern California) and reflections on trips to Switzerland. What is your vote? Thank you.
I wrote this article in 2011, but the sentiments and considerations are still relevant today. Enjoy. I was having lunch with a friend a few weeks ago. Beautiful sunny day in downtown Palo Alto. Pad Thai at Siam Royal. We were discussing our MBA experiences. I earned mine in May 2010, exactly 10 years after … Continue reading Networking in California
2020 is one strange year, and sitting on a balcony overlooking the Rogue River estuary, in Gold Beach, Oregon, is not exactly where I expected to be spending my summer vacation, if you had asked me in January. To be clear, I am not complaining. The river is wide and placid, in contrast to the … Continue reading Gold Beach, Oregon
The Peninsula Hiking Club 