If I wanted to simplify things greatly, I’d say the difference between Mrs. Hughes and Miss Case had to do with appreciation. Mrs. Hughes was my 6th-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Niles, Ohio. When I walked into her classroom on the first day of school in September 1969,…
Nineteen years ago this month, my better half and I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a two-week Alaskan land and sea tour—and it cost us next to nothing! I should also mention that Chris and I were co-hosts on this cruise-tour with another couple. Our presence was expected….
For plenty of hikers, the unusual rock was a destination. Honestly, it wasn’t even on our radar screen. On our recent trip to Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin, we spent a full day hiking. The plan was head out from our campsite along the Ice Age Trail, which follows…
For the most part, traveling east from Hoover Dam at the Arizona/Nevada border to Phoenix along US 93 doesn’t really rank as particularly “pretty.” To be sure, some scenic views catch your attention. There’s an overlook or two worth stopping to take in the vista. But brown gets a bit…
At long last, Spring has sprung, not only on the calendar, but in our western Illinois weather as well. What better way to celebrate the vernal equinox than get outside on a bright sunny day with temps in the mid-50s? Since Saturday afternoon was free and the rest of the…
The Strawbridge family stumbled into my life on YouTube a couple weeks ago. I was watching a video on someone’s hike—can’t even remember who or where they were hiking. If you ever watch YouTube stuff, you know that at the end of each video, suggestions appear for your next viewing….
Last week, I took a glance ahead at the calendar. December 2 stood out prominently. My father was born on that date in 1934. He would be 86 years old, had he survived to see the day arrive. It’s been sixteen months since we buried him in a plot in…
My first bike appeared under (or near, I should say) the Christmas tree in 1965. A Western Flyer Sonic Flyer, it was a nice, shiny red traditional kind of bike—you know, typical design with a typical saddle kids in the mid-60s loved. I was thrilled with it and proud to…
I should have listened. I knew better, but thought I knew better. In June of 2017, I ventured out on my first multi-day backpacking trip. Not too many lengthy trails for such purposes are found within a 3-4 hour drive from home, but a good beginner trail is only a…
I made the same mistake—twice—and didn’t even know I was doing it. In June 2017, I went on my first solo multi-day backpacking trip to the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit in Wisconsin. I had planned on a five-night trip, covering about 55 miles or so on the Ice…
