Hiked Ernie Maxwell Trail today and ran into some PCT hikers taking a break at the creek. A young PCT hiker from Santa Cruz informed me that the PCT is still closed from Cedar Springs Trail to Tahquitz Valley. The hikers now have to leave the PCT and walk or hitch a ride into Idyllwild so they can reconnect with the trail from Humber Park. Many of the hikers stop in Idyllwild anyway to pick up supplies and enjoy a yummy meal. Watch out for snakes!
I have visited many cities in Europe and the USA, of which most large tourist cities have a City Sightseeing bus. The bus in the picture is in Rome. The fee is worth it if you don’t know the city. Jump on and see the city and listen to the commentary, which is either via headphones that are provided or via speakers on the bus with live commentary from a guide.
I suggest riding the bus all around the city to all the stops to get your bearings and then decide where you want to get off. Plus you will know where all the stops are for future boarding. You might want to get off at one stop and walk to the next. Pay attention to the timetables so you don’t get stuck on the other side of the city. Some of the buses run into the evening hours.
I was recently visited San Francisco and rode the City Sightseeing bus with a 24 hour pass. Some of the passes are for 48 hours, but that’s up to you. I was very impressed with the history and city info given by the guide on the bus. They are well versed in the trivia of their city.
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A few years ago I visited the town of Ashland, Oregon, while attending a bicycle mechanic school. I ate dinner at Standing Stone Brewery one night and saw a strange appetizer (FROG BALLS) on the menu. I was intrigued because I love Brussels sprouts. Basically the Brussels sprouts are deep fried the same way French fries are cooked. This is one of my favorite alternatives to French fries.
I like to find small sprouts so they cook all the way through. I cut large sprouts in half, which also produces nice crispy leaves that fall off the halved sprouts. I cook them in Canola oil with my small deep frier. The key is to cook them till they are brown and not only salt them but heavy pepper them, when you remove them from the oil . No need for any garnish. Enjoy!
In September of 2013, I visited the Trinity Alps with the Gasporra Expedition, who is made up of some long time friends that are like family to me. A different location is picked every year.
The Trinity Alps are located just west of Redding, Ca. The five mile hike to base camp did involve a gain in elevation, but well worth it. We found a great camp site near a running creek with fresh water. There is no shortage of water with plenty places to take a cold dip. We didn’t see a lot of hikers, maybe no more than 25 in 4 days.
The nights were bug free and a perfect temperature. I was using a sleeping bag rated for 40 degrees, and I was quite comfortable.
Camp fires were allowed in some of the areas, but it’s always best to check first and permits are required. We had a great fire each night and every morning to take off the chill. A lot of funny and memorable stories were shared, along with some new memories created each night.
We saw a lot of brook trout, nothing big. There was definitely a bear presence noticed on the trail. If you have never seen bear scat, you won’t forget it after you do. A bear did visit our camp while one of us was in camp, but it didn’t have a problem running off with some loud yelling.
We were able to take a different day hike each day to beautiful untouched lakes. The alpine like terrain made you think you were much higher than the approx. 6000-7000′ we visited. I would visit this location again.
Train travel in the U.K and Europe is very precise with their time tables and stops. Make sure you are up and ready with your bags when the train is coming into the station, otherwise you won’t have time to exit before the train leaves. I’ve seen people miss their stop because they were still seated when the train came into their station.
The same goes for getting on the train when it comes into the station, be ready to board. The main train stations are massive so allow enough time to get there, and find the right platform.
Pay attention to the type of car you are entering and sitting in by checking the placard on the outside or inside. You could be entering a First Class car with a Second Class ticket. Or you could be sitting in a car that allows smoking (getting rare) or a car that requires you to be quiet with your cell phone. Some of the Class placards are hard to see or even find, so ask if you’re not sure. It Great Britain you can usually upgrade to First Class with a Second Class ticket once you have boarded providing there are unreserved seats available. It’s usually a small fee and you get some perks like comfortable seating, free beverages, newspapers, and sandwiches. This is not always the case in Europe. They might charge for beverages and snacks in First Class.
It’s always a good idea to make a reservation. Second Class seats fill up quick. You will see a paper stub attached to the seat if it’s reserved, and will display what station the reservation starts and ends at. If you are traveling alone you might be alright without a reservation, but more than one seat together can be difficult to find in peak season or during certain times of the day or week.
For the most part the trains are in good shape. I did experience a train in Belgium last summer that broke down and the air conditioning wasn’t working. Breakdowns are rare but can happen, so be prepared.
The staff was friendly for the most part at the locations I visited. During a busy day most of us could be a little short with questions, which I did experience at a very busy station in Belgium that appeared to be understaffed. I always make it a point to learn “thank you” in the language spoken while traveling in a foreign country. I think it goes a long way.
Most of all enjoy the ride, and enjoy the conversation with total strangers. You can share your stories and listen to theirs. I’ve shared a bottle of whisky with two retired nurses from Canada while traveling to Scotland, and received a nice comment from a man in Belgium for saying “thank you” in his native tongue. He thought I was a local because of my perfect pronunciation and started talking to me in Flemish. We had a laugh when I told him I didn’t understand what he was talking about. Good thing he also spoke English.
All the cruise companies are putting on their summer sales. They are offering free gratuities, beverage packages, and other perks. Don’t forget to check on future cruises when you’re on a cruise. Many of the cruise companies offer great incentives to sign up while on board.
Riding up to Simpson Park today on a nice cool day via the quarry road. I took the detour on the new single track prior to heading up the quarry road. Both were very nice, not so much loose sand, but still rutted out on the quarry road after the gate.
Paradise Café is great place to fill your tummy and quench your thirst after a ride or hike in Garner Valley. Try the Aston Martin burger if you like spicy English mustard.
This place is on the “must visit” list with PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) hikers, so don’t be shocked if you see a bunch of back packs and slightly grubby folks enjoying root beer floats and burgers during the months of April and May each year. They’re good people and interesting to talk to since they’re from all over the world.
I love to search out new places to eat. I think a great burger and a beer is the perfect ending to a wonderful hike or bike ride. So lets pass the word on some great eateries. The picture was taken at Nessy Burger near Fallbrook.