Although this certainly qualifies as "too much information" here are some cool images and information on things I have been lucky enough to be able to do.
A set of trails ringing the Bay Area. Bay Area Ridge Trail (June 2002)
| |
Fog moving in on the trail. | On the trail | |
Visiting my friend Kaleb Michaud's home. Kansas (May 2003)
 |
Pretty flat. Where's Dorothy & Toto? |
A 182 mile "trail" on the England-Wales border that follows the earthen defenses built by the Mercian King Offa around 770 AD. Although only visible in places (and even then it resembles more a earthen mound than anything), it was pretty cool. Hiking Offa's Dyke (June 2003)
 |
On the way to Monmouth from Chepstow. Overlooking the village of Redbrook decked out in full hiking regalia. | Sheep in a field. |  |
 |
Chepstow Castle and the River Wye. | Offa's Dyke (what's left) and the "trail." |  |
 |
I thought this might be a nice spot for the Golden Hall of Edoras. Looking down off the Black Mountains in Brecon Beacons. | Standing on the edge of Hatterrall above Hay-on-Wye before making the descent down and off the mountain. |  |
 |
Another shot of the Hatterrall bluffs overlooking Hay-on-Wye (3 mi. distant). | A shot of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. Aborted the trip in Knighton and decided on a whim to go to Edinburgh for the second week instead. A bit lame, but Edinburgh is a most excellent city. |  |
 |
The remnants of Holyrood Abbey. | ||
 |
Sarah at the start. Just off the bus in Chepstow. |
Checking out the foliage with the Meirowitzs (and Saber) and the Tucker clan. Princeton Towpath (Fall 2003)
 |
The Raritan Canal outside of Rocky Hill. | Different day, same trail: Adam and Saber |  |
The nearest (?) hill with a view to Princeton. Delaware Water Gap
 |
View looking North into New York state. |
Why couldn't Princeton be located here? Maui (January 2004)
 |
Outside the village of Kahakuloa looking at Kahakuloa Head. | The Highway to Hana. |  |
 |
The Highway to Hana looking back (with an incoming storm). | A cool (and massive) Banyan tree at on the Pipiwai Trail in the Haleakala National Park. |  |
 |
The Waimoku Falls at the end of the Pipiwai Trail. I am much too close and should have been hit with a falling rock. | The O'heo Gulch. Closed this day because of flash flood warnings. |  |
 |
A Bamboo forest on on the Pipiwai Trail. | A cool sight on the way "upcountry" to Makawao from Pai'a. |  |
 |
The sunset view from our balcony at the Grand Wailea overlooking the ocean. |
Went with longtime co-conspirator Adam Meirowitz (and his better half) for a long weekend. Cayman Islands (July 2004)
 |
The reef near the Turtle Farm and Dive Tech. Fabulous snorkelling (and diving) here. Dive Buouys can be seen in the water. | Cemetery Beach. The water was unbelievable warm -- almost like bath water -- and amazingly clear. |  |
Went to see Manchester United play at the Meadowlands against AS Roma and at Lincoln Financial Field against Glasgow Celtic with my coffee-buddy David Lewis. Champions League (July 2004)
 |
Players running onto the pitch. Can see Keane, Scholes, Smith, Howard, Ferdinand, and Giggs. | Kickoff. |  |
Hanging out with the Lewis Family and Shigeo Hirano in the Big Apple. New York, New York (July 2004)
 |
Looking South at the Flat Iron building from atop the Empire State Building. | Sarah and I on a blustery day. |  |
Went back to Stanford to for a long weekend (and to Sonoma and Pt. Reyes). Bay Area (September 2004)
 |
The Blackthorne Inn. A most excellent hotel; especially when staying in the Eagle's Nest. Much better than its namesake in Shogun. | The seashore to the North of Pt. Reyes lighthouse. Very windy day. |  |
 |
Pt. Reyes lighthouse. The steps were closed because of the 70 mph (!) gusts the day we visited. |
Went to the Peninsula Papagayo and stayed at the Four Seasons there. Although beautiful, I felt like I did not quite belong -- most were older (and, not surprisingly, much wealthier). However, it was quite the experience. Costa Rica (October 2004)
 |
Looking back on the peninsula (and the resort) from the "top" of the nature trail. | A Howler Monkey hanging out at the resort on the beach! Most excellent. |  |
 |
A cool tree in the Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja. | The Rincón Volcano looms on the horizon. |  |  |
A neat remnant of the tide going out. |
Went seeking warmth and relaxation to New Mexico. As a resident of Taos told us: "New Mexico is the land of manana, where manana doesn't necessarily mean tomorrow, just not today." Sante Fe & Taos (Christmas 2004)
 |
Bouldering on the grounds around the Rancho de San Juan. | ||
 |
The (miraculous) Staircase of Loretto. | Anasazi ruins in Bandelier National Park. |  |
 |
Cave dwellings of the Anasazi. | Blue sky in the desert. |  |
 |
Sandstone cliffs. |