That Norway…
December 5, 2025
Through the wonders of algorithms, having lingered on a photo of Norway the other day, I am getting a borage of Norway porn in my FB reels… that is: eye-popping photos of stunning Norway, a good number of which are from places we visited on our 2015 trip to visit Leslie and Svein.
Here are two from a site called Spectacular Norway (not an exaggeration), of probably Norway’s most famous tourist spot, Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), high above the Lysefjord (just 45 minutes from Leslie and Svein’s house):
Preikestolen is that massive square section of granite jutting out from the side of the mountain. In the picture on the right you get a bit of context for that structure. The cliff is sheer and rises 2000′ above the water.
So, one hikes up there (5 miles roundtrip from the parking lot and about 1100′ of elevation gain) and is rewarded with one of the world’s most exposed platforms from which to take in one of the world’s most breathtaking views.
It’s not a solitary experience… there are LOTS of folks who do this. But very, very worth it.
Here are a couple of shots from our visit:
We climbed up above the rock to get a look down on it (see? lots of folks that day):
And here are Jim, Peter and me dangling our legs over the edge, all happy (Peter’s 17 here):
Peter’s the guy in the white t-shirt and shorts, hands in pockets, standing inland of the edge (whew):
Anyway… Norway. Land of granite and amazing hikes. I hope we’ll notch a few more kilometers this summer. Planning a Scandinavian trip as we speak to celebrate 50 years since I did a year of college in Sweden!
The Knife Cometh Back
October 30, 2025
Here’s what happened:
Jim and I were flying home from Seattle about a month ago, following our 2-week trip to the PNW (yet to be blogged, but it’s coming soon). We packed an extra suitcase to carry hiking gear and opted to carry that on. We checked our other two bags of regular stuff. Among the hiking gear was a first aid kit, including my Swiss Army knife, which, of course, I’d forgotten was in there… and which got the attention of the TSA agent. She pulled the suitcase aside, honed right in on the first aid kit, extracted the knife and did the equivalent of a finger wag.
I didn’t want to give up my knife (like everyone else who ever gets an item confiscated at TSA). She was quick to point out an option: mail it home. She nodded toward a small kiosk just twenty yards away.
Huh. I didn’t know you could do that. Not sure you can at most airports, but at SeaTac you sure can.
Well done, Seattle.
So… I did that. Knives are something very frequently confiscated, and there were instructions dedicated to how, specifically, to ship those. It was all pretty easy and fairly quick. I caught up to Jim just minutes later at our gate. And a month later, the knife arrived. Very, very cool.
Scottish Weddings
September 3, 2025
Peter and Maya are in Scotland to attend a wedding. Jim and I are a little sketchy about who got married, but we do know Maya was in the wedding party and Peter got a new suit. We also know that they are using the opportunity to spend some time traveling around Scotland .. which makes this mama very happy.
And…they plan to climb Ben Nevis tomorrow, the highest mountain in Scotland, the United Kingdom and the British Isles… at 4413′. How about that! Hopefully, they’ll send a picture from the summit and that can be the subject of tomorrow’s blog.
Back to the wedding… we got a text from them this morning with this photo. Says Maya, “the best photo from the wedding (so far).”
Love these kids. And while I don’t know the other two… they look pretty lovable, too.
LAX
July 20, 2025
Check this out:
LAX was built in 1953 (or thereabouts). This is the so-very-familiar Sepulveda tunnel. I’ve driven through that tunnel my entire life… each and every time we went to LAX. Still there, of course, though the landscape’s done and there are a lot more cars, a good percentage of which are electric and hybrids.
Matt and Michael flew into LAX this morning on a flight from Helsinki, as a matter of fact. His comment to me — in response to my text asking if they were home yet — was “LAX – ugh.” Because, wow.. LAX is huge, crowded, and pretty much a nightmare to navigate in and out of.
But wow, huh? Seventy two years ago. I’m at this point in my life where images from my youth look so vintage and impossibly old. I’m starting to feel like one of those old people who’s seen a lot of progress over their lifetime.
Nashville Layover
July 6, 2025
Jim’s and my departure (from home) this day was at 6:30am. We decided to drive (rather than Uber) and we parked in the new south economy lot (nice, as long-term airport parking lots go). Flew SWA.. a California staple.. and arrived in Nashville in time for some meal.. who knows.. probably lunch. We found a place called Ole Red which offered mediocre food, but live music.. Nashville, after all. It was cool. We sat there for probably 90 mins.
Our flight to Detroit was delayed so our arrival was a bit too late to make dinner with Peter and Maya. We did see a nice sunset from the plane. We got into Detroit at around 10pm.
Peter and Maya had been backpacking with friends over the holiday weekend way up in the UP, somewhere along Lake Superior (where mosquitoes and biting flies are all the rage) and made a point to get home in time to see us (took them 10+ hours!). But by the time we got to the Escher Cooperative, it was 11:15. About all they could muster was to hand over the Honda keys to us and say goodnight. We were beat, as well, and headed to Lisa and Claire’s.
Lisa and Claire are in Norway. We get to use their comfy, well-equipped home for the week. Lucky us! Got in and settled and, for me, to bed by 2:15 (eastern time). Ahhhhhhhh.
Day #1: Sunday AND Monday, a Travel Day + Madrid
May 26, 2025
Let’s get this party started.
Sunrise over the farm fields on our way to the airport:
The day started yesterday (it’s still going.. as of this writing, it’s Monday evening, 6:00pm on the 26th, in Madrid.) Let’s see, we got up at 5:00am Sunday in California, and as of this moment, it’s 9:00am in California on Monday… that would be 28 hours. No sleep yet. A bit weary. Going to go to bed early and hopefully wake tomorrow morning with the roosters, raring to go, on Europe time. We’ll see.
So I get to report on all day Sunday and all day Monday.. given a 9 hour time shift.
A bit of detail for the travel log:
Uber picked us up at 6 ish. We flew to Dulles (4.75 hours), then flew to Madrid (7.25 hours), with some airport time in there. Landed at 8:00am got through passport check and grabbed a taxi quickly, and we were to our hotel by 9:00am Madrid time. Bottom line: Walked out of door in Davis, and walked into the hotel in Madrid: 18 hours. Changed clothes and brushed my teeth in a lobby bathroom, checked our bags and headed out about 9:30. Wuhoo, Spain on a gorgeous May morning!
On Spanish soil:
Just a bit before 8:00 am…
The Hotel Europa is on the Plaza Puerta del Sol.. central as can be.
We looked around the Puerta del Sol, then headed southish to the famed Plaza Mayor. We were in search of a cafe or tea spot and found a LOVELY place: The Teaspots.. on Calle de Postas, a block from the Plaza Mayor. Ordered and sat down around 10:00 and sat for a solid hour.. tea, iced latte, puzzles, email, texts.. shady, cool on a warm day. Heaven.
We then returned to Plaza Mayor to get a better look (read about its history and saw the 10 gates…
Outside the gates.. some bendy buildings (or is it an illusion?):
… then to the Mercado de San Miguel (fantastic)…
… then to the Plaza de la Villa (cool!)
There were numerous groups of folks, including some school kiddos:
and finally to the Plaza de la Armeria where the Palacio Real de Madrid. Lotsa folks, great view, mid 80s.
So enjoy the vibe of a Monday morning in Madrid.. before the crowds ramp up.. places haven’t all opened yet, it’s fresh and so .. European.
I like this woman.. getting her shop ready.. scraping gunk off her gate, in her heels:
This is the bear under the Strawberry tree.. unclear on its significance, but it’s a landmark in the Puerto del Sol plaza..
Returned to the Hotel Europa at 12:30 and our room was ready. Our bags were already up there and we were escorted up. Great room with a view of the Puerto del Sol (paid extra for a room overlooking the plaza). Room is nice, balcony is nice. Air con, waters, plenty of wall outlets to charge (had a lot to figure out there). Check this out.. so sweet:
Chilled for a bit over an hour, then took off for a late lunch. I’d made a reservation at El Social, a place to the northeast of Hotel Europa.
A short walk and more nice streetscapes:
And El Social..
…a sweet, lovely service, chill, charming and we picked well on most of our dishes. Olive tapenade with crackers: fantastic, red wine fantastic, tomato tartar FANTASTIC. We ordered Moroccan spring rolls .. just fine, nothing fabulous, but well done, and a flank steak with stubby fries and a chimichuri sauce. Steak was tough. Still.. enjoyed the walk, the neighborhood, the restaurant, service and most of the food. A couple food and wine shots:
Slow stroll back.. as we are dog tired and so so full… more fabulous streetscapes, but the sky caught my eye..
Walked back to hotel, enjoying the Madrid vibe. We are exhausted.
And… we left again… out on a hunt for dessert. Seems that more and more people come out the cooler the evening gets, and, true to Spanish culture, restaurants stay open til way late.. so it’s busy out there! A couple more shots of architectural beauty…
Our first choice had closed (from the looks of it very recently), so Plan B was this place that specializes in cookies and cheesecakes.
We had both a cookie and a cheesecake.. the cookie won. It was a peanut butter cookie infused with actual peanut butter. It was truly the most different peanut butter cookie I’ve ever eaten. I liked it. Inspired to have Jim try it at home. It’s the one third from right.
A nice bookstore I dropped in/out of on the way back our hotel.
This is the front of the Hotel Europa.. the side that borders the plaza. Our window is fourth floor, third from left, open shutters. We’re home now, the shutters are still open wide and it’s pleasant as all get out.. but it might get too noisy to sleep. We shall see.
Pre-Travel Musings
May 24, 2025
I’d say I’m good at this…. and for the most part I am, and, coupled with Jim, who pulls his weight and then some, we do a great job of travel prep. At least travel the way we do it. We’ve developed something of a travel style and we’re both in synch with it… so we know what needs to be done. I’m sure that’s true of all traveling couples. You just have a way.
There is one part I’m not so good at: I have a fanatical sense of thoroughness, coupled with a lifelong procrastination habit. That’s a bit of a deadly combination. (And I must be tired because I’ve now used the word couple three times in six sentences.
That means that everything will get done — and I do mean everything — but my packing will run right up to the wee hours of travel eve and create undue stress when, honestly, I did not want to have any of that.
We have a detailed itinerary the includes where we’re going each day, the overnight accommodations (addresses phone numbers, confirmation numbers), the restaurants (in major cities) we’re eating in, the length of drives, the plane & train tickets, some sight info, travel insurance info, etc. We have all the apps we need along the way (Pura Aventura, the company that set up our hiking trip in the Pyrenees has a very very cool app that includes all kinds of trip detail, and another app that has all the trails and detailed info on each of those trails), we have all our documents, our electrical converters, our chargers, devices of all kinds.. so we’re solid there.
I can also say that our house is ready. Our people know their jobs. The ones requiring payment are paid. The calendar is clear, the mail is stopped, Jim’s clients are all notified and chill, the yard is clean and tidy, the refrigerator is clean, food is culled, trash and recyclables are gone, dishes are washed, laundry’s all done, appointments are set for return, Peter’s got our itinerary, and the return to-do list is written.
I still have to finish my packing (it’s 5pm on Saturday…. T-minus about 13 hours). That is no surprise.. as I said above. The only thing I forgot to do was lose the 20 pounds I gained following our return from Europe last September. (The weight was due to my being utter sedentary as a result of the Dolomite hiking knee injuries.. then the holidays. My weight soared from Sept to December. I was supposed to lose it all between Jan and now.. but ..don’t ask me why that didn’t happen… I’m as mystified as the next guy.)
Anyway.. this is the state of my packing: an empty suitcase surrounded by some clothes that, thus far, have made the cut. Outside this frame and on the living room couch, sit piles of hiking clothes and gear, more maybe-clothes, and a whole bathroom scene I’ll never show in photos.
So.. hopping to it. I can sleep somewhere during our 13 hours of fly time.
Iowa Bound
March 7, 2025
A airporty travel day… made more fun by the mid-transcontinental meet-up with Mutt the Butt in Phoenix…
…where we would then board the same plane bound for Des Moines. Late departures from both Long Beach (Matt) and Sac (me) seemed to doom our connecting flight to DM, but for the mechanical problems of our DM-bound plane. Instead of missing our flight, we sat for hours (and hours) in Phoenix. Hilariously, we almost missed that flight, as we’d been oblivious to a gate change along the way (thank goodness for big sisters who check these sorts of things). Our constant text updates to Karla in Grinnell kept everyone apprised, as our dinner reservation at the Prairie Canary kept shifting… but, eventually we met up.
They kept the restaurant open for us, which was great. What a surprise it was to walk in and see not only Aunt Bonnie, Kevin and Karla, but also Kyle, who’d driven up from Hernando, Mississippi to join us for the weekend!
After dinner, cards and presents, we went over to Bonnie’s house on Turnberry. Sat around and talked, while keeping an eye on the women’s college basketball conference tournament (was it the championship game? It might have been..). Iowans really cheer for Iowan teams. Caitlyn Clark (now pro, but who played for U of Iowa) was in the building, which was pretty exciting for everyone. She’s a genuine local super star. Eyes transfixed:
Matt and I then dragged our tired selves to the Hotel Grinnell… which, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is considered an Historic Hotel of America, mostly because it’s housed in a former (huge, brick/concrete) high school. Its hallways are wide, its ceilings high, its windows stretch to those high ceilings. The rooms are cavernous.. and charmingly appointed with school-related things like chalkboards and hall passes. I love the place. Matt’s less enamored (I think he prefers a higher degree of service and comfort). Aunt Bonnie’s dad — Kenny Starbuck — used to teach there (and coach football, basketball and track), and she used to run the halls. I believe they moved before she was school aged, so she never attended Grinnell High School.
Fun Fact: Kenny Starbuck was recently inducted into the Grinnell (something) Hall of Fame. I’ll talk about that in a subsequent post.
That Time When…
February 3, 2025
….Peter and Jocelyn set up an Jugo de Naranja (orange juice) stand on a beach in Akumal, Yucatan, Mexico.
They sure look serious.
This just makes me ache with love.
I came upon these pictures in a funny way:
The four Cavins-O’Hanleighs and the three of us went to Mexico over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2008. Peter and Jocelyn were both 10, Kalea was about 4. P&J were both students in the Spanish Immersion program and, as the week went on, grew more comfortable using their Spanish with the various folks we’d come across in our travels and activities. Many stories there. We had a great holiday in Mexico!
On our trip home, we learned that the second leg of our flight had been canceled and we’d have to spend the night in Guadalajara. So we checked into a hotel and then wandered downtown for lunch. While sitting at an outdoor table, and unbeknownst to us in the moment, two “diners” made off with my camera, which I’d hung over the back of my chair (back in the days when I used a real 35mm camera). I discovered it as we were standing up to leave at the end of our lunch. By then, too late.
Well, this meant I lost the millions of photos I’d taken during the week.. sure to have been fantastic photos! I was absolutely crushed. (Still haven’t gotten over it, to tell you the truth.)
The only photos we have from the trip, therefore, are 45 photos either Bill or Sabrina took. They shared them with me back in 2008 and I uploaded them to Flickr, as that was where I used to keep special photo sets.
Flickr sent me a notice a couple days ago telling me that since I recently changed my account from Pro to not Pro, I only get to store 1000 photos on the site, and so the rest of my photos — the oldest ones — (some 3000) would be discarded. In looking over those 3000 soon-to-be-discarded old photos, I discovered this set of Mexico vacay shots. They are probably the only Flickr photos I don’t have copies of in the extensive archive on my laptop (currently about 100,000 photos), as the rest of my Flickr photos are photos I’ve personally taken over the course of my digital years (2002-present) and exist in my laptop, in my phone and in the cloud.
Anyway.. I was able to transfer Bill and Sabrina’s 45 Mexico shots from Flickr to my master archive (yay!!) and these two photos caught my eye.
A Good Run!
January 6, 2025
Twenty twenty four was notable for a lot of things. But this one stands out:
After saying goodbye to Peter a year ago on January 5 (following a two-week visit over the holidays), we saw him in April (our annual spring visit to Ann Arbor); May (end of the same trip); July (John Muir Trail); August (Dolomites trip); September (end of the same trip, plus our annual fall visit to Ann Arbor); October (a Davis wedding); November (Thanksgiving); December (Christmas); January 2025 (end of the same trip). That’s a Peter sighting in 9 of 12 months. My kind of year!
This is a hard act to follow, but hoping twenty twenty five will give it a shot.
Took Peter to the airport today.. and he flew back to Ann Arbor, barely missing a massive storm that was paralyzing a significant swath of our country. Got word tonight that he made it home safely. I can relax now, but I’m still really down. It may be a few months before we’ll see him and Maya.
Here’re a couple photos I snuck in late last night.. it is soooo nice to share space with our boy.
Life of Wry 