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Creation of a coffee addict
The other day, a friend asked me whether I drank coffee and, as always, there’s a story. I didn’t actually start drinking coffee until I was 45 years old. Prior to that, I was always able to take a nap at any of my jobs. Some places I worked had nap rooms; others had couches…
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How I became a tour guide
Often on tour, I am asked how I came upon this career. I usually start the story by sharing that I got my degree in architecture so naturally it just followed I became a tour guide, at which point everyone laughs. The reality is not far from the truth and, at times, equally comical. Like…
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A quick trip to Tofino (Canada)
Like Pai, in Thailand, I’d heard about Tofino for years before I visited. Every time I told people I was visiting Vancouver island, they’d tell me I’d have to visit Tofino. This summer’s visit to Canada provided an opportunity to see if the entreaties were true. I’d also heard that the winding narrow road over…
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Why you won’t find me bike camping
I like biking, and I like camping so I was curious to see how simply I could travel as a bike camper. The hope, of course, was to reduce two of my biggest travel expenses: transportation and accommodations. I’d biked distances before with nothing but a backpack to hold my change of clothes and such,…
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A community of strangers
There exists a worldwide community willing to host you in their homes for free even though they’ve never met you. I’m talking about a group called Warmshowers, which provides accommodation for cyclists who are traveling through their town. The idea of hosting travelers well predates inns and hotels. The native Americans provided food and shelter…
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Portland’s electric scooters, public transit for the individual
I had the pleasure of riding one of the new electric scooters around Portland today. Truth be told, the first time I saw one of these, I immediately thought how perfectly suited it was to a lazy generation that already doesn’t get enough exercise. That is a generalization I share for electric bikes as well.…
