I really wanted to visit Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park in Hawaii during our honeymoon to the Big Island in 2014, but sadly we weren't able to make it happen. The national park was on my list for our second visit to the island for its historical importance. I like to mix historical and entertainment activities when visiting a place to really learn about a place and its ... Read more
Great Falls Park | Virginia Trip
We spent much of our time catching up and eating when I visited my friend Charlsy in Virginia earlier this month, but we also did some exploring in the area, including visiting Great Falls Park on the last day of my weekend trip. Great Falls Park was an easy and less than 30 minute drive from Alexandria on the beautiful George Washington Memorial Parkway. It was a peaceful and scenic drive ... Read more
Marathon and Ragnar Training, Week 4
I've had a lot of excuses for not running lately. That ends now. The week's theme is Building a Base.Monday: 4-mile run. I ran the first 3 miles slowly and the last one at a faster pace. My average pace was 9:17/mile. My heart monitor says my average heart rate was 172 bpm and my maximum was 191. I'm surprised I could even go this hard after carrying a 60-pound backpack this weekend during the ... Read more
Camping at Schnebly Hill
With the Perseid meteor shower set to illuminate the sky, Graham and I headed north to get away from city lights and hopefully see the show. We chose the campgrounds along Schnebly Hill Road, accessible via the I-17. Our first destination was Schnebly Hill Vista, which overlooks the Sedona area. You get there by driving down Schnebly Hill Road past the campgrounds. Along the bumpy drive you pass ... Read more
Another Piestewa Peak hike
Unless you've been quarantined for the last few weeks, you know that the weather has been perfect. It would be a shame to waste the last weeks of bearable temperatures indoors, so I put on my hiking shoes and headed to Piestewa Peak. The view of Phoenix framed by Phoenix mountains never gets old. I made the trek, which I believe is 1.2 miles long to the summit, in an hour and 10 minutes. ... Read more