Joshua Tree

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We drove through the Mojave National Preserve at sunset and into Joshua Tree, California in the dark.  We were excited for daylight when we would see Joshua Tree National Park. Sadly, the next morning Pearson’s Mom passed away. As we made plans to fly back east, we took an hour and drove into the west entrance of Joshua Tree and I snapped these pictures. I was struck by its otherworldliness; a desert landscape filled with enormous boulder fields and valleys filled with joshua trees (yucca brevifolia).

The whole experience was a blur and we said that someday we would come back. Neither of us had plans for when that day would be, I assumed it would years from now. But we were drawn right back here, to this warm and peaceful desert.

Joshua Tree National Park Continue reading »

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Breweries 4

Breweries 4

Ellicottville Brewing Company. Ellicottville, New York, is in the southern tier of western New York State, nestled in the Allegany Mountains.  Julie and I were married in a house outside of the small ski town and of course spent quite a bit of time at the brewery during our wedding weekend.  Having returned to Ellicottville a few times since, we’ve witnessed the brewery’s expansion.  EBC has outgrown the rustic ski town bar with a brew house in the back, to a large restaurant and even larger brewery operation.  This time we sat at a very modern and chic outdoor bar.  Continue reading »

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Mojave National Preserve

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We drove west through Las Vegas and further into the Mojave.

We drove west through Las Vegas and further into the Mojave.

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Breweries 3

Taps, Niagara Falls, Canada. As one of the first breweries we visited, Taps in an important milestone in my beer tasting adventures.

During our honeymoon in Niagara Falls we found Taps brewery in a converted garage not far from the picturesque town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.  At the time they had only a couple of beers, we bought a six-pack of the now retired “Premium Ale,” which was excellent.  Fast forward a few years and we’re in the new and expanded Taps brew house and restaurant in downtown Niagara Falls, Canada.  Continue reading »

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Breweries 2

AUGUST:

Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, Lake Placid, NY.  I like the small town of Lake Placid, New York, awesome skiing, cycling, hiking, amazing views of the high peaks and of course the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery.  Every time I stop there my first order is the Ubu Ale, a robust 7% English Ale.  That intense copper color and fine foamy head is exactly what I’m looking for in a beer after a day in the mountains.  Next to wash across my eager palate was their other English style brew, the 46’er Pale Ale.  Having thoroughly enjoyed the beer in England, I’ll often opt for any English Style beer on the offerings and the Ubu and 46er are excellent reminders of those proper pints.  Honorable mention is due to their well crafted and alluring Hefeweizen for it’s delicate floral yeast taste and light bitterness bite.  Overall, I like Lake Placid Pub & Brewery a lot and will always save a special spot in my belly for the Ubu. Continue reading »

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Sunset over Grand Canyon

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Pearson and I walked to Mohave Point and watched the light and color change in the canyon as the sun set.

Grand Canyon Sunset Continue reading »

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Grand Canyon part 3

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It’s wild to experience the clouds and weather change at the Grand Canyon. We watched as snow flurries moved west to east across the canyon, at times portions were completely obscured by clouds.  The weather oscillated between sunny and stormy the whole afternoon.

Grand Canyon Continue reading »

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Breweries, Volume 1

Through our traveling we’ve been fortunate to visit many breweries, some craft great beer and others are great hangs.  Here is an account of the more memorable experiences we’ve had!

Before we get to the brewery list, my friend and home brew genius Michael Chapman is busy crafting truly world-class beers.  No doubt some day he’ll man a proper brew house, but until such time he has been very generous with me, sharing bombers and growlers of his remarkable beer.  Recent highlights were his very elegant Agave Belgian Dark and a brew he calls the Low-Low, which is an easy drinking beer.  His coconut stout was perfection and the IPA he brewed on demand for his brother, my brother, and me was as good as any of the robust American IPAs.  (I must offer this quick side note, all of his brews have been outstanding, I’m not sure there is a limit to his willingness to experiment and learn more about beer craft!) Continue reading »

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Grand Canyon part 2

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I never gave the Grand Canyon much thought. I knew it was a remarkable natural wonder, but people expound on it so much that I thought it would be overrated. I was wrong.

As Pearson and I walked up to a lookout at Mather Point, I was awestruck. The sky was blue with puffy white clouds and the canyon was pink and tan and red and brown and green and goes on further than the eye can see. The shadows of the clouds made the view change constantly. It was breathtaking and overwhelming.  A photograph doesn’t fully capture the texture, layers, depth, or size of the canyon.

The Grand Canyon is truly majestic and and it is by far the most amazing place I’ve been in the past eight months.

Grand Canyon Continue reading »

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Grand Canyon Sunrise

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On a cold and snowy morning in late October, Pearson and I got up early to watch the sun rise from Mather Point.  It was overcast, but the peaceful dawn was a memorable experience and well worth the chill.

Dawn at Mather Point Continue reading »

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