Travel

When I was in 3^rd grade, I had a friend whose parents somehow acquired a zip line for their backyard.  This was the 80s, long before zip lining became mainstream recreation, so they were one of the coolest houses on the street.  Come to think of it, the family also had a “boat phone” for their cigarette boat so I guess they were pretty progressive.

Now, the zipline wasn’t that high off the ground and there was of course no harness.  You just held on to the tiny plastic handles on either side of the trolley and made sure you lifted your feet high enough so they didn’t catch a stump on the way across.  But still, it was a zip line…in their back yard. Continue reading

When I think of Montana, I think of “A River Runs Through It.”  The scenery, the exquisite narration by Robert Redford, and the cast.  Tom Skerritt played a father that every boy should have, the younger brother was the image of innocence, and Brad Pitt’s troubled character was well…Brad Pitt, at his prime (read: before all the crazy set in) and for many, that was the first introduction to him.

That movie also introduced millions of people to the art of fly fishing.

However, long before that movie came out, Ted learned how to fly fish.  When he left Miami to move in with his father in Montana, his dad was not too interested in entertaining a teenage boy – though his dad had no trouble finding ways to occupy him.  It was usually with arduous work that today’s parents wouldn’t dream of giving their kids…which is why we’re all soft. Continue reading

Ted spent some of his teenage years in western Montana and because of a conference going on out here this week, we’ll be hanging out in Big Sky Country for a few days.

We flew into Bozeman yesterday and drove an hour south to Big Sky resort.  Along the way, we passed creeks and fly fishermen – which go hand-in-hand in this state.  One fisherman had his dog with him who was enjoying the refreshing (read: frigid) mountain river water. Continue reading

Ever since I began this glorious sport, Ted has charmed me with stories of his early morning surf sessions at Ocean Beach, then grabbing breakfast at the café on the pier.  So it can only be expected that one of my must-do’s before heading home was to enjoy a little brecky at the café and watch the surfers in the lineup below.
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Yesterday while Ted was in his conference, I took the car and did one of my favorite things: explore…and maybe get a little lost.

Not a big deal to get lost in a big city because you just have to get to an interstate (assuming they all intersect at some point – oh, and it helps if you know which one your hotel is off of).

Plus, I had my cell phone with me if things got really bad – no, it doesn’t have GPS, but that’s why I have a map.
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After our surf lesson, we walked up Avenida de la Playa to grab some fish tacos. Luckily the restaurant (Papalulus) had patio seating so we could wear our wetsuits while we ate.  It felt glorious, sitting with the sun at our backs, warming us up. Continue reading

Today was my first surf session in the Pacific!  I booked a 1-on-1 lesson through Surf Diva, a San Diegan surf school that’s owned by two sisters.

Their shop is right in the heart of La Jolla, so after we got our boards and wetsuits, we walked a few blocks down to the beach.
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Last night we had dinner at a fabulous Mexican restaurant (El Fandango) in Old Town – the settling place for the first Europeans who came to California.

Now a neighborhood made up of authentic Mexican restaurants, boutiques, and museums, Old Town is considered to be the birthplace of California.

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So we’re moving here, seriously.  This has been the best 24 hours EVER.

After the Geff Experience, we checked into our gorgeous hotel overlooking Mission Bay (and Mission Beach beyond that).

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I’m here!  I’m here!  I’m here!  I’ve wanted to see San Diego for years now, and I’m finally here!

I’ve accompanied Ted out here for a week-long conference and we arrived yesterday.  In the late 90s, I visited much of the California coast but I didn’t go this far south.  This is unfortunate because I’ve been told by many that it’s my kind of place.  The whole organic/locally grown movement, the wide variety of outdoor rec opportunities, and for so many other reasons, I would totally fit in here.
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