Wander & Wonder
Climate-friendly and slow travel, equitable access to outdoor recreation, and nature’s awesomeness
daily practice
When you go slow enough, you create things
Mike Steen - attending to health and mobility
Mike Steen lives in Portland, Oregon, and experiences cerebral palsy. He loves spending time outdoors and feels fortunate to live close to Forest Park where he walks and pedals his recumbent trike. He shared the health benefits of time outdoors and exercise, and we discussed the opportunities and challenges of using an adaptive bicycle to access recreation.
Kevin Belle and the Great American Rail-Trail
Kevin Belle is Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Project Manager for the Great American Rail-Trail, an east-west route that connects trails and paths in 12 states between Washington, D.C., and Washington state.
Kevin enjoys running, biking, performing in drag shows, and hosting trivia events as Whiskey Ginger.
Off-season slow travel to Ucluelet, BC
We encountered a couple who had stopped to photograph some tiny mushrooms. “It’s amazing what you can see when you slow down,” the woman said. Her comment reminded me to be deliberate and curious as we explored the area.
A bike tour from Portland - slow travel
After Preserving the Historic Road International Conference, I pedaled from Portland toward Corvallis on the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway. The journey was an experiment in climate-friendly and slow travel.
Rose City Chica - a walk in the neighborhood
Shelli Romero and I walked and talked in her neighborhood, stopping to appreciate flowers and plants we encountered. Shelli works in transportation equity and owns a career-coaching business.
Points in Time - car-free from Portland to Dufur
With new transit service from Portland to Hood River, it’s possible, and even enjoyable to travel car-free to the little out-of-the-way town of Dufur, Oregon. Dufur is home to a three-story brick hotel, the Balch Hotel, a great place to spend some time. Geologic, cultural, immigrant, and transportation history abounds in the landscape between Hood River and Dufur along the Columbia River.