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
Glimmers - slow travel nourishment
Nourishment comes in many forms. A croissant. Bread. Joys and delights. A blooming cactus. A heart-shaped puddle. A thoughtful partner. Attention to the moment.
On celebrating accomplishments - ta-da!
Celebrating accomplishments demonstrates love for who you are. It might be difficult, but it’s important to recognize your efforts. This self-nourishment supports personal gratitude and love that extends beyond the self to your greater community interactions. How do you demonstrate “I love you” to yourself?
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.
Embracing the magic of life - Whitney Washington
Whitney Washington is an adventure film maker, bike tourer, kind-hearted soul, and expert at conceiving big adventures. Her creative work is about seizing the moment of being alive, of discovering her capabilities, and inspiring others to lean into their fear and find their own story in the world.
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.
Beach walks and slow travel
One of the ways you can have a slow travel experience is by planning less, lengthening your stays, being spontaneous, and responding to serendipity. I brought my bike, but I didn’t ride it. Instead, I walked three beaches.
Pedaling Olympic Discovery Trail
The Olympic Discovery Trail has about 30 miles of paved path through the forest around Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. The path was a perfect destination to ease two people who enjoy riding bicycles back into pedaling shape.
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.