What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: July 2026

Happy Monday! I hope that everyone is enjoying their summer and is getting plenty of time outside in the sunshine! As you are reading this, Cristof and I have just completed Segment One in Montana and are celebrating with ice cream, beer and a well deserved swim! In case you have not been following along, this means we are done! 

The last leg was quite smoky unfortunately and I spent a lot of time dodging fires again. 

Captured on 07/25/26
Not shown: Canada fires

And as you often ask after a journey like this, what's next? I will be staying in the US for a couple of months, doing some hiking, road tripping and housesitting before setting off for another international destination. More on this later! 

I'd love to hear what you're up to! Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana

What country related books or documentaries did I watch? 

Read: finally finished On The Plain of Snakes by Paul Theroux (Mexico)

*Also read these, not related to this year's travel plans, but good all the same! 

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See (China)

First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung (Cambodia)

Watched: The Real Story of the Sunshine Mine Disaster which is about an incident in the 70s at the Sunshine mine near Kellogg, Idaho, when a mine fire filled the tunnels with deadly carbon monoxide. Ninety-one miners lost their lives, making it one of the worst mining disasters in U.S. history and leading to major improvements in mine safety and emergency equipment.

Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list? 

✅New food <-- Fry Sauce (apparently a UT special, made from mixing mayo, ketchup and a few other spices etc. I love mayo, so of course I was a fan!) 

✅ Book about country <-- On the Plain of Snakes (Mexico)

✅ New thing <-- Saw ospreys and a muskrat in the wild

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1. What is the name of last month's chapter? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato

February: Back in the Groove

March: Serenity Before the Storm

April: Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

May: The Ring of Fire and Ice

June: On The Road Again

July: A River Rides Through It

I rode along many creeks and rivers in July, thank goodness. It was a welcome relief from the dry, hot plains and deserts I had been near before! 

2. What did I learn last month? 

I learned about fry sauce, what the difference is between an osprey and an eagle, the difference between the screech of a hawk and a falcon, and that a muskrat is MUCH smaller than a beaver (PS beavers are huge). 

I also learned (noticed?) that people in ID and UT don't fly their state flag as much as people in AZ do (or it is not as obvious?) and that the ID state flag has the state seal on it, and this seal is notable for being the only U.S. state seal designed by a woman. The UT flag and highway signs all have a beehive on them, which is a symbol of hard work, cooperation, and perseverance, specifically due to the early settlers, who were part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

I also learned (just now, when I was going to use the acronym "LDS") that church leadership asks people to avoid using "LDS" or the nickname "Mormon" as a substitute for the name of the Church. Preferred terms if a shortened name is used, are "the Church" or "the Church of Jesus Christ."

3. What was the weather like? 

It was great! Sure, sometimes it was hot, in the 90s or even above 100 a few times, but for the most part, nights were in the 40s and 50s and daytime temperatures were in the 80s. The only issue really was the smoke, and it was heavy (and really smelly) at times! 

Red sky in the morning, firefighters take warning

4. What event last month was my favorite?

Again, it really is too hard to decide. I am going to do a post later with a wrap up of the bike trip, including some favorites, so for now I will say that the animals I saw were a highlight! Here are some interesting additions from July.  

🌟Water animals, including a muskrat, a river otter and one dead weasel/ferret. 

🌟A plethora of birds, including three baby ospreys in a nest (It was huge! I thought it was an eagle's nest at first), two juvenile (and curious) owls, pelicans, sand hill cranes, many waterfowl and various flitting and flapping and chirping other birds that I cannot name. Oh and many hawks, who screamed and screeched above my head as I was riding. 

🌟 Rodents galore and of various sizes, including marmots, squirrels, chipmunks, ground squirrels and probably prairie dogs (I honestly am not sure of the difference between the last two). 

🌟So many hooved animals, including deer and elk, tons of Bambis, many MANY cows, horses, goats, pigs, buffalo and llamas. 

🌟Randoms such as bunnies, snakes (mostly dead, only two rattlers), butterflies, and bees. 

Note: I did not see any bears; nor did I see any prints or scat. I am not sure why not!  

5. What was the best thing read, listened to or watched last month? 

Book: The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. Set in 1933, this is the story of a little girl in a Mississippi orphanage, the vice squad, who at the time was trying to get rid of all illegal activities, such as gambling, drinking and prostitution, a childless "old maid" named Birdie and her social climbing sister, and many other intriguing characters, who are all tangled together in some interesting ways. 

Movie/Show: I haven't really watched TV at all, but I do have a few Jim Gaffigan standup bits saved on my YT for nights when I need a pick me up. I especially like this one where he roasts Canada (while, of course, performing in Canada). If you like it, there is a full length version. 

Podcast: This episode of Lives Less Ordinary, which made me cry a little while riding my bike, about a family getting lost at sea while trying to escape from Vietnam by boat after the Vietnam War. 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I finally finished the bike route, and took myself for a second breakfast to celebrate. [Quick backstory: I probably burn between 3,000 - 5,000 calories per day most days. I generally eat breakfast around 6:00 am and by 9:00 am I am already hungry again]. I walked into the local breakfast joint around 10:00 am and there was a large table of older gents (Montana rancher and cowboy types) all eating and chatting. 

Tuesday Breakfast Club

When I am hungry, I want it all, and can never decide between sweet and savory, so I ordered biscuits and gravy (with eggs and hash browns) and a side of pancake. When it came out it was a lot of food, but I knew I could do it. Not one, but several of the cowboys commented, saying things like, "are you expecting someone else?" and "there's no way you will finish all that!" and "don't worry; they have to go containers." Um, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, gents! So I ate it. All of it. By the time I was finished they were gone, but I told the server to make sure she let them know the next time they were in that I DID IT. 

What? I am a Taurus, people. Plus, seriously, I really was hungry! 

Table for two one!

7. What am I looking forward to this month?

Spending time with friends! 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

JULY:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?

2. What did you learn last month?

3. What was the weather like where you are?

4. What event last month was your favorite?

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

AUGUST: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! What is the weirdest animal you have seen in the wild? Have you every had Fry Sauce? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: June 2026

Happy Monday! I hope that everyone in the US had a good long weekend and Happy very belated Canada Day to my Canadian friends! Today, the US plays Croatia in Seattle for the World Cup and although I will not be there, my friend K will be there, cheering on our guys! Go USA! Actually, I have not had a chance to watch many of the recent games, as I have been in the mountains and out of service, and as you are reading this, I will likely be riding again... 

I'll be doing this...

However, I am making progress!! Currently Cristof and I am in Segment 5 in Utah and we are over halfway done! However, I have been dodging fires, struggling up hills and eating way too much fried food! 

I'd love to hear what you're up to! Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Arizona, California, Washington, Utah

What country related books or documentaries did I watch? 

Read: The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (Mexico) (5 stars)

Watched: n/a

Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list? 

✅New food <-- I tried several AZ beers including Tower and Dark Sky Brewery

✅ Book about country <-- The Lacuna (Mexico)

✅ Family time! 

✅ World Cup!

✅ Ride my bike in two new states <-- Arizona, Utah - 2/2

✅ New thing <-- Went to the World Cup (live)

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1. What is the name of last month's chapter? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato

February: Back in the Groove

March: Serenity Before the Storm

April: Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

May: The Ring of Fire and Ice

June: On The Road Again

June brought several road rides, which are NOT my favorite. Some of them were a bit dicey, aka small shoulder, fast traffic, but I lived! 

2. What did I learn last month? 

I learned about Piccadilly, a highly popular, sweet-and-sour Arizona treat that pairs shaved ice, cherry or Kool-Aid syrup, chamoy, and diced dill pickles. I did not get a chance to try it but I wanted to! Maybe next time? 

3. What was the weather like? 

It is all over the place. From about 110 F in Phoenix, it was a lot nicer in the northern part of AZ for the most part, maybe in the 80s at most. A break in CA and WA brought WONDERFUL 50s, 60s and 70s, then the Grand Canyon area was back in the 90s. Utah for the most part has been nice, with highs in the 80s and lows in the high 30s or low 40s at times. I will take lows in the 30s over highs in the 110+ any day. 

It's cold in them thar hills! (~10,200 ft)

4. What event last month was my favorite?

I can't really pick. There have been so many wonderful views and places I have never seen or been to and have been pleasantly surprised by. There have been so many people asking if I am okay, or need help, or offering me rides or drinks or buying me breakfast, or who are just curious about what I am doing. The World Cup was an experience of a lifetime. I also spent time with family and friends, both old and new (including one HS friend who I have not seen in about 15 years!) And of course, seeing my Dad fit eight days worth of camping food into a bear cannister which really is meant for four or five days worth. Some things never cease to amaze me, nor do they get old. Tetris for the win, Dad. 

Dad helps me get ready for a future hiking trip

5. What was the best thing read, listened to or watched last month? 

Book: The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi. I would not say this is my favorite book of all times, but it really made me think a lot! There are some things I did agree with and some I did not, but all in all it was quite thought provoking. One of the parts that resonated was about the separation of tasks and the premise is that we suffer because we choose to—not consciously, but out of fear of change. By letting go of the need for outside validation and mastering this issue, it offers significant relief from burnout and the pressure to please everyone. If you read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Movie/Show: n/a

Podcast: The Wild Ideas Worth Living podcast is an interview format where the host interviews all sorts of people who have had "wild" ideas, be it entrepreneurship, long sailing trips, or this one about a girl who became a paraplegic at age 17 but then went on to win several Olympic medals (in several different sports!) I am getting lots of inspiration and ideas for future endeavors! 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I took K's daughter A driving for the first time. She was super cute about it and was very nervous. She did a great job, as I knew she would, as she is very responsible and thoughtful. However, when we went to swap back to drive home, she left a very big butt shaped sweat pool on the driver's seat! 

7. What am I looking forward to this month?

Seeing more places that I have don't even know about yet! 

My first glimpse of Mary's Nipple, Skyline Dr. UT
(also smoke in the background 😔)

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

JUNE:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?

2. What did you learn last month?

3. What was the weather like where you are?

4. What event last month was your favorite?

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

JULY: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! Do you remember who took you driving for the first time? How did it go? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: May 2026

You may recall that May is my favorite month. Don't get me wrong, I actually love all the months for various reasons, but May always seems to be a place of rebirth. The flowers are blooming, the sun starts shining more, and this is one of the best months to be 

in San Francisco. Karl, the fog, has not made his appearance yet, as it is brought on by the very hot temperatures inland clashing with the cool temperatures of the Pacific. The weather is just right, not too cool, not too hot, and the morning air is fresh and clear. May always reminds me that it is a joy to be alive. 

This year is no different. I flew home on the first, beat jetlag by staying up the entire flight (boo yeah) and literally hit the ground running....by going out for a run in one of my favorite places, the headlands. The rest of the month was spent with family, walking or running my usual 6 mile loop, and at the end, prepping for and starting off on the next adventure, a bike trip! This one goes from Mexico to Canada along a different dirt route, which you can see here. 80% of the route is on dirt and 70% of it is on public lands (National Forests, National Parks and Monuments, and BLM land), which means that for the most part, you can stop and camp wherever you want. Currently I am still in Segment 9 in Arizona. 

I've got a long way to go still...

I'd love to hear what you're up to! Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Alaska, BC, California, Arizona

What country related books or documentaries did I watch? 

Read: I actually read quite a few books about the US and Mexico! 

Amity: 1866 post Civil War, formerly enslaved (but not yet freed) brother and sister get separated; one is in the US and one is in Mexico. Brother goes to find sister. (****)

Ballad of Love and Glory: 1846 Mexican American war (****)

On the Plain of Snakes: Travel writer Paul Theroux drives along and crosses over the US/Mexican border several times before delving deeper into the country. (in progress)

Watched: n/a

Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list? 

✅New food <-- black sesame ice cream *yum*

✅ Book about country <-- see above

✅ Family time! 

✅ Ride my bike in two new states <-- Arizona - 1/2

✅ See at least one National Park that I have not been to before. <-- Glacier Bay NP, Alaska

✅ New thing <-- saw an orca!

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1. What is the name of last month's chapter? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato

February: Back in the Groove

March: Serenity Before the Storm

April: Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

May: The Ring of Fire and Ice

I went from Alaska (cold) to Arizona (hot) all in one month and it was quite the contrast! 

2. What did I learn last month? 

I learned a lot about salmon, glaciers, my family's knowledge of trivia questions and...cactus! I decided I had to stop calling them the "one that looks like a pincushion" and the "one that looks like a Rastafarian" and so I looked them up. Did you know that Arizona has over 50 different kinds of cacti? We all probably are familiar with the Saguaro (middle row, far left photo), and it is very fun to find people shapes within them, but one of my favorites is the Cholla (top row, middle photo), because it reminds me of my little succulents at home, where you could remove the "chick" and make a whole new plant. The Cholla does the same thing, giving it the nickname of the Jumping Cholla. Also, if you speak Spanish, you will know this already, but if you don't...Saguaro is pronounced Sah-wahr-oh, and Cholla is pronounced Choy-ah. 

Cacti

3. What was the weather like? 

It was all over the place! Alaska was around 40-50 most of the time, San Francisco was around 50-60, it was about 50-70 at my parents, and then it was 70-105 in Arizona! The only place it rained was BC, but otherwise the skies were clear and it was beautiful! 

4. What event last month was my favorite?

It's really hard to choose! I saw orcas! I even got them on video, which was very lucky! We also did a helicopter ride to a glacier while in Alaska which was a very cool experience. I have been on a helicopter before but I can honestly say that it does not get old. I would do it again in a heartbeat and would love to even learn to fly one. #lifegoals! 

I also got to ride on a narrow gauge railway that my Dad has done a lot of work with, spent a lot of great time with family and friends, got a new bike, played many, MANY hands of Rummy with my brother, had a birthday, ate hamburgers, drank beer, walked in the forest, went to San Francisco and so much more! It was a very full month for sure. 

5. What was the best thing read, listened to or watched last month? Despite a pretty slow start, once I started riding, I read at least a book a day on audio, and due to camping, have been reading my Kindle a lot at night! However, no five stars, but lots and lots of fours! 

Book: The Electricity of Every Living Thing - While on a thru-hike in England, the author determines that she has Asperger's. The walk gives her time to think it through and contemplate what this diagnosis means for her.  

Movie/Show: The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (Britbox/Kanopy (free)) - Classic detective stories set in London and surrounds, based on books by Elizabeth George. When I was younger I read so many of her novels and loved them. The show was filmed in the early aughts so the quality is not great but the stories are still fun. 

Podcast: I am loving the Headwaters podcast, which is about Glacier NP. First of all, it is hosted by two rangers, and I like them, so that helps. Second, despite being about Glacier, there are so many interesting parallels to other things, like this episode where they talk about forest fires and how they affect different groups, the environment and the animals. 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

My Driver License was expiring on my birthday this year. Now, I am not a procrastinator, so of course, I got online in February to renew. Not to make a short story long, but if you are unaware, for a REAL ID, you need to have a physical address and prove that you live there. My ID still had my Oakland address, so in order to renew the first step is to change your address (online) and the second step is to request a new ID (also online). Easy right? Well, for some reason, the online address change would not work. I would go it, change it, it would say that it was going to take 3-5 business days, then I would get no email or anything, but in 3-5 days would go back and check and it would say "not processed." I did this several times using different browsers, my phone, and even my brother, as I thought maybe the issue was that I wasn't in the US. It did not work. I sent an email to the DMV asking for an extension. I got no response. 

I was going to be arriving home one day before my birthday, so plan B was that I would just go in to a physical location. If you have ever been to the DMV, or maybe it is just the DMV in California, the reputation is not great. So I printed out everything that they may ask for, and tried to make an appointment. The first available was in June, so I decided to just take my chances. I borrowed my Dad's car and went in on my birthday, the day my ID expired, and got in line. Good news: it only took about 15 minutes! Yay! Bad news: I got back in the car and the car wouldn't start. So I spent the next hour figuring out why and ultimately getting a new battery for the car. 

In the end, it was not too bad, and I went and got my free Starbucks milkshake frappuccino to celebrate my win. The funny thing is that my Dad had asked me earlier what special thing I wanted to do for my birthday and I told him that it was just a regular day really and that I had a lot of errands to run. So after my errands I also helped him clean out the basement! Sometimes being an adult is fun, eh? Full disclosure: I had a hamburger and a beer too!

Cheeseburger salad, buffalo cauliflower, IPA

Is this how the IG people do it?

7. What am I looking forward to this month?

The World Cup! I will fly home and go to a game in the Bay Area and then go to Seattle for a second game and it is going to be so much fun. My friend K and I have tried to get tickets to other years but have failed so this is our redemption! 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

MAY:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?

2. What did you learn last month?

3. What was the weather like where you are?

4. What event last month was your favorite?

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

JUNE: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! What is your ideal birthday meal (and drink)? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: April 2026

I know that April is not quite over yet, but I will soon be on a plane, on a ship and with family, and so I thought I would post early this month, as I will be otherwise occupied once the month is actually over.  

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Thailand

What country related books or documentaries did I watch? 

Read: The Glass Kingdom by Lawrence Osborne. A book set in Bangkok about an American woman who steals from her boss and escapes to an expat apartment in Bangkok. She makes some friends and meets some locals but also finds some trouble along the way. I just thought it was okay. 

Watched: Mysteries of the Mekong (shown on Apple TV, YouTube TV or Paramount) -- A nature documentary about the Mekong Delta. I personally like nature shows so I enjoyed it! 

Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list? 

✅New food <-- Malatang soup at Xiong Lao Han Malatang

✅ Book about country

✅ Documentary about country

✅ Fun times with the girls! 

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1. What is the name of last month's chapter? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato

February: Back in the Groove

March: Serenity Before the Storm

April: Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

2. What did I learn last month? 

I learned that elephants eat for about 16 hours per day. Then also only digest about 40% of what they eat, which means they poop roughly every 1.5 hours, which ends up being a total of about 200 pounds of dung per day. 

3. What was the weather like? 

It was hot. I would estimate that the lows in the evening were around 29 C / 84 F and the highs were around 39 C / 100 F, with humidity of about 50% plus. The silver lining is that it only rained a couple of times. The downside is that I only went out for real exercise a couple of times per week (I did walk to places still, but did not do dedicated runs very often). 

4. What event last month was my favorite?

Having the girls visit! We had a lot of fun wandering around, eating, going to the beach, feeding elephants and more. It was really fun to see things through their eyes, and we gave them some cash so they could interact with the vendors and locals when and where they wanted, and seeing what they decided to do and how they handled new situations was interesting! 

5. What was the best thing read, listened to or watched last month? My reading has been absolute crap. Between having the girls here, feeling lethargic due to the weather and spending a lot of time planning the next several months, I have not done much reading. 

Book: The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion: Vol 1. It was short and sweet and about as much as I can concentrate on at the moment. 

Movie/Show: The new season of Top Chef, which is set in the Carolinas. 

Podcast: This episode of Acquired about Costco. (If you enjoy this, you may also like this one about TJs)

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

When the girls were here, we set up some tours for their enjoyment. Tour #1 was to an elephant sanctuary, where it was hot and there were flies. L was so bothered by the bugs, and kept asking if we brought bug spray (we didn't) and spent most of the time there scratching (PS they were not biting!) and trying to brush flies off. Tour #2 was a old train ride, a train market and a floating market. L slept through the train ride, and ate something that looked like a nut in the train market (she is deathly allergic). I am pretty sure that instead of remembering the tour events, she will remember bugs, heat and nearly dying. Kids! Side note: we had a great time staying cool by playing cards in the AC cooled apartment, so I am sure there are other memories to be had! 

7. What am I looking forward to this month?

Alaska cruise, seeing family, and starting a new cycling adventure! 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

APRIL:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?

2. What did you learn last month?

3. What was the weather like where you are?

4. What event last month was your favorite?

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

MAY: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! If you have littles in your life, what thing have you done that they have totally missed the point of (in your mind) or didn't seem to care about? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: March 2026

You thought I only posted on Mondays, but I fooled you! Due to my 20 in 20 anniversary next week, this week I have a bonus episode for you. You're welcome! This is not a joke! 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Japan

What new food did I try? There were a lot of things! The most fun one was Okonomiyaki, which is like a noodle, cabbage and oyster omelet of sorts. 

What country related books or documentaries did I watch? 

Read: Fifty Words For Rain <-- Japan (kind of strange)
Read: The Reason I Jump <-- Japanese author, who happens to be a 13 year old boy with autism *This one was my favorite of the three
Read: South of the Border, West of the Sun <-- Japanese author

Watched: The Unspeakable Things That Happened in Unit 731<-- covert biological and chemical warfare research unit of the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) and World War II.
Watched: Being Japanese Part 1 and Part 2 <-- identity in Japan (especially if you are not full Japanese)

Notes: I enjoyed The Reason I Jump, as it gives you an insight into some questions you may have about autism. I also found the Unit 731 documentary interesting in that I had heard about the Japanese being cruel during some of the wars, but not this specific part of it. I really enjoyed Being Japanese, as it talks about the struggles to integrate for some "outsiders" to the Japanese culture. 

Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list? 

✅New food
✅ Sent > 5 post cards
✅ Hiking in Japan
✅ Book about country
✅ Documentary about country

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1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato
February: Back in the Groove
March: Serenity Before the Storm

April will be busy, then...the summer will be busy...so March is the last calm month for a while! 

2. What did you learn last month? 

I learned that the reason the Japanese statues have little "aprons" on them is because they are an offering to the guardian of children and travelers, Jizō. Parents place these items on statues, often with hats, to ask Jizō to keep their children warm and safe in the afterlife, to ask for protection or express gratitude, or to ward off illness or evil.

Statues with bibs

I also learned how to wash before going into a Shinto shrine (use dipper to clean the left hand, right hand, mouth, then clean the dipper), and how to properly pray at the shrine (pay a coin for good luck, bow twice, clap twice, pray, bow again [and sometimes ring a bell]) and how you should walk to the side of the path as the middle is reserved for the gods. 

Washing station

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It was great! It rained a few days but mostly it was around 10 C / 50 F. Perfect running weather! 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

Hiking the Kumano Kodo was great. It is a pilgrimage over 1000 years old and it just felt so serene, walking amongst the tall cedar trees, seeing the shrines and temples and hearing the birds and the bugs. It was right up my alley. 

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 

Book: I really enjoyed Travels with Charley, in which John Steinbeck takes a road trip across the US with his dog. 

Movie/Show: I started the new season of Top Chef, which is in the Carolinas this year. 

Podcast: Don't be fooled by the title; this episode of Choose FI is of two women talking about getting used to not hoarding time, and about how hard it is to let go of perfectionism. I related to them very much. 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

Well it's not really "funny" but I had to get dental work done in Japan, a root canal and a crown, in two different cities, and neither of them spoke any English! It turns out, they have very cool machines and the out of pocket cost (total--> root canal: $90, crown: $375) was probably less than it would have been at home WITH insurance. Despite disliking dentists generally, it was probably the most pleasant dental experience that I have had in a while. Also the second dentist let me take photos of him and his machines while he was making my crown! 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

The girls! They will be joining me for spring break and we have a lot of fun things planned. Elephants, floating markets, eating all the street food, massages, mani-pedis, beach time, temples, buddhas, the works! I will need a vacation once they leave but it will be very fun I am sure. 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

MARCH:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
2. What did you learn last month?
3. What was the weather like where you are?
4. What event last month was your favorite?
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 
6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

APRIL: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! What was the worst dental procedure you have had? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: February 2026

I like February; having four weeks means there is an organized manner to the month. Exactly four weeks with no extra days hanging off the ends. It is short but sweet, and is a good time to start planning for the months ahead. I did get some planning done, started my continuing education for my licenses and even worked on my taxes! So it was a productive month, all in all. Here is the look back for the month. I will also be adding notes on new foods, books and documentaries set or about the countries where I am traveling, and completion of any items on the looking forward post I did last week. This month, I will also go over a few of my FIGS, hosted by Elisabeth! 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Taiwan

What new food did I try? Peanut Ice Cream Roll (rice paper, peanut crumbles, ice cream and cilantro), aka the Ice Cream Burrito. Delicious. 

What country related books or documentaries did I watch? 

Read: Daughters of Shandong <-- China/Taiwan
Watched: Island in Between  <-- Taiwan

Both courtesy of Diane. Thanks! 

Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list? 

✅Rode a bike in Taiwan 
✅ Sent > 5 post cards

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FIGS: Lunar New Year decorations and celebrations, finishing a good book (see below), getting a clean bill of health, random morning catch ups with several loved ones, a few runs along the river, mostly great weather, a couple of fun and challenging hikes, dragon fruit smoothies, boba tea, getting my taxes 90% completed, getting my continuing education 90% completed, 7-Eleven takeout meals.  

7-Eleven Chicken Breast Bento
Tofu, egg, chicken, cabbage and rice

Just heat and eat! Cost ~ $3.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato
February: Back in the Groove

This is a play on words as I (1) pulled a muscle in my back and had to read a lot and recover for a while. However, it could not have come at a better time, as I was (2) in the same place for one month, hence the "in the groove," as I was also able to get back into a routine of sorts for the month, even if it was not as active as I had hoped. 

2. What did you learn last month? 

I learned that firecrackers are lit during Lunar New Year to scare away evil spirits and the mythical monster "Nian," while welcoming good fortune, joy, and prosperity for the coming year. This ancient tradition signifies a loud, celebratory start to the spring festival. The noise and bright flashes are believed to attract good fortune and prosperity for the new year. 

How did I learn this, you are wondering? Well, this goes on not just for one day, but for about two weeks, or maybe more, and it happens all day long, but especially around 11 pm or 12 am! When I left at the end of the month it was still happening and the actual New Year day was on the 17th. They are VERY loud. Also, paper slips representing things like money, cars and homes are burned to honor ancestors and deities by providing them with money, goods, and, by extension, wealth for the afterlife. This is a crucial expression of filial piety (care for elders), ensuring spirits are well-provided for in the new year.

Needless to say, the month of February was very loud and smoky! 

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It was mostly nice! There were a few rainy days, but all in all the weather was probably highs around 21 C / 70 F and lows around 9 C / 48 F. There were a couple of hotter and cooler days but it was very temperate for the most part. 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

Being in a place that celebrates Lunar New Year was a lot of fun. I mean, I have been lucky to live and work in San Francisco, where we have reportedly the oldest Chinatown in North America as well as one of the largest outside of Asia. This means that I have a rudimentary knowledge of the customs or events during this time. However, it was tenfold in Taipei! Also, in San Francisco I learned how to say Happy New Year, but I only learned it in Cantonese, so I have had to learn it again in Mandarin! The decorations and the lights and the lanterns are very striking and very impressive to say the least. 

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 

Book: The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami

Movie/Show: I usually don't have Netflix, but my Airbnb had it, so I binged Outlander. It was fun to see some of the places where I was only a few months ago. When I was in Scotland, I had not seen any of the episodes, but we did pass by some of the filming locations, and I actually stayed with a friend in Linlithgow. The palace there (where Mary Queen of Scots was born, and where my friend got married!) was Wentworth Prison in Outlander. 

I also got an Apple TV subscription with one of my credit cards and I need suggestions! Do you have any? 

Podcast: The Thoughtful Travel podcast. If you are looking for inspiration for destinations, or like to hear stories of why people travel, their mishaps along the way, traveling with kids and more, you may want to check this out! 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I had a hamburger in Taiwan on one of my last days there. Why is this funny? Well, if you know me, you know that I like to eat the local food. However, I was meeting up with some new-to-me friends, and when I asked them if they wanted to go to the night market, my friend said that her husband was "not an adventurous eater" and that he liked going to Western food places. So not only did I have a hamburger, but I paid more for one beer and one hamburger than I probably have paid for my last 8-10 meals out at local places (and for the beer, I essentially paid San Francisco prices for it). However, the moral of the story is, that if you want to make new friends, you have to (literally) pay the price. PS they were both very nice people and I would hang out with them again. 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

I am looking forward to hiking the Kumano Kodo (PDF map here) in Japan. Like the Camino in Europe, it is an ancient (1,000 year old) pilgrimage linking three grand shrines. It is considered a path for healing, purification, and spiritual reconnection with nature. You know me, I love spiritual reconnection with nature! Also, there are Onsen, which are thermal baths, where you go naked, and I think that is something that I need to try at least once in my life. 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

FEBRUARY:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
2. What did you learn last month?
3. What was the weather like where you are?
4. What event last month was your favorite?
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 
6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

MARCH: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! Do you have any suggestions of what to watch on Apple TV? Have you ever been to a naked thermal bath? 

Twenty Questions (E16): 2026 Looking Forward

I am a goal oriented person. However, in recent years, I have found that I prefer to mostly keep them to myself, and/or not be so rigid with some of them. However, in 2026, I do have a few things planned that I am looking forward to, a few fun things I would like to try to do, and a few fun goals as well. So let's talk about some of them, in no particular order! 

1. Ride a bike in at least two new countries and two new states. Last year, I borrowed a bike in the Netherlands, rented a bike in France, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria, and borrowed Rachel's bike while in Wales. In the past, I have ridden in Australia, where we rented bikes to go from winery to winery, which only works for the first couple of stops! And of course in 2024, I rode through the US and Canada. So I feel like four new locations is doable! I already know that one of them will be was in Taiwan, I think one could be Japan if I can find a place with the right gear, and I am also planning to do a multi week bike trip in the US this summer, which would actually cover two or possibly three new states. I would like to keep this tradition going, and have tentative plans to go to Italy and Norway in 2027 for some cycling there. 

West Coast Taiwan

2. Go to at least two new states in the US. Currently, I have been to 43 of the 50 states, and I would like to get to 50 in the next few years! The ones I have not been to are South Carolina, West Virginia, Delaware, Arkansas, Ohio, North Dakota, and South Dakota. My crystal ball tells me that doing the ones that are kind of in a clump makes the most sense, so here's looking at you, Dakotas and Ohio! These will not be states that I plan to ride my bike through, although that would be cool if I could combine the two goals...hmmm.... 

3. Possibly go to one new Canadian province or territory. I may stay in North America (or  possibly central) for the second half of this year, and if I do, I might try to include a new Canadian province in my round up. I have not been to Saskatchewan, Manitoba, PEI, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, or the territories of Northwest Territories, Yukon or Nunavut. I have a long way to go! However, I feel like the clump method could work for some of these as well. 

4. Possibly go to one new Mexican state. Keeping with my Americas theme, I may head down to Mexico and likely would go to either Oaxaca or Guanajuato. FYI, Mexico has 31 states plus Mexico City, and so far I have only been to seven of them, I think! I have a way to go to get all of them! Getting to all of the provinces and territories of Canada is definitely a much easier goal, numbers-wise.

5. Introduce the girls (A & L) to Thailand. In April, K, A and L are going to meet me in Thailand, where it will be so fun to introduce them to some of the things that K and I used to do when we went there for the very first time. K and I went to Thailand in 2002 and it really was our first foray into a foreign land (not counting places like Europe or Canada in this mix). We were excited but not sure what we were getting into. It was great, and was easy to get around and the food was good and the people were wonderful. We want to show the girls (A is 15, L is 11) what fun it can be to really travel and to get out of your comfort zone a bit (although with YouTube, I think these things don't seem as strange or scary as they did when I was a kid). Plans include seeing an elephant sanctuary, doing some volunteering, eating lots of food, going to the floating markets, and of course seeing some temples and Buddhas! 

Bangkok - 2002

6. More family time! This year, my non-traveling Mother has agreed to go on an Alaskan cruise. I could not sign us up quick enough! I think it will be nice not to have to move, or pack and unpack, and I have heard that Alaska is the creme de la creme of cruising. I also feel better having done one cruise myself so that I will not be a complete newbie and kind of know the drill a little bit. 

7. Go to the World Cup! You may know that the 2026 World Cup is being held in Canada, the US and Mexico (the Americas theme continues!) and I will be going to a couple of the games with K! It will be a fun thing to do, and actually she and I tried to get tickets in Germany in 2006 and I tried to get them in 2010 for Africa and did not get picked in the lottery. So this has been a long time coming! 

World Cup 2018

8. Read one country themed book for each country I go to. A caveat is that it has to be a new one. For example, I have read books about Japan during WWII already (this one is a good one), but I would like to read one NEW book about Japan, ideally either before or during my time there. PS if you have not read Memoirs of a Geisha yet, what are you waiting for!? Diane gave me some great ones for Taiwan (if you are interested they are: Taiwan Travelogue, Green Island, and Daughters of Shangdong) and I recently finished Homeseeking, which talks about China and Taiwan as well. Do you have any books you recommend related to: Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, the U.S., Canada, or Mexico? I like historical fiction if you have any suggestions! 

9. See at least one National Park that I have not been to before. Apparently the U.S. has 63 National Parks (when did that happen? I thought there were around 50!) and I believe that I have been to 19 of them. I may even end up seeing more than one, but for now I will keep my number realistic. 

10. Volunteer more. This year I have scheduled some volunteering, and I would like to do better at making this a more regular habit. I have done it here and there in the past, and my favorite time was when I was in Bolivia and I volunteered for a month at an orphanage; it was both rewarding and eye opening and I also liked being in the thick of things, learning more about the locals, and even getting a little bit better at Spanish! 

11. Read one book in a foreign language. In 2020, I read the first Harry Potter in español, and I have the second one downloaded. I just need to get in the habit of reading a little bit each day. It is pretty slow going, as I have to look up a lot of words, but I found that if I put Google Translate onto conversation mode while I am reading, I can read passages aloud (in Spanish) and it will translate those for me out loud, so it saves me having to highlight words a lot! 

12. Be more active than I was last year. In 2024, according to my running watch, I was active for 1,284 hours (107 hours a month). My goal this year is to just have at least one more hour of activity than I did last year. 

13. Send 52 pieces of snail mail. This will not include holiday cards, which I do send as snail mail, which means that I have to send about 4-5 postcards a month. Last year I did not count, but I probably came in right around this number, so it should not be too difficult to do the same this year. 

14. Try at least one new food a month. This is not going to be hard, and I have already gotten started on this list by trying a wax apple and many different Taiwanese dishes. 

Wax apple

15. Go hiking in Japan. The accommodations are booked, so I see no reason that this will not happen. The hike I am planning on is the Kumano Kodo, which is a pilgrimage hike similar to the Camino, but in this case, it will only take about four days. 

16. Watch at least one documentary for each country I travel to. I usually just do this on YouTube, and have watched the following so far: 

The History of Taiwan in 15 Minutes - obviously this is very short, so I am still looking for another option. 
The Entire History of Ancient Japan - it is a bit lengthy but very interesting to hear about some of the women in power, and how Japan has become what it is today. 

Does anyone have any suggestions for Thailand, US, Canada or Mexico? 

17. Hike in at least one new state. I always like trying new things, and have enjoyed exploring places like Idaho, Wyoming and Washington. This year, Bugsy and I are planning on meeting up in Montana! I may also have some other opportunities for hiking in other new states too. 

Bikepacking in Montana 2024

18. Sign up for and run at least one running race. I know, this sounds simple, and if you asked me five years ago about this, I could tell you 5 or 10 races I had done that year. However, I have not run a running race since 2023 and I think I would like to get back into the groove a little. Plus it is a great motivator to actually train, and I think that it will be helpful. Plus I have a friend who has a goal to run his first marathon in 2027, and I told him I would do it with him, so I need to get my bootie in gear. 

19. TBD - you never know what may arise! 

20. TBD - you never know what may arise! 

Do you have any books, podcasts or documentaries you recommend related to Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, the US (haha), Canada, or Mexico? What is your favorite state or province in the US, Mexico or Canada, and why? 

What I Learned, Looking Forward, Looking Back: January 2026

I know that for some, January was a cold and bleak month, but I was lucky to be in a place where that wasn't the case. After spending the holidays with family, I set off again, this time heading westward from home. It didn't start without a bit of adventure though, as the day I left, flights were being canceled right and left due to the conflict with Venezuela, and the airspace was closed over the Caribbean. My flight was delayed, then delayed again, then canceled. The wait time on the phone for an agent to figure out what do do was eight hours. I tried the chat, but as they often are now, it was a bot, and it was not very helpful! I got onto another flight, which was also delayed, then delayed again, but finally I made it out of the country! I ended up spending about 10 hours in the San Francisco airport. 

Pro tip: don't take no for an answer. When I got to the airport, despite not needing to check a bag, I stood in line for an agent. I asked him if he could put me on a different carrier, since the only other flight on my carrier (Delta) was the next day. He told me that with my 30 minute layover in Seattle, even with the delay, I was "going to be fine with the connection," aka, I would make my next flight. I was highly doubtful, so once I was inside the airport, I went to another desk with a real person and was put on a direct United flight, which is what I would have wanted anyway. Unfortunately this flight was also delayed and I ended up getting in about 4 hours later than I would have originally had things gone according to plan. 

The other saving grace was the lounge access I have on one of my credit cards, which I have been trying to decide the value of, but you can't put a monetary value on the ease of being able to hang in the lounge with food and WiFi and drinks and a nearby toilet while the world is going crazy outside. It's the rough times that show you who your real friends are and what things have more emotional value than you may have realized before. So, without further ado, here's January in a nutshell. 

Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix! 

Where was I? Taiwan

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? 

January: Devouring the Sweet Potato

Taiwan is known as "the Sweet Potato" apparently due to its shape, and/or the fact that sweet potato plants are resilient, as are the Taiwanese people. In January, I rode around the entire island, mostly around the edge, eating my way around each city one by one. 

2. What did you learn last month? 

I learned that Taiwan is called the Sweet Potato. I learned that dragon fruits are a cactus looking plant. I learned that I don't really like asparagus juice but I love milk tea. I learned that the kanji for "cold" looks kind of like a puppy dog to me. Woof.

3. What was the weather like where you are? 

It was quite nice! Mostly around the 70s f / 20-25 C but sometimes a bit cooler, and a few days of rain and high humidity. However, mostly pretty darn good! 

4. What event last month was your favorite?

It's hard to say but I did enjoy the night markets in Kaohsiung, as well as a hike I did there, which I found randomly but really enjoyed! 

Kaohsiung Liuhe Night Market

5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? I got off to a a rough start and did not finish my first book until January 11th, but due to the bike ride, which meant LOTS of audiobook time, I caught up on my reading goals a bit and there were some good ones! However, none of them WOWED me, but I think my mood is just not in a "wow" mood right now, so I gave no 5 star reviews in January.

Book: Homeseeking by Karissa Chen, which I started during the cruise in late November, but finally came back to and finished, and am glad that I did. 

Movie/Show: I binged the last few episodes of Grey's Anatomy. I know its basically a soap opera, but what can I say, I still enjoy it after all these years. 

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary on the BBC, where real people tell interesting tales, like this one, where a man accidentally finds his birth mother in his local bakery. 

6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

I got attacked by a monkey! I was in the Taroko gorge and I had just ridden up to a little village and I sat down to have a drink and a snack and before I knew it, a monkey was running up to me. I stood up to get away and he hopped up onto me and tried to get my food. For some reason, I resisted, as if saving my food was important, and he went away. However, two minutes later he was back, and I put my food behind my back to keep it away from  him and a different monkey came out of nowhere from behind and snatched it right out of my hand. It scared the bejeezus out of me and I screamed like a little girl! 

This is not the monkey that attacked me, but it is the same type.
(Formosan Rock Macaque) 

The funny (?) thing also is that I just watched Outbreak a few days before that and after the monkey took my food, I thought about how lucky I was that he had not bitten me or something! There is a scene in the movie where a little girl is feeding apples to the diseased monkey and it puts you on the edge of your seat, I tell you! 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

I am looking forward to the Lunar New Year, and to settling in a bit in one place, to going to a couple of meetups, finding some good hiking trails and eating more great food! 

Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.

JANUARY:

1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
2. What did you learn last month?
3. What was the weather like where you are?
4. What event last month was your favorite?
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 
6. Tell us one funny recent story. 

FEBRUARY: 

7. What are you looking forward to this month?

Bonus question! What is the longest amount of time that you have ever spent in an airport?