The John Muir Way - Helensburgh to Balloch

Our two relaxing days in Helensburgh passed quickly and we were soon bidding the quiet west coast town goodbye. With backpacks hoisted, we set off into the cloud-covered hills on the first leg of our walk across Scotland.

The gradual ascent, an elevation increase of one thousand feet, offered lovely, slightly hazy views of the extensive Loch Lomond. The trail passes through a diverse landscape of spongy wet bogs and lush green woodlands decorated with diverse windflowers and centuries-old stone walls. The mist and light rain contributed to what we perceived as an authentic Scottish experience, but it didn't dampen our spirits or lessen our strides.

As we approached the ninth mile we descended into the welcoming quaintness of Balloch, a tidy loch-side village where we will spend two nights getting to know the area and its people, before continuing our cross-country trek.

Road Trippin'

L/R,T/B - Jenn Minocqua (WI), Niagara Falls (Canada), Old Faithful (WY), Groundhog Day (IL), Matt South Bend (IN), Yellowstone (WY), Views (WY)The month of May found us at home after nearly four months exploring the mysteries of the orient and the islands of Polynesia.  After a few weeks at home we hopped in our Jeep and set-off to experience some of the strange and exotic offerings on the open roads of North America.  Nearly 6,000 miles, 15 states, and two Canadian provinces later, we’re ready to share what we saw:

• National Parks – Niagara Falls, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, National Grasslands, and others
• National Treasures – The Great Lakes (all five of them), Niagara Falls, Old Faithful, and the world’s largest cow and buffalo statues (both in North Dakota)
• A Salina, Kansas Car Dealership – Where we stopped for a bit of unplanned vehicle maintenance
• Family and Friends – Matt Gray in Chicago, Aaron Stratton and family while visiting Ohio
• Great Little Towns – Woodstock, Illinois where the movie Groundhog Day was filmed and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin where we stayed in the Grand Geneva Resort which was originally built as the first Playboy Club in the United States…Photos of ‘Hef’ and many celebrities from the glory days of the ‘60s and ‘70s were on display
• Great Museums – The Studebaker Museum in South Bend, Indiana and the unforgettable Arabia Steamboat Museum in Kansas City, Missouri

As we reflect on our seven week break from the international scene, the words of Paul Theroux come to mind, “One of the greatest rewards of travel is the return home to the reassurance of family and old friends, familiar sights and homely comforts.”  We’ve made the most of our fleeting time in the U.S. and are happily recharged and ready to set off on our next adventure:  Hiking across Scotland, 135 miles along the John Muir Way leading from Helensburgh in the east to Dunbar in the west.

Up, Up and Away - Boulder, Colorado

Hot Air Balloon Ride in Boulder, COWe recently received an offer we couldn’t pass up when Gary, a friend of Matt's, called to ask if we'd like to “catch a lift” in his hot air balloon. 

Early in the morning with coffees in-hand, we headed towards a vast field near Boulder, Colorado where several people were staging their balloons.  We found Gary and his lovely wife Rachel, said our good mornings, and quickly got to work preparing for launch.

In about 30 minutes, we were ready for takeoff.  We climbed into the basket with Gary and up, up and away we went over fields, homes, and ponds.  The weather was clear and lovely, providing an incredible, panoramic bird's eye view. 

While floating in for our landing, we were fortunate to spot two playful coyotes.  Rachel, who was in hot pursuit with the SUV and trailer, arrived a few moments after we touched down.  We packed up the balloon, drove back to the original launch site and opened a celebratory bottle of New Zealand champagne. 

Thanks to Gary and Rachel, we were able to check off one more item from our bucket list.

Bringing Back Cocktail Hour – Minato Neighborhood, Tokyo, Japan

 Certified Kobe Beef...The Best Beef Ever!It seems only appropriate that our final Asia related blog entry pertains to the region’s amazing food, a theme we embraced and celebrated throughout our travels in this unique corner of the world.  Our decadent indulgence in certified Kobe beef, sourced from top-grade Japanese Tajima cattle, was generously sponsored as a birthday gift from Jenn’s family.

Our evening began with a relaxing walk to the Minato neighborhood of Tokyo, an area known for its internationally-acclaimed selection of restaurants.  A peaceful side-street led us to the unassuming door of Kobe Beef Kaiseki 511, a quiet and inviting venue.  A quick glance through the menu revealed a selection of multi-course dinners, each presenting Kobe beef in unique ways to highlight its tender, marbled flavors.

Jenn selected the Maeda course and Matt opted for the Hearth Baked Kobe Beef and Seafood course.  Each offering included eight reasonably sized, meticulously presented dishes.  A sample of items included:

• Consumme jelly-contained vegetables and Kobe beef
• Sakhalin surf clam rolled Kobe beef
• Butter roasted foie gras and bamboo shot with red wine sauce
• Steamed egg in a tea bowl mixed with Kobe beef
• Sea bream with champagne and wasabi sauce
• Kobe beef chirashi sushi
• Sautéed onion wrapped Kobe beef
• Hearth-baked Kobe beef steak
• A light and refreshing desert (surprisingly, not infused with juicy, beefy goodness!)

We paired the seemingly endless parade of dishes with a bottle of light-bodied and refreshing Kubota Manju saké.  With our sake glasses in hand, we offered a toast of Kanpai to Jenn’s family for making it a birthday meal that won’t soon be forgotten!

Been There, Done That: Asia-Pacific Travel Summary

Sunset in Nadi, Fiji

At the conclusion of our four month tour to and through a variety of Asia-Pacific countries we returned to the welcome familiarity of the good old US-of-A.  Our house was as we had left it and it was a joy to be home.  We allocated time for several outings with friends at some of our favorite venues in downtown Denver and had a blast catching up.  We heard wonderful stories of weddings, house sales/purchases, and employment changes.  We also fielded a number of questions about our travel adventures.  By far, the most frequently asked questions were:

Where did you go?
What did you do?

Here are the answers we shared.

• Mainland US (Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Georgia)
  • Explored the historic Natchez Trace Parkway
  • Toured Kentucky’s famed “Bourbon Trail”
• Hawaii
  • Visited Pearl Harbor
  • Played ukuleles
  • Shot bows and arrows
  • Witnessed the mating dance of the Laysan Albatross
• Guam
  • Visited Piti Bomb Holes for fish watching
  • Recalled our youth while slipping down a long curvy water slide – Yahoo!
• Philippines
  • Climbed the Taal volcano
• Malaysia
  • Witnessed Borrowing Day at Sze Ya Taoist Temple
• Singapore
  • Ate chili crab and durian fruit with new friends
• Indonesia
  • White water rafted the Ayung River
• Fiji
  • Kayaked and relaxed
• New Zealand
  • Hiked the 35+ mile Milford Track
  • Panned for gold – Eureka!
  • Watched a rugby match in Dunedin
  • Went on self-guided bicycle tour of Marlborough Wine Country
• Australia
  • Visited the Sydney Opera House
  • Explored the Botanic Gardens
• Hong Kong
  • Took the gondola to a hillside village to see the Big Buddha statue
• Thailand
  • Kayaked and relaxed (again)
  • Took in the Nong Pa Khrang cultural show
  • Watched monkeys frolic
• South Korea
  • Walked atop the fortified wall surrounding the town of Suwon
  • Visited Seoul’s War Memorial
• Japan
  • Watched an all-day Sumo Tournament
  • Stopped by the Tsukiji Fish Market
• Everywhere
  • Walked cities, towns, countrysides, parks, and unspoiled beaches
  • Met new people and bartered with the locals
  • Toured museums and visited temples and churches
  • Ate incredible, exotic cuisine

At the conclusion of our Asia-Pacific travels we find ourselves pleased with what we have seen and experienced, and excited about untold events to come.  We’re fortunate to have such great friends who show interest in our pursuits and we look forward to sharing our future exploits.