The Napali Coast Hike was a standout for me!

It caught me off guard in many ways. This trail was a real challenge, full of ups and downs, and in some spots, it got pretty narrow, rocky, and slippery. Some stretches were downright sketchy! There was a lot of exposure too.

But even with all the mud and slipperiness, the beauty along the way was sensational!

Words just can’t seem to grasp the magic of the lush tropical forest; even photos fall short of its true beauty.

Every moment was a treasure. I tackled the full 11-mile trail on day one. But as the rain poured down in the following days, my tent became a cozy haven for diving into books. It was incredible! I devoured three books, adding another layer of adventure to my five-day journey.

In the breaks between showers, I wandered the beach, sought out magnificent waterfalls, and refreshed with dips in the natural pools.

I soaked in all the sounds—the chirping birds, the wild, crashing waves, the howling wind, and (lots of) falling rocks.

I took my time hiking out, breaking it up into two days. Once out, I learned the trail had been closed for the prior two days, due to rainfall. It didn’t rain that hard where I was, but the first two miles are traveled by 900 people PER DAY, so they are careful.

An unforgettable week—one that’s etched in my heart for years to come

A friend once said to me that Birthdays are your “own private holiday” I still love that thought. I try to find fun ways to celebrate, often in new places I have never before traveled.

It might not feel good to be getting older, but a celebration of still living a great life is worth pausing to consider.

The alternative is to not be here, not getting older, not having experiences. I often think about how much life Scott is missing. His memory moves me to keep my life full and exciting.

Tomorrow, I venture on to Kauai’s Nepali Coast with my backpack and my tent. A new path to follow. I’m using the hike as a beacon for the coming year: new trails, unknown places, and fearless exploration; on all levels of my life.

My birthday gift is from all of you: fun, friends and loads of love.

Cheers to you and my next trip around the sun!!

A warm man, who took family seriously, and was the best provider in the world. My words, not his.

He was fun, funny, and serious all at once. He always treated us well. I loved, admired, and respected him.

He died of a broken heart. His stroke came just days after Janet died. I didn’t really believe that was possible. I now believe.

He was a badass in his younger days, for sure. A Navy fighter pilot, engineer, and energetic young man.

Scott learned to be a really good man from his dad, Bob. I miss them both. I miss Scott every single day, he was the best there is.

One of the treasures that came to the surface while we were packing up Bob and Janet’s home this week, was a poem that Scott shared with Janet before he died in 2018. It’s beautiful. I feel compelled to share it here.

I hope the three of them are partying and laughing their hearts out together in the 4th, 5th, or 6th dimension. I love you Scott, Bob, and Janet. The universe is a different place without you.

The Grand 2017

It’s sunlight dancing on the water

And having just enough when you have nothing left

It is finding a path when you seem utterly lost
It is a kind word in the face of unkindness

A path of deep water in a shallow twisted maze
It is caring for your Grandparents and then your Parents as Death takes them from you

It is fulfillment and joy in the face of fear and loathing 
The face of God for the lucky few who find it
It is evolution and devolution all at once
It is building up and moving forward 
The apex of all we have as humans
Empathy

It’s not a billion plastic presents under the tree 
Not a big house full of things 
It is making a decision to be content

It is a hand to hold 
A face to kiss

A smile and a tear
It is picking up and washing off 
Something someone else discarded

It’s pulling weeds to clear a garden
The buzz of a bee
To the ear of a deaf flower

The sun on my face 
As I sit by the riverside

A hot spring
On a cold cold winter night

It is union
In a chaotic world
It is patience 
And knowing

The smell of vanilla and musk
The tastes of salt and sugar
Vinegar 
Wine

Whiskey to the lips of some
A cigarette for others

It is that last stroke
That sends you into the void and over the edge
A place not all will find
If the sun does rise 
Rain may fall from the skies

Our heart beats on through 
Like an eternal song
We begin again

To walk on in any direction 
Our thoughts a compass
Emptiness 
The great abyss 
Darkness

A line in the sand
Enigmatic 
Oceans, rivers, creeks
The sky, the sun , the stars
Rain

The rhythm of my breath
The beat of my heart
The song of the river

Singing to my soul
Sleep it comes to me
Late in the autumn eve
Dreams come too

Of the morning sun
The smell of smoke 
The crackle of a campfire 
A hot cup of coffee in hand
Awakened by the roar of rapids
In the Canyon 
On the Grand

David A Black (Blacky)
The Grand 2017

ReplyForward

Flying in to 88NV (Burningman airport) is always a joy!! All of the weather worries were for not along my route. I literally had blue skies and tailwinds!

CC drove the RV and made it just after the gate closed for 3 hours. We hung out in a dust storm waiting for the gate to re-open.

We finally made it to the airport, found our camping spot, plugged in, and got settled.

Sunday morning we swung into work mode. CC was assigned runway chevron duty and I mastered setting parking whiskers on the ramp.

At lunch time, CC showed up driving “truck-a-saures. Now he wants to buy one.

Sunday afternoon was busy getting ready for the rain. The last time we had rain during Burningman was in 2014.

Sunday night the rain arrived and lasted through morning. There is something special about rain at Burningman. It’s like living through a disaster, but still fun.

CC was out early in his mud boots fixing the power connection and dumping water out of the shade structure.

We are hunkered down inside while the playa absorbs the moisture.

We sure hope this is the end of the rain for another nine or ten years at Burningman.

Most of you have met, but really don’t know, CC. This interview took place at Sodbuster’s STOL competition. It’s cute, and fun. Enjoy.

Two really fun adventures with Charlie Mike!

OSH = Oshkosh. CC and I flew two planes from Southern Nevada to Oshkosh Wisconsin. Whew! It was sure different than my last trip to OSH. I took three weeks last time. This time, we made it in three days. Ugh.

I won’t bore you with all of the stops and the details of fixing CC’s exhaust in Mike Patey’s hangar…..or my flat tire the next morning in Utah……But here are some photos of our fun.

We made it to OSH in the time we were hoping. We had nice tailwinds and the weather was manageable.

The next morning, we were off to my first STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) competition – Sodbusters! Turns out I sucked, but it was fun and I had one great takeoff. Now that I have one competition under my belt, I will go again. (I did so much better in practice!)

After the Competition, we headed back to OSH and got to tangle with the crazy traffic! What a hoot to fly with so many airplanes. It was nuts.

CC gave two presentations, and I had one. Mine was a repeat of last year’s talk about flying to Burningman. I had about 100 people this year, twice what I had last year. It was so fun! I also got to connect with a bunch of my burner friends. So great!

The way home was definitely more challenging than the way there. Bumpy, headwinds, and long days of flying. It was a journey, again in three days.

Overall, flying around the country in a small airplane is a joy. Doing it with someone else is even more fun. I’m so lucky and grateful.

Next up: three weeks at Burningman!

Fly – Climb – Fly. That has been the plan for a long time. Scott and I started discussing flying to Lone Pine to climb Mt. Whitney in the 90s. And finally, this year, the plan moved into action!

Fortunately, Kat managed to score a one-day permit and graciously invited me to join her. I felt incredibly lucky to have this opportunity.

The adventure began with a two-hour flight from Cal Nev Ari to Lone Pine. Departing at six in the morning allowed me to savor the cool, smooth air throughout the journey.

After landing, I tied down the plane and hopped on my mountain bike. As I rode through the famous Alabama Hills, known for its role in various Western films, I couldn’t help but notice Mount Whitney towering above me. My excitement was palpable!

To ensure our safety and make the most of the experience, Kat arranged for a guide named Kurt. This was Kat’s first mountaineering outing, so having an experienced guide like Kurt was invaluable. He had climbed the Mountaineers’ route just two days before our trip, giving him a clear understanding of the conditions and the safest path to take. Given the substantial amount of snowfall this year, the terrain still maintains winter conditions with plenty of melting occurring.

Our ascent began at 12:30 PM. However, our progress was slowed down due to a last-minute addition to our group—an enthusiastic but inexperienced young man who wasn’t fully prepared for the challenge. As we climbed higher, I couldn’t help but wonder if he would make it to the 14,505-foot summit, especially when he was puking at 10,000 feet. Miraculously, he pushed through and managed to reach the summit…..barely.

The final 400 feet of the climb required us to rope up due to the frozen and steep terrain. It added an extra element of excitement to the experience. And then, we were standing on the summit!

And then, we were on top!

To our surprise and delight,, “@summitshuffler” joined us at the top and provided some entertaining moments!

By around 4 PM, we had safely descended and made it back to the car. Exhausted, we returned to Lone Pine, fell into bed, and the following morning, Charlie Mike and I took to the skies again for a smooth and uneventful flight back.

The joy of life continues to astonish and inspire me. I am grateful to Kat for extending the invitation and for being an exceptional climbing partner and friend.

Whew! A whirlwind of activities, many in the air! May has whirled by.

The month kicked off with Kat’s birthday party at CC’s. Hiking, magicians, unicycles and bush stew.

Next came Cindy, Jerry and Melissa’s birthday’s celebrated with a luscious dinner, hosted by Dad. We went to Iconic. Go there! It’s amazing!!

Flying to Nevada was another highlight. Charlie Mike is in prime shape, I got to see my burner friends along the way and flying is always one of my joys in life. Thank you Scott.

Baja!!!! One of my happiest places. CC and I grilled lots of fresh fish, walked and ran on the beach and best of all, hung out in La Paz with Ana, Emma and Pavel. My Mexican family. We found lots of sunshine, blue water and white sand.

As a grand finale to the month, we took three airplanes to the Grand Canyon, (another of my happiest places). The next day we flew to Amboy California on Route 66. What fun with airplanes!!!

There’s much more to come in June! I’ll report back soon.

After landing in LAX, (bleary-eyed and seriously jet lagged!!) I picked up a rental car and headed south east.

It was about 10am in my body, so four hours of driving was easy.

Traffic in LA was no issue at 11pm. Though, the grocery store I stopped at had a fifteen-minute checkout line at midnight!

CC had no idea I was going to show up at the STOL competition he had entered. Outlaw STOL is only about 2 hours flying for him and he likes to compete there. I thought it would be so fun to surprise him….which is always a risky proposition. Especially with CC. He was unsure if he would be going until the very last minute, mostly due to repairs on his 170B.

The morning of the event, I am at a gym in Yuma AZ, working out, and then taking a shower, before meeting up with CC. He texts me “Turning back, issues with oil pressure”. Darn. It’s another 4 + hour drive for me to reach his place in Nevada, and I am really hoping he is able to make it. Though, I am willing to drive there for the surprise. My flight doesn’t leave until Monday morning, so I have options.

I next receive a text, “Back in the air”, need fuel. Whew! He’s coming. But wait! Not so fast……next he’s taken off from the fuel stop, but “not happy with the oil pressure, so flying the river in case I need to land”.

Fast forward: he buzzes the runway and then I hear nothing. I get a text “Just landed at Yuma” (I am at Somerton Airport). I’m thinking, ugh, ok, so I will drive over to Yuma. He must have had oil pressure issues.

I start the car and drive toward the Somerton airport exit….and CC taxis by the car. He’s here. Now I get to surprise him! Big Gulp.

He arrives at his parking spot, shuts down the plane, and gets out. I’m out of my rental car walking toward his plane. I can see that he sees me, but not sure if he knows it’s me yet. (He later tells me that he couldn’t get his head around what he was seeing.)

Then I wave with both hands. Now he realizes it’s me. He is delightfully surprised and cannot believe I am here. He had no idea.

Perfect! Joy! I’m so so glad I did this!!

He won the competition and we had a great, great time! I volunteered as a line judge for the competition, which was super cool!

It was a long three months to not spend time together, and now that I’m back, it feels like I was never gone.

Experiencing life on the road, across countries and cultures, out of my familiar life and surroundings, is the best teacher of all. Mostly, it has been teaching me about myself, and trust me, I have been paying attention. A few musings, just for fun, sprinkled with some favorite photos.

I really love hot weather. It has been about 100 degrees for the past six weeks. I’m going to freeze in Seattle!!

Visiting northern Laos and Thailand would have been better prior to Feb 28 to miss the smoke. I had no idea…..

Cities make for hard (and mostly worth it) travel.

This 62 year old brain learns slower and slower as the years roll by. It’s hard to accept that. Massage training (rote memorization) was a struggle, but I hung in there and got my certificate. In the end I really enjoyed the entire experience-the easy and the hard.

Refundable reservations are the only way to go! I either have a refundable resie or just contact the establishment immediately prior to arrival. There is always just walking in the door (which is easy in low season). It worked great and gave me tons of flexibility.

Google Fi, Google Maps and What’s App rock. Technology makes world travel SO much easier!!

Attending another culture’s major holiday is fun, festive and energizing. Even when people are throwing buckets (not joking) of water on you!

People are amazing everywhere. Not a new lesson, but travel reinforces this truth every day.

I’m so proud of, and impressed by Sam and Melissa and Green Climbers Home. It is a true joy to be a part of such a special place.

A few additional quick thoughts.

I have been catching myself worrying about stuff and it helps nothing. I’m trying to stop.

I have re-engaged with my love of reading and have been zooming through book after book. Thank you Seattle Public Library.

I don’t miss watching TV (or Netflix etc). At all. Zero.

Riding a motorcycle is scary. And so so fun.

It warms me to sit here in my last guesthouse, my last moments in SE Asia, and look back on this trip. What a wonderful ride it has been.