goodfish

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I really should change this shot of Zion National Park as it's a few years old but I don't have the heart; it's a tiny capture of one of my most perfect vacation days ever, and a great memory. The Springdale outfitter who rented us the proper equipment was in the graphic arts field like myself until he did his first trip into the Narrows. Guess you could say he had an epiphany - right there between the majestic walls of this slot canyon - and his life hasn't been the same since: quit the job; sold the stuff; moved to Utah; became a champion of the experience for other adventurers. That's one lucky man.

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St. Paul Winter Carnival

St. Paul Winter Carnival

I live in Minneapolis where it's really nice about 6 months of the year, and really sort of not so nice the rest of the time. Our winters are long (!) up here in the North but we're pretty good at bundling up and having a little fun with them. Here we are at the St. Paul Winter Carnival, freezing our fannies off on one of the ice sculptures outside a favorite pub. It may have more to do with the several (!) pints we've just finished than the festival itself but never mind; we look happy, right? Whatever. Cabin fever can do bizarre and frightening things to people.

It really is great here most of the time, and winter just makes us appreciate spring and summer that much more.

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Reviews are a messy business

Reviews are a messy business

Writing reviews is a slow and painful process for me. I'm happiest wandering aimlessly in a blissed-out state of euphoria so its often difficult to remember where I've been. Photos come out of the camera a week later and I'm mystified: where the hell? It's poor form to just post the things with the comment, "Great place. Go here. I've no idea where it is." Right; a 10 on the VT scale of annoying posts along with, "I'm going to ____. Is there anything to do there?"

So, to avoid a hail of rotten, virtual vegetables for uselessly taking up space on this site, the hours of backtracking, map poring and head scratching begin. I could hide my own Easter eggs, I swear. If I get the silly things written while the museum, park, hotel, etc. is still there, it's a major accomplishment.

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My Canon gracefully bites the dust

My Canon gracefully bites the dust

There's so much about travel an itinerary can't construct but which make the greatest adventures. It's connections with fascinating people. It's getting lost and finding a treasure that the guidebook ignored. It's fleeting little moments of magic that can't be shared as a 'how to' with other VT'ers, and happy accidents that create great stories.

Speaking of happy accidents, a camera meltdown is usually a calamity on vacation? My beloved first Canon's swan song was a few fluky, arty shots which rescued a stressful weekend of over-scheduled events, a major city water problem and some high-maintenance travel companions.

"A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.”
John Steinbeck, "Travels with Charley - In Search of America"