Tag travel

Fort Bragg: A Moment to Say Thanks

Reg Spittle Leave a comment

After selling our Ashland, Oregon home two months ago, Sue and I vowed to remain focused on the moment and make the most of our freedom.

We came to Fort Bragg, California, planning to stay a few days. The weather, charming town, spectacular trails, combined with fun times with old and new friends, have stretched our stay to three weeks.

Four state parks, practically within shouting distance of our camp at Pomo Campground, offer trails that took us to coastline scenes that exploded in beauty and to redwood giants that displayed their rugged beauty.

And my friend Bob, whom I met 10 years ago through an Ashland area bicycling club, invited me to join his biking group here. (Fort Bragg is his primary home.) Friendly members of the Seniors on Bikes (SOBs) welcomed me on several rides on the bike path along the coast to MacKerricher State Park.

We felt part of the community during our stay, taking part on the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, a fund-raiser for the local food bank and high school track and field team.

Now we say so long to Fort Bragg. Thanks for the memorable times. And for so many great moments.

Yosemite Like You’ve Never Seen

Reg Spittle 2 Comments


She was the first woman to manage the wilderness in Yosemite National Park. During 30 years working in the park, she traveled places few others see.

In Across Yosemite’s Wilderness, Laurel Munson Boyers guides readers through anecdotes that will make many feel like they are on mounted patrol with her.

Born in Yosemite Valley, Boyers knows Yosemite well enough to make this book unique and enthralling. She weaves her rich family history in the park with Yosemite events that bring one of the nation’s natural treasures to life.

My family lived just outside Yosemite for 25 years and we walked many of its trails. This book took me places I had only imagined and gave me a deep appreciation for the work park rangers do.

Boyers called famed photographer Ansel Adams a friend, which brought to mind another longtime Sierra Nevada ranger who befriended Adams. Randy Morgenson’s life (and tragic death) are described in another book I highly recommend, The Last Season, by Eric Blehm.