Author Archives: Gallivanting Explorer

The Loneliest Road

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The road materializes as you drive on it.

It’s been a long couple of weeks for the Gallivanting Explorer. I just got back from the Four Corners area of Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, where I explored Anasazi cliff dwellings on the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Reservation, went rafting through the Navajo Reservation, on the San Juan River – all under the guidance of archaeologists, who provided more information than I could ever hope to retain. It was great!

Not so great. Driving the long road from San Francisco to Cortez, Colorado and back. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was driving The Loneliest Road in America….

Continue reading “The Loneliest Road” »

I Saw A Sign

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The middle of nowhere, plus a green Durango.

I was driving through Utah and I suddenly came to a complete halt. I saw a huge horizon of white. I thought at first it could be clouds. Then I thought it was a mirage. But when I took a closer look, I saw that it was sand. Continue reading “I Saw A Sign” »

On the way to Cortez – Day One

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Above the hill town of Austin, Nevada – and a whole lot of nothing on the other side.

It’s been a long day of driving. But it was exciting. I left San Francisco across the Bay Bridge, took 80 North to Sacramento and headed east on 50. Continue reading “On the way to Cortez – Day One” »

The Coast of Northern Ireland – Part 2

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People. Everywhere, people.

Where  was I? I think I was in the van…

GIANTS CAUSEWAY

In the van, we headed further north, to Giants Causeway. Most of what I am about to tell you I learned after the fact. Giants Causeway is a vast grouping of geometrically shaped spires of basalt rock formations at the water’s edge. It’s a very mystical looking groups of rocks. Continue reading “The Coast of Northern Ireland – Part 2” »

The Coast of Northern Ireland – Part One

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A wee castle

I had not slept well. The night before, my king sized bed had split in half in the night and tried to eat me. I dreamed of being slowly constricted by a snake only to wake up suffocated by 600 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. Continue reading “The Coast of Northern Ireland – Part One” »

Visiting a New Country Without Even Leaving Home

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It started with the cab driver complaining about how hard and impossible it would be to take me to AT&T Park. “Oh, my friend,” the Indian cab driver complained, just like the ones in India do, “there is simply no way for me to be getting you there. It is like parking lot.” He acted as if I’d jumped into his car and announced I was going to perform a root canal on him. Continue reading “Visiting a New Country Without Even Leaving Home” »