I have used this blog for the occasional update for recent running or travel stories, but I haven’t had much new stuff I felt made a story worthy of a blog post for a while. Although I have had a few posts catching up on old trips as I get by backlog of pictures processed, there hasn’t been much in the running department worthy of a blog post while recovering from last year’s medical issues. So, perhaps it is time for an update. ...Read the rest of this post...
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Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Almost Running Again
Posted by JohnF at 12/07/2011 7 comments
Labels: Recovery, Road Running, Running
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Sunday, November 20, 2011
Organic Coffee Farm in Nicaragua
Two years ago I took a tour of an organic coffee cooperative in highlands of Nicaragua. The Danilo Gonzalas cooperative was named for a teenager from the area who died fighting against the Contras in the 80’s. I reached the cooperative, traveling with by guide Jessica from ¡Un Buen Viaje!, by local bus from Matagalpa to San Ramon, and then 3km hike to the rural community of La Reyna.
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Posted by JohnF at 11/20/2011 3 comments
Labels: Nicaragua, North America, Travel
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Monday, November 07, 2011
Isla Juan Venado Nature Reserve
During my Nicaragua trip, I visited the coastal Isla Juan Venado Nature Reserve as a day trip from Leon for wildlife viewing. With my guide through Nicaragua, it was a 45 minute local bus ride from Leon to the town of Las Penitas on the coast.
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Posted by JohnF at 11/07/2011 1 Comment
Labels: Nicaragua, North America, Travel
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Saturday, October 08, 2011
Cerro Negro Volcano
The morning two years ago began long before first light when I left leaving hotel in Leon. We made our way about 6 blocks to the office of Quetzal Trekkers by 4:30. There we met up with our two Quetzal guides and two Danish tourists. The six of us discussed briefly the days plan hike the Cerro Negro volcano. Then we packed our lunches and hurried 4 blocks to the bus stop only to wait in the dark 45 minutes for the first bus to arrive. The Leon guides apologized explaining the local bus schedules were not always unpredictable.
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Posted by JohnF at 10/08/2011 Leave a Comment!
Labels: Nicaragua, North America, Travel
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Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks
A couple of years ago I did a trip through the Southwestern USA but never posted pictures from Bryce Canyon or Zion National Parks. After getting some questions from friends planning a Zion traverse, I thought perhaps it is time to get back to this story.
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Posted by JohnF at 10/04/2011 Leave a Comment!
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Monday, August 22, 2011
Bighorn Sheep Near Many Glacier
One of the things I like to do when in places like Glacier National Park is to take a drive near sunset or sunrise to watch for large animals that come out at this time of day, usually away from human activity. However this trip last week I encountered a bunch of Bighorn sheep in a place I was not expecting, in the middle of the day near the most congested road in this part of the park.
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Posted by JohnF at 8/22/2011 Leave a Comment!
Labels: North America, Travel, USA
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Sunday, July 31, 2011
Leon, Nicaragua
I am slowly getting around to organizing/culling photos from prior trips. Almost two years ago I visited Leon, Nicaragua, for a few days as part of a 2 week trip around the Ultramaraton Fuego y Agua event. (The next race, by the way, in February 2012 is open for registration).
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Posted by JohnF at 7/31/2011 1 Comment
Labels: Nicaragua, North America, Travel
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Wednesday, July 20, 2011
White Sands National Monument
In April I visited White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. I arrived in the afternoon and went straight to the park after checking into a motel in the town of Alamogordo. It was a windy afternoon. I hiked the first short mile loop trail I came across to get an introduction to the terrain.
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Posted by JohnF at 7/20/2011 3 comments
Labels: North America, Travel, USA
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Saturday, June 18, 2011
Aguirre Springs Hike, New Mexico
A couple of months ago I took an extended weekend to travel to New Mexico for some hiking and photography.
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Posted by JohnF at 6/18/2011 3 comments
Labels: North America, Recovery, Travel, USA
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Sunday, June 12, 2011
Premium Beer in Tibet
I was recently reminded of this story so I thought I would share.
A few years ago I took a tour through Tibet. At each restaurant, the waiter would always gave a choice between "local beer"
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Seno Otway Penguin Colony
In November 2009 I visited the Seno Otway Penguin Colony which was an hour’s drive from Punta Arenas, Chile. I finally got around to uploading some pictures here.
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Posted by JohnF at 5/18/2011 Leave a Comment!
Labels: Chile, Patagonia_2009, South America, Travel
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Sunday, May 08, 2011
It's That Time of Year Again
It’s that time of year again, when the overpopulated deer in the area begin dropping their young in neighborhood yards. The other day I got home in the afternoon, I saw this little guy laying still in my front yard, less than 10 feet from the driveway.
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Sunday, March 27, 2011
Race to the Altar
Last weekend I returned to trail races last weekend at the Race to the Altar. This race was put on at the Bluff Creek Ranch in Warda by a couple of friends, Jeff and Cheri, as part of their wedding weekend festivities the day before their wedding.
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Posted by JohnF at 3/27/2011 1 Comment
Labels: Race Reports, Recovery, Running, Trail Running
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Monday, February 28, 2011
Livestrong Austin Half Marathon 2011
Six months ago, while recovering from some medical issues, I decided to sign up for the Livestrong Austin Half Marathon as a walker to give myself a purpose to help motivate me to get out and exercise and work toward a comeback.
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Posted by JohnF at 2/28/2011 4 comments
Labels: Austin Marathon, Race Reports, Recovery, Road Running, Running
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Sunday, February 27, 2011
Southern South American Towns
I’ll show here some pictures from several towns which I visited awhile ago in southern Patagonia in between stops at some other amazing places which will deserve their own future posts.
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Posted by JohnF at 2/27/2011 2 comments
Labels: Argentina, Chile, Patagonia_2009, South America, Travel