I read 153 books last year, not the most since I started tracking in 2020 but also not the least. I don’t set a goal for the number of titles I read and I don’t track my progress throughout the year, I just happen to devour books (mostly audiobooks from the public library) while I’m traveling, running, cooking meals, or walking around exploring new places. Since most of my travel is solo I inevitably rack up a substantial reading list and I enjoy looking back over my notes from the year. 2023 Reading List Totals 153 Books Total 151 Audiobooks 1 Kindle Book 1 Paperback Book Kindle, Coffee, Ea ..read more

While hanging out with my co-working friends on Koh Lanta someone mentioned that a little ski town in Bulgaria was an inexpensive place to base and work from in the summer. After exploring Greece I was looking for a way to escape the Schengen Area for a month or two, and flights to Bulgaria were the right price. I landed, checked into a hotel in the capital for one night, spent the next morning walking around the city, and caught a bus up to the Pirin Mountains. Patriarchal Cathedral Of St. Alexander Nevsky – Sofia, Bulgaria After a few false starts I finally found the correct bus station, bou ..read more

I needed to be in Munich in October for a trade show, so I figured I’d head over to Europe a bit early. Well, 5 months early to be exact. I scoured Google Flights, did the Schengen calculations, and booked a one way flight to Istanbul. I landed, checked into my apartment for the week, picked up some pilsners, and got ready to explore my new home. Istanbul Skyline When I arrive in a new place I often sequester myself in the apartment and catch up on work. Istanbul was productive and after working all day in the apartment I’d set out to explore. I visited both the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosqu ..read more

Driving into Santa Barbara always feels like coming home, even though I haven’t lived there full-time since 2015. There’s definitely something about the sun, sand, ocean, and mountains that I love, plus I still have great friends in town. I posted up in front of my client’s office and settled in for a few months of working, running, and SoCal beach time. Santa Barbara Home I worked most days from my client’s office, headed downtown to hit the gym, run along the beach, or inflate the SUP and paddle around the harbor. I also met up with a lot of friends and spent time down on State Street. Santa ..read more

When I had to fly back to Asia to work the Snowman Race in Bhutan I knew I couldn’t go home right after. With winter approaching in North America and Terk the Truck Camper tucked safely into storage it was the perfect time to head back to my pandemic home in Thailand, Koh Lanta. Beach Sunset On Koh Lanta It had been over a year since I left Thailand to return to North America post-pandemic but Lanta still felt like home. Some of my friends had recently left, a few were coming back, restaurants and bars had moved, but the laid-back island vibe was the same. It was good to be back. Island Vibes ..read more

Recently I’ve tried to base most of my travels off free flights. If I need to work an event somewhere international, like a race in Bhutan, and my flights are paid for, I’ll book a one way flight for work and then figure out my own way home. With no real time constraints I’ll spend a few months exploring the region, and that’s exactly how I ended up in the back of a tuk-tuk taxi in Siem Reap. Tuk-Tuk Taxi This was my first time in Cambodia and I really came to explore Angkor Wat, but first I checked into an apartment near the city center just a few blocks from Pub Street and planned to spend a ..read more

Fresh off my first shower in 2 weeks and revived from a night in a warm dry bed I repacked by bag and climbed into a truck to drive back up the trail that I walked off of the previous day. The first Snowman Race had been successful and a while many of the international athletes were flying home a group of us were invited to attend the Royal Highland Festival in Laya. I had no plans after Bhutan so I wasn’t going to miss another few days hiking in the Himalaya! We spent one night in a guesthouse in Gasa and the next morning drove to the trailhead. When Luis and I started our recon trek in Augus ..read more

Following a magical month hiking the Snowman Trek and preparing for the Snowman Race in the Kingdom of Bhutan I returned to the United States to work with my clients at a trade show in Las Vegas. From the Snowman Trail to Sin City, talk about culture shock! The Boyz In Vegas Vegas was fun but the twinkling lights of the Strip have nothing on the starry nights in the Himalaya. Luckily not long after the trade show closed I was heading back to Bhutan to help manage the Snowman Race. With my ears still ringing and my hangover waining I boarded a flight back to Asia and once again found myself sle ..read more

When Luis Escobar calls and asks “Do you want to have an adventure?” always say yes. Over the years I’ve crewed him while he ran 146 miles across Death Valley, worked with him as an official photographer for the Western States Endurance Run, and helped Scott Jurek break the speed record on the Appalachian Trail, but this was going to be different. I packed a bag, grabbed my passport, and hopped on a flight to Asia to hike in the Himalaya and meet with a King. Of course, any good adventure starts with sleeping on the floor of an airport. Well, most of mine do. The Kingdom of Bhutan is not exact ..read more

After getting “stuck” on Koh Lanta during the pandemic and spending more than a year and a half abroad it felt good to be finally home in the United States. I landed in Denver, sequestered myself at my brother’s house and immediately went to the pharmacy to get my first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. The comfort of being back home lasted about 2 months, then I found myself yearning for life on Lanta and traveling to places unknown but that international wanderlust would have to wait nearly another year. At least I returned home in time to catch the end of summer and while waiting for my second ..read more