Greencaviar Travel

The scent of ‘ tropical fruits, sugared oranges, lemons, and limes, redolent with lightly exotic mountain greens ’ filled the air.  No, it was not from the fresh Santa Cruz mountain air, but of the ‘Volcano’ candle I left in the car. The weather had been strange this winter – unseasonably warm, followed by rain and cold.  The sun finally came after a week of rain.  It was late February, and the Santa Cruz Mountains felt crisp.  I was driving on Highway 17 heading towards the Monterey Peninsula.  I’ve always taken this same route to take the kids to Santa Cruz boardwalk during spring break or play tour guide to relatives and friends to Monterey and Carmel.  This time, I had one purpose in mind – to get some sand from the beach in Carmel, so I could copy the candle display at the specialty shop where I bought the ‘volcano’ scented candles. Leaving the Santa Cruz Mountains and the town of Capitola behind, I passed a stretch of farmland, slightly naked...

I would not normally write about places I haven't seen or things I have yet to experience.   But I was inspired to write, and motivated to achieve my next goal by Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses.” I cannot rest from travel: I will drink Life to the lees: all times I have enjoyed Greatly, have suffered greatly, both with those That loved me, and alone … ---  ---  ---  --- Though much is taken, much abides; and though We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield . After a very difficult year,  I’m even more intent on my next journey – to run the Paris marathon, the Bay to Breakers and the walk of St. James in Galicia, Spain.  It may be overly ambitious to run the Paris marathon in April this year.  But  I’ve been spending my time and energy pre...