Articles by Mike SandyArticles that include video
On May 17, 2014, I hiked a portion of the The Narrows in Zion National Park. The Narrows is a deep, narrow canyon carved by the Virgin River. Although prone to flash floods and significant flows from spring runoff, the river is shallow and most often flows at a rate safe for hiking in the river. The experience of hiking in the river surrounded by steep sandstone walls might be one of the most unique available in the National Park system.
Last Sunday (November 3, 2013), I returned from a nine-day trip to the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The trip was awesome. Kauai is an amazing place with ideal weather, awe-inspiring scenery, chirping endemic birds, and impossibly lush foliage. The island offers endless recreational opportunities and a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere.
And then there are the smells. Kauai smells! Sometimes it’s the pungent odor of fermenting fruit off to the side of a trail, but mostly it’s the sweet aroma of whatever tropical foliage happens to be prevalent where you are. I’ll never forget all of Kauai’s smells.
Last weekend, I attended 311’s biennial concert/convention that occurs on March 11. This year, for the first time, they decided to hold two concerts instead of one. I welcomed that decision because the 60-song 311 Day show in 2010 had too many intermissions, and I could tell the band (and much of the crowd) were exhausted by the end. Two shorter shows with more total songs sounded perfect to me.