Reginald Spittle's Blog: See my book blog, page 8
April 20, 2024
Top Ten Retirement Adventures: No. 7
Nostalgia fills me when I think of my number seven retirement adventure. Within hours of arriving at our European destination in May 2014, the sale of our longtime Mariposa, California home became final. Our modest home on three forested acres held twenty-five years of memories, highlighted by the childhoods of our three sons, Andrew, Brad, … Continue reading Top Ten Retirement Adventures: No. 7 →
April 19, 2024
Top Ten Retirement Adventures: No. 8
If the most satisfying times in life are hard, then my retirement adventures would have left me content. But within a few weeks, sometimes just days, of returning home, I want more. Sue is more patient, keeping me more grounded than my heart yearns to be. But, I’ll grudgingly admit, probably better off in the … Continue reading Top Ten Retirement Adventures: No. 8 →
April 18, 2024
Top Ten Retirement Adventures: No. 9
If retirement adventures are meant to pile up memorable moments, then this is one. Indeed. We stood at the end—Land’s End, that is—of our backpacking trip on England’s South West Coast Path. Soaked to the skin, we had battled horizontal rain all afternoon, but were, as they say, all smiles, even giddy. My hair and … Continue reading Top Ten Retirement Adventures: No. 9 →
April 17, 2024
Top Ten Retirement Adventures: No. 10
It was 2012. Sue and I ended our work lives after toiling away since we were teen-agers. We had raised three sons, left jobs we enjoyed, and embarked on a mission to discover where “the rest of our lives” would lead us. First stop: Italy. We were nervous, not sure how we would negotiate the … Continue reading Top Ten Retirement Adventures: No. 10 →
March 8, 2024
Tucson: Enchanting Trails, Without the Crowds
I once thought Sedona was home to the best hiking in Arizona. Not anymore. Tucson may not boast the red rock, but it lacks the crowds that require Sedona hikers and bikers to hit the trail early if they hope to secure parking. We pulled into this trail’s parking lot in late morning. Temperature? Low … Continue reading Tucson: Enchanting Trails, Without the Crowds →
March 3, 2024
Looking for Alaska and Finding Much More
When I glanced at this book’s title, I thought, “Perfect. A travel adventure book. To Alaska!” But I was wrong. Looking for Alaska is indeed a journey, but the teen-aged protagonist travels through his eventful life in a new boarding school. This is no ordinary coming-of-age story. Divided into two sections, before and after, John … Continue reading Looking for Alaska and Finding Much More →
March 2, 2024
Tempting Trails of Tucson Abound
When we arrived in Tucson in early January, I poked the AllTrails app to look for a moderate day hike to get us started. I was stunned. Dots all over my phone’s screen and “500 trails” in the blank space across the bottom. I zoomed in to focus on trailheads within about a half hour … Continue reading Tempting Trails of Tucson Abound →
February 18, 2024
Wallflower Is More Than a Coming-of-Age Story
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a journey of self-discovery for Charlie, who begins high school running away from tragedies he does not understand. Author Stephen Chbosky presents a 16-year-old who lost his best friend to suicide, mourns his aunt’s death, and carries a devastating childhood secret. Despite being accustomed to living life on … Continue reading Wallflower Is More Than a Coming-of-Age Story →
February 16, 2024
Up for a Challenge? Try Wasson Peak
Sue and I can’t resist a trekking challenge; this time, it was Wasson Peak, the highest peak in the western Saguaro National Park. There are several ways up, but we chose Gould Mine for our start and it was deceptively moderate, even sometimes easy, for an hour. A left turn brought us to a steep, … Continue reading Up for a Challenge? Try Wasson Peak →
February 9, 2024
Waterfalls Beckon in Saguaro Desert
Desert waterfall is not an oxymoron. In Saguaro National Park East, Sue and I found Bridal Wreath Falls, one of three waterfalls off the Douglas Spring and Garland trails. We climbed 1,200 feet to get there, but the view and a refreshing lunch stop in the shade made it worth it. Tucson, Arizona is in … Continue reading Waterfalls Beckon in Saguaro Desert →
