Donald Buraglio and Michael Dove's Blog, page 2

Random Shots of Beauty; Last Month of the Year

With only a few weekends left to post Random Shots of
Beauty, I figured it was time to go back into the photo folders and find some
of the pics I decided to put away for a rainy day.  And since it’s been raining for almost five
straight days around Monterey County, this seemed like a perfect time to open
up the rainy day file.







We’ll start with this one from a remote area of Carmel
Valley:








A somewhat nondescript oak tree that my son and I
encountered on a summertime bike ride; it’s not remarkably different than any
other of the thousands of oak trees around here.  It was only upon closer inspection that my
son said, “Hey – what do you see on that tree trunk?”






To our eyes, it kind of looked like the tree was looking
back at us.  It was very Wizard of
Oz-ish.






Continuing on the “slightly surreal” theme is this shot from
my 11-year-old daughter’s favorite trail running area in Point Lobos State Reserve:






It’s not very often that you encounter a whale skeleton on
your evening run.  At least not that I'm aware of.




*

One final note from the weekend: my wife and I had the
privilege of seeing the Blind Boys of Alabama in concert on Friday night – and if
there’s any better way to kick off the Christmas season, I’d be amazed.  They played a set of their gospel classics,
plus some gems from their wonderful holiday record, including this tune that may be our
family’s unanimous selection for favorite holiday song of all time.




Blind Boys of Alabama, “Last Month of the Year” (click to
play):








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Rambling On

“Leaves are falling
all around, it's time I was on my way –


Thanks to you I'm much
obliged, for such a pleasant stay … “

-     -   Led Zeppelin, “Ramble On” (video after post)




At Thanksgiving I posted an old Bloom County comic strip that referenced the notion of permanence – which, ironically, was published in the summer of
1989, just a handful of weeks before author Berke Breathed officially brought
that chapter of his career to a close.  I
remember feeling quite melancholy about the departure of Bloom County from the
daily comics*, even though I recognized that the strip had morphed and changed
and played out so many crazy story lines that it must have been practically impossible
to keep things fresh and exciting anymore. 





(*Coincidentally, in the summer of 1989 I had a lot of
things going for me: I had finished my freshman year at the college I had
dreamed of attending since I was a little kid, spent one of the most
exhilarating seasons I could remember as part of the UCLA rowing team, and wasted more days than I can remember bumming around the beaches of southern
California.  And although I didn’t
realize it at the time, I had met the girl who would eventually become my
wife.  Yet I was still legitimately sad
about this nutty comic strip coming to an end – which should tell you all you
need to know about my maturity level in the late 1980s.)




I couldn’t even honestly say that Bloom County was my favorite strip anymore; at the time, both
Calvin and Hobbes and The Far Side were at the top of their games, proving
themselves far more endearing and universally funny - and in hindsight, they
would hold up much better over the ensuing two decades.  Yet there was something special about Bloom County for me.  Perhaps it was the lovably quirky characters,
or the absurdly fantastic adventures they set out on, or the often
embarrassingly candid expressions of introspection and insecurity they displayed –
whatever it was, I simply identified with this cartoon more than all the
others.





Click to enlarge




The final story line of the strip described how the
characters eventually found work at other comic strips; among my favorites was
African-American computer wiz Oliver Wendell Jones being bused in to join the
cast of Family Circus.  Ultimately Opus,
the character who had become the heart and soul of the strip, walked off into
the sunset with the promise of more crazy experiences awaiting him at some
nondescript destination - later revealed to be Outland, a Sunday-only spinoff that was relatively short-lived and
never remotely established the same emotional connection as the original.








Click to enlarge



The reason I’m telling you all this is because it wasn’t a
coincidence that I ran that strip here last week.  It’s time to bring a chapter of my own life
to a close … and we’re entering the final weeks of Running and Rambling.




It’s a decision that’s been percolating in my head for the
better part of a year, and finally reached critical mass over the past couple
of months.  This website has always been
a labor of love, but the “labor” side of that equation has been overwhelming
the “love” side with increasing frequency, and I’ve long since reached the
point of diminishing returns in regards to how much time I want to invest on
this pet hobby of mine.




Lest anyone be concerned, rest assured that everything is
fine with me.  Longtime readers will
recall that I tried to quit once before, a decision that was precipitated by a
family crisis, under circumstances that seemed abrupt and beyond my
control.  (And no, I’m not linking to
those posts – it’s not exactly a period of time I’m eager to revisit.)  This time around, things
couldn’t be more different: I’ve had a ton of time to mull it over, and it’s a
decision that I’m making completely on my own, without any external drivers
influencing me one way or the other.





"Goodbye, me" - click to enlarge





In fact, it’s precisely because I find myself so richly
blessed that the day to day machinations of maintaining a website seem
extremely inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.  Life is morphing and changing and inserting
me into a hundred crazy story lines, and I want to give all of them my full
attention without worrying about how much time I need to be spending on my
laptop in order to get the next post published. 
Or, to paraphrase the immortal philosopher Ferris Bueller: life is
moving pretty fast, and if I don’t stop and look around, I’m afraid I might miss
it.




However, none of this implies that you’ve seen the last of
me.  Like the Bloom County characters of 1989, many aspects of this blog will
carry on elsewhere.  I’ll continue to be
a gear guru, with minimalist footwear reviews posted on Gear Institute, and all
other manner of products reviewed on Feed the Habit (I’ve contributed to each
of these sites for a number of years now). 
Team Soft Star will continue to race at ultras - although which ones and
when, I have no idea yet – with race reports published on Soft Star’s Live Bare blog.  And if things go according
to plan, you'll occasionally see my name pop up on freelance writing gigs for
various outdoor or health-related magazines.  None of these will have quite the same emotional connection for me as my original website, but they're exactly the type of outlets I need right now.





Same idiot, different websites





I’m tentatively planning to publish my final post on
December 31 – that seems like a fitting date to bring things to a close – so
think of the next four weeks around here as one final adventure.  I honestly have no idea how things will play
out; maybe I’ll run some favorite posts, maybe I’ll try some crazy things I've never gotten around to, or maybe I’ll just continue business as
usual and then play "Freebird" on my way out of the building.  All I know for now is that I have a few
product reviews to post and at least one more contest giveaway to offer, which
you’ll see for yourself next week.




In the meantime, I’m overwhelmingly obliged to everyone who
helped make Running and Rambling a success; it’s been such a pleasant stay that
I know a part of me will always be legitimately sad about its departure.  Hopefully I’ll be able to convey the extent
of that gratitude at some point … but for now, it’s time for me to go – and as fate would have it, tonight there’s a full moon to guide me.






“Now it’s time for me to go, the autumn moon lights my way …
”

-     
Led Zeppelin, “Ramble On” (click to play):













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Soft Star Youth Dash Shoe Review

Here’s how you know you’ve got a versatile shoe: when you
can wear it for a 100-mile trail run through the mountains in the summer, and
your daughter can wear it as an everyday school shoe in the fall.




Thanks to Soft Star Shoes, that scenario isn’t much of an
exaggeration.  By now my exploits running
Leadville in my RunAmoc Dashes are well documented, but the other development
in the Dash story was the release of a youth version this fall.  It’s essentially the same model as the grown
up model, with a few kid-friendly design tweaks.  My 9-year-old daughter has been putting them
through the paces at school and at play, and they’ve quickly become one of her
favorites.





Soft Star youth Dash




For the most part, the design and construction of the youth
model are similar to the adult Dash smooth, with a solid leather upper and wide
toe box in front to let the toes splay.  Both
fasten the midfoot very securely in place …









… but the youth version uses a Velcro attachment rather than
the traditional laces found on the adult Dash.









The youth version also features an elastic band around the
ankle collar to keep the heel in place. 
When I first wear tested the adult Dashes, my primary complaint was that
the heel seemed to slip out of the collar fairly often*; this band prevents
that same issue from happening to little heels.




(*Soft Star made some modifications and eventually came up
with a shape that hugs my foot better – it’s not perfect, but obviously good
enough to get me through all my ultras.)






Also around the heel area you’ll see an extra layer of
leather padding to improve comfort.  The
back side of the heels have reflective accents to help keep little feet visible
in low light.









My daughter wears her Dashes almost exclusively without socks and hasn’t
had any complaints of hot spots or discomfort. 
A thin boar skin insole serves a dual purpose of providing enough grip
to keep the foot from sliding around, and feeling soft against the skin for added
comfort.









Just as with the adult versions, youth Dashes are available
with a 2mm street outsole or the more knobby 5mm trail outsole.  For an added cost you can order the leather
outsole that’s an option on some Soft Star models (and popular with fans of
grounding).  The outsole material above is
exactly the same as the one I use for my ultras, so I don’t have any concerns
about its durability.  We decided to go
with the thicker 5mm option because it’s more comfortable for extended use, and
traction is significantly better on a variety of surfaces that most kids
encounter. 









Of course, the thicker outsole doesn’t make the shoe any
less flexible, as the entire thing can be rolled up or contoured just like any
of Soft Star’s footwear.  They allow
young feet to move and stretch as though they were barefoot, with the added
benefits of modest protection and a fashionable flair.









Youth Dash shoes come in two standard color options: the
chocolate and nutmeg combo that my daughter chose, or a more feminine purple and shiny violet option.  (My daughter’s
never been much for gender conformity.) 
As with all other Soft Star models, you can design your own color
schemes for an additional cost.









Although they are technically moccasins, the youth Dashes
are built to handle activity just like the grownup versions.  My daughter wears them for P.E. class, all
over the playground, and for pretty much any outdoor activity she encounters
after the school bell rings. 




Soft Star’s youth Dash shoes retail for $78 from the company website.









*Product provided by Soft Star Shoes




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Cyber Monday Shopping Roundup; Random Shots of Beauty

I’ve been blitzed with Black Friday and Cyber Monday
promotions over the past week – and since it’s been a while since I’ve done any
serious affiliate promotion, I figured I’d pass some of them along here.  Before we get to them, however, let’s roll
through our customary Random Shots of Beauty, with a double-size edition in
honor of the double-sized weekend.




The first is from a Wednesday afternoon run with my
daughter, on one of the rare occasions I’ve had to run in daylight recently:






A grove of massive eucalyptus trees near a historic
homestead site in Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley. 
The other is a bit further away …









… and up into the Santa Cruz Mountains, the site of our
family’s annual Christmas tree hunt on the day after Thanksgiving, when most of
the rest of America is out shopping.  We
do this every single year, and not one time have I ever wished I was in a
shopping mall instead.




However, on the subject of shopping, let’s get to the
offers.  Rather than go into much detail
on any of these, just understand that I’ve used all of the products and/or
vendors in question, and I have no hesitation in recommending them to you as
well.  Click any of the banners to jump to the sales.




First up is REI, your best one-stop shop for pretty much
everything outdoor related.  They’re
offering all winter gear at a 30% discount through November 26th.












Next is Massey’s Outfitters, who sell the complete Patagonia
catalog as well as an extensive collection of Vibram FiveFingers.  They’ve got a ton of their products
discounted (including all Marmot gear), and are offering a $20 gift card with a $100 purchase.












The next banner ad is from GoLite, who offer pretty killer
savings all year long, and this week is no exception.  Their holiday promotion is a free beanie with
any purchase.












One more banner – not necessarily because it’s huge savings, but
because it’s one of my favorite companies. 
Patagonia is offering free shipping on all orders through December 9th.












Finally, a couple sales that I don’t have banner ads for:
VIVOBAREFOOT has a sweet coupon code for 40% off your order through November 28
– just enter VIVOBF at checkout. 
SKORA has a “first-come, best-served” type of coupon code where you can
save 25, 50, or possibly even 100% of your purchase price – click here for
details. 




Does that give you enough to shop for?  One other note is that Amazon.com will have
some great Cyber Monday deals as well – so if you’re looking for something that
isn’t on this list, chances are you’ll find it there.





Regular programming will resume later in the week – until then,
happy shopping!



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A Charlie Brown (And Milo and Binkley) Thanksgiving

It’s tradition around Running and Rambling HQ that when the
holidays roll around, we break out the Charlie Brown videos – and more often
than not, I embed a clip from one of the holiday specials here.







So it is again this year, in a brilliant 5-minute clip that
features classic Vince Guaraldi music, heartfelt gratitude in recognition of the
holiday, some of the finest Snoopy moments on film … and Thanksgiving around a
ping pong table.




“Thanksgiving Around a Ping-Pong Table” (click to play):












And while we’re on the subject of animation that
has greater significance, there’s an old Bloom County strip that’s been on my
mind a lot lately.  You’ll have to click
to enlarge:









More to follow on this shortly.  In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving to
everyone.  Don’t eat too much popcorn and
jellybeans.


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VIVOBAREFOOT Legacy Review

It’s worth noting that when I first started reviewing VIVOBAREFOOT
footwear more than three years ago, they were at that time exclusively a dress
shoe company.  They hadn’t yet entered
the running business, but there was an inherent symbiosis between their “barefoot”
shoes and the natural biomechanics of a bygone era of running, before modern corporations
turned the entire shoe industry into a destructive vortex of technologies that
none of us needed. 








VIVOBAREFOOT Legacy





All of which is my long-winded way of saying that running shoes
used to be much simpler.  However, today’s
product review doesn’t feature a running shoe, but the VIVOBAREFOOT Legacy,
designed as a throwback to those simpler days of running – or as the website
describes it, “a luxury barefoot shoe that pays homage to the classic Roger
Bannister era.”  




And before we proceed further, allow me to re-state what
longtime readers already know: I’m a complete Roger Bannister freak.  (Scroll around the lower right sidebar to see
what I mean.)  So when you put together
the words “Bannister” and “barefoot”, you pretty much have me at hello.  Admittedly then, I may not be the most
objective person to provide this review – but truthfully, the Legacy is
probably one of the most versatile and stylish shoes I own.









Let’s start with the styling: true to its claim, the Legacy
looks like it came straight out of Oxford University in the 1950s.  The entire upper is made with what
VIVOBAREFOOT calls luxury leather.  The continuation
of the lacing ridge lines down through the toe box give the shoe a look that’s
equally suitable for office or casual wear.









The toebox is nice and wide, allowing your toes to splay
naturally.  This design element seems
almost needless to say for natural shoe reviews nowadays because pretty much
everybody does it - but it bears mentioning that VIVOBAREFOOT was way ahead of
the curve in pioneering this kind of last in office-appropriate footwear.









Unlike most other VIVOBAREFOOT shoes, there’s a bit of a
breaking in period for the Legacy, as the luxury leather is slightly stiff right
out of the box.  It becomes softer and
more malleable after a few outings, and eventually becomes like a second layer
of skin around your midfoot (but not so much in the heel – more on that in a
second).









Midfoot fit can be fine-tuned by the traditional lacing
system and waxed cotton laces that hold their tension quite well during long
periods of wear.  Each shoe weighs 8.5
oz, (241g) which is slightly heavier than other office options (such as Merrell’s Tough Glove), but is light enough to not be burdensome even after a full day on
your feet.









Around the heel area, the leather is approximately twice as
thick as in the rest of the upper; I suspect this is to give a bit of structure
to the heel collar, but it makes the rearfoot area noticeably stiffer than the
rest of the shoe.  I feel the difference
when walking up stairs or up steep inclines, but it’s not enough to cause any discomfort.









Standing height of the Legacy is either 5mm or 8mm,
depending on whether or not you include the removable 3mm EVA insole.  Whichever way you choose, ground feel is
outstanding with this shoe, as the soft, flexible rubber outsole provides heightened
proprioception on a variety of surfaces.









Another nod to Bannister is the aforementioned outsole,
which is taken from VIVOBAREFOOT’s luxury Evo running shoe.  It’s composed of high abrasion,
puncture-resistant rubber with shallow hexagonal knobbing.  From my experience with other VIVOBAREFOOT
models, I’d say this outsole is quite strong from a dry traction standpoint
(especially on dirt or irregular surfaces), but lacks a bit in wet conditions
compared to the all-weather outsole found on VIVO’s Lesotho shoe and other
models.




Functionally speaking, the Legacy’s outsole mirrors its
upper in terms of being versatile for a range of situations and
conditions.  Ultimately that’s the
strength of the Legacy on the whole: it’s a very well-built, good-looking shoe
that you can use pretty much every day of the week, or from transitioning easily
from work to a night on the town.




The VIVOBAREFOOT Legacy is available in two colors, and retails
for $140 from the company website.  









*Product provided by
VIVOBAREFOOT.  Affiliate sales support
Running and Rambling.


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Random Shots of Fall Beauty

Traditional fall colors are somewhat difficult to find in
Monterey County, but if you do enough running around, eventually some of them will
cross your path.  Accordingly, this
weekend’s post features some color-themed Random Shots of Beauty.














The first is from Salinas; I have no idea what kind of tree
this is (any arborists out there who want to educate me, feel free) – all I
know is that it is extremely red.




In my home town of Carmel Valley, many of the colors aren’t
from trees …









… but from vineyards. 
Unlike the red tree earlier, these particular plants are very well known
to me; I drive past them every day on my way to and from work, and mark the
seasons by their changing shapes and colors. 
I also indulge in their ultimate product (in this case, from one of the
best wineries in the world) or similar Monterey County offerings quite a bit
during the holiday season – which happens to start this week. 




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GoLite Vista Ridge Shirt Review: GoLite Vermilion Thermal Jacket Review

I’ve mentioned a few times lately how our coastal California
autumn frequently blesses us with 75-degree days when the rest of the country
is in the midst of ice storms or cold spells or the unfairly harsh
weather that has decimated the East Coast. 
It’s really a wonderful thing … unless you happen to have some cold
weather gear that you’re supposed to be testing.




Fortunately, our warm days are preceded by fairly cold (by California
standards, anyway) mornings – and since I’m primarily a pre-dawn runner, I’ve
been able to put some cold weather apparel through the paces over the past few
weeks.  Today’s post features two tops
that I’ve worn in temps from mid-30s to mid-40s, and in a few weeks I’ll
review some pants that I’ll be using as our mornings drop closer to (and perhaps even below) freezing.








All of said products are from
GoLite, who as you may recall
completely revamped their business model this year, giving up
traditional marketing strategies and distribution channels in favor of offering
products directly to consumers at steeply discounted prices on their
website.  What they save in advertising
costs and retail fees they pass along to you, and I can’t think of an outdoor
gear company who offers a better value proposition across the board than
GoLite.




Case in point are today’s products – the
Vista Ridge long sleeve top and Vermilion Thermal full-zip jacket[image error]. Both are great for cool autumn trail running,
and both are super-affordable from the GoLite website.




*

The Vista Ridge Top is designed as a crossover for trail
running or hiking, with simple styling and a relaxed fit through the torso that
is comfortable under a shell or as a stand-alone layer.  It’s made of 100% recycled polyester, and is
fairly lightweight at 6.0 oz (160g).





GoLite Vista Ridge running shirt




In my testing I had two minor gripes; the main one was some
mild itching from the fairly large tag on the interior torso seam.  The rest of the garment has flatlock
stitching for minimal irritation, so I wish GoLite had made this a completely
tagless shirt so I wouldn’t have to cut the interior tags.








The offensive tags and giant logo




My other issue is a subjective one, and also an avoidable
one if you’re purchasing for yourself.  I’m
not a fan of huge logos across the chest, which is something GoLite does with
select styles and colors.  The Vista
Ridge shirt is available in four colors, and only one – the one I received for testing, of
course – has the large logo.  The other
colors have much more subtle logos, which is more my style.









From a moisture wicking and temperature regulation
standpoint, the Vista Ridge performed as well as most high-end offerings in this
category – but for the price, you can probably buy two or three of these for
the cost of one competitor’s shirt.  It
retails for
$25 from the GoLite website.




*

My first go-to item from the various products I’m testing
this fall is GoLite’s Vermillion jacket, which I have a hard time determining
whether to use as a running jacket or casual "lounging around the house" comfortwear.  It’s a midweight layer at 13 oz (360g), and the brushed fleece
interior is extremely soft against the skin. 
(And no itchy tags to bother me, either.)





GoLite Vermilion Thermal jacket







Like the Vista Ridge shirt, the Vermilion jacket is made extensively
with post-consumer materials – in this case, 78% recycled polyester fabric.  The remaining 22% features Cocona Minerale, a
fabric derived from coconut fibers that has outstanding natural moisture
wicking and odor-resistant properties.




I tested the odor-resistance during a 6-day stretch where I
ran in the jacket every day without washing it in between.  With most moisture-wicking apparel, I’d be
holding my nose by the third or fourth day – but with the Vermilion jacket, it
smelled pretty much the same after the sixth run as it did before the first.






Thermal regulation is pretty strong with the Vermilion as
well – with a short sleeve tech shirt and this jacket, I’m good to go for
temps approaching freezing.  It’s a
jacket you can use for a late-afternoon trail run, and keep it on to run
errands after the sun has gone down.  And
like the shirt, it’s very competitively priced compared to other jackets,
thanks to a GoLite price strategy that allows them to sell it at 60% below
retail.




GoLite’s Vermilion Thermal jacket is available in three
color schemes, and retails for
$48 from the GoLite website.







*Products provided by
GoLite.  Affiliate sales support Running
and Rambling.




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Merrell Bare Access 2 (and Arc 2) Shoe Review

Perhaps more than any other company, Merrell is an ideal
example of how an established shoe manufacturer can evolve in response to
changing times. 




They were the first major company to embrace the barefoot
running movement, and produced an entire line of minimalist products as good as
anything else on the market.  However,
they also realized that not everyone is ready or willing to go completely
minimal, so they created a separate line that incorporates all the biomechanical
advantages of minimalist shoes, but with just enough structure and cushioning to
welcome transitional or “moderate” minimalists.








Merrell Bare Access 2 (men's, left) and Bare Access Arc 2 (women's, right)





That line is the M-Connect series, which is being progressively
introduced over this fall and next spring. 
And since I happen to live with a moderate minimalist, I’m curious to
see how the M-Connect line appeals to each of us.  We received our first test pairs, the Bare Access 2 (men’s) and Bare Access Arc 2 (women’s)*, just prior to our trip to
Zion this fall, so we had some great opportunities for testing.








At the top of Angels Landing in Zion





(*To simplify things for the purpose of this review, I’m
going to refer to them both as simply Bare Access men’s or women’s – but female
readers take note that your version has a slightly different name.)









As the name implies, the Bare Access 2 are updated versions of a model first released in 2011.  They
have traditional running shoe styling, and weigh in at a very light 7.0 oz for
the men’s shoe and 5.5 for the women’s.









Much of the lightweight construction is thanks to the thin
mesh uppers, which are reinforced by long stability overlays incorporated into
the lacing to secure the midfoot in place …









... but are airy enough to provide outstanding cooling
and/or drying as necessary.









Both men’s and women’s models are built on the same last as
Merrell’s popular Barefoot line, although the fit of the Bare Access feels noticeably
wider through the midfoot and arch area. 
I’ve never had a problem with the Barefoot series lasts, but if those
models proved too narrow for you, the Bare Access will be an improvement.









The toe boxes are plenty wide on the Bare Access 2, allowing
your feet to splay naturally …









… and the entire shoe is flexible enough to let your entire
foot move in any manner it wants as well.









Like most of Merrell’s Barefoot line, the heel collar of the
Bare Access is thin and soft, and interior of the shoe is designed for sockless
use.  The microfiber footbed (along with
the lacing system) prevents slipping on hills, and the entire interior fees
very comfortable against bare skin.









Stack height for the shoes is 13.5mm for the men’s version and
12.5mm for the women’s.  8mm of that is
from EVA midsole cushioning with zero drop from heel to toe, and the rest is
from the insole and outsole. 









Merrell once again uses high-durability Vibram rubber for
its Bare Access outsole; the pattern is sort of similar to the Road Glove shoe,
and like that shoe, the Bare Access outsole is ideally suited for hybrid road
and trail use.  I’ve done an equal amount
of each in my pair, and I feel confident using the Bare Access on everything but
highly technical trails.









As a transitional – or moderate, as I’ve described it – shoe,
the Bare Access is an outstanding option; there’s enough cushioning and
protection to keep you comfortable, but all the construction aspects you need
to allow for natural running.  From a
minimalist standpoint, the midsole is higher and ground feel is lower than what
I prefer, but the Bare Access would be great for long distance road (or light
trail) running to give you a margin of error when your legs get fatigued and
your form may start to fall apart.




Merrell’s Bare Access 2 (men’s) and Bare Access Arc 2 (women’s)
shoes retail for $90 from the Merrell website. 
They are also available from Amazon.com at the links below, where some
sizes and colors are discounted:




Merrell Men's Bare Access 2




Merrell Women's Bare Access Arc 2




*Products provided by Merrell.  Affiliate sales support Running and Rambling.




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Barefoot Movie Giveaway Winner; Random Shots of Beauty (Extended Audience Participation Edition!)

Our main order of business is to give a barefoot video away –
but first we’ll get through some end-of-weekend randomness.




For our Random Shot of Beauty, I could have very easily gone
with a glimpse of another 80-degree November weekend that we enjoyed today …
but doing that for two weeks in a row kind of seems like rubbing it in.  Instead, I’ll reach back a few weeks to our
family’s road trip to Zion National Park. 
Since I couldn’t pick just one to choose from, you’re getting an
extended edition of RSOB – starting with this one:





(click to enlarge any of these)





A stately Joshua tree, as seen in the Mojave desert of
southern California.  Would you believe
me if I said I used to live right down the road from here? 
Sometimes I can hardly believe it myself.




Driving through the desert, it often seems like you’re in
the middle of nowhere – but that’s not entirely true.  In fact, sometimes if you wonder where you
are, you only need to look down at the road you’re on:






And you’ll find that you’re right here, of course.




This next one is more of a Random Shot of Randomness … and it’s
also a chance for some audience participation. 
Approximately 20 miles outside of Zion National Park is an odd structure
that will catch your eye:






It looks somewhat strange - and if you pull up closer, the
scene becomes even more bizarre:









Basically what you’ve got here is an old telephone pole
leaning into a dead tree stump … and the entire structure is covered top to bottom with
discarded shoes.  Running shoes, work
shoes, women’s boots, dress shoes, kids shoes – pretty much every kind of
footwear you can think of is represented.




I wish I could tell you more about it, but I honestly have no
idea what the explanation is here.  But it HAS
to have a cool story behind it, wouldn’t you think? 




So let’s see if I can harness the power of the Internet for
something tangible: if any readers happen to know the story of this community
shoe mural, I’d love to hear it, and I might even publish it to share
with everyone else.  The challenge has
been issued!   Somebody impress me,
please – and who knows, maybe there’s a little something in it for you if you
do.



**

OK then – it’s time to announce the winner of the Barefoot
Running Movie giveaway contest.  Louisiana
Leah, e-mail me your contact info – you’ve won! 
Thanks very much to everybody else who entered!




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