The Great Solar Eclipse of 2017 crossed the continent, from Oregon to South Carolina, and gave millions of people the chance to witness one of the most awe-inspiring events in the natural world.

But you had to be within the "path of totality", a narrow band across the earth's surface several thousand miles long but only about 70 miles wide. Outside that band you would only see a partial eclipse, not a total eclipse.

And there is no such thing as a "partial total eclipse", despite the impression blogs and the news media might give. I honestly think that's why so many people misunderstand the utter beauty of the spectacle; they may have seen a partial eclipse in the past that was total somewhere else, and even though they weren't in the path the news kept gushing about it being a total eclipse, so they assume they must have seen a total eclipse and just didn't find it all that impressive.


Posted by Dan 08/29/2017, revised 09/06/2017

Taking advantage of gorgeous views and challenging terrain, the Lake Tahoe Marathon Weekend has a little something for everyone.

The weekend features not just a marathon, but your choice of three marathons (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), or for endurance junkies, the option to do all 3 (The Tahoe Triple). Same goes for the half marathon (The Trifecta) and the ultra (The Triple Dare): 72 miles all the way around Lake Tahoe!

... And yes, someone did run the full 216.6 miles in three days (46 hours 27 minutes). See Rob Carter's finish video.

For the rest of us with more modest goals, the menu of events included duathlon, 10k, 5k, kids superhero run, and a number of aquatic events. There were kayak and paddle board races, and open water swim races.

I felt a little greedy looking at all the events to register for, but in the end I opted for the 2 mile swim as one of the more unique choices.


Posted by Kimberly 09/16/2014

Bangkok is one of those cities that makes an impression the second you get there. However after you get over the smell and the traffic there actually is some wonderful wonders to be found. We were fortunate enough to be staying with a couchsurfer and he acted as our tour guide while we were in the city. Our first day we made our way by train, boat and taxi to Canchanaburi where there is a train bridge.

Jen got over the wonderful wonders quick.

Posted by nik 09/14/2008, revised 09/21/2008

Well, I didn't make it to the very tip of the continent - transport was not really existent when I wanted to go, and seemed quite expensive when it did exist. But I went to Cabo de la Vela, which is still waaaay remote - where shrubby desert meats the sea. No running water. Just a few shacks, and accommodation is a hammock. Was good stuff, only a handful of tourists that make it out to this tiny pueblo. Yesterday, I bused it Cartagena, about 8 hours of travel after making it from car to car across the desert (a few hours).


Trekking around the scrubby desert land to arrive at a gorgeous blue ocean bay

Cartagena is a metropolitan area, and supposedly the most beautiful, enchanting colonial town in Colombia (I have yet to explore). Feels good to take a shower, sleep in a bed, and get internet (I guess it's only been a few days, but somehow the 'remoteness' factor made it feel longer). So I think I'll kick it here for a few days, wander the city, feel the pulse, and then see what's next. I find that I am not at all very good at staying in one place for more than a few days (which is much more expensive, as the buses are the most expensive part of this trip). I'd like to think I could just chill and get to know a place for more than 2 days, but so far no success (well, Bogota was 3 days).


Charming colonial city of Cartagena

Posted by Whitney 07/19/2011, revised 08/15/2011