The Panama Chronicles: Episode 1 – Arriving

Posted on November 25, 2012 by mlgray

A Panamanian Vacation

The plane touches down on what’s technically considered South America, and I immediately feel the time warp that flying causes.  We left Denver with snow on the ground and 16 degree (F) temperatures. Panama’s tropical air soothes my flight nerves, and I can’t help but to crave an ice cold beer or maybe even a Pina Colada.

Customs and Immigration seem far too easy. We’re out of the airport in a matter of minutes . . . American tourists are clearly welcome travelers here. Our two hour drive to the resort by van taxi commences before I can take another breath of the warmth or think twice about that beer. Continue reading →

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What the Road Tells Us

Posted on November 18, 2012 by mlgray

Different Modes of Exploration #15, Part 2: Highway Aphorisms

These were an enjoyable process to put together last week, and I only traveled through ten of the reflections.  I thought I would try out just a few more:

1. During sunset, I talk with good friends in New York, watching and waiting out Hurricane Sandy.  They are enthusiastic and cynical. It seems crazy that they’re so close, but so far away, that they’ll see a historical storm, and I’ll see but a few rain drops.

2. I wake up in the absolute dark of Mountain Home, Idaho. What time is it? 7:30 at night? Is it really morning?  Did I sleep through a time warp? Where is everyone?  Did I sleep through the apocalypse?  Continue reading →

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Road Meditations

Posted on November 11, 2012 by mlgray

Different Modes of Exploration #15, Part 1: Highway Aphorisms

Two weeks ago today I loaded up my Ford Focus and headed north into Wyoming for what turned out to be a ten-day, 3400 mile road trip to Oregon, on down to California, across the Nevada desert on the “Loneliest Highway in America,” and through the wild red rock formations of Utah, before returning to the Rocky Mountains and Colorado. I drove the entire journey solo, and as I’ve said before, when that road line yellow passes beneath me, my mind fires up with ideas and questions and contemplations.

There are hundreds of ways to approach travel writing, and most of them involve stories and storytelling. But I haven’t quite unpacked the story from this particular jaunt.  Instead, this week, I’m exploring the concept of compiling succinct thoughts: Highway Aphorisms, that offer a small taste of my road meditations. Maybe these are in place of photographs. Continue reading →

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A Singing Landscape

Posted on October 28, 2012 by mlgray

Guest Writer Series: Volume 3

Jenna Washburn is currently a graduate student in the International Studies Program at the University of San Francisco.  That’s a fancy way of saying since she started school, she spends way too much time reading and writing about the world and less time experiencing it.  However, this summer, Jenna was able to go to Cape Town, South Africa to do research for her thesis and see what all those theories about globalization actually look like.  While there, she was also able to travel, experience, and interact with the globe (or at least a few countries in the southern part of the African Continent.)  Since then, she has returned to her desk to write her thesis . . . and misses the fresh air and travel adventures dearly. 

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Blog Post From Livingstone, Zambia

We hit a giant pothole and the jolt wakes me from my reveries.  The metal frame holding up the top of the the safari vehicle shakes and creaks noisily.  Continue reading →

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Brewery Blogging

Posted on October 15, 2012 by mlgray

Different Modes of Exploration #14: The Multiple Purposes of Travel Writing

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been focused on updating the web pages at my other blog/website, coloradobrewerydays.com.  While there’s still more work to be done, I’m quite happy with how far the website has come in its first ten months. I’m sharing this website now as I think it demonstrates a whole different utility and approach to travel writing. I hope you’ll have a look and share it with friends that might be interested in exploring Colorado’s Craft Beer Scene. Here’s a brief bit of writing about the website and a link to read more . . . thanks!

Our Story

Colorado Brewery Days offers advice, itineraries and a plethora of resources to enjoy multiple craft breweries in one city, region, or drive over the course of a day. If you’re a visitor to the Rocky Mountain State eager to try a variety of delicious beers, or you’re a Native ready to venture beyond your local watering hole, you’ve come to the right place.  For us, a good day of beer includes tasting a variety of styles, enjoying scenic Colorado, and stuffing our faces with delicious local food.  All the days described on this website include these three elements.

Read More On This Blog

Posted in At Home in Denver & the Rockies, Beer & Wine, Different Modes of Exploration, Food, Travel | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Running to Live

Posted on October 7, 2012 by mlgray

For one of the supposedly busier trails into the Denver foothills, the parking lot is quiet. I look up at the clouds and feel the wind.  Rain definitely seems to be on its way, but it’s too fall-like for a thunderstorm. Maybe with the warm summer behind us, the slightest sign of rain has kept everyone inside. Ignoring that I’m rationalizing my adventure into Waterton Canyon with ominous weather looming, I cross the main parkway and hit the dirt road.

The wind whips in my face as I pass a group of three hikers bundled in raincoats.  I wave hello, realizing that I’m just a bit crazy heading the wrong direction.  But there’s still no sound of thunder Continue reading →

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Fall Colors of Colorado: What Change Means

Posted on September 23, 2012 by mlgray

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Last weekend, we went on our annual drive and camping trip to see the fall colors of Colorado. The transition of aspen leaves is a glorious moment in time and space.  For a fleeting instance we tip-toe through the woods, mindful of what seasons and cycles and changes really mean. We become aware of how impermanent we always are as the fall colors transform from their darkest green to a lime green, drift slowly into the golden yellow that lights up the entire forest and contrasts Continue reading →

Posted in At Home in Denver & the Rockies, Conversations on Travel, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Calling Other Travel Writers

Posted on September 14, 2012 by mlgray

I’m looking for guest writers here on graywanderings.com!

I believe very deeply in the power and benefits of community.  Writing regularly on this blog over the last year has not only helped me connect with readers, but it has also helped me become a reader of many other writers’ words, writing that I would not otherwise see if it wasn’t for the blogosphere. Conversations easily take off from a brief comment left on another writer’s post.  A simple “liking” of a post, lets the author know you’re out there, the illusive and engaged reader, ready for the next sentence.

In an era when young writers carry the growing fear that they will never be published, blogging allows writers to know that the second they push “Publish” on their post those words are out in the world, available to be read Continue reading →

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From Trail Running to Slowing Down

Posted on September 9, 2012 by mlgray

Different Modes of Exploration #13: Walking Mindfully

Not only am I examining a different mode of exploring in this post, but I’m also attempting a new form for this narrative, something along the lines of “traveling aphorisms,” (a new coinage). Last week, I went out for a trail run/hike and covered about 11 miles in a little more than 2 hours.  Though I saw a great deal of new wilderness during this adventure, I recognized that a lot of my thoughts slipped by as quickly as my feet were moving.

Over the summer, I’ve been studying mindfulness extensively and the trail is a good place to practice these lessons.  Moving at the trail running pace, I’m mindful of every movement, (I have to be for my own safety), but I began to wonder if I might focus my mindfulness even more by moving at a much slower rate. I found another trailhead about twenty minutes away and spent over an hour walking one mile.

I really slowed down my pace on the return, walking 100 feet, stopping, breathing, refocusing, and then writing down some of my observations. This meticulous, steady, mellow mode of exploration revealed some compelling insights to me. And this week, I’ll take the great risk as a writer and share: Continue reading →

Posted in At Home in Denver & the Rockies, Different Modes of Exploration, Running, Travel | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Morelia, Mexico: The Roots of Why I Travel

Posted on September 2, 2012 by mlgray

Something from the Vault: Volume #6

Just a week before my sixteenth birthday, I’m standing on the street in front of my language school in Morelia, Mexico, a bit bored, waiting for my ride to my home-stay. Or at least I think I’m waiting, at least I think I’m bored.

As my combi, (a 1970s Volkswagon Bus striped with bright orange paint and covered on both sides by names of neighborhoods where this van will eventually deliver its passengers) pulls up to the street corner, I’m contemplating what I should do with all my free time before comida. Continue reading →

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