Archive for May, 2009

It took a few years of angry searching. Condescension at wide-ruled “plebian” notepads. Eschewing of perfectly nice notebooks brought thousands of miles and placed at my feet as gifts. Finally, I have found The One True Notebook. Or at least the closest thing I’m likely to uncover. Meet the Rediform Chemistry Notebook, 9.25 x 7.5 [...]

I find the confluence of human and geographical history to be fascinating, and one of the best examples of that is pre-Columbian American cultures, and the hints the different societies left us. The Northern Paiutes of Central/Southeastern Oregon did not use stone-based architecture, and their nomadic lifestyle meant fewer long-established civic centers to leave obvious [...]

Mr. Pencil and I have reached a beautiful equilibrium of joint travel. This year’s week in the American Southwest was a perfect synthesis of this: the traits that make travel broadening for me, the wildness of David’s exploratory whims and the driving curiosity that spurs us both. Both of us love to be outside, to [...]

The Traditional Approach What: Antelope Canyon How much it costs: $31 per person to enter. Considerably more if you want to take photographs and sell them. Crowd Factor: Access only via tour group. Truckloads of tourists brought from nearby Page, Arizona. Level of Spectacular: World-renowned smooth sandstone walls with fascinating light. The Pencil Approach What: [...]

Traditional Approach How you get there: Highway 67 south from Jacob Lake, Arizona. During our trip, technically impossible because the road is closed for the winter through May 15. How much it costs: $25 per vehicle to enter the park, $18-25 per campsite per night, considerably more if lodging in a building. Crowd factor: Excessive. [...]