Starling Travel

Mike Moon did a video review of the Darlington Park camping site in Ontario Canada. This is a 8:50 minute video that shows you far more than I could describe. If you are trapped at home wishing you could get out into the wild, watch this and enjoy the birds, flowers and wildlife.

MOON ECHOES: Tourist in my own town (Darlington Park – Ontario, Canada)

It sounds like you need to be careful which campsite you choose:

“We survived the evening just fine… very noisy. Lots of traffic, trains, whistles, certainly not what I was anticipating when I wanted to get away from it all. I thought that the traffic would ease up, but there was a constant whoosing sound of transports and cars in the distance.”

They got a new campsite further away from the highway to avoid the noise. The campsites look very private and there are lots of trees everywhere. There is a general store nearby where you can pick up supplies.

“I found the prices to be quite reasonable. The firewood was five dollars [Canadian] a pack, which is cheaper than other parks that we’ve been to. And the prices in the store were very reasonable. Good little place. Great guy was in there. He had a good attitude, good sales. Made us feel welcome and at home.”

The park is near Lake Ontario, so you can enjoy the water lapping at the shore.

Where: Darlington Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada – 1600 Darlington Park Rd. Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K3 Telephone: 905-436-2036

Ontario Parks – Darlington

Why is Rob wearing socks on his hands? Is the weather at Lake Tahoe so cold in June that he needs their warmth? Watch the video to find out.

Traveling to new places comes with all sorts of obstacles that you might not have expected. Being able to improvise is the best option.

Hopper Video: Hopper Video In California (HVIC): June Snow Cabin

Where: Lake Tahoe, California Google Map

TahoeChamber.com – Lake Tahoe Chambers of Commerce and Visitors Centers

I have seen so many movies that try to portray how invigorating sailing can be. I’ve seen water lapping on the side of the boat. I’ve seen the bouncing water horizon. I’ve seen the ropes and the sails flapping in the wind. None of those videos prepared me for how truly awesome sailing is.

There is something so relaxing and inspiring about sailing that I can’t capture on film. I can remember how it was, but I can’t show you. It was a little like setting up a tent while you’re camping. It was a little like trying to hike a difficult trail. It was a little like flying down a mountain on my mountain bike. All of those things wrapped into one wet experience.

Jeff, the man who took Kathleen, Lisa and I sailing knew his boat like it was an old friend. I asked him, “How do you know all this stuff?”

“I was born on the water,” he replied, “My father manufactured shipping boats and we always sailed from when I was little. My whole family sails.”

“Are you from San Francisco?”

“No, I learned to sail right off New Jersey, but the sailing is so different there.”

“How so?”

“There is so much more wind in the San Francisco Bay and more variation in the tides. In New Jersey, we would need a much bigger sail.”

Our small sail took us all around the San Francisco Bay. We passed the city and Alcatraz before we finally docked in Marin.

If you ever get a chance to go sailing, don’t let fear get in your way. Say yes and find out how intensely awe-inspiring sailing can be.

Where: Pier 40, San Francisco, CA Google Map

Marin Dock, Sausalito, CA Google Map

Approximate map of the route:

Music: Overature by Kevin Macleod via Royalty Free Piano Music

We were walking through the Haight. We stopped at the corner of Cole and Haight for a cup of coffee. While we waited for the barista, I sat on the chairs watching the artist paint a mural. My friend, Kathleen Bennett explained the back story to me on video.

Yana Zegri painted a mural there long ago. When the building needed repairs, the mural needed to be sacrificed to save the building. Now that the building is rehabilitated, they hired the original artist to re-paint the mural, and it’s gorgeous. It’s called Evolutionary Rainbow and depicts the evolution of the planet from the primordial soup to the age of humans. From my vantage point at the coffee shop, it looked like a watery rainbow, but when you get up close, each color depicts a stage in our evolution. Here are some photos:

Where: On Cole Street near Haight, San Francisco, California Google Map

For More Photos: Flicker Photo Group: Evolutionary Rainbow

This is an entirely different view of Snowbird, Utah than I’m used to seeing. Mike and I usually only frequent Snowbird during the summer, walking its trails and trying to feed Cheese Nips to ground squirrels. This winter wonderland looks like a fantasy to me.

It’s funny how one part of the world can mean different things to different people. I loved watching this video from Ridertech.com. It showed me a snippet of my stomping grounds in a whole new light.

After getting past Elephant Hill in Stacey and Dan’s Hummer, we finally arrived to our campsite at Devil’s Kitchen. When I saw how far back it was from the main thoroughfare and enjoyed its private enclosure away from other campers and nearly surrounded by rock, I KNEW that the ride up was worth it.

As soon as we set up camp, I took a video of what our camp looked like. The campsite marker was by the road and we parked the bright yellow Hummer nearby, but the actual campsite was hidden past a small trail flanked by rock and vegetation. It took a full minute’s walk to get down the trail enough to find our campsite.

There have been so many times when we have camped in huge communal campsites, but this area felt entirely private. Sure, there were three other campsites, but each were separated from us by stone. Mike and I are completely unable to get to this campsite without the Hummer and suddenly the reason that people go off-roading became strikingly clear to me.

Off-roading takes you places that no one else can go.

For more information:

• America’s Byways – Devil’s Kitchen

I thought off-roading was a bouncy bunch of guys in Jeeps screaming and yelling while they go over the rocks all liquored up and willing to shoot at anything that moves. About a year ago, Stacey and Dan bought a Hummer H3. They have been taking it off-roading all over the state, but Mike and I have only gone with them once on a really minor 15 minute drive. I avoided off-roading because I had this pre-conceived image of what off-roading entails.

Instead, off-roading is a slow, meticulous and calculating journey. They were constantly checking where it was best to go in order not to damage the vehicle. This 1:52 minute video shows what off-roading was like for my introduction.

The drive was 45 minutes of careful driving, but once we got to Devil’s Kitchen, I knew it was totally worth it. Our campsite was remote and private. Tune in on Monday to see a video of what it looked like.

For More Information on our route:

• WeBeJeepin.com – Elephant Hill

When Mike took so many pictures tide-pooling at Swami’s Beach in Encinitas, CA, I took the video camera for a walk for over 45 minutes. I have created a DVD of that walk and it’s available for purchase now.

I created this video for Starling Fitness so you could watch it while walking on a treadmill or riding an exercise bike, but it is also a relaxing vacation in a DVD that you can pop into your player whenever you’re feeling trapped at home.

If you’re dreaming of sandy beaches, this video has it for you!

This video is only a minute and a half, but it gives you an idea of what you will see.

The DVD is 49:13 minutes long. It is shipped via U.S. mail.

Cost: $5 (including shipping and handling in the U.S.)

Order Starling Fitness Walking Videos Here

On our drive to Mt. Hood, Oregon, we stopped in Boise to gas up the car. On the way back to the freeway, we noticed the huge plume of smoke coming from the RV park, so we went to investigate. We were horrified to see that a trailer was on fire in the RV park. The fire department was already on the scene, so we stayed a safe distance away and took some video footage.

In an instant, your vacation can go from happy to horrific. Here are some safety tips from RVTravel.com to keep this from happening to you.

• RVTravel.com – RV fire safety facts that could save your life

Here is a summary of their list:

• Check radiator and antifreeze hoses for leaks.

• Check fuel lines and connections for leaks.

• Regularly clean build up of grease, oil, and road dust on the engine.

• Check tires for inflation and brakes for leaking brake fluid.

• Damp charcoal (as well as rags soiled with car wax and other flammable liquids) can spontaneously combust.

• A hot exhaust pipe or catalytic converter can ignite dry grass.

• Shut the propane off at the tank while driving.

• Check the flue for birds nests before starting your refrigerator on propane.

• Keep flame, cigarettes, and sparks away from batteries and check them monthly.

• Check all 12-volt connections before and after every trip.

• Properly clean up any fuel leaks or spills immediately.

• Never leave a stove unattended or use it to heat your coach.

• Keep all towels, curtains and paper towels as far from the stove as possible.

• Develop an two escape plans (one in the front and one from the rear of the coach) before a fire occurs.

• Review with everyone the “Stop, Drop, and Roll” rule so they know what to do when clothing is on fire.

• Make sure everyone knows how to open the front door.

• Choose a meetup area outside of the trailer so everyone can be accounted for.

• Show everyone how to unhook electricity and how to close propane valves.

• Practice unhooking your tow vehicle as quickly as possible to avoid spreading the fire to other vehicles.

• You should have three fire extinguishers for your coach—one in the galley, one in the bedroom, and one outside of the coach in an unlocked compartment or in your tow vehicle. Inspect them monthly.

• Place a CO/Smoke Detector in the coach. Know what it sounds like and check it regularly.

• Save lives first and property second. Get yourself and your family to safety before attempting to extinguish a fire. Only if you can do so without endangering yourself or others should you use firefighting aids on hand.

• It’s crucial to know your location so firefighters can find you.

• If you have a quick-disconnect fitting on your water hookup, these hoses can be unhooked instantly to fight a fire. If a nearby coach is burning and you cannot move your coach but can safely stay close enough to keep it hosed down, you may be able to save your own vehicle.

Don’t let a RV fire happen to you. Take these safety tips from RVTravel.com seriously and make the necessary precautions.

For More Information:

• Camper’s Corner – RV Fire Safety

No matter where I go, I am always on the search for interesting local music. A couple of weeks ago, Mike and I went to the Mt. Hood area of Oregon. We stayed in Welches, Oregon. At the coffee shop, I found this CD by a local group called Way Beyond Boring.

The name of the band is a play on words because there is a town nearby called, Boring, Oregon. This group is Way Beyond Boring. They’re all the way to Welches, in fact. The CD was a fund-raiser for the local school district. I was surprised to see that they had nothing on the Internet about themselves, so I gladly added them to the Boring, Oregon Wikipedia Page.

Sadly, you can’t buy this CD online, despite its entertaining content. This group sounds like the bottle jug and mouth harp bands of the deep south. If you enjoyed the soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou? then you’ll love these folks.

Wherever you travel, be on the lookout for small CDs sold at the local stores. They might not be the kind of music that you usually like, but they will give you a taste for the area far more than the local restaurants. These gems can become the soundtrack for your trip and every time you listen to them, they will remind you of your travels.