With a few exceptions, this blog has depicted my various travels abroad. Already half-way through 2010, such an opportunity has not presented itself, but that does not mean I’ve been sitting idly in Boulder. In fact, I have been fortunate to make several trips to the West Coast. Cheap flights, family, and an increasing number of friends in the Bay Area makes this an easy justification for a quick getaway.

My first foray was in early February for a week of cycling and other fun, mostly spent in Santa Cruz. I managed to dodge the rain drops of a very wet El Nino season and enjoyed some warmer weather riding among the redwoods and along the coast – a much needed respite from cold Colorado. In late February, I was back for “girls’ ski weekend” in Tahoe. Four of us convened from Colorado to join Kerry at Squaw Valley for two days of fantastic skiing: One day of fresh snow that turned to classic Sierra cement by the end of the day, followed by a second day of warm weather and sun. A third trip for work to attend the Open Source Business Conference in San Francisco brought me back again in mid-March. I stayed for the weekend after and managed to sneak in a run in Marin and a ride in Santa Cruz. I think I’m getting the hang of how to maximize one’s time on a short trip!

--- cycling along Route 1, north of Santa Cruz ---

--- February Santa Cruz sunset ---

--- fields of flowers ---

--- powder day at Squaw! ---

--- the girls ---

--- Squaw Valley... with visibility ---