Walking the Entire California Mission Trail.

After several hikes with my wife on different trails that led to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, it seemed like there should be a worthwhile hike on this side of the pond. To be a contender for an urban type hike, it would need to have:

...

Summer is Coming!

This is definitely on my to do list.  My to do soon list.

It's not for inexperienced paddlers, but what I love about it is all the permutations.  From the head of the Cape Cod Canal you can get to four or five inns or b&b's in less than ten miles of paddling.  

I haven't done this trip yet, except for the loop from Woods Hole out to the Cuttyhunk Bass Club and back.  (I didn't stay at the club, but with a friend on the island...)  But it's part of a larger plan to finish circumnavigating the entirety of Cape Cod.  I've done from Massachusetts: Inn to Inn Along Cape Cod, and from Provincetown down to Wellfleet.  So though this gets a bit sidetracked--I'm going around the bay rather than through the Cape Cod Canal--it's part of a piece.  

The only downside about this trip, and sea kayaing inn to inn trips in general, is how much the weather can play with your plans.  So flexibility is the key.  Even in the relatively sheltered waters of Buzzards Bay, if the wrong wind kicks up you could be in for a hell of a push.  Or, if your smart, a lay in day.  

...

Taking the Iron Horse on the Mission Trail.

Even Father Junipero probably didn't really WALK the whole way, but rode a horse or a mule.  If you don't have a mule handy, and don't have the sole of Junipero--take the train!  We won't tell.

If you do want to walk it, check out Ron Briery's maps of the entire route as he did it.  

1.      Mission San Diego de Alcalá (1769): 10818 San Diego Mission Rd., San Diego, 92108-2429, (619) 281-8449. Pacific Surfliner(San Diego)

2.      Mission San Carlos Borremeo de Carmelo (1770); 3080 Rio Rd., Carmel, 93923, (831) 624-3600. Coast Starlight (Salinas)

3.      Mission San Antonio de Padua (1771); Mission Creek Rd., Jolon, 93928, (831) 385-4478 (40 miles north of Paso Robles—Coast Starlight (Paso Robles)

On this magnificent cultural hiking adventure on the largest island in the Mediterranean we’ll start with a visit to Segesta Archaeological Park en route to the enchanting, mountaintop medieval city of Erice, our first base.  From Erice we’ll set out by van to hike in a lovely coastal nature preserve. We’ll then transfer to the quaint Madonie Mountains, where our base will be a luxury hotel in a former abbey surrounded by olive groves and a vineyard. Here we’ll hike among giant holly trees up to dramatic vistas, and will also visit the port city of Cefalù with its ancient alleyways and dramatic Rocca towering over the town, which we’ll ascend.  We’ll wind up this amazing adventure with a stay in Taormina, the cliff top mediaeval city with views of Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe.  We’ll visit the Greek theater and Taormina’s many piazzas and palazzos, and hike to the hilltop village of Castemola.  On the last day we’ll hike on Mount Etna, Sicily’s greatest natural attraction. We hope you will join us on this travel event in Sicily, a world apart! We are offering this guided tour April 22 - 28, 2013 or by special arrangement for your gorup.  Please visit http://www.bredeson.com/sicily for further details.

Most places, you can't run your dogs on the beach. But Santa Barbara, California is just more civilized in many ways. Aside from a miles-long bike and walking path along the shore, the city has a wide dog beach in front of the Four Seasons Biltmore in Montecito. One fine Saturday these guys - from left, Rusty MacBane, Ms. Honey, Scottie and Angus - romped for hours along the shore. For more trails and dog-friendly hikes, check out www.santabarbaracarfree.org.