She is a model in the St Pete area, and her new doberman puppy just got his ears clipped. They had a lot of fun playing on the beach, and she was kind enough to let me capture a few moments with them. Thanks Taylor!

I ventured down to St Petersburg, FL during the first week of January to see a couple of old friends. [Hey Deborah and George!] I really like it down here and considered moving here before ultimately deciding to buy a house in mid-coast Maine. I'm sure I'll be back down often.
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On this trip I discovered a wonderful little area just north of the Don Cesar hotel, yes, the really big pink one! I didn't ask how professional or organized these guys were, but they clearly play a lot and it was great fun to watch!

From a local news site: "​For the past 50 years, the Mt. Battie star has been lit from Thanksgiving Day to the New Year, as shared by the Penobscot Bay Pilot. It sits big and bright on the World War I Memorial Tower and is a traditional destination for Camden residents on New Year's Day every year."
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It was fun, cold, and rapidly getting dark. But the views were worth it!

Read More: Iconic Star Shines Bright Again on Mount Battie in Camden, Maine 

I finally checked a big one off the bucket list last month: Key West. As a lifelong sailor—and requisite Jimmy Buffett fan—it felt like a pilgrimage that was overdue. Late September seemed to be the perfect time: fewer crowds, cooler temps… right? Well, yes and no.

Fewer crowds? Nailed it. At 7 a.m. on Duval Street, it was just me, a couple of roosters, and the eternal quest for coffee. Cooler temps? Well...it was only mid-80s (30°C), which sounds harmless until you add humidity reminiscent of a YMCA sauna. This northerner was basically a walking, camera-toting sponge.

And the sights? All the classics—Sloppy Joe’s, Captain Tony’s, Mallory Square—and a fantastic tour of Ernest Hemingway’s home. When the guide asked, “How many of you are mainly here for the cats?” I raised my hand without hesitation.
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It was a great trip. I met wonderful people—I mean, when was the last time you spent three hours talking to someone you met at breakfast?! Jeff wrote a definitive book on Porsches. We had a lot to talk about.

And yes, there was sunset sailing. Because, Key West.

I'd do it again...in the winter!

Photos captured with my Lumix G9 and Leica DG 50-200mm f2.8-4 plus a 2x teleconverter, and also a Leica 42.5mm f1.2. The 35mm FF equivalent focal lengths were 800mm at f11, and 85mm at f1.2.

I recently hiked a stretch of the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. These pilgrimage routes have been around for centuries, radiating from towns all over Europe and covering… well, a lot of miles. The trails all lead to the supposed resting place of St. James at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Basilica.

I wasn’t walking for religious reasons—though many do—but my father was an Episcopalian priest, and I like to think he knew about the Camino and would’ve been proud that I attempted it.

With only a week to spare, I set out to hike the final 117 km (73 miles) from Sarria to Santiago. Ambitious? Absolutely. Foolhardy? Possibly. The first two days were 24 km and 25 km, which left me hobbling like I’d fought a small war. I took Day 3 off to recover and then eased back into the mileage.

The landscape was incredible—rolling farmland, stone houses, misty woods, and quiet rural paths that literally run through people’s backyards: barn on the left, family home on the right. Some hours I walked entirely alone; others I was swept up in cheerful crowds speaking every language imaginable.

​The people were extraordinary, too. Some had started in France 30 days earlier and crossed the Pyrenees on foot. Absolute legends.

A lot of pilgrims talk about having spiritual revelations out there. I’ll admit I had a few moments myself, but I’m still processing them. What I can say is that I came home changed—and yes, newly tattooed.

I just got back to the States after a week in São Paulo, Brazil—a city that is wonderful, wildly varied, and absolutely massive. Somewhere along the way I seem to have awakened a long-dormant wanderlust, because next month I’m off again… this time to tackle the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain.

This wasn’t a photography-focused trip, though of course I packed the full kit. The primary goals were discovery and reconnection with an old friend. And honestly, security concerns often dictated whether a camera left the house with me at all.

I was warned to keep even my phone out of sight in public—never mind strolling around flashing Leica glass. My friend had once had a gun held to her head for her purse. Her new car is bulletproof. I took the hint.

As a result, the images here are a blend of iPhone 13 shots and others from my trusty Lumix G9 with Leica DG lenses—and surprisingly, the combo worked great.

I do still plan to bring a camera on the Camino… but probably the smaller, lighter GX85 with just a couple of the plastic kit lenses. The pilgrimage comes first, and while I used to be an avid walker, this will be a real challenge for an older guy with no support crew in sight. I’ll need to be smart about what I’m willing to haul across Spain.

Travel really does expand the mind. At this point in life, it may be the only vice truly worth investing in. (Well… that and a circa-1966 Rolex Oyster—a modest reward for a life well lived. 🙂)

​A fully photo-centric trip is definitely on the horizon. Greece, maybe? I’ll keep you posted.

Spent a wonderful weekend walking all over Boston. 16k steps one day! 

I'd scheduled a workshop through Leica Store Boston, and had no idea that they might postpone it. So I bought all cheap, nonrefundable tickets and hotel. Ha!

Decided to go down anyway. I was born here and have spent a lot of time here over the years. But I saw it with new eyes. 

I'd live in Boston again if I could. But alas.

So I got to visit NYC on business recently. Hadn't been there in years. What a vibrant place! I did take a 'real' camera with me which is, regrettably, exceedingly rare these days. So glad I did. Can't wait for the next trip...should be to either Germany or Brazil?

My son and I spent summer vacation again in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada. We time our visit annually to coincide with Canada Day on July 1st, and of course US Independence Day on the 4th which we celebrate from afar. We had generally great weather and the food and people we experienced were terrific. See you all next year!