Entries about 2020

overview / intro

While I'm working remotely (mostly from the couch at home) and while flights are cheap (within the US), we decided to take advantage and visit some friends and family in Long Beach, California.

We were able to work from there fine during the week and then enjoy the beach at night and over the weekend. We got in some stand up paddle boarding, running, swimming, and walks around the canals of Naples Island.

Recommend:

• restaurants on 2nd St
• the local beaches (hidden beach if you can find it)
• running / biking along the beach and shore

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

For the long Memorial weekend, we decided to get some dispersed camping in. That's where you find federal lands that you can drive over off-road paths to get to primitive camp sites that are far away from others and real close to the natural wilderness.

We headed towards the Utah and Colorado border to get away from big cities and people too. The first couple nights we stayed within the Ashley National Forest. It's in north east Utah with lots to see and do. There were dinosaur tracks, arch hikes, man made reservoir, gorge, recreation area, forest, mountains, and some great views. Also, there was time to roast some marshmallows.

Then we headed to the Colorado side of things. We went through the Dinosaur National Monument for some hiking and camping. On our way back to Denver, we swung by and drove through the Colorado National Monument too.

Recommend:

• Harpers Corner in Dinosaur National Park
• Drive through Colorado National Monument & stop at all the view points
• Drive through Douglas Pass on highway 139
• Red Canyon visitor center - hike and view over Green River
• Moonshine Arch hike
• Red Fleet State Park

Trip Map

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums
USA Colorado album
USA Utah album

Moonshine Arch (Utah)

Red Canyon & Green River (Utah)

State Park (Utah)

dispersed camping site - scenic, quiet, and so peaceful (Colorado)

Dinosaur National Monument (Colorado)

Independence Canyon (Colorado)

Red Canyon (Colorado)

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

During the spring, we decided to escape some of the lock down blues and venture into nature for some hiking.

It's a great time in the spring to have cooler temps (but you warm up when hiking) and to see some snow cover, but it's not too deep so that you can still walk through it. The skies are usually clear and bright during this time too. We saw a handful of people on each hike, but there's so much space that everyone could keep adequate distant and enjoy the nature within their own groups.

White Ranch Park:

• in Jefferson county near Golden
• hiked part of the Belcher, Maverick, and Longhorn trails
• https://www.jeffco.us/1437/White-Ranch-Park/

Deer Creek Canyon Park:

• in Jefferson county near Ken Caryl
• hiked Meadowlark and Plymouth Mountain trails
• https://www.jeffco.us/1208/Deer-Creek-Canyon-Park

North Table Mountain:

• in Jefferson county near Golden
• hiked the Mesa Top and Table loop trails
• https://www.jeffco.us/1427/North-Table-Mountain-Park

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums
USA Colorado ablum

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

After visiting Israel, we extended our trip into Egypt. We ventured from the Red Sea beach area across the desolate Sinai peninsula, and into the large metro of Cairo.

There is so much history here with the ancient kingdoms of Egypt and all the artifacts, both large as pyramids and as small as tiny jewels and carved art. Unfortunately, regional and global events have devastated the countries economy. A large and visible portion of the population is in extreme poverty, and their is little in the way of social services to help individuals or even keep the city clean.

They are building a new Egyptian musuem near the Giza pyramids. But we got to tour the original one in the main city area. In addition we saw a couple other museums, and local craft stores dealing with papyrus and rug making. Our time was short, but we saw some highlights and got a feel for the city.

Recommend:

• Egyptian museum
• Memphis museum
• Giza plateau for sites of the pyramids
• local shops that make rugs, parchments, or other products by hand

Trip Map

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums
Egypt folder

Giza

Memphis

Egyptian museum

Red Sea resort

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

overview / intro

Dad and I took a family and group pilgrimage to the Christian holy lands in Israel. Our agenda took us from the capital Tel Aviv to most parts of the country. We stayed up north around the Sea of Galilee, got to check out the Mediterranean Sea coast on the west, drove through part of the West Bank and Golan Heights, stayed in Jerusalem, and then headed south to the Dead Sea and Red Sea.

There is an amazing amount of history in this region of the world. Lots of the cities are just layers of civilizations built over the previous ones. You can see a large influence of Europe due to the Roman rule for so long, and currently there's a very international feel to some of the large more culturally modern cities. Although it seems like most of the Israeli's prefer to socially separate themselves and resist any change.

It's definitely recommended, and was very helpful that we had a knowledgeable guide to lead us around and provide more insight.
Afterward we added on some time in Egypt.

Recommend:

• Caesarea historic site
• Beit She'an ruins
• Dead Sea float
• all of Jerusalem: 4 quarters, Israeli museum, Yeshuda market
• Sea of Galilee area

Trip Map

Pictures

see more on Facebook Murk Travels albums
Israel folder

Roman Ruins

Sea of Galilee

Dead Sea

rural view

urban view (Jerusalem)

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen

oh the places I've been

Below is a list of the places I've been (35 countries and counting). For each is links to the planning and information that I've curated and used. It includes maps, recommendations, articles, and more

Country (and region) List:

• Australia
• Bahamas
• BELGIUM - Brussels
• Belize
• Cambodia - Siem Reap
• Canada
• China - Hong Kong
• Colombia - Bogota - Cartagena - Medellin
• Costa Rica
• Czech Republic - Prague
• Denmark
• Egypt
• France
• Germany - Heidelberg - Mannheim - Munich - Neuschwanstein castle - Stuttgart
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• JAPAN - Kyoto , Nagoya , Osaka , Tokyo
• Luxembourg - Luxembourg City
• the Maldives
• Mexico
• the Netherlands - The Hague - Leiden
• North Macedonia
• NORWAY - Lofoten , Oslo
• Panama
• Peru - Cusco, Huacachina, Ica, Machu Picchu, Mancora, Sacred Valley, Tingo Maria
• Qatar
• Sweden
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• UNITED KINGDOM - British Virgin Islands - London
• UNITED STATES - Colorado - Florida - Iowa - Minnesota - New Mexico - US Virgin Islands
• Vatican City
• Vietnam

Links

MurkTravels Vimeo - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Youtube - videos of my trips & entertainment
MurkTravels Facebook page - pictures, posts, and regular updates
MurkTravels Facebook photo albums
MurkTravels Instagram - my attempt at artistic travel images
MurkTravels Travel Map - all the places that I've been and the things that I've seen