Author Archives: Julie Dodd
Hiking views in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is always uplifting and challenging. I was fortunate recently to spend almost two weeks in the Smokies. A highlight (literally) was hiking to Mt. Le Conte, the third highest peak the Smokies. At times we were hiking inside a cloud. Other times, the sky was clear and […]
Road race: Tips for race day
You’ve signed up for a road race. You’ve been training – for weeks and maybe months. Now race day is approaching. Here are some tips for success on race day. I’m sharing tips from the more than 200 road races I’ve completed, including the San Francisco Half Marathon, the Naples (Florida) Half Marathon, the Kentucky […]
Modify your screen use
How much time do you spend on screens — your smartphone, your laptop/computer, your television, your game devices, your tablet, and even your digital watch. This is Screen-Free Week (April 30 – May 6), an annual event that encourages us to “swap digital entertainment for the joys of life beyond the screen.” The event began […]
Spring here. Snow elsewhere.
It’s April, and it’s snowing. Snowing not just in Colorado and New England, but in Texas, Kentucky and Tennessee. I wanted to post a reminder that Spring has arrived in some locations, including Gainesville — and surely will be reaching other parts of the country soon. These photos are from Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park […]
Azaleas in bloom
What a beautiful time of year with the azaleas in bloom. I’ve taken these photos of azaleas around town, in a nearby park and in my yard. I hope the photos can brighten up the day for those of you who are in cold and snowy locations. This is a reminder that Spring will reach […]
Montserrat offers views, architecture and spiritual boost
The visit to Montserrat certainly was one of the high points (literally) of the vacation in Barcelona. Montserrat is a beautiful location – with wonderful views of the surrounding area and impressive architecture. Montserrat, an hour train ride from Barcelona, is a moutain range that gains its name (serrated mountain) from the jagged mountain peaks. […]
Walking in Barcelona
One of the many delights of visiting Barcelona was daily walking. In El Born, the old section of Barcelona where I was staying, the streets between the old stone buildings are more like alleyways, just wide enough for a car to pass through. The small streetcleaning truck did drive through the alleyways at night, and […]
