Pining for the Shire? Here are a few places to visit to quell your hobbity cravings in Washington State without visiting Middle Earth (or at least New Zealand).

I guess the Thule Hullavator is like an elevator, only for your hull (of your kayak). I've used the Hullavator for a few years now -- overall it's a nice piece of gear and lets me schlep my kayak around solo. But it does have a few drawbacks as well. Here's what I think, with a video demo.

The Pacific Northwest is a great place for water sports, but it can be cold. Here are some great tips for choosing a wetsuit for the Pacific Northwest from evo -- a Seattle based outdoor gear retailer.

In Orondo, Washington, near the Columbia River Gorge, there exists a charming hobbit house built into the hillside. We finally got to stay there for a few nights! Here's a review with a brief video, and some things to know before you go there.

This is the first in what will be a long series of posts about Scotland's North Coast 500 -- an epic and memorable road trip (though I'd better write about it before I forget about it!) This post consists of an introduction and some tips and resources for trip planning. Future posts will comprise stops along the route and some other places in Scotland.