THE early-morning sun warms the back of my neck as a friend and I pedal along the open road, rolling past dangling peaches as well as grapes hanging in little clumps on parallel rows of trellised vines. Up ahead, a wood-frame chunk of white rock bearing the vineyard’s name signals the entrance to the Plum Creek Winery, and we turn down a short pebbly road and spot a seven-and-a-half-foot metal fowl that’s been made from old farm equipment guarding the rustic tasting room.
Five years ago, Dr. Jessie Stone had temporarily given up medicine and left New York to pursue her passion for kayaking. She had no idea that her medical career and her passion would cross paths and change her life. Today, she runs a malaria prevention program in rural Uganda.
FOR those who have already spun and sipped their way through Bordeaux, Alsace and Napa, there are a growing number of bike tours in other wine regions. Some touring companies offer fully guided and supported multiday excursions arranging everything from upscale hotels to luggage transport to private tastings at wineries and host hotels. You can also hire local cycling guides to provide intimate glimpses of their home turfs, or in most areas, follow winery maps for a straightforward do-it-yourself exploration.
It's climbing season in the Himalayas, where every year climbers take great risks to scale the world's highest peaks. But for six Tibetan teenagers who attempted to reach the summit of Lapka Rhi last year, conditions were especially challenging. They're blind.
In December 2003, fitness journalist Stefani Jackenthal competed in the Mild Seven Outdoor Quest, an annual four-day adventure race with a $200,000 prize. The event, held on the island of Borneo, involved kayaking, biking, rock climbing and running — a lot of running.
