by Pat Wetzel | Jan 7, 2019 | Featured, Perspective, Road Trip, The Matrix, The Story
What’s in your Matrix?
I often refer to the collection of ideas, thoughts, values and perspectives as our Matrix. We each have one that is influenced by our past and our future; by our culture and habits; by our conscious and subconscious.
Our Matrix is not set in stone. Rather, it’s whatever we choose, consciously or not.
I have been on many sides of my own Matrix. Life wish, death wish. Deep disappointment. Joy. Pessimism. Accomplishment. Defeat.
But over the years I’ve found a steadier balance, one of deep connection, care and optimism.
The Matrix is a new section of the blog. I’ll be featuring different people and thoughts on a wide range of topics, all looking at how we construct our Matrix.
My motivation for doing this is cancer (obviously).
I have come to believe strongly that we–as individuals and as a society–are mired in a Matrix that just isn’t working. Forty percent of us (according to the American Cancer Society) will have a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime.
This isn’t just a series of diseases; this is an epidemic. For numbers like this to exist, I have to believe:
There’s something seriously wrong with our Matrix.
Our food, our water, and our air are part of an environmental Matrix. But so are our choices and our thoughts.
Dean Ornish, M.D. (and many others) have shown that we have control of our health destiny through our genetic expression. Genetic expression, in turn, is partly a function of our daily habits and choices.
And our outlook. Because our brain impacts our biology.
The Matrix will explore people, thoughts and ideas on how we might construct better health and well being. And anything is game!
So I hope you’ll stay tuned as this new section of the blog is developed.
What’s in Your Matrix?
What’s in your matrix?
For many years I had a material matrix. I wanted a nice house, a home base. I finally had one only when I divorced. And I filled it with beautiful things and the stuff of adventure. A kayak to explore; old maps that traced how our world view changed over time; books to follow the tales of others. It was a combination of physical, intellectual and tangible exploration.
Relationships, jobs, schools…they are all part of our matrix.
I’ve had various relational matrixes as part of my life. I went to such and such a school; I married so and so; I lived here or there. I know so and so. Dog owner, cat owner, employer, employee. We all know how that goes.
But my favorite matrixes have been the experiential. Because experience is exquisitely present moment and therefore boundless.
I love the experience of a new place, full of possibility and surprise.
“Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.”
–Anthony Bourdain
And in the unknown is a bit of adventure.
If you could consciously construct your Matrix, what would you choose? Would you be willing to go on an adventure, to let go of the old and familiar, to build a new path forward?
Is your Matrix material, relational, experiential, spiritual? Or perhaps a bit of each?
Ultimately, our Matrix is whatever we want it to be.
And that’s where healing travel comes in,
to help us shake up our lives and reconsider our Matrix.
Because…
Travel surprises.
Travel challenges.
And travel can heal.
It heals by forcing us to look at ourselves and at our world anew.
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable.
Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart.
But that’s okay.
The journey changes you; it should change you.
It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness,
on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you.
Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
― Anthony Bourdain
Life is a journey.
Cancer is a journey.
It can be one of healing.
Where might we go and what might we learn?
Stay tuned as we dive into the Matrix.
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by Pat Wetzel | Dec 25, 2018 | Foodie Forays, Road Trip, The Story
The Central Coast: From Beaches to Pinots
I am not naturally drawn to the beach. Like my semi-indifference to chocolate, some might consider this a character flaw.
But it’s just that the beach bores me after a day or two.
This indifference to surf and sand most likely has its roots in my youth. Many summers were spent along the Mediterranean, where culture, food, history and seaside met. My beach was never boring. There were languages to learn (or at least navigate); ruins to explore; new foods to sample and try.
People were different too, in their dress and their ways. From the ubiquitous black garb of Greek widows, to the topless beaches of the south of France, every new beach meant new experiences. Rocky beaches; sandy beaches; port towns made of ancient stones withstanding the sea.
The constant in all this is of course the water. The magnificent water. The water that lured travelers, then and now, to their beaches, to new adventures. That quest is universal.
So it was I found myself in Cayucos, CA for a few days.
Cayucos, CA
Cayucos is well north of Santa Barbara, just above Morro Bay. It’s a quiet, sleepy town. Some blogger has no doubt chronicaled the top five things to do in Cayucos, but the town is really just an excuse to unwind. There’s not much here, other than miles of beautiful beach just made for winter walking.
But after a few days and a few miles, I was ready for some more adventure. And part of it came through a bit of travel serendipity in the form of a canceled flight.
My return flight was for early Sunday morning, which meant driving through fog to the airport at o-dark-o’clock. Only to find that the entire flight was canceled. No reason was given. Hundreds of travelers simply found themselves stranded. (Thank you United).
And being stranded turned out to be the most wonderful adventure of all.
After reclaiming my rental car, I decided to head to Edna Valley. I’d spent a part of a day earlier in the week wine tasting in the Arroyo Grande AVA and in Avila Beach. With a full day on my hands, it was time to explore a bit and perhaps check out some other wineries in the area.
Pinot in the Central Coast
The central coast of California is characterized by hills, bathed in cooling ocean breezes during the night and hot sunshine during the day.
In short, perfect Pinot weather.
And I just love Pinot.
I love Pinot for its flavor.
I love Pinot for its persnickety nature and the fact that it’s a single varietal. (That means that Pinots are not blended with other grapes, to produce a more commercially palatable wine).
With Pinot, it’s careful cultivation of the grape and the ability of the wine maker that makes or breaks the wine.
And, of course, Mother Nature in the form of the weather.
I’ve given up drinking by and large, to lose some weight and to hopefully give every chance possible to my cancer remission, but I still have room for a bit of wine here and there, now and then. Particularly when it comes to Pinot. And a canceled flight seemed like just the right cause for a bit of celebration.
While most people think of Paso Robles for central coast wines, San Luis Obispo–or SLO to the locals–is perfectly located to visit some of the more off the beaten path AVAs. Edna Valley, located just south of SLO, is one such destination.
The Edna Valley AVA is just a few miles outside of San Luis Obispo
A Central Coast Pinot Quest
The combination of mountains, sea and vineyard is breathtaking.
Fall in wine country is simply stunning. The grapes have ripened and been picked, and all the hoopla of harvest is past. But in their wake are uncrowded tasting rooms, stunning landscapes and some excellent wine.
Casks stacked roadside off Tiffany Ranch Rd. in Edna Valley.
San Luis Obispo is perfectly located for a bit of Pinot exploration. It’s a town with everything you need from Trader Joe’s to $20 tacos (it is, after all, California), and it’s just a few miles from the Edna Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area). AVAs, much like the French regional appellations, define the geographic bounds of a wine producing area.
Chardonnay, Albarino, Sauvignon Blanc and other grapes grace the hills, but I am on a Pinot quest. And one of the most interesting Pinot tastings was at Sinor-LaVallee where the winemaker grows his grapes on a hillside vineyard near the Avila Beach tasting room.
Just 1.2 miles from the coast, these vineyards lie outside any of the established AVAs. Five blocks each of Pinot and Syrah; a block each of Chardonnay, Albarino and Grenache; and 2 blocks of Pinot Gris grace these hills. And in the tasting room, a most interesting and unusual pinot tasting intrigued me.
Three Pinots are presented.
The first was a 2015 Pinot Noir White Label. This Pinot is on the light and bright side and totally enjoyable. It was followed by the 2015 Pinot Noir SLO/Estate and the 2015 Black Label. The latter two are progressively richer, fuller Pinots. But what made the tasting so interesting was the fact that the grapes for the White label are picked early. The Estate label is picked during the general harvest, and the Black Label is picked late.
The same grapes; the same vineyard; same year; different pick times.
Which results in three totally different wines.
And all are single varietals (Pinot Noir), fully subject to the will of Mother Nature.
Sinor-Lavallee is a fun and most interesting tasting, with an excellent, slightly quirky wine selection. Be sure to stop in.
***
A lunch dockside in Avila included some local scenes:
Sea lion basking on a floating dock in Avila harbor
Avila is a working harbor, and these buoys are part of the scene.
Fishing boat, Avila harbor
And a bowl of steamed clams with garlic bread for lunch:
Steamed clams on the dock for lunch.
On this day I was traveling with two friends and their quest directed our foray. First it was to Peacock Winery where a wine pick up for a party was part of our itinerary.
Even in late November, it’s still fall in the Central Coast. The grapevines are bare, but golden leaves linger on the vine.
Old trucks are a must have for any winery!
One stunning view after another.
From there, it was to Kynsi, which means talon in Finnish. An odd name for a winery?
Perhaps.
The winery started in an old dairy that had a serious gopher problem. To deal with the gophers, barn owls were introduced to the property. A nesting pair of owls can deal with up to 40 gophers a night! Needless to say, the gopher problem was managed and Kynsi, in a nod to Owner/Winemakers Don and Gwen Othman’s Finnish heritage, became the name of the winery.
The Finish roots of the winery owners inspired the name of Kynsi.
Kynsi is well known for their Pinots, and for good reason. Located in the heart of the Edna Valley, their vineyards benefit from the cool coastal weather and the expertise of their winemakers.
Among the Pinots in the tasting room were a 2017 Pinot Rose; a 2015 Pinot Bien Nacido Vineyard (94 Points Wine Enthusiast); a 2015 Stone Corral Vineyard (92 Points Wine Enthusiast); and a Hutash Harvest Cuvee which was a blend of Syrah and Pinot.
The Pinots were truly exceptional.
The Stone Corral Vineyard is a property shared with Talley and Steven Ross Vineyards. An annual dinner celebrating the vineyard and winemakers features the grapes, produced and bottled by each winemaker. Naturally, in spite of identical grapes, each wine is different, representing the unique take and talent of each winemaker.
This, I think, has to be on the annual must do list. I love the endless skill, judgement and artistry of creating a wonderful Pinot and a chance to consider three very different styles, side by side, is simply irresistible.
An old barn at Kynsi Winery, with Edna Valley hills in the background.
Wine tasting at Kynsi Winery in the Edna Valley.
Pinot Heaven
Wine map of Edna Valley
The Edna Valley really is Pinot Heaven. The entire area is just a few miles south of San Luis Obispo. Highway 227 and Orcutt Road offer an easy way to navigate the area. The most difficult decision is which wineries to choose.
With an extra and unexpected day to explore (thanks to my canceled flight) I set out, not quite sure what the day would hold. And lo and behold, it turned into an adventure. A CancerRoadTrip adventure.
After a hearty breakfast, my first stop of the day was at Claiborne & Churchill, a small vineyard that produces a variety of wines. Naturally, I gravitated to the Pinots.
The vineyards and countryside of Claiborne & Churchill
Founded in 1983, Claiborne & Churchill is a premium Edna Valley winery.
The winery was founded in 1983 by Claiborne (Clay) Thompson and Fredericka Churchill Thompson, two University of Michigan teachers who decided that the wine life beckoned. And over the years they’ve built a solid reputation for excellent wine.
The tasting started off with a 2016 Chardonnay Greengate Ranch & Vineyard which was well balanced and lovely. It was followed by a 2017 Dry Riesling from the Edna Valley. I have a soft spot for Dry Rieslings and if I still had a wine cellar, this would be in it.
The whites were followed by, you guessed it, Pinots and a Syrah/Grenache combination. The 2016 Classic Estate Pinot Noir and the 2016 Runestone Pinot Noir both scored 91 points with Wine Enthusiast. While I’m not into the nuances of rankings, I have found that most wines over 90 points are worthwhile and these were no exception. Both were European style pinots (my preference) that allowed the grape to shine through in a young, very drinkable, but complex wine. Lovely.
Wines always taste sooo good at the winery. It’s part experience and part ambiance, and in this case, part Pinot. The day was off to a good start!
I’ve always been a fan of cooler weather wines. Upon arriving in Tahoe back in the late 90’s, visits to Napa, Sonoma and eventually further north into the Russian River Valley and beyond, were part of life. The cooler the vineyard, the more I tended towards the wine and varietals.
And now, in Edna Valley, well south of my former haunts, I find myself in a still cooler region that produces some of my favorite Pinots. I didn’t have time to get down to the Sta. Rita Hills and the vineyards just north of Santa Barbara (which hosts 59 vineyards, with 2,700 hundred acres of Pinot Noir), but another trip, another time. Life is short and I have decided that for the remainder of mine, a bit of pinot now and then is tres necessaire.
In addition to Pinot, the region produces numerous other cool weather wines including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Albarino, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and other varietals. But today, I am on a Pinot quest.
I worked my way up and down the valley with no special plans. Someone suggested I visit Baileyana, Tangent, True Myth & Zocker, so off I went.
Located off Orcutt Road in a yellow schoolhouse, the tasting room is charming. A bocce ball court outside provides a place to sip and play in this vineyard founded by Catharine Niven back in 1973. The winery, Baileyana, is named after the town where she met her husband, Jack.
Catharine was something of a trailblazer, a woman in a man’s world, starting a vineyard in an untraditional location to make wines in the European style. But Catharine’s foresight panned out, as shown by the wonderful selection of wines available at the tasting room.
The old schoolhouse looks out over acres of stunning vineyards and hills.
Including, of course, some terrific Pinot. (Is a theme emerging here?)
The vineyards at Talley.
And so it was, up and down the valley until I found myself at Talley Vineyards.
And that is where the real adventure began. Because at Talley I met some fellow Pinot seekers and a stem cell transplant survivor (leukemia). We talked of the outdoors, of life and about the beautiful Edna Valley. Conversation eventually led to our mutual cancer tales and the story of CancerRoadTrip, my evolving adventures and the next phase of growth with the retreats for others.
And what followed was a most unexpected and amazing introduction. The introduction is taking a few days to unfold as emails cross paths over the holidays. But thanks to Craig and Patty–my new Pinot friends– I have a very warm introduction to a highly acclaimed film producer who has (thanks to Craig’s introduction) indicated at least an initial interest in learning more about CancerRoadTrip.
This is my Christmas present this year.
Along with fond memories and a few bottles of good Pinot!
No, this is not the result of too much wine, but of a very low shutter speed.
If there was a lesson from this foray, it is that sometimes a bit of travel serendipity takes you to the most interesting places, where one meets the most interesting people. It requires being able to see the opportunity in a bit of chaos, revamping one’s plans, and moving on. Sometimes a change of plans may just be meant to be.
“Do you think the universe fights for souls to be together?
Some things are too strange and strong to be coincidences.”
― Emery Allen
I want to thank United Airlines for leaving us all stranded, with no explanation, at six in the morning. Because thanks to you, I had a most interesting day.
A day of total travel serendipity accompanied by some most excellent Pinot.
And some new friends, for the new year.
More On Food, Wine and Travel
Wine and Chile
Santa Fe Tequila Tasting at the Inn of the Anasazi
New Mexico Road Trip: The Road To Carrizozo
The Irish Food Movement in the Beara Peninsula
Culinary Travel Karma: Dublin and Killarney
Oyster Quest
Foodie Forays 2017
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What is #CancerRoadTrip and how did it come to be? Read this post to get the backstory!
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by Pat Wetzel | Dec 3, 2018 | Healing, Perspective, Road Trip, The Story
Stocking stuffers have always been one of my favorite parts of the holiday celebration. Great things can come in small packages, and the thought and ingenuity to make that happen have always been great fun for me.
For my holiday celebration, a new website! I want to profoundly thank everyone who helped with this. The Guides whose generosity and patience are moving CancerRoadTrip forward. And the very talented Josh Woodroffe whose combination of design and tech savvy have made this possible. Not to mention his patience!
Namaste to all.
Stocking Stuffers for Soulful Travelers
While many people are dashing about this time of year, shopping, planning and partying, I tend to be a bit more still. There are a number of social events I’ll attend, but I usually use this time of year to reflect and to plan my travels for the New Year.
In my travels, I look for life’s lessons and wisdom. The gifts I’ve selected are the perfect travel gifts for life’s journeys; they take no space and create no weight; they are of daily use.
They are the stuff of thought.
I recently came across Gary Hensel’s wonderful book I Am: Two of the Most Powerful Words For What You Put After Them Shapes Your Reality.
“The subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between dreams and reality. Visualize your dreams.”
It’s a distillation of the wisdom across many disciplines. I find myself smiling, nodding and simply loving this book. What it doesn’t have in length, it has in wisdom. For anyone who sees life as a road trip, and a spiritual one at that, I thoroughly recommend having this book along for the adventure.
A classic that must be read is Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. If you haven’t read this, you need to. This book is about the heart and soul of travel and dreams. While Paulo Coelho is known to many, I have to admit he is relatively new to me. My first introduction actually came through a quote on Twitter:
“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine. It is lethal.”
This has since become one of my all time favorite quotes. The Alchemist is a favorite book in the history of literature. Make it one of yours as well.
The City and The Stars by Arthur C. Clarke is a bit obscure. It was written in the fifties and is perhaps more relevant today than ever. For years this has been my favorite book of all time, and it remains in my top 10. It is prescient. It talks about the homogenization of humanity through technology; about soul; and about adventure. If you’re looking for a good read, this is it. The perfect stocking stuffer: a tale of adventure and humanity, written in the past, about the future.
I am perhaps a broken record when it comes to my admiration for the books of Eckhardt Tolle, but The Power Of Now is truly a significant book. Through his own hardships, Tolle comes to see the magic and power of the present moment and how present moment living cures so many ills. Learning to be present, through mediation and discipline, has changed my life. May this stocking influence yours as well.
I first read Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha as a young person, and I’ve returned to it several times since. It’s a story, a metaphor and an adventure about materialism, spirituality and finding oneself. May this book find itself into your stocking.
Rachel Naomi Remen’s Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories That Heal is another book to take along as you tackle life’s journeys. She has a humble wisdom that connects with the soul. Through her stories, your soul will connect too.
Travel can be in your head and in your world. May your holiday season find a bit of room for both.
Stocking Stuffers From The Road: More Reading On Life’s Adventures
Gratitude: A Habit For All Times
11 Life Lessons Learned From The Road
Traveling The Timeline of Now
Traveling With Cancer: A One Year Anniversary
Scanxiety and Cancer On The Road
Serendipity: Life Lessons From The Road
Thoughts On The Metaphor of a Road Trip
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What is #CancerRoadTrip and how did it come to be? Read this post to get the backstory!
Follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and at Anti-Cancer Club. Connect with me! I may need a place or two to stay along the way!
by Pat Wetzel | Nov 19, 2018 | Featured, Perspective, Road Trip, The Story
Thanksgiving is a holiday associated with gratitude, but I would suggest that giving thanks should become a daily routine.
Gratitude first became a part of my life twenty some years ago. I’d just moved from New Orleans to Pennsylvania with my ex-husband who promptly decided his life was not with me. There’s much more to the story (lawsuits from patients, a pregnant nurse, an elderly, dying dog and more) but it’s really irrelevant.
What is relevant is that I discovered gratitude.
I’d wake up every morning and find something, anything to be grateful for. And somehow this focus helped to pull me through some truly difficult times.
And now, with cancer, gratitude is so important. It reminds me to bring joy into my daily life. I’ve left behind most of the material aspects of my former world and I focus on what resonates with my heart. I’ve gotten better about identifying similar souls, similar travelers, and these are the people I want to explore with.
They are explorers of experience.
Of the soul.
And of gratitude.
This past week at Bosque del Apache I enjoyed a connection to the patterns of the natural world. Bosque is a wilderness habitat for migrating birds, and thousands of them appear each year, to pause in their travels to warmer weather. With the seasons, they move in the pattern of their ancestors, answering some deep primal call for survival.
Or perhaps they too simply enjoy a change of pace and a bit of adventure!
Whatever the motivation, that connection to the earth and her rhythms offers a soulful feeling of gratitude.
Gratitude for a warm shelter from the coming winter.
Gratitude for food.
Gratitude for others.
My gratitude list, which I visit first thing each morning before I meditate, need not be long. Somedays it’s simply a recognition of a beautiful sunrise.
Others it may be gratitude for the excitement of building CancerRoadTrip.
Gratitude for the New Mexico Women in Film who have provided a network into a most interesting group of people. Gratitude for the quirkiness of New Mexico where leading scientists and world class artists come together in creativity. The list goes on.
So this Thanksgiving I hope you find the time to pause and be grateful. Who knows, it could turn into a habit!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
More Reading On The Perspectives of Travel
11 Life Lessons Learned From The Road
Traveling The Timeline of Now
Traveling With Cancer: A One Year Anniversary
Scanxiety and Cancer On The Road
Serendipity: Life Lessons From The Road
Thoughts On The Metaphor of a Road Trip
Like This Post? Pin It!
If you’re interested in learning more about photography (or cooking or film or any number of topics) check out MasterClass All-Access Pass for on-line excellence:
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What is #CancerRoadTrip and how did it come to be? Read this post to get the backstory!
Follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and at Anti-Cancer Club. Connect with me! I may need a place or two to stay along the way!
