2023 in the Rearview
Mar 3, 2024
End-of-year recaps and reviews haven't been something I do. Generally, my mindset is about embracing the present, with a gentle forward momentum towards what comes next. Years ago, I heard an Imam once speak about not having regrets. I took that to heart at the time and have morphed it into the concept that regrets are merely disagreements with what has already happened.
Life happens, and things lay where they lay, with or without our input. As I've gotten older, however, and with 2023 being a year during which I kept a handwritten journal, I wanted this place to be another outlet to look back on for my reference. If I reference "we" a lot, that generally means Jen and me.
Where I've traveled in 2023. Most of it was via our camping rig with only two flights, for Jen's birthday and to see my family in Malaysia.
January
California and much of the West Coast experience numerous 'atmospheric rivers' with temperatures dropping into the teens. This leads to increasing weather variations and side effects as the year progresses closer to Spring.
Jen and I are seeking warm and dry conditions, so we head to Mexico City, a place we love dearly and one of our top three cities. Since Jen's birthday falls right in the middle of the month (she turned 46), it's a good time to head south. Mexico City once again charms and delights us. Many, many tacos were eaten. I've drafted a longer post or guide, and I need to finish that up.
L/T: Jen, R/B: Jen in our accommodations.
This is a spread from La Rifa Chocolateria, a local chocolate maker. Clockwise from top is a dark, hot chocolate, agua-style, then a chocolate tamale (this blew our minds), and a good ol' chocolate cookie.
Tacos Orinoco is a staple with it's In-N-Out 50s Americana vibe and strong branding. The food lives up to the hype, and while we eat very local tacos too, Orinoco is a must: we ate here four times.
February
A month of hunkering down. Jen's sister and her boyfriend (now husband), Kyle, visit us in SF. We haven't met him yet. We enjoy a long weekend with them, showing them the sights—our favorite food and coffee spots, the natural wonders of a city by the ocean, and getting to know Kyle a bit more.
L/T: Kim and Kyle try out Malaysian/Indonesian kuih, the local dessert type that I grew up with, from Nusa SF at the Ferry Building. R/B: A sunrise from our back patio.
March
More atmospheric rivers, and the state as well as the West Coast are experiencing record rainfall and snowfall. Much of our time is spent dodging the weather, and by the end of the month, as my birthday nears, we make a plan to find the driest place we can and camp. We invite friends and find ourselves in the Mojave, and then further south below Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley.
Rigs lined up at Roy's Motel in Amboy, CA, on Route 66.
The aforementioned Roy's Motel.
The Amboy Post Office.
Camp south of Joshua Tree.
We enjoy two days with our friends before we all split up for side excursions, while we extend for another night, then back to the Mojave for two more days to explore and drive some trails and look at lava tubes. I turn 45.
L/T: A Joshua tree atop a volcanic cinder cone. R/B: Jen contemplates the vast wildness of Mojave National Preserve.
While I take a sun nap atop a boulder, Barb keeps watch.
I get an email from a music licensing person at Thrasher Magazine, who wants to license songs from my old band...
April
Years ago, my mama asked Jen and me to visit Malaysia during Hari Raya, also known as Eid-Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the month-long fast for Muslims worldwide. We remembered this request and managed to snag great tickets during a Black Friday sale with Singapore Airlines, our favorite and a 5-star Skytrax winner for many years. It was a joy to be with my family, although not the best time to visit Malaysia, as the country essentially takes a holiday for several days, and the best places to eat are closed.
A plane view, and Jen and I on Hari Raya.
Niko Neko, our favorite Matcha cafe, and street sights.
From L-R: my oldest nephew Nadir, myself, my brother-in-law Irwan, and my youngest nephew, Raiian.
My mama and Jen, and then L-R: my mama, my sister, Nina, Jen, and my youngest niece, Ana.
We encountered a few hiccups with our Airbnb, but we also stayed at the Four Seasons towards the end of our trip. We used credit card points, and if you're considering staying in a hotel of this caliber, Southeast Asia is the perfect place—you'll pay the same per night as you would for a mid-tier Hilton, Marriott, or Sheraton in the States. Plus, you'll enjoy the full Four Seasons experience, unlike some other locations (like Las Vegas, for example).
May
A True Ventures onsite happens (which becomes a regular occurrence this year), bringing together team members from out of town. We dive into the thick of it and come away energized. I am humbled and fortunate to work with such a skilled group of individuals.
I discovered that my eyesight is a bit off, making writing in the journal harder when up close. I obtain reading glasses for the first time.
Towards the end of the month, Jen and I hit the road once again, finding ourselves camping in Bishop for a few nights. The snowpack has finally melted in parts of the Sierra, and Highway 395 is somewhat accessible again. In the latter part of the trip, we meet up with Ryan, Rae, and Weston in the Mojave Desert. It's hot there, and our days are spent exploring parts of the Mojave Road, seeking refuge from the heat, and exploring lava tubes and old mining operations. It was a good trip.
Camp for the first two nights.
Quintessential weird desert art on the Mojave Road.
The third day is warm, and the sun is high. We create a makeshift shelter from two tarps rigged between our... rigs.
A return to Roy's Motel, and across the street, more desert art. Amboy CA.
Playing amongst the boulders, as we settle camp.
L/T: Jen soaking in the early evening sun. R/B: I set up the tent, and am content in this very moment, chasing away midlife malaise.
June
I started running around April, but this is the month where I've quietly decided in my mind to take a break from cycling and commit myself to running as my primary cardio workout. I've been interested in running for years and have made attempts here and there, but it never stuck.
My dear friend Grant Blakeman is in town for Config, so we attend the conference together. Unfortunately, I end up being present only for the first day and couldn't attend any sessions due to the surprisingly high number of attendees (it felt like SXSW). I decline to attend the next day as I have an onsite meeting with the team at True Ventures.
L/T: Grant at Sightglass Coffee. R/B: Config at the Moscone Center.
Later in the week, Jen and I meet up with Grant again and head over to the Pride Parade on Market Street. We wander around, spotting Nancy Pelosi in a car next to us, along with a few other notable San Francisco politicians.
L/T: Who's that? Nancy Pelosi. R/B: Pride-goers.
July
Waffling and last-minute, Jen and I decide to head north toward Mount Shasta for some camping over Independence Day. We end up staying for four nights.
We had planned to camp through to Overland Expo PNW in Redmond, Oregon, just outside of Bend and depart further north. At the expo, we explore the off-road and vehicular travel community (and see gear and rigs) and meet some connections we've made in this community.
This is Jolene, a Toyota Tundra mated with a Four Wheel Camper. Built and owned by two of our favorite creators, MAK and Owen of Bound for Nowhere.
At the Nomad Wheel area, two other interior buildouts I was excited to see. Left is @la.cruiser's Toyota Landcruiser 80 series, and right is @carter_pdf's former rig, a Lexus GX470. Both have Campteq pop-up conversions.
It's a fantastic opportunity to finally meet Brandon, the creator of Aeronaut Outdoor, which produces the best down blanket we've ever used, whether for camping or otherwise.
Wild camping outside of Bend is a bit difficult. What we learned at this camp spot, while quiet at first, is that a logging operation was a mile down the track, and awakened us with massive trucks blasting by starting at 1:30 in the morning. A distant neighbor vacated sometime in the middle of the night.
While we have mixed feelings about camping near Bend, the first half of the trip in Shasta offers such solace that we decide to stop by on our way back in Shasta and spend another night before heading home.
Jen and I attend the SF Art Book Fair with our friend Stef. It's a remarkable event, and the creative community comes out in full force.
L/T: Jen and Stef. R/B: The Art Book Fair from above.
Just two days before, we realized that the SF Marathon was taking place on July 23rd. On a whim, I signed us up for the 10K race. While I've competed in numerous races as a cyclist, Jen has never participated in an event like this. The weather for the event is perfect, and we thoroughly enjoy running together while feeding off the energy of the crowd and the event itself. The race starts by the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero, runs south to Oracle Park, then loops northwest to Fisherman's Wharf before returning to the starting point. Jen was beaming after the event, and her enthusiasm was contagious. It was a great experience, and we both started thinking about longer events.
Done and dusted, all smiles.
Jen and I celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary on July 28th. I consider myself deeply fortunate.
The month wraps up with me attending my first show since before the pandemic, featuring the British post-hardcore band High Vis, performing at a small venue. My friend Tyler and I are right up front. Vocalist Graham Sayle approaches me before they go on and, in true UK style, asks for a consultation: "Should we start at a quarter past or half past?" It's 9 pm, and considering my mid-40s and desire to get to bed reasonably early, I humbly suggest 9:15 pm. They take the advice, they rock, and I find myself in the pit once again, singing, shouting, and screaming alongside the crowd.
"Tears on my Gore-Tex." Graham Sayle is a force of nature, in true hardcore fashion.
August
We attended The Batman in concert at the Davies Symphony Hall as part of their film series, where the SF Symphony performs the soundtrack to movies live. We've watched Jaws, E.T., and the first JJ Abrams' Star Trek before. The Batman might have been the best one, but they generally all impressed us.
In the middle of the month, we met up with our friends for some camping up in Shasta again but had to divert to Mount Lassen, just east, due to wildfires in southern Oregon and a small one near Shasta. As always with camping, weather and climate increasingly influenced our movements. We discovered a great spot by a creek though, and despite some rain, we enjoyed ourselves.
L/T: The crew as captured by Tyler. R/B: Camera nerdery with Tyler and Ryan.
September
I kicked off the month by brushing up and expanding my rudimentary sewing skills with the help of Jen and YouTube. I customized a tent ground sheet to serve as an awning for our rig, making the setup lightweight and easily movable around the vehicle. I also sewed up some small pouches to store smaller items in the drawers in our truck, as well as a roll-away compact trash bag. Much of the beginning of this month focused on preparing the vehicle…
…for September 10, which marked the beginning of our 3+ week road trip to the Midwest to visit Jen’s family and attend her cousin’s wedding. We traversed through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri, and then made our way back again. Just two days before, I decided to document and publish the Weightshifting newsletter daily when possible with Jen’s great editing help and photography. You can read the entire second season over here.
October
We returned from our big trip on the 6th, as wildfires (notice the trend?) began encroaching on the area where we were camped out on Highway 395 in the Sierra. We took it as a sign and made our way back, taking Tioga Pass, which traverses through and over Yosemite National Park. Just two days later, we started to miss it. Life on the road has a way of simplifying some things and enriching them in so many meaningful ways.
After months of back-and-forth (mostly legal/logistical), a check arrives for each respective bandmate in my former band, Dolorous Canter, and one is here for me, from Thrasher Magazine. Amazing. A story for a different post.
In the middle of the month, I found myself on a plane with Ryan Carver, en route to Salt Lake City, Utah, with our final destination being Park City, just a 45-minute drive away, for a founder conference hosted by True Ventures. Over the next five days, we absorbed a wealth of inspiration for our work, got to know founders, and left feeling invigorated. We had some hikes and engaged in long, deep conversations, and it was a privilege to be present.
L/T: Laura and Ryan chat amidst fall foliage. R/B: Ryan, Scott, and a Banksy.
L/T: Jeff holds court. R/B: The view from Deer Valley looking down into Park City.
November
A very relaxed month as we're winding down from so much travel. It's good to get back to a routine of coffee, catching up with friends, climbing, and running.
L/T: Barb enjoying the late and low sun. R/B: An easy-going Thanksgiving morning at The Mill.
Towards the end of the month, Trevor Noah is in town on his current tour, which has been tweaked and evolved from the eventual set that will hit Netflix in December. After seeing the Netflix version, I'm glad we saw the personalized (to SF) version he performed for the crowd here. It was a great set.
December
The city starts to embrace the end-of-year mood as the days get as short as they can.
Just before the middle of the month, I get to witness a grail band, Botch, perform in San Francisco on their reunion tour. I discovered Botch when I first moved to the States, thanks to a dear friend, my best man, and former bandmate, Dave. They had disbanded by the time he introduced me to them, and I never thought I'd see them live. The members went on to play in various bands, most notably Minus the Bear and Russian Circles. But it was a chance song that didn't fit on a solo album that guitarist David Knudson released (fresh off the end of Minus the Bear) that brought Botch back together. One Twenty Two dropped out of nowhere, and then a tour commenced. What an incredible night.
Jen and I make a last-minute decision to head to Phoenix for the holiday break. We're not entirely committed to the idea of Phoenix, but we had a great time there last year during this time, and the idea of sitting in a hot jacuzzi pool in the middle of winter on Christmas Day sounded appealing once again. We pit stop for a night in the Mojave, then proceed to Arizona for four nights. We find it to be a bit too long, but we see a friend and old coworker of mine from VSCO and discover a few new great coffee shops and restaurants. We usually adore the Rise Uptown (where we've stayed three times now), but this year the music by the pool was a bit too loud (I did make a volume request which they graciously obliged), and maybe we're just too old now for this vibe (the Rise is what the Ace Hotel wishes it were).
I have to admit: being in a heated jacuzzi pool on Christmas Day is a real treat.
On our way back home, we retraced our route to the Mojave and then made a spontaneous decision to venture into the southern and more touristy part of Death Valley National Park to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event of Badwater Basin having water in it. It's a phenomenal sight.
We had planned to camp in the park, but Hurricane Hilary's lingering effects have made much of the backcountry in DVNP off-limits or unreliable. So, Alabama Hills outside of the park on Highway 395 is our goal for the night, and we find a great spot. We truly love it here on 395.
On New Year's Eve we fall asleep around 10:30 pm. Goodnight, 2023.