Seven months ago, Sam and I left the White Mountains of New Hampshire for a job assignment overseas. I have not written anything about that for several reasons. But this site is called Tonga Time, and now that I am ready to write, I don’t feel that I can write about anything until I pen…
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In the spirit of favorite things and all subjects Christmas-cheer related, I thought I’d share one of our favorite hikes in the Gorham area. Now, what makes a hike a favorite is obviously a subjective standard, but here are some of my criteria: (1) Not too long–as in, five miles or less. I am, alas,…
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Last week, I was invited to present for the Children’s Literacy Foundation (“CLiF”), a Vermont-based nonprofit that engages kids in reading and writing, with a focus on Vermont and New Hampshire schools and families. I love these folks! The only catch: Unlike most author presentations I’ve done to date involving children and teachers as audience…
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Tonga Time has been in deep hibernation, but it is time to awaken the beast. Despite the winter storm flurrying through our tiny mountain town this weekend …. The reason? Two years have gone by since Sam and I moved to New Hampshire, and in that time, Book Three of my Liberty Frye series has…
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If one could imagine the most opposite place to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, it just might be the tropical waters and palm-tree lined streets of Guam. And since I’m a little fascinated with ironies, it’s fitting that, a year ago today when we still called Balikpapan, Indonesia our home, Sam and I thought…
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It has taken awhile, but it appears Spring finally decided to settle her toes in the North Country for at least a few weeks, and our recent hike to Mt Surprise made this gloriously clear. I’ve privately griped about the weather here since late March, when I thought winter was SUPPOSED to be over. Don’t…
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When Sam and I announced a few months back that we were moving to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, most people said: “Why?!” And a choice few said, “You’re crazy!” When we explained that we were drawn to the magnificent outdoors, including more National Forest with hiking and cross-country skiing trails than we’d ever…
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Fat biking on fat bikes (or fat tire bikes) is a new-ish winter sport gaining speed in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Basically, these things look like one of those silly Floridian water sport toys floating next to the ubiquitous banana boat: big, goofy tires and a frame that doesn’t quite seem in proportion….
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Having grown up in Southeast Asia, then attending my higher education in the southeast of the United States, it is fair to say I know nothing about snow. Except that it’s cold. And pretty. And it always makes me think of Narnia. But gliding over the surface of said material at unnatural speeds courtesy of…
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Tomorrow, Sam and I will be leaving Balikpapan, Indonesia, and I don’t think that fact has fully settled in. After living here for two years, I guess that is understandable. Packing up our things has made me think of our time spent in this “oil town” of approximately 700,000 souls, and the kind of questions…
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