Interview with Ron and Ellie Jones

Name:  Ron and Ellie Jones, Windsor California

Family Members (Who stayed home or who came with you?)   We have a 26 year old son who is in his fourth year of medical school and a 24 year old daughter who is studying for a Master’s in nutrition.

Age (be as vague as you wish!)   We are in our mid-50’s-- the prime of our lives. Our kids are grown and we are both physically fit and healthy so we are able to enjoy active travel vacations.

Where are some of the places you’ve gone with ExperiencePlus! or with other groups?   This summer we took our first bike trip and our first trip with ExperiencePlus! to Provence, France. It was absolutely wonderful and we are planning to take another “X- Plus” bike trip in the near future.  Last summer we explored the interior of Alaska.  When we mention that trip everyone immediately asks “Did you take a cruise?” and that makes us laugh because there is no way we would have been happy on a ship floating by the very things we wanted to actively explore.  We were with a very small group that went inland, stayed in small lodges and even spent a night on a private island that had no electricity.  We experienced Alaska by hiking, biking, and sea kayaking, among other activities.  We just love trips that involve active participation and exploration.  When our kids were in middle school we took them on a 7 day river raft trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho.  We were in total wilderness and faced some really challenging rapids.  We all grew from that experience, so much so that both kids wrote about the trip in their respective college essays.  Our son went to Stanford and our daughter to Washington University in St. Louis.

How did your love of the outdoors develop?   Ron and I met at the University of Colorado in Boulder and so hiking was a cheap and fun way to go on a date. Neither of us was into the heavy partying scene and we got our ‘highs’ by hiking and scouting for wildlife.  We used to drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park to hear the elk ‘bugle’ in the fall.  That was in the 70’s when the Boulder campus was in turmoil with the Vietnam War.  Being in the mountains was peaceful, thrilling and romantic at the same time.  When we married a few years later we spent one week in the San Francisco area and then went camping in Colorado. 

What motivates you to travel to far-off places?   While most of the places we have been would not be considered ‘far-off’’ we have tried to avoid passive vacations wherever we do go.  Being physically involved in our vacation, by hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting, scuba diving, snorkeling, etc. is not only healthy, it also gives us a sense of accomplishment and in-depth appreciation for the area we are in.  We just can’t sit by a pool for more than about 30 minutes and we are happiest with vacations that require physical involvement.

Where is your favorite travel destination, and why?   It is impossible to pick one favorite travel destination as every place we have gone has had its own beauty.  We love the Colorado Rockies because of our history there.   We try to go to Hawaii during ‘whale’ season to sea kayak with the potential excitement of an up-close encounter.  We adored seeing the Roman ruins in Provence and know we will be going back to other regions of France. Our favorite destination is the great outdoors!

What is something you are always sure to bring along when you travel—maybe an essential item or a good-luck charm—and why?   Our cameras, a notebook to keep a daily travel log and a few granola bars.   I also always pack a few big plastic bags to bring home dirty laundry.

What’s the most exciting adventure you’ve had while traveling?   Two adventures come to mind.  Once we went snorkeling in Hawaii at a remote beach we thought was wonderful because we had it all to ourselves.   As we were leaving we discovered a HUGE sign that said “WARNING! SHARK PRESERVE”.   The second adventure was in Alaska last year when a grizzly bear followed Ellie down a path and was less than 20 feet away when she realized something was behind her. Fortunately the bear was curious, not hungry, and Ellie remembered what we had been told in “bear school” by the Forest Service Rangers and did not try to run.

Do you have a particular piece of travel wisdom to impart to your fellow traveler? Any lessons learned that you would like to share?   Take advantage of small group tours in areas that are totally unfamiliar. You not only meet interesting people, you have the expertise of guides to help you get the most out of your trip.  I must say that our X-Plus guides in France were fabulous in this regard.  Do your research and build some flexibility into your schedule.  Also, be sure to read any warning signs about shark preserve areas before you go into the water!

What is the most unique or meaningful souvenir you’ve ever brought home from an ExperiencePlus! tour or from another trip?   One lake in Alaska had large rocks that floated on the water.  They look just like regular rocks but, because they were formed in a volcanic eruption, they are unbelievably light.  We had to bring one home.  Usually our photos are the most meaningful reminders of our trips.

Describe the best meal (might have been setting, food, dinner guest(s)…) you have had while traveling?   It is so difficult to pick just one! Often our favorite meals have been picnics with fresh bread, cheese and fruit, etc. bought from local markets. The X-Plus group dinner we had on our last evening together in Arles, France was absolutely delightful and will surely be one of our most memorable.  We ate in the home of a local chef who prepared a delicious meal that included chicken made from a recipe that dates back to the Romans.  Our group had bonded well and we felt great satisfaction at having biked through one of the most scenic and historic areas in the world.  The wine was good too!

Do you have movie or book recommendations?   We are both currently enjoying The Road From the Past by Ina Caro.  This book is a must read for anyone who has been to France or ever plans to go. 

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.   We like to work on crossword puzzles together but seldom do them alone.

What question do you wish we had asked, and how would you have answered?   “What are you going to do with all of the pictures you took on your trip?”  We have discovered some fabulous web sites that make very high quality books from digital photographs.  We plan to build a library with books from each of our trips and we are sure that ExperiencePlus! will be featured in many of them.