Wisetrips Travel Blog

I replaced my old Reverse Osmosis system with a WaterDrop X8 about 6 months ago, and the WaterDrop X8 signaled (with a blinking light and audio) that the F2 Filter needed to be replaced (normally every 6 months).  I chose the WaterDrop X8 system specifically for the ease of filter replacement, which was a major pain with my older RO system.  When I received the F2 replacement from Amazon, I was eager to see how replacement works. I turned off th…

My friends and I decided to bike the long stretch along Canada Road, from Woodside to Sawyer Camp. On Sundays, this stretch of road is closed to car traffic from 09:00 to 15:00, making it a safe and enjoyable bike ride. We parked at the nearby Woodside Elementary, and I changed into road cycling clothes. This would be my first ride on my brand-new X-Lab RS7, and I was eager to see how it handled. Here is a Google Map of the…

Gunhild Carling’s performance at Biscuits & Blues in San Francisco was a terrific night out for fans of traditional jazz—from Dixieland and swing to big-band classics—and for anyone who appreciates musicians as entertaining to watch as they are to hear. The Swedish-born multi-instrumentalist, singer, and entertainer, often dubbed the Queen of Swing , brings together dazzling musicianship, vintage jazz, playful humor…

Today, after test-riding the X-Lab RS7  road bike and the X-Lab GT8  gravel bike at the local Sports Basement in Almaden (the shop finally had both bikes in stock), I decided to buy the RS7 base model in white, size large. At $ 2099 , it offers the best value and felt excellent on the road. I considered the X-Lab RS7 Di2 version with electronic gear shifting for $2899 (an $800 premium), but decided the added cost and comple…

For our 25th Anniversary dinner, I initially booked Evvia, but had to cancel because Inna felt unwell. When I tried to book another day, I could only reserve outdoor tables, which worried me due to the cold weather. I decided to try dining at Le Papillon —a restaurant I visited decades ago. I made a dinner reservation for Saturday, October 24, at 19:00. On arrival (a short 15-minute drive from home), we were quickly seated …

With the promise of continued beautiful weather (70 degrees Fahrenheit) in Santa Cruz, I planned a Saturday morning cycling trip around Happy Valley (using Komoot as my guide). When Alex arrived at 09:00, we loaded his bike into my Toyota Sienna and headed to Gateway Plaza in downtown Santa Cruz, where we'd start our ride. On arrival there, we unloaded the bikes and started the ride. At first, we encountered a few homeless…