There are lots of overpopulated places, but they don't have the natural beauty of SoCal. I went to the Channel Islands recently. What a wonderful place! From the madness of the cities you can get to a place like this to be utterly alone with nature, within hours. I am also particularly fond of the ocean, and I just could not get over the vastness of the waters and the heavens, surrounding me from all sides. Of course, I also liked the sea lions, the pelicans, and the little unidentified furry critter that dashed away from the bush when I got a little too close unknowingly. Too bad the dolphins and the whales forgot to pay me a visit on this trip.

To make this ETS-relevant, of course I had my little kit with me. I didn't get to use any of it, fortunately. I do think my strategy of using one pair of shoes for all the varied activities on a trip probably doesn't work so well. I'll have to make room for proper boots next time.