– A Remedy For What Ails You – In a world where politicians and media conspire to overwhelm us with the blues, I turn off the news and find happiness by chasing adventure. It’s my way of rebelling… that, and writing this blog where you will always find good vibes. Here’s a great example of how we escaped the heaviness of Big Media without spending … Continue reading Killing the Blues in Karpacz
– A Secret Destination in Burmese Waters – Sixty miles off the west coast of Myanmar on the east side of the triangle formed by the Bay of Bengal, we queued up for shark diving in the open ocean somewhere between India and Indochina. There were fourteen guests on the trip; me and my oilfield buddy and a dozen total strangers. The live-aboard boat carried … Continue reading Shark Diving Adventures in Thailand
– Experiencing the Mystery of Poland’s Frontier – Poland’s border with Belarus and Ukraine is the eastern edge of Europe. It is a sparsely populated wonderland of lakes, forests, and open skies. Geopolitically, however, it is a place of great tension and turmoil… a territory that has been brutally disputed for hundreds of years. Our plan was to travel along the border from the top … Continue reading The Eastern Edge of Europe
Travel doesn’t require extensive time or money; many with limited resources actively seek adventure. Working-class individuals often have more opportunities to explore than wealthy ones, who are constrained by work. Embracing spontaneity and careful budgeting can lead to memorable experiences throughout life. Continue reading Adventure Planning on a Budget
– Little Adventures for Longer Lives – Ela and I want to stay fit and interested in life, so we take recreation regularly. Not vacations: we enjoy those when we can, but they’re big chunks of time that require lots of money and planning. As a supplement, we take recreation every week or two; it’s more spontaneous and easier to budget than a big vacation. … Continue reading What to Do When the Week Ends
– A New Alpine Experience – Ela and I enjoy long meandering conversations during our road trips. Age doesn’t matter much; we talk and feel and dream like young people when we’re alone together. There’s something about rolling down the open road that stimulates a flow of thoughts and, like the endless scenery, it’s different from the everyday mix. “Where would you go on an … Continue reading Age Doesn’t Matter (Much)
– Two Weeks in Olympic Beach – It was Ela’s idea; a two-week vacation in Greece bracketed by road trips through Central Europe. “We can drive through Serbia,” she said… as though that was something to get excited about. “Is it safe?” I asked. And she laughed. Olympic Beach We booked a couple weeks in an apartment suite a block off the water near the … Continue reading South Through Serbia
– November is Bad for Whitewater – We pushed off from Funston the next morning with the idea of moving our adventure to Little Pine. Usually, there was excitement and energy to share when we packed up the boats, but it was quiet and somewhat sullen that day. Our hands were cold and limbs stiff as we lugged the gear to the beach and struggled … Continue reading Weather Can Ruin Your Plans
– Still Prone to Thinking Out Loud – When the men returned, there was celebration. Everyone was safe. Tristin got a fire going and they pulled a pre-cooked spaghetti feast from one of the coolers on the raft. Todd cleared space on the table for a two-burner Coleman stove. John and I did the grunt work; we cleaned up and looked for wood, which was … Continue reading Not Solo, Not This Time
– What No One Does, Where No One Does It – “Every few days like clockwork, they go straight up the road.” I pointed toward camp. “And this is where the wolves come in.” We stood in the broad rolling bottom of a creek that dried up centuries ago. It disrupted the road with its contours, a washout that had grown over with sage and … Continue reading Night Out with Wolves
