tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36298253956999963812024-03-12T23:51:00.236-07:00Tim´s tales"The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun"
Alexander SupertrampEmily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-16854784690096116052012-07-26T01:52:00.001-07:002012-07-26T01:54:00.187-07:00<br />
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So how do you do a single blogg post for 10months of travel?<br />
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Facts and figures:<br />
Countries visited = 20 (Includes ALL Central and South American countries + Cuba, excluding Guyana, Suriname & French Guiana)<br />
Stamps in passport = 66<br />
Distance on motorbike = 50000km<br />
Front tyres = 3<br />
Rear Tyres = 4<br />
Chains = 4<br />
Sprockets = 3 (front and back)<br />
Oil changes = 15 (37.5 litres)<br />
Crashes = 1 on tarmac; 3 into other bikes; 3 into other vehicles; many many more on dirt-sand-mud<br />
Parts broken = footpeg; speedometer; clutch; GoPro; rear frame bolts; minimal plastic damage; x2 rear vision mirrors on cars (theirs not mine), number plate, front wheel hubb<br />
Fuel used = approx 2500litres (cheapest at $0.01 per litre, most expensive at $2 per litre)<br />
Cost = I would have paid more!
Police bribed = 3 (Belize - the bribe was cheaper than the insurance, Honduras - no number plate; Nicaragua - $5 only to embarrass them by waving it around)<br />
Police encountered without needing bribe = 100approx (typically gringo smile and ´no hablar espanol´ or take their photos)
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I have a head full of fantastic memories and countless new friends, I thought that what I was undertaking i.e. riding a motorbike in central america was a unique way of travelling...given the number of bikers I now know that have done the same trip or more extreme versions I am going to have to go back to he drawing board an come up with a crazier way and place to travel to get my unique experience...How about taking a freighter ship to West Africa and travel war torn West African nations? oh well it will do for now anyway!
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I often wondered if I was just going to get more of the same experiences going back to south america. Yes I did...fabulous amazing places should be visited more than once but the best part of this whole trip and favourite experience has been riding the motorbike...a totally new and wonderful way of travelling for me. The freedom and flexibility offered are priceless. Travelling by local bus is cheaper but you only get to stop in the towns\cities, the best food is roadside food, the best accommodation is your own tent with an unbeatable view and best of all the wind in your face while keeping it rubber-side down.<br />
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People keep asking how I have changed...I guess I feel I now take more risks...LIVE LIFE and take a few risks...trust me you will appreciate everything more than if you just have the experience handed to you. Facing death around each corner makes your breakfast taste nicer and appreciate how lucky you really are just to be breathing.<br />
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Pictures summarise the trip better than words so email me and I will give you the links.<br />
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I closed the "America's by bike" chapter by selling my Julia (a red KLR motorbike)...there were tears but I was reminded that she was just an object...like your favourite pair of shoes! She took me to some amazing places and we had some fantastic experiences but more importantly riding her allowed me to meet some fantastic people who I hope will stay in my life longer than a single pair of shoes/motorbike. To friends at home and abroad who have supported me also a big THANKYOU.<br />
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Bring on AFRICA<br />
<br />Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-49856681930556353162011-09-02T10:27:00.000-07:002011-09-03T08:28:39.520-07:00<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>The suicide pact and its organisation</strong></div>
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Adrian (Erks) and myself (Sega) are going to be riding motorcycles south down through Central and South America over the next 7 months. Generally our plan is to ride south down the western coast line to Ushuaia (Southern most point of South America) and back up through the east coast...but like all good plans this is only an outline. If you are still confused then it is going to be a trip like 'Long way round' or 'Long way down' without the assistance of a film crew, less expensive motorcycles and in the America's.</div>
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Adrian has pulled out a gut busting effort over the last 6-9months to purchase and kit out 2x Kawasaki KLR 650cc motorbikes. As dual sport bikes go these are the cheapest however most commonly bike used for such a trip. Our gear is strapped onto the side of the "iron horse's" just like saddle bags on a horse. We are taking as little as possible...just like any backpacking adventure if you can get away without it...don't take it! In minimalist fashion some of the things taken include x3 jocks x4 socks x1shorts/board-shorts x3 shirts x1 set of thermals x1 jumper...space is more of an issue than weight but this doesn't stop use trying to save some coin and we want to camp as often as possible so tent/sleeping bag/cooking equip./etc is also thrown in. Tools and repair items are also the necessity and we have enough to repair the bikes until the next major town.</div>
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Over the last month I have met more people who are amazed at our plan to ride south. Most people immediately think we are crazy and then try to offer the same warnings..."do you know about Mexico and how dangerous it is?" Surprisingly we haven't been living in ignorance and recognise the security risks...typically with the overly <span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><em style="font-style: normal;">blasé</em></span> Australian attitude of...she'll be right mate!</div>
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I remember the lesson's from high school outdoor education about REAL RISK and PERCEIVED RISK...well excitingly there is more from column A than B with this trip...corrupt cops/drug smugglers/rebels/general psycho's/poverty induced theft/violence...are the risks just from travelling to that region and the people (real or perceived is arguable)...consider the risk of travelling on a motorbike with crazy drivers/no real road rules/overloaded &/or poor quality vehicles and poor quality roads...this generally is a REAL risk. Combine this with the poor quality (non-existent) health services...no thats a package deal on REAL risk!</div>
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We (Adrian) have done alot of research and reading on travelling through these countries...believe it or not we aren't the first to undertake such an adventure...lots of people have gone before us so their are numerous sites to give pointers/fair warnings and qualify the real risk(s). We have gone to the extent of even creating dodgy "Press" passes to hopefully be used at times to 'keep them honest' at border crossings as we pretent to document the process...with lots of photos and name writing. Not knowing Spanish can also be assistance as much as a hindrance as you can also claim to not understand and make them have to work to get the bribe out of you.</div>
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Anyhow the risk is real and this is sure to make it a much more memorable trip...should we survive...in fact Adrian's work mates are so convinced we are going to die they have started a betting pool on the date of our death(s)...nice one fella's! Our final hoorah in the USA is a party which has be called a 'wake' as this means they will have the 'bodies' to drink around as they foresee such a positive outlook on the trip.</div>
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Wish us luck; 'Buen viaje'; watch our progress and the many cool stories/photos to come!</div>
Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-71471731547065359652011-09-01T12:46:00.000-07:002011-09-01T12:49:47.547-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>USA National Parks</strong> </div>
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A trip I undertook as pre-running for Central/South America Trip...3000miles later...I survived round ONE!<br />
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After landing in the USA I had a crazy learning curve with the final exam being life or death, maybe a little extreme but learning to ride a motorbike x6 as powerful than the last time I rode and doing so on the RIGHT side of the road and in Los Angeles traffic leaves little room for error.</div>
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I flew in to LA and immediately started the preparation...transferring the bike into my name and organising nasty little extras like insurance and fixing niggling issues with the bike.</div>
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I then began lessons...Adrian turned out to be a great teacher...starting with getting used to the balance and weight of the bike in a car park doing figure of 8's...just like the METAL motorcycle course...except when done with that he found the nearest corners and over the next week I "gained" some level of comfort riding and maintaining speed through the bends. The addition of 'saddle-bags" was not nearly as scary the weight "forced" me to lean into the corners.<br />
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There is only so much once can go to the beach alone before you need a change of scenery so I left very quickly and was rewarded with an afternoon exploring Joshua Tree national park a mere 2-3hrs from LA if you time the traffic correctly. I loved it...hot dry and desert...just like home! I was fascinated by the vegetation, cactus and hardy desert plants very different but very similar adaptations to the plants at home.<br />
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Then I set off to the Grand Canyon...only to be distracted by the Red Rock region of Arizona...no one mentioned this area and with hiking/crazy red sandstone and perfect weather I couldn't help but spend a night here.</div>
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I struck a famous afternoon Arizona thunderstorm on the way to the canyon and found out quickly riding in the rain is even less fun than riding in the baking heat. My aim for the Grand Canyon was to hike to the bottom...preferably Rim to Rim to Rim...50miles thereabouts. Fortunately I had no problem getting camping permits and I set off. The first glimpse I had of the canyon sent butterflies loose in my stomach...I had bitten off more than I could chew...it is HUGE...the decent into the canyon was not nearly as hard on my legs due to the numerous photo stops...I was wearing new "shoes" for hiking...not a good idea to do so on hills at anytime but particularly as these weren't exactly "shoes" rather Chaco sandals...I was hiking over 6000ft down steep trails in sandals...'stupid boy'. I was however shocked by the ease and support the Chacos offered...sadly my croc wearing days are over! However I did decide not to push them and my feet to the limit and stay on the south side of the canyon.</div>
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The bottom of the Grand Canyon is not nearly as impressive as the view from the top but the reward and your respect for the canyon is increased with the effort. The heat was as hot as any summer day in Alice Springs but funny in that it actually got hotter overnight as the rocks release the heat and it gets trapped in the canyon. The evening ranger program was also interesting as we went hunting for scorpions with a UV light...you must see this before you die...crazy little fluro critters! Climbing back out of the canyon was much easier than the decent...good cardio workout but easier on the legs!<br />
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Next on the trip was the Navajo Monument Valley...this area is famous for the cowboy movies...and is simply awesome to see while I also had the opportunity to ride my steel horse through the towering buffs. Don't forget to also take the time to see "valley of the gods" if you are in this area...just as impressive and less people. That night I got caught out camping on an amazing view point overlooking the valley. The weather turns late in the afternoon and I found myself in the middle of a spectacular lightning show...not that I enjoyed it being the highest object in the area and I spent it huddled in a rock crevasse certain I was still going to be crispy fried!<br />
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The scenic byway No. 12 lives up to its name...a great road and some sensational country to travel through (next time I will do it with air-conditioning or not in the peak of summer). Utah could easily be my favourite state except for my soft spot for Alaska and the relentless heat. I actually began to question motorcycle travel...why do I want to ride? It was so hot you often didn't stop for pictures as the effort of removing helmet/gloves/jacket was to hot and hard...and when you stop moving all that protective gear becomes an oven! I suppose I could become an 'organ donor' and ride as many were in shorts/T-shirt/no helmet but I have had road rash as a kid on a mountain bike...x4 the speed and it must be much much worse!</div>
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Bryce canyon was a neat National Park...the colour of the Hoodoos (earth formations) is phenomenal and then I was blown away by the sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park. I spent 2 days peak bagging and was more than impressed by the safety concern/risk management strategy of the NPS..."your safety is your concern". The Angels Landing walk was awesome with the top part of the trail scrambling on rocks next to a 1000ft cliff...Ayers Rock gets closed for any possible reason...this trail is far more dangerous/steeper and it was nearly as hot as home yet they didn't even have warnings placed at the bottom!</div>
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The narrows is another great walk of Zion NP where I followed the river up the canyon for 3+miles and could imagine myself being in the gorges of the Western MacDonald ranges just in a much deeper and steeper slot canyon.</div>
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<br />I decided to see the Valley of Fire and Death valley rather than the shorter easier ride across Area 51. The outstanding moment was riding the bike down Titus Canyon into death valley...lucky I was on a bike...the big American pickup trucks would not have fitted on this one-way road down the centre of the canyon. Death valley hit 127 F (52deg C) as I rode through...that's hotter than anything I think I have experienced...CRAZY and I was inside a black helmet wearing full motorcycle clothing...my own personal sauna!<br />
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Yosemite was the last National Park on my list for this short pre-run trip. It was well worth the ride to get there. I found myself LOVING the riding experience here...I was not over heating...loving the twists and turn and enjoying the "freedom of the road" only riding a motorbike gives you. I then left the bike and secured my permit for walking HalfDome and spent 3 days soaking up perfect weather and stunning scenery. HalfDome is another legal nightmare but the NPS simply states 'your safety is your concern'...crazy! The last section was hauling yourself up the sheer granite on cables...it made the chain going up Ayers Rock look horizontal.</div>
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I scooted home to LA down the Pacific Coast Highway and again found myself enjoying the riding...particularly lane splitting through traffic on the freeways...something I always considered suicidal...but then considering the planed trip south perhaps that's exactly what I am?</div>
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So USA's desert parks V's Central Australia? Without a doubt everything is bigger and grander in the USA...BUT...its not about the size I was always told...Central Australia has a vastness that the USA doesn't have...you perhaps remember the journey more in AUS as it is so far between anywhere and the vegetation/kangaroos...lol...<wbr></wbr>both area's are utterly stunning and amazing but there is no place like home/Alice!</div>
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Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-55173629383973825242011-06-14T07:08:00.000-07:002011-06-14T19:10:41.087-07:00The Gambia<p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">If a bus was passing by with a destination I didn’t know, I probably wouldn’t jump on it...however when an opportunity to visit The Gambia (a country I couldn’t even place on any map) came up - how could I resist the temptation to travel there?</span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Hence I found myself flying via France for pastries, baguettes and cheese to Banjul the capital of The Gambia (please note that for some strange reason it is never just Gambia but always ‘<u>The</u> Gambia’).</span></span></p><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjwagNxQx04/TfgIgMtlilI/AAAAAAAAAR0/H5cRbZnw9mw/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528291%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 304px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618249884405959250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjwagNxQx04/TfgIgMtlilI/AAAAAAAAAR0/H5cRbZnw9mw/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528291%2529.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">This trip was not a solo affair and I was travelling with Abdou & Renee, friends from The Alice...lol (the)...and we were going to visit Abdou’s family as he is Gambian.</span></span><br /></p><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YKzybkmITyE/Tff8OhmDVvI/AAAAAAAAAOM/eSaJAwE7R7Q/s1600/Gambia%2BLocation%2BMap.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 143px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618236386634323698" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YKzybkmITyE/Tff8OhmDVvI/AAAAAAAAAOM/eSaJAwE7R7Q/s320/Gambia%2BLocation%2BMap.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The Gambia is in on the West Africa coast surrounded by on all borders by Senegal...a couple of countries below Morocco...umm yeah...really is hard to find on a map as it is only 300km by 50km...smaller than England if that is possible to believe! It is a British colony and hence unlike Senegal (French colony) people learn English in school and this made it much easier for us to travel. However one should always learn few basics in the local language (Mandinka) so I learnt: Yes=Ha and No=Huni along with some formal greetings and thankyou. Consider now when a ‘bumster’ on the tourist beach asks if you ‘would like a boyfriend’! ...saying No in the local language felt even more odd as a response than the question even felt in the first place...Never have and will I call a boy “Honey”(Huni) but this is what it sounded like as I kept on running.</span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Banjul proved to be the typical African tourist hotspot and the swanky hotels and the beachside cafes were nice enough but not what I came to Africa to experience. Hence after a few days tidying up last minute errands we were headed up the River Gambia to Abdou’s family’s village – BrikamaBa.</span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkXwQz_NyN8/Tff-8RjpvjI/AAAAAAAAAO0/ZeHfdcXj37U/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%25289%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 196px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618239371626528306" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkXwQz_NyN8/Tff-8RjpvjI/AAAAAAAAAO0/ZeHfdcXj37U/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%25289%2529.jpg" /></a><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Our transport around The Gambia was a bright green diesel Mercedes – just like every other taxi only green and it had no holes in the floor (that I could see). It was ours for use with a driver, for the entire month for $300AUD...Bargain’s are easy to come by when it is not tourist season.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The first journey was typically African and we found that the suspension mounts had rusted through leaving us broken down 25% of the way to BrikamaBa. After some bush mechanics to remove the ‘noisy bits’ (the gas struts clunking with every bump) we continued at a much slower pace until the bitumen where we didn’t need the suspension of course...never mind the lack of stability on the road and feeling like you were riding in a saddle rather than a car seat.</span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The first I saw of BrikamaBa was at 12.30am whilst we were stopped to ask for directions. I woke up to a screech and crash as a motorbike ran into a donkey – TIA – “This Is Africa”. The next morning I found myself in a village of 3000 people and being the only “Toubab(s)” (White Person) meant we created quite the attraction. Each family had a compound; this is a fenced area with several houses, a toileting area, at least one mango tree to sit under and maybe a well (water) if they were lucky. Unfortunately our compound had a well and no gate...this meant the stream of people to come a see the elusive ‘Toubab’ was legitimised by the need for water.</span></span></p><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">We had come to The Gambia in the off-season...for good reason tourists don’t go to The Gambia in May...it is bloody hot...it would rival Alice Springs on a summers day...with no air-con or swimming pools though!</span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">I had prepared myself for using a squat toilet (hole) and have never found a bucket bath a hassle in the past. However I assumed like any other village of 3000ppl BrikamaBa would have electricity...definitely not in all houses but at least at the shops. Hence I was even more impressed at how isolated I was as only a few shops had a generator to offer cold drinks, run a TV for cinema nights or the other necessities like sewing machines, welders, etc. There was lucky to be a handful of computers in town so internet was a far fetched idea but sadly the isolation was spoiled by the curse of mobile phones. Shops with a generator would offer charging for mobile phones and the selection of networks...amazing! Just like in Eastern Africa I was amazed at how Africans have embraced mobile technology as squander millions on txt msg’s and chat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Over the 3½ weeks of living in BrikamaBa I tried to understand how life worked; what people did each day; what they wanted in life and other social questions. The following observations hence are with my western eyes...they will probably spark controversy but seeing-is-believing and truly some things you can never understand growing up in Australia.</span></span><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 288px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618249878421806418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GmtZm8vb9TY/TfgIf2a2nVI/AAAAAAAAARs/D66lQDs80zw/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528274%2529.JPG" /><br /><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Life for the women is hardest...they did everything around the compound and this was the limit of their world. Wake up in the morning and sweep the entire yard/house; fetch water all day long, not just turning on a tap but either walking to the communal tap or hauling it up from a well and then carrying 20litre buckets around on your head; going to the markets to buy food for the day (no refrigeration) was the highlight generally as they got to leave the compound and ‘shopping’ seems to be enjoyed by females world wide; cooking breakfast/lunch/?dinner (?if consumed at all) for the entire compound on a open fire...35deg and using a fire...HOT; laundry (by hand) and when this is all done a few hours rest before washing the children and themselves.</span></span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5WyqJ49xm1E/TfgIflI_N4I/AAAAAAAAARk/9EAWymbc8VM/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528129%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 207px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618249873783469954" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5WyqJ49xm1E/TfgIflI_N4I/AAAAAAAAARk/9EAWymbc8VM/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528129%2529.JPG" /></a><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The men have are the breadwinners...when they decide there is a necessary need to work or need for money. It is true that the manual jobs such as building, rice farming, driving, etc are done by men but the time spent working was considerably outweighed by the time drinking “Attaya” (sugar, gunpowder tea and water in these respective quantities). As a national speciality - forget a sport, a dance or musical instrument...The Gambians are the champions of brewing ‘Attaya’. If a Gambian tells you he works 7am-7pm...this includes at least half the time waiting for/brewing ‘Attaya’. It’s a good thing that everyone runs on ‘African time’ as ‘Attaya sessions’ ensure everything is done...eventually (if at all).</span></span> <br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">So after this hard day(s) work the men will relax in the evening listening to the radio/reading the Koran/talking to other men and of course enjoy more ‘Attaya’. At bed time he decides which wife (you can have up to 4) he wants to sleep with and more often than not she returns back to her own bed after he has finished the deed.</span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The children are moulded in the model of their parents so as soon as they are able help the girls will carry water and fetch things whilst the boys have considerably more time to play and practice making ‘Attaya’.</span></span></p></div><br /><div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The Gambia is devoutly a Muslim country and this keeps the country safe due to its strict adherence to the Koran. Violent crime is almost non-existent and I never once felt my safety threatened. While AIDS has impacted heavily in other African nations, the religious restrictions on sexual freedom has reduced the spread considerably. Charity and helping support those less fortunate is a big part of the Koran and hence everybody shares everything (and has nothing). Their health I feel is preserved by the adherence to prayer and the ritual of cleansing (x5 per day they wash for prayer) and it gives them the spiritual comfort they need to get through the suffering and poverty around them. Hence living life by the Koran plays a big part on Gambians ambitions. The need for children and family was the core of their life. You may be struggling to feed your family but “Allah will provide” for another child if you have one. The children are raised as ‘Somebody to remember you and to support you when your old’...aka...your retirement package. Hence I couldn’t help but feel having a wife and children was more for economic reasons than love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Prosperity was the other obvious ambition and sadly the only way out for many Gambians is to leave...make money in “Toubab-da-ville” and send it back to the family. Marrying a ‘Toubab’ or getting a ‘Toubab’ to sponsor you is the easiest way to achieve this hence I was a popular person to know in town...fat chance though!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Apart from observing this strange mix of economics/religion/?love? so very different home I had some fantastic experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-83uHyQYtqak/TfgB9G_EUNI/AAAAAAAAAP8/-fWpJ2O9YwE/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528206%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618242684503478482" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-83uHyQYtqak/TfgB9G_EUNI/AAAAAAAAAP8/-fWpJ2O9YwE/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528206%2529.JPG" /></a> <br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The boat trip to Baboon Island (a Chimpanzee refuge) will be long remembered for the comedy of errors and hilarity of each moment. Renee and myself enjoyed watching the Chimps hanging over the river whilst bailing (removing water in the boat) continuously so as not to sink. However trying to return to the port proved difficult as our outboard engine failed. 3-4hrs later slightly upstream after our paddling efforts (and sustaining ourselves on mangos pinched from beside the river) the mechanic started the boat and we returned our efforts to bailing out water again rather than both paddling and bailing! Why we trusted African transport let alone water transport shows our stupidity, but it was the best day we had in the Gambia.</span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Watching the craftsmen in town was one of my favourite past-times. The carpenters carving elaborate bed heads by hand; <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sartsQX-KGI/TfgB9iQ_HdI/AAAAAAAAAQE/gsAm2kyR_Lc/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528221%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618242691826392530" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sartsQX-KGI/TfgB9iQ_HdI/AAAAAAAAAQE/gsAm2kyR_Lc/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528221%2529.JPG" /></a> the tailor embroidering the prayer suits without a pattern replicating the magazine picture by eye;<br /></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sHlY--uK9hQ/Tff8X84R8mI/AAAAAAAAAOs/uWMBCGkQtd4/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%252855%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 238px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618236548577358434" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sHlY--uK9hQ/Tff8X84R8mI/AAAAAAAAAOs/uWMBCGkQtd4/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%252855%2529.JPG" /></a> the welder using sunglasses to “protect” his eyes;</span></span></p><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F3D_r2G_i8A/TfgB8TDr65I/AAAAAAAAAPs/ihno3ikCx_Q/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528147%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618242670564207506" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F3D_r2G_i8A/TfgB8TDr65I/AAAAAAAAAPs/ihno3ikCx_Q/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528147%2529.JPG" /></a><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">the fish smokers; </span></span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vxNqdhZpsJk/Tff--njh1eI/AAAAAAAAAPU/2vz3w2ERt2E/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528120%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618239411891328482" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vxNqdhZpsJk/Tff--njh1eI/AAAAAAAAAPU/2vz3w2ERt2E/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528120%2529.JPG" /></a> <span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">the jewellers forge and electroplating device to make “solid silver”.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ8Z-t8m5sY/Tff--PwCy3I/AAAAAAAAAPM/VhPfmpe4hhA/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528108%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618239405501369202" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZ8Z-t8m5sY/Tff--PwCy3I/AAAAAAAAAPM/VhPfmpe4hhA/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528108%2529.JPG" /></a> <br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Catching a donkey cart was a great way to get around if you could stomach the abuse the animal suffered on the journey.</span></span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq2mq6An_sI/Tff8VxTZSZI/AAAAAAAAAOc/s0T_6CWITPA/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%252829%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618236511110121874" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq2mq6An_sI/Tff8VxTZSZI/AAAAAAAAAOc/s0T_6CWITPA/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%252829%2529.JPG" /></a> <span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Watching a haircut happening was very different to any other way of cutting hair – it reminded me of shearing wool.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6vTAoPAjEs8/Tff8W5SJDyI/AAAAAAAAAOk/WkvElX6kMfA/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%252843%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618236530432216866" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6vTAoPAjEs8/Tff8W5SJDyI/AAAAAAAAAOk/WkvElX6kMfA/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%252843%2529.JPG" /></a> <span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The women plating each others hair into amazing designs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Doing my own laundry always caused a stir as men never do laundry. Or the first time I was carrying water on my head, spilling it over me and the other women next to the well.</span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m7t2BDn3adY/TfgIgurVGzI/AAAAAAAAAR8/EqbrXpkre_8/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528312%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 173px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618249893523299122" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m7t2BDn3adY/TfgIgurVGzI/AAAAAAAAAR8/EqbrXpkre_8/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528312%2529.JPG" /></a><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Food in The Gambia was interesting...until I got sick of rice! Every meal had the essential ingredients x1 cup Salt; x4 cups Oil; x2+sachet MSG; x15cups Rice (recipe was for x10 ppl) and the daily variation was either ‘boney’ fish; offal or ground nuts and a few random vegetables. Surprisingly though it became quite addictive to want/need that much salt, oil & MSG. The best part of eating was squatting and scooping the food out of a communal bowl with your RIGHT hand...anything tastes better out of your hand(s).</span></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u_bUG5KHuBk/Tff-9WLL4ZI/AAAAAAAAAPE/r8OB-nqFS6g/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%252894%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618239390045954450" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u_bUG5KHuBk/Tff-9WLL4ZI/AAAAAAAAAPE/r8OB-nqFS6g/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%252894%2529.JPG" /></a> </p><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oVb8olGtNSw/TfgDj3E5i_I/AAAAAAAAAQs/cUsd6MgdQXg/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528254%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618244449759497202" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oVb8olGtNSw/TfgDj3E5i_I/AAAAAAAAAQs/cUsd6MgdQXg/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528254%2529.JPG" /></a><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The baker and I got to know each other very well as I would always wait until I could take the hottest and freshest loaves for breakfast...straight from the wood fired oven it had to be the nicest bread in the world...better than rice anyhow! I made a calzone, cheese&vegemite scrolls and banana bread to the astonishment of everybody (a male cooking and something different to rice!).</span></span></div><br /><div><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KBmXfyNHXgg/TfgDjfYj_bI/AAAAAAAAAQk/lYlT_Qh1x-I/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528237%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618244443399519666" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KBmXfyNHXgg/TfgDjfYj_bI/AAAAAAAAAQk/lYlT_Qh1x-I/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528237%2529.JPG" /></a><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The best thing to happen to me in The Gambia however was to meet another ‘Toubab’. Erin is an American Peace Corp worker and for 27months will be in The Gambia; she is 11months into her time. I was invited to attend a naming ceremony for her newborn “brother”. She has learnt the local language of her village, much smaller and only 3km from BrikamaBa and is building a library for the school whist there. She lives in a round house with thatch roof the same as her host family although she boasts a private mango tree...not much in “Toubab-do-ville” but heaven for sleeping under! <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">The Peace Corp has 3 goals: (1) Show people abroad some American culture (2) Report back to America about the culture she is experiencing (3) Offer support projects in either: education, health or agriculture. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Hence with my birthday coming up we decided to show her Gambian family how ‘we’ celebrate a birthday in the Western World (they don’t even recognise a birthday). We would throw “me” a party. </span></span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJRILrpGSJI/TfgSijsWbzI/AAAAAAAAASU/hBPOefkEYUI/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528216%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 203px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618260920050806578" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJRILrpGSJI/TfgSijsWbzI/AAAAAAAAASU/hBPOefkEYUI/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528216%2529.JPG" /></a><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">For my 27yrs356days birthday...I found myself making a Piñata. The Gambians at my compound thought I had gone crazy when I took a bag of lollies and covered them in newspaper glued with whitewash. It was a great birthday, everyone dressed in their formal Gambian clothes (including me); watching the kids smash the piñata; eating a birthday cake (a cornflake, peanut-butter and sugar <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>biscuit); sing me happy birthday (none of them spoke English). As for a birthday present, I was give a ‘Ju-Ju’ which is a lucky charm worn by Africans. The one I wear containing charms for ‘Safe Travel’ and ‘Prosperity’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AMLJZcWV91U/TfgDjOVsICI/AAAAAAAAAQc/OwhiSIAB5ic/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528223%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618244438824067106" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AMLJZcWV91U/TfgDjOVsICI/AAAAAAAAAQc/OwhiSIAB5ic/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528223%2529.JPG" /></a> <br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Other notable experiences was the prayer session and my African prayer suit/costume;<br />going to and completing Friday prayer - then trying to figure out with the boys afterwards how I could be a Muslim yet still drink beer and eat pork!;<br />swimming across the River Gambia faster than the ferry while horrified Gambian’s watched (most Gambians cant swim or are scared by crocodiles & hippos);<br /></p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j55aL85GPLc/Tff_P4oF4WI/AAAAAAAAAPc/99CHJBFBAdw/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528139%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 186px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618239708531646818" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j55aL85GPLc/Tff_P4oF4WI/AAAAAAAAAPc/99CHJBFBAdw/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528139%2529.JPG" /></a>eating mango after mango; </span></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618239382601120658" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVg_fTYHjRo/Tff-86cMu5I/AAAAAAAAAO8/mox1nsxsvUY/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%252858%2529.JPG" /><br />getting used to seeing naked breasts...to the point of not even noticing them anymore...except to marvel at how one lady could breastfeed without taking the child off her back!;<br />playing soccer with the boys every night, coming home filthy from the dust and having to hide my shoes or the ladies would wash them.</span></span> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OPFT1BhUwI4/TfgIg9SHI1I/AAAAAAAAASE/dV4BoEk-0VM/s1600/The%2BGambia%2B%2528318%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 185px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618249897444057938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OPFT1BhUwI4/TfgIg9SHI1I/AAAAAAAAASE/dV4BoEk-0VM/s320/The%2BGambia%2B%2528318%2529.JPG" /></a> <br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">We left BrikamaBa abruptly (hence we avoiding being asked for money by the entire town) and on the return trip to Banjul we visited Wassu Stone Circles. These have been compared to Stonehenge and were pretty impressive (although much smaller). I nor the archaeologists seem to understand why they were built but some ‘ancient peoples’ stood rocks in circles 1000s of years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Banjul & civilisation meant turning a tap for water, beer and a swimming pool. It might have been the most I have ever paid on accommodation for myself (a whole $50AUD per night) but the luxury was worth it!</span></span><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">Thanks to Abdou for inviting me to see his family; Renee for putting up with me and the assumption she was my wife for the entire trip; Numerous Gambians for their friendship and hospitality and glasses of ‘Attaya’; Erin for the insight into small village life; Roxi for giving me more travel ideas; and Allah for blessing me and letting me be fortunate enough to be able to go there...</span> <span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">Allahu Akbar ;)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-24687193795722065992010-09-29T17:36:00.000-07:002011-06-18T22:32:59.914-07:00Finishing Alaska and the long drive south<div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div>Part of traveling successfully is meeting random people and befriending them. I happened to be at a berry-winery when at the same time as a fella from Wasilla and struck up a conversation with him...foolishly he gave me a business card and the offer of a flight in his plane.<br />3.5months later I took him up on that offer and turned up on his doorstep (with some warning).<br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619796221967533602" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7STVAfhJngI/Tf2G45B1BiI/AAAAAAAAASc/E146u9e6UqE/s320/P1080287.JPG" /><br />For the whole afternoon I was grinning ear to ear as he took me on a scenic tour. The weather was sunny and cloudless with minimal wind so we were able to fly closer to the mountains and glaciers than usual. Memories of this flight can be summarised with x3 moments<br />1. Flying over the glacier's and the glacier lakes. Looking down into the crevasses and that magic blue colour.<br />2. Landing next to a glacial lake and finding the canoe left for people to canoe around the icebergs on the lake...hence we did...WOW<br />3. Flying over bears, mountain goats and Dall sheep<br /><br /><br />The other Alaskans I meet that week were some young fella's who help me push the Red Rocket out of a glacier stream I had become bogged in...maybe parking in the creek to wash car wasn't such a great idea after all!<br />These guys after rescuing me and the rocket invited me on a canoe trip down the Kink river. What a way to spend the arvo, a lazy float down stream with beers and good company.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619796231092062530" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IEbn1Mvgg0s/Tf2G5bBSSUI/AAAAAAAAASk/I2Wf_1dd0Rc/s320/P1080401.JPG" /><br />My last stop in Anchorage was a sad one as I left behind a family who had adopted me as a son. However we were able to have some great memories as we went Kayaking on several lakes, rode a GoldenWing bike, feasted on homecooked Ribs and pumpkin pie and I also did several walks - finally the Crow Pass was complete!<br /><br /><br />Driving south I was stunned at the fall colour's, the memory of golden yellow leaves blowing across the road will stay a lifetime. After a quick 1000miles I made it to Skagway where I could walk the Chilcoot Pass.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619796232048897106" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ckZ1bSbQka4/Tf2G5elabFI/AAAAAAAAASs/XfkQgxlAddo/s320/P1080569.JPG" /><br />This historic walking track was a highway of men carrying supplies to the goldfields in 1898. I carried a respectable 50pounds but nothing on the 1000pounds that the Canadian official's demanded be taken as supplies to the goldfields to ensure people could survive the winter.<br />I also had stunning weather and was blown away by the scenery. To get back to Skagway I caught the WhitePass railway...WOW as train journeys go this one had the best views.<br /><br /><br />The Casiar Hwy is slower but more beautiful, so it was an easy choice to go this way. The signpost forrest in Watson Lake was bigger than could have ever imagined with people from everything leaving directions and distances to their homes.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619796242304692690" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jlz3LzURJfg/Tf2G6EylcdI/AAAAAAAAAS8/tfEaBiPCy9A/s320/P1080720.JPG" /><br />The was plenty of wildlife (black bear in particular) alon the Casiar but also evidence of forrest fires, lakes, volcanoes and my last chance to enjoy spruce forrests. A side trip into Hyder was well worth it to drive so close to the glaicers. </div><br /><br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619796240843480770" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-spYmxMwUf_s/Tf2G5_WNHsI/AAAAAAAAAS0/98xdUiDAfE8/s320/P1080616.JPG" /><br />I was fortunate enough to be able to drive Hwy 99 in canada not once but twice again...it is still the most beautiful hwy I have ever driven no matter what time of year!<br /><br /><br />I had some hastles getting back into the USA from customs...I had been over here to long for his liking and none of my answers were able to convince him that I was trying to living permantly in the USA. Finally after 50min of waiting I was through into the lower 48 again and had a win of sorts by breaking his stern face with the comment I just want to get home to see my mum!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619796823714142130" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-89JE2OevGsM/Tf2Hb6tZl7I/AAAAAAAAATE/QXaVh9DHH9Y/s320/P1080864.JPG" /><br />I then heading to Crater Lake national park as the weather gods where being nice to me one last time! This volcanic crater is similar to Mt Gamiber in South Australia but MUCH MUCH bigger. I was convinced to go for a swim in it...rewards but cold. Hiked to the most amazing view points and realised I was not ready for children when I overheard a Dad explaining that he had to hold onto his kids tightly because he didnt want to have to climb down to rescuce them...I thought it would be much easier just to have another kid than climb down to get the stupid one who fell!<br /><br /><br />After Crater lake I decided i could squeeze the Lava Beds national park in also...well worth it to go caving on this trip. Seeing the flow paterns of the roack and walking through this geological gem was somehting else and also the amazing forests surround the national park.<br /><br /><br />I headed south again and this time just kept driving until I reached Los Angeles. I did so early Sunday morning and was exhausted but thogh i should wait until a respectable hour before waking Adrian. I lay down on the roof of the car to read my book and promptly fell asleep...the neighbours didnt like this and called the cops on me and was a classic ending to my drive south!<br /><br /><br />Over the 10days drove 4000miles, used 142gallons of fuel and spent umpteen hours behind the wheel. I had become attached the Red Rocket...the little gal just kept on going going going so to have to sell her was not easy...well emotionally anyway because it took less than 5hours once I had listed it online.<br /><br /><br />The last few days in LA I was to wrap myself in cotton wool to make sure my good luck didnt come crashing down...well i tried but them decide how often do you get to drive in chaotic traffic and do it in a monster truck...literally a BIG finale for a BIG holiday in a BIG country.<br /><br /><br />See you all in Australia very soon...<br /><br /><br />Tim</div></div>Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-38248701493431372822010-09-06T12:05:00.001-07:002010-09-06T12:28:08.335-07:00Magic Bus - Into the Wild<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62IkPa9W5pnRrUSHIuVVffjJUC0h5ZagXBsEdBxJ-eOfzasTxq-3HnquNR-8hve2YsvXFXMYLGs2wVQFnhyphenhyphenAr1KuXOhxbO-MR3FganMsouhclld55AG6601Mz25f0wAyyDno0lkSJTy8/s1600/P1070589.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62IkPa9W5pnRrUSHIuVVffjJUC0h5ZagXBsEdBxJ-eOfzasTxq-3HnquNR-8hve2YsvXFXMYLGs2wVQFnhyphenhyphenAr1KuXOhxbO-MR3FganMsouhclld55AG6601Mz25f0wAyyDno0lkSJTy8/s320/P1070589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513882573301845010" border="0" /></a>Alaska has had its share of famous traveler's; Capt Cook early on and recently a young lad called Chris McCandless aka Alexander Supertramp. The book and movie "Into the Wild" have made the kid famous.<br />He came to Alaska to discover himself and did well enough to survive off the land (subsistence living) for over 100days. This requires some considerable skill but he also was way under prepared and forgot the some essentials which led to him starving to death in a remote area north of Denali NP (18years to the day I was there!).His home away from home and final resting spot was an old Fairbanks school bus aka the Magic Bus parked in the middle of nowhere along the Stampede Trail.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVAWGhWHzI/AAAAAAAAAMs/x6VwD7bF1QM/s1600/P1070564.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVAWGhWHzI/AAAAAAAAAMs/x6VwD7bF1QM/s320/P1070564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513884067236814642" border="0" /></a>The bus has become a pilgrimage sight of sorts to backpackers all over. Sadly many of these folk didn't learn from watching the movie or perhaps they didn't finish the book because the Stampede trail continues to claim lives. 3 days prior to me walking the trail a female backpacker was killed attempting to cross one of the glacial rivers, she fell and her backpack held her under the water.Walking the Stampede Trail was a beautiful trail leading to the bus 20miles from where you park your vehicle. I was warned by numerous locals and even a park ranger about the river crossings but when it came to it my long legs and that I use trekking poles make river crossings much easier than it was built up to be...I also crossed it the correct place and at the optimal time of day.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVAV4EMLkI/AAAAAAAAAMk/CzDKhVC-sck/s1600/P1070615.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVAV4EMLkI/AAAAAAAAAMk/CzDKhVC-sck/s320/P1070615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513884063356431938" border="0" /></a>As I walked around the corner of the trail to find the bus I felt something stir inside me, it happened again sitting inside the bus...I was surprised to have felt anything as I normally remain aloof to the touchy-feely crap associated with places...the place really did have a feeling to it...I guess it was striking a chord with how it easily it could be me through some simple errors finding my end in an isolate corner of the world.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">I spent a couple of hours at the bus, taking the typical photo's, reading the graffiti on the bus and plaques to his memory. I had planned on lunch there but it felt weird to be eating were he starved so I walked back to a decent blueberry patch and soaked up the sun before the return trip along the trail.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU-9hCAK6I/AAAAAAAAAME/PIskqr9x-Eo/s1600/P1070574a.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU-9hCAK6I/AAAAAAAAAME/PIskqr9x-Eo/s320/P1070574a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513882545344752546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU-9CjiNYI/AAAAAAAAAL8/YBc3yLv1eks/s1600/P1070575a.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU-9CjiNYI/AAAAAAAAAL8/YBc3yLv1eks/s320/P1070575a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513882537163896194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU-9zG60OI/AAAAAAAAAMM/Y7asHrmr2Ww/s1600/P1070576a.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU-9zG60OI/AAAAAAAAAMM/Y7asHrmr2Ww/s320/P1070576a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513882550197211362" border="0" /></a>Remember Alexander Supertramp's words of wisdom - "The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."<br /></div><br />Hooroo<br /><br />TEmily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-89688553449828648722010-09-01T12:28:00.000-07:002010-09-06T12:54:46.996-07:00Denali - Mt McKinleyYou know when you are back at one of the most prominent tourist destinations when you start paying tourist prices and see "Princess" tour buses rolling past.To see Denali NP and Mt McKinley are the sole purpose of many people visiting Alaska - it is that good!<br /><br />Access into the NP is limited to a well run bus system, no private access is allowed and it caters nicely for as many tourists as it does. I unlike most tourists who only go on a day trip into the park, I went hiking for x5 days.<br />The bus trip in made me re-evaluate my plans as there was going to be a music festival that night so instead of camping by myself I followed the crowds and went to my first music festival. Being 90miles along dirt road with restricted access there was only 75-100people at the festival, the music was Bluegrass and Folk and it was a great evenings entertainment standing on the road with the stage also on the road...very low key and very cool. It was nice to wake up early though and escape the sea of humanity/tents and the few stoner's and drunks still up and about.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVCzN1cAVI/AAAAAAAAAM8/HJZkY3AJbeY/s1600/P1070419a.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVCzN1cAVI/AAAAAAAAAM8/HJZkY3AJbeY/s320/P1070419a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513886766439596370" border="0" /></a>I had planed on hiking further than I did the first day but between the incoming rain clouds, carrying a heavy pack of full of food/jumbo bear container and the constant bending over to pick handfuls of blueberries I didn't get far before setting up camp. However during arvo the sun came out and I started to get sick of blueberries so I found some amazing tunnels left behind from lakes in/on the glacier to climb around in.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVCy3ZgQXI/AAAAAAAAAM0/IgPYTaAl_3c/s1600/P1070566a.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVCy3ZgQXI/AAAAAAAAAM0/IgPYTaAl_3c/s320/P1070566a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513886760416854386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVC0hwm4HI/AAAAAAAAANU/AbhP6GXyp0M/s1600/P1080025a.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVC0hwm4HI/AAAAAAAAANU/AbhP6GXyp0M/s320/P1080025a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513886788967915634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVEKqVbDqI/AAAAAAAAANc/oNRSk64WKgc/s1600/P1080027a.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVEKqVbDqI/AAAAAAAAANc/oNRSk64WKgc/s320/P1080027a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513888268738563746" border="0" /></a>I found ways to add blueberries to everything...the best by far was breakfast with porridge, almonds, cranberries and more fresh blueberries. Otherwise a blueberry crumble could be improvised by using a oats/honey bar sprinkled over the top after heating them. Yum Yum Yum! (it is also amazing the colour that they turn number 2's!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVCzgO9m5I/AAAAAAAAANE/CMyqwNuD3xA/s1600/P1070753.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVCzgO9m5I/AAAAAAAAANE/CMyqwNuD3xA/s320/P1070753.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513886771378494354" border="0" /></a>The weather whilst in Denali NP was stunning...I saw the mountain for 4 consecutive days...most people don't even get to see the mountain as it hides itself in cloud 70% of the time. I was ambitious in my ridge climbing route and seemed to find the steepest points to climb over (would have been more fun without a 25kg bag on my back) but every time it was worth it for the views provided!<br /><br />I saw numerous Grizzly bear feeding on the berries but there was x1 bear who rather than ignore me like every other bear decided to come within 15m and then do several bluff charges...it got my heart rate up anyhow! It was the first bear that wasn't scared of me...I didn't feel safe and the bear spray looks pretty small when a bear is that close. There was a classic moment when I was fumbling with the safety switch on the spray and I dropped the spray completely...I would have loved to seen my face at that stage scrabbling to find it while watching the bear getting closer and closer! Pity there are no photos...when I realised he was coming for me I put the camera away away quick smart and started screamed blue bloody murder at it. No amount of talking/screaming, clapping, banging my bear bell seemed to alert the bear to the fact I was not breakfast! I was backing away from the bear for 0.5mile before it decided that enough was enough and he went back to his berries felling pretty chuffed I'm sure that he got that response from me! I was pumping with adrenaline!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVC0W0LzrI/AAAAAAAAANM/q7MTlHXQyOg/s1600/P1070855.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVC0W0LzrI/AAAAAAAAANM/q7MTlHXQyOg/s320/P1070855.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513886786030128818" border="0" /></a>I had some amazing campsites, the most memorable was camping on top of a ridge when the weather changed later that evening...hail and snow decorated the tent nicely and between the squalls the rainbows over the tent made nice pictures!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVELVCE67I/AAAAAAAAANk/NsODWxgkWHQ/s1600/P1080019.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVELVCE67I/AAAAAAAAANk/NsODWxgkWHQ/s320/P1080019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513888280200145842" border="0" /></a>Following the national park I walked the Kesugi Ridge in the Denali State Park. This ridge line walk offers incredible views of the mountain and the colours were again beautiful.<br />I promised myself when I first got to Alaska to spend the money on a plane flight around Mt McKinley if the weather was clear enough. The day I got to Talkeetna where the airport is it was perfect! It is hard to describe the size of the cliffs carved out from the glacial action or the speed at which the 20,000ft peak rises out of the low-flat terrain to the north south. Landing on the glacier was so much fun and to see it in sunshine and perfect conditions made the flight worth every cent!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVEMIdk28I/AAAAAAAAANs/-OxyWue7YKk/s1600/P1080087.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIVEMIdk28I/AAAAAAAAANs/-OxyWue7YKk/s320/P1080087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513888294005693378" border="0" /></a>With Denali done I had now just about 'finished' Alaska and I could say to everybody I had been everywhere in Alaska...more places than the person asking anyhow!<br /><br />TimEmily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-50621830603548575872010-08-30T11:00:00.000-07:002010-09-06T12:05:09.588-07:00Dempster, Dalton & Denali Highways - A dedication to the Red Rocket!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU0ESshueI/AAAAAAAAALU/2YgP5fRdwic/s1600/P1070429.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU0ESshueI/AAAAAAAAALU/2YgP5fRdwic/s320/P1070429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513870567127759330" border="0" /></a>These x3 highways are really roads to no-where, but as they say the journey is the important part not the destination!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dempster Highway</span><br /><br />The Dempster Hwy is Canada's most northern road, it is 670km one way to Inuvik, all dirt and rough as buggery for many a mile! This road decided to give me a flat tire and many hours of nervous driving on mud...muddy part was fun but the fact that they build roads up this far north with a 14 foot gravel base to insulate the permafrost meant that I was slipping and sliding on a road with rather large drop offs each side!<br />I shared this highway journey with a young Swiss fella who was great company and pulled a classic comedy act every time an on-coming truck passed as he would duck for cover from the flying rocks...he must have known something I didn't because after a fit of laughter at this action I passed another truck that sprayed a rock which hit with enough force to knock a chunk of glass on my lap!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU0DhNxhCI/AAAAAAAAALM/FQ5K3C76kEI/s1600/P1070120.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU0DhNxhCI/AAAAAAAAALM/FQ5K3C76kEI/s320/P1070120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513870553845433378" border="0" /></a>We spent a total of 50min in Inuvik (end of the road) and decided that we might as well start the long trip back...after an obligatory photo of the church built in the shape of an igloo. Over 2.5 days we covered 1300km on dirt and brought back memories of living/driving in Australia. Grand total of x1 flat tire and x3 large rocks in the windscreen...I thought the Red Rocket had sustained worse damage after parking it in the creek for a wash...she certain sparkled afterwards but it also washed the mud out of only one-side of the wheels...hence the vibration when I got to the bitumen was horrendous...it took my non-mechanical self a while to realise that I could fix this problem by chipping the remaining mud out!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU0DBYpciI/AAAAAAAAALE/rpCSrWXo3FE/s1600/P1070122.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU0DBYpciI/AAAAAAAAALE/rpCSrWXo3FE/s320/P1070122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513870545301107234" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dalton Highway aka Haul Road</span><br /><br />This road extends 700km north of Fairbanks to Alaska's North Slope...built to provide services to Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay and the oil industry is is also maintained extremely well...gotta keep the money flowing! It has a vicious reputation as being "as rough as buggery" but apart from the first 20miles (this is to scare the tourists off I believe) was one of the best dirt roads I have ever driven.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU0FJv-bsI/AAAAAAAAALc/g6TVsiSuXYc/s1600/P1070516.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU0FJv-bsI/AAAAAAAAALc/g6TVsiSuXYc/s320/P1070516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513870581906173634" border="0" /></a>The landscape when you head as far north as the Dempster/Dalton take you is stunning. The Dalton starts in the Boreal/Spruce forest and rolling hills, it passes over the Yukon river and other drainage's. Each rolling hill provides a vista and then it starts to become more rugged as it reaches the Brooks Ranges. They are the last barrier before the tundra starts, the tundra not being entirely flat until closer to the roads end. I drove this road in Autumn and was fascinated by the colours.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU2ENq0hGI/AAAAAAAAAL0/aeYc8S1Drek/s1600/P1070398.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU2ENq0hGI/AAAAAAAAAL0/aeYc8S1Drek/s320/P1070398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513872764801680482" border="0" /></a>The other feature that is constantly with you when driving the Dalton is the Oil Pipeline. Built above ground to stop it melting the permafrost it is a feat of human perseverance over nature. It cover 800miles in total in areas that freeze/remain frozen all year, suffer earthquakes and the shear distance make it a constant feature in your photos.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU2DlcRHHI/AAAAAAAAALs/Ivm3fB9aeGE/s1600/P1070519.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU2DlcRHHI/AAAAAAAAALs/Ivm3fB9aeGE/s320/P1070519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513872754003221618" border="0" /></a><br />(Nice picture showing a moose eating pond-weed and the oil pipeline behind it)<br /><br />I didn't make the roads end as 30miles north of the Brooks range I decided I had seen enough tundra.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Denali Highway</span><br /><br />This highway is not even in the Denali NP or state park but rather is a connection between other highways, although it once was the road of choice to access the Denali area (gold prospectors). With "fall" colours in full swing it is extremely pretty and it was a slow 135miles getting in and out of the car, again and again for photos.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU1MlUmonI/AAAAAAAAALk/r_c6bxk4SVY/s1600/P1070920.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIU1MlUmonI/AAAAAAAAALk/r_c6bxk4SVY/s320/P1070920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513871809078272626" border="0" /></a>As I had no-where to go I hadn't already been once I was at the roads end I simply turned around and drove the 135miles back...good thing I like to drive! I had a stupid moment when I drove down a side road to investigate a possible campsite and slipped off the road. I had to hail down x2 German blokes to help push me out...more mud to play in!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tribute to the Red Rocket</span><br />People (Alaskan's) laughed a lot when I said I was going to drive my tiny truck on these highways...the Red Rocket performed fantastic. A real disco car...flashing lights on the dash (minor things like airbag, battery, engine, etc) and a disco chandelier windscreen...with so-many cracks is glows and refracts sunlight! The little truck also has the added bonus of that she does much better economy than the monster rigs most Alaskans drive...about double their economy in fact! Last but not least she has become a home away from home...the canoe rack now supports a sheet of wood which I use as my tent base...yep I pitch my tent on the roof of the Red Rocket!<br /><br />Cost of buying/maintenance = approx $15per day...cant get a rental for that cheap and there is still hope that might get something for it before I leave!<br /><br />Keep your fingers crossed the Red Rocket makes it another 4000miles south to Los Angeles!<br /><br />TimEmily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-81479328133732562362010-08-05T10:00:00.000-07:002010-09-06T11:18:54.293-07:00Wrangell St Elias National Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg9BsqVzUB_L5QU9bH-L_M7dSU08XbrzwGOCH90rmqGR7_mXx96gdVhYfxrPAlNVCr10xzCwj0YogiFuHIzpjWdgOEHO5aoFFdvNd57NlsVApxaJko_KdEnHB1CRCWYH-bO-JDT5d9Fw/s1600/P1060543.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg9BsqVzUB_L5QU9bH-L_M7dSU08XbrzwGOCH90rmqGR7_mXx96gdVhYfxrPAlNVCr10xzCwj0YogiFuHIzpjWdgOEHO5aoFFdvNd57NlsVApxaJko_KdEnHB1CRCWYH-bO-JDT5d9Fw/s320/P1060543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513863013166088146" border="0" /></a>This national park is the largest in America...it is BIG...combine it with Canada's national parks and Glacier NP and you have the largest area of internationally protected environment on the planet...and bugger-all roads into and out of it...sounds like a place to loose yourself! (or get lost)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIUsT6aVpLI/AAAAAAAAAK0/Nsv3YU1q534/s1600/P1060590.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIUsT6aVpLI/AAAAAAAAAK0/Nsv3YU1q534/s320/P1060590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513862039393903794" border="0" /></a>As all regions with crazy geological features and earth movements it was heavily prospected and mined 'back in the day'. Kennecott is the remains of a copper mine in the heart of the National Park and is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen/been to! <div> </div> <div>For a avid bush-walker it has everything...Mountains, <wbr>Glaciers, Flora/Fauna and Historic landmarks.<br />A photo of the mine buildings does better justice than to describe it...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIUsTLLnnCI/AAAAAAAAAKs/vH6sKp50y2E/s1600/P1060592.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIUsTLLnnCI/AAAAAAAAAKs/vH6sKp50y2E/s320/P1060592.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513862026715700258" border="0" /></a></div> <div> </div> <div>It is amazing that it has was built at all and in the isolation that it is located...'back in the day' when men were real men and everything was built but hand and carted across terrain not meant for human habitation.</div> <div> </div> <div>The mines are perched high up in the cliffs of the mountain were the copper rich seams were located...it was all dragged up by hand and later tramways (how did they pull those cables up has me still stumped). Hiking to the mines is rewarding exercise and then you get to play in the abandoned buildings which they just simply walked away from when mining ceased...everything is still in the buildings as it was cheaper to leave it and buy new stuff than cart it out of the isolation.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefMSUB_XHiXm2Ld0xrGQ8Hz1WJMkOlTXo0YeoA0CsYteVU_DbwSgj-nY1Q8ECjvNWeJYrUqJT4ooIPiazVTmpYuhqTI3dDfzKcfBDh42rU1WYQgDWhDY1XzAsb1DucdK_tpxFOlDTRG0/s1600/P1060277.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefMSUB_XHiXm2Ld0xrGQ8Hz1WJMkOlTXo0YeoA0CsYteVU_DbwSgj-nY1Q8ECjvNWeJYrUqJT4ooIPiazVTmpYuhqTI3dDfzKcfBDh42rU1WYQgDWhDY1XzAsb1DucdK_tpxFOlDTRG0/s320/P1060277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513860788280628562" border="0" /></a></div> <div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;">The minerals (particularly Cu) have created the most amazing rocks, the vivid green and blue rocks are constantly catching your eye. The slopes on the which the mines are built are hard to get up but faster going downhill...as the small video shows...the longest scree slopes I have every gone down...it took millimeters off my boots "skiing" down the scree...mostly out of control!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIUsSYUgKgI/AAAAAAAAAKk/8NFC-NL1q-U/s1600/P1060564.JPG"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzfPumCHOsNP-8ForcsHRD4xzEabiVmaOz4cMF8GNDcg39T-3wPvSOLG6Toy_nj9JS7mRgIRdJsNxHDXU-Y' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></a></div> <div> </div> <div>Once on the mountain tops the views of the glaciers were the best I have every encountered...the most memorable part was watching the scenic flights circle BELOW me while on the top of the peak...it changed my mind rapidly about paying for a scenic flight after that!</div> <div> </div> <div>The converging glaciers and ice-falls (where the glacier descends rapidly to create huge crevasses) create the most unbelievably stunning landscape and you can sit watching them for endless time thinking of the forces involved and the power that water/ice has.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIUsSYUgKgI/AAAAAAAAAKk/8NFC-NL1q-U/s1600/P1060564.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TIUsSYUgKgI/AAAAAAAAAKk/8NFC-NL1q-U/s320/P1060564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513862013062752770" border="0" /></a></div> <div> </div> <div>The Wrangell St Elias NP will remain my favorite memory of Alaska no doubt forever...it is a big call after seeing the sights I have seen this trip but what a place and probably the deciding factor is what fantastic weather I had whilst there!</div> <div> </div> <div>Hopefully you enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed the experience!</div> <div> </div> <div>Hooroo</div> <div> </div> <div>Tim</div>Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-89769781090099959462010-06-19T01:17:00.000-07:002010-06-19T01:20:01.003-07:00Tim bare's some facts on bear's.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBx9fw3-ySI/AAAAAAAAAJo/KicdnWw6uJU/s1600/P1040224.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBx9fw3-ySI/AAAAAAAAAJo/KicdnWw6uJU/s320/P1040224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484396430879541538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />One of the questions I keep getting from people is about bears and my safety.<br /><br />Admittedly I had reached the point of "I don't care if I get eaten...tried my best not to and now its in the hands of mother nature and her appetite"<br /><br />Just like Australian snakes they have a bad rap...have I ever been bitten by a snake...nup...ever been struck at...well yes but I was tormenting the snake with a stick at the time. My point is the same for bears...treat them with respect and they will/should leave you alone.<br /><br />Strangely even Alaskans are funny about bears, personally I think it is more to do with an excuse to carry a gun around than anything else but they are always shocked that I haven't got a rifle or 44 magnum hand gun in my pack.<br /><br />What have I got to defend myself against a bear...common sense (blowing my own trumpet a bit here), a bear bell, bear spray and hopefully luck!<br /><br />Know your bears...what to do when you finally meet a bear and which type. There are x3 types but I wont see a Polar bear unless I make it way way north to the ice. Apparently it is OK to be racist when talking about bears so there are Black bears and Brown bears...both are big and have attacked/kill humans before.<br />Black are vegetarian while brown are just plain hungry!<br />So for a black bear I know I have pissed it off and it is probably something to do with cubs so back away slowly and get out of there...talk to you bear...let it know your human and then fight for your life if this doesn't stop the black bear's attack.<br />A brown bear is much bigger and nastier hence their nickname 'grizzly bear'...don't bother fighting back on these big fellows...back away again and if you get attacked play dead...protect the organs and hopefully once play time is over your are still alive. You are allowed to fight back if still alive after 10 min and being attacked...very complicated but it will never get to this stage if you have common sense!<br /><br />They call a bear bell in Alaskan circles 'bear bait' and the old joke that you find them in bear poo...funny... but just like pink shirts Alaskans don't like wearing them...I don't like wearing it but it works! It jingles all bloody day...jingle jangle jingle jangle...if you don't hear me coming then Darwin's theory on natural selection doesn't give you good odds at surviving in the wild! They alternative is to sing...bear's don't like ABBA apparently...I don't like to sing while walking so bear bell it is.<br /><br />Bear spray...the most use this will be is to season a steak at the end of my travels as it is capsicum spray...pepper spray...just in a 'bear size' spray pack...I personally think this is even safer than carrying a gun because if a bear attacks you have to be a mighty good shot to disable it and to not just piss it off further OR turn a mock charge into the real thing! The least bear spray can do is make me taste so bad that there is a body to for mum to come and get!<br /><br />Common sense is watching for signs of bear, looking for clues of them being around recently and/or places where they might be feeding (rivers/berry patches). No rapid movements because apparently they like 'fast-food' also. Talk to them and back away, wait for them to move on and/or change your plans.<br /><br />Lastly is at night when you have made camp...I hate having to pull my backpack up a tree...hard yakka but this way they wont be able to get my food or be tempted to get my food from my tent whilst I am around it. I even try to cook at a different place and wear different clothes than what will be in my tent at night.<br /><br />Respect the bear, make noise and you will only see the back of it...if not then I have been proven wrong and unlike work (pharmacist) where if I am wrong I could kill someone else...if I am wrong then it is me who could be killed...much easier to LIVE with...lol.<br /><br />:)Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-63539776974856003892010-06-17T00:33:00.001-07:002010-06-17T00:43:56.332-07:00Homer and the Keani Peninsula<div><div><div><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483643361179088386" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnQlVoCNgI/AAAAAAAAAHo/nOxwQIbUIos/s320/P1040428.JPG" /><br /><div>Homer is renowned for being the capital of halibut fishing. I organised myself a half day fishing charter and was more than happy to catch the 2 fish quota. Halibut is a white meat fish that grow to some stupidly large sizes. The fish I went home with were babies at 20lb each but when they sell for $16+ a pound (lb) it made the cost of the charters highly worth it! There is no skill or art to fishing Halibut...you bait your hook (circle hook) and let it hit the bottom. When it starts pulling wind it up and decide if the halibut is big enough for your liking. You don't have to set the hook...yanking on it will just pull it out...simply wind it up! Halibut is like a flounder so not even a fighting fish...simply wind away and marvel at the fact it has both eyes on the same side of its head!</div><br /><div></div><div>Russian history...Alaska was purchased off the Russians in the 19th century...pre oil and gold...silly buggers! Hence there is a strong Russian culture even today. I went exploring the head of the Kachemak Bay and found myself amongst the strict Russian Orthodox community, beards, women dressed like they did 100 years ago and speaking Russian as primary language. </div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483644388393133570" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnRhIS8pgI/AAAAAAAAAH4/wlqFVBUV50Q/s320/P1040451.JPG" /><br /><div>Later that afternoon I went scenic driving and drove through another Russian community that welcomes the 'infidel's' (people like me) - still Russian orthodox though. I called into the cafe/gift store as it had been recommended and the Russian lady wouldn't let me leave without feeding me a Russian meal...for a cost of course so I could help save the Russian kiddies...really I was hungry and interested in what Russian food would be like (since when have I cared about a child or a child somewhere in Siberia...my stomach is much closer to home!)</div><br /><div>The meal was amazing and will be remembered as much for the food as her personality...planting the seed for Tim to travel Russia...</div><div></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483643890842777698" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnREKxsuGI/AAAAAAAAAHw/_diPWeGCFE4/s320/P1040465.JPG" /><br /><div>Clamming is the family outing for many young Alaskan families. During the low tides the families descend on the glacial mud flats and suck or shovel clams from the mud. It looked like fun but the thing I love most about Alaskan camping holidays is every kid has an ATV to ride and there are trailers and large 4WD pickups everywhere. </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483644755439449458" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnR2fpm9XI/AAAAAAAAAIA/vjnqdhRk_W4/s320/P1040496.JPG" /><br /><div>The other Alaska past time is fishing...the salmon swim upstream during a few weeks each summer and come in such numbers (usually) that everyone including the bears are satisfied. Russian River is the place to be when the salmon a passing and you will line up with hundreds of others to cast your line for salmon.</div><br /><div></div><div>Capt. Cook also travelled the Alaskan coast so I felt obliged to spend a night in the reserve named after him...stunning sunset at 11pm!</div><br /><div></div><div>By now the red rocket had done 800+ miles and had developed a shake so back to anchorage I headed.</div><div></div><br /><div>Tim</div></div></div></div></div>Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-50888881765215999482010-06-16T23:59:00.000-07:002010-06-17T00:31:59.743-07:00Kachemak Bay<div>I had a quick turnaround in Homer, enough time to stock up on dehydrated food and I was shuttled across the bay to go walking for 6 days. </div><div><br /> </div><div>Homer and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kachemak</span> bay were blessed with non-stop sunshine for my entire trip, gorgeous summer weather in Alaska! </div><div><br /> </div><div>The highlights of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kachemak</span> Bay were:</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483639198174050946" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnMzBOSeoI/AAAAAAAAAHI/J0NBw8PNZ_E/s320/P1040253.JPG" />Glacier Tram - a cable cart which hauls hikers from one side of the river to the other. It took 20min of sweating swearing and force to pull myself across but least my feet <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">didn't</span> get wet (another disadvantage to solo hiking). On the way back I had to pull the tram/cable cart across the river first then pull myself across...30min of solid effort!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483639906477087122" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnNcP25GZI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/EA2FEpQe7ns/s320/P1040299.JPG" /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Emerald Lakes would imply a green colour but the snow and ice were only just breaking up. Beautiful vista's and fun following fresh bear tracks in the snow!</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnOhBJn2WI/AAAAAAAAAHY/WXMtlZ-iVWI/s1600/P1040342.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483641087940090210" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnOhBJn2WI/AAAAAAAAAHY/WXMtlZ-iVWI/s320/P1040342.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Grewingk</span> Glacier - I camped not 200m from the Glacier and spent a morning climbing on and around it (as much as I dared without crampons). Love the glacier ice, its colour and the power carving the rock steadily and surely.</div><div></div><br /><div>Black Bear <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">encouters</span> - these few bear that I did see must have been stupid or really deaf (I wear a bear-bell). Although they are the size of x4 dobermans they wanted nothing to do with me...and scampered away up and over the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ridge line</span> or into the f<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">orrest</span> before I could even think about a photo opportunity. Black bear are the little tackers and are eaten by the brown (grizzly) bear so see these bear made me somewhat happier knowing the big <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">fella's</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">weren't</span> around.</div><div> </div><div> </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483641632401081314" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnPAtbPQ-I/AAAAAAAAAHg/TAhm1roqDI0/s320/P1040356.JPG" /><br /><div><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error"></span></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error">Poots</span> Peak - Not only was this a mountain with an exposed rocky ridge to stand on the unexpected delight to sneak up on a Mountain Goat mother with a kid (baby goat) was enthralling to watch. They kid obviously learnt very very quickly to be sure footed as it was learning to walk on a cliff face! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Coming</span> down the peak was either the slow and steady way or run down the avalanche path...being sensible you know which route I chose and damn it was fun and fast!</div><div></div><br /><div>Bush Bashing - seemed like a good idea...at the time! Found out why they call it Devils Club...spent the next week popping pussy thorn heads from legs/arms thanks to this plant. It grows on wet slippery slopes and is about 1 inch thick so when you start you loose your balance or slip instinct has it that you will grasp it...the Devils Club is a fine name as is leaves you with a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">handful</span> of spines. 2hours to bush bash less than a mile...wont be making my own path anytime soon!</div><br /><div></div><div>Sea Otters - while waiting for the water taxi to collect me I spent the time on a rocky outcrop watching the Sea Otters dive for shellfish and float on their backs whilst eating them.</div><br /><div></div><div>Tim</div></div>Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-1458699821618923642010-06-16T23:20:00.000-07:002010-06-16T23:59:50.073-07:00Kodiak IslandMy first destination in this large state was going to be an island south of the mainland and I timed my trip perfectly. The Kodiak Island Crab Festival was happening!<br /><br />To get to Kodiak I had to board another ship and found it wasn't just a small trip..9hours later we arrived! We left Homer (the mainland) in perfect sunshine and arrived to <u>rain</u>.<br />However out of place I looked wearing shorts in the <u>rain</u> in Alaska I wasn't put off and still made it to the camp ground to set up my tent in the <u>rain</u>. The next day I was expecting the best out of Kodiak's festival, the <u>rain</u> didn't keep people away, when you live in Kodiak you just get on with life and ignore the weather. The best thing about the crab festival was the King Crab...dirt cheap and super fresh...yum!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnDpgP3XSI/AAAAAAAAAGg/q9bVbYmBdqc/s1600/P1040072.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483629139098819874" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnDpgP3XSI/AAAAAAAAAGg/q9bVbYmBdqc/s320/P1040072.JPG" /></a><br />I filled as much of the day in as possible watching the festival events then decided a nice brew would help dry me out and an get me out of the <u>rain</u> for a while. 4 hours and 2 large pints of stout and it was still <u>raining</u> outside (brewery licences allow only x2 pints in Alaska). I gave up and went home to my tent to wish for better weather tomorrow.<br /><br />It was <u>raining</u> when i got up the next day! Since the locals were out and about I ignored the fact I was riding a bicycle and they were in cars whilst it was <u>raining</u>. The brewery visit opened up a guided tour of the coast guard base from a fellow patron but that only lasted 3 hours of the 18hours of sunlight so I ignored the rain and rode out to a 'Lord of the Rings' Forrest (Spruce trees covered in lichen/moss) and walked around..in the <u>rain</u>.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnEu0-OxdI/AAAAAAAAAGo/HqO6Pgp81UQ/s1600/P1040139.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483630330072974802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnEu0-OxdI/AAAAAAAAAGo/HqO6Pgp81UQ/s320/P1040139.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div>The next morning waking up to the <u>rain</u> again I decided that it would never stop so I organised to go walk-about anyhow...even the locals thought I was crazy! The walk took me to a different part of the Island where I found that it didn't always rain...I had 6 hours sunshine in 3 days!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnHZUzb5eI/AAAAAAAAAHA/uqViwsuM4cU/s1600/P1040194.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483633259195393506" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnHZUzb5eI/AAAAAAAAAHA/uqViwsuM4cU/s320/P1040194.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><br />The walk was stunningly beautiful along the coastline. Cliff faces, meadows, moss covered spruce trees, streams and inlets to cross and beaches to walk along (in the rain). My animal encounters included seals, bigger white giant seals, whales, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Orca's</span> trying to catch a seal, bison and most impressive of all were the Bald Eagles. The campsite to beat all campsites was when I woke up to Bald Eagles sitting on a log not 5m from my tent! I spent an hour thinking how lucky this stupid Australian was and that not many Americans have even seen an Bald Eagle let along this close (in the <u>rain</u>). Sadly I did not see any Kodiak Brown bears (supposedly bigger than mainland bears) perhaps it is fortunate that I didn't see any.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnFV1IcV7I/AAAAAAAAAGw/qG4HRIRWhUE/s1600/P1040504.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483631000130705330" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBnFV1IcV7I/AAAAAAAAAGw/qG4HRIRWhUE/s320/P1040504.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>I had my birthday on Kodiak Island so I spent the day climbing a mountain only for the cloud to obscure everything before I got to the top.. That night I set up camp in amongst some pine trees a short trip away from a bar...no dehydrated food for Tim's birthday dinner. Fresh beer, clam chowder and some interesting locals to talk to before retiring to my tent to sleep to the sound of <u>raindrops</u>. Happy 27<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> Birthday Tim :)<br /><br />The ride back to Homer was far more eventful than the trip out. The boat left late (it was <u>raining</u>), got delayed further waiting for the local fishing boats, was delayed at the next port and a <u>storm</u> en route slowed us even further. We arrived 4 hours late. The trip was how you should travel the authentic way across sea in Alaska. The Alaska Marine Highway boats are basic, they do offer cabins but the best way is to join everyone else and lay out your sleeping mattress and sleep on the deck (enclosed fortunately). The only downside is that the waves were that big I found my sleeping bag wouldn't stick to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">thermarest</span> and I would slide back and forth with the swell...kind of a gigantic <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">water bed</span>!<br /><br />Tim</div></div></div></div>Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-86664999413237962642010-06-16T23:12:00.000-07:002010-06-16T23:18:40.954-07:00Week 1 in Alaska<div><div>Buying a car...not exactly the easiest way to start a holiday.</div><div> </div><div> I rode a bicycle around Anchorage to see in all about 20-30 vehicles...<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Craig's</span> List offered a listing for a 2<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">WD</span> Ford Ranger...2<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">WD</span> meant that it was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">unpopular</span> in Alaska where everyone drives a 4x4. </div><div> </div><div>On first glance the "Red Rocket" <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">don't</span> look like much but then having a windscreen with that many cracks makes it look kind of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">chandelier-ish</span> refracting the light. </div><div> </div><div>The poor thing needed a good home and $850 later she had an Australian owner...without a home! </div><div> </div><div>Then began the fun of trying to figure out what problems I inherited for spending so little. Insurance in the USA...crazily expensive for bare coverage and yet registration was $15. </div><div>As for a road-worthy...still drives <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">doesn't</span> it!</div><div> </div><div>I then packed my bag (notice the singular) and drove south.</div><div> </div><div>Tim</div></div>Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-34787950536930807922010-05-27T19:28:00.000-07:002010-06-18T01:19:50.166-07:00Getting from Florida to Alaska the long way!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsQMbr_-II/AAAAAAAAAII/srBLXXJp46M/s1600/P1030972.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsQMbr_-II/AAAAAAAAAII/srBLXXJp46M/s320/P1030972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483994777030490242" border="0" /></a><br />The Coral Princess - 30days at sea from Ft. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lauderdale</span> to Whitter Alaska!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsS7WHFo-I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/0KVhmjv_tMc/s1600/P1030069.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsS7WHFo-I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/0KVhmjv_tMc/s320/P1030069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483997782010602466" border="0" /></a>Aruba: Beautiful little dutch colony. Went snorkeling here, diving under the mast of an old war wreck and scaring the scuba divers down deeper was the highlight. Plenty of fishy stuff also!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsS8cAAaDI/AAAAAAAAAIg/6BfTW1Wn1y8/s1600/P1030097.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsS8cAAaDI/AAAAAAAAAIg/6BfTW1Wn1y8/s320/P1030097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483997800771381298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cartargena</span> (Columbia): Old Spanish fort and walled city were the attractions to see. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Alet</span> having her photo taken with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Columbian</span> lady, so much colour but to much clothing for that heat! Had a feed of fish and banana fritters and back to the ship (and air-con).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsS72xOeFI/AAAAAAAAAIY/vFkR49Hfumg/s1600/P1030192.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsS72xOeFI/AAAAAAAAAIY/vFkR49Hfumg/s320/P1030192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483997790777276498" border="0" /></a>Panama Canal: The size of the Coral Princess leaves 6 inches space each side and 1 foot short of the maximum length...this is how to fit a VERY large ship into an elevator (lock)...in your life you must see at least 1 transit of the lock system, incredible how the ship is manoeuvred and raised, hard to believe created 100+years ago!<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Puerto</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Amador</span> (Panama): A taxi driver played tour guide and showed us the city and Old City (another Spanish fort) Seafood curry in a pineapple was lunch and back to the ship (and air-con).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsS86GpyQI/AAAAAAAAAIo/YCZ7s287qqg/s1600/P1030386.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsS86GpyQI/AAAAAAAAAIo/YCZ7s287qqg/s320/P1030386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483997808852322562" border="0" /></a><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Puntarenas</span>(Costa Rica): '<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pura</span> Vida' - Spanish for 'all is good'...yep love the life in Costa Rica...and the Zip Line's. Great tour through jungle, a fauna/flora talk with the downhill rush of Zip Lines!<br /><br /><a title="View port and weather information"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Huatulco</span> (Mexico):</span></a> For a few hours we could escape the ship to enjoy a beer on shore. I explored the town first trying to find a pair of cobra cowboy boots (no luck) and also mango (the ONE food not available on the ship). <div> </div><div><a title="View port and weather information"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsS9RZZ76I/AAAAAAAAAIw/jYQTis8naHc/s1600/P1030455.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsS9RZZ76I/AAAAAAAAAIw/jYQTis8naHc/s320/P1030455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483997815104991138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Acapulco (Mexico): Here I refused to go along with the geriatrics and wanted to feel the pulse of the place. I hailed a local taxi bus and had a flamboyant ride along the coast, went to the aquarium and was amazed at the human sardines on the beaches (public holiday in Mexico brings everyone out). The city is famous for its cliff divers...yeah they had bigger balls than I do...its a big jump off and you have to time it perfectly so that you land in the top of the swell or your going to hit the rocks under the water!</div><div> </div><div><a title="View port and weather information"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error"><br /><br />Cabo</span> San Lucas (Mexico):</span></a> The end of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Baja</span> Peninsula is a mecca for American tourists and deservedly. Its close to the USA, beautiful (deserts and dramatic ocean) and things are cheap (Mexico). I spent the day snorkeling where the oceanic currents swirl and create a fiesta of fish. Pity about the sunburn but beautiful location. </div><div> </div><div><a title="View port and weather information"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Los Angeles (California</span></a>): Here I rung Adrian and we went for Taco-Van taco's...just as good again. Big ship but still doesn't compare to the feeling of riding in Adrian's monster truck!</div><div> </div><div><a title="View port and weather information"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Victoria (Canada)</span></a>: Until this stage I had been filling time on the ship reading, eating, going to the gym, eating, talking to the old folks, eating...it was nice to be able to go for a run on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">terra</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">firma</span>! Although I had been in Victoria before it was a totally different city...it was <u>sunny</u> and the British buildings and manicured gardens were fantastic to walk around.</div><div> </div><div><a title="View port and weather information"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Vancouver (Canada)</span></a>: Did a complementary tram tour of the city...nice way to catchup on some sleep before re-joining the ship.</div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><br />J<a title="View port and weather information"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">uneau</span> (Alaska</span></a>): I went Zip Lining again...totally different to Costa Rica. The spruce and hemlock (pine trees) held the cables and you went whizzing over snow and creeks...very different to the tropical jungle of Costa Rica. Then a visit to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mendenhall</span> Glacier...the first of many glaciers I would/will see in Alaska!</div><div> </div><div><a title="View port and weather information"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error"><br /><br /><br />Ketchikan</span> (Alaska</span></a>): Snorkeling...yep another snorkeling experience and probably the best and most memorable. The water may have only been 8deg Celsius but nothing that a wet suit couldn't keep out! Gloves and booties but stunningly beautiful. The sea felt thick and soupy with life and to dive between the kelp was amazing. So many starfish, sea cucumbers and hermit crabs. FANTASTIC</div><div> </div><div>Vancouver (Canada): Caught up with Matt who has a very enviable job-holiday working between Canada and Hawaii. I made it back to the ship with plenty of time to spare yet held it up...apparently $10,000 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">USD</span> per hour to dock at the port and I held it up...caused some tension obviously. I had been waved onto the ship with a valid Visa stamp that needed to be re-validated...bugger!</div><div> </div><div><a title="View port and weather information"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error"><br /><br /><br /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsc8bsShqI/AAAAAAAAAJI/xCrH7CIMfPI/s1600/P1030791.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsc8bsShqI/AAAAAAAAAJI/xCrH7CIMfPI/s320/P1030791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484008795804960418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ketchikan (Alaska): I had come a long way to go hiking in Alaska...it was only small day hike but enough to want more...strange to find solitude after 5 min outside the town...tourists madly buying "crap" and salmon 'this and that'...nice to escape humanity before re-joining the 3000+ people on the ship after a few hours of solitude! </div><div> </div><div><a title="View port and weather information"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBseS21_5YI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/QSNjiHP4wVA/s1600/P1030740.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBseS21_5YI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/QSNjiHP4wVA/s320/P1030740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484010280562189698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Juneau (Alaska): I went for a walk up around the hills behind the capital city. Great to get outside and walk again and then the added bonus of being in the right place at the right time get a free Glacier flight.</div><div> </div><div><a title="View port and weather information"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error"><br /><br /><br />Skagway</span> (Alaska</span></a>): More day walks...this time followed by a beer sampler...a sign of things to come in Alaska. Wild-west appearance to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Skagway</span>, looking forward to getting back later in the summer and making it to the top of the trails that I couldn't get to because of so much snow.</div><div> </div><div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBscgopqFVI/AAAAAAAAAJA/7GYonYqaRF0/s1600/P1030882.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBscgopqFVI/AAAAAAAAAJA/7GYonYqaRF0/s320/P1030882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484008318247245138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Glacier Bay National Park & </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">College Fjord are where those cruise ship advertisement photos are taken of the Alaskan cruise experience. However most tourist don't get to see the glacier because of rain, clouds, mist and the other examples of fine Alaskan weather (even in summer). The days we were there were perfect - sunshine, clear skies and the captain was able to take us right up to the glaciers where we could watch them calve (break off) into the water. The cruise ship experience <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wouldn't</span> be complete without a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">smorgasbord</span> of Alaskan salmon and a buffet to feed on whilst viewing the glaciers!</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br />Whittier (Alaska): Time to leave...at long last I was getting off the ship! What a fantastic month, I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">don't</span> know how I will ever be able to repay <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Alet</span> for inviting me on the ship. Amazing memories and a different way of travelling. Not going to mention the cost because you wont believe it anyway! </span></div><div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If I make it to a ripe old age book me onto a Cruise boat...<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">apparently</span> it is cheaper than a retirement home and much more fun and I can eat myself to death!</span></div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsb95vh_kI/AAAAAAAAAI4/O3XJl1FwAYE/s1600/P1030940.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBsb95vh_kI/AAAAAAAAAI4/O3XJl1FwAYE/s320/P1030940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484007721539862082" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Considering my famed appetite and the amazing buffet selection I came out weighing just the same...<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">perhaps</span> slightly fitter though as I spent those long hours at sea not only eating but watching movies from the treadmill or bike seat...<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">lol</span></div><div> </div><div>Thank <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error">Alet</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error">thankyou</span> Princess Cruises!</div><div> </div><div>Tim</div>Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-46001905190653454082010-05-27T19:26:00.000-07:002010-06-16T11:05:53.140-07:00Texas & Florida<div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBkKjCGsZeI/AAAAAAAAAGI/XdcZI8S98FQ/s1600/P1020838.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483425618276935138" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBkKjCGsZeI/AAAAAAAAAGI/XdcZI8S98FQ/s320/P1020838.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Texas</strong><br /><br />Why not visit America’s most iconic state and catchup with a friend whilst heading to Florida to join a cruise.<br /><br />I arrived without my luggage which was a good start but managed not to let it get the better of my blood pressure by worrying about it. Easiest way to forget about complications of replacing everything in my bag…go eat! This became a Texas theme…not something that most people go to Texas for I sure.<br /><br />I met Lacie whilst on the African Safari tour in 2008, she has kept in contact and offered to put me up for the weeks adventure whilst showing me the best Texas had to offer. Lacie is studying to be a pharmacist with UT (University of Texas) and hence I also spent a week talking shop...boring for most but I/we? enjoyed it.<br /><br />Pharmacy in the USofA…a good reason for Australia not follow the USA in every aspect! We are often referred to as glorified label stickers in Australia however one can truly appreciate the extended services offered to patients/customers when you compare to the USA model of community pharmacy. They don’t counsel! How can you responsibly give out a medication without talking to the patient about it? Anyway…one last point showing a great difference between Aust/USA pharmacies was the day I decided to try and purchase dry cough liquid…lets say 6 bottles at the same time…I gave them every possible chance by even going to the pharmacy counter in the SUPERMARKET and asking the pharmacist where the cough liquids were…he just pointed to the shelf/isle! I then got to the front of the supermarket where I had also picked up some BBQ brickets to bulk out my sale. The checkout chick was pleasant enough and asked me to say "G’day" again for her then scanned the 6 bottles (dextromethorphan) and BBQ brickets. The total came up and I noticed they we already in the bag ready for me to go when I “realised” I had forgotten my wallet…after I really didn’t need BBQ brickets or x6 bottles! Yep I could have brought them without a single question being asked!<br /><br />Austin Texas is a city which has a visible pulse, the large university crowd, the alternate crowd, the network of bar’s and cafe's make it a very vibrant city. We spent the first day kayaking on the lake, perfect weather made for some very sleepy sailing but plenty of turtles and crystal clear water to play in. The next day I locked Lacie inside her apartment to make sure she spent some time studying for her exam. I went walkabout across the city, through the capital building and the numerous parks, found a brewery and went back to the park to sleep off the taste testing…yep I am on holidays!<br /><br />One of the highlights of the week was going back to pharmacy school…I am a nerd! on holidays and choosing to go to school again. The 2nd year pharmacy class was as detailed as we covered in our 4th year! How then do these over qualified university students go from the stimulation of university to working in a community pharmacy that wants them just to be able to push through a 1000Rx per day? Hopefully they end up in hospital pharmacy which apparently has far to many applicants, is paid at the same rate as community with better hours, overtime and holidays. Yep hospital pharmacy in the USof A sounds better than at home and they have broad discretionary powers such as therapeutic substitution within a class without having to even getting the doctor to write the order again i.e. re-write perindopril for accupril if it is the ACEI on the formulary! (Enough nerd speak)<br /><br />For my last 2 days in Texas I was taken to Fort Worth/Dallas area where Lacie's parents live. Poor Lacie loves to travel, wants to travel but her family are scared about the dangers of the world outside Texas/USA. Yep just like traditional conservative family’s anywhere in the world, why would you want to leave home soil when you have everything you need right there and at Walmart! I was shown around her grandfathers farm which now makes more money off having companies put natural-gas wells on his property than from cattle.<br /><br />My last evening in Texas was spent at Billy Bob’s...the ‘Largest Honkey Tonk in the World’. This took my favorite things from a country bar and increased its size by about 20 times…it was huge, once a department store, now a huge area of bars, boot scooting-dance floors, stages and more bar areas…WOW…<br /><br />The drive to the airport couldn’t be just normal…this is a big state and things have to be better then elsewhere…yep I was blown away by the fields of wildflowers…blue bottles, Indian paintbrush, yellow ones, pink ones…hence if you plan a trip to Texas you must go during the second week of April…perfect weather and beautiful flowers.<br /><br /><strong>Florida</strong><br /><br />4 Days in southern Florida (pre-gulf oil leak) and x2 things must be seen. </div><div><br /> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483432288922808066" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBkQnUMmrwI/AAAAAAAAAGY/ncmkOkd7GLg/s320/P1020946.JPG" /><br /><em>Everglades National Park</em> - This rivals Arnhem Land/Kakadu, not better or worse, different. Just like any huge wetland it offers a stunning variety of wildlife, flora and picturesque views. The opening credits to CSI Miami are the obvious Everglades image...whizzing across the swamps in a airboat! Once I relaxed to the idea that you can't brake (there is no brakes) and that I realised my captain/pilot knew what he was doing it was extremely fun. Wind, spray, a big block V8 and the propeller noise added to the fun and sights of the mangroves whooshing past, skimming across the grass, gators and python tracks.<br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyl39MKkQFfG6VCimUqCK_BeKmNvIOzs78c_liSOMtTXHEyS_fEYDg2l2HQru7iZvxnMlR3oz_Gf_s1xS9txA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The sunset and sunrise across such a vast expanse of flat water and sculptured miniature pine trees is beautiful. See the photos to understand why!<br /><br /><em>Flroida Keys</em> - This is a long long drive down and back but very scenic. The road simply goes hopping from one out crop of coral/rock to the next for 100 miles. Each Key (island) could be as big as small town or not much wider than the double lane highway running through it. The white rock, the blue water and the copious sunshine make this a paradise that in turn has become a economic power house for Florida. The cars and mansions ooze wealth but in all it has been tastefully developed and still ranks high as one of the best drives I have done. It was a long day down to Key West allowing me a total of 30min before I had to turn around and head back (piss poor planning) so not to get the hire car back late.<br />An extremely stunning part of the world and hopefully it remains that way with the oil leak happening so close.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483426300292460354" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/TBkLKuz3b0I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/_HY_o4TcSfU/s320/P1030026.JPG" />My parting memory of the Florida Keys would have to be driving across the 7 mile bridge...the same bridge filmed so well in "True Lies"...hard to believe you can still be driving on the same bridge 15min later with stunning blue waters still lapping at the pylons.<br /><br />:)<br /><br />Tim</div>Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-35591090607038804522010-04-26T17:24:00.000-07:002010-04-26T17:27:10.920-07:00Canada after the Para-OlympicsFollowing the para-Olympics I spent a week in Whistler staying with cousin-Laura. My hat goes off to anyone who can put themselves through what she and hundreds of other Australians put themselves through to live and work a ski season in Canada. Accommodation is phenomenally expensive, food and beer the same high cost as in Australia and they work for around $10 per hour. The fun of going out and partying with hundreds of other Australians "poorer than Uni-students" and skiing/boarding in between shifts is the fun part.<br /><br />In Whistler I put back on the ski's and board after a few years off...both are just like riding a bike, you never forget how to! My summation of Whistler/Canadian Mtns = better than Australia's! People complained about the long lift ques...10min waiting...they complained about the snow...least there was no rocks or glassy ice! Skiing between the tree's was different as pine tree don't have multiple trunks and twisted branches trying to snag you like gum trees. The sensation of boarding on fresh powder was like no other and can see why people love to snow board however the control of ski's still makes my day more enjoyable. I realised again how much like my old man I have become when a good day was not to crash/fall over/wipe out!<br /><br />One of the more novel things I did was to ride a bike through the snow packed trails...the bike had no brakes and the handlebars didn't stay up but the constant comical crashes onto soft snow made up for any lack of control.<br /><br />After realising I was spending my Canadian experience pretty much entirely with Australians I decided to go to Jasper and find my hiking boots again. Jasper was gorgeous, a small town in the mountains and offered some stunning mountain views, lakes and elk encounters. I had the chance to snow shoe through the beautiful pines and bald mountains of Magilne Lake, mountain bike the trails often still covered in ice, walk on a frozen river in the canyon to an ice waterfall and then bed-sled. I tried the local brewery tasting collection and found out after ordering that it was 3 pints of beer, I hadn't eaten for 5hrs and had been hiking all day so finishing them in 30min so that I could catch the bus back to the hostel put me in a jolly mood. Bed sledding was great fun til l sobered up and realised the potential for injury, when you landed on the mattress after going over the jump it was a hell of a lot of fun, if you miss the mattress you tumbled over and over though the snow till coming to a stop also fun when not sober!<br /><br />I jumped in on the offer to share a car and drive to Banff. This drive CAN be stunning but the day we drove the icefields parkway we had nice foggy weather suitable for sitting inside and drinking hot chocolate. Lake Louise was fun to walk across but we couldn't see the other side and then it started to snow...such fantastic powder snow, 50cent piece size flakes whose shapes actually looked like the snow crystals hung from Christmas trees. The ensuring snowball fight and random attacks on other people made my first time at Lake Louise fun never the less.Johnston Creek Canyon was spectacular to wall/slide into as it was also frozen and the stunning ice water falls and glacial coloured ice made some fantastic photos.<br /><br />I took and instant dislike to Banff...it is like comparing Wanaka and Queenstown in NZ. Banff was a town without a soul, pumping to the tune of the rich spending big on ski holidays. It had enough walking tracks around it to amuse me for a few days, then a days skiing (skiing by yourself is never great fun, there is no-one to talk to on the lifts or watch for when you crash and help pick up the pieces).<br /><br />Hence I found myself back in Lake Louise for a second time and hired ski-touring skis. These are like Cross-country ski's (heel comes up) only they are wider and were perfectly suited to the fresh snow in the National Parks. I headed off solo ski camping, this was a new experience for me as was being in bear country! The amazing views, the silence (snow muffles every sound) and the speed at which you can cover ground skis made some fun days. The fresh snow was not without its drawbacks, avalanche danger meant I followed the river on the valley floors and kept moving until the crust of hard snow gave away and I was up to my waste trying to get out of a hole with ski's and pack still on.<br /><br />The snow also covered Lake O'hara which I assume being higher than Lake Lousie would also be solid enough to ski on. Half way across the lake realised that when I pulled my pole out that it had slushy wet snow on it...DANGER...I got out of there quick smart and used up a fair amount of luck to have not gone through (going though would have meant a summer trip for M&D once/if I was found). I later found out Lake Louise is packed by the resort all winter long and hence the surface is much stronger ice! Camping in the snow was great fun, my tent and sleeping bag paid for themselves as it was minus 9deg Celsius (inside the tent) and I was still warm. The last night however I could not find the campsite so I could not put my food in the bear proof lockers (hidden under snow) so I left my food, stove, lip balms and other bear attractants 100m away from my camp and crossed my fingers (the trees were not high enough to dissuade a bear!)<br /><br />After four days of peace & quiet skiing by myself I was back in Banff and I got out of there ASAP. I went to Calgary (a bigger city ???) and planned to hire a car to travel around in, fortunately I was also able to get tickets to a NHL hockey match. What a great game...I'd never play it but enjoyed watching it as it is fast and rough. Nothing compares to the atmosphere and crowd inside the stadium. The non-stop music, chants, flashing lights and crowd engaging beats turned the stadium into a crazy seething mass of of supporters. When the "Calgary Flames" got a goal the response was crazy, the first sign of a goal was the release of a ball of gas/flame above the rink and then the crowd took over. It may have been a bit commercial and over the top but was one a fun experience.<br /><br />My road trip took me 2000km through west Canada's most impressive national parks. Soaking in hot springs in the mountain valleys and inside a cave I will remember for a long time as I will the vista's of mountains, snow, lakes, wineries and ALL the crazy Canadians overtaking me when I was driving 20kph over the limit already. The wineries offered ice wine which is picked when the temperature is below minus 8deg Celsius and this has to be liquid gold. My last day in Canada was stunning weather, crisp, cold, clear sky's and fresh snow on everything. Hence I took another stab at driving the icefields parkway and was suitably impressed...possibly the most beautiful 200km through mountains ever!<br /><br />I spent the last night in style by sleeping in the higher car at the airport carpark in order to ensure got to airport for my free cavity search by the USA immigration on time ...lucky for me that I did so as they had massive ques.<br /><br />Next chapter...Texas!Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-28392484890242301182010-04-18T12:26:00.000-07:002010-04-18T12:32:54.040-07:00Para-Olympics (12th March 2010)With the road trip finished Adrian and myself were in Vancouver for the winter para-Olympics.<br /><br />During the Winter Olympics (non-disabled) what coverage I saw of the games I did feel a twinge of regret that hadn't decided to attend those games...BUT the decision was a great one as the para-Olympics were better than I could have ever imagined.<br /><br />The first event that we attended was the Wheelchair Curling, it was a first for me on both accounts as I had never seen a wheelchair sport or curling. Essentially it is a form of lawn bowls on ice! These athletes complete from their wheelchairs and they push the stones down the ice with tactics and precision. Fortunately the Canadians were playing and the crowd was going wild with every shot...can I remind you that it is like lawn bowls...hardly a sport you can cheer for but we managed. Can't say I would go out of my way to go again but it was a fun 4hrs watching the crowd and the tactics at work.<br /><br />The next event we went to was the Sledge Ice Hockey. These guys are crazy, they push themselves across the ice with their upper bodies and at the same time receive and pass the puck with precision. The best part undoubtedly, like any ice hockey was the crashes and brute force used against each other. It kind of looked like watching hermit crabs play soccer on fast forward...hope that image is not to complicated to conjure. Also just like any ice hockey half the fun comes from the antics off the ice and in the crowd. Dancing, music, drums, t-shirt canons and more.<br /><br />The most rewarding event to attend was the cross-country skiing and biathlon. The track was set up really well so that you could see the entire race unfold, it had many loops that wound around the stands. Events included sitting, standing and visually impaired...yep shooting blind! (they have a gun that connects to headphones and they use sound to aim the gun). Every event was inspiring to watch but 2 of these moments are worth writing about.<br /><ul><li>The women's sit down 12.5km biathlon had a lady who finished about 15minutes behind the rest of the field, I'm not sure why or what happened to her but she never gave up. You could see the pain and exhaustion from the close up TV shots and how hard it would be to push yourself uphill on a sled/toboggan with only your arms. The crowd went wild when she finished showing there support for her outstanding effort. Thing amazing thing really is that her time was approx 50min...12.5km in 50min...this is the same time that I run 12.5km and she is just using her arms! Then consider that FOUR times during the 12.5km she deliberately tips over her sled, controls her breathing/heart rate and shoots the 5 targets (each miss being a 1min penalty). AMAZING!</li><li>The men's standing biathlon had German athlete who's disability was that he had no arms...fair enough that you can still ski without using your arms but biathlon involves shooting? He had a modified gun that he shot with his teeth!</li></ul><p>The final events were the downhill & super-G. It was fascinating to watch the athletes with different levels of disability all competing in the same event. It seemed unfair that someone with 2 legs could have less time penalty than someone with only 1 leg...I later found out she didn't have either leg below the knee. The other category that I was most impressed with was the visually impaired, these athletes often had NO sight what so ever and were skiing at ridiculous speeds. The bond between them and their guide must be the highest level of trust I will ever see.<br /><br />I admit coming to the para-Olympics to see some spectacular crashes but the accidents I did see were not as "fun" as I would have thought watching on TV. Watching a skier strapped in a chair tumbling out of control right in front of me wasn't amusing at all and horrible to watch. The only somewhat amusing accident was the visually impaired skier who when the crowd started cheering couldn't hear the guide telling her to stop and skied straight into the fence at the bottom...she was fine...needless to say we didn't cheer until the blind skiers had come to a complete stop after that!<br /><br />Vancouver is a beautiful site for a city with the huge Stanley Park, the state and National Parks 20min from city centre (see Lynn Canyon if you get there) and also ski fields 20min from the centre and did an outstanding job of hosting the para-Olympics. One of the best things was that family's and school groups could go to events and afford to also with the ticket price being only $19...the full Olympics had tickets typically x4-x5 that amount. Security was near non-exisitant...after all your not making much of a statement by blowing up a bunch of disabled people and their supporters.<br /><br />Following the Para-Olympics I headed to Whistler, Jasper & Banff...read about these in the next post...at the rate I am going it will be mid-May before I get it out...I have better things to do than type story tales whilst on holidays!<br /><br />:) Tim</p>Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-49802312069052247132010-03-16T16:05:00.000-07:002010-03-16T17:18:58.831-07:00Roadtrip - LA to Vancouver<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6AZ7qOU3uI/AAAAAAAAAFo/ZalZnu_9SFo/s1600-h/P1010845.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6AZ7qOU3uI/AAAAAAAAAFo/ZalZnu_9SFo/s320/P1010845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449384061855653602" border="0" /></a><br />When in America you have to do BIG things, go over the top and only then you may fit in.<br /><br />Adrian is a high school buddy from GVGS days now working in LA, his latest vehicle needed to fit in so he went for the biggest thing on the road...a F350 truck. This vehicle is not only the biggest thing I have driven legally on the road but no doubt also the most powerful...why not learn to drive it on the wrong side and in freeway traffic! (Thankfully Adrian loves driving and did most of it)<br />So we had a BIG vehicle and the road trip was a drive of 1200miles via the main freeways from Los Angeles to Vancouver we had some distance to cover in a week. We didn't stay on the freeways long...the Pacific Coastal Highway or Highway no.# 1 take a much more scenic drive right along the cliffs and beaches of the coast.<br /><br />What did we see?<br /><br />Landside(s) blocking the road<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6AVkI57Q_I/AAAAAAAAAFY/Blvke0GhwrY/s1600-h/P1010668.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6AVkI57Q_I/AAAAAAAAAFY/Blvke0GhwrY/s320/P1010668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449379259728217074" border="0" /></a><br />Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco...this is a stunning sight but the size of the Golden Gate Park was astounding - as was the look on the faces of people as Adrian shattered the silence with his 8 cylinders and turbo hissing with each red light in the city.<br /><br />The Redwood Forrest's - such amazingly HUGE trees<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6AXn8VrhtI/AAAAAAAAAFg/rT8zopNIA3M/s1600-h/P1010761.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6AXn8VrhtI/AAAAAAAAAFg/rT8zopNIA3M/s320/P1010761.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449381524097697490" border="0" /></a>Oregon's Coast line<br /><br />Mount St. Helen's in fresh snow, what a fantastic camping spot!<br /><br />Forrest of Mt Rainier NP and Seattle were great spots to see but a pity to not be able to stay longer.<br /><br />The lakes, trees & moss of Mt Olympic NP<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6AcjD86rFI/AAAAAAAAAF4/wZvgD6jvGYU/s1600-h/P1010908.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6AcjD86rFI/AAAAAAAAAF4/wZvgD6jvGYU/s320/P1010908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449386937800109138" border="0" /></a><br />Vancouver Island will no doubt draw me back to do some more walking but we were suitably impressed by the size of the Kinsol trestle bridge<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6Adn3SdBpI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Nd-_PfkN0nQ/s1600-h/P1020014.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6Adn3SdBpI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Nd-_PfkN0nQ/s320/P1020014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449388119811753618" border="0" /></a><br />San Jaun islands between Vancouver Island and mainland Canada offered some amazing real estate the only downfall would be having the ferry service passing to and fro on your fantastic vista.<br /><br />Vancouver...read more in my next post.<br /><br />Food along the way has been interesting:- San Fran offered sour dough buns filled with clam chowder was the first meal in the USA without cheese!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6Aaxtt6gHI/AAAAAAAAAFw/92fgwaCugUo/s1600-h/P1010679.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S6Aaxtt6gHI/AAAAAAAAAFw/92fgwaCugUo/s320/P1010679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449384990506385522" border="0" /></a>- Bagel's for breakfast...mmmm<br />- Out of the way "dinner's" (i.e. the name of the place you eat at) offering simple staple meals...the all day breakfast being a huge hit.<br />- French Dip...dunk your roast beef roll in the juices from the roast beef!<br />- Wondering why the metho was burning with so much smoke and soot...well done to the clowns who picked up the turpentine bottle instead of methylated spirits!<br /><br />Til next time!Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-35108791038526255232010-03-05T15:24:00.000-08:002010-03-05T15:57:24.913-08:00LA & Catalina Island<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S5GZYBU4Q6I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/eMmElbSmYdA/s1600-h/P1010645.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S5GZYBU4Q6I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/eMmElbSmYdA/s320/P1010645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445302062419559330" border="0" /></a><br />Best thing about Los Angeles has go to be the weather, it is winter and still I am in shorts/t-shirt and the sun is shining.<br /><br />Hence why I spent x2 days riding around LA on a push-bike (pedal power). It is a great way for me to learn the road rules...I have been comparing riding a bike in traffic in LA to playing Russian Roulette, and when you still get confused by the road rules it is like pulling the trigger twice each go!<br /><br />Santa Monica and the beaches are busy even in winter, cant imagine the crowds in summer. The bike path offered some respite from large metal cars. No swimming however...water would be fine its just the sand in between me and the water I dislike. Best thing was the skate park...I spent at least an hour watching them do insane tricks on skateboards.<br /><br />Palos Verde Drive offered great views and a hill to ride over...why does that appeal?<br /><br />Adrian has been quite the host showing me around LA...cant believe how big the place is but nothing really took my attention enough to want to get the camera out.<br /><br />To escape the city and do what I came to the US to do (hike) I headed to Catalina Island.<br />This island is 15miles off the coast and particularly the interior is free of hustle and bustle other than a few bison and squirrels. 2 days hiking was great except for the minor miscalculation on distances when I forgot that everything is in miles...hence my casual walking distance of 21km was actually closer to 33km...a big days walk!<br /><br />The Catalina airport was interesting as to get a flat area big enough they just scraped the top off a large hill...this it is known as the airport in the sky!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S5GZO-JSxTI/AAAAAAAAAFI/IqPTe13-iCs/s1600-h/P1010611.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S5GZO-JSxTI/AAAAAAAAAFI/IqPTe13-iCs/s320/P1010611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445301906946835762" border="0" /></a>Heading north today on the road trip to Vancouver.<br /><br />Ciao<br /><br />TimEmily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-66287627890399797792010-03-02T10:18:00.000-08:002010-03-02T10:26:05.472-08:00America CanadaI'm off again...7 months to see USA west coast, Canada and Alaska<br /><br />Not trying to be another Alex Supertramp (Into the Wild), but wanting to spend as much time in a tent as possible.<br /><br />Trialling the blog idea...have a day in LA and seeing Hollywood/Beverley Hills and the film star houses or Disney World is not my cuppa tea so, will spend the day 'productively' producing this blog...<br /><br />See you on the road.<br /><br />Tim<br /><br />PS: pic is the freeways in LA...never seen so much traffic in my life<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41YCpAbshI/AAAAAAAAAAU/0qhTXzN1ikU/s1600-h/P1010574.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41YCpAbshI/AAAAAAAAAAU/0qhTXzN1ikU/s320/P1010574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444104326951449106" border="0" /></a>Emily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-81242668179273010082010-02-25T12:28:00.000-08:002010-03-02T13:24:00.541-08:00Great Ocean Walk (Victoria)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41_D7_Jh5I/AAAAAAAAAEw/fmwdiwCTurc/s1600-h/P1010369.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41_D7_Jh5I/AAAAAAAAAEw/fmwdiwCTurc/s320/P1010369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444147230179690386" border="0" /></a><br />In order to have some bonding time with Mum & Dad before I flew out to LA on my next adventure we (Dad) organised to complete the Walking track version of the Great Ocean Road.<br /><br />I had never been past Lorne on the Great Ocean Road so this was an opportunity also to see some spectacular country. The drive down was jaw dropping...this is why it attracts so many tourists. The road cut into the cliffs edge was as impressive as the West Coast of NZ...perhaps better even as it was sunny and warm!<br /><br />The car shuffle was tedious but hopefully Parks VIC people and tourism <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">operators</span> are keeping this in mind for areas to improve as the walk grows.<br /><br />We started the walk at Cape <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Otoway</span> and Finished just east of the 12 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">apostles</span>.<br /><br />Mums pack was exceptionally heavy allowing me to do little finger curls as weight training, Dad's looked heavier walking uphill and the dense items such as water, wine and tents were left for me to carry.<br /><br />The walk is not challenging, certainly not steep and not isolated...I had phone reception <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">every night</span> but the views make it a fantastic walk to remember. The sandy beaches made it heavy going at times but for 13-15km a day it is a fantastic walk anyone can do.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41_e28ZbKI/AAAAAAAAAE4/1PQYUa7EmfA/s1600-h/P1010512.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41_e28ZbKI/AAAAAAAAAE4/1PQYUa7EmfA/s320/P1010512.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444147692682439842" border="0" /></a><br />Points I will remember:<br /><ul><li>The 2 Melbourne girls who completed the whole track (8days) and carried only canned food...their packs were half their body weight at the beginning...amazing achievement and amazingly stupid!</li><li>The Blackberry feast(s) we had along the track. They are a weed and take over, but get there at the right time of year and it is luxury to have fresh fruit when hiking.</li><li>Mum's amazing meals, she <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">pre</span>-prepared everything at home then dehydrated it. Simply add water for gourmet pumpkin risotto or fried rice.</li><li>The amazing views of the campsites. Always on the highest point, great views but terrible for having a swim after you have finished walking (maybe it is a safety consideration).</li><li>The toilets...positioned so you had a view<br /></li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S42Ah9ZW2JI/AAAAAAAAAFA/TSEoMf68z4Q/s1600-h/P1010523.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S42Ah9ZW2JI/AAAAAAAAAFA/TSEoMf68z4Q/s320/P1010523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444148845465753746" border="0" /></a><br />Great location, great food, great company...the Great Ocean Walk<br /><br />TEmily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-72018416831699393402009-12-25T11:16:00.000-08:002010-03-02T11:19:30.128-08:00Christmas Email 2009Happy Christmas, hope this reaches you safely and the New Year allows you let a little craziness out of your system!<br /> <br />Another long email...christmas letter covering Tim's 8 months in Australia. (you might want to grab a full beer/beverage before starting to read!)<br /> <br />======================================================<br /><br /> <br /><br />Tim has successfully worked for the longest time in one place this year!<br /><br /> <br /><br />I spent 7 months in Alice Springs and I still want to go back! I love the place...but not enough to give up the road!<br /><br /> <br /><br />This is what I have been doing to amuse myself in 7 months (ok really only 6months of work)<br /><br /> <br /><br />Running: This has kept me sane...everyone in the territory has an addiction of sorts...most common by far is alcohol, smoking (you can still smoke inside pubs/bars/buildings in the NT) and computers (still don’t understand how World of Warcraft, Wii-fit or TV can amuse people for so long). My addiction is running, not surprisingly I arrived back into Australia and after 2 weeks decided a ½ Marathon was in order... I found out the hard way about the importance of stretching and easing into things slowly as I gave myself a ITB muscle injury...the curse of many a runner! Running went on the backburner as I was limited to 30min per day and instead started stretching and strengthening exercises. They all seem to have worked and now I am again running every morning.<br /><br />Achievements this year include:<br /><br />Harts Range Memorial Mile – I came second to a guy wearing jeans! (Preparation of little sleep, beer and bacon/eggs doesn’t help!)<br /><br />Sydney City to Surf (wow...so many ppl)<br /><br />18min58sec - 5km (only way to run on boring bitumen is fast)<br /><br />7hrs17min - 56km Yurrebilla Trail run through Adelaide hills http://www.sarrc.asn.au/yurrebilla.html<br /><br /> <br /><br />June<br /><br /> <br /><br />Finke Desert race – for the motor enthusiast, best part about it was working the week following and trying to figure out how you dress a blister covering the entire palm…serious racing aka stupidity on motorbikes…needless to say I enjoyed it!<br /><br />Beanie Festival…not an event up my alley, brings out the hippies and they try to take over like knitting jumpers for the tree’s!<br /><br />Camel Races…may not have seen the Todd flow x3 times but you cant have lived in Alice without attending the camel cup. Apart from the antic’s performed by the camels, the booze flows free (cept when you have to work later that arvo) and it is a regular race day carnival atmosphere. Cant bet on the camels sadly…breucratic licencing and so on…<br /><br /> <br /><br />August<br /><br />Harts Range Bush Sports Weekend<br /><br />200+km from Alice Springs, drawing in a crowd of station owners, families, cowboys, Alice Springs folk. <br /><br />Weekend of x4 horse races, bull riding & sports events for the Station folk (running, sack races, lolly scramble, cow tail toss...etc) Plus good old fashion bush dance and nightly entertainment.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Australian Music Spectacular<br /><br />Headlining acts and classics of Australian music...loved the fact was sitting in my own chair under the stars with the music greats entertaining me...where else but Alice! Will never forget singing along with John Williamson and busting a grove to Leo Sayer...<br /><br /> <br /><br />Henley on Todd<br /><br />Boat race in the DRY Todd River bed. I joined a crew of 4 to make an inflatable rubber ducky and we went as lifesavers. Great fun in the Alice, hot, sandy and sunburnt but successfully took home the 'Lifesaving rescue event"<br /><br /> <br /><br />Alice Marathon<br /><br />Didn’t race as still on rationed runs but it didn’t stop me from dressing up as a clown for a water stop half way. Made it more fun to hide in the bushes whist the runners ran past and then sprint/overtake them in a clown suit…I got a kick out of it even if they were to puffed to laugh at/with me.<br /><br /> <br /><br />September<br /><br /> <br /><br />Larapinta Trail<br /><br />Walked the 220km trail across central Australia’s beautiful West MacDonnell mountain range. Escorted by an enthusiastic but blistered Mr. Butt. We walked early in the mornings, at night and simply sat the shade during the days. AMAZING scenery, photos and memories...must do for anyone with a spare 2 weeks!<br /><br />Yurrebilla Trail<br /><br />Here I found a new passion...running longer and rougher tracks! 56km or 7+hrs of running up and down hills could not be more fun and worth the special flight out of Alice and back compete. Call me crazy...<br /><br />October<br /><br /> <br /><br />Cat Empire & Jimmy Barnes<br /><br />Wow…what a concert…300m from my front door it was hard to get to J! The Cat Empire got everyone in the mood and Jimmy just blew us away…he concentrated on Cold Chisel and the older stuff…I think the next day I sounded almost as hoarse as him.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Movie Nights<br /><br />One of my favourite memories of Alice will always be watching movies on the big screen outside after a fantastic feed. Cant thank the Paul/Suzanne/Renee enough for their hospitality and company.<br /><br /> <br /><br />November<br /><br /> <br /><br />NZ Jenny Mum came to visit<br /><br />First she visited Brother Bradley in Armidale and then came out to see the Alice and Timbo. Great to catch up with the old gal aka 'Mum' and have her cook her famous carrot cake (not x1 but x4...she left the freezer full). I sent her on a ‘rock’ tour and enjoyed the post conversation about sleeping in swags and things that go bump in the night (those dangerous dingoes and snakes). Maybe roughing it and swag-ing it isn’t for everyone.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Pharmacies Xmas Party<br /><br />People were amazed that I simply rung home and got a costume sent up…out of mum’s closet…doesn’t everyone have a closet of 70s - 80s clothes?<br /><br />The Darwin Pharmacies Christmas Party (December) was also a fun night…great way to meet the crew I will be working with over the next month. I wonder if it was good value for them when I had only worked 3 days prior to the party.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Tim/Tam’s Toga Hoorah<br /><br />What better way to leave Alice and house mate Tam (Tamasin) than to have a Toga Party. Toga parties are always great then add in 30L of Sangria and make it even better!<br /><br /> <br /><br />December<br /><br /> <br /><br />Darwin<br /><br />I moved to Darwin for work...again call me crazy!...moving to Darwin for the wet season has been interesting. The humidity has not been as bad as I was told, saying that it is interesting going to work in board shorts and another shirt so that you are not sweat sodden all day long. We had an amazing storm…many more to come I hope…lightning and thunder like nothing I have seen. Then a tropical low dumped a months worth of rain over 3 days…wow…rain rain rain…it then moved off and became a cyclone. I must be the only person in Darwin crossing there fingers to experience a cyclone, saying that I wanted an earthquake whilst in NZ and that didn’t happen.<br /><br />Christmas is at home with the family and grandpa in a vase, New Years will be spent in Darwin/Kakadu/Litchfield and January is working in Darwin. I am going to spend some of Feb working with Brad/Amanda in Armidale NSW before a family hike in late Feb.<br /><br />Then…6 months holiday!<br /><br />I have booked tickets to fly into Los Angeles and plan on a trip up the coast to Vancouver with Adrian (school buddy). Once in Canada we will enjoy some of the Winter PARA-olympics. Once finished the plan is to visit Banff, Jasper and then make my way to Anchorage (Alaska) for more hiking and getting chased by bears! Returning home in October!<br /><br />Keep me posted where you will be, what trips you are going to take and fingers crossed our paths will cross.<br /><br />Have a great Christmas and New Year<br /><br />See you soon<br /><br />TimEmily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-64618638921442647552009-06-05T11:22:00.000-07:002010-03-02T11:34:23.920-08:00Final travel epilogue! Tim's round the world 2008-2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41nEzrmZoI/AAAAAAAAABk/hErFldsr5wA/s1600-h/Imagen+032+Bolivia+-+Tucan+at+Hostel.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41nEzrmZoI/AAAAAAAAABk/hErFldsr5wA/s320/Imagen+032+Bolivia+-+Tucan+at+Hostel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444120856851015298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41mYMD06nI/AAAAAAAAABU/sJKOCTVhCPc/s1600-h/Imagen+247+Bolivian+salt+flats.jpg"><br /></a><br />Brazil<br /><br />Carnival<br />I spent Carnival due to "prior piss poor planning" not at any of the well known sites across Brazil. Book your carnival accommodation many many months in advance experience tells! Thankfully I met 2 beautiful Brazialian girls whilst traveling Chile and they became like sisters so I organised to spend Carnival in Piracicaba (north of Sau Paulo). The carnival week was the first time I had spent 1 week in the same town/bed since Christmas and that in itself was relaxing...I may not have experienced the Samba-drome of Rio De Janeiro or the massive street party in Salvador but where I was, was a typical Brazilian carnival. It was spent at a hired house, with pool and BBQ (as important for Brazilian life as Australian) and amongst university/ex-school mates. Food and beer was the only expense and at a 600mL bottle costing $1.50AUD, $250 goes a long way! (accom. in well known carnival cities is about $100 per night). The food was the best part, a Brazilian BBQ is...well its been a long time since an Australian BBQ so going to have to say better! and the house keeper also taught me to cook some national dishes...Brazilians love their beans so watchout when I recreate these meals! All towns in Brazil have samba parties so attending these was a great experience...could I samba? or just get drunk enough so that I couldn't see if my feet were doing the correct thing...I cant samba when sober is all that I know!<br /><br />After Carnival I want to relax on a beach so went to the Island resort of (Illa do Mel) where the Brazilians themselves go...stunning beaches and Argentinians to play with (my Spanish is marginally better than speaking no Portuguese) and Brazilian fruit, I didn't need to relax after carnival but I got it anyway!<br />Foz do Iguacu is up there with Victoria Falls and Niagra Falls as the biggest in the world. Wow...so much water and both the Brazilians and Argentinians have great view points across the falls. Better than Victoria Falls? which I saw in Africa...just different! Foz do Iguacu is spread out so you can see the falls better but bear in mind I didn't get to see Vic Falls from the Zimbabwee side! The cloud of mist at Vic Falls is much larger however. Whilst at Foz do Iguacu you must also visit the largest dam in the world (til the one in China finishes being constructed)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41ndLzXxrI/AAAAAAAAABs/cuUu89L5JUI/s1600-h/IMG_9235+Brasil+-+Foz+Do+Iguacu.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41ndLzXxrI/AAAAAAAAABs/cuUu89L5JUI/s320/IMG_9235+Brasil+-+Foz+Do+Iguacu.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444121275642922674" border="0" /></a>The last place I visited in Brazil was the Pantanal. This is a wetland at the south/bottom of the Amazon with supposedly the most bird life in the world. It wasn't the best weather so it is the excuse to why we didn't see many birds but it was a fun experience and other animals seen included (Piranhas, Caymans, Howler Monkeys, Macaws, Tapirs (largest rodent in the world) and anteaters)<br /><br />Crossing from Brazil to Bolivia you immediately see the poverty difference and things become much, much cheaper (except beer...). To cross from the Pantanal (west) to central Bolivia I took the Death train...not such a big deal now except that it is 24hrs in a train that stops at every station and would do the journey in 1/3 of the time if things didn't happen in Bolivian time!<br /><br />The Potosi silver mines are famed for the sheer amount and fortune of silver that was removed from inside the mountain and also the number of people that it killed to do so. Today you can do tours into the mountain and it is said conditions haven't changed since the 1600's when it was in peak use. I got up close and personal to asbestos crystals growing on the walls, used scraps of plastic bags as hearing protection and my shirt as a dust mask...conditions were horrible but I didn't see any child miners. They worship the devil to please him (as it is said that he owns the silver), drink 96% alcohol, smoke dirty homemade cigarettes as thick as a cigar and chew enough coca-leaves to numb themselves to the 12hr shift of back breaking labor. Terrible conditions but strangely silicosis (having your lungs cemented full of dust) and rock falls kill less people than the getting drunk and falling down a mine shaft! (Dynamite was 10 Bolivanos a stick to buy off the street. approx $2AUD)<br /><br />The most amazing landscape on earth would have to be in the Andes mountains of southern Bolivia. The salt flats (Salar de Uyuni) are an expanse of pure white salt as far as you can see. Driving across this very old lake you can stop at a few islands on which grow carton style cactus. The photos look amazing yet still don't do it justice. The altitude was noticeable for the first time here when you would take a couple of quick steps up a slope to a better photo point a find yourself struggling for breath.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41mYMD06nI/AAAAAAAAABU/sJKOCTVhCPc/s1600-h/Imagen+247+Bolivian+salt+flats.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41mYMD06nI/AAAAAAAAABU/sJKOCTVhCPc/s320/Imagen+247+Bolivian+salt+flats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444120090300967538" border="0" /></a><br /></div>La Paz is the capital of Bolivia, apart from offering the normal congestion and chaos a city normally does this city felt safe to walk around, even at night. Street food was delicious and everything except the tours was dirt cheap! At 4000m above sea level, having a room on the 5th floor of the building, no elevator was a great workout. I would forget each time and run up to the top, to arrive at the door see stars and not being able to insert the key as I was so out of breath. You had about 20sec of activity before the body realised that there was not enough oxygen and started to suffer.<br /><br />I signed onto a tour in La Paz to climb a 6000m mountain. This experience was probably the most fun, challenging and exciting thing I did all trip! Sleeping at 5000+m was an experience, not enough oxygen meant that you could not sleep breathing through your nose so you would end up waking in a pile of drool...sounds fun! Then after sleeping less than 4hrs you wake up at 1am and in the bitter cold (inside) you put on the layers of clothing, waterproofs, harness, heavy mountaineering boots and once outside fit your crampons (fingers loose feeling very quick playing with metal in the snow) Then you start walking uphill...6hrs later needing to breathe every 5-10 steps you arrive at a 70degree ice slope...even in the dark it looks steep and you cant see the top. Calves burning from holding your body weight on the toe points of your crampons and trying not to swing your ice axe too hard into the ice so you can get it out again you crawl up the slope to the ridge where you can walk along a 1 foot wide top...did I mention 200m slope/cliff each side...once at the top it is minus -5C to -15C...you get very cold very quick and have to time it correctly so that you have 1min of camera battery before it gets to cold also to work. However the sunrise was amazing, the sense of triumph and achievement unbelievable and finally you have 'bagged a peak' worth writing about! Coming down was possibly the scariest thing I have ever done...going downhill is always harder and particularly when you can see the drop you would fall if you place a single foot wrong...not to mention the guide saying that you need to hurry as the sun softens the snow and makes it more dangerous. I was so taken by this guided climb I did another solo climb up a 6300m volcano the next week!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41n2jIaOhI/AAAAAAAAAB0/qO2BK3SjUq8/s1600-h/Imagen+644+Bolivia+-+Top+of+6088m+Mtn+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dUKik9Q468E/S41n2jIaOhI/AAAAAAAAAB0/qO2BK3SjUq8/s320/Imagen+644+Bolivia+-+Top+of+6088m+Mtn+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444121711401908754" border="0" /></a>Death Road, similar to the death train in that it killed people regularly through its use. The road drops 3000+m on a mostly single lane dirt road which until 5 years ago traffic went in both directions. Nowdays it is a great mountain bike road, huge 600m cliffs to ride next to and through the lush rain forrest. If i wasnt trying to use my travel insurance I would have enjoyed the scenery a lot more but speed was all the more faster and fun knowing 1m to the left of me was a very large drop!<br /><br />Lake Titicaca is the centre of Inca and Pre-inca cultures. This mean lots of ruins, stone walls and historic sites where your imagination is required to see the way people would have lived 500 years ago. Unfortunately I will remember the easter weekend all the more after having my wallet cut from the pocket of my shorts whilst standing a church (screw you to god). Not a bad experience as I was super-impressed at the skill required (I didnt feel a thing) and at a total loss of around $20AUD to me and no cards. Avoid crowds, avoid church and wear shirts that have chest pockets...much much safer!<br /><br />The most memorable experience in Peru is for most people Machu Picchu. These well preserved Inca ruins are stunning, sitting ontop of a steep mountain ridge at the egde of the Amazon jungle but it is smothered in tourists. The walk into Mauchupichu had various routes, I chose the thrill seekers bike & hike trip which was a bit disappointing after Bolivia. My most memorable outing in Peru was hiring a motorbike and offroad riding between the Inca ruins. Remembering to keep RIGHT was only a problem for the first corner, which scared me enough not to forget for the rest of the day. Cuzco is the hot-spot for tourism in Peru but I found a nicer side to Cuzco by aoviding the crowds and in particular eating out at the market and not staying at hostels full of GAP students who never leave the hostel/bar. Foods were amazing from cebiche (raw fish in lemon juice), peruvian chicken soup, fruit juices from the numerous stalls and even cuy (Roast Guinea Pig) which did taste like tough chicken!<br /><br />For my last week on holidays I went walking solo through Colca canyon, actually deeper than the grand canyon and then did a flight over the Nazca Lines. These were made 500+ years ago by the locals (with no GPS help) and are giant figures (200m-300+m long) marked in the earth and seen best from a plane.<br /><br />My return flight to Australia was from Lima-Santiago-Aukland-Melbourne 27hrs flying time...no jet lag...probably as I slept better on the plane than the Bolivian-Peruvian buses. Mentioning buses...you must travel both the cheapest bus in South America and then the Cama-bus (cama=bed in spanish but it is still cheaper than Australian buses) to see how bad and how good bus travel can be. Stinking locals to a 'meal and alcohol' being served are all possible experiences.<br /><br />Travel Tips:<br />Shirts with chest pockets...keeps everythign in your personal space hence safe!<br />No heavy-thick cotton clothing...re-consider jeans...as it takes forever to dry!<br />Carry as many forms of cash as possible, Visa = Africa, Mastercard = South America, Travellers Cheques, USD, local currency. Sometimes even then it is still hard to access money!<br />You dont need to carry a pharmacy...most drugs and medical necessities are available from pharmacys in those countries and it is cheaper to buy it there (3rd world) than here...but will it work? (My first aid kit was far to big and to many drugs)<br />Travel for only 6-7months at a time...to long and you forget how the normal world opperates, banks dont open of weekends, brandnames of drugs, side effects...it has been a steep learning curve returning to work! You must also have a week every so often where you dont try to see everything...go to the beach and relax with a good book...travelling it hard work and just sleeping in the same bed is a holiday from you holiday!<br /><br />Back in Australia I went to visit my Grandpa, enjoyed mums cooking, ate in Victoria St (Melb) and caught up with friends I hadnt seen in a year. A quick trip via Armidale to go walking in Granite country of NSW-Qld border with Brad & Amanda and then back to Alice Springs. Returning to work even if it has been checking masses of webster packs has been good fun and I realise how much I missed Alice whenever I go running in the mornings.<br /><br />Plans - 6 months in Alice, Darwin for a wet season? then winter paraolympics in Vancouver 2010, ?commonwealth games - india?<br /><br />Send me lots of emails, update me on your life.<br /><br />'tchau, tchau I have to go now'<br /><br />TimEmily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629825395699996381.post-73542057372826495592009-02-16T09:28:00.000-08:002009-02-16T09:30:23.997-08:00Testing blog pagePrehaps this is a better way to let people know what i have been up to without email warfare!<br /><br />Hooroo<br /><br />TimEmily and Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623135491338203611noreply@blogger.com