45 Days to Go
There is a little stress now. The trip has been officially changed for the China section. The Total Eclipse is still on which is good but Tibet is out. Now I'm going to see the Terracotta Solders in Xi'an, then on to the Silk Road in northern China. Also included is a detour to Pakistan. I would have liked to see Tibet but this sounds just as exciting. The problem is I have to do some changing of my ticket. This could cost me some money and brain cells. The adventure basically has five segments. It's hard to concentrate on two to three at a time. If I pay a tour group for this section then they should do this. Anyway the ticket folks will handle it I hope. On top of all this is finding a solution to the Prague section. Getting my bike and gear to Prague is turning out to be the hardest part. I think it will be worth it. The days are going by fast and there is two much to do.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Life without a computer
51 Days to Go
Yesterday I went to a location close to my place so I could see what it would be like to use a public computer. I'm not ready for this yet. Once your on the clock you have to be ready. I'll bet it looked funny when I walked in with my apple and trail mix bag. I was thinking I could sit down and play around a little. No way. I plugged my card and the screen shows the clock ticking away. Immediately you think hurry up. There's no time to search for things. Just get to it. I have to do some setup work. So after 30 min. at 30cents a min. I left. I went riding for the day. Never got a chance to get into my bag of food until later. I think I rode about 45 miles. I like to ride when I get stressed.
Yesterday I went to a location close to my place so I could see what it would be like to use a public computer. I'm not ready for this yet. Once your on the clock you have to be ready. I'll bet it looked funny when I walked in with my apple and trail mix bag. I was thinking I could sit down and play around a little. No way. I plugged my card and the screen shows the clock ticking away. Immediately you think hurry up. There's no time to search for things. Just get to it. I have to do some setup work. So after 30 min. at 30cents a min. I left. I went riding for the day. Never got a chance to get into my bag of food until later. I think I rode about 45 miles. I like to ride when I get stressed.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Played my last game of Golf
54 Days to go
Well after almost 40 years of playing the game I need to sell the sticks. From Canada to Mexico, California to Florida, I played almost every great course there is. Some people might say that I will play again someday but it won't be for a long time and won't be around here. The game has lost its luster. As I was playing yesterday I enjoy the first few holes then I thought this isn't that much fun anymore. I would rather be enjoying myself near a mountain stream or meeting some new interesting folks somewhere. Its funny how things change.
Well after almost 40 years of playing the game I need to sell the sticks. From Canada to Mexico, California to Florida, I played almost every great course there is. Some people might say that I will play again someday but it won't be for a long time and won't be around here. The game has lost its luster. As I was playing yesterday I enjoy the first few holes then I thought this isn't that much fun anymore. I would rather be enjoying myself near a mountain stream or meeting some new interesting folks somewhere. Its funny how things change.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Saddlebroke
76 Days to Go Slideshow
I decided to give Renee a work out today. I left at around 9am and rode for the whole day. From Huntington Beach to Newport Beach then back and on up to Long Beach. Great Day. This bike rides so smooth and easy. I made many stops and meet several new folks along the way. Its nice to pack a small lunch with a beautiful bottle of wine. I need more practice with more weight though. It takes time to learn how to keep her stable. I don't want to get thrown off. A few more days like this and I will have her broke.
I decided to give Renee a work out today. I left at around 9am and rode for the whole day. From Huntington Beach to Newport Beach then back and on up to Long Beach. Great Day. This bike rides so smooth and easy. I made many stops and meet several new folks along the way. Its nice to pack a small lunch with a beautiful bottle of wine. I need more practice with more weight though. It takes time to learn how to keep her stable. I don't want to get thrown off. A few more days like this and I will have her broke.
Friday, March 28, 2008
San Jacinto Trip
114 Days to Go
I need to get some training but I don't have the time to get to the Sierra's. It would be too cold up there anyway. I want to work on using some of the new gear I have. I tried out my new pack and stove along with going on a great trip with my friend Christian. There was more snow then I excepted. When we started, as you can see in the pictures, the snow was only in the shade. As we got higher it was about 4 feet. Very slushy though and melting fast. It was a good trip but I would have liked to stay longer.
(click on title)
pp
I need to get some training but I don't have the time to get to the Sierra's. It would be too cold up there anyway. I want to work on using some of the new gear I have. I tried out my new pack and stove along with going on a great trip with my friend Christian. There was more snow then I excepted. When we started, as you can see in the pictures, the snow was only in the shade. As we got higher it was about 4 feet. Very slushy though and melting fast. It was a good trip but I would have liked to stay longer.
(click on title)
pp
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Backpacking to Sykes Hot Springs
140 Days to Go (slide show)
I always wanted to hike back to Sykes Hot Springs. It's in the Los Padres National Forrest at Big Sur, CA. It was everything I wanted it to be. I've heard many stories from folks who have been there. Everyone loved the place but some were there when it was crowded and after being there the area is rather small. I think if there were 25 people that would be to many. The springs can only serve 10 to 12 comfortably and the camping area is only good for 25. Any more then that and you would be stepping on folks. Its a beautiful place though. The hike in was about 10.5 miles and the time for me was 5.5 hours. I think I went pretty fast and 6.5 hours would be nicer. I left Huntington Beach about 5am and it took 6 hr to reach the ranger station at Big Sur. I was hoping to start around 11 am but turned out to be 12:30 pm. I made a mistake right off the bat. I was in such a hurry to get started that I didn't check my boots and turned out that I got some bad blister's within a mile in. Sucked it up and keep on going. This was a Sunday and I meet several folks coming out. I thought there would be several people still there. Not. When I got to the creek that you see in the slide show it was 6 pm and it was starting to get dark. I had already decided that in 15 minutes I would camp where ever I was and continue in the morning. When I came to the rushing creek I could see a small campground on the other side and it looked smilier to the description I heard from others. But the creek was very high. I walked up and down the bank for a crossing and the one you see was the best place. Now its getting real dark. I had to cross so I took my pack off and held it on my shoulders. Leaving my boots on I waded in. The water was over my waist quickly and I was glad I didn't try it bare foot, I would have slipped. When I reached the other side I was soaked to my chest. I was cold but not shivering which was good because it is now dark and I needed my headlamp.. The camp area was a series of 5 to 6 single tent sites as I walked down the trail I was surprised that no one was there. Nobody. They must be down river I thought. After finding the best site I strung a line to dry out my clothes and then made some soup. The next day I wore my flops and scouted the hot springs which were down stream about 200 yards. Nobody around. I spent the day soaking in the pools and scouting the area. It is a great spot but I think it would be very hot in the summer. No wonder so many people like it. I wish I would have taken more and better pictures but I'm just learning to use this camera. Well it was a great trip and the hike out was much more relaxed except for the blisters on my heals. I used duck tape but the blisters came from the sides just off the tape. O' well. The drive back was nice because I took it slow and made several stops.
PP
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The quest to find an Airfare
229 Days to Go
After a lot of thought I have the trip charted out. So now its time to find the airfare. After many days of searching the web and talking to many people I came across this company called http://www.airtreks.com/ and they come with many endorsements. I have put in a call and I'll wait for a response. Most everyone says it will be around $4500.00 or more for an around the world ticket. Another thing I have learned is that everyone is an expert but they generally don't have the experience. I put a budget together now I have to stay with it. A trip like this will get out of hand. Ya I know it's already out of hand.
pp
After a lot of thought I have the trip charted out. So now its time to find the airfare. After many days of searching the web and talking to many people I came across this company called http://www.airtreks.com/ and they come with many endorsements. I have put in a call and I'll wait for a response. Most everyone says it will be around $4500.00 or more for an around the world ticket. Another thing I have learned is that everyone is an expert but they generally don't have the experience. I put a budget together now I have to stay with it. A trip like this will get out of hand. Ya I know it's already out of hand.
pp
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Creating a Budget for the Adventure
231 Days to Go
This is about the time I decided to complete the "Around The World in 80 Days" idea. Kind of like Philleas Fogg. My problem is keeping the length to 80 days. The Solar Eclipse part in China and the Base Camp part in Kathmandu are more or less set times. These are each with separate groups. Once I reach Athens things change though. As I investigate the areas more there is so much to see that It will be hard to stick to 80 days. I will have to see what happens at work. A leave of absence is 90 days and my airfare is booked and paid for at 90 days. If there is something to come back for I will return.
pp
This is about the time I decided to complete the "Around The World in 80 Days" idea. Kind of like Philleas Fogg. My problem is keeping the length to 80 days. The Solar Eclipse part in China and the Base Camp part in Kathmandu are more or less set times. These are each with separate groups. Once I reach Athens things change though. As I investigate the areas more there is so much to see that It will be hard to stick to 80 days. I will have to see what happens at work. A leave of absence is 90 days and my airfare is booked and paid for at 90 days. If there is something to come back for I will return.
pp
Saturday, December 1, 2007
This trip has a life of its own
232 Days to Go
Many things have changed over the past few days. While working on the segment in Kathmandu I realized that it would be crazy to turn around and return from Nepal to Los Angeles. I'm already half way around the world why not continue on. I received conformation from Betchart Tours on the Tibet segment so I'm in. Now if I can get some information from Adventure Tours for the Base Camp/Nepal segment. Maybe this week. I have decided to continue around the world though. I want to see other places. I need to put together a budget first and make sure its feasibly possible.
pp
Many things have changed over the past few days. While working on the segment in Kathmandu I realized that it would be crazy to turn around and return from Nepal to Los Angeles. I'm already half way around the world why not continue on. I received conformation from Betchart Tours on the Tibet segment so I'm in. Now if I can get some information from Adventure Tours for the Base Camp/Nepal segment. Maybe this week. I have decided to continue around the world though. I want to see other places. I need to put together a budget first and make sure its feasibly possible.
pp
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Exercise and training regiment
235 Days to Go
Its fortunate that I have been commuting on a bicycle to work for the past five months. back in May I started a workout routine every morning to get myself in shape. The bike riding and workout routine has served me well so far but I need more. I will be the oldest member of the team going to base camp of Everest and I don't want to be the slowest. I will also need to get more high altitude training. The two High Serra's camping and fishing trips I took last month were just what I need more of. I will have to wait until next spring though. Until then I will keep riding to work and doing the workouts.
pp
Its fortunate that I have been commuting on a bicycle to work for the past five months. back in May I started a workout routine every morning to get myself in shape. The bike riding and workout routine has served me well so far but I need more. I will be the oldest member of the team going to base camp of Everest and I don't want to be the slowest. I will also need to get more high altitude training. The two High Serra's camping and fishing trips I took last month were just what I need more of. I will have to wait until next spring though. Until then I will keep riding to work and doing the workouts.
pp
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