im sunburnt! haha

it freakin hurts alright. and i heard i’ll get sunburnt in army as well. things i cannot do when im sunburnt: slap mosuquito on my arm. sleep on my side. take my clothes quickly. bathe in hot water. raise my arm. living my life normally.

but i dont really regret getting the burnt. cus im convinced that a tan (even to the burnt extent) does make ugly guys look better. not that im ugly haha.

2 star kayaking course is responsible for my tan burnt arms! its like 3 days and first day i was in singlet with my friend. second day im in sleeves while my friend was in long sleeve haha. and then 3rd day i was in sleeves in cap because you know what. MY SCALP GOT BURNT due to me having thin hair haha.
didnt regret going for 2 star. it wasnt exactly like planned which is very me, its like i decided 2 or 3 days before the actual thing when my friend shuren mentioned it when we went christmas party together heh.
i guess the highlight of the course (for me) was to learn the eskimo bow rescue, in which one of our boats have to cap, and the guy have to stay underwater and wait for another boat to come so that the guy underwater can use the other boat as support to flip back up a float. skill can and im naturally talented so i can do it :D kinda overcomed my fear to capsize. other than the skills that we learnt, we kinda have an expedition to the singapore flyer from kallang. haha i should get on the flyer some time and i guess the company was also really awesome there. some older dudes from army/nus and a couple from IRAN who came to work and stay in sg. and a really jovial guy from SA. wonders if we can be occasional outing friends haha. other than that! i really loved to kayak once again. The wind, and waves, and the rain on the very last day! it was a great refresher, and im glad that im eligible for 2 stars and expedition

today’s my birthday! haha but ususally i’ll spend it quite simply the messages that friends send to me mean alot no idea where my family is gonna feast tonight though. anyway thanks you guys who may have got me something im happy that i can be part of your lives

ecaco gonna go butterfac to celebrate for me on 30th yay awesome people!

finally 18. i hope now i can see things more maturely and act like im 18.

wishes come true when you work towards them

Rochester will have a new event in April called the Flower City Challenge, which offers multiple events involving running, bicycling and/or paddling a canoe or kayak on the Genesee River for individuals and teams.

On April 24, participants can choose from the River Challenge Duathlon, a 5K run/20-mile bike/5K run, or the River Challenge Paddle Triathlon, a 5K run/20-mile bike/paddle. (Exact paddle distance is to be determined, but it will be equivalent to the time of a 5K run, depending on skill level.)

On April 25, participants can do the Flower City Half Marathon (13.1 miles starting and finishing at the War Memorial downtown) or the Mayor’s Family 5K.

Advance fees range from $15 to $100 for a team. For details, see www.flowercitychallenge.com.
Set a goal to participate now to help keep you motivated to get regular physical exercise.

Since I joined the scout association in 2001 it has played a huge part in my life that continues to grow. It offers me opportunities and experience normally unavailable to me. As well as providing me with may important and worthwhile skills for future life. This year was no different.

I’m involved in 2 main sections of the scout association: explorer scouts and beaver scouts. I am a young person in explorers which means I get to do the activities and take part in the programme; whilst in beavers I am a young leader giving me the chance to run the programme and look after young people. Both are extremely good fun and good for different things.

This year in explorers I did many things and I’m going to try and run through them. My Duke of Edinburgh is run through Explorers and this continued to be a big part of my life. I’d completed the expedition in the previous October so had 3 sections left to do. Service, for which I helped with Beavers, Physical Recreation, for which I did kayaking and Skills, for which I did geocaching. Firstly Kayaking. I’ve been doing kayaking courses with scouts for several years and planned to do my BCU 3 star anyway even without my D of E. It went really well, having to juggle the Saturday mornings with trips to Coventry was difficult, but we managed. It’s a 2 year course so the more I did this year would leave less for 2010. One of the requirements was to do several journeys. I did 2. One from GAFIRS to Lee-on-the-solent and return, the other, more impressively, to the Isle of Wight and back. See previous blog entries for stories. Also for my kayaking I have to be able to roll, which is proving more difficult, but I plan on perfecting that next year.

Geocaching was another part of my D of E. It was introduced to me at scouts last year and since then I’ve got heavily involved and built up a large reputation within local cachers for my adventurous style. Many cachers use a GPS, which I don’t. I do own one but I find it unreliable and prefer maps and compasses. Also, I use my bike and on foot, never in the car which is again more exciting as the British weather is far from reliable. I’m still doing geocaching but have had to cut down due to coursework and other commitments. Hopefully next year I can get out more again.

Camps, scouting wouldn’t be scouting without camping. I’ve had opportunities for camps thrown at me for near on every weekend. Our district explorers are VERY active to say the least. Sadly, due to me having lots of commitments and fortnightly trips to Coventry I could only do a few. My favourite was Gilwell 24, back in July. The idea is to stay awake for 24 hours filled with activities. Sadly, I fell asleep for 4 hours. However, another fabulous point to the weekend was the Chief Scout Handover. I witnessed Peter Duncan hand over the silver wolf to Bear Grylls. It was a spectacular moment.

My only other camping type experiences this year were my Young Leader training weekend and of course the explorer Christmas party weekend. Both of these have previous blog entries so feel free to have a look

Now onto Beavers, and yet an even bigger tale to tell. I joined the colony in October 2008 and from them have put in hours of time and effort to help all our Beavers. A month after I started I signed myself up to produce the Itinerary each term. I have created an email system, added us on facebook and twitter and tried to make us as accessible as possible. However, I do help at the weekly meetings as well. I’ve organised trips to places like the Coastguard and RSPCA, visitors from fairtrade. I’ve run activities and games; and best of all, I’ve built up a great friendship with not only the young people but my leadership team at the group and around the district as well.

Family camp is one of the highlights of the scout group calendar. A chance for the leaders to relax and the committee and parents to run the weekend. It’s also the only chance the Beavers get to go camping. This year was amazing and one of the best I can remember. There were loads of people all of which seemed to be constantly smiling and having an amazing time. I, sadly, couldn’t spend the whole time at Family Camp as I was at 2 other camps at the same time and place, but from what I saw it was highly successful.

My Young Leader training also took over this year, I completed all my modules except 1. Which I hope to do very soon. I did my Module A, Child Protection, in May which was compulsory for me to work with young people. I then did modules B-J over the course of one weekend in October. This weekend was amazing and again I made some great friends and learned some useful stuff. Again, the internet came in useful as I can now keep in contact with my new friends via facebook.

Finally a big thank you. The scout association, I believe, have made me a better person over the last 7 years and I hope to have some involvement with the association for years to come. I have valuable experience and experiences all from one group of people. I have new friends and have kept all friends. Let’s hope 2010 has as much scouting fabulousness as 2009!!

The Airis Velocity is beautifully made – a real attention grabber – with numerous nifty little details. As far as we’re concerned, it’s a winner. Oh, and Eddie gives it two paws up.

For more information see http://www.airkayaks.com/airis_velocity.html

eschewed the traditional Christmas Day bike ride this year in favour of a couple of hours on the water working up an appetite… an easy decision to make given the thick coating of ice on the local roads. Conditions were perfect out on the water with a fresh south-westerly and stunning low sun shining through occasional rain/sleet showers. I paddled round to Vault Beach in the shadow of Dodman Point to meet the family on the beach before surfing the swells clear of the shelter of the point at high speed to Portmellon in time for tea and Christmas Dinner

Pics thanks to my sister….

I have no actual photographic proof that I kayaked on Prince Williams Sound—unless you count this t-shirt:

I grabbed a disposable camera to bring on the excursion, but unfortunately, in my haste, I picked one with no shots left.  Ah, film cameras.  I’m out of the habit. 

So I’ll have to rely on other people’s pictures and videos.  Luckily, those are readily available.  For example, this one gives you flavor of the experience:

Two young guides, whose names I’ve forgotten, took me and the Belgian father-daughter out on the water.  I got into a tandem with one of the guides–a young woman who had just finished a bachelor’s in environmental studies.

We paddled about 4 miles (round trip) from the Whittier harbor to our destination:  a black legged kittiwake rookery.  I’ve never experienced anything like it before.  When I asked my guide if she thought there were 1,000 of them, she said the most recent estimate from naturalists was 4,000-6,000.  The babies were just a few weeks old but the same size as the adults—distinguishable primarily by their beaks, which were black instead of white.  We paddled right up, as in the video, and they paid us no mind.  Because kayaks are so quiet?  Because they so greatly outnumbered us? Because they get their share of tourists? (But we were the only ones out there at the time.) It was amazing.

The visit to the Alaska SeaLife Center earlier that morning served as a nice primer.  We didn’t see puffins on our paddle, but we did see marbled murrelets, which also “fly” underwater.  They would suddenly appear on the surface, ostensibly from nowhere. My guide explained that they can dive to a depth of more than 100 feet—which was discovered relatively recently by fisherman who caught them in nets that they had sent that low.

Marbled murrelet

I also saw my first jellyfish in vivo—which was first spotted by my guide.  We paddled back so I could get a look.

On the return paddle, I admired the mountains that surrounded us on three sides–and sported snow and hanging glaciers in their peaks. 

It was great outing.  Now that I’ve been sightseeing in a kayak, it seems like the best possible mode of transportation for the purpose.  Maneuverable.  Quiet.  And—in the case of tandems especially—quite stable. (I had gotten the wrong impression about that years ago, from watching guides in kayaks roll frequently while I was whitewater rafting in West Virginia.  My Whittier guide explained that kayaks are actually more stable than canoes.)

I can’t wait to do something like this again.

One of my favourite places in Ontario is up on Georgian Bay from Owen Sound to Wasaga Beach. Whether it’s Alpine or Nordic skiing or snowshoeing near Collingwood, or hiking along the Bruce Trail, or wetting a line on one of the many local waters….obviously winter sports are in full blast especially around Collingwood (like at Blue Mountain)….and there is still about a week left in the steelhead season (until Dec. 31)….and one of my favourite fly fishing rivers is the Bighead River in Meaford Ontario….lots of public access points in town….in fact the Trout Hollow Trail system follow the Bighead River allowing any number of spots to access the river. But the point of this post is not about the great steelhead fishing in the area (there’s also the Beaver River in Thornbury) or even the wide variety of winter sports in the area. I wanted to suggest if you’re ever in Meaford that you should check out The Leeky Canoe Pub & Eatery, at 94 Sykes Street North (main street of Meaford), telephone 519-538-1377.

The Leeky Canoe offers a great place to stop off for a relaxing drink or amazing food from a complete menu. Nachos, Cheese Logs, Potato Canoes, Poutine, Famous Wraps and Sandwiches, Chili, Soup, Pizza, Pasta, Stir Frys, Delicious Burgers, Sizzling Steaks and Chicken, Fish n Chips, Sheppie Pie, Chicken Strips …and MORE! Hard to miss….just look for the canoe hanging over the door (there’s another one inside over the bar). Great food and friendly people. Check out their Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Meaford-ON/The-Leeky-Canoe-Pub-Eatery/221175615520?ref=nf. One of my favourite spots….whether you’re fishing, skiing, hiking, or just paddling around (lots of good canoeing and kayaking nearby)….besides you have to love the name.

Photos from The Leeky Canoe Facebook photo gallery.

Note: John Muir, the famous environmentalist, was a resident in the area working for the Trout family saw mill in the 1860s….and yes, the Trout Hollow Trail system is named after the Trout family not for the fish found in the Bighead River.

007 land

Loncat-loncat pulau yang kita lakukan sebenernya gak banyak, tapi dengan tour yang kita sewa, di hari ke-2 di Phuket kita ke Phang Nga Bay, liat james bond island, maksudnya tempat dimana pernah ada shooting James BondJ. Enak bener si Thailand ini, dipake shooting aja udah laku dijual ke turis. Dan kita beli pula:p Kapan ya kepulauan kita dipake Hollywood untuk shooting film jadi kita bisa numpang ngetop…Laskar Pelangi aja terbukti naikin pamor nya Belitong?

Kita dijemput travel car setelah makan pagi, dan bareng kira-kira 8 orang lain (termasuk 2 cowok latin yang cuakep, tapi sayangnya they were couple), menempuh perjalanan kira-kira gak sampe 1 jam ke area kayaking dengan guide kita yang bernama  Happy (and it was a HE)(and I refused to call him mr.happy), dia sibuk cerita soal area-area yang bergunung-gunung itu, dan sampe lah di area Phang Nga untuk caving dan kayaking di Talu cave. So beautiful! I guess what makes it magnificent is not only the greenish-bluish water, and lustruous mountaneous limestone area, but also the huge size. Asli gede-gede banget. Dan kebayang tadinya batu-batuan itu adalah jadi satu sebelom pecah…wiiiw. Belum lagi mangroves..dan pemandangan small islands lainnya. South Thailand is indeed beautiful. James island yang highlight nya adalah 2 lime stone dengan celah di tengah – yang ada di adegan kejer-kejeran James Bond “The Man with Golden Gun” – and that was it. Picturesque place.

Sepanjang tour dengan kayak kita selalu di greet dengan “are you muslim?” dan pas kita jawab “iya”, mereka langsung menyapa “Assalamualaikum…” Southern part memang kebanyakan didiami oleh muslim dan lebih berkulit gelap, ketimbang di Northern part yang lebih banyak unsur indo-chine nya. Kelar berkeliling dengan canoe dengan 1 pengayuh (yang dengan sabar motretin kita), keliling limestone yang mirip kepala kuda, akhirnya kita ke james bond island, dan balik lagi dengan perahu agak besar. Biasanya ada yang motretin kita keluar dari kayak sambil make life jacket, beli aja lah, 100 baht aja kok.

Dari sana lanjut ke Fishing village, yang lanjut makan siang. Paket yang kita bayar sebenernya gak termasuk makan siang disana, tapi karena seafood dan makanan lainnya kliatannya enak banget, akhirnya kita merogoh kocek lagi masing-masing 200 baht untuk dapet segala makanan, yang emang enak dan habis bis bis bis karena laper. Bareng di meja kita adalah 1 bapak bule dan 1 anak ceweknya yang berusia 14 tahun, mereka gak mau kluar uang lebih lagi untuk makan, jadi mereka ngeliatin kita makan aja. Ditawari buah pun gak mau. Dan gue ber 3 pun sibuk gosip, kira-kira bapak-anak itu hubungannya gimana ya? Kayaknya selama ini anaknya tinggal sama ibunya, dan sekarang adalah jatah bapaknya untuk bonding bersama anaknya dengan backpacking ke asia. Or, bapaknya ini bermasalah dan ada trauma, jadi anaknya sebagai pihak netral volunteered untuk nemenin bapaknya jalan-jalan. Well, anyway, gak penting banget sih gosipin orang yang ada di meja kita. We spent time around 2 hours in Fishing Village, which was poor moslem village, dengan rumah panggung, and I lured my self to buy a nice elephant bracelet and fridge magnets for 200 bahts total.

Udah kecapean dan kepanasan, ternyata tournya masih ada lagi! Yaitu ke sebuah temple di pulau lain, yang ada reclining buddha dan dihuni segerombolan….MONYET. Yes, m-o-n-y-e-t. Trauma gue dikejer monyet di Bali belom ilang, dan kita malah ngedatengin gunung monyet…. yang dijaga oleh…ANJING. yes, a-n-j-i-n-g. Double scare. Akhirnya setelah foto-foto, ngibrit lah kita ke mobil, yang bawa kita balik ke hotel. Haaaah. Capek. Dan badan pliket. Tapi happy. Thank you mr…errrr…eh Happy!

The tourist season for Kerala was far from impressive this year with a marked drop in the number of foreign and domestic tourists. Most of the tour operators in Fort Kochi are pinning their hopes on the Cochin Carnival  for more tourist arrivals in the next two weeks. During the Christmas and New Year seasons, Fort Kochi draws a lot of foreign tourists with most of the hotels and homestays registering near full occupancy. But this year things were bleak and the regular tourist crowd was missing even from the main hot spots like Fort Kochi and surroundings.

Meanwhile the carnival committee is not leaving anything to chance and the efforts are on to  make the carnival a big success. Both the sides of roads from Veli to Fort kochi are being decorated with lights and stars to welcome the tourists to the area. This year , a novel competition to select the best decorated and painted house has generated a lot of interest among the local community. A kayaking contest is also being introduced this year. The beach bike race at the Veli ground is expected to bring in scores of biking enthusiasts while the swimmers can vie for the prestigious title in the Fort Kochi-|Vypeen swimming contest. The other attraction of the Carnival include tableaux and the traditional art forms of Kerala.

Additional police forces have been deployed to prevent any untoward instances and street lighting along the beach and the walkways have already been completed. Will the Cochin Carnival bring back the tourist surge in Fort Kochi- the next few days will unravel the answer for this million dollar query!

Back in 2007 myself Matt maddaloni of Sea to sky cam and Bryan Smith of Reel water productions teamed up to produce some viral video content for the Welsh Canoe Assosication. This was very early on in the development of Matt’s camera motion systems and involved myself and Matt actually being on the line to shoot. Matt has since progressed to a full automated system which can be rigged in back country situations in a matter of hours. Here are some of the clips shot using the early cable camera systems.

To read more about Matt’s new rigging and motion camera company : Sea to Sky Cam

Britannia Creek cable camera from Steve Rogers Photography on Vimeo.

Cable camera on Britannia Creek

Kayaking cable camera

Andrew Oberhardt

Here is one more helmet we finished recently!! When the lacquer goes on over the paint work it really brings it to life.

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I started working on this post months ago. It took a very snowy day for me to find the time to finish the list. I have shaped it and updated it as I have reflected on the meaning of endurance sports in my life. The physical suffering associated with the training and competition is something that I thrive on. Athletics is a big part of who I am and I have gotten great pleasure from the activities that I have done during two decades of endurance sports. I played hockey as a youth, ran cross-country in middle school and high school, and remained active at the start of my college career in Army R.O.T.C.

However, it wasn’t until I took up road cycling in college, that I started on the current path. A while back, I started thinking about the most challenging races that I have done. I referred to them as the toughest. Not counting the cross-country and track meets that I finished in middle school and high school, I have done more than 700 endurance events. I’ve gone through different phases. After high school, I continued to run, andthen I did mountain bike racing, then road racing, then cyclocross, then trail running, then adventure racing, and now triathlon.  There have been other interesting variations in between (e.g. snowshoe racing) and all of these sports have overlapped at one point. There have been years, especially recently, when I’ve done all of these different sports in a twelve month period. I like mixing it up and I like the benefits of cross training. The variety helps minimize the risk of injuries.

I’ve never been great at any one of these sports. Body type/size and training time are two big limitations, but that hasn’t stopped me from competing and having fun. So, which ones have been the toughest to date? I’ve ranked them here with a brief description. A common thread is the length of these races and their multi-sport component. I have migrated more towards these types of races. Until now, these are the toughest races that I have done:

1) Jay Challenge, Jay, Vermont, 29-31 July 2005, 20:09:11

Hands down, this is the grandaddy of my palmares. Just finishing the Jay Challenge was an accomplishment.  It is a bit different from others on this list because it was a three day stage race with the overall winner achieving the lowest cumulative time. Each of the three stages would make this list on their own. I was 10th overall and know I would have done better with a faster kayak, but that doesn’t matter. Finishing was the real accomplishment. The first day was a 27 mile kayak paddle across Lake Mephramagog from Quebec to Vermont. The second day was the classic Jay Mountain Marathon, but it wasn’t 26.2 miles, it was 33. The third day was a 65 mile mountain bike ride on hilly terrain. You summited Jay Peak in both the run and bike. There was so much climbing in this race (except the paddle) that it made you silly. The race was in late July and at the time, I had never been more fit. We completed our end-to-end hike of the Long Trail three weeks before Jay, so I had a pain threshold like never before…and never since. I could go all day long, get up and do it again. The LT was 13 days and 285 miles of supreme effort, so three at Jay was simple, yet still very hard. Pain Index: 10

2) Sea to Summit Triathlon, Jackson, New Hampshire, 22 July 2006, 9:29:21

It was difficult to rank the Sea to Summit Triathlon second ahead of races three and four because they were all wicked hard. However, given the fitness I had at the time, this one beats out the others. The Sea to Summit Triathlon was an 112 mile jaunt from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Jackson, New Hampshire. The race consisted of a 12 mile kayak up the Piscataquis River to Berwick, Maine. Then, after a transition, you rode 90 miles to Jackson, New Hampshire. From there, you ran four miles uphill on Rt. 16 to Pinkham Notch. Then, you ran/hiked five and a half miles up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to the summit of Mt. Washington. Only 40 people were allowed into the race. It was a special day, though I suffered dearly. I started the morning at sunrise in the pea soup fog at sea level near the mouth of the river. I finished wearing a skinsuit and a windbreaker on the top of the mountain in gale force winds blowing cold rain and sleet at 6322 feet, the highest point in New England. If it wasn’t for my awesome crew (Debbie, Art, Mel, and Bill), I might still be out on the course. It was shorter than an Ironman, but the weather conditions, lack of organized support/aid stations, and terrain, made it tougher than any other triathlon. Pain Index: 10

3) American Zofingen Ultra-Distance Duathlon, New Paltz, New York, 12 October 2008, 8:28:02

The American Zofingen was also run at a time when I wasn’t quite at my top fitness, but it helped me get back to a high level after my first real long layoff. That means it hurt a heck of a lot. After I finished it, I knew that if I could learn to swim, then I could finish an Ironman. Zofingen is the toughest duathlon in the country, and maybe the toughest in the world. The first leg was a 5 mile trail run in the Mohonk Preserve. The second leg was an 84 mile bike ride around the Shawangunk Mountains. The third leg was 15 mile trail run on the same course as the first leg. Again, at 104 miles, it was shorter than an Ironman, and there was no swimming. Still, due to the terrain (major hills) and my lack of fitness, it was harder, but not by much. Pain Index: 10

4) Ironman Lake Placid, Lake Placid, New York, 26 July 2009, 10:44:48

Ironman USA in Lake Placid was an amazing race. I did it this past August and it was my longest ever one day race. 2.4 mile swim/112 mile bike/26.2 run. That should be enough to put it on the top of this list. However, I managed to get into top form, so it hurt, but not as bad as some of the other races on this list. I had my rough moments, and the swim was terrifying, but I managed to race within my limits and finish strong. The support was phenomenal (great volunteers) and the conditions were good. I’m sure that most people would put Ironman at the top of their list. For various reasons, it isn’t quite there for me. Thinking back, Zofingen and Sea to Summit were just plain harder, but mostly because I fell apart in both of those races. I was strong to the end during Lake Placid. I’m still proud of my first ever Ironman finish. Pain Index: 9

5) Ultimate XC (Jay Mountain Marathon), Jay, Vermont, 28 July 2007, 6:51:37

The Jay Challenge has not been held in the past few years, but the race morphed into an ultra-distance trail running race, when it was reduced to one day from three. Now known as the Ultimate XC, the Jay Mountain Marathon started as a run years ago, became part of the three stage Jay Challenge, returned to a run, and eventually migrated from Vermont to Quebec. A version of the race has also been held in Moab, Utah the past two years. All of the variations and names are hard to keep track of, but the one constant is the difficulty of the courses. This run took us up Jay Peak to an elevation of nearly 4000 feet. Then, it plunged us down the backside, through deep mud, into a bushwhacking section, then into a series of streams, then to a river crossing, then through a swamp, and eventually back to town. It was 33 miles of agony. Debbie caught me at mile 16 and I hung with her for 15 miles, before she dropped me like a wet sandbag. I finished, and that is what counts. Pain Index: 9

6) Hampshire 100, Greenfield, New Hampshire, 17 August 2008, 7:41:57

Other than the third stage of the Jay Challenge, the Hampshire 100 is the hardest mountain bike race that I have done. It was 100 kilometers, but it felt like 100 miles. Thanks to a month’s worth of unseasonable rain, the course was a quagmire. It was one big loop, which added to its epic nature. There was a ton of climbing and there was the added benefit of racing against two teammates for the honors of fastest mate. I kept dropping off their little group, before getting shed for good. Then, I had a wild mechanical failure when a stick wedged into my lower derailleur pulley going downhill at 20mph. I came to an abrupt halt and my chain was jammed. With less than five miles to go, I was afraid that I was going to have to walk the rest of the way. I made a delicate repair, extricated my derailleur from my rear wheel, and rode it in. It was a long day! Pain Index: 9

7) Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hill Climb, Gorham, New Hampshire, 23 August 1997, 1:14:54, 21 August 1999, 1:10:37, 19 August 2000, 1:08:04, 25 August, 2001, 1:11:04

I’ve done the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hill Climb four times. Incidentally, I’ve run it once, but it is the bike race that destroys the legs and puts your heart rate into a new category. Each time, I  pushed so hard that it made me dizzy. The last 22% grade is nothing like anything you have ridden before. As far as I’m concerned, it is the hardest section of road on Earth.  It comes after 7.6 miles of constant uphill at an average grade of 12%. For a hill, on a bike, this is as hard as it gets. My best finish was in 2000 when I rode a 38 x 25 low gear, which was way too hard. My knees are still hating me for that decision. I haven’t done the race since 2001 when the entry fee rose to $300 (though it is for charity) and the event got too popular. I’ll do it again someday. This is the second shortest race (time) on the list, but there is no resting. The weather at the top is the most inhospitable in the world, with constant wind and cold temperatures, even in August. It is no surprise that two of my top ten toughest races have finished on the Washington summit cone. Pain Index: 8

8 ) Jay Mountain Bike, Jay, Vermont, 30 July 2006, 8:56:00 DNF

It is a testament to Jay Race Director, Dan DesRosiers, that his events show up on this list three separate times. They are unique, they are painful, and they are unmatched. He goes out of his way to make the races difficult. You feel like a champ just for finishing. Unfortunately, this one, I didn’t finish. I was a DNF at the Jay Mountain Bike, with only five miles to go in the 70 mile race. It was one of two DNF’s on this list. I stopped at nine hours and I was at least an hour from the finish. Debbie was eight months pregnant and crewing for me (no excuse). It was hot (no excuse). I did Sea to Summit  a week prior (see number two on this list, but no excuse). I just didn’t have the legs, and suffered terribly. I walked the five miles before I quit and was resigned to the fact that I just wasn’t going to make it, so I climbed off after hours of struggling on the bike. It was the brutal fresh-cut singletrack that was the last straw for me.  No regrets. Pain Index: 8

9) Borgt-Grimbergen Kermesse, Grimbergen, Belgium, 06 August 1994, 2:19:56

I spent the summer of 1994 racing kermesses all over Belgium. In 15+ races, this was the hardest one. There have been many longer bike races over the years and many that hurt a lot, but the Borgt-Grimbergen Kermesse had the romance of racing in Belgium. I made the front group for the first time all summer. There were 15 other riders in a breakaway and I had to give it everything I had just to stay with the group and take my pulls. My heart rate hit 200bpm in this race, which was typical at the time, but still very high. This was the race where I started to burn out on road cycling. The other riders in the break were downright violent. There is no question that performance enhancing drugs (amphetamines) were being used. I risked being crashed out of the race at the hands of these merciless riders. I was happy to be up there, but wasn’t going to make it to the finish with them anyway, so I dropped off the group and finished behind them. I’ve never had to ride harder to stick with a break. Pain Index: 8

10) Race for the Gate, Nashua, New Hampshire, 24 June 2000, 1:08:00, DNF

I did a lot of tough road cycling events over my career. I’ve wrecked in many, but that doesn’t mean they were hard. There have been long and hilly road races. There have been intense cyclocross races where I was in oxygen debt. But, the longest cross races were 65 minutes. I did the Race for the Gate criterium when it was held as a twilight/night-time race. That alone made it different and difficult. I recall that it was a crash fest. The race was delayed by a huge pileup and people were going down left and right. The shadows cast by the large spotlights that the organizers had on the course, were very deceiving. There were more than 100 riders in this Pro/1/2/3 race and I was hanging on for dear life. I wish I had made it to the finish, but I got popped off the back with only a couple of laps to go. I was completely anaerobic and I was in danger of losing control in a corner. I was ecstatic to have made it as far as I did. It was a long criterium and it was a hard one. Pain Index: 8

Honorable Mention’s in no particular order: Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island, Nipmuck Trail Marathon, 7 Sisters Trail Race, The Bluff 50km, National Cyclocross Championships (Providence), Vermont 50 Mile Ride, Vermont 50km Run, Wapack Trail Race, Six Foot Track Marathon, Walt Disney World Marathon, Moby Dick, Mt. Washington Road Race, Tour of the Adirondacks Road Race, Stowe Road Race, Killington Stage Race, Josh Billings Runaground Triathlon, National Collegiate Cycling Championships Road Race

In June this year, I took an Introduction to Sea Kayaking lesson from Chicago Kayak in the calm, delightful, and little-known Skokie Lagoons.  It was fabulous.  I learned about equipment, practiced a few strokes, and survived an overpowered hip snap that unexpectedly turned into a 360 degree roll, a wet exit, and a T rescue.  I finished the lesson excited about my new sport and looking forward to more.

I wanted to join Chicago Kayak’s club immediately, but their schedule of activities for the summer wasn’t fitting into my already crowded calendar.  So I signed up for a tour of the Skokie Lagoons the next weekend with another outfitter (there’s a surprising range of possibilities for kayaking in Chicago that I was entirely unaware of until I looked).  My 2^nd time out was frustrating.  They gave me a different kind of paddle and told me to use different strokes, which was enough to thoroughly confuse me.  My muscles were screaming in pain from the first stroke–perhaps from leftover lactic acid from the first paddle, 6 days before.  I couldn’t keep up with the group and felt inept.

So when I saw the kayaking excursions listed with the cruise, I figured they would be beyond my skill level.  Chicago Kayak plans trips to Alaska every year but makes it clear that they are not for beginners.  I sadly filed the possibility into the “maybe next time” category. 

But our guide on the Alaska bus tour informed me that their kayaking excursions were set up for beginners, and that it wasn’t too late to sign up for one in Whittier, which was scheduled to start at the end of our first day’s drive.  I was delighted.  When we reached our hotel for the evening, a ski resort in Alyeska/Girdwood, I joined the two other travelers who had signed up for kayaking–a Flemish- and English-speaking father and daughter from Belgium. 

A college kid/kayaking guide picked us up in a van and headed back down the road we had just traveled toward the Anton Andersen Memorial Tunnel—another fine example of the challenges of getting from Point A to Point B in Alaska.

Whittier is located at one of the far western tips of Prince William Sound, which makes it a great location for a deep water port, except that travel inland from there has always been difficult.  To this day, there is no road to Whittier that is open 24 hours a day.  Obstacles to constructing one include a big glacier, among other things. 

Nineteenth-century miners and prospectors used pack trains, sleds, and pulleys to drag equipment and supplies over the mountains.  In 1914, the Alaska Railroad Corporation began considering the construction of a railroad spur from Portage to Whittier, but the work didn’t begin until 1941, when the Army decided to build a base there after the Japanese attack on the Aleutian Islands.  They liked the location because it reduced their ships exposure to Japanese submarines and air raids: the weather is so bad there for so much of the year that pilots rarely had the visibility they needed to get in and find their targets. Army engineer Anton Anderson headed the project, which included a 1-mile tunnel through Begich Peak and a 2.5-mile tunnel through Maynard Mountain. 

The spur opened in April 1943, leading to the growth of the strange town of Whittier. In the mid-1940s, more than 1,000 soldiers and civilians occupied two large, Soviet-style high rises—one of which, Begich Towers, continues to house nearly every resident of Whittier to this day.

Begich Tower, Whittier

The military pulled out in the 1950s, and the port at Whittier began to be used by freight, fishing, and recreational boats.  The Alaska Railroad began offering flat cars that would transport vehicles from Portage to Whittier in the mid 1960’s. Recreation in Whittier grew, as the area is absolutely gorgeous, and the majority of Alaska’s residents live only 60 miles away, in Anchorage, or elsewhere, along the road that connects Seward to Fairbanks.  Demand for vehicle transportation to Whittier soon exceeded supply, and, after considering different options, the Alaska DOT decided to build a highway to Maynard Mountain and to outfit the existing, one-lane railroad tunnel to serve both cars and trains on an alternating schedule. 

The updated system opened in 2000.  It is North America’s longest highway tunnel, at 2.5 miles; as well as the first tunnel to use jet turbine and portal fans for ventilation; the first to use computers to regulate both highway and train traffic; and the first designed to handle  -40° F temperatures and 150 mph winds.

So you can get there from here, but only on a limited schedule.  During the daytime, more or less, you can travel by car in one direction for roughly 15 minutes of each hour.  Other segments of the hour are reserved for automobile traffic in the other direction or for rail traffic.  Don’t miss your window. 

 My little band of kayakers made it in time.

 More on our trip in my next post.

OK back to the Christmas stuff. Well it’s getting down to crunch time as far as Christmas shopping goes. Only 6 more days before Christmas. Here are some last minute ideas for the paddler or outdoors person on your list. Some I’ve mentioned before here, but I was visiting Paul Mason’s Bubble Street website and came across the Store section, http://www.bubblestreet.ca/_store.html, and came up with these suggestions:

Maybe a 2010 Canoe Calendar with a comic for each month,  http://www.cafepress.ca/canoecalendar.419836105#,  or a 2010 Kayak Calendar also with a cartoon for each month,  http://www.cafepress.ca/kayalcalendar.419841232.

Here are some Christmas ornaments from Paul Mason:

Santa with a canoe themed ornament, http://www.bubblestreet.ca/fireplace_santa_altview.html, described by Paul as: This is one of my classic cartoons that has appeared on a greeting card and calendar.

A kayak themed ornament, http://www.bubblestreet.ca/rooftop_kayak_altview.html, described on Paul’s site as this: Notice the sleigh tracks on the roof, I guess Santa’s sleigh doesn’t have a parking brake. If you look closely you’ll see someone peeking out the window who is really hoping Santa figures out a solution to their problem.

A fishing Santa ornament, http://www.bubblestreet.ca/fishing_santa.html, that is described as: Santa has all the fishing gear, including a fish finder, but apparently no luck.

Santa snowboarding ornament, http://www.bubblestreet.ca/snowboard_santa.html, that Paul described as: Santa gets hang-time on the Christmas tree.

Or maybe you’d rather give a warm and welcoming gift…how about one of these Welcome signs:

One for the mountain biker, http://www.bubblestreet.ca/bicycle_welcome_.html, that is described by Paul as: One of my favorite’s…because it has duct tape in the scene.

For the fisherman, http://www.bubblestreet.ca/fishing_welcome.html.

Or the canoeist,  http://www.bubblestreet.ca/paddlehead_welcome.html, that Paul describes as: Now canoeists can state their loyalty, without having to leave a canoe on the front lawn all year round.

Or the kayaker, http://www.bubblestreet.ca/kayak_welcome.html, described as: Perhaps a scene we are all destined to experience as our cars get smaller.

All photos here from Paul Mason’s Bubble Street website, the Store section, http://www.bubblestreet.ca/_store.html.

Check out all of these great gift ideas on Paul’s website….and while you’re there look at the most recent cartoon or the entire comic archives, http://www.bubblestreet.ca/archive/ ….seriously funny stuff!!!! Enjoy and have a good laugh too. Here’s one of my favourites that is from December 2005, and is quite in keeping with the rest of this blog post….Merry Christmas!!!!!

Cartoon is from Paul Mason’s Bubble Street Comic Archives, December 2005, http://www.bubblestreet.ca/archive/?m=200512.

 For more behind this great cartoon series see http://www.bubblestreet.ca/about_comic.html.

And yes (if you haven’t figured it out already….or been reading this blog LOL LOL), Paul Mason is part of the famous Mason clan….he’s the son of Bill, brother to Becky….and was often featured in Bill’s films (Paul was in Bill’s canoe films such as Path of the Paddle series)….besides being a very talented artist, Paul is also co-author of Thrill of the Paddle….won a bronze medal in 1993 Whitewater Freestyle Worlds….and has been a canoe instuctor and a guide.

Eager Troop 1 scouts ready to hit the waves in their kayaks.

We had 20 scouts come to our Kayaking Adventure. This was more than we expected but the event went well.

We started off in a canal upriver so we could get used to maneuvering a kayak. We then rowed down to a sandbank getting ready to launch our kayaks. We all started the launch and it went okay. Many people thought this would be an easy experience … not!

As we started our voyage to a small island not so far away from the shore we soon showed signs of fatigue and slowed down instantly leaving some stragglers in the dust. As one of the first to reach Polpola Island, also known as Flat Island, I soon knew that this was not an easy challenge. We walked around the island and waited for other boys to join us. We saw tons of albatrosses guarding their nests even though there were no signs of an egg.

Kayakers heading out to sea.

Once everyone was on the island we decided that some people could not make the long journey to the Mokulua Islands. We decided to meet at the beach and then, if we were well enough, we could continue to one of the islands. The whole time I was paddling the waves were pounding us from the sides.

There was a point where we had to make a decision whether to wait for our group or continue on. In the end Mr. Vodzak and Assistant Scoutmaster Sandison decided that we should go on.

As we paddled through the waves to the Mokulua Islands many groups went out of sight. When we made it close to the islands nobody was in sight. Though I was worried about the other scouts I had to concentrate on my task to dock our kayak. We waited for the right wave to come and we caught it in.

On Mokulua Island it was a sea birds’ paradise! You could see quite a few baby chicks. Some were so close you could touch them. Thought it seemed like they were domesticated because they would not flinch or cry when they were inches away from us. We stayed on that island for about thirty minutes following following Assistant Scoutmaster Sandison around the island hurdling through waves and climbing up rocks until we made it to a ten foot ledge where we jumped off two times with Dylan and Mr. Vodzak.

A sea bird's paradise is just a kayak ride away.

We were the only scouts to make it to the island and we found that out only after noticing that no one else had come for about 45 minutes. So we launched our kayaks off the island and started to paddle back to where we started.That was the worst part because the sun was high in the sky. But, finally, we saw the rest of the troop and paddled back to the beginning.

Every person was exhausted after we were done. Though this adventure gave us all the idea that kayaking was not a “walk in the park,” this was a good training activity. I will never forget the feeling of jumping off that cliff. It was really unforgettable just like this activity. I would encourage scouts to participate in these activities because it’s worth the effort and time and it leaves you with memories. But, most of all, it helps you strengthen your arm muscles!

Article by R. Kam
Photos by J. Kam

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A friend of ours is currently on a cruise from Southern California to Mexico. When I found out, I was a little surprised. She’s well-traveled and culturally-adventurous, and cruises don’t generally attract those interested in exploring the ins and outs of a city like a local, which I know she enjoys doing. I think she was surprised to find herself on one too, judging from her text message that contained the phrase, “…Forgot how ridiculous cruises are.”

For a span of time, my family was all about cruises. While I was in middle school, we boarded three different cruise lines to three different places. The first one was like our test-run. It was a short Carnival cruise that touched on the Caribbean and part of Mexico. Our second one came a few years later to Alaska on Celebrity Cruises and the third (and at this point, final one) was an all-out Caribbean tour thanks to Royal Caribbean Cruises.

In my pre-teenage and early teenage days I considered cruises were the ultimate form of family vacation and travel. I roamed the ship with my new-found best vacation friends Now, though, I’m a little ashamed to admit to serious travelers that I’ve been on so many. Why? Many consider the stereotypical cruise-goer a close relative to (if not the same as) the socks and sandals clad, overweight, Hawaiian-shirted tourist. Our cruises invariably boasted 24-hour buffets. One ship even had an ice rink and a Johnny Rockets. Thousands of people unloaded almost daily into small ports where all the souvenir shirts read some variation of “Yah, mon.” When you look at the profile of a typical cruise and cruise ship, it’s just plain hokey.

But at the time, it worked. My sister was still little, I was itching (more like fighting) for an ounce of vacation freedom and my parents were looking for some relaxation. A cruise was everyone’s happy compromise for a one-size-fits-all form of vacation. And to be honest, in retrospect, we did some pretty cool stuff. We snorkeled with sea turtles in Barbados, fed and swam with stingrays in the Cayman Islands (pre-Steven Irwin incident, RIP). We went rafting on a glacial river and kayaking in an ocean inlet in Alaska. And to this day, I recall the sights from the dock of our cruise ship bound for Alaska as some of the most stunning I’ve ever witnessed. In fact, I’d recommend that cruise to anyone and everyone interested in seeing more of Alaska than Sarah Palin on TV. (It’s really a lush, beautiful place. Warm in the summer, too.)

I’ve thought back on past trips and re-assessed my family’s temporary cruise obsession. It’s made me realize, even more than before, travel really is what you make it.

Hubbard Glacier in Alaska (as seen from the cruise ship deck)

Snorkeling in Barbados (L: My younger sister, R: Me)

(I apologize for the quality of the photos; they come the pre-digital camera era. Hard to imagine…)

-Karina for TKGO

Adventures in kayaking with Liquid Fusion Kayaks
Hairy discovers his sea legs

In anticipation of a Thanksgiving visit from my best canine buddy, Jai-Ram, and his caregiver mother, Carol, my dad’s decided to see how I would take to messing about on the water. It was about time I got to use my life preserver (I have only worn it modeling for a segment on TV) and if I liked the experience, I could then take my visitors for a new and unique canine/human shared adventure while they are on their vacation.

Dog-friendly Liquid Fusion Kayaking is located in Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California in south Noyo Harbor on Dolphin. It is owned and operated by my good human friends, Jeff and Cate, along with their canine children, Bear and Aften. Liquid Fusion Kayaking specializes in river and sea kayaking, with adventures and classes for all levels and proficiency, from beginners (like me), to seasoned and professional kayakers. To view the full range of services and pricing, please visit their website at www.liquidfusionkayaking.com.

The sun was shining and I was feeling very energetic as we arrived. Immediately I was greeted by Bear and Aften. There was lots of sniffing and tail wagging as introductions were made. Liquid Fusion provides everything for your kayaking trip: they have various kayaks, outerwear, life preservers, etc. Do dress warmly and appropriately for the water as it can get cool in areas and water (outside of the groomers) I have found is very cold as well as wet when encountered. Once I was dressed in my life preserver we walked a short distance to a sheltered cove on the banks of the Noyo River were a kayak was waiting. Having never been in a kayak before, my dad’s felt more comfortable having a professional instructor take me out on the river for the first time. Cate got into the kayak and when she was in position, I was gently handed to her by Jeff and placed in her lap. After a few kisses from me, I placed my front paws on the bow of the kayak and Jeff gently eased Cate and I away from shore. 

Cate and I kayaking

I was captivated immediately by the motion, sights, and sounds. We saw all sorts of birds, even the lazy sea lions on the bank of the river raised their head in curiosity and one even swam close to us, taunting me. I have to say that most of all, my reflection off the side of the kayak when I turned my head held the greatest fascination. Cate had no trouble paddling as I did not wiggle. I did turn around to give her a few more kisses occasionally, but for the most part, I just cruised with Cate on the river as if I had always been an old seafaring dog. I took to kayaking “like a fish to water”, as my new kayaking postcards attest. You can view them on my website.

With my sea legs firmly established, I was now ready to take my friend, Jai-Ram, his mum, Carol, and one of my dads, Alan, on a Liquid Fusion Kayaking adventure for themselves. This time it was Jeff’s turn to instruct and chaperone us. Arriving promptly, the four of us got dressed in our life preservers and our caregivers opted to wear water protective outwear also. Once we were all dressed, Jeff went over the route we would take, general safety tips and guidelines as well as the correct ways to use the paddle. We then proceeded to a different starting point from my previous trip, this time it was in the harbor with all the “big” boats. To reach the kayaks we walked through the harbor’s restaurant outdoor seating area, patrons were very excited to see us all parade by and lots of attention was bestowed upon Jai-Ram and me. Jai -Ram as usual wanted to stop to check for food.

Once we were at the launch jetty, Jeff asked which of our caregivers wanted to be in the front or back, as this time we were going in a two-person kayak. Carol chose the front end for her and Jai-Ram, while my dad and I were to ride in the back. Alan would be operating the rudder. Jeff showed Carol and Alan the proper way to enter the kayak and where Alan should put his feet to reach the peddles that steer the kayak. Once Carol and Alan were securely seated, Jeff helped Jai-Ram and me get aboard. Jai-Ram was a bit anxious at first, but with some reassuring from Carol, he soon settled down and we were ready to go.

The tranquility of the trip

Jeff instructed us how to steer ourselves out into the harbor, as he settled into his kayak. The water was calm as we exited the harbor joining the Noyo River. It did not take long for Alan and Carol to get into the rhythm of rowing, mastering the steering and for Jai-Ram to relax. As we meandered gently along, Jeff directed our gaze to various spots along the river bank that held a treasure trove of bird life: King Fishers, Herons and several varieties of ducks. Jeff also pointed out Osprey nests and shared his and Cates previous encounters of other wildlife sightings. We exchanged greetings with the people fishing from a bridge that were just tickled to see two adults and two canines passing them by in a Kayak. As we progressed further the river became crystal clear and we paused to take in the breathtaking beauty of the mirror reflection of the overhanging tress and ourselves perfectly reflected, even the usual wiggle worm Jai-Ram, became as motionless as the water.

Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg

Kayaking is a wonderful way to have more quality experiences and time with your pet. It was a magical time being in an environment where the only sounds were the conversations of nature. The time passed by effortlessly and with Jeff at our side navigating the odd branch and natural obstacle was a breeze. Jeff was even kind enough to bring his water proof camera along so he could take mementos of the trip for us. There is something so special and enchanting about sharing this experience with our human caregivers. We are safely secure in their laps, front paws resting on the surface of the kayak, the flow of air as we glide over the surface of the river gently caresses our fur and the odd drop of water that drips off the paddle gently reminds us that staying put safely in the kayak is very wise.

I strongly encourage you to check to see what kayaking opportunities exist in your area and especially if they are pet friendly. White water rafting and sea kayaking require much more experience and expertise. PLEASE do not take us out into water that could be unpredictable. The trips I have recounted to you were with trained and licensed instructors on a very gentle and shallow part of the Noyo River. There is something to be said “for messing about on the water” kayak style.

I give Liquid Fusion Kayaking four very enthusiastic paws.

After wonderful day yesterday we slept like babies. Especially me. Katka was up a few times before me but the first time I opened my eyes was at 10:00. Riding back last night we admired how moon, though only a tiny sliver, cast light at the clouds above the lagoon and the ocean.

To wake up, open my eyes, see Katka there, hear the waves washing on the beach some 5m from our bed, hearing the roar of the waves crashing onto the outside reef and then walking to the patio and see the turquoise water lit up by sun – I feel crazy consumed by love and happiness. Even now, as I write the blog, I keep looking up every few seconds, not believing my eyes and wondering how blessed we are to be able to see the things we have seen and to be here. Coming from a small town of Pezinok, Slovakia, growing under communism our lives journey is very rich. The place we have been, the people we have met. Watching the show last night, for the first time in my life I felt grateful for the dancers, that they took the effort to learn the dance of their ancestors and share their culture with us. Though it was just a tourist gig it still felt nice.

We ride to the store to get some local produce and a large cake since we are invited for the Christmas party of the family we rent the bungalow from. We feel very priveliged. I drop Katka off at our place and ride the scooter around with my camera to start capturing this beauty. I just can’t get enough of it. The colors are absolutely amazing. I even take the camera into the lagoon, walk as far as I think safe for the equipment and take pictures from the water. Mind blowing beauty. I am chest deep in this warm ocean and I see fish swimming around me.

Around noon we walk over and meet all the lovely people. We sign a few church songs, then the kids read us part of the scripture and we all pray. Once the food has been blessed we dig into the local specialties like coconut dumplings, popo pudding, kumaru, roots of local spinach and then the more regular things like roasted chicken, potatoe and egg salad. Everyone is super friendly and we chat. We were complete strangers to these people just two days ago, yet they embrace us as if we were part of their family. It feels wonderful especially on Christmas. After we stuff ourselves I take the kayak out all the way to the reef. Paddling out, I admire the crystal clear turquoise water, the coral come in bright blue, pink, yellow and red colors. I can even see the fish right from the kayak. Reaching the reef I pass over a “sea” of sea-urchines. I do NOT want to tip over here. It’s amazing to see the massive dark blue waves crashing into the reef just 10m away from me while they turn color to light blue. I ride a few whitewater waves and slowly start paddling back. Looking up I just can’t get enough of the massive sharp mountains in the middle of the island. I always admired the shots of surfers at Taupo in Tahiti where they paddle in the ocean while there are mountains just like these in the background.

Coming back, Tom brings out the chocolate mud cake and cuts me and himself a REAL slice. It is delicious. Somehow I feel energized so I go for another to the reef and back paddle. Seeing the beauty I paddle back, get the camera in a backpack and slowly paddle back out. I take a few shots but I don’t seem to be able to capture what I see. To finish the day I paddle back again. The tide is getting lower every minute and when I get to the reef there is barely 50cm of water and tons of sea-urchines. Suddenly a large wave breaks on the reef, I turn the kayak and start paddling. As it catches me I start riding it and it’s all fun. Until the kayak turns sideways and tips over. I do my best to stay at the surface and eventually manage to scramble back without any damage. But it’s fun. I ride until the sun goes down and try to take in the colors it casts. Paddling back I am stunned at the clarity of the ocean here.

Katka fixes her toe-nails and chats with the family members. We thank them for a wonderful day and for letting us be a part of their get together. I back up photos, finish typing this blog entry while we also watch the movie “4 Christmases”. There are geckos crawling all over our walls while the oceans roars in the background. A short ride on a scooter to the nearest wifi hotspots to upload the blog and check emails. There millions of stars above. Another day in paradise is coming to it’s end.

It’s the most amazing thing. Waking up in the morning, going to your window, and looking down on a quaint Alaskan village of about 8,000. Paradise, we have arrived....

This morning I awoke to an amazing sight – Sometime in the middle of last night, our ship docked in the port of Ketchikan – Alaska’s “first city”. They call it this because its the first major city you arrive at when traveling North up to & through Alaska. I walked across to the hall to my parents balcony room, and saw the city… I’m serious too – the whole city. It’s got a population of around 8,000. Funny thing is, it’s black bear population is roughly the same size… and that’s a lot of bears….

My first excursion in Ketchikan is a kayaking tour around the Eagle Islands. Megan, Travis, and I get off the ship, board a bus, and are driven for about 15 minutes till we’re on the far-north outskirts of town. One group goes bike-riding, and we get all setup for kayaking, which have rudders you control with your feet! First time I’d seen that anyways. I make sure to get a single ‘cause I don’t play well with others, and we head out. There are lots of wildlife (tons of bald eagles) and a beautiful backdrop of mountains and other nature things

I feel sort of punked though… Today I learn that pretty much everyone working up there in the summer are just visiting for the summer-jobs (a pattern repeated throughout most of our trip)! Our guide Charlie had just finished a bachelor’s degree, was here doing kayaking tours over the summer, and was then headed down to California where he plans to surf and get a part-time job as a bartender or something. That’s the life right there…. Although I have to stop and wonder if I’d be happy with having to wake up each morning (even in Ketchikan!) and know that I’m going to have to spend all day taking others on a pre-defined kayaking tour…  ??? I think I’d rather be an explorer. So I’m constantly having my traveling requirements updated.

After we get back from kayaking, we grab a quick bite at Subway, meet up with the parents, and jump on another bus to be taken to a small sea-plane airport – where we’ll be taken on a flight-seeing tour of the Misty Fords area. We meet our pilot – a 24 year old native named Kevin, and take off (my first time in a sea-plane)! Along the way we see all kinds of amazing things – like a 2,000 foot tall waterfall, gi-normous walls of rock, a 400 foot tall natural spike of rock sticking up out of a lake (formed by glaciers), and pristine lakes untouched by man. We land in one of these (obviously not one untouched by man), and get out to enjoy the scenery… while balancing precariously on the floats of the plane! A quick flight back, and it’s all over – too soon, too soon!

That evening we head over to the Malee’s cabin (back onboard), to enjoy some room-service, a bucket of beer, and margarita which I must say had not been watered-down! But good thing too with the prices they’re charging!! After everything I go up to take a nap in my dungeon… I mean – nice room with no windows so you can’t tell what time it is. I’m serious! Your body looses all sense of night/day and what’s going on as soon as you walk in! In fact, when I wake up, I think it’s morning, and that I missed the Tracy Arm viewing! I later find out that it’s only like 9:45pm, and I remain groggy the rest of the evening.