Friends moved from Vancouver to Vernon in the sunny Okanagan.
What do you think of their new vista?
We were working on a Gymnastics project, taking breaks with good food.
One highlight was visiting gorgeous Ellison Provincial Park.
Friends are improving the rock climbing routes nearby.
Who are my friends, you ask?
From Vernon, I started my ride back to Calgary.
I cycled the last sections of the traditional Camino de Santiago in 2022.
To my thinking, cycling is even better than walking.
I rented a touring bike. VERY convenient.
If interested, check out the best guidebook:
Cicerone – Cycling the Camino de Santiago: a complete planning guide
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Due to Trump’s idiotic war, I decided to stay closer to home this Spring.
Made a PLAN … that didn’t exactly work out. 😀
The Skiing was excellent. My best year ever. 12 days at Sunshine.
Hiking great. 17 days in the tent, walking deserts in California and Nevada.
NEXT is visiting friends in Kelowna and Vernon. Most probably cycling back to Calgary on the Great Trans Canada Trail.
Check out my GEAR for the trip. Everything but the kitchen sink. 😀
The largest bike-touring party in the world is surprisingly … in Iowa.
RAGBRAI, short for Register‘s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is a non-competitive bicycle tour across the U.S. state of Iowa from its western to eastern border. …
2023 had over 60,000 riders.
A new friend — Marco — has done it 3 times. And he’s planning on 2027 driving out to Iowa in his own support vehicle. Marco would like to put together a “team” as that’s easer, cheaper, and more fun than signing up with a company.
Count me IN. This adventure looks fantastic.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
“Man plans, and God laughs”
I’m staying closer to home due to Trump’s stupid, unnecessary war.
Starting my 4th week of skiing out of Banff.
I have a permit to backpack a couple of weeks on the world’s best long thru hike – the Pacific Crest Trail. Starting May 26th out of Palm Springs, California.
AND I want to get back to Banff by June 12th (or shortly after) to start the Tour Divide – the world’s most famed long distance cycling route Canada to Mexico.
I won’t be trying for Mexico.
From Missoula, Montana I’ll divert to Idaho. And on to Kelowna, B.C. for a reunion with lifelong friends.
Here’s my cycling itinerary.
What could go wrong? 😀
… I’d say the odds of everything going to plan are about 25%. BUT that’s why it’s adventure.
Wish me luck.
I was planning on my 1st trip to Dubai and Oman in March 2026.
For hiking and cycling.
Craggy peaks and rugged terrain, empty deserts and a long picture-perfect coastline, ancient castles and forts–that’s what draws adventure cyclists to Oman. …
BUT, in March, Dubai International Airport (DXB) was targeted by Iranian-backed drone strikes — retaliation for Trump’s idiotic war on Iran.
My airline ticket to Dubai was cancelled & refunded by Emirates airline. I flew to London and then Italy, instead.
I’m still planning to go to Oman. Highly underrated as a travel destination.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Each year since 2020 I’ve been considering STARTING the most famous bikepacking race on earth — the Tour Divide from Banff, Canada to the Mexican border.
I’ll try again in 2026.
In Montana, I’ll divert to visit friends in Coeur d’Alene.
Via the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes.
I’ll be on my Trek Checkpoint with 4 panniers.
Jack Keogh posted an honest video of the Tour Divide. It’s TOUGH.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
It’s possible I’ll loop back to Calgary on another trail.
This adventure is entirely self-supported. There’s no registration. No registration fee.
Freedom.
Wish me luck.
Nobody’s favourite tourist city, Dar es Salaam is sprawling and congested. Largest city in East Africa by population ➙ approaching 8 million.
The capital since 1996 is Dodoma.
Best news is the Dar es Salaam bus rapid transit system under construction. It reminds me of the excellent system I used in Rio.
Unfortunately progress has slowed after the death of President John Magufuli who initiated the program. Locals blame corruption.
Best thing I did in Dar was a personal half day cycling tour of the city. We visited very local coffee shops, candy shops, digital movie library, African herbal medicine shop, ghetto movie theatre, 2nd biggest market, and much more.
We finished with a soft drink in my guide’s local bar.
A walking tour of the downtown business centre wasn’t all that interesting.
Better was the Kijiji cha Makumbusho, or Village Museum, an open-air ethnographical centre showcasing traditional huts from 16 different Tanzanian ethnic groups.
It’s right in the middle of the city.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Ryan Van Duzer is my long distance cycling guru.
Here he sums up the reasons why it’s worth planning a cycling holiday.
For me, I find it very relaxing. Life is simple. It can be an inexpensive holiday, as well if you wild camp in a tent.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Rick McCharles 