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
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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. 😀
Rick will be mostly offline well into June 2026. He’s section hiking part of the Pacific Crest Trail in California.
For years I’ve been coming to Banff in the shoulder season SPRING for skiing and hiking.
Never a bad day in Banff. Note they moved this sign.
FINALLY in 2026, I bought a Spring Ski Pass – Midweek.
Cost CAD $584.85 for unlimited skiing at Sunshine Monday through Thursday.
Enjoy unlimited access Monday through Thursday to Canada’s Best Spring Skiing starting March 8th all the way until Slush Cup Monday May 18th with a Banff Sunshine Midweek Spring Pass.
I got my money’s worth in 2026 with 12 days on the hill.
Luckily for me Banff Sunshine Village had a historic season with 812 cm (26 feet) of total season snow.
I usually follow the same sequence of lifts if the snow is good:
These days my goal is NOT to fall and get hurt, so I stay mostly on Blues and easy Black Diamond.
I try not to have my skis leave the ground. 😀
Happily, I had only one fall in 12 days. No injuries.
When picking up my pass at Sunshine Village, I noticed there is a Senior (age 65+) year long pass that’s even cheaper if you buy it mid-season, and good every day of the week. (It’s no longer advertised this late in the season — but I might buy that one instead next year.)
If I was 45 years younger, with an Aussie accent, I’d fit right in with the real ski bums & snow bunnies spending their winter in Banff.
There are 3 hostels in Banff, by far the least expensive accommodation.
I usually stay at Samesun Banff, about CAD $200 for 3 nights in a 6 bed dorm. With breakfast.
Free ski bus picks up and drops off on the same block. So convenient.
Spring is a fantastic time to be in Banff. It’s so beautiful — without the crowds.
One highlight for me is watching Elk wander town.
When I’m not skiing, I’m HIKING. Spring hiking can be magical.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Hey. On April 16, 2026, Banff Sunshine was named the “Best Overall Ski Resort” for the 2025/2026 ski season by users of OnTheSnow, the world’s most visited snow sports website.
“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.
For years I refused to wear a watch because TIME AIN’T THE BOSS OF ME.
Then — in 2017 — I saw James make phone calls and answer business texts while drinking wine, soaking in a rooftop hot tub — on his Apple Watch.
I was sold.
I’m now addicted.
I’ve had several over the years. Currently the less expensive Apple Watch SE (3rd Gen, 2025).
I like the Modular watch face with Camera Remote, Compass, Weather as complications.
There are many other features I use occasionally, but not often.
I control audio with EarPods, not the watch.
Cost was CAD $329 from Apple Canada. That’s with the GPS only, 40mm Midnight Aluminium Case with Midnight Sport Band. Second generation.
From the Apple Store on Amazon.ca it was CAD $280.
The local BestBuy store was $280, as well, where I picked mine up. In stock.
related – David Pogue – What Do You Do with the Apple Watch?
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.
I flew to Catania from nearby Malta specifically to do some hiking on Mount Etna.
It turned out to be my favourite city.
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My accommodation in the city, Ostello deli Elefanti, was expensive, but perfectly located. Here’s my rooftop office overlooking the Cathedral dome. 😀
Free walking tours start from here.
Impressive Catania Cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt several times because of earthquakes and eruptions.
Composer Vincenzo Bellini is revered here. Sadly, he died young.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Valletta is the capital city of Malta, the European Union‘s smallest capital city.
UNESCO World Heritage site. A LOT of history.
Founded by the Order of St John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights Hospitaller.
Ruled successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and the Order of the nights of St John. Valletta’s 320 monuments, all within an area of 55 ha, make it one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.
Today the strongest influence is from 150 years of British colonial history.
About 30% of the population of Malta are expats ➙ British, Italian, Indian, and Filipino most prominently. You can buy a EU passport with a minimum €600,000–€750,000 contribution. 😀
Population of Valletta as of 2021 was 5,157.
At any given moment, there are far more tourists than citizens. More than 3 million tourists arrive in Malta each year. Most of them visit Valletta.
I started in the afternoon with a scramble around nearby, dilapidated Fort Manoel.
Fort Manoel should be a major tourist attraction — but, as of 2026, most is closed to tourists. Some project renovations to be finished by 2033.
I didn’t get to Valletta until after dark. More evocative than during the day. Mysterious. Even spooky in places.
I do recommend you visit at night.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Another day I joined a free hostel walking tour to Valletta.
We started with 13 tourists from around the world.
Paty, our leader from Brazil, took us to many interesting spots.
We unexpectedly crashed wedding photos.
AND we had a birthday girl. Actually it was the day after her birthday — but the couple had been on the plane flying to Malta the day before.
Over the course of several hours, some of our group took off to meet friends. Or stop for dinner.
Only 6 of us were left by the time we got to Paty’s recommended restaurant, Alexanders by Zizka. Excellent.
I ordered that weird, delicious thin crust pizza. The rest had pasta, some with rabbit — a local favourite dish.
I loved Malta. But the highlights were all on hostel walking tours.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
We did take the ferry over to the Three Cities, but only had about an hour there. Time allowing, it would be even better than Valletta being so much less crowded with tourists.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
St Peter’s Pool is a popular tourist destination in Malta for those looking to cliff jump, swim, and snorkel.
A diving dog called Titti once appeared jumping into the water with its owner Carmelo Abela, creating an internet sensation.
We met up at Marco Polo hostel ➙ astonished to have so many young people. Most of this mob are a Squash team from a U.K university blowing off their midterm reading week, partying in Malta instead. 😀
We took the public bus to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk.
At least a dozen of these small boats offer to take passengers to St. Peter’s Pool for 5 Euro each.
On board, skipper let the young people choose the music. First song played was Bad Bunny Tití Me Preguntó.
It was freezing — but at least 10 of the young people jumped.
This area is not all that clean. Nor officially maintained.
After seeing many rats in S.E. Asia, this was my first in 2026.
Before dark we walked the cliffs a half hour to a popular local restaurant. I had the Malta pasta. Very flavourful.
Yes, the eroding edge frequently collapses. I’d call this cliff walk dangerous.
Another excellent trip led by Paty for Marco Polo hostel.
Rick McCharles 