I’ve watched a LOT of cycling gear videos. This is by far the coolest.
Quek Shio is a director / creator / cyclist from Malaysia.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Category: travel
GPSmyCity – Sculptures in Calgary
I was given a one year premium membership to an app called GPSmyCity.
… over 6,500 self-guided walks in 1,500+ cities around the world, featuring the best of each city, from world famous attractions to hidden gems.
Born and raised in Calgary, I decided to first try the Sculptures in Calgary Walking Tour. It includes those walkable from the city centre.
I downloaded to be used offline.
And followed the recommended route as closely as possible.
This installation was closed due to construction.
3) Family of Man
My personal favourite. Family of Man is a 21 feet tall set of sculptures … that reflect raceless, naked and expressionless human women and men. All sculptures are combined in groups and each one of them extend their hands in gesture of goodwill and fellowship.
My second favourite.
Too cluttered in my opinion.
9) Brick Couch
The Brick Couch has been removed. Or possibly moved. The app should be updated now and again as changes are inevitable.
The installation below is NOT in GPSmyCity, but could be included as it’s exactly en route.
10) Hanging Out
The least impressive was this display of frogs, now damaged. It could be removed from GPSmyCity.
I’ve traveled 90+ nations and will DEFINITELY use this app into the future. It’s far superior to have an easy-to-follow highlights walk than to wander randomly through new cities.
Navigation worked fairly well for me.
My biggest recommendation is that the app replace the current voice. It’s hilariously outdated compared with ALL the current realistic A.I. text to speech products.
Interested? The app offers many more travel tips.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Milner Gardens, Vancouver Island
After 20 years having a family home in Parksville B.C., … I FINALLY got to lovely Milner Gardens near Qualicum Beach. It’s open Thursday to Sunday during the good weather months.
Prince Charles and Diana visited 1986. Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth stayed in 1987.
Vancouver Island University acquired the estate in 1996 and converted the private gardens to a public garden.
The highlight today are huge old growth Douglas firs, cedar trees, and rare rhododendrons.
Click PLAY or watch a preview on YouTube.
Tickets $5 – $14 / person in 2025.
Special events are hosted here including: Christmas Magic, Easter Bunny Trail, Spring Solstice, etc.
A few of my photos.
Upscaling Old Photos
Me fishing bass in Mexico … a couple 😀 of years ago.
There are many software options for upscaling.
The better the original, the better the upscaled version.
I used one that was a FREE website in March 2025 — if you upscaled only 1 photo at a time up to a maximum of 400%.
IMGupscaler.com
Cycling Cordilleras Blanca & Huayuash, Peru
An amazing adventure.
Mick Turnbull and Danielle O’Hara. Four weeks in July.
Personal stories like this is what I love about YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Their trip report is posted on Bikepacking.com
Top 100 Places To Visit in The World
Ryan Shirley is one of the best travel vloggers.
From Provo, Utah, his travels started with a 2 year mission for the Church.
Ryan’s always looking for the most scenic and adventurous destinations. He loves to jump off cliffs, for example. His wife is into it, as well. 😀
Here are Ryan’s 100 top destinations, so far.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (70 min)
Where to TRAVEL in 2025?
Of course I have a half dozen different itineraries drafted. 😀
BUT which will end up happening?
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Highest priority destinations 2025:
- Indonesia for World Gymnastics Championships October
- Northern Australia
- Nepal in November (Everest Base Camp)
Medium priority destinations 2025:
- USA hiking part of the Pacific Crest Trail
- Denmark for cycling
- Germany for cycling
Low priority 2025:
- Iceland and the Faroe Islands (again)
- Madeira – Portuguese Islands
- Canary Islands – Spain
- East Africa
- northern Vancouver Island cycling
- Pakistan for hiking
- India for hiking
- Jordan for cycling
- Oman for cycling
- Taiwan for hiking
- Mongolia
- Greece
- Scotland
- Corsica
- Montenegro & Balkans
Any other recommendations for me?
In Praise of Street Musicians
It’s a treat when happening upon a busker who can entertain.
Here are two musicians I enjoyed while traveling in Europe.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
North to Alaska by Trevor Lund
North To Alaska: The True Story of An epic, 16,000-mile cycle journey the length of the Americas
I downloaded this book to read while cycling in Iceland’s wind and rain.
I had it easy compared to Trevor. 😀
At age-21, Trevor cycled 1800 miles down the west coast of Canada and the USA on a second-hand bike he had bought for around £20.
10 years later — in 1999 — he wanted more. Patagonia to Alaska .
His companion crapped out after the first few days. Trevor was alone.
His bicycle was terrible. No mobile phone. Very little money.
What’s different about this book compared with other similar adventures, is how honest and vulnerable the author is about all the many, many things that go wrong. You really feel the highs and lows.
Independently published Jan. 7, 2020.
Cycling Denmark
My biggest surprise cycling Europe in 2024 was Denmark.
It’s fantastic.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I needed to cross Denmark south to north, coming from the Rhine river in Germany.
I had low expectations, basically planning to spend as few days in Denmark as possible while getting to the ferry to Faroe Islands.
NOW I want to go back to Denmark — the 2nd happiest nation in the world!
Highest priority is National Cycle Route 1, the West Coast Route. 560 kilometers from the German border.
National Cycle Route 12 ➙ Limfjord Route looks interesting, as well. I rode part of that from Aalborg summer 2024.
Third priority would be National Cycle Route 9 ➙ en route from Berlin to Copenhagen.
As I post, Denmark is my #1 cycling destination for the future. It would get me back to Germany, as well, which is fantastic with the Deutschland Rail ticket making public transit almost free.
Part of the attraction are the fantastic free campsites in an otherwise very expensive tourist nation.
I’m still brainstorming future cycling destinations.
Rick McCharles 