Wow.
Of these nations, the one that appeals to me most is Iran.
Second most … Turkey.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Category: travel
My NEW DJI Mini 4 Pro Drone
I’ve been really enjoying flying drones.
Mine was the dumbest — and least expensive — in the DJI line-up, the Mini SE drone.
Getting ready for hiking / cycling 2024, I upgraded to a DJI Mini 4 Pro. (My old drone broke in Idaho.)
Click PLAY or watch samples on YouTube.
I now have the DJI RC-N2 controller with the built-in screen. And no longer need to hook up my phone.
I got the full Fly More Kit which includes 3 batteries, charging hub, carrying case, and extras.
Not inexpensive at CAD $1500 including tax.
Of course buying a warranty is essential. I paid CAD $170 (USD $125) / 2 years. I can replace the drone carcass up to 3 times. But IF I lose the drone, no warranty coverage.
I bought some accessories, as well:
- BRDRC Mini 4 Pro ND64 Lens Filter CAD $25 (probably won’t use it)
- Lanyard Neck Strap for DJI Mini 4 Pro CAD $18
- STARTRC Propeller Holder CAD $16
I could have gone for the less expensive Mini 2, or Mini 3, but decided on the 4 for these features:
- 360 degree obstacle avoidance
- better low light video
- it has a built-in light, so I can see the drone in the sky at dusk or dawn
- vertical video in 4K
- more Quickshot options
Most importantly, super powerful Activetrack options. The drone will follow-me wherever I go, avoiding obstacles so I need not manually watch it every second. This is ideal for cycling.
Summing Up
I’ll shoot video in 2024 with drone, iPhone, and Ace Pro Action Camera
My guru is DC Rainmaker.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Cycling Iceland’s Westfjords
I’ll be arriving Seydisfjordur on the east coast via ferry on Aug. 8th, 2024.
Some buses and vans in Iceland transport bicycles. So I’ll probably cycle and bus, working my way to the west coast.
The most popular cycling area is the westfjords.
I really enjoyed a brief stop on the Westfjords (or West Fjords) during my 2011 rent-a-car tour of Iceland.
Very mountainous; the coastline heavily indented by dozens of fjords surrounded by steep hills. These indentations make roads very circuitous. Sounds like the west coast of Norway.
Total total population in 2020 was 7,115.
CHRIS BURKARD put together a gravel tour of the region he called WESTFJORDS WAY.
- 575 Mi.(925 KM)
- 40% unpaved
- pushing your bike about 10% of the time
Biggest worries for me riding solo are the weather — “Riding in fjords guarantees a headwind and a tailwind. The wind can be so severe that it will push you off your bike …” — and the remoteness. Not many bike shops or resupply points.
BUT I downloaded Lael’s map from the adventure to Komoot. So I’m ready to try it if I get the chance one day.
In a perfect world where everything goes right 😀 … I might even try it summer 2024 as part of my planned Norway & Faroe Islands cycling tour.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I’m Flying to Edinburgh 😀
Flights are expen$ive in 2024.
BEST deal I could find Vancouver to Europe one way this summer was $498.16 CAD ($364 USD). Includes one piece of luggage, cancellation insurance, and seat selection.
BEST deal was NOT to London, for a change.
Years ago I typically flew Air Transit, a charter. But for the past 4 years WestJet has had the best options to Europe.
Arriving Edinburgh June 1, 2024.
A fun tourist city. I was there in 2009. And in 2018 for Fringe.
I’ll be staying at Castle Rock Hostel under the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle. It’s considered one of the best hostels in Europe.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Cycling 18,000 Miles in 110 Days
My cycling hero — Lael Wilcox — is one of the top ultra-endurance racers of all time.
She does not have a driver’s licence. 😀
In 2008 she and a boyfriend started a trip, cycling over 100,000 miles through 30+ nations.
What’s next?
Guinness Record Attempt: Around the World
My goal is to ride the 18,000 miles in 110 days. The current women’s record is held by Jenny Graham at 124 days, 10 hours and 50 minutes.
At this point, in regards to the record, there’s no distinction between supported and self-supported rides. I’ll be carrying all of my own equipment and food and figuring out all of the logistics on and off the bike. That’s how I like to travel– with a sleep kit and winging it along the way.
I like open-ended adventures and I like competition and riding around the world as fast as I can feels like a great combination of both.
Rue will be documenting my ride and I’d love to encourage people to come out and share a few miles with me along the way.
I’ll be starting in Chicago May 26th.
18,000+ miles without a chamois: Lael Wilcox is aiming to set a world record by circumnavigating the planet in 110 days
Wilcox hopes to set a new Guinness World Record and admits that even she is “really terrified”
Hiking / Skiing Banff March 2024
For the 4th year in a row, I stayed at the Samesun Hostel in Banff.
Alternated days of winter hiking and downhill skiing.
I skied one day with Kelly from Canmore. Two days with Rocco.
Click PLAY or watch Rocco on YouTube. Footage from my new Insta360 Ace Pro action camera.
April 1, 2024 conditions were PERFECT for me.
I opined that this was the best ski day at Sunshine for 10,000 years. 😀
Kelly introduced me to happy hour at Hello Sunshine Banff Sushi. Fantastic.
I’ll be posting 2024 hiking videos on BestHike.com.
Here’s a hike from the past that gives a good idea what it’s like to get on the trails in the Spring.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
MORE videos from Banff.
related – Spring Hiking/Skiing Banff 2023
I’m already looking forward to 2025 in Banff.
Hello Sunshine Banff Sushi
Kelly — a BIG Sushi fan — lives in Canmore.
His favourite restaurant in Banff is Hello Sunshine Sushi during Happy Hour.
50% off many Sushi platters.
As well as beer and other menu item specials.
I’m hoping to go 3 times this week. 😀
Kelly introduced me to Hello Sunshine after a GREAT day skiing powder at … Sunshine.
HIGHLIGHTS ➙ Parksville / Qualicum Beach
Every tourist enjoys Vancouver Island. Much to do. Much to see.
Here’s a good starting point for someone planning to visit our area, north of Nanaimo.
17 Best Things to do in Parksville Qualicum Beach
Inspired by Bikepackers
One thing I like about bike touring is that almost ANYBODY could do it.
Almost ANYBODY can ride a bike.
For example, Giant Cheerio decided to take off on a bike for a month. …
After over 2 years, she’s still on the road.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Visiting Port Townsend 2024
Due to the pandemic, I hadn’t made it back to Port Townsend, Washington since 2019.
Since then, Doug and Diana had built a new house on one of their properties.
I was both 3rd and 4th in the guestbook, visiting both going to and coming from Coeur d’Alene.
Carrie came up from Vancouver WA to videotape a chat with myself and Doug about the start of the Tumbl Trak Ambassador Program. Actually, she drove MANY hours in the dark and rain to pick me up in Port Angeles.
I was the first Ambassador, we think, when Doug gave me an inflatable tumbling mat to take to my Gymnastics tour of Australia in 2007. I did clinics in 5 different States.
The other BIG news of my visit was that Diana was getting packed for a trip to Europe with a friend.
Also — Doug bought a new car. A Nissan Leaf.
It was my fault. I took the ferry from Seattle to Bremerton WA by mistake — and there happened to be a Nissan dealership there. 😀
As always in Port Townsend, we enjoyed some terrific meals.
My favourite was Finistère.
As always, I got out running and hiking.
This is dawn down close to Fort Worden.
If you’ve never been, Port Townsend is a tourist gem hidden away off the main highway in northern Washington State.
Rick McCharles 