Goliath Expedition

On April 15, 2006 By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

Karl The longest hike ever?

Karl Bushby is walking around the world. 12 years. 36,000 miles.

He started in Patagonia, Nov. 1st, 1998 with about $800 in his pocket. And started walking north.

HEY, he crossed from Alaska into Siberia over an ice “bridge” on the Chukchi Sea (north of the Bering Straits).

But his expedition is in trouble. The Russians are threatening to throw him out due to problems with his paperwork. (BBC newstory April 6, 2006)

I expect after putting in 7 years on this project, Karl will find a way to finish it. Good luck.

Goliath Expedition – Karl Bushby

great pics of Bolivia

On April 11, 2006 By Rick McIn photos, travelLeave a comment

Lee Chai has a good eye.

Bolivia photos 2004

My buddy Grant climbed Volcan Licancabur. It’s much tougher and higher than it looks. 5916m (19404ft)

volcano

Bolivia

On April 10, 2006 By Rick McIn hiking, travelLeave a comment

I was twice so far frustrated trying to hike Bolivia, the poorest and most problematic of South American countries.

map of Bolivia

But I vow one day to do the long Transcordillera trek through the Royal Mountains. And return to the great salt flats.

working for Cirque du Soleil

On April 3, 2006 By Rick McIn Cirque du Soleil, movies, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

Cirque has 12 shows worldwide and is more popular than ever. Over 7 million people will see a performance this year.

My old friend Dan is coaching a new Vegas show premiering in 2006. I know it as “Le Boys”, featuring the music of The Beatles. Sounds like a winner.

Cirque du Soleil has 2,400 employees and is hiring every day. I am contracted with Cirque as a travelling consultant helping them find the most talented gymnasts, divers and “extreme sport” athletes in the USA. Coaches tell me there is a big demand as Cirque continues to expand.

My old friend Dana (I have a lot of old friends in Cirque) recommended me for this position and for that I resolve to be nicer to Dana. I solemnly promise never to moon her again.

I am proud to be even a small part of an organization like the Cirque du Soleil.

cycling and hiking – Beat Heim’s amazing website

On March 29, 2006 By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, photos, travelLeave a comment

I’ve seen most of the popular hiking website / blogs on internet.

Beat’s Heim’s site is the best.

Great maps, great photos. Extreme travels!

You need a high speed connection as his stuff is graphic intensive.

Beat Heim

More pics like this at betzgi.ch

travelogue – Florida everglades

On March 25, 2006 By Rick McIn travel, traveloguesLeave a comment

gator The everglades are a marshy subtropical stew: skunk water, sawgrass, hammocks (islandlike masses of vegetation), palms and mangrove forests.

Much of the year the Glades are impossible with biting insects.

I took a ranger led canoe day trip through the 10,000 Islands (actually only hundreds of mangrove islands) out of Everglades City.

The highlight was a frolic of dolphins that came close.

There is a good 10-day water wilderness trip from here all the way to Flamingo. What a trip that would be!

Next time, perhaps. This is the last post on this series of travelogues. I left the sun for frozen Calgary on the first day of Spring.

good news – students volunteering

On March 25, 2006 By Rick McIn good news, travelLeave a comment

After 2 weeks in Florida’s Spring Break central, I got interested in a new program initiated by The United Way and televised on MTV. It’s called The Amazing Break.

Instead of a drunken beach blow-out, college kids are offered alternatives.

One group is on the Equality Ride — a bus visiting conservative universities and military schools which they feel discriminate against gay and lesbian students. The first stop was Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University.

In a scene out of Gandhi, the students lined up to be arrested for trespass all the while reading a statement of their cause.

Non-violent resistance is powerful. I was moved.

MTV.com – think – Students Volunteering For A Spring Break They Won’t Forget

I met hundreds of volunteers in Central America too. It is excellent life experience, likely better than attending classes.

travelogue – Miami Heat basketball

On March 24, 2006 By Rick McIn sport - pro, travel, traveloguesLeave a comment

The Heat are the hottest team in basketball right now. And you can get a ticket for $10.

The Heat loss, the only NBA game I have ever seen, was a bit dull. Far less entertaining than the NHL Flames hockey, by comparison.

Shaq was not particularly impressive though I can see how he dominates under the rim. He is huge, even in a big man’s game.

More impressive was coach Pat Riley. A big man too, very much in charge. Pacing, he looks the movie version of an egocentric coach.

Riley recently called Dwayne Wade, the Heat’s top scorer, the most gifted player he had ever coached. High praise.

Heat players

Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade

Next travelogue on this trip >> baseball – Florida everglades

travelogue – baseball – Blue Jays in Dunedin

On March 24, 2006 By Rick McIn sport - pro, travel, traveloguesLeave a comment

I bought a scalped ticket ($15) for the Jays vs the Red Sox. Canada’s Team put on starters and still lost (4-8) to mostly minor leaguers from the much stronger Boston franchise.

Not a Pro baseball fan, I still very much enjoyed the mild vibe of a Spring Training game in small town Dunedin, Florida.

We sat in the second row above the Sox dugout. My scalper actually chatted with some of the Boston players.

Did you hear about the “Miracle on Grass“? Canada beating the USA in the World Baseball Classic?

In Dunedin I saw Canadian hero Adam Stern back with his Boston Red Socks. Stern had a home run, a triple and a single in Canada’s upset 8-6 victory over the biggest American names in professional baseball.

Baseball stadium