I had dental implant surgery in Lisbon in November. Expen$ive — but excellent. A dental holiday.
Six months later I’m headed back to have my implant installed. Finally.
I’ll be arriving May 23rd, 2022.
Click PLAY or watch highlights on YouTube. (3min)
Fantastic street art for pretentious influencers. 😀
I was inspired by Lael Wilcox to pencil in a date on my personal calendar:
That’s the start of the 2022 Tour Divide Mountain Bike Race.
It’s free. No registration. No commitment in advance. I could show up … or not.
I’d dreamed of lining up with Lael and watching her for about 45 seconds as she pedalled out of sight. 😀 Sadly Lael is not racing 2022. She’s in Europe this summer, instead.
The Tour Divide roughly follows the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) is the most recognized and important off-pavement cycling route in the United States, if not the world.
The route crisscrosses the Continental Divide from north to south starting in Banff, Alberta, Canada and finishing at the US/Mexico border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico.
I don’t have time, bike or talent to do the whole thing. But I’m hoping to ride the start down into Montana. Then divert over to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where I broke down on my 2019 Great American Rail-Trail bikepacking adventure. Dave Adlard had to rescue me. 😀
MIGHT do some hiking in Montana. Then head for the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes.
UPDATE: In 2019 an alternative further west was announced:
This adventure is the flagship achievement of Bikepacking Roots, a not-for-profit advocacy group founded by Kurt Refsnider and Kaitlyn Boyle in 2017.
It’s less technical and easier for touring bikes than the Divide — so I may divert on to the Western Wildlands starting at Eureka, Montana. I’ll see how I’m feeling at the time. 😀
Likely I’ll end up making a loop of the two routes, returning to Calgary via Eureka.
For navigation I’ll likely be using the paid FarOut app (formerly Guthook) as it’s the most popular for both Divide and Wild West. But I hope to have backup maps, as well.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Here’s the Lael Wilcox documentary that got me started planning this trip.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
related – Lael Wilcox Is the Best. Why Does Anyone Else Bother?
If heading back to Calgary, I’ll likely take this return route.
(via Adventure Blog)
I stumbled upon the HIGHPASS HYBRID BRIEFCASE BACKPACK in an electronics store. And was instantly impressed with the look, feel and weight (762 grams or 29 ounces).
I discarded the shoulder strap, further dropping the weight.
On the road, I frequently need to day trip with my laptop and a just a few extra items. Jacket. Snacks.
Read a review.
For all the many months I’ve traveled South America, I’ve not been to Ecuador.
It looks GREAT.
And I’m even considering forking over the dough for Galapagos.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
After 2 years, I finally got back to Bermuda, this time a month with the NEW Gymnastics Federation. I’m an appointed non-voting consultant on their Board
This trip was busier than ever before jumping back and forth between the two largest clubs.
With the Federation, we’re dealing directly with the Bermuda Olympic Association, still joyous about Flora Duffy winning the Triathlon at the Tokyo Olympics.
BEST was having no Spring allergies in Bermuda. What a relief from Canada.
The weather was mixed. We had more cloud, rain and wind than I can recall in the past.
I’m not sure when I’ll next get back to the Triangle. Perhaps May / June 2022 for our proposed 1st ever Bermuda National Gymnastics Championships.
End of the road.
2022/03 – SkyPixel 7th Anniversary Aerial Photo & Video Contest – 1st Prize Winner Nature
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Benn TK is one of my favourite video editors and travel vloggers. An Aussie, this was his first trip overseas in 2 years.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
My last trip before pandemic shut down travel was to Bermuda. March 2020.
Exactly 2 years later I was finally able to return. Just in time to help with the annual Bermuda International Gymnastics Competition (VIDEO) — though we had no international competitors this year. We kept it fast and fun hoping to inspire kids that the new normal would soon be here.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
The #1 expert is MatthewNorway on YouTube.
Matthew just launched a website for folks — like me — who want to information on how to ride in one of the most expensive nations:
I’d already hired Matthew to plan a 3000km route for me starting July 2022.
I’ll be using his new website, as well.
Click PLAY or watch an introduction on YouTube.
Rick McCharles 