Category: travel

ESSENTIAL Travel to Banff

On By Rick McIn ethics, health & fitness, travel1 Comment

I flew for the first time in a year — Vancouver Island to Calgary.

Essential travel to get my first vaccine March 18th.

Essential Doctor’s appointment next day. I hadn’t had an annual medical in over 15 months.

LAB TESTS Calgary are run by a monopoly ~ Alberta Precision Laboratories. Not enough capacity — obviously — as my first available slot was April 12th.

Happily, I could get lab tests in Banff March 23rd.

Travel out of Banff is non-essential, … so I better stay until my vaccine starts to kick in. 😀

Lounging-in-place in my US $60+ / night private hostel room. Only departing for essential food and drink.

And EXERCISE, of course. That’s essential too.

My Year of Living Safely

On By Rick McIn McCharles family, travelLeave a comment

I’ve been a year (mostly) sheltering in place on Vancouver Island.

Off the island only twice.

Three times if you count my first flight — to Calgary for my 1st jab: Thursday, March 18th.

I did have one helicopter ride last July.

In small town Parksville, most of the year we had zero COVID cases. In fact, right now is worst, so far. I’m double masking.

Highlights have been spending time with my parents. Mom and Dad get their first vaccine dose next week.

15 multi-day cycling trips along with plenty of local hiking. I’ll do more of that in 2021, for sure.

My main new hobby with all that COVID time is video editing.

I’m building up a new hiking YouTube channel. Subscribe.

Waterfront Walkway, Parksville

hippies in Corfu, Greece – early 1980s

On By Rick McIn friends, photos, travelLeave a comment

My old pal Mike Sissons forwarded photos.

Mike’s now teaching in Madrid, Spain.  I last visited in 2015. 

I can vividly remember the kind of nonsense, drinking and debauchery went on in Vatos, Greece. That was the nude beach of the day. (I’m still burned where the sun doesn’t shine.)

Corfu Mike Sissons

My 1st SERIOUS Tripod

On By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

The MeFOTO RoadTrip Air. Weight 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg)

It get’s well deserved GREAT REVIEWS.

I got the RoadTrip rather than the Backpacker — even though it’s a half pound heavier — mainly for the superior ballhead.

Details.

I’ll use this day-to-day at home. And on bikepacking trips.

Won’t likely carry it on long hikes because of weight, though the detachable selfie stick is an option.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Looks great. But — in reality — I use my Fotopro uFO 2 tripod 90% of the time.

I like it better than the GorillaPods I’ve used. You can attach to things more reliably.

And it’s only .5 lbs (227 gm)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Paparoa Track, cycling New Zealand

On By Rick McIn cycling, travelLeave a comment

The Paparoa Track is officially New Zealand’s 10th GREAT WALK.

They really bungled that designation as one of the walks is actually a paddle.

Looks awesome for mountain biking.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Tulum – my FAVOURITE beach

On By Rick McIn travel, travel MexicoLeave a comment

Tulum, Mexico, 130km south of Cancun.

I was there in 2006.

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At the time it was $6 / night to tent. $12 / night for a concrete cabana.

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The only time I ever enjoyed Yoga.

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The highlight for me was daily walks to the pre-Columbian Mayan walled city.

By Popo le Chien

Cenotes are another local highlight.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.