My Apple Watch 5 Review

On January 24, 2020January 21, 2020 By Rick McIn Apple, audiocasts, books, hiking, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

I went decades without a watch ‘cuz TIME ain’t the boss of me.

When I finally got around to trying Apple Watch 3, I was instantly hooked. It’s an essential part of my life now. I can’t live without a smart watch.

LOVE IT.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Having broken two Apple Watch 3 faces already, when I decided to upgrade the 5 I paid the extra for Apple Care. It covers everything for 2 years.

The normal warranty is 1 year and does not cover cracked glass, the most common way to break it.

In addition, for even more protection, I added an OtterBox Exo Edge Rugged Apple Watch Case.

Watch a video on that product.

Initially I thought the much cheaper Apple Watch 3 would do everything I need.

… Until Rene Ritchie convinced me to upgrade to the 5. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

How much does it cost?

If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.

Get a Casio. 😀

Banff Film Festival World Tour 2019-20

On January 20, 2020January 18, 2020 By Rick McIn cycling, health & fitness, hiking, kayaking, sport - amateur, travelLeave a comment

Always inspiring.

It’s the 40th year of the World Tour.

They used Mount Royal University in 2020 as one of their Calgary venues for the first time.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

I’m a WINNER.

Here’s the official Film Festival Speed Lite 12 day pack by Deuter I won by random draw. US$54 on Amazon.

Festival poster.

my 2 travel tripods

On January 14, 2020January 11, 2020 By Rick McIn cycling, photos, product endorsements, travel1 Comment

For 2020 I’ll travel with two lightweight tripods:

miggo splat (GoPro)
Joby GripTight PRO Video mount (camera)

In fact, I can use either for GoPro or camera.

If I want to cut weight and only take one on a hike, it will likely be the more durable splat.

My phone clamps in the past have been plastic and untrustworthy. The GripTight PRO costs CAD$63 and looks super durable. I don’t want my phone falling.

The arm is for panning video up and down, or side to side.

Of course I also have GoPro mounts for helmet and bike.

my 2019 YEAR in REVIEW

On January 1, 2020December 29, 2019 By Rick McIn cycling, happiness, health & fitness, hiking, travel1 Comment

Tim Ferriss recommends we review the past year (which was GREAT) before making any plans for the next.

I want to be a #winner in 2020. Like this guy.

1. What were three to four highs of last year … and three to four lows?

23 day cycling tour of Patagonia

24 day cycling tour of the Pacific N.W.

30 days in Nepal – hiking and dental work

first visits to Prague and Budapest

So … travel, hiking and cycling remain my annual highlights.

I can’t recall any significant lows. I broke two laptops. Got stuck in Hungary without an exit visa. Ruined a pair of shoes. Nothing significant.

2. What enabled or motivated you to reach those highs, and how did you successfully move through the lows?

For travel I was more organized than in the past. Put together detailed gear lists. Made my plans months ahead rather than weeks or days in advance.

3. What worked and didn’t work? In other words, what do you need to do more or less of?

More of the same. Get organized early for my travels in 2020.

I spent more than I earned in 2019. I should work more, play less in 2020.

I did not ski enough in 2019. My goal is at least 5 days downhill.

4. What stressed you out the most, and how could you navigate it better?

Bicycle maintenance stresses me out. I’ve now downloaded The Complete Bike Owner’s Manual to my laptop and phone.

My only medical concern is high blood pressure. Need to monitor that more consistently.

I follow the high crimes and misdemeanours of Trump. The world seems to be getting worse, not better. … BUT my own life is unaffected. I don’t worry about an unexpected health care emergency as so many Americans do.

5. And, most important, what were you most grateful for in 2019, and how can you take that into 2020?

Good health. Myself and my family.

I ran more in 2019 than I have since at least 2008. Should run an hour a day at least 45 days of 2020. Enter at least 3 races in 2020.

ANYONE who lives within his means …

On December 30, 2019December 26, 2019 By Rick McIn economics, humour, travelLeave a comment

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

On December 27, 2019December 22, 2019 By Rick McIn books, economics, happiness, health & fitness, philosophy, travelLeave a comment

I’m not much into self-help books.

But many people I admire follow Tim Ferriss. I finally got around to starting his classic book …

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9–5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

The evangelizing rah-rah turns me off … as does the focus on money while claiming not to care about money.

On the other hand, Ferriss does have some very good ideas. For example:

take more and longer vacations while young enough to enjoy them
work from inexpensive foreign nations, if you can, while earning hard currency
focus on strengths, instead of trying to fix weaknesses
Rid Yourself of Material Possessions
Sometimes Less Is More

Here’s my buddy Josh. He’s a digital nomad working online from a series of inexpensive nations — most recently Guatemala, Nepal and Vietnam.

related – my own philosophy of Voluntary Simplicity

farewell Bermuda, hello Great White North

On December 18, 2019December 16, 2019 By Rick McIn gymnastics, travelLeave a comment

I was back in Bermuda the past few weeks helping out the new Head Coach Brian LeRoux and staff.

I always enjoy Bermuda. Especially the weather.

One real problem, however, are road accidents. In one day both my buses were stopped due to accidents.

One of the teenage gymnasts had a terrible crash on his vespa a few weeks ago. He’s having multiple surgeries in a Boston hospital.

It’s dangerous to walk or cycle in Bermuda. The roadways are simply too narrow. There are many blind spots.

Trail Running in Bermuda

On December 17, 2019December 16, 2019 By Rick McIn health & fitness, travelLeave a comment

Last time in Bermuda I worked up to a run of 10km in 1 hour.

This time I changed it up. Worked up to a 7.8 km trail run. Fastest time was 57:38.

I ran 4 loops of the Spittle Pond Nature Reserve, the largest wildlife sanctuary in Bermuda.

The pond is salt water. Brackish. I saw it filling at high tide.

It was great to loop past the ocean each morning. Other than myself, I saw only a few dog walkers.

‘sea glass’ in Bermuda

On December 15, 2019December 16, 2019 By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

I was walking near Fort St. Catherine in Bermuda when I happened upon a swimming pool filled with broken glass.

Apparently people collect fragments of broken glass bottles that have been smoothed naturally in the ocean.

UPDATE – Rockin’ thinks this much broken glass has likely been collected to be used as a replacement for gravel. A drainage layer, perhaps, for the nearby golf course renovation.