2018 was a year full of travel, adventures, and some nice time back home. I made sure to keep things interesting by having a wide diversity of themes to each trip, probably more so than I’ve done in recent years. From cooking classes in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur to backpacking trips in Kyrgyzstan and the Grand Canyon, and cycling through Western Australia, it was a great year.
January – Trying strange street-food in Hong KongFebruary – I visit my mom and Aunt Bev on the Columbia River in BC. Here’s Bev’s new house, coming along well.March – Cycling all the way from Perth to Kalgoorlie to see the Super Pit – one of the largest open pit gold mines on earthApril – Cycling through Valley of the Giants in Western AustraliaMay – Walking Scotland’s West Highland WayJune – I join a great group of people to walk coast-to-coast cross SwedenJuly – Backpacking the spectacular Northover Ridge in unusually warm weatherAugust – Traversing the remote volcanic landscape of Edziza in northern BCSeptember – Enjoying the clean mountain air of Kyrgyzstan’s Pamir MountainsOctober – Discovering old Communist monuments in TajikistanNovember – Hiking and backpacking in the Grand CanyonDecember – Sometimes it’s nice just to be home, enjoying the company of loved ones
2019 is shaping up to be another great year of travel with even bigger, grander adventures in the works. Can’t wait!
I’ve been terribly remiss in writing about my travels over the last year but I’ve had some great adventures. At the end of one year and the beginning of the next, I love looking back and reflecting on what I’ve experienced. Here are a few of my favourite memories from each month of 2017.
January – I discover my new favourite place to hike & cycle – the Sonoran Desert of Southern ArizonaFebruary – Crisp early mornings give way to scorched afternoonsMarch – the desert comes alive with the colours of springApril – My first cycle race, the Round-the-Isle Randonee on England’s Isle of WightMay – I discover the soft rolling landscapes of England’s South Downs WayJune – Iceland’s thundering waterfallsJuly – An unusually dry summer makes for great mountaineering among BC’s rarely visited peaksAugust – I discover just how hot the Grand Canyon can get on my first full crossing from the north to the south rimSeptember – I do my best to capture the beauty that Ansel Adams discovered in California’s Sierra NevadaOctober – Cycling through Vietnam and Cambodia, I discover some wonderful people and delicious foodNovember – I’m awed by the unbelievably massive mountains on Nepal’s Annapurna CircuitDecember – Sunset over the Himalayas
Another year is about to close and a new one beginning with endless possibilities. I love taking a few moments in the short days of winter that come around New Years to reflect on both the ups & downs of the last 12 months. Here’s what my year looked like…
January – Cycling to the Edge of the World Tasmania, AustraliaFebruary – visiting the famous The Twelve Apostles along Australia’s Great Ocean RoadMarch – awed by Bali’s new year celebration, NyepiApril – salt cracks form octagon shapes in Death Valley’s Badwater Basin, the lowest point of North AmericaMay – cycling through the tail end of winter on the Icefield ParkwayJune – caught in a snowstorm while traversing off-trail through the front ranges of the RockiesJuly – mountaineering in BC with the ACCAugust – Rio Summer Olympics!September – sharing great times while trekking through the rugged landscape of Ladakh, IndiaOctober – in Idaho, the higher you get, the higher you getNovember – stumbled upon a “UFO recovery and repair service” in Southern CaliforniaDecember – desert magic in Sedona, Arizona
With 2016 come and gone, I wish you the best in 2017. Happy adventuring!
I first cycled the Icefield Parkway three years ago with a great group of friends. It was a really fun and memorable trip. We stayed together in hostels and shared delicious meals every night. There were lots of stories and laughter. That trip was at the end of summer and I’ve been thinking about returning to see this famous scenic road in spring ever since. I finally had the chance this year. Continue reading “Cycling the Icefield Parkway”→
The Great Ocean Road stretches for 250 km along Australia’s rugged southern coast. Built by soldiers returning from World War I and dedicated to their fallen comrades, it’s the world’s largest war memorial. It also has some of the best scenery in all of Australia. After having such a good time cycling in Tasmania, I was keen to tackle the tight turns and steep climbs of the Great Ocean Road but I hadn’t counted on the intense traffic (thousands of tourists came during Chinese New Year). After my first day, I decided to leave the bike behind and simply enjoy this stunning place as a road trip. Continue reading “Australia’s Great Ocean Road”→
I’ve just finished a month-long, 1,500-km cycle tour around Tasmania. This remote island is a pleasure to travel by bike with long winding roads that pass through incredible scenery with little traffic. Its diversity is striking. There are vast temperate rain forests, tropical white sandy beaches with turquoise water, rugged coastlines with towering sea cliffs, and peaceful sheep pastures and lavender farms. Tasmania’s history is equally rich. From its notorious convict beginnings to hardy miners who struggled to make a life in the remote corners of this island, there’s so much to learn. Whether you stay in campgrounds or treat yourself to character-rich B&Bs and historic hotels, you’re sure to discover some real gems along the way. Continue reading “Tasmania Cycle Tour”→
Cycling Tasmania – Day 32
Gladstone toward St Helens
40km, 625m elevation
It’s my last day of cycling in Tasmania! What a great trip it’s been and a wonderful way to see such a unique place. I began a month ago in the town of St Helens and that’s where I planned to finish today. I left Gladstone with a plan to cycle the quiet gravel roads that meander through the forest all the way to St Helens. I got off to a good start and made surprisingly good time, even though unsealed roads are always slower. I should have known trouble was ahead when I came around a corner and saw this warning sign. Continue reading “A big bang to finish a big cycle tour”→
Cycling Tasmania – Day 31
Bridport to Gladstone
60km, 360m elevation
It was hot today! I remember reading about how cold Tasmania can get before I set out on this cycling trip. One couple even said it snowed only a few weeks later in the year during their visit. I must have chosen the hottest summer of all as only a few days have been cold and some, like this one, have been scorchers! Continue reading “Obscure history in Tasmania’s remote northeast”→
Cycling Tasmania – Day 30
Low Head to Bridport
79km, 820m elevation
Only three days left in my Tasmania cycle tour! A complete loop around the island I won’t quite finish, though. I decided to spend more time exploring the remote West Coast and northwest, knowing that I’d come up short on time to make it all the way back to St Helens where I started. That’s ok. I really enjoyed the remoteness and beauty of the west. Continue reading “Back to the East Coast of Tasmania”→
Cycling Tasmania – Day 28
Marrawah to Stanley (via Forest)
80km, 640m elevation
Tasmania is known for exceptionally strong winds. I’ve been very lucky on my cycling trip so far, having gotten only one day of really strong winds and much of that was either at my side or my back. Well, today my luck changed. I battled through a headwind for most of the day, still enjoying myself but working a lot harder than usual. Continue reading “Headwind to Stanley”→
