“After nourishment, shelter, and Companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world”
— Philip Pullman
Day 1 - Granada to Benalua: Bikepacking the South of Spain
Destination: Benalua Distance: 97km, elevation gain: 2080meters, surface: 62% unpaved
We woke having to already adjust our intentions for the day. Our first day in the saddle was big, and we were unsure how long it would take to reach our next hotel. Plus we ran out of time the previous night to test ride the bikes and gear for any unseen airline damage. What we intended was an early start, giving us the most possible daylight hours for riding. But what we did was fall asleep having wrongly assumed the combination of jet lag and nervous anticipation would guarantee a restless night and inevitable early morning, so we chose not to set an alarm. That was unfortunate.
Travel Day: Bikepacking the South of Spain 2024
For seven days we would be traveling only by bike through the deserts in the south of Spain, hauling our gear more than 600km and 1.5X the elevation of Mount Everest, mostly on unpaved surfaces. Neither of us speak the language, or had done anything quite like this before. For some reason Jocelyne thought this was a great idea.
Antarctica Part 5: Let's seal this deal
Back on the National Geographic Explorer, the staff organized an iceberg pareidolia contest. Rules were simple:, take a photo of an iceberg you think looks like something, then submit it to the staff with a creative title of your choosing. The contest allowed for two categories, one permitting photo manipulation with words or simple drawings, the second must be a stand alone shot. I entered the first category, Will entered the second….
Antarctica Part 4: A Whale of a Tale
Meet PAN-1772, a well traveled whale that has been sighted off the coast of three continents since 2007 - Colombia, Panama, and now by us in Antarctica. We know this thanks to a very cool citizen science website: happywhale.com. As it turns out, a whale’s tail or fluke acts as a unique identifier just like our finger prints. Get a good photo of the fluke…
Antarctica Part 2: Many, Many Penguins
The ship finally stopped moving both vertically and horizontally, and all human life was starting to emerge from their cabin bathroom floors. We were briefed on our inaugural landing at Barrientos, which is populated by two species of penguins. The excitement aboard was palpable.
Antarctica Part 1: Ottawa to the Drake Passage
As Michael informed us, we were’t about to get off easy. They were predicting impressive six meter swells (which he explained none to reassuringly is actually about medium range for the Drake). It was going to be a rough crossing.
Old Ghost Road Part 2: Sunshine, single track, rock slips and steep cliffs
When Will first pitched the idea of mountain biking Old Ghost Road during our trip to New Zealand, I said absolutely not, though I totally understood why he wanted to do it. Old Ghost Road is New Zealand’s longest stretch of single-track mountain biking, and one of the highest rated mountain bike trails in the world. This is our experience with Old Ghost Road
Old Ghost Road Part 1: The best ride in the worst weather
When Will first pitched the idea of mountain biking Old Ghost Road during our trip to New Zealand, I said absolutely not, though I totally understood why he wanted to do it. Old Ghost Road is New Zealand’s longest stretch of single-track mountain biking, and one of the highest rated mountain bike trails in the world.
Rwanda: Culture, landscapes and mountain gorillas
....We started climbing to the edge of the jungle up steep, rugged farm land – a far cry from the fertile prairie soils I grew up on. Here there is a constant struggle between preserving the jungle and expanding farm lands. Even with the current boundaries the gorillas will occasionally leave the jungle to feed on crops – posing a threat to both the farmer’s income and the gorilla’s lives. Clear cutting more of the jungle and encroaching on the gorilla’s territory only furthers the problem, though the farmers will occasionally ignore the laws and take the land expansion upon themselves. There is a real problem trying to balance the land to meet the needs of both species....
New Zealand the North Island: An oldie but a goodie
My travel blog went over so well last week I thought I would keep the trend going for a bit. Back by popular demand here is the best New Zealand video that has ever hit a physiotherapy blog.
Tips for Staying Consistent with Exercise while Traveling
The importance of exercise is generally not a hard sell, the hard part is committing to exercise. The few fleeting moments of ‘me time’ can be even more precious while traveling, regardless if you are away for work or pleasure. As someone who loves spending time abroad and advocates for more of it, here are a few tips to help you stay consistent with your rehab or fitness program while traveling.