Brain Damage.

I'm still decompressing from my short trip to Peru. I'm trying to transcribe my notes into something readable and engaging. Well mainly readable. I filled up my Moleskine with notes and travel stuff. More an observation of the events around the very jet lagged insomniac me.

I had far to much time to think on airplanes.

Reading it I realized how detached from certain things I became. It might be a few days before I get into full details of some of the events but I hope to get it up before the end of the week.

Arrival.

Somewhere over the Gulf of Mexico.
I'm home.

I'm jet lagged/ exhausted so bad I feel drunk. I've got a few stories to tell but those will come after I get a few hours of sleep in my own bed.

Update: April 12th, 2010.

 Pictures here.

Day 1: Trip

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So I’ve decided to participate in a review of the year project hundreds of other bloggers are doing. The idea was forwarded by Rozie who got it from her sister. I plan on doing all 31 on top of other stuff and I’m already a day behind. If you want to do it as well here is the link. Gwen Bell: Best of 2009.
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On the Road.

It’s hard to pin down what the best trip of 2009 was. I didn’t go abroad like I’ve done in previous years although I did go to the fabled Americas a few times. I went on adventures with Rozie and Shaynebow down rivers, to islands, and little places around the island. I also drove all over British Columbia delivering helicopter support gear for fighting forest fires.

I really loved my trip down to Seattle with Darryl in October to see Porcupine Tree. There are fond memories for sure and it was hard to decide if it was my favourite trip this year and I’d have to say no. Sure we ate amazing food, saw the sites, rocked out to one of our favourite bands live at the Moore but it was over shadowed by bad news I got the day before we left.

So I’ve decided the best trip was heading back down to the Gorge in Washington for my third Sasquatch Music Festival. Stunning scenery, amazing music, and radical people make for a fun few days.

Sure there were some rough patches but I know almost every trip has those moments. This year I fell in love with new music all over again and I know it was the same for everyone else I went with too. It isn’t about the $6 Powerades or the lack of showers it is about the music and the journey there.

From the ocean to the mountains and on to the desert with a well put together road trip playlist playing at full volume while flying down the interstate. That is what made this trip this time around. 

That and someone pooping in the shower.

 

Snow Cones.

In high school I was voted most likely to move to the North Pole. I don't know why (maybe a striking resemblance to a young Kris Kringle) but the more I sit on the thought it makes more sense. But they were a little off on what hemisphere I wanted to go to.

I'd rather go to the South Pole. Despite what you think it isn’t to fight a shape shifting alien but to hunt for forgotten scotch.

Maybe hang out with penguins too.

Today I was made aware of an expedition where they are going to be drilling for one hundred year old scotch in Antarctica. Apparently this ancient alcohol was found beneath one of Shackletons huts by restoration people but it is too deep in the ice to get out with out drilling for it. It seems that the scotch would be perfectly preserved and since scotch doesn’t age in a glass bottle it would taste exactly how it tasted when Shackleton  drank it. 

How awesome would that be to tell people that was your job?

"Oh you're an accountant? Sounds boring. My company sends me on crazy expeditions to rescue old scotch. Yup, that's where I got this beard."

Maybe that is why I grow a beard professionally. But for the last several years all I've craved is adventure so I know s good one when I see it. I would happily drop everything to go on this one or something similar.

Hopefully to a distant tropical island to find a stash of rum left by rum runners.

Read on.

From here to Timbuktu.

I've been dreaming a lot lately. Not while I've been sleeping because I haven't been doing much of that during the day. Daydreaming if you will. About going abroad. Somewhere new. Somewhere exciting and off the beaten path.

I've been mentioning to friends and put it up for discussion on Twitter where should I go for a vacation in February. In theory I could take up to a month off but it will likely be closer to 2.5 to 3 weeks. I specified I didn't mind hot or cold, and I didn't really want to go anywhere in Canada (been there done that sort of). I got suggestions for Norway, Vodka Train through Russia, Iceland, Spain, and Disneyland. I should of specified I don't like children, rides, giant mice, and California. I've never been to California but I feel like I wouldn't like it because that's all the Red Hot Chili Peppers sing about and I really dislike them.

I also got a lot of this quote in more or less words. "What's in your heart?"

My heart? Nothing more then adventure and a mission to go somewhere new. That's when someone said you should go somewhere obscure like Antarctica, or the Galapagos. Both places that are at the top of my list but a pricey adventure with one of those adventure travel companies. They charge for everything on top of your flight and beyond.

I've always wanted to go to everywhere and anywhere. That is when I thought to myself I wanted to go "from here to Timbuktu." I looked up Mali on my map and you know what it might just be a plan.

If anyone wants to join the expedition they are more then welcome to.

Adventure Hats are mandatory.