Humor writer Michael Hodgson explains a daily bike safety check during a bike tour will help find potential bicycle problems that could cause discomfort, like a missing bike seat.
Bike safety check: Bike tour humor
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Musings
Laugh, cry, dream, wonder.Good travel writing lives in a space where culture, place, people and adventure intersect. In this section you will find travel essays (some thoughtful, some humorous), podcasts, images and even some insights from traveling teddy bears. Savor, appreciate, laugh, cry, ponder, and most of all, enjoy. Then get out and create your own travel narratives.
Travel photos – Instagram is turning us into idiots
Armed with digital cameras and smartphones travelers are able to detail every idyllic moment of every trip in all its “Instagrammable” glory with often ridiculous travel photos. In truth, Instagram is turning us all into idiots as we embark on a frantic search for the most Instagrammable moment.
Learning to fly a hang glider. Or how I nearly wet my pants
I had been volunteered to learn to hang glide for a feature story. So like Icarus centuries before, I found myself attached to a set of wings — learning to fly a hang glider — wondering if it were really possible to soar like a bird.
Honey, does this stink? My search for antimicrobial clothing
Body odor is a rather personal subject, so while it is not my intention to offend, consider this a warning up front – I stink. I was both thrilled and slightly apprehensive at the prospect of testing odor free antimicrobial clothing.
Fear and loathing while climbing Moosedog Tower
I have an inability to say “no” when presented with an enticing adventure and story angle, no matter how far outside my comfort zone the adventure is. Which is how I found myself discovering fear and loathing while climbing Moosedog Tower in Joshua Tree.
Remembering George H.W. Bush – My hike with President Bush
When I received a phone invitation to go on a hike through the Giant Sequoias in California with President George H.W. Bush during the summer of 1992, my initial reaction was, “Right, who is this, really?” I could name any number of wonderful friends who would make such an “official” offer while doubled up with mirth and glee – eager to hang any appearance of gullibility over my head for a lifetime.
My grandfather’s life – Secrets in a 1914 Princess Mary gift box
The secrets of my grandfather’s life are held in a box — a 1914 Princess Mary gift box. It’s just a simple brass box. Weathered, dented, tarnished. But to me it is precious because this box saved his life. Which meant in a way, the Princess Mary box saved my life too.
My Travel Tales with Luis Vargas of ModernAdventure.com
Luis Vargas, founder of ModernAdventure.com, talks with us about transformative travel, curated experiential travel, and how his vision for a new type of travel company will help travelers connect with the intersections of art, music, food, culture, history, design, and fashion on a truly local level.
Transformative travel – learning while traveling
I arrived at my photography workshop eager and excited for learning while traveling, but also more than a bit nervous. “Why?” asked one of the instructors earlier when I mentioned that I was a bit anxious. “We don’t bite.” Transformative travel is a marvelous thing for learning.
My Travel Tales with Fabrizio Ghilardi of Socompa
Fabrizio Ghilardi started Socompa Adventure Travel in November 2004 as a lark – with a website, a 4x4, and not much else. In listening to him talk about the early years of Socompa, Fabrizio seemed destined for adventure. Yes, he had a good job in Italy,...
My Travel Tales with Frank Hugelmeyer
It doesn’t take you very long to determine Frank Hugelmeyer is pretty comfortable traveling to exotic places. Apparently, that’s what happens after spending your childhood on a sport fishing boat and then 30 years or so promoting the sporting goods, fitness, outdoor and RV lifestyles across the globe.
My Travel Tales with Kevin Wenning
Kevin Wenning is our guest on this episode of My Travel Tales. Kevin decided to create his bike photography tours when he couldn’t find a cycling vacation that catered to photography enthusiasts. You’ll hear about bike touring with cameras, and four tips you can use right now to make any photo better on any trip you take. And what does this experienced bike guide and photographer always pack with him where ever he goes in the world? Listen in to find out.
Slow travel: becoming part of a place
There is an art to slow travel. It doesn’t come easily, this crashing into a place. I like to sit, to wait for moments to come to me, to feel a country from the inside out.
My Travel Tales with Ajay Jain
Ajay Jain is our guest on this episode of My Travel Tales. In the summer of 2007, with a camera and notebook in hand, Ajay left behind a corporate career for good and began driving, eventually ending up in Kunzum La (a very remote pass in the Indian Himalayas). He was so taken by the destination he named his business after it. Since then, he has been traveling all over India, and also covering a fair amount of the world, chronicling his journeys in blog posts and in his photography books. You’ll hear all about his beloved Indian Himalayas and much more in our conversation.
My Travel Tales with Tim McGuire
Tim McGuire is our guest on this episode of My Travel Tales. Listen in to find out how the search for an easy college class while playing Division 1 soccer at San Diego State University led him down a path of adventure, travel, and now as part of the executive team at Eagle Creek. Learn too why even an experienced world traveler like Tim can end up in the wrong country while simply trying to get back to his hotel. And what does this experienced adventure traveler always pack with him where ever he goes in the world?
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