Chronology as I remember:
2004 - Rafting Trip down the Colorado River from Leeds Ferry to Pierce Ferry (the Grand Canyon) 8 days of camping; shooting rapids; exploring the Canyon in a very unique way.
A favorite place is Blacktail Canyon... a place where Spirits Fly
Next was going to see Polar Bears... we had narrowed it down to two places in the world to do this adventure; Canada or Norway. Looking at each trip as a once in a lifetime experience, we chose Norway and so very glad we did. After flying to Oslo, we flew north to Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen and boarded the Polar Star to search for Polar Bears
We were lucky to see bear and seals and Walrus and Blue Whale and birds and and and
Did I say the people in Norway are wonderful!
After finding Polar Bears and a time back in Arizona we decided to book on a River Boat and travel from Bucharest to Amsterdam. It was a great way to see a lot of central Europe from a floating home base.
I was glad we traveled from Romania toward Amsterdam instead of the other way around... the reason is we were really able to see the effects of communism and tyrannical rulers on the people, land architecture and overall zest for life... I remember we had to change stops due to a part for the air-conditioning unit. The captain explained that if the part were to be delivered to Serbia, it might be held in customs a long time or we could go a little further to Hungary where it was easier to receive the part... living in a free world we seldom think about such things... the town in Hungary was so happy to see us that the entire town came to the dock and had a huge celebration. (one of those things that are greater than photos; yet words cannot describe)
We left the river trip excited to travel more so after a time in Arizona we headed to China to meet our friends Bob and Karen.
China and Tibet were a guided tour offered by Vantage Travel. Vantage is a good tour company not everything is included as some may like you to think; but its a good value for the price... we traveled Vantage on the river trip and it was great... the China trip fell to the tour guide KONG... good luck if they are still using the bozo! But really, you adjust to the situation travel gives you and have a good time... we loved our trip from the Great Wall to the Dali Llamas Summer Palace to the Yangtze River... even our stories of poor old Kong (he was in it for the money and not for the experience of being with people)
Oh... remember that in China; a hamburger... is just the bun!!
They sell Oxygen bottles at the airport in Lhasa... 4th story room, no elevator, maybe we should have picked one up...
Here we are setting in Arizona with all the warm clothes we bought to go to the Arctic... what to do? lets go to the Antarctic... back to the Polar Star and lets attempt to go below the antarctic circle...
We made it!!!
Along the way we experienced penguins and Leopard seals, whales and ice and fantastic hues of black and white. Penguins (and walrus) are not visited or photographed or written about; they are experienced... you experience the sounds and the SMELL.
As we sailed back across the Drake Passage just in site of Cape Horn we said how we thought we would enjoy sailing around the horn on a sailing vessel and then we remembered passing the Bark Europa ... our next great adventure.
We were lucky enough to book passage on the Bark Europa. sailing is just a little different because you are part of a training crew. Setting sails, standing watch, and helm duty; the cabins are just big enough to sleep two or let one dress and if you need to go to the head, you dance around your partner or they hop into the lower bunk. Not the typical American cruise where you get waited on hand and foot and fatten yourself in the dining room... this was an experience that I will always treasure.
We bought a house in Wyoming and became Snowbirds... until our next adventure
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