I know there are many helpful resources out there to do this (time mgt 101 HA) but I just find that life is too full.
I have time to take the photos, I have time to review them even, which as many of you know take a lot of effort to cull out those that are kind of on the bad side – blurry, no composition, no โstoryโ showing [you know that story that sits right there waiting to be photographed]
But where is the time to writeโฆmy dilemma, or is it that I donโt know What to write because I havenโt done my usual traveling? There was a pandemic after allโฆand in fact we are still in one, but is that really why I havenโt been writing? because I have still been taking photosโฆ
So Iโve decided to jump back on the horse and get back to writing my travel blog with or withoutโtravelโ ?In the meantime here are some photos of what Iโve been taking around during the pandemicโฆ
Traveling in-State. Juneau, AKHiking Thompson Pass. Valdez, AKSalmon season is Bear season. Allyson Point, Valdez, AK.Hiking Root Glacier, MCCarthy, AKGetting out on the ocean. Prince William Sound, AK
Traveling with a good keen man takes traveling in an altogether rather interesting direction most times.
First let me tell you What a good keen man is, then I can continue with chatting about traveling with one.
A good keen man was first described and is the title of a New Zealand book by Barry Crump. A rugged kiwi (New Zealander) whoโs life was being in the native bush (old growth forest to you non-down-under folk).
I see him also as an “attitude about life” – living/ playing in the outdoors to itโs fullest, sometimes off the grid, sometimes enjoying the company of others on his journeyโs. It is always with a mind and heart open to whatever to life will bring.
A good keen man is seen as an ordinary โblokeโ who enjoyed tossing the urban rat-race aside to โgo-bushโ…someone who can survive and thrive out there, someone who sees the small and large of it’s wonder and someone who needs to be outdoors because it is what makes them who they are. Could a good keen man be a female…absolutely, in fact I know several.
So back to traveling with a good keen man. It is always an experience. One, that more often than not, has the outdoors as a major participant – go figure.
Countries and oceans, mountains and beaches. From New Zealand to Alaska, the Caribbean’s Dutch Antilles to Australia and beyond. Islands with crystal waters and old growth forests. My travels are filled with wonder, painful muscles, fun & laughter, and grumbling about needing to have a rest day for the tired body.
It involves history & living in the amazing worlds moment…yet saying no to the 10 mile hike that started “just a short one”. Then there are the outstanding under ocean views which out-weigh the walking next to sewers in unexpected places, all with only minor grumblings about finding enough power to charge the cameras batteries. Traveling can be an excellent way to see if you can not just get along together but survive together in and out of the ‘bush’.
With that being said, It is easy to continue to smile, be grateful for each day because to quote my Dad… ‘I’m living the dream’ and I am doing it with MY good keen man and life couldn’t be much better than that.
What a wonderful world we live in…Alaska and Valdez in particular has a variety to sports adventures that far out weigh the number of people that live in this small community. To get here you can take a 35 minute flight from Anchorage or drive one of the most beautiful road trips you ever could do.
I had the opportunity this Winter to be able to capture some beautiful photos of this stunning landscape, as well as some of the amazing sports that this town offers. Valdez Ice Festival is a climbers dream, both rock and ice saw some action. With world class Canadian climbers Nathan Kutcher and Rebecca Lewis, and Ice and Rock Magazine Hayden Carpenter climbing, along with local Nick Weicht, photos were a fun adventure.
Nathan Kutcher, world class climber from Canada
Rebecca Lewis, Canadian world class dry tooling
Teal Rogers
And then and then you have some fun…aerial silk performance art.