Beyond the Horizon

So I went to another travel show last week called Beyond the Horizon. It was about this couple who circumnavigated the world by using only human power!!! They used it to promote "green" transportation and to help the global warming cause. Colin Angus started out with a friend of his and they biked from Vancouver to Alaska, then rowed across to Russia. They, then, trekked for about 600-700 miles until they could bike again. but they were biking in Siberia in minus 30 degree weather!!!! Not anything I would want to do. They biked all the way to Moscow where his friend left the trip and Colin's girlfriend, now fiance, Julie Wafaei joined him for the rest of the trip. They biked to Portugal and then spent 5 months rowing across the Atlantic. I can't imagine spending that much time in a boat with one other person!!!! Julie became the first woman ever to row across the Atlantic. They prevailed through 2 hurricanes which came on each of their birthdays - weird! They rowed to Costa Rica and, then, biked back to Vancouver. Colin became the first person ever to get around the world solely by human power!!!

This trip took them 2 years to complete. I outlined it quickly, but with so much detail left out. They won the National Geographic Adventurers of the Year Award and their new film, Beyond the Horizon, has already won an award!!! So amazing what they did and they are doing a Canadian tour right now and it's worth going to hear their tale. You can check out their schedule by clicking on this. I have found something that I NEVER want to do!!!! It's about time.

Dermatologist

So I finally went to see a dermatologist!! After Mary passed on a couple of years ago at the young age of 40 of what started as skin cancer, I've been much, much more diligent in wearing my sunscreen. I had also started see some marks on my skin show up that weren't related to my billions of freckles either so wanted to get them checked out. Plus, being fair and having had my fair share of sunburns, I just wanted to check. He did take off one spot, but it turned out to be nothing to worry about. Yeah!!! Will now go for yearly checkups. So to all you fair skinned people out there, because you are worth it and take care of yourselves, book in to see someone!!

Mothers and Daughters

This is a book I just finished. It's written by an ob/gyn, Christiane Northrup, who has a holistic approach to medicine to compliment the science of it. It was interested reading on different stages in our development as I hadn't read about it in years. It does give her views on parenting and I like a lot of what she said, but since I haven't read any other books on parenting, I have nothing to compare it to. It did give me a better view on how I formed some really stuck, frustrating patterns that I haven't been able to break free from and that was worth the read for me. So I'd recommend it as a resource for those interested in learning more of themselves and if there are interested in holistic parenting styles.

Ian Wright

Last night I had the privilege of seeing Ian Wright live at the Chan Center at UBC. I got a free ticket at the last minute (thanks Ang!!). He hosted The Lonely Planet travel show for quite a while. I had never seen it since I don't watch TV hardly at all. He's a British bloke and funny as hell. He just went over some travel stories of different highlights and also his background and the video which got him the job. It all works for him just cause he's so bloody funny. The kind of guy that probably was the class clown who you think may not make much of himself. Great for him and he's so grateful for the life he has right now doing what he loves. It was a great surprise of an evening last night.

My New Bike

Can I tell you how excited I am about my new bike????? I'm very excited about my new bike. It's almost 2 years old from a former bike racer and was almost top of the line and well taken care of. It's a Basso frame which is Italian and you know how seriously those Italians take their cycling. It's an aluminum alloy - like my old bike - but lighter and stiffer and very responsive. There is carbon fiber forks and cranks. It handles like a dream and it very fast. It's got Durace components which are one of the best. 20 gears now - not like to old days. The shifters are by the brake levers which is new for me as my bike is so old. I need to get the tri bars on it still. The wheels have radial laced spokes which is more aerodynamic. Anyways, I'm very excited about my new bike so had to share that. Here's a pic, but mine has blue trim and the spokes are uniform.