Javins Scores with Dik-Dik, GoNOMAD

After getting Tim Leffel’s comment on this blog I headed to Barnes & Nobles in Kingston, N.Y. to find his book, not in the backwaters yet. I did however find, Stalking the Wild Dik-Dik by Marie Javins. I first learned about Marie when we were both asked by the founder of GoNOMAD, Lauryn Axelrod to be a part of a new travel site.

I also met her when GoNomad had a booth at the Adventure Travel Show in NYC a few times as she showed up to assist with the crowds. She was always ready to head somewhere and now I can finally catch up with all her adventures. The book is published by Seal Press and is about “One Woman’s Solo Misadventures Across Africa”.

Max Hartshorne also contributed to some advice to Tim’s book the Contrarian Traveler also. He is headed here for Labor Day weekend for some fun and brain storming this weekend. No doubt we will both catch up on Marie’s adventures, congratulations Marie!

Leffel, Traveler's Tales and You

 Mac & cheese, burgers & buns are all good matches, so is collaboration between Tim Leffel and Travelers’ Tales Books. Tim’s newest book, The Contrarian Traveler will make your, “travel dollars worth a fortune”. I have no doubts that Tim’s tips will stretch dollars, euros and yens; Tim has been giving great advice for years. This is his third book.

Traveler’s Tales is my top stop for books related to travel; I just cannot get enough from them. Country guides, humor, spiritual travel and now good advice, even their website can interfere with my writing day. The frequent stories they post are wonderful. Go for a threesome, Traveler’s Tales, Tim and you! 

NY District 101 and my Assemblyman Kevin Cahill

“All politics is local,” said Tip O’Neil years ago. I had a chance to check in with one of my favorite local reps last night at Ugly Gus’s restaurant in Kingston NY. Kevin Cahill is my Assemblyman from District 101, and while we do not agree with some things it is always good to run into him especially when he is chilling out with a Guinness at the bar.

Kevin knows his constituents and that is what I really admire. His fundraisers are usually different and well attended so I hear--I’m ready to check the next one out. I like his tourism take. I enjoy meeting prime ministers and royalty that are sometimes part of a press visit, but seeing my local politicians up close and personal is even better.

Thanks Nicole

 
I love today's youth and this lovely lady is holding our cat Tommy. She saved Tommy from extermination during flooding in Long Island and she and her family delivered him to us. Nicole is my sister's god child and a wonderful young woman. I love the whole Gilligan Clan and the fact that over my life they have always been wonderful to my sister and myself, that I hope to share with generations to come. 

Guatemala Guide

  
Sometimes I awake in the middle of the night with a memory of a person or place I have been. Often it sends me down to the computer to check Piccasa to go through thousands of pictures.This is one of the best guides I ever traveled solo with, Iavania. I am not easy to put up with so I was so lucky to have spent a week with her. Tough travel with a tender guide!

Flying Hooters

I read this little piece about Hooters Airline on Business Week online, pass the tabasco please! "In 2003, the restaurant chain known for scantily clad waitresses launched a brand extension skyward with Hooters Air. The fledgling airline ceased commercial flights in spring 2006, although the planes (and scantily clad flight attendants) are now available for chartered flights. The company blames the failure on the general slump in the airline industry. Sure, the post-September 11 travel environment and rising fuel costs pose serious challenges for airlines, but that wasn't the only problem. First of all, the airline business model requires a broader customer base than a niche restaurant chain. Also, Hooters' beer-and-chicken-wings demographic doesn't necessarily include lots of frequent flyers".

Tourism Council

While trying to finally finish my Bedouin piece I got side tracked by, “you got mail”. I was asked to join the Ulster County Tourism Council and answered yes immediately. I then thought that I would take a short ride to one of my favorite villages in UC, New Paltz. Up over Mt. Mohonk and down part of the Hudson Valley Wine Trail I headed. With the weather being so perfect and now being on the council I really tried to visualize what a tourist would think. The Wine Trail may not be Napa but with the Gunks in the background it was damn pretty. Lunch in New Paltz was great BQ at an outside table, the waitress friendly and the scenery standout. UC should be an easy sell! Here is a link to GoNOMAD article about NP.  

Classic Ford Fire Truck

 

Turn Left at Andorra

For years Max has been talking about Andorra, a pea size principality in the Pyrenees. While setting up my free week in Languedoc-Roussillon, France I am making arrangements to visit Andorra. This principality got its independence from Charlemagne who captured the area from Muslims in 803 A.D. In 1278 the country’s first constitutional agreements between the Bishop of Urgell (Spain) and Count of Foix (France) were put in place. Today Andorrians rule and they have joined the Council of Europe. I will not be there long but it will get put on the list of countries visited and one never heard of till mentioned a long while back over a dinner at some travel show.

Travel Motivation

For the first time in quite awhile I crept down stairs without hearing the hum of AC. The house with the windows wide open is cool and only the sounds of the country greet me. Summers for me are generally less productive than the rest of the year and the cool morning stirred up excitement of getting back to the key board. Soon enough Chance will be back in college and Lil back teaching and I back on the road. After my tenth commitment to a party or charity event, I feel a little drained, I often wonder why events aren’t spread out over the course of the year, we all need a good party in March! It just feels good to feel the motivation start to stir.

Coastal US 1 Obey the Signs

We all need' em, signs tell you alot even simple things that are right in front of you. I thought this one on the Coastal US 1 spoke volumes. Especially since a picknick tables was only a few feet away. I have not always obeyed signs but I have learned to listen for them, the ones that come from quiet reflection usually are spot on! 

Wedding Day

The happy couple tie the knot Aug 19 2006, congrats! 

The Boys & Girls

Like mother like sons, time will tell! 

Hanging with Young Guns

Hanging with the young pups isn't easy but this weekend its a celebration, these guys my is getting hitched. 

Summer Breeze

 

Buddha Meditation Cat Style

 

TSA and Behavioral Profiling

Not long ago I flew El Al airlines from Newark to Tel Aviv. El Al is the only airline to have anti missile systems. While on the check in line I was approached by some friendly guys working for El Al for a chat. It is the airlines first line of security and it is called “behavioral profiling.” It is now apart of the TSA’s newest approach to security and is already in play in Boston. The concept is that bad people have tendencies that are detectable. If it goes well it should be in place in all US airports. I only hope that some of my bad habits don’t show!

O2 at Las Vegas Airport, Breathe Deep

The Las Vegas Airport is designed to finish off those that fly in to break the bank. A case in point is the O2 Bar situated near Gate C16, pumping oxygen is the game. With the $15, “Businessman’s Special” you even get to keep the nose hose used to suck down flavored O2. The oxygen is sent through tubes of scented water, good for what ails you. Pick and choose relaxation, euphoria, hangover or becoming newly broke with no rent money.

From my spot just across the bar in the smokers lounge I watched various customers breathe deep for relief. It didn’t look like many businessmen were stopping by but many sad young male gamblers sure were. It may have had something to do with the exotic looking bartender that worked the O2. Included in the ten minutes of heavy breathing was her using some strange massage machines on sagging shoulders. I felt guilty as I exhaled from my cigarette, the smoke drifted straight across the concourse and settled above the O2. 

Northwest Airlines Advice

If you think travel writing is tough try working for Northwest Airline. The airline now in bankruptcy has provided ground employees with a brochure with emergency lay off tips. The booklet advises things such as fishing through trash to get things you may not be able to afford and turn dating into walks in a park. I would love to get more tips from the 150 page booklet; perhaps mixing free ketchup packs with hot water might help an employee survive. According to Reuters, Northwest spokesman Roman Blahoski said, “We agree that some of these suggestions and tips…were a bit insensitive.” I hope it was printed on recycled paper to save the airline some bucks! Got FF miles with Northwest, use them quickly!

Redwoods

Hug a tree today! 

Beating Las Vegas

Las Vegas has been very very good to me! After as posted last we bumped in Las Vegas for $800 in vouchers on Southwest we took the shuttle to MGM Grand for supplies. We allowed each other 15 minutes to hit the tables. I stuck to my limit and within 15 minutes my $20 turned into $110 at the black jack table. Headed to get Lil who was up at roulette but she was in heaven. Knowing that she only started with $15 I went to get a bottle of wine. We were at the Strip less than an hour till it was time to shuttle back to our vouchered room at the Double Tree.

It was funny but our fellow shuttle riders were discussing buffet strategies in LV instead of card playing strategies. Here is one tip I heard, “the crab at the Rio is salty so rinse it before eating’. All I was thinking was our unexpected bump racked up over $1009 in benefits, Roll the Dice! 

Bumped in Las Vegas

The lines at Oakland Airport were big and the airport crowded but we soon learned that very crowded at Las Vegas Airport worked very well for us. They were looking for two bumpers to stay behind. Lil and I grabbed the chance to get vouchers for $800 worth of flights on Southwest and a room at a Double Tree Hotel. Our bags went on to Albany but SW was doing a premotion for its credit cards with tee shirts for doing so, it solved the clothing problem. Razor and tooth brushes were provided by the hotel. A stroll around the Strip then dinner and bed, not a bad days work!

Flying and the New Reality

Packing up to fly home early today and doing so with the new rules now in place. However as I sipped my coffee and read through USA Today and the SF Chronicle those new rules are not clear. One source says restrictions are easing and delays non existent. The other paper slants things in another direction. After doing some research this weekend I will get to actually see for myself just what is the reality of flying these days.

Roshambo Winery, Dave Eggers is right

"Wine is for the people", is the statement made by Roshambo Winery in the Russian Valley. This wine certainly will please most people and the winery should please everyone. The tasting still free unlike the Napa hot shots and friendly staff excellent. They are young and fun and easy to deal with. Dave Eggers author of You Shall Know Our Velocity is also a fan of the place I have heard. Rashambo was named after the West Coast slang for the ancient Japanese game, "Rock, Paper, Scissors". 

Golden Gate Bridge

One step right and I am in the cold ocean. Golden Gate Bridge in back ground. 

Union St. Massage SF

This hard working travel writer needed a break and found it in the Union Street area of SF. Sent Lil & Drew off and got a 15 minute foot massage. After all the walking around the hills $10 was cheap! 

Ferry Market San Francisco

The Ferry Market in San Francisco is undoubtably one of the finest in the US. The selection of fruits, flowers, cheeses and olive oil is just stunning. My god it made me want to rent a kitchen and just play with food all day.

Year of the Dog

 

Heart of San Francisco

The Farkels strike a pose with the Heart of Frisco. From Left to right: Lady Bee, Prince Drew, Dutchess, Queen and Lady Barnes. 

Aggression in San Francisco

 

Security and Flying Means Adjusting

Flew to San Francisco today to visit my nephew and his girlfriend Tippy. With the new security measures in play things still ran relatively smooth at the airports passed through. According to the SF Chronicle, one unexpected causality of the ban on bringing bottles on board is the duty free shops. Racking in money are the restaurants and bars due to passengers making the most of delays. The last time I flew into SF was the day they lifted the no fly after September 11, 2001. Strange how five years later I am flying here again after terror once again strikes the traveling public, the bottom line is to just adjust and keep traveling.

Hudson River Lighthouse

 

Sailing the Hudson River

Gene's Three Boy Breeze is a whole lot bigger than the Bonita. At 44 feet we were the hit of the Hudson River yesterday. 

Visiting Languedoc-Roussillon Soon

I was going through Frommer’s Provence & the Riviera today planning for the extra week I will be in France in September. The first week will be on a barge on the Canal-du-Midi in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The cover picture is one of sunflowers that grow extremely well in Southern France. I looked out the window and saw that ours had bloomed so I went and got some crusty bread and cheese at the farm stand down the road and ate under the flowers with the book for inspiration, not that one needs to when heading to France. I was caught up with tales of the rough and ready reds, roses and whites of the Chateau de Flaugergues, perfect for GoNomads new wine section. Viva La France!