I just returned from our first joint venture with another company, one where we combined our respective areas of expertise. We have been offering a week-long trip in the Adirondacks at the height of the fall foliage for several years, one that was hiking and paddling with some visits to other sites. This year we worked with WomanTours for a trip that offered three days of biking, two and a half days of hiking, and a day of paddling, and WomanTours owner Jackie Marchand guided it with me. There were times when she missed not having a second full-fledged bike guide or I missed not having a regular hiking or paddling guide. But overall we worked it out and it was fun for me to have a brand new guiding experience.
It was also interesting to see how another company operates and to talk about what challenges we share and which are different. At the beginning of the trip I had a serious case of "trailer envy"-they have a trailer that is outfitted to carry luggage, extra bikes, and kitchen gear which makes setting up picnic lunches so much easier. But then Jackie told me how she plans the schedule around getting the vans with their trailers to the right places at the right times and the challenges of keeping all the bikes in good shape as they are spread out around the country. It makes our equipment challenges seem so minor in comparison! I am happy for Adventures in Good Company to keep offering almost everything but biking and to recommend WomanTours without reservation for any woman looking for a fantastic cycling tour.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Hiking or kayaking as meditation
As I was driving to the airport from our recent hiking trip in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I was talking with one of the participants in the van about her recent kayaking trip. She said how much she loved kayaking, that when she did it she just became completely absorbed in the movement and the water. I said something about how it was a very meditative activity and that I had the same experience with hiking. She disagreed and said how she had once tried meditation as part of a yoga class and had really disliked it- and as a result the concept of meditation had a very negative connotation for her.
Whether we choose to call it meditation or not, I think for many of us who love being active and love being in nature, there is a common experience of our minds quieting down, the ceaseless internal chatter at least receding into the background, as we become absorbed in the motion and in our surroundings. As this happens, we become more present. I don't hike in order to have this experience, which occurs more rarely than I would like. I hike because I love being out, and I love the way my body feels, and I love seeing panoramic scenery and wildflowers and trees. And when I have those times of feeling completely present - that is a gift.
Whether we choose to call it meditation or not, I think for many of us who love being active and love being in nature, there is a common experience of our minds quieting down, the ceaseless internal chatter at least receding into the background, as we become absorbed in the motion and in our surroundings. As this happens, we become more present. I don't hike in order to have this experience, which occurs more rarely than I would like. I hike because I love being out, and I love the way my body feels, and I love seeing panoramic scenery and wildflowers and trees. And when I have those times of feeling completely present - that is a gift.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Welcome Ms Divine!
Deb Malmon, the other full-time person here at Adventures in Good Company, got married last weekend to her long-time partner Sean Divine. You can see pictures of the happy event on our Facebook page . In true guidely fashion, although she did leave her hiking boots at home and trade her hiking pants for a dress, the event took place over the weekend at a campground and the honeymoon suite was a tent. She and Sean arranged almost everything and a lovely time was had by all. She actually is not going to take his last name- she says that Deb Divine sounds like a porn star and besides, she has had her name for 40 years and prefers to keep it.
All of us at Adventures in Good Company congratulate Deb on her marriage and look forward to the time when anyone who wants to make a long-term commitment to his or her partner enjoys the same civil right!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Airline to avoid
Sometimes an airline develops the stink of failure. Two prime symptoms: 1) the prices are low. By itself, this is not necessarily a red flag. But if you couple that with 2) they start canceling flights, then you know they are in trouble. Couple that with 3) bad PR, and you know the low price is because they are desperate to get more fliers. But here's the problem- if you give in to the lure of the low price, are you sure they will still be flying when you have the ticket for? And even if they are still alive, if they are canceling flights left and right, what good does your ticket do anyway?
Last Sunday I was sitting in the Manchester NH airport. My Southwest flight had been rescheduled because of earlier bad weather in the area that had a domino effect. But all the flights were still going, just late. In contrast US Airways had 3 flights. They canceled the first and the last- not rescheduled, but out and out canceled. So anyone who was on the late flight who didn't check flight status (because maybe they were on vacation) would be out of luck. And anyone on the earlier flight would simply get home much later. On that same night one of our guides trying to get to Maine had her US Airways flight canceled and she had to buy a whole new ticket.
So that does it for me. We are not booking any more US Airways flights to anywhere ever again, no matter what the price. Some times it is time for an airline to disappear. I would argue that it is that time for US Airways.
Last Sunday I was sitting in the Manchester NH airport. My Southwest flight had been rescheduled because of earlier bad weather in the area that had a domino effect. But all the flights were still going, just late. In contrast US Airways had 3 flights. They canceled the first and the last- not rescheduled, but out and out canceled. So anyone who was on the late flight who didn't check flight status (because maybe they were on vacation) would be out of luck. And anyone on the earlier flight would simply get home much later. On that same night one of our guides trying to get to Maine had her US Airways flight canceled and she had to buy a whole new ticket.
So that does it for me. We are not booking any more US Airways flights to anywhere ever again, no matter what the price. Some times it is time for an airline to disappear. I would argue that it is that time for US Airways.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
An intriguing new book
Do you like going where there are lots of other people or do you love not seeing another American (or tour group from any country) the entire time? I'm in the latter category and it was one of the things that many of us loved on both the Croatia and the Bulgaria trips. And now there is a book for all of us who feel that way- Off the Tourist Trail: 1,000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives, published by DK Eyewitness Travel.
In nine different chapters (e.g. Ancient and Historical Sights, Natural Wonders, Beaches) the book describes an alternative to some place famous, explains why the famous destination is not what you might hope it will be, and then also lists additional lesser known but wonderful alternatives. It gives practical information for the alternative suggestion and advice if you decide to visit the famous destination anyway. For example, it suggests Bryce Canyon over the Grand Canyon because the Grand Canyon is both crowded and commercialized (not the way we visit it, which is backpacking, but for most people I totally agree). It explains why Bryce is so amazing, where to stay and eat and when to go, what to budget - and suggests if you want to see the Grand Canyon anyway, go to the North Rim. Other alternatives listed include Copper Canyon, Zion Canyon, Waimea Canyon, and Canyon de Chelly.
The book is very well written with gorgeous photographs. My only complaint, and this is minor, is that it is a large book format and costs $40. But I definitely plan to spend some time reading it and see what other ideas it gives me for trips....
In nine different chapters (e.g. Ancient and Historical Sights, Natural Wonders, Beaches) the book describes an alternative to some place famous, explains why the famous destination is not what you might hope it will be, and then also lists additional lesser known but wonderful alternatives. It gives practical information for the alternative suggestion and advice if you decide to visit the famous destination anyway. For example, it suggests Bryce Canyon over the Grand Canyon because the Grand Canyon is both crowded and commercialized (not the way we visit it, which is backpacking, but for most people I totally agree). It explains why Bryce is so amazing, where to stay and eat and when to go, what to budget - and suggests if you want to see the Grand Canyon anyway, go to the North Rim. Other alternatives listed include Copper Canyon, Zion Canyon, Waimea Canyon, and Canyon de Chelly.
The book is very well written with gorgeous photographs. My only complaint, and this is minor, is that it is a large book format and costs $40. But I definitely plan to spend some time reading it and see what other ideas it gives me for trips....
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Perspective from the US
I got back about a week ago and am finally over jet lag (you know, suddenly at 6 pm you feel like it's the middle of the night). I am always glad to get back to a (mostly) smoke free environment, one of the things I take for granted until I travel abroad and find everyone smoking everywhere. And particularly if I've been traveling someplace where public bathrooms are truly horrendous, I'm glad to return to that luxury too.
But what always strikes me when I leave North America is 1) how isolated we are; and 2) what a young country we are. The isolation hits me when I'm standing in a European airport and see flights taking off to lots of different countries, not just lots of states. And the youth of our country is evident when I am looking at signs of Roman exploration from 100 BC. Yes, there were people living in the US way before there was European "discovery" of this continent, and there is evidence of sophisticated cultures particularly in our Southwest and Mexico and Central America. But those cultures do not inform our current culture in the same way that the Roman Empire impacts European culture. Our isolation and our newness are not good or bad- they are simply facts of our existence that shape pur experience in ways that are more difficult to discern from inside the US.
But what always strikes me when I leave North America is 1) how isolated we are; and 2) what a young country we are. The isolation hits me when I'm standing in a European airport and see flights taking off to lots of different countries, not just lots of states. And the youth of our country is evident when I am looking at signs of Roman exploration from 100 BC. Yes, there were people living in the US way before there was European "discovery" of this continent, and there is evidence of sophisticated cultures particularly in our Southwest and Mexico and Central America. But those cultures do not inform our current culture in the same way that the Roman Empire impacts European culture. Our isolation and our newness are not good or bad- they are simply facts of our existence that shape pur experience in ways that are more difficult to discern from inside the US.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Staying at the Hostel Mostel
The trip officially ended today. Our last major activity, climbing Mt Mussala, got rained out. However, everyone seemed to have an excellent day. Activities included hiking in the rain (an option only 5 of us decided to do), taking naps, getting massages, going for shorter walks, swimming in the pool etc.
So now I'm in Sofia, flying out tomorrow, and staying at the Hostel Mostel. Honestly I was regretting this decision earlier today - tired after 3 weeks of traveling, I just wanted to go into a vegetative state. However, the moment I walked thru the door into this little oasis off the street with lots of places to sit, internet access, a TV, books, and a pool table, I knew it was the right place to stay. I am definitely significantly increasing the average age of the guests here and I am not totally wild about sharing a room with 7 other people of both sexes (although that isn't any different than staying in an Appalachian Mt Club hut) but I've already chatted with 2 young men who are starting a journey back by rail to England (their chief concern was the whether beer is cheap in Bulgaria, which it is) and 2 young women from Holland just finishing their 9 day trip here. I was never one of those people who traveled around Europe with a backpack as a young woman so I'm happy to be reliving the youth I didn't have - a iftting end to this long adventure.
So now I'm in Sofia, flying out tomorrow, and staying at the Hostel Mostel. Honestly I was regretting this decision earlier today - tired after 3 weeks of traveling, I just wanted to go into a vegetative state. However, the moment I walked thru the door into this little oasis off the street with lots of places to sit, internet access, a TV, books, and a pool table, I knew it was the right place to stay. I am definitely significantly increasing the average age of the guests here and I am not totally wild about sharing a room with 7 other people of both sexes (although that isn't any different than staying in an Appalachian Mt Club hut) but I've already chatted with 2 young men who are starting a journey back by rail to England (their chief concern was the whether beer is cheap in Bulgaria, which it is) and 2 young women from Holland just finishing their 9 day trip here. I was never one of those people who traveled around Europe with a backpack as a young woman so I'm happy to be reliving the youth I didn't have - a iftting end to this long adventure.
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