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MAHA & back to Utah

After our Philippines & Nepal jaunts, I got a surprise text from our dear brother Jeff Hays. He asked if we were going to be in the area at all as he needed some help. Jeff makes documentary films - I've been fortunate to help him with a few. They are always. fascinating and I get to meet fantastic people.

This one is his biggest (perhaps best) yet. He joined with RFK Jr. to create 4 films to support the MAHA movement. I told him I'd be honoured and we jumped flights back to Utah. Told him I could give him from start of Feb. to mid April (when Alaska calls).

It's been a remarkable time here. Getting to see dear friends that I've known for years. Getting to roll around with old jiu jitsu buddies is always a treat. But wow - the people I've been able to meet, interview and interact with has been astounding. Also - humbling. What some of these high performers accomplish is off the charts. Top doctors, health practitioners, stem cell peeps, nutrition& lifestyle gurus. and... of course The VAX. Discussions around Covid - what it is / what the pandemic was / what the fall out is / what's in the vaccines (are they vaccines at all? Gene therapy?).

Another amazing opportunity. Can't believe I get to experience this.

blessed.

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Since we ended up in Nepal - ya gotta head for the mountains and trek. We also did a wild river run where I got tossed out twice. And not completely out. I was upside down in the river with one foot in the boat holding on. Both times. Upside down turns out to be a poor way to ride the rapids. - the trek. 5 days up out of Pokhara. It was stunning. It was hard- there are no level areas in this country. You’re going straight up or straight down. One day our destination was just over a mile away as the crow flies. We could see the village clearly on the other side of the valley. 3 hours to get down to the river. Cross the river and then 3 hours up. Hard hiking but so very beautiful.

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Dental work / oral surgery in Manila. Some recovery in Boracay. Then our visas were up so went to Bangkok. Enjoyed a few days exploring this favorite fascinating city and taking big morning walks with our good friend Johnny- whom I met back in 1991 at Delta. - finding easy to chew soft foods …. The food here is so good (pork belly!) and we can’t eat most of it. Added insult to injury.

We got a month before needing to back to the dentist in Manila so looking for interesting things to do. Yesterday we figured it was time to leave the city and head to the beach. Koh Samui, Krabi, Khao Lak. Lots of beautiful choices.

So naturally, with our flip flops & swim suites, we land in——- Kathmandu, Nepal.

( while looking at the departure board at the airport I casually mention to Adventure D that there’s a non stop to Kathmandu. She lit up)

Time to buy some cold weather gear and get some hiking in.

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Philippines

Long way to go for a dentist, but we both needed some special work done and need a particular type of Biological Dentist. We’re having all the old metal removed as well as old root canals that have infection above the gum line. Regular dentist didn’t catch any of it with the X ray they use, but we had full cat scans that showed the bone loss and infection.

So - lots of work to be done. My brother Jeff Hays turned us on to the procedure. He’s already gone through it all and glad he did. We know it’s the right thing for our long term health - but damn. The dentist. Ouch.

But - we made our way to Boracay to recuperate on the beach. It’s pretty special here.

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Last sunny day up here. Snow arrives tomorrow. Time to wrap up the 2024 season

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Catching up...

It's been a while and a lot of miles since I last wrote anything so time to play a bit of catch up before I forget what we've been doing. and where we've been (seems to happen more and more as age sneaks up)

We did indeed head back to Skagway and our little community in April. I did my usual Guest Service gig and Lady Dee added a job working on the quite famous and stunning train (White Pass Yukon Route). Had a great summer - I was so blessed to have a team of co-workers that were just delightful - and full of life experience. Aged 68 to 78, the ladies were so much fun and so great with all the guests. Made for a wonderful summer for me.

In October we said see ya to Alaska and took off for some rather grand adventures. Headed back to Spain for another long walk. Started in Seville (glorious city / highly recommend it) and started walking north to Santiago. We've never hiked a Camino this late in the year and sure enough it was a wet one. Even got snowed on some. But it was wonderful as always. The weather just made it more unique - as long as you have the right clothing / gear...

Great hike - see other Camino posts we've made for particulars - we've done 6 of them - Even got to spend time with our friend Jonathan Gonzalez and his family in Leon & Astorga and do a bit of jiu jitsu. Always a blast for me.

Spent an extra week in Barcelona just for fun. We were in Barcelona back in 2012 and always said we had to go back. Can't believe it took us over 10 years but so worth it. One of our favorite cities anywhere.

In true Nomad fashion - from there to Bangkok, Thailand. Had a couple health issues we needed to check out / address and medical care in Bangkok is wonderful. Hard to imagine getting more personal and professional care anywhere.

Got fixed up / clean bill of health and headed to Buenas Aires, Argentina. Steak! Oh my! If you have carnivore tendencies, you must visit Argentina - best tasting / cleanest beef on the planet. We ate so much steak and didn't get enough. So good - and so inexpensive. Think 17 ounce filet for $10. Oh my. Lady D has even said (a few times) that we should just fly down for 3 days to eat. Non stop flights from ATL to Buenas so....

So as the adventure keeps getting bigger - from there we connected with Seabourn Cruise Line for a trip to the Antarctic. Amazing. Chartered flight to Ushuaia (southern most town on the planet - and a very cool & beautiful town). Boarded the very new Seabourn Venture for a 9 day run to explore the Antarctic. 2 day sail through the infamous Drake Passage (which lived up to expectations as we both were pretty much isolated in our room feeling sea sick...) but once we arrived we had 5 + full days to explore. Each day we took 2 Zodiac rides, did landings to hike and explore. Kayaking in sea ice. Penguins. Lots and lots of Penguins. And the ship is stunning and the service is as good as it gets. There simply cannot be a better way to experience the Antarctic than with Seabourn. (not a paid advertisement. unfortunately...;)

Sail back to Argentina and a few more days of exquisite carnivore living.

After time in the ice - we headed back to Thailand to thaw out and explore new islands such as Kho Kud and Kho Chang. Beautiful islands and a beautiful, charming people. So happy to be back again so soon. We also decided that after feasting on a cruise ship (it seems you are obligated to over eat) we would do a 5 day water fast. Yup - nothing but water for 5 days. So we booked a lovely resort on the beach (Khao Lak ) where we could relax, walk the beach a couple times a day, even get massages. It was a very interesting experience. I never felt hungry. My stomach never even growled - but oh my were we lethargic. Zero energy. Light headed. I never felt that my ketones kicked in and got a surge of energy. We've done these fasts before without this level of exhaustion. Weird. Just got to trust that those 5 days helped to reset our systems and that we are better for it. We are less puffy than post cruise so that's good.

Back to Utah for a quick trip to see friends and repack for another hike in Spain.

It's been a remarkable 4+ months.

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Wonderful country and a nice reward at the end of the day.

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And we’re off. 750 miles to go.

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This last year

It’s been quite a while since I sat down to write a bit about what we’ve been up to.  It’s been a different 12 months.  Good. Rewarding. Different.

Jeff & Dori Hays are those rare people you meet that become the family you choose.  We’ve stayed with them off and on for years.  Worked for Jeff on a number of interesting projects as well.  Alas, Dori came down with cancer.  She was doing treatments out of state and Jeff couldn’t always be with her,  Dee volunteered to take time out and go be with her.  Get her to all of her appointments and just make sure all was well. 

Since Dee and I want to / need to / must be together - after a while, I came down from Alaska to join her.  - Dee was also going through some health challenges so being in the lower 48 and in one place was a big help for her as well. 

When I showed up, Jeff hit me up with a perfect sales pitch.  Something like this - “I’m glad you’re here.  I have a project that’s a real career killer, but you don’t really have a career so you’ll be perfect.” ��How could I say no??  With that - we started on a journey to create a documentary series supporting the 2nd Amendment and gun rights.  What an interesting journey.  I did over 60 interviews.  Victims, heroes, police, military, lobbyists, pod casters and more.

I learned so much about the gun community and met some of the very best people.  So Firearms and Freedoms. Ammunition for Debate - is now a reality. (www.firearmsandfreedoms.com)  It went live this week.  I’m very proud of the project.  Working with Jeff’s team has been such a delight as well.  Just a killer group of people.  While here I also took over the role of Production Coordinator - had no idea what I was doing but the gang was wonderful and helped me stay on track - I can’t thank you all enough.  Love and hugs to you Elliot, Gabe, Ray,, Davis, Tanner, Porter. Cyndee, Jamie too.  And the marketing department led by Kat Merritt.  I’m truly blessed.

But it’s time for Dee and I to get back to our lives.  We are in the midst of looking for a miracle for Dori (Jeff too) and will stay close - but it’s time for us to get back to the nomadic lifestyle that brings us such joy and adventure.  So off to Alaska in a couple days.  It will be wonderful to be back - but sad to leave this great group of people and all the experiences that come with working for Jeff.  

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That’s our street. Literally had to snowshoe out to get to / from the studio. Roads were clear yesterday (at Suncrest) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co_Zgsxr9vc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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at Cesky Krumlov https://www.instagram.com/p/CmLa29FtB_p/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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at Český Krumlov Castle https://www.instagram.com/p/CmGm5CZtbnH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=