As a teacher, when of the most important things for me is summertime, it gives you time to think about the past year, what worked, what didn’t work and it gives you the ability to think about for the next year. I like using my breaks as opportunity’s to go and travel and see the historical places and events that I to talk about in class.
I think it is very important also to get to experience an interesting adventure and go somewhere new for the holiday. This summer (2010) I will be finished with grad school by the end of June and so between June 25 or so and August 15th I am going to on some time of adventure.
I like to put a lot of options on the table, with the hope that at least one might work out.
Alaska:
One idea is to ride my motorcycle to Alaska taking the scenic route. But to do this, I would have to have a good riding partner who I would get along with and would have the same goals and timeline that I do for making the trip a reality. I constantly want to make my own Long Way Round after seeing the cheap price of HD Helmet cameras and HD portable cameras. But then I would need to have a cameraman, be photogenic and be a famous actor. So I don’t foresee the movie thing really happening. But the trip, YES!
My idea would be to ride up to Alaska and heading all the way to Prudhoe Bay in one of the most northern places in the United States. Then to ride back down to Anchorage and take a boat to Seattle. I have seen one, where I could camp on the deck. Then ride back to the East Coast. But I am always open to other ideas.
This trip would be at least 10,000 miles, which is a lot of saddle time! Honestly I am unsure if my bike would be able to make the complete trip. But I guess part of the adventure is that element of the unknown. This trip is one of many goals that I have and I want to complete within my lifetime.
One of my other goals is to ride my motorcycle all the way to Tierra Del Fuego at the most southern tip of South America. From Advrider.com reports it is apparent that it is necessary to bypass Columbia due to the threats of FARC, especially in the rural areas.
I talked to my friend Bettina, about the possibility of traveling to Eastern Europe and that is definitely something that interests me. I want to see is much the world so I can bring it back to my classroom and allow those experiences to help enrich my classroom and my teaching.
California
As a motoring enthusiast, I’ve also talked about going this summer to the Monterey Historic Races and the Pebble Beach Concours d’elegance in California. I’ve heard that this is the premier car show in the United States.
I would also like to be able to go and do a lap around the Nürburgring. It would be especially incredible if I was to take the Nürburgring taxi was Sabine Schmitz as the driver. Though I am unsure of that possibility based on her and fame.
I’ve been watching the Dakar rally this year and everything I see about Argentina in Chile amazes me. At some point in my life I would like to be able to go and travel with the Dakar rally just being able to go to the biviouac each night.
Another goal of mine is to enter the Baja 1000 rally from Ensenada to the tip of Baja California. I would a specially like to be able to run it in a Volkswagen Baja Beetle.
Also to drive the complete length of the Pacific Coast Highway.
Another thing I would love to do is to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.
Ok, well that is a lot of goals and interests.
Anyone interested in taking part in some of these goals or have any ideas?
I am all ears!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Lifetime Travel Goals
I believe that travel and exploration is the most important thing you can do in life. Learning about other places helps put where you live in context.
This is a list of places that I would like to visit and adventures and events I would like to take part. These are in no particular order and this list is subject to get longer, much longer.
Places to visit in the United States:
- Bike the Lewis and Clark Trail
- California
- Blackhawk Collection – Danville CA
- Pebble Beach Concours D’elegence
- Peterson Auto Museum - LA
- Austin, Texas
- Vicksburg, Mississippi
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Milwaukee, Green Bay Wisconsin
- Taliesin –Frank Lloyd Wright House
- Little Bighorn 1876
- Wounded Knee 1890
- Yankton, South Dakota
- Kitty Hawk, NC
- Promontory Point, Utah
I want to visit every State in the US. States I need to Visit:
- California
- Washington
- Oregon
- Idaho
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Arizona
- North Dakota
- Nevada
National Parks
I would like to visit them all. But these are the ones I am thinking about right now.
- Glacier
- Zion
- Big Bend
US Adventures:
- I want to ride my motorbike to Alaska
- I want to bike across the US
- I want to visit the Goodwood Festival of Speed
- I want to visit 70 Countries
- I want to watch an WRC event in person
- I want to visit the new Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart
- I want to go to the Isle of Man TT
- I want to drive a lap around the Nürburgring
- I want to ride my motorbike to Tierra del Fuego
WWII Locations:
- Nuremburg, Palace of Justice- International Military Tribunal, Parade Grounds
- Ardennes
- Obersalzburg
- Berlin- Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie
Spend more time in eastern Europe
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia
Asia:
- Japan: Nissan Museum, Toyota Museum Honda Museum.
- Vietnam – Ride a scooter from Saigon to Hanoi
- Potosi, Bolivia
- Watch the Dakar Rally in Person
Other Ideas: To be edited:
Scottsdale Auction Week, Scottsdale, Arizona
Second Week of January
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Premier European Concours
Amelia Island Concours, Amelia Island, FL Going to this Year 2010!
RM auction at this event
Meadow Brook Concours D’elegence, Rochester Hills, MI
Bike from John O’ Groats Scotland to Lands End, England
Travel to upstate NY, VT, NH and Maine visiting some towns during the summer.
Go Downhill Mountain Biking at Whistler-Blackcomb
Visit the 4 corners region of the United State
"Rolling Cones"
Life Goals- the importance of making goals. I find making goals to one of the most if not the most important thing you can do....
- Learn a second language!
Richmond Community does well in US News Survey
This is always great news from your alma mater:
Several local high schools have been ranked among the nation's best in a recent issue of U.S. News & World Report.
For the third consecutive year, Richmond's Community and Open high schools have made the list with silver and bronze rankings, respectively.
"To be ranked among America's best high schools for a third straight year is truly an extraordinary accomplishment," said Richmond School Superintendent Yvonne W. Brandon in a statement. "The national rankings reflect the outstanding commitment shared by the students, teachers and parents of both schools to create a learning environment that is defined by academic rigor and student achievement."
Several local high schools have been ranked among the nation's best in a recent issue of U.S. News & World Report.
For the third consecutive year, Richmond's Community and Open high schools have made the list with silver and bronze rankings, respectively.
"To be ranked among America's best high schools for a third straight year is truly an extraordinary accomplishment," said Richmond School Superintendent Yvonne W. Brandon in a statement. "The national rankings reflect the outstanding commitment shared by the students, teachers and parents of both schools to create a learning environment that is defined by academic rigor and student achievement."
Update from Alicia in Europe
This is an update Alicia sent on here travels in Europe.
Sounds like fun!!!
Phelbe and I were pretty tired last night and didnt watch a movie but instead read and then went to bed around midnight. Then we had planned on getting up around 9 am but then that became 10 am so I trully understand the need for extra sleep:) We had breakfast and then left her apartment around 12 pm. We first took the metro to the hill of Montmatre the area associated with artists and the Moulin Rouge. There was a great view of Paris from this location and we visited the Sacre Coeur church in the Neo Romanesque style. We also saw many street artists offering to paint portraits of tourists. Then for lunch we went to the cafe where Amelie was filmed which was neat. After that we walked around the Hotel de Ville (the home of the city council), the outside of the Lourve, and the Tour St Jaques (a late Gothic tower). We also walked along the Rue de Rivoli a major shopping area where the first department stores with electricity opened. Following that we journeyed through the Jardin des Tuileries (i think the garden we visited in Salzburg was much prettier). Next we arrived at the Place de la Concorde and viewed the grand Luxor obelisk. I learned that this was the location where both Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded. Afterward we walked along the Avenue des Champs Elysees and just in time the trees and other holiday decorations were illuminated. It was very beautiful and enchanting to see Paris illuminated by night. Now I am back at Phelbes apartment because she has to take care of the children of the owner of her apartment for about 2 hours and then we will probably head back out to see the Arc de Triomphe by night and the Eiffel Tower. Tomorrow I think I will visit her uni and the Notre Dame and other sites. This visit to Paris will be short like our trip to D.C. but I have enjoyed catching up with Phelbe and seeing the city. Ellie...I think you would enjoy visiting here and seeing all of the well dressed women and men and this center of fashion.
Before coming to Paris I just got back from 5 days in Austria ( 4 days of skiing and one day of visiting Salzburg the home of Mozart). The skiing conditions were great and only on the last day there were snow blowers on while we were skiing. Wouter, Tom, Wouters Mom, and I skied together the first day. Then Wouter and I basically skied together the following days since Tom skis very fast and his mom wanted to ski at a slower pace. New Years Eve was also fun because we went into the small town of Radstadt for a nice dinner for which Wouters father generously paid. Then there was a stage in the center of the town with music and lots of fireworks.
Sounds like fun!!!
Phelbe and I were pretty tired last night and didnt watch a movie but instead read and then went to bed around midnight. Then we had planned on getting up around 9 am but then that became 10 am so I trully understand the need for extra sleep:) We had breakfast and then left her apartment around 12 pm. We first took the metro to the hill of Montmatre the area associated with artists and the Moulin Rouge. There was a great view of Paris from this location and we visited the Sacre Coeur church in the Neo Romanesque style. We also saw many street artists offering to paint portraits of tourists. Then for lunch we went to the cafe where Amelie was filmed which was neat. After that we walked around the Hotel de Ville (the home of the city council), the outside of the Lourve, and the Tour St Jaques (a late Gothic tower). We also walked along the Rue de Rivoli a major shopping area where the first department stores with electricity opened. Following that we journeyed through the Jardin des Tuileries (i think the garden we visited in Salzburg was much prettier). Next we arrived at the Place de la Concorde and viewed the grand Luxor obelisk. I learned that this was the location where both Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded. Afterward we walked along the Avenue des Champs Elysees and just in time the trees and other holiday decorations were illuminated. It was very beautiful and enchanting to see Paris illuminated by night. Now I am back at Phelbes apartment because she has to take care of the children of the owner of her apartment for about 2 hours and then we will probably head back out to see the Arc de Triomphe by night and the Eiffel Tower. Tomorrow I think I will visit her uni and the Notre Dame and other sites. This visit to Paris will be short like our trip to D.C. but I have enjoyed catching up with Phelbe and seeing the city. Ellie...I think you would enjoy visiting here and seeing all of the well dressed women and men and this center of fashion.
Before coming to Paris I just got back from 5 days in Austria ( 4 days of skiing and one day of visiting Salzburg the home of Mozart). The skiing conditions were great and only on the last day there were snow blowers on while we were skiing. Wouter, Tom, Wouters Mom, and I skied together the first day. Then Wouter and I basically skied together the following days since Tom skis very fast and his mom wanted to ski at a slower pace. New Years Eve was also fun because we went into the small town of Radstadt for a nice dinner for which Wouters father generously paid. Then there was a stage in the center of the town with music and lots of fireworks.
Maltese Buses
I found this great site with images from the amazing buses of Malta and the story behind them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)