In This Issue
Planning Your Travel
Winter Travel Tips
Don't you love the snow and cold?
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Pictures from Hawaii
Riding through the lush Waipio'o Valley is a great way to learn about the kings, farmers, and hippies who have lived here
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Halema'uma'u Crater
This is the home of Pele, goddess of fire. A new vent opened in the crater in March 2008.
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A Humpback flipper
Humpbacks winter here to mate and give birth. We not only saw them when we were "whalewatching" but also kayaking and walking along the shore.
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Kilauea Crater
The entire island is a testament to the persistence of life, but nowhere is that more apparent than where flowers are growing in the midst of lava flows.
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A Zebra
No, definitely not native to Hawaii. We visited Three Ring Ranch, a sanctuary for animals that were injured or abandoned after being brought to Hawaii. The knowledge and dedication of Ann Goody, the woman behind it, is very inspiring for any animal lover.
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Planning your travel : the Big Picture
We set goals at work to help us stay focused, to give us something we can refer to when we're feeling overwhelmed by everything or uninspired by anything, and unsure about what to do next. Having goals for travel can also be helpful for exactly the same reasons. Otherwise we can put off vacation forever, or use all the time visiting in-laws or painting the house. Which are both fine things to do if they're our choice, they just should not be a default because we didn't get it together to plan.
There are 2 basic approaches: the Bucket List and the Big Project. For the Bucket List, start by imagining you can no longer travel- what memories do you want? What do you want to make sure you don't regret? Post the list on your refrigerator and add to it for about a month. You can keep adding after that of course, but if you never set a deadline for arriving at a preliminary list, you end up with just a growing list of unfulfilled dreams. So after a month or so, reorder it in terms of your priorities- where do you want to go first, second etc. And then plan it. Assign a year and figure out a budget for each. What do you need to do to make the first one happen? Get in better shape, save XX amount of money, find a companion to do it with etc? Start with the big things you need to do, and then go into the micro-planning phase after that. The more concrete and specific you can make this part, the more likely it will actually happen. Once you've done it once, it gets easier.
A completely different approach is the Big Project. Some examples - visit every National Park; climb every mountain over 3000 feet in the Adirondacks or 14,000 feet in Colorado or 7000 meter peak in the world; hike the entire Appalachian Trail; or eat blueberry pie in every state capitol.
An example from someone who has traveled with us:"For the last year I have been working hard on my "900 miles". That's all the miles of all the maintained trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is a logistical challenge, a major accomplishment, and a big deal to hikers in this area." She finished it about 6 months later and sent out a delightful summary, saying "Next to going to and graduating from college, working on my 900 miles was the biggest thing I have ever done."
It almost doesn't matter what you choose. Just figure out something that speaks to you, that would offer you challenge and excitement and an organizing principle. So that next time when you think of vacation, you just think - oh, I haven't eaten pie in Bismarck ND yet.
"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." Goethe
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Winter Travel Tips
Flying has generally gotten to be more of a hassle and flying in winter, especially a winter like this one, even more so. Airlines are pre-emptively canceling flights so they don't strand passengers on the tarmac and flights are often so full that the next available flight may be several days away. Staying home is one option but if your skin is dying for warmth and sunlight, here are a few tips that may be helpful.
1. Sign up for alerts from your airline. Many airlines allow you to change your travel plans when a storm is coming without paying a change fee. Be packed and ready to go at least 2 days before your flight so you can jump on an early departure if the weather forecast is uncertain or bad.
2. Buy fully refundable tickets for the day before and after your desired flight. That way you have a backup if your flight gets canceled. Of course they are very expensive so remember to cancel them if you don't need them.
3. If you need to call to rebook a flight, press the button that indicates you need to speak to a Spanish-speaking agent. They are all bilingual and the wait time is much, much shorter.
4. Know your airlines "contract of carriage" and what you can expect. For example, if the airline cancels your flight at the point of origin, they don't owe you anything. But if they strand you mid-flight, then they have to put you up in a hotel, give you some meal vouchers etc. Its not a bad idea to print out the contract from the airline's website as sometimes airline employees don't know their own policies.
5. Always have a carry-on bag of essentials. That way if you and your bag are separated for longer than you expected, you have what you really need.
6. Find out if your airline has a twitter account and tweet for help if you're having trouble getting through. For example, Delta has a dedicated Twitter account for customer service issues, @DeltaAssist, with reservation agents online Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST.
7. Avoid getting bumped by checking in online before you come to the airport. If you do get involuntarily bumped, ask for cash not a voucher. According to the Department of Transportation, you are entitled to $400 if you are rerouted within 2 hours (or 4 hours for international flights) and $800 if its longer
8. Accept delays and inconveniences as just one more opportunity to learn, again, that the only thing you really have control over in your life is your attitude.
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Don't you love the snow and cold?
What? You're ready to be warm again? Even the most hardcore winter lovers are finding this winter a little long. It's not too late to take a winter break. We still have a few spaces on both Death Valley Delights, Paddling the Okefenokee, and Sea Kayaking the Caribbean. Or if you want to relive your school days when thoughts of Spring Break got you through those long cold days of winter, join us for Exploring Utah's National Parks or Wildflowers and Waterfalls. You won't regret it. Really.
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