Questions for Sam-A New Assortment

An addendum to the stupidest things you have done question.

In Puerto Natales, after our hike in Torres del Paine we met up for dinner with my friend, Nichola, and her friend, Nicole.  We had a great dinner and great conversation.  They both were well traveled and Nicole was planning on running an Iron Man competition in Phoenix in November.  She is the second person I know who is running that race-very strange.

At the end of dinner,we sorted out the bill.  We needed one hundred Chilean pesos (under one US dollar) to make up for the remainder of the tip.  Without thinking I picked up a bill from my wallet.  It said 100 pesos on it and I put it in with the tip money.  Needles to say, it was not Chilean money -it was Argentinian money I had left.  I had put in a $30 dollar tip-that was a room for one night down the road.  I imagine the waitress is still talking about the Gringo who gave her the great tip.

Do you feel homesick?

I do miss many things like my family, friends, East Lansing and yes on occasion even work.  The travel is so challenging and each day is so different that I often don't have time to think about the things that I miss.  I have had two points over the three plus months that I felt very homesick.  The first was in Monteverde , Costa Rica when I saw a dog in the street that looked my dog, Cob.  Here is a picture of the Cob-look-a-like.

The second time was after I got off the boat in Antarctica.  I had received a number of e-mails from friends and family wishing me a happy birthday.  A group of the guys I go to the Big Ten Basketball Tournament had also e-mailed about their plans to head to Indianapolis.  It was the first time in a decade that I wouldn't be with them.  It made me miss home. 

In the end, I do miss many things but not enough to head home.  I am having too much of a good time and I am learning so much.  The first group of friends to visit me after the kick off party are with me right now in Peru.  They are hiking the Inca Trail with me to the lost city of Machu Picchu.  My brother was here as well.  It is good to have them around but that is a blog post for later.

Where are you most excited about going to next?

The reason you have a post with questions is because I am away from the internet this week.  I am heading to a place that I have always dreamed of going to since I was a little kid.  I had read about this place in National Geographic and I was hooked.  I knew I wanted to go to Machu Picchu.  Tomorrow morning this is what I should see...

Questions for Sam-A New Assortment

What is Mini Loco up to these days?

Mini Loco has made trips to Panama and Peru in the past two weeks. He was quite bored at the conference I went to in Panama.  It looks like Peru is more his style.  I just completed his first YouTube Video.  Take a look...

More Questions for Sam

1.  What is the stupidest thing you have done so far?

As one could imagine, the list could be long but during our trip to Antarctica we we hit a grand level when we did the polar plunge.  Luckily the water was 2 degrees celsius.   

Questions for Sam- Does Mini Loco Have a Friend?

If Mini Loco gets lonely do you plan to get him a friend along the way?

Mini Loco does have a friend.  His name is Mono Loco.  They have been traveling with us since Costa Rica.  Mini Loco is lazy and still hasn’t put up his blog.  Perhaps he will have it set up in March. 

Mini Loco went to see Journey in Vina del Mar, Chile at the annual music festival.  Yes-Mini Loco loves Journey even without Steve Perry. 

Mini Loco also had a good time at the Conch y Toro winery in Santiago, Chile.

Concha y Toro aims to be a leading global branded wine Company. (From their website)

"Today, Concha y Toro is Latin America’s major wine exporter and with presence in over 115 countries, one of the world’s most important wine brands.

It is a truly global company where tradition and innovation meet to underwrite a commitment to our customers to offer the best quality and wine-drinking experience.

The Company’s agricultural and winemaking philosophy is oriented to achieving quality throughout the productive process and in enhancing the distinctive characteristics of each original vineyard. The diversity of soils and climates of its estates has allowed the Company to have the widest diversity of wine varieties in the Chilean wine industry. In addition, an intense dedication to the vineyard and permanent research has allowed the Company to determine the best terroirs for each grape variety and to produce outstanding wines with worldwide acclaim."

Actually Mini Loco was a mess at the winery.  He had too good of a time. He kept grabbing additional glasses of wine during the tasting and mocked the 2005 Casillero Del Diablo - Cabernet Sauvignon.

"This wine tastes like something poured from a fish tank." 

He was eventually asked to leave by security.  Too much wine and a monkey do not mix!

Questions for Sam- An Assortment

What is in your backpack? 
The big pack has the following:
4 pairs of zip pants (three quick dry)
4 t-shirts (two quick dry)
5 pair of underwear (all quick dry)
5 pairs of socks (All quick dry)
2 button down long sleeved shirts (both quick dry)
2 short sleeve polo shirts
Three pairs of shoes (1 pair of running shoes, 1 pair of hiking shoes and 1 pair of sandals)
Rain Poncho
A fleece pullover
Toiletry bag with the regular stuff.
Eight months of contacts.

For the Antarctica portion of the trip
Parka
Wicking Layer (top and bottom)
Insulating layer (Top and bottom)
Element shell
Mask
Cap
Gloves
socks

What is the one thing you wished you brought on the trip?

There hasn't been a point that I felt that I needed something that I didn't already have with me or that I couldn't purchase along the way.  The one thing I decided along the way was that I hated my new hiking boots.  They were too big and heavy and I needed something more versatile.  When Patrick went home for Allyses's birthday I had him buy me a new pair of hiking shoes.  They are Keens and I love them.  With the amount of walking I do comfortable shoes are important.

Here is a question from Devon, a middle school student in Okemos, for a class.  His teacher is letting him follow my travels for their newspaper class. 

Now that you have made it where you are, do you regret taking the trip?

After two months of straight travel, there has not been a moment that I have questioned going on this trip.  Since I have dreamed of something like this for the past twenty years, I feel fortunate that I have been given this great opportunity.  I will admit on occasion I miss my dog, Cob.

Do you miss Crunchy's?

After 30 days of eating rice and beans in Central America, I did have a hankering for a Crunchy Burger. During my layover both to and from Nigeria, I had a burger in Miami-- a weak substitute for a Crunchy’s burger but still a burger nonetheless.  I am sure you are not surprised but I have been able to find a pub or two along the way to satisfy the desire for a beer but none of them had a bucket of beer!   

Where was your favorite sunset?

It was in the city of Monteverde, Costa Rica.  The cloud forests are a special place.

I mean every night there was a great sunset.

Who Wants Cake?

First off, they don't rule the night. They don't rule it. Nobody does. And they don't run in packs. And while they may not be as strong as apes, don't lock eyes with 'em, don't do it. Puts 'em on edge. They might go into berzerker mode; come at you like a whirling dervish, all fists and elbows. You might be screaming "No, no, no" and all they hear is "Who wants cake?" Let me tell you something: They all do. They all want cake.

Can you get me a penguin?

No.

Questions for Sam-Will you keep running?

With as much as you hate running, are you going to quit after the marathon?

I do hate running so this might come to people as a surprise.  I plan on continuing to run throughout the trip and have begun to actively look for the next half marathon.  There is something cool about running through different cities in other countries.  I get to see a city from a different perspective and often get to areas that a walking tour doesn’t get me near. 

I have had the opportunity to run through the cloud forests of Monteverde, Costa Rica and I can personally say I have never run through an area so beautiful in my life.  Though it was a killer run, my two runs up to see the statue of the Virgin Mary on top of San Cristobal in Santiago, Chile was breathtaking.  I could see down to the city and the mountains that surround it. 

When I was in Abuja, I ran through the city and ran by the main mosque and then under a mile over to the main cathedral.  Two very impressive buildings of different faiths that illustrate the diversity of the religious backgrounds of the Nigerian people.  It was in Abuja that I received the most stares.  Why was I running in the heat and at one point someone yelled to me, "Marathon, Marathon!"  Well- half marathon but they were on the right track.

The pure activity of travel combined with my running has me down to my college graduation weight of 205 pounds.  I run for an hour now without even thinking that it is a long run.   The run on March 5 in Antarctica will be one of the highlights of my journey.  I just have to watch out for those pesky emperor penguins!

Maybe I don't hate running as much as I did before the trip began.