International Travel Update

I am still working out the details of my trip to Europe. This much I know: my friends and I will be in Munich(Munchen) Germany for 4 days of Oktoberfest, followed by a few days in Austria, and I think 3 or 4 days in Prague, Czech Republic. Because I wanted to experience a little more, and be less rushed, I decided that I would extend my vacation a little bit earlier, and do a weeklong solo Eurotrip before meeting up with them in Munich. I was about to pull the trigger on some airfare to Berlin before I realized that I might like to see Naples Italy or Rome instead. So, now I am on the verge of another decision, and will probably seek out some advice from fellow travelers, and then pull the trigger on that sometime this week.

If anyone has any advice on what I should be doing on my solo international expedition, send me an email with your input. Adventuringblog@gmail.com

Domestic Travel Adventures

I am currently in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the rock formations and mountains are tempting me to hike them, but it is 108 degrees outside, and being well equipped for a business trip, I am ill equipped for a real adventure. Although Camelback is a quite accessible, and quite do-able, I don't know if I want to push it when it will still probably be over 100 when I get done with work. But we will see.

This coming 4th of july weekend, I am planning a slightly adventurous weekend of Walleye and Bass fishing and swimming in Winneconne, Wisconsin at a friend's lake house. This is a luxurious adventure by my standards, even though I will be but one FIB in a sea of cheeseheads.

Vermillion Rafting Update

Rafting the Vermillion River--- SAT June 20th.

After a two hour drive, we arrived at the Vermillion River Rafting Outfitters. From the gravel parking lot we could see that the best of the best in homegrown rafting talent had arrived to challenge the raging rapids of the Vermillion, and they came prepared--outfitted with copious amounts of Busch Light and jean shorts, as well as perfectly groomed(see ungroomed) mullets. I could see that I was over matched. My lack of jorts, and the prominence of my teeth cast me into a world of desolation, I was not invited to take part in any of their hillbilly games, which included a game called "hey, let's harass this wild snake."

The only hope for me was to prove that I was not a greenhorn on the rapids. Once on the "class II" rapids, I could tell that immediately that I had been lied to. These rapids were only slightly wavier than bathwater, it was obvious that this was going to be a long day. Throughout the anticlimactic four and a half hour journey, we came across only two or three real drops, one of which was called wildcat rapids, in which I was almost decapitated by I leaping Asian Carp.

The scenery on the river was peaceful, but the abundance of trash, rusted out cars and tires on the river bank prompted my nephew to ask if we could come back again so that next time we could pickup everyone elses trash and beer cans. Although it was sunny and very hot, we were hesitant to submerge ourselves in the filthy brown-water rapids.

Will I raft again? Yes

Will I raft here again? No. The Vermillion river is probably more suited as a booze cruise rather than a real rafting experience. Although, I can think of better Booze cruise locations as well.

Vermillion River lovers send your hate mail to Adventuringblog@gmail.com

River Rafting the Vermillion

Tomorrow, I am most likely going to go white water rafting on the Vermillion River in Illinois, with a few of my family members. I do not know many details about this trip other than its location (Ogelsby, IL, which is a few miles south of Starved Rock), that it takes 3-4 hours, and to not get my hope up about the rapids. According to what I have heard, it is suitable for beginners (class II), and they have yet to lose one cooler. Judging by this description, it may be lame, and it may actually be some sort of booze cruise.

Having previously rafted the Ocoee river in Tennessee, which features class IV rapids, this trip will probably not compare. But what can I expect, while staying within the confines of the state of Illinois. At least I have an excuse to get out in the sun for a few hours, and have a cold one with Mama Nature.

More updates to come afer the weekend.

Inspirational Quote

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

-Mark Twain

Fee Free National Park Weekends

Here is the bad news: The economy has tanked. Your 401K is worthless, and if you have a job most likely you will never be able to retire. Here is the good news: This summer, the U.S. National Park Service will be offering a few weekends where you can bask in the beauty of our country's natural sanctuaries, and spend less of the money that you don't have.

For these weekends, entrance fees, car entrance fees, and park run tour fees will be waived, although you will still have to pay for camp sites.

Fee Free Weekends:

June 20th-21st Happy Father's Day!

July 18th-19th

August 15th-16th

There are 100 national parks on the list of participating parks, including some of the greats: Yosemite, Sequoia, Saguaro, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, and Zion.

Pack up the car, and get out there!

So living in Illinois, I have basically no local options for NPs to visit this summer. But recently, I have taken on a new role with the company I work for, and I am going to be traveling frequently to Scottsdale, AZ. These frequent business trips out west, will afford me more driving distance adventure and hiking options, and will put me within cheap flight range of a lot of great places.

I need to check out the Grand Canyon, and Zion National Park. I would also like to visit my cousin Andy in Salt Lake City, as well as my brother in the bay area. We will see. The adventures will be posted.

Cosley 10K Results!

The Cosley Run for the Animals in Wheaton was my first ever competitive long distance run,  and for me it was an awesome experience. I am now completely hooked on distance running. I started the run with my friend Gene, and my brother-in law. Due to the fact that there were about 1300 5k runners and 700 10k runners all starting on the same course it was a little crowded for the first mile or so. I took this time to have a discussion on movies with my hungover friend Jordan while jogging slowly. At the end of the 1st mile, my time was around 8:50. 

After this point I increased my pace a bit and kind of got in the zone. I was on cruise control into the end of the end of the 5k. At that point a man shouted to me that my time was around 24:30. I had expected to feel like "oh crap, I have to do that again?" but I felt good, and stayed the course. At around the beginning of the fifth mile, my right knee, which had been giving me trouble in the beginning of the week, locked up, along with my right calf. FML. I pushed on, albeit at a slower pace. At the beginning of the 6th mile a girl with an enormous ass passed me up, and I decided to go Kamikazee style. For the next 1.2 miles, I sprinted. I passed tons of people in this last stretch to the finish. 

Results: 49.37.2 which was 12.8 seconds better than my goal of 50 minutes

Overall pace: 8:00 minutes per mile

Overall Mens 10k: 140/348

Age bracket: 11/18

Based on my final sprint at the end, I think that I did not leave it all on the course. It may have been a crazy cocktail of raceday adrenaline, potassium, endorphines and good will, but at the end of my sprint across the finish line I was not even tired, and felt as if I could have run a few more miles. I think this could be an impetus for me to run faster next time to try to shave some time off of my 10k PR, or maybe motivate me to train for a half marathon. 

Following this race, we celebrated by watching the USA play Honduras in the World Cup soccer/football qualifying match at Soldier Field in Chicago. This was the first time that I had seen a professional soccer match in person, and it was very impressive. I guess it was a Saturday of firsts for me. The USA won 2-1. 

Cosley Run for the Animals

For the last few month I have been training to run my first ever 10K race. This Saturday,I will be racing in the Cosley Run for the Animals in Wheaton, Illinois with some friends and family, as well as a few thousand other people. I am not trying to win the race, and I will not even be close considering that my knee has been in some pain lately, but I will finish it. I will finish it because of the free drink ticket that will be validated when I finish the race. I will keep the world posted of my results. 

This 10K is not so much an adventure so much as it is a small test of my skill and an excuse to train my body for any other adventure that may arise.