First visit to Chicago for both of us and we liked it a lot!
The architectural mix is intriguing and impressive - even a bit surreal every now and then. Made me think of some of the drawings of 'Schuiten en Peeters'.
The transport system that runs above the roads in Downtown gave us the feeling we were in 'ER'.
We walked around Downtown, in Grant Park to the shores of Lake Michigan, Millenium Park, did a self-guided architectural tour of 'The Loop' (part of Downtown), took the 'El' (metro) to some of the suburbs to get a flavour of something other than Downtown, walked around 'Graceland Cemetery' and prepared for our upcoming trips.
So yes, we could live here.... at least in summer... will have to come back and check the place out in winter! Maybe for some x-mas shopping!
Goodnight from Chicago.
photos
Monday, August 30, 2004
Friday, August 27, 2004
High Altitude Mountaineering Course, Bolivia
Spent last night doing a pre-pack for my trip to Bolivia. As usual, I have way too much 'gear'! But at least I think I am ready. Of course, we had to do one final run to REI to pick up some last minute supplies.
Really looking forward to the trip. There will be a total of five of us on the trip. Two guides and three clients. The plan is to spend 12 days learning skills necessary to climb high altitude peaks. And then 8 days attempting the local high point: Mt Illimani. Skill instruction and review will include glacier travel, ice/snow climbing, crevasse rescue, multi-pitch snow climbing, short roping, ice/snow anchoring, belay techniques, etc. During the instruction will we attempt a few peaks between 17,000 and 19,000 ft. (5,000 and 6,000 m.). Possible options to be attempted; Janko Laya (18,187 ft.), Janko Huyo (18,079 ft.) and Condorri (18, 525 ft.). These peaks are the warm-up to the Illimani Expedition. So after 10 days in the mountains we return to the city to get some decent food, beer and get organized for the expedition. All going well we should be heading up to Mt Illimani (21,200 ft./6,461 m.) around mid September. This will be the highest that I have been.
I suspect Internet access in the Bolivian Andes will be a bit difficult. But I will try and send an update when I am in La Paz. Wish me luck...
Really looking forward to the trip. There will be a total of five of us on the trip. Two guides and three clients. The plan is to spend 12 days learning skills necessary to climb high altitude peaks. And then 8 days attempting the local high point: Mt Illimani. Skill instruction and review will include glacier travel, ice/snow climbing, crevasse rescue, multi-pitch snow climbing, short roping, ice/snow anchoring, belay techniques, etc. During the instruction will we attempt a few peaks between 17,000 and 19,000 ft. (5,000 and 6,000 m.). Possible options to be attempted; Janko Laya (18,187 ft.), Janko Huyo (18,079 ft.) and Condorri (18, 525 ft.). These peaks are the warm-up to the Illimani Expedition. So after 10 days in the mountains we return to the city to get some decent food, beer and get organized for the expedition. All going well we should be heading up to Mt Illimani (21,200 ft./6,461 m.) around mid September. This will be the highest that I have been.
I suspect Internet access in the Bolivian Andes will be a bit difficult. But I will try and send an update when I am in La Paz. Wish me luck...
Relaxing in Madison, Wisconsin
After 10 days of solid driving (we left Anchorage, AK on Aug 15th and arrived in Madison, WI on Aug 25th) we made it to Madison. It was a long 10 days and the drive through the prairie-lands actually got a bit boring. But what does one expect after spectacular scenery in Alaska.
So now we are relaxing a few days with friends (Sarie and Alejandro) in Madison. We're sleeping in, doing washing, catching up and preparing for our trips to Bolivia and Wales.
The current weather here is a bit of a surprise to us: it's very hot (25-29C) and very humid - another good reason to just laze-about really.
Sarie and I are both from Eeklo, Belgium; her parents are amongst my best friends; so it's been absolutely wonderful cathing up with her and meeting her partner Alejandro. They've made us feel very welcome in their home.
>>photos
Greetings from Madison.
So now we are relaxing a few days with friends (Sarie and Alejandro) in Madison. We're sleeping in, doing washing, catching up and preparing for our trips to Bolivia and Wales.
The current weather here is a bit of a surprise to us: it's very hot (25-29C) and very humid - another good reason to just laze-about really.
Sarie and I are both from Eeklo, Belgium; her parents are amongst my best friends; so it's been absolutely wonderful cathing up with her and meeting her partner Alejandro. They've made us feel very welcome in their home.
>>photos
Greetings from Madison.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Anchorage, AK to Dawson Creek, BC
We flew into Anchorage from San Francisco on 14 Aug around midnight. First stop: long term airport parking to pick up Sterlin.
The next day we started our trek in the general direction of Chicago.
We stopped in Tok, AK; Dawson City, YT; Whitehorse, YT; Liard Hot Springs, BC and Dawson Creek, BC - where we are tonight.
So far we have done 1810m (2890km) of the total roughly 3900m (6230km) to do by Aug 30. So yes, we are moving!
- Our favourite place of this part of the trip: Dawson City, a 'living museum' of the goldrush days.
- We spent a lot of miles (500-600) driving in smoke from different fires.
- On the Alaska Highway we have seen the most wildlife: moose, caribou, lynx, bear (it was either to dangerous to stop or those animals were to swift to be captured on photo), stone sheep and buffalo.
>>photos
Goodnight from Dawson Creek, BC, Canada.
The next day we started our trek in the general direction of Chicago.
We stopped in Tok, AK; Dawson City, YT; Whitehorse, YT; Liard Hot Springs, BC and Dawson Creek, BC - where we are tonight.
So far we have done 1810m (2890km) of the total roughly 3900m (6230km) to do by Aug 30. So yes, we are moving!
- Our favourite place of this part of the trip: Dawson City, a 'living museum' of the goldrush days.
- We spent a lot of miles (500-600) driving in smoke from different fires.
- On the Alaska Highway we have seen the most wildlife: moose, caribou, lynx, bear (it was either to dangerous to stop or those animals were to swift to be captured on photo), stone sheep and buffalo.
>>photos
Goodnight from Dawson Creek, BC, Canada.
3 Days and 3 Nights in and around San Francisco.
We just couldn’t stay away!
As mentioned previously we had to be back in SFO for fingerprinting. No choice really… so as we had to ‘interrupt’ our trip we decided to make the most of it.
On Wednesday August 11th we arrived at SFO airport in the evening and were met by ‘The FiGi’s’ (Fil & Gina). They also provided us with Wi-Fi enabled accommodation for 3 days and we had their truck at our disposal - thanks guys! It was good and easy staying at your place!
Thursday we kicked off with breakfast with Alison; Caroline then enjoyed a mid-morning coffee-chat with Olivier while Stephen went to the dentist.
Afterwards we paid a visit to our storage locker.
In the afternoon we visited Leslie who introduced us to their brand new baby girl Maelle.
Around 5pm we made our way to Inge & Marc’s. Stephen went for a run in Sunnyvale, which gave Inge and Caroline a chance to do some serious catching up. We were then treated to a yummy ‘stoverij-met-frieten’ dinner with homemade mayonnaise. Leslie and Erwan joined us for dinner.
On Friday morning we had an appointment with our immigration lawyers (always more forms to sign) and in the afternoon we went to Oakland to be fingerprinted – again.
Friday night we went to our former local pub ‘21st Amendment’ where we had drinks with friends: Fil & Gina, Tory, Jack, Siska, Claudine & Yves, Henk & Gwynne. Kathy & Scott: thanks for stopping by.
On Saturday morning we enjoyed a nice, slow breakfast with the & Gina and then we took it easy till we had to catch our flight back to Anchorage.
It was great to see you all again! We’ll let you know when we are in the Bay Area next!
As mentioned previously we had to be back in SFO for fingerprinting. No choice really… so as we had to ‘interrupt’ our trip we decided to make the most of it.
On Wednesday August 11th we arrived at SFO airport in the evening and were met by ‘The FiGi’s’ (Fil & Gina). They also provided us with Wi-Fi enabled accommodation for 3 days and we had their truck at our disposal - thanks guys! It was good and easy staying at your place!
Thursday we kicked off with breakfast with Alison; Caroline then enjoyed a mid-morning coffee-chat with Olivier while Stephen went to the dentist.
Afterwards we paid a visit to our storage locker.
In the afternoon we visited Leslie who introduced us to their brand new baby girl Maelle.
Around 5pm we made our way to Inge & Marc’s. Stephen went for a run in Sunnyvale, which gave Inge and Caroline a chance to do some serious catching up. We were then treated to a yummy ‘stoverij-met-frieten’ dinner with homemade mayonnaise. Leslie and Erwan joined us for dinner.
On Friday morning we had an appointment with our immigration lawyers (always more forms to sign) and in the afternoon we went to Oakland to be fingerprinted – again.
Friday night we went to our former local pub ‘21st Amendment’ where we had drinks with friends: Fil & Gina, Tory, Jack, Siska, Claudine & Yves, Henk & Gwynne. Kathy & Scott: thanks for stopping by.
On Saturday morning we enjoyed a nice, slow breakfast with the & Gina and then we took it easy till we had to catch our flight back to Anchorage.
It was great to see you all again! We’ll let you know when we are in the Bay Area next!
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
The next 6 weeks.
So here we are in Anchorage, AK, from where we fly to San Francisco today Aug 11. We just missed the place too much to be away for so long.... Just kidding (although...). No, we need to go back there to be fingerprinted again for our 'still-and-forever-running' green card applications. A bit a of a bummer maybe that we have to interrupt our travels, but on the other hand we get to catch up with friends again! We fly back from SFO to ANC on Aug. 14.
We will then turn Sterlin in the direction of Chicago. With 2 weeks to do those 3,000+ miles we even hope to do some sightseeing on the way! So yes we'll be moving fast those weeks.
We have to be in Chicago on August 31st as we both have flights booked from there.
Stephen is going to Bolivia to do an intensive advanced moutaineerings course and will then attempt to put all that training into practice by trying to summit Mt. Illimani (in the Cordillera Real in the Bolivian Andes).
Caroline is going to the UK where she will attempt to walk 'Offa's Dyke' in Wales, one of the UK's famous long-distance footpaths.
We get back together in Chicago on September 23rd. We have friends in Madison, WI (not far from Chicago) so we'll go and rest on their floor for a few days after our seperate adventures.
The original plan was to then continue on towards the East Coast of the US, but because of that 3-week side trip we fear that the weather may start to get a bit too 'wintery' there, so we're thinking of giving that region a miss (there will always be later opportunities to go there) and to concentrate on the Middle of the US. But we're getting ahead of ourselves... and that is past the 6 week plan ... we will decide what to do once we are both back in Chicago!
When we find some time we will update our website ('Route') accordingly.
Caroline.
We will then turn Sterlin in the direction of Chicago. With 2 weeks to do those 3,000+ miles we even hope to do some sightseeing on the way! So yes we'll be moving fast those weeks.
We have to be in Chicago on August 31st as we both have flights booked from there.
Stephen is going to Bolivia to do an intensive advanced moutaineerings course and will then attempt to put all that training into practice by trying to summit Mt. Illimani (in the Cordillera Real in the Bolivian Andes).
Caroline is going to the UK where she will attempt to walk 'Offa's Dyke' in Wales, one of the UK's famous long-distance footpaths.
We get back together in Chicago on September 23rd. We have friends in Madison, WI (not far from Chicago) so we'll go and rest on their floor for a few days after our seperate adventures.
The original plan was to then continue on towards the East Coast of the US, but because of that 3-week side trip we fear that the weather may start to get a bit too 'wintery' there, so we're thinking of giving that region a miss (there will always be later opportunities to go there) and to concentrate on the Middle of the US. But we're getting ahead of ourselves... and that is past the 6 week plan ... we will decide what to do once we are both back in Chicago!
When we find some time we will update our website ('Route') accordingly.
Caroline.
Denali NP and Kenai Peninsula - AK
After our 'Dalton Highway' adventure (and I have finally been able to add a photo album there, so you may want to check that post again) we started heading south. Let me add that for both of us this was definitely one of the highlights of the trip so far.
First stop was 'Denali National Park and Preserve' where we hoped to catch a glimpse on Mt. McKinley. For the last 2-3 months the mountain hadn't been seen because of cloud cover. But lo-and-behold, the day we booked our tour of the Park the weather was absolutely gorgeous!!!!! The next day the clouds were back so we were very lucky indeed! And seeing the mountain in all its glory definitely motivated Stephen to go and climb it next year! We also saw 7 grizzlies (incl. a sow and 2 cubs) and some caribou and a moose, but all where too far to give good photo's, so I've spared you the 'try-and-spot-the-animal-pictures'. >> Photos...
From Denali NP we drove to Talkeetna, a small, laid-back town that serves as a base for climbing Mt. McKinley. We rather liked the place. >> Photos...
We then made our way to the Kenai Peninsula, where we slowed the pace down a bit. We actually spent 2 nights in one campground and then 2 nights in the next campground. It was nice to wind down a bit, read, sit by the tent, and we managed to organize the next 6 weeks! More about these plans in the next blog. >> Photos...
Greetings from Anchorage, AK.
First stop was 'Denali National Park and Preserve' where we hoped to catch a glimpse on Mt. McKinley. For the last 2-3 months the mountain hadn't been seen because of cloud cover. But lo-and-behold, the day we booked our tour of the Park the weather was absolutely gorgeous!!!!! The next day the clouds were back so we were very lucky indeed! And seeing the mountain in all its glory definitely motivated Stephen to go and climb it next year! We also saw 7 grizzlies (incl. a sow and 2 cubs) and some caribou and a moose, but all where too far to give good photo's, so I've spared you the 'try-and-spot-the-animal-pictures'. >> Photos...
From Denali NP we drove to Talkeetna, a small, laid-back town that serves as a base for climbing Mt. McKinley. We rather liked the place. >> Photos...
We then made our way to the Kenai Peninsula, where we slowed the pace down a bit. We actually spent 2 nights in one campground and then 2 nights in the next campground. It was nice to wind down a bit, read, sit by the tent, and we managed to organize the next 6 weeks! More about these plans in the next blog. >> Photos...
Greetings from Anchorage, AK.
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
WiFi Mecca
Finally achieved the ultimate in camping. To access email remotely through a Wi-Fi connection. Ha. Camping will never be the same again (this post was made from a campground).
Monday, August 2, 2004
Prudhoe Bay, AK
Just squeezing in a quick post before heading off to Denali National Park. The last week has been spent driving North, and I mean North. We crossed the Artic Circle (66Deg33') and continued to a place called Deadhorse on Prudhoe Bay. Did not venture for a swim however. Deadhorse is a total Oil Town, with a smattering of tourists. There is absolutely no culture there. I loved it. Sterling did wonderfully, coping very well with the rough roads. The only scars being three windscreen chips. Unfortunately we did not see the midnight Sun, it was there, except it rained for three days solid. Did make the roads a little more adventurous however. We even got some light snow. >> Photos...
So, signing off from Fairbanks, AK.
So, signing off from Fairbanks, AK.
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