tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12834528828332135852024-03-12T22:27:47.772-07:00Bike for OrphansUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-28971177169584639642014-09-08T15:39:00.001-07:002014-09-08T15:39:37.839-07:00September 7, 2014 – Bike Accident<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">September 7, 2014
– Bike Accident</span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Bend, Oregon </span></b></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">On August 12,
2014<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at approximately 2:00 pm I rolled
into the small Central Oregon town of Prineville. It was a beautiful day and I
decided to have a break at a Starbucks coffee shop. I spent 2 hours there reading
and trying to decide on a plan of action for the rest of the day. I was headed
towards the Oregon coast and debating whether to continue to the town of
Redmond, about 35 km down the road, or stay here for the night. The weather was
good and I had lots of energy so I decided to continue. At the time, I had no
idea of the impact of that decision.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I cycled up a
long hill as I headed out of town and soon settled down on a long flat stretch.
The sun was getting lower in the sky but the traffic was light and scenery
beautiful. I remember thinking that I would be in Redmond in less than 2 hours,
lots of time to find a camping site and cook dinner. </span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I was headed west
on Highway 126. The road is one of a few that crosses this part of Oregon and
it makes up a portion of the Trans America Trail extending across the United
States. The Adventure Cycling Association has mapped a series of routes for
those interested in bicycle trips across the country and this road is on that
popular route. As someone not familiar with the area, you can only rely on
others to keep you from the busy roads but since this was part of the national
bicycle route, it was an easy decision. The Association picks roads that are
meant to be light in traffic and I had no reason to think it was any busier
than any other road I have cycled on in the last 7 months. After cycling in
some of the world’s largest cities in India, I had no particular reason to
worry about a remote area in Oregon.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">As I was biking,
Ken and Marvie Moyer pulled on the highway. Ken was driving and Marvie was in
the passenger seat and they were trailing behind a white pickup truck. Ken and
Marvie saw me riding my bike and noticed that I was in the bike lane on the far
right side of the road. Ahead they noticed a large semi-truck heading towards
them on the other side of the road. Marvie suddenly yelled out that the white
pick up truck they were behind had moved over into the bike lane and it was
clear that he did not see me. The white pick up had pulled over into the bike
lane to make room for the oncoming semi-truck. They both watched in horror as
the mirror of the pick up struck me in the back. They saw me fly over the side
of the road into the ditch. The driver of the white pick up pulled over as did
Ken and Marvie and they raced to me lying in the ditch. Ken sat by my side as I
kept trying to get up and he told me to relax. He tried to get my name but I
did not reply. I managed to sit up and kept repeating that I could not breathe.
Ken told me not to stand and held me up in a sitting position, trying to keep
my head straight. Ken and Marvie called the local ambulance and then searched
for some identification. At this point my bike was on the side of the road with
my bags strewn all over the place. My front handlebar bag had flown off into the water in the ditch and my shoes were over 100 feet down the road. The pick up
truck was traveling 100 km/h when it hit me in the back and the force of the
impact was severe.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I met both of
them later and Marvie was still very shaken up about the accident. She could
hardly talk about it without breaking down as she was in the car right behind
the truck that hit me. Ken stopped the truck and spent a lot of time ensuring I
was okay. Ken took my brother Ed out to the accident site and both Ken and Marvie
did the same with my sister Brenda. Ken came to visit me in the hospital on 2
different occasions and both came to the party that we held to thank all those
who helped me. They were both grateful that I was making a recovery as they
feared the worse after seeing the impact of the vehicle. Ken and Marvie, I
can’t thank you enough for all that you did for someone that was a complete
stranger.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfSltE0KkHSZhiGTrKgIWhtnKJQetOdWtusMLA8kZn_Gonp9kjEjNTcYQYttX_EHO7erLeAut909edXwaIrdHe7HEERZSC-6PuEQibAdZkYGkjQdfvTAP-hI7refYS6CoMGAqf4YX0LBn/s1600/Ken+and+Marvie+Moyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfSltE0KkHSZhiGTrKgIWhtnKJQetOdWtusMLA8kZn_Gonp9kjEjNTcYQYttX_EHO7erLeAut909edXwaIrdHe7HEERZSC-6PuEQibAdZkYGkjQdfvTAP-hI7refYS6CoMGAqf4YX0LBn/s1600/Ken+and+Marvie+Moyer.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Ken and Marvie
Moyer</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I was struck in
the back by the mirror of the pick up truck. This picture was taken about 10
days after the accident and you can clearly see where I was hit on my back.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7B8p3QcZ54Rx9TmWK62REHyC5WisaLRVYGk6-NNbyob8dacxMeWqzgbzSa0Ikal8U64By5nbnkF5xRDvB2ietEjQ4cncXi4xBzhmHyGfz7PNZ7252wAsnqGgH6awnKOVBSlsPxsvcePM4/s1600/Imprint+of+mirror+on+my+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7B8p3QcZ54Rx9TmWK62REHyC5WisaLRVYGk6-NNbyob8dacxMeWqzgbzSa0Ikal8U64By5nbnkF5xRDvB2ietEjQ4cncXi4xBzhmHyGfz7PNZ7252wAsnqGgH6awnKOVBSlsPxsvcePM4/s1600/Imprint+of+mirror+on+my+back.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Imprint of
mirror on my back</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Here is a picture
of the road where I was hit and you can see the narrow bike lane just as I
crossed over an area with a creek on the side.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsM0i_8ne02Aoq-mgouyxOAh5e7uukv1mlZCkQbmeHNK11Nsx6g8emmZ1KCQGJpod5E3av9YfH_d_3mvLdwVQREN_ivccWqmgZaDZzhmxs0_DuJaE6IBLud6cEORX_VQFgJkZFfExowZb/s1600/Area+of+impact.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsM0i_8ne02Aoq-mgouyxOAh5e7uukv1mlZCkQbmeHNK11Nsx6g8emmZ1KCQGJpod5E3av9YfH_d_3mvLdwVQREN_ivccWqmgZaDZzhmxs0_DuJaE6IBLud6cEORX_VQFgJkZFfExowZb/s1600/Area+of+impact.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Area of impact</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I was hit from
behind and flew over this steel pole on the side of the road.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGQFY3irlwPJvVg1uqgUHgfa9S3qSjkSKiIaMy5vAyYj4LGLxhrGsl1bIZRkDG7EefmAqPVpcfrZlEuS0o2vrbbtqdGZ48qo1WbDGCDeYlnipK8MVfaMNG0kYmtOrzVESlbZj_krhZCgm/s1600/I+just+missed+this+pole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGQFY3irlwPJvVg1uqgUHgfa9S3qSjkSKiIaMy5vAyYj4LGLxhrGsl1bIZRkDG7EefmAqPVpcfrZlEuS0o2vrbbtqdGZ48qo1WbDGCDeYlnipK8MVfaMNG0kYmtOrzVESlbZj_krhZCgm/s1600/I+just+missed+this+pole.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I just missed
this pole</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The impact of the
vehicle sent me airborne and I flew right over this creek. I’m not sure what
would have happened if I had landed in this water a few feet deep. My front
handlebar bag with my glasses and camera landed in the water.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVd4JK9ePj6ugtMm1seQgpDJESuyBu0uUMGhcCx1LKKX3cR58nD_e0DAF29anYlMAFC0bjklU7yoCessZn5HrYAEt5K4GsUXu70ZwqbpGaBnyfs0QS7NdcSwTuOY7DEFd7pgY9Y5eHg84/s1600/I+flew+over+this+creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVd4JK9ePj6ugtMm1seQgpDJESuyBu0uUMGhcCx1LKKX3cR58nD_e0DAF29anYlMAFC0bjklU7yoCessZn5HrYAEt5K4GsUXu70ZwqbpGaBnyfs0QS7NdcSwTuOY7DEFd7pgY9Y5eHg84/s1600/I+flew+over+this+creek.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I flew over this
creek</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I landed in a
bush on the other side of the creek, the only soft landing in the area. I was
close to a barbed wire fence but managed to avoid it too.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXbj7W4fRLVJg_yZzkc3KiB6i0-NeeQOJpvs7w_b_EkuE5pwmj8vtyh96icnJpG4b5U8D3D41l_l-7w7qjBbUsSI89O5NKa9jOsd5dKREzMrwbhiXINuGKF_XIxetIvkUwLc6DNJwiL5D/s1600/Landing+area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXbj7W4fRLVJg_yZzkc3KiB6i0-NeeQOJpvs7w_b_EkuE5pwmj8vtyh96icnJpG4b5U8D3D41l_l-7w7qjBbUsSI89O5NKa9jOsd5dKREzMrwbhiXINuGKF_XIxetIvkUwLc6DNJwiL5D/s1600/Landing+area.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Landing area</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I am not someone
who loudly insists that cyclists should wear a helmet but I could now be a
poster boy for why they should be worn at all times. Something hit me on the
back of the head. It might have been the mirror on the truck or it might have
been from the impact of landing in the ditch but it is pretty clear that I
would not be here today if I wasn’t wearing the helmet. The back part of a
helmet has the thickest padding and there is a large chunk completely missing.
I had a concussion but based on a picture of my helmet after the accident, it
could have been much worse. The entire back section of the helmet was
destroyed.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCxUVB46l2P856NdNU-ACR-vH7LXk83AGIamPxgDeKY4czWFefxxEDZwMlJgHjMhlM79k7hfzg1Ni93lTKrJaCSUeB7leERRQ_iiBYXFFeLk-WuhnxrRMjc2-_AbvvuXIBWoKkWdyafCz/s1600/Helmet+after+accident.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCxUVB46l2P856NdNU-ACR-vH7LXk83AGIamPxgDeKY4czWFefxxEDZwMlJgHjMhlM79k7hfzg1Ni93lTKrJaCSUeB7leERRQ_iiBYXFFeLk-WuhnxrRMjc2-_AbvvuXIBWoKkWdyafCz/s1600/Helmet+after+accident.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Helmet after
accident</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">In my right rear
pannier bag, I carry a MacBook Air computer. The computer had a protective
cover and was buried amongst all the clothing when the car hit. Here is a
picture of the computer after the accident which shows the power of the impact
on my bike.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNeRTXfjqbFzA5DJZ4JYGe1YW5nPsOOnJcPYzvEoN_9kp6o1rM9to77N7AZ4wtBq1wtCTnA3ALVj5FO3hm-7e0ceMj4TMb2mpRAFTPoCvKm4uRndQOzk7RzrUFST38EmLTrW4D4P2HrZN/s1600/Computer+damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNeRTXfjqbFzA5DJZ4JYGe1YW5nPsOOnJcPYzvEoN_9kp6o1rM9to77N7AZ4wtBq1wtCTnA3ALVj5FO3hm-7e0ceMj4TMb2mpRAFTPoCvKm4uRndQOzk7RzrUFST38EmLTrW4D4P2HrZN/s1600/Computer+damage.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Computer damage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">A few minutes
after Ken and Marvie called the ambulance, a lady named Karen Yeargain drove by
the scene and stopped to help. Karen was the first person with medical training
on the site and she ran to my side to provide assistance until the ambulance
arrived. Here is Karen, the lady who drove by and stopped to help despite
seeing a number of people by my side. Thank you Karen for your help. You didn’t
have to stop after seeing there were a number of people already there but I am
grateful for the effort you made to stop and help.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVs31GUddkbnl7KfeAJ7WQK6rm9QCCrq68Qd05X7ieEmK__90Edgak4leQtyjmQwr7SUXQ_uf-oVOqZTjlxkczjj34BS2XKS2kcNznfbQYl2KF32muTw3zu7boI7G4sOB4DvkiJ05tYlSH/s1600/Karen+Yeargain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVs31GUddkbnl7KfeAJ7WQK6rm9QCCrq68Qd05X7ieEmK__90Edgak4leQtyjmQwr7SUXQ_uf-oVOqZTjlxkczjj34BS2XKS2kcNznfbQYl2KF32muTw3zu7boI7G4sOB4DvkiJ05tYlSH/s1600/Karen+Yeargain.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Karen Yeargain</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The ambulance
arrived and a man with CPR training kept trying to assess my status. He asked
me my name and I simply stated Fred, not telling my last name. He said I was in
an agitated state and difficult to calm down. He then asked who the President
of the U.S was and I didn’t respond. When the helicopter came, the pilots
advised the people around me that they could see a black bag about 50 meters in
the field so they retrieved that and found my passport. The police came and
interviewed the driver of the pick-up truck and Ken and Marvie and also took my
bike and some of my belongings. Some of my bags and belongings were also put on
the helicopter with me. The helicopter landed in a field on the other side of a
barbed wire fence. I was put on a stretcher and a number of people lifted me
over the fence and into the helicopter. I was airlifted to St. Charles Medical Center
in Bend, Oregon. I still do not remember a single thing about the entire half
hour I was on the ground or the trip to the hospital. By the way, Canadians
have medical coverage but I am not a resident of Canada so am not eligible. I
have private health insurance that I paid premiums on since I left Canada. It’s
a good thing too because the cost of the helicopter ride alone was $25,000 and
the estimated cost of my 10 days in the hospital would be between $150,000 -
$200,000.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">After a total of
30 minutes I was admitted to the hospital, still unaware of what was happening.
The doctors asked the name of relatives and I gave them my twin brother Ed but
they could not contact him with an unlisted number. They were able to get hold
of my sister Brenda and advised her of the accident. Brenda called the rest of
the family and plans were immediately underway for Ed to fly out to the
hospital the following night. The doctor advised my family that I was in
serious condition and that a family member should make travel plans to come to
Bend. The hospital was most worried about my lungs and were not sure if I would
have to go on a breathing machine to stay alive. It was not the best news for
family members to receive late at night (it was about 1:00 am in Toronto) and
the news caused a lot of anxiety.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I was admitted to
the hospital about 5:30 pm on Tuesday August 12th. The list of injuries
included,</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 13.1pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 13.1pt; text-indent: -13.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">bi-lateral
collapse of lungs (both lungs)</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 13.1pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 13.1pt; text-indent: -13.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">contusions
(bruises) on both lungs</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 13.1pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 13.1pt; text-indent: -13.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">fracture of my
left shoulder bone</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 13.1pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 13.1pt; text-indent: -13.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">fracture of 2
bones in my spinal column</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 13.1pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list 13.1pt; text-indent: -13.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">14 broken ribs</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 13.1pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list 13.1pt; text-indent: -13.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">concussion</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-text-raise: 2.0pt; position: relative; top: -2.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I was admitted
into Intensive Care and received a needle decompression in my right lung and a
tube was placed in the lung. I had CT scans on my head, neck, chest, abdomen
and pelvis. </span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Here is a picture
on one of those early nights in the hospital. The red pillow is a cough pillow
that I would hold close. It hurts to cough with 14 broken ribs and holding the
pillow tight against your chest would cushion the blow a little.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zdELKNXv2kwvo42J_XCYGyV3OQaO-T3Bwv51Vw-jhmB3l6qcG3rTnwx-darGLUBO6Tq1KKNEfX6CU1jhMCcDSbqXZEg6oJ1zAhRM5QBEEIJsMc_p9dr92ioFPcH5_ZA6IkWpqax-HpTM/s1600/Sleeping+in+the+hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zdELKNXv2kwvo42J_XCYGyV3OQaO-T3Bwv51Vw-jhmB3l6qcG3rTnwx-darGLUBO6Tq1KKNEfX6CU1jhMCcDSbqXZEg6oJ1zAhRM5QBEEIJsMc_p9dr92ioFPcH5_ZA6IkWpqax-HpTM/s1600/Sleeping+in+the+hospital.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Sleeping in the
hospital</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">On the first
night I woke up at one point completely disoriented, not knowing where I was or
how i got there. I was on pain medication, had a tube in my chest and was
hooked up to a monitor. I was told that I had <span id="goog_2111598232"></span><span id="goog_2111598233"></span>a few phone calls but do not
remember talking to anyone.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The next night,
Wednesday August 13th, my brother Ed arrived in Bend. He asked me if I remember
anything and the only thing that came to me was that I remember hearing a voice
say “I can’t breathe”. I must have been hearing my own voice as that is what I
kept repeating to the people that first came to my assistance after the
accident.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The following day
a reporter from the local t.v station came to interview me. I watch this video
and vaguely remember talking with them.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<a href="http://www.ktvz.com/news/hwy-126-crash-stops-global-charity-cycling-trip/27502790" target="_blank"><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">http://www.ktvz.com/news/hwy-126-crash-stops-global-charity-cycling-trip/27502790</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The video was
played on the news in Bend and numerous people came forward to offer
hospitality. On the third night I remember a man and his young daughter walking
outside of my room. I motioned to my brother to ask them to come in. They were
from the Philippines and heard about my accident and the fact that I was trying
to raise funds for an orphanage in their country and they just came to thank
me. I can’t tell you the impact that something like that has on someone sitting
in a hospital, far away from family and friends. The outpouring of
encouragement and support was incredible and the small gesture of just coming
to the hospital to say thank you will always stand out in my mind.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Another couple
who heard about the accident was Jim and Jane Kress. Jim went out of his way to
track down my family in Canada. He heard that my brother was on his way to Bend
so he went to the airport late at night to pick him up. My brother was flying
into a new city, not really sure of what he was going to face and full of
anxiety. He arrived and saw a sign with his name and was offered a ride to the
hospital. Jim and Jane offered their home to me and to anyone in my family. He
also offered us the use of his vehicle as long as we wanted. Here is a picture
of this kind family. Thank you both for your generous offer of hospitality.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijePu9hMA5W3Fv17AWKNrG4o4cQQTg322gadSihBQN_YuPkdak4WP7VxjbcR94O0Vu62vAXaI9eZ8pOEYUCwRUvjsgbUbBHH5qN-Zz7jqN5Y98gUbRcgLMC7Oz1gXH2pMqEC2zq2G2GX75/s1600/Jim+and+Jane+Kress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijePu9hMA5W3Fv17AWKNrG4o4cQQTg322gadSihBQN_YuPkdak4WP7VxjbcR94O0Vu62vAXaI9eZ8pOEYUCwRUvjsgbUbBHH5qN-Zz7jqN5Y98gUbRcgLMC7Oz1gXH2pMqEC2zq2G2GX75/s1600/Jim+and+Jane+Kress.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Jim and Jane
Kress</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">One of the nurses
at the hospital that attended the party was Heidi. She was one of the nurses
when I was on the first floor and one of the first to care for me during my
stay.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHys9b9UKK0Pofs-nUaUmwg1snHJGqG9mmmbpqtuip1ucqyV1qGoQhFu6gNIC0CDEKP0iavWhAviYz4mmV3GYtTuY68J7qK8MUFftdpXoLY2ApvkuLDokely4SX1Th-W4XccoHA0ktIDEd/s1600/Heidi+Dinkel-Jimenez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHys9b9UKK0Pofs-nUaUmwg1snHJGqG9mmmbpqtuip1ucqyV1qGoQhFu6gNIC0CDEKP0iavWhAviYz4mmV3GYtTuY68J7qK8MUFftdpXoLY2ApvkuLDokely4SX1Th-W4XccoHA0ktIDEd/s1600/Heidi+Dinkel-Jimenez.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi
Dinkel-Jimenez</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">My brother ended
up staying at a local hotel due to the proximity to the hospital. He would come
to the hospital early every morning and then spend the day with me or taking
care of other tasks. Ken Moyer drove him out to the accident site and they
found my sunglasses and watch sitting in the ditch. Ed also went to the police
station to pick up my bicycle and then took it to a bike store to put in a box
for the flight back to Canada. Ed is a Physical Therapist and Osteopath and was
able to communicate with the doctors in their language so had a good
understanding of my condition and what it would take to recover.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I stayed in the
Intensive Care unit for 9 nights and in that time did not leave the bed. I used
a small bottle to go to the bathroom as I couldn’t even get up. On 3 different
occasions I tried to walk and each time I fainted but was caught by the nurses
without doing any more damage. Those first days were a struggle to say the
least. Every morning I would have a chest x-ray and was closely monitored 24
hours a day.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">My brother left
after a week and my sister Brenda was going to be the replacement. On the day
she arrived I was moved to another floor. I was still struggling to move around
but did manage to go to the bathroom on my own so was seeing some signs of
progress.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Another in the
long list of people offering hospitality was Ron Rousseau. He also heard about
my accident and contacted my brother. He offered his home to me and Brenda
after I was to be discharged. His home had a lot of steep stairs so I couldn’t
stay there but Brenda took him up on the offer and she stayed with him for 4
nights. Ron cooked meals for my sister and she really enjoyed her time there
and his kind hospitality. On behalf of my entire family, thank you very much
Ron.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUfwx98l3sYpKwNlebGrc8pC1RPqzB_2DPLNYiZgd1A0Fu-EHcs2H7HpSrxb4lQ68We3HDOmYkf7OchddXDt-Y0zYG4SD4d5vOScJqm6p5zJvl5OmWhBqIdtwZ_YeuGzsMD4_t9WAu-xN/s1600/Ron+Rousseau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUfwx98l3sYpKwNlebGrc8pC1RPqzB_2DPLNYiZgd1A0Fu-EHcs2H7HpSrxb4lQ68We3HDOmYkf7OchddXDt-Y0zYG4SD4d5vOScJqm6p5zJvl5OmWhBqIdtwZ_YeuGzsMD4_t9WAu-xN/s1600/Ron+Rousseau.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Ron Rousseau</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Every morning at
5:00 am I would be woken up by Bethany. Bethany is a medical student working
with Dr. Van Amburg. She would take my blood pressure, listen to my breathing
and ask questions about my nights sleep. This would be followed by a team
coming in to take chest x-rays. Dr. Van Amburg and Bethany were always positive
and encouraging and always made me feel better with their visits. Here are my
primary care givers at the hospital.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYS0Ey6UhO9uStz6x-H1vVNXI2N4JgyOON3oNEMxQr9pcjl2HhKRmqmuMPk7OsKcqq9srRM5-3y_A_MxDKqzHARjxZ7P3fgS09vtJ-q3d3m_CkrZ2emq1wDNGh6muUwLNO-JK0Fm-bQNV/s1600/Dr.+Van+Amburg+and+Bethany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYS0Ey6UhO9uStz6x-H1vVNXI2N4JgyOON3oNEMxQr9pcjl2HhKRmqmuMPk7OsKcqq9srRM5-3y_A_MxDKqzHARjxZ7P3fgS09vtJ-q3d3m_CkrZ2emq1wDNGh6muUwLNO-JK0Fm-bQNV/s1600/Dr.+Van+Amburg+and+Bethany.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Van Amburg
and Bethany</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I also had
special visitors. In that last week Cor and Jane Kors visited me in Bend. Cor
is the brother of one of my brother-in-laws. He lives with his family in Los
Angeles. Prior to the accident, my plan was to bicycle to L.A and leave my bike
with Cor and Jane while I flew back home to visit my family. They were on
vacation in Canada and driving back to Los Angeles when I had my accident so
they stopped in Bend to say hello. It had been a lot of years since we saw them
but it was nice to see familiar faces.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRqwKgzPHgWfEg5a74DjhDW81oJV7J9EBu4l9v4JQ6ScEYzacqz1jjw9wGWrpP4nr7nHNU24aVcXNlD13kAGDkLk3JZ5UiTyxW0J2-oqavamU3Cei2LRT2WZ06YfKuCxeSq9zyolkEptD/s1600/Cor+and+Jane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRqwKgzPHgWfEg5a74DjhDW81oJV7J9EBu4l9v4JQ6ScEYzacqz1jjw9wGWrpP4nr7nHNU24aVcXNlD13kAGDkLk3JZ5UiTyxW0J2-oqavamU3Cei2LRT2WZ06YfKuCxeSq9zyolkEptD/s1600/Cor+and+Jane.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Cor and Jane)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">On August 20th,
the 9th day in the hospital, Dr. Van Amburg was wrestling with the decision of
when I was to be discharged. They were concerned with my fainting episodes when
I tried to stand up and also concerned about my left lung. The tube into my
right lung had been removed but the left lung was not improving so they
inserted a Heimlich valve through my chest and into the cavity of my lung. It
was a very painful procedure but nearly 300 ml (the amount in a can of coke) of
fluid was removed from the lungs. The valve was removed the following day and
after a final x-ray, I was given approval to be discharged. I spent a total of
10 days in the hospital. The doctor was concerned that I might acquire
pneumonia if I stayed any longer so pushed for my release. At this point I was
able to have short walks in the hospital but was still struggling to breathe
and the walks would exhaust me. I was told that I had to come back for another
check up in a week so we had to stay in Bend while I started the long recovery.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Tim Lester is
another one of the many people from Bend who offered to help. He heard about
the accident and being an avid cyclist was eager to help. A few years earlier
he lost is partner to cancer and he had a lot of hands on experience dealing
with people needing home care. Tim called my brother and offered his home. He
came by the hospital and along with my sister Brenda, we all headed to his
home.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">We could not have
asked for a better place to recover. The room I would call home for the next
week was on the ground floor and opened up to a large deck that was perfect for
walking around when I needed exercise. Tim offered the use of his car for
Brenda and she would go into town to buy food for all of us. We would eat
breakfast and dinner together in the room. It was a very quiet and peaceful
home and absolutely ideal.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">One day Brenda
was talking to Tim and expressed her appreciation for how many people in Bend
offered their hospitality. She said she wished there was a way to thank
everyone so Tim suggested hosting a small party. We invited all the names of
people we knew that offered help. Many were not able to attend but there was a
large group present and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner one evening.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Here is a picture
of my sister Brenda. She gave up 2 weeks of her summer holidays to take care of
me. She made meals and was constantly by my side the entire time in the
hospital, at Tim’s house and on the long train ride back to Canada. I could not
have made it home without her. Her positive outlook on life and high energy
level were invaluable in those early days where I struggled to move around.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSifZZ-joiagSwynDlk3YFAtMsJBVNVJW1G6EcgW6ZCt-eaOT7G-gssRmgvNKAVCo95hc2O1kBUpzQRBuTb-Pg9NB7nRi_Yp-JuHkcV3PtCO7YBi51V-j0oew-K5lXIAVr_JcbtnqCaUL/s1600/Brenda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSifZZ-joiagSwynDlk3YFAtMsJBVNVJW1G6EcgW6ZCt-eaOT7G-gssRmgvNKAVCo95hc2O1kBUpzQRBuTb-Pg9NB7nRi_Yp-JuHkcV3PtCO7YBi51V-j0oew-K5lXIAVr_JcbtnqCaUL/s1600/Brenda.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Brenda</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">With all the love
and support that we found in Bend, Tim Lester stood out. He opened his home to
us both without any conditions and just made everything easy. He gave me a
stroller that I am still using to walk around. He hosted the party for all the
people we wanted to thank and then drove me to the hospital on the follow up
check. Finally, when it was time to leave, he drove us 6 hours,all the way to
Seattle to catch our train for Toronto. There is just no way to express our
gratitude for this kind man.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFG_IObNf-7n6NpGD86LrTSLfNe3K9zdSzhSFubdlL01uiieu0rgiuxNwag6RVDzveTrCloez7_gH1HDCt3jDAoPY8485sp2OLU3vohqx_GK_y8hJVo6p9szj0r6vUIPLV9ZvTXqFRjFp/s1600/Tim+Lester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFG_IObNf-7n6NpGD86LrTSLfNe3K9zdSzhSFubdlL01uiieu0rgiuxNwag6RVDzveTrCloez7_gH1HDCt3jDAoPY8485sp2OLU3vohqx_GK_y8hJVo6p9szj0r6vUIPLV9ZvTXqFRjFp/s1600/Tim+Lester.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Tim Lester</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Here is a picture
of me in Tim’s house. I pretty much stayed in that exact position for 6 days.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2pA55PacutJrrulwASrjsx8IySyCrnLStLtIfL1fp15xYVJ_onAzbkOnhvfHOb9uA9qbNRFN8TO0TGYpZzBeC3XdcbYqXMnPpJlOIDePHgW8lAg6EmD_uxZQrF6DmnijCvdpYkzyOHCr/s1600/My+room+in+Tim%E2%80%99s+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2pA55PacutJrrulwASrjsx8IySyCrnLStLtIfL1fp15xYVJ_onAzbkOnhvfHOb9uA9qbNRFN8TO0TGYpZzBeC3XdcbYqXMnPpJlOIDePHgW8lAg6EmD_uxZQrF6DmnijCvdpYkzyOHCr/s1600/My+room+in+Tim%E2%80%99s+home.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">My room in Tim’s
home</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Here is the view
I had from the bed.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv9xY1U50FgfkTXJAMjm80hlHkA9_MXsUiShGs-w3b0205bqNmHkkPJaMaqmgjTZcVW9naBfEqTX1Ly6cTU3fVGRyWuiqmfOhGlpqeTKWyKfmuYuCCtVa0-ZjtffqxV1kc1FZtPpoELnP/s1600/My+view+from+Tim%E2%80%99s+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv9xY1U50FgfkTXJAMjm80hlHkA9_MXsUiShGs-w3b0205bqNmHkkPJaMaqmgjTZcVW9naBfEqTX1Ly6cTU3fVGRyWuiqmfOhGlpqeTKWyKfmuYuCCtVa0-ZjtffqxV1kc1FZtPpoELnP/s1600/My+view+from+Tim%E2%80%99s+home.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">My view from
Tim’s home</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I was able to get
outside and enjoy some of the beautiful weather in Bend.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGJPihntmsBXhxH7UAChB4pqnsGPR3KOLjPB1YaXhLe2xv3KlWTA4UuNRC92q41gTBZc8q8EbgWe9vPuAgxCT9V8EZEdggTOo8J7slzpPQmEVbXUdhlpCLya-B6-NquHroLNE2UQG_C_g/s1600/Recovering+in+Bend,+Oregon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGJPihntmsBXhxH7UAChB4pqnsGPR3KOLjPB1YaXhLe2xv3KlWTA4UuNRC92q41gTBZc8q8EbgWe9vPuAgxCT9V8EZEdggTOo8J7slzpPQmEVbXUdhlpCLya-B6-NquHroLNE2UQG_C_g/s1600/Recovering+in+Bend,+Oregon.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Recovering in
Bend, Oregon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">On Wednesday
August 27th, I had a final check up and was given the green light to leave
Bend. I was told that it would be risky to fly with my lungs so we arranged to
take a train from Seattle to Buffalo and then have a family member pick us up
to drive into Canada. The trip from leaving the door in Bend to arriving in </span><span lang="DE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Buffalo</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> would take 80 hours, over 3 days.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Tim drove us to
Seattle where we picked up the Amtrak train heading towards Chicago. We had a
small sleeper car and I spent my days sitting there reading or sleeping.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0PqXDqBKG6n04wqEqyRcPxAOJlL_26xAceN-QMvB1kFG2rfLSNoBODf7PjosYSXCw-_A5MeAllGqLQPhmbvMPmSiZ3gXl8MYS8k3xEzAsgqheTRJHv4_xBBfm6Sa4bsjvSVvWxDpSe_1/s1600/On+the+train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0PqXDqBKG6n04wqEqyRcPxAOJlL_26xAceN-QMvB1kFG2rfLSNoBODf7PjosYSXCw-_A5MeAllGqLQPhmbvMPmSiZ3gXl8MYS8k3xEzAsgqheTRJHv4_xBBfm6Sa4bsjvSVvWxDpSe_1/s1600/On+the+train.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">On the train</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">In Chicago, we
transferred trains to Buffalo and were met there by my sisters Linda and
Sandra. It was then a short trip to Oakville, my home for the next few months.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I arrived at my
brother’s place in Oakville, Ontario on Saturday August 30th. At this point I
was able to get up and walk and started a routine of 2 to 3 half hour walks
every day. I am still taking pain medication to ease the pain in my lungs and
ribs but am slowly seeing some progress. I still have extensive bruising on my
back and arms. This photo was taken 23 days after the accident.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0huQ5MVCbK1IfSOCBbf3JPirHxNPm6f6ueqyYB5-cgxSAP5YXAPkm4AuaULesnqPpyaM4HT9B-gN1VYRFe_iFi3yaUhfNcSObigbjEgWvisG_WLxzLRiCQPXCS45TjCaprbCTeYLWVeWr/s1600/Back+and+arm+-+September+4,+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0huQ5MVCbK1IfSOCBbf3JPirHxNPm6f6ueqyYB5-cgxSAP5YXAPkm4AuaULesnqPpyaM4HT9B-gN1VYRFe_iFi3yaUhfNcSObigbjEgWvisG_WLxzLRiCQPXCS45TjCaprbCTeYLWVeWr/s1600/Back+and+arm+-+September+4,+2014.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Back and arm -
September 4, 2014</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The accident has
obviously changed my plans. I will spend the next 4 months with my family in
Canada and will not be updating this journal but I waned to make a personal
plea to all those who have followed my trip over the last 7 months.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">As you know I was
riding to support the Angel House Orphanage and it is devastating to me to have
my trip cut short without having completed my goal of biking around the world.
I feel like I have let the orphanage down and don’t want the 15,000 km’s I have
biked to have been in vain. I gave up a lot to do this trip and it almost cost
me my life so I want to make a final request for support.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">A week ago, the
Angel House Orphanage joined up with the Global Giving Foundation (GGF), an
organization that accepts charities registered around the world. If Angel House
is accepted, it will provide access to donors around the world and really help
ensure the economic survival in the long-term. </span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">In order to be a
member of the Global Giving Foundation. Angel House has to prove that they are
a legitimate charity capable of raising support. They have 30 days to raise a
total of $5,000 from 40 different donors to prove that they can raise support
and I told David that I would do my best to help them reach that goal. The idea
of raising $5,000 shouldn’t be a big deal but we need your support.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">In January 2014,
I left Bangkok with a goal of helping Angel House and this is a great opportunity.
If they are accepted by GGF, it may mean people from around the world will help
finance the great work they are doing.</span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I will not be
providing another update here until at least Christmas so I want to make a final
plea for help. I believe in the work Angel House is doing and would like to ask
for your help. We need 40 people to raise a total of $5,000 within the next few
weeks. Contact people at work or at your church and encourage them to donate.
Get a group of friends together and donate a small amount. I can’t do any more
cycling now because of my injury but if you have been reading my journals over
the last 7 months and want to support the effort I have made, please donate
today. Any amounts would be greatly appreciated and if they meet the goal of
$5,000, it will go a long way to increasing exposure around the world. </span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">You can write to
me at, </span><a href="mailto:bouwmanfred@yahoo.com" target="_blank"><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">bouwmanfred@yahoo.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> if you are interested in helping. If you want to
see the work that Angel House is doing please visit their website at, </span><a href="http://www.angelhousephilippines.org/home.aspx" target="_blank"><span class="Hyperlink0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">http://www.angelhousephilippines.org/home.aspx</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I did the best I
can do and gave everything I had. My attempts have been cut short after getting
hit by a car but my enthusiasm for helping Angel House has not died. I will
continue to support them and simply ask that you join with me now to ensure
that the work done to this point is not in vain.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Thank you to everyone who offered words of
encouragement in the last month. The road to recovery will be long and painful
but I am grateful to be alive and thankful for all the family and friends that
have shown support.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-61251881572823047182014-08-16T07:07:00.002-07:002014-08-16T07:08:21.103-07:00Fred is recovering after being struck by a pickup truck in Oregon, USA.<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is Robert Allen, the person who maintains Fred's blog. Fred is alive and recovering after being hit by a pickup truck in central Oregon, USA. He is currently in the St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon. He will need about 3 months to recover. See below for more info. As I learn more or as soon as Fred is well enough to compose his own messages, additional information will be posted.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Link to the Oregon State Police news about the incident:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/osp/NEWSRL/Pages/news/08_13_2014_seriousinj_bike_hwy126_mp9.aspx" target="_blank">Click here to view the Oregon State Police notice</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbAHkEOXDLlzl2QPyOameyjd88IOp2CjAlXCvzyozKsjwtQnbqzIqIKaoYg37KfDlL_p0rL46FF4nMqWFPQCBbwo1VMYWdHGV515eK4ciRYBdvZXdo5PinUymsCnNDqhFIpSMoYRVb-BP/s1600/081214.bike.hwy126_mp9.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbAHkEOXDLlzl2QPyOameyjd88IOp2CjAlXCvzyozKsjwtQnbqzIqIKaoYg37KfDlL_p0rL46FF4nMqWFPQCBbwo1VMYWdHGV515eK4ciRYBdvZXdo5PinUymsCnNDqhFIpSMoYRVb-BP/s1600/081214.bike.hwy126_mp9.1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: Oregon State Police</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwJ1wkkp_k42-iJYPN2Hlg66s5_RGbrPMbmzjeEsF7_cENKUGAiuHq3fh5eY3MdX4W7A6Gtyb4a5Uf6fQpH-g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Source: From NBC affiliate KTVZ in Oregon </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-35199962492063026772014-08-11T10:49:00.001-07:002014-08-11T10:49:43.398-07:00August 8, 2014 – Welcome to America<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">August 8, 2014 – Welcome
to America</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Boise, Idaho</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 205 - Distance biked
so far: (14,049 km)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I spent a day
in Banff and really enjoyed the small town. I went to an art gallery on the
main street and spent a few hours looking at pictures from a local artist. He
was there and gave and a small group a tour of his work. He focused on wildlife
had a picture story of 3 grizzly bears that he has been following since they
were cubs in the Banff area. They are still roaming around together and he
spends time every few months looking for them and taking their pictures. It was
remarkable to see the growth in the cubs over the last few years. Here are a
few pictures of the beautiful town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrtE-nG1ciFKjfV8o3vnJXW2BOBWZ0EZKq5Q9paxfmpfZ7NHEsz8co3ayXHgaHiijGWtwbjtKoh5GWI34L7HjMznMGNuA07FhWytfTHwi_MbsxG4Iy_6Vn9WM27DVpF4kdHpqkT74h0Cf/s1600/Downtown+Banff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrtE-nG1ciFKjfV8o3vnJXW2BOBWZ0EZKq5Q9paxfmpfZ7NHEsz8co3ayXHgaHiijGWtwbjtKoh5GWI34L7HjMznMGNuA07FhWytfTHwi_MbsxG4Iy_6Vn9WM27DVpF4kdHpqkT74h0Cf/s1600/Downtown+Banff.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Downtown
Banff</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPRYIuqEIa5cLQXEvXkAsKV6Qg0zva9RAwFEXWqbYY97DwoEwmt9R2NShwhm9GFWb_j14vOcrMqvl1lEtUz2ZRBcDoFWXWwVT93W-pg83dQ3XlJIhBWZsMTCXKXWPoS0hux48LzT-KOF9/s1600/Small+church+in+Banff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPRYIuqEIa5cLQXEvXkAsKV6Qg0zva9RAwFEXWqbYY97DwoEwmt9R2NShwhm9GFWb_j14vOcrMqvl1lEtUz2ZRBcDoFWXWwVT93W-pg83dQ3XlJIhBWZsMTCXKXWPoS0hux48LzT-KOF9/s1600/Small+church+in+Banff.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Small church
in Banff</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I cycled from
Banff into Calgary to visit a friend that I had never met in person. Celine
Soulard is a fellow cycling enthusiast and we have been communicating over the
years. She was very generous in her support of the relief efforts after the
typhoon in the Philippines despite not even knowing me. She follows along on my
trip and it was a pleasure to meet her and her golden retriever Tashi. I stayed
with Celine, Eric and Tashi for 2 nights and really appreciated their generous
hospitality. Celine has many stories of her very adventurous life. She is also
a restless spirit and planning her next bike trip down in Central America. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I cycled out
of Calgary along one of the numerous bike paths and then headed south along the
Cowboy Trail towards Waterton Park. It is a spectacular part of the country
with the prairies running right up to the Rocky Mountains that you could see in
the distance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0eTm2uKlb5xCBwi_hEPQW6HUPy-_GnmyygKY7-srE42rTn28daRBYm3-5isF9efFvpnFXkDh78LkuWOEBAr7yuMmdhv7dsNDnOEVktkXgsW7tEJdosMg_mfE-YXFUD33Yk13XokhHdQU/s1600/View+heading+towards+Waterton+National+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0eTm2uKlb5xCBwi_hEPQW6HUPy-_GnmyygKY7-srE42rTn28daRBYm3-5isF9efFvpnFXkDh78LkuWOEBAr7yuMmdhv7dsNDnOEVktkXgsW7tEJdosMg_mfE-YXFUD33Yk13XokhHdQU/s1600/View+heading+towards+Waterton+National+Park.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View heading
towards Waterton National Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I reached
Waterton and the first view was the Prince of Wales hotel perched on a cliff
overlooking the small town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QXfUy1EeaZa7VfKV-iAPrCX_FpcBKacU7NohltQvKUY_tW6FJLKokQGzGa6BetmcIuPK87yFK0HzjII-noTtsTlv1X0Lf1nyFAYSv84-cQ8cAGYqPCV8QkNWYz681V7PELishO6MaewJ/s1600/Prince+of+Wales+Hotel+in+Waterton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QXfUy1EeaZa7VfKV-iAPrCX_FpcBKacU7NohltQvKUY_tW6FJLKokQGzGa6BetmcIuPK87yFK0HzjII-noTtsTlv1X0Lf1nyFAYSv84-cQ8cAGYqPCV8QkNWYz681V7PELishO6MaewJ/s1600/Prince+of+Wales+Hotel+in+Waterton.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Prince of
Wales Hotel in Waterton</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The beautiful
sunny day disguised the storm approaching but for now the scenery was
incredible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiet6wF7bnD4jIfgc6AaoTi3Ikfdcn3ciFmwP9bbTgEDrR-ivuy9hu5kdvJdfn5-dOq-XfjxI977K4Ws5No1vsvpnwfFMduEWdTm7w9_L6ECmOcJwOUHPFsCJvJqiBLBlg38o-To235HQIO/s1600/Waterton+village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiet6wF7bnD4jIfgc6AaoTi3Ikfdcn3ciFmwP9bbTgEDrR-ivuy9hu5kdvJdfn5-dOq-XfjxI977K4Ws5No1vsvpnwfFMduEWdTm7w9_L6ECmOcJwOUHPFsCJvJqiBLBlg38o-To235HQIO/s1600/Waterton+village.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Waterton
village</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The weather
forecast on the day I arrived called for a wind warning with winds in excess of
100 kmh so I thought it would be a good time to have a day off and do some
hiking. I set up my tent in the late afternoon and walked into town to see the
sights and have a dinner. After my meal and as I was walking back to the
campground a sudden hailstorm hit. The entire road was covered in small ice
balls with cars being pelted and people running for cover. I stood undercover
for about 20 minutes as the temperatures plummeted and when it passed I
returned to my tent. The tent was nowhere to be seen and the campground looked
like a tornado had ripped through. I had put all my pannier bags in the tent
for added weight but it still managed to end up over 100 meters from where it
was set up and my rain fly was torn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZYQRVSb2kq6W-I-nEjp0QkIXtYmhjTz4z7CxGumizhwJiSJasgZ0S7R_whHXWHq8fjIB1y77vuXbvqzKZAj5jPgxvLQml1MOk1gIua_zavBGbWkZxexPjJOCjwOGtHl6E2aLZ74CtOoY/s1600/Damage+from+the+storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZYQRVSb2kq6W-I-nEjp0QkIXtYmhjTz4z7CxGumizhwJiSJasgZ0S7R_whHXWHq8fjIB1y77vuXbvqzKZAj5jPgxvLQml1MOk1gIua_zavBGbWkZxexPjJOCjwOGtHl6E2aLZ74CtOoY/s1600/Damage+from+the+storm.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Damage from
the storm</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I tried to
apply duct tape but there were too many holes so had to move my tent inside one
of the picnic shelters to sleep for the night. The next morning I bought a
sheet of plastic and can put that between the tent and rain fly to provide a
waterproof cover until I find a new tent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc7NltH4gPyJsf2-i4QC2nyzbfkU33UHwBzq557uZWLoJN5mQ7Nd1TE914lV4-jxqqmaMIOCgGEph4zdAoxVK7NL4c7DNlqVtVrWYu7FZZ2xKdXqzyQW0FKWJwU1QV0Xqq4LyPfYalKmf/s1600/The+magic+of+duct+tape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc7NltH4gPyJsf2-i4QC2nyzbfkU33UHwBzq557uZWLoJN5mQ7Nd1TE914lV4-jxqqmaMIOCgGEph4zdAoxVK7NL4c7DNlqVtVrWYu7FZZ2xKdXqzyQW0FKWJwU1QV0Xqq4LyPfYalKmf/s1600/The+magic+of+duct+tape.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The magic of
duct tape</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Here are a few
of the ice balls from the hailstorm. Getting hit by one of these would sting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uk9YJVaESXdrZ5koGSruNngFvDjW0RT3bGfjYPFbXFKRNrYFUGaAzY9NmakixILhUSpE91zNrKEO8dabE0l6apJh5sbxMvmPTO0Wyg1mNas69hJUTV9BhEG1pZlk0LjUenjE7Ja8FOgF/s1600/Hail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uk9YJVaESXdrZ5koGSruNngFvDjW0RT3bGfjYPFbXFKRNrYFUGaAzY9NmakixILhUSpE91zNrKEO8dabE0l6apJh5sbxMvmPTO0Wyg1mNas69hJUTV9BhEG1pZlk0LjUenjE7Ja8FOgF/s1600/Hail.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Hail</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">On July 25<sup>th</sup>
I cycled across the border into the United States. The border crossing is at
the remote Chief Mountain on the edge of the Waterton/Glacier National Park.
Waterton Park and Glacier Park are extensions of each other that happen to have
an international border run through. It is the world’s largest Peace Park, not
sure how many others there are though.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27IlreKVSJHVgCaHaKQrIuSer0YCNVe3WW57nFyK2_6o5QDIyWUyPNdC6kAClirM0hNipdoEK_wOilu_45ddGArxY1HZskfJ8qQ7EI7IuSTif-BSefXzZt4dvcofKaC_ksMmkvyFnZk3K/s1600/Peace+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27IlreKVSJHVgCaHaKQrIuSer0YCNVe3WW57nFyK2_6o5QDIyWUyPNdC6kAClirM0hNipdoEK_wOilu_45ddGArxY1HZskfJ8qQ7EI7IuSTif-BSefXzZt4dvcofKaC_ksMmkvyFnZk3K/s1600/Peace+Park.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Peace Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a summary of a few things since I left Bangkok on January 15,
2014.</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Days on
the road – 190</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Km’s
cycled – 14,049</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"># Of
flat tires – 3 (none in Canada despite cycling 730 km of gravel on the Dempster
Highway)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Countries
visited – 6 (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Canada)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Money
found on the road - $28.31 (to be donated to Angel House after 2 years on the
road)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Books read in
Canada</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Land of the Midnight Sun: A history of the Yukon
(Ken Coates, William Morrison)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Walking Home from Mongolia (A walk from Mongolia
to Hong Kong) (Rob Lilwall)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Moods of Future Joy: A bicycle trip around the
world Part 1 (Alastair Humphreys)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Thunder and Sunshine: A bicycle trip around the
world Part 2 (Alastair Humphreys)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Twenty Thousand Miles to See a Tree: An Around
the World bicycle journey (Cindy Cohagan)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Canadian History for Dummies (one of the best
general History books I have ever read) (Will Ferguson)</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Welcome to the
United States of America</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQwkRmMIfNeIO5cXCcbUG3npYjIdSlT5NQRnEjmF7fwotpW2UjmAEbOf_rWmGTusn5Ty21wxONcngD-_-_C-i81WObDyHOnlnUYp06kbDJRqzFquCzKOX8jucUezBwAeNkPVngz2UtfKT/s1600/Canada+-+U.S+border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQwkRmMIfNeIO5cXCcbUG3npYjIdSlT5NQRnEjmF7fwotpW2UjmAEbOf_rWmGTusn5Ty21wxONcngD-_-_C-i81WObDyHOnlnUYp06kbDJRqzFquCzKOX8jucUezBwAeNkPVngz2UtfKT/s1600/Canada+-+U.S+border.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Canada/U.S
border</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I was
wondering about the level of security at the border. My bags have never been
searched and thought they might crossing into the U.S but the guard just asked
a few questions and welcomed me in. I know that a lot of people now try to
avoid the U.S because of the over zealous immigration policies at airports but
the land crossing was easy and in a matter of minutes I crossed into country
number 7.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I crossed from
the province of Alberta into the State of Montana.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhyphenhyphen9irqFrubelB_hHNgqMgE2PNvYoeLZ-AlYA3Nk1G59BKNUaEKU2phEJUNB7w_5oP5URVRKn3mGSDyzYy6UcokhLWR03n2xvu2XVyZMs6nFMOlHeJW-TPPVhlblqIGETu5k2vEl1qaiJ/s1600/Welcome+to+Montana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhyphenhyphen9irqFrubelB_hHNgqMgE2PNvYoeLZ-AlYA3Nk1G59BKNUaEKU2phEJUNB7w_5oP5URVRKn3mGSDyzYy6UcokhLWR03n2xvu2XVyZMs6nFMOlHeJW-TPPVhlblqIGETu5k2vEl1qaiJ/s1600/Welcome+to+Montana.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Welcome to
Montana</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Montana is the
4<sup>th</sup> largest State in the U.S.A, an area slightly larger than Japan,
but ranks only 44<sup>th</sup> in terms of population. It is far more populated
than the areas I cycled in the Yukon however, so it felt like I was definitely
back in civilization. The State of Montana’s economy is largely dependent on
ranching and grain farms and I would be passing through those on my way south.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Waterton
and Glacier National Parks are both World Heritage Sites. I cycled south and
soon passed the official entrance to Glacier National Park. One of the world’s
great bicycle rides, in addition to the Icefield’s Parkway that I rode in
Banff/Jasper last week, is the Going to the Sun Road across Glacier Park. The
road is one of the most difficult roads in North America to snowplow in the
winter as Logan’s Pass, at the top of the Continental Divide, often has up to
24 meters (80 feet) of snow. Due to the severe weather, it is only open from
early June to mid-October. With the narrow and windy road going up or down,
they have placed restrictions on when you can ride a bike. The road is closed
to cyclists between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm so I went up to the pass in the
morning and then had to wait 5 hours until I could descend. I used that time to
go for a hike. I carry hiking boots in my panniers so it was another chance to
use them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The road going
up was under repairs but for the most part was hard packed dirt. It is a steady
incline but not particularly steep. Here are a few views, climbing up the Going
to the Sun road on a picture perfect day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNggmvGniWhP2AO0YkB85zSVhBA7romqxCA7zIKeWJowjEw2l3TkeooEN4d4VDwwOK7e-8ghJ8Hs5MzIcf3LOZPW2ZJ7RS0CGC3scvvZ3AwliEnwZp4K7JfFpoJwSz1uAGAL0R-91SzAmz/s1600/Wisps+of+clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNggmvGniWhP2AO0YkB85zSVhBA7romqxCA7zIKeWJowjEw2l3TkeooEN4d4VDwwOK7e-8ghJ8Hs5MzIcf3LOZPW2ZJ7RS0CGC3scvvZ3AwliEnwZp4K7JfFpoJwSz1uAGAL0R-91SzAmz/s1600/Wisps+of+clouds.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Wisps of
clouds</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTLmtSgyxfCQslWGPZ0_2L9TEbBuZTgi90PBupmYsufM6ienyZM7aK0hx4UfvgDkNTcm-G2lmxfUZM0jN34-Eyvhs1x276DBdLLST7YZCWkmdz2IAHuVJmDoay_KszBQtsHyfD1KiY5MA/s1600/Large+valleys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTLmtSgyxfCQslWGPZ0_2L9TEbBuZTgi90PBupmYsufM6ienyZM7aK0hx4UfvgDkNTcm-G2lmxfUZM0jN34-Eyvhs1x276DBdLLST7YZCWkmdz2IAHuVJmDoay_KszBQtsHyfD1KiY5MA/s1600/Large+valleys.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Large
valleys</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As I neared
the top, I stopped to take in the views and a couple was in a car parked to the
side. The girl came out and said she was so inspired that I biked all the way
up on a fully loaded touring bike that she insisted on taking my picture. I
assured her that the road was not steep and it was a very enjoyable ride but
she said if anyone deserved a picture it was me, so she snapped away. Maybe I
looked worse than I felt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQ1Eu3upqjSpBSH68QkUVWYgU5fIM8wAkFKEqNC3dTtOvRJsmCmPcQu_4AkHn3OX7mIrcTX1x6iAott1gqsztU0PODLYI6_reqp1TOC7QLsLFNLBIyRyrSs9dkD1x-iiU_SLsPhUuvgL_/s1600/Near+the+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQ1Eu3upqjSpBSH68QkUVWYgU5fIM8wAkFKEqNC3dTtOvRJsmCmPcQu_4AkHn3OX7mIrcTX1x6iAott1gqsztU0PODLYI6_reqp1TOC7QLsLFNLBIyRyrSs9dkD1x-iiU_SLsPhUuvgL_/s1600/Near+the+top.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Near the top</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It was quite
hot outside but still snow and ice on the side of the road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaUAHyRooHW357YgIKVkpsQkk854v7WZhpEmzoyQNxXoPS2joUJXHIYkpitldjIdlXJQd3QsWw-oIYEhGlqJNZGquyoRK0s-i_dF-k1elt_qrUGICJSHtfS-8KIb0RUr8jd9BFuAbwjcn/s1600/Ice+in+July.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaUAHyRooHW357YgIKVkpsQkk854v7WZhpEmzoyQNxXoPS2joUJXHIYkpitldjIdlXJQd3QsWw-oIYEhGlqJNZGquyoRK0s-i_dF-k1elt_qrUGICJSHtfS-8KIb0RUr8jd9BFuAbwjcn/s1600/Ice+in+July.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Ice in July</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">At the top I
changed from cycling shoes to hiking boots and spent a few hours on the
spectacular trails that branched out from the Visitors Center. On this one you
can see the traces of the road that I’ll be cycling down later.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCKJib7BjfSnDzvNnF3Fa77IlL1EIRZ105VCeMD6_-OSGsL24VjY20PMdPTheGuIo_vycYU2zUoNRIkrgG_LzkwpKBSOiCURwJg9gpNska0Wda2P1s6iG_vNFHSUJhVFsabxRBnOoi92E/s1600/Green+Valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCKJib7BjfSnDzvNnF3Fa77IlL1EIRZ105VCeMD6_-OSGsL24VjY20PMdPTheGuIo_vycYU2zUoNRIkrgG_LzkwpKBSOiCURwJg9gpNska0Wda2P1s6iG_vNFHSUJhVFsabxRBnOoi92E/s1600/Green+Valley.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Green Valley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XeJcT21huklx52-3MX_8NKF2gsFpxc9CQNDbl_lvAOgqJRvltE3_xY1tit7_UcJ4IHzeoLxdo9JqDf1Rhuya74nVOZgHzJteADo7OWsuK56pGqnFtiZVGfMf0mGX1lR3Q_XpZ98tekTk/s1600/View+from+hiking+trail+in+Glacier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XeJcT21huklx52-3MX_8NKF2gsFpxc9CQNDbl_lvAOgqJRvltE3_xY1tit7_UcJ4IHzeoLxdo9JqDf1Rhuya74nVOZgHzJteADo7OWsuK56pGqnFtiZVGfMf0mGX1lR3Q_XpZ98tekTk/s1600/View+from+hiking+trail+in+Glacier.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View from
hiking trail in Glacier</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">At 4:00 pm I
got back on my bike and headed down. It was the best downhill I have ever biked
despite having to use my brakes a few times to slow down on the curves or to
stop from running into the cars in front. There is a speed limit going down and
I would easily hit that and have to slow. Here are a few views going down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWqAqyJR2Zp5jGrdVM2jGYwsKe2sKF795jeIkV1l7c_u7r0i9HauNfUGULTbhJ3Bj-7HzC1tASpcKkJrudoT-FonN8195_i5ym78ImFaLF33U3mVZ_0GARN3PcKs8mG7_sTZaoWXDFGo3/s1600/The+road+going+down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWqAqyJR2Zp5jGrdVM2jGYwsKe2sKF795jeIkV1l7c_u7r0i9HauNfUGULTbhJ3Bj-7HzC1tASpcKkJrudoT-FonN8195_i5ym78ImFaLF33U3mVZ_0GARN3PcKs8mG7_sTZaoWXDFGo3/s1600/The+road+going+down.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The road
going down</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias1lyru-AjABwDguruOnthf0i1Dqp7j0QiirL9j3AcC-2rz8JpjpuDU4bjCqClAUSs052e_JxDOvWjvkfonniNrniQ3j6HiwMKls2bu22BsFRbihrH2L_pVxSr41kIr64CtFJbbRUXRJy/s1600/The+best+downhill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias1lyru-AjABwDguruOnthf0i1Dqp7j0QiirL9j3AcC-2rz8JpjpuDU4bjCqClAUSs052e_JxDOvWjvkfonniNrniQ3j6HiwMKls2bu22BsFRbihrH2L_pVxSr41kIr64CtFJbbRUXRJy/s1600/The+best+downhill.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The best
downhill</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In Montana,
they put up white crosses to mark the spot were people have died on the road.
It’s a good reminder for drivers and I was amazed at how many I saw as I cycled
south.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcDm6yTVrs1qWU_ayFtHsPBUzF8Leme6QxK4nLCOE1bh_CkGnzKETPAqTYlbaHGVjx-lpxc9zikpEDKy6E7f1TZWMvh1ENM0VFVyjJw4Tt6vzrxKU-7puYHtCerbX2TPsLoo4PUGdrdAa/s1600/Crosses+on+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcDm6yTVrs1qWU_ayFtHsPBUzF8Leme6QxK4nLCOE1bh_CkGnzKETPAqTYlbaHGVjx-lpxc9zikpEDKy6E7f1TZWMvh1ENM0VFVyjJw4Tt6vzrxKU-7puYHtCerbX2TPsLoo4PUGdrdAa/s1600/Crosses+on+the+road.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Crosses on
the road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The people in
Montana are working hard on their manners.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohsTYs77m2QH9zcUd1Rwm4Cq1ZNg9MzfG0Rme7wY_ao5BtKquvoTtoAUX-wszykZm-IgP9PIbHF7vkJ0XeP5PJTODOYBxEUu_MnM0Rinx344tjsAeejDw-PEh78yxCQKuiecRXse2gNdN/s1600/Polite+people+in+Montana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohsTYs77m2QH9zcUd1Rwm4Cq1ZNg9MzfG0Rme7wY_ao5BtKquvoTtoAUX-wszykZm-IgP9PIbHF7vkJ0XeP5PJTODOYBxEUu_MnM0Rinx344tjsAeejDw-PEh78yxCQKuiecRXse2gNdN/s1600/Polite+people+in+Montana.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Polite people
in Montana</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I was soon
down on the flat ground and following one of the many lakes heading towards
Missoula.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k21Pi8urbMlaYSJ5W3dVkPJAnjDsac4lJNNVD7vdtsLyXt1_aumP3t__F3HR1jOpf1JYsgqLtPuogHiSXcMoigdvMat9oYeRAi3MSLnD8IBxDuUujvtBzBZYqXVpruG68fIjYng9uH6X/s1600/View+heading+towards+Missoula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k21Pi8urbMlaYSJ5W3dVkPJAnjDsac4lJNNVD7vdtsLyXt1_aumP3t__F3HR1jOpf1JYsgqLtPuogHiSXcMoigdvMat9oYeRAi3MSLnD8IBxDuUujvtBzBZYqXVpruG68fIjYng9uH6X/s1600/View+heading+towards+Missoula.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View heading
towards Missoula</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I biked late
one day as I had a relatively late start. The weather here is very hot during
the day but cool at night and in the mornings I am struggling to get up as
early as I used to. It is usually a sign of fatigue when you don’t jump out of
bed so I will take a day off in Missoula to rest a bit. There were some long
uphills coming through Jasper, Banff and Glacier so maybe the cumulative effect
is starting to make me tired. One night I was looking for a place to camp and
noticed a small building off to the side. It was a small roadside information
site with a picnic table and bathroom and I decided it would be a good place to
stop. I didn’t really look around too much as I had to cook my dinner and set
up my tent before dark but I did notice a small road going under the highway I
just turned off. I thought it was one of those U-turn roads where you get off
the highway, go underneath and then back the other way. Behind the washroom was
an old trailer that was abandoned but with the warm weather and clear skies, I
decided to not put up my tent and would just sleep beside the trailer on my air
mattress and sleeping bag. It was in the open but I would be hidden from view
beside the trailer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The next
morning I got up and as breakfast was cooking, wandered over to the information
posters. It turns out that the road under the highway wasn’t a U-turn but one
of those roads built for animals to cross under the highway. The tunnel had a
camera in it that would take pictures of the animals to monitor the numbers and
types that were using the tunnel to get across the highway. The sign had
pictures of the animals that crossed through in the past few months. The
pictures showed black bears, grizzly bears and a few mountain lions. In other
words, all the animals that could have eaten me. I slept about 10 meters from
the path leading into the tunnel. My first thought was I was lucky nothing came
through last night or at least, nothing that I heard. My second thought was
that at least there was nothing that could have crawled over me since I wasn’t
in my tent. On my walk back to get breakfast, I noticed this sign.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vQ61eKwaKHQIevksoIl6BwaO_wLOWMUYxcsiKy6x2Dg9nWp83PeAwUeAEAR82rVtTwEI2eJ0N2OuZ6i91gE50Kyo13x6BcN4Aho7GWN8tqkPQA0JonYhv8YDMyZ7OwWNaCruXBXijVDy/s1600/Time+to+sleep+in+my+tent+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vQ61eKwaKHQIevksoIl6BwaO_wLOWMUYxcsiKy6x2Dg9nWp83PeAwUeAEAR82rVtTwEI2eJ0N2OuZ6i91gE50Kyo13x6BcN4Aho7GWN8tqkPQA0JonYhv8YDMyZ7OwWNaCruXBXijVDy/s1600/Time+to+sleep+in+my+tent+again.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Time to sleep
in my tent again</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Montana has the
most outwardly signs of religion that I have seen anywhere in the world. There
were large billboards everywhere sponsored by churches or religious groups with
messages focused on anti-abortion or with crosses and bible verses written on
the sides. There were also numerous churches of various sizes. In a somewhat
ironic twist, the other highly visible establishments that seemed over
represented based on the population were liquor stores, gun and ammunition
retail outlets and casinos. I’m not sure what that says about the people in
Montana but they do appear to have somewhat conflicting priorities. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I have always
had some inner conflicts over how people pick and choose what they believe in.
For example, most religions are opposed to killing. In Buddhism, one of the
precepts is an admonition against the taking of life, which means all life,
including animals and insects. I attended a 10-day silent treat in Thailand
back in 2012 and remember one of the Buddhist Monks giving his Dhamma talk. At
one point a mosquito landed on his arm and instead of swatting it like most of
us, he carefully picked it off his arm and let it free. For them, life is life,
and so they are also vegetarian. I like that consistency in thinking. In the
Christian faith, there is also a Commandment that says thou shalt not kill but
it has different meanings to different people. Conservatives are strongly
opposed to abortion yet often support capital punishment. There is argument
over when life starts which creates the conflict in terms of abortion and then
there is the retribution value of capital punishment. There also appears to be
little opposition to killing animals as hunting is quite popular with many
people. The end result is that you can have areas with a lot of churches and
gun stores, side by side, with little sense of irony. I’m still trying to
figure out how the large numbers of liquor stores and casinos fit into this
picture.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The road going
south in Montana ran right through the Bitterroot Valley with prairies on one
side and mountains on the other.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8X3mi62lnMzf_w-uof_Mv0smWirqjl9sVMlQNDWWZTiq7ED6Ss3GifygYkIkvt0vtnDoocZPEQZW5A0-AKRSYSbzv1PqMeratjKZGI4nSDaVauT-YtAPuWreiBPWhgVStjgEJk8uFHt2/s1600/Prairies+and+Mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8X3mi62lnMzf_w-uof_Mv0smWirqjl9sVMlQNDWWZTiq7ED6Ss3GifygYkIkvt0vtnDoocZPEQZW5A0-AKRSYSbzv1PqMeratjKZGI4nSDaVauT-YtAPuWreiBPWhgVStjgEJk8uFHt2/s1600/Prairies+and+Mountains.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Prairies and
Mountains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There are
areas here that you would picture if you think of the remote areas of Montana.
I think of rivers, mountains and fly fishing and this is exactly the kind of
scenery that I would see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_OwKoEN4YC4jawvQQq31fDZPYoO2wKa6drwLOu_cH-kWAatIxCbpQdck6Pyjs2zaIGPJD9rS4sXSuat4vywNuuKdmTaWoAq5NYkX7l5luYDQL_UpmUzQsLTQ4vSb7y2ziTms679QN4h5/s1600/River+in+Montana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_OwKoEN4YC4jawvQQq31fDZPYoO2wKa6drwLOu_cH-kWAatIxCbpQdck6Pyjs2zaIGPJD9rS4sXSuat4vywNuuKdmTaWoAq5NYkX7l5luYDQL_UpmUzQsLTQ4vSb7y2ziTms679QN4h5/s1600/River+in+Montana.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">River in
Montana</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As I entered
Missoula, the temperatures continued to be warm. I saw this sign at 7:00 pm, it
translates to 37 Celsius and it was much cooler than it had been earlier in the
day. On the roads without shade, it makes for some hot days and it promises to get
warmer as I head through Idaho and Oregon next week.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3pXvGYECNlNLEmUH3HX4BfYCjHxG_cbseqqmFEmzYZ-iJWcUqNVuHRqQyL1Kqf6-4_hdZ6i12FmLO1LXQKwjkbjQIT4WBO-mJJXcLH-Ip0zV_5HpIi3sxViHhDYN4yCG9m6M7ENyLvlH/s1600/A+hot+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3pXvGYECNlNLEmUH3HX4BfYCjHxG_cbseqqmFEmzYZ-iJWcUqNVuHRqQyL1Kqf6-4_hdZ6i12FmLO1LXQKwjkbjQIT4WBO-mJJXcLH-Ip0zV_5HpIi3sxViHhDYN4yCG9m6M7ENyLvlH/s1600/A+hot+day.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A hot day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Missoula is
the second most populous city in Montana and home of Adventure Cycling (ACA). I
used to be a member of ACA but let it expire when I left the U.S back in 2007.
ACA is an association dedicated to promoting cycling and has extensive maps of
bike routes throughout the U.S. I will be following a few of their maps as I
head across to the Pacific Coast and I wanted to see their headquarters, only
partially because they give all bike tourists free ice cream. The building was
a cyclists dream with an extensive collection of books on cycling and collections
of numerous cycling memorabilia. All touring cyclists get there photo taken
with their bikes and get on the wall of fame. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">While I was
there I had my entire bike and bags weighed. It turns out they weighed 55 kg
(121 lbs.) but I wasn’t carrying any water. There was a time in the Outback of
Australia that I carried 8 large bottles of water that weighed 12 kg (26 lbs.)
so during those long stretches, I was pushing a total of 67 kg (148 lbs.). I’ll
be thinking of what I can throw away before I head to South America and start
cycling up the Andes Mountains.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In a few days
I crossed the Lost Trail Pass at 2,138 meters (7,014 feet) and entered the
State of Idaho.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8bBJg7hm5rWhgIJv8NZ7Dyhea6k0AOzfJ5wXqfMiRawajhMEyWBOdllC-vrHVDSEtfmjbq0PH4RYZj8Hx9ZnOrSQwgUmBPhAicTSCtL0LPqURIkAZHKOvv4BFF7MLcMieLWI9o7Yc85R/s1600/Welcome+to+Idaho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8bBJg7hm5rWhgIJv8NZ7Dyhea6k0AOzfJ5wXqfMiRawajhMEyWBOdllC-vrHVDSEtfmjbq0PH4RYZj8Hx9ZnOrSQwgUmBPhAicTSCtL0LPqURIkAZHKOvv4BFF7MLcMieLWI9o7Yc85R/s1600/Welcome+to+Idaho.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Welcome to
Idaho</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">From 2002 to
2007 I lived in Boise so this was in a sense a homecoming for me. I rode down
the mountain pass and soon saw the familiar dry hills of Idaho.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3RNl_F5aE-C3ayKMDuZMcgmx6zZagHG1Gcb9OeEG0kSPG50lavNjldOdB7jUUX1r0oyzJ5EX9C6UQW33VO9l-7eL0M6ufvQWTiL3KXbx6NO5TGsLtK2jk9Pj-xEPnUn_kGOkF6TZAyBM/s1600/Brown+hills+and+river+in+Idaho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3RNl_F5aE-C3ayKMDuZMcgmx6zZagHG1Gcb9OeEG0kSPG50lavNjldOdB7jUUX1r0oyzJ5EX9C6UQW33VO9l-7eL0M6ufvQWTiL3KXbx6NO5TGsLtK2jk9Pj-xEPnUn_kGOkF6TZAyBM/s1600/Brown+hills+and+river+in+Idaho.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Brown hills
and river in Idaho</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I was still
following the mountains on my left and they offered a stark contrast to the
rolling brown hills.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw43PTkmjZh4TD834fDeEMT5c8jX5djjpwJNFRkvJNn06hrJO76mEOntox-SrKSctugH06nyPvThtYUUxYMcmq9cjZeYXO_dUV9C_DH2TL-_Rv00BzMH6veUKEjxGBwPahap3NpQMkAwD/s1600/Mountains+in+the+distance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfw43PTkmjZh4TD834fDeEMT5c8jX5djjpwJNFRkvJNn06hrJO76mEOntox-SrKSctugH06nyPvThtYUUxYMcmq9cjZeYXO_dUV9C_DH2TL-_Rv00BzMH6veUKEjxGBwPahap3NpQMkAwD/s1600/Mountains+in+the+distance.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Mountains in
the distance</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My route in
Idaho will follow the Salmon and then the Payette River all the way to Boise.
The Salmon River was first and I would cycle along it for a few days. Here are
some views as I headed south and west towards Boise.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvuE_o2XuH-QqzxecHgzWEW_wxaFX5m1v2vhuin-jDnZ06p5rUk6mylJ41h1EEN1ZeZCZY-HCxnEydErBY91Yjr109a6rXy68bwJYHQgdsf2IRIvbmWGSG09aEkDorMfWagYCqVXNfhTz/s1600/Beauty+of+Idaho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvuE_o2XuH-QqzxecHgzWEW_wxaFX5m1v2vhuin-jDnZ06p5rUk6mylJ41h1EEN1ZeZCZY-HCxnEydErBY91Yjr109a6rXy68bwJYHQgdsf2IRIvbmWGSG09aEkDorMfWagYCqVXNfhTz/s1600/Beauty+of+Idaho.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beauty of
Idaho</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5131UhtRxJIM0Vp8QTatE8IxabosC8MLV1PIRpH4l-2hcksaoccN0HCiDp6LnsNj09gbcZdFNiSJDa_k9ZeKuWtCRReQCwdKltcAYTbiiEf-mEGFg8HItWMuyxgzukINIxMdUapNuHQb/s1600/Salmon+River+in+Idaho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5131UhtRxJIM0Vp8QTatE8IxabosC8MLV1PIRpH4l-2hcksaoccN0HCiDp6LnsNj09gbcZdFNiSJDa_k9ZeKuWtCRReQCwdKltcAYTbiiEf-mEGFg8HItWMuyxgzukINIxMdUapNuHQb/s1600/Salmon+River+in+Idaho.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Salmon River
in Idaho</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The speed
limit is low in some of the small towns because if a car here hit someone, you
would lose 14% of the population.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGB6ErjjqeASEtPpPLQsWgQqqPSZQPX457VCHZucEKgAtlp5yB0zosrJrHWJqJw-Pmf-p2uVrrsgDOLN2H81iWVTihDk6_xm5K9AsE2ThyphenhyphenwUrEdO6Uybw-VEj7cvX1GOTuI1btHaJo1En/s1600/Population+of+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGB6ErjjqeASEtPpPLQsWgQqqPSZQPX457VCHZucEKgAtlp5yB0zosrJrHWJqJw-Pmf-p2uVrrsgDOLN2H81iWVTihDk6_xm5K9AsE2ThyphenhyphenwUrEdO6Uybw-VEj7cvX1GOTuI1btHaJo1En/s1600/Population+of+7.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Population of
7</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I passed a lot
of people fishing or on kayaks and white water rafts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbzohBkJ5ugPUKJgacnMRAGUDESANS72GBpo6_4gnGhfgbgCyooC0n7SRhK3Owg2w45nnLTKuZG0ZYe4OFKFFKwg8nq3fU0Ws2VCuaf-_dGQ6imKpCP89VV0c4zpKSI3qoIE4d_vJfAwd/s1600/Fishing+in+Idaho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbzohBkJ5ugPUKJgacnMRAGUDESANS72GBpo6_4gnGhfgbgCyooC0n7SRhK3Owg2w45nnLTKuZG0ZYe4OFKFFKwg8nq3fU0Ws2VCuaf-_dGQ6imKpCP89VV0c4zpKSI3qoIE4d_vJfAwd/s1600/Fishing+in+Idaho.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Fishing in
Idaho</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A lot of the
highways have an Adopt a Highway program that is a fantastic way for the local
people to keep their roads clear of garbage. I have seen a lot of the signs in
Canada and the U.S but I’ve never seen someone out on the road actually picking
up garbage. One day I passed a lady carrying a garbage bag so I stopped to
talk. She said when you sign up for the program, you promise to keep your
designated stretch of highway (usually a 2 mile stretch) clean. That means
picking up garbage at least once per year. It is a simple plan but could really
be of value in a lot of places in the world. A lot of people in SE Asia would
love to have cleaner roads and beaches but the governments do not have the
resources to devote to the environment. Using the Adopt a Highway or Adopt a
Beach approach, you take government out of the equation so things could
actually get done. It would be great to see a similar program in Thailand, Malaysia,
Indonesia or the Philippines.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLkkzQ-zQ5VRnrlmqiU2QuPu3klSlculNFJUOLp7lVJ9zx-H4CpOgDpbetFeNtZEAnadb2DljITniA_b7SJVYK5tkR0k9Qd02feFjdChy7mT5hSZOc6xCCI5mS3KwcHJbN9wWrZTge3eU/s1600/Adopt+a+Highway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLkkzQ-zQ5VRnrlmqiU2QuPu3klSlculNFJUOLp7lVJ9zx-H4CpOgDpbetFeNtZEAnadb2DljITniA_b7SJVYK5tkR0k9Qd02feFjdChy7mT5hSZOc6xCCI5mS3KwcHJbN9wWrZTge3eU/s1600/Adopt+a+Highway.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Adopt a
Highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One day I had
to face my ultimate dilemma. On one hand I could have a good coffee but on the
other, the café owners were keen supporters of the NRA (National Rifle
Association) an organization I am deeply opposed to. The coffee won out but I
certainly did not join the NRA.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJV5ukDIbrCsAeTY1ZI5C9-x8vimNsWGLZieK_2neQAMnhLqNG1BHhSuvk5PblNjF1hyVERtt9RjPb8RN4kbYxdSeZaM16KCJoldj0Yhmem2W_129-bOCIpZIm33zUHcjOeGmNei1rac8E/s1600/My+dilemma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJV5ukDIbrCsAeTY1ZI5C9-x8vimNsWGLZieK_2neQAMnhLqNG1BHhSuvk5PblNjF1hyVERtt9RjPb8RN4kbYxdSeZaM16KCJoldj0Yhmem2W_129-bOCIpZIm33zUHcjOeGmNei1rac8E/s1600/My+dilemma.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My dilemma</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One day I
rolled into the small town of Lowman, Idaho when the skies opened up and I took
a brief refuge from the rain in front of an abandoned restaurant. As the rain
slowed I headed out and a few minutes later noticed 2 dogs running across the
field towards me. They were barking but didn’t look terribly aggressive so I
simply got off my bike, an effort that typically stops dogs in their tracks.
One of them lost interest but the other was getting close and more aggressive
at the same time. I swung my bike around and tried to run my front wheel into
him, an aggressive act that typically makes dogs back down. He immediately ran
around behind me and kept inching closer. I turned my bike but with the weight
of the panniers it fell down with me on stumbling down on top, with the dog
only a few feet away and still showing it’s fangs. I grabbed my water bottle
and raised as if I were going to throw it at him but it just seemed to make him
more aggressive. I was now down on my knees with him very close and not showing
any sign of backing off. I quickly opened my handlebar bag and pulled out the
bear spray I have carried since I was in Inuvik, took off the safety and let
him have it. The high-speed orange spray hit him directly in the face and he
ran off yelping. I have never had such a close call with a dog that seemed
intent on biting me but the spray worked. I read later that although bear spray
is most effective on bears, it has often been useful to deter a dog attack. It
is an irritant and the effects would wear off in about 15 minutes and does not
cause permanent damage, although that was the least of my concerns. That dog
should not be running loose but hopefully he will think twice about doing that
to other cyclists.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The road from
Lowman to Banks turned out to be a spectacular ride. The road meanders through
a remote canyon and the lightning and thunderstorm that day made it eerie but
beautiful. Here is a few picture of the canyon approaching Garden Valley,
Idaho.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZf2gNaMX7JORdgfdVxZEaUM4iGkZhZsHBhZD_ZTIG-gYW5rewKWZuxGCn3VQ6sir47rRTfHaIT98-p7mVjx8uGw6xBXANGLDqiBWjh8i4eR0zZpNU1IADvHMrl2RDCvyuP3INe7FYqqWJ/s1600/Wild+canyon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZf2gNaMX7JORdgfdVxZEaUM4iGkZhZsHBhZD_ZTIG-gYW5rewKWZuxGCn3VQ6sir47rRTfHaIT98-p7mVjx8uGw6xBXANGLDqiBWjh8i4eR0zZpNU1IADvHMrl2RDCvyuP3INe7FYqqWJ/s1600/Wild+canyon.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Wild canyon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I slept in the
wild just outside Garden Valley and then continued following the Payette River
towards Boise. I biked along rapids and could hear the rushing water all day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaewoSxLzHLHLYZ-nciNl2Ss_PBjW9ytgE5SCu6_ptcsnzrvibw1k6hflXfrKFnQPWaPKfv1scsOGijr9-M1rpRlr5qx-Zv7LiacolZcuB-w8v59sG_XKqU7uFR3L0xVohLhevXR1EX6p/s1600/Mist+covered+Mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaewoSxLzHLHLYZ-nciNl2Ss_PBjW9ytgE5SCu6_ptcsnzrvibw1k6hflXfrKFnQPWaPKfv1scsOGijr9-M1rpRlr5qx-Zv7LiacolZcuB-w8v59sG_XKqU7uFR3L0xVohLhevXR1EX6p/s1600/Mist+covered+Mountains.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Mist covered
Mountains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The north fork
of the Payette River in Banks, Idaho has Class 5 rapids that only elite
kayakers would dare to challenge. They are considered Class 5 when the rapids
are so big and continuous that if you fell there would be little hope of
getting out of the water. This is the end of the Class 5 stretch of river.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOwux125lGgS1HnOk8iqKjV0s6W4yvEa7MvSfx66CXxPsz7FPa-rVZHsm1BqGqe_3tqXC1ilsPK3w-xbmYkxhNJ89C6iFMaVeDuAfFmjRPIteyzyVt9EQNBjCxIAvNolWwzEXCFxl9ZZN/s1600/Class+5+rapids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOwux125lGgS1HnOk8iqKjV0s6W4yvEa7MvSfx66CXxPsz7FPa-rVZHsm1BqGqe_3tqXC1ilsPK3w-xbmYkxhNJ89C6iFMaVeDuAfFmjRPIteyzyVt9EQNBjCxIAvNolWwzEXCFxl9ZZN/s1600/Class+5+rapids.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Class 5
rapids</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Later that day
I arrived in Horseshoe Bend, just outside of Boise. I had forgotten about the
hill leading out of the town but was soon on a long stretch that rises 500
meters in a 5-mile stretch. The hill wasn’t that steep at 7% but as I went up,
I kept stopping to pick up coins. As part of my support of the Angel House
Orphanage, I pick up loose coins on the road and track the amount as I continue
around the world. As luck would have it, I found 7 different coins on the
climb. I admit it is a little strange to lose momentum by stopping on a long
climb to get off your bike and pick up a penny but every little bit helps. I
ended up finding $0.40 cents on the 8-kilometer stretch and then spent the rest
of the distance to Boise calculating how much I would collect if I found the
same amount of money as I rode around the world. My planned route is 50,000 km
so if I found $0.40 cents every 8 km, it would mean $2,500 dollars at the end
of my trip around the world. Now you know the very important things that occupy
my mind at times.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As I
approached Boise I passed the 14,000 km mark.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iDMRWg2DpjHqPDAaJ-2f9CceYLfPt4HhTMMGWRcn4Bgi2O72ddYYtXzUF0hHzfqlgqpscfjpds1j1IagJQ1I3R8KxIE30Nsrj35hNBFE-dxsIyJ8jgMwwxHOkVMUdv8P0HqjTLMVEvy3/s1600/14000+km.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iDMRWg2DpjHqPDAaJ-2f9CceYLfPt4HhTMMGWRcn4Bgi2O72ddYYtXzUF0hHzfqlgqpscfjpds1j1IagJQ1I3R8KxIE30Nsrj35hNBFE-dxsIyJ8jgMwwxHOkVMUdv8P0HqjTLMVEvy3/s1600/14000+km.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">14,000 km</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">On Tuesday
August 6<sup>th</sup>, I entered Boise. I am staying with different friends for
3 nights before continuing my route to the Pacific Coast. I have decided not to
cycle back home to Ontario but will cycling west and south to Los Angeles. Once
I am there I will be leaving my bike and fly back home to visit my family and
friends for a few weeks. I didn't want to bike all the way across the Prairies
and then have to bike back again to make it down into Mexico so will stay on
the West coast and continue my route south.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My first stop
in Boise was with Robert and Jeri and they welcomed me with open arms. Robert
is the man who has created and managed my website for the last few years and is
a former co-worker at an accounting firm in Boise. I arrived there and they
treated me to a wonderful dinner at an Indian restaurant while we caught up on
our lives. They couldn’t do enough for me and after a great night sleep in a
real bed and a delicious lunch of pizza, I was on my way again. The visit was
way too short but I thoroughly enjoyed my time and I can’t say enough about the
hospitality they both offered. To Robert and Jeri, thank you for sharing your
home.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQRTB_ghkx1BUInFJTTDNVpoXkTRvzUoIWNqUhp-zE1NPyoY5jo7QzcqyuJdrFQVMRsBNAJBM3hZFSwThzoPOY8QYHnTSxSZlxofvmBayMpAVfdGg48bvEfr8IgqJSP7vRcjj7ziKjFAo/s1600/Robert+and+Jeri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQRTB_ghkx1BUInFJTTDNVpoXkTRvzUoIWNqUhp-zE1NPyoY5jo7QzcqyuJdrFQVMRsBNAJBM3hZFSwThzoPOY8QYHnTSxSZlxofvmBayMpAVfdGg48bvEfr8IgqJSP7vRcjj7ziKjFAo/s1600/Robert+and+Jeri.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Robert and
Jeri</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">On Wednesday
afternoon I cycled across town to visit the home where I used to live. This was
my home for 4 years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My old house
in Boise</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My next stop
was with Patrick and Rachel Hugens. I had never met them but was introduced to
Rachel on Facebook. We ended up having a lot in common. They are both avid
bicycle tourist and often host other cyclists coming through town. They met
each other years ago on their separate bicycle tours and have travelled
extensively on bicycles around the world. Patrick is also Dutch and while there
they gave me some Dutch salted licorice that I love. We talked about our
various trips and plans going forward and enjoyed a fantastic dinner and a few
beers. They were very trusting and allowed me to wake up on my own schedule as
they left their home to go to work early in the morning. It is the kind of
hospitality that is so endearing, people welcoming strangers into their home
and having complete trust in them. I know they experienced a lot of that trust
as they rode their bicycles around the world and now they are offering the same
in return. I love that exchange of generosity and I just hope that one day I
can return it to both of them. Here is a picture of Patrick and Rachel Hugens
of Boise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Patrick and
Rachel Hugens</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">This is the
Boise River that runs through the City. It is a right of passage for those
living here to float down the river on an inner tube on a warm summer day.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcqIthXmAZmPwEfofm8lFFxYXnRWz0BTrhSoCWctaBegZC8vL1szktBgvINLJ4OS3itNwIxpQm5nMvWtvIt-UBc4in7_P6eoXMOovJHHLFhgI4Np8sBauBAuJclKeFswEY1desAxbNAjL/s1600/Boise+River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcqIthXmAZmPwEfofm8lFFxYXnRWz0BTrhSoCWctaBegZC8vL1szktBgvINLJ4OS3itNwIxpQm5nMvWtvIt-UBc4in7_P6eoXMOovJHHLFhgI4Np8sBauBAuJclKeFswEY1desAxbNAjL/s1600/Boise+River.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Boise River</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Capital
building of Boise.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2l-QuOEZ413ym8azjUrN1hX79ouFC3ljPOfayA7stuXnGdsZrE7pHmACl9hiahYmYi88qYPPA_Q0pfyqmr5SY6F70rvAL0wfundme-WI2ZCRyaRt6od4yL6bvR95kk9zSK3nBZMo9zoM/s1600/Capital+Building+in+Boise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2l-QuOEZ413ym8azjUrN1hX79ouFC3ljPOfayA7stuXnGdsZrE7pHmACl9hiahYmYi88qYPPA_Q0pfyqmr5SY6F70rvAL0wfundme-WI2ZCRyaRt6od4yL6bvR95kk9zSK3nBZMo9zoM/s1600/Capital+Building+in+Boise.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Capital
Building in Boise</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">For my last
night I met up with my friends Hugh and Pam. Hugh is a good friend who helped
me a lot when I was going through some difficult periods in Boise. We often had
good fun conversations so it was a great chance to catch up. Pam cooked a
delicious dinner and Hugh and I talked until late. It is too bad I wasn’t there
longer as we had a lot of things to discuss. The next morning he had to leave
for work early so I had a chance to talk with Pam for a while and also enjoyed
that very much. It was great to meet up again and thank you both for your very
generous hospitality and friendship.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Hugh and Pam</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As I have
mentioned in the past, the purpose of my around the world bicycle trip is to
raise support and awareness of the Angel House Orphanage in the Philippines,
their website can be found here, </span><a href="http://www.angelhousephilippines.org/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">http://www.angelhousephilippines.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As I continue
around the world, life goes on for all the children being raised without
parents. In mid-July 2-year old Ja and his 1-year old brother Jo arrived at
Angel House for temporary care. David and his staff find homes for abandoned
children but also will assist parents who cannot care for the kids for various
reasons. Angel House provides a safe haven on a temporary basis for some
children who need a break. There are now 15 children being cared for and the staff
is being kept very busy.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOXs6MY52uAfhDIbU7nuZskWB-FvaOR8IPWZWuzTKO_eLEpUvFm3_z37K1ihMoZDILgQXA5TO9PiVy4wwKFj7SkO-7Z6pZ-I30qUUs-uv4ighVU59FKSwvpkkhSz5DHxCFw8dA52WNBlF/s1600/Ja+and+Jo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOXs6MY52uAfhDIbU7nuZskWB-FvaOR8IPWZWuzTKO_eLEpUvFm3_z37K1ihMoZDILgQXA5TO9PiVy4wwKFj7SkO-7Z6pZ-I30qUUs-uv4ighVU59FKSwvpkkhSz5DHxCFw8dA52WNBlF/s1600/Ja+and+Jo.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ja and Jo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A few weeks
ago David and his staff welcomed a 3-year old girl into Angel House. This
little girl spent an entire year living on the streets; think about that for a
few minutes. She was admitted to the orphanage as a very sad girl, with very
little to be happy about but a few weeks later, look at this wonderful smile.
If you ever want to know what difference a donation can make to Angel House,
just look at this picture.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OfDGB29rfth_2dGXioRb_SCt76yffC-ffQ3YSajY3Zws7b6GTnEldjmER-5OTVkHon3Clz90YYBspncUq3dO2ZdoqhYGLgAZhc2KlzW9Z2EX7SW8UfR_X-TNxaE-F3amPFL9RoY828vi/s1600/Baby+M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OfDGB29rfth_2dGXioRb_SCt76yffC-ffQ3YSajY3Zws7b6GTnEldjmER-5OTVkHon3Clz90YYBspncUq3dO2ZdoqhYGLgAZhc2KlzW9Z2EX7SW8UfR_X-TNxaE-F3amPFL9RoY828vi/s1600/Baby+M.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Baby M</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It is hard for
me to imagine how a donation to any form of charity could provide more of a
direct help to those in need. David does not receive any form of corporate
support or financial assistance from a church but relies solely on individuals
around the world. Please consider helping David and his staff cares for these
beautiful children. If you are interested in providing financial support or
wish to help in any way, please contact me via e-mail or David at the website
above.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-57569060274358229692014-07-16T18:21:00.001-07:002014-07-16T18:21:55.553-07:00The World’s largest zoo<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">July 15, 2014 – The
World’s largest zoo</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Banff, Alberta</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 180 - Distance biked
so far: (12,522 km)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I was reminded
recently of the fact that some people are new to my journals and may not really
understand what this trip is about. I wanted to address a few of those points now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My bike trip
started out as a way to see the world and to share with others the people,
culture and food of people and places they may never see. My plan was and
remains to bike 50,000 km through approximately 40 countries and to provide a
travelogue of the view from a bicycle. The world is a diverse place and I have
already written about the people and places in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia, Australia and now Canada. There are many interesting places to come.
I hope to get a visa for Iran when I head back over the ocean, and will have to
go through the former Russian countries of Central Asia. Other countries like
Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Kyrgyzstan and Japan are ones I am excited to see. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In 2011, I
spent 6 months volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity orphanage in
Tacloban. I fell in love with the Filipino people and my heart went out to the
kids that had a bleak future. In 2013, I flew down to Davao, Oriental and met
David Donaldson. In 2009, David established a foundation and created the Angel
House Orphanage. He used his own savings to build a home for the kids and then
started accepting children who were referred to him by the Department of Social
Welfare. During our meeting, I was made aware of how costly it was to operate
an orphanage. He hired 5 full time care workers who lived in the home with the
children. He also had to hire a full time social worker to deal with the
government on the complicated issues of foreign adoption. The entire operation
was financed by David and through individual donors. He has to provide food, shelter,
medical care, clothing and school supplies for up to 15 children. He then has
to pay property taxes, electricity bills, and gas for the vehicle he needs to
transport the children etc., etc. It was at this point that I offered to try
and support the orphanage in my bicycle trip around the world. The idea was to
promote the Angel House Orphanage through my journals and to encourage people
to read the Angel House Orphanage website.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In the past
few months I have had a few people question why they should support me while I
am touring the world. I think there is a perception that by giving to me they
are actually financing my travels and nothing could be further from the truth. It
is very upsetting to hear that because I provide 100% of my own support. I have
never asked for financial assistance and any money raised is simply passed to
Angel House. I pay for my own food, accommodation, bike repairs, flights,
ferries etc. As a non-resident for tax purposes in Canada, I don’t even have
healthcare and pay for my own private coverage. Any money I receive is given to
David. If someone provides me something for free I track the value of that meal
and provide that as a donation to Angel House. In Malaysia, Jorlyn Tan, someone
who didn’t know me, gave me a room in her hotel for free and I donated the
value of that to Angel House. That same day on 2 different occasions, people I
didn’t know paid for a meal and I also donated the value of those meals. The
idea is that I will keep the chain going of any random acts of kindness from
complete strangers and donate the value of the gift to help the children. Last
week I sent David $500 U.S, representing cash and in-kind assistance provided
by people in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and Canada. I have even
been picking up coins on the road as I pass through. I enter the coins on a
spreadsheet (Accountants love spreadsheets) and after 2 years will donate that
as a gift from all the people in the world who have holes in their pockets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There are some
very hard days when you bicycle around the world. In the past few weeks alone I
had lightning, hail, 50 km headwinds and high mountains to deal with. What keeps
me going are pictures like this one from the Angel House Orphanage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbEaZ3ShnEdI13DnEiU86sHgrz9EA7Yob9rr1fCmDsEdgrNOfWXXIkQH1e6AtKTDTQgdsm_jfSc_XoEFuBkjql3jybO04fgNHkcMhRtUW906-eyPKPgLy3ksJ99ZxN_EuknvtPVWs3xeR/s1600/Angel+House+Kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbEaZ3ShnEdI13DnEiU86sHgrz9EA7Yob9rr1fCmDsEdgrNOfWXXIkQH1e6AtKTDTQgdsm_jfSc_XoEFuBkjql3jybO04fgNHkcMhRtUW906-eyPKPgLy3ksJ99ZxN_EuknvtPVWs3xeR/s1600/Angel+House+Kids.jpg" height="318" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Angel House
Kids</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Most people
would look at this photo and see 3 happy boys but I see something different. In
2011, when I was volunteering at the orphanage in Tacloban, a young child died
from severe malnutrition. Every one of the 32 children there were literally
starving to death before the Missionaries of Charity stepped up to bring them
back to health. So, when I see that picture above, I see 3 boys abandoned at
the hospital with absolutely no chance in life. They would not be able to go to
school and life would be a struggle from their first breath to last. I see
David and his staff accepting those kids and providing them a home with good
food and someone to read the bedtime stories, celebrate birthdays and provide a
home when there wasn’t one. The photo also breaks my heart because it is their
first day of school, and they will never experience having a parent walking
with them on a memorable occasion. They have missed family birthdays, family
camping trips, sitting around playing games and all the other things we did with
our parents and that we take for granted. David and his staff jumped in to help
when no one else did and now these 3 happy boys have a chance at life. That is
why I am riding my bike around the world and why I keep going despite feeling
lonely and wishing I was back in my comfortable condo watching the World Cup
soccer games. It is a choice I made but if anyone suggests that I somehow
profit financially from cycling the world, nothing could be further from the
truth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The town of
Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon territories and where I spent a few days
recovering from the difficult ride down the Dempster and Klondike Highways. I
loved the town, it has all the conveniences you could want and I stayed in a
youth hostel with comfortable beds and showers, a few of the simple things I’ve
have been missing. Whitehorse has a population of about 28,000 but has the
facilities of a far larger city. There is even a Starbucks, which of course I
was quick to notice, I seem to have a gift for finding coffee shops. The entire
territory of the Yukon only has 37,000 people so if you exclude the capital city;
there are about 9,000 people in the rest of the Territory. In the same area there
are 150,000 caribou, 50,000 moose, 22,000 mountain sheep, 10,000 black bears,
7,000 grizzly bears and 5,000 wolves. I was biking through the world’s largest
zoo without a fence to keep the animals away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Alaska
Highway was constructed during World War 2 for the purpose of connecting the
contiguous U.S with Alaska. It starts in Dawson Creek, British Columbia (as
opposed to Dawson City, Yukon) and ends in Delta Junction, Alaska crossing the
southern Yukon. I will follow the highway for over 1,000 km. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The highway
was built by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers as a supply route during World War
2. Canada agreed to allow construction through British Columbia and the Yukon
as long as the U.S bore the full cost and that the road and other facilities
would be turned over to Canada after the war ended. Not a bad deal for Canada
and the U.S agreed. More than 10,000 soldiers came north with 250,000 tons of
materials. Rather than proceeding from one point in one direction, one group
started in the north and the other the south and they met up in the middle. The
method was simple. Surveyors worked roughly 10 miles ahead of the bulldozers
and the men who cleared the path. The surveyors would map the route and the men
behind would catch up and blaze a path. A battalion of bulldozers cleared the
way by knocking down trees in a path roughly 50 to 90 feet across. Once the
path was cleared, a second battalion brought up the rear, flattening the road
surface. It wouldn’t pass the environmental tests required today but the job
was done in less than 8 months. It would take far longer just to get all the
permits to build today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZNDYM37FBYeIijFz6PoCeH99jGd5JfrNYNYH21TCLxu_F8FtMk0BNAQMIQWXkCT91X27Xe5hmqHiRTlfqQjtbl84WYLpq45HbymouGUbFwBbyQXJf8ZylBAe74RLaJbah_DbcLfdkw5D/s1600/Alaska+Highway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZNDYM37FBYeIijFz6PoCeH99jGd5JfrNYNYH21TCLxu_F8FtMk0BNAQMIQWXkCT91X27Xe5hmqHiRTlfqQjtbl84WYLpq45HbymouGUbFwBbyQXJf8ZylBAe74RLaJbah_DbcLfdkw5D/s1600/Alaska+Highway.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Alaska
Highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I headed off
early and continued south along the Alaska Highway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOnCZ5s0eUCBMzh1RbaYMCAtJI9sHi-dmC8cv9cPn-zhf892aHv3deK4j3edpbPp6RnN1-xQ1l36lEQU_JfDxG7ThyWcg9dLykKR-RaKw52ZJl4d7o4xObNBWU-FaVceXaMoOwWu26Jxv/s1600/Snow+capped+mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOnCZ5s0eUCBMzh1RbaYMCAtJI9sHi-dmC8cv9cPn-zhf892aHv3deK4j3edpbPp6RnN1-xQ1l36lEQU_JfDxG7ThyWcg9dLykKR-RaKw52ZJl4d7o4xObNBWU-FaVceXaMoOwWu26Jxv/s1600/Snow+capped+mountains.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Snow capped
mountains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It didn’t take
long to realize that there really are more bears than people in the Yukon. The
forests on the sides of the road were cut well back leaving a wide swathe of
grass between the road and the trees, the perfect feeding ground for bears. It
became a daily occurrence to spot them feeding on the side of the road and that
presented a problem for me. The grass is high so I can see the top of a large
adult bear but could not see if there were cubs nearby. There are a few things
that will make a bear attack a human. The first is if you suddenly come upon
them without them hearing you, you scare them and they can react aggressively.
You also want to avoid them if they are eating and since they are fiercely
protective of their young, you have to keep your distance when cubs are in the
area. Bears are like people, they like to eat and they protect their young so
if you accept that you are in their area and give them lots of space you will
be fine. However, with them feeding on the side of the road, I had to get past.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My usual
routine when I spotted a bear would be to stop and make sure they knew I was
there. I carried 2 pot lids in my front handlebar bag and would clang them
together when I spotted one or more feeding. I would then yell out and make
sure they saw me. In a few cases they would run but most of the time they just
kept on eating. Since I was not sure if the cubs were around and they were so
close to the road, I would wait for a car, wave it down and then ask for them
to drive slowly so I can use the car as a shield. One day I stopped cycling 5
times in a single day to wait for a car to provide cover. The local people said
they have never seen so many bears. One man said that because of the late
winter, the berries were not ready so the bears came down from the mountains to
find food.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One morning,
just as I headed off, I spotted a small grizzly bear on the side of the road.
They are distinctive because of their large hump and brown colour to go along
with their massive size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cub was
less than a year old and grizzly bears can rear their young for up to 5 years so
I was concerned about the presence of his mother. I waited for a car to wave
down to escort me and kept my distance. On the other side of the road a
transport truck was coming my way and suddenly, the small grizzly ran out and
across the road and was struck by the truck. Another beautiful animal killed on
the highway. It is devastating for the grizzly bears because they don’t have a
lot of cubs in their lifetime so the population is struggling to maintain
itself. It also presented a problem for me as I was alone on the road about 100
meters from a dead grizzly cub and if the mother was around it would see me as
the one responsible. I backed away and spent a nervous 15 minutes waiting for a
car. Eventually one came and I explained there was a young grizzly ahead that
was just hit by a truck and I needed to have a car beside me to get past. The
man drove slowly with me on the side and when he came to the bear, I didn’t
realize that he stopped to take photos of the dead cub. I kept going thinking
he was beside me but I was on my own in the middle of the road near a dead
grizzly cub. I waited for the man for about 5 minutes and then cycled back to
him and stayed near the car. I don’t think he really understood what I was
trying to do because he then drove forward and accelerated so I was again left
on my own until another car came by and escorted me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">When I was in
the small town of Nuggett City, I was checking into a campsite when a message
came over the owner’s phone. I was told that a black bear had just jumped
through the screen window of the staff building about 50 meters from where we
were standing. Once a bear gets that close to people there is no choice but to
shoot it and minutes later, a series of shots rang out. The bear was shot and
got away but the men with guns followed it to ensure it was dead. We were
initially told that all people in tents would have to sleep in the lodge but
later we were told we could go back outside. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I had bear
escorts from motorcyclists, trucks and cars. One day I tried to wave down a car
because of a large black bear right on the side of the road. A car approached
and I stopped cycling to wave them down. For some reason, they thought I was
stopping my bike on the middle of the highway, in the middle of nowhere, just
to turn around and wave to complete strangers. They both smiled and waved back enthusiastically
and promptly drove on. I still wonder if they ever think that maybe I needed
help. A truck drove by and noticed that I was trying to wave down a car and he
understood because he too saw the bear ahead. He stopped and set off a bear
banger, a pen-like instrument that shoots off a flare and large bang. He aimed
it near the bear and after he fled, the truck driver beeped his horn giving me
the all-clear signal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">On another day
I was biking along and a black bear darted out beside me, no more than a few
meters to my side. He ran away from me but I wanted to give him some space so I
crossed the road to cycle on the other side. Just as I reached the other side,
a black bear lifted his head no more than a few arms lengths away. I turned and
he just stared at me as he continued to eat. They are incredibly beautiful
animals but when you are that close it really gets your heart racing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0T-Y3pH0jjcl4OcleG3leggq-81pRgX-WSginNK6TARPaO9rVCVqFv2Ti68lB_Rln5FuQzf8n0cOZBC_lMUZrpbsib4gSFfRfEQQdfGh3uAPVFWG28OuN2IeoRKFsno9T_eLtuiJEWeA/s1600/Black+bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0T-Y3pH0jjcl4OcleG3leggq-81pRgX-WSginNK6TARPaO9rVCVqFv2Ti68lB_Rln5FuQzf8n0cOZBC_lMUZrpbsib4gSFfRfEQQdfGh3uAPVFWG28OuN2IeoRKFsno9T_eLtuiJEWeA/s1600/Black+bear.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Black bear</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The southern
Yukon is beautiful with blue lakes; mountains, rivers and I enjoyed mostly
clear skies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7lTr5UUdlE0QixAff9jkJcqM3v174lYSwRXtmQcWjnhKa7MrxOMQzOQ0giyNAaJxQHb0q30zAi_JXM92gYZYn8bQ5Iiu24ZgX_1uS8Zm0l086Kd36MByhN1V4DK2BaFIf0qeVSeT2TDJ/s1600/Clean+fresh+air+in+the+Yukon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7lTr5UUdlE0QixAff9jkJcqM3v174lYSwRXtmQcWjnhKa7MrxOMQzOQ0giyNAaJxQHb0q30zAi_JXM92gYZYn8bQ5Iiu24ZgX_1uS8Zm0l086Kd36MByhN1V4DK2BaFIf0qeVSeT2TDJ/s1600/Clean+fresh+air+in+the+Yukon.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Clean fresh
air in the Yukon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Alaska
Highway roughly follows the boundary between the southern Yukon Territory and
the northern province of British Columbia, and it goes between the two borders
a number of times as you head east. In Northern British Columbia I arrived at
the beautiful Muncho Lake. It is a small lake about 12 km long and surrounded
by small mountains. The jade green color is attributed to the presence of
copper oxide in the bedrock under the water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuI2FvP01TeXjvCsaz655Z3VRau-glJGYj73RfnIJLY97iJcqJPiQOno9gtpsCKJgaqZ3SRKUQvOrhf6dXPURgxDEbhFd5Y7dr2dIIVdQgh8DfUrjCjc1vSrPLmNtUcQBkXeEKt9d_P-j/s1600/Muncho+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuI2FvP01TeXjvCsaz655Z3VRau-glJGYj73RfnIJLY97iJcqJPiQOno9gtpsCKJgaqZ3SRKUQvOrhf6dXPURgxDEbhFd5Y7dr2dIIVdQgh8DfUrjCjc1vSrPLmNtUcQBkXeEKt9d_P-j/s1600/Muncho+Lake.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Muncho Lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Bears weren’t
the only wildlife that I had the privilege of observing. One day I was cycling
along and a female moose was on the side of the road. She was startled and as I
approached she started running along the road ahead of me. They are very fast
and she easily increased the distance from me but did not get off the road so
eventually I was close behind again. At one point she turned off and I thought
that was the end but soon after rounding a corner, there she was again standing
there looking back at me. Instead of simply getting off the road, she kept
running. This continued for about 3 km and eventually she got tired and decided
to get off the highway. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I also saw a
number of Bison and one day came across a small herd. The American bison can
stand up to 6 feet at the shoulders and weigh up to 1,000 kg or 2,200 lbs. The
males in particular can be very aggressive and as I did with the bears, waited
for a car to provide an escort. This bison noticed me on the bike and kept
watching as I took a photo while beside a car. He didn’t look happy and he kept
staring at me. I had a car beside me so boldly asked him what he was staring at
but he wasn’t amused. Some bison just don’t have a sense of humour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyrQ8OdLecWVYjo92PsgCOFBqtCe0c7nMrC0f9OUnKTln74IMdozCr2MmPWY5MjtKMfycOyKtZ1QrJzjqFEfgou_TMheZ9uykRsam2iMaxPPvkh1i1Nq-FgFKB8OTWIzFqZxyDjk6e6lT/s1600/Bison+keeping+his+eye+on+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyrQ8OdLecWVYjo92PsgCOFBqtCe0c7nMrC0f9OUnKTln74IMdozCr2MmPWY5MjtKMfycOyKtZ1QrJzjqFEfgou_TMheZ9uykRsam2iMaxPPvkh1i1Nq-FgFKB8OTWIzFqZxyDjk6e6lT/s1600/Bison+keeping+his+eye+on+me.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Bison keeping
his eye on me</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It is a long
stretch between Whitehorse and Dawson Creek and I kept heading in a southeasterly
direction. I always tried to make it to a campsite at night because of the
large number of bears in the area, I wouldn’t feel comfortable cooking dinner
and camping. I would filter drinking water directly from the rivers, sleep in
the fresh air and really enjoyed being outside 24 hours a day. One day a few wild
horses passed on my side, exactly the same thing that happened in the Outback
of Australia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CB1TlGC1fwm9Cv6Y4KxYNqEXX6KQKk0KwTcTyx3wxyNOSR5YcSzhOmGfG4oMRYXOxIbvsCZvaVk2ZHQa_tT-FV7_wVQdY_ad2CkwIdASRvHGBNDKkMEr8sFALprjoopaq4prYgrvsncx/s1600/Wild+horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CB1TlGC1fwm9Cv6Y4KxYNqEXX6KQKk0KwTcTyx3wxyNOSR5YcSzhOmGfG4oMRYXOxIbvsCZvaVk2ZHQa_tT-FV7_wVQdY_ad2CkwIdASRvHGBNDKkMEr8sFALprjoopaq4prYgrvsncx/s1600/Wild+horses.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Wild horses</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The terrain
was hilly but I slowly crossed the northern edge of the Rocky Mountains.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVXmmUG9PwwOxu5ncTPULQwq_9_WAfJPYlpS1nP0wzHgzyYhGUTkndZto7fxE_j0EMD-7sD4Gak4fGDFIb-bWckVkBbtahPYGLM4PRv4AOIHqynN5rDzJ28KHzlnsE-jdu2iFAMVDc2Zn/s1600/Hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVXmmUG9PwwOxu5ncTPULQwq_9_WAfJPYlpS1nP0wzHgzyYhGUTkndZto7fxE_j0EMD-7sD4Gak4fGDFIb-bWckVkBbtahPYGLM4PRv4AOIHqynN5rDzJ28KHzlnsE-jdu2iFAMVDc2Zn/s1600/Hills.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Hills</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I soon came to
Liard Hot Springs, the second largest hot spring in Canada. There are 2 hot
springs with water temperatures ranging from 42C to 52C (108F to 126F). They
were too hot for me so I just sat with my tired legs dangling in the water and
enjoyed the spectacular scenery. One of the pools was permanently closed
because of the large number of bears in the area. In 1997, a much publicized
black bear attack that killed 2 tourists eventually resulted in the closure of a
few of the pools. In 1998, at least 50 bears were killed to ease the concern of
the public. It seems tragic and unbelievable to me that they would kill so many
bears just so tourists can sit in water. Surely that was an excessive response
to the problem. I wonder why they couldn’t just built an enclosed walkway to
prevent future attacks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4vGC_PztPE6nStZ6YcIFI9HLFjIHEi-nf-vuXcDaFeC4wGQn50ryomwVzGxkUNWWbEVwK76YNE1TZDR0zRYKJIQvIQtN0ZLpaeVaw5RbapAR4yrDzATFCVjzZLnd7EJM76PS4n3J3HHC/s1600/Liard+Hot+Springs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4vGC_PztPE6nStZ6YcIFI9HLFjIHEi-nf-vuXcDaFeC4wGQn50ryomwVzGxkUNWWbEVwK76YNE1TZDR0zRYKJIQvIQtN0ZLpaeVaw5RbapAR4yrDzATFCVjzZLnd7EJM76PS4n3J3HHC/s1600/Liard+Hot+Springs.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Liard Hot
Springs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I saw a number
of mountain sheep as I headed east. This small group was on the side of the
road and it was the young ones that seemed to be more concerned with my presence.
The little sheep furthest from me made me laugh. He or she first noticed me and
ran off up the hill in sheer terror. At one point it realized that no one else
was following so turned around and sprinted back down the hill to stand by it’s
mother. All the while, the mother calmly sat grazing on the side of the road,
seemingly oblivious to my presence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCP-GOgaN4Zd0mOiSrNuJx3Jg67c_nYDOhxDMRMvIshs57sFcSOpSkKxQf8ARHBOAuBmzx47pPX3lx_a8pfsN0Z690gM6I_USwsxVXhSzg7cZLKJ5dQtLo7ji6vrjfhTLqAiWZFdw_gjV/s1600/Young+sheep+on+guard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCP-GOgaN4Zd0mOiSrNuJx3Jg67c_nYDOhxDMRMvIshs57sFcSOpSkKxQf8ARHBOAuBmzx47pPX3lx_a8pfsN0Z690gM6I_USwsxVXhSzg7cZLKJ5dQtLo7ji6vrjfhTLqAiWZFdw_gjV/s1600/Young+sheep+on+guard.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Young sheep
on guard</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Another
mountain sheep watched me pass. It is a real treat to watch them effortlessly
run up the mountains. They could even give the Sherpas in Nepal a lesson on how
to climb up hills.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpNuJAaHF2Ik04iZCRMiXz87ZiOoCKAee3yaIEEvyn2_kqUIh95SzgdMhqqMldpTYuzweqfvq7_C8MvVLQn-0oQ5Tv_T99EWrciB0a_p_Y6DaVLm6pa8NDb_NOc_-HDvNqPiq3TS_RSOc/s1600/Mountain+sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpNuJAaHF2Ik04iZCRMiXz87ZiOoCKAee3yaIEEvyn2_kqUIh95SzgdMhqqMldpTYuzweqfvq7_C8MvVLQn-0oQ5Tv_T99EWrciB0a_p_Y6DaVLm6pa8NDb_NOc_-HDvNqPiq3TS_RSOc/s1600/Mountain+sheep.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Mountain
sheep</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The route I
chose followed the Alaska Highway to Dawson Creek and then south towards
Jasper. That means that I would end up on the east side of the Rocky Mountains
and then back track west again as I approached the resort town. After climbing
some reasonable mountains I was clear of the hills for a short time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6a0OhgQFzS5sMe0ub3_BzaHjOc_0ZWTFRQSr8BrgZZ0QbJJ5FWUi1wpSWwgaazZ2TSxw5ylL671_bpudRMuBTso4Nvj99TeHubtK2ekN5lvkCWJblfpw91CZS1TIe8wKtRQZ5HaaAYyv/s1600/Leaving+the+mountains+behind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6a0OhgQFzS5sMe0ub3_BzaHjOc_0ZWTFRQSr8BrgZZ0QbJJ5FWUi1wpSWwgaazZ2TSxw5ylL671_bpudRMuBTso4Nvj99TeHubtK2ekN5lvkCWJblfpw91CZS1TIe8wKtRQZ5HaaAYyv/s1600/Leaving+the+mountains+behind.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Leaving the
mountains behind</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Despite all
the wildlife, the biggest danger to me on the roads is a modern man made
invention, the motorhome. Since the 1950’s, homes have become larger and larger
despite smaller families and the average motorhome has followed a similar path.
I would see a steady stream of these behemoths on a daily basis with most
towing a car behind. They were massive and almost always only had 2 people in
them. In one campsite I was invited in and couldn’t believe the luxurious
interiors, resembling a 5-star hotel. I was sitting in a lush swivel chair
staring at the leather couch, large flat screen TV with satellite, shower,
large bed and every imaginable convenience. It was a slight step down as I left
the home to return to my small tent with a mat and sleeping bag.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELlzflW2vRpJpmVYwh_g0g1PdzshQ71M9CvgyRMp7rV7Am30RXuQzoJEtSCYHfpk_qyvDAxVPrtAtEP6TDEolhpZ_50vPSkfikeIj1TxPjK-PCx4MBTZHBqyac82min5U8_iTqa001lnX/s1600/Home+on+wheels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELlzflW2vRpJpmVYwh_g0g1PdzshQ71M9CvgyRMp7rV7Am30RXuQzoJEtSCYHfpk_qyvDAxVPrtAtEP6TDEolhpZ_50vPSkfikeIj1TxPjK-PCx4MBTZHBqyac82min5U8_iTqa001lnX/s1600/Home+on+wheels.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Home on
wheels</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I passed the
12,000 km mark on my way past Fort Nelson and would soon go over 12,500 meaning
I was now 25% of my way around the world. It is a long way since I left Bangkok
and it seems almost inconceivable that I still have over 37,000 km to go.
Whoever said the world is small did not try to get around it on a bicycle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk17t8_WGvPx1_61JbiyVwUnyQpTC6n47Ynv_EEPTp30A36vp2Da7GLJvvZuFRAbQL5DLYSCdYkWBm2gGm6lLY14-02Heq5b9Yutlkrk8VdrOXeXgGIErPjKM5XL-pvb_SCCUKiL3uM_eF/s1600/12%252C000+km+since+Bangkok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk17t8_WGvPx1_61JbiyVwUnyQpTC6n47Ynv_EEPTp30A36vp2Da7GLJvvZuFRAbQL5DLYSCdYkWBm2gGm6lLY14-02Heq5b9Yutlkrk8VdrOXeXgGIErPjKM5XL-pvb_SCCUKiL3uM_eF/s1600/12%252C000+km+since+Bangkok.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">12,000 km
since Bangkok</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I was heading
east one day and stopped at a small store for a drink. As I was leaving I noticed
some dark clouds ahead. I was debating whether to stop and go back to the store
until the storm passed or keep moving forward and ended up making the right
decision in stopping. A short while later winds of up to 70kmh raced through
with large hail and lightning. I ended up waiting for 4 hours before continuing
on my way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBHBS82VLgE9lWoJzNpC8vjJvf3EfHWqs7q3R7OEodLMTg_4i6jhaTyLh436OECfPWVV_KK8pNBr45QTMrwdvVHHso39k1emJb2TgZLwbMu5cX9Qxbto20rTliOZTMJL5Aw72Zi6etcoS/s1600/Time+to+turn+around.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBHBS82VLgE9lWoJzNpC8vjJvf3EfHWqs7q3R7OEodLMTg_4i6jhaTyLh436OECfPWVV_KK8pNBr45QTMrwdvVHHso39k1emJb2TgZLwbMu5cX9Qxbto20rTliOZTMJL5Aw72Zi6etcoS/s1600/Time+to+turn+around.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Time to turn
around</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I was suddenly
in a very different looking country with no mountains in sight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HMMTTHCWbXniKW07g_r-osA-XfVIvSIozNNF5N5_A5U5nO70Jha-DotA203NUIm9PTj015dLBTqcjJ5HzpMNxanXebXT1eKpV-wcWZU36P0e3KJpMsfU6lnInK12TcossSp_M0R-NvE7/s1600/Where+did+the+mountains+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HMMTTHCWbXniKW07g_r-osA-XfVIvSIozNNF5N5_A5U5nO70Jha-DotA203NUIm9PTj015dLBTqcjJ5HzpMNxanXebXT1eKpV-wcWZU36P0e3KJpMsfU6lnInK12TcossSp_M0R-NvE7/s1600/Where+did+the+mountains+go.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Where did the
mountains go?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">That did not
last long however as I turned west and headed towards Jasper. One of the great
things about riding a bike is you can slowly see changes in the geography. I
could see the Rocky Mountains coming into view and they were getting closer
with each pedal stroke.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz81ftCw_F48bDchAAeqsBOJrcIzWJ487yMV_XDHpVrguUuCDRO5DmcQCYGtgWuybQnioSi6Y3aJrQMOcXz64tzygFMZ2v-6wL0-p9tNfThLZDyueHamSq00htzK8QAmXkoezTc-AHH1r/s1600/Slowly+approaching+the+Rockies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz81ftCw_F48bDchAAeqsBOJrcIzWJ487yMV_XDHpVrguUuCDRO5DmcQCYGtgWuybQnioSi6Y3aJrQMOcXz64tzygFMZ2v-6wL0-p9tNfThLZDyueHamSq00htzK8QAmXkoezTc-AHH1r/s1600/Slowly+approaching+the+Rockies.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Slowly
approaching the Rockies</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYIrpXcTQlX_jLQ4kqu7tDT8RNZL0B2Brex7AwDkiAL5rtKGsyla1YjBaReAovrloEYkafnD6CB8jwOTfSk2pR3YRjqBabZt8Hj4TulKBz_bQokZ2J-EsTaIeufcZ2bIMpUEHlu3zRtmk/s1600/Approaching+the+Rocky+Mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYIrpXcTQlX_jLQ4kqu7tDT8RNZL0B2Brex7AwDkiAL5rtKGsyla1YjBaReAovrloEYkafnD6CB8jwOTfSk2pR3YRjqBabZt8Hj4TulKBz_bQokZ2J-EsTaIeufcZ2bIMpUEHlu3zRtmk/s1600/Approaching+the+Rocky+Mountains.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Approaching
the Rocky Mountains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Soon I was at
the eastern border of Jasper National Park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkLWAj7t5WiH2hokAqY46th-ai7IDXFv05vJchEViRqccY-sXCrzkD8EwUez1XhpOjGt6ArTLHPB5OPM1Q8cxDFBeXaLsfoSCFwUUC0SIn7d4JuI_12e5-KGr5rUDgJYufKe3KXmnBcZH/s1600/Jasper+National+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkLWAj7t5WiH2hokAqY46th-ai7IDXFv05vJchEViRqccY-sXCrzkD8EwUez1XhpOjGt6ArTLHPB5OPM1Q8cxDFBeXaLsfoSCFwUUC0SIn7d4JuI_12e5-KGr5rUDgJYufKe3KXmnBcZH/s1600/Jasper+National+Park.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Jasper
National Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The park is
home to thousands of elk and I had a close view of these magnificent animals.
The elk is one of the largest species of the deer family and the antlers on a
male can grow up to 4 feet in height.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEg5SKYvMmdDO2UiQ5-_DNL0ypQ3586-g6fty_Njxj50fDmNEQ6gmI_OY0H6vd2wQgtS4OJ8lDMSWvvgDQ5FS1Bumhwjd-aloeuXW27Lnqxo51SpyLTSfy7hJdIzf9PhbCVlfbcPUM8ej4/s1600/A+bull+elk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEg5SKYvMmdDO2UiQ5-_DNL0ypQ3586-g6fty_Njxj50fDmNEQ6gmI_OY0H6vd2wQgtS4OJ8lDMSWvvgDQ5FS1Bumhwjd-aloeuXW27Lnqxo51SpyLTSfy7hJdIzf9PhbCVlfbcPUM8ej4/s1600/A+bull+elk.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A bull elk</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2smv23mzXPW-pGltzS1qS4aUvpIdhMYqJhISbryd2LDt7W3qMBbnJeZ3ij8wy_mvxiewsr8ECkFibWum0tZ93-PK-EjplCzPvv6RH9BWWU1MEm5bLJmofGYrqngyYx-EVHN0sdvUGbzx4/s1600/Elk+relaxing+near+Jasper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2smv23mzXPW-pGltzS1qS4aUvpIdhMYqJhISbryd2LDt7W3qMBbnJeZ3ij8wy_mvxiewsr8ECkFibWum0tZ93-PK-EjplCzPvv6RH9BWWU1MEm5bLJmofGYrqngyYx-EVHN0sdvUGbzx4/s1600/Elk+relaxing+near+Jasper.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Elk relaxing
near Jasper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I had a few
days rest in Jasper and enjoyed the small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains.
The town isn’t as commercial as the ones further south but it has more than
it’s share of beautiful scenery.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTo1mSLjYUNqDv0kfGU1q1nnSyLKTWlOFevWSspimNkpCLyvYLDQEsqjbzRydwHAmVePlzsz-HpMtrt6WLxLD0-UUgyXKf8Z6i8uJ5sEcNC91Bz781kgKUWyRQbE1LxPevMB0z0Jd_y3v/s1600/Quiet+River+in+Jasper%252C+Alberta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTo1mSLjYUNqDv0kfGU1q1nnSyLKTWlOFevWSspimNkpCLyvYLDQEsqjbzRydwHAmVePlzsz-HpMtrt6WLxLD0-UUgyXKf8Z6i8uJ5sEcNC91Bz781kgKUWyRQbE1LxPevMB0z0Jd_y3v/s1600/Quiet+River+in+Jasper%252C+Alberta.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Quiet River
in Jasper, Alberta</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The road
between Jasper and Banff, Alberta is the Icefields Parkway. It stretches about
250 km through the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and provides a
panoramic view of mountain lakes, ancient glaciers and broad sweeping valleys.
On my first morning after riding for a day on the Parkway I opened my tent to
see this guy. She was completely disinterested in me so I simply continued with
my normal morning routine of taking down my tent and cooking breakfast while
she stared out in the distance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYPGoVxRIwBVlxyTy3nuyQ3FpNVWnyJXX6l5p1dsijsbH3dlUAQVBEqwLU87JZGW20igCRWVtuMHCY1u1RX2yz7xTmHd1j9N5wKNvO2YLfOXul3kX2H_0wnUc3XL4QCJwAJDhXWVzDnGO/s1600/Elk+in+front+of+my+tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYPGoVxRIwBVlxyTy3nuyQ3FpNVWnyJXX6l5p1dsijsbH3dlUAQVBEqwLU87JZGW20igCRWVtuMHCY1u1RX2yz7xTmHd1j9N5wKNvO2YLfOXul3kX2H_0wnUc3XL4QCJwAJDhXWVzDnGO/s1600/Elk+in+front+of+my+tent.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Elk in front
of my tent</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The views on
the Parkway were incredible and it was hard to make forward progress with
wanting to simply take in the scenery. I would regularly take breaks to sit and
just soak in the scenery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighhVHAXgVkKv2OgrsVAO-lXpiYnhiX4WLGWfcL8PsfBP4X5bpjqi8u0DfDviLZbLA2UGIHq_uikXsB-JsndSDDErZ-8ec35tBSE6SVA8zhfdL_05WpLsO8gammHGAdVI8lhOKU9dBDqbz/s1600/Rivers+and+mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighhVHAXgVkKv2OgrsVAO-lXpiYnhiX4WLGWfcL8PsfBP4X5bpjqi8u0DfDviLZbLA2UGIHq_uikXsB-JsndSDDErZ-8ec35tBSE6SVA8zhfdL_05WpLsO8gammHGAdVI8lhOKU9dBDqbz/s1600/Rivers+and+mountains.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Rivers and
mountains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MZkJk-6oqvr-6wscDcFRHKLGlOakHZVLeg7zPoY5CcBoR8AmltUV0AT_GxZ6R5ifVoCfo21_xowf6NT8SnDRTiY9UKBaHFrvqmXU6MvR7EmyQvca6osau_hDFiTx3u117fsQ6BLsR0dx/s1600/Peaks+and+valleys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MZkJk-6oqvr-6wscDcFRHKLGlOakHZVLeg7zPoY5CcBoR8AmltUV0AT_GxZ6R5ifVoCfo21_xowf6NT8SnDRTiY9UKBaHFrvqmXU6MvR7EmyQvca6osau_hDFiTx3u117fsQ6BLsR0dx/s1600/Peaks+and+valleys.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Peaks and
valleys</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There would be
rivers and lakes on one side, snow capped mountains all around and often
waterfalls with glacial rivers carrying the melted ice and snow from above.
This is the Athabasca waterfall in Jasper Park.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q2IH40MnF12BVs-3q7sSxbnLTULixlxLpH1-hfxhxVXRnlHKQuey71K1qfDAH5uZnMTQMu8Tj1MdnGOm40bn7b-0OHO_s0Y2y4FuKBcNj2FNlGPUJ33SxQD2ckxLkwKT9URPBp8VEgAD/s1600/Athabasca+Falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q2IH40MnF12BVs-3q7sSxbnLTULixlxLpH1-hfxhxVXRnlHKQuey71K1qfDAH5uZnMTQMu8Tj1MdnGOm40bn7b-0OHO_s0Y2y4FuKBcNj2FNlGPUJ33SxQD2ckxLkwKT9URPBp8VEgAD/s1600/Athabasca+Falls.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Athabasca
Falls</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Columbia
Icefield is a massive glacier up to 300 meters thick in some areas. The most
visible part of the Icefield is the Athabasca Glacier.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvZEWBjSKSTSvNCk5uwwBW-kz45fycYWY-fgrNcWoy0A93dHgzOwhyphenhyphenJGihBWBD5ZhKc40FSQgfLIsojeq68lzqisg9sJ3HMiiJeO4Trt0re-2hvaZSswM68C5OfXas3jhJpdykBG-X7H6/s1600/Athabasca+Glacier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvZEWBjSKSTSvNCk5uwwBW-kz45fycYWY-fgrNcWoy0A93dHgzOwhyphenhyphenJGihBWBD5ZhKc40FSQgfLIsojeq68lzqisg9sJ3HMiiJeO4Trt0re-2hvaZSswM68C5OfXas3jhJpdykBG-X7H6/s1600/Athabasca+Glacier.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Athabasca
Glacier</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Since 1870, the
Athabasca Glacier has lost more than tow-thirds of its volume and more than
half of its surface area. On the day I was there, it was 34C and it is hard to
believe that in those temperatures I was so close to ice. Since the Glacier has
become so famous, what is a tourist site without the obligatory viewing platform?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAz6XSaSaqe03yGmo7WvBKqQwdA-krOb0DwVZ0NPK0IQ6lX15bQKixcUuMPJsUypYMpQV4ycw3QRjaOceQsUI3RCutWtSSwJh47XcJ_1bwcTJNWQ3CH9ZoBrK_i4QPDDFpgSjh5kSeLi_/s1600/Viewing+platform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAz6XSaSaqe03yGmo7WvBKqQwdA-krOb0DwVZ0NPK0IQ6lX15bQKixcUuMPJsUypYMpQV4ycw3QRjaOceQsUI3RCutWtSSwJh47XcJ_1bwcTJNWQ3CH9ZoBrK_i4QPDDFpgSjh5kSeLi_/s1600/Viewing+platform.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Viewing
platform</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">You have to
get tickets at the information center and I was planning on doing it but was
turned off by the hundreds of tourist groups already in line. Not that it
wouldn’t have been fun standing in line with 300 Chinese tourists but I thought
I could get better views from my bike.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsuNqnrG0tSSwe-5drTJFh3SLJ77LeB-FZ3j3_hL_ySDRd5qZF9m_1aGEgdvnopwFiVhqQfUVG2G4hhCBeKD8VUznIBbJ8ukeLFGSu7aLBi8fCEyQ74Y-nVALvBa_KdVLk9HNSuun18a_/s1600/Part+of+the+Icefields.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsuNqnrG0tSSwe-5drTJFh3SLJ77LeB-FZ3j3_hL_ySDRd5qZF9m_1aGEgdvnopwFiVhqQfUVG2G4hhCBeKD8VUznIBbJ8ukeLFGSu7aLBi8fCEyQ74Y-nVALvBa_KdVLk9HNSuun18a_/s1600/Part+of+the+Icefields.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Part of the
Icefields</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigryQwKLpSF7guPdAk2IOaCm4dhbE6GdEX4J2HmHZaV8K9fBBaPrEBQtp_kPNgpNl8fTJaqxNwawIqulkdVsySLjNvQQ5ikdCtujIt9CKgPWyTPdSSDMSAqa3KJ5saTzehPkmGinLuqg8D/s1600/Year+round+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigryQwKLpSF7guPdAk2IOaCm4dhbE6GdEX4J2HmHZaV8K9fBBaPrEBQtp_kPNgpNl8fTJaqxNwawIqulkdVsySLjNvQQ5ikdCtujIt9CKgPWyTPdSSDMSAqa3KJ5saTzehPkmGinLuqg8D/s1600/Year+round+snow.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Year round
snow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There are 2
mountain passes over 2,000 meters high on the Parkway and here is a view from
Sunwapta Pass looking north. I had climbed up and now looked forward to a long
descent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjrFZotxtMx1H0ygmtDHekg-x_YnPqHhtu6hy1J3AQ02gDhLy1Txnrj6XQR_GdtXA6AG8r3s3KVQThPqjHm1QRfCzmsmYwmkDwW0NhdVKy_PvyjPtuK-DaG865hq-Wzcojrtyzmhtkz0j/s1600/View+from+Sunwapta+Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjrFZotxtMx1H0ygmtDHekg-x_YnPqHhtu6hy1J3AQ02gDhLy1Txnrj6XQR_GdtXA6AG8r3s3KVQThPqjHm1QRfCzmsmYwmkDwW0NhdVKy_PvyjPtuK-DaG865hq-Wzcojrtyzmhtkz0j/s1600/View+from+Sunwapta+Pass.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View from
Sunwapta Pass</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Jasper
National Park is continuous with the Banff National Park. I reached
Saskatchewan crossing between Jasper and Banff and noticed a lot of police cars
on the road. I was told that the highway was going to be closed in an hour
because of a forest fire nearby. I decided to keep going before they closed the
road. Here is a view as I cycled up in the smoke.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXgoVJBPJ7Lz2b6kH-ewrs-IzsPZMa29y2rH3XqXqwjdRrUVojS5h9aX80xOOBgO6hZdHjsosQZ0jICoD8ac3QmUFEVfpjhwJ3cQcgrxWxXXPDY_7WF5MAmZpnSV8RZN-zfG-LLBb1HKy/s1600/Fire+alert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXgoVJBPJ7Lz2b6kH-ewrs-IzsPZMa29y2rH3XqXqwjdRrUVojS5h9aX80xOOBgO6hZdHjsosQZ0jICoD8ac3QmUFEVfpjhwJ3cQcgrxWxXXPDY_7WF5MAmZpnSV8RZN-zfG-LLBb1HKy/s1600/Fire+alert.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Fire alert</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Most of the
traffic stopped so it was eerie cycling through what looked like mist-covered
mountains. The smoke only lasted about 20 km but it was starting to irritate my
throat. I found a campsite and the next day, the skies cleared and I was back
to some beautiful scenery as I headed towards Banff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWQ6eZ__1sZbMm-JMnMNkV3wP8I1kbQu6mTN3spdJ1at7AOU_pJwGh5yH-i4zZmQ6PyJkTec0CY6sGBMuwJDG6PXywI73u1GLNMmZm3jnpUVuKs8G8PXFGUB04ril8_nvHji_v5rY3zyf/s1600/Crystal+clear+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWQ6eZ__1sZbMm-JMnMNkV3wP8I1kbQu6mTN3spdJ1at7AOU_pJwGh5yH-i4zZmQ6PyJkTec0CY6sGBMuwJDG6PXywI73u1GLNMmZm3jnpUVuKs8G8PXFGUB04ril8_nvHji_v5rY3zyf/s1600/Crystal+clear+lake.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Crystal clear
lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHKVHTlSAUR9q_Zu_mYk-Lbe0jM2GSwu9sw-u6Boe1_7iIA58FiQkYyEroGONd9hNC9jT_XCjQcf-qcKd2H8Gf5xnhIEoccz76EfMfvUbaN8otdJX8FbqPcMtnPKtscuqsLeeKqnEFlXE/s1600/View+near+Banff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHKVHTlSAUR9q_Zu_mYk-Lbe0jM2GSwu9sw-u6Boe1_7iIA58FiQkYyEroGONd9hNC9jT_XCjQcf-qcKd2H8Gf5xnhIEoccz76EfMfvUbaN8otdJX8FbqPcMtnPKtscuqsLeeKqnEFlXE/s1600/View+near+Banff.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View near
Banff</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One of the
things I really like about the Banff National Park is the care they take to try
and prevent collisions between cars and animals. They have a large fence built
along the entire length of the highway and to allow the animals to cross they
have constructed a number of animal bridges. I wonder how many places in the
world have bridges across highways, just for animals?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgb5z5ehzw2-CGov8E9SIh5jZJ45ItRjnFKUwTE8WwDOSS0vwEcIym8XylxZ6zrgBoVGbH4852EWrcSuTxyf2BvhWNmJsGZJVxTjO8nF9txeECS69ka_xMXZ-kxQ82nFQHRvs_IKNiODT/s1600/Animal+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgb5z5ehzw2-CGov8E9SIh5jZJ45ItRjnFKUwTE8WwDOSS0vwEcIym8XylxZ6zrgBoVGbH4852EWrcSuTxyf2BvhWNmJsGZJVxTjO8nF9txeECS69ka_xMXZ-kxQ82nFQHRvs_IKNiODT/s1600/Animal+bridge.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Animal
bridge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The stretch
from Lake Louise to Banff follows the old highway and it was one of the best roads
for cycling of my entire trip. It is a quiet narrow tree lined road with spectacular
views.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlrHcD9OZSXriZzicn0Qw75o7KXCiGH4e707fvn7WqK9Ql6XiBnZB1D8VVOQvXgO6U-PWqbvuhOBIZtNTNEUVeVXmeZxDOTCCnsgtPNkGXHBZEU7OqEwekLcjoZICrzU9RepdmTEfBang/s1600/Off+the+main+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlrHcD9OZSXriZzicn0Qw75o7KXCiGH4e707fvn7WqK9Ql6XiBnZB1D8VVOQvXgO6U-PWqbvuhOBIZtNTNEUVeVXmeZxDOTCCnsgtPNkGXHBZEU7OqEwekLcjoZICrzU9RepdmTEfBang/s1600/Off+the+main+road.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Off the main
road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I finally made
it to Banff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuAi7dVjVFlEXel7J3vxg3ZXSer66lBpwmZCKVRSTciPyBzUazI7cqIhwNS_9L6kvwQyhRyL2TONg_dJkPVI__cllCf7voUD9OxvJtqs9dvmucJRlkXfTtn8ZgASx9szWAyyiilEMYRs1/s1600/Another+milestone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuAi7dVjVFlEXel7J3vxg3ZXSer66lBpwmZCKVRSTciPyBzUazI7cqIhwNS_9L6kvwQyhRyL2TONg_dJkPVI__cllCf7voUD9OxvJtqs9dvmucJRlkXfTtn8ZgASx9szWAyyiilEMYRs1/s1600/Another+milestone.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Another
milestone</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It has been
almost 3,800 km since I left Inuvik above the Arctic Circle. I cycled the
entire length of the Yukon territories, east along most of the northern
boundary of British Columbia and south through a good portion of Alberta. I am
tired from the constant hills but feel incredibly grateful to have seen so much
wildlife and scenery that photos just can’t do justice to. I store all of my
photos on Flickr and you can see a lot more of this beautiful country here,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.flickr.com/photos/fredbouwman/</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I have decided
to change my route as I slowly head south towards Mexico. I will be cycling
home to southern Ontario to visit with my family and then south down the Atlantic
coast of the U.S to visit friends in North Carolina. My friends Brian and
Jennifer had a health scare last week and even though the results of the tests
were negative, it was a timely reminder of the fragility of life and I want to
take the time now to visit family and friends. I will be going to Calgary in 2
days and then south to Glacier National Park in the U.S and then east through
Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and then back
into Canada. I will continue south after going east and will eventually end up
in Mexico but it will take a little more time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">At the end of
each journal entry I have been providing a brief summary of what is going on at
the Angel House Orphanage. I only provide a synopsis and a picture or two because
I would prefer to have people go to the website themselves to read more about
what David and his staff are doing. The website has photos of all the kids
along with regular updates on what is happening and I don’t want to repeat that
here. My purpose is to get readers to follow that website which can be found
here,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">(http://www.angelhousephilippines.org)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I spent 6
weeks in Tacloban after typhoon Yolanda last November, I was able to witness
first hand how foreign aid operates and had a good education on the pros and
cons of providing relief. I will give an example of some of the negative
aspects. When I was there, various organizations set up locations where people
would line up daily for food, clothing or even cash. I was at one of the
stations and watched bags of clothing being distributed to the locals. In one
bag that was a donation from South Korea, they pulled out a nice winter coat.
The local family ended up cutting the coat to make rags that they could use to
clean their home that was full of mud. The point is that despite the good
intention of that gift, it wasn’t really practical for life in the tropical
climate of the Philippines. Another negative aspect of donating clothing is
that you put the local clothes sellers out of business because people are
getting things for free. Again, well-intentioned gifts end up creating
unemployment in the local community exactly when the people should be going
back to work. I mention these few examples because David at the Angel House has
figured out a perfect solution to this problem. It is difficult for someone on
the other side of the world to know what is most needed so David set up a
virtual store on his website (see the section called Virtual Store). He lists
items that the orphanage needs and people can set up a donation accordingly.
This accomplishes a few things. First, the children get exactly what they need
because the staff know what is required and second, you don’t have to spend the
money to send things via mail. In many cases, the cost of the package is more
than the amount of the goods you can buy in the Philippines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There are a
number of other ways to help the orphanage. You can donate cash that David can
use to finance the operating costs. People often overlook the costs of
electricity, gas, cooking fuel and even the personal hygiene costs to manage 15
children and the staff. There are also the daily costs of food, medicine and
school supplies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Another way to
help would be to sponsor a child. You can contact David on his website and
arrange to donate on a monthly basis or with a single payment. He can provide
you with information on all of the children and keep you up to date on their
progress in school or the likelihood of being adopted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A final way to
help would be to spread the word of Angel House. If you are on Facebook, please
share the link to the orphanage and ask your friends to share also. Someone out
there is thinking of adopting a child and if you can spread the word, you
increase the chance that it will be a Filipino child that finds a home. There
is a sense of urgency because the risk the child is not adopted increases, as
they get older, most people want a young child. This is a particular problem
with boys like the ones in the photo above. Please don’t let that happen to
these kids. They have had a difficult start to life without parents and without
a family. You can make a real difference in their lives; take a few moments to really
think about it.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-71455514144754617072014-06-17T09:42:00.001-07:002014-06-17T09:42:13.047-07:00Welcome to Canada<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">June 15, 2014 – Welcome to
Canada</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Whitehorse, Yukon</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 152 - Distance biked
so far: (10,076 km)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I boarded the
plane in Sydney and settled into the 14-hour flight to Los Angeles and then
another few hours to Vancouver. Since I crossed the International dateline, I
left Australia on May 30<sup>th</sup> and arrived in Canada on the same day, don’t
ask me to explain how that works. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My cousin Gary
met me at the airport. Our family is a little unique in that in my parent’s
generation, 3 brothers married 3 sisters and my parents and Gary’s parents are
one of those sets. That means my father and Gary’s father are brothers, and my
mother and Gary’s mother are sisters. Gary lives with his wife Sue just outside
of Vancouver and I was staying with them for 3 nights. I had ordered a new set
of pannier bags for my bike as the old ones were hanging on by a thread and I
had them delivered to Gary and Sue’s house. Here is my new bike set up with the
same flag of the Philippines that has been with me every step of the way.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrVj4JGnVFyDN4tG9a4WRynk2KQFXbmp8Gggjp7fzZMpez3ZxUYqare2i6z3gVpEtpNExiYViIyIuQ8pRZGUrcaRGYP4JyiuT-Q1d08mSQ9bWgdGba7MJMJnj5S-cUvGJIVD4sDsKx-ip/s1600/New+pannier+bags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrVj4JGnVFyDN4tG9a4WRynk2KQFXbmp8Gggjp7fzZMpez3ZxUYqare2i6z3gVpEtpNExiYViIyIuQ8pRZGUrcaRGYP4JyiuT-Q1d08mSQ9bWgdGba7MJMJnj5S-cUvGJIVD4sDsKx-ip/s1600/New+pannier+bags.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">New pannier
bags</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">On Saturday we
all went shopping. In addition to the bike bags that I ordered online, I had to
buy a number of things for my trip to the north. The first item on my list was
a new sleeping bag. My old one was only suitable for summer and I knew that I
could get some cold nights in the Arctic or some of the high mountain passes in
the Rocky and Andes Mountains later on. I spent a lot of cold nights in the
southern part of Australia and new my bag would not be up to the task here. The
other significant purchase was a water filter. In the Outback of Australia, I
had to carry water bottles, as there was little in the way of water to filter.
In the North, they generally have ample fresh water but there is still a risk
of contracting bacteria since animals use that water. To avoid that problem you
simply filter it before drinking so instead of large cumbersome bottles, you
just carry a filter and fill your water bottles directly from the river. It
saves a lot of weight and money. Here is a photo of how it works. One end is a
filter and it lies on the water. A pump handle with another filter is used to
fill the water bottles. I always place the filter in moving water; it only
takes a few seconds to fill the bottles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCs3vk-qLvBy_Dzpu3sPmpEFgIjUj8U-fdOa7K5LMsZlpKtRnp5RPWNIflkFc4C1iV4fwp2YNqs51jg5zCfEuz8C6xdo3SSbz9z2Rv-i-TFyVSb4B_WvfjqGhC-_dnsHVemDP6hlnYYlTe/s1600/Water+filter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCs3vk-qLvBy_Dzpu3sPmpEFgIjUj8U-fdOa7K5LMsZlpKtRnp5RPWNIflkFc4C1iV4fwp2YNqs51jg5zCfEuz8C6xdo3SSbz9z2Rv-i-TFyVSb4B_WvfjqGhC-_dnsHVemDP6hlnYYlTe/s1600/Water+filter.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Water filter</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">After shopping
we walked around the waterfront area of Vancouver. I have travelled to a lot of
cities in the last few years but I still think Vancouver is the most beautiful
city in the world. It is hard to beat having an ocean on one side and mountains
that often have snow on top on the other. It is a manageable size and not
nearly as cold as most of Canada. They can often go years without any snow and
if it falls it rarely lasts more than a day or two.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFW0xF8ZW5_DOgW7R1NruWotN05w6AnHnJqMfXJgT41yjc9TmoOx9xXn-f29zFz-tPBuvWWUfvd7DqnDPiyTI_kXqRv2RPigePMVXblFZa794KBkHCnx6iePfvBq9ljz9hpiJGosSMdS5e/s1600/North+Vancouver+Mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFW0xF8ZW5_DOgW7R1NruWotN05w6AnHnJqMfXJgT41yjc9TmoOx9xXn-f29zFz-tPBuvWWUfvd7DqnDPiyTI_kXqRv2RPigePMVXblFZa794KBkHCnx6iePfvBq9ljz9hpiJGosSMdS5e/s1600/North+Vancouver+Mountains.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">North
Vancouver Mountains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Vancouver/Whistler
hosted the 2012 Winter Olympics and we were down by the Olympic flame.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFn6LDZfPerseZf2ZxRaaMVPcMFtoToyaUJd0QzbX_1udNM01GY05YPHcmaefbT9EedCOqr-vAvUe2lSVqZpm9qUMSCV4vgGlQhILgcHCNXhpuDI_X2dp0XH2PdOzQ9fro98SWUOlJ-ZM/s1600/Olympic+Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFn6LDZfPerseZf2ZxRaaMVPcMFtoToyaUJd0QzbX_1udNM01GY05YPHcmaefbT9EedCOqr-vAvUe2lSVqZpm9qUMSCV4vgGlQhILgcHCNXhpuDI_X2dp0XH2PdOzQ9fro98SWUOlJ-ZM/s1600/Olympic+Park.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Olympic Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIXsrctmXD8CQDqxTP8CWTwcQnhh7I888Mse0ARvQrOAdfbEOQ2pvE0cWaF206Iu9Wz2UV2WQHyaa63mTDpu7lnHm5oACl7HSppgS3ksbT99dR5OKzs6_FPXTBKyUeHJrEfpvZFR7qmZ_/s1600/Gary+and+Sue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIXsrctmXD8CQDqxTP8CWTwcQnhh7I888Mse0ARvQrOAdfbEOQ2pvE0cWaF206Iu9Wz2UV2WQHyaa63mTDpu7lnHm5oACl7HSppgS3ksbT99dR5OKzs6_FPXTBKyUeHJrEfpvZFR7qmZ_/s1600/Gary+and+Sue.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Gary and Sue</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">On Monday June
2<sup>nd</sup>, I reluctantly pulled myself out of a very comfortable bed and
Gary drove me to the airport. Once again I had to say good-bye, a recurring
theme of travelling. Gary and Sue have a beautiful home and with Sue’s
fantastic vegetarian cooking and some excellent coffee, it was really hard to
leave. They could not have been better hosts and the 3 days flew by way too
quickly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It is not a straightforward
effort to get to the far north. I took the 2-hour flight from Vancouver to
Whitehorse and then spent a night at a youth hostel. I will be cycling back
down to the same spot so will write more about the City later. The next morning
was another flight of about 1.5 hours to Old Crow and then a final 1-hour hop to
Inuvik. Just 6 days earlier I was in Sydney, Australia and now above the Arctic
Circle in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Jet travel has made it a small
world but it seems a lot bigger when you travel on a bicycle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Canada is a
massive country, the second largest in the world. It borders 3 oceans, the
Pacific in the west, the Atlantic in the east and the Arctic in the north with
the southern boundary shared with the U.S. There are 10 Provinces and 3 Territories
and Inuvik is in the Northwest Territories. It is located on the Mackenzie
River and it is so far north that you have to drive 200 km south to get to the
Arctic Circle. It is only 100 km from the Arctic Ocean. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Inuvik enjoys
56 days of 24-hours a day of sunlight each year, starting in late June until
the early part of August. That is the good news and the bad is that they also
have 30 days without any sunlight in the winter. It was odd trying to adjust to
the daylight. On the day I arrived I had to put my bike together, pack my
pannier bags and set up my tent and was completely oblivious to the time
because it was daylight. I checked my watch at one point and it was 9:30 pm and
as light as it would be at noon. I got up on my first night and took this photo
at exactly midnight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqC0KeBvdXto31rRsPXWIfBLNeu2aPElazKxRLbZIvLwNls0OCtOqNgBxqLNIYTnD67WWeXw2u1LGglG9Pyg3U026UHPppjn0_vg1URNy-_MRm-eoTB2tpe36hbZpzuSddOTrRtBnW4S85/s1600/Inuvik+at+midnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqC0KeBvdXto31rRsPXWIfBLNeu2aPElazKxRLbZIvLwNls0OCtOqNgBxqLNIYTnD67WWeXw2u1LGglG9Pyg3U026UHPppjn0_vg1URNy-_MRm-eoTB2tpe36hbZpzuSddOTrRtBnW4S85/s1600/Inuvik+at+midnight.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Inuvik at
midnight</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">On the day I
arrived in Inuvik, I found it very cold. It was only 4 degrees in mid-afternoon
and it had gone down to minus 8 degrees that morning, significantly cooler than
normal and a good reminder of why I made the decision to get a warmer sleeping
bag. I heard it was going to warm up however, and the forecast looks like
sunshine with low temperatures of about 0 degrees and highs of 10 degrees. The
record temperature in Inuvik is 32 degrees, which is quite hot. It’s not the
same as a 32-degree day in Bangkok or Manila because the air is very dry here
but it does get warm. The record low here is minus 57 degrees but that is in
mid-winter. I can’t imagine a day in December without sunlight and temperatures
of minus 50 degrees. Now you know why there are so few people here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A distinct
feature of Inuvik is the use of Utilidors, above ground utility conduits
carrying water and sewer, which are covered by corrugated steel. They run
throughout the town connecting most buildings. They are necessary because of
the permafrost. When permafrost, or permanently frozen ground thaws during the
warm summer months, the ground shifts and building materials lose their
support. Most of the buildings in Inuvik sit above ground on pilings drilled
into the permafrost below. In between the ground and the floor of the building
is an open crawl space to ventilate building heat away from the ground to
prevent the permafrost from melting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uHF-vw7ezG9AuXLWq2NF8P8QKLvRh2_1AStNyUawYo-03JQlxJwCtSTERL4g2v-yjc7UXMEYNB43cDIbhZPYKiZKjCJa2jsJvOvqxms6GSGnCgfxiyl4X16RkaqZsQoL0mfuhxBX0sOE/s1600/Water+pipes+in+Inuvik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uHF-vw7ezG9AuXLWq2NF8P8QKLvRh2_1AStNyUawYo-03JQlxJwCtSTERL4g2v-yjc7UXMEYNB43cDIbhZPYKiZKjCJa2jsJvOvqxms6GSGnCgfxiyl4X16RkaqZsQoL0mfuhxBX0sOE/s1600/Water+pipes+in+Inuvik.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Water pipes
in Inuvik</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Our Lady
of Victory Church is a major landmark of Inuvik. It ‘s called the Igloo church
and the name comes from the shape, it is not made of snow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOMBK_h7qCB0xNwC1FoXrVdPULDLZmgKtKaFrcXl3XidvVXuVUirUlbCx-OSeG-bcNQh_HH5qmTLp4SU4OeUTNw-hDNxjJi7KJkyT0V5gPGCNtMP_31oxhcQj_-yP8nXKf7jc0rkB8Ktl/s1600/Igloo+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOMBK_h7qCB0xNwC1FoXrVdPULDLZmgKtKaFrcXl3XidvVXuVUirUlbCx-OSeG-bcNQh_HH5qmTLp4SU4OeUTNw-hDNxjJi7KJkyT0V5gPGCNtMP_31oxhcQj_-yP8nXKf7jc0rkB8Ktl/s1600/Igloo+church.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Igloo Church</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Here’s a handy
way to transport kids in Inuvik.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0svteIAtTBsgwoP4r3oPtIaN8v9M_522NGSzh_LxklSDmx7yNyG3lfWB-Ur8e-G_nzwQWq11p3a7zJfWpj0m0htpC7LyWKGVPbQ0P2bY-hKt5g2Bbpn_AR0SUaO__byvUCvE5Y1O2C5Le/s1600/Children+train+in+Inuvik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0svteIAtTBsgwoP4r3oPtIaN8v9M_522NGSzh_LxklSDmx7yNyG3lfWB-Ur8e-G_nzwQWq11p3a7zJfWpj0m0htpC7LyWKGVPbQ0P2bY-hKt5g2Bbpn_AR0SUaO__byvUCvE5Y1O2C5Le/s1600/Children+train+in+Inuvik.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Children
train in Inuvik</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">With the
presence of bears, all the garbage containers have to be bear proof. Here is an
example of all the garbage containers up here and throughout bear country. They
are designed to prevent the bears from finding food which would make them
return to the populated areas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhUg7WhjZ49wTkX_pJJQoQpK4T_KEJD5EE9wCghoymGV0fZtbMt-ZQrwaU9s84utsobkN_Z1AJ6pa98gpWGjYa4oNhPFF11UKq2T7PPslCDTHqJ9D22eMFueYOcFWUDUHg5RlK4Z9izyX/s1600/Bear+proof+garbage+cans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhUg7WhjZ49wTkX_pJJQoQpK4T_KEJD5EE9wCghoymGV0fZtbMt-ZQrwaU9s84utsobkN_Z1AJ6pa98gpWGjYa4oNhPFF11UKq2T7PPslCDTHqJ9D22eMFueYOcFWUDUHg5RlK4Z9izyX/s1600/Bear+proof+garbage+cans.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Bear proof
garbage cans</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Dempster
Highway was completed in 1979 and is the only highway in Canada that crosses
the Arctic Circle. The highway is open year-round except for short periods
during the spring thaw and fall freeze, as you have to take a ferry at 2
different locations. It is a 2-lane gravel-surfaced all-weather highway. It is
unique in highway design and construction. It sits on top of a gravel berm to
insulate the permafrost in the soil underneath. The thickness of the gravel pad
ranges from 1.2 meters up to 2.4 meters. Imagine the amount of gravel it would
take to create a 2-meter high surface for 760 km. Without the pad, the
permafrost would melt and the road would sink into the ground. I would be
cycling on sections of hard-packed dirt, loose gravel and sharp shale, so there
is a high risk of flat tires. The materials used on the road vary depending on
what type of material can be found nearby. As they were building, they created
small side roads that would lead to the rivers and then get a large machine to
dig up the rocks. Sometimes the rocks on the road were smooth and round and other
times they were sharp. I purchased 2 new tires prior to leaving Sydney and
picked up a spare before landing in Inuvik. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My main
concern however was not getting flat tires; it was facing one of my fears,
biking through bear country. I have this unrealistic fear of anything that can
eat me. It was the saltwater crocodiles in Australia and now that I survived
there (without actually seeing one in the wild but that is beside the point) it
is now time to face the bears of North America. I know it is rare but attacks
do occur. I looked up the statistics of course and confirmed that since 1970,
there have been 50 people killed by grizzly bears, 46 killed by black bears and
8 killed by polar bears. Polar bear attacks are rare because they typically
live where there are no people. That is the good news. The bad news for me
however is that the Dempster Highway has a lot of grizzly and black bears. When
it comes to bears I realize that I am falling into the same trap as people
(like me) who have a fear of flying. We have a fear out of proportion to the
risks, mainly because of the sensational reporting. I read an interesting
series of statistics that attempted to put everything into perspective. For
each person killed by a black bear, there are 13 killed by snakes, 17 by
spiders, 45 by dogs, 120 by bees, 150 by tornadoes, 374 by lightning and 60,000
by humans. Maybe my fear is because out of all those, only bears would eat me. The
perspective was lost on me however; I refuse to let facts get in the way of the
impending bear attack.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My first
question for the locals when I arrived in Inuvik was if they ever had polar
bears in the area. Polar bears are really something to fear; once they start
tracking you there is little escape, especially if you are on a bike. I was
told that Polar bear territory does not extend down to Inuvik but stops about
160 km up the road in the town of Tuktoyuktuk, known simply as Tuk. Tuk is only
accessible by an ice bridge in the winter and the only way to get there in the
summer is by plane. However, polar bears are incredible swimmers so that was
the reason for my question about spotting them down in Inuvik. I found out
later that in 2007, a polar bear was indeed spotted on the Dempster Highway;
you can find the story online. It was darted and relocated with a radio
transmitter to track his movements. They attribute his roaming to global
warming and a loss of hunting grounds. I am just glad I didn’t read about that
polar bear until after I finished cycling down. Along the Dempster Highway
there are moose, bears, wolves, wolverines, lynx, caribou and elk, it felt at
times that I was cycling through a zoo without a fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">You can’t
completely protect yourself but I had to do the best I could so had a few
routines that I went through consistently. First, I carried bear spray. Here is
the can in my front handlebar bag. I tested it out and it shoots a powerful
orange spray but it really would be a last resort against a charging bear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiibcna3H-wlymgFi6L9GYBO55q9txy5QTI6jcxh9zK3hIYoNntngUDRSjYE828ptytVGjZAQ_kBxGbgKFckXGIrLJdTbek-08a7xkf81llO4vMSVNLmjx-Hhe6PkhtAFLoqBiexmzajVM/s1600/Bear+spray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiibcna3H-wlymgFi6L9GYBO55q9txy5QTI6jcxh9zK3hIYoNntngUDRSjYE828ptytVGjZAQ_kBxGbgKFckXGIrLJdTbek-08a7xkf81llO4vMSVNLmjx-Hhe6PkhtAFLoqBiexmzajVM/s1600/Bear+spray.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Bear spray</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The biggest
risk is when you cook food as bears have a great sense of smell, better than
dogs. A polar bear can smell a seal from a kilometer away. I would not be
eating anything with a strong smell like canned fish. My diet would consist
strictly of oatmeal, nuts, pasta and tomato sauce. I also did not sleep near
where I ate. I would set up my stove to cook a meal and then bike away from
that place to set up my tent. I would also take off any clothes that I was
wearing when cooking and change into different clothes to sleep. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My closest
encounter with bears was on my 4<sup>th</sup> day on the highway. I was cycling
through an area I had been warned was full of bears. Most nights I would stay
at a campground, which is probably more dangerous because a lot of tourists
want a photo of a bear, so leave food out to attract them. A bear then
associates a human with food so they hang around waiting for dinner. The area I
was in passes through the Richardson Mountains and is a popular spot for
caribou. If there are caribou around, you can guarantee the grizzly bears are
close and it’s best to keep moving. I had been told not to camp in that area
but it was 175 km between campgrounds and on gravel and hilly roads, I had no
choice. I was biking near the end of my day and saw a black bear running across
the road. They are normally scared of people but I wasn’t about to set up a
tent with him around. I continued biking debating how far a bear can walk in a
night before looking for another place to set up my tent. The area was wide
open and someone told me that is good because you can see a bear a long way off.
I replied that it also means a bear can see me. After about an hour of biking I
started to get tired so was looking for a suitable place to sleep. Just as I
started thinking I was far enough from the black bear I saw a grizzly bear in
the distance. They have a distinctive shape and although it paid no attention
to me, it was enough to keep me on my bike. They are majestic animals but I
would appreciate them more if I was on the other side of a fence, a very high,
strong fence. I kept moving forward and ended up biking almost 12 hours that
day. I didn’t mean to bike that far but it’s amazing what fear can do in terms
of endurance. I ended up finding a cleared out area with a few piles of gravel
and set up my tent. I didn’t eat anything and just fell asleep, a very
tentative sleep to say the least.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It turned out
that those were the only bears I saw on the entire stretch of highway. I did
see a large variety of wildlife and didn’t get a picture of any of them. If I
stopped to get my camera out they would be long gone. I saw lots of rabbits;
they would come right on the road and watch me until I got close and then run
away. I also saw a fox and a few caribou in the distance but for the most part
it was the incredible scenery that held my interest. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The northern
section of the highway was relatively easy to cycle with hard packed gravel. On
June 4<sup>th</sup> I headed off and the temperature when I left at about 9:00
am was a crisp 6 Celsius but the sun was shining and with it the promise of a
warm day. The temperature ended up peaking at about 16 Celsius and it felt warm
in the strong sun, a perfect day to bike above the Arctic Circle. Here are a
few pictures as I set off south along the Dempster Highway south of Inuvik.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaqAmQGTM81lIicIDXa6ZaCrfUHIbCnZx2_80QgAdTdZXUfan-aHdHBwrFxRKJu4JSULXBNv3FYctiDKLTvtsGuDSiW9EIm2v0zvPl3oIbjFrONVbD-Vx7bvTYuh7B21CX_d8hQuBpmei/s1600/Gavel+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaqAmQGTM81lIicIDXa6ZaCrfUHIbCnZx2_80QgAdTdZXUfan-aHdHBwrFxRKJu4JSULXBNv3FYctiDKLTvtsGuDSiW9EIm2v0zvPl3oIbjFrONVbD-Vx7bvTYuh7B21CX_d8hQuBpmei/s1600/Gavel+road.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Gravel road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0qWyAzVamci1AteXUGWe5kX_E6Mm2-mDurtBB7Bo72tmjDp7_zOubv-nkI_opUyDq5daWexeQZdRcY-CPT2iZGtClih7z2tR_p1d80gF0AxmgDZkDjWwGPAYDJ6fMTrLf5BzlVe7h17f/s1600/View+heading+south+on+the+Dempster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0qWyAzVamci1AteXUGWe5kX_E6Mm2-mDurtBB7Bo72tmjDp7_zOubv-nkI_opUyDq5daWexeQZdRcY-CPT2iZGtClih7z2tR_p1d80gF0AxmgDZkDjWwGPAYDJ6fMTrLf5BzlVe7h17f/s1600/View+heading+south+on+the+Dempster.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View heading
south on the Dempster</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There are 2
ferry crossings you have to take along the highway. In the winter, the vehicles
drive across the frozen rivers and in the summers they have ferries. There are
short periods in the spring and fall when it’s not possible to get through. The
rivers only opened a few days before I started from Inuvik so my timing was
perfect. I could still see the ice on some of the rivers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH7JAE4D8_a1spHvb0-o9CKFV4EWaljOsHLa1G3kUjH6TCRNhFfdMIbTwC-R-Oa4J3EENwj3Pbo-g1S0OUTAa6T_Bt6OVTaDOIjk58goTHgdDy-TehWPV0DvWUGmMoozG3kWzuUbciPOI/s1600/Thawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH7JAE4D8_a1spHvb0-o9CKFV4EWaljOsHLa1G3kUjH6TCRNhFfdMIbTwC-R-Oa4J3EENwj3Pbo-g1S0OUTAa6T_Bt6OVTaDOIjk58goTHgdDy-TehWPV0DvWUGmMoozG3kWzuUbciPOI/s1600/Thawing.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Thawing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK896Bhpg4fTdMDjznM_6vz9vacwWjfylaq36G8FerA-3WWGCbx31lAyzN2jyt62plxjdVv-Gqn3hZuKppNNOuTSk5TolF8_20tQRs2J-whCTA7BwlGh7PlcASU-Nmj245unMSrI2qBbE/s1600/Ice+on+the+river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK896Bhpg4fTdMDjznM_6vz9vacwWjfylaq36G8FerA-3WWGCbx31lAyzN2jyt62plxjdVv-Gqn3hZuKppNNOuTSk5TolF8_20tQRs2J-whCTA7BwlGh7PlcASU-Nmj245unMSrI2qBbE/s1600/Ice+on+the+river.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Ice on the
river</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">About a month
ago, a celebrity from Canada cycled down the highway. Clara Hughes is the only
person in history, male or female, to have won multiple medals at both the Summer
and Winter Olympics. She was a medalist in cycling and speed skating, one of
the greatest accomplishments in Olympic history. She is cycling across Canada
and raising funds for a charity, one of the many reasons why I have such
admiration for her. She could rest on her Olympic success but continues to use
her incredible athletic talents to support worthwhile causes. She was in Inuvik
about a month before me and cycled with a support team. She arrived at the
rivers and could not cross because the ice was melting so biking across was out
of the question and the ferries could not operate. So what do you do when an
Olympic hero is trying to get across 2 rivers in the Yukon? Simple, you call in
a helicopter to carry her over the rivers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The first
river to cross was the Mackenzie. I boarded the ferry for the short ride to the
very small community of Tsiigehtchic, pronounced exactly as it’s spelt. It used
to be known as Arctic Red River but the name was changed in 1994. After the
land claim settlements many of the villages in the area reverted to their First
Nations name. The town is at the confluence of the Mackenzie and Arctic Red
Rivers and offers a panoramic view of both.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcO01mZqjzcobYmhNnBZH7k1SX1y-DRIIPeqMT6LgF8wH_MpzDCzDPMvf-W_kNLWL_BGuTcnmmNSbmC102Vv0kXcAKge8kBm21ShlGoH4oYD19J5IbSKohwDdTa5vJg9r6_FshD6B3n9T/s1600/View+of+the+Mackenzie+River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcO01mZqjzcobYmhNnBZH7k1SX1y-DRIIPeqMT6LgF8wH_MpzDCzDPMvf-W_kNLWL_BGuTcnmmNSbmC102Vv0kXcAKge8kBm21ShlGoH4oYD19J5IbSKohwDdTa5vJg9r6_FshD6B3n9T/s1600/View+of+the+Mackenzie+River.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View of the
Mackenzie River</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They do not
have a campsite and only one general store but I ended up setting up a tent
behind the old church on top of the hill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D0A4oXTX1a4TZRDq9-Mti116lzxE1o-mD29e0FxpCS4TtcJIib3NSLBXOqkk5rhLnYVyq-lLwBA41EyRGxIdyElXdIX1iFIu_GSrvEgwXhOjEiCX0neKSTRadh4FM6XQ8kBQtNAGU1us/s1600/Church+in+the+Tsigehtchic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9D0A4oXTX1a4TZRDq9-Mti116lzxE1o-mD29e0FxpCS4TtcJIib3NSLBXOqkk5rhLnYVyq-lLwBA41EyRGxIdyElXdIX1iFIu_GSrvEgwXhOjEiCX0neKSTRadh4FM6XQ8kBQtNAGU1us/s1600/Church+in+the+Tsigehtchic.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Church in
Tsiigehtchic</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I arrived late
to the town and set up. I have been disoriented in terms of the time of day
since it never gets dark. I had no idea how late it was but when I settled into
my tent it was already 10:00 pm. I saw another tent but didn’t disturb those
inside. In the morning, I was up to cook my breakfast of oatmeal, walnuts and
raisins when a girl emerged from the tent. She is Canadian and on a long hiking
trip with her boyfriend. They are hiking the length of the Trans Canada hiking
trail. They plan on spending the next 15 months hiking the 7,500 km from Inuvik
to Saint John’s Newfoundland. The Trans Canada Trail is the world’s longest
network of recreational trails. It is not fully completed yet but when done, it
will stretch 23,000 km from the Atlantic to the Pacific and the Arctic Oceans.
As of 2012, the trail was 73% complete but they will bridge the remaining sections
on their own. The Dempster Highway is the Trail that goes up to Inuvik so they
will be walking on the same road I bike until they get down to Dawson City,
where the trail branches off the highway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I crossed the
second river crossing the next day. Just past the town of Fort McPherson you
have to cross the Peel River to continue south. I boarded the ferry and they
waited for a few vehicles so the crew invited me up to the captain’s deck to
get out of the cold wind. I met a man who lived in Tuk and he enthralled me
with some stories of life in the Arctic. I ended up staying on the ferry for
over an hour, crossing the river a few times before heading off. Here is the
captain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DtwPfs5PnMOfD4DS5nEAcVRjDpcC5nNfm3MnBUpPHl5FGzfs5DFqc6do5gJT4cU9ITe60PJG6IggdZ9qjtSqUblKA7kQ21WnwoKzGzy_C8QWhj2zUIS3wbhyphenhyphenQk_rLYnot4jmVoN7He4X/s1600/Ferry+Captain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DtwPfs5PnMOfD4DS5nEAcVRjDpcC5nNfm3MnBUpPHl5FGzfs5DFqc6do5gJT4cU9ITe60PJG6IggdZ9qjtSqUblKA7kQ21WnwoKzGzy_C8QWhj2zUIS3wbhyphenhyphenQk_rLYnot4jmVoN7He4X/s1600/Ferry+Captain.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Ferry Captain</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The captain
told me that in late July he would be taking a week off to go whale hunting. In
Tuk, they hold an annual lottery to allow 3 teams of hunters to hunt Beluga
whales. The town has a quota of 3 whales and the meat is shared with the entire
community. Only certain native people are allowed to hunt Beluga whales, as
they are a protected species. He told me that they take out a small 5-meter boat
with an outboard motor, incredibly small when you are hunting a whale. One of
the hunters will carry a harpoon and when they guide the small boat to the side
of the whale, they throw the harpoon. Once the harpoon is embedded in the
whale, they shoot it near the blowhole to kill it. You have to harpoon it first
because if you shoot it before the harpoon, you will kill the whale and it will
sink into the ocean. Once the whale is dragged to shore, the whole community
gets involved in cutting it up. The whale meat and blubber is called Muktuk and
it is carved up and placed in large pails. It is sometimes eaten raw but
usually boiled before eating. The captain told me that the entire whale is used
and nothing goes to waste.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Most of the day
biking on the highway provided panoramic views.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o4sxz-eZpixUFNPrkWOy5Hztpx1XIdvmF2pPNO3FhEbkuJesoh6v7o_rlUkwUnm0RY6C6bBrTVVCeiRk-ch5IQEmzcGz0v4PdVcJ9LbviaJHeXXkjweTIEK1P1pGGnYmUqcy0MThF7bK/s1600/Wide-open+spaces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o4sxz-eZpixUFNPrkWOy5Hztpx1XIdvmF2pPNO3FhEbkuJesoh6v7o_rlUkwUnm0RY6C6bBrTVVCeiRk-ch5IQEmzcGz0v4PdVcJ9LbviaJHeXXkjweTIEK1P1pGGnYmUqcy0MThF7bK/s1600/Wide-open+spaces.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Wide-open
spaces</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqAQ5EF6BW6mQIRK9yTKOPrg1sdP9zamvQRijiIrnq-BGwi6w9okrDgAOu89VdTSIYamuG4_esMCKFNl_VFafH4cKCL9N814z8wIGDBIX_aQgW6-PRdFVsjCP6lmHS_EoHnIAWNzKCah-/s1600/Blue+lake+beside+the+Dempster+Hwy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqAQ5EF6BW6mQIRK9yTKOPrg1sdP9zamvQRijiIrnq-BGwi6w9okrDgAOu89VdTSIYamuG4_esMCKFNl_VFafH4cKCL9N814z8wIGDBIX_aQgW6-PRdFVsjCP6lmHS_EoHnIAWNzKCah-/s1600/Blue+lake+beside+the+Dempster+Hwy.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Blue lake
beside the Dempster Hwy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Arctic
Circle is the southernmost latitude in the Northern Hemisphere at which the sun
can remain continuously above (in the summer) or below (in the winter) the
horizon for 24 hours. Since Inuvik is about 200 km above the Arctic Circle, as
soon as I crossed the line I would be heading down to where I would see some
darkness at night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGd-Ixms8jloXOfG9NDCqFF5zdq1vLPf_REfcJNQ3uiDQcyXEPUvhg4_ESAvusKKU_mbbpNyn8uRVJfi75ZiYBMniHOlkZhkemq3zxBkof3aAMy3Y9_bdDePn8vCmWZXK_ttM05vpiq07/s1600/Arctic+Circle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGd-Ixms8jloXOfG9NDCqFF5zdq1vLPf_REfcJNQ3uiDQcyXEPUvhg4_ESAvusKKU_mbbpNyn8uRVJfi75ZiYBMniHOlkZhkemq3zxBkof3aAMy3Y9_bdDePn8vCmWZXK_ttM05vpiq07/s1600/Arctic+Circle.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Arctic
Circle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One day I rode
a long stretch in the cold and rain and it was completely fogged in. It was a
very difficult day and the area I went through was reportedly full of bears. I
would be riding down empty roads with the thick fog creating an eerie silence. Here
is a view of the fog just starting to roll in.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnmnbp3JcOgVpqyZyXjoreDQQEZZ2s3ilDobmUGnus1J-tVOLX9CoAac4vaY8SC9HJL9FRptiD-KyCGkF2MOqhZ2yeYt20UkW8XRQ7c9hgU0vhB4YJlY-Ni1dNgs37lT45_f3_y0XubjY/s1600/Storm+clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnmnbp3JcOgVpqyZyXjoreDQQEZZ2s3ilDobmUGnus1J-tVOLX9CoAac4vaY8SC9HJL9FRptiD-KyCGkF2MOqhZ2yeYt20UkW8XRQ7c9hgU0vhB4YJlY-Ni1dNgs37lT45_f3_y0XubjY/s1600/Storm+clouds.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Storm clouds</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfXv4AeB5RNhHdIken8KmEM7kuxUtLvR9WWRCrVqEozu9yUEzq-zxGUrL-5IqarFdWSRxwAyr1AvAAzHfgmvnc-_A98ytcWBVyXB1WQdM4KHQTS_J_7V2G4brRQAs9SGLDjNQnsxI11ns/s1600/Fog+moving+in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfXv4AeB5RNhHdIken8KmEM7kuxUtLvR9WWRCrVqEozu9yUEzq-zxGUrL-5IqarFdWSRxwAyr1AvAAzHfgmvnc-_A98ytcWBVyXB1WQdM4KHQTS_J_7V2G4brRQAs9SGLDjNQnsxI11ns/s1600/Fog+moving+in.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Fog moving
in</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The only noise
was my breathing and the noise of my tires rolling over the gravel. I seemed to
on edge, like driving through a snowstorm because I did not know the road and
visibility was only meters ahead. I had visions of a moose or grizzly bear
appearing out of the fog and found myself nervously watching the road for
shadows to emerge. It was a very desolate stretch with only a handful of
vehicles passing the entire day so I was alone in the thick fog, one stroke at
a time for hours on end. It was beautiful in its own way but I was happy when I
was greeted the next morning with a clear blue sky.</span> As I continued
south more greenery appeared.<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpT6pw174LAvAAoFL-44W5QF3krwcx11oo3PwcXdpIvrNG3CVYLmGpVS6ItiW0Ayuba8MIW5xK2CbzFwkStcVmHQ8fxhQfhrxSOQnh5ehF9Z6GZWweZPvA7xTbO4vnZx-nvcHIHxg5Evlx/s1600/Greenery+along+the+Dempster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpT6pw174LAvAAoFL-44W5QF3krwcx11oo3PwcXdpIvrNG3CVYLmGpVS6ItiW0Ayuba8MIW5xK2CbzFwkStcVmHQ8fxhQfhrxSOQnh5ehF9Z6GZWweZPvA7xTbO4vnZx-nvcHIHxg5Evlx/s1600/Greenery+along+the+Dempster.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Greenery
along the Dempster</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbY2A6imQPKZghBqWy4qbYl_wfVw_l50prGPBhqR4IizHCttX_l34MHgnDXzkukQWlPC6XVXjIv_RherAVa2ipqkQOEmhj9jjhYwRQYDrkitpJNzGGyuerCI-xVKSIsk2wpZvb2OPArd6/s1600/View+of+Ogilvie+Mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbY2A6imQPKZghBqWy4qbYl_wfVw_l50prGPBhqR4IizHCttX_l34MHgnDXzkukQWlPC6XVXjIv_RherAVa2ipqkQOEmhj9jjhYwRQYDrkitpJNzGGyuerCI-xVKSIsk2wpZvb2OPArd6/s1600/View+of+Ogilvie+Mountains.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View of
Ogilvie Mountains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The landscape
became more mountainous as I headed into the Ogilvie Mountain range and then
the Tombstone Territorial Park. The scenery made it hard to bike without
stopping to take in the views.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0u3ri_gEcMx0uLkxHuvoG-efZNiltVTq8juONRwVzLNVSlVWrPUOGjKRzvJErLxE9CqiuzCf2NUW1Mbmuz1nsRhgHqCZFg-ckH1O9NctvKF6EEfa3ZaagHx527smzJPZCAAkz1-Ta0pN/s1600/Mountains+and+valleys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0u3ri_gEcMx0uLkxHuvoG-efZNiltVTq8juONRwVzLNVSlVWrPUOGjKRzvJErLxE9CqiuzCf2NUW1Mbmuz1nsRhgHqCZFg-ckH1O9NctvKF6EEfa3ZaagHx527smzJPZCAAkz1-Ta0pN/s1600/Mountains+and+valleys.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Mountains and
valleys</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgsbpOkFdzK2lThUMjGDd2fl6Li46TmDkpbDRig1FG6gXfPlEAGVmqF-Egvy0KBeGWczQMuTUNe0qn_rSXUxRfZYFl9QpGTu57C7vuyeiSScVP_oYP18et8eGT4eYcAMJ6fmF8C_lvi8E/s1600/Mountains+on+the+Dempster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgsbpOkFdzK2lThUMjGDd2fl6Li46TmDkpbDRig1FG6gXfPlEAGVmqF-Egvy0KBeGWczQMuTUNe0qn_rSXUxRfZYFl9QpGTu57C7vuyeiSScVP_oYP18et8eGT4eYcAMJ6fmF8C_lvi8E/s1600/Mountains+on+the+Dempster.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Mountains on
the Dempster</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOkRy6Czp6HOpx8b2AWAyw2WdeZVUPEH1zUOyjjS_0ZGrx7X_P8YU45Kii7-XdqRWyijwKKVr4UdtDfjMbOVSx95ClRaURjRRD2IX_Pdxjovnqiv93iMcC88r90rENLUaCpmMKqQkKPpW/s1600/Tombstone+Mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOkRy6Czp6HOpx8b2AWAyw2WdeZVUPEH1zUOyjjS_0ZGrx7X_P8YU45Kii7-XdqRWyijwKKVr4UdtDfjMbOVSx95ClRaURjRRD2IX_Pdxjovnqiv93iMcC88r90rENLUaCpmMKqQkKPpW/s1600/Tombstone+Mountains.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Tombstone
Mountain</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The gravel
road on the Dempster was hard to cycle and something I really don’t enjoy. It
slows you down but the real problem is that you have to look down to watch
where you are going so can’t enjoy the scenery. One day I went down a steep
hill and despite pulling on my brakes was going 40 kmh when I hit a long
stretch of thick gravel. My bike fishtailed a few times and I took my shoes out
of the clips to prepare for a fall. I didn’t want to be locked in because of
the risk of breaking an ankle so prepared to wipe out and braced myself but
managed to keep the bike steady. You get a feeling of being ripped off when you
struggle slowly up hills and don’t get the benefit of a fast downhill. Despite
the slow average speed, with the long daylight hours and my reluctance to just
sit in a tent and try to sleep in the daylight, I was making reasonable
progress. On my 7<sup>th</sup> day I arrived at the end of the highway and the
start of asphalt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Pb-ydfS-7SIy-YvG7dYwka0yvZSJVZ_x1AcBpomjC0PbhdMn4opx4rf-JZrn5ToFHkzkSzqES9viHdwRQGtZSX4YiLZ7IjK8GBRYsbYA6dC351LCUjAhgKdKeBZrkicJgagPcW0h7B2Q/s1600/The+end+of+the+Dempster+Highway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Pb-ydfS-7SIy-YvG7dYwka0yvZSJVZ_x1AcBpomjC0PbhdMn4opx4rf-JZrn5ToFHkzkSzqES9viHdwRQGtZSX4YiLZ7IjK8GBRYsbYA6dC351LCUjAhgKdKeBZrkicJgagPcW0h7B2Q/s1600/The+end+of+the+Dempster+Highway.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The end of
the Dempster Highway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Dempster
Highway ends at the Klondike Highway and I turned west for the 40 km stretch to
Dawson City. If you ask most people where the western most point of Canada is,
many will say the British Columbia cities of Vancouver or Victoria but you have
to look to the Yukon, not British Columbia. The most Western city in Canada is
Beaver Creek on the Yukon/Alaska border and not far from Dawson City. It will
be my most western point in North America.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqd9hw4puilvUnWQAiEgDn1CsXDpYBXEnuC4J9NM9haiI5M65blFQu3F79KQqFj4L09Ok3Qzp424L_e9O0uxKHevpUA0hFj5ujjuJmC5OQbI85EoNt53wyGDJ4zrIANp1ZysfryJJeLrM/s1600/Welcome+to+Dawson+City.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqd9hw4puilvUnWQAiEgDn1CsXDpYBXEnuC4J9NM9haiI5M65blFQu3F79KQqFj4L09Ok3Qzp424L_e9O0uxKHevpUA0hFj5ujjuJmC5OQbI85EoNt53wyGDJ4zrIANp1ZysfryJJeLrM/s1600/Welcome+to+Dawson+City.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Welcome to
Dawson City</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There was no
red carpet rolled out but I did appreciate the double rainbow to mark my
arrival.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXA5SW15trLJKQupCUoGMmzHbEImnAAVnwX5JgRcrmFR_aqZPFbhe2BAO30AxEznJLHbBgX2apk1rfg6rAOIzmMf2OLyO1rmBVJK-dSdpsL-slCZo8gJAYwaRv0r0UWu0GscPKKCaJivU/s1600/Dawson+City+under+a+rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXA5SW15trLJKQupCUoGMmzHbEImnAAVnwX5JgRcrmFR_aqZPFbhe2BAO30AxEznJLHbBgX2apk1rfg6rAOIzmMf2OLyO1rmBVJK-dSdpsL-slCZo8gJAYwaRv0r0UWu0GscPKKCaJivU/s1600/Dawson+City+under+a+rainbow.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Dawson City
under a rainbow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Dawson City
was the original capital city of the Yukon until it was displaced after the
building of the Alaska Highway that bypassed the town and increased the profile
of Whitehorse, the current capital. Dawson City came to prominence in 1896 when
gold was discovered nearby and it quickly became an overnight boomtown.
Thousands of recession-stricken adventurers were lured north starting the gold
rush of ’98. For a brief period at the end of the 19<sup>th</sup> century,
Dawson City had a population of over 30,000 and was the largest Canadian
settlement west of Winnipeg. Today, there are about 2,000 year round residents,
with tourism making the largest contribution to the economy. The City is
designated as a National Historic Site and its appearance is largely unchanged
due to the dedication in preserving historic sites. It is described as a living
museum with boardwalk-lined streets and historic buildings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskQRW9GuSbLfEOFJXzxtHHsLbOHVAGW97X1RxqarCNRukdbkUEugM7-xHIsqHL9hpq9ruQa8iwWF-sDz_CVtTULv0p_KRhocC3L5wtf8miPUsGxN7BoeDh7aBxo1CZaVOfH8s_9KvSrOH/s1600/Dawson+City+storefronts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskQRW9GuSbLfEOFJXzxtHHsLbOHVAGW97X1RxqarCNRukdbkUEugM7-xHIsqHL9hpq9ruQa8iwWF-sDz_CVtTULv0p_KRhocC3L5wtf8miPUsGxN7BoeDh7aBxo1CZaVOfH8s_9KvSrOH/s1600/Dawson+City+storefronts.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Dawson City storefronts</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Staff at Parks
Canada have staff dressed in the dress of the day and give regular walks and
tours to the tourists. I joined a free walking tour of some of the old
buildings. Here is an old saloon that has been preserved to its original
likeness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJ47bO8jq24KE-gxhXGbSOA6GuokY1AtktQ3eXKDUzVUPJg8CzFjVdkUFSwOFPmvjXgVrxbD51-fLjkC2jYwi6nvAxwf3f1n8WwOJ0U_H__1SnfbLcKuL9qGMzoVTKRXr2KWF6X7c1dA2/s1600/An+old+saloon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJ47bO8jq24KE-gxhXGbSOA6GuokY1AtktQ3eXKDUzVUPJg8CzFjVdkUFSwOFPmvjXgVrxbD51-fLjkC2jYwi6nvAxwf3f1n8WwOJ0U_H__1SnfbLcKuL9qGMzoVTKRXr2KWF6X7c1dA2/s1600/An+old+saloon.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">An old
saloon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The City is
set on the edge of the Yukon River and surrounded by green hills making it a
spectacular location. I found a campsite right along the Yukon River. I arrived
late in the evening and you can pick your own site. I stopped my bike and was starting
to unpack when a guy across from me approached. He said that he does a lot of
meditation and my presence was interfering with his energy so asked me to
leave. I did leave, not to ensure he had the right energy, but to get away from
him. Here is my campsite on the Yukon River in Dawson City.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oLvw7BidqeetUtYXoK_PrIOfHTR4jY73ajrhhAK3zycLi4WsjgH3RiAW2pLBog87tHbMZsR0cTer5jbNkcwFJ_OwkuyiEAI8VUA6MLOl2pJC9CHRR6ibVDFS4UV5Mr6JTqDrnTGeM6ZZ/s1600/Camping+On+the+Yukon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oLvw7BidqeetUtYXoK_PrIOfHTR4jY73ajrhhAK3zycLi4WsjgH3RiAW2pLBog87tHbMZsR0cTer5jbNkcwFJ_OwkuyiEAI8VUA6MLOl2pJC9CHRR6ibVDFS4UV5Mr6JTqDrnTGeM6ZZ/s1600/Camping+On+the+Yukon.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Camping on
the Yukon</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I left the
City on a sunny and warm day with temperatures close to 20 Celsius. I would be
riding in shorts and a t-shirt for most of the day, not really what you would
expect for being so far north. The nights have been about 5 degrees so no
problem in my warm sleeping bag. It is odd but I had much colder nights in the
south of Australia where it was late fall than I have had above the Arctic
Circle in early summer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I continued on
the Klondike Highway that joins Dawson City with Whitehorse. There are a series
of very small towns dotting the road but it would be an entire day of cycling
between them, with no services of any kind. I would stay at campsites, many
were free and in locations near the towns so you could buy some supplies. The
scenery was beautiful and in this photo I had a hard time counting how many
different shades of green.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1S-TfzN4kAEWQi8lBgkjFDcBYk4VZJOW7oVjT-IVdXFolbQJ4vObfg1LCqVhFGegqaN0T2F26EOBoocHUbGieW1uyomCx92bohjx7G3R0gL-d-1tj0fNDoymkn97ZsWLLxb3xxrUCShj/s1600/Shades+of+green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1S-TfzN4kAEWQi8lBgkjFDcBYk4VZJOW7oVjT-IVdXFolbQJ4vObfg1LCqVhFGegqaN0T2F26EOBoocHUbGieW1uyomCx92bohjx7G3R0gL-d-1tj0fNDoymkn97ZsWLLxb3xxrUCShj/s1600/Shades+of+green.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Shades of
green</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">You could
often see snow packed mountains in the distance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSRAZ5xXFxL1XrbJUF0xV_VGnsQU0TSQbsBEqq-LHam3D8nwEj2-s9MIhv3SrNno8TLnF1NbJsH0NzRxFIEGWjGa0YMHG4KtcLaETIMQFOb18Jj6WM4H4VTHIPjPiDZj6cxOZzf5-bOws/s1600/View+near+Moose+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSRAZ5xXFxL1XrbJUF0xV_VGnsQU0TSQbsBEqq-LHam3D8nwEj2-s9MIhv3SrNno8TLnF1NbJsH0NzRxFIEGWjGa0YMHG4KtcLaETIMQFOb18Jj6WM4H4VTHIPjPiDZj6cxOZzf5-bOws/s1600/View+near+Moose+Creek.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View near
Moose Creek</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There would
also be numerous rivers and lakes on the route.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVsIQwyKu9wRdwELEuBZFnhU4qnGV_xvJ8m4ZJoKhd0r9AaFaX9AVT9PVMMI1zode0KJPN8NgH16y86xjUe_7H3yyN9rLjSwc8-or-amkr44PIsxQcRoowRPftsXmwOpWY9OtK3U7m_de/s1600/Stewart+River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVsIQwyKu9wRdwELEuBZFnhU4qnGV_xvJ8m4ZJoKhd0r9AaFaX9AVT9PVMMI1zode0KJPN8NgH16y86xjUe_7H3yyN9rLjSwc8-or-amkr44PIsxQcRoowRPftsXmwOpWY9OtK3U7m_de/s1600/Stewart+River.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Stewart
River</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">And finally I
would see roads with flowers that seemed to line the route for miles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMps5hoftNgkqDv6bKv0nGhyphenhyphenaLEh2-qUecYBZ7CG3Wk6B03Yq7x8fEDpPyLHDZUOSxubQZmnigf-vEVTtKeV_tnUf7lf77dk2xJktDwMW4ZgIw5Zbth1IBtkFNpEF9kBL3mJRYLQ-djz9/s1600/Flowers+lining+the+Klondike+Hwy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMps5hoftNgkqDv6bKv0nGhyphenhyphenaLEh2-qUecYBZ7CG3Wk6B03Yq7x8fEDpPyLHDZUOSxubQZmnigf-vEVTtKeV_tnUf7lf77dk2xJktDwMW4ZgIw5Zbth1IBtkFNpEF9kBL3mJRYLQ-djz9/s1600/Flowers+lining+the+Klondike+Hwy.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Flowers
lining the Klondike Hwy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">On a few
occasions I would bike down the road and hear a loud scramble and see a large
black rear end heading for the trees. Most of the time bears will run when they
see a human being. In addition to my bear spray, I carry 2 pot lids in my front
handlebar bag. Bears often graze on the side of the roads and have become accustomed
to the cars passing. If I see bears ahead I will bang the lids to warn them of
my approach. One day I came across a female Moose that was crossing the road. I
stopped to take a photo and watched her slowly cross. She heard a car approach and
then simply walked off into the bush.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk058YUbXRlu3lX3DMiIcreE0M6zrNHv8I-8ii5RbGWPdzg6I6RPJELxPmMGDs6s4giRPkK8tzSZJyQTh06I_ZqC2LSjOPKE2jg5JmMDL4vRhb8Ca5cBtcGDRuC8po0bHpNGeKkQAE_hRr/s1600/Moose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk058YUbXRlu3lX3DMiIcreE0M6zrNHv8I-8ii5RbGWPdzg6I6RPJELxPmMGDs6s4giRPkK8tzSZJyQTh06I_ZqC2LSjOPKE2jg5JmMDL4vRhb8Ca5cBtcGDRuC8po0bHpNGeKkQAE_hRr/s1600/Moose.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Moose</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">For most of
the time I had warm and sunny days with steady but not strong head winds the
entire way. The roads are hilly but with reasonable grades so not difficult.
Here are some more photos of the scenery as I approached Whitehorse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LWMaMJuTp1yCAAKXIYPO03HLmSfteq51lUeHq0Zecu50yqLh1atUYQK-HnLkS_2vcx503_ULCXeyLZviaOK_461zmagJaeyx7_lEwFcxNH7OwizSvbPoaIfFnhyXa_Ouaq0OekDn1VwJ/s1600/View+near+Pelly+Crossing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LWMaMJuTp1yCAAKXIYPO03HLmSfteq51lUeHq0Zecu50yqLh1atUYQK-HnLkS_2vcx503_ULCXeyLZviaOK_461zmagJaeyx7_lEwFcxNH7OwizSvbPoaIfFnhyXa_Ouaq0OekDn1VwJ/s1600/View+near+Pelly+Crossing.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View near
Pelly Crossing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1EgZWglFxoyjAkd-5nbW35AK3S7ORi8esZ3O_N8YrHG9b6aSAV-4zO-GS0fHLC3CQTWmpa4PV-dcXxAqTCvoKW8-LG4q9ghG3uEYbVJBMuNDqtPHgxgrkxabHaZTgAWy1zE-nJvEjGbP/s1600/View+near+Carmacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1EgZWglFxoyjAkd-5nbW35AK3S7ORi8esZ3O_N8YrHG9b6aSAV-4zO-GS0fHLC3CQTWmpa4PV-dcXxAqTCvoKW8-LG4q9ghG3uEYbVJBMuNDqtPHgxgrkxabHaZTgAWy1zE-nJvEjGbP/s1600/View+near+Carmacks.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View near
Carmacks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I had a guest
for lunch at one rest stop.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvyrC-j-v4-o3px6oNQikXeEFY6mcuCURbXLcPKwGKobAxw5cfYRFUkdCHuploTOnGMaQ2OmbzDOLQKWC0Z3ELLTYIhWOdrToNS3IKQQscBWEGXnVjCf0Trl4YPLi_OIWCJbHcLPPlK4E/s1600/Company+for+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvyrC-j-v4-o3px6oNQikXeEFY6mcuCURbXLcPKwGKobAxw5cfYRFUkdCHuploTOnGMaQ2OmbzDOLQKWC0Z3ELLTYIhWOdrToNS3IKQQscBWEGXnVjCf0Trl4YPLi_OIWCJbHcLPPlK4E/s1600/Company+for+lunch.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Company for
lunch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One night I
stopped to camp on the side of the road and a local groundhog kept reminding me
that he lived here and I was not welcome. I told him to go sleep in his home
and I will sleep in mine but he didn’t listen and spent a few hours making
calls at me to leave.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMePlV5Un98cLjP0lIzoGkkyF7bxGf4qOVM4JHyy2uupPGTJkMTMCtETJxN6XUPbAIKICIX2hXfj_WYt5jBR2tlwMoo_2xN44qFvQ2rukqZXb_sI7N-aaz3Q9zDyOXlhYBAiVk74toYH9x/s1600/My+grounding+friend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMePlV5Un98cLjP0lIzoGkkyF7bxGf4qOVM4JHyy2uupPGTJkMTMCtETJxN6XUPbAIKICIX2hXfj_WYt5jBR2tlwMoo_2xN44qFvQ2rukqZXb_sI7N-aaz3Q9zDyOXlhYBAiVk74toYH9x/s1600/My+grounding+friend.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My groundhog
friend</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I passed the
10,000 km mark on the Klondike Highway approaching Whitehorse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPI2B7XdFoKkU2bYVyfbaA3MB5IA2epT1f3tYvymhRCmZLzX9_cUfulzazU5ZS0F2WRAUCNpsSi8Q0RPWHrIVwfXKsHvB_PSnJvaVVN_DY41TnV6vJGGzgvjn30xpKjkq5a6_uTPy7O8_/s1600/10000KM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPI2B7XdFoKkU2bYVyfbaA3MB5IA2epT1f3tYvymhRCmZLzX9_cUfulzazU5ZS0F2WRAUCNpsSi8Q0RPWHrIVwfXKsHvB_PSnJvaVVN_DY41TnV6vJGGzgvjn30xpKjkq5a6_uTPy7O8_/s1600/10000KM.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">10,000 km</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As I neared Whitehorse,
I made a slight detour to go to Muktuk Adventures, something I was looking
forward to since I left Inuvik. I had contacted them and made arrangements to
stay there in my tent for 2 nights. As mentioned earlier, Muktuk is a term that
means whale blubber but it is also a ranch started in 1995 by Frank Turner and
his wife Anne. Frank is a Yukon Quest legend who competed in the race 24 times,
crossed the finish line 17 times and won the race once, in a time that stood as
the record for 12 years. The Yukon Quest is a 1,600 km International Sled Dog
Race run every February between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon.
Because of the harsh conditions, difficult trail, and the limited support that
competitors are allowed, it is considered the most difficult sled dog race in
the world and often, the toughest race in the world. It has been referred to as
the wintertime Tour de France.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I was very
excited to be there to see the 124 dogs on the property. I was told that I
could spend a day with the dogs and I was anxious to meet them. As I biked
closer, I could hear some dog barking in the distance so new I was on the right
road. I saw a few signs that made me chuckle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9c29YqE-Q5v6fFGkgVeQASnP-5GdBnN8ulUM6L3vYGBHeOvChAYjmHFZNpZog0ZaJkiPtyhQhUVe785ivjO3ZtKZKJG9_VcsF2B7L9pholdKl3Ca-bvs49LCeyC8pQxjvLUSeMUdsLzE/s1600/A+new+definition+of+happienss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9c29YqE-Q5v6fFGkgVeQASnP-5GdBnN8ulUM6L3vYGBHeOvChAYjmHFZNpZog0ZaJkiPtyhQhUVe785ivjO3ZtKZKJG9_VcsF2B7L9pholdKl3Ca-bvs49LCeyC8pQxjvLUSeMUdsLzE/s1600/A+new+definition+of+happienss.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A new
definition of happiness</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPx7NJqWfZ50od9xCyxkjrubxAlHlE2XvovvinShILhgIqgisYv3gF0nG1pY_wHpsFkAbWM3wENbPuPSF9Ke-Dy0q0lO7O_AhG36nusgVCTYVHiXMhfC32Qt0GaS9fTwQx0murjrekdtA/s1600/My+kind+of+place.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPx7NJqWfZ50od9xCyxkjrubxAlHlE2XvovvinShILhgIqgisYv3gF0nG1pY_wHpsFkAbWM3wENbPuPSF9Ke-Dy0q0lO7O_AhG36nusgVCTYVHiXMhfC32Qt0GaS9fTwQx0murjrekdtA/s1600/My+kind+of+place.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My kind of
place</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">This was my
first view of the dogs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z6nryGFMw3K9uMWfpi3eqb6_6SPFwHL9bmP9iRPy03Mk8ndDClUSbI9sht9bCva6lIE6ci_TvWQeMW-dSWd9MD4AqUPcmj4kXAnrnEr8iKbnWEU1nwffCbwOIuYSvmBCz_hqrhNtq20b/s1600/The+pack+of+dogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z6nryGFMw3K9uMWfpi3eqb6_6SPFwHL9bmP9iRPy03Mk8ndDClUSbI9sht9bCva6lIE6ci_TvWQeMW-dSWd9MD4AqUPcmj4kXAnrnEr8iKbnWEU1nwffCbwOIuYSvmBCz_hqrhNtq20b/s1600/The+pack+of+dogs.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The pack of
dogs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The dogs were
beautiful and very friendly. This is Blue, the most energetic of the entire
group. He was always on the lookout for evidence of food and at 8 in the
morning and 5 in the afternoon; he would sit on his house with his eyes fixated
on the pails of food. Once the volunteer workers would pick up the pails and
move toward the dogs, he would run in circles, up and over his doghouse
numerous times. I think he burned more calories waiting for his food than he
ate at his meals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8tFv3vnsyVAP6gopXAO7aD8eB7Zl1fqWiAT1ZfR3zY2voH0FARZVkPpI9XMB4dqaRyxz_W4XIs2Yf1-YXemrXBG-d4GqaIGRH8hDPGyoDADPci18DIUh27cnknHjKp7b2VqA3nrWPvgP/s1600/Blue+on+the+watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8tFv3vnsyVAP6gopXAO7aD8eB7Zl1fqWiAT1ZfR3zY2voH0FARZVkPpI9XMB4dqaRyxz_W4XIs2Yf1-YXemrXBG-d4GqaIGRH8hDPGyoDADPci18DIUh27cnknHjKp7b2VqA3nrWPvgP/s1600/Blue+on+the+watch.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Blue on the
watch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">He was so
energetic that he tried to dig his own river.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0YXShiaAEcd3ZgMVnny8Pp2OF2OdmEziWJTUfYi2CUiKtO721VoIOdtxgu_oL8EdsmPwUSXO3u2ualg8-ngfKW65hig5pgz9pUE_osLn6gnAf2FX_LO9QY_SSAOdFH6LnKu0oeU_76pb/s1600/Blue%2527s+moat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0YXShiaAEcd3ZgMVnny8Pp2OF2OdmEziWJTUfYi2CUiKtO721VoIOdtxgu_oL8EdsmPwUSXO3u2ualg8-ngfKW65hig5pgz9pUE_osLn6gnAf2FX_LO9QY_SSAOdFH6LnKu0oeU_76pb/s1600/Blue%2527s+moat.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Blue’s moat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Here is a
close up of his eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq74t9X3mKqZ-Y89Z40i-lZ8WQjG83OHtZhyphenhyphen-SH_fcE0PBzelCN3n1-fD2oiSEgj3uBcToBoOBGGZr89W4tK5EYYri7h2Z0Axl9nWkpdWf9iVfArtMkqqkKYD9ipl5_Kna4vX6_y1AkB2v/s1600/Alaskan+Husky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq74t9X3mKqZ-Y89Z40i-lZ8WQjG83OHtZhyphenhyphen-SH_fcE0PBzelCN3n1-fD2oiSEgj3uBcToBoOBGGZr89W4tK5EYYri7h2Z0Axl9nWkpdWf9iVfArtMkqqkKYD9ipl5_Kna4vX6_y1AkB2v/s1600/Alaskan+Husky.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Alaskan
Husky</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The dogs are
not pure breeds and have different mixtures. They are surprisingly small but
extremely fit and strong. They have been bred with the best genes to create a
dog that can run for 100 miles at a time. They are like the lean marathon
runners, deceptively fast and strong. This dog definitely had some wolf in him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMucpg-MXqOctOnenro30SUTwNQTwnW6MHj5gE7YLn1L1xfxVAeOqB2NiYnPsU2PDclA42eh20JXvOPRWu4xoBEIEN3LNkFeNaMmxXL4nsYfJTdCPJtdnAo1yiDUszyPi5yPgbrZwXv2mg/s1600/Looks+like+wolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMucpg-MXqOctOnenro30SUTwNQTwnW6MHj5gE7YLn1L1xfxVAeOqB2NiYnPsU2PDclA42eh20JXvOPRWu4xoBEIEN3LNkFeNaMmxXL4nsYfJTdCPJtdnAo1yiDUszyPi5yPgbrZwXv2mg/s1600/Looks+like+wolf.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Looks like a
wolf</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My favourite
dog was Emma. She was very shy and I had trouble petting her so sat on the
ground near her house for almost an hour and slowly she approached. By the end
of the day, we were good friends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrVCUYZ5MAj1dusNPQxPGOfm7V7u6YdaWv_xM6sk7VnUhFgEJtvYiu3MS6cQ3ogGHnmA1ZTlRXvGjIfPMhpopKIcd7Zo5eaW2Ux4c6g-9TDsMMrCIynnKJMIOJpzi-Yi0wD-G0fgK7qXR/s1600/Emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrVCUYZ5MAj1dusNPQxPGOfm7V7u6YdaWv_xM6sk7VnUhFgEJtvYiu3MS6cQ3ogGHnmA1ZTlRXvGjIfPMhpopKIcd7Zo5eaW2Ux4c6g-9TDsMMrCIynnKJMIOJpzi-Yi0wD-G0fgK7qXR/s1600/Emma.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Emma</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I camped on
the grounds and ate meals in the Lodge. Frank would be there and tell us
stories about the dogs and the races and I was enthralled. Here is my campsite
along the river.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfSkykexXTTc25g6em9hunPUit_5yMEbZImE_nsamLqUhye3pHmDBDYKCN50U2liNB7jv9xSuADA0zoRI6pttyzwTPhe6pouWDDHxnkONaIl2HwbLCMdSYapA6h-qnyuo6uAp0n545UlX/s1600/Camping+by+the+Yukon-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfSkykexXTTc25g6em9hunPUit_5yMEbZImE_nsamLqUhye3pHmDBDYKCN50U2liNB7jv9xSuADA0zoRI6pttyzwTPhe6pouWDDHxnkONaIl2HwbLCMdSYapA6h-qnyuo6uAp0n545UlX/s1600/Camping+by+the+Yukon-2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Camping by
the Yukon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">This was the view
from the front of my tent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1X-0EYFgEpIDN0Tp6Ke9jorKzNQLQvzKU95W4RWlClMdIW3Qiv6hHnqV5_bQcPMSDIssRMayRlfHt5q-pI5nz9CeghAOtqbtWPJXKZKNtWOv2ulMioPo3Apa0kOe9HeIP3NoQiQm7-emU/s1600/My+campsite+at+Muktuk+Adventures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1X-0EYFgEpIDN0Tp6Ke9jorKzNQLQvzKU95W4RWlClMdIW3Qiv6hHnqV5_bQcPMSDIssRMayRlfHt5q-pI5nz9CeghAOtqbtWPJXKZKNtWOv2ulMioPo3Apa0kOe9HeIP3NoQiQm7-emU/s1600/My+campsite+at+Muktuk+Adventures.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">My campsite
at Muktuk Adventures</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A storm was
approaching on the first night and it looked like it was getting dark but the
storm passed with only a light rain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszcNdTfai0CepD2ojCyDi79Opsl6SY8q5lNL8MDdNtzcUDbePk5JHogKG0g3a88-xmY47BNadZeUdYz3HBf7Sq0oTuf5VzwsRo2nheOou84Mp4XgKVY0k1wpY9n6UK6o5vovhVzPXy4kB/s1600/Rain+clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszcNdTfai0CepD2ojCyDi79Opsl6SY8q5lNL8MDdNtzcUDbePk5JHogKG0g3a88-xmY47BNadZeUdYz3HBf7Sq0oTuf5VzwsRo2nheOou84Mp4XgKVY0k1wpY9n6UK6o5vovhVzPXy4kB/s1600/Rain+clouds.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Rain clouds</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Frank did
tours of his property and they took the dogs for vigorous runs every day. In
the winter, Muktuk Adventures holds tours where you can follow behind the Yukon
Quest race. It involves camping outside in the winter where it often goes down
to minus 40 degrees and you can have the chance to drive a dog sled. It would
be a thrill to join that tour. I loved it there and was treated very well with
Frank and his staff going out of their way to make every guest comfortable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I will be in
Whitehorse shortly and look forward to having a few days of rest, a good cup of
coffee, sleeping in a bed and having my first shower in 13 days. Come to think
of it, maybe that is why the bears have left me alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In June, the
three year old children of the Angel House Orphanage started attending Day-Care
for the first time and they were very excited. They will be there every weekday
morning for two hours and here is a photo of them all prepared for the first
step up the high education ladder.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKfYh3C8FwjuguQSWxD_-h3_eV3Lgxq5KlbmXWGs8O8Xsl9voBXMinIIm_vbg29AcazdnRxdj0ARoIA6uSmcRt32ck7IHD1IOkJ72VMRmLB-Io7qdUGyYr3aFmKwYuW_i94jOHnA0BoSo/s1600/Angel+House+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKfYh3C8FwjuguQSWxD_-h3_eV3Lgxq5KlbmXWGs8O8Xsl9voBXMinIIm_vbg29AcazdnRxdj0ARoIA6uSmcRt32ck7IHD1IOkJ72VMRmLB-Io7qdUGyYr3aFmKwYuW_i94jOHnA0BoSo/s1600/Angel+House+kids.jpg" height="397" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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kids</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">On June 9<sup>th</sup>,
the Angel House staff went to Davao City to collect a three-week old baby girl
that is up for adoption. They will have no problem finding a good home for her
after all the paperwork is complete. Here is the beautiful new girl.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzUc2oWM2pv2Et4_pI-alF2jLBoro3Bw24GCbBgagh5s5Z-U9eKr0dGCRyA9g8WPM1JvmDwTsZNhgN4oRpz2aGEifSUZTMDB2T7_nUEaDOiC1lM4EtuGQoAmtZo__MYuClEzdvtGAX7y-/s1600/Baby+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzUc2oWM2pv2Et4_pI-alF2jLBoro3Bw24GCbBgagh5s5Z-U9eKr0dGCRyA9g8WPM1JvmDwTsZNhgN4oRpz2aGEifSUZTMDB2T7_nUEaDOiC1lM4EtuGQoAmtZo__MYuClEzdvtGAX7y-/s1600/Baby+girl.jpg" height="400" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Baby girl</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In early June,
the Orphanage celebrated the fourth anniversary with an informal lunch party
for the families and friends of their Foundation. They received their first
child on June 9, 2010. The first boy arrived, malnourished and frightened. He
is still there but now is healthy and happy and attending the local school. The
Angel House has stood by him and provided a family when he had none. You can
read the story and the weekly updates on their website at </span><a href="http://www.angelhousephilippines.org/home.aspx"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">http://www.angelhousephilippines.org/home.aspx</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One of the
best ways to help the Angel House care for all these beautiful children is to
sponsor a child. You can ensure that David has the money to provide for their
food, clothing, school supplies, medicine and all the expenses that go into
raising healthy children. As noted above, some of the children have been there
for years and the ongoing costs to provide a good home, the constant care
required and their daily needs is never ending. Please held David and his staff
cope with the increasing demands that are placed on them as they continue to
care for abandoned children that need a good home. They can’t do it without financial
support and their only source of support is individual donors who recognize the
incredible work that they are doing. Take a few minutes to read the weekly
updates on the website and contact David or myself if you are interested in
sponsoring a child or making a donation to help.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">May 30, 2014 – Sydney and
the end of Australia</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sydney, Australia</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 113 - Distance biked
so far: (7,785 km)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I continued on the Southern Coast of Australia, stopping to camp at
caravan parks if I was in a town or hidden out of sight on the sides of the
road if I were between towns. One night I was tucked into my sleeping bag and
heard some rustling outside my tent. Since I am out of crocodile territory and
they don’t have bears, I wasn’t worried but wanted to see what it was. I reached
for my camera, unzipped my tent and caught this guy, staring at me. I tried to
get his attention and to see if he would come closer but he really didn’t pay
much attention to me and kept on doing whatever possums do at night.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77JPbKKoitHof5U3ohXaYAXdczwZncQ4JPi7VlfvLYotNPfVY-5575oN2NRyzbEeevmL2HlrZ9LUP_Pxn7V8ALgWvrUJX2twInXsm5U9gRjz2Eo9R5FEGSRgMrDWR8dtmq5W0EWgzpvmN/s1600/My+possium+friend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77JPbKKoitHof5U3ohXaYAXdczwZncQ4JPi7VlfvLYotNPfVY-5575oN2NRyzbEeevmL2HlrZ9LUP_Pxn7V8ALgWvrUJX2twInXsm5U9gRjz2Eo9R5FEGSRgMrDWR8dtmq5W0EWgzpvmN/s1600/My+possium+friend.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My possum friend</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m finally getting used to some of the odd terms that Australians
use. The most common one is a greeting that had me stumped at first because I
didn’t know how to respond. I would be greeted with “how ya going” which seemed
a cross between how are you and where are you going. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find the term “mate” quite nice as in “how
ya going mate”, it provides an instant sense of familiarity when talking to a
complete stranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In terms of food
there has only been a few differences with what I am used to. One day I walked
into a roadhouse restaurant in the Outback and saw a sign for pies. I went up
to the counter and the lady asked what kind of pie I would like so I asked for
apple. She didn’t understand so I said I would like a piece of apple pie and
that caused a ripple of laughter. She said they don’t have fruit pies, they
refer to pies as the meat pies so I could have a steak pie, beef pie, chicken
pie etc. I’m glad I didn’t ask for my favorite, rhubarb and strawberry, which would
have really confused them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had made the decision to avoid Melbourne as I continued down the
road. I really liked the city of Adelaide and would be ending my Australian
adventure visiting both Canberra and Sydney so I decided to stick with the nice
small towns dotting the coast. You can bypass Melbourne by taking a few ferries
connecting the Mornington Peninsula to Philip Island. Philip Island is the home
of the Little Penguins and the famous Penguin Parade. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Little Penguins are the smallest species of penguins, growing on
average to just 12 or 13 inches. The Nature park was set up to provide
protection from predators who would feed on them as they make their daily walk
to and from the sea. There are hundreds of burrows dug into the ground where
the penguins sleep. Every morning, they get up at dawn and walk to the ocean
where they spend the day diving for food. They all waddle down to the sea in
small groups, like workers walking to a construction site. Visitors are only
allowed to visit in the evenings so I made my way there to join the crowds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A number of stands have been set up about 10 meters from the sea and
there are spotlights to provide better sight. As the sun goes down, you can see
them in the distance, swimming in large groups, and it looks like a black mass of
oil slowly making its way to shore. They wait for the sun to go down to avoid
potential attacks from above by birds of prey. You can hear them making a fuss in
the distance; obviously chatting about the fish they caught that day, maybe the
big one that got away. Suddenly, as the waves crash a small group appeared as
if out of nowhere and they stood up, had a quick look around and started
walking towards the shore. It is hilarious to see them struggle up the sand and
the hills behind the viewing areas; they are clearly more at home in the water.
There are boardwalks set up throughout the area and you can walk literally
right beside and a few feet above them as they make their way to their
particular home. They are very strict about not allowing photographs because it
is dark and the flashes will scare the penguins. I took a photo of the
advertisements and this is what the penguins looked like as they walked out of
the water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEK9sA7_PSAKhkUkTPGKKoFxkZRbtTWuYAyKkuswK1XUrN1qK_50Djt3j6ei7cSGEWJPSatgrD8rX8vq-XD571bV7Ud-yIha8f3eTdQsC5moPndUvIiG6TutnTminDNw6LMNQhcz5YO6Y/s1600/The+Little+Penguins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEK9sA7_PSAKhkUkTPGKKoFxkZRbtTWuYAyKkuswK1XUrN1qK_50Djt3j6ei7cSGEWJPSatgrD8rX8vq-XD571bV7Ud-yIha8f3eTdQsC5moPndUvIiG6TutnTminDNw6LMNQhcz5YO6Y/s1600/The+Little+Penguins.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Little Penguins</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I loved being there and was the last person to leave the park. I would
just watch them in their natural environment and found myself encouraging them
as they walked past. I would say things like “you’re looking good” and “keep it
up, you're almost home” and felt like a spectator watching a marathon race and
encouraging the runners. I think they appreciated it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I often mention, it can be lonely on a bike trip, particularly at
night if you sleep outside of a town in the wild. I cook my dinner then go into
my tent to read before going to sleep. I like staying at caravan parks because
I usually have an opportunity to meet people. Another option is to use warmshowers,
a travel website used by cyclists who offer their homes to other cyclists. It
is difficult for me to use that site because I don’t carry a phone, so need an Internet
connection to arrange a date and time to meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Wi-Fi connection in Australia is far below the level in SE Asia so I
have often gone long periods without being able to get on a computer but one
day made contact with Mark and Lilian Duthie. They offered to host me for a
night and it was through Lilian’s persistence and flexibility that we were able
to meet up and I am very grateful that she did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One day Mark and their 2 daughters Katherine and Alyssa met me at the
youth hostel where I was staying and spent their entire Sunday showing me around.
Lilian is a nurse and had to work but Mark and the girls were great hosts as we
toured the beautiful areas around their home that I would never have seen on my
bike. The Duthie’s have an interest in travel and the girls would talk about
their hiking in Peru, paddling down the Amazon in Brazil or cycling in Holland
with the same ease and familiarity that most teenage girls talk about their
cell phones or the latest boy band. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We went to the Tarra-Bulga National Park and did a few short hikes and
enjoyed the cool autumn air.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqswskAy5XayVibITHASaua7c6OpO50TRDkNA2XHGrjUbkN_3NM24adH4Soxw5vKe7_8iEC8GNcbHLBDS4JU7Y6a0pCyNHo6Ql7owLKY-FkP-b_YkBJReumxj2hMti0hnOURXytfhIVeUo/s1600/Natures+colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqswskAy5XayVibITHASaua7c6OpO50TRDkNA2XHGrjUbkN_3NM24adH4Soxw5vKe7_8iEC8GNcbHLBDS4JU7Y6a0pCyNHo6Ql7owLKY-FkP-b_YkBJReumxj2hMti0hnOURXytfhIVeUo/s1600/Natures+colors.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Nature’s colors</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHWU7wvJsStiJLm3pWUVLG6gJcXMSfLxh9rJ2wUPwGcFYOYYHTGlXvLFLAptMN4Tj9biXTN7KkLN_f6BtK_dkc9LK5IJvqil1WEv8gl4q0EpCY8mHqKQWSxM92mnlD5bpqkJwG6mVbifz/s1600/Autum+in+Victoria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHWU7wvJsStiJLm3pWUVLG6gJcXMSfLxh9rJ2wUPwGcFYOYYHTGlXvLFLAptMN4Tj9biXTN7KkLN_f6BtK_dkc9LK5IJvqil1WEv8gl4q0EpCY8mHqKQWSxM92mnlD5bpqkJwG6mVbifz/s1600/Autum+in+Victoria.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Autumn in Victoria</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Duthie family live on a farm with horses, cows, a bull, a black
lab and the girls often go for horse rides. I supervised as they fed the cows
and horses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTrYsme7rqot1j62f8TOxRn8AoSqfgFkeW-dY3Aedvj_jBn8RTg1zB-ye_Z10d4qMeZ4wR1nkG2E0Ke2BkPFPzJ_LsOysHVl3Z4Vpac94JOz7bWukswn8JvcauEZC1zPI_qVRlEPxyYjF/s1600/Katherine%252C+Alyssa+and+their+horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTrYsme7rqot1j62f8TOxRn8AoSqfgFkeW-dY3Aedvj_jBn8RTg1zB-ye_Z10d4qMeZ4wR1nkG2E0Ke2BkPFPzJ_LsOysHVl3Z4Vpac94JOz7bWukswn8JvcauEZC1zPI_qVRlEPxyYjF/s1600/Katherine%252C+Alyssa+and+their+horses.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Katherine, Alyssa and their horses</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a view from the field with the horses. It is an amazing place
to live and raise a family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHPCBjTUk0CXmuTMrilrg3XyTQqUoJOKSNFCJkOPPhb5nfdb37QQHp6nOxwo2x_hMttpMriA4jAoJ0kqJQDAvOwPJ3D2FRZoLpOmp0Ujf3a4JOJjkyxa3KPa9se92HCwPsjo-dKjt17bW/s1600/View+leaving+the+Duthie+farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHPCBjTUk0CXmuTMrilrg3XyTQqUoJOKSNFCJkOPPhb5nfdb37QQHp6nOxwo2x_hMttpMriA4jAoJ0kqJQDAvOwPJ3D2FRZoLpOmp0Ujf3a4JOJjkyxa3KPa9se92HCwPsjo-dKjt17bW/s1600/View+leaving+the+Duthie+farm.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">View from the Duthie farm</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mark cooked a great dinner for all of us and we enjoyed an evening of
conversation about all of our travels. I slept really well in a nice bed full
of warm covers and woke up with the house empty. This is a perfect example of
the kind of hospitality you find around the world. They invited a perfect
stranger into their home and then trusted me to be alone in the morning. I packed
up, gave a good stomach rub to my new friend Whistler and then continued on.
Thank you Mark, Lilian, Katherine and Alyssa for your kindness and hospitality,
it was great to meet you all.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehGeI0fBd8s2MiNRAFps0JcGha7vuT7nLxr0Wa2fOwR8XIzHlGBv-7gOr8X1TlMD0UyBts7UlExHrbfmLgAf7p1cTYNkcL5s5YnBwrgd93kBwU9YxS8RLWaASXWabvfje9or44GkvhrKL/s1600/Whistler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehGeI0fBd8s2MiNRAFps0JcGha7vuT7nLxr0Wa2fOwR8XIzHlGBv-7gOr8X1TlMD0UyBts7UlExHrbfmLgAf7p1cTYNkcL5s5YnBwrgd93kBwU9YxS8RLWaASXWabvfje9or44GkvhrKL/s1600/Whistler.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Whistler</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I left that morning and continued on quiet side roads and trails. I am
in agricultural area here as you can see from this view as I headed out of the
farm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHPCBjTUk0CXmuTMrilrg3XyTQqUoJOKSNFCJkOPPhb5nfdb37QQHp6nOxwo2x_hMttpMriA4jAoJ0kqJQDAvOwPJ3D2FRZoLpOmp0Ujf3a4JOJjkyxa3KPa9se92HCwPsjo-dKjt17bW/s1600/View+leaving+the+Duthie+farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHPCBjTUk0CXmuTMrilrg3XyTQqUoJOKSNFCJkOPPhb5nfdb37QQHp6nOxwo2x_hMttpMriA4jAoJ0kqJQDAvOwPJ3D2FRZoLpOmp0Ujf3a4JOJjkyxa3KPa9se92HCwPsjo-dKjt17bW/s1600/View+leaving+the+Duthie+farm.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">View leaving the Duthie farm</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I passed the 8,000 km mark as I cycled in the south of Australia.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXiZF8BJgiD0Kzvo9YBCUWVpPb51L-sMPsrl-59L-D-QSbn1LWmiMIIP245P1h9liRf5lq6Fu9yPGYdHm-aHAfgfkxm5De_cMM3eGCNpG3Y9sbZIDtSCtn8AM8D73QIS1mczCy5p2Si1x/s1600/8000Km.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXiZF8BJgiD0Kzvo9YBCUWVpPb51L-sMPsrl-59L-D-QSbn1LWmiMIIP245P1h9liRf5lq6Fu9yPGYdHm-aHAfgfkxm5De_cMM3eGCNpG3Y9sbZIDtSCtn8AM8D73QIS1mczCy5p2Si1x/s1600/8000Km.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">8,000 km’s</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">How’s this for a creative mailbox.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCRUhBouAcMLsu3PtEJ1_9SGrKJEKGNOtmgWqK-Q8aFYeb6UUh9tiH69ZiGfvZGK_vJeWk-1EyP1Yh8fQFdW2y0fzmed55h0uFxrWEnBfySb10ZW19wrREmTgr0HnbnWT_ykac5oHTWzN/s1600/Dinosaur+mailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCRUhBouAcMLsu3PtEJ1_9SGrKJEKGNOtmgWqK-Q8aFYeb6UUh9tiH69ZiGfvZGK_vJeWk-1EyP1Yh8fQFdW2y0fzmed55h0uFxrWEnBfySb10ZW19wrREmTgr0HnbnWT_ykac5oHTWzN/s1600/Dinosaur+mailbox.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dinosaur mailbox</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I cycled on some old railroad trails that Mark and Lilian told me
about. It is great to be on them as they are hard packed, right in the middle
of nature and no cars. One of the trails was 100 km in length and I didn’t see
a single person on it for the entire stretch.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvMMmsBhaQFugcQQpntBfFdPfKxzvE8amLzTrRpno70enBqdTk-hOjimZDk4QsLMYChrlYs_ndJliyCa7CSjukaBhr4mbDXVAxZyHH0DYSDoI4AE8XhbRnDRHUT9z-LnxDkBFzjz9_-1x/s1600/Rail+trail+in+Victoria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvMMmsBhaQFugcQQpntBfFdPfKxzvE8amLzTrRpno70enBqdTk-hOjimZDk4QsLMYChrlYs_ndJliyCa7CSjukaBhr4mbDXVAxZyHH0DYSDoI4AE8XhbRnDRHUT9z-LnxDkBFzjz9_-1x/s1600/Rail+trail+in+Victoria.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rail trail in Victoria</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The old rail trails still have some of the old trestle bridges. This
one isn’t used anymore but is a perfect example of the hard work involved in
building them.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpYGrsW1WqungsSHfPmHU3urN2KEgNS-V81CZJ2DiRym9uF55nvrwgVJe9qB5Q3nVMgNG0ChOjTf8XwGc0Kb_0hvTngvnyFKeov4xokkhFdtkImfLyWWL8D35SRPV_WKvMZ-2qcviN1wi/s1600/Old+Railroad+Trestle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpYGrsW1WqungsSHfPmHU3urN2KEgNS-V81CZJ2DiRym9uF55nvrwgVJe9qB5Q3nVMgNG0ChOjTf8XwGc0Kb_0hvTngvnyFKeov4xokkhFdtkImfLyWWL8D35SRPV_WKvMZ-2qcviN1wi/s1600/Old+Railroad+Trestle.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Old Railroad Trestle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After just close to 5,000 km’s of cycling in Australia, I crossed into
my 4<sup>th</sup> state or territory, New South Wales (NSW).</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcYu1qNDjACQGXELrxxX7rH10wa69ZUm1cWNs7_ic5QDQmBk0JdvpEqE59fVT0SqgeMYVLy2mZd7jTeXyJbA6HHJ4-uLxIQ5JYS7dyoGe7ShvDKIk9ZTosB_XfjdYPF01ZGkhp09LZLQf/s1600/Welcome+to+NSW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcYu1qNDjACQGXELrxxX7rH10wa69ZUm1cWNs7_ic5QDQmBk0JdvpEqE59fVT0SqgeMYVLy2mZd7jTeXyJbA6HHJ4-uLxIQ5JYS7dyoGe7ShvDKIk9ZTosB_XfjdYPF01ZGkhp09LZLQf/s1600/Welcome+to+NSW.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Welcome to NSW</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The coastal area south of Sydney in NSW is spectacular, certainly on
par with the Great Ocean Road. The main road would follow the coast but you
couldn’t see the ocean unless you took a side road which I would as my day was
nearing an end. The first stop on the coast was Eden, a place that got its name
because of sunsets like this that I captured from my tent.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiZODyhR17H_-rDz0fUkykR36fxFGONo5ni4GdRnx-7Rwy5GZXymeEmPatsejXaRaSaFPSTEx4sZ98qaiAQth5e3mdATQUBo6auxzeP2x-162AJ2WK246P-RdWyI1M7HFEeYklvWv9pCm/s1600/Eden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiZODyhR17H_-rDz0fUkykR36fxFGONo5ni4GdRnx-7Rwy5GZXymeEmPatsejXaRaSaFPSTEx4sZ98qaiAQth5e3mdATQUBo6auxzeP2x-162AJ2WK246P-RdWyI1M7HFEeYklvWv9pCm/s1600/Eden.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Eden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The coast was rough and rocky and then you would get to a town with
sandy beaches in the harbors. This is an example of the coast just on the edge
of Eden.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIi6EWO_4L7zdtMWAAl_60HaASzhEw5rnENBXl1MIafQ2c4TMEqjOkYRTgVp0DRv-vkEFHj_t7w4c4JgKRl9cdrND37-TqOPjeUTUlTrW6nJCr6aobWuqOdR3eHtjfiz_AaicaUljjKQ9/s1600/Rough+Coast+in+Eden%252C+NSW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIi6EWO_4L7zdtMWAAl_60HaASzhEw5rnENBXl1MIafQ2c4TMEqjOkYRTgVp0DRv-vkEFHj_t7w4c4JgKRl9cdrND37-TqOPjeUTUlTrW6nJCr6aobWuqOdR3eHtjfiz_AaicaUljjKQ9/s1600/Rough+Coast+in+Eden%252C+NSW.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rough Coast in Eden, NSW</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then you would see a sandy beach in the town.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VlMq1pIBo6MgtWcf6iK0cmgmKs73x1in_-Mm7cE8Rl5QGuzSmHIurOCEFvd24i78K2sLhRnOuGN_MLQh_6Rqxb4xYyvEuk5CZsHssHVm-7lE1apPX75eOvRVQjrPOl4iFFvYxLw2wemh/s1600/Beach+in+Eden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VlMq1pIBo6MgtWcf6iK0cmgmKs73x1in_-Mm7cE8Rl5QGuzSmHIurOCEFvd24i78K2sLhRnOuGN_MLQh_6Rqxb4xYyvEuk5CZsHssHVm-7lE1apPX75eOvRVQjrPOl4iFFvYxLw2wemh/s1600/Beach+in+Eden.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Beach in Eden</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then you get back on your bike, heading away from the ocean and soon
see inland lakes and mountains in the distance.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSRiVhRgpn7YUsXEWHYAkMJ9QeDecP0E_Nb5ybLZ5MFJlC-nmm2h-kkhWVwNrcT5yGC7ihc54vNe3p9FJsLP4AIbMf1xVkD69AwlYst0FPPWZzNMs7zkkUyfwVZKylUf0DYcJrxlwJKk6/s1600/Inland+lake+in+NSW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSRiVhRgpn7YUsXEWHYAkMJ9QeDecP0E_Nb5ybLZ5MFJlC-nmm2h-kkhWVwNrcT5yGC7ihc54vNe3p9FJsLP4AIbMf1xVkD69AwlYst0FPPWZzNMs7zkkUyfwVZKylUf0DYcJrxlwJKk6/s1600/Inland+lake+in+NSW.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Inland lake in NSW</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The roads on the coast are very hilly and the constant up and down
made for some beautiful but tough cycling days. I had the misfortune of having
some bad weather earlier in Australia with a lot of cold, wet and windy days
but the last 2 weeks of my time here was absolutely perfect. The days were up
to about 25C with blue skies and calm winds. It is also autumn here so you get
the variety of colors to go along with the weather, very much like what you
would see back home in Canada. I love how I would often see a lonely maple tree
in a sea of green.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbfIP5vKtRQ6VCciXqD_-hAdr02WW4mL3vi2ySH7g7m1lbLg1Ng153fOSzzyUPoUwbE5MZQKOq_LnXuvB9pHfqLQ3UWfmmYSd0Iiw50Mx1T5xj9xaqfFz0kYTd0AH4IfKPjgpErzQsAjx/s1600/Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbfIP5vKtRQ6VCciXqD_-hAdr02WW4mL3vi2ySH7g7m1lbLg1Ng153fOSzzyUPoUwbE5MZQKOq_LnXuvB9pHfqLQ3UWfmmYSd0Iiw50Mx1T5xj9xaqfFz0kYTd0AH4IfKPjgpErzQsAjx/s1600/Fall.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Fall</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am on the east side of the Great Dividing Range mountain range that runs
north to south in Australia. The mountains are close so I could often see the
ocean and mountains at the same time.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyaTzSMUKYJEaa-Bxp49mwbkwD4XwPCJQixsbqQXrLvA1eiwY7PtVxxF8pfeS5PilPs8Xtg10JgCNBNgC2Wz_HwbYAVPqFmQiVTXUMvmC5H8vqc3CdqchRR__LyvhyphenhyphenM-QB9e9tf-oyzKZ/s1600/Ocean+and+mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyaTzSMUKYJEaa-Bxp49mwbkwD4XwPCJQixsbqQXrLvA1eiwY7PtVxxF8pfeS5PilPs8Xtg10JgCNBNgC2Wz_HwbYAVPqFmQiVTXUMvmC5H8vqc3CdqchRR__LyvhyphenhyphenM-QB9e9tf-oyzKZ/s1600/Ocean+and+mountains.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ocean and mountains</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The coast is dotted with small fishing communities and I biked from
one picturesque town to the next. One of my favorites was Bermagui. I would
walk along the harbor at night to see the boats and would often see pelicans
floating by waiting for the fishing boats.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxWVAthZjjfMCG40xsWWe_jbJbnUExYTu2zbpDmxeGNXq9dlSS6M-pWdk0pwuBD7kFeUdp_e6uSWVa4ddARljBd9sjUsK12Ig9ZGeQevJEzWmDzRptkf9s0MC1qeEggmzutrtSQ8t2Y4X/s1600/Sunset+over+the+harbor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxWVAthZjjfMCG40xsWWe_jbJbnUExYTu2zbpDmxeGNXq9dlSS6M-pWdk0pwuBD7kFeUdp_e6uSWVa4ddARljBd9sjUsK12Ig9ZGeQevJEzWmDzRptkf9s0MC1qeEggmzutrtSQ8t2Y4X/s1600/Sunset+over+the+harbor.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sunset over the harbor</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It looks like these 2 had an argument.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSMhZRFSdWxv1ptt9p4uwpylsszrCuzzYLu0-ZVpNqtCP9g8koI3fBoZeDKJ7nYAlkdtlDrawohX_gLkJmbOtu3vcizuv-T_ZI8dJG_gwxDq2BdfXhCXaA1n6HRODyePE8rRziLOyHnI8/s1600/Pelican+argument.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSMhZRFSdWxv1ptt9p4uwpylsszrCuzzYLu0-ZVpNqtCP9g8koI3fBoZeDKJ7nYAlkdtlDrawohX_gLkJmbOtu3vcizuv-T_ZI8dJG_gwxDq2BdfXhCXaA1n6HRODyePE8rRziLOyHnI8/s1600/Pelican+argument.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Pelican argument</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But a little while later they made up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuxW5y1RvZ6IVbmDtbgDT1mV3VKmn9IvQGR3xujCHXFmPtXKb3c6Fyhsvc_MKPHeQ7tWJ8zGv_S17N2TLWZE30qeZyKrPVsC1bo_ce0flNLcO2grJ75d8-RhJoRcMj1U_st9c1Lu2N68w/s1600/The+pelicans+are+friends+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuxW5y1RvZ6IVbmDtbgDT1mV3VKmn9IvQGR3xujCHXFmPtXKb3c6Fyhsvc_MKPHeQ7tWJ8zGv_S17N2TLWZE30qeZyKrPVsC1bo_ce0flNLcO2grJ75d8-RhJoRcMj1U_st9c1Lu2N68w/s1600/The+pelicans+are+friends+again.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Pelicans are friends again</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I biked as far as the town of Bomaderry and then took a train into
Sydney. The traffic 100 km outside of the city was getting heavy with large
trucks and lots of cars so I decided to get off the roads. I had repeatedly
heard how busy it would be going into Sydney and was told there are regular
trains that allow bikes and will go right into the city center so it was an
easy decision.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I arrived at the train station and quickly found a youth hostel and
set about locating a bike store. I have to get a few things checked out because
my next stop is the very remote Arctic Circle in Canada and I need a dependable
bike. I am also getting new tires because the first 800 km in the North will be
on gravel roads. Mine are really worn out. I found a bike store and arranged
for them to check a few things and then to put my bike in a box so I can take
it on the plane. I will pick it up on May 30<sup>th</sup>, and then go straight
to the airport.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had a few days in Sydney and my usual routine for the first day or
two is to just wander around without a specific destination or plan in mind. If
you always go to the main tourist areas you miss out on the side streets that
often provide surprises that many people don’t see.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The main point of interest for me was to just see the harbor and enjoy
the beautiful weather. I would take long walks and meander through the side
streets heading in the general direction of the harbor. The Sydney Opera House
is one of the world’s most distinctive buildings. It was built in 1973 and
became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Here are a few familiar pictures
of the iconic structure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yqonWvq5qeoBbcsOT7UOwkXWnbBVZXpnpDVRpuMDGxb2EGSBN0MmmCij5SENyw7yPMVovh04rpTDEaC97JLGCguawFC8-NJfL4oqGOFHk8JwJ_9VwRmENdZHEaHNseihaUPpuJ69BOO2/s1600/Opera+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yqonWvq5qeoBbcsOT7UOwkXWnbBVZXpnpDVRpuMDGxb2EGSBN0MmmCij5SENyw7yPMVovh04rpTDEaC97JLGCguawFC8-NJfL4oqGOFHk8JwJ_9VwRmENdZHEaHNseihaUPpuJ69BOO2/s1600/Opera+House.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Opera House</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfGXIL_YTc4YxuCpxiFh14zpK66ptpDXHFWVhR83O68buQae5sM5PLvk_X1zQQvru2ZbJ0LSZobfAmKgMbhVkR-2ugDH6GTGTZOGbZBMHVmz9rpNfWCn8A9sIN0PhmxeihDQW_L1qqlZQ/s1600/City+and+Opera+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfGXIL_YTc4YxuCpxiFh14zpK66ptpDXHFWVhR83O68buQae5sM5PLvk_X1zQQvru2ZbJ0LSZobfAmKgMbhVkR-2ugDH6GTGTZOGbZBMHVmz9rpNfWCn8A9sIN0PhmxeihDQW_L1qqlZQ/s1600/City+and+Opera+House.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">City and Opera House</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Near the Opera House is another famous structure, the Harbour Bridge.
Here I am on another beautiful day in Sydney.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-DgLwepEWB-JnxiRU28cB9V2rkFcZbmVscUr7P-Utdyeru8ocNbXcQbdZGPuMEwDXhqLOrCzBk_G1rhD5aTaoEAByyxN0A6gL2-t8sCbtVTTe0uNrSbln1NBCDIRhze1BeFYL8P7Aokl/s1600/Me+at+the+Harbour+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-DgLwepEWB-JnxiRU28cB9V2rkFcZbmVscUr7P-Utdyeru8ocNbXcQbdZGPuMEwDXhqLOrCzBk_G1rhD5aTaoEAByyxN0A6gL2-t8sCbtVTTe0uNrSbln1NBCDIRhze1BeFYL8P7Aokl/s1600/Me+at+the+Harbour+bridge.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Me at the Harbour Bridge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My time in Australia is coming to an end and it seems that I have been
here a long time. It was 2 months ago that I arrived at the top end of
Australia and spent a few days in Darwin. The city was the gateway to the long
stretch in the Outback. I loved the desert area but when I think back to the
month cycling from Darwin to Adelaide, one thing stands out. As I biked I
noticed that almost all of the people passing in vehicles on the other side of
the road would wave as they went past. One morning I decided to count how many
times someone would pass and not wave. It took most of the day before one
vehicle went by where the occupants didn’t wave or honk their horn. It’s that
kind of friendliness that continues to amaze me as I bike through the world. I
remember at least a dozen people stop when I was cycling in the desert and hand
me a bottle of water and a number asked if there was anything I need. I was in
a campground in Eden, cooking my breakfast when a woman walking her dog stopped
to talk with me. A few minutes later her husband came over and said that his
wife told him about my bicycle trip to support an orphanage and he handed me a
$50 bill. I don’t think a single day went by where someone didn’t offer
encouragement in one way or another and that is what you remember most about
travelling and what makes travelling with a bicycle so engaging.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On May 30<sup>th</sup> I am flying from Sydney to Vancouver. I have to
buy a warmer sleeping bag, a water filter and a few other items for my journey
to the North and also for my time in the higher elevations in the Rocky and
Andes Mountains further south. I will then start the 3-flight journey to
Inuvik, Northwest Territories, and Canada. It will be a 23,000 km journey from
the top of the world above the Arctic Circle to the bottom of the world in
Ushuaia, Argentina, close to Antarctica. The interesting thing about the route
is that not only do you go a long way from north to south but the west-east
distance from Inuvik to the tip of Argentina is also the equivalent of crossing
the entire width of Canada. Inuvik will be the farthest western point, so in my
southeast meandering through North, Central and South America, I am slowly,
ever so slowly, heading back to Bangkok. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a summary of a few things since I left Bangkok on January 15,
2014.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Days on the road – 136</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Km’s cycled – 8,741</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"># of flat tires - 3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Countries visited – 5 (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia,
Australia)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Money found on the road - $21.59 (to be donated to Angel House after 2
years on the road)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Books read in Australia:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Remarkable
Times: Australian Politics 2010-13: What Really Happened by Laurie Oakes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cycle
of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong by Juliet Macur</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Private
Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power by Steve Coll</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Orphan Master’s Son: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) by Adam Johnson</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In the meantime, the Angel House Orphanage continues with the
important work of finding homes for children. People from around the world are
starting to support the Orphanage and one family from Singapore sent a large
box of toys and Baby G was first in line to try one out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_y-_tyoYOjouvURG7f0bKHA58UMaD0xVRYYUuHmua2ClzoO4SvSrwp5GR_VDtSxai-gn0v_F2U7JJTDM8a62YQm-zqFQBUQ-QG_CEcm_1btaSoAMzWr9jBdg5gk3BqXI2ivTo6S9BxQVr/s1600/Baby+Boy+G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_y-_tyoYOjouvURG7f0bKHA58UMaD0xVRYYUuHmua2ClzoO4SvSrwp5GR_VDtSxai-gn0v_F2U7JJTDM8a62YQm-zqFQBUQ-QG_CEcm_1btaSoAMzWr9jBdg5gk3BqXI2ivTo6S9BxQVr/s1600/Baby+Boy+G.jpg" height="320" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Baby Boy G</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Last week Angel House had another successful adoption. Baby girl S found
a new home in Hawaii. It is a wonderful moment when a childless family can be
matched up with an abandoned baby but it’s also a difficult time. David and his
staff spent 3 years with this beautiful girl, changing her diapers, providing
food and shelter, taking her for doctor visits and ice-cream, all the things
families do together. The girl also had a large group of friends at the
orphanage, the other children waiting for parents. The orphanage was the only
home she ever knew and David and his staff were her surrogate parents. She has
to say good-bye to the only world she has known and all her friends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The other side however is that you have a family that invested a lot
of money and time to find a young girl and now they have one. You can see the
joy in the parents eyes along with a little fear and uncertainty in Baby S but
one thing is certain, her world is about to change for the better with loving
parents, a chance for a good education and to be a part of her own family. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Another success story at Angel House Orphanage and it is these stories
that make every single pedal I make worthwhile. Congratulations to David and
his staff, and to Baby S. God bless you and your new parents.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-54709043649883030352014-05-07T20:14:00.000-07:002014-05-07T20:14:35.847-07:00The Great Ocean Road<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">May 7, 2014 – The Great
Ocean Road</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Aireys Inlet, Australia</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 113 - Distance biked
so far: (7,785 km)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I spent 3 days in Adelaide and had the great pleasure of being shown
the beautiful city by my friend Rhea. Rhea is a Filipina originally from
Tacloban and I met her when we volunteered together at the Missionaries of
Charity orphanage in 2011. She spent a year there with her parents to provide
her 2 sons with some education in the Philippines. In November she returned to
Tacloban after the typhoon and spent a lot of time and energy helping people
recover. She also raised funds, and continues to do so, for the victims
including Bella and Gemma from the Missionaries of Charity. Rhea took a day out
of her schedule to show me around. Here is Rhea and I at a coffee shop.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdihAr4E-3vKibW4izspZTc5zQ-jXnZe1rgtfhyz3kEXGFvhphbs9VkfYabEEMXif-X3CBSe2Wkd6oAYrhiyav5nZSHGvzUxQ2ptd8mafSiK7-08cdRBGMM2Rts-sVONhiV5Co1vNiLobI/s1600/Rhea+and+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdihAr4E-3vKibW4izspZTc5zQ-jXnZe1rgtfhyz3kEXGFvhphbs9VkfYabEEMXif-X3CBSe2Wkd6oAYrhiyav5nZSHGvzUxQ2ptd8mafSiK7-08cdRBGMM2Rts-sVONhiV5Co1vNiLobI/s1600/Rhea+and+me.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rhea and me</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We caught up on her life back in Adelaide with her husband and
children and her work at the Adelaide hospital as a nurse. She drove me around
to a lot of the sights and it was a great way to catch up and see Adelaide. It
is a perfect size and has an ideal climate and would easily win as my choice of
a city to live in if I were to move to Australia. I love the combination of
clean wide streets, cafes and coffee shops, bike lanes, green space and old
churches. It is a perfect example of how a focus on the environment can pay dividends
in terms of quality of life. You can balance economic growth and quality of
life and Adelaide strikes that balance. Here is an old church in the center of
the city.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWI7ywmrjBIxGdCZ99o3g5IpE7rxNW63mWi2LjjZ1pnZmNcGnWDggGAOAMhNrkkG9RDFgKsENeGrMvaMkPmUQ_INwm2_ss8rSywuZwdJ67-o_mVZypLyc61JEm7z83WP44BHSONE-aEAeL/s1600/Church+in+Adelaide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWI7ywmrjBIxGdCZ99o3g5IpE7rxNW63mWi2LjjZ1pnZmNcGnWDggGAOAMhNrkkG9RDFgKsENeGrMvaMkPmUQ_INwm2_ss8rSywuZwdJ67-o_mVZypLyc61JEm7z83WP44BHSONE-aEAeL/s1600/Church+in+Adelaide.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Church in Adelaide</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The River Torrens runs through the city and instead of piles of
garbage that you might see in the rivers of many SE Asian cities, you get a
view like this. It is amazing how little things like putting garbage in a trash
can instead of throwing it on the ground can have such a positive impact.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtG5J_vMCYvHWx7zHNFh93ahnvu8Zw0Kk7n-VUMGZV8z7HMMdOwRkuCC9g0OwxKjgJdKflld7vgJgfPC0hyphenhyphenzdxizgK-ZW09yV68khdk2oLCChODIySKdQsnJHf0WYYzcfgQitqAV74vLzh/s1600/Park+in+Adelaide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtG5J_vMCYvHWx7zHNFh93ahnvu8Zw0Kk7n-VUMGZV8z7HMMdOwRkuCC9g0OwxKjgJdKflld7vgJgfPC0hyphenhyphenzdxizgK-ZW09yV68khdk2oLCChODIySKdQsnJHf0WYYzcfgQitqAV74vLzh/s1600/Park+in+Adelaide.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Park in Adelaide</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Adelaide Oval is hailed as the world’s most attractive cricket
grounds. I can’t say that I’ve seen many cricket ovals but this is nice and
reminds me of some of the old baseball fields in the U.S.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I headed out of Adelaide by continuing south to the coast. To leave
you have to go up over the Adelaide hills and I picked a beautiful day to climb
up the tree filled streets that wind up and out of the city. It is fall here
and some of the colours are out in full force.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV37oKjb_R9c9taPc3bkonOyn5L62Sdjw5TD9FxrMUHmQdPLMnDWbATe2K-IKXg726xsqUS-3TY90Rz11JKHXEsA10_n8qrQAIG7gSZAykhhu6gPy_r6-xNcdqleo0DtaiTVcIVDyGcac/s1600/Fall+colours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV37oKjb_R9c9taPc3bkonOyn5L62Sdjw5TD9FxrMUHmQdPLMnDWbATe2K-IKXg726xsqUS-3TY90Rz11JKHXEsA10_n8qrQAIG7gSZAykhhu6gPy_r6-xNcdqleo0DtaiTVcIVDyGcac/s1600/Fall+colours.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Fall colours in the hills of Adelaide</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I was heading in a southeast direction and had days of passing through
agricultural areas and slowly made my way down towards Lake Alexandrina and the
wetlands known as The Coorong. The area composes the Younghusband Peninsula
that separates the Lake from the Southern Ocean and is a sanctuary for millions
of birds, particularly the Pelican. I had to take a short hop on a ferry to
cross the Murray River that runs through here and saw my first Pelican casually
drifting by the boat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTZ2TYJGDolGlyCmh2IufW_sgfHL3DkjGpggq87mV-OAPmVvSpDRipZBtHHYNLeebmmOVlRR-RMgmxJOQYJgrawHZADBKPhgMJpfRHFAWJXhxyU3n2V8EBEKFQh3uS3ZqDHIGNvHSSVRj/s1600/Pelican+in+the+Murray+River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTZ2TYJGDolGlyCmh2IufW_sgfHL3DkjGpggq87mV-OAPmVvSpDRipZBtHHYNLeebmmOVlRR-RMgmxJOQYJgrawHZADBKPhgMJpfRHFAWJXhxyU3n2V8EBEKFQh3uS3ZqDHIGNvHSSVRj/s1600/Pelican+in+the+Murray+River.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Pelican in the Murray River</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I rode south about 100 km per day, camping each night as I inched to
the bottom of the Continent. I passed the 7,000 km mark near Wellington.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWWuO4n8bNZqLnI6xNvr-ggDcxU6V3-59tgqGb_RpR8gZ8MxLPmW-GliI5mR-RYyxPtuYwg8iWoUua4B38bZqdQVbgoZRTM1pJsVnvVDZnaMb6h2um5eTz_6JWJFBVoTkcSMDdHg-obz9/s1600/7%252C000+km+mark+in+South+Australia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWWuO4n8bNZqLnI6xNvr-ggDcxU6V3-59tgqGb_RpR8gZ8MxLPmW-GliI5mR-RYyxPtuYwg8iWoUua4B38bZqdQVbgoZRTM1pJsVnvVDZnaMb6h2um5eTz_6JWJFBVoTkcSMDdHg-obz9/s1600/7%252C000+km+mark+in+South+Australia.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">7,000 km mark in South Australia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The city of Mount Gambier is the Limestone Coasts (as this area is
known) major town with a population of about 25,000. It is home of the deep
Blue Lake and crater that was formed from a volcanic eruption thousands of
years ago. The Lake is up to 75 meters deep and the source of drinking water
for the town and region. Here are a few pictures of the Blue Lake and the trees
filling the former crater.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxgiqHJU_3FnJKpWujOXgNNI9FRIOCq0SYyW3yCNbptPvKbaCi73eCRTUbqUU8bXoiCXjSJIviWoDJEAGnM4T5TXovogmSFHuyNcTGc2SisRCFzoSuFJbJsT-kPyN5aSK7wHCNeFbOFGc/s1600/Blue+Lake+in+Mount+Gambier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxgiqHJU_3FnJKpWujOXgNNI9FRIOCq0SYyW3yCNbptPvKbaCi73eCRTUbqUU8bXoiCXjSJIviWoDJEAGnM4T5TXovogmSFHuyNcTGc2SisRCFzoSuFJbJsT-kPyN5aSK7wHCNeFbOFGc/s1600/Blue+Lake+in+Mount+Gambier.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Blue Lake in Mount Gambier</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKwBCMmS4UAjPw-8Ckh-lCqXxxWiW8YmDEZv7NCNl9tYg8ECc1muuU2uhgDLhf6PzYw54ADl00Ue29wmY2sdlmfSRUupt3egSwOmIuuyGQu-V4oIEoWiotmuL5q1dcTw_9-bc9W0F7IwU/s1600/Autumn+colours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKwBCMmS4UAjPw-8Ckh-lCqXxxWiW8YmDEZv7NCNl9tYg8ECc1muuU2uhgDLhf6PzYw54ADl00Ue29wmY2sdlmfSRUupt3egSwOmIuuyGQu-V4oIEoWiotmuL5q1dcTw_9-bc9W0F7IwU/s1600/Autumn+colours.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Autumn colours</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After 3,500 km’s of cycling in this vast country, I passed the border
into my 3<sup>rd</sup> State or Territory. I was now in the State of Victoria.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDIH8feyVVWpHBYTDsMLyN4-YdaUuXjfEa2Ebj0ll8eTWWdvquUjqN51wzEEn1UKC_3k_hn3WxboOCqCI-RKj_cB1c8CH9xQCqOksH-sRJ7zxhYnzBMGNzotmHHA_sVnJwyi7D5CNR_p4/s1600/Welcome+to+Victoria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDIH8feyVVWpHBYTDsMLyN4-YdaUuXjfEa2Ebj0ll8eTWWdvquUjqN51wzEEn1UKC_3k_hn3WxboOCqCI-RKj_cB1c8CH9xQCqOksH-sRJ7zxhYnzBMGNzotmHHA_sVnJwyi7D5CNR_p4/s1600/Welcome+to+Victoria.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Welcome to Victoria</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The weather has been slowly turning colder with a persistent wind and
threatening rain. It is quite damp so it is difficult to dress as I sweat from
cycling but then get chilled from the wind. My windbreaker jacket has been a
constant companion and I have even slept with it a few times. The nights are
cold and it is becoming harder to get out of my sleeping bag in the mornings
but the day usually warms up nicely if the sun comes out. I was very close to
the Southern Ocean and would get glimpses but it wasn’t until I reached Port
Fairy and saw the Lighthouse that I realized I was on the southern coast. If I
went south across that ocean, the next land or ice that I would hit would be I
Antarctica.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUncTCyzc7MqsftGe-5AUC179kAg3Nzy9ekMH_onqC9acW1qbfnhChYTysdDc85zlf03c-vY2qE39BGBeE-gNkInvVTBp65QpY-dd1uezIuF_Ztz4XOZe8i_tnduj-KmHrhw2wjjQqIs9F/s1600/Port+Fairly+Lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUncTCyzc7MqsftGe-5AUC179kAg3Nzy9ekMH_onqC9acW1qbfnhChYTysdDc85zlf03c-vY2qE39BGBeE-gNkInvVTBp65QpY-dd1uezIuF_Ztz4XOZe8i_tnduj-KmHrhw2wjjQqIs9F/s1600/Port+Fairly+Lighthouse.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Port Fairly Lighthouse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In my last journal I wrote about fear and how it is often something
that stops us from doing what we would like to do. I asked myself if there is
anything I wouldn’t do because of fear, or maybe because I have a little common
sense, and I think there are 2 things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The first is climbing Mount Everest. Last year I hiked up to the
Everest Base Camp at over 5,400 meters. I did the hike on my own and it is a physical
challenge but I had the relative luxury of having an indoor place to sleep,
even if the lodges are very basic in nature. In my rooms I would often be very
cold at night in my sleeping bag with all my clothes on and it was at those
times I would think about what it would be like to be climbing up to 9,000
meters while sleeping outside in a tent. I couldn’t imagine the hiking up into
that cold thin air for weeks on end yet I am fascinated by stories of people
who have done it. Better them than me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The second activity is closely related to my arrival at the Southern
Ocean. I have read numerous accounts of solo sailboat races around the world
and it is the second thing I would not do, particularly on my own. I have read
numerous accounts of people who have completed the Vendee Globe race, a solo
and non-stop circumnavigation of the world and in each account, the sailors
always talk about the Southern Ocean as being their biggest obstacle. In one
account, during a race one of the boats flipped over while in a severe storm
far out into the Southern Ocean. When you get below 40 degrees latitude, the
strong westerly winds are referred to as the roaring 40’s. The waves are
particularly dangerous because there is no landmass so they come from every
direction. When modern sailboats flip over, they are designed to right
themselves so the sailor can continue but with hurricane force winds and waves
over 20 meters, the boat was staying upside down. The sailor escaped by
swimming out and tying himself to the keel that was now on top of the water. At
that point in the Southern Ocean, the only chance of being rescued is if
another boat helps out as the distance to land is so great that a plane or
helicopter capable of helping would run out of fuel before getting back to land.
Another boat was in the race and turned around against those winds and managed
to pull him aboard, only minutes before his submerged boat sank. I might do the
race if you could be part of a team but I’m betting no one would recruit me for
the simple reason that I’m not sure how much value I could add while hiding
below in the cabin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I was now on the shores of the ocean I have only read about and for
me, it was a thrill just to look out into the vastness. I stayed in the nice
small town of Port Fairy a few days as the weather turned nasty with very
strong winds and heavy rain It was the perfect chance however, to see the
Southern Ocean during a storm, even if it was from land. I walked to a hill
behind the town and had some great views on a blustery day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYCIjkoONj9Ld81n2rqOblajfMZH1B0Ks8o6qhYnogPheMunGJHDfrRu36_iUY0eV80iE2lgiEg0A0Z4f8DhKJfaSgPZXFP3J39ixL1u2hsC2U5UISs7wup_SBdJ2oaRAo788-6oGTzl1/s1600/Southern+Ocean+waves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYCIjkoONj9Ld81n2rqOblajfMZH1B0Ks8o6qhYnogPheMunGJHDfrRu36_iUY0eV80iE2lgiEg0A0Z4f8DhKJfaSgPZXFP3J39ixL1u2hsC2U5UISs7wup_SBdJ2oaRAo788-6oGTzl1/s1600/Southern+Ocean+waves.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Southern Ocean waves</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji92KDB3-J61fXtjfqsGOc5clgd2RW8erowgBBgDfmDzfylijZRjOvEUjJOHY7ZwyrxYl1azRCnZj94NUfgVNQIHVtmGaEGxygIUX9i4RHnPm-MsMdqvGm8cCO0036As0R1Zkqd5JQuOtD/s1600/Rough+seas+in+Port+Fairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji92KDB3-J61fXtjfqsGOc5clgd2RW8erowgBBgDfmDzfylijZRjOvEUjJOHY7ZwyrxYl1azRCnZj94NUfgVNQIHVtmGaEGxygIUX9i4RHnPm-MsMdqvGm8cCO0036As0R1Zkqd5JQuOtD/s1600/Rough+seas+in+Port+Fairy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Rough seas in
Port Fairy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The following
day was a little calmer and that brought out a few surfers who struggled to
stay upright but it looked like they were having a blast<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a surfer in there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRuY5Tqfyp1BDij6EjNaJJomNaMM0AjmHe2kcxaTlxj_Za_fT2fQX9pOPvi0Ps7cAxM_SvGKTJkDS-Dbade4inKfx8QQMjWan4bSwG_F7BjuGunEOWAtmEENEP6gmWAfrkiw6qEylCb6o/s1600/Surf%25E2%2580%2599s+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRuY5Tqfyp1BDij6EjNaJJomNaMM0AjmHe2kcxaTlxj_Za_fT2fQX9pOPvi0Ps7cAxM_SvGKTJkDS-Dbade4inKfx8QQMjWan4bSwG_F7BjuGunEOWAtmEENEP6gmWAfrkiw6qEylCb6o/s1600/Surf%25E2%2580%2599s+up.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Surf’s up</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A short while
after leaving Port Fairy I arrived at the world famous Great Ocean Road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNV3XxRZvMG9bzXVSZd2sgTYQmXNLLuP4MxPCfFkzHh7w9t0wn8CeP7KHcof6yE5QbqbKPOgPYKxwMYT4GNlGXt6QuI3CgpRxI1gXwhHlIM_4nILVEdmFl2BWQqVUELF3AAENM6HQv5gM/s1600/Start+of+Great+Ocean+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNV3XxRZvMG9bzXVSZd2sgTYQmXNLLuP4MxPCfFkzHh7w9t0wn8CeP7KHcof6yE5QbqbKPOgPYKxwMYT4GNlGXt6QuI3CgpRxI1gXwhHlIM_4nILVEdmFl2BWQqVUELF3AAENM6HQv5gM/s1600/Start+of+Great+Ocean+Road.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Start of
Great Ocean Road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Great
Ocean Road was built by returning soldiers between 1919 and 1932 and dedicated
to those killed during World War 1. It is the world’s largest war memorial and
a fitting tribute to the brave men of Australia. The Road is 243 km long and in
most places hugs the coast offering incredible views of the wild Southern Ocean
coast. It is one of those places you simply can’t miss if you are in Australia,
and particularly if you are riding a bicycle. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Some of the
towns here are so popular that they have youth hostels and I started taking
advantage of them to get a warm and dry bed at night. I was incredibly
fortunate to be at some of the most photogenic places during the few periods of
sunshine I would get in a day. The scenery though has really been outstanding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There are more
photos on my Flickr page. </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/fredbouwman/with/14119602474"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.flickr.com/photos/fredbouwman/with/14119602474</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One of the
first famous rock formations is that of London Bridge. It was once a
double-arched rock platform linked to the mainland and visitors could walk out
across a narrow bridge to the large rock. In 1990, the bridge collapsed leaving
two tourists marooned and eventually rescued by helicopter. It is only a matter
of time until the waves and erosion collapse the remaining arch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs_pvqdVZhX5zGH60RbY-NdT5xmSoGA2qulvsS63vzbp55OT6_rXgB_m-e5y8YWXjcsQOHAZJBMM4dhUK-00TDJCxCDNybmEXlyETVPO8RbZTTgHiTWSrHPZ3s8TmHQo5xPTJRsCYgycr/s1600/London+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs_pvqdVZhX5zGH60RbY-NdT5xmSoGA2qulvsS63vzbp55OT6_rXgB_m-e5y8YWXjcsQOHAZJBMM4dhUK-00TDJCxCDNybmEXlyETVPO8RbZTTgHiTWSrHPZ3s8TmHQo5xPTJRsCYgycr/s1600/London+Bridge.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">London
Bridge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The views of
the rocks, blue skies and seas make cycling very difficult and slow. You can’t
help but look over while trying to stay on the road and then you just want to stop
every few feet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuR9atopHpWCkZuM6aKPm1GsiQgvKMkb-zO1byD75sNlQ2ljFh23Two5hUiBARb8rcTGboG-CH7pJoYMDXEVfvH7EtMIj78ykBet4BBXAv5vhhI7dZjhGt_YjC1bL1QaJGpuNJF9qAPSlb/s1600/Windswept+view+of+Southern+Ocean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuR9atopHpWCkZuM6aKPm1GsiQgvKMkb-zO1byD75sNlQ2ljFh23Two5hUiBARb8rcTGboG-CH7pJoYMDXEVfvH7EtMIj78ykBet4BBXAv5vhhI7dZjhGt_YjC1bL1QaJGpuNJF9qAPSlb/s1600/Windswept+view+of+Southern+Ocean.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Windswept
view of Southern Ocean</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmzGSHvCXDzR0bsoGxGFsEgY8GI3SZBPxX67du05NBpurxrR8ya40d_oBQZU4-kA8Hh1mZMqvkCCCx5GPNhnWPHHfTasDpRHxBdfLbRhLHb11ZBs9JneCY7JsbKHoPhzuhDSpG6s-2wFL/s1600/Looking+west+on+Great+Ocean+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmzGSHvCXDzR0bsoGxGFsEgY8GI3SZBPxX67du05NBpurxrR8ya40d_oBQZU4-kA8Hh1mZMqvkCCCx5GPNhnWPHHfTasDpRHxBdfLbRhLHb11ZBs9JneCY7JsbKHoPhzuhDSpG6s-2wFL/s1600/Looking+west+on+Great+Ocean+Road.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Looking west
on Great Ocean Road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The famous 12
Apostles were next in line. The name is actually misleading because there
aren’t 12 rocks. There are viewing platforms and from there you can clearly see
7 but some are obscured. The Apostles are technically called stacks and are
made of soft limestone, constantly eroded by the never-ending waves. In 2005, a
70-meter stack collapsed into the sea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qCwpuDwHHt_QxYtzoKoQHiZ4HtSMDg9KdHDVvdq0CjLMdeftOhHP4TxubfLqtS5_HRg97U7czxStmVYR0O0Hdxc_BWrHSlPo5nFNcIF29xvTeVXn8wqIVUwJoxUNWuA_jp1GiY04vkej/s1600/12+Apostles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qCwpuDwHHt_QxYtzoKoQHiZ4HtSMDg9KdHDVvdq0CjLMdeftOhHP4TxubfLqtS5_HRg97U7czxStmVYR0O0Hdxc_BWrHSlPo5nFNcIF29xvTeVXn8wqIVUwJoxUNWuA_jp1GiY04vkej/s1600/12+Apostles.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">12 Apostles</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Here is the
view looking east from the same spot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLXH0Vu5bfAPq8Gv_nKgEcoYHFA3ep5CdfDoTV75afFHteum1l5l7hJkLuTzbxaRmZNr33ebuGyzpkXbg2EgXI0Px6OUaAroYwN7HqXR0Pkkz1JuQ6YUfJze2Lty9yA8ITwP_D3wf8cwb/s1600/View+looking+east+from+the+12+Apostles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLXH0Vu5bfAPq8Gv_nKgEcoYHFA3ep5CdfDoTV75afFHteum1l5l7hJkLuTzbxaRmZNr33ebuGyzpkXbg2EgXI0Px6OUaAroYwN7HqXR0Pkkz1JuQ6YUfJze2Lty9yA8ITwP_D3wf8cwb/s1600/View+looking+east+from+the+12+Apostles.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">View looking
east from the 12 Apostles</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I was dressed
in most of my clothes that day but was very fortunate to get sunshine. A few
hours later, I was cycling up a long hill in a steady and cold rain so the
timing to get these views was perfect. It’s not often you can get your picture
taken with the 12 Apostles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRKiMLcvjnTNBnycej9JHU7Wz1m2zviAhjs3-LpdFK-HyYDIYBAvNTtB5WfYb2goE9nrxZkI8HBOgoL4hJGUyWLswes-ApDu91TWK5fDoZRMd3mofF0mA1QQ-BILLzjdsdXnemhtElIBc/s1600/The+12+Apostles+and+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRKiMLcvjnTNBnycej9JHU7Wz1m2zviAhjs3-LpdFK-HyYDIYBAvNTtB5WfYb2goE9nrxZkI8HBOgoL4hJGUyWLswes-ApDu91TWK5fDoZRMd3mofF0mA1QQ-BILLzjdsdXnemhtElIBc/s1600/The+12+Apostles+and+Me.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The 12
Apostles and Me</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As mentioned,
the road turned inland for a 30 km detour into the hills. In a matter of
minutes I was away from the ocean and into a deep forest of thick trees. It was
spectacular and shows the incredible variety of the landscape here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZOXFsRrLP2yQoTgdk5dfKDdVSESeNvWMInf5QuYZ76FHvJg0p0U6OiM7aCqZyhWNCuprzXEgpm9LvigJkrwiDVmKZng7vCVKd7hkgH2c2sVkuUBKxuMkjoXRYXsk_Zsdt11Fn_yx1uXq/s1600/Lavers+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZOXFsRrLP2yQoTgdk5dfKDdVSESeNvWMInf5QuYZ76FHvJg0p0U6OiM7aCqZyhWNCuprzXEgpm9LvigJkrwiDVmKZng7vCVKd7hkgH2c2sVkuUBKxuMkjoXRYXsk_Zsdt11Fn_yx1uXq/s1600/Lavers+Hill.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Lavers Hill</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One of my
favorite towns along the coast was Apollo Bay. I found a great hostel with a
cozy living room and fireplace and stayed 2 nights to enjoy the scenery and
relaxed lifestyle of a beach town in the slow season. One day I walked along
the beach and saw a nice dog just sitting on the sand looking out at a group of
surfers. I sat beside him and he cuddled up beside me to let me pet him, but
rarely took his eyes off the surfers. One of them came out and told me it was
her dog and when she instructs him to stay, he simply sits on the beach until
she returns. Here is my new friend Jessie, a very good dog but who couldn’t be
bothered looking into the camera.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQnd9pw1hIjHsD6A0qKvKh0GzHTJz8EeQViyog6YI1DpDgFV6Ttie8WJ6oVRHWVhqgJtKdlexP72Zi11osEmLZiaUJ_iPDvb2h7vFywwzCIt0hZjdtAnXLKNDRhtUq-hyGA1ZyL4LNLbo/s1600/Jessie+and+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQnd9pw1hIjHsD6A0qKvKh0GzHTJz8EeQViyog6YI1DpDgFV6Ttie8WJ6oVRHWVhqgJtKdlexP72Zi11osEmLZiaUJ_iPDvb2h7vFywwzCIt0hZjdtAnXLKNDRhtUq-hyGA1ZyL4LNLbo/s1600/Jessie+and+me.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Jessie and
me</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Here is the
nice beach in Apollo Bay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQvvLeUwQN_EO2mSlmjT8Q5jtYWo8kqeBFLgQpATVv4LM3nsgnIWw0FalLV6Z0Lm1CJ4c3qKaaPAcpABRfXVA4nrM5ctkl1_Lhe9Vlh5-ql8nzSjs4RVpaLXGRlojql-dM7T_lch98Vry/s1600/Apollo+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQvvLeUwQN_EO2mSlmjT8Q5jtYWo8kqeBFLgQpATVv4LM3nsgnIWw0FalLV6Z0Lm1CJ4c3qKaaPAcpABRfXVA4nrM5ctkl1_Lhe9Vlh5-ql8nzSjs4RVpaLXGRlojql-dM7T_lch98Vry/s1600/Apollo+Bay.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Apollo Bay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Apollo Bay is
also home to a great café. On the morning I left, I biked down the street
looking for a cup of coffee and found a comfortable looking place. I was tired
of eating my oatmeal so decided to try something new and asked for the
pancakes, berries and maple syrup and it tasted just as good as it looked. I
even thought about staying another night to get more the next day but pulled
myself away to see more of the Great Ocean Road, not an easy decision at all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg718BjV11D-zrCMaq9ZN6BrNu6F8MI2ltQWjfHl3wNB6lfxmaCh_RP1pbY2qCRJHH1EzV4MK7NpWYJWI0UG2eGkHyUHY0N11Q273TBqHdoYxo1YZbjynMcsJVcVjjeiIVrrFLlr_s5nLKW/s1600/Breakfast+in+Apollo+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg718BjV11D-zrCMaq9ZN6BrNu6F8MI2ltQWjfHl3wNB6lfxmaCh_RP1pbY2qCRJHH1EzV4MK7NpWYJWI0UG2eGkHyUHY0N11Q273TBqHdoYxo1YZbjynMcsJVcVjjeiIVrrFLlr_s5nLKW/s1600/Breakfast+in+Apollo+Bay.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Breakfast in
Apollo Bay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The stretch of
road between Apollo Bay and Lorne is spectacular because it follows closely to
the Ocean. Here are more pictures along this stretch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Great Ocean
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Sweeping
panorama</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Ideal
cycling</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I stopped for
a brief break at a small town called Kennett River and noticed a few buses of
tourists all gathered around a few trees with their cameras in hand so I knew
it must be a well known spot listed in the guide books. I joined the groups and
saw some beautiful birds.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Colorful
birds</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The main
reason people stop however is to see the Koala bears sleeping in the trees. I
managed to find one. I tried to wake him up but you know how it is with young
Koalas these days, they just stay up too late and sleep half the day away.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzlu7fX1Fiv3t540kgETUqL9E_g_vGfAlMFWAgYjYqYv25d8PMMHRr-t5yuJhTlliVcrX3ekNYqjJ2xcOqTEivjkHq2UVwhwbSiLfE0xvlxqhyG1kGf4B8ZdkspyluaxgGSBDsoRtdIPF/s1600/Sleeping+Koala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzlu7fX1Fiv3t540kgETUqL9E_g_vGfAlMFWAgYjYqYv25d8PMMHRr-t5yuJhTlliVcrX3ekNYqjJ2xcOqTEivjkHq2UVwhwbSiLfE0xvlxqhyG1kGf4B8ZdkspyluaxgGSBDsoRtdIPF/s1600/Sleeping+Koala.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Sleeping
Koala</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I also saw a
pair of look-alikes. They were perfectly still but definitely alive. I think
they were having a contest to see who would blink first.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWe28hfvmhKMsJXg99_-r6ua94d7_C0L5jzVYntXVtyU8dToAsJxH6l1NVNiYZ4pXkcdouTvKLsXNPcLbgf1b_Au45L7qLViAbxjSQbCZYpDMG_5MgClyJwMxkFZzKydBijEY2yJVpZXN/s1600/Twins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWe28hfvmhKMsJXg99_-r6ua94d7_C0L5jzVYntXVtyU8dToAsJxH6l1NVNiYZ4pXkcdouTvKLsXNPcLbgf1b_Au45L7qLViAbxjSQbCZYpDMG_5MgClyJwMxkFZzKydBijEY2yJVpZXN/s1600/Twins.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Twins</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Here is a view
of some of the fall colours and the ocean.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV37oKjb_R9c9taPc3bkonOyn5L62Sdjw5TD9FxrMUHmQdPLMnDWbATe2K-IKXg726xsqUS-3TY90Rz11JKHXEsA10_n8qrQAIG7gSZAykhhu6gPy_r6-xNcdqleo0DtaiTVcIVDyGcac/s1600/Fall+colours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV37oKjb_R9c9taPc3bkonOyn5L62Sdjw5TD9FxrMUHmQdPLMnDWbATe2K-IKXg726xsqUS-3TY90Rz11JKHXEsA10_n8qrQAIG7gSZAykhhu6gPy_r6-xNcdqleo0DtaiTVcIVDyGcac/s1600/Fall+colours.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Fall colours</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">This is how
you build a house to get a great ocean view over your neighbor’s home.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2IhdxCZSI0UHI2cukRFxqfV43t9BLn8i0I_7U2j9jKBlq9XgCKVP0-1mIbULjFcZNCLaQvsDL9mCW3HYfvfaE36P3w1_n6jSq9jAChcgBXVpzW_maZcccNqQEyjpeyuVKU9PUR9XmmnU/s1600/Quite+a+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2IhdxCZSI0UHI2cukRFxqfV43t9BLn8i0I_7U2j9jKBlq9XgCKVP0-1mIbULjFcZNCLaQvsDL9mCW3HYfvfaE36P3w1_n6jSq9jAChcgBXVpzW_maZcccNqQEyjpeyuVKU9PUR9XmmnU/s1600/Quite+a+view.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Quite a view</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The Angel
House Orphanage had their second adoption last week with the young boy K being
adopted by a couple in Norway. That is the second one in short order and a time
for celebration. For the children left behind without parents, life continues
with a few new faces and the constant attention of the workers trying to fill
the gap of parents. It is very important for these children that were abandoned
and with a relatively large group of other kids around, to get some special
attention, something that would make them feel special even for a short time.
Think back to the time you were a child and how important it was to be singled
out by your parents or to be recognized for something you did in school or
other activities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The thing I
love about the Angel House is that they try their best to give the children a
sense of stability and to create a home environment where the children can feel
safe and secure. A perfect example is when they make the special effort to
celebrate birthdays. It is a simple thing that we all experienced but it is
easy to forget that for millions of kids around the world, they never get a
birthday party. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">When I
volunteered at the Missionaries of Charity orphanage in Tacloban, Angelina was
one of the children. She would be one that many of you helped later after the
typhoon but at the time, she turned 13 and I decided that we would have a
birthday cake. I bought a cake with her name on it and some candles that you
can’t blow out, and all the workers and children gathered together to sing
Happy Birthday. It was a simple gesture and at the time I never really gave it
much thought but later Angelina told me that it was the first time she ever had
a birthday cake. To this day she reminds me of that day because she said it
made her feel special. It was one thing she didn’t have to share and for that day,
she was the center of attention. It is easy to dismiss how important those small
things are to children because we all had it but for the millions of street
children around the world, it is something they will never experience.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I think that
experience with Angelina made the following photo my favorite. I look at this
picture every time I open Facebook. It is of Boy J celebrating his 3<sup>rd</sup>
birthday at Angel House. I look at his face and you can see that he is reveling
in the special attention given to him. I love it because I know how important
it is for these kids to feel loved and to feel that they are part of a family.
The Angel House is their family for now and the work that David and his staff
are doing is changing each life for the better. Boy J was the center of
attention at Angel House on this day, and it made him feel like a Kiing.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Birthday Boy
J</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">If you are
interested in supporting the work that David is doing with those children in
the Philippines, please contact me.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-70524183778465792612014-04-24T13:38:00.000-07:002014-04-24T13:38:01.924-07:00The Outback and South Australia<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">April 24, 2014 – The
Outback and South Australia<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Adelaide, Australia</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 100 - Distance biked
so far: (6,862 km)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The delay in Alice Springs gave me an opportunity to take a tour of
Uluru (also known by the English name of Ayer’s Rock), a UNESCO Heritage Site
about 450 km from the City. I was planning to go there alone on my bike but if
I had, I would have just seen a large rock without any explanation as to why it
is such a sacred site for the native Aborigine people. I went on a tour bus
that left Alice at 6:30 am with a group of 12 people. On the 5-hour drive, the
tour guide described what Uluru meant to the local indigenous groups and it was
similar in nature to the mythology stories you would hear about the ancient Greeks.
The various mythological events were used to explain the creation and existence
of the rock and of the various markings still present. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Uluru is one of the world’s most recognized landmarks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a sandstone formation that stands 348
meters high with over 65% of the rock lying beneath the ground. It stands out
amongst the flat barren land in the surrounding area. There is a fair amount of
vegetation at the base of Uluru and when you walk up close, the walls go
straight up.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYvhY24OZgYIFrqZ-Y_Lw6Xp1jurB5D-snYKYC0ecESG1SyOneTmHUajzIXSR7BfUP1fy0GwqEgCXM8FqNR11QwPmR0Jr9tG579g1YYE2yO2T_-_zhIOFBx_kFlnXhIRgp8wl-NFYpxG_/s1600/Wall+of+Uluru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYvhY24OZgYIFrqZ-Y_Lw6Xp1jurB5D-snYKYC0ecESG1SyOneTmHUajzIXSR7BfUP1fy0GwqEgCXM8FqNR11QwPmR0Jr9tG579g1YYE2yO2T_-_zhIOFBx_kFlnXhIRgp8wl-NFYpxG_/s1600/Wall+of+Uluru.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wall of Uluru</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As we walked around, you can see cave like structures that would have
been used by the Aborigines as a place of shelter for cooking and/or sleeping.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The rock is seen best at dawn or dusk as the sunlight reflection makes
it appear to change colours. Here is a picture of Uluru at dusk.</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Shadows on Uluru</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had a few days in Alice Springs while I waited for my bike to be
repaired and really enjoyed the small and quiet town after a few weeks of one
building villages. Alice has a population of about 30,000 and has changed into
a multi-cultural city, slowly losing it’s image of a wild town in the outback.
It has morphed into a city with good restaurants and cafes to cater to the
growing tourism industry. Here is a picture of the main town walkway full of
art shops, restaurants and cafes.</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3OBMO_I8iEEnw8MycHdpfRMVjbk77wf959S5_WC2nmJRa4ThFdLnci0LtBqw84fI9ahiumYkla_jtWld_8xAkk6QxMLgH6ce16i6s2-sXi34qFwgpNXJBpxSxO1ytlFg-Rb_7OeJirsS/s1600/Downtown+Alice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3OBMO_I8iEEnw8MycHdpfRMVjbk77wf959S5_WC2nmJRa4ThFdLnci0LtBqw84fI9ahiumYkla_jtWld_8xAkk6QxMLgH6ce16i6s2-sXi34qFwgpNXJBpxSxO1ytlFg-Rb_7OeJirsS/s1600/Downtown+Alice.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Downtown Alice</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I hiked up to a small hill on the edge of town to get this photo of
the City.</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A town called Alice</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I stayed at the Central Youth Hostel and enjoyed sleeping in a bed,
shopping in a supermarket and walking around quiet streets. After receiving
word that my bike was repaired I headed off back into the Outback. I still had
a long way through the desert to get to Adelaide.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnCPmW_Z0EoRwP3tG3flhEQtR2hyphenhyphenoqrk3KsJ3bkqeZhfiGFVpR-Vfagsn7ezbIApo-yLOaBKuKFrbJ7F4eLVr7nmFscHPg18M9FRnZYxOpgNMX-mSgd1qdOntKbSSKd1jZVc76cFg1ITc/s1600/Still+a+long+way+to+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnCPmW_Z0EoRwP3tG3flhEQtR2hyphenhyphenoqrk3KsJ3bkqeZhfiGFVpR-Vfagsn7ezbIApo-yLOaBKuKFrbJ7F4eLVr7nmFscHPg18M9FRnZYxOpgNMX-mSgd1qdOntKbSSKd1jZVc76cFg1ITc/s1600/Still+a+long+way+to+go.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I cycle south I cross a lot of bridges with the names of rivers.
The main river in Alice is the Todd River and like all of them around here, they
don’t have any water. They will sometimes fill up after heavy rains but most of
the time; the water is a long way underground. There are often trees on the
side of the riverbeds, meaning there is water below that the roots are tapping
into. To the observer however, it just looks like rivers of sand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In the Outback, I often find a camping place on the side of the road
to pitch my tent, particularly if I am between towns. The towns out here are
not really that big, consisting of a roadhouse where they have a restaurant and
bar, a gas station, and a caravan park and motel. At one caravan park I was
talking with the owners, a couple in their mid-50’s, and they were asking a lot
of questions about my bicycle trip. They asked me where I usually slept and I
mentioned that if I were in a town I would stay at a caravan park like this to
get a shower and some supplies. If there were no town I would just sleep off
the road and out of sight. At one point the lady asked me if I had heard about
a young man, his name now escapes me. I said no and she proceeded to tell me
about how he was a tourist a number of years ago and was murdered while in the
Outback. I am not sure why they decided to mention that to me knowing I am
heading out to go into the remote areas and that this incident happened years
earlier. I told them if you go on a bicycle you really have no choice but to
sleep out in the open, as you can’t always get to a town. They told me that I
should take a bus to the next town, just to be safe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That discussion had me again thinking about fear and the impact it has
on how people live. I am often asked if I get scared biking on my own in the
middle of nowhere. Since this is a very common question I’ve started turning it
around and asking people what they would be afraid of if they were biking
across their country. Most people have responded by saying something vague
about some mysterious person who would kill them at night. It’s never specific
as to how they do it or why but more of a general fear. They can’t really
articulate it but is something real to them. Some people will say they have a
fear of snakes or spiders and that if you were bitten, there would be no one
around to help. I had a few people say they would not be comfortable each day
not knowing where and when they would eat and where they would sleep at night.
The odd thing is that no one has ever mentioned the one thing that actually
presents the biggest risk on a bicycle (other than getting eaten by a crocodile
which is my # 1) and that is getting hit by a car. The odds of a complete
stranger approaching me while I sleep in a tent and murdering me are very low
as compared with the odds of getting hit by a car. Despite the risks being much
higher, people will remember the one murder that occurred in the last 30 years
but have no recollection of the approximately 50 cyclists killed each year on
the roads in Australia. It is the sensational accidents that create fear, not
the actual odds of them happening. If the couple mentioned had talked about the
risk of getting hit by a road train or car, it would at least make some sense
but to draw on a single incident from years ago seemed strange.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Another night I was in a roadhouse eating a snack and the television
was tuned to a show called Current Affair. It was the typical television
program that focuses on sensational crimes; every country seems to have these
shows. The story was about a man who was taking out his garbage one night when
his wife and her sister shot him in cold blood. It was re-enacted and shown
over and over in the commercials leading up to the show to draw viewers and
then multiple times during the half-hour segment. The message was unmistakable,
crime is everywhere and you can’t trust anyone. I remember going to bed that
night thinking about that shooting and for the first time on my trip, actually
thought about someone shooting me while I am sleeping. It was ridiculous but I
realized the power of the media and the impact that news has on our thoughts
and then how are thoughts take over as if they events are real. No one was
shooting at me but I thought about the images I had seen and that caused fear.
People often shield children away from shows like that but adults watch it all
the time and I think the cumulative impact on adults after years of media
influence is every bit as damaging as that caused to children. The images in
the media, on television or the newspapers, create a fear in us that is
unrealistic but that often prevents us from doing things we might enjoy. I’ve
seen people cancel trips because the U.S State Department issues travel
warnings in places like Thailand or the Philippines but they don’t report
warnings for the U.S that are far more dangerous. It’s always the foreign
places that are more dangerous. I had no access to television, radio or
newspapers for almost 3 weeks and miraculously, and no more thoughts about
getting shot. I did still think of crocodiles though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I headed south the scenery changed constantly. It would be stark
and bleak one minute but colorful and alive the next. There is a lot of life
out here but you would miss it driving in a car or bus. I can hear birds
singing, the wind howling and the road trains rumbling from behind. The Outback
has a large sky when there is nothing to block the views.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After about 1,700 km in the Northern Territory, I crossed into the
State of South Australia, the driest State on the driest inhabited continent on
earth. Antarctica is drier but no one lives there on a permanent basis. I was
bicycling along during a lightning storm, a little concerned because I was the
highest object around and no shelter in sight. There was also loud thunder that
broke the normal silence. Out here you can see rain clouds coming from a long
way but since there is nowhere to hide, you can’t get out of the way even if it
comes your way. You do get lots of time to put on a raincoat.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrj-XrX4T6W8X5ReCQGI-yMy-KnGgapJy7XGK_L78sWkhojgDPRR83sNf5-ZRivUKAsWBEQRfZ8cPLl0oCR4PKHIeiSx-h0UL3QtMcQNNI0BDUOul2SuUI17aTwYcL-NFdQ4KYu9FkHDeH/s1600/Storm+clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrj-XrX4T6W8X5ReCQGI-yMy-KnGgapJy7XGK_L78sWkhojgDPRR83sNf5-ZRivUKAsWBEQRfZ8cPLl0oCR4PKHIeiSx-h0UL3QtMcQNNI0BDUOul2SuUI17aTwYcL-NFdQ4KYu9FkHDeH/s1600/Storm+clouds.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">South Australia still had long stretches where there was little to
focus on but there were always subtle changes in the vegetation and colours.
Sometimes you would see a lot of red soil with little vegetation and at other
times the greenery would come through, proving that the wet season rains had
fallen.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSZW-_YWIHk4wSwBG_g01rl4uzZr4w6ITUeZ_6Gu4aBKMfaa4Ebpr0Inx3AAwLfaylNiOuMfkfRZLEk3QCydCtlK7HQuBXsN8m-p8pFAbEs-OIxDMGG6la913VRbsGcqLD1_4hJaLSnGg/s1600/Desert+colours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSZW-_YWIHk4wSwBG_g01rl4uzZr4w6ITUeZ_6Gu4aBKMfaa4Ebpr0Inx3AAwLfaylNiOuMfkfRZLEk3QCydCtlK7HQuBXsN8m-p8pFAbEs-OIxDMGG6la913VRbsGcqLD1_4hJaLSnGg/s1600/Desert+colours.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzSVeAbmENzA_yrfhhQPWmNjHv1lPm8gEKfvvhV0nuWfvP166appXLJbWxpUrghQVPCMlrbmqbG2993nh594UlX0zPwSK0qZSaFjTMrJlUwNDzwhAYv9AVCTCanouO5jsGSFmAUzDZTeH/s1600/Green+desert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzSVeAbmENzA_yrfhhQPWmNjHv1lPm8gEKfvvhV0nuWfvP166appXLJbWxpUrghQVPCMlrbmqbG2993nh594UlX0zPwSK0qZSaFjTMrJlUwNDzwhAYv9AVCTCanouO5jsGSFmAUzDZTeH/s1600/Green+desert.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I crossed the 6,000 km mark, a long way from Bangkok.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">6,000 km mark</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One day I was biking south and the storm clouds were closing in. I
knew a town was close and was racing to get there before the skies opened up. I
snuck into a campground and set up my tent just in time. The day had been very
difficult with a strong headwind and despite only doing 80 km’s, it had taken
me over 7 hours, a very slow pace. I had trouble setting up my tent in the wind
and just hoped for the storm to blow over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I was in the town of Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world. As
you come into the city, there are large mounds of dirt surrounding the countryside.
These piles are the dirt removed from the earth to search for opal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The sign at the entrance to the town shows what mining equipment is
used to dig the holes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDq5ovFoge7WoMMNa76RTAeIvOUvxqEjkr0oIiPVI_5tVzv-c0eyj6RjjQLMelFO-dS0AJiQKmJzx3fDe2DFtoM2W7Ct0rzI4ApJnoA00rbRCFQIsNSC8RzeW6XM0rdNkYVSg0ZRtYkeh1/s1600/Mine+digger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDq5ovFoge7WoMMNa76RTAeIvOUvxqEjkr0oIiPVI_5tVzv-c0eyj6RjjQLMelFO-dS0AJiQKmJzx3fDe2DFtoM2W7Ct0rzI4ApJnoA00rbRCFQIsNSC8RzeW6XM0rdNkYVSg0ZRtYkeh1/s1600/Mine+digger.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mine digger</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Other than the opal mines, the city is famous for having many of the
homes and businesses built underground. The reason for the underground
buildings is for the locals to escape the summer heat that often reaches 50 C
in the summer. The structures built below the surface do not need
air-conditioning as they keep a moderate year round temperature. I toured one
of the underground opal mines that also showed an example of a house that is
built below the surface. It would be like living in a cave and the temperature
was a comfortable 18 C.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwO6iizSM-o8KDH2QlZdyVkWXSuk95_rkkjRRWs3wR-1shDDJ4AsoNg9DrO8FKbaO9007cZ0nDMVkM30n-PF1UDTlkEZ53jJomFm9rYYydp19PJ-H7vN3jUeao0c0UPGXKZGKYAGPIONKp/s1600/Underground+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwO6iizSM-o8KDH2QlZdyVkWXSuk95_rkkjRRWs3wR-1shDDJ4AsoNg9DrO8FKbaO9007cZ0nDMVkM30n-PF1UDTlkEZ53jJomFm9rYYydp19PJ-H7vN3jUeao0c0UPGXKZGKYAGPIONKp/s1600/Underground+home.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Underground home</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I toured the opal mine in the morning and then went to the supermarket
to get some food as I was facing a stretch of 250 km without any supplies until
the next town. I headed out on the highway and was again met with a very fierce
headwind. I was having trouble moving forward and the thought of facing that
for 8 hours was deflating. I looked over my shoulder and saw some really dark
clouds heading my way and I thought we were in for a storm. I turned my bike
around and went to a hotel/campground to check in for camping. I was in the
lobby when lightning struck and the skies opened up. The rain continued all day
as I waited to be able to go out and set up my tent. Late in the afternoon
there was a brief pause in the rain so I managed to get it set up. It started
raining again so I put on a jacket and went out to find some food. When I was
done I went back to the campground and noticed a lot of water accumulating
around me and thought if the rain continued my tent would be underwater in the
morning. I looked around and found a small gap near a water tank and moved my
tent. It was cold, wet and pouring rain but I managed to find some respite and
crawled into my tent. Everything was soaked with water on the floor so I
cleaned up as well as I could, changed into damp clothes, climbed into a damp
sleeping bag and listened to the wind whip my tent. I just hoped that my entire
tent wouldn’t be blown away. Here is the small area I managed to place my tent
to keep out of the rising water.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qTy_wmJZffaw28BbvhyHYxAgzejDsN_DFnra2Bs59CG7nzeu4gMcD9-3dOI1G_1rSa5Sf1cUlRvcrxUGjzSe5plVWpjSsr4xTqMt8o0E_P8jqQK5nLQzWG2re8JjaQyQ2XNLO_mqvJva/s1600/Flooded+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qTy_wmJZffaw28BbvhyHYxAgzejDsN_DFnra2Bs59CG7nzeu4gMcD9-3dOI1G_1rSa5Sf1cUlRvcrxUGjzSe5plVWpjSsr4xTqMt8o0E_P8jqQK5nLQzWG2re8JjaQyQ2XNLO_mqvJva/s1600/Flooded+out.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Flooded out</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are the early stages of the flooding on the roads in Coober Pedy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXJQB9azjdu4HBaruilBw2aFKWM1nUQZacRHgVqFTnBXTpJgbYYh3I2VxReielnHgZaqjtzDsXAwiybFf-IsW1cp5Af2j-R9p9wNexBhOjPCzH9C-hIhDAs4PEERejPVhnQ0zuyweSX-q/s1600/Flooding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXJQB9azjdu4HBaruilBw2aFKWM1nUQZacRHgVqFTnBXTpJgbYYh3I2VxReielnHgZaqjtzDsXAwiybFf-IsW1cp5Af2j-R9p9wNexBhOjPCzH9C-hIhDAs4PEERejPVhnQ0zuyweSX-q/s1600/Flooding.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Flooding</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Coober Pedy is one of the driest areas in the driest state of the
driest continent, and I was in a flood. The city received a full year of rain
in less than 2 days, something the locals will be talking about for years. Not
many people have been so cold and wet in the deserts of Australia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The next morning it had cleared so I headed south. I got on the main
road and was delighted to see that the wind had shifted to a strong tailwind. I
was cruising along and happily thought I might make the 250 km to the next town
that day but that unrealistic optimism soon disappeared. About an hour later I
went from biking along with minimal effort at 25 km per hour to struggling at
10 km per hour. The wind shifted and I would be facing another strong wind all
day. The idea of reaching the next town in one day quickly disappeared and I
ended up taking 3 days. I now had to survive on my food and water for an extra
day but thankfully the weather was cool so I didn’t need as much to drink. If
the temperature had stayed up in the 40’s, it would not have been possible for
me to get there with the 8 large bottles I was carrying. I have never had 3
such difficult days in succession and it took everything I had to not throw my
bike under a road train and hitch a ride. It’s one thing to have a hard day but
to get up the next morning knowing the wind will blow against you for the next
8 hours is hard to face. To do it a third day was incredibly difficult. I just
put my head down and turned the pedals repeating the refrain that things will
get better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I continued south and after a few days of wild camping found a
campsite with a shower. I did my normal shower/laundry at the same time and
rigged up a clothesline to dry my clothes. It is really hard to keep the red
dirt off your bike, tent and clothes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Laundry day</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One day I caught a glimpse of a small lake, the first large body of
water I have seen since Darwin. It is Lake Hart, one of many lakes in South
Australia. At first I thought it was a mirage but I walked down and actually
proved it did exist.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfszxkJTB7IQAyBym5kCmbswQ3VO5NSgTlwrNF7b3OtPMzmZiiaodOP0lbbyxlGOp-6eq5nmdg0b8dHJ46111GhETjH2TEvBfC2T4pmjvTY5NLgqYAS_jpmBeNTpdbgEXo-C0vNeQ_P2eG/s1600/Lake+Hart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfszxkJTB7IQAyBym5kCmbswQ3VO5NSgTlwrNF7b3OtPMzmZiiaodOP0lbbyxlGOp-6eq5nmdg0b8dHJ46111GhETjH2TEvBfC2T4pmjvTY5NLgqYAS_jpmBeNTpdbgEXo-C0vNeQ_P2eG/s1600/Lake+Hart.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lake Hart</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Shortly after that reprieve, the scenery became all too familiar
again, lots of nothing.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxFaRkA28i1VNBfFR-9s_BVPiFYKiDRNty2oblYUACGL1GBjSIVl2PMKh28gsg-lRN29eImIFgQOU9fmRv-sKmKeR9EncDy_-2xuI9QOc-5S1S8QjRh1nftGnzIHCtRDvIitnzE0XmONB/s1600/Nothing+to+see+here.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxFaRkA28i1VNBfFR-9s_BVPiFYKiDRNty2oblYUACGL1GBjSIVl2PMKh28gsg-lRN29eImIFgQOU9fmRv-sKmKeR9EncDy_-2xuI9QOc-5S1S8QjRh1nftGnzIHCtRDvIitnzE0XmONB/s1600/Nothing+to+see+here.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Nothing to see here</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I will really miss these remote camping sites in the middle of nowhere.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Remote desert</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The nights are getting cold with temperatures dipping down to about 2
C. It makes getting out of a warm sleeping bag really hard, particularly when
the wind is blowing in the wrong direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cold nights</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It seems that I have had a year of weather in the last month. In the
top end the daytime temperature hit 43 C and I feared running out of water.
There were severe lightning and thunderstorms as I biked along with nowhere to
hide. The wind has either been at my side or front with a grand total of a
1-hour tailwind. I’ve had heavy rain, clear blue skies, star filled nights and
mornings so cold that I had to wear a full set of clothes and a hat to keep
warm. I’ve seen wild horses, kangaroos, wallabies and cockatoos and a number of
dead animals, victims of the road trains, including a camel, foxes and a large
python snake. The scenery has been both barren and incredibly colorful, often
within a few kilometers. I’ve met countless characters in the roadhouses and
had literally millions of people wave to me as they go by in the car. I’ve had
dozens of people stop their cars to offer me water or food and many stop to ask
if there is anything they can get me in the town ahead. A few offered a bed in
their caravans, roadhouse owners offered a free meal or drink. I’ve had an overwhelming
feeling loneliness and then realized that despite the remoteness and the
constant sense that you are in this all by yourself, you are never really
alone, even in the Australian outback. The outpouring of support, hospitality
and friendliness from the locals and tourists alike is really impossible to
describe. I refuse to fall for the sensational stories that try to get people
to live in fear and that people are out to get you because my first hand
experience tells me the exact opposite. My bet is that the people, who are
telling you those messages of fear, have never experienced the world as it really
exists, but are only passing along stories from others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had mixed feelings as I approached the town of Port Augusta. Despite
still having 500 km to go to get to Adelaide, it is the unofficial end of the
outback so towns would be more frequent. My feelings were mixed because the
outback came to an end and I would miss the peace and quiet, particularly at
night and the early mornings. I wonder if I will ever again be lying down at
night, seeing millions of stars and not having another living person within 100
km’s. On the other hand, I no longer have to carry 10 kg of water or food for 3
days so my bike is a lighter. Here is my first view of civilization after a
month in the outback.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEfhuPB86lYFbgswBYVe1zfrszYSzeunkzGyBUW1FgFTdDODaA2phIfMTGVth054keVpWsIQYv97clBy2ktcDTLATICopFCc9DCa1JQpFngwKBQLCMlN9xK7_VtUi0LX2Du6mTOrousHJ/s1600/Port+Augusta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEfhuPB86lYFbgswBYVe1zfrszYSzeunkzGyBUW1FgFTdDODaA2phIfMTGVth054keVpWsIQYv97clBy2ktcDTLATICopFCc9DCa1JQpFngwKBQLCMlN9xK7_VtUi0LX2Du6mTOrousHJ/s1600/Port+Augusta.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Port Augusta</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I left Port Augusta the next day and things changed dramatically.
Instead of the usual one or two cars passing every hour, there were trucks,
buses and cars coming every few minutes. It has been a month of change. Not
long ago I was in constant traffic in Indonesia and now I was feeling crowded
when a few cars passed within 20 minutes. I decided that after 2,500 km’s on
the one and only road down through the outback, that it was time to get off and
find quieter roads. I turned off the highway and headed towards the wine
country of South Australia. I headed a little east and was soon heading up into
the hills.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dKcRv9U6gbyFSJaqnLG5tiEImJIzbTKpuO4WkjvyxLskN5f5u9CojzSwrhBf1p9Tugl40Y2PRNn-TbAsz5mhHtNwDZxcA41MpWADr6ym8q1CPEjO2Ijof1RDJ2ObCBM_0lxdwXmD9S3N/s1600/Green+hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dKcRv9U6gbyFSJaqnLG5tiEImJIzbTKpuO4WkjvyxLskN5f5u9CojzSwrhBf1p9Tugl40Y2PRNn-TbAsz5mhHtNwDZxcA41MpWADr6ym8q1CPEjO2Ijof1RDJ2ObCBM_0lxdwXmD9S3N/s1600/Green+hills.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Green hills</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The road I took was quiet and climbed up into beautiful forests, a
remarkable change in a few short hours since leaving the main road.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3Kd6kCMMNypHODAx_qFrPtyxrpmmqYHLDiPIYScSQv_qZCZ272OviO0jVclzDFNEsY0CEjxTlVnSkeySxIsV3FIePRbdA_KNgX-aPpahTtgiRYDo9h84hr0YKaAuOvynpprQeynhP84J/s1600/Backroads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3Kd6kCMMNypHODAx_qFrPtyxrpmmqYHLDiPIYScSQv_qZCZ272OviO0jVclzDFNEsY0CEjxTlVnSkeySxIsV3FIePRbdA_KNgX-aPpahTtgiRYDo9h84hr0YKaAuOvynpprQeynhP84J/s1600/Backroads.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Back roads</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At one point a Kangaroo was running beside me but couldn’t get away
because of a fence. He was running on my left side and then suddenly turned
right and ran across the road in front of me. I just managed to grab my camera
as he made his escape.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPcRDko2fU27uMdDGYTRxUwop5ntkiLxy-iZkrDde755FA8wy19TNepC15ulCqJSaF7ugPCnl5SjsBiLrMxSP4P_5IbYJItqW5PnNm8rsDMgnVmoMX8kRTfNPIPCVhHyOCLdF_vs6AvHZ/s1600/Kangaroo+sighting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPcRDko2fU27uMdDGYTRxUwop5ntkiLxy-iZkrDde755FA8wy19TNepC15ulCqJSaF7ugPCnl5SjsBiLrMxSP4P_5IbYJItqW5PnNm8rsDMgnVmoMX8kRTfNPIPCVhHyOCLdF_vs6AvHZ/s1600/Kangaroo+sighting.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Kangaroo sighting</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I was heading into the Clare Valley, famous for Riesling wine,
gorgeous countryside and rolling hills.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJM-GKUEPd8B_0KXJ6L9r4BWVkuTbqfv7gnbjoeVHlNEIwueBtFvKzk-eGni0HiQCHx0K6eXCkl89nrXed1V2-HBE7uw-2zILhUPYYj5_PNqrYStZ9LrBAu4UcmFRz-hMFuuNbx3I_BVO/s1600/Winery+in+South+Australia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJM-GKUEPd8B_0KXJ6L9r4BWVkuTbqfv7gnbjoeVHlNEIwueBtFvKzk-eGni0HiQCHx0K6eXCkl89nrXed1V2-HBE7uw-2zILhUPYYj5_PNqrYStZ9LrBAu4UcmFRz-hMFuuNbx3I_BVO/s1600/Winery+in+South+Australia.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Winery in South Australia</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The cycling was incredible with small towns appearing regularly. I
stopped for a night in Tarlee. They did not have a campground and it was
getting dark so I set up on the edge of a playground under a small shed. It was
Easter Sunday the next day so I figured I would have a peaceful night.</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNb2tolcaXHAMC4AbHHZ2s2afYhdi37jg3LBhFjiZN4uTFRSAtglfZ37pJWGXLHFWTvEZt3nZ-PWB8nxH0sU_lmOlBtoWrv7VeVsbqzZbi9QY5eUQ72u3aIfpsbPen8M05jtEeZDe36x3c/s1600/Out+of+sight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNb2tolcaXHAMC4AbHHZ2s2afYhdi37jg3LBhFjiZN4uTFRSAtglfZ37pJWGXLHFWTvEZt3nZ-PWB8nxH0sU_lmOlBtoWrv7VeVsbqzZbi9QY5eUQ72u3aIfpsbPen8M05jtEeZDe36x3c/s1600/Out+of+sight.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Out of sight</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In another town I found a bike path, very common in wine communities
around the world. I had a 25 km path with a canopy of gum trees overreaching
the small bike lane.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXP_yzCpcIbh9_LUYsMNG2nqZyiqo2WC3nfGrnIAVRHeTjJBP40nNunjS1adhrQRrTxO0IXpijapmApgHg0af1Zv6nbLXW7EX1bDatdxphemDzpUuiuAhLhUtZOcbJ54B0elMSp9JeTQ-/s1600/Gum+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXP_yzCpcIbh9_LUYsMNG2nqZyiqo2WC3nfGrnIAVRHeTjJBP40nNunjS1adhrQRrTxO0IXpijapmApgHg0af1Zv6nbLXW7EX1bDatdxphemDzpUuiuAhLhUtZOcbJ54B0elMSp9JeTQ-/s1600/Gum+trees.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gum trees</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I stopped at one spot to allow a few cockatoos to finish their lunch.
I wished them a Happy Easter as I patiently waited for them to eat.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFdgXhw4kYwLCC1fOvc9HFpOzj-ctSKVvRJQpEg1Pz4hr3W5IYGK6GZ2Q89IOuaXX8qumiuOaYeX015BVFy0qcccRaOctz59uH5JN5tXSIGp0qfdw4z9QpbnbJXy760qxV3xJIGTWZ77j/s1600/Cockatoo+on+my+path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFdgXhw4kYwLCC1fOvc9HFpOzj-ctSKVvRJQpEg1Pz4hr3W5IYGK6GZ2Q89IOuaXX8qumiuOaYeX015BVFy0qcccRaOctz59uH5JN5tXSIGp0qfdw4z9QpbnbJXy760qxV3xJIGTWZ77j/s1600/Cockatoo+on+my+path.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cockatoo on my path</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I crossed some hills and was soon in the world famous Barossa Valley.
With hot, dry summers and cool, moderate winters; the Barossa is one of the
world’s great wine regions. They also had a good wet season, as many of the
hills were very green. The sheep were watching with a wary eye and if one
started running, the entire flock would speed off despite my assurances that I
meant them no harm. That must be where the term “herd mentality” comes from.
One would start running and others would do the same despite having no idea
what they were running from as they didn’t even see me.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCms5RCyxqkMm7gS57ssJk-fOs0oSmue8F_1beb3gn0gVVxfbEV5XGodPdsMeXt4d3bASh7tsK9NKHEsdaiRvRXj4x1skahyphenhyphencbjEL1adOOFn4m-aqJwVMJ87n-VwaTvExuND3Vkgs4FI5/s1600/Barossa+Valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCms5RCyxqkMm7gS57ssJk-fOs0oSmue8F_1beb3gn0gVVxfbEV5XGodPdsMeXt4d3bASh7tsK9NKHEsdaiRvRXj4x1skahyphenhyphencbjEL1adOOFn4m-aqJwVMJ87n-VwaTvExuND3Vkgs4FI5/s1600/Barossa+Valley.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Barossa Valley</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It is a small valley, only 25 km’s long but produces 21% of
Australia’s wine. There are over 80 wineries in the small valley and a few are
very well known. Here is one that all wine drinkers will recognize.</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsycEkX011d6AUYwp0S4qyI3Qng239gbbTENoHLqO7VKS_9W_AyfrAiXbqWCrYugJtmiFxeLuWb47VrBietur3bZA4CsU-_w3G0HhcHlNs2yy6P758DMzbsIYctD8VwEvcYTW_aiL1PqF/s1600/Penfolds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsycEkX011d6AUYwp0S4qyI3Qng239gbbTENoHLqO7VKS_9W_AyfrAiXbqWCrYugJtmiFxeLuWb47VrBietur3bZA4CsU-_w3G0HhcHlNs2yy6P758DMzbsIYctD8VwEvcYTW_aiL1PqF/s1600/Penfolds.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Penfolds</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I stayed a day in the small town of Tanunda, the Barossa Valley’s main
tourist town. It was the Easter Holiday, a 4-day weekend here, and the caravan
parks were packed but I had no choice, they do not allow camping in the
wineries. It’s funny that all the wine regions in the world seem to cater to
the same types. The people who come to wine country like bed and breakfasts,
wine tours, bike paths to get from one winery to the other, bakeries, cafe’s
and of course chocolate shops. No wonder I love cycling in these areas, they
have everything you really need in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am now in Adelaide and will stay a few days before continuing south
down to the Great Ocean Road and then to Melbourne. It promises to be a spectacular
ride.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Angel House Orphanage had a very busy April with the highlight
being that a couple from Switzerland are now the proud parents of one of the
Angels of Angel House. A successful adoption is an emotional experience for
everyone with the parents going to the Philippines to meet their new son,
giving an abandoned boy the chance to have a promising life that started out
with such little hope. It is also emotional for David and his staff who raised
the boy from birth and now have to say good-bye. If you think about how that
boy’s life has changed, it reinforces the incredible work being done at Angel
House. They really deserve to be supported so they can continue with this life
changing work. Three lives have been changed forever with that adoption.
Congratulations to David and his staff for the outpouring of love and attention
they provided to the boy doing those formative years and also a big
congratulations to the new parents who go back to Switzerland with a new baby
to love and support. David told me that another adoption is close to conclusion
and another set of parents are on the way to start a new life with another boy.
What a month for Angel House.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They also had 4 more additions so the hard and never ending work
continues. I will give an example of the kind of work Angel House does in
addition to trying to find adoptive parents. This story that David wrote and
can be found on the Angel House website. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">…”</span><span style="color: #262526; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Wearing an oversize t-shirt and grubby shorts, the nine
year old boy keeps his two year old brother amused, playing games and giving
him some biscuits and a baby bottle filled with water, while his twelve year
old sister speaks on the cell-phone with their imprisoned mother.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262526; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">The two year old eyes the adults in
the room warily as the government Social Worker prepares her report on the
computer, unsure why he is sitting in another office full of strangers. A few
days earlier he had been taken from the familiar surroundings of his family
home to become locked behind bars with his mother in jail, both parents
arrested for car theft. The mother then called the older brother and sister to
come and bring the two year old home, but of course the authorities refused to
hand the child over and Social Services became involved in the case.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262526; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">The Director and Social Worker from
Angel House arrive at Social Services and watch the interaction of the
siblings, impressed by the obvious love they have for each other, the older
children understanding that they have to take care of their baby brother. The
nine year old gives us information about his brother, what he likes to eat, his
health and behavior, while we wait for the report to be completed. We try to
interact with the toddler, but he clings to his brother throughout the
afternoon, so we carefully explain to the older brother what is going to happen
and how Angel House will take care of his younger brother until the family’s
problems are somehow resolved.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262526; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">After one hour the paperwork is
done and we slowly move to the car park with the three children, aware that being
separated from his siblings will be another traumatic experience for the young
child. He screams as we load him into the car and the older brother is also
visibly upset, but he shows maturity beyond his young age. Not attending
school, the nine year old earns a small amount working in a billiard hall while
his older sister attends elementary school. They will take care of each other
while their parents are in custody, the criminal justice system moving slowly
and it can take months or even years for a case to finally reach the courts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.3pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262526; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Thankfully the toddler falls asleep
as we drive back to Angel House, but he will cry for several more days until he
feels safe and secure in his new environment, another innocent child affected
by events beyond his control.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262526; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Once
a month we would take the little boy to visit his parents in jail, in an effort
to maintain a close bond with the family. After several months the case against
them was dropped and they were released from jail and successfully re-united
with their family…”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262526; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Angel
House provides care for children and it is often temporary until the family
situation improves. An adoption is the last resort. Donations to Angel House
provide food, healthcare and the operating costs required to care for the 14
children currently under care, the 4 full time care workers and a social
worker. It is a big job and David relies solely on private donations to
survive, he does not get any government funding.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="color: #262526; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">If
you are interesting in helping this work, please go visit the website to read
about the work being done. The site shows different ways you can donate or
sponsor a child.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<a href="http://www.angelhousephilippines.org/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.angelhousephilippines.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-53825402958899442012014-04-01T19:56:00.001-07:002014-04-01T20:00:51.359-07:00Crocs, Snakes and a Lot of Nothing<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">March 31, 2014 – Crocs,
snakes and a lot of nothing<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Alice Springs, Australia</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 74 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Distance biked so far: (5,226 km)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The flight from Bali to Darwin was uneventful. In Bali, I found a bike
shop on the way to the airport, had them put it in a box and then took a cab to
catch my flight. A few hours later I arrived in Darwin. The immigration process
is very strict here. I had checked off on the questionnaire that I had been in
rural areas on a bicycle so I was flagged for a very detailed search. It would
be pointless to deny having sporting equipment when you are pushing a large box
containing a bicycle so I expected to be watched closely. I anticipated this so
prior to boxing my bike I spent a few hours cleaning it and all my camping gear
and shoes. The immigration officer took my bike out of the box and went through
all my bags, so the cleaning I did earlier paid off. I was given the green light
and got a ride into Darwin, ready to continue my adventure down under.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Darwin is at the north or Top End, as it is known here, of the
Northern Territory, one of the 8 States or Territories in Australia. It is a
city of about 125,000 and my first impressions were of how quiet and clean it
was compared with the cities in Indonesia. I stayed there a few days to buy
some supplies for camping, get a detailed map and to get a few things for my
bike. As I walked around it felt strange to see fully stocked super markets
with wide aisles, streets without large masses of people, no car honking and
most noticeable of all, sidewalks that you can walk along with street signs
letting you know what street you are on. I don’t think I would have noticed the
same things if I had flown here directly from Canada but after a year in SE
Asia, certain things stand out. The prices for food and accommodations also
stood out in a bad way with prices for food about 4 or 5 times the cost of
similar food in Thailand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Just as I was relishing being back in a country where things operated
like home, Darwin was hit with a citywide blackout. I was planning to take my
bike into a shop to have them look at a few things but all the businesses,
schools and offices were closed after an accident at the power station. The
power went out about 2:30 am and wasn't restored until late the following
afternoon. It was quite amusing to see how people react to not having power. A
few people needed some perspective that they could have got knowing about the
people in Tacloban who have been without electricity for 5 months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Australia is the world’s 6<sup>th</sup> largest country with an area
equal to that of the United States, if you cut off Alaska. My route will take me
right down the middle, through the Central town of Alice Springs all the way to
Adelaide. I will be cycling along the Stuart Highway for just over 3,000 km’s,
with the halfway point being Alice Springs. On Thursday March 13<sup>th</sup>,
I started the long road south.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I took a few photos as I was leaving Darwin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwXxzN6UyIAxL98_-MpRGqIEtD5FM5MIHlvyc5Onlx2RijrD_etDJ9x6GALFWVOvUTUXl1IKM5DNN5s7rvzYvJNC0rqHVmvdogU6rfiGv5dD7bgob8IcMAb_w3ZUSr1Ox8IUKWzqCS5Cr/s1600/A+long+way+to+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwXxzN6UyIAxL98_-MpRGqIEtD5FM5MIHlvyc5Onlx2RijrD_etDJ9x6GALFWVOvUTUXl1IKM5DNN5s7rvzYvJNC0rqHVmvdogU6rfiGv5dD7bgob8IcMAb_w3ZUSr1Ox8IUKWzqCS5Cr/s1600/A+long+way+to+go.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A long way to go</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Top End is just finishing the wet season and the early miles of
the route were far greener than I had anticipated. The locals told me that
things will turn brown as I head south out of the tropical region and into the
drier Central regions. The rivers were full of water and provided beautiful
scenery on the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-LwXdC7oavqKHoIh-toaeSY_OK-voIOhX0TjSIvVXbHXiSrJx1aiGj3H0ymdE7Ob0m7QeLAg3m1BByHkVL75Lk4kdzRFR8ONAxkGPfnDnyp2UWeFo5j3W5ATMjFqdo6zSLhWc9F5HfhO/s1600/Wet+season.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-LwXdC7oavqKHoIh-toaeSY_OK-voIOhX0TjSIvVXbHXiSrJx1aiGj3H0ymdE7Ob0m7QeLAg3m1BByHkVL75Lk4kdzRFR8ONAxkGPfnDnyp2UWeFo5j3W5ATMjFqdo6zSLhWc9F5HfhO/s1600/Wet+season.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wet season</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The temperature on the day I left Darwin was forecast to be a high of
36 Celsius so getting adequate water would be a priority. The first few days were
not a problem as there were small towns reasonably close to Darwin but as I
head further south, I will be 2 days without even a source of water. I will be
carrying up to 7 or 8 large bottles, which translates to 12 liters and since 1
liter weighs 1 kg, it is a lot of extra weight. The other problem is that the
water gets very warm as you bike. If there is a campground I can put water in a
fridge at night but if there is no stop, I usually add lemon to the warm water
to make it a little more palatable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Early on my route I was cycling along and the temperature hit 38
degrees. At night it was so warm that I slept in a pair of shorts without a
blanket. A week later, the temperature dropped to a high of 28 degrees and
nights so cold that I had to sleep with a long shirt in my full sleeping bag.
It was wonderful to be in the fresh air but it’s a lot harder to get up out of
a warm sleeping bag to face the cold morning. The change in weather included an
increase in the wind so instead of calm and hot, I had cooler air and a
headwind, both difficult conditions in their own way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I got into a daily routine and to beat the heat and/or wind, I would
get up at 5:00 am, pack up my tent and head out. The early start meant seeing a
lot of beautiful sunrises. Here are a few:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLahWKLdheI6NrDDR93EhG6ufo4W75jfquDhnqHw7DgL40TIDMmTTSP9v6NU1Q_ZZC6aIgvutksH8IE4iQz2KPEmgqwUqvCOytM8V6M88E5uAsOr-yR4Hud_2_WXljOvxLD2EqBPhEM9tX/s1600/Sunrise+in+the+Outback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLahWKLdheI6NrDDR93EhG6ufo4W75jfquDhnqHw7DgL40TIDMmTTSP9v6NU1Q_ZZC6aIgvutksH8IE4iQz2KPEmgqwUqvCOytM8V6M88E5uAsOr-yR4Hud_2_WXljOvxLD2EqBPhEM9tX/s1600/Sunrise+in+the+Outback.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sunrise in the Outback</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib09jMT8JN4xJIJrHLc69lT0XZuuRnmN3-85TC8OMKS7BAgesXJyuL3TEulOwvtJMOg_Cru7_u9z7ooeZsXi1_8p884Vg0bbR5tv7rLJZ0SdQxIhWtg_OHYN9mICs9U8n1rTvwlSzVOAi5/s1600/Long+shadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib09jMT8JN4xJIJrHLc69lT0XZuuRnmN3-85TC8OMKS7BAgesXJyuL3TEulOwvtJMOg_Cru7_u9z7ooeZsXi1_8p884Vg0bbR5tv7rLJZ0SdQxIhWtg_OHYN9mICs9U8n1rTvwlSzVOAi5/s1600/Long+shadow.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Long shadow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On a few occasions I would be up early and since I am going south, the
sun would be rising on my left and the moon would be in the sky on my right.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVhdYcbvvD8LwNYYQ1CSLPqPGgoYXYHcEb3d_qbJ4qtPH2Fb1MfOT4wauHqGuJ_OcFdKVkGssNn-hwtK9z-vD4Z367I2Ov9KgZM8ctm2xPnTdqkj1aLvisiCw-OYWuTfMomOpsz3PRBot/s1600/Moonrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVhdYcbvvD8LwNYYQ1CSLPqPGgoYXYHcEb3d_qbJ4qtPH2Fb1MfOT4wauHqGuJ_OcFdKVkGssNn-hwtK9z-vD4Z367I2Ov9KgZM8ctm2xPnTdqkj1aLvisiCw-OYWuTfMomOpsz3PRBot/s1600/Moonrise.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Moonrise</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One morning I saw a herd of wild horses running on my side. It was
spectacular seeing them in full running mode and their movement in unison broke
the stillness of the early morning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSSA9UJp2eoQOiU4pILgoaB-q1HfsmoyrbPPR-uQPOL-tMy-FHivvC5tytMksEmIMU0UGtHDFeK7gvbPAs7hwbIaQ5L3O6qS-JyG1-wWHHgI5764IZpNuLPVf8EOFCPtn47FHslyfrHgc/s1600/Wild+horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSSA9UJp2eoQOiU4pILgoaB-q1HfsmoyrbPPR-uQPOL-tMy-FHivvC5tytMksEmIMU0UGtHDFeK7gvbPAs7hwbIaQ5L3O6qS-JyG1-wWHHgI5764IZpNuLPVf8EOFCPtn47FHslyfrHgc/s1600/Wild+horses.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Horses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I could also see other wildlife, including a reminder that when you
sleep in your tent here in the outback, keep the doors zipped shut or you might
end up with some unwanted company. I saw this guy on the side of the road,
obviously meeting his end by a vehicle. I think about this every night when I
get out of my tent to go to the bathroom or when I get up in the morning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidsvcPp7EK371N-qUQsznwrM_bEwUam6OG8ngzZW0bh5voULDDryZvFhVylzjvjELx-YLuwvq65JaVg934QVaQFraWjmVXqsy4LYT8hWzQ7wg-bboEq7OVvs8P0OnTVL_zwoChvmsWU-V/s1600/Yikes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidsvcPp7EK371N-qUQsznwrM_bEwUam6OG8ngzZW0bh5voULDDryZvFhVylzjvjELx-YLuwvq65JaVg934QVaQFraWjmVXqsy4LYT8hWzQ7wg-bboEq7OVvs8P0OnTVL_zwoChvmsWU-V/s1600/Yikes.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yikes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One day a bird of prey was circling overhead for a long time. Maybe he
thought I would run out of water and drop over on the road to provide a feast
for him and his friends.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufQ7qD2XMJzIgx1jpeZif3sV1mDvQ7wc7_Jg-RbSg1gZl0Mobk9252fGr9q4fwTHC9a4YrptK_yDwygSjNT89C6UIIZj-WDKvE8m1BuIEzQ3MVQYjgpblpA1RLkfUwjC2KBPq9AN_JmLJ/s1600/Bird+of+prey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufQ7qD2XMJzIgx1jpeZif3sV1mDvQ7wc7_Jg-RbSg1gZl0Mobk9252fGr9q4fwTHC9a4YrptK_yDwygSjNT89C6UIIZj-WDKvE8m1BuIEzQ3MVQYjgpblpA1RLkfUwjC2KBPq9AN_JmLJ/s1600/Bird+of+prey.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird of prey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I will typically bike for a few hours after getting up and then stop
to cook my breakfast. I carry gas in an orange container that fits in one of
the water bottle holders. I fill it up with regular gas whenever I am in a town
with a gas station. I always have oatmeal with raisins and almonds for
breakfast and can cook it at a rest area if there is one around or simply cook
it up on the side of the road. Here is a literal version of breakfast on the
road.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtBgxyZ9ar9TAb_ZNgGMSp-jqlvc1WGgCPVTXFcHv8iy-9y2LH-RXPLcXji6bKcqWnGQ5yK5Xb6rqpuw94rW-35VKrrbzjC4oXcMbxxk3vuRvIWNt1Uarc9l5Jk2Vo15H88QcOEeiIf9c/s1600/Breakfast+on+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtBgxyZ9ar9TAb_ZNgGMSp-jqlvc1WGgCPVTXFcHv8iy-9y2LH-RXPLcXji6bKcqWnGQ5yK5Xb6rqpuw94rW-35VKrrbzjC4oXcMbxxk3vuRvIWNt1Uarc9l5Jk2Vo15H88QcOEeiIf9c/s1600/Breakfast+on+the+road.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Breakfast on the road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICGStSNOdB1RevuBkVYRcFpZyFHoxxxRMrTcNNMDWhUktfb4iuogdZLVz5K5QQGoP-FLpg0wExAw-VHC_qV_1Z1jghYTUmFWZykwmRTNrSX78IxgfIxK_7j-l9FhNHUrbylgWEz0BDqnY/s1600/Breakfast+for+cyclists.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICGStSNOdB1RevuBkVYRcFpZyFHoxxxRMrTcNNMDWhUktfb4iuogdZLVz5K5QQGoP-FLpg0wExAw-VHC_qV_1Z1jghYTUmFWZykwmRTNrSX78IxgfIxK_7j-l9FhNHUrbylgWEz0BDqnY/s1600/Breakfast+for+cyclists.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Breakfast for cyclists</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I then bike until lunchtime and will repeat the process of setting up
my gas stove and cooking a meal. There are some rest areas along the road and I
often time my breakfast, lunch or dinner to be there. I can take advantage of
having a picnic table and they have water tanks where I can use the water to
cook or boil to drink and fill my water bottles if I am running low. For lunch
I usually have rice or couscous that you cook in water or some soup, which
provides a few cups of water and some calories.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDcFW9STD3TuDvksUNjZeyYQlvJiiIyQvKEOkjO-QKpmFo2XnTvSei25-WYxHDEkis5Bc6hjYi1PcdFd39EGBDzOACLsP_tqPlV4eBu2smMtMaFAuwAjPLmTI1O2r5KIRQ6ZLhAtGK9wn/s1600/Rest+area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDcFW9STD3TuDvksUNjZeyYQlvJiiIyQvKEOkjO-QKpmFo2XnTvSei25-WYxHDEkis5Bc6hjYi1PcdFd39EGBDzOACLsP_tqPlV4eBu2smMtMaFAuwAjPLmTI1O2r5KIRQ6ZLhAtGK9wn/s1600/Rest+area.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rest area</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If I run into a small town I will stop at the roadhouse to get
something to eat and drink and if there isn’t one, I also cook my dinner on my
stove before I go to sleep. Here is a typical dinner of macaroni and red beans
with lots of water.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNbK7xMrMqbJrvHTnG1dxk-YuH9HIA_R90JvR0U3KYIyY7PIav3JZX5Wh5COJ79hB0PKXzIMZHqj5ETyDhGXohKmBZTfh_7OvXhHQaSB0FnQxx2BYChcnGNPTUcs62S7CLS6DRtqfbzja/s1600/Dinnertime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNbK7xMrMqbJrvHTnG1dxk-YuH9HIA_R90JvR0U3KYIyY7PIav3JZX5Wh5COJ79hB0PKXzIMZHqj5ETyDhGXohKmBZTfh_7OvXhHQaSB0FnQxx2BYChcnGNPTUcs62S7CLS6DRtqfbzja/s1600/Dinnertime.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dinnertime</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It is a simple life and there is a real pleasure in being completely
self-sufficient. I can carry my own food, water, bed and some parts to fix a
mechanical problem on my bike, so can go a few days without any assistance. I
prefer to find a campsite to have a shower and get something to eat that I
don’t have to cook but can survive without if I have to. I also like to stay at
a campsite to meet people and have conversations. If there are no campsites, I
just pull off the road in the middle of nowhere, cook my dinner and go to bed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The other advantage to a campsite is that most have swimming pools. I
stayed 2 nights in Katherine to enjoy this pool.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgVDEpPoRgG7rOWTcQUxxS2B0D12ysZvECl4IzoYBGOg9hG1iWBqL_LJSh-mN1TThLNfJ6_yYMOJRIz6AzI05sJzcDDKE0ZpC4715V5VXCMDfHOauQ7Ec2UeC7lNxFRy3wyuIVG7OUaHP/s1600/This+is+camping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgVDEpPoRgG7rOWTcQUxxS2B0D12ysZvECl4IzoYBGOg9hG1iWBqL_LJSh-mN1TThLNfJ6_yYMOJRIz6AzI05sJzcDDKE0ZpC4715V5VXCMDfHOauQ7Ec2UeC7lNxFRy3wyuIVG7OUaHP/s1600/This+is+camping.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This is camping</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They had this warning sign on the road but I’m not sure why, there
aren’t any people here walking around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tRHZAX4eW4ElIYFGlUl26MaMZ7pvvbDMcbHfQMIjj_YX9HuDSmEeoue25WN2iJL0hu3eN9XNjL_RgLYkWKkatg6jcOJ_fE_IZrJ9JjV-KoaMS13FbhmBB9T762MckA-eAgRPzNQPwZx_/s1600/No+one+in+sight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tRHZAX4eW4ElIYFGlUl26MaMZ7pvvbDMcbHfQMIjj_YX9HuDSmEeoue25WN2iJL0hu3eN9XNjL_RgLYkWKkatg6jcOJ_fE_IZrJ9JjV-KoaMS13FbhmBB9T762MckA-eAgRPzNQPwZx_/s1600/No+one+in+sight.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">No one in sight</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There are over 2,000 termite (white ants) species worldwide and about
90 of those live in the Northern Territory of Australia. In many areas of the
Top End, the termite homes dominate the landscape. The mounds are built over a
sub-terranean nest and inside are a series of tunnels that serve as ventilation
for the nests. The termite mounds can be massive, many reaching about 20 feet
high.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVaEofeNx-5FvGpuRQitK-G1cYxuToH-j8w6R0JmO07brBVAaCXBGdH8lFQH6f0edlUIPTDsrYV3zclM5yoT9GINkVw1xSANg3iEF7e-Fs18LqYfN-qegHsRZYEwKyyzDwyod7bpHj6NH/s1600/Termite+Mounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVaEofeNx-5FvGpuRQitK-G1cYxuToH-j8w6R0JmO07brBVAaCXBGdH8lFQH6f0edlUIPTDsrYV3zclM5yoT9GINkVw1xSANg3iEF7e-Fs18LqYfN-qegHsRZYEwKyyzDwyod7bpHj6NH/s1600/Termite+Mounds.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Termite Mound</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmms6ajBYY0wDJDlfZaEo6TpJK5c_3trMX-qKRB33S79znmz9BXjqg0bV4_eVRx9SeJrbLfvvx6VmuKdqg_xHh3jfooydtmrAgz2p33l9fRHUNpjDsLFMVsWLhEDMnQOHj2-StO1hRIlq/s1600/Termite+Mound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmms6ajBYY0wDJDlfZaEo6TpJK5c_3trMX-qKRB33S79znmz9BXjqg0bV4_eVRx9SeJrbLfvvx6VmuKdqg_xHh3jfooydtmrAgz2p33l9fRHUNpjDsLFMVsWLhEDMnQOHj2-StO1hRIlq/s1600/Termite+Mound.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Termite mounds</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They are also used as a form of art and to make political points. I
saw these all along the Stuart Highway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGFbKNK2HXzGLpoCgKz8o1Wo7Yh9Vk_8y6GnfzEayGiQnlLFopOLwX-LsnObnv1wIevp86BEGKo92zY9QF5L_OhKlHUll0NC7juEm1CMR-Lo-8DJNUkX7_Hqt2CFaGxk8baj2hW5-yNgO/s1600/Termite+politics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGFbKNK2HXzGLpoCgKz8o1Wo7Yh9Vk_8y6GnfzEayGiQnlLFopOLwX-LsnObnv1wIevp86BEGKo92zY9QF5L_OhKlHUll0NC7juEm1CMR-Lo-8DJNUkX7_Hqt2CFaGxk8baj2hW5-yNgO/s1600/Termite+politics.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Termite politics</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NM8sGttBc_41Jk5W1eYWAtUf2tDh5i1zzXez-9SZAG_NArmI9v0Zf1zigUekeKQLfHF4N5ahTTJZoQzUBCw150J6773_7vKHkE6D2bdUGvpyLxfSXbhcJbJ1S2UynS94ZZe9wLzeERLc/s1600/Cool+termite+mound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NM8sGttBc_41Jk5W1eYWAtUf2tDh5i1zzXez-9SZAG_NArmI9v0Zf1zigUekeKQLfHF4N5ahTTJZoQzUBCw150J6773_7vKHkE6D2bdUGvpyLxfSXbhcJbJ1S2UynS94ZZe9wLzeERLc/s1600/Cool+termite+mound.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cool termite mound</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the constants on the roads here in the Outback are the road
trains. In the Northern Territory, they are limited to 3 train lengths or 55
meters and you can hear them rumbling along from a long distance. They have
been very good about giving me room on the side of the road. Here is one filled
with cattle and parked at a truck rest area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQKZtvFzU7XRrw_gFoJsETHuwHKQOWHE20DpmX4HzKnBS-GBLFE_hYH97rP-co_ogIBshCMEozwxvz_VSiLNpFfeun__8I965H_HfaEXuGkQfSih5AyxXQBkt86zMQ7nJox4B3gE82c7F/s1600/Road+trains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQKZtvFzU7XRrw_gFoJsETHuwHKQOWHE20DpmX4HzKnBS-GBLFE_hYH97rP-co_ogIBshCMEozwxvz_VSiLNpFfeun__8I965H_HfaEXuGkQfSih5AyxXQBkt86zMQ7nJox4B3gE82c7F/s1600/Road+trains.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Road trains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The people driving along have been very hospitable. One day a car
crossed the center and I thought he might have fallen asleep and was headed
straight for me. He stopped, rolled down his window and gave me an ice-cold
bottle of water, another in the long list of people showing incredible
hospitality. I have had people stop to ensure I have everything I need, they
know it is remote out here and are just checking up. I’ve also had people stop
just to talk, something Australians love to do. The distances between water
stops will increase south of Alice Springs but I am not worried because I know
people will help out if I get into trouble. It is reassuring to know you can
rely on people only too happy to help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I passed the 5,000 km mark near the small town of Ti Tree, about 200
km north of Alice Springs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEial7fdY5iydXI9CNo9Yp4tXJuYJeO3IQ6GA7FirKnsEUFkxIhLfOM2s9Mfx11hIKhWwG3VFjxWYuElVJDLS5z60d-DrBUreIdkjuIZNS_b51TmP22mNvBTdlNIDqDYZbT3ooAxQgnvt8Y8/s1600/5%252C000+kms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEial7fdY5iydXI9CNo9Yp4tXJuYJeO3IQ6GA7FirKnsEUFkxIhLfOM2s9Mfx11hIKhWwG3VFjxWYuElVJDLS5z60d-DrBUreIdkjuIZNS_b51TmP22mNvBTdlNIDqDYZbT3ooAxQgnvt8Y8/s1600/5%252C000+kms.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">5,000 km’s</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I remember that because shortly after reaching that mini-milestone, I
got my first flat tire. The next day was me second flat, also on the rear tire
and I suspected something was wrong. As I changed the tire and pumped air into
it, I noticed that the wheel had a lot of side-to-side movement, which is not
what you want. I was only 2 days from Alice Springs so would have to get it
checked, I suspect there is a problem with my rear hub.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of my favorite places to stay was the The Pink Panther Caravan
Park and zoo in Larrimah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GllKIme9S486FLv94efBBeuytJb8EUX9-xpuILUYKZLgaFg_ZYZuMhe1lQfsASwODZ0NE1_zF8oYyGa6u7fb_lT6V4mQtUUY8zGqSZmYg4dgLO5UexIZacHIbiwEdaPMY19kA7R8f5G3/s1600/Pink+Panther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GllKIme9S486FLv94efBBeuytJb8EUX9-xpuILUYKZLgaFg_ZYZuMhe1lQfsASwODZ0NE1_zF8oYyGa6u7fb_lT6V4mQtUUY8zGqSZmYg4dgLO5UexIZacHIbiwEdaPMY19kA7R8f5G3/s1600/Pink+Panther.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Pink Panther</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They had an on-site zoo where they rehabilitated injured or orphaned
animals in the area. I made friends with this wallaby who was more than happy
to get his ears rubbed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobt2tFECxy5kRzfbOsvQk4SyNqfem39Zc8xiEsAvi3_YgO9FMs_4Sr24Y0hXjr7mF61lDtxkirJP60xQ1Y2lYAgJEV2KkdJtHJb9JDIZmPEDUGqfUzut3an-XZsiBoUA6U09IFllnGGCF/s1600/Wally.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobt2tFECxy5kRzfbOsvQk4SyNqfem39Zc8xiEsAvi3_YgO9FMs_4Sr24Y0hXjr7mF61lDtxkirJP60xQ1Y2lYAgJEV2KkdJtHJb9JDIZmPEDUGqfUzut3an-XZsiBoUA6U09IFllnGGCF/s1600/Wally.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wally</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I could also see some of the birds that I would see from a distance as
I cycled. It was incredible to see Cockatoo’s perched on trees along the
highway as they made really loud noises on my approach to warn the other birds
of the potential danger of a cyclist. Now I could see them up close and
personal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZt9x42f-V4NtDIOC9ZKZp6q-xyHYPSdyyKQkFcJHocsmRwm8GLp6lxtqtdosjwoqvryztOZU0nwPiiKxJb92BhSYalJHZMC5I4LSvnT3UNoJI8noV5llgZUBOChyWvPj0kWoYdDhY76rl/s1600/Native+parrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZt9x42f-V4NtDIOC9ZKZp6q-xyHYPSdyyKQkFcJHocsmRwm8GLp6lxtqtdosjwoqvryztOZU0nwPiiKxJb92BhSYalJHZMC5I4LSvnT3UNoJI8noV5llgZUBOChyWvPj0kWoYdDhY76rl/s1600/Native+parrots.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Native parrots</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFB8cEbSOARkB32IyCxnJFY4YybYvojSeMUYx47Va9i_MNDzypslejb03Lj49p8__xttL8A3OGVgSeiVzivBawib05p4oJUncm8oACz2UMBpF3VZP0yLnpJ1s1Ax5tblxXwoVvPA5h5xfD/s1600/Cockatoos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFB8cEbSOARkB32IyCxnJFY4YybYvojSeMUYx47Va9i_MNDzypslejb03Lj49p8__xttL8A3OGVgSeiVzivBawib05p4oJUncm8oACz2UMBpF3VZP0yLnpJ1s1Ax5tblxXwoVvPA5h5xfD/s1600/Cockatoos.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cockatoos</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And what would a zoo in the outback be without a crocodile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xgizl7srjOgoYae-vCyHdY0X6Sqopv4vjHW-Pk8zVQ5YwhiFlMVoE-QPnc_AMlkSA4lPSuX_nysrBxfj0FU8PzdMIUrW353O6-QsndIAvMk1eWmy5bTvsi3WuUNtGRnCjHryKILlTks-/s1600/My+nightmare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xgizl7srjOgoYae-vCyHdY0X6Sqopv4vjHW-Pk8zVQ5YwhiFlMVoE-QPnc_AMlkSA4lPSuX_nysrBxfj0FU8PzdMIUrW353O6-QsndIAvMk1eWmy5bTvsi3WuUNtGRnCjHryKILlTks-/s1600/My+nightmare.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My nightmare</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There are usually a few deadly crocodile attacks every year in
Australia but it’s usually with people who should no better. It is often locals
who are caught swimming in areas that are known to have crocodiles. I would
often cycle past rivers in the north and try to spot a croc on the riverbank
but never did see one. I asked a local a few times if there were crocs around
and he told me there are some in this river. I rode over the bridge and could
imagine them down there but didn’t see one. I kept one eye on the road over the
bridge in case he tried an attack on the flank, you can’t be too careful. I
would see signs in the campground that Crocodiles can be found in any water in the
Northern Territory and that was more than enough to keep me away. Male
saltwater crocs can grow up to 7 meters in length and weigh over 1,000 kg. There
was no way I would camp anywhere near here, lots of places for a croc to bury
you under some of those branches reaching into the water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_D9kFJYoM61xOArTbGxodIbk4P7RWuA4Cw09BU1uEnansUahc26oLrEsqZaW1Jnws_GTg9-JcYJfOQC3K6NywnR_gWCHze-yPBWHoqQ6s2Edlixwx-mrMpArxZ0KBGfj85a0xVDOv1Wro/s1600/Croc+territory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_D9kFJYoM61xOArTbGxodIbk4P7RWuA4Cw09BU1uEnansUahc26oLrEsqZaW1Jnws_GTg9-JcYJfOQC3K6NywnR_gWCHze-yPBWHoqQ6s2Edlixwx-mrMpArxZ0KBGfj85a0xVDOv1Wro/s1600/Croc+territory.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Croc territory</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It is very sunny and hot here and the best way to keep the sun off my
face is to wear a helmet as the tip protects you. I also wear a bandana over my
head and sunglasses. If I find water at a rest area I soak my bandana in water
and put it back on my head. That cools me down for a few minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEX4ghOYJvUUd-LOpcquUC93LOVEB89C-4c2x7chGpefTLHBB9Z7cHTSTg3YHZP1ixqNaDMS08-VsplSSik0zkLM1aql2daoyXJ6LOfhXLpaV_gq89ui-HGso7EoPIijN7K9M15ml4-vkC/s1600/Beware+of+the+sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEX4ghOYJvUUd-LOpcquUC93LOVEB89C-4c2x7chGpefTLHBB9Z7cHTSTg3YHZP1ixqNaDMS08-VsplSSik0zkLM1aql2daoyXJ6LOfhXLpaV_gq89ui-HGso7EoPIijN7K9M15ml4-vkC/s1600/Beware+of+the+sun.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Beware of the sun</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I headed further south the flies became a real problem. They can
easily keep up with me on the bike and would really bother you as they constantly
try to get into your ears, nose and mouth. The only solution was to get a fly
cover and I now wear that as I bike. I can also stop and cook in relative
peace. They still buzz around but they can’t land on my face so you slowly
learn to ignore them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_ue7WZ-s2-iWjUrcUzS8RaAV9NN4kvOBUd99O0Bo0-oqz9PuKY4cBJaekT0ZgdIP-_UJmKCaPq4qpKncyhyJN_LspB9q3VM2HXJTQDKzQ3ILSqCV5hEPvURDHMGbACvNiDybSQNogAXS/s1600/Flies+everywhere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_ue7WZ-s2-iWjUrcUzS8RaAV9NN4kvOBUd99O0Bo0-oqz9PuKY4cBJaekT0ZgdIP-_UJmKCaPq4qpKncyhyJN_LspB9q3VM2HXJTQDKzQ3ILSqCV5hEPvURDHMGbACvNiDybSQNogAXS/s1600/Flies+everywhere.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Flies everywhere</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The towns dotting the Outback are very small and will often just
consist of a roadhouse, gas station, motel and caravan park where people can
sleep. Here is a typical example, the town of Mataranka, population 460.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQwSD3ZcAH-Qepg5JsqdCmPKHKAF72gv5nS2syWd38XDyVALSiFRbUMwBv7_XmHioMaqUuG1dypQKSIyA3o-UIRhas9Df1qM4eTO9lN1no8jEj-NZet8vDBnDvtlY7VC7cPTLoCOnJz68/s1600/Typical+small+town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQwSD3ZcAH-Qepg5JsqdCmPKHKAF72gv5nS2syWd38XDyVALSiFRbUMwBv7_XmHioMaqUuG1dypQKSIyA3o-UIRhas9Df1qM4eTO9lN1no8jEj-NZet8vDBnDvtlY7VC7cPTLoCOnJz68/s1600/Typical+small+town.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Typical small town</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It seems that in many places in the world the small towns want to be
famous for something. In Canada we have towns with the world’s biggest apple
(it’s not an apple, it’s a large steel replica of an apple) or the world’s
biggest lumberjack. Here, the town of Wycliffe Wells is the undisputed king of
UFO sightings but thankfully they still welcome simple earthlings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo3NPNJrEedyOSiloyxSUEgR9MWwRdRfuX6QAfxW4UQUNPXMS7UdwoePPLHw1ZVa7omfw9phOcqV01MotRez61g4BFhxRckQcSfeRT82F4646xDmjetNLt-RiDYeBzpwVVqkkvIC9KofV/s1600/Some+strange+places+here.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo3NPNJrEedyOSiloyxSUEgR9MWwRdRfuX6QAfxW4UQUNPXMS7UdwoePPLHw1ZVa7omfw9phOcqV01MotRez61g4BFhxRckQcSfeRT82F4646xDmjetNLt-RiDYeBzpwVVqkkvIC9KofV/s1600/Some+strange+places+here.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Some strange places here</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1EHIxHZRrwCG5ysCCgK-LxoxCB6tCI7UamwmGCGwufKpwN8wcQqsWCKezxN7ZxFCm6smcFj-G2fD0ingReUPOjFILS0nDQPdkW8H4oeI3crJEZO3MR3vq7VAUvGavxsYdNep520I4Ber/s1600/A+nice+welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1EHIxHZRrwCG5ysCCgK-LxoxCB6tCI7UamwmGCGwufKpwN8wcQqsWCKezxN7ZxFCm6smcFj-G2fD0ingReUPOjFILS0nDQPdkW8H4oeI3crJEZO3MR3vq7VAUvGavxsYdNep520I4Ber/s1600/A+nice+welcome.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice welcome</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTObNbQIgFxU23BnU6ygcqsnU7j-8HhLv0g6Ewd7Up4EndRMfD7enbTW0kkRB3tmHzRrcisizrwDHtoiAxrpFPXZC1-79C3QNkbaR3NOjvEF_6WP8O0pVpMxToMizsRASOFyJujNfDPJ-/s1600/Even+Martians+have+to+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTObNbQIgFxU23BnU6ygcqsnU7j-8HhLv0g6Ewd7Up4EndRMfD7enbTW0kkRB3tmHzRrcisizrwDHtoiAxrpFPXZC1-79C3QNkbaR3NOjvEF_6WP8O0pVpMxToMizsRASOFyJujNfDPJ-/s1600/Even+Martians+have+to+go.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Even Martians have to go</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Central part of Australia is known as the Red Center because of
the red soil. I notice the landscape getting drier, flatter and redder as I
head south.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VKOL-DTpbZkAGqYBhMpliLa1rbvjMmcM7fJ4drNkWJ3-j_e9eYKxybo9AVD1He9Mk3yMiFbi0nLTGKPzD80RlRgGaEmeUU1WfJsdZwqxrDOt7zxGyrKV4F9J73hvAvhgh0RX1EeH7do8/s1600/Red+Center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VKOL-DTpbZkAGqYBhMpliLa1rbvjMmcM7fJ4drNkWJ3-j_e9eYKxybo9AVD1He9Mk3yMiFbi0nLTGKPzD80RlRgGaEmeUU1WfJsdZwqxrDOt7zxGyrKV4F9J73hvAvhgh0RX1EeH7do8/s1600/Red+Center.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Red Center</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The odd mountain ridge on the side of the road adds to the feeling of
being in the middle of nowhere with long roads ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQubQdLT7VTUaza-vI6Ln54Nsw64j6NhyphenhyphencCcZKm5A0Wk6YfcBmqEWikMXVb8ycutoecrsRb9u6pAG-0u9iMR8-4N-1Ro0g_NRtHDqyrr1A359fm1TeA5DInS0dOqT9k9cRaL4HZGkJKMW/s1600/Great+views+going+south.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQubQdLT7VTUaza-vI6Ln54Nsw64j6NhyphenhyphencCcZKm5A0Wk6YfcBmqEWikMXVb8ycutoecrsRb9u6pAG-0u9iMR8-4N-1Ro0g_NRtHDqyrr1A359fm1TeA5DInS0dOqT9k9cRaL4HZGkJKMW/s1600/Great+views+going+south.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Great views going south</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There is a stretch north of Alice Springs where there is no speed
limit on the roads. The only thing for a car to hit would be a kangaroo, snake
or the odd cyclist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A few hundred kilometers north of Alice Springs is a place called
Devil’s Marbles. The area has great cultural significance for the local
aborigines with the legend being that the rocks are eggs of the Rainbow
Serpent. A more scientific explanation is that the rocks are the rounded
remains of a layer of granite that has eroded over millions of years. I arrived
at the site completely exhausted as the wind had picked up that day and I
struggled for over 9 hours on a route that should have taken less than 8 hours.
I noticed a caravan with tourists so asked them if they knew of a place nearby
to get water. It was only 10 km’s to the next town but I was out and getting
very thirsty. As I approached the man got out of his van and started taking
photos of me. He was from Switzerland and was intrigued by my travels and quickly
offered me some water. I drank a 1.5 liter bottle of water in a few minutes and
felt refreshed enough to look around. Here are some photos of the Devil’s
Marbles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I headed south, there seemed to be a reduced risk of rain with the
night skies covered in stars. I don’t bother putting a rain cover on my tent so
the mesh is open to the skies above. On my last night before Alice Springs, I
camped on the side of the road at a rest area. It was remote, about 100 km’s to
the next town and I was completely alone. I lay down, shut off my headlight and
stared up at millions of stars. I had been shown how to identify the Southern
Cross (you can’t see it in the Northern Hemisphere) and how to determine the
direction of South by looking at the stars and could do so easily on that
night. It was an incredible sight. It never fails that when I look up at a
night sky full of stars, I feel completely irrelevant in terms of the Universe.
It is also a time I feel very lonely, not having anyone to share those
experiences with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Just north of Alice Springs I crossed the Tropic of Capricorn. The
Tropic of Capricorn is an imaginary line of latitude going around the earth at
approximately 23.5 degrees south of the equator. The Tropic of Cancer is the
line running 23.5 degrees north of the equator. The Tropic of Capricorn is the
southernmost point on Earth where the sun’s rays can be directly overhead at
local noon. I am now on the same latitude as southern Brazil and northern South
Africa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I arrived in Alice Springs on Friday March 28<sup>th</sup>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On Saturday I took my bike into the repair shop and they confirmed
that I need a new rear hub. The mechanic said excessive bumping which I attribute
to the potholes in Indonesia likely caused it. They are ordering a part on
Monday and if all goes well I can get back on the road next Wednesday for the
next 1,500 km’s of outback to Adelaide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The same day I noticed that my computer was not charging. I asked
around for a Mac repair shop and was assured by at least a half dozen people
that the nearest place to get repairs done would be Adelaide. On Monday, I went
to get some groceries and walked right past a store called I-Gear, right beside
the main supermarket. I went in and sure enough, they carry replacement parts
for Mac computers so I bought a new power chord. I can now update my journal in
the days I have off here in Alice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On Sunday I took an all day tour to Uluru and will write about that in
the next update. I hope to leave Alice on Wednesday April 2<sup>nd</sup> and it
will take about 15 days to cycle south to Adelaide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I bike I always think about the little children at the Angel House
Orphanage. David told me that they expect a few more children to be admitted to
the Orphanage shortly so they will have a full house of children looking for
parents. If you think about where you would be in your life without your
parents, you can appreciate the tireless work David and his staff do each and
everyday to find homes for these abandoned children. The longer they spend away
from a loving family the longer they miss out on the simple joys we take for
granted, that of being a part of a family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">David set up a new website for Angel House at </span><a href="http://www.angelhousephilippines.org/"><span style="color: #255ac3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">www.angelhousephilippines.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Please help spread the word so these kids have a
chance where no chance exists now. You can share the link on Facebook and
encourage others to do the same. You can also sponsor a child and help David
with the monthly operating costs or you can help to find someone willing to
adopt a young boy or girl.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2cUpXjlfmVQsp71z6k6x3azEvOJwONYQHi9E9jds38h3_66XuK6hPx5GSydzyXPEz9jbP4FCooYAPE-_mjhY5bXwwdoss-beUwCXqNtsdztXh5haqTaE4H7rV0fzcWQras4bUv6REnYz/s1600/An+Angel+looking+for+a+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2cUpXjlfmVQsp71z6k6x3azEvOJwONYQHi9E9jds38h3_66XuK6hPx5GSydzyXPEz9jbP4FCooYAPE-_mjhY5bXwwdoss-beUwCXqNtsdztXh5haqTaE4H7rV0fzcWQras4bUv6REnYz/s1600/An+Angel+looking+for+a+home.jpg" height="320" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">An Angel looking for a home</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-40970665235889878062014-03-08T04:50:00.000-08:002014-03-08T04:50:19.566-08:00Indonesia’s Ring of Fire<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">March 7, 2014 – Indonesia’s
Ring of Fire<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bali, Indonesia</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 52 - Distance biked so
far: (3,634 km)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I continued east from West Java, the heavy traffic slowed slightly and
the joys of bicycling returned. I had a couple of days off in Yogyakarta (pronounced
Yogya for short), a city considered the cultural capital of Java.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yogya is very independent and is still headed
by a Sultan whose palatial abode is referred to as a Kraton. It is a large city
of about 1.6 million but feels much smaller after visiting the megacities of
Jakarta and Bandung.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had planned to rest here, particularly after reading that they had a
nice guesthouse with a leafy garden, something I am always on the look out to
find. The place had a pool that was being repaired but it was quiet and a great
place to get some fresh air. Here is a view of the guesthouse.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Guesthouse in Yogyakarta</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yogya is a symbol of the Java resistance to colonial rule. In 1948,
the Dutch occupied the city but the Sultan locked himself in the Kraton and allowed
the rebel forces opposed to the occupation to live in the palace. The Sultan is
very popular so the Dutch didn’t dare act against him and they declared that
Yogya would be a special region when Indonesia eventually got independence, and
it remains that way today. I toured around the Kraton and saw the Sultan’s
palace. Here is a picture of one of the buildings.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sultan’s Palace</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I left Yogya and continued my eastward journey through Central Java.
At one of the smaller cities I came to this statue. I started wondering how
many times in my travels I have seen a large central statue erected for someone
who was a teacher, scientist or even someone who donated a lot of their time to
the less fortunate, there are millions of those people but I couldn’t recall
one. Almost all the men occupying center stage around the world come from the
military ranks. Here is another being celebrated.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Another military hero</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have spent almost all my time in Indonesia in areas where tourists
seldom visit. At every single place I’ve stopped to eat, the waiters or
waitresses will approach me and ask for a picture, usually with my bike. The
people here are incredibly friendly and as is often the case, curious about our
perceptions of their country. I was eating breakfast one morning and a man
introduced himself after asking where I was from and where I am going, of
course. His first question was “why do the people in America love to kill other
people?” He was particularly angry with President Obama who promised to end the
wars and to some extent did but then escalated the use of private contractors
and unmanned drone attacks resulting in the death of many innocent people. He
said there is a real anger brewing in the Muslim world again and American might
pay a heavy price down the road for such reckless aggression. He got up and
said it is something we just don’t understand. He wasn’t really asking me the
questions, they were rhetorical in nature and I didn’t reply although I do
agree with him. It seems the optimism for a more peaceful world after Obama
came to office was met with the realization that those in control of arms and
weapons, including many members of Congress, have more power than even the
President of the United States.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world with almost 250
million people, 86% practicing the Muslim faith. They also have large
minorities of Christians, Buddhists and Hindus. It is a very safe country to
travel in, far safer than most Western countries, with crime rates low even in
the large cities. The government is secular but there have been recent tremors
of religious extremism. There were terrorist bombings in Bali in 2002 (killing
202 mainly foreign tourists) and again in Jakarta in 2005 however, the much
feared rise in Islamic radicalism was unfounded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There is widespread corruption here. In 1995, Indonesia was ranked the
most corrupt of the 41 countries assessed by the first Corruption Index
prepared by Transparency International. In 2004, it placed former President Suharto,
as number 1 on it’s all time world corruption list, with an alleged
embezzlement of up to $35 billion from his 32 years in power. Interestingly,
the number 2 most corrupt politician of all time is the former President and
Dictator of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos. You would think that once the
plunder and graft of public funds was discovered, that Marcos and his family
would pay a heavy price but that has not been the case. Marcos wife Imelda
Marcos is currently a Governor in the Philippines and their son; Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. is a Senator. Given the history of how corrupt politicians are treated
in the Philippines, the son has a pretty good chance of one day becoming
President.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One day I stopped for lunch and it started to rain. I went out to my
bike and noticed that a man sitting nearby had put a piece of cardboard over my
rear bags to prevent them from getting wet. I love the people here. In small
towns, people just take more time to be aware of their surroundings and to care
for each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It is harvest season in Indonesia and biking through the rice paddies
is fantastic. Here is a photo of the large group of people involved, a scene
repeated all along the roadsides.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The rice harvest is done by hand. There would be 4 or 5 people (always
women) cutting the rice plants with small machetes and piling the grass to the
side. A few young men would then come by and lift the piles to the thrashing machines,
which would separate the grass from the grains. One person would feed the grass
into the machine and another collect the grains of rice in large sacks. The
sacks would be piled up on the side of the road to be collected and taken to
the mills. Here is one of the many thrashing machines in action.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When I would go by the people would always yell and wave and often
invite me to help. I would leave since it appeared no one needed a supervisor.
The grass left over after the grains of rice were separated would be piled up
and since this is Indonesia, lit on fire. The exhaust fumes and cigarette
smoking is not enough so they have to add fires all along the highway for good
measure. Cycling past those piles of burning grass made it very difficult to
breathe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Just past Yogya, I passed the 3,000 km mark. It seems like a long time
since I left Bangkok but in terms of my goal of cycling 50,000 km’s within 2
years, I have only completed 6%. If anyone says the world is small, they
haven’t tried to bicycle around it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DcS1mPIpxOtJpztoZadtHWTuwv7SZsgjkcM1gjQBPeZwbqZtIRHEYLr1lknUuIaTZThC7ezhLvB4Ajjf3Jc0M0QNlgtJnwJlzxzjfCdv3mRjO8xzt5jIFb_dQbsz9Dfmbo5MaB9j8adZ/s1600/3%252C000+km%25E2%2580%2599s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DcS1mPIpxOtJpztoZadtHWTuwv7SZsgjkcM1gjQBPeZwbqZtIRHEYLr1lknUuIaTZThC7ezhLvB4Ajjf3Jc0M0QNlgtJnwJlzxzjfCdv3mRjO8xzt5jIFb_dQbsz9Dfmbo5MaB9j8adZ/s1600/3%252C000+km%25E2%2580%2599s.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3,000 km’s</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The food in Indonesia is very good and in terms of spicy, it would
fall somewhere between the spicy food of Thailand and the no spices of the
Philippines. Most of the places I stay offer a breakfast that would typically
involved fried rice and a small mixture of cucumbers and carrots in a vinegar
sauce. They also serve crackers that are eaten everywhere and it has a fishy
taste to it which I don’t like. One of my favorite breakfasts was a vegetarian
meal with tofu and rice with vegetables. It was served on a banana leaf and absolutely
delicious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2j_g6AOaclnQjN1uQ-hOWzHBIpJSvttTcVwH3zikyZdUnZUZc201hiGsPbwymyH4OcZvWNnKPKQiSEI2OJnhPBtuM6qN_sb4Or3c2dDPXZaTpl7z8ekLXIz3OoB_-kvrjSISBiEwnYSN/s1600/Another+breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2j_g6AOaclnQjN1uQ-hOWzHBIpJSvttTcVwH3zikyZdUnZUZc201hiGsPbwymyH4OcZvWNnKPKQiSEI2OJnhPBtuM6qN_sb4Or3c2dDPXZaTpl7z8ekLXIz3OoB_-kvrjSISBiEwnYSN/s1600/Another+breakfast.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Another breakfast</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Last year I did a personal experiment with eating. I wanted to see the
impact of diet on my personal blood composition so in May had a full blood test
measuring cholesterol, blood sugar, lipids etc. I then commenced a strict vegan
diet. That means I went 6 months without chicken, beef, fish, butter, cheese,
eggs or even cream in coffee. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No animal
products at all. At the end of the test period I had another blood test done
and the results were incredible with my total cholesterol level dropping from
178 to 138 and my bad cholesterol decreasing from 117 to 75. It was very
difficult to maintain the diet when I went back to Tacloban for 6 weeks, as
meat is such a big part of the meals. On my bike trip I have done my best to
maintain a vegetarian diet but a vegan diet is particularly difficult. I do
seek out vegetables and fruit wherever I go and have maintained a strict
vegetarian diet here in Indonesia. I wonder how that will go over in the
barbecue capital of the world, Australia. I suspect that I will be met with a
few raised eyebrows in the outback where a cyclist would be expected to eat at
least one large steak, and love it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This breakfast is a traditional one served in Java called Nasi Punel
(Nasi is the word for rice). It was also delicious.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnYWjxAHWCpAIifD2E68FnXWA_zFDCDXE5PfwDYYZNlJ9TAnIP8WMCq_oOX12RMtMtaxN0tSylV6tIEy-VHM_lDNBxgGRcEkTeacBOpsLOrH3j7QmNIEUI_fTaYHVuf1DQdbmKVcmuNlY/s1600/Traditional+Java+breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnYWjxAHWCpAIifD2E68FnXWA_zFDCDXE5PfwDYYZNlJ9TAnIP8WMCq_oOX12RMtMtaxN0tSylV6tIEy-VHM_lDNBxgGRcEkTeacBOpsLOrH3j7QmNIEUI_fTaYHVuf1DQdbmKVcmuNlY/s1600/Traditional+Java+breakfast.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Traditional Java breakfast</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I eat in these small roadside restaurants I am inundated with
questions about my trip, my impressions of Indonesia and of course my love life,
or lack of it in my case. When I tell them I am travelling alone they have what
can only be described as a look of deep pity. I thought one lady was going to burst
into tears when I told her I was riding by myself. I saw her lips quivering as
she tried to absorb the idea of biking around the world on your own. The people
here are without exception friendly and curious and always want a photo. Here
is the owner and her daughter with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_3ahL2TwwPvbtbm_RuFcSX_oHeHRkrdm-4ZWZP_UjZbgUvtqKGH2mpKKU9JBYmKOvhnIO_UwESQMkLfIDVzSuWY2LnjGGx7PfRtuOVGebyEmtDcV_eKwjsHOgF7ZEXzwnUcRVfkzPK-F/s1600/Restaurant+owners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_3ahL2TwwPvbtbm_RuFcSX_oHeHRkrdm-4ZWZP_UjZbgUvtqKGH2mpKKU9JBYmKOvhnIO_UwESQMkLfIDVzSuWY2LnjGGx7PfRtuOVGebyEmtDcV_eKwjsHOgF7ZEXzwnUcRVfkzPK-F/s1600/Restaurant+owners.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Restaurant owners</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My favorite meal in Indonesia however is called gado gado. It is so
good that they named it twice. The meal is steamed bean sprouts and various
vegetables served with a spicy peanut sauce.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iCTIlpkl_GAZlOPVTaKP5yWC2TBBOLmPgAVcVnUlgfavepB_6yaEnunp96nLPNKSHZLfvyzgA8t5G3HxXWhBhThXni26tlz2r6iRohYdDCCNRGEPohDoAzmyAt70MnrQ3HYfJJtR3RiS/s1600/Gado+gado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iCTIlpkl_GAZlOPVTaKP5yWC2TBBOLmPgAVcVnUlgfavepB_6yaEnunp96nLPNKSHZLfvyzgA8t5G3HxXWhBhThXni26tlz2r6iRohYdDCCNRGEPohDoAzmyAt70MnrQ3HYfJJtR3RiS/s1600/Gado+gado.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gado gado</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I passed from Central to East Java the traffic slowed even more and
the scenery continued to be very impressive. I love the stark contrast offered
by the flat green rice fields and the volcanic mountains in the background.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLhVdd5xqleQOB8_3e42H0BoLXts67co5zUGf-1MDiyYwsGocU-8ob1pf6MB7wmxqdGNTzs3GoNKvUgta0L0WGcyNMU7V7erk5DhsHOr6Kxa2oP30EO8fOh0OqD-wfriR80IqxIl29ART/s1600/Towering+volcano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLhVdd5xqleQOB8_3e42H0BoLXts67co5zUGf-1MDiyYwsGocU-8ob1pf6MB7wmxqdGNTzs3GoNKvUgta0L0WGcyNMU7V7erk5DhsHOr6Kxa2oP30EO8fOh0OqD-wfriR80IqxIl29ART/s1600/Towering+volcano.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Towering volcano</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the things I was really looking forward to as I headed east was
to visit one of the many volcanoes. Indonesia is part of the Pacific Ring of
Fire, a 40,000 km area with volcanoes and earthquakes and the volcanoes here
are some of the most active in the world. On February 14<sup>th</sup>, a major
eruption occurred nearby on Mount Kelud, killing 3 and forcing the evacuation
of 100,000 people. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had heard that one of the most impressive sites was Gulung (Mount) Bromo
and that was my target. Bromo is located in Bromo-Tengger-Semuru National Park
and I was told a few times that the best experience would be to join a tour. In
many places I enjoy going on tours as you get a lot of good information that
would often be missed if you went alone. I arrived on a Thursday afternoon in
the town of Probolinggo and asked the owner of the hotel for advice. I was
hoping to rent a motorcycle to get to the Park but he suggested I go with a
driver since it would be very early in the morning and he would know where to
go and how to arrange the tour. I was up at 2:30 am and jumped on the back of a
motorcycle and headed off. It was a crazy ride, speeding through the countryside
at dark and then going on a very long and windy road up to the park. At the
entrance I had to put on a jacket and head warmer and then waited for a jeep. 4
other tourists and a jeep driver soon met me and off we went. The road was
almost vertical and the jeep crawled up in 4-wheel drive at a walking pace,
they like steep roads here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A long road of jeeps was there and everyone got out to climb up to a
viewing point. The arrivals of the jeeps are timed to be there just before
sunrise. Gunung Bromo is one of 3 volcanoes that emerged from a vast crater
stretching across 10 km. In the distance stands Mount Semeru, which at 3,676
meters is Java’s highest peak.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are a few photos of the sunrise over the crater.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULyV4NAnJjOCGO37QVqx9A_pEYiK0Vm4HeGqGsbX52WhVLF_oyLv_p0Mb96k4heNkzhH_4vb07EX_VkuL7xPjistu5NQY0tvbyE4yjNI_0TNNFpKHPJomCUGjD_m8ts70R9Bp6rmhYx6c/s1600/Tengger+Crater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULyV4NAnJjOCGO37QVqx9A_pEYiK0Vm4HeGqGsbX52WhVLF_oyLv_p0Mb96k4heNkzhH_4vb07EX_VkuL7xPjistu5NQY0tvbyE4yjNI_0TNNFpKHPJomCUGjD_m8ts70R9Bp6rmhYx6c/s1600/Tengger+Crater.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Tengger Crater</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXcY21zdZii2jTV0OTBS64XnW_4AEwVjCUYaSwtg21bbte0lCw7Q2-cvZ9H8cvSRfs0grNBol3UbKF3QzluPG3EyljJJ7XiXpGk9QQ-M80SnXE3lgtxTykY2TBT3sYOorq61gaa7AGH3e/s1600/Sunrise+in+Indonesia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXcY21zdZii2jTV0OTBS64XnW_4AEwVjCUYaSwtg21bbte0lCw7Q2-cvZ9H8cvSRfs0grNBol3UbKF3QzluPG3EyljJJ7XiXpGk9QQ-M80SnXE3lgtxTykY2TBT3sYOorq61gaa7AGH3e/s1600/Sunrise+in+Indonesia.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sunrise in Indonesia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gruning Bromo itself stands 2,392 meters and is flanked by 2 slightly
taller mountains. Here are a few photos of Gruning Bromo from a distance at
sunrise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMntLprVWFC4zxF0DtaRQ-_i35TWDtpR1-RZRA0H0vwrJDfUWe6cjXtUqFNA_k7E4Jwda3OgwpsUYoG7gwexpeHYtKSbTIs51usLGKiuw8m0mctJ345XEwIxWnczlX9T7TPyk2vOAdjQr4/s1600/Bromo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMntLprVWFC4zxF0DtaRQ-_i35TWDtpR1-RZRA0H0vwrJDfUWe6cjXtUqFNA_k7E4Jwda3OgwpsUYoG7gwexpeHYtKSbTIs51usLGKiuw8m0mctJ345XEwIxWnczlX9T7TPyk2vOAdjQr4/s1600/Bromo.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bromo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQl7HGqERpxI3OszRHTDYpQ7DCgebaDwVdxXTlWtQUPjL52JgFQNd2zvSYY7tedny_qqCeASQRpj6uFrAqzBOk8P57srnu7bw6hS6k-Xb2Ag6IcCmQvjaPTQlLMpeqs5be4K4mdypJMOp/s1600/Bromo+on+a+clear+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQl7HGqERpxI3OszRHTDYpQ7DCgebaDwVdxXTlWtQUPjL52JgFQNd2zvSYY7tedny_qqCeASQRpj6uFrAqzBOk8P57srnu7bw6hS6k-Xb2Ag6IcCmQvjaPTQlLMpeqs5be4K4mdypJMOp/s1600/Bromo+on+a+clear+day.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bromo on a clear day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We then got back into the jeep for the descent to the rim of Gruning
Bromo. Walking up to the rim was like crossing a lunar landscape and the sheer
size of the entire crater was impressive. We hiked across and up the 253 steps for
a bird’s eye view. Here are a few photos looking down into the active volcano.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPja8_dB3cp8YNSq-2k5fYSy12iITE6nD_kg4K3pwrDIOlr2bOIDqweffQsAGQjW4Jlo9ASppIfB6lecYtxkh9bW81AR1Rm4oJ_gnQHLI7vYVXMMEXETr3jEUUuSXoLRyXKlsuxzm-wVfR/s1600/Steaming+Bromo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPja8_dB3cp8YNSq-2k5fYSy12iITE6nD_kg4K3pwrDIOlr2bOIDqweffQsAGQjW4Jlo9ASppIfB6lecYtxkh9bW81AR1Rm4oJ_gnQHLI7vYVXMMEXETr3jEUUuSXoLRyXKlsuxzm-wVfR/s1600/Steaming+Bromo.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Steaming Bromo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI181f2PcLkHBgA0pjjCiWY9bg77DR36vlPKs4ASwdOld0t22AAVIw6sighDlPdoKc08rzuq-pDmIeMrWT6mnKHQs5ztKY9bvxCl0qyYE0Vmgi3R7cOnFp89AbAwK5ev6ggOT5NGBC_wz/s1600/Crater+of+Bromo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI181f2PcLkHBgA0pjjCiWY9bg77DR36vlPKs4ASwdOld0t22AAVIw6sighDlPdoKc08rzuq-pDmIeMrWT6mnKHQs5ztKY9bvxCl0qyYE0Vmgi3R7cOnFp89AbAwK5ev6ggOT5NGBC_wz/s1600/Crater+of+Bromo.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Crater of Bromo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I was sitting on top and thought this wouldn’t be a great place to
lose your balance. Notice the lack of a retaining fence and if you did fall,
there wouldn’t be a lot to stop you from going all the way down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3FadsUi5qLFSLQBD2p4A9qsxlWvAHJATo1K9Kh3Wxgs9xCU1Si4tnMnTV7R8PcDsJ2oYmDN5_zNf60v4lhUS-rxaR_9yC7wWJRW9Wlxa4IE0gTbTOwlBYttwhoKvM9T5ADvPRTx2XPt7/s1600/Sitting+on+the+edge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3FadsUi5qLFSLQBD2p4A9qsxlWvAHJATo1K9Kh3Wxgs9xCU1Si4tnMnTV7R8PcDsJ2oYmDN5_zNf60v4lhUS-rxaR_9yC7wWJRW9Wlxa4IE0gTbTOwlBYttwhoKvM9T5ADvPRTx2XPt7/s1600/Sitting+on+the+edge.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sitting on the edge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At the top you can look back over the large crater and here is the moon-like
view.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ICg8V8Q38MqLV_nW3hUYYYoXU1XlFR0ZoTQcnlTVI1G70x501zmfHvy02xxfI-uWxbXokChOvdCZzZHozb4iKC305doxSECNgBsydWPQO3Ame-q-l8FgdMxDQDDq-wAKlvvX3AsMzlRU/s1600/View+from+Bromo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ICg8V8Q38MqLV_nW3hUYYYoXU1XlFR0ZoTQcnlTVI1G70x501zmfHvy02xxfI-uWxbXokChOvdCZzZHozb4iKC305doxSECNgBsydWPQO3Ame-q-l8FgdMxDQDDq-wAKlvvX3AsMzlRU/s1600/View+from+Bromo.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">View from Bromo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I continued on through the northeast part of Java, into more beautiful
scenes of rice fields and volcanoes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGr8OH7IZoklezB_RIYKM_nAZ4mOVRR-vc4jHRRTZXTEQbabTeNooWqimfdkQNHtSHj2OJby_AftrIxx0Hi74cbsgaBWp2ftCMi9LNpzgDWxFQuDtVXb5NRJtonJIhrzfNGPTSOWJezMT/s1600/East+Java+scenery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGr8OH7IZoklezB_RIYKM_nAZ4mOVRR-vc4jHRRTZXTEQbabTeNooWqimfdkQNHtSHj2OJby_AftrIxx0Hi74cbsgaBWp2ftCMi9LNpzgDWxFQuDtVXb5NRJtonJIhrzfNGPTSOWJezMT/s1600/East+Java+scenery.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">East Java scenery</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCofKSpnr46N_-5vFel3g6BqDTlVQfewFnXbFcWtXe2QYVlPSQQxVb9qT2owToiDOM8mE8eRNq-U4weFhi76bQ5VxmvM1tubzjZ8ARaorC-p5yVXuV5FcY_tGZShoNyHyYtMsYHCULAhL_/s1600/Storm+clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCofKSpnr46N_-5vFel3g6BqDTlVQfewFnXbFcWtXe2QYVlPSQQxVb9qT2owToiDOM8mE8eRNq-U4weFhi76bQ5VxmvM1tubzjZ8ARaorC-p5yVXuV5FcY_tGZShoNyHyYtMsYHCULAhL_/s1600/Storm+clouds.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Storm clouds</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am often asked where I stay at night on my bike trip. In countries
like Indonesia, it is not easy to camp because of the large numbers of people.
The hotels are cheap and readily accessible so at the end of the day I will
seek them out. In the non-touristy areas, you don’t have a lot of choices in
accommodation, and most are not up to western standards. When you stay in a
budget hotel in Indonesia, you will not get a shower, toilet, blanket,
air-conditioner or paint on the walls. If someone could convince the hotel
owners that clean walls are more appealing, you could make a lot of money by
investing in a paint company. Here is an example of a very typical hotel in the
non-tourist places.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5db4BEqGu1jynZcsQVy8ZtTEYkxRmTiZ8_joppEWdezuXnyThtO0D2MlOrK4K2igGHP7Iaq6tqpeEVfVcC1usU-z7OhEkLHp4QpCiQet4cRDKqslvwxHr8ofsLvPVDDNznCsUVT5EJhk/s1600/Typical+hotel+in+Indonesia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5db4BEqGu1jynZcsQVy8ZtTEYkxRmTiZ8_joppEWdezuXnyThtO0D2MlOrK4K2igGHP7Iaq6tqpeEVfVcC1usU-z7OhEkLHp4QpCiQet4cRDKqslvwxHr8ofsLvPVDDNznCsUVT5EJhk/s1600/Typical+hotel+in+Indonesia.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span id="goog_978952905"></span><span id="goog_978952906"></span>Typical hotel in Indonesia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This was the bathroom that actually had a western toilet, one of the
few places that did not have a squat toilet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LYYM8o1Y6e70T3AjAVCd4Itj7JprJg9wRSzQ8rSSQDsQwvJCtfFUMWYt7iZIa9v0v4fXMI3SjppZwgCnC71q9jc5WCNNO7bb25w-PdkRZQVVYPrSPm0FMQ95APvgKqSAk0LYZgg2uacB/s1600/Typical+bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LYYM8o1Y6e70T3AjAVCd4Itj7JprJg9wRSzQ8rSSQDsQwvJCtfFUMWYt7iZIa9v0v4fXMI3SjppZwgCnC71q9jc5WCNNO7bb25w-PdkRZQVVYPrSPm0FMQ95APvgKqSAk0LYZgg2uacB/s1600/Typical+bathroom.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Typical bathroom</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have mentioned a few times that the roads here are not always in a
great state of repair. It was particularly difficult to bike in West Java, as
the traffic would force you to the side where most of the potholes were
located. I had to always watch the downhill sections, if I hit some of these
going 50 km, my bike would be shattered, and so would most of my bones.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtL4OWnCj9sexNb8ZEzrDTgtYfxAJyAKzVRGfyt8Gwb0J8Nhfon9Y_Gplq6odkvFeJo7Y_1qB68oZxOw5aD8SqLMQ77EoR9_AMd5vbBK5SkCgnQK2uv_cTxPpymRLi_WGSavDJGBiioveV/s1600/Indonesian+roads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtL4OWnCj9sexNb8ZEzrDTgtYfxAJyAKzVRGfyt8Gwb0J8Nhfon9Y_Gplq6odkvFeJo7Y_1qB68oZxOw5aD8SqLMQ77EoR9_AMd5vbBK5SkCgnQK2uv_cTxPpymRLi_WGSavDJGBiioveV/s1600/Indonesian+roads.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Indonesian roads</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The far northeast of Java is home to the Baluran National Park. It was
a joy to bike through this remote area of Indonesia. It is hard to imagine a
nicer route with thick jungles, perfect weather, and a windy road that had only
gentle hills.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4ld4xZ9rPDMzbCA29LiGPWkIFHheVB5FWfd-LnhM590HZQb5VeQfydErrqR1ci-R3coB-ra9kwE_vLTScEkTnSzU0rKyEo6nhAR39kR7L0Zj0xwtFLYfuxT_l9rAeFA-AESBF4OkLUb9/s1600/Nice+cycling+in+the+forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4ld4xZ9rPDMzbCA29LiGPWkIFHheVB5FWfd-LnhM590HZQb5VeQfydErrqR1ci-R3coB-ra9kwE_vLTScEkTnSzU0rKyEo6nhAR39kR7L0Zj0xwtFLYfuxT_l9rAeFA-AESBF4OkLUb9/s1600/Nice+cycling+in+the+forest.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Nice cycling in the forest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I soon came to the end of the road in Java and hopped on a ferry to
the island of Bali. Here is a view of the scene leaving Java and the ferry that
made the short 30-minute crossing of the Bali Strait.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeTom6W-vbYRri9n7wDKmdhSg2EXDJlyAo_AYyqztSWRKMdVA0ohNjeRlMJoO41Vi4UTeKJpboUkIKTy3DUwfNwwkKl2QFCnaUqIeHFEJPI24eyhSrmZa5cI0GpD6R9dxAk38Yhuz5QNL/s1600/Good-bye+Java.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeTom6W-vbYRri9n7wDKmdhSg2EXDJlyAo_AYyqztSWRKMdVA0ohNjeRlMJoO41Vi4UTeKJpboUkIKTy3DUwfNwwkKl2QFCnaUqIeHFEJPI24eyhSrmZa5cI0GpD6R9dxAk38Yhuz5QNL/s1600/Good-bye+Java.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Good-bye Java</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5FM9qESiq3_jYiXixxslCu2Aio0KEdLt0AgaNir1SYdY0ypT4EaXzj0BCRzrZkGZXxJ4Oln0sj2IQX22RhiqHAr4BWZeKw-R5MbOr8xY4A9Nw8MiXim2ifuwK7qM-AbIcBO3-S_g3IHr/s1600/Ferry+to+Bali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5FM9qESiq3_jYiXixxslCu2Aio0KEdLt0AgaNir1SYdY0ypT4EaXzj0BCRzrZkGZXxJ4Oln0sj2IQX22RhiqHAr4BWZeKw-R5MbOr8xY4A9Nw8MiXim2ifuwK7qM-AbIcBO3-S_g3IHr/s1600/Ferry+to+Bali.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ferry to Bali</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The tropical paradise of Bali did not disappoint and I was immediately
on beautiful roads with spectacular scenery. Here is a scene in West Bali.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2WIJL1aamftw0PSvB_PRYedUqL70dOmHMDxKhyphenhyphenctflhTJey6BEZzhA932dBwr4rur6FsWvE4VayqoJqk7IgNxkyl-EBZT1o5q492L3l7NzQP5iBtDxSIrryPuBIaptnXzNRma8JvnsAp/s1600/Bali+is+beautiful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2WIJL1aamftw0PSvB_PRYedUqL70dOmHMDxKhyphenhyphenctflhTJey6BEZzhA932dBwr4rur6FsWvE4VayqoJqk7IgNxkyl-EBZT1o5q492L3l7NzQP5iBtDxSIrryPuBIaptnXzNRma8JvnsAp/s1600/Bali+is+beautiful.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bali is beautiful</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bali’s culture is unique and is largely influenced by Hinduism with
over 90% of the population of Balinese Hindu descent. The traditional Balinese society
is communal, with the organization of villages, cultivation of farmland and the
creative arts all being very communal efforts. I could see the structure of the
communal villages as I cycled through the Western part of the island. In this
area, it looked like things haven’t changed much in generations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcYCRLuRJn4W6XXmm7IAX6iIwFcPTc0XY076RtwfmNffdj9d0aR_hXWcdQD9aXow57k3n9X9AdQgWZQsF4J9_IB0Zeh-xtHBR3Xsr7yDtQtP3jWiVKVKkmB5LSjhMmdHSOcfz9Md3jQKh/s1600/Bali+village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcYCRLuRJn4W6XXmm7IAX6iIwFcPTc0XY076RtwfmNffdj9d0aR_hXWcdQD9aXow57k3n9X9AdQgWZQsF4J9_IB0Zeh-xtHBR3Xsr7yDtQtP3jWiVKVKkmB5LSjhMmdHSOcfz9Md3jQKh/s1600/Bali+village.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bali village</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The tourism boom here started in the early 1970’s, but Bali has proven
to be quite resilient to all the negative impacts. The cities in the south of
Bali appear to be more like Australian beach resorts than Indonesian towns but
for the rest of the island, you can see a strong attempt to keep their culture
in tact. I decided to cycle to the north to avoid having to stay too long in
the south and my first stop was the town of Lovina on the north coast. Here is
a view from the coastal town of Lovina, looking over the Bali Sea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUvNypByaGXrNTyhmhyphenhyphen5tZIKM5k3QZytGrU3eTc2OmdfeiHeEZp0IcMoJ1Mnf-LX5a6iQdO6JB3jbMHNjI3CvtaO109hQLx5SxI5Elhr9cZT9e3rUqA2k17etcDdde2Zx_pGwg4TwMXwV/s1600/Bali+Sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUvNypByaGXrNTyhmhyphenhyphen5tZIKM5k3QZytGrU3eTc2OmdfeiHeEZp0IcMoJ1Mnf-LX5a6iQdO6JB3jbMHNjI3CvtaO109hQLx5SxI5Elhr9cZT9e3rUqA2k17etcDdde2Zx_pGwg4TwMXwV/s1600/Bali+Sea.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bali Sea</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had to cross the island, which meant having to go up and over the
mountains of Central Bali, but I wanted to see some of the volcanic lakes in
the high country. The road up into the mountains was a steady 36-km climb but
with reasonably good roads and relatively light traffic, it started out quite
easy. I have a theory about roads that are built in the mountains of Indonesia.
They start out with a reasonable incline and wind up the mountainside but near
the top, the workers must have said enough of this back and forth and decided
to just go straight up. The first 32 km’s were steady but not at all difficult
but with 4 km’s to go the incline rose sharply. It was now late afternoon and
as is fairly typical in the wet season, it started to rain. After a few stops
and starts I just decided to keep going. The last 4 km was completed in a
downpour and I was getting cold but soon enough I was at the top. The day was
overcast and I couldn’t see my surroundings so had to wait until the morning to
see the views.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I was in the town of Batur, right on the edge of the crater
overlooking Danau (Lake) Batur and the volcano Gunung Batur. There are a series
of small villages all along the crater edge and my backpacker lodge occupied
prime location right on the edge. I woke up to these views.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCVShY12feeteuwZGbnW4pgsPBr2743zim6Z9htCS7dxXZgjPr6j2LYnAc3HJgEFU0o1euwRQ1qj0sggNamLZ9FE8J3X4qC_78-l02sQt4ZOfc1jdCwXGTKsD3Jl9-56NFBHItoTNcI1C/s1600/Lake+Batur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCVShY12feeteuwZGbnW4pgsPBr2743zim6Z9htCS7dxXZgjPr6j2LYnAc3HJgEFU0o1euwRQ1qj0sggNamLZ9FE8J3X4qC_78-l02sQt4ZOfc1jdCwXGTKsD3Jl9-56NFBHItoTNcI1C/s1600/Lake+Batur.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lake Batur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88YJj7XLrHGM9JRB_LoASnXVVhqWdzn1rCbP_NQIbjvbLOpfzScCCOso46JmQOlDFEOgI7eoRwjRr9_RK8u3sBhyvGvTGxZwiR0_zEFNcCwXB-nvESoujU9SyevV2wEhbbJdwFho405No/s1600/Volcanic+Lake+Batur+in+Bali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88YJj7XLrHGM9JRB_LoASnXVVhqWdzn1rCbP_NQIbjvbLOpfzScCCOso46JmQOlDFEOgI7eoRwjRr9_RK8u3sBhyvGvTGxZwiR0_zEFNcCwXB-nvESoujU9SyevV2wEhbbJdwFho405No/s1600/Volcanic+Lake+Batur+in+Bali.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Volcanic Lake Batur in Bali</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The large crater contains the lake and the volcanic mountain. There
have been a series of volcanoes on Gunung Batur, the latest in 1993, and you
can see the different crater<span id="goog_978952943"></span>s<span id="goog_978952944"></span> created by the eruptions, along with the results
of the lava that flowed down the sides.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrMBTxgj-RJ8Vb35Jbu-8knwj463qHA4oaPEsYVAX8j8zk8DaQDDfA0ZNUg7WM-J9eAR8wwY5S2mUuxbgrxiOIui0_mKyZ4Cpi5aMD07_I4EKIL5cM1mGSefLNVv9QxOTSZOiYvGXKc3U/s1600/Gunung+Batur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrMBTxgj-RJ8Vb35Jbu-8knwj463qHA4oaPEsYVAX8j8zk8DaQDDfA0ZNUg7WM-J9eAR8wwY5S2mUuxbgrxiOIui0_mKyZ4Cpi5aMD07_I4EKIL5cM1mGSefLNVv9QxOTSZOiYvGXKc3U/s1600/Gunung+Batur.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gunung Batur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If anyone is interested, I save all my photos on Flickr and they can
be viewed at this link,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredbouwman/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredbouwman/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I wanted to provide an update on the people many of you helped in
Tacloban. I am trying to stay current on what is going on there but it is
getting harder and harder to get news. It is certainly becoming another in the
long line of disasters that grab headlines for a month and then disappear. I
was in Tacloban in early December, exactly 1 month after the November 8<sup>th</sup>
typhoon, and at the time read that the Minister responsible for reconstruction
promised that Tacloban would have electricity restored by December 24<sup>th</sup>,
so the people could enjoy Christmas. He promised that if the electricity was
not fully restored, that he would resign. When the deadline came and went, the
President refused to accept the resignation because he was doing such a great
job and any change in personnel would just add to more delays. It has now been
exactly 4 months and the City still does not have electricity. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jennifer is back in College but is living at the Missionaries of
Charity orphanage because her home has had a series of floods subsequent to the
typhoon. One of the projects many of you helped with was to rebuild their home
and the work has started with the raising of the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cost of materials is still so high that
her father has been slow in starting; he wants the prices to come down first. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bella and Gemma, the 2 ladies who saved 16 children at the orphanage
on the day of the typhoon are still at the orphanage but not getting paid
because there are no children there. The kids cannot come back to the orphanage
until there is electricity, and that will likely be at least 3 more months, but
more likely another 6 months. Bella’s 2 daughters transferred to another city
to go to school and will return to Tacloban in a few weeks. The 3 of them will
be living in a tent since they do not have a home. It is coming up to the
hottest time of the year and it is almost impossible to even sit in a tent for
5 minutes let alone live there. Gemma is also living in a tent with her 2 kids.
I will continue to monitor them and send money when needed to ensure all of the
families have enough to eat and at least the basic necessities. Things really
have not changed at all in the last 3 months, despite the hundreds of millions
dollars pledged by governments around the world. I wonder how many times things
like this will repeat itself before someone is held accountable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Angel House orphanage continues to operate thanks to David and his
staff. They are not getting any government financing or institutional support
and rely solely on individual donations. Here is a picture of the latest
addition to the family, enjoying the attention of 2 of the boys of Angel House.
If anyone would like to sponsor a child to help David meet the monthly operating
costs, please contact me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOQUzUcKx1GL41wLWEDGOG3zvCbp5aZe1IexohXXlLG43T6Fq7cdG8_Yc3NDPnILPn0BT3V1FKqS9p4zdt3x5KyH3tgn_MBc3s0CuIm7eXmkLSg70sGueO64Lhcga3ramoLmE1m0OqBXX/s1600/New+puppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOQUzUcKx1GL41wLWEDGOG3zvCbp5aZe1IexohXXlLG43T6Fq7cdG8_Yc3NDPnILPn0BT3V1FKqS9p4zdt3x5KyH3tgn_MBc3s0CuIm7eXmkLSg70sGueO64Lhcga3ramoLmE1m0OqBXX/s1600/New+puppy.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">New puppy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On March 10<sup>th</sup>, I will be flying from Bali to Darwin,
Australia to continue my southern journey. I will be cycling straight down the
center of the outback to Adelaide, the southern shores and then up to Canberra,
a distance well in excess of 4,000 km’s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a summary of a few things since I left Bangkok on January 15,
2014.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Days on the road – 52</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Km’s cycled – 3,634</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Countries visited – 4 (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Money found on the road - $4.07 (to be donated to Angel House after 2
years on the road)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Books read in Indonesia </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Shadow World – Inside the Global Arms Trade (by Andrew Feinstein)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Slap (Christos Tsiolkas)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Disgrace
(J.M. Coetzee)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-62372602242479460122014-02-20T19:45:00.003-08:002014-02-20T19:45:33.487-08:00Welcome to Indonesia<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">February 20, 2014 – Welcome
to Indonesia<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yogyakarta, Indonesia</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 37 - Distance biked so
far: (2,844 km)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Welcome to Indonesia<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyHqwTwI0tVZ0Xm2W8JzbtAil6_BziMqNJBHOdr72QxTvgNBvToWIgDYeJxXRgfAyKITSCmYuCuTOIQYDAHOUq1BmXLSj_jNvA1Su2sow3KuAZuP3uVTeRW9pPHHm08t7oIQ9SjQdJ229/s1600/Flag+of+Indonesia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyHqwTwI0tVZ0Xm2W8JzbtAil6_BziMqNJBHOdr72QxTvgNBvToWIgDYeJxXRgfAyKITSCmYuCuTOIQYDAHOUq1BmXLSj_jNvA1Su2sow3KuAZuP3uVTeRW9pPHHm08t7oIQ9SjQdJ229/s1600/Flag+of+Indonesia.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Flag of Indonesia</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The flag of Indonesia was first introduced on August 17, 1945 during
the Indonesia Independence Day and exactly 5 years later, it was officially
adopted when they gained independence from the Netherlands. If the flag were
flown upside down with the white above the red, it would be the flag of Poland.
That would be quite the gaffe if done at an Olympic medal ceremony.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On Monday February 10<sup>th</sup> I arrived by ferry from Singapore
to the island of Batam, Indonesia from where I would be taking another ferry to
Jakarta. The Batam-Jakarta ferry only runs a few days a week so I had to wait
one day in Batam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Wednesday I cycled
20km to the ferry port to get the ferry to Jakarta, a trip that would take 27
hours. I had a hard time finding the terminal; the only thing I saw was an
unsigned warehouse, which turned out to be exactly what I needed. It wasn’t fancy
but it worked.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILmt7cQw6MGbb_3IeNSRKZsEG_WYLBP0ZPeDO6PoEFYgfzrYDyre03PKI9VOqyPRgU0w_49hnse_RW633Dm6CQMwMkTqHl2XgsbH08_6T7ws_-MbfNZ1nGR4A_ysNbVTolyyJz8vxAhmw/s1600/Ferry+terminal+in+Batam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILmt7cQw6MGbb_3IeNSRKZsEG_WYLBP0ZPeDO6PoEFYgfzrYDyre03PKI9VOqyPRgU0w_49hnse_RW633Dm6CQMwMkTqHl2XgsbH08_6T7ws_-MbfNZ1nGR4A_ysNbVTolyyJz8vxAhmw/s1600/Ferry+terminal+in+Batam.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ferry terminal in Batam</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had a room with 3 other men, one of whom was a Buddhist Monk from
Tibet but unfortunately he did not speak English and my Tibetan is rusty. The
ferry did not have a lot of people and this mode of transport will be going through
a slow death, replaced by the budget airlines. I know a lot of people do not
have a full day to spend on a ferry but there is something nice about taking
your time on a boat and talking with the local people instead of the often impersonal
manner of using an airplane. I spent the day engaged in numerous attempts at
conversation with local people, something I would have missed by sitting in
another airport. I think a lot of people miss the real joy of travelling by
focusing on the destination instead of the journey. In most cases I notice the
destination is often anti-climatic but the journey is often memorable. Here was
a guy on the ferry getting some traditional heat treatment on his back.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyteNy8D621fNbEDUrdIvLouuxEzobqTrEbTl9vU1JWi9MAD8X2PpEBX5iC0NefO3T4V0u7h8hWbBwivHwh-cnTyCCBczFQpTpbRwNFhrtS-O8i8mxmSUPB6RaDg8DHQvUzgzVCS8GEKtC/s1600/Back+treatment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyteNy8D621fNbEDUrdIvLouuxEzobqTrEbTl9vU1JWi9MAD8X2PpEBX5iC0NefO3T4V0u7h8hWbBwivHwh-cnTyCCBczFQpTpbRwNFhrtS-O8i8mxmSUPB6RaDg8DHQvUzgzVCS8GEKtC/s1600/Back+treatment.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Back treatment</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Indonesia is the world’s 4<sup>th</sup> most populous country (after
China, India and the U.S) with approximately 250 million people crammed on 8,000
inhabited islands. My route through this diverse country will start in Jakarta;
go south into the mountainous interior and then east to Bali, a distance of
approximately 1,200 kms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At some point during the ferry ride, we crossed the equator so now I
am in the southern hemisphere. It doesn’t feel any different; it’s just as hot
and humid as it was on the other side of the line. The ferry was due to arrive
on the outskirts of Jakarta at 7:30 pm, meaning I would be cycling into the 2<sup>nd</sup>
largest city in the world in the dark, with no idea of where I was going to
stay. There are times I wish I could just hop in a taxi and go to a reserved
hotel but that’s not the way it works when you travel by bicycle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I was preparing to roll my bike down the gangplank, I met another
pair of cyclists doing exactly the same thing. Here is some kind of security
guard making sure my bike was okay after the ferry from Batam.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4iIfcq3tsl9tQJfSHlfcUDugztMwJz7L4cJa9D6K-J6Ub-X3JOwjQkRBex6fQ-Atu1e6neB8cNdfw2gFUhNDimVrcrM525Z5JOhReW0uqGRbieUt-GIAa5VDUjTGwf5QIbmtFSI43pg5/s1600/Inspecting+the+bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4iIfcq3tsl9tQJfSHlfcUDugztMwJz7L4cJa9D6K-J6Ub-X3JOwjQkRBex6fQ-Atu1e6neB8cNdfw2gFUhNDimVrcrM525Z5JOhReW0uqGRbieUt-GIAa5VDUjTGwf5QIbmtFSI43pg5/s1600/Inspecting+the+bike.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Inspecting the bike</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The couple is from France and are also biking to Bali but planning on
taking the northern coast route to avoid the mountains in the Central part of
Java. The guy has biked all the way from Europe and met up with his friend in
Thailand and they are cycling together for the next month. They will be staying
a few days in Jakarta to go to a hospital (she fell from her bike and has a
shoulder injury) but we agreed to bike together to the center area, safety in
numbers. I don’t have a light on my bike but do carry a headlight that I use to
read when camping so I strapped that on my head. I also carry 2 small lights
that I found in Bangkok and I attached those to my rear panniers so was quite
visible to the passing cars and motorcycles. The cities are always well lit and
at this time of night we were hoping the traffic wasn’t too bad. We set off
with a few deep breaths and prayers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had no plan of where to stay but did know the road I wanted that
would lead me out of Jakarta the next day and wanted to stay on it. We also
knew that road would lead south and pass close to the central part of Jakarta
so away we went. The roads were not too bad and the drivers were fast but also
courteous and allowed lots of room. We cruised in a line and were moving along
well but often had to stop at traffic lights. At one point a young Indonesian
couple pulled up beside me and for the first of many times I was asked where I
was from and where I was going. I told them that I was looking for a hotel on
this road but closer to Central Jakarta so I could leave easily tomorrow. They
told me that they knew a place so they led the way with the 3 of us in pursuit.
We biked for close to an hour and suddenly the couple on the motorcycle stopped
and showed me the hotel, it was perfect. The other cyclists wanted to get close
to their hospital and asked the couple on the motorcycle if they could show the
way so off they went. It was about 9:30 pm now so I was anxious to get to
sleep, as tomorrow promised to be a very tough day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On Friday morning I had my introduction to cycling in Java. The world
atlas ranks Jakarta as the 2<sup>nd</sup> largest city in the world next only
to Tokyo, with a population of over 20 million. I think most of them had a day
off and wanted to follow me on motorcycle. Since I was on the road that I was
to follow south, it was pretty simple getting out. It quickly became obvious
that Jakarta has serious problems with traffic. The city does not have a mass
transit system; one is currently being built with a scheduled completion date
of 2018. For now they rely on buses, long distance trains and minivans but for
the most part it seemed everyone drove or rode a motorcycle. There were cars
and motorcycles everywhere, lining up at intersections and with a loud roar,
would take off when the lights turned green. They left behind clouds of smoke
and a coughing, shaking cyclist just trying to get out of the city. Here is a
typical scene of the clogged streets, but you can’t see the smoke, hear the
noise or feel the heat of Jakarta.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjnZGTd_El190BN-uBzLui9O58zFpr63P8t-mXr5ouoAy3sWP00zaMPxtq0gJgLmvsqqA0imqfNqRxCU1e9PZAe9315MNgRx3hL3N9sRIi0EMeOVe_wT3Whrg4AR63iTseZm8g1XY4vX_/s1600/Still+nowhere+to+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjnZGTd_El190BN-uBzLui9O58zFpr63P8t-mXr5ouoAy3sWP00zaMPxtq0gJgLmvsqqA0imqfNqRxCU1e9PZAe9315MNgRx3hL3N9sRIi0EMeOVe_wT3Whrg4AR63iTseZm8g1XY4vX_/s1600/Still+nowhere+to+go.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Still nowhere to go</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My first town was Bogor, a city 60 km directly south of Jakarta and
there was no gap in the traffic the entire way. At one point there was a small
river running parallel to the road so I stopped to take a photo not realizing
that the locals use it as their local dump, something that seems to be very
common in large parts of SE Asia. I’m not sure what has to change to stop
people from throwing garbage out of car windows or in rivers but it is
something that is very common here. I will see people sweeping the front areas
of their homes and stores one moment, and the next they will throw a plastic
bag full of garbage on the road. When I was on the ferry to Jakarta, I was
standing on the deck near 2 young guys eating some lunch in a Styrofoam
container. The deck of the ferry had garbage pails every 10 feet and these guys
were literally an arms length from one of them but they finished their lunch
and without a second thought, threw the containers into the sea. I have seen this
repeatedly, particularly in India, the Philippines and now Indonesia and to a
lesser extent in Thailand and Malaysia and it really is difficult to
understand. I would have thought the younger generation would change things
later but many of those I have seen throw trash at will are the young. There
needs to be an entire shift in thinking about the importance of the environment
in China and SE Asia. Here is a picture of what once was a nice river.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgv-io4OdcXIpmgdswvbcwIeJ0r6hrGnb-BGwrJ_SomuS-g5hmnDpiOmbiZ4M05TvJkydLcIgUejy7lsCDhnGz-BFWrjtR2hDalnSVKRPUNz0Hwm-fg1RKXMDvTOFg889H7O4J1RuMFZL/s1600/River+in+West+Java.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgv-io4OdcXIpmgdswvbcwIeJ0r6hrGnb-BGwrJ_SomuS-g5hmnDpiOmbiZ4M05TvJkydLcIgUejy7lsCDhnGz-BFWrjtR2hDalnSVKRPUNz0Hwm-fg1RKXMDvTOFg889H7O4J1RuMFZL/s1600/River+in+West+Java.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">River in West Java</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I arrived in Bogor after 4 hours of really uncomfortable cycling and
was thinking of stopping but was hoping the traffic would ease as I continued
up into the mountains so I pressed on. The road had been flat to that point but
I kept moving hoping to get cooler and cleaner air higher up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The road from Bogor to Cibodas is 35 km’s and in that entire stretch
there is no flat or down, it is up the entire way. It was a long and grinding
climb and in some places I struggled to keep my bike upright. The road did not
have a shoulder so with the heavy traffic on one side, steep hills, potholes to
avoid and the heat and humidity, it made for some pretty tough cycling. Here is
a photo at the start of the climb, not a lot of room to maneuver.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEjH9sDt6A7PJD5vQALJAS1U-3oNRclgndUylMPkAQ2FjyWq94qChxX8cQxvKa5K3-j5JvxjAO-6AKgxcOdv0V9gWFlJaVB9IQZvpW_zTwNMb1rNtaidTsBCLYK3SSEKlyUaGQuCqdmcE/s1600/Climbing+up+in+Java.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEjH9sDt6A7PJD5vQALJAS1U-3oNRclgndUylMPkAQ2FjyWq94qChxX8cQxvKa5K3-j5JvxjAO-6AKgxcOdv0V9gWFlJaVB9IQZvpW_zTwNMb1rNtaidTsBCLYK3SSEKlyUaGQuCqdmcE/s1600/Climbing+up+in+Java.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Climbing up in Java</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It took me 4 more hours to go the 35 km’s, after having already biked
for 4 hours since Jakarta. Of course it started raining heavily as I neared the
top but by then I wasn’t going to stop so just put my head down and kept
turning the pedals. I spent a few hours wishing for my old desk job in Bermuda.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I finally reached the town of Cibodas and a very friendly man named
Dae, working at the hotel, greeted me. I had a very early start that morning
and there were still a few hours of sunlight left when I arrived. The rain
stopped so Dae offered to show me around his city. I needed a half hour to
recover and then would meet him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dae told me that Cibodas is famous in Indonesia for it’s botanical
gardens named Raya Cibodas and he offered to take me there to show me around. I
was coughing from sitting in traffic with cars and buses that do not have
exhaust restrictions so needed some fresh air and thought that would be a
perfect way to end a tough day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Raya Cibodas and are spread over the steep lower slopes of Gunung
Gede, a towering 3,000-meter peak. Indonesia was a colony of the Netherlands
for 300 years and one of their positive legacies is the number of botanical
gardens. Given the lack of priority on the environment it is impossible to
believe that these garden oasis would exist if not for the Dutch so on that
point, they have a lasting legacy and my personal gratitude.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is my friend Dae who acted as an impromptu guide.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0N34xZhKoPUz0zf3bBu8GPKp05DYQQS0Uqk4owaQ7Frq00wVGM2L9tWYGPIoyxIA45RFYeNjvsjAoWjOfORSUloBemKPH5xDa_Aeu4TRql3HJfVcaTjvOwaacIGFxfkw5H_3j6a_dbPj0/s1600/Friend+in+Cibodas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0N34xZhKoPUz0zf3bBu8GPKp05DYQQS0Uqk4owaQ7Frq00wVGM2L9tWYGPIoyxIA45RFYeNjvsjAoWjOfORSUloBemKPH5xDa_Aeu4TRql3HJfVcaTjvOwaacIGFxfkw5H_3j6a_dbPj0/s1600/Friend+in+Cibodas.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Friend in Cibodas</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are a few photos from the botanical gardens of Cibodas.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IQpktWhJt3Fq4F3IsjE6SAWLhzPMMO2zpGTTxMTJVLzZV1TMkoUY800DDpKxEWBr9hTMI2QEvnDo4W_XG_WQSUc3bdsKONlHaiZQK1VxFtuZ4XJDc2ybp9d-0M-Ldcqil3grV1poZv1u/s1600/Botanical+gardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IQpktWhJt3Fq4F3IsjE6SAWLhzPMMO2zpGTTxMTJVLzZV1TMkoUY800DDpKxEWBr9hTMI2QEvnDo4W_XG_WQSUc3bdsKONlHaiZQK1VxFtuZ4XJDc2ybp9d-0M-Ldcqil3grV1poZv1u/s1600/Botanical+gardens.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Botanical gardens</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIrs_wZwY2mnEmsqd4GFZYiG9jRxQz97xX9DcknEwMxafEU6LFneq0sswpfAripEoNO0lB556CKqhSjLrCl-e1rgx8rSr5GLKwV49uMznsg5rC-HtbOCgXEZnxABvRzVUeqqL1bxm4pz0/s1600/Waterfall+in+Botanical+gardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIrs_wZwY2mnEmsqd4GFZYiG9jRxQz97xX9DcknEwMxafEU6LFneq0sswpfAripEoNO0lB556CKqhSjLrCl-e1rgx8rSr5GLKwV49uMznsg5rC-HtbOCgXEZnxABvRzVUeqqL1bxm4pz0/s1600/Waterfall+in+Botanical+gardens.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Waterfall in Botanical gardens</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After 8 hours of cycling with the last 4 being uphill, I needed to sit
down for a while.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViMP7PW8akMuTRJ0Lrg8satgDV83AdrUJpEdaxC3xjXF43xepttxv7H4RqI54Lz47K-V4GkdSS-iIzV_0Cc6XpI47jJVAbD9iY6K23O-z9orzgLLBVvAh0jg3WtfbLqrysH3sL9Bm6kDa/s1600/Sitting+after+a+tough+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViMP7PW8akMuTRJ0Lrg8satgDV83AdrUJpEdaxC3xjXF43xepttxv7H4RqI54Lz47K-V4GkdSS-iIzV_0Cc6XpI47jJVAbD9iY6K23O-z9orzgLLBVvAh0jg3WtfbLqrysH3sL9Bm6kDa/s1600/Sitting+after+a+tough+day.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sitting after a tough day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We walked around the gardens for a few hours and I really needed to
rest so after picking up dinner I thanked Dae for his time, ate and went to
sleep. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The weather up in this part of Indonesia is very comfortable compared
with Jakarta and a lot of locals flock here during the year to escape the heat
of the big cities. It is a beautiful area with the only drawback being the
crowded roads to get here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The next day I continued on my journey east through Java with the
target being the city of Bandung. Based on my limited experience, I am not
going to enjoy the mega cities of Java but for the most part, they are unavoidable.
In most countries, the main roads or highways are relatively flat as they are a
main transport link for speeding cars and trucks. Indonesia has toll roads that
I cannot bike on so the road I take is considered a main highway but is really
what most would consider a secondary road. Some sections of this road are very
steep with buses reduced to walking speed as they leave a trail of exhaust
behind. Yesterday, I decided to try one of the alternate routes hoping to
escape the exhaust fumes and traffic. I turned on the road and within 1 km was
faced with a hill I could not get up. I had to take all the bags off my bike,
walk them up the hill and then walk back down to get my bike. I then had to
walk my bike up the hill, as I couldn’t even ride it up without any panniers. I
then loaded up my panniers and a short time later approached another hill with
a similar grade. I decided that it would take me a few months to get to Bali so
got on my bike, turned around and re-joined the highway. Now I know why I
haven’t seen anyone walking in Western Java, the hills are so steep you need a
motorcycle to get up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I have been biking I am constantly met with yells of encouragement
as I struggle up the hills. Motorcycle and car drivers give me the thumbs up
all day long. I stop regularly for drinks and rest and am always greeted
warmly. I spent 5 days without seeing a single foreign person and it seems many
people here have never seen a foreigner on a touring bike. The smiling and
curious people here constantly greet me and it is a joy to be here off the
tourist trail. The people really appreciate when someone makes an effort to
visit their communities and many want their photos taken with me as I pass. If
I stopped to talk with everyone who yelled out, I would still be in Jakarta.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The road from Cibodas to Bandung was far easier than the day before
and with clear skies I was able to see some of the incredible beauty in this
part of the country. Here are some farmers planting the next crop of rice.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Mi4zOmbzjfFl_1jkjAhbvUqcgm3HiDk5FD4xUC1yqRECaxxgBk5-v12CtXYWx-AyGwKOpjFcMH5VheEl88mcEHGu_sEtIJ64SKDn0loITGexaLbChyJFQGr2QnJH-2Z5q_svWJ2OZZXD/s1600/Rice+workers+in+West+Java.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Mi4zOmbzjfFl_1jkjAhbvUqcgm3HiDk5FD4xUC1yqRECaxxgBk5-v12CtXYWx-AyGwKOpjFcMH5VheEl88mcEHGu_sEtIJ64SKDn0loITGexaLbChyJFQGr2QnJH-2Z5q_svWJ2OZZXD/s1600/Rice+workers+in+West+Java.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rice workers in West Java</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a view of some of the green rice terraces.</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3A0vETC8RcBZgo5Nz0Q3dq5emY4iWtJ6R2M1rNOhPZcgRZPt8BGtxmlOJy3lsuQFpkAcOvM8xXtLVcYS385RBTKMLpkl737sGcnidUVsz9k-dWs0KTLFM0jwCJmEVt7SdHU5x1oQZZNy/s1600/Rice+terraces+in+West+Java.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3A0vETC8RcBZgo5Nz0Q3dq5emY4iWtJ6R2M1rNOhPZcgRZPt8BGtxmlOJy3lsuQFpkAcOvM8xXtLVcYS385RBTKMLpkl737sGcnidUVsz9k-dWs0KTLFM0jwCJmEVt7SdHU5x1oQZZNy/s1600/Rice+terraces+in+West+Java.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rice terraces in West Java</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I crossed a bridge and watched a fisherman cast his net far below.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHtC6Lm_0A8kq_ZZnRDt-IrXpmKka6QTVFCKv3Jtd9Dzbj6xYY7khCnyU0DRfS4rfduUIy7YJEIDddsWopq1j_HUe2PwVivQ6-K5At3Zsr53ov1c0J8TcdlnElvul-SzIZbFNOTJcEea7/s1600/Fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHtC6Lm_0A8kq_ZZnRDt-IrXpmKka6QTVFCKv3Jtd9Dzbj6xYY7khCnyU0DRfS4rfduUIy7YJEIDddsWopq1j_HUe2PwVivQ6-K5At3Zsr53ov1c0J8TcdlnElvul-SzIZbFNOTJcEea7/s1600/Fishing.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Fishing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">With so many traffic jams in West Java, it is only fitting that some
people find ways to make a few rupiah off the situation. There are a few things
I have seen repeatedly during the days. The first is the ever-present guy with
a whistle. The roads are typically 2 lanes so if someone is on the wrong side
in a car he might be there all day trying to cross and that is where the
whistle-blower jumps to action. The man will walk out in the middle of the
street, hold up his hand and blow his whistle. As the traffic stops, the car
trying to cross will ease out and then roll down his window to give the
whistle-blower a tip and be on his way. This happens all the time, which just
adds to the bottleneck of traffic, and the whistles simply add to the noise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The second occupation created by the traffic jams is the men with
guitars. They will walk down the lines of stalled traffic and usually stand
beside a mini-van that drives with the passenger door open. He will stand and
sing a love song hoping to get tips from the passengers. Here is one guy trying
to make a living.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_-OgIydGm3Of3AKOO7e6pe7MiObu153SgkNoEKWMC2nrF_sXph7eA6RJYAN3h6iJzhhj6voQka5k6JZIQgabZ7bLjK0GqHB3r97Ew47rOcOHmVsniBwnwFMH4D0IA3PFpzzy0rFB53an/s1600/Music+anyone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_-OgIydGm3Of3AKOO7e6pe7MiObu153SgkNoEKWMC2nrF_sXph7eA6RJYAN3h6iJzhhj6voQka5k6JZIQgabZ7bLjK0GqHB3r97Ew47rOcOHmVsniBwnwFMH4D0IA3PFpzzy0rFB53an/s1600/Music+anyone.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Music anyone</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are a few more photos of the scenery in the mountains of Western
Java.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictMTSc8wT2uwRhjc1qfsMAaq1G3ec7rUBsQblt6U3z4DOsOfYgtjA44_z54ttZMlUJjqZVgBb1ahFEyh8rqf8pMVJkmAHW3udXVikfONpfQWzbxA6uNiNF5TgPkq40fII67BGWPt_FCEO/s1600/Mountains+of+West+Java.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictMTSc8wT2uwRhjc1qfsMAaq1G3ec7rUBsQblt6U3z4DOsOfYgtjA44_z54ttZMlUJjqZVgBb1ahFEyh8rqf8pMVJkmAHW3udXVikfONpfQWzbxA6uNiNF5TgPkq40fII67BGWPt_FCEO/s1600/Mountains+of+West+Java.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mountains of West Java</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsLkSytOLdDHAReluMZwn50uaqEr1o4MCI07Zwb5PG_zT9mdgw1PUVgqbP4gehIo6FWpInILC86p4EIjLXouVt0z02vZLTDxjhvAvk_U7c9g5Dfipxg8DzhxogCdOardE-PO-oy0fKeXy/s1600/Scene+in+West+Java.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsLkSytOLdDHAReluMZwn50uaqEr1o4MCI07Zwb5PG_zT9mdgw1PUVgqbP4gehIo6FWpInILC86p4EIjLXouVt0z02vZLTDxjhvAvk_U7c9g5Dfipxg8DzhxogCdOardE-PO-oy0fKeXy/s1600/Scene+in+West+Java.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Scene in West Java</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One day it was getting late as I was trying to reach a small town for
the night. I was planning on getting there easily but did not anticipate the
slow progress due to the large number of potholes on the road. They really slow
your progress, particularly going downhill as you have to avoid hitting them at
high speeds. It was getting dark and suddenly the clouds burst with a
torrential downpour. It was now very dark and I ducked off the road under an
awning for a car wash. I still had 10 km to go in the dark on a very busy and
narrow road. A man approached me to ask where I was from and where I was going
and after the usual answers asked him if this was his car wash business. He
told me that he lived in the small wooden building to the side and the house
belonged to his sister. I was putting on my rain gear and dreading having to go
back on those roads so I pointed to a corner of the driveway and asked if I
could sleep there tonight since it was very dangerous to go back on the road.
He asked me if I was serious and I said yes, I have a tent and can sleep
anywhere. He reluctantly agreed but only because he thought I wouldn’t be
comfortable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The man is Dadan and as I was setting up my tent he offered me a cup
of coffee and then raced off to his store in his home to get me a cup. When he
came back he offered to let me stay in his sister’s home but I had my tent up
and insisted that it was a perfect place for me to sleep and that I was just
grateful for him allowing me to stay there. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dadan and his wife had one son and one daughter and a few years ago, a
woman in the vicinity approached them and said she had a baby but could not
afford to raise her. They asked Dadan if he would take the child. In Indonesia
and the Philippines, there is a large informal adoption process where people
will sign over their child to a relative or friend. They sign papers and agree
that the new parents will have sole custody and are responsible for the child’s
welfare. There is no money that exchanges hands and the system is a lifesaver.
I knew a few people in the Philippines who have informally adopted a relative
and it works very well. The people adopting have the means to provide for the
child but don’t have the fees that would be charged in a formal adoption
process. Dadan told me that if he had to pay the adoption fee charged in
Indonesia, he wouldn’t be able to take the baby girl. The informal adoption
process cannot be done for foreign adoptions of course, that has to be tightly
controlled, but within the countries here and particularly amongst relatives,
it is a wonderful system that works.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dadan and his wife adopted Nisrina 4 years ago and here is a picture
of all of them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNGGUiQv6de7HMuUNAVlh3ylhglMbQSbz5JhI90V5HAY9qyaHJtYGVyKXKiy5fWI81ONkJ92QclR3Y5lEWn6ROkzEzu70WeFa6lqYt_9RPgKApdJKhH6u8pH-vy_s28oTpCOMLHu_e38o/s1600/Dadan+and+his+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNGGUiQv6de7HMuUNAVlh3ylhglMbQSbz5JhI90V5HAY9qyaHJtYGVyKXKiy5fWI81ONkJ92QclR3Y5lEWn6ROkzEzu70WeFa6lqYt_9RPgKApdJKhH6u8pH-vy_s28oTpCOMLHu_e38o/s1600/Dadan+and+his+family.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dadan and his family</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On January 22<sup>nd</sup> of this year, Dadan and his wife were
approached by a different woman asking if they could adopt her newborn
daughter. They informally adopted a second girl, now 3 weeks old. Here is Ratih
with their new daughter.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_FVutRtsyAnZ7mQm_1hgN7LA1xInP6m9a8k0QWCiS-Ub3s4TS8TtFBAPJfhBySVK8HdCl1O4IAXeMUr_50i-URAxPHJL_Hp4h4k8xrQPgICa_b5VYpZUh8JeKJh9hKqS2NxNt9DsfuVu/s1600/Dadan%25E2%2580%2599s+wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_FVutRtsyAnZ7mQm_1hgN7LA1xInP6m9a8k0QWCiS-Ub3s4TS8TtFBAPJfhBySVK8HdCl1O4IAXeMUr_50i-URAxPHJL_Hp4h4k8xrQPgICa_b5VYpZUh8JeKJh9hKqS2NxNt9DsfuVu/s1600/Dadan%25E2%2580%2599s+wife.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dadan’s wife</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dadan and his wife absolutely love children and were very interested
in Angel House and my efforts to support them. They invited me into their home
for dinner and provided noodles and vegetables along with pastries, tea and
some figs. Here is my dinner.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSL92o6Gr5vUuhyphenhyphenGqaYFQ7NUhHgMdh_BoAGUBudMVmJH8NlLLNwH28oasGxoRcDDmQxRDQazpP6MIBYbN0LiDxtcZhfqKfJPo2HVrzkEaHt5yjQAsBiWaJrBirAE2z_Pc3D0KarYEwMFJ/s1600/Meal+after+long+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSL92o6Gr5vUuhyphenhyphenGqaYFQ7NUhHgMdh_BoAGUBudMVmJH8NlLLNwH28oasGxoRcDDmQxRDQazpP6MIBYbN0LiDxtcZhfqKfJPo2HVrzkEaHt5yjQAsBiWaJrBirAE2z_Pc3D0KarYEwMFJ/s1600/Meal+after+long+day.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Meal after long day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I then spent a few hours talking with the family. I showed them a
world map of my planned route and they peppered me with questions about my home
in Canada and particularly why I am not married with my own children. When I
was ready to sleep, Ratih loaded up a plate of pastries and figs and told me to
take the plate to my tent in case I got hungry at night. In the morning the
only thing left on the plate were the seeds from the figs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83yiWbRQtDigHSUv8UsvT7JCzWLqBxvXCKx42RdBf3-6AiDNf6qcbXou2W1bDmEm9BwPL5y22v5MINzzMvka4HmDdCxsvOf8YGgGATXSJHvw0lkYtpWnspGx9gb8px0lZ4SGYI0sQWjeT/s1600/Midnight+snack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83yiWbRQtDigHSUv8UsvT7JCzWLqBxvXCKx42RdBf3-6AiDNf6qcbXou2W1bDmEm9BwPL5y22v5MINzzMvka4HmDdCxsvOf8YGgGATXSJHvw0lkYtpWnspGx9gb8px0lZ4SGYI0sQWjeT/s1600/Midnight+snack.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Midnight snack</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is my tent set up beside Dadan’s home.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xcG6zDtUTQGhC83cDGVBud0Q4KHoh1UTMSYWc-zMbS5nYNo3cUS7eKgr4Xwv_HRRnPobCPvKATEmC3nZ4nIIEGYp_WoFLb4PqSP-UELTSDPk1GllppaE5M9e_ZK_0LkjcYqDzgnHzO_u/s1600/Campsite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xcG6zDtUTQGhC83cDGVBud0Q4KHoh1UTMSYWc-zMbS5nYNo3cUS7eKgr4Xwv_HRRnPobCPvKATEmC3nZ4nIIEGYp_WoFLb4PqSP-UELTSDPk1GllppaE5M9e_ZK_0LkjcYqDzgnHzO_u/s1600/Campsite.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Campsite</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What started out as a difficult situation of having to bike in the
dark through a rainstorm turned out to be a wonderful night with Dadan and his
family. It’s funny how things turn out when you least expect it and it always seems
to come down to the kindness of strangers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The next day I was biking along and heard a strange sound so stopped
to investigate. On the corner of an intersection a monkey was at the end of a
chain performing for the passing motorists. I went over there to see the main
actor doing various tricks. Here is one where the monkey tries to impress with
feats of strength.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here he is riding his motorcycle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I was standing there a few men across the street told me to give
the monkey a tip. I pulled out a bill and waved it so the monkey approached me.
He was a nasty fellow and growled and showed his teeth so I wasn’t about to
hand it to him but threw it near him instead. He picked it up, walked a few
steps away and then gave me a salute, which caused a lot of laughter in the
passing vehicles.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is another rice field in Central Java.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the things that I noticed immediately in Indonesia is the number
of people who smoke. After my first day I was making it a habit to ask people
whom I came into contact with if they smoked and it took 3 days before I found
one who didn’t smoke. The non-smoker was Dadan’s 15-year old son who told me he
does not smoke. I asked Dadan if he knew of anyone except his son who does not
smoke and he said no. The problem here is that despite a non-smoking law for
restaurants and hotel rooms, they are not enforced so between the exhaust fumes
and cigarette smoking, my lungs are taking a beating. Here is an example of the
prominence that cigarettes get in the stores. They don’t hide them behind the
counters in Indonesia.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On Thursday February 20<sup>th</sup>, I entered the city of Yogyakarta
and will spend a few days here in the cultural capital of Indonesia. The day
was a long 130 km and since I am now back at sea level in Central Java, the
heat has returned with a vengeance. In the mountains I had almost forgotten
that I am close to the equator but now I am going through large bottles of
water regularly during the day. The flat roads have returned and here is a
scene a few hours before I stopped for the day. It is noteworthy because for
the first time in over 600 km, I had flat road, no potholes and no traffic.
Unfortunately, the road was a new bypass that only lasted 3 km’s before I was
back on the main road. It was a great while it lasted.</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What happened to Java</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here I am at a rest stop with a few Muslim girls from the store. Can
you tell who has been biking in the heat?</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIk4kLxTHVgW5qtv96n6iW_-QvruZmgdXZzq7NvgiAitX-fNcXTsndWuWnqvXga9atBX5acQIlvzYh5GpgI8-y_P_ptpUDrttdOjvUUjRR7G3Ea86BzoP5PRjhzTpS6poTLUe8fqVs5hGr/s1600/Groupies+in+Indonesia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIk4kLxTHVgW5qtv96n6iW_-QvruZmgdXZzq7NvgiAitX-fNcXTsndWuWnqvXga9atBX5acQIlvzYh5GpgI8-y_P_ptpUDrttdOjvUUjRR7G3Ea86BzoP5PRjhzTpS6poTLUe8fqVs5hGr/s1600/Groupies+in+Indonesia.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Groupies in Indonesia</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Last week there was a major volcano that erupted in East Java. Mount
Kelud erupted killing 3 people and closing the major airports in the area. The
city of Yogyakarta where I am now is a few hundred kilometers away but as I rode
into the city I noticed the ash covering trees, rooftops and the sides of the
road. I am heading east after a few days off here and hope to climb Mount Bromo
a little to the east of Kelud but that may not be possible after the latest
eruption. I have heard things are clearing up so hopefully it will be okay. I
will then be heading towards the island of Bali so will explore another island
in this beautiful country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In my discussions with Dadan and his family about the informal
adoption process that occurs in Indonesia and the Philippines, I was again
reminded of the work that David does with Angel House. With child trafficking a
real problem, it is essential that the formal adoption process geared towards
people outside of these countries be controlled tightly. Angel House employs a
social worker who deals with the Philippines Department of Social Welfare on a
daily basis to ensure all the laws and requirements for formal foreign
adoptions are in met. The costs to feed, clothe and ensure the health of the children
are high and David absorbs those costs without any government assistance. If
you or anyone you know is interested in sponsoring one of the children or
helping with the operational costs, please contact Angel House or me directly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is 3-year old Baby L, thinking about his future and if he will
find a family to love him. With the support of donors, Angel House can make his
dream come true.</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdm0XiR0RrcbUOvQ37Oj3cEmmxvEoUXthZhLgvn4Zvzvz5tnaJrm2QXmYkye05fS365NuoPCjtoHOl1xo1KPGsqY6aFryvNNKxqEZtVReol5mXuVADcTyfmT3uOa84YLNhjXijvyKazi8/s1600/Baby+L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdm0XiR0RrcbUOvQ37Oj3cEmmxvEoUXthZhLgvn4Zvzvz5tnaJrm2QXmYkye05fS365NuoPCjtoHOl1xo1KPGsqY6aFryvNNKxqEZtVReol5mXuVADcTyfmT3uOa84YLNhjXijvyKazi8/s1600/Baby+L.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Baby L</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-26291968894321046552014-02-09T20:46:00.001-08:002014-02-10T05:37:34.495-08:00Welcome to Malaysia<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">February 8, 2014 – Welcome
to Malaysia<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Singapore</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 24 - Distance biked so
far: (2,186 km)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Welcome to
Malaysia<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikT6-V_t9-Jpw2yAEkDPH3PTB7Z1wyNYWfc3eP3IwZCrtt4JmqicbVm4F2-jthyauSCOr2iJzJr6-kL9oh_V3qx-5Vl8ugRgaNkBGKgm8HWB8xjHJ-TNVNHgsUQnTzas1HIm16_S1ZdLki/s1600/The+Malaysia+border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikT6-V_t9-Jpw2yAEkDPH3PTB7Z1wyNYWfc3eP3IwZCrtt4JmqicbVm4F2-jthyauSCOr2iJzJr6-kL9oh_V3qx-5Vl8ugRgaNkBGKgm8HWB8xjHJ-TNVNHgsUQnTzas1HIm16_S1ZdLki/s1600/The+Malaysia+border.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Malaysia border</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I crossed from Thailand into Malaysia on January 27<sup>th</sup> and
the relatively cool weather that I enjoyed in Thailand continued for the first
few days. Other than the language, religion and lack of coffee shops every 30
km or so, the northwest of Malaysia is very similar to Thailand. Malaysia is an
old British colony so English is widely spoken and of course it is a Muslim
country as opposed to the Buddhism in Thailand. The Mosque’s have replaced the
Buddhist Wats but the friendly people still abound.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I was quickly reminded of the hospitality of Muslim countries. On one
afternoon I rolled my bike up to a roadside restaurant and lined up in front of
the display case to point out what I was going to order. I have to point
because for the most part I have no idea of the names of the dishes so I
usually just ask for rice and vegetables. A lady was in front of me and asked
where I was from and then she just smiled and sat down with her son. I ate my
meal and when I was done asked for the bill and the owner told me that the lady
who just left and the one who I spoke with a short while ago paid my bill. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The irony is that a few nights ago, I was watching a video on YouTube
about people who perform random acts of kindness. In one video, a man loaded up
his video camera and a few family members and went to a grocery store in the
U.S to pay for someone’s food. He was a member of a Christian church so carried
some tracts with the name of the church and a few gospel messages. The young
daughter filmed as the man stood behind a lady in the checkout line and when it
came to her time to pay, he loudly announced that he was going to pay the bill.
He then mentioned the church he belonged to and as the camera was rolling so
that they could download it later. I remember thinking at the time that despite
the idea being one of kindness, it certainly wasn’t a random act. It struck me
that it was more of a way to get people to join a church. The lady I met here
had absolutely no agenda; she simply paid the bill without saying a word,
expecting nothing in return. That sticks out in my mind as a truly random act
of kindness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The next day I was biking along and a young man pulled up beside me on
a motorcycle. He asked where I was from and then reached down and gave me an
ice-cold bottle of water and drove off. It is the same hospitality I had when I
was in Syria and Jordan back in 2011. It is really encouraging to know that
there are so many people in the world who simply take the time to show
kindness. It doesn’t take a lot but the impact can last a long time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The scenery was lush and the roads were quiet after crossing the
border. Here is a typical view of my first day in Malaysia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDULiqXGO602L7IYBoNyveMNNxclUgMnWBzfFHkeil43j0Y3QVD6P-ctyMtaevqx15JwwZD2UudaBN2OsZpxHmM_4LaQBV-kEdSNarhy4dfp0QkI1a3ScnOkXgzzCAkgd69BYChVOkPDI/s1600/Nice+cycling+in+Northern+Malaysia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDULiqXGO602L7IYBoNyveMNNxclUgMnWBzfFHkeil43j0Y3QVD6P-ctyMtaevqx15JwwZD2UudaBN2OsZpxHmM_4LaQBV-kEdSNarhy4dfp0QkI1a3ScnOkXgzzCAkgd69BYChVOkPDI/s1600/Nice+cycling+in+Northern+Malaysia.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Nice cycling in Northern Malaysia</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a canal in the city of Alor Setar.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3-IDy8wcq7j4-idIlZf2gSvni-bWgH-bNjnEy1nTVP6OojC4AULxgvOdFTXPxH79FMr6mYJVrL2biEb_FZ0-Ks4_dkevrXWlUsgjtICx2yRTDcThnipNKpBEsc5TWXSswVyEVQQ_2fS9/s1600/Alor+Setar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3-IDy8wcq7j4-idIlZf2gSvni-bWgH-bNjnEy1nTVP6OojC4AULxgvOdFTXPxH79FMr6mYJVrL2biEb_FZ0-Ks4_dkevrXWlUsgjtICx2yRTDcThnipNKpBEsc5TWXSswVyEVQQ_2fS9/s1600/Alor+Setar.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Alor Setar</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The country of Malaysia has been peaceful for many years but there is
an underlying tension. The reason is that there are 3 main ethnic groups with
the majority being Malay, the second largest but wealthiest being Chinese and
the poorest being Indian. There is often conflict when the wealthier group does
not have the same political influence as the majority. The government here has
to walk a tightrope. On one hand they need the votes of the Malays to hold on
to power but on the other, they need to have support from those paying the most
tax and controlling the workforce. In general terms, a similar situation is
occurring right now in Thailand between the middle class in Bangkok and the
farmers in the north and northeast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The good thing about having 3 different ethic groups is that you get 3
distinct cultures in one country and that means a great variety of food. My
breakfast of choice is the Indian roti canai and teh tarik. Roti Canai is warm flatbread
and served with different spicy sauces. Teh tarik is hot tea with milk. Here is
a breakfast of champions or at least fat champions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkAuE2RzjpqMBiUQvspdPBk_QJRa0yp_u0kb0iVE3vivn-dtsnNKqptzj-B3YvBFPCR4qAVUKHa3DN277eE4RRQE0UjvQ_py6jKAAmakO03obXr34-t1hfggbQTgfdxl3bbM9CqVRMY_D/s1600/Roti+Canai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkAuE2RzjpqMBiUQvspdPBk_QJRa0yp_u0kb0iVE3vivn-dtsnNKqptzj-B3YvBFPCR4qAVUKHa3DN277eE4RRQE0UjvQ_py6jKAAmakO03obXr34-t1hfggbQTgfdxl3bbM9CqVRMY_D/s1600/Roti+Canai.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Roti Canai</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If I want a different meal in the morning, I usually avoid having to
make a difficult choice so just have a second breakfast. The Chinese tend to go
with noodles and it is also delicious. Here is a breakfast in a Chinese
roadside stall. Since they don’t really have coffee here, I stick with the hot
tea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Second breakfast</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">With the different ethnic groups you also get different religions. Malaysia
is a secular Muslim country but has a strong Chinese Buddhist and Indian Hindu
influence. Here is one of the many Mosques I rode by while in Malaysia.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0FeUKxHes7vVfledSJq8rmc1RugF5DcRRpS4ByhoL4q2lOe85K3_7xkXaJezcblUkJp3ZMNjc_XUf5xSK5kGs1bTwYVGrxwVj3CB_bj5r6SJFFzpPi_GgWqU_nDKEo5VYP12c9lxcuwR/s1600/Mosque+near+Ipoh+Malaysia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0FeUKxHes7vVfledSJq8rmc1RugF5DcRRpS4ByhoL4q2lOe85K3_7xkXaJezcblUkJp3ZMNjc_XUf5xSK5kGs1bTwYVGrxwVj3CB_bj5r6SJFFzpPi_GgWqU_nDKEo5VYP12c9lxcuwR/s1600/Mosque+near+Ipoh+Malaysia.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mosque near Ipoh, Malaysia</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You also see a lot of Hindu temples in the towns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6Eu0TMLXuU9LzWs05cPm2DEX_-Jgt2LzjfP28DxBG2jrFbi7Pjfswd1g5MhQU6a98_aCZDpTur19DqOao4JQ9Qnwfo34qAN-XT9Yi_9LeBgRU9BVbS6AflaFFnYMirB5ZM2OdpxJk_Ep/s1600/Hindu+temple+in+Malaysia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6Eu0TMLXuU9LzWs05cPm2DEX_-Jgt2LzjfP28DxBG2jrFbi7Pjfswd1g5MhQU6a98_aCZDpTur19DqOao4JQ9Qnwfo34qAN-XT9Yi_9LeBgRU9BVbS6AflaFFnYMirB5ZM2OdpxJk_Ep/s1600/Hindu+temple+in+Malaysia.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hindu temple in Malaysia</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In Malaysia, as I ride by in the more remote parts, I often hear
scrambling noises to my side and that can only mean monkeys. I usually hear
them before I see them so will typically stop, look up in the trees and see if
I can see them scramble. They are shy and will try to hide but sometimes, they
are pretty easy to spot. One day, I was riding and watched a monkey walk across
the power line to get from one side of the road to the other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbETwjnhWJGg65NsNaoxdaadE5tXu-55nL8qgM5uU8ptwzvg98DRId07FzgnqEvMqceJbfIqfj6IccMi1goMSeXEw4zGvTN1EfZz4AHdBNKCNhjfW_FSEbcXNB4ao5gaHw3SdBwC4vC7C/s1600/Why+did+the+monkey+cross+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbETwjnhWJGg65NsNaoxdaadE5tXu-55nL8qgM5uU8ptwzvg98DRId07FzgnqEvMqceJbfIqfj6IccMi1goMSeXEw4zGvTN1EfZz4AHdBNKCNhjfW_FSEbcXNB4ao5gaHw3SdBwC4vC7C/s1600/Why+did+the+monkey+cross+the+road.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Why did the monkey cross the road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I approached I saw a number doing the same thing, it was a busy
intersection for the monkeys. This one was halfway across and spotted me so
scrambled as fast as he could and nearly fell. Luckily they have 2 hands, 2
feet and a tail, as back up support to avoid a fall, this monkey needed all 5
points of contact.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt21Fwd1bSOnGsGWsM7EahZPTTqRrFToTOwM8mjJNGabc3AO_kjgBk5YYRR40VDKEQ4btZJipIU8ZH8Ad24ML0HQGptNKYLu9h9dMmS677aCkjJq9HcX5SFGjoJVBWPy9xRxpGG-GZ9Rl/s1600/Close+call.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt21Fwd1bSOnGsGWsM7EahZPTTqRrFToTOwM8mjJNGabc3AO_kjgBk5YYRR40VDKEQ4btZJipIU8ZH8Ad24ML0HQGptNKYLu9h9dMmS677aCkjJq9HcX5SFGjoJVBWPy9xRxpGG-GZ9Rl/s1600/Close+call.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Close call</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My original plan in Malaysia was to just bike a few days to the city
of Georgetown and then take a ferry to Sumatra, Indonesia. The ferries no
longer operate from this part of Malaysia so I was forced to continue south and
I have decided to continue all the way down to Singapore and then to take a
ferry to Indonesia from there. I don’t have a guidebook for Malaysia but since
I was here before I remember a lot of the details. My favorite city in Malaysia
is Melaka and I stayed there for 3 nights in 2012. I distinctly remembered the
Emily Home Guesthouse and so when I rode into town I easily found the place
from memory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am taking a day off here in the peaceful settings. Emily Home Guesthouse
has beautiful gardens that make it difficult to leave.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGMztA4ZwqeMtxElRGuYZhgbjIT523M1_R6tF3dlUoI71fNyI7JMlXgs-700jz6krL7BffmPXxW0YJnTME54UwHOQHqLpllVmaM-xKWeCI4uKbEXomBWq9dggQ6bEurvK7vAp2YyQVA-7/s1600/Gardens+at+Emily+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGMztA4ZwqeMtxElRGuYZhgbjIT523M1_R6tF3dlUoI71fNyI7JMlXgs-700jz6krL7BffmPXxW0YJnTME54UwHOQHqLpllVmaM-xKWeCI4uKbEXomBWq9dggQ6bEurvK7vAp2YyQVA-7/s1600/Gardens+at+Emily+Home.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gardens at Emily Home</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There are 2 resident turtles and the female gave birth to some eggs a
few days ago. They are kept under the blue container to keep them out of harm’s
reach. Here are the proud parents keeping an eye on the eggs under cover.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSo3JQfKT0XJcaR8I_CuATPSG21pfyqf_fLjaEm7R4-ZHQwm7Vt-YDT9PNOoOE15oOW9eUrqhinFbsCBmX9yJiVtSsFyzQtA9xNJqUhKSQBuTYDf1pGJM6828fibZq0s48nckriqBkXv5/s1600/Turtles+at+Emily+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSo3JQfKT0XJcaR8I_CuATPSG21pfyqf_fLjaEm7R4-ZHQwm7Vt-YDT9PNOoOE15oOW9eUrqhinFbsCBmX9yJiVtSsFyzQtA9xNJqUhKSQBuTYDf1pGJM6828fibZq0s48nckriqBkXv5/s1600/Turtles+at+Emily+Home.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Turtles at Emily Home</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The City of Melaka has an Old Town that is a great place to walk
around for a few days. Here is the Old Church in the center of town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4RN-rMnndQO2zkiONgiNyNbnVngI8sxJ36pE2Wu1dDnjWmlgVg0ed38zasxFTg2sjFFlJ5HxmNaR3YKvPH62RpmWCHZfhfd-hY-V8TG5dC4SQNuloNPxpBkhLAUX1Bt-Ri5NquWqjzjT/s1600/Center+of+Melaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4RN-rMnndQO2zkiONgiNyNbnVngI8sxJ36pE2Wu1dDnjWmlgVg0ed38zasxFTg2sjFFlJ5HxmNaR3YKvPH62RpmWCHZfhfd-hY-V8TG5dC4SQNuloNPxpBkhLAUX1Bt-Ri5NquWqjzjT/s1600/Center+of+Melaka.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Center of Melaka</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There are canals running through the City adding to the charm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0ULW73YHwlG7MS3Y0L2ovoA-is1ptwe6oWWANf6YJgoFlidLtdGNQZYneAENF_iyeUcH0eeQvbQHuiFz0w36TqAQdipifeP-_tmpYSJcr2nITGG9SenS8n0cOVFFel8ZALkmROaA3hlD/s1600/Canal+in+Melaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0ULW73YHwlG7MS3Y0L2ovoA-is1ptwe6oWWANf6YJgoFlidLtdGNQZYneAENF_iyeUcH0eeQvbQHuiFz0w36TqAQdipifeP-_tmpYSJcr2nITGG9SenS8n0cOVFFel8ZALkmROaA3hlD/s1600/Canal+in+Melaka.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Canal in Melaka</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Old Town is a very artsy place with coffee shops, art and craft
shops and antique stores you often find in these historic sites. A lot of the
old buildings are painted and here is one reminding me of the Orangutans I
missed in Sumatra.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFljEnOYoohLUUnDEjf-V-or9UZUM8oncdlqeaHSCZYAHBD2tORUWzgfhnjW_x8l_EpLwSbrDE5x3xhb5FuQHYp5Hy87c56XbVLhxgsrCape_jwl_5X5_lvgEaJm1JkQEzl-dIrbcZWOQ/s1600/Art+scene+in+Melaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFljEnOYoohLUUnDEjf-V-or9UZUM8oncdlqeaHSCZYAHBD2tORUWzgfhnjW_x8l_EpLwSbrDE5x3xhb5FuQHYp5Hy87c56XbVLhxgsrCape_jwl_5X5_lvgEaJm1JkQEzl-dIrbcZWOQ/s1600/Art+scene+in+Melaka.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Art scene in Melaka</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Melaka is known for spicy rice balls so I had to go out and find some.
The owner of Emily Home told me about a local restaurant and it wasn’t long
before I found it. I had chicken, spicy rice balls and a tofu and seaweed soup,
something I will be dreaming about for miles to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpABuKviiogPYlSh6H45e01Gu5ZNlr2HJPi1iH_VPOiUKU69ffFPu3nSl7XVTCWweac8SJfxACEW2nZvM0kU2GQN32JmfeEhSXPHK00fnf1vlMyYsVdMd-RE9JAgGEhZf4JlBqxgEslHYV/s1600/Rice+balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpABuKviiogPYlSh6H45e01Gu5ZNlr2HJPi1iH_VPOiUKU69ffFPu3nSl7XVTCWweac8SJfxACEW2nZvM0kU2GQN32JmfeEhSXPHK00fnf1vlMyYsVdMd-RE9JAgGEhZf4JlBqxgEslHYV/s1600/Rice+balls.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rice balls</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On my 22<sup>nd</sup> day of the trip I passed the 2,000 km mark,
shortly south of Melaka.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPHGS9qB2WC7O95LTf4b9FA6S1mip0EXH8y3GLDVrjyW3LUvC_Aoucdst6GP0xKVDH8K3CTReFUUvZhotHe0js2ynzghFipgBCk67Fs7TP8PfR_HGXP1LwFtCMfvpI-_NTO4DW9_YgNM2/s1600/2%252C000+km.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPHGS9qB2WC7O95LTf4b9FA6S1mip0EXH8y3GLDVrjyW3LUvC_Aoucdst6GP0xKVDH8K3CTReFUUvZhotHe0js2ynzghFipgBCk67Fs7TP8PfR_HGXP1LwFtCMfvpI-_NTO4DW9_YgNM2/s1600/2%252C000+km.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2,000 km</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I have mentioned I like to stop to eat at the local roadside stalls
as the food is delicious and very few foreigners eat there. It is a great
chance to meet local people and they are very appreciative of someone trying
their food. I stopped at a Malay restaurant for a small meal and the ladies
wanted a picture and ended up fighting over who was going to stand beside me.
They ended up taking turns and took 4 different photos. The lady on my left won
the prized spot on this picture and she is pretty happy about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcen8wd0l3Ir41abSgipcMpHi09ypx1J1JKcMJleqNK9oI3DR7eq4yKseHZzTP6nGZrLXxIOEbyYi9MYQmmtAYWXJ2y3d1KsIUaC2P91u8LtILajTgJfJxNeagTKe7qCKXH4WozlLu9GB/s1600/My+groupies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcen8wd0l3Ir41abSgipcMpHi09ypx1J1JKcMJleqNK9oI3DR7eq4yKseHZzTP6nGZrLXxIOEbyYi9MYQmmtAYWXJ2y3d1KsIUaC2P91u8LtILajTgJfJxNeagTKe7qCKXH4WozlLu9GB/s1600/My+groupies.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My groupies</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I was cycling along one day and noticed a large Buddhist Temple with a
number of Swastika signs on the side. The Swastika symbol is 3,000 years old
and means different things to the Buddhist of India, China and Japan. One great
irony of history is that the Nazis in Germany adopted the use of a symbol
initially meant for peace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteNvlCDVuw172tixNVSEI4WxMlC7KNXS3j9FZZpF56nadybaKHQA6JjqsobC2lVBnb9xn3bRLx-Tk5dsQ_sMEDb7wX5jztpyv8BGOdhPl-iuUBq72LbircF00mrvnc2Bny4LpKFH0c2ga/s1600/Buddhist+Temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteNvlCDVuw172tixNVSEI4WxMlC7KNXS3j9FZZpF56nadybaKHQA6JjqsobC2lVBnb9xn3bRLx-Tk5dsQ_sMEDb7wX5jztpyv8BGOdhPl-iuUBq72LbircF00mrvnc2Bny4LpKFH0c2ga/s1600/Buddhist+Temple.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Buddhist Temple</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I mentioned earlier about the hospitality that has been shown to me in
Malaysia but on February 6<sup>th</sup>, I had a day I will never forget. I
stopped at a stall for my second breakfast and ordered a meal and coffee and
sat at a table outside. I noticed a family inside but they were quietly
enjoying their meal so I opened up a book and started reading. When I was done
I went to pay and the owner told me that the family that was here and left paid
my bill. They had left the restaurant about 15 minutes earlier. They smiled at
me but did not say a word. I then continued on and later in the hot day noticed
a sign for a Coconut Shake. I turned my bike around and had to try one .I can’t
believe I am also through Malaysia and this is my first coconut shake, now one
of my all time favorites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I was sitting there in the euphoria of a cold shake with ice cream
on a not day, a man introduced himself as Mdin Ghani. We talked briefly and
then I said I had to go but before I left he paid for my milkshake. The older
man on his right is almost 100 years old and explained through Mdin that in his
youth travelled the world by sea as a seaman. I think he would have a lot of
great stories to tell. Thank you Mdin for your kind hospitality, I will
remember the Malaysia people fondly because of acts like that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I made it to the town of Pontian late in the afternoon and was looking
for a place to sleep. I went into the Sunflower Hotel and met the owner Jorlyn
Tee. She took an interest in my cycling and when she asked about the Philippine
flag I told her that I was trying to support the Angel House Orphanage and the
victims of Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. When she heard that she offered
me a room for free. Here is a picture of Jorlyn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I went to my room and could not believe what had happened in the course
of about 7 hours. Complete strangers paid for a breakfast, snack and offered a
hotel room and without any expectation of anything in return. I decided that at
that point I was not going to simply accept the gifts. It is the gesture that
has the most meaning to, not the dollar value but the dollar value can mean
something to others. I decided to track the value of all the random acts of
kindness and will then donate the value to the Angel House Orphanage when I
complete the trip. The people acts of kindness will be forwarded on to the
orphanage that could really use the support so I want it to mean a lot. I will
never forget the generosity and want to spread that to others. I am completely
humbled by what the people in Malaysia have done in the past 10 days and even
though they will not know the impact it will have a wide-ranging effect,
trickling down to the orphaned children in Davao, Philippines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It is now Saturday February 8<sup>th</sup> and I am in Singapore. I
will be here a few days and then continue with a ferry ride to Indonesia. It
looks like the best option for me will be to take a ferry to the south of the
island of Sumatra and then continue on my bike to the island of Java and then
Bali. Indonesia promises to be a lot more hectic than Singapore, but I am
excited to visit a place I have never been.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the things I started doing as I was cycling is to pick up any
loose money that I find on the roads. I will be collecting that and also donate
it to the Angel House Orphanage after my trip around the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a summary of a few things since I left Bangkok on January 15,
2014.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Days on the road – 24</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Km’s cycled – 2,186</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Countries visited – 3 (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Money found on the road - $3.49 (local currency converted to $U.S)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Books read or reading – 5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Smartest Guys in the Room (the fall of Enron)</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Man
without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Big
Truck that Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Race of
a Lifetime (inside story of the 2008 U.S Presidential election)</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lonely
Planet – Indonesia</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Angel House Orphanage as adorable children ready to be adopted and
here is a picture of a little Princess.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In January, only 30% of the operating costs for the Angel House Orphanage
were met through private donations. David and his team do not get any
government funding and are not sponsored by a church so all the expenses to
provide food, healthcare, clothing and the day to day expenses of up to 20
children have to be met by those donations. Any shortfall comes from David’s
pocket and that shortfall can’t last forever. Please share the word on the
Angel House Orphanage with friends, families, churches and any other
organization that might provide support or even someone willing to adopt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They have a page on Facebook, </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/angelhousephilippine" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/angelhousephilippine</a>s</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> so please invite friends to like the page and
pass it to their friends. David also has a website where you can see photos of
the children and get updates on the work they do. It can be found here, </span><a href="http://angelhousephilippines.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://angelhousephilippines.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you for following the journey. I will write again from
Indonesia.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-23383580172327858022014-01-28T18:59:00.000-08:002014-01-28T18:59:41.061-08:00Heading south in Thailand<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">January 28, 2014 – Heading
south in Thailand<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thailand border with
Malaysia</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Day 12 - Distance biked so
far: (1,092 km)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I picked a good time to head south in Thailand as this time of year
the winds come from the northeast and I am cycling south. That combined with
the flat roads has meant a good introduction to cycling after a year off the
bike. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As you enter most cities in Thailand large photos of the King greet
you. Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej is now 86 years old and is the world’s
longest serving head of state, having ascended to the throne in 1946 at the
tender age of 19. The King has a residence in the City of Hua Hin, and this is
the scene as you enter.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL792lkSQ68L6J0Nly0d_y3lvx_nG9yrEFt5n3V30aiamjm6DbrVMOFxKbaK91RXn1AeOYzG7iQZEdI-wk0qND1QOHosWRW5DZg013YPV-6vF5h6fjchX7TbKEx1FM_FgeMfhu0AaRCah/s1600/Entering+town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL792lkSQ68L6J0Nly0d_y3lvx_nG9yrEFt5n3V30aiamjm6DbrVMOFxKbaK91RXn1AeOYzG7iQZEdI-wk0qND1QOHosWRW5DZg013YPV-6vF5h6fjchX7TbKEx1FM_FgeMfhu0AaRCah/s1600/Entering+town.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Entering town</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am travelling down the east coast of the narrow strip of Thailand and
that means I am never far from the Gulf of Thailand. One of nice little towns
on the way is Phetchaburi. Here is the view of the Buddhist Wat on the small
hill as you cross the bridge. I think of it as the Buddhist version of the
Temple on the Mount.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXPomhL-cAs14GUyPLvrr5-ImNi-Vsdj1usphlgu9gTRcia9sy2jlJLVXzJIRLc93KpatckjK18WNvaULQDhV6Hho7r8N-iywF-eQ0STifqE6Xj4bNkNsx9uMwYIvsmwwIsiQozG4YTYJ/s1600/Temple+on+the+Mount.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXPomhL-cAs14GUyPLvrr5-ImNi-Vsdj1usphlgu9gTRcia9sy2jlJLVXzJIRLc93KpatckjK18WNvaULQDhV6Hho7r8N-iywF-eQ0STifqE6Xj4bNkNsx9uMwYIvsmwwIsiQozG4YTYJ/s1600/Temple+on+the+Mount.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Temple on the Mount</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a view of the riverfront on the Gulf of Thailand.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Waterfront in Phetchaburi</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the things I do every evening when I get the chance in Thailand
is go out to eat at the night markets. They have an incredible variety of food and
drinks that are both delicious and cheap. In every town you can see stalls set
up with plastic tables and chairs nearby for people to eat. Most people in
Thailand eat out every night so the markets are often bustling with activity.
In Phetchaburi, I went out to the market and strolled around while a band was
playing nearby and the Oceanside promenade was full of people sitting in small
groups enjoying the evening. The atmosphere is similar to a fair but occurs
every night. Here is the night market.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDMlvWQwHfPRKDTqWAALAARXuh3j6-XyleZ_gBOZZlWT5_zY6esdG_EN4Q5XbAtpNdMzlRimLv4aIvnoJML3MC1NgbQkvlTCA7AeaBVHPo5JxgRXl8ZimRSfeaw8eE-MeK-Aok2o5e8xU/s1600/Night+market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDMlvWQwHfPRKDTqWAALAARXuh3j6-XyleZ_gBOZZlWT5_zY6esdG_EN4Q5XbAtpNdMzlRimLv4aIvnoJML3MC1NgbQkvlTCA7AeaBVHPo5JxgRXl8ZimRSfeaw8eE-MeK-Aok2o5e8xU/s1600/Night+market.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Night market</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The serving sizes are small so to get a full meal after a long day of
biking, I ordered 4 different dinners and some vegetables.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWrpUWC08YhiINsqSwWu7Exq5ettxUwxCD_dj7MkmYXrKIhZjEdMSTyMDy2uFH4PnYHKGPtR0RXkFmm5FzkfG-WuPMc4ZVpQ5GZ4i7kCuNQxX0E2MlPh6QvtMMnuhJNzhku3LlyCXJMHB/s1600/Dinner+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1551368539"></span><span id="goog_1551368540"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWrpUWC08YhiINsqSwWu7Exq5ettxUwxCD_dj7MkmYXrKIhZjEdMSTyMDy2uFH4PnYHKGPtR0RXkFmm5FzkfG-WuPMc4ZVpQ5GZ4i7kCuNQxX0E2MlPh6QvtMMnuhJNzhku3LlyCXJMHB/s1600/Dinner+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWrpUWC08YhiINsqSwWu7Exq5ettxUwxCD_dj7MkmYXrKIhZjEdMSTyMDy2uFH4PnYHKGPtR0RXkFmm5FzkfG-WuPMc4ZVpQ5GZ4i7kCuNQxX0E2MlPh6QvtMMnuhJNzhku3LlyCXJMHB/s1600/Dinner+time.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dinner time</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I continued south I ran into a travelling Monk on the side of the
road. The Monk was foreign (he is from England) and was in the midst of an
8-month walk to the north of Thailand. He explained to me that 2,500 years ago
Monks did not sit in the local Wat and smoke cigarettes all day but would
travel around the country and meeting people. It’s interesting to note that in
the Christian world, Jesus and the disciples did the same, walking to the
people instead of waiting for the people to come to them in our present day
churches. The Monk was pushing a cart and most of the contents were books. He
explained that Christians have the bible, Muslims have the Koran and Theravada
Buddhists (the form of Buddhism in Thailand) have 45 books making up the Pali
Canon. Pali is the original language the books are written in so he also
carries 2 dictionaries allowing him to translate between Pali and English. He
is carrying 47 large books in his cart so I was going to suggest that he buys a
Kindle to cut down on his weight but thought it inappropriate. Besides, it is
unlikely there are Kindle versions yet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He stops when he is tired and carries a western style tent to sleep in
or just enters a Temple or Wat. Monks in Thailand do not carry money and
receive food from the public on their morning alms walks and he is no
exception. He receives food from the public as he walks. He has been walking
since October and will end in May and will be barefoot the entire way. Those
Monks are tough.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xUx6uiuCeQWf_XLlQ-yCXlaLi_JFnr1LNfvMNmfuf6boatIbg3i8CIFkepOqbHymSHswU4jXcm0yN99ZAT-URFYhKEZDk4JwPc2nhpEJ4IQkmoMMrx1h4PpWdjb8lUKZ0JqMUT7r0lcT/s1600/Marching+Monk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xUx6uiuCeQWf_XLlQ-yCXlaLi_JFnr1LNfvMNmfuf6boatIbg3i8CIFkepOqbHymSHswU4jXcm0yN99ZAT-URFYhKEZDk4JwPc2nhpEJ4IQkmoMMrx1h4PpWdjb8lUKZ0JqMUT7r0lcT/s1600/Marching+Monk.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There was a few times while cycling that I could swear someone was
watching me. Here were 2 large statues staring down on me for miles.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMg9sq_z_dxUNJcDJgozvs9L8KVb8fQhxWOcbtkQlmT-VtMhTSId9eIepVzuI9CZaj-xdajn1Ixl_K8vxD3X1Uw8rD5aipCDL6h6wFbxB3ZQ1ag_dzCSmQujr2kxFjHBBHBaA8NdKny04/s1600/Someone+else+is+watching+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMg9sq_z_dxUNJcDJgozvs9L8KVb8fQhxWOcbtkQlmT-VtMhTSId9eIepVzuI9CZaj-xdajn1Ixl_K8vxD3X1Uw8rD5aipCDL6h6wFbxB3ZQ1ag_dzCSmQujr2kxFjHBBHBaA8NdKny04/s1600/Someone+else+is+watching+me.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Someone else is watching me</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I often take pictures of signs that have been loosely translated from
the native language into English. In most cases I can make them out but this
one was a little tougher. The funny thing about this sign is that the first 9
Rules were well written and easy to understand but Rule 10 had me a little
confused. It reads, “Prohibit lead the thing departs a waiting room by break
off to torn, if, arrest 3 times of thing that price.” I just made sure I didn’t
break or tear anything.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMdp6J6hUmGEvqNF7X7AETTsMjtw7VyKjz-yOeXbL7zzEgsbry2t7ccL0TXAIX16A1rT4MKXwTxNdsZ4PZzCviIaiVgY3KWUWN6aFPySF_9m2rWlKGNPrYp43rrOBKK1DzJVF6z4EcIQH/s1600/Reading+between+the+lines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMdp6J6hUmGEvqNF7X7AETTsMjtw7VyKjz-yOeXbL7zzEgsbry2t7ccL0TXAIX16A1rT4MKXwTxNdsZ4PZzCviIaiVgY3KWUWN6aFPySF_9m2rWlKGNPrYp43rrOBKK1DzJVF6z4EcIQH/s1600/Reading+between+the+lines.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Reading between the lines</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I stopped my bike one day to eat a snack at a roadside stall. Here is
a typical lunch and they always come with a side helping of vegetables,
particularly cucumbers and limes. Delicious.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaA5QXTiOwOmbXR04z1YTjeREz18Q-dWzufeZXnkiPoY71PETrcgEBYZXVcZ-tpQlFTBl6juABIWQmmv7i_rb6pWEhxsACAmurnrdnmwNTxqmFL3rgon_6Nyp34Of2NSB165nt8ru5-uj/s1600/Snack+time+on+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaA5QXTiOwOmbXR04z1YTjeREz18Q-dWzufeZXnkiPoY71PETrcgEBYZXVcZ-tpQlFTBl6juABIWQmmv7i_rb6pWEhxsACAmurnrdnmwNTxqmFL3rgon_6Nyp34Of2NSB165nt8ru5-uj/s1600/Snack+time+on+the+road.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Snack time on the road</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I pulled up to a small truck on the side of the road and nearly had my
head slapped. I hadn’t noticed these 2 guys who were waiting to inflict damage
on anyone keeping their head down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
owner talked to me and said to be careful they will bite and to prove it rolled
up his pant leg to show me a series of large bite marks that had been repaired
by surgery. There is a Monkey Training School nearby so maybe they failed out
and now have to be sent home. I told them both that they should be in school
but they just hissed at me.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRTa08Dsqbx50d5_1omThh3BDJVb54UOoQr_ruJCwX-SZ-hnjetcY94RMY1_hQ13WbLNchN7UiVzguZKk225Bhja0XR8v3FkUzJDbtJ5cHRaqW6jgWVkU66pjKPqzfP9XKNm4vyrXo6Ld/s1600/Monkeys+on+board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRTa08Dsqbx50d5_1omThh3BDJVb54UOoQr_ruJCwX-SZ-hnjetcY94RMY1_hQ13WbLNchN7UiVzguZKk225Bhja0XR8v3FkUzJDbtJ5cHRaqW6jgWVkU66pjKPqzfP9XKNm4vyrXo6Ld/s1600/Monkeys+on+board.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Monkeys on board</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2012, I spent 10 days at the Suan Mokkh Buddhist retreat to learn a
little about their beliefs. It was a silent retreat where we could not speak for
the entire period. The 4:30 am wake up calls, sleeping on cement with a wooden
pillow, eating 2 vegetarian meals per day and absolutely no contact with the
outside world took some getting used to but the experience was wonderful. The
retreat is located in a beautiful and peaceful setting and they allow people who
are not part of the retreat to visit and stay overnight. I stayed for 2 nights
and set up my tent beside a small pond.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wjR9ObPVUO3wtMInDLNDSEmDLuDhH1VCcn2OYpcN1RxABUmCFi5EEkaHf6OT0v901CucKBsS63xIaBF9cjcO_Ig7L5_wKZ8HMneWf16VPBvGW20MxHaFVOPC0dV5N0ZrYNlmH0iZEIP8/s1600/Camping+at+the+Monastery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wjR9ObPVUO3wtMInDLNDSEmDLuDhH1VCcn2OYpcN1RxABUmCFi5EEkaHf6OT0v901CucKBsS63xIaBF9cjcO_Ig7L5_wKZ8HMneWf16VPBvGW20MxHaFVOPC0dV5N0ZrYNlmH0iZEIP8/s1600/Camping+at+the+Monastery.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Camping at the Monastery</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The founder of the retreat is Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, who died in 1993 at
the age of 87. He is revered in Thailand for his wisdom and his teachings are
the cornerstone of the retreats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
was at the retreat a recurring theme appeared to be the potential dangers the
world was facing in terms of its constant chasing of material goods. He felt
that the attempts to seek happiness through the acquisition of material wealth
are going to lead to many problems in the world. In Thailand, if you spend time
in the flashy malls of Bangkok or witness the constant chasing of the latest i-phones
and i-pads you can see Buddhadasa’s message falling on deaf ears. In America,
the prosperity preachers that are so popular today are also teaching against
the bibles clear commands. The idea that God wants you to be rich is certainly
a stretch and requires more than a little tweaking of the bible but it is a
message people want to hear because it fits in with their desires. I think that
in terms of materialism, both Buddhadasa and Jesus would be disappointed in the
direction the world is heading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a sign at the front gates that summarize his teachings and
give a small insight into his thinking.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUrOpbBaV56fAWhZTmIF1kCdczhqihRAqFIdCrZBPndIj2YGeMb0t1fAfxpjcPDrzZmPW3GGhmD72l8mGp1numNbdLHJsLAK9U0Ab2TNS9FtsDJ7USJ-s4Jf9rNmN8XB3iyG_IzKtVyJO/s1600/Buddhist+retreat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUrOpbBaV56fAWhZTmIF1kCdczhqihRAqFIdCrZBPndIj2YGeMb0t1fAfxpjcPDrzZmPW3GGhmD72l8mGp1numNbdLHJsLAK9U0Ab2TNS9FtsDJ7USJ-s4Jf9rNmN8XB3iyG_IzKtVyJO/s1600/Buddhist+retreat.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Buddhist retreat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The first resolution is to understand the heart of your own religion.
By this he means the substance and not the form. Going to church, bowing before
statues or crossing yourself are the outward signs that have nothing to do with
the heart of religion. The outward signs of religion are easy to follow and
look good but if you don’t understand the heart of your religion it is of no use.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The second resolution is to try and understand the main principles of
other religions. Buddhadasa clearly understood that if people understood the
true meaning of their own religion and the basics of others, it would lead to
less conflict and more acceptance of others. He then places the warning about
materialism and rates that as one of his 3 most important resolutions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Suan Mokkh retreat is an active Wat with many Monks living on the
grounds. In the morning I would hear the bells ringing at 4:30 which for them
was a time to get up and for me, a time to roll over, go back to sleep and be
thankful I was just a guest. The Monks have daily chores like everyone else and
here is one picking up his dry laundry.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfcLGvppyEIyGGaUeAVFYf_wbSnv-C-uI48AXaP3uc-SrymTuhaJIK5SkI7qF1PWMty0pXUQxt8u5Zll_oJXg7xUYN6jzTXTni68hxntg5yYaGU7EyXcANv3RotBKJEPHjtxFnUce30-f/s1600/Monk+hanging+clothes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfcLGvppyEIyGGaUeAVFYf_wbSnv-C-uI48AXaP3uc-SrymTuhaJIK5SkI7qF1PWMty0pXUQxt8u5Zll_oJXg7xUYN6jzTXTni68hxntg5yYaGU7EyXcANv3RotBKJEPHjtxFnUce30-f/s1600/Monk+hanging+clothes.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Monk hanging clothes</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Near my campsite was a Suan Mokkh style toilet. It was just a round
building with a toilet inside but it had an interesting sign in front. The
toilet was large enough to allow Monks to spend some time in there “meditating
on the abhorrent.”</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj119VEZCGhjF0rpyVKqUB8LFJzWaaOog5wXCMrFrFp5KynEq6vn5J8IDQo-u4MvCffUWMuP2z6fOSGWfaVXZStRVfpWcd98S3skMNM60FAMLTAbQrNUyIcaxU4sliIPugNGz3OVRd2KPXZ/s1600/Toilet+at+Suan+Mokkh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj119VEZCGhjF0rpyVKqUB8LFJzWaaOog5wXCMrFrFp5KynEq6vn5J8IDQo-u4MvCffUWMuP2z6fOSGWfaVXZStRVfpWcd98S3skMNM60FAMLTAbQrNUyIcaxU4sliIPugNGz3OVRd2KPXZ/s1600/Toilet+at+Suan+Mokkh.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Toilet at Suan Mokkh</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBavHPJVW3OkGE1HPB29k1f7pRF8Q1pSKVzBlILKvHpWNazWwARJJz0FAlboTGt26V1joiZRk9H37NzoNPFRIAKCo9SCSVBmSV4F4G5rpQiivmJk6mDgbnVbUdFilIHI-sZjKuWuX-_P3m/s1600/Sign+in+front+of+toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBavHPJVW3OkGE1HPB29k1f7pRF8Q1pSKVzBlILKvHpWNazWwARJJz0FAlboTGt26V1joiZRk9H37NzoNPFRIAKCo9SCSVBmSV4F4G5rpQiivmJk6mDgbnVbUdFilIHI-sZjKuWuX-_P3m/s1600/Sign+in+front+of+toilet.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sign in front of toilet</span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The grounds are beautiful at the retreat and there are different
meditation halls surrounded by forest that make for a very peaceful setting.
Here is a typical building.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyzOomEHlZGdeaO4wA9d0YBw5umN5WaC6nPby3H5EylPi3qiiP4WlgGWI9vnvaqlziZ4hKfPjDMEloCeKPDLOVXYiKNB1rzP7SEKsCM_y5VF66fhph5KMYBkZVo5I45o1_DZNB4HAKuPA/s1600/Meditation+Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyzOomEHlZGdeaO4wA9d0YBw5umN5WaC6nPby3H5EylPi3qiiP4WlgGWI9vnvaqlziZ4hKfPjDMEloCeKPDLOVXYiKNB1rzP7SEKsCM_y5VF66fhph5KMYBkZVo5I45o1_DZNB4HAKuPA/s1600/Meditation+Hall.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Meditation Hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On Saturday January 25<sup>th</sup>, the 11<sup>th</sup> day of my
trip, I passed the 1,000 km mark when I was in southern Thailand about 100 km
from the Malaysia border. I hope to take a photo and state my location every
1,000 kms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhX9kYDBbiKmo9DF2HydsGLaG9QR6fWuJM9YryCOBz9FDhjM2tcjPi1doZ8rctjzY15WVn51iw9UpICkdyoVOfb1-RtBKFNWa_EPVavycgSpQCsSXOfw7uH8NrXv_tQfxlccXoXLn3oJ5/s1600/1%252C000+km.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhX9kYDBbiKmo9DF2HydsGLaG9QR6fWuJM9YryCOBz9FDhjM2tcjPi1doZ8rctjzY15WVn51iw9UpICkdyoVOfb1-RtBKFNWa_EPVavycgSpQCsSXOfw7uH8NrXv_tQfxlccXoXLn3oJ5/s1600/1%252C000+km.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1,000 km</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Angel House orphanage in the Philippines received a new child a
short while ago. This baby boy was abandoned at birth and sent to the
orphanage. Boy A is a temporary placement right now as David and his team is
required to search for one or both of the parents. If they cannot be found or
do not want the child, he will be put up for adoption. In the interim, Angel
House will ensure the boy gets medicine, food and a lot of love and attention.
As we go about our busy days it is easy to lose sight of the kind of work
places like Angel House accomplish every single day. David and his staff care for
the children every single day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If we can reach out and raise awareness of the Orphanage, we can help
to ensure this little boy gets a chance at life where no chance existed
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If any of you belong to a church
or know of anyone who might be interested in adopting a child from the
Philippines, please forward the link to Angel House Orphanage and get in touch
with David. You can also help by just spreading the word to as many people as
you can because someone out there would love to care for him or one of the
other children desperately looking for a home.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0i5fArEAZEOtGJ38srdSCnvkOvUHOYJkDHrpvwT7ofKEbwvNRu7o6aYrd2ziTFk4Hmw6nLvmMwqc7z11i-wfU_j95u2WdMfcL_ENYRUbFcECaD1onCHx54OWXsJWQ7CiTuJBQZw9pd4Is/s1600/Boy+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0i5fArEAZEOtGJ38srdSCnvkOvUHOYJkDHrpvwT7ofKEbwvNRu7o6aYrd2ziTFk4Hmw6nLvmMwqc7z11i-wfU_j95u2WdMfcL_ENYRUbFcECaD1onCHx54OWXsJWQ7CiTuJBQZw9pd4Is/s1600/Boy+A.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-53953184237465322442014-01-16T21:00:00.001-08:002014-01-16T21:00:17.448-08:00January 17, 2014 - Ready to roll <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bangkok, Thailand </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Distance biked so far: (183
km km)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It has been 2 months since I decided to delay my bicycle trip around
the world and now it is time to start. I spent a few days in Bangkok to buy a
few last minute items and also to see some of the political demonstrations.
Things have been boiling over here for the last few years and large
demonstrations have been held in Bangkok to oppose the current government. Here
is a scene from one of the 7 main intersections where the groups gathered.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anti-government protests</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I joined the group for a brief period to show my support.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5N-fgiDxQWw7BxHHNLpynI27wBxc2gEtpi1Eqsd3CNWf1MNFVy6q3TaNpfGMwCrkUAy_EKGzEyQ-b7H5DsMDNVdB66lltBz9C0dTVDL5c2ygPeL__s2713rW9cYguPxs39SlSQVu3Wpvl/s1600/Whistle+blower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5N-fgiDxQWw7BxHHNLpynI27wBxc2gEtpi1Eqsd3CNWf1MNFVy6q3TaNpfGMwCrkUAy_EKGzEyQ-b7H5DsMDNVdB66lltBz9C0dTVDL5c2ygPeL__s2713rW9cYguPxs39SlSQVu3Wpvl/s1600/Whistle+blower.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Whistle blower</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On January 15<sup>th</sup> I was ready to go. I had all my gear ready
so laid it out before allocating the weight to the different panniers. Here is
the gear waiting to be packed.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gear for bike trip</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I loaded all the bags on my bike and set off from the front door of my
condo. This is my home for the next 2 years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0_ScbCRDxnuoFbCVSHN6IQuiSkDsYH11sgKdeLzl2PBGoAyT7e0IRG_NQjlNtJrsUxl-gXeo0sOWpSFQiwm1FNZfhTOT-F6U5bL9X5q_ROPt86KaVgr7MSdDTuQVT8ddSdE8hYLV2df_/s1600/Ready+to+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0_ScbCRDxnuoFbCVSHN6IQuiSkDsYH11sgKdeLzl2PBGoAyT7e0IRG_NQjlNtJrsUxl-gXeo0sOWpSFQiwm1FNZfhTOT-F6U5bL9X5q_ROPt86KaVgr7MSdDTuQVT8ddSdE8hYLV2df_/s1600/Ready+to+go.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ready to go</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had a bit of a chuckle as I rolled through the streets of Bangkok. A
small group of people were piling into a van for one of the cooking courses that
are popular here. Thai food is fantastic and a lot of the visitors enjoy taking
classes to learn some of the secrets to the spice combinations they use. The
sign on the back of the van works here but I’m not sure it would attract as many
budding chefs back home. Is that the secret to their spicy food?</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7s7pohyphenhyphenfOsminNG_a1O-mwaXynDTlL0FF6V10hwwEyCIlsV9zyF5YFxLnvShgUT0TrJ2oh_JGWeCoTWUubpuXSAjjWPtIuZbjAq0lb2pRkNNNouUi8gYmdL5qAqPRXe32X-N2G37hFVd/s1600/Lost+in+Translation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7s7pohyphenhyphenfOsminNG_a1O-mwaXynDTlL0FF6V10hwwEyCIlsV9zyF5YFxLnvShgUT0TrJ2oh_JGWeCoTWUubpuXSAjjWPtIuZbjAq0lb2pRkNNNouUi8gYmdL5qAqPRXe32X-N2G37hFVd/s1600/Lost+in+Translation.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lost in Translation</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The ride out of Bangkok was uneventful and straightforward. It’s not
always easy leaving a city of 10 million people but I only had 4 turns to make and
within a few hours was clear of the traffic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The riding was easy with flat roads, a slight tailwind and
surprisingly cool temperatures. I stopped at one point for a coffee and sat
outside, slightly cool in my t-shirt and shorts. I know it was cold for the
Thai people because a lady stepped out of the car near me wearing a full winter
coat. I don’t think they make clothes warm enough for Thai’s if they ever
ventured to Canada in January.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I managed to complete 80 km on my first day, not too bad considering I
spent at least half the time getting out of Bangkok and I hadn’t actually been
on a bicycle in over 15 months. My legs certainly felt the fully loaded bike. I
am carrying full cooking and sleeping equipment as I will be going through some
remote areas in the next few months. The problem when you start bicycling after
a long time off is the pressure points between you and the bike. Specifically,
your hands and butt take a lot of the weight. Your shoulders also have to get
used to the forward leaning position and of course my legs felt tired.
Apparently, sitting in a coffee shop reading newspapers isn’t the best
preparation for a cycling trip. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had been on this route a few times before so just sat back and
enjoyed the passing scenery. You can’t go too far in Thailand without seeing a
Buddhist temple, or Wat. There are over 40,000 Buddhist Wats in Thailand (not
all of them in use). Here is a typical scene with the majestic building rising
above a rural landscape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ESwqNgdjFOkS1-v3lzMP3dBcb9B0VwEa3UaCeeK593acVMypNVNG2LTiuEudiF9aeaNAQni3zF8hn1Y2IhMhsEfk4C00fg15wp3BfkjEewBmhcPU5iasFYRJf8c_FSSYTGFdTFZInsvw/s1600/Buddhist+Wat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ESwqNgdjFOkS1-v3lzMP3dBcb9B0VwEa3UaCeeK593acVMypNVNG2LTiuEudiF9aeaNAQni3zF8hn1Y2IhMhsEfk4C00fg15wp3BfkjEewBmhcPU5iasFYRJf8c_FSSYTGFdTFZInsvw/s1600/Buddhist+Wat.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Buddhist Wat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of my goals on my bike trip is to try and stay away from soft
drinks. When I lived in Thailand for the past year I could count on 1 hand how
many times I had a can of coke but for some reason, I will bike for about an
hour and get a sudden craving. There is clearly a lack of something in my diet
when I bike so instead of reaching for the quick sugar fix that is counter
productive in terms of supplying energy (you get a quick surge in energy
followed by a decrease within a few minutes) I want to increase my fruit and
vegetable servings to hold off the hunger and thirst. Here is a good example of
what I will eat instead of a can of coke. Water, watermelon and oranges found
in one of the many food stalls along the road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RIZHSCpDp-QXQCyZwHgEJovbkuJrLZ1CkxuD9tNlkCGlOLjhHJMK0-jHFYTtdtNCfbL0a4rOPBfZ8v1bpcm3e0LoK_c1STia5MDECbJ4QYgd7VA8h9yT8ej1c81_5zLckVp3cmFGXHFD/s1600/Snack+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RIZHSCpDp-QXQCyZwHgEJovbkuJrLZ1CkxuD9tNlkCGlOLjhHJMK0-jHFYTtdtNCfbL0a4rOPBfZ8v1bpcm3e0LoK_c1STia5MDECbJ4QYgd7VA8h9yT8ej1c81_5zLckVp3cmFGXHFD/s1600/Snack+time.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Snack time</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the great things about bicycling in Thailand is the number of
coffee shops along the road, far more than anywhere I have ever been. Even in
the most hectic traffic, they go out of their way to create a comfortable
setting to enjoy a cup of coffee. This chain is found at all the gas stations.
They are always surrounded by trees and running water and give you an oasis
from the busy roads.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyvaZhe1tb-fxAEi0sEYZzpgcJ-oAxI67-YLhYkEVsqNEyARun2nWXOe3OZ4ck8quslluGG51aNGTXkUnESFezt9J3Eayzu5eKCrGPGnpHdj4eWpAnRwAMD_iT4EBYidR4plwT54VIJlH/s1600/Coffee+shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyvaZhe1tb-fxAEi0sEYZzpgcJ-oAxI67-YLhYkEVsqNEyARun2nWXOe3OZ4ck8quslluGG51aNGTXkUnESFezt9J3Eayzu5eKCrGPGnpHdj4eWpAnRwAMD_iT4EBYidR4plwT54VIJlH/s1600/Coffee+shop.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Coffee shop</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles and for a very good reason.
Even the toilets are happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkq2tD-1PVnuP_-7YoBuocncHOFTrWcLG4yZ_m_5hcMOo6zZdeimybZM6btn7pWkbAP5XAbcBxkt_1X3sknkB1DaJFC8bcDsQFAV_53OoPzcVT3GAvIhiVbM1bB5P3wquoVzinhX74MEu/s1600/Land+of+Smiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkq2tD-1PVnuP_-7YoBuocncHOFTrWcLG4yZ_m_5hcMOo6zZdeimybZM6btn7pWkbAP5XAbcBxkt_1X3sknkB1DaJFC8bcDsQFAV_53OoPzcVT3GAvIhiVbM1bB5P3wquoVzinhX74MEu/s1600/Land+of+Smiles.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Land of Smiles</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On my second day I made it to the beach resort town of Cha am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvgv6Yiz_WSRhGaqUHHo5zAv51bDKJEPPHzTYod42YtZpPUfYqX-bfnp9uKQIX7wlsQgXMOqHeCSKnQnZ5bfNGLszapTkKMualL10fPgWE0QS0SspODbol61T0DC2D3PRDvx2OghzannT/s1600/Cha+am+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvgv6Yiz_WSRhGaqUHHo5zAv51bDKJEPPHzTYod42YtZpPUfYqX-bfnp9uKQIX7wlsQgXMOqHeCSKnQnZ5bfNGLszapTkKMualL10fPgWE0QS0SspODbol61T0DC2D3PRDvx2OghzannT/s1600/Cha+am+beach.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cha am beach</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It is about 180 km from Bangkok and is a popular destination for locals
and foreigners alike. One of the things that has always bothered me is the
foreigners perception of Thai women. They talk about some of the questionable
behavior of some women and apply that to the entire population and nothing
could be further from the truth. The Thai people are for the most part far more
conservative than their western counterparts, something people who live here
understand. For example, if you go to a Thai beach, the only ones wearing
skimpy bathing suits will be the foreigners. The Thai people go to extremes to
cover themselves up when they go in the water. If you want to start a bikini
business, best go to a western country. Here is an example of the attire found
on Thai females at a beach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6QNIreE4RmBJTfWy3gJB0cPIT_jNtyOhfATgJxDEf3KcBeVR4kgAZNuVei_6L92lfPlTWZRDTJbcKtG6SsURqlLkxWeIz6eX5yU5eA07sUC1BW6S3e8eMzeJCglcrk30-Hsm6OdPJPuI/s1600/Thailand+swimsuits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6QNIreE4RmBJTfWy3gJB0cPIT_jNtyOhfATgJxDEf3KcBeVR4kgAZNuVei_6L92lfPlTWZRDTJbcKtG6SsURqlLkxWeIz6eX5yU5eA07sUC1BW6S3e8eMzeJCglcrk30-Hsm6OdPJPuI/s1600/Thailand+swimsuits.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thailand swimsuits</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As most of you know, I spent the last 6 weeks in the Philippines
helping a few families in the long rebuilding process after typhoon Yolanda. It
was during my time there that I decided to continue with my bike trip to try
and raise funds for both the Angel House Orphanage and the relief efforts in
Tacloban. In honor of the Philippines I will be carrying the Filipino flag on
the back of my bike and will often wear the t-shirt that translates to “Stand
Tacloban.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xBah8j7mPaJEVum3se6m8oSkC6xMZPZCVsiOmp4XwTwQ3a3FjYYtrNy5Yd_SMtGhzzLx0U3wUA4awopnLdc24tqn1FGp_g-xS2D75oW6KdELqw_8Oun-uyK01Y-0WV3fUMAHP0jD0U9f/s1600/Flag+of+the+Philippines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xBah8j7mPaJEVum3se6m8oSkC6xMZPZCVsiOmp4XwTwQ3a3FjYYtrNy5Yd_SMtGhzzLx0U3wUA4awopnLdc24tqn1FGp_g-xS2D75oW6KdELqw_8Oun-uyK01Y-0WV3fUMAHP0jD0U9f/s1600/Flag+of+the+Philippines.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Flag of the Philippines</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Angel House Orphanage was started in 2009 when David Donaldson set
up a private foundation to help children find a new home. The children at Angel
House were abandoned, usually at birth, and David is offering them hope for a
brighter future. The home can accommodate up to 20 children up to the age of 6.
I was so impressed by the work David is doing to help the kids that I asked
permission to help him raise funds to support the operating costs of his
foundation. Angel House is funded solely by individual donors and does not
receive any support from government. As I bike around the world, this is the
image I will recall as I struggle through some of the obstacles that will
arise. I hope that with effort of bicycling 50,000 km in just less than 2
years, we can help David with his valuable work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzufl41LEDp8b0NsnnXs81WalrTevnaUOlipRDescQtFGfSvBTPFn3gVIRJM04ZXX473eR2du_Gfj8PC4bDzXEy3YagVTbTO6AD3QlrxPQp37k8gHp3K9CyPv5763KPZNZTmr6GSnD3i-/s1600/Angels+of+Angel+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzufl41LEDp8b0NsnnXs81WalrTevnaUOlipRDescQtFGfSvBTPFn3gVIRJM04ZXX473eR2du_Gfj8PC4bDzXEy3YagVTbTO6AD3QlrxPQp37k8gHp3K9CyPv5763KPZNZTmr6GSnD3i-/s1600/Angels+of+Angel+House.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Angels of Angel House</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Please help spread the word to friends and family that may be
interested in donating to a great cause where 100% of the funds will be used to
support the ongoing costs to house, feed and provide health care for these
little Angels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Donations can be made by contacting me at </span><a href="mailto:bouwmanfred@yahoo.com"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">bouwmanfred@yahoo.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> or directly to David at his website at www.</span>
<a href="http://angelhousephilippines.com/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://angelhousephilippines.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. You can also see some photos of the children on his Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/angelhousephilippines. I invite everyone to share the
link with friends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After spending 6 weeks in Tacloban and Cebu I realized that the
rebuilding process would be a long one. As I noted earlier, there is a pattern
during disasters that tends to repeat itself. Foreign donors willingly give
when the devastation is shown on the nightly news programs. In the weeks
following a calamity, funds rush in and then the world’s attention gets
preoccupied with other things. The problem is that the immediate onslaught of
funds provides only short-term relief in terms of temporary shelter, food and
medicine. These are vital to save lives but when the aid stops, the people are
left without permanent homes and usually without jobs. In a very small way, I
would like to stop this cycle so will also be raising funds for the ongoing
relief effort. I want to continue to ensure the families we helped are not
forgotten as time goes on. They face a very uncertain few years in Tacloban as
it is estimated that it will take another 6 months just to get electricity
back. The people will live in tents for at least 6 months and then temporary
homes for about 2 years after that. Many were struggling to make ends meet
before the typhoon and I want them to feel that they will not be abandoned like
so many in the past.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the other photo I will reflect on as I make my way around the
world. It is the area where most of the children I know were living and all of
them are now in tents. This picture will certainly humble me during my own
self-inflicted struggles over the next few years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UEa_zKrcSCWLDDPl17IqB0biSGkHjWGMoimPcNjFG5qwwqKQiJml1pIfYp2iZR9dMTpJcFdadY4mjywzIA_EYqup3dam_x-p73o5V49qwQtJggboJL45UFCaCm1w2j4AdWezgjNOwR4G/s1600/Angelina+and+the+twins+lived+here.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UEa_zKrcSCWLDDPl17IqB0biSGkHjWGMoimPcNjFG5qwwqKQiJml1pIfYp2iZR9dMTpJcFdadY4mjywzIA_EYqup3dam_x-p73o5V49qwQtJggboJL45UFCaCm1w2j4AdWezgjNOwR4G/s1600/Angelina+and+the+twins+lived+here.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Angelina and the twins lived here</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is not easy for me to ask people for donations and I am very
grateful for all the support that so many of you have provided. I am hoping
that over the next 2 years, that people can think about Angel House and
Tacloban if your Company, church, social organization, school etc., is looking
for a fundraising event. It can be something as small as keeping a donation jar
at your work site to remind people that the situation in Tacloban is not over.
It would be a shame if once again, the worldwide goodwill provided to people is
lost in the months following a disaster.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are a few photos of 2 of the families that were helped thanks to
the generous donations made by so many.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8Rv-LO2n_2cR3LNqz7Wslydz5kwqhqJWfQ_K2YLc5aEsXx-dbXX3tH1ZhIkueuK9cc0OYDMGZ5_nRi9QYEMCRlkcdUWvmSYSE9m7Uf-fzUnMzvwxCBrQAwsDRPbmTyoiIEDh7tky-eD6/s1600/The+twins+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8Rv-LO2n_2cR3LNqz7Wslydz5kwqhqJWfQ_K2YLc5aEsXx-dbXX3tH1ZhIkueuK9cc0OYDMGZ5_nRi9QYEMCRlkcdUWvmSYSE9m7Uf-fzUnMzvwxCBrQAwsDRPbmTyoiIEDh7tky-eD6/s1600/The+twins+family.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The twins family</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kNE6TlZMVvZvSEC3yAaNm-2hfeH0T0dUadnAxQz6tJnkCVhrKW3Fvqpj5hmqQXobkHVRj6dzM9eoOqwel86TMLpCKkpR2N7VxQMbliHA3UDFyPjVVdXxyq9wP38C3Fa-asLJEGaZNbdo/s1600/Michael%25E2%2580%2599s+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0kNE6TlZMVvZvSEC3yAaNm-2hfeH0T0dUadnAxQz6tJnkCVhrKW3Fvqpj5hmqQXobkHVRj6dzM9eoOqwel86TMLpCKkpR2N7VxQMbliHA3UDFyPjVVdXxyq9wP38C3Fa-asLJEGaZNbdo/s1600/Michael%25E2%2580%2599s+family.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Michael’s family</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My plan now is to continue heading south towards Malaysia and then
cross by ferry to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. I want to visit the
Orangutan rehabilitation Center in Sumatra and then continue to Bali. From
there my plan is to cycle down through Australia and New Zealand and then fly
to South America and make my way home to Canada. That will be the first half
and after a break at home will continue to Europe, Central Asia, China and back
into Bangkok. My trip will end in the Philippines. I will bike through Tacloban
to see the progress made in rebuilding the City and then end my trip at the
orphanage. My goal is to be a part of the annual Christmas Party at the Angel
House Orphanage during Christmas 2015.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you for reading and I hope you continue to follow along. After
only 2 days on the bike, I am already realizing the long and difficult task
ahead.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-29326047238776828292013-12-25T07:31:00.001-08:002013-12-25T07:31:38.343-08:00No end in sight<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">December 24th, 2013</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">No end in sight</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On December 16<sup>th</sup> I was in town and walking around with Jenn
and Ruchelle doing some shopping for the kids and realized that it was
Ruchelle’s birthday tomorrow. I told the girls that we were going to celebrate
with a lunch and asked Ruchelle what she liked to eat. She said that we don’t
have to celebrate and I told her that just because there was a typhoon doesn’t
mean everything has to stop and insisted that we get some chicken, other Filipino
favorites and a birthday cake. I then asked them to invite Bella and Gemma and we
can have a celebration. Ruchelle’s brother cooked up a feast and we all got
together for lunch. It is a tradition here that the person celebrating share
the food with neighbors and it wasn’t long before a small line of children
gathered in front of the house with plates and spoons in hand. People here are
not shy about receiving free food and there was a lot to go around. Ruchelle
was very touched by the gesture and it turned out to be a day for her to
remember. If you were there to hear the girls singing and laughing, you would
never know that each one of these girls lost their homes and all their personal
possessions.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhSmJ36ib5glsdvXxxVB6_7YgUF-dqBXZBWBBUlo1lYkqWZudLxR8rCeNGzBTIz1p5MkalwmUd8SWoxnYK8X9mbXwrDNzigb4fOxcyiC5U3-eNhwrtylYj2wAPx-39Qg5QgaO4gFbGnyr/s1600/Ruchelle%25E2%2580%2599s+birthday+celebration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhSmJ36ib5glsdvXxxVB6_7YgUF-dqBXZBWBBUlo1lYkqWZudLxR8rCeNGzBTIz1p5MkalwmUd8SWoxnYK8X9mbXwrDNzigb4fOxcyiC5U3-eNhwrtylYj2wAPx-39Qg5QgaO4gFbGnyr/s320/Ruchelle%25E2%2580%2599s+birthday+celebration.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruchelle’s birthday celebration</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It has now been 19 consecutive days of living without electricity,
which may not be that long for people here but is certainly something we in the
Western countries are not used to. It means going to bed far earlier than usual
but also waking up before 5:00 am as the roosters, dogs and pigs come to life.
There are now some streetlights in downtown Tacloban but still no electricity
in the homes and businesses across the entire province of Leyte. There are
however, lots of advantages to not having electricity, namely no television and
computers. I spend a lot of the evenings talking to the family instead of everyone
being distracted with other things. The father of the house is John and one
night I bought a few beers and we shared them while he told a few stories about
the typhoon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I mentioned earlier, one of the biggest mistakes made here is that
the weather forecasters used the term “storm surge” when warning people about
the potential danger of the approaching typhoon. The people were not familiar
with the term so ended up seeking refuge in many places close to the sea. The
concern was the wind so they sought out cement structures without considering
the distance to the sea. One of the refuge centers was the Astrodome, the local
convention center that is literally a dozen meters from the edge of the water.
The storm surge was up to 7 meters or 23 feet and it came as a large series of
waves. Many of the people who died were actually in the relief centers but
trapped on the first floors when the water rushed in. Here is a picture of a
building with a faint watermark halfway up the top section of green. The green
building is about 100 meters from the edge of the sea.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">John told me that his home is 1.2 kilometers from the sea and the
water was about 12 feet high here. It was the same damage as a tsunami but
thankfully didn’t have the loss of life that Indonesia and Thailand experienced
on Christmas Day in 2004 where up to 250,000 people died. A lot of that can be
attributed to the fact that the there was warning of the typhoon and that the
significant wind and storm surged occurred between 7:00 and 11:00 am, during
daylight. The tsunami in 2004 caught everyone completely off guard as it
occurred on a calm sunny day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">John related stories including many that he participated in. The home
here is 3 floors and the building is concrete so a lot of neighbors came here
when the wind reached peaks of over 300 kilometers per hour and the water
started rushing in. There is a neighbor across the pathway and 5 people were
trapped in their single level home. They punched through the roof but the water
kept rising. There is 10 feet between the homes and John pulled out a ladder
and laid it down from his second floor to their roof and all of them climbed
across and were saved. John had about 60 people in his home for almost a week,
all of them eating and sleeping on the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor. People had to
sleep sitting up, as there was no room to stretch out. It was 3 days before
they were even able to get out on the streets to see what was happening in the
rest of the town. They would climb on the roof to try and get a birds-eye view
of Tacloban. The biggest risk in those 3 days was the lack of water so the
people tapped into the city water line and diverted it to a hose to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They didn’t have much food as all the homes
were flooded but they managed to get rice and eat some of the coconuts that
were scattered around. They even slaughtered one of the pigs to eat and cooked
it on an open fire and shared with the large group.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The family dog Blackie was let go of his leash as the water rose but
was swept away. A few days later he was found wandering around and happy to be
reunited with his family. I give him a long stomach rub everyday and
congratulate him on being a survivor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The family also has a few pigs they raise and fatten for the local
fiestas, celebrated every October in Barangay 64. They only have one left as
the other was slaughtered in October. The pig was not chained but in a cement
pen that became flooded as the water rose. Pigs can swim and this one also
survived and was found after being swept towards the sea. I bought the pig some
food and congratulated him too but he just grunted.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpQcff32qhSxTKFTuDLmtnORlH1sQzHR8800qAk0t8WF920tqVjPrXSt6s-uDtSxVlTBGh65L8TIVwd-MI54QrDPcpEAEG-D20mCXCF02mYCt0F6FZb8zNpt4e1k6uqJ70o8UVhPM1b1O/s1600/The+pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpQcff32qhSxTKFTuDLmtnORlH1sQzHR8800qAk0t8WF920tqVjPrXSt6s-uDtSxVlTBGh65L8TIVwd-MI54QrDPcpEAEG-D20mCXCF02mYCt0F6FZb8zNpt4e1k6uqJ70o8UVhPM1b1O/s320/The+pig.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The pig</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the really unfortunate things about the storm is the amount of
men killed while trying to protect their homes. In many cases the women and
children were sent to the schools or other shelters while the men stayed by
their homes to protect the belongings from looting. In some areas, the storm
destroyed and swept away every single home and the men with it. There are now
even more women raising children on there own, an epidemic here in the
Philippines even before the typhoon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On December 21<sup>st</sup>, we woke up to a 5-hour downpour. I was in
the house and it felt like watching a waterfall outside the window. After it
stopped I went to Jenn’s house only to find paths to her home underwater. I
went around the back and found them in their flooded homes, once again having
to clean up. We are re-building Jenn’s home and will be raising the floor and
also adding a second level to try and limit the damage of future flooding.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G4zbcgkJgo95cPoLR4M3Y8XSAcOd8vnCCq5Yqk0gr2-b5jGNF3388RY0Bn1XBiele9YeUcuPpAk6XB7rEbCICUOoZRUgBZmhcOdf56Juq-obscskYg-W8BZJ6JDps5jbwgZLQeC5tGqY/s1600/More+flooding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G4zbcgkJgo95cPoLR4M3Y8XSAcOd8vnCCq5Yqk0gr2-b5jGNF3388RY0Bn1XBiele9YeUcuPpAk6XB7rEbCICUOoZRUgBZmhcOdf56Juq-obscskYg-W8BZJ6JDps5jbwgZLQeC5tGqY/s320/More+flooding.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">More flooding</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I noted earlier the most successful program in terms of relief was
the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation’s Cash for Work program. They paid local people
500 pesos (approx. $12.50) per day to clean up garbage. The same foundation
then provided cash envelopes to people as a Christmas bonus. The idea is to
stimulate growth by giving people cash but I don’t think that is a good idea,
it never works when you just hand out money. Last week outside Ruchelle’s home
there were gunshots and people fighting with knives over money, the same day
that the people in her area were handed cash. You have people standing in line
to get up to 15,000 pesos (approx. $375) with very few banks open to deposit
the money so they have to carry it home. You also start the dependency chain
where people are less inclined to work if all they have to do is stand in line
and money is given to them. They could have paid the same money to people and
have them accomplish something like rebuilding the schools or cleaning up the
mountains of debris.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The UN followed up with the cash for work program and on Saturday December
21<sup>st</sup> started handing out rubber boots, shovels, rakes, hats and
shirts to workers. They delivered 20 sets of worker outfits to my families home
and organized a group to clean some of the waterways here that are clogged.
They are paying hundreds of people 260 pesos (approx. $6.50) per day for 15
days. The idea of paying people to clean up was a lesson learned after the
earthquake in Haiti 3 years ago. The disaster relief there was and continues to
be another disaster with most of the people still living in tents despite
hundreds of millions being donated from around the world. They realized too
that simply handing people food and money is a very short-term solution that
cannot last for long. It is my fear that the same thing will happen here as
time goes on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When I was in Bangkok from November 8<sup>th</sup> to the 15<sup>th</sup>,
CNN was covering the typhoon 24 hours per day with reporters flown into
Tacloban to report in person. Now there is barely a mention of it. With the
absence of coverage and people being occupied with Christmas, it is easy to
forget that approximately 4 million people are now into Day 46 without
electricity and most still without permanent shelter. The risk that the people
here are still living in tents 2 years from now is almost a certainty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In Tacloban, large groups of people do not own the land their squatter
homes were built on and are now in UN supplied tents. They were initially told
that they would be relocated to another area in 6 months where they will be
provided a permanent home. I expressed doubts about that based on all the other
disasters that have occurred in poor countries. It’s always the same, money
floods in and promises are made in the immediate aftermath of disasters and
after the world’s attention is gone, the people here without homes continue to
suffer for years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yesterday, we heard that instead of being moved to a permanent area in
6 months, that after 6 months they will be moved to another temporary shelter
for 1 year and then moved to a permanent area. That means they will be living
in temporary shelter for at least 1.5 years as of now. The same story is
already repeating itself and you can expect those delays to continue as landowners
fight over government for the rights to build homes and everyone seeking to
maximize profit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On November 17<sup>th</sup>, I had planned to bicycle around the world
to raise money for the Angel House Orphanage. I delayed my plans after the
typhoon hit Tacloban and came here on November 28<sup>th</sup>. I am very
worried that the financial support will stop for the people here that I will
now continue to try and raise funds for the relief. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On January 3<sup>rd</sup> I will fly back to Tacloban after spending a
week in Cebu to visit the home that we are building in Bogo for Tita’s family.
I plan to stay about a week in Tacloban and will then go back to Bangkok about
January 10<sup>th</sup>. Around January 17<sup>th</sup> (2 months after my
initial plan of leaving on November 17<sup>th</sup>) I will start out on my bicycle
trip around the world. I will by starting in Bangkok and ending in the
Philippines and will cycle 50,000 km through 40 countries and arrive back here
by Christmas 2015. I will be aiming to raise money for both the Angel House Orphanage
and the victims of the typhoon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We can’t repeat the same mistakes over and over again by ignoring
people in disasters just because the cameras stop rolling. If we are ever going
to change the repeating pattern it has to start somewhere. The money and
support provided by so many around the world can’t go to waste; it has to mean
something so I plan to keep the relief efforts in mind for the next 2 years.
Hopefully people can find ways to help continue showing support. It can be a
change jar at work or some fundraiser event but we can make a permanent
difference instead of just a Band-Aid solution to a repeating problem. I will
be carrying a Philippines flag on the back of my bike and use the opportunity
of meeting people around the world to try and remind people that the survivors
are still in need of help. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Merry Christmas from Tacloban.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-73845295280045135802013-12-15T19:32:00.001-08:002013-12-16T04:49:21.276-08:00Getting relief supplies<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">December 16th, 2013</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Getting relief supplies</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On Tuesday December 10<sup>th</sup> I managed to find a van to drive
the 100 km’s to Ormoc to find supplies for various families. The list of people
in need was growing so I had to leave before we couldn’t find a vehicle large
enough. Jenn and Ruchelle joined me and we left Tacloban about 7:00 am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ormoc is the town on the other side of Leyte and is the port for
service to Cebu. It was heavily damaged by the typhoon but spared a lot of the
storm surge. They are also close to Cebu so are able to get supplies faster
than Tacloban. We heard that one of the large department stores was open so we
headed there with a long list of requests.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It isn’t easy to buy things when the families are so large but here is
a list of the people we helped, a total of 6 families and 44 people.</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jenn’s
family, grandmother and niece (8 people)</span></div>
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruchelle’s
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</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cristina’s
family (3 people)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Michael’s
family (9 people)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
twin’s family (6 people)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Volunteer
for the Visayans staff (9 people)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bella
and Gemma from MC and their kids (6 people)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Volunteer for the Visayans staff spend all their time helping
others so I went to the office and asked if there was anything they need. They
serve meals to the children in the Barangay so I offered to buy a 50-kg sack of
rice and also personal supplies for the 9 staff. The personal supplies included
things like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, lotion and mosquito repellent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We also bought a 50-kg sack of rice for Jenn’s, Ruchelle’s and
Michael’s family. The sacks are large and not easy to move around so they were
meant for large groups. I also bought 10-kg sacks for the Twins and Cristina’s
family. The families and children at MC have rice provided.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We bought various supplies like vitamins, milk, juice, noodles, canned
meats and large bottles of water. Included in the purchases were 17 sets of
clothing for the kids along with 17 pairs of flip-flops, the shoe of choice for
kids here in the Philippines. Here are a few photos of the purchases.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnDDwAoHCzQoTOrJgV5sClwOfYRplAXbB5mM7Pb8oPiXPZusvQsgYCe0b0QwJyjdy_ZU7QczG32jgxIi_YEEOXqmZHC0NDpN9GtrNXFi1ihZMPbCRo5b-jbibNfAALBg5MkS16eR_Mv5S/s1600/Supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnDDwAoHCzQoTOrJgV5sClwOfYRplAXbB5mM7Pb8oPiXPZusvQsgYCe0b0QwJyjdy_ZU7QczG32jgxIi_YEEOXqmZHC0NDpN9GtrNXFi1ihZMPbCRo5b-jbibNfAALBg5MkS16eR_Mv5S/s320/Supplies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Supplies</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVPJ2Hrxcl6fSY0SaA7ed800IUdhfbVB9IPoCB0pROtJhSQ-7skZGRLepSpVydo5rf56ar07o32UAYd8PFn0p7Gmfgd_wyQXObSZo_F8prvQYvSfiQ__r8WVviGki4N8ge2XExnKuRXfG/s1600/Food+and+supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVPJ2Hrxcl6fSY0SaA7ed800IUdhfbVB9IPoCB0pROtJhSQ-7skZGRLepSpVydo5rf56ar07o32UAYd8PFn0p7Gmfgd_wyQXObSZo_F8prvQYvSfiQ__r8WVviGki4N8ge2XExnKuRXfG/s320/Food+and+supplies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Food and supplies</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovlWVtsfVEzt-oHvn1fbSC6-zrqtO9Iq9vCUBeQZL1O5Fc2Qx4jEK0L8Q6GARJhyuK8ni8YCmAojyq5t8B-Ws__eSrgRA6ZFn3beODpZRLw-R4K44cW00DxJ1DUwNkpAV57wR-wz8dAJb/s1600/Groceries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovlWVtsfVEzt-oHvn1fbSC6-zrqtO9Iq9vCUBeQZL1O5Fc2Qx4jEK0L8Q6GARJhyuK8ni8YCmAojyq5t8B-Ws__eSrgRA6ZFn3beODpZRLw-R4K44cW00DxJ1DUwNkpAV57wR-wz8dAJb/s320/Groceries.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Groceries</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I also bought back to schoolbags for Cristina’s children and of course
a set of toy trucks for Michael.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPF50BzRuujLbUJ8IR6kpfC4jvOV8f4yANv-863UTi-_JJ6v9LmqYVg_N5vGBiv1SpVLVxYJLlQvQvr79MfK-K7-NxczDGq1hOowHnkhQN_BpsIlsF4Pi9fio4677EkZR2Ru7WoNGc7Ph0/s1600/Michael%25E2%2580%2599s+trucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPF50BzRuujLbUJ8IR6kpfC4jvOV8f4yANv-863UTi-_JJ6v9LmqYVg_N5vGBiv1SpVLVxYJLlQvQvr79MfK-K7-NxczDGq1hOowHnkhQN_BpsIlsF4Pi9fio4677EkZR2Ru7WoNGc7Ph0/s320/Michael%25E2%2580%2599s+trucks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Michael’s trucks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On Wednesday I hired Jenn’s father to deliver the goods to the
families with a motorcycle taxi. It is a common means of transportation here
for the shorter distances and side streets where Jeepneys do not drive. We used
my room as a central storage place and then loaded up 3 times to make
deliveries. Here is our transportation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrVwj60bwAxLaliqbQ4GlEhywjua1Dl2X4muFownscGJqnaaMP_ggQH1LfTyyERdXbzYInec9EP__YmNJsim5kudLtIUPG99yqncfjsjWrS7yNEPoGdRYS3FHmnqaiblZN94wLSdb1tDM/s1600/Delivery+by+motorcycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrVwj60bwAxLaliqbQ4GlEhywjua1Dl2X4muFownscGJqnaaMP_ggQH1LfTyyERdXbzYInec9EP__YmNJsim5kudLtIUPG99yqncfjsjWrS7yNEPoGdRYS3FHmnqaiblZN94wLSdb1tDM/s320/Delivery+by+motorcycle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Delivery by motorcycle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The first stop was Michael’s and when Jenn saw him she yelled out his
name and Michael almost started crying. He is very sensitive and shy and he had
the same reaction the other day when I arrived to see him. We gave the food,
clothing, flip-flops and vitamins to his mother and he wasn’t at all interested
until I gave him his new trucks. He ran off to a corner with his roll of mentos
and was perfectly content.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The next stop was the twins and we drove to the large elementary
school to search out Angel and April and their family. When I was at MC their
older brother Jerry Boy joined the twin girls. He was such a nice young boy and
he used to come into the nursery and just stand by his younger sisters as they lay
in bed. They wouldn’t talk but just kind of look at each other, probably
wondering what they were doing in a strange place without their parents. When I
visited here the last 2 days Jerry Boy wasn’t around but this time he showed
up. He was standing right beside me and I looked at him without recognition. He
has changed a lot in 2 years. When I finally called out his name he gave me a
big smile and said “hi kuya Fred”, just like he used to do everyday. We gave
them their supplies and I ensure the mother knew how to give the multi-vitamin
syrup. When I left all 3 of the kids waved with a big smile so my day was
complete.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The last stop was to Cristina’s family in Tabontabon and we made the
hour drive to meet them. The mother suffers from asthma and I was able to find
an inhaler in Ormoc so I was anxious to get that to her right away. I won’t be
making a trip out there again so I bought the girls each a new dress and a bag
with some school supplies. I gave the Shantel, the eldest girl a roll of mentos
and she was so shy she hid in the bedroom. Samantha is the younger and had no
problem accepting her candy and she gave us a smile and wave as we left.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On Thursday December 12<sup>th</sup> I moved in with the family who I
lived with for 6 months when I was here in 2011. I received a call from
Ruchelle who was staying out with her brother and sister-in-law in San Jose,
the worst hit area of Tacloban. Her brother and his wife had to leave to visit
her family so they asked if I could stay with Ruchelle and a neighbour’s girl,
as they were scared to stay on their own. I left my valuables with my family
and moved to the small temporary home and Ruchelle cooked a meal on an open
fire and I stayed right at ground zero of the typhoon. Here is the house where
I stayed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih34H-sa40Qxsao9KbMJSb4kWeuheCUHU_kpOA7Of898c6eesr9oLl-xDboJyDvdZrBjM1ux3cLZQVtVwgBaOGu88l5mRM7-hf9gEl6gkc8LZvK25qWk9o9s-GMndfaKIlUUz8WdJ4nOJQ/s1600/Ruchelle's+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih34H-sa40Qxsao9KbMJSb4kWeuheCUHU_kpOA7Of898c6eesr9oLl-xDboJyDvdZrBjM1ux3cLZQVtVwgBaOGu88l5mRM7-hf9gEl6gkc8LZvK25qWk9o9s-GMndfaKIlUUz8WdJ4nOJQ/s320/Ruchelle's+home.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruchelle’s home</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The next day I moved back to stay with my family and will be here
until December 26<sup>th</sup> and then go to Cebu. I want to see the house
that is being built up in Bogo. I will return to Tacloban in early January
after I get my new visa. I will fly to Cebu to avoid the 2.5-hour van ride and
2-hour ferry. The Tacloban airport is open despite almost being wiped out.
Since there are no ticket offices open and no online services, you have to go
to the airport and buy a ticket for either Cebu or Manila. Here is a photo of a
Philippines airliner getting ready for takeoff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFLJLb3nOPQcA1Hl8J5UEgm0el4GbE5MCw00x21ndhKg3E05XYlVkED7MX2gxHN3LTaeFyWieHjLNU0X-O5jR5rVtu5Xdj5fgN8dYBlTyLwNAEWkDX17nLs7xOWpnMFWB581ZjnL-ZOua/s1600/Tacloban+airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFLJLb3nOPQcA1Hl8J5UEgm0el4GbE5MCw00x21ndhKg3E05XYlVkED7MX2gxHN3LTaeFyWieHjLNU0X-O5jR5rVtu5Xdj5fgN8dYBlTyLwNAEWkDX17nLs7xOWpnMFWB581ZjnL-ZOua/s320/Tacloban+airport.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Tacloban airport</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On December 15<sup>th</sup> I was able to make contact with the last
of the children I wanted to find. Angelina was at the Missionaries of Charity
when I was there and her home was also in the hardest hit area. Angelina is a
very bright girl and she returned to school in 2012 after being released from
the orphanage to live with her sister and brother-in-law. She was the top
student in her school last year and really loves to learn. A few days after the
typhoon, Angelina and her family here were evacuated to Manila on a C-130 plane.
They did not want to go but they thought they had no choice. She is now living
in the northern island of the Philippines and wants to return to go to school
that is scheduled to open on January 15<sup>th</sup>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The people in her area have been set up in tents for now and will be
relocated to another area north of the city in about 6 months. I told Angelina
I would go and ensure their names are on the list to be relocated and then if
she is provided a tent, can move back here with her family and attend school. I
will have to help move her here back to Tacloban as they were evacuated with
only the clothes on their back and no one in the family has a job. Here is a
picture of Angelina with the twins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUsB59B_jb9MZcqcXO80L_ja8xStRSNCYtJZLExpcdVhhs_x4gmmz-ToWA7rEnwqtfMOrhJDQo5lSVU_HU_VPxi2fxj7Q9oanrEGQlH4GuuxoF3U3bipITThRJzKAD6Kg8aBdvj_mF8Q0/s1600/Angelina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUsB59B_jb9MZcqcXO80L_ja8xStRSNCYtJZLExpcdVhhs_x4gmmz-ToWA7rEnwqtfMOrhJDQo5lSVU_HU_VPxi2fxj7Q9oanrEGQlH4GuuxoF3U3bipITThRJzKAD6Kg8aBdvj_mF8Q0/s320/Angelina.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Angelina</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This week I will be checking up on the twins and Michael’s family and
also trying to get Angelina and her family back here to Tacloban. We are also
looking into starting to rebuild Jennifer’s home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I keep being told to make sure I thank all those who helped with
donations and I will continue to show photos of where the money is being spent.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-13697426767573971952013-12-11T05:00:00.002-08:002013-12-11T05:00:45.427-08:00Searching for a few kids<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">December 11th, 2013</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Searching for a few kids</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am staying at a hotel in Tacloban for one week and compared with
most people here it would be considered luxury but it really is more like
camping. I have a bed in a room with a roof and doors so in that sense things
are easy. However, with no electric fan, no lights, no running water and a
toilet that does not flush it is similar to many campgrounds where I slept. The
hardest thing for me is not the lack of running water or light, it is the heat
at night. I can leave the window open and get eaten by mosquitos or shut the
window and sleep in 90-degree heat in the room. I tried to get a mosquito net
in Cebu before coming here but they were sold out. Last night I slept on the
floor with a light blanket beneath me as it is cooler than the bed so things
are looking up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The front of the hotel has a generator so I can access the computer
each night, a blessing considering it is dark by about 6:00 pm and there is not
much else to do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The connection can be
sporadic though as can the cell phone coverage. Tacloban is under military law
with a curfew from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am. I saw a sign coming into town that read,
“After 7:00 pm, shoot to kill.” For those people who only heard about the
curfew starting at 8:00 pm, they might want to reconsider moving indoors an
hour earlier.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol38FQvog218j29t2TY1SRVt69ONcSxeuG_IAfAfbTm0dUoeQboXqaRxXpSPsnSgcEcW-lco0_qEwkt9i1cApRR-pDGAVR_QSMqaIWrZjHAJOWIEaCJo4XaM_DYH3Qu0hGaXvltFnyiUO/s1600/Curfew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol38FQvog218j29t2TY1SRVt69ONcSxeuG_IAfAfbTm0dUoeQboXqaRxXpSPsnSgcEcW-lco0_qEwkt9i1cApRR-pDGAVR_QSMqaIWrZjHAJOWIEaCJo4XaM_DYH3Qu0hGaXvltFnyiUO/s320/Curfew.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Curfew</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My typical routine here is to get up at first light, about 5:30 am and
take my bath. A bath consists of using a pail of water to soak yourself, then
apply soap and rinse. When I lived with a family here I did that everyday and
it is very refreshing, I never missed having a hot shower. I then have
breakfast, usually just rice, scrambled eggs and a piece of fruit. I had gone
without dairy products for 6 months but there is nothing else to eat here. The
first day they served canned corned beef but I really couldn’t even force
myself to try a bite and with the other option being hot dogs, I will stick
with rice and eggs. They also have 3 in 1 which is just milk powder and sugar
with a few grains of coffee. I bought my own small packages of black coffee but
it is Nescafe instant and for anyone used to brewed coffee, it is difficult to
drink. I really miss Bo’s coffee shop for my daily brew. I walk by my old
hangout everyday hoping beyond hope that they are open and Starbucks is
becoming a distant memory. I then go out into the town or surrounding areas and
have to be back here by dark so there is limited time in a day. I don’t want to
be out at 7:01 pm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On Sunday morning I made it my mission to find some of the children
from the MC orphanage. I had heard that Michael and his family survived and I
knew the area they lived so that should be easy. I had also heard conflicting
reports about April and Angel, the twin girls. I didn’t want to speculate about
their situation so without any idea of where they were located I set out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I made my way to the airport area to find my friend Ruchelle. It is
handy to have a local person who speaks the Waray dialect as most of the poor
people here struggle with basic English. English is taught in schools from a
very early age but many people in the poor areas left school early and do not
use the language in day to day life. Ruchelle was in her home cooking for her
family when I arrived. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruchelle is only 23 years old and I think of most girls back home that
age just finishing University or working and it is a world apart from life here.
She left Tacloban the day before the typhoon hit to get to Cebu to arrange
paperwork for a job in Taiwan. She is here to visit her brother and his family
and will go back to Cebu for Christmas to be with her mom. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The government has ordered that the people in this village can stay
for another 6 months and then they will be forced to evacuate to a location 1
hour from Tacloban. They will be provided a home but in an area with no town or
jobs. Last week they were saying the homes in the new location would be built
in 6 months and I had to laugh and wonder if anyone actually believed that.
Yesterday, I was reading in the Philippines newspapers that the rebuilding
could take 5 years. Considering the people most affected are poor and homeless,
I think even 5 years is far too optimistic, but the only hope is that there is
a national election in a few years and someone may use the disaster to move
things along for the votes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There is a small town called Palo near Tacloban and I drove through
there the other day and noticed they were frantically working to store electric
power. It turns out, a government official from the area is related to the head
of the organization that provides electricity so they are taking priority. Palo
is a very small town and Tacloban has over 250,000 people but it’s who you know
that counts for a lot more than need. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In another report, relief goods from the UK have been intercepted in
Manila and are now being sold on the streets there and never made it to
Tacloban. If you want to ensure your donations get to the appropriate persons,
just avoid any government intervention. Since all goods coming by plane or ship
have to go through Customs (one of the most corrupt departments) and then to
the local mayor or Barangay captains for distribution (another big source of
corruption) the chance of goods getting to the poor are almost zero. I was in
the worst hit area in Tacloban, in a school hosting about 2,000 refugees and
not one of them has received a single piece of clothing 30 days after the
typhoon, despite countless shipping containers sent from around the world. They
are long gone by the time they get to the poor. The various government
officlals take the best goods for their families and supporters and if there is
anything left it gets to the friends of their friends. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruchelle’s village will not get electricity or plumbing since they
will be evacuated so the temporary shelters being built quickly now is home
until June. That is a long time to live with hundreds of people without
electricity or toilet facilities. They can access water for cleaning but the
water is contaminated and not for drinking. Here is the shower area with
Ruchelle taking her bath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8yi36JzZa9qaZEKnR05XG7fiddSkmcuHdYxXaFPmI706RK8sY1tK5cnlCRLNQ2mPlXrcWpP-rN0GAiRSn8Uo052Zld4XyNsxl3e8noZKZIEKecOHUUnDQp_C2EPXXfYsbv1ASjtikWiA/s1600/Ruchelle%25E2%2580%2599s+bath+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8yi36JzZa9qaZEKnR05XG7fiddSkmcuHdYxXaFPmI706RK8sY1tK5cnlCRLNQ2mPlXrcWpP-rN0GAiRSn8Uo052Zld4XyNsxl3e8noZKZIEKecOHUUnDQp_C2EPXXfYsbv1ASjtikWiA/s320/Ruchelle%25E2%2580%2599s+bath+time.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruchelle’s bath time</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As mentioned Ruchelle is 23 years old and the lack of privacy and
being in the open for your bath and going to the bathroom would be difficult
for the young women here. Most young girls spend hours in the bathroom so
imagine how she feels every day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had mentioned the large scale clean up effort on the main streets
with dump trucks, excavators, backhoes and the other heavy machinery. However,
at the local village level things are a little more primitive. Many people do
not have any tools to clean up. At one point I saw lines of people moving in
and out of a few homes and watched as they all dragged various scrounged
containers to the piles of debris on the roads and then returning to collect
more. They were happy and singing, a different way to spend your Sunday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUUdpIW6D2k1gegiv7H6uqPBQaxYCyQze-0O6k8PzLuvEIQbvGcU3cp-0pnizuIdh3gohPhGv0t1TdrFiBMPzlZP1ZtjxdavMat4adksMYLyoDQVKOB5UEe9cyiHWL3kMzH7XTd4vKasT/s1600/Who+needs+a+wheelbarrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUUdpIW6D2k1gegiv7H6uqPBQaxYCyQze-0O6k8PzLuvEIQbvGcU3cp-0pnizuIdh3gohPhGv0t1TdrFiBMPzlZP1ZtjxdavMat4adksMYLyoDQVKOB5UEe9cyiHWL3kMzH7XTd4vKasT/s320/Who+needs+a+wheelbarrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Who needs a wheelbarrow?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGJ85HmoieLhRK_UvRxSEpv8GoY_MvBK1h5C9jSv2joG_H2uqCTyvGRixkZOvgdz-ZIliqFBOvYDK7ASHrc9BPUsCfvmOr7XbqA6VrSUNgjnBjItcCaFNwnQYftmiaDKBjEprFb5ToGIB/s1600/Good+use+of+luggage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGJ85HmoieLhRK_UvRxSEpv8GoY_MvBK1h5C9jSv2joG_H2uqCTyvGRixkZOvgdz-ZIliqFBOvYDK7ASHrc9BPUsCfvmOr7XbqA6VrSUNgjnBjItcCaFNwnQYftmiaDKBjEprFb5ToGIB/s320/Good+use+of+luggage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Good use of luggage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In Ruchelle’s village they had shovels and would go through the
massive piles one shovel at a time. There were 87 people killed in this small
barangay alone, with most likely being swept into the sea. They go through the
piles sorting out the wood and other materials that can be used to help build
the temporary shelters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqZVrEEyhNIQycyCNKlqGTk31wcVLsrrB-awJmDlFs611-UPn00TPbOP2Fy5STBJ8_S8J_sOYf98JKqCUWje7xLIHjjyqRYy2Wv7vNEEaKydgLfhmsMXmgCV6ZOZlvQpDyyyWxTzsa6nF/s1600/Cleaning+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqZVrEEyhNIQycyCNKlqGTk31wcVLsrrB-awJmDlFs611-UPn00TPbOP2Fy5STBJ8_S8J_sOYf98JKqCUWje7xLIHjjyqRYy2Wv7vNEEaKydgLfhmsMXmgCV6ZOZlvQpDyyyWxTzsa6nF/s320/Cleaning+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cleaning up</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They are starting to set up large amounts of tents that will house
people for the 6 months until they can be relocated. The government has said
all schools will open on January 8<sup>th</sup> and most of the schools are in
bad shape and filled with the refugees escaping villages like this one. They
have to move those people into tents and then clean up the schools. It has now
been a month since the typhoon and that means exactly 1 month until the schools
open. It is really going to be a race against time. Here are some of the tents
set up near Ruchelle’s home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkgjGHUhb7cCJeb0ibrD-lVnxRtdBjgD8rhJqfeGvSv6I4KDaXwFDdjL13IYVbRPHa0w2eWf_rfy95e4jToRZUqm5nmVtTh157E65tbreml1N8hTqI9T63vaHf6l4CWzu4GSY5roSV91l/s1600/Relief+tents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkgjGHUhb7cCJeb0ibrD-lVnxRtdBjgD8rhJqfeGvSv6I4KDaXwFDdjL13IYVbRPHa0w2eWf_rfy95e4jToRZUqm5nmVtTh157E65tbreml1N8hTqI9T63vaHf6l4CWzu4GSY5roSV91l/s320/Relief+tents.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Relief tents</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There are still fires burning everywhere and the smell of smoke
combined with the heat and humidity makes breathing difficult. They can’t put
the fires out since they don’t have running water. Most people walk around with
masks and I use a small towel over my face. The smells for the most part are
okay so it appears the bodies of animals and humans have all been recovered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruchelle and I took a jeepney and then a motorcycle and were able to
locate Michael’s family. Michael is still very sensitive and almost started
crying because there was such a fuss when I walked through the gates. He must
have heard a number of people call out his name and didn’t know what was
happening. He is also very shy and would look at me, wondering who I was and
why I was there. His mother took out a picture she has saved with me and
Michael and he kept looking from the picture to me and back to the picture.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNf9rm1ZhKsKJBt1Zk6arvjqxK8SL9DXIMF01Xrv9XtVg6n6HzfdGsERUz-auoiTI6j_IWGbuHun0fLmMfT3ZDNq-QNpaJJ3ZglFMl4371YrGmMysvQ1fjNS-OyeZyixNFU3s7bShmqQNY/s1600/Michael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNf9rm1ZhKsKJBt1Zk6arvjqxK8SL9DXIMF01Xrv9XtVg6n6HzfdGsERUz-auoiTI6j_IWGbuHun0fLmMfT3ZDNq-QNpaJJ3ZglFMl4371YrGmMysvQ1fjNS-OyeZyixNFU3s7bShmqQNY/s320/Michael.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Michael</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Michael is from a family of 7 children with the eldest being 15 but
all very small. Here are 6 of the kids.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvGChc5cUfwaQhpWOid-jJkXM3UtDq0DQSdjWCwGOhHZg4qAsu2sFbaFz19pYo_rsHXeF459g_BFObYDri_ScC7_zHo-2l0VWY42WSNdCu9jtmCIegTgZwsqmBp9VfoVQCFJz3y6iIx-r/s1600/Michael+and+his+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvGChc5cUfwaQhpWOid-jJkXM3UtDq0DQSdjWCwGOhHZg4qAsu2sFbaFz19pYo_rsHXeF459g_BFObYDri_ScC7_zHo-2l0VWY42WSNdCu9jtmCIegTgZwsqmBp9VfoVQCFJz3y6iIx-r/s320/Michael+and+his+family.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Michael and his family</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The father drives a bicycle and earns about $4 per day and the mother
cleans clothes and earns about $10 per week. Not a lot of money to care for a
total of 9 people. They are safe and escaped most of the damage from the
typhoon, as their small 1 room house is concrete and well protected. The area
they live is far enough from the water to have escaped the storm surge. I asked
the father to drive us to a nearby market where I bought the family some rice, fresh
fruit, eggs, milk and candy for the kids. I also gave the mother some money and
asked what she needed for her kids. They need vitamins, milk, fresh water and
food. They did not have the damage of the other homes but after the typhoon the
roads were blocked so the father did not have work for almost 2 weeks. They
have very little money to provide for Michael so their biggest need is money. I
will only give money to the mother, as the father will likely spend it on
alcohol. The best option is to buy them food and supplies. I told her I would
be renting a van to go to Ormoc this week and will buy the kids new flip-flops
and something for Christmas. They also need candles, a flashlight, cleaning
supplies for the home and fresh bottled water. I told her I would return in a
few days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The next stop was trying to find the twins. Angel and April were 2 of
the young children admitted to MC in 2011. They were joined by their brother
Jerry Boy and were the sweetest children I ever met. The twins were admitted
because of severe malnutrition and stayed much longer than most because they
were not recovering. At one point when I was there we thought April would die
as she was infested with tapeworm. One day she was eating and a worm crawled
out of her mouth. After taking medicine she seemed to recover but it was a slow
process. I spent a lot of time with them, often walking around the compound
with one in each arm. Near Christmas in 2011, MC started playing Christmas
music and I would pick up Angel and dance with her until she fell asleep and
then pick up April and do the same. They loved that and they would just smile
as we danced. I think that is my best memory of my time at MC.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When I was visiting MC on Friday I heard reports from the workers and
even the sisters there that Angel and her mother were killed in the typhoon but
April, Jerry Boy and the father were alive. I was crushed and couldn’t believe
it. Ruchelle however heard that they were all alive so I have been really anxious
to find out the truth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had no idea where they were but as we drove past a large elementary
school I noticed it was packed with people so asked the driver to stop. We went
in to the grounds and I was shocked by what I saw. It is a massive school for
grades 1 through 6 and probably 7 classrooms for each grade or a total of 42
rooms. Each room held 6 or 7 families so if there is an average of 5 in a
family, that would make about 1,500.With people in the courtyard and on the
roofs and many out during the day, I would easily estimate 2,500 people were
cramped in various rooms. In the school there is no electricity or toilets, a
disaster waiting to happen. These are the people in the hardest hit area and
they have no homes left. They will all be relocated to tents for the next 6
months.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a picture of one of the rooms that held 7 families, likely up
to 35 or 40 people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTgGXlsHxHb0f3OGYR9B0_pDRtBuTNsZjza_PyhX9UPjLPSxoKG9hGCn_CaROAgNLFESKb6M-gMiCfI-CDw6zIXsFZsNl8RtCfw2euRJY1UtItc168UbmyZz7x3yjqhyjUsAMEjK_3Iq3/s1600/School+for+refugees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTgGXlsHxHb0f3OGYR9B0_pDRtBuTNsZjza_PyhX9UPjLPSxoKG9hGCn_CaROAgNLFESKb6M-gMiCfI-CDw6zIXsFZsNl8RtCfw2euRJY1UtItc168UbmyZz7x3yjqhyjUsAMEjK_3Iq3/s320/School+for+refugees.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">School for refugees</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The scene reminded me of the refugee camps set up in Haiti or Pakistan
after their earthquakes. Those camps are still in operation years later and
that is what I fear will happen here. As soon as you get people moving to other
areas, you start getting corruption with inflated prices and government
officials taking a piece of the action. People will be charged a “fee” for the
best portions of land and the family members of the mayors or Barangay captains
will bet first choices. If you happen to have voted for the respective
government official, you can also expect preferential treatment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ruchelle and I asked around and were told that people in the village
the twins lived were located in the far end of the compound so we walked across
the massive field. Then Ruchelle asked a lady and she pointed to a far room. I
entered the dark room and heard someone say “it’s Kuya Fred” and my heart
skipped a beat. I asked Ruchelle who that was and she pointed and said it is
the twin’s mother and I asked about Angel and April and she pointed to them
standing in the corner. I climbed over some small partitions and gave them both
a hug but of course they had no idea who I was or why I was there but that’s
okay. The mother hugged me and thanked me for searching for them. She said she
was hoping I would show up. Here is a picture of the twins with their older
sister and parents. Jerry Boy was not there but he is also safe.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlDMllMrCOSXdxliWiPWmSg93A7I0YRRAgkjzAKfFmnArWxEoIW4sutyvQDUTMfYJ_q-bDpruWXp6FYIeDa7E3dkqj6oTMwb8W_YF5ts0bAf2zrPzOOZWMzRdWdNYL498vlZfOPdhQAhw/s1600/April+and+Angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlDMllMrCOSXdxliWiPWmSg93A7I0YRRAgkjzAKfFmnArWxEoIW4sutyvQDUTMfYJ_q-bDpruWXp6FYIeDa7E3dkqj6oTMwb8W_YF5ts0bAf2zrPzOOZWMzRdWdNYL498vlZfOPdhQAhw/s320/April+and+Angel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">April and Angel</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The mother looked exhausted. I asked her what they need for assistance
and she said everything from fresh water to mosquito nets. The girls look
severely malnourished again and they have very little fresh water or food. I
told her I would return shortly with vitamins and milk for the kids and as many
supplies as I can fit into a van. It is very difficult now as they are living
in a small room with 6 other families and you can’t just give to one family.
The need is overwhelming. I gave the mother some money and told her to buy
whatever her family needs and I will keep checking up on them. She started
crying and wanted to say thank you to everyone who donated to help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I may have reduced computer time soon as I will be moving to live with
a family on Thursday and they do not have a generator. My plan is to rent a
vehicle to Ormoc about 2 hours away and load up on vitamins, milk, eggs, fresh
food, cleaning supplies, flashlights, batteries and a Christmas present for all
the kids. There are now 8 families we are helping, a total of 45 people, mostly
children. It is a small number but for those families it means a lot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For those of you who donated money I wanted to outline where the money
has been spent and will be spent in the coming week. It is running out fast so
if there were any ideas on how to raise more it would be greatly appreciated.
Coin drop boxes at work, telling your friends and co-workers, organizing an
event can help more people as all the money is going directly to those in the
most need.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In Cebu, Tita’s parents are building a new home which relieves the
financial pressure on Tita and her 8 siblings. Yesterday, 2 trucks full of
building materials made the drive up to Bogo and construction is now starting
on a new home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In a small town outside of Tacloban, Cristina’s mother and 2 daughters
were given some food and money and I will return later this week with supplies
from Ormoc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In Tacloban, Ruchelle’s family (brother, sister-in-law and their 2
children) were given some money and we will get supplies for them. I paid to
bring Ruchelle back here and for her return to Cebu.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jennifer’s family (mother, father, 3 brothers) are working on
estimating what they need to rebuild their home. We will be adding a second
floor and construction will begin as soon as we can get the materials. They
will also get supplies from Ormoc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Michael’s family (6 siblings and 2 parents) were given some food and
cash and we will return with supplies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">April and Angels family (2 siblings and 2 parents) were given food and
cash and we will return with supplies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The 2 women at MC who saved the 16 children (Bella and Gemma) and
their 4 children will be given money and supported as they have lost
everything. I can’t give them supplies as there are too many families there but
I will provide personal items of clothing for them and their daughters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That makes 8 families and about 45 people impacted by your generosity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have to get a visa renewal before December 28<sup>th</sup> and the
immigration office here is closed so I will go back to Cebu on the 26<sup>th</sup>
and then go up to see the progress of Tita’s home in Bogo before coming back to
Tacloban in early January to follow up on the families we are helping. I don’t
know how long I will be here but will stay as long as I can be of some use.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The people here are grateful for the worldwide response to the
typhoon.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxE94M7peYtg9ofDvNfshri8nKn8C2sTpOXE3w0YMEadq7gYzR3jQ3h02pZUbuuKzaISc26XOY-9R4OvK78eNaJwAJzdWXhG5g7_FY8P8z85ZyTOAQHoOk7TIG7ibyiynYXTlOiq7yybd/s1600/Thank+you+from+Tacloban.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxE94M7peYtg9ofDvNfshri8nKn8C2sTpOXE3w0YMEadq7gYzR3jQ3h02pZUbuuKzaISc26XOY-9R4OvK78eNaJwAJzdWXhG5g7_FY8P8z85ZyTOAQHoOk7TIG7ibyiynYXTlOiq7yybd/s320/Thank+you+from+Tacloban.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you from Tacloban</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-29601076997614261582013-12-08T19:37:00.001-08:002013-12-09T19:39:15.415-08:00A Long Road Ahead<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">December 9th, 2013</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A Long Road Ahead</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Yesterday I wrote about the heroic efforts of Gemma and Bella as they
walked through water that rose to their necks to save the lives of 16 children.
Both of them lost their homes in the typhoon and now live with their children
at the Missionaries of Charity. Here are photos of both.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVqqlQ31N3nws2OGLzWEPtg37o8fnKuhxKrss5b7POUuTVWkZhLBxkQSQSbQXGd-9fPFJ4_VrrIVP0lOA50vrcN2I9pZCRqQd2Zo6DOfTf_5N4rUG1QZ8gck-El15uHjKp7Or2EXq41fP/s1600/Bella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVqqlQ31N3nws2OGLzWEPtg37o8fnKuhxKrss5b7POUuTVWkZhLBxkQSQSbQXGd-9fPFJ4_VrrIVP0lOA50vrcN2I9pZCRqQd2Zo6DOfTf_5N4rUG1QZ8gck-El15uHjKp7Or2EXq41fP/s320/Bella.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Bella</span></span></td></tr>
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</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuYaw3gWVY2V0tZeFbpY-roMbzAOQcUD9m8N7bmqyzt6rQdlVNTNt_q2B1ELwpMjDq4WdVC9Hgf5FMV5SqsCshm2rZxe_9aJczxlWACgGrYQXGYEwyJod5kiBxN02lPiLH-PmQP33OEGE/s1600/Gemma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuYaw3gWVY2V0tZeFbpY-roMbzAOQcUD9m8N7bmqyzt6rQdlVNTNt_q2B1ELwpMjDq4WdVC9Hgf5FMV5SqsCshm2rZxe_9aJczxlWACgGrYQXGYEwyJod5kiBxN02lPiLH-PmQP33OEGE/s320/Gemma.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gemma</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Today I woke up anxious to get on the road and see what life is like
outside of Tacloban and in the smaller towns I arranged a motorcycle cab to
meet Jenn and me at 8:00 am so that we could go to the small town of
Tabontaban, about an hour away. Prior to coming here I put out an open request
to any Filipinos interested in having me check up on their families. Cristina
Cadaro lives in the Middle East as an overseas worker and her 2 young daughters
(age 5 and 3) are living with her mother here. In the immediate aftermath of
the typhoon, Cristina could not reach them and had no idea if they were even
alive. Without the means to travel here she lived with a lot of uncertainly.
She was able to confirm they were alive but asked me to visit and make sure
they had enough food, water and adequate living conditions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I met the driver and we went to look for supplies. I was told that a
few shops have opened up selling goods at inflated prices, over double the
normal rate. I was able to scrounge up some oranges, apples, bread, soap, hot
dogs, coffee and milo. We drove and I noticed a really big effort to get the
electricity back in order. I saw truck after truck carrying loads of 26 hydro
poles ready to be raised, along with dozens of teams of workers lining the
roads. They have a goal of getting streetlights operating by December 24<sup>th</sup>
and are racing to meet that deadline. The views on the road however, didn’t
change a lot as we drove. The piles of garbage and scenes of homes torn apart
have been a constant sight in all directions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I didn’t know the location of the home but after asking around we
found Cristina’s mom and 2 beautiful daughters. I introduced myself to her
mother and told her I knew her daughter and I was here to see if they needed
anything. I gave them the food and some cash and told her it was a gift from
people all around the world who want to help. I asked what she needed and her
response was typical of the things people really need in disasters. They need
fresh water, fresh food (she is getting tired of 28 consecutive days of canned
sardines), cleaning supplies, mops, tools like hammers and shovels, flashlights
and batteries. There is a strange irony to seeing hundreds of containers full
of clothes blocking the ports when you can’t find a flashlight or spare
batteries in a city without electricity. People had their roofs blown off but
don’t have shovels to clear out the mud or scrub brushes or mops to clean the
floors. All the tools were destroyed in the typhoon. I told her that I was
planning to rent a van and go to Ormoc to load up on supplies for a number or
people and then would be back. She wanted me to extend her families gratitude
to all those who donated. Here is Cristina’s mother and daughters Shantel and
Samantha.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9f3QeWtnm1Uh_luxL2sBURXhCsf-hHBYi_98Ty5XJ1uDiMfoDMKgqK9-do9qSPZgt8sap89N0Cqcg0dVl5q3A39D7q3iaUi6i7pXeTDCn0kDRgrtCaj5AsTgic9JQLioqTBqy91C_yMS9/s1600/Cristina%25E2%2580%2599s+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9f3QeWtnm1Uh_luxL2sBURXhCsf-hHBYi_98Ty5XJ1uDiMfoDMKgqK9-do9qSPZgt8sap89N0Cqcg0dVl5q3A39D7q3iaUi6i7pXeTDCn0kDRgrtCaj5AsTgic9JQLioqTBqy91C_yMS9/s320/Cristina%25E2%2580%2599s+family.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Cristina’s family</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The driver, Jenn and I then returned to Tacloban and went to Jenn’s home
to see what happened at her home. I met Jennifer Jabolen at the Missionaries of
Charity (MC) in 2011. She is the eldest of a family of 4 with 3 younger
brothers and parents living in a small home. Jenn had health problems growing
up and MC paid her medical bills and in return, she donates her time to help
care for the children. Prior to me leaving in 2011, she was unselfishly giving
all her time to MC on a volunteer basis and because of her health could not get
a full time job. Her health improved so I asked if she would be interested in
going to school. She said she would love to but her parents didn’t have the
money. I spoke with her parents and asked permission to support her through
College. She was just starting her last semester in her 2<sup>nd</sup> year of
Business when the typhoon hit. Jenn was left with no home, no school and only
the clothes on her back. Her story of the typhoon is no less dramatic than any
other I have heard.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I was in Tacloban in the first week of November and spent a lot of my
time with Jenn and Ruchelle. We would all go to dinner together and spend time
talking about her school or Ruchelle’s upcoming job in Taiwan. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had met many of Jenn’s friends in the past
few years and this visit was much like the others. We all heard the reports of
the typhoon being billed as the biggest storm in history but the attention was
mostly focused on the wind, not the potential storm surge. I left Tacloban on
November 5<sup>th</sup> and Ruchelle left on November 7<sup>th</sup> so Jenn
was left here with her family.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jenn lives in a small single story 2-room home directly beside her
grandmother’s small home that extends to 2 floors. When the typhoon hit and the
water started rising they wisely moved over to her grandmother’s home. They
were soon joined by 6 other families all-searching for a way to escape. In a
matter of minutes the water and mud completely covered the entire ground floor.
All 7 families climbed the stairs and huddled on the small 2<sup>nd</sup> floor,
not sure if the water would completely wipe out the house. The wind blew off
the roof and some of the walls and they were exposed to the elements above and
to the side and the water was now at the level of the top stair below, with
nothing but 10 feet of surging water below. There were 30 people standing in a
small area trapped and simply hanging on for life, for over 4 hours. All of
them survived. I don’t think words can adequately describe what I heard from
Jenn and her mother. They really lived through a nightmare.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Here is a picture of the grandmother’s home, 29 days after the typhoon
hit. The sheet metal on the sides of the home is temporary replacements from
pieces of roof found after the storm.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Shelter during Yolanda</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This is the landing area above the stairs where 7 families huddled
during the typhoon.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Room of refuge</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This is the landing area showing the top of the stairs coming up from
the ground floor. At the height of the storm, the water rose right up to the
top step. There were 30 people up there with the roof and sides of the home
gone, and everyone wondering if the home would collapse and be washed away or
if the water would continue to rise.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Top Landing</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Here is the kitchen in Jenn’s house on the ground floor. It was
completely submerged by water and mud.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jenn’s Kitchen</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Here is the living room, also submerged to the height of the ceiling.
When the water receded they were left with about 3 feet of mud that they
cleaned up, one bucket at a time. This is why one of the big necessities here
is cleaning supplies, pails, scrub brushes and mops.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Living room wall</span></span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Here is the living room after almost a month of cleaning. Jenn’s
father built the bunk beds with some of the debris.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaVKOgoKkCzHvkGftMd8EZBD1M0ZJof0LmMX57UDKkztCirVE21nAMJpkaGHn-l6Iq7C4rQONX0Aozbeefb7D0RKIchwXNTZzldHkEJDjKEB24MNR-r_NehoMyk4tkRJfWKFJ9AUFfatB/s1600/Living+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaVKOgoKkCzHvkGftMd8EZBD1M0ZJof0LmMX57UDKkztCirVE21nAMJpkaGHn-l6Iq7C4rQONX0Aozbeefb7D0RKIchwXNTZzldHkEJDjKEB24MNR-r_NehoMyk4tkRJfWKFJ9AUFfatB/s320/Living+room.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jenn’s living room</span></span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This is a view through the open window in the living room showing the
remains of 3 homes. All the members of those families were part of the large
group hiding in Jenn’s grandmother’s home.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHcMVINuvn4xqpX30RA9WgMusRrXIn2bu3wT6NYcZfDo6UpWCgX89EdWnbXdy6QN4Wf9aN1dBRBbYX0ZtLoq-QxcmfU2vtk3DINijNmY2eTPOiRX5ywRNqFgtOaE-Oec61JX8PXPjYEVp/s1600/Houses+gone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHcMVINuvn4xqpX30RA9WgMusRrXIn2bu3wT6NYcZfDo6UpWCgX89EdWnbXdy6QN4Wf9aN1dBRBbYX0ZtLoq-QxcmfU2vtk3DINijNmY2eTPOiRX5ywRNqFgtOaE-Oec61JX8PXPjYEVp/s320/Houses+gone.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Houses gone</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This is the view from the back of the house. There were 8 bodies pulled
from the rubble in this area.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">View from Jenn’s home</span></span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This is the family guard monkey. He is a nasty fellow ready to attack
anyone within arm’s reach. I walked by and he grabbed the bag on my back before
I retreated. I had to duck to walk under his menacing glare. I told him I would
buy him a banana but it didn’t change his mood. Maybe he thinks I was
responsible for the typhoon.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Monkey in the rafters</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jenn’s home is one we will rebuild with some of the donation money. We
discussed what to do and decided to build a 2<sup>nd</sup> floor on the current
structure to ensure they are safe if another storm hits. It is not the first
time their home has been flooded and it makes no sense to just keep the
existing home without an escape route. I asked her father to figure out what is
needed and to contact a building supply store as to the best way to get
started. Jenn’s father is now working for the Buddhist Work for Pay program
where they hire local people and pay them to clean up the city. It is a perfect
solution to the problems here but it means her father will not be able to help
build during the day. He will continue to work as long as he can so he feels
like he is supporting his family, a very important and often overlooked aspect
of trying to rebuild. If the men are left at home to just wait for relief aid
they can easily start growing dependent and lose incentive to work. The faster
you can get people to take responsibility for their own situation, the better
things will be in the long run.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jenn’s uncle will come to Tacloban from the nearby province to
supervise the work so we will create a job for him, in addition to the 3 or 4
locals who will help to rebuild. Jenn’s father will come home after work and monitor
the progress as we go. Jenn’s mother will keep the men in line. Her family is
very hard working and exceedingly honest so I can trust they will work hard and
hold the other workers accountable. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The biggest hurdle now is to find building materials. In the home we
are building in Bogo, we had to get building supplies in the city, a drive of 2
hours. We got 2 trucks to drive the materials to Bogo and we may have to do the
same here. It is an expensive alternative but it could if you consider every
single home in a city of 250,000 people needs some form of work, you can
understand the logistical problems. That doesn’t even consider the hundreds of
small communities surrounding Tacloban.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">One of the big issues here is as I mentioned earlier, that of land
ownership. Jenn’s family do not own the land so are officially considered
squatters but the government is allowing people to rebuild here as they have no
alternative plan to relocate the families here. That is why we will build on
this site, they have no alternative in terms of location.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tomorrow I will be making a second attempt to find Michael and his
family. I met his aunt who gave me the general area of where he lived. I will
also try to find Angel, April and Jerry Boy, the twins and brother who were
also at MC in 2011. I visited with the children and their parents when I
returned at Christmas 2012 and have heard conflicting reports on their safety. I
really pray that there is good news.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">December 7th, 2013</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Missionaries of Charity</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I woke up early on Friday morning and started off on a walk to the
Missionaries of Charity orphanage. I wanted to walk the 6 or 7 km’s to get a
close-up view of the storm’s aftermath. My first sight was a large boat over
100 meters from the Bay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmcOOnKbtguS1fGQLDNHkF1_JW7Fcnmz7lTD7gyO3zYII5V25jhZ5LMBVIHERUdDzz_5jEaGpScTv5_nkvqnqHDZYTTx2rXIedqKNE2ce0f2iAAWVTQ6vAeVmr-A0QUwBVl8IW4Y7nO4G/s1600/Boat+landing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmcOOnKbtguS1fGQLDNHkF1_JW7Fcnmz7lTD7gyO3zYII5V25jhZ5LMBVIHERUdDzz_5jEaGpScTv5_nkvqnqHDZYTTx2rXIedqKNE2ce0f2iAAWVTQ6vAeVmr-A0QUwBVl8IW4Y7nO4G/s320/Boat+landing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I walked there was a constant stream of garbage trucks, hydro repair
crews, military and foreign aid vehicles streaming along. Tacloban is
rebuilding day by day despite no electricity, on the 28th day since the
typhoon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a view of the waterfront area of Tacloban.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZeuJWvRfd6OaN9eOkBSBITHVw8qHvlGalH3VoORMNz1XZfGGxQ6spmrZm1t22RpH9B8uhZ9AucZ3uJBZSN2ZiJ8ysx-loFGJWOPjX11BKS57hdk_kvahb0hGanws0JGMWUGsbRRHBVLW/s1600/View+of+the+waterfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZeuJWvRfd6OaN9eOkBSBITHVw8qHvlGalH3VoORMNz1XZfGGxQ6spmrZm1t22RpH9B8uhZ9AucZ3uJBZSN2ZiJ8ysx-loFGJWOPjX11BKS57hdk_kvahb0hGanws0JGMWUGsbRRHBVLW/s320/View+of+the+waterfront.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">View of the waterfront</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As I walked down the street I saw that not everyone who survived was
lucky. This guy’s joy in living was short lived.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXja19lCtAYpUH2XfkPx96nqshITKfJuW8riT2KzkJmloBntrVdQ_MSgCUUgo6U5ly-Mz0XJ0uG1tSYKm-VvW-AHqkf_cDCkPzWJXXD6YWuabeYue1GvCkCkhG8fdIqOVCovyvJla07HkO/s1600/Talk+about+bad+luck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXja19lCtAYpUH2XfkPx96nqshITKfJuW8riT2KzkJmloBntrVdQ_MSgCUUgo6U5ly-Mz0XJ0uG1tSYKm-VvW-AHqkf_cDCkPzWJXXD6YWuabeYue1GvCkCkhG8fdIqOVCovyvJla07HkO/s320/Talk+about+bad+luck.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Talk about bad luck</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the main landmarks of Tacloban is Sto Nino church and it was hit
hard by the typhoon. Despite losing the roof the church hosted a number of the
homeless families in the area in the immediate aftermath. They have now closed
their doors to clean up and prepare for Christmas Mass.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaBem_orOSWmjsYsCahYduReQxZcPfLdNGQLe2S3HpoZait7e4CG5NeCgQYZPtoake42DTdRHnEVLPaYym-lVo6SEnhnWkuY_JJDL0IH-Zis2rsSFHGQ_Kt7wxRfYBgZ3GwMgpu4MiTad/s1600/Sto+Nino+Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaBem_orOSWmjsYsCahYduReQxZcPfLdNGQLe2S3HpoZait7e4CG5NeCgQYZPtoake42DTdRHnEVLPaYym-lVo6SEnhnWkuY_JJDL0IH-Zis2rsSFHGQ_Kt7wxRfYBgZ3GwMgpu4MiTad/s320/Sto+Nino+Church.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sto Nino Church</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I was on my way to the Missionaries of Charity (MC) orphanage where I
volunteered for 6 months back in 2011. The children I knew during my time are
no longer there but I wanted to see if the new children were okay and to visit
with the workers. I was excited and a little apprehensive when I had my first
glimpse of the exterior of the building.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg94kOOFjjm3cqr0sd83tiJ6rs6r-53af-GTYTW5Lom51u-D_pg54JT2WoS-5hu4c6vdg5FdEnvJYOXUApq4itkgAj_NwwloBj2Kj41X7PC8r3vigix2aD-NqIWw9fvZtv_-3g88-lktd2/s1600/The+outside+of+MC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg94kOOFjjm3cqr0sd83tiJ6rs6r-53af-GTYTW5Lom51u-D_pg54JT2WoS-5hu4c6vdg5FdEnvJYOXUApq4itkgAj_NwwloBj2Kj41X7PC8r3vigix2aD-NqIWw9fvZtv_-3g88-lktd2/s320/The+outside+of+MC.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The outside of MC</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are the gates that always brought a smile to my face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9psH_xgYtz3mutgI4ArJDnfQBcN76qhRVuMi4O4jpZk_kpQHLhcAh7XcvRVXiPjhyphenhyphenPhGVOdN4OgsLTWCXWKbDWBGCETKsUfMWrDfFntDhfLE2kILsh3XRexMyzjCqnlyLwtMPZQMxSxp/s1600/My+favourite+sign+in+the+world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9psH_xgYtz3mutgI4ArJDnfQBcN76qhRVuMi4O4jpZk_kpQHLhcAh7XcvRVXiPjhyphenhyphenPhGVOdN4OgsLTWCXWKbDWBGCETKsUfMWrDfFntDhfLE2kILsh3XRexMyzjCqnlyLwtMPZQMxSxp/s320/My+favourite+sign+in+the+world.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My favorite sign in the world</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I knocked on the door and noticed a familiar face and Jennifer came
running to greet me. I recognized a few of the children as kids of the workers
but Gemma and Bella the workers I was there to visit were out and would return
in a few hours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I had already heard the story of what happened but confirmed the
details in my discussions with a few of those who lived through it. MC is
composed of 3 buildings. The Sisters occupy one close to the main building. The
children and workers live in the main building with the adults needing care living
in a building across the road. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The typhoon hit about 6:00 am and the electricity was immediately
knocked out. The children were in the area where the infants usually stay in
their cribs and all the children and workers were all together in the same room,
in anticipation of the storm. The Sisters were in their building across the
driveway. At one point the water started rushing into the buildings and rose
from ankle level to the level of my chest. The people I spoke with said it was
like getting hit by a wave at the beach. The water reached a level over the
heads of all the children. In MC there are water lines still visible and I took
a picture that shows how high it would be on these kids. The girl is one of the
tallest children there and with the speed of the in-flow, none would have
survived if they were on the floor. None of the children or workers can swim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEbPxG6hrt5sMc1c3NNGTBvuwOoCJ7OH1bFBtu-Ic2O2zwU75VSVp8jU2LCHweZpNSI8eWKr-nUZf8cavCo6fqGiZWywQKX-w3edZy0W2I7SaVhleABafj4S4_b9j6qHI6h7Efzxv6Jjy/s1600/Water+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEbPxG6hrt5sMc1c3NNGTBvuwOoCJ7OH1bFBtu-Ic2O2zwU75VSVp8jU2LCHweZpNSI8eWKr-nUZf8cavCo6fqGiZWywQKX-w3edZy0W2I7SaVhleABafj4S4_b9j6qHI6h7Efzxv6Jjy/s320/Water+line.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Water line</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The water rose so quickly that Gemma and Bella had to act fast. They
gathered tables together and raced to put the kids on top. A few were put on
Styrofoam pads that floated on top of the dark and muddy water. Gemma related
how she thought they had no chance to survive but she refused to give up and
kept working to save them. Gemma is a very strong woman but a month after the
event cannot tell the story without breaking down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile, across the driveway the Sisters were trapped inside their
building with the water crashing through the doors and filling the rooms. You
can steel see the damage to the doors as the rushing water simply smashed
through everything in it’s path. They were standing on the tables to survive. A
young local boy raced in to make sure they were okay and helped them get on top
of the tables until the water receded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In the adults section across the road the people weren’t so lucky. Two
of the adult patients drowned in their beds as the water rose too quickly for
them to get up. One of the patients was blind and the other couldn’t get up
fast enough. The blind lady would not even have seen what was coming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Overall they were extremely blessed but the loss of one life is too
many. The Sisters were so traumatized that a few were transferred to a
different location to recover. They were trapped with their own lives in danger
and not knowing the fate of the children in their care. It was an agonizing few
hours until they were able to make their way back to the children, now standing
in waist-deep mud.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I talked a while with Gemma and Bella and they are heroes for what
they did to save those children’s lives. They are both parents to young
children and acted as if the 16 kids in their care were their own. Both women
lost their homes and are now staying at MC indefinitely. I have been in touch
with a number of former volunteers that worked there and who know both of them and
we are going to try and raise funds to provide them a home. Both of them spend
their lives caring for others and now they need some help. They are single
parents raising a family and do not even have a roof over their heads. They
deserve better than that and without them, there is no way all of those kids
would be alive today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There were also stories of loss. I met a lady today who is 4 months
pregnant and has 4 children. Her husband died in the typhoon and the
Missionaries of Charity accepted her and her children to stay with them. She is
the lady on the far right and I watched her sitting there in a very quiet daze
like trance, simply going through the motions of eating to survive for her
children.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9jAxOWVhUPPTdmYdThjfbgXPwlhxbLkj_fKrZfo75Y-qqFr9ajXhg7OjZuoOe8_UR9-3MywGYY6ov-EwvF6Q6xAeqXjw9e88mxpFbnqifmhVjnVag8ufulcZdH9WpAKF2vx5bVyGBQau/s1600/Tragedy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9jAxOWVhUPPTdmYdThjfbgXPwlhxbLkj_fKrZfo75Y-qqFr9ajXhg7OjZuoOe8_UR9-3MywGYY6ov-EwvF6Q6xAeqXjw9e88mxpFbnqifmhVjnVag8ufulcZdH9WpAKF2vx5bVyGBQau/s320/Tragedy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is my brand new friend, one of the little kids now taking refuge
at the Missionaries of Charity. He decided to join me for lunch and show me how
to pose properly for photos.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVxlKyUK2Ydq-utZtX-SUvIk_bKsqK_rbm335saNm1sFMGx2JHsip-UKKdYUOJkrlw-thqaLqMJ84IXB4ndf5ViY9v5j8MVJTy0t5gMuNr3GCf0B_mqp9jMQSNVccd1eRTiOagfRqMia_/s1600/My+new+friend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVxlKyUK2Ydq-utZtX-SUvIk_bKsqK_rbm335saNm1sFMGx2JHsip-UKKdYUOJkrlw-thqaLqMJ84IXB4ndf5ViY9v5j8MVJTy0t5gMuNr3GCf0B_mqp9jMQSNVccd1eRTiOagfRqMia_/s320/My+new+friend.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have never eaten a meal at MC as I refuse to consume their food but
they insisted this time. I think Gemma and Jennifer just wanted to see if I
could eat rice and vegetables without utensils. I didn’t tell them that I spent
6 weeks in India doing this on a daily basis. Jennifer is on my right and Gemma
is on my left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All the stuffed toys are hanging out to dry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As of today, all the children have been moved out of MC and relocated
to different Missionaries of Charity orphanages in the nearby provinces while
they rebuild. They are getting some food from the other orphanages and on the
day I visited, the Sisters and staff were out in the small villages
distributing relief goods to others. They personify the act of selfless giving
as they rely on donations for food and then they continue to donate some of the
goods they receive to help others. They just survived a typhoon with the loss
of 2 lives and are already going out to the community to help others. It is
very humbling to be there and see them in action. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I left the orphanage and walked to Barangay 64, the small village
where I lived when I volunteered at MC. I stayed with a family of 13 people and
wanted to make sure they were okay. I also wanted to visit the Volunteer for
the Visayas (VFV) office building. VFV is the foundation that matches
volunteers with the various projects in Tacloban. I worked with them to get a
volunteer position with Missionaries of Charity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I almost got lost trying to find the entrance to the village as most
of my usual landmarks were destroyed. Here is a picture of one of the streets
near the entrance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RF7br0UR7EoFmRFzwV3ko8C1v69WUekiWMafidukLiU5BqQEcsKs2kh1f1YBZQXp-83hTrKjGv16d0r7TsqWo6XCuaj_gVeQUJv99GGBmtCwDXP3uUe5_jF0rRa0FMZ4kDF9h4XjY3Zi/s1600/Street+near+Barangay+64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RF7br0UR7EoFmRFzwV3ko8C1v69WUekiWMafidukLiU5BqQEcsKs2kh1f1YBZQXp-83hTrKjGv16d0r7TsqWo6XCuaj_gVeQUJv99GGBmtCwDXP3uUe5_jF0rRa0FMZ4kDF9h4XjY3Zi/s320/Street+near+Barangay+64.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Street near Barangay 64</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The VFV building’s roof was destroyed but the main building is in
relatively good shape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OKlQdPFI-McP0gWNoyh_aUKxtjrZlfpTYNSS_xjHMal3N3nV9VvcZ983bxpd_AlDd_1tCCSUrKxGknjiBwIo-mIcwmzflGRnG6mSZMh2eGOQj_XpWCMlt8gWUdC6aL7OrY0VUSz40AmG/s1600/VFV+Office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OKlQdPFI-McP0gWNoyh_aUKxtjrZlfpTYNSS_xjHMal3N3nV9VvcZ983bxpd_AlDd_1tCCSUrKxGknjiBwIo-mIcwmzflGRnG6mSZMh2eGOQj_XpWCMlt8gWUdC6aL7OrY0VUSz40AmG/s320/VFV+Office.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">VFV Office</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The houses around the center basketball court were damaged
extensively. Here is a view of the surrounding homes.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5v0seWJ-pdcW5d_NqfVfmvD3QRjAf-iRz4cCKugJJBBRW-OuRaoIfYeX0ip-KyriqbTiCekLE4IRbe9nyp_63lDSfPsOYf2h2bNhZ2AjpAJEaVahyCV3_kzKbavjfcteWTqKs3dC3HKU/s1600/Basketball+Court.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5v0seWJ-pdcW5d_NqfVfmvD3QRjAf-iRz4cCKugJJBBRW-OuRaoIfYeX0ip-KyriqbTiCekLE4IRbe9nyp_63lDSfPsOYf2h2bNhZ2AjpAJEaVahyCV3_kzKbavjfcteWTqKs3dC3HKU/s320/Basketball+Court.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Basketball Court</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I then met my homestay family. All of them survived as they live in a
solid home. They also invited others in the area to stay in their home for
safety. The water level here rose to about my chin level as they huddled on the
second floor. I talked with the kids and they were also terrified, not knowing
if the water would keep rising. The home is at least 2 km from the edge of the
water and it just shows how destructive the storm surge and winds were to every
home in the city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The children haven’t changed through all of this, still smiling and
more than happy to have their picture taken.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGgGVtkuQsyufBCFgoDCaFzQNpjpyzj5cksatQdmEB5E-jrhsLzH4Fr5-82okhqQo1AcHxCVeW5FHo7A8APFfWqP9PML8OLn_qSdRg2hLY7LwnAw3v42-MxO_YKNAe3Zz2nkH6cKEyi8w/s1600/2+girls+near+VFV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGgGVtkuQsyufBCFgoDCaFzQNpjpyzj5cksatQdmEB5E-jrhsLzH4Fr5-82okhqQo1AcHxCVeW5FHo7A8APFfWqP9PML8OLn_qSdRg2hLY7LwnAw3v42-MxO_YKNAe3Zz2nkH6cKEyi8w/s320/2+girls+near+VFV.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2 girls near VFV</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am currently staying at a hotel here and have booked for 1 week. The
lady at my homestay said they have a room available in their home so next Thursday
I will move here. It is a great opportunity, as they need the money I will give
them and I need a place to stay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Tomorrow I am going to a small town about 1 hour from Tacloban to
search for the mother and children of a Filipina overseas worker desperately
trying to confirm if they are okay. I reached out to people to offer assistance
in finding people and Cristina replied. She is working in the Middle East and
knows her family lived but she cannot confirm if they have enough food and
water. I promised to make the trip and have rented a driver to take me there. I
told him I only have a general idea of where they live and that I would also
like to try and find some food and water to give to them. Tomorrow is another
day to face the unknown.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I know many of you have given money to help some of the people here
and I have told many here of the generosity of the people around the world. If
you know of anyone looking to donate and who wants to ensure the money will be
put to good use, please tell them about what is going on here and that the
money will go directly into the hands of those who need help, with no
administrative charges or government intervention. I pay for all the food and
supplies myself to ensure it is spent wisely. The need here is simply overwhelming
and I fear that as time passes the impact of the storm will be dropped from the
news coverage and from people’s thoughts, particularly as people prepare for
Christmas.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-81895231366309890862013-12-06T21:41:00.000-08:002013-12-06T21:41:13.872-08:00First Impressions of Tacloban<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">December 6th, 2013</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">First Impressions of
Tacloban</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">On December 5<sup>th</sup>, I was up at 4:00 am to get to the ferry in
Cebu. It is a 2.5-hour boat ride to Ormoc, a town about 100 km west of Tacloban
and a city also in the direct path of typhoon Yolanda. By the way, the
international name of the typhoon is Haiyan but the name in the Philippines is
Yolanda.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The first impression I had as the van made it’s way to Tacloban was the
incredible size of the path of destruction. The 100 km between Palo and
Tacloban looks like a war zone and it is easy to see the overwhelming
rebuilding job ahead. For one example, it has been almost exactly 1 month since
Yolanda made landfall and I wondered why there was still no electricity. The
answer was pretty obvious; I could count on one hand the amount of hydro poles
still standing in the entire trip between the cities. If you think hydro poles
are usually a few hundred meters apart you realize the extent of that one
problem. Then you look at the damage to the schools, hospitals and businesses
and also realize that I did not see a single home in the entire trip that was
completely spared from the wind or water. Here are a few photos from the van on
the road towards Tacloban.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWd4yLcNXPoI41y8349VsoqJoKYtfgMsS8SOY2B9KBHhyphenhyphenpUqKjIghGv-8vSwxScJ1x9xyhO8ArCjBqLdR9YzU-x0ZzAyTKPwx18vUEM7agEuDjCmMuY3hW5MfKp4OgSscYzegxAxxMzSBA/s1600/Damage+on+the+road+to+Tacloban.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWd4yLcNXPoI41y8349VsoqJoKYtfgMsS8SOY2B9KBHhyphenhyphenpUqKjIghGv-8vSwxScJ1x9xyhO8ArCjBqLdR9YzU-x0ZzAyTKPwx18vUEM7agEuDjCmMuY3hW5MfKp4OgSscYzegxAxxMzSBA/s320/Damage+on+the+road+to+Tacloban.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Damage on the road to Tacloban</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I was sitting beside a man that had a home in Palo, very close to
Tacloban and he told me some stories from his area. He told me about one man
carrying a child in each arm as he climbed the rafters of their home to escape
the rush of water. I saw an interview on CNN of the mayor of Tacloban who
managed to survive by punching a hole in his ceiling and waiting out the storm
clinging to the open air rafters of his roof while the water raged below,
covering the entire first floor of his home. The damage I saw certainly
confirmed that these stories were true. Here is a photo taken in Palo.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKT0Q6Ui3f35dlpKYIFEGNVbybPhyphenhyphen_1aDSJW2wAHJFV5E8o-gC4JsJItii6v7pZ1IRkcDF4_IXF98Lu-WnKECYRuV5sW7Gg67CfetackQwISfd2Xpkqeloa8Os42KWNh6gin-D3t0ODcCS/s1600/Damage+in+Palo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKT0Q6Ui3f35dlpKYIFEGNVbybPhyphenhyphen_1aDSJW2wAHJFV5E8o-gC4JsJItii6v7pZ1IRkcDF4_IXF98Lu-WnKECYRuV5sW7Gg67CfetackQwISfd2Xpkqeloa8Os42KWNh6gin-D3t0ODcCS/s320/Damage+in+Palo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Damage in Palo</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I thought I was well prepared for my first sights of Tacloban but
despite watching around the clock coverage on CNN I don’t think anyone can
really anticipate the sights and smells. It was hard to even figure out where
we were in the city with many of the landmarks gone. A noticeable silence fell
over the van as we inched along roads piled with debris and people walking
along the edges. I also noticed the lack of greenery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any trees left standing were stripped bare
from the wind and the surrounding mountains looked like they just survived a
massive forest fire. There was also a distinct smell coming from the huge
mounds of debris still covering half the road in places. It is a smell composed
of smoke from the constant burning within the piles of garbage and of course
the possibility of composing bodies of humans and or animals. </span></span></div>
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</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwPsLe3iH7pC0BO9wd2xhK-ASrxRsIlpf9COHNDO7LEr09HU3ex3lR1x93M8qyawUfY_MwWwhOnyrgsxty1F2em4KXYXoueFSsSmFUFlN6O4wfNdSwTMnl6NjjO1a6eeWFvpRNYRqR2yw/s1600/Street+in+Tacloban.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwPsLe3iH7pC0BO9wd2xhK-ASrxRsIlpf9COHNDO7LEr09HU3ex3lR1x93M8qyawUfY_MwWwhOnyrgsxty1F2em4KXYXoueFSsSmFUFlN6O4wfNdSwTMnl6NjjO1a6eeWFvpRNYRqR2yw/s320/Street+in+Tacloban.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Street in Tacloban</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j6UFhryHWqSAn9uFCJThHLCbdsoD2nIrYfaU6rYbpBI62X0G6DFkglEw2LXNNegSu6y1xBwhnUar6gqjniwZmtIHg5wq0Be1flZXRqz1riCtwle_UlvVdDTa_483h5YegxBauSgLzsPI/s1600/More+damage+in+Tacloban.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j6UFhryHWqSAn9uFCJThHLCbdsoD2nIrYfaU6rYbpBI62X0G6DFkglEw2LXNNegSu6y1xBwhnUar6gqjniwZmtIHg5wq0Be1flZXRqz1riCtwle_UlvVdDTa_483h5YegxBauSgLzsPI/s320/More+damage+in+Tacloban.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">More damage in Tacloban</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I had a hard time finding a hotel as the ones open were being used by
the various aid agencies. I tried a half dozen and ended up finding a room at
the Leyte Park Hotel. The front of the hotel has a generator but I am at the
back without electricity or water but I do have a roof and the property is
secure so that is all I really need. I got a few large jugs of water for my
bath and will have to throw water over my head prior to sleeping because of the
heat without a fan or an air-conditioner. The fact that I have a roof makes me
far better off most here.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I went out to one of the worst hit areas of Tacloban to see if my
friend Ruchelle was okay. She is in the City to see her brother and his family
and they live in the town of San Jose near the Tacloban airport. The area is a
narrow peninsula with water on both sides and is particularly exposed and
vulnerable to strong winds. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ruchelle was born and raised in Tacloban and lived in the San Jose
area. Her mother, brother, sister in law and their children were in the home on
November 8<sup>th</sup>. Ruchelle was in Tacloban earlier in the month but was
applying for work in Taiwan so left on November 7<sup>th, </sup>the day before
the typhoon, to be with her sister in Cebu. Imagine her feeling when she sees
her street for the first time since she left.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio8W81lLiYSrwk5sFLJuxNnVZaW8V4u9nWgCWoQTQJhBrKRWTa5RruPLupxTRFEsomBJ3aCkxNmG4MDHYi-wzbIYGe61NLc9U-3D1-vkfRzeJ6vpH8ruhmQd5zUVxDcbil19ROx_85hfk/s1600/Destruction+in+Tacloban.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio8W81lLiYSrwk5sFLJuxNnVZaW8V4u9nWgCWoQTQJhBrKRWTa5RruPLupxTRFEsomBJ3aCkxNmG4MDHYi-wzbIYGe61NLc9U-3D1-vkfRzeJ6vpH8ruhmQd5zUVxDcbil19ROx_85hfk/s320/Destruction+in+Tacloban.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Destruction in Tacloban</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Prior to leaving she wanted to ensure her family would be safe with
the increasingly dire reports coming on the news about Yolanda. There was an
evacuation center set up in the local elementary school and Ruchelle made sure
her family were able to go on the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor of the school.</span></span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Here is a picture of the school with the 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup>
floors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAYhqPfXA0R5pgKSlAMQ1nlxs-X7zhamq9SDDDuu0IgjRVRjrDhjfIBdiGXaFN0ydec5mlnw1qGKLu8rSxxgxBaiqyjwurBJ3pPhwtAGjsvb_9xcczqGsvk4rrbvEezn-g15oFdB9iNcb/s1600/School+of+refuge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAYhqPfXA0R5pgKSlAMQ1nlxs-X7zhamq9SDDDuu0IgjRVRjrDhjfIBdiGXaFN0ydec5mlnw1qGKLu8rSxxgxBaiqyjwurBJ3pPhwtAGjsvb_9xcczqGsvk4rrbvEezn-g15oFdB9iNcb/s320/School+of+refuge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">School of refuge</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When the typhoon hit Tacloban, at approximately 4:00 am and lasting
until 11:00 am on Friday November 8<sup>th</sup>, the strongest winds ever
recorded slammed into the city with a direct hit. The small area of land where San
Jose is located between 2 bodies of water was directly in the path but the
subsequent storm surge created the most destruction. A surge of about 15 feet
completely covered the small area of land approximately 1 kilometer in width.
The water completely submerged an entire floor of the school. There were
numerous people including lots of children who took refuge only to drown when
the water rushed in. The people on the second floor were safe but could hear
the screams of frantic family members who were witnessing their relatives being
swept away or submerged by the rushing water. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This area had the highest death toll and many of the people were
actually taking refuge from the storm. One mistake made by the weather
forecasters was their failure to use the world Tsunami. The massive 2004
Tsunami in Indonesia, Thailand and a large area of Asia and the more recent one
in Japan have made a strong impact on people around the world. The use of the
word “storm surge” on the other hand has not and many people simply did not
understand the risk involved with the water. If they heard the word tsunami,
many said they would never have taken refuge is the buildings so close to the
water. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Here is a home in the same area as the school. I was told that water
was entering the windows of this house on the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor. Imagine
being in that home when the storm hit. The first reaction to the wind blowing
off the roof would be to escape down to the ground floor. Then you would be met
with raging water that is quickly rising so your only escape is to go back up
and hang on to the rafters with no roof above you and a driving rain.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mAXbha2Z_q-VWSeLzUnKe6we9mG1Ow13iWLf5jr-tdViicyAGWPMv5uZ8r3Pmxki_jZUFMqiRRWBa0bnJLXDXeXW5qduvZkPl8wI3qMoMxRNXHRykewXJE7ALe7ActAiFf-t90iK99_a/s1600/Water+was+at+level+of+2nd+floor+windows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mAXbha2Z_q-VWSeLzUnKe6we9mG1Ow13iWLf5jr-tdViicyAGWPMv5uZ8r3Pmxki_jZUFMqiRRWBa0bnJLXDXeXW5qduvZkPl8wI3qMoMxRNXHRykewXJE7ALe7ActAiFf-t90iK99_a/s320/Water+was+at+level+of+2nd+floor+windows.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Water was at level of 2<sup>nd</sup> floor windows</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ruchelle’s family survived the storm and she is extremely grateful
after a number of sleepless lights waiting for news. I met her family and saw
the rebuilding in progress. Here is the temporary shelter created after the
typhoon.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9LnY2UrwTp3VgjrWndRSZk3uSrI35vsBy90ro5PXKLPHBegmB-LQtOwlnpgCfUQG2SQRYDQQVnlwNGg5Q9ZGSKL4jFIdObb_y-NIPMztM-69ewixtLxR3bj13wgThx32NYXLiYv4xoXi/s1600/Ruchelle%25E2%2580%2599s+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9LnY2UrwTp3VgjrWndRSZk3uSrI35vsBy90ro5PXKLPHBegmB-LQtOwlnpgCfUQG2SQRYDQQVnlwNGg5Q9ZGSKL4jFIdObb_y-NIPMztM-69ewixtLxR3bj13wgThx32NYXLiYv4xoXi/s320/Ruchelle%25E2%2580%2599s+home.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ruchelle’s home</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Here is a view from that home showing the impact of Yolanda.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6aTtXEDZRcgVTeCDbdRumkG6mQV7SZH7QRf0f2_xwb9W4U0gamFlc4tWtRkMWYyLJsORzpt8tCRoeLJUeyqUgeqtqn_N7oHNRVEhTuNEBi06za4vI81P6rGaCP_fVjhJ8_ht-4neVIVR/s1600/View+from+Ruchelle%25E2%2580%2599s+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6aTtXEDZRcgVTeCDbdRumkG6mQV7SZH7QRf0f2_xwb9W4U0gamFlc4tWtRkMWYyLJsORzpt8tCRoeLJUeyqUgeqtqn_N7oHNRVEhTuNEBi06za4vI81P6rGaCP_fVjhJ8_ht-4neVIVR/s320/View+from+Ruchelle%25E2%2580%2599s+home.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">View from Ruchelle’s home</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The rebuilding efforts are going to take a long time and one of the
reasons is the issue of land ownership. In the area of San Jose, there are
sub-divisions of strong cement homes and those are typical of what we would be
used to with the homeowner owning both the land and building. They would be
owned by the relatively wealthy and their homes are strong and had far less
damage, although I have yet to see a single home unscathed.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The real problem is what to do with the other homes, including those
of Ruchelle’s family. The people in large areas here are squatters, building
their relatively flimsy homes on vacant land. Large communities of squatter
homes were destroyed and the government doesn’t want to face this potentially
recurring destruction over and over again so they have initiated a no-building
policy impacting thousands of families. The entire communities will be
relocated in government housing and large areas have been told they cannot even
have access to their homes. In the short-term they will be given tents and then
move into homes when they are built. I don't have a lot of confidence in that
program given the fact that homeless people are usually well down the priority
list of governments.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A similar situation is occurring nearby in the area I went to next to
try and find the families of a few kids I knew from my time at the orphanage. I
went there to locate Angelina and also the twin girls Angel and April. I have
been very worried about them and you can see why, here are a few pictures of
the area where their homes were located.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeyCXG3H_csVKqOrtvCHP7wFl6c44-KEPv3tNrf4RygV6UXQmHlSauIPrb3O6Z5SMZE3yG0HLdqVIciuFKTOltayjclFA5KCEQlWnk-mJ9f8-njPhzTiSEKdaWr0Gk_yovcj9DAR-wynW/s1600/Angelina+and+the+twins+lived+here.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeyCXG3H_csVKqOrtvCHP7wFl6c44-KEPv3tNrf4RygV6UXQmHlSauIPrb3O6Z5SMZE3yG0HLdqVIciuFKTOltayjclFA5KCEQlWnk-mJ9f8-njPhzTiSEKdaWr0Gk_yovcj9DAR-wynW/s320/Angelina+and+the+twins+lived+here.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Angelina and the twins lived here</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGty4Mr7s6WGw5LbFmyt-OUDxko3pfoK-8aysFl77fuWEp5LDGTAxAmVYjQ3cuzHEuHtLEhP1dMtSdiGI-vdwNfZeh9qZ4C8SrvQhyphenhyphen_PdC3payscpT5Tqqn2yD9Y_7bcBWoawho1O_mrX/s1600/Area+near+the+airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGty4Mr7s6WGw5LbFmyt-OUDxko3pfoK-8aysFl77fuWEp5LDGTAxAmVYjQ3cuzHEuHtLEhP1dMtSdiGI-vdwNfZeh9qZ4C8SrvQhyphenhyphen_PdC3payscpT5Tqqn2yD9Y_7bcBWoawho1O_mrX/s320/Area+near+the+airport.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Area near the airport</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I saw that and my heart sank. No one could have lived if they stayed
in their homes and after hearing about the problems at the shelters I began to
feel worse. I managed to find out that Angelina survived the storm and was
taken away to Cebu and is there now. I am trying to find where she is there and
will give her a call when I can but am grateful to hear she survived with her
family. I have not been able to locate the twins yet but will keep on looking.
You can see from the photo that they have prohibited any new building there so
there are hundreds of families that have lost everything except the clothes
they were wearing. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">My next mission was to try and find Michael. Those of you following my
posts for the last few years will know that Michael was my special boy at the
orphanage and there are pictures of him here on an earlier posting. I had
visited him last Christmas and walked to the home where he lived with his
mother. His mother was working as a housemaid for a local family and she lived
with Michael and 4 siblings in a small home beside the mansion of the
homeowner. Here is a picture of that mansion today.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGc864VVUF7_zsaRtMYWsn4TlWBJ08KeutUfdceXrgcHkg4sCcrOYmKiJCd84YlTN-rYZL821M-8D9HVblVxCooqiuBejmSgJ3z8kXf5gtEQ-tMEJv1P6rmmmhDeop_Q1-GlNbHaAE_YoA/s1600/Home+on+Michael%25E2%2580%2599s+property.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGc864VVUF7_zsaRtMYWsn4TlWBJ08KeutUfdceXrgcHkg4sCcrOYmKiJCd84YlTN-rYZL821M-8D9HVblVxCooqiuBejmSgJ3z8kXf5gtEQ-tMEJv1P6rmmmhDeop_Q1-GlNbHaAE_YoA/s320/Home+on+Michael%25E2%2580%2599s+property.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Home on Michael’s property</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It shows that the rich and poor here suffered extensively. Here is a
current picture of the small concrete home where Michael lived last year.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCILw2rAvLizeCyD-VUGMoGVn9dEwSo8vR5Y28JjPWIM27RLX1B4XQjeU_riYMg-uA-VnfnHeDesUzW5-yvx0KIBoR1GZKef_6VfMhJ1aMccq2X6Ww2P1CqDP91KBbocrqacgZ12MpSska/s1600/Michaels+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCILw2rAvLizeCyD-VUGMoGVn9dEwSo8vR5Y28JjPWIM27RLX1B4XQjeU_riYMg-uA-VnfnHeDesUzW5-yvx0KIBoR1GZKef_6VfMhJ1aMccq2X6Ww2P1CqDP91KBbocrqacgZ12MpSska/s320/Michaels+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Michaels house</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I knocked on the door of the Mansion and a lady appeared. I introduced
myself and said I was looking for Michael. It turns out that the lady was
Michael’s aunt and she told me he survived and is living in another area of
town. I breathed a huge sigh of relief and the Aunt gave me a big hug and said
she knows all about me and how I am always looking out for her nephew.
Apparently Michael’s mother told her that I would probably come back to
Tacloban because I would be worried about Michael, ha ha ha.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">There are numerous aid agencies here and I will try to meet with a few
of the workers to see the kind of work they are doing. The hotel where I am
staying is the headquarters of the Red Cross, both the Philippines and International
Branches. I have seen the fire-trucks and ambulances around town and they have
a very visible presence. I saw large tents being set up by the World Food
Program and signs for Oxfam so there are people from all over the world here to
help. It is nice to see such an international effort to help here.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I was sitting in the lobby of my hotel and heard a few volunteers talk
about the reports of out of control crime and looting in the immediate
aftermath of the typhoon, something I also heard on the news coverage but I
think it is unfair to focus on that. I’ve seen examples my whole life of
looting and riots after hockey or baseball teams win or lose championship
games. There are many examples of mayhem after a World Cup soccer game so
focusing on the same behavior when people have lost everything shouldn’t be
something that stands out. There are people everywhere in the world who take
advantage of tragic events and it is no different here than it was in New
Orleans after Katrina or Haiti after the earthquake. I can see the people here
and know the appreciation they have for those helping and the overwhelming
majority have no interest in taking advantage. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">On Wednesday they found 120 bodies in the water under the big bridge
in town, all had drowned during the storm surge. There are still a lot of
people missing and the only hope is they can’t be reached because the
communications are down. While I was walking along the road a group of men were
clearing away some debris and on the road beside them was a body bag. One month
after the storm and they are still pulling bodies from the wreckage. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Tomorrow I am going to the Missionaries of Charity orphanage and will
write about what happened there shortly. I will be trying to post new pictures
everyday on my Flickr account and updates to this journal as often as I can.
There is a lot happening every day.</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-52378117452616812222013-12-04T20:52:00.001-08:002013-12-04T20:52:35.175-08:00Rebuilding in Cebu<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>December 5, 2013</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>On December 2nd I arrived in Cebu and met Tita Pino and her sister and
brother at the airport and went to her home. Just over 7 weeks ago on October
15<sup>th</sup>, an earthquake hit the island of Bohol and also caused
extensive damage here in Cebu City.<span>
</span>Almost 200 people were killed on but most of that has been forgotten
since the typhoon. There have been numerous after-shocks since then with the
latest only a few nights ago. The family slept outside on the street during the
earthquake in fear of the home crashing down. The cracks in the cement walls
are still visible and when the after-shocks come the family rushes outside to
the safety of the street. Here is Tita’s nephew preparing himself for a
potential collapse.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7atHJH9b50eNx5feg7I_hMmwkYAVEt1AsU8knGcTdQsmwCk_CpSDLqP4qrqOzyEIlkgvpMMYsHa5O4kIZJda-2F_QIlEfz9UaksYm4iz96VVDuMD5dypUc6PcpxM2IutwcbhXLmeSzJZF/s1600/Ready+for+an+aftershock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7atHJH9b50eNx5feg7I_hMmwkYAVEt1AsU8knGcTdQsmwCk_CpSDLqP4qrqOzyEIlkgvpMMYsHa5O4kIZJda-2F_QIlEfz9UaksYm4iz96VVDuMD5dypUc6PcpxM2IutwcbhXLmeSzJZF/s320/Ready+for+an+aftershock.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Ready for an aftershock</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Tita’s brother borrowed a truck from his boss and we drove the 3 hours
up to the northern Cebu town of Bogo. Here we are all packed up and ready for
the road trip north.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRrH2virFXLnVBeSGV5DI1xv7tiv0AkErBbGChTrAgQTd-pbgtTru_5VwIb7bwbkiiPB9rrrI0L5WFfqTBJYxyM5OQCDzFGPH5kvmCg3I_GRN-G7vBMR7Jca_HLIxoW_sFlj1SkkYElvK/s1600/Truck+to+Bogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRrH2virFXLnVBeSGV5DI1xv7tiv0AkErBbGChTrAgQTd-pbgtTru_5VwIb7bwbkiiPB9rrrI0L5WFfqTBJYxyM5OQCDzFGPH5kvmCg3I_GRN-G7vBMR7Jca_HLIxoW_sFlj1SkkYElvK/s320/Truck+to+Bogo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Truck to Bogo</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>This part of Cebu was directly in the path of typhoon Yolanda and
suffered extensive wind damage but because of the distance from the water were
spared the storm surge that typically causes the most destruction. The smaller
towns and barangays did not get the media attention but there are millions of
people without basic shelter or food all over Central Philippines. We arrived
in Bogo and I noticed a number of relief agencies set up including a large
contingent of doctors from Israel, another military type compound with the
German flag and a large group of Filipino volunteers with the Red Cross. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>The area is a poor farming community with sugar cane being the staple
crop. There is no running water or underground sanitation and the barangays
share a number of wells for their source of water. My day would start with a
walk to the community well where we would draw water by rope and use that for a
shower. Then when we were clean, we would carry a pail back to wash clothes or
feed the pig, dogs, roosters, chickens and cat. The water in one of the wells
is drawn up with an old basketball.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzcp1-V4T-87Pfc9L4AuN6R4TyFeaBvGXV06S7wIAXyKs-GNvD6scwnLs7_J6xpEFkRpgwyeqiSy3aoHivBhBhAYRLB-HRc93YN16dha9iGJygFJoSM23ACLUg7TWWouvSu_j5m7TL3eO/s1600/Water+in+an+old+basketball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzcp1-V4T-87Pfc9L4AuN6R4TyFeaBvGXV06S7wIAXyKs-GNvD6scwnLs7_J6xpEFkRpgwyeqiSy3aoHivBhBhAYRLB-HRc93YN16dha9iGJygFJoSM23ACLUg7TWWouvSu_j5m7TL3eO/s320/Water+in+an+old+basketball.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Water in an old basketball</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIhbHxkYiLPbc4stP5f-ojwd0qC2wK1MAbq9Xm_636e0Bi9JIUcsFfjF1o9xCHB1db15BM2h1Ly9S8Pw6vQMcVzLE9OL5DbRqwTeKaPaGBKqC38H8Wt6r9_9qwVCy_LYg1_AHy7NaFMRi/s1600/Getting+water+for+a+bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIhbHxkYiLPbc4stP5f-ojwd0qC2wK1MAbq9Xm_636e0Bi9JIUcsFfjF1o9xCHB1db15BM2h1Ly9S8Pw6vQMcVzLE9OL5DbRqwTeKaPaGBKqC38H8Wt6r9_9qwVCy_LYg1_AHy7NaFMRi/s320/Getting+water+for+a+bath.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Getting water for a bath</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VHNvdV11pv_KxlyGpnj2bxbXta8x3lVxzvuka35Ju9_lXAc3ZwZjglzS7_nBYXonUgOIBk7v4JxfpzYF2TwpXPOxFeJZpbH31s-ixvopAhq_bJ0pFHYZ2ab1ALvWC__6CVO-3qmAEtV7/s1600/Doing+laundry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VHNvdV11pv_KxlyGpnj2bxbXta8x3lVxzvuka35Ju9_lXAc3ZwZjglzS7_nBYXonUgOIBk7v4JxfpzYF2TwpXPOxFeJZpbH31s-ixvopAhq_bJ0pFHYZ2ab1ALvWC__6CVO-3qmAEtV7/s320/Doing+laundry.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Doing laundry</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>The family home that was destroyed only had electricity for the first
time about 6 months ago, so Tita’s parents raised 8 children without electric
power or running water. Here are a few members of the family just after our
arrival in Bogo.</span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGavxwh6S4IHymQjveln-N4WQBHQh49PvnFMr1HwtQVQfSLYjUjBt4zRYT_iutbnC72GlDy_xm7KtBVJIez7bI48u3owgn4sCqjCEqd3kV6bD2Un5siccVRKtGFHKl98iPIHPzP-FBdqcD/s1600/The+family+in+Bogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGavxwh6S4IHymQjveln-N4WQBHQh49PvnFMr1HwtQVQfSLYjUjBt4zRYT_iutbnC72GlDy_xm7KtBVJIez7bI48u3owgn4sCqjCEqd3kV6bD2Un5siccVRKtGFHKl98iPIHPzP-FBdqcD/s320/The+family+in+Bogo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The family in Bogo</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>I stayed for 2 nights in the makeshift home. The corrugated steel
walls here used to be the roof of the old home and the roof is now a canvas
tent. You can see pictures of the home immediately after the typhoon in my last
journal entry. Here are the front and rear views of the temporary home.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH92dGaaqNp9dLRoWLHGwrQ_UeBcK3HS8xdZjnR2X8paTiA4f7uylFMkplKtDzWbx2xo-jSO68Lv4-AnhSAwoEBYXuAdReePvXA1yKGFtFrJD-V2SnHBKcZkUGHiRBww5vAc79FoiTIb-G/s1600/Temporary+shelter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH92dGaaqNp9dLRoWLHGwrQ_UeBcK3HS8xdZjnR2X8paTiA4f7uylFMkplKtDzWbx2xo-jSO68Lv4-AnhSAwoEBYXuAdReePvXA1yKGFtFrJD-V2SnHBKcZkUGHiRBww5vAc79FoiTIb-G/s320/Temporary+shelter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Temporary shelter</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6W-A0ZbHtbwkbutf2lyOc1r4mLUVUB-ibWyC8CDomaAXelfp62yNTCm7TpVM0oOJDbiYWnmyew_n5t0FQpew9VhFW_R4tydieS4O31EqjQbkTg9tXt-6KDt66zx9ENlMG0SpR4pihh6o0/s1600/Back+of+temporary+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6W-A0ZbHtbwkbutf2lyOc1r4mLUVUB-ibWyC8CDomaAXelfp62yNTCm7TpVM0oOJDbiYWnmyew_n5t0FQpew9VhFW_R4tydieS4O31EqjQbkTg9tXt-6KDt66zx9ENlMG0SpR4pihh6o0/s320/Back+of+temporary+home.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Back of temporary home</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>The homes in this farming community are spread out but the devastation
is everywhere. All of the electrical wires are down so people have fires and
you can see candles flickering at night. It is something to see strong coconut
trees with half the tree completely severed by the force of the wind. Even
concrete structures did not get a pass as you can see in this partially rebuilt
home.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWdEthyphenhyphen-ujaQB7BU_-prv_yBOQcSXsnxdoOBwdFY3jnq4QWugPYj5u-u38Ux58IEh-DbqaoP5afJpJDPjagtk7RAngu_tshBLjJq2lCODrLG_bdc7pqXg7b4TOL6bffS4UVNPjuo6jj0K/s1600/Homes+in+Bogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWdEthyphenhyphen-ujaQB7BU_-prv_yBOQcSXsnxdoOBwdFY3jnq4QWugPYj5u-u38Ux58IEh-DbqaoP5afJpJDPjagtk7RAngu_tshBLjJq2lCODrLG_bdc7pqXg7b4TOL6bffS4UVNPjuo6jj0K/s320/Homes+in+Bogo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Homes in Bogo</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Here is the interior of the home where we slept.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MWPcY7_jKnUHDDALdrWCakGuipg41ML2yecOMnCylyGx7TODHoco8ZcgE0z615koETOeMhOK3yvrPEWRMqpL35zfwnf5hLADfrDLlBZsTG5xKUGygkK2z6pZP7pC3DWGpTfkeveEN9kW/s1600/Sleeping+quarters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MWPcY7_jKnUHDDALdrWCakGuipg41ML2yecOMnCylyGx7TODHoco8ZcgE0z615koETOeMhOK3yvrPEWRMqpL35zfwnf5hLADfrDLlBZsTG5xKUGygkK2z6pZP7pC3DWGpTfkeveEN9kW/s320/Sleeping+quarters.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Sleeping quarters</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>There is no electricity so everything is cooked over an open fire.
Here is the daily pot of rice cooking.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFlXaqO0s9LDsLzIUo7Ore5me8LAXwRiFqQBUJbwXTARcjQzfNRCLAzfG6l27ybAZ6RIwD2kZ_Kow-ZPgPQEct0CZ3er6MRcYhy3Ss5typV2o2swNH1U768oS-kf4vj6n_cezx_WHw1AV/s1600/Cooking+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFlXaqO0s9LDsLzIUo7Ore5me8LAXwRiFqQBUJbwXTARcjQzfNRCLAzfG6l27ybAZ6RIwD2kZ_Kow-ZPgPQEct0CZ3er6MRcYhy3Ss5typV2o2swNH1U768oS-kf4vj6n_cezx_WHw1AV/s320/Cooking+dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Cooking dinner</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>On this night, the following breakfast and dinner and breakfast the
following day, Tita had her favorite meal of rice and fried fish with the small
fish fried directly on the fire.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiMAkT0iJi-MBivJS5T0Z6nRKVD7xG7h_R05mdKBAtLfUiVqVBestEpiAiS-FAouPvlnDqGqn3ngpA79M4rifdH_FQu_ROaORRwu_0URfKv9x3zDP6OLpkPEvyoa-_sAUmB_teZJF7N-L/s1600/Fried+fish+for+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiMAkT0iJi-MBivJS5T0Z6nRKVD7xG7h_R05mdKBAtLfUiVqVBestEpiAiS-FAouPvlnDqGqn3ngpA79M4rifdH_FQu_ROaORRwu_0URfKv9x3zDP6OLpkPEvyoa-_sAUmB_teZJF7N-L/s320/Fried+fish+for+dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Fried fish for dinner</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>The pig could smell the food cooking and was waiting impatiently for
his share.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWihnO9CvTSpvguy9FYCF5_UULtpB3xI6YS1yyjrvF4n5iR5c418tb-XhI12SG1hpLiKPthaN5-G1G7238nUgBWxt7_C3EzYpURiEURjk6cxuGQkWnEuXGR5-dlaJFd9wgpYvdsjnyjdD-/s1600/Pig+waiting+impatiently+for+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWihnO9CvTSpvguy9FYCF5_UULtpB3xI6YS1yyjrvF4n5iR5c418tb-XhI12SG1hpLiKPthaN5-G1G7238nUgBWxt7_C3EzYpURiEURjk6cxuGQkWnEuXGR5-dlaJFd9wgpYvdsjnyjdD-/s320/Pig+waiting+impatiently+for+food.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Pig waiting impatiently for food</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>I was here 24 days after the typhoon hit and the only relief goods the
family received was a small package of food that wouldn’t even feed the parents
for 1 day. Tita and her sister drove up to Bogo twice in the last few weeks to
provide enough for them to live. To feed all the people in the vast area
impacted by the storm is a daunting task and it is the families in the small
outlying barangays like this one that are at the most risk of going without.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>On Tuesday December 3<sup>rd</sup>, all the families were given a
large tarp provided by World Vision.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqmV21ipPM-uQZIG4sFCqnckgf1_MJNwQNu6MW2_gbmcojxDoia4ASKTveQQhS3T2cWGhAOfU61wAE7gqMvn-OMQGbwEmq91lJ1ZlKlKD_-gBgMLqbrtrQlQPwtrFUNctsZ7w8SUuhweV/s1600/Tarp+from+World+Vision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqmV21ipPM-uQZIG4sFCqnckgf1_MJNwQNu6MW2_gbmcojxDoia4ASKTveQQhS3T2cWGhAOfU61wAE7gqMvn-OMQGbwEmq91lJ1ZlKlKD_-gBgMLqbrtrQlQPwtrFUNctsZ7w8SUuhweV/s320/Tarp+from+World+Vision.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Tarp from World Vision</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>It is nice to see practical supplies reach the people. I saw a number
of clothes being distributed but as is always the case in disasters, donating
clothes and shoes is not a good idea for a number of reasons. First, most
people donate clothes and shoes because they want to get rid of the excess from
their closets but they aren’t often practical for the local people. I was here
when Tita’s mother brought in some clothes from a South Korean aid agency. They
were given clothes that would have been suitable in a very cold climate in
winter but the long thick shirts and sweaters have no useful value here. The
people here know what works best and if they were given money to buy the
clothes that work well in their environment, it would save a lot of waste. I
also think there is a negative association with receiving second hand clothes
that could be avoided if the people could select their own goods. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>The second reason that donating clothes and shoes is not a good idea
is that you deprive the local merchants of making a living. If people give
clothes, the local retail outlets and market sellers lose business so you are
actually increasing unemployment at a time they desperately need to work. If
they could work it would make them feel useful after losing everything so
having free clothing pour into the city really hurts their chance to make a
living. If people donated cash directly to the families, they could buy clothes
for their children and give income to the retailers. The last thing you want is
to create a welfare society where people become dependent on aid so handing out
clothes and shoes is sending the wrong message. Food, water, medicine and
materials for shelter can save lives and is needed in the immediate aftermath
but you have to get the local businesses up and running to get the economy back
in order. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Finally, there is a large backlog of vehicles trying to get clothes to
the people. The vital relief goods have to take priority so the clothes clog up
airports and shipping yards and they end up sitting there for months or years.
They have stopped taking clothes donations here in the Philippines but the
foreign supplies of clothing and shoes are still piling up in the docks and it
is doubtful if the vast majority of those goods will ever get to the intended
recipients.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>It is now Wednesday December 4<sup>th</sup> and I am staying at a
hotel close to the ferry port in Cebu City. I will be on the early ferry
heading towards Tacloban and will be there about noon on Thursday. I have been
getting a few updates on the situation and it seems some things are improving
but the people face a long road ahead in terms of rebuilding. I am praying that
the children I knew from the orphanage are safe. All of the kids were living in
an area completely wiped out so they will all be at one of the temporary shelters.
My first priority will be to find those kids and make sure their families have
enough to eat and drink. Then I will be working with Jennifer’s father to
organize the building of their home.<span> </span>I
also have a few families to contact for Filipinos working overseas who want to
make sure their families have enough relief goods. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The money that so many have generously donated has already been and
will continue to be well spent. I wish all of you could see the gratitude
expressed by the family in Bogo as they prepare to rebuild their home with
materials purchased with your money. The money is going directly to the people
and will only be spent on what they need most to survive and get their lives
back to normal. I will write as often as I can from Tacloban and please keep
the people there in your prayers.</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">November 15, 2013</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“The best laid plans of
mice and men often go awry”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As the world is now aware the Philippines was hit by a massive typhoon
on November 8<sup>th</sup> leaving a trail of destruction that is almost beyond
comprehension. Typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis have of course occurred many
times in the past but they take on a new meaning when you know personally know people
that are suffering. I was planning to leave on Sunday November 17<sup>th</sup>
on a round the world bike trip to raise support for the Angel House orphanage,
but I could not leave knowing that friends were left in precarious situations
back in a city I know well. I have been warned to avoid Tacloban for now as
there is little in the way of shelter, food and water. It is also unsafe, as
people without food and means to support their families will go to extreme
levels to survive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Tacloban is getting all the news coverage but it is not the only place
impacted by the typhoon. There are numerous small towns and villages scattered
around that have lost everything and the aid workers simply cannot get to the
locations. In all, 41 of the 80 provinces were impacted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It was impossible for me to leave on a bike trip knowing that so many
of my friends and acquaintances were in dire need, so I have decided to go back
to the Philippines and try to help as best I can and will defer my bike trip
until I have some peace of mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have a number of families that I will help in rebuilding their homes
and ensuring they have adequate food and water to start their lives from
scratch. I am also going to ensure that the children from the Missionaries of
Charity that were returned home in Christmas 2011 are safe. I know a few of the
families from my time there and will search for them and provide for their
needs. I have no way of knowing at this time how long I will be there but my
plan is to fly to Cebu on November 28<sup>th</sup> to start. Here is my initial
plan.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It is too early to return to Tacloban as the military and aid agencies
have to work to provide safety and the basic infrastructure to the survivors.
My first stop will be Cebu to meet Tita Pino. Her mother and father lost their
home in a province near the city. Here are pictures of the aftermath of
Yolanda.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguS5fgeoMGilFIz0VqqWDItf2IKMQAsWbt1OGVQscN0GiWzoN-z2UaGKF5Y1UVyeWJsaAZrhmFodvPgrVGBnAG_YahX5nJuzhCAtTP74oO18SEJPsf1SLYdxdFY6DNbSY-UYlqCX8HD02N/s1600/House+destroyed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguS5fgeoMGilFIz0VqqWDItf2IKMQAsWbt1OGVQscN0GiWzoN-z2UaGKF5Y1UVyeWJsaAZrhmFodvPgrVGBnAG_YahX5nJuzhCAtTP74oO18SEJPsf1SLYdxdFY6DNbSY-UYlqCX8HD02N/s320/House+destroyed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_WqxLX3yWUPm7L2QZ-SPncHux5NjBh8Dba4zS24YGFNEAdwVeK9l-lIKq2B3jjIG716zL7xEGuZPjVbNlaHNUmSvkLMzHKjocB4AZWdocVRdEj8mEx4ijH5uofJXIWztPwrd5FUyZTI4/s1600/What+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_WqxLX3yWUPm7L2QZ-SPncHux5NjBh8Dba4zS24YGFNEAdwVeK9l-lIKq2B3jjIG716zL7xEGuZPjVbNlaHNUmSvkLMzHKjocB4AZWdocVRdEj8mEx4ijH5uofJXIWztPwrd5FUyZTI4/s320/What+house.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNd2kzRlLhQMaf9lHGUJ32gIDUEYgFCLFVUDvR0IYi53MY4WtLcq_MQ3YCPAdtc5n3pi_TQLwAQhWTvbLYbpdloQDN9hqcHtO1MO77xv9bYP2i0YLVbHZrnmfaPxLckuCfPcH_ik4fRWC/s1600/New+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNd2kzRlLhQMaf9lHGUJ32gIDUEYgFCLFVUDvR0IYi53MY4WtLcq_MQ3YCPAdtc5n3pi_TQLwAQhWTvbLYbpdloQDN9hqcHtO1MO77xv9bYP2i0YLVbHZrnmfaPxLckuCfPcH_ik4fRWC/s320/New+home.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d9zYaQol1ef1Cw2DucTV1TskQuqif-_8nFMbS9_XlH9e8JAaIzS-eMUyXSqWMpMin6mS-JdmOwLLU1CKDx9BzzLRJo-8gcwpEARo_F6NLU8Lmr2JvwQ_xlQUxgrZdybD0Oa3BFURVPZz/s1600/Shelter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d9zYaQol1ef1Cw2DucTV1TskQuqif-_8nFMbS9_XlH9e8JAaIzS-eMUyXSqWMpMin6mS-JdmOwLLU1CKDx9BzzLRJo-8gcwpEARo_F6NLU8Lmr2JvwQ_xlQUxgrZdybD0Oa3BFURVPZz/s320/Shelter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Her family and some members of the local community will work to
rebuild the home and I will provide the materials and supplies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I will then go back to Tacloban and hope the infrastructure is in
place that will allow people to start rebuilding In Tacloban; I am a friend
with Jennifer Jabolen. Jenn was a volunteer worker with the Missionaries of
Charity (MC) in Tacloban when I volunteered there in 2011. She had some health problems
growing up and MC provided her with the medicine and healthcare and in return,
Jenn spent her time working with the kids on a volunteer basis. Her doctor told
her that she couldn’t go to school and had to take it easy but a year later her
health improved. Her family did not have the finances to support her in school
so I decided to help in return that all she sacrificed to help the children at
the orphanage for so many years. When I returned to Tacloban after her first
year in College, she presented me with a shoebox full of receipts. I asked what
these were and she said she wanted to provide me with proof that she used the
money I gave for its intended purpose. She had saved every receipt including
some for a few pesos she spent to buy a pencil. I told her that wasn’t necessary
but it just shows her honesty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jenn was in the middle of her school year when the typhoon hit and
completely destroyed the family home. Her parents and 3 brothers survived but
they were left with no more than the clothes on their back. Jenn’s college was
also destroyed in the typhoon. The family left Tacloban to stay with relatives
in a nearby province and all 21 family members are now living in a small home
waiting for things to improve. Here are some pictures of Jenn during her time
helping the children at the orphanage. In the first one she is “tallest” girl
on my left.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yXqC3aakWsigfgHPwmvTCHUO3MRC19Hks2lMiqR-DESvdYMzOHnjHDlf-SvwAgyxTbZ6GEdkdQIR6liYBwc-slU9xRXsiKKyDdbqM1pC0d0DEf4fpWDg3aX2kN4MT1lF5m7uacb6SrH1/s1600/Me+and+some+kids+in+Tacloban.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yXqC3aakWsigfgHPwmvTCHUO3MRC19Hks2lMiqR-DESvdYMzOHnjHDlf-SvwAgyxTbZ6GEdkdQIR6liYBwc-slU9xRXsiKKyDdbqM1pC0d0DEf4fpWDg3aX2kN4MT1lF5m7uacb6SrH1/s320/Me+and+some+kids+in+Tacloban.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Here she is holding Michael:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48-tnMJPriJL4GkPB-tvMSnaHZEtqvje5ny8KEV39GyiX5Au0t_8gG94VG-5L2PpypQz5gQCq63w7JqInmZHbaxu-RDOYkNQYlTCzU7khHj6x2CzTnS6_4s0gl9hE6zVAONKRLKehVuEV/s1600/Ruchelle+Michael+and+Jenn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48-tnMJPriJL4GkPB-tvMSnaHZEtqvje5ny8KEV39GyiX5Au0t_8gG94VG-5L2PpypQz5gQCq63w7JqInmZHbaxu-RDOYkNQYlTCzU7khHj6x2CzTnS6_4s0gl9hE6zVAONKRLKehVuEV/s320/Ruchelle+Michael+and+Jenn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jenn is kneeling down in front in the pink shirt</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHAZCJ907hKLBoHTWXH6ZcgeGshWQi6VTPI5uMTEcmpllMIoOtXyrNkhquh3WW7lHHfrQEUyT6J5NjEujNel43buVOvDSO5CSQI9qQfEcLYSd6UvW7B8VO2ykWV5EZrFJB08lig_iBDGP/s1600/Missionaries+of+Charity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHAZCJ907hKLBoHTWXH6ZcgeGshWQi6VTPI5uMTEcmpllMIoOtXyrNkhquh3WW7lHHfrQEUyT6J5NjEujNel43buVOvDSO5CSQI9qQfEcLYSd6UvW7B8VO2ykWV5EZrFJB08lig_iBDGP/s320/Missionaries+of+Charity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When I left Tacloban in Christmas 2011, the children at MC were sent
home. I returned the following Christmas to check up on them and found 3 of the
families. I have not heard anything from the children so will go and find them
and assist where I can. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a picture of my special boy Michael. When I look through my
photos of my time at the orphanage one consistent theme is that I am usually
holding Michael, he is very special to me and one of the first things I want to
do is find him and ensure he is healthy. Here is a picture of Michael and one
of him when I gave him a Christmas present in 2012.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9u8oqrpibo3gTX4Gcg90UgxfUVe5BJEk_yKMqr-ItkfT_yvxDjUfNoYVkLsOSj5F-qaXMHfgLgNcGqCKM3gq6eIV3r47l2jL1I4XvHpGQaZ1vf6Yhca2qKvLnUJLO8boYG2290DvpCO1V/s1600/Michael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9u8oqrpibo3gTX4Gcg90UgxfUVe5BJEk_yKMqr-ItkfT_yvxDjUfNoYVkLsOSj5F-qaXMHfgLgNcGqCKM3gq6eIV3r47l2jL1I4XvHpGQaZ1vf6Yhca2qKvLnUJLO8boYG2290DvpCO1V/s320/Michael.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iCPFXlratlZI46t247u3pF8hkIKJpdJi-sR9W7LN10A03nnCBW-HqAueBVYQ5HiuGucFqNVtmUG3YAfA7ldH_qpvPXaCvqvmHYMG6XJMhvFgbJU8HT_aCCL_CHUutFCcJfFpsFZK2mb9/s1600/Michaels+present.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iCPFXlratlZI46t247u3pF8hkIKJpdJi-sR9W7LN10A03nnCBW-HqAueBVYQ5HiuGucFqNVtmUG3YAfA7ldH_qpvPXaCvqvmHYMG6XJMhvFgbJU8HT_aCCL_CHUutFCcJfFpsFZK2mb9/s320/Michaels+present.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Two of the special girls at the orphanage were April and Angel. They
were there for an extra year because of severe malnutrition and there was a
long period where their survival was in doubt. I used to walk around the
orphanage with one in each arm. I visited their home on Christmas 2012 and am
desperate to hear news from them. Here is a picture of the twins with another
member of the orphanage, their older brother Jerry Boy and their mother.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-wxcpiu8U_eQYaCAGXVS7FS645a9d_mG26cGXd55ya7iiTcMZ4wa3J-nDIz3r-f-CZxzsN7JFz60i6wnbx5dYKUrMGu-qBWrh8im5Twt_9h2cuVzVJMzxU-2lTm2D3m5Y1uYVOn26YAo/s1600/The+twins+and+Jerrys+Boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-wxcpiu8U_eQYaCAGXVS7FS645a9d_mG26cGXd55ya7iiTcMZ4wa3J-nDIz3r-f-CZxzsN7JFz60i6wnbx5dYKUrMGu-qBWrh8im5Twt_9h2cuVzVJMzxU-2lTm2D3m5Y1uYVOn26YAo/s320/The+twins+and+Jerrys+Boy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are the twins at the orphanage:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxNWTYj5HxkD8BEhKlKtqme9KLKJmCZzBDt3odnWHq95Zu-K_IMqkkaqiUaGk6xiALKIF7A7ZIxzTBJnZ19c4HQTZ2Hdo7jVkHYSsi7ZidDM571C54zhUkCAfyMVuWoUXbrhKV0cMJxxf/s1600/April+and+Angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxNWTYj5HxkD8BEhKlKtqme9KLKJmCZzBDt3odnWHq95Zu-K_IMqkkaqiUaGk6xiALKIF7A7ZIxzTBJnZ19c4HQTZ2Hdo7jVkHYSsi7ZidDM571C54zhUkCAfyMVuWoUXbrhKV0cMJxxf/s320/April+and+Angel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> There is also my friend Angelina who I spent a lot of time with. She
had a heart problem and was released from the orphanage in October 2011. I also
visited her at Christmas 2012 and she told me she was the top student in her
entire school. Here is Angelina on the far right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1g7iFTFzXPDc1Tp2NHxMKcrDlS2SrTm6mo9mkV92tv1-F0WygTiHIGnieBZ_UkhGGUxIckVFuMNSXm50qx3QKr6gmMTmdhN2WUjKERdFN2jyJjlzj7_jp720qN3hHeHehwV0j6qCVIzPN/s1600/Angelina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1g7iFTFzXPDc1Tp2NHxMKcrDlS2SrTm6mo9mkV92tv1-F0WygTiHIGnieBZ_UkhGGUxIckVFuMNSXm50qx3QKr6gmMTmdhN2WUjKERdFN2jyJjlzj7_jp720qN3hHeHehwV0j6qCVIzPN/s320/Angelina.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> As of today I have not heard from any of the children or their
families. They all lived in an area near the airport, the place where most of
the scenes of destruction have been shown on CNN and the media. The homes will
be gone, they were not sturdy buildings but hopefully the families made it to
one of the emergency shelters and survived the storm surge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The families here represent a small fraction of the issues facing
Tacloban but you have to start somewhere and large problems can be solved one
family at a time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have already received donations and will update this blog as often
as possible to ensure everyone knows where their money is spent. All donated money
will come directly to me and I will only pay for building supplies and food to
help those in need. The families will be required to provide “sweat equity” and
build their own homes. I have no idea how long I will stay but I will be
donating money and of course cover my own expenses for as long as it takes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I can’t offer a lot to these people other than to raise awareness of
their plight and to try and reach out to people to lend their support. You can
rest assured that these families will be eternally grateful as they have little
left in terms of material goods. I know there are many needs around the world
and with the Philippines being a foreign country on the other side of the world
it is easy to put what happened in the background but they are suffering and
have no where else to turn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On November 28, 2013 I will be flying to the Philippines to start
helping the people above and a few others that are reaching out for help. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you are interested in donating please contact me at,</span></div>
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<a href="mailto:bouwmanfred@yahoo.com"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">bouwmanfred@yahoo.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I can also be reached on Facebook at,</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/fred.bouwman.96"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.facebook.com/fred.bouwman.96</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">God bless.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1283452882833213585.post-47300051518534628062013-11-09T08:10:00.001-08:002013-11-15T05:29:01.957-08:00A journey of 50,000 kilometers begins with a single pedal - Bangkok, Thailand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Distance biked so far: (0 km)</span></b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">On November 17, 2013 I am starting at the front door of my condominium
in Bangkok, Thailand to circumnavigate the world on a bicycle. The route that
will change a few hundred times en-route will take me 2 years, pass through
approximately 40 countries and stretch about 50,000 kilometers. There will be
mountains, desserts, head and tail winds, rain, snow, unfamiliar languages and
customs, bad people, speeding cars and did I mention head wind? Most of all
though, there will be kind people willing to show hospitality to a complete
stranger.</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">I am doing this trip to help support Angel House Orphanage in the
Philippines. I spent a short time there this month to meet the owner and the
children. Angel House opened its doors in 2009 and currently has 11 children.
Most of the kids were abandoned by their parents and are in the process of
being adopted. The orphanage does not get any funding from government agencies
and is not supported by a church, relying solely on private donations for
survival. There are 4 house parents living with the children and a social
worker that works closely with the Department of Social Welfare to ensure the
children’s interest is maintained throughout the long adoption process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Here are a few pictures of the orphanage.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXNBG9ua3z66G60feuQS_o6bBW572OGIr9iZA_Hv2M5Ep8C3wh-Uh7-j8Xl-P-wqCVkoXLRC6Eh9LI3ShdYuU0joGSe2-_XsJov2W9_8zqN0mqumUaQ6sOCf20kwmTIuge2TJx001eyW6/s1600/Angel+House+Orphanage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXNBG9ua3z66G60feuQS_o6bBW572OGIr9iZA_Hv2M5Ep8C3wh-Uh7-j8Xl-P-wqCVkoXLRC6Eh9LI3ShdYuU0joGSe2-_XsJov2W9_8zqN0mqumUaQ6sOCf20kwmTIuge2TJx001eyW6/s320/Angel+House+Orphanage.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9IdwX13JsOzbhgcMSOU7I1PlAEsN9CwhFATDxHwfgWgwbAR0yiM6TDMqpMhmwjdFxLffH8UT8pUhxf6JFSF_3IvzOD5KC5iLjz-WilVv5Exco0vgPJjG7RDx2pd_nGytgB4VM11PZ9Di/s1600/Playground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9IdwX13JsOzbhgcMSOU7I1PlAEsN9CwhFATDxHwfgWgwbAR0yiM6TDMqpMhmwjdFxLffH8UT8pUhxf6JFSF_3IvzOD5KC5iLjz-WilVv5Exco0vgPJjG7RDx2pd_nGytgB4VM11PZ9Di/s320/Playground.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBELIawLaydXY6t-FO0F2OX0dtbdjimHM3Fg5L7u8WV8w7Xgk5lR1azvvq9K8CukNDIf2dWGCp5eDEuV_KHiTa-49PAajnigJBumO_bzm3Sap9HmCxM7BeZlcUV09b8bEJRXRMXOYh3e7/s1600/Angles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBELIawLaydXY6t-FO0F2OX0dtbdjimHM3Fg5L7u8WV8w7Xgk5lR1azvvq9K8CukNDIf2dWGCp5eDEuV_KHiTa-49PAajnigJBumO_bzm3Sap9HmCxM7BeZlcUV09b8bEJRXRMXOYh3e7/s320/Angles.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Here are some of the kids waiting to be adopted:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6iV5-w01PbH3JbTTMH65clYsPZOmdmr5xZNbbw5W4wDwJsH_hT7Zr1dKc-zHvvmd_hC6qaaEhD4V4A_V0TWEsfVUgEEhob_8KfnutiYdsQqUB62MbBsxxbwK4haVYKFJEg9nvOLQg2z5/s1600/Children+of+Angel+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6iV5-w01PbH3JbTTMH65clYsPZOmdmr5xZNbbw5W4wDwJsH_hT7Zr1dKc-zHvvmd_hC6qaaEhD4V4A_V0TWEsfVUgEEhob_8KfnutiYdsQqUB62MbBsxxbwK4haVYKFJEg9nvOLQg2z5/s320/Children+of+Angel+House.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">I invite everyone to visit the website and to see the wonderful work
David is doing for the kids. I will be writing more about Angel House as I
continue to make my way around the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://angelhousephilippines.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">http://angelhousephilippines.com</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">They are also on Facebook so I invite everyone to share their website
with your friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">https://www.facebook.com/angelhousephilippines</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">I will be posting my journal entries and photos here as I go. My route
at this point is to start in Bangkok and continue in a southerly direction to
go through Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand before
heading to Argentina. I will bicycle north through South and Central America,
the U.S and home to Canada and hope to have that half of the trip completed by
Christmas 2014.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">I will write again once I am on the road but for now, thank you for
following along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Fred Bouwman</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">November 9, 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Bangkok, Thailand</span></div>
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