Made it to Ghana

Halifax-New York-Germany-Dubai-Accra, that was my flight route to get here. After several days in airports and on planes, a day spent around Dubai (not a fan, too expensive and you have to pay for everything, including the beach! And the islands they're building for homes and hotels; it's a very rich city), I got into Accra friday afternoon.

The country is great, albeit very different living conditions. Accra is 2 million people, the capital of Ghana, and there are 'lights-off' once every 5 days (2 since I've been here), random water shortages (we ran out of water today in the tank, so we're rationning it now for bathing, toilets, etc.) and open sewars along the streets that drain into, you guessed it, the Atlantic! The food is unique, lots of rice dishes, some interesting doughy stuff you swallow without chewing (hard not to gag I find!), and the other day supper included a bowl of fish heads, tails, and bodys. Lots of chicken, and with the amount on the streets you know it's fresh (though I watched a hen and her chicks walking / eating in the sewar drain this morning!).

The people are great so far, and I've met some cool locals. I'm here for another few days before heading of to my work placement in a town not far from here, although the town doesn't show up on most maps so....

I'll post pictures when I get a chance, and a fast computer with a good internet connection and a reliable power supply...

Continuing on...

What can I say, it's a new year. The Christmas holidays are over, and it's time to move along. Tomorrow (Jan. 2nd) I fly overseas, stopping along the way in New York, Germany, United Arab Emirates, and then onto Ghana.

I'll be in Ghana for about 6 weeks before heading to Tanzania (though I still havn't booked that ticket yet). In Ghana I'll be volunteering with a conservation organization, they tell me I'll be planting trees and teaching computer skills. I'm looking forward to living with a host family there, and getting to experience the culture first-hand.

Once I get to Tanzania I'm meeting up with Jocelyn (that photo was taken on the ferry between Halifax and Dartmouth), where we're going to spend the rest of the trip touring around and climbing in both Tanzania and Kenya. The return trip is up in the air due to uncertain start up dates for the next fire season

I'll be updating this site whenever I can, so keep checking back. Happy New Year to everyone!

Trans-Canada

Well we made it from Calgary to Nova Scotia, with surprisingly good weather for this time of year (even through Wawa!). We did the drive in short, long burts followed by a few days in both Winnipeg and Ottawa, and then into Halifax.

I'm curious what people consider the worst part of the drive, as I know many of you have done it. For me, the two worst cities to drive through are Calgary and Montreal. Calgary (on the trans-Canada) because even though the route is straight-forward, it's no longer a highway and you crawl along 16th Ave. Montreal because the road is still a highway, but the route is not straight-forward (or well marked) and you have to make some key turn-offs / mergers.

But I'm here now, and I'd say I wasn't going to do it again, but we all know I'd be lieing! Two weeks here, packing and organizing, and then off on the next adventure. More to come...

Merry Christmas all!

What a cold country..

Within 30 hours we went from the Mojave desert to British Columbia, and -40 temperatures. I think it's warmed up to a balmy -10 or so, almost t-shirt weather.

The fall adventure's are over, the climbing was great, saw some great places and met some great people. I'm going to avoid stereo-typing our neighbours to the south, because I'm sure every place has their share of arrogant a$$holes... 'nuff said.

The trip east has started, though I'm not due to arrive for another two weeks our so. Hopefully the weather's good, but then again we are talking about Canada.

I picked up my plane ticket to Ghana the other day, and am getting geared up for that trip. I'm still finalizing some details regarding the trip, but so far 6 weeks in Ghana volunteering and then another 6-8 weeks in Tanzania / Kenya touring and climbing. I leave Halifax in early January, and will be coming back in early April sometime. I'll post more when it's been determined....

City in the desert

What can I say about Vegas...I'm glad we're camped outside of the city. You can still see the glow at night though, and from the top of some of the peaks you can clearly see the city (though it's clouded in haze in this picture).

Jocelyn and I saw Cirque du Soleil on Saturday, I'm still amazed. The performers were incredible, amazing feats from trapeze to strength and balance demonstrations. The stage moved up and down, live music, and a bit of comedy mixed in. I got pulled up on stage and locked in a cage while the clown took my seat to flirt with Jocelyn, and then they spun the cage around to show me! After I got wheeled backstage, and had a brief chance to look around. Quite a show!

We're leaving here in the next few days to drive to Joshua Tree national park in southern California, planning on climbing there for a week or so. Then it's time to head back north, then east. Having a blast though, I'll update as available...

Vegas Baby Vegas!

Bishop to Vegas, a much more manageable drive. Bought a road atlas today, got tired of getting lost on roads that weren't on my map. Ending up on a crappy dirt road in Death Valley added some excitement for the drive.

The simple things are often the greatest. For instance, our new accomodations are a step up from the last. Staying in a campground outside of Vegas, we've got a picnic table (no more cooking / sitting / eating) on the ground, running / potable water (no more filling bottles in gas station bathrooms), and toilets (well, outhouses).

The climbings great, weather's been all right. Lots to see, the 'Strip' is mind blowing, so many lights. Another week and a half here and then we're kicked out of the campground, so after that, we'll see.

Thanks for the comments from everyone so far, I get a laugh whenever I read them. I'll keep updating...

Sweet sweet sunshine!

Now this is living! I took this photo as soon as we got here, without realizing the big ones were in behind. We're camped nearby, with the Sierra Nevadas bordering the valley.

Temperatures have been in the high 20's these days, and not much below zero at night. The climbing's great, (the photo is of the Buttermilk boulders, and the Happys and Sads are down in the valley). Taking a rest day today, more because fingers have no skin left, found a laundromat in town to shower at, and maybe some hot springs nearby. Life is good.

Staying around Bishop for a while, not sure where's next. Either Joshua Tree or straight to Vegas, we'll see...