A Distillery Tour on the West Highland Way

July 21, 2010

On the first day of the West Highland Way it’s well worth walking an extra half mile to take advantage of the distillery tour offered at Glengoyne Distillery. Even if you don’t like scotch (and I don’t) it’s fun and educational. The Scottish lasses will have you smiling and chuckling in no time.

The basic £6.50 tour takes you through the process of making whiskey and includes one tasting . After watching a film and knocking back a wee dram your well spoken guide will take you through the various buildings and explain the purpose of each. Finish in the shop where there’s an excellent selection of backpacker sized bottles to choose from.

Glengoyne Distillery has been making whiskey for around 200 years with the three basic ingredients that go into making every bottle of scotch – water, yeast and barley.

Barley is first soaked in water.  This step releases enzymes which convert the stored starch in the barley into sugar. The damp barley is then spread out on the floor of the malthouse to dry.  At the Glengoyne Distillery the barley is air dried. Many Scottish distilleries use the smoke from peat fires to dry the barley with the obvious smoky flavour a result. After the malted barley is dried, it’s ground to form grist and then mixed with water (“crystal clear soft water off Dumgoyne Hill”) in a mash tun, a large vat with rotating paddles. The resulting liquid is called wort.

The wort is then put into large fermenting vats called wash-backs. At Glengoyne the wash-back is made with Oregon pine. At this stage the yeast is added and the malt sugars are converted into alcohol during the 40-50 hour fermentation process. The resulting product,called wash  is ready for the next step – distillation using a pot still. Two distillations take place (versus three for Irish whiskey because “they can’t get it right after two times” – though spoken in jest!) The distillation process at Glengoyne is slower than at other distilleries – supposedly for producing a smoother taste though I’m certainly not qualified to judge.

The last step is maturation in oak casks. Glengoyne uses American and Spanish oak casks, some of which are seasoned with sherry first. Ten years is the minimum amount of time that the whiskey is aged. The final product at the Glengoyne Distillery is a fresher, lighter product compared to the smoky, peaty whiskies of Islay.

Factors Affecting Style of a Malt Whiskey

The difference in flavour profiles for scotch comes down to the following factors:

• the barley, especially the malting
• the yeast
• the water
• the design and height of the head of the still
• the maturation process.

One couple we met had a double tasting of scotch and found the last half of the day on the West Highland Way floated by quite nicely.

Don’t miss the distillery tour – consider it part of your cultural education.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

Crossing the Zambezi River on the Kazungula Ferry

July 20, 2010

A few years ago I crossed the Zambezi River above Victoria Falls between Zambia and Botswana. My trip was via a private boat and lasted all of about 10 minutes. The other option is the Kazungula Ferry.

The ferry operates between Kazungula, Zambia and Kasane, Botswana. It’s all of 400 meters across the Zambezi River. The ferry plays an important role as part of Africa’s  north-south transportation corridor. Now look again at the picture and notice the ONE truck on the ferry. Therein lies the problem. The wait time for a truck going in either direction is ONE WEEK. No reservations are taken. Truckers know they just have to show up, get in line, kill time, play cards and socialize for the week.

There is an alternative road through Zimbabwe. It’s much faster but unfortunately it’s not a particularly safe road;  huge numbers of truckers elect to wait out the week for the Kazungula ferry. A bridge across the Zambezi River was announced in 2007. Yesterday’s Globe and Mail spoke of the lack of trade between African countries and the need for improvements to aid the flow of goods, particularly between Cairo and Capetown. Certainly a bridge providing timely and safe travel between Zambia and Botswana would go a long way to making that happen.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

Bike or Drive BC’s Gorgeous Sea to Sky Highway

June 29, 2010

The Sea to Sky Highway, aka Highway 99, is an incredibly scenic, cliff hugging road that takes you from West Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay to Whistler, home of the 2010 winter Olympics. After three plus years of highway improvements including the addition of lanes and wider shoulders, bikers can now cycle this road with some degree of safety all the way through to Whistler. Before the improvements it was unthinkable – in fact it was a death defying feat. You still need to exercise caution and don’t try cycling it on a busy holiday weekend.

There are a number of small communities to explore as you head north to Whistler from Horseshoe Bay. Lions Bay is the first community you encounter, only 12 kms away. Look for a cafe serving excellent smoothies and check out the gallery featuring local artists. Next discover Porteau Cove, 13 kms north. It’s a small provincial park, popular with weekend campers. Excellent views across to Anvil Island and nice beaches beckon you to stop and picnic.

Exercise extreme caution as you leave Porteau Cove on your bike. The next kilometer boasts a narrow shoulder and it’s not where you want to be if a bus goes by. The Furry Creek Golf Course soon appears on your right. It has an enviable location but I have never seen a human being around.

Brittannia Beach is the next stop, 8.5  kms away. Part of that distance is up a monster hill – and down it. Just before the town look for the Galileo Coffee Shop. It’s here I saw offered for the first time ever a Canadiano – an  Americano coffee with maple syrup. Brittania Beach is a small community of 300. It owes its origins to a copper discovery. By the early 1900′s the Britannia Mine had opened and in 1929  it was the largest producer of copper in the British Commonwealth. Underground tours are available seven days a week and you can even pan for gold.

Nine kilometers after Brittania Beach, Shannon Falls appears. It’s the third highest waterfall in British Columbia and an especially impressive sight after a storm. The big hunk of granite known as Stawamus Chief is next. It’s an internationally famous slab of rock to climb.  Hikers also get a great workout hiking one of the trails to the top of the Chief’s three summits. The first peak is the shortest route.

It’s only a short 3-4 kilometers to reach Squamish from The Chief but unfortunately this section of road is a challenge for cyclists. The wide shoulder disappears and doesn’t reappear until you get through the town. Exercise extreme caution is you elect to continue through here. Squamish bills itself as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.

It’s another 59 kms to reach Whistler from Squamish. Along the way there are many opportunities to hike and even swim in the summer. Alice Lake is a very popular destination as is Brandywine Falls, 34 kms north of Squamish. Stunning views of the Tantalus Range greet you as you get closer to Whistler. There are a number of pullouts along the highway so you can fully appreciate the view.

It’s a total of 85 kms from Horseshoe Bay to Whistler. I don’t know what the elevation gain is but I do know it’s up there – somewhere around 5500 feet. Go prepared – with food, water and some warmer clothes. If you’re driving count on 75 minutes from Horseshoe Bay to Whistler without stops.

As an aside, the first ever Gran Fondo cycling event will be held in September beginning  in Stanley Park and ending in Whistler – a distance of 120 kms with approximately 7000 feet of elevation gain. One highway lane will be closed for the event. I have started training!

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

Packing List for a Long Distance Walk

June 28, 2010

I’m off to Great Britain tomorrow with a girlfriend to hike the 70 mile Cumbria Way which bisects the Lake District in England and the 95 mile West Highland Way in western Scotland. I’m a bit smarter than last year when I hiked the Dingle Way and the Kerry Way in Ireland with a fully loaded backpack. This time I’ve organized a baggage service to move my big backpack every night at a cost of £ 7 per bag. I’ll carry a daypack and that’s it.

Here’s a full list of what I’m bringing.

 

• One large backpack
• A daypack (will bring as carryon)
• An oversized bag that holds a wallet, book and electronics (carryon)

Footwear

• Broken in leather hiking boots (consider orthotics too)
• Lightweight trail shoe (with extra laces)
• Chaco scandals

I am not taking any good shoes.

Clothing

• 5-6 pairs of underwear
• Sleeping attire
• 2 liner socks and 2 hiking socks ***I hike as much as I can in my Chacos despite the looks I get! You may want more socks.
• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 pair quick dry long pants that zip into shorts
• 1 pair capris
• 1 pair stretchy type capris – Lululemon in Canada (they may get tossed at the last minute)
• 1 down vest that stuffs into nothing

• 1 windproof fleece
• 4 hiking t-shirts (I bring old ones I can pitch after a number of days)
• Arm warmers – buy at a biking store – HIGHLY RECOMMEND – no need for long sleeve tshirts then. You could also bring leg warmers.

• 1 dressier shirt
• 1 scarf
• 1 dressier sweater
• 2-3 tshirts for the evening
• Rain pants, rain jacket
• Ball cap
• Warm hat, gloves
• Bandana
• Bathing suit – am I dreaming? Perhaps it won’t come.

Electronics

• Dell Notebook computer that weighs under 2 pounds + plugs
• Memory stick
• Panasonic Optio W20 – waterproof camera as a backup
• Panasonic SDR-Sw21 Video Recorder + battery charger
• Lumix G1 with 2 lenses + battery charger
• Garmin Forerunner 305 + battery charger (for measuring distance)
• Plug adaptor for Great Britain
• Downloading cables
• Ipod
• Iphone – I don’t have one but my friend is bringing hers.

Miscellaneous

• The 10 essentials
• Rain cover for daypack
• Reading material – 5 books in my case. I tried to bring fewer but two will be read just on planes.

• Journal, maps, pens, markers
• 2 water bottles (you could bring flavoured crystals of some sort ) ; I’m not bringing a water purifier for Britain.
• 15 energy bars – one per day and one extra. These are hard to find overseas plus they’re much cheaper to buy at home. Buy a variety and taste them before you leave.

• Expandable clothes line + a small container of soap
• Whistle
• Binoculars and bird book
• Eye shade – for the plane
• 2 pairs of reading glasses ($Cdn60 in London’s Heathrow last year for 1 pair!)
• Sunglasses
• Half gaiters
• Sunscreen + lip balm (may not even pull it out judging by the weather forecast)
• Toilet paper + kleenex
• Extra ziploc bags in different sizes
• Dirty laundry bag
• Tripod (maybe – because it’s small)
• Cloth for cleaning camera lenses
• Collapsible hiking poles (optional)
• Carabiner for the outside of a pack; it has all sorts of useful purposes including holding scandals
• Passport, credit cards, ATM card, driver’s license, insurance papers, cash (some in smaller notes if possible). Leave unnecessary cards at home.

First Aid Kit

It’s not very big but it’s got enough if we get into trouble.

• Assorted blister aids – bandaids, moleskin, tape
• Gauze and dressings
• Antibiotic cream like Neosporin
• Triangular bandage
• Sam splint
• Ace bandage and safety pins
• Advil, Benadryl
• Hand cleaner
• Emergency blanket ( the ones that weigh 1 ounce that reflect your body heat)

Toiletries

What I’m bringing and what my friend is bringing is quite different. She has 4 types of cream alone - eye, face, body, sunscreen. I might just mooch. Don’t forget the following:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Small mirror
• Contacts, glasses and eye solution
• Earplugs – I’ve been warned by her husband
• Makeup – depending on who you are
• Small shampoo and conditioner bottles
• Deodorant
• Razor
• Hairbrush (so obvious I usually forget it)
• Tweezers, scissors, nail clippers, Q-tips
• Prescriptions and/or vitamins

This list looks incredibly long but in fact I have chosen clothes that stuff into nothing and lightweight fabrics whenever possible. This trip is no beauty contest. If we do any fine dining it will be in jeans and scandals. Certainly no one needs all the electronics I’m bringing but I plan to write blogs every few days. Once I start loading my bags I may fine tune just a touch.

I don’t like Scotch but for those of you who would enjoy a wee dram add a flask to your list.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

Incredible Irish Islands

June 21, 2010

The west coast of Ireland is dotted with islands – incredibly beautiful, romantic islands. Take time to visit; you may find that they end up being the highlight of your visit. They were for me.

The Aran Islands

The Aran Islands are perhaps the best known of the Irish islands, probably because of their famous Aran knit sweater, a useful water repellent piece of clothing worn by the farmers and fisherman. (Incidentally each family had its own carefully guarded pattern and unique combination of stitches. The sweaters were one of the ways of identifying fisherman who had drowned and washed up on shore.) The islands are located 9 miles off the coast of Galway and are accessed by two passenger only ferries, one from Doolin and one from Rossaveal. Take the Doolin one if you’re in the vicinity of the Cliffs of Moher and have a wish to be scared to death and likely seasick for 90 minutes. The 40 minute ride from Rossaveal is a piece of cake in comparison.

Once you arrive in Inishmore, the largest island and home to 800 mostly Irish speakers, you’ll find there’s plenty to enjoy over a few days. Rent a bike and cycle the island on very scenic, very quiet, mostly easy backroads. It’s a good way to get the flavour of the whole island. You could also:

• Visit Dun Aengus, a 4000 year old fort perched on a cliff
• Go bird watching
• Take a ride on a pony cart
• Watch the local fisherman fish from their tar and canvas boats called currachs and if you happen to be there in June catch currach races at the Patrun Festival (June 25-27, 2010)
• Enjoy traditional music in a local pub
• Walk to the Church of St. Benan, reputed to be the smallest in the world
• Check out the Black Fort, another cliffside ruin only a few miles from Kilronan
• Look for a seal colony along the coastal road about 2 miles from Kilronan

Stay at the Pier House - a comfortable but by no means fancy place overlooking Kilronan Pier. The onsite restaurant is wonderful.

The Blasket Islands

If you’re walking or driving the Dingle Way then it’s impossible to miss the stunning views of the Blasket Islands near Slea Head. The islands lie three kilometers off the Dingle Peninsula and can be reached by  a 20 minute ferry ride.  Once on the islands you can walk, hike and swim. Before you head for the islands you could visit The Great Blasket Center in Dunquin.  The center highlights the unique way of life that has existed on the island. The residents are famous for producing a large amount of Irish literature. In fact the Blasket Islander’s distinctive life coupled with its rich history of literature is the basis for a World Heritage Site application. 

The Skellig Islands

The Skellig Islands are 2 steep and rocky islands lying about 16 kilometers off the coast of the Iveragh Peninsula and are accessed by boat from either Portmagee or Caherdaniel. The smaller of the islands is home to 28,000 breeding pairs of gannets. These birds have a wingspan of six feet so the sheer mass of birds is mind boggling. They have the good sense to leave for Africa sometime in October and return again in the spring. They are not to be missed.

The larger island goes by the name of Skellig Michael. It was originally settled in 490AD by Christian monks. The monks endured at least four Viking raids but remained on the island for about 500 years. The island was abandoned in the twelfth century when the monks headed to the Augustinian monastery on the mainland. Two lighthouses were established beginning in 1820 but apart from the lighthouse keepers there has been little human traffic so the site is in excellent shape. The island became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

A visit to Skellig Michael requires a head for heights and the ability to climb 600 stairs. The beehive huts that are part of the monastery are built at the top of the stairs. The island consists of nothing but cliffs. There are no handrails so people with a fear of heights can be seen coming down the stairs on their rear ends. There are a few small flat sections so one can bring a lunch and enjoy the view. Puffins nest on the steep hillside so you can also enjoy watching their comings and goings.

Boat trips to the Skellig Islands can be reserved in advance and it is likely your B&B host will be able to provide that service.  The very pretty town of Portmagee about 20 minutes away from Cahirciveen has the most departures though unfortunately you won’t know until the morning of the day that you plan to go if the boat will run. Boats are only able to run 100 days of the year because of weather and wave conditions. They almost never operate in the winter but summer is no guarantee as even in August of 2008 they were only able to run half the time.

There are several companies running trips and prices are in the order of 40 Euros per person. Michael O’Sullivan doesn’t have a website but can be reached at: Waterville Boats  lobsterb@iol.ie Ph: +353 (0) 66 9474800/ Michael +353(0) 87 2202355   Pat +353(0) 87 4178268.

Journey times depend on the boat size but are typically 45 minutes each way. The boats circle Little Skellig Island and then drop you off on Skellig Michael. You are given about 2 hours to walk up and explore which is adequate time. Be warned that there are no bathroom facilities on the island.

Clare Island

Clare Island is accessed from Roonah Point, close to Westport. Spectacular cliffs make for some interesting walking. Bicycling is also possible. It is a short 20 minute ferry ride and it is possible to stay in a B&B or the one hotel.

Inishbofin Island

Inishbofin Island  is 10 kilometres off the coast near Clifden and is accessed via a 30 minute ferry ride from the small fishing village of Cleggan. There are cliff top walks, white, sandy beaches and interesting flora and fauna.

I’ve missed a few of the Irish islands but if you’re read this far then you can see what incredible places they are to visit. Put Ireland on your travel wish list. You won’t be disappointed.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

Cairo’s Camels

June 15, 2010

If you go to Cairo, Egypt chances are you’re going to want a photo op and a ride on the camels near the pyramids. Go for it but beware the camel scams!

Tips for a Camel Ride in and around Cairo

• If you’re with a tour guide ask them to negotiate on your behalf but don’t accept the first offer.
• If you’re alone determine the price ahead of time. That may be easier said than done as my daughter was told it would cost more to get off. When she refused the camel driver starting leading the camel away from the crowds. That’s when my daughter started screaming. That scared the guy. Beware. The situation can become uncomfortable quickly.
• Go in a group if at all possible.
• If you have no interest in a camel ride keep saying No, Thank you politely.
• Take a camera that you can use with one hand. It’s a bumpy ride and you’re going to have to hold on tight.
• Don’t wear your best clothes. You’re going to get eau de camel all over them -and that’s not a pleasant smell.


Camel Riding in Egypt

 Have fun. It’s not likely you’ll be riding a camel again.

And for a great book on a camel journey check out Sand Dance: By Camel Across Arabia’s Great Southern Desert by Bruce Kirkby.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

Rafting one of the World’s Most Scenic Rivers – The Tatshenshini

June 9, 2010

You’ll find the Tatshenshini River (the Tat) in the northwest corner of British Columbia. It flows north to the Yukon, then back to BC where it joins the Alsek River and flows into the Pacific Ocean in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. Considered to be one of the top 10 river trips in the world, it’s a wilderness experience on a grand scale with stunning scenery and wildlife. It has widespread appeal – families to old folks, the supremely fit to the couch potato. You need to know how to put up a tent and be comfortable using an ammo box as a toilet but that’s about it. On our trip in early July the mosquitoes were a nuisance on only one evening. They were almost nonexistent for the remainder of the trip. Temperatures weren’t exactly balmy but by noon it’s often short sleeve weather. Night time barely exists.

Most of the Tatshenshini River trips take 11-13 days. That may sound like a lot but it only takes a day or two to get into the rhythm of the river. You’ll float through canyons past mountains that are higher than 15,000 feet, walk on huge glaciers and paddle a stunning iceberg studded lake. There are rapids but never more than Class 3, pretty tame by river rafting standards. Wildlife abounds – from the pint sized voles and mice, to rabbits, porcupines, marmots, mountain goats, moose, black and grizzly bears and even to sightings of gray whales off the Alaskan coast. Bird life is amazing too - close to 50 bird types were seen on our trip with the help of a wonderful naturalist who had joined us.

If you’ve signed up with a guided trip as opposed to getting a permit and running your own trip, then chances are you will dine well. The guides on our trip were fantastic cooks to the point that almost everyone gained weight. Coffee was available at the crack of dawn, followed by porridge cooked by a different guide every morning.  There’d still be a hot breakfast, then easy lunches and themed dinners like – Greek, Italian and Mexican. Beer, wine and snacks were available too.

Days on the river were punctuated by nature walks or multi hour hikes, socializing, meals, packing and unpacking the tent, campfires, photography, bird watching and reading – a very idyllic way of spending time. But don’t count on cell phones up here. You’ll have to be comfortable being unplugged from the world.

Alsek Lake was the highlight of my trip. We floated in on a beautiful, sunny day with Mount Fairweather looming in all its glory at 4671 m (15,325 feet), fronted by massive glaciers that fed Alsek Lake.  Icebergs were calved with thundering regularity.

This trip passes through the world’s largest protected area, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both the Tatshenshini and the Alsek Rivers are so popular now that efforts have been made to control the number of permits to preserve the quality of the experience. Unfortunately the experience isn’t inexpensive. But it is a once in a lifetime affair and I highly recommend it.

Here is a sampling of companies running the Tatshenshini and Alsek Rivers.

• Canadian River Expeditions and Nahanni River Adventures
• River Journeys
• Sea to Sky Expeditions
• Colorado River and Trail Expeditions

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

What Gifts Can You Bring to the People of 3rd World Countries?

June 7, 2010

Most of us who visit a Third World Country want to give back or contribute in a meaningful way. Not everyone can afford to donate money to a charity and even if they can, they don’t always trust that the money gets to the promised end user. What you can do is bring useful items from home to give away.

Here are some recommended gifts to bring with you to a Third World Country

• If you’re on a trek, especially one involving  cold temperatures, (Nepal, Peru, Bolivia, Mt. Kiliminjaro….) then bring your gently used fleece jackets, capilene tops and bottoms, hats and gloves. Bring an extra duffle bag with you so you can unload some of this at the beginning of the trip. Avoid a free for all though and hand it privately to an individual or leader who can distribute it where it’s most needed.
• After the trek give away as much as you can. Old boots or running shoes are great (especially smaller sizes) as are towels, water bottles and gaiters. These are not a substitute for a tip!
• I bring extra over the counter drugs like Advil to give away.
• Old but clean sleeping bags are appreciated.
• Packs of any size are a huge score for people.
• Sunglasses
• Costume jewelry is a big hit with the men; they’re happy to take it back to their wives and girlfriends.
• Pencils, crayons and paper for schools.
• Soccer balls are beloved the world over. The same goes for hacky sacks.

• Soap, cream, shampoos.
• Maps of the world for a classroom.
• Inflatable globes.
• Appropriate books for kids and schools
• Guidebooks; bird books or nature guides for the area you’re visiting are particularly useful for both guides and teachers.
• Swiss army style knives.

Avoid Giving the Following

• Anything that requires a battery. Chances are they won’t be able to afford replacements.
• Culturally inappropriate clothing.
• Anything with a short lifespan that will just end up in the dump.

Avoid giving to people in a crowd. Fights can break out. Target individuals or ask for help from village leaders, tour guides…

Before You Go

If you’re going to volunteer with an organization then ask ahead of time what the organization needs and what the people need. My daughter took kids underwear to an orphanage in Bolivia. I’m not sure she would have thought to bring that if she hadn’t asked beforehand.

If you’re off on an adventure with a tour company find out what charities they support and ask how you can contribute once you’re over there.

I haven’t listed everything by any means;  if you have suggestions of what to bring then please leave a comment.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

14 Money Saving Tips to Make a Summer Vacation a Reality

June 2, 2010

Every Saturday I look forward to reading Canada’s Globe and Mail. After I’ve finished with the travel and lifestyle sections I love to check out the latest financial profile of an individual or couple who volunteer for a financial makeover. Two items stand out time and again. First, almost all want to retire by 55 or 60 (and do what for the next 20 years??) and secondly their vacation budgets are rarely greater than $250 a month, and in fact are usually much less. It seems that there are  lots of people out there who simply can’t travel if they want to quit working by 60. I say work till 70 and travel on a budget while you’re still healthy. Of course there are the people at the other end of the spectrum who feel they deserve a vacation no matter what their circumstances. Suzy Orman says:

As far as I am concerned, vacations are a necessity, not a luxury. But where I see so many people take a wrong turn is when they spend money for a luxury vacation that they can’t afford.

So here are 14 money saving tips to make travel and a summer vacation a reality.

1. Try renting your house especially if you live in a desirable location.
2. Swap your house through any number of house exchanges – HomeExchange, Intervac, HomeLink or VRBO.
3. Find a house or apartment through housecarers where you get free accommodation in exchange for house, pet and/or garden sitting. I’ve used this several times and it’s saved me paying for a dog sitter.
4. Rent a cottage with friends or family so you can split the costs.
5. Stay in hostels.
6. Sign up for email notification for hotels you want to visit. Take advantage of their sales. Long Beach Lodge Resort in Tofino offers amazing specials from time to time that I only hear of through my email.
7. Travel in the shoulder seasons for lower rates and third night free offers.
8. Concentrate on one particular hotel chain and leverage your stays over time for free upgrades or reduced rates.
9. Stay at small B&B’s where prices are usually cheaper plus your breakfast is included.
10. Look for places where you can do at least some of your own cooking.
11. Look for seat sales on airlines.
12. Sign up for notifications from the airlines or check out airfare predictions.
13. If you have a good driving record and a flexible schedule then sign up with people like Hit the Road and deliver a vehicle so you at least get free one way travel. In Canada there are lots of opportunities right now to drive across the country.
14. Forget all of the above. Buy a tent and a camp stove and head out for the great outdoors. Canoe, kayak, hike, cycle, backpack, car camp. You may have to drive somewhere but after that it’s very cheap. Try one of the following.

• National Parks the world over are known for their scenery. Pick one close to home and set up a basecamp for day trips.
• Head to  Lake Superior for a budget vacation in stunning country.
• Walk for a month on the Camino de Santiago in Spain and stay in hostels for only about $7 a night.
• Canoe the Bowron Lakes circuit, Algonquin Park, Killarney Park, or Boundary Waters as examples. Canoes are inexpensive to rent and it’s easy to go out for a week or more.
• Do a part of one of the world’s great long distance walks. Every continent but Antarctica has something to choose from.

Plan ahead for travel. Set aside some money every month and there’s no reason you can’t enjoy a travel adventure of some sort this year.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

10 Activities in the Pacific Northwest in June

May 31, 2010

You’d never know the June was less than 24 hours away if you looked at the thermometer. I’m an optimist that sunnier, warmer days are just ahead; here are 9 activities that would be fun to do in June in the Pacific Northwest.

• Portland Rose Festival  Numerous activities including a Grand Floral Walk, dragon boat races, a run, concerts, parades, BBQs and more.
• June 4-6 Tofino Food and Wine Festival Learn about sustainable food sources while you drink and eat local products. There are lots of great places to stay too including Middle Beach Lodge and Long Beach Lodge Resort.
• June 12 Crosby, Stills and Nash start off the summer season in a lovely amphitheatre at Chateau Ste. Michelle – one of Washington’s premier wineries. You’ll have to find tickets on Craig’s list now but check out their calendar of events for further summer concerts.
• June 19-20 head to the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival  in Vancouver. Look for 180 teams and 90,000 visitors from around the world. The best viewing is near Science World.

• June 19-20th Comox Valley Shellfish Festival Get the sea to table story by BC’s shellfish farmers.
• Try a trip to Bend, Oregon.  This mountain town located at the edge of a desert, 6 hours from Seattle, enjoys 300 days per year of sunshine. Every outdoor sport imaginable is available in Bend.
• The West Coast Trail is on the must do list of many a backpacker but if you want a more remote experience that’s in line with what the West Coast Trail used to be then head up Vancouver Island and hike the recently completed North Coast Trail. This trail is a 43 km extension to the Cape Scott Trail. Go prepared for hard backpacking and wild, spectacular scenery.

• Try a visit to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. When you’re there you can kayak, bike, go whale watching, picnic, relax, take in some community theatre, dine, bird watch and enjoy about 80 other activities. There are some lovely accommodation choices including Friday Harbor House and the Dragonfly Inn. Make sure to visit Lime Kiln State Park and Roche Harbor.
• Take a culinary tour of Vancouver’s Chinatown, complete with lunch. Tours are offered every Saturday in June.
• June is the perfect month to cycle sections of the Kettle Valley Railway in the Okanagan area of BC. Choose one day sections with Monashee Tours or try a multi day B&B to B&B trip on your own.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

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  • What’s Happening in and near Vancouver, British Columbia in August?
  • The ‘Best of’ List for the Cumbria & West Highland Ways
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