162 Days and counting
Can someone press fast forward, please?
This year I’ve been blessed with a lot of leave, although the main chunk of it, I’ve had to really fight for it. Normally my day job gives me 6 weeks paid leave a year plus other entitlements (given that I work weekends and public holidays with no extra penalties). For those that aren’t in Aus, every 7 years I get 3 months long service leave. My next long service leave rocks around in Aug 2024, I’ll be taking that from Sept onwards (in 144 days 🙂 ).
My next stint of leave is Mid/ late April, then 2 weeks in June and then a week in Aug from memory. I’ve set it up this way so I can manage any admin I have plus any extra prep I need to do and or health needs.
The other day I finally get to see what’s going on with my back after waiting 3 months for an MRI at the local hospital. I could have travelled to Perth and had it done there but given that the lower back is not covered by private health or Medicare I figured that saving some 2-300 in fuel plus accommodation would be more beneficial given that the scan is about 3-400 bucks. Plus I’m not sitting in a car for a 12+ hr round trip.
Sounds like I’m always complaining about injuries etc, but the reality is that I want to get it fixed so that I can enjoy my travels and be unencumbered whilst doing it. And after 20-something years of putting my kids first with their needs, it’s time for the wife and I to start looking after ourselves.
The drive to Perth is also boring as bat shit. I’d rather gouge my eyes out than continually drive that road. It almost equals the drive past Eneabba in the Midwest before the Coastal Road was built.
Planning locations and driving.
I try and set my “Primary destinations” (Hotels) to be no more than 4 hours apart, but sometimes that can’t happen. but that’s the goal. I then try and stop and stretch every few hours.
The last last trip I remember driving from North Vancouver to Kamloops via Whistler, then Kamloops to Yalemount and having to pull over a few times just because of fatigue. Not because the scenery is boring just time changes from Aus to Canada and then it was a rather rushed few days before I flew out with promotional interviews with work. This time around I think I’ve set myself an extra day in Vancouver and with the better seating and a few other things I hope that I’ll be able to sort out some of the excitement and arrive relaxed.
It’s extremely difficult to drive these roads and not want to stop and get photos. But it’s not like Aus, you can’t just throw an indicator on and pull up (although I did at some quiet locations).
Between Vancouver and Kamloops I think?
Google Maps near Fraser River
Duffy Road
Seton Lake
Maccas Run Canmore AB
Natural Bridges Banff AB
Canada is such a contrast from the deserts of Western Australia, It’s no wonder I come back with so much photo video footage and life long memories.
Last trip I was faced with picking places that I could get that were either not insanely expensive or further away and still cheap enough to cover fuel and time being in the car all the time.
Car hire, still continues to drop, another $27.00 on bucks a week at this stage which is awesome.
I typically monitor Alamo who I went through the last time and Avis. Avis doesn’t specifically say unlimited mileage, which is a tad important given the duration and distances I anticipate travelling.
My first two trips were with Dollar and I’m not keen to go through them again, just stuff around after stuff around. As you can see below, pricing can vary wildly.
I also need to consider which if any companies permit ferry travel and a few other things. Dollar for instance had limitations in the US, something that was never explained although I’m sure that their 2.0 micron sized font in their contract explained that you couldn’t drive their vehicles any further east than UT/AZ at the time.
Other motoring preparations
Driver’s license, welp as far as I can tell and as I did the last few times, I acquired an international driver’s license which I honestly don’t believe means shit. It’s organized through the RAC in WA. I’ve held off on organizing this as I need to renew my state license soon and may as well sort it out after that.
Whilst I was pulled over in California for speeding (cautioned), I had no issues with the state police/ highway patrol over my license, although I have seen many YouTube clips where it’s been an issue for someone else.
I just simply produced my state and international license.
Funnily enough, yes I was speeding, maybe 10 miles over, but I certainly wasn’t the fastest on the road at the time with other cars overtaking, but I did have BC plates/ tags and a single white male driving along heading northbound to the border.
I’d been expecting to get pulled over at some point with Canadian plates/ tags. They were certainly more than welcome to tip my car upside down, there is nothing in there that would get me into trouble as were the Border Officers from Canada into Washington State and entering Canada from Aus.
However, they did have more of an interest in my reasons for travel which I brought on myself explaining that I do photography which also means that I’m there on “business”. I did explain that whilst I do photography and have some nice equipment (because I work my arse off), it’s not my primary job, doing it as a hobby and only registering it to make sure that I’m compliant with my work and taxes. I’m no Peter Lik.
This time I’m there for travel and hiking……. with some camera equipment. Funny how Canada and the US have a clear distinction that you are a pro if you have a tripod also. I have a tripod to stop my hands/ body from shaking the camera lol.
National and State Parks.
I’ve already ordered and received my Parks Canada Tag, but I’m yet to acquire my US National/ States Passes for the US. The way the Aus dollar is falling I probably should do it sooner rather than later.
Ferry and parking.
Last time when I was in Vancouver I had to download an app, pretty simple. Ferry is another thing and I don’t really want to book it until I have car registration, which, I won’t know until I pick the car up.
Fuel
“Motion Lotion” was my first technical issue in the US in 2012. Aus, we must be a more trusting bunch.
You get out of the car, fuel up and go in and pay.
In the US and Canada, You get out of the car, swipe your card with a max amount and fuel up, it charges you whatever the bowser says, or you go in and pay in cash, how much you want and then they will charge you what the bowser says. It’s not a massive problem, just like driving on the “wrong ” side of the road.
Now I just prepare for how much it’ll cost me, I review the Gasbuddy sites. I researched the average fuel consumption of the vehicle that I wanted to hire and then estimated the mileage I wanted to travel, plus 10% etc factoring that into my budget
Vehicle and movement-wise, what does everyone else plan for when they travel?
Physical capability and not getting in the poo travel guide for the unfit middle aged dude.
The good, the bad and the obese.
As the excitement and planning builds , I really need to sort myself out.
Ill put it out there to start with;
Physically,
I’m slowly reaching 50 years of age, my BMI is “Dad bod” (186 cm and about 115-118 kg). On top of a mountain of arthritic issues, my Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (left leg from toes to above left knee, on occasion it likes to affect other parts of my body), creates the most drama for me. Much of my back is due to poor core strength from injury, sitting for a large portion of the day, ballistic vests that add weight onto your shoulders, getting in and out of cars every 5 minutes etc etc.
These issues have slowed my life down considerably, from someone that would Bungee Jump, Abseil, snorkel, go to the gym almost daily and other adventures when I was in my early 20s to finishing my work, head home and chill or finding somewhere safe to take a photo or get a drone up or crash in bed in sleep.
Now I beg the wife to help put my socks on because I simple can not flex my back to bend over, although even as a teenager I was never able to touch my toes and put my life in gods hands every time I put underwear on with nearly face planting the ground/ tripping up whilst my big or any toe gets stuck in my underwear as I shift balance. I can imagine one day the wife finding me head down bum up in the air like a pretzel because I’ve stacked it putting jocks on, oh the humility right?
My “day” job limits me on what pain meds I can take and tbh I rarely take pain meds all that much anymore because I simply can not be bothered explaining it every time I have to do a random drug test through work. It does frustrate me some, even envious, I see 60 yr old men running marathons and able to move around freely. Some of that comes down to good genetics, but not all of it.
I don’t trust my leg and body to get me out of the shit should that “oh fuck” moment arise. And, I’ve had that “Oh fuck moment” a few times, I’ve had lightning crack across and over my head 15 odd years ago, slipped down an embankment in Oregon getting “that shot” and only just getting back up the hill.
My last trip as I walked out of Running Eagle Falls in MT I came across a very large and what looked to me bear/ wolf foot print (I’m certain anyone living in the area could distinguish the difference, but its not something I’ve seen before). I was by myself, a long way from anyone else and thinking, I need to get out of there, quietly and quickly and my car was back my Red Eagle Campground. Even as I left Browning MT I saw a Grizzley cub on the road, so they are definitely out there. (ps.. its not smart to hike alone and I knew there were people around me, just more than a 100 yards away).
I always purchase bear spray the minute I land and usually hand it in to the local police at my last stop before I fly home. Last trip I also brought some bear bells which if anything will sound festive as a bear chews on me.
Luckily where I am based, in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, there really isn’t any hills to hike up and way too many flies to want to really go out and start walking in the heat. It recently got up to 46 Deg C.
Experience
I work in emergency services with 25 years experience in Emergency Management including management of Land Search and Rescue. I’ve overseen the recovery of many survivors and not so fortunate souls including shark attacks, prospectors and the impaired/ infirm. Its not my specialty, I’m just a basic run of the mill bod, I just enjoy the opportunity to use those skills to manage teams to locate and track/ help someone.
I know full well the risk of people hiking and exploring and some of the issues that people get stuck on. Sometimes, shit just happens. There is many many factors that police and other services have to consider when coordinating a search, mainly being not putting our own staff at risk. You cant save/ help someone if you are in trouble yourself, its that simple. We still have to maintain business continuity on top of that regardless of what occurs. Its a tough grasp for the public to comprehend that especially when a loved one is in peril. I do get that.
Land search’s take time to commence, get up and running and usually only go so long as either a person at risk is rescued/ recovered or line of inquiries stagnate. There is also weather (heat and cold, Hypothermia – Hyperthermia), wind, Mental Health, vegetation/ surroundings, water (the big one), medical issues (cant tell you how many searches I’ve done that have included Diabetes and Epilepsy or people NOT having their medication with them.
So if you are stuck, stay with your vehicle, source shelter and make sure you have some supplies on top of what you’d normally carry, because it wont be a quick fix situation if you are proper lost. If you are heading out, tell someone and set a time of next contact, let them know coordinates, or better still buy a PLB, personal locating beacon.
This is my fourth trip to North America, the second to Canada after spending just under a month there pre covid. I know the US well, Canada, once you get out of Vancouver is just pure wilderness and what I love being in. Vancouver is beautiful, I just like less traffic.
Reason why I disclose this is I don’t want to be “that” person at risk. I don’t want to have others place themselves at risk for me nor do I care for the media attention that comes with it. Not to mention the ribbing and office “fines” that would come from it. The media loves a good trashy story, all I need is a slow news week and neckminut “….WA man found in Canadian bush off hiking trail, been missing for a week, found naked eating squirrel testicles and assimilated life as a mountain goat???” or some crap.
I like the hiking component as much as I like the photography but would say I’m a amateur at hiking. I think I do ok with Photography, now Social media? that’s something I really suck at. I have a head for radio and whilst I would love to live stream or video some of the travels its usually without words and some music in the back ground.
How do I prepare physically?
Well, shift work is the epitome of life that’s for sure, creates fatigue, MH issues, shortens life…. blah blah. It takes me months to get out of routine of working a 6-8 week rotating roster. The fact is, for my safety, I need to drop weight and get my fitness up. Shift work does have some pros, but there isn’t many.
Dietary intake as a shift worker is another issue. I cant say that I smash the Maccas or anything like that but yeah, I have my share of take away learning early in my career that if I took something to work from home, it was unlikely Id get a meal break and not eat it. Ice coffee is my weakness, luckily US and Canada do not have flavored coffee milk and usually have to get in line at Tim Hortons, Star bucks or Dutch Bros.
The one thing I have also done is reduce alcohol intake.
Last time I spent about a month (at best) getting on a treadmill walking, trying to get my heart rate up. I sadly failed and dragging my sorry arse up Whistlers Peak in Jasper and even Yosemite Falls a month or so in and I was sure I was going to have a heart attack and die, and that was 5 years ago. Add about 20kg of camera gear and 2-3 kg of water and that adds some pressure to hips, knees, ankles and heart. I don’t want to feel like that again. Actually Yosemite I run out of water on the down hill decent. It was really lucky that other hikers found me and gave me some water.
I last left Australia for Canada and the States weighing in at about 115-120kg, I returned weighing in at 99 kg 3 months later. And that’s eating steak, pub meals, alcohol and a almost daily frappe. If I said indulged myself it would have been a understatement. I do plan to hammer the Poutine every chance I can get.
So as of 29/02/2024 I dragged the treadmill in to the house and will started with that and build up.
I cant sit for long period on a exercise bike with my lower back and the change in water temp with my CRPS and left leg makes swimming a no go unless the water is really warm.
I have also been going to the physio bi weekly trying to loosen my back up. Coupled with the extra physical exercises it seems to be working.
My weight certainly hasn’t dropped and if anything has briefly increased but I find that around the 6 week mark, is when I start noticing anything and that’s a long way off yet.
Medically
I’ve been smashing the vitamin supplements for the last few months and will end up getting some flu jabs in June, it seemed to work the last trip. Nothing worse than picking up some cold when flying for that long in a tube of farts. Ill likely wear a face mask on the flight as well, although 25-30hrs of doing that doesn’t excite me one bit.
Flights
The trip over the last time was rather uncomfortable, I spent several hours pacing the plane from Hong Kong into Vancouver BC. The fella that sat next to me was bigger and taller than I, which didn’t help, I was trapped against the window.
This time around I have made some changes to seating and purchased Premium Economy seats. And have chosen Isle seats vs window seats, that way I can get up and down as much as I want. Yes it has cost me several grand more in flights but a more comfortable experience should make it worthwhile right?
Ive already found my neck pillow, its washed and ready to go, will find some comfortable shoes or something for the flight and something I can slip on and off going through various check points.
My travel doesn’t exactly start at the airport either. I could fly from my home town to Perth and hop on the flight or drive the 6.5 hours to Perth, spend a day or so with the wife before I head out to the airport. This time the flight boards around midnight with the closest town flight leaving around 5-6pm from memory which then means I have to sit around all excited going no where. We have a term for that, “hurry up and wait.”
I haven’t decided yet how Ill do this bit. the flight costs are around 250 bucks each way for a return trip, otherwise its around 3-400 1 way, for a hr flight vs probably 300 in fuel, another 200 in accommodation and 12-14 hrs on the road for the wife to drop me off and the same again to come pick me up.. When I put it that way flights seem like a no brainer right?
Even the landing and waiting around to electronically “stamp” my visa was slow and cramped (sounds like I’m whining). With a heap of adrenaline and excitement the last thing I want to be doing is just standing there like a dunce in line, there is shit to do people, We are not here to f… spiders right? (Aussie term)
This trip has so far included some 800km of hiking over two (2) months so a simple walk around the block wont cut it and really want to maximize the time I spend over there. Cant do that if I’m wheezing like a 5 pack a day smoker can I?
The other thing is equipment. Shoes, clothes, hiking poles, thermals etc and how that all works and feels when walking. I cant guess what its like in snow but is there enough stretch in the fabric etc. I did a heap of research on pants , shirts and jackets. The pants, jackets etc are from Kathmandu are awesome and fit really well. I ordered some t shirts the other day by the brand Monte, XXL in size…. lets just say they are quite snug, to the point my armpit looks like it has a camel toe.
As of the 24/03/2024 I’ve used the treadmill all but 1 or 2 days, which is either due to shift change, other family commitments and because I was fixing the daughters car and I was physically buggered after that lol.
I dragged the new shoes (La Sportiva) out and gave them a spin. Its important to wear these bad boys in given Ill be moving around as soon as I get off the plane and down time is a no no. CRPS is a hard thing to explain, I can do nothing and get shooting/ stabbing pain. I can wear a shoe for 6 months with no issue and then one day, my foot isn’t a fan.
The shoes fit really well on this occasion, the hiking socks from Kathmandu are awesome and only noticed a minor pressure over the big toe, that’ll sort itself out soon enough. Ill keep doing that on my days off, wear them in a bit at a time. Ill likely buy another pair to ensure I’m not wearing wet shoes all the time and can alternate.
Goal
Ill build my stamina up. increasing speed incline and distance, once I’ve got to about 4-5 km Ill start increasing weight in a back pack and gradually keep putting pressure on the body. At present Im walking around 6.5km in 65 minutes, I wanted to do this for a week before I start increasing things and the old treadmill that has been destroyed bit by bit every time we move can be rather dicey and stop mid stride.
I have considered face masks to assimilate a higher altitude but at this stage Ill just keep on with exercise. I’m not running a marathon and I’m not summiting K2, time is a factor in my travel plans but if I need to stop or slow then so be it.
Weight, Id like to get 10 kg off my frame before I head off but I’m not holding any expectations with this.
How do I prepare mentally?
Mind wise, I’m sort of prepared already, I’m constantly counting down the days (193) and after many months of arguments with work over taking time off I’m well and truly ready. Life doesn’t stop whilst I’m away and have been gradually increasing the security around the house with extra cameras, solar panels so the wife and kids don’t have to fret. We have a nice house but some of the thoroughfare that sails by is a bity average. Cars will be serviced before I leave, gardens sorted out etc.
My bag is already packed with most of my stuff, mainly because… a) so bloody excited, b) allows me to keep everything together and c) did I say.. so bloody excited???? The packing I find attributes to the positive mindset as I see the bag every few days, as does the ease of breathing from exercise and the endorphins it gives off.
I’m constantly checking the exchange rate and adjusting my spreadsheet, this goes right down to fuel costs in east state/ location. As it gets closer, care hire costs drop as does other things, if it saves me $500.00 then that’s a good percentage I can tick off.
Anyway that’s enough for the moment. Make sure you sign up and or come back for the next post.
Stay safe.
Geoff Pritchard Photography 