Travel

Growing up in rural Appalachia (WV/PA mountains), vacation meant driving to the beach, my parents, my brother and I sleeping in the bed of our 1989 F-250 and stopping at a KOA every other day to shower.

In college and my 20’s I flew on an airplane for the first time and visited other countries. But these vacations largely consisted of: Big city (London, Tokyo, Paris etc) + Food + Alcohol + fly to another city or fly home. It was fun, but not particularly creative or adventurous.

Starting around age 29, I began to take trips that involved some level of skill or athletics. I biked across Germany, Austria, and Hungary following the Danube. Seeing little towns, vineyards and mountains.

I was infinitely happier and came home energized, not just depleted.

I soon did another biking trip through the Netherlands and Belgium and then got into mountain climbing, starting with Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2019.

In 2020, I started to sail, first in the British Virgin Islands, then Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Annapolis and eventually the Mediterranean. I worked up to an International Captain's License and began captaining my own boat, first in Croatia/Adriatic sea.

In 2021, I became a pilot and began flying my own plane for short trips in addition to sailing, biking, mountain climbing.

In 2022, the international motorcycle trips began with two close friends learning as well. We started in Santiago Chile, riding down the Pacific Coast. South America was followed by trips across Scotland, Vietnam, North Africa, the Balkans, and the Pyrenees.

I am immeasurably grateful the travel, friends, and opportunities this life has brought me and I want to encourage more friends to pursue the same.

I've been able to bring my parents on some of these adventures, including Iceland, Ireland, UK, France, Switzerland, Australia, and China.