The past week (a very long post)

Bratislava, Slovakia it is a nice small but big city. Arrived three days ago, just by chance stayed here. It was late in the evening about to get dark. Camping in city's is a real pain as it was an odd night in Vienna's city park two days before. Thinking I was going to have to do the same in Bratislava I pulled around a corner at the edge of town with my kayak and wow a paddling club/hostel. Perfect, kind of surprising but with my luck either super good or really bad it was awesome this time! Now I am in coffee shop, I have roamed eating and drinking as I move along.

Linz was nice, it has been two years since I was there. Familiar faces and sites comfort but in the same, the adventurist part was taken away. Eating, visiting, catching up on old times. Repairs to the boat and baggage along with a little shopping fill the extra time. Still I felt as if I needed to get out on the river as soon as possible. So two days in Linz was it. A nice Lunch of sourer braten, kraut, and knoodle along with ice cream was the kicker and time to go, perfect! My friends brought me to the launch which actually ended up being the Enn river. Yes the Enn so it is just a mild change to plan the Enn instead of the Inn? Late in the day actually considering putting my boat together and making everything perfect takes a good two or so hours. Finally hit the water at 5:00PM. Flowers laced everywhere on my boat champagne toast and I was off with about an hour and a half tell dark.

The river was slow, slower than I thought. GPS telling me I was only moving 2-3MPH when not paddling. I expected more I wanted more too. Just out of site of my farewell after crossing under a bridge a big barge came close to me. The guy on deck was waving his hands at me and yelling something in German that I did not understand, so I pulled over. Not sure of the edict in the world of the water I decided that I would just hang out and hold to the shore. Ends up they were just parking for the night and was only telling me I needed to get moving out of the way. Later though that week this lesson I thought I learned, came into play with me being less than careful and getting in the way of barges recklessly. Now very near dark I was still wondering what I would do for sleep. I know that in the states I would just sleep anywhere and this is what I did. For a while I was skirting the shore trying to find the best part along the shore to get out. This proofed useless as any place was as good as the next. Finlay in the dark I pulled my boat out of the water after only going about 5 miles that night.

Slept great that night, really good. Now time to hit the river and move. My goal was to get in as many hours on the river during daylight as possible. If on the river you are always moving. I woke around 6AM. An hour or so to get everything packed up knowing that this would be faster after more practise. 7AM on the river. Now a big problem of paddling the Danube in Austria is there are so many dams. I grew to hate dams. Hate the portages, unloading and carting my boat around searching for the best spot to put my boat in the water. Although it is nice that I get out and walk because when sitting in a boat hour after hour pain comes in many areas of the body. I have many rules I have set myself and one is never let my kayak out of site. Even though not really a safety rule it is the most important part of my trip, without it I am up a river with no boat. So with these portages the fact of always having my boat with me made big hassles. I would have liked many times to scout out ahead and see if the trail or such had a good put in for my boat. Dragging the boat everywhere made for a big hassle. Two dams that day. A
little rain off and on too which is almost nice. There was another kayak on the water that day too. Joe as we will call him, a German student who had started also at Linz. His boat was causing him trouble though. It was the type of boat you might buy for the kids and take it on the lake ever year maybe if it held up. More of a float for him. A spur of the moment trip that he put together by buying a boat and jumping in it in his street clothing and going down the river. I like his style though even though I doubt he went much further than where I saw him last. Myself I ended up that day putting in 32.5 miles. Not that good but OK for the fact I had two dams. An island near some homes was my camp spot that night. Super nice grassy and a good landing for the boat.

Now with the whole "and the next day I....." Yes the 22nd was a long long day. 40.7 miles in total and a dam. Beautiful countryside moving through the area of Krems. Old castles on the hill side of every corner, terraced vineyards and small villages dotted the river banks. I feel now I am sorry I went so fast through this area. It would have been nice to stop and drink a nice glass of wine in the square or just talk with someone. Nope I was on a mission a mission to cut every corner. Ride the Shipping lanes. Binoculars in hand always looking for the next cargo ship and move out of the way. It was fast this way. Strait lines corner to corner. Not very smart though as an after though as I am small and they are big. I did make it out of the area of Krems that day and the environment was a little more industrial. A dam was coming up too. Paddle, Paddle that was all there was to do and that's what I did. it is really becoming just easy paddling for hours. Kind of like running, at first hard and out of tune, then naturally smooth. Sometimes I count, usually to 100, take a 10 second break and do it again. Rhythm, momentum kind of a mindless space out go into dreamland activity and I am good at this! I reach a endpoint that night at about 630PM. Tired and just wanting to relax and stop. The only camp spot was basically on a road. This would work. 2 feet of flat ground inches from the pavement was my bed that night. Only once that I know of a car came by. My reflective paddling top must have worked for them to see me and my boat as I was not hit that night.

To Vienna this day, the 23rd. Waking up was hard that morning. Although I get lots of sleep just like in camping as in when it is dark you sleep I wanted to hangout and enjoy the sunshine from a long wet night in my sleeping bag from the heavy dew that has accumulated over the past days. Finally up and about I figured I would try to hurry again with the attitude of more miles the better. A couple dams in the plans for the day I knew another long day. It was a long day too. First dam not too bad besides the cart that was at one of the portages for people to use rubbed a small amount of rubber off my boat with friction I did not notices for a minute from the tire rubbing. Shoe GU the best stuff out there I think fixed the problem and one more portage though the small town and I was back on the river again. Blank and kind of bland always it seems before large city's there was not much entertainment for the sight seeing activity's. Just paddle, paddle. It was a good 15 or so miles until the next dam. I think that I only got out of the boat once before that dam. Considering sitting is hard for me in the first place I was really kind of bored. When boredom sets in my mind wonders. I think a lot about the plan of this whole trip, home and people there and even the future for work and life in general. Although needing to be in the moment concentrated on what I am doing I enjoy this day dreaming I do so much while traveling. It is simple being alone and self supported while traveling and mostly without need from the world. Able to narrow thoughts down and not have time focused on other activity's or people. The idea of this trip has this thought as a vision. Knowing I will have so much time to think I want to make something out of it, be productive in life, make changes where needed with a want for it. All this though and day dreaming puts me into another world with the reality of what is going on lost in a dreamland while paddling I come near to the next dam. Now with so much to do the dam portage takes up all thought process and I am in action to get my boat out of the water and around the dam. It is a shame though I think now that my only action is action and not stopping to talk or step into the small town while passing by. The boat out of the water into the water and again as I exit the towns small inlet channel. Strait to Vienna now. 6 miles or so tell I will be there. I start wondering about camping and where? City's are always hard to camp in. It just is not the environment for it. The banks of the river are filled with people running and biking. There is a occasional kayak on the river just out for a afternoon paddle. The current is strong and I move fast towards town passing up possible camping sitesl everywhere thinking I can get in another mile or so. 515PM I am at the edge of town one more hour or so and I should really be in camp. The channels split when entering the area of Vienna. There is what looks to be a paddling club docking system. I think about staying here and just camping on the bank of the river or even a dock. Some kids along the bank though tell me there is a camp ground another mile and a half down the river on the main channel. Another one and a half miles is another one and a half miles, so I decide to go for it. Wrong nothing, nothing for 3 miles. It is almost dark now and it is not looking good now. My concern is big city lots of people and possible getting woken up in the night from a bad spot where I will lay my head to sleep. I am committed though and i must find a spot in town. City park it is. A little peninsula kind of off the path becomes my home for the night. Using the city lights to set up camp keeping undercover I go to sleep 34 miles and 11 hours on the river without eating or any extra comforts of camping.


24th, I awake with beer cans and garbage around me. This must be the spot where people come and drink beer by the river. The weather looks nice and even though I slept on a slope with a branches for a bed I seem to be rested. Now for a nice float though the rest of Vienna. The sun rays hit the water perfectly and I fell like a great day is ahead of me. Although Vienna is a beautiful city having been there a couple times in the past from the water it is not that nice. The water slows as there is a dam coming up. Now a bit confusing of where I should portage I overshoot the pullout. Having to paddle up a river you want to get down is also breaking a rule just as in mountaineering, you never want to loose elevation and you never want to loose have to paddle back up the river. maybe a half mile was all but if only it way the other way. With my GPS I am able to find out that with only a 200 yard portage I can get into the other channel that seems to put me on the right track to get around this dam. Simple I think. Simple is never simple when you do not know what you are doing. Yes 200 yards but 1-2 miles of flat water without current, wind in your face paddling and another portage to a horrible entry into scary water 3 hours later, things are not always what they seem. Finally on the river again 2PM still enough time to make some miles. The river is big and scary for me at least. One thing you should know is I am scared of big water and for a good reason. To be comfortable you need to be able to read the water and understand where this line of risk is so you can manage it. I just guess most of the time. The wind has really picked up along with the current and barges are coming more and more often. Paddling the whole time is the only way to keep in control of the boat in some sort of fashion. Like usal I am trying to make time so i use the shipping lanes to move move. My line of risk I know I am on the edge for my ability but either stupidity and ignorant tells me to keep doing what I am doing. Miles after miles go by wind in my face it is just part of another challenge of the trip. The day will end and I will sleep I know relaxed after another hard day on the water. Thoughts go to how I can do this everyday and I will suffer though it and in the end love it. Nearing 4PM I have a couple more hours of paddling I know. I set speed records on my GPS 11 MPH wow! Now when things go wrong they go wrong fast it always seems. Listening to my radio another odd sound comes from the other side of the boat. I seem to be hearing air leaking form somewhere. So now my boat has a hole in it, great(ended up being the wind in the bushes. Why now, why I am making good time and really pushing it. Not a bad leak, I have 4 chambers in my boat I might as well try going a little faster and at least make it to a town 4 miles away, maybe a half hour. Might as well cross the river in case I really need to get to shore fast if I start sinking! Picture this: a curve in the river fast current, barges coming a ways off slowly as they are coming against the current and lots of wind. I cross now! This takes awhile and I know now I should have not crossed there. Feeling good and strong though maybe with adrenaline I power through and am am almost across. Some werid water ahead figuring it is nothing just paddle faster and speed through it. Whirlpools, yep I hit a small one and nothing happens, cool! Keep paddling and then I see it a big whirlpool. couple feet deep and pretty big around I am pulled strait into it. I really can't believe it happens, it is kind of in slow motion then fast. The front of my boat is sucked down into the whirlpool and my boat is flipped! I have a teather for me to my boat along with one for my paddle. Thankful for this I am able to reach my boat as it circles with me in the whirlpool. Now hanging on the edge on it I try kicking my feet with hope to move the boat to shore. No progress, what am I thinking? I decide well I have a paddle and the top of the boat looks good, I get on top. Perfect. Soon I am out of the whirlpool and paddling to shore with the barge now not coming towards me. Laughing is all I can think and wow that really happened. Minutes later I am at shore and really it is all good. I flip my boat over everything is there besides my music radio, some socks and long underware I was drying. My system of everything being tied down worked. Still laughing and with know one to share the experiance with I just laugh some more. Camp is there. A town is actually really close. I dry out some stuff that got wet. Lounge on the bank of the river eating and reading while reflecting on my thoughts.

I always have been a person who learns the hard way and again it proves to be true. I am not stupid though, stupid people do not learn and do the same stupid thing. With this thought in mind I analyze what has gone wrong and why. My conclusion and realisation is I am pushing myself over my ability with my inexperiance and thoughts of whatever it takes. Whatever it takes has always been a joke with some friends of mine. We have heard it said by stupid people in situations where it could or was over there head. I will not do whatever it takes. The line was found I crossed it and it caught me. Now though there is a line. A line I can see more clearly than before. Not perfectly and and no one can ever really, but this line I know I need not get so close to and imagine where it might be and stay away a little more. More realisatons also, I am not seeing or experiancing where I am. Like I have said my Mom was always telling us kids to stop and look around. I know I have not always done what my Mom has said and here again I was not. Mom is smart though and again like always I realise this. The past days on the river I was not talking to anyone or seeing anything but from the banks of the river. Europe is beautiful with wonderful culture and people, why am I skipping it? With this though I have decided I will fore go my outlandish plans of Athens. Time I do have yes and time I will spend both paddling and whenever I please stop and enjoy where I am.

25th a slow day at first. Leisurely enjoying the morning a local stops by why I am reading my book. We talk in some way of German and English. An understanding is met and gday's are said. Slovakia today. Only a short trip down the river maybe 15 miles. First though I wanted to restock with good Austrian food at the nearby town of Hainsburg. 2-3 miles down the river I arrive after a new day and new feelings of being more careful on the river. This is this first item I leave my boat unattended nervously. New rule I guess. My boat is everything but my experiance is more. Only unreplacable valuables are taken such as pics. People are people and yes there is somone out there that might want to steal stuff off my boat but they are few and far between. Grocery shopping has always been one of my favorite activities and mostly in other country's. My day is starting out wonderful splurging on a few extra favorite idems. Back to the boat with new food and an enjoyable walk through a great city. One hour goes by and I decide I must get going before it is too late in the day to travel. Slovakia is the next stop. With thoughts I would need to check in at some checkpoint for customs ect. I must get therr sooner than later. Next stop Slovakia. The river is fast again and wind in the face. It is no time and I am at the border. Stepping on to land I decide this first cit of Slovakia I will try to find some sort of customs checkpoint. There is a lighthouse looking this which looks official. Nothing locked. A small caffee around the corner with people. This caffee well not a normal caffee. I'm pretty sure the sign said caffee/dancers. The girls there look like dancers or something extra too. No English and nothing is communicated besides a little sells pitch towards what they were selling? Forget it I will take my chances on the river and try something in Bratislava. It is late in the afternoon by now the wind has picked up considerably. This flat water is not so flat anymore. Water does werid things that I do not understand. What I do understand is I want nothing to do with werid water. Staying near to shore the wind repeatably throws my boat into the shore. Whirlpools from eddies dot the shoreline. My thought is I will power through them. This works but once at the other side the back current of the eddie throws my boat into the bank. Fears of the boat being damage go through my head but ther is nothing I can do. This short journey takes me longer than expected with thoughts again of where I will sleep. Not another city park in Bratislava. There is a Island coming up though at the outskirts of town. Switching back and forth I decide to go for it and maybe I can just stay there tonight. This island for campng is nothing, with thoughts of being stuck in the dark I turn the cornner only to see kayakers and a hostel! As I have said my luck is good or bad and good it is now.

28th I am still In Bratislava. Thoughts of leaving today were in action but the decision to stay come from the disire to spend another day in this wonderful place. Bratislava is so nice. Old and new city options. The owners of this hostel are avid kayakers with endless conversation of the river and life. My time here has been a wonderful experiance both enjoying the company in hour after hour talks, people watching in town, visits to coffee shops and pubs, a small but informative understanding of the Slovik people and way of life. Yes I am leaving tomorrow, my plans always change. Plan now though without understating what I just said is I will do what I please moment to moment where I go and how long is whatever I please until it is time to go home.

Katie and or the Luna girl! I had different friends in Austria sign her along with people I meet along the way! Thanks again for the flag!

A few pics

Entering Slovakia

View from the river of Wien

Nice calm day

Durstein

video after whirlpool

Little debrief of the river incident!

Whirlpools ands slowing!

I am now at the border of Austria and solvaki(spelling?) LAst night I took a spill and it could have been bad but I am lucky. I was in some high winds trying to get to the side of a latge ship that ussaly run the river and I was sucked into a whirlpool! Yep flipped the boat and me. Spinning was not so bad but the fact of the strong currents and the ship well again lucky. I was though able to get on top of the bottom of the boat and paddle it to shore. Everything was intact and only a little wet and lost my radio for music! Anyways I am good and everything and any has happened so far. I have been averaging around 35 miles a day being on the water all aday getting up early and paddling tell dark. No more of this. I am now settling with a nice fun float and getting out when I want and where I want. No more Athens. If I make it there Yes but no if I do not. I belive this pushing was part of my acident. I was in a hurry as always. Taking the fastest current in the middle of the shipping lane ect. My mom always told me to slow down and look around. That is what I am going to do and maybe even do a little fishing.

I will write more but for now this is it I think I will travel a little more today but today is really a relax and resupplie day. Take care.

THE START OF A WONDERFUL DAY!

LOVING THE WONDERFUL DAY!

On the Inn river!

Setting up the boat.

Portage around big rapids.

Modify plans and Try Again.

So................I'm back on land and will be starting from Linz Austria on the Danube. Plan to leave Saturday Morning. I went 45 miles in one and a half days on the Inn river to kufstein. The Inn river has low water damaging my boat. No damage fatal to the boat but wear and tear I am not willing to accept needing it for the rest of my trip. A seam slightly coming undone and abraison from dragging on rocks both while in the river along with dragging it up the river banks portaging around rapids and dams. Although damaging to my ethics and thoughts of starting in Innsbruck, I think this is the right choose and will spend a couple days here with friends repairing and modifing.



Yes Yes I will start, I really will and I want to. The start was good, a little slow but good. Dani and I drove to the put in and starting putting the boat and everything together. I always wonder how I manage to get all sorts of stuff half way across the world. Dani had a wonderful laugh when I was struggling to put the boat together. Funny really but I insured her I knew what i was doing, I don't think she believed me! I did get off and onto the river after a couple of hours of fooling around. We toasted the boat with a nice Austrian white wine, A little for Ireen, some for Katie, Dani and myself.



My best discription of the river is it is like the lower Wenatchee river with a couple more rapids and lots of bridges. Bridges were the biggest worries. There are old pilings with metal and concrete which both cause rapids and objects to hit with my boat in the low water. A couple bigger rapids, one I did go around but the others I just held on. Then there is the dam portages. Again low water is an issue. I had gone on google earth weeks ago looking for the best possible way to portage, noting right and left to every dam I saw. Even though google earth is amazing not everything is seen. Out and in the river proved hard both dragging my boat up and and down the rocks. Somtimes not able to find a launch for over a mile of hauling my boat behind me though town getting odd looks from locals haha. Now starting in Linz though I am down to only 10 dams from the 30 total by just cutting off 200 miles



So who didn't tell me it is still winter? The weather was horrible. Not the first day but the secound. poking my head out of my bivi sack yesterday I knew that the day had started and would end too. Large snowflakes and wind. I packed up quickly as possible. Not even getting a bite to eat I was thankful for my friend who gave me a couple Cliff Bars! Not too cold but more so hoping the weather would let up for fear of getting soaked. I ended up getting a little wet but not too wet for the conditions considering it was one of the worst days of weather I have seen in a long time.



Overall it is really nice on the Inn, kind of a wild place in the middle of civilalization. Trails along side most of the time. Small towns dot the river banks. Mostly older people out walking or younger running. Everyone stops and stares, some say hi, but mostly stares. I have thoughts of going back if I have time and conection the part I am missing to linz when the river is higher. Doubt it though really I am sure I will have had enough by then.



Yep, back on dry land and dry. I just had a look at the Danube and it looks a lot like the Columbia river but a little bigger I think and it is moving fast! Portages will be few and the banks are low. Sailing should be good too as it is a larger body of water. I feel like I have taken the simple way out not giving the Inn much of a try. I am confident in my decision on taking care of my boat. The Danube should be friendly to my boat. The next couple days should be nice visting friends in Linz as I have spent a fare amount of time here in the past.

Leaving for the river!

Everything seems to be in order. Coffee made and a quick adjustment of my clothing system as it is snowing and I'll be going!

Sails set in the morning!

12:30AM the night before I am really leaving, coffee in hand and the latest electronic music from a friend playing loudly in my headphones. Why should I go to bed really? I have to go to bed early tomorrow night and the rest. Staying up late and early the last week or so has been my life. Yes this is another posting of fun and social life super exravaganza

Much to do today I did not get out on the river knowing I would have only a couple hours before dark. The night or mornning saw me in bed a good 4AM. The concert DJ preformance was amazing. An different experiance than ever. Huge crowd with amazing energy. A great last night with new and old friend. Live it up. living to live for the moment. Life is now, when and soon to be here.

Two kilos of apples, one kilo of carrots, curred meats, cheeses, black bread, some coffee and other misc food , should be enough food for awhile. This is it, I have talked and talked more than I remember about what I am going to do. In the morning sails will set, down and down the Inn river I will go. All will tell and the theories will be proven as for the first day.

City of Hall

A little walk through Small town of HALL

A little cooking of Kasspatzle!

Inn river video!

A little video of the INN river. The river I will start my journey on!

Fun is fun and I have it.

Smoke in the air, I am at the same coffee shop/bar again, the treibhaus. Maybe one more wine to try here, I enjoy the cigarette smoke, its funny at first I hated it. Reminds me of familiarity's of memories. There is a school only minutes from here and everyone must come here to meet friends. Last night went to a concert in the upstairs of this place with my friend Julia. Ana Moura a porchagese folk singer. Beautiful voice and several different types of guitars. This last week I have eaten so much food. I am sure I have gained some weight which is perfect. The heavy Austrian food oh how I love it. I have thoughts now of opening a leberkassen(spelt wrong) stand in Leavenworth when I get home. It is so bad for you but soo good. Basically meatloaf with cheese or vegetables in it. One of my favorites, and cheap as cheap can be here. A couple nights ago friends made Kasspatzle. It is kind of a Austrian version of Mac and cheese I think, but with an egg type batter. How fun it is to enjoy new friends while learning from them. Really it is going to be hard to leave.

Yes the Kayaking trip is still a go. One week here in Innsbruck was the plan. It is day 8 in Innsbruck. Last minute articles for the trip and fixing of damaged luggage the airline broke. The real reason is I am enjoying myself so much visiting and meeting new people all the time. There is a very popular DJ preforming this weekend I want to see and it should be the a great last all out party and move into self preservation. I know, I know I really should leave well today but the temps have been in the teens, windy, and snowing. With excuses and knowing that I really should be getting going, sunday looks really looks like it will warm up putting me out on a nice start to my trip. I'll do what I want though too and fun is fun and I will have fun.

Much on my mind, I have said this to a couple people. I ask myself why? Why have I left a wonderful comfortable life at home. Family and friends. Myself only on this kayaking part of my trip. Different selfish thoughts go through my mind. Not being there for friends and family. Relationships put on hold, not able to be productive helping others but just myself. Knowing this and still doing is a problem for me, I want to be a better person to friends and family but I am not. Three more months it is all on hold, hold from the fact I am only living by myself with little contact. This said it is a long time until changes are to be made only an understanding of myself to maybe use to be a better person.

Well with that said I am about to go do my favorite thing. Grocery stores, love shopping for food. We are having fish and chips tonight. I think that I am cooking and tomorrow for sure I am for many people hamburgers.

Living the good life!

Friday night at Dani's flat!

Running partners!

Climbing!

March 5th

A great day of fun and meeting new people.

It is cold in Innsbruck. Accually snowing right now. Dani and I wanted to go climbing outside but weather conditions told us different. Yes I went to a climbing gym again. Lately I am more of a gym climber than anything but I guess it is winter what can I say? Climbing gyms are werid and climbing gyms in Europe are even werider. Werid yes but good. So many strong climbers climb in the gym and for sure it works. So are plan was to climb in the gym and with that I decided when in Europe do as the Europeans do and wear tights! Yes many of you may have seen my tights I wear climbing and I have to say, I love them, they make me feel naked and whats better than feeling naked in public haha! I believe I beat the Euro's at there own game wearing these tights no one else came as close to as stylish as I was in my tights there at the gym. The climbing part I sure did not come close to being as good but is it not about style when you climb in a gym? Yes the climbing was good we spend a good 3 hours there climbing and visiting with some friends.

With the day still long from done was able to go on a run with some friend's of Dani. There really is nothing better than getting outside and running in a new area when traveling, mostly while meeting new friends at the same time. We ran along the river for a good couple miles. Really a nice feeling from being cooped up on public transport the last couple days.

After a long well actually short day of being active what better thing to do but do what we do best, eat and drink! Snitchel, lots of snitchel. A basic Austrian food thats great and simple. More friends came over for drinks and conversation. I love this aspect of travel meet new people everday. Talking about the differences and simarlarities in life or talking about nothing but how the day was. Somthing I have learned over the years of travel is that no matter where you go people are basicaly the same, everyone wants to enjoy each other, themself and just live a good life. Sounds obvious and it is and this is the beauty of the world. The night would not be complete without going out and dancing tell the morning. We did just that. The pounding music in your ear as you try to converse with someone, the smell of cigarette smoke in the air only to know your clothes will stink in the morning. Crazy large glasses of wine in what would be a normal size water glass. Endless people bumping into you spilling there drinks on you but no worrys you are in a club and who cares. Ramdom conversations while waiting in line to use the WC. Not really knowing where you are as long as you keep your friends in site so you know how to find home. The USA is no good for these ramdom clubs and bar hopping in my experiance. I find the foreign seen is so much better. Not to get drunk or go crazy as you can do that in your own living room. But to have a crazy night it just happens, trying to stay up tell the early morning dancing like you just don't care all for fun not worried about if you will run into somone you know or even care. People again are just people fun and up for a good time so much fun can be had. 3 or 4 AM is when I think we got home. Such a good time for being a blurr, just a blurr of good thoughts and good people.

The winds have calmed and the wirlwind of travel to Austria is done. I have rested and recovered the last day or so. Transport systems of the world have always interested me. One thing I have learned is even though they are used everyday somtimes the system does not work. Connection after connection really it is true the wirlwind has to be ridden like it or not. Somtimes it can be comfortable and fun but other times you have to fight just to stay on. I belive I fought this last time.

Baggage was the issue of the trip. Yes for the people that have traveled with me somtimes I bring too much stuff, but really this time I was in for it. Overweight luggage and extra bag fees. From the begining I packed and repacked my bags over and over. Trying to avoid the overpriced extra luggage fees even with some BS talking with the airline agent I was not able to convice him that I would be able to use a 60LB pack as a carry-on. I figured I had tryed my best but best was not good enough these days in the world of suck every pennie out of you airline companys. Not worried though because this can only be expected as really it is not a bad deal to fligh a boat, all the gear and some climbing gear halfway across the world for an extra $100 dollars. The bad part though is after all the connection of planes trains and automoblies arriving in Zurich and one of my bags is missing. My mind ventures off to how I could save this trip without the bag. I did have the boat but through the process of packing I had a plan and the plan included evey little piece of equipment. All in all I have never lost a bag on a flight and so with all the flights that I have logged in I feel very lucky. Now talking to the represinative of the baggage company I knew that yelling and screaming was not going to get me anywhere as I am sure the last thousand or so people who have done the same got no where also. Calm and collective was all I could do and hope hope hope. But really the great thing about it overall is I did really thank the airline later for me not having to hall an extra bag around at the train station in Zurich. Already over 100 pounds without that extra bag it would have been almost impossible without carring loads pile to pile in the train station. Over all my bag did come the next day and delivered strait to my friends house in Innsbruck.

Oh a little extra thought about the train station. Funny thought or event. While waiting for the train in Zurich eatting a small bit the crazy place was listening to english Christmas Music. Just a funny time that I guess you had to be there for and enjoy or not!

Now in Innsbruck Austria, it is a going to be a bright sunny day today. I have woken a little before everyone else here at my friends flat. It is a very comfortable place located near central Innsbruck. I sleep on the cough in Dani's room so comfortable really. A lot nicer than the airplane seats I have been sleeping in. Yesterday we went in to the city to get out am walk around take some pictures and I wanted to see the river. Innsbruck is a thriving city but not overwhealming. I belive it is my 4th time here. I have come here everytime I have been to Austria. In the heart of the Austrian Alps Beautiful views of the coutryside along with all the amidities of the city. Yes I looked at the river where I have planned to start my trip. The water is a little low. Looks a lot like the wenatchee river for those who know it. Rumers of it being illegal to have a boat in the river has sparked intrest in me. Rumer is that friends of my friend once tryed to float the river and the authorities kicked them out within an hour of floating the river. I am not really sure what to think of this. I may be able to just go for it and go unseen and unoticed. But I really do not want to go one hour down the river and have to get out. So these authorities we are not really sure who they are as the police pon it off as saying you need to talk to someone else when we went to ask them. They think that I may need permision from every little town or somthing to have acsess through there area. What I have always learned or noticed while traveling, no matter how stupid or outlandish it may sound I am not in America and even though it is stupid to get permission it is the rules and well it is there rules. So the goal of today is to find out more on this subject and have alterative plans if so needed.

Breakfast is finished. Dani and I had eggs and hashbrowns. Austrians don't really eat hot food for breakfast so it is kind of fun to have this experiance. Thoughs of opening a diner in Austria would be perfect. Bring a little hot food to the mornings of Austria, maybe it is just a thought. I believe we will now go climbing now. I have plans also to go on a run later with a friend. I feel as if everything is going as planned and am on track to start soon but not before a little R&R here with friends.

Made it!

I have made it to Innsbruck! This picture is from last night. Tired, wonderful food, a couple glasses of wine and endless talking with my friend Dani, a long day ended perfect! I will write more later I want to go see the river and eat.

Conceiving The Idea

Thinking of why this "idea" has begun. A super long prossess of time consuming measures. Many thanks to my friends and family helping me in so many ways. The encouragement of so many has given me confidence in my outlandish goal, thanks! This blogging thing is new to me, sharring what I do period is new to me. This in itself will be a challenge with what I believe will be beneficial to others and myself. Trying to create an understanding of why and what is happening as challenge and joy come from my daily life on my boat.

The day after Christmas 2009. Maintaining the balance of putting my family first always, it is time to contemplate a worth objective for another adventure. Thoughts fill my mind. So many options and so much time. I need a activity that stimulates the mind and challenges me mentally. Maybe somthing besides another climbing trip. Water is nice, so is traveling! I always have wanted to sail around the world. What about a little smaller scale? that might work. What about a sailing kayak? What about a smaller area to cover? Innsbruck to Athens on a kayak with a sail a rough 3000 miles in 3 months, why not? Thirteen different country's, rivers, open coastline and island hopping all on my little 15 foot 6 inch inflatable Feathercraft Java Kayak with a 1.4 SQ meter Kayaksailor sail. Sounds like a great idea, plus I'll pretty much be starting from scratch as I have no idea what I am doing. Should be interesting enough!

Kayaking seems to be a nice way to travel. Small, affordable, a little risk management and alone. I am new to kayaking I really have no experiance, but no big deal I will learn. This idea comes from a long scource of memory's and thoughts. I remember when I was in Peru in 2005 on a climbing trip and I wanted to try floating a part of the Amazon on a raft I would build, but the climbing was too good. Another time in 2006 I was in the city of Ushuaia at the tip of South America. My thoughts were maybe I could find a raft or somthing that I could cross the beagle channel and do some exploring. Later that year I ended up spending some time in Linz Austria with some friends. Linz is right along the Danube river and again I thought, buy a raft float the river to the Black Sea. All these ideas were aborted with good reason I guess. Then this last summer my friend and I while fighting fire and bored out of are minds with dreams to be waited with thoughts, "lets paddle the inside passage", Seattle to Alaska. Again a no go (someday Zander.) I was although able to go on a short trip through the Gulf Islands off of Vancouver Island with my friend Nick. We had fun, learning and laughing. So pretty much a long list of ideas and talk with little action, pretty pathetic. I have learned a lot though the years of travel and climbing that failure is the motivation for learning, succeeding and having fun! Now though I am going with the IDEA. No more of this blabbering!

In Flight

In flight-

Somewhere over the Alantic Ocean. The last couple days have been long or shall I say the last couple weeks. I have spent more time awake with little amounts of sleep than ever. Sleep deprivation set in and helped me really I belive . It is like a all out endurance race of getting as much done with as little amount of time there is. Some might say endless amounts of time without sleep will only hurt you in the long run. Although right I belive when you cut out everything else including sleep and somtimes food you become more foucused and are able to think more clearly on the moments at hand.

So much to do and little time, endless amounts of thought and ideas go through my head. Talking and talking every sitution over. My cousin Paul to thank mostly. Paul helped me imagine how I would live and what I would be doing. We spent so much time in his shop setting up the boat and making new changes to different parts of the systems. Michell his wife would come out and have her say and make us think in a different way more than once, which was enlightening. Although avalible we did not even drink much beer in fear that we might not get much done, not to say it never happened.

So much more come into play other than just setting up the boat. The biggest question may be how. How am I going to travel down the rivers to the Sea and then all the way to Athens in a little kayak. The argument in this is can it be done? To tell you the truth there is so much unknown but I am confident in the idea. Where to start on this subject: well I know that I will be busy the whole time with the many problems that can and may acure. I use to think that I could just get in the river and float. If you really think about yes it is just that but with many obsticules included. Quality of living is a big thing. As I have said this is no pleasure vaction. My thoughs are that I will always have to be productive. Moving and moving always positive towards my goal. Cutting out the nessary comforts that slow me down. It maybe anything from sleeping on the bank of a river when at night somone wakes me up wondering what I doing there on there land, to having to paddle all day in the rain. Time is a factor I really have so little time with a huge objective. I can only imagine what I will be put against along the journey. Adventure you may say and this it true as adventure is the unknowning.

The boat itself is only part of the plan really. I have plans to film the trip daily, getting as much coverage as possible. Chase Bradburn's idea really. This daily ramdom footage will enabling Chase to edit it down into somthing more pleasuable than a bunch of random clips of me talking to myself. The filming aspect brings so much more logistics into play, more than ever imagined equipment. I think I will really enjoy the filming and it will bring a whole other spectrume to enlighting the real experiance to others.

Imagining can be fun, but the fact is the boat had to be tested. So last week I made my way to west side of the mountains. The plan was take the boat out fully loaded ready to go. Well this did not happen to that exstent. I spent the weekend with friends. Saturday relaxing with plans to go out on Sunday for a nice easy stroll in the Everest area. It was nice to relax after having spent so much time engulfed in process of accualy getting the boat together. The encoragment I recieved form my friends with there disire of wanting to know more sparked enlightenment on new ideas and confidence. We did go out on Sunday. An amazing day with sunshining skys overhead. No wind though and against the current paddling. Somthing to be understood about my boat it is not a sleek fast boat and with that said I was kind of disapoint in the peformance. I did also wish there was some wind to play with. Over all it was a wonderful day with great people and just nice to actually get out on the water. I knew I needed more time on the water and with plans for paddling with my friend Nick the next couple days out in the San Juans. This plan fell though, Nick got sick. I stayed over a bit longer in the seattle area to work out some of the details of planning. Still I needed to get out on the water again. I wanted wind. The wind forcast was showing that Lake wentachee had the best wind even over the San juan area. I went for it and headed back over the mountains. Lake Wenatchee is known for the wind and sure enough with my luck there was no wind. Figuring I would go on and try it the next day. I decided to just go back to Paul's house where I have done most of the planning from and get some projects done and use the rest of the day. So now we are at wedseday and no matter what I need to get out on the water. No wind again but I went for it. All I really need was water and the Columbia river was it. Everything had to go into play here. I would load the boat up as much as I could, still having some project for the boat to finish. Seth Murry come down to help brainstorm the thoughts of final changes. This was it, the boat was in the water, we decided on a few changes and the rest will be figured out on the trip. It was nice getting out and trying the boat as before the ideas we just ideas. I really enjoyed the people who were part of this giving feedback helping me realize how and why I want to go on this trip.

Now that the prossess of brainstorming and accualy putting the boat in the water was done all there really was to do was finish acouple of changes and take care of some last minute tieing up of loose ends. Last minute loose ends can take forever as it may seem. No matter how much time you give yourself everything takes longer than you might think. First thing was my house or shall I say yurt. Nick and Nancy long time friends have so graciously given me a place to live in there yurt. I take this gracious offer with so much graditute knowing that I need to leave the place nicer than I have found it. Cleaning, fixing and moving all my stuff out took longer than I expected but I should have know. Not new to me though I have done this many time and always enjoy coming back to a clean comfortable place I call my home. Home you may say is somewhere you live but to me it is somwhere comfortable and you can relax, the yurt is this way. I imagine myself there when I am away in a busy city or just lost in the world. Splitting kindling in front of the fire late at night just for somthing to do or watching the eagle land in his nest right across the river from the yurt makes life feel so simple. There is more to life that simple relaxing times at the yurt. I know I need challenges, thinking of this this past week while cleaning the yurt gives me relisation that even though Life is great and pretty easy still there is more than life. Leaving life at home behind going and going I am not the only one that it effects. I have so many friends I can not imagine who I would be without them. This maybe the hardest part and in someway the reason I do travel. Understanding the world better and that so many people are wonderful in this world are so great shows me how special the family and friends I have at home are.

So pretty much thats it I am gone. I wrote this on the airplane with no way of sending it. I am in Austria now staying with my friend Dani. I will send this now.

What Am I Doing?

The Idea-

What: Travel by Kayak with Sail from Innsbruck Austria to Athens Greece. Paddle the Inns river roughly 175 miles to the Danube river in Passau Germany. From Passau on the Danube around 1300-1400 miles to the Black sea though 11 different countries. Once on the Black Sea, paddle and sail south along the coast to the inlet of the Marmara sea to Istanbul about 500 miles. Next from Istanbul paddle sail south on the Marmara sea to the Aegean Sea. Once in the Aegean Sea in the Aegean Sea, paddle sail kind of east along the Turkey Coast and Greek islands to about the Greek island of Samos. From Samos paddle sail island to island southwest across the Aegean sea ending my trip in Athens Greece, around 850 miles from Istanbul. The total mileage is roughly 3000 miles though 13 different countries. This estimate is only a rough figure as I used Google Earth and strait lined with there pathing system.

When: March 1st to June 22nd. With the travel time from my starting point and travel time getting back from my ending point I have roughly 3 months on my boat.

How: This is a big one. All a guessing game with research and little to no experience this whole trip is an idea I am putting into action. There is a lot of unknown and I love this factor. It will not be a pleasure trip so much as a goal of time consuming measures to get as many miles in a day. Motivated endurance will be the will that is need to complete this trip. I am up for anything and I know that anything can and will happen!

Why: My motivating goal is this trip is something new and unknown for me. Traveling is fun but with a goal of unknown challenges, just like life it is more interesting.