The Vacation Begins

Greetings,

Well today is the big day and it is starting out well. I will be privy to JJ's antics tonight and tomorrow.

Next week I will be traveling to Colorado and New Mexico for some long overdue time with my brother. Plans call for skiing, ice climbing, and hiking (got to break in the new boots before my trip). They have received 31" of new snow in the last three days so the spring skiing should be epic!

I am also trying to figure out how to pack for 21 days in a backpack and a day pack to cover temperature ranges from 0-90 degrees F. I think I may have to pull the old Navy trick of rotating the underwear so one pair can last four days. If you have any tips, tricks, don't forget to packs, etc PLEASE POST THEM...I am not kidding. This is going to be a tricky endeavour to say the least. I could just pack speedo's to save room.

If anyone is thinking about a gift REI.com gift card would be handy right about now.

Sparky

Here is the Map for my Trek!

As you can see I am going to cover some serious ground, air, and sea on this trek!

I am going to South America!!!!! I am going to see Lake Titicaca (Beavis would be proud)

Yeeeeehaaaaw! I booked it...the dream trip of my life! I am as excited as TP when a new Belgium beer comes out. I can't believe that I am actually going to be able to do this!!!

I am also almost set to be able to send daily updates while I am on the trip via mobile phone....(yes I am nerd)

Sparky's Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive La Paz (Boliva)

Day 2 Tiahuanaco / La Paz

Spend most of the day visiting the mysterious, 1000 year old Tiahuanaco ruins before returning to La Paz for the night.

Day 3-4 Puno / Lake Titicaca / Taquile Island

Enjoy spectacular views as we travel through the mountains to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Take a boat to visit the Uros and Taquile islands, and immerse yourself in Peruvian rural life with a homestay in a small local village.

Day 5-7 Puno / Cuzco

Travel from Puno to Cuzco through the high Altiplano region. With a friendly, colonial atmosphere, Cuzco offers nearby Inca ruins, cobblestone streets, museums, markets and churches.

Day 8 Ollantaytambo

Travel with our local guide through the Sacred Valley to Pisac and the picturesque town and Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo.

Day 9-12 Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Begin a once in a lifetime journey on the ancient trail of the Incas with a morning trip to km 82, where our hike starts. Local porters and guides ensure that the trip is worry-free. Fascinating ruins and spectacular mountain scenery fill every day of the hike. On the final day, climb the steps to Intipunku, the 'Sun Gate', to watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Return to Cuzco on Day 12.

Day 13 - 14 Cuzco / Lima

Relax and explore the sights and sounds of Cuzco. Rafting, horseback riding and mountain biking are all possible options. Fly to Lima on Day 14 and explore the city.

Day 15 Lima / QuitoFly to Quito.

Flight is unescorted, not included and must be pre-booked.

Day 16-19 Galapagos

Visit several islands, viewing wildlife and soaking up the spectacular scenery. Each day, travel with our naturalist guide from the yacht to the islands, via a small, motorized launch. On land, explore the islands as our guide interprets the natural history and educates us on the fascinating wildlife. Most days snorkel among sea lions or just relax out on deck. Fly back to
Quito on Day 19.

Day 20 Depart Quito

Travel Planning Update

Hola,

What a weekend! Two great dates in two nights have distracted me from my mission but after fortifying with coffee and bacon I am back on track....did I mention that my date Saturday night was HOT! Sparks were flying....no pun intended. Hopefully there will be more to report on this front later ;)

Well I think fate is deciding on South America for my adventure....The plane tickets to and from China/Nepal are around $5K which is rather steep.

This looks like the trip that I will be taking. I may detour to Brazil for a few days to hang with a Homie but that is TBD. I am afraid that Tucker Max would make an apperance if I was in Rio for too long but maybe that is not a bad thing.

http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/BI06g

I will keep you guys posted.

Sparky

The Adventure Begins

Greetings Friends,

Today begins the planning phase of this summers great adventure as I do some long overdue soul searching.

So far my ideas are:

1. Machu Picchu and other areas in South America (i.e. Galapagos)
2. Backpacking in Europe
3. Great Wall and other spots in China

If you guys have any other ideas let me know
Justin