21-30
Lobster Bucket
Nov 15th
Hey Team,
It never fails to surprise me when I see first hand the kind of power having a clear set of goals has over people. Knowing what you want and being willing to announce your objectives creates magic. If your goal were a destination then telling everyone you meet about it is like catching a ride with someone through all the traffic-congested freeways (I’m talking to you 405) and getting dropped off a block away without having to deal with all those “getting lost” bits.
I’m in Portland, Maine right now trying to hunt down a lobster boat to go out on. Yesterday I got an email from a contact I made through the site that lives in the area. I asked if he knew anyone in the Portland that could help out. He said he had a friend that tried to get on a lobster boat this summer and no one was interested in having tourists on their boats even if they were willing to work. He also said I probably wouldn’t be able to get on a boat at all in Portland.
Of course that made me think twice about going out to the wharf today. Fortunately, both times I More >
#23 Hang gliding! [Podcast]
Sep 26th
Hey Team,
Here’s that new podcast I’ve been promising. I’m trying something a little different this time so I can keep track of the stats a little easier. It should load on its own. Play button should be in the bottom left. But you might need quicktime, so if it doesn’t load on its own click here to download the latest version.
Also, the podcast is available on iTunes now so you should probably drop whatever you’re doing and go subscribe right away.
Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player. var WT1_1 = { params : { wmode : "opaque", allowscriptaccess : "always", allownetworking : "all", allowfullscreen : "true"}, flashvars : { file : "http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amtrekker.com%2Findex.php%3Fxspf%3Dtrue%26id%3D48", volume : "80", bufferlength : "5", controlbar : "over", 'logo.hide' : "false", shuffle : "false", playlist : "bottom"}, attr : { id : "WT1", name : "WT1"}, start : function() { swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.amtrekker.com/wp-content/uploads/player.swf", "WT1_1", "437", "522", "9.0.0", false, this.flashvars, this.params , this.attr ); } } WT1_1.start();And if all else fails here’s the link for the youtube version of the podcast.
Thanks a ton for all the support, everyone! Let me know what you think of the video!
I’m done.
Brett!
AKPC_IDS += "59,"; More >I hang glid (…hang glided…hang glode?)
Sep 20th
Hey Team,
“So, all this talk about how cool hang gliding was and how incredible the folks at Highland Aerosports were…what’s the whole story?”
Wow, thanks for asking! I didn’t know you cared so much, Disembodied-Voice-of-the-Masses. Here it is!
I wandered into the pilots lounge at the airport shortly after my run in with the five-oh and met up with Jim, one of the instructors at Highland. The weather wasn’t great. Lots of cloud cover, and it was a slow day so I spent the first few hours talking with Jim and Sonny, one of the owners.
Both had left mundane jobs for the exciting (read: strange) life of hang gliding instructors and had some interesting stories to share…you know, I was going to tell you a few of their stories but I’m still kind of fresh off the hang gliding high and I’m having trouble focusing on other people’s lives right now. Suffice it to say they’re both awesome guys and hang gliding is SO FREAKIN’ INCREDIBLE!
Jim spent a few hours with me going over all the parts of a hang glider and how they work. We put one together and got it prepped for flight and then did some exercises on the ground More >
Click it and Ticket
Sep 19th
Hey Team,
Yesterday got off to an inauspicious start. I was dropped off in a little town called Ridgley, Maryland. Apparently the police in Ridgley, MD “Don’t take kindly to people walking around airports with cameras.” Or so I was told…by the policeman who pulled over to tell me so.
“You know, people don’t take kindly to folks with cameras around airports.”
“Pardon me?”
“People don’t take kindly to folks with cameras around airports.”
I wanted to say, “I heard what you said. I just think it’s retarded. Why are you hassling me for walking down the road with a camera around my neck?” What I ACTUALLY said was, “Okay.” This didn’t appear to be an acceptable answer either.
“You’re making people jumpy.”
“Seriously? Someone called you to tell you I had a camera?”
He gave me that look that says, “I don’t like you, I don’t trust you, and furthermore I think you’re an idiot.” Then he said, VERY seriously, “I wouldn’t be here if they didn’t.”
“Wow. Okay.” What else was there to say? It didn’t feel appropriate to apologize for owning a camera.
“Where you off to?”
“The airport.”
“What’chu planning on doing there?”
“Hang gliding.”
I was afraid that if I gave him too long of answers I’d get on More >
No Air Time
Sep 17th
Hey Team,
I’m a big fan of being around people in general…but I especially like being around large groups of people who have a lot in common with each other and nothing in common with me. Those are always guaranteed learning experiences. And this weekend was no exception.
It’s amazing how much you can learn about a sport like hang gliding without ever even leaving the ground. (You heard right folks, #23 still stands. More on that later though.) People (and this is true of any of those afore-mentioned learning experiences) throw out a LOT of jargon when they’re in a like-minded environment.
For example I now know what it means if you happen to use terms like “L and V,” “Milk a cloud” or “Ride a thermal.” In fact if you were to say to me, “Well, Brett, it looks like an L and V day but if you can milk that cloud you might be able to ride a thermal.” I’d be less inclined to call the police and have your ass arrested than I would have a week ago.
All of the hang gliders I talked to (the people not the actual gliders…that would be an awkward conversation) were down to More >
Glidin’ Seek
Sep 15th
Hey Team,
I’m was just in Woodstock, Virginia for the first half of a two day hang gliding festival. So far no luck finding someone that can take me up. Apparently it takes a larger glider and a special certification to fly tandem. There’s still hope for tomorrow but the odds aren’t great…then again I’ve gotten pretty stinkin’ good at beating the odds lately. So, wish me luck.
I have to keep it short today, I’m in a car on the way to Pennsylvania and my battery is running low. But there are some awesome pictures for tomorrow or Monday and enough footage for a really cool video later in the week (maybe even on iTunes)!
AND, if you haven’t checked it out yet, there was an article about me in The Boston Phoenix that’s worth a perusal. It’s online here. Okay, gotta go!
Brett.
AKPC_IDS += "52,";
Flying Fire and Fireflies
Sep 5th
Hey Team,
It’s been a HUGE week. #30, 33, and 38 all down the metaphorical drain! I’ve got a story about #33 all lined up for tomorrow. But today, for your viewing enjoyment, is a little video we’ll call “Mission: Firefly!” Enjoy.
Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player. var WT2_2 = { params : { wmode : "opaque", allowscriptaccess : "always", allownetworking : "all", allowfullscreen : "true"}, flashvars : { file : "http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amtrekker.com%2Findex.php%3Fxspf%3Dtrue%26id%3D49", volume : "80", bufferlength : "5", controlbar : "over", 'logo.hide' : "false", shuffle : "false", playlist : "bottom"}, attr : { id : "WT2", name : "WT2"}, start : function() { swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.amtrekker.com/wp-content/uploads/player.swf", "WT2_2", "437", "522", "9.0.0", false, this.flashvars, this.params , this.attr ); } } WT2_2.start();And here’s the link if the video gives you wacky PCs any trouble.
Okay, looks like my work here is done!
Brett. Want to keep living vicariously? I know what you could do!
Don’t let me stop you.
AKPC_IDS += "47,";
God Bless Hamerica
Sep 4th
Hey Team,
What a fantastic week! I’ve been up to my glaucoma-ridden eyeballs in mid-western experiences. Not the least of which has led to yet another objective being crossed off the list. I’ve spent the last couple days experiencing the definition of “obscure small town festival.” Welcome to the wonderful world of “Hog Days” care of Kewanee, IL!
In the last several days I’ve seen carnies with shirt stains outnumbering their teeth, I’ve seen locals out-carny-ing the carnies and I’ve participated in something called the “Hog Wallow.” I even have the shirt to prove it. (That means I’m up to four! Time to start worrying about backpack space.)
Here’s the rundown: Hog Days manages to cram everything you would expect to see in any movie set in the mid-west into three days. There was a parade, a hog kissing raffle, a flea market and even mud volleyball.
After much deliberation (and despite the insistence of the family I’m staying with that I include everything they’ve said and done in the last two days in this story) I’ve decided to focus on just one aspect.
The highlight of my weekend came when I met Jean, one of the crafts people with her own booth at the More >
