I’ve fought over 350 BC coastal wildfires from 1981-93 and I’ve never seen anything like what’s happening now in our country with the current wildfire behaviour, prevalence, areas covered and consistency.
Canada is burning. #globalwarming#travel#canada#fossilfuels#science
So a lot of people who are in unstable, abusive, and/or periodically violent living situations keep cell phones hidden for emergencies.
If you know anyone in such a situation, make sure they know about FEMA's testing of its Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system next Wednesday (10/4). This test will bypass the phone's silencing features. To keep the phone quiet during this alert, it has to be completely powered down.
This alert is scheduled for the following times:
Wednesday 10/4
2:20pm EST
1:20pm CST
12:20pm MST
11:20am PST
Microsoft is really hitting it out of the park with its AI-generated travel stories! If you visit Ottawa, it highly recommends the Ottawa Food Bank and provides a tip for tourists: “Consider going into it on an empty stomach.”
This is Bøsdalafossur waterfall, the outlet from Sørvágsvatn lake in the Faroe Islands.
The lake sits 40m above sea level, surrounded by cliffs that hem it in, and looks for all the world like it's warped spacetime to inhabit this position.
Recently got a hard drive that was in my parents' home 8000 miles away. Photos that I thought were boring at the time (in 2009) are now so nostalgic, given the circumstances:
A photo of Palmyra, the famous Roman ruins in Homs, Syria, in 2009 before ISIS blew it up.
Familiar to just about every Black American, the phrase "traveling while Black," encapsulates the experiences & challenges encountered by Black people during their travels, particularly in predominantly white or racially hostile environments. It sheds light on the racial profiling, discrimination, and systemic biases that generations of Black folks have faced on their journeys across the American landscape.
Gullfoss is one of Iceland's most iconic natural landmarks. Two distinct drops, the first dropping 36 feet, the 2nd plunging 69 feet into the canyon below on the Hvítá River.
Roaming charges are history! Experience the freedom to travel and stay connected.
Remember when you couldn't activate your mobile #data when you were abroad to avoid high charges? With Roam Like at Home you can enjoy the same benefits wherever you go:
📱 Lightning-fast #5G for seamless connectivity
💰 No unexpected charges, peace of mind
🆘 Improved access to emergency services for safety
The end of #roaming charges has revolutionised #travel and communication, bringing #Europe closer together.
Rainbows Over the Athabasca River - Jasper National Park
It was on this walk that I believe the most inspired photography at the day occurred. It was partly because of the incredibly gorgeous scene and secondarily it was because of the great light.
Climbing Mount Fuji recently has been quite an adventure. So I decided to write down my experience. 🗻
When people think of me they will not immediately describe me as "athletic”. That is okay, because I am not. I like to play the occasional game of soccer or volleyball with friends, but I can't say I'm good at it.
When I am on a trip, I am constantly walking. There is often a lot to see. I also like walking trails that take you through beautiful sceneries. But even on the busiest of days, I'm back in a hotel in the evening, resting my legs. So it’s not really that intense as well.
Mount Fuji is a different story. I have seen this Japanese volcano from a distance several times during previous trips. In preparation for the most recent trip though, a fellow traveler expressed the desire to climb this iconic mountain. At that time, I had not yet decided whether I would go along or not. It wasn’t something that seemed appealing. More likely it would be a hassle, too difficult, probably inconvenient....
But watching sunrise at a height of almost 3,800 meters did sound appealing. So I gave it some thought and eventually I decided to participate. Not only because of that sunrise, but also because I think it’s good to challenge oneself every now and then, and to get out of my comfort zones.
The big day arrived. After an early alarm and many train transfers, we boarded the bus that took us to the 5th station of the Subashiri trail. This is at an altitude of 1950 meters. We started with a large meal for power and tried to get used to the thin air before we began our ascend.
The first 100 meters are friendly, with nicely constructed steps that lead you into the forest. But the path soon turns into a steep, rock-dominated trail, where you have to take calculated steps in order to proceed.
Above the tree line, the trail zigzags its way up. We climb rocks, while trying to avoid slipping due to the loose rock and volcanic ashes.
Along the way, there are several stations where you can take a rest, get some food and drinks, make a sanitary stop, and spend the night if booked in advance. Our first goal was to reach Miharashi-kan, located at 3200 meters altitude. The view from there was already breathtaking. We were warmly welcomed by the staff and served a delicious curry to regain our depleted strength.
And then it was time to go to bed! At 8 p.m. everyone tries to catch some sleep because at 1 a.m. the alarm goes off again. Unfortunately, a migraine attack hit me. Very frustrating. Someone can prepare well or prepare poorly, and someone can be fit or not fit and generally that’s something you can influence, but I never asked for migraines. A worrisome development, especially because I had no choice but to continue. Migraine or not, we have to continue up that volcano, and after that we need to descend as well.
At 1:30 in the morning, we were sort of ready to continue the climb. My sore limbs and the migraine made the night climb very difficult. In addition, it was very crowded once we got closer to the summit. The path became narrower and the train of people moved forward very slowly, and often even standing still. The sky was already beginning to lighten and for a moment we were worried that we wouldn't arrive at the summit in time for sunrise.
But we did! We had reached the summit and, along with hundreds of other climbers, we looked at the rising sun. We couldn't have wished for better weather too, it was really clear! ☀️
But then that climax is over. And then fatigue and headaches take over, making me want to leave as soon as possible. A feeling that only increased when the walk around the crater turned out to be a much longer walk than expected.
The way up was tough, but there was the anticipation of reaching the goal. The way down was ten times as hard, because a pounding head, an aching body and lack of sleep makes you long for a hotel room to recover, which at that moment is still hours and hours away. Hours in which you mainly try to walk down paths of sand, pebbles and volcanic ash without falling (I failed).
The whole adventure is, not gonna lie, a succession of highs and lows.
In the end, I was able to reach the starting point. Thanks in no small part to my lovely traveling companions. We laughed together, complained together, supported each other. We helped each other through the tough moments. We immortalized the beautiful moments with our smartphones. ❤️
Todays episode of "We just moved to New Zealand" far surpassed expectations.
In between running around, flapping our tiny tyrannosaurus arms while buying house things after living out of suitcases for 5 years, we spotted a lady in her fabulous years wearing a rainbow beanie, riding on a mobility scooter featuring a "God Loves Fags" bumper sticker, passing an elderly people's home while giving it the finger. She then turned the scooter around, did another pass and then rode off over a hill obviously victorious in the knowledge that her mission was accomplished.
Meanwhile the radio in the basket of her scooter played Elton John's "Tiny Dancer".
If I was a superstitious person I'd be saying this was a sign and a portent. Of what? Who knows! But I love this woman and hope she lives to a thousand.
Flights are cancelled but it's not Covid. Shortage of nurses and doctors but it's not Covid. All these people with suddenly worse than ever hay fever but it's not Covid. Your favorite musicians cancelled their tours but it's not Covid, not enough teachers but it's not Covid... #CovidIsNotOver#LongCOVID#COVIDisAirborne#travel#education#health
New instance, new #Introduction post, isn't that how it works?
Well you may have known me as @Tweetfiction , and those of you who knew me longer knew me by another name and identity altogether.
Join me as I blather on...err, I mean wisely ponder about #Trans and #lgbtq issues, #Politics, my various #travel and a healthy dose of various geekdoms like #comics and #film. Every once in a while something makes sense!
We're probably all doomed, but it's kind of a laff, innit?
Near Ouarzazate, me and @cobic have just met Czech cyclist Mirek and Slovenian cyclist Katya, who travel all around the world on their bicycles and live on the road and work as artists. I have introduced them to Mastodon and they are now @Cyclingnomads on our #fcz instance...
So if you want Cycling Nomads in Fediverse instead of just on Facebook, don't hesitate and follow @Cyclingnomads !