Adventurous Wench » Video

Daring young woman on the flying machine

Deanna Keahey — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:51:22 +0000

You've got to see this! Can you imagine anyone doing something like this today?

The video isn't the greatest quality - it's from the 1920s. But what you can see is amazing. She has no safety line, no parachute, nothing but guts!
.

Gladys Ingle was a member of a barnstorming troupe called the 13 Black Cats in the 1920s. Ingles was a wing walker; in this film, she shows her fearlessness in a classic barnstorming fashion to save an airplane that has lost one of its main wheels. Ingle is shown with a replacement wheel being strapped to her back and then off she goes as "Up She Goes," a duet from the era, provides the soundtrack. In the video, Ingles transfers herself from the rescue plane to the one missing the main landing gear tire. She then expertly works herself down to the undercarriage only a few feet from a spinning prop. It's certainly a feat many mechanics wouldn't even try on the ground with the engine running."

Barnstorming was popular in the early 1920s. A pilot would fly over a small town to get attention, and then land at a local farm, where they'd use one of the fields as a runway. People could take airplane rides, and there would be an air show, where pilots would do acrobatic loops and rolls, and wing walkers would perform daring feats.

Some wing walkers did indeed die during these shows, and viewers always knew that was a possibility. In the late 1920s, the government began implementing stricter safety standards, and the barnstorming age came to an end.

Barnstorming biplanes, with somebody climbing out? ~ 1918

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'd say Gladys Ingles was an Adventurous Wench of the highest order! She's now on my list, along with Amelia Earhart and other daring, adventurous women. Thanks to Dave for sending this one to me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Share and Enjoy:

One must have the adventurous daring

Kings Canyon - Fighting the forest fire

Deanna Keahey — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:15:49 +0000

As we drove through Kings Canyon, I knew there was a forest fire burning nearby. I just didn't expect one of the firefighting helicopters to descend right next to us! It came down to refill its bucket from the river, while a ranger halted our car beside the bridge. So there I was, filming it with an iPod out the top of the convertible...
.

.
Kings Canyon is a gorgeous national park. It's in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, just north of Sequoia National Park. The two adjoining parks are managed together, and encompass some remarkable scenery. The tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mt. Whitney, and 11 additional "14ers" (mountains over 14,000 feet high) are along the eastern boundary of the parks.

Meadow in Kings Canyon

The King's Canyon itself is arguably the deepest canyon in North America for a short distance. The confluence of the Kings River's South and Middle forks is at 2,260 feet, while Spanish Peak towers almost 8,000 feet above them (10,051 ft).

When you drive into King's Canyon from the west, the road twists and turns, down, and down, and down some more, until you're winding through the bottom of the canyon, with steep granite walls stretching high above you. It's a spectacular drive, especially if you're a passenger. If you're driving, you'd better keep your eyes on the road!

We knew from the signs posted at the visitor center that there was an active forest fire burning in the park. As we neared Cedar Grove (one of the major visitor areas in the park), we smelled smoke, and soon even saw smoldering spots with smoke rising, just a few feet from the road. There were rangers and white trucks marked with FIRE, in key places along the road.

The Sheep Fire was burning on the south side of the road, while right over on the north side, there were numerous tents up in the campground. I know the rangers would get those people out if they were in danger, but I don't think I'd be sleeping too well at night, knowing the fire was that close!

All the responsible people we saw seemed professional, and in control. The fire update from that day (Saturday, August 22nd) wasn't quite so calm:

The fire spread across containment lines west of Cedar Grove on Saturday. The parks’ Crew 91 worked hard in steep terrain to construct a new fireline along the edge of the fire. They were assisted by the parks’ Helicopter 552, which ran cycles of bucket drops to cool the fire for Crew 91 below. The helicopter used the Kings River as a water dip site. This new handline is holding well."

This fire started naturally, sparked by a lightning strike. I was happy to see that it wasn't a discarded cigarette or non-extinguished campfire that was to blame. Though it's burning very close to the main road in the park, the campground, and other facilities, at the moment there are no threats to life or property. It has been burning for over a month (since July 16), and obviously they are watching it closely and taking preventive action as needed.

Forest fires are a part of nature, and occasional fires are necessary for a healthy forest. They clear out old wood, leaving space, sunlight, and replenished soil so that new growth can occur. Also, some species can only reproduce when a forest fire creates the right conditions for them. Of course there are risks, but either controlled burns started on purpose, or natural blazes that are allowed to burn, are good for the forest overall.

That still doesn't mean I'd be camping across the road from it, though!

National Park Service, Fire Management - Sheep Fire
Meet Crew 91 (currently fighting the fire)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just got back from backpacking in Sequoia National Park, which was gorgeous. August is a perfect month for the higher elevations, with sunny warm days, blue skies, wildflowers galore, and cool evenings. The main tourist areas were crowded, but once we got off the beaten path... But that's another story! (Coming soon)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Share and Enjoy:

Taos, New Mexico - Rio Pueblo Gorge (video)

Orcas on the beach, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina

Deanna Keahey — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:00:22 +0000

About a third of the way down the coast of Argentina, there's a large peninsula that juts out into the South Atlantic Ocean. From an aerial view, it looks like it should have been an island. The thin strip of land that connects it to the mainland is so narrow, that when you drive along it, you can see the sea on both sides. The desert here runs right up to the sea, giving brilliant contrasts of brown and blue. This is Peninsula Valdes, and it's a major wildlife preserve in Argentina.

Peninsula Valdes, on the coast of Patagonia

.
The peninsula is home to a number of unusual and endangered species, both land-based and sea-based. On land, you're apt to see herds of guanacos - adorable relatives of llamas, who graze on the scrubby fields and hillsides. Dusty rheas can be hard to spot unless someone points them out. These are flightless birds, that look like small ostriches.
.
Maras are relatives of guinea pigs, though they look more like overgrown rabbits. There are Patagonian foxes, and the very odd hairy armadillos. Nearby Punta Tombo is home to the continent's largest penguin rookery, where half a million magellanic penguins congregate each year during breeding season.
.
The marine life is equally fascinating. About 43,000 elephant seals come here to breed every year. These are the world's largest seals, and they dive up to 3,000 ft to feed, in the abyss off the edge of the Patagonian shelf. Southern right whales visit the protected gulfs to breed. Sea lions used to be slaughtered by the thousands here for seal oil, a practice that has fortunately ended. The number of sea lions clubbed to death at Peninsula Valdes over a 40-year period, is about the same as the current worldwide population.
.
Then there are the orcas, also known as killer whales. Orcas are found in all oceans of the world, but different populations have unique characteristics. A unique trait of this group is that their hunt for baby seals and sea lions frequently brings the whales right up onto the beach. They swim straight for the beach, then wiggle their enormous bulky bodies back off the sand, and into the water.
.

.
An excellent book about the region is The Wild Shores of Patagonia, by Jasmine Rossi. The author spent two years here photographing the peninsula and its wildlife, and the results are fabulous. There is a wealth of fascinating information, and the photos are simply spectacular.
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We visit Peninsula Valdes on our Patagonia adventure trip, and we'll be there in just a few weeks! I can't say whether we'll see any orcas swimming up onto the beach or not, but if I was a mommy seal, I'd want to keep my babies away from the water line!
.
We also regularly see orca whales on our San Juan Islands trips, but the resident pods there eat only salmon, and stay well off the beaches!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Share and Enjoy:

Veterans Day at Taos Pueblo (video)

Deanna Keahey — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:14:59 +0000

In honor of Veteran's Day, here's a different type of remembrance ceremony than most of us are used to.

At Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, tribal officials of the pueblo honor America's military veterans with a procession through the pueblo. On this day, it's good to remember our many brave military people, who came from all regions and walks of life.

If you've been to Taos on one of our Santa Fe trips, you'll recognize most of the sights, though it looks a lot chillier here in November, with snow on the mountain behind!

Video is from Nov. 11, 2008 at Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, USA.
.

.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We visit Taos Pueblo every year on our Santa Fe trip. It's at least 800 years old, and people in the town follow traditional ways of their ancestors. It's tranquil now, but hasn't always been so.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Share and Enjoy:

San Juan Islands by float plane (video)

Deanna Keahey — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:32:47 +0000

The San Juan Islands are beautiful from land and sea. Whether you're hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing, or just riding the ferry, you can't help but be struck by that. But what about from the air?

This video is primarily about the plane, but I like it because it gives you a real sense of what soaring over the islands in a small plane would be like.

It's an amphibian plane called the Nardi FN.333, which first flew in 1952. Out of the 26 such aircraft built, only half a dozen are believed flyable today, and it's a very cool looking plane!

It really makes me want to go find a small plane, and fly around the islands, landing in little harbors here or there. How incredibly cool that would be!
.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We wrapped up our San Juan Islands tours for this year back in August, and I'm already looking forward to going again! And if I ever lose that feeling, I'll just watch this video again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Share and Enjoy:

Taos, New Mexico - Rio Pueblo Gorge (video)

Deanna Keahey — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:38:56 +0000

This video is from the Rio Pueblo Gorge, near Taos, New Mexico. This river comes from Taos Pueblo land and runs into the Rio Grande River. This is a deep gorge, but not as deep as the Rio Grande Gorge, which is a spectacular gash across the high desert -- almost shocking when you first see it.

On our Santa Fe trip, we go rafting on the Rio Grande. Even though this is a tributary canyon, the video is nice in that it gives you the feeling of the land there. The warm, languid, relaxing feeling you'd get sitting on the side of the river, just enjoying a sunny fall day. It's the same feeling you get floating downstream -- in the calm spots, when you're not paddling the whitewater, that is!

Lovely Taos Pueblo Flute Music from WindWalk: Music of Blackhill Albino Lujan of Taos Pueblo

.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We'll be back in Santa Fe and Taos for our women's trip to New Mexico in September. I can hardly wait! It's a captivating place, and each time I'm here, I wish I could stay longer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Share and Enjoy:

San Juan Islands - scuba diving (video)

Deanna Keahey — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:25:06 +0000

OK, I'll say it right up front. We do NOT go scuba diving on our San Juan Islands trips! I'm a wimpy warm water diver (think British Virgin Islands)!

However, even though that water looks pretty chilly to me, it's fascinating to know what lives down there! The undisputed rulers of the local seas are the orca whales, but there are a ton of other lesser-known, and much less-seen species that live on rocks, walls, and tidal areas around the islands.

When we go kayaking, you can see some underwater stuff, but only a few feet down into the water. Think starfish, mussels, clams, kelp, and seals (who visit any depth they want, and look like they're having fun doing it!) This video takes you further down than we can see from our kayaks, to give you a deeper glimpse of "what's down there".

Me, I'm happy to stay above the water, peering in to see what I can see. Maybe someday global warming will warm these waters up enough for me... But then, everything that lives here now would be dead. OK, let's not do that, OK?

In the meantime, have a look at some underwater video shot by other, warmer-blooded souls!
.

.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our San Juan Islands trips for women run every year in August. If you're on the trip, and newly inspired to try the scuba diving, I bet we could arrange for you to join a dive with one of these groups. Just let me know!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Share and Enjoy:

San Juan Islands - The ferry ride (video)

Deanna Keahey — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:05:00 +0000

Wondering about the San Juan Islands? This video (first in a series) shows you what the ferry travel is like out to the islands, and around the islands.

If you're going on our tour, you can ignore the part about which highway exits to take -- we'll handle all the driving! Just enjoy the part about being out on the water. It's a beautiful ride, to a beautiful place.

I always think the ferry ride is very special. There's truly a feeling of leaving the "real world" behind, and entering something different. As soon as we pull away from the dock, I start feeling it, and half an hour (max) into the trip, it's a palpable sensation. I know I'm somewhere different. And this different place is beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing.

I know that being out on the water and breathing fresh sea air has a restorative effect. I'm a sailor, and any time on the water is good time! But it's more than that, too. If we were taking the 3-hour cruise and heading back to Seattle, it wouldn't be the same at all.

The ride is charming, and I love it a lot! But knowing that you arrive in the San Juan Islands is the other half of the magic.
.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We'll be doing our next women's trip to the San Juan Islands this August. We've been going there for years, and I simply adore it. If you ever need a serious break from the stresses of normal life, this is an excellent place to do it. So close, and yet so far!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Share and Enjoy:

Spy vest - Product review (video)

Deanna Keahey — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:11:31 +0000

This travel vest solves some problems, and makes me feel like a secret agent, too! The video explains it all, showing this travel vest inside and out, and what makes it unique.
.

(If video doesn't show for you, see spy vest video on YouTube)
.

Yes, these are available to the general public, not just "00" agents!

In the course of my travels, I run across numerous travel problems, and products that solve them (or claim to). I'll give you the straight scoop on my findings (with a touch of humor!), in our Travel Gear section. Stay tuned for more!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You could buy one for a traveling friend. Or, you could point a friend or family member to this video, to give them a hint for your birthday or Christmas present. It's nice to give people clues about what you want... In a way, you'd really be doing them a favor...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Share and Enjoy:

Toothbrush nightmares (video)

Deanna Keahey — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:00:07 +0000

I know, I know. It's a bit bizarre to have nightmares about toothbrushes. But if you saw what I saw, you might have them too! Watch the video for the full horrific story, and the solution too.
.

(If video doesn't show for you, watch toothbrush video on YouTube)
.

Protect yourself, or consider as an inexpensive gift for your travelling friends. They make great stocking stuffers.

Yes... You can avoid these toothbrush nightmares forever!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the course of my travels, I run across numerous travel problems, and products that solve them (or claim to). I'll give you the straight scoop on my findings (with a touch of humor!), in our Travel Gear section. Stay tuned for more!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Share and Enjoy: