Travel (The Fun, The Adventures, The Mishaps)

Conquering Fear in Mongolia

Golden Eagle in Mongolia

A documentary called the Eagle Huntress inspired me to go to Mongolia. It’s a film about a young girl who wants to be the first eagle hunter in Mongolia in a world where that role is passed from father to son. It’s a beautiful movie. I highly recommend it.

Opportunity in Mongolia

Along our travels, unexpectedly, at a tourist destination there was an opportunity to hold a golden eagle. Matt jumped at the chance. I wanted to hold the massive bird, but was desperately afraid. The wingspan of these giant birds is wider than I am tall. As we walked around the site, I kept thinking, “if I leave this country without holding an eagle when I have the chance, I will be so mad at myself. I have to do it.” I told Matt. He’d help me get the job done. Accountability and support from those we care about can help us do many things we are unsure we can manage.

Overcoming Fear in Mongolia

My fear was that the bird would peck out my eyes or tear off my ear, so I wanted those areas protected. I put […]

Conquering Fear in MongoliaMaggie Downie2019-10-11T16:08:31-04:00

Hiking Mt Adams

Five years ago I was hiking Mt. Adams in the White Mountains, but I turned back about 60 feet from the summit because high winds made me struggle to stay upright. Those 60 feet mattered so I never checked it off the list in my attempt to climb all the 4,000-footers in New Hampshire.

Second Attempt Hiking Mt Adams

Recently I decided to try again. To make things interesting I opted to take King’s Ravine trail, known for being one of the more challenging trails in the White Mountains. It is on the Terrifying 25 list. That means it has slides, rock scrambles, and boulder caves. It sounded fun. Plus it had an option to detour onto a trail called the Subway which provided the opportunity to climb over rocks, squeeze through some tight tunnels, throw your pack up on a rock and spin around underneath it and pull yourself though and then grab your pack and continue on. We were all scrapped up after the Subway but smiling and pleased with ourselves.

Unusual Circumstances

That morning before we knew the fun of the rock tunnels, we were greeted at the trailhead by a legitimate-looking […]

Hiking Mt AdamsMaggie Downie2019-11-08T10:17:12-05:00

Travel Sites & Places to Visit

Movement is what enables us to do all the things we enjoy in life. Eating is movement. Breathing is movement. Talking is movement. For me, one of my favorite ways to move it to travel the globe. Here is a sampling of some of the travel sites that still make me smile when they cross my mind:

Favorite Trips:

Salt Flats in Bolivia:

Stand in the center of the salt flats and all you see is white to the horizon line. You can play games with perspective in pictures. I’d love to return in rainy season when the white salt with a layer of water reflects that sky and people upon it.

Hot Springs in Pamukale, Turkey:

As you approach the hot springs it looks like people are soaking in snowcapped inlets on a mountainside. The reality is more like hard baking soda surrounding warm blue baths. It’s quite unique. In Yellowstone there is a smaller version of something similar […]

Travel Sites & Places to VisitMaggie Downie2019-05-10T14:11:11-04:00

Travel Workout: Moving in Small Spaces

Plank in Bryce Canyon

Traveling is one of my favorite ways to spend time. But with the adventure of seeing the world comes a lot of small, confining spaces that force you into a seated position for hours on end. When you need to fly, drive, hop on a train, or find yourselves in a dirigible, how can you keep moving in tiny spaces?

Tips for Moving in Small Spaces

· Stop Caring:

I think a key factor in moving is not to worry about what other people think. When you travel whether you pull over at a gas station, find a corner of a busy airport, or head to the back of the plane to stretch, people are going to see you doing something most people don’t do. I always tell myself that I’m going to feel better than all the folks just sitting there. That’s how I get over it.

· […]

Travel Workout: Moving in Small SpacesMaggie Downie2019-04-25T17:45:26-04:00

Plank Story: Electric Scooters

I prefer activities like Pilates, hiking, walking, and running—moves that keep both my feet on the ground. Still, when we were recently in Indianapolis, I was intrigued by the electric scooters escorting people all over the city.

Matt downloaded the scooter app, and we tried to get our first scooter. It beeped and lit up like it was on, but we couldn’t get it to go so we tried another one. It said the battery was dead. A third attempt failed just like the first and we found another with a dead battery. Frustrated, we realized perhaps part of the problem was us and not the scooters. We googled how to operate the scooter. For those that were working, you can’t just get on and press “Go.” You have to get them started under your own power and then press, “Go.”

Our next challenge would be trying to use one app to ride. Matt had downloaded the app. I had not. So he’d start a scooter up for me. I’d get going and then he’d start one for himself and mine would stop. It appears you can’t use one app to ride two […]

Plank Story: Electric ScootersMaggie Downie2018-10-08T18:22:32-04:00