So… yeah, it has been over a month since the last posting and for that I am sorry.  It has not been from a lack of activities, though.  In fact, this is the first time that I have been able to sit down and type up something for you to read.  This summer I have a theme going on with the titles of these writings and that would be my accumulated mileage.  The 1,600 miles was a whirl-wind trip from Morgantown, WV, to Myrtle Beach, SC, Boone, NC, Wytheville and Roanoke, VA, and back to Morgantown.  All of those were covered in the last couple of posts.  So, that leaves me with explaining the 750 and 11,500 numbers that yield my 13,850 total mileage for the summer.

BSA Troop 60 Visits Washington, DC = 750 Miles

The scout troop that I became an Eagle through planned an experimental trip to Washington, DC, from June 22-27.  Overall we had 12 boys and 8 adults go.  While they were there, since they are scouts, they slept in tents at the Bull Run Regional Park in Manassas, VA.  They played around at the parks water park nearly every day.  They also went to the National Air and Space Museum near the Dulles Air Port, toured the Manassas National Battlefield, wondered around the National Mall in the heart of DC (and yes, we used the Metro to get there), and went to a Washington Nationals versus Boston Red Socks game – and somehow the Nationals won.

Overall, the scouts were better than we could have dreamed of in DC, paving the path for more trips in the future.  There might be some videos from this trip posted in the future, not sure yet.  The only downside to the trip was my absolute most favorite lens broke shortly after capturing the group shot above.

Alaskan Adventure = 11,500 Miles

Yes, you read that one correctly.  This year the big family trip did not leave the country – for the most part.  We headed up to Alaska to do a land and sea cruise vacation.  First things first: Alaska is HUGE and it is BEAUTIFUL.  There, got that out of the system, so now I can continue.

We arrived in Anchorage in the late evening on July 1st.  On the 2nd, we ventured out to the Anchorage Cultural Center.  While we were there we got to experience the different completely different cultures that make up Alaska’s Native Population.  See a dance in the video below.

Here is a picture of the motley crew from Wytheville that went up there.  Note: not pictured is my aunt, who took this picture

In addition to this group we had most of my aunt’s family (the one taking the picture) there as well.  Therefore, our group grand total came in at 20!!!  What a big group!

Anyways, in Anchorage we also visited the Ulu Knife Factory and a few of us went on a bike ride along the Coastal Trail.  Random fact: The city limits of Anchorage is larger than the state of Rhode Island.

From Anchorage, we took a train up through Wasilla (where Gov. Palin resigned – on the day we went through) on our way to Talkeetna.  What makes Talkeetna special is that Denali (or Mount McKinley) is only about 40 miles away.  Denali is America’s highest mountain, rising to 20,320 feet above sea level.  Because Talkeetna is so close, they offer many different flights to mountain.  Most of our crew took a flight to land on one of the glaciers but Dad and I decided we wanted to go a little higher and nearly fly over the summit (limited by the planes maximum altitude).  Now, the plane that Dad and I flew in was unpressurized.  This means that, above 12,000 feet, we were given oxygen masks as required by the FAA.  HAHAHA!!   This type of trip also afforded us unprecedented views of the Great One.  Furthermore, while we were there we could see and make out the entire mountain, which we found out only about 10% of the visitors get to see – one word: AWESOMENESS!!!

So what does everyone look like after such an exciting couple of days? (note: this is only day 2 or 3 out of 14)  Take a look

I have not gone through any more pictures or video yet.  Life has been insanely busy since I returned to Wytheville, so still working on it.

Now, as you may be wondering from way up there when I was talking about scouts, yes my favorite lens did break and I did not have time to replace it or make it back up to Morgantown to pick up some other lenses to make up for it.  So what is an aspiring amateur photographer to do?  Borrow much nicer equipment that he is used to!  My dad went through a phase where he was trying to figure out what type of camera he liked the best (he is also an aspiring amateur photographer).  He has gone through three phases: Canon, Nikon, and Olympus.  The Canon phase did not last long and I was the benefactor of all of those lenses.  The next phase was Nikons and during this time he found a Nikon D2Xs (one of their pro versions) as well as a D80.  And finally he has settled on an Olympus E3 and Olympus 520.  He likes the Olympus’s best because they are the most light weight of any and produce a heck of an image.  Therefore, since his D2Xs was not being used, he let me borrow it for the trip.  THANK YOU!!! It still took me some time to get used to it but without it I would have been complaining like I was in Amsterdam about not having a big camera.  So as I have told many people, there is no real difference other than personal preference.  A Canon guy was using a Nikon so may the Nikon people be as understanding.

As I said somewhere above (sorry for such a long post), I have not been idle over the past month and there are many things that I want to write about – from topics at church to a random conversation with a state representative and former teacher.  I hope to write about all of these at some point in time but currently I am going to try to post as much as I can from the Alaskan Adventure.

Also, in case you are wondering, the hot air balloon picture was taken at Wytheville Community College as part of the annual Chautauqua Festival.

So, until next time, Ciao! Ciao!

The basic layout of the map is that the blue lines are where I have already been (or close to them) and the red is where I still need to go.

For starters, I had all good intentions of writing this post before any of these travels began but, as is the usual, many odd things popped up and I was unable to write anything.

The trip began in Morgantown, WV at my new place of residence (still getting used to roomies).  From there I traveled home to see the family for a few days as well as go to the graduate service at church in Wytheville, VA.  They honored the high school and college graduates and even gave us a lunch.  After the lunch, I set off for Myrtle Beach, SC, to spend some time with a friend of mine from Morgantown.  Her family has a place less than 100 yards from the beach, which makes it fantastic!  Something that amazed me with the trip thus far is the difference between the 3 towns.  In Morgantown, things seem to be moving at 50% light speed – always going, not a lot of down time, that type of thing (and 100% light speed is currently impossible to attain unless you are a wee-little photon).  In Wytheville, compared to Morgantown, things are moving much much slower.  The people seem to be taking their time and things are moving at their own pace.  Finally, in Myrtle Beach (in an area between Myrtle-Myrtle and North Myrtle) everything seems to have stopped – or at least slowed down considerably even from Wytheville standards.  It is always very relaxing there.

Ahh… The fishie is going to get you!

After a few days at the beach, I ventured to Boone, NC, for a bachelor party.  On June 6th, my sister got married to the love of her life and I was in the wedding party.  As such, I got invited to the bachelor party, which was at the groom’s family cabin in Boone.  Good times were to be had there including a broken well cover (of which I may or may not have been the one to break it).  After the party most of us had to travel to Roanoke, VA to pick up our tux.  I did not realize before hand but this trip took me through Wytheville once again, so I picked up dad and we made this part of my trek together (plus he knows more of where things are in Roanoke than I do).  Then, as one might expect, we came back to Wytheville.

Somewhere in North Carolina 

The wedding was fantastic.  Michael, the groom, was very nervous and excited and happy – as we thought he would be.  Lauren, the bride, was more beautiful than I have ever seen her.

The newlyweds! 

So now I have caught you up on where all I have been, now for where I will be traveling (the red line if you remember).  I am going to be in Wytheville until Friday morning, which is when I will set out for Elkins, WV.  Billy, a friend of mine and housemate, has invited many people for a little weekend campout at his cabin by the creek.  So while everyone else is coming down from Morgantown, I will be traveling up from Wytheville.  I could take the usual and quicker route along the interstates but I have decided on a different route.  My aunt went to WVU back in the days when there were only 2 Towers and the interstate system did not exist and has talked about her route up there many times.  I have always wanted to take “the back way”, just never had enough time usually to do it.  So this time I am going to take a back way although it will not be her way.  In the middle-of-nowhere, West Virginia (Greenbank to be exact), there is the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope.  It is roughly 100m in diameter (330 feet for those english-standard folk).  I have always seen the signs pointing to Greenbank but have never ventured there.  Since it is kind-of on the way, why not see it?  After the camping trip I will return to Morgantown in order to pack and get ready for the second round of trips this summer: DC, Alaska, and the beach (different one).

Until next time, Ciao! Ciao!

P.S. Every mile that has and will be driven on this trip is me driving, no substitute drivers here haha