TRAVEL Archives | TRAVELS WITH TAM

What It Is Like To Be Totally Remote

May 7, 2018 By Tam Warner 1 Comment

dive sites, san benedicto, big blue, remote, revillagigedos — San Benedicto Island from a drone. Uninhabited, it is a volcanic site. The animal life under the water around this island is amazing! So much life under a lava rock.

There are places on the planet where you can be totally remote. Alone. Removed. Well, radio waves are pretty much everywhere, but cell and internet signals are not. I just took my third trip to the Revillagigedos Archipelago, to dive and photograph Giant Manta Rays, Whale Sharks, Sharks, Dolphins…and all of the cool smaller stuff. What is it like to be so remote? And where the heck is this place??? And be sure to have Travel Insurance, always!

When you travel to a place this remote, you have to understand that there are no hospitals, no doctors, no chambers if you get decompression sickness. Or a heart attack. Or a stroke. Or anything, really. This is the risk you take in some parts of the world. There is no signal, and it would take at least 24 hours to get back to civilization. I’m not sure if a helicopter would go there, obviously there is no place to land. I always take antibiotics with me, a Z pak for possible strep or sinus infection, Cipro in case my tummy acts up. Oh, and dramamine, which I needed on this last trip. And I always buy travel insurance!

On one hand, I find not having a signal relaxing. Unlike the millennials and younger generations, I do not do everything on my phone. I have had phones stolen and I have lost phones, my kids chide me when I don’t answer but I just do not carry it on me every second of the day. I lose the damn thing in my house! My husband has to call it so I can locate it. It is a relief when I don’t have to worry about missing a text or a call.

Being without internet is sometimes a pain, but as long as I can edit photos I’m happy, and you don’t need the internet for that. Imagine sleeping with no interruptions from your phone. Eating with no texts or calls. And, on the other hand, being very careful. On these trips I am very careful with my depth, my air supply, my limits. The only time I went outside my limits on this trip was when the dolphins came to check us out. Has anyone ever explained to you that dolphins are bastards? They really are. They mesmerize you with their eye contact and take you down deep. I looked at my depth while photographing them and I was way too deep for the gas mix I was using in my tank. 110 feet. For some people that is not very deep, but I try not to go below 100, and I prefer staying above 90 feet. The other thing that dolphins do to merit name calling is hanging out around your zodiac, or panga (a rubber boat used to go to dive sites). They jump, you coo, they come close, and you want to swim with them. So you put on your snorkel and fins, jump in, and the only dolphin you see is one going deep and out of sight. See what I mean? The little bastards. Sigh. But I still love them.

Having a dive buddy is helpful when diving this remotely, with this much current, and the bottomless depths. The big blue is not too far away, and unless your dive master takes you there, you don’t want to go and be separated from your group. The big blue can be really disorienting with no bottom and nothing but blue, blue, blue. I had a fellow photographer for a buddy, and we kept an eye on each other, but photographers never dive right next to their buddy. Sometimes we were close, especially if conditions warranted it, but mostly we kept each other in sight while looking for cool animals to take pictures of. It worked out well.

Going so remote and to locations with endless big blue is not for beginners. There are no beginner dive sites in this Archipelago. I am not a professional, but I have 30 plus years of experience in the water. Sometimes I might be just a little bit too comfortable in the water, but not at these dive sites. You must keep in mind that sites like this can be cold, can have down currents, up currents, strong currents, and surge. Several people got lost this trip, meaning losing their dive group. At that point, you must surface. Not being able to see any other divers is not good. The Revillagigedos is not the place for solo diving.

I love San Benedicto’s patterns and colors and textures. I want my house to look like this.

But I digress! Going remote can be a great experience. I love the privacy and silence from my phone and the internet, but I remind myself often that it is not a place for any kind of accident. I try to be very careful when I go remote!

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Complete your Sydney tour by Trying out these Top Experiences

May 4, 2018 By Tam Warner 11 Comments

Your Sydney tour is not complete until you try out these Top Experiences! Sydney is definitely one of Australia’s favorite and most toured cities both for travellers and Aussies from other regions. Finding the best things to do is the main focus, especially to those with limited time of stay. This list won’t include the Sydney Opera though – but make sure to visit it!

Now, instead of spending your time in your hotel room, go out and explore everything the flourishing city of Sydney has to offer regardless of time of day.

Enjoy a panoramic view of the city from Sydney Tower Eye.

Another Fantastic Solo Trip with Ray of Hope Expeditions!

April 30, 2018 By Tam Warner 9 Comments

manta ray research, manta rays, — Dr Andrea Marshall and I on one of her Ray of Hope Expeditions to the Revillagigedos to do research on the plastic consumption of mantas.

Another fantastic Solo Trip with Ray of Hope Expeditions and Dr Andrea Marshall, Queen of Mantas!

I love to travel solo, but traveling solo doesn’t have to mean traveling alone! When I travel solo I never feel “lonely” because there are so many new people to watch, to meet, and to talk to. My volunteer/citizen science adventures have introduced me to people who share my passion. As a result, I have friends all over the world! I was the oldest volunteer on my All Out Africa volunteer trip to Mozambique in 2012, but I remain in touch with, and have seen, my fellow volunteers because we bonded during our shared experience. I have friends I met on other trips who are older than I am. Meeting and working with people who share your passions is exhilarating no matter what your age, nationality, or religion. Doing citizen science with Ray of Hope Expeditions makes me feel good about myself, knowing I am trying to make a difference.

I am always careful when I travel, whether solo or not! It’s important to take good care of yourself financially as well! This guide will give you some good tips on how to travel safely with your finances!

Earlier this month I was off on another adventure with Andrea, this time to the Revillagigedos Archipelago. Where on earth is that, you may ask. It is very remote and takes at least a day to get there from Los Cabos. One is completely unplugged as there are no signals. This location is very special. It is 540 miles off the Baja peninsula, and is often called Mexico’s Galapagos. These uninhabited rocks, so far from the Mexican mainland, are among the most unbelievable dive spots in the world. It has one of the largest populations of sharks, manta rays, and includes groups of tuna, humpback whales, all kinds of cool fish, and turtles. This is the third time I have visited these islands, and though I have taken identification photos in this location for scientists, this is the first time I was on an actual scientific expedition.

Revillagigedos, Revillagigedos Archipelago, diving in Socorro, scuba dive San Benedicto, Roca Partida — Map By Hobe / Holger Behr – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2688383

Strangely enough, I became sea sick on the crossing, which is very unusual for me. I always take a couple of Dramamine and never have a problem. This time was quite different! I have to say, I have a lot of sympathy now for people who get seasick! What a horrible feeling. I spent the first 20 hours of the trip in bed, sleeping and eating saltines.

Once at the dive sites the water was calmer, and my sickness went away (until the next time we traveled which was every day or night!). Diving with mantas is always a magical experience no matter where you are, but the giant mantas at these islands are different. They want to interact with divers, and they want to feel the bubbles from our regulators on their bellies! There are plenty of sharks, dolphins, fish and even tuna in these waters. I was excited to get under the waves and take photos!

ray of hope expeditions — Here I am, photographing a Giant Manta at San Benedicto Island, photo by Andrea Marshall.

And this is the identification photo I took on that dive! The spot pattern is the Identification, they are like fingerprints with no two alike.

Here I am photographing another Manta Ray. See how the spot pattern is different from the one above?

Here is Andrea and you can see her spear? Taking tissue samples from the mantas was important on this trip to measure how much plastic was in their system.

And this was just the beginning of the trip! Stay tuned for more fish, shark, dolphin and manta action!

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10 Places You Can Go Bat-Shit Crazy in Texas Hill Country!

April 26, 2018 By Tam Warner 7 Comments

ann richards congress avenue bridge, Austin, bat shit crazy, bat shit crazy in Texas, mexican free tailed bat — Mexican Free Tailed Bats in Austin! Photo by Dan Pancamo

Are you aware there are 10 places where you can go bat-shit crazy in the Lone Star State? Particularly in the Hill Country! Yep, the state of Texas is batty about bats! Texans love watching bats emerge in the evenings and they will travel to do it. Most particularly, Texas is crazy about the Mexican Free-tailed Bat who migrates to many parts of the state beginning in March every year. These cool bats spend their winters in Mexico and summers in Texas. Sounds kind of nice, don’t you think? So, why does Texas, or anyone for that matter, care about bat populations, you want to know? Well, the answer is quite simple: bats are a very necessary part of our ecosystem. Throughout history people have viewed bats in a negative fashion, but the fact is that they are a positive force in nature and in farming, for many reasons. They eat a lot of our most detested and bothersome insects such as mosquitoes, they pollinate many plant and tree species, and even their guano (waste) can be mined and used as a very valuable fertilizer. Farmers, especially those in Texas, encourage bats to forage on their lands nightly. Mexican Free-Tailed Bats love eating moths, and moths love to eat corn, cotton, pecans and sorghum from the fields. Did you know that moths can lay 1,000 eggs? Imagine the tons of moths eaten by bats, lowering the number of these pests eating crops. Studies have found that bats save millions of dollars in pesticide costs for farmers all over the United States, and that is good for humans and the economy as well. Texas Hill Country is a bat mecca! [Read more…] about 10 Places You Can Go Bat-Shit Crazy in Texas Hill Country!

Why I Love The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa!

April 18, 2018 By Tam Warner 12 Comments

westin los cabos, westin villas resort and spa, los cabos, baja, mexico — This was my view while being escorted to my villa. Wow! I love the architecture!

Why I love the The Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas & Spa? What is NOT to love? My thanks to Los Cabos Tourism and the Westin for hosting me on this amazing property!

westin los cabos, westin villas resort and spa, los cabos, — The cool lobby.

The information says it is “renewed”, but it certainly looks brand new! I couldn’t believe it when the car pulled up to drop me off. The lobby is open air with gorgeous stonework, and the staff could not be any friendlier or helpful! Every single staff member treated me like a queen. The buildings are gorgeous, and blend in with the mountain desert behind it. Every small detail was in place, and the buildings were just stunning. The Westin is environmentally friendly as well, check out their commitment to helping our oceans and our planet.

My villa was amazing. Amazing! The view was just incredible, and my balcony had a hot tub on it! A lovely bottle of wine and sweets welcomed me to the 2 bedroom villa with full kitchen. I never wanted to leave the balcony which overlooked the pools and the ocean. I had just come off a liveaboard dive boat, and nothing is ever clean or dry on a boat. The villa had a washer and dryer, and it was wonderful to pile all of my clothes into the washer and then go off to explore.

I was so hungry, and my restaurant selection was large. There are four restaurants, a swim up bar, and a market. I chose the beachfront restaurant, Coralline. It was gloriously peaceful, shaded, with the sound of pounding waves. They had excellent french fries! You don’t get french fries on a dive boat, and I was feeling deprived, so it was the first thing I ordered! Yum!

Breakfast buffet is served at Cocina Casera, also overlooking the ocean. The breakfast was delicious, and the restaurant has themed buffets every night. Yum! I had a quick sandwich at La Cantina Sports Bar and it was also excellent. I shopped at the Mercadito (market) for soda and snacks. The only restaurant I did not get to was El Ciruelo, the hilltop restaurant with incredible views of the sunset. It looked lovely, but time just ran out. I couldn’t force myself to get out of the infinity pool or off the beach to make reservations! Next time!

The pool area is right on the beach, and there is a pool for adults, and one for children. I love the separation. When you have children or grandchildren you love being with them and hearing their noise and splashing, but when you want some quiet adult time, it is lovely to have a tranquil spot. The pool is heated to just the right temperature, and is long enough to get some exercise. Loved it!

The hotel has everything you could imagine in a resort. Tennis, golf, Kids Club, baby sitting, a soothing spa where I had an incredibly pampered massage… It is just amazing. If you are headed to Cabo, I recommend the Westin Villas Resort and Spa Los Cabos with all my heart. I hope to go back for a longer stay and take my family!

PIN IT!

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The 6 Best Places to Hike in Wisconsin!

April 16, 2018 By Tam Warner 13 Comments

The 6 best places to hike in Wisconsin are beautiful! Are you under the impression that Wisconsin is a frozen tundra or is flat and only focused on bicycle trails? Have you wondered where you can go for some great hiking that rivals other areas of the country? If so, this post is for you!

As an idea for a post, I thought this one would be easy. Great hiking trails in Wisconsin? There are plenty! The problem came down to narrowing it down into a neat little list that I could easily share with everyone!

With 47 state parks, 72 counties with their own great parks, and over 2500 miles of hiking trails, including two National Trails – the Ice Age Scenic Trail and the North Country Scenic Trail, this one was a lot more difficult than I imagined!

So, to help me organize my thoughts, I decided to focus on trails in some of the main geographic formations of Wisconsin, the Driftless Area, the Kettle Moraines, Door County Peninsula, Apostle Islands, and the Upper Highlands.

Most of the Wisconsin landscape was formed by huge glaciers. The Driftless Area, shared by Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, is a region left untouched by glaciers, leaving a rugged terrain formed by major rivers, like the Mississippi, and flooding from melting glaciers.

At the eastern edge of this area lies one of my favorite State Parks and hiking areas, Devil’s Lake.

Devil’s Lake State Park

Devil’s Lake State Park is the largest state park in Wisconsin and one of the oldest. Its 500-foot quartzite bluffs are part of the Baraboo Range and includes a 360 acre lake, a mixed conifer-deciduous forest, unique rock formations, effigy mounds, and a deep gorge known as Parfrey’s Glen.

The area is an unexpected natural wonder and an outdoor paradise of the Midwest.

There are 41 miles of hiking trails in the park, including the Ice Age Trail, and the best ones are listed here.

The best trail to hike is a loop made up of West Bluff Trail, Balanced Rock Trail, East Bluff Trail and Devil’s Doorway plus a bit of walking through the parking lots and concession area, for a total of about 4.5 miles.

The trail consists of stone steps, rock formations, scenic views, bluff edges, woods, cliffs, and boardwalks.

Going up the bluff at Balanced Rock Trail is easier, in my opinion, than going down. You can start at the South Shore or the North Shore, but either way, I’d go counter-clockwise. There is a steep climb with rock steps and switchbacks, but well worth the views!

When you get to the top, head right along the East Bluff Trail to the Devil’s Doorway side trail before double-backing and continuing on along the cliff. You could also descend down via the Potholes Trail if you’re short on time.

You’ll have to drive down the road a bit to Parfreys Glen, a 1.5 out-and-back trail through a scenic gorge at the eastern end of the park. Powerful floods have changed the glen and the official trail now ends at the gorge. Hikers can continue on by navigating a stream and rough stone to the waterfall.

Wyalusing State Park

Wyalusing State Park, also residing in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, sits 500 feet above where the waters of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers meet and is one of Wisconsin’s oldest parks. The park consists of campsites with views and even a canoe/kayaking trail.

It has over 14 miles of hiking trails, and the best are listed here.

Bluff Trail to Old Immigrant Trail

This 3-mile trail starts at some scenic outlooks, winds down through a couple staircases/ladders to Treasure Cave, and then follows the ridge along the Wisconsin River bluff to the other side of the campground.

You can also connect to the Old Wagon Road Trail (1 mile) which takes a path through the woods out to the park road in order to make a loop.

Sugar Maple Trail

This 2.5 mile loop through the woods includes a self-guided nature trail with informational signs. A short side trail leads to Pictured Rock Cave with a wet-weather waterfall.

Sentinel Ridge Trail

This 1.5 mile trail follows the ridge above the Mississippi River side of the park in between the Old Immigrant Trail and the Sugar Maple Trail. You will either need to go out and back or follow the park road back to your starting point.

There are some steep areas and great views along this trail, along with Indian mounds.

Kettle Moraine State Forest

Kettle Moraine is a large area of lakes, kettles, serpentine ridges, and canonical hills in Eastern Wisconsin formed by receding glaciers and offering many outdoor recreation opportunities. It includes a State Forest and is divided into a Northern Unit with 14 trailheads and a Southern Unit with 17 trailheads.

The best of over 145 miles of trails in this area are listed here.

Ice Age Trail to Lapham Peak
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is more than 1,000 miles in 30 counties across Wisconsin. It starts at Interstate State Park, following the edge of the last continental glacier in Wisconsin to Lake Michigan.

The trail covers some of Wisconsin’s most scenic areas, including the Kettle Moraine area. One of the best sections is the hike to Lapham Peak.

This 2.8-mile trail is a moderate loop through woods and grassy areas. It starts at the entrance of the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Laphma Peak Unit and includes an observation tower at Lapham Peak. You can connect up to the Kettle View Trail to make the loop.

Also in the Kettle Moraine Forest, don’t miss the 3.4 mile out-and-back Bald Bluff Trail, the Emma Carlin Trails (watch out for mountain bikes!), Scuppernong Trail, and the Parnell Tower Trail. All worthy for a stop!

Apostle Islands

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is made up of 21 islands and 12 miles of coastal mainland on the shores of Lake Superior. It includes cliffs, sea caves, rock formations, beaches, light houses, and many hiking trails.

Seeing all of the features of the islands requires a boat tour, and some of the 50 miles of hiking trails are only accessible via boat. The best trails are listed here.

Meyers Beach Sea Cave Trail (aka Lakeshore Trail)
This 4.6-mile out-and-back trail follows the shoreline of Lake Superior and offers spectacular views of the lake and the sea caves below. It starts with a boardwalk at Meyer’s Beach and includes edge and wooded sections.

Island Hikes
Take the ferry over to Madeline Island and hike Big Bay State Park, then check out the trails and camping at Stockton Island, hike the Overlook Trail and see the Hole in the Wall on Oak Island, and wander among 250-year-old trees and view sea caves on Sand Island.

As you leave the Apostle Islands, head over to Lost Creek Falls, one of Wisconsin’s best waterfall hiking trails. It’s a 2.2-mile out and back trail through lush woods to a beautiful waterfall. To access the trail from Cornucopia, take County Road C South to Trail Drive (on the right) to the parking area.

Peninsula State Park

Peninsula State Park is located in the Door Peninsula of Wisconsin, which lies between Lake Michigan and Green Bay. The park includes high bluffs and sandy beaches with 8 miles of shoreline on Green Bay.

The Eagle Bluff Trail is a 2-mile loop along the shoreline and through woods with stunning views and some beach access. You walk along the water with 100 foot bluffs and a some caves. You can extend your hike by taking Minnehaha to Lone Pine to Sentinel to make a 4.25 mile loop.

The park is filled with miles 30 miles of hiking and bicycle trails which make for easy hiking throughout the rest of the park and shoreline.

These are just five of the top hiking areas of Wisconsin. I’m sure if you ask 10 people who love Wisconsin, you will get a different list! There are just that many great trails and scenic areas! If you’re going to hike these areas, it’s a good idea to bring mosquito and tick repellent (Deep Woods Off is my favorite), plenty of water, and a Wisconsin State Park pass.

However, I do think that these hikes do a great job at representing the diverse geography of Wisconsin. It’s a beautiful state with a lot to offer. Many of these hiking trails are open in the winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. So, don’t be afraid to come any time of year to check them out!

If you are thinking of planning a road trip to or in Wisconsin, or looking for recommendations on where to stay, eat, or other activities while exploring this wonderful area, we can help! Just let us know at Roadtrippers R Us!

Thanks for reading!

Kristi, aka The Trippy Tripster!

TRAVEL

Devil’s Lake State Park

Wyalusing State Park

Kettle Moraine State Forest

Apostle Islands

Peninsula State Park

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