We have all experienced it. The company Christmas party, secret Santa gift exchange. Usually, you get a gift card, themed socks, or maybe a nice coffee mug. I had drawn Terrance’s name. A guy who was a bit of a prepper. The survivalist type. I got him a flint
The Oxford Dictionary defines exploration as “the action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it.” In a sense, we are all born explorers, as the above quote could arguably define the experience of life itself. A tourist often approaches travel as a simple
A destination has sparked your interest. You’ve come across a photo, article, video, or spoken with a friend that presents some far-off destination in a way that has piqued your curiosity. You have done the research, cleared your schedule, and are ready to solidify your bookings. Then comes the
Three years ago, at the time of this writing, I published my book titled “Libertalia: Stealing Equality.” It documented my travels to Madagascar and my search for lost pirate havens, culminating in my search for the legendary lost pirate city of Libertalia. That expedition taught me a lot about the
Part 4: The Search To find the Compton trailhead, you need to look for a dirt road located next to what looks like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre house. This road will take you to a small dirt parking area. Nearby, at the edge of the woods, you will find two
Part 3: Always Be Prepared The next morning, I wanted to approach from the Compton trail head, specifically taking the Hemmed-In Hollow trail down and the Sneeds Creek trail back up. I wanted to take this approach because I believe it is the route that Jon Collins-Black describes in his
Part 2: The Storm The plan was that I would drive to Kevin's, about two hours away, and spend the night, then we would fly out the next morning. I encountered a massive amount of rain while driving to Kevin's. On a few occasions, my Jeep
Part 1: Back to America My friend Kevin and I haven't had a trip together in eight years. I know that because when I returned home from the last trip, I was told my girlfriend and I were expecting our daughter, who is now seven and a half.
An Echo of the Original A fax is a janky echo of the original. A fax of a fax makes for an even worse copy. More and more, I fear the world is settling for this, a copy of life instead of the real thing, all in the name of
Article 8: A Life of Purpose Introduction After all the stories, trials, and turning points, we arrive here, at the convergence. This isn’t the end of the road; it’s the beginning of walking it with full awareness. If you’ve been following this series, you’ve looked back
Article 7: To Know Thyself Introduction Exploration doesn’t always take you across continents. Some of the most challenging terrain you’ll ever chart is inward. In this article, we look at self-knowledge, not as a buzzword, but as a vital tool. Without a compass, a map is useless. Without
Article 6: Legacy and the Long View Introduction When you’re young, legacy feels distant, something for later, maybe even irrelevant. But as we age, and especially after becoming a parent, the idea of what we leave behind begins to take on new weight. Legacy isn’t just about big