QiRanger Podcast Interview

Today I was interviewed by Steve Miller (aka QiRanger) for his weekly podcast show.  I thought I’d share my answers to his questions.

QiRaner: How did you catch the travel bug?

Mike’s Road Trip: Catching the travel bug goes back a few years. I would say I have to thank an old girlfriend from my early 20s.  I had never really been on a real vacation in my life until she talked me into going to Puerto Vallarta.  We had such an amazing time…we went horseback riding on the beach one day.  Another day we chartered a sailing yacht that took us up the coast with a few other couples.  After a few hours we anchored in a cove…a small boat came and took us to shore.  From there we hopped on some waiting horses and road up into the mountains to this pristine, remote waterfall.  There was nothing around…except for this little hut of a bar where we could have a cocktail and just relax.  After a few cocktails and some frolicking in the water, we made our way back down the mountain to our waiting vassal…then sailed back to the dock.  I remember that excursion was the best valued thing we did on that vacation…the outing included breakfast, lunch, all our cocktails and the horses for $55 each.

Another day we rented horses and went riding on the beach.  Oh, and one day we thought we’d go on an adventure…were walking along the seawall and saw a bus…we hopped on it with the locals to just see where it would take us…we had no idea where we were going…none!  After about a half hour, my girlfriend was getting very nervous…I’ll admit, I was too.  We looked to be in a very sketchy area…in the middle of nowhere.  We felt the bus was taking us farther away from our hotel, so we decided to get off and figure out how to get back.  When we got off the bus, our trepidation intensified.  We were frantically looking for a cab…but there were none in sight.  After 10-15 minutes of wandering around, we finally found a cab.  We were sooo thankful.  Ended up being a very short cab ride…we were only 5 minutes away from the hotel!

QiRanger: I’d then like to talk about where you’ve been in 2011 and roughly how many miles you’ve traveled.

Mike’s Road Trip: Oh, let’s see…I spent the first few months of the year in my home state of Arizona, mainly getting caught up on content, visiting with friends and family.  I did a few side trips to places like Jerome and Sedona.  Then, I headed to New Mexico where I stayed in Santa Fe for a week, then did some hiking at the Bandeiler National Monument.  The highlight of my time in New Mexico was Chaco Cultural National Park.  Oh, this place is just amazing…especially if you’re into hiking and exploring.  I camped out a couple nights here and wish I would have had one more night to really get my fill.  Chaco is…a very inhospitable place…there is very little vegetation, very, very little water and wildlife…yet, somehow this was home to a thriving community of thousands of people 1200 years ago.  You cannot believe the structures they built, they were massive in scale…all of which you can explore today.

Another memorable highlight of 2011 included a week-long rafting trip down the Salmon River in the state of Idaho.  I won the trip from TripFilms.com, where I’m a contributor.  I’d been whitewater rafting before, but never a fully catered one for this duration.  It was a blast!  The Salmon is the longest undammed river in North America and much of it is in designated Wilderness, so there are no structures, obtrusive sounds, etc.   The food was amazing, I could not believe they could prepare such gourmet meals, from blueberry pancakes in the morning, to chicken fajitas for dinner.  We went on some amazing hikes, explored some old homesteads, soaked in a nature hot spring.  It was amazing!

Other highlights included camping out in Canyonlands National Park in Utah, visiting the Bodie Ghost Town in northern, California, Fly-fishing on a 5000 acre ranch in Montana with one of my best friends and wakeboarding in a cove in North Vancouver.   Wow, I could go on and on…a lot of great adventures in 2011.

As far as “Road Trip” miles driven last year…gosh, I’m not really sure…maybe 12 to 15,000.

QiRanger: Since you have done the B&B thing and camping, let’s talk about those… benefits and drawbacks of both.

Mike’s Road Trip: Well, I love B&B lodging…for starters; the accommodations are almost always superior to a hotel…better linens, free amenities and really personalized.  Each B&B or Inn is a completely different experience…so it really becomes an exciting adventure.  Some thrive in one category, while others might in another area.  I’ve stayed in places where the breakfast is like from a 5-star restaurant, where others might only put out a buffet, or cook traditional breakfast dishes.  The benefits to staying at a B&B is…better accommodations, great value and a more memorable experience.

As far as camping…I prefer to camp in secluded areas…I don’t really care for campgrounds, but sometimes you just have to do it…like when I went to Yosemite this year and stayed in the Village, there’s just is no way around it.  The places I often camp I’m sure are illegal…I sometimes feel there is a war against campers.  I’m extremely responsible when I camp and I leave nothing behind and try and leave no trace.  I think most campers are this way, so I don’t know why the 1-2% have to ruin it for the rest of us.

QiRanger: Since you’re the road trip guy, what are your tips for planning a road trip and essentials for going on one?

Mike’s Road Trip: Have a destination in mind, but not the route.  It’s so much fun to just drive and see where the road leads you.  I try and never take the Interstate…that’s for getting from point A to point B.  A road trip should be about the adventure.  By driving the highways and byways, you can almost always find a place to pull off to the side of the road to take a picture or have a snack while enjoying the scenery.

With Smartphones so prevalent today, this is a road trippers’ best friend.  You can find hotels, tourist attractions, restaurants, etc. at the tip of your fingers…there’s just no need to plan.  I have had the best times on a road trip when I have as few plans as possible.

It’s important to be prepared though…I always travel with extra food, a tool kit, camping equipment, etc.  Know the weather, if you’re traveling in the winter in an area prone for snow; make sure to have essentials for those conditions.  Keep in touch with others so they have a general idea of where you are, where you’re going and when to expect you back.

QiRanger: What makes a road trip better than flying?

Mike’s Road Trip: OMG, a road trip is hands down better.   With all the TSA bullshit today, I cannot stand flying.  The biggest difference between a road trip and flying…freedom!  When you drive you can go anywhere you want (at least right now).  When you fly, you give up your civil liberties and put your travel plans in the hands of others.  Flights are often delayed or canceled.  And in the time it takes to park your car, go through security, then wait for your delayed flight…no thank you.  Of course I’m referring to domestic travel…if you’re going out of the country for a few weeks, then some of those inconveniences are fine.  If you are six hours or less from your destination, I would never consider flying.  After you add up all the wait time (parking, security, etc) to take a flight from Phoenix to San Diego for example, you could drive there.

QiRanger: What upcoming trips can you share?

Mike’s Road Trip: I’m heading to San Diego this week, which I consider my surrogate hometown.  Then I’m off to Santa Barbra where I’m hoping to meet up with a good friend of mine.