Danny — Page 2

That time I finished a race in first place…and didn’t realize it!

October 18, 2014 By Danny

Checking items off a bucket list is always a lot of fun. Checking an item off and not even realizing can be even more rewarding.

In early 2013 I challenged a couple of friends to walk with me from Washington, DC all the way to Harper’s Ferry, WV. We did it, unfortunately that item wasn’t on our bucket list. Several months later, one of those friends challenged the group to another silly idea, competing in a really long triathlon.

We all took the bait.

This past August, six friends and a pair of one year old twins descended on Penn Yan, New York for the Peasantman Triathlon. The friend who challenged the group to the event was planning on competing in the Steel Distance Triathlon, effectively a half iron man. His girlfriend and I signed up for the Olympic Steel Triathlon, while Jillian and the other pair of athletes took care of the Half Steel Relay. We focused on keeping the race low-key and fun.

We all finished our triathlons, some of us in first place.

Fast forward to the end of the race… when the two of us who ran the Olympic distance triathlon got the surprise of our athletic careers…we were first place in our respective divisions. Despite coming in the bottom half of the overall race field, we cleared the first place position in our divisions and, that means item #46 on the bucket list has been achieved. I came in first place in a race, it doesn’t matter that I was the only one in my division, my certificate says 1st and so… item #46 has been officially checked off the list!

Just don't ask how many people I had to leave in my dust.... — Just don’t ask how many people I had to leave in my dust….

The only problem is that in training for that Olympic distance triathlon (which I WON!), I somehow managed to sign up for a half Ironman race, something I like to call the “Aluminium Man”. The reason I signed up is that completing the aluminium man (70.3 miles total) happens to have been the first item on the bucket list. Wonder if I’ll come in first again….

Choosing the Right Backpack

October 2, 2013 By Danny

When people think about choosing the backpack they need for their travel they often have a preconceived notion based on what they’ve seen other people use. Obviously, it’s always best to choose the right pack for you, but even more important is to choose the right pack for what you’re going to be doing. Most large backpacks are really made for camping and hiking, true backpacking, when it comes to travel you needs will likely be different. Let’s first take a look at what the traditional backpacker needs to look at for taking a hike, and how that changes for the traveler.

Knowing how you'll use your pack is important — Knowing how you’ll use your pack is important

For the backcountry backpacker Size and Fit are the most important factors. These are important for the traveler as well, but differ in a few specific ways:

· Size. When a hiker is going into the backcountry, he or she needs to ‘pack in’ all their own food as well as a cook-stove, tent and sleeping bag, and then all the other gear like clothing. A traveler doesn’t need quite so much large equipment. A backpacker might be looking at a 60L-80L outdoor rucksack, depending on the type of trip, while the traveler should be looking at 40L-60L. (For our 21 months we had under 50L by the end)

· Fit. Have you ever met a traveler, who sleep in a hostel and takes a bus from city to city, who wears his pack for 8 hours a day while hiking over mountains? No…me neither. After making sure your pack fits all the gear you need to survive, making sure your back doesn’t fall apart at the end of the day is the next most important job of the backcountry backpackers pack.

Size and fit are important considerations

For the traveler, the backpack game is different. The traveler carries his or her pack far less time and over far fewer mountains. The traveler should be concerned with comfort, yes, but that applies more to security and convenience than it does to size and fit.

· Pockets. Lots of different compartments helps to keep your life organized. Remember, at home your milk is stored in your kitchen and your shoes are in your closet, keeping some semblance of organization is a plus. Also, are you carrying a laptop or a tablet, you’ll probably want a sleeve against your back to keep this safe.

· Security. For me, this comes in having a smaller, nondescript pack. For others this means having locks all over the thing. After 21 months on the road, and never having anything taken from my pack, I’ll keep it small and unappealing.

· Comfort. Those big packs come with lots of big cushions. Sometimes it is better to save on bulk, make sure you bag can fit in the overhead bin space on an airplane, and go lighter and forgo the extra cushioning.

· Waterproofing. This doesn’t hurt and can only help. Even if the pack is only water resistant it can mean a big difference in comfort if you’re caught in the rain.

This post was made possible by Berghaus who sell waterproof jackets and outdoor clothing.

How We Travel For Free

September 30, 2013 By Danny

Some call it a game yet others call it an obsession. We apply for the credit cards that offer the largest amount of points and miles and aren’t afraid to use those points and miles.

Over the past three years, since returning from our RTW trip around the world, we haven’t been afraid to put our good credit to use. We pay our bills on time and in full each and every month and have very high credit scores as a result. This means that when we apply for credit cards, cards that offer large and lucrative sign-up bonuses, we usually get accepted. We’re smart about what cards we use for what purchase and take the time to make a plan. In the end, we’re rewarded.

We’ve flown thousands of miles on thousands of dollars in airfares and only paid a few hundred dollars for the occasional airfare or credit card fee. We still have gobs of miles to spend and are generally accruing points and miles faster than we can spend them.

Over the coming months we’re going to talk more and more about the strategies we employ. We’re careful with our credit, consider it our most valuable asset, and watch it closely. Many of our close friends and family have watched this over the past few years and a few people have joined us in this ‘hobby’ while others still want more information as to how…so we’re going to tell you!

Stay tunes for now but watch for more over the coming weeks and months.

Why I Opt Out of TSA Body Scanners at the Airport

September 11, 2013 By Danny

I think all Americans will spend some amount of today reflecting on the events of September 11, 2001. For me, as a frequent traveler, I seem to do this every time I go through a TSA body scanner. I was in Washington, DC at the time of the 9/11 attacks and remember them quite well but not knowing anyone, personally, who was killed that day, the TSA security procedures act as my reminder. Each time I go through a TSA checkpoint, I am shocked and dismayed that I am the only visible person opting out of the TSA body scanner. My reasons for doing so are many, and it is frustrating to see so many pass through these machines without stopping to think about what they are doing.

There are many arguments against these TSA body scanners with most being a matter of privacy (they take a naked photo of your body) or safety (they blast your body with radiation). I think I was able to get past both of these issues until I watched the below video, taken from my home airport. The author of the video currently has a case pending in U.S. court system but he makes it quite clear that these machines raise some serious questions, but do little to enhance our safety.

The response of the TSA to this video, was quite telling in my opinion. More telling than this is the change of heart TSA officials have had since leaving the agency. A former director of the TSA now calls for a complete reversal of many of the TSA’s current practices because they do not add significantly to our security yet continue to raise privacy and safety concerns.

Basically, for me, it comes down to a few basic factors:

I am a law-abiding citizen and do not deserve to be submitted to inspection as though I am a criminal. Although the ‘nudo-scope’ machines are not currently in use, they may return to use.
We really don’t know the long term affects of this radiation but there is significant research out there suggesting that these are not as safe as the government might have us believe.
TSA body scanners are very expensive and I don’t like paying for it with my tax dollars.
As the video above showed, TSA’s body scanners don’t really help to make us more secure but are just one piece of the ‘security theatre’ currently employed.
Many of the TSA agents I’ve spoken to, one agent each time I opt out, agree with my decision to opt out and tell me their reasons for doing the same.

I recently came across an article in the New York Times in which the author was very critical of the entire program. Although I am also critical of the program, I have to disagree with nearly everything this author wrote in his piece. Ever since I’ve educated myself on the program and decided to opt out I have repeatedly found TSA agents to be both friendly and understanding of my choice. Generally, they work to get me through security with minimal delay and usual confess they tell their friends and family to do as I am doing. One in Detroit recently told me their standard office joke is that there will be commercials in 30 years asking: “Did you or someone you know work for the TSA before the year 2020 who might be suffering from fill in the blank radiation disease, if so, call this number!”

I do generally believe that most people in government are in their chosen career because they have a desire to serve their country, hence my personal experiences with TSA agents are generally quite pleasant. This doesn’t mean that lobby dollars aren’t in play (feel free to do your own research on the staggering amounts spent to get these machines in airports) nor does it mean that anyone on either side of the debate truly knows the long-term health impact of these machines. For my money and time, I view it in my interest to opt out and I wish others would do more of the same. I have always assumed that opt out statistics are tracked by the TSA (I’ve actually seen daily counts) and the more people opt out, the sooner TSA PreCheck will be available to everyone.

image credit – NYTimes.com

Cedar Point Bachelor Party

September 8, 2013 By Danny

Bachelor parties are one of those things that are supposed to be very special but often times, don’t end up that way. A bunch of guys go out for a big night on the town, drink themselves into oblivion, then don’t remember most of what happened. Recent movies have done a lot to cement this stereotype and for that reason, leaving town for a weekend away has become almost the norm it seems. Imagine my surprise when my most recent buddy to get engaged suggested something completely out of left field, going to an amusement park none of us had ever visited: Cedar Point.

The park itself is known for one thing, roller coasters. Big ones, small ones, and everything in between. Here is a listing of some of our favorites for the day.

Millenium Force. We did this one first and planned to do it for our last coaster for the day as well. One of the biggest and fastest in the entire world clocking at over 90mph we didn’t even notice that it didn’t go upside down. The power of this thing was just massive and really incredible.

Top Thrill Dragster. From zero to 120 m.p.h. in about 4 seconds it didn’t matter that the entire ride was only 17 seconds long. You could watch the video but it really doesn’t do the ride justice. The most incredible part, as the day wears on and the equipment heats up, the coaster doesn’t always clear the top and sometimes falls back down from where it came from.

Mean Streak. This was a very massive wooden roller coaster and because it was wooden we chose to do this as an ‘easy’ ride after lunch….bad mistake. This coaster did not disappoint and also claims to be amongst the world’s largest wooden coasters. It is due to be overtaken soon by the new coaster going into Six Flags Great America.

Mantis. This ride will likely hold a special place in our hearts when we think of Cedar Point. After ‘finishing’ our day at Millenium Force we walked past this entrance and saw no line. Not only were we in the front row on the next run of coaster but then we ran to the back row for the run after that. NOT A GOOD IDEA. It was midnight and by that point we were toasted.

There were other rides of the day but overall these were our favorites. Rapter and Maverick were both pretty solid coasters as well but I think we were all a touch disappointed in Gatekeeper which was the new coaster for 2013. It was big but didn’t really differentiate itself from the others we did. Gemini, another wooden coaster, was a bit of a bust for us as well but Blue Streak, originally built in 1964 was surprisingly fun and kid friendly at the same time!

IF YOU GO: Stay at one of the many lodging options on the grounds as you get into the park an hour earlier. We waited for our first 4 roller coasters for less time than any other single line the rest of the day. We enjoyed a nice cabin in lighthouse point which fit all 7 of us but it was UN-surprisingly snug. Best part, flying in and out of Detroit saw us for a detour to a Tigers game (they won) and saved us loads of money on airfare.

That time I finished a race in first place…and didn’t realize it!

Choosing the Right Backpack

How We Travel For Free

Why I Opt Out of TSA Body Scanners at the Airport

Cedar Point Bachelor Party

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