100 and Done! (Countries that is...)

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We are back! This last trip brought the total countries visited to 100! It is a crazy milestone. It is difficult, time-consuming and can be (IS) expensive. After I got back from Antarctica in 2007, I started thinking about it. After 2010 I was thinking about it more (as I moved from NY to Georgia) and in 2014 it had become a real goal. Between Angie and I we have been to 109 Countries. We are tied at 100 countries each. We have 9 countries different in our lists. For example, I have been to San Marino. She has not. She has been to Israel. I have not, yet. There has been some fun competition in this area. That's why we had to establish rules. 1.) Must be listed (as a country) with the US State Department 2.) Being in an airport doesn't count. You have to get through immigration somehow and not in a DMZ or a no-mans-land 3.) A passport stamp is not required. I have been to Canada, Paraguay, and Uruguay without getting my passport stamped. There are friendly borders in many places...
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During the course of a day I often think of things that are blog worthy. It is tough to remember them just like it is tough to remember a dream. I remember when I was kid being labeled a day dreamer by my Mom. Actually, I like to consider it "thinking."

I am excited about the adventure to be sure. I am looking at a stack of paperwork. It will take *US* a couple of hours to figure it out. I have a new laptop computer and a new camera ideally suited for terra incognita. I noticed the other day in my travels that a European geologist used some photos from one of the folks that had done my job a couple of years ago. I expect to be doing the same and getting some really good photos of stuff that matters.

This is a more traditional representation of Antarctica. We even go as far as saying left is West Antarctica and the right is East Antarctica. I have purchased a few maps for the walls in Berkshire, NY.

This map is used without permission from www.geographicguide.com

I am hopefully going to get to some very remote places. The leaded edge is still accessible.

For some strange reason I am very interested in making some trips in the twin otter.

This photo is used without permission from http://www.eng.uts.edu.au

They are unpressurized turbo props on skis. I have a very strange affixation on these planes. I think after this trip I am going to be compelled to finish flight training and get a private pilot license. I have a lot on the list.

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