Cals hitting North America!!

Hey Crew

I finally have enough saved in my tiny tiny little bank account to head to North America!

My infinetly complex itinerary is as follows:

I'm flying into LA on the 1st of May.

The End.

I'm completely winging the trip. I want to head to Vegas (ohh yeah) , San Fran and New York.

I've got 90 days to burn in the states before heading off to Canada.

I'd love to hear where everyone is so I can make plans to detour to say G'day!

I'm backpacking around with a full DSLR setup and an underwater housing in my ruck sack. (pics to follow)

If anyone is happy to let me couch surf please drop me a PM - I'll trade photoshop tips/techniques for couches!

I'm going to keep posting in this thread as a sort of blog update.

Cant wait!!

Cheers

Cal

Have fun! I planned to work and travel around the US then head to Oz and NZ about 20-25 years ago, then married a Southern Belle and now I'm still here, so watch out.

You know where I am, you can rack at my beach place (just South of Daytona on the map)

I'm in Montreal, in the province of Quebec, got a hide a bed and a cold six pack, so if you are in the hood, drop by, might even find you some scuba gear for a local dive in the St Lawrence river (good wreck diving)

Cheers

Your detailed itenerary makes it a little tough to plan Cal. If you want to checkout the desert southwest (Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, etc.) let me know. I could pour you in the car after Vegas and show you the sights. You wouldn't need your housing but it's an option to think about depending on what you want to see. The food and tequila are worth the trip. (Not necessarily in that order)

Cheers,

Steve

I'm in San Diego - the zoo alone is worth the trip! Plus some decent local diving. I've got an extra room, but I'm not around much in May, so get your resie in early

Phil

P.S. Steve's suggestion is a good one - the desert Southwest has some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world and many fine national parks are only a few hours away from Vegas.

Cal -

I am currently located about 45 min outside of New York City and should be around for most of the time in May/June. Can probably find you a decent place to crash for a night or two if needed. At the east drop me a line when you are in the area and we can grab a beer...

I am working on saving some cash for the same type of adventure down under in the next couple years...

cheers!

- MDP

Oops!the aussie is coming! Hide your daughters and your sheep!

Have fun, the mojave steve mentions is really good

Cal,

I live outside of San Francisco - southeast of there (Pleasanton). I haunt Monterey a lot, diving as much as I can. If you want to cold water dive I'd be happy to show you what I know of the local beaches. May/June is awesome diving in these parts.

You can couch surf at my place, but I have to warn you - my couch isn't new (but it -is- comfy), and my apartment is tiny.

Cheers,

brian

we live in the Kansas City area. No decent diving, no mountains but great steaks and unlimited supplies of fine wine. If you find yourself in this area, we have extra space and the charcoal grill is working most nights.

No need for the couch, we have spare bedrooms with real beds. We people in Kansas have even discovered running water and indoor toilets!

Our daughters no longer life at home, we have no sheep and the dog is spade...so we are safe here.

dave

Haha Thanks guys!

Legends!

I'll pm you when I'm closer and have firmer dates etc

Cheers!!!

Cal

Add me to the list Cal - I'm in Houston and you can crash at our guest house. I'm sure we can line up some pool shoots or a trip out into the Gulf. Not much else to shoot around here except for alligators :-)

If you can swing a trip up to the Sierras in California you can get some GREAT stream and lake shots. If you hit lake Tahoe it's cold, deep and clear. But the streams up in the Sierras are really amazing - granite rock, good water plants, and lots of trout.

Cheers

James

Well, if go through Dallas, let me know. But, I'm not sure I would make Dallas part of your route.

LA through Yosemite and the various parks north to SF. Then trek north to Seattle. Then fly to Vegas. Go through AZ, with a side trip to UT. Then Colorado. I've done a photographic road trip around Colorado. It's pretty awesome. Fly from Denver to Chicago. See Chicago. Should be a good time of year for Chicago. Then Memphis to visit Beale street for some barbecue and blues. Then to West Palm Beach. Then NC outer banks followed by Washington DC. Drive through Newark just after dark on your way to NYC. From NYC there are several routes to Canada that can be very scenic.

Well, if go through Dallas, let me know. But, I'm not sure I would make Dallas part of your route.

To quote Jimmy Buffet "If you ever get a chance to go to Dallas, take it from me...pass it by.....

I love Dallas actually

Oops!the aussie is coming! Hide your daughters and your sheep!

Oi, watch it Mike. We're not Kiwi's you know

It's about time you were taking off though Cal. Will chat before you leave.

Tradgedy has struck!

For the life of me I cant figure out how to take my underwater rig with me. I literally cant fit in the rucksack.

So do I cart around an extra bag for the next 12 months or so of backpacking for the OCCASIONAL dive or snorkel or do I just leave it behind?

Tradgedy has struck!

 

For the life of me I cant figure out how to take my underwater rig with me. I literally cant fit in the rucksack.

 

So do I cart around an extra bag for the next 12 months or so of backpacking for the OCCASIONAL dive or snorkel or do I just leave it behind?

 

Get a bigger bag! What else is in America if not the water?

Take it. There is so much diversity and good diving to be done that you will be missing out if you leave it behind.

Tradgedy has struck!

 

For the life of me I cant figure out how to take my underwater rig with me. I literally cant fit in the rucksack.

 

So do I cart around an extra bag for the next 12 months or so of backpacking for the OCCASIONAL dive or snorkel or do I just leave it behind?

 

Bigger pack.

Another option is a P&S small rig

If you just can't work it out, it is probably possible to rent.

If you want to ship it to me ahead of time, you can always UPS it somewhere if you plan to dive

Thanks guys and thanks for the offer Loftus!

I got a bigger bag and reduced what I'm taking

Now its just

Nikon d90

10-17mm tokina

50mm f1.8 Nikon (for the odd portrait job)

Ikelite housing and 8' dome port

No lights.

2 x jeans, 2 x jackets, 3 x shirts , 5 x underwear + socks!

2 x jeans, 2 x jackets, 3 x shirts , 5 x underwear + socks!

You can rinse off in my pool and we will spray you with bug spray before you come in the house...