Hi Everyone,

I'm thinking that most of you reading this will know a lot about me already -- but on the off chance you don't, or if we have been out of touch for a while, here is a brief bio...

I am 48 years old, live in Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada (on the West Coast near Vancouver)-- have a degree in Social Work, and my last job was Clinical Supervisor / Program Manager for the Alcohol and Drug Counselling service provided by the Fraser Health Authority for Chilliwack.

On March 24th I will be celebrating 14 years drug, alcohol, and tobacco free!

I have 3 sons, Richard (31)who I am proud to say recently was selected through a rigorous screening process to work for the Motor Transport Inspection Agency -- and Scott(12)and Sean(8)who just both got great report cards! Redina and I have been together for almost 4 years now (and she deserves a medal for tolerating all of my idiosyncracies!)vShe is just finishing 10 years of working towards her Bachelor of Social Work Degree at UCFV, is doing her final practicum / internship at the Mission Hospital, and will graduate in June -- congratulations Sweetie!! Redina will be joining me either in Costa Rica or the Mexican Riviera for a well-earned vacation in May...

I myself, am about to embark on an 8 week trek around the globe, during which I may end up being on all 6 continents...

I am dedicating this trip to my best friend, Gregory John Wiens, who died on January 13th 2007, 71 days before his 50th birthday, after a long battle with diabetes and renal failure...

Greg was a wonderful person missed and loved by many -- we had lots of adventures trekking through the wilderness of British Columbia, and he asked me to spread his ashes along the trails, streams, and lakes of his favourite special place north-west of Lillooet in the Shulaps Mountain Range.

We often sat around the campfire talking about different places in the world we wanted to go to... unfortunately, Greg had his leg amputated and spent the last year of his life living in a hospital and getting around by wheelchair...

Accompanied by his ever-present spirit I will be taking some of his ashes with me and releasing them in Nepal at Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas, and at Machu Picchu in the Peruvian Andes...

Greg's legacy to me has been the inspiration to see some of the places around the world that have always fascinated me, while I still have my health, faculties, and senses...

2 1/2 years ago I had a heart attack at age 46 while playing ice hockey -- you hear about how for some people an event like this makes them "wake up and smell the coffee" -- well this did not happen with me, as I felt great before it happened, was determined not to let it affect my life, and recovered very quickly with no after-effects...

However, losing someone so close to me who I have known all my life, and the same age, has impacted me profoundly -- I now have a much more realistic grasp on the notion that my time here on earth is limited -- and while I do not fear death (as I believe we are all spiritual beings existing in these human bodies temporarily while here on earth, and that once we leave we will be on the "ultimate adventure journey" ...) However, I do want to experience as much as I can, while I am here...

I plan to keep this Travel Blog up as much as possible on the trip -- but don't expect to be able to post for about the first 3 weeks of April while on the Everest Base Camp trek... I will be checking my hotmail account regularly if any of you want to contact me personal / private...

Keep me in your prayers and thoughts -- love you all,

Cam

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