Sheila is rebulding her life in North Dakota...Williston area and all over the state with Mr Kab Taxi of North Dakota many stories are gaining her interest in building the last last frontier of America...in the oilpatch of Dakota's .... ....
Hitch hiked from Iron Knob (SA) to Perth (WA) back in the sixties. I read your very interesting story with great interest as it reminded me of my trip many years ago. The main difference being that there was no hard surface along the whole road from maybe Ceduna to Kalgoorlie. The road such as it was was littered with massive dust filled pot holes and I had one lift all the way in a semi-trailor between Iron Knob to Perth. The driver drove non-stop for the whole distance (illegal nowadays, no doubt) by taking some special pills washed down with Coca-Cola. I know what you meant about running out of conversation. It's a hell of a long trip. Very interesting and thanks for the memories.
Anyway your trip was quite interesting
Mr Kab & Tours is operating as of last year 2010 in and out of Wasilla, Alaska ....Formerly 16 years in Dutch Harbor/Unalaska Mr Kab & Tours operated in Dutch Harbor/Unalaska since 1980 (formerly from Hawaii)....Sheila Taranto the owner since 2005 has operated tours in Alaska for the past 38 years...her roots go deep into Alaska since 1898 with her Great Grandfather, Ivan L. Peterson, sailing his ship the Florence from San Francisco, Calif , to Unalaska, Alaska, Nome, St Micheals and up the Yukon River to the Klondike Godrush of 1896 out of Dawn City Yukon , Canada. Sheila Taranto owned and operated Arctic Safari Tours in Barrow along the Arctic Ocean discovering the past, present and future of the Arctic Alaska and set sail for Skagway, Alaska ....enjoying a summer 1995 working and gaining history of her great grandfather's ventures....returning to the Aleutian Islands to develop Mr Kab & Tours....recently in 2010 relocating to Wasilla, Matanuska Valley...to continue on her historical venture of her Great Grandfather and Grandfather, who lived in Chickaloon, Alaska a community of the Matnuska Valley. In this valley Sheila's daughters have settled and here they are raising the grand and great grandchildren....which makes this area ideal for Sheila's up and coming Birding Bed & Breakfast and to continue on with the Touring of historical points of Alaska, entertaining those who come to see Alaska sharing her discoveries and adventures and telling the tales of a mighty land in this northern country of America. Sheila's Alaskan wilderness retreat will entertain Birders and Hikers from around the world in 2013, a special retreat on the Bluff overlooking a lake reserve, Palmer Hayfield Flats, overlooking the Cook Inlet...watch for us in 2013 for Grand Opening.
Sad it is over Martin, it was great meeting you again after 2 years or so. You still look the same.. still the good looking you. Still as jovial =) Driving you around town and some food is something I enjoyed doing for anyone I know personally. So if you happen to be at this end of the world again.. you have my phone number. Sad this journey to tour around the world is coming to and end...but I know what is your next plan ..hehehe. Write soon ...I have some updates for you... Till then, take care pal. Hugs Hugs. X
Sad It's Over! Thank you for sharing your adventures - and I selfishly am sad it is over. I have truly enjoyed the travel stories, for the most part vicariously, and learning plenty about cities and towns around the world I previously had no idea existed. I especially appreciate all the hours you sacrificed sitting in internet cafes to complete this blog! x
so true.... Couldnt help but smile at the cinnamon section..... :o)
welcome home M - I will miss reading about your travels though!
oh - http://www.gaumarjos.co.uk/ - tried an tested website for wines (hic)
Bet your glad your back Martin,
It was a privalige to have been there with you, through the up's and down's and more importantly finding out about places I'll never ever get to. Well done mate, see you in the bar.
ditto Yeah...don't forget there are a bunch of us living vicariously through your travels! It's like several miniature versions of Bryson novels. I totally appreciate the tedium of editing, censoring, etc...but having a love for writing myself understand the desire to do so, even if it's not fun and you KNOW you're reading over your own mistakes. It is what it is...and I for one would rather have the story with the errors and minimalist approach to editing than NO story at all!
Hi Martin. It's a pity you haven't been invited to a Ukranian wedding yet. If you get the chance (or even gate crash - they won't mind) you'll experience what real drinking is all about. Having grown up in this environment it probably doesn't surprise you that I can't stomach spirits. It's not unusual for there to be a bottle of vodka and a bottle of whisky every 2 couple at a wedding feast - to start with which can go on for 2 days. The birthday month toasts - to get the party going which means if they sing your birth month, it's whatever you're drinking down in one - makes for a very cheery occasion! Anyway - jealous sick that you've managed such a lot in such a short time and promise that when (if) you decide to come back, we won't be bored with all the photos.
Whoops, Ed; I didn't mean to imply that and I apologise if I've chosen my words poorly. There are indeed some fantastic buildings in the other ex-Soviet countries too. It's just that I chose to write about other things in my Georgia and Armenia entries. I'll check my text again and re-word things if necessary.
Awesome blog, really well written, thanks! I particularly liked your descriptions of Socialist Realism and being invited to a meal. Having lived in Russia for a year, spent 3 weeks in Armenia and a few days in Latvia and Estonia, the meal and toast descriptions are extremely familiar and bring back many fond memories! One thing I don't agree with is that other ex-Soviet countries have no beautiful or fascinating buildings - a little exploration of either Russia or Armenia will prove that this is not true.
Toast to marty Hey Mart
I see you've overcome your fear of toasts:) if we're toasting, then I propose a toast to your tenacity to travel without knowing where you're sleeping that night... For almost 7 or 8 months! Also a toast to keeping your blog vocab and style fresh. A welcome relief to the bland credit crunch blah we get in the uk media at the mo. Shame I wasn't with you to do the video "reverse gear" style. Drop by twickenham if u fly into heathow. I got spare room in a nice riverside location for your rehab if u need it. Gary
Vardzia Blimey Mart, that place looks amazing, brings a whole new meaning to stone cladding and pebble dash! Keep up the blogging, it's nice to know someone who actually gets up off their rears and travels to such places. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, it's a miserable, rainy day in Walthamstow.......Gordon.
Keep it coming marty, it's not like your up for the Pulitzer, keep it coming, for those of us not able to carry out such an undertaking as you it's the next best thing. Keep it up!
Sweet! Cool pictures, I want to go there someday.
I would recommend you check out http://www.allaudioguides.com, they have great audio tours for every major tourist destination!
sheila j taranto
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Sheila is rebulding her life in North Dakota...Williston area and all over the state with Mr Kab Taxi of North Dakota
many stories are gaining her interest in building the last last frontier of America...in the oilpatch of Dakota's .... ....