My train trip to Morocco, I mean Philadelphia, via Trenton, New Jersey

I had a rude awakening on my Amtrak train ride from Union Station in Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia on Monday. I was dozing on the train (a two-hour trip) when someone tapped my shoulder.

"Where are you going?" asked the train conductor.
"To Philly," I replied.
"You just missed your stop," he said.
I bolted upright.
"In 28 minutes you'll be at the Trenton, New Jersey, station. You can get off there and come back."

I was annoyed with myself, but mostly, I was embarrassed to tell my cousins why I was running late for dinner.

I watched the scenery slowly roll by, knowing I was headed the wrong direction. Twenty-eight minutes have never felt so long. I arrived in Trenton, waited half an hour, then got back on the train to Philly - again. This time I did not turn on my iPod or computer.

Moments before the train left, the young woman seated in front of me flipped open her cell phone to take a call. I noticed the elaborate henna design on her right hand.

"Hi Dad.... Yes, I'm on the train, on my way home...The best part was riding the camels through the red sands of the Sahara with our guide."

From then on, I was hooked. As the train pulled out of the Trenton station, I listened shamelessly to her conversation because I wanted to learn more about the Berber nomads she had encountered. I felt an instant kinship with this fellow adventure traveler and curiosity about what inspired her to go to Morocco. At times, I strained to hear her over the noise of the train. I had so many questions: How long was she there? Was it an organized trip? What did she think of Casablanca? Soon she said goodbye to her father and was quickly dialing again. I had to make a move fast.

I leaned forward and said, "Excuse me. I could not help but overhear your cell phone conversation about your trip to Africa. Would you mind telling me about it?"

She paused, a little surprised.
Perhaps I should not have overstepped this cell phone social convention?

Then she smiled and told me all about Casablanca, riding camels in the Sahara and the fun of traveling with three other women who spontaneously agreed to spend 10 days together in Africa. Girlfriends getaway in Morocco! I also learned she is a chemical engineer, a recent college grad and grew up in Eugene, Oregon. Most important, I discovered a young woman who was passionate about exploring the world: she had studied abroad for a year in South Africa and spent several months in a mountain town in Peru volunteering at a medical clinic. Her next trip will be to Chile and after that, perhaps New Zealand.

By the time the train arrived in Philly, I felt as if I too had been on a wonderful adventure. Whether it's riding a camel in the desert or asking a stranger to tell you her story, taking a risk can be very rewarding - even on a commuter train for just 28 minutes.

Karen Kefauver
Freelance writer and content provider
karen@karenkefauver.com
http://www.karenkefauver.com

Highlights from Adventures in Travel Expo in Washington, D.C. Day 2: Sunday, March 30

Check out my fantastic feather headdress! I felt very glamorous, but only for a few minutes, because I had to return it to a beautiful dancer from Aruba. She had invited me to try it on - potentially the first step in getting me to visit Aruba. I was surprised that it was lighter than it looked, though difficult to balance.
For expo pictures from Saturday and Sunday, visit PHOTO GALLERY.
I also enjoyed presentations from world travelers Marybeth Bond, author of Best Girlfriends Getaways Worldwide and Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Bond, an animated speaker, packed her talk with amusing anecdotes and great tips for women traveling together in groups or pairs. Schultz, more softspoken, detailed her journeys to special places she believes men and women should visit during their lifetime.

On the Expo floor, I visited business associates who have become friends through our membership in the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Washington, D.C.-based Tonya and Ian Fitzpatrick are founders and hosts of Travel'n On Radio. On Saturday, they broadcasted live from their ATE booth. One of their three segments featured Andrew Zimmern of the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods of the World. He was one of my favorite speakers this weekend. Very funny and down-to-earth. Travel'n On Radio's next major event is a live broadcast from the French Quarter Festival, April 11-13 in New Orleans.

My last stop of the day was at the Expo was the Da Vinci White booth. I asked how teeth whitening was related to adventure travel. I learned that this cosmetic procedure using hydrogen peroxide (but not strips) is becoming a popular service on certain cruise ship lines! No dentist necessary but to receive the treatment, customers do sit in a dental chair equipped with technical-looking apparatus in their mouths. Apparently, whiter teeth can result after a 15-minute session.

Overall, the ATE was well worth my trip from Santa Cruz, CA. Tomorrow, I head to Philly for two days before returning to the West Coast Thursday morning.

Highlights from Adventures in Travel Expo in Washington, D.C. Day 1: Saturday, March 29

The Adventures in Travel Expo, March 29-30, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. was a fun blend of guest speakers, international exhibitors, live performances and interactive activities. Highlights for me from Day 1 included a talk by charismatic Andrew Zimmern, host of the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods, the joyous bellydancers from the Sahara Dancers (video clip above) a test ride on a Segway and learning about Fitpacking. If you are not currently off on an adventure, I hope my online photo gallery from the Expo will inspire you to book a trip soon. I will report on Day 2 at the Expo tomorrow!

For the Adventure Travel Trade Association's meeting today, I visited Alexander Graham Bell's office ...

which happens to be at the National Geographic Society's headquarters in Washington, D.C. I learned that the inventor of the telephone also succeeded his father-in-law as president of the National Geographic Society in 1898. (Thus, he had an office there).

I was at the the sprawling NGS headquarters to attend a regional meeting hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Since attending the association's world summits in Whistler, Canada, in 2007 and in Seattle in 2006, I have found their events educational, fun and valuable for business networking. Today's gathering was no exception. I am now inspired to go to the Adventure Travel Trade Association's Brazil Summit in September and perhaps the Norway Summit in October.
For meeting photos, visit my photo gallery. It's linked to my website, www.karenkefauver.com.

Fun with Apple Photo Booth on American Airlines

Air travel can be a lot of fun when you happen to sit next to a creative seatmate. On my flight from San Francisco to New York City, Thursday, March 27, I met Christian Hansen of Seattle, Washington. After we discussed his recent travels in India and I told him I was headed to the Adventures in Travel Trade Expo in Washington, D.C., we opened up my Apple laptop for more entertainment. Christian, 20, a filmmaker and photographer, showed me how to create some wild effects in Photo Booth. Thanks, Christian!

Mexico: Zihuatanejo, Troncones, 12/07

On my most recent trip to Mexico, in December '07, I fell in love with the small town of Barra de Potosí (population, 500). I had initially planned to stay only a night or two in this fishing village, 30 minutes south of Zihuatenejo on the Pacific Coast. However, my visit stretched to five nights and I could have stayed longer!

Perhaps falling in love with Barra de Potosi is how Laura Kelly, the owner of my lodging, Casa de Encanto, wound up becoming an American expat. A former private investigator in California, Kelly reinvented her life by opeing Casa del Encanto (House of Enchantment), more than a decade ago. Now, she is an important part of the small community.

I spontaneously decided to visit Patzcuaro, a mountain town at 7500-feet. So from Barra de Potosi, we took three buses and two taxis and arrived at sunset. It was so cold that I piled on all my layers of beach clothes. We spent three days exploring the local markets and sights.

To wrap up our vacation with some real rest and relaxation at the beach, we swam in the ocean, went surfing and ate many fresh fish tacos in Troncones, a popular resort area an hour north of Zihuatenejo.

Before our flight home on Christmas Eve, we explored the city of Zihuatenejo.

In April 2008, I will have a more detailed story and photo gallery of my travels posted on Away.com. Stay tuned for URL.

Wayne Kelly's tips for being on the radio

In advance of my being a guest on the Travel'n On Radio Show, hosted by Ian and Tonya Fitzpatrick on 630 WMAL, I reviewed the fantastic set of tips from professional radio broadcaster, Wayne Kelly, whose website, www.onairpublicity.com is devoted to useful public relations resources.

From Wayne's Kelly's online tutorial:
SUCCEEDING “ON-AIR” WITH THE CHEAT SHEET

Use these preparation hints for any interview. With this checklist you will remind yourself of the things you have to do to be a great guest.

1. Remember: Radio is about telling stories.

• The best storytellers are expressive. They can be serious, funny, angry or sad.
• The best stories are simple. Avoid statistics and numbers unless you really need them to illustrate a point.
• The best storytellers talk about people and emotions by describing thoughts and emotions.
• They do not regurgitate boring facts.

2. When preparing for any interview, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my message?
• Does every detail pass the “So what?” Test? You have to share with listeners why they should care about your topic.
• What are the key points I want to express? (Up to four.)
• Do I have interesting ways of telling my story? Remember that failure stories are as inspirational as success stories. It makes you human, and listeners like that.

3. Remind yourself of these points:

• Tell the truth.
• Avoid a yes or no response unless you are asked for one.
• Ums and ahs kill a great story. Try avoiding them as much as you can.
• Avoid reading from prepared statements. Throw away the long notes and give the interview from the heart. It works every time.

4. When being interviewed:

• Keep your answers simple and brief.
• Be sincere.
• Find a way to get your message out.
• Be nice. Do not get angry with a poor interviewer.
• Always attempt an answer. Do not leave the host hanging.
• Be funny when it is appropriate.
• Use the host’s name if you get a chance.


5. Mechanics (if you’re in the studio):

• Do not rock or swivel in your chair.
• Match the host’s energy level.
• Speak closely to the microphone but avoid popping your Ps by avoiding direct contact with the microphone.
• If you are holding a pen, do not click it throughout the interview. (It is amazing what nerves make us do)

6. Mechanics (if you’re on the phone):

• Speak clearly into the mouthpiece (This may sound silly but many people hold the mouthpiece under their chin)
• Do not use speaker phone as the quality is terrible
• Do not use a cell phone as the drops and delays can sometimes make it sound very weird and nothing sounds worse than you constatntly saying “Pardon?” because you couldn’t hear the host.
• Stay out of the bathroom…there is too much echo. (Don't laugh...people have done it)

Wayne Kelly
© 2004 - 2007 On-Air Publicity.com. All rights reserved.

A trip to Farragut North is a journey back in time as well as foundation for the future

When I was in high school, each summer I worked at a Washington, D.C., law firm headquartered across the street from the Farragut North metro station. As a teenager, it was thrilling to dress up (think early 80's styles), take the subway downtown from Bethesda and go to work in the nation's capital. Emerging from the subway, I loved joining the flow of hustling business people packing the sidewalks on Connecticut Avenue.

Today, I got to enjoy Farragut North again, but with a new twist: I met with two National Geographic travel editors to discuss book proposals. Larry Porges and Barbara Noe (pictured right) and I discussed ideas over lunch at the Tabard Inn. Of course, I can't tell you the top secret ideas, but I will happily point to the NGS books they have published thus far to give you an idea of their titles.

Coming up soon - details so you can tune into the Travel'n On Radio Show this Saturday, Dec. I will be one of the featured guests on the topics of travel, fitness and travel writing.

Halloween on the Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, October 31, 2007 - Karen emcees as Carmen Miranda

One of the highlights my Halloween every year is emceeing the City of Santa Cruz's Halloween on the Wharf. On a gloriously sunny afternoon, I dressed to the hilt in my Carmen Miranda costume and announced the Kid's Costume Contest. Here are a few photos taken by my beau, Norman Field. For more Halloween photos from Norman, visit his gallery at Pbase.

Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival

Karen embraces a handsome specimen at the 37th Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival.

Adventure Travel World Summit 2007 - highlights

Friday, October 5, Whistler, British Columbia — Don George (red sweater), Everett Potter and I formed a media panel and did a 90-minute presentation entitled "How to Tap into the Influential Freelance Writer Market and Improve your Public Relations Strategies."
To indicate it was time for questions and answers from the audience, I put on my bike helmet, in tribute to the conference's host city, Whistler, famous not only for its skiing, but also mountain biking.

Photo credits for the media panel photos go to Drew Simmons of Pale Morning Media LLC, in Waitsfield, Vermont.

Adventure Travel World Summit 2007

For full collection of photos from Canada, visit:
the photos on my www.karenkefauver.com.


A Taste of Fat Tire Adventure in Whistler

My mountain biking debut in Canada was just like in the movies! After years of watching radical riders tackle the legendary mossy green trails of British Columbia in the Banff Mountain Film Festival, I knew just what to expect on a steep singletrack trail: lots of elevated, narrow wooden bridges to navigate.

My Saturday, Oct. 6 afternoon ride with a group of participants from the Adventure Travel World Summit was tame by Banff Mountain Film standards, but the adrenalin factor was still high. Our ride leaders, Chris Ford and Grant Lamont, from Whistler Bike Guide, took us on a fun maze of singletrack trails. Our 3-hour bike tour took us by Lost Lake and other scenic spots not far from Whistler Village.

My favorite part of riding was the challenge of crossing the wooden-planked bridges, which were narrow, uneven and twisty. I stayed on course on five of the six bridges I crossed in the woods: one one bridge, I dropped a foot off the side of the bridge but managed to stay upright on my bike.

When a heavy rain started to fall, it was time to head back. I was happy to have a taste of cross country adventure in a town where downhill mountain biking is king. Whistler Bike Guides plan to offer guided one-day and multi-cross-country tours in 2008. Check them out: Whistler Bike Guide.

The trip was sponsored by Outside Magazine as part of the third annual Adventure Travel World Summit, hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association.

Adventure Skydiving in Hollister

My friend Christian wanted to do something "he had always dreamed of" to celebrate his 40th birthday this past September. The party entertainment? Skydiving! Fortunately, he knew where to go to get expert instruction: Adventure Center Skydiving in Hollister, www.1800funjump.com.Turned out only eight of the 100+ guests invited took the host up on his unusual birthday offer. I am glad I lived to tell about it!

Special thanks to Sebastien Nicolas, my tandem skydive instructor. He had a great sense of humor paired with solid experience. Plus, we had fun talking about what his fiance, Sarah, thinks of his job (she thinks it's cool!). My fiance, Norman, was on the airplane with me, also about to do his first tandem jump.

I survived skydiving!

Skydiving - here I come!

Santa Cruz, CA —
Instead of my usual Saturday morning yoga class in Santa Cruz, I am about to go skydiving in Hollister instead! It was not my idea of a relaxing weekend morning, but when my good friend Christian Fine invited Norman and me and 163 other of his closest friends, to celebrate his 40th birthday with "one of those things I always wanted to do" - how could we refuse? Actually, all but 8 of us declined his invitation. At 10 a.m. this morning, we will all meet at Hollister Airport (about a 45-minute drive from Santa Cruz) and jump out of a perfectly good ariplane from 18,000 feet. I will let you know how it goes, hopefully...

Although it's morbid to consider my funeral arrangements before I leave this morning, if I don't make it back to complete this blog entry after my first tandem skydive jump with Adventure Skydiving, Inc., know that I want the cause of death stated in my obituary: "Karen jumped off of a perfectly good airplane at 18,000 feet up and she had a great time — 'til the end."

Not surprisingly, I am not the first person to ponder the wisdom of the jump - Adventure Skydiving helpfully addresses the issue in their Frequently Asked Questions section of their website:

Is Skydiving Dangerous?
Of course it's dangerous. You get out of a plane three miles above the earth. And gravity does work, in fact, it rules supreme. The only thing between a skydiver and "deceleration trauma" is a chunk of nylon about the size of your living room. Which part of not being dangerous was unclear?

Is It Safe?
Ahhh...a much better question.
Adventure Center Skydiving owns the latest student, solo, and tandem gear. All of the equipment used at Adventure Center Skydiving is serviced and maintained by FAA certified technicians of the highest ratings. The parachutes are packed by professionals, the reserves packed and repacked even if unused (it's not only a good idea, it's the law). Although an inherently dangerous sport, just as driving a car is an inherently dangerous activity (you did know that, right?), we take every precaution to assure your safety while on our drop zone. Do you drive with bad brakes and bald tires?

So, the short answer is that the sport of skydiving has been made as safe as possible. And at Adventure Center Skydiving, we take every precaution possible before, during, and after your skydive.

Air and Space story on Burning Man

Burning Man's Magic Airport

Watch the Burning Man revelers pull an airport out of the desert…then make it disappear.
By Chad Slattery.
My mom emailed me the link to this wonderful article from Air and Space. Enjoy!

Photos from Burning Man 2007

Love-Hate Affair at Burning Man 2007

My first Burning Man experience was a love-hate affair. During my five-day stay in Black Rock Desert in Nevada, (Monday, Aug. 27 to Friday, August 31) my feelings fluctuated between jubilation and loathing. I loved the spirit of freedom, the fabulous art cars and massive art installations. My primary interest in attending was to view the incredible sculptures and buildings I had seen in pictures for years - what I saw in the dusty desert actually surprassed my expectations. However, I hated the constant cacophony of contrasting music that thumped through the playa past 2 a.m. and started again at 6 a.m. for a pagan sunrise ritual. Though I was massively sleep-deprived, I am absolutely glad I went because it is an experience I will always remember. Will I go again? The verdict is still out! More soon.. For more of my Burning Man 2007 photos, visit http://www.pbase.com/karenkefauver/burning_man_2007

Burning Man - Off to the Playa!

At home in Santa Cruz, Norman models a pink wig, gas mask and goggles - what he will wear when a dust storm hits in the desert. We leave on Sunday, August 26, to drive to Black Rock Desert in Nevada. We plan to carpool with Cory and John to honor the theme of Burning Man 2007 - "The Green Man," an emphasis on global sustainability. For now, we are packing costumes, outdoor wear for cold nights and hot days, camping gear and of course, toilet paper. The only thing supplied on the playa is porta potties. We will take 2 gallons of water per person per day to drink. Our quartet - all newbies to Burning Man, will join a group of 30 from Santa Cruz, a group named the Twisted Quackers. Although we have packed for plenty of 24-hour bike races, packing for this event has been an unprecedented challenge! Yet, we think all the preparation is worthwhile and anticipate our first Burning Man will be a wild adventure!

Tufa towers at Mono Lake, CA

Mono Lake is one of my favorite places in Northern California. On a recent camping trip at Convict Lake in Inyo National Forest, Norman and I made a point of taking a 30-minute drive to Mono Lake for sunset. Here are a few of my photos.