Galicia

Looking at my itinerary, following four weeks in Austin, I'm headed to the Basque Country only to sit around at a bar until my other friends arrive a week later. Having perched my rump on the benches of the bar, Dean, everytime I head to Azkoitia, where my friends from my year abroad in high school remain glued to the same chairs, I might be ready for more adventure.

The rain last summer, when I visited to meet my new host-niece, stomped my climbing plans, but this time I think I'll head further out, maybe to Galicia.

Picos de Europa from jtsoft

The Picos de Europa, lying between the Basque Country and Galicia, host some fantastic mountains and some climbing (article) near Las Arenas, with Cares Gorge path (Walking Europe) running down in between the peaks.

But if I can make it all the way out to Vigos, on the Northwest coast of Spain, I might be able to find some unique culture and climbing. Helps to have a few ideas before I get there or I'll quickly be sucked into my little town with its cobblestone streets, bocadillos, pelota courts and juergas that I got to know all too well back when I was sixteen.

Gear

A rough list of gear for my travels

• Canon digital camera with three batteries & charger


• Flip video (AA batteries)


• Toiletries (toothbrush and paste, floss, razor, deodorant)


• Two Pair underwear, one pair short socks, one pair Thorlo's high socks

• Two quick drying short sleeve shirts
  
• Lightweight fleece


• Rain-repellent jacket and pants


• Pair travelling shoes (TBD), one pair running shoes


• One of each: running shorts, regular shorts, pants


• Poncho to serve as a tarp, twine, set of stakes


• 35 Liter light-weight backpack with framesheet


• Styrofoam pad cut up in backpack as framesheet


• Small, light 20 degree bag


• Bivy sack
• Quick drying towel and two bandanas

Weighing in somewhere around 12 lbs?

Finances

Current issues surrounding the travels to be taken are budgetting concerns. A bit of inquiry has not resulted in any broad grants or fellowships begging to be stolen by an engineer doing social work in India. The result will be a month of working in Austin, meaning a nice trip home, not quite at the peak of summer, and the potential to do a lot more planning.

Also on the table are plans to interview non-profits along the way, asking questions about incorporating new technology and where funding comes from, recording the videos on my new flip video, and eventually helping Mrs. Deborah Edward (aka Mom) to write a book on the subject, using her non-profit expertise.

Another idea is to try to get a local outdoors store to support my travels in exchange for an article or two for a newsletter or just mad props on my blog. Other thoughts?

where is he going?

Worst attempt at route map ever created with Photoshop*

Departing June 17th for the shortest frequent flier ticket I could find to Bilbao (~24 hrs)
Embarking June 24th from Azkoitia, Spain in a newly purchased used car
Associates/Fellow Drivers: Thomas Chris Kelly, James Kelly (brothers)

1. The Drive: Driving through Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia
Arriving Ulan Bataar ~6 weeks later.

Blue means driving

2. CHINA: Next step is a train ride down to Beijing - a day or two of OLYMPICS! Also an opportunity to stock up on some clean shirts - other shirts = most likely perma-stained

Dotted = flight to Chengdu. Blue was going to be a motorcycle drive through Tibet to the capital but that is looking less likely due to politics.

3. Volunteer in India: Flight or train to Uttarakhand, India where I will volunteer with Avani-KUMAON to develop water sanitation and alternative energy programs in the rural areas at the feet of the Himalayan mountains.

4. Southern India: the green is around a thousand mile bike ride down to the southern coast of India in April and May

Returning with stories and maybe a new haircut: ~May 29th (longest I can hold off on getting my return ticket with frequent flier miles)

*more poor attempts at photoshopped maps to come until access to program is discontinued

Social Work in India

Philanthropy and the Third Sector (India) - information about the history of and current situation for philanthropic work in India.

Gautam Yadama - WashU's Brown School of Social Work's director of Int'l Studies. Interests: "Micro-institutional strategies of development; Social and economic development; International development; Role of non-governmental organizations in development"

Glen Stone's Brave New Crops (Syllabus) - section on GMO's in India

Dolly Daftary (ddaftary@wustl.edu) - WashU PhD student; M.A. in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, food security in rural areas

Other Blogs

The Adventure Blog


Sierra Blogging Post

other stuff?

India Himalayas

BestHike.com recommendations -

Milam Glacier & Nanda Devi

Miliam Glacier Teahouse Trek - from IndiaMike.com (India Travel Forum)

Nanda Devi Sanctuary <guidebook>

Kauri Pass <guidebook>

Source of the Ganges <guidebook>

HimalayaExpeditions.com - stuff