tim morch

If somebody had shown me a video of life under lockdown when I was 18, I would have thought it a scene from a sci-fi movie.

I was trying to assemble collapsible sea kayak, but my eyes were repeatedly drawn to the implausibly clear, blue-green waters of Bacuit Bay.

The East Coast Road cuts through the Muttukadu Backwaters, an extensive estuary extending from north of Covelong to south of Mahabalipuram. In the seaside town of Mahabalipuram, we performed the standard tourist ritual, checking out the seaside temple and the old lighthouse. Walking the beach in front of “Mumu's Surf Shop”, decent waves near the temple were devoid of surfers. Touts were gentle and the beggars respectful.

Massive banyan trees dot the highway making for superbly shaded stops and random encounters. From the truck drivers carrying produce to market to the travelling salesman aboard a bicycle, roadside meetings are relaxed and wonderful. The crush of urban India recedes into a quiet, slow-paced rhythm.

On Nov 14, 2016, we started a 2,100km mostly off-road motorcycle adventure in southern Laos in search of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. What a ride!

The Rideau Canal is the oldest continuously operating canal in North America. When completed in 1832, it connected Kingston with Montreal via Ottawa. It was originally constructed to prevent against attacks from the United States and ensure the safe transfer of supplies from Montreal to Kingston. The St. Lawrence River bordering New York State left ships vulnerable and the new route prevented that. Take note: the Rideau Canal is definitely worth paddling. It is relatively