tim morch

Every morning, around 11am, the fog lifts, and I carry my Feathercraft kayak to the dock. This section of Lake Alqueva is calm as I paddle out. There are only a couple of boats on mooring buoys here in Aldeia da Estrela, the occasional fishing boat on weekends, and not much more. Lake Alqueva, Portugal, is a paddler's paradise. Filled with islands and endless bays, exploring by sea kayak reveals the hidden gems.

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.

The Calamanian Islands are legendary for a Second World War battle in which the U.S. Fast Carrier Task Force sunk three Japanese warships.

Waiting for the weather to clear at Grande Lago Alqueva, I was invited to participate in the 2nd Portuguese Laser SB20 "Champions Regatta".

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

On the morning of Dec. 7, 2017, we set out from Chennai, India, aboard a pair of KTM Duke 250 motorcycles,for 28 days and over 2600 km.

On the morning of Dec. 7, 2017, we set out from Chennai, India, aboard a pair of KTM Duke 250 motorcycles. For twenty-eight days and more than 2,600km we explored rural Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Few foreigners ride the back roads of southern India and we certainly attracted a lot of attention. From chai stall stares to school children cheers and even newspaper coverage, here are a few tales of our experience.

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.

A sign indicated it was the first of 22 hairpin turns that lay ahead, our first experience with a numbered switchback highway.

Hogenakkal Falls is popular with Indian tourists who come to bathe in the pools, view the cascade, take selfies and buy tacky souvenirs.

Perhaps best of all, we knew that no matter what the weather delivered, a dry and friendly home awaited. Our friends and hosts at Green Banana brightened up the soggiest of days. Small and intimate, there is a genuine sense of family and communal living where everyone blends seamlessly.

We stumbled on the Sooksavan Cafe. Dating to 1966, the rustic French colonial building now sports WiFi and cappucino amid the nostaglia.

After a smooth ride to Nong Chan, near the Vietnam border, we turned south to get lost. Just outside town, Astried had her first flat...

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!

We had just rounded the southwestern point on Phayam Island and conditions were good to cross the strong currents of Ratchakrut Channel.

Imagine an exotic destination where cyan waters meet cerulean skies. Throw in a handful of downy-white cumulus clouds scudding overhead.

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