All North America Writings

Motorcycle Accident and the Death of my Travel Muse

Written by Stephen on November 21 2014

There is a moment when we intensely discover something that we love about life that marks us, that forever changes us. I knew early on I liked travel and I was well aware I was quite fond of motorcycles, but it wasn’t until I bought my 2nd Motorcycle from one of my best compadres that either of those things became a passion.

I took a month off work to ride it up the West Coast from SoCal and across the top through the Rockies all the way back to Cincinnati,…

What I did on my Summer Vacation: Life Creeps West at a Slow Pimp’s Pace

Written by Stephen on November 06 2014

For about the last year and a half I’ve been rambling around the eastern U.S. and Canada, spending time with friends and family from where I grew up trying to formulate a plan for more adventure. 

The more I looked the more I saw, the more I saw the more I planned, the more I planned the less I did until suddenly I was reminded of something Sylvia Plath wrote:

“I saw my life branching out before me like the…

Save a Life on Your Adventure: How To Do C.P.R.

Written by Stephen on April 23 2014

Yesterday I completed my First Aid/CPR/AED training through the American Heart Association.  With all my research into safe travel and first aid kits in the past I honestly have to say I have no idea why I didn’t do this sooner.  I paid $45 USD for the certification and took a three hour long class, but I know you can find places that will you teach you for free without the certification (highly recommend it).  Additionally, if you are in the US…

Mammoth Cave National Park: Going Underground in the World’s Largest Cave System

Written by Stephen on April 22 2014

Underneath the bluegrass of Kentucky lays a series of seemingly endless caverns that wind their way like the cardiovascular system of the Earth into depths unknown. This system of natural tunnels tell the story of man throughout time; they were the host of lost Native American rituals dating back as far as 30 B.C., the hideout for bootleggers during the dark dry days of American prohibition, a catacomb for the dead, and an unlikely escape from societal hierarchy for the slaves who worked in the caves with white men nearly…

How to Travel Safe like a Jedi: First Aid Kits, Travel Insurance, and Instinct

Written by Stephen (Sponsored Post) on February 26 2014

Unpredictability makes traveling exciting and like anything else worth doing it can also make it a bit dangerous.  I’ve had my fair share of calamities on the road, but ye must remember the old military saying, “Victory through preparation.” 

There are three things I contribute to my ability to walk away healthy from my travels; a solid first aid kit, travel insurance, and following my gut instinct.

First Aid Kit

If you intend to spend any amount of time traveling having a first aid kit is a no…

Five Things To Know About Central American Bathrooms

Written by Stephen on February 09 2014

Adjusting to a new environment can be tough; adjusting to a foreign bathroom can be even tougher. Lucky for you we’ve got a guest post this week from Central American toilet wizard and raccoon warrior Luke Armstrong .

I met Luke over the interwebs last week when he helped connect me to a Danish journalist.  Idle chatter followed, then serious chatter followed, and then full on discussion of foreign bathroom strategies and tactics followed in war-room like fashion. It was then I recognized that Luke was a travel Jedi…