Saturday, December 13, 2008

Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge

Heading out on assignment for a client is always a thrill, but this particular trip took me 12 time zones away from home. Checkpoint Zero Adventure Racing, the leading source for adventure racing news in North America, sent me to the Middle East to cover the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge in the United Arab Emirates. The emphasis of my coverage is North American teams, so I've been spending time with teams Nike, Salomon/Crested Butte, SOLE and DART-nuun. You can read the reports I've been posting over on Checkpoint Zero by clicking here. This shot from the sand dunes near Liwa, Abu Dhabi, is typical of the terrain teams trekked through during the event. Sand, sand and more sand! Us media types were escorted through the dunes by a local 4x4 club. All the jostling led to me losing my lunch at one point! As I often say, it's not really an adventure unless you throw up at least once. So true!

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Rockefeller Plaza, all Dressed Up

I'm in New York City for a few days, visiting friend Jake Bennett before I hop a plane from JFK to the Middle East. Jake's apartment is in a fabulous location for a NYC first-timer like me. He's in Midtown East, and very near a Subway station. Today he took me on a walking tour of Manhattan's famous shopping district, Fifth Avenue. I've long been a fan of Cartier wristwatches, but never seen one. That changed today, when I tried on a $10,000.00 tank watch. It felt good, but not ten grand good, so I guess I'm back to my Wengers and HighGear watches. Here's a shot I got of "30Rock," it's an actual place, not just a TV show!