Kitesurfing and Paragliding Adventures

Way, way way out there Jody returned to Tahiti a few days before the start of the latest Epic. By then I'd had a few days to scope out the paragliding scene, which is nothing short of spectacular. There's a local club , with a couple dozen local pilots who welcomed me into their family with big smiles and a generous show of hospitality. An easy, though bumpy 15 minute ride up a ridge just outside of Papeete takes you to launch, which overlooks neighboring Moorea, several world-famous surf breaks, and miles of barrier reef, which from altitude is spectacular. The thermals start firing ... Read Full Story

Into Never-Never Land   See the kites down there? Yeah, pretty nutty The following words are true. I promise. Thankfully we've got the photos to prove at least most of it or you would all think I'm one of the most sensational fictional writers of all time. But this is non-fiction . I'm entering my 9th straight year of sailing around the world. I'd thought I'd seen just about everything. I couldn't have been more wrong.   Discovery taking on fuel, and her new guests We've got a very full boat this time, in fact so full that I've abandoned my cabin for the ... Read Full Story

Waves, Wind and Pros Note: all the following photos have been supplied by our guest photographer, John Bilderback   John and Alexis Bilderback join The Best Odyssey When Jody and I started laying out the plan for The Best Odyssey our dream was to travel where no one else does and do what no one else has. I always define life as a string of moments- the more precious moments you can string together means life is being lived instead of passing you by. The last 8 days have been a continuous mind-blowing string. First you've got to put together the right group- special ... Read Full Story

Down the Rabbit Hole We Go   Look closely, that isn't someone kiting Stu Belbas paraglides to the beach with a Gin Rebel Seriously I want to know what just happened. The photos and my unreliable memory insist on giving me reason to believe I've gone absolutely out of my already questionable mind. I can't even stick to what I know because it has to be some crazy, wild, fantastic dream. But these are supposed to be logs of what we do out here. OK so the last log I promised I would stick to the truth as nutty as it seemed. I promise ... Read Full Story

Two different Worlds, One Amazing Trip   Yeah, sucks eh? Just another day in paradise Our chefs took some badly needed time off before this last Epic opting for some civilization back up in Tahiti while Jody, Bruce and I stayed put on Discovery hoping to get up close and personal with some Humpback whales and also to explore the paragliding potential of Tubuai. The winds finally backed off to a reasonable level (imagine not wanting wind on a kitesurfing expedition!) for a few days during our break and luckily our whale efforts paid off. Seeing whales in Tubuai takes very little effort- they ... Read Full Story