This website illuminates my life and adventures. My longing for freedom has led me to over 2600 of the world’s 3978 provinces, to every country on earth and to the summit of the highest peak on each continent (thank heaven for good weather!). In my travels, I learned to respect the intelligence and ingenuity of people of all races and callings both past and present. Come see the world as I see it: as a peaceful place, full of nature and beauty. With the right spirit and intent, we can make our world a virtual Garden of Eden.
DISTINCTIONS: BBC 2017 Travel Pioneer • Journal Articles • Explorer’s Club Flag Expeditions
World Parks Project • Walk Across South America • Jeff Shea Travel Map
Slovenia, Rogasovci Prov, Stork
Thailand, Yasothon Prov, East Meets West
Telly (José Luis Rodríguez Castillo) first pointed the Bactrophora Dominans out to me as we moved upriver in our raft. I photographed then collected this remarkable insect deep within the Meseta de Ichúm. (I was carrying vials and preservative alcohol for the collection of insects.) I later showed the photo to famed Venezuelan explorer, Charles Brewer-Carias. He took an interest in it, then assembled a team of entomologists, who identified it as the only specimen of B. Dominans ever found in Venezuela. A paper was published in Check List, the journal of biodiversity data in 2015.
Turkey, Artvin Prov, Wood Village
Turkey, Gumushane Prov, Mountain
Afghanistan, Tea Shop, 2002 - The tea shop in Afghanistan is, not surprisingly, very much of a man's sort of thing in Afghanistan. The men here were very friendly. I sat on the raised platform, shoeless, and enjoyed a couple of small glasses of sugary tea. A canopy provided shade.
Seram, Pisang Bakar, 2006 - Pisang Bakar means Grilled Banana. This species of banana in Seram can be simply thrown into the fire, then eaten, once cooked. It tasted like warm pudding. For days I had felt drained from the exertion of walking in the rain forest. But after eating this, I felt reinvigorated.
Turkey, Antalya Prov, Mountain Scene
Thailand, Pattani Prov, Ancient Structure
Cambodia, Kampong Chaam Prov, Figurine