This website illuminates my life and adventures. My longing for freedom has led me to over 2450 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
Vietnam, An Giang Prov, Duck Home
Turkey, Trabzon Prov, Landscape
Turkey, Artvin Prov, Porta Mountain Man House
China, Guangdong Province, Yangshuo Ox and Man, 1992CU1 - I was traveling with my Chinese girlfriend at the time. As a girlfriend she was fine, but as a wife, well, it turned out poorly and ended soon. Every cloud has a silver lining. From her, I learned to type, and I learned an appreciation of China's great past.
Congo Zaire, Muddy Road, 1984 - My girlfriend Gabrielle and I took a truck from far eastern Zaire near Uganda to Kisangani on the Congo River. The roads were atrocious nearly the whole way, a reddish brown mud, as shown here. The truck drivers kept talking about "Kilometer 57." Finally one night we pulled in to "Kilometer 57", essentially a village by that name fifty-seven kilometers from Kisangani (Stanleyville). What was all the excitement about? Kilometer 57 was a brothel town! The drivers invited me to a girl right in front of Gabrielle. Politely, I declined.
UK, Milton Keynes Prov, Rushes
Tanzania, Kilimanjaro Flower, 1984 - My experiences in New Guinea taught me to observe the small beauties in nature, such as these tiny flowers on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Papua New Guinea, Mendi Widow Side View, 1983 - It seemed that the tradition of wearing these beads while in mourning not only served to notify others of her status but also served to discourage suitors by hiding her body.
Slovenia, Bovec Prov, Village Below
Slovenia, Turnisce Prov, Bird With Feathered Feet