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
Western Sahara, El Layoune, SatelliteDishes, 2000 - This is the cityscape of El Layoune, Western Sahara. I was amazed by the number of satellite dishes.
Thailand, Loei Prov, Chiang Khan Window
Papua New Guinea, Oksapmin Man With Bird Of Paradise Quill, 1983 - In my journal, I mistakenly described the protrusions through his nose as Cassowary quills. I now believe they are actually quills from one of over forty species of bird of paradise.
Vietnam, ThanhHoa Prov, FlutesCU2
PH, Abra Province, Jeepney Navigates Fallen Boulder, 2008, IMG_2080 - I hired this Jeepney to take me over the mountains between Vigan and Tabuk in the far northwest of Luzon, the northernmost of the Philippines big islands. Here the Jeepney driver navigates a treacherous rockfall.
Egypt, Lights on the Pyramid of Chefren, 1984 - On June 30, 1984, I slept on top of The Great Pyramid of Cheops. I had to find a way up without being seen by the guards. I climbed up the huge blocks of eroded stone after sunset. I made it to the top and tried to sleep but it was uncomfortable, because there were too many mosquitoes! I wrote the following in my diary, "I started climbing Cheops about 1:00 a.m. Because of guards near the corner, I had to climb up the center of the pyramid with my guitar on, pack and bag. Rocks crumbled in my hands and under my feet. I inched my way up for one and a half hours. There was no one on top but me. I played the guitar with my bottom naked, rocking on top of the Great Pyramid." (Although it is not recorded in my diary, it seems to me that when I was climbing the Sound and Light Show began and Chefren was illuminated. However, this recollection seems to conflict with my diary, since it seems unlikely they would have a show late at night. I distinctly remember being afraid they would see me climbing up the Great Pyramid.) This photograph of Chefren was taken from the top of Cheops. Many people do not realize that you can go inside the Pyramid of Cheops. At 1 p.m. on June 30, 1984, prior to climbing Cheops, I wrote the following in my diary, "I went to the pyramids with Jeshua. We went inside the Great Pyramid. I went up the corridor to the tomb deep in the heart of the pyramid, a square granite room four meters high, fourteen meters long and eight meters wide (?). Alone, I laid in the sarcophagus when all the tourists had gone. Soaking it up. We walked around the pyramids, the Sphinx. Had falafels and tamarindo in town. We gazed to the top to Chepren pyramid (which still has its cap on it) figuring out if it was feasible to climb it."
Cambodia, Mondol Kiri Prov, Girl With Basket
Slovenia, Trzic Prov, Corner House
Slovenia, Dobrna Prov, Old Guitar-Like Instrument
Laos, Sekong Prov, Waterfall