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
Laos, Champassak Prov, Falls
Slovenia, Smartno Pri Litiji Prov, Dilapidated Roof
Greenland, Warming Island, off coast of Liverpool Land, Cross Fox Steals Into Camp, 2006 - At night, the fox came to camp and investgated our garbage dump.
Turkey, Ordu Prov, The Perfect Turkish Coffee
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.
USA, Guam, Sunset
Nepal, Katmandu, Milk Baba, 1999 - Milk Baba was so named because he lives entirely on milk. No food passes his lips. He lives in a small room on the side of the stream at Pashiputinath, in the Katmandu greater city. He is one of the most memorable people I ever met. When he stood and let his hair down, it was longer than his body, falling to the floor and then some. He sat and began to play a hand organ. It was the most mellifluous melody I could imagine, combining beauty and mystery. He continued to play this for about ten minutes, and then, unexpectedly, he began to sing. The sound of his voice carried us away into another dimension. Being a good host, he asked us if we were wanted something to drink. Milk!!!
Myanmar, Bago Prov, Bamboo Panel Maker
India, Rajasthan, Throng of Kids, 1984 - This throng of children was typical when we passed a village on our walk to the Taj Mahal. It was not unusual to have fifty people watching me do something as uneventful as removing a toothbrush from my pack. Sometimes the youngsters would heckle us; after many days of this it became unbearable.
Thailand, Phayao Prov, Fisherman On Phayao Lake