Explorers Club Vice-President for Membership Development

Great news from the Explorers Club Annual Dinner (ECAD) weekend. I was elected to a three year term on The Explorers Club Board of Directors and appointed Vice-President for Membership Development. I'll be on expedtion to the Sahara Desert for a month then an expedition to the North Atlantic Ocean Gyre for a month and wanted to share this good news before I leave. Lots of fun challenges to be had. I'll try to make periodic updates during my expedition travels if I have satelite coverage! If not, then Cheers are in order until the end of May!

Messengers of Peace Project, Saudi Arabia, October 2011

At the invitation of HRH King Carl Gustaf of Sweden and the Saudi Royal Family, I attend a week long "Messengers of Peace" project sponsored by the World Scout Foundation's Baden-Powell World Fellowship. I was elected a Life Fellow in 1983! About 40 Fellows visited rarely seen Nabetean Tombs and other Archaeological sites in the Northern Districts of Saudi Arabia! This was a very special event in a most beautiful country with fabulous people and culture! Think Petra, Jordan without the tourists! The food was incredible! I took advantage of drinking a large bowl of fresh Camel's milk! What a treat! I also ate a 4 pound box of fresh raw dates! What a fun and very special event!

2012 Libyan Desert Expedition

I'm in preparation for my next Explorers Club Flag expedition to the Sahara Desert in commemoration of the WWII British "Long Range Desert Group" (LRDG) who served as a special forces unit fighting against German General Rommel! Our expedition team will be driving two rebuilt WWII Jeeps, a Wiley's and a Ford. We expect to drive them in the Sahara through to just over the Libyan border, then over to the Siwa Oasis and back to Cairo. In addition to the LRDG commemoration, we will survey pre-identified areas of our route for remains of the "Lost Army of Cambysis" cited by the Greek historian Heroditus. I look forward to a fun filled month long expedition in April with an exceptional team of explorers!

With Josh & Sharky at the Explorers Club

I was elected for a three year term to the Board of Directors of the Explorers Club in NYC this past Sunday! I look forward to a fun time participating in the leadership of this Outstanding organization! Here is a nice photo of me along with my good friends Josh and Sharky in front of the Explorers Club headquarters.

Mojave Desert NASA Mars Exploration Expedition 2011

I spent a week in the Mojave Desert of California conducting research on prehistoric lava tubes and their possible use to prepare for studies of the Martian surface for the Nationa Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Several of us are members of the Explorers Club of NYC including our expedition leader Jim Thompson. An exceptional week of research and study along with my expedition team and several NASA scientists and University professors and high school teachers.

Explorers Club Flag #80 Cave Diving & Archaeological Recovery in the Yucatan!

During most of January 2011 I was on expedition to the Yucatan of Mexico with an exceptional cave diving/dry cave team. Although I had recent rotator cuff surgery, I did particpate in the dry cave exploration and assisted with video & sound systems operations during the expedition. Over 50 cenotes were explored by this exceptional team of cave divers. Unfortunately, one of our team members, Brendan Nappier who is pictured on the far right of this photo, lost his life during another dive later last year. I want to dedicate this blog to his memory. Brendan was an exceptional diver and a wonderful friend. RIP Brendan! I'll post more on this expedition along with additional photos at a later date!

Bear Wressling

Back in 1984 I wrestled a Grizzly (Alaskan) Brown Bear in a match during a publicity stunt for the "84 Lumber Company." I've enclosed a couple of photos from this most outrageous experience. One is of "Victor the Bear" the other, of the T-Shirt I received for performing this most thrilling of my many experiences. What a rush, because it nearly killed me! LOL, Victor was 8' 5" tall and weighed in at around 900 lbs! I guess I can claim my entry into the Bear Clan now! Cheers! Enjoy!