WanderingJustin.com Rotating Header Image

February, 2009:

Update from Wellington Airport

Well … it’s been some time the past few days. Waitomo has some awesome caving, and the glow worms inhabiting them are a pretty incredible sight. Waitomo itself … as my new friend Billy Black says, “it’s a two-horse town, and one horse has died.”
That adds up to a lot of quiet, fresh air and clothes that reek of musty caves. The drive to Wellington took us past our old friend, Tongariro National Park. It was good to get a final glimpse of Mt. Ngaurahoe again. Lots of cool little towns between there and Wellington. I have a boatload of photos to share, so stick with me.

Awesome info coming …

Before I made my plans for New Zealand, I was infuriated by the lack of really specific info for tackling Mt. Ngauruhoe, aka Mount Doom. When I get back to my home computer, I am going to serve up a bomber of a post about this hike.
For now, take my word that this is an awesome, epic and unforgettable hike. Details and advice coming soon! And also photos that are seriously going to blow you away.
Oh, and the Waitomo Caves area glowworm cave tours are no slouches, either!

Update from Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

The weather at Tongariro National Park can -and does- change quickly. Rain gear is a must!
Water might be essential, but it’s better to drink it out of a bottle than get soaked in sheets of it falling from the sky. Still, the scenery here is awesome. I have expect to see Bruce Campbell and Kevin Sorbo re-enacting scenes from “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.”
But here’s a preview of the advice to come later: Don’t count on stocking up on energy bars and drinks at the park. Stop in Taupo to load up. Much smarter. I learned this the hard way. Mars Bars are not – I repeat, not- good hiking snacks.

Tried it today …

Just a quick note … it’s a crime that zorbing isn’t spreading like crazy throughout the United States. It is a BLAST!
That’s just something else for you to look forward to reading when I return from New Zealand.

A Quick Update

Hey, readers! Wandering Justin now has his fresh New Zealand stamp in his passport (and sorry for referring to myself in the third person …). You are going to love hearing about this place! More coming soon.

Three Shots from the New Pentax

From blog photos

I’m still getting used to my Pentax K100DS. It’s easy as pie with the modern lenses, but shooting with old manual-only lenses is a bit trickier. But part of the reason I picked this camera was its ability to use cool old lenses I could score on the cheap. Sounds like a good way to learn!
We had a cloudy morning here in Phoenix a few days ago, which made for a few nice shots before going to work. I think I need to work on my focusing a bit.

From blog photos

From blog photos

IMS Marathon – The Final Post

Alright, here’s the deal with the IMS Arizona Marathon. The race director said some of the pace folks using GPS receivers also noticed variations in the course length. But they’ve decided to let the results stand as they are since USATF certified it.
Now, apparently USATF is calculating the course length by having two people ride bicycles that somehow use their wheels to measure the course. The bicyclist and ex-shop rat in me doesn’t like that – there are simply too many variables involved in a bike tire versus the cold-blooded accuracy of a modern GPS receiver. Cruise missiles use GPS receivers for guidance, not tires (obviously!).
The race director did say that next year’s plans call for some adjustments to the course. I think that’s a reasonable compromise.
Either way, my wife and I still scored our personal records. So I can dig it. Good luck to ‘em next year, right?

5 Books to Help Survive Long-Haul Flying

I’m convinced that I’m one of the few people on the planet who enjoys long-haul flying. It’s nice to settle in and make a plane my home for 15 hours, especially if I’m headed someplace cool. While aloft, nobody can text me. I’m immune from telemarketers. That means I have a great sanctuary to enjoy some reading.
If you’re planning a long-haul flight, let me give you five suggestions for books that can make the flight a lot better.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal (Christopher Moore) – This is a masterwork of speculative historical fiction. It’s funny. It’s moving. It’s creative. You’ll follow Biff, the Robin to Jesus’ Batman, through the childhood, missing years and eventual death of the Son of God. The first time I read this book, I laughed so hard that people at coffee shops thought I was going into convulsions.
The Underdog (Joshua Davis) – The author of this great non-fiction piece has mommy issues. He’s spent most of his life trying to please his former beauty queen mother. This leads him on a quest to be the best at something … anything! He takes up backward running, bullfighting, extreme sauna and more as he struggles to be more than a bespectacled data entry clerk.
Bad Monkeys (Matt Ruff) – This is a twisting, turning mash-up of cyber-spy thriller with the very real possibility that the protagonist is simply off her rocker. Jane gets arrested and claims she is part of a super-secret group [...]

A glitch in the IMS Marathon matrix

It seems there might be a controversy brewing about the IMS Arizona results. Word is the pace group leaders and other runners using GPS receivers are saying the marathon course was a full .25 miles long. That’s a quarter of a mile, and enough to really jack the times up by a good two minutes.
So far, the race director does not look very open to input from people in the know. She claims the Boston Marathon folks laid the course out, and she trusts them to be right on the money over the GPS receivers. Had it been a few receivers, I could see. Had it been a smaller fraction of a mile (like .05 miles), I could see. But this is not good.
Stay tuned for more …

10 Thoughts on the IMS Marathon

Wandering Justin passes judgment on the IMS Arizona Marathon!

Subscribe in a reader

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Dont want to go to the cinema? Watch Movies.