A Log Cabin In The Woods

A pile of logs...

Transformed into a log cabin...

A log cabin on wheels in Hilversum, The Netherlands designed and built by Piet Hein Eek as a study for music-entertainer Hans Liberg. It looks like a pretty cozy little retreat. For more images see this link.

How To Travel Across North America For Free

I just came across this opportunity to travel across North America for free. How?

There is a website and service called Hit The Road which is an automobile delivery service. The company matches people with car delivery needs with people with transportation needs. The owner of the car pays a fee to have their car delivered to a specified destination. The driver of the car receives a small fee (basically gas money) to pick up and deliver the car. The company is based out of Canada and most of the opportunities are within Canada and between Canada and the United States. There are some rules and regulations, but hey... sounds like a cool way to see North America overland for travelers with flexible schedules.

Check out the Hit The Road website of FAQs.

Nikon 1 AW1 - The world's first digital underwater INTERCHANGEABLE LENS camera

From the Nikon press release...

Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the release of the Nikon 1 AW1, advanced camera with interchangeable lenses. The Nikon 1 system proposes new forms of imaging expression, and the Nikon 1 AW1 is the world's first digital camera with interchangeable lenses that is waterproof to 15 m (JIS/IEC Class 8 (IPX8) equivalent) and can withstand the shock of a fall from up to 2 m (MIL-STD-810F Method 516.5: Shock standard compliant).

The Nikon 1 AW1 is the perfect compact size for taking everywhere, with the same concept as all Nikon 1 cameras are based, and supports the world's fastest*1 high-speed continuous shooting rate of approximately 15 fps with AF tracking and high-speed continuous shooting of full-resolution images at approximately 60 fps when focus is locked. It is also waterproof to 15 m and can withstand the shock of a fall from a height of up to 2 m. It has a stylish and elegant design that is perfect for everyday use around town, and just as with other Nikon 1 cameras, it supports a variety of 1 NIKKOR lenses as well as F-mount NIKKOR lenses (Mount Adapter FT1 required). When used with the dedicated 1 NIKKOR AW 10mm f/2.8 and 1 NIKKOR AW 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 lenses—the world's first waterproof and shockproof lenses to be released at the same time as the Nikon 1 AW1—the places and situations in which photography is possible are expanded to include more outdoor scenes, such as in the mountains and at the beach.

 The Nikon 1 AW1 is equipped with an action control function that enables quick and easy operation such as switching between menu screens, and a Control lock function that prevents accidental operation when wearing gloves, as well as built-in electronic compass, altimeter, depth gauge, virtual horizon display, and location data functions that can be used to create logs tracking depth or position. It also offers a number of unique functions that make outdoor shooting easier, including an Outdoor display option that makes the display easier to read outdoors or wherever ambient lighting is bright. A new Underwater creative mode that makes it easy for anyone to enjoy underwater photography has been added. Users can choose from three underwater options: Standard, Scuba, and Close up. What's more, colors can be viewed and adjusted using the live view display to achieve desired colors. A number of functions convenient for underwater photography have also been added, including Underwater options for white balance and auto distortion control.

More info and specifications at Nikon 1 AW1

I want to fly like an eagle

Amazing video footage of what it is like to fly like an eagle. 

Check out this POV video that was taken with a GoPro video camera strapped to the back of an eagle and documents the eagle in flight... WOW!

On Any Sunday - The Movie

I enjoy watching films of all genres. But I must admit that I especially enjoy watching films about motorcycles and motorcycle travel. Over the next few weeks I'll be screening some of my favorite motorcycle movies. Stay tuned!

On Any Sunday is a classic film and perhaps one of the most nostalgic motorcycle movies of all time. The film is a documentary about the various forms of motorcycling as the sport was emerging in the 1970's. Malcolm Smith, Bert Lawwill and Steve McQueen star in many of the scenes. My favorite segment is with Malcolm Smith riding the International Six Day Trial in Spain. While the style and cinematography of the film is perhaps a bit dated, I think that the humor is timeless. 

The complete film is now available for viewing on YouTube or right here. (1:36 minutes)

Stay tuned for Mondo Enduro

Seven Minute Interval Workout for Travelers

I came across this scientifically developed seven minute interval workout. I think that it would be an excellent workout routine for a traveler because it does not require any heavy equipment, pretty much just your body and a chair.

The high-intensity interval training provides many of the fitness benefits of prolonged endurance training but in much less time. Supposedly, even a few minutes of training at an intensity approaching your maximum capacity produces molecular changes within muscles comparable to those of several hours of running or bike riding.

Interval training, though, requires intervals; the extremely intense activity must be intermingled with brief periods of recovery. In the program, this recovery is provided in part by a 10-second rest between exercises. But even more, it’s accomplished by alternating an exercise that emphasizes the large muscles in the upper body with those in the lower body. During the intermezzo, the unexercised muscles have a moment to, metaphorically, catch their breath, which makes the order of the exercises important. The exercises should be performed in rapid succession, allowing 30 seconds for each, while, throughout, the intensity hovers at about an 8 on a discomfort scale of 1 to 10.

Source: The New York Times