Experiences You Should Have

Find out why you should snorkel or dive the Blue Heron Bridge and why it's one of the best shore dives in the world!

Discover the Rainbow Serpent Music Festival and find out what makes this one of the most magical events of the year!

Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes: The Donna Marathon – Breast Cancer Marathon

 

I had the opportunity to interview Dana and Aimee from the Run Eat Drink Podcast at the largest podcast conference in the world, Podcast Movement. They travel to races all over and when I turned to them and asked them that one race that you should experience, they both responded with the same answer: DONNA Marathon.

 

What is the DONNA Marathon and Why Should You Experience it?

It’s a race that happens every year near Jacksonville, Florida to help support breast cancer research, survivors and those affected by breast cancer. This is a race for everyone. You don’t need to be an expert runner to participate. This is a special race that the entire community comes together to support and you don’t have to run a marathon to be a part of it. There are many shorter races and you don’t have to run them either.

 

This event is a true community. This race is for survivors, someone fighting breast cancer, and for family and friends of a survivor or someone who may have passed from breast cancer, or for anyone who wants to come out and support the cause. It’s a very special event where it’s much more than a race.

The Community

The neighborhoods decorate their houses with pink and white balloons. People will pass out mimosas, blueberry muffins, coffee, treats, and the entire community comes together. You are adopted by the community while you are there for the event. Many people will stay in front of their houses until the last runner passes by.

Honor Your Family and Loved Ones

I interviewed Dana and Aimee above (press the play button at the top to hear the full interview) and they did a great job of painting the experience. Partway through the interview, Dana shared that he lost his mom to breast cancer. That moment still tugs on my heart as I imagine them being at the DONNA surrounded by others who may have been in similar situations and coming together as a community and to walk/race in memory and support of their loved ones.

 

DONNA Marathon History

Their coach, Jeff Galloway (former Olympian) helped found this race with Donna Deegan (who this race is named after) because they wanted to help families lower their stress who are dealing with breast cancer. They wanted healing to be the primary focus. It’s an official event of The DONNA Foundation which gives financial assistance and support to those dealing with breast cancer. They also help fund breast cancer research. This was year number 13 for the race, and they do an amazing job of putting it together and building the community.

The race is sponsored by the Mayo Clinic, which is located in Jacksonville and is a massive contributor to breast cancer research and treatment. Many employees run in the race, help support it, pass out food, and they truly embrace the DONNA. Also shout out to Andi Sharp who is a doctor for the Mayo Clinic, breast cancer survivor and was the fastest woman at the course in 2019.

If you want to help support the DONNA foundation, check out the donate button below where you can give to this incredible giving and caring foundation.

 

Donate to the Donna Foundation 

When and Where is the DONNA Marathon?

It starts and finishes at Neptune Beach just 12 miles east of downtown Jacksonville at Beaches Town Center. The next race is February 7-9, 2020. Friday is a Social Shakeout and 5K to get to know the other racers. Saturday is the 5K and they start the Ultra then as well, while Sunday is the half marathon and marathon. It’s always the 2nd weekend in February.

 

Race Lengths at the DONNA Marathon

5K

Half Marathon

Marathon

Half Marathon Relay

Ultramarathon

Skills Needed to Participate

It doesn’t matter what athletic ability you have, you can participate. But if you are a hardcore racer, this is a Boston qualifying course. But if you’re more like me and you’re not a runner, you can walk it.

Swim with Migrating Flying Rays (Mobula Rays) in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes

Listen above to this podcast episode about swimming with the migrating flying rays (Mobula rays). Mobula Rays are many times known as devil rays, flying rays, or devil fish. I interviewed Jay Clue from Dive Ninjas about this amazing one-of-a-kind bucket list experience to witness thousands of Mobula rays underwater.

Mobula Rays in Baja California Sur, Mexico Photo by Jay Clue

The Experience: Swimming with Flying Rays (Mobula Rays)

In Baja California (Baja Mexico) there is a large aggregation of flying rays twice a year. It is mind-blowing as they come together to mate and feed every year in Baja. It’s one of those things you could do every day and it would never get old.

Fly into Cabo and you will wake up in the morning to see the sunrise rising over the ocean. You’ll leave your hotel and get on the boat with a small group of people and head out into the Sea of Cortez. As the boat cruises, you’ll finally know you’re in the right spot when you start to hear ‘pop pop pop’ which is the sound of the Mobula rays flying out of the water and landing.

Mobula Rays in Baja California Sur, Mexico Photo by Jay Clue

These flying rays are very acrobatic, and they jump up to 3 meters out of the water. They are great at getting out of the water but aren’t very graceful getting back into the water. You’ll start to see them jump out of the water. For every Mobula ray that jumps, there are probably a few hundred Mobula rays (flying rays) underwater.

The boat will follow the school on the surface for a while. Once the guides feel it is ok, then everyone puts on snorkeling gear and then slips into the water to witness this incredible experience. Many people only expect to see 20-30 rays in the water, but many times the first time people witness this migration, they end up seeing schools of thousands of Mobula rays.

Mobula Rays in Baja California Sur, Mexico Photo by Jay Clue

Once the rays were comfortable with the freedivers, they would freedive down next to the school and stay with the school for 3-4 hours. On one particular day, Jay dove 50 meters deep and found himself still in the school; these schools of rays are absolutely massive.

What Is It Like to Swim with Flying Rays (Mobula Rays)?

It’s like flying with a gigantic flock of birds, but underwater. The Mobula rays are about 3 feet (1 meter) wide and they swim in unison like they are soaring underwater. It is a completely awe-inspiring experience.

Photo by Jay Clue

Why Should You Experience These Schools of Mobula Rays

It’s the largest aggregation of a species on the planet. It only happens in special times of the year and is a very rare and incredible experience. It’s wild in the sense that this is something you would see on National Geographic or on BBC. You become a part of the school when you swim with it.

When Does the Mobula Ray (Flying Ray) Aggregation Happen?

There are 2 times of year to see these incredible schools of flying rays.

Mid to late November through January is a smaller migration of rays off of Baja Mexico. Schools are 50-100, maybe a couple hundred.

Mid to late April through early July is the best time to see them as there are giant schools of Mobula rays, with schools containing thousands of rays.

Drone footage of schooling mobula rays off the coast of Baja California with Dive Ninja Expeditions

What Are the Different Ways to see the Giant Schools of Mobula Rays

Day Trip: There are some companies that offer day trips to see the giant schools of Mobula/Devil/Flying Rays. These trips are limited in their offering because you don’t have enough time to truly experience the rays. They stay closer to the shore and cities, which loses the magic.

5-day Expedition: Land-based trip, you go out every day. 2 days are travel days, while 3 days are spent on the water during the time the best time to have the best interactions.

Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes: Traveling to the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica with Lynn Smith

Interview with Lynn Smith:

I interviewed Lynn Smith who is an inspiring adventurer and traveler and I love how she travels! Check out her travel blog for more ideas and also listen to the interview above by pressing the play button or listening wherever you listen to podcasts! Also, check out her post about her trip to the Osa Peninsula here.

Where is the Osa Peninsula and What Makes it So Special?

Located in the remote and lush Southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, the Osa is approximately 700 square miles, or a bit larger than the city of Houston, TX which is approx 600 square miles. The Osa is bound on the west by the Pacific Ocean, and on the east by the Golfo Dulce (a tropical fiord, over 600 feet deep!), and on the northwest by Drake Bay.

What Makes the Osa Peninsula so Unique?

You can encounter all four species of monkeys found in Costa Rica (spider, white-faced, squirrel and howler), Poison Dart frogs, Morpho butterflies, anteaters, agouti, coatimundi, agoutis, sloths, parrots, toucans, forest turkeys, exotic waterfowl, jaguars, ocelots, and margays. We saw all but the cats (we did hear a margay at night!), and we also saw many of the more than 460 species of birds, as well as a few snakes, lots of insects, and the footprints of forest peccaries (wild pigs) down on the beach.2-3% of flora found nowhere else in the worldThe largest remaining tract of lowland rainforest in Pacific MesoamericaMore than 700 species of trees (which is more than all the Northern temperate regions combined)140 mammals, including 25 species of dolphins and whales4 species of sea turtlesThe largest population of scarlet macaws in Central America

...and the only known place on our planet where populations of both Northern and Southern Humpback whales meet to give birth to their young- in the Golfo Dulce.

Lynn's travel plan to the Osa Peninsula

Why Go Visit the Osa Peninsula?

This is one of the richest and most diverse tropical areas on the planet, known (or not so well known yet!) for its fragile ecosystems and enchanting beauty. 

The Osa is wild! It's estimated to house 2.5% of the biodiversity of the entire world – while covering less than a thousandth of a percent of its total surface area, earning it the title of the most biologically intense place on earth, according to National Geographic.

The Osa Peninsula offers breathtaking, untouched scenery, secluded beaches, and abundant wildlife encompassing lush primary rainforest and a complex system of freshwater and marine resources. These primary and secondary rain forests hold stunning biodiversity, which for us translated to being well off the grid, very remote and removed, and what we most desired--wildlife encounters literally every day we were there!

Photo by Lynn Smith

 

When is the Best Time to Visit the Osa Peninsula and What is the Weather Like?

The weather and time of year will determine just how relatively easy it is to get to the Osa, and your experience there. I chose early March, just after the tourist "high season" ends and when the costs to get there and stay can be lower. March is still the dry season, and it can be quite hot during the day, with highs well into the 80s.

How Do You Get to the Osa Peninsula?

Most people fly into the international airport (SJO) in San Jose, the capital. You can rent a car and drive the 5-6 hours on well-paved roads (some are tolls, pay in $US or CR Colons). Lynn planned for them to get to their chosen resort and use it as a base for the day and nighttime excursions into the rain forest. They knew a car wouldn't gain them anything. Plus the driving along those steep, slippery and rough jungle roads was bone-crushing! 

They scheduled a flight to the Osa from SJO via Sansa Airlines to Puerto Jiminez on the Osa Peninsula for approx. $240. R/T per person.

Peking to Paris Motor Challenge:  Experiences You Should Have Show Notes

 

 

Experiences You Should Have Show Notes - Interview with Michelle Jana Chan from Vanity Fair

I had the pleasure of interviewing Michelle Jana Chan from Vanity Fair. Please listen to the episode at the top of the screen or wherever you listen to podcasts. She is an award-winning journalist and travel editor of Vanity Fair. She's is also a contributing editor at Condé Nast Traveller, presenter of the BBC’s ‘Global Guide’, a contributor to BBC Radio 4’s From Our Own Correspondent and a writer for The Daily Telegraph. Michelle has been named the Travel Media Awards’ Travel Writer of the Year.

 

 

 

What is Peking to Paris Motor Challenge and How Did it Start?

The Peking to Paris Motor Challenge is a very special motor rally that starts in Beijing, China's capital, (formally known as Peking) and ends in Paris. The race began in 1907 as proof that cars could travel long distances. The race has run every three years (and has for the last decade), but there has only been 7 total. The route changes every race but it always starts in Beijing and ends in Paris and lasts about a month.

In 2019 the route went through 11 countries and lasted 36 days for over 8,500 miles. It is one of the most unique vintage car rallies you can do. All cars are older than 1976 and is a true classic car rally. There are multiple categories based on the car type in addition to an overall winner. There is no prize for winning (well except a bottle of champagne and bragging rights). Racers participate for the fun and the challenge of it.

Michelle competed in the 2013 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge and it was the experience of a lifetime.

 

 

What is the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge Like?

It's like a competitive team sport on steroids; because you've spent a lot of money and taken time off of work and you really want to win. It requires teamwork and an intense amount of concentration. One-hundred drivers pile in for an epic 8,000-mile journey, and there is adventure around every corner. There are two people per car, a driver and a navigator (that can trade-off)., and it is a wacky and wild adventure. There is a powerful connection between driver and navigator where the two have a focused vision and joy for what they are embarking on.

 

What is the Route Like?

The roads are a real mix of variety: tarmac through China, a lot of off-road in Mongolia (a lot of cars fall out of the race here), high altitude passes through Russia, tough, boring roads full of trucks and busy traffic, Ukraine and other European roads are high-altitude switch-backs. Once you leave the Alps and enter Southeast France you're at the end of the race and if you aren't already in the lead, you'll have a hard time getting in to first. You'll finish the race on the Champs-Élysées in grand celebration with a bottle of champagne.

 

Peking to Paris 2013

 

Map of the 2019 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge

 

Photo from endurorally.com

Why should a person want to experience this journey?

You love traveling, you love cars, you love history, you want to have an interesting experience with your partner. It's an experience that will allow you to see many different countries and cultures as you whiz by. You get to watch 2 continents change as you drive by and a macro sense of how people and the landscape changes. It's an experience that you would never forget. While it does take a lot of money and time to partake, it is well worth the experience of a lifetime.

You will discover that you will need a lot of help along the way, and you will get to experience the kindness of strangers in countries you have never been to. It's the serendipitous encounters that bring the magic into the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.

How Far in Advance Should You Plan to Enter the Peking to Paris Challenge?

You will need to book well in advance...

Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes: Socorro Island Diving (the Revillagigedo Islands) in Mexico

I had the pleasure if interviewing Jay Clue from Dive Ninja Expeditions about why others should experience Socorro Island diving. Listen above (or wherever you listen to podcasts). Jay has dove Socorro (Revillagigedo) 20+ times and brings this experience to life.

 

Taken while scuba diving during the Dive Ninjas Socorro Shark Research trip

What and Where are the Revillagigedo Islands (also known as Socorro)?

The Revillagigedo Islands are commonly referred to as Socorro or Socorro Islands mainly because it's hard to pronounce Revillagigedo. Socorro is the name of the largest island in this chain. The Revillagigedo Archipelago (Socorro Islands) are sometimes referred to as the Galapagos of North America because of the amount of biodiversity found there. This group of islands is a marine reserve. It's located 390 km (242 miles) south of Baja California. It takes 26-30 hours to get there by boat.

 

 

Why Dive the Socorro Islands?

According to Jay, the encounters and interactions here are like none other. Giant mantas might come right up to you as if they want to start a conversation, then proceed to spend the next 45 minutes with playing in your bubbles and curiously looking you in the eyes. Many times playful pods of bottlenose dolphins seek out divers to join them in their antics.

Schools of Hammerheads (in the 100's), a few humpback whales, pods of killer whales, giant oceanic mantas, 10 species of sharks that call the islands home including silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, dusky sharks, tiger sharks, and whale sharks.

Photo by Dive Ninja Expeditions

Some of Jay's favorite moments include watching a baby dolphin get tickled by its escort (and hearing it giggle as it happened). Jay has dropped down on a dive to be greeted by a pod of dolphins, tiger shark, and 2 huge manta rays within the first 3 minutes of the dive. Jay has also enjoyed going to the Boiler dive site where there is a "cleaning station". Clarion Angelfish come out and clean the animals. One time Jay and other divers watched a new two-foot dolphin get cleaned and the mother returned and "slapped" him with her pectoral fin to wake him up as if to say, "hey we got places to go!"

To see Clarion Angelfish is a treat in itself as you can only find them on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.

 

 

This is a dive full of large animal encounters and if you love diving, the ocean, and big animals, then Socorro could be the dive destination for you.

The Best Time of Year or Season to Dive Socorro

The season kicks off in November and runs through June or July. Early time of the season is a better time for Tiger sharks. Besides that, there isn't a huge difference in the months as you should see mantas and dolphins. That said, Jay's favorite months for experiences are January and April. It's recommended to not go in late season as there is a higher chance of storms.

Photo by Dive Ninja Expeditions

Skills & Certifications Needed for Socorro Island Diving

Advanced Open Water Certification from an accredited diving organization (like PADI)

Comfortable diving in deep water

Skilled at diving in strong currents

Nitrox Certification

50-60 dives at minimum

While the 10 is the minimum age for diving certifications, this trip is still not recommended for junior divers.

Accessible Dive Travel at Socorro

If you have limited mobility, you still might be able to Scuba dive. Organizations like HSA (Handicapped Scuba Association) can help you find an adaptive Scuba program to fit your needs. Also, I've known people who have limited mobility to get a PADI Open Water Certification, it really depends on your situation and your comfort level underwater. The Nautilus Liveaboard has an ADA Friendly room and they frequent Socorro. Note that the Nautilus Undersea Hunter also goes to Guadalupe Island where you can swim with Great White Sharks.

Also,

Experiencing Crater Lake in Oregon: Podcast Show Notes

 

Welcome to Experiences you should Have. Your how-to guide for amazing experiences. Today we are journeying to a very special place called Crater Lake.

 

 

My First Visit to Crater Lake

I live in Bend, Oregon, which is in central Oregon and I have made an annual trip to Crater Lake the last 9 years. The first time I went to Crater Lake, I had my friend Ben drive, so I could be the one looking out the window, plus he had seen it before.

 

It took about 2 hours to get there from Bend (99 miles) and after we checked into the gate (and paid our $10), we drove a little further and then we stopped at a lookout at the top of the hill. I got out of the car and there in front of me was the deepest most amazing blue I have ever seen in my entire life.

 

The vastness of Crater Lake and the deep blue I saw in front of me took my breath away. The wind started to pick up and then a chipmunk appeared below my feet and started to scurry around looking for food. But that moment, being in front of this deep blue caldera, changed me. It made me appreciate Oregon in a new way.

 

You may or may not know what a Caldera is, but a caldera is a crater left behind after a volcanic eruption. Water filled this giant caldera after Mt. Mazama erupted in 2290 BC. When I stood at the top of Crater Lake and scanned across and looked at the perimeter and realized the power and intense eruption that must have happened.

 

What Caused Crater Lake?

 

A giant, earth-shattering eruption of Mt. Mazama created what know as Crater Lake today. The eruption happened 7,700 years ago and it began from a single vent on the northeast side of Mt. Mazama. When the eruption hit, it was a true eruption that you might think of in your head. Ash and pumice burst into the air, reaching as high as 30 miles above the ground. Mazama ash has been found in Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, and even in multiple Canadian provinces (Wikipedia).

 

Why Should You Visit Crater Lake?

 

There’s something about looking at the deep blue water of Crater Lake (which is the deepest lake in the United States and 9th deepest in the world), that makes you realize how powerful nature is, and calming at the same time. Here this beautiful tranquil deep blue lake with a depth of 594 ft came from a mighty eruption more than 7,000 years ago. To stand there at the edge of the Caldera brings a new perspective on life and the power of mother nature.

 

 

When is the best time to go to Crater Lake?

The lake is open year-round, however not all the entrances are open year-round and you can only drive completely around the lake starting around early July through September and sometimes early October. I would recommend visiting Crater Lake in mid to late July because fire season starts in Oregon in mid to late August and goes through September. You can check the latest road and entrance conditions here.

 

You will want to plan your trip on a sunny day and on a day where the clouds are higher than the top of Crater Lake. We’ve gone to Crater Lake where clouds have covered the entire Caldera and had to wait more than a day for the clouds to clear (check out the video below). Crater Lake is around 6,000-foot elevation, so you want the clouds to be higher than 6,000 feet, so plan accordingly.

 

Can you Camp at Crater Lake?

Yes and no. There are campgrounds near Crater Lake, but there are no campsites that have a view of Crater Lake. Even if you have an RV, you can not park it overnight around the lake. Mazama and Lost Creek are the two nearby campsites and both open late June or early July and are open through September (sometimes early October).

 

Mazama campsite can fit RV’s up to 50’, while the Lost Creek campsite if for tents only. You can reserve these Mazama and Lost Creek campsites online.

 

Can you spend the night on the edge of Crater L...

Milford Sound Drive & Cruise in New Zealand: Podcast Show Notes

 

I interviewed Lynn Smith who is an avid traveler; you should check out her website for travel tips!. She blends a love of independent adventure travel, history and the natural world with over 40 years of experience as an award-winning writer, photographer, creative designer, and producer. When I asked her about what is that one experience that others should have, she enthusiastically replied, self-driving the Milford Sound Road and going on the Milford Sound cruise in Fiordland, South Island, NZ.

 

Why Travel to New Zealand and head to the Milford Sound in Fiordland New Zealand

Lynn chose the South Island of New Zealand for the adventure. The Milford Sound Road is one of the top drives you can do in New Zealand and there is beautiful scenery around every corner. It represents untouched, solitude, and peaceful quiet majestic landscapes and is an experience you should have. In Fiordland lies the 'Southern Alps' and these mountains are world famous! There are only 4.9 million people in New Zealand while California has over 35 Million people. Really a third of the country is a National Park and it is incredibly wild.

 

The Experience: Self-Driving the Milford Sound Road

Lynn and her family started their adventure in Queenstown, New Zealand and rented a car to get to Te Anau. Queenstown was a zoo, but it quieted down once they made it to Te Anau. There is only 1 highway leaving Queenstown to get to Te Anau (tay-an-o). They have a wide variety of accommodations, restaurants, food trucks, and is world famous for being the gateway to Fiordland National Park.

There are 3 famous hikes in Fiordland, but the mountains there are like the Alps or the Rockies. You need to be fit to go out on treks.

That said, you can see a lot of scenery in the South Island of New Zealand without having to hike for days. The Milford Sound Road is a beautiful, scenic road that is an experience to remember. Most people fly into Queenstown and hop on a giant tour bus to get to the Milford Sound (which is the gem of New Zealand), however, Lynn recommends to drive it yourself, take your time, as you head to visit the crown jewel of Fiordland, Milford Sound. The road to Milford Sound consists of one road, highway 94. As it curves around mountains, valleys, and stunning scenery, it takes you to a completely new world.

 

The day visitor can make numerous stops along the only road that cuts through the mountains and valleys in the untouched Fiordland landscapes. From the endless vistas of Eglinton Valley featuring eye-popping scenery used to create the Misty Mountains in the film Fellowship of the Rings, to lookouts over the surrounding mountain ranges, one can take walks along clear rushing creeks and through mossy beech forests to waterfalls and cascades, mirror lakes and tumbling, icy cold rivers.  All this in one full day from Te Anau, vs a 14 hour day of riding a bus to and from Queenstown with a couple of quick stops along the way!

 

Top Stops to Check Out on the Milford Sound Sound Road, NZ

Knobs Flat is a perfect place to take a break in between Te Anau and Milford Sound. You'll want to leave early in the morning from Te Anau to beat the tour buses. Make sure to check out the to use as your go-to guide.

Mirror Lakes

Mirror lakes is a perfect stop about an hour away. The valleys, mountains, and skies were simply stunning. You will want to hit Mirror Lakes in the morning for the perfect light (and to see the mirror effect). The mirror effect goes away in the afternoon. It's a temperate rainforest and has over 240 days of rain a year and the weather constantly changes there. If you can catch it on a sunny day, you can look into these deep crystal clear lakes and it's hard to tell where the lake begins and the sky ends. There is no garbage, trash, plastic. It's easy to walk down the boardwalk 100 feet or so and is wheelchair friendly.

Learn about hiking to Havasupai (Havasu) falls in Arizona. We break down permits, how to get there, costs and top tips.