Adventure Gadgets - Deep Blue Dive Watch

Ok, I get it. Nobody wears watches anymore because everyone can get the time off their smart phone or their tablet, or whatever. Well guess what? Batteries go dead, smart phones fall out of your pocket when you are climbing up the side of a cliff and Apple's Gorilla glass face shatters like it was pimp smacked by Mike Tyson. The fighter at his prime, not the skinny-ass vegetarian who is currently on the road with his Spike Lee directed one-man show. And do you really think that zip-lock bag is going to save your phone from saltwater corrosion when diving in the Med? Maybe you don't live an adventure a day, but you should live like the next adventure is just around the corner. That's what this watch is all about. No batteries, no digital bullshit. This 220 grams of solid stainless steel. That's almost half a pound, to you and me. It has a sapphire crystal face, which means you can bash it into anything short of a diamond, and it won't scratch. I've smacked mine into steel banisters, and a few brick walls, not on purpose, but because I'm a klutz. Still no scratches. It has an internal automatic pendulum, so it's self-winding. I wound mine when I bought it four months ago, and I haven't had to wind it since. I haven't had to adjust the time either, so it's pretty damn accurate for a watch that relies on mechanical movement. Best of all, it's waterproof to 1000 meters. The unidirectional bezel means it won't screw up your dive times. It even has a helium release valve just like a Rolex Submariner. The Submariner will set you back between eight and ten grand. The Deep Blue is a mere three hundred bucks. It's not a knock off, and it's a real American company based in New York. I don't know if humans can even dive this deep, but if you want one, Deep Blue even makes a watch that will work down to 3000 meters. When WWIII electromagnetic pulses have cooked all the electronics on earth, this watch will still tell time. When the Zombie Apocalypse has you camped out in some water tower, and you are considering risking getting turned into zombie chow just to get to the Batteries  Plus across the street, this watch will still tell time. So sure, you don't need a watch. Maybe the watch is a relic of a bygone era, but by God, there are some relics worth hanging onto.

Places Worth Visiting: Maunsell Forts

These are Maunsell Forts that were built in the Thames estuaries during World War II. Each tower contained a Bofors 40 millimeter gun anti-aircraft gun crew. They were connected by walkways like the one you can see above. Why hasn't anyone filmed a post-appocalypse movie here yet? I don't know, but it's an amazing place. There were six locations in total, and they had cool names like Shivering Sands. They were decommissioned in in the 1950s, and in the 1960s several of the forts were used as pirate radio stations delivering the delicious sin of rock and roll to the hungry sinners of the UK. Below is the Knock John sea fort.

Places worth visiting: San Francisco

    PHOTO BY SARAH W. © 2012


San Francisco is one of the three great cities of the West Coast of the North America. With Vancouver B.C. and Portland, San Francisco has the flavor of a European city with its density, walkability, and range of activities. Go during the off season for a more authentic experience. San Francisco has great public transportation, so bringing a car is optional. 

Places Worth Visiting: Galway Ireland

                                              Galway Ireland  Photo By S.E.W. 2010

So you’ve been in Dublin for a few days. You’ve wandered up and down the river Liffey, seen the museums, maybe had a pint or three in Temple Bar. But now you have itchy feet and maybe you want to see more of the country.

If you long for the war days of old Ireland and want to risk your life, head to Limerick. More than just a dirty rhyme, this poverty stricken city is one of the most dangerous in Western Europe, and is famous for knife attacks on tourists.

But if blade play isn’t your thing, and you’d prefer a more relaxing trip, hop a train in Huston Station and head West to Galway. Galway is Ireland’s third largest city, and also it’s fastest growing economy. And as for crime, no worries there, Galway has the lowest crime rate of any city on the island.

When you arrive take a taxi from the train station and ask for a quick tour of the town. You’ll find it is quite compact and easily walkable. There are pubs and shops everywhere, and like so many towns in Europe, several streets that are for pedestrians only. There are several hotels, hostels, and B&Bs available. If you would like the best, just have your cab take you back to the train station. Right around the corner is the beautiful Meyrick Hotel.

                                                        Meyrick Hotel Galway Photo By S.E.W. 2010

Take advantage of the Canal Walk, and end your evening with a local pub. There’s singing almost every night, and everyone joins in. Galway has a greater feeling of authenticity than some of the more touristy areas in Dublin. There’s more grit on the floor, and a little less varnish. Locals out number tourists at the bar, and they drink the local red ale instead of stout.

Places Worth Visiting: Inis Mor Ireland

                                                                   Photo by S.E.W. 2010

Europe is a crowded place, and it can be hard to find a place that retains its ancient character without the modern world creeping in around the edges. If you want to see something of the old country without glass and steel distractions visit the small islands in the far West of Ireland. A high speed ferry will whisk you from the secluded port twenty minutes North of Galway to one of the Aran Islands.

These are the places to find authentic Aran Island sweaters and knits. If you have spent any time in Dublin or Galway, you know that you can't throw a hunk of soda bread without hitting a store promising to sell you real Aran Island sweaters. Don't buy in the cities. If you look closely at the tags and ask a few questions you will find that these sweaters are "designed in Ireland" and probably made from cheap wool in Taiwan. A real Aran Island sweater feels heavy, and slightly oily to the touch.

If you visit Inis Mor, which means deer island, run ahead of your fellow tourists if you can. Skip the bike rental (you'll thank me) and rush past the line of tourist vans. At the end of the dock there will be an old guy with steel gray hair and a horse cart. There's usually only one horse cart available, and this is the absolutely best way to see the island.

The driver and his frothing hard working friend will take you on a full length tour, up and down a thousand feet over two mountains covered with cobbled or gravel road. At the far end of the island the driver and horse stop for a rest and you will have an opportunity to climb another five hundred yards to Dun Aengus castle, an ancient citadel with four semicircular stone walls and its back to some of the tallest sea cliffs in Europe.

Adventures In Cooking: Texas Chili

Gunslinger Jack's Texas Chili Recipe

2 pounds of good quality organic ground beef
2 cans organic tomato paste
6 cubes beef bullion
2 cubes chicken bullion
3 cups water
6 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce (the Lea & Perrins English recipe is preferred because it doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup)
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (this produces a fairly mild chili, but if you like it hot, add more)

Cooking the Chili

1. Put water, tomato paste, bullion, sugar and spices in a pot and heat on medium low (number 2 on most cook tops) while stirring to blend bullion and tomato paste.

2. Brown beef in a skillet using a dicer or sharp edged spatula to mince as it cooks, then drain fat.

3. Add beef to pot.

4. Cook at medium-low (2) for at least four hours stirring occasionally. The longer it cooks, the better the texture.

5. Taste and add additional spices and water as needed. You will probably not need to add salt. Chili should be very thick, but not quite so thick that a spoon will stand up in the bowl.

6. Top with cubed extra sharp cheddar cheese and serve with tortillas, tortilla chips, or french bread.

7. The chili is even better the next day. If you have leftovers, refrigerate in glass bowls, don't use plastic or metal because the acids in the chili will cause chemical or metallic leaching contamination. Reheat on the stovetop at medium low. Do not microwave - it will alter the taste.

Adventure Gadget - Benchmade 9100 AutoStryker

Photo from Benchmade.com

There are few things with as much utility and value to the intrepid adventurer as a trusty pocket knife. It's possible to find good quality lock-blade knives for as little as $20.00. Coast Cutlery, for example, makes some excellent low cost, high quality pocket knives. But if you want the very best in one-handed utility, a high quality automatic knife is the way to go. If the idea of automatic knives brings up images of the flimsy Italian-made switch blades of the past, set your prejudice aside. The new generation of automatic knives are solidly build, durable, and just as reliable as an old fashioned folder.

Benchmade Knives, based in Oregon makes some of the best automatic knives in the world. My favorite, the Benchmade 9100 AutoStryker was designed for military and law enforcement use and features a 3.7 inch 154CM Stainless Steel blade with a unique tanto spear point designed for exceptional piercing power. The thick blade spine absorbs shock and enhances tip strength. I've seen this blade punch through half an inch of kevlar. This knife has no cheap parts. The safety lever and trigger button are stainless steel, and the scales are solid cast aluminum with a thick black anodized finish. You can get the knife with a regular blade, or partially serrated. It's also available with black BK1 non-reflective blade coating for tactical applications. The AutoStryker isn't cheap, but I have seen it available on some websites for under $200.00. That's a lot of money for a pocket knife, but if I'm cutting myself out of fallen rigging on the deck of my sailboat in a storm, or freeing myself from tangled para-cord after catching my parachute in a tree, the best is worth it.

For those of you who aren't military or law enforcement, and don't live in a place where automatic knives are legal, Benchmade makes a number of great thumb-open tactical folders.

Adventure Gadget - Eton Solar Radio

Photo from Eton.com

This Eton FR160 radio is a great choice for the intrepid adventurer. It requires no batteries and can be charged in a pinch with the hand crank generator that folds into the back of the unit. 90 seconds of cranking will the radio will play for about half an hour. Don't want to be constantly cranking? No problem, under normal conditions, just leave the radio out in the sun all day. Seven hours of sunlight on the radio's solar cell will give the radio about four hours of run time. It features all the AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio bands, includes an LED flashlight, and you can even plug in your cell phone with a USB adapter and recharge your phone in an emergency using the hand crank generator. Best of all the FR160 is light and very compact, about the size of a can of soda, and only half the weight, so it won't take up too much space in your bag.

Is it perfect? Well, maybe not. I would like to see a waterproof and impact resistant version, but for about thirty bucks on Amazon , you get a lot of great features for your money.

Places Worth Visiting: The Montvale Hotel Spokane, Washington

Photo by S.E.W. 2008

If you are on the West Coast and find yourself on your way to the great Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana stop for the night in Spokane, Washington. It is a medium sized town on the freeway to better things, not much to look at initially, but if you stop over for the night you might be surprised at what you find.

There are a number of hotels in Spokane. Most are of the dingy rubber-stamp variety you can find at any freeway stop. But if you want a real unique experience, stay at the Montvale Hotel. Decorated like a first class hotel from a hundred years ago, the Montvale manages to evoke a genuine sense of nostalgia without the campy fakeness one usually finds at boutique hotels. The proprietors have done an outstanding job of restoring the architecture of the building that houses the hotel, and even the lobby has an authentic retrospective quality. When you aren’t resting in the beautiful tall ceilinged rooms, or dinning in the delightful adjoining restaurant, take some time to stroll the atrium. It is filled with beautiful antiques, old books, and quiet places to sit with your coffee and read.

Photo by S.E.W. 2008

You can visit the Montvale Hotel at 1005 W 1st Ave, Spokane, WA (509) 747-1919 or online at montvalehotel.com.

Before you get back on the freeway take a few minutes to visit Spokane’s River Front Park. In addition to a carousel, an ice rink, and an Imax theater, the park features a spectacular view of the Spokane River falls. These natural falls run through a Kaplan Turbine at the Monroe Street Dam producing almost fifteen megawatts of power at what is the longest running hydroelectric facility in the state.

Places To Avoid: Seattle Sucks

Photo by S.E.W. 2007

The first time I visited Seattle I was ten years old. My father took me to see the Tutankhamen exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum. We had to wait in line for five hours, but it was a pretty impressive show. Later we went on a ferry ride in Elliot Bay and my father got the ferry Captain to let me steer the boat. Overall it was a good trip.

After high school I went up to visit a friend who had joined the Air Force and was serving at the base just outside Seattle. We went to a hockey game in the Tacoma Dome; Tacoma versus Seattle. I remember the crisp taste of refrigerated air, the rumble of boots pounding wooden bleachers, blood on the ice, and the eternal roar of the crowd. Over and over they shouted "Seattle Sucks!" It was curious, but these hearty Tacomans knew something I didn't. They knew the dark truth about their neighbor to the North.

I had to live there for a year to find out the truth. Seattle gets press all the time for coffee, music and culture, but its image is just what its nickname, The Emerald City, implies, an illusion. Seattle is a cold dirty industrial town with poor urban planning, high crime, and a disproportionate share of the nation's desperate, mentally ill, and drug addicted - all suffering and belligerent at their malignant circumstances. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain; he might stab you for your Timex and a fist full of change.

All the rich people in Seattle live on islands in Elliot bay, a safe ferry ride away from the urine soaked squalor of the city center. There is only one tolerable middle class neighborhood in Seattle. Ballard is just North of the city. It is poorly centralized, and the houses are overpriced, but at least you can walk down a street without getting a secondary high from crack smoke.

As for the poor, they litter the streets and the few tiny green spaces that are dropped between high steel like breadcrumbs. The city was designed with short blocks and alleys. These alleys collect the drug addicted and the poor. Dark corridors stuffed with leaking stinking trash and the pervasive overwhelming reek of urine, a stink is so strong that even the winter rains don't wash it away. The steel box traps that litter the alleys are designed to stem the tide if terrier sized harbor rats that invade the city at night. The rats have long ago learned to avoid them, however, so don't be surprised to see furry shadows slithering along the walls if you go out after dark.

The heavy pollution in Eliot Bay makes it a poor choice for diving or windsurfing. The sailing is fair, but if you don't have your own boat you're out of luck. The Ballard Sailing Club is over priced, and they don't maintain their boats with any sort of seamanlike skill. Every J22 or C&C I checked out had a damaged outboard that either wouldn't start correctly, or spit gas and smoked like a burning Kuwaiti oil well. All their boats are heavily fouled. A look over the side made me think of green shag carpet.

If Seattle has anything to recommend it to the intrepid adventurer, it is its proximity to better things. The great temperate rain forest of the Olympic peninsula is only a few minutes away. Drive North a couple of hours and you will find one of the three truly great cities of the North American West Coast, Vancouver BC. The clean cheerful green and sparkling glass of Vancouver will be quite a shock after the grey depression of Seattle. Four hours South is the second of the three, Portland, and ten hours more will get you to the last great city, San Francisco.

If Curt Cobain actually committed suicide, and wasn't murdered by that screaming bitch he was married to, it was because he was stuck in Seattle. From the corporate monsters like Microsoft, Starbucks, and Boeing that grind their boot heels into the souls of working men and women, to the appalling lack of green space and public water fountains. On its best day Seattle is nothing more then a damp West Coast version of Detroit.