We arrive and make it to our hotel in Tangier. 1e paid the taxi about eight times what we should have (still thinking Euros). (I wonder the taxi driver was so happy the whole time) This was about 8 Euros and should have been 20 dhirum or $1 about....
The reception person has a wandering eye. As if it isn’t hard enough blurting these new Arabic phrases.... He recommends Ali Baba for dinner and Ryan and I get the sense that that is what he tells everyone and we want to do something a bit "different" on the loc side of things.
For the first time I attempt to use my ATM card and it doesn't work. That happens four times.... Nada. Thanks JSB! We start wandering... Have difficulty locating the restaurant we want... And eventually duck into a hole in the wall for a mixed seafood pate (huge plate. I'm worried we’re going to be doing dishes because we don't have any dirham yet. Thankfully, they took our Euros and we headed back out to find some action. The only action was a bunch of bars with dudes drinking tea and smoking up a storm so we want home for a nap before we are to head out to the clubs.... The nap lasted 9 hours....
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
On the Move to Algeceris
We woke to rain on Monday, Nov. 19th. Ryan and I jumped the train to Malaga, and then the bus to Algeceris. We're awaiting the ferry now and the scene is quite odd... There are a total of 5 Arabic characters waiting with us to board a boat the size of the Titanic...one of them with a small child that just ran and jumped into the security X-ray machine... No one seems particularly friendly... I'm realizing that I don't know Arabic, or French, for that matter. I suppose it is time to break out the phrase books! This should be interesting...
Friday, November 23, 2007
Greetings from El Chorro, Spain!
Wow, it is great to be here. We are having a fantastic time.
This trip began Nov 14, 2007 and as you can tell, I am just beginning to find my way, virtually speaking. I have had no troubles getting right into my adventure, however. This place rocks!
Let's start with a little background.
My climbing objectives:
El Chorro Spain - this is a climbing area in southern Spain, just north of Malaga.
Morocco - We will be climbing in the Todra Gorge, a climbing area south of the Atlas Mountains.
Next we will enjoy some fine adventure travel through Morocco.
Climbing in Northern Spain, near Barcelona.
I was just in El Chorro and the climbing was INSANE. After two warm up days, climbing hard 5.11's, on November 19th, Ryan and I fired a 1,000+ footwall - 5.11d, a very hard route called Zeppelin. It all went well. While I was on lead, I fell twice on the route in the most difficult, long, overhanging section. I was some 500 feet off the deck, hanging over a ravine with river flowing below...it was really difficult, yet we made it through! The crux was a mix of totally traversing, overhanging sequences, and really pumpy.
El Chorro is an amazing place. The entire area is quite adventuresome and it has a big international flair, obviously... We are staying in an inexpensive hostel called The Finca. My shoulder is holding out for the time being. We are here for a few more days then on to Morocco. I will be adding and working on the blog in the coming days when I have a bit more time. Until then...
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Trip Overview
Well, I'm in an interesting position. In an effort to get the blog going while in Spain, I mistakenly changed all the settings to Spanish! I'm also typing on my new world blackberry, so let's call this a "test post". Lots of good stuff to come! Stay posted. Buenos Noches, Amigos!
:0)
Tim
:0)
Tim
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Training and Tweaking
The next adventure is upon me. I had been training hard until a few days ago. During a new strength training technique, I tweaked my shoulder. I'm nervous. Note to self: do not implement new training strategies a week before a two-month climbing expedition!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
BLOG UPDATES and Insights
Hi Everyone,
I've been thinking a lot about this blog and will be updating it regularly to create a variety of topics and resources. Yes - keeping up with technology and adding value to those that are interested in the various topics. Please check back for updates and send me an email with any thoughts you have! tim@granddynamics.com. I look forward to hearing from you and engaging in some interesting dialogue.
Yours in Adventure -
Tim Walther
President
Grand Dynamics, Inc.
I've been thinking a lot about this blog and will be updating it regularly to create a variety of topics and resources. Yes - keeping up with technology and adding value to those that are interested in the various topics. Please check back for updates and send me an email with any thoughts you have! tim@granddynamics.com. I look forward to hearing from you and engaging in some interesting dialogue.
Yours in Adventure -
Tim Walther
President
Grand Dynamics, Inc.
The Summer of 2007 - Highlights
Well Well - What a Summer this has been. Here are a few highlights.
Grand Dynamics Highlights
Grand Dynamics has been rocking this summer. Our home office in Jackson Hole has been delivering a variety of our classic adventure based team building events. Our AMAZING RACE EVENTS have been quite the big hit lately, and for good reason. This event includes navigating throughout Jackson Hole in small teams with SUVs. Teams use GPS Units and make their way to scenic JH locations where a multitude of unique problem solving activities are presented by our GDI Enthusiologists! - Yes - Our staff! We've also been quite busy with grant writing and delivering small business consulting with several small businesses here in Jackson. It's great to see the vison of a small business and help those entrepreneurs transition that vision into reality. Jamie Reilly has been instumental in the business management and development. He has also been keeping busy as a professional actor and been featured in several local plays here in Jackson Hole. Jamie - You're tha Man!
Our New England Division has been very busy this year as well. Will Leggett has delivered many events across New England and developmed many strategic partnerships with Resorts and Meeting Planners. Way to go Willie!
As always - Grand Dynamics fuels my passion for providing amazing experiences for teams and the platform for personal and professional development. I look forward to sharing those experiences and insights for many years to come.
OTHER PROJECTS
Seeking True North - This is a soon to be published book that I have written with Erick Erickson. We are very excited to see this project finally be available to all of our past, present and future clients. The book is a story of personal and professional development and packed with Models, Methods and Tools to take life to a higher level. The main characters are Freedom and Beautiful. The story plays out as they attend a leadership retreat and learn lessons from an Older and Younger Facilitaor. As the tools are referenced in the story (the first half of the book), the reader can flip to the second half of the book to discover a bit more about each of the tools. The book is scheduled to be published in November and distributed in the new year. Thanks to everyone that has been a part of this project in one form or another.Stay tuned!
Reality Television?
The world of wonder - a production company in LA - contacted Grand Dynamics after searching for an ideal team building company to be the focus of a new Reality Televion show. The demo reel for that will be available in the coming weeks on line. This should be an interesting one!
BRING IT BACK - this is a film project that I have been working on with Scott Fessler. Scott is a child hood friend of mine and it is great to reconnect with him. The film is about the transition from my Tsunami experience and eventually going back to deliver the funds to the orphanage two years later. Along the way - the adventure travel focuses on my First Ascent in Cambodia. The philosophy part and deriving theme is about Self Actualization and how we all perceive what it means to live to our own true potential. More on this in future postings!
PERSONAL INSIGHTS
Rock Climbing and Mountaineering
This year has been an incredible climbing season for me personally. I have climbed many incredible routes, which I will post in more detail in the future. Every time I go into the mountains I come away with a deeper understanding of who I am, how I face challenges, and what is most important to me. This topic deserves significant writing in itself and I will definitely be posting more about this. Of Course - having an article in Climbing Magazine's EPIC issue this month has been quite the amazing thing. Talk about a dream come true.
Quantum Physics
You are what you think and thoughts are things. Energy is real. You create your reality with intention. These concepts have been on the forefront of my mind and this will be another topic of significant interest. I look forward to many posts on this topic and to hear your insights on them as well.
Okay - that's it for right now. I am off to pick up MASTER RICK ERICKSON at the airport. We have several multi-day retreats and other pojects we will be working on together over the coming months. I look forward to writing more - and creating some thought provoking insights for you to consider.
Grand Dynamics Highlights
Grand Dynamics has been rocking this summer. Our home office in Jackson Hole has been delivering a variety of our classic adventure based team building events. Our AMAZING RACE EVENTS have been quite the big hit lately, and for good reason. This event includes navigating throughout Jackson Hole in small teams with SUVs. Teams use GPS Units and make their way to scenic JH locations where a multitude of unique problem solving activities are presented by our GDI Enthusiologists! - Yes - Our staff! We've also been quite busy with grant writing and delivering small business consulting with several small businesses here in Jackson. It's great to see the vison of a small business and help those entrepreneurs transition that vision into reality. Jamie Reilly has been instumental in the business management and development. He has also been keeping busy as a professional actor and been featured in several local plays here in Jackson Hole. Jamie - You're tha Man!
Our New England Division has been very busy this year as well. Will Leggett has delivered many events across New England and developmed many strategic partnerships with Resorts and Meeting Planners. Way to go Willie!
As always - Grand Dynamics fuels my passion for providing amazing experiences for teams and the platform for personal and professional development. I look forward to sharing those experiences and insights for many years to come.
OTHER PROJECTS
Seeking True North - This is a soon to be published book that I have written with Erick Erickson. We are very excited to see this project finally be available to all of our past, present and future clients. The book is a story of personal and professional development and packed with Models, Methods and Tools to take life to a higher level. The main characters are Freedom and Beautiful. The story plays out as they attend a leadership retreat and learn lessons from an Older and Younger Facilitaor. As the tools are referenced in the story (the first half of the book), the reader can flip to the second half of the book to discover a bit more about each of the tools. The book is scheduled to be published in November and distributed in the new year. Thanks to everyone that has been a part of this project in one form or another.Stay tuned!
Reality Television?
The world of wonder - a production company in LA - contacted Grand Dynamics after searching for an ideal team building company to be the focus of a new Reality Televion show. The demo reel for that will be available in the coming weeks on line. This should be an interesting one!
BRING IT BACK - this is a film project that I have been working on with Scott Fessler. Scott is a child hood friend of mine and it is great to reconnect with him. The film is about the transition from my Tsunami experience and eventually going back to deliver the funds to the orphanage two years later. Along the way - the adventure travel focuses on my First Ascent in Cambodia. The philosophy part and deriving theme is about Self Actualization and how we all perceive what it means to live to our own true potential. More on this in future postings!
PERSONAL INSIGHTS
Rock Climbing and Mountaineering
This year has been an incredible climbing season for me personally. I have climbed many incredible routes, which I will post in more detail in the future. Every time I go into the mountains I come away with a deeper understanding of who I am, how I face challenges, and what is most important to me. This topic deserves significant writing in itself and I will definitely be posting more about this. Of Course - having an article in Climbing Magazine's EPIC issue this month has been quite the amazing thing. Talk about a dream come true.
Quantum Physics
You are what you think and thoughts are things. Energy is real. You create your reality with intention. These concepts have been on the forefront of my mind and this will be another topic of significant interest. I look forward to many posts on this topic and to hear your insights on them as well.
Okay - that's it for right now. I am off to pick up MASTER RICK ERICKSON at the airport. We have several multi-day retreats and other pojects we will be working on together over the coming months. I look forward to writing more - and creating some thought provoking insights for you to consider.
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