Biking The Pacific Coast

Jody Bailey

Date: February 22, 2012 @ 7pm

Jody is the Online Marketing Coordinator here at Novack’s and also an avid bike rider. He loves the outdoors and is becoming quite experienced in long distance bike rides that combine his love for biking, camping, and enjoying nature.

This past summer, Jody went on a bike trip down the west coast of the USA from Port Angeles at the northern tip of Washington state down to San Diego California.

Jody will be sharing his adventure about the literal, and metaphorical, ups and downs of a month long biking trip with friends.

Trekking in Nepal

Nancy Chapman-Hansen & Rick Mommersteeg

Date: February 29, 2012 @ 7pm

More details to be announced shortly!

An Appalachian Adventure

Michelle Hay & Jackie Moore Prince

Date: March 07, 2012 @ 7pm

Being able to travel and hike can be done without a lot of money, a little bit of planning and a lot of creativity. Michelle and Jackie are long time friends who realized last year they had a mutual passion for hiking and travel. Their joie de vivre provides them with the ability to find interesting and affordable travel experiences.

Last winter they decided they wanted to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail. However, there’s only 2185 miles to the Appalachian Trail, so where do they begin?

Join them at the Talks for Travellers to find out how they determined their route, where they hiked, how they found so many items to knock off their bucket lists for so little ranging from white water rafting, to chasing ghosts in Asheville to enjoying some great southern music and dance, how they planned their meals even when one is a vegetarian, investigated their travels and saved so much money but experienced the mountains at their best and plan to return this coming summer because it was that Awesome of an Appalachian Adventure!

Hiking in Canada – The North Coast, West Coast & Chilkoot Trails

Liz Golesic

Date: March 14, 2012 @ 7pm

Three rookies decided to see what backpacking was all about in 2008 when they tackled Vancouver Island’s infamous West Coast Trail.

Battered, muddy and 100% in love with hiking, they have sought out new hiking adventures in Canada since! Liz, one of the trio, will be sharing their experiences on three trekking adventures in Western Canada: BC’s West Coast and North Coast Trail and the Yukon’s Chilkoot Trail.

Share in their literal ups and downs, what they learned along the way, and most importantly why they love it! 

Sea Kayaking the Atlantic Coast

Scott Cunningham

Date: March 21, 2012 @ 7pm

Atlantic Canada with its thousands of kilometres of bays, beaches, harbours and headlands has some of the most spectacular coastline on the continent. Join Dr. Scott Cunningham in a slide show voyage to the rugged islands of Nova Scotia’s Atlantic archipelago, the Highlands of the Cape Breton, the enormous tides of the Bay of Fundy, the beaches Prince Edward Island’s, and the deep fjords and icebergs of Newfoundland.

Scott Cunningham is a biologist and sea kayaker who has explored the Atlantic coast by canoe and sea kayak for over three decades. He has written extensively of his experiences in articles for outdoor magazines and has published “Sea Kayaking in Nova Scotia”, a detailed paddling guide for the province.

Scott has developed Canada’s first national sea kayaking program (for Paddle Canada) and is a Senior Instructor Trainer. He is also a Coach Level 4 with the British Canoe Union.

Search for the Spirit Bear

Suzanne Southon

Date: March 28, 2012 @ 7pm

The Great Bear Rainforest lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Mountain Range. The temperate rain forest is one of the largest tracts left in the world and covers about 2 million hectares. Thousands of species of plants, birds and wildlife call it home. One species is the black bear and sub-species called Kermode bear (also known as the Spirit or Ghost Bear).

The area is accessible only by float plane or boat. The scenery is spectacular and the wildlife is a wonder and privilege to see.

However, the area is under serious threats. How long will this beautiful area be able to exist as it does now?

Conquering Everest

Mike Hurry

Date: April 04, 2012 @ 7pm

In the past 3 years, Mike has climbed mountains around the world all of which helped to prepare him for the ultimate climb, Mount Everest. Previously he had climbed the highest mountains in Africa (Kilimanjaro), Europe (Mount Elbrus), South America (Aconcagua), and North America (Denali).

In March 2011 along with 42 other Sarnians Mike flew to Nepal in SE Asia. Forty had signed up to trek to base camp on Everest and three stayed in Nepal for ten weeks to summit Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world at 29,035 feet. All of them were there to raise money for Big Brothers of Sarnia-Lambton.

His presentation will focus on climbing Mount Everest above base camp. Find out about the gear, the preparation and what caused him to turn back literally metres from the summit.

Mike has been the Executive Director of Big Brothers of Sarnia-Lambton since 1980. Everest is the second in a series of adventure fund-raisers for Big Brothers of Sarnia-Lambton. What do you do next after climbing Everest?