Loading ...going in circles
Huge Happy Spiraling-Out-Of-Control Greetings!
What am I so happy about?! Well, pretty much everything. I hope you are, too.
There’s a funny phenomenon I always experience: the more I travel, the further behind I get with photos. Yeah, I know there’s no mystery to that, but the pixels have really been piling up lately, even though I spend at least a little time processing them daily. My travels in Russia have been unhurried, even slow, but very rich in content. There’s far too much to document and share, so I only do what I can’t resist.
This new gallery is from still in the early part of what has evolved into a big unplanned meandering clockwise 7-week-long loop in the northwest corner of Russia, starting -and soon to be ending- in Moscow:
https://balloonbill.smugmug.com/Other/Sortavala
Last week, it became obvious to me this loop I’m on was nearing its natural ending, but I hadn’t the slightest idea of what might come next. At least, I had no idea until I looked at a map and something immediately caught my eye. Actually, it was in the far right corner of my eye. Crazy ideas ensued, leading to a lot of research and email exchanges. You know how an idea can explode and spiral out of control, taking on a life of its own, well that is exactly what this thing did. As a result, a major plan flowed from this innocent little idea.
Because of how this new idea grew, yesterday I took a train from Vologda to Yaroslavl, where I am now. On Monday morning, I’ll take a train to Moscow and overnight there. Then, on Tuesday afternoon, I’ll fly east for seven hours, landing in Yakutsk on Wednesday morning. Yakutsk is six time zones away from Moscow! It is also a notoriously cold place. For instance, the forecast low temperature there tonight is -33°F/-36°C, but then supposedly it will start ‘warming’ a bit in the following days.
Going to Yakutsk is just the starting point of what will likely become the perfect balance to my loop in the northwest corner of Russia. The adventure continues.
Going around in circles can be fun! I hope you enjoy your path, whatever direction it takes you. The journey is the destination 😉
GoldBalloon
GB, maybe you have already done so and I just wasn’t paying enough attention, but you really should publish a book(s) of your journey’s around the globe with many of your photos being the main feature.
Thanks for the thoughts, CM. You must already realize all the material is there and you’re literally reading the books as they are being written. For free! But you want me to do more work?! Sheesh!
As FGC wrote, he, along with oodles of others, has been telling me I should do the same. What I think is you guys should get together and do it! Obviously, I’m too busy having fun and don’t want to take time off to try to sell something, so it’s up to you guys.
If you know a publisher, sell them on the idea. Or, find one. It will be as easy for you, as it would be for me. There’s a fortune there for the right person, better than a frickin’ gold mine! You find the publisher and sell the material, then I’ll co-operate with putting it together and we’ll split the proceeds. Deal?
I’ve been telling him this for years
………..
WOW…What a great Trip to wake up to this morning
What an incredible place up there in God’s Country on the Finnish Border no less
Not to get too Political but what’s the “vibe” in that area
I assume the border between Finland and Russia is a No Go Zone
Do these people seem tuned in to Global Geopolitical Events
Have they heard of a guy named Trump ?
Regards to Anastasia . It’s great you have a companion to expolre with.
Do you Speak Russian yet ? Nyet ?
As to the vibe near the border, as you can imagine, it’s a mixed bag, full spectrum. I’ve heard so many personal stories, but won’t share any at the moment, if ever. Like anywhere, people are as tuned in as they want to be, which usually is not so much. Most people are simply going about their lives the best they can.
And Anastasia, she’s sizzling hot! Wonderful, adventurous, fun and highly intelligent, but more than a little crazy half the time. The tug of the moon is way stronger on her than on most women, to the point there’s an actual condition with a name for it. She’s only good for about a two-week stretch each cycle and then oh, boy, watch out!
That was too much to deal with, so I’ve traded her in on a slightly older and *hopefully* more stable model. Like Anastasia, this is someone I met a couple years ago and have stayed in touch with. She’ll be getting on a train tomorrow in Crimea and riding on it until Tuesday. We’ll rendezvous at the airport in Moscow, then fly off into the sunrise together, to Yakutsk and beyond, for a fe weeks. No doubt, it will be exciting.
Heck, you and CM ought to get together on this publishing deal. If the travelogue isn’t interesting enough, I’m sure you’d have no problem selling the rights to the continuing story of my love life! Problem is, I will want a lot more for recounting some of those tales. And they will be worth it!
Do I speak Russian? Nyet is right.
Hey, who is this guy Trump you mentioned? Does he have his own podcast or something?!
Which famous actor gets the privilege ? I asked Grok !
I assume you’re referring to Billy Arras, the famous balloonist (though there’s a chance you meant Bill Harris or another ballooning figure—let me know if I got the name wrong!). Since Billy Arras isn’t a widely documented celebrity with abundant imagery, I’ll base this on the general vibe of a rugged, adventurous balloonist from the early 20th century—think weathered features, a lean build, and a determined look.
One famous actor who might fit this description is Bill Pullman. Known for roles like President Whitmore in Independence Day (1996), Pullman has a lean, ruggedly handsome appearance with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanor that could evoke the spirit of an adventurous balloonist. His weathered, all-American look aligns with what one might imagine for someone like Billy Arras, who was out there defying gravity.
If you had a different “Bill Arras” in mind or want me to refine this further (e.g., with a specific photo comparison or another actor), just let me know! I couldn’t find a clear, definitive image of Billy Arras to lock this down 100%, so I’m working off the archetype here.
Ha! That’s too funny, Highroller!!! The fact is, I’m going to have to play myself. Obviously no one else will get the role right 😉
Earlier today, I wrote to a friend that I am so -happily- out of sync with the bulk of humanity. No one anywhere really relates to how I describe my understanding of this human experience, having total faith in whatever allows this, of how easy it is to be free. Everyone goes straight to the question, “Yeah, but how do you get money?” I’ve found that no amount of explaining will get past a belief in the system, as if it is the only way, including the money game. People’s eyes glaze over if I say it’s all made up, that fear is the main (only?) controlling/limiting force, including fear of not enough money. There are literally no limits, yet the focus of the masses -including in GoldTent- is predominantly on stuff that is made up to get attention, cause fear and to suck up energy. Everyone always has the opportunity to give thanks for all they are blessed with, tell the story that feels best, then feel it and live it. Everything is energy, it’s all vibrational.
So, you see, I’ve got to play myself 😉 You set it up and I’ll be here when the filming starts… I mean, it’s going to be filmed here, right?!
Good idea Highroller, “Gold Balloon The Movie”. That is even better than a book. Bigger bucks too. Anyone have any Hollywood connections?
No one would believe his story…It’s a Fantasy
🙂