The Glidecam 4000 Pro Stabilizer System for Medium Sized Video Cameras up to 10 Pounds(can you tell that’s an Amazon link already?) is a device to help you take smoother video.  I don’t have a video camera but I do have a Canon 7D which takes decent video.  I like it at least.  But I’m shaky as heck with a DSLR in video mode sometimes.  Tripods were fine, but aren’t good for moving shots.  And I have some projects lined up that will require more quality video.  Hence the justification for the purchase.  All straight??  Let’s see what it can do!

The videos below are super raw in their planning and execution.  After getting the camera balanced on the Glidecam (not as hard of a process as some on Amazon made it sound) I made what is shown here as the second video.  Then I took the camera off (ok, this part is annoying, but I have a quick release plate coming to make life easier) and chased her around the house again.  I tried holding the camera as rock solid steady as I could, turning my arms into virtual gimbals to let the camera float as much as possible.  I wasn’t trying to show off the Glidecam any more than reality would.  They’re not sponsoring me (yet!) so I have no stake in saying how cool the video is.  Is that enough disclaimer?

VIDEO 1 – HAND HELD MOTION – NO GLIDECAM

VIDEO 2- USING GLIDECAM 4000 PRO

And there you have my highly non-scientific comparison.  I had just figured out how the thing works and I have a lot more learning to do to make it super smooth.  But, at first glance, I’m really happy with how well the device performs.  Maybe I’ll write up a more formal review, but for now, I’ll let the videos do the talking.

©2010 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

I could say it all day long!  LAVA is just, pardon the pun, cool to me.  It’s the earth in action in a way that doesn’t, immediately, knock down buildings the way earthquakes do.  What I’m talking about here is the mostly slow moving lava, P?hoehoe.  The stuff is amazing in its formations when cooled and I could spend months on the Big Island of Hawai’i wandering Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

KapohoKine Adventures was kind enough to roll me out to the lava fields of Kilauea, home of the Fire God Pele, where the heat of the island meets the (relative) cool of the ocean and the island continues to grow.  Emma was my guide and an awesome gal with whom to spend the evening.  A native Hawai’ian, she had folk lore, modern stories and geology oozing out her pores.  Not only that, she was earnestly interested in what she was talking about and had a love for the land.  This was a press trip and KapohoKine gave me my own guide.  I know, a bit spoiled, but I did take time to peek in the other vans and Excursions the company ran and all are well appointed, clean and quite nice.  I also mingled with the other groups when we showed up for dinner at Puna Girl Farms on our way to the LAVA.  Ok, it doesn’t always need to be capitalized, sorry.  The food at the farm was fresh and wonderful, with plenty to offer the carnivores or herbivores in attendance.  And the chocolate covered macadamias (grown on the farm) for dessert were scrumptious to the point of me having thirds. Maybe fourths.  They wouldn’t cut me off, what was I to do?

I’m going to drop the words for now and show you some of the cool, and not so cool, lava.  If you’re wondering what those beehive shapes are in the lava, they were created when pineapples fell into the cooling lava and left their imprint.  The shots near the end are of a flow moving towards the parking area, burning down foliage, while the big burst of steam comes from lava finally meeting the ocean.  The very last shot is taken from a quarter of a mile away as more lava breaks free from the flow to create its own path to water.  Awesome stuff.  I love lava, did I mention that?

Was this part of a press trip?  Yup, sponsored by the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau.  Is Hawai’i awesome with or without a press trip?  Hell yeah.  It’s got LAVA!!!  And if you’re looking for other fun activities in Hawai’i, Uptake.com has a passel.

©2010 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

When you first approach the Shipman House B&B, perched on a small hill with a view out to the emerald blue Pacific Ocean, the classic Victorian architecture immediately sets it apart.  A wide, wrap-around porch protects the hand-rolled, curved windows of the spacious living room just beside the massive entry door.  Everything about the mansion and grounds invites you to wander and take your time soaking it all in.  What’s up the steps?  What’s around the far corner of the porch?  And where did that cat come from?  Oh yeah, it helps if you like outdoor cats because there are a number of friendly felines on the grounds.

I’ve had the pleasure of staying in Bed & Breakfasts in a number of locations all over the world, and quite a few in the Pacific Northwest specifically.  Like me, you may be looking for a number of things when checking out potential B&Bs for your holiday away from home; relaxing atmosphere, likeable and friendly staff, comfort, great breakfasts and an ideal location.  Shipman House delivers on all these accounts and more in wonderful Hawai’ian style.

As you can see from the photo in this post, the appointments in the old mansion have plenty of wood and a softer country feel while retaining the original Victorian elegance.  The master entryway has stairs leading to the guest rooms upstairs with views out to the ocean.  On the right of the of stairs is a study (pictured here) While off to the left is the living room with grand piano and plenty of comfy couches to easily lose an afternoon in (personally, I wish I had more time because they were screaming, “NAP! HERE!” to me).  A sun room juts further beyond the living room and is the location of daily breakfasts with copious amounts of local fruit.  The back section of the house holds a dining room.

I ended up staying in the separate quarters to the side of the house with their own screened in porch and showers (not all rooms have their own bathrooms).  I loved the amount of space in the room to be able to both work and relax.  My laptop could sit over there, on a desk, and be blissfully ignored while I sat on the window bench and relaxed with a book until the sun went down. 

Barbara and her husband Gary are your quintessentialy gracious B&B hosts without being clones.  If you’ve stayed in a great B&B, you know the type of host I’m talking about; available but not in your face, full of information that you’re looking for (and not droning on about things of no interest to you!), a wealth of information on history and local culture and wonders to have in the kitchen!  If you haven’t stayed in a B&B before, I’d suggest the Shipman House as a first stop so your bar for other B&Bs is set amply high.  Barbara was ready with a local paper and a run down of what I could do on my last day on the island (great suggestion was Big Island Candies) when I found myself with free time.  Of course, there’s always the option to JUST SIT!  I didn’t do enough of that this trip, but man, that porch is just begging for a an afternoon of nothingness (right).

As a traveling photographer and writer, the Shipman House offered to cover my stay hoping I’d say something nice, but as always, I’m free to say what I think.  I think I’d gladly pay to stay at the Shipman House B&B the next time I’m on the West side of the Big Island of Hawai’i.  It has all I look for in a B&B with the added bonus of cute cats on the grounds.  Barbara and Gary treated me no different than the other guests and made me want to return to their wonderful getaway in paradise.

If you don’t want to take my word for it, check out Uptake.com’s round up of reviews from the web.

©2010 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

My stay on the Peninsula was split into two locations due to a slight miscommunication.  Being the “go with the flow” kind of guy I am, I took the opportunity to stay at both the Clam Cannery and then the Resort At Port Ludlow the next night (more on that stay in another post).  The weather the weekend I visited was blustery and rainy with some sun breaks.  Goofy Washington weather when it can’t decide whether it’s Winter or Spring.  The Cannery is located out over the water and right next to the old ferry dock along Quincy Street, close in to wonderful Water Street and the Historic District.  Whether coming by ferry from Whidbey Island as I did or driving up from the Kitsap Peninsula as Seattlites do, the Cannery is easy to find and has a decent amount of parking, although most of the spots in the area have a two hour limit during business hours.

Currently the Cannery has four idyllic suites available on the second floor with a fifth currently being renovated on the ground floor.  What impressed me most about the Cannery when first taking a tour was the detail and effort put into its renovation.  As you can see on their website, the building lay vacant for decades before Kevin and his wife decided to turn it into a Port Townsend landmark hotel.  Starting with essentially a clean slate, they chose to try to preserve as much character of the old building as they could, while creating an upscale atmosphere pleasing to the eye and eco-consciousness with which many travelers view the world.  The exterior retains its unassuming, weathered look while the bulk of the effort and financing was instead used to hire local craftsmen and purchase local supplies to complete the interior.  Their efforts are visible in the custom made countertops built with local cement and buckets of discarded clam shells mined from beneath the Cannery.  Old timbers from the building were recycled and now take the place of bar height countertops.  Sea glass was used for the drawer pulls on the custom kitchen and bathroom cabinets and local artisans created etched mirrors and light globes.  Most of the iron work inside the building was also individually commissioned.  Hand pounded door coverings, seashell outlet covers, the list goes on and on.

Kevin was kind enough to give me a tour of the suites, two of which are over 900sq’ (about as large as the first house I had built).  Some sported individual bedrooms and sleeping capacity for five guests while I loved that my suite featured a hideaway Murphy bed built into a stylish wall cabinet, freeing up the floor space while I was not sleeping.  All rooms have views out to the water, obviously, and come complete with fully equipped, high-end kitchens.  Indeed, the Cannery would be wonderful for a week long stay giving you both the option to eat in if you were inclined to cook (Port Townsend features a couple grocery stores, including a natural/organic option) or to head out for a night on the town.  Large, flat screen TVs with Netflix available movies, free wifi and a writing desk in every room make the Cannery an ideal combination work/vacation spot for those who need to stay connected, while ironing boards and stacked, high-end washer and dryers add to the ‘at home’ comfort.

The list of amenities would clog this post so I’ll skip forward to what it felt like to spend a night in the Seashell Suite.  First, Kevin’s demeanor upon checking in was calm and inviting, making me feel very welcome.  I was given a key to my room as well as the front door (the building has no formal lobby which helps erase the ‘in a hotel’ feeling I get when traveling) and shown how to work all the gadgets.  Yeah, it’s obvious I like gadgets.  I got online and sent some Tweets and then, because I was feeling lazy  (and had toured Port Townsend many times in my life), I checked out a movie on Netflix.  It’s one of my guilty pleasures as I don’t have cable or dish service at my house.  Couches, comfy.  Bar stool for using my laptop, perfect height.  Murphy bed ease of setup (pillows in the closet), check.  I also had ample storage for all my clothes with enough hangers to suit the cast of Cats if they ever came to town.

What I liked most about my stay at the Clam Cannery was how comfortable it was.  I felt at home instantly and I didn’t have that feeling like things were too fancy, or delicate.  Fresh flowers and ample opening windows gave the suite an uplifting feel and I never once heard noise from the other rooms.  My only distraction was the noise from the crowd outside from a bar up the street.  But that faded as the sun set and the hour got late (although, if you’re an extremely light sleeper, I’d ask for a room on the South side of the building just to be sure).  I felt safe and pampered while still feeling like I was at home, relaxing.

Would I stay there again?  Heck yeah, but the suites aren’t in my normal camping price range.  Suites start at $295 and up but you do get what you pay for.  I have stayed in some nice hotels in this price range and above, and dollar for dollar, I’d prefer to stay at the Clam Cannery than any comparably priced hotel in New York or San Francisco, for example.  Or even downtown Seattle.  And if you’re looking to save a buck, check out the Seattle Tour Saver coupon book where The Clam Cannery has a two for one coupon through the end of the year to help entice a visit.  With this coupon in hand, I just might find myself paying another visit to the Cannery for a romantic weekend before the year is over.

It’s a delightful boutique hotel in an awesome location.

©2010 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

Wanderlust and Lipstick Traveling With Kids

Full disclosure – I have met one of the authors of this travel book, Michelle Duffy, and she’s even bought me a beer.  Does that mean I’ll automatically give the book a good review?  Heck no!  If the book stank I’d let her know, in kind terms.  But thankfully Michelle and her co-author Leslie Forsberg have done an excellent job with a subject I’m just now starting to explore more thoroughly. While I have traveled with my daughter to the East Coast on family trips many, many time, our recent trip to Africa was the first real big test of my parent traveling capabilities.  I found their resource very useful in considering all my daughter’s needs during the trip and I love that they have ample web references throughout the book.  I also like the “Hot Tips!” notes but sometimes they get a bit too numerous on the page, but only once in a while.  Michelle is currently planning a trip around the world with her family so I know she’ll have some great updates for this book in the future. 

Red Rock Canyon – A Climbing Guide

If you’re into rock climbing and plan on heading down to Red Rock Canyon in Nevada, this is a great guide.  It’s thick (heavy) and packed with hundreds of routes as a good guide book should.  I took this on a recent trip to the canyon and noticed there was obvious discrepancy with other guide books in the group, but all in all I was happy with the info.  I do wish there were a few more diagrams of certain areas (like Hall Of Fame Wall) and the topo maps to some walls could use vast improvements.  Take a look through the guide and compare for specific areas you may wish to climb as other guide books may have more detailed information if they concentrate on a smaller area.  Black Corridor was also missing a number of newer route in this book.  All in all, it’s a resource I’ll keep.  While there is a Kindle version available for much less, I prefer to have the paper guide book to be able to make easy notes, especially in regards to new routes.

Culture Smart! – Morocco

Before heading to Morocco I thought it’d be a good idea to get a bit more information on not making a complete ass of myself.  If you already are in the know on the location you’re visiting, the Culture Smart series probably isn’t for you.  But if you need a quick hit of how to respectfully travel through a location, they offer a good start to different cultures.  In my case it helped me prepare my daughter for some of what we might expect and eat while in the country.  It’s small enough to take with you and read on the plane on the way over.

A Rough Guide To Morocco & A Rough Guide To Tanzania

I wasn’t happy with the Rough Guide to Morocco or Tanzania as compared to the Lonely Planet versions. I was traveling to both of these countries with a friend who had purchased the LP versions and I found the information in them, especially the cost information, to be superior.  I often looked over at her copies when trying to plan where to stay as cost was an issue on this trip.  In the end I left the guide books at home and borrowed a copy of the Lonely Planet Tanzania book before leaving to help in planning.  I had never tried out the Rough Guide books before and wasn’t happy with this first purchase (and even less happy that Borders has a 30 day return policy making it too late for me to return the book when I came home, my mistake).

Tanzania & Zanzibar

This book is another quick overview of the mentioned locations.  I liked it for the color photos and maps but it was a bit light on broad suggestions.  It had good background information that was easily digestible and sharable with my daughter.  It now sits on my bookshelf waiting for my next trip to the country as I’d like to visit Zanzibar in the future.

And those are the most recent additions.  I will be selling the Rough Guides if you’re interested.  Otherwise, I find good utility in the other books and they have found happy places on my bookshelf.

©2010 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

After removing my shoes and stepping onto the cool hardwood floors, I wandered the main gathering rooms for a bit taking in a vast array of Buddhist and Southeast Asia decor and accents before shuffling over to the kitchen where I heard laughter.  Noe was the first to greet me with a large smile and inviting, “Aloha!”  Brain, the inn’s cook, was also in the kitchen preparing a snack.  My first feelings of the inn were welcoming and calm, making me feel right at home, if my home happened to be on a tropical island with a stunning view of the ocean.

After a tour of the grounds including the pool, game and gathering room, guest kitchen, laundry room and my room, I was very eager to….relax.  And explore.  Luckily, both are easily accommodated at Holualoa.   My first target was the rooftop gazebo.  With two lounge chairs and within reach of the house’s wifi signal (copper roofs left my room without a signal) I kicked up my feet to soak it all in.  In front of me was the entire town of Kilua-Kona and endless miles of ocean.  I was too far up to hear the waves, but a warm breeze rustled the palms and swept through the gazebo.  Ok, ‘warm’ isn’t quite accurate.  It was a hot day in the high 80s by the time I arrived and it felt wonderful to be out of the sun and relaxing with my feet up.

But curiosity soon got the better of me and I began to explore.  Reading through the literature in my room I decided to walk up to the labyrinth just above the main house.  What a great way to unwind from travels!  And as Noe pointed out later, it’s a great was to start the day too.  For those not familiar, a labyrinth is a design often mistaken for a maze.  The main difference is the labyrinth has only one path to the center and you can’t get lost.  Not literally any way (this labyrinth was cut into two inch high grass).  It is meant to be a meditative practice of moving towards a centering without worrying about everything else going on around.  And it’s a calm way to end the day.

My time at the Holualoa Inn was short as my itinerary was jam packed with activities, but Brian always made sure I had a scrumptious breakfast before heading out.  I’m not normally a fresh fruit eater, but when in Hawai’i…..  This was my first introduction to fresh guava right off the tree and I admit it my first sampling at the inn got me started on a trip filled with much more fruit.  I still don’t think my daughter would believe just how much fruit I ate.  My favorite though was the banana pancakes the second morning with just a bit of cinnamon.  Fresh mango juice, views out to the water, a nice cup of tea…..ahhh, every morning should start like this!

With so much to offer I’d like to return in order to:

• Get a massage in the open air cabana overlooking the ocean
• Use the hottub which is so secluded I didn’t find it until I was leaving
• Just sit and read on the many decks
• Hit the local grocery store (they have a kitchen downstairs and spot in the fridge for each room)
• Relax in the common room downstairs and played a game
• Gone for a dip in the pool (yes, I was too busy to even swim!)
• Explore the grounds fully
• Peruse the local artist shops in Holualoa

I could easily stay a whole week at the inn and enjoy every minute in a different nook or cranny.  It is a convenient 10 minute drive into town (on some VERY curvy roads!) and a great spot centrally located on the West side of the island.

Note: The gracious management of Holualoa Inn offered to host me during my recent trip to Hawai’i.  They, however, did not request this review be written.  That being said, hands down I’d stay with them again in a heartbeat. And if you want more than my opinion, check out reviews from around the web compiled on Uptake.com.

©2010 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

While most computer backpacks nowadays do a decent job of storing a 17″ Macbook or smaller, I had yet to find a pack that would also handle my larger Canon EOS 5D DSLR camera and zoom lens.  Plus, most packs I had tried out lacked decent organization.

The Quantum, I can honestly say, solved almost all of my problems (we’ll get to the ‘almost’ in a bit).  And as icing on the cake, the bag is made from nearly 100% recycled PET plastic!

Let’s start with the basics; it’s made by REI so it comes with a lifetime warranty, something I desire as I wish to purchase most items like this only once.  Second, the pack envelops up to a 17″ laptop in a padded, side zippered compartment close to the back side of the pack.  Not only is there padding on the front and back for your laptop, but the bottom of the compartment has a flip out cushion for extra protection when the pack is set down.  The shoulder straps are comfortable even after three hours of continuous backpacking with 40lbs or more.  It has a water bottle holder on the side opposite the laptop zipper large enough for a one litter bottle.  A padded carry handle on the top and a second grab handle on the side make hoisting the bag easy and comfortable.

Where this bag really shines is on the inside.  Organization!!  This bag has it and it fits this travel blogger like a glove.  Starting with the main zipper compartment, there is access to the laptop pocket first, then a large divided area followed by a third open section.  I know, it’s a bit hard to explain, so take a look at the photo on the left (click for larger image).  Tucked into those dividers are two advantageous pockets I use for holding camera accessories such as extra memory cards or card readers.  The outside (inside) of this pocket has a zippered mesh pouch which will hold three camera battery chargers.

As previously mentioned, the center area will hold not just one, but two cameras.  I’ve had my larger Canon along with a smaller Canon Rebel T1i nestled on top.  But this space can get invaded from the pocket next to it, making quick access to the cameras not realistic.  In its defense, this bag is not meant as a quick access camera bag, but it will handle carrying multiple cameras when hunting locations or traveling through an airport.

There are two, smaller pockets on the outside of the bag perfect for keys, change, a small camera and a cell phone.  The upper pocket also has one of those handy headphone ports so you can throw in an iPod and keep it out of sight while listening to your tunes.

The second largest pocket is best described as an office in a pack.  Take a look at the photo at right. Pen holders, gusseted sides to help it open fully and pockets, pockets, pockets!  As shown, I carry a digital voice recorder, pens, dental floss, passport (in that back pouch), keys and more.  In place of the voice recorder a cell phone could easily be stored.  Not shown are the notepad, books and journal that normally reside in the open area.  And I still haven’t figured out what to store in the mesh zippered pocket.  This section of the bag has more room than I can really use but it is organized well.  All sections are easy to get to even with a couple books stashed in there.

Now for the gripes.  As previously mentioned, if there is too much in any one pocket it encroaches on the other pockets in the main section.  This can make extracting a camera difficult, but doesn’t harm other, longer items, such as magazines or folders.  And the waist belt is a joke.  It’s just one inch webbing with some clips that rides too high on my belly to be useful.  That being said, I really have no need for that strap and just ignore it.

The shoulder straps are well padded and there is an adjustable sternum strap, which I *do* find useful as it makes the fit that much more tailored.  There is also a small loop at the top to help hang the pack when not in use. 

This pack has become my favorite all around computer/camera travel backpack for all the reasons listed above.  Even after carrying over 40lbs of gear from plane to train to rental car, I find it comfortable and well organized.  It has also weathered my normal bout of rough handling and nary a puncture can be found in its hide.  Whether heading out for a day or a month, I keep my REI Quantum Computer Pack packed and ready in my closet for my next grand adventure.

©2010 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

Engel Freezer/Fridge

If you want to get serious about your cold food storage while on the road, take a look at Engel’s line of portable freezer/fridges.  There are many brands out on the market and I’m sure others do a fine job.  For me, though, this fridge has managed over 300 miles offroad, 5000 miles on road and a number of backyard BBQs.  After using a cooler on the Chicago TBEX road trip, I was reminded why I like this fridge so much.  It pulls less than 2amps and can freeze food if you like.  The 40qt. version I have is enough for a week’s worth of salad and milk (and bacon!!) and won’t kill your battery when left running.

The compressor motor is suspended making it ideal for bumpy offroad trips and a number of my friends swear by this fridge.  Running on both AC or DC, the fridge makes an excellent backup for a patio party or even, as has happened to us a number of times, when the power goes out.  We took this fridge with us to Oregon’s Hells Canyon National Recreation Area as well as the Washington’s Olympic National Park and it can handle cooling contents to any steady temperature you like regardless of the outside temps (I’ve personally had the fridge set at 35F while the outside temps were 110F!).  The optional temperature gauge is a handy purchase if you grab one of these fridges.

VW Routan Minivan

I first wrote about the virtues of the VW Routan Minivan on the TBEX Road Trip blog.  I’m not much of a minivan fan, I’ll admit.  They just aren’t my style, which is usually something that goes offroad well or sports cars.  But I’m also not a guy who will pass up an opportunity to try something new, so when VW mentioned they’d like to lend us a Routan for our Seattle to Chicago road trip, I was excited but still skeptical.  One important part, for me, about accepting such a large item to test out was my need to be 100% honest in my feedback to VW and what I post on the internet.  To which they said “Of course!”

After eight days on the road I came to realize just how handy a minivan can be on a road trip.  The Routan was spacious while not being impossible to store and retrieve items (like my Suburban can be at times).  We had the base model but the engine still had my requirement of needed pep to merge on the freeways with 75MPH speed limits.  Visibility was awesome (again, I’m comparing it to a Suburban or a Land Rover Defender) and I enjoyed the ride height.  Trunk storage was enough for our camping gear plus clothes bags (we all travel light, though) and a camera bag or two.  One seemingly minor feature I really enjoyed while being the driver was the push button sliding side doors, on both sides.   When I wanted to jump out and take a picture, I’d hit a button and the door behind me would side open allowing me to grab my camera (the center console was already clogged with our other techy gadgets).  It seems like a small thing, but for me it was a luxury that is nice to have as a standard feature.

There were couple of needed refinements.  We all found the driver’s seat (only) to be uncomfortable after a few hours.  Various positions and supplemental back supports didn’t help much.  I’m not exactly sure what it was, but for me, at 6’1″, the head rest certainly wasn’t helping matters.  I did notice the upgraded models had a slightly different seat.  Also, the Routan didn’t measure up to its stated Mile Per Gallon (MPG) rating.  The best we could squeak out was 22MPG on the freeway.

Would I take a VW Routan on another road trip?  Heck yeah!!  Except the two minor things mentioned above, the minivan was a breeze to operate, relax in (the middle row bucket seats fully recline), pack and unpack, and in which to spend eight days getting to know new friends.

Canon Rebel T1i Digital SLR Camera

I bought the Canon T1i DSLR kit (includes 18-55mm lens) from Amazon just before the first of my road trips this summer.  It was something of an impulse buy and not well rationalized.  I was being sent a lens to test and needed a camera.  I know, not the most sane reason, but I’ve also wanted a lightweight camera to take on family trips when my Canon 5D with 28-300mm lens 9lbs wonder camera was overkill.

The first thing I loved about the camera was indeed the weight.  It’s light while still being comfortable in my big hands.  I can also hand it to my 7 year old daughter and it’s just the right size for her to use.  The picture quality is what I’d expect in this line of Canon cameras; excellent.  You may then be wondering why I wouldn’t just stick with this camera and not use something more expensive like the 5D?  While the images out of this camera are wonderful and very usable as prints, the 5D is just made stronger.  It’s built to take more punishment and has simplified controls (such as a lack of ‘auto’ modes).  I have a feeling if I gave the T1i the beating I’ve given the 5D, it wouldn’t hold up as well.  But the punishing professional is not its realm, being small, light and taking video is!

Two features I really enjoyed during the road trips were the sensor cleaner and video modes.  I won’t bore you with rattling off the stats and benchmark tests.  You can find all of that over at DPReview.com, they do a great job.  What I can tell you is what a Godsend the sensor cleaner is.  I’ve fought for almost my entire digital SLR life with dust on the sensor.  Little bits here and there and it takes up time in post processing to remove them.  But now more and more DSLRs are putting in a little shaker device in front of the sensor, kinda like a high tech lint screen, the activates whenever the camera is turned off.  It does a fabulous job and after all those miles on the road, I still don’t have any dust on my sensor.  Whereas, with the 5D, I’ve cleaned it 3 times and it still needs more cleaning.  Sensor cleaning dohickey=Wonderous!

The video mode is pretty cool as well.  It means one less gadget I have to bring and it does a respectable job.  It’ll shoot in HD but only at 20 frames per second (fps).  This is ok for slower stuff, but when taping fast action, the different frame rate is noticeable.  In 780i mode, which runs at 30fps (what most of us are used to viewing, more or less), the quality is wonderful and color renditions are accurate.  It works best in bright light but is passable in lower light.  I wish it had a avi option instead of just recording only in MOV (which I usually have to convert to upload) and stereo microphones would be a plus.  Also, be careful when zooming or focusing as the microphone WILL pick up the sound of the focus motor.  Oh yeah, and turn off image stabilizing if your lens has it, as it’ll cause a ‘jump’ in the image when it shuts off while taping.

I’ll have another post soon on what didn’t work this summer and some more tips on the techy gadgets that made staying online work well.

©2010 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

If you have a moment, please drop me a line in the comments section below.

©2010 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

First, for me, the most important use of a travel card is travel.  If there are restrictions on when I can use mile, or places I can’t go, I tend to shy away.  While I do still have an airline specific card, what the Citi card allows in freedom far exceeds any particular airline card.  The points are earned on the Thank You Network and transferred there monthly.  With the Thank You Network not only can you select from a large number of actual goods (much like items you find in the Sky Mall catalog) but, most importantly for me, you can use the points to buy tickets, hotel stays or rental cars through Expedia!  Not only that, there are no blackout dates.

I’ve found the points redeem at a rate of about 130:1, meaning a $100 ticket on Expedia would be about 13,000 points.  While this may not stack up to some offers from the likes of Alaska, where 35,000 points can get you from Seattle to Lima, Peru), the overall lack of restrictions and the familiarity of Expedia make it a no-brainer for me.

In the past I’ve also used the hotel gift certificates.  I’ve used them to pay a friend wanting a stay downtown as a local getaway.  I’ve used them for a quick overnight in Costa Rica before heading to our yoga spa for the week.  And they work just like cash at select hotels (Marriott, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, etc…).  In the past those certificates were on a 100:1 ratio, meaning a $100 gift certificate was 10,000 points.  Now, however, things are closer to the above 130:1 ratio.  Still, it’s a nice gift to give someone who also loves travel.

Earning points with the Citi Premier Pass Elite is just as easy as other cards.  First, it’s a 1:1 ratio for dollars spent.  Second, you get 2:1 for everyday purchases (groceries, gas, commuter transport, drugstore, etc…).  And then the kicker; not only do you get one point for each dollar spent on a flight.  You get one point for each actual mile flown.  But wait there’s more!  And that goes for anyone else traveling with you when you make all the purchases on your card!  Plus you still get your normal airline miles with the airline, so there’s no way to lose.

Let’s take a look a real life example from my past:

• Three people traveling from Seattle to Philadelphia, approximately 2500 miles one way.
• Tickets cost $500 each
• This nets us 1500 points for the ticket cost, 15,000 points for actual miles flown = 16,500 points.  And we each still get our individual miles on the airline.

That one trip gives me nearly $130 to spend on Expedia, which would easily cover the cost of a rental car on the next trip.

Not only that, but you will also receive points even when redeeming miles from your airline!  Here’s how it’s worked for me in the past; I use miles on Alaska to book a trip, in this case the above mentioned trip to Peru.  35,000 is still a pretty cheap trip to South America so I was stoked.  Then the operator mentioned there’ll be a $15 service charge to make the reservation.  At first I was miffed, but then asked if I had to use my Alaska card and she said no.  So I offered up my Citi Premier Pass Elite number with hopes it’d show as an actual ticket purchase.  Sure enough, on the statement after I flew to Peru and back, I got credit for the miles flown!  That was about 10,000 points for $15!  And it’s worked with companion coupons for me in the past to.  Your mileage may vary.

The card comes with a host of other benefits as well, such as concierge service, luggage replacement, cancellation insurance and car rental insurance, among others.

Check it out today if you’re shopping for an excellent travel credit card!

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