re: How, when (if) has TD/OT benefited you the most? socially, informationally, financially,

Someone years ago mentioned a 120 mile kayak race on bayou teche. I had never heard of such an event. Signed up and finished it. Then did world longest nonstop kayak race of 340 miles.

Those got me into planning for and doing endurance events. Someone on outdoor board mentioned a 175 mile self supported ultra marathon across desert in Grand Canyon area. I did that and really enjoyed it.

I’ve now completed self supported ultra marathons in volcanic desert in Iceland and the driest place on the planet, the Atacama desert in Peru. I’m supposed to be in the Wadi Rum desert in the country of Jordan right now. Race had to be canceled since it’s in Middle East and borders Israel.

I’m headed to the Namibia desert in Africa as a replacement race in April and have a signed up for 155 mile race in Antarctica next November.

I now have friends from all over the world and have traveled to some truly unique places. All of that from a random post about a kayak race on the OT lounge.

The offset to that is that TD also brings me all the bad news of the world.