The Wiggen's Travels
Our travels around the world.

I am sitting on a bus going from bariloche to esquel Argentina. This morning I crossed the border from chile leaving the fu and my new friends behind. I spend tonight in buenos aires and fly to Chicago tomorrow for Xmas.

One of the interesting things facebook updates allow for is catching up with people in other countries. I saw my friend kim who I met in equador is also in buenos aires tonight and we are meeting up for dinner. Ahh technology.

Kayaking was great fun but a lot of work. I am not really a good kayaker, but I woke up every morning and tried again. I would like to continue to kayak in California this summer.

I am a little sad to be going home. To look back and see all the things I have done, it’s crazy to believe I did it all and that it is all over. I need to work travel into my life more. Hopefully I can integrate susan into it more as well.

That all being said my mind needs a mental challenge (I think) so I am looking forward to going back to work. Maybe I’ll keep the blog up while I am working. There are a lot of places and things left to do.

Well I am just over a weeks worth of kyaking and I am having a restday. It’s tireing being on the river all day, especially if you aren’t very good.

This week I had 5 army special forces join my instruction along with Noah’s girlfriend tracey to help with the instruction. It didn’t take the army guys long to catch up to my skill and a few are definatly better than I am. I didn’t know what to expect of the army guys but they were all in there mid 30’s and really cool. Keeping away from subjects like the election, we had a great week ok the water. The stuff they have done and can’t talk about is crazy to fathom. One guy told me there is nothing like flying in a helicopter at a zillion miles an hour 10 feet of the ground hanging out the side with a huge gun in your hands. You know what? I believe him. Another guy had his jaw blown off when his hummer was hit. 23 surgeries later he can talk and eat but I guess they aren’t done yet. Crazy.

Only 10 days left before I head to chitown for Xmas. While I really enjoy bumping around the world and not working. I think I will enjoy using my brain again and work for a while. I can always set off again in the future.

I arrived in chile to begin my 19 days on the river. My intention is to become a better kayaker, but surrounded by the beauty here I can also raft one of the best rivers in the world the futeluefu. My friend luke from Oz introduced me to the area in chile right over the border from argentina. Here there is a great kayak/raft/etc company.

So far I have done 2 days of kayak instruction. I have my own personal teacher Noah from penn USA. He is a great guy and a good teacher. As of today I can Eskimo roll everytime I attempt as long as I relax. Of course I am not always relaxed but it is awesome to roll after two days. Hopefully I will continue to get better.

Tomorrow though we all take off for a day on the big river. I will be rafting the fu. A class 4/5 river that is flowing really fast (remember it’s spring here). The rafts have oar assists on the back which is used for big water. Since I have never seen oar assist on a raft I am pretty excited.