Today is a special day in the history of this website. It’s the first day I shared this space to the public in the hopes of turning it into something more than a journal for my own pleasure.

So if you’re new here, and you likely are, then welcome. Thank you for stopping by to have a look at my humble corner of the internet. Many of the stories from the past are already here, ready for you to stumble upon them and laugh with or at me.

The initial goal of this website was to chronicle my journey to visit every country in the world, and I still hang on to that lofty goal as the primary purpose of this endeavor. I realize the size of such an undertaking, and I see no better goal to aspire to in a lifetime. But I also know that I’ll have to get back out there and put some serious miles under my belt to get it done. I joined this party late in life, but I’m ready to make up for the lost time.

Today also would have been my father’s 68th birthday and I decided to dedicated this effort to his memory. Were it not for him, I’d have had a hard time getting out there and experiencing all of the things that travel has taught me. Though he was not much for traveling, he encouraged me to pursue what made me happy and I loved to share anecdotes with him when I got back from some far flung place. I’d have loved to take a journey with him, but we ran out of time. He may be gone, but I will bring him along in spirit every time I set foot in a new country and make my way toward visiting as many as possible.

You’ll also be able to join me for narrated versions of my stories over at the Itinerary Earth podcast on Spotify. I am thrilled to share these stories with my literal voice because recalling them renews them and keeps me focused on where I should go next.

Now that you’re here, feel free to browse through my catalog of old stories and stay tuned for new ones about my travels to Southeast Asia in late 2019, domestic trips, and an upcoming week-long sojourn to Scotland. Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope to see you out there while I trot the globe.