The beauty and complexity of our planet is endless. From the bottom of the ocean to the top of Mount Everest, there are many diverse ecosystems filled with amazing wildlife. Through the use of photography, we all have access to these astounding places, some that we never dreamed of reaching.

We’ve put together a list of our top slideshows, showcasing the best in nature photography. Whether it’s an unbelievable shot of an ordinary lake, or an inside look at mountaintop mining, these pictures give the viewer an opportunity to marvel at our planet, and get a new perspective of our environmental impact. Take a moment to enjoy the wonders with our top picks for nature photography.

1. Most Stunning Bodies of Water in the World

Photo Credit: Jupiterimages

From oceans, to lakes, to dead seas and more, view these amazing photographs of some of the world’s most impressive bodies of water.

2. Step Inside Glacier Caves

Image Credit: Photolibrary/Corbis

From Patagonia to Alaska, photographer Eric Guth traveled and shot these amazing photos to give viewers an inside look at our world’s glaciers.

3. Amazing Images of Earth from Space

Image Credit: NASA

View our planet like never before with these incredible shots from space satellites, shuttles and stations. Get an astronaut’s view of some of the world’s most amazing structures and formations, from volcanoes and valleys, to the Great Wall of China.

4. Amazing Views of the World through Conservation Photos

Image Credit: Klaus Lang/All Canada Photos/Corbis

Through photography, The Nature Conservancy aims to protect some of the world’s most sensitive ecosystems. With new and unique perspectives, the photographers provide a distinctive viewpoint of some of the world’s most beautiful destinations.

5. Environmental Conservation Crisis: A Travelogue in Photos

Image Credit: Paul Souders/Corbis

The International League of Conservation Photographers put together this project, Rapid Assessment Visual Expedition, in hopes of generating awareness of our planet’s most dire environmental situations. Through stunning photos of endangered species and wildlife reserves, the project showcases our ecological impact on the planet.

Want to see more amazing footage? View the list below for more projects focused on conservation and appreciation.

Awesome Time Lapse of Earth From Space
Amazing Photos: Earth From Above
22 Most Amazing Maps Changing How We See the World

Check out what our nation's presidents are doing to appreciate and protect the planet with the top 5 green presidents by Planet 100. View more videos of the top green news of the day with Planet 100.

More on Earth Appreciation:
Visions Map: Projects That Inspire
The Visionary Responsible for the Future is You!
Earth Month 2010: Going Beyond "Green"

What did you accomplish by the time you were 16? What have you accomplished so far? A 16-year-old named Parker Liautaud, from London, just returned from a trip to the North Pole. He did it on skis, in four days. Was it just to update his picture on Facebook? Not entirely, although that is a bonus. He skiied for 112 kilometers (almost 70 miles) as an ambassador for One Young World, in an effort to inspire other young folks to take up a cause.

Parker, along with teammate Doug Stoup, finished the journey one week ahead of schedule. Parker's journey was in support of a resolution from One Young World, an international forum for youth leadership. The resolution calls for international legislative action to meet carbon reduction targets by 2020. In other words, Parker and others involved want to make sure future kids will be able to make the same journey, on snow skis.

Parker began his trek in early April, from Svalbard, Norway, The Telegraph reported.

Besides risking frostbite, Parker also conducted research for the European Space Agency and University of Alberta along the way, taking 200 snow thickness measurements per day.

Another lesson from this fella: Don't give up. Parker launched a nonprofit last year called The Last Degree, "dedicated to inspiring, informing and engaging young people in a dialogue on environmental issues facing the polar regions." That same year, he set a goal to become the youngest person to ski to the North Pole. He made it to within 15 miles of his goal, before severe weather conditions forced him to turn back.

He also ran into high temperatures (for the North Pole) and open water, highlighting the damage already been done by climate change.

During his recent mission, Parker has been posting updates The Last Degree Facebook page and via Twitter. He also has a YouTube channel, but it hasn't been updated in a while.

To find out more about the expedition, see oywnorthpole.parkerliautaud.com.

Sponsors and partners of this journey deserve mention, including : PayPal and Mountain Hardwear.

So the story here is that Parker tried, failed, tried again, and succeeded. What can world leaders learn from this? Don't give up on setting targets for further greenhouse gas reductions?

More on Climate Change and Global Warming
15 Year-Old Parker Liautaud Almost Skied to the Top of the World (Interview)
Focus Earth: The Changing Lives of Reindeer
Duran Duran, Scorpions to Record Global Warming 'We Are the World'

So you want to upgrade the house, or the car. Using less energy can cost you more money up front, although the idea is that the savings over time will pay you back ... and then some. What about renting? Traditionally, that's a sucker's bet. You should buy, as in a home. Or maybe that advice is from a long time ago, when people used to make money on the real estate market. Here's a way to find out what efficiency and technology is all about, however, without forking over the cash right away: Renting green.

This may be something to think about the next time you plan your adventure (like right now). I've done vacation rentals with the family, including one fabulous cabin in the woods that sported a kennel for the dog. Vacation Rentals by Owner is a super resource for finding a home away from home.

The post at Traveling Greener takes it one step further, suggesting the Top 5 Green Holiday Rentals.

The rental ideas here, from Italy, Costa Rica, Bali, Venice and Austin (Texas), include pads with outdoor ovens, near biking paths and organic markets, that feature natural light and opportunities for birdwatching, nature walks and wildlife cruises.

One idea the post didn't touch on was renting to "try before you buy." Find a place that uses solar panels or wind turbines to offset its power needs. Here's one in Alaska with sun power AND a composting toilet.

What about an off-the-grid rental? Besides Alaska, It turns out there's an Off the Grid Timber Frame Retreat on Gilbert Lake near Traverse City, Michigan, only a few hours away for me. So add Trip Advisor to your searching list, too.

If you really wanted to go all out, you also could travel there in a hybrid or electric car. Rental car companies like Hertz are offering hybrids and electrics like the Nissan Leaf. Enterprise rents the Chevy Volt, which would go over much better at Gilbert Lake.

Photo by Shane Adams

Has anyone out there tried renting green? Did it turn into a purchase? We'd like to know. Maybe you're looking to trade up, and there's more to say about buying used, or as a savvy salesman would say, "pre-owned green."

More on Eco-Friendly Travel and Adventure
16-Year-Old Skis to North Pole, and Keeps on Going
12 Ways To Have a Fun, Guilt-Free Camping Trip
How About a Free Trip for Turning Your Home into a Billboard?

No diets. No schedule. No traffic. Just a few of the specifications for my mother’s ideal vacation she had been craving for months. I decided to take my mom on an early Mother’s Day trip and what destination fit the bill for my mom’s no diet, no schedule, no traffic vacation? Home to world-renowned chef-driven restaurants, more than 400 wineries, and not a chain restaurant in site: The Napa Valley, of course.

“You should come back for your honeymoon.” That’s what my mom said as we pulled up to our hotel tucked away in a 250-acre valley, Meadowood Resort and Spa. With two swimming pools, two restaurants, a spa, hiking trails and tennis courts, this is a village in itself. Wandering the grounds, you'll see eco-fitness classes taking advantage of the property's hilly terrain. Private cabins are scattered through the landscape and our room itself was a clean, country style with an all white king-size bed, fireplace and separate living room area and large terrace.

Photo: Guest Room at Meadowood

Photo: Guest Room Terrace at Meadowood

Meadowood is the ideal destination for a revitalizing weekend, with its spa offering Yoga, pilates and wellness counseling. For a hotel to sit in the Napa Valley, exquisite cuisine is a must. And Meadowood far exceeds that requirement with its Garden and Spa menus and the four course seasonal tasting menu. Guests are welcomed every afternoon to a tasting and discussion of local wines. Guests who want to wander can choose a picnic site and the hotel kitchen is happy to prepare a picnic with a local, gourmet spin on traditional picnic items.

Photo: Cuisine at Meadowood

After checking in, our female seventh sense led us to Woodhouse Chocolates. Owners John and Tracy Andersen use no preservatives in their unique chocolates. The baby blue bag I left with was filled with a Fritos chocolate bar (yes, the chips) and a package of the savory bars, spiced with Cumin, Paprika, Chinese 5-spice and Sea Salt.

Photo: Woodhouse Gourmet Chocolates

That night we broke bread at Ad Hoc, where a different 4-course menu is featured every night. Chef Thomas Keller recently received the French Legion of Honor, so it’s no surprise my mom and I let out sighs of satisfaction over a chilled pea soup with pecans and fresh crème, a lemon juice and olive oil marinated salad of lentils, roasted peppers, mushrooms and artichoke, sole with white bean puree and a seasonal fruit tart.

Photo: Fresh Bread and Wine Ad Hoc Restaurant

Photo: Scrambled Eggs with Marmalade

The next morning, feeling the spirit of the Napa Valley, we had wine for breakfast at CADE Winery. This Gold LEED certified organic winery sits at almost 1,800 feet elevation, offering a panoramic view of the valley. An infinity pool overlooks 21 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines, for which the winery uses 67% less water than most wineries. “I could drink this all day.” That’s what my mom said about the 2008 CADE Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain. And she doesn’t even drink. Private food-pairings can be held in the cave where the wine is actually made. Guests sit at a long table made from parts of a World War II submarine amidst barrels of wine.

CADE organic winery

Photo: Drinking Wine in Napa Valley

Photo: CADE wine barrels

Our second tasting brought us to Logan-Ives House at Long Meadow Ranch. This1874 renovated home has a yard that serves as neighboring restaurant’s culinary garden and leftover produce is sold to local restaurants and farmers markets. The vegetable water that results from the property’s olive oil production is put back into the ground, providing essential nutrients to the soil.

Photo: Culinary Garden in Napa

Photo: Wine Tasting Room in Napa

For lunch our second day we dined at Mustard’s Grill where I ordered the sweet honey-mustard Pork Chops. Mustard’s had one of the first culinary gardens in Napa. The gardener doesn't use any pesticides but instead plants flowers throughout to attract pollinating bees and bug-killing hummingbirds. Another note-worthy sustainable effort is an arrangement with the local garbage company that collects all food waste from the restaurant and turns it into compost for the restaurant garden.

Photo: Mom picking vegetables

Ready to be pampered, we returned to our hotel for full body relaxation massages. My masseuse told me that snoring is the greatest complement a client can give. If that is true, I paid him a very large complement. It’s rare that a massage gets me that relaxed.

We ended our day with a farm to table dinner at Farmstead. My mom and I looked out onto the garden where our arugula and twice-cooked beet salads came from. All livestock comes from heritage breeds, meaning they are 100% grass-fed. I finished my dinner with the currant cake accompanied by olive oil ice cream, which is surprisingly delicious!

Arugula and Beet Salad

Early the next misty morning I met with The French Laundry’s culinary gardener Tucker Taylor who showed me around the 51-plot garden, which provides produce for all three of the Thomas Keller restaurants. Every afternoon the gardeners make a list of the available produce that the chefs base the menu for the following day on.

Photo: Thomas Keller's The French Laundry

Before hitting the road back to San Francisco Airport, my mom and I stopped by Hotel Bardessono for some French toast covered in Strawberry Compote with a side of Mascarpone cream. Director of Marketing Paul Sposare gave us a tour around this Platinum LEED certified hotel with 940 solar panels and motion sensors in every room to save energy. The hotel has a full time culinary gardener and all restaurant products come primarily from local sources. The most elite element: the “spa butler” who will come set up a serene scene before your massage and even draw you a bath upon request.

Photo: Energy-saving guest room at Bardessono

Photo: Outdoor Patio at hotel Bardessono

Photo: Rooftop pool at hotel Bardessono

I hope I met my mom’s request of “no diets, no schedules, and no traffic.” I can tell by the tranquil look on her face on the drive home and the classic jazz—which she only plays when she’s feeling extremely peaceful—that I probably did.

More On Organic Vacations
Emeril Green Episode: Emeril's Culinary Adventure--Napa
Green Wine Guide: Medlock Ames' Organic Vineyard Features Mini Cows and a Century-Old Biker Bar
Stay at Green Hotels When You're On the Go

Have you seen the price of gas lately? Of course, $4 a gallon in the U.S. is cheap compared to what people in other countries have been paying for years. Either way, the cost can make you think twice about taking a trip. Unless you're Boaz Frankel. This eco-adventurer traveled 12,000 miles across America using everything BUT a gas-powered automobile.

Let's see. How did he come up with 101? Some of the different modes he chose include a pedal-powered kayak, a camel, a couch bike, a secret Senate subway, a paraglider, a hot air balloon, a crop duster, a pneumatic pogo stick, a mechanical walking rickshaw, a dog sled, and an electric motorized cooler.

See also: Seinfeld Rickshaws, Bike Taxis and Other People-Powered Transport

Frankel says he did it (in 2009) to help promote alternative modes of transportation.

Cameras followed along, and the trek has been turned into a 10-part reality series called THE UN-ROAD TRIP.

The series premieres, of course, on Earth Day. You can find it on Halogen TV.

Frankel provided the pictures you see here, showing off some of his non-auto modes of movement.

Besides a cooler and couch (above and below), he also used a motorcycle. Is that fair? He says anything without four wheels and a gas engine could qualify, and it looks like most of his rides were non-fossil fueled.

Quirky, for sure. In spare time, Frankel plays kazoo with a Seattle jugband called The Dexter Street Stompers.

More on Eco-Friendly Travel
16-Year-Old Skis to North Pole, and Keeps on Going
'Rent Green' for a Getaway, or a Test Drive
Ford to Create Cars Made of Mushrooms?

This post was written by environmental activist and actor Robert Redford.

In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon blowout last year, BP repeatedly misled the public about how much oil was spewing into the Gulf of Mexico. Now, as we mark the one-year anniversary of the blowout, company executives would like us to believe that the spill has been cleaned up and the Gulf of Mexico is back to normal.

The people who actually live along the Gulf Coast tell us something different.

In a powerful new documentary airing on Saturday on Planet Green called Stories from the Gulf, residents make it clear they are still suffering the aftermath of the largest oil spill in American history.

The movie is based on interviews produced by NRDC and Bridge the Gulf and recorded by Story Corps. I had the opportunity to provide the opening narration for the film, but most of the voices come right out of the Gulf.

Finally, the people whose voices were so often drowned out by BP's multimillion dollar PR machine have a chance to speak for themselves.

They describe the struggle to feed their families after fishing grounds were closed and tourism dried up. Captain Darla Rooks talks about the persistent rashes, headaches, and other illnesses she's experienced after coming into contact with oil and dispersants.

Rosina Philippe laments the dead porpoises and star fish she still sees washing ashore. Eric Tiser says, "I've been in the bayou my whole life, and ain't never seen so much dead stuff in the last six months."

These Gulf Coast residents also worry what the spill will do to the future health of marine life. "My community is a fishing community," says Wendy Billiot. "And we're concerned about the long-reaching effects that the dispersants are going to have on the seafood. Are the fish going to continue to follow their life cycles? Are they going to grow past the larval stage? How much of all of these natural resources are going to be affected long-term? I think it's a lot of question marks."

Uncertainty weighs heavily on most of the people in the film. "I never thought at the time that it would impact us the way it has," says Ryan Lambert. "After 30 years of building the largest guide business on the Gulf Coast, here we are down 90-something percent, we're going to have to rebrand and put the perception that everything is fine. But how do you do that if you don't know that it's fine?"

Listening to people describe how much the bayou means to them, you realize how painful it must be not to know if their way of life can survive. But to know that the damage was wrought not by the caprice of a hurricane but by the greed and negligence of oil companies is just plain infuriating.

Numerous investigations, including President Obama's National Commission on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, found that while BP, Halliburton, and Transocean made many reckless decisions before the blowout, the entire oil and gas industry lacks a culture of safety and risk assessment. The federal government, in turn, lacks the power and capacity to oversee offshore drilling.

The oil industry, the government, and Congress must take steps to strengthen the safeguards that protect workers and the Gulf environment. America, meanwhile, must reduce the addiction to oil that drives companies into ever riskier conditions, like the deepwater.

But even as we put these changes in place, we must not disregard the people on the frontlines of this spill. We must not minimize their struggle or the sense of loss and sorrow that persists to this day.

Instead, we should listen to what they have to say.

Check out these incredible and devastating oil spill images.

More on the Gulf Oil Spill
Anniversary of the Gulf Oil Spill: It's Time To Demand a National Energy Conversation : TreeHugger
BP Gulf Oil Spill Cheat Sheet: A Timeline of Unfortunate Events : TreeHugger
The BP Gulf Oil Spill By the Numbers : TreeHugger

You work hard, and you want your vacation to be special. In their time away, most folks in a recent survey would rather see what's in the sky than what's on the ground. The Aurora Borealis/Northern Lights won out against spots like Machu Picchu. Nightlife beats wildlife, in other words.

The survey comes from The Adventure Company, and 8,000 U.K. travellers were polled. Check out this run-down, featured on Traveling Greener, and see if you agree with the choices for the Top 10 places people would most like to experience:

1. Northern Lights - 16%
2. Machu Picchu - 15.7%
3. The Himalayas - 8.6%
4. The Galapagos – 8.2%
5. Taj Mahal – 8%
6. Angkor Wat – 6.2%
7. The Great Wall – 4.3%
8. The Amazon – 4%
9. Petra – 3.7%
10. The Rainforest – 3.6% (kind of a vague answer)

Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Adventure Co. Managing Director Claire Wilson says she thinks the Northern Lights are becoming more popular due to shows like the BBC's Wonders of the Solar System.

Media coverage of celestial events like a recent partial eclipse and super moon didn't hurt either. Brits caught a rare glimpse of the Northern Lights in February, The Guardian reports.

Here's a look at what all the fuss is about, from VisitNorway.com:

Film with Joanna Lumley - In the Land of the Northern Lights

Visit the official travel guide to Norway

More on Green Travel
'Rent Green' for a Getaway, or a Test Drive
101 Ways to Travel Without a Gas-Powered Car
How About a Free Trip for Turning Your Home into a Billboard?

“I can’t do it.” My mom and I were standing at the top of Sleeping Indian- a giant rock formation in the middle of Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was already suited up, harness secured, hard hat tightly strapped on her head. I had just repelled the sheer red rock face. It was her turn. She wasn’t feeling it. Maybe it was the gigantic gulp that I took as I stepped backward off the cliff and the slight fear in my eyes as I dropped out of her sight beginning my repel… Whatever it was, she was clearly spooked.

“Mom, you can do this. It’s just that first step that’s scary. It’s not physically hard. The hardest part is getting out of your head.” She stared at me. Zero expression on her face.
“Ok…” she said, “I’ll try. But if I get scared, I’m not going over the edge.”

That was enough of an opening for the guys at Front Range Climbing Company to make her feel safe and secure enough to put her life in their hands. “You’re strapped in, you have control of your speed. If you get scared and let go, we’ve got you,” Brian, the president of the company, was going down with her. He had his hand on her lower back and was teetering securely on the edge. She looked up at me and I could see a glimmer of confidence. She took another step backward.

“You know where you are, right?” Brian asked her. “Yes.” She responded. “Do you want to continue?” Brian asked. “Yes” my mom responded going from horizontal to vertical in her next step. Two steps later and her mouth began to show signs of loosening. A few more, and she was actually smiling. We went down two more times each- at the same time. Now THAT is a mother/daughter bonding experience!

Brunch, tea, spa treatments, even a sunset dinner… I’ve done them all in celebration of my mom on Mother’s Day. This year I wanted to do something a little different, shake it up a bit, and try something that she will actually remember. And that’s why I chose our weekend away to Manitou Springs. Manitou Springs is situated at the base of Pike’s Peak where, sitting at 14,115 feet high overlooking Manitou Springs and the town’s backyard- the Garden of the Gods, Katherine Lee Bates wrote the lyrics to the song “America the Beautiful.” It's no wonder. Yes, it's THAT beautiful.

In its heyday (in the late 1800s- early 1900s), The Springs was a destination for people looking to be “cured” by the natural mineral springs that bubbled up throughout the town. Visitors, including Theodore Roosevelt, Charles Dickens Jr, Clark Gable, and Thomas Edison stayed at the Cliff House (which is why there are “celebrity suites” now named after them). My mom and I stayed in the Clark Gable Suite, complete with a huge soaking tub, steam shower, towel warming rack, and- my favorite- a Toto toilet with heated seats. Heaven. After our repelling thrill, we devoured seriously some of the most delicious healthy, organic, low fat foods, perfect for refueling from Naturally’s Market & Café (to be completely honest, we ate lunch there two days in a row- that good). Then we headed out on a “Spring About”- a tasting tour of the springs.

When looking at the mineral content of each of the nine springs, it’s easy to see why many of them were sought as medicaments, including Iron Springs Geyser- which is high in iron and used to treat anemia and weakness, Shoshone with a high manganese (think milk of magnesia… gentle laxative) and lithium (a natural mood lifter) content, Twin Spring- rich with magnesium which has been shown to help treat migraines and asthma, and Wheeler- rich with copper (known for its anti-aging properties). An eco-minded town, locals are often seen surrounding the springs with multiple reusable bottles filling up for the week with their favorite waters. For an extra treat, Ute Chief Spring, known for its natural sweetness, is a favorite for making lemonade! My mom and I made our lemonade from Shoshone- Lithium Lemonade… what could be better?!

Not sure if she was still high from our repelling or the water, but my mom told me that that was the best mother’s day yet. For me, I loved the eco adventure- sure, but more than that, I loved seeing how proud my mom was of herself. She conquered a physical feat that she didn’t know she had in her. But I knew she did. After all, in her heydays, I hear she was a bit of a wild one.

In your own home, you can be just about as eco-conscious as you want. You choose the food, the cleaning products, the furniture, even how often the air conditioning goes on (of course, you might battle with your housemates over that one). However, once you hit the road for a trip, you have less control over your carbon footprint. Sometimes those eco-friendly options just aren’t out there. In order to reduce the guilt factor next time that fuel-guzzling plane takes off, green your house in these ways before leaving for vacation:

Heating and Cooling Systems: You really don’t need these on while you’re away. I know some people love to come home to a toasty home in the winter or a cool one in the summer, but if you can brave a couple of hours of less-than-desirable temperature when you get home as your systems kick back up, you can save a ton of energy while you’re away. Remember to shut these off:
Turn down your thermostat
Turn the water heater to “vacation” mode
Turn off air conditioner units (if pets are staying home, leave air conditioner on low)
Turn off fans.

Photo: Fedor Patrakov

Photo: Alin Popescu

Unplug Kitchen Appliances: Most people know today that the seemingly innocent lamp that is off or phone charger that isn’t charging anything is actually sucking up energy. What we may not realize is just how many of these silent energy suckers we have! Be sure to unplug all of these:
Coffee maker
Blender
Lamps
Ice Maker
Toaster
Rice cooker
Microwave
Raise refrigerator temperature to 38 degrees
Espresso machine
Electronic food scale

Photo: Rodgrigo Junqueira

Other Home Appliances: This list will make you realize just how many things have gone electric today.

Photo: Yury Shirokov

Scanner
Printer
Shredder
Cell phone chargers
Alarm Clock
Computer
TV
Pencil Sharpener
Photo Copier
Lamenator
Video Projector
Gaming Systems
Router
Stereo
VCR
DVD
Satellite TV box
Garage door opener
Fax Machine
Electrical toothbrush
Electrical Musical Instruments
Night Light
Electric Razor

Photo: Dreamstime

Other Green Ways To Prepare:
You'll most likely be shopping, so just as you'd pack some old grocery bags in your car before going to the market, pack some old shopping bags in your suitcase.

Instead of buying new travel-size bottles for your toiletries, see if you have any empty ones you can fill up.

Have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers for you so these don't fly away.

Photo: Oleg Pidodnya

Put outside lights on timers so people believe someone is home.

I know, these lists are long. But, hopefully the approximate hour to three hours you spend hunting down these energy-guzzling culprits in your home will make you cringe a little less as you sit in a cloud of pollution wherever your travels may take you.

More On Eco-Friendly Travel Preparation
"Greenest" Parking Lot Planned For Country's Largest Airport
5 Ways to Green Your Trip Preparation
5 Ways to Green Your Flight
Pack for a Trip the Green Way

Kentucky musician Ben Sollee is going back on the road. That doesn't mean tour buses or even a step down, to a clunky old van. Ben is going on a bike. And he's a cellist. Should he have chosen a guitar (or just been a singer with a microphone)? This guy does things the hard way, apparently. Like his latest video for "Close To You," a handmade effort filmed in one take with the help of more than 80 volunteers. Which is weirder, the bike, the cello, the video? Look and listen.

Ben's 2011 Ditch the Van Tour will head out later this summer, when he and his band stop driving and flying and start biking their way from show to show.

His newest album, released this week, is called "Inclusions." The theme is "large, humanistic and universal," he says, about "how relationships influence us all whether intentional or not."

Close To You from Ben Sollee on Vimeo.

Ben describes his art as “classically influenced folk with leanings of R&B and soul.” He was named one of the “Top Ten Great Unknown Artists of 2007" by NPR.

Still unknown? Upcoming tour dates include support from the likes of Sean Rowe and My Morning Jacket. Ben also works with nonprofits like Appalachian Voices and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.

He was part of the 2010 Appalachian Voices tour to raise awareness about mountain top removal coal mining. Ben's sounds are recommended if you like Mumford & Sons, who have had a pretty good run since The Grammys.

The first Ditch The Van Tour was in 2010, when Ben and the band hauled their gear and instruments across the country on bicycles. Ben says the 2010 trips were about slowing down and experiencing the communities and people along the way. Ben isn't the first one to combine bikes and music. Check it out in the links below.

Ditch the Van Bike Tour - Chapter 1 from marty benson on Vimeo.

More about Music on Bikes
Extreme, People-Powered Touring With Steel Wheels
Fans Help Power Up Lollapalooza with Bikes, See-Saw, Boxes
Willie Nelson Chooses Biodiesel and Hard Rock

These are Saiga Antelope. They're known for buggy eyes and big snouts ... and for being one of the fastest-declining mammal species on Earth.

Or maybe they're relatively unknown outside of Russia. The Saiga Conservation Alliance aims to make these creatures the poster children of conservation efforts, before the animals are gone.

The alliance is offering 10-day eco-tours of Southern Russia to raise money for conservation of the species.

If you can't make it from Aug. 29-Sept. 7, they're also taking donations. Once you see these pictures, you're likely to want to contribute in some way. You've been warned.

Credit: Navinder Singh

Some background

A hundred years ago, about 1 million of these antelope migrated across the Russian and Central Asian grasslands.

In the last 20 years, their numbers have declined by more than 95 percent, according to the alliance, a group of scientists and conservationists.

The antelope are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. They've fallen prey to poachers, and are primarily hunted for their translucent amber horn, which is used in Southeast Asian countries for traditional Chinese medicine.

Credit: Navinder Singh

Grassroot efforts

The Saiga Conservation Alliance is working on "informed, efficient, incentive-driven conservation action which is built on local partnerships and delivers sustainable long-term solutions."

While Saiga is the target species, the alliance aims to conserve the steppe (grassland) ecosystem as a whole, for us and other animals.

Grassroots efforts to help the grasslands. Has a nice ring to it.

Credit: Nils Bunnefeld

Raising Hope

The eco-tours will help raise money for conservation AND provide a shot in the arm for local communities, hopefully making natural resources and preservation more valuable than the horns.

The tour was developed with Saga Voyages, a tour company in Russia.

The tour takes visitors to key alliance project sites and puts travelers in direct contact with people who live in the Republic of Kalmykia, the only official Tibetan Buddhist state in Europe, and the historic city of Astrakhan.

Courtesy Saga Voyages

How much

The 10-day eco-tour cost is about $1,600 U.S. Booking details are at this Saiga Alliance link.

What's the cost of doing nothing?

More on Endangered Animals and Conservation
Frogs Are Green (Slideshow)
Peru's Lake Titicaca Frogs Are Still Made Into Soup
Snake River Salmon Make 'Great Migration' of 900 Miles (Video)

Many resorts and travel destinations can give you the feeling of isolation. The sounds of tropical birds pumping through speakers tucked into fake palm trees, a semi-remote location and staff members in grass skirts can almost give the impression that you’ve made a big track in search of serenity. Almost. However for some adventurers, the adrenaline rush/deep relaxation/sense of freedom or whatever it is they are looking for only sets in when they really worked to get to their vacation destination. And by “worked” I mean took some small, shaky, infrequently traveled form of transportation to one of these truly remote destinations. Here are some of the worlds most isolated locations for the diehard adventurer.

Cape York Peninsula, Australia
An expanse of untouched wilderness at the country’s northern tip, Cape York Peninsula is home to 18,000 people, most of whom are part of aboriginal tribes. Cape York Peninsula is one of the world’s largest undeveloped places and has become wildly popular amongst adventurers who are serious about going where no man (or almost no man) has never gone before. Visitors can drive jeeps or trucks but some overgrown regions are simply inaccessible and have only been seen by helicopters.

Pitcairn Island
This island is so stunning that one group of people left their families, their jobs—everything—upon seeing it to stay and live there. I’m talking about the famous HMS Bounty mutiny of 1789 when crewmembers were so enchanted by the island, they overthrew their commander, burnt their ship and settled down. Only about 50 people inhabit the island today, most of them descendants of the entranced crew. To get to the island, visitors must take a boat trip out of New Zealand which can take up to 10 days.

Photo: Microsoft Images Tropical Island

Mutuo County, China
Mutuo is the last county in China with absolutely no road leading to it. Located in the Tibetan Atunomous Region, Mutuo is considered by Buddhist scripture as Tibet’s Holy Land. Botanists find a form of worship there too, as the county houses 1/10th of all of China’s flora. Mutuo seems to resist any connection with the modern world. Millions of dollars have been spent in an attempt to build a road leading into it, but every effort has failed due to avalanches, landslides or mudslides. The only road that was ever completed was overgrown by wildlife within a matter of weeks. For those ready to go on foot, they must travel through frozen parts of the Himilayas before crossing a 200-foot suspension bridge.

Photo: Microsoft Images Overgrown Forest

Photo: Microsoft Images Swinging Bridge

Macquarie Island, Australia
This island became a tourist destination by a fluke when vessels carrying travelers to Antarctica stopped there to break up the multi-day voyage. Halfway between Tasmania and Antarctica, the island is home to a mere 20 Australian scientists and their support staff and is the only place to see an Ophiolite—a biologist’s dream and a rock that indicates the existence of a former ocean basin.

Photo: Microsoft Images Antarctica

Deception Island, Antarctica
The Island got it’s name after a small aircraft pilot misjudged his distance from the land and crashed, killing 4 passangers and leaving one to perish while he waited for help. If the story behind the name doesn’t put off adventurers, today they can wander around the remains of old Antarctic bases, long destroyed by volcanic eruptions, swim in volcanically heated waters at Pendulum Cove, or visit approximately 200,000 birds at Chinstrap Penguin colony.

Photo: Microsoft Images Penguin Colony

Bald Head Island
While this remote island is, admittedly, just 2 miles off of South Carolina, I thought it only fair to show that the U.S has its own spots unaffected by modern life. Known for its 110 foot tall and 5 foot thick lighthouse, the island has served as a trusty sentinel since 1817. It is only accessible by private boat or ferry and once on the island the main forms of transportation or golf carts and bicycles. Located at the mouth of Cape Fear River that leads right into the Atlantic Ocean, the island was once a hot spot of exploration by Native Americans, European settlers and Spanish sailors.

Photo: Microsoft Images Lighthouse

If you’re craving a departure from the guarded adventures offered by popular tourist destinations, take your wilder side to one of these remote destinations and leave some of the few human footprints there.

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So I'm now the holder of a Master of Arts degree in Environmental Studies with a Concentration in Sustainable Development and Policy. How does that roll off the tongue? It took me four years, taking classes on the side. Over the weekend, I visited the campus of the University of Illinois-Springfield for the first time. How is this possible?

The classes that I took were virtual, at a university that has about 5,000 students, 25% of which take classes online. Did I choose the UIS Environmental Studies program for its convenient green-ness, so I wouldn't have to spend every weekend or several weeknights driving to classes? Yes. I also chose the program because it was accredited, and offered in-state tuition for a Michigander.

This is not an intentional advertisement. It's just a segue into a new list of 311 Green Colleges from The Princeton Review. The list profiles 308 colleges in the U.S. and three in Canada and was developed with help from the U.S. Green Building Council, the people behind the LEED green building certification program.

The list, compiled in a survey, highlights institutions of higher learning that are committed to the concept of sustainability --- balancing the environment, the economy and society. Notice how I listed the environment first.

The list includes schools "that demonstrate notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation." Which makes me wonder, how many students these days consider a school's green-ness when deciding where to go to college? Is the choice based on degrees offered, and also on degrees of environmental responsibility? A list of schools by state doesn't include UIS, but does include other U. of Illinois campuses. Whew.

The Princeton green colleges list also includes highlights from each of the schools, and stats on everything from renewable energy use to the availability of environmental studies programs. The U.S. Green Building Council partnered with the Princeton Review as part of its Center for Green Schools, which is aimed at increasing "efforts to drive change in how campuses and schools are designed, constructed, and operated."

After all, colleges are training the leaders of tomorrow. Shouldn't they be setting the example? Shouldn't there be more than 311 schools on the list? Is yours? You can download a pdf version here.

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If you accidentally catch one, you suddenly become incredibly calm, contemplative and feel like you’ve snuck in on a romantic moment—I’m talking about sunsets. And snuggled up couples have been watching them since long before Glee and American Idol took up our evening free time. Some of us still skip out on modern entertainment just to go watch the sunset. Some people are sunset connoisseurs, constantly seeking out the highest rooftop, quietest beach, or most off-limits location to sneak into and watch it. For those of you out there, here are 10 spots to watch the sunset that have probably appeared on a postcard.

Ayers Rock in Northern Territory, Australia
The sky is streaked in red here when the sun goes down. That is because Ayers Rock is the seat of Uluru, a 348-meter high, 500 million year old red rock and the world’s largest monolith. When the clouds move across the sky at sunset, they reflect the rock’s blood-orange hues into the sky.

Photo: Google Earth Ayers Rock Australia

Academia Bridge in Venice, Italy
Of course one of the most romantic cities on earth offers one of the best spots to catch the sunset. Academia Bridge stretches over the Grand Canal, and from here you can watch the dying rays of light flutter across the 15th century architecture. For a more ethereal feel, go in the fall when fog makes the whole place feel like an old mystery movie.

Photo: Microsoft Sunset in Venice, Italy

The Matterhorn in Zermalt, Switzerland
No, it’s not just a ride at Disneyland. The Matterhorn is a great Alpine peak. Visitors can hike across Gornier Glacier to Monte Rosa Hut for the best view. It’s best caught at sunrise, when the sunbeams climbing up the peak light up the tip to make it look like a candle.

Photo: Microsoft Alpine Peak Switzerland

Mallory Square in Key West, Florida
Also a favorite spot for locals, Mallory Square pairs the view of the sun setting over the Gulf of Mexico with street performers, amazing food vendors, and the freedom to enjoy them all with a mojito in hand.

Photo: Microsoft Romantic couple at sunset

Masai Mara in Kenya
Catching the sun set here might bring back memories of a beloved childhood film, The Lion King. This is a great destination for wildlife lovers as a large wildlife migration passes through. Elephants, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, leopards and lions get particularly active and night time and visitors can watch their silhouettes move across the sun setting over this vast desert.

Photo: Microsoft Wildlife at sunset

Gay Head in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
The sun can play with a variety of shapes and colors here. Clay cliffs peek out of the Atlantic Ocean and North America’s last glacier disintergrated here 10,000 years ago, leaving behind boulders and clay deposits. From the lighthouse, you can watch the sun move across this entire scene with water on three sides of you.

Photo: Microsoft Gay Head Martha's Vineyard

Pre Rup Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Already a popular destination for visitors because of its majestic temples, Pre Rup has reflective pools that face west. When the sun sets, the pools catch the reflection of these enchanting structures and light up with the rusty red from the brick and laterite.

Mount Heleakala in Maui, Hawaii
Mount Helealaka is a dormant volcano that rises over 10,000 feet. The volcano serves as the only display of colors on the baron landscape when the sun rushes over it’s blackened sides, lighting it up like water on hot asphalt.

Sentosa Island, Singapore
Sentosa is a small island just off the coast of Singapore.From the shore, visitors can watch the sun set over the dozens of oil refineries sitting on the water, with their rising smoke playing off different colors in the sun.

Photo: Microsoft Oil Rigs in Singapore

Santa Monica Pier, Los Angeles
If you sit on the beach just far enough from the pier, you can watch the silhouettes of people playing miniature golf, the waves crashing, and the lights from the Ferris wheel reflecting on the Pacific Ocean.

Photo: Microsoft Sunset over pier in California

They’re free. They’re accessible to everyone. And somehow, they always enchant us. Hopefully this gives you a good date idea for the next time you’re running low on money or you’ve just seen every movie on TiVo.

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It's been 50 years since the first American astronaut flew into space, back when JFK was president. It's not too late, however, to become an astronaut yourself aboard SpaceShipTwo, the world's first commercial spaceship. All you need is a fearless attitude, and $200,000.

The offer comes from Virgin Galactic, which recently tested out SpaceShipTwo --- described by the company as "an air launched glider with a rocket motor and a couple of extra systems for spaceflight."

Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic also offered up a stunning video (advertisement/publicity generator) of the craft returning to Earth on its first feathered flight. SpaceShipTwo, aka the VSS Enterprise, has now flown seven solo flights since December 2009.

The "feathering" refers to the ship's re-entry mechanism. In the video, SpaceShipTwo takes off attached to a carrier aircraft, known as the VMS Eve. When it gets to 51,500 feet, the SS2 is released and glides back down to a runway in California's Mohave Desert.

See below. When it’s time to make the full flight, the ship will fire its engine for just over a minute to reach a height of 68 miles.

Testing the feathering system was a safety thing. But you have to be pretty fearless, like I said, to climb aboard a spaceship in the first place. You need to learn and be prepared for a lot more the typical 'fasten your seat belt/look for your exit' lesson that comes before taking off from a regular airport. The Virgin Galactic site has more information on the training involved.

George Whitesides, CEO and President of Virgin Galactic, calls the recent flight a milestone, and the re-entry system "probably the single most important safety innovation" of SS2.

So, are up for a ride?

Space is at a premium, in more ways than one. SS2 will carry six passengers and two pilots. There are no snacks or drinks.

But ... passenger-nauts will get the ultimate experience, to float in zero gravity, and look out on the globe from two large windows.

So far, more than 400 people have signed up for the space tickets. You can book a flight here. You "only" need $20,000 as a down payment. The flight lasts two hours, with 4 minutes in space, according to a Washington Post report.

A pdf brochure quotes Mark Twain: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do."

The first flights are due to begin sometime next year from Spaceport America, in New Mexico.

Spaceport America. Photo Courtesy Virgin Atlantic

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Your friends send you pictures from their mobile phone of the snow white sand under their toes while on their beach vacation. Sure, those pristine beaches are nice and few and far between, but you're not really a devotee to finding less-chartered beaches until you've explored these totally strange sandy shores:

1. Hyams Beach in New South Wales, Australia
Since there is a fascination with snow-white beaches, it's only right I include Hyams Beach, which is actually the whitest beach in the world. At least no other beach has yet to beat it in the Guinness Book of Records.

Photo: Microsoft Whitest Beach in the World

2. Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, Califronia
The surrounding hills are rich in Manganese Garnet and the substance has been washed down onto the beach, lending it’s purple and pink hues to the sand. The result is a beach that looks like a rainbow sorbet, or one dressed up for Valentine's Day.

3. Kaihalulu, or Red Sand Beach and Maui
With a canvas consisting of mainly blacks and reds, it looks like a scene straight out of Dante’s Inferno. The conjoining cindercone hill contributes tiny red deposits that stain the sand, while larger pieces of the hill make for an eery mix of rock potpourri with the slick black ones at the water.

4. Fraser Island
What can ruin a beach day? Rising tide? Sudden rain? How about traffic…on the beach? This can and does happen on the 75 mile beach on Australia’s Fraser Island. It’s said the world is running out of space for cars, and maybe this beach is proof of that. It’s an actual motorway and runway for airplanes. Not the safest place to doze off under the sun.

Photo: Microsoft Car on Fraser Island

5. Sandcut Beach
This beach offers two sites of natural beauty for the price of one. Sandcut beach in Vancouver, Canada has a waterfall running off the neighboring cliff right into the ocean. In the morning, the stony beach looks almost black, making the whole scene appear other-worldly.

6. Papakolea Beach
Endearingly called “Green Sand Beach”, Papakolea Beach is located near South Point on the island of Hawai’i. The encircling cinder cone composed of olivine crystals is what gives the sand its foresty color. While from a distance the beach looks entirely green, if you pick up a handful of the salt, a closer look will reflect more of the gold tint in the crystals.

7. Ramla il-Hamra beach
And to cover most of the rainbow, I had to include Ramla il-Hamra beach on the Maltese island, Gozo. The island can thank its volcanic nature for its Creamiscle colored sands. This island arose from the Mediterranean sea off the southern shores of Italy and tiny volvanic deposits, mixed with the rare local orange limestone, make it look like the sun is always shining on this beach.

Photo: Microsoft Ramla il-Hamra beach

Next time you're planning a tropical vacation, think twice before looking up the typical clean, white beach.

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The first creatures who crawled out of the water and onto the beach left a line in the sand.

So goes the description of the reasons behind the MyMemory.com World Beach Art Championships: To celebrate the creation of art that only lasts until the next high tide.

Of all the places on Earth to stage this first-ever contest, organizers have chosen Jersey.

That's Jersey, the island, off the coast of Normandy, France. Not New Jersey, The Garden State.

This island of Jersey, seen here on Google Maps, is the warmest place in the British Isles, according to the BBC.

The organizers of the inaugural event, including title sponsor MyMemory.com, were kind enough to let us share these photos from the artists due to attend, including Andres Amado of San Francisco and local Jersey sand maestro Andy Coutanche, below.

Photos by Danny Evans/copyright Jersey Tourism &
MyMemory.com Jersey World Beach Art Championships

The World Beach Art Championships are set for Oct. 29 and 30 on Ouaisne beach.

There will still be beach weather on the island, unlike the other Jersey.

MyMemory is a photo sharing site, so it makes sense why they'd want to be involved.

This is beach art with a rake, not sand-castle building.

Also scheduled to participate is French artist Sam Dougados, shown in the video below, rake in hand.

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Nash Hoover is 12, and like (too) many kids, he turns on a light when he enters a room, but doesn't turn it off when he leaves. It's only one bulb, after all (multiplied by rooms of bulbs in homes across the USA). Nash is learning, though. He and his dad, an inventor and journalist named Pierce Hoover, began a journey on June 1 across the USA. All 4,000 or so miles of it. And they're using an amazing hybrid vehicle that is expected to make the trip on only a light bulb's worth of energy per day.

That translates to 1,000 miles per gallon. Take that, gas hogs and oil barons. This hybrid vehicle is human-electric, and is traveling from New York to Oregon.

Hoover managed to turn most every father's problem (turn off the lights, kids) into a story pitch and a cross-country ride. The journey is being called the Eco Tour, and Hoover will be writing about his experiences at www.popsci.com/ecotour. The trek is sponsored by General Electric and Popular Science, and meant to spread energy conservation awareness. Pierce and Nash Hoover plan to travel about 60 miles per day, stopping in communities along the way to spread their conservation message. You can follow the journey on Twitter @PopSciEcoTour.

Just how much does it take to power a lightbulb? Why should we care? The Eco Tour idea came about because father Hoover was thinking of a way to teach his son about the realities of wasting energy. So he took his son to a local health club, where exercise bikes measure output in watts. He had his son pedal for 100 watts, for a typical incandescent. Nash found it was quite a bit of work, and he would have to spend most of his time pedaling if he wanted to keep wasting energy around the house.

Perhaps he wouldn't have been as convinced with the energy required for one of those lower-watt high-efficiency bulbs. Just kidding. Wasting less energy is still a waste.

The vehicle the Hoovers are helping power was designed with the help of a team of engineers from Montana and Portland. It's a human-electric hybrid that runs on a 100-watt motor powered by batteries and kinetic energy through pedaling. It has a top speed of about 25 mph, achieving an efficiency equivalent of about 1,000 mpg, according to the PopSci people.

Pierce and Nash Hoover expect that the Eco Tour will take about 90 days to complete, traveling from New York City to Portland, Oregon (where the Dream of the 90s is alive).

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Cicadas. They emerge as adults every (lucky) 13 years, then die and are boiled, covered in brown sugar and milk chocolate and mixed into ice cream. What? You've never heard of that last part? Us neither. But it was a hit in Missouri.

That's the "Show-Me State," as in show me a way to make the best of the Brood 19 cicada invasion. As NPR reports, the potentially yummy treat is a creation of Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream in Columbia.

As described on the shop's Facebook page: "There's already a lot of buzz around town about our next flavor. (Hint: it's a deafening, omnipresent buzz...)"

How good is it? Good (or weird) enough for the first batch to sell out a day before it was to go on sale.

A second batch isn't planned until 2024 (get it?). Sparky's was planning to sell more cones sooner, but there was a suggestion from the health department not to serve the bugs, and the shop ended up discontinuing the flavor, according to the Missourian. Squashed.

Hopefully this idea will re-emerge, like the next generation of cicadas. For those who are interested (or squeamish) more cicada recipes (pdf) can be found courtesy of the University of Maryland, which suggests Cicada Dumplings, Cicada Stir-Fry and Cica-Delicious Pizza, which is apparently a step above anchovies.

But let's not stop at cicadas. June bugs have been banging against windows for weeks in the U.S. and Canada.

Photo by grampymoose

They come every year, and you'll find plenty of dead ones on the ground every morning. There's a fruity drink called the June Bug, but it doesn't require any specimens.

The Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods delved into the June Bug idea a while back.

Would you eat cicada, or June bug ice cream?

What about a hot June bug sundae? Cicada parfait?

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The last time my dad took me to the zoo, a walrus pee’d in its mouth then spit up into the crowd… spraying me in the face. I was 7. I haven’t been back since. But this year, 26 years later, my dad and I decided to take a car-free getaway to Santa Barbara to celebrate Father’s Day. In an attempt to get over my Zoo issues, we also decided to visit the Santa Barbara Zoo. It was a definite father/daughter bonding vacation. Thankfully there were zero walrus sightings.

Getting There/ Staying There

My dad and I took the Amtrak from the overwhelmingly bustling downtown Los Angeles Union Station to the idyllically quaint downtown Santa Barbara station on State Street, just 2 blocks from the ocean. But our vacation didn’t start there. It started about halfway between LA and Santa Barbara as we were rolling along the track, the ocean to our left and mountains to our right- a perfect stretch of calm. Once we arrived, we jumped into a Pedi-Cab, essentially a bike-drawn carriage (and pretty much the most amazing green job for fitness buffs) and moments later arrived to the Simpson House, a five diamond bed and breakfast built as a Victorian estate in 1874 that is dotted with English gardens and makes you feel instantly at ease and at home. But one of my favorite parts was breakfast, where you sit down in the main home or garden, then you’re handed a personalized menu “Good Morning, Ms. House” with a list of several fresh made daily specials including local organic Warm Poached Pear with homemade granola or Santa Barbara Eggs with local avocado and fresh salsa… my mouth is watering. I have to stop with this description.

Eating There

“Chef’s Counter” at the Wine Cask where the chef creates a tasting “experience” of local and farmer’s market ingredients like Baked Local Corvina (white fish) en Papillote with baby spring vegetables and Tom Shepherds wild arugula, each dish perfectly paired with local wine like Margerum Sauvignon Blanc from their wine-on-tap program, yes, wines poured from a tap as opposed to from bottles- a great way to save unnecessary bottle waste.

Julienne is known as one of the “hottest” tables in town by both locals and Angelenos (ever since the LA Times gave it an amazing review). The teeny tiny little off State St restaurant serves only seasonal ingredients farmed by California purveyors to maintain taste and quality. Plus it keeps the chefs constantly creative as their menu is regularly changing based on what’s fresh at the farm.

Drinking There… (it is wine country after all)

Playing There

Then, of course, the Santa Barbara Zoo, just for the sake of old funny memories. Turns out the Zoo prides themselves on being green too, composting 350 lbs of elephant poop each day, turning it into mulch. The water used for landscaping is reclaimed, there is a cell phone donation center in order to reuse needed parts which are originally sourced from natural gorilla habitats, and of course, recycling bins are everywhere. Beyond their dedication to green, the grounds don’t feel like a typical zoo with animals relocated to teeny quarters that seem more like cages than habitats. Instead, (except the bird area), the giraffes, gorillas and even flamingos have ample room to roam while still giving visitors lots of viewing area to not just see, but learn. Maybe that’s why the walrus back then was so upset!

So, maybe it wasn’t the wild eco adventure that my mom and I did repelling off a rock for Mother’s Day, but I think my dad enjoyed our father/daughter getaway. It’s always nice to reconnect. Hey... at least it was walrus pee-free (in addition to car-free of course).

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