Real Man Tested: RAM EZ On-Off X Grip Bike Mount

Review by: Ed Arsenault

Every once in a while you come across a product that just makes sense, and you wonder why no one thought of it before? That's exactly the case with the RAM EZ On-Off X Grip Bike Mount.

The product promises to hold your phone or similarly shaped object as you cruise around on your bicycle with their patented X Grip system. We here at Real Man Travels like to bike so I purchased one for myself from the fine folks at RAM Mounting Systems and put it through the ringer.

1. What you get:

The package arrived with:

• 1 X Grip phone mount
• 1 Mount insert
• 2 bar attachments (to suit your bar set up)
• 1 piece of 3M rubber
• 2 black cable ties
• 1 set of instructions

X-Grip Mount, cable ties and bar attachments

 2. Look and Feel:

The EZ On/Off mount initially feels solid and durable with its hard plastic casing, strong metal arms that have very little flex, and thick rubber tips that make contact to your device. If you squeeze the arms and then let them release on their own, you will see the strength in the spring that is meant to hold your device in place.

The pieces for mounting to your bike are also built from the same thick plastic but the method for attaching them to your frame are just generic cable/zip ties. If you plan to move this mount between a few bikes then you can purchase these zip ties from any hardware store for dirt cheap.

3. Set Up:

The set up process was very simple. You first attach the 3M rubber around the bar where you plan to have the mount (this prevents the mount from slipping or sliding). Then you attach the bar clip of your choice to the frame using the two provided cable ties which need to be pulled tight. I would recommend pulling the ends with a pair of pliers for that extra click or two your bare hands can't get.

Step 1: Attach the 3M rubber around the bar

Step 2: Set the bar attachments on top of the 3M rubber

Step 3: Pull the zip ties through the slot and tighten then up. Cut off excess zip tie straps.

Next you will insert the X grip mount by pushing it down and twisting it slightly. Once you hear the click the mount is in. At this point you can set the mount to be in portrait or landscape mode when you attach your phone.

Step 4: Attach the mount in either portrait or landscape

To attach your phone you simply squeeze the spring loaded "x" arms and then place your phone down and let them open against your phone. The spring loaded gripping arms will hold your phone snug at this point. Adjust the phone as necessary, but try to make sure it is as close to the middle as possible to avoid balance issues.

4. Ease of Use:

After installation this product is a piece of cake to use. It is always as simple as squeezing the X grip arms and releasing. It is easy to remove the X grip mount by simply pushing down and twisting it off.

Unfortunately the remaining pieces stay on your bike with cable ties so moving from one bike to another with one system is not easy. If you do wish to move the entire mount then you will need to cut the cable ties and have more handy to reattach it. You may also want some extra 3M rubber as well.

5. Actual vs. Advertised

I feel confident that this product delivers on its promise. I have ridden over 200km with this mount and my phone attached to my handle bars. I have ridden on many different terrains and landscapes including busy paved city streets and gravel country roads and my phone has been snug and secure the entire time.

While the mount does hold your phone in place it does come with one minor flaw. After placing a phone into the mount there is a small swivel of about 15 degrees. This will make for a small annoyance to those who have light OCD as it will sit just off kilter. You can swivel it back those few degrees, but after a bump or two it will revert back.

The arms of the spring loaded mount can latch on to most phones with a 4-5” screen (if you are using a phablet then I’d recommend staying away from this model). I tried an iPhone 4s, BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry Q10 and a HTC One (M8). It can attach with or without your phone case on, just as advertised.

While the spring arms don’t obstruct the camera lens (which is great if you want to record your rides), the angle of the mount cannot be changed without cutting and reattaching cable ties. Therefore filming with this mount can be a pain. If you are looking for a mount to film with you may want to check out another one of their products intended for that purpose.

6. Value

I purchased this mount for $28 plus taxes and shipping and handling. When all was said and done, to have this in my hands, it cost me $45 (CAD). I believe that the mount is worth the $45 (CAD) price tag because you get a solid phone mount that is universal and doesn’t require any special cases or any tools to install it.

7. Practicality

The RAM EZ On/Off mount made sense on one of my long haul rides because I could have my navigation up and running in front of me at all times. As well as have a tracking app on that would show distance covered, average speed and more. There was no need to reach into my pocket and stop and check for these details. For use around town, or for quick bike errands, the mount has little to no purpose. Without needing navigation or statistics, my phone just sat on the mount with the screen off the entire time.

Phone attached and navigation on

8. Overall Impressions and Final Scoring

Overall, if you intend to use your phone as your main tool for navigation, stat tracking or even just as a music player then this mount will be a great solution. It is sturdy, grips your phone tight and after 200km of riding it hasn’t once given any indication that the device wasn’t safe.The best part is you don't have to buy another mount when you upgrade your device!

My only complaint is that the mount does rotate just slightly during rides, but that is more of an OCD issue. Hopefully newer models of this mount will address this issue. 

I'd give this product a 4/5 and would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking to hold their gadgets on their bike. 

Score: 4 Real Man Beers out of 5

You can order this directly from the manufacturer here, oryou can try Amazon (that is where I got mine from).

Happy riding!

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Real Girls Go Rock Climbing

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm usually up for almost any sort of adventure. Naturally, when the opportunity to try rock climbing came up, I didn't even bat an eyelash . I met up with Chase, an experienced rock climber (and Honda Fit lifestyle ambassador) on a crisp fall Sunday morning and we set off in the all new 2015 Honda Fit! For such a little car I was surprised by the amount of pep and power it had on the highway! I was even more impressed with the super cool technology in this sweet little ride. It has blind spot cameras so when you changed lanes it showed a display of what was beside you. The dash had a very modern look with a fully integrated touch screen for all your entertainment needs and it even had a handy USB port so I could educate Chase on the finer points of quality country music! With lots of room for our climbing gear, and some sweet tunes, we were ready for the adventure ahead!

First stop was a great hike through the hills of Mount Nemo. Mount Nemo is part of Halton Parks, and I'll tell you, this hike proved to have some of the best views I've seen. It was a wonderfully clear day and I swear I could see my house from up there! It amazes me how very lucky I am to live in such a beautiful province. 

After our hike at Mount Nemo, we jumped back in the Fit and were on our way to Rattlesnake Point. Yes, the name is terrifying and makes one think of the dark area you can see from Pride Rock in the Lion King. "You must never go there Simba," yeah, well Moufasa, I went there. I would say this place is not quite as scary as the name implies. After a VERY twisty, turny (don't underline that in red spell check, I know that's not a word, but I'm using it anyway) and again twisty drive up, we arrived at Rattlesnake Point!

It was at this point the real fun began! We met up with our climbing guides, Dan and Karen from Zen Climb. They were very patient with me and helped me get my gear situated. My partner in climb, Karen, was very patient and extremely encouraging. There are a couple fantastic videos you can check out on my instagram @hmac158 The long and short of this is that I discovered 2 things on this beautiful crisp fall morning: 1 - rock climbing is hard! 2 - I have a fear of heights. Thanks to Karen I was able to work through some of that fear - at one point when I was really, really high up, (okay, it was only about 6 ft up a large rock face) I asked her "Has anyone got to this point and just said, "Ya know what? I'm good with this, I'm done.'" She simply responded, "Nobody." "Okay cool... I'm just gonna keep going." I made it to a ledge about 40 ft up and only had one other minor freak out when it was time to head back down (again video is on my instagram @hmac158). 

After completing my great Ontario rock climb, I decided to call it a day. Chase continued to climb a bit longer, as it appears he may had done it once or twice before. Despite my minor little freak outs, I had an incredible time and am so happy I had the opportunity to take part in this adventure. I love this beautiful province I call home and it was amazing to have this adventure to see it in a completely new and wonderful way! I definitely need to give a shout out and a great big THANK YOU to the people at Zen Climb! They were fantastic and they never let me give up. If you too are up for any adventure, I highly recommend braving the rock faces of Rattlesnake Point. 

Now what kind of post would this be of mine without a few selfies? After all that climbing and hiking we definitely built up quite the appetite, lucky for us a Beavertail food truck was in the park that day! Mmmm Beavertails! Thanks for being a great guide that day Chase, and thanks for putting up with all my picture taking!

If you're interested in rock climbing, or even just checking out these beautiful spots for hiking, picnics or camping, you can visit the links below:

http://www.conservationhalton.ca/rattlesnake-point

http://www.conservationhalton.ca/mount-nemo.

Special thanks for Honda Canada for sending Chase and his fancy Honda Fit and organizing the day!

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Top 5 Family Attractions in Niagara Falls

At the very edge of the falls your knees feel a little weak.

There is nothing like hearing the giggles of your children as a beautiful butterfly lands on their shirt. There is also nothing like being on a boat at the bottom of Horseshoe Falls on a hot summers day. The power of the falls is intimidating but you feel perfectly safe. The cool mist covers your family from head to toe and everyone is smiling. That sounds like a perfect family trip to me.

A few weeks ago I was invited by Niagara Parks to try out their adventure pass at Niagara Falls with my family. On top of it saving you money, it includes four adventurous activities, a bus pass for two days to get you to wherever you needed to go, and some coupons to save you even more money.

Whichever activity you choose, make sure you bring good company to share in these memories, you wouldn't want to do it alone (or maybe you would... I am not judging).

So without any more hesitation here is my list of the Top Five Family Things to Do in Niagara Falls.

5. White Water Walk 

Take a walk  along a boardwalk at the edge of one of the world's wildest stretches of whitewater.  Trillions of gallons of water are forced into this accelerating trough with three to five-metre (10 to 16 ft.) standing waves. 

 Tip: Just a heads up, this one is a few kilometres away from the falls.

White Water Walk 

4. Butterfly Conservatory

The Butterfly Conservatory is located on the grounds of the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, 10 minutes north of the falls. Over 2,000 butterflies, made up of 45 different species, call this beautiful space home. Explore and be amazed at all of the different colors and if you are lucky one might even land on you! 

Tip: This is not part of the Adventure Pass but is a great way to spend a couple of hours with your loved ones. Wear anything green and the butterflies are more likely to land on you! This is also near the White Water Walk.

This attraction brought out a lot of smiles from my family.

3. Niagara's Fury

Discover the ancient story of Niagara Falls in a fun animated tale that the whole family will love.  Follow it up with a thrilling 4D experience that takes you back 10,000 years to when Niagara Falls was formed.

Tip: You will get wet and it is dark and very loud. 

This was fun and very refreshing. Photo Courtesy of Niagara Parks

2. Journey Behind the Falls

You'll travel down into the tunnels behind the thundering Horseshoe Falls, where lookout holes give you a backstage pass to this incredible wonder. Then, step out onto the observation deck and experience the falls crashing down from 13 stories above.  As you marvel at the huge waterfalls the mist covers your face and makes you feel alive (and cool on a hot day).

Tip: Journey Behind the Falls is in the same building as Niagara's Fury, be sure to book the times close together. 
 

My daughters get up close to the falls, they loved this attraction!

1. Hornblower Niagara Cruises 

This is my favourite adventure of all.  What a thrilling way to experience Niagara Falls. This up close and personal tour of the falls get you as close as possible to the breathtaking power and mist that is the magnificent Niagara Falls. Hornblower Niagara Cruises gives you the thrill of a lifetime!

Tip: Lines are smaller at the start and end of the day.

Have you checked any of these out? Let me know what you thought?

Thank you to Niagara Parks. My family had an awesome time.

When you travel with four beautiful girls... life is good!

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Date Night in Paris - Night Rafting on the Grand River

Six friends ready for rafting, will they come back alive?  Read on to find out...

The sun was just starting to set as we watched a couple of fisherman try their luck near the bottom of the modest waterfall. I could still taste the delicious barbecue sauce from my tender rack of ribs I enjoyed at renowned Camp 31 rib house earlier. Our group had been anticipating date night for quite a while, finally we were standing on the banks of the Grand River in Paris, Ontario. Our guide, Nick from Grand River Rafting, approached us with a smile, he knew right away that he had a special group on his hands and sensed that the bond was strong.  He was right and we were starving for a romantic adventure.

My eyebrows, Alison and Nick having a great time together

Sam and Lianne doing a J-stroke

The gentle current took hold of the raft, and as we set out on our star gazers drift (one of 11 special offers from Hamilton, Halton, and Brant's Our True Nature) we found ourselves in many separate conversations and telling jokes. In no time Nick had become our seventh wheel. He would occasionally interrupt, politely of course, to educate us as on the constellations and planets visible in the clear night's sky (we were fortunate enough to see Venus and Mars), and to steer us to other focal points along the river banks.

This is the rear of Paris' downtown core and yes, those are riverside bars and patios!

Terrina and myself let everyone row while we took a photo together

The total raft ride takes about three hours to complete, depending on current, how much you row and how many stops you make. We made two stops to explore the true nature of the river bank. On the first stop, we drank from a natural spring that trickled down to the rivers edge, while on the second and final stop, we explored an old gypsum mine shaft that reminded me of a petite version of the bat cave.

Sam having a drink of the fresh spring water.

Ed and Sam in the hobbit sized bat cave

Ed and Terrina exiting the gypsum mine

By the time we finished our second adventure the sky had darkened and we could no longer see very far ahead of our modern, spacious raft, which made it all the more exciting. The stars weren't the only attraction of the evening as the firefly's put on a show of their own. A pleasant surprise that rivaled the sights, no bugs! Keeping our crew free from bugs while enjoying the warm summers eve definitely upped the romance factor.

When the night was finished we rowed the raft onto shore and awaited the van to pick us up and take us back to our cars. We were all smiles as we welcomed the warmth of the shuttle van (it cools off considerably in the last hour of the trek so be sure to bring a sweater), and while not a physically demanding trip, our weary heads yearned for rest .With our adventure complete we retired to the nearby Hampton Inn (when booking mention Grand River Rafting and get a discount) where the beds were as heavenly as the evenings company.

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10 Tips and Lessons Learned From Long Haul Bike Rides

A post by Ed Arsenault

Having recently fulfilled part two (part one here) of the “could I bike home in an apocalypse scenario” with a 90 km ride from Toronto to Alliston, ON, I have learned even more about long haul riding. So below, in no particular order, are some quick tips to ensure you have a good ride.

John (riding partner) looking at a lake in Palgrave on our ride from Toronto to Alliston, ON.

Sandwiches – Sandwiches will be your saving grace, your hero, your lifeline; well, not really, but they sure do hit the spot. I brought four mini sandwiches along for the ride and I have to tell you, my pit stops were never better. Sweet turkey hitting my hungry lips fueled me up for the ride to come.

Rest and don’t push any injuries – Five days before this ride I tweaked out my back at work being a dummy lifting without my legs. Even stupider was that I still did the 90 km ride. The first half was fine but the second half had me stopping frequently to relieve the sharp pain in my back. Never push yourself too hard, reschedule if you have to.

Panniers and a rear rack – These are life savers, but make sure you ride with them a few times before a long haul. Fresh off of the winter thaw I ran to MEC and purchased a rear rack and panniers (literally three days before the ride) and had zero ride time with them. While they took the weight off my back, they added weight to the bike which required a bit more leg power on hills and threw off the balance I was used to.

My bike set up. Rear rack and panniers and a cell phone mount.

Basics are more than enough to get you through – Do you really need a fancy GPS? Spandex short shorts? $4500 bike? Of course not. My partner in this ride was rocking a mountain bike he got for the low cost of a bottle of wine. I was riding a Canadian Tire road bike that I grabbed on sale. Both of us were clothed in pants and sweaters, no skin tight spandex suits for us. Unless you are on a mission to go fast, dress comfortably. “Need Less, Be More.”

Train small and work up - Don’t just jump into a long haul without some prior riding. Start small, do a 20 km run, then try a 30-50 km run. If your butt can handle being on a seat for that long and your legs can power through, then you are ready to challenge yourself.

Time is not as important as you think - Unless you are in a race, there is no need to go into overdrive. The real reason I do these bike rides is to appreciate my surroundings and to humble myself about how lucky we are to have access to cars and other forms of motorized transportation. Take your time, soak up the sights and sounds, and most of all: enjoy the ride.

Understand the basics of bike repair - You never know what can happen on the road. You could be 15 or 35 km from the nearest town and have something go wrong. It’s important to understand the basics of bike repair. I would recommend familiarizing yourself with changing a tube, gear calibration and brake lines. These would cover most of your common issues.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

Have a rough estimate of where you are going as well as a timeslot when you should arrive - This is just basic safety. Let someone know where you intend be. That way, if you go missing, someone has a relative idea where to find you.

Charge up your phone - If you have it, bring an extra battery. There is nothing worse than losing contact when you need it the most.

Stay Safe – Don’t get killed or injured on your trip. If you aren’t comfortable on a road, get off of it and onto another one. Have lights for night or dusk rides and a bell to warn others that you are around. Never sacrifice your safety for anything.

These are the things I have learned by doing two long haul rides and I hope they help you out in the future. If you have ever done any long rides and have any tips to add, please comment below. Happy riding!

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Spend Light, Travel Big: Germany and Czech Republic

 

a post by Alison Preiss

A European vacation has been on my wish list for a while. So last summer when my brother did an oversea’s study program in Germany, I jumped at the chance to tour around with him at the end of his stay. In 10 days and nine nights we saw over 2,000 kilometres of Germany and the Czech Republic, with stops in Frankfurt, Berlin, Prague, Stuttgart, and Freiburg. And we managed to do it for a reasonable price: Including flight, hotel, some nice meals and some VERY light shopping, the trip cost me less than $3,000. I left with some great memories shared with my brother, and didn’t go into debt doing it. Here’s how we pulled it off:

Das Brother

Getting around

Trains: We wanted to see as many cities as possible during my 10 day visit, while still allowing for some flexibility. We opted for a Eurail regional pass that was good throughout Germany and the Czech Republic. We bought two 2nd class super saver passes for about $350 Canadian each and allowed for 5 days of unlimited travel anywhere in these two countries. This got us easily to big cities, and also allowed us to a take ‘just cause’scenic ride up into the heart of the Black Forest and back (yes we bought cake).

Local Transit: Most of the local transit systems (light rail, tram and trains) we encountered were self serve (you buy your own ticket, there are no ticket collectors but there are occasional spot checks). I’d recommend just buying 24 hour passes, it was easier to manage since not all of the machines were easy to navigate in English.

Eating

Breakfast: We either scammed the complimentary breakfast at the hotel, or we picked up pastries the night before.

Lunch: Opt for street food. This is a cheap way to experience great food, and some local flavours. In Frankfurt we had fish donair from a food boat (!), Berlin was all about Currywurst (french frys with curry, sausage, ketchup and mayo - believe me it WORKS), and in Prague my go-to street food fried cheese sandwiches. There were good grab-and-go desserts aswell: We found really good, creamy ice cream in most german cities for about 1 euro. In Prague they wrapped leavened dough around a wooden spit, dipped it in sugar and then baked it over an open flame.

Dinner: Dinner was where we splurged a little, or really planned out where we were going to eat. Things you should eat in Germany: Spaetzle, handkase, schnitzel, flammkuchen, beer cheese, apfelwein, and every different kind of sausage you come across.

Biergartens: I loved biergartens, and I don’t even really like beer. Imagine a really beautiful park, filled with long picnic tables and shaded by big sprawling trees. There are little play areas for kids, dogs are welcome, and if you want a cold beer and a sausage, you just head up to a cute little hut and order one. It’s seemed like the sort of place where you just run into your old friends of favourite neighbours. Seriously, it makes me really angry to think about our uppity liquor laws here in Canada. Try taking your dog into a patio in Toronto, let alone finding a place where kids can play while adults imbibe.

Biergarten food

In these glorious places, the food was cheap and delicious, and I discovered a beer that is suitable for my sweet-tooth palate - Radler (beer mixed with 7-up). We hit up Prater Garten in Berlin [http://www.pratergarten.de/e/index.php], and Augustiner Keller in Munich [http://www.augustinerkeller.de/en.htm].

Sleeping

Hotels: At first I liked the idea of not booking anything and then just seeing where we wanted to go, but when you only have 10 days, we decided it would be better to have a plan. To allow for some flexibility, we booked hotels for the first 6 days, and then left some flexibility open for the last three. After doing some comparisons on hostels, versus AirBnB, I actually found the best deals were hotels booked through Priceline. If you don’t know Priceline, it basically lets you bid for hotel rooms, you get a geographical area and a star rating, but once your bid is accepted, you’re locked in. We used the express deals functionality and got decent hotels for between $40-$70 a night. The app made it really easy to book places on the spur of the moment, and they kept sending me 10% off coupons with every room I booked. A word of warning, the Priceline star rating doesn’t hold up as well in Europe. After two nights in a Prague three-star, I insisted on a four-star in Germany complete with an indoor pool.

Couchsurfing: Okay, so my brother kind of tricked me into my first Couchsurfing stay. He had visited Freiburg earlier in his trip and fell in love with it. Freiburg is close to the French border and right on the edge of the Black Forest, and basically looks like a village out of a fairytale. He arranged a Couchsurfing stay with a friend of the person he originally surfed with. He told me we were staying with a friend of a friend. This was technically true.

The best part of Couchsurfing is that you truly get to experience local culture (have you seen a complete stranger kick a one-night-stand out of his house in another language? I have). The downside is that you don’t really get your own space and you have to adapt to your host’s schedule. It gave my brother the university style party he was craving, and I am not above sleeping on a mattress on the floor (which I did, going to bed hours before everyone else).

Doing Stuff

Tours: I have mixed feelings on tours: On one hand they can be cheesy and something deep inside me really hates proffering that I’m a tourist. BUT when you are only in a city for a day or two, tours are a really good way to see the basics and orient yourself with a new city. In Berlin we took a bus tour (Sample dialogue: “This is a vacant lot, I think this is a very beautiful site because the building that used to be here was ugly”). In Prague we took a ‘tip tour,’basically you go around with a guide on foot for a few hours, and then you pay what you can. We chose a nice lady named Jana and we wound up being the only people on her tour that afternoon. She showed us the sites and explained some of the major historical events. On any Prague tour you’re probably going to hear a lot about Kafka and bridges.

Fun in the Streets: Some of the best events we attended were the cheapest. In Stuttgart we attended a street festival called Sommerfest. We were wandering through old town in Prague when we came across a street performer’s show. ChickenJoe contorted his body, laid down on broken glass and did all sort of other entertaining things. At the end he asked us to chip in the cost of a beer.

Explore: Most nights, we would just wander. It’s perfectly legal to drink in public, so we would grab a beer at a bodega and then just walk and talk, following the streets that seemed interesting, We found beautiful little parks, old churches, and had some great conversations along the way.

Travel Tips

Starbucks: I didn’t buy an international phone plan, and my european SIM card was pretty flaky, but Starbucks always offered free wifi, clean bathrooms and familiar coffee. I tried to drag my brother into one once a day to check my email and grab a coffee. Finding free hotel wifi was hit or miss.

Bathrooms: Be prepared to pay to pee, most public washrooms cost about 1 euro, but the upside is that they are convenient and clean. At the Berlin Aquarium you can pay an attendant 50 cents and she will disinfect the toilet seat in front of you. I daydream about this service at most public washrooms I encounter in North America.

Highlights:

Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt:

Movenpick Hotel Frankfurt City:

http://www.moevenpick-hotels.com/en/europe/germany/frankfurt/hotel-frankfurt-city/overview/

Palmengarten - Botanical garden

http://www.palmengarten.de/#/de_DE/index/index

Berlin

KaDeWe Department Store - Go to the grocery floors!

http://www.kadewe.de

Berlin Aquarium - Perfect for a rainy day

http://www.aquarium-berlin.de

Burgermeister - Grab a burger then head down to walk along the Spree and the remainders of the Berlin Wall.

http://www.burger-meister.de

Topography of Terror - documentation centre on the Nazi party

http://www.topographie.de/en/

Prague

Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock

http://www.praguewelcome.cz/en/visit/monuments/top-monuments/58-old-town-hall-with-the-astronomical-clock.shtml

Rent a paddle boat

http://www.prague.net/blog/article/20/rent-a-paddle-boat-on-the-vltava-river

Freiburg

The whole city is just wonderful

http://www.freiburg.de/pb/,Len/225797.html

Packing - with all this travelling I wanted to pack light. Read more about how I fit 10 days into one backpack on scribbled-down.com

Alison Priess

About Alison:  Alison is a former reality TV personality, craft wizard, foodie, and long time friend of the guys over at Real Man Travels, because lets face it, every group needs a sassy red head. Alison also a has her own blog www.scribbled-down.com where she writes about crafting, eating, and living. You should check it out!

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Where Do You Want To Go?

Where Do You Want To Go?

That is something I often ask myself. I have day and night dreams about all the places I want to go. I can smell the ocean breeze, feel the sand and hear the waves. I know that my dreams are not the same as the dreams of others. Some people aspire to much different things, but still have a dream of going somewhere, someday. That is why one of my favourite questions to ask people is: "Where do you want to go?". There are two common ways people answer: a quick, decisive pronouncement; or a long, drawn-out bucket list.

No matter how people answer, the answers are always fascinating - as is the seemingly innate desire most seem to have to see and experience this magnificent world in which we live.

Over the past year people have started asking me this and other questions. "Where are you off to next?" "Any travel plans coming up?". So for those fine people who care, here is what I hope to do this year:
the summer will be full of camping. Several trips, both planned and impromptu, will be spent with family. I'll also be doing the requisite outdoor adventures with friends which will surely include as much fishing as possible. Then, in the mid-fall, I will be taking off to check out Europe - exploring Rome, Italy and Athens, Greece.

Trevi Fountain Rome, Italy - Photo From Travelling Editor

Athens, Greece

So now you know. And now it's your turn. I want to know where you want to go. Would it be tasting fresh bread in Paris and taking a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower? Or will that selfie be at the top of Empire State Building in New York City with a slice of pizza in hand? Perhaps your plans don't include selfies. Perhaps it's just the sound of the ocean that you are after? Or a drive down the winding scenic roads of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way? Maybe free drinks and cute cabana boys? Please, leave a comment below letting us know where you plan to go, or just where you want to go in the coming months. We really want to know.

Insert Selfie Here

Or Here

Here at Real Man Travels, we want to share our travel experiences and share in yours. After all, it's a great big world full of endless opportunities.

Chris

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2013 - Real Man Travels Year In Review

2013 was a roller coaster ride of a year, Its was a successful year and I have my friends to thank for it. I look forward to 2014 and I hope the year treats you well. I leave you with an Irish Cheers Sláinte!!

Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario: This Photo was taken on our way to the St. Mary's rapids to try our luck and new found skills at Fly Fishing. This was a great adventure that introduced me to some great people. Thanks Again to Soo North Fly Shop.

Bushplane Museum- Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario: This is my top mate Dylan in a small coin operated space shuttle. For those of you who do not know him, Dylan is 6'3. So you can Imagine how funny this would be in real life. 

Elmavale Zoo, Ontario Canada: This was at a school trip with my daughter's class and I will tell you that Giraffe tongues gross me out. However my daughter was not so squeamish as the Giraffe licked the food clean off her palm.

Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario Canada: I was lucky enough to be hosted by Parks Canada for a couple of days. We stayed in a Yurt which is an excellent way to camp. This photo was taken at Indian Head Cove right next to the grotto. 

Grundy Lake Provincial Park, Ontario Canada: The final shot of our homemade "Man Of The Year" competition where we compete in various outdoor events such as Fishing, Washer Toss and the Xtreme Challenge! 

 Brampton, Ontario Canada: This year we experienced Tree Top Trekking. It turned out to be quite the test of the mind and body. I remember feeling so proud of our group not one of us lost our balance and fell off during the whole course. This is not easy by any means.

Canadian Space and Aviation Museum - Ottawa, Ontario Canada: This past summer the kids and I took a road trip to Ottawa. When I look at this picture, it scares me a little. It actually looks like they know what they are doing...

Bon Echo Provincial Park Ontario, Canada: After hiking to the top of the cliffs, My hetero life mate Mike and I boarded the Mugwump Ferry and I captured this photo on our way back to the mainland. It was one of the best weather days of the year.

Dublin, Ireland: I went for a few walks in Dublin one was to the Temple Bar to drink beer and the other was an early morning stroll to St.Patrick's Cathedral.

Strandhill Beach, Sligo Ireland:  We were on our way for dinner and when we arrived this was the scene as 20 Travel Bloggers unloaded out of the bus and started taking pictures. The weather gods were smiling down on us the entire trip.

Streedagh Strand Sligo, Ireland: This photo was taken along a guided hike with SEATRAILS our guide was Auriel Robinson who is a Marine Archaeologist, While showing us amazing fossils along the shores, She told us many interesting stories of the unforgiving coastline.

Glenevin Waterfall, Ballyliffin Co. Donegal Ireland: This small but very picturesque waterfall can be found along a small pathway with sheep wandering free a few tiny bridges cross the stream along the way. We followed up this brisk fall walk with a stop at Nancy's Barn which we were served hot soup and coffee and delicious home-made treats.

Malin Head Donegal, Ireland: This was on a small hike at the most northern coastline of Ireland. Besides the swimming seals and breathtaking views of coastline, the wind also tried to take our breath away on many occasions.

Farren's Bar- Donegal, Ireland: This personalized pint was served up to us just after our hike at Malin Head at the end of our Ireland press trip. The location was Farren's Bar it is Ireland's most northerly pub I enjoyed unwinding with 20 new friends at the end of an amazing journey as we all posted our beer photos on instagram.

TCF Bank Stadium - Minneapolis, Minnesota: This photo was taken as a gag to re create an old Three Stooges photo. The representative of the Gophers stood there shaking his head like "you have got to be kidding me, are these guys for real?" But he took the picture and we love him for that.

Target Field - Minneapolis, Minnesota: The host of the 2014 MLB All Star game, The Twins have it all in this stadium. The tour of the stadium is one of the top rated tours in sports on ESPN.com. We were allowed to take a "special" tour and this is the view from the home dugout. Minneapolis is a great sports city.

TCF Bank Stadium - Minneapolis, Minnesota: Gopher Game Day, we were given 3 media passes to a Big Ten College football game so we showed up early to watch the players warm up and we were awarded with this photo. Yes I was laying on my stomach for this one.

Algonquin Provincial Park - Ontario, Canada: The girls and I took a fun little road trip to this picturesque little spot along the way we seen our very first Moose! When we reached this campground the sun was just setting over the lake as I started getting our supper ready on a camping stove on the tailgate of my truck.

Drysdale's Tree Farm - Utopia, Ontario: This was my last adventure of 2013, and one of my favorite because, it really shows off how happy I am making memories with my family.

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