the smaller planet

Hi, My name is Curt, and maybe this is my midlife crisis.

With two adult children “out of the nest” (one in college, one almost done with college), it’s time to try something new. Again. I have a long history of wanderlust, easily fueled by a past life as a Corporate Trainer, where I was based near a major airport, and my “territory” was North America (occasionally covering for other territories, which is sort of what started it all). I have a healthy collection of passport stamps already, and only have 6 states left to get all 50.

I have spent countless hours on both the soccer pitch, as both a coach and a referee. I have been involved with volunteer fire and rescue as an Emergency Medical Technician for over 25 years. I am a SCUBA diver, and am an Instrument Rated Private Pilot.

I am a frequent flier mileage hound, and work hard to hoard miles…as the journey is as much fun as the destination.

When I can pry my wife, Leigh, away from her horse and her garden, we make a pretty good team, from the back streets of the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona (say it right!), to hiking the Kalalau trail on the north shore of Kauai, to the Antique Stores in Vienna (“it’s better without the husbands”).

I’m a veteran traveler, but a pretty new travel blogger….so cut me a break.

These are my stories.

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🗺️ The Deep Stats

🏆 Three Longest Flights

Route	Distance	Time Aloft	Year
Abu Dhabi → Sydney (Etihad First Class)	7,490 mi	14h 05m	2019
Sydney → Los Angeles	7,490 mi	15h 28m	1999
San Francisco → Sydney	7,421 mi	15h 20m	1999

🧭 How Far I’ve Reached

Farthest points reached by any means — air, sea or rail. Northernmost is the wye just inside British Columbia where the White Pass & Yukon Route train reverses, about a mile above the Alaska border.