08 June 2006 (Thursday) - 09 June (Friday)
Edmonton to London

What madness this week has been. I've been waiting for it to arrive for what seems like forever and for once it has truly felt like an eternity. Six months ago I had been feeling the urge for an amazing trip. A relationship was broken, a friend lay dying in the hospital and my company had stepped up to the next level. My life seemed scattered like so many petals on a wind driven by fate. Now six months later, I’m sitting in a pub in central London, the first day on a trek through Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, traversing the overland route of the Mongols and the lands of the Steppe. Add to this my overwhelming desire to stand atop Europe's highest peak, Mt. Elbrus, and thereby claim another of the fabled “Seven Summits”.

My friend, Craig Welsh, calls it the "Dead Dups Tour 2006", and heck he might be correct. I wonder what fate awaits me in Russia. Will my mountain guides throw me over a cliff?

"He is lightweight with vodka. Off with him!"

This is what I got from the guides of whom I inquired: "Have you had any problems with Chechen rebels?" (Chechnya is a mere 300km from Mt. Elbrus)..

Answer: "We have had no deaths in the last ten years..."

When I mentioned this trip to Sasha a former Russian working at BioWare, he looked at me rather strangely.

"Why is it that you do this?!"

After hearing my answer he turned back to his work.

"You are dead man."

And yet the world seems wide open in front of me. A harsh road, perhaps a somewhat lonely road, but nevertheless a wondrous path, hopefully replete with tales to fill this book.

Tushar and Gayathri's son Arya... Isn't he the cutest?

So far the trip has been remarkably pleasant. I am a world away from work, cellphones and email. Joyous. My friends Tushar and Gayathri with whom I am staying here in London are well despite a rather temperamental and teething 17-month old Arya, who is a true delight. I think I will definitely be the exotic "Uncle Dups". Guy fears, quite rightly that I would spoil Arya incessantly.

The other reason this beginning to my Odyssey has been so pleasant has been the lack of Air Canada's involvement in it. My luggage got here and so did I. Normally my heart rate soars just upon seeing the dreaded Air Canada check-in desk. On this trip my heart rate has stayed at a constantly happy pace, thanks to Zoom which is actually a good airline.