RIP to my hero Patrick Falterman

The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.

 ~ Hunter S. Thompson

Today, I was deeply saddened to find out that my hero and fellow adventurer Patrick Falterman was killed in a plane crash in his home state of Texas. I met and began following Pat about 8 years ago while he was on his hitchhiking trip from Houston, TX to Tierra del fuego in South America. His mental and physical toughness impressed me as well as his writing ability. Our Vagabond travel community is small and Pat will be greatly missed.

Please feel free to check out his blog for awesome travel stories and pictures of his adventurers.
www.hitchtheworld.com

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Falterman

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/plane-crash-kills-two-near-moss-hill/article_254262b0-f904-5240-ad58-ff6c65cee15c.html

Vanessa having fun at the gun range

Back before we started running our Underground adventure tours, Vanessa and I scouted out all of the locations we had planned to take clients to. One of her favorites (oddly) was the gun range located at the Airborne commando school about an hour outside of Phnom Penh. She had a fun time on that scout. Check out the picks below.

The Kukuri house, Kathmandu, Nepal

Back about 3 years a go or so I made my 3rd pilgrimage to Nepal and the various Kukuri knife shops in Kathmandu and Pokkarah. I have worked with many Nepalese during my years as a security contractor in the Middle east, Afghanistan and North Africa. Nearly all of the Nepalese carried a Kukuri knife with them on the job. I have always liked the style and history of the blade.

I have attached a few pictures of blades direct from the knife factory outside of Kathmandu.

Citadel Knife shop

A few years back when I was living in Cambodia with Vanessa and running my Underground adventure tours. I would take the clients to the Citadel Knife shop in Phnom Penh. The quality blades were a bit to pricey for most folks on the tour but a few of the guys would buy 1 or 2 as a novelty item.

Established in 1999 by Dominique Eluere, Citadel is a name familiar to knife aficionados worldwide. Its birthplace is in Phnom Penh and this fascinating store produces a collection of folding, combat, hunting, kitchen and table knives, all constructed in Cambodia, which take between six hours and two months to make. If you are a knife fan and ever find yourself in Phnom Penh,Visit the workshop for an up-close view.

Tony Roed Knives

For any of you pimps interested Tony Roed Just finished this one $70 plus $6.95 shipping once he makes a sheath. 1095 high carbon modified great river style.

send me an email at pathfindertom@gmail.com , if interested in this blade or others.

Tony made knives and tool for the reality TV show "Dude your screwed" and has consulted on many others. I highly recommend his blades.

Tomahawk

Ginseng

I have been looking forward to Ginseng season all summer. I will be fun to hit the woods tomorrow and harvesting a bunch of it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_ginseng

Log cabin restoration

Over the past few months I have been bumming around the wilderness and rural areas of the eastern USA, from Maine to North Carolina. Recently, I found a piece of rural property for sale with a 100+ year old cabin on it. I am attempting to purchase the cabin. I would like to dismantle it and move it to my property for restoration. It might prove to be an interesting and fun project.

Tomahawk Adventure tour - Central Luzon

I have been running adventure tours in the Philippines and Cambodia for some time now. It is Always a good time, the foot travel is pretty tough at times but the scenery is spectacular and so it the food our guides and me cook up. I have posted numerous photos below of a recent trip into the central highlands of Luzon. Michael Schwarz is the photographer.

See you on the trail!

Tomahawk

"Solitude" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone.
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air.
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go.
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.
Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all.
There are none to decline your nectared wine,
But alone you must drink life's gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by.
Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
But no man can help you die.
There is room in the halls of pleasure
For a long and lordly train,
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox