To Mark and Bopper, both from Kentucky, on the Amazing Race 20, who gutted it out on principle and did it for their families and for their team mates. Two best friends who know what it’s all about and who brought me to tears with their courage and their loyalty during their recent leg in India. Me to you, I salute you both.

Now that I’ve whined about the evils of television for the MTV Generation, recent proof that there is indeed such a think as responsible television, and proof that love of one’s fellow man, continues to pull through.

Case in point, two weeks ago, during episode four of the Amazing Race in Turin, perrenial first place winners Art and JJ – both American border patrol officers – once again won their leg of the race, this one being in Turin, Italy. Their prize? Five grand a piece. And when last place runners Mark and Bopper finished the leg, and the border patrol boys saw the spirit of the good natured country boys from Kentucky, and that one of them was running the race so he could care for his daughter, well, Art and JJ hugged the last place Kentucky team and said they’d donate half of their winnings on that leg of the race to Bopper’s daughter.

If you’re an Amazing Race fan, like myself, and you watched the episode, it was pretty hard not to shed a few tears. I think it’s comforting to know that responsible travel teaches us as much about ourselves as it does about the world we inhabit. It’s easy to hurt but it ain’t so easy to help. And when you help a man, you bring good into this world.

Love thy neighbor. That’s what it’s all about folks.

Folks often wonder where to travel for a slow, leisurely getaway for some rest and relaxation. Congo is not one of these places. Fortunately for humanity and the good of mankind, there are brave – if not slightly crazy – men like Phil Harwood, a British man who recently became the first person in history to do the entire 3,000 gauntlet that is the Congo River.

You might wonder why that feat was until recently something that had yet to be conquered. Well let’s see…crocodiles, really big snakes, men with machetes, really nasty insects, corruption and generally about a million ways to curl up and die. Not to mention the length of the river, which at 3,000 miles, is one of the longest rivers in the world.

His journey is as fascinating as the river he travelled. And, considering the troubled history of Congo, thanks in no small part to 18th century imperialism, the river itself tells a story, of the people of the region and the land to which it belongs. Harwood documented his record-breaking travel along the Congo River in his book Canoeing the Congo. There’s a video here that tells some of his story.

Good on ya Phil Harwood

In a world of complex and sometimes rocky relationships amongst us humans, is there anything more pure than the love between a dog and his master? This story brought me to tears.

Two weeks ago, a 68 year old Chinese man, Lao Pan, passed away. He lived alone with his little yellow dog in a small house in the village of Panjiatun, China. Upon his death, the villagers noticed his dog had mysteriously vanished. Well he hadn’t vanished…he’d just spent the past seven days by his master’s grave. Without food. The villagers noticed the dog’s loyalty and tried to coax him away from his master’s side so he could eat. But he wouldn’t budge. The villagers, so moved by the dog’s loyalty, are bringing him food at his vigil, and a permanent kennel is in the works, so he can remain with his master.

This isn’t the first dog to display such loyalty. Hachiko, an Akita owned by a Japanese professor, would faithfully greet his master at Shibuya train station in Tokyo in the 1930s. Then, when his master died at work, the dog showed up to meet his master, and returned every day for the next 14 years at the same time, faithfully waiting for his owner. His statue now stands just outside the spot where he waited each day, and Hachiko became an inspiration to the entire nation.

And Greyfriar’s Bobby was a little Skye Terrier in Edinburgh who valiantly stayed by John Gray, his master, also for 14 years after his master’s death. Gray was buried in an unmarked grave. Yet little Bobby found the spot where his master lay and left only for food. Gray’s friends and the kindly graveyard curator looked out for the pooch, feeding him and housing him on cold nights. But he’d always return to his master’s grave. And on his death, was buried close to his master.

If you’re a dog lover like me you’ll want a hanky when you watch this video. In closing, I leave you with the inscription on Bobby’s headstone:

“Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all.”

Some really encouraging news this week out of Toronto. Based in large part on the tireless efforts of Rob Stewart and the crew at United Conservationists, Toronto has now banned shark-fin soup and related products. Seems people are really starting to get the picture that we need to save sharks, and that, frankly, it just ain’t cool to catch a shark, chop its fins off and throw it back in the ocean to die a miserable death.

To be honest, without Rob’s eye-opening documentary, Sharkwater, I doubt little would’ve changed in the past five years. But it’s happening, folks. People are standing up and telling the world that we care about our oceans and we’re willing to fight for our planet. And the sharks that support it.

Rob, you’re a class act. Keep it up. Next stop, banning shark-fin soup in British Columbia. Then Canada.

Meanwhile, please have a mosey over to United Conservationists. Check them out, and get involved. As Rob says, “Let’s fight for our future.”

An inspiring look at a young British woman intent on circling the globe on her own power. That’s by kayak, row boat, bicycle and good ole’ fashioned foot power.

As The Adventure Blog reported in April, Sarah Outen, having just rowed across the Indian Ocean, set out down the Thames River and across the English Channel. From their she cycled across the vast regions of Europe and Asia. And she’s just recently achieved a major milestone. After months of cycling, she’s crossed the largest land mass on Earth and reached Japan.

That would wipe most of us out, and Outen is doing some mild cycling in Japan and biding her time til Spring. At that time, she’ll row across the North Pacific to Vancouver (I’ll look out for you Sarah!), where she’ll once again trade her boat for a bike and cycle across Canada and the United States. From the East coast she’ll, like…duh!…row across the Atlantic, back up the Thames and back to her starting point. London to London, by way of Sarah Outen.

Sarah’s got a comprehensive website that chronicles her journeys and adventures across this planet we call Earth. I was particularly moved by some of her images, and the story of the captive bears. A heart-breaker, for sure, and a story (among many) that needs to be told.

Anyway, Sarah Outen, girl-powered across the planet, from London to London. Sarah, you’re an inspiration to us all. You’re half-way there. Stay the course.

A heart-warming video here of a baby great white shark, beached off Venice Beach Pier and with a hook in its mouth, saved by a lifeguard known locally as ‘the animal-whisperer’. Very cool indeed. And great to see that people are really starting to show they care about sharks.

I’m not normally one for sitting at home watching TV when there’s a whole world of things to do (like travelling!!) but tonight is an exception. The nine time Emmy award-winning The Amazing Race returns tonight for what promises to be another season of thrill, chills, dips, highs and lows across this planet we call Earth. All delivered right to your door step. Yup, Phil Keoghan and the crew are back – it’s The Amazing Race Season 19!

In this day of sedentary lifestyles, violent TV shows and movies, terrorism and other evils and otherwise gloomy issues that affect our health and understanding of the world and our place in it, that’s great news.

The Amazing Race is amazing television. More than that, it’s a chance to break out of our solipsistic shells and travel with these sometimes likable (and sometimes very unlikable) teams of Americans as they venture across the planet and discover that, yes, there are other cultures beyond our borders, each with their own joys and challenges. And for a brief moment, we’re part of them.

The Amazing Race is amazing television. Straight up. And I, for one, believe that it brings this planet closer together.

This is kinda like Andy Warhol re-painting the Sistine Chapel. Some things are perfect as they are. And therefore, let them age gracefully.

Rumors have swirled for years about a Point Break sequel, and the casting had already been done, shortly before the financial crisis of 2008. Back then, the sequel was going to be called Point Break: Indo, the premiss being that a gang of Ex-President wannabes, called the Bush Administration, was tearing up the South Pacific. And Patrick Swayze, aka Bodhi, was to have a cameo.

Well, it’s 20 years later, and in keeping with a disturbing Hollywood trend of re-making stuff, Warner Bros wants to re-make the great Point Break.

For the few of us who are unfamiliar with the original, Point Break is a 1991 adventure movie, about surfers that robbed banks, starring Keanu Reeves and, of course, the late, great Patrick Swayze as Bodhi – a mystical guru who surfed, skydived, robbed banks and would do anything for a kick of adrenaline.

And a side note. Point Break is my favorite movie of all time. I named this blog after the central character. Even now, 20 years later, Point Break never fails to entertain and enlighten, with action, philosophy and a beautiful portrayal of fate.

Point Break changed my life.

In other words, Point Break is a classic. Without Patrick Swayze, it’s nothing. You wouldn’t re-paint the Mona Lisa. Warner Bros, please, PLEASE leave this amazing movie alone.

Wait for the collective “awwwww”. This is one of most heartwarming travel tales you’ve heard for a while. Simply put, a man and his girlfriend, Guillaume and Laetita, decided to walk from North America to Argentina. Along the way they encountered Kitty, a friendly cat in the streets of Louisiana. Kitty took a shying to the couple and joined them on their epic, 9,000 mile, three year walk from North to South America. Now they’re inseparable – though I think Kitty’s more of a hitcher than a walker. Too cute. The website is www.turnoftheworld.com. Watch the video!