About Me

Even as a child, I was always ready to go somewhere. I recall standing in front of my grandmother’s large USA map, closing my eyes and placing my finger somewhere on the paper. Then I would write to the Chamber of Commerce in the town nearest to where my digit landed and ask for information about their area.

It was so much fun to open those packages when they arrived. Glossy pictures, touristy brochures and a warm ‘thank you’ letter kept me entertained and educated.

Travel never gets old or boring. Even if one returns to the same place multiple times, it is never the same. The weather is colder and frostier, a favorite pub redecorated, an old familiar trail is widened. Everything evolves, leaving a beloved place seen differently.

I began leading tours in the 1980’s. Then, those trips were treks in Nepal, before that beautiful Himalayan country was very popular. It was wild and friendly, full of yaks, disheveled looking people, rudimentary smoke-filled homes and scarlet-robed monks. I spent weeks trying to figure which century we might have stepped back into.

Over the years of returning to Nepal, I witnessed the country modernize, maybe too fast. Climbers dominated, money decided status and the country caught up with the world. Nepal evolved before my eyes and it was fascinating.

I got caught up in telling the tales of temples, valleys, the dominating mountains and more. Guiding became an obsession.

Forty years on, it still is but in a less demanding way. No more month-long treks; I couldn’t keep up with my younger self. 

A recent search located more than thirty internet pages of companies hiring guides. The profession is not dead, but more in demand than ever before. Our world is still hungry to go and see and explore and learn.

Consider being a part of the excitement and joy of travel, whether that is at a global or local level. Somewhere, just around the corner from you, is a place of great historical interest to someone. Why not be the person to share that place with a stranger wanting to learn?

For me, a person I will be forever grateful to was a man who gave up several hours of his day to talk with me. I was driving through narrow winding roads in western Ireland and stumbled upon the Belcarra Eviction Cottage. There was a number to call if anyone wanted to get inside. I did, I called. Within minutes, the perfect representation of an ideal Irish country gentleman strolled around the corner, steaming cup of tea in hand, and taught me about the horrors of the Walshe family. This family of 9 were evicted in the late 1880’s, but the generosity of neighbors built the family another cottage the same day. It was shocking, but mesmerizing and this wonderful gentleman made my day and is forever worshipped in my mind.

History, natural areas, professions, human conditions and what was or could be, never get old. Tour guides are at the heart of this.

I have written a ten-lesson program for tour guide training because I strongly believe in the profession. Please consider looking at it or speaking with me.

Can I promise you a job? No. But I guarantee you a lot of research on getting one. Can I promise you will enjoy the profession? No. But together we can explore the many, many avenues of the career and work towards the path that fits your needs best.

Now might be the time!