It was a memorable journey–long, but memorable. Twenty-three days from San Francisco, California to Vancouver, British Columbia making a big reverse “C”: visiting Las Vegas and five western U.S. national parks, through Montana to Lethbridge, Alberta, and then two Canadian national parks, along the Yellowhead Highway, down the Frazier River Gorge, and finally to Vancouver.

On Board, twenty guests from the U.K. all visiting western North America for the first time. As with most tours, it is the people on board that make a tour interesting–and challenging. Two of the most unforgettable on this tour were Charlie, an 87 year old mustachioed British gentleman with silver hair and pale blue eyes. He gave the well-dressed, well-groomed, erect appearance of a former military officer, though, at 87, he moved a little slower than he was probably used to in his earlier years. All on board became particularly fond of Charlie. Also on board, was Richard, another British gentleman a few years younger than Charlie, but legally blind. He walked with a collapsible white cane, an indication of his disability. He was intelligent, gentle, and a great conversationalist at dinner. The first question that comes to mind is: “Why would someone legally blind book a twenty-three day sight-seeing tour throughout western North America? Richard indicated that he could see some color and could distinguish some shapes, but it didn’t take long to realize that, more that the sights we saw, the camaraderie and personal relationships he developed during the tour were of more value to him. All the other guests adopted Richard.

The day 6 itinerary called for us to leave Las Vegas at 10:00 in the morning after a full buffet breakfast, travel to Hoover Dam for a guided visit, and then proceed to the Grand Canyon for an overnight stay. It had only taken five days and I already had the guests trained–everyone was on the coach at five minutes to ten. As we pulled out of the hotel parking lot, I provided the guests with my Travel Thought of the Day: (In America there are two classes of travel–first class, and with children. –Robert Benchley, Kiddie-Kar Travel) and then I went over the days itinerary. About fifteen miles out of Las Vegas one of the guests came forward, tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Charlie forgot his hearing aid. He thinks he left it in the room at the hotel.” I told the driver that we needed to return to the hotel to fetch Charlie’s hearing aid. Within twenty minutes we were pulling back into the hotel parking lot and as we stopped the coach the same guest came forward and said, “Charlie found his hearing aid. It was in his pocket.”

On the road again, about twenty miles out of town, Richard approached and said, “Larry, I hate to bother you, but I left my passport and all of my money in the room safe at the hotel.” So I said to the driver, “Brian, we need to return to the hotel to fetch Richard’s money and passport.” By 12:00 noon we were in the hotel parking lot ready to go: money, passport, and hearing aid in hand. What do you say to the other guests about the delay without further embarrassing Charlie and Richard. So I told them, “We have had two practice departures this morning and you have all performed so well, I think this will be the real thing.”

What did I learn from this experience? In the morning, before departure, always ask the guests if they cleared the safe and have remembered everything they brought: nightgowns, cameras, cell phone chargers, etc. But, more importantly, I found how heart- warming it is to see other guests provide aid and comfort when necessary to those who may be a little slower or handicapped in some way. And, I discovered that, what may seem to be a challenge at first, in the end may be the satisfying, emotional type of experience that keeps us in this career.

Saying goodbye at the airport in Vancouver, Charlie, with a tear in his eye, told me that there were two things he had always wanted to see before he died–Grand Canyon and the Canadian Rockies. Fortunately, on this tour he was able to see both. We made his dreams come true. Richard said he will never forget the things we “saw” together and always remember the many new friends and the patience and kindness they all showed him. Can you think of any other job that provides this feeling of satisfaction?

Larry Bell

Hi Ted and Randy,

I just loved this metaphor because I always smell the rose and stay clear of the thorn. My glass is always half full, not half empty. So, I’ll give you a rose & thorn story:

I took a tour of 38 pax on an Ohio River cruise a few weeks ago. My paperwork had 3 paragraphs warning me of one of the pax who insisted on “taking a couple of puffs” in a non-smoking room “because of medical reasons” and would NOT stay in a smoking room. She needed to sit close to the bathroom on the bus as well as needing to know where all the restrooms were on the boat, hotel, etc. She stubbornly refused to buy trip insurance even though she kept telling the tour company she was a “cancer/chemo survivor” and could possible have “issues.” The company told me that she would be a handful.

Since we had a few hours on the bus before we arrived at the Ohio River boat, I decided to say a few introductory remarks and then went up and down the aisle talking to each row individually for a few minutes. When I got to the “needy” lady, I just spoke with her like everyone else. She enjoyed the attention, but said nothing to me about her “problems.”

At check-in, she came up to me and started pouring out her troubles, even got tears in her eyes. Since I had already handled things at the desk, I just sat and listened to her (for about 25 minutes). I told her I would speak with the rooms manager and see what I could do about her non-smoking room. I was able to reach a workable solution for her and then had dinner with her. After that, she was all smiles and did not seem to have any “issues” or problems the rest of the trip.

After I received my tip envelope at the end of the tour, this lady came up to me and gave me her own envelope…with a special thank you note and a two $20 bills. My “thorn” had turned into a beautiful rose. J

Happy travels,

Shirley Ward

My thorn has been the last 2 and half years of being behind the eight ball in life. because of circumstances that happened in 2008 I had to fight off this thorn of pain because i knew beneath this thorn was a flower. I put this flower in my mind to keep me positive and motivated through the times of this thorn of pain both emotionally and financially.

The thorn was made up of being let go by a new owner at the winery I worked for then 8 months of only part time work going through my savings feeling the recession biting finally getting a full time job but something that I hated to do but it was a pay check and finally after 2 years my relationship dumps me and doesn’t say why. This really hurt because when I returned from Australia in May 2006 I had my goals and plans in place.

The flower has shown its beauty from this thorn of 2 and half years just recently. That my debt is going down while my savings is still going. That my prospects for getting back into the wine industry looks good. Working on my second book a photo travel book based on my first book. Taking wine courses to stay up to date and socializing with fellow wine lovers. Getting excited about my interest in photography and writing again but stronger. That my health is still good because I lost weight.

But most of all is my trip that I am taking in May 2011 to Hong Kong and China. To spend time with friends and especially one special person who ’s been this rose that blossomed from this thorn. She has kept my spirits up my motivation and my positive feeling that I will be at a better place next year. This is a young Chinese girl I met at a youth hostel in Sydney.

The flower is that if you believe in yourself that you can do more then want the thorn is doing to you then you will be at peace with yourself. That never give up on your dreams and hopes and that there are true friends out there who support you and believe in you. That no matter how much negative is there this flower of inspiration is stronger then this nasty thorn.

It is a struggle to make each day at this job but my mind looks at the future this FLOWER to me is inspiration and positive that my goals are worth everything to me no matter how long I live.

So now I am smelling this rose because it is starting to blossom for me even thought there’s still a bit of the thorn hanging on

this is my THORN to Flower story which is still going on

by Raymond Ringhoff

Hi Ted and Randy:

When I graduated from ITMI in 1996, I interviewed with three travel companies in the Detroit area. I chose Bianco Tours mainly because they had their own busses and knew I’d be working with the same people most of the time. After being paired with one particular charming, good looking, knowledgeable gentleman bus driver, we married after two years – and just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary – and are still traveling together! I can’t promise this to every tour director but it sure has been fun!

Sally Diamond Brewer

This summer I worked in Alaska leading highway tours through the interior of Alaska and the Yukon Territory.

As a Tour Director we often internally sigh when we meet our guests and see that one has limited physical capacity. Many parts of Alaska are not handicap excessible and a wheelchair bound guest can cause numerous delays and awkward waits due to the time it takes to navigate the difficult terrain. On one of my tours I had an older gentleman that was able to climb the four steps on and off the coach, but had to use his wheelchair at all other times.

During the first day on tour I found myself spending a lot of time assisting his wife with the wheelchair and carrying bags. I recognized that this special attention was keeping me from connecting with many of the other guests but saw no alternative as his wife was just not capable of helping him through the various obstacles along the way. However, as the group began to bond an amazing thing took place. An unspoken pact was formed among the men and over the next several days I watched in amazement as one by one they silently stepped forward to offer their assistance to the couple, thus freeing me to focus my attention on others. Throughout the next several days each of my male guests took a turn as the designated assistant. Towards the end of the trip I had a moment to sit and chat with my wheelchair bound guest. He had tears in his eyes as he expressed his gratitude to all the men who had been helping him and his wife. He said, “It’s so hard for me to accept help and to know what to say to all these people.” I told him, “Just say ‘thank you’ and leave it at that. It’s been our pleasure to have you along.” He just nodded and thought about that for awhile.

On the last day, as I was saying goodbye to my group and getting ready to get off the coach for the last time, he stood to his feet at the front of the coach and said, ‘I just want to thank all the men who helped me get around in my chair this week and I want to thank all the wives who let their husbands help me.’ It was a special moment of recognition to all those who had offered their assistance. So, in the end what I thought would be a hinderance to my group’s overall experience turned into a beautiful picture of how caring for others can really bring a group together.

Donna Paulsen

Dear Ted and Randy,

So many beautiful stories, but one comes quickly to mind.

I had noticed one gentleman on the trip remained distant and we were now on our post trip. I was talking with the front desk clerk when the gentleman passed by and glared angrily at me. I immediately ended my conversation and followed the gentleman outside, where I gently approached him and asked if there was a problem I needed to be aware of. He stated that he did not care for me as a leader. I acknowledged that I was aware that he did have that option. However, I understood not everyone likes the leaders but that I did respect and like him and I had would continue to choose not to “throw that respect away just because he didn’t care for me.” Just giving him permission to have those emotions and that I was definitely going to continue liking him,(and that was not difficult as he was such a nice person) released the emotions he had carried and he and his wife became two of my fondest memories. I will never forget how helpful he became and how much he ended up enjoying his journey to Iceland…and, our friendship as fellow travelers.

Carol Conner

A most appreciative ITMI graduate

( this will really date me)” See the U.S.A., in your Chevrolet.!” Have driven across country several times,we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful/diverse Country. There is just something about a roadtrip that is so freeing,just go where the spirit leads you.

Jill

My quote would be:

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,

but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Helene Fredrich

What came to mind is a song that I’ve always liked that I’m sure you’re familiar with. It comes to you from another Texan traveler, Mr Willie Nelson:

On the road again

Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway

We’re the best of friends

Insisting that the world keep turning our way and our way

Is on the road again

I hope all is going well in San Francisco,

Blake

Hi All,

” The world is like a classroom without walls.”

Thanks,

Grace Pangan