Colorful leaves shown here in Essex, Ct. photographed last year.
Hungry? New York Metro Event Highlights International Food
Atlas Obscura founder Dylan Thuras discussed his new book Gastro Obscura at a Zoom Event on Monday, October 4. The book features “Wondrous Foods and Intriguing Stories from around the world.” If you missed Dylan’s presentation, a link will be sent via email.
Attention Photographers
Our annual photo contest will have a new twist this year: photos of food and dining. The contest supports the Circumnavigators Club Foundation. Deadline for photos is November 15. Any good shot featuring food or dining will be welcome. A couple of examples from previous exhibits are shown above. Details will be sent via email.
All Over the Map
The hat is on the move again thanks to Circumnavigators Sue Murphy and Suzanne Frye (New York Metro) who visited Lampedusa and Malta in the Mediterranean Sea and Italy.
Circumnavigators Ann Swinford and husband Mo El-Fouly (Michigan Chapter) visited the Galapagos Islands where Mo posed with a giant tortoise.
Circumnavigators Norm and Susan Dailey (Washington DC Chapter) don’t let any grass grow under their feet. Having recently been in Egypt, they are currently on another trip to Saudi Arabia. They also plan to visit Lebanon and Cyprus. Norm will give us highlights of this ambitious trip in the next issue of The LOG.
Best wishes to Circumnavigator Cynthia Bassett who embarked on an adventure to rural Pakistan but took a fall on the way and broke her arm in Doha. Cynthia is recovering after surgery in Cleveland.
The Last Shot
Thanks to Dottie Mink for this photo of the sunset in Lagos, Portugal.
September is back-to-school month. Here Dottie Mink (Naples Chapter) captured a delightful class of school children in Tanzania.
Welcome to September
It’s further proof that time flies! We hope all our members, family and friends had a great summer. It looks like the pandemic is far from over, but we have seen that Circumnavigators have ramped up their travel plans. Some of their travels are listed below. Please keep us informed about your travel experiences.
All Over the Map
Even though a trip to Alaska is technically domestic (for Americans) it still feels like a foreign trip. Circumnavigators Russ Bredholt (Palm Beach Chapter) and his wife Chris went there last month on an anniversary trip that included a train trip to Denali National Park.
Russ outside the Grizzly Store in Anchorage.
Circumnavigator Katie Koontz (New York Metro) is in Paris right now, before heading off to the French Alps and Amsterdam. She reports a great time despite some necessary Covid testing.
Katie enjoys site seeing and the cultural experience in Europe
Circumnavigators Paul & Patricia Buescher (Pacific Northwest Chapter) ventured off to Iceland.They said it was great to be traveling again and taking some terrific photos, including this Icelandic horse.
Paul says no trip to Iceland is complete without seeing an Icelandic horse.
Circumnavigators Melody & Jon Dill (Naples Chapter) took an amazing cruise in Greece, sailing on the Silver Moon, the newest vessel in the SilverSea fleet. Aside from the site seeing, they were most impressed by SilverSea’s debut of its revolutionary new culinary program, Sea and Land Taste or S.A.L.T. Guests are invited to delve deeper into each region’s cuisine and culture with regionally-inspired dishes, drinks, and demonstrations. Special S.A.L.T. shore excursions enable travelers to experience the food and drink cultures of each destination.
SilverSea’s new luxury cruiser, the Silver Moon.
Did you read The LOG?
Did you read The LOG?…We hope you have enjoyed the latest issue of our venerable publication. We appreciate your feedback! Reminder: please share your travels with us for The LOG and Circumbits. Here are a couple of corrections in the LOG. Kathy Sinclair, whose ‘fridge magnets’ were featured, was listed a member of the Chicago Chapter. She is a member of the Michigan Chapter.
It was really cold…Chasing the Lights, Ann Swinford’s account of her quest to see the Northern Lights in Alaska mentioned the chilly 25 F temps. Ann wants readers to know it was actually minus 25 degrees. She would never complain about a mere 25 F.
Ann Swinford was desperately cold in Alaska as she chased the Northern Lights.
Scuttlebutt
Hurricane takes toll
Restaricks are fine but their property took a hit.
Circumnavigators Janet & Henry Restarick live in Louisiana near New Orleans and weathered the devastating hurricane Ida. We are happy to report that the Restaricks are safe although their house suffered some damage.
The Last Shot
Thanks to Paul Buescher for this shot of a Puffin in Iceland, just one of his fantastic wildlife photos from his recent trip.
Members will receive their copies of The LOG in August. This issue has Club news and features, but it is a bit abbreviated given the lack of travel and Chapter meetings during the pandemic. As Circumnavigators get back on the road, members are encouraged to let us know about their travels for Circumbits and The LOG. Please remember that we do not want complete stories to be submitted. Contact Tracy or David to discuss story concepts.
Al Morasso Jr.
Alfred Morasso, Jr. sadly passed away in June. He was a Past President of the Club, as was his father, Alfred Sr. Alfred (the first) was the sole survivor of ship sinking in 1920, a story that has been recounted several times in the LOG and online. It is an amazing story, so we are offering a link if you would like to read the whole story.
We are looking to share adventures with our members and we would like to do a story on mountain climbing. Please let us know if you are an avid climber at club@circumnavigators.org.
The Last Shot
Thanks to Gunther Winkler (Naples Chapter) for this photo of the Arches National Park in Utah.
The challenging days of the pandemic have made Circumnavigators reflect on the value of freedom—speech, worship, travel. Most members live in places where these values are cherished. As we get back to international travel, let’s remember the importance of freedom.
Over the Horizon
Al and Betty Morasso
Circum Legend Alfred (Al) Morasso, Jr. passed away in June at the age of 94 in Somerset, NJ. Al was a member of the Circumnavigators Club for a remarkable 70 years. His father, who was the sole survivor of a tragic ship sinking in Scandinavia, was President of the Circumnavigators and sponsored his son at an early age. Al later became President of the Club from 2004 to 2006. Al’s son (third generation Alfred Morasso) is also a member of the Club for 18 years and is a Life Member.
Always a colorful individual with a fascinating history, including service in the Korean War, he will be missed. The Club offers its sympathy to wife Betty and the whole Morasso clan.
A memorial service will be held at 2pm on Saturday, July 10, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 414 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ with internment in The Garth. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the United States Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc., Kings Point, NY or to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Friends of Music, Westfield, NJ in his memory would be appreciated.
Honorary President
Lois with past president Howard Matson in 1996. Inset: Lois at the last New York Metro Event.
The Board of Governors has bestowed a special honor to long-time Circumnavigator Lois Kahan. Lois, who joined the Club in 1994, was named Honorary President of which she remarked, “I’ll tell my family to make sure it is on my gravestone.” Lois has a great sense of humor and is adored by all. She has served the Club in many capacities and rarely misses an event in New York. Congratulations to our Honorary President!
Scuttlebutt
Circumnavigator Sir Clive Banfield, who lives in Saint Thomas, called our attention to the recent recognition by the National Geographic Society of a fifth ocean. The Southern Ocean now joins the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Indian Oceans. Clive has sailed all five oceans; how many other Circumnavigators have accomplished this?
The Last Shot
Thanks to Suzanne Frye (New York Metro) for this brilliant fireworks display in Sydney, Australia.
Beaches are getting busy again as shown from this photo from Ocean City, NJ
Summertime, and the livin’ is easy
Circumnavigators are enjoying a return to normalcy after more than a year of lockdowns, quarantines, social distancing, masks, and importantly, restricted travel. Best wishes to all Circumnavigators, family and friends for a fun-filled summer.
2021 Annual Meeting goes virtual again
Due to pandemic restrictions, our 119th Annual Meeting was conducted via Zoom technology for the second, and hopefully, last time. The good news is that 65 members participated in the meeting. All of the required agenda items were completed. Welcome to our new Board members, Jeneane Blom (Chicago), Michael Puldy (Pacific Southwest) and Steven Barnett (At Large, Panama). The meeting was followed by a fascinating travel presentation by Gunther Winkler (Naples). Gunther presented photos and stories from around the world. The Club sent a link to the Annual Meeting to all members. If you do not have it, please contact Tracy Sancilio at headquarters.
Seven Continents
Reminder, if you have visited all continents and are not on the list on this page, please let us know.
On the Road Again
Circumnavigators are beginning to travel internationally. If you have made a foreign trip, please let us know about it. It is important to share this information with members.
Egypt and Jordan
Norman and Susan Dailey (Washington DC Chapter) recently returned home from Egypt and Jordan. Fully vaccinated, they found that traveling to these two countries was easy, although PCR Covid tests were required. The Daileys reported, one problem was visiting during Ramadan, which coupled with a strict evening curfew, didn’t allow them to sample local cuisine, one of their favorite parts of traveling.
They reported, “Besides the spectacular sites, one overriding theme for the trip was the small number of tourists. At the Great Pyramid, they used to have 15,000 or more visitors a day–during our visit, less than 500. At Petra, in Jordan the same story. Usually thousands visit daily, during our visit, maybe several hundred. For us it was wonderful, for those that depend on tourists for income, a dire situation.” Having traveled to all continents and many wonders of the world, Norman is sorry that he waited so long to visit these two special countries.
Scuttlebutt
Circumnavigator Arthur Hammons (Pacific Southwest) has written a new book that was featured in an article of La Jolla Light. The paper reported: “The Rev. Arthur Hammons invites you to take up a pen to make the current chapter of your life “the best,” and he’s detailed his ideas for how to do so in his latest book, “This Chapter of Your Life.”
“The La Jolla resident said, “Our lives are made up of many chapters, and we can use all the other chapters as resources to make this chapter the best.”
Arthur is the husband of Chapter President Virginia Foster.
The Last Shot
Thanks to Circumnavigator Gunther Winkler for this shot of a Toucan in Belize. As mentioned above, Gunther shared his wonderful photos with members after the Annual Meeting. Gunther and his wife Maria recently traveled to Guatemala and Belize. Their travel story and photos will be featured in the next issue of The LOG.
Flowers are blooming in Helen Jenkins’ prize winning garden in Wales. Helen is the UK Chapter President.
Moving Ahead
After many months of writing about the pandemic, we see a light at the end of the tunnel. As you will see in some of the items below, Circumnavigators are slowly returning to normal times. Many members are fully vaccinated and planning to take off to see more of the world. Best wishes to Circumnavigators who venture abroad.
Live from Naples
In April, the Naples Chapter held the first “live” event since Covid put the brakes on in-person Club events. It was a “hybrid” meeting with Circumnavigators attending either in person or by Zoom to hear a presentation on Iceland by Chapter historian Sophie Classen. Surprisingly, more than 60 members attended for cocktails, brunch and social interaction. Only ten members elected to use Zoom. It was great to get together.
Reminder – Annual Meeting
Gunther and Maria Winkler in Tikal, Guatamala.
The Annual Meeting will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, May 19 at 5:00pm (EDT). After the formal meeting, members and guests will be invited to watch a presentation by Photographer Gunther Winkler and his wife Maria (Naples Chapter). Great photos from around the world will be shown. A reminder Zoom link will be emailed closer to the meeting. We hope you can join us.
On the Road Again
Circumnavigators are beginning to travel internationally. If you have made a foreign trip, please let us know about it. It is important to share this information with members.
Hawaii
Although it is not technically international for Americans, Hawaii is a long distance away. Pacific Southwest President Virginia Foster and her husband Arthur Hammons visited the far-flung islands and are able to share the technical issues of traveling there. You can contact Virginia by getting her email address from Tracy at headquarters. Circumnavigator Ken Mink also visited Hawaii, hitting several of the islands.
Egypt
The land of pyramids is turning out to be a popular destination for Circumnavigators. Several Club members have gone there and report that the pyramids, The Sphinx and other ancient sites are virtually empty of tourists, making for a delightful experience. Circumnavigator Melanie Peterson (Chicago Chapter) has recently visited Egypt, and Washington DC Chapter members Norman and Susan Dailey are in Aswan now and are attempting to get to Jordan. We will hear more from the Daileys next month.
Scuttlebutt
Two Circumnavigators and Order of Magellan honorees were in the news. The late astronaut Sally Ride will be honored on a coin. The U.S. Mint announced that late La Jolla resident and astronaut Sally Ride and late writer Maya Angelou will be the first two women honored on coins issued under the American Women Quarters Program.
“Sally would be so moved by this great honor,” said Tam O’Shaughnessy, Ride’s life partner and co-founder of Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego Extension. “It’s especially fitting that it comes during the 20th-anniversary celebration for Sally Ride Science. This tribute reflects Sally’s legacy not only as a trailblazing astronaut but also as a champion of diversity and inclusion in STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] fields.” Sally was a member of the Circumnavigators Pacific Southwest Chapter.
Explorer and adventurer Bertrand Piccard was honored by the Circumnavigators after he circumnavigated in a balloon in 1999. Later he developed the Solar Impulse, a plane that could fly without a drop of fuel. His co-pilot on that circumnavigation, Andre Borschberg, was also awarded the Order of Magellan. Now Bertrand has announced that he has fulfilled his promise, made in 2019, to come up with 1000 solutions to improve the environment. He wrote a letter to his friend and Circumnavigator Helen Jenkins which said, “Feel free to spread the word about this #beyond1000solutions campaign. The video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yHfGj6lpVwexplains our action in a simple and succinct way.”
Around the World with Albert
Legendary traveler and author Albert Podell wowed Circumnavigators with a fast-paced, witty travel presentation via Zoom. About 70 members and guests were treated to this fascinating travelog.
Calling all Collectors
Is there something special that you collect from each place you visit? Let us know! You could be featured in our “Collectors Corner” column of an upcoming edition of The LOG. Past collections have included beer bottles, keys, mugs and masks. Email Katie Koontz at katherinenkoontz@gmail.com if interested.
The Last Shot
Brian Baum (Pacific Northwest Chapter) says always carry your camera because you never know when the right moment will happen. He reports: “On a damp afternoon in November, the clouds briefly parted and the setting sun created a rose-colored wash over the marble buildings in the Campo Dei Miracoli in Pisa. Within a few minutes the effect was gone.
The Circumnavigators Club is the only organization devoted to bringing together those men and women who have circumnavigated the globe. The Club's purpose is to encourage global fellowship and understanding. It strives to inspire people to see and absorb as much as they can about the world in which we live. It is devoted to providing those who have circumnavigated the globe with a forum for intellectual exchange.
Our Goal
Through Friendship, To Leave This World A Little Better Than We Found It.
Upcoming Events
October 4, 2025Washington DC Chapter Event
December 5, 2025Chicago Chapter Holiday Brunch
December 17, 2025United Kingdom Chapter - House of Lords Dinner
The Club’s magazine, The Log, has been published since 1910. Now anyone can read The Log on our website, not just Club members.
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