<rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Rss Feed for Keith Bates - My Adventures</title><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Users/KeithBates</link><description>User Trips, Events, Photos, Blogs and Videos</description><language>en-us</language><item><title><![CDATA[Buffalo Hunting in Tanzania]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/trips/137/thumb_DSC_0443.JPG" align="left"  border="0" /><![CDATA[I spent 21 days in Tanzania with a doctor friend who loves hunting cape buffalo. Our PH (professional hunter) was Natasha Illum Berg, the only licensed woman PH in all of east Africa.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Trips/Buffalo+Hunting+in+Tanzania/137</link><category>Trips</category><pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:57:41 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Zealand's South Island]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/trips/19/thumb_DSC_0151.JPG" align="left"  border="0" /><![CDATA[Mike Sarr and I visited New Zealand's beautiful south island where we explored the hills and mountains, famous movie sets, and endless vineyards. Game was plentiful from the pretty little ferrets to the majestic elks and red stags.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Trips/New+Zealand's+South+Island/19</link><category>Trips</category><pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:48:41 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jaguar darting in Paraguay]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/trips/13/thumb_Slide96.JPG" align="left"  border="0" /><![CDATA[Exploring a new hunting paradigm is not for the faint of heart.
      The big cat gave me a cold stare. As if inviting me to take one step closer. Which I did...hoping the dogs would keep him from coming down. I very slowly walked directly under the limb he was perched on. This got me a little snarl, but the dogs discouraged any further action. He was now about 15’ over my head, and watching the action below very intently.
      I was sweating profusely, with water dripping down my forehead and into my eyes. And not entirely because of the proximity of the cat. The temperature for the past week had been hovering around 104 degrees. It would cool off at night to the mid 90s. This was August, middle of winter for Paraguay. I certainly wouldn’t care to hunt there in the summertime.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Trips/Jaguar+darting+in+Paraguay/13</link><category>Trips</category><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:06:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cradle Mountain, home to Tasmanian Devils]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/trips/17/thumb_DSC_0189.JPG" align="left"  border="0" /><![CDATA[For years I’ve been interested in visiting Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain as well as looking for Tasmanian Devils, which many people don’t believe exist outside of Hollywood. I went with my friends Dr. Michael Sarr and his wife Barbara. Because of Mike’s heavy duties as head of gastroenterology for the Rochester Mayo Clinic we had to plan this trip a long time in advance.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Trips/Cradle+Mountain,+home+to+Tasmanian+Devils/17</link><category>Trips</category><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:03:55 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/trips/20/thumb_chiefs camp day2 199.jpg" align="left"  border="0" /><![CDATA[]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Trips/Namibia,+Botswana,+Zimbabwe,+South+Africa/20</link><category>Trips</category><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:59:37 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Buffalo Hunting in Tanzania]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/galleries/161/medium_DSC_0443.JPG1_13_2010_101120_AM.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><![CDATA[]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Photos/Buffalo+Hunting+in+Tanzania/161</link><category>Photos</category><pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:11:20 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Shikar-Safari Club event, Cabo San Lucas, March 2009]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/galleries/43/medium_Shikar-Safari fish _CHF3398 - Version 2_4_7_2009_110329_AM.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><![CDATA[Gallery consists of photos from marlin fishing, touring the coast, driving Baja race cars and other events.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Photos/Shikar-Safari+Club+event,+Cabo+San+Lucas,+March+2009/43</link><category>Photos</category><pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:32:40 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Game viewing in Botswana]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/galleries/32/medium_chiefs camp day2 316_3_5_2009_82744_PM.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><![CDATA[Botswana's Chobe River runs through some of the finest big game country in southern Africa, and we say game everywhere.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Photos/Game+viewing+in+Botswana/32</link><category>Photos</category><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:37:02 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[We did a lot of game viewing from this lodge]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/galleries/31/medium_DSC_0003.JPG3_5_2009_101140_AM.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><![CDATA[We went there both for wildlife photography and hunting and found fame plentiful. Mike took a beautiful red stag, while I contented myself with tahr and chamois.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Photos/We+did+a+lot+of+game+viewing+from+this+lodge/31</link><category>Photos</category><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:11:40 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[An evening with the Devils]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/galleries/30/medium_DSC_0170.JPG3_5_2009_95041_AM.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><![CDATA[We spent one evening with a biologist who was very involved with saving the Tasmanian Devils as their numbers are shrinking for some reason]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Photos/An+evening+with+the+Devils/30</link><category>Photos</category><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:30:30 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cats of Paraguay's Chaco region are big!]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/galleries/29/medium_Slide11.JPG3_2_2009_102150_AM.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><![CDATA[Cats of Paraguay’s Chaco region are not like jaguars anywhere else. They’re big! Sometimes twice the size of leopards. Rocky has taken males that weighed 250 lbs. Females that exceeded 150.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Photos/Cats+of+Paraguay's+Chaco+region+are+big!/29</link><category>Photos</category><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:21:49 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chasing cat #1, the Swamp Cat]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/galleries/28/medium_Slide62.JPG3_2_2009_95124_AM.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><![CDATA[Before catching the big male in the thornbush we chased a female through the swamps]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Photos/Chasing+cat+1,+the+Swamp+Cat/28</link><category>Photos</category><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:48:13 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/galleries/23/medium_Killimanjaro No. 20034.JPG2_17_2009_95317_AM.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><![CDATA[Chat and I climbed Kili in three days and a grueling hike through rain forests, alpine meadows and ice covered rocks. But it was worth it! What an experience. Now I'd like to do Aconcagua in South America.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Photos/Summiting+Mt+Kilimanjaro/23</link><category>Photos</category><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:48:52 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Visiting the mountain gorillas in Rwanda]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/galleries/22/medium_Rwanda gorilla_2_17_2009_94550_AM.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><![CDATA[The vegetation in the Rwanda rain forest was almost impenetrable so that when you came upon a gorilla they would be almost within touching distance.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Photos/Visiting+the+mountain+gorillas+in+Rwanda/22</link><category>Photos</category><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:39:06 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Arctic Expedition]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/galleries/21/medium_Dogs on polar bear hunt_2_17_2009_93721_AM.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><![CDATA[Sleeping in a tent at 50 degrees below zero and riding by dogsled across the frozen sea was an awesome experience]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Photos/Arctic+Expedition/21</link><category>Photos</category><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:31:29 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Darting the big male]]></title><description>&#60;p>&#60;img src="http://www.myadventures.com/uploadedImages/1/galleries/19/medium_Slide95.JPG2_15_2009_63444_AM.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><![CDATA[We put him to sleep but not without a struggle]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Photos/Darting+the+big+male/19</link><category>Photos</category><pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2009 06:34:44 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Outdoor Writers are a SPECIAL BREED…here’s why.]]></title><description>&#60;p><![CDATA[Grand Rapids, MI, June 13, 2009. Unlike many of the world’s writers who work in relatively mild surroundings outdoor writers often write, or at least take notes, in less than ideal environments…like from the top of a mountain, deep in a jungle, struggling to stay on deck in a storm, or dragging a monster fish from the deep.

How do I know all this? I just returned from the four day conference held in Grand Rapids by the OWAA (Outdoor Writers Assn. of America). The show was magnificently managed by Robin Giner and her team mates from OWAA. And I met some awesome people there. Like Jim Ferguson, host of Great American Outdoor Trails radio programs, Tom Opre of Tahoe Films, John Beath of Salmon News, Jim Foster of JimFosterOutdoors, and dozens of others…plus John Otterbacher whose presentation of his book Sailing Grace drew a standing ovation.

Why the standing ovation? Because John’s book “Sailing Grace” is about his account of drowning in heart disease, fighting back to the surface, and sailing on. A gritty chronicle of his family’s struggle to do better than simply survive, “Sailing Grace” is also a commentary on how love heals, dreams energize and trauma can be a wake-up call.

The weekend was one of the pleasantest I’ve had in many a year, and as a marketing guy I attend a lot of conventions. I just recently rejoined OWAA because of the many great writers it puts me in touch with now that I’m struggling to get my outdoor enthusiast website up and running. I was an OWAA member once before, back in the mid 70s, when I launched Safari magazine which I sold many years later to Safari Club International. SCI has done a magnificent job with the magazine and recently won a bunch of awards.

In the course of the four days, in addition to fabulous meals and inspiring presentations, the OWAA offered very nice side trips. One was to the West Walker Sportsman’s Club for archery practice and shooting (there was a handgun course for women). I got to shoot an ancient black powder flintlock pistol which I had never done before. From there we went to Riverside Park for more equipment exhibits, and the fascinating trailer display put on by the Michigan Chapter of SCI. And one evening was spend in the elegant Grand Rapids Public Museum were we were served a great dinner (loved the cherries jubilee desert).

For those members of MyAdventures.com who are outdoor writers, or aspire to be, you need to know about the OWAA. You can visit www.owaa.org, or call Robin Giner in their Missoula, MT headquarters at 406-728-7434. Tell Robin that Keith Bates sent you.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Blog/13/View</link><category>Blogs</category><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:33:52 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Exploring the TRAUMA of launching a Social Network]]></title><description>&#60;p><![CDATA[It’s the dawn of June 27, 2007. I get a brainstorm. Fairly severe. The Adventurers Club of Chicago, of which I’ve been a member for over 35 years, is in trouble. Because of landlord problems we’ve been forced to move the club’s location to a new and much smaller venue. Members are dropping off. We need more. The club has always been short on marketing horsepower, and now, when we really need new members there is no program in place to make it happen.

Back to my brainstorm. In 2007 social networks are hot. Facebook, MySpace, Friendster and many others are growing by leaps and bounds. Facebook today has 200 million people on board, and it’s growing by thousands daily. 

What if The Adventurers Club of Chicago had their own social network? Wow! What an idea. Resident members pay $1000 a year, but if we got international members and only charged them $10/year…and managed to get only 100,000, not 200 million …that would give the club an annual income of $1 million dollars! With that kind of income we could buy our own building!

With this thought in mind I launched a social network. I called it MyAdventurers.com. No much trouble coming up with a name. However, the club had very limited resources, as did yours truly…so we got off to a slow start. But I was serious about doing this so put my advertising agency, which I’d been running since 1970, on hold. Being a creative director all my life I had no trouble designing the site and writing the copy.

I patterned it after Facebook. But not exactly. There are hundreds of travel sites set up just to sell travel (Trip Advisor). And there are hundreds of social networks set up to support idle chatter (like Facebook) But MyAdventures.com is the only site that brings adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts together. I counted heavily on support from The Adventurers Club…but it didn’t happen. I guess I didn’t inspire them sufficiently. And they had no money and were unable even to rebuild their own site to help promote mine. So we sort of split company. But not before I gave them a big chunk of stock. And gave them a page on my site. Hope springs eternal…

The next two years were full of challenges. Not many of today’s social networks have been launched by a 75 year old guy in his attic. A couple of friends invested. I used a big chunk of some dividend money I earned through a lucky tech investment. But then I  had to change development teams after the first year because my first team was unable to meet my deadlines. The new team, Tecture LLC, almost had to start over. But they have done an awesome job, and we rolled out to a full PR effort in early June of 2009. People are joining up at a pretty good clip but we’ve run through a ton of money so are now actively and aggressively searching for more investors.

From a recent BusinessWeek article… “Besides the big traditional social networks like Facebook, new niche focused social networks are emerging… (which are) less about keeping in touch with friends than connecting via mutual interests (like adventure).”  A recent AdMedia survey puts enthusiasm for Niche Online Media deals at 72% vs. traditional social networks at 27%. With 40+ micro-sites, the capability of micro-targeting to specific interests becomes easily accomplished. MyAdventures.com is a niche online medium like nobody elses.

If you enjoy site, like what you see…then the best that we are hoping for is that you will tell a friend and encourage them to join.]]>&#60;/p></description><link>http://www.myadventures.com/Blog/10/View</link><category>Blogs</category><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:02:25 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>