New Member Welcome

Welcome to the family gentlemen! 🙂

Hello 4X’rs! I’m new member # 51! John Paul Twarog, AKA: “John Paul T.” Also “Big John”, by many! Recently lost about 85Lbs, & 15 inches off my waist, not so big anymore! LOL! But still 6Ft. and a Big Sense of Humor! So “Big John” is ok still! Or now you can call me “51” like the Presidents do! 😊 I decided to post this on my birthday, 29^th of Sept., as this was a Gift to Myself, to start my 60^th decade with a step toward many future adventures!

I’m an Arizona native, 60 years this month (Sept.) My Dad is of Polish decent, Mom is native of Mexico, naturalized citizen. I hold Dual U.S./Mexican citizenship, speak fluent Spanish as well. Moms last career was as a Federal Court Interpreter. Mom & Dad met in Tucson in the late 40’s.

I was born in Tempe, AZ. My earliest memories are of Camping, Fishing and Hunting with my dad, and in Cub Scouts as early as 8 years old, in different areas, around the state. Continued those traditions through out the years, with my high school buddies, and into adult hood for many years, all around, mostly in Arizona, but some adventures into Mexico as well, with family all south of the border.

Lived in Arizona all my life, except for a short year in California, were I met my wife of 25 years, brought her back to Az. I did live for a short couple of years in Key West, FL after my wife past in 2012 of Chronic disease. It was an, escape and re-evaluate life sort of adventure. I did learn to sail, and did lots of free diving off the reef, (Yes, a bit of Pub Crawling as well!), mainly met some amazing new friends! It was a very cathartic time to grieve and heal. My favorite thing was to go out on solo kayak trips in the mangrove, and ride my bike around the Island perimeter, uncounted times, just to breath the fresh sea air! The Salt Life was very healing!

Now been back In Tucson, AZ for a few years, taking care of Mom, 86 yrs. now.  

After many years of contracting work based out of Phoenix, the 2008 housing crash was a financial catalyst to end that line of work! I still love to remain active as possible, “60isthenew30s” is my new motto of late! I always enjoy a good hike, spent a few years on a Chinese Dragon Boat Paddling Crew at Tempe Towne Lake, were we traveled to events around the country to compete.

One of my most memorable adventures was a 2-week Grand Canyon adventure. Paddled a six-man raft for over 200 miles from Lee’s Ferry at Marble Canyon, on the Colorado River, all the way to Lake Mead, with daily hikes along the way. Epic Trip. Most recent trip was a 30-day excursion around to Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, with Scuba diving, Swimming in Cenotes, and Ancient Mayan, Aztec ruins.  I’ve written vows and officiated weddings for a few close friends, a great honor just to be asked, and very special experience! Just did an Impromptu 60^th birthday hike this weekend to the highest point in Arizona, Humphreys Peak! Challenging, and exhilarating, to say the least!

Moving toward my 60’s, I decided I wanted to get into the top shape of my life, so I can continue to stay active, and go on more traveling adventures, as part of my weight loss, (Keto Lifestyle) I studied to get My Certified Personal Trainer designation from NASM, the National Academy of Sports Medicine. I subsequently have also received my Nutrition Coaching, and Weight Loss Specialist, Certifications.

My Rig of many years, which I purchased new, is a 2002 Chevy Silverado, 4x4 Crew Cab, with 6.6 Liter, Duramax Diesel. “Black Beauty”. I’ve personally driven it over 270,000 miles, including across the country to Key West and back, with my 2 Golden retrievers, TJ & Tator, as Co-Pilots!

My plan moving forward is to convert “Black Beauty” from a Contractor Truck into a long-Range Overlander Expedition Vehicle. I have a list of planned modifications, including a Pop-Up Truck camper, beefed up suspension, Bumpers, larger fuel tanks, etc. I am going to do a series of videos “Contractor to Overlander” to share my progress over time, with all of you and others. I’ve mostly traded in my Rifle and Fishing Poles, for a camera to capture those views now instead!

I am looking forward to meeting new friends, creating some new adventures, and exploring some new places around this beautiful globe we all live on!! Let’s do IT!!  “#60is the new 30s!!” “Venture  Out!”

Congrats to Scott for the 100^th Video Release! As a novice photo and video Buff! I know how much effort it takes to not only put together a video, but also create and maintain a website. Scott has created a great brand and platform in 4Xpedition, but it takes the rest of us to make it successful, by staying active and involved, and be great ambassadors of 4Xpedition Mission!

Welcome in, John!    Link us those videos when you get started,  always better to watch some human-produced content about real topics and naturally we're all interested in the topic of adventure around here.

I've been wanting to visit Yucatan for years now but it hasn't been in the cards yet - plus I was a mediocre just-enough-to-get-by Spanish speaker when I lived in Arizona,  haven't had cause to practice it since moving North.     Cool that you have visited that part of Mexico, it seems all the attention is focused on the Sonoran Desert, Baja and CDMX so we in the USA don't get much exposure to the biosphere reserves and jungle areas on the peninsula. 

@shovel

Thanks, Will do on the links for future. I will also post some photos and maybe share some more details of my trip. I only had my cell phone in the Yucatan, but I did take 100's of photos, and several videos, which I will have to do a montage. Just starting to play around more with my video production skills and YouTube channel of which I plan to do more with in future, and hopefully can sort of integrate some of that with 4Xpedition. I'm putting together a weight loss, and Keto Lifestyle process, that worked for me as well. More focused on healthy eating habits, that will change peoples lives. Here is my quick fun little video on my Impromtu Humphreys peak Hike. 🙂 https://youtu.be/KVwMBaiihIo . You'll have to share with me the story behind your "Shovel" handle? or tell which post to read, if you already shared that?

Thanks John Paul T. 

Welcome 51! I'm following closely behind....60 next month. We still have lots of adventure in us. Thanks for sharing your story. I'm sure their are some great tales associated with your adventures. We would love to hear those sometime. 

Kevin

Sorry @john-twarog, Your responses to the comments was held by moderator approval and I didn't realize it. I approved your responses. You shouldn't have any trouble going forward with comments held for review.

Welcome to TEAM 4X, John!