I thought that once retired, I’d be done dealing with technologies — but surprisingly, it’s become one of the biggest parts of my trip preparation.

I bought a Garmin inReach satellite communicator, which allows me to call for help in case of an emergency or problem, even in places with no cell signal.

The device connects via satellite to a global rescue coordination center that operates worldwide. If I ever need assistance, they’ll know my exact location and can coordinate what needs to happen next — even in the most remote areas.

This blog

This blog is another piece of technology for me — and a challenge of its own. I’ve never programmed anything in my life or really created any software, even though I spent thirty years working in software companies. It’s actually kind of fun to prepare all this.

My goal is to travel with only my mobile phone, without having to type anything or carry a notebook. Writing by hand has almost become a lost skill for me — I can hardly see properly with my glasses, and writing in a tent is tricky anyway.

So I just want to dictate everything into my phone, let artificial intelligence (ChatGPT) turn it into written text, and then upload it to this blog I’m setting up now. The idea is to have it all working smoothly before I leave, so that once I’m on the trail, I won’t need to deal with any technical details.

Unfortunately, I can only dictate the text in English and this Blog platform then automatically translates it into Czech. It is not that bad, but it is not perfect either. So apologies to all Czech readers!

I want to keep this blog mainly to capture my feelings and observations during my travels. Otherwise, I’d quickly forget them, and the moments are always most authentic as they happen.

Many people — both family and friends — have asked or shown interest in seeing photos or experiences from my journey. This blog is meant for both them and me. It carries a personal touch, but it’s also intended for a wider audience, who may visit once or follow it regularly, depending on their interest.

I’m curious to see how it turns out and whether it will be engaging for those who are interested.