Born 65 years too late..
 

I watched a documentary on Roy Chapman Andrews last night. He's the guy who inspired the Indiana Jones movies.

This is the kind of stuff that gets "wander lust" going for me. I wouldn't have hestitated for a second in joining his expeditions, if I had been around.This kind of exploring and adventure is pretty much dead.

Years ago, I was given an old Colt Army Special in 32-20 that was taken from a dead Mexican Bandit in the 30's after a raid on a gold dredge. That pistol exuded excitment everytime I held it and thought about it's origin. Some low-life scum-bag POS broke into my truck while I was at work and stole it out of the console. It was recovered a few years later, but was so rusted, pitted and beat up that I sold it as a parts gun.

Has anyone read any of his books? If so, which are the best?



Ron

Ron
I know exactly what you mean about "wander-lust".



Here is my favorite advertisement for adventure.
This is a wanted ad that Sir Ernest Shackleton ran in 1913.
He was looking for men to go on a Antarctic Expedition.
Reportedly he received 5000 applicants.
I like to think I would have been one of them!:rockon:
Bob

Bob,

I've dreamed of this stuff since I can remember. The closest I have ever come to it, was the discovery of an old trapper's cabin in Central Oregon while Deer hunting.

I found several bottles dating from the 1800's, and my brother(the bum) found a $5 gold piece nailed above the inside of the door with a square nail though the center of it. Evidently the trapper's emergency funds?

I returned several years later with a metal detector, but the entire area had been logged and the cabin was gone.

Ron

There was an article on this guy somewhere Ron, I think it was in a history magazine, he was a fascinating mad and yes, I wish I could share adventures with him.


Ed

Ed,

I found what is supposed to be his best book, but it's $250. So, I think I'll hold off for awhile.

He's also where they came up with Indiana Jones' fear of snakes, he hated snakes. Although seemed absolutely fearless otherwise.

While in Mongolia he had gun battles with Chinese Bandits, which made me hesitate momentarily in thinking I would have wanted to be there. Then realized that I have been there, in a way. Not Bandits, but just as bad and wanted me just as dead.

Ron

Ah, The days of Frank Buck, the Raffles Hotel in Singapore and a world open to anybody with the courage to take it.

I had my first and only Singapore Sling at Raffles. Quite a place.

Never made it to singapore, but I had a martini at the Peninsula in Hong Kong.

"Shaken, not stirred" :rolleyes:

FN

I, too, never made it to Singapore, but I did visit the three other great Colonial hotels, the King David in Jerusalem, the Taj Mahal in Bombay, and the Peninsula in Hong Kong. When I first stayed at the Taj 35 years ago, Maharashtra (the State in which Bombay is located) was dry, so to get a drink one had to visit the hotel doctor and have ones passport stamped "Certified Alcoholic, alcohol required for medical reasons". One could then enter the hotel's famous bar which was a very lively and popular place (surprise!) and get a drink. I ate all my meals there. Regards, Norm

Been to Singapore and Raffles several times, what a great place, India and about next Jan/Feb........Calcutta and Dum Dum airport where my parents meet during WW2...........

Been to Singapore many times. Clean and green. Beautiful, but Expensive!! Cross the border into Johor Bahru Malaysia and everything is dirt cheap. Love Tiger beer. I'm scheduled to go to India for a job in a month or so. I'll let you know how it goes.

-ML

Several years ago I was offered a Colt New Service in .45 Colt that the gentleman said belong to his father who he claimed was a mechanic with one of Roy Chapman Andrews Central Asian expeditions. He did not have any documentation to back up his claims. I told him without documentation the revolver was just another Colt New Service. I always wondered if he went back and did some research.

Let me know how it goes, so far in my research India at the upper level of travel is very expensive.......

You might ask him if he knows what kind of vehicles they used. One make was used exclusively for the Mongolian expeditions. It wouldn't be a fool proof, as the make was mentioned in the documentary, but might add some validity to his story.

Ron