1 . One day, Marga asked if I would join her in hiking to Base Camp at the foot of Mount Qomolangma to celebrate her 60th birthday. I _________ the opportunity.

We met our guide Achut Pandey in Kathmandu. He was a man of joy and _________, who had been to Base Camp over 100 times.

When we left Namche Bazaar, we took the Three High Passes route, which is less-traveled, longer and more _________. The temperatures ranged from the teens to below 0°F. We were nearly _________. When we were done with dinner, we _________ ourselves to our sleeping bags. While we _________ were able to down a couple of eggs and a piece of toast, the higher we went, the less we _________. Eventually, it was a lot of _________ to just eat a bowl of rice. The altitude _________ us in other ways too. As our appetites slowed, so did our ____________. Renjo La Pass, the first pass, was supposed to take eight hours. It took 12.

Achut’s faith in us was never ____________. He greeted us each day with a ____________ “good morning.” Before we ____________ Base Camp, he carried our packs and skillfully negotiated our moods and capabilities. We trusted him as he ____________ us, confident and strong, up and down icy, ____________ and sometimes narrow paths.

Thanks to Achut, I made it, at 65.

2 . Many people dream of going on a great travel adventure. Most of us keep dreaming; _________ make it happen.

Gregg Bleakney’s _________ was to travel the Americas from top to _________. He _________ the idea after he finished a 1,600-kilometer _________ ride. Gregg’s friend Brooks Allen was also a cyclist. The two friends talked and _________ on their goal: They would _________ from Alaska to Argentina—by bike.

To pay for the journey, Gregg and Brooks worked and _________ money for years. In 2005, after four years of planning, they _________. Once they were on the road, they often __________ outdoors or stayed in hotels. In many places along their route, __________ people opened their homes to the two friends and gave them __________ and water.

During their trip, Gregg and Brooks cycled through __________, rain forests, and mountains. They visited __________ cities and explored ancient ruins, such as Tikal in Guatemala. In many places, they __________ other cyclists from all over the world.

In May 2007—two years, countries, and over 35,500 km later—they __________ reached Ushuaia, Argentina, at the southern tip of South America.

Gregg and Brooks kept a __________ of their adventures in an online blog. The trip __________ both men a lot about traveling. Here is some of Gregg’s advice.

Travel light. The less luggage you have, the less __________ you’ll be.

Be flexible. Don’t plan everything. You’ll be more relaxed and happy, even when there are __________ along the way.