The Adventurer Guru

Romeo Durscher - Director of Education for DJI 

I found it fitting to call my friend Romeo Durscher, The Adventurer Guru, for good reason.

Romeo has traveled the world many times over from far away places, like Vietnam, China, Europe, Russia and South Korea. 

I met Romeo on Facebook, during his employment with NASA, technical specialist with Little SDO, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory keeping a close eye on the solar activity of our Sun.  Romeo was also a big part of STEM, encouraging kids to pursue a career related to Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. 

Romeo - The Adventure Guru - photo credit Romeo Durscher

Most recently, Romeo has taken on another adventure, as Educational Director for DJI Global, operated and owned by Frank Wang since 2006.

Within a month, his first excursion took him across the world to DJI main headquarters, in Shenzhen, Guangdong, province of China.  And not long after, Romeo was taking on the worldly adventure deep within the jungles of Vietnam.

You most likely saw Romeo's adventure on Good Morning America with host Ginger Zee, chief meteorologist at ABC News. As a matter of fact, when I wrote this article, Romeo had just spent the last seven days deep within the biggest cave in the world, mastering his skills and representing DJI Drone Global.

Part of the ABC Good Morning America with@ginger_zee and team @djiglobal with @ferdinandwolf 

Not only Romeo, but a team of experts embarked on a wild ride with a  Russian M-17 helicopter, trekking across the vast jungle, deep into the heart of the Sơn Đoòng Cave.

Read Romeo's Daily Journal.

The Russian  Mi-17 Helicopter - Wild Ride - Photo Credit : Romeo Durscher

Sơn Đoòng Cave quickly became famous world-wide, not only because it was just recently discovered in 2009, but, so far, it's classified as  the biggest cave, located in Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Bố Trạch District, Quảng Bình Province, Vietnam. 

Sơn Đoòng Cave - Photo Credit Romeo Durscher/ Ferdinand Wolf

Sơn Đoòng Cave reaches depths of 200 metres high, stretching over 5 kilometres in length and a remarkable 150 metres wide.*

Vietnam - Photo Credit Romeo Durscher

It was indeed an adventure, as said by Romeo himself,"

My Dear Friends,

30 minutes ago we landed on our Mi-17 helicopter and are now out of the jungle and now at Oxalis Adventure. 

I am sitting here eating a steak, stinking like I spent the last seven days in a cave...wait a minute...

For the next few days you will be hearing a lot about my two trips to Son Doong, a hidden wonder world !  This was an amazing project and we all wrote a little bit of history by live broadcasting from deep inside the jungle, with drones providing aerial views.

The entire ABC and DJI team worked wonders to make this happen.  And we had the help of the most amazing local people..."

Romeo also adds at the end,"...during the live broadcast...a storm was about to hit and interrupt our cons to New York twice."

Twitter was humming with activity,

 @JRobbMontana: Awesome @romeoch: The view  @DJIGlobal Inspire 1 inside the Sơn Đoòng Cave in Vietnam with @GMA - "Beam of Light”

And

@JRobbMontana: Very cool @romeoch @GMA: .@Ginger_Zee drones explore cave Vietnam jungle#HiddenWorldsGMA ”

Indeed, Romeo has sparked interest throughout his Twitter, Facebook, About me and Instagram accounts as the Director of Education for DJI, the world's leading drone company DJI Global. 

Photo Credit : Romeo Durscher 

Best way to describe Mr. Romeo Durscher? 

He's a kindhearted American, Swiss born bachelor from San Jose, California, devoted to his career and friends. 

Romeo (truly an avid adventurer) it was a no-brainier, when his long time friend, Mark Johnson introduced him to the DJI drones, filling their thirst for technology and exploring the vast outdoors throughout Europe, United States and Mexico. Before you knew it, their rapid growth of expertise in the field of drones was inevitable. 

Romeo Durscher and Mark Johnson - Visual-Aerials

Closer to home they were scouting the California countryside with this remarkable flying machine.  As quoted by DJI, "...it's the most advanced technology, comes together in an easy to use, all-in-one flying platform that empowers you to create the unforgettable."

Mark and Romeo quickly set up their own website, Visual Aerials, educating prospective drone pilots at the Adobe Photoshop World Las Vegas, September 3, 2014. 

Panorama View of Las Vegas highlighting The Wynn and Encore Las Vegas - Credit Photo Visual Aerials

With my interest in the film industry, it wasn't long before I met Romeo's Mark Johnson myself,(Principal Creative Chief Officer with Visual Law Group and Principal at Fat Monster Films).

Before you know it, I too was following their adventures throughout the social media, sharing their astounding photos on my Facebook Page, Vegas Reviews, a Vegas Lovers paradise of tips and photos. 

Romeo is certainly the right candidate as Director of Education for DJI. You can follow him on Twitter @romeoch, along with @DJIGlobal and Instagram.

And be sure his amazing Daily Journal!

In conclusion. I'm so grateful for my friends Romeo Durscher and Mark Johnson.

By Bari Demers

Resources: 

DJI Global

Good Morning America, ABC

Visual Aerials

Sơn Đoòng Cave - Wikipedia 

Vegas Reviews

Screenwriter Bari Demers

Romeo's Daily Journal

Wordpress

  

Turtle Mountain, Vernon,B.C.

This is my home, Vernon,B.C. in the Okanagan Valley.  

Top of Turtle Mountain, Vernon B.C. by Bari Demers

The photo you see is on top of Turtle Mountain, where my childhood dreams would come alive. 

As you can see, the rich green orchards are a striking contrast to the original native desert habitat which once covered the Okanagan.  The Vernon area became a cattlemen's paradise, because of its vast ocean of grasslands.

Prefect for raising cattle.  

Believe it or not, but Turtle Mountain played an important historical role in making Vernon the city it is today. 

Grey Canal Trail Sign by Bari Demers

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND  

In the late 1800's a Scottish King, Lord Aberdeen and his Lady came to Canada. Their first visit from Scotland was mostly spent in the eastern Maritimes, but eventually they travel west, discovering Vernon, British Columbia.  

Lord Aberdeen

It was here the distinguished aristocrats fell in love with the Okanagan Valley.  Wasn't long after, they bought the Coldstream Ranch in 1890, settling in Canada once and for all. 

Owning Coldstream Ranch, cattle became its main resource of income, until one day, the Scottish King became interested in growing fruit orchards.   

Okanagan Cowboys and Ranchers of Okeefe Ranch  - Photo taken by Bari Demers at Okeefe Ranch

But he had a problem.

How were they going to bring the water to grow the orchards? 

In order to have fruit orchards, they need lots of water.  There was plenty of water around, like the vast 135 km ( 70 miles) long Okanagan Lake, including the once glacier feed turquoise Kalamaka,
 "Lake of many Colours" and Swan Lake to the North.

Northside of Turtle Mountain - Overlooking Swan Lake by Bari Demers

But, back then they didn't have electricity to operate pumps.  They had to rely on a gravity system, where water would flow downwards.  

After much thought, he convinced his fellow ranchers, like his friend Cornelius O'Keefe, to start building large wooden troughs, known as the Grey and South canals. Ironically, with all the water around them, they decided their best choice of water was from the high lakes above in  Monashee Mountains to the east. 

Northside of Canal Trail by Bari Demers

Interesting enough, it was Cornelius O'Keefe who convinced settlers to come to the Okanagan in the first place.  The tough Irishman was also responsible for the postal service, which ran a stagecoach (BC Express Stage Lines) from Cache Creek, along the dirt road from Fort Kamloops to O'Keefe Ranch.*

Historical Okeefe Ranch, Vernon B.C. - Picture by Okeefe Ranch - Photo taken by Bari Demers

This expensive project of building the Grey and South canals, started in 1905, costing a staggering $423,000.  In those early days, that kind of money would be equal to 4 million today.  

The water was carried down the Monashee Mountains, through the Coldstream Valley, circling Vernon by means of benchlands, to the top of Turtle Mountain.  It also crossed along the side hills to help feed, what is today, the Davison Orchards.

Scenic View from Turtle Mountain - overlooking the Valley below with Okanagan Lake in the far distance - Photo by Bari Demers

The ranchers of the Okanagan successful achieved sub-division of ranch lands and a rich resource of fruit orchards, which are flourishing to this very day.

Inside The Okeefe Ranch House - Photo by Bari Demers

Okeefe Ranch House Today - Photo by Bari Demers

TURTLE MOUNTAIN TODAY

Today, Turtle Mountain overlooks the beautiful valley, overlooking Okanagan Lake in the distance. The two Grey Canal Trails intertwines with prestigious subdivisions featuring luxury homes.  The green orchards below not only supply apples, cherries, peaches and assortment of veggies, it's also home to the Bella Vista Vineyard and Turtle Mountain Vineyards.

Luxury Homes on Turtle Mountain - Photo by Bari Demers

At 10 years old, I would climb to the top of Turtle Mountain, sometimes mistakenly sitting on a patch of Prickly Pears, the only native cactus in the Okanagan.  It was my place to explore and to admire the gorgeous view below. 

Canal Trails - Photo by Bari Demers

Canal Trails - Photo by Bari Demers

It was also where I found peace within myself, mediating, even when I didn't even know what meditation was.

View from Turtle Mountain, Vernon, B.C. - Photo by Bari Demers

By Bari Demers



ABOUT BARI 

Bari Demers is a freelance writer and screenwriter. His childhood was in Vernon, B.C. where  his parents owned the famous Spudnut Shop. He graduated at VSS ( Vernon Senior Secondary School), continuing his studies in Kelowna, at Okanagan College.  After Okanagan College, he went to Cariboo College in Kamloops to take a Drafting Technology Program, where is graduated as a Draftsman. His writing abilities comes from his time at Okanagan College.

You can read a collection of traveling reviews with his Facebook Blog - Vegas Reviews with over 1000 photos of Las Vegas.

Aria Resort and Casino, Las Vegas - Photo by Bari Demers

RESOURCE MATERIAL:

Turtle Mountain

Lord Aberdeen

Okeefe Ranch

Travel By Bari Demers