Balboa Island resident embarks on global hunt

Imagine what it would be like to leave the pressures and worries of everyday life behind you, hop on a plane or two and touch down in at least 10 countries across no fewer than four continents in 23 days.

A little whirlwind, maybe, but exciting nonetheless, especially when you realize, as Balboa Island resident Bart Hackley and fellow team member Steve Hunt did, that you will have no idea where you’re actually traveling to in those three-plus weeks.

Hackley and Hunt, longtime friends and accomplished globe trotters, are one of the 17 two-member teams leaving from San Francisco today to compete in “GreatEscape2008: The Global Scavenger Hunt,” an around-the-world travel competition.

Stay tuned. The winning team will be crowned in Toronto May 3, and Hackley and Hunt are both blogging daily on the Global Scavenger Hunt website at www.globalscavengerhunt.com.

— Sue Thoensen