Meet Ambassador Pam Whyard: World Traveler & Aspiring Amateur Road Cyclist

What made you want to be an Ambassador? And how many trips have you done?

I discovered AdventureWomen when I was looking into travelling to a certain country. I was advised it would not be wise to pursue this alone, which led me to research travel companies and AdventureWomen was by far the best!  Solo travel is good, but equally if not more fantastic is traveling with women only. It’s a different vibe and so much fun to be with women who want to discover and explore the world together. I’ve done four absolutely amazing trips: India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Montana.

What is your second love, after travel?

Road biking! I started in the summer of 2019 and think I may be hooked for life!  It was really difficult in the beginning. I experienced a huge learning curve trying to figure out my bike, how to ride in a group, and mostly trying not to fall as often—ouch!  I’ve loved the challenge of getting into a new sport and overcoming fears I didn’t realize I had.  I still find it hard, but I love pushing myself and trying to improve each time I ride.

Favorite destination?

Tough question. I really enjoy Europe. I’ve lived in France several times, so most European countries feel very comfortable. But then I spent time in Central Asia and wow! Especially my AdventureWomen trip to Bhutan, this was unlike anywhere or anything I’d ever experienced. The culture, people, food, traditions, and even the animals were nothing I’d ever seen, incredibly memorable!

What sound do you love?

Music, it’s a big part of my life! I frequently have something playing or I’m working on a playlist or discovering new (to me) artists.  I’m not musically inclined and I truly appreciate those who can create beautiful sounds that allow us to feel a whole range of emotions and memories.  Before each trip I sometimes will create a playlist based on popular music representative of that culture.

What’s the craziest or most out-of-character thing you’ve done?

Going into a burning fire! I tend to welcome a fair amount of risk in my life and I’m typically up for a challenge, but when I became certified to be a Stew / Crew in the yachting industry, part of the coursework was firefighting and yikes, game on! We got suited up like full-blown firefighters and ran through some unbelievably challenging drills. I was feeling (mostly) fine, but then right before we went into a live fire, I felt nervous (who am I and what am I doing?!?).  During classroom time I was pretty quiet, but once in a real fire, the instructor shouted questions at us (it’s loud in a fire!) and I was suddenly on point spewing out every detail in hopes of getting us out of there sooner!

What’s something that you’ve tried, that you’ll never, ever try again.

What did I just eat?!?  I’ve had some pretty sketchy food items which left me feeling distraught after finding out what I had just ate. The connection between taste, emotion, and what our brains perceive we should or should not consume is interesting!

Would you rather be able to breathe underwater or have the agility of a cat?

Breathe underwater! I love to snorkel and scuba dive and to be able to explore underwater minus all the gear would be fantastic.