Robby LeBlanc takes his Voyage Air guitar to conquer Mt Kilimanjaro!

This story actually starts back in 2004, when Robby LeBlanc was daunted by a variety of physical ailments: many related to his being overweight. That year was a turning point in his life, where he was challenged by friends: “IF you could drop 100 pounds, what would you do? How would you celebrate?”

Robby’s immediate and offhand reply? “I would climb Mount Kilimanjaro! To the top, and play my guitar at the top to celebrate!”

Frustrating years passed as Robby struggled with his weight and his health. Finally, as his weight dropped, he stopped dodging phone calls, and started to make plans. To climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a guitar.

It was an expensive proposition. With exposure on the TV Oprah Winfrey Network, Robby found sponsors. Even so, it was down to the last minute to get his plane ticket in hand, and join an expedition that would climb the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Kilimanjaro.

His choice for a guitar? “I originally wanted to take my usual guitar, but considering its weight with the case, I knew that would be tough. Then I found out about Voyage Air Guitar, and that proved perfect: a full-size guitar with backpack straps and case, and it was overall very light to carry.”

On his first days upon arriving in the Serengeti of Africa, Robby played his Voyage Air Guitar for children and villagers in remote areas near the base of the mountain. “That was a thrill,” said Robby. “If nothing else happened, those days would have made my trip complete.”

But a lot more happened as Robby and the group began to climb the mountain. Torrential rains on Day 1 of the first base camp that nearly swamped and overturned the truck carrying their supplies. A mandatory ‘acclimation climb’ that pushed Robby to his limits, dealing with the thin air at an altitude. And in the next days, a mud slide that left Robby clinging for life, dangling over the edge of a 100-foot precipice, held by one hand from a porter/guide. In the ensuing moments, Robby was pulled to safety.

Robby said: “I have to tell you, Voyage Air, that your guitar was a trooper. For this climb, the guitar endured temperatures from the jungle tropics, down to 20 below zero. And I could always open and play it, with a bit of time for the guitar to adjust to the temperatures.

“There were times when the guitar was put in with the expedition cargo, and all of that was left outside at night, 20 below zero. Even with that exposure, lugged up the mountain under incredible conditions, the guitar looks as brand new: there are no cracks or problems.”

When Robby conquered the summit of Kilimanjaro, he pulled out his Voyage-Air Guitar and played a few of his favorite tunes. Followed by his own rendition of “Amazing Grace“ in a personal prayer of thanks for his achievement.

The ascent group bowed heads in reverence as he played, atop the highest mountain peak in the African Continent. “My fingers nearly froze while playing Amazing Grace“ said Robby. “But it was the crowning moment of my personal struggles, and this trip. Only a Voyage Air guitar could do this, and make that moment possible.”

Note: Busking, defined: “Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles.” We recently received this great story from Jake and Sarah, and their adventures in Busking with a Voyage Air:

“For Voyage Air Guitar:
“My name is Jake, and I have one of your guitars. I am currently traveling around Europe on a 500cc motorbike with my Voyage Air guitar and my girlfriend Sarah.

“I am blown away by the quality and ergonomic design of the Voyage Air guitar. It sits strapped on our topbox, with ratchet ties, and we have just spent all of yesterday busking outside the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

“We’ve so far managed to fund our trip from Manchester to Berlin entirely from Busking and we can’t thank you enough! My guitar plays beautifully, and has endured extremes of temperature and strapping down on the motorbike. We bought a waterproof cover for a backpacker to keep it dry. The only thing we can think that might improve the overall package would be a fitted waterproof cover to keep the case dry. Which we would be happy to test out for you, of course!”

A few days later, we received this e-Mail message from Sarah:
“After planning and saving for a while, Jake stumbled across Voyage Air Guitar on Google. He was looking for something travellable, that had a better sound quality than miniature travel guitars, and was overjoyed when he found Voyage Air.

“The guitar is currently touring Prague with us and our motorbike.

“We have a funky set up, with Jake playing the guitar and singing (with a harmonica and kazoo to boot) and me playing a fruit box (like an irish boran), the spoons, mini maracas, ocarina and a penny whistle. With the novelty of the act and the fold away guitar we’re attracting a lot of attention and photographs. We are funding the trip almost entirely with money made busking!

“We’re planning on heading to Africa in the nearish future, and on to America if possible, but it all depends on how we do really!”

Jake and Sarah, Busking with their Voyage Air Guitar

Note: Guitarists know Tim Brookes as the author of the critically acclaimed best-seller Guitar, An American Life. He’s also a Blogger, magazine writer, commentator on NPR Radio, and a notorious world-traveler. He occasionally sends us updates of his travels and adventures with his Voyage Air guitar. Here’s his latest:

“I originally met custom luthier Harvey Leach when I was doing research for a book. At the time, Harvey was showing me his legendary inlay work, but then he showed me an early prototype of the Voyage Air guitar. Harvey sent me home with that guitar, and it has changed the way that I travel, and the way that I can make music during my travels.

“My Voyage Air guitar is now over six years old, and has been literally three-times around the world. I’ve taken it to Pakistan. A couple of times to Bangladesh. I’ve played it live at the Cairo Jazz Club in Egypt. It’s never let me down.

“I recently took a vacation to the island of Vieques, which is off the coast of Puerto Rico. This page has pictures from the trip. As usual, the Voyage Air guitar easily fit in the overhead bin for the flight from New York to Puerto Rico.

“A much smaller plane is used for the hop from Puerto Rico to Vieques. As you can see in the first photo, the ‘baggage compartment’ is forward of the pilot, up near the prop! The Voyage Air fit easily in this space, and the buzz from the engine caused no harm to the guitar whatsoever.

“I spent a long weekend on the island with my family. My wife plays the flute, and we performed duets as we made stops on our way around the island. Every time I opened up the Voyage Air, it never failed to draw a crowd!

“Well, that’s the latest. It’s great to have a no-hassle, great-sounding guitar with me during my travels. Whether it’s killing time during an airport layover, or just strumming chords while hanging around the pool on a tropical island, I’ve always got my Voyage Air!”

Tim Brookes