14 watches. 27 years. Collection complete

[Beef]

What a climax! The Explorer II! Your testimonial and description beats the hell out of that created by the Rolex advert team. If Rolex doesn't make you an ambassador and if they don't sponsor your next expedition, they'd be fools. I can't wait to see the entire collection, but this journey has been remarkable. Your stories and pictures have not been equalled here before. I hope the mods make this thread a sticky! Thanks again for sharing your time, pictures and experiences!

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Beef

What a climax! The Explorer II! Your testimonial and description beats the hell out of that created by the Rolex advert team. If Rolex doesn't make you an ambassador and if they don't sponsor your next expedition, they'd be fools. I can't wait to see the entire collection, but this journey has been remarkable. Your stories and pictures have not been equalled here before. I hope the mods make this thread a sticky! Thanks again for sharing your time, pictures and experiences!

It's been an honour Beef. And I am humbled by your comments knowing your background.
Steve

[rolexnub]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

When you fly to Antarctica, you go in on Russian Ily 76 charted...
When we went in, the second time, the cargo bay was filled with drums of aviation fuel; and the loadmaster smoked his cigarette- dropping it and stubbing it out on the floor of the hold.
Get off or stay on?
You never know the risk your taking when you embark on a journey...

I guess you have no choice because exploration, aside from Rolex watches, is your passion. Be safe

[Broncoma]

I am mostly a lurker and do not post a lot on TRF , but this thread has really been a real treat to read.
Thank you for continuing this post for us all to enjoy.
Best of luck on your future expeditions.

[nickb732]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

When you fly to Antarctica, you go in on Russian Ily 76 charted...
When we went in, the second time, the cargo bay was filled with drums of aviation fuel; and the loadmaster smoked his cigarette- dropping it and stubbing it out on the floor of the hold.
Get off or stay on?
You never know the risk your taking when you embark on a journey...

You have a relevant experience for EVERYTHING! I wonder what it's like to be in your shoes.

[HogwldFLTR]

Great thread in retrospect. I can't apologize for originally thinking it was bologna. I can say that I'm glad I was totally wrong. Not the first time and likely not even close to being the last. It's been fun catching the installments and even some of the disagreements. We're all human, some of us more so than others. ;) Thanks for keeping at it, tmt, I mean Steve.

[floater156]

Your final watch is my all-time favorite Rolex. Great thread by the way!

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

I'm less concerned about the join date discrepancy than I am about his location. He says he's located in Antarctica, but all his IP addresses are located in the UK, one just north of Liverpool, one between Glasgow and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, and a third north of London. He's been moving around quite a bit in the last couple of days, all in the UK.

Care to explain this, "talktoomuch?"

I have to apologize for being a doubter, Steve. And thanks for updating your location information.

This has truly turned out to be a very interesting and informative thread. Thank you for bearing with the negative comments and continuing to post here.

[GeoGio Greece]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

What ice fields? ...

Steve, this was army training. Camps, igloo making, survival, escape via “enemy” lines, etc. on snow / ice covered fields. Greece has many mountains and therefore some units train specially for such action.

It would be of interest to describe in this post the uses of a tool watch in such conditions, eg timing of actions, communications, etc.

Regards and Thanks again

[GeoGio Greece]

...used many times. It had all needed, day, date, month, 24-h mode, altitude, atmospheric pressure ( weather prediction ), depth, second time, split chrono, alarm, with compass and temp buttons. Great at its time, in the '80's no GPS then, just maps and compass, sun and stars for navigation. Wish Rolex had one The only issue, as You very well may know is that unless batteries were really fresh, they could die in extreme cold. There is where a mechanical is an advantage.

[jlc123]

This is possibly the greatest thread I've ever read on any forum. Steve, thanks for sticking around and proving many of the members here wrong. Usually, when an incredible story shows up on here its too good to be true, but your story is absolutely fantastic. All I can say is WOW and thank you. On a side note, this thread should be sent to Rolex as testimonial type thing.

[blcblc]

Great thread. What an adventurous life you have, steve! Great watches too. Tx for sharing

[FeelingTheBlues]

Well after seeing pictures of your other watches and travels I can only say that I'm really impressed.

Thank you very much for sharing Steve.

[DCheeta]

I love that the Explorer ll is your #1 watch! I'm wearing one right now, albeit the white.

I think I speak for the majority of us here when I say thank you for NOT posting your entire collection in one photo at the beginning of the thread! This is the best thread I've ever read. Thank you Steve for sharing with all of us.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Great thread in retrospect. I can't apologize for originally thinking it was bologna. I can say that I'm glad I was totally wrong. Not the first time and likely not even close to being the last. It's been fun catching the installments and even some of the disagreements. We're all human, some of us more so than others. ;) Thanks for keeping at it, tmt, I mean Steve.

It's been a pleasure...

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by nickb732

You have a relevant experience for EVERYTHING! I wonder what it's like to be in your shoes.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Broncoma

I am mostly a lurker and do not post a lot on TRF , but this thread has really been a real treat to read.
Thank you for continuing this post for us all to enjoy.
Best of luck on your future expeditions.

Thank you....

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

I have to apologize for being a doubter, Steve. And thanks for updating your location information.

This has truly turned out to be a very interesting and informative thread. Thank you for bearing with the negative comments and continuing to post here.

No problem.....

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by GeoGio Greece

Steve, this was army training. Camps, igloo making, survival, escape via “enemy” lines, etc. on snow / ice covered fields. Greece has many mountains and therefore some units train specially for such action.

It would be of interest to describe in this post the uses of a tool watch in such conditions, eg timing of actions, communications, etc.

Regards and Thanks again

Yes it would, that's pretty full on....

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by GeoGio Greece

...used many times. It had all needed, day, date, month, 24-h mode, altitude, atmospheric pressure ( weather prediction ), depth, second time, split chrono, alarm, with compass and temp buttons. Great at its time, in the '80's no GPS then, just maps and compass, sun and stars for navigation. Wish Rolex had one The only issue, as You very well may know is that unless batteries were really fresh, they could die in extreme cold. There is where a mechanical is an advantage.

Agree completly. I actually have a Casio g shock some where ; which are perry bombproof....

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by jlc123

This is possibly the greatest thread I've ever read on any forum. Steve, thanks for sticking around and proving many of the members here wrong. Usually, when an incredible story shows up on here its too good to be true, but your story is absolutely fantastic. All I can say is WOW and thank you. On a side note, this thread should be sent to Rolex as testimonial type thing.

Wow that's pretty impressive....humbling...

[toomuchtalk]

Thanks everyone....
Final shot coming later...all watches and their history, bumps and scratches...

I am in the crowd....where's wally?

[Gaijin]

I just read this thread from start to finish. Took quite some time.



Tough crowd.



Thank you for sharing this Steve. Great pictures and narration.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Thanks everyone....
Final shot coming later...all watches and their history, bumps and scratches...

I am in the crowd....where's wally?

Found you, green T-shirt?

[silkroaded]

Fantastic thread! Legend!

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Found you, green T-shirt?

Bang on!

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

I just read this thread from start to finish. Took quite some time.



Tough crowd.



Thank you for sharing this Steve. Great pictures and narration.

It has been an epic...

[nickb732]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Found you, green T-shirt?

Wow, how on earth did you guess?

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by nickb732

Wow, how on earth did you guess?

Not a guess, my dogs were faster then his in Greenland.

[Knappo 1307]

Originally Posted by ufboy73

frankly, its pretty sad to see some of the ridiculous negativism here.

complain to the OP about lack of pictures, he post pictures.

complain to the OP that the pictures aren't genuine. he rightly responds that its up to each person to believe their authenticity or not.

complain to the OP about the quality or locale that some pics were taken at (i.e. AD). well, a lot of people (particularly those with only 80 posts) dont spend a whole lot of time taking wristies for the purposes of sharing on the forum and only have a limited number.

cant we have room for complete watch nuts who want to post daily shots in idyllic surroundings and for those who are passionate about their watches but dont necessarily invest in photography of the same?

to be totally honest, i find these pics massively more interesting than vast majority of unending daily's on here (not that i want those to end either, but come

i hope the OP continues to post these interesting shots.

I agree with this, but in the future use Caps !!