Bell came from a wealthy background. But such a varied and adventurous life,often seemingly funded by himself? I'm jealous. Could such be done today? Not by someone like me, too old now to put up with some of it. When I was younger no doubt at all.

But possible in our modern environment?

I doubt it. Increasing controls. No working the route on ships anymore. No individual gold rushes. No meat hunting mostly anyway. One could do it with ferals here but would the meat be legal? So many rules, restrictions, controls. And only increasing, exponentially increasing restrictions and decreases in personal freedoms. Culls needed from the top down ...

My great grandfather went to a gold rush. Most locals were praised at the time for being steadfast and staying working for the richmen at home. But good on my g-g-pa for going off and having an adventure in the gold fields. One story he came back with was how thieves would rob people slicing open the back of the tent. Nondoubtbreach in and steal ones wallet. Did this happen to him? No idea. Came back a boozer.

My grandfather travelled up to Central Australia. Back when myall (wild) aborigines still roamed.

Bell's life was so varied. Most know of his Karamojo exploits. But Alaskan gold rushes, working steamer and sailing shops, flying as a fighter pilot aviator in WW1, hunting ivory in the Karamojo where wild tribes still killed strangers, poaching ivory in the Lado. Hunting Absynnia. So so much.

The era of 1870 to 1920 really was the golden age of modern adventure. How many of us wish we could have lived then.