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F.A.Q.
Why are you doing this?
I guess this is
a more complex question than it first looks, there a quite a few
answers to this! Here's a few below;-
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I'm nearly 50, overweight, unfit, single, no kids, no ties, and want to see more of the world
before I shuffle of it - so why not!!!
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I like the idea of the challenge and adventure, I tend to get
easily bored with the humdrum and compromises of a 'normal'
9-5 life.
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I want to show that in these times of increasing obesity that
you don't have to be a fit 20-30 year old to undertake a
journey like this, an old couch-potato such as myself can do
it as well - it just may take a little longer!
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As an ex- geography teacher I am also curious to explore and
learn more about the world and the people that inhabit it, and
maybe share some of what I find out.
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As a glider pilot, I enjoy meeting other like-minded pilots,
hanging out at airfields and flying in different locations.
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I want to explore the idea of living a more sustainable
'alternative' lifestyle, and am interested in learning more
about such things as low cost eco-housing and permaculture, and
I hope I can meet and learn from people who live such a
lifestyle during my journey.
-
In my professional life over the last 10 years, I have become
acutely aware of the way people with disabilities are often
discriminated against, and the lack of opportunities they
often face. I hope I can learn more about the lives of people
with disabilities around the world and the challenges they
face during my journey, and that I can help raise greater
awareness of people with disabilities, disability rights and opportunities, and raise
funds for charities involved in promoting these aims.
Why do
you use the by-line 'The Impossible Adventure'?
Because I don't know if the
journey is achievable - physically, mentally, financially or
temporally. I hope it is - the fun is in the trying - there
seems to be so much 'certainty' required by modern day living -
maybe a bit of 'uncertainty' is a good thing. Besides I quite
like what
the famous boxer Muhammad
Ali says on the subject
"Impossible
is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier
to live in the world they've been given than to explore the
power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an
opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare.
Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is
nothing.”
Why the bicycle?
Well its
quicker than walking on average by a factor of 3 or 4 and I
can carry things on the bike instead of on me!!
Initially
having ridden motorcycles since I was 17 I had thought of
using a motorcycle. Considering that the bicycle I have bought
costs as much as the motorcycle I was contemplating for the
trip, why did I decide on a bicycle?
The main
answer -and one I might come to regret- is that I thought
travelling by motorcycle was too easy - not enough of a
challenge - the idea of getting somewhere by my own physical
efforts appeals to me. A bicycle is also essentially non
polluting and harmless to the environment, an inexpensive way
to travel, not needing Carnets, insurance etc. A bicycle
doesn't gobble expensive fuel and is simpler and cheaper to fix.
Also riding a bicycle is slower - and I see that as an
advantage - it gives you more time to get to know a new
country and learn about it, and maybe a person on a bicycle
appears more approachable and less threatening than one on a
motorcycle? It is often those experiences whilst travelling
from A to B that 'make' a journey, travelling faster by
motorcycle, I feel I might miss out on them more often.
Have you attempted something like this before?
On a small scale yes - I rode
around Poland and the Czech Republic in 2003 including working
at the World Gliding Championship in Leszno, and in 2005 I
rode around the Canadian Rockies. I have also undertaken quite
a few motorcycle camping journeys around Europe and one in
India, over the years. Lately I have been cycling around the
English Lake District where I live. But nothing this big!
Are you doing this alone?
Essentially yes. I’m usually
fairly happy travelling in my own company, but would enjoy
sharing the experience with like-minded people from time to
time. If you’re reading this and feel you might like to join
me for part of the journey feel free to
contact me.
How long will it take?
The rest of
my life probably - certainly well into my retirement years! I
will be breaking up the journey into 'stages' according to the
continents I shall be travelling through.. I think Africa will
be the hardest continent to travel in
and so is the one I shall
attempt first whilst I am still relatively young. I envisage
the first stage of my journey through Africa will take about
2-3 years, and expect to continue through to South America, if funds allow. I hope to continue through North
America, Australasia, Asia and back to Europe, which will take
the longest to travel around, due to the sheer number of
gliding sites - but in other ways may be considerably easier
due the smaller distance between sites, the infrastructure and
relative wealth - thus why I am saving it until last.
You
must be really rich to be able to do this?
By 'western' standards no - my income is about average for the
UK. I have saved for a number of years for the journey and
sold most of my possessions. I hope I can keep my costs low by
travelling by bicycle, camping and self catering for the
majority of the time. I also hope to raise additional funds
through the shop on this website, writing for
magazines etc. to supplement my savings.
How are you raising
money for the charities you are supporting?
Apart from kind donations from
friends, family, the people who read this website and others I
meet during the journey, by speaking both about the charities
and the journey and hopefully raising their profile in the
media, I’m hoping people will pledge their support.
How can people track your
progress?
I’ll make
regular updates to
my blog,
add to the website,
and will use my
SPOT tracker to update my position on the
map page during
my journey.
If you have any other
questions you think should be on this page then please
e-mail
me and I will try to answer
them.
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