The Next Step

We are now less than 5 months away from setting off.  It's starting to feel more real now, probably because there is nothing to distract us.  After 3 years of effort, boredom, annoyance and hard work we have both finished our Degrees!

The title of this post refers to us taking the next step in life by leaving full-time education, but also in preparing for the expedition.  I start full-time work on Monday 29th April and Ross starts soon after.  I'm working as a Watersports Instructor on Derwentwater and Ross is a climbing/multi-activity instructor in Scotland for the summer.  Hopefully we'll earn enough to make the trip quite comfortable!

Over the last 2 months I've not been out training much due to having lots of essays and a dissertation to write.  I think I've typed 20-30,000 words in the last 8 weeks.  That might not be much compared to someone on an English or History course but it will do me fine thanks!  Ross has been out fairly regularly in Liverpool on his shiny new bike, and seems to be enjoying the challenge.  Our JustGiving page hasn't had much traffic in the last while, probably because we have been so busy.  If you can spare a few pounds we would appreciate any donations towards Alzheimer Scotland, as it's such a good cause.

Ross about to start an evening training ride (Photo thanks to Chris Dean)

I still haven't got a proper bike yet, but I managed to borrow one (thanks Remy!) for 2 days of training with Ross here in the Lakes.  We did a 30 mile loop of Windermere and followed that with a hill-climb session, covering 13 miles and going up to the Kirkstone Pass at 468 metres.  The descent was memorable as we flew down a road called 'The Struggle' with a gradient of 1 in 4, which is extremely steep!  The pass is the highest in the Lake District open to motor traffic also.

Thankfully, since I handed in my Dissertation I've managed to get away from the computer a while and had some fun.  I ended up doing something called Ghyll Scrambling, which involves finding a large stream/small river and walking, climbing and swimming up it.  We found some pools to jump into, which is actually safer than you might think!

I didn't hit the tree and the water was deep, but icy!

So!  School's out and summer is here.  I can't wait to start work, go climbing in sun, and cycle on bright, clear mornings.  IT WILL BE SUNNY ALL SUMMER.  You heard it here first...  Just no more snow please!

Climbing isn't fun when you can't feel your fingers or toes!

I'm going to have a look at a bike this weekend so hopefully I'll have one by next week.  Then training can really start!  We're still looking for information about good routes and places to stay throughout France, Spain and Morocco so if anyone has any information please contact us.

Cheerio!

John

Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick post to say thanks for the continued support throughout the initial stages of planning & to share my news that I am sadly selling my mountain bike, a Giant 29er, to help fund the trip.

The bike is currently on ebay and getting a lot of views, check it out at : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mens-Giant-29er-Mountain-Bike-/221176263811?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item337f21f483

Both myself & John are currently under the hectic pressures of final year so putting the planning aspect of the trip on hold until mid Feb but we will be straight back into it ASAP.

Remember you can still donate on our JustGiving page.

Thanks again,

R&J

Counting Plants and Square Eyes

Hi everyone,

We've had a busy couple of weeks with social commitments and travelling organised around university work and lectures.  I've spent so much time staring at a computer screen that I'm getting square eyes (just like Mum said I would!).  The most annoying part of having deadlines is that I've missed getting out and enjoying the winter conditions here in the Lake District.

I had a chance to get out on Friday morning but I was shattered after working on an assignment late the previous night.  I have to apologise to Francis for crying off at late notice, so if you read this, sorry!  Francis runs a great company called Adventure Today - if you are looking for a friendly, relaxed day in the hills or rivers give him a shout!

This weekend Ross arrived up with a soil pH testing kit, a guide to British Upland Plants, a results table and a slightly haunted look on his face.  This could only mean one thing - Dissertation data collection!  He is writing a 10,000 word project comparing the vegetation on a glacier in Switzerland to that found in a Lake District valley.  Gripping Stuff...

Saturday morning saw us heading off to Haweswater, arriving at the study site in Blea Water around 1130.  Conditions weren't perfect, with the ground still too frozen to collect soil samples everywhere Ross wanted to.  Once we got into the routine of the study time passed quickly and we managed to enjoy ourselves.  It was great to be out in the hills again after 7 days inside working.



Haweswater

Counting plants is difficult here!

A blurry Blea Water (camera didn't like the cold)

A positive point of being on the internet for days on end was that I found or was sent some really interesting blogs.  The Adventure Cycling Guide gets into the meat of preparing for a cycle tour, with lots of tips about what to bring and what bike to get.  I found a few of these really detailed sites which are really useful but don't offer much in the way of inspiration.  If anything they tend to put me off by talking about buying things I don't have!

Much more welcome are blogs like Ness Knight's which focus more on the journey than equipment.  It's great to hear about people doing similar things as it gives a little confidence boost;  'if they can do it, so can we!'  Anyone getting outside and doing something a bit out of the ordinary gives me a flash of inspiration.  Cue a solo 24hr run around Snowdonia, Donegal's hardest climb, Mont Blanc Ultra Marathon and the Jungfrau Marathon.  I've become a bit running-mad lately!  Can't forget the Coniston Triathlon.  A possibility this year?

Since we started publicising the expedition more, information and pointers have arrived from all directions.  Thank you to everyone who has read the blog, sent us a link to a website or just wished us luck.  It helps massively and it's fantastic to find so many people interested in our mad, silly idea!

All comments are welcome, be it a good luck message, a nice campsite in Spain or a friend in Morocco.  How about donating to a good cause?  Our JustGiving page is set up to send donations directly to Alzheimer Scotland.  They do fantastic work such as trying to provide a Dementia Nurse in each local authority area in Scotland.

Thanks for reading,
John