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10th August 2008 - Equipment
We have a new home! We have finally managed to sell our Vango tent which we had bought
for our trip – Dave had decided it was just far too large (it had about a
4m footprint) and too heavy to take on our trip (over 4kg). As for me, I
was unimpressed with the quality of the zips and didn’t have the confidence
that it would last for the journey. So we went back to the drawing board
and wrote down a list of what we wanted in our canvas home that we will be
living in for the next two years.
We finally decided that what were looking for came down to:
- a lighter
tent,
- a
free standing tent, so that we could camp in barns etc.,
- a
tent with a separate fly and inner sheet, so that we can sleep in the
inner sheet for hotter climatic areas,
- a tent in a
natural colour for wild camping – preferably green so that we can be
somewhat camouflaged,
- a tent with a
small foot print so that we will have more options of where we will be
able to pitch our tent, and again be inconspicuous,
- a front and
rear entrance - ease of organization of belongings and self etc.,
- a small porch
– extra storage space.
Dave spent many a night on the internet researching
the choices and we also had good advice from Ian, owner of www.roughgear.co.uk
and we eventually came back to the Terra Nova Ultra Quazar tent, a tent
that we had stumbled upon a few months ago.
We have only pitched it in our garden and so are
itching to take it out and put it through its paces!
Our new home.
I think that one of the things about the organization
of this adventure is that we have enjoyed reading other people’s blogs and
looking at the equipment that people have taken. However, there is so much
information out there that Dave has often spent hours surfing the net,
wondering about which kit he should buy or which products will last the
distance. I think we could quite possibly be turning into equipment
spotters!
The beginning of August also saw us cycling around the
area surrounding Corfe
Castle for a photo shoot
for the TES newspaper. Being quite shy people we were somewhat reserved
about having our pictures taken, but Kelly got into the swing of things
perfecting her grin, whilst Dave performed his catalogue poses! Will upload
the pictures when we get them back. In the meantime, check out our
photographer’s website http://www.petemillson.com/gallery/index.asp
we were impressed not only with his pictures but some of the people Pete
has photographed.
Practising before the photo shoot!
So far we have managed to only clock up 40km on the
bikes fully loaded but thankfully we have plenty of time to test our gear
out and there is much to say about testing kit out before you go - on our
first trip out with all the gear, Dave suffered from a broken chain and our
front panniers kept slipping off so we have both learnt a valuable lesson
of making sure instructions are read and not assumed!
Fully loaded test ride
Should we take the trailer or not?
For the rest of August, Kelly will be turning 32
(yikes!), hopefully Dave will be able to participate in the Eddystone
challenge, a 28 mile kayak race out to sea (but this is obviously dependent
on the weather…where has the summer gone?).
We are trying to catch up with friends and family between now and
our departure to spend a bit of quality time with them and lastly, we are
still trying to work down our month by month lists, counting down to our
departure.
We will keep you updated!
21st August 2008 (Dave’s turn!)
“The only way of
finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the
impossible.”
Arthur C. Clarke
Why do people feel the need to
always seek new challenges? I believe that if we don’t constantly set
ourselves new goals and challenges we stagnate and become complacent. I
feel that in order to feel alive, I have to pursue my dreams and constantly
set out to overcome the challenges that I have set myself.
I have reflected a lot over the
last couple of months and have done some soul searching and often asked
myself what is it that motivates me? Is it financial gain? Is it status? Is
it career progression? The more I think about it, the less important these
things are to me. I am happiest when I am pushing my body to its limits,
the sense of pain and achievement that comes with doing these challenges
are what seem to keep me going. The importance of having ones’ health and
the ability to be able to put mind over matter in order to feel alive…
Society sends us all the wrong
messages which leaves us confused and sometimes lost without clear goals.
There is too much pressure to keep up with “The Jones” and we are measured
by our financial status or our titles or how far we have climbed up the
corporate ladder. All these things put amazing stress and uncertainty on
people. We seem to have lost our values and sense of community and family.
The physical challenges I like to set myself help me overcome a lot of the
modern day stresses that I seem to get tied up in and help leave me
refreshed and invigorated.
One of the challenges that I have
recently faced was the Eddystone challenge. I had hardly done any training
for this event and I wanted to prove to myself that I still had it in my
head to overcome physical and mental challenges with very little
preparation.
Battling against the tide.
The conditions on the day were very
unfavourable with rain, strong winds and moderate seas, unfortunately due
to these conditions; we were unable to complete the original course out to
the Eddystone lighthouse. Instead, the race directors set the alternative,
shorter race plan into motion of racing up the Tamar. Even this race course
wasn’t looking pleasant to kayak in, especially after not being in the
double kayak for over six weeks. It was definitely going to test Barbara
and I to our limits.
We set off with fear and
uncertainty! I was physically sick before the start of the event, as I knew
that this was going to be a hard eighteen miles. After a few wobbles we
soon seemed to find our rhythm and were making good progress out to the
turning point passed the Tamar
Bridge.
We were holding our own with all
the gigs. The two leading double kayaks were way ahead. They were in a
different league and I later found out that one of them had been a Great
Britain Marathon Champion!
After the turning point we were
heading directly into the wind and the going got really tough, however we
both dug deep and managed to stay with the two gigs which were close by. As
we started to approach Devil’s point the tide was really running, making
the conditions even harder. However, we managed to battle through the
conditions and completed the course in 3 ½ hours for a total distance of 18
miles. All credit to Barbara for keeping going without a break and always giving
me the inspiration to keep me going.
Rounding Devil’s Point
Well, I can now not wait to start
pedalling North… I know it is going to be hard to keep Kelly going against
the Patagonian winds and hills but I am sure she will be as determined as I
am to achieve our dreams!
29th
August 2008– exactly 2 months before we fly out!
This is
the Picture Perfect photograph from the TES Magazine 29th August
edition.
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