Monthly Archives: June 2009

30
Jun
2009

Move on. Don’t look back

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Posted in Best Bits, Ramblings
I was at a book reading one evening recently when the author was asked whether he remained in contact with people he had met on his travels. His answer was that yes, he did remain in contact with some people. But he felt that this was not necessarily always a good thing. Email exchanges, for [...]

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28
Jun
2009

Book give away: Ten Lessons from the Road – chapter 3

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Posted in 10 Lessons
Chapter 3 3- QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION (BUT FAILURE IS) Does a fear of failing prevent you from beginning things? If you quit, what will you do instead that is more rewarding? Congratulations! You’ve overcome the pessimism and inertia. You’re in motion. The hardest part is over. But getting out on the road and [...]

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26
Jun
2009

Photo Friday – Another one from Patagonia

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Posted in Photo Friday
DON’T MISS A THING – FREE MONTHLY UPDATE BY EMAIL: Have you read Alastair’s books? Also available for Kindle, iPad and children.
25
Jun
2009

Great cities…

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Posted in Uncategorized
Dipping into the archives: a few posts I like from this time last year: - The RGS lecture I gave broadcast as audio - Advice for the Antarctic - Great cities attract ambitious people DON’T MISS A THING – FREE MONTHLY UPDATE BY EMAIL: Have you read Alastair’s books? Also available for Kindle, iPad and [...]

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25
Jun
2009

The UK’s longest ever non-stop running race, the Thames Ring 250

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Posted in Best Bits, Marathons, Motivation, Running, slideshows
“There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, then perhaps for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less” – Kurt Hahn The UK’s longest ever non-stop running race is the Thames Ring 250. 250 miles, to be completed within 100 hours. [...]

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23
Jun
2009

Patrick Leigh Fermor

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Posted in Travel, Writing
Patrick Leigh Fermor is one of Britain's greatest travel writers
20
Jun
2009

This is your Everest

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Posted in Best Bits, Motivation
The most popular ever post on my blog was about Living with Lions,  the greatest sports movie ever. With the Lions Test series beginning today I decided to re-post it for anyone who missed it or needs help getting into the mood for the big match. Living with Lions gives a spine-tingling insight into what [...]

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19
Jun
2009

Photo Friday – Lago Gray

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Posted in Photo Friday
Each Friday on this blog I feature someone’s inspiring travel, adventure or expedition photo: Photo Friday. Hopefully it will get you in the mood for making the most of your weekend. If you have a Flickr photo that you would like to share please let me know, including the photo’s URL, plus a couple of [...]

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18
Jun
2009

How much junk in my life do I really need?

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Posted in Poetry, Ramblings
Lyrics from Waterfall by James: Watching too much TV I’m an actor in a puppet show. There’s so much stuff in my life, no room for me to grow. One day I’m going to break from my life – due south down to Mexico, I’m going to burn down my house it’s the only way [...]

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18
Jun
2009

Speaking at the Grassington Festival

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Posted in Speaking
I have just been putting together my slides for the talk I am giving at the Grassington Festival in Yorkshire on Sunday June 28th 2009 at 8pm. As well as being one of the most beautiful areas in England, Grassington has built a reputation for hosting one of northern England’s best festivals. I’m chuffed to [...]

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17
Jun
2009

For every journey, imagination only is needed

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Posted in Travel
I was reading, yesterday evening, a book of eulogies. I came across these words in the eulogy of the magnificent travel writer Freya Stark, given by Colin Thubron. “Some ten years ago I remember Freya Stark wondering what attributes people might carry with them into the afterlife. Would we take our compassion, she wondered, would [...]

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16
Jun
2009

Savour (or savor) your successes

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Posted in Cycling, Motivation, Ramblings
Reflections upon ending a journey by Kate Harris, perspicacious explorer, reader, writer and cyclist. “One thing I’m really going to miss is being the total dictator of my days. When you’re on a bike trip, nobody tells you where to be, what to be, who to be. You are challenged and pushed only as hard [...]

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15
Jun
2009

If the price of failure is so high, why take the risk?

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Posted in Best Bits, Expeditions, Motivation
Living hard and living fast. Living on the edge and living free. Living. The rewards are there, but so too is the risk. The risk that it goes wrong. Micah Dash, Jonny Copp and Wade Johnson died recently whilst climbing in China. They were young, talented, and so full of life that it killed them. [...]

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13
Jun
2009

On the urge to get away, get somewhere crazy

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Posted in Best Bits, Ramblings
“I felt the delicious thumping farewell refrain begin, flaying me from the chaffing skin of my London world of rehab, relapse, routine normality and unutterable boredom with the scalpel precision of a renowned plastic surgeon. I threw some clothes in to a bag, collected my sat-phone, cash, a flak jacket and a plane ticket from [...]

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12
Jun
2009

Photo Friday – Ice Rocks!

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Posted in Photo Friday
Each Friday on this blog I feature one of someone else’s inspiring travel, adventure or expedition photos: Photo Friday. Hopefully it will get you in the mood for making the most of your weekend. If you have a Flickr photo that you would like to share please let me know, including the photo’s URL, plus [...]

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11
Jun
2009

Encouragement

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Posted in Uncategorized
I’ve just put together a new page on the site which is a collection of blog writings aimed to encourage thought, debate and action. Check it out here. If you have found this post interesting could I suggest you subscribe to the blog via the RSS feed? DON’T MISS A THING – FREE MONTHLY UPDATE [...]

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09
Jun
2009

What I learnt on the plane

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Posted in Best Bits, Ramblings
During a ludicrous week-long round trip to Australia to give a single 45-minute talk I watched more TV on the plane than I would watch in a couple of months back home. During the weird but wonderful Antarctica documentary, Encounters at the End of the World, I grew more eager than ever to experience the [...]

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08
Jun
2009

Thalassa

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Posted in Poetry, Travel, Writing
Run out the boat, my broken comrades; Let the old seaweed crack, the surge Burgeon oblivious of the last Embarkation of feckless men, Let every adverse force converge- Here we must needs embark again. Run up the sail, my heartsick comrades; Let each horizon tilt and lurch- You know the worst: your wills are fickle, [...]

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05
Jun
2009

My list of the greatest adventurers

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Posted in Best Bits, Expeditions, Lists, Ramblings, Travel
I pondered briefly about criteria, categories etc. Then I decided instead to merely rattle off some of my heroes, in no order and with no justification.
05
Jun
2009

The grass is always greener

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Posted in Best Bits, Expeditions
A summary of how I feel. I love London when I’m in some far-flung land. I love the crazy wildernesses when I’m in London… “…When I was here, I wanted to be there. When I was there… all I could think of was getting back into the jungle. I’m here a week now. Waiting for [...]

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