Alastair Humphreys Adventurer | Author | Motivational Speaker

Top 10 memories from my adventures

And I hope when I get old I don’t sit around thinking about it
but I probably will,
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
a little of the glory. Well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing, mister, but
boring stories of glory days…
- Bruce Springsteen
One of the pleasures of adventure is nostalgia. Thinking back, flicking through photo [...]

How Google changed my life

My desk-bound work has evolved over the last couple of years until it is now almost entirely dependent on Google products. That they are not only suberb, simple and ubiquitous, but also free, is quite amazing!
I thought it may be of interest to give you an insight into how Google has transformed the way that [...]

What I learned from Innocent Smoothies

I really enjoyed reading Innocent Smoothies’ latest book, the account of their development and some of the lessons they have learned along the way. I met some of the Innocent team at last year’s Do Lectures and was very impressed with their ethos.
It taught me lots about ethical business, and gave me stacks of [...]

I lived a full life and one that was my own choice

Go as a pilgrim and seek out danger
far from the comfort
and the well lit avenues of life.
Pit your every soul against the unknown
and seek stimulation in the comfort of the brave.
Experience cold, hunger, heat and thirst
and survive to see
another challenge
and another dawn.
Only then will you be at peace
with yourself
and be able to know and to [...]

How was your year?

How was your year? How did 2009 treat you? How did you treat it?
It’s important today to look forwards, to aim bigger and better for 2010.
But my New Year’s resolution this time last year was to take a photograph every day in 2009. Looking back through my pictures I am amazed that I [...]

Make a resolution today, for the rest of the year

There are now only 10 days to go until the end of 2009.
Did you keep your New Year’s resolution?
Did you keep your End of Year resolution?
Today, don’t worry if you failed them all!
Today, set yourself a resolution that you will stick to for the rest of the year. A resolution that you will keep [...]

Beachcombing at Miramar

“I’ve been walking the sands of Miramar for a full year now, and during that time I’ve met many people who say they would like to become a beachcomber like me. They view it as the easiest job in the world. They think all it takes is the proper garb: white canvas pants rolled up [...]

Reasons to travel or not to travel

I remember sitting on top of the Simplon Pass in the Alps. The view was fabulous, the world lay all before me. I loved my life on the road. I was good at it, it was comfortable and -at long last- I was earning a few hundred quid here and there with the occasional published [...]

A day in the life of an Author / Adventurer / Motivational Speaker / Big Kid

An insight into my life:
Write India book and eat biscuits on train.

Arrive at speaking venue. Find toilets to get changed in. (Disabled ones are better: bigger and rarely used, therefore nice and clean)

Emerge looking like Bond.

Tuck into free swanky meal at International Business Forum. Exercise restraint on free booze.
Slug back strong black coffee.
Try best to [...]

The reward? A drink of water

This short post continues my series of searching for explanations of what drives people to challenge themselves physically and mentally through journeys, challenges, races, expeditions and adventures.
I have been re-reading Thesiger recently, and he has this to say,
For years the Empty Quarter had represented to me the final, unattainable challenge which the desert offered. [...]