Category Archives: Travel

23
Aug
2010

On the new craze of riding round the world as fast as you possibly can.

21 comments
Posted in Cycling, Expeditions, RoundTheWorldByBike, Travel
“Ah, it was a fine night, a warm night, a wine-drinking night, a moony night, and a night to hug your girl and talk and spit and be heaven going. This we did” – Jack Kerouac A common question in my talks is “what do you think of Mark Beaumont’s ride?” Last night, to [...]

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18
Aug
2010

A snapshot of a wandering wildman.

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Posted in Travel, Writing
Back in the spring I gave a corporate motivational talk in Mallorca. As well as the usual smart clothes and laptop for my presentation, I also packed a bivvy bag. The night of my talk I stayed in a very smart hotel. The next morning I filled my pockets from the breakfast buffet, checked out, [...]

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06
Aug
2010

PK Friday: why do people go on expeditions?

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Posted in Expeditions, MicroAdventure, Pecha Kucha, Speaking, Travel
At the recent Night of Adventure I attempted to explain what lures me on to the next adventure.
27
Jul
2010

Pedals and Paddles – the final part

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Posted in RoundTheWorldByBike, Travel
Fortunately the Yukon is an easy place to get hold of things like 16ft canoes. We loaded our bikes into the canoe and set to paddling with gusto. For the next 10 days we would be far from road or rescue with no phone to call for help. It felt very liberating. After the canoeing we climbed back [...]

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26
Jul
2010

How to be a modern Vagabond

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Posted in Travel
Rolf Potts has reported from more than fifty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, the New York Times Magazine, and the Travel Channel. A veteran travel columnist, his adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel [...]

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25
Jul
2010

Pedals and Paddles – part II

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Posted in Travel, Writing
I was only two weeks down the road on my way from Yorkshire to Sydney when the attacks of September 11, 2001 shook America. Suddenly war was declared and my scenic ride through Afghanistan no longer seemed like such a fun idea. So when I reached Istanbul, instead of carrying straight on towards Australia, I [...]

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21
Jul
2010

Travel advice from Dervla Murphy

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Posted in Lists, Travel
A wonderful list from the opinionated (but cool) travel writer Dervla Murphy. Click here to read it in full. The individual traveller’s “age of adventure” has long since been ended by “S&T” (science and technology: an abbreviation that dates me). Now our planet’s few remaining undeveloped expanses are accessible only to well-funded expeditions protected by mobile [...]

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20
Jul
2010

Pedals and Paddles – part III

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Posted in RoundTheWorldByBike, Travel
‘Land ahoy!’ At long last South America edged above the horizon and into view. Excitement rippled among us, all craning for a better view on the starboard side of the boat. My first thought was, ‘wow, it’s hilly!’ as I switched seamlessly back into cyclist mentality once again. I was excited to see folds of rock and [...]

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06
Jul
2010

Pedals and Paddles – part I

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Posted in Travel, Writing
Over the next four weeks I am serialising a chapter I wrote for a Lonely Planet book a while ago. I hope you enjoy it as a chunk of old-fashioned vicarious travel writing and a break from the usual blog-fayre of soundbites. Get a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits and enjoy… “At times [...]

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24
Jun
2010

A Traverse of the Northern Alps – mountaineering and cycling

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Posted in Travel
Patagonia make fabulous audio slideshows documenting various adventures. There is a great account of Maxime Turgeon’s crossing of the northern Alps. He travels very, very light. He cycles between the mountains that he climbs. Unfortunately the Patagonia website is quite annoying so I cannot embed his tale here. But if you click here and then click [...]

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