Shouting from my shed

Get the latest news, updates and happenings via my shed-based newsletter.

 

Shouting from the Shed: Volume 8

A Short Adventure Film I Made: a while back I wrote about my trip to Vegas and Utah. I travel the world for many things: looking for the spectacular; to be surprised; to stand in wonder and stare at wonders. I’mve tried to capture all this big stuff in just two short minutes of film. Optimistic?

One of the Best Running Articles I’mve read in yonks: training for a 100-mile run is quite interesting. Entering a 100-mile race is impressive. But what about if the race is cancelled but you decide to run it anyway, with only your mum and dad cheering you on?! Magnificent.

An Outdoorsy Podcast I Enjoy: In the world of podcasts, the Dirtbag Diaries is positively ancient. They are able to get away with saying things like ‘rad’ that I could never pull off. But I’mve enjoyed dipping in and out to their coverage of adventure, environmentalism, and life in the outdoors for years. The recent episode is an ode to mediocrity (which pleases me), and a challenge to make 2018 the year of big ideas. I have enjoyed being interviewed by them twice, once about turning adventure ideas into action, and once in an incongruous pairing of microadventures and sufferthons!

An Instagram (and Facebook) Account to Cheer You Up: When I was 15, I cycled off-road across England with two friends. It was hard. Things went wrong (the pic above shows us phenomenally lost, on the summit of Great Gable – England’s 10th highest mountain.) And, needless to say, it was brilliant. One of us grew up to become a detective. One of us grew up to run a ham-fisted newsletter from a shed. And the other did not grow up. Enter SuperCyclingMan
When my friend Will set off to cycle round the world dressed as a superhero, I confess to thinking
“you’re middle aged and balding” [both touchy subjects best not mentioned in an email to 25,000 people] – you look ridiculous.
And there is no doubt that he does.
BUT, I have really enjoyed Will’s lighthearted journey that continually shows the world in a positive, fun way, and is really focussed on inspiring kids along the way.

Some Writing from my Blog: I searched in my blog archive for something topical to share today. Why this excerpt from walking across India popped up under ‘Easter’ I have no idea (a recurring theme). But I liked it, so here it is…

‘œAnd again there are mornings when ecstasy bubbles in the blood, and the stomach and chest are tight and electric with joy.’ ‘“ John Steinbeck


The water in the emerald paddy fields glints as I walk. A confetti of butterflies flutters in the air. The roadside palms are painted in black and white checks. I enter a village with music blaring from speakers rigged on bamboo poles. I always like places that play music out loud (it’s quite common in parts of Eastern Europe, China and Latin America), even in the countries where it’s done with Orwellian undertones.

This feels like a happy town, a happy morning, except, I guess, for the goat who is about to be butchered on the roadside. I stop to watch. The knife is sharp and swift and one elegant slice ends the goat. How fragile, life! So very easy to die. So final. Is this a beautiful, musical morning to die? Or so beautiful and musical that the thought of death feels too sad to bear?

The goat is dead. It lies in the dust. There is very little blood. The butcher works swiftly, turning the animal into joints of meat. His customers wait patiently. I am fascinated by the neat and tidy compartments of organs inside the goat that had, until moments before, been working magically well.

Morning on the road is about the satisfaction of committing to action. Of being in motion and not yet demoralised or tired. The nerves have passed. It’s a positive time of day. Everything is still fresh. It is up to me to fill this day. I picture what I would be doing back home and what my friends might be doing right now. I’mm glad to be out here (as opposed to later in the day when I’mm longing for home and an easy life).

I am rarely without company. People always want to talk to me, to find out about this strange Englishman walking briefly through their lives. I walk from one identical conversation to the next. Why don’t you take a bus? Do you know Freddy Flintoff? Every day I see children playing cricket in the fields, the pitch scratched out on a patch of flat earth. They are always delighted if I stop to join their game.

‘œEngland against India!’ I declare as the boys squabble over who will bowl at me first.

I am still cheerful and energetic enough to greet everyone I pass. I always say ‘œgood morning’ to children in English, as I know they have learned at least this much in school. They might as well put it into practise for the first, and perhaps only, time in their life. A conversation usually follows that is identical across the non-English-speaking world.

Me: ‘œGood morning.’
Child: ‘œGood morning.’
Me: ‘œHow are you?’
Child: ‘œI am fine.’
Me: ‘œI am fine too. Goodbye.’
Child: ‘œGoodbye.’

I walk on, followed by giggles and incredulous gasps.

I pause at a water pump and wash my hands and face. I clank the long metal handle and dunk my head beneath the gushing burst of water. The day’s heat is beginning to build and I shiver at the delicious coldness of the water. The water runs down my face and neck, wetting my clothes. The sun will bake them dry again only too soon. I fill my broad-brimmed hat with water and up-end it on my head. I fill my bottles with enough water to get me to the next village and walk on.

Rooks caw and swirl above me. A funeral is taking place. The whole road from the home to the burial site, shaded beneath three gnarled trees, is strewn with yellow, orange and pink flowers. ‘œFuneral processions clatter Down streets with drums and rose-petals, Dancing death into deafness.’

The task now is simple: blast out as many miles as I can manage before it gets too hot. I am earning my lunch break. The river teases me, tempting me to swim. But a combination of crocodiles, pollution and my impatient obsession with ticking off miles dissuades me. I snatch occasional respite in scraps of shade. After a few more hours I am beginning to suffer.

The first negative thoughts creep in. I miss home. I feel a hint of annoyance that every vehicle or moped beeps at me, even on these rural lanes. That every time I pause a cluster gathers to stare and snigger and ask the same questions I’mve been asked a million times before. I ask why I’mm putting myself through this, a question I’mve asked myself a million times before.

It feels like a taking up of the strain, a satisfying stiffening of the challenge, like cranking up the treadmill pace a notch or two. The exercise in masochistic suffering has begun.

* – an interesting footnote: writing all this the second time was far easier than it was the first time. Much like getting out the door to make your first adventure happen…

 

If you enjoy this newsletter, please will you forward it to a friend or five?

I enjoy hearing all your feedback on my newsletters (and on my books, blogs etc.). Just hit ‘reply’ and I’mll get your message.

Cheers!

Alastair

alastairhumphreys.com

Twitter: @al_humphreys

Instagram: @al_humphreys

YouTube Channel

Alastair Humphreys is an Adventurer, Author and Motivational Speaker.

Read Comments

You might also like

10500 Days (and almost as many words) “My thoughts first turned to adventure 10,500 days ago today. The idea of adventure for me at first was simple and uncomplicated. It was the prospect of excitement, fun, and novelty that were pulling me forward, and the push of […]...
Survey results: What direction shall I go next? I recently asked the wonderful readers of my newsletter for a bit of advice on what things I should focus my attention on for the next few months and years. I thought I’d share the results here, partly to show […]...
Embracing the Adventurous Spirit in Life and Leadership In the journey of life, we often find ourselves at crossroads, contemplating the path less traveled versus the familiar road. Drawing parallels from a life dedicated to adventure, we can extract profound lessons that not only motivate us but also […]...
 

Comments

  1. Adrian Posted

    In a similar vein to the cancelled 100 mile run; last year the inaugural Indian Pacific Wheel Race was held across Australia. Sadly Mike Hall was killed in a collision with a car. This year the race was to be held, but was cancelled almost at the last minute. Many riders still took part, riding the course they’d trained for. Many more watched and followed online

    Reply

 
 

Post a Comment

HTML tags you can use: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

 

Shouting from my shed

Get the latest news, updates and happenings via my shed-based newsletter.

© Copyright 2012 – 2018 Alastair Humphreys. All rights reserved.

Site design by JSummertonBuilt by Steve Perry Creative