I really enjoyed Mark Kalch’s talk at the RGS tonight about his journey from the source to the mouth of the Amazon.
It was a good old ripping adventure. Mates doing something together simply because they wanted to do it.
I particularly enjoyed Mark’s final slide when he attempted to articulate the question that people always seem to feel needs explaining: “why?”
Mark’s answer was to quote Burton:

“One of the gladdest moments in human life is the departing upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of routine, the slavery of civilisation, man feels once more happy. The blood flows with the fast circulation of youth, excitement gives a new vigour to the muscles and a sense of sudden freedom adds an inch to the stature.”

Or, to repeat last week’s blog:

“Why? There is no why.”