Its been 2 weeks since I got to Capetown and I think it's time to update this blog again.
Now I'm home, everyone is pleased to see me and asks me "how was your trip". It's a simple question - yet the answer is complex. The words "good" and "fantastic" even "awesome" come out of my mouth - and even though I'm not lying, I know these words don't come close to being accurate. How can riding your bike over massive corrugation in 50 degree heat possibly be "good"? It's not - its hard work!!! There were times when my legs were tired, my bum was sore, times where we went up to 9 days in between proper showers.
But the people we meet, the experiences shared, the feeling of satisfaction as we conquered a tough day in the saddle… these are what make the trip what it is. It was a huge personal challenge, it was a journey as much about cycling, culture and landscapes as a journey of self discovery.
I was asked to speak at my scout group AGM (as the person to entice everyone to actually come along to the AGM!). I sat down at my computer to write my speech - and I didn't know where to begin. Ithink that was even harder - to put our journey into words to an audience that wasn't there, than to simply cover the required kilometres for a day.
We went through so many exciting moments that I could only pick out a few to share.
People expect riding a bicycle across Africa would be a life changing experience. I’m still the same person, and the world back home is still the same. Nothing has changed yet I see everything in a different light.
People ask me what I’m going to do next – and I don’t know the answer. I had my life back home set up so that I could come back to it and everything would be the same. But I know I don’t want this. I don’t want this to be the end of a great journey. I want it to be the start of the next adventure.
My eyes have been opened and I don’t want to close them. I’m looking around at all the possibilities – and there are seriously a lot out there!
One of my favourite quotes is something a Mark Twain once said:
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The journeys end
We got into Capetown yesterday and had a pretty over the top welcome! I can't believe how fast the last few days have past. I'm feeling weird. Excited and sad at the same time.
I haven't updated this blog in such a long time that I don't know where to start - I think there's been one or two opportunities but they were both on long pedalling days and I had time between getting into camp and our rider meeting to either do internet or yoga with Erin... Yoga won - I needed to stretch!
So Namibia, apart from being a great country to experience the feeling of riding naked in (due to very few people) was perhaps one of my favourite countries to bike through - although each country is so diverse that it is hard to say which I like the most!!! The landscape was unlike anything I had ever seen before, but hard to describe. Beautiful yellow grass and nice little hills. And Mitch and I always prefer the dirt to the pavement.
The riding through South Africa was less exciting and has been more about just getting to the end.
Dad says from reading everyone elses blog that everyone else seems to be reflecting at this stage and I admit I have been purposefully avoiding it, as there's people at work that might be reading this blog and I haven't been so keen to go back.
The "what next?" is constantly on my mind and something I think about quite often as I pedal along. Since arriving in Maun, Botswana I suddenly decided that I didn't really want to return to 9B, the medical ward at the MAH. I miss working and having something to think about - and have especially noticed it in the last 3 weeks. The thought of going back to showers, bedpans, and changing pads is not something I want to be doing forever. And I know if I returned that its too easy to just get back into the old swing of life, get back into the old comfort zone. But then I thought that it would be nice to have an income again soon after I got back so I told my boss that I was still keen to come back. I am however thankful that he has finally emailed me back and basically told me that he's got too many staff at the moment and I would have to be redistributed to another part of the hospital... But the thought of being unemployed and starting something new really excites me. Suddenly I'm unemployed and I don't think anyone else has been so excited about being unemployed before! "What next" for me means going back home for a few weeks at least, and then finding a new job in an emergency department. I don't know where - maybe Hobart or Alice Springs I'm thinking. Or Darwin. The plan is to apply everywhere and see what comes up.
Anyhow, there's more to write but I'm out of time - I'm meeting up with some friends to walk up to the top of Table Mountain watch the sunset and have a picnic.
Happy Mothers Day Mum! Look forward to seeing you and Dad and Janey on THURSDAY!!!!
I haven't updated this blog in such a long time that I don't know where to start - I think there's been one or two opportunities but they were both on long pedalling days and I had time between getting into camp and our rider meeting to either do internet or yoga with Erin... Yoga won - I needed to stretch!
So Namibia, apart from being a great country to experience the feeling of riding naked in (due to very few people) was perhaps one of my favourite countries to bike through - although each country is so diverse that it is hard to say which I like the most!!! The landscape was unlike anything I had ever seen before, but hard to describe. Beautiful yellow grass and nice little hills. And Mitch and I always prefer the dirt to the pavement.
The riding through South Africa was less exciting and has been more about just getting to the end.
Dad says from reading everyone elses blog that everyone else seems to be reflecting at this stage and I admit I have been purposefully avoiding it, as there's people at work that might be reading this blog and I haven't been so keen to go back.
The "what next?" is constantly on my mind and something I think about quite often as I pedal along. Since arriving in Maun, Botswana I suddenly decided that I didn't really want to return to 9B, the medical ward at the MAH. I miss working and having something to think about - and have especially noticed it in the last 3 weeks. The thought of going back to showers, bedpans, and changing pads is not something I want to be doing forever. And I know if I returned that its too easy to just get back into the old swing of life, get back into the old comfort zone. But then I thought that it would be nice to have an income again soon after I got back so I told my boss that I was still keen to come back. I am however thankful that he has finally emailed me back and basically told me that he's got too many staff at the moment and I would have to be redistributed to another part of the hospital... But the thought of being unemployed and starting something new really excites me. Suddenly I'm unemployed and I don't think anyone else has been so excited about being unemployed before! "What next" for me means going back home for a few weeks at least, and then finding a new job in an emergency department. I don't know where - maybe Hobart or Alice Springs I'm thinking. Or Darwin. The plan is to apply everywhere and see what comes up.
Anyhow, there's more to write but I'm out of time - I'm meeting up with some friends to walk up to the top of Table Mountain watch the sunset and have a picnic.
Happy Mothers Day Mum! Look forward to seeing you and Dad and Janey on THURSDAY!!!!
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Namibian Nude Mile
It had to be done.
And Erin and I had to out do the boys.
So we ride a full 10km completely naked instead of just one mile (1.6km).
And then another 27km topless.
Namibia has been an awesome country - maybe even my favourite TDA country. Nice dirt to ride on, not many cars (hence the nudity).
The internet place is about to close so I can't finish this entry today but its been ages since I've posted an update so here it is - will update again ASAP!
And Erin and I had to out do the boys.
So we ride a full 10km completely naked instead of just one mile (1.6km).
And then another 27km topless.
Namibia has been an awesome country - maybe even my favourite TDA country. Nice dirt to ride on, not many cars (hence the nudity).
The internet place is about to close so I can't finish this entry today but its been ages since I've posted an update so here it is - will update again ASAP!
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