Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to come along to the pub last night to share stories and advice on journeys and adventures large and small. About 90 people were there so many apologies if I did not have time to speak to you personally. It was great to hear of so many journeys and escapes being plotted.
I hope that everyone managed to connect with people they could learn from. Perhaps if you are planning a trip you could mention it in the comments, say what you need help with, and give your own expedition site a shameless plug!
Alistair,
It was a fantastic night – thank you for bringing together such a cool bunch of people. I am not planning anything just yet, but I spent a year living in the jungle in Papua New Guinea if anyone needs advice on that! (Unlikely!)
Thanks for sharing your advice on the Stans with us. We leave in April so not long now! We don’t have a website to plug – its still on the To Do list!!!
Left the pub last night having met quite a few like minded people. Shared some stuff, learnt some stuff. I even told of my walk home from the pub. Which I finished about 20 minutes ago, I can’t feel my fingers and my legs almost gave up with a mile to go, but I did it, I have o idea how but I did.
Thanks again Alastair
Great to chat to people and hear about some amazing trips (18 months any which way from the UK to Japan on bike – http://www.oiooio.cc) and online facebook-esk idea for linking us crazy folk with sponsors, other like minded peeps, random challenges, and what not – If I remember correctly keep an eye out for http://www.braveto.co.uk this summer – Sorry John, didn’t catch your last name but it sounded a wicked idea.
Shameless plug begins…. August 2011 I’m going to be running from Perth to Sydney in 66 days or less (http://www.runoz.com) for charity. If anyone can offer advice about approaching companies for sponsorship that would be of great help….
Big thanks to Alastair for setting it all up – unfortunately I didn’t get to speak to you but we did have a very important question (which prompted much debate last night) – what would you rather be; a pirate or a ninja?
Ninja. Every time.
A couple of sites from people there last night:
http://www.big5kayakchallenge.com
http://www.steveblethyn.co.uk
http://www.alexhibbert.com
http://www.travellingtwo.com
Last night was great even better than our previous attempt to attend on 09 Feb when we got the date wrong.
As we set off in 10 days headed across Europe, Russia, China and Asia, it was wonderful to learn we aren’t the only people crazy enough to think cycling for months on end constitutes a fun adventure.
Our website is up now and getting regular tweets, blogs, photos and gear reviews http://www.rolling-tales.com.
Ninja for sure!
Thanks to Alastair for organising the evening and presenting a motivating “Do lecture” in 2009 that encouraged me through last few weeks of hectic planning.
It was great to meet some pretty inspiring people last night and have a good old chinwag about dreams both pending and imagined. I’m setting off on a 4(ish) year bike tour in July and am ready to go apart from needing a bike. If anyone has a contact at a bike company or has had particular success with getting sponsored a bike then please email me on emailcharliewalker@yahoo.com
My website is http://www.charliewalkerexplore.co.uk
Cheers
Charlie
p.s. it’s got to be a pirate.
Q. Why are pirates called pirates?
A. Becasue they aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgh!
Realyy great chatting to people sharing the same wide eyed fantasies that I have about doing a big trip! got some great info some people too, thanks alot alistair for organising a very informative and useful event!
Me and my mate julian are planning on cycling London to Kathmandu in September, we have a blog http://lonkat.wordpress.com any advice on preparation and raising money would be very welcome!
cheers
Yarr! Pirates rule – terrible joke though :) Take the question on your travels, it’ll be like a viral campaign…
There’s some good advice Mark Kalch posted on his website today about sponsorship:
http://www.markkalch.com/2010/03/sponsorship-proposals-roi/
Hope you do again so I can attend this time instead of being stuck at work!
Hi Alistair, great meeting, should make it a monthly gathering of the Iron Duke Club perhaps. Would you be able to publish the list of emails addresses you made. There were a couple of people I wanted to get in touch with again.
Thanks
Was a good evening indeed. Steve, I chatted to you about your “walk home from the pub” and am still astonished. At least I get to freewheel every now and again!
A wonderful night – so glad we were in London and able to join in the fun. Thanks for organizing it!
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