140 Days Remaining

With it getting closer an closer until we set off on the rally, we need to get somemore things sorted, ultimately this leads to a mountain of paperwork, the visa's for all the countries is interesting, there's no reason why we should be declined but if we don't get it sorted soon then it'll be one almighty rush!

The adventurists are meant to provide a magic visa sorting service but as yet we haven't heard anything, so bring on the paperwork!

There's an adventurists tea party in the 7th March for our American brothers across the pond. Not many details have been set, well really only the date and city so far, but I've managed to get cheap flights over there for a week to meet the other teams and have a bit of fun. I've managed to organize another night out over there with the rolling cones, who have a team member living there, so that should take the hassel of finding places out of the equation. Also Mike has decided to join me on this mini adventure, so I'm sure we'll be able to tear up New York for those few nights. The hotel I've booked is an eclectic mix of traditional motel with live-in residents and the set of several films scenes over the years so once again should be interesting. It cheap cheerful & you share bathrooms, watch this space on my verdicts...

We're slowly adding more sponsors to our ranks, but as always not as fast as we'd like, ideally we want to be able to cover everywhere but the windows with sponsorship stickers, so we'll have too wait an see how that pans out.

In terms of media coverage we haven't done too bad to date, I've arrange articles and interviews, but all for regional media outlets, nothing on a national scale has materialized unfortunately as yet.

I have been in regular contact with Jen from the Mercy Corps, she's been really helpful in Organising press releases as well as plenty of mercy corps branded merchandise, we've got enough stickers, badges etc. To sink the titanic!

The car is running great, other than me being the lucky one to push as Paul wheelspan it out from a muddy patch during the latest photo session. I've decided that we have to at the very least take a couple of planks of wood to help the tires out of sticky situations!

All in all things are going well.

As always I'll keep you all upto date with our latest adventures!

Ane Brun

Ane Brun 057/365
Originally uploaded by Anika :)

From this day forth any gig I attend is going to have to prove itself beyond anything you can imagine. I have this evening just witnessed the best live performer to date. This messiah of lyrical talent falls under the name of Ane Brun, a musical goddess in its most elemental form. Hand in hand her charm and eloquence were matched by the venue; its cold stone walls were contrasted by the warm up lighters and the natural eminence of the talent that occupied its voids. Ane's diamonds as she called them were three beautiful and talented ladies, emitting an unquantifiable pleasure and playfulness.
The multi coloured luminaires hung within the Union Chapel caused a beautiful array of refracted colours to shine from the likes of her guitar, visually contributing to the emotive warmth.
Teitur & Ellie Goulding accompanied Ane & her diamonds, each bringing their own flavour to the nights events. Ellie started things off, she was a little nervous due to inexperience, but as soon as she released her lyrics she settled straight in to the set.
Teitur was a joy to listen to, but more interesting at some points was his movements, as if he was itching to crawl out of his skin; this was completely contrary to his musical & vocal talents which we a great blend in the evenings mass.
All in all an amazing nights entertainment.

145 Days remaining....

IMG_0288
Originally uploaded by pezz361356

Yesterday we had a photographer from the Kent Messenger meet us for some off road photos. The local golf course let us take the car around some of their unused land, which all went well, only had to dig the car out of the mud once, I ended up being the lucky one who had to push as Paul wheel span the car through the mud.

So after striking poses for our fans, hopefully the article will be in next week’s edition. When the photos are available I’ll upload them to the team site etc...

In the meantime I’m left planning the potential travels after we complete the rally. I can’t quite decide what I want to do the most yet, but it’s boiling down to perhaps a couple of months of further travelling. I’d like to “do” Australia & New Zealand, but I’m not sure that 2 months is really enough time to do everything I want to, so an alternative option would be to take the trans-Mongolia train from Ulaanbaatar through China, stopping off somewhere like Shanghai then taking a ferry over to Japan and scoping out the main island. Then perhaps taking the trans-Siberian railway back, from Vladivostok to Moscow and training it through Europe from there.

So basically I have plenty of decision making, planning and soul searching left to do before the summer of adventure begins.

PP

Back on track

Right, for those who don't know this summer on the 18th July, I shall be setting off on a little adventure known as the Mongol Rally all in the name of charity! The afore mentioned charity is the Mercy Corps, they do some great work around the world so well worth the effort.

I've mustered up a couple of allies for the road, both being equally unaware of the adventure that lies ahead of us. So all in all, this should amount to some life lessons, stories for the grand children, huge arguments and a whole heap of fun!

Essentially we are undertaking an 8-10 thousand mile drive from Goodwood race circuit on the south coast of England, through countries such as the Czech Republic, Russia, Kazakhstan and ultimately arriving at the capital of Mongolia - Ulan Bator.

But not to tarnish this lovely undertaking in anyway, we’ve also committed to travel in a 993cc Suzuki Swift, this red beast from the east, will be our chariot, and the simple aim of the adventure is to raise a minimum of £1,000 for the Mercy Corps whilst having a whole heap full of fun!

So until that faithful date arrives in July, there’s things that must be done. We’ve obviously got the car sorted; we still need to get visas for every leg of the journey, insurance and petrol money among other things.

Corporate sponsors would be ideal to help us achieve this goal, so we’ve got an information pack together to send to potential sponsors.

So that is where we stand at the moment with only 146 days remaining.

Take care,

PP