I find myself spending the odd hour or two scattered throught the day thinking about this trip. it gives me so much joy that it concerns me if it wasnt to eventuate. it concerns me that this is all just a lovley idea that my mind is consuming to keep it busy. Will this ever eventuate, or will it just be a short term fad. my greatest fear is that this is just an obsession. i get upset with people that are obsessed about things, but i'm probably one of them. I'm sure cassie has had enough of me just randomly commenting throuout the day. for example 'its no different shaving in cold water'. might seem like an innocent thing to say, but i really mean 'it'll be cool shaving in cold water in a streem in mongolia' one a day seems reasonable, if not anoying... but im sure every second word out of my mouth is somewhat related.
mabye this diary will form a good outlet for this obsession without anoying others. its odd though, we find people that are quite normal. a gent i work with has just returned from a bird watching trip in NZ. turns out he went with a few likeminded people and thats all they did. mabye im not so bad afterall. i just don't want all this joy to either anoy others or dissapear down the drain and refer to the humdrum of life.
if it serves no purpose than to occupy my mind, bring me joy, help me organise my work life better and save money... can it really be that bad?
this whole article has been written with my right hand as my left is sore,
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday cleaning spree
As it goes, Sundays are typically spent cleaning. Well I thought time to get serious - either this car is going to get us round the world, or we're going to need another one. Because I am a cheap a$$, I decided that this one is perfectly fine for the job, and so far, this is the one we will use.
We cleaned from top to bottom, scrubbed rims, vacumed, clean glass, engine bay, inside the doors, all the dash.... even down to removing the built up finger dirt residue that accumulated beside the bumps on the indicator stalk.
Tomorow it's going in to have it's alternator repaired/replaced, and a new rear universal joint. Both of which are beyond a joke. The car vibrates, tinks clatters and clanks when driving.
The alternator noise was funny to begin with, it sounded like a supercharger. now it's just a horrible bearing grinding noise. Afterwoods I intend to get the tire repaired, and a wheel alignment and it should be a great car.
The sad thing is, it's not the first time this alternator has been repaired. I suspect it's spent too many days swimming... and after the zealous cleaning effort today, the days of driving up rivers, and through bogs may be cut to none. the odd slippery patch of clay is ok, but no more swimming.
It's interesting how goals work. Prior to now, I would have continued to make decisions that would have ultimatly lead to us not been able to go. IE. spend money, ruin cars etc. It's only with goals that everything has perspective.
My left hand is aching so I might limit the blog to this point now.
We cleaned from top to bottom, scrubbed rims, vacumed, clean glass, engine bay, inside the doors, all the dash.... even down to removing the built up finger dirt residue that accumulated beside the bumps on the indicator stalk.
Tomorow it's going in to have it's alternator repaired/replaced, and a new rear universal joint. Both of which are beyond a joke. The car vibrates, tinks clatters and clanks when driving.
The alternator noise was funny to begin with, it sounded like a supercharger. now it's just a horrible bearing grinding noise. Afterwoods I intend to get the tire repaired, and a wheel alignment and it should be a great car.
The sad thing is, it's not the first time this alternator has been repaired. I suspect it's spent too many days swimming... and after the zealous cleaning effort today, the days of driving up rivers, and through bogs may be cut to none. the odd slippery patch of clay is ok, but no more swimming.
It's interesting how goals work. Prior to now, I would have continued to make decisions that would have ultimatly lead to us not been able to go. IE. spend money, ruin cars etc. It's only with goals that everything has perspective.
My left hand is aching so I might limit the blog to this point now.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
OK - What is this
Hello. At this stage this blog is a way for us to record our thoughts, feelings, ideas and concerns for an epic adventure we will be embarking on in the year 2012. At this stage, this is more like a diary so I don't imagine much of this will go live.
Why so early? Because it's going to be expensive, difficult and our lives are going to have to be setup just so to pull this off. This tool will also be an excellent way of documenting the planing, and the trip.
OK - What is it?
We plan, to drive from London UK, to Magadan in far eastern Russia. In case you think this sounds familiar, it's because it was done on Long Way Round in 2004 by Ewan McGreggor & Charley Boorman.
Why:
You may ask why would anyone want to drive that kind of distance, through countries that don't seem that interesting? Well, you know sometimes, you see something, hear something and there's just something that grabs you. Brian Tracy once coined this as 'your hearts desire'. That thing that you know you would always want to do, but be afraid to attempt. A thing that always calls to you like distant music'... well that's it. As soon as I saw the Long Way Round programme I was intrigued but in the same vain, a bit disappointed that me, among most people in life, never get to do what they really dream.
I couldn't envisage any way that I would ever be able to achieve such an epic feat. But amazingly enough, the more people you listen to, will tell you that it's not necessary, it's a waste of money, it's a waste of time and fundamentally why would you want to? Well I don't know - but I think it will be worth it.
We are going to come up against lots of nay-sayers that for thier own reasons would not like to see people do what they want in life.
With this in mind I could either become bitter at missed opportunities or make some.
I continually refer to another piece of wisdom. 'Live every day as if you may die tomorrow, but also that you will live a hundred years. If you can hold these two thoughts simultaneously this is the essence of zen.' For a young person, I am continually torn between celebrating youth with numerous toys and holidays, or saving for a longer future, where I can enjoy freedom in old age.
Consider that one day, you may wake up in hospital with a disability, or just having left it too late, or just limited yourself with debt or commitments... ultimatly leaving you with no chance of doing the things you dreamed of. Would regret feature strongly in your thoughts?
I will post more later.
Why so early? Because it's going to be expensive, difficult and our lives are going to have to be setup just so to pull this off. This tool will also be an excellent way of documenting the planing, and the trip.
OK - What is it?
We plan, to drive from London UK, to Magadan in far eastern Russia. In case you think this sounds familiar, it's because it was done on Long Way Round in 2004 by Ewan McGreggor & Charley Boorman.
Why:
You may ask why would anyone want to drive that kind of distance, through countries that don't seem that interesting? Well, you know sometimes, you see something, hear something and there's just something that grabs you. Brian Tracy once coined this as 'your hearts desire'. That thing that you know you would always want to do, but be afraid to attempt. A thing that always calls to you like distant music'... well that's it. As soon as I saw the Long Way Round programme I was intrigued but in the same vain, a bit disappointed that me, among most people in life, never get to do what they really dream.
I couldn't envisage any way that I would ever be able to achieve such an epic feat. But amazingly enough, the more people you listen to, will tell you that it's not necessary, it's a waste of money, it's a waste of time and fundamentally why would you want to? Well I don't know - but I think it will be worth it.
We are going to come up against lots of nay-sayers that for thier own reasons would not like to see people do what they want in life.
With this in mind I could either become bitter at missed opportunities or make some.
I continually refer to another piece of wisdom. 'Live every day as if you may die tomorrow, but also that you will live a hundred years. If you can hold these two thoughts simultaneously this is the essence of zen.' For a young person, I am continually torn between celebrating youth with numerous toys and holidays, or saving for a longer future, where I can enjoy freedom in old age.
Consider that one day, you may wake up in hospital with a disability, or just having left it too late, or just limited yourself with debt or commitments... ultimatly leaving you with no chance of doing the things you dreamed of. Would regret feature strongly in your thoughts?
I will post more later.
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