G’day everybody!
You are possibly thinking ‘who is this person’? Granted, it has been some time since I updated this blog with anything of substantial magnitute. Rejoice, as the time for blogging slackness is over, as my life in London is rapidly drawing to a close. I’m about to hit the road again, which means that Foreign Correspondent will once again be coming to life, bringing you all the latest of my travels and adventures!
NEWS FLASH
So what exactly is going on? For months now, the entire world has been rife with rumour and speculation about what the F.C. has been concieving. The fate of nations hangs in the balance; the movers and shakers of the world’s economy await with baited breath; tomato growers and bull farmers and breweries throughout the E.U. bicker and fight; fragile treaties of war-torn Balkan and Middle-Eastern nations strain under the pressure and their spy networks fail to crack the magnitude of the plot. What will be the F.C.’s coup de grâce for Europe?
The global frenzy is understandable I guess, since only two years have past from when my initial arrival in the United Kingdom first catapulted the world into Global Financial Crisis. Such is the volatility of the world economy right now, major currencies rise and fall faster than an English housewife’s mood. London’s City bankers wallow in their forlorn attempts to predict my next move. If only they knew the truth – the exact location as to where my travels would lead – then possibly they could restore stability and order to the world’s banking system. Alas, it has not been public knowledge as to which country would be next in line to benefit from the opening of the F.C.’s wallet – and it’s enormous economy-saving beer budget. Until now.
Fear not citizens of earth, for today – the plan is revealed. Let the speculation and frustration end, as I now officially announce the master plan! Introducing the F.C.’s European lap of honour…
Foreign Correspondent – 30 for 30
Thirty years…
Thirty countries…
That’s right, some people thought I’d never make it to 30 (heck, they even said I wouldn’t make it to 21…) yet here I stand on the brink of my 4th decade, about to undertake the most amazing adventure!
Foreign Correspondent’s 30 for 30 is my quest to cycle from London, UK to Alexandria, Egypt – via Scandinavia – visiting at least thirty different countries. Along the way, I will hit the big 3.0. and celebrate it in style (no doubt whilst undertaking some absurdly stupefying activity). During the trip, I will also be meeting various people along the way, from my good friends in London who are coming out to join me for various legs, staying with numerous local families in the countries that I visit, meeting up with international friends whom I have met on my previous travels, and finally dropping in on the World Lifesaving Championships where the team from Cronulla SLSC will be strutting their stuff in Alexandria.
Before you ask, I can confirm the rumour, that due to the lack of a Cronulla surfboat crew, I have temporarily switched competitive disciplines for this event. Yes that’s right – I will be competing in the ‘Open Esky’ team event, and with any luck having a run with a few of the sand fairies…
I’ve now updated this blog with new information regarding my proposed route – a dsitance of over 12,000km, of which at leat 6,500km will be cycled. The remainder will be shared between ferries, buses and trains. To see a map, click here…
To undertake this feat, I have been busy acquiring the necessary equipment, not least of which is my lovely steel-steed ‘Bessie’ – my awesome Ridgeback touring bike. I’m also packing a ‘hammock tent’, a laptop and video camera, and of course my Cronulla speedos. For a list of some of the equipment that I will be taking, click here…
I’m not doing this for charity – I’m not that organised. Some people I’ve told have tried to convince me to raise money for a cause, but that’s not what this is about really. It’s about the freedom to do whatever the bloody hell I want, and so I am. And naturally, I’ll be spreading the good word of Cronulla SLSC wherever I go! (In fact, I think I might put up a mission statement of some sorts eventually).
This trip has been a huge undertaking to plan, and I’m still not 100% prepared for it – but I guess I could keep planning this forever and still bugger it up. So I guess now that the European summer is officially here, there’s no time like the present.
I leave tomorrow. Crikey!
