OK, So what’s this all about?
Welcome to another of my now multitudinous blogs. The idea for this one has sprung from personal issues (being dumped), an urge to make a difference for some people who deserve it, and a huge amount of enjoyment experience by travelling the globe for the last 11 months. Essentially, the situation is this: my now-ex is heading back to the UK shortly. In a homage to the Proclaimers’ song 500 Miles, I intend to walk 1000 miles across Europe to "fall down at [her] door" as per the lyrics. In doing so, I hope to raise a decent amount of wonga, spondoolicks and cash for the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation in Vietnam who I worked with during my World Tour (part one). The walk will finish somewhere near Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in England by way of a ferry journey from the continent. Originally I’d intended to get the Bergen-Newcastle ferry as I’d love to walk across Scandanavia, but it’s only twice a week. So if I’m "off" in any mileage calculations and I miss the boat, I’m sat in Norway for 2-3 days. Instead, I’m now considering a different crossing from Holland to Newcastle, which is daily. On the off chance Lou goes mental and is so worried about my sanity that she refuses to allow me to shuffle my blister-clad feet up her driveway come late Aug/early Sept, I will re-arrange the walk to finish at St James’ Park, home of Newcastle United. It’s a similar distance, give or take. So. There you have it. All further details are in the Frequently Asked Questions document. Please, please, please do comment and contact me regarding this. I will need help, I will need information, I will need publicity. I will need accommodation, food and blister-easing salves and plasters. I will need your kind donations to make this worthwhile.
February 16th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Very admirable my friend.
I will give you publicity on my blog, and if you make the charity side of things a bit more prominent I can probably raise some money for you hear at work. People are always coming round asking for a pound for this and that. My response will now be “Yes, if you give me a pound for someone to walk 1000 miles”.
If your ferry hits England in the north (Hull, Newcastle etc…), I will even meet you at the port with a new pair of trainers
Seriously, I will and if you need any more help then let me know.
Carpe Diem!
February 16th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Cheers, Chris. I’ll be aiming to get a ferry into Newcastle. Not sure where from yet! That’s the next bit. Been doing some glancing at routes, but I really need to spend a good few hours with a routeplanner and a stack of maps!
February 16th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I shall put my entire web/meeja contacts at your disposal at the appropriate time , whenever it is.
I’ve been working on trying to draw a map of your journey via a suitable Google Maps application, guess I’ll have to try and do two now
February 17th, 2007 at 1:28 am
Cheers, Andy. I need to work out my actual route for the walk which I think I’ll make a start on this weekend and continue with in Sydney or Bris (i.e. when I have access to a good library with maps).
I already have one offer of accommodation in a bordertown of Germany and Poland, which is cool. Thank you to Gosia for that!
February 17th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Charity is commendable, but I’m less keen on the whole “focussing international pressure on your ex in a doomed attempt to win her back” thing - it tastes of emotional blackmail and other foulness.
When a woman says “no”, then no, end of. Shuffling up her driveway all “hero’s homecoming” with the local press there and camera bulbs flashing, she naturally has to be there to welcome you and invite you in to rest your weary bones of course… which just feels plain manipulative and wrong.
Still, the hospice is a damn good cause, so if it ends up that you’re walking to St James’ Park instead, then I’m behind you all the way (figuratively speaking, you understand), and will happily yell your URL from the hilltops, sponsor you, and so on. It’s a damn brave thing to do. Stupid, but brave. How’s about 500 miles, instead?
And of course, if she posted her support of your venture, I guess I’d also have to revise my opinion.
But if you did walk up to her, and in front of the world’s press she told you “No means no, so turn right the hell round and start walking back”… well, I’d sponsor you a penny a mile for the schadenfreude alone.
February 18th, 2007 at 12:57 am
All fair comments, Dewi, and the reason I’ve not plotted the route for definite yet. If she says “nope” beforehand then the route will be plotted to SJP from the outset. Lou’s fully aware of what’s planned (or will be when she checks her email next) so plenty of opportunity for her to kick my backside in advance
February 18th, 2007 at 3:00 am
So long as she can say “no”, and knows that you can change your plans, then fine… assuming she hasn’t auto-killfiled your emails.
But if she says “go for it”, then I can’t accuse you of being manipulative. Maybe sickeningly romantic, definitely completely insane, but those’re neither of them bad things, really
Good luck with the sponsorship - try walking-boot people. And walking stick people. Backpack people. Anyone who sells or manufactures hiking or camping equipment, really.
February 18th, 2007 at 3:06 am
I like being insane - it stops me caring about things too much.
Thanks for the hints regadring sponsors. I’ll have a dig around those very companies. I’d already thought of footware… anyone know any generous comfy sock manufacturers?