Andy Ward
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  • Archives

  • Feb10

    Pecha Kucha – A Night of Adventure

    Posted in: Escaping the big smoke, London to Istanbul Walk

    Last week Al Humphreys organised a fantastic fund raising event for Hope and Homes for Children. Fifteen superb speakers from across the spectrum of expeditions, adventure and travel were invited to come and talk about their experiences around the globe. The twist was that each speaker was allowed just 20 slides. And each slide scrolls on automatically after just 20 seconds. This format, originally called “Pecha Kucha” in Japan, makes for a high-paced, varied, original evening.

    It was a fantastic inspiring event with some incredible stories. I cant recommend highly enough that you check out some of the talks here. In particular you must watch Nick Weston, Jimmy Goddard, and Neil McGrigor.

    Here is my story
    http://www.vimeo.com/9322013

    To donate to Help and Homes for Children please click here

  • Mar30

    Bonnie Scotland

    Posted in: Escaping the big smoke

    Ben, Kim, Oli and I have just returned from a awesome road trip to Scotland.

    While up North we went to visit John Ridgway at Ardmore. An incredible man with stories that would humble even the hardest of explorers and adventures out there. He lives in a remote part of Sutherland which requires a 2 miles hike over the hill to reach. I was lucky enough to be able to look at his incredible wooden boat which he and Chay Blythe rowed across the Atlantic with in 1966.

    Ardmore, Sutherland

    Ardmore, Sutherland

    Despite the ever changing Scottish weather or rain, gales, snow and sun we made the most of our time and explored some of my favourite haunts of Scotland – Ardmaddy Castle, Lone Bothy, Smoo Caves, Durness Beach and everything in between. Luckily I only have two weeks till I return for a weeks fishing on the Awe, Euchar and every hill Loch in between.

    Smoo Caves

    Smoo Caves

    Bridging the Gap

  • Jan22

    Bivvy Bag Challenge

    Posted in: Bivvy Bag Challenge

    Never-ending Hills

    On Thursday Al Humphreys and I will set out on a 36 hour adventure. We are going to take part in the Howies Bivvy Bag Challenge. 

    ‘Armed with no more than a bivvy bag and sleeping bag to sleep in you leave the comfort of your homes for a night and do not come back for at least 36 hours. From the front door to front door, no motorized transport allowed at all and you must travel on foot for a minimum of 30 miles, sleeping out under the night sky in your bivvy for the evening. You can go where you want but it must be door to door and on foot.’

    I’m currently rather hampered with a knee injury which will make this adventure a little more interesting. The doctors have yet to get to the source of the problem despite a lengthy period of physiotherapy and various scans. I’m hoping that a ultrasound guided steroid injection will make life a little more comfortable (unfortunately the NHS is a little stretched and I have to wait another few weeks before my appointment). I can’t imagine a 30+ mile jaunt will particularly help but I have become so frustrated at being so immobile that I am desperate for some fresh air and exercise. 

    Unfortunately being based in London limits our challenge considerably when it comes to climbing mountains and roaming the moors but hopefully it wont dampen the challenge ahead. We have picked out a route around South West London that takes in as much green space as possible and added a few quirky things to spice up the otherwise flat mundane concrete surroundings. 

    Better go find my walking boots and my trusty walk stick. More to follow…

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