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There
are many reasons why someone cannot undertake a long distance, long term
trip around the world. The three most common are career, cash and
commitments.
In
one sense, the three can be inextricably linked. Commitments, to
people or to to a mortgage or other financial position, can mean that work
cannot be left unattended because that means no income, and hence no means
to provide for the commitments. It can be a vicious circle, and it
can seem that there is no way out of that circle; hence, the reason why
many people say, "I'd love to do that, but I can't".
Now,
I am not saying that because I have been able to break out of that circle
for one year necessarily means that everyone can do it. My
circumstances may not be like everyone else's, but what I would say is
that with a little research, planning and determination, as well as some
small risk-taking, the impossible can at least be made into the
reasonable.
Dealing
with things one at a time, the following shows how I turned the dream into
reality.
-
Career:
At first glance, this may seem like the biggest blockage. I am
right in the middle of a successful career in the police service.
I have gained three promotions in fifteen years, and am positioned for
further promotion into senior management. I have spent the last two
years managing the busy and challenging environment of Liverpool City
Centre, and have built relationships and reputation with the key
managers in the local partner agencies. The police service is a
relatively short career of 30 years, and provides a healthy pension on
completion of that service. It would seem suicidal to give that
up to take a year out to travel. However, closer inspection of
the organisation's career break policy revealed things that would work
in my favour. Designed primarily to allow officers to take time
out of the service to fulfill either family or educational ambitions,
the policy also covers things such as travel. And critically,
the re-entry to the service can be undertaken at the same rank as the
the officer held when taking the career break. In other words,
my job within the service is guaranteed at the same pay scale when I
return.
-
House:
I looked at a few options with this. With mortgage rates being
so competitive at the moment, and house prices rising, it is easy to
make property with for you. I decided to remortgage to raise
cash, rather than to rent out my property, but there can be benefits
and disadvantages in both. In deciding not to rent out, I
considered the potential hassle of being a landlord 10,000 miles away;
of having to put the house in the hands of a letting agent; and of the
possibility of my having to return from my trip early, due to illness
or injury, and therefore needing somewhere to live.
-
Funding
the Trip: I found it better to work out what I would have to spend
and then allocate a budget to each item. It is necessary to
budget for the trip itself, but also for "pre-trip items".
I have listed below the things I have allocated budget to:
The
Trip
Accommodation
- Carrying a tent and sleeping bag will help to keep low-cost
options open.
Food
- Lots of it is required! This area cannot be under
estimated for a busy cyclist. I come in just a fraction cheaper
than petrol for the average car......
Transport
- I will take four connecting flights and three ferries during my
journey.
Tourist
Attractions - There is no point is cycling all the
way to Egypt to find that I can't afford to visit the sites.
Living
Items - Clothes and toiletries will need replacing
as I go along.
Communications
- Phone calls and internet usage can add up.
Souvenirs
- I have allocated a nominal amount for this, as lack of space will stop
me buying that Turkish rug.
Pre-Trip
Visas
- Another item not to be under-estimated in terms of cost. I
will need eight altogether, which will cost around £300.
Vaccinations
- I am lucky to be able to obtain most of these of the National
Health Service, the notable exception being Yellow Fever (a hefty £40)
and anti-malarial tablets.
Website
and Publicity cards - It is relatively inexpensive
to set up and maintain a website, but it still needs to be budgeted for.
Consider little change out of £100.
Insurance
- This was definitely a hidden extra that I had not originally
accounted for, but could not leave home without. It can cost
around £400 - £600 depending on the level of cover. Care is
needed when selecting a policy as many exclude cycle touring as an
activity. I have selected the Premier cover with STA. Check
out their website at www.statravel.co.uk
Cycle
Maintenance - Unless you have a brand new bike, (and
I didn't), I wouldn't recommend starting a 14,000 mile journey without
replacing some essentials, like the rear wheel, pedals, tyres and
brakes. The upgrades for my bike have cost £350.
Equipment
- I already had most of the equipment I would require, but things
such as medicines, first aid kit, back-up torch, and some clothing has
had to be bought.
The total
cost of all of this is not far short of £11,000. Of course, that
is a budgeted figure. I haven't spent it yet!! Hopefully
I haven't miscalculated... For updates on my financial
progress throughout the trip, keep tabs on the Journey
section of the site.
-
Health:
Obviously, anyone undertaking a trip of this sort would be expected to
be in good health generally. I have made regular visits to the
dentist over the past eighteen months and ensured any necessary work
is carried out on my teeth. The other main health precaution for
any traveller is of course, vaccinations. This is a list of jabs
I have undertaken, spread out over a six month period.
Typhoid
Polio
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Tetanus
Yellow Fever
Rabies
Japanese Encephalitis
(Consider also, Meningitis, Diphtheria and Cholera, depending on where
you intend to travel.)
-
Fundraising:
I have to confess this was not the reason for my trip. However,
a friend approached me back in October 2003, to suggest that I raise
money for the Rotary Club International, of which he was a member.
The branch of the club that meets in Formby, a northern suburb of
Liverpool, is involved in a very worthwhile project, which raises
money to develop schools and hospitals in the once war-torn African
country of Rwanda. I immediately liked the idea of a relatively
small, yet impactive project that will make a positive impact on the
lives of many people, especially children. The nature of the
Rotary venture is such that there is no "middle man".
All monies raised goes to the project directly. I agreed to
assist with this project, and to lend my name and the trip to
the Rotary to raise monies under the guise of my trip. It is in
no way essential that a prospective long distance cycle ride has a
charitable element to it, but I have to say that the involvement with
the Rotary cause has added another extremely worthwhile aspect to
my venture.
-
Training:
I thought I would add this as a last issue. Someone surprised me
recently by asking if I was doing lots of training for the trip.
In one sense, I am doing none, specifically. I have commuted to
work daily by bicycle for the last thirteen years, as well as spending
most of my days off riding anything from 10 to 100 miles. My
average annual mileage is around the 7000 mark. Therefore, I
hadn't really considered doing any sort of extra training. Cycling is
just a part of my life, which is why I am comfortable with the whole
concept of undertaking this trip by bicycle. In fact, for me
there wouldn't really be any other option
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