The Route

Over the course of all our TMAAT adventures together I really do feel like I have learnt a few valuable lessons.

Firstly we are living proof that a strong mindset and determination will almost always (emphasis on the “almost”) prevail over any physical hardship, limitations or barriers that we may have to face. Yes we are (arguably?) no longer the fine physical specimens we perhaps once were, and yes we are frequently somewhat “loosy goosy” with our refuelling regime and yes we may not have even the most basic grip on the language skills you would think are needed to competently travel across Europe (or the UK for that matter!) but nonetheless, no matter how tough things get, we do always get it done. A direct quote that quite frequently gets rolled out (often to the point of annoyance !) on the very toughest of our tough days is that any challenge is “80% mental and the rest is in your head”. Yes I know, I want to punch that person too but the fact is there is actually some substance to it and I speak from hard fought personal experience. So many times now I have dug deeper than I ever thought was possible and pushed myself far beyond what seemed prudent or comfortable and “got it done” and the sense of achievement that follows is always border line euphoric.

Secondly, it is that there really is no such thing as “indestructible” regardless of what it says on the box or the number of 5* Amazon reviews or even the basic, long held principles and commonly held conventions of the physical world as we understand it. Yes I know, that of course seems like an utterly ridiculous statement to make doesn’t it let alone write down on a publicly accessible blog but should you have any lingering doubts or uncertainty about the voracity of this statement I encourage you to hand whatever it is to Dan, start the stop watch and stand back. I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed (or maybe you will depending on how much you value the thing you just gave him!) at how quickly everything you think you thought you knew quite literally blows apart.

Thirdly and, you will pleased to know finally as it means I am now at last arriving at the point (if indeed there is one), it is always sensible to have a “plan” in terms where we want to go and the route we want to take to get there. In practice though it can be very easy to become a bit limited by that plan and you (and by “you” I do of course mean “me” and yes I promise that’s the last time one will refer to oneself in the third person) can find yourself religiously sticking to it even when common sense is nose to nose with you screaming in your face “please God don’t turn up there”. Conversely there have been countless times, usually when we are very tired, when we have found ourselves rather aimlessly wandering “off piste” at some point in the day and without fail we always, always end up down some god awful gravel track or goat path.

Typically, if I am really honest, the “plan” does kind of make itself…..we draw a straightish line on a map from my front door to our chosen destination and then we find a way to add some stupidly insane climbing challenges on the way. We of course also have to include Trafalgar Square (which is now our de facto “iconic” starting point), we make sure there is a way of getting across any of the wet bits (eg: the sea) and then finally we agree a “finish line” which is deemed “suitable” (where “suitable” = commensurate with the scale of our epic challenge)

This year that means at least 15 nights in a tent, 10 different countries, 3 days in the Alps, a climb up the insane Umbrail Pass and then down the even more ridiculous Stelvio Pass, two ferries with one night sleeping on deck and a finish at the foot of the Parthenon in central Athens.

Anyway, I digress (again!)…the point is that, as I say, it is prudent to have a plan that points you in mostly the right direction most of the time and so here for your delectation and enjoyment is the “plan” for this years adventure.….enjoy, and please dont forget to give whatever you can to help us support Breast Cancer UK. Thank you.