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31 Mar-1 Apr 2013: BMW Off Road Skills, South Wales with Simon Pavey

So the pair of us have just finished our levels I (me) & III (Jason) at the BMW Off Road Skills two day courses in South Wales. You should see my inner forearms, I’ve developed pumped up little muscles that were aching for quite some time post the fun and frolics in Walter’s Arena.

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30 May-2 Jun 2013: Horizon’s Unlimited! (Pursuit of good living)

Wow! Why? Horizons Unlimited UK just happened, that’s why. This gathering wins first place in the 2013 travel event calendar on home soil as hundreds of overlanders assemble to meet like-minded folk sharing a passion for exploring on 2 or more wheels. This year we spent 4 days in the lush grounds of Castle Donnington’s Farmhouse Hotel. It was travel presentation heaven and some…

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16-18 Aug 2013: The UK Adventure Travel Film Festival 2013

Feast your eyes on the UK Adventure Travel Film Festival; presented an overwhelmingly rich opportunity to immerse yourself in a sea of brilliant people. Back-to-back travel stories, presentations and filmed adventures – undoubtedly spoilt for choice. Somehow still managed to catch up with friends, learn a truck load about what I love doing most and rock the night away with The Jolenes followed by drunken songs around the campfire.

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Great to meet David and Louise from twowheelexploring.com

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Lisa with Graham Field and Sam Manicom

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The Jolenes rockin’ it at the ATFF

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The Adventure Travel Film Festival ATFF

We got blistering sun and monsoon rain but the spirits weren’t dampened, it just whet the appetite for more indoor unique films.

Top five films: Alone across Australia, The boy that flies, The silk road, African odyssey and Mondo Sahara. Loved Louise Wilson‘s talks too! And when Ben Fogle popped in to make a guest appearance on Friday night, I gained a new found respect for this ‘Yes’ guy who redefined perseverance for me.

Thank you Austin Vince, Lois Pryce, Sam Manicom and the entire ATFF presenters and volunteer crew for giving us and everyone such a memorable weekend. Superb effort guys.

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24-31 Aug 2013 – Our first two wheeled adventure: Scotland (8 of 8) The last day

The final day of the trip.  Our last breakfast was spent at The Welly Stop in Tyndrum opposite Pine Trees Campsite.  A cracking start to the day and no one could fault the tucker, it satiated the appetite,  setting us up well for the 180 mile ride down from rural Scotland to civilisation in Cumbria.  The ride got off to a scenic start although gradually the landscape became less interesting, flattening off to bland motorway.

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24-31 Aug 2013 – Our first two wheeled adventure: Scotland (7 of 8) Everything’s going south

What had taken us six days on the trip so far took us the best part of a day to virtually match in a southbound direction.  Friday was a long, hard slog, the biggest riding stretch, which would pay dividends in avoiding two drawn out riding days.

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