Honestly, could not have asked for a better day. After a good lunch with Murph, we headed off to the airport to see if the bag had arrived on the flight as promised, and wouldn't ya know it, as soon as I got to the bag area, the first bag that came out of the little flaps was which one... you got it, my missing bag! You better believe I was a happy man. I ran at it as fast as I could like I had found my long, lost lover and gave it a big bear hug and promised him I wouldn't lose him again. After the emotional reunion, we were off to Tunica.
Murph dropped me off at the Museum at around 2:30pm. We said our goodbyes, and I said my thanks, and I was finally on my two feet again and heading south with my home on my back. I had about 7kms to pass until I was going to reach the town of Tunica. After a couple of quick showers had come through and got me a little wet, I arrived to the Tunica Press and went and said gday to Brooke. It was nice to see her again, she is a lovely lady. Seeing as though I still had around about 4 more hours of light I decided to push on southbound and Brooke kindly offered to come down and find me and bring me back to the house for the night. I made it another 20kms down the river before Dick and Brooke finally found me and picked me up. So after covering 27kms on the first day we went out to grab some food and catch up. It has been a good day. I am now in bed and honestly quite ready to turn this computer off and get some sleep. It has been a hectic start to the trek but honestly I can not complain. I could go on a bit more about today as the walk was really quite nice and I also was attacked by two old dogs amongst other tories but I am really too tired to get into it, I promise I will get into more detail next entry.
The friends I have here have gone above and beyond to help me out and it has been nice to be able to spend some time with them, but for now I am getting into bed so I can rest up for the big day tomorrow. I am around 45 kms from the next big town of Clarksville. I would like to get there tomorrow but it is a long way. We will see... for now, goodnight....
Monday, July 1, 2013
A piece of good news...
Well last night just as I finished talking to Cami, after an hour and a half on hold with American Airlines, I finally got through to a girl named Lisa. It was the first time I got through to someone who I felt was going to really try to help me out, she had that kind of voice of someone who cares. After a long chat and many phone calls to Miami and New Orleans on her behalf, she finally told me she had found my bag. It was in the hand of someone in New Orleans who was just about to send it to a hotel, and if that had of happened it would have been stuck in New Orleans and out of the hands of the airline. So Lisa got it redirected BACK to Miami as American Airlines do not have direct flights from N.O to Memphis. So hopefully the bag will be arriving in Memphis from Miami today at midday. Myself and Murph will be waiting anxiously.
As I mentioned above I will be heading to the airport with a friend to pick up the bag. I honestly would have gone crazy without the good people around me. From the beginning of my arrival in the states I have been surrounded and supported by amazing people. Matt and Batina drove all the way from St Louis to come and see me and take me back to Memphis. It was really a pleasure to see them and spend just a few days with them. Now in the house with Joshy, Murph and Cameron. These guys are three of the most relaxed, good people I have come across on the entire trek. They have kept me from becoming frustrated and helped me out more than they know.
So myself and Murph are about to grab some breakfast, then we will head over to the airport to (hopefully) grab the bag and then we will start making our way down to Tunica, to the place where I left the trek to go back to my wife in Colombia. It will be a funny feeling to start heading down the river again, it had not really hit me that I will be on my own walking by a river again for almost a month and a half. NOw I am starting to get that nervous but really excited feeling in the bottom of my guts. I really love this moment of being alone with my thoughts, with God and with the only important things in my days being where will I eat, drink, sleep and where I need to walk to. It is a real blessing to be away from the distractions the world provides relentlessly.
I am a happy man, lets hope and pray that this continues with the arrival of my bag - which is my life for the next month and a half...
As I mentioned above I will be heading to the airport with a friend to pick up the bag. I honestly would have gone crazy without the good people around me. From the beginning of my arrival in the states I have been surrounded and supported by amazing people. Matt and Batina drove all the way from St Louis to come and see me and take me back to Memphis. It was really a pleasure to see them and spend just a few days with them. Now in the house with Joshy, Murph and Cameron. These guys are three of the most relaxed, good people I have come across on the entire trek. They have kept me from becoming frustrated and helped me out more than they know.
So myself and Murph are about to grab some breakfast, then we will head over to the airport to (hopefully) grab the bag and then we will start making our way down to Tunica, to the place where I left the trek to go back to my wife in Colombia. It will be a funny feeling to start heading down the river again, it had not really hit me that I will be on my own walking by a river again for almost a month and a half. NOw I am starting to get that nervous but really excited feeling in the bottom of my guts. I really love this moment of being alone with my thoughts, with God and with the only important things in my days being where will I eat, drink, sleep and where I need to walk to. It is a real blessing to be away from the distractions the world provides relentlessly.
I am a happy man, lets hope and pray that this continues with the arrival of my bag - which is my life for the next month and a half...
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Arrived, but not without its complications...
Yes I have arrived, but not without its hassles. Let me go back to this morning and walk ya through it. Firstly I woke up with a good dose of the flu, a headache, runny blocked nose and sore throat. The I get to the bathroom and realised that because of my flu, my sinuses have flared up and I had a swollen right eye that made me look worse than normal. So we (that being Cami, her parents and myself) arrived all good and well to the airport in Bogota, said our farewells and despite of my flu I headed off with the enthusiasm I remember from the first time I headed off to begin the trek. Arriving a little late to Miami due to lots of traffic on the runway I hit the pavement running to get to my next flight. I got my bag and checked it through to New Orleans and arrived to my gate with 5 mins to spare. Arriving in New Orleans I was greeted by my old mate Matt Johnson and his lovely wife Batina. It was great to see them after all this time, was really good. We headed over to pick up my bag and after about 10 mins of waiting, laughing and catching up, we both realized that my bag had not come out. We focused our attention on the arriving luggage and after another 15 mins realized that there were no more bags at all coming out... my bag had not arrived, and to this minute, still has not arrived! We needed to wait another hour to speak to the head of the department who told us that hopefully, my bag will be here at 11pm tonight. So we are now waiting anxiously at the hotel for news of the missing bag, and considering that in my bag I have my life for the next one and a half months and that it is very important that we head off north tomorrow morning, I must say, I am little nervous about the safe arrival of it.
Well I am off to bed now. Hopefully I will get the call we are waiting for in the next hour or two so I can at least have a wash and brush my teeth. I will keep you guys in the loop...
Well I am off to bed now. Hopefully I will get the call we are waiting for in the next hour or two so I can at least have a wash and brush my teeth. I will keep you guys in the loop...
Monday, June 24, 2013
5 days and counting...
Time has flown really when I look back at when I booked my flights back to the States to finish the last part of my trek. It seems like I only did it yesterday. But I have to tell you, I am really keen and looking forward to getting back and getting into it. This time is definitely going to be a different experience altogether. I will be walking through the deep south. I will be walking in the middle of summer. I only have 5 weeks to cover the 1000km or so that I have left. It is going to be more of a race against time and a battle against the harsh elements of the brutal summer of the south this time around. A different experience that's for sure, maybe one that will be more difficult too, but one I eagerly await.
Life has been so busy back here in Bogota that honestly I have had no time to really train. I have managed to get in 3 walks in the last two weeks, and they were only 16kms each. Considering I will need to on average cover 30 to 40 kms each day, it has not been the best preparation. But I will get a few more walks in this week and I am sure God will do the rest!
So I arrive on Saturday morning to Miami. From there I need to take another flight to N.O where good old Matt the legend will be there with his lovely wife Bat (Batina) to pick me up. We will grab some dinner and catch up and then head off north the next morning towards Tunica, my final point from the last part of the trek. It is going to be great to see them again!
Well it looks as though everything is ready except for a few final touches back here and then getting all my gear together and packing the backpack. All the gear from the last stint is still in really good condition which is a big help.
A big thanks to my sponsors again for being so patient with the time it has taken me to get back onto the river again, you guys have been a great support, thanks.
Looking forward to seeing that river again....
Life has been so busy back here in Bogota that honestly I have had no time to really train. I have managed to get in 3 walks in the last two weeks, and they were only 16kms each. Considering I will need to on average cover 30 to 40 kms each day, it has not been the best preparation. But I will get a few more walks in this week and I am sure God will do the rest!
So I arrive on Saturday morning to Miami. From there I need to take another flight to N.O where good old Matt the legend will be there with his lovely wife Bat (Batina) to pick me up. We will grab some dinner and catch up and then head off north the next morning towards Tunica, my final point from the last part of the trek. It is going to be great to see them again!
Well it looks as though everything is ready except for a few final touches back here and then getting all my gear together and packing the backpack. All the gear from the last stint is still in really good condition which is a big help.
A big thanks to my sponsors again for being so patient with the time it has taken me to get back onto the river again, you guys have been a great support, thanks.
Looking forward to seeing that river again....
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Back to see an old friend...
After a long break, I am happy to say that I am finally heading back to finish the adventure I satarted in September 2011. It has been a crazy time away from the trek with many events coming and going but as I said, I am very happy to say that God has given me the break I need from work (not to mention a great boss that has given me more time than she really had to over the school holidays) to come back to the river and attempt to finish my trek. I will be arriving in New Orleans on the 29th of June and from there will be meeting up with Matt (yes that is Matt the Legend from St Louis - blog post - Sunday November 20th, 2011) who will pick me up from N.O and take me back to Tunica (a days walk south of Memphis) where I will begin the long haul south again. I think now you all see why I call Matt "The Legend" hey!
I have until the 9th of August to reach my target of N.O as my flight back to Bogota leaves on the 10th. I have to be back for work on the 11th of August so it is going to be a race against the calender and a battle against the weather this time around. With roughly 900kms to cover in about 5 weeks it is going to be tough. but with hopefully the right preparations I will be able to sneak across the line in time.
I have posted below some of the photos of Cami and I here in Colombia with Ahmsa (the charity) and also some photos of the first leg of the trek just to give some of you a refresher of what this is all about and of the adventures I had first time around.
I hope you that have followed my trek from the beginning will continue the journey with me again and those who are seeing this story for the first time will find the whole purpose behind the trek a worthwhile one, and of course be able to get a something out of my diary posts, even if it is just a laugh which honestly we all need at times.
I have until the 9th of August to reach my target of N.O as my flight back to Bogota leaves on the 10th. I have to be back for work on the 11th of August so it is going to be a race against the calender and a battle against the weather this time around. With roughly 900kms to cover in about 5 weeks it is going to be tough. but with hopefully the right preparations I will be able to sneak across the line in time.
I have posted below some of the photos of Cami and I here in Colombia with Ahmsa (the charity) and also some photos of the first leg of the trek just to give some of you a refresher of what this is all about and of the adventures I had first time around.
I hope you that have followed my trek from the beginning will continue the journey with me again and those who are seeing this story for the first time will find the whole purpose behind the trek a worthwhile one, and of course be able to get a something out of my diary posts, even if it is just a laugh which honestly we all need at times.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Reporting in....again....
After a long stint away from my blog, as I stated in my last entry, I am reporting in to let you all know about the plans for the year and the return to finish the trek.
In August this year Cami (my fiance) and I are going to get married. I had to sign another year contract at my school because as we all know weddings are not cheap and after the trek last year, the funds are not as high as one would like. So it seems God has plans for me here in Colombia for one year more. With this being as it is, I will return to the little town of Tunica alongside the mighty Mississippi this time next year, 2013, to finish off the last leg of the journey.
We are waiting for the last donation to come through from Australia for Ahmsa. It is going to be the largest donation we receive so the kids from "Altos de Cazuca" are eagerly awaiting this. When we receive this last donation we will release the final amount of money raised for the the people of Colombia through the trek along with future plans and current happenings at Ahmsa..... Thanks again to you all who have followed our journey and to all those who donated and got involved for this very important cause.....
In August this year Cami (my fiance) and I are going to get married. I had to sign another year contract at my school because as we all know weddings are not cheap and after the trek last year, the funds are not as high as one would like. So it seems God has plans for me here in Colombia for one year more. With this being as it is, I will return to the little town of Tunica alongside the mighty Mississippi this time next year, 2013, to finish off the last leg of the journey.
We are waiting for the last donation to come through from Australia for Ahmsa. It is going to be the largest donation we receive so the kids from "Altos de Cazuca" are eagerly awaiting this. When we receive this last donation we will release the final amount of money raised for the the people of Colombia through the trek along with future plans and current happenings at Ahmsa..... Thanks again to you all who have followed our journey and to all those who donated and got involved for this very important cause.....
Saturday, January 7, 2012
2012 Plans...
Gday everyone. Firstly I hope all had a great break over Xmas and New years, I kow I did.
So when will I be heading back to continue the last stretch of the "Journey Down The Missisippi"? It will be sometime this year, but to say for sure when, I really do not know. After arriving in Bogota and going over some personal and financial matters, I was also offered my old job teaching at Montessori. I will be remaining in Colombia until at the least June 2012 as I was offered a 6 month contract.
With our wedding coming up this year, as much as my pride and ego was urging me on to get back and finish the last part of the trek, I realized that my responsibilites here in Colombia, with my fiance should be my priorities. Myself and Cami have been apart for over 4 long months and I have to say, it was very hard. Our relationship is not something I am not willing to jepordize, for anything.
But as I said, the trek is not finished, and as I like to think, I am a man of my word, so when God permits, I will return to finish off the journey of the last 500kms or so. The last part of the trek I am really looking forward to. It is a fraction of what I have already walked and I met some amazing people in the south that I would love to see again. I also feel I did not get to spend enough time with the south that I did with the north. It is a different world down there that I look forward to getting to know. As it has been with the whole trek, I feel the perfect timing that has followed me all the way will take me back to the little town of Tunica to continue on my adventure when the time is right. I will post again coming up to the month of June to let everyone know what are the plans exactly.
For now thank you all again so much for your support, and if anyone has any questions or comments please free to get in touch with me through the "contact me" section above.
So when will I be heading back to continue the last stretch of the "Journey Down The Missisippi"? It will be sometime this year, but to say for sure when, I really do not know. After arriving in Bogota and going over some personal and financial matters, I was also offered my old job teaching at Montessori. I will be remaining in Colombia until at the least June 2012 as I was offered a 6 month contract.
With our wedding coming up this year, as much as my pride and ego was urging me on to get back and finish the last part of the trek, I realized that my responsibilites here in Colombia, with my fiance should be my priorities. Myself and Cami have been apart for over 4 long months and I have to say, it was very hard. Our relationship is not something I am not willing to jepordize, for anything.
But as I said, the trek is not finished, and as I like to think, I am a man of my word, so when God permits, I will return to finish off the journey of the last 500kms or so. The last part of the trek I am really looking forward to. It is a fraction of what I have already walked and I met some amazing people in the south that I would love to see again. I also feel I did not get to spend enough time with the south that I did with the north. It is a different world down there that I look forward to getting to know. As it has been with the whole trek, I feel the perfect timing that has followed me all the way will take me back to the little town of Tunica to continue on my adventure when the time is right. I will post again coming up to the month of June to let everyone know what are the plans exactly.
For now thank you all again so much for your support, and if anyone has any questions or comments please free to get in touch with me through the "contact me" section above.
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