I have done three documentaries and look forward to doing a forth. God knows when this will become reality! But, the other day somebody phoned me from abroad, to ask me about doing documentaries whilst on Expedition. So I told him to read this report below, from the Kolyma expedition, dated 25th of January 2005 in -58 degrees Celsius!

To be your own camera team is very difficult and I think it is impossible if you don´t make it a life style as we´ve done, Johan and myself. Every single moment we´re spending in the canoe or skiing, when not thinking about our beloved ones or when one is too tired to think, one has to plan for the next scene. Where to find the right atmosphere, the right light and a scene which can develop and move your documentary ahead. And trying to plan your filming when you get attacked by a 800 lbs heavy bear isn´t easy. And it is even harder to get it on film! Fortunately, we´ve understood a long time ago, how utterly dull we are ourselves in comparison with the people we meet during our Expeditions. But filming other people can even be more difficult. Especially in this extreme cold, which is putting a severe strain on the success of our upcoming documentary and our monthly TV-program´s.

It is the 25th of January today and the temperature is -55°F. Unfortunately the temperature seems to be heading downwards again. We´ve both, Johan Ivarsson and myself, caught a cold and this is due to two types of stress we´re experiencing at the moment. Firstly, the positive stress, because we´re working day and night with a new TV-program to be sent off. And secondly, the negative type of stress, since we know that we´ll soon be outdoors, day and night, for a month to come. We´re really worried this time. Unfortunately, we know what to expect out there.

One of the most frequent comments I get from people back home, generally whilst lecturing, and through many emails on this trip, is how in earth did we persuade a camera team to join us on the Expedition and film us at all times. I tell them the truth. We are the camera team. We do every aspect when it comes to producing the documentary. Except the final touch of editing the right colors, the subtitling and graphics. We don´t have the machinery to do that. People seldom believe me. Which I can well understand, since they´re used to adventurers who primarily do sporting Expeditions and lack the knowledge how to film, edit, think dramaturgically and don´t understand the full value of proper sound editing. They´re used to adventurers who have a professional camera man which shows up on and off during the Expedition, or as the general rule seems to be, they do a lot of professional filming during the preparations and afterwards and then use static cut-ins from the Expedition taken by the adventurer himself. All generally shoot from a tripod. There´s absolutely nothing wrong with this. At times it is very exciting, interesting and ground breaking. But when you´ve seen a bunch of the same types of production, it turns out utterly boring. My opinion. I am of the belief that every new documentary should add something new to the general knowledge of daily life and its own genre. The worst, though, I think, is when this type of adventurer considers a production made this way as his own. Unfortunately, this genre of ours, is full of too many self-centered individuals. An adventurer, only known in Sweden, once called me on the mobile a few years ago and asked me if I could assist him with the right contacts at SVT, Sweden´s biggest, most serious and best TV-company.

´´I know how to film!´´ he exclaimed when I told him it was no easy thing for your work or your idea to get accepted, but he continued self-assured: ´´It is dead easy!´´

As an example if this, let me tell you about last week when we spent 12 tedious and bumpy hours in a jeep to reach a very interesting village. The temperature was so low that we couldn´t persuade people to stay outdoors more than quarter of an hour, they simply froze too much, so we didn´t get one single decent scene from this visit.

It isn´t. This adventurer hasn´t, of course, done one single production by himself. And nothing he´s done so far produced by others have appeared on SVT. To be your own camera team is very difficult and I think it is impossible if you don´t make it a life style as we´ve done, Johan and myself. Every single moment we´re spending in the canoe or skiing, when not thinking about our beloved ones or when one is too tired to think, one has to plan for the next scene. Where to find the right atmosphere, the right light and a scene which can develop and move your documentary ahead. And trying to plan your filming when you get attacked by a 800 lbs heavy bear isn´t easy. And it is even harder to get it on film! Fortunately, we´ve understood a long time ago, how utterly dull we are ourselves in comparison with the people we meet during our Expeditions. But filming other people can even be more difficult. Especially in this extreme cold, which is putting a severe strain on the success of our upcoming documentary and our monthly TV-program´s.

As an example if this, let me tell you about last week when we spent 12 tedious and bumpy hours in a jeep to reach a very interesting village. The temperature was so low that we couldn´t persuade people to stay outdoors more than quarter of an hour, they simply froze too much, so we didn´t get one single decent scene from this visit. And when we do have interesting people in front of the camera, and who on top of that doesn´t get bothered by continues re-takes, the camera fails us. In general, the camera doesn´t cope with the cold more than 10 minutes per day before the tapes freezes solid. And it takes at least two hours every time for the camera to thaw out. It doesn´t seem to help at all that we´ve made a cover from and old blanket to keep it warm! And it is only during the first 30 seconds that you actually can see what you´re filming. After that, all you have in your eye piece is a lot of lines. Once back indoors we leave the camera untouched for four nervous hours until we check what has stuck or not. Unfortunately we´ve lost a great deal of good material due to the cold. But it is not only cameras which freeze. Almost all frostbites that we picked up during our last ski trip from Zyryanka was due to the fact that we were handling the camera too long.

However, even if we get everything we want together and filmed, we still have the worst to come. Namely to safely transport all the material to Sweden and hoping it will be ok once at home in the studio. This fact causes a terrific amount of worry during every Expedition. Much more than attacking bears!

I met Carin and her husband Ridlon at a lecture I had at The Explorers Club in New York back in 2006. I remember them very clearly as a couple with an extra ordinary positive attitude! And as myself, they lead in many ways a very privileged life being able to live their dream. As they do, I often get questions, what in earth is needed to be able to live your dream as a job! Answers below!

"Most adventure jobs include travel. You will be gone for months at a time. It’s not always easy to communicate with family and friends. You will miss weddings and birthdays, graduations and sunday family picnics. Your friends will continue to build their lives and their friendships while you are away. You will come home to find you have less in common with your friends. BUT, you will meet amazing people working in the adventure community. You will have friends worldwide, you will see whole new perspectives on the world. If you are open to this, it’s time to venture forth!"

Adventure Jobs- Some Questions to Ask Yourself HONESTLY

by Carin Kiphart

We had an overwhelming response to our blog post Why You Need An Adventure Job.  People are realizing they want and NEED more in their life.  While climbing the corporate ladder and living in cubicle nation is a great lifestyle for some, others are realizing there can be a different path.  Judging from the personal emails we have received there is a need for information on the what, where, and especially the how to on Adventure Jobs. Today I want to focus inward.  Before you go dropping resumes all over the adventure world,  it is important to understand your self first in order to know which direction to follow in the maze of the world of adventure.  Knowing yourself will help you steer yourself to the job best suited to you and give you the greatest opportunity for success. What KIND of an adventure job do you want?  Well, one with adventure of course!  But it comes in many flavors.  Let me pose a few questions. What kind of a communicator are you? This is one of the MOST important questions to answer.  The are really four basic communication quadrants and while most of us have a combination of these, one will most likely jump out at you and you’ll say, “yep, that’s me!”

1. The Controller-  The controller needs to be in charge and often needs to be right.  When the situation goes bad, the controller takes over.  Put a controller in a situation of “follower” and they will most likely want to break the rules and do it their way (have you met my husband?).  They are leaders and are the first to step up with a plan. They tend to dress for meetings.
2. The Supporter- The supporter is one who doesn’t like to say no, they want to help out with everything.  They can be good people to work as a support team to a controller.  They are often cause oriented.  A supporter likes the “feel good” and are can make great advocates.
3. The Analyst- The analyst wants all the details.  They need all the pieces to make a decision and will do lots of research.  They are more cautious decision makers, tend to be more formal and reserved.
4. The Promoter- Where’s the party?  This is the person who is the socialite, wants to meet everyone and tends to dress more flamboyant.  The promoter tends to be more organized in the head rather than on paper.  Don’t bother me with the statistics, let’s be sure everyone is having a good time.

Once you can place yourself into one of these categories you can have a better idea of what kind of an adventure job fits you.  For example, if you want to work at Club Med as an analyst, then perhaps you would be suited to the transportation department at an overseas club, doing the logistics of the arriving and departing guests.  They’ll probably let you make a spread sheet!  You can make spread sheets all over the world and enjoy the benefits of working for Club Med.  On the other hand, I am a promoter, don’t even show me the inside of the office (funny, I never WAS in the office at Club Med).  Get me out meeting the people, doing crazy pool games and teaching scuba.  That is where my strengths and my joy lie.

Do you want to “see the world”? Then perhaps working on a cruise ship is a good option, where you are in a different port of call every day. Or a tour director (you would probably want to have some promoter in you for that position!). If you want to truly get under the skin of another culture, a cruise ship job is not the way to do it, it’s more like a smorgasbord. You may want to consider teaching English overseas where you spend at least one to two years in one place. Consider what you want to learn about the world on your adventure, how much you want to see and how fast.

How Do You Want To Live?

This is a very important question to ask yourself.  If you are 20 years old, then you can take a job where you bunk up with a couple of other blackjack dealers on a cruise ship.  If you are a married couple, age 40, it’s going to be a different answer.  I worked for a high end tour company where, when my husband and I worked together, we shared a private cabin on the ship or when we worked apart, we had our own hotel rooms at the same accommodation level as the guests.  At this point in my life, I probably would not want to spend the summer in a tent with a couple of other girls.

How Do you Want to Travel?

Do you want to “see the world”?  Then perhaps working on a cruise ship is a good option, where you are in a different port of call every day.  Or a tour director (you would probably want to have some promoter in you for that position!).  If you want to truly get under the skin of another culture, a cruise ship job is not the way to do it, it’s more like a smorgasbord.  You may want to consider teaching English overseas where you spend at least one to two years in one place.  Consider what you want to learn about the world on your adventure, how much you want to see and how fast.

How do you live best?

This may be an odd question but here is why I ask it.  Can you live out of a suitcase?  Can you keep your life organized that way? Do you need to “nest” somewhere?  Do you need continual movement? These are VERY important things to know about yourself.  Personally, I love changing hotels every night but after about six months, I need a short break from it.  But I also LOVE movement so a cruise ship is a perfect environment where my view out the window changes but I keep everything arranged in my cabin (which is small….can you live this way?).  Of course, if you’ve never had an adventure job, how would you know?  Well, here is where I say, “If you DID know the answer what would it be?”  Think about how you travel on a vacation.  Do you tend to book one hotel and settle in or do you flit about the country.

How Much Time Do You want to Adventure for?

If you have never “done anything like this before” test the waters.  Don’t sell your house and all your possessions.  Give it a test run.  Take a short 3 month position somewhere and rent your house or have a friend live there.  Then see how it goes.  You might find that “adventure jobs” are not what you expected or you might find that it’s what’s been missing in your life all these years.  Don’t burn your bridges at first. However, if you have no ties and see adventure as a lifestyle then you will be more apt to take a position that you sign a contract for. Six months to one year contracts are fairly common.

Job Security

Job security is really a myth, no job is secure.  You can be sitting in your office one day and the next the company makes cuts and you are out.  Once you come to that reality, it is not so scary taking an adventure job for a short period of time. However, if you can’t grasp that concept and a steady paycheck from a fortune 500 company is your security blanket, think twice about taking the leap.  If you are flexible and willing to adventure your way forth, opening yourself up to the universe, you’ll find a way.

Decide What is Important in Your Life Things

Stuff is just stuff, just ask George Carlin who’s skit on “stuff” brings me to hysterical fits of laughter.  If you NEED stuff, if your life is about accumulating liabilities like cars and boats, think twice about going on the road.  I’m not saying this from a financial end, I’m saying there is no room for “stuff” on the road.  Stuff becomes a burden.  We traveled for ten years with everything we own in storage and when we came back, we had NO idea what was in most of the boxes. We hadn’t used it in ten years, guess we didn’t need it!

It is a wonderful world that Carin and Ridlon live!

People

Most adventure jobs include travel.  You will be gone for months at a time.  It’s not always easy to communicate with family and friends.  You will miss weddings and birthdays, graduations and sunday family picnics.  Your friends will continue to build their lives and their friendships while you are away.  You will come home to find you have less in common with your friends.  BUT, you will meet amazing people working in the adventure community.  You will have friends worldwide, you will see whole new perspectives on the world.  If you are open to this, it’s time to venture forth!

Finally, Let’s mention MONEY

You need to be realistic about what you need to live on.  You need to ask yourself what you want financially.  Adventure jobs are typically not the most high paying though some can be.  We’ve worked adventure jobs where we each made six figures a year and we’ve worked adventure jobs where we made three figures a month. You also need to look at what “comes with the job”.  While working on board a cruise ship for five years, we saved 95% of our income compared with 5% for the average American.  We invested all of our money for those five years because we didn’t need to live on it.  We didn’t drive a car, pay rent or utilities or pay for food.  We didn’t go “out” because our entertainment was on board.  We worked under special tax laws.  We worked six months at a time, seven days a week and then had two months off.  During our time off we took fantastic vacations for weeks on end.  We didn’t own a home and turned off the insurance on our car which we stored at a friends house.  AND we saw the world (I can now boast 106 countries visited) and enjoyed our life to the absolute fullest. If you are tied to money and live in a world of scarcity, think twice.  If you are open to the wonders of life, travel, and adventure more than financial gains, you will do fine.

Adventure Forth

Each one of these topics is worthy meal in itself, here I give you an appetizer to chew on.  Take a serious look at yourself before taking the leap but don’t dwell too terribly much.  Reaching your foot out can be a scary step but once you’ve taken the first step, you’ll find the road to the world awaits you and you’ll never look back.

To your Adventures!

Stuff is just stuff, just ask George Carlin who’s skit on “stuff” brings me to hysterical fits of laughter. If you NEED stuff, if your life is about accumulating liabilities like cars and boats, think twice about going on the road. I’m not saying this from a financial end, I’m saying there is no room for “stuff” on the road. Stuff becomes a burden. We traveled for ten years with everything we own in storage and when we came back, we had NO idea what was in most of the boxes. We hadn’t used it in ten years, guess we didn’t need it!

Read more at www.live-adventurously.com

CV: Carin and Ridlon Kiphart (aka “Mantagirl” and “Sharkman”), share a life of passion through adventure and underwater exploration, which has taken them to over 105 countries and all seven continents. Along the way, they have logged over 12,000 dives as professional Scuba instructors, shark feeders and photographers, climbed Himalayan mountains, and explored the planet from Antarctica to Oceania and back again. The Kipharts served as on board Directors for Ocean Quest International, Dive Directors for WindStar Cruises, Tour Directors for Tauck World Discovery, and are co-founders of Global Diving Adventures and Live Adventurously. They have guided natural and historical tours for over a decade in the US western national parks, Central America, Europe, and have led expeditions to remote areas including the Dahlak Archipelago of Eritrea and Niatoputapu in remote Tonga. Honors include membership in the prestigious Explorers Club, Citizen for Cultural Exchange Award, and the 2006 American Airlines Ultimate Road Warrior. They are avid supporters of ocean conservation and founders of the Ocean of Hope Foundation. Mantagirl is the author of, “The Ultimate Guide to Making

My 52 days of self-imposed expulsion has come to a conclusion. I went to Mongolia to do a smidgen of walking. Across the entire country in fact. I know some people will immediately yelp in horror at the idea of a someone going to Mongolia, with picnic basket in hand, to walk, usually those who either have never been there themselves or who don’t know the place well, but we shan’t have that dispute all over again. Let me just say this zesty little stroll suited me perfectly.

I was one of many who followed Ripleys intrepid and ground breaking Expedition, with his Molly, through Mongolia. He went through some very hard times initially, when I communicated with his wife Laura often, who, of course was worried. She even wrote a blog report for me about the good and bad things which comes with being married to an adventurer. A report which has received many readers and put her as number seven as they most read guest writers I have invited! Her husband Ripley as number 5, regarding his article how it is being a dad and adventurer, is placed fifth. The mostly read is still this one!

This time I asked Ripley, who is a very kind, emotional and very positive person, to write an article about what it feels like coming back home from a big Expedition. I personally have always found that extremely difficult. This is Ripley´s report!

My 52 days of self-imposed expulsion has come to a conclusion. I went to Mongolia to do a smidgen of walking. Across the entire country in fact. I know some people will immediately yelp in horror at the idea of a someone going to Mongolia, with picnic basket in hand, to walk, usually those who either have never been there themselves or who don’t know the place well, but we shan’t have that dispute all over again. Let me just say this zesty little stroll suited me perfectly. I was up in the mountains, leaping across the Gobi Desert and hopping over the Steppe. The weather was delightful without being ridiculous, the people ditto – double ditto. It’s an unusual life, but it seems to be the only way I can earn a living and be happy.

I fire up my life back in Denmark with stacks to do, so I shall be hitting the ground running. I also have numerous speaking engagements and shall be engaged in scribbling speeches and preparing addresses as well as writing my future book and catching up on the mass of obligations and mail that my absence has essentially caused. I also have an expedition to arrange for next year, several guiding trips and one distant expedition penciled in very lightly in 2012. So, once again, I hope those who are looking to harass me and solicit for some of my time will be aware of the fact that while I may be back in Denmark very, very few of my hours belong to me.

For this blog, I shall reflect on what it’s like to be home. I have the good fortune to have got my hands on a cup of coffee from my wife, a rare thing nowadays, and a couple of chocolate biscuits (cookies for you US followers), which is also a rare thing as my wife chomps on them before I get a look in.

So, I will relieve myself (pardon me – not literally) on my thoughts.

I’m still trying to get my head around to the fact that I’m back. I am in no way devastated but the more I think about all this, I can see that I did accomplish something else beyond that of walking over 1000 miles, the end of a 52 day slog, which is an impressive pace for a man in his 40’s and a lifetime of luggage.

I’m still trying to get my head around to the fact that I’m back. I am in no way devastated but the more I think about all this, I can see that I did accomplish something else beyond that of walking over 1000 miles, the end of a 52 day slog, which is an impressive pace for a man in his 40’s and a lifetime of luggage.

If I had of completed this walk, right to the end, I envisage that it would be a pretty magnificent feeling rated right up in the book of Pretty Magnificent Feelings – Volume 1.

Maybe I could even be forgiven for being just a tad proud of myself. But I am rightly proud of myself beyond explanation.

Even though I didn’t put the cherry on this long ramble across Mongolia, I did glaze it with a fine layer of double chocolate cream and a sprinkle of hundreds and thousands. I am extremely proud of myself and get quite emotional when I think about what I have been through and the experiences and lessons I have acquired.

I envisioned a fanfare of photographers, journalists, friends, family and other interested bystanders standing by the hot dog trolley but to be honest, there was nothing remotely resembling this depiction.

Walking through the glass sliding doors at the airport, customs officers staring at my gear, heart racing and palms sweating, I actually didn’t want it any of this and was happy to be able to make my way, silently, to the train and make my way home. Sat next to three stinky students having a delightful conversation on how far 5km is and it would be far better to catch the bus from the train station, I marvelled at what I had done. I do have a number of theories about my lack of self-congratulation, and it’s probably an amalgamation of all of the following:

1. I didn’t quite make it. I did try and, I feel, tried my dammed hardest, pushing my body to its absolute maximum and at times beyond.

2. Thoughts about my next expedition. I am already busy planning for the next adventure, pencilled in to start May 2011. Where? It’s back to Mongolia and the Gobi Desert but this time not solo. So I have to get everything ready. There is equipment to be replaced, supplies to be sponsored, and some money to raise. This doesn’t leave much time for resting on my hairy backside.

3. Remembering how long it was since I changed my underwear.

My Mongolia trek was the toughest thing I had ever done. The highs and lows (mostly lows) of crossing this vast landscape completely solo officially pushed me beyond my limits, and sitting on the plane, looking down at the shrinking landscape was heartbreaking and my mind flooded with a mixture of feelings. I broke down.

How can I compare it? Imagine finishing a marathon, winning an Oscar, finding a lost sock, and getting out of jail, all rolled into one.

The lessons presented and the mistakes I made have make my desert travels and life more comfortable, and off course there is the greater confidence that comes from having done it. So my arrival no longer has that same level of euphoria.

My mission continues: Walking is only half of the story. I can’t sit back and congratulate myself on a job well done because I never actually completed the entire trek as planned. I congratulate myself in a different way and a more personal way, (behave)!

It’s wonderful being back at home. It’s wonderful to have an ice cold drink, use softer toilet paper, sleep in a comfortable bed and scoff a variety of delicious food. It’s strange to sit on a toilet and watch TV. However, all I continue to want at the moment is to hug my wife and kids, hug my kids some more, and slowly return, in mind, to my family and thoughts of my future plans and build on being a better human being.

This is no time to be patting myself on the back or clapping my hands as there is much work still to be done, and as ever, I am trying to figure out how I can be most effective in making a difference in the lives of other people.

If I ever get too impressed with myself then it will all go horribly wrong, funny around the edges and gooey in the centre (center to all you US followers), I am sure. My life has been full of things going horribly wrong and pair-shaped. At times, the path of my life is strewn with cowpats from the devil’s own satanic herd. I’ve made some cracking bad decisions and done some pretty stupid things in my time that I regret. I’ve been as poor as a church mouse, which had an enormous tax bill on the very day his wife ran off with another mouse, taking all the cheese. It’s only the last decade or so when things have gone better. So my feet are most definitely still firmly on the ground, and I am still just the same person I ever was; just a bit more sand blasted and weather beaten and with a few new experiences and grey hairs under my belt.

So although it is very nice to bask a little in the afterglow when accosted by a few people wanting to shake my hand, hug me tightly, buy me a beer, or to do interviews, I am in no danger of getting too big for my boots anytime soon. But lest this all sound rather subdued, rest assured I am in high spirits. Content, without being complacent. Smiling, without being smug.

I achieved a milestone in my mental state. A milestone in my limitations and a milestone in my personal achievement. While many write with words of congratulation and warmth some still feel that I am mad. Really mad. Madder than Mad Jack McMad, the winner of this year’s Mr Madman competition. In a nice way of course!

It’s wonderful being back at home. It’s wonderful to have an ice cold drink, use softer toilet paper, sleep in a comfortable bed and scoff a variety of delicious food. It’s strange to sit on a toilet and watch TV. However, all I continue to want at the moment is to hug my wife and kids, hug my kids some more, and slowly return, in mind, to my family and thoughts of my future plans and build on being a better human being.

It’s wonderful being back at home. It’s wonderful to have an ice cold drink, use softer toilet paper, sleep in a comfortable bed and scoff a variety of delicious food. It’s strange to sit on a toilet and watch TV. However, all I continue to want at the moment is to hug my wife and kids, hug my kids some more, and slowly return, in mind, to my family and thoughts of my future plans and build on being a better human being.

To read more about Ripley and his adventures, go to www.ripleydavenport.com as well as www.mongolia2010.com

The children were fantastic travellers. As we inched our way across the map of Europe, then Central Asia, their capabilities of course increased. Of school there was none but plenty of home education more than filled the gap. Some basics, especially arithmetic and English for Fionn, who had only attended one year of primary, we taught. Most of what they learned was autonomous, though, absorbed almost osmotically. Geography was all around; arithmetic was course and distance calculations and money changing; history was often just chat, if Scottish, or visiting places like Avignon, or Budapest, or Kiev... And as it happens, they did go to school, in Slovenia, by invitation, for two terms, where they were taught in Slovenian! PHOTO Courtesy of DRG

I first came across this extra ordinary fellow called David Renwick Grant back in 1996 when I was planning my Patagonian trip on horseback, he gave me a book about his amazing journey with his family and he taught me a lot. Most of all he inspired me a lot! He still does. We have been in contact on and off throughout the years, lately on Facebook, where he is one of the most dignified of my 2137 friends. Not long ago I read about a Family on Bikes on Facebook and felt a lot of joy! But when reading about them I realized they were very criticized by people who thought it was crazy to bring children travelling. I was stunned! We have only been sedentary, we humans, for no more than maybe a 1000 years of our total of 150 000 as a species. How than can travelling be bad? So I asked David Renwick Grant what he thought.

THREADS FROM THE TAPESTRY

by

David Renwick Grant

I was on board the RSS Discovery last week. She’s berthed permanently in her home port of Dundee, where she was built and it was several years since I had had a look at her. Whatever their preferred means of travel, I would defy anyone who walks aboard and looks up at the crow’s nest not to see in their minds eye a landscape of ice and snow, instead of the solid stone face of Dundee and the gently-flowing river Tay. The old ship has been much modified over the years but you can still stand at the wheel or look into the galley or view the restored cabins of Scott and others. I could feel a tingle start in my feet, as I contemplated faraway places….

Scott’s two expeditions were massive affairs, as was Shackleton’s and to a lesser extent Amundsen’s. At the other end of the world, Nansen’s voyage in the Fram was equally large. Yet, I reflected, it is not essential to be equipped as if for a military operation. Nor is it a prerequisite to have spent years in training and be hugely fit. Had it been, my family and I would probably never have started, let alone completed, the first, and so far as I know, so far the only global circumnavigation by horse-drawn caravan. Yes, I did write ‘my family and I.’ Horse travel is slow, it’s a long way around the world and I wasn’t going to leave them behind for years. Seven years, as it turned out.

The idea of travelling en famille had begun almost as a joke, during a particularly vile day of low, scudding cloud and horizontal rain, sitting by a fire that would not draw and with smoke blowing back down the chimney into the room. The carpet was partially airborne but not from magic, just the draught blasting in under the door. The three children were pretty small then, which ruled out walking and cycling, I never learnt to sail and anyway (ex-)wife Kate got seasick. So that seemed to leave converting a bus, truck, or retired fire-engine perhaps. Anyway, we did nothing about it then, nor in the following year but we talked about it more and more often. Then one day, while I was working away from home, living in ‘digs’ (lodgings) in Lancaster during the week, I was lying in bed reading a magazine. I turned a page and there was this article about horse-drawn caravan holidays in Ireland and a most beguiling picture of a skewbald cob pulling a light bow-top wagon. That was it! That was how we should travel. And, about two years later, we did.

What I think we demonstrated very convincingly is that there are ways to travel as a family, even over an extended period, that neither break the bank nor destroy the life-chances of the children involved. Indeed on the latter point, the reverse is true. I mean, how many kids get the chance to jog along on their own pony across the Mongolian plains while reading a text-book! Financially, I reckon it cost us approximately £10,000 per year, which is pretty modest for five people, a horse and, for part of the time, two dogs. PHOTO Courtesy of DRG

The process of preparation we went through is largely common to any extended journey. In addition we had to find a suitable caravan and suitable horse. It would have been good to have found some suitable sponsors too, but 560-odd letters produced only a limited amount, nearly all donations or discounts, for which we were very grateful but which was never going to be enough. The caravan ended up being purpose-built, to my own design, by Gaulds of Crieff, Perthshire.  I had been advised that the Netherlands was the best place to seek a driving horse. This would also avoid the need for the extensive palaver involved when crossing a frontier with a horse – and risking life, horse and caravan to manic motorists on Britain’s narrow roads. There was a very steep learning curve to follow, though, before we finally set off, nearly five weeks after crossing the North Sea.

You learn a lot about people when you travel during a seemingly continuously wet autumn,  through the monotonously flat beet-growing countryside of northern France. The caravan seemed to get smaller and smaller as it filled with more and more wet gear and we were confined to sitting in it, at day’s end, because there was nowhere to go and more wet walking held no appeal. In fact, the children, who were only ten, nine and six then, stayed aboard most of the time and if it was flat enough, I would ride on occasionally, though it was actually warmer walking. With little to look at, villages few and far between, even I was beginning to wonder whether we were quite daft. The children bore up amazingly. It was as well that we had a good, if limited, supply of books and games with us and many a deadly session of Yahtze, Vulgar Bulgars or Nine Men’s Morris kept everyone amused of an evening when cooped up with rain still hammering on the roof.

The children were fantastic travellers. As we inched our way across the map of Europe, then Central Asia, their capabilities of course increased. Of school there was none but plenty of home education more than filled the gap. Some basics, especially arithmetic and English for Fionn, who had only attended one year of primary, we taught. Most of what they learned was autonomous, though, absorbed almost osmotically. Geography was all around; arithmetic was course and distance calculations and money changing; history was often just chat, if Scottish, or visiting places like Avignon, or Budapest, or Kiev… And as it happens, they did go to school, in Slovenia, by invitation, for two terms, where they were taught in Slovenian!

As John Ridgway wrote to me before we left: “Do it. You'll regret it for the rest of your lives if you don't.” PHOTO Courtesy of DRG

By the time we had reached the Ukraine, crossed Russia and reached Kazakhstan, we were all seasoned horse-drivers, foragers, wood gatherers and, to an extent, quite good linguists. Our first horse had proved too light and been changed back in France for a solid one-tonne model, who had by now become a much-loved member of the family. The further east we went, the more hospitable and friendly people became. The weather, however, did not and we had a fairly hellish couple of months before finally arriving in Almaty, the then-capital of Kazakhstan, in temperatures of -28° with plenty snow on the ground. The wonderful thing we had found was that, moving along at walking pace meant one could meet and talk – or at least communicate – with people along the way.

We always stopped for winter and that gave us all sorts of opportunities. I have a tape of Eilidh interviewing her little brother for Slovenian radio in Slovenian. Torcuil and I took to the skies in a microlight in Hungary. In Russia, we went trawling for crayfish. We had seen the empty shops of rural Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan – and learnt the secret of obtaining supplies in many different ways (all honest, I must add – we never stole so much as a cabbage).

There came problems in plenty, of course. We were hit glancing blows by cars in France and Italy. We were held back, sometimes for days, by the paperwork required for taking a horse across an international border. It took a week to wear down the Russians and get through to Mongolia – but in the interim we were taken to a concert by the Direktor of the Rajon where the noted Kazakh singer Roza Rimbayeva gave a stunning performance and somehow I ended up on stage at the end! We were bothered by drunks on several occasions, the worst of these leading to a serious situation in Mongolia where the prospect of gaol for me loomed, for a while. In fact, the only times I felt threatened were caused by drunken behaviour; even wartime in Yugoslavia seemed safer. Traceur, our ‘main engine’ was largely healthy right up until our last winter, in South Dakota, where, tragically, he died of a brain tumour.

Mostly we had great experiences, a lot of fun, much hard work, saw superb swathes of still-unspoilt parts of the planet and encountered some wonderful people. The children survived our return and have all been doing well in their chosen spheres. I was the one who seemed to find it hardest to settle down. So much so, in fact, that I set off on a solo kayak journey across the Baltic from Sweden, then up and down the rivers Dvina, Ulla, Berezina and Dnepr, finishing on the Black Sea at Odessa. It was different, contained a lot fewer pressures because I had no-one else to worry about, but was not, on the whole, as enjoyable.

The Grant Family! PHOTO Courtesy of DRG

What I think we demonstrated very convincingly is that there are ways to travel as a family, even over an extended period, that neither break the bank nor destroy the life-chances of the children involved. Indeed on the latter point, the reverse is true. I mean, how many kids get the chance to jog along on their own pony across the Mongolian plains while reading a text-book! Financially, I reckon it cost us approximately £10,000 per year, which is pretty modest for five people, a horse and, for part of the time, two dogs. £70,000 is still a fair lump of money of course, even today; it came from the proceeds of the sale of our house, plus some fees for writing and even for tuition on a couple of occasions. With hindsight, we should have prepared some sort of act or entertainment we could have offered – a portable means of making money and one that does not require a rigmarole to do.

As John Ridgway wrote to me before we left: “Do it. You’ll regret it for the rest of your lives if you don’t.”

David Renwick Grant

A short biography of David:

At the end of 1997, David Grant – and his family: ex-wife Kate, children Torcuil (1980), Eilidh (1981) and Fionn (1984) – returned from travelling around the world with a horse and caravan, an unique journey which took them seven years; across fifteen countries on three continents and, incidentally, into the Guinness Book of World Records. His story of the family’s epic global journey was published by Simon & Schuster as The Seven Year Hitch, (1999) and in paperback in 2000.

Before this, he had worked as a jackaroo and sheep-shearer in Australia, in ecology and wildlife management for the Nature Conservancy (now Scottish Natural Heritage), as a crofter and prawn creel fisherman on Skye and as part of a film-crew on Orkney.

David was educated in Edinburgh, at George Watson’s College and Merchiston Castle School. After a year in the paper-making industry, he went to Aberdeen University, graduating with an MA degree in 1963. Two years in Australia followed, before a return to university, Edinburgh this time, to take a MSc degree in ecology and wildlife management.

In 2000, David undertook a solo kayak expedition from Sweden to the Black Sea, following an old Viking trade route via the rivers Daugava/Western Dvina, Ulla, Berezina and Dneiper. Along the way, he kept a look out for traces of Vikings, observed the way of life in places he passed and kept a note of the wildlife he saw, and visited local Bahá’í communities. The book about the journey, Spirit of the Vikings, was published in 2007 by The Long Riders’ Guild Press.

David’s other books are: A Submarine at War – the brief life of HMS Trooper (Periscope Publishing, 2006) about the World War II T-class boat in which his half-brother lost his life along with the rest of the crew in 1943 and The Wagon Travel Handbook (The Long Riders’ Guild Press, 2007), a distillation of his and others’ experiences of preparing for life on the, mainly horse-drawn, road in the 21^st century.

PRESS RELEASE!

WORLD FAMOUS EXPLORER JOINS KENSINGTON TOURS
AS EXPLORER-IN-RESIDENCE

Mikael Strandberg to support launch of Kensington’s new Expedition Series

“Kensington Tours' mission,” says Willner “is to provide private guided experiences to every corner of our world. For every budget, every schedule, every group size, and every interest, we can tailor a perfect tour. Our collaboration with Mikael and our Explorer-in-Residence program is another example of our commitment to truly special travel experiences – whatever your travel style.”

A professional explorer for the past quarter century, Mikael Strandberg is considered one of the 50 most important explorers on earth and The Explorers Club has called him “the best contemporary explorer in the world.” Strandberg will collaborate with Kensington founder and CEO Jeff Willner to design and develop this new product offering for intrepid travelers.  Strandberg will also be available to guide these expeditions as well as tailor-made expeditions, upon request.

“Kensington Tours’ mission,” says Willner “is to provide private guided experiences to every corner of our world. For every budget, every schedule, every group size, and every interest, we can tailor a perfect tour. Our collaboration with Mikael and our Explorer-in-Residence program is another example of our commitment to truly special travel experiences – whatever your travel style.”

Willner and Strandberg recently undertook a scouting mission to The Democratic Republic of the Congo to assess its potential and readiness as a destination for intrepid travelers.  Congo itineraries – featuring endangered Eastern Lowland Gorillas, Pygmy tribes and the Nyiragongo volcano – are the first in the Expedition Series.  Other itineraries under development include Antarctica exploration with polar explorers, motorcycle safaris in Kenya, Tanzania and Russia, deep dive submarine into the Cayman Trench and cultural discoveries in Yemen, Oman and North Korea. These itineraries will appeal to intrepid global explorers and will complement Kensington’s complete collection of affordable private guided tours to the world’s must-see destinations.

“It’s the places that people believe that they cannot go, these are the places where the hidden wonders of the world and breathtaking experiences await,” said Strandberg. “The Expedition Series will highlight many of these destinations.  I am indeed honored to be an Explorer-in-Residence for this brave company. Brave makes a difference, helps a country, builds bridges and creates trips which open people’s minds. With a visionary and a lover of humanity like Jeff Willner at its helm, Kensington Tours is really in the forefront of what good tourism should be today.”

“Some of the Expedition itineraries may require hard work, some may be expensive and some will feature unconventional destinations, but all promise a unique experience,” confirms Willner.  “Whether escorted by an Explorer-in-Residence or not, all of our tours will be carefully managed by our local offices and local expert guides to ensure a safe and supported adventure.”

####

“It’s the places that people believe that they cannot go, these are the places where the hidden wonders of the world and breathtaking experiences await,” said Strandberg. “The Expedition Series will highlight many of these destinations. I am indeed honored to be an Explorer-in-Residence for this brave company. Brave makes a difference, helps a country, builds bridges and creates trips which open people’s minds. With a visionary and a lover of humanity like Jeff Willner at its helm, Kensington Tours is really in the forefront of what good tourism should be today.”

About Kensington Tours
Kensington Tours offers custom private guided tours to over 80 countries around the world. The flexibility of Kensington’s offerings allows for personalization of every tour at a wide range of price points – resulting in a handcrafted vacation experience at an unbeatable value. The company’s private tours are regularly benchmarked at 30% less than identical tours from premium group operators. Kensington Tours was named one of the ‘Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth’ in 2008 & 2009 by the editors of National Geographic Adventure magazine.

About Mikael Standberg:
He started his professional career as an explorer 23 years ago. Strandberg is currently working as an explorer, a lecturer and a writer. He has also produced three internationally renowned documentaries for television Patagonia – 3,000 Kilometres by Horse and The Masaai People – 1,000 Kilometres by Foot and his much awarded 58 Degrees – Exploring Siberia on Skies.  Frequently appearing in travel and adventure programmes, Swedish Television SVT and National Geographic have both made documentaries about his life. Voted Explorer Hero by the National Geographic 2002, Strandberg is an Honorary Ambassador of his native district Älvdalen and Cappadocia, Turkey. In 2005 he was awarded The Determination in the Face of Adversity Medal by the Explorers Club. The Travellers Club of Sweden awarded him the prestigious Silver Medal in 2006. The Travellers Club of Finland awarded Mikael the prestigious Mannerheim Medal at a ceremony in October, 2006.

About Jeff Willner
Kensington Tours is the inspiration of intrepid explorer and Royal Geographic Society Fellow Jeff Willner begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting. His thirst for travel stems from growing up in Africa where his parents worked for most of his childhood, and where he discovered the richness of global cultures. A veteran of global expeditions to over 70 countries, he has criss-crossed the continents to experience the extraordinary. During these years, Jeff realized the vast difference between a package tour and personal discovery — where deep knowledge and personal attention of a local guide can turn a trip into an experience. It is from these roots that Jeff began building his vision for Kensington Tours. With a commitment to rethinking the way we travel, and drawing on his years with McKinsey & Company and Wharton, he recruited a strong team of destination experts (with real in-country experience) and top IT professionals to build an award winning travel company that now spans the globe.

For more information please contact:
Jeff Willner
CEO,
Kensington Tours
jeff.willner@kensingtontours.com

“Some of the Expedition itineraries may require hard work, some may be expensive and some will feature unconventional destinations, but all promise a unique experience,” confirms Willner. “Whether escorted by an Explorer-in-Residence or not, all of our tours will be carefully managed by our local offices and local expert guides to ensure a safe and supported adventure.”

My 16th guest writer is Laura Davenport, wife of the intrepid adventurer Ripley Davenport who right now is walking through Mongolia! I have always wondered how some explorers manage to find a partner who not only offer them the great opportunity to have a family with children, but also let them live their dreams. Laura and Ripley have two fantastic children together! I have kept track on Ripley and communicated quite a lot with him and his wife before and under his Expedition. Therefore, I just wanted to know Laura’s thoughts about the extra ordinary issue! Read this great report!

I’m a mother of two small children, Ripley’s secretary and coach. I run his home base and remain ready for any emergency call 24/7. I take my mobile phone everywhere. Every time hear Ripley’s Satellite phone ring, my heart misses a beat and my mouth dries up. Obviously, I’m worried about him. It’s my first time and experience being alone while Ripley is away on his expedition, so I’m still learning.

What is it like to be the wife of an adventurer?

Allow me to give you a brief picture of my world and who I was before I met Ripley.

I lived in Denmark’s metropolis: Copenhagen. Just a stones throw, with my arm, from the city center. My life was surrounded by material items and meaningless gossip with, so called girlfriends, in an uptown café every Sunday. It was our girls get together but quite simply a brunch. I could go on weekend shopping tours to London or any other city, whenever I wanted. I could spend my time in the museums or concerts at will. Whatever, wherever, it was all forgotten the next day.

At that time, I thought I was happy and didn’t want to change my life in any way. It seemed to fit. One day, it all changed.

I was on a course, one of many yawn filled lectures, with my work colleagues and at the very hotel where we were staying, Ripley Davenport was giving a presentation about his adventure in the Namib Desert. His picture, displayed in the reception, caught my eye and having nothing to do for a few hours and without thought, I purchased a ticket to see what it was all about.

The room was full with all walks of life and I was surprised at the turn out.

After an introduction, I saw this tall, bald and very confident man giving an amazing speech. The room was silent and I sat, like everyone else, overwhelmed by his story. That was the quickest hour of my life and I just had to speak to him after the event. That evening, we talked, we laughed. Three 3 months later, I quit my job, moved out of the city to the Danish countryside. Four months later we were expecting our first child. A whirlwind romance you may say but one that still blossoms.

Ripley changed my perception of what is really important in this life.

Adventure? I didn’t know what it meant before I met him. To be honest, I had a stereotype of adventurers being strange, bearded and old people. That was my first lesson: Never judge a book by its cover and every story has two sides. Ripley taught me these two minor but important rules. He lives by them, so why don´t I?

What is like to be a wife while your husband is out on an expedition?

In a way, I’m on my own little expedition but only here, in Denmark. I’m a mother of two small children, Ripley’s secretary and coach. I run his home base and remain ready for any emergency call 24/7. I take my mobile phone everywhere. Every time hear Ripley’s Satellite phone ring, my heart misses a beat and my mouth dries up.  Obviously, I’m worried about him. It’s my first time and experience being alone while Ripley is away on his expedition, so I’m still learning.

We have experienced many difficult situations together and got through each a lot wiser. I know that future challenges can be overcome. We have been through so much. I have learnt not to worry so much. I’m more focused and calm now and learn to stay rational in the extreme situations.

My daily routine consists of strong cup of coffee with milk, getting the kids ready for kindergarten and then getting back home to the office and updating Ripley’s news. Once done and few coffees later, I find ways to promote the Mongolia 2010 Expedition further on top of my normal job (I’m glad that’s only 4 hrs/day). Then I trudge out to get the shopping for dinner, pick up the kids and try to figure out what and how to cook dinners. I can’t cook and given the chance – won’t cook. It’s always been Daddy’s job, but it’s now a role reversal. Scott, our oldest 4½ years old, repeatedly says, “Mummy, daddy cooks much better dinners, why?” What can I say except laugh and find excuses?

The hardest psychological challenge was definitely the first 2 weeks. When he called me on the 3^rd day of his expedition and told me about the torrential rains and thunderstorms, his equipment being drowned and his body shivering from being cold and wet, I felt hopeless. I contacted every adventurer and endurance athlete that Ripley knew to ask for advice and support. Each helped a great deal.

That night, I had a dozen cups of coffee just to stay awake. I felt like it was a duty to stay up with Ripley through his tough night. I believe, it was harder for me.

We were on different sides of the planet and different time zones so I adjusted my clock to suit his and tried to keep in his routine.

We have experienced many difficult situations together and got through each a lot wiser. I know that future challenges can be overcome. We have been through so much. I have learnt not to worry so much. I’m more focused and calm now and learn to stay rational in the extreme situations.

I thought I was ready to take over the family duties on my own and run home base while Ripley is in Mongolia. I guess you could never be ready for anything until you’re in the actual situation. Out of my comfort zone.

We don’t have any family support in Denmark. My mother has passed away and my father has little contact. Ripley’s parents live in England and contact with them is very scarce.

I could honestly say, that we’re on our own. It’s not easy, but we do what we have to do and never moan or gripe about our situation. It makes me laugh, when people complain about small petty things. I could write an endless list of examples.

We haven’t been out for as much as an evening dinner or drink in four years. So what! We still have our time together, when kids are asleep and that’s what is important.

Being an adventurer’s wife teaches you to be happy with what you’ve got and stop comparing what your neighbour has and maybe take a cooking class once in a while?

The Davenport family!

About me:

35 years old, born in Lithuania, speak Lithuanian, Russian, English and Danish, have degree in International Business Management. Moved to Denmark in 1998. Hobby: dancing salsa

Her husband Ripley wrote this report before he set off!

So why is it male explorers need to declare themselves the best, the fittest and the strongest adventurers on earth? And why, oh why do they only talk about themselves?

The other night I went to the monthly lecture at Travellers Club and again the talk was by a young male explorer. Sad to say I’ve heard his story before, and each time it was the same: The hero conquering the earth. The male hero conquering the earth, to be more precise.

So why is it male explorers need to declare themselves the best, the fittest and the strongest adventurers on earth? And why, oh why do they only talk about themselves?

We definitely need more female explorers, because without them we could become extinct.

Let me explain: Recently, I was sat next to a publisher of a famous US outdoor magazine. He sighed and said:

“Every day, as I receive letters and articles from people making expeditions and wanting to sell their material, I ask myself: “Hasn’t adventure come further than this? Is it still just white men with icicles in their beards dishing out the same old silly story?”

I couldn’t agree more. As no doubt do many people in the extreme sports and exploring fraternity. I am so fed up with this macho nonsense! It’s time for a change. We need more female narrators. We need a female perspective and men have to start thinking more like women. I think this is crucial to whether the public remain interested in adventure and exploration in the future, or switch off forever.

What men often fail to note is that there are still considerable differences in how a story can be told. For example, this morning I was searching the internet for stories about Himalayan expeditions. I found this report by a pair of male climbers:

“It’s been a tough and troublesome today. Our backpacks weigh about 60 pounds. Today we struggled for six hours. Tomorrow we will continue and pitch our final camp at 7,500 meters. We won’t sleep much tonight, but we are feeling all right.”

Yes there are many women explorers. Many find it difficult to get their voices heard but they are there. Wings WorldQuest is dedicated to women explorers. We now have 60 Fellows who are making important discoveries throughout the world. We have sponsored more than 40 flag expeditions. We have an education program that has reached 40,000 young people to inspire them to get engaged with learning. Exploration is not about the person as much as it is about the quest for knowledge. Check out the website www.wingsworldquest.org. Also my book Women of Discovery about 85 women from a dozen cultures who over the last 2000 years made important discoveries through exploration...Milbry Polk

Other than their closest relatives, I find it hard to believe anyone is really interested in this stuff. Personally, I find it mind-numbingly boring. Endless even.

So, let’s compare this with a separate account. This time from an expedition on the same mountain, at the same time, but written by a woman:

“Why am I never satisfied? I’m thinking I should have exercised more. I also think I should have been more mentally prepared. Actually, I’ve been preparing for five years. And trained five times a week. But I don’t think I’m a good enough climber. But that’s the way I am in everyday life as well. I could be better at cooking, decorating, fashion, my job. I could be a better wife, friend, and so on. Still, I am not giving up my dream of climbing an 8,000-meter peak. But will I make it?”

Wonderfully thrilling! The fact that, in this case, the men reached the top and not the woman is unimportant. What is interesting, however, is her story. This is how tomorrow’s adventurers, when they are documenting expeditions need to be writing. This is how people lecturing should be talking. It’s the drama, the personal commitment we want, not another hero story.

An even better way is to recount the story of someone else; men should take inspiration from the achievement of others and not just try to impress with tales of hardship: We’re bored of it!

I worry that if we don’t change this male-dominated culture, we will see fewer professional adventurers and explorers, because less people will want to read about them. Women, save us from extinction!

Female explorers remember: Anything and everything is possible! We’ve known this for the last 150,000 years, maybe even for the last 3.2 million years, ever since the bipedal Lucy began her well-documented excursion…

Ladies, let us know your thoughts, and guys get tapping too. We are all in this together.

“Mikael, I had to abandon my expedition! My idea was to cycle through Africa, but I had to give up after just three months. I lost it along the way. What did I do wrong?”

My answer to this email was simple and direct: “You lost motivation and you hadn’t prepared enough!”

Mikael: “Resting and eating are vital to your success.”

His email was similar to hundreds I have received in the last 25 years. After reviewing all of them at length, I realised these failed expeditions often had three things in common: Explorers had lost motivation, and they had failed to understand the need for good sleep, and the benefits of good food.

Why not try these simple solutions to make your Expedition a success?

When the going got too tough, they proved not tough enough to keep on going! Key to any successful expedition is understanding why you go through all these hardships – at the most difficult of moments remember what it is that drives you, and draw on this, it can be your motivation.

Good sleep and good food are the two most important pillars of a successful expedition. If you don’t know how and where to pitch your tent, you will eventually fail due to lack of sleep.

The tent is your fortress and your home, where you spend most of your exploring life. This is where you rest, feed and recuperate. Don’t set off on an expedition until you can sleep very well in your tent. I have spent over 2500 nights in tents – many of them before even setting off.

As important, is being able to cook a great meal. You need energy and rest to be able to make the right decisions. So don’t leave before you know how to cook a gourmet meal on your petrol stove!

That said, you could just get out there! Trust me, this advice is only complementary; you really need to be out on the ground learning the lessons of exploration, if you want to succeed.

So I say to Jordan Romero, aged 13: Go for it!

When I first read that a 13-year-old  boy wanted to climb Everest, I reacted negatively. I thought this has got to be a joke, he is way too young!

But reading more about Jordan Romero it becomes clear that this boy knows his way around a mountain. He’s been to high altitude before and has some top peaks on his CV.

So why the worry? His detractors, and there are many, are clearly forgetting what exploring is all about.

Human life is about pushing the limits of what others think is impossible. Or stupid. Or irresponsible. Or dangerous. This underpins all exploring.

Put yourself in the boy’s position; what an opportunity!

So I say to Jordan Romero, aged 13: Go for it!

Read more here! And please, tell me your thoughts! Leave a comment!

Beginning this upcoming week, I will be writing a blog here and be part of a very interesting team of travel writers! I will publish the blog articles here on my own site a week later. First one, as below:

“Mikael, can you please tell me how to get sponsorship?”

I must have heard this question a thousand times from potential explorers and adventurers. I think a quarter of all emails I receive today ask this. They are mainly from young people, the world over, who want to organise their first adventure and just don’t have the means.

Believing you are the perfect prospect for a sponsor is not enough. Most bids fail. No matter how good your idea, sponsorship comes with time and a good track record.

Even then it is not easy: I spend a lot of my time looking for my sponsors. So, to help, I have put together three tips for all those budding explorers keen to get out there.

1. Ask yourself: Do I really need it? I know many first-timers want sponsors because they think it looks cool, professional, and impressive having a lot of logos on their gear. Travelling like I do, in the hope of uniting cultures, one doesn’t want to look like you are competing in a highly commercial Formula One race!

Where keeping a high profile is important, by all means, go for the badges and branding.  But remember, there are other ways to market your potential sponsors. I also know, after dealing with lots of sponsors, that most of them today don’t want to be over-exposed: Being too commercial is the same as not being too serious.

My point is, if you have the funds, it is a better choice to avoid sponsors: Less work, less stress and you run everything the way you want. Don’t worry: if you want to start with a historical expedition, you definitely won’t need money for all the gadgets and the best gear.

My advice is: If you haven’t done a serious adventure before, do one. Then try for sponsors for your second outing.

A potential sponsor wants to see a track record of what you have done. So, a better choice initially is to work and save money!

2. Think: What does a potential sponsor want? What can you offer them, which all the other explorers cannot? Just as an example: I have a friend who is in charge of Canon’s sponsorship department, and he gets 300 requests for sponsorship per day! Only ten per year are successful, and almost all of these are from well-known explorers.

It’s not a hopeless cause, however. Just try a new perspective if you are not already established or famous enough.

3. Plan: Target only sponsors that fit your vision, and find sponsors that will become your friend. Some people will do anything for money. And this applies to some within adventure and exploration circles.

Remember, the future will judge you by who you cooperated with. If your expedition has an ecological theme – most have today, since this sells and looks good – why sign up with a sponsor who has a poor record on these issues and is purely commercial?

I would never deal with a sponsor if I don’t have a personal relationship with them. This familiarity means you both know what you want, and unnecessary problems won’t arise. So find the ones who fit your vision and it will prove a great partnership!

I hope these three tips are of use. Please get back to me with your opinions or questions and I will try to help!