Another Update

I would like to Update those who do bother to read this, 'i do plan on updating this soon'. Just to quickly put it up to date though. I had a change of heart, and after 2months in the amazing Edinburgh I caught the train back to Burton Latimer to work for my parents. A long term commitment that has put an end to lengthy travels. But this hasn't stopped me visiting new places. I recently returned to Edinburgh for a weekend at the finge festival. I have also visited friends in Germany and Holland (I will post up about that very soon). I have further travels planned in the near future and a couple of challenges planed that will push my limits further.

A SHORT UPDATE

I've now been in Edinburgh for over a week. I have been lucky enough to find some work and have made some new friends. I have even been pushing my cooking skills to the limit and have been surviving with a budget of £12 a day!

I arrived in Edinburgh with a bad knee and headed to a hostel in Cramond. £5 a night! But its miles from the city center. No problem for me as i have a bike and like the excuse to use it. Its not a bad Hostel, I get free WiFi and B'fast. The problem is i have to share my room with 7 others and the odd coach load of school kids running around at midnight keeping everyone awake.

The first weekend in Edinburgh I met up with a fellow Couchsurfer who had also returned from travels and is looking for work. We had great chat while walking around the city and finished with a coffee. The next day I met with another Couchsurfer who took me on a 40mile cycle ride around the Pentlands.

I managed to get some work!!! luckily an old manager and friend had some work available. So for the past week I have been occupied with earning some much needed money. But i still had time to make it to the pub on Wednesday for some drinks at a couchsurfing meet. Bonus!!

I now have a couple of weeks work based from Edinburgh before i have to worry about what to do next. For now I'm just visiting the sights and enjoying my favourite city.

Oh and the food. I'm on a very small budget, so its reduced price food for me. This usually involves pizza basses with tinned toppings. Its becoming a bit of a Hobie. So far haggis pizza it the best with chilly con carnie pizza following closely behind.

My daily budget it going well and looks something like this.
£6 for bed and b'fast
£3 for food and drink
£3 for misc stuff E.g. washing, books or shampoo.

So thats my update for now.

But why am I telling you this, I'm home rite!
wrong, I'm travelling, but very close to home :)

MACCLESFIELD TO EDINBURGH. Vlog 024

Part 3. Here are my final days cycling to Edinburgh. After the first two days I it was best to rest my knee. So after a long weekend at my sisters it was time to head off. Heres how it all went.

Thanks to the following for giving me a place to stay on the way up
Andrew (family friend)
Zoe & Simon (sister & her b'friend)
Alex (cousin)
And all those that offered

LONG EATON TO MACCLESFIELD. Vlog 023

Here's the 2nd part of my cycle trip to Edinburgh. This section took me 55 miles from Long Eaton (Nottingham) to Macclesfield (Manchester). This has 3 interesting sections. Firstly I had to find my way from one side of derby to the other using their rubbish cycle routes. Next I cycled up an old railway line called the Tissington trail. And finally I peddled over The Cat and Fiddle Pass, the UK's most dangerous road.

BURTON LATIMER TO LONG EATON. Vlog 022

The start of my cycle to Edinburgh for a job hunt started on the 21st of april 2010 with a 60 Mile cycle from Burton Latimer to Long Eaton. This video shown how it went.

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT PART 2, Video Blog 021

So here's part 2 af my Annapurna circuit cycle trek. As you will see i made it over the pass on the 18th of march 2010 (my 24th birthday). This was a great experiance that I will never forget as I hope the many amazing people I met on the way will not forget me.

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT PART 1, Video Blog 020

Here's part one of my cycle trek around the Annapurna circuit in Nepal. This was a difficult challange that involved pushing, carrying and peddling my way through the Himilayas. Reaching 5500 meters above sea level. It was difficult to escape the tourist trail on this part of my adventure, but I still found it interesting to see how the culture had adapted with tourism. It was also nice to be part of a very small minority who has completed this track on two wheels.

BUS TO POKHARA, Video Blog 019

I was tempted with the idea of cycling to Pokhara. A 2 day journey that the Lonely planet recommended. I recommend you don't unless you have cycled around the world and don't want to bus any part of it. But for leisure you should save it for another place. Luckily due to my feeling ill, I was put back a day and had to catch the bus to meet my deadline of reaching Thorong la pass on the 18th.

Coming soon...

KATHMANDU

KATHMANDU
Video Blog 018



A couple of days seeing the sights of Kathmandu before heading to Pokhara and the Annapurna Circuit. Kathmandu wasn't the peaceful city I was expecting, in fact I left only a couple of days after arriving with the most awful saw throat, (And that's coming from a smoker). Polluted, noisy and very unnerving narrow streets with all the traffic whizzing past your feet. But on the up side the streets (that felt like back alleyways) were lined with outdoor shops filled with cheap camping/hiking equipment at stupidly low prices, And if you paid for the fakes it was insanely cheap. Hence I left Kathmandu looking like a Northface advert.