All Around The World

Well hello readers!!!


The reading base for this just keeps getting more and more momentum. Hello to new readers in Holland and Thailand!!!


So, less than 2 weeks to go now. Had as much of the jabs as they could get fitted in. Pretty much got all my clothes and equipment, just gotta wait. 


Was feeling really ill for no reason at all this morning (banging headache, slurred speach - basically a hangover/drunk but with no alcohol in my system at all) and thought that I would go for a walk to clear my head and feel better. Found a quaint path in Clevedon down by the seafront so walked down it, and carried on walking, and walking, and walking. In the end I finished up in Portishead over 8 miles and 3 hours later. Was a rather pleasant walk, thou it has highlighted the need for new underwear (there was a slight 'chaffing' incident!).

So preliminary route for the states looks something like - NYC - Philly - Washington DC - Nashville - Memphis - New Orleans - Dallas - San Antonio - Phoenix - San Fran - L.A. but like all things I have discovered when planning this trip it will probably change. Just see what happens. Good news is that I am hopefully gonna catch a New York Yankees game. I kinda dont really like the Yankees as I compare them to the Man Utd of baseball (lots of money, always winning) but I suppose if you are going to watch baseball, you have to go watch the Yankees. I have also checked and yes, there are a few bars that wll be showing the F.A. Cup semi final between Spurs & Chelski. If there wasn't - this whole trip could have been in jeopardy. 

Went down to the deepest, darkest part of Devon last weekend to see family. Surprisingly thou it wasn't that dark at all, in fact me and my mother had a pretty darn good time. Chilling, seeing some awesome gardens and flowers (seriously!) and just catching up. 

Thats pretty much it.

Except, James - there will be no update on the hood, not until I finish travelling!

Tom

Remember, email me - tom@tomswayround.com would be good to hear from all you crazy cats!!!

Doctor, Doctor gimme the news, I've got a bad case of . . . . . .

Well hopefully nothing!

Lastest news from camp TWR (Toms Way Round) is that I have had my first 'round' of vaccinations. Some advice for any 'would be' travellers out there. Look into what jabs you need to get done fairly early in the whole preparation process. I fear I may have left it a little too late. I have decided that I will run the risk and stare Yellow fever in the face as I am not going to have a jab against that. Hepatitis B sounded more evil and so I am stumping up the £25 per jab for that nasty lil fella!

That biggest news is that I am a 'dot com' owner. Yes, you may (or may not) already know but this site can now be located @ www.tomswayround.com isn't it ironic (its like rain on your wedding day!) that at the moment I and just about so set out on the trip of a lifetime, get away from the hustle and bustle of the world, not be tied down to 'the evil man' and break free from the traps of life I purchase a 'dot com'! Oh well, I have never really ever done anything by the book!

Thats pretty much all to report do far. I am taking a trip down to Devonia at the weekend to see some family, might get another chance to do a bit of hiking/walking. I am getting into this fresh air malarkey!

Oh, before I go. I have been looking at the stats on views of this blog. MASSIVE thanks to everyone that has read it so far. You know you can post a comment if you wish too, come on dont be shy. We have had about 80 views from the states, 4 from Russia, 2 from Germany, 1from Spain and 8 from Saudi Arabia (thanks dad). So if any of you guys stateside wanna meet up when I am over - drop me a email tom@tomswayround.com

I look forward to hearing from you!!!

TOE

That's Not My Name . . . . . .

Well, its official, I have booked my tickets - no going back now!

Yes on the 10th day in April of the year 2012 I will be heading on a jet plane out of Heathrow airport and starting the adventure of a lifetime.

So the schedule looks like thus -
LON - NYC 10/04/12
LA - Fiji 17/05/12
Fiji - Auckland 25/05/12
Auckland - Melbourne 28/06/12
Sydney - Singapore 12/07/12
Singapore - Mumbai 12/08/12

Then I will be heading to Dubai at some point, still got those tickets to purchase. Had a revelation today that my immune system might not be totally up for Cambodia & Vietnam (which I hope to take in whilst in Singapore) so made a quick call to the Dr's back home, got a appointment booked for next week. Will see if I have left it too late. If I have how bad can Yellow fever really be? I might just end up singing past Coldplay hits!

I did my good deed for the week yesterday. The is a very kind lady who lives above us and she found it hard to walk. Now she volunteers at one of the local charity shops in the town. She asked me if I could possibly give her a lit down the hill to the town yesterday. Me being the kind gentlemen that you all know me for being (and if you don't know me - I am!) said of course I would. So, at 9 I met her at her flat and gave her a lift to the town. Halfway down the hill she asked me if i prefer to be called Jason or Jase, cue a rather puzzled look by me and the response "I actually prefer Tom". This was met with a even more puzzled look from her and the conclusion "is that your middle name then?" I didn't have the heart or the time (it wasn't a very long trip) to iron out all the confusion that was flying around my Megane and just relied "yes, that is my middle name".

This was the start of a couple days of confusion over my name. I read on BBC on-line yesterday that Starbucks are now taking customer service seriously (finally) and are now asking for your name whenever you place a order with then. Now when I was in the centre of Bristol this morning (to book my flights, have I already mentioned that?) I had 15 min to spare and so I thought that I would see this new customer service in action. I walked into the Starbucks on Park Street and ordered my double espresso. The 'barista' then, on cue asked me for my name. Now I don't really know what came over me but I thought that I would be a little bit of a rebel and chose 'Oliver' (Its my middle name and I think that the confusion in the car yesterday probably got me questioning my real name) anyway Starbucks was unusually quiet and so the lady behind the counter then asked me what my friends called me, Oli or Oliver. I replied that I prefer Oliver (because who wouldn't). She then said "and what do your parents prefer?". Having to think on my feet (I wasn't expecting the Spanish inquisition, I just wanted a coffee) I ashamedly let my guard down and responded "Tom". This spark yet another look of confusion over my name (getting used to these). Backtracking I explained that Tom is my real name but I prefer Oliver but my parents still call me Tom. There was a slight look of horror over the lady behind the counter as she couldn't quite believe that my parents would call me something that I don't like. Luckily my espresso was ready, I grabbed it and ran, leaving all the workers at Starbucks on park street to gossip on what type of upbringing a boy must have when even his own parents call him something that he doesn't like.

So the thought of the week is that when asked your name, just respond Tom. Unless your name isn't Tom, then it's Jason, Jase or Oliver.

Till next time
Thanks for reading

TOM!

I Walk The Line

Which way are we walking Tom?

So firstly, I feel that I should explain my titles to these blogs. I thought that it would be a good idea to have every title as a song title. This seems like a good idea now, we shall see how long it will last.

So why another post so quickly I hear you cry? Well, yesterday I did the official pre-world tour walk that every professional in their right mind does before they go travelling.

Near to my house there is a old railway line (title making sense yet? ) called the Strawberry line. It is a 11 mile walk that has been opened up to the public to enjoy. So, bright eyed and bushy tailed (and after I over slept) Andy and I set off yesterday morning.

Its a Tunnel!

Now I dont know what sort of pace that I expected Andy to walk at, but it was a lot faster than I expected. He is a seasoned world traveller and as such 11 miles was simply a stroll to him. The other point to this exercise was to try out my new walking boots, new trousers, new micro fleece and new gillet. Yes, I definitely look the part (so much so that in GO outdoors I purchased a mountain rescue pin badge, I thought that after the amount of money I have spent on hiking equipment I am entitled to think that I may use the English and Welsh mountain at some point).

We did have a lovely day on our walk. The rain jacket didn't get tested at all, it was the first time that I have wanted it to rain and it didn't, and now, even when I have come over to Wales to see my Mother, IT IS STILL NOT RAINING!!! Damn you British weather, Damn you! We walked through the orchards of Thatchers cider and saw where gods drink was made, we walked though a few old stations (Winscombe being the best station en route) and we even walked through a tunnel! Fun was had by all.

I will leave you now, have a cracking weekend whatever you are doing. Me? I am solving a murder that will take place tonight in the Valleys.

A penny for your thoughts though, GO Outdoors - if you have to shop there, you have to GO Indoors!

TOE

Papa's Got A Brand New Bag . . . . . .

Good Evening All!
I thought that it would be time for a update about what is going on, that and the fact that Ray Mears is boring me on tele.
I have made my first purchase in preparation for the trip, a backpack. I went to GOoutdoors and apparently if you take a Andy Martin with you his bargaining skills are good enough to get about £40 off the RRP.
I have also made a few changes to the schedule. I felt that to go to Russia would be too much of a hassle with the Visas and stuff. I will probably hit Germany after Dubai and work my way across Europe home.
Thats about all really, I have got the Visas for the States and Oz (I think, will soon find out when I get to border control) heading to Cardiff tomorrow to sort out my Indian Visa, then it will be time to book the tickets.
I am also planning a pre-tour walk this friday along a old railway line where I live. It is looking like it will be a rainy day and so will be a good chance to try out my waterproof jacket (that I will be buying on Thursday)

Till we meet again,
Thanks for reading.
TOE