100 kilometer walk

sorry for the length of my time since the last post.

i ended the year on an epic walk ( for me at least). I left home at 5:56 am on dec 31st, followed the yada river to the shonai river, looped around to mie prefecture, down to the port, zig zagged through the streets of nagoya visiting various shrines and temples to observe the new year celebrations, had supper at shooters, headed east down hiro koji dori, with a few detours, and arrive home just after 11 pm in time to see the new year in with my family.

i did on whim, deciding 3 days before to double my distance of previous walks. The last 20 k was a killer. felt like the flu was setting in. for two days following felt sick but all is well now

Team Hoyt

check these two adventures out . . . an unbelievable story of a father and son saving each others lives in ways that are quite unexpected
Team Hoyt

�For its reforms, India deserves a thumbs-up�

Interesting interview with the controversial scholar from Columbia University. Take note of the contrast between poverty rates in India compared to Sub-Saharan Africa


�For its reforms, India deserves a thumbs-up�

challenges coming up

the folks at HOPE are running some good challenges over the next few months . . . they just finished a tri for beginners, and are organizing a party of runners to do the honolulu marathon in december. for more information go to www.hopeglobalchallenge.com

floydlandis.com

With Lance out of the tour de france, it seemed that the tour would revert to being just a bike race . . . a great race, but still a bike race. But, Floyd Landis has changed all that. What an inspiration!!
floydlandis.com

san diego to panama

a team is gathering to motorcyle from San Diego to Panama in February 2007, and raising money for a rural development project in Honduras, which they will visit along the way. Any tips or insights for the trip from those who have gone before are welcome on this blog.

great idea for a book club

Three copies of my books are currently traveling the world and being tracked by bookcrossings.com.
BookCrossing - The World's Biggest Free Book Club - Catch and Release Used Books

lake district walk

the uk office of hope international development agency has organized a lake district sponsored walk in sept. check it out


HOPE International (UK) - News

summer challenges

two challenges in japan this summer:

fuji charity climb in july and an entry level triathlon in august.

for more information go to www.hopeglobalchallenge.com

walkathon in nagoya

in the midst of a writing season for the last month therefore not too much blogging.

now gearing up for the annual walkathon in nagoya, may 22nd at meijo koen. hopefully we will once again attract 2000 intrepid walkers and will be able to dispatch about 50,000 dollars to worthy initiatives in central japan. for more info go to www.nagoyawalkathon.com

california to panama

some of the cyclists who joined me cambodia are planning their next great adventure with purpose: san diego to panama on motorcycle in aid of HOPE. i will opt out of this one as i prefer the self propelled form of adventure travel . . . but i will read the web updates with great interest. they are planning for feb 2007.

moped journey

i recieved an email tonight from hugo in NZ who is leading a team of MOPEDers through cambodia in oct and raising money for HOPE. good on ya hugo.

yet more photos

sorry i have been off line for a while. still catching up after the cambodia trip. here are some photos, taken by Phil one of the aussies on the trip

more photos of Cambodia Challenge

andrew and the water buffalo

waiting for more pics from the other cyclists, but here is one taken on my cell phone of andrew watching the buffalo bath where we had washed just a few minutes before

a changed life

the trip through the backcountry of cambodia was memorable. probably one of the more profound moments was when we were standing in the yard of one family who recieved a well two and half years ago. they are now growing rice and various other crops and selling it in the market. we did some mental math and calculated, using data they gave us that their annual income had gone from 250 dollars a year to over a 1000 dollars year not to mention the increased quality of life . . . health, education, hope, optimism

what an adventure

wow . . . two weeks in the back country of cambodia. lots to tell and will do soon. back safe and sound.

awp in cambodia

am off to cambodia in the morning for the sponsored bicycle challenge. so far over 30,000 has been pledged. for daily updates check out www.hopeglobalchallenge.com

pipedream

the bike from my sponsor arrived yesterday. turns out it is not a 29er, but a very sweet, titanium mtn bike. took it out for a test run on double and single track in our local hills. my initial reaction was very positive. there is also a unique style handlebar on it which is comfortable but does take some getting used to. i will take a photo of the bike and post it. i have less than a week to break it in and then repack it for the journey to and through cambodia

boys becoming men: help

boys becoming men: help

peter

had a call today from peter who completed a sponsored challenge last summer in japan. he rode 1000 k and raised money for the poor. he wants to take 6 weeks next summer and ride across north america and is looking for suggestions for a good route.

any ideas?

it will be a charity challenge again and therefore needs a route that is interesting and challenging. Something more than vancouver to ny perhaps

cambodia

less than two weeks to go the cambodia bike challenge.

to find out click on hope challenges in the links section

welcome

welcome. the aim of this blog is to be a meeting point for adventurous souls who are planning challenges, expeditions or sporting events in aid of worthwhile causes. hopefully, those who join into the conversation can swap, ideas, tips and insights into organizing adventures with purpose.