Planning stuff

The magnitude of the following next eighteen months is starting to hit home, well to Will anyway. That is as far as the trips to Greece and Mongolia are concerned. The reality of what is required in order for these expeditions to happen are yet another factor that both Will and Sam, to a lesser extent, are just starting to accept. How do we pay for both of these trips? That's the prime consideration right now. With this in mind we are, all three, frantically ebaying (is that even a word?) everything that we can think of.

Mum's memorial is very quickly approaching and I have done little to extend any invites to those that were unable to attend the funeral last year. It was all very sudden and passed with a blur and gave hardly any time for most of those involved to accept and grieve.

The Greek trip is all but sorted now. We have a prospective route:

View Pirate Badgers Travelling Monkey Band European tour 2011 in a larger map

There are a few changes that are likely to happen. For example, we will possibly be visiting the monasteries at Meteora in Greece and possibly some great places in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Macedonia. We still have not made some decisions regarding the charities we aim to support and also the finer points of the musical elements of our tour. With the memorial looming closer all members of the 'Travelling Monkey Band' will be present so we can iron out these wrinkles then.

Mongolia. Now that's another funky moon hedgehog. A completely different set of grey coconuts if you like. At this moment, this very present second in fact, it is only Will and I that are departing next September (2012) and striking out for the extreme inshore realm of Mongolia. The planning meeting yesterday went well and I think that we both have a firmer insight of what is required. Not just from a logistical perspective but also from a personal one. Will understands that he is likely to be so far beyond any comfort zone he is ever to have created that it will be a massive shock to the system and I, for the first time, will be responsible for his development and safety throughout this planned sojourn.

Oh, for consistency, here is the proposed route. (As it stands)

View Just for distance in a larger map

As time progresses things will almost definitely change but for the time being we have a plan. I aim to alter the website to reflect our preparations for both expeditions.

As an aside, the drive for funds is leading to thinking about what we can do to raise money. Our precious kayaks are now on ebay, or they could be, I'm not sure. The aim is to get as much stuff sold to raise money as possible, Iron Maiden tickets at the O2 are another hope.

Things to check but will update stuff soon.