The Countdown Continues...

The countdown to March 2nd continues, at quite an alarming rate, and in keeping with the theme of my journey, no aeroplanes; I have been reading a book entitled ‘Flightless – Incredible Journeys without Leaving the Ground’. The book is a collection of diary extracts, short stories and personal accounts of a variety of trips, all land or water based, offering different insights into people’s experiences.

One excerpt that caught my attention was by Scott Kennedy, a travel writer for Lonely Planet, who was reminiscing about the stage in his life when his eyes were opened to the endless opportunities for adventure. The crux of what he was saying being this: it doesn’t matter who you are, where you are or what you have, the only obstacles preventing us from a world of endless adventure are those created in our minds.

If I am being honest I have, in the past, created obstacles for myself – as I am sure most of us have – that have stopped me from discovering my limits, stopped me from going out to the edge and seeing how far I can push myself. I would be lying, so close to the trip, if I said some of those old demons hadn’t returned to test me. The difference being, this time I am ready to overcome them, there is a burning desire deep inside of me to take this challenge on and triumph.

Devils Peak from Lions Head

With every day that goes by my emotions intensify, my excitement ratchets up a level, the seeds of doubt grow ever so slightly, and the cloud of fear hidden deep inside of me grows heavier. Not that I was ever expecting to just slip out of Cape Town, and off into Africa, unaffected by my ever-changing feelings, but I had not quite expected them to affect me like this.

Waking up, naturally, at 05:30 is not so bad, as long as it is a once off. However, five days in a row, including the weekend, and you start to wonder if this is the early stages of insomnia developing. But then, as sleep gives way to the realisation that life is about to change, maybe forever, you forget about the tiredness and being awake at unsociable hours and instead try and focus on what needs to be done to ensure the adventure takes place as planned.

Table Mountain from Lions Head

One thing I am becoming increasingly aware of is the fact I am going to miss Cape Town. It truly is a remarkable city, and if ever given the chance I would recommend living here, and the chances are it will be my home again one day. When you know something is about to be taken away you learn to appreciate it so much more, rather than almost taking it for granted – as is the case with me at present.

Suddenly there is so much I want to do, and juggling doing all those things with preparing for such a major trip can be a balancing act at times. Although with the early rising comes the chance to see Cape Town in all its beauty, sunrise on a peaceful Sunday morning – not everyone’s idea of fun but a chance to create a few more memories here, before the next chapter begins...

written by

MarcusInAfrica on February 18, 2009 from Cape Town, South Africa

from the travel blog: Cape to Cardiff

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Good lad - getting the blog off to a fantastic start by reminding all how lucky you have been to live in such an amazing place for the last two years. The next year will offer many opportunities to make all your readers very jealous - something I am only too aware of myself!
I would like a response from you at some point though fool, as I still haven't been filled in on how you got on after Xmas - with your office?
Keep reading my Blog old bean - a couple of amazing posts have been smashed out recently.
Peace out

P.s. IF (I said IF) England make it to 2010, I will be returning to the Cape with the lads in tow! Party time! ;-)

written by

johnnoble on February 22, 2009

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