Recently, I caught up with Paul from Going Solo Adventures to talk about all things travel and adventure.
If you're a keen adventurer, then you will appreciate the work that Paul puts into his trips and the places it takes him.
You can find details on his adventures through the normal internet means:
Website:
www.going-solo.co.uk
FaceBook:
www.facebook.com/GoingSoloAdventures
Twitter:
@GoingSoloAdvent
YouTube:
www.youtube.com/user/GoingSoloTV
Sarah-Louise: Different people measure ‘success’ in many different ways:
possessions, wealth, family, and career... Do you think that society in general
has overlooked the most basic form of ‘success’ in humanity, that is, mankind’s
ability to survive and adapt, to go back to our 'roots' - so to speak, and
reconnect with our basic instincts?
Paul: Robots
Sarah-Louise: (laughs) What drives you?
Paul: Mini robots
Sarah-Louise: Your trip (apart from your blog and webpage...) uses
little to no 'new’ technology. Why?
Paul: Because I can't afford it and technology confuses me...OH, and I
have no way to keep it charged-up, so why bother?
Sarah-Louise: Do you get lonely?
Paul: Yes sometimes, but then I close my eyes and dream – I’m never
lonely there.
Sarah-Louise: Where do your dreams take you?
Paul: To planning whole new adventures, or, sometimes to zombie infested
war zones where I'm a survivor saving the last of mankind - I think we all have
that dream.
Sarah-Louise: Do you think you will ever stop?
Paul: Dreaming? Maybe, when my time’s up.
Sarah-Louise: Nice, but I meant the adventure?
Paul: I don't think it will. I'm always plotting something new, I just have
to figure out which adventure I do next.
Sarah-Louise: Boxers or briefs?
Paul: Man thong
Sarah-Louise: Blondes, brunettes or red heads?
Paul: I have a thing for grey hair at the moment.
Sarah-Louise: Water or snow?
Paul: Snow
Sarah-Louise: In your last adventures you met people who offered support
and encouragement to you, how does that make you feel…when a complete stranger
steps up and wants to support you?
Paul: To good to be true, I think…’are there any hidden motives for this
amazing generosity...?’ Then after a few seconds of assessing the situation I
normally say, "sod it" (in my head not out loud) and just go with it.
That’s part of my adventure. I'm the kind of person who finds it hard to ask
for help as I like to do things on my own, that way I'm the only person who
can’t let myself down.
Sarah-Louise: This new adventure is very different from your last two.
Why did you pick to do a river rafting adventure?
Paul: It was time to try something new and I wanted a water adventure. I
started thinking about it half way across Canada and once the idea got in my
head I couldn't shift it.
Sarah-Louise: What’s next...The Amazon?
Paul: Not to sure. Whatever the Mississippi lets me dream up. While I
was cycling across Europe, I had a dream about Canada. While cycling across
Canada I had the dream about the Mississippi... So I guess after this I will
know.
Sarah-Louise: So... you think dreams do come true then?
Paul: Indeed they do, if you work hard at making them come true.
Sarah-Louise: Do you believe in fate?
Paul: Do you believe in magic?
Sarah-Louise: Are you asking me a question or is that your answer?
Paul: Well is that your next question because that’s my answer.
Sarah-Louise: (laughs)…When you were a boy - What did you want to 'be'?
Paul: A man. Nah, seriously I wanted to be Peter Pan - but don't tell
anyone.
Sarah-Louise: What did you dream of doing with your life?
Paul: I wanted to work at Disney doing animation but sadly I didn't do
to well in my exams. So I opted to join the army and then my dad offered me a
job as a plumber before I could enlist. Then I just wanted to be a plumber. I
had no interest in travel or adventure until my brother introduced me to
snowboarding. I had a winter holiday in the French Alps that changed my outlook
on life. I gave up a well-paid job and my own business, after 7 years of
building it up and started traveling in 2006. Most my family and friends
thought I would be back in 6 months because I wouldn't like it. Its now 2012
and I'm still having the adventures and proving people wrong.
Sarah-Louise: Are you nervous about building the raft? What 'risks' have
you factored in?
Paul: Very nervous. For my bikecar adventures I had 6 months to build,
test and tweak the bike before I left England across Europe. That 6 months gave
me so much knowledge and confidence, I knew I would be fine. With successfully
making it to Italy, I knew it could cross Canada with very little changes to
the design. For the rafting trip I have 1 day to build the raft and 1 chance of
getting it right. If I fail the raft will break up and my belongings will sink.
So I could lose all that I own. Risk wise I try not to think about them and
will worry about the challenges when they occur.
Sarah-Louise: Humans love routine (well most do) how do you keep
yourself sane while traveling alone - also with the added fact that you are
'stuck' on a raft?
Paul: I think the key is not to keep sane, one thing less to worry
about. I'm sure I will be singing, dancing and dodging bigger boats to keep be
busy and when its quiet, I guess I will write, enjoy the views and maybe reconnect
with art.
Sarah-Louise: Do you have a soundtrack that you travel with/to?
Paul: I don't own a music devise. Haven't for years. I might buy a radio
and listen to what the locals do - this will make the trip a little more
personal when ever I hear a song in the future to reconnect me to that one special
moment...
Sarah-Louise: From your past adventures - you seemed to have developed
obsessive cravings for Tim Horton's, especially the chilli - How do you find
eating local cuisine and what do you miss most from home?
Paul: I will eat anything that’s put in front of me...well most things,
I should say. I keep away from tofu and chickpeas…and I'm a happy man. I don't
really miss things from home as I find new addictions. Canada - Tim Hortons.
Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua - Gallo Pinto. Australia - Kangaroo. New
Zealand - Fergburger. France - Snails... There’s always something else.
Sarah-Louise: and for the record... chickpeas and tofu are yummy!
Sarah-Louise: So what comforts do you take from home then, if not food?
Paul: I guess my comforts are my camera. That’s about it. I don't own a
lot and I'm too old to take Hedgy the Hedgehog.
Sarah-Louise: So, you really do 'rough it', so to speak?
Paul: Hell yeah and I even like using natures toilets
Sarah-Louise: As can be seen from your blog posts…What about family and
friends, how do you manage the distance and long periods of time apart?
Paul: I think as a family we operate better at long distance haha. Yeah,
I miss my mum from time to time, especially around clothes washing day. I miss
Molly (family dog) too, she’s to cute not to miss. Generally I don't miss
people or things so I don't have a problem.
Sarah-Louise: You don’t miss people? What about relationships - do you
find it challenging, or do you just move with the moment?
Paul: I move with the moment, or, in this case with the river. Never
found anyone crazy enough to join me. Maybe that could be my next adventure...
finding true love while doing something down the Amazon River or kayaking the
cost of Asia...
Sarah-Louise: Is world domination your ultimate plan (as in, to have
travel every inch of the globe)?
Paul: Not every inch... but as much as possible. How else will I find
that special someone?
Sarah-Louise: What is the worse part about traveling?
Paul: Going home.
