The last few days for me have been all about reminding myself about what Ticket to Ride is all about. As we continue on our exciting growth path it is very easy to forget the reason we why we do what we do as I am a strong believer in loving what you do and giving it everything you’ve got.

Surfwise there is no place I would rather be, Jeffreys bay is famed as one of the best places to surf in world and for good reason. By local standards the surf we have been having over the past few days is yet to be described as classic, however when you ride a crispy clean wave for 150 metres as the sun comes up and are then joined by a school of dolphins, you know you are experiencing something amazing and that is before you’ve even had breakfast.

Staying at Island Vibe is another highlight of this trip, sitting out on the decking at the end of the day overlooking unspoiled sand dunes that fall into crystal clear blue sea drinking a beer waiting for the steaks to come off the Braii, is pretty good living by anyone’s standards.

So what am I actually doing out here you might ask. Well, having two trips running at the same time is a new thing for us, luckily we have 2 very able trip leaders on each trip, meaning that for me it is all about saying hi to all our South African service providers and continuing to evolve the Ticket to Ride experience.

Trip 2 leaves for Plett tomorrow and I am off there to spend 5 of their 6 days there. Whilst Trip 1 continue enjoy their time in special Jeffreys bay. Rumour has it that the bungee has got my name all over it. Thinking of ways to get out of it, however I reckon I am better off just doing it. Apparently there is no better feeling on earth, sitting on the bridge having just thrown yourself off the world’s highest bungee?? What about the early morning surf with Dolphins??? A fare point I would argue but it hasn’t got me out of having to do the bungee.

Swim training was this morning’s flavour for Trip 1, Sam as the trainer, Chris on the rescue board and me right in there realising that all that sitting around in London has done me no good at all. The prospect of swimming 200m out to sea and running along the beach is never a good one. However, the feeling of having done it is always a winner. The guys took it on and without question earned their lunch. Beach volley ball this arvo and then England are gonna set about thumping the pants off Wales?? Feeling out of the loop out here, don’t even know the backround pre-match info. I hate that, but hey if that is my main stress at the moment, life is pretty good.

Enjoy your weekend, I am loving mine

Shot

W

Morning all,

With the trip 2 crew about to reach the top of table mountain, I thought I would take a sec to write a quick entry so as those following this section of the blog don't lose the faith.

Lets start with news from the office. Linley has been busy entertaining a panel of Business specialists from SEEDA (South East Economic Development Agency) as we are in final for the Young Entrepreneur category. We find out if we have won at a dinner on 6th March. By this stage Linley will be out here in South Africa changing places with me as the general overseer of goings on out here in South Africa. I have already assured Linley that with our team of 4 trip leaders (2 on each trip) all adding a huge amount to this year's trips, taking on and leading every angle of the TTRide adventure to new and exciting heights, the job of TTRide trip overseer is pretty much the best job in the world.

Does Linley deserve this job? A strange question I here you say as he did start Ticket to Ride and as a cofounder, who am I to judge?? Well this question comes off Linley's recent trip to Croydon car pound after leaving the TTRide Truck parked in the bus lane. £260 later, the truck has been retrieved and is now where it should be, shining bright inside the the London Adventure Travel Show.

Being out here with the onward development of Ticket to Ride South Africa as a strong focus is already creating exciting opportunities for us. Developing relations with new community projects for TTRide to support has been fantastic. The Siyakulisa Nursery is the one I am really excited about at the moment as I am confident that with a little TTRide support this Nursery for children (aged 6 months - 6 years) can continue to great things in the Masiphumelele community.

It's about 32 degrees today, the wind is pretty light meaning that today is a HOT!!! and to be honest i don't want to be behind a computer screen any longer.

Saturday PM Plans

Trip 1 (Plett) are taking on the world's highest bungee this afternoon before heading to Jeffreys bay tomorrow. Trip 2 (Cape Town) are organising a sandcastle building competition for the local kids of Ocean View (the local 'coloured' township).

That's all from me.

I am off down to Jeffreys Bay to catch up with the trip 1 crew on Monday, and there looks like there is some good swell on the way and considering J-Bay is undisputedly renouned as the world's best right hand point break, the bar on the best job title looks likely to be raised.

W

This is just quick message to all the loyal readers hitting the homepage of the ttride site to get the latest on what is happening out in South Africa.

With 2 trips running and an overwhelmingly good response to our regular trip updates, Ben (the ttride web designer) has been working day and literally all night to put a new system in place that seperates all the news from trip 1 (written by trip leaders Chris and Sam) from all the latest on Trip 2 (written by trip leaders Tim and Nikki).

As a relatively new organisation, we are loving documenting everything that is going on, so this section of the blog is going to be a more general section that overviews everying out here on the ground in South Africa as well as all our goings on back at the TTRide London HQ. Its the adventure travel show this weekend for us in London, all very exciting if not quite hard work. We have got permission to put the TTRide Truck by the entrance of the show which should look great.

Over hear in sunny Africa I am off to Masiphumelele with Karen ( our Cape Town Community Project adviser) to visit a nursery that has 40 Kids and no funding. This could be a great new project for our new Ticket to Ride foundation.

Have not heard from trip 2 today, i know yesterday was sky diving, however don't panic, I am sure they will check in soon.

Nikki and Tim are busy overseeing todays surf lessons in the morning, a township tour in the early arvo and then more beach football with the local kids and then less we forget it is friday night.........

I will keep you posted.

The new year has turned and the epic year that was 2007 has joind the pile of all the others that have flown by in the blink of an eye. We had lots of exciting adventures over the past 12 months and cannot wait for 2008 to get into full swing.

Will is already out in South Africa getting things ready for the Zero to TTRide Hero groups arrival on 8th and 22nd Jan. Last time it was I who was enjoying the Southern Hemisphere sunshine whilst the others were left planning and preparing in the London HQ, this time it's all turned around with me manning the fought until late February.

2008 plans to be a great year, we've got the 2 Zero to TTRide Hero trips running, closely followed by the 4x4 Adventure to Mozambique, a series of School and University trips, a African Road Trip in July, another Zero to TTRide Hero Adventure in September, capped off with a load of plans sitting in the pipeline that we are looking forward to launching throughout the year.... watch this space!!

So from all of us here we wish you a very Happy New Year and hope that 2008 brings you everything you could wish for.

Over and out from us all.
L

Today has been all about ticking lists, making final checks, handing over tasks to those unlucky UK staff members being left behind as we make the final preparations to head out for our main 3 month season in South Africa 08.

Last day in the office for me tomorrow, then off down to Dorset for Christmas, straight to heathrow on Boxing day, New Year's Eve in Cape Town, final SA preparations, Pick up Riders form the airport on the 8th and its ON....

Board Bags open, files being loaded, camera's on charge - LUNCH?? "not in the zone we're in" - safety packs, ttride clothing, sunnies, passport, tickets...........

Writing today's blog is not on the list so I will have to be quick. Definitely excitement in the air as we make sure nothing gets left. Lots of calls from Riders making their own final preparations before settling into Christmas and then heading out to South Africa in the New Year. A couple more places being put on hold for next July's Road Trip, Jan 2009 bookings ticking along.... .

Today is 100% about planning the trip we love running, definitely not something we find hard to concentrate on, more days like this please!!!

See you on the other side!!!!!