Just me in the office and with Linley's blog entry for the day coming in so efficiently early this morning, I thought I might sign off this Monday afternoon with another.

We took our 20th booking for our Zero to TTRide Hero (Trip II) this afternoon meaning that this trip is now full, and knowing who we've got on this one, it leaves us super excited about it. This trip is being lead by Tim and Nikki who you can read all about on our team pages. Nikki is rejoining the team from being a 2007 Graduate and now a trip assistant to Tim. Nikki will add an exciting new edge to the trip having worked with the Animal Surf Academy in Plozeath for the past 6 months. As a professional photographer she will no doubt be dominating the latest Rider shots with all her photos.

I uploaded a photo of Sam Millar (see latest shots). Sam is assisting Chris on the first Jan 08 Zero to TTRide Hero which only has 5 places left. He runs his own UK surf School called Freeride based in Perranporth, he spent over 3 months in SA last year living the dream and can't wait to be out there with us in January.

It is amazing to think how we have grown in the last 2 years. We put our life and soul into what we do and count ourselves lucky to spend our days living in the Now doing what we love.

It is becoming clear to us that in order to grow in a way that doesn't compromise our Rider's development as a surfer and experience as a traveller, we will need to think about bringing in new people. This is something we are all really excited about as it means new ideas and even more energy pushing Ticket to Ride to go beyond limits.

Happy Days

W

One week to go, and then it's off back out to South Africa for our inaugural 1 month Afrian Road Trip, which I have got the pleasure of taking.

I'll be heading out with a group of 5 people, the weather's just turned warm, the surf's looking uber consistent, and South Africa's top shaper has had the phone call to get 5 boards ready for the groups arrival, it's going to be EPIC!!!

We'll be spending the month travelling along the garden route, 1 week in Cape Town, 1 week in Plett, and 2 weeks in the surf mecca of Jeffreys Bay. Surfing, community work, and travel. We'll also be taking a tour around the illustrious vineyard of Klein Constantia, and the group will have the option of taking on the worlds highest bungee jump, sky dive, sand board, or get involved in any other activities that come our way over the 1 month Adventure.

For us taking these trips is what it's all about, taking people around a fantastic country with such huge potential, sharing in the lives of the African people, and ultimately getting people involved in what we believe is the worlds greatest sport, sharing a lifeskill that our Riders can take home, use around the world (or however they wish) the one thing we do know it will be enjoyed for the rest of their lives.

It should be a great month, and after this we've got the two 3 month trips in the New Year, so it's busy times for us all. But when it's busy like this, it's got to be good.

Linley, over and out...

It's been a good couple of days. The postal strike has relented at last and booking forms are starting to filter through again, some expected and some not which is always exciting.

Linley has also been in touch with our November riders preparing them for the trip. The main priority at the moment is getting the specifics for the boards we'll be having made up for them out in SA - even if it's not for you there's always something good about ordering a brand new quiver. It's also good for the guys to know that there'll be a brand new board waiting for them in South Africa.

Otherwise not too much to report. Had to don the gloves for the cycle in this morning. It's getting cold, time to think about heading somewhere warmer...

Attached is a Pic sent over from SA last week - lucky Saffas.

And so there it is, the Saffa's pipped us at the post. But at least we went down fighting.

It was a strange one, even though we lost the pubs were rocking into the early morning and there was a real party atmosphere wherever you went. Everyone seemed to bond with this team that fought to the end and made England proud which is all you can ask - something that has been so lacking in English sport for a while (I could go off on a rant here about English Football but it's been done to exhaution in the papers so i'll let it go).

We've obviously been taking a bit of a battering from our friends over in SA today. Not only have they regained the cup but they are also in the middle of one of their best swell seasons in years. Every e-mail seems to arrive with some Pom baiting text and a photo attached with one of our "friends" tucking into a perfect emerald barrel shimmering in the sun.

All's not lost though. Linley is preparing to head off on our November Roadtrip in a couple of weeks. I was in SA when they won the World Cup in 1995 and it was memorable to say the very least, Linley and the Crew are in for what should should be an unforgettable 4 weeks.

Meanwhile Will and I will be manning the office doing our best to stay friends. Without Linley here to mediate this could be a tall order so we'll be hoping the phone's stay as busy as they have been lately. We've had lots of interest in our trips for next year so the TTRide gospel is spreading....

And that's monday.

Another good week for ttride in the London HQ, getting some really exciting people on the trip and by this i mean, the kind of people that can't wait to join us out in SA, the kind of people that ring just because they feel like talking about their ttride trip. We love that, it gets us super excited aswell.

I am in Cape Town for New Year this year, taking my girlfriend, brother, sister and parents on a bit of a ttride expedition.
Can't wait!! Apparently the locals know what they are doing when it comes to celebrating New Year in Cape Town.

Been working from home today, because my poor girlfriend Lottie has had to have a minor operation, all a bit soar and if i could spell the name of the opp i would, but i can't. Anyway, I know she was cheered up a) by the gourmet lunch i cooked her and b) by her 7 week old nephew Max coming round for the day.

Now, obviously I am all man, and don't do babys, or atleast i thought i didn't. Little Max is gorgeous, loads of hair in a funky punk, really smiley and already signed onto the Jan 2025 trip, I told mum Louise that she couldn't even think Schools until the Gap Year is sorted especially as places on ttride trips are always in high demand.

Enough joking. What i actually said was that I would put a place on hold until Monday. "Cant wait to have him on".

Half-term this week for some schools, lots of potential riders booking a slot to come in and see us, will have to remember to buy a big box of biscuits.

Still holding my breath for saturday,

it's in the bag, even Max knows it.