Off The Rhumb Line


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Folkestone & Little Switzerland

I woke up Wednesday morning, headed back to Heathrow Airport, and met up with MS. Dixie Chicken  herself – Sarah McLester!

After navigating our way through 2 train stations, with more luggage than either of us should be carrying, (& a picnic lunch I’m sure I will be dreaming of somewhere in Mongolia…) we made it to THE BUS!

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Our home away from home for the next 7 WEEKS!

We found her husband, Don, awaiting our arrival up at the campgrounds’ bar!  RIGHT!  The beverages were cold, and very well earned after a long couple of days of travel.  IMG_2769 IMG_2772

One of our UK teammates, Jan, booked the bus and our team at the Little Switzerland Campground – which is a little slice of heaven!  The view is amazing!  It sits along/under the White Cliffs of Dover, and looks out across the English Channel towards the French Coastline.

The Staff here is friendly, has a great bar/restaurant, (but it closes at 5pm), and the internet works (as long as they don’t unplug it to vacuum).  Don, Will and Tommy were here for a few days before Sarah and I arrived and they clearly settled right in making friends with everyone here.  The groundskeeper,  Jock, Scottish, is a HOOT!  We ply him with beers after hours and he entertains us with stories, charges our electronics in his trailer, and keeps giving us stuff for us to take along – (fleece sweaters, LED lanterns, …)  He’s also sharpened Sarah’s Machete!  This guy is GREAT!!

Wednesday night we headed into Folkestone for Dinner at The Local Briton – Fish and Chips OF COURSE!   – cod was the fresh catch of the day.

HEY – where’d all the water go?? Living along the Great Lakes, sometimes I forget about the tides…

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Thursday –  Sarah, Don, and I spent the day organizing the Bus & the box Dale had shipped us (YAYE!!)  The Lotus Children’s Center is going to be SO surprised at all the new goodies – donated school & dental supplies, Thanks Dale, & Mindy!

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And I added more than 35 handprints from our amazing donors to the bus!

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Friday we trek on down the coast to Dover Castle!


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Launch Schedule

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Info from The Adventurists:

The Mongol Rally Launch (& Party Info!!)

The Rules of Bodiam & Klenova Castles

Being able to use nice old castles like Bodiam & Klenova means there are a few rules.

Bodiam Castle have a very strict No Fires rule; no camp stoves, bonfires or barbecues. We have told them that we are a pretty civilised bunch so please refrain from excessive nudity and please don’t throw things/urinate into the moat. Also any attempts to climb the walls of the castle will likely end up in forcible ejection.

Klenova Castle share Bodiam’s stance on climbing battlements, they will also confiscate any booze you try to bring into the Castle, booze is ok in the camp-site and the beer in the Castle is pretty cheap so this shouldn’t be a problem.

Saturday 13th July – UK
12:00 Bodiam grounds open to Mongol Ralliers
teams enter site and are directed to team parking.

15:00 – 17:00 Registration open. Teams collect car stickers, t-shirts & wristbands for parties

17:00 Camp-site open

17:00 – 21:00 Banquet is served

19:00 – 21:00 Music, entertainment and drinks in the castle

21:00 – 23:45 Music & entertainment on stage

23:45 Time at the bar

00:00 Site shut down for the night

Sunday 14th July – UK

08:00 – 09:00 Breakfast served

09:00 – 10:30 Launch ceremony & awards

11:00 – 12:00 Teams waved off

Monday 15th July – Czech Republic

13:00 – 16:00 Registration open. Teams collect car stickers, t-shirts & wristbands for parties

18:00 Czechout Party commences

18:00 – 21:00 Banquet is served

00:45 Czechout closes

01:00 – 04:00 Military base after party

Tuesday 16th July08:00 – 09:00 Breakfast served

09:00 – 10:30 Launch ceremony & awards

11:00 – 12:00 Teams waved off


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Don’t Panic…

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hitchhiker’s guide – one of my faves – easy, right?

I have my towel, some peanuts and a pint of beer in hand!

I have done all I can before getting on the plane in the morning –

✔ Passport

✔ Visas

✔ Traveler’s insurance

✔ Shots

✔ boarding pass

✔ clothes & camping gear

✔ Int’l sim card

✔ cameras, laptop, solar charger

✔ water filter

✔ travel guides

✔ Bills / mortgage paid

✔ friends to look after the house / plants / mail

I’ve been eagerly anticipating this trip for months now, barely able to contain my excitement until July arrived. I would’ve left months ago if it had been an option. I have been jumping up and down inside waiting anxiously to start this grand adventure.

We have a teammate across the pond (UK) who for the past 2 months has posted the most hilarious, witty, satirical daily countdown on our team facebook page. I wake up in the morning and can’t wait to see what crazy thing Johnny has posted!

I was shocked, however, when absolute sheer terror set in once the countdown dropped below a week! And I panicked! Why? Hmmmmm…

I am SO excited to start this grand adventure. I know it will be amazing and life changing. I can’t wait to leave, to get on the plane and see what the future holds for me. I’m not scared to go, but I think a part of me is scared to leave … to let go of the present. Life is really great, right now, here at home. I’ve never been happier, more at peace, more secure in who I am and what I want. And I am leaving all that behind for a 10,000 mile journey across Europe and Asia??? WOW! Maybe I am crazy!

I grew up travelling the world. I race sailboats. I fly gliders. I climb lighting trusses 40 feet in the air. I’m a pretty tough gal & not much fazes me. But this….I’ve never done a trip like THIS before.

Life is all about learning how to let go, and this is definitely challenging me. I am, this week, finally allowing myself to feel all that I will be leaving behind, all that I will miss while I am on this journey. Although I would not trade staying home for what I am about to do, I feel the sense of loss, of change that is apparent.

I know I will feel better once I board the plane. The adventure will begin and I can not let myself look back. Here I come, ready or not….jump!


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Our Mighty Stead…

….Arrives in the UK!!! ….and quickly has a pint (or …um…4???) Hmmm…Image

I think we are all a bit jealous that the bus got to start the grand adventure ahead of the rest of us.

Don and Sarah bought this fabulous bus back in November from a camp in North Carolina and took it home to Charleston, SC where they, and an awesome team of friends and mechanics, spent MONTHS transforming the once “Hogwaller Express” into the Rally Ready “Team Dixie Chickens”! 

Not only did the bus receive new tires, shocks, brakes, roof rack, wheelchair lift, bucket seat, storage box, painting, stickers, handprints, and likely a million other things i’m not aware of, (but will likely be appreciative of) …

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it also received a blessing by Geshe Topgyal – a buddhist monk!

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Sarah delivered the bus to the Port of Charleston at the end of May.  It shipped out June 7 on the Georgia Highway…

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and arrived in Southampton, UK on June 21. 

Gun Boat Don, our fearless captain (driver) and chief mechanic, along with Will and Tommy, wrestled the bus from customs on Independence Day (seems fitting).  Only casualty of its’ ocean crossing seems to have been the pilfering of its’ rockin hot stereo – (!!!)  

The only other hiccup so far, besides the stolen stereo, is the awesome package of school/dental/1st aid supplies that Dale shipped to the campground in the UK, (so I wouldn’t have to  haul it overseas with a broken hand) was *refused* by the desk clerk upon delivery!!!  Here’s hoping Dale can work his amazing magic to locate and re-unite us with our box of goodies for the kids!

Handprints for Charity

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Come Join us on the Bus!

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The Mongol rally is ALL about raising money for Charity and my fellow team mates and I have been busy busy!

We’re excited to get our hands dirty for you!!

For a mere $15 you too can add “your” handprint onto the bus and travel with us!!

I am very blessed and grateful to SO many of my AMAZING friends and family who have donated so generously of their time, money, and most of all their support of me,  for  this adventure I am about to embark on. (check out the sponsors page on the team website to see your name!)

I am SO excited to say that I have a lot of catching up to do since the April fundraiser party in Charleston.  I have over 30 handprints to add to the bus!!!  I am gonna be a busy girl with those paints once I get to Dover – but NO WORRIES –  there is always room for more, so bring it on!!

The Offical Mongol Rally charity is:

Cool Earth.  They are an organization that is working tirelessly with local communities to save rainforests around the world.  According to their website: “So far 330,000 acres of rainforest that sit directly in the path of chainsaws and bulldozers have been saved.”

Team Dixie Chickens is also raising money for:

Lotus Children’s Centre, an orphanage in Mongolia that is a home and centre for development for around 100 vulnerable and special needs Mongolian children. (They were the official Rally charity last year)  Once we arrive at the finish line, we plan to stay in their guesthouse and volunteer at the orphanage for a few days.

And what would a school bus be without school supplies? Well, with thanks to my friend Dale, we will not have to find out.  Dale has generously donated a HUGE box of school supplies for us to hand out to the kids we meet along the way and for donating to the orphanage!! WHOO HOO!  (And via other amazing & generous folks, we’ve also got inflatable globes, sports equipment, & dental supplies!)

 

Click here to go to the team page and donate online:  Team Dixie Chickens

Lastly, one of my teammates, Sarita, a filmmaker, made this awesome video about “hands on the bus”  for her fundraising page – Armchair Adventurists

 

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