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Tab's Biog.
tabs: "do u wanna cycle to new zealand?"
claire: "ok"
tabs: "cool"
this was pretty much how the text exchange went that suggested and decided
on this crazy plan.
why? cos i dont go anywhere without my bike. cos cycling doesnt
contribute to climate change. cos i get to see all the cool places between
london and new zealand and i get to stop in out-of-way places. cos i can
be spontanious and flexible. cos it keeps me fit. cos of the views and
the vistas. cos of coasting down the hills, camping in forests, washing in
lakes, dodging traffic in cities, meeting people on the road, not being in
a rush, learning how to read maps, having time to practice saying "hello"
in many languages, exchanging a wave and smile as i pass people and many
other reasons that i will find out as i go.
i grew up in cornwall, moved to london to study 5 years ago and
stayed. left 2 cycling related jobs to go on a really long bike ride. i
guess you could say i quite like cycling! will being a bike courier and
cycle trainer qualify me to ride to the other side of the world? time
will tell.
when people hear what me and clare are doing they normally look a bit
incredulous, sometimes envious and always curous. so i guess keeping an
online journal is a good way for family and friends, those at home and
those collected along the way to see how we are doing. no we are not
about to start selling mugs and t-shirts, its just easier than sending
loads of emails!
Claire's Biog
Hi, well, what to say and not sound too cheesy then? Guess I'll keep it short and simple.. after
leading a happy and contented 24 years in Christchurch, New Zealand I embarked on my travels to
the Northern Hemisphere to see what all the fuss is about. To England more specifically, where I
had many fun times visiting cool places and projects before ending up in London.. and staying there!
Great year and a half doing the squatting thing and making some great mates. I really felt at home
there. But, alas, all too soon my 2 years were up and it was time to think about going home. "What
about cycling back to NZ?" Tabs texted me one day.. ummm sure why the heck not?! And so the planning
began...
I have been interested and actively involved in anarchist/eco/alternative/ self-orgainising/whatever else you can
think of stuff for a while, and from Save Happy Valley and Peace Action Network in NZ to the squatting and
anti-authoritarian movement in the UK I continue to learn and compose my ideas about life. Some day I hope to
work in the broader 'sustainable development' field doing something amazingly worthwhile but for now I'm just
experiencing whats going on in the world, taking action where I can to try and challenge the system and implant
a more fairer/just and environmentally friendly model of living.. hmmm so this is getting very cheesy.
On a lighter note, I love to dance, laugh, act a little bit silly and, luckily enough, cycle around the place!
Rock on! Me in a nutshell, ahhh I hate writing these sorts of things, but hey, I figure most of the folks reading
this know me a bit anyways so lets just get on with the show :)
