Taken from Evelina’s blog. Three weeks ago..
Good luck on your adventure!’ Alastair Humphreys signature landed on my P. Coehlo diary and he shook our hands. My heart skipped the beat. This adventure seeker who cycled around the world and crossed India on foot planted our deep desire to launch our adventure. Karolis and I warned each other about upcoming arrows of criticism or mockery. Luckily Newcastle friends only encouraged our still very fresh decision.
Surely, after having listened Alistair Humphreys fourty six thousand mile adventures, our planned thrill giggled like a baby. We patted each other on the shoulder encouraging each other ‘its our adventure!’
Our preparation works gained the momentum. Karolis is a very organised persona. Immediately he brought in a simple tool to organise our spider web of visas, vaccinations, budget and insurance. Hopefully the next three months will be enough to prepare ourselves.
A large map covered my wall. We circled the world with a thick marker. We keep on wiping and adjusting its curvature, however it has already started to gain kind-of-realistic-view.
‘What is your aim?’ even the most faithful supporters sighed. We have inscribed it on the Pacific Ocean. ‘To travel around the world’ Karolis has highlighted the statement. Not more or less. ‘Travel-around-the world’ our supporter Justas has loudly rehearsed this three-word magic combination. The very first time sounded almost impossible. The fifth one has already stuck in my mind. We will certainly need some courage and determination.
Somewhere around the equator we scribbled our bi-directional tasks: to inform the world about Lithuania and communicate to the world about our tiny country. Just next to Peru we squeezed our personal intentions. I have always developed a great desire to explore the spirituality and creativity across the globe, meanwhile Karolis is interested in philosophical appreciation. We have never argued about our common strong feelings towards nature. Spring/summer Great Britain peaks of Snowdon, Scafell pike ir Ben Nevis as well as coast-to-coast solo cycle voyage have pushed us towards this great decision.
Today Ray Baxters value cards lined up on my carpet.
‘What are our team values?’we have discussed it while sipping the green tea and munching on toast and honey. Peace, honesty, learning, wonder, co-operation, respect, determination, courage, freedom, responsibility. We may sound naively. If not Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival alpinists Catherine Destivelle and Andy Turner, BASE jumperKarina Hollekim, ultra-runner Fiona Rennieand our inspirational Humphreys, we perhaps thought we are daydreaming. Is that some sort of a fairy-tale?