Somebody said that it
couldn’t be done
But
he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,”
but he would be one
Who
wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with
the trace of a grin
On
his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he
tackled the thing
That
couldn’t be done, and he did it!
Somebody scoffed: “Oh,
you’ll never do that;
At
least no one ever has done it;”
But he took off his coat
and he took off his hat
And
the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and
a bit of a grin,
Without
any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he
tackled the thing
That
couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell
you it cannot be done,
There
are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to
point out to you one by one,
The
dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a
bit of a grin,
Just
take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as
you tackle the thing
That
“cannot be done,” and you’ll do it
Edgar Albert Guest
Less than thirty days now and it’s an upward spiral of
anticipation and apprehension.
Anticipation because despite all the potential dealbreakers we appear to
be on track to going. There were a few
things that would really have made this a non starter and they all seem to be
cleared. This includes the wife and the
boss and his bosses clearing the leave, colleagues who are willing to cover the
trauma calls and breast cancer workload, finding an events manager that would
be devoted to all the paperwork . if any
of these hurdles were not cleared the process would have stopped. There is no
way for us to manage this on our own.
Yet here we are still on track.
The apprehension comes because so many people have invested
so very much into this that I dread something tripping this up. This occupies almost all waking hours and the
wife has caught me occasionally just off in my own world on more than one
occasion. I know the aim is to reach
Sweden but I keep thinking just how far I would get before I would consider all
this work worthwhile. How far before I could look all these people in the eye
and said, even if we don’t make our goals, well that was a proper try. Istanbul?
Samarkand? I asked Mike about this.
The answer was instant:
Karolinska. Welcome to the
swedes and their literal
mindedness.
I worry about my
inadequacies as a rider and a mechanic.
After our brief sojourn with our 500 pound bikes offroad in mersing I
realize that these aren’t the 200cc jobs we could just throw around like when
we were in our twenties.
Off road with a Vstrom 1000: its not the XR250 of old... |
There are new
tyres and new suspension and new footpegs that should make all the difference
but none of that really takes away the root problem - weight.
I keep thinking about what every overland rider has said to me,” you’re
never going to wish you had a heavier bike”.
When the time comes it will be with horrific traffic, a deadline to meet
and will likely last about 200km and not just our 20km into the Malaysian
jungle. I know just the place where it will happen. Across the border from Laos
into China, the road from Mojiang to
Kunming is 220km of some of the worse roads anywhere. When we get there in late march it will still
be cold, maybe even snow on the high peaks.
Last 4/4 trip on that road and its bike eating craters one of the Land
Cruisers actually broke an axle.
Then there are the
fears of the unknown. With my dodgy
record with high places I keep dreading the day when we will need to cross some
rickety rope bridge across a ravine that does not appear on any map. That or a four hour detour. Again Mike Hartman has the solution. He will have me Michael Jacksoned. Propofol up to the gills, I pass out, he maintains
airway and I wake up on the other side. And put a tattoo in some unspeakable
place. Then the what ifs. What if the
alternator burns up again, or the fuel filter clogs on the contaminated fuel or
the air filter in the desert sand. What
if there is a rattle, or the brake locks up, or the bike just doesn’t
start?
I can remember when there were 400 days to go. Now it’s less than thirty and somehow despite
having made so many preparations I don’t really feel more prepared. I know there have been things that I have
been trying to sort out for months but had not had the chance to. Like the bigfoot on the sidestand, the
separate switch for the main headlamps, mounting the axillary lamps. I also
now know there are some things I wish had happened differently.
My main regret is the video team. When we first met Jacqui Hocking, who had come highly recommended from our friends in the SIF, I felt that we did not have to look further. She has this attractive mixture of a video professional, a vision for a better world, a personal investment into the lives of the less fortunate, the experience of living uncomfortably and most of all that direct honesty that seems to be a trait of people from her homeland. Then the formal tender process for the university sponsorship shows one potential disaster – the perceived difficulty of an Australian passport in crossing some of the borders we have to get through. Although losing out in a tender is part of being a professional I do still feel that we had misled Jacqui and her team. I called to explain and if there was any lasting bitterness she did not show it. That she offered to help pro bono in whatever way she could only serves to reinforce the earlier impressions I have of her. And makes going with someone else stick in the craw just a little.
My main regret is the video team. When we first met Jacqui Hocking, who had come highly recommended from our friends in the SIF, I felt that we did not have to look further. She has this attractive mixture of a video professional, a vision for a better world, a personal investment into the lives of the less fortunate, the experience of living uncomfortably and most of all that direct honesty that seems to be a trait of people from her homeland. Then the formal tender process for the university sponsorship shows one potential disaster – the perceived difficulty of an Australian passport in crossing some of the borders we have to get through. Although losing out in a tender is part of being a professional I do still feel that we had misled Jacqui and her team. I called to explain and if there was any lasting bitterness she did not show it. That she offered to help pro bono in whatever way she could only serves to reinforce the earlier impressions I have of her. And makes going with someone else stick in the craw just a little.
Depending on how the day has been, there are some days when I just want to get
going, and other times when I wish we could have another six months just to
sort out one or another lose end. For
the last month there is a sense that the other things are being cleared
away. No more new case breast
cancers. Fewer trauma calls as the other consultant step up.
One dry run to frasers hill with all the kit on board and 4/4 in convoy, then
the farewell parties, and quieter times at home with the family. Then living on the road without them for nearly
four months.
Hello friends!!! My name is Mrs Angelica Klint a citizen of USA. i want to testify of the good Loan Lender who showed light to me after been scammed by 5 different Internet international lender, they all promise to give me a loan after making me pay allot of fees which yield nothing and amounted to no positive result. i lost my hard earn money and it was a total of 8000USD. One day as i was browsing through the internet looking forested when i came across a testimony of a man who was also scammed and eventually got linked to a legit loan company called Evans Smith Loan Firm (paylessloanfirm@outlook.com ) where he finally got his loan, so i decided to contact the same loan company and then told them my story on how i have been scammed by 5 different lenders who did nothing but to course me more pains.I explain to the company by mail and all they told me was to cry no more because i will get my loan in their company and also i have made the right choice of contacting them. i filled the loan application form and proceeded with all that was requested of me and I was given a loan amount of $150,000.00 Dollars by this great Company (Evans Smith Loan Company} managed by Mr. Evans Smith and here i am today happy because Mr Evans Smith Firm has given me a loan so i made a vow to my self that i will keep testifying on the internet on how i got my loan. Do you need a loan urgently? kindly and quickly contact Mr Evans Smith Loan Firm now for your loan via email:paylessloanfirm@outlook.com
ReplyDeleteDo you need an urgent loan or financial services? Contact charitycorporation@gmail.com / http://charitycorporation.gnbo.com.ng
ReplyDeleteHello everyone,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Laura Billey from Texas USA, 37 years of age , I want to inform you all about the goodness of the lord for finally leading me to a really and genuine loan lender named Mr Mason Diego, the managing director of Diego Loan Company after been scammed by other fake lenders, i was hopeless and didn't know who to trust while he came and put a great smile on my face at my greatest surprise. Anyone of you that have also be a victim of scam, you should bother no more cos, i have bring you good news and the only lender you can trust, just contact them now via: diegoloancompany@yahoo.com for more info on how to get your loan. And once again..... Thanks Be To Mr Mason Diego of diegoloancompany@yahoo.com for giving me a loan of 96,000.00USD.
Hello everyone...
ReplyDeleteI am Katie Jones by name currently living in Las Vagas, USA.. Am writing this letter because am really grateful for what Mr Austin George did for me and my family, when I thought there was no hope he came and make a way for me and my family by lending us loan, at a very low interest rate of 2%. I never thought that there are still God sent and genuine loan lenders on the internet but to my greatest surprise i got my loan without wasting much time so if you are out there looking for a loan of any amount i would like to recommend you to Mr Austin George the Managing director of Austin Loan Company because he is a God sent man that can change your life forever.... So if you really want to make a better life without any fund scarcity.... I would advise you to get in touch with him through this e-mail below :: { austinloancompany@yahoo.com }.
Thanks. Katie
Good-day,
ReplyDeleteI'm Mr. Carlos Stev. A reputable, legitimate & accredited lender. We give out loan of all kinds in a very fast and easy way, Personal Loan, Car Loan, Home Loan, Student Loan, Business Loan, Inventor loan, Debt Consolidation. etc
Get approved for a business or personal loans today and get funds within same week of application. These personal loans can be approved regardless of your credit and there are lots of happy customers to back up this claim. But you won’t only get the personal loan you need; you will get the cheapest one. This is our promise: We guarantee the lowest rate for all loans with free collateral benefits.
We strive to leave a positive lasting impression by exceeding the expectations of my customers in everything I do. Our goal is to treat you with dignity and respect while providing the highest quality service in a timely manner.
No social security Number required and no credit check required, 100% Guaranteed.
So email: carlos_stev@yahoo.co.uk today to apply for a LOAN.
I am ROSE SMITH from CANADA a single parent, before my husband died he left us with so much DEBT that we could not cope with life, I was totally confused on what to do. When I was going through the internet I came across a POST by MARCUS CAFE about how Mrs JULIA NAVARO help him to get a loan so I applied for the loan from JULIA NAVARO through her mail (navaroloancompany@yahoo.com) of $200,000 with a duration of 10 years. When I was applying for the loan I made a vow to GOD that if I get the loan I will let the world know what she did for me, to my greatest surprise my loan was granted with
ReplyDeletean interest of 2%. I was able to settle my debt and start up a new life and business with a settled family. So if you want any type of loan for as low as 2% please contact JULIA NAVARO on her mail navaroloancompany@yahoo.com.I just fulfilled my vow.
Testimony of financial breakthrough from GOD through the help of Funding Circle Loan INC. (fundingloanplc@yahoo.com OR Call/Text +14067326622)...
ReplyDeleteHi I'am Evelyn Russell resident at 808 NE 19th St Oklahoma City, I am a single mother blessed with 2 daughters. For a while now I have been searching for a genuine loan lender who could help me with a loan as I no longer have a job, all I got were hoodlums who made me trust them and at the end they took my money without giving me any loan, my hope was lost, I got confused and frustrated, it became difficult for my family to feed with a good meal, I never wanted to have anything to do with any loan lending companies on the internet again. Not until I met a Godsent loan lender that changed my life and that of my family Through the help of a fellowship member "a lender with the fear of God in him Mr JASON RAYMOND, he was the man God sent to elevate my family from suffering. At first I thought it wasn’t going to be possible due to my previous experience until I received my loan worth $135,000.00 USD in less then 24hours. So my advise to anyone out there genuinely in need of a loan is to contact Funding Circle Loan INC through this official email:- fundingloanplc@yahoo.com OR Call/Text +14067326622 and be financial lifted.
Testimony of financial breakthrough from GOD through the help of Funding Circle Loan INC. (fundingloanplc@yahoo.com OR Call/Text +14067326622)...
ReplyDeleteHi I'am Evelyn Russell resident at 808 NE 19th St Oklahoma City, I am a single mother blessed with 2 daughters. For a while now I have been searching for a genuine loan lender who could help me with a loan as I no longer have a job, all I got were hoodlums who made me trust them and at the end they took my money without giving me any loan, my hope was lost, I got confused and frustrated, it became difficult for my family to feed with a good meal, I never wanted to have anything to do with any loan lending companies on the internet again. Not until I met a Godsent loan lender that changed my life and that of my family Through the help of a fellowship member "a lender with the fear of God in him Mr JASON RAYMOND, he was the man God sent to elevate my family from suffering. At first I thought it wasn’t going to be possible due to my previous experience until I received my loan worth $135,000.00 USD in less then 24hours. So my advise to anyone out there genuinely in need of a loan is to contact Funding Circle Loan INC through this official email:- fundingloanplc@yahoo.com OR Call/Text +14067326622 and be financial lifted.
Are you looking for finance to enlarge your business?
ReplyDeleteWe help individuals and companies to obtain finance for business
expanding and to setup a new business ranging any amount. Get
finance at affordable interest rate of 2%, Do you need this
finance for business and to clear your bills? Then send us an
email now for more information contact us now via Email:
misssharma680@gmail.com
Suman Ibrahim