| Copyright (c) 2007 The College Of Public | | | | 10,000 feet active volcano), Bariloche, |
| Speaking | | | | Esquel, the Argentine lake district, |
| Have you ever upset your family with a | | | | Santiago, Valparaiso, La Serena, the |
| crazy decision? | | | | Atacama desert, Arica, Nazca, Arequipa, |
| Have you ever wanted to walk on the wild | | | | Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, La |
| side? | | | | Paz, Manaus, Angel Falls and so on... |
| Have you ever wanted to leave the office | | | | Do you get the picture? |
| environment and never return? | | | | Travelling together in a flat-topped |
| Driving up to Manchester one autumn's | | | | Volvo truck we would share the wide |
| evening in 1995, I decided something had | | | | range of opportunities that the Americas |
| to change. | | | | had to offer. Having never done |
| The three hour journey from Leicester | | | | anything outrageous before and with the |
| had turned into a six hour marathon, | | | | spectre of middle age looming, I |
| again. | | | | realised that I had to do something |
| It was cold, damp and desolate stuck in | | | | different. Would I break the mould of |
| the endless lines of slow moving cars. | | | | my boring office life or step out |
| In my briefcase sat an unsigned and | | | | bravely into an adventurer's world? |
| rather overly negotiated contract | | | | I was single, no obligations and I had |
| extension for my job in Leicester. When | | | | the money. What is the point in having |
| I finally arrived in Manchester at 11pm, | | | | a big bank balance while life was |
| bored, hungry and miserable - I knew | | | | passing me by? The following Monday |
| that I could not face another winter of | | | | morning, I handed my notice in. |
| living and working out of a suitcase. | | | | Contract discussions had been delayed |
| It was time for serious change. | | | | and I had only ten working days to |
| A few weeks before, my train journey to | | | | endure. I couldn't wait to leave that |
| London had endured several more hours | | | | office - it seemed like forever. |
| than scheduled. The woman in the | | | | Once the deed was done, I was walking on |
| adjacent seat kindly allowed me to | | | | air. Skipping down the corridor and |
| peruse her travel magazine when she | | | | whistling 'El condor Pasa' - I never |
| stepped off the train at Luton. I had | | | | whistle... |
| read my newspaper back to front and on | | | | It was a cathartic experience - no more |
| the second time of reading, I found | | | | endless miles up and down the M1, no |
| nothing new. | | | | more ironing shirts and resolving other |
| I reached over and killed a little time | | | | people's problems... What a relief. |
| by flicking through the glossy magazine, | | | | Top priority on this project manager's |
| but each time I thumbed the pages, my | | | | list was buying outdoor gear, expensive |
| eyes returned to page 34 which | | | | sleeping bags, boots and all weather |
| advertised a five month trip to South | | | | jackets. |
| and Central America. Setting off from | | | | For me, there was one special location |
| Ushuaia in Argentina (the most southerly | | | | that I knew would be the zenith of my |
| City in the world) and finishing in | | | | journey, Machu Picchu in Peru... |
| Mexico City. The itinerary read like a | | | | If you'd like to read more about my |
| Who's Who of top travel destinations. | | | | adventures... then select the link |
| Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, | | | | below. |
| Punta Arenas, Pucon (Mount Villarica - | | | | |