The weather

It seems fitting to begin this blog in much the same way that most British people start a conversation – with a few remarks on the weather.

The weather is a favourite topic of discussion in Britain, even if we’re normally just complaining about it. Obviously the rain is our most common gripe but we’re grumpy about other stuff too. At the moment the hot topic is the temperature. Summer is fast approaching and talk on my train to work has already turned to the searing heat and how it will make the daily commute unbearable. Just a few weeks earlier, those same commuters were complaining about ‘how bloody cold it is’ and ‘why it shouldn’t be snowing in April’. Based on this sort of talk you’d be forgiven for thinking Britain has one of the harshest climates in the world, but in actual fact we’ve got one of the mildest. God forbid then if any of us should leave Britain’s mild shores and venture abroad.

But over the next few weeks I’ll be making the final preparations to do exactly that. Come the 3^rd of June, I along with three of my friends from Canada – Ted, Tyson and Jerry – will depart from London and head off on a three month adventure across Europe, the Middle East and Africa all the way to Cape Town. During the 15,000 mile trip the weather is likely to play a key role, not least because we’re travelling by motorbike. Without comforts like climate control, windscreen wipers or a roof, we’re at the mercy of the elements. The wind will try to batter us off course; a quick shower will drench us from head to toe; and a sunny day with a light breeze will lift our spirits like nothing else. Travelling by motorbike may not be the most comfortable way to get from A to B, but it certainly is invigorating.

But all the excitement will have to wait a few more weeks. In the meantime there is still a lot to organise. Visas and other paperwork need to be sorted, the bikes need to be modified and tested, and survival and photography equipment has to be bought and prepped. It’s going to be a busy few weeks and that’s despite two years of planning. But to help relieve stress I’ve discovered an interesting new technique – curiously enough related to the weather. The trick is to spend a few minutes just staring up at the sky and marvelling at the clouds. It sounds like a childish pursuit and it is, but it’s surprisingly effective in turning the dull commute in to something more majestic – it’s thought provoking too. This book - ‘The Cloudspotters Guide’ by Gavin Pretor-Pinney – sparked my interest. It’s well written, funny and filled with interesting trivia – well worth a read if only to help you turn skyward.

So enjoy that, and until the next trip update, enjoy the weather.