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Which Board? => Main Forum => : Paul Mitchell July 24, 2012, 12:33:38 PM

: Ultimate road trip
: Paul Mitchell July 24, 2012, 12:33:38 PM
A short AV clip of a quite amazing 23 year, half a million mile road trip, faithfully recorded on two beat up Leica's

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18910560 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18910560)

Paul
: Re: Ultimate road trip
: Late Developer July 24, 2012, 01:43:36 PM
Did they get lost, or something? Maybe they hadn't got sat nav in the G-Wagon in those days?

I mean, how do you start off with the intention of being away for 18 months and end up going round the planet 50 times and spending 23 years on the road? I always had the Germans down for being efficient. This has come as a bit of a blow to my preconception of our European neighbours  :o

Seriously, though, how do you fund this sort of thing (I haven't seen the video yet as I'm at work on lunch break)? I'd have filled up the Ford Focus, got do Dover, run out of readies and cadged a ferry back. This can't be cheap - but I do envy them their experiences....
: Re: Ultimate road trip
: charles binns July 24, 2012, 01:56:53 PM
The couple set out to explore Africa and decided they had enjoyed the trip so much they'd keep going (as you do) and explore the world.  The wife died from cancer and he kept on going. 

Unfortunately my work computer can't cope with BBC slide shows so I'll have to watch this tonight. 
: Re: Ultimate road trip
: Late Developer July 24, 2012, 03:30:58 PM
Incredible story but such a tragedy about his wife. I can understand his desire to keep travelling but I'm not sure if many of us could do likewise in similar circumstances. Brave fella.
: Re: Ultimate road trip
: Ed Wenn July 24, 2012, 04:35:54 PM
Great link, Paul. Well spotted. The one thing that made me smile was the comment by the American journalist/photographer who narrates the piece. He said the trip had been conducted "under the radar. No blog, no Facebook...." That is such a 21st Century perspective. People didn't always feel the need to let the world know they were making a cup of tea. The times they most certainly are a changin'.
: Re: Ultimate road trip
: Sandeha Lynch July 24, 2012, 05:48:50 PM
Stunning.
: Re: Ultimate road trip
: Magnus July 24, 2012, 06:13:41 PM
Lovely story, thanks for sharing.
A different life in so many ways...
: Re: Ultimate road trip
: Mil Mascaras July 24, 2012, 07:37:37 PM
I just saw that and was going to post it here.

Ed : funny how that's the first thing I thought about too! I was travelling with some friends a few weeks ago and they were constantly hunting for free wifi spots to check-in on facebook just to make sure everybody knew what they were up to.

Also funny how this truly beaten up Leica M6 looks way less beaten up and brassed than the cameras of many "weekend photographers" in certain message boards that I wont name.
: Re: Ultimate road trip
: Phil Bebbington July 24, 2012, 10:56:51 PM
Outstanding. Thanks for posting, Paul.
: Re: Ultimate road trip
: Alan July 25, 2012, 01:13:42 PM
just happened upon this earlier.

good point made by LD > how do you fund this sort of trip?

a daunting thing to take on, but i suppose once you are on the road
it gets easier.

fair play to him!

there is also a guy touring on a motorbike, he's a deaf mute and has been travelling for years...
i'll see if i can dig it out again.
: Re: Ultimate road trip
: astrobeck July 25, 2012, 01:16:15 PM
thanks for posting!
Sure wish I had known about him when he was in Albuquerque at the Balloon Fiesta  It would have been very cool to see "otto"
: Re: Ultimate road trip
: Alan July 25, 2012, 01:17:25 PM
> please remove if deemed to be hijacking

http://yarets.com/.html (http://yarets.com/)

: Re: Ultimate road trip
: Chris A Fraser July 25, 2012, 10:33:23 PM
I know it goes against the no blog, no Facebook, etc, etc, but I would love to see a where's Gunther now update. I would love to meet him one day. Chat, offer a bed for the night, hand over a few new rolls of film, see some of his work, chat over coffee.