Entries about preparation

We'll be leaving Townsville for the Gold Coast on the 9th of August. The next day we catch a flight into Kuala Lumpur and stay overnight at the Swiss Inn. Then we fly into Stansted airport and because we get in late we'll be staying there overnight at the Holiday Inn Express. The 12th of August is when we begin our journey in the UK and we start by catching a bus into London. This is where we'll be staying for the 3 weeks:

12th-13th: Carr-Saunders Hall, London School of Economics and Political Science, London
14th-17th: High Holborn, London School of Economics and Political Science, London
18th: Bankside House, London School of Economics and Political Science, London
19th: Wyndham Park Lodge, Salisbury
20th-21st: Eastwood Residence, University of Bath, Bath
22nd: Cefn and Kilvey Residence, Swansea University, Swansea
23rd: Exeter College, University of Oxford, Oxford
24th-25th: Holiday Inn, Liverpool
26th-27th: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
28th-29th: Rhu Mhor Guest House, Fort William
30th: Holmhead Guest House, near Hadrian's Wall, Greenhead
31st: Old Repeater Station, near Hadrian's Wall, Hexham
1st: Catch overnight ferry King of Scandanavia from Newcastle to Amsterdam

We want it to be a surprise what we'll be doing at the different locations, so stay tuned for updates!

Why travel to Europe? We're more or less finishing our degrees (Chris a B.Arts/B.Bus and Jade a MPH) at the end of July this year and have a number of months of spare time before returning to daily life (Chris a 1-year Honours in history and Jade work!).

The plan is for a 4 month trip, to start in the UK in August for 3 weeks, then The Netherlands and Belgium for 1 week, France 3 weeks, Spain 3 weeks, Italy 2 weeks, Greece 2 weeks, Turkey 3 weeks. The reason for picking this route is that the weather will be at an optimum in the respective countries with the least amount of tourists (the low and shoulder seasons, but when we arrive in the UK it will be high season).

We will be traveling by bicycle, train and bus. Accommodation will be hostels, B&B's, pensions and campsites. We'll try to avoid major hostelling companies and putting our money towards smaller industries and family businesses.

Things we want to do include seeing ancient sites and ruins, museums and art galleries, walking the Camino de Santiago, island hopping in Greece, Edinburgh fringe festival, tracing our ancestors, sailing on a gulet in the Aegean, beautiful churches and mosques, wine and cheese tasting, crepe making in provincial France ...

Any suggestions on good things to do and see along our route we welcome your comments!

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open" – Jawaharial Nehru