Road Trip
What an evening! For a long time I’ve always wanted to meet my role model, Ray Mears (pictured right). Ray is a leading pioneer in bushcraft survival and tonight I attended his lecture at the Tumbridge wells assembly hall theater where he talked about his latest adventure. Today’s experience was somewhat emotional. I never expected to even talk to him yet alone end up shaking his hand.
The day started at 9:15am where my dad and I set off in the car for a long trip down to Tumbridge wells in Kent. We were making really good time, the traffic was without its stereotype charm so we indulged on an extended stay at the services in Nottingham where we masticated a shepherds pie and chips. Arriving in Tumbridge wells just under 6 hours of setting off, we consulted the local tourist information desk to inquire about accommodation in the aria. We chose the New Wellington where I’m currently sitting in a room lit almost entirely by a flood lamp outside. It has to be said that the cost is completely overkill for a twin room of which is lacking even the most basic of characteristics. Arriving early, we had lots of time to kill. So to kill it, we browsed shops, drank coffee and ate pizza until after which there was time enough to collect the tickets from the hotel room and make our way over to the assembly hall for 7:30.
During the 2 and a half hours that ray gave his presentation, he showed slides and talked to us about his experiences during his most recent expedition to different parts of the world learning about the ways in which different cultures employ the skills of bushcraft. His talk included some stories that never made it to the television series including the spiritual rituals preformed for a boy to rid him of his troublesome behavior, a helicopter accident in America in which he was lucky to walk away from and also the fact that there was a MacDonald’s on the edge of the rainforest that he visited in south America.
After the lecture, Ray sat at a table in the bar where people queued for his book signing session. Approaching the table to begin talking to him was bizarre, he had a smile on his face and I’m sure mine was even bigger. I took with me my copy of one of his books “Essential Bushcraft” which I asked him to sign, using the correct spelling of course. Ray was quite talkative, I asked him for a book recommendation that I should reed in preparation for visiting the jungle. The expression on my face must have told him that I could never remember what he was telling me so he tore off a piece of paper and wrote a list for me. After never even expecting to talk to him, I shook his hand and walked away with memories of an unforgettable experience.
Well, this is a pretty long entry, provoked by a combination of time to spare, an extremely dull hotel room and the presence of my PDA. Time’s getting on and I’m being pressed into going to sleep, here are some pictures…
Traffic on the M25 wasn't too bad.
Only in England do they use energy saving light bulbs in the hotel and 500W flood lamps to light up the exterior.
Meeting Ray