MagnusAndCheryl

Here are some of the questions we are frequently asked while on our Arctic to Antarctic to African adventure.

What was your favorite part of the trip.

Every day has brought some highlight, insight or special moment, however a few things so far stand out as totally mind-blowing:
* An expedition rafting down the Grand Canyon
* Patrolling the beaches of Guatemala on a turtle conservation project
* Snorkeling with sea lions in the Galapagos (the greatest wildlife show on earth)
* Breathing in the rich aroma of a colony of 200,000 penguins in Antarctica
* Working on an environmental health project in Uganda
* Visiting mountain gorillas and pygmy villages in Rwanda and Uganda
* Going on safari in the Serengeti

What agency did you book the trip through?

We just make this up as we go along. Makes for more effort working out the logistics on a day-to-day basis but much more interesting (and cheaper).

Why go to Antarctica?

We find this a very strange question but get asked it a lot! To explore one of the last frontiers, go somewhere really cold and hard-to-get-to, see penguins and marvel at icebergs. This ultimate adventure destination exceeded all our wildest expectations and when funds allow we will definitely return.

How do you pack for this sort of a trip?

Spartanly and somewhat ineptly. Everything we bring we have to carry so we packed light and for warm weather. Oh, and of course we also brought full camping gear, a suite of camera lenses, our laptop, various other bits of electronica, a guitar and a clarinet (which doesn't really leave room for something as sensible-but-bulky as a warm jumper or a raincoat!). Bit of a problem when we hit freezing Alaska and Antarctica. On the plus side, we can buy cheap clothes as we go and give them away them when we return to warmer climes. Check out our detailed list of travel items

How do you pay for it (and will it ever end)?!

Well - now it has ended! Unfortunately, the "Magic Money Pot" wouldn't keep dishing out gold bars forever so in August 2007 we headed back to the harsh realities of working life.

Aren't you scared about your relationship?

Constantly, but what is this doing in an FAQ?! For whatever reason we are fine spending almost all our time together - as we travel we meet new people and rendezvous with old friends along the way, preventing us from getting too weird. 3am after a 20 hour bumpy bus ride in the middle of the Bolivian wasteland searching in vain for a bed can get a little strained of course!

Do you need to take a lot of flights in order to cover the distance you are planning?

Where we can't find an alternative we will fly. Otherwise it's all bus, boat and 4x4 jeep for us (see mission statement for why).

Don't you miss your family and friends?

Definitely, but when everyday is an adventure it helps a bit! Also, with advances in internet communications it's much easier to stay in touch now than it used to be. Finally, some of our favourite friends and family are joining us on the trip.

How long did you plan for this trip?

A lifetime in the dreaming, 2 years as a vague concept and 6 months of increasingly focused thought. Actually deciding where to go next is done on a sort of rolling so-we-just-arrived-in-Peru-what-do-we-do-here? basis.

How do you do the website?

Our precious laptop comes with us everywhere: we build the website on long-haul bus trips (lots of spare batteries!), uploading at internet cafes along the way. Our trip provides the images and creative inspiration!

Which is better - California or Scotland?

Scotland clearly. Though, of course, we love both. After this trip we will move to Edinburgh, where Cheryl has been led to believe the weather has a balmy Californian feel to it year-round. However, we loved San Francisco to bits and will probably move back at some point to be closer to our U.S. family. Looks like Transatlantic yo-yoing for the foreseeable future...