Years of thinking, planning & 3 months of busy organizing

I have been considering & researching a possible career break since about 2005.  Should I or should I not spend some deposit money on an adventure before committing to a mortgage?  I had one condition for my career break to make it worthwhile if I was to opt out the pension.  I wanted to live somewhere for at least 3 months so that I could actually say I’d experienced the place.  This was proving to be difficult – lack of visa opportunities being over 30 years old.

In September 2010 I had just about given up on the idea of a career break & decided to take monthly holidays…but as I was waiting at Victoria train station for a Brighton train for my cousins wedding, the glossy travel magazines in WHSmith caught my eye.  I’d read lots of “career break” books but never looked at Wanderlust Magazine.  I flicked through.  Amazingly, an advert in the back caught my eye (up until this point in any magazine I usually skip the ads).  A picture of a truck with the words “UK to Oz Overland”.  I never even thought that journey could be possible.  There must be so much red tape to get through all those countries.

The wedding was great.  As soon as I got back I began researching.  I found 3 companies offering this once in a lifetime journey.  One used public transport all the way=I thought this would restrict the chance to get off the beaten track.  One took a group of 40 people=far too many, especially when it came to camping with all those tents & outdoor cooking for 40.  Then there was Odyssey Overland.  Purpose built truck, 22 people in total, tents supplied, food fantastic according to online forums, only did this journey once a year, takes 6 months & been doing it since 2008.  Odyssey Overland was the choice for me.

It has met my initial career break condition to live somewhere for at least 3 months to experience it.  Ok, not the same geographical place, but I will be part of the overland travelling community for 6 months.  My career break was authorized on 22/06/2011 & I posted the Odyssey Overland booking form on 10/07/2011.

I began my preparation for this overland expedition during the summer of 2012.  I wanted to start this blog on 1st Jan, but no time until now!  It’s been manic since 1st January 2013.  I have done the following since New Year’s Day: designed my own travel journal, read last year’s Odyssey blog, check I’m complying with my works career break SOP, had to register at a new doctors to get 5 injections, got 7 injections from a travel clinic, bought 150 Doxycycline tablets for Malaria + tablets for altitude & an upset stomach, obtained 4 visas – the last 1 received today, bought insurance, shopping for equipment, practiced packing, booked flight/hotel, cancelled rent, organized removals/storage & arranged to say goodbye to friends.  Along with a full time job, this has been hard work.  I’m now going to try & fit in updating my iTunes & reading about where I’m actually going.  I need a holiday.