Ticket to Ride Gap Year Reunion

One week left of 2007 in the office and lots to look back on.

Working backwards over the last 2 weeks, lots happening over this festive season. “No one does Christmas better than us Brits in my book.”

Last Saturday saw TTRide Staff and the 2007 Riders reunite in London. 9 months on from an emotional Durban departure and 12 months on from an exciting arrival, the night started a 7.30pm and to be quite honest, never looked back. Great to see everyone again and with the turn out at near 100% same time, (maybe) same place next year.

Christmas is a busy time for us, finalising plans, talking to our Riders an just generally getting everything ready for the our 2 Zero to Hero 3 month Adventures.

Portugal Trips have been pretty non stop with Exeter University enjoying great waves all last week and with Plymouth University also enjoying offshore winds and pumping Atlantic swell as right this there is plenty to smile about for our TTRide European Uni Adventurers.

Linley and the Nov Road Trip crew have arrived back with plenty of stories about their travels. It was pretty obvious to see who the wintered workers were as Linley strolled in last week having spent 6 weeks in SA loving the TTRide Lifestyle with a what Linley and Chris described as an epic Road Trip with an amazing group of people. Time for me and Tim to head south to sunny SA shores next and with a full house of new Riders and an action packed itinerary we cant wait.

School holidays has seen a dramatic rise in the number of bookings for our July 08 Summer Road Trip and with one of our Jan 09 Zero-Hero Trips already reaching max capacity with all remaining places either already sold out or on hold over Christmas, the second trip is expected to fill out just as quick.

As always, lots of exciting developments with regards to future plans coming out of the TTRide HQ. There never seem to be enough hours in the day. All I know is that with the right people, the same TTRide approach and the levels on interest in what we do, watch this space as we look to move Ticket to Ride into a New Year, because as far I can see, we are already there.

TTRide UK Staff Christmas party tomorrow night, always a good one and with the amount of early starts and late finishes throughout 2007 we deserve it, even if we do say so ourselves.

Reading back through this, it has turned out to be rather a long update, so if you’ve got this far, thanks for taking the time, and if you are booked to come with us this Jan, then see you on the sunny side,

Happy Christmas

W

Beautiful Weather and Playful Waves in Plettenberg Bay

Two days in Plett have passed, and you are quickly reminded why this town is such a popular holiday destination with the South African population. We've had nothing but clear skies and constant sunshine, met with a gentle swell producing perfect waves for everyone to take their surfing up a step. Whilst having a spot of fresh sushi after a morning surf yesterday I even saw a Mother and child Southern Right Whale cruise past about 1/2 a mile out at sea, life really dosen't get much better!

We've spent a lot of the time in the water, and John Henry has taken the bull by the horns and is giving lessons with so much enthusiasm and energy that it's hard to imagine anyone doing a better job. The water's a lot warmer up here, and wetsuits are starting to become optional with board shorts and bikini's becoming the flavour of the day.

The date for the sky dive has been booked, and it seems as though we'll be having a full compliment taking to the skies. The bungee jump is met with greater anticipation, and this will be done one afternoon but no dates have been set, as it's good to keep this as flexible as possible.

So all is well from Africa's most Southern country, and it seems as though the smiles are here to stay.

Over and Out, L

Projects underway as we take a Birds Eye View of Cape Town

Increbible view, originally uploaded by Ticket to Ride - Worldwide Surf Adventures.

Day 5 on the Adventure, and we're maintaing the spead and high energy levels that we started off with.

Sunday...

An early morning session down at Africa's famed learn to surf spot of Muizenberg, this is the third lesson of the trip, and with the group all starting at a similar standard it's great to see them develop from session to session. None of the group had much if any surfing experience, so these early sessions are vitally important. We need to make sure that every session takes on something new, but that we don't go too fast and let people get left behind. We covered the basics of turning today, which everyone took to like a cheetah on a lame Springbok.

The wind swung the wrong direction for the afternoon which meant that we couldn't head in for our second session, but we instead went to watch some of the countries top young surfers battle it out in 'The Volcom Qualifying Series' contest at local beach 'Long Beach'. With the sun shining, a hot dog stand close at hand, and some high performance surfing this was not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon!!

Monday...

Early start today as it was the first of the many Community Projects that we get involved with, and being situated in the middle of Cape Town this meant a drive right through local rush hour. This project is called The Salesians, and it is an institute set up by Don Bosco in the late 19th Century. Among other things it is a haven, and educational facility for the homeless street children of Cape Town. The owner was telling me some horrendous stories about what these young children have been through and experienced. Our aim here is to not only broaden their minds and give them the opportunity to communicate with people from overseas, but also to realise that there are people out there who care what they are up to, a lot of these children are highly involved in street crime, but after spending the morning with them you quickly realise that they are just young children as we all once were, but they have had to fend for themselves in desperate measures. There smiles are very touching, and it is always a warming and eye opening experience getting involved with them.

After a quick bite to eat outside on a sunny Cape Town boulevard, and a tour around the shops and local African market we headed over to Table Mountain. We had planned to climb it, but a lack of footwear, and a tight schedule meant that we had to grace the Cable car, something which everyone seemed happy about! Table Mountain has to offer one of the finest views in the world, not only can you see all over the stetching suburbs of the city, but you also have one of the finest sea views and are able to see 2 oceans, the Indian and Atlantic, on either side of the Peninsula.

We rushed back, as we had an appointment with the 'Cape Town Juventus', a small local football team. This is one of the most heart warming projects we get involved with, a local man Thomas, runs this team, and they meet at 6 every night to play football on a small patch of land covered in stones, rubbish, too much glass, and it is so uneven that you can't see how they don't beak their ankles in every session! They only have 1 ball, no whistle, and are all in the same kit as when we were last here, in January. But despite this lack of facilities they absolutely love the game! They are all smiles, and laughter, throughout the session. Last night we had a quick 5 a-side tournament, with the 4 TTRide boys on each team.

We're back there tonight and will be bring a handful of footballs, a whistle for Thomas, and will be arriving an hour early with various gardening tools to remove all the rubbish, and try and even out the ground as much as possible.

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Today we've got a surf session in the morning, and then we're off to Klein Constantia one of Cape Towns finest vineyards, before heading back to the football field for another training session.

For all the photo's have a look at our flikr account, http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttridesurf/, or our Facebook group "Ticket to Ride - Gap Year Surfing Adventures"

Trip off to a Flying Start...

Lesson, originally uploaded by Ticket to Ride - Worldwide Surf Adventures.

Where to begin? It's day 3 of the trip, and we've managed to squeeze so much in that it feels like a weeks gone by!

Friday...

With all the group arriving safely we decided that the best way to clear any drogginess that a flight may have given was to get straight into the sea for our opening surf session.

This was a huge success, the conditions were perfect, and the setting ideal. The first lesson's always important because it's one that you'll never forget, and we certainly never will. Energy levels were at an all time high as the group charged through the waves, all eager to start the trip off with a memorable session.

After returning before we let the tiredness sink in it was time for the Welcoming Braai. A traditional South Africa feast, that really puts to shame the British Summer bar-b-q's! Afer such a busy day you're very happy to eat to your heart content knowing that you earnt all the food, and that you'll be buring it off in the surf the next day.

Saturday...

An early start as the sun was shining, and the waves looking absolutely perfect. We all headed down to the beach for the second session of the trip, which saw everyone make a huge development. Every person has now got to their feet and enjoyed a lengthy ride; so as you can imagine the eager excitement for surfing is being shared by all.

In the afternoon it was chill time, and with the sun shining a good chance to remove the Winter glow! We spent the afternoon relaxing in the sun at one of the local surf spots, soaking up some rays, and enjoying the locals performing on the huge Atlantic rollers.

This day of sunshine was followed by a couple of sundowners at the local bar, before we headed home for some food, and then off out again to enjoy a party that was being held underneath the local lighthouse.

A very busy start to the trip, so may it continue. We've got 2 more surf sessions today, a day in Cape Town centre tomorrow, and in amongst the waves we've got a tour of local vineyard Klein Constantia, and not to mention a variety of Community Projects which will kick off tomorrow.

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For a look at the photo's taken so far see our Flikr account at www.flickr.com/photos/ttridesurf/

First few arrive for the November AFR

Local beach, originally uploaded by Ticket to Ride - Worldwide Surf Adventures.

It's the day before the start of the African Road Trip, and with over half the group having arrived this morning it might aswell be the first day.

I picked up the group bright and early from Cape Town Airport, and they were all greeted with typically beautiful Cape Town weather; all seeming rather tired from the long journey they all had a bit of rest time, and then we went out to grab a bit to eat in Kommetjie.

This was followed by a tour of the Cape peninsula from Dene Botha, who has sponged up all the knowledge from his pioneering Father Paul. Taking the tour along one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world quickly cleared all the cobwebs. This is where it all begins, the start of a lifetime in surfing starts here, and it's SO EXCITING!!!

We had a quick tour, and then went down to the local beach watching all the local kids shred the waves of Long Beach after a day at school. We all watched on in eager anticipation, and its easy to see that as soon as they felt the soft Cape Town sand in between their toes they wanted to be nowhere else than in the water, learning the sport that they have travelled so far to master!

We haven't got our first surf lesson until tomorrow, so I've left them all to take 5 in front of a surf DVD, and build their ever increasing surf knowledge. Before we head out for some pizza's later, then we've got the remainder of the group coming out tomorrow, when we'll head out to the water for the first of many lifechaning surf sessions.

For a full gallery of the photo's please see our Flickr account (click on the image above.)

TTRide takes off

It's all go here today as our 4 week trip takes off to sunny South Africa. The riders are in for quite a welcome with one of the swells of the year predicted to roll in and spark up the various big wave spots around Cape Town. With a bit of luck they'll get to witness Cape Town's finest charging Dungeons and then nip away to the many sheltered spots for an afternoon of surfing - not a bad start.

I'm off to talk at St Edward's tomorrow and then i'm loading up the boards and heading off for a week's holiday. The plan is to cruise around some of the lesser surfed areas of the UK. There's a big old swell coming to so i'll be throwing in the big boards - get them ready for the cyclone swells in Durban next April! Will's coming along for the weekend and then he's back down to HQ to keep things ticking over - he may need an extra pair of hands given how the last few weeks have gone.

So it's back to doing what we love most, running trips. Can't wait to get this one on the road, it reminds you of what TTRide is all about and where all the work goes. Keep your eyes out for Linley's latest blogs. I just spoke to him on Skype, he cut me off rather quickly due to the fading light and the building swell, one last wave before it gets dark. Priorities......

Shot Bru's.

Feet firmly on South African soil

Stage 1 of the journey successfully completed (my ugly mug above in Jo'berg airport waiting for the connection.) I nearly missed my flight out here though, it was a close call. After spending far too long in the departure lounge at Gatwick I was fairly oblivious of the time, ipod in, relaxing in the food hall, thumbing various magazines etc. only to look up at the screen and see my flight flashing in big red letters “FINAL CALL” I left for a nervous sprint to the gate, which needless to say was absolutely miles away. When I arrived out of breath and with a sweaty back the gate as empty as all the other passengers had boarded, it hadn’t left though so it just meant I was one of the last on the plane, much to the irritation of the other flyers.

Nationwide is like an airline out of the 80’s, and apart from the man who was shouting in his sleep I don't have any complaints. Good food, and a couple of trips with the drinks trolley, the TV was a big one but I'd never seen Oceans 13 so it wasn't a problem.

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I've ARRIVED!!!!!! 20 hour of travelling (my connecting flight was stupidly delayed), and I've finally made it to Kommetjie in Cape Town. First port of call was obviously the beach. Yes there's swell, and yes I had to go in before doing anything else. Nothing like a surf to clean away the cobwebs after a long flight!

Things are looking great for when the group arrive, the sun's shining, there's good waves, and on the day they arrive it's been forecast as "The swell of the year", so I'm thinking we'll head around the coast, take in some scenery, acclimitise to the S.A lifestyle, and watch the local Hellmen charge into some giant Atlantic Rollers at Dungeons, not a bad arrival!!!

Busy couple of days before everyone arrives, and off for supper now. Early night for me!

Over and Out, L

Dark by 5 so where's my Ticket to....

Pic: TTRide Cape Town Instructor Dene Botha in the shade during a memorable TTRide Durban Dawny.

Dark by 5 is a depressing thought...... true if you have no plans until May.

Winter here means that all the planning, marketing and Rider selection trip logistics is nearly finished for our 07/08 TTRide Adventures and the best bit of Ticket to Ride upon again

Linley landed in Cape Town today, and the surf is there to greet him, his team of Riders fly out on Thursday and the closest I get to the action is meeting Riders at the Airport.

We were featured in City Magazine this week which will give our Career Break Trips a further boost. The September Zero to Hero trip is aimed at those taking a Career Break, and as alway we take extra special care in our selection process to make sure that all our Riders are well suited to our Adventures. Anyway enough about that....

it's dark already, Linley is in South Africa running the TTRide Road Trip, Tim is taking a week off next week, this leaves me with the prospect that EVERY TTRide HQ job is now my job!!! or to be more positive ANY TTRide HQ job is now my job!!!

Pub Lunch anyone????

W

Off to the airport in 1 hour...

The time has finally arrived. The past few weeks have been spent in excited anticipation preparing all the necessary details so that this 1 Month African Road trip goes as smoothly as possible, but it always comes round sooner than you think!

Checking the surf report, and looking at the weather forecast it looks like we'll be in for a great start to the trip. The swells on the way, as is the sunshine, and with a bit of luck the wind will be perfect to create those imaculate lines that have gained a reputation as the best learn to surf spot in Africa down in Muizenberg Corner.

I'm travelling out there on Nationwide Airways, which none of us have tried. Starting to worry as to whether they will be showing the latest feature length films, and whether or not I'll have the choice about which film I want to watch, and at what time, will the food be good, free booze, what about a bag of nuts when I board? All these questions are starting to become a main priority in my thought pattern. Tim and Will could not be less interested.

I'll be getting a load of photos up over the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for constant updates.

My next post will be from the Southern Hemisphere (how good does that sound!!), that is unless I get board in the departure lounge, or maybe on the plane without my first choice of films.

Over and out... L

TTRide Wednesday Blog

Ah bliss,

Got the office to myself this morning. Will and Linley are out for a meeting so i'm holding the fort and getting a few things done in their absence. About to head out for lunch so thought i'd put a quick blog up there.

I experienced the full Ying / Yang of London life for the first time last night. Having never spent more than a few days here at a time, it's taken a while adjusting to actually living here but i've now just about got my head around it. Anyway, i went up to Kings Cross last night to catch some live music. A really good night watching a fella called Seasick Steve - some good old fahioned hillbilly blues with some old friends - one of the many reasons for living in the Captial. We went on for a few beers and returned on a high after a good night only to round the corner into our street to see my bike, so kindly lent to me by Linley, had been nicked. The culprit vaulted my garden fence, cut the chain and made off with all £40's worth - what's the point? City living......

So there you go, no doubt Will or Lin will post something this Avo. Linley is now flat out putting the finishing touches on the 2007 and 2008 rider diaries that will be heading out to our lucky riders in due course. More checks coming in for our 2009 trip today, it seems word really is spreading quickly!

Bye for now,
Tim

TTRide Surf Instructor Trips selling out!!!!!!!

18:15

Just me in the office and with Linley's blog entry for the day coming in so efficiently early this morning, I thought I might sign off this Monday afternoon with another.

We took our 20th booking for our Zero to TTRide Hero (Trip II) this afternoon meaning that this trip is now full, and knowing who we've got on this one, it leaves us super excited about it. This trip is being lead by Tim and Nikki who you can read all about on our team pages. Nikki is rejoining the team from being a 2007 Graduate and now a trip assistant to Tim. Nikki will add an exciting new edge to the trip having worked with the Animal Surf Academy in Plozeath for the past 6 months. As a professional photographer she will no doubt be dominating the latest Rider shots with all her photos.

I uploaded a photo of Sam Millar (see latest shots). Sam is assisting Chris on the first Jan 08 Zero to TTRide Hero which only has 5 places left. He runs his own UK surf School called Freeride based in Perranporth, he spent over 3 months in SA last year living the dream and can't wait to be out there with us in January.

It is amazing to think how we have grown in the last 2 years. We put our life and soul into what we do and count ourselves lucky to spend our days living in the Now doing what we love.

It is becoming clear to us that in order to grow in a way that doesn't compromise our Rider's development as a surfer and experience as a traveller, we will need to think about bringing in new people. This is something we are all really excited about as it means new ideas and even more energy pushing Ticket to Ride to go beyond limits.

Happy Days

W

African Road Trip getting ready to head South

One week to go, and then it's off back out to South Africa for our inaugural 1 month Afrian Road Trip, which I have got the pleasure of taking.

I'll be heading out with a group of 5 people, the weather's just turned warm, the surf's looking uber consistent, and South Africa's top shaper has had the phone call to get 5 boards ready for the groups arrival, it's going to be EPIC!!!

We'll be spending the month travelling along the garden route, 1 week in Cape Town, 1 week in Plett, and 2 weeks in the surf mecca of Jeffreys Bay. Surfing, community work, and travel. We'll also be taking a tour around the illustrious vineyard of Klein Constantia, and the group will have the option of taking on the worlds highest bungee jump, sky dive, sand board, or get involved in any other activities that come our way over the 1 month Adventure.

For us taking these trips is what it's all about, taking people around a fantastic country with such huge potential, sharing in the lives of the African people, and ultimately getting people involved in what we believe is the worlds greatest sport, sharing a lifeskill that our Riders can take home, use around the world (or however they wish) the one thing we do know it will be enjoyed for the rest of their lives.

It should be a great month, and after this we've got the two 3 month trips in the New Year, so it's busy times for us all. But when it's busy like this, it's got to be good.

Linley, over and out...

Ticket to Ride

It's been a good couple of days. The postal strike has relented at last and booking forms are starting to filter through again, some expected and some not which is always exciting.

Linley has also been in touch with our November riders preparing them for the trip. The main priority at the moment is getting the specifics for the boards we'll be having made up for them out in SA - even if it's not for you there's always something good about ordering a brand new quiver. It's also good for the guys to know that there'll be a brand new board waiting for them in South Africa.

Otherwise not too much to report. Had to don the gloves for the cycle in this morning. It's getting cold, time to think about heading somewhere warmer...

Attached is a Pic sent over from SA last week - lucky Saffas.

Ticket to Ride to follow the Cup to South Africa

And so there it is, the Saffa's pipped us at the post. But at least we went down fighting.

It was a strange one, even though we lost the pubs were rocking into the early morning and there was a real party atmosphere wherever you went. Everyone seemed to bond with this team that fought to the end and made England proud which is all you can ask - something that has been so lacking in English sport for a while (I could go off on a rant here about English Football but it's been done to exhaution in the papers so i'll let it go).

We've obviously been taking a bit of a battering from our friends over in SA today. Not only have they regained the cup but they are also in the middle of one of their best swell seasons in years. Every e-mail seems to arrive with some Pom baiting text and a photo attached with one of our "friends" tucking into a perfect emerald barrel shimmering in the sun.

All's not lost though. Linley is preparing to head off on our November Roadtrip in a couple of weeks. I was in SA when they won the World Cup in 1995 and it was memorable to say the very least, Linley and the Crew are in for what should should be an unforgettable 4 weeks.

Meanwhile Will and I will be manning the office doing our best to stay friends. Without Linley here to mediate this could be a tall order so we'll be hoping the phone's stay as busy as they have been lately. We've had lots of interest in our trips for next year so the TTRide gospel is spreading....

And that's monday.

TTRide Mini Gap?

Another good week for ttride in the London HQ, getting some really exciting people on the trip and by this i mean, the kind of people that can't wait to join us out in SA, the kind of people that ring just because they feel like talking about their ttride trip. We love that, it gets us super excited aswell.

I am in Cape Town for New Year this year, taking my girlfriend, brother, sister and parents on a bit of a ttride expedition.
Can't wait!! Apparently the locals know what they are doing when it comes to celebrating New Year in Cape Town.

Been working from home today, because my poor girlfriend Lottie has had to have a minor operation, all a bit soar and if i could spell the name of the opp i would, but i can't. Anyway, I know she was cheered up a) by the gourmet lunch i cooked her and b) by her 7 week old nephew Max coming round for the day.

Now, obviously I am all man, and don't do babys, or atleast i thought i didn't. Little Max is gorgeous, loads of hair in a funky punk, really smiley and already signed onto the Jan 2025 trip, I told mum Louise that she couldn't even think Schools until the Gap Year is sorted especially as places on ttride trips are always in high demand.

Enough joking. What i actually said was that I would put a place on hold until Monday. "Cant wait to have him on".

Half-term this week for some schools, lots of potential riders booking a slot to come in and see us, will have to remember to buy a big box of biscuits.

Still holding my breath for saturday,

it's in the bag, even Max knows it.

Our Very Own Ticket to Ride with a piece of History in the making.

The weekend that was prophesised to be the weekend of the year certainly didn’t disappoint.

And this is how it went!!!

Friday PM
17.00 Final Surf Check, “definitely still on!!!”
17.29 TTRide Truck loaded..
18.00 Rush hour beaten – next stop Cranking Cornwall!!!!
23.00 Touch down in Cornish HQ to competitively exchange journey times with other cars.
23.02 Into bed and ready for tomorrow.

Saturday AM
06.30 Wake up – Still dark – no worries time to fuel up with a coffee and prepare boards.
07.00 Misty morning, surf’s up in a big way, no one out and we’re on it.
07.20 After gruelling paddle out, it is even bigger than it looked through sleepy eyes on the beach. Guy Hayler takes off on a bomb and snaps his favourite surf board that he affectionately called “Sally”
07.30 Caught the next wave in, keen for a regroup, a little bit more energy fuel and with Costantine Bay slightly misfiring, a new location. Somewhere in Cornwall had to be on.
09.00 After a full English and some important knowledge digestion on what was set to be one of the rugby world cup semi finals of all time. Plans were finalised and we headed down the coast to a beach called Godrevy.
11.00 Arrive – sprint up the dunes – and yes, this was it, Cornwall at it’s all time best!!!
11.01 wetsuit half on and running to water. “the closer we got the better it looked.
11.06 Having raced out the back, the session was on and the ttride team were all over it.

Saturday PM
15.06 After a 3 hour classic Cornish session time for a refuel at the local Café.
16.03 Again ready to take to the waves, having relaxed, refuelled and most importantly, convinced ourselves that the boys could take down the French in their own backyard, it was again time for a few more slices of the rare delicacy that is Cornish Perfection.
18.00 lite fading, body aching, surf mind rejoicing and of course rugby looming, time to move.
18.05 We headed back to HQ feeling invincible ‘this has to be the best day ever, all we need to do now is win the rugby’
Which we all know went something like this…
20.00 God Save our……………………………………………!!!!!!
20.40 Half time…….France 9 England 8………………………………?????
21.25 JONNY!!!!!!!!
21.30 SWING LOW……………….!!!!!!!!!!!!!
21.35 Celebration till the early hours….

Sunday AM
09.00 Surf is firing, heads are a little hazy
09.30 Wetsuits on – (moving a little slower)
10.00 in the water and in tune with theme of the whole weekend, “we were again right where we want to be!!”
13.00 No trip to Cornwall is ever complete without a pasty.
13.15 HQ with a pasty in one hand a newspaper confirming last night’s heroics in the other. HAPPY!!
14.00 Load the truck , time to shoot back to London in time for what might have been yet another twist in the 2007 World Cup Tale.
21.30 No twists, Saffa’s win easily. However, ample reason for England to still believe it!!
22.00 A weekend of epic surf, a game of high performance, incredible intensity and true English nerve.

Asleep before my head even hit the pillow…

Smiling as I dream about whether this weekend could ever be beaten??

Personally and I'm sure I'm not alone, I’m gonna hold my breath for next weekend..

So Finally and quite rightly, a serious message to our South African friends, "the champagne is on ice, cos our boys have been here before!!!!"

COME ON BOYS!!!!!!!!


Thanks for tuning in.

W

Best for a while...

Weekend's getting close, and there's nothing better than the prospect of a Rugby World Cup semi-final. That is great on it's own, but when Father Neptune decides that he's going to throw in some Atlantic rollers, and honour the Engligh shoreline with it's best swell in months on top of that it's set to be an all time mouth-watering classic!

All of us seem to be on the surf forecast sites every 10 minutes, checking that nothing's changed and the conditions are still set to crank up the coastline.

We're planning on getting some new banners and signs designed and printed; and with our Graphic designer being based down in Cornwall Will's leading the front running to hit the water first and get on that picture message to let us all know what we're missing.

Unfortunately I am unable to make it, as in true uncharactersitic surfer style I had pre-booked my weekend and am honouring my commitment (what an idiot!! - but I am going to be scoring South Africa for a month over November, so I'll have my hour.)

Anyhow whatever people are up to, with the prospect of epic swell, and the chance of England possibly getting to a second consecutive World Cup final, this weekend is set to be one of those dates that you simply have to remember just so that you can tell the Grand children how good life used to be.

So fingers crossed for the waves to come through, and for Jonny to find his firing line, and the front pack to be at their dominating best..... bring it on!

LL

Doing the 9-5

Afternoon,

Bit of a slow day today where everything that has been put off and avoided over the last few months has now got to be done.

Lots more exciting interest for our 2009 adventures, and our university all inclusive packages to Portugal are flying out.

As far as marketing is going, it seems that there is no substitute for running top quality trips and getting the ttride word out that way. I'll book my Ticket.

However, in the meantime, there are lots of plans that unfortunately need lots of research and thorough documentation. Worth it if it means the call is made for more research trips. Now that is hard work!!!!

Spoke to some of the Jan 2008 Riders today, who are working in all kinds of different jobs in preparation for their trip, I am not sure who is more excited. Either way, we're set to go!!!!!!!

Better go nearly time to go home???

W

Cheer up Linley!! Look at Tim!!

Having just spent a week on the west coast of Ireland taking on all the Altlantic could throw a me, i am back in the office and contrary to Linley's depressing winter fears, there seems to be a real buzz in air.

Bookings for all our trips are ticking along nicely and we are as ever taking our time to make sure that all those that sign on to our trips know exactly what to expect and are as excited as us about the prospect of spending the winter in the sun, sea and surf with Ticket to Ride.

Lots of school talks and gap fairs to go to meaning Tim is a busy boy going all over the UK in the TTRide Truck. Which if you see him or catch him on the phone, don't forget to ask him about his antics last night when he decided to put 20 litres of unleaded petrol into our DIESEL TTRide truck. Nice work Tim!!

Nevermind, though Tim is highly embarrassed, and at the end of the day we've all done it???? Well i haven't, Linley hasn't, but my mum has and so have a lot of other people's mothers.......!

Finally i have an added spring in my finger tips as I write this entry on my new macbook which is all part of our office technology makeover. Lots of wires, flashing lights and shiny new databases, printers, fax machines, just gotta work out how to use it all. All very exciting though.

Better go, Tim needs his error highlighted again.( I think an hourly reminder is best)

W

October Days

It's getting to that time of year when you slowly start to realise that any hopes of a late Summer resurgence have well and truly gone. The calendar's turned to October, the nights are closing in, and your journey home will be exactly like your journey into work, grey, cold and dreary (and perhaps your only time outside in the day.) The trees are now bare, leaving the pavements brown, skiddy, and damp. Your skins lost any hint of sheen, hairline more seemingly retreated, and your eyes start to sit upon a couple of dark little sacks.

The luxury of the "Endless Summer" lifestyle has not hit us here yet. We find ourselves inside, staring at computer screens, working past dark, pulling our hair out as our over worked computers fail to run at the same speed as frantic minds, and arguing over who has managed to spent the least on lunch but is sitting there the most satisfied (there's never an easy conclusion.)

October can be a tedious month, probably because September can be such a great month, the last chance to savour some sunshine, and ride the waves you've been waiting for all Summer; but with October the reality that you will not be able to take to the water without your 5mm, hood, and booties is starting to sunk in, and with the exciting prospect of a few Summer months ahead still fresh in the mind, it really can feel cruel.

Still we're not in the best position to complain, as we're fortunate to have the prospect of a few sun drenched months in the the Southern Hemisphere ahead so things are never that bad.

Will (fresh from his triumphant return taking on monster swells and litres of the black stuff in Ireland) and I are off to see our friends at the Surrey Enterprise Hub tomorrow, and Tim's taking the truck to Wellingborough School to find a handful of recruits, in the hope that this time next year we'll be riding the best of the Southern swells, and guiding people into the start of another Summer.

Linley, over and out...

Teddies Tomorrow

It's been a good couple of days putting together the final touches for the coming Gap Year Season. It kicks off tomorrow with the Teddies show and we've just got our new posters and brochures through that are looking good. It'll be fun to get back on the road and back to meeting people again....It should be interesting to see how many new companies have popped up too.

Then it's into the weekend and it should be a fun one. Will's out in Ireland and has been for a while, surfing the known and lesser known spots. I'm over to Paris to see if England can cling on till the Quater finals and Linley will be watching at home on the Big Screen keeping the TTRide flag flying in the U.K.

We'll hopefully see you at the Teddies show tomorrow, otherwise there'll be another entry at the beginning of next week

Over 'n out for now

Ticket to Ride revamped Blog

Linley at sunset, originally uploaded by Ticket to Ride - Worldwide Surf Adventures.

If you're reading this then welcome to Ticket to Ride. We've had this blog going for a while now but in truth, it's been fairly inactive so we've decided to pick it up. Hopefully whatever appears over the coming weeks, months and hopefully years will be of interest - there's lots of trips coming up and the aim is to share what goes on in South Africa with as many people as possible. Obviously we're not always out in South Africa and Ticket to Ride keep pretty active in the U.K surf scene - we'll be using this blog to bring you news from past and upcoming events throughout the year as we did recently with Earthwave down in Polzeath a few weeks back.

So what's been going on in the past couple of weeks? It's been pretty hectic in the office, obviously school's go back now and as a gap year company, things go into overdrive as we move back into the school year.

Obviously September means swell and we've been off chasing a couple of classic swells, nipping off early a week or so ago to catch some epic waves on the east coast and ducking out to the Cornwall office mid week to polish off the new brochure and catch a few waves. If you're prepared to spend a few hours in the car there are some world class waves to be had right on our doorstep, and usually they're in the last place you'd look.

Click on the photo and it'll take you to our flickr page where there's a few more photo's to check out

Earthwave - Global Surf Challenge

Ticket to Ride ‘Worldwide Surfing Adventures’ in association with the Surf’s Up Boardriders Club to lead England’s bid to take the 2007 Earthwave Crown and the World Record for most surfers surfing the same wave at the same time.

Motivated by the record breaking attempt on the Guinness World Record for the ‘most surfers riding the same wave’ in Cape Town in September 2006, the Kahuna Surfing Academy (Cape Town, South Africa) has challenged selected surf schools, promoters and surfing organisations in virtually every time-zone on the planet to try and break the record – all on the same day.

Ticket to Ride ‘Worldwide Surfing Adventures’ has been directly approached to co-ordinate and represent England’s participation in Earthwave.

“We are delighted to have been invited to lead England’s involvement in the Earthwave movement and are pleased to have enrolled the support of the prestigious Surf’s Up Boardriders club. We are hugely confident when it comes to our chances of taking the 2007 title, and ideally securing the world record in England as well” said Ticket to Ride Director Will Hayler.

Earthwave - The Global Surf Challenge - is the first worldwide surfing event to be staged in one 24 hour period and arguably the first sporting event of any kind to be run this way.

“Polzeath beach is the perfect beach to take on this world record attempt. With my Surf’s Up Boardriders club forming the core of those taking to the water hoping to claim the record, I think we have a very real chance to take both titles” says Pete Craske (founder of the Surf’s Up Boardriders club)

The current record stands at 44 riders on one wave set by Lahinch surf school (Ireland) with the unofficial record standing at 73 and held by the Kahuna Surfing Academy (South Africa).

The inaugural edition of Earthwave is scheduled for 2 September 2007 – and on the first Sunday in September annually thereafter. The project is expected to grow into the world’s biggest annual mass celebration of the surfing lifestyle with surfers from every country with a coastline participating in future years.

“Record breaking waves are not renowned for visiting England, however, this is something we hope to change” says Linley Lewis (Co-founder of Ticket to Ride)

With all proceeds of the days event being donate to “Surfers Against Sewage” Earthwave intends to mobilize the global surfing community in the quest for greater environmental awareness and what each and every person can do to reduce their impact on climate change, and specifically its effects on our oceans and waves.

The global scale of EarthWave will be used to highlight the problem of Global Warming and allied to a ‘call to action’ on what can be done to prevent climate change and particularly its effects on our oceans and waves.

It is hoped that over 300 surfers will take to the water on Polzeath beach(North Cornwall) on 2 September 2007 all hoping to take their place on a wave that is set to roll in onto English shores and be ridden in to world surfing history.

For more info and for details on how to register your place on England’s EarthWave call the Ticket to Ride HQ on +44 0208 7888 668 or email us at info@ttride.co.uk with “EarthWave” as subject line. Registration forms can be completed by visiting http://www.ttride.co.uk/earthwave.

See you down there…

TTRide Tri for Leukaemia

Linley Tri, originally uploaded by Ticket to Ride - Worldwide Surf Adventures.

Never one for sitting around, TTRide director Linley Lewis competed in the Blenheim Palace Triathlon last weekend. Along with a field of over 5,000 triathletes from around the country, Linley finished in good time and managed to raise a substantial amount of money for the Leukaemia Research Charity as they look to raise up to £100 million to improve treatment of Leukaemia and other blood cancers.

Running as a member of the “Banana Army”, the charity fundraising team attached to Leukaemia Research Charity, Linley completed an 800m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run. Having had a taste of the “Tri” he’s now looking for bigger and better things with tentative plans for a fundraising Land’s End – John O’Groat’s bike ride next summer. Keep your eyes peeled on the Ticket to Ride website for further developments and sponsorship opportunities.

Ticket to Ride would like to say many thanks for the organisers of the triathlon and a big well done to all competitors.

For more info check out www.banana-army.com.

Pippa at the Salesians Institure in Cape Town

IMG_0453
Originally uploaded by Ticket to Ride - Worldwide Surf Adventures

Pippa meets one of the pupils at the Salesians Institue, Cape Town. Another of Ticket to Ride's community project on the 2,000 mile adventure along Africa's southern coastline. There is alot more to the trip than surfing

Ticket to Ride management in Brittany

One of the best things about being a surfer is being let into the lifesyle that surrounds the sport. Once you've caught your first wave the search for bigger and better waves in weird and wonderful locations begins. With several of our 2007 riders still trotting through various exotic surfing meccas across the globe in search of their piece of perfection, it was time for the Ticket to Ride management to slip away to a quiet corner of France in search of theirs.

So often overlooked by surfers heading further south, a quiet peninsular in Brittany provided empty waves, crystal waters, deserted beaches on which to camp and a memorable week for all involved. It's amazing where surfing will take you and more often than not, it will be to out there locations, rarely frequented by your average tourist and will provide a real adventure. There is no better way to travel than as a surfer on the hunt for good waves, especially when you're on the hunt with your friends.

Happy surfing days! And with summer around the corner there is no better time to grab a board and get in the water.

They've got a Ticket to Ride

Following on from 3 months of surfing in South Africa with Ticket to Ride this winter and with the help of Ticket to Ride's extensive contacts within the surfing world, 6 riders have now secured jobs as surf instructors at various surf schools in Cornwall and Portugal this summer. For these six it is a dream come true and the icing on the cake after an amazing 3 months of learning to surf with Ex World-Champs on some of the world's best waves in South Africa.

Of these 6 several had never surfed prior to coming on Ticket to Ride's 3 month surf adventure around South Africa. The idea of working as a surf instructor this summer was beyond their wildest dreams as they borded the plane for Cape Town in January. However now, having traveled and surfed the entire South African coastline and gained internationally recognised qualifications in both Surf instructing and Surf lifesaving in Durban, they are ready to pass on the stoke at surf schools around Europe this summer.

This has proved to be a life changing 3 months for those lucky enough to take part in Ticket to Ride's inaugural trip to South Africa this winter and the future looks bright for 2008 with the two trips leaving next January nearing the sold out mark already!

Ticket to Ride wishes its riders all the best for the future and looks forward to 2008.

See you out there!