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...