This is why my team, Jailbreak Journos, got into a car with an IT consultant who blasted out Christian Rock from an internet radio station. This is why we got into a car with three girls from Leeds who liked to play 'the market game'. We were impressed.
"I went to market and I bought a yoga mat, a tub of white paint, a lawnmower, a foxtrot, David Beckham's autobiography, Adele's new album, a cabbage, a rabbit hutch...."Sleeping overnight in a travel lodge and meeting some fascinating personalities on the way, we found ourselves in Edinburgh with a few measly layers and our enthusiasm to keep us warm. The icy breeze numbed our legs enough for us to make it to the top of Calton Hill and, despite missing the fireworks we had a beautiful view of the city skyline in the 7pm darkness. The view from Edinburgh castle was magnificent. Having only ever been to Edinburgh during the Fringe festival, the city's atmosphere contrasted to my previous experience. It still filled my very veins with a surge of excitement. After 30 hours of travelling, the city rewarded me. I didn't care about the cold. I cared about the adventure.
Realistically we would not have made it to the Scottish capital without the help of those who drove us and especially the last couple: A Dutch man and a German-Mexican woman who were driving from Leeds to Edinburgh. We had no luck with lorry drivers, so I had no idea where we were going or when. Little did I know three days beforehand that I'd take a tour around London at 5am on Monday morning and find myself back in Southampton by midday. I've never needed the toilet so much in my life, speed walking down Pall Mall with near frostbite and a full bladder.
I think part of what made the trip was how spontaneous each new event was. It was as though I was in a novel and each time we got into a new car or made a decision, it was another plot twist. You don't know who's car you're getting into. Using my gut instinct to guide me in the right direction, I was able to feel the thrill without putting myself in any danger. Free coffees and chocolate helped too - basic human kindness.Last May I took part in Lost 99. Our challenge was to hitchhike back from Rugby to Southampton (99 Miles) within in a day whilst completing challenges along the way. A mere few hours landed us proposing to a middle aged woman at a service station, and at the top of a ferris wheel by 3pm. Expecting the unexpected we managed to win the competition, reducing our time to under an hour by completing the challenges.
I learned to appreciate change of scenery and plot twists. I let the current of adventure carry me out into the blue. I knew everything would be okay.
