How I'm Making A Living As An Adventurer

On Monday, February 13th, 2012 in Practical Advice

I received the following email the other day:

I am a little bit confused as to what exactly you do for a living. I know that you are an adventurer, but I don’t get where you get your ‘everyday money’. Sponsorship is one thing for a trip, but if you don’t have a 9–5 job, where do you get the daily money from?

It’s a good question. Plenty of folk in the expedition industry come from moneyed backgrounds, and have found adventuring to be a worthwhile thing to do with their lives, unbound by financial restrictions. Good for them, I say.

I’m not so fortunate, however, so the short answer is that I occupy my time with a large range of things, most of which could be called ‘work’ or equally be called ‘life’, and some of which I sometimes get paid for. I spend very little on anything, and get by happily on the resulting balance.

The long answer is a bit more complicated. Read More »

10 Questions & Answers On Surviving The Scandinavian Arctic On A Bike

On Monday, February 6th, 2012 in Gear, Interviews, Scandinavia 2011

Timely or what? The Norwegian Cyclists Association have been in touch about my trip last year to Scandinavia, in which I rode a thousand miles from Oslo through Sweden and Lapland and across the Arctic Circle to Bodø. The following post is an edited version of the interview I did for their magazine På sykkel. It might help us here in London, as we struggle to cope with ten centimetres of wet slush…

Array

1. First, could you please give us a few facts about yourself; age, location, what kind of work you were doing until you started cycling, and a few of the countries you have visited by bike? Read More »

Film Blog: Why Expedition Films Fail (And How You To Make Yours Better)

On Monday, January 30th, 2012 in Moving Image, Practical Advice, The Film

A great number of expeditions and adventures are filmed, especially now the equipment to do so is cheap and accessible. But few projects ever reach the screen. My own film, Janapar, might well become one of them. Whinge, moan, etc.

So far, James and I have received four rejections from four of the biggest film festivals — Sundance, Berlin, South By South West and Rotterdam. (Technically, we’ve received three rejections: Rotterdam didn’t feel it worth contacting us at all.)

It does beg the question: Why are so many film projects unsuccessful? Read More »

(More) Evidence For The Value Of Crafted Adventure Media

On Monday, January 23rd, 2012 in General, Other People's Adventures

While defending my views on the use of social media on expeditions or journeys, I thought I’d share a reminder I recently received of why I bother raising such points and investing so much energy in all of this.

Hi Tom,

It’s been great following your adventures thus far, and I look forward to the book with anticipation.

I also want to say a massive thank you for giving me the necessary push, along with Andy last year, to embark on my own adventure! Read More »

This Free "Bike Touring Basics" eBook Will Get You Up To Speed

On Thursday, January 19th, 2012 in General, Other People's Adventures

If only everyone would read this gem of a free eBook before planning an epic bike ride. Bike Touring Basics, published by Friedel and Andrew Grant of the TravellingTwo.com cycle touring community website, tells you everything you need to know if you’re a newcomer to the world of bicycle travel. It also very wisely sets out what you don’t need to know.

Bike Touring Basics cover Read More »