Aoife O’Connell chronicles the adventure in the diary below:

Day 001 > Monday 02 September

The historic Reform Club in London today (Monday 2nd September) saw an exciting opening chapter to this 21st century retelling of the Jules Verne classic as The Around the World in Eighty Ways adventure got off to an exhilarating start.

Members of the London Metropolitan mounted police force stood guard and managed the morning traffic as the teams' very first mode of transport pulled up outside the famous gentleman's club where Fogg embarked on his legendary journey.

Looking like a scene straight from Jules Verne's pages, the horses and vintage carriages came to a stop on Pall Mall, and horses Biff and Groucho had adventure leader, Robin Dunseath onboard dressed in a dashing Phileas Fogg costume. Blind adventurer Miles Hilton Barber joined Robin in the first carriage. Heading up the rear, Mike McKenzie, who is paralysed from the chest down drove Silver medal winning pony 'Arthur', who pulled a special carriage adapted for people with disabilities and Caroline Casey.

Accompanied by police escort the team made their way through the busy London streets the team passing St. James Palace and coming to a stop in the courtyard of Buckingham Mews, following which team members Caroline, Miles, and Mike were interviewed for radio and television about why they are embarking on such an inspiring adventure.

From the Mews, the party headed for their next stop Stapleford Airport in a state of the art cab made by London Taxi International who has been making taxi's for over a hundred years.

Mary Munley, pilot, organised the Stapleford to Stoke Mandeville leg flying a chipmunk plane with, Miles being her co-pilot with Polly Vascher - who was the first women to travel around the world in a single engine light aircraft in hot pursuit. She had invited adventurers Robin, Caroline, and Mike to be passengers on her 'Piper Dakota'. The single engine light aircrafts then transported the team to their next destination - Stoke Mandeville hospital where Sir Jimmy Savile was waiting patiently with chilled champagne to welcome the team.

Arriving to a flurry of media attention, the team was whisked off to the Spinal Injuries Unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Following speeches and presentations, the team was off again, this time on hand cycles. The cycles made especially for people in wheelchairs took the team around the hospital grounds to board their land rover and head towards the Lake District for some well earned sleep before Day Two and many more zany modes of transport.

Day 002> Tuesday 03 September

It was an early start to Day Two of the around the world in 80 ways adventure. Waking up in the Lake District in England, the team's alarm clocks sounded at 5am. Fortified by tea and toast at Fairladies medieval farmhouse, the team loaded up the range rovers and headed out for a jam-packed day.

At 6.30 a.m. the party met with Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team who stretchered the team across a field. The team were shown how the specially fitted stretchers prevented back injury at which point Mike joked; "I think you are about eight years too late, I've already got one of those!"

From there the adventurers made their way to Ravenglass station and boarded the Eskdale Narrow Gauge Railway Steam locomotive. Driver, Trevor Stockton, accompanied by Jack the sheep dog, navigated the diminutive steam engine through the beauty that is the Cumbrian countryside. The railway opened in 1875 to bring iron ore to the Furness railway, carrying goods and passengers into the Eskdale Valley until 1953. Restored in 1960, it then opened as a tourist attraction.

A vintage tractor, then picked up the team. Malcolm the proud owner of the gleaming tractor, built in 1940 has lived in St.Bees all his life, never having left the tiny village except to complete a six-month term of army service. Lovingly restored by the owner, it was originally used by RAF, to pull aircraft out of hangers during the Second World War. Much to the delight of Caroline, Malcolm let her have control of the wheel. Grinning furiously Ms Casey maneuvered the petrol blue tractor around the sea side car park under the watchful eye of team captain Jon and Route Director Stuart. For safety reasons the rest of the team took refuge behind parked cars!

The next stop on the route was the Workington Life boat station where local press popped in to photograph the team beside the lifeboat with members of the local fire station. Steaming mugs of coffee and custard creams were on hand for the team. Instead Caroline decided to take a short nap on a haulage truck but did not see a big pool of black engine grease; "I looked back and thought it was a black shiny plate so I just laid back rested by head on it and soaked up the rays, then I felt something sticky jumped up and found I had just put my head in a pool of engine grease"

Fireman John whisked Caroline off and washed her hair in the toilet with toilet cleaner, which is "just great" for conditioning hair Caroline discovered!!

With no time to ponder the effects of toilet cleaner on the scalp, the team traveled to Whinlatter Forest where Jackie & Derrick Archibald had Wolfskin Siberian Huskies and forest rigs waiting for the team. The dogs couldn't wait to get started and their excited barks filled the forest, and Mike with dread. Miles went first with Karen directing the wheel rig from behind, next Caroline and finally it was Mike's turn to drive his own dog team. The specially designed wheelchair accessible rig was imported from Sweden. Karen and Gary hope more people in wheelchairs will take up the sport, with the specially imported equipment now available. Miles shouted words of encouragement to Mike; "Don't worry Mike they only go over 30 miles per hour"

Husky Denver raced through the forest with a grinning Mike on board, when Denver finally came to a stop Mike looked relieved but exhilarated; "Wow! Brilliant that was fantastic, I no longer need a red Ferrari - I'll just get a husky".

Accompanying cameraman, Mike McNamara even bagged a spin on one of the rigs, purely in the interests of coverage - of course!

After a picnic lunch in the forest, the team was off to Derwent Shore where they paddled canoes across the Lake to Keswick and were picked up by an M-Sport rally car. From there the team made their way to the Calvert Trust, which is an Outdoor activity center for people with disabilities. Along with other people in wheelchairs, Mike experienced the newest adventure activities - high-level horizontal transfer activities - which are basically a safe bungee jump style activity for people in wheelchairs.

As the evening of day two drew in, the team finally reached the Apex City Hotel in the historic Grass Market area of Edinburgh. Exhausted but happy, the team availed of the power showers and room service menu before collapsing into big comfy beds to catch up on much needed sleep! Bring on day three.

Day 003> Wednesday 04 September

Place: Edinburgh
Hosting Community Group: Cramond Kirk

The first stop in Edinburgh for the team on Wednesday morning was Cramond Kirk located just outside the city. Cramond was originally a Roman Fort and actually has Roman Baths located just beside the church. Cramond's latest claim to fame has been the discovery of a Roman lion in the River Almond four years ago. The lion, which was discovered by the local ferry man had been preserved in mud since Roman times and is now on display in the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

The team began their visit to this historic spot by speaking to local school children about their adventure. The children ranging in age from eight to twelve asked the team varying questions about their destinations, modes of transport and disabilities.

After a haggis lunch, the team traveled by Roman Chariot pulled by slaves alongside the River Almond. Greeted by rapturous applause from local Cramond people, the team was pulled along by the toga wearing slaves, to the sound of Scottish Bag pipes.

The evening at Cramond Kirk was a moving end to a beautiful Indian Summers day. The team convened to the Kirk and local people were invited to meet the team and hear them speak about ATW80W. The audience was entertained by interviewer Jimmy Spankie and a variety of songs. Adventure leader Robin even managed to stretch his vocal chords and joined the choir as they filled the little church with rousing renditions of "He's got the whole world in his hands" and "Mad dogs and Irishmen" amongst others.

No strangers to the unusual, Miles, Mike Caroline and Robin left the Kirk in a huge Santa Sleigh that brought them through the streets of Edinburgh. A Santa Sleigh and Christmas music in September attracted plenty of curious stares from passerby's but the warm welcome, good wishes and generous donations received at Cramond Kirk made the team feel as though all their Christmases had come together.

People of the day:
' The Cramond Kirk team' including the Roman slaves, pipe band, and the choir
Paul Mason from the Thistle Foundation
Jimmy Spankie
Mike Thompson
Santa and his sleigh

Modes of transport used today:
1. Roman Chariot pulled by ten slaves
2. Santa Sleigh

Interesting fact of the day:
At Cramond Kirk the team had the pleasure of meeting a South African lady by the name of Pat Young. Pat recounted the history of her family that originally landed in the Eastern Cape in the 1820's.

Her grandfather's name was Miles Bowker, who subsequently married a Barber. Somewhere along the line, a member of the family, whose first name was Hilton decided to double barrel the family name thus changing it to Hilton-Barber. Pat has researched the family heritage and even came across our special adventurer, Miles, amongst the family annals. Pat reckons Miles and she share the same ancestors; "I suppose Miles is my 22nd cousin or something!" commented Pat

Funniest moment:
Cramond Kirk provided the laughs this morning. Local school children were enthralled listening to Caroline recount her elephant adventure. She asked the children if anyone had an elephant as a pet. The church was silent until one brave little soul innocently piped up; "I've got a baby hamster?"

Interesting Fact - Did you know?
Louis Braille at the age of three was accidentally blinded by a spike in his father's leather workshop. Many years later he invented the Braille alphabet enabling millions of blind people to read once again. The amazing thing is that the spike that blinded him was the very same instrument he used to make the bumps in the paper, thereby restoring "sight" to millions of people.

Day 004 > Thursday 05 September

Place: Edinburgh

Like ducks to water, by 9:30am on Thursday morning the team was safely ensconced in Canadian canoes on the Union Canal, Edinburgh.

The canal which had been dormant for the last forty years has finally been revived this year under the direction of the Forth & Clyde Canal Community Project. Developmental officer Laura Bowden, who is also in a wheelchair, hopes the canals can be developed as activity locations for the whole community and particularly people with disability.

By 11am our water babies had managed to get themselves safely along the Union Canal. They then transferred to a horse drawn barge, pulled by movie star horse, Clydesdale Mac, who is due to star in the new Ewan McGregor film

Next was a mini bus to the Falkirk Wheel, the only one of its design in the world. The third most visited tourist destination in Scotland, the wheel is part of the rejuvenation of Scottish canals managed by The Waterways Trust, Scotland. To build the 30 metre high aqueduct and gigantic wheel engineers had to tunnel under the main Edinburgh-Glasgow railway and the historic Antonine Wall.

The team finally got to taste some homemade Scottish shortbread on board the Seagull Trust Boat. The Seagull Trust operates day cruises for people with disability and also makes some of the most delicious home-made cakes and shortbread around! They provided lunch for the team, The Provost of Falkirk and The Waterways Trust before sailing through the Falkirk Wheel.

Dinner that night was on the Rotary Club in Edinburgh, where the team spoke about disability awareness before retiring again to the Apex City hotel in the Grass Market. Day 4, another late night and Day 5 will surely be another early morning but the team is determined to keep going. With already twenty modes of transport in the bag, they could be home sooner than you think!

Day four transport list :
1.Canadian Canoe
2.Horse drawn barge
3.Canal barge
4.Falkirk Wheel
19 done – 61 to go

People of the day:
The Seagull Trust: – celebrated short bread makers!
The Waterways Trust, thanks to Rita and Steven
Forth & Clyde Canal Community Project – thanks Laura
The Thistle Hire Canal Barge – we love Mac, good luck with the movie career!
Our wonderful drivers Ian and Stuart – “Loving your work” as Casey would say!

Animal of the day:
Mac the Clydesdale horse who is apparently appearing in the new Ewan McGregor movie.

Quote of the Day:
Team captain Jon defends the fact that he didn’t know where we were going on Day 4:

“Look! I’m not a details man”

Did you know?
Camera man Mike McNamara has been christened ‘Carbonara’ by the team. It was getting far too confusing having Mike McKenzie and Mike McNamara on the team so Aoife came up with the name ‘Carbonara’ for fair skinned Mike! Hey! It rhymes with McNamara and don’t forget Mike, Carbonara is a very tasty dish!

Funniest Moment:
Jon sings his ‘fish song’ on Seagull Trust boat. Aoife asks Jon if he ‘made it up himself’ Jon subsequently throws wobbly;

“Made it up! You wouldn’t ask Wordsworth if he ‘made up’ his poems,
I ‘wrote’ this piece of work, I penned it myself, yes!”

Indeed, the tortured artist.

The fish song

There is no fish today,

Won’t have any tomorrow,

Didn’t have any yesterday,

Have you tried the fish shop?

This is the library

Day 005> Friday 06 September

Place: Edinburgh and Glasgow

We had to check out of the Apex this morning. By 7:15 everyone was tucking into their last breakfast at the hotel. Cooked breakfast for Aoife and Caroline who had decided to check out the local night life the night before- very clever girls! 52 pots of black coffee later the team was ready for the day 5 of ATW80W.

The Seagull Trust very kindly let us back on another of their boats this morning, despite our raucous singing and Jons fish song the day before. We sailed to Lock 20 at Wyndford where the team were picked up and brought to Stockingfield Glasgow to meet the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Mr. Alex Mosson and board the Wee Spark Puffer Boat. The team made their way to The Waterways Trust Scotland HQ at Applecross Street Glasgow where they were treated to delicious buffet lunch. Rita Crowe of Waterways presented the team with a plague made out of wood from the restored lock gates at lock 34 to remind them of the two magic days spent splashing about on the Scottish waterways.

That evening the team shed their uniforms of tshirts and combats and actually looked clean for the first time in nearly a week. Decked out in monkey suits, Scottish tartan, and slinky dresses the team were almost unrecognizable to the Waterways Trust staff when they turned up for the Black Tie Charity dinner at The Moat House Hotel, Glasgow.

Sensibly the team didn't stay out too late as another early morning beckoned, a dawn wakeup call and a breakfast flight to East Midlands airport, no rest for the wicked!

People of the day:
Driver Jimmy McFarland - Puffer Boat, wee spark - who presented the team with Scottish Ale and Scottish Shortbread - thanks Jimmy, it went down lovely!
Thanks to the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Mr. Alex Mosson for raising a toast to the team
Thanks to all the staff at the Apex City Hotel in Edinburgh who treated us so well, thanks to Andrew Boe, Head Concierge, for the bubbly - nice one!
Thanks to En Croute Catering who did such a good job on the veggie sambo's. Our resident veggie food critic, Caroline was very impressed!

Day 006> Saturday 07 September

Place: RNIB Driving Challenge, Nottinghamshire

A bloody and bumpy ride for Mike as we flew into East Midlands airport from Glasgow on Saturday morning. Increasingly we are discovering that people at airports don't know and don't want to know how to properly lift and carry wheelchair bound people. Disability seems to be a major headache for airport staff and faces fall when this motley crew land in the arrivals hall! It's a good reminder of why we need to inspire people into seeing disability in a positive way.

Laughing seems to be the best way to get over these 'bumps' and 'hiccups' and as Mike insists, a large whiskey helps too! The team didn't indulge in too much of the good stuff on Saturday morning however, as the RNIB driving challenge awaited the teams steely nerves! The Royal National Institute for Blindness employs Miles as their Motivational Development Manager and so they were delighted to get Miles, newly nicknamed "Mayhem", back on home ground.

The driving challenge was organized in association with Lee James 4 x 4, which runs off road driver training and events. The team wolfed down bacon butties and veggie burgers as they were eager to get behind the wheel of the Land Rover defender and drive it to the limits through woodland trails, mud, water, and hair-raising hills and dikes.

It was a very special experience for Caroline and Miles. Caroline had never driven before and to get behind the wheel of an unwieldy Land Rover was the ultimate challenge: "I can't believe the first time I drove a car, I was driving a Land Rover at 90 degree angles, and it really was exhilarating". Miles added: "It was certainly one of the high points of our journey so far, and it was very fulfilling being behind the wheel once again"

Best Moment:
Team captain Jon orders lots of Chinese take out for tired, weary and mud splattered adventurers

Worst moment:
After Chinese take out, Jon sings fish song…again!

Big Thanks to:
Everyone at the RNIB - great fun had by all! And the boys at Lee James 4x4. Driving big Range Rovers over hills and into muddy pools was an excellent way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Day 007> Sunday 08 September

Place: Duffield and onto Belfast, Northern Ireland

…and on the seventh day he rested - Genesis 3

The team finally got to have a sleep-in, if you count just past eight o'clock a sleep-in. It's like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.! Ms Casey was out jogging just after eight o'clock, following a restful sleep at team captain, Jon Cook's house. After breakfast the Christians amongst us attended church and the non-Christians amongst us…didn't!

Before we had time to catch our breath, we were loading our luggage into the cars and our way to the airport again. This time the flight was to Belfast and unfortunately the 'people handlers' got it wrong again, sort it out guys! We finally checked in to our hotel and crawled into bed, determined to catch up on some z's before the heavy schedule in Belfast the next morning.

Best moment:
Team arrives at Belfast hotel to find the support angels have been visiting to add a sparkle to our welcome. Gift bags for the boys and the girls including chocolates, champagne and other goodies. The twinkling packs were a perfect reward for a tired and weary bunch, who had managed to travel in over twenty modes of transport in their first week.

Worst moment:
'People handlers' at London Luton airport have identity crisis. Sorry guy's 'baggage handlers' you are not!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! to all our Jewish web surfers

Thought:
Why do angels fly? Because they take life lightly!