Day 001 > Monday 02 September

The Around The World in 80 Ways team looked resplendent and proud as they set off from the Reform Club today. After two years of planning, it was all finally happening and today's events clearly caught the interest of the media and public alike.

In all, 6 forms of transport were used today: starting with horse and carriages to Buckingham Palace, transferring to brand new, leather seated London Taxis to Stapleford Airfield in Essex, flying in single engine Piper Dakota (piloted by Polly Vacher of round the world fame), Warrior and a chipmunk, to RAF Halton, on to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in one of their ambulances for a champagne lunch with Sir Jimmy Savile, racing on hand-cycles around the grounds and then heading on up North by car to ST Bees in the Lake District.

We have a fun packed day tomorrow and I have promised the team a wake-up call and a cup of tea in just 3 hours time!

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…. Trains, tractors, lifeboats, husky dogs and much more!

Day 003 > Wednesday 04 September

Activities today centered around Cramond Kirk and its wonderful congregation. In the morning the Church was filled with local primary school children who were interested in meeting Robin and the adventurers.

The afternoon started with a ride in a Roman Chariot, led by a pipe band and pulled by slaves. In the evening we joined the church choir and fellowship for an evening of song, talk and prayers on the Round the World theme. Local celebrity Jimmy Spankie did a great job interviewing Caroline, Miles, Mike and Robin before they headed back to Edinburgh on Santa's Sleigh, care of the South Queensferry
Rotary Club. Two very strange ways of transport were, therefore, added to the list and many people appeared to be impacted by the project and the team.

Day 004 > Thursday 05 September

The Falkirk wheel is an amazing piece of engineering and is now the third most visited attraction in Scotland. The wheel carries boats over 90 vertical feet on the Union Canal, eliminating the need for 13 locks. Today it carried the team on a cruise barge owned by the Seagull Trust who operate five boats designed to allow disabled and handicapped people to enjoy the water.

Before travelling on the wheel we spent the morning canoeing and travelling on a barge pulled by Mac the shire horse. It was good to have a peaceful day on the canal after all the activities since leaving London.

The 80 ways party spent the evening with the branch of the Rotary club who had provided the Santa's sleigh yesterday, the sight of which had caused so much bemusement on the streets of Edinburgh in September.

Day 005 > Friday 6th September

We were back on the water again today. Life is so good at 4m.p.h., we should all do it more often.

By close of play today we have used 20 different ways of transport so far. Today we cruised from Falkirk to Glasgow on the Forth & Clyde Canal which has currently been re-developed by The Waterways Trust Scotland for the enjoyment of all. The first two hours were on board the Seagull Trust's trip boat again, with its fantastic volunteer crew.

The scariest moment was when Caroline took over the helm but she received a certificate to commemorate her steering skills.

We were joined for lunch by the Lord Provost of Glasgow and then completed our journey into Glasgow on a 1/3 scale Puffer boat with it's "crazy gang" crew.

We said goodbye to Stewart Nussey today who has travelled with us since Stoke Mandeville. Stewart has been heavily involved in the organisation of this project and will remain involved as the Route Master, thanks Stewart.

To mark the end of our time on the Scottish canal we spent an evening with The South Queensferry Rotary Club, attending a black tie dinner in Glasgow, hosted by The Waterways Trust Scotland.

Day 006 > Saturday 07 September

Four hours after going to bed we were up again to catch a plane from Glasgow to East Midlands as the RNIB were holding a Driving Challenge fundraising event in
Nottinghamshire and it was important that we showed our support to the RNIB team in the Midlands, Miles' home patch.

We didn't actually know what was in store for us and, after a short opening ceremony with the local Mayor and the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, we piled into a four wheel drive Landrover and set off. The first challenge was for each of us to put on blindfolds (including Miles and Caroline) and took turns to drive through an obstacle course by the rest of the team. The second challenge was for each of us to drive through a "trials" course (without blindfolds) and get these vehicles over the most unbelievable set of ramps, humps and holes. Fantastic! Miles was the closest to tipping a vehicle over but we all overcame the driving challenge, our 21st "way".

We had hoped to microlight from East Midlands to the driving challenge but the weather made it impossible. Many, many thanks to Brian Palfreyman and Phoenix
Microlighting who had worked so hard in the hope that we would be flying. We'll catch up with you when we get back.

The day finished with a celebratory meal in Duffield where we all looked back at the successes of the first week.

Day 007 > Sunday 08 September

Sunday is a day of rest, so between going to church in Duffield, washing clothes and re-packing we had a half-hour rest before flying to Belfast from Luton. When flying, Mike is referred to as a "carry on, carry off" passenger and all airports provide trained ground service crew to lift disabled passengers into their seats.

All except Luton that is.

After several attempts Mike was eventually thrown into his seat by the obviously non-trained staff and it was only as we helped Mike from the taxi in Belfast that we noticed the blood. Apart from the fact that a simple incident like this could jeopardise our trip it is a reminder that it is some of the most ordinary ways of transport that can be so difficult for Mike.

Following a late evening patching Mike up and grabbing some food, we settled into bed in the belief that we will have a rest next Sunday. No picture today, all too gory!