Day 064 > Monday 04 November

Yet again we had accumulated gifts and extras and packing to leave Singapore took an age. When we eventually got on our way our flight to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific proved to be utterly painless and we all managed to grab a couple of hours shut eye before hitting Hong Kong, our fourteenth country in ten weeks.

The Hong Kong program, aptly named YES CAN DO to reflect the philosophy of 80 Ways, had been conceived over a year ago and a three month run up program involving 12,000 participants had already taken place. In our tiredness we were all concerned that we would not be able to match the expectations of the Hong Kong Jockey Club who had planned our programme. However worried thoughts were cast aside from the moment we stepped off the plane when Robin and William Yew, Director of Charities of the Hong Kong Jockey Club met us with open arms, and infectious energy, ushering us painlessly through passport control and baggage reclaim.

We emerged out into arrivals to be greeted by a mirage of press, TV cameras; smiling faces in YES CAN DO t-shirts, all of whom seemed to know us and a massive colourful welcome banner. Doris Ho, the brainchild behind the Yes Can Do program greeted us like long lost children with a huge hug and kiss for us all and our batteries felt instantly re-charged.

There wasn’t time to be overwhelmed or stunned as we headed for Hong Kong’s first offering of a mode of transport, the Airport Express train, where the team, press and Hong Kong Jockey Club staff all crammed in, talking at ninety nine to the dozen. Departing the train at Hong Kong Station was like walking straight into Gotham city as the teams eyes were drawn upwards to take in the infamous skyscrapers packed and stacked so closely together against a clear blue sky.

Without time for breath the next mode of transport- hand pulled rickshaws – laid waiting. Caroline and Miles were given the task of doing the pulling while Robin and Mike had the unfortunate task of once again navigating the two rivalling speed junkies. Friendly competition between Miles and Caroline has grown increasingly over the past few weeks, heightened by Miles’ victory on the Grand Prix circuit. Totally disregarding requests from the press to slow down, and the anxious concerns of their passengers, Miles and Caroline grabbed their rickshaws and raced through the crowds to try and reach the finishing line outside City Hall, much to the despair of the rickshaw owners who, on realising the level of sight of the drivers, tried to catch up and grab hold of their livelihoods before a fatal crash.

This time Caroline raced to the finish first after giving Mike a seriously bumpy ride. One could sense the concern of our hosts as they acknowledged the unpredictability and madness of the team that they were to host for the next week.

Once TV and press interviews were complete we were brought to the hotel for a few hours rest and recuperation before hitting Hong Kong at night. A great way to see Hong Kong is at night and no better way than on one of Hong Kong’s oldest tram carriages. It was worth every bit of effort in the struggle to get Mike up the tiny cramped stairs of the tram so that he could sit in the open on the upper deck to take in the spectacle that is the neon metropolis. Smells of incense, Chinese medicine, damp, harbour and city life filled the air and a million lights of iridescent pink, greens and purples, all in the strangeness of Chinese script, barraged our senses. The streets pulsed with a frenetic energy and intensity of adventure, the unknown and intrigue. It is strange to think that only yesterday we were in Singapore where everything seemed so much more contained, controlled and well designed. Hong Kong from the top of a tram holds the attention of even the most cynical. You can not help but be woken by its uniqueness, its brightness and its complexity.

Day 065 > Tuesday 05 November

Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired originated as a Christian mission school and now survives partly as a result of funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The school is home to some 300 V.I. or blind children of all ages and it was our privilege to visit them and talk to them today. We were treated to music by a number of the children who played a mixture of western and traditional Chinese pieces on recorders and also on Chinese two string "cellos".

Our biggest audience of the trip so far, however was faced in the afternoon. The Hong Kong Government organises a Summer Youth Programme each year, again with the support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. As part of the programme, 4000 young people had gathered for a weekend conference called the Future Young Leaders Forum at the new and very impressive Hong Kong Convention Centre which overlooks the harbour. It did appear, however, that the young people had been subjected to quite a series of turgid and formal speeches prior to the 80 Ways team taking the stage. Caroline decided to break the routine and, after consulting the interpreter regarding cultural acceptability, led the 4000 audience in a number of Mexican waves, or people waves as they are referred to here. The effect was immediate and the team instantly won the respect and attention of the audience who ended the session with numerous questions about impossible adventures.

Our evening was spent as the guests of the Hong Kong Jockey Club at a race night. We had the poshest position in the stadium and enjoyed a fantastic meal (loads of bread and butter pudding for me!) in the members restaurant.

In race eight there was a horse called "Around The World". It had to be a winner with a name like that and so we scraped together our petty cash and put it all on to win. Amazingly....it came in sixth. Those of us who had never been to a race meeting before and who never bet had our suspicions about racing confirmed but
we did all agree that "Around the World" was a winner really, even if the silly horse did lose.

Day 066 > Wednesday 06 November

We were put through our paces today regarding our ability to communicate our message and express effectively our reasons behind the 80 Ways journey. The day began with an hour long television interview which was one of the more in-depth and intelligent we have done to date. Chris, who is chronicling and following the team for the week in Hong Kong, was hoping to produce a 15 minute piece on the team for broadcast but, after talking with us, he resigned himself to the fact that he was to make an hour long program instead.

It was one of the first times we discussed our relationships, the team as a whole, and the importance of every member of the team and not just that of the adventurers. It was interesting that we all opened up and talked about our own personal fears and challenges, encouraging me, for the first time, to discuss my own challenges regarding my deafness and the challenges it presents to me as a hidden disability. The frankness and warmth that was generated from that discussion led us well into our next event, a luncheon and presentation to one of our most important and influential audiences in Hong Kong – 60 Hong Kong corporate executives at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

This was an important event as we knew we had a rare chance to address the influencers in the Hong Kong business world, to try and make them aware of the capability of people with disability and the value they can add as individuals.

We arrived at the venue by Rolls-Royce which helped the team's confidence but our time slot was short and all the team was still nervous but, with that strange improvised and flexible ability and magic the team seems to be able to produce no matter how tired or worn out we are, the audience was spellbound. It felt that the event had left a very real impact on those listening.

Two hours later we were once again on stage, this time in front of the Hong Kong Jockey Club management. I had been asked to put together a slide show of some of the photographs that had been taken since the journey began. It was quite amazing to watch all the things that we have done over the last 2 months flash up before us and even stranger to remember all the things we had forgotten. So much has passed, so many things have changed, we have gotten into so many ridiculous situations, met so many people, had so many adventures and watching them all flash before us on a huge screen stunned us into silence - unusual.

Having been 65 days on the road, passed through 14 countries, 24 major cities and completed about 58 modes of transport the richness of our adventure was not only apparent for others to see but for us it was the first time to realise how much we have lived every minute of the last 2 months of our lives!

By the time the last speaking event of the day came around, the we were exhausted. Thankfully the forum was relaxed as they spoke to 50 of the Hong Jockey Club scholarship holders who were either still in university or recently graduated. Looking back on the day, it is striking that as a team we are able to adapt like Chameleons to the diverse audiences and situations that are presented to us. It is this understanding of the importance of relaying the message that is far more vital than the 80 means of transport and, without exception, I think that every group that were addressed today went away thinking differently than before they entered the room.

Day 067 > Thursday 07 November

Most of today was spent sightseeing. Although I really struggle to remember all the names of the places we visit, especially when they all sound Chinese, the sights and smells of Hong Kong and the New Territories are very memorable. We started by visiting the Chinese border, still marked out by wire fences despite the handing over of Hong Kong back to China in recent years. Two or three times during the day I noticed that this was a subject of conversation and there does seem to be a general feeling of nostalgia for the "good old days" of British rule residing with the inhabitants of Hong Kong. This could be fuelled by the current economic climate prevailing in the province which is a much more regular subject of conversation. The boom days have gone and many are left with negative equity, failing businesses and depression.

We visited old historic villages, a tree where one throws a written wish tied to an orange into its branches until it gets caught, and the temporary market in Stanley, Hong Kong's second city.

The highlight of the day was a vegetarian lunch taken at a Buddhist nunnery which also housed a residential home for the elderly. It was explained to us that people are referred to as elderly in Hong Kong when they reach the age of 85. Many people seem to live to old age and most of the elderly residents seemed relatively active and alert.

We visited the Tseung Kwan O Youth S.P.O.T in the evening for the team to share its experiences of overcoming challenges and life problems with winners of the Felix Wong Youth Improvement Award. These winners had all gone through and survived significant physical or mental trauma in their lives and many were still receiving counselling to help full rehabilitation. Some of the stories heard were shocking and we began to understand the enormity of the problem of child suicide, lack of social care, pressure to succeed and depression which exists in Hong Kong. Caroline and Miles shared from the heart and deeply affected the young people there. E-mails have already been coming in from people wishing to continue sharing with the team and it felt that the evening had been the deepest, most intimate and honest event attended to date. Just sharing common experiences seemed to have the greatest effect of all and it was apparent that sharing, listening and caring was not prevalent in the culture of Hong Kong.

Finally, some of us met up with Chris Bewley, Regional Director for Rolls-Royce in Hong Kong. Chris showed us some of the more lively parts of the city at night which brought us yet another perspective on this complex and fascinating part of the world.

Day 068 > Friday 08 November

The contrast between a Friday in November in Hong Kong and Friday in November at home could not have been more dramatic. After the late night before and feeling a little worse for wear the furthest thing from anyone’s mind was the joy of kayaking when trying to extract oneself from the comfort of bed. However on arriving at Kau Sai Chau, a water sports centre supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, all thoughts of headaches and exhaustion dissipated. The waters of Sai Kung glistened in the morning sunshine, cocooned by hills and mountains of every shade of green and purple, and as the morning mist was burnt off undoubtedly the most beautiful and surprising part of Hong Kong was revealed.

150 young people were to accompany the team the 3 km to the Kau Sai Chai Public golf course in varying canoes, bamboo rafts and Kayaks. Though the press were once again abundant the team seemed oblivious to their now constant presence and joked and laughed with the other participants betting on whose turn it was to be the winner of the 3 km paddle. No guessing who the two main rivals were although I did compete in my own way as I paddled Mike single handedly while everyone else benefited from two paddlers in their kayak. It was a truly stunning morning. The tranquillity of the countryside and sea was so marked in contrast to the frantic life of city living and it all seemed far too short when the pier came into view.

Miles, Caroline and I, in our usual unpredictable natures decided a swim was in order and before anyone had time to object we jumped out of their Kayaks to feel the glorious warmth of the South China Sea.

It was an effort in fact to get out of the water and on to the next mode of transport, a golf ambulance where Miles and Caroline, with encouraging noises from everyone drove the poor unfortunate ambulance into the ground with their endless quest for speed.

The municipal golf club is also supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and is the only course in HK which is open to the public. Golf is huge in Hong Kong but private club membership can be as much as HK $ 2,000,000 (about £200,000). We were guests at the club for lunch before embarking on a golf challenge which saw each of the adventurers try out their skills or lack of skills as the case may be on the beautiful and immaculate golf course.

It was fascinating to watch each of them play; their differing approaches and differing capabilities. Miles and his pro partner were the winners of the day and deservedly so, as Miles stunned us all as he produced some incredible shots. This is not to take away from Mike, whose one handed wheelchair golf was spectacular and was stiff competition for Miles. One of Mike’s greatest pleasures of course was being allowed to wheel himself on to the green to put his final shot. As we walked our way along the fairway, waiting for other players to take their turn all we could keep saying to one another was “Isn’t this perfect” And it was. All except for the fact that a total ban had been put on Caroline and Miles driving the golf buggies back to the club house for fear of a repeat of the Malaysian Grand Prix adventure.

Three years ago, when Miles and I were competing in the Marathon Des Sables we met with the General Manager of the Hong Kong Country Club, one of HK's most prestigious private clubs. Sandy had said we should give him a call if ever we were in Hong Kong, so we did. We spent a very pleasant evening with Sandy and his wife eating at the club, overlooking the lawn of the club and Deep Water Bay.

A perfect end to a perfect day.

Day 069 > Saturday 09 November

Today was an emotional day. It started with an in-depth interview by a journalist from one of Hong Kong's leading newspapers at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Midway through interview the journalist broke down in tears after listening to Caroline sharing how she had faced up to issues and feelings in her life. Clearly Caroline had struck more than a chord with the journalist, as she often does.

Slightly disturbed by the interview experience we took a traditional Dim Sum (steamed dumpling) lunch at the Jockey Club and visited the Jockey Club museum.

The club had organised a charity carnival at the race track which was open to the public. Around the World in Eighty Ways was the theme and and aimed to be the major fundraiser for the Hong Kong leg of our adventure. The adventurers were dressed in Chinese costume to open the event, Mike was carried in on a Sedan Chair as an Emperor, Caroline rode a horse provided by the Disabled Riders Association and Miles entered the arena for the opening ceremony on a peddle rickshaw, with me giving guiding instructions.

Robin and the team were the guests of honour for the event which included side stalls, activity stalls, choirs, entertainers, pop stars dignitaries and then the emotions started flowing. Everything the Jockey Club had organised and touched had a feel of the highest quality. We had been made to feel very honoured and special throughout our stay here. We had made very deep friendships in a very short period of time and had come to respect the work of William, Doris and the team as they tirelessly battled to bring positive change to Hong Kong and to the Jockey Club.

The enormity of the Eighty Ways project was apparent to us all and we each reflected on the scale and variety of experiences we had lived through over the last ten weeks. We knew that when we left Hong Kong we would effectively be on the homeward leg of our journey and we wondered how easily we would adjust back to our normal lives. We, as a team, had all grown incredibly close and, despite looking forward to being with family and friends, the thought of separation in a few weeks time was difficult to accept. And, as we looked around and saw so many families and people with smiles on their faces, partly as a result of Robin's daft "Around the World" idea and thought of all the peoples lives we had touched or had touched ours, we wondered about the enormity of what we were engaged in and how it may affect us for the rest of our lives.

During the afternoon a ring of $HK coins were collected and laid around the entire Happy Valley racecourse. As the afternoon drew to a close the ring was completed, at least 60,000 coins in all, symbolically demonstrating the scale of the event we had just been involved in.

We shared a farewell bar-B-Q with the Jockey club team and those who had been with us during the week including Benny the local hero disabled fire-fighter and Olympic medal holder. It has been hard to end every leg of our journey but it does seem to be getting harder and harder each time.

Day 070 > Sunday 10 November

The day began on the waters of Hong Kong harbour where the team took the world famous Star Ferry (powered by Rolls-Royce engines) across the waters to meet up with the Adventure Ship which is a specially adapted Junk to accommodate people with disabilities.

For two hours we sailed around the harbour reflecting on the week in Hong Kong with the press and TV cameras. It has truly been a stunning week, the highlight of the trip so far. Though Hong Kong itself is an exciting, fascinating and complex place whose enticing lure will bring us back, it was the people that we spent time with that has made our time here so special. As the program was so diverse in design we had a rare insight into understanding how Hong Kong works, feels and thrives. The more you get to know a place the harder it is often to leave. Goodbyes seem to be getting harder each time. The upheaval worse. Though the morning aboard the adventure ship was fantastic, the impending goodbyes were on everyone’s minds.

Leaving Hong Kong marks the beginning of our journey homewards and like all adventures and journeys I am not sure that we want it to end. As we boarded our plane for San Francisco at 4.30 p.m. it really felt that we were on the home stretch. That was until we had that Groundhog Day experience of landing in San Francisco, midday Sunday to relive the day all over again.

It never ceases to amaze, that crossing the International Date Line changes our perception of time so drastically. The extra day however is very much welcomed by a very tired but happy team who need to replenish the batteries after the freneticism of Hong Kong. It is a place and a time none of us will forget. Watch out Hong Kong, we’ll be back!