Comments for Pete Thomas http://blog.petethomas.co.uk Blog Tue, 13 May 2008 11:19:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 Comment on A Few “Post Trek” Thoughts by neil sharpe http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/09/25/a-few-thoughts/#comment-717 neil sharpe Mon, 25 Sep 2006 21:44:17 +0000 http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/09/25/a-few-thoughts/#comment-717 Congratulations. And you've certainly earned it, considering the altitude and rocky grade. I can see why that would make for one tough trek. I was just talking with someone who drove out to Colorado (about 7000 feet above sea level) and although he'd been warned, he was amazed at how the altitude affected him to the point of leaving him dizzy at times. Great photos. I really like the composition. That stone wall as Sacsaywaman is spectacular. The shots of Michu Picchu are equally inspiring. The steep grade of some of the terraces is unbelievable, not to mention the incredible time and effort it must have taken to build it. That's one of the things lacking in North America, the juxtaposition, and continuity, of history spanning hundreds if not thousands of years. In the early 70's when I was on a rugby tour of Wales, I still remember the impact a simple stone bridge over a creek had on me with the date of construction inscribed on a stone-1520 A.D. The opening shot of Peru with the modern signs in the foreground and the ages old inscription in the backing hills is especially striking. The pictures also illustrate how we can take so much for granted. I remember a documentary on "grocery stores" that compared those of various Caribbean islands and ending in Miami Florida. The latter came at the end of the film, and it seemed the equivalent of walking through the gates of heaven, the contrast in the quality of display and the quantity of goods all presented in a massive, well lit, glistening super store with music surrounding all, seemed surreal compared to some of the stores from the Islands. Thanks for an interesting report, the great photos, and a mission accomplished. By the way, I hope the picture of you playing the wooden flute was to the tune of "Walking With Mr. Lee" ! Congratulations. And you’ve certainly earned it, considering the altitude and rocky grade. I can see why that would make for one tough trek. I was just talking with someone who drove out to Colorado (about 7000 feet above sea level) and although he’d been warned, he was amazed at how the altitude affected him to the point of leaving him dizzy at times.

Great photos. I really like the composition. That stone wall as Sacsaywaman is spectacular. The shots of Michu Picchu are equally inspiring. The steep grade of some of the terraces is unbelievable, not to mention the incredible time and effort it must have taken to build it.

That’s one of the things lacking in North America, the juxtaposition, and continuity, of history spanning hundreds if not thousands of years. In the early 70’s when I was on a rugby tour of Wales, I still remember the impact a simple stone bridge over a creek had on me with the date of construction inscribed on a stone-1520 A.D. The opening shot of Peru with the modern signs in the foreground and the ages old inscription in the backing hills is especially striking.

The pictures also illustrate how we can take so much for granted. I remember a documentary on “grocery stores” that compared those of various Caribbean islands and ending in Miami Florida. The latter came at the end of the film, and it seemed the equivalent of walking through the gates of heaven, the contrast in the quality of display and the quantity of goods all presented in a massive, well lit, glistening super store with music surrounding all, seemed surreal compared to some of the stores from the Islands.

Thanks for an interesting report, the great photos, and a mission accomplished. By the way, I hope the picture of you playing the wooden flute was to the tune of “Walking With Mr. Lee” !

]]> Comment on Off to Peru by neil sharpe http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/09/14/off-to-peru/#comment-700 neil sharpe Fri, 15 Sep 2006 12:42:19 +0000 http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/09/14/off-to-peru/#comment-700 Hi Pete and Laurie: The very best wishes! After all the training, it will be great to be actually there. A goal achieved! Now, if we can just get a video of Pete blowing "Walking With Mr. Lee" from a mountain top, youtude.com will never be the same again. Congratulations on all the hard work, and especially for the vision, and dedication. Cheers! Neil Sharpe Hi Pete and Laurie:
The very best wishes!

After all the training, it will be great to be actually there. A goal achieved!

Now, if we can just get a video of Pete blowing “Walking With Mr. Lee” from a mountain top, youtude.com will never be the same again.

Congratulations on all the hard work, and especially for the vision, and dedication.

Cheers!
Neil Sharpe

]]> Comment on The Final Days of Training by pt http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/08/27/the-final-days-of-training/#comment-613 pt Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:09:05 +0000 http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/08/27/the-final-days-of-training/#comment-613 I might have done if there was still any chance of getting a saxophone on as hand luggage like in the old days, but I think it would now be assumed to be a terrorist threat. Erm, come to think of it maybe that\'s not such a new thing. And unfortunately no blog as there are no phone lines on the trail AFAIK. If we can find an internet cafe at Macchu Pichu or Cuzco before and after I will atempt to blog, otherwise you\'ll all just have to wait until I get back. I might have done if there was still any chance of getting a saxophone on as hand luggage like in the old days, but I think it would now be assumed to be a terrorist threat. Erm, come to think of it maybe that\’s not such a new thing.

And unfortunately no blog as there are no phone lines on the trail AFAIK. If we can find an internet cafe at Macchu Pichu or Cuzco before and after I will atempt to blog, otherwise you\’ll all just have to wait until I get back.

]]> Comment on The Final Days of Training by Ray Vulcan http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/08/27/the-final-days-of-training/#comment-612 Ray Vulcan Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:22:50 +0000 http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/08/27/the-final-days-of-training/#comment-612 It's an epic project - and a worthy one. However, I was wondering if you'd be taking your sax? Publicity is often oxygen for fund-raising and it seems that the sight and sound of a man in a giant shark costume (I remember the Deep Sea Jivers!) playing the Peruvian national anthem over ancient Inca trails couldn't fail to raise interest! Will there be a day-by-day internet progress blog? It'll be great for Joe and Jim to follow - when I was their age, going to the local park was an expedition! It’s an epic project - and a worthy one. However, I was wondering if you’d be taking your sax? Publicity is often oxygen for fund-raising and it seems that the sight and sound of a man in a giant shark costume (I remember the Deep Sea Jivers!) playing the Peruvian national anthem over ancient Inca trails couldn’t fail to raise interest! Will there be a day-by-day internet progress blog? It’ll be great for Joe and Jim to follow - when I was their age, going to the local park was an expedition!

]]> Comment on Weekday Training by pt http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/08/20/weekday-training/#comment-463 pt Mon, 21 Aug 2006 08:12:14 +0000 http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/08/20/weekday-training/#comment-463 Very interesting, but I tend to think that long distance walking (at least the way it seems to be organised for this trek) is not quite so aerobic as the more extreme sports - by now our training is up to what we might expect on the trek, at least on a daily level but without the altitude. I have learnt from the training walks not to overeat - I\'m not a vegetarian but I think it\'s quite a good idea to go easy on meat, so I imagine my diet may be weighted a bit towards the carbohydrates. The organisers have given us a very precise training schedule and preparation list, but I didn\'t see anything about diet so am not worrying too much. My diet is essentially a healthy one (don\'t be put off by the word \"pub\" too much, we\'re not knocking back the Jack Daniels and crisps). As you may know English country pubs now serve many non alcoholic beverages and healthy home cooked food. On the trek we get to eat what is prepared by the crew so we really just have to trust them, but I have heard it\'s very good local food - possibly traditional Inca food even??? I\'m taking daily Glucosamine (for supple joints) and we\'ll be taking along energy bars - but try to find less sugary ones. Very interesting, but I tend to think that long distance walking (at least the way it seems to be organised for this trek) is not quite so aerobic as the more extreme sports - by now our training is up to what we might expect on the trek, at least on a daily level but without the altitude. I have learnt from the training walks not to overeat - I\’m not a vegetarian but I think it\’s quite a good idea to go easy on meat, so I imagine my diet may be weighted a bit towards the carbohydrates.
The organisers have given us a very precise training schedule and preparation list, but I didn\’t see anything about diet so am not worrying too much. My diet is essentially a healthy one (don\’t be put off by the word \”pub\” too much, we\’re not knocking back the Jack Daniels and crisps). As you may know English country pubs now serve many non alcoholic beverages and healthy home cooked food. On the trek we get to eat what is prepared by the crew so we really just have to trust them, but I have heard it\’s very good local food - possibly traditional Inca food even???

I\’m taking daily Glucosamine (for supple joints) and we\’ll be taking along energy bars - but try to find less sugary ones.

]]> Comment on Weekday Training by pt http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/08/20/weekday-training/#comment-462 pt Sun, 20 Aug 2006 17:58:29 +0000 http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/08/20/weekday-training/#comment-462 OK thanks neil, I'm going to read this carefully and report back later. I want to have this evening's roast chicken and locally picked blackberry pie first just in case it's the last... OK thanks neil, I’m going to read this carefully and report back later. I want to have this evening’s roast chicken and locally picked blackberry pie first just in case it’s the last…

]]> Comment on Weekday Training by neil sharpe http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/08/20/weekday-training/#comment-461 neil sharpe Sun, 20 Aug 2006 17:47:51 +0000 http://blog.petethomas.co.uk/2006/08/20/weekday-training/#comment-461 For the actual trek, I was wondering if you’ve looked into the potential effects of diet, both good and bad. Friends of mine have gone into marathons, extreme cross country skiing races etc., and all found that diet can make a critical difference both physically and mentally. Obviously, these are far different from what you’re planning, but I was wondering whether at least some of the general principles might be of interest and aid? Here’s an article I came across that although it deals with marathon runners, illustrates some of the issues. <strong>http://tinyurl.com/l8cy9 </strong>(URL converted to tinyurl by admin) For the actual trek, I was wondering if you’ve looked into the potential effects of diet, both good and bad. Friends of mine have gone into marathons, extreme cross country skiing races etc., and all found that diet can make a critical difference both physically and mentally.

Obviously, these are far different from what you’re planning, but I was wondering whether at least some of the general principles might be of interest and aid?

Here’s an article I came across that although it deals with marathon runners, illustrates some of the issues.

http://tinyurl.com/l8cy9 (URL converted to tinyurl by admin)

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