Plank of Wood Powered Travel

My name is Rob Thomson, and I am a guy from New Zealand who likes to travel and get around by human power. Whether that’s on a longboard or a bicycle, human powered travel is a real passion of mine. Killing two birds with one stone, you might say; stay fit and get to where you need to go at the same time.

From June 24th 2007, I have been travelling around the world on a longboard. My journey has taken me to 16 countries on three continents, and spans over 9,000km (an counting) overland by longboard. I am a purist, so this means that all essential overland travel is by longboard only, and is fully unsupported. That is, no hitching rides, no car hooking, carrying everything I need to travel and survive in either a backpack or on my longboard trailer. The reason for this is simple; comfort zones are there to be ignored.

Over and over again I have discovered that if I push myself to overcome my fears, overcome what I think are my limits, the rewards are always more than I can imagine. I have also travelled 12,000km across the Eurasian continent by bicycle, and after one particular episode of me pushing my bike for three days through knee-deep snow, and being rewarded with the most pristine and untouched valley I have seen, I wrote this in my diary:

It is indeed more worthwhile taking the road less traveled. You are sure to suffer, hurt, curse and get frustrated. But in the end you’ll always come out the other end with more than a tale. You’ll have spot in your memory that will always take your breath away every time you revisit it. From the 14degrees.org blog, Day 188.

I still believe this, and try my best to challenge myself to take the road less travelled.

On this Skatefurther Journal, I am publishing my journeys on a longboard. At present (July 2008) I am publishing my daily diary from my main website, www.14degrees.org in parallel with my blog on that main website. On this Skatefurther Journal, the journal starts at Day 708. For past journal entries from my longboard journey, check out www.14degrees.org/en, and start reading at Day 323. You can navigate through the posts using the ‘next page’ links at the top of each post.

On my journal here at Skatefurther Journals, I hope to cram in as much info as I can about my journey, from gear lists, to route info, to travel advice. I hope it is helpful if you are planning your own journey, no matter how short or far; the weekend warrior or the world traveller.

If you have any questions or ideas you want to pass by me please feel free to email me at rob.thomson@14degrees.org.