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Hello Lovely Trekkers. Five years, my god is it really possible? I thought I'd add my latest news to the list as I have a few exciting things happening. I am half way through my PhD program (finally) but way more exciting.... I am getting married to my prince charming, Kevin, on July 29th AND we're expecting our first child in November ~ So we'll be joining the ranks of parenthood! I hope this message finds you all doing well and loving life in your corner of the world! Love, Audrey ^ articles list ^
Oh my god it's been 5 years! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. Too much has happened. I'm 3 weeks away from qualifying as a primary school teacher. Becky's moving to Japan. Shaz is married. Choi and Neil are married. Mark's a dad! (By the way, well bloody done on that one. So amazing. You must email some pics of the little angel) Auch....it's just all too much. Thankfully, I have not been seduced by the world cup. Indeed, England are playing sweden now and I really couldn't care less (sorry sport's fans). Instead I am trying not to think about teaching tomorrow and also thinking about where to holiday this summer. For those of you who care enough to keep reading...I'm thinking 2 weeks in Italy at the end of July before my bday (6th August, in case you forgot) and then popping off to LA and San Diego afterwards till end of August. Then a couple of days in PAris before having to start teaching again (albeit paid at last) in september. And that's about it for my sad little life. I spend all my time with 7 and 8 year olds so little happens in my social life. NOt that spending time with kids isn't totally rewarding (mark) but still, y'need a break from time to time. Hugs and kisses, Eddi xxx ^ articles list ^
Matt and I are going really well. We are now home owners, with a spare bedroom, if anyone is in the neighbourhood. It has 3 bedrooms plus study with a great bar, just under 1/4 acre. Since getting married, I have a new job, so I am now working in the city working for an IT Recruitment company, reception/admin. Takes me 1 hour and 20 minutes each way. I often reflect (isn't that an interesting word to use - very deep) on what a wonderful carefree time we had on our trek. The thoughts always put a smile on my face and suprisingly wish I was still there...I am going to Tasmania in October for 8 days holiday. ^ articles list ^  
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The mini update is I've just completed a year in my PhD program, I'm working at a university as a drug and alcohol counselor for college students, I've just returned from a great trip to Cuba, and am hoping to travel to South America in August before school starts again! ^ articles list ^
Ok, I feel slightly embarrassed the last news article was three years ago but it's not like I haven't been busy! Or should I say 'we' as I am now married to my beautiful Choi and we have just celebrated our first wedding anniversary over a week ago (time flies). We're still waiting for our wedding gift from Trek America - free holiday for matching us together, not unreasonable right?! Choi moved on to work for another agency in Bath so off she rides every morning by bicycle and then takes a short train journey to get there. No, I haven't been riding her bike if you wanted to know, I'm still haunted by the trauma of mountain biking! Choi and I are also looking to buy our first house together in Bristol but haven't had much luck in finding the right one so far. As for me, I've been working at Borders bookshop for just over two years. I am extremely happy to have completed my solo album. It's taken me way too long, about a year and three months, so I am mightily relieved it's all done and hence the reason why I have found time again to update this website. To listen to six tracks from my new album, visit www.overplay.co.uk/neilkelly. Hope you like. It was fantastic to see so many bacon trekkers at our wedding - Kumiko, David and Lisa, Anders, Becks, Chrissie and Tony. Thanks guys, you made the day so special for us. I have some cracking photos to post on this website and will get around to it very soon. That's all from me at the moment. Please everybody do send me your updates so I can add them all on here (Audrey, thank you!). Hmmm, maybe I will try to get another Becks Bytes from her ladyship, that would be cool! Anyway, my best wishes go to you all. Lots of love, Neil xxx ^ articles list ^
Hi everyone! I've finally managed to get myself a job! All this time looking & in the end it just took me a week to secure my new position so I guess this is the one that's been waiting for me all along. And it has been worth the wait, especially as it means I shall be heading out west to Bristol where another fellow trekker is living!!! Yes, Neil's parents have kindly said I can stay with them until I find my own place which is fantastic. Job starts on 29th July so wish me luck!!! Hope you're all doing well and if any of u are looking for a job - good luck, the right one will come along. Love, Choixxx ^ articles list ^
Shaz has confirmed Anders' unofficial announcement that she has got engaged to Matt Crowe, who she's been seeing for 8? months. Congratulations Shaz from all the bacon trekkers!! The wedding is being planned for the last weekend in August 2003 and all of us are invited (if around Australia at the time!). To read what Shaz has to say on the matter, have a look at the message board and feel free to add your own congratulatory messages! All the best Shaz for the future. ^ articles list ^
As I write, it was around about this time I began to stir, waking up to a new sound of manic horn beeping and lots of traffic; in my head I was singing that Ricky Martin song which goes 'woke up in New York City' because for the first time in my life, I was! Soon I would be heading down into the hotel lobby seeing a mass of people I didn't know but despite my trepidation, those guys turned out to become the greatest friends and our amazing Trek America tour had just begun!! [go to site's diary for more] Seems like yesterday but no, in fact it was exactly one year ago to the day so happy anniversary everybody and thank you all for sharing in something that will remain in our memories for a lifetime... ^ articles list ^
Wayhey! What a fantastic reunion! It was great to see everybody who came, albeit far too brief for my liking. Here are the highlights as promised... Friday 12 April 2002 saw the first trekkers arrive at Becks' home in Southsea, UK. Anders & Pat had flown over from Denmark & Switzerland respectively to be met by Nina who drove them down to Southsea. Don't know much about what happened that evening but involved clubbing and drinking... the usual stuff! Next to arrive the following morning was Ed who was driving down with Choi & Kumiko in tow. Kumiko had the previous day flown from Japan - a lovely surprise for all of us who couldn't believe she came all that way! Unfortunately her luggage decided to take a longer route but thankfully turned up at Becks' house during Saturday afternoon. Ed, Choi & Kumiko were followed closely by myself & Chris (from our second parallel trek group) who had taken the train. There were 10 of us in total including our host Becks & Tony who joined us later that day. After a series of hellos & hugs (of which Kumiko was owed so many!), as any good reunion would have, the photo albums were all dug out and browsed through for a few hours. Anders had also brought his 4 hour video along with him which we watched. Didn't have time to see it all but it brought back great memories so thank you Anders for that & everybody for bringing their photos! Anders wanted to go to a football match, Portsmouth verses Watford, which was on that afternoon so I went with him to keep him company (not much interest from the girls surprisingly!). We had an enjoyable time together although the football wasn't the best. Watford won 1-0 by the way - we had to keep our excitement to a minimum when they scored as we were sitting in the Portsmouth season tickets area! We ate pies at half time (essential!) and after the match, wandered down to the seafront, drank & played pool at a nearby pub (which I won 2 games to 1!!! Anders won't like me telling you that!!) and eventually went back to Becks' house to meet up with the others. During the time I was with Anders, the rest of the group went shopping!!! (Hence why Anders & I went to the football match!!) Obviously this bit is going to be sketchy because I wasn't there but I take it Nina & Kumiko continued their world shopping spree, a few people may have got bored and they all ended up of course at a Portsmouth Starbucks - hurrah! Back at the house, more of the trek video was watched as people got ready for an evening out on the town, including beer, wine & champagne! A fleet of taxis came to pick us up and drive us to dinner - an Italian pizza / pasta restaurant. From there it was clubbing and Becks managed to get us all jumping the queue as a result of her being on crutches from a recent skiing injury! The club was packed, cheese was the main ingredient for the music, vomit was the answer from some (no names but wasn't me!) and we eventually left to sleep. Sunday morning started with more looking at photos and once everybody was ready, we set out for a walk alongside the Southsea promenade, beach & lake. Becks at the rear as usual (!) thus recreating the weakest link although this time as a result of her crutches (only one at this point - the other was lost but later found on her bed!); ice cream a plenty (a British thing - the foreigners didn't think it was hot enough strangely!) and we ended up at a quaint little cafe for lunch. Ed, Nina, Anders, Pat, Tony & Chris then departed shortly afterwards which left Kumiko, Choi & myself who all stayed for another night with Becks. We had a food stop at her wine bar where she sometimes works and for the evening we rented 'Legally Blonde' (I was outnumbered ok!) and 'Forrest Gump' for us to shout "been there!" a few times! Before Kumiko, Choi & myself were due to leave Portsmouth on the Monday, we took a boat tour with Becks around the harbour to sail by lots of ships and were lucky enough to see some sailors much to the delight of the girls! A quick lunch and we then went our separate ways once again. All in all a very successful reunion. Thank you to everybody who came and a special thanks to those who came from abroad. It was great to see you all again. We missed the few people who weren't able to join us but we wish you all the best and hope to see you another time soon. And finally, we are all very grateful to Choi for organising this event (you did a marvellous job!) and Becks (plus parents) for letting us invade her house. Another reunion anybody?! ^ articles list ^
On the Trek America website they have a page full of links to websites written by ex-passengers. This is for people thinking about taking a Trek America tour and wanting to know what it's like from people with this experience, like us. Last week I wrote to Trek asking them to include a link to this Bacon Trekkers website and I am pleased to announce they have now added this link. Thank you Trek! It is located on the page www.trekamerica.com/expax under 'Cross Country' and my name. Welcome to those of you who have surfed in from the Trek America website - I hope you gain some invaluable insight into what it's like from us. And it isn't just a holiday - you certainly make some friends for life and despite being bitterly disappointed when it ends, you leave with the best memories you could ever have. I could go on but this website hopefully speaks for itself and you can only plug something so much for free!! ^ articles list ^
For those of you who will be getting to the reunion by train, the station to get off at is Portsmouth Harbour. Don't forget to let Choi know what times you will all be arriving. We also have word that Kumiko is planning to come to this reunion next week!! She is apparently travelling around her home country, Japan, at the moment. Fantastic news although it does mean I can't really call it the European reunion anymore! It is being held in Europe though so it still sort of works! Only one week to go then until an estimated 10 of us meet up, including a couple from our parallel groups. It will be very exciting to see you all after so long (do you realise it's coming up to a year since our trek adventure began? scary thought!). Afterwards I will post highlights from the reunion on this page. ^ articles list ^
After a little head scratching and three major reorganisations (was meant to be last Christmas don't forget!), the reunion is finally going ahead for definite - hurrah! I can now confirm the details are as follows...
For those of you who are planning on coming, it would be lovely to see some of your own photos you took on trek (despite some of them probably being the same!). So if it's humanly possible (some happy snappers could always bring a selection!) we would love to see them! You will also need to bring with you a sleeping bag. If there are any more announcements Choi will let you know as always by email and I will also post them on this page from now on. A BIG thanks to Choi for organising this for us, you've done a great job and it will be amazing!
Can't wait to see you again! ^ articles list ^
One day I decided to do something else in my life to make it more meaningful (just in case it wasn't already) and I wondered, what other skills have I yet to learn? With not much of a vast list compiled(!), I thought I would have a little dabble at web page creating considering how easy people keep telling me it is. So I bought myself a book and seven chapters later, hey presto! Please don't think I'm totally one of the people who wallow in the past (I come pretty close though!). Before putting my own cyber-baby online I had to decide what subject to write about. Now I could have done my own homepage all about myself and come on be honest, would you have seriously considered visiting a website devoted to my entire life? I thought not! A little later came the brainwave (probably whilst I was on the toilet - I get a lot of them there, sitting down btw!) to make something useful out of my learning and create a website all about my North American tour with Trek America last year. It was something that made a major impact in my life and something I can talk about for an eternity! The basic aim of this website then is to keep our fantastic group in contact with each other and retain some of that magic we shared together. It is a working project so expect quite a lot of development work to come - well there are eighteen more chapters for me to get through! Just means you'll have to come back time and time again! ^ articles list ^ | ||||
POSTED 21/06/06 BY AUDREY : 2006 UPDATE