Surfing With Seals

Well my roller coaster just keeps rolling on and I just keep coasting through life.


The insurance debacle got deeper and deeper as I was trying to recover and lower my blood pressure and I ended up facing a brick wall trying to fight the fight in a country where communication is very poor - they have only had mobile phones in Nepal for three years! My parents worked tirelessly to keep me on the road but like the fool I am I didn't leave any backup plans should such a problem arise.


I've always said 'it's not the mistakes that you make which you should be judged on, its how you deal with them that makes you.' I'd planned bigger things in Nepal with Dan and was looking forward to travelling with someone again, and especially someone like Dan with the same infectious enthusiasm for this type of adventure - hence his £300 insurance policy - what the hell do you thinks gonna happen Dan? Then again its me your gonna be heading out with so check the policy covers for all hell breaking loose! Cannot wait big man!

Anyway like I said I was needing to be in Nepal for April and the budget was gone so I thought it best to return home to take the fight to the insurers and transfer some cash for the final blow out in Nepal. I changed my ticket from Thailand to Manchester and headed home. The flight was brill as I had got an upgrade to first class but was still dressed like I was in the hills - the looks I got! A tramp in first class! I'd decided to make my own way from Manchester to my parents doorstep - for two reasons really - one it was carrying on the travelling ethos of doing what were doing, keeping on going, and I was gonna keep it going even though I was back in England - adventure should never stop. Secondly - its mega easy to get across the UK after what I've been through so why not.


It was such a good feeling of 'good ol' England, cannot be beaten' that feeling was to get stronger over the few weeks I was home as I met some of you guys. The first accent I heard was of a Manc. it was like hearing an angel sing - Northern grit, even though it was the wrong side of the Pennines! I collected my 25kg of baggage, strapped it to by back and headed off to the train station on my journey home. My first pang of 'God I'm home' was when I saw a group of lads getting off our train with their Reebok trakkies tucked in their socks with R 'n B thumping out on their mobiles - The local tribal people of England - Chavs!


It made me smile tho' and I thought even Britain, sorry Great Britain is special. I used to be very against the term Great Britain as I'm proud to be from England, but Great England doesn't sound as good, and this nation, as I hope you get to see in this blog is bloody Great!


When I got home my mum had dashed out of work to see me and it was great to see them, my sister and bro-in-law and especially their kids.


I let a few people know I was back in GB and they were surprised to hear I was back on home soil and they were keen to hear my stories - especially my evacuation - the stuff that only legends are made up of and not unbelievable stuff for Pete Sutcliffe, wanderer, explorer and adventurer - I'm glad of everything that's happening - I don't want a normal life. Live life or die trying - I almost did and its made me see some things more clearly.


Now let me say that there are some people that I have seen and many that I won't get chance to see but I want you all to know that I do want to see you equally as much, but I had to keep doing what I was doing, keeping on going and the trip west with Rick and James was ideal to keep the adventure alive, but kept me from catching up with you all - when I return next time we will meet for sure - although I maybe off the ale, sorry scale!


I had some fantastic reunions with some of you and had some really good catch ups. Ash - your a legend - the night with you and Rob was my booziest night in months and my hangover was mega, but the time we had catching up and chatting about how I was feeling about everything that had happened to me in the last 12 months was brilliant - keep in touch guys, I look forward to seeing you when I'm back.


I drank a lot of beer catching up with you guys and England definitely does have a drink culture, as well as some of the worlds best ale. If someone wants to meet - its over a beer - anyone for a coffee?


When I met Rick and Katy - again to later head to the pub, I was taken aback by Katy - 5 months pregnant and looking so well. To me this was brilliant as I had been looking forward to seeing Katy and wishing them all the best. To see the bump and how well she was looking was good as I would have arrived back with the baby already arrived - another reason why been back for a short spell was fantastic.


At the pub we decided that I was going to go west (south west actually) with Rick and James for a weeks surf trip in the early English springtime. This was just perfect timing as I didn't want to come home and sit around, I wanted to keep experiencing new adventures; and Rick, James and surf were the perfect recipe.


It was gonna be another road trip for me and Rick like we'd done the previous year driving non-stop to Thurso, but this time towards Lands End and I was just a passenger! The journey down went fast as we had a good chat and listened to some quality music - I've missed music so much and didn't realise it until I deleted all my songs from both my ipod and pc -what a dick.

When we got there we had a walk along the beach as the sun was going down then retired to the camper van for some beers - yes more bloody beer. When James called to see if we needed anything from the supermarket, we said we could do with a bottle of malt - which was strange really that we all felt the urge so become accustomed to having a wee dram of angels tears every now and then. By day 3 we had to purchase a second bottle and this time as we were splitting the cost we opted to take Tesco's dearest bottle. It turns out that that selection was a good one for us novice connoisseurs to have picked as its been voted the worlds best single malt whisky! (I've since been informed that I was mistaken - must have been pissed at the time of finding my information)


On the first morning Jimmy and Rick got up for an early surf - 6am, to avoid the inevitable crowds at the sheltered spot, Putsborough picking up great swell. I didn't go in as I didn't have hood and gloves or booties - the Celtic Sea is not the Indian Ocean that Bali sits in!

At about 11am we decided we should head to the pub to warm up and to get a pub lunch - which involved some local real ale! We headed down to Croyde a lovely country village and into the Thatch to have a couple there (hours that is - do you think we just drank all week?) and some ales before heading back for an afternoon surf - I'm not sure if it was the beer but I decided I was gonna squeeze into James's size 7 booties and brave it with no hood or gloves in Ricks winter suit and on Fat Red his short board - not good for beginners. I managed to paddle out to the breaking waves and managed to duck dive the waves pretty well when I got dizzy and fell off the board! Another Peter moment - was it the cold or alcohol? I don't know, but I decided to sit out that afternoons session too, as I knew for sure I wouldn't be insured in the UK!


After that session we headed to the Thatch for some more real ale and also see if we could see some real Devon pasty! Well, the single one amongst us! We went for more beer and to play Perudo (liar dice) - your getting the picture of this week already. Three good mates away surfing and lots and lots of beer - great preparation for the Annapurna circuit! People in the pub were giving us some looks - not disapproving, no, but looks of, those guys are having so much fun, I want some of that. It was just as Rick put it like we were three boys on a school trip and had managed to sneak away from the main group to have our own naughty adventure. The set-up in the camper was ace - just like a little base! James in the bunk, which was subject to the laugh of the week - 'you in the bunk...' more later on that.

We stayed at Putsborough until Monday when we headed down to Cornwall - after my experience in the cold sea I decided I was gonna wait to buy some gloves etc for the winter conditions.

We headed to another sheltered bay which was sheltered from the south westerly winds and this bay, Harlyn was a real nice spot with a nice grassed car park - important when changing. The camp site, Porthcothan, five minutes away was also a little gem - £10 for the three of us and it was pretty much deserted - after driving around for an hour hearing 'sorry no groups' or 'families only' we thought we would end up in a dump - but no, the owners must have taken a shining to my beard when I turned up at their doorstep in the dark and really treated us well - I would recommend that site. We even discovered on the second night that it had a pub a stones throw from it.

The first full day at Harlyn we went for a walk down to Porthcothan bay near to the campsite for a walk to clear the heads form the previous nights lager, whisky and Perudo. Little did we know we'd spend the whole morning beach combing finding rope, hooks, nets all sorts of rubbish but rubbish we could enjoy collecting - we headed for a cliff walk and then headed back to the van to have lunch and head for a surf.

That night we went to the pub for 'one' pint, ended up eating there and staying for about half dozen in the pub. When we left it was dark so Rick decided to tell ghost stories as we walked up the road - much to the displeasure of me and James - it was pitch and the stars were all out. Yet another starry starry night on a special leg of my trip. We got back to the van and its hazy but we pretty much got straight into bed , however I wouldn't be surprised if we'd not had a dram of whisky and a few games of Perudo.

The following day I'd got some winter gear and was straight into the waves with Rick and James like a giddy Labrador. It was the first time that I'd been out back with these guys just chilling - literally, in the Celtic sea. I was using Rick's LK board and knew it would be difficult to catch waves, but with guidance from James and Rick I picked out the waves and when I heard a 'paddle dude its yours', I took off on a monster and was dumped straight to the deck - 5 foot deep water and I hit the bottom! Air ambulance please! - Not this time but when I surfaced looking like a fool I could just see James and Ricks faces thinking the same as me - how cool this adventure was and I was now in the water out back with them!

We stayed out all day then headed back to the van for the nightly visit to the pub. Again on the way back Rick suggested we should all tell a ghost story each, but had to wait until we were in the van with the lights out! Rick told his story and James had either passed out or wasn't interested, so for my story I thought I had to make James the subject - as well as lightening the whole thing, so my story was about a trio of guys who were away for the week staying in our VERY campsite... you get the picture. And the guy in the top bunk heard the psycho say 'oi, you in the bunk, I'm gonna cover you in spunk!' - Well the van erupted in laughter and it took us ages to calm down and get a good nights sleep in preparation for the following days surfing.

The next day we did the same but I hired more of a beginners board to give me more of a chance and it was better. Just when we thought hanging out back waiting for the magic carpet to take us on that ride, thinking that things couldn't be any better, a little dome head popped up with big bushy eye brows - no not Rick (sorry Rick couldn't resist), a seal. He kept popping up to take a look at us as we were dressed in attire that maybe mistaken for a seal with the rubber suits and hoods - I was in my element - totally stoked - didn't I say Britain was Great.

As we got out of the sea after another good session I again, as I have many times this year on my travels, had that warm glow of satisfaction inside.

As it was our last night we decided to stay in the van and have a Perudo marathon - we're not just hooked on alcohol, no, we're now hooked to Perudu. Rick, James and I all have addictive personalities and a lot of people I know get bored of me when I latch onto to something I love - no, not ale but Perudo and we all loved it equally. We were a great trio for this week, all with the same agenda and it worked a treat.

We woke up on the final morning all a little thick headed, packed up and headed to Haryln and the swell had dropped off so we decided to head north checking out some spots on the way - we ended up back at Putsborough, which was quite fitting as it was where the adventure kicked off. After a couple of hours there and me meeting a guy who suggested from what he was hearing about me and the life learning from my travels, I should go find God, we set off on our journey home. Rick and I having had such a good week were in high spirits and played our collection of Cd's at full volume all the way home - it probably helped keep us awake - we got in at 12:30am and hit the sack - What an amazing week.

I'm not sure if its because I knew that my adventure was continuing or that I've ignited something inside me, which I hope burns forever, but I've really enjoyed been back and have thrown myself deeper into whatever I've being doing. Britain IS Great and has so much to offer, I've heard people moaning about the cold, the wet, the traffic etc - you've got to piss with the cock you've got, so make the most of what we've all got on this fantastic island.


Rick and James, I raise a glass of single malt to you. Shake a dice and decide where we're off next. I crashed your little adventure, but am glad I came back when I did - You are two of the people I regretted not sharing my experiences with this year and in a twist of fate we did. The times we shared literally going west compares equally with any other I've had on this adventure - let there be many more!