Ripcord Adventure Journal 2.1
Where do we begin? A fast track literally, to Germany where a sports car and our journalist are tested to the limits and left begging for more. Following the exploits of a legendary aviator from continent to continent, our Journal proceeds to venture across Mali, cycling the route to a fabled city of gold and encountering a festival of mud which annually repairs what must be one of the "newest" old buildings in the world. Our next journey explores the concept of adventure on board a luxury cruise ship as it rounds the infamous Horn, can Shangri-la really exist at sea? This leads us thoughtfully to the colourful Monlam Cham festival of Tibet as it is explored by two friends in search of Marco Polo and inner calm, we then journey forward to an encounter with a personal hero, visit eleven architectural gems on the road less travelled and complete our whirlwind travels in the land of the Midnight Sun.
Where do we begin? A fast track literally, to Germany where a sports car and our journalist are tested to the limits and left begging for more. Following the exploits of a legendary aviator from continent to continent, our Journal proceeds to venture across Mali, cycling the route to a fabled city of gold and encountering a festival of mud which annually repairs what must be one of the "newest" old buildings in the world.
Our next journey explores the concept of adventure on board a luxury cruise ship as it rounds the infamous Horn, can Shangri-la really exist at sea? This leads us thoughtfully to the colourful Monlam Cham festival of Tibet as it is explored by two friends in search of Marco Polo and inner calm, we then journey forward to an encounter with a personal hero, visit eleven architectural gems on the road less travelled and complete our whirlwind travels in the land of the Midnight Sun.
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Lady Icarus: The life of Aviator Lady Mary Heath<br />
Lindie Naughton<br />
To increase her chances of reaching land in case of trouble, she<br />
ascended as high as she could: “the higher I went the safer I felt.”<br />
As she reached 2,100 metres, the tyres burst with a loud pop in the<br />
thin air and she was left with shreds of rubber hanging around her<br />
neck: “My heart was thumping and bumping. The blue sea looked<br />
frightfully wet and deep. Shreds of red rubber may have looked<br />
decorative, bizarre. But they lacked buoyancy.”<br />
Flying even higher at three kilometres above the earth and with<br />
excellent visibility, she was able to see both Europe and Africa.<br />
Indeed, Europe was now within gliding range and knowing that<br />
while she could still crash, there was little possibility of her<br />
drowning, she could relax and enjoy the extraordinary views.<br />
Ahead, Mount Etna pierced the clouds, making a perfect landmark<br />
on the way to the aerodrome at Catania.<br />
After a few days in Rome, she then flew over France before finally<br />
making it back to England.<br />
“The last lap was, as the papers say, without incident, except for a<br />
storm in the Channel that blew me up to Deal. I was so annoyed by<br />
this, and so cold, that I landed at Lympne to have a cup of tea before<br />
going on to Croydon.”<br />
“I had not expected anyone to come out to Croydon to meet me, and<br />
I was so surprised and pleased to find two aeroplanes circling round<br />
me as I approached the aerodrome, that I could not help risking<br />
things a little and doing a loop over the aerodrome, although I had<br />
been warned that my tail might fall off if I did.”<br />
Her achievement, allied with considerable charm, turned her into<br />
one of the best-known women of her time – and probably the best<br />
known Irishwoman ever after a certain Countess Markievicz. But<br />
that’s a story for another day.<br />
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