utiful roadsides flowers as you can do when you are on a bike!

Rosie is one in a million, in fact make that several million. Though beyond the age of 60 she can still humble some of the toughest men in this business. Rosie had had a distinguished life in the adventure field, but topped this with an around the world run in 2003-08. I had the pleasure of meeting Rosie in Alaska in 2006 during her run. An unforgettable experience. Here is a woman with an unstoppable spirit and a strength that positively radiates from her. Whilst raising funds for cancer research and giving inspirational talks, she provides a lesson to us all about just what an individual can achieve. Read about those adventures and that indomitable spirit in her book, 'Just a little run around the world'. Needless to say, I just had to ask Rosie for her opinion on the subject of travel and adventure.

1. Do you believe your experiences have had a positive effect on you?

I think I have become more determined. After Siberia, most problems are only 'half problems'!  Yet the overwhelming feeling my journey gave me was that good is stronger than evil…and hope is more powerful than despair;  and that bad times CAN be turned around.  I believe one can never give up, even when hopes seems to be zero. I have been taught so much by the people I met.

2. Have your experiences changed the way you view other cultures. Humanity in general?

Yes, I see humanity as a family..   Lauren van der Post wrote, 'Different cultures are not  a barrier, they are an enrichment..' It is true. I am in awe of the knowledge that people everywhere even in the harshest situations, are generous in sharing, if you travel to where they live.  There is my feeling and that you must give of yourself in return - thoughts and philosophies  and that this is an ethical necessity for a traveller..

3. Would you encourage others to a embark on a similar journey/s to your own?

Yes I think that the most Open University in the world, is the 'university of the road'.  Yet not all journeys are geographical; some are goals, dreams.. anything one is reaching towards..  I think you have to reach out in life and try for more than you think you can, in order to grow.

4. Do you believe if more people would experience extensive travel it would have a positive net effect on a community overall ?

I believe that extensive travel has a most positive effect, but not aimless travelling.  Travelling has to be achieved with great respect for  the people you will encounter; Treading gently though someone else's land. As you know better than anyone Karl, it is not what you do but the way you do it  - and that key is in the mind!

5. Do you see a future for adventure and exploration within humanity?

Yes, travel and exploration are the path to the future, but again, as I have written above, there is the world within and the world without. There are many different ways of being an explorer; in the wilderness; and in daily life.

 Best wishes,

Rosie

Rosie Swale Pope MBE - March 2010