h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Never one to choose something simple, I've set myself a challenge.

As some will know, I was a solid supporter of London winning the Olympic bid, as I had a firm belief that organising something like that is what the British are at, being used to Pomp and Circumstance, and arranging things like The London Marathon, Commonwealth Games, Lord Mayor's Show, Notting Hill Carnival.

Why not the Olympics?

I also wanted to be involved, so up to the Mayor of London's (Boris Johnson) 8,000 London Ambassadors. These were the rarely mentioned ones in the pink and light purple, as opposed to LOCOG's 70,000 Games Makers, who wore the darker uniforms.

And it was great. Had a fantastic time.

And to make things better, where the Olympics are over and the Games Makers disbanded , the London Ambassadors will be continuing to maintain the Olympic legacy. They haven't been disbanded, and will continue to be asked to volunteer for major events. . Unfortunately all events have, so far, been in East London, so I needed to find something I could do myself.

Some of you may have read my entry on Gerald the Pornographic Elephant and his Groupies. (A84729603), and how I've continued, with the GG's, pursuing fibre-glass artworks .

So when I heard that the Olympic Golden Letter Boxes were being maintained by Royal Mail I decided to travel, in the ethos of the GG's, and find them all. Unfortunately I was released from my employment in September, so I now have no money to pay for it.

Roll on 5 months and a sleepless night and a thought. That grew. And GREW.

The idea? To visit all the letter boxes, in aid of charity, in 2014, in time to reach Glasgow for the start of the XXth Commonwealth Games.
http://www.glasgow2014.com

So far, I have contacted Royal Mail to enquire as to whether they could offer me three lots of the Olympic gold medal winners' stamps and postcards, to be posted from each letter box, of which there are 110. One to be sent to the Olympic Gold Winner, one to be auctioned for the Charities, and one for myself, as a record and memento.

Next is to contact Boris, to get additional uniform to wear for the event, and Brompton Bikes, based in Brentford where I live, for a gold bike to travel between the close boxes, and from drop-off points to the boxes, Due to my disability, I would be unable to walk great distances, so cycling may resolve that dilemma.

I also need to contact my chosen Charities, being Friedrich's Ataxia, an illness my ex-Fiancée contracted at 18, and probably from around 20 years later.
http://www.ataxia.org.uk

And Muscular Dystrophy, being the nearest Charity to which my disability is linked.
http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org

The objective is to get some feedback, before pursuing the larger, more complex problems and challenges.

I am also going to ask my Physio for a referral to my local Gym to build on my limited muscles and strength, as well as ensure I can actually still ride a bicycle.

I am uncertain of my other modes of transport, but buses will be included as I have a National Freedom pass, but they are slow. So, coach or train?

The coach is cheaper, but less regular and very difficult for me to get onto and off of. The train is more frequent, easier accessibility, but expensive. So a logistical challenge.

The other area that I've been advised to pursue, and a friend has offered to help with, is Twitter. I have an account, being @MazinMadFiddler, but rarely use it as I don't understand it.

So plenty to work on.

But I suppose the most important is working out how to create a website via my Mac. That's going to be the biggest challenge for me, of everything!!!

Let the fun commence!

MMF

MMF, and if you succeed in getting this (and yourself) off the ground I will make a donation as the Ataxia Society is a particular interest of mine.

I have no transport but I wonder if some of your h2g2 friends could help in their own area? I guess you would need some accommodation too at various stages.



Websailor

Webby. Appreciated.

I'll let you know with updates as things progress, however everything is still very much at the formative stage at present. Just putting out feelers at present.



MMF

I wish I could help, but all attempts to donate to any charity efforts by UK hootooers have been thwarted so far. Well, I eventually had to put a Euro note in an envelope and send it to Bea or something, as Paypal didn't work, nor did anything else.

Anyway - it sounds a rather complicated wheeze - I hope you manage to sell it to the Royal Mail and do let us know if Boris writes back! Good luck with it. You are amazing at finding targets and aims in life - looks like it was perhaps a silver lining that you were made redundant. I am sure you will find help with transport and accommodation. It is a good idea to collate the photos of the letter boxes, too, as they may soon fade away.

TC. It was the photographing of them that set off the whole train of thought, but I was giving up on the idea when I heard it was only for the duration of the Olympics, and just for the able-bodied and not the Paralympians.

Who said the masses cannot change the Corporate mind?

I was going to do it under my own power, with weekend chunks but realised a) that was going to be expensive and b) would take a lot of time, purely in travel. Hopefully this way will utilise the best connections, and help on both tome and costings.

If I do the full 110 in one go, I anticipate starting in June, to finish in time to be in Glasgow for the start of the XXth Commonwealth Games.

There are 10 official, and 1 additional, boxes in Central London, plus three in outer London, and another 6 heading West towards Oxford, which I anticipate using as a trial run, to work out a timeline for the Challenge.

However, the Reims h2g2 Meet, may offer a brief respite.

And the redundancy is a bit of a double-edged sword, as it gives me more time to think of things, but the body takes more time to do them. And it's misbehaving today!

However, there is one thing. I AM having fun with this so far. Doing it may not be so enjoyable!!!



MMF

What an interesting, fun idea.

It's a completely loopy idea.

Good luck with it!

Hey, that's really cool! Just remember to carry a towel.

And I actually get to go to Ireland!!! Hooray.

But how do I carry my fiddle on a Brompton. Must remember this is a Charity ride being sponsored. Not a fun Touristy thing.

And the Isle of Man. Hadn't factored either of those in.

But!

Still upbeat. Loads to do. Need to get my office sorted and get my disciplined head on. 18 months will disappear faster than 2legs' a pint of !

MMF

And that is the idea, Icy. Loopy. Only way I can do it.

Thught about zigzag, bt it doesn't work.

In fact more Loopy-the-Loop.

MMF

Hi MMF! I posted a message here a couple of days ago; but it seems to have disappeared into a black hole. So I will post again as I remember it.

Brilliant idea! Count me in for a donation as and when.

About post 4. Personal donations can be made from individual bank accounts, providing people have the account number and sort code for the charities concerned - that's easy peasy.

A thought for your journey! It may be worth considering contacting the local radio stations on your route to help promote what you are trying to achieve. Also - local inns/taverns etc; would I am sure, appreciate the advertising benefit in offering you 'free' accommodation for the night to promote their premises via the local radio/tv.

Keep going mate

Should work in theory Scorp, but it doesn't. I've tried.

I'll just give him some cash at the pink biscuits meet.

Do you reckon you'll have a few under your belt by then, MMF?

Thanks Scorp,

TC, I'm anticipating 6 weeks for the trip. The transport situation is going to be tricky, because a number of areas, such as the SW, may only have a service twice a week.

And do I just do Monday to Friday, or seven days a week?

Organising this is not as easy as it seems.

So, TC, in answer to your question, yes, I will have started by then.



MMF

So auction off, for charity, tickets to accompany you for a day, for their spot in the limelight. The person accompanying you drives, of course

That'd be a nice thought I'm not sure who'd want to accompany me though.

However, to make the event a little more 'interesting' I was wondering if someone would loan me one of these:

http://www.piaggioape.co.uk

or:

http://www.tuk-tuk.co.uk/?article=1

A little more eye-catching, and no full driving licence needed.

MMF

Mala's idea is brilliant, MMF, and loads of people will love to drive you.

for the input.

So far the suggestions are:

1) See if any h2g2 friends would be prepared to help when in their area. Maybe via transport, accommodation or support. Webby and swl.

2) Contact local media to help promote the event. Scorp.

3) Auction tickets for company. Mala.

4) Contact Charities. jwf.


To date, (have only 5 days passed?) I have contacted Royal Mail, Ataxia UK, Muscular Dystrophy UK, Rick Hansen Foundation, London Ambassadors, Brompton Bikes, Animal Parade (as I've added their Charity, being my inspiration) and Stagecoach.

I also spoke to a local Councillor and Ex-Mayor, who's involved in many charities, for advice. He was impressed and took a copy of my letter and, hopefully, will give support and advice.

I need to contact Team GB for addresses and possible donations for auction, Accor hotels for possible accommodation offers, Piaggio for the loan or donation of an Ape as preferred means of transport, sprayed gold and liveried.

Further contacts will be added as the route-planning progresses but, until I know my modes of transport, the route is sketchy.

for the help.

Any further ideas are still welcome.

Going to be an interesting journey, just in the planning!

MMF

The Irish leg should be a breeze, relatively speaking. There are three, none of which are that hard to get to.

More than happy to help you plan that bit if you like.

KB. Will post updates as I get them.

So far Brompton Bicycles and Stagecoach travel have turned me down, but is merely a hurdles.

Onwards and upwards as the saying goes.



MMF

Do you think the organisers of

http://gaygames.org/

might help in any way