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Francene--Blog. Year 2014

Do you choose adventure or safety?

7/18/2014

9 Comments

 
Picturewww.telegraph.co.uk
There are still plenty of ways to meet challenges on Earth without rocketing to the moon.

In a charity drive, an adventurer has set a new world record for the longest stay on the remote islet of Rockall, Scotland.

The father-of-two broke the 40-day solo record for surviving on the uninhabited granite rock. He's been in isolation now for 44 days on the island, beating the group record previously held by Greenpeace. He is using his isolation to raise funds for the armed forces charity Help For Heroes. Although he plans to end his stay and return home to his wife tomorrow, the severe weather might delay him.

Just 100ft wide and 70ft high, the eroded volcano lies 260 miles west of the Outer Hebrides.

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The 39 year-old man has been in touch with his support team to confirm that he survived the severe storm in the early hours of Wednesday but he has lost vital supplies which will cut short his attempt to stay for 60 days. There may be nothing he can do but sit it out in his RockPod. He converted the yellow living pod from an 8ft water tank, and made it snug with spray-on insulation foam.

The challenge might really begin when he runs out of food. Maybe he'll attempt to catch fish. In such a harsh environment, I guess there won't be enough forage food on the lump of rock although he can drink if rain collects in hollows. Few people would live a Robinson Crusoe lifestyle voluntarily.

This is the sort of story I used to write about in my novels. Carried in the bubble of a vision, Liliha would arrive in a time of need. She'd assess his problem and try to help. Click on Still Rock Water in the sidebar and divert via Amazon to use the 'look inside' facility where you can read the first section of the book.

I've had a few adventures in my life in Australia before I came to England: riding pillion on a motor scooter to camp in the desert near Ayers Rock; taking a caravan around Australia for one year with my first husband and three children. But my adventures didn't isolate me. There was always transport to take me to safety. Being marooned on a rock during a fierce storm is an entirely different experience.

Do you yearn for an adventure?


9 Comments
Eilish link
7/17/2014 08:58:51 pm

I'm definitely an adventurer at heart! I like a bit of safety at the same time too! x

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Nick link
7/17/2014 10:48:39 pm

ADVENTURE!

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Reema D'souza link
7/17/2014 10:52:41 pm

Looks like you love adventure! I haven't tried anything that adventurous. Would love to try something some time.

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Sue Allen Clayton link
7/17/2014 10:56:06 pm

I'll be honest ... I don't even like camping, so this is not something that has any appeal on a personal level. But it was very interesting to read about and I'm glad he's still okay.

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Suzy link
7/17/2014 11:04:17 pm

I guess we each have our own sense of and definition of adventure. Someday I hope to ride in a hot air balloon. But I would definitely not go bungee jumping!

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julie link
7/18/2014 03:48:32 am

What a fantastic cause this man is doing this for! Hopefully he can make it the full time and find food! x

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Donna Ward link
7/18/2014 03:53:29 am

Fabulous and exciting post - love your own book excerpts - and I love safe adventures - for me that's back packing deep into the Sierras.

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K.Lee Banks link
7/18/2014 07:32:02 am

Fascinating as always, Francene! :-)

I had seen that second photo in the news, but hadn't stopped to read the article accompanying it. I don't know that I'd be up for that much of a lonely adventure, but I certainly enjoyed hubby's and my first-time international adventure flying to Punta Cana last November for my daughter's destination wedding!

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Alana link
7/18/2014 08:27:40 am

I don't - but my son longs for adventure. He thought our massive flood caused by a tropical storm in 2011 (which isolated our neighborhood for a couple of days and almost cost a neighbor his life) was exciting - and he was ready for more. Not me!

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    Francene Stanley:
    Author
    I use news items in my fantasy novels.

    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books on the sidebar below?
    I blogged 260 days last year. Link.

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