Introduction.

The inspiration for this trip probably began ten months ago, with the realisation that I could not wait until the end of University to go travelling again.

A foreign exchange to Victoria in Canada, and 6 weeks backpacking around Brazil only added to the realisation that I only have so long left as an irresponsible, and one day, probably not too long after graduation I'm going to have to grow up some more.

Therefore, with the blessing of a student overdraft, and a university travel bursary a plan was born that would take me out to Eastern Europe to make the most of my golden responsibility-free years. Since then, with some possibly-over-optimistic-enthusiasm this plan has grown into a 2 month hitch hiking expedition around Europe with a grand budget of about £15 a day.

On top of this, it is my hope that my grand career as a travel writer can begin here. (yeahp this is it.)

And it doesn't end there because in addition, it is our hope that by missioning through Europe on a brazen quest of self discovery, overcoming whatever obstacles the gods of sex, drugs and rock n' roll place before us, we will actually save the world. (a little bit.)

Previous travels have given us with a much greater appreciation of who we are, where we've come from and where we're going. Of these enlightenments, none has been greater than the realisation of just how damned lucky we are, with so many opportunities availible to us that we so frequently take for granted. It's something that the TV regularly shoves down your throat, but somehow, seeing inequality in person really effects your perspective.

We decided that this trip would have to be more than just travel for travels sake. We have always distingushed between "travelling" and "going on holiday" but this time round we have decided to make that distinction much clearer; by trying to make a real difference to the places we visit.

Consequently we decided to keep this trip as pure as possible, and no matter how many hours we may end up stuck at dodgy service stations , or how far we have to walk through pouring rain in order to get a lift, we will hitch hike all the way from Instow to Istanbul, in order to raise money for Save the Children's Serbian projects.

If any of the following applies to you:

1. You enjoy reading our blog.
2. You are impressed by our sheer audacity at trying to hitch hike from Instow to Istanbul
3. You care about children.
4. You hate us and what we are trying to do, but most of all you hate the children.

Then please donate to our cause now!