Race Across the World, the 大象传媒鈥檚 epic, hugely successful and much-loved BAFTA-award winning series returns to 大象传媒 One and 大象传媒 iPlayer for its hotly anticipated new season from Wednesday 10 April.
Eastern Asia is this year鈥檚 route, and the five intrepid duos will battle it out in a breath-taking 15,000 kilometres race across several countries. From northernmost Japan, they will cross six seas and eight borders, skirting the path of the volcanic ring of fire - the most geologically unstable region on the planet to reach the finish line in Lombok, an idyllic Indonesian island paradise.
The teams include: two mother and daughter duos, Brydie and Sharon and Eugenie and Isabel; best friends, Alfie and Owen; married couple, Stephen and Viv and brother and sister, Betty and James.
Leaving behind their smartphones, internet access and bank cards, the race will test the five teams like never before, pushing them to both their physical and emotional limits. But with their feet on the ground, and their eyes wide open the rewards will be great, and the memories will be everlasting. Only one team can emerge victorious as they all vie to be first and claim the cash prize of 拢20,000.
VHW
Meet The Teams
Alfie and Owen
Alfie (20, Football Referee) and Owen (20, Trainee Pilot) from Hertfordshire are best friends from school with a determination and maturity rarely seen. While one wants to experience everything the race throws at them, the other only has eyes for the finish line.
Why did you want to take part in the series?
Alfie: I think we wanted to take part in the series mainly because we鈥檙e both lovers of travelling and have done a little bit of travelling before but never done the whole backpacking, country-hopping situation. It was something that we wanted to try further down the line anyway and we thought it would be such a great experience that it would be impossible to say no to.
Owen: We wanted to do this because, as Alfie said, we wanted to go travelling and we鈥檝e never done this sort of thing together. Also, we wanted to put our friendship to the test, see what we can achieve with it. And personally, ourselves we wanted to see how we鈥檇 deal in this sort of situation and how well we can do, see if we can make it to the end and maybe even win.
Have you got a strategy going into the race?
Alfie: We have discussed a strategy. The strategy is, in very loose terms, earn first and race later. So, particularly in the first leg just try and not eat into our spending too much. We think that everybody in the first leg is going to be quite 鈥楪ung Ho鈥� and perhaps aren鈥檛 going to have that much headspace, they鈥檙e going to be a little bit erratic, so we鈥檙e going to try and take advantage of that. But I think as soon as that klaxon goes that might all go out the window!
Owen: We also thought that strategy would be a good idea so we have a bit of extra cash if we need it to fall back on. If we do find ourselves coming last on one of the legs or at a checkpoint we will then have a bit of cash so we can leapfrog if we need it.
Have you picked up any tips from previous series?
Alfie: I think from watching the previous series it gives a bit of a sugar-coated view, I don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 quite ready for how difficult it鈥檚 going to be and how gruelling it's going to be. But certainly, the importance of budgeting money, trying to be on the move if possible, sleeping on the move will be important.
Owen: I think relying on other people as well, we need to try and take as much advantage of that as possible.
How have you prepared for the trip?
Alfie: We thought we鈥檇 prepared for the trip until we realised yesterday neither of us have a watch, so we have no way of telling the time 鈥� I wasn鈥檛 impressed when I found that out. I have got a digital watch, but I can鈥檛 figure out how to change the time on it. I thought everything was going to be fine as I assumed Owen was going to bring an analogue but then I realised he didn鈥檛 have anything!
Owen: We鈥檝e both got our iPods though, which both tell the time. Well, mine does. I鈥檓 relying on that.
Alfie: I鈥檓 not relying on that. But other than that, I think we鈥檙e prepared for what鈥檚 about to happen.
Owen: As prepared as we can be.
Would you say that you鈥檙e quite adventurous?
Alfie: I think we like a sense of adventure.
Owen: I think we are, we put ourselves forward quite a lot. We don鈥檛 really shy away from opportunities, such as this one, and we don鈥檛 like wasting the time we spend in other countries, we try and see and do as much as we can whilst we鈥檙e there, maximising the time.
What kind of travellers are you? Do you like your creature comforts, five-star hotels?
Owen: I鈥檓 definitely up for roughing it, I鈥檓 looking forward to the experience that comes with it. I鈥檓 ready for it.
Alfie: I am up for roughing it. But Owen seems to be looking forward to roughing it, whereas I鈥檓 definitely not.
How competitive are you both? Are you in it to win it?
Owen: We are competitive. We鈥檝e always played sports throughout our whole lives, and we still do as well. So, I think we will carry that competitiveness over from that and bring it into this. We want to win.
Alfie: Yes, we鈥檙e very, very competitive.
What are you imagining your biggest challenges might be during the trip?
Alfie: Finances and staying sane would be probably fair. Obviously, finances is the tangible one and I just think as time goes on we鈥檙e going to get more and more dragged down, particularly if we鈥檙e low on sleep, low on food, low on money, it鈥檚 going to add up very quickly. We鈥檙e both quite young so we鈥檝e still got that drive in us, but we鈥檒l see how that looks in week six with no sleep.
How do you think you鈥檒l do with the budgeting? Are you good at that?
Owen: I think we balance each other out quite well. Alfie does impulse buy a bit.
Alfie: He鈥檚 got this idea that I鈥檓 terrible with money. I am very, very good with money unless I see something that is of incredible value. I won鈥檛 overspend on anything. So, yes I spend a little bit more but I won鈥檛 spend on anything that鈥檚 not good value.
Owen: I鈥檓 just tight with money, I鈥檓 stingy, so I鈥檓 not worried about the money we鈥檒l have.
Would you say you cope well during a crisis? Are you calm under pressure?
Alfie: Yes, I prefer working under pressure than without it. I think in terms of that I should be alright.
Owen: I can work in a high pressure situation as long as I don鈥檛 let it get to my head too much. If I let it get to me that鈥檚 when it would be a problem but yes, if I can keep the pressure out then I can deal with it.
How do you feel about travelling without a mobile phone or credit cards?
Alfie: The phone thing鈥檚 a bit of a luxury I think actually, for both of us.
Owen: It is going to be a challenge because it鈥檚 so easy just to look up a map on your phone and know exactly where you鈥檙e going and exactly how much it鈥檚 going to cost, so obviously we鈥檙e not going to have that. I also think travelling with just cash is going to be quite tricky.
Alfie: I think what鈥檚 going to catch us out is maybe different currencies and things like that, things you just don't have to think about if you have a card. Also, times that banks open, it鈥檚 just stuff that you don鈥檛 even have to consider normally.
Have you packed anything for this trip that you just can鈥檛 live without?
Alfie: Music. That鈥檚 our big one.
Owen: We both brought iPods, we brought a speaker. I think music's the one thing we need.
What's the soundtrack for the trip then?
Alfie: My Uncle鈥檚 iPod playlist. Because we鈥檝e got so used to just streaming, I kind of forgot that you can鈥檛 download stuff form a streaming website onto an iPod because you can't prove you own it so it鈥檚 only stuff that鈥檚 been purchased. Luckily, my uncle was around when iTunes first came out so he bought a lot of stuff. I just transferred his entire library onto my account and there鈥檚 just a lot going on there.
Owen: It鈥檚 a good variety at least. From the 90s till now, a bit of everything.
What鈥檚 the most unusual thing you鈥檝e brought with you?
Alfie: For me, books. Because I don鈥檛 read, I don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e read since I was about 9 years old. I鈥檝e got two books with me that I probably won鈥檛 read, but it鈥檚 a nice thought.
Owen: It鈥檚 not unusual as such but a digital camera because obviously we don鈥檛 have our phones, so I鈥檝e had to bring an actual camera with me. I want our own pictures, not just what they film, so we have stuff to refer back to. It鈥檚 just weird having to have an actual camera, not just having it on your phone on your pocket. It鈥檚 going to take a while to get used to, I guess.
Is there one thing you're going to miss from home?
Owen: My dog.
Alfie: Yeah, I think there鈥檚 quite a lot. I鈥檓 annoyed because I鈥檓 doing really well at work at the minute, so it鈥檚 almost a bad time to come out of work. But I鈥檓 obviously not really annoyed because I鈥檓 doing something much better, it was a bit of a no brainer, it's just one of those things where you can鈥檛 have the best of both worlds. I鈥檓 just a bit upset to leave home right now because everything kind of fell into the right place at the right time but, it鈥檚 an amazing opportunity so I couldn鈥檛 turn it down.
What made you travel with the person that you're travelling with?
Owen: When we were both in sixth form, we both discovered that we really liked travelling, so then we started going on trips together, the cheapest flights we could get whenever and wherever and then I guess it鈥檚 kind of spiralled from going to Europe for a weekend to this.
What do the rest of your family make of you two doing this trip together?
Alfie: They鈥檙e both very impressed. I think they鈥檙e both shocked that we made it so far. I think, certainly for my family, I don鈥檛 think it properly sunk in till probably today that I鈥檓 not coming back for a while.
Owen: Mine are the same. They like me taking every opportunity I can, and my parents travelled when they were younger, they did a lot when they were my age and have travelled everywhere. I saw all the pictures and the stories they had from it and I knew I definitely wanted to do that too. I don鈥檛 want to miss out on it. So, yes, they just don鈥檛 want me to miss out and they're glad I鈥檓 seizing the opportunity.
What other skills do you think you鈥檒l bring to the race?
Owen: Well, I鈥檓 quite a logical thinker, I like thinking about things in a logical order, I like procedure: starting at the base of a problem and working along it, if that makes sense. So, I feel like I could come up with some quite rational decisions. Whereas Alfie鈥檚 more of a quick thinker, on the spot, that鈥檚 what I would say.
Alfie: Yes. It鈥檚 skill and a drawback, both ways of thinking. Another skill is that I can speak comfortable Spanish, I鈥檓 not fluent, but I鈥檇 be able to live in Spain if I had to. But that's not going to be very helpful round here!
Owen: We know how to say 鈥渢hank you鈥� in Japanese but that鈥檚 it.
How do you feel about being in Japan?
Alfie: It鈥檚 amazing! I hope we鈥檒l get to see a lot of it because Japan鈥檚 been on our list for ages. So, I hope that we get to see more of it tomorrow and on the race.
How do you feel about potentially racing through Japan?
Owen: I love the thought of it!
Alfie: People might jump straight at the bullet trains and things like that and that鈥檚 something we鈥檙e going to avoid because I think they鈥檙e too expensive. But the thought of going through Tokyo or down to Hiroshima and all those places would be quite incredible.
Owen: Getting a job will be quite fun as well and will let us experience the culture.
Betty and James
Betty (25, Social Media and Events Manager for a Gym) and James (21, Sales Consultant) from Yorkshire are sister and brother - one is well travelled, the other prefers partying in Magaluf. Barely in touch as adults, their hope is to share the experience of a lifetime.
Why did you want to take part in the series?
Betty: It鈥檚 a TV programme that we watch as a family, and I think during series one and two we were sat there like 鈥渨e could definitely do this.鈥� It got to the last week we could apply, and we thought 鈥渓et's just go for it.鈥� We did the audition video very on a whim and filled out the form and here we are.
I think it was kind of my idea, I got the application thing going and James got dragged along for the journey.
James: You said a few times, there鈥檚 other people you should鈥檝e taken but they鈥檙e not here or couldn鈥檛 do it!
What made you travel with the person that you're travelling with?
Betty: I think I definitely chose James. I think it was because we鈥檇 always watched the show as a family, I鈥檝e never really spoken about it with my friends, so I think it was the more natural decision to go for.
James: I don鈥檛 think I鈥檇 have probably chosen Betty. But the thing is I never really thought about applying, obviously we鈥檇 said we could do it but it never really crossed my mind to actually go for it. I guess Betty鈥檚 got that 鈥渨hy not? Let's try it鈥� mentality whereas I maybe wouldn鈥檛 have actually applied by myself.
Have you got a strategy going into the race?
James: No. I think it鈥檚 probably for the best as I thought it would be better to keep a clear head. It's so unknown there鈥檚 no point really trying to make a fixed plan because it could change in an instant. So, we鈥檒l try to keep it logical: when it gets to it, don鈥檛 do anything rash do everything with measure but, we also have no set plan.
Betty: Absolutely not. I think part of our strategy is just being nice to people, speaking to locals and using the fact that we are approachable and can speak to people as a sort of tool, I suppose. But in terms of a set plan, no. Also, coming from Yorkshire, naturally our motto is 鈥榠t鈥檒l be reet鈥�. 鈥極ur nanna has a motto she says for everything and especially if there are any challenges in the family she always says 鈥榦nwards and upwards鈥� no matter what it is. It could be something that we think is the worst thing ever and she鈥檒l just go 鈥渙nwards and upwards鈥� So, we鈥檒l be keeping that in mind in the race, definitely.
Have you picked up any tips from previous series?
Betty: Well, the one tip that I had thought about, that I鈥檝e completely forgotten to do anyway, is to bring whiteboard. But since I completely forgot that鈥檚 that one out the window!
James: I think it's just confidence, as it's just helpful in most aspects of the race really. Just being confident when speaking to people or even being confident in challenging each other, so you get to a mutual decision as quickly as possible.
How have you prepared for the trip?
Betty: Well, when we found out that the budget included food I definitely started to try and eat a bit less because we鈥檙e both massive foodies, we eat so much. You started doing some fasting, didn鈥檛 you?
James: I did two 24-hour fasts, yes.
Betty: I just started trying to reduce my food and then we鈥檙e both really bad in the morning at waking up so I started trying to wake up at half five in the morning for the last two, three weeks because neither of us function well in the morning so I just thought well, I just have to do something! I鈥檓 still not amazing in the morning but I鈥檓 definitely better.
James: I wake up fine, once I鈥檝e had a shower its fine. If I can鈥檛 have a shower I don鈥檛 know, we鈥檒l find out I guess. It鈥檚 just talking- I just want to be left alone for a little bit.
Would you say that you鈥檙e quite adventurous?
Betty: Yes, what did I say on the way here? I said, 鈥淚鈥檒l try anything once.鈥�
James: I鈥檝e tried ramen today for the first time! Also, I think on the plane was the first time I鈥檝e ever had seaweed. I鈥檓 getting there. I鈥檓 open to trying most of the food at least.
What kind of travellers are you? Do you like your creature comforts, five-star hotels?
Betty: I鈥檝e done more backpacking travelling than James has. I did a trip round Central America and when I was in Mexico, I ended up working in a hostel but the 鈥渟taff accommodation鈥� didn鈥檛 even have windows or a roof. I don鈥檛 think I even showed my Mum a picture of where we stayed because I thought she probably wouldn鈥檛 approve! And then I travelled to India with our Dad and Grandad, my Grandad wanted to go for the last time so I wanted to join in. In terms of travelling together we鈥檝e just done family holidays.
James: We鈥檝e pretty much done all sorts though haven't we? We鈥檝e stayed in hostels, and stayed in nice hotels.
How competitive are you both? Are you in it to win it?
James: I am. Betty doesn鈥檛 like to admit it, she doesn鈥檛 want to say it or come across too cocky or arrogant but I think we鈥檝e got a good chance. Everyone's got an equal chance at the beginning, don鈥檛 they? But especially once we get going and settle into the first week and figure out how it鈥檚 going to work, I think we could definitely put up a fight. We鈥檙e both very competitive.
We鈥檝e grown up in sports backgrounds and that鈥檚 all you do in sport isn鈥檛 it? Try and win. I grew up playing quite a lot: football, cricket, tennis. Mostly cricket till a few years ago, I still play football but it's very much a weekend ruin-er if you lose on Saturday.
Betty: I played rugby for Yorkshire when I was younger and then I was doing ballroom and Latin dancing at the same time but I kind of had to pick one because they didn鈥檛 go together, and I picked dancing. My dance teachers used to be fuming because I used to turn up to dance competitions covered in bruises, so I had to choose one. I think the last rugby match I played I ended up in a neck brace and I thought 鈥渢hat鈥檒l do鈥�. So, I stopped playing sport at kind of 16, 17 but sports been your life really.
James: We just want to complete the race. We don鈥檛 want to get chucked off or eliminated or anything.
What are you imagining your biggest challenges might be during the trip?
James: Lack of food and early mornings.
Betty: The lack of sleep. I also think the language barrier is going to be huge. We talked about this today, didn鈥檛 we? I think wherever I鈥檝e been even if it鈥檚 just a week holiday, if you learn to say even 鈥渉ello鈥� or 鈥渢hank you鈥� in their language they鈥檙e so appreciative of that, and I think then they're more receptive to helping so I think even maybe learning a word or two would be good.
James: It鈥檚 boredom, isn't it? Our own company and each other鈥檚 company is going to be challenging.
How do you feel about travelling without a mobile phone or credit cards?
James: I think so far, it鈥檚 been alright, I鈥檓 not really missing it too much.
Betty: But I think as well, when we鈥檙e going to want to be able to know how to get somewhere, that鈥檚 when we鈥檇 usually be like 鈥渙h, google maps鈥� and I think then we might miss them in a different sense.
How do you think you鈥檒l do with the budgeting?
Betty: I think money and being on a budget might be a bit of a challenge. Obviously, we don鈥檛 know how much we鈥檙e going to get but even trying to work out how much things are. I鈥檓 pretty useless with money as well.
James: And I forgot my money belt so that鈥檚 never a good sign.
Betty: I think in the first week or so before we get into the proper swing of it, I think we are just going to want to race and spend.
James: I think that鈥檚 when you work out most things isn鈥檛 it. I think it's then that you find out about how its going to work, so it鈥檚 about whether you spent too much in that week or not.
Have you packed anything for this trip that you just can鈥檛 live without?
Betty: I鈥檝e brought an iPod to listen to music. I think again just for occupying yourself during long stretches of time. Even if I鈥檓 in my room I usually have the TV on for noise, I鈥檓 not very good at sitting in silence.
What鈥檚 the most unusual thing you鈥檝e brought with you?
Betty: We both got given a gift from our Mum and Dad which is quite nice. James got given a St Christopher bracelet because St. Christopher is the saint of travel and I got a little hug ring and my Mum鈥檚 got a matching one.
Is there one thing you're going to miss from home?
Betty: My dog, his name is Stanley, he鈥檚 a chocolate Labrador. I probably should have said my boyfriend!
James: Quite a lot of things but I don鈥檛 know what I鈥檒l miss the most. I feel like mainly the structure of just a normal day, like knowing when you鈥檙e going to sleep.
What do the rest of your family make of you two doing this trip together?
James: Our older brother Matt loves the idea, because he would love to do something like this as well.
Betty: He would have been my first choice, if he wasn鈥檛 in Canada!
James: I accept that as well because he actually would have been. Mum and Dad, I know they will be excited for us, proud and nervous but it鈥檚 quite hard to grasp because they haven鈥檛 really said anything.
Betty: They said they think it will make us stronger. We鈥檙e not super close as brother and sister.
What do you think this trip will do for your relationship?
Betty: I think as we grow into adults, and obviously I鈥檝e moved out of the family home now, I have my own house, just knowing that we are there for each other when we need it.
Have you got anything with you to remember your experience?
Betty: I鈥檝e brought a journal to write everything down, and my camera. I鈥檝e already written quite a lot down. I tend to make scrapbooks or photo albums when I come back from trips, so definitely keen to do that with this one.
James: I鈥檓 just more of a see it and remember it. I don鈥檛 really do much on paper, it鈥檚 really annoying, I end up just chucking it in a drawer and leaving it and it comes out all creased.
What other skills do you think you鈥檒l bring to the race?
Betty: We got asked this before and James said he knew the fire triangle, that was the skill he was bringing! I think in terms of skills we鈥檙e both physically fit and that鈥檒l probably help us at points. I think we are quite approachable as people so I think we will be good at talking to people.
James: I鈥檓 hoping we never miss a bus or a train because I鈥檓 quite impatient. It can be a good thing because you can just hurry people along so it can be a positive as well. I just hate being late for things.
How do you feel about being in Japan?
Betty: To be fair when we got told we were going to Sapporo, we both just looked at each other like 鈥渨e have no idea where that is.鈥� But then they said Japan which is exciting.
Eugenie and Isabel
Eugenie (60, Teacher) and Isabel (25, Trainee Clinical Scientist) from Barking/Birmingham are a mother and daughter with clashing personalities and contrasting strengths who hope the race will improve their understanding of one another.
Why did you want to take part in the series?
Eugenie: Isabel came to me and said she was going to be putting in an application for Race Across the World and it was going to be for her and myself so I asked her 鈥渨hat is Race Across the World?鈥� She said 鈥測ou need to watch it鈥� so I started watching it and got really excited and thought 鈥淵es, I鈥檇 love to be on that鈥� and filled in the application. So, really the starting point was Isabel. And also, another thing is, I do anything I can to keep my kids happy including Isabel, so if it was going to keep my daughter happy then I was ready to do it.
Isabel: I put in the application because although it seemed quite intense, I thought it would be something cool for us to bond together in the process. Mum and I are not as close as we could be so I thought it would be a good opportunity to explore.
Eugenie: I鈥檝e rolled with it, originally, I applied to make my daughter happy but then I watched the show and thought it was really exciting. Then when she said it would be a good time for us to really bond and spend time together I thought actually, she鈥檚 right because Isabel鈥檚 language of love is time and we haven鈥檛 actually really had the quality time that we could have had recently. So I thought this is going to be brilliant, 24/7 just with each other all the time, we鈥檝e got no choice but to work things out and bond.
Have you got a strategy going into the race?
Isabel: We learnt loads of languages that are now pointless.
Eugenie: Isabel was doing the Spanish speaking, then German between us and I was doing the French.
Isabel: Just the who, what, where, whys. I think now, our strategy will be trying to utilise Mum鈥檚 Makaton and other communication tools that she鈥檚 had to use with the children with special needs she works with. Mum knows how to simplify things better for people, so I think that鈥檚 where we鈥檙e going to go.
Eugenie: We were just thinking that in terms of the senses, people can be quite visual, so as well as using gestures, we鈥檙e going to have to speak English but it might be that we could draw some visuals in terms of trying to find different modes of transport for example.
Isabel: So, we brought a pen and paper and we have got little flashcards.
Eugenie: I also have a cardboard roll that has some paper and markers in case we might need to do some drawings, some visuals, hold up some signs for hitchhiking maybe, instead of just doing the thumbs.
Have you picked up any tips from previous series?
Isabel: Change the time on your watch according to where you are so you don鈥檛 miss anything, so we did that as soon as we got here. That鈥檚 our plan, we checked the time and changed our watches. What else? A notepad and pen.
Eugenie: Yes, a notepad and pen, we鈥檝e each got one. We鈥檙e going to use it to diary as well, and for planning, Isabel鈥檚 a planner. Travelling at night too to save a bit of time.
What other skills do you think you鈥檒l bring to the race?
Eugenie: Isabel鈥檚 really pedantic with these things as well. Also, I think it will be helpful that we鈥檙e both people persons, so, we鈥檒l just use our interpersonal skills to get by. But yes, I think I鈥檒l probably be the more social person, going up to people and asking questions, we鈥檒l do it between us, but I think I鈥檒l be more of a people person.
How have you prepared for the trip?
Isabel: We walked around with weights and backpacks, around the parks several times.
Eugenie: We put dumbbells and all kinds of things in our backpacks but even so when we鈥檝e got these rucksacks on our back, it's crazy. Absolutely crazy heavy.
Would you say that you鈥檙e quite adventurous?
Isabel: We鈥檒l try once, whether we go again...
Eugenie: So recently, about four or five weeks ago, we tried paragliding. It was my experience that they had booked for me last year when I turned 60. A few years back, in terms of birthdays I told my family that I just want experiences and so they鈥檝e given me some interesting experiences in the past but this was the most recent one.
What kind of travellers are you? Do you like your creature comforts, five-star hotels?
Isabel: Mum likes a pool, jacuzzi and sauna if she can.
Eugenie: You know what, I鈥檝e been there done that in terms of accommodations and holidays like in Jamaica we鈥檝e roughed it, we鈥檝e had to rough it depending on where we were staying. There could be a curtain for the door or even cockroaches. I鈥檝e also been on a safari which involved camping, and a load of dust all around you. So, ultimately, I don鈥檛 really mind.
Isabel: I鈥檓 not like a total beach resort person but I kind of like an in-between when it comes to accommodation, no bedbugs and things. But I also tend to be out and about if I go anywhere and just see as much as possible.
How competitive are you both? Are you in it to win it?
Eugenie: We are so competitive. I am very competitive, and the apple doesn鈥檛 fall far from the tree.
Isabel: I don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 as bad as you are though.
What are you imagining your biggest challenges might be during the trip?
Isabel: Patience with one another, that鈥檚 the key.
Eugenie: I鈥檓 very patient. It鈥檚 Isabel being patient with me because I have no sense of direction.
Isabel: And you refuse to improve it.
Eugenie: I don鈥檛 refuse to improve it! She doesn鈥檛 believe me, nobody believes me. When I make mistakes, they think 鈥渃ome on, we did it 10 times鈥� they don鈥檛 get it that I have no sense of direction, they鈥檙e not accepting it. And Isabel鈥檚 biggest challenge will be anything with more than two legs.
Isabel: I鈥檓 ok with animals, I鈥檓 just not the biggest fan of insects. But I think I could cope.
Would you say you cope well during a crisis? Are you calm under pressure?
Eugenie: I think I am.
Isabel: I don鈥檛 know, I think I am. I guess it depends, because you can鈥檛 have two people who are panicky, so if Mum鈥檚 panicking I feel like I鈥檇 have to be calm.
How do you feel about travelling without a mobile phone or credit cards?
Isabel: I feel naked already, without anything, so I think it鈥檚 going to be quite difficult. Because I think you constantly have that urge to check. I feel like I鈥檓 hearing vibrations but I think that's in my head.
Eugenie: I think the only thing that kind of bothers me is absolutely no contact with family and friends. In terms of it being there to google etc, I don鈥檛 think that will be an issue, we鈥檒l get by. For me, it鈥檚 more about no contact.
Isabel: No google translate, that would have come in handy!
How do you think you鈥檒l do with the budgeting?
Eugenie: It鈥檚 quite interesting because of where we are. Isabel was talking about for example, food wise, there鈥檚 strategies for that in terms of budgeting and looking out for the 7/11s as it鈥檚 probably a bit cheaper.
Isabel: Yes, I鈥檝e watched travel videos and I鈥檝e watched people budget around Japan and I know there鈥檚 certain bigger chain companies where it鈥檚 cheaper to get things from. We also want to enjoy the food around us, that鈥檚 the only problem, so we鈥檙e not sure how to get around that in terms of money.
Have you packed anything for this trip that you just can鈥檛 live without?
Eugenie: Well, some makeup. It had to be cut down though. I think it鈥檚 more skincare, serums, exfoliators... some little perfumes.
Isabel: Moisturisers, SPF, we鈥檝e got loads of facemasks too. It鈥檚 more things like journals, so one journal is for planning things but then the other one is for capturing how we鈥檙e feeling at the end of the day.
What鈥檚 the most unusual thing you鈥檝e brought with you?
Eugenie: We鈥檝e got Tupperware, fold-up Tupperware. Cutlery as well.
Isabel: Yes, that was part of our strategy to kind of save money on food, to potentially use the Tupperware and the foldable thermos for food and drink, and hopefully for free.
Eugenie: We鈥檝e got a spork. I didn鈥檛 know what a spork was before this trip!
Is there one thing you're going to miss from home?
Eugenie: It鈥檚 family and friends really. And to share the moment with them, we can share it with each other, but we can鈥檛 share with anyone else can we?
What made you travel with the person that you're travelling with?
Eugenie: Well, I enjoy spending time with Isabel anyway, but she might say something different. We went to Spain about 10 months ago and my perception was that it was great which was completely different to hers. But I enjoy spending time with Isabel.
Isabel: I think it鈥檚 more so because the past few years we鈥檝e not really had that time to spend with one another So, it鈥檚 about embracing that.
Eugenie: Our conversations could be a bit deeper emotionally. Sometimes we鈥檙e at loggerheads, I say sometimes because it鈥檚 not all the time, but it鈥檚 about kind of, learning how to understand each other.
Isabel: I almost think we don鈥檛 know each other very well so it鈥檚 an opportunity to actually get to know each other.
Eugenie: I think for us it鈥檚 more emotional, it鈥檚 more about emotions and feelings and understanding each other鈥檚 emotions and feelings and how to run with it. That鈥檚 what I think it is.
What do the rest of your family make of you two doing this trip together?
Isabel: My brothers think it鈥檚 a bad idea. Only because they know how I am with Mum and my patience. They think it鈥檚 a crazy idea, given what Mum鈥檚 like when it comes to things like direction, navigation and things like that, so they thought it was a bit random.
Eugenie: My bestie Abigail thinks its going to be fabulous because she鈥檚 seen the two of us together and she said 鈥渆verybody鈥檚 going to love you.鈥� Because she sees the good, the bad, the ugly, she sees it all and she said we鈥檒l be great for the race. She鈥檚 excited, she鈥檚 excited because she knows us.
How do you feel about being in Japan?
Isabel: It鈥檚 crazy. It鈥檚 also like, you know when you watch TV shows and you see glimpses of Japan, and now we鈥檙e actually in Japan. And then the food as well! I feel like there鈥檚 so much culture here so it will be nice to absorb it.
Sharon and Brydie
Sharon (52, Cleaner) and Brydie (25, Snowboard Instructor) from Kent are a mother and daughter learning to embrace the challenges of travel and dyslexia.
Why did you want to take part in the series?
Sharon: It just looks amazing, it looks fun. I watched it with my family at home and Brydie was in Canada at the time and then we went out to visit and we watched it together. She just looked at me and I looked at her and we thought 鈥渨e could do this鈥� and so that鈥檚 exactly how it happened.
Have you got a strategy going into the race?
Brydie: Not really. We鈥檙e winging it.
Sharon: The only thing we鈥檙e doing, we're Mum and Daughter so we鈥檙e sharing everything. So, one鈥檚 got shampoo, one's got conditioner, you know, to lighten the load.
Brydie: I think that鈥檚 our best strategy, our relationship, because we鈥檙e really tight.
Have you picked up any tips from previous series?
Brydie: Yes, we picked up on stuff that you wouldn鈥檛 normally think of like needing to bring a rain jacket, or a base layer or a woolly hat.
Sharon: We also brought extra leggings so we could double up. As for directions, we鈥檙e talkers, so not afraid to ask anyone anything.
How have you prepared for the trip?
Sharon: The reason we haven鈥檛 is because honestly, we knew we鈥檇 have no idea what it would actually be like on our race.
Brydie: And you don鈥檛 want to get disappointed if you have done the research and you don鈥檛 get to go to certain places. Like we know a lot about Canada as I鈥檝e spent a lot of time there and say we hadn鈥檛 gone to Niagara Falls when Mum visited, then I know that would have really hurt Mum because she really wanted to see it. So, I鈥檓 almost glad we didn鈥檛 do any research on Japan because we don鈥檛 know anything about it and so nothing is going to be upsetting if we don鈥檛 get to experience something we may have wanted to.
How do you feel about being in Japan?
Sharon: Love it!
Brydie: It鈥檚 beautiful.
Would you say that you鈥檙e quite adventurous?
Sharon: I think we are.
Brydie: Yes, we can be in any situation and make it work.
What kind of travellers are you? Do you like your creature comforts, five-star hotels?
Sharon: In fact, I鈥檇 probably be more at home roughing it then 5 stars.
Brydie: Yes, we can sleep anywhere, you can leave us on the floor with our backpacks on and we鈥檒l sleep. We鈥檙e good like that. That鈥檚 a strategy right there! Also, we don鈥檛 belong somewhere like a 5-star hotel.
Sharon: I鈥檇 always feel a bit uncomfortable.
Brydie: We鈥檙e quite close, some people would say we鈥檙e too close, but we don鈥檛 care if we have to even share a bed. We鈥檇 happily share a bed in the race.
How competitive are you both? Are you in it to win it?
Brydie: Not by ourselves, but together we鈥檙e more competitive.
Sharon: She鈥檚 doing it for me and I鈥檓 doing it for her so, we can鈥檛 let each other down.
Brydie: And when you鈥檙e Mum and Daughter I think you鈥檙e even tighter, you want to make each other proud and happy. So, I think we鈥檙e deadly, one to watch out for.
Sharon: We鈥檙e bringing it home.
What are you imagining your biggest challenges might be during the trip?
Brydie: Geography and directions. We鈥檙e not very good at naming capital cities.
Sharon: In fact, how embarrassing was this? I don鈥檛 know if I should confess this but when we were told we were going to Tokyo, I thought that was a country in itself! So, yes, I hope we don鈥檛 come across really stupid. But it鈥檚 all about education, everything鈥檚 a learning curve.
Would you say you cope well during a crisis? Are you calm under pressure?
Sharon: I like to cry. It happens when I鈥檓 stressed. I鈥檒l cry and then almost when I鈥檝e had a cry, it鈥檚 like right, I鈥檓 back in the game now. So, if I cry, I always say to people just ignore it, it鈥檚 as if my head鈥檚 not talking to my eyes. My eyes need to do that to move on. Brydie you get really excited, I always have to tell her to calm down.
Brydie: I think we do quite well under pressure. Every day is pressure for us, so I feel like we鈥檒l cope, and it won鈥檛 affect us too much.
Sharon: I don鈥檛 want to say I thrive on it because I don鈥檛 thrive on it, but I mean life鈥檚 not easy generally, is it? My husband Brian always says, if I鈥檝e got naught to worry about, I鈥檓 worried because I haven鈥檛 got anything to worry about. What鈥檚 really good with us-
Brydie: We鈥檙e Ying and Yang.
Sharon: If one of us is down the other one tends to be on a high, do you know what I mean?
How do you feel about travelling without a mobile phone or credit cards?
Brydie: I鈥檓 loving it, it鈥檚 the best thing I鈥檝e ever done.
Sharon: See, this is really weird because she鈥檚 the younger one. At home when people message, I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 the younger generation, but obviously you feel like you鈥檙e under pressure to answer.
Brydie: Yes, you feel you鈥檝e got to answer all the time. I'm just quite enjoying not having it. It's always there but I don鈥檛 have to worry about it now, so it's one less thing on my mind. Now, the thing I have to worry about is my passport.
Sharon: I am missing my phone, roles reversed. Now if you鈥檇 have spoken to me a week ago, I would have said the opposite. But it will be ok, and when we鈥檙e on long trips we won鈥檛 need anything because we can just chat.
How are you with budgeting?
Sharon: We鈥檙e not big spenders, we鈥檙e used to being tight with our money.
Brydie: Yes we鈥檙e not, life on a budget will be fine for us.
Have you packed anything for this trip that you just can鈥檛 live without?
Sharon: We have a notebook to write stuff in and what we鈥檝e done. Then on the back it鈥檚 a picture of all four of us.
Brydie: We鈥檒l be using the notepad for everything: directions, how much money we鈥檙e spending, that will go in that notebook. We also want to write down notes so if we hear a good fact that we think my sister or dad will like then we鈥檒l write that down.
What do the rest of your family make of you two doing this trip together?
Sharon: Honestly when we watched this programme and we were giving each other the eye and we said 鈥渨e could do that鈥� and they just went 鈥測eah, definitely鈥�. They鈥檙e not surprised.
Brydie: They think it鈥檚 a really good idea what we鈥檙e doing. All our friends and family have all said before that we should do Race Across the World. I think it鈥檚 because we get on really well, and a lot of Mum鈥檚 friends are a bit jealous that we get on so well and a lot of my friends are jealous of how close me and Mum are. I tell my Mum things that my friends would not even dream of telling their Mum or I can call my Mum in any situation.
Sharon: I think we rely on each other. Also, I know when I talk to Brydie it鈥檚 a safe environment.
What鈥檚 the most unusual thing you鈥檝e brought with you?
Brydie: We鈥檝e packed a shawl which we would never normally pack. We鈥檝e got matching sandals, that I would never go for. Actually, Mum probably would.
Sharon: The reason we got these, we thought we can wear them in water and they鈥檙e comfy. They鈥檙e the Velcro types.
Is there one thing you're going to miss from home?
Sharon: A cup of tea
Brydie: Oh I don鈥檛 know. I鈥檓 probably going to say sweets, I鈥檓 a sweet lover. But Mum drinks tea like it's water. So, I think tea for Mum.
What other skills do you think you鈥檒l bring to the race?
Brydie: We鈥檙e a very adventurous family.
Sharon: I just think we鈥檙e up for it. And I think you鈥檝e got to give anything and everything a go, even if you don鈥檛 like it, you just don鈥檛 do it again.
Brydie: You鈥檙e not a big fan of fish so that will be your downfall.
Sharon: What I'm going to do, if I鈥檝e got to eat it, I鈥檓 just going to swallow, not take the flavour in, get the protein. Yes, I think I鈥檒l struggle like you said with the fish food but travel wise I think we just want to see the World.
And in terms of the jobs are you happy to do anything?
Sharon: I鈥檓 a cleaner at home so I鈥檝e got to put my hands down toilets anyhow so, if it鈥檚 in Japan or at home it doesn鈥檛 make a difference does it, so I鈥檓 quite happy with that. We鈥檙e not fussed are we?
I want to say, and this sounds like I鈥檓 bigging us up, but I want to say we鈥檙e really easy. We just fit in, if we went round someone鈥檚 house and they gave me some sushi, I鈥檇 never be rude, I鈥檇 make out that it鈥檚 the best meal I've ever had.
Brydie: I think job wise, we can do any job, we鈥檒l be fine. I think I鈥檒l take a bigger role than Mum, I think right now in our day to day lives Mum takes the lead and does everything but I think we鈥檒l swap roles.
Mum has no sense of direction at all. But since she鈥檚 taught me everything now I鈥檓 giving it back so we can have this experience together.
Stephen and Viv
Stephen (61, Retired) and Viv (65, Retired) from Rutland are a retired couple on a quest to prove that wisdom, perspective and maturity is the winning formula. With a newfound zest for life, and in pursuit of a thrilling adventure, they are grabbing hold of life with both hands.
Why did you want to take part in the series?
Stephen: Just the sense of adventure and the fun, just the opportunity. We鈥檇 watched the series on TV, and we just thought we wanted to have a go.
Have you got a strategy going into the race?
Viv: No, we鈥檝e talked about it, but I don鈥檛 think we have. I think we鈥檒l just do our best.
Stephen: Yes, I think we鈥檝e just got to do what we can, as fast as we can, as cheap as we can We鈥檝e talked about it and we can鈥檛 make any plans till we know how we鈥檙e going to get going or anything else. I think there are strengths that we bring and there are weaknesses that we have so add that all together and it becomes a strategy I suppose.
Viv: One strategy we could do is that whoever of the other couples look like they know where they鈥檙e going or what they're doing, we鈥檒l run after them!
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Viv: It鈥檚 easier to list weaknesses.
Stephen: Obviously our age, but in a lot of ways we think that might be a strength as well, we鈥檙e sort of perhaps less imposing then some of the youngsters, less threatening than perhaps some of the youngsters might be by approaching strangers, we鈥檙e not a threat to anybody. But, certainly, it鈥檚 literally the same thing as a weakness, we鈥檙e not going to beat anyone in a footrace that鈥檚 for sure. But we鈥檙e hoping perhaps our experience, life experience, our maturity might give us a perspective that perhaps other people don鈥檛 see. It鈥檚 guess work because until you鈥檙e there you just don鈥檛 know what cards you鈥檙e going to be dealt, it鈥檚 just no idea.
Viv: I think we鈥檙e quite impulsive, I don鈥檛 know whether that鈥檚 going to be a strength or a weakness, I think it could be a bit of both.
Have you picked up any tips from previous series?
Viv: We鈥檝e watched the series three or four times over and yes, I think there鈥檚 lots of tips you can say. I think you both have to trust each other, you both have to listen. Different opinions will happen, I think you鈥檝e got to give a reason behind your opinion and I think we just have to listen to each other and go along with what the consensus of opinion is.
Stephen: I think talking to other people is going to be, or always seems to be a strength in the other series, certainly. So, people can listen to strangers, listen to friends and that gives them ideas that perhaps we wouldn鈥檛 have thought of ourselves, that鈥檚 all.
How have you prepared for the trip?
Viv: When we got our rucksacks, we started going for walks with them and we started just wearing them as much as we could actually. I鈥檝e never possessed a rucksack.
Stephen: We鈥檝e been gardening in them basically. We borrowed my daughter鈥檚 rucksack and then stuffed it full of towels and we were wearing it round the house to see how we got on with it, that was sort of maximum preparation. We tried to get a little bit fitter but the reality is we鈥檙e lazy like everyone else, I guess. It鈥檚 all very well in your mind, saying 鈥淚鈥檓 going to do this鈥� but it doesn鈥檛 quite work out like that does it? We鈥檝e also tried to be very careful with what we packed.
Viv: We realised it was going to be heavy walking around with the backpacks so we laid out on the bed everything we thought we鈥檇 need, tried to get it all in and it wouldn鈥檛 fit. Then we decided we鈥檇 have to eliminate stuff so we eliminated stuff on the basis of weight. We had scales and we weighed everything.
Stephen: We鈥檝e weighed literally everything.
Viv: And it鈥檚 just amazing, the difference that one top from another top. We ended up going out shopping, didn鈥檛 we?
Stephen: It got down to the point where we were weighing each individual pair of knickers or each pair of underpants to see which style is lighter. Cutting labels out of things. We recognise that because we鈥檙e on the mature side, we鈥檙e not going to be hunky, fit and athletic so we want to reduce whatever we can have an input into and try and make it work to our benefit. So, we鈥檝e literally weighed everything in our rucksacks, and tried to cut things out, and I have literally cut the labels out of all my clothes, just to try and get that extra gram, and it sounds really pathetic but yes, the thought of running with a great big turtle on my back is not appealing I have to say.
Would you say that you鈥檙e quite adventurous?
Stephen: Oh, I would say so. I think we鈥檒l have a go at most things.
Viv: Yes, I think we鈥檙e a bit gung-ho and we don鈥檛 sort of sit back and think 鈥渘o, I don鈥檛 think we can do that.鈥�
Stephen: We鈥檙e not really passive people I don鈥檛 think, we鈥檙e quite: get up and do something. And we have an active lifestyle, I keep saying we鈥檙e not fit people, but I think we鈥檙e active people. We like sports, we play tennis, we go bowling every week.
We have a ballroom dancing class every Thursday evening and we have a group of friends that we dance with and it鈥檚 just become quite a big part of the week.
Viv: In addition I do line dancing and I do a fit steps class, which is like ballroom on your own.
Stephen: We also garden. I鈥檓 not the keen gardener though, definitely all the gardening is Viv, I can鈥檛 deal with worms and snails and bugs and spiders. I have a very capable guide here who鈥檚 going to help me on this trip with all that.
Viv: He doesn鈥檛 like dirty fingers either.
Stephen: No, no. So Viv鈥檚 the gardener. I walk around and guide, have input, I call it management, this is what we do. We just do a variety of things and we like keeping busy and definitely we鈥檒l have a go at anything. We鈥檇 rather have a go and fail then not have a go in the first place.
What kind of travellers are you? Do you like your creature comforts, five-star hotels?
Stephen: We think that we don鈥檛 consider ourselves well-travelled but we鈥檙e well holidayed if you know what I mean. We both retired a bit early for health reasons, not least of all, but our life has changed since then and yes, we quite enjoy our holidays.
Viv: Our first holiday we camped. That didn鈥檛 go at all well, we came back the next day, it just wasn鈥檛 good.
Stephen: That was one of our basic rules, we鈥檙e not camping. I鈥檇 say historically the things we wanted, I wanted to be adventurous, climb mountains and race and fly and do all these things and Viv said basic conditions are hot running water, sit down toilet and a hairdryer.
We spent the first 10 years of our life carrying our own pillow with us on holidays, we鈥檇 have two suitcases, one with the pillows in and one with the clothes in, we鈥檝e got out of that eventually but yes, we do rather like to be looked after so we will see.
Viv: Not 5-star travel but we certainly do like to know where our bed is and where we can have a bath, so yes this is going to be out of our comfort zone.
How competitive are you both? Are you in it to win it?
Viv: We are competitive. We are.
Stephen: We wouldn鈥檛 be here if we didn鈥檛 want to win it. But it doesn鈥檛 matter either, we鈥檝e seen the show, the success the failures and the taking part. We want to finish, to finish is important to us, we鈥檇 just be embarrassed to go home early, the kids would never live it down, it would just be awful, they鈥檇 just mock us mercilessly. Yes, of course we want to win, who wouldn鈥檛. We鈥檒l just do everything we can, within the rules, to make that happen.
What do the rest of your family make of you two doing this trip together?
Stephen: They鈥檙e excited, they鈥檙e with us.
Viv: I think they鈥檙e also a bit proud actually, I think they鈥檙e a little bit proud that we鈥檝e actually made it this far, I think they鈥檝e been amazed that somebody chose us.
What are you imagining your biggest challenges might be during the trip?
Viv: I think being tired, being hungry, not knowing where we鈥檙e going to sleep that night, it鈥檚 just the unknown
Stephen: I think tiredness and food and drink.
Would you say you cope well during a crisis? Are you calm under pressure?
Stephen: I think so, I think being a little bit older actually helps a lot because you鈥檝e seen so many different things and things do work out generally in the end. We鈥檙e ok, we鈥檙e quite methodical. I don鈥檛 think we panic under pressure
Viv: Yes, I think we do what needs to be done, don鈥檛 we? We don鈥檛 panic, we don鈥檛 run around like headless chickens.
How do you feel about travelling without a mobile phone or credit cards?
Viv: I think Stephen is going to struggle most with this one as he鈥檚 in regular contact with his children, because he鈥檚 got so many I suppose. He works with two of them on a daily basis as well.
Stephen: Yes, we鈥檙e always chatting.
Viv: He鈥檚 also constantly on his phone, he'll think of something like 鈥渉ow many airports are in the world鈥� and goes 鈥渙h, I know I鈥檒l google that鈥�, whatever thought crosses his mind he鈥檒l be googling it. He鈥檒l want to find out what the answer is.
Stephen: Well, this is what we were talking about, it鈥檚 silly things. But yes, the phone I suppose, and the money makes you independent. I think not having access to our own funds or having limited funds is going to be challenging. I think those are going to be some of the challenges definitely. I鈥檒l miss the iPad.
How do you think you鈥檒l do with the budgeting?
Stephen: We talked about this, I think we鈥檒l be ok.
Viv: I think we鈥檒l be ok, we both spend money when necessary but we both like to feel we鈥檝e got a value for money, we like to feel that we鈥檝e got a bargain and if something is frivolous and costs a lot of money I think we鈥檒l hesitate before we just do it or spend the money on it and I think we are used to budgeting, we鈥檝e both been quite poor.
Stephen: We started off poor, we started off with literally nothing, so we know how to budget.
Viv: We know the value of money, we know the worth of it and how much time it鈥檚 taken for you to actually get the money. So, to have a restricted budget we鈥檒l cope quite well.
Stephen: Who knows though, we don鈥檛 know how expensive things are so we鈥檙e going to have to wait and see. But at the moment we鈥檙e feeling comfortably sensible with it, let's put it that way. If it's doable, I think we鈥檒l do it but there are caveats on that and we just don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going to happen. Someone might lose for instance her makeup and we might need to buy something that we haven't budgeted for.
Have you packed anything for this trip that you just can鈥檛 live without?
Viv: Yes, I have this tiny little makeup bag. Funnily enough I didn鈥檛 weigh my makeup because for me that鈥檚 an essential.
Stephen: We think we鈥檝e been quite sensible with what we鈥檝e packed, both bags come out at just over 12kg. I haven鈥檛 brought anything frivolous. I hope not, if so we should have spotted it. We also didn鈥檛 bring anything sentimental, so we don鈥檛 get too emotionally involved. We鈥檙e going to be strong about it as it reminds you more of what you鈥檙e missing.
Is there one thing you're going to miss from home?
Viv: The cat, or coffee.
Stephen: With the food unknown my reaction historically has been brown sauce. But when you know there's a finite time to what you鈥檙e doing you can cope with anything. We鈥檙e here for two months, we can do that.
Viv: I guess we don鈥檛 know we could be total wusses, but we鈥檒l miss friends. I see my friends regularly, we go for lunch, we鈥檒l miss dancing with our friends, we鈥檒l miss the cat 鈥� have I mentioned the cat? I鈥檒l miss the garden.
What made you travel with the person that you're travelling with?
Viv: I鈥檝e always said from the off that I would not dream of doing this with anyone else. Stephen on the other hand says-
Stephen: Well, I鈥檇 do it with anybody. I鈥檇 do a lot of things with anybody. My first choice of person would be to do it with Viv, I think on this occasion we were watching the series on TV and the advert came up and says do you want to join in? And we literally just looked at each other and went 鈥済o on, shall we.鈥� It was a mutual instant, 鈥渁h we could do that鈥� so there wasn鈥檛 a debate about who to have with us.
Viv: I think at the time of our lives as well, it would be difficult for one of the children for example to give up 8 weeks of their job. For us, we鈥檙e kind of footloose and fancy free so we thought it would be a huge adventure and at a good time in our lives to do it. If we didn鈥檛 do it now, I don鈥檛 think we ever would
What other skills do you think you鈥檒l bring to the race?
Viv: We鈥檙e both quite capable and we鈥檙e 鈥渉ave a go鈥� type people. If something round the house needs doing, we can tile, we can paint, we鈥檙e not people that say let鈥檚 get someone in to do it for us, we鈥檒l try it ourselves first. We are quite prepared to get our hands dirty, as long as it doesn鈥檛 go under your fingernails, roll up our sleeves and have a go.
Stephen: Yes, we like doing things, we are doers, historically we鈥檒l always have a go.
How do you feel about being in Japan?
Stephen: We鈥檙e a bit worried about the language because it鈥檚 not as if you can recognise any character or a single word.
Viv: I think we鈥檝e got to learn the value of mime.
Stephen: We鈥檒l have to learn to use chopsticks too!
How do you feel about potentially racing through Japan?
Stephen: It鈥檚 going to be a dream, it really is.
Viv: Our understanding of Japan, not that we鈥檝e looked into it, but is that it's beautiful. There鈥檚 a series of islands, we love water, we love scenery. They鈥檙e also a very mild-mannered and quiet nation, very respectful. Also, especially as we鈥檙e older people, they do respect their elders.
Stephen: We saw that on the news recently that Japan is a population of oldies so we鈥檙e either going to be swallowed in with everybody or they鈥檒l be treating us nicely because we鈥檙e old!
Viv: We鈥檙e hoping that it鈥檚 just going to be amazing scenery, absolutely beautiful, and that the culture will be just an eye opener, it鈥檚 totally different to what we鈥檝e seen. Absolutely, just in the culture, the habits and the toilets - they鈥檙e absolutely amazing!
Stephen: The toilets are brilliant! It鈥檚 an experience I鈥檝e never had before I鈥檒l tell you!