Asian Ketchup

Tuesday’s Travel Rant: Asian Ketchup

As you guys know I love Asia, and I love my new ‘home’ Thailand – probably even more than my ‘old home’ Ireland, but nowhere is perfect. And although Thailand comes close, they’ve committed a cardinal sin and I’m not happy… So here you are,...

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sweating when you travel

Tuesday Travel Rants: Sweating it Up

I remember being a little kid, watching movies of dudes out jogging, sweat patches on their back and under their arms, and I sat there thinking that’s pretty cool. It was manly, powerful, a show of strength. Wrong. Now I wish those patches...

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broken flip flop

Tuesday’s Travel Rant: Flip-flops breaking

As you guys know, I’m pretty much always on the road but that doesn’t mean I should have to buy new sandals every other week. Admittedly, 90% of the time I’m wearing my flipflops so they do go through a little bit of a battering, however su...

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trans siberian cabin

Tuesday’s Travel Rant: Late Trains and Buses

Pulling into Bangkok HuaLampong train station, on a night sleeper from Chiang Mai, 4 hours late for the third consecutive time – I finally had had enough, travel rant time. What I don’t get is why trains across the ‘developing world’ (I hat...

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Follow me on Instagram @onestep4ward

The biggest adventure of my life to date… Rowin

The biggest adventure of my life to date…

Rowing the Atlantic was scary, Everest was scarier, but this is the scariest yet 😱😍

Growing up, and even more so as an adult now, I appreciate the strong women in my life so so much. My wife, my sister and especially my mum who had 2 kids a year apart and next to no support. With that, I grew from a boy to man. Yet with no male figures around, and it’s not easy for a kid. And trickier still for a boy.

I have never felt so determined in my life to give my everything to something or someone. And I promise you son, I’ll be with you every step of the way. From your first fall, to your first steps. First dates, first shaves, first failures and hopefully first successes. We’ll make mistakes for sure, but we’ll always be there to fix them right after. Your mum and I will be with you for better or worse from here on out.

We love you already Aidan ❤️🫶☘️🇹🇭

2025 TRIPS ARE ALL CONFIRMED!! Long post incoming,

Eagle festival, western Mongolia ❤️🇲🇳 G

Eagle festival, western Mongolia ❤️🇲🇳

GUTTED! My @muditaadventures team flew to Mongolia to install functioning toilets and running water for a community outside Ulan Batar 2 weeks ago. Then flew to rural Mongolia to watch one of the most epic festivals in the world - the Eagle Festival! Here’s some pics of them adventuring. What an experience. Sleeping in yurts/gers, drinking bootleg booze and witnessing these nomadic tribes battle it out in their respective disciplines. Unreal.

I was supposed to be there toooooo. But had some personal family stuff I had to attend to in Thailand that took priority. Delighted the project was finished and brilliant to watch from a far.

BUT…. I’m a guy with SERIOUS FOMO! And for that reason alone, we’re gonna organise it again next year, this time with my attendance! 😂

Reflecting on growing up in NI, one month on since

Reflecting on growing up in NI, one month on since my trip home. 💭

The thing that means the most to me? The unbelievable support Northern Irish people give each other. I’ve felt it from my hometown and country throughout my journey. There’s no ‘tall poppy syndrome’ in Norn Iron. It’s all love – and I’m so grateful for it.

That’s the amazing thing about @northernirishconnections . They’re harnessing all the positive things about NI for people with ties and connections to the place. GIVE THEM A FOLLOW if you share any of those ties and connections. A brilliant initiative. I can’t wait to come back. #ad

The EYE OF THE SAHARA ULTRAMARATHON is happening..

The EYE OF THE SAHARA ULTRAMARATHON is happening.... and you should take this as a sign to do something legendary in your life!

ALL THE INFO: Eyeofthesaharaultramarathon.com/

WHAT IS IT?
It’s a 100 mile/160km footrace from the Eye of the Sahara (the only spot on the Sahara you can see from space, they say the lost city of Atlantis is under it!) to the ancient Islamic city of Chinguetti.

It’s the only desert marathon on the planet that goes in a straight line. As the crow flies. Which means it’s mostly through brutal soft sand.

Everything else (water, tents, transport) etc is taken care of by me.

WHY?
Throughout all the adventures I undertook in my life, from Everest to marathons at the Poles, I learned 2 things:

1) That it’s only through suffering where you get to know yourself. And ‘short’ marathons in a few hours don’t teach you the important lessons. It has be hard. And painful. And dark. And then you come out the other side.

2) That the difference between someone doing something legendary has nothing to do with this “built-different” nonsense. It’s just about making a choice, being accountable and committing to it. I’m the most average ‘athlete’ ever and I’ve done some amazing things. Simply because I chose too.

I want other normal people to make that choice. To come and suffer through the beauty of events like this, and then to love themselves more for the rest of their life on the other side of it. It’s honestly that transformative.

WHEN?
The first edition is this December in Mauritania. And then it’ll be every year from then on.
There are 8 of us doing the first edition. I haven’t hard launched it until now, because I have no idea what I’m doing. But if you really wanna join the inaugural event, then DM me.
Otherwise, sign up for next year and come and suffer with me in 2025.

It’s my dream to run the same 4 events yearly that help people see what they are capable of. The next in the pipeline is a 300km cycle to the the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan, so watch this space.

It’s been 2 years in the planning, and I’m so excited to go and suffer with some people in the Sahara this December.

Let’s gooooooo team!

Just got back from my OneStep4Ward group trip in T

Just got back from my OneStep4Ward group trip in Turkmenistan. What an epic week.

Turkmenistan is one of the least visited countries in the world. Tricky to get into (that’s where I come in!) but super safe. It’s also home to the GATES OF HELL! And… bad news folks - they’re closing!

Im going to be announcing dates for 2025 for next years Turkmenistan trips asap, and if it was ever in your bucket list, act quickly. They have a team of engineers on the ground activity trying to shut it down as we speak 😮

The last week though? So so so much fun. God I love group travel. Epic old friends and epic new ones. Can’t wait for the next trip. December to mauritania ❤️🇹🇲

I grew up in Northern Ireland, but I left at 18, n

I grew up in Northern Ireland, but I left at 18, never to live there again. The older I get the more I appreciate what I left behind. What a spot.

Hopefully this will jog a few memories for any fellow Northern Irish diaspora out there.

It was unreal going home to reconnect with Norn Iron. If you have any ties with NI, be sure to check out @northernirishconnections . An amazing initiative to connect people and help the community. Until the next time hi. #ad

We did it! We finished mum's house in Thailand and

We did it! We finished mum's house in Thailand and she moved in yesterday!

If you want to see a tour, and my mum's reaction to seeing it (and yes.... how much it cost too, don't worry!) then check o🥰ut our video 🙂

Love you mum, you deserve the world. Cheers to many happy years in your new house xx

And thank you for supporting me through this crazy life when most parents would have said "don't you think it's time for a real job".

You do so much for so many people and it's time to take a rest, kick back and pour yourself a gin and tonic.

PS I'll start dropping my dirty laundry over on tuesday afternoons 😛

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