Profiles
Introducing Kip and Carmen.
Email us @ kipcarwaistell@hotmail.com
Kip, 61, is a retired solicitor, and Carmen, 60, hails from Switzerland.
For many years they have travelled extensively, but it was only in 2005 that they decided to have their first real adventure.
Two 125cc scooters were flown out to Almaty in Kazakstan, and Kip and Carmen then drove a total of 8,000 miles back to the UK, passing over mountains and deserts along the old silk route and 14 countries before reaching home.
The adventure was nearly terminated on day three when Carmen drove into an open manhole at midnight during a torrential thunderstorm, and cartwheeled off her scooter, only to pick up herself, and the scooter, totally undamaged. More pleasant memories
included many invitations to stay with locals, and dancing with dervishes in Istanbul.
Plans for the current trip were started back in 2002,but represent a 25 year ambition for this couple. with a further bagpiping venue to be added to Balaclava (no P's in the Crimea!), Paris, Petra, Philae, Pushkar and Pagan, namely Peking.
Introducing Annabel Jones.
Annabel grew up around vintage cars and, having started to compete in her teens, has won awards at all disciplines from circuit racing to trialling. A lifelong member of the VSCC she learnt to drive in an Austin Chummy, graduating to Frazer Nashes and Vauxhall 30-98s, and is the only woman to have won the Vintage Sports Car Club’s premier annual aggregate ward; the Lycett Memorial Trophy.
Annabel caught the bug for independent travel at an early age; prolonging her education via Oxford and Harvard to maximise the opportunities for adventure – trekking in Madagascar, climbing Kilimanjaro, being one of the first westerners to cross the Khungerab Pass from Western China into Pakistan, walking the Inca trail and diving around the Galapagos, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Mexico.
Navigation is Annabel’s first love, and she has won the VSCC’s annual navigation championship eight times as well as competing successfully in many UK and European rallies.
Professionally, Annabel was a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Co for six years, followed by various M&A and strategy roles within industry. For this adventure Annabel is taking a sabbatical from Carfax, the family’s printing business, her duties as a VSCC Director and property development/management.