Dear Beast Crew

Panic, worry, exhilaration, dispair, fear and wonder. Starting to prepare for an expedition to drive around the world is something that provides you with the most unbelievable range of emotions and puts the shits into your parents.

Our journey started in 2003 when one of Alexis's friends nearly died in a work accident. Life suddenly became so important and enjoying it before it all finishes becomes a major goal.

We needed to ensure that we were going to do it. So we bid for a car on ebay but just missed out on the sale. We bought a full ambulance from a military enthusiast and started to prepare the car for a world expedition.... the world was our oyster, we just had to learn some mechanics and get some money. We persuaded Adriano Truscott, Greg's best friend, to join us on our journey around the world. He jumped at the chance.

The money bit was quite easy - with a remortgage of our house we had enough to set us off on our journey, we would work in Australia to try and earn enough for the next leg of our journey to South America.

We spent a year and a half preparing our new baby or as she became known... The Beast. We took out all the army additions and converted it into a travelling machine, capable of taking us anywhere, any place, in hopefully one piece.

We were ready to go by the beginning of September 2004 but some mechanical points but our schedule back to the end of October. A month before we left, Tom Hoole, one of Alexis's work friends decided to join the Beast Crew on their trip to Australia. The Beast Crew was formed... Alexis Keech, Gregory McCann, Adriano Truscott and Tom Hoole.

The Beasts were ready to conquer the world and gobble up the kilometres.

Day of departure: 26th October 2004

Departure location: Leeds, UK