This month our two speakers are:

• Russell Maddicks — Exploring Venezuela: A Land of Natural
  Wonders

  Russell Maddicks, the author of the Bradt Guide to Venezuela will
  highlight some of the most fascinating areas of Venezuela to visit
  and what you can expect to see and do. Drawing on his experience of
  adventuring in Venezuela for more than 20 years, the Russell will
  take you to:

  • The “Lost World” mountain of Roraima and the unique
    ecosystem of its summit
  • The unique thunderless lightning phenomenon in the south of Lake
    Maracaibo known as Catatumbo Lightning
  • The magical mountain of Sorte where devotees of Maria Lionza
    practice a syncretic religion unique to the country
  • The record-breaking and awe-inspiring waterfall of Angel Falls,
    known as Kerepacupai-meru to the local Pemon people.

  One of the 17 most megadiverse countries in the world, Venezuela is
  home to Caribbean beaches, dense rainforests, high Andean valleys,
  mysterious table-top tepui mountains, and seasonally-flooded plains
  that are literally teeming with birds, beasts and creepy-crawlies.

  Venezuela is also alive with the sound of folk music, from the
  Afro-Venezuelan tambores of the coast, to the harp-driven Joropo
  songs of Los Llanos and during his talk Russell will present several
  examples of the music to be found in the regions he discusses.

  For more information see:

  • http://venezuelanodyssey.blogspot.com/
  • http://www.bradtguides.com/Book/225/Venezuela.html

   

• Rona Cant — Just do it – become the best you can
  be!

  Once an unexceptional, single parent she took part in the BT Global
  Challenge Round the World Yacht Race (the toughest yacht race in the
  world); two days later she embarked on the West Coast Trail on
  Vancouver Island (one of the world’s toughest), encountering
  bears and cougars. Rona helped organise and was on The Nordkapp
  Expedition, dogsledding in the Arctic Circle to the northernmost tip
  of Europe, a trail thought to be impossible.

  Rona tells how she has achieved her goals using stories from her
  childhood, her marriage, how she entered into a life of adventure,
  her diverse adventures and what she has accomplished.

  For more information see: http://www.ronacant.com

London branch meetings are held at The Church of Scotland, Crown
Court, behind the Fortune Theatre in Covent Garden at 2.30pm the first
Saturday of each month, unless there is a UK public holiday that
weekend.

There is no London meeting in August, but we start afresh each
September.