Which historical stones have captured yourimagination? Do you only wish to test your mettle against the stones? Or do you also wish to visit ancient castles, majestic waterfalls, or volcanoes that still have some life in them yet? And what about the people? Would you like to feel the culture of a people? Would you like to meet farmers whose families have been living off the land for generations, and try to communicate with them in a language that is not your own? How about traveling through a country where you must drive on the opposite side of the road? From getting lost while in search of the stones, to ultimately finding a piece of yourself as you lift them, a stonelifting tour is a real-life adventure that you will remember until the day you die. How can you not be romantic about stonelifting?
The goal of this article is to provide you with astep-by-step way to do a stonelifting tour from start to finish. It’s written from the point of view that your trip will be a stonelifting tour first, and a
sightseeing vacation second.
The Cost and Other Things to Consider
Always shop around for the lowest prices and usereward points when possible.
Flights - Do you have a valid passport?Search for flights into different airports throughout the country as well as
neighboring countries for lower prices or greater convenience. Consider paying more money for a flight that has a more convenient schedule. Compare prices by using different travel websites, as well as different arrival and departure dates/times to ensure the best deal. Buy your flight as far as possible in advance.
Hotel/Motel - Travel websites often offer lower prices than when booking with ahotel/motel directly.
Airbnb/Vrbo - Discounts are sometimes availablewhen booking multiple nights.
Camping - Sleeping in a tent can save a lotof money. Some countries are not only camping friendly, but they also protect tenting, even on private land, by law.
Car Rental - Compare different websites. Somecredit cards include insurance if your car rental is paid for with their credit card. Consider adding mobile wifi to your car rental if possible. Do you need an international driver's license? Are you willing to drive on the opposite side of the road?
Food - Buying food from grocery stores asyou go along can save a lot of money versus eating at restaurants.
Travel Insurance - Some credit cards includetravel insurance if your flight is paid for with their credit card.
The Stones
Which historical stones are calling you? If youalready know which stones you want to visit, your stonelifting adventure has officially begun. Be sure to learn the story of each individual stone that you want to attempt. This knowledge will give you the opportunity to better appreciate your experience, and if you don’t know which stones you want to attempt, the learning process will help you to decide.
Online
Reach out to the people who have gone before you andask them for recommendations. The stonelifting community is a small, but intimate group of people who are usually willing to help. Watch their stonelifting videos for inspiration, and to study their technique as they lift the same stones that you hope to one day attempt yourself.
The Route
It’s now possible to copy and paste numbers and wordsdirectly from a photograph or a screenshot when using a smartphone. Copying coordinates and addresses this way saves time and prevents typos. Input the coordinates of each stone into Google Maps to create a route or you can pay homage to the stonelifters who have gone before you by using a paper map. This route will give you some structure to start with and make planning the rest of the trip much easier.
Consider attempting the most challenging or importantstones early in the trip when you are healthy and fresh. This strategy could allow you to reattempt a failed lift later in the trip.
Consider not attempting any stones on the day youarrive to allow for rest and to get things set up. Do book a room for that first day but consider being spontaneous with booking rooms for the rest of the trip. Things often don’t go as planned, and booking rooms as you go along can offer much more freedom.
Consider the season and its weather. From the northernlights to polar days and nights, to even irritating insects, a lot of things are seasonal. During the colder months, stones can be frozen to the earth, and therefore impossible to lift. Even the Loch Ness Monster herself can be elusive during certain times of the year!
Learn about the cities, towns, villages, and things todo along your route by using the following two websites:
tripadvisor.com - A great overall resourcethat includes reviews by real people.
ricksteves.com - Watch the YouTube videosof where to go and what you can do when you get there.
The Training
The Details
Being prepared can save you from a lot of unnecessary problems. Plan for the worst-case scenarios by creating a new file on your phone specifically for the trip. Take photographs and screenshots of your essential information and store it in this file. Bring handwritten or printed copies as a backup.
What to Bring
Pack lightly. If possible, bring only carry-onluggage.
When There
Learn to say please and thank you in their language.
Take photographs or a video of your rental carodometer and the outside body of the car for already existing damage and email it to the car rental company before you leave the parking lot. Pay close
attention to parking signs because parking tickets can cost you a lot of money. If you are driving on the opposite side of the road, you can practice driving in parking lots until you are comfortable. Keep your gas tank as full as possible because some stone locations are extremely remote.
Buy enough water for the entire trip at your first opportunity. Buy food that won’t spoil to leave in your car to ensure that you always have something to eat.
Natural hot springs, swimming pools, saunas, hot tubs,and cold plunges are quite common and can be used as recovery methods, as well as providing you with something to do.
Take too many photographs. Talk to locals. You may never go back. Remember, travel is getting wonderfully lost!
Lifting Historical Stones
Respect - Remember, you may be on somebody’sprivate property. Always ask for the owner's permission before attempting to lift a stone! Honor the tradition of stonelifting, as well as the stone itself, by being respectful. Do not drop any historical stones because they can break. In fact, some historical stones have already been broken due to being dropped, and now they are gone forever. Lower the stones back to the earth as gently as possible and use a stone drop pad if possible. Use chalk for grip if you choose, but never use tacky on any historical stones.
Safety - If possible, avoid having anyother stones near you while you lift in case you fall. Use warm up bands or
lift other stones to warm up as much as possible. Use your towels to dry off the stones as much as possible before you attempt a lift. Use chalk if needed. In certain conditions, spit rubbed into your hands or having no shirt on can
help you get a better grip on a stone.
Lift - Carpe diem! Lift the stone and feel all of the things!
If possible, weigh the stone and record the weight.Clean up after yourself by returning everything to the way you found it. Before you leave, send yourself a voice message describing the experience in as much detail as you possibly can. Your memory of the moment will inevitably fade, but when it does, you will now be able to play back your message and hear the childlike joy in your voice as you relive this beautiful moment of your life. And if you are truly lucky, someday, somebody will reach out to you to ask the very same questions that you once asked of the stonelifters who went before you.