Making Hay

Greetings Trackers. If you've been following our progress on Facebook you'll know we're now well into the swing of things. Issue 2 has been put to bed (albeit having caused enormous technical problems) and issue 3 looms menacingly on the horizon.

It was for issue 3 that Online Editor Laura and myself took to the beautiful town of Hay on Wye for the day, for an upcoming feature about holidays en masse. Known world over as the Town of Books, and now twinned with Timbuktu (yes, that's actually a real place), Hay is literally bursting with things to do, whether books are your bag or not - and they're definitely mine, as you can see on the left. Hey, everyone loves that new book smell.

Other highlights in the day included nomming our way through some delicious ice cream sundaes at Shepheds Ice-cream parlour - the elderflower flavour definitely comes with Laura's seal of approval. Although on a tragic food related note, Hay's renowned fudge shop was closed (right). Devastated was not the word -where else can you get Malteaser and coconut flavour fudge?

We also made friends with Mr Puzzles (below left), gawped at the enormity of a 24,000 piece jigsaw (where would you find the time?), got lost in The Cinema Bookshop, felt tiny next to a 7ft teddy bear, became flummoxed by a stairway to nowhere in The Poetry Bookshop, decided The Sensible Bookshop (below right) was not for us and had the pleasure of listening to an old lady shout 'CHUNKY VEG' five times at the top of her voice in The Hay Cafe. Good times.

As Tracks shows you, great days out are right there waiting for you.

Rachel E x

Features Ed.

Keeping up appearances

Well hello there trackers!

So TRACKS issue 1 has hit the shelves and well, the shelves have hit back hard. It turns out making a magazine isn't so much like cooking a ready meal as slow roasting a fatted pig or maturing a fine goats cheese (most popularly found in Greece - check out TRACKS for Greek travel tips i.e. what mythical beasts to avoid and why men should avoid over-amorous Spartans).

But never fear, TRACKS issue 2 is here. We have spent the last week cutting/pasting/mixing/massaging/patting/poking TRACKS into shape in order to make it the fine cheese we know it can be. And what have we learnt? It's all about branding - what is tracks? what does it represent? Who you (the readers) are and what you want.

The most important part of any brand has to be the logo, so this is where we've started. We want something that's eye-catching, challenging, entertaining, that sums us up and that you'll associate with the boshing, blagging, bunking travel shenanigans our mag is about. Here's a few images we've been playing around with.





Not bad eh? The winner will be revealed when TRACKS issue 2 comes out next wednesday 27th. But we would love to know what you think. Which one flicks your boat, tickles your switch, or floats your fancy? As always, tracks is all about you, the travellers, so if you've got an opinion you can let us know by emailing tracks.online@googlemail.com or commenting here.

Until then, hope you're all having a ruddy wonderful time planning your next adventures.

Au revoir,
Mike Monypenny
xx

Making Tracks...

The Gospel according to Boris (why boris we don't know)

...and on the eigth day God didst think "Now I hath rested, I would loveth to go on a budget adventure somewhere in this new world I have created", but he hath no clue wherefore he shouldst go, "What i needeth is a rucksack sized magazine brimming with tips on where to go, what to take, how to talk, what not to say and who to eat." And God didst make TRACKS magazine, and read it, and it was good...

Yes indeedy, TRACKS magazine is born, and while it might not quite be the word of the Lord (although our editor would like to think so ;P) it is a rather jolly good read if you ask me.

If you're young, free and have got itchy feet (or itchy anything else for that matter) but have about as much cash a penguin without any cash, then TRACKS is for you. We've gone off the beaten track to find fun-filled travel adventures at home and abroad that anyone can afford.

In the first issue: one tracker goes pancake racing in Bucks, while another goes couch-surfing in Liverpool the Capital of Culture (and both have a ruddy good time). Also we give you the low-down on how to make a dream trip to Thailand a reality - whatever your financial situation.

Head online to find podcasts, vodcasts, news, features, behind the scenes footage of our travel shenanigans, and most importantly GET INVOLVED. TRACKS is a magazine by travellers, for travellers, we want to hear your thoughts, see your pictures, have your babies...ahem. Our website is in the pipeline but in the meantime keep checking this blog or head to www.myspace.com/tracks_magazine

Until then, adios amigos
Mike Monypenny
Deputy Online Editor
xx