You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin from News TALKSEDB So, I want.

You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin from News TALKSEDB So, I want.

To introduce you to a Kivy man who is on a worldwide letter delivery mission. His name is Johnny Bedmore aka the Galapagis Postman. So in March this year, Johnny collected fifty letters from an ancient postbox in the Galapagus Islands, left there by travelers in the hope that one day they would be delivered. Johnny is now traveling the world delivering the letters to their intended recipients. His mission is to raise awareness and funds for motor neuron disease, both here and in the UK, and he is currently in New Zealand and Johnny joins me, now, good morning.

To introduce you to a Kivy man who is on a worldwide letter delivery mission. His name is Johnny Bedmore aka the Galapagis Postman. So in March this year, Johnny collected fifty letters from an ancient postbox in the Galapagus Islands, left there by travelers in the hope that one day they would be delivered. Johnny is now traveling the world delivering the letters to their intended recipients. His mission is to raise awareness and funds for motor neuron disease, both here and in the UK, and he is currently in New Zealand and Johnny joins me, now, good morning.

Good morning, Francesca. How are you.

Good morning, Francesca. How are you.

I'm very good? Thank you. Where in New Zealand are you at the moment?

I'm very good? Thank you. Where in New Zealand are you at the moment?

I am in sunny Taradale, looking out over the town at the moment, at a friend's place. It's a lovely place to be at the time.

I am in sunny Taradale, looking out over the town at the moment, at a friend's place. It's a lovely place to be at the time.

Yere wonderful. Tell me what letter number are you on?

Yere wonderful. Tell me what letter number are you on?

I have delivered forty five letters, letter forty six. Well, it was actually forty one in Japan. I'm hoping it is going to be delivered today by my I had to leave it there because I didn't have the full address. It's the one postcard that I wasn't able to go to the address so far on this journey, and I'm we've tracked it down and hopefully it'll get delivered today.

I have delivered forty five letters, letter forty six. Well, it was actually forty one in Japan. I'm hoping it is going to be delivered today by my I had to leave it there because I didn't have the full address. It's the one postcard that I wasn't able to go to the address so far on this journey, and I'm we've tracked it down and hopefully it'll get delivered today.

How did this mission of yours come about?

How did this mission of yours come about?

I was in the Galapicus Islands in January of twenty twenty three and I found out about the post box. And I was at that stage I was looking for a new adventure. My father, who had mode a neuron for eight years, had passed away in October of twenty two, and so that gave me the space to be able to go off into the world and do a grand adventure. And I always knew that he was the inspiration, and I wanted to do something in his name. Johnny.

I was in the Galapicus Islands in January of twenty twenty three and I found out about the post box. And I was at that stage I was looking for a new adventure. My father, who had mode a neuron for eight years, had passed away in October of twenty two, and so that gave me the space to be able to go off into the world and do a grand adventure. And I always knew that he was the inspiration, and I wanted to do something in his name. Johnny.

What island was this post box? On?

What island was this post box? On?

Is Floriana in the Galapicus Islands. It's one of the multitude of islands. There lots of people sail around the eye and this is now one of the tourist stops where you it's just a bay. There's a beach. There's nobody there. It's just got a whiskey barrel and people stop and put their postcards.

Is Floriana in the Galapicus Islands. It's one of the multitude of islands. There lots of people sail around the eye and this is now one of the tourist stops where you it's just a bay. There's a beach. There's nobody there. It's just got a whiskey barrel and people stop and put their postcards.

And so I'm having a moment, Johnny, because this year I read this brilliant book by a woman called Abbott Kaylor called Eden Undone. It's set in the nineteen thirties and it tells the story of a German doctor and his wife came out to an island, and then an airess and her two lovers, and then there was another couple, and then there was They all mysteriously disappeared, and it talks about this mail box and how they'd leave mail there and passing ships would pick them up and take them to mainland and maybe a couple of months later, is that the same letterbox?

And so I'm having a moment, Johnny, because this year I read this brilliant book by a woman called Abbott Kaylor called Eden Undone. It's set in the nineteen thirties and it tells the story of a German doctor and his wife came out to an island, and then an airess and her two lovers, and then there was another couple, and then there was They all mysteriously disappeared, and it talks about this mail box and how they'd leave mail there and passing ships would pick them up and take them to mainland and maybe a couple of months later, is that the same letterbox?

Absolutely, I walked it is so cool. I walked past the actual building where they lived. The story gets told as part of the tour when you're there about the you know, the mysterious relationships and people disappearing and the what's left of the stone building that we're living is still there.

Absolutely, I walked it is so cool. I walked past the actual building where they lived. The story gets told as part of the tour when you're there about the you know, the mysterious relationships and people disappearing and the what's left of the stone building that we're living is still there.

Because, Johnny, it's quite a romantic story about how you know you're living in the middle of nowhere and you leave letters in a letter box and you hope that they will be delivered. So what has the reaction been like when you've delivered these letters?

Because, Johnny, it's quite a romantic story about how you know you're living in the middle of nowhere and you leave letters in a letter box and you hope that they will be delivered. So what has the reaction been like when you've delivered these letters?

Ah, fantastic. Really, you know, there's never really been anything bad happened, no negativity. There's just you know, uncertainty, you know what's going on where, you know where, what exactly is this? And then you show them and that you explain what are you doing. And because the letter itself has come from somebody they know or a family member, that really is a golden ticket to them just opening up and sharing their own personal stories, which has been amazing. Ah.

Ah, fantastic. Really, you know, there's never really been anything bad happened, no negativity. There's just you know, uncertainty, you know what's going on where, you know where, what exactly is this? And then you show them and that you explain what are you doing. And because the letter itself has come from somebody they know or a family member, that really is a golden ticket to them just opening up and sharing their own personal stories, which has been amazing. Ah.

Look, now there is a special inspiration behind your travels. You mentioned your father before. You're raising awareness and money for most you're on charities. Tell me a little bit more about how your dad inspired what you're doing.

Look, now there is a special inspiration behind your travels. You mentioned your father before. You're raising awareness and money for most you're on charities. Tell me a little bit more about how your dad inspired what you're doing.

Well, he was just a generally, you know, good bloke. You know, he was out there doing stuff. He traveled around the world, and that's what sort of you know, inspired me to go out and explore the world. And you know he obviously he had mode and new we're in for eight years and he all the way through that he kept his humor. And you know, the people that have made in your own that you know, their ability to speak goes, their mobility goes, and they're all key factors and traits of somebody like me traveling the world needs and all the way through that time, he never lost his humor because the person that has out MMD is still the same person inside and their brain is still one hundred percent. So it's quite a cruel disease, but you know they all face this often with great humility and great humor.

Well, he was just a generally, you know, good bloke. You know, he was out there doing stuff. He traveled around the world, and that's what sort of you know, inspired me to go out and explore the world. And you know he obviously he had mode and new we're in for eight years and he all the way through that he kept his humor. And you know, the people that have made in your own that you know, their ability to speak goes, their mobility goes, and they're all key factors and traits of somebody like me traveling the world needs and all the way through that time, he never lost his humor because the person that has out MMD is still the same person inside and their brain is still one hundred percent. So it's quite a cruel disease, but you know they all face this often with great humility and great humor.

How old are some of the letters and postcards that you're delivering?

How old are some of the letters and postcards that you're delivering?

The oldest one I have is was we had delivered was fourteen months and that was ta Quito and Ecuador. Nobody there's no Ecuadorians going to the island on tour to take a letter. So it sat there for quite a while. But most of it isn't within one to two months. The turnover of the letters is very high. People come in every day put letters in and they take a few with them, and so they don't stay there very long.

The oldest one I have is was we had delivered was fourteen months and that was ta Quito and Ecuador. Nobody there's no Ecuadorians going to the island on tour to take a letter. So it sat there for quite a while. But most of it isn't within one to two months. The turnover of the letters is very high. People come in every day put letters in and they take a few with them, and so they don't stay there very long.

So where are you off to next?

So where are you off to next?

Joe Berg? For New Years? I've got a letter to deliver there. Then I'm up through Africa. I've got a couple more in Morocco, and then I've got a big finish in February around Europe before I finish in London on the first of March, which is one year from when I started on the first of March this year.

Joe Berg? For New Years? I've got a letter to deliver there. Then I'm up through Africa. I've got a couple more in Morocco, and then I've got a big finish in February around Europe before I finish in London on the first of March, which is one year from when I started on the first of March this year.

And do you have any idea what you're going to do then, Johnny, I'm going to have a nap because it sounds like an amazing adventure. But I do imagine it has been. It's been quite challenging at times.

And do you have any idea what you're going to do then, Johnny, I'm going to have a nap because it sounds like an amazing adventure. But I do imagine it has been. It's been quite challenging at times.

Oh absolutely. I mean I didn't know where I was going till day one, so I've been doing all the logistics right from you know, I still haven't figured out what I'm doing exactly in Africa, and I'm there in two weeks.

Oh absolutely. I mean I didn't know where I was going till day one, so I've been doing all the logistics right from you know, I still haven't figured out what I'm doing exactly in Africa, and I'm there in two weeks.

Do you know? The other thing I love about this story is how great is it to receive a letter in the mail that isn't a bill? These days? I mean, I hardly get anything in my letter box anymore except a postcard from Jack Tame. He's a Christmas card from Jack Tame. He's the most reliable Christmas cards center you see in your life, but you don't receive. So I mean, I love the form, you know. I love letter writing as a form of communication. It's quite special to have something sort of to hold in your hands and things. Do you read any of the postcards?

Do you know? The other thing I love about this story is how great is it to receive a letter in the mail that isn't a bill? These days? I mean, I hardly get anything in my letter box anymore except a postcard from Jack Tame. He's a Christmas card from Jack Tame. He's the most reliable Christmas cards center you see in your life, but you don't receive. So I mean, I love the form, you know. I love letter writing as a form of communication. It's quite special to have something sort of to hold in your hands and things. Do you read any of the postcards?

Yeah, all of them. All of them. Because there's a postcard, you can see it. I mean, they're all characters for me now. So I'm looking at that and I'm reading them before I go to deliver. I'm trying to figure out what the relationship is because people aren't very good at writing this anymore. Some of them don't have names on them, they don't have dates. You can't figure out what's going on. So it makes it a bit mysterious, and there's a bit of detective work going which makes every delivery unique. I think they're all going to be different, they're all going to be the same, and each one has some uniqueness about it that I a you know, it makes it special.

Yeah, all of them. All of them. Because there's a postcard, you can see it. I mean, they're all characters for me now. So I'm looking at that and I'm reading them before I go to deliver. I'm trying to figure out what the relationship is because people aren't very good at writing this anymore. Some of them don't have names on them, they don't have dates. You can't figure out what's going on. So it makes it a bit mysterious, and there's a bit of detective work going which makes every delivery unique. I think they're all going to be different, they're all going to be the same, and each one has some uniqueness about it that I a you know, it makes it special.

Oh, Johnny, thank you so much for your time this morning. Really nice to catch up with you. Best of luck on the rest of the tables. You can follow Johnny's adventures on Instagram at big O Adventures, and from there you can lead to link to his fundraiser for motion you're on and a tracking map to see where he is up to. The fundraising page and tracking link also up on our Facebook page. The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin.

Oh, Johnny, thank you so much for your time this morning. Really nice to catch up with you. Best of luck on the rest of the tables. You can follow Johnny's adventures on Instagram at big O Adventures, and from there you can lead to link to his fundraiser for motion you're on and a tracking map to see where he is up to. The fundraising page and tracking link also up on our Facebook page. The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin.

For more from the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, listen live to news Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio

For more from the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, listen live to news Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio