The truth is I'm not really interested in travel writing as it's generally conceived, and even less so in female travel writing.

The French word for wanderlust or wandering is 'errance.' The etymology is the same as 'error.' So to wander is to make mistakes. In other words, to make mistakes, to make errors is sort of the idea of learning through trial and error, allowing the mistakes to be part of the process.

Life's the adventure. You don't have to drop your bundle and go bush. It's about being brave within the context that you're in.

My own memories are packed tightly away. I very rarely bring them out for viewing.

I talk to our kids now that they are grown up, and I ask them about the experiences that had growing up that really had a powerful influence on the way they view the purpose of life. The experiences that really shaped their values - my wife and I have no memory of those experiences!

I've learned a tremendous amount. I've gained a lot of experience competing at the highest level with the best drivers in the world in F1.

At some point in your life, you'll find yourself in a similar position: Surrounded by people who are smarter, faster, who have more experience and more money - and you'll just have to find a way. And you'll have to do it with passion.

A bad or mediocre meal is more than just an unpleasant taste, it is an unnecessary negation of one of life's pleasures - a wasted chance to refine our palates, learn about the world, and share a rewarding experience.