'Twitchhiker' discovers North East's delights

Aug 27 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal

AN INTERNET traveller has been using his social networking connections to have adventures around the North East.

Gateshead-man Paul Smith, dubbed the Twitchhiker, spent five days taking part in a different activity each day which was chosen by his Twitter followers.

Tweeters used the new Adventure Generator interactive online tool on the regional tourism site, www.visitnortheastengland.com/adventure , to choose a mixture of activities they wanted Paul to attempt.

The fruit-machine works by selecting three activities from across the North East at random, creating a diverse and sometimes surprising suggestion.

Each day last week Paul picked one of these nominated combinations and asked his followers to vote for their single favourite activity via his Twitter page, which he would then attempt that day.

Paul said: “The week has been brilliant fun, and people from around the world have not only played a part in determining my adventures, but have explored North East England with me.

“You don’t appreciate how much the region has to offer until you use something like the Adventure Generator. I’ve lived here all my life and it’s certainly opened my eyes.”

More than 17,500 people across the world have been following Paul’s progress as he has conquered a series of outdoor activities voted for by his followers on Twitter.

He started the week by climbing of Roseberry Topping in the Tees Valley and then spent a day bouldering in Durham. He also went bike riding through Kielder Forest in Northumberland, did a zip line through the trees at Matfen Hall and finally “walked on water” in Hartlepool harbour.

He said: “The day at Go Ape at Matfen Hall was the best. I really conquered my fear of heights that day. But I had a great time at all the places and did some things I had never thought of doing before.”

Along the way he tweeted and posted video and audio clips on his Twitter site http://twitter.com/TwitchHiker.

Stacy Hall, director of communications and tourism at One North East, said: “The Twitchhiker Challenge has been a great success, with thousands of people logging on to see how Paul’s been getting on with his fantastic mixture of challenges, and, in doing so, promoting the great events and activities we have on offer in North East England.”

Paul was made famous across the world earlier this year after setting his own personal challenge to see how far he could travel from his home in Low Fell, Gateshead, in 30 days relying on nothing but the goodwill of Twitter followers – all in the name of charity.

He made it all the way to New Zealand.