This month's theme is that of a look behind the scenes and I thought some of you may be interested in the goings on before and after any sort of event, feature or story we put together for you guys. These shots are from a couple of different trips last year but it's strange how it nearly always seems to feel like the same journey just with different destinations.

Each trip starts months in advance when we plan out our calendars for the year. I'm currently working on my 2011 schedule and I'm hoping to bring you some stuff never before seen on Speedhunters. A couple of days before departure I have a pretty set routine of route planning and laying out my itinerary and printing off all the paperwork I'll need once I hit the road.

A passport, driver's license and phone are my three most important and not to forget items before I leave.

My camera case is always packed (although rarely charged or cleaned) and ready to go. It makes it easy having everything in the one case as the chances of forgetting something important are much smaller. This case is actually pretty cool as it meets most airlines carry on sizes, although the weight of it is quite a different matter. Never the less I've managed to come up with a neat couple of tricks to get it on board without being weighed.

My humble VW awaits another weekend of hardship. She may not be the most exotic of vehicles but the affectionately named 'Sudsy' (It's a former dry cleaners van and it took me months to get the damned sign writing off the side) has been a reliable steed for me this last year. She's covered some whopping distances without breaking a sweat and she has never, ever left me down.

The pre-dawn rush to the port to make the boat to Wales nearly always involves getting stuck behind someone doing half the speed limit. Always.

I always find it fascinating just how much they can cram into the car decks and the seemingly infinite amouint of variations they can move the decks around.

We're all gadget freaks here on Speedhunters and Apple's new iPad has been an absolute blessing on these long journeys. The ability to upload a couple of movies or some episodes of your favourite TV show and watch them in comfort has been a great way to pass the time.

Some four hours after departing the port in Ireland, we reach our first stop and the true start of the journey.

This was one of those rare weekends where the sun shined ! Arriving in the small Welsh harbour town of Fishguard, some devious tactics need to be deployed to beat the rest of the traffic off the boat. The roads from Fishguard to the M4 are pretty poor with little to no overtaking opportunities so if you get stuck behind slower traffic you can lose hours !

A nice stretch of dual carraigeway that honestly feels like it goes on for hours. Usually it takes around two to two and a half hours to cross Wales …

… and then cross the Severn bridge before entering England.

I guess no matter where you live in the world, the Police will always find a sneaky spot to catch you out. I'm all for fair enforcement but this sort of speed trap is like shooting fish in a barrell. Where the barrell is wide, well surfaced and very safe.

I usually stop at the services either side of the Severn bridge to stretch my legs and check out any new car magazines in the shops. Spotted this Audi Quattro too which forced me to do an evasive manouver across the car park to grab this snap.

After several hours of power ballads and talking to myself, I'll arrive at my hotel which usually isn't too far from where I need to be the next day. First port of call is to establish a base and get everything on charge and start cleaning equipment. For whatever reason, I always try to stay in the same chain of hotels. I guess I like the idea of knowing what sort of place I'll end up in and the standards of this particular chain suit me quite well.

I bloody hate charging things, the day someone comes up with a self recharging battery will be the day I become a free man.

The next morning usually involves a disgustingly early rise but at this particular event (Autosport infact) a lie in to about 0730 was on the cards as the hotel was just 600m from the front door of the NEC.

Breakfast buffet FTW !

At the hotel for the Autosport show, one of my favourite games was to spot the branding. A hotel full of motorsport people involved a whole lot of team and company branded clothing !

After breakfast involves going to back to my room to collect everything and checking out any new Speedhunters stories that may of popped up over night. At ASI I was trying to keep an eye to Team Need for Speeds progress in the Dubai 24HR.

Wet and cold. That's much more like the Great Britain I know.

The long march to hall 20 where the media centre is located always reminds me just how large the NEC is.

Despite the early start the staff are 9/10 always happy to greet you and get you signed into an event.

The ASI media area was a bit on the small side but since I intended to spend my time marching through the show, I set up shop in the corner on the floor to leave room at the table for someone who would have better use of it.

When an event ends, regardless of what it is or where it happens, the sequence of events is always the same. Race back to make the bloody boat !

It's at this stage of the journey that fatigue can really kick in. Travelling and working non-stop for a couple of days, usually with no company, can make for a physically and mentally tough return drive. Sometimes you've got to admit defeat and pull over and get some ZZZs as it ain't worth it but for others you can push on and make it.

This is the sight that means I've made it, arriving top of the queue before check in for the sailing opens.

These journeys usually begin on a Friday morning and with some luck I'm home by Monday just in time for breakfast and a couple of hours sleep before spending the next two or three days going through photographs and preparing the coverage for you all. What do we do when we have our coverage completed ? Start packing and route planning again because it's time to set sail again in the morning !

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Paddy McGrath