ALLY Mountain is an inspiration to a generation of aspiring hippies who have never quite got around to that gap year they meant to take in 1979.

This week, the 43-year-old will throw convention and her teaching job to the wind and set off backpacking around South America.

"My emotions are all over the place," she said. "I am elated, terrified, sad. I said goodbye to my brother and niece yesterday and that really brought it home to me that this is real."

For Ally, of Moor Court, Amberley, the year-long trip is the belated fulfilment of a lifetime ambition. "I was saving up to go to India when I was 21, but my mum got cancer and everything changed," she said.

"You grow up and take on responsibilities and I never knew how to extract myself from them.

"It took me a long time to realise that all you have to do is make the decision and not be afraid of not doing what society expects you to."

On Thursday, September 1 she is flying to Buenos Aires for a month of intensive Spanish lessons.

Then she will travel to north west Argentina before cycling over 1,000 kilometres to the city of Cordoba.

In Ushaia - the most southern town in the world - she plans to link up with a Canadian man she met on the internet.

She will spend Christmas in Patagonia, and meet up with some former colleagues in April.

"After that I have got three months and anything might happen," she said.

For the last year, she has undertaken a gruelling training programme of cycling, running and climbing, shedding five stones in the process.

"The reaction has been phenomenal," she said. "You suddenly realise that this is everyone's dream.

"I am leaving some wonderful people behind. I have made some fantastic friends. I want to thank everyone for all their support.

Though her plans when she gets back are "too far in the future to worry about", Ally is optimistic.

"My dream would be to get home and make enough out of writing so I can work part-time and retrain to do outdoor education.

Then I can go off travelling every summer. I might even end up teaching in Africa. Who knows?"

* Ally will be writing a monthly column for the SNJ about her adventures - so look out for it in future editions.