Trip Statistics:
Total Miles Ridden: 3,111.5
I thought that this would be the easiest blog to write. I thought that now it is all over it would simply be a case of recanting a few events or thinking my way through a few of the days, but it’s not like that at all.
It is hard because I don’t want to upset my family when I say that I am looking forward to the next trip... but in truth I am. It is hard to explain, before I left there were nerves, trepidation, and uncomfortable nights of worry; but once I was on the road, even in the days of driving rain, I felt comfortable. Sometimes I would listen to my mp3 as I rode, at other times I would just listen to the sound of the engine, and the tarmac running beneath the wheels.
I experienced total isolation, but was never really lonely. I experienced the feelings of total loss – leaving everything and everyone behind – and yet I had everything I needed. And, as the country rolled by, I still had my family in my thoughts and lots and lots of love.
I undertook the radio interview because I liked the idea of the publicity which the ride had attracted and the publicity it would generate for the charity, but I didn’t really enjoy the process. I have since listened to the edited version and they (the engineers) are very good at what they do, but no matter what... I still sound like a bit of a dope :-)
I am, at heart, a private man – which may surprise many of you that know me, but it seems it is something that if not apparent before, has definitely come through in the interview... it felt almost as though I was sitting through an interrogation: being examined, poked and prodded under a microscope. I’m not sure that I will be as quick to experience that again. However from that came a number of questions which I guess I really do need to answer, not necessarily for
me, but for all involved and those interested in what I did.
Returning home was an amazing feeling. To see friends and family waiting for me was truly, truly humbling. It instantly brings a lump to your throat. I think what made it all the more poignant was to have almost the same group of people there at the end as at the start. With all my heart... thank you.
But there were experiences, rides, days, and events which all made the trip worth every moment, and I guess that’s what everybody means when they ask you about the best bits.
Riding through Bolton and making one young boy very happy was one of those events. A second was reaching the First House of Scotland, as you cross the border at Gretna.
Although I did it in a very round about way, I completed John O’Groats -to- Lands’ E
nd. That h
as to be worth something in the grand scheme of things. I have ridden a road which borders the North Sea and as the tourist notices tell you the next piece of land (if you travel in a straight line) is the North Pole. I have watched seals jump, play and bathe in the afternoon sun, eagles teaching their young to glide on the pockets of warm air to conserve energy, before diving to the ground – as fast as a racing car – in order to capture the unsuspectin
g prey below. I have sat in the clouds around Ben Nevis and skirted the shore-line of some of the most famous and bea
utiful lochs of Scotland. I have walked upon the wall which divided the kingdoms, and ridden along cliff tops and into the valleys of Devon & Cornwall. I have eaten in a chip-shop, a pub, a farm house, a Thai restaurant and a Castle. How many more holidays provide you with that?
The one event that I am reminded of (and for which I could get no picture) was riding through Nottingham past the University and seeing a line of four or five local council lawn mowers (you know the big green ones you drive) passing under the speed trap cameras and everyone of them giving the camera the bird... Now that brought a smile to my face.
Does one stand out, I think the sunset in Ireland, my bike out in front
and a pint of Guinness on the table. By that point I knew I was on my way home, but I had met such wonderful people made some great friends and enjoyed fantastic riding that it wasn’t as hard to accept that I was going home.
The greatest disappointment was the denial I experienced at some of the places I stopped, which truly wouldn’t have mattered, except that it wasn’t really about making money it was about the experience and raising awareness. If people wanted to give then that is entirely up to them, I guess I expected a little more enthusiasm.
I think I have made it clear how I felt about my phone and the experiences I had with a certain food retailer (which I will not be returning to in a hurry) :-)enough said. But not even the weather could get me down. If you live in England you expect a little rain... only in this case there was a lot of rain, which seemed to follow me around the land. As I got soaked from one day to the next, I would hear of how warm and bright it was elsewhere.
I have been asked what I expect from returning home and go
ing back to work. It is a strange feeling, but as I rode into Dockgate 20 I had such amazing feelings of warmth and love I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing and then hugging and talking. I wanted to see everyone, to talk to everyone and to thank everyone... I have had day-after-day with my family and then all of a sudden it stopped. For 3 weeks I experienced isolation and apprehension, it wasn’t like being on holiday it was just memory that remained.
When I returned to work on Tuesday I expected to be swamped by work, but in actual fact, because I had spent every waking moment pouring myself into my work, I had little to do when I returned (other than 300 email and the reading of dissertations). Yet I would be lying if I said I was happy to be there. Yes I work very hard at whatever I am doing. Today I have completed 6hrs work on upcoming lectures and spent hours looking at Tattooing (current research project), but I sat in a meeting Tuesday and then a full day of meetings on Wednesday and all I could think of was where I would be travelling to next... and I think I have the plan. Which kind of answers the final question, of whether I would do it again. Yes. I think however, this time out there will be at least one other rider as I make my way out.
I have always maintained that anyone can come along... as long as they ride. It’s hard to explain, but I think the sense and understanding on
ly really comes from the open experience. I’ve had a truly fantastic summer.
When I bought my bike Red said... ‘Andy, ride the bike. Bikes are meant to be ridden...’ I totally agree.
I wanted to end with something powerful and memorable, but I don’t really know what to add. I raised somewhere in the region of £750 (when I have the final figure I'll provide the update), and as it says about I rode 3,111.5 miles on this road trip. But best of all... I set off to take a break... That's what I was told. I needed the rest, and being me, I could think of only one way to do...
Thank you to all of you that I have been lucky enough to spend time with. Thank you for your support and help. Thank you for the opportunity I have had such a wonderful experience
Finally, thank you to Aly, Mikey, Corrie & Ryan for laughing, supporting, cheering and jeering me round.
Total Miles Ridden: 3,111.5
Number of Harley Davidson Dealerships: 20
Total days: 22
Total days: 22
Countries: England, Scotland, N.Ireland, Eire & Wales
Total days riding: 19
Total days riding: 19
I thought that this would be the easiest blog to write. I thought that now it is all over it would simply be a case of recanting a few events or thinking my way through a few of the days, but it’s not like that at all.
It is hard because I don’t want to upset my family when I say that I am looking forward to the next trip... but in truth I am. It is hard to explain, before I left there were nerves, trepidation, and uncomfortable nights of worry; but once I was on the road, even in the days of driving rain, I felt comfortable. Sometimes I would listen to my mp3 as I rode, at other times I would just listen to the sound of the engine, and the tarmac running beneath the wheels.
I experienced total isolation, but was never really lonely. I experienced the feelings of total loss – leaving everything and everyone behind – and yet I had everything I needed. And, as the country rolled by, I still had my family in my thoughts and lots and lots of love.I undertook the radio interview because I liked the idea of the publicity which the ride had attracted and the publicity it would generate for the charity, but I didn’t really enjoy the process. I have since listened to the edited version and they (the engineers) are very good at what they do, but no matter what... I still sound like a bit of a dope :-)
I am, at heart, a private man – which may surprise many of you that know me, but it seems it is something that if not apparent before, has definitely come through in the interview... it felt almost as though I was sitting through an interrogation: being examined, poked and prodded under a microscope. I’m not sure that I will be as quick to experience that again. However from that came a number of questions which I guess I really do need to answer, not necessarily for
me, but for all involved and those interested in what I did.Returning home was an amazing feeling. To see friends and family waiting for me was truly, truly humbling. It instantly brings a lump to your throat. I think what made it all the more poignant was to have almost the same group of people there at the end as at the start. With all my heart... thank you.
But there were experiences, rides, days, and events which all made the trip worth every moment, and I guess that’s what everybody means when they ask you about the best bits.
Riding through Bolton and making one young boy very happy was one of those events. A second was reaching the First House of Scotland, as you cross the border at Gretna.Although I did it in a very round about way, I completed John O’Groats -to- Lands’ E
nd. That h
as to be worth something in the grand scheme of things. I have ridden a road which borders the North Sea and as the tourist notices tell you the next piece of land (if you travel in a straight line) is the North Pole. I have watched seals jump, play and bathe in the afternoon sun, eagles teaching their young to glide on the pockets of warm air to conserve energy, before diving to the ground – as fast as a racing car – in order to capture the unsuspectin
g prey below. I have sat in the clouds around Ben Nevis and skirted the shore-line of some of the most famous and bea
utiful lochs of Scotland. I have walked upon the wall which divided the kingdoms, and ridden along cliff tops and into the valleys of Devon & Cornwall. I have eaten in a chip-shop, a pub, a farm house, a Thai restaurant and a Castle. How many more holidays provide you with that?The one event that I am reminded of (and for which I could get no picture) was riding through Nottingham past the University and seeing a line of four or five local council lawn mowers (you know the big green ones you drive) passing under the speed trap cameras and everyone of them giving the camera the bird... Now that brought a smile to my face.
Does one stand out, I think the sunset in Ireland, my bike out in front
and a pint of Guinness on the table. By that point I knew I was on my way home, but I had met such wonderful people made some great friends and enjoyed fantastic riding that it wasn’t as hard to accept that I was going home.The greatest disappointment was the denial I experienced at some of the places I stopped, which truly wouldn’t have mattered, except that it wasn’t really about making money it was about the experience and raising awareness. If people wanted to give then that is entirely up to them, I guess I expected a little more enthusiasm.
I think I have made it clear how I felt about my phone and the experiences I had with a certain food retailer (which I will not be returning to in a hurry) :-)enough said. But not even the weather could get me down. If you live in England you expect a little rain... only in this case there was a lot of rain, which seemed to follow me around the land. As I got soaked from one day to the next, I would hear of how warm and bright it was elsewhere.
I have been asked what I expect from returning home and go
ing back to work. It is a strange feeling, but as I rode into Dockgate 20 I had such amazing feelings of warmth and love I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing and then hugging and talking. I wanted to see everyone, to talk to everyone and to thank everyone... I have had day-after-day with my family and then all of a sudden it stopped. For 3 weeks I experienced isolation and apprehension, it wasn’t like being on holiday it was just memory that remained.When I returned to work on Tuesday I expected to be swamped by work, but in actual fact, because I had spent every waking moment pouring myself into my work, I had little to do when I returned (other than 300 email and the reading of dissertations). Yet I would be lying if I said I was happy to be there. Yes I work very hard at whatever I am doing. Today I have completed 6hrs work on upcoming lectures and spent hours looking at Tattooing (current research project), but I sat in a meeting Tuesday and then a full day of meetings on Wednesday and all I could think of was where I would be travelling to next... and I think I have the plan. Which kind of answers the final question, of whether I would do it again. Yes. I think however, this time out there will be at least one other rider as I make my way out.
I have always maintained that anyone can come along... as long as they ride. It’s hard to explain, but I think the sense and understanding on
ly really comes from the open experience. I’ve had a truly fantastic summer.When I bought my bike Red said... ‘Andy, ride the bike. Bikes are meant to be ridden...’ I totally agree.
I wanted to end with something powerful and memorable, but I don’t really know what to add. I raised somewhere in the region of £750 (when I have the final figure I'll provide the update), and as it says about I rode 3,111.5 miles on this road trip. But best of all... I set off to take a break... That's what I was told. I needed the rest, and being me, I could think of only one way to do...
Thank you to all of you that I have been lucky enough to spend time with. Thank you for your support and help. Thank you for the opportunity I have had such a wonderful experienceFinally, thank you to Aly, Mikey, Corrie & Ryan for laughing, supporting, cheering and jeering me round.
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