Random Strangers

There was a Dutchman, a Canadian and a Kiwi standing at the top of a hill…..
No, not the start of some bad joke, there actually was.
All giving us much encouragement and praise as we puffed and sweated up the road towards them the scenic Rakaia Gorge viewpoint and the end of a big climb.

The Small Things: New Zealand, heading South.

You know that quote that says “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” For me, cycle touring is the classic example of that.

When you are away from home for months, or even years on end, you seldom step back and view the trip as a whole, as an epic adventure, instead, what you notice, what you remember are the multitudes of constituent parts, and in particular the things that make a difference are often the small, things.

Wildlife Encounters of the Sunshine Coast. Vancouver and beyond.

There are just 2 small screws remaining when, after 90 minutes of squatting on the carpet in the baggage hall, our pile of cardboard, plastic and tape has magically transformed back into 2 touring bikes and luggage.
I wouldn’t care if it was an IKEA flat pack but the screws niggle at me as we finally push out of customs and into the bright sunshine of Vancouver airport arrivals.
After being on the move for nearly 24 hours it’s a relief that we and the bikes have made it. The start of 12 months of round the world travel here we come…. or maybe not as, switching on the garmins to pull up the route we realise that, of all the things on our long to do list, we may have forgotten to load the maps for North America. My screen shows an arrow amidst a bland sea of blue. Good start!

Notes from a Small Island (Cycle Touring in Guernsey)

I’m watching from the quayside at Guernsey as the Ferry pulls away, homeward bound for Poole, horn blaring, passengers waving from the decks .

The only problem is I should have been on it!