Settling in back home?

Scotland – England – Belgium – France- Luxembourg – Germany – Poland – Slovakia – Hungary – Ukraine – Russia (West) – Kazakhstan – Russia (Siberia) – Japan – USA – (Iceland) - England – Wales – Ireland – Scotland. I have had the most amazing and unforgettable journey of my life. I have been lucky to meet some fantastic people many who I hope to meet with again either in their country of here in Scotland. I have experienced generosity, helpfulness and friendliness from all but one strange individual throughout the trip and hope to have the opportunity to repay this in the future. I am now back home and still not unpacked. Lots of stuff lying about and will need to sort out all the souvenirs, badges, mementos and gifts. I will also need to get the bike cleaned up and get rid of 19,000 miles of caked on dirt. But for now I am shredding six months of mail and chilling out. I will get the stats , the totals for the charity, route and any advice together within the next week or so. I will also get an email out to as many of you as possible. Meantime can I thank Pat and Bill Beazley, The Ralph Slater Foundation, Lothian and Borders Police, and last, but not least, Dan Benedict for their recent generous donations to Capability Scotland. Update by next week.

Home in Edinburgh

Got the 0730 ferry to Cairnryan and met Dougie for breakfast and the run home to Capability Scotland HQ in Edinburgh. Thanks to all who met me and for the champagne, coffee, bacon rolls and very warm welcome. Lots of photos but as we have been out tonight I will update tomorrow.

Belfast Blog

Wandered around Belfast City centre and took a ride on the Belfast wheel. Cost £6.50 but worth the view. The rain was bad this morning and I am glad I made the move here yesterday. Forecast is good for the whole journey home tomorrow with sun in the east of Scotland. Dougie, my old colleague, fellow Adventure rider and euro tour buddy is meeting me from the ship tomorrow for ride up the road (interesting if you are an Evening News reader). If anyone else can make it I am buying breakfast and possibly lunch… unless there is more than 3 turn up! Photos: The Belfast Wheel and Belfast City Hall. See you tomorrow!

Exploring Belfast - Rain Stopped Play ?

Rain has forced me into the famous Robinsons Bar as recommended by Rod M. Good choice. More photos later.
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East to Portavogie and the Irish Sea

A pleasant journey north east to the Irish sea which completes east to west Ireland. Visited big Jimmy Kelly at Portavogie and furthest east you can get. (Photos). I have been on a few tours with Jimmy, one being to Slovenia and Italy. It was nice to see him and Maggie and a Southern Ireland tour is starting to be planned. Now  in Belfast for a look around and get my ponytail cut off and tattoo finished off. Heading  to Larne and home for Saturday. I feel happy about heading home to  the girls (and Jasper) but  sorry that the adventure is nearing an end. Still, a new job to look forward to and planning the next trip…….just kidding Pam!

Sailing:

Larne to Cairnryan

Outward Date/Time:      Sat 07 November 2009 at 0730

Outward Arrival:        Sat 07 November 2009 at 0915

Dougz…Cairnryan not Stranraer if you can make it.

Capability Scotland 2pm.

Castles, Loughs, Fields, Wind, Rain and Sun

I had the full Irish breakfast followed by the full Irish scenery followed by the full Irish weather. Headed north along the west coast with some stunning scenery enhanced by the Atlantic swell being thrown up by the strong winds. Soon the wind dropped and the sun came out just in time for viewing Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara. Onward to a low lying field at Athenry where I watched a small freebird fly then east toward Dublin. Took the N3 and finally halted just short of the Northern Ireland border at Cavan. Will need to use up my Euros tonight and then east and north toward Belfast.

Popped out of Cork

Met Dan  the Garda IPA motorcycle club president in Cork today. Had a good chat and now planning a visit to Cork in the spring. Thanks Dan for the coffee and T shirt and hope to catch up in the springtime. Onward on Dan’s recommendation to Spanish Point Co. Clare. This overlooks the Atlantic and marks the west point of my journey across Ireland. From here it is north east, Belfast and then home. Spanish Point has an excellent surfing spot but bathing is not safe here, particularly to the left of the Black Rock where currents are strong. It is a gale force 9 and driving rain here tonight so I decided to give the bathing a miss not because of this but because  I left my trunks in the USA. The Spanish found it unsafe, too  when they washed ashore after the Armada lost its way. Will get some photos tomorrow but meantime some more from Cobh.

 

In Cobh in Co Cork

Visited friends Ken and Audrey in Cobh. Ken took me round the island on his boat an I had a grandstand view of this beautiful part of the country. Fortunately the wind had died down and there was no memories of the previous day’s crossing from Wales. Ken has lived and farmed here most of his life and was an excellent guide. I had views of Cobh including their own Cathedral, St Colman’s. It is such a small town and it is amazing that there is a cathedral here. The average size of a family here is 9 so having a cathedral is obviously keeping the faithful on side! Cobh was originally Queenstown  the departure point for The Titanic. an excellent Heritage Museum  at the Quayside in Cobh giving a lot of the History. Queenstown was the departure point for the thousands of Irish who emigrated.  The Lusitania also sank about 5 miles off Kinsale - the survivors and bodies were brought ashore to Cobh. There is a mass grave for the Lusitania victims on the outskirts of Cobh. Off the coast is Spike Island which was used a prison from the time of British rule to recently. It is now abandoned. Nearby there is an operational Naval base and ferry terminal. Picture taken of the cathedral this morning showing the contrast in weather from yesterday. Thanks to Pat for the historical information and a big thanks to Audrey and Ken for their hospitality and company.

 

 

 

Arrived Ireland

Arrived IRL. Worst sea crossing ever with gales and huge seas. (Photo) In hotel outside Wexford.Cork by early afternoon tomorrow.

Wales - The New Swan Inn and RETURN DATE

Thanks to Gareth, Eleri, Jenna and all the staff and regulars for the hospitality shown during my stay in Ystalyfera in South Wales. This is a very biker-friendly pub with good accomodation and a safe place to keep the bike. If you are doing a course at the World of BMW, visiting Touratech or just touring, this is the place to stay. By the way...I liked the Halloween costumes. The New Swan Inn, 50 Gurnos Rd, Ystalyfera, Swansea, SA9 2HY, 01639 841 222. www.thenewswanhotel.co.uk

RETURNING HOME

SATURDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2009
0930AM STRANRAER FERRY then 2pm CAPABILITY SCOTLAND
ELLERSLY ROAD, EDINBURGH

Bike Back on the Road

All well with the bike and everything still attached. Heading off tomorrow early for Wales. The tracker is on it’s way home and I hope to have it in the next few days. Many thanks to Dave Standley (Stan) for his hospitality while waiting for the bike to be ready.

Picking up the bike

At the shippers waiting for the bike. If all ok I will be heading to Wales tomorrow then Ireland on Monday. Will update later. The return to Edinburgh will be Sat 7th November....all going well.

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Right on Kew

Spent the day at Kew Gardens. Three hundred acres of botanical delights grace Kew Gardens, which lies on the south bank of the Thames River between Richmond and Kew in the suburbs of south-west London. The gardens are "Royal" because for many years the estates that now form the gardens were owned by members of Britain's royal family. King George II and Queen Caroline lived at Ormonde Lodge, on the Richmond estate. Their son and heir, Prince Frederick, leased the neighbouring Kew estate in the 1730s. The gardens today present an enjoyable mix of landscaped lawns, formal gardens, and greenhouses. Equally important, Kew functions as a botanical research centre and maintains the largest plant collection in the world. Forget Boston in the fall….try visiting here. The rich mixture of colour in the leaves and berries make this one of the most amazing shows nature provides.  

Wandering in Westminster

The weather is great here in London. Yesterday visited the Metropolitan Police Major Investigation Team office and had a curry with the staff….very nice. Mike kindly made a donation to the charity….thanks. Today I ventured into central London which brought back some good memories of my time working there. It is funny but when you work in an area you often do not appreciate the surroundings. For all who have not been here I would strongly advise you to make the trip. Got news that the bike may be here by Wednesday/Thursday…..here’s hoping!  Today’s photos and yes Dave….they are all mine: Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, the Millennium Wheel, Lamp outside Buckingham Palace, Queen Vic statue outside Palace, the Wheel by night.

Richmond on the Thames

Thought I would start with Richmond where I am staying. Richmond is to the west of London and I on the River Thames. It is a very nice area and this part of the Thames is used by the pleasure boat crews and, in keeping with this area, rowing clubs. There is a small  ferry which is allowed to operate under Royal Charter from King John in 1659. It takes you across the river to Twickenham (home of English Rugby) for £1. The ferry in those days was not operated by a bloke with a mobile phone on a boat with a diesel engine. The view of the river and the area is the only place in the UK where ‘a view’ is protected by an Act of Parliament. Richmond is a small town with nice shops and pubs (so I am told). Getting over the jet lag and will head to central London tomorrow.

Lazing in London

Arrived safely in London and staying with my pal Stan….thanks! For those who are following from other countries I will get some London photos published for you. When I get the bike….hopefully in a week or so, I will assess the weather and get going hopefully to Ireland and drive north. I will then take the ferry to Troon in Scotland and home. I will publish the ‘arrive home’ date as soon as I know but it will be a Saturday. I am determined to RIDE all the way home as planned (the shipping company offered to deliver the bike to home but I feel that the trip would be incomplete if that happed….I left from home and will arrive back at home) . Also, if possible, I will take in Ireland, east to west,  as I feel the country gets  ignored by travellers doing this route who often just  fly over it.

Ice Cold in Reykjavik

Arrived safely in Iceland although the SPOT tracker is still in Boston…woops! Never mind Boston’s Finest (Police Dept) are on the case and it should catch up with me in London. Sitting in a café in Reykjavik warming up after the cold shock. Heading back to the airport for the connection to Heathrow where I am getting picked up by the Murder Squad……just for the lift I may add. Iceland is cold but the people make up for it. The streets here are quaint with different coloured houses…the architects here are obviously fans of Ballamorie. The taxi driver told me that the population of Iceland is 350,000 which is about half that of the city of Edinburgh. Maybe that is why Levi have a factory here….they need more genes/jeans…sorry…signing off!

Goodbye USA

I caught the water taxi to Boston Logan Airport and, in the usual style, I took it the long way round which gave me a tour of Boston Harbour, Hull and Quincy. The sun was shining and it was much warmer today so I think Iceland will be a short, sharp shock. My bike flies on 23^rd so hopefully, barring all mishaps etc I should get it around the 26^th.  Photos: The Water taxi, Boston and Boston.