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I've been on and off this site for about 20 yrs. Seldom post, just a lurker; but checking in with your journey has been awesome and inspirational.
Glad you're home safe and sound and glad you've had an amazing experience after a brutally tough patch. I look forward to future installments. Someday I'd like to do a big mission of my own.
More power to you, TJ 👏
I have enjoyed following your journey
Welcome home and slange var
Thanks TJ. I'd echo what others have said, it's been great to live your adventures vicariously. I hope it's helped you get fine closure and sorry not to have met you when you passed through ramsbottom.
Thanks TJ. I'd echo what others have said, it's been great to live your adventures vicariously. I hope it's helped you find closure and sorry not to have met you when you passed through ramsbottom.
Really enjoyed reading your posts on here. Hope you got what you needed from it, which it sounds like you did.
TJ I know you did this for you
But I think for me (& I suspect others who read it) it's been great to vicariously ride with you, had a genuine positive effect
Still gutted I didn't realise how close you were to us in France, I think you must have cycled right past our holiday park!!!
TJ, it was great to meet you round at Gnusmas' place in Carmarthen. Cycling in that heat was a bit epic so you well deserverved that pint or two. Your travels have been a bit inspirational tbh and have entertained and motivated myself and maybe a few others.
" I took some of Julies ashes with me and scattered them in appropriate places as she told me to do. A friends veg plot, the woods she played in as a child, in some lovely parkland in Amsterdam, and in the river near the top of the highest pass I climbed in spain – the best days riding of the trip appropriately enough. " This made me cry. You are an absolute star.
Head down to Carmarthenshire again, there is loads to see, do, eat and drink. Free accommodation too- I hope you don't mind a loopy collie called Max though.
The riding around here is more than OK too.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading the various threads covering your trip. I'm inspired and more than a little jealous.
Jeremy you have given so many of us a real adventure this summer, I was slightly annoyed I had finished my own adventure the week before you. Passed through Edinburgh on the 23rd.
I guess we both undertook our trips with a slight trepidation of what it would be like without our partners?
I decided not to document it as firstly I'm really indecisive as to what people want to hear and secondly I was meeting many people I have not seen for over 40 years so taking pictures seemed a bit intrusive.
You have really captured the soul of travelling by bike mostly on your own (well done Ton for the day ride with TJ)
Also over the last 7 weeks I have been following my sister (she is a STW forum member) and her partner walk the whole of the High Pyrenean Trail, Atlantic to Mediterranean.
It's been an emotional and humbling time watching both your respective journeys & though I have probably done a similar distance to you TJ mine was Porsche powered and not the pure form of leg power.
Next year perhaps many more can take that important life affirming leap and just get out there and tour.
Once again Jeremy thanks for a summer of adventure 🙂
So nice to meet you.
Thanks for your kind words.
Love, light and peace,
Pete and Sue.
It’s been amazing seeing this thing escalate. When you were with us, I think your intentions were a bit more modest, so it’s been amazing watching it turn into the epic adventure it became.
Don’t forget that just because this particular journey is over, the bigger one is always ongoing and all the people you saw along the way would like to see you next time too
It was great to see you, have you stay for the evening and use your visit as an excuse to get the troops together for the evening.
See you soon, hopefully, you cantankerous old git 😃
+1 to everything everyone above has said!
I guess we both undertook our trips with a slight trepidation of what it would be like without our partners?
More than slight! I have not traveled on my own since I was 17. Julie and I had made many plans and obviously those all went out the window. I knew I had to do more than just fester in my flat and all I wanted to do was ride my bike. Staying not too far from home meant that at any point I could just go home at any point and get home quickly if my head broke
It’s been amazing seeing this thing escalate. When you were with us, I think your intentions were a bit more modest, so it’s been amazing watching it turn into the epic adventure it became.
It was always my hope to get to my pals in Spain but that seemed a long way away when I stayed with you. I had the route planned in legs and as I approached the end of one I pondered starting the next. In Amsterdam I had a rest and decided I was not ready to go home yet so set of on the longest leg which was quite daunting. I have a couple of pals in France and Germany that I had hoped to visit on my way to Spain but that would have been another 3 or 4 weeks ride and I had a deadline to meet up with folk in spain. When I set off I had the whole route in mind and ended up doing most of it. I came close to continuing south from Northern Spain as well.
I decided not to document it as firstly I’m really indecisive as to what people want to hear and secondly I was meeting many people I have not seen for over 40 years so taking pictures seemed a bit intrusive.
I didn't take photos of many of the folk I met and also always asked permission if I did. Time spent with old friends and family was left out as well for that reason. I am surprised that folk were as interested as they were in what I had to say and sometimes it was a bit tricky to know what to post. Posting has created a record of the trip for me which is a good thing as its the only record I have and the contact with folk was a boost when I was lonely
Really enjoyed following your journey TJ. All the best to you!
A really uplifting story. So many would have just closed the blinds and hidden away. To "just get out on your bike and ride" is brilliant.
I'm sure you will work through the challenges of anxiety. As someone whom has struggled with several bouts of anxiety and/or depression over the last 25 years, I look back and think, "Well, at least the anxiety made things exciting!" I think I only started to get on top of the anxiety when I learned to actually embrace it.
Short story... I once had a huge anxiety attack whilst on a solo motorcycle tour of Europe. I started to head home but just got worse and worse. In a blind panic I abandoned my bike and kit in Zurich and jumped on the first plane home! 10 days later I had calmed down a bit. I flew back out; found the bike (untouched), and carried on 🙂
Best Wishes
If one picture and one escapade would sum it all up it was this. A pint with p7eavan ( malvern rider) in a pub somewhere in the Welsh borders
Followed by going to see some standing stones. riiiiiiight. Meet a random of the internet, drink beer and head into the dark
Vicarious adventuring this summer has been fun. Thanks.
It seems like it's got your head space settled too which is a win for you.
Anyone heard from TJ since he got home? Seems to be quiet on the forum.
last time i saw him he was dragging his bike up here............ ;o)
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That's OK. I was worried getting home might be a tough time and when he didn't respond on the rugby thread I thought I should check.
He's turned to Buddhism.
Im fine - just culture shocked 🙂 Its nice not packing up every morning