The next day…
That’s all folks
Just two weeks ago we reached Day 1,751 and home. Our cycle odyssey is over. We are slowly rejoining the real world, whilst our hearts are still out there travelling. We know it's the right time, we need our life back, and a new adventure, but first it's a chance for reflection.
We left England as Covid restrictions were slowly ending, and had to change our planned route completely. We explored parts of the UK we've never visited, slowly getting accustomed to being seen as a mix of mini celebrities, life coaches, brave souls, but always slightly mad. Encountered the first members of what I would call our ‘road family’, people who, though by chance we met, would follow our journey around the world.
We cycled into Wales, cowboy camped under the stars, rode around Anglesey in a heatwave, and house-sat a parrot on the peace line in Northern Ireland. Ireland welcomed us as only they can and it's number one on countries to revisit. Then the USA, a country of superlatives. We went to Canada due to a random invitation from ‘Kate’ who watched our YouTube films, and what a time we had. Stunning scenery, awful drivers, but wonderful people, oh yeah and the bears! We worked at a nudist holiday home, became life coaches and helped create a baby!
Then back to the States and the world famous route 101, formed a gang (of cyclists), got offered a gun, and headed into Mexico, and found the best drivers in the world. Central America flew by, though we did experience a few Love Hotels! South America beckoned, we made the best of friends, rode up and over the Andes more times than strictly necessary, and Tom nearly died. It was the best of times, the worst of times.
We are now home yet we feel like strangers in a foreign land. Time, plus being with friends and family will heal us I am sure.
Now for the thanks. There are too many people to thank individually, but oh this trip couldn't have happened without them.
Messages from home kept us grounded, thank you.
Our Warmshowers hosts, each and everyone of you looked after us so well (and did our laundry!), thank you.
Chance met strangers who welcomed us into their homes when the going got tough, thank you.
Our buymeacoffee.com crew, you seemed to know just when we needed a caffeine lift, thank you.
Our fellow tourers, oh my without you all I think we would have gone home sooner, you provided friendship, understanding and bike spares, thank you!
An extra mention to those who cycled with us, sharing our journey for a few hours to several weeks, thank you.
And finally Tom, without you I would never even have set off, thank you.
