up hill down dale. it sounds rather strenuous but i am sure that exercise is good for you. i would have thought that Richard got things in the correct order when you dismounted in the ditch, the mount is what got you there and is needed to get you out!!! Like cowboys horse(bicycle) comes first. It all sounds great fun and so rewarding in the end. take more care, love to you both DAD.XXXX
Hello Still sounds fab. Doesn't resemble the Aus we see on TV. Both looking well (was going to say fit and healthy but you may not agree!) Kids didn't fancy any of the receipes. Phots are great. Take care. The Webbies xxxx
We are still on the road with you Since you left Hong Kong your blogs and comments have been less frequent, due no doubt to the changing geography etc. But we are all still following your every move with interest and respect for what you have taken on. Sorry I couldn`t help with the accommodation in Sydney, or manage to be there for your big 5-0, but be sure we`ll be down under with you on the 17th if only in spirit. Love Nora and Dad.
Hi Diane and Richard
I have finally got chance to catch up on your blog while Danielle and Dominic are not taalking to their mates on MSN
Firstly Happy New Year to you both and Thank you very much for the vouchers for Danielle and Dominic - Much appreciated and they have come in very handy for them.
The blog is brilliant - very interesting and the pictures are fab.
By the way I think you both look very well.
Take care - save journey and lots of love from
Angela, Phil Danielle and Dominic xxxxxx
Hi Again Hi there guys, very cool blog! Sorry, I took wrong turn at Runnymede, and lost you guys. Was fun meeting you folks. You have embarked on the most awesome adventure!!! I will keep an eye on your progress through your blog. Cheers
Sigh of relief! So glad to hear you survived China (and thoroughly enjoyed it by the sounds of it!)-I was worried about how you'd fair! Anyway let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas-as you know those of us in retail hardly lift our heads at this time of year and I may not be able to catch up with your latest adventures until 2008
Lots of love Claire,Shaun, Ross and Cait
G'day mates - welcome to Orstralia Thoroughly enjoyed our trip around China - went every pedal revolution with you. Looking forward to the next step, although don't think the food will be quite so challenging! It certainly wasn't Cat in the Hat, but maybe it was dog in the bag! Love to you both
How're the beer and pies? It was fantastic to see you adn hear your stories about China. Thanks again for the generous gift of wines. By now, you will have been enjoying at least a day or two of great weather and getting your bikes sorted out. All the best on your journey! Jacquie and Ray x
As Mavis would say:- " I can`t believe it " Last September 15th it seemed impossible that you could have achieved in 2 and a half months what you obviously have done. About 2700 miles of cycling in very variable conditions,gradients, and surfaces. Not to mention the "strange" to us food. The animals and insects etc. that you have shared sleeping arrangements with. You are a couple of diamonds, and no doubt what is to come will just improve the polished finish. Look forward to your future blogs, Bon Voyage and Love from Nora and Dad.
Buddha I hope I'm not regarded as that shape yet, smiling, sometimes, putting on weight, maybe, but I refuse to accept that I'm that bad. May be its the concave mirror I use. The pictures look great, I am envious. Love, DAD XXXX
Feel the burn You must feel a great sense of achievement covering the miles that you have. I was thinking about you yesterday when I rode Dave's bike to the butchers in Borrowash. It took me 6 minutes from your house to get there, and 20 minutes from Borrowash back to my house! How long do you think it will take me to get up to your standard? On second thoughts don't answer that! Glad you are having a good time, seems like you have finished China on a real high. Looking forward to hearing what you think of down under. Take care. Kerry x
Chinese Food in Geordie Land As an allegedly well deserved treat, my colleagues and I were taken down China Town in Newcastle yesterday. The demolishing of the city centre continues although it has yet to reach St James' Park (shame Ross would say!). We were very (!) adventurous- chicken and sweetcorn soup, barbecued spare ribs and shredded beef accompanied by mountains of prawn crackers. Perhaps we will ask for dog next time and see what response we get. Love to you both, Claire,Shaun, Ross and Cait
Cockroaches 14 years, Congratulations! Lovely to read your blogs. Missing you both. Nothing new here, don't worry about missing anything as you know my life is like Eastenders so you'll only have to watch a couple of episodes when you get back to get right back into it! Kerry x ps it's bloody freezin pps you might already know but the game with sunderland and newcastle was a draw
re the journey so far.... and so far.... Hi from Raynesway. Been following from beginning, abso fascinating, Di (presume it's usually Di??) you really need to write for a living, brings the journey to life and really look forward to lunchtime catch ups with what the 2 nutters are doing next! Can also go back now and see potos that wouldn't show up before, great shots to complement the text. On yer bikes then for the next bit - Sal.
Chickens feet Can't wait to get home and tell the kids that the Halloween treats need to go back and we are converting to the healthy options of Chicken feet (well they are - not feeling as brave as you Di) Did Richard bottle out of trying them.
Glad you are still enjoying yourselves. Do you resemble the chicken and duck yourselves yet or are you now more like Arnie?
Love reading the blog. Love to you both and keep sending the texts. Love A D R and Z xxxxx
Still following your adventure There always seem to be plenty of comments added, so there are lots of folk following your journey. All the Lancashire and Yorkshire contingent are in there rooting for you.
You know I texed you about a Google earth update, Well, your house used to be in an area which looked like the top of a forest, but no longer, I was able to identify it by your handiwork Richard, "The Water Feature"
For now Cheerio good riding, and bon voyage. Love N and D.
roads Don't know what your grumbling about, British roads are all like that. Like the comment about the dog, remember Sarah always reacted to 'wok'. love DAD.
Cleaning the guttering Hiya, Just caught up on your last few blogs. It all sounds amazing. I'm thinking you are not going to want to come back to us boring lot in Derby. Just to let you know that today I have been up a ladder cleaning the guttering. The weather is really mild here - bout 15 degrees yesterday. Can I be the first to wish Big John Happy Birthday for Monday!
Hello,
It is sometimes exhausting to read your little paragraphS. My imagination runs wild and the effort it takes to do what you are doing, like staying with families and seeing all the weird and wonderful goings on is fascinating. I do hope you have got some photos of all this. I hope you aer making good progress but enjoying it at the same time.
how the other half live Is it live or exist. It must be amazing seeing all the sites. Just hope the memory doesn't give out before the end. I wonder what they make their burgers from? Looking for the next blog. Love DAD.
ey up you 2 Ey up me ducks. We are reading your log with great interest. We have tried to follow your journey on a map but got lost 2 days in. I think it's your Geordie spelling. They don't have names like Skeggy or Derby. The food sounds interesting, cockerels head etc. I publish a newsletter for the home I work in and have included your logs for them to read. I publish around 50 copies and there is great interest. can you give the old folk a mention in your next log. A point of order, are you riding a Raleigh 3 speed.You can't get better than a Raleigh. The weather here is dull and raining, derby are losing so it's a typical wet Sunday afternoon. Saw Geoff Gwynitt in Skeg the other day. He is moving to Lincs in Nov. Look after yourselves and keep on enjoying the experience. Don't forhet my birthday card, 5th Nov. I'd hate for you to miss it. All the best and lots of love from Big John and Cynthia
Do I still have a son in law? Did you know that there is in Wales a road that appears to everybody who views it, to go down hill, but in fact it definitely goes up hill. You did go to China didn`t you??
Joking aside though, you seem to be coping better each day with the strangeness that is China, and no doubt you have made new friends on your journey. Good luck, keep up the good work. N and D
We've booked a year off work, had the jabs, bought the RTW tickets and arranged the leaving do. So it looks like we'll really have to do it now; China, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Mexico and USA by bike and plane.... full info
DAD
non-member comment
up hill down dale.
it sounds rather strenuous but i am sure that exercise is good for you. i would have thought that Richard got things in the correct order when you dismounted in the ditch, the mount is what got you there and is needed to get you out!!! Like cowboys horse(bicycle) comes first. It all sounds great fun and so rewarding in the end. take more care, love to you both DAD.XXXX