Even though we had planned to sneak back home on a Monday morning,we were still intercepted by fiends [this should read "friends",but this is probably as true a description of Morgan ,at least in terms of cycling].Here is Morgz leading us up the last hill. Only 400mtrs from Home !
As we had been away so long some folk had no memory of us at all, and were not at all sure they liked what they saw. Campbell is already a cycling "fiend ";[ he was the youngest cyclo-cross competitor at the Borrowdale shepherds meet.]
Well,the assembled audience outside our house [Mum,Lucy,Morgz and Campbell,Jane and wee Johnny,Lena,Pauline,John,and the postman ],were treated to a fine display of our aquired cycling skills. Both of us fell over in the ford right outside our house,Jon first ,then me.....very slippy it is !and soaking wet we were. Luckily for us the actual moment has not been captured on film .
Arriving home was all a bit of a blur...where's Mum gone? Young Johnny has materialised from non existance before we went away...how did that happen?
This is a map of the trip.We left on 26th July 2009,arrived home on 1st Nov 2010,and cycled a total of 29,215 kms, [even though a Kazak border official told us that a bicycle "is NOT a means of transport "] .The train bit across Russia was probably about 6000kms [and if we hadnt taken it we would only just now be leaving Russia,which as it is definitely winter there now is probably just as well we did ]What have we learnt.? That the world is a truly wonderful place ,and people EVERYWHERE are incredibly kind and generous.We all should insist that it is looked after better ,and shared out more fairly.
We may have to get back on our bikes and check out some more of it ..........
THE END.
Origins of the 'Species'!
ReplyDeleteSo, there you are, back at the start point. After a couple of Theakstons, a Cumberland sausage and mash, you'll be ready for the next leg! Janet would love to say 'Well done, chaps, etc' but I can't be persuaded to explain how to do this. Following the trip has been a lot of fun for us and we've kept the kids at school informed and answered their questions as best we could. Our hope is that you will return one day so that we can offer our congratulations in person and share a raki or three! Warmest best wishes, A&J
ps being a smart-arse I've just sent this message to myself, much to Janet's joy!