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PREPARATIONS
MAY
Four weeks ago a man appeared at my office window carrying a cardboard
box. Sign language ensued.
"Can they fit a bike in here?" he pointed.
"You bet", I nodded, with a smile on my face.
The bicycle had been delayed in Customs for a few days but now it
sat in the corner of the room waiting to be assembled. It takes
a lot of willpower to carry on with a work project while a new bike
is imprisoned in a container nearby. It's like Christmas Eve.
Late that evening I took my time unpacking and assembling the green
bicycle - the craftsmanship and attention to detail a credit to
the team at Bradford on Avon.
It was midnight when I took the bike outside, all my neighbours
where asleep, and I raced down the road to the sea. Cycling down
the esplanade with the moonlight dancing on the waves, I rode for
half an hour before reluctantly heading home to bed. I was up early
the next morning and fitted the front pannier rack - it's a great
design, just a couple of minutes and two bolts. The Vaude panniers
clipped on, and off I went again - riding up into the hills before
breakfast. The road winds up the mountainside through thick rainforest.
In the darkness before dawn, trees and vines form an eerie corridor
while overhead flying foxes swoop like Tolkien's Nazguls. I stopped
to make some adjustments to the saddle position and watched the
sunrise over the ocean. I relish moments like these and feel a stillness
of spirit that is often lost in our busy lives. The reward - descending
at great speed, a smile on my face. Gripping onto the mosquito bars
the steering is responsive, we overtake a flock of screeching Rainbow
Lorikeets and head home for a well earned breakfast.
3 WEEKS TO GO
The NS has seen some long days on the road through all kinds of
terrain and we're almost ready to go to North America in 3 weeks
time. I sat down with my checklist today. It's split into 3 parts
- work stuff, home stuff and trip stuff. I didn't want the 'Home
Alone' scenario! As I was reading my list the radio was playing
a country music song "... the road I've been on since I was
two, I just found out it don't go through ... !" I hope this
wasn't an omen.
It is a far cry from my journey on a Moulton in 1970. No communication
apart from postcards and letters and no commitments. Global news
would filter through by word of mouth. I had just finished 3 years
study at Art College during cultural changes of the late sixties
- flower power, The Beatles, the Vietnam war - but on my bicycle
I was in another world. When you spend months pedaling towards distant
horizons the journey is not just physical but spiritual. There were
times of sickness and despair when I would have gladly thrown my
bike in a ditch and flown home. There were also days of bliss -
surreal landscapes, friendly people and good health. It was, in
essence, a journey to a new life. I often tell people that when
I visited England years later my Mother said "where have you
been? I sent you down to the shop to get a loaf of bread five years
ago!".
I enjoy the reading and replying to e-mails from people all over
the world via this web site. Unconditional offers of help and accommodation,
questions about Moulton bikes and cyclists sharing knowledge and
experiences.
It's a shame to leave tropical north Queensland in June (our winter).
Around 28°C in the daytime and 15°C at night - perfect!
The Gallery page has some photographs
of this region - come here for your next holiday!
 Monday,
10 June
Drifting through the day in a state of jet-lag euphoria - 36 hours
travelling time from North Queensland - I am finally at my brother's
house on beautiful Salt Spring Island BC.
3am at Cairns Airport and the 747 is delayed for 4 hours with mechanical
problems. This is followed by an inflight movie with Britney Speers
dubbed in Japanese - could things get worse? Transit in Fiji and
Customs decided to unpack all my panniers, bike bag and bike box.
As cyclists will realise it is a work of art packing this gear and
so I somehow managed to keep my cool while all my possessions were
spread across a bench in front of a few dozen onlookers. I quickly
repacked everything but somehow the bags seemed bulkier and I wondered
why passengers in transit should have to go through this ordeal.
My brother Alan is a retired university professor who has chosen
the simple life, like most residents on the island. He lives in
a house with his partner Vivian with a postcard view of the mountains
and lake - no TV, grows vegetables and is passionate about playing
the guitar, folk music and soccer. We must confess to going to a
neighbours house today to watch the World Cup on television - France,
the champions, lost their game against Denmark.
Tuesday, 11 June
Tonight England is playing Nigeria - I chose the wrong time to start
this journey!
I went for a ride today and was surprised to see so many cyclists,
pedestrians and hitch-hikers. The road snaked along the Fulford
inlet; the scent of pine and seaweed, fishing boats bobbing on their
moorings and the occasional seal surfacing to say hello. Although
the Island is a beautiful location for cycling, the roads have no
shoulders making it a bit tricky. But, having said that, the motorists
here seem to understand that we have every right to share the highways
and byways.
 Wednesday,
12 June
A reporter dropped around to get a story on the 'Marathon' journey
and the ride starting tomorrow. Off to the main town on the Island,
Ganges, to get some household supplies. Visited the local bike shop
where the owner knew all about Moulton Bicycles. We visited the
lumber yard, recycling depot and the local health shop to buy lots
of nuts and dried fruit for snacks on the ride. The community is
very friendly - lots of bear hugs and smiles! We watched England
play a very disappointing game of soccer in the World Cup (on video)
and it's now midnight - I'm sitting in front of the monitor when
I should be asleep. Up at 5am tomorrow to catch the early ferry!
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Gallery
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