It’s been great to read this over the last few months, seeing how it’s helped you deal with your loss has given me a lot of hope for dealing with my own grief. Resetting your thinking in the way you describe I’ve found to be very helpful, if very hard to do, at least at first.
Resetting your thinking in the way you describe I’ve found to be very helpful, if very hard to do, at least at first.
It is and it feels odd but for me at least it works. It seems you get a better effect if you say it out loud. The other one I use is when I get flashbacks to Julie's last month. ( ptsd type symptoms) I say " Im proud of what I did" and that has definitely reset my thinking after many repetitions.
That's interesting you describe that as PTSD like, I have same with Sue's last few days and last hour especially, I thought I was being over dramatic to think of them in those terms.
Anyway back to the happy thoughts...with your inspiration I've got the tourer and panniers out of mothballs to start thinking of doing the long tour we had planned before Covid and then MND hit us.
Crewlie
There are a few of us in similar situations. Maybe we should arrange a misery meet up and ride at some point🙄🤣🤔
Great idea, a ‘crying into our beers ride’ 🤣
Well thats that then. The last days riding done. Im camped up just outside Santander.
Of course the randomiser had to throw a few spanners in the works. I kept losing the via verde in towns and the rather than turning off a couple of kilometers from the end I rode it right down to the end where it comes to an abrupt end at a fence. 🙄🤣.
Then followed a very weird google maps route to the campsite going thru the docks, trying to send me down motorways, thru a homeless encampment and over unnecessary hills. Finally made it to the campsite and it's closed for the season. Bugger. Retrace my route a few miles to the other campsite. Thats open and has a bar on site. So much for an easy short dsy today
I am knackered. I can hardly walk as I have tweaked a muscle in my leg. Its about 16 weeks since i last slept in my own bed. Must be well over 3000miles now. Ill be glad to get home.
Pics in a bit
Glad you're nearly there at the ferry.
Enjoy Santander for the day - we found a place selling ace ice-cream near the waterfront, and another cafe in the showy 'glass box' on the waterfront which was not as expensive as it looked - but was great to people and boat watch the last couple of hours to the ferry out of the (40*c!) sun.
Superb trip, well done! It definitely counts as an epic and as many others have said, it’s been interesting to follow the trip. Safe journey home…
Ferry is delayed unill 11pm which is an utter pai but does mean i have tomorrow in Santander
I have really enjoyed your adventure updates, tjagain. Feeling a bit sad that it is over but want to wish you all the best and thank you for the posts and photos. 🙂
Enjoy your day in Santander tomorrow and bon voyage for the ferry trip back to Blighty.
I make that beer o'clock
Hopefully some hakfwaw decenr scran
Go on push the boat out and order yoursel a Chuleton. Can't beat a big lump of cow.
When do you reckon you’ll get back to Edinburgh and at what time? Do you want me to get you some bread and milk?
Wednesday evening Paul. How long does it take to drive from Plymouth? I pick the car up Wednesday morning
Dont worry about bread and milk. Ta for tbe thought tho. I should be back early enough. Most kind of you tho.
You could carry me and tbe kit up the stairs🤣
According to Google 8 hours 9 minutes by car 11 hours 51 minutes by train and 156 hours walking😃
You can carry your own smelly kit up the stairs😈
This thread has been an inspiration on so many levels TJ. Well done and thanks.Your efforts have kept our dreams alive. (even if you didn't stop in Milton Keynes!)
A little bit of advice from a friend who has sailed the Santander ferry many times.....
if the Tina Turner tribute act sits on your lap during "her" performance, don't be flattered. Just run a mile. Think the scene in the bar in the first Crocodile Dundee movie. I think you know where I am coming from???
Ask me how I know 🙂
Safe trip home TJ. Hope our paths will cross again one day. Was a pleasure to have shared a small part of your adventure with you.
Ta
Safe trip home fella. Following your adventures has been an inspiration.
Fantastic fella. Thank you for all the effort posting this stuff
Perhaps the Tina Turner tribute act could give tjs tweaked muscle a massage.Hopefully,not whilst sat on his lap!
Very well done mate by the way.Cheers.
Get yourself a note pad and a handful of pens in Santander tomorrow, write down more memories or your trip while they are fresh.
Then start planning the next trip, and the one after that...
Nothing specific to add, but another one here who's really enjoyed reading about your adventures. Safe travels home!
Am also another one that's gutted your trip is coming to an end TJ, your threads have been great these last few months and have enjoyed 'catching up' with your travels throughout. Safe trip home. Where's next?
Hope the ferry back is not too rough. I really would not want the last memory of such an epic journey being hanging over the side feeding the fish.
Take care on the drive back too.
Where’s next?
Hopefully to fulfil a bucket list thing of riding a bike on the frozen yukon river. Im not riding there tho.
Currently sitting on Santander waterfront
I know someone who can help you out with the stiffness and aching after too much riding. I've found that cycling is pretty bad for posture, flexibility and adaptability if you do too much, as you get older.
Is it Tina Turner?
I have thoroughly enjoyed your threads TJ, and am majorly looking forward to 'Frozen in the Yukon' episode.
Alongside some other changes in life, it is confirming to me that life is too short to not take such opportunities. I am currently plotting various holidays and perhaps even longer opportunities for mrs_oab and I to travel some more.
How is Santander today? Long wait for the ferry...
(And Magic Seaweed shows a pretty smooth sailing. 👍 )
Ta moley🙄🤔🤣
The tweaked adductor is really sore. I can hardly walk. I can still ride tho.2🤣
Good time of year for whale watching, shame your departure time means the Bay of Biscay will be at night.
Well done TJ.I think you've set a good example.
Yep, another one here who has enjoyed every post of the journey!
Safe journey back North and thanks for the long form story in short daily episodes. Been whole summer of travelogue.
My neighbours saw a family of killer whales in the bay of biscay 2 weeks ago so keep a look out for the pointy black dorsal fins.
Thank you tj.
Been a highlight of the day for the last few months.
On the boat and its under way.
Im not gonna see owt. Its pitch black🙄🤣
The delay means i can't get home tomorrow night as i can't pick my hire car up. Ive been to customer services to tell them this and to say my reading of the t&c is that they have to find me accommodation in Plymouth.
Nowt they can do on the boat of course but they have emailed the relevant folk and I'll find out tomorrow what head office has to say.
Otherwise its Plymouth campsite i guess
Is there actual boat-based internet access or are you just still close enough to shore?
Safe return to Scotland tj and hope the car gets sorted out easily. Have very much enjoyed your posts and pics over the last few months. Good luck with planning your Yukon adventure, that should be quite an experience.
TJ your posts have been a throughly enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing 👍👍👍👍👍
Good luck with your next adventure and hope you post about it.
Safe travels home.
Is there actual boat-based internet access or are you just still close enough to shore?
The boat has free, slow, WiFi in public areas.
You can of course upgrade for a substantial fee... 🙄
Wooohooo
Seen loads of dolphins and maybe a pod of orca
Im excited
What's next then, TJ? Did your walk along a few kms of the Compostelle route inspire? You mentionned lacking company a couple of times. On either El Camino Francès or Camino del Norte there's so much company it's sometimes nice to be on your own. I enjoyed the walks as much if not more than any cycle touring I've done. It's quite nice not having a bike to look after when I fancy walking around a cathedral, museum or whatever. Towns become an attraction rather than a headache.
By the time I was free local engagements you were heading to meet Doug so we didn't get to meet. He was no doubt far better company than me. 😉
Shame we didn't get to meet.
I did enjoy the bit of walking but it made the arthritis in my feet flare up badly unfortunately. I need to find some way of dealing with that if i am to do longvwalks in thw future
I need some time to absorb it all really before i decide whats next
I'm back in blighty. I set off from the ferry port on the wrong side of the road.🙄🤣 Im in a posh hotel just outsidethe port. Drive home tomorrow.
Ferry company refused to pay for my hotel but offered me 25% off my ticket which is hakf the cost.
I shall continue to pester them hoping for more.
Pint of ipa to hand.
Enjoy the IPA. Loved reading your reports.
I’m back in blighty.
Did no one tip off the border force? Dammit. 😉
Safe drive north TJ!
I'm home. Thats it - its all over.
I'm shattered and wired on red bull after a fairly epic drive north. Motorways congested from south of Birmingham to North of Manchester. Whatever the A road out of Plymouth is was horrible - raining and busy. Maybe I should have overnighted somewhere but I just wanted to get home
My own bed tonight and some clean clothes
weeeeeeeeeeeeee
My own bed tonight and some clean clothes
weeeeeeeeeeeeee
Hope you made it to the toilet for that long wee, rather than soil your nice bed!
Congrats and thanks for the journal.
Great stuff. Nothing quite like getting into your own bed.
Welcome back to lovely autumnal Scottish minging weather...
Nooooo! Think that means I'm actually going to have to work now, been enjoying your travel expeditions and daily updates to escape the hum-drum.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed your own bed and being back in Scotland. Thanks for taking us all with you on your travels
Great adventure, I've enjoyed following along.
Another many thanks for your uplifting blog of your travels TJ.
Glad you are back in one piece, the forum will be poorer for not having your latest update to catch up on.
I'm in awe of your stamina to manage to stay out on the road for such a long tour. I find I'm ready to go home after just a couple of weeks, so have followed your progress with much interest.
Once the dust has settled a bit, maybe you would consider letting us know what you'd change for next time, along with any tips or knowledge gained on the way.
Nooooo! Think that means I’m actually going to have to work now, been enjoying your travel expeditions and daily updates to escape the hum-drum.
Anyone volunteering to do the next travelogue?
I'd like to add my thanks for this post.
You mentioned earlier wanting to do the Rhein-Danube route. You will be welcome to rest up in Augsburg, or have a riding partner for a day if you do.
Another ‘thanks for the thread’ from me - kept me sane over the last few weeks with everyone’s contributions too. I’m going to go back to the start of your journey now as I only joined part way through.
Cheers
Yep also adding my thanks for the thread 🙂
Someone bumped it - I don't have to 🙂 . I am bereft ( and half pissed) without my daily updates to do and then waiting and see if / what people post
Where do I get my ego boost now?
Ta again chaps. Its been a two way thing and I have appreciated it. thanks
