It’s great to read your words on the expedition. The latest desert piece is amazing. I’ve always wanted to do a transcontinental cycle trip. When I eventually got to build my dream titanium touring bike 12 years ago, my knees packed in, chondromalacia patella being the name of the condition that threw a spanner in the works. I can’t imagine how I’d cycle the thing too far now as I had to convert it to an ebike.
When I read your blog updates, I enjoy the writing so much that I don’t want the article to finish. Then I wondered today, how your trip will finish. It’s never about the destination. I did a road trip across USA many years ago in an old Cadillac and my favorite parts were in the desert, Death Valley or White Sands in New Mexico. 53deg C and no aircon in the vintage big old car.
Reaching the destination is odd, especially when at home and then wanting to sleep on the ground and look at the stars.
Thanks for living and sharing so vividly the dream.
Thanks for the message Paul. I couldn’t agree more about the destination not being as important as the journey. I heard travel writer Paul Theroux talk about all travelling as a long way of going home. We’re always going home.
There have been experiences and people on this journey that have me thinking about cycling and accessibility. I’ve had some me thoughts about e-bikes on long cycles, and we met a couple in Romania who traveled across Australia on a power assisted recumbent bike with a solar panel roof. The cogs are turning in my head, it’s something I want to explore when I get home. Something for us to discuss at length over a cup of tea maybe?
This is an emotional one! The kindness of strangers is a balm in these times--thank you so much for sharing those moments. Massive kudos to you both. Keep on keepin' on!
Thanks for the message Kate. Hope you’re keeping well. Being on the receiving end of those kindnesses is incredibly humbling. We’ve been struck by how these acts of kindness are an integral part of Muslim culture. Being able experience and write about them is a privilege.
Will do Mark é Mark I'm actually heading to Newtown in a while, I'm playing on the decking of Molly's this Saturday afternoon so I've been trying to learn my own bloody songs. Go figure, I wrote them but can't remember how to play them, typically Irish Gobbshite. Be well both of ye nut jobs ye are really are globally rambling.
Well guys loving the blog and tales of your journey. Fair play it's a great look at the world through the eyes of the nicest head case I know and of course Ellie you have yer hands full with that fella. Much love and respect
Wow! That was quite the challenge! I can barely cope with the overheated bus back from the office on a day when it's 22 C. I am impressed that you got through that desert with 5 days of heat over 30 C! Well done to ye! The people you are meeting in all these countries are so wonderful. It shows just how much the world is the same the ways that matter. Kindness, friendliness, generosity, caring, what a gift.
This is one my favourite pieces from your adventures so far, and a remarkable journey for ye both. A fabulous piece of writing; make sure you submit it for some awards, I look forward to your in-person readings at Imramma or somewhere. I'm reading it on a sunny evening train back to Sligo from Dublin, marvelling at ye both (particularly Ellie, cause she's a woman contending with hormonal stuff, alongside environmental challenges - major respect Ellie!!)
Hey Sarah. Thanks for reading and for the comment. Great to hear from you. We’ve just finished cycling through another length of desert in Uzbekistan. Ellie is currently writing about it. A full days rest and a decent feed of spuds wouldn’t do us any harm at this stage :)
Great read, and what an adventure Mark - good to be reminded what is out there, and to be reminded too of the kindness or real people in these places beyond the headlines we read. Fair play to you and Ellie, keep on rollin along out there, safe travels!
Jeez, that was a tough ride! That heat!! Total respect pushing through that. It's incredible reading about your adventures, and the videos are superb - must take a good lot of thought and time as well as actually getting on with cycling itself. The beautiful kindness of all the people you meet must give you so much encouragement; hopefully the love and interest from us lazy bums at home also helps lol! xx
Keep it going Mark, Ellie ye are truly amazing .
Thanks Brian. The scout training ye gave us comes in very handy.
Well done lads. That was tough.
Thanks Martin. It was testing alright.
It’s great to read your words on the expedition. The latest desert piece is amazing. I’ve always wanted to do a transcontinental cycle trip. When I eventually got to build my dream titanium touring bike 12 years ago, my knees packed in, chondromalacia patella being the name of the condition that threw a spanner in the works. I can’t imagine how I’d cycle the thing too far now as I had to convert it to an ebike.
When I read your blog updates, I enjoy the writing so much that I don’t want the article to finish. Then I wondered today, how your trip will finish. It’s never about the destination. I did a road trip across USA many years ago in an old Cadillac and my favorite parts were in the desert, Death Valley or White Sands in New Mexico. 53deg C and no aircon in the vintage big old car.
Reaching the destination is odd, especially when at home and then wanting to sleep on the ground and look at the stars.
Thanks for living and sharing so vividly the dream.
Keep going.
Thanks for the message Paul. I couldn’t agree more about the destination not being as important as the journey. I heard travel writer Paul Theroux talk about all travelling as a long way of going home. We’re always going home.
There have been experiences and people on this journey that have me thinking about cycling and accessibility. I’ve had some me thoughts about e-bikes on long cycles, and we met a couple in Romania who traveled across Australia on a power assisted recumbent bike with a solar panel roof. The cogs are turning in my head, it’s something I want to explore when I get home. Something for us to discuss at length over a cup of tea maybe?
This is an emotional one! The kindness of strangers is a balm in these times--thank you so much for sharing those moments. Massive kudos to you both. Keep on keepin' on!
Thanks for the message Kate. Hope you’re keeping well. Being on the receiving end of those kindnesses is incredibly humbling. We’ve been struck by how these acts of kindness are an integral part of Muslim culture. Being able experience and write about them is a privilege.
Brilliant read... I don't know how ye kept going in that heat.
Stay safe :)
Thanks Wayne. It was the promise of pizza and cold drinks that did it 😊
Dude you should write a book :) Ye are both fucking inspirational and it looks breathtaking, be well and keep on rocking in the ..........
He did write a book lol check out a year of festivals in Ireland 🤘
Well Paul. You never know. Do me a favour and have a swim in the sea for me. I’m missing that!
Will do Mark é Mark I'm actually heading to Newtown in a while, I'm playing on the decking of Molly's this Saturday afternoon so I've been trying to learn my own bloody songs. Go figure, I wrote them but can't remember how to play them, typically Irish Gobbshite. Be well both of ye nut jobs ye are really are globally rambling.
Enjoy the swim, and if you make a mistake in one of your own songs, you can tell ‘em that’s how you wrote it!
That's the plan kazakhstan :)
Well guys loving the blog and tales of your journey. Fair play it's a great look at the world through the eyes of the nicest head case I know and of course Ellie you have yer hands full with that fella. Much love and respect
Thanks Tony. Takes one to know one! 😉
There’s two of us in it, Tony 😀 thanks for the kind words!
Wow! That was quite the challenge! I can barely cope with the overheated bus back from the office on a day when it's 22 C. I am impressed that you got through that desert with 5 days of heat over 30 C! Well done to ye! The people you are meeting in all these countries are so wonderful. It shows just how much the world is the same the ways that matter. Kindness, friendliness, generosity, caring, what a gift.
The kindness of people seems to be a recurring theme. We’re very thankful for it.
Mark
This is one my favourite pieces from your adventures so far, and a remarkable journey for ye both. A fabulous piece of writing; make sure you submit it for some awards, I look forward to your in-person readings at Imramma or somewhere. I'm reading it on a sunny evening train back to Sligo from Dublin, marvelling at ye both (particularly Ellie, cause she's a woman contending with hormonal stuff, alongside environmental challenges - major respect Ellie!!)
In awe of you both.
Safe travels,
Jennifer Allen x
Well Girl! Thanks so much for the message, that means a lot. I hope summer in the North West is going well. Ellie also has to contend with me!
Legends 🤘was that camel slash Conors!
I’d say it was Ssslash alright, and his buddy, Camel Toe Keogh!
Incredible lads!! More power to yas 💪
Thanks Girl 👊 Hope ye’re keeping well.
Well done lads, keep the faith and the fear to the minimum. You are being divinely guided and blessed along your journey for sure.
Feel the fear and do it anyway was a book that had a significant impact on my life when I really needed direction. I have my mother to thank for that.
Keep on truckin!
I had been really looking forward to reading about this leg of the journey and it didn’t disappoint!! Well done lads. You’re some legends.
Hey Sarah. Thanks for reading and for the comment. Great to hear from you. We’ve just finished cycling through another length of desert in Uzbekistan. Ellie is currently writing about it. A full days rest and a decent feed of spuds wouldn’t do us any harm at this stage :)
Great read, and what an adventure Mark - good to be reminded what is out there, and to be reminded too of the kindness or real people in these places beyond the headlines we read. Fair play to you and Ellie, keep on rollin along out there, safe travels!
Thanks Emmet. Great to hear from you. I hope yourself and the family are keeping well. There’s kindness all around. We’ll make sure to pass it on.
Jeez, that was a tough ride! That heat!! Total respect pushing through that. It's incredible reading about your adventures, and the videos are superb - must take a good lot of thought and time as well as actually getting on with cycling itself. The beautiful kindness of all the people you meet must give you so much encouragement; hopefully the love and interest from us lazy bums at home also helps lol! xx
Thanks Line. The videos and blog give us something to do when we’re hiding from the sun, which is what we’re doing right now!
Bravo both, you bumbling bell ends 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
There y’are now Moz! 😂 Good to have you on board.