My One and Only Piece of Hand Luggage

It is an account of my fifteen cycling trips in many different countries in the world. As a man in my late fifties, I was more than aware that I had to improve my overall fitness. After cycling around my local area, I felt that I needed a change of scenery. So I embarked on a 4 day, 322km trip from the north of my beloved Wales to the south. This fired up in me a desire to explore more of what the world could offer. Completing a 525km cycling trip along the Normandy coastline of France, gave me a good idea of what I would have to cope with while cycling in my first foreign country. Thankfully, it gave me the confidence to look further afield. But first I had to attempt what I thought was a huge undertaking and that was cycling solo nearly a 1600km from John O'Groats to Lands End. Luckily, I completed it without any problems and it certainly opened up to a whole new world of possibilities for me. My next trip would be a long 1117km from Dunkirk to Denmark. This required me to cycle through a little piece of France, on through Belgium, through the flat lands of Holland, up through Germany and on to Denmark. Attempting the historic Mille Millia parade of classic and vintage cars in Italy, turned out to be a very memorable, yet frustrating trip with me only completing half of the intended 805km due to inclement weather. That Italian setback didn't deter me from completing a 405km trip from Western Australia's capital of Perth through vast open spaces to Albany on the south coast. Cycling across Shikoku, Japan's forth largest island became a memory etched into my soul. Full of spectacular scenery and cultural beauty. Closer to home, a trip with my wife Sue around the North Antrim coast proved to be a spectacularly ride due to its stunning coastline and its welcoming locals. My teenage dream came true as I cycled around the hustle and bustle that is Hong Kong. The stark, unforgiving landscape of Iceland proved to be a breath of fresh air. The 298km circular loop of the Cabot trail in Nova Scotia had me huffing and puffing up through its stunning Highland National Park. My fears of a supported tour from Moscow to St Petersburg proved unfounded with an enjoyable trip full of surprises. My eyes were certainly opened, when I stayed in New Delhi, and the stunning Himalayan mountain vistas from Shimla took what little breath I had away. Eventually, 2023 saw me resume with a gentle reintroduction with me cycling around the midlands of the beautiful Emerald island of Eire.

I grew up on a small hill farm in Montgomeryshire, close to the Shropshire border. I spent 30 years working as a carpenter/joiner before spending eighteen years in the local college as a lecturer teaching carpentry. I live just outside a small village in a bungalow, which I built. I have been semi-retired since 2018, which allows me the time to indulge in my hobbies of cycling, traveling and woodworking projects, I feed my love of music by singing and playing guitar in various lineups. I am married with three daughters and three grandchildren.