Wrong Way Round

We’re Coming Home… We’re Coming Home!

stephen — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:13:06 +0000

They say the last 5% of any trip is the most dangerous and believe us the wind and gails on the way up from Dun Loghaire to Holywood stood as testimony to that addage. After over 4000 miles of tarmac and dirt we are finally back in Holywood, at the Green House.

To say at this point we are exhausted is an understatement and the thought of our own homes, beds and particularly bathrooms is heavenly. Family are glad to see us and we are certainly glad to see them… time to sign off now and spend some time with loved ones. We’ll be back blogging after the weekend with pic updates and lots more… must rest, thanks everybody, going to collapse now!

We’re Definately Back in Britain

stephen — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:00:45 +0000

Well here we are, back in Britain. familiar roads, number plates and ice cream vans. Sterling required. Managed to cover a few miles yesterday afternoon after arriving in portsmouth, crashed in Lichfield last night and today we’re blasting through Wales to Holyhead to get our early afternoon crossing to Dun Loaghaire. Thens it’s a run from South to Northern Ireland in time for tea… or something like that… if we arrive in Holywood, NI on Sunday bedragled and broken don’t be surprised.

It’s been a long hard 15 days so far but it has been fabulous… 4200 miles in 15 days, that works out at about 295 miles a day… not bad going maybe we could give Charley & Ewan a run for their money! Thanks as always to all our supporters and sponsors, you are all legends!

Thanks Shean Dickson Merrick

Thanks Bell Architects

Mr Whippy

Homeward Bound… Au Revoir Paris

stephen — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:04:53 +0000

And thats it, today’s our last day on the continent before returning to old blighty. Paris to Le Harve today then the ferry and it’s all nearly over. Just a short scoot through mainland UK and we’re home… Mixed feeling all round after such a grueling but exhilarating trip! Thanks to everybody who has supported us, we hope we have managed to give you all a mention in our road side blogging. None of this would have been possible without the masses of support we have received from everybody at home and along the way!

More anecdotes to tell than could ever be blogged and loads more great pics for home! Let’s hope we finish our last legs when we’re on our last legs! By the way… anybody noticing marked similarities in most of the pictures of Alan… there seems to be a common culinary theme!

Thanks Ardell

Thanks Choux Choux

The Healthy Option

Parisian Craic To Ease The Aches

stephen — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:00:43 +0000

It would be a crime to finish our journey without having taken in some of the Parisian culture on our way through. A big city feel very odd after so much time tripping through continental rural villages and scenic country roads but the buzz is great. We both reckon that the last few legs to get here on the way down from Cadiz have been the most trying of our journey so far so terra firma for a day or so is delightful.

These are the last few days for us so some Parisian banter will be gratefully welcomed before we get back on the road for the final stretch. Thanks everybody who is following and supporting us on this monumental journey for the two barmy builder from Northern Ireland.

Window Dancer

Robin Hood

Piano Man

Paris… Just About Here In One Piece!

stephen — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:00:51 +0000

It took some grit and determination but we made it, the unexpectedly toughest leg of our journey to date I think… can’t even remember when we started all this. What a night of riding, and we thought it was starting to become rough going at 4pm yesterday, things only went one way from there, downhill, and that’s not a bikers metaphore for going well!

But as always we have managed to make it in one piece, no broken bones but bruised behinds and battered bodies, something we are becoming well used to at this point in our journey. So this is it really, our last big stop on route back to Northern Ireland… sad in a way as it has all gone so fast, but so satisfying to have covered so much ground and achieved so much.

You're A Tourist, Really?

Hmmm Translate

Thanks Bank Of Ireland

Exhaustion… And we’re not even in Paris yet!

stephen — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:00:40 +0000

As we wind our way back towards home from Cadiz our next landmark stop is going to be gay Paris!… and boy are we feeling the pressure now. Those of you following us on Twitter, if you don’t already know it - www.twitter.com/wrongwayround, will be aware that the last few days have been taking their toll on both of us.

Possibly the couple of off road excursions were not the best of ideas after a few nights of tent sleeping accommodation (uncomfortable, noisy, not really sleep at all). Also the weather might not have assisted as we tried to emulate local NI motocross star Gordon Crockard on French dirt tracks.

Suffice to say Paris is now less than 200 miles away and as the side winds blast us we are beat but not beaten… lets just hope we make it in one piece!

Exhaustion Setting In

Our Offroad Experience

I'm Done!

A Short Subway Story!

stephen — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:24:42 +0000

For those of you who have been following our regular tweets on www.twitter.com/wrongwayround you may be puzzled by our regualr references to ‘finding subways’… just to clear this up, we are not constantly looking for a tunnel underneath a road to sleep in after a hard days biking!

Our kind sponsors Karen & Ger are owners of several Subway hot food franchises back in sunny Northern Ireland and have challenges the pair of us to eat at least three Subway sandwiches as we cross the continent. Unfortunately Karen & Ger we have been on the road from Holywood to Cadiz and have only now found one on our return legs so here you go… a massive plug for Karen, Ger and Subway Belfast!

I Love Subway

One Sub Coming Up

Tweet, tweet! Follow the Birdie in Barcelona

stephen — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:15:40 +0000

Hello and thanks to all our Twitter followers! For those of you who havn’t yet found the joy of twittering look up in the top right corner of this page and you will be able to see a short update, probably with a picture attached, from Alan and I on the road. So far we have almost 100 followers on the social networking site from software technicians in Australia to bearded bikers in Holland.

You can always log on here to view our latest update or go to www.twitter.com/wrongwayround to see what we have been up to for the last few hours, days or since the very start of our trip. All our twitter pics from our magic iphones are relayed to our gallery page which you can view from the button above or by clicking here.

Thanks again to everybody we know, those we are meeting along the way and followers from afar for all your support, please keep it coming - it’s gonna be a long way home!

Here are some pics from our latest tweets while we have been in Barcelona

Creepy but Good

Really Creepy and Weird

A Bit More Traditional

Richard, your Orange Awaits!

stephen — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:32:31 +0000

A short blog note for Richard at Hemsec SIPS. We have your hand picked Valencian orange safely packed to be delivered to you on our return. Still tearing towards Barcelona so this entries going to be short, one thing though, throughout our trip we have noticed someboy who has been following us. Check out the pics below and let us know if you have seen him before.

Richards Orange

Who's This Fella?

There He Is Again!

On Route to Barcelona… Viva Espania

stephen — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:00:09 +0000

Rest over, back on the road again, now heading at a rate of knots in the general direction of Barcelona. A quick stop in Valencia will get Richard from Hemsec the orange he has requested and then it will be some serious tarmac time until we reach Spain’s cultural capital for another short rest. We’re starting to feel the pressure getting back on the bikes after our previous rest stop as our muscles readjust to a battering daily.

We’ll only be having a short pit stop in Barcelona and then the next big target ahead is Paris… Gotta keep the heads down and get back into the rhythm… thanks to all our sponsors!

Thanks PJ Lynch

Thanks Groucott Moore

Thanks Bell Chem