Happy New Year to both John and Bish, hope you saw it in style!!! Time to get down to writing that blog now and putting your photos up - we are all waiting.
Keep well all our love Dad,(Peter) and Mum (Annie)
What you’re doing is totally brilliant. I happen to have stumbled upon John’s sister Helen on my travels with my bicycle, one of my introductory lines being “can you help me stow my bicycle” upon the Trans-Mongolian train. Needless to say she told me about your adventure and your very long hair amongst other things.
Unfortunately injury has prevented me from doing quite the mileage I intended and budget prevented the passage by ship from Asia to New Zealand so I took the plane and spent many more fun hours on adventures with Helen.
I see you’re off to South America in April. Sounds like a blast. If the knee improves I’d be tempted to come along for the ride!
Merry Christmas everybody. I have been planning a big blog/picture/video update but want to do it all at once and can’t right now so it will be a couple of days more. Have a few beers while you wait.
He will kill me if I tell, but John is here in Lapland getting ready for his big night on 24th Dec. Reindeer well fed, parcels wrapped, and bags packed.
I am going into hiding now
Little Green Elf
John, I think you may have created a new sport ‘Bison chased cycling’. I don’t think it would work in the UK with cows, but if you replaced the bison with red buses, it pretty much already occurs in London. More good action photos please, keep pedaling.
Hi Guys, I am one of the teachers you met in Fort Nelson who took the bags to FSJ. Have been following along…..looking for some new adventure stories. I am amazed at the buffalo story….wow..I wouldn’t have gone anywhere near that. Keep trek’n guys!
I found a new few messages in the ‘to be approved’ section, not sure how they got there and they are now a little out of order but anyway, they are now ‘approved’. It’s cool to hear from so many of my hosts from the hospitality highway - just an amazing stretch.
…and your story reminded me of a time recently when I sat down in a posh restaurant and they brought out a toppling pile of meats, cheeses and other tasty-looking snacks. I was told to “eat it all” to which I responded that it was a tall hors d’oeuvre.
hey Jean-Marc, do you remember that photo of the tents inside tents and you said it was a tenty paradigm shift and I have been thinking it over for a while, trying to settle on the perfect pun response and here it is - my dreams that night were indeed intents.
Hi John and Tom
Great blog, keep up the good work.
I met you in Tignes in the Chalet Chardons, in 2007, before your trip. And I’ve just discovered that I know John’s mother Anne from a while back. My parents were good friends with Dick and Topsy Woodwark and we would meet up as children, Nigel, Anne, Julia and Kate, along with my brother Jeremy and my cousins Peter and Joanna. Mainly playing table tennis. And when the next (your) generation came along and my mother took her grandchildren Anna and Rosie on holiday, she went with Topsy and Topsy’s grandchildren, including Sarah and John.
Anyway … good luck with the next stage.
hey, fellas. great blog, john, think your mom’s reading about going 55kph down a mountain pass in the rain and dark? yikes. hey, i just posted a bunch of mongolia pics on facebook (i think anyone can see them). i tagged jake in some photos but does anyone have his info so they can tell him (or me?) it’s Anslund innit? keep to the hospitality highway and don’ ttake off that muffler and maybe you will get abducted by UFOs (they tend to go for muffler types)…
Hey John, remember us, you stayed at our place last night at the Westwick Ranch. We met at my bar “Annie’s Place”. It sure was a pleasure meeting you and learning about your cause. We wish you well and will be following your journey. Take care bud, hope the weather doesn’t get too harsh too soon.
Hi John, I just want to tell you how much my sister enjoyed your company and stories. It is wonderful that you brought a ray of life to her day. Your tour and cause seems wonderful and on behalf of my sister, my children and I made a donation to your cause. Take care and keep up the wonderful work and bringing joy to the lives of others.
Best blog so far I think. I love the feeling of riding in the dark…..last time I did it I was very drunk and had no lights (which is why I slept in someone’s garden in the frost) but it is soothing and the bike seems to fly that bit faster.
Went out on Friday for a drink with a couple of people from school, locked dad’s bike (left mine in Cornwall by mistake) and my friend’s together, went for a few bevvies, then found out the lock had been cut, his bike had been nicked but dad’s had been left. Phheeewwweeee pappa.
Take it easy brother,
Bish…. What’s this your Mum and Dad speak about you, John and a certain burlesque bar?!!!! I caught them on Cherry Hinton Road a couple of weeks ago- now I bet you haven’t seen a hill as steep as that in a while have you pal?
Sounds fun mate! Missing you, but what a trip- and I thought my ride over the lake district was epic last week.
Keep on doing what you’re doing. Remember to pull your left brake lever when attempting a ‘Raleigh Activator’ type skid, the other could land you in a whole world of trouble, especially in the Yukon.
Hey John!! It was so nice to meet you! It’s always nice to meet people that aren’t from here. I read your blog and your trek down from Whitehorse sounds pretty amazing. I’ve done it in a car but I bet it’s a totally different experience when your cycling. You guys stay safe and keep warm!
John:You are amazing! Competing with wood bison! Olympics here you come!
Tom: Your Great Great Aunt May swore by her knitted knee warmers. Get knitting!
Our love to you both.
John and Bish,
Depuis mes vacances en france, bonne chance? J’ai aussi rencontré par hasard Rich au marché à Borough Market - London, il etait amusant.
John … the hair!! What happened! Thanks for trying to call, sorry I missed it. Am finishing up here in a couple of weeks and then … who knows?! Not sure where/what I’m doing next. S xxxx
Hi J and T: Crista looks great, go for it Tom. A bit of romance on the road no harm it that. The question we should be asking is Tom / John is sex like riding a bike…. do you never forget?.. Tee hee. Came on you were all thinking it. I will leave it there as this is a family show after all. Wrap up warm, Whitehorse looks cold.
John, well done for your first and sucessful ironman, have you recovered yet? I myself got a bit of a taste for cycle touring recently when I took my bike up to Edinburgh recently, with all my kit strapped to the back, mind you I went by caledonian sleeper train. Keep pedalling
I just read an article that shows I don’t necessarily need to do exercise to get fit, I just have to believe that I am doing exercise. Yesterday I ran from dawn to dusk, plus I cycled to New York and back.
Hey John-
A friends husband picked up a training trick from his UFC fighter friend. Get a big tire (tyre) from Les Schwabb and hammer it with a big hammer. I am not even joking…this is what he does in his backyard much to the dismay of his wife…
You boys are so close, let’s get together for a beer (or something gross and nutritious for you). I’ll come to you wherever you are.
Numbnuts - did you ever pick up my message off facebook?! Or are you just ignoring me in my hour of need ;o)
Hope your training is going well, good on you for beating the dog, he was at an advantage - having a copywrited stroke an’ all.
I think I might join you both as I am a proficient boat person now! Also how about everybody puts in some money and John gets his hair and beard shaved off!!
A wise move heading back down South me thinks. If you want the good doctors medical opinion i can send an e mail home if you like but i imagine he will be typically sympathetic and the respnse may not be as comforting as the $60 an hour doctor you saw. Still, at least the other ankle is holding it together.
Wise decision indeed. Good luck with the intermission. This is useful information, which I can now use as verbal ammo to the many here in London who still ask about your adventures. M
You asked and we answered. I go with the Ferry option. Both go to Seattle. John you can train and Tom can be your Chief supporter. AND God for bid Tom needs additional medical attention then Seattle better. AND you both liked Seattle very well… On writing this I read below…you GO Moma John.
Good decision!! Now get down to some serious training John, and Tom you had better sleep, read, play games and generally have a good time and keep pushing John to train harder.
We slept on the decision last night and woke to an angry man swearing at us about how he hates all tourists. We calmly explained to him that we didn’t give a shit what he thought and he left. Anyway, our decision is made. We will take the ferry back to Washington tomorrow, returning back here to complete the ride from mid-September. Progress so far this year: 800 miles.
I think that the best idea was the beer. These are some serious troubles man…but you will figure it out. When you or Tom need a place to stay around, you are welcome to stay with me in Redmond, ok?
they were back in court today Rich, bloody bikes. I don’t know what to do about it - they can’t be trusted. They always have an excuse at the ready though and will be acquitted again I shouldn’t wonder.
OK JM, now I have finished the course I CAN SEND YOU SOMETHING OUT. Where can I send it? Alaska looks amazing. I want to raft the Yukon all the way from source to mouth. I think there may be a few huge rapid sections along the way. Mum went canoeing with me the other day to check out the Wye. There was a lot of water flowing but mum was hardcore, gungho all the way. Right on. Laters,
Alright boyos, good to hear you’re back in the saddle if occasionally rupturing your prostate and tires on route to Beaver Creek. Sounds like the good life has well and truly returned! Good crack!
ha!! great race there, john. i’m in vancouver at the moment for a family reunion next week at whistler. then i don’t know what. glad you guys are back on the road giving beardos a bad name. do well you two. -nk
When Muslim preachers first started making inroads into the black community, they were helped by a prevailing sentiment of Afro- Asian solidarity and internationalism. Some of the earliest Muslim preachers to arrive in America in the 1900s were mission…
I’ts midsummers eave…again. One year since you two were here and made ouer evning a rare and special event. It will most likely not be as fun here in North Sweden without you to this year. just remember what my good friend Dennis told John last year when we were playing crocket “in Sweden we don’t use horses”. good luck to you the rest of the way. hope to see you for next years midsummers eave.
come back 4 your hat. please. there was a girl with curly hair who lived on saltspring and told john to quit charity and be selfish and stay and pick rocks forever and keep spare tires in his beard. and play with the girls curly hair.
sounds fun.
i promise.
hmph
Yazminash, by your radio silence i guess you guys must be on the tug up North. Drop me an e mail with an update or comedy photo’s when you can. Bish has your arm recovered yet? John boy, what the hell have you done to your hair!? Pony tail? Mans man indeed.
Tom: OUCH!
John: You go to sleep with Herbie. How cool! I am following your adventures you both seem pretty relaxed in the North America / Canada bored. Would’t be surprised in years to come that you settle here. Can’t wait for the next bit of the journey.
Dude, I will be having my tooths done that day but call me about 8ish my time and I should be finished and done with. Or is that done and finished with. Who gives a fark. Chainsaws are fun but saws are cooler. Both literally and in terms of their relative standing in the retro and green movements. Six wheeled buggies - are those for triplets?
Well, it looks like I’m going to get a couple of weeks’ work in before our ferry to Alaska. It is out on Salt Spring Island, on an organics farm. it does mean I’m going to miss all of Tom’s going-away parties in Seattle though. I leave tonight
Buckinghamshire, although Gavin Henson is from Warwickshire.
Texas became a state of the union in 1845 according to my research team. The state/commonwealth thing is quite pedantic but a good way to annoy people who claim to be able to name all the states in America.
Massachusetts, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Virginia (and Puerto Rico and the Northern Marianas) are commonwealths. By the way Alaska is the most eastern state.
Which 4 are not states in your 46 states of America? The CIA reckon there are 50. Two are not connected directly (Alaska and Hawaii) but that still leaves another 2. ?????????????
yes (Tom’s) mother Jean, I remember Jezza well. I was asked to go on air a couple of weeks ago and then I was canceled a couple of hours before the show. If I had known Jezza’s history I might have guessed that would happen.
Your facts John were fascinating. Triv Per will never be the same!
Here is another fact for you both, gleaned from Radio Cambridgeshire today. Jeremy Sallis (remember him?) was made to stand in the naughty corner, aged 4, for taking adult playing cards into class. A totally useless bit of infomation that you might need some day.
Hi, How are you. Here is first of may and everybody keep fun. My some friends is maybe drink too much, but anyway. Keep fun there and you look like santas.
Ricardo Kongus, it came as a surprise to me too. Pure water and ice have an intrinsic colour: pale blue. This is neither from light scattering (as with the sky) nor from impurities. Every day’s a school day.
I look forward to meeting Sporan, which is ironically an anogram of “no pars”.
I think we both know that water is NOT blue. It’s all to do with Rayleigh scattering my friend. Likewise - the sky is NOT blue. Both do appear, at times, to be blue though. Also - DO go to Petas. She is crazy cool. And she has a dog called Sporan with no goolies. I think Sporan is a better name than Rolex. Maybe one has more irony than the other but I’m not sure which yet. I’m not sure if I’ve used irony the right way either but you can’t say yay or nay as only I know what I may or may not have been thinking of.
Sadly that sauce isn’t made from Dorset Nagas, which have a rating of about 1,600,000 Scoville heat units: tobasco sauce is rated at 2,140 units. But the hottest chilli sauce in the world is “Blair’s 16 million reserve”, which is pure capsicum crystals, and is rated at 16 million units. To be fair though you have to sign a waiver to buy that one and it is specifically “not a food product” (and it will cost you 300 pounds).
Of the 7 moons I mentioned, 6 of them are in large, non-standard orbits (at present). The planets don’t count as our moons as they do not orbit around Earth.
you’ll love having a pony tail, I did. If your thinking like that about the number of moons the Earth has, shorly its 8 (do you see what I am trying to say, and I’m not including the sun of course). I think I tried the hottest chilli in the world and ate a hole teaspoon of it, remember! The facts are good.
If all goes well I will never see Swindon again. I actually can’t see anything anymore without tying my hair up. It looks pretty cool and very masculine. It’s not yet a pony tail so hold off on the ‘under every pony tail…’ line. Who liked the fun facts?
A year in and about half way round the world so not bad going for a 2 year trip. John - absolutely love the conspiracy theory lectures, maybe get a few scientology ones in on your way down. Catch up with you both soon. Good luck breaking in the saddle! Tom (desert rat)
Well done guys! You left Cambridge 365 days ago! Does it really take that long to grow that much hair? You’ll be able to make your own jumpers soon! Keep up the good work.
Mum and Dad (Tom’s)
Your Weird Beard pic was passed round at Harewood Downs Golf Club to break the news gently to them that you were turning into a Yeti !! Apart from the unavoidable mirth all sent their best regards for your continuing successful trip - are you coming back in 2009 or 2010 ?
keep on cycling, and fundraising, your getting there. If you both put double effort in, thats quadruple effort really, or triple effort each would be sextuple/hextuple effort. But by far the best would be if you put in quadruple effort each you would really be Octuple effort, and then you’d nearly be cephalopods. From England and all those supporting your distant cause, good luck. Tom remember when you were absent from the Grad ball, all everyone wanted to do was talk about you, well imagine a years worth of that, my response is so well practiced now, I just say “check the website out”, free advertising.
Oh heavens, is that really you John under all that hair. It looks like some joke!! Congrats on the story comp. Maybe a great future as an author.
Take care Mum
Kingus Rich,
peekchores will be uploaded as soon as I find a computer I can do it from. There are really very few though, except the ones of Tom’s back waxing of course.
How’s it going and where are you at the moment? Good to speak to you on your birthday ….. you are pretty old now aren’t you? Just waiting for this course to end now. Laters,
Yaminash boyos! How are you doing? Thought i’d drop you a quick note to try and establish where on earth you are. Also to say that Mike starts his new job at the end of the month and has already moved to London. The dream team has once again been dispanded however I may well see him in Abi Dabi if all goes to plan. Flying to Dubai today so be in coms asap if they have internet in the desert. Who knows…
Hi John,
The trip looks amazing, have been casually following you from this web page. Seems like you have been having an awesome adventure and enjoying the journey. Where are you at the moment? Wish you continued safe travells and life changing moments.
Tom, do you refer to the Michelle who’s photo you had on your wall for the last 3 years, including while you were going out with Katie? The ‘Shell’ that you have been chasing since Bish first met her in that bar? With that in mind, your news of getting together with a nice girl and moving to Dubai with her 2 weeks later does make rather a nice story with a wholesome happy ending (for most). My extensive audience (mum, dad and occasionally Bish) would probably have liked it.
In reply to you, I could now afford to live like a real person for a while but prefer the unpredictability of being woken up from a deep slumber in the park or some other forbidden place by a warden and told to “move on”.
John are you still sleeping rough or have you finally found somewhere to stay? Slightly dissapointed at having not read your blog for some time that my getting together with Shell and leaving for Dubai was not an amusing annecdote for you to share with your extensive audience. Anyway, chance missed and i’ll just have to sell the story myself.
Tom - was great to meet you this past week in Seattle! I’ll be making a little donation once I pay off my adventure. Good luck to you and John on the rest of your travels, and keep growing that enormous beard!
For some reason the galley page is down at the moment, in these situations I hope for them to self-improve. Anyway, there aren’t any very recent photos to look at.
Mum - you’ll have to ask Tom about that one, the back is waxed though and at some point I will put up photos from the event.
Here’s a quick update to the blog. I am going to stay in Seattle with Tom for a while, although I’m not too sure how long yet. We have arrived at the Green Tortoise hostel and today did our first work in at least 9 months. We have to work 3 hours a day for our room and some meals, which seemed pretty reasonable. I say seemed because 3 hours cleaning toilets offers the opportunity to really think these things through. So, we would normally have to pay 24 dollars each per night and if you assume the real cost to to the hostel be 15 dollars a night (pretty generous) then we are in effect earning 5 dollars (or 2 pounds 50) an hour. Hooray for immigrant labour!
Send me an email with the new years antics. I’ll reply in turn. Just looked at Zeitgeist - very good. I will use the bit about the thermit reaction at school as I do that in class…a cool reaction. 2008 is looking good. Do you realise that if you had done a tour of Bucks instead then I could have used public transport to come and see you. It’s tricky getting to the States in a week without using a dreaded aeronautical device. Laters,
If anyone reading this knows of any work Tom and I could get anywhere on the west coast and without necessarily requiring a work visa then please send me an email (in contact us) with details and don’t tell the police. HAPPY NEW YEAR, best resolutions?
Tried to send you a Christmas card, but could not find a postal code to Palm Beach. But surely the old, white bearded chap will find you though. Have a lovely Christmas and plenty of egg nogs!
Slap and tickle takes on a whole new meaning when you two are around tee hee… of course I refer to the Slap clip. Pictures are brilliant. Will someone enter them into a competition please.
Spend as much time on the bridge as possible…that’s where you’ll see whales etc. Or on deck of course but it will be chilly this time of year. Hope you have some good storms. HAve a good one J and B (John and Biff)
Sorry folks no guts no glory on my part. But I will do next time. Tee Hee. I should of known everyone should have been cool with it. I know Tom from working at Addenbrookes (Staff Banks). However as America is the next port of call, The “Bearded Boys” could always have the beards measured by The King of Beards… I think that I have spent too much time thinking of this. This is what happens when you work at Addenbrookes.
Adam, I can`t claim equal morals to you. Almost none of the pictures on this site have peoples` consent and I got a picture of my friend, Chris Cockel (picture: in training), into a number of papers and websites while trying to publicise our trip. If it was me in your shoes then I most probably would have uploaded the photos and then posted the link, and giggled like my little brother while I did it.
I wasn’t going to attached your Pic’s without your permission. Yes I must admit the website is a interesting however wierd almost very wrong in places. But only in America…where you going next?????
thanks very much for the link to your favourite fetish site. If you look carefully you will now see that there are still no photos of our beards there.
Good Morning or Evening. There is no need to ask you how are you are as you can see by the pictures. Just been reading the comments below, Happy Birthday Tom. The pictures are still great as ever. I have a website for yous http://www.beards.org/ it is all about beards for a healthy beard life. It does it all from first day of stubble to fully grown and let me tell you should be proud of yours as you could outgrow the majority of them listed on there. There are success stories from around the world but none from the UK…I think I have two people in mind….
Hi there. Just a note to wish Tom a very happy birthday - enjoy all the celebrations!!! Now a year older but probably still no wiser - why are you cycling round the world and entering barmy challenges?
Hey John. Please do send the address - my folks would like to donate (so that you’ll make it to KY…) but would prefer to do so by check/cheque. Happy Birthday, Tom!
hey Anne, yeah I can send you an address if you`d like to donate by cheque/check. I should add for others that Anne is entered in the same ironman, without the need for such incentives as I have demanded.
Does my story of wallet theft qualify as edutainment?
Cycletherapy maybe, perhaps from an analyist-therapist - an analrapist. And there I was thinking the British justice system favoured rehabilitation over PUNishment.
Good last blog by the way (the one about Mt Fuji). Educative AND entertaining - edutainment.
Ted, I would love some British meat however you interpret that and will supply you with an address forthwith. JeanMarc, you may be relieved to know that they are much laxer about things like that in Japan so we`re safe for a while. Here is a link to a video I l
Happy New Year to both John and Bish, hope you saw it in style!!! Time to get down to writing that blog now and putting your photos up - we are all waiting.
Keep well all our love Dad,(Peter) and Mum (Annie)
Hi!
What you’re doing is totally brilliant. I happen to have stumbled upon John’s sister Helen on my travels with my bicycle, one of my introductory lines being “can you help me stow my bicycle” upon the Trans-Mongolian train. Needless to say she told me about your adventure and your very long hair amongst other things.
Unfortunately injury has prevented me from doing quite the mileage I intended and budget prevented the passage by ship from Asia to New Zealand so I took the plane and spent many more fun hours on adventures with Helen.
I see you’re off to South America in April. Sounds like a blast. If the knee improves I’d be tempted to come along for the ride!
Merry Christmas everybody. I have been planning a big blog/picture/video update but want to do it all at once and can’t right now so it will be a couple of days more. Have a few beers while you wait.
Alright Johnny boy,
I don’t have a nmumber for you for christmas day but either email me one or you can get me on 01840 211 284 (Leah’s folk’s house)>
He will kill me if I tell, but John is here in Lapland getting ready for his big night on 24th Dec. Reindeer well fed, parcels wrapped, and bags packed.
I am going into hiding now
Little Green Elf
Here Here Kellie, I can pass on a message that John is at present buying a red suit with a hat with white fur on, but his whereabouts is a secret!!
It’s getting awfully close to Christmas…are you going to tell us all where you are? Santa will need to find you!
John, I think you may have created a new sport ‘Bison chased cycling’. I don’t think it would work in the UK with cows, but if you replaced the bison with red buses, it pretty much already occurs in London. More good action photos please, keep pedaling.
howdy dudey,
I have sent a christmas present to Seattle. Hope it gets to you. Laters,
Rich.
I keep looking for, but not finding, a new blog. Hurry up and let us all know where you are and what you are doing!!!
Hi Guys, I am one of the teachers you met in Fort Nelson who took the bags to FSJ. Have been following along…..looking for some new adventure stories. I am amazed at the buffalo story….wow..I wouldn’t have gone anywhere near that. Keep trek’n guys!
I found a new few messages in the ‘to be approved’ section, not sure how they got there and they are now a little out of order but anyway, they are now ‘approved’. It’s cool to hear from so many of my hosts from the hospitality highway - just an amazing stretch.
…and your story reminded me of a time recently when I sat down in a posh restaurant and they brought out a toppling pile of meats, cheeses and other tasty-looking snacks. I was told to “eat it all” to which I responded that it was a tall hors d’oeuvre.
Hey John, I am the server from Clinton, B.C that took you home;)…hope you are doin’ well and having a great adventure!!!!??!!!
hey Jean-Marc, do you remember that photo of the tents inside tents and you said it was a tenty paradigm shift and I have been thinking it over for a while, trying to settle on the perfect pun response and here it is - my dreams that night were indeed intents.
It’s funny because I don’t actually have a job.
Hey John my boss just asked me to get him a ring-shaped pacific reef. I told him it was atoll order.
Hi John and Tom
Great blog, keep up the good work.
I met you in Tignes in the Chalet Chardons, in 2007, before your trip. And I’ve just discovered that I know John’s mother Anne from a while back. My parents were good friends with Dick and Topsy Woodwark and we would meet up as children, Nigel, Anne, Julia and Kate, along with my brother Jeremy and my cousins Peter and Joanna. Mainly playing table tennis. And when the next (your) generation came along and my mother took her grandchildren Anna and Rosie on holiday, she went with Topsy and Topsy’s grandchildren, including Sarah and John.
Anyway … good luck with the next stage.
hey, fellas. great blog, john, think your mom’s reading about going 55kph down a mountain pass in the rain and dark? yikes. hey, i just posted a bunch of mongolia pics on facebook (i think anyone can see them). i tagged jake in some photos but does anyone have his info so they can tell him (or me?) it’s Anslund innit? keep to the hospitality highway and don’ ttake off that muffler and maybe you will get abducted by UFOs (they tend to go for muffler types)…
Hey John, remember us, you stayed at our place last night at the Westwick Ranch. We met at my bar “Annie’s Place”. It sure was a pleasure meeting you and learning about your cause. We wish you well and will be following your journey. Take care bud, hope the weather doesn’t get too harsh too soon.
Hi John, I just want to tell you how much my sister enjoyed your company and stories. It is wonderful that you brought a ray of life to her day. Your tour and cause seems wonderful and on behalf of my sister, my children and I made a donation to your cause. Take care and keep up the wonderful work and bringing joy to the lives of others.
Best blog so far I think. I love the feeling of riding in the dark…..last time I did it I was very drunk and had no lights (which is why I slept in someone’s garden in the frost) but it is soothing and the bike seems to fly that bit faster.
Went out on Friday for a drink with a couple of people from school, locked dad’s bike (left mine in Cornwall by mistake) and my friend’s together, went for a few bevvies, then found out the lock had been cut, his bike had been nicked but dad’s had been left. Phheeewwweeee pappa.
Take it easy brother,
Rich.
Bish…. What’s this your Mum and Dad speak about you, John and a certain burlesque bar?!!!! I caught them on Cherry Hinton Road a couple of weeks ago- now I bet you haven’t seen a hill as steep as that in a while have you pal?
Sounds fun mate! Missing you, but what a trip- and I thought my ride over the lake district was epic last week.
Keep on doing what you’re doing. Remember to pull your left brake lever when attempting a ‘Raleigh Activator’ type skid, the other could land you in a whole world of trouble, especially in the Yukon.
Hey guys!,
I met you two times in the best pub in Whitehorse, Flippers. I’m the cycler who wants to go too Tibet.
The website is very good! But I’m totally amazed by the trip that you guys are making, very cool!!!
It was nice to meet you guys and I hope we will meet up some where else (probably cycling).
Have a nice trip and enjoy every moment!
Martijn
Hey John!! It was so nice to meet you! It’s always nice to meet people that aren’t from here. I read your blog and your trek down from Whitehorse sounds pretty amazing. I’ve done it in a car but I bet it’s a totally different experience when your cycling. You guys stay safe and keep warm!
John:You are amazing! Competing with wood bison! Olympics here you come!
Tom: Your Great Great Aunt May swore by her knitted knee warmers. Get knitting!
Our love to you both.
A sad day for the bearded community
John and Bish,
Depuis mes vacances en france, bonne chance? J’ai aussi rencontré par hasard Rich au marché à Borough Market - London, il etait amusant.
John … the hair!! What happened! Thanks for trying to call, sorry I missed it. Am finishing up here in a couple of weeks and then … who knows?! Not sure where/what I’m doing next. S xxxx
Glad to see you back on the road again. You both look great, so keep it that way!
Like the new look
hello Mum, you send me your blog and I will post it. I changed it because Christa was going to write a blog but gave up on it.
How do you get to be guest blogger? Notice no-one has managed it yet!
Mum
Jean-Marc posted this link before but it seems fitting to do it again here. For this man the two things are very similar.
Hi J and T: Crista looks great, go for it Tom. A bit of romance on the road no harm it that. The question we should be asking is Tom / John is sex like riding a bike…. do you never forget?.. Tee hee. Came on you were all thinking it. I will leave it there as this is a family show after all. Wrap up warm, Whitehorse looks cold.
You are Iron Mountain Man!!!
(not be confused with the eminent data storage company)
Great race. Great story. Great photo. which reminds me… i should be getting out of bed soon. -nk
John you are truly a man of steel.
Yes another Well done John.
John, well done for your first and sucessful ironman, have you recovered yet? I myself got a bit of a taste for cycle touring recently when I took my bike up to Edinburgh recently, with all my kit strapped to the back, mind you I went by caledonian sleeper train. Keep pedalling
How are the legs? Well done dude, very cool. Give us a ring at some point.
You are amazing. You truly can do anything, can’t you?! Good work John!
CONGRATULATIONS. A real star, you did brilliantly, from 2 very proud parents.
John, you are a star!!! We have been following on the website, 14:16:56, amazing! Well done!
We are thinking of you John and wish you well and every success today.This message comes with our love.
Good luck tomorrow, John!!!!
john,
have you got a contact number for mum and dad yet? Not only to talk to you but I need dad to sign a contract for me. Laters,
Rich.
I just read an article that shows I don’t necessarily need to do exercise to get fit, I just have to believe that I am doing exercise. Yesterday I ran from dawn to dusk, plus I cycled to New York and back.
Hey John-
A friends husband picked up a training trick from his UFC fighter friend. Get a big tire (tyre) from Les Schwabb and hammer it with a big hammer. I am not even joking…this is what he does in his backyard much to the dismay of his wife…
You boys are so close, let’s get together for a beer (or something gross and nutritious for you). I’ll come to you wherever you are.
Numbnuts - did you ever pick up my message off facebook?! Or are you just ignoring me in my hour of need ;o)
Hope your training is going well, good on you for beating the dog, he was at an advantage - having a copywrited stroke an’ all.
Only a mum dare make such a suggestion!Good idea Annie. How about it John?
but mother, according to my research, if I should have my hair cut then I should lose all my strength and then how could I row the atlantic?
I think I might join you both as I am a proficient boat person now! Also how about everybody puts in some money and John gets his hair and beard shaved off!!
With me by the way.
Just a thought John,
How about rowing the Atlantic? Either on the way back from your trip or at a future date. I think it would be quite cool.
Dude,
I was the BEST man the other day.
Dude.
A wise move heading back down South me thinks. If you want the good doctors medical opinion i can send an e mail home if you like but i imagine he will be typically sympathetic and the respnse may not be as comforting as the $60 an hour doctor you saw. Still, at least the other ankle is holding it together.
Wise decision indeed. Good luck with the intermission. This is useful information, which I can now use as verbal ammo to the many here in London who still ask about your adventures. M
You asked and we answered. I go with the Ferry option. Both go to Seattle. John you can train and Tom can be your Chief supporter. AND God for bid Tom needs additional medical attention then Seattle better. AND you both liked Seattle very well… On writing this I read below…you GO Moma John.
Good decision!! Now get down to some serious training John, and Tom you had better sleep, read, play games and generally have a good time and keep pushing John to train harder.
We slept on the decision last night and woke to an angry man swearing at us about how he hates all tourists. We calmly explained to him that we didn’t give a shit what he thought and he left. Anyway, our decision is made. We will take the ferry back to Washington tomorrow, returning back here to complete the ride from mid-September. Progress so far this year: 800 miles.
I think that the best idea was the beer. These are some serious troubles man…but you will figure it out. When you or Tom need a place to stay around, you are welcome to stay with me in Redmond, ok?
We are the couple (from near Cambridge, ON Canada) who you met in the grocery store in Haines Junction.
I don’t see anything in the blog since then.
How’s it going? Did you make up the lost section (Burwash to Haines Junc. or whatever it was)?
We did some great hikes, including the 6000′ King’s Throne at Kathleen Lake.
Now back in the rat race. I thought the hikes would help with fitness, but had a lousy 30K time trial result on Tuesday.
T & E
I have something to send you. Where shall I send it?
they were back in court today Rich, bloody bikes. I don’t know what to do about it - they can’t be trusted. They always have an excuse at the ready though and will be acquitted again I shouldn’t wonder.
I saw both of your bikes in court yesterday for attempted murder. They both said they were framed.
OK JM, now I have finished the course I CAN SEND YOU SOMETHING OUT. Where can I send it? Alaska looks amazing. I want to raft the Yukon all the way from source to mouth. I think there may be a few huge rapid sections along the way. Mum went canoeing with me the other day to check out the Wye. There was a lot of water flowing but mum was hardcore, gungho all the way. Right on. Laters,
Rich.
Alright boyos, good to hear you’re back in the saddle if occasionally rupturing your prostate and tires on route to Beaver Creek. Sounds like the good life has well and truly returned! Good crack!
ha!! great race there, john. i’m in vancouver at the moment for a family reunion next week at whistler. then i don’t know what. glad you guys are back on the road giving beardos a bad name. do well you two. -nk
the article about my swim was published on page 21 of The Driftwood. Here it is
that is pretty weird spam and so I’m going to keep it
Fireplace Chimneyt…
When Muslim preachers first started making inroads into the black community, they were helped by a prevailing sentiment of Afro- Asian solidarity and internationalism. Some of the earliest Muslim preachers to arrive in America in the 1900s were mission…
here’s a shock for you Jean-Marc: my wheel spoke
Be careful out there guys:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/01/usa.cycling
Congratulations to both of you. You have eventually made it as far North as Anchorage!! Now just keep cycling South, good luck.
Guys,
Kellie
Cool website, I miss you both already! Hope you have fun in Alaska and I will see you in a couple of months.
Hey guys after over a year on the road have you noticed yet that your bikes can’t stand on their own? It’s because they’re two tyred.
John,
I had a vision. It was of a headband. They are SO much cooler than pony-tails.
Hi there lads.
I’ts midsummers eave…again. One year since you two were here and made ouer evning a rare and special event. It will most likely not be as fun here in North Sweden without you to this year. just remember what my good friend Dennis told John last year when we were playing crocket “in Sweden we don’t use horses”. good luck to you the rest of the way. hope to see you for next years midsummers eave.
Safe travels you two!! Can’t wait for us to bump into each other here in the south.
come back 4 your hat. please. there was a girl with curly hair who lived on saltspring and told john to quit charity and be selfish and stay and pick rocks forever and keep spare tires in his beard. and play with the girls curly hair.
sounds fun.
i promise.
hmph
I’m employed! will be living in Cornwall. Will be buying a house. Will be surfing A LOT. See you down there.
Yazminash, by your radio silence i guess you guys must be on the tug up North. Drop me an e mail with an update or comedy photo’s when you can. Bish has your arm recovered yet? John boy, what the hell have you done to your hair!? Pony tail? Mans man indeed.
seems like you have some admirers John
I can’t say that we didn’t enjoy each other
me too
Had a great time with you the other night
Alright JR……….how are things on that side of the pond? Any news on tugging? Has Bish’s arm fallen off yet? Let me know dude. Laters,
RP.
Tom: OUCH!
John: You go to sleep with Herbie. How cool! I am following your adventures you both seem pretty relaxed in the North America / Canada bored. Would’t be surprised in years to come that you settle here. Can’t wait for the next bit of the journey.
Two things I have noticed abot your hole in one photo.
1. There appears to be more than one other golf ball on the green (are these yours too?)
2. There appear to be golf trolley marks on the grass (are Canadians really that fat and lazy. And weak. And American?)
alright JRM
don’t know if you got my email but if not please could you try and call me before Thursday. Cheers dude,
RPM
At the old folks place - more like 8:30ish
Dude, I will be having my tooths done that day but call me about 8ish my time and I should be finished and done with. Or is that done and finished with. Who gives a fark. Chainsaws are fun but saws are cooler. Both literally and in terms of their relative standing in the retro and green movements. Six wheeled buggies - are those for triplets?
Well, it looks like I’m going to get a couple of weeks’ work in before our ferry to Alaska. It is out on Salt Spring Island, on an organics farm. it does mean I’m going to miss all of Tom’s going-away parties in Seattle though. I leave tonight
Buckinghamshire, although Gavin Henson is from Warwickshire.
Texas became a state of the union in 1845 according to my research team. The state/commonwealth thing is quite pedantic but a good way to annoy people who claim to be able to name all the states in America.
Which county of England is Wales in?
I thought the Lone Star State(Texas) was the only state not part of the Union.
Massachusetts, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Virginia (and Puerto Rico and the Northern Marianas) are commonwealths. By the way Alaska is the most eastern state.
Which 4 are not states in your 46 states of America? The CIA reckon there are 50. Two are not connected directly (Alaska and Hawaii) but that still leaves another 2. ?????????????
yes brother Rich, you are still the funniest
yes (Tom’s) mother Jean, I remember Jezza well. I was asked to go on air a couple of weeks ago and then I was canceled a couple of hours before the show. If I had known Jezza’s history I might have guessed that would happen.
Am I still the funniest?
Your facts John were fascinating. Triv Per will never be the same!
Here is another fact for you both, gleaned from Radio Cambridgeshire today. Jeremy Sallis (remember him?) was made to stand in the naughty corner, aged 4, for taking adult playing cards into class. A totally useless bit of infomation that you might need some day.
Hi, How are you. Here is first of may and everybody keep fun. My some friends is maybe drink too much, but anyway. Keep fun there and you look like santas.
Ricardo Kongus, it came as a surprise to me too. Pure water and ice have an intrinsic colour: pale blue. This is neither from light scattering (as with the sky) nor from impurities. Every day’s a school day.
I look forward to meeting Sporan, which is ironically an anogram of “no pars”.
I think we both know that water is NOT blue. It’s all to do with Rayleigh scattering my friend. Likewise - the sky is NOT blue. Both do appear, at times, to be blue though. Also - DO go to Petas. She is crazy cool. And she has a dog called Sporan with no goolies. I think Sporan is a better name than Rolex. Maybe one has more irony than the other but I’m not sure which yet. I’m not sure if I’ve used irony the right way either but you can’t say yay or nay as only I know what I may or may not have been thinking of.
Sadly that sauce isn’t made from Dorset Nagas, which have a rating of about 1,600,000 Scoville heat units: tobasco sauce is rated at 2,140 units. But the hottest chilli sauce in the world is “Blair’s 16 million reserve”, which is pure capsicum crystals, and is rated at 16 million units. To be fair though you have to sign a waiver to buy that one and it is specifically “not a food product” (and it will cost you 300 pounds).
Of the 7 moons I mentioned, 6 of them are in large, non-standard orbits (at present). The planets don’t count as our moons as they do not orbit around Earth.
you’ll love having a pony tail, I did. If your thinking like that about the number of moons the Earth has, shorly its 8 (do you see what I am trying to say, and I’m not including the sun of course). I think I tried the hottest chilli in the world and ate a hole teaspoon of it, remember! The facts are good.
If all goes well I will never see Swindon again. I actually can’t see anything anymore without tying my hair up. It looks pretty cool and very masculine. It’s not yet a pony tail so hold off on the ‘under every pony tail…’ line. Who liked the fun facts?
Have you thought about visiting Swindon on the way back?………………………..Don’t
A year in and about half way round the world so not bad going for a 2 year trip. John - absolutely love the conspiracy theory lectures, maybe get a few scientology ones in on your way down. Catch up with you both soon. Good luck breaking in the saddle! Tom (desert rat)
Well done guys! You left Cambridge 365 days ago! Does it really take that long to grow that much hair? You’ll be able to make your own jumpers soon! Keep up the good work.
Mum and Dad (Tom’s)
Your Weird Beard pic was passed round at Harewood Downs Golf Club to break the news gently to them that you were turning into a Yeti !! Apart from the unavoidable mirth all sent their best regards for your continuing successful trip - are you coming back in 2009 or 2010 ?
Keep pedalling the Faith !!
Dad
keep on cycling, and fundraising, your getting there. If you both put double effort in, thats quadruple effort really, or triple effort each would be sextuple/hextuple effort. But by far the best would be if you put in quadruple effort each you would really be Octuple effort, and then you’d nearly be cephalopods. From England and all those supporting your distant cause, good luck. Tom remember when you were absent from the Grad ball, all everyone wanted to do was talk about you, well imagine a years worth of that, my response is so well practiced now, I just say “check the website out”, free advertising.
Oh heavens, is that really you John under all that hair. It looks like some joke!! Congrats on the story comp. Maybe a great future as an author.
Take care Mum
also - I have a little package to send you….do you have an address I can send it to?
one word - swim cap
well done on the writing competition John….maybe put it up on the website for others to look at. I read the story and it’s prety cool. Laters,
Rich uh um yeah kingus kongus that is.
You seem to be into training have you seen sweat365.com ?
Kingus Rich,
peekchores will be uploaded as soon as I find a computer I can do it from. There are really very few though, except the ones of Tom’s back waxing of course.
peectures………peek….chores
ees zees page brewken?
ou est les photos
I’m impatiently waiting like everyone else for news, the only things i’ve heard was a rumour that you’ve started training for your iron man event.
So when is the next blog coming…being hit by a car on your bike is old news now, John.
Alright John,
How’s it going and where are you at the moment? Good to speak to you on your birthday ….. you are pretty old now aren’t you? Just waiting for this course to end now. Laters,
Rich.
Yaminash boyos! How are you doing? Thought i’d drop you a quick note to try and establish where on earth you are. Also to say that Mike starts his new job at the end of the month and has already moved to London. The dream team has once again been dispanded however I may well see him in Abi Dabi if all goes to plan. Flying to Dubai today so be in coms asap if they have internet in the desert. Who knows…
Happy Birthday John!!!
Hi John,
The trip looks amazing, have been casually following you from this web page. Seems like you have been having an awesome adventure and enjoying the journey. Where are you at the moment? Wish you continued safe travells and life changing moments.
Tim
And love and happy birthday from as two!
HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY JOHN!!!!! Have a great time.
Happy birthday bro. Hopefully will speak to you later this evening. ENjoy the day,
Rich.
John
Happy Birthday
I hope that you have a fab day, if possible i would recommend a slice of victoria sponge and a cup of earl grey tea.
Hope that all is going well with you, enjoy reading your blogs on my lunch breaks, keep safe.
Love Tedx
Tom, do you refer to the Michelle who’s photo you had on your wall for the last 3 years, including while you were going out with Katie? The ‘Shell’ that you have been chasing since Bish first met her in that bar? With that in mind, your news of getting together with a nice girl and moving to Dubai with her 2 weeks later does make rather a nice story with a wholesome happy ending (for most). My extensive audience (mum, dad and occasionally Bish) would probably have liked it.
In reply to you, I could now afford to live like a real person for a while but prefer the unpredictability of being woken up from a deep slumber in the park or some other forbidden place by a warden and told to “move on”.
John are you still sleeping rough or have you finally found somewhere to stay? Slightly dissapointed at having not read your blog for some time that my getting together with Shell and leaving for Dubai was not an amusing annecdote for you to share with your extensive audience. Anyway, chance missed and i’ll just have to sell the story myself.
Tom - was great to meet you this past week in Seattle! I’ll be making a little donation once I pay off my adventure. Good luck to you and John on the rest of your travels, and keep growing that enormous beard!
For some reason the galley page is down at the moment, in these situations I hope for them to self-improve. Anyway, there aren’t any very recent photos to look at.
Mum - you’ll have to ask Tom about that one, the back is waxed though and at some point I will put up photos from the event.
Hi lads, when is the great “chest waxing” going to take place? Lots of photos of Tom’s face please while it is being done!!
Here’s a quick update to the blog. I am going to stay in Seattle with Tom for a while, although I’m not too sure how long yet. We have arrived at the Green Tortoise hostel and today did our first work in at least 9 months. We have to work 3 hours a day for our room and some meals, which seemed pretty reasonable. I say seemed because 3 hours cleaning toilets offers the opportunity to really think these things through. So, we would normally have to pay 24 dollars each per night and if you assume the real cost to to the hostel be 15 dollars a night (pretty generous) then we are in effect earning 5 dollars (or 2 pounds 50) an hour. Hooray for immigrant labour!
Hi guys keep fun there. I hope everyting going fine. You are very welcome back to Finland. Many peoples here wait back.
Dude,
Send me an email with the new years antics. I’ll reply in turn. Just looked at Zeitgeist - very good. I will use the bit about the thermit reaction at school as I do that in class…a cool reaction. 2008 is looking good. Do you realise that if you had done a tour of Bucks instead then I could have used public transport to come and see you. It’s tricky getting to the States in a week without using a dreaded aeronautical device. Laters,
Rich.
Zeitgeist is excellent.
hey Sarah, we both had a lot of fun too. But sshhh about the details, I hadn’t told anyone about those bits.
Thanks for a great new year - two threatened arrests, two bust ups and a visit to the hospital - what a winner!!
Good luck with the rest of your trip, will hopefully see you for the iron man/marathon :o)
Happy new year
If anyone reading this knows of any work Tom and I could get anywhere on the west coast and without necessarily requiring a work visa then please send me an email (in contact us) with details and don’t tell the police. HAPPY NEW YEAR, best resolutions?
Tried to send you a Christmas card, but could not find a postal code to Palm Beach. But surely the old, white bearded chap will find you though. Have a lovely Christmas and plenty of egg nogs!
phew, it’s lucky no-one took us up on the Christmas card offer, we were only bluffing.
Adam, you have my full permission to submit any of my photos as your own to the Beano or other worthy publications.
Slap and tickle takes on a whole new meaning when you two are around tee hee… of course I refer to the Slap clip. Pictures are brilliant. Will someone enter them into a competition please.
Spend as much time on the bridge as possible…that’s where you’ll see whales etc. Or on deck of course but it will be chilly this time of year. Hope you have some good storms. HAve a good one J and B (John and Biff)
Did you actually make it to the boat on time?!!! Have a great trip, enjoy being pampered, I hope that they let you off when you get to America.
Sorry folks no guts no glory on my part. But I will do next time. Tee Hee. I should of known everyone should have been cool with it. I know Tom from working at Addenbrookes (Staff Banks). However as America is the next port of call, The “Bearded Boys” could always have the beards measured by The King of Beards… I think that I have spent too much time thinking of this. This is what happens when you work at Addenbrookes.
Too bad facebook owns all your photos now anyway!
Adam, I can`t claim equal morals to you. Almost none of the pictures on this site have peoples` consent and I got a picture of my friend, Chris Cockel (picture: in training), into a number of papers and websites while trying to publicise our trip. If it was me in your shoes then I most probably would have uploaded the photos and then posted the link, and giggled like my little brother while I did it.
I wasn’t going to attached your Pic’s without your permission. Yes I must admit the website is a interesting however wierd almost very wrong in places. But only in America…where you going next?????
thanks very much for the link to your favourite fetish site. If you look carefully you will now see that there are still no photos of our beards there.
Good Morning or Evening. There is no need to ask you how are you are as you can see by the pictures. Just been reading the comments below, Happy Birthday Tom. The pictures are still great as ever. I have a website for yous http://www.beards.org/ it is all about beards for a healthy beard life. It does it all from first day of stubble to fully grown and let me tell you should be proud of yours as you could outgrow the majority of them listed on there. There are success stories from around the world but none from the UK…I think I have two people in mind….
Hi there. Just a note to wish Tom a very happy birthday - enjoy all the celebrations!!! Now a year older but probably still no wiser - why are you cycling round the world and entering barmy challenges?
Hey John. Please do send the address - my folks would like to donate (so that you’ll make it to KY…) but would prefer to do so by check/cheque. Happy Birthday, Tom!
hey Anne, yeah I can send you an address if you`d like to donate by cheque/check. I should add for others that Anne is entered in the same ironman, without the need for such incentives as I have demanded.
Does my story of wallet theft qualify as edutainment?
Is it possible to submit donations by check, or just online?
I love your blogs! they’re so funny. keep pedaling - a fun christmas awaits! hugs xxx
Cycletherapy maybe, perhaps from an analyist-therapist - an analrapist. And there I was thinking the British justice system favoured rehabilitation over PUNishment.
Good last blog by the way (the one about Mt Fuji). Educative AND entertaining - edutainment.
Cat Empire water bottle? Rock on!
I`d like to go back if I may and ask jean-marc if he happens to know if that Scottish fellow was offered any cycle-therapy?
Ted, I would love some British meat however you interpret that and will supply you with an address forthwith. JeanMarc, you may be relieved to know that they are much laxer about things like that in Japan so we`re safe for a while. Here is a link to a video I l