Post 195: Rider & Tiger Reunited, UK

At around 1pm on Thursday 6th November, .... I was reunited with the Tiger at Gatwick's International Cargo Centre, .... Hazardous Goods Section, Building H. One hour later I was filtering onto the M25 and heading for the Dartford crossing. I passed the junction that I'd taken on the journey down to Folkstone way back in April, .... it had been raining on that day too. It now felt like a lifetime later, it felt like a different world.

I'd remembered to ride on the Left, ... the first time since leaving Thailand, it felt weird and unnatural. I'd forgotten just how fast the people drive here in the UK, I'd forgotten just how aggressive they were on the roads. I reacquainted myself with the art of filtering and slipped beneath the Thames to emerge on the North side in Essex, ... I was almost home. I'd arranged to stay at a reasonably priced B&B close to Finchingfield for a few days while I worked out where I would live. It was almost dark when I arrived, .... there was nobody home, ... either that or they'd seen the bike arrive and decided to cancel my reservation by simply not answering the door. In the end I cut my loses and moved on. As I looked for somewhere else to stay for the night I began to realise exactly how rough I must look after six months on the road, ... I wasn't a pretty sight.

Eventually I found a place to park the bike and lay my head for the night, .... but it wasn't easy. Receptionists and Duty Managers looked at me as if I'd just been wiped from the sole of their shoes, .... they'd suddenly find that a last minute booking had provided them with 100% occupancy, .... 'Sorry Sir, ... we appear to be full this evening'. I'd forgotten just how welcoming England was to bikers. Trying once again to call this Country 'Home' will be difficult, ..... perhaps too difficult. I'll spend a few days here and then visit the Hospices before returning to the Ace Cafe to complete the Full Circle. After that, .... I'll find a cheap room whilst I work out my plans for the future and get the Triumph repaired (New valve seals required). After that, I'll try to find a way to just keep on moving ...........

www.justgiving.com/geoffgthomas