Originally Posted by Dodger (Post 315603)

My son met a guy on the road who was riding "The Long Way Round" on a GS1150 ,following the same route that Ewan and Charlie took and wearing identical gear .The guy said that he wanted to do this ,so that he could tell the folks back home that he'd ridden the long way round !Sad ,very sad !

Originally Posted by Dazzerrtw (Post 315619)

How many on here got into Bike's because they read Ted Simon's Book ?

same thing , something get's you into biking.

Do your own thing and don't worry about other's.


.:biggrin3:

Originally Posted by Endurodude (Post 315618)

E and C were influential in getting me to take my bike test in the first place. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips (and have loved the Achievable Dream series); all of these have inspired me to travel by bike. The Hubb has been a great inspiration, and I'm looking forward to more Travel DVD's (Mondo enduro, et al). I've just met Sam Manicom at the NEC, and am looking forward to reading the book he signed for me (not to mention Jupiter's Travels I've also just bought). I enjoyed listening to and meeting Charlie and Sam Pavey on their Tour last year. On the back of all this, I've been to France, and I'm planning a wider tour of Europe this year and Africa next; who knows where in the future?

I suppose the point of this is that whatever we ride, however we (legally) ride them, where ever we ride and with whom (and wearing whatever we choose), we should celebrate riding in all its forms. It would appear that there's a decline in people taking their test here in Britain, and we should be grateful of anything that raises the profile of riding; we love it, and we like to share!

Whatever you're doing, have fun riding.

Originally Posted by CornishDeity (Post 315718)

Dodger .... imagine the story was like this ......

John, who from the age of 7 was bullied because he never knew how to communicate with other children, spent his life crying and contemplating suicide, but was never brave enough to follow it through.

He worked in the local bank from the age of 16, and lived with his disabled father, who he looked after, for all his life. At work he continued to be bullied by the people who considered themselves cooler than others, but he continued to work because he knew no better.

When his dad died, clearing the house he found a copy of Long Way Round, and he watched it. From then he realised that his dad had dreamed of riding the world - he would follow.

Years later, he finally managed to ride his dream, decked in the same gear as Ewan and Charlie, and for the first time in his life real confidence.

Then in the bar he meets Dodger Jnr, who looks at him, listens to his story of wanting to follow E+C route, and sneers at him that he's not original enough.

In this story (not the truth and of course not the real dodger junior) there is only one sad person............

And of course you could think of a million different scenarios that this story could follow with the same meaning. To me, judging someone on such a simple, one dimensional part of someones life is sadder than copying Ewan and Charlie. After all, we have all, at some point wanted to be our heroes.

This is by no means a snipe at you or your son Dodger, simply trying to get you and others to be slower in judging people by one story, or set of clothes or bike.

All our back stories are different!!

Hic!

Originally Posted by CornishDeity (Post 315718)

Dodger .... imagine the story was like this ......

John, who from the age of 7 was bullied because he never knew how to communicate with other children, spent his life crying and contemplating suicide, but was never brave enough to follow it through.

He worked in the local bank from the age of 16, and lived with his disabled father, who he looked after, for all his life. At work he continued to be bullied by the people who considered themselves cooler than others, but he continued to work because he knew no better.

When his dad died, clearing the house he found a copy of Long Way Round, and he watched it. From then he realised that his dad had dreamed of riding the world - he would follow.

Years later, he finally managed to ride his dream, decked in the same gear as Ewan and Charlie, and for the first time in his life real confidence.

Then in the bar he meets Dodger Jnr, who looks at him, listens to his story of wanting to follow E+C route, and sneers at him that he's not original enough.

In this story (not the truth and of course not the real dodger junior) there is only one sad person............

And of course you could think of a million different scenarios that this story could follow with the same meaning. To me, judging someone on such a simple, one dimensional part of someones life is sadder than copying Ewan and Charlie. After all, we have all, at some point wanted to be our heroes.

This is by no means a snipe at you or your son Dodger, simply trying to get you and others to be slower in judging people by one story, or set of clothes or bike.

All our back stories are different!!

Hic!

Originally Posted by go coastal (Post 315436)

looking outside at the beautiful snow capped peaks of Vancouver's North Shore,

Originally Posted by Dodger (Post 315603)

My son met a guy on the road who was riding "The Long Way Round" on a GS1150 ,following the same route that Ewan and Charlie took and wearing identical gear .The guy said that he wanted to do this ,so that he could tell the folks back home that he'd ridden the long way round !Sad ,very sad !