America: Through a Veil of Tears

Live your dreams, face your fears...

A motorcycle tour of the American continent, that was the simple dream of a father and son from North Wales. Then, just days into the biggest adventure of their lives, disaster strikes – a catastrophe beyond imagination. A story of bravado and high adventure turns quickly into death and devastation. There is no running away from such purgatory, there is nowhere to hide.

Traumatised, a lone figure rides into the American wilderness, barely aware of anything but the all-consuming grief ripping him apart. Trying desperately to deal with unimaginable loss, some of the most remote regions in North America are explored, against a backdrop of whatever nature could throw at him. Even that proves nothing, compared to the exploration of his own tormented soul and the battle to uphold a semblance of sanity. His life had been ripped apart but he couldn’t let his loss be for nothing.

The author

Les Kay has led an interesting and varied life, rather than applying himself to a set career he’s enjoyed a succession of diverse occupations. Included amongst them are service as an army apprentice, a research assistant in the rubber and plastics industry, a motorcycle instructor, data support officer in marine conservation, handyman and life model. A return to education, at 35 years old, was accompanied with a more serious desire to study. Which was duly rewarded with an honours degree in Marine Archaeology, and a lasting discipline to tackle protracted literary projects.

A steady stream of active sports and exciting past times lent an element of adventure to  life, but his lifelong passion has always been for motorcycles and travel. Whether jumping out of planes, plunging under the waves or hanging over precipitous drops, nothing managed to surpass the thrill of riding a motorbike, and almost any activity was found more enjoyable in an exotic location. The birth of a son in 1989 enhanced these simple pleasures; he quickly became a stalwart companion, as keen as Les on wild and exciting past-times. Becoming a single parent to a six year old lad, Les found the bond between them grew stronger with each passing year. Lean times did little to dissuade the two from their quest for new exploits. Whenever possible father and son would head off for far-flung destinations in search of fun and adventure.

The experiences and subsequent yarns had long enthralled friends and family, whose encouragement led him to consider recording events more formally. His first attempt at writing was to be a humorous account of high adventure, motorcycle mayhem across the Americas with his son, 18 years old by this time. It proved to be so much more, and infinitely more challenging.