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lost my cool. I ran after the car screaming and cursing the driver like a lunatic. I dislodged
the pannier from under the car and placed it back on the front rack. The pannier's cover
was torn in several places. I didn't want to waste any more time so I left the scene without
anycompensationorpoliceinvolvement(IwasOKandsowasthebike).Ikeptthepannier
and didn't repair it for the damage became a daily reminder on the fragility of life and to
be thankful for each day.
WhenIarrivedinMarlborough,Icouldn'tfindaplacetosleep,doIdecidedtofree-
camp. I walked into a tavern to have dinner and sat next to a family. The Newmans were
halfwaythroughtheirmealwhenthemothernoticedmyshirtandaskedmeaboutthetour.
When they asked me where I was going to sleep that night, I was honest and matter-of-
factly said that I planned to sleep in the bus shelter off the main road. They left the tavern
but soon after the father returned and insisted that I stay in their home for the evening. He
was not going to accept a no for an answer, so after my dinner I followed the family and
spent the night in their home.
In the morning the family had prepared a wonderful breakfast and packed me a
lunch. We exchanged addresses and they saw me off. (At the end of the Africa tour I wrote
to them.) I felt such joy as I left their home. I actually became teary-eyed. It hit me that hu-
man kindness, which may seem lacking in the world, is everywhere and comes when one
least expects it.
En route, I had two additional radio interviews at local stations. The first was in
Wales at Swansea Sound. The second was in Northern Ireland with Downtown Radio. In
regards to Northern Ireland, I remember during the planning stages of this tour, the mere
mention of my intent to visit there brought heaps of criticism and disbelief: “Why do you
wanttogoTHERE?Youwillgetshotorblownup!”Ofcourse,thesecommentscamefrom
those who have never visited Northern Ireland. I didn't want to judge a people simply by
what others have told me or what I read in the paper. I had to experience it for myself. So I
gladly entered Northern Ireland via the road from Dublin.
I found Belfast like any other city. People were simply getting on with their lives.
There were no people running for cover, no buildings strewn with bullet holes. It was a
peaceful, sunny,andwarm summer day.Iactually hadanexperience inBelfast that Inever
had in any other city in the world. That was, complete strangers approached me to see if I
needed any help with directions.
I must add here that I had incredible weather. It was sunny throughout Wales, Ire-
land, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It made for beautiful pictures and long cycling days.
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