The Arctic Rider

Hi everyone, So... 22 days, 9 countries, circa 6,000 miles... And I'm home. What a trip. What an adventure! I awoke early on the ferry, worried about waking up late and missing the entry up the Tyne. I got up and packed up my things. Suddenly it hit me... I was home. After all I'd been through on the trip, this was it. It didn't feel like I'd been away for 3 weeks. I had some lonely and down moments on the trip but thinking it was coming to an end was sad too. As the ferry approached the breakwater, I went out on deck to see my town from the river and also to try and spot my welcome home party. My wife Kirsty had drummed up support for me coming home to make sure I had a welcome to rival my send off 3 weeks earlier.  After (just)seeing my party in the distance as the ship rolled up the river, I went down to the car deck to de-strap the bike. This proved a bit premature as it took me around 5 minutes to de-strap the bike and I ended up waiting another 45 minutes to get o...

Hi everyone, So it's Day 21 of my trip and I'm almost home, almost. When I'm back (I've still 10 miles to do once I get off the ship in the UK) over the weekend I'll do a full blog reflecting on the trip.  Im on my final ferry now, sailing back to the UK, due in tomorrow morning into North Shields. I'm still taking my adventure in. It almost doesn't seem real that I've been on the road for 3 weeks, made it to the Arctic, ridden to Nordkapp, and home again. But I think it hit my body. I got to my cabin (VIP - provided complementary by DFDS Seaways) and has to sit down. I'm so tired, both mentally and physically. My whole body is sore, my mind strained from the concentration of being on the road for so long. But at the same time I feel on top of the world.  I've done it... I've bloody done. Today started as most have on this trip. I awoke to sunshine, got myself up and started packing my tent. It felt odd this was the last time (for while at le...

Hello there, It's day 20 of my Arctic Ride and I'm getting closer to home! Tonight I'm camped in the Netherlands after a long 550 mile day through Denmark, Germany, and Netherlands. Today started with me waking up on the ferry and worrying about if my bike would still be in one peace on the car deck after some moderately rough seas and some less than inspiring strapping down of my bike by the crew. When I got down all was fine and I rolled off the ferry into Danish soil. The first few miles got a bit of getting used to as I'd been used to 80kmph (48mph) speed limits in Norway for past 2 weeks. Like berocca tablet dropped in some water, I was fizzing along the Danish highways at 120kmph (72mph). However I really had to concentrate, get my stopping distance correct and watch out for the extra traffic compared to Norway, and this would be even more so in Germany later in the day. Before lunch I had disposed of Denmark having ridden the length of the country and passing som...

Hello! Day 19 eh? The time keeps flying. So tonight I bid a fond farewell to Norway, the country I have travelled through on my adventure for the past 15 days. I don't think I've ever visited a country top to bottom before like this but maybe this is one of the reasons why I like it here so much. Norway has beautiful cities, scenery, wildlife, and people. It's truely been a pleasure to live and breath this country for over 2 weeks on my motorcycle. The enjoyment and success of my trip has been down in no small part to the great people I have met along the way. From Hans in Oslo; Lars, Leif, Mona, Svein, Arild, Wenche, & the others at MC in Trondhiem; Halvard, Roy, & Aud in Helgoland; to Geir, Edel, Petter, Anniken, & Tilde in Tromsø plus the MCE club folk... I'm truly thankful for your help, guidance, generosity, and welcoming! Words alone can't thank you all enough. You are all welcome in Newcastle at Stuart HQ ANYTIME... And there is motorbike parking ...

God dag! Welcome to day 18 of my trip blog... Riding 6,000miles to the top of Europe for charity. Today has been another incredible days riding. I awoke in the Weatern Fjords  to yet another sunny day. After packing up my tent in what seemed like record time I hit the road bound for  Geirangerfjord, one of Norway's most famous sights and a Unesco World Heritage site. And it didn't disappoint! It's fantastic that such an amazing place was on my route home. The road twisted and turned with more hairpin bends than I have toes! I found great viewing platform at the top of the fjord and promptly parked up the bike as close to the edge as possible for a good photo opportunity. Just as I did a bus load (literally) of tourists turned and got agitated that I had parked in the middle if the platform. In a rare moment of annoyance, I told them if they had a problem I'd get my passport out and show them the British empire still ruled the world... Or so the look I gave them no doubt...

Hi everyone, Day 17 already... Wowza. It's hard to think its a week since I was arriving in the amazing Tromsø on my way to Nordkapp... The time is flying. Today I awoke to rain, and lots of it. Also, this numpty left his waterproof suit on his bike last night meaning I had to put it on wet this morning. Luckily I had been staying at Lars' place last night so I wasn't wet. The morning set the tone for the day really, as we went outside to start the bikes up I was stood behind Lars' Kawasaki. Due to the rain some had collected in his exhaust... So when he started the engine I got a cocktail of rain water and exhaust fumes to the face by what felt like a shotgun (it reminded me of Homer Simpson's 'make up gun' for those of you who are fans if that show). Bets on how many of you think Lars did this on purpose. We rolled out if town getting petrol on the way. As with my previous visit to Trondheim the MC club escorted me through the region. This made riding in t...

Hello there, Welcome to Day 16 of my Arctic Ride blog. Even though I've now pretty much lost track of what day of the week it is in my mind, my body certainly hasn't forgotten as I slept in today. I had woken up at 7am ready for another big day but I pressed fateful zoom button, or so I though. I awoke at 9.51 confused, hungry, and boiling in my tent. I soon shot into action, munching on a brunch bar for breakfast followed by some Arctic water (it was still in my camel back from yesterday's full up in the Arctic).   I then headed into town for some petrol before hitting the road ready for Trondheim, another 500km awaiting me. The roads were again delightful but the scenery was more woodland / forest like, with a hint of pine fresh in the air.,. Which reminded me on the days cleaning the heads (toilets) in the navy... Those were the days.. Haha. Having got up late I really went for it on the roads only stopping once for fuel and a bite to eat. Although by the time I had got ...

Hi, Welcome to day 15. I've been on the road for over 2 weeks now. I'm missing things back home like Irn Bru, Kirsty, and regular sized bags/flavours of crisps. But I'm still loving this country (Norway) and the ride. I'm even starting to get the hang of Norweigen too... HiHi (Hi), Tak (Thanks), canny (good)... Oh wait that last one is Geordie... Ok so I've still not really increased my vocabulary (except that Barn means child... So almost Geordie) but everyone here speaks English. And now that I've made some Norweigen friends who are on facebook I no longer have food instruction related issues. Thanks for the help yesterday! And yes, like BUPA hospital food, it was lovely. I set off from my campsite this morning feeling fresh after a good sleep and a nice shower. Even though it was raining (which I can't complain about after 13 days of near pure sunshine) I was in high spirits ( sad face below donates dislike to be leaving te nice campsite) and ready for th...

Hello, Wow, how is it day 14 of this trip already! That 2/3 of my trip done. On one hand it feels like only a few days ago I had my great send off from the lighthouse! But at the same time when I speak to Kirsty it feels like I've been on the road 2 months, not 2 weeks! This morning I took the exec decision to head South via Norway rather than the planned route through Sweden and Finland. This was taken due to the weather. Norway was forecast to be dry and sunny, the other route thunderstorms for 2 days. Even though the Sweden/Finland route is the know 'quicker' one and I'm on a time limit to get home, I knew I could make better time and enjoy it more if I went through Norway. I consulted Kirsty and some Dutch bikers I met at the Alta campsite and came to the decision. A key factor was also my love of Norway. Easily the best country in mainland Europe :P This route would mean 3 BIG days down to Trondhiem to keep on schedule. So I got an early start and was on the road b...

Hi everyone, So I did it!! 13 days after departing from Whitley Bay I arrived at Nordkapp, the top of Europe and as far North as you can go by motorbike. I'm not really sure how to feel! It's amazing and I feel great but part of me can't actually believe I have done it! Last night I was camped at Alta and while it's REALLY far North it was still a 4 hour ride to get up to Nordkapp. So I set off at 7.30am this morning to beat the rush. The ride was great, twisty roads, bright sunshine however again the road was littered with reindeer, the mountain passes were more than cold, and I rode 15km worth of long, dark, and freezing tunnels. I feel like my body is almost at breaking point. Usually on a 4 hour ride I wouldn't feel these things as much. But I'm no longer fresh and I'm feeling every bump, cold spot, and wind that comes my way.  When I arrived at Nordkapp it took me a good 15minutea to take it in. I was here. The place of my dreams for the best part of 4...