Welcome home weary traveller!

At last, the official release of the long awaited book. It will be available to buy from 1st June 2012, !

ISBN: 978-0-9572645-0-2 

Distributors website link: YPD Books

Cost: £9.99 + P&P

Book signing venues:

Bangor Public Library - Saturday 9th June, 9.30 - 13.00

Cafe Caban, Bryn Refail, Nr Llanberis - Sunday 10th June, 10.00 - 15.00

Blue Sky Cafe, High St, Bangor - Monday 11th June, 10.00 - 15.00

 It will be available from any book supplier, so ordering can be done at your local bookstore or the large town centre chainstore. Of course by ordering it from a store you'll save P&P, but it will take a while for the order to go through. I'm urging people to buy it from the on-line distributor simply because I cover more of my costs this way. Having self published it's my own money invested in the book, and the retail suppliers take such a large cut of the cover price it can actually mean I lose money on every book sold through them. What a shame, I'd much rather put money their way and see high street shops remain open. Unfortunately I have to try and protect my own investment on this one, I've put heart and soul into the production of this book and would like to recoup some of the financial side of the endeavour. (Photo: Nant Ffrancon, from Ogwen Cottage - North Wales)

So things happen fast once the ball starts rolling. My focus since getting home has been on seeing the book onto the printing press, delays getting over jet lag and getting my bike back on the road were inevitable though. But it's pleasant spending time with family again, I'm also aware of how important they see this too, that's reassuring. In all honesty though I've been really bad for making myself accessible for the majority of friends and family, not intentionally, it's just the way it happens. After eleven months away it does feel strange being back, if only it was winter I could legitimately hibernate. No chance of that, the sun is and everyone's gearing up for festivals and holidays. Typically British, expectations are high and people reach new highs in religious fervour, preying for nice weather. Let's face facts, sunshine or a lack of it can be make or break for any outdoor gig in Britain. If we got to grips with this concept of a water festivities we'd not have a problem. We have no shortage of water in North Wales, it's the perfect type of festival for here. The fist week back it rained virtually every day, I felt glad to be in the garage working on the bike rather than out in the elements riding it. Normally it doesn't faze me, i ride whatever the weather, not this time though. You couldn't really call it cold, but neither could you kid yourself it was warm. I wore multiple thermal layers, and needed waterproofs for the first two weeks of being back. That's a thing of the past now though, the sun is shining and everyone's happy, summer is here. (Photo: Bryn Bella bridges - Tregarth, North Wales)

Before leaving Asia I was unbearably keen to be back on the bike, so it came as a shock to find myself deliberating over how positive the experience actually was. The first time I rode it again the BMW felt top heavy and cumbersome, the overall impression was of riding an unresponsive, wallowing brute. It took some getting used to, whereas I generally adapt quickly to different vehicles, and only improved after many minor tweaks to the tyres and suspension. A slow puncture didn't help, nor the realisation of how sensitive the BMW is to incorrect tyre pressures. There's a vast improvement now they're adjusted within the narrow parameters of operation. I thought it was me, too long on flyweight little machines, but it had been set for carrying a heavy load, the weight distribution of the two axles was all wrong, and didn't it just show. How could I have manhandled that lumbering hulk across the Gobi, was there any surprise I'd reached my limits? (Photo: Penrhyn Quarry - Bethesda, North Wales)

 All the birds are nesting and the hedgerows are thickened nicely. Sitting in a friends garden I identified seven different types of birdsong, basking in the sun, with my eyes closed it was heaven, one of the loveliest welcomes imaginable for my return. We may not have any big game but there sure is plenty of nature. There are buzzards soaring high rather than vultures or eagles, they still look as marvellous though. Our mountains may not reach the lofty heights of the Himalayas, but they never fail to impress. Riding my favourite short circuit through the hills takes me over Pen y Pass and back along Nant Ffrancon, a glorious ride by any standard. Wet roads hindered progress a touch, a fidgety front end ensured a lot more caution than normal. Maybe it's just a sign of getting wiser with age, if it is I'd better worry, I might be growing up at long last. (Photo: Busy bees - Newborough, Anglesey)

A proclivity for isolation was outweighed by the excitement of finally being published. Nothing was going to get in the way of promoting it's release. when the proofbound copy was ready I didn't hesitate, within the hour I set off for the four hour journey to York to pick it up. I haven't read it though, which I do mean to. How stupid of me to think I'd be inured to the emotional effect it might have. It will always be an emotional jolt for me to relive those moments, they are more manageable though. The overall affect is positive, worries about how good my story telling is have largely been overshadowed by praise from the few people who have read it, whether in part or as a completed work. Holding the one and only copy in my hands was a magic moment in itself, there was no denying my sense of achievement. It could have rained all the way back home without dampening my spirits, and just to prove my point it did just that. I may have been knackered when I finally arrived back in North Wales at nearly mid-night, but it was with a contented sigh that I lowered my head on the pillow and fell swiftly asleep. (Photo: Malltreath railway bridge - Anglesey, North Wales)