Background

You know those conversations you get into in bars sometimes? ... no not those ones, the others!

The ones that start, "You know what I'm gonna do one day guys?...."

Well, I had been living & working in Asia & Africa for almost 15 years and, during the last 5 of them, had taken to touring around Thailand on a Triumph Bonneville in my spare time.

In total I had ridden some 50000km, sometimes alone & sometimes with mates, but always in awe of the beautiful scenery, wonderful people & fantastic roads that Thailand has to offer.

But, as old & wise people often say

... 'all good things must come to an end' ....

Why is that though?  Why can't all bad things come to an end and the good ones just keep on going? - that would be a much more positive outcome! .... anyway I digress.

The time had come to return to the UK.

And so it was one evening, after a bike trip with a few mates - who shall remain nameless (but you know who you are Sarge, Griff & the Aussie one!) - we ventured out on foot, in search of one of those purveyors of fine food and beverages that so often frequent the peaceful retreats of Northern Thailand.

Good food led to the emptying of a few brown bottles & then a few green bottles and before we could start counting how many were on the wall, progressed onto small clear glasses filled with what I can only assume to be heavy water.

And then it came out ....

"You know what I'm gonna do when I leave here? .... I'm going to ride my bike from the UK back to Thailand"

.... and there you have it the gauntlet was thrown...!

How my Thai friends saw me apparently!