The Postman

Well, she starts.

First kick!

A few things to adjust and check. Currently the indicators don’t work, the timing chain needs setting and she needs a few more overall checks. But very close to being back on the road, which feels good…

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It’s 3.41 am and I’ve just got in from the garage. Getting there…

I mentioned the other day that I’m currently in the process of rebuilding Dot, something which proves quite a problem what with her being an Australian post bike and never officially sold in the UK. Getting parts is therefore difficult and problematic, which is why I’m incredibly grateful to Joe and the rest of the gang at One Ten Motorcycles for the package that turned up on the doorstep today.

For those unaware, One Ten Motorcycles is where I bought Dot from at the very beginning of the trip. It’s just a little shop on an industrial estate on the outskirts of a town called Caboolture, just north of Brisbane. They’re a great bunch and helped me massively during the trip, sending me the parts and then and after that keeping in touch and seeing how we were getting on. In fact, it was Joe who very kindly lent me a bike when I went back to Oz to promote the book when it came out last year.

And now having heard about me rebuilding Dot, Joe’s very kindly sent me everything I need to get her back up and running again. To be honest that list isn’t so long, she doesn’t need much, but it’s a massive help and so I’m incredbily grateful. Cheers Joe and all the rest of the gang at One Ten Motorcycles. (www.onetenmotorcycles.com.au)

As for the rebuild it’s going okay. Today me and my dad changed the clutch plates, I sorted the brakes and in doing so made Dot a sling so she can hang from the rafters and be off the dusty floor. Next stage is to replace the cam chain, which hopefully should get done tomorrow, then simply bolt everything back together.

To be honest I don’t really know what I’m doing, thankfully my dad does so I’m more spectator, but it’s been good to learn and see inside the engine that brought me all that way. Still can’t believe that simple lump of metal took me 23,000 miles with no problems at all. By the look of her she’ll take me the same distance again (don’t tempt me)

Here are some pics from the day…

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It’s been over two years since me and Dot rode in to London and completed the journey. In that time I’ve been working on the book and doing other things while she’s largely been shut away in the shed at the bottom of the garden and forgotten about. Well, not forgotten, perhaps just neglected. Out of sight, out of mind as they say.

But now with the book coming to a head and summer approaching I’ve suddenly discovered a new zest for getting her back up to fine form, and so the other day I laid out the tools and took her apart.

To be honest I wasn’t sure exactly what I was doing but gradually the engine came out, the wheels, the petrol tank, the headlight, the forks, pretty much everything until all I was left with was a frame. Poor Dorothy.

Alas, with assistance from my dad I’ve gradually stripping down the engine to find out what she may and may not need. And the surprising thing is that despite doing all those miles, over the Himalayas three times etc, she needs barely anything, in fact the mechanic who had a look at her said she’s ride back to Australia tomorrow without any fuss.

So what I’ve had done is the sump plug repaired, which had been threaded by a strong armed Indian mechanic and held in since by a toothbrush, and then ordered a few parts such as piston rings and cam chain, which all should be here in the next few days. For that I have to thank Joe, the bike shop owner in Brisbane who sold me her in the first place.

Very kindly he’s bundled up everything I need and only charged me the postage. So a big thank you to Joe and all the gang at One Ten Motorcycles. I’m really grateful.

Hopefully then Dot should be up and running by this time week, her hopefully making her appearance at a talk I’m giving at Edwinstowe Library next Wednesday. If anyone’s around it’s from 7-8.30pm, with Edwinstowe a small town not far from Mansfield, the place where I grew up.

In the meantime I’ve uploaded some pics of Dot in her current state. Just don’t stare too long, you’ll make her blush.

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Well, it’s taken some doing but I’m finally proud to announce the release of my book; The Long Ride ‘Home’.

The book is a tale of my adventure of my adventure from Sydney to London on a 105cc Honda called Dorothy. Together we covered 35,000 kilometres, passed through eighteen countries and took nine months to get from one side of the world to the other. It was adventure conducted on  a whim, with no planning and only two days preparation. It was simply a case of saying, ‘well, I’m going to give it a go and see how far we get. And from there it was one day, month and mile at a time.

My favourite countries were Thailand, East tImor and Pakistan, and if you have a look at the ‘photo tab at the top you’ll be able to see all the images I took from those countries. There are also videos, maps and other things.

As for the book, well, it was originally published by HarperCollins in Australia under the title of ‘Going Postal’ where it’s currently sold around 4000 copies. This however is my own version, more widely available and retitled as I think the new name sums up better what the trip was about. I’ve also added more images, 140 in total, and weaved them throughout the book in order to help set the scene of where I am and what I’m up to at that particular point.

All in all, it’s not really a motorcycle book, or even a travel book, it’s just my story, a personal one, of how I came to be in Austalia and how I subsequently ended up riding ‘home’ again.

There is also a Kindle version, available here, and an ebook edition availalbe here.

Thanks for visiting my site.

Nathan (and Dorothy)

Hey, hope everyone’s well.

It’s certainly been a while. Last I reported I was back in Australia trying to promote the book. That went okay, I don’t think it sold bestseller or anything but it was a nice experience. I even got to be on TV…

http://today.ninemsn.com.au/?videoid=0b6f1cb4-765f-4dbe-8dd7-f8d36ba2e8e9

Look for the numpty walking in front of the camera.

That was back in March, I’m now home in England, have been for a few months, just trying to get the book launched here and while doing that also get Dot back on the road. It’s been a bit of a process, having to have her inspected twice with modifications to be made, but none so serious, until finally last week I got her new number plate; Q430 UAG.

It’s on a ‘Q’ plate as the DVLA didn’t see that I had enough evidence to prove she was a 2004 model. But I quite like the ‘Q’, could stand for many things, like quirky, or queen, which of course she is because having done nothing to her whatsoever other than change the oil she’s running like a dream. A bit tired, but on the runs out we’ve had she’s been cruising just fine, apparently doing 55mph the other day.

The speedo at the minute is a bit of a non-starter. The MPH sticker is a fake, just one there to get her through the safety inspection, possible because they don’t check for accuracy, just that it says MPH and not KMH. So the digits still represnet kilometres, the only thing is the speedo’s over reading so where it says eighty it probably translates in to sixty. I don’t know if it’s a faulty cable or what. But I like it, makes Dorothy feel faster than she’s ever been before.

These then are the pictures of a run out we had the other day, to the seasise town not far from me called Scarborough. I met some friends there. It was a nice day out…

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Morning all,

It’s Monday, the 13th March, I think. It’s hot and outside the sun is shining. Because of that I might just go for a ride.

But first, I think it’s about time I got around to uploading a few pictures from the book launch the other week. I’ve been so slack, I suppose almost hybernating with it something I’ve been telling myself I should do for too long now.

Alas…

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I know there’s not so many, but I couldn’t take so many as I was sat on the bike at the time and so the only pics I have are the ones that other people took, which I gather aren’t all uploaded yet. But give it time.

The only other thing I thought might be of interest is this interview from the Channel 9′s breakfast show.

http://today.ninemsn.com.au/?videoid=0b6f1cb4-765f-4dbe-8dd7-f8d36ba2e8e9

It was my first TV gig and made me quite nervous, as you can see with the way I walk on shot and look like I’m lost and trying to find my way out. But I think it turned out okay. It was just a bit weird, so rushed, so in and out and thankyou very much there’s the door, don’t let it hit you on the way out. Though enjoyable none the less.

Though I don’t have another outfit if I had to go on again so will probably look like a poor bum with only one set of clothes. But they’re my best ones so I’m not replacing them just yet.

I realise I’m talking shit.

In other news, all is good in Sydney. I’m enjoying my time here, camping in the living room of good friends, Charlie and Nish. I’ll have to take a picture of my inflatable bed beneath the television, right next to the kitchen and the coffee table. They’re looking after me well and I’ve never ate so healthy, which is a good thing because I’ve got a bit of a belly and don’t like it very much.

Neither does the motorbike I’m riding, the one kinldy lent to me by Joe at One Ten Motorcycles in Caboolture. Her name’s Lucy and she’s a noisy old girl with a big exhaust on and a fat tank and all the trimmings. Not quite as subdued as Dot, that’s for sure.

Going forward I have slight plans afoot, but nothing concrete. Nothing set in stone, something I’ll have to do soon if I’m to keep the momentum going instead of stopping and laying on the beach until the waves wash me away. So in the next few weeks a decision, another one. Anything for an easy life…

Today I’m starting to get the books out that people overseas have ordered. It’s a huge job and I was really daunted by it. But Charlie’s given me some pointers and I reckon it’s all on track. Like a production line of books being signed and packed and sealed in envelopes to be sent to the other side of the world.

I know my website is confusing but the book is out in Australia, in all good book shops, which is perhaps the best place to get one from. For those people who want one overseas the best way – cheapest – is to get one directly from me, hence the form at the top of the page to put your details in and wait for me to wade through the first batch and finally get to you, which now I’m moving shouldn’t take long. A couple of weeks, no more.

So with that I’d best say adios, I have to head off and buy more books. But I’ll make sure to be back to upload more pictures and update on progress. In the meantime I just want to thank everyone who’s supported me so far; everyone who was at the book launch, all the friends I have in Sydney, my mum for coming out and visiting, and for everyone and anyone else who might have bought a book. I owe you one.

Nathan

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It’s not going to be anything glitzy or glamorous, but on Thursday 24th Feb, in the Dymocks bookstore on George Street,  I’m holding a one hour author talk whick kinda acts like my unnoffical book launch.

It starts at 6pm and will involve a postie bike being brought in to the bookshop with me telling tales straight from the seat. Afterwards we can go for a beer and fall in the river, whatever takes your fancy.

The address is 424 George Street. The more the merrier.

Hope to see you there.

Nathan

More here;

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=190374157649421

And pictures;

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