The Postman

The book was originally titled Going Postal and launched only in Australia back in February 2010. Since then I’ve been looking at various ways of bringing the book to the UK, and in the end decided to self-publish, transforming Going Postal in to the Long Ride ‘Home.’

The words are pretty much the same but added to them are almost 150 images from the trip, spread throughout the book to help the scene of the country I’m riding through at the time. The book is 364 pages and can be ordered here;

There’s also a Kindle edition, available from Amazon, here;

The book is a very personal document of my journey across the world. It’s not particularly a bikers book, or even a travel book; it’s simply the story of how and why someone would jump on a 105cc motorbike and with only two days of planning try and ride it 35,000 kilometres, from Sydney to London, through such places as Pakistan, India, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Russia and China…

Thanks for visiting the site.

Nathan

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

x

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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Hello everybody,

It’s Tuesday night, getting late, almost midnight and my eyes are falling sleepy. I’ve been back in Sydney a week now and it ‘s been interesting to say the least. Interesting because I didn’t know what to expect, what to encounter; a book, on the shelf, called Going Postal, the one that I wrote. Feels very weird.

So after that week I’m now sat on the floor in the apartment of Matty and Sal, my two friends from way back who are letting me sleep on their sofa while I’m in town. I know, very kind. I’m listening to this as I write;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dKolKW-cPU

I know, not the cheeriest songs, but it’s one of those nights. We’ve been out for Matty’s birthday. He’s 21 or so he tells us again, the three of us just going down to the local pub, the Welcome, for a cottage pie and a few pints of stuff. It’s been a good night. Then we came back home and I moved the bike under the shelter becasue the rain started and I don’t want to take Joe back a pile of rust. Then we came inside and tried to figure out how we can shift some copies of this sodding book.

It feels like I’m wading through an inky black night, not quite sure which way to turn or what to do, just kinda grasping at things and hoping they’re give me some foothold. Contacting magazines and newspapers, radio stations and TV, all in the name of publicity. We’ll see…

But I guess my mind’s on other things. We’re to settle, where to be. Where to lay down some roots this year. I need a base. I can’t live on settees forever so I’m looking for my place, wherever that may be. Here, there, everywhere, I guess we’re all looking for something and this is the something I’m looking for, the same pillow every night for a week. That’d be nice.

But my mum comes next week. She’s flying out to say hello to Sydney. She’s never been long haul before so this is her big test. She hates flying and is coming alone, brave or what, I know. No real plans for when she gets here but we’re going to give it a whirl, see where we get to, where we end up. All sorts of trouble I imagine but it’ll be interesting to see the worlds collide. England and Sydney, people from each, together, not on the other side of the world. Because otherwise it feels like seperate lives.

It’s just so good to be back. I love this place I really do. So many good friends in the neighbourhood and out and about. I’ve really enjoyed dropping by on the postie bike for a cup of tea and a yarn about old times. Maybe I could find a way to stay here, and thought of it I have. But I don’t know, it just doesn’t right. Home is where the heart is and that’s not here. So I guess I’ll just have to head to where it is.

Night night.

x

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I know, not many, but I was kind of in ‘riding’ mode so was quite happy to just keep going and not feel the need to pull over and take some snaps. But I’ve got to ride back up to Brisbane to take the bike back at some point so I’ll get some more then.

In the meantime I’m on day three of my stay in Sydney. I’ve got a radio interview today on 2UE and am just busy going to see the magazines and what not, dashing around, getting sunburn. I’m now sat in Balmain library writing this, thinking how great it is to be back here. I really like this place. Not necessarily the library, but Balmain and the city. It’s been great to go for a cruise around the old familiar streets and catch up with old friends. It’s been a while…

Anyway, best get back to it.

See ya.

Nathan

Bit of a long slog down the coast from Grafton yesterday, with a stop off to replae a busted CGI unit but we made it, coasting over the Harbour Bridge just after 7pm. A grea feeling. Nice to be back.

If you hear and see a very loud postie bike around sydney,  say hello…

Right, gotta do my laundry.

Just a quick update. It’s just gone 6am and I’m in a McDonalds in Grafton. I camped on a site on the outskirts of town and am just about to hit the road.

I was hoping to get to Taree last night but I think the jetlag kicked in and so after 12 hours on the road I called it a day.

Coincidentally, I’m in the same McDonalds where two years ago I emailed my mum and dad to tell them I was two days into the adventure, heading north. I can’t believe only two years have passed, it feels like ten.

I keep looking across at the other side of the highway imagining a postie coming the other way with a milkcrate on the back and a clean shaved, wet around the ears pom on a race to get him and the bike to Darwin out of Oz before the visa ran out. Strange days.

Right, gotta hit the road. The sun’s up.

See ya.