Its Thursday night and getting on for 12:00 again but at least bikes packed, clothes packed, hotels booked, car reserved everything else ready to been thrown in the bag first things and in less than 7 hours we’ll be on our way to LA.

Its to late to worry about whether I’ve forgotten anything, all I can do now is ride it out and do my best to chill a bit before I leave LA on Sunday. So before I get going I just want to bring some recognition to a few people that have gone out their way behind the senses and have helped more than they will ever probably realize or than I’ve really been able to express verbally. Some of them may think they didn’t really do much but they did, even the smallest amount can make so much of a difference when your tying to do everything.

so before I get swept away with everything, time difference and the small matter of 3500miles I just want to say thank you to a couple of people.

Lisa Scott.. Lisa you have put together all of the promotion photos (apart from France ill come to that), you have gone out your way taking time out of your busy schedule to take some amazing photos. Without your work I can safely say it wouldn’t have half the imagine that it does thank you so much, working with you is a pleasure.

Laura & Richard at frozenskys.. well where do I start?? you dropped everything to help when we had no website for the first ride, came up with a great look then there were changes, changes, changes then after that more changes and whilst running your own business, working on your new home and crazy family you still found time only to go and do it all again for the second trip, thank you thank you thank you. The new website looks amazing.

Sally Harly, We met when I put a post on FB asking if anyone fancied driving to the South of France with me and you came forward, driving over a hundred miles a day, looking after all my kit, taking some wicked photos (being used on the website), finding hotels and generally being an absolute star. You helped in many ways with the decision to come back to America, thanks Sal.

Well I’ve not known the next one very long at all but he made some pretty big dreams come true for me, he’s a top top bloke, a joy to be around and real good laugh, he’s given me some really good advice and from the small amount i’ve seen he’s not bad on a bike either…. Ladies ladies ladies its Sincs!!

I got introduced to Mark a year to the day since my final op at the Caladonia Etape in Scotland, as soon as he heard my story he said that he wanted to help and asked me to call him on Monday, “we’ll make you some kit and help you out” well how many times have I heard that since I started putting the ride together??..

I called Monday and true to his word he did everything he said and much much more. He’s since become a really good friend. He helping with a lot more than just this ride He’s another one that needs a lot of thanks for getting me back out here.

Then theres newest member of the team he’s the funny man, the man it couldn’t happened with out. He’s flash Gordon on a bike, he’s Jonny bravo without the muscles, before we know it he’ll be fat and have one brown arm, his name is…………. Jonny Cheetham

I’ve flown Jonny in from the Downhill grave yard, downhill mountain biking has taken many a victim over the years but probably not many as fine as this one! I’ve known him for a long time

Johnny is joining me in the states..He is quite possibly be of the funniest guys I know, a pleasure to be with and has fountain of knowledge about bikes, he’ll be in charge of the video camera, camera, driving the camper van, looking after my bike and making sure he’s kicking my ares the best he can,, without johnny this wouldn’t be happing so thank you dude, good be in touch again!!…

Theres many many more people that I want to thank but this getting really very long now so ill talk about a few more people over the next couple of weeks but in the mean time.

Thank you to –

Colin at Trek, Iain Noy at Leisures Lakes, Ben at Zipvit, Malcolm at Oxygen Graphic in Rugby, Rich at The Bike Yard, Chey for looking after my boys (Asher & Obie = the cats) everyone that has put a poster up in their shops or offices, True friends that have believed in me all along and always will thanks for not moaning at me for not going out, New friends that I’ve met along the way (you Know who you are), all the guys at Macmillan that have helped with promotion, Camper World for giving us an amazing home for four weeks I’m sure theres many more, if i have missed you I’m so sorry.

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you….

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