pistonbroke wrote:Sorry to burst your emerald green bubble Greg but Kevin (Blackhound) is definitely Irish, I've seen his passport when we did the trans Pyrenees. I think he's from the south west around Cork. He finished the divide about 5-6 years ago. You'll simply have to aim to be the first Irishman to win the Tour Divide instead.

I thought Kev was from Mayo...Cork....poor fella.

Chances of me winning anything these days bar a getting out of bed before 7am contest are quite low.

Mayo, come to think of it you are right, one of those damp places anyway.

pistonbroke wrote:Mayo, come to think of it you are right, one of those damp places anyway.

That'd be the whole Island :)

Indeed, it is Mayo and not the Rebel County. I was born here to Irish parents, moved to Ireland and came back here in '67 though early memories are of Ireland.
As Duncan says I do have an Irish passport and am a citizen of the country.

As far as I know I was the first Irish person to finish TD and a guy called Don (McDonald or MacGregor?) also UK based finished in 2012 or 2013. Your target, Greg, could be the Irish record which is 17 days and a few hours. I believe Liam Crowley who beat jameso in 2014 (?) was born in Ireland but moved to Australia as a youngster. Jameso may be able to confirm.

I read a few days ago that Ireland has the highest percentage of citizens living abroad - something like 17%.

Yes, it was Liam's idea for that sprint, cunning Irishman got 20 secs on me. Trackleaders has me ahead of him but that was just spot inaccuracy. 2013.

2013! Does not seem that long ago. Sneaky Irish trying to get one over on the Brits. Whatever next?

^ that was a comment of fact or perception at the time Kevin, I'm not getting into politics : )
Seems like a long time here.

Looks like mike hall has entered according to fb flights booked etc..

How are UK SoBo folks planning to get home from AW?

Is the easiest to get to Tucson or Albuquerque to get an internal flight back to somewhere you can get a flight back across the pond?

I'm probably going to end up riding towards Phoenix and meeting my wife somewhere - then heading off to Grand Canyon for a few days before flying home.

Unless I take 30days, then all bets are off.

@NewRetroTom - According to Skyscanner just now, you can fly out of El Paso to London for a little less than Albuquerque to London, but it's quite a haul as it goes backwards to LAX.

Greetz

S.

I've booked to fly out of Phoenix via Calgary with Westjet. How I get to Phoenix afterwards, or what I do about packing my bike up and getting it home again, are all unknowns...

Flat_4 wrote:I've booked to fly out of Phoenix via Calgary with Westjet. How I get to Phoenix afterwards, or what I do about packing my bike up and getting it home again, are all unknowns...

It'll be grand :)

What's the worst that could happen? Out of grizzly country by then...

Flat_4 wrote:What's the worst that could happen? Out of grizzly country by then...

Dogs. Lots of dogs.

And guns.

Back in my day there was a short section we called "Dog Alley" as you turned off the 111 at Vallecitos in New Mexico. The second time I went through there I was ready with my pepper spray!
They use big dogs to guard sheep in some places, if in doubt, take a wide berth around the flock.

Thats the spot I've heard about - not planning to ditch bear spray until after there!

GregMay wrote:

Flat_4 wrote:I've booked to fly out of Phoenix via Calgary with Westjet. How I get to Phoenix afterwards, or what I do about packing my bike up and getting it home again, are all unknowns...

It'll be grand :)

Same set of "problems" here. Sat at the kitchen table riding to Phoenix via Winslow, Arizona along Route 66 seems a great idea. Might be different when the time comes!

johnnystorm wrote:

GregMay wrote:

Flat_4 wrote:I've booked to fly out of Phoenix via Calgary with Westjet. How I get to Phoenix afterwards, or what I do about packing my bike up and getting it home again, are all unknowns...

It'll be grand :)

Same set of "problems" here. Sat at the kitchen table riding to Phoenix via Winslow, Arizona along Route 66 seems a great idea. Might be different when the time comes!

We could just buddy up and get pissed en route?

In other news, flights booked.

GregMay wrote: We could just buddy up and get pissed en route?

Hands-off the girl in the flat bed Ford, she's mine!

johnnystorm wrote:

GregMay wrote: We could just buddy up and get pissed en route?

Hands-off the girl in the flat bed Ford, she's mine!

Who you calling drunk?

*swings and fails to connect*

Damn your fast....

MIght be old news but Josh Kato is riding again this year http://faroutwanderings.blogspot.co.uk/ ... on-25.html

^ a good read there. I like his approach!