Date: Mon, 2 May 2005

To: touring@phred.org

From: “Michael Ayers” <michael@terminalia.org>

Subject: Gondwana - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish...

Phriends,

Well, I almost can’t believe it myself, but tomorrow morning I will leave the U.S. for the next two or three years. It’s time for me to start the Tour of Gondwana.

As I write this the Direct Kestrel is just a few hours away from docking at the Port of Los Angeles, and in the morning I will make my way to the port to get on board. If all goes well I will arrive in Melbourne, Australia around May 21.

I can honestly say that even now it doesn’t quite feel like this tour, which I have been waiting for all these years, is finally about to start. The last 6+ months have been nothing but constant planning that never seemed to end, numerous crises that strung themselves together one after the other, financial worries, schedule worries, and so on. However, I am not a worrier by nature and I’m sure that as soon as I get on the bike, south of the equator, all of that will be left behind once and for all and I will feel refreshed and ready to see the sights, and meet the people, of the world. In fact, sending this message is the last item on my “To Do” list, which was once an ominous four pages long.

Of course, with the last few weeks spent packing my home into storage and visiting my family for the last time for a while, and with the next few weeks to be spent on a comfortable, though somewhat confined, boat with no place to ride, I expect that my legs will be feeling anything but refreshed at the start of the tour. No worries, because I’m sure that situation won’t last long and, after all, I’ve got the next 29 months to get back in shape.

Tonight, for my last night in the States, I went to see the movie version of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” Those of you who are familiar with that story will realize that “DON’T PANIC” is about the best advice I could receive at this point. Hopefully, during the next 2.5 years I will take that to heart and will always know where my towel is. Even though it is only a PackTowl.

Take care everyone. Here’s wishing you happy riding, friendly winds, no flats, and all the time and support you need to ride wherever it is you want to go.

Cheers,

Mike

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The Tour of Gondwana

May 02005 - Oct 02007

http://www.terminalia.org/tour