I’ve been home now for just over 24 hours. I am surprised at how quickly I have adjusted and everything has become “normal”. I was expecting arriving home to be a surreal experience, but it wasn’t. Everything is just the same as it ever was.
It’s going to take a while to think through everything that’s happened over the last few months. In some ways it would already be easy to believe the whole trip “was just a dream” – a dream from which I woke up 20 kilos lighter and with 5 years supply of bicycle spares…
Right now, I’m not sure what exactly I’ve learned from the trip. Africa is not at all like I expected – it’s much, much cooler and despite the relative poverty is a much happier place than I would have imagined. I’m not sure how much I have changed and in what ways – I think that will become clearer over the next few weeks and months.
Already I’m looking forward to getting on my bike again 
I’m currently reading the excellent blog of another rider, John Davies who at 71 was the oldest rider on the trip and an inspiration. John’s blog has lots of photos which give a good idea of what it was actually like in the countries we passed through.
WELCOME “HOME”!
Thanks for that link to John’s blog. He told me it was entitled “old guy on a bike” or something when I met him at the crater lodge, but when I googled it I couldn’t find a thing! Perfect! Thanks-stay well!
Em
Welcome back to civvy-street! I’ve been checking semi-regularly in to read the whole saga and have to admit to being totally taken aback by the sheer scale and fearsomeness of the TDA. The distances and conditions were so much harder than I had imagined. It’s been a real pleasure to share your journey through the blog, but also I’ve found it quite mentally challenging to read and contemplate…and that’s from the comfort of the front room in good ol’ Blighty! Thanks for your efforts to describe things so vividly and regularly for us. You’re style has been witty, descriptive, wry and unfailingly good humoured (well, mostly!) even when pushed beyond breaking point for us armchair jockeys. It’s given us a great flavour of the changing landscapes, people, food and the camaraderie you’ve experienced. It’s been awesome. I’ll look forward to sharing a beer sometime when you’re back in gear. And, for what it’s worth, I always knew you’d push on through the tough times to the end. A huge big congratulations, Simon, well done.
Welcome back Simon, and huge respect for an awesome achievement. That flippin’ John Greenlees already said everything else I was going to say.
Chris