Well, that's it! We're back home.
Back to the unpacking of belongings and trying to remember where we put things all those months ago; back to re-instating power, phone and internet connections; back to - dare we use the "W" word - work and all those horrible mundane things!

But it is also a time to reflect and think of the highlights of the last year. How much we enjoyed San Francisco and the excitement of seeing the BMW for the first time. Setting off that first chilly day back in January and heading straight to the Golden Gate Bridge for the official starting-off point. Travelling along the Pacific Coast Highway with the sun on our backs to San Louis Obispo and the first of our stays in an historical B&B. Riding through deserts, miles and miles of desert, and meeting Deesel Dave (who loved Burt Munro) and his mate Larry on Route 66. The Gunfight at the OK Corral and the beautiful town of Bisbee. Riding across Texas, Texas and more of Texas and seeing San Antonio, The Alamo and our stay at the elegant Hardeman House in Nacogdoches. The immenseness of Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. The excitement of the Shuttle Launch and seeing the Blue Man Group again in Florida. The beautiful scenery of Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia which we shared with Ralph and Katrina when they rode with us for a week. Meeting Beaver Carpenter, a gnarly toothless house builder in Tiger, Georgia and trying to understand his banjo background accent. The 118 sweeps, curves and bends in eleven miles of the Dragon's Tail, Tennessee. The stunning scenery and having the road to ourselves in the Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia. The beautiful sunset on the Appalachian Trail. Standing outside the White House in Washington and beside the powerful Niagara Falls.

We remember, after only being on the road for a month or so and looking at the map and at the remainder of the route, as compared what we had just completed, and contemplating the size of America now that we were experiencing it first hand. But having reached Toronto four months later it all felt like it had been quite easy after all, and complete and utter enjoyment the whole way South, East and North.

There have been people we just came across, be it at the side of the road, in supermarket carparks or campgrounds, who have been interested to hear our story and have made us laugh. But there have also been people we have met who we hope to see again some day and maybe class as long distance friends. And there have been people who have been extremely generous and helped us in so many ways. Over a year ago now we met the lovely Celia who helped us so much in the mission of getting the Tiger back from Santiago. Wolfgang at Dubbelju Motorcycles in San Francisco from whom we bought the BMW. Dennis and Cookie in Rochester, NY who we met in the Shenandoah National Park and spoke to for only half an hour but put us up for a whole week later on in the trip.

Then to the second leg of trip where it was great to catch-up with family and friends in the UK - to attend the Santana concert in Manchester with Ken and Linda Green, meet Frankie Chili at the World Superbikes at Brands Hatch with Rod and Alison Hunt, have a week of sun in Spain with Neil's parents Tom and Gill, enjoy our first trip to rural France to meet Bernie and Kate, Ian, Sally and Tom, friends from New Zealand and another first for Neil with his trip to the Isle of Man TT with Paula, Stuart, Mike and Enid and a little side trip to Ibiza for Neil and Stuart to catch up with Andie Fields, Ibiza's resident Stage Hypnotist and long time friend.

So all that remains is to say a huge thankyou to the following people in geographical order, so as not to miss anyone out (hopefully)!!

Wolfgang Taft, Dubbelju Motorcycles and Rentals San Francisco
Deesal Dave and Larry, Amboy Southern California
John and Ann Bywater from Calverley, Leeds whom we met at the Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson Arizona.
Shelly and kids, Vonnie - Deltona FloridaRalph and Katrina - Deland Florida
Sherry - Tampa Florida, now living in Des Moines, Iowa
Dennis and Cookie (Irene) Pierce - Fairport, New York
Art Elting at Country Rode Motowerks - Fairport New York (for a great deal buying the BMW from us)
Gill and Tom Dixon (aka) Mum and Dad - Lebberston, Scarborough
Stuart, Louise, Zoe, Sophie Dixon - Askwith, Nr Otley
Jack(Haki), Joan Dixon and the Boys - Scholes, Leeds
Jean and Alan Foulis - Bardsey, Leeds
Andrew and Karen Foulis - North Watford
Margaret Hopton, Gillie's mum - Leeds
Neil and Sue Evans - Leeds
Reg and Audrey Glover - East Ardsley, nr Wakefield
Janet and Brian Ward - East Ardsley, nr Wakefield
John, Alison, Jemma, Jonty Aveyard - Monk Fryston
Alan, Sue, Sarah, David Mills - East Ardsley, nr Wakefield
Sue and Keith Laverick - Emley, Huddersfield
Brian and Shirley Young - Hamilton, Scotland
Ken and Linda Green - Farsley, Leeds
Bill and Carol Munro - Darrington, nr Pontefract
Sally and Gary Drake - Ossett
Ken and Wendy Oakley - Drighlington, nr Bradford
Rod and Alison Hunt - Temple Cloud, Somerset
Terry and Sandra Stephens - Marazion, Cornwall
Pauline Harrison - Walton, Wakefield
Darren and Kath Watson - Outwood, Wakefield
Simon and Kath Taylor - White Lee, Batley
Mary, Angela, Ann, Pat, Sue and Sue (aka The Regional Independent Media Girls)
Sue and David Griffin - Wilsden, Bradford
Sue and Colin Western - Tadcaster
Ken and Jean Snelling - York
Nicky and Lewis Kingdom - York
Carol and Ian Lindley - Drighlington, nr Bradford
Tracy and Paul Lush - Burn, nr Selby
John and Marion Shepherd - Bridlington
Frank and Sylvia Major - Leeds
Andie Fields - Ibiza
Paula Kelshaw and Stuart - West Ardsley
Suzanne and Richard Colquitt - Higher Foxdale, Isle of Man
Clive and Sarah Thompson - somewhere on a barge in the UK!
Bernie Dougherty and Kate Jacobsen - Lower Hutt, NZ
Sally and Ian Kilpatrick - Camborne, NZ
Mike and Glenda Downham - Otaihanga, NZ (special thanks for storing all our gear)Mick and Moira Butterfield - Whitby, NZ (special thanks for looking after our affairs back home)

Until the next time!
Neil and Gill