That's it Ted. Just accept your fate. The spider's web of responsibility has finally enmeshed you and as the grim reaper knows only too well you can run but you can't hide for ever.

Before you know it you'll be stuck in the traffic on yet another rain soaked morning commute, hairline receding, waistline expanding, with final demands piling up on the mat as customers flock to the guy next door as he's 5p cheaper than you.

The bin will be overflowing with empty booze bottles and every time you look wistfully at the dust covered bike stuck in the corner you'll wonder whether it's you or the bike that's decaying faster. "One day" you'll say to yourself, "one day I'll pump up the tyres and take it out for a ride", but you'll hear the lack of conviction in your voice...

Sorry if it all sounds a bit depressing but I'm just off on a two week road trip with my in-laws. Console yourself that things could be worse

Ted's original post made me feel somewhat depressed because it appeared to be signalling the end of something for him but thanks to you, backofbeyond, I am now enveloped in a new burst of enthusiasm, joy and adventure. You should become a motivational speaker for people who are feeling down on their luck!

I spent most of my twenties forging a career and climbing the property ladder - it seemed to be the thing to do, I worked with people who were exactly the same and I suppose it was mildly competitive. My job involved a huge amount of worldwide travel anyway. Once in my thirties I was pretty keen to break free from the career thing, don't really know what changed but girlfriend was up for a career break as well. We sold our house and set off and had a great time but other things come into play not least the biological clock so we now have two children and the memories of a great time travelling.

Heading towards retiement in a few years I'm really glad we didn't do what many do and wait until we retired to scratch the travelling itch but we are looking forward to a few more adventures in our more sedate years.

Horses for courses ol mate, you did the right thing and you're still doing the right thing! Come what may, you have the adventure spirit well instilled and it will never leave you / us! I'm in a similar boat, housing market in free fall, cant get what I need to retire, even if I did I'm the primary carer for my 86 year old overly independent Mum! I can still manage day rides maybe a weekend away with a bit of planning. Just glad I did the miles when I could regardless of the $$$ consequences. There will be more, lots more, it's just a time thing mate

Hi Ted,

I had a relative who lived in Netherlands, he spent the last 20 years biking all over Europe. He had a 9 to 5 but was away to a rally, or a festival every weekend throughout year. He met lots of interesting people and had many good times making for great stories. Granted not quite a RTW life changer but never the less I was always wishing I could do that. Meanwhile back int the UK I did the whole Career, Wife, Mortgage, kids Thing. Whenever we met I would say how jealous I was of his lifestyle. He said it was great but he just wanted what I had, a family of his own. Now he is back in the UK, working and married. Does he miss it? yep but another chapter in his life has begun. At least doing it that way round he (and you) gets best of both worlds.
For myself and most others who wait till the mortgage is paid off and the kids are old enough to fend for themselves are finding that now we need to look after our aging parents. We are also quite content and by all accounts we're hard wired for comfort after 40.
Your new business sounds exiting and I wish you all the best, I might roll by that way and say Hi sometime (if there is a Starbucks nearby, don't want to scratch the GS ).

Anyway I recon you could still do a big trip it would just take some good planning!

Best regards,
Dave.

Kettle is always on

Sent from my G7-L01 using Tapatalk

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

It’s good to see the opinions from both sides. Personally I’m the opposite to Ted as I spent the early years settling down with my wife, 3 kids, career and big mortgage. No regrets at all as I’ve always had a bike, done the rally scene and short ish trips to France, Belgium etc.

Now approaching 50, I manage to get away a few times a year around both UK and Europe. Yes there is a dream of doing the big one but for me it’s all about the time, the money and the compromise.

Last year I did a 13 day 3K ride from UK to Croatia and back on an old 99 plate Fazer 600 with 50K miles. People said I was mad taking a ‘small old bike’ on a trip like that. WTF???

For me it’s not about having a big GS with all the TT dogs danglies that get little or no use (apologies to those that do use them!). I took what I have been maintaining and riding daily for the past 6 years. I just slung over some soft panniers, packed a tent and off I went with 3 mates. I know it’s nothing compared to what a lot of you have done, but for me it was ‘my trip’ with limited time and budget.

I had a great time, especially the passes in Slovenia, Italy and France . And regarding the compromise… well it cost me a family holiday to Egypt for the wife and kids 

Last weekend I did a round trip of 700 miles from Bristol to the Lake District (its certainly rains a lot up there ) and if you know who was the white van man that nearly took us out on the Hard Knott Pass, please tell him politely (big stick optional) not to do it again.

It was funny though to see a mate being chased on his bike by a cow at the bottom of Wrynose pass (Cow = Moo Moo type… and not the variety that sits on the back and nags a lot)

Have fun all – do what you can, when you can, no matter how small the trip, just get out and enjoy it while you can still get your leg over (the bike that is)…

Bones