Austin and Gerald Vince

Nat and Lois

Trundle and Angie

Yvonne

BSA Barb

Eric Sowle and Lois

Erica, Lois and Rick

Kaaren and Goats

Lynn and Johnny

Rob and Eli

Lois with Karen and Lola

Joe and Lara

This trip has been made a whole lot more fun, exciting and an altogether easier experience, thanks to the immense generosity and kindness of various people back home and on the road. I hope I get the opportunity to return all these favours one day.

In order of appearance...

BACK HOME

Austin Vince: for everything

Gerald Vince: for nearly everything

Nat Pryce aka Dredds: The finest webmaster of a brother

Trundle and Angie: late night, last minute tinkering

Richard Baird: crate maker of distinction

ON THE ROAD

Mike at Delta Air Cargo, Anchorage Alaska: Service beyond the call of duty. A case of going the extra air mile.

Gordy and Lee Woodley in Fort Nelson, Canada: Total strangers who took me in off the streets and supplied me with food, beer, a bath and a bed.

Vito and Heather in Vancouver, Canada : The reigning king and queen of hospitality and generosity.

Grant and Susan Johnson in Vancouver, Canada: Pizza, tea and advice from the ultimate motorcycle adventurers.

Yvonne in Vancouver, Canada: My trail riding hostess in BC, watched me crash all over the place and still managed to be encouraging.

Karen and Rob in Vancouver, Canada: A great night of pizza, red wine and Martha and the Muffins.

Susan Barber in Vancouver, Canada: Editor and publisher of Sistercycle magazine. Tea, biscuits and moral support after my bike was impounded by the cops.

BSA Barb in Mount Vernon, Washington: Entertaining company accompanied by food and booze a plenty. What else would you expect from a Brit biking redhead?

Eric and Erin Sowle in Portland, Oregon: Amazing hosting! Mechanical assistance, trail riding, rock 'n' roll, big trucks, crazy golf(!). All American fun. It was hard to leave.

Jerry and Nancy in Oregon: Parents of Erin Sowle and purveyors of the finest breakfast in Oregon.

John in Portland, Oregon: More mechanical assistance. The king of the kickstart.

Rick and Erica in Dexter, Oregon: A Serow AND a house boat? That sounds like a fine combination. Add a mexican meal, a couple of enormous margharitas and plenty of entertaining conversation...

Kaaren and Toby Boothroyd in Placerville, California: Two nights of luxury. Sunbathing, swimming in the outdoor pool, playing with the goats, messing about on the lake. This is where my holiday started proper.

Johnny and Lynn in Oakland, California: Two kind, generous and interesting people sporting great taste, great conversation and a huge record collection. Too much!

Eli and Rob in Berkeley, California: A warm welcome from the British connection. A much appreciated supply of real tea too!

Pete and Melissa from Berkelely, California: A most entertaining night out, full of highly amusing tales and generous hospitality.

Karen and Lola in San Francisco, California: My excellent hosts for a proper girls night out on the town, fuelled by an interesting combination of Margharitas, Mexican lager and gin & tonics. Ouch!

Marc and Darlene in San Francisco, California: The warmest welcome from old friends in the heart of downtown SF. A much appreciated relaxing experience.

Linda and Ted Lazarus, Pismo Beach, California: A heroes welcome and amazing hospitality in the lap of luxury. Great food, great fun and the world's most comfortable bed!

Nino, Leo and Helen in Atascadero, California: A little bit of Europe in the heart of California, where kindness and generosity abound. Lashings of real tea from Helen and much appreciated mechanical assistance from the Ducati Brothers.

Christine and Brian in St. Luis Obispo, California: Great hospitality from the coolest Californian couple. Plus a much needed haircut and moral support in the tattoo shop!

Joe, Lara and Sean in Los Angeles, California: They must have named it the City of Angels after these three fantastic folk. A non-stop supply of fun and generosity made it hard to leave.

Juan Carlos Ibarra in Valle de Bravo, Mexico: Impeccable hospitality from our man in Mexico. Generosity, motorcycling expertise and all round good company.

Aiza Gomez in San Jose, Costa Rica: A welcome retreat after the hard roads of Central America. I owe a debt of hospitality and a pair of socks to this generous woman.

Edgardo Loo Berroa, Panama: A fellow motorcyclist who kidnapped me (in the nicest possible way) and escorted me to a special bikers haven on my way to Panama City.

Carolina in Bogota, Colombia: Put me up at a moments notice and showed me the real side of Colombian life.

Ricardo Rocco in Quito, Ecuador: The motorcyclist's motorcyclist in Ecuador. What would we do without him?Ricardo Rocco and Dutch R1 loony, Sjaak

Willem, Zoila, Jessica, Johan and Maurets in Cuenca, Ecuador: This wonderful Dutch/Ecuadorian family gave me a bed, food and great company when I was dumped on their doorstep by Dutch R1 rider Sjaak.  Spontaneous hospitality of the highest order.

Jeffrey Powers in Cusco, Peru: Norton riding, warm ale drinking, parrot fancying landlord of South America's greatest biker's pub, Norton Rat's.  Friend of all South America bound riders.

Frank and Ann in La Paz, Bolivia: assistance beyond the call of duty when Amalia wiped out in Bolivia.  Thanks for coming to the rescue.