Slow Down and Enjoy the Ride by Alistair Mcguinness

Slow Down and Enjoy the Ride by Alistair Mcguinness

Is it possible to cycle 1,000 miles across Britain in 13 days and still find the time to slow down and enjoy the ride?

Twenty years after riding from Land's End to John O'Groats, Alistair set out with his friends to repeat the adventure and quickly discovered that times have changed. Bike computers have replaced maps and thousands of cycle paths now criss-cross Britain. It didn't help that he now lives in Australia and spends more time on a paddle board than two wheels. With little training and a borrowed bike, he set off from Land's End, determined to enjoy every moment.
Faced with so many natural distractions he soon began deviating from the plan. With many miles to cover, along remote tracks, these diversions came at a price and something had to break. Would it be the bike, the camaraderie or Alistair's inquisitive nature?

Along the way he survived heatstroke in Devon, went in search of a lady called Daphne and braved wild storms in Glasgow. After a swim in Loch Ness he found time to enjoy a beer in one of the remotest pubs in Scotland. Everyone who travels across Britain has a story to tell. This is Alistair's.

If you like travel books, you'll enjoy this inspirational story, which shows that with luck, curiosity and perseverance, anything is possible.

My family has a history of sharing stories. My Great Uncles were Seanachas (Irish storytellers), and I loved listening to their colorful stories about rural life in Donegal when I was a kid. I enjoy traveling and have visited 47 countries so far. Unlike my Grand Uncles, I like to write rather than tell stories. In northern Peru, I was once hunted by lions, ringed by sharks, and hired a donkey named Angus.

After traveling the world, I relocated from England to Western Australia, where I now reside with my wife, children, and our dog, Peppy, between the Indian Ocean and the jungle. English hillsides, decent ale, & salt and vinegar crisps are all things I miss. ​ I became a member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers in 2016.