The bikes all ready & we are just about set to leave the ship..

  Down the gang plank onto English soil for the first time in 7 months..

  Seven months & not much change in the weather, still raining..would you believe it!

  All about ready, packed up ready to go, Steve wearing the latest in all weather gear!!  

  Steve & Lucy turning into home, Lucy had to give directions, its been a long time!! 

  Phil close behind checking to make sure it’s the right place..

  Well done boys, fantastic adventure completed..

 And what a welcome home!!

  Lots of family & friends here to welcome the boys back, thankyou to everybody for putting this homecoming party together, what a perfect way to end this journey.

  We stopped for the day in Ponta Delgada in the Azures for the day, lovely old Portuguese Port. The weather was not so good, we could tell we were getting closer to home..

  These cobbled streets were nice, very old feel to the place. After walking around for hours we decided to head back onto the ship as the rain clouds gathered..

  Tim Holton Staff Chief Engineer kindly guided the three of us on a tour around the engine room & ship operation stations.

  After the tour we were invited to a crew ‘Gurka & beer evening’, here down on deck 4 in the crew quarters with Tim & Niomi.

  While down in the crew quaters we eventually got to meet with Lindsey’s husband Billy.. 

  Steve got to meet one of his old mates, his mate seems to have aged better!!

  During the cruise we went to the theatre on an evening to watch some wonderful shows, this one was based on songs from the 2nd World war times. 

  Lucy about to launch a message in a bottle!

  These two guys ( Alan & Harry White ) performed at the theatre doing muic from the 50 & 60′s plus a tribute to the Beatles, if you get the chance go & watch, very good entertainment..

  Phil must running low on deoderant !!

  This looks nice but did Steve suffer, how much chocolate can one man eat?? be a long time before he has another go!!

  Beauty & the beast off out for a night out on the town.

    After the other passengers showed a great interest in our trip, P&O asked if we would appear on stage to ask any questions, here Steve is rehearsing his dance routine!!

  We were overwhelmed by the amount of interest shown, over 200 passengers turned up to ask lots of interesting questions, here Steve & Phil on stage with one of the bikes that the crew managed to get up there..

  Two days at sea & we were treated to a day at Half Moon Cay, a small uninhabited  island in the Bahamas. 

  It was rough having to spend the day on this beach!!

  Steve & Lucy playing around on the floating trampolene!

  Time for those crocks to get there own back! remember teasing them ones in Cambodia with the fishing rods..hope Lucy checked the insurance policy! 

  The view from our lunch table, just checking that the ship is still there..

 A thought we all shared as we passed this sign to get back on the tenders back to the Ociana. 

  The 08th of March & the start of the final leg of our incredible journey, we cruised home from Port Everglade in Florida to Southampton on P&O cruise ship Oriana.

  We arrived at the boat & prepared to load the bikes onto the ship, seen here discussing the logistics with Tim Holton, Staff Chief Engineer. 

  This was the fun part, Steve was the first to go riding up the gang plank into the ship.. 

  Phil next, he had to remember to duck when he got to the top!

  One onto the ship we rode the bikes up the  ‘M1′ ( the main service corridoorthat runs the full length of the ship ) to the storage cage.. 

  This was a first for the Oriana, this storage cage was converted into a motorcycle lockup, they even welded a eye onto the deck for strapping down the bikes.

  This is Phil’s cabin ( the tidy one ) nice & comfy even with the panniers between the beds!

  Our last day on the road so we decided to head back to Everglade City & to have a ride on one of the Airboats through the Mangrove Swamps.

  Good fun & these things don’t hang around, 360 turns make you hang -on, remember them Gattors in the water!! 

  One minute we were bombing along in open water & then crawling along among the Mangrove roots. 

  When we arrived back on land, Lucy found a new freind, Steve said no, she is not having one!

  That night we found a nice villa right on the river.

  Leaving the Florida Keys we headed to Fort Lauderdale where we were told the fishing would be good & the sea better, we booked the fishing then decided to spend some time on this lovely beach.. 

  If you are into boats Fort Lauderdale is the place, marinas like this around every corner.

  We went out on a charter boat for half a day, lovely sunshine & relitively calm sea’s. After about an hour Phil hooked into something. 

  This is what came up, nice one.. No that isn’t a bank robber its Mike one of the boat hands…

  Next it was Steve’s turn, what is on the end of that rod..

  Another lovely fish, a good day had by all..

  Riding through the Keys we passed over some of these fantastic bridges, one being seven miles long.

  On our way back from Key West we stopped for a coffee, we were joined by Dan & Kay, fellow motorcyclists travelling to Key West to camp, lovely couple, we chatted for a good hour before heading off in different directions. If you read this Dan & Kay, please keep in touch, use Phil’s e-mail address which is on the back of the card, let us know how your plans for the ‘big’ trip are going..   

  We checked into a motel in Islamorada in bright sunshine, ten minutes later this is what we had, perfect timing on our part but our thoughts were with Dan & Kay who we spoke to earlier & were of camping..

  We headed for Key West stopping for lunch at this small fishing marina in Islamorada.  

  Steve reckons he cought this shark, i’m not sure! he does look pretty calm though!

  Key West was full of these old style buildings, nice place but to many people, we planned to do some sea fishing but the sea was to rough, boats not going out so postponed it to another day..

  After nearly two months in the USA we made to here, the Southern most point on the continent.