Sunday’s Inspiration: Here’s Where The Story Doesn’t End

“When are you going to stop travelling?”

“When will you settle down?”

“How long have you been on the road for?”

Sunday’s Inspiration: Here’s Where The Story Doesn’t End

Sunday’s Inspiration: Here’s Where The Story Doesn’t End

These are the types of questions that people ask me, day in day out. Everybody assumes (with their own personal justifications) that the journey has to end. The travelling has to stop. The crazy adventure has a logical start and end. But sometimes I sit and ask myself “why does it have to stop?”

“Don’t ever tell me to stop” – Madonna Ciccone

Sunday’s Inspiration: Here’s Where The Story Doesn’t End

Sunday’s Inspiration: Here’s Where The Story Doesn’t End

The weirdest thing for me is that in the last year, I have spent more time in Europe than any other continent and this is the first time that I have done that since 2009. At some points, people even thought I was, dare I say it, “settling down again”. But the truth is, I never stopped moving, even in Hong Kong, even In England, even in Northern Ireland. It was an addiction. I had to travel. Even when I stayed in one country for a prolonged period, I was on the move.

Backpacking in Hong Kong: Here’s Where The Story Doesn’t End

Backpacking in Hong Kong: Here’s Where The Story Doesn’t End

On my longest stint back in Northern Ireland in 11 years, back in October 2014, I couldn’t stand still. I stayed in hotels and hostels (including the Europa Hotel and the White Park Inn) and I toured my home country, from Ballintoy to Portbraddon to Newtownards to Tandragee. I was still on the move. I wasn’t “home”, it all felt like I was still travelling.

Admiring Ireland's Smallest Church in Portbraddon, North Antrim Coast.

Admiring Ireland’s Smallest Church in Portbraddon, North Antrim Coast.

This is because I didn’t know a different way of life. Being on the move all the time was my release from the horrors of everyday life. It gave me ambition, something to do. I hate the mundane, the banal, the repetitive, the knowing what’s ahead, the routine. My history of Monday to Friday office jobs, irregular shifts on car ferries and late nights manning bars in the land down under were all rock’n’roll but they didn’t inspire me as much as hopping on a bus to an unknown village, in an unknown region of a new country. That was, and that is, the buzz for me.

Khor Virap, Armenia to Turkey border monastery

Backpacking in Armenia: Khor Virap monastery

A very good friend of mine, Austin, who I lived with over a decade ago said that I could stay at his for a while, so I did. He lives in Westbourne in Bournemouth. It was like old times. As people, we hadn’t changed that much, but one thing he will have noticed is that I turned up with a backpack and I live out of it. Everything I have when I’m on the move, fits in that backpack and that is my life. He will also have noticed that being in a flat for 2 days, I got eager to get on the road again. I needed to get out and see the sights. I’d be backpacking through the leafy Bournemouth districts of Alum Chine and Westbourne. I didn’t stand still.

My temporary base in Austin's flat in Westbourne

My temporary base in Austin’s flat in Westbourne

I stayed with Austin on and off, for what seemed like a whopping 5 weeks on this occasion. But did I really? Not really, because in those 5 weeks, I travelled more than any of my English based friends. I got trains and buses all over the country. I went to London three times, I went to Crawley, Portsmouth, Gloucester, Manchester, Liverpool and Wakefield. I also toured two disputed countries – the Lagoan Isles and Adammia. And I also went to Jersey and back on the ferry, so I was still travelling all the time! But I was travelling slower, staying in the same region/area, I was overlanding. I haven’t been on a flight in 5 weeks.

On the train to Fratton, Portsmouth on route to the Lagoan Isles

On the train to Fratton, Portsmouth on route to the Lagoan Isles

I was all over the place, in five weeks, I travelled as much, if not more than in the previous 6 years. This was proof to me that, even when I try to stay stationary, I can’t. I need to be on the move. I remembered back to my time teaching English in Hong Kong, even then, I’d go to China at weekends to backpack through places like Luoping and Sanqing Shan. It was all crazy.

Backpacking in China: Sanqing Shan

Backpacking in China: Sanqing Shan

So the journey still hasn’t ended. I toyed with heading to Africa for 3 months, but I was finding so much fulfilment with my travels in and around England and the nations landlocked within it, that I didn’t get round to booking any flights and I’m still in England now, travelling all over it! I’m spending more time in the same regions than I used to – it used to be bang through a country on 3-4 days (like Swaziland and Andorra).

Touring England: Gloucester Cathedral

Touring England: Gloucester Cathedral

Despite trying to “settle down” for 5 weeks, I just couldn’t. I was on a train, bus or ferry at least once every 3 days and toured a new village, town or country every 4 days.

When will the journey end?

The answer is, whenever I lose the passion and desire to constantly travel or whenever my body is not fit and healthy enough to backpack the world.

Neither myself, God, or the Power Rangers know when that day will come.

Thanks for reading, safe travels one and all.

Cheers and safe travels!

Cheers and safe travels!

2 thoughts on “Sunday’s Inspiration: Here’s Where The Story Doesn’t End

  • Great post Jonny!

    Glad you are not going to stop living! What I have come to find is that even though I am more “settled” in England, I am still on the move – always discovering new places all over the country and in mainland Europe.
    Looking forward to seeing what you discover next.

    Safe travels buddy!

    Abbi

    PS – That wee church in Portbradden is super cute – I was there back in July this year 🙂
    Abbi recently posted…Postcards from Porto, PortugalMy Profile

  • Hi Abbi, thanks for reading and for the comment. I’ve been on the move so much since 2003 it’s ridiculous! Apart from Oct 2009 – Oct 2010 when I spent 12 months in one country (Australia), I haven’t stayed in a country for longer than 3 months, but these days, three months is OK as we can explore that country a lot more, like Hong Kong, China, England and wee Northern Ireland this time. Hopefully see you soon on another adventure! Safe travels. Jonny

    PS – Glad you saw the church too. I’m planning some more Irish travels soon, even tempted to do the obvious and kiss the Blarney Stone…

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