RIDING IT OUT…

Approaching her sixtieth birthday, Pam Goodall set off riding a tailor-made bicycle on a journey which would take her around the world – twenty countries in all.

A business woman for twelve years, Pam’s shop closed down due to competition from a nearby supermarket. The collapse of the property boom in the late ‘80s left her facing bankruptcy and the desk job which followed led ultimately to redundancy. Enough was enough – three months later Pam was off, taking control of her life once again. It was the beginning of her Grown Up Gap Year.

Choosing to travel alone, she pedalled ten thousand miles through Europe, Asia and America. The only certainty was that she would never know where she would be sleeping at the end of each day.

Undeterred by constant warnings of danger, her presence prompted spontaneous friendships which resulted in invitations to weddings, engagements and birthday celebrations, beach parties and barbecues. Frequently treated as a VIP houseguest, she enjoyed family meals, local sightseeing and an unusual day at a private health club.

Pam embarked on this bike ride having never mended a puncture and returned having discovered that there is such a thing as a free lunch.