Calais

My alarm went off at 5.15am (4.15am UK time), I jumped in the shower and got dressed into my slightly damp motorcycle gear.

I arrived at Le Shuttle early and the check in lady told me that she had put me on the earlier train. Great result! I waited until the information screen told me to board then I headed down to the train. Unfortunately a useless French Border crossing man was so slow checking passports that by the time I got past him, I had missed the earlier train. I had to wait to wait for my original train after all.

Once back in Blighty, the sun was shining, the roads were quiet and I raced home probably a little too fast back home to my house and waiting wife. I stripped off my motorcycle clothes for hopefully a while and weighed myself. I was very pleased to see that I was about 4 pound lighter than when I left the UK. I put it down to all the time spent in the mosh pit sauna!!

It had been an absolutely fabulous trip with a few trials and tribulations that all added to the adventure. I have also made friends with so many people from the UK, Europe and beyond who I know that I will bump into at future NMA gigs.

Over the last two days on my bike, my ears were filled with snippets of lyrics on repeat from NMA songs that I had heard over and over at the gigs. I have listed a few of those lyrics below:-

——-

‘Well, my bags are packed, I’m ready to go
Whichever way the world is tilting’

‘There’s a line of shadow on the far horizon
It could be stormclouds and it could be mountains’

I have never been a wise man – living too fast and recklessly
Too quick to judge, too quick to act and forgive and forget

———

‘And the pressure moves the mountains, seven billion and counting’

‘They say that we're all kings and queens in the new world except for those who aren't
They say we can follow our dreams to the very top of the tree except for those who can't
They say that the meek shall inherit the earth except that they shan't’

‘But I know it isn't personal - I just live on an angry planet’

——-

‘No, not for one second did you look behind you
As you were walking away
Never once did you wish any of us well
Those who had chosen to stay’

——-

‘They say there is no rest for the wicked ones
Dear God what have we done?
There is no rest for the wicked ones
Dear God what is this evil that we've done?’

——-
‘The wolf he howls, howls up at the moon;
some day coming - some day soon’

‘What a wonderful way to go - what a wonderful way to go . . .’

——-

‘And still these mornings I wake up singing
Even if I can’t remember why
These mornings I wake up singing
Even if I can’t remember why’

——-

‘Do you really want to go there?
I close my eyes, and I count to ten, I hold my tongue and then I count again’

———

‘So sit us down, buy us a drink, tell us a good story
Sing us a song we know to be true’

‘Revolution for ever, succession of the seasons
Within the blood of Nature, all raised to rot and die
This purity is a lie’

——-

‘Well I dreamed that I was running, through a wilderness of plenty
And I could hear the hunt behind me, getting closer, getting closer
And I knew that the end was coming and I wished that it was over
Bring me the snowfall, bring me the cold wind, bring me the winter’

‘So let the weary land be rested and the killing season over
Let the shadows stretch forever in the light of burnished silver
For I fear the age of consequence and I wish that it was over
I fear the age of consequence and I wish that it was over
Bring me the snowfall, bring me the cold wind, bring me the winter’

——-

And finally….

‘I’m heading north, I’m heading home, Doing 125
I close my eyes and count to ten - Ha ha, I'm still alive’
(Well actually doing about 95mph north west up the A20, then clockwise round the M25 & then south down the M23).

I could have gone on.

Back home, I discovered that numerous photos, videos and messages had been uploaded on Facebook, WhatsApp and god knows what else. A few photos are below.

Song of the Day - 5.15 by The Who

NMA Song of the Day - 125mph by New Model Army.Read more