Name: David Alderson
Residence: County Durham, United Kingdom
Year of birth: 1965
Bike: Smokestone Mr Harry
Riding period: June 2024 to July 2025 (two periods)
Most favourite part: Each country has its own special memories and the trail introduces new venues to discover that may not have been seen otherwise. The people of the trail are all different but in common they share kindness.
I don’t fly and I enjoy the journey of getting to and from the start and not finishing as fast as possible.
Riding the bike in a mostly traffic free environment is exceptional, peaceful and enjoyable too.
Random Thoughts: This it two trails, the gentle North and the severe South, weather can overtake all expectations, sunshine or rain.
Proper research selects the bike and equipment for you. Rebekkah WIEDENER did this on a Unicycle and I thought hey! let’s take the kitchen sink and see how that goes.
Kindness of Strangers has hit me throughout this and in some places their help was significant, in Storms a dry place to sleep in Heat a closed shop was opened to get some ice and soft drinks and in a warn out state after zero rest a dinner bought for me was accepted.
Say YES more to people you may never see again, if they ask you for a chat and offer coffee, accept. Forget doing 159Km per day every day, it’s not a race. I hope this never becomes a race and those that spend every day speeding through the trail are wasting their time.
ADRIATIC to BALTIC, was my first Andy Cox trail, which he suggested to me after UK left EU and we only had 90 days to travel. I think I am now the only person to have done both of his routes. I mention this as I hope more will consider the East European Trail at 2600km to be a great place for a long adventure ride prior to the EDT. The chance to see Bison and other wildlife is just so accessible.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dladers
David’s trip in pictures
Well done David, im so please you have had the time to enjoy this trip, its a once in a life time acheiment, take your time getting home and stay safe ok.
Your brother paul xxx
A brilliant achievement Dave, I loved your posts and photos throughout. You started as an adventurer, but have changed to a traveller and a pilgrim. I hope you have wonderful memories and friendships to cherish.
We all knew you would do it.Its not you to give up. YOU have achieved once again WELL DONE,,,one hell of a journey.THE A TEAM where with you ALLTHE WAY, and will be here to welcome you you home 💁♀️💁♀️
Nice job mate! It was a pleasure to share a part of this adventure with you. Hope we’ll see each other in the future at some point. Take care.
Ive only recently Daivd,whilst in a swimming pool! But seeing/reading some of this adventures and extreme tests hes achieved are both impressive and testament to his character 💪👏, well done mate and catch you in the pool soon!