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A middle-aged Kiwi, a Husqvarna Norden, 50,000km from London to Auckland.

Lagertha, the day I shipped her to London

I don’t regret selling any cars. But I regret every motorcycle I’ve ever sold.

So I’m not selling this one. I’m riding it home.

My name is Alan. I’m a middle-aged Kiwi, a former project manager, and not a particularly great rider. Over the next ten months I’m going to ride Lagertha — a Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition — from London to Auckland. Twenty-something countries. 50,000 kilometres. Mostly alone.

Along the way I’ll pay homage to a piece of family history: an airman buried in Germany whose name I carry, and whose death rippled down through the generations. My partner Rebecca will join me for parts of the ride. I’ll meet others. But most of it will be me, the bike, and my own head.

What if I ride through twenty countries and feel nothing?

That’s the fear. The answer, I think, is up to me — whether I enjoy it or endure it is a choice I’ll make every morning.

I’ve learned one thing already: making a goal public builds commitment faster than any internal dialogue ever could. That’s part of why this Substack exists.

If you want a sense of what you’re stepping into, two chapters worth starting with:

The Name I Carry — the airman in Germany, and why this isn’t only a motorcycle trip.

My Last Week as a Project Manager — closing one chapter of life to start another.

Subscribe and ride along.