To Europe and Beyond
An extraordinary tale of one man's
determination to make up for lost time
By
Ian Elliott
I would like, if I may, to tell you my story.
It is a good little story and one that you should enjoy.
Every tale has a beginning, and an end, but mine does not.
It starts in the middle, the middle contains a host of endings and beginnings and the end, well, the end is just the beginning of something entirely new. Life means many things to many people but to me, it means just one thing. For there is, and there shall only ever be from now on, the road. That is all that matters.
Consciousness is nothing but a constantly changing flux of pathways and doors. Life is about which paths and which doorways you choose. This is the story of my disassociation from the world I was living in at the moment when I came to realise that my particular reality was, in fact, a bit crap. So I decided that I would make a certain change to things and thus my tale begins.
Along the way we will meet a whole bunch of assorted lunatics, criminals, hippies, fellow travellers and various other colourful characters. We'll see sights that you would not believe and have experiences, both poignant and ludicrous, that will tantalise, create laughter and should interest even the most jaded individual.
Follow Ian's travels via the links below, or find out what lead Ian on this journey by clicking here.
Latest Article
The Louvre
Battered and bruised, Ian attempted to ease his pain by wandering the hallowed halls of the famous museum.
Gay Paris but er, less of the gay
What was meant to be a wild and carefree night on the town, turned out to be a wild and dangerous knife-fight in a Parisian back-alley.
Catch Up On The Journey
Back from the Brink
Ian's back after a long hiatus. It was touch and go whether he'd be back at all if not for the angel that saved his life.
Lille
Seeing his first proper French city makes Ian realize he needs to stock up on rural idylls, but no matter what, he'd better get on with it.
Boulogne II
Here he is, he is here, and with a lil' bit of sunshine bang the starter's gun for sightseeing and life-living.
Boulogne I
A long boring drive gives Ian time to ponder what France means to him, and the psychology of British holidaymakers.
Calais
The urge for normality creeps in - to be home, to have a proper job, a routine - but instead this old dog learns some new tricks... like gorging itself silly.
Crepes of Calais
After a celebrity-induced epiphany, Ian treads the fine line between euphoria and absolute madness. Such is the power of French crepes.
The Pleasant Streets of Calais
Ian was just wandering the streets of Calais, pondering his next move, when all of a sudden he embarked on a frivolous little rant.
Why Britain is Such a Weird Place
On the long drive to Dover Ian offers his very honest opinions of "Ol Blighty". But don't worry, he promises to get off his political soapbox and take us sight-seeing after Calais.
Leaving Home
After shedding himself of his job and finding a home for his Rottweiler, Ian hit the road with his maps, money and a desire to leave his old self behind.
The Crazy Beginning of the End
A quick introduction to some of the cast of characters as well as a summary of the places and experiences you can expect to read about in upcoming entries.
