I rode into Belfast last night about six and had booked into the Premier Inn in the centre of the city, so was all set to find a curry house and think about getting home today. But I got a call from Colin McCadden, an old design friend who I hadn't seen since, we reckon, 1989 when we were both young whippersnapper designers. He had heard me on the Belfast radio just before I set out. So we met up and I ended up canceling my room at the Premier Inn (they were very nice and didn't charge me) and heading back to Colin and Geraldine's with a take away. And it was great to catch up (and a lot of catching up to be done). Colin has written and produced a beautiful set of books with a photographer Chris Hill called Scenic Ireland. The images are stunning and show how beautiful Ireland is.
There was some sad news too. A designer, a lovely man called Rodney Miller who I had met several time back then, had died earlier this year. Rodney was one of those optimists and visionaries of the time, and was full of passion for design in Northern Ireland and was one of the first to energise design in the region. So it was very sad to hear that news.
But his city is looking great even in these difficult times, and there is a great legacy of design and quality here.
It's a bit of an odd thing finishing a journey. But I know that I have met some amazing people, seen wonderful places and feel very privileged to have done this from the slowness of riding my bicycle. I can honestly say it is the best way to see and find out about a country. And Ireland is one special place, that's for sure.
I'm going to say goodbye to Austin and Martin over at Lawrence Street studios and to Emma at Craft NI. Then a train to Dublin and then another to Rosslaire. Then the ferry in the morning to Fishguard and a 25 mile ride up the coast to see the start of the Do Lectures (which I'm very excited about). Then home on Sunday. Thanks for following the journey and all the nice comments along the way.
The Just Giving page is still up and I would love to get the total up to £10,000, so please pass the website on to anyone (with £10 or so to spare) who might be interested. I have loved doing the soundslides, I see them as little audio visual portraits. There are some wonderful, talented, passionate, funny and good folk in there and I hope that they will be looked back on with affection.