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Blog Date - 05 March 2013
Yes...that is his ferret "Compo" on his head...that's the kinda guy he was...
I knew this gentleman. I met him at least 15 years ago when I helped him to pass his motorcycle test. We stayed in touch as we'd meet often at the local biker haunts, a bike club and other social events. His name was Ron Varey, but to most of his mates he was known as "Dundee" or "Rivi Ron". He got the name "Dundee" from the film Crocodile Dundee as he was very much an outdoor man. He worked as a Ranger, could hunt creatures of the wild and is reputed to have struck a "bloody" grey squirrel 50 yards away with a firmly thrown stone.
Ron had a dream. He dreamed of traveling the globe and seeing all the wildlife, forests, deserts and mountains. He dreamed of drinking and making merry with people of all cultures. He dreamed of making this journey overland and on two wheels. Before I met Ron I'd never really considered traveling of any kind. I'd been around England visiting relatives and doing rallies on the bike but I hadn't traveled, I'd transported myself by motorcycle. The whole backpacking thing was for silly students and I didn't even know that lots of ordinary people rode motorcycles around the world.
Ron never got to fulfill his dream. He'd had a heart attack a few years before he died and though he recovered well another massive heart attack took his life, mercifully swiftly. It came as a shock to his family and friends and it was with much sadness we said our goodbyes at his funeral.
Ron planted the seed in me that there is a whole world out there. A world beyond the comfort and safety of my home county. A world beyond England where I'd done all my riding at that time. A world beyond familiar languages, familiar food in the shops, familiar roads and towns and familiar people. Those "other" places I'd seen on TV stopped being in TV land and became curious and intriguing. The idea of being far from my home, my tools, my friends and family became less scary and more exciting.
I am however not a big risk taker, I am risk averse. I'm cautious, easily scared and not happy out of my comfort zone. I have these last 10 years ventured to Scotland and fallen head over heels in love with the highlands. I feel very much at home there. I've been to the Faro Rally in The Algarve, taking the bike, not the plane. I have covered a small corner of Europe not tooooooo far from Calais and this year I hope to venture further and deeper into Europe.
Some reading this may see my forays as childish mini-trips to places much like the UK, and that's fine. To me however I reckon I feel as excited and as adventurous as any world traveller because I'm such a home boy. To be further than a day's ride from my bed feels as terrifying and remote as Scott must have felt in the Antarctic. I hope to travel farther each time, for longer each time and to build my confidence slowly.
Ron's death reminded me to get on with life. I also realise I may die before I build enough confidence to travel the world. That's just fine, as long as I am enjoying my travels and building my confidence at my own pace and in my own slow way. Many travellers say it's the journey that matters, not the final destination. My final destination may be "The BIG Trip", I hope to enjoy the journey even if I never reach the end.
Thanks to Ron for inspiring my travels.
Reader's Comments
Stephen Varey said :-
Ron was my cousin,he was the eldest of 16 gradchildren ,he was a great generous guy and all the Varey family in Manchester miss him.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Stephen
Yeah he was a good fella was Ron. I'm still in touch with his daughter from time to time. I hope life finds you and the rest of the Vareys well.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
elliot calderbank said :-
Dis my GRandad Yo
10/01/2022 11:17:12 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Surely was Elliot. Top fellow, I wish he was still around.
10/01/2022 22:30:43 UTC
elliot calderbank said :-
glad i found this page Ren.
21/01/2022 09:42:58 UTC
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