I’m coming home – the hard way! (From Gazette)

I’m coming home – the hard way!

5:00pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Colchester By Andrea Collitt

A FORMER paratrooper is finally making his way home to Colchester from the Middle East – riding 3,400 miles through 14 countries on a motorbike.

Peter Rutter served 23 years serving with the 1st and 3rd battalions of the Parachute Regiment, rising to the rank of warrant officer.

He left in 2006 to work as a military adviser to the United Arab Emirates Army in Dubai.

Now he is heading back to the garrison town to start a new career as a motorcycling instructor – astride his BMW R1200-GS bike.

Mr Rutter, 46, is leaving Dubai on March 4, and going the long way round.

He said: “Most people planning to ride back from Dubai would go through Turkey into Europe, but not me. I plan to go through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and France.”

Mr Rutter has been planning the trip for about two years.

He said: “It is going to be exciting, but I also feel apprehensive, because I will be going through countries I have never been to before. It’s the not knowing more than anything.”

Putting his military experience to good use, Mr Rutter will be taking all his camping kit with him on the bike, including his tent, sleeping bags, cooking pots and a mug.

When gets back, he plans to open a motorcycle training school in the Colchester area, having qualified as an instructor two years ago.

To follow him, visit www.dubaitouk. weebly.com