The Long Way to China - Davy Hanna & Jimmy Ray

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The Long Way to China

A Journey of Promise, Friendship & Purpose

It’s already begun.

Two lads from Northern Ireland.

One unforgettable mission.

A promise made — and one we intend to keep.

This is The Long Way to China — an epic overland journey across continents to honour the dream of a dear friend and fulfil a promise that transcends borders, doubt, and distance.

In Memory of Larry Blakely

Larry Blakely, a kind-hearted adventurer from Lurgan, loved to travel and explore. One dream he never got to realise was to drive all the way to China — an idea that captured his imagination, even though he knew he might never get the chance.

Before he passed, Larry made a simple request of his friend Davy Hanna:

“If I can’t make the journey — promise me you will.”

Davy accepted without hesitation.

As a mutual friend, I joined to help start the journey. What began as a symbolic gesture quickly turned into something much more — a shared mission to see it through to the end.

An Adventure Born from Heart and Hustle

What started as a loose plan soon became a full-blown expedition — unpredictable, raw, and filled with unforgettable moments.

We booked flights to England with nothing but hope that a car would be waiting.

Just one day before departure, we were handed the keys to Georgie — a 1.4cc blue Peugeot 207, secured with the help of a friend and client.

We drove through the night to Folkestone, crossed the Channel from Dover to Calais (a last-minute change from Dunkirk), and officially began our journey.

From the solemn memorials of Dunkirk to the battlefields of Belgium, from the autobahns of Germany to the winding roads of Slovakia — each mile has strengthened our resolve and deepened our connection to Larry’s spirit.

We’ve crossed borders, shared stories, made friends, and created memories that will last a lifetime.

And we’re only just getting started.

Part One: Georgie’s Journey (So Far)

France

Belgium (WWI & WWII front lines, Tyne Cot Cemetery)

Germany (Cologne, Nürburgring)

Austria (Linz)

Slovakia

Hungary

Czechia

Poland (Zakopane, Kraków)

Georgie was parked safely in Kraków with 60 days of storage secured. The next leg was calling.

Part Two: Southbound & Side Missions

We returned to Kraków, Poland on the morning of Friday, 18th July and headed south into Slovakia, spending the night there before setting off toward the Ukraine border — a spontaneous side mission to test new ground.

Arriving at the border on Friday evening, we quickly hit a snag: without the car’s V5 document, we weren’t permitted to cross.

Undeterred, we pivoted and pushed further south into Romania, winding our way through the stunning Transylvanian Alps along the world-famous Transfăgărășan Highway. Along the way, we were met by wild bears at the roadside — a surreal, unforgettable sight.

That night, we found a hotel on the far side of the mountains before continuing on to Bulgaria. We crossed the Danube via ferry and followed the road down to Varna, then on to Burgas.

In Burgas, we were met by the uncle of a client from Northern Ireland, who kindly agreed to keep Georgie safe and return us to town.

That final night, something special happened: a family from back home recognised our accents, struck up a conversation, and soon we were sharing our story with them. Another reminder that this journey — though long and winding — is stitched together by connection, kindness, and shared roots.

We returned home on Monday, 21st July, flying from Gdańsk, Poland back to Belfast.

More Than a Road Trip: A Fundraising Mission

Originally, this was a personal mission — a promise between friends.

But something changed along the way.

Support started pouring in: messages, donations, offers of help. It became clear this journey could be something bigger. Larry was a loyal client of CIP Insurance Brokers, who’ve generously backed this mission. Now, we’re building a fundraising campaign in his name.

Our Goal:

To honour Larry by raising funds for Chest, Heart & Stroke and Mental Health Awareness

To inspire others to follow through on promises

To show that distance, doubt, and detours are no match for purpose and perseverance

Follow the Journey

This is a real story.

Real people.

Real places.

A real promise.

We invite you to follow our progress, support the cause, and help us make this dream a reality.

Because some promises are worth driving across the world for.

#mentalhealthawareness #chestheartandstroke @cipinsurancebrokers