AUTHOR and yachtsman Tom Cunliffe and his wife Roz certainly had a ticket to ride, when they travelled across America on their Harley Davidson motorbikes.

The couple, from the New Forest, relived their 12,000-mile adventure as they signed copies of their new book at Waterstones bookshop in WestQuay on Saturday.

Good Vibrations tells the story of the Cunliffes' experiences on their three-month journey, from Maryland on the east coast of America, to San Francisco on the west coast.

The couple took off on their trip three years ago, to fill a gap after their daughter, Hannah, moved away from home.

Mrs Cunliffe, in her late 40s, rode an 883 Sportster Harley Davidson nicknamed 'Betty Boop', and Mr Cunliffe, 55, made the journey on a Soft-Tail Harley nicknamed 'Black Madonna'.

Mr Cunliffe, of Lover, said: "This story is about how I struck out inland with Roz to investigate the United States - from the perspective of a pair of itinerant bikers.

"On a major trip, bikes have a way of opening doors that might otherwise remain shut.

"The scenery was phenomenal, but it is the people I will always remember.

"They looked after us, rode with us, worked with us, filled us with drink, took us to church on Sunday - and to the cleaners at the poker table!"