Hiking the Coast to Coast - May 2018
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Coast to Coast Hike – Lake District – Yorkshire Dales – Yorkshire Moors 2018
Hiking the Coast to Coast - May 2018
Animals
The Best and Worst Awards
Riding Around The World - The Best & Worst Awards
Offa’s Dyke Hike – May 2017
Hiking along the entire Offas Dyke in one go was unfinished business for me. I attempted it from South to North a few years back and was defeated. As they say in certain circles, proper planning prevents piss poor performance, and I had not planned properly. Poor mental preparation, poor research, and very poor kit, … Continue reading Offa’s Dyke Hike – May 2017
Featured
Chapter 1 – First Africa expedition
Southern Africa Motorcycle Adventure
Chapter 36 – USA – Utah & Colorado BDR
Rupert rides the Utah and Colorado BDR on a Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin motorcycle
Chapter 35 – Sri Lanka
Riding Honda 250 Bajas across Sri Lanka
Chapter 34 – Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin in Wales
With all our KTMs now sold, and perhaps a few expeditions on the horizon, we have been taking a serious look at the new Honda Africa Twin. https://youtu.be/VSR0NMpSrQM I briefly had a Honda Africa Twin in the early 1990s when I was in the Royal Hong Kong police, but I have to say … Continue reading Chapter 34 – Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin in Wales
Chapter 31 – Vietnam and Cambodia
So what do two adventure bikers do for their Christmas holidays? Of course, go on another motorcycle adventure, this time to Vietnam and Cambodia.
Chapter 28 – The UK revisited – on a KTM 990 SMT
The Summer of 2013
The Brits dominating the world sporting scene with wins in the Tour de France, The Lion's rugby tour, Wimbledon, AND the Ashes..... and glorious weather!!
Can it last? Of course not, English sport will settle back to its usual disappointing form, and the weather is bound to change.
Chapter 27 – Back to South Africa
As the cold weather descended on Shanghai, and indeed the rest of the northern hemisphere, Fanny and I escaped our second successive winter by flying to South Africa. Last year the Arab Spring and fighting and disturbances in Libya and Syria had delayed our progress to Turkey and so we saw out the European winter … Continue reading Chapter 27 – Back to South Africa
Chapter 26 – 中国 Part 8 – Hubei, Anhui and onwards to Shanghai
The point at which we actually crossed from Chongqing into Hubei province was high up in the beautiful misty mountains of Huangshui (Yellow Water) National Park. We had thought of staying there for the night, but it was late autumn, getting quite cold and the locals told us that all the bingguan and hotel owners had … Continue reading Chapter 26 – 中国 Part 8 – Hubei, Anhui and onwards to Shanghai
Chapter 25 – 中国 Part 7 – Chongqing
Having been unceremoniously thrown off the Chengdu-Chongqing highway by the local rozzers we were faced with at least a days ride to Chongqing along indirect and badly maintained triple digit "G" and "S" roads (i.e. the really really bad ones). Unfortunately, my GPS had completely given up trying to calculate where we were, let alone … Continue reading Chapter 25 – 中国 Part 7 – Chongqing
Chapter 24 – 中国 Part 6 – Sichuan
As hard as one tries, it would be impossible to ride around the world on a motorcycle and completely avoid any bad weather. We had heavy rain in the Basque Country and its border with France, and later in England and Wales where it pretty much rained throughout the whole of the summer. In China … Continue reading Chapter 24 – 中国 Part 6 – Sichuan
Chapter 23 – China Part 5 – Gansu Province
Fanny had done an excellent job setting an interesting route along the quiet "S" roads of south east Qinghai into Gansu, and so we had a chance to relax, enjoy the scenery and take a break from worrying about being wiped out by black Audi A4s and tourist coaches. However, we were in China and … Continue reading Chapter 23 – China Part 5 – Gansu Province
Chapter 22 – 中国 Part 4 – Qinghai
I have often studied maps of the world and been fascinated by Earth's equivalent of Jupiter's Red Spot... The Chinese province of Qinghai (青海. It always looked like one of the most remote parts of the planet and was definitely on my "bucket list" of places to see and ride a motorcycle. We had been … Continue reading Chapter 22 – 中国 Part 4 – Qinghai
Chapter 21 – 西藏 Tibet
When we rode through Tibet (西藏) in September 2012, the People’s Republic of China was restricting access to Chinese citizens only. The only exception being that a “Tibet Travel Permit” might be granted to a foreign tour group, provided they all come from the same country, that their itinerary is organized and strictly supervised by an … Continue reading Chapter 21 – 西藏 Tibet
Chapter 20 – 中国 Part 3
Chapter 17 – The UK – its alright for ducks
The UK produces the best soldiers in the world; is a leader in innovation, creativity, art and design; has a unique sense of self effacing humour, and most importantly it produces Marstons Pedigree bitter and Marmite (both from Burton Upon Trent I might add).
Chapter 15 – He’s not the Messiah – he’s a very naughty boy.
So... did we do Turkey for Christmas? Alas No. Syria and Libya were descending into civil war and chaos, all the ferries from Egypt had been cancelled, and Fanny was not allowed to ride or drive a vehicle in Saudi Arabia (not for being Chinese, but because she's a woman!). Also, the prospects of motorcycling in Europe during the freezing … Continue reading Chapter 15 – He’s not the Messiah – he’s a very naughty boy.
The Best and Worst Awards
The best and worst awards for our motorcycle expedition across Africa, Europe and Asia. Whilst the two of us are in agreement, we realize that many may disagree and so we welcome any comments. MOST ENJOYABLE COUNTRY AWARD AFRICA - TANZANIA Tanzania just eclipses Kenya, Namibia and South Africa as our favourite country in Africa. Good … Continue reading The Best and Worst Awards
Chapter 11 – the last rhinoceros in Africa
Rhinoceros are being killed in South Africa alone at a rate exceeding three a day (1004 were killed and their horns stolen in 2013). This rampant poaching has already wiped out the Western Black Rhino in 2011, and threatens the remaining rhinoceros species in Africa and Asia with extinction. 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 Below is a link to … Continue reading Chapter 11 – the last rhinoceros in Africa
Chapter 8 – Ethiopia
. Ethiopia is a large landlocked and very mountainous north eastern African country with a population of about 82 million people. It has an amazing history and is surrounded by what I would describe as some of the worlds most hostile, or at least, volatile places... Eritrea, Djibouti, north Kenya, North and South Sudan, and … Continue reading Chapter 8 – Ethiopia
Chapter 7 – Kenya
Kenya– Chapter 7 The first thing we noticed at the Kenyan border was an elderly couple being towed in a magnificent MGA sports car behind a Toyota pick-up. Whilst we were mingling with the crowds waiting to clear customs I remarked to the owners on what a splendid car it was and inquired why it … Continue reading Chapter 7 – Kenya
Chapter 6 – Tanzania Part 2
Tanzania– Part 2 . The trip is one of ups and downs and unexpected surprises and disappointments. One thing that is constant is bumping into interesting and generous people. We were overheard at Lake Chala by a Dutch couple who lived in Moshi (on the slopes of Kilimanjaro) discussing our next route and they invited … Continue reading Chapter 6 – Tanzania Part 2
Chapter 5 – Tanzania part 1
Tanzania - Part 1 Tanzania encapsulates many people’s ideas and impressions about Africa: the snow capped peaks of Kilimanjaro; dhows sailing on the turquoise tropical waters of the Indian Ocean; elephants and rhinos grazing in the Ngorongoro crater; the great wildebeest migration of the Serengeti grasslands; Arabic bazaars and spicy food in Zanzibar; tall Masai … Continue reading Chapter 5 – Tanzania part 1
Chapter 4 – Malawi
When we woke from our tent at Mama Rulas in Chipata we were confronted with a few options and had make a plan. We could either head to South Luangwa and ride along a truly awful stretch of road that had been ploughed up over the years by over-laden cotton trucks along the 140 kilometers … Continue reading Chapter 4 – Malawi
Chapter 3 – Zambia
The point at which Botswana meets Zambia is a quadripoint between the Caprivi Strip of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana, although there is technically a small no mans land in between that nobody can agree upon. To get across to Zambia from Botswana we took the Kazungula Ferry, which is actually a 70 tonne pontoon and … Continue reading Chapter 3 – Zambia
Chapter 2 – Botswana
We were now truly in Africa, so it seemed. The landscape had changed to classic bush colours and there were many signs warning of African animals that threatened to leap out onto the road. If that meant donkeys, goats, cows, dogs, human boys and yellow hornbills then that was true. We decided to stick as … Continue reading Chapter 2 – Botswana
Rupert and Fanny are on the way!
So we are off. It’s an early start as we head north on the N7, stopping just outside the Cape Town suburbs for fuel, a quick check of the bikes to ensure that everything that should be attached actually is - and a petrol station Wimpy fry-up breakfast with the truckers. It took a while … Continue reading Rupert and Fanny are on the way!
Rupert & Fanny's Big Bike Trip 