The Best and Worst Awards

Riding Around The World - The Best & Worst Awards

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 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 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 19 – 中国 Part 2

Sometimes I feel like a dog in China, and this was particularly so during our motorcycle expedition across the "middle kingdom". I got fed once a day; complete strangers would come up to me and stroke the hairs on my arms; I had to pee against trees and lampposts; certain hotels and public places wouldn't let … Continue reading Chapter 19 – 中国 Part 2

Chapter 18 – 中国 Part 1

The planning for the China leg of our expedition was solely in the hands of Fanny (方怡. I had agreed that if she managed to arrange motorcycles and sponsorship to support us then I would fly out and be her wing-man and basically do as I'm told. A tall order granted.  I still had a … Continue reading Chapter 18 – 中国 Part 1

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 16 – Turkey to France

The relief of getting ourselves out of Egypt was matched by our excitement about seeing Turkey and eventually crossing the Mediterranean Sea into Europe.  I remained nervous that we had left our precious KTMs in the hands of Egyptian officials in a scruffy and dusty customs warehouse in Alexandria and wondered whether we'd ever see them again. … Continue reading Chapter 16 – Turkey to France

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.

Chapter 9 – Sudan

Sudan was always intended to be just a country we had to go through to get from Ethiopia to Egypt. What I knew about the country was not much, mainly knowledge from my school days about soils, geology and the physical geography of the Nile.  Of course the news at the time, and not without … Continue reading Chapter 9 – Sudan

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 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!