Is an extended motorcycle tour one of the things on your list of “must do before I die” requirements?
I’ve always had the plan to ride right around Australia. No timetable, necessarily, just explore this marvellous land in which we live. I’d like to fish the barramundi rivers of the Northern Territory, watch the sun set over the ocean in Western Australia, and thoroughly explore every twisty road that Tasmania has to offer.
But, if you’re going to do that, why limit yourself to Australia? I recently bought a DVD from England that is a documentary of a bike ride from Alaska, right down the west coast of America, Central America, South America and finishing up at the very southernmost point of that continent. This ride is a “package tour” type of ride where you provide the money and the organisers provide the bikes, the accommodation and itinerary bookings and all that kind of stuff all you have to do is enjoy the riding.
I’m not so sure about that; I think I’d like to be a bit freer than that. There are several British companies that do a similar tour from the tip of Scotland right down through Europe and Africa, finishing up at Cape Town. A sort of “Long Way Down” for real riders, not poncy movie stars and their bimbo wives.
What about going it alone? If you did, where would you go, and how would you organise it? British motorcycle journalist Nick Sanders recently set out on his TENTH around-the-world trip, again relying on Yamaha’s R1 sportsbike to get him there and home again. He plans to cover 55000kms in 120 days and cross 45 countries and every time zone on the planet. His ride will include a crossing of the Nubian Desert, a vast area of sand that extends across Egypt and the Sudan. If you want to follow his trip you can, at www.nicksanders.com
Not sure that is quite for you? I don’t know that I’d get that carried away, but, then again, who knows?
One thing I am sure of, however, I am going to do one BIG tour before they drag me off to the home for the mentally bewildered.
Answers, as Bazza always used to say, on a postcard, thanks.
