O u r S t o r y
Like many adventures our story started with the meeting of like-minded individuals, a common desire to do something different, a need for new experiences and to stretch our personal boundaries and possibly a little bit of alcohol. This moment happened when our good friends, Lobo, aka Lawrence, and Linda, whom I have known since I was 12 years old, visited Jude and I on our boat in the southern latitudes of Tasmania. Having just returned from a motorcycle adventure in Africa and about to embark on another in Vietnam with Dave and Leah’s RAMs adventures Lobo and Linda were fired up for more. I discussed a dream of mine that I have harboured since living in Hong-Kong in the early ’80s: to ride a motorcycle from Asia to the UK, and to my surprise and pleasure, all four of us were quickly in agreement that we should do this. We then spent the rest of the evening, and their visit, starting the planning process, looking at the possible routes, watching videos of other individuals who have been before us.
It became apparent that very few people appear to have done this trip 2up which presents a whole lot of unknowns. How to pack the bike for two. Twice the weight and half the space for equipment. What route should we take? China is still closed. Myanmar is closed. Pakistan is dangerous. Iran and Afghanistan are no go areas. What’s the best time of year to go to avoid the freezing temperatures of the Himalayas or the monsoon rains of Asia? How do we get the bikes from Australia to Asia? So many unanswered questions but this is what makes a challenge a challenge and it’s just the start.
As I said above Lobo and Linda and I have known each other since 1976 where we were at school together in North Wales. Lobo and I both had motorcycles when we were growing up. Lobo visiting Linda, his bride to be, through the cold dark wet winter nights of North Wales and me spending my free time in the muddy forests of North Wales. We both graduated from small bore mopeds to more powerful machines and expanded our riding domain to Scotland, Ireland and Europe. I then headed to Hong-Kong to work in the textile industry while Lobo went to Birmingham Polytechnic. Not content with being without a motorcycle in Hong-Kong I purchased a Yamaha YZ 125 and joined the local motocross club with its track that ran along the barbed wire fence of the communist Chinese border and becoming the 1984 125cc Hong-Kong champion. Not a big deal at all because there must have only been about 20 people in the class.
Lobo continued his love affair with motorcycles. While in Birmingham he would regularly set his alarm for 3am and brave the British weather to travel up to the Lake District on his Triumph Bonneville to visit Linda who was in college there. He has since worked for many years behind the scenes with his good friend Steve Ireland and WOR (World of Riding) Events, hosting and assisting organising numerous enduro events near his lovely hilltop home in North Wales and around the UK.
On my return from overseas Lobo and I, and other friends, continued our passion for motorcycles with regular weekend road trips through North Wales and annual trips around Scotland and to the North West 200 in Northern Ireland. Even when I moved to the USA we all continued our motorcycle adventures with a trip around Colorado and Utah on BMW GSs with Colin in the support vehicle and another good long term friend of ours, Brendan, on a bike.
Lobo and Linda's desire to seek further motorcycling thrills lead him to book Adventure rides in Africa and Vietnam with Dave and Leah’s RAMS Adventures and they have been back several times. Dave and Leah were a natural like-minded couple to invite on this big adventure and with all their experience of organising Adventure Bike tours they would not only be fun to have along but no doubt their experience would be invaluable. Sadly Dave and Leah have had to drop out of the trip due to other commitments and personal reasons - see the blog for further details.
Lobo’s Top Tip: if you’re doing anything on a big adventure bike, no matter what the make, head down to Off Road Skills in Swansea and complete their 3 levels of training. Despite being a competent off roader, the skills I learnt with Simon Pavey and the team gave me a great deal of confidence on a bigger bike, on and off-road. Linda and I have also ridden with ORS on an off-road week in Portugal which was a great experience.
Colin, another good friend of mine and Lobo and Linda’s from our school days is hoping to join us on part of the trip. The closest Colin has come to a motorcycle is a Honda Melody, sorry to bring that up Col, but he has accompanied us on many an adventure either as pillion or in a much appreciated support vehicle.
Colin’s long-standing philanthropic experience will not only make this a rewarding trip for us but also hopefully for many less fortunate people with the objective of raising funds for the good causes we have identified. Colin is also hoping to join us in Turkey and do the final leg across Europe and to his beloved Wrexham FC whom he has been a long-term supporter.
One of the most common questions I get asked is how did we convince our dear wifes to join us on this adventure. All I can say is that they did not need any convincing. Jude is a seasoned pillion passenger, albeit with a previous partner, but has a spirit of adventure in her. I cannot tell you how lucky I am to have a partner whom is likeminded. I honestly believe she has clocked up more YouTube hours than I have and has garnered more useful information. Linda also a seasoned pillion passenger on all Lobo’s bikes, old and new, has also taken up the gauntlet and turned their dining room into a planning HQ room complete with a world map and a time zone clock on the wall!
Now, as Lobo, Linda and I approach 60, we all start the preparations for this big 2up, 25 country, 35,000 kms adventure with so many unknowns, hurdles, wonderful experiences and no doubt upsets and challenges to look forward to. Bring it on!
It’s going to be an adventure.
