With a few bad words I decide that it is probably best to turn back. This is not the best start to a week cycling with Olof, a friend from Sweden. We left home in a rush so as not to miss the boat across the Bosforous, as it turned out the boat went all day. On arrival I was over charged for the ride which was the first sign of what was in store. Just a few hundred meters down the road we met two cycle tourists who informed us that the road ahead would be tough, we took quick mental notes of all that they said and moved on. Soon after Olof got a flat tyre, we then discovered that his spare tubes were in his bag which was lost by the airline previously. Using my spares was also no good due to his wheels. It wasn't good, but we continued, soon after I realised that I'd mounted my chain incorrectly, we fixed this with some hassle. That is when I noticed my pocket knife was missing. Combined with the fact that with just one bag, Olof was not able to carry anything extra, we decided to return to Istanbul to sort everything out for another attempt the following day. Sometimes that is the best option.

With 45 mins we were back, a smile on our faces just thinking of all the small things which can go wrong. A call to the airline reveals that the bag is in Istanbul, to be delivered later that day, perfect! Naturally they can't find the flat so the bag is returned to the airport, typical! Olof races there and back with a chain smoking taxi driver in half the time it should take. Everything is in place for a new start tomorrow.

After many years dreaming, I am finally doing it! In early May, I will leave the comfort of a 40 hour weeks and hit the road on an 8 month journey of discovery through some of the most culturally diverse and beautiful regions on earth. I intend to cross about 15 countries and cover about as many thousand kilometers as I wind my way from Europe to Asia. I'll be mostly alone but intend to meet some friends along the way who are game enough to give this wonderful way of travelling a go. I plan to camp where possible and to really meet the people along the way, hopefully to gain a better understanding of what really does make us all so similar. It is all too common that we feel isolated and unaware of the cultures which seem so foreign to us, in reality everyone has the same basic needs and desires. So, a rough plan for the trip, I will be making adjustments I go along according to what feels best and where the wind takes me.

Part 1:

Starting in Budapest I am planning to head south east toward Istanbul along the Danube, passing Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria before reaching Turkey. I then intend to head north east across Turkey to Iran (if I get the visa!). I will then spend 4 weeks cycling towards Tehran from where I will board a plane bound for Delhi.

Part 2:

As the winter is long in Ladakh, India, I will have to skip the 'stan countries this time and fly to Delhi to be in the mountains during the 3 months snow-free window during which the roads are passable. Pedelling up to 5600 m, the plan is to cross (arguably) the worlds highest moterable road. Some more info is here.

I will then try to find a way into China, most probable that I will have to fly as the border between China and India/Nepal is not the easiest to get through with a bicycle.

Part 3:

From China I intend to head north east then south east through Myanmar (if I can get in), Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and finally Cambodia, arriving sometime in December or January.

Please try again later

Ready to ride