Trekking in the High Tatras

Walking up to Morksie Oro, the famous crystal blue lake in the Polish Tatras had been something that we had looked forward to throughout our time in the country. Upon arrival, however, we learned that dogs are not allowed into the national park which contains it, and unwilling to leave the hound alone in the van for a day while… Read more →

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Comrades

Sunday June 1st saw the 89th running of the Comrades Marathon, an ultra-marathon between Pietermaritzberg and Durban. It is touted as one of the toughest ultra-marathons in the world, alternating each year with an up and down run. This year was a down run, from Pietermaritzberg to Durban (up runs cover the course in the […]

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Swaziland

After crossing the Oshoek border crossing into Swaziland from South Africa, we made our way to the Malolotja Nature Reserve. Malolotja is in the highveld on the edge of the Drakensburg mountain range. The nature reserve was lovely with hiking trails throughout. While none of the big five are present, there were many antelope and […]

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iSimangaliso Wetland Park – Maphelane

We wanted to share our experience in Maphelane because it was one of the highlights of our trip along the coast of South Africa. Maphelane is only 5km from St. Lucia, however, to get there you must take a major detour around the estuary which makes the trip about 90km. 90km doesn’t seem like that […]

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Kolyma Highway Photos – Winter Biking – 2000km Yakutsk to Magadan

Well, there are many stories to tell from the last couple of months. The 2000km from Yakutsk to Magadan was a fantastic ride, made all the more memorable by the incredibly kind, generous, hospitable people I met along the way. My journal is full! But this blog post is not for telling those stories with [...]

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Too Cold – Winter Biking Yakutia Photos

Oh where do I start?! I think for now, I will just show you the photos from the last couple of weeks. Mostly it was too cold to stop and take photos… sometimes when I did, the camera wouldn’t work anyway. When it’s -40C and colder (when I woke one morning from the bivvy, it [...]

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Take On Asia – Free Photobook and Round Up Part 1

I am back in the UK! Yes, that happened fast you say. Indeed, I’d been keeping my return quiet so I could surprise my mum for her birthday. But now I can tell you about the last days of the journey… Having cycled back to Moynaq, I hopped in a taxi and left a pool [...]

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In Search of the Aral Sea – From Khiva to Moynaq, Uzbekistan

Rather than retrace the direct route to the main road via Urgench, cycled along the smaller roads for a short cut towards Nukus. Riding through small towns and farmland. Uninspiring. But I was quite happy just pootling along. No particular rush. I thought again how this countryside reminded me...
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Dharamsala & Amritsar – Crazy Borders, Spiritual Hills & Golden Temples

It was another beautiful sunny start to the morning dri […]

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Shimla & Manali – Queen of the Hills & Mountain Retreats

The drive back into the hills was beautiful yet again. […]

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Riding the Pamir Highway – Into Wakhan Valley – Murghab to Langar

I woke up in my dim unlit room in Murghab, went to the window and pulled back the curtains. White light blinded me. I blinked and rubbed my eyes and pressed my face to the window and watched my breath steam up the glass. Beyond, snow was falling gently and the world outside was all [...]

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Riding the Pamir Highway – The Cold Way – Sary Tash to Murghab

My legs and busting lungs screamed for a day off in Sary Tash (that’s what you get when you sit on a horse for a month). But the clear skies were too good to spend indoors. You never know when the winds will change and blow a dastardly-blizzardy-storm your way. When I finally decided I [...]

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Osh and Up to the Roof of the World in Photos

Having lingered long enough in Bishkek while arranging onward visas, I took a bus straight to Osh. From there, it would be back on the bike. In at the deep end – unfit after a 6-week break while horse-riding, I knew the legs would suffer with the endless uphill towards the Pamir Mountains,...
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Horse-Riding Kyrgyzstan – Part 4 Photos Song Kul to Sale of Sarala

After a couple of days rest at Song Kul, it was time to get back in the saddle and leave this chilly, windy plateau. Return to the valley where the sun shines and summer still smiles. The ride over and down the Chil-Bel Pass was steep. We had company. Many families were moving back to [...]

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Bike and Gear Set-up for Asia – Downsizing

Having been on the road a few months in Asia now, I thought it was time to share how I’m carrying all my gear for anyone that’s interested. As usual, I’ve got my Thorn Raven Tour bike, although during its 40,000km life it has had several new parts at various stages (including...
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Horse-Riding Kyrgyzstan – Part 3 Photos from Family Stay at Song Kul

It had been a long day to reach Song Kul. As soon as I found some puddles of water in the dried-up riverbeds, we stopped to camp for the night. It took some further searching to find fresh enough water that Sarala would actually drink. Who’d have thought a horse could be so fussy. I [...]

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Horse-Riding Kyrgyzstan – Part 2 Photos of Naryn to Song Kul Lake

There is so much to tell from the last month horse-riding here. It has been a refreshing change to travel at a(n even) slower speed. It means more time spent camping in the hills besides rivers and a chance to see all the little details that you simply fly by on a bike. It’s good [...]

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Horse-Riding Kyrgyzstan – Part 1 Photo Preview

For those who didn’t know, I’ve temporarily left the bike in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital. And I have bought a horse. He’s called Sarala. He’s a very cool, chilled-out dude who doesn’t make any demands except for grass. But he does that often, and noisily....
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Laos – Lovely and Luscious, A Real Forest Retreat

After China, Laos was always going to be about rest and relaxation. If there is a better spot than South East Asia for doing exactly that, then tie me down sport, and call me an Aussie!!. The instant you enter South East Asia the shackles come off, the pressure dissipates, stress disappears, you...
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Russian Altai – Photos of The Chuysky Trakt

The next proper blog post will have to wait. I have the time to write, whiling away the hours until tonight’s train to Novosibirsk from here in Biysk. But unable to find a quiet place to form coherent thought, the writing will have to wait. Noise everywhere. I’m sure Russians...
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