One year on the bicycle. Blimey. Where do I begin? I normally start these blogs with a picture of the route being discussed in the post, so I’ll do the same here. Below is the line I’ve cycled over the last 12 months. Would you like some stats? Distance: 19,326km Countries visited: 27 Days cycled: … More One Year On The Bicycle: A Retrospect (16/01/15-16/01/16)
I arrived in Tehran with only one thing on my mind – Turkmenistan visa! Essentially the missing piece of this jigsaw that would connect two sides of the world for me. There was only one feasible road to Central Asia and everything depended on it… But first I needed to find somewhere to stay. I … More Iran part 2: Tehran to Sharhud (28/07/15-04/07/15)
I woke up on my last day in Armenia exactly 6 months since I started this trip. Half a year! That’s a good while… Very soon this will be the longest I’ve ever been away from home. Time seems to move at a different pace on bicycle. It doesn’t feel like I’ve been away that … More Iran part 1: From the Armenian border to Tehran (16/07/15-26/07/15)
Just over the Dutch/German border I spotted the first (and last) other long-distance cyclist. We were passing in opposite directions, but exchanged a brief smile and nod, as if to say ‘at least I’m not the only one crazy enough to be cycling in this weather’. I took comfort in the sight of his load … More Germany to Denmark: Embracing the cold (30/01/15-09/02/15)
One month ago I’d never cycled further than about 15km in one session. I’m typing this sat in Copenhagen, having pedalled over 1,500km to get here. My crash course ‘warm up’ in cycle touring has taken me from my Dad’s house in SW London over to France, up Belgium, Holland and Germany, all the way … More London to Holland: A crash course in cycle touring (16/01/15-30/01/15)
JKB's Bike Ride 