Story so far

Dispatches on the road

From my mother’s doorstep in February 2014, we said our farewells to our loved ones in England and scooted through France and Belgium. In the dock in Antwerp, we rolled onto a container ship for a month before being deposited in Uruguay. Worried about the onset of snow, we shot down to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, spent nine months in Argentina crisscrossing into Chile, a day in Brazil, a 147-hour bus ride (circumnavigating Argentina!)–broken up in the middle by a 12-day sailing to Antarctica–eventually seeing us back in the saddle to wend our way north proper again.

On to explore South America through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, we hopped onto the then last ferry over to Panama and rode into pastures new through Central America. Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Belize.  Into Mexico, our first taste of North America.

The USA saw us experiencing reverse culture shock in its first world after almost two years in Latin America.  Undoubtedly, we sampled some highlights of California, Arizona, Utah and Colorado before flying home to England for Christmas 2015. Back to the Baja Peninsula and Arizona, dipped into Nevada, California again, got a taste of Oregon, where we then took a whirlwind week off with friends in Washington and into Canada.

Having ridden hell-bent up British Columbia and the Yukon, we spent a good portion of time exploring Alaska, which blew our minds. For six months, from August 2016, we set a new precedent and paused the trip in Canada. Having enjoyed her late summer and rich autumnal offerings, a fantastic motorcycling couple took us in as lodgers through Alberta’s winter wonderland. Albeit just about managing to keep the blood sloshing around like mercury in minus stupid (anywhere from zero to -30C). For sure, the faces and fingers frequently fell off, but hey, even as Canadian Winter newbies, it was worth it!

March 2017 saw us leave Alberta with heavy hearts and reunite with the “Fishhook Fatties” in Southcentral Alaska–vigorously–over breaking bread and beer, to boot. Spring has sprung and we’ve spent the summer in Juneau, Southeast Alaska to get wide-eyed on whales, photograph the bears (the brown coloured black ones and black coloured brown ones) and the baldies (just the raptor variety). Canada beckons once again (the U.S. visa has expired until 2018) and beyond that, stay tuned folks!

Wow wee, it’s 2018 already, which has kick-started well seeing us on the road after eight weeks in old Blighty to revel in all those physically suspended relationships with family and friends. After reuniting with the bikes in early January with fabulous hosts on Vancouver Island in BC, Canada, we made haste through the torrential rain, gusting winds and cold climes of Washington and Oregon.

Having made it down to Borrego Springs in SoCal, an exquisite oasis in the desert. The warmth to our skin–after spending last winter in Alberta’s minus stupid and then one of Southeast Alaska’s wettest summers on record the summer previous–is beyond welcoming!

Adventure Rider Radio: Interviewed us in September 2014 and September 2016.

No more going south astride our bikes: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego. (March 2014.)

The farthest northern point on the trip: Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. (June 2016.)

Leaning on Mr Jangles, my new (15-year old) DR650 with Jase at the F800GS, taken in BC, Canada. (Summer 2017.)

Story so far…

NB: Last updated February 2018.

Months on a container ship: 1

Miles: 53,000 for Lisa, 57,000 miles for Jason

On the road: 4 years!

Continents: 3.5

Countries: 21

Lisa’s motorcycles: Formerly Pearl (2001 BMW F650GS clocking 49,585 miles in Lisa’s care) and currently Mr Jangles (Suzuki DR650)

Miles on Lisa’s original front tyre: 31,000 (A Heidenau K60 Scout)

Chain & sprockets: 4

Fuel pumps: 1

Water pumps: 4

Batteries: 2

Wheel rims: 2

Set of wheel bearings: 2

Rear shocks: 3

Stators rewound / replaced: 3

Brake pads: 6

Fans: 1

Leaking fork seals: Too darn many!

Bikes conked out: 13

Marriage proposals: 1

Bruised rotator cuff in the shoulder: 1