Ted Simon is a well-known figure in the adventure motorcycle travel community. He rode his motorcycle around the world in the early 1970s, documenting his journey for a newspaper and later writing the book Jupiter’s Travels. The book became hugely popular and is still selling briskly almost five decades later. Ted recently turned 93 years old, and for his birthday, our host, Jim Martin, sat down with him to discuss how a rider today could have a similar trip. Ted came up with some criteria that anyone can follow to have a real adventure. During the conversation, it was revealed that Ted may not have been alone for the entire trip as previously thought and he also shared how his clear idea of what he wanted from his trip led him to turn his back on someone close to him so that he could continue his journey alone.
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Lavi Scholl and Ollie Gamblin met when picking cherries on a farm in Australia while on working holiday visas. It might have been Ollie’s van, maybe his guitar playing, but something sparked for both of them and they have been partners in travel and life ever since. They seem to fit together like pieces of a puzzle, complimenting each other, naturally falling into the roles that allow them to travel even farther on a budget. Their mantra and secret for travel is underpinned with a simple mantra - that the best things in life are free. After trying out van life, backpacking, and cycling, they ultimately fell in love with the perfect mode of transportation - the motorcycle. Lavi and Ollie have just returned from a trip around the world.
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Have you ever wondered about embarking on a big trip, such as travelling around the world, going from Alaska to Ushuaia, or exploring a foreign country for a few months? Have you ever doubted your ability to undertake such an adventure? If so, the story of Bridget McCutchen should inspire you. Bridget, a 22-year-old woman, is on a mission to set an official Guinness world record as the youngest woman to complete a trip around the world by motorcycle. She will accomplish her goal in November, having navigated foreign borders, dealt with regulations and paperwork, and overcoming language barriers.
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Andy and Alissa have spent the past 19 years experiencing adventure at every turn. They have hiked, backpacked, and travelled by vehicle and motorcycle, but it has always left them yearning for more. To fulfill their desire for adventure, they decided to embark on a journey to ride around the world by motorcycle, to travel with no end date. After five years of saving, they set out on a cold and stormy day, a true test of their stamina. It was an experience that may have caused many riders to turn back and reevaluate, but they persevered through a stressful first few days of riding and numerous challenges. They had set out to experience the world and they weren’t going to give up that easily.
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In 2017, Tim and Marisa Notier embarked on an epic journey around the world, riding a KTM motorcycle. They travelled through North and South America, followed by Africa. When the pandemic brought everything to a halt, they decided to stay in Kenya for a while, but returned to the United States when their visas expired. They then decided to head north to Alaska, but were still eager to continue their world adventure. After much consideration, they drew inspiration from their friends, Greg and Melanie Turp, and chose to explore Indonesia next, a country known for its hot and humid climate, bustling cities, and hospitable people.
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The thrill of the road, the call of the wild and the comforts of home - motorcycle camping trips can have all those things. If you’re planning a trip or just looking for more camping tips, who better to turn to than experienced long-distance travellers who already have it all figured out? With more than four decades of moto camping experience under their gear, these globetrotters offer a treasure trove of insights and techniques to help you master the art of motorcycle camping.
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Travis and Chantil Gill have been on their trip around the world for over three years, but they have not yet completed their exploration of Europe. Initially restricted by the pandemic, they found themselves embracing the concept of slow travel and all the incredible benefits it entails. As they continue their journey, their list of things to see and do keeps growing with each new discovery. Immersing themselves in Europe's rich tapestry of people and culture, they have developed a deep passion for everything this continent has to offer.
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Graeme and Katrina Perkins are riding the slow lane around the world. They left Australia back in 2016 and thought it could take a couple of years to explore the globe, but it’s now seven years later and they have only made it about half way around the world. They have learned plenty, met loads of people, crossed many borders, all along the way perfecting this thing called motorcycle travel. They pack extremely light, plan ahead, and the more they ride, the slower they go.
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Janell and Stuart Clarke are both engineers and both enjoyed travelling and exploring the Australian outback by four wheel drive having so much fun that they decided to explore the world. So they began dreaming and planning a trip, but it soon became apparent to them that the cost of using a four wheel drive would deeply cut in to their budget. Then the idea of using motorcycles came up and that seemed like a plan they could sink their teeth into. Soon they were on the road, two bikes and a dog on the trip of a lifetime. Nine years later, they are still travelling from country to country and having picked up some passengers it’s now five of them on two motorcycles - still exploring the world.
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Several years ago, Steve Mason and some good friends spent five months on the road, an exceptional trip riding through foreign lands and crossing borders. When it was over, they headed home and got back to normal life. But as you can imagine, this didn’t scratch an itch so much as kindle a flame. And for Steve, returning home was bit rough. He had quit his job before he left, spent a good junk of money on the trip and had a family that depended on him. It was difficult getting settled in again and he couldn’t shake that desire to get back on the road. He just had to figure out how to make it work so that he didn’t come home and have to start everything all over again. And this time, he wanted more… he wanted the round the world trip.
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Declan McEvoy arrived at work one morning to discover that one of his co-workers wasn’t there, that he had actually died while getting ready for work that very day. It hit Declan hard - not only was this a close coworker but he was only 50 years old and Declan himself was 45, just five years off. Suddenly it was clear to him that he had no idea how much time was left and he had the urge to do the things he had always dreamed of. And even though he hadn’t ridden in over 20 years, it all began with a motorcycle.
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Back in March 2021, the Stahlratte sailing ship, which had up until then been ferrying passengers and motorcycles around the Darien Gap, made its final voyage. Except this voyage wasn’t around the Darien, it was to Cuba. And one rider, embarking on a round the world trip, loaded himself and his motorcycle onto the Stahlratte to make a side trip to ride Cuba. After all, the pandemic was in full swing and Cuba was on his list.
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Seventeen years of continuous travel by motorcycle has come to an end for Lisa and Simon Thomas as Lisa’s health and a pandemic has changed everything for them. A few years ago they bought a home in Wales but continued on with their travels, until they were forced to return home. Now, after two and a half years Lisa and Simon are well settled in their new home with a solid roof and door, no flapping tent fabric or inflatable mattresses. How does that comfort of home change things for them as countries are opening up for travel again? How does getting older and health affect their travel decisions? And what’s next for Lisa and Simon?
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Sam Manicom has been drawn to adventure from a very young age, he’s travelled extensively, has compiled a wealth of knowledge, and advocates motorcycle travel in particular, encouraging people to just follow their dreams. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, stories or valuable information, Sam is the person you can depend upon to do the research, present the facts and to be the most supportive person in the room.
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Some of us are born with it, some of us develop it and some of us are just sideswiped by it - it’s something called wanderlust. Geoff Keys had ambitions to travel the world for a long time. Further inspired by adventure travel books and moto documentaries, he decided to follow his dream to tour the world and naturally the mode of transport was motorcycle. As Geoff shared with us, his “reason for travelling is simply to scratch the itch, cure the wanderlust, see what there is to be seen and meet the people with whom I share the planet”. With a pure attitude, leaving all inhibitions behind, Geoff has faced some challenges and met many people along the way, and even made headlines when he was lost in the Australian outback for two days.
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Ted Simon has been a motorcycle travel mentor for riders and adventurers around the world for decades. Countless times we’ve heard from people who have said that his book inspired them or that they consulted with him before they travelled or that he helped them write their own book. He’s travelled the world twice, and as he turns 90 he is still riding and still writing. On this episode, a conversation with the adventurer who helped paved the way for long distance motorcycle travel, Ted Simon.
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The first motorcyclist to circumnavigate the world was Carl Stearns Clancy, and he undoubtedly paved the way for other moto travellers who saw him as a role model. And we have since looked towards modern day long-distance riders or world travellers for inspiration. Simon and Lisa Thomas have been a source of motivation for many motorcyclists and their years of knowledge and experience speak volumes, whether it’s about making connections, different cultures, border crossings or cooking a great meal. On this episode, a deeper conversation about finances, risk, insurance, changed perspectives and more.
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Chris Donaldson was brought up during The Troubles in Northern Island and for years he looked towards escaping his conflicted homeland on his motorcycle with the goal of riding to Australia. But, not long after he set out he hit a ‘road block’ and as often happens in travel, plans changed. He ended up riding his Moto Guzzi Le Mans to places he thought he never would and 40 years later getting to Australia is still on Chris’ mind. An epic journey and an entertaining tale that reminds us that travel is not about the destination.
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The Road to Gobblers Knob, Anyway, Where Was I?, In Clancy’s Boots and Way to Go are just a few of the 18 books written by author and journalist, Geoff Hill. Inspired by his own travels, Geoff is a successful travel writer, most of which is by motorcycle. He’s been shortlisted or won the UK travel Writer of the year nine times and has been hailed in reviews of his best selling books as one of the most talented and funniest travel writers in the industry. We caught up with Geoff Hill at his home in Belfast for a conversation about travel, people and of course, writing.
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When it comes to getting sidetracked, Ian Coates is what some might call an expert. In 1999 he went on a four month motorcycle trip that lasted fourteen years and a few years ago he went for a day ride that took him a year. He’s actually been on the road for most of the last two decades. Fortunately, for Ian, he has a very understanding wife. And last month when we caught up with Ian, he was at home again in England waiting out the world pandemic and planning his next adventure. But for how long this time? And where has he been for the last few years?
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