Category: Africa

2015 Motorcycle trip from West Wales to West Africa and back.

  • Africa Trip Statistics

    During the trip I had a tracking app running on my mobile phone.  I have now analysed the logs and:

    Total distance travelled was 17,877km (11,502 miles)

    This includes distance travelled while exploring and travelling in cities, getting lost and backtracking etc. It is higher than I estimated because it includes the bends in the road.

    Maximum speed was 131km/h.

  • Press Coverage: Wales Online and Wales on Sunday

    This article was published in the Wales on Sunday newspaper and on the Wales Online web site:

    Article on the Wales Online Web Site

     

  • Day 82: Home

    My first sight of the UK was the Isle of Wight in the distance. I am from Southampton so I know the area well. It was a real homecoming feel to sailing around the island and into Portsmouth Harbour.

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  • Equipment: Camping Gear

    Equipment: Camping Gear

    I took a Coleman 2 man mummy style tent that I have had for years and still is going strong, a trangia muti fuel cooker with kettle, plates, cutlery etc. hammock, tarpaulin, water carrier and some other bits and pieces.

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  • Day 81: Ferry Home

    Day 81: Ferry Home

    I am on the ferry from Santander in Spain to Portsmouth in the UK. The boat seems to be full of bikers who have been riding the Pyranees. You can tell they are bikers because they are all over the aged of 50, have beards and black t-shirts. Strangely many have Yorkshire accents.

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  • Equipment: Bates Police Boots

    Equipment: Bates Police Boots

    I went for these boots rather than biking boots because I can also use them off the bike.  They are as supplied to UK police forces who I assume have thoroughly tested them so that is good enough for me. My feet are UK size 8.
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  • Equipment: Fansa Tank Bag

    Equipment: Fansa Tank Bag

    Bought from winding roads.
    Over all I am happy with this tank bag although it does have a couple of problems that let it down.

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  • Equipment: The Bike

    Over the next few days I am going to post reviews of some of the equipment I have been using.  What worked,  what did not,  what was useful,  what was not. It seems logical to start with the biggest and most expensive item the bike.
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  • Musings: Taking a risk

    Musings: Taking a risk

    My topic of thought yesterday was risks and attitudes to it. I do not conciously come up with a topic it is whatever pops into my head.

    In more developed countries we are very risk adverse. In poorer countries more risk seems to be acceptable. But is this REALLY the case?

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  • Day 78: Au Revoir Africa

    Day 78: Au Revoir Africa

    I went straight to Tangier med, the ferry port, this morning; only stopping for fuel and to buy a ticket at one of the service station sales booths.
    I arrived may after 12 and checked in for the 2pm sailing with FRS to Algeciras in Spain.

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