Category: Tourism & Travel

1. Two wheeled nomads

   Posted on 9:00am Friday 27th Jun 2014

   I read somewhere that life on two wheels finds you free from walls and windows, which creates a vulnerability that breeds excitement.

   Fortunately, this has become true for us – I'm Lisa Morris and my partner is Jason Spafford, a pair of wanderlust seekers from Nottingham. We've sold our house in order to finance a once in a lifetime trip through the Americas. We’ve scuba dived the globe over the last fourteen years together, by-products of which can be seen through our photography, videography and travel writing. It feels good to diversify, integrating our passions into something fresh. Riding from Argentina to Alaska for 12-18 months will be full of flavour to bite into. 

   As we're now homeless, without off-spring and free from the 9-5 job, what better time to embrace some life-changing adventure!

   We want to see as many countries by means of the scenic routes off road, trying our best to avoid the highways. We’ve no idea when we’ll get to Alaska or what we’ll do when we arrive; I only know that the world is open and calling!

   Follow their journey at www.twowheelednomad.com

    

2. Week 4 Entering Russia - Compass Expeditions London to Magadan Photos and blog‏

   Posted on 8:56am Wednesday 25th Jun 2014

   The Expedition hit a major snag last week when the only border between Georgia and Russia was closed due to a major landslide which killed 8 truck drivers from the region. What this meant for our expeditioners who arrived later was that they had a few options. They could:

   1.Try and find another way around through Azerbaijan or through Abkhazia
   2.Return back to the Black Sea and hope they could find a boat running across to Russia
   3.Return all the way back to Europe and then travel up through to Lithuania and Latvia adding weeks onto the trip and costing a huge amount.

   In the end they decided on the third option as the visas would not be possible for the first two countries and no ferries were running across the Black Sea. However they just made it back into Turkey when they received confirmation that the border had reopened and they could return and cross from Georgia into Russia as originally planned.

   Read the blog post from Mick McDonald of Compass Expeditions and see the photos from week 4 at the link below.

3. Top biking routes in Britain and why?

   Posted on 10:24am Thursday 29th May 2014

   One of my favourite routes is the Woodhead Pass (A628), which is not far from Manchester and crosses the Pennine chain of hills through a wood cladded road within the Peak District National Park and ultimately leading to South Yorkshire.

   The trick here is to get up early to experience the awesome scenery, atmosphere and lovely views at their best, with less traffic and to avoid the snarl of traffic around Hollingworth and towards Glossop.   At the end of the M67 motorway you take the A57 road towards Glossop.

   At the crossroads I always smile as I pass the sign on the right to Broadbottom and then enjoy the ride down the hill with the backdrop of the Peak District National Park in the distant. Stay on the road for the A628, rather than take the right to Glossop and the Snake Pass (another popular road with Bikers) and keep an eye out for the signs to the village of Hadfield on the right; Hadfield is probably better known to people as Royston Vasey, the fictional town featured in the cult BBC dark comedy series 'The League of Gentlemen'.  

   One of the main reason I love this road is the many Reservoirs, which in the morning are so tranquil, flat and glass-like. There is a few mile stretch of Reservoirs, which are part of the Longdendale chain, starting with Bottoms, past the mammoth Torside, which the road crosses and ending at the Woodhead Reservoir. From here the road climbs to the summit at Salter's Brook Bridge with open countryside all around. Admittedly it is maybe not the best road for twists and turns, however I love it as it is not far from the city of Manchester and the scenery can be stunning!

   Whilst working at THE BIKER GUIDE®, some clients in Northumberland had mentioned that Bikers stay with them as they want to visit The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, with a varied history which dates from the 6th century, as an important centre of Celtic Christianity at the monastery and the place where it is said the Vikings first came to our shores. Accessible by a causeway at low-tide and cut off from the rest of the world by fast-moving tides twice-daily, I liked the idea of riding over a road chasing the tides and I wanted to visit… So a trip was planned, with a ride across the causeway as a must do!

   We left our accommodation early as we had to cross and return before 11am, otherwise we would be there until the evening. Just off the main A1, you ride through country lanes until you reach the causeway and then it is a single lane road raised over the sand to the island for a most enjoyable three (ish) miles. 

   For our final top biking route in the UK, we asked our visitors to the website and we have the following; The Hardknott Pass in the Lake District, Bala to Trawsfynydd in Snowdonia, the Applecross Pass in The Highlands, the dark hedges at Armoy in County Antrim, the single track road that takes in the coast of the Isle of Mull and this… ‘Anywhere and everywhere so long as I am riding’.

   When riding, our top safety tips are to read the roads all around you, presuming (I am sorry to say) that others have not seen you and that vehicle indicators are not always correct (!), make sure you are visible on the road, with your headlights on, wearing hi-viz gear, etc… and when riding take regular pit-stops to stay alert, refresh yourself and to enjoy the scenery, your surroundings and a have much needed cuppa.

   Article by Sharon Rollisson-Slaughter, THE BIKER GUIDE®

4. The 105 Day Compass Expeditions 2014 London to Magadan

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 20th May 2014

   Road of Bones Expedition departs today from London‏

   Today is the day that the 14 riders and support vehicle depart from London's Ace café heading 28,500 kilometres East with final destination Magadan, Eastern Russia. Along the way they will pass through 16 countries, ride through all weather conditions and experience some of the best adventure motorcycling in the world.

   Compass Expeditions founder Mick McDonald is undertaking this challenging ride for the third time as ride leader and for most it is an opportunity to ride the Road of Bones which has long been a part of Motorcycle Culture due to the previous expeditions of the likes of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. For the 2014 Expedition, the group will be accompanied by award-winning documentary filmmaker Robin Newell of Thought Films, who will be producing a DVD of this epic journey.

   We'd also like to thank Touratech, BMW Motorrad, Motorworks UK for their support of this Expedition and of course Simon Pavey for support and Rider Training at Off Road Skills in Wales.

   Also thanks to Charley Boorman who has been doing a wonderful job of promoting Adventure Motorcycling worldwide and who we've enjoyed the pleasure of working with over the last couple of years.

   Compass Expeditions Motorcycle Tours and Rentals

   Compass Expeditions London to Magadan - Road of Bones

   Also follow along with the journey

5. Summer biking starts here, and some great deals for next winter‏

   Posted on 9:49am Wednesday 7th May 2014

   Hard to believe that our summer season is about to start, but it is...

   Our winter tours in Kerala have made India our most popular winter destination this year, knocking NZ off top spot, and our customer comments have been reassuringly and universally full of praise!

   And we're nearly there to kick off this year's US tours, with three very different rides.

   First off is a repeat group of 10 riders who are riding our 1-week Canyons Run self-guided tour out of Las Vegas, having previously explored Florida. I hope they will notice the difference and don't miss the cool ocean!

   Then we have our first Orange & Black Route 66 Tour of the year, the only Route 66 tour recommended by Harley-Davidson, with star Route 66 guide Gary/Bear at the controls of course (he's worth the tour price on his own!).

   Our new bikes will be waiting for us at our city centre hotel so we can ride straight to the start of Route 66, about 10 blocks away, and then out of Chicago. Another first! And further proof that our authorized Harley tours are simply the best. We've always ridden more of Route 66 than anyone else, and we've just added a few more miles to that for 2014, so the best just got better (again)! And if you still haven't decided on what to do this summer, we've still got places available on this iconic ride, so you don't have to miss out! New bikes, small groups, expert guides, full-service support van, recommended by Harley-Davidson, what are you waiting for?

   And our last big adventure in May is Mountains & Music, a 2-week self-guided tour we've put together for 28 members of Invicta HOG. I've wanted to run a tour like this for years, and I'm delighted we've finally made it. Starting in Nashville we ride the Devil's Triangle, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Tail of the Dragon, than across to the Misissippi Delta, Memphis and back to Nashville. With its mix of the twistiest roads in America and some great music, people and history along the way this is one great ride .If you think this might be for you, and it really should be, give me a call.

   Some 12,000 miles away, our Himalayan High Roads tour kicks into life in June. This was our very first tour in Asia back in 1996, and it is still one of those 'must do' rides for every biker - the highest pass in the World, at over 5600 m. Like Route 66, this is a tour that many have tried to copy, but the knowledge, attitude and attention to detail of our guides really do make it something special. So if the USA or Canada aren't for you, then try this ride on the wild side this year.

   With the strengthening pound (how long will it last?!), we're delighted to have been able to bring down our Australia and South Africa prices, and hold our New Zealand and India prices again for 2014/15. So dust down those winter plans to these fabulous destinations and get in touch.

    

   www.hctravel.com

    

   www.orange-and-black.co.uk

    

   www.bikerstravelinsurance.co.uk