Category: Tourism & Travel

1. Top 5 Biking Destinations

   Posted on 5:00pm Friday 27th Jun 2014

   There’s nothing quite like biking; extreme speed, magnified by one’s exposure to the elements, all whilst the aggressive and bullish throng of the engine plays beneath you; it’s quite hard to beat! In fact, the only thing that could possibly improve the experience is the location at which one wishes to barrel down. Dramatic mountains; winding, sun beaten coastal roads; and calm and scenic countryside all have their respective draws- here’s the best five biking locations we could think of.

   Tuscany

   Smooth, meandering roads, dotted with cypress trees and flanked by sunset-beckoning rolling hills are what a traveller coated in leathers can expect from this quintessential Italian region. Areas such as Siena and Volterra boast roads that are very lightly travelled, and small, picturesque hamlets along the drive where one can park up and relax for an hour before opening up the accelerator once again. Bliss.

   Rhône-Alpes

   Tucked away in the south-east of France is the Rhône-Alpes region, blessed with mountains, vineyards, valleys and olive groves. Hidden in this region is the D24 road, a decidedly rural and lesser-travelled track blessed with staggering sites and hundreds of corners, just waiting for a pair of wheels to go screaming down it.

   The Death Valley Run

   Bone dry land and azure skies await those who wish to complete the Death Valley Run in Nevada, USA. Though extremely desolate, thanks mainly to the exceptional heat and waterlessness of the desert, Death Valley is utterly awe inspiring primarily due to the fact it looks so incredibly alien and unlike the majority of the earth’s various environs. If that hasn’t peaked your interest there’s also always Las Vegas nearby; head over to online casino UK to train yourself up before your big trip to Sin City!

    

   Transfagarasan Highway

   Built decades ago as a military supply road, the Transfagarasan Highway, Romania, is one of the best known and most loved roads in Europe. Stretching along one of the most dramatic and altitudinous areas of the Southern Carpathian Mountains, the 2034 metre high road is one of the most winding, wonderful and well maintained mountain routes in Europe.

    

   The Cat & Fiddle Run

   Running between Macclesfield and Buxton, UK, the Cat & Fiddle Run is frequently classified as one of the most dangerous roads in Britain. Meandering through the Peak District National Park, the route is perfect for bikers thanks to its many sharp turns and wonderful moorland scenery.

2. 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

    

3. 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.

4. 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®

5. 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