We have been on the road 3 months today!!! And been away from home 12 months! So much has happened in that time…
Loved ones have been sick and/or passed away, new generations have been born… It is not always easy being so far away…
When we set off on our shiny Streak and Storm, we felt like frauds – adventurer motorcyclists on a round the world trip? Really?! We have now travelled 13000kms, only had one puncture and feel alive every time we ride off into the unknown. We have met many wonderful people, made many new friends, and been shown the most incredibly generous hospitality.
Someone we met the other night asked about our road trip: ‘What was the toughest road.’ ‘What was the hardest day’. ‘What problems did you have on the way’. Poor guy I thought. That must be how he sees the world.
For those of you who’d like to know our answers: the road from Baikonur to Kyzylorda, the road from Baikonur to Kyzylorda, none.
Our bikes, bodies and minds have all performed brilliantly. I have been grateful we both react the same way in the face of tricky or painful situations (these have mostly related to border crossings, police checks, customs): calmly and positively. Anthony is brilliant in those situations and I enjoy taking a back seat so to speak and letting the situation unfold while Anthony uses his humor and diplomacy. Sometimes of course, we simply both just have to wait patiently until ‘it is time’. And while we wait, we invariably meet new people and sometimes make new friends in the process.
Our time in Sharjah has been very fruitful and, yes, utterly, ridiculously luxurious!! We have ticked most of the items off our rest and relaxation list – we are just waiting on Anthony’s passport to be returned from the Indian embassy… I got mine 3 days ago, with a single entry visa only (which takes care of our thought of nipping into Nepal) but there is no sign of Anthony’s… We have to wait for that before we can book our flights to India.
We are about to enter a totally different phase. While we enjoyed the open spaces, mountains & deserts and many heritage listed historical sites devoid of tourists these last 3 months, the next 3 will be crowded! Slow and crowded. And most likely wet. And we’ll only cover half the distance of the last 3 months.
Are we still enjoying ourselves? Oh yes, most definitely.
– Anne
2slowspeeds 