Adventure travel is within us all. We set our own limits and boundaries. Cast them off and anything becomes possible. We can release ourselves to follow and reach out for our dreams. Age or experience is no barrier.
This guest post is by Ken Roberts who left London on an amazing cycling tour across continents in his quest for adventure travel. Born in Lancashire, UK in 1969, Ken spent his formative years in Wales. After a successful career in engineering management spanning almost 20 years, he set off in to fulfil a long-held dream to cycle solo around the world. He is currently in Serbia.
Cycling Across Continents to explore the World
What’s it all about? Simple – travel solo across the principal inhabited continents – Europe, Asia, Australia, the Americas and Africa – by bicycle.
I set off on 2 September 2009 from my cottage in Somerset for a journey expected to cover in excess of 45,000 miles over the next 4 years.
Why do this? To raise awareness of, and funds for, The Outward Bound Trust, and to inspire others to explore their potential through discovery and adventure.
The Outward Bound Trust uses outdoor experiences and challenges to help young people unlock their potential. At the heart of The Outward Bound experience is the Journey metaphor – physical journeys alongside those of development and discovery for the individual and the team.
A belief that we all have undiscovered potential that can be brought out through adventure – encouraging people to go out and do things they at first believe to be impossible, encouraging a deep appreciation of the balance between risk, reward and responsibility.
Armed with a netbook and camera, I use my blog to write about the people I meet and the places I visit – with a bit of humour that comes with spending 8 hours a day perched on a leather saddle.
So far I’ve encountered dubious Bavarian gnomes, ice forming on my cycling mitts, packs of dogs roaming free across the Serbian countryside, humbling hospitality, and I’ve not even left Europe!
From Ken’s Intelligent & Informative Travel Blog
If you come to Serbia then one thing’s an absolute must. An open mind. I’d come prepared for some animosity – you’ll still find plenty of references to the NATO air strikes a decade ago in newspapers and in conversation – but found only a warm, friendly people.
If you took time to listen, they took time to explain.
Joined a little later by a journalist friend, we talked at length about what it was like to be Serbian, to live in Serbia…..Communism, it seemed, had provided more than just reassuring certainty, you had somewhere to live, a job, and the streets were clean. And a Yugoslavian passport had afforded considerable freedom to travel. The break-up of Yugoslavia had meant de-facto confinement, for Serbians at least. Visas were difficult to come by.
A slow puncture, the first in close on five thousand kilometres. I made it to a convenient patch of tarmac, one of few at the entrance to a field, off the road and out of sight. Thirty minutes to remove all the panniers, up-end the bike, fix the puncture, refit all the kit and get back on the road. At least it was dry.
To read more about this cycling adventure around the world please visit www.acrosscontinents.org
Credits for the images in this guest post about biking across continents belong to Ken Roberts.
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CrazyJourney Community comments on cycling through Europe
I love the courtesy and space you are given by cars cycling in Europe. So different from London where you are lucky if they give you 30cm. Rough camping is also so easy and non stressful. Luke Bream
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