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The story of how we saved money, quit our jobs, sold our possessions, and set off to bicycle tour and travel around the world

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Alaska / Canada / USA
5-3-08 to present
Index to all pages

New Zealand
9-16-07 to 5-2-08
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Australia
9-15-06 to 9 -16 - 07
Index to all pages

SE Asia / China
11-22-04 to 9-15-06
Index to all pages

South America
6-3-03 to 6-17-04
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North & Central America
3-30-02 to 4-17-03
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Equipment Pages Index

Introduction
How Much to Bring and Weight
Some Advise About Advise
A Note to Perspective Sponsors and Gear Suppliers

START HERE for Touring Bikes and Commuting Bicycles
Bicycle Touring Frames 
The Steel Repair Myth.
Steel and Aluminum Derailleur Hanger Repair.
Bicycle Touring Wheels
Phil Wood: The Best Bicycle Hubs

Panniers / Bike Bags
Cargo Trailers Vs Panniers
Tires for Bike Tours..
Bicycle Touring Saddles.
Cindie's Women's Specific Bike Touring Saddles
Brooks Leather Touring Bicycle Saddle Care and Conditioning
Bike Computer
Touring Handlebars, Bar Ends, Adjustable Stems, and Padded Grips.
Sealed Cartridge Headsets

Camping
Buying Camping Equipment
Tent and Ground Cloth
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Camp Stove
Pots and Pans
Water Filter

Clothing
Bike Touring Shorts

Health and First Aide

Electrical
Short-wave Radio
Computer
Internet
mp3

Books
Packing list
Pictures of Equipment Failures
Shopping

We have bicycle toured in Central/South America, Asia, Australia, and Canada

1:39 Min. VIDEO


Bicycle Touring Laos in South East Asia

5:15 min. VIDEO


Where do you work and write as you bicycle tour abroad or travel overseas?

1:17 Min. VIDEO


Australian Radio (ABC) Interview with Cindie Travis
DSC00009.JPG (597482 bytes)
5:01 min. VIDEO


See All Videos Here

NZ TO OZ - beautiful beaches to camp karaoke!
Tue, 10 Jun 2003


Dear Everyone,

Yes, it's us again with another travel update, although have been very lazy 
on the sightseeing front since Mum went home.  Rather, we have been more 
like holiday makers, pootling about in our motor home.  Well first I just 
have to tell you about those three flat tyres and my mothers near nervous 
breakdown at the end of her 'relaxing' visit to New Zealand.....

On the last day we drove to the Blue Lake which is as it's name suggests and 
very beautiful surrounded by forest on 3 sides and edged with small white 
sand beaches.  Here we strolled right around the shore, detoured to the 
Green Lake (this ones green - Steve) and then had lunch.  What a lovely 
place to end her holiday - now just for the drive to Auckland in time to get 
her plane......

We'd left a little later than planned as the walk was a little longer than 
planned.  All was going well until just outside Hamilton when there was this 
very loud metal scraping noise which scared all three of us to death.  
Pulled over as soon as - one flat tyre said Steve.  Mild panic ensued, but 
we had a spare.  Enter Kiwi Superhero, a mountaineer who was in the carpark 
following a 17 km hike from somewhere.  Thankfully, this guy knew how to 
change the tyre - Steve wasn't entirely sure.  Great!  Not!  He soon pointed 
out to Steve we had a SECOND flat tyre.  Whilst helping to change the first 
in order to drive to a garage, he spotted the THIRD, yes THIRD, flat tyre.  
We were going nowhere.  Now panic ensued.  We all remembered it was Sunday 
and the garages would be shut!

Steve nearly burst in temper (very much like your average day back at 
Westwards - don't panic, dont panic - Steve) , Mum looked very shaken and 
with equally shaking hands started smoking, as did Steve.  I borrowed the 
guys mobile phone - no garages.  EVENTUALLY, following a completely useless 
conversation with the van company who couldn't find a garage, I did - with 
the help of our mountaineering superhero.  Yes, the guy could come. (I 
really think you should rephrase that. I know he helped but I didn;t think 
any of that business went on - Steve)

At 4.30 ish enter Luke, handsome, friendly second superhero, who on hearing 
that Mother was supposed to be at the airport for 5.45 (at least 2 hrs away) 
changed 3 tyres, held a conversation and managed to look very rugged and 
sexy all at the same time (I think this is getting a bit out of hand now - 
Steve).  He also lent me the phone to ring the airport and did us a cash in 
hand deal (thank God) to save us a small fortune.

Next we had to detour to a petrol station to pick up Mums suitcase - the van 
hire office was shut (yes, we took a wrong turning but only lost several 
minutes, not that this helped).  By the time we did get Mum to the airport 
(some fast driving from Steve) she was a wreck and still had to pack her 
suitcase.  Unfortunately, after it was packed and we were off to check in I 
realised I never had my camera.  Yes, she'd packed it - so we unpacked the 
suitcase, found it (neatly wrapped in a scarf) and then packed it again!!  
Mum just made the last check in time of 8.10 by half an hour!  And so ended 
Mums relaxing holiday!

(Back at home my luck with vehicles is well known. It is now world renowned 
- Steve)

Since then, Steve and I have spent about two and a half weeks touring the 
North Island, taking in the beautiful beaches.  Steve went skinny dipping in 
the sea one day, but as it's winter here (read June in Devon) I declined - 
too used to warmer waters now!

We travelled right up to the very North tip of New Zealand and then back 
East.  Whilst on a night out in Whittianga we met up with a Lancashire 
couple who three and a half months ago jacked it all in to come and live 
just North of Auckland.  Needless to say we got chatting and had a right 
laugh with them.  We actually stayed our last night in New Zealand at their 
house in MIlford, next to the Marina and two minutes from the beach (a bit 
different to Lancashire, this was a seriously posh area).  We did the very 
British thing and went out for curry and got pissed.  Howerd sounds EXACTLY 
like Jonny Vegas though, and the more drinks we had, the more he acted like 
him too!!  Me and Jen hit it right off as well as Steve and Howerd so I 
reckon we have a holiday home in NZ now!

The next day we got our plane to Oz.  Not quite as straightforward as it was 
delayed for hours as our plane had 'mechanical problems' (or as the bloke 
told me 'its broke' - Steve) and was not fit to fly.  They got us on another 
flight but of course it was too late for Steve by then.  Even after the 
pre-requisite Valium, he was in a wee state.  The fact that we hit ALOT of 
turbulance, and even the aircrew had to stop serving dinner and remain 
strapped in their seats, did not help.  He sweated and blaspemed (Oh God, 
Jesus Christ, oh my God) (It was all I could do not to stand up and shout 
we're gonna hit the floor like a f**king dart! - Steve)  most of the way.  
Such was his suffering that a kindly (male) air steward gave him an extra 
beer to 'help calm him down' (He was rather attractive actually, and if he's 
gonna give me free beer, hell I'm game - Steve).  He didn't know about the 
valium, but even after 2 beers and 10mg Steve still insisted we were doomed.

However we were not and arrived Sydney, Austrailia very much alive.  We are 
staying in a great hostel in the centre.  We are sharing it, however, with a 
load of 18 year old British kids on their gap year.  We had hoped the 
stereotype was just a stereotype, but alas no!  (Monika you were correcto!). 
  There are even organised events and nights out for the school children 
which we have avoided, although during the pool tournament in the hostel I 
had recurring flashbacks to sixth form.  Aaarrgggghhhhh!  Steve is drinking 
lots of beer and trying very hard not to get annoyed (or in a fight - Steve) 
with all the male posturing that's going on - there are lots of nubile, 
young girls here!

So, we have been to the Opera House, over the Harbour Bridge, to Circular 
Quay, to Bondi Beach.  Steve swam here to, in his pants this time, but 
despite quite a number of bikini's it was DEFINITELY too cold here.  The 
Opera House and Bridge are very impressive as is Sydney.  We love it!  It is 
vibrant, interesting and has something for everyone.  Surprisingly for a 
city there are loads of wild birds here, (bloody right these Ozzie are game 
- Steve) and lots of parks.  Loads of people roller blade here - it's the 
norm - and jog too, though not as many as in NZ, where everyone does, 
including Mums and Dads pushing pushchairs (I'm not kidding either!).

We are right on the edge of China Town and there are loads of restaurants 
and take aways.  Very interesting these as it's like a trip to an aquarium.  
In the windows are tanks stuffed full of every fish you could imagine, not 
just lobsters, and crabs.  You pick the one you want to eat!?!?!?!?  From 
the street, (I absoluely can't eat in one of those) you see the staff 
hooking them out ready to be cooked.  It's terrible!  There are also loads 
of Karaoke bars, including, get this, street karaoke.  The Chinese, Japenese 
etc. are WILD about it and just have a go, with everyone watching, right on 
the pavement.

Talking of karaoke, we had the weirdest and the best night out ever.  I will 
tell you about it another time, but just to wet your appetite....

Imagine karoake hosted by two  drag queens, with the vocab of your 
average docker, assisted by a lesbian on the decks, in a STAIGHT Irish pub, 
with a regulars crowd straight out of the Adams Family and a visiting Bucks 
(stag) party.  Hhmmmmm, you really had to be there, but I'll try and 
describe it next time, but you'll never laugh as much as we did!

So, we're off for some food and a few drinks tonight.  Hope you're all well 
and still reading this!

Lots of love,

Jo and Steve xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

HOME
Jo and Steve
The Backpacking English Couple


Peruvian Paradise!!!
Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Travellers
Wed, 05 Mar 2003

The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
Sat, 22 Mar 2003

Don't cry for me diarrheoa
Fri, 28 Mar 2003

El fin del mundo
Sun, 06 Apr 2003

Patagonia - iceburgs and glaciers and........buses!!!!
Sat, 19 Apr 2003

Tropical Paradise !
Mon, 05 May 2003

Greetings From Middle Earth
Mon, 26 May 2003

NZ TO OZ - beautiful beaches to camp karaoke!
Tue, 10 Jun 2003

No Crocs Here Mate!
Sat, 05 Jul 2003

Queensland!!!
Wed, 23 Jul 2003

Darwin - 1000 flies, 100 crocs, 2 dead bodies and 1 forest fire.....
Thu, 07 Aug 2003

Bali, Bombs & Bathrooms!
Mon, 11 Aug 2003

Sightseeing in Singapore
20 Aug 2003

Thailand via Bangkok, once, twice, three times.....
08 Sep 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our 3rd Book
Down The Road in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

A Bicycle Tour Through War, Genocide and Forgiveness

Our 2nd book
Down The Road in South America

A bicycle tour through poverty, paradise, and the places in between.

Our 1st book
The Road That Has No End

How we traded our ordinary lives for a global bicycle touring adventure.

Printed Soft Cover
(Ships Internationally)

mp3 Audio Book
 Download
Hear First Chapter NOW

PDF eBook
 Download


Cycle Touring Racks: Why chromoly steel is best.



Heavy Duty Travel Tested
Sealed Cartridge Hubs.

Take a look at the strongest hubs built specifically for touring


What years on the road have taught us about bikes.

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