Ben and Margo's World Cycle

Europe -Bulgaria back to Scotland

2011-11-16T04:03:00.000-08:00

As we cycled towards the Turkish/Bulgarian border it seemed like the end of an era for us. We had spent over a year cycling the entire span of the great continent of Asia and knew that in a few minutes we would finally be crossing back into Europe. I was surprised and a bit offended when two heavily-laden cycle tourists zoomed past me without even slowing down, giving me a just a casual "Bonjour

Turkey - Dogubayzit to Edirne

2011-09-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

Turkey Route: Dogubayzit - Erzurum - Erzincan - Amasya - Istanbul Distance cycled: Margo - 23,000 kms Ben: 24,600 kms 24 hours after leaving Dogubayzit in the East of Turkey, the bus arrived in Istanbul. It had been a long, uncomfortable journey without much sleep. I washed my face in cold water then set about reassembling my dismantled bike. I then set off on my bike through Istanbul bound

Iran - Sarakhs to Bazargan

2011-08-08T00:38:00.000-07:00

This blog is dedicated to Ben's grandfather Kenneth Casson who passed away last week. Route: Sarakhs - Mashhad - Neyshabur - Sabzevar - Tehran - Tabriz - Bazargan Distance cycled: 22,000 kms Welcome! Crossing into Iran couldn't have been easier. The friendly guards on the Turkmen side even let us through without loading our gear into the x-ray machine. We gave them a completely sincere

Tashkent(Uzbekistan) to Sarakhs(Turkmenistan)

2011-07-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

Route: Tashkent - Boukhara - Farap - Turkmenabat - Mary - Sarakhs Distance cycled: 21,500 kms Arriving in Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent, our first and as it turned out only stop was at the house of Ieva and Gatis from Couch Surfing. As Ieva opened her garden gate, we got a pleasant surprise. Our own room, swimming pool and sauna were all waiting for us in a beautiful,shaded, high walled garden

Kyrgystan - Tashkent, Uzbekistan(via Kazakhstan)

2011-06-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Route: (Kyrgystan) - Irkeshtam - Osh - Jalal Abad - Toktogul - Bishkek - (Kazakhstan) - Taraz - Shymkent - Tashkent(Uzbekistan) Distance cycled: 20,400 kms The first few days in a new county is always unnerving for us and infact it takes about 10 days to get into the swing of it. Our first 12 kms out of the checkpoint were on a beautiful bit of tarmac. We coasted along feeling free as

China - Chengdu to Kashgar

2011-05-03T00:57:00.000-07:00

Firstly, please have a look at a slideshow we made of our Himalaya trip on our Facebook page as we can't see to upload it to the blog: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Ben-and-margos-world-cycle/167399079944849 At 8.30 am on a Thursday morning, a porter came into Ben's room and motioned him to get into a hospital trolley. I followed him round to the lift holding his hand and

China – The Himalayas – Shangrilla to Chengdu(via Baiyu, Ganze)

2011-02-22T00:10:00.000-08:00

A slideshow from the first part of our China trip Route: Shangrilla - Derong - Batang - Baiyu - Ganze - Luhuo- Dawu- Kangding-Chengdu Distance cycled: 17,600 kms Leaving our Chinese Aunty. We ate here every day in Shangrilla. When we told an experienced cycle tourist in Lijiang about our winter Himalayan crossing he had one thing to say to us: “I hope you like suffering”. With

China - Yunnan Province - Mohan to Shangrila

2011-01-05T03:56:00.000-08:00

Route: Mohan – Mengla – Jinghong - Simao - Pu'er - Jingdong - Nanjing - Dali- Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Shangrila Distance cycled: 16,518 kms Sjirk and Ellen just through the Chinese border into Laos. Camping on a rubbish dump just before the border, lumpiest camp spot so far Cycling through the final checkpoint at Mohan, we realised we were finally in. Welcome

Northern Laos - Vientiane to Boten

2010-11-07T19:25:00.000-08:00

Route: Vientiane - Vang Vieng - Luang Prabang - Oudomxay - Luang Nam Tha - Boten Distance cycled: 15,124 kms We crossed between Thailand in the North East and Laos across the Thai-Lao friendship bridge which spans the Mekong river. With another visa in our passports we set off cycling to Vientiane, whooping and cheering as we had someone very special waiting for us there. As we pulled up

Poipet, Cambodia to Nong Khai, Thailand

2010-10-31T10:38:00.000-07:00

Route: Poipet - Sisophon - Siem Reap - Samroung - O smach - Surin - Roi Et - Khon Kaen - Udon Thani - Nong Khai Distance cycled: 14,250 kms We left our hotel in Aranyaprathet and cycled 6 kms to the Cambodian border. We hadn’t been looking forward to this, our first of many land crossings. Having researched the crossing I discovered it had the worst reputation possible. Corruption amounting

Thailand - Satun to Aranyaprathet

2010-09-17T05:40:00.000-07:00

Route: Satun - Krabi - Ko Phi phi - Surithani - Chumphon - Bangkok - Chon Buri - Tha Takiap - Khlong Hat - Aranyaprathet Distance cycled: 13,381kms We arrive in Thailand After a one and a half hour boat ride from Langkawi we arrived in the Kingdom of Thailand. As usual getting our bikes on and off the boat had been problematic and Ben had to balance on a narrow post on

Singapore to Penang - via the East Coast

2010-08-12T07:31:00.000-07:00

Route: Singapore - Johor Bahru - Malacca - Kuala Lumpur - Maran - Kuantan - Cherating - Kuala Besut -Jeli - Gerik - Nibong Tebal-Penang-Kuala Kedah- Langkawi island Distance cycled: 12,150 kms Singapore by night After the drama at Denpasar airport, we were relieved to land in Singapore on the morning of July 4th. We parked our weary bodies in a corner and Ben set to building up the bikes

Bali, Indonesia

2010-06-20T21:29:00.001-07:00

Leaving OzRoute: Kuta - Seminyak - Tahah lot - Negara- Gillimanuk - Lovina- Git git - Kintamani - Ubud- Gianyar - Amalpura - Sanur - Kuta Distance cycled:10,150 kmsIt was almost 10 o'clock on the 6th of June and there we were standing outside Denpasar airport with our 4 huge cardboard boxes. The place was mobbed and straight away every man and his dog wanted to offer us a taxi to wherever we were

Australia - Townsville to Darwin

2010-06-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

From the Burnett TimesRoute: Townsville - Charters Towers - Hughenden - Richmond - Julia Creek - Cloncurry - Mount Isa- Camooweal-Three ways- Daly Waters-Katherine-Darwin Distance cycled: 9776kms At last we reached the turnoff for the Flinders Highway after spending the last few months sauntering up the NSW and Queensland coast. We started heading West from Townsville into the Outback and took

Radio interview - Mount Isa

2010-05-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

Listen to our interview with Scott Rollinson on ABC North West Radio in Mount Isa. Click on the link below:http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2010/05/nz-to-scotland-via-the-north-west-on-a-pushy.html?site=northwest&program+north_west_qld_breakfastFull blog to follow soon

Australia - Mackay to Townsville

2010-04-07T23:33:00.000-07:00

Distance cycled: 7000kmsRoute: Mackay - Proserpine - Airlie Beach - Bowen - Ayr - Townsville - Ingham - Cardwell - Innisfail - CairnsWe arrived in Mackay to be welcomed by Peter and Jackie from warm showers(http://www.warmshowers.org/ ). For those of you who are new to the blog, warm showers is an online network of cyclists who put up cyclists on big trips like ours in their homes. Peter left the

Australia - Rockhampton to Mackay

2010-03-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

Route: Gracemere - Rockhampton - Yaamba - Marlborough - Clairview - Carmila - Sarina - Eton - North Eton - MackayDistance cycled: 5993 kms Chris - slightly taller it would appear Chris, Ben, Gina, Helena, Phil,NellWe set off from Chris and Gina's last Friday and popped into Rolf's, a friend of Chris's, a few kms up the road. We had only planned to pop in for a cup of tea but found ourselves still

Brisbane to Rockhampton

2010-03-03T19:10:00.000-08:00

Distance cycled: 5600 kmsRoute: Brisbane - Wynnum - Caboolture - Buderim - Maroochydore - Noosa - Cooran - Gympie - Biggenden - Gayndah - Munduberra - Eidsvold - Monto - Biloela - Dululu - Mount Morgan - Gracemere - RockhamptonHello again everyone. Well, it's been a while since our last blog entry but we've finally arrived in sweltering Rockhampton. We seem to have moved a sizezble distance up

Grafton to Brisbane

2010-02-08T18:20:00.000-08:00

Rain, rain n more rain Bret, Vicki and Jamba Surfers Paradise Gold Coast Puppy PabloBogangor Scruffy Myla and Anna David n Ben Myla, Ben, David Beastie Bridge jumping, Brunswick Heads Huntsman spiderMyla and KittyHighly venomous red bellied black snake(deceased - obviously) Snoozing at Byron Bay Flat Rock campsite Bluebottle jellyfish Beach at Flat Rock Maclean Distance cycled: 4635kmsRoute:

Australia - Newcastle to Grafton

2010-01-25T19:34:00.000-08:00

Newcastle Hawks Nest Everyone out for the shark Sand dunes Camping at Myall Lakes 4 x 4 track Catalina and Kyle Shelly beachLunchtime Amazing beach at Forster Cookie dog Pelican at Harrington A typical track through the National Park Camels on Lighthouse beach, Port Macquarie Ben and Gwen, Crescent Head Rubber duck race, Crescent Head Gwen's house Better than Asda Govan Bananaman Mmmm Brenna's

Australia - Sydney to Newcastle(via the Blue Mountains)

2010-01-18T02:12:00.001-08:00

Distance cycled: 3686kmsRoute: Sydney airport - Sydney centre - North Sydney - Parramatta - Seven Hills - Penrith - Katoomba - Mount Vic - Bell - Bilpin - Kurrajong - Maroota - Wisemans Ferry - Mangrove Mountain - Wyong - Mandalong - Toronto - Hamilton(Newcastle)Jane GilberdLeaving NZSydney Opera HouseAn IbisSydney Harbour BridgeNorth SydneyKasia, Me, MarkSydney by nightAcouplabufdiesMark -

Christmas and New Year at the Sounds

2010-01-03T16:00:00.000-08:00

Bruno - a polar bearBen, Kim, Briar, Alan, LynnBen, Nick, Briar, Lynn, Alan, KimBriar, Nick, BenTasty scallopsBen's creationsMiss New Zealand - Lucy HineStevieLucy, Stevie, NeilBo - a wet doggieMore of the Hines - Andrew, Sally, KateSome one call a vet - that sheep doesn't look wellUs with Stevie, Lucy and EmilyPre Mankini streakLucy, Rob, Stevie, RachelLucy, Stevie,Ben,Rachel, MaryThe lovely

Queenstown to Dunedin - NZ done!

2009-12-21T13:56:00.000-08:00

View from Nigel's hottub - Queenstown Cooga Lake Wakatipu - brrrrrr! Lovely lupins Bike fence - Athol Amy and Albert - InvercargillGrivel Royd Curio Bay A hobo Tip of the South island - next stop Antartica. Margaret and Pip Martin Cannibal Bay Penguin viewing hut - Nugget point Nugget point Richard and Louise A secret passage from church - Oamaru Alice, Johnny, H Ben, Fay, Alice, Johnny, Meg, H

South Island - Picton to Queenstown

2009-12-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

Ellie and IainMilnthorpians - Andy n TomTom HeywoodTop of the Crown RangeStart of the best descent in NZTop of Crown RangeLake HaweaLake HaweaCathyLake WanakaLake ParingaBruces BayBen n LeeFranz Josef glacierLee's houseLee's bathCheeky WekaPancake Rocks, PunakaiakiJohn, Ben, Ian, TonyMe, Tony, David, Ian, JohnLake RotoitiRogerKiwi humourHenriettaAnna - beach at Lucy's bachThe SoundsLeaving

Places to stay and shop

2009-11-17T13:27:00.000-08:00

Here are a list of some of the places who have supported us on our trip along the way through giving us free or discounted accomodation, bike parts and other services. Thanks to everyone for your support. New ZealandSacha WilliamsMiranda Holiday ParkFront Miranda RdR.D 6Miranda 3576Ph: 0800 833 144http://www.mirandaholidaypark.co.nz/Trish HughesTe Puke Holiday ParkS Highway 2PO Box 10Te PukePh:

Gisborne to Wellington - end of the North Island

2009-11-17T01:22:00.000-08:00

MurrayGlenross backpackersGlenross backpackersShi - cat - suHerbertvilleLongest place name in the worldLivvy, Tess, Paddy, Billy, BaxterEmma and familyThe bothyMurray, Milly, PippaHamishMohaka RiverThe bothyDistance covered - 1250kmsRoute- Gisborne - Morere - Wairoa - Tutira - Napier - Waipawa - Herbertville - Pongaroa - Masterton - Lower Hutt - WellingtonAfter our excellent stop at Heather and

Tauranga to Gisborne - the East Coast

2009-11-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

Keith, Heather, Bessie, Bruce, MeHeather and Keith Me, Anna, Ian A hard day at the office - Ben's new look, a cotton shirt and lycra shorts Anna and Ian Why take 2 bottles into the shower when you can just wash your clothes

2009-10-31T21:59:00.000-07:00

Please don't forget we are raising money during our trip for 2 very worthwhile charities.The first charity we’d like to help is El Shaddai. Based in Goa, El Shaddai help families to stay in their native state by providing them with water, education and income generating projects. They help abandoned street children by providing them with food, shelter and love and have already opened several

Leaving Auckland

2009-10-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

Matilda and Kate The Sky Tower, Auckland Sacha and Ben A handome devil Our free cabin Tina and co Camping at Onaka Dig in! Me, Rob, Sally, RoisinAfter spending 3 nights in Auckland(the last of which was spent with our friend Lucy's sister Sally)we finally set off on our epic journey. Thankyou so much to Sally, Rob and Roisin for

We have arrived!

2009-10-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Auckland last night after the journey from hell. 24 hours sat bolt upright in an uncomfortable seat in a "tin can full of other peoples farts" is not my idea of fun. Just before take off in Glasgow, Ben brought out a ring and asked me to marry him. I told him I'd rather gnaw my own leg off. Only joking, I said yes of course. The morning of our departure we were treated to a

2009-08-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

Ten Lessons from the Road – Alistair Humphreys1. You want to do what?Set yourself an outrageous goal today.2. Just do it.Make it harder to ignore your dream than to overcome the risks and obstacles involved.3. Quitting is not an option. (But failure is.)Only by going too far will you learn how far you are capable of going

2009-08-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

Media coverage23/9/09We are in today´s Evening Times - fame at last! Read all about it atwww.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2530740.0.cyclists_saddle_up_to_take_on_the_world.php5/9/09We should be in the Sunday Post tomorrow and the Motherwell times sometime this week.27/8/09Just to let you know, Ben and I will be interviewed about our trip on Sunny Govan FM on Wed 2nd Sep at 10am. Listen

Our world cycle

2009-07-21T00:46:00.000-07:00

This page has been set up to allow friends, family and other interested parties to follow our progress on our forthcoming New Zealand to Glasgow bike ride. We fly out to Auckland on Oct 19th and estimate the 18,000mile + will take about 18 months.Our planned route is as follows: New Zealand(North and South islands), Australia(Sydney to Darwin), Bali, Java, Sumatra, Malaysia, Thailand,Laos,