I can't quite remember how it all started, but back in 2000
the combination of itchy feet and a recently acquired motorcycle licence
had put ideas in my head. Initial investigations soon pointed me firmly
in the direction of Chris Scott's
Adventure Motorcycling Handbook
and thus, my plan to motorcycle from Alaska to the tip of South America was born.
 The old Beezer
Until the summer of 2002, when I bought the Yamaha Serow for my Americas
trip, my motorcycling experience had been limited to vintage
British road bikes. Fired up by a passion for all things old
and ropey, and against the advice of experienced and frankly,
sensible, motorcycling friends, I had cut my biking teeth on a
650cc 1963 BSA. This scheme initially involved more gnashing
than cutting of the teeth, but after a series of 'character
building' breakdowns, accidents, electrical failures, oil
leaks, snapped chains and the many miles of obligatory pushing
associated with British bike ownership, (wo)man finally
triumphed over machine and the BSA became a trusty friend,
providing me with many happy motorcycling miles.
2003... Lois on the Loose! Alaska to Argentina...
 Astride the Yamaha XT225 Serow
Like everyone planning a long distance motorcycle expedition, my big
question was 'what bike?'. I knew I wanted some sort of off-road model
as I expected to encounter a variety of terrains and road surfaces, but
like many short riders, I found the seat heights of the popular overland
machines off-putting. I was also keen to choose a bike that was light
enough to pick up on my own; and if I was ever to find myself squashed
beneath it, be able to wriggle free. Having once been pinned to a spot
of London tarmac under my old Beezer I
was keen to avoid a similar plight. On that occasion I was
fortunate enough to be rescued by a couple of sturdy
pensioners, but, I wondered, would I be so lucky in the Atacama
Desert? After much deliberation I decided upon a nippy little trail
bike - the
Yamaha XT225 Serow. So it was time to jack in my boring office job
and hit the road!
2006... Red Tape & White Knuckles - Africa beckons...
 The Serow excels offroadThe
Serow served me well over the 20,000 miles of my Americas trip but when
it came to riding the length of Africa a few years later I took the
advice of all those well-meaning BMW riders I kept meeting, and opted
for a bigger, more powerful machine - The Yamaha TTR250. Oh yes, those
extra 25cc make all the difference! I couldn't have asked for a better,
more reliable bike for what turned out to be a truly challenging ride,
crossing the Sahara and tackling the punishing terrain of the Congo and
Angola. Phew!
2010... What next?
So, what am I up to now? Well, thankfully, I have never had to return to
the office job! I wrote two books
about my trips and have scripted and presented a
DVD guide to adventure motorcycling.
I now work as a freelance writer and journalist, contributing to various
motorcycle and travel publications around the globe. Fortunately I do
manage to get away from my computer every now and then by
giving presentations to
all sorts of organisations around the UK and abroad - from bike and
motoring clubs to businesses and schools, and even the Ministry of
Defence!
Oh yes, I also married fellow motorcycle adventurer and film-maker,
Austin Vince,
and together we run dirt-biking navigation events in the Spanish
Pyrenees and have also launched The Adventure Travel Film Festival -
coming to the UK next year! As for the next trip? Well, there's
always one brewing.... I'd like to head eastwards, to India.... so watch
this space!
Click here to see other bikes that have
suffered at my hands over the years.
Click here to view a short (one minute) promo film for my first book, Lois on the Loose.
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