The Really Long Way Round - CycleBlaze

The Really Long Way Round

An attempt to journey around the world using only a bicycle and boats, and get sued by Ewan McGregor

By Chris Pountney
57,704 km (35,834 miles) over 1126 days between Jul. 15, 2013 and Aug. 13, 2016
What have we here? heart 15

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Introduction: Really it's a long way heart 14
About me and my crew: I'm just a boy, standing in front of a bicycle... heart 11
About my wheels: I'm just a bicycle, standing in front of a boy... heart 12
The Challenges: These ain't no rules heart 6

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Phase One: Cycle to Australia

1. FRANCE: (15th-17th July 2013)

It begins: Oh Paris, you shouldn't have heart 40
French Revolutions: What the hell does that mean Bear? heart 15

2. BELGIUM: (17th-18th July 2013)

The great Belgian waffle hunt: Country-bagging at its worst heart 12

3. LUXEMBOURG: (18th July 2013)

Luxurybourg: Its one of the richest countries in the world, don't you know? heart 20

4. GERMANY: (18th-30th July 2013)

The Mosel and more: Out of my way, I've got a party to get to heart 21
Make Mainz a double: And what was that about a bonus challenge? heart 18
The Romantic Rhine: Warm and with company heart 22
It wasn't the nicest cycling ever: Beyond Cologne heart 23

5. NETHERLANDS: (30th-31st July 2013)

The great Dutch windmill hunt: Country bagging at its best heart 16

4. GERMANY: (31st July - 7th August 2013)

This again?: Across Germany heart 12
Hamburg: Hanging with Karin heart 9
After Hamburg: To the ends of Germany heart 11

6. DENMARK: (7th-9th August 2013)

Denmark day one: A bridge full of spiders heart 4
Copenhagen: It is nicer when it is sunny heart 12

7. SWEDEN: (9th-13th August 2013)

Welcome to the land of red barns: The things I learned on my first days in Sweden heart 14
Cherno part one: Without the byl heart 8
Cherno part two: We're talking to Denzel about the movie heart 14

8. NORWAY: (13th-24th August 2013)

First day in Norway: A great start! heart 9
Oslo: Home of the angry baby heart 10
No way Norway: It doesn't rain like this in Canada heart 17
Rallarvegen: (The Romantic Rallarvegen) heart 24
Mountains, fjords, mountains and fjords: And some goats heart 23
Another day, another mountain: Too much up heart 8
To the high mountains!: For the last time! heart 5
A strange Viking man of the mountains: And the long downhill heart 8
The moose changed everything: And was that a groundhog? heart 4

7. SWEDEN: (24th-28th August 2013)

The race across Sweden: I said no chewing heart 6

9. FINLAND: (28th August - 9th September 2013)

A long boat trip and a lot of islands: And a familiar face heart 6
Finland with Karin: A photographic journey heart 15
Helsinki: And the rest of Finland heart 11

10. RUSSIA: (9th-15th September 2013)

Russia part one: Who's driver? heart 2
It's not just Ladas and tower blocks: The many faces of Russia heart 6
Deeper into Russia: Out of my way bitch heart 5
Into Saint Petersburg: I've seen this movie heart 7
Saint Petersburg: Friday the 13th heart 10
Out of the city: What if she isn't an alien?! heart 6
Time to get out of here: Russhing out of Russia heart 4

11. ESTONIA: (15th-21st September 2013)

Back to Europe: Nice to see EU heart 4
First full day in Estonia: Still having trouble figuring it out heart 2
Six Reasons why Estonia is an amazing place to do a bike tour: (and no, I'm not being sarcastic) heart 5
Tallinn: A gem of a place heart 10
Tallinn to Latvia: I came up with a cunning plan heart 8

12. LATVIA: (21st-24th September 2013)

It always rains in Latvia: And that is a sure fact heart 6

13. LITHUANIA: (24th September - 8th October 2013)

Daniel's response: It's not what we deserved heart 1
Vilnius Part One: Organising a Belarus visa heart 5
Exploring the surrounding surroundings: On a quest for the 'Mythical Stone'!!! heart 14
Vilnius Part Two: If you're reading this? heart 3
The longest ride: Part one heart 4

14. POLAND: (8th-9th October 2013)

The longest ride: Part two heart 3

15. BELARUS: (9th-10th October 2013)

Stop Press!: Briton cycling around the world, visits Belarus, meets girl! heart 7
Stop Press Again!: Briton cycling around the world, visits Belarus, hates interviews! heart 10

14. POLAND: (10th-22nd October 2013)

Into Poland: Spying on geese, a man on a rickshaw, and a crucial World Cup Qualifier heart 9
Warsaw: Saw war heart 13
South through Poland: Cos I am a champion... heart 8
All hail 'Well-behaved baby!': A reader contribution! heart 4
The Reflective Angel!: And a party to remember! heart 6
Some images from Krakow: Viewed with a hangover heart 7
The rest of Poland: Still mostly pictures heart 8

16. CZECH REPUBLIC: (22nd-29th October 2013)

Czech this out!: What a place! heart 5
To the high mountains: For a cold beer or hot grog??? heart 17
Prague: And the rest of the country heart 14

4. GERMANY: (29th October - 5th November 2013)

Return to Munich: I'm never drinking again heart 5
A relatively pointless and yet somehow completely worthwhile personal endeavour: Kind of like this whole trip heart 5

17. AUSTRIA: (5th November 2013)

Four countries, no passport, one day: It always rains in Austria! heart 4

18. LIECHTENSTEIN: (5th November 2013)

Four countries, no passport, one day: Now that's worldwide! heart 5

19. SWITZERLAND: (5th-8th November 2013)

Four countries, no passport, one day: The rain in Switzerland falls mainly on the cyclist heart 4
Introducing Dr Dave: The medicine man heart 9

4. GERMANY: (8th-25th November 2013)

Dr Dave takes the train: It beats walking heart 7
Dr Dave goes too far: Our first fight heart 3
Dr Dave gets wet: Munich at last heart 5
Two weeks in Munich: Fixing my rack heart 6
Auf Wiedersehen: MovINN on heart 17

17. AUSTRIA: (25th-26th November 2013)

One Fine Day - Part One: Let it snow! heart 23
One Fine Day - Part Two: Passau = Passwow! heart 1

17. AUSTRIA: (26th November - 6th December 2013)

One Fine Day - Part Three: Its still the same day heart 5
The most beautiful cycle path in the world: But the least used? heart 19
Ice kalt: Feelin' hot, hot, hot heart 7
Vienna: It is the capital of Austria heart 30

20. SLOVAKIA: (6th December 2013)

Three hours in Slovakia: The last place I've been before for a while heart 6

21. HUNGARY: (6th-11th December 2013)

Its not always easy to cycle in Magyarorszag: What the hell is this, Eurovelo 6? heart 26
Into Budapest: Adventures in the night heart 9
Budapest: People are so nice! heart 17
The rest of Hungary: My own little bike-about heart 6

20. SLOVAKIA: (11th-12th December 2013)

Just a few hours in Slovakia: Again heart 5

21. HUNGARY: (12th December 2013)

How brave I felt: I thought these were cruel and bloodthirsty men heart 13

20. SLOVAKIA: (13th-18th December 2013)

Friday the 13th in Slovakia: Why does this keep happening to me? heart 10
I stared death in the face: For the third night in a row heart 12
That's a lot of snow actually isn't it?: A night or two in Svidnik heart 37
The rest of Slovakia: That's what I thought old boy heart 20

14. POLAND: (18th-21st December 2013)

A few days in Poland: My 21st favourite country so far heart 37

22. UKRAINE: (21st December 2013 - 2nd January 2014)

Hello Ukraine, I've come from the West: and I'd like to get into your crisis heart 13
Christmas in Lviv: Part One: You're a bit old for a children's Christmas party aren't you? heart 24
Christmas in Lviv: Part Two: The Queen of course heart 14
Christmas in Lviv: Part Three: Get that dog out of here! heart 2
Lviving Lviv: Thats a terrible attempt at a pun and I'm sorry heart 10
Lets focus on the positives: A spot of blind couch-surfing heart 19
People are awesome!: I realised that I liked Ukraine a lot heart 25
The worst New Year ever: Babsuhkas and bad men heart 12
Last day in Ukraine: What hard times dear Santa has fallen on heart 18

23. MOLDOVA: (2nd-11th January 2014)

Moldova is sh!t: And I really mean that heart 19
A night in Chisinau: Dear Lord, Gerry, No! heart 8
Finally, a Moldova I can get on board with: Taking in the villages heart 16
An interesting Christmas: Visiting a place that doesn't exist heart 17
Come on Sun!: You can do it! heart 39

24. ROMANIA: (11th-18th January 2014)

A weekend in Galati: Watching out for strippers heart 22
Adventures with the Boathound Gang: If you lived in England, you'd be dead by now heart 30
How to avoid headwinds in Romania: Its just a question of fifty-fifty heart 12
Constanta: How about five? heart 19
The end of Romania: You're ruining my whole trip! heart 7

25. BULGARIA: (18th-24th January 2014)

A hot Bulgarian winters day: In hot pursuit of Lidl heart 13
Testing times in Bulgaria: Hills and horrible cities heart 14
The greatest place in Bulgaria: Obviously I'm talking about a gas station heart 12
Burgas and beyond: Its not sunny and its not a beach heart 25

26. TURKEY: (24th January - 19 March 2014)

Suleyman the magnificent!: Welcome, welcome! heart 14
The fat man was reaching for the kettle again: And all I wanted was a banana heart 11
Its not about how hard you hit, its about how hard you can <I>get</I> hit: And keep moving forward! heart 18
Into Istanbul: Things can only get better! heart 34
A dreadlocked old Egyptian: And how to obtain an Iran visa in Istanbul heart 17
A CGOAB meet up: An expensive bottom bracket and a cat on heat heart 17
Can I just pay for my milk and go please?: And how to obtain a Tajikistan visa in Istanbul heart 21
A new day, a new continent: A European Summary heart 18
The dogs of Asia: Lets not chase anyone today! heart 18
Mehmet a nice man today: Internet kaput! heart 16
A day in pictures: Cycling through beautiful scenery heart 16
Hello cheeky!: What happened to planet Earth? heart 29
How to obtain an Uzbekistan visa in Ankara: And how not to obtain a Kazakhstan visa in Ankara heart 12
Cut!: Is this the end? heart 11
How to obtain a Kazakhstan visa in Ankara: (Don't mention underwear) heart 11
Killing time in Ankara: And visa collection day heart 15
Yes I'm flabbergasted: what a lovely surprise! heart 15
The show must go on: And how to apply for a Turkmenistan visa in Ankara heart 9
Welcome to the world of bicycle touring Hanna: Are you okay? heart 18
Oh dear, this isn't going well!: The kindness of jandarmas heart 18
We tried to continue: I was worried heart 12
This is the end: No! Vegetarian! heart 12
Well this is very sad: Chai? heart 12
On the way to Cappadocia: Can I really sleep here? heart 22
CAPPADOCIA!!!: What a day! (Warning: Not suitable for work!) heart 68
Reader Participation Time!: That means YOU! heart 1
An awfully long way uphill just to go underground!: A silly idea really heart 12
A long ride east: And the small matter of a mountain heart 31
Big Mountain: Now there's an understatement heart 29
Escape from Big Mountain: Come on Beachball! heart 37
School Days: Were never like this heart 12
Nearing the end of Turkey: And a little sad to be leaving heart 18
Are you ahead?: Or behind? heart 25
Turkey Summary: And the results of the Reader Participation Vote heart 9

27. GEORGIA: (19th-31st March 2014)

A special place called Batumi: And how to apply for an Azerbaijan visa in a cafe heart 43
Georgian hospitality at its best: Come back with those bananas! heart 19
Life in a Georgian village: Puddles and potatoes heart 11
Collecting my Azerbaijan visa and moving on: Now lets get Gary Neville in on this heart 14
I can't have been the only one who saw this coming: Surely?! heart 14
Beautiful scenery: And a run in with the police heart 24
Another day in the mountains: Now where did I put my powerlinks? heart 17
Simon's song: Okay, I'll stop and talk if you're Belgian heart 16
A weekend in Tbilisi: Cool people and chandeliers heart 13

28. AZERBAIJAN: (31st March - 2nd April 2014)

Well now here is a nice place: Islamic country, you idiot, Islamic country heart 17
A day of amazingly friendly people: Can I understand you? heart 27
Georgerbaijan: Don't buy squirrel heart 36

29. ARMENIA: (3rd-10th April 2014)

Welcome to Armenia: We'll be watching you heart 10
Well I was glad that hadn't happened: Lets get this blog moving again! heart 31
Is your fish as long as my tunnel: Saved by an angel heart 18
Please stop beeping!: It seemed like Armenia was one hell of a crappy place to live heart 30
Another day, another high mountain pass: Another day, another canine friend heart 23
Alone to the mountains: If only Daniel was here heart 37

30. IRAN: (10th April - 7th May 2014)

I'm not going to write about Iran: And never will! heart 4

31. TURKMENISTAN: (7th-11th May 2014)

Welcome to Turkmenistan: What do you have in your bags sir? heart 20
Desert trials: The Challenge continues heart 13
Mary, Mary, quite contrary: How does your desert go? heart 25
No one ever said it would be easy...: This looks like trouble heart 12
...No one ever said it would be this hard!: The exciting climax to the Desert Dash Challenge! heart 9

?. NOWHERE: (11th-12th May 2014)

A night in no-mans land: Normal? heart 4

32. UZBEKISTAN: (12th-23rd May 2014)

Looking for somewhere to sleep: WHY?!!! heart 19
Bukhara: What the hell are you doing man? heart 23
Where are you from?: Do you speak Russian? heart 25
I scream: For ice cream heart 14
The Golden Road to Samarkand: Poetry in motion heart 24
Bek to the mountains: Talking politics heart 10
Cut!: This is the end again! heart 28

33. TAJIKISTAN: (23rd May - 20th June 2014)

Entering Tajikistan: The good roads, the bad roads, and the ugly roads heart 9
Links to other cyclist blogs: A mid-season break in Dushanbe heart 16
I don't want to do this anymore: No, wait, I do heart 11
Mancunian men: Mean mulberry massacres heart 29
Splitting up: And getting back together heart 27
The highest point of my life: Approximately heart 33
The story of a broken derailleur: And what's that across the river? heart 17
Okay what wants to break next?: Well done bicycle! heart 12
Going through Shidz: Sabotage? heart 27
A rest in Khorog: Not again, surely? heart 5
700 kilometres, no trouble, right?: That goes for you too, head heart 10
The Pamir HIGHway: Bit remote isn't it? heart 10
Time to show some initiative: Country number something - China! heart 23
Goodbye Tajikistan: Hello nowhere heart 26

34. KYRGYZSTAN: (21st June - 19th July 2014)

The day I met Wilko: And a girl who is not from Kyrgyzstan heart 24
And I would do anything for love...: The day I met Wilko again heart 22
She was orange!: Anyone know anything about the Russia-Mongolia border per chance? heart 26
On the road to Osh: I've decided to take extra socks with me to Almaty heart 17
Kyrgyzstan was not so much fun now: You know what will happen! heart 6
Do I really look that bad?: Drive on the right side of the road won't you please? heart 10
Pictures of mountains: And animals heart 28
The kids are alright: Do you take sugar? heart 35
Place your bets: READER PARTICIPATION TIME!!! heart 7
Who could it be?: Maybe I'll send them a postcard! heart 15
A day by the lake: Song Kol: A dangerous place to be, and no mistake! heart 46
A pretty boring cycle to Bishkek: On my ecotour heart 35
Bishkek: And the results of the Reader Participation Gamble heart 14

35. KAZAKHSTAN: (19th July - 2nd August 2014)

I'm holding on for a Hera to the end of the night: She's gotta be strong, and she's gotta be fast, and she's gotta be riding a bike heart 16
All by myself: Don't wanna be ALL BY MYSELF! heart 5
The real truth about cycle touring: I'm sorry but this page title contains no song lyrics heart 8
There's nothing to fear: I'm glad that I'm here! heart 6
Is there anything to eat out here?: Cold, wet, and posing for photos heart 9
A steppe too far: Nothing much to report heart 11
A city named Semey: A little excitement at last heart 9
Oh nuts, not my flange!: Anything but my flange! heart 6

10. RUSSIA: (2nd-30th August 2014)

Welcome back to Russia: Welcome back to Europe heart 10
Building a wheel in Barnaul: With the most annoyingly unhelpful helpful man heart 16
A night in a hostel in Novosibirsk: If I could find one heart 16
Notes on Siberia: Bears, biscuits and buzzy things heart 17
A Time to Kill: (a cat) heart 17
Thank you!: You answered the call heart 9
More notes on Siberia: In picture form heart 9
Introducing Petr: My new Czech mate heart 5
Irkutsk: Without a Czech mate heart 15
Lake Baikal: With a Czech mate... for a bit heart 15
Trying to get the distance done: But we really should eat heart 13
Into Ulan-Ude: Do you want to see Lenin again? heart 7
The last of Siberia: And goodbye to a Czech mate heart 9
The unexpected final chapter: The day my dream died heart 5

36. MONGOLIA: (30th August - 25th September 2014)

It's like Will Smith said to me once: 'You got a dream, you've gotta protect it': The day my dream was resurrected heart 11
All day, vodka, vodka!: Very nice life heart 8
How hard can it be?: Looking for some direction heart 15
Meeting the most beautiful girl in the world: Thanks life! heart 30
I can't think of a title for this page: I'll do it later heart 14
Introducing Mongol Motorcycle Paparazzi Challenge!: You can play this one at home (if you live in Mongolia) heart 11
A scary story: But lovely clouds heart 14
The end of the road: Relax, I'm not thinking of quitting again, I just mean the road ended. Literally heart 11
Okay I might be a little bit lost: But I don't need no GPS heart 14
Yurts, vodka, bad roads, smelly foreigners in pretend rally cars and electric pylons: Mongolia in a nutshell heart 22
Adventure cycling: It's been like this for 20,000 kilometres! heart 22
Intelligent conversations and suspicious locals: What are you doing with that cowpat? heart 7
This is really a silly country: Altay heart 7
Sand in the desert: Who knew? heart 18
Trying to get help from Mongolians: Moron! Moron! heart 10
A normal day: Part 1/3 heart 14
The Accident: Part 2/3 heart 6
The Aftermath: Part 3/3 heart 4
I had no one: But life would go on heart 7
Counting the bottles: Counting the cost heart 9
Bulgan: Is this the way to Ulan Bator? heart 12
Goodbye Mongolia: May we never meet again heart 9

37. CHINA: (25th September - 21st November 2014)

A harsh introduction to China: Happy birthday to me heart 5
Photo? Photo? Photo?: Is that a sheep on your motorcycle? heart 12
I'm sure it will be lovely when it's finished: Struggling on through the great Chinese construction project heart 22
It begins: Oh Mori, you should have heart 17
Where the wind blows: Where the producer wants it to heart 11
A hotel near Hami: Still looking for some motivation heart 10
The motivation: YES!!! I can!!! heart 21
The wind: No!!! I can't!!! heart 7
Life gets more interesting on the G312: But someone needs to hurry up! heart 16
THE GREAT WALL OF FRIGGIN' CHINA: An epic day heart 33
You have got to be kidding me: That can't be real heart 8
The Rainbow Mountains: Another epic day heart 39
Crazy roads: Crazy, crazy roads heart 7
A couple of passes: I lay there like an idiot with cold banana skins all over my mouth heart 26
The final push: Heading for Lanzhou train station... heart 30
A date with the most beautiful girl in the world: For the tramp who can't use chopsticks heart 19
Lanzhou: Honk! Honk! heart 19
Don't mention the traffic: I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it heart 33
Spot the monk!: And the auspicious falon heart 24
The Tibetan plateau: Hello baby heart 12
A night in Langmusi: 'Spot the monk' gets serious heart 32
Cycling 100 kilometres: Weather permitting heart 11
How to survive a night on the cold Tibetan Plateau with a cheap summer sleeping bag: Be a ruthless negotiator heart 19
It happened again: Snow heart 20
A long day: Slow heart 41
Navigating the earthquake zone: Maoxian and Wenchuan heart 16
Another normal day in China: BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPP!!!!!! heart 25
Oh doctor! Good!: I pointed frantically at a passing rickshaw heart 7
The Giant Buddha: I can't eat this heart 26
This guy wasn't as silly as he looked: China hadn't beaten me yet heart 22
I was just existing: No longer living heart 14
No room at the inn: The trials continue heart 10
How I came to spend the night sleeping in a pig sty: With a man that looked a bit like Jesus heart 20
Was I losing the plot here?: Probably heart 9
Don't let this man near your bananas: Fighting with Alex heart 20
The promised land gets more promising: China, I beat you!!! heart 22

38. LAOS: (21st November - 20th December 2014)

Life begins again: And it was all ahead of us heart 13
Our journey commences: The paradise I'd dreamed about heart 21
Laos made me feel like a millionaire: A very short millionaire heart 34
Life's a beach: And I was looking all bad-ass and that too heart 15
Another day in paradise...: Now with rats! heart 31
A day on the river: And then I built a water slide heart 35
A rest day in Nong Khiaw: And a key moment for my relationship with Dea heart 23
Looking for the real Laos: And finding the Beer Lao heart 17
Another relaxing and easy day: Life was good! heart 18
The table set was a stunner: The whole cycle touring world was with us heart 26
A couple of days in Luang Prabang: Let's eat! heart 35
A day trip to a waterpark: Fun for everyone heart 28
The rough road to Muang Nan: Sa-Ba-Deeeeee!!!!!!!!! heart 29
I came down with a terrible ailment: Sickness in Sayaboury heart 9
We were moving again, slowly, towards the end: (Or maybe not) heart 11
Sickness in Souvanaphoun: Great game heart 18
Big mountains day: It felt like it would never end heart 35
One last night: Nothing lasts forever heart 20
Why do all good things come to an end?: I did not want to lose this girl heart 17
Bowling in bonus time!: Thanks China, I owe you one heart 26
A few days off in Vientiane: Not entirely alone heart 9
Reader Participation Time!: We haven't done this for a while heart 6

39. THAILAND: (20th December 2014 - 12th January 2015)

39 fingers in Thailand: Craaap!!! heart 17
Christmas in Nong Khai: Part One: Robin redbreast shows an elephant his magic trick heart 28
Christmas in Nong Khai: Part Two: Merry Christmas from a Thailand Tesco heart 23
Christmas in Nong Khai: Part Three: Mostly puppy pictures heart 19
Hitting the road again: I'm not sure my bike could believe we were really leaving heart 8
The end of a great year: Hiding near Ban Dung heart 12
Introducing Alan: He is an accountant heart 10
Where are you going?: This way! heart 13
And what do you want to do when you're older?: Marry a cyclist? heart 4
I felt like getting on a plane and flying to Denmark: Maybe I could still have it all heart 17
It's not always easy being a vegetarian: Are you sure this sandwich isn't off? heart 6
Sorry I forgot to take a picture of the Michael Jackson clown girl: Maybe I eat too many cookies heart 7
Mukdahan National Park: Such a poser heart 17
Meeting some other cyclists in Khemmarat: With free wifi! heart 10
Thailand's Grand Canyon: It's not what you think heart 26
Khong Chiam: Home of the river of one colour heart 18

38. LAOS: (12th-28th January 2015)

Back to Laos: Not the paradise I remembered heart 6
Stopping off in Pakse: A bit of boat research heart 6
Things that go bang in the night: What would Gosling do? heart 8
A look into the real world of Buddhism: Past and present heart 49
Reaching Four Thousand Islands: Well, one of them heart 11
Arriving on Don Det: They have Nutella heart 39
Being a backpacker for the day: On a bicycle heart 18
Back to the mainland: This is a pretty boring page, sorry heart 17
Meeting a great many other cyclists: I thought Alan was the only one heart 21
Towards the Bolaven Plateau: Monks and monkeys heart 11
Mostly picture of waterfalls: I don't want your money heart 19
More waterfalls, more monks: More men with rifles across their shoulder blades heart 8
I decided maybe it was time for me to get new shoes: You don't take crisp packets do you? heart 13
Last day in Laos: The end of a great country heart 15

40. VIETNAM: (28th-31st January 2015)

Motorcycle madness in Vietnam: Country-bagging at its most dangerous heart 10
An unexpected detour to Kon Tum: Anyone seen any churches? heart 26
First churches, now Islamic State: What country am I in?! heart 14
The one thing I learnt in Vietnam: You can carry anything on a motorcycle heart 9

41. CAMBODIA: (31st January - 18th February 2015)

Cambodia's not corrupt!: Alan's first financial review (warning, this page contains a pie chart) heart 9
I had a cunning plan: Yes, another one heart 6
Escaping Asia in Ban Lung: But not forgetting heart 11
A couple of days of just hanging out: I didn't want to get sunburn heart 26
From Ban Lung to Stung Treng: And back to relaxing heart 15
Another accident: If you don't like reading about the aftermath of serious accidents, don't read this page either heart 21
Again? Really?: Another day to survive heart 8
What else is there?: On the way to Siem Reap heart 6
Angkor Wat: A photographic journey heart 85
Yet another accident: Hey squeamish people, maybe this blog just isn't for you heart 8

39. THAILAND: (18th February - 12th March 2015)

Enter Thailand: Enter Yannis heart 7
But it hardly ever rains: Yannis and I cycle towards Bangkok heart 10
A couple of nights in Bangkok: Khao San Road heart 18
Looking for a helmet: On the way out of Bangkok heart 15
Yet another accident: Don't worry, I had my helmet on heart 9
Paradise found: Sort of heart 15
Spot the cliff diving monkeys: Life doesn't get much better heart 6
Three caves and a dusky langer: An exhilarating day heart 19
A great deal of monkey pictures: And another pie chart heart 14
Sorting out my puncture problems: I figured that was nothing some creative use of chewing gum couldn't fix heart 10
Imagine...: Fixing a puncture at the side of the road heart 13
Another potential hapless sidekick: What the f*ck are you doing? heart 7
Crossing Thailand: A coast-to-coast journey through a sea of palm oil plantations heart 7
Ants and the Andaman coast: Well, it's paradise! heart 15
Ferry to Koh Lipe: Germany we have a bobsleigh team heart 13
Snorkeling around Koh Lipe: Wrapping things up in tourist Thailand heart 13

42. MALAYSIA: (12th-25th March 2015)

Langkawi: Malaysia makes a good start heart 9
Heading for the mainland: I also saw a racket-tailed drongo heart 4
A hot climb into the mountains: Country number 42 heart 10
Oh, shut up legs: Life is not that bad heart 4
Jeli and <STRIKE>ice cream</STRIKE> sap: Categorically too dangerous to cycle heart 5
Notes on Malaysia: Malls, mosques and monkeys heart 12
Difficulty finding motivation: The long and boring road heart 12
The end of Malaysia: Sorry it doesn't get any more interesting heart 10

43. SINGAPORE: (25th March - 9th April 2015)

Singapore! Singapore! Sing-a-pore!!!: The end of the Eurasian road heart 31
The boat search begins: I scrub up alright heart 27
A few days with James and Greta: We just need to install some drivers heart 5
This was my boat!!!: Or was it? heart 10
Wanted: Cruise partner: Must be <STRIKE>tall, blonde, beautiful</STRIKE> willing to give me 450 pounds heart 45

44. INDONESIA: (9th April - 20th May 2015)

Boating to Batam: What have I got myself in for now? heart 15
Just call me Chris: From Batam to Dumai and straight to work heart 26
Sir! Sir!: What is your favourite? heart 12
Water? IMPOSSIBLE!: Back to the road heart 23
Wonderful Sumatra: Why you should always take the road less travelled heart 27
Arriving in Bagan Batu: More than once heart 6
Have you seen Mr George?: He is a great man heart 10
The script takes a dramatic turn...: This could be Hollywood horror heart 7
Life goes on in Bagan Batu: Mr Chris is going to teach you past participles heart 9
Introducing Mr Tom: He's definitely not Jesus heart 15
Getting to know Tom better: One last day in Bagan Batu heart 7
Getting a bit lost: So... many... palm... trees heart 13
Getting very lost: Life is never boring with Tom heart 16
The adventures continue: Photo, photo! heart 19
A long and eventful day: Tom finds some alcohol heart 20
Don't you wear underwear?: No need, no need heart 10
But he is a terrorist: He terrorizes dogs! heart 20
Reaching Lake Toba: My jaw hit the floor heart 59
Back to Backpacker Land: How lucky! heart 18
A week in Tuk-Tuk: Doing almost nothing heart 12
Tyre trouble for Tom: Don't forget, he's very resourceful heart 18
Climbing a volcano: Without Tom heart 36
The dentist chair awaits once again: Making it to Medan heart 11
Okay, we could do that, or…: How about you just give me the anaesthetic heart 8
24 hours on an Indonesian ferry: It could be worse heart 15

43. SINGAPORE: (20th-25th May 2015)

Return to Singapore: The southern-most point in continental Asia heart 28
Cleaning up for the cruise: And meeting other around-the-world adventurers heart 10

THE CRUISE (Singapore to Australia): (25th May - 6th June 2015)

The cruise begins (eventually): But why are they all so fat? heart 17
This is definitely not the way to Australia: F*ck it, let's go to Thailand heart 19
Langkawi again: I think I've been here before, or have I? heart 23
George Town, Penang: Trishaws and trying to invade heart 15
This is not a game: Neutralising the AMOG heart 22
Snorkelling around Lombok: I don't want to make a big thing about it, but this was my last day in Asia heart 11
All good things must come to an end: The final days of the cruise heart 17

45. AUSTRALIA: (6th June 2015 - 8th April 2016)

Goodbye Tom: Hello Australia heart 28
Kangaroos!!!: Sort of heart 22
People are in too much of a rush these days: Burning the candle at both ends heart 18
Change of plans: To cut a long story short heart 13
Southern Cross, middle of nowhere: You just never know who you'll meet riding a bike out here heart 10
Considering I was working in the dark, with minimal training in the arts of sewing and knot-tying, and the tools at my disposal were a dusty cap, a pair of old shorts, some plastic thread and a rusty needle: I think you'll agree that the end result, all things taken fairly into account, is friggin' awesome heart 24
Is it possible to carry two weeks' worth of food on one bike?: Obviously heart 19
Snakes and spiders: And Grey Nomads heart 20
Enter Norseman: Begin Nullarbor heart 25
Spotting emus: And, what's this? A new character? heart 21
The unbelievable excitement continues: Australia's longest straight road heart 24
The ride to Caiguna: Unadventurous cycling heart 14
I know I said I wanted to see kangaroos: But this is ridiculous heart 15
Not very interesting: Nothing very much happened heart 20
I might be crazy: But I'm not the only one heart 24
Have I ever told you about the time I cycled 250 kilometres in one day: And then got hit by a kangaroo heart 20
Is that a long way?: Nearing the end of the Nullarbor heart 11
Ceduna and beyond: And you thought it was boring before heart 20
Something very, very, very bad happened: Halfway across Australia (sort of) heart 16
An octogenarian doing terrifying things: With an angle grinder heart 14
Port Augusta: The bike's holding up okay heart 11
I woke up next to Laura: But just wanted to get to Clare heart 8
I smiled again: Everything was set heart 12
Have I ever told you about the time I cycled 231 kilometres in one day: And didn't get hit by a caravan heart 9
Australia's Tidiest Towns: Investigation pending heart 13
Another day, another state: Welcome to Victoria heart 31
The last days before Melbourne: It was absolutely imperative that I buy a cuddly toy kangaroo heart 22
Here comes the dramatic twist: It involves the Drug Enforcement Administration, Melbourne Airport, and a cuddly toy kangaroo heart 14
Well who saw that one coming then?: I suppose I'd better explain heart 10
You're Solo-Man: You've gotta be Not-Solo-Man now heart 13
Look you've got to slow down you idiot: Stop and smell the roses would ya? heart 16
The big bike build: Told in photographs heart 37
Final preparations in Melbourne: Introducing a new friend heart 28
A little bit of rain won't stop us: Until 4pm at least heart 39
Finally out of Melbourne: Horse! Horse! Horse! heart 8
What a performance: It must be a Scandanavian thing heart 11
Look, horses!: No Chris, that's a donkey heart 12
Visiting a coal mine museum: F*ck you Bing heart 35
At home in Sale: Ping-pong anyone? heart 4
Leaving Sale: Introducing another new friend heart 14
Raymond Island: A fantastic place!!! heart 28
A busy day of animal spotting: Koala!!! Horse!!! Wombat!!! heart 26
Another nice sunny day: It's just a movie montage heart 17
There were three Bee-Gees: Who??? heart 8
Into the forest: He must not have noticed my shirt heart 10
Bouncing along through Bonang: And into New South Wales heart 10
Looking for platypuses: What a very special world heart 13
Racing to the forest: And trying to get my blog posts in the right order heart 18
I was taking my points where I could get them: KASHOOOM heart 12
Now I've finally got things in the right order...: We can continue heart 18
Not quite cycling 150 kilometres: But we made it ten heart 22
Oh God, there could be sharks!!!: Perhaps we would not return heart 27
Forest roads and kangaroos: And blah blah blah heart 19
Shallow Crossing: Cycling on water heart 29
The walking path of doom: Come on, come on! heart 41
Wollongong: Photo caption form heart 26
Sydney: I've come a long way heart 31
I couldn't believe it: This girl was making my dreams come true heart 20
A long-awaited new journal post! heart 1
Off the beaten track: They'll have to send the helicopter heart 24
Updates are coming... heart 4
The kindness of strangers: How's the serenity? heart 17
Stupid women: And stunning scenery heart 9
I was concerned: What were we going to do now? heart 9
Port Macquarie: Chocolate? heart 13
A bearly believable rescue operation: Watch out below! heart 16
Two vicious dogs decided to attack us: I didn't think it was normal heart 8
Bananas: Bananas bananas, bananas, bananas, bananas, bananas, bananas, bananas, bananas, bananas, bananas, bananas!!! heart 13
The day I misplaced my platypus: And other tales heart 23
Adventures in the forest: And the bus stop heart 17
Adventures in Haiti: Three days to go heart 11
Byron Bay: A four and a half metre what? heart 17
The final scene: Surfers Paradise heart 19
I said roll credits... heart 5

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Phase Two: Work in Australia

Six months in Surfers Paradise: Working on the pedicabs heart 46

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Phase Three: Get back from Australia

Take Two: It begins again heart 10
I've done this 500 times now: Why don't YOU think of an appropriate title for this page heart 5
What rural Australians consider 'harmless': Great big bloody snakes heart 17
Caterpillar madness: I'd never seen anything like it heart 29
Coffs Harbour: Bananas, bananas, bananas heart 12
Cycling with Stephen: Road closed heart 9
The next few days: I'll be honest, not much happened heart 18
Finally meeting some people: And some birds heart 10
Returning to Sydney: Reuniting with Dea heart 17

THE CRUISE II (Australia to Canada): (8th April - 1st May 2016)

Our reward had arrived: Setting sail heart 24
Two days on the boat at sea: And one day on the boat in New Caledonia heart 13
New Caledonia Take Two: It would have been a lovely bike ride heart 6

46. VANUATU: (13th April 2016)

A Mystery Island: Success!!! heart 16

47. FIJI: (15th April 2016)

Lautoka, Fiji: They think it's all over heart 4

THE CRUISE II (Australia to Canada): (8th April - 1st May 2016)

Saturday 16th April: Saturday 16th April heart 8
47 and a half: American Samoa: I should warn you, this is a very dramatic and unfortunate day heart 18
All at sea: 18th-22nd April heart 10

48. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: (23rd-24th April 2016)

Hawaii part one: Aloha also means 'goodbye' heart 10
Hawaii part two: It's got to be better than part one, at least heart 12

THE CRUISE II (Australia to Canada): (8th April - 1st May 2016)

Castaway: Hiding from a German heart 5
Victoria, Canada: At last! heart 7

49. CANADA: (1st May - 26th July 2016)

Six days in Vancouver: Getting things done heart 24
Hitting the road again: Just 6,500 kilometres to go heart 31
Whistler wildlife: A day of adventure heart 36
Lots of pictures of snowy mountains: And a long hard climb heart 30
The plot of this sequel sucks: It's just pretty pictures heart 20
Kamloops: A trip down memory hill heart 12
Friday the 13th: Again!?! heart 16
Saturday the 14th: Safer heart 12
Through Revelstoke and on to the Skunk Cabbage Information Walk: The Canadian wildlife isn't so bad heart 13
And we're back to pretty pictures: Remember to breathe heart 19
Yoho National Park: Enter Lucy Liu heart 13
Lake Louise and the Bow Valley Parkway: Nevermind the bears, what about the wardens? heart 33
Tim Hortons makes me cry: Things can only get bear-ter heart 17
A day in Cochrane: This guy was an inspiration heart 10
You have no new messages: I was hoping that might happen heart 5
This was oil country: This was cowboy country heart 8
On my way to Waterton: It was magical heart 11
Waterton Lakes National Park: A little gem of a place heart 35
The 26th and 27th of May 2016: That's right, I'm only three months behind - time for a new writing style heart 6
A reunion in Medicine Hat: So, shall we do some cycling? heart 11
Moving swiftly along to Swift Current: And an epic game of Blind Goat heart 4
The prairies continue: Close Vivian, very close heart 20
Into Manitoba: Racing to a meeting in Brandon heart 7
Into Winnipeg: Do not go past the 424! heart 10
Photos of Winnipeg: He probably wasn't going to kill me heart 23
We're not here to steal any kids: Who do you belong to? heart 12
Entering the boreal shield: My man-of-the-wild pride restored heart 10
Away from the world: Just where I wanted to be heart 15
I'm not allowed to be here!: I've been to Iran! heart 24
Do you have enough food for three days?: Yes heart 9
So long, goodbye, and farewell: My mistake heart 12
Thunder Bay: The 17th and 18th of June, 2016 AD heart 23
A very dangerous highway: That wasn't that dangerous heart 20
The road was absolutely fantastic: I think Kevin appreciated it heart 34
A steaming great pile of bear poop: I had my chief suspect heart 18
I like money more than happiness: Timmins, Ontario heart 7
Arkel are a super awesome bike bag company: And a big thank you to them heart 11
My first impressions of Quebec: As the days blurred together heart 15
Mont Laurier at last: Hitting the rail trail heart 14
Taking some time off in Montreal: You'll never guess who with... heart 10
Cycling with Daniel: What might have been heart 10
Riding La Route Verte: So much more relaxed heart 9
Quebec City: Reuniting with old friends heart 12
Cycling with Meghan the vegan: And Julien the, erm, bike mechanic heart 23
Sculpture parks and summer camps: Continuing along the Saint Lawrence heart 29
Beaver fever and a bear scare: 100% Canada heart 13
Goodbye to Meghan and Julien: Hello to New Brunswick heart 12
On the New Brunswick trail: With Stephanie and Gadmo heart 17
The race is on: To Fredericton, and beyond! heart 12
The race is still on: Just three days to catch the boat heart 8
Nova Scotia: Trip of a lifetime! heart 17
The end of Canada: At long, long last heart 22

THE cruise FERRY (Canada to United Kingdom): (26th July - 1st August 2016)

"You're a passenger?!": A trans-Atlantic voyage aboard a luxury liner heart 31

50. UNITED KINGDOM: (1st-9th August 2016)

Back in England: I was in shock heart 37
England is really a brutal country: But I made it around the world!!! heart 34
Homeward bound: I've cycled around the world heart 31
Newton Blossomville: Yes Dad, that's why I'm back heart 21
The rest of merry old England: The world had been on my doorstep heart 26

5. NETHERLANDS: (9th-15th August 2016)

Ferry to Europe: A Hook of Holland reunion heart 43
If you can survive this...: You can survive anything! heart 27
The rest of the Netherlands: Introducing the spotting things game heart 40

4. GERMANY: (15th-19th August 2016)

Return to Germany: Remember me? heart 26

6. DENMARK: (19th-30th August 2016)

Front page news in Grindsted: Where Dea comes from heart 26
Rolling on: To Rodding heart 17
Hold on to your hats: Things are about to get interesting heart 28
Okay, now I've cycled around the world: The happy world of Maribo heart 11
The end: The closing scenes heart 12