BBC | LongWayDown | Road Log

Midnight Landing in Malta

Wed, 30 May 2007 18:37:36 GMT

One of my favorite arrivals was landing at Midnight on the island of Malta. I was invited by fellow travellers from the UK to accompany them. We first ended up at a local pub. Then we jumped into a locals car that took us into the heart of the city where we came upon a HUGE fiesta with 9 Clubs and a sea of people. I honestly never saw Malta during the day. Good Times!

Brilliant

Wed, 30 May 2007 18:47:13 GMT

Have fun guys! oh and I just have to say this...Calgary has the craziest and half-witted drivers in Canada...I swear!

Africa at last!

Wed, 30 May 2007 18:56:05 GMT

Russ, et. al.: Thanks for the update. The web content is fantastic to receive. Thanks to Jimmy and the production team for that!

Updates

Wed, 30 May 2007 19:08:57 GMT

Ever since watching LWR I've been waiting in anticipation for the next instalment. This trip sounds awesome, and your daily updates make me feel like I'm experiencing small parts along the way. Keep the logs coming and stay safe. x

arrival

Wed, 30 May 2007 19:33:36 GMT

my most memorable arrival was wen i landed in kenya ,lol the heat ,also wat a coultur shok

Mush Mush

Wed, 30 May 2007 19:45:20 GMT

Boys, boys, boys - what's going on? 19 days already and you're only just arriving in Africa! Michael Palin would be in final editing by now. Anyhoos, I'm looking forward to seeing lots more chopping, digging, regurgitating, sleeping on rocks and falling over. Here it is cold and rainy so I can only look out at my GS through the letter box. PS I've got jelly babies.

Lucky guys!!

Wed, 30 May 2007 19:55:48 GMT

Only just logged onto the site today!! What a crime and what I have missed!! Sounds like you are having great fun. Looking forward to when you visit your UNICEF sites in Africa. Good luck with it.

Arriving in Canada

Wed, 30 May 2007 20:01:28 GMT

When my family moved to Canada in 1988, we left the warm Italian summer behind and landed in a wet cold and miserable day in Vancouver - I looked around at the skyline covered with rainclouds and 15C weather and thought "I left the Mediterranean for this?" - however some 19 years later I haven't looked back (I have gone back, but always on holliday).

greetings Jimmy

Wed, 30 May 2007 20:27:31 GMT

Jimmy! Hello from the Careys. Enjoying being along for the journey....peace.

Not the tunnel dream again!!

Wed, 30 May 2007 20:31:02 GMT

Entering Italy via the tunnel from the French side. I kept thinking about the Jasper Carrot comment 'there's no words in Italian for rear view mirror'. He's obviously driven ina country where a frontal lobotomy is mandatory to gain a car licence. Dolomites were stunning, great bends to carve all day.

Arriving in a country

Wed, 30 May 2007 21:54:35 GMT

I once hitched a ride from Voi in Kenya to the Tanzanian border at Taveta sitting on the top of a load of beer bottles on the back of a lorry. The border at Taveta is 5km no man's land and I arrived there after sunset when the ferry buses had stopped running. I payed local boy to give me and my huge rucksack a lift on his bike to Tanzania. How he struggled. When I got to the other side the passport office had closed and I spent a night on a table in the guards' room. I got my stamp the next morning, leaving a one day gap in the official passport log of my travels. I love Africa.

This is where the fun begins...

Wed, 30 May 2007 23:24:32 GMT

I'm quite excited about your arrival in Tunisia - we holidayed there once and toured all the Roman historical sites including coloseum at El Jem, and we had a fantastic time there. I'm wondering if you'll go to the locations that were used in the filming of Star Wars as we did. This is the beginning of the heart of your journey and as always I wish you joy and peace.

Jimmy

Wed, 30 May 2007 23:56:17 GMT

Keep up the great work guys!

hmmm

Thu, 31 May 2007 00:39:21 GMT

I feel a bit sorry for the boys this time. They seem to have to do a lot of media related things interrupting their journey, like the radio interviews. I know they did a lot of stuff to camera the first time round but it was the diary and the stuff when Claudio was filming, which he is all the time anyway. It seems this time it's dictated more by the media requirements. Maybe that will ease off a little as they get to more remote parts, and out of the west... I know it's good to generate interest and whet people's appetite by putting stuff on the sites, but none of it has been too compelling so far. It seems it would be alright and less hassle for them if they did it less often and we waited for the show, when we get the juicy stuff. Tell me if you all disagree!

arriving in NYC

Thu, 31 May 2007 03:19:27 GMT

the first time I was in NYC I had trouble at the border. We were 4 travelling, as I was the only one understanding English I filled out all 4 papers we had to fill out. the other three passed the border without any problem, but I wasn't aloud to enter the US. Reason should be a wrong test in this paper (which was correct for the other 3 of us?!?) So I had to wait around two hours at the airport not knowing what's going on. But then finally they let me in! Luckily it was just 1h and not 7 like you had to wait. But I glad you have still fun! This is the best way to handle such situations! Good luck to Jimmy and Dave for Lybia! I cross my fingers that everything goes well with your visas!

Watch the heat.

Thu, 31 May 2007 03:22:08 GMT

I am a Scout leader in Australia; we were at the Australian Jamboree for 13 days this January in Northern Victoria. 35 - 46 degrees Celsius every day. Wind and dust was unbelievable. Make sure you drink at least 6 bottles of water a day. Dehydration is not a pleasant thing to have. Stay safe and keep drinking. Danksy

Hey, not so Brilliant Allison

Thu, 31 May 2007 03:48:40 GMT

The crazy and half witted drivers that are in Calgary now are neither Calgarians nor from here. They're all idiots from somewhere else!!!! I was born here and can't wait to leave.

The Adventure begins.

Thu, 31 May 2007 03:50:22 GMT

Never left Australia, so have no great arrivals. Maybe one, but you'll have to ask mum about that one. haha. Stay upright boys. Look forward to seeing Africa.

Arriving in a country

Thu, 31 May 2007 05:17:51 GMT

Went on holiday with my then boyfriend, Timo, to Austria. Drove from Denmark to Austria in one go (1018 km), arrived dead tired and annoyed in lots of rain, only to find out that the camp place where we were supposed to be, had been shut down, and we had to find someplace else. Ehm yes, like: Where??? Managed to find a place, put up the tent, inflated the mattresses, dove into the bags 'n crashed. The rest of the trip and the country was great, but the arrival? Never mind. ;op

Germany 2006

Thu, 31 May 2007 05:27:28 GMT

After sitting in a que for an age at the German border at Archen I accidently droped the clutch of a fully loaded ZRX and entered Germany on one wheel to see a not very happy German copper. Did I get stopped - NO

Arriving in New York

Thu, 31 May 2007 07:54:06 GMT

Many years ago I was in a large party of Camp America students arriving in New York. As the coach worked its way through the downtown streets we were all laughing at the working girls and other 'characters'. Stopping outside one hotel we were in fits looking at one very large black lady in tight white leather as well as a number of other dubious looking individuals. Suddenly we noticed the coach driver unloading our bags. This was our hotel! I and many others didn't pluck up the courage to leave our rooms till the next morning!

Border crossings

Thu, 31 May 2007 08:14:27 GMT

Hard luck with the Tuno hold up. Good luck at the Raj Adjer crossing into Libya. You probably have your own �helper� to get you through, but there�s a top guy works in the carnet office there. Aisa El Mansouri speaks excellent English and helped us through all the beaurocracy last January. His only weakness is a liking for Celine Dione!

A little motivation

Thu, 31 May 2007 08:22:00 GMT

Guys,if ANYTHING on this trip gets you down, think of this: Here I am at work, stuck between 4 walls, my 1200GS rusting at home-the African sun shining beautifully outside. It feels like jail. NOTHING you encounter can be as bad as this. ENJOY every moment and see you in Cape Town soon!!

El Ejem

Thu, 31 May 2007 08:27:54 GMT

I was on holiday in Tunisia a few years back and visited this place. It is AMAZING!

Ireland

Thu, 31 May 2007 08:30:50 GMT

The funniest experience that I ever had was when we went to Ireland last year. We got off the ferry at Rosslare, looking forward to 10 days of riding round S. Ireland and within 20 mins saw a woman carting her shopping home in a wheelbarrow. It was wonderful, it was full of shopping bags and she was just wandering down the side of the road as if it was the most natural thing in the world to take your wheelbarrow shopping!! :0)

Rus and the car boys

Thu, 31 May 2007 09:01:53 GMT

Rule 1.....thumbs out !!!....otherwise they might get broken. Rule 2..... controlled opposite lock....with that much weight in the truck and in 4WD should be smooth sailing.....especially when driving on a road of marbles.

Ewan and Charley !!!!!

Thu, 31 May 2007 09:17:21 GMT

Just had a thought after seeing what Ewan was saying in the workshop about how and why these trips came about. What about London to Sydney !!! Sure you've already done half but missed a lot on the way. First half you could cover different routes then (obviously) through Asia. End up in Darwin head down through the centre cut east through to Birdsville through the Simpson Desert and down through central New South Wales or cut across Queensland and cut through New South Wales all the way to Sydney. ...... What do you think. I'd be honoured (if you ever even remotely considered it) to show you endless road and track plans and suggestions along the way.

G'day from Oz

Thu, 31 May 2007 09:50:39 GMT

Great to see you guys doing it again, we met Charley and Russ at BMW South Melbourne after LWR when you were here. Have a great time. Very much looking forward to the DVD. Dave, Maddy, Trev.

arriving in a country

Thu, 31 May 2007 10:00:40 GMT

Arriving in Egypt remember getting off the plane and being over whelmed by the heat it was really hot. Keep going guys you are doing an amazing thing I only wish I could ride a bike and join you for a few days.

Tunisian Bedouin

Thu, 31 May 2007 10:02:10 GMT

We stayed with Berber Bedouin for a week in the south of Tunisia. Near Matmata and the troglydite villages back in 1982. We were treated like kings, i have fond memories of the people and the cool subterranean homes. Funny thing is, you see the TV aerials poking up out of the ground! Have fun, Ian

Japan

Thu, 31 May 2007 10:07:11 GMT

Hi guys! It�s awesome to have regular news from your trip� I loved Long Way Round, and your new adventure seems so exciting! To answer to the question,my most memorable arrival was in Japan, it was such a change of scene!! it's really weird to be the only western people and be almost unable to read what's written around you^^ Anyway, thank you for making us living the journey with you, I wish you all the best, and I�m sure you will have the best time of your life, once again ;)

Nice One!

Thu, 31 May 2007 10:05:55 GMT

Nice going guys, will be keeping up with your journey from back in rainy Devon! Also, if you write a book about this adventure... this time try and put more about the trip and less about missing your families! after the 50th- "i miss my wife" it started getting a bit old! lol

I was inspired...

Thu, 31 May 2007 10:15:18 GMT

.. after the LWR DVD. We headed off to eastern europe on our KTM 950A taking in a couple of the sights Ewan and Charlie did, including parking inside a hotel lobby in Romania!! Can't wait for the LWD DVD, wish I was with you guys.

Inspiration

Thu, 31 May 2007 10:17:47 GMT

You guys inspired me to travel through the Alps with a 125 ccm motorbike... :) i made it!

New York Nightmare

Thu, 31 May 2007 10:20:28 GMT

My arrival in Newark last year was the most memorable - for the wrong reasons. Having flown out on 10th August, when the terror alerts hit, we were lucky enough to arrive only 2 hours late. However, another alert at Newark airport meant we were held in baggage claim for 5 hours - no explanation, no seats, air con at full blast, no phones - about 200 of us cramped into a small space like sheep in a pen. We finally left to be confronted by the worst rain and thunder storm I've ever seen. Awful start, but an awesome holiday followed. Good luck guys - can't wait to see you on TV in the autumn. x

Sydney

Thu, 31 May 2007 10:23:37 GMT

Good luck guys - sounds like a brilliant adventure - Ewan I hope you have your razor - soooooo didn't like the beard!!! My favourtite memory of arriving in a city - well it has to be arriving in Sydney and driving over the bridge for the first time, looking to my left and seeing the opera house - made the hairs on my neck stand up. All the best Joan x

Bravo

Thu, 31 May 2007 10:23:45 GMT

Thanks for all the work you are doing, and showing that bikers are not hooligans. And to charlie who i met at the NEC, bet the food is beeter there than at the nec lol. Take care all of you. And look forward to seeing the whole trip. keep them upright.

you must be mad!

Thu, 31 May 2007 10:32:39 GMT

After seeing the LWR, i thought "they won't be doing that again", but here you are doing it again. gluttons for punishment or what?...good luck and peace be the journey.

Zimbabwe

Thu, 31 May 2007 11:03:18 GMT

My most memorable arrival in a country was (against the British government�s advice) flying into Zimbabwe from South Africa during the Mugabe elections of 2001.. Me and the other 5 passengers on a fairly large carrier, all of which were reporters next to me, an 18 year old backpacker on my own. We were held at gunpoint on arrival by men demanding dollars, not having anything more than a few rand in my pocket I managed to uneasily sneak past this first makeshift check point as one guy, rather stupidly, started kicking up a fuss which took the guards attention as I hustled towards the armoured escort that took me over the boarder in to Zambia. It was the experience of flying into a torn country and seeing all its devastating effects that left the most memorable impression along with the numbers of people at the border to Zambia.

Memorable arrival

Thu, 31 May 2007 11:20:21 GMT

My mate Trev and me had toured across Germany across the Czech Republic border. We were dropping down a twisty road when we were constantly greeted by beautiful young ladies waving at us as we passed! What friendly people!!!

Looking forward to the show

Thu, 31 May 2007 11:50:12 GMT

really enjoyed watchng Long Way Round, so this will definately be on the top of my too watch list. If anyone here uses NASA World Wind I have made an add-on showing the Lond Way Down route, you can grab it here.

Arriving in Mauritania

Thu, 31 May 2007 12:01:23 GMT

During the Simon Milward Memorial Run, My riding partner and I arrived in Mauritania from the Western Sahara on our BMW motorcycles. It was thrilling and gave a sense of the unknown. A complete culture change to something new, the ramshackle, dirt-poor customs point and friendly guards, insurance sales hustlers and then a ride on the dark lonely road to Nouadhibou, arriving at night to sights sounds and feelings which were entirely new, in a town which is little more than shanties and half derelict buildings. We met some of the nicest and most dignified people in the world here -- and dined on the best food! Craig

The Best is Yet to Come!

Thu, 31 May 2007 12:34:18 GMT

I just started following this tour. It sounds like entering Africa may be like entering Kazakstan! The adventure is just beginning. I will be following closely from now on. Best of Luck! Enjoy the adventure! HIWAYMIKE - BMW R1200RT

Tips o' the Day ...

Thu, 31 May 2007 12:35:37 GMT

Suggested Song: "Barber's Adagio for Strings" (for when the landscape REALLY opens up) Fun Geographical Fact: "The Great Pyramid at Giza plateau is made up of about 2,500,000 stones. These stones weigh between 2-70 tons each." (http://www.zilvan.com/funnyfacts/facts_about_ancient_egypt.htm) Joke of the Day: "An old timer was riding down a desolate highway when his Harley broke down. Soon a fellow on a BMW pulled up next to him. "Is there anything I can help with?" the Beemer man asks. "Yeah, could I borrow a wrench?" the Harley rider asks. "Of course. What type and size do you need?" Beemer man asks, opening a sizeable tool kit. "Don't matter a bit to me. I'm gonna use it fer a hammer anyway." (http://motorcycles.about.com/library/ucjoke025.htm)

Lost in Whitehorse

Thu, 31 May 2007 12:39:25 GMT

Arriving in Whitehorse, Yukon, to meet my cousin at the airport and he was nowhere to be seen. I waited there for about 2 hours before I decided to look for a hotel where I tried and contacted him via email. Our emails were sent away at the same time because he was looking for me as well and we had a fabulous four weeks driving around western Canada.

Cape Town - who could forget

Thu, 31 May 2007 12:44:15 GMT

My most memorable entry to a country was when we circled above Cape Town at dawn, just before landing. The twelve apostles, the Cape peninsula, Table Bay and of course the Table itself, topped in a light 'tablecloth' of cloud, all bathed in a pink glowing light. Set the scene for a fabulous and memorable journey across Africa. Am most jealous of the boys, and will follow with interest.

Trip of a lifetime

Thu, 31 May 2007 13:52:24 GMT

Cant wait to watch the series in the Autumn - in the meantime if you guys get time check out this website - girlfriend of mine her fella and his mate have gone from the Uk/Paris to Goa - they set of on 20th May - see their website.

not the phones they were looking for

Thu, 31 May 2007 13:54:55 GMT

Couldn't you have used a jedi mind trick to stop them taking your phones? "these arent the phones your looking for .." :-)

hong kong

Thu, 31 May 2007 16:15:08 GMT

stepping out of the hong kong airport and feeling the instant humidity was something i'll never forget.

Waypoints for Africa

Thu, 31 May 2007 16:50:05 GMT

Hey. I presume you guys have some kind of internet access on the trip. On google earth: in the primary database, under featured content, activate the tracks4africa content. Great waypoints for fuel stops, camping, embassies, you name it. I am planning my trip for Sept next year. Enjoy.

Arriving in Saudia Arabia

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:37:37 GMT

When I was 10 I went to Saudi to join my Dad who was working there, it was xmas and my mum had taken wrapped presents for us to open, but when we got to saudi customs they opened all the presents to check what was inside, I would've loved to have been someone looking on as my poor mum was trying to restrain me and my brother while we deperately tried to see what we'd got. Saudi was excellent and the thing I remember most was the the feel of the hot dry air as we left the plane, so different from the cold we had left behind.

Africa

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 20:51:57 GMT

Hi guys!! every year I go to Tunisia with several friends...down to El Borma and Borj el Kadra....it's fantastic!! I'm traveling with you in my mind. Remember that when you go to Africa once...and you will be back home hill from Africa, and every year you have to go there!!! Buon viaggio..... :) Ciao Gas

Excellent Trip

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 19:01:17 GMT

Just a short note to say you guys are living my dream and coming from South Africa you are in for a treat when you arrive. Ride safely and avoid the pot holes, hahaha!!! Adrian

Most memorable arrival in a country - Austria

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:20:49 GMT

My family and I were driving from London all the way round Western Europe and then back to London. When we reached the German-Austrian border, the border posts were deserted and though we stopped for a few minutes, no one came out to see us or check our papers. So we drove on and then suddenly from behind us, came this loud yell of "STTTAAARP!!!!" and there was a border guard!

Just a small correction

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:52:56 GMT

It's El Djem, not El Jem lads :) Entering Switzerland from Annemasse where we'd overnighted and realising we'd biked through the deserted customs station the night before trying to find our way back from a restaurant to the motel!

Greetings from Honduras

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:54:15 GMT

I was sincerely hoping you would chose to go through South America this summer since I am living in Honduras until fall. But I and some friends of mine here have been following you on our map and wish you the best. Isn't traveling just the greatest?!

Border crossing Turkey-Iran

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:20:51 GMT

The overland border crossing at Doyubeyazit wasn't as bad as I'd feared, as we met an "agent" who helped us with all the formalities (so it only took 5 hours). His least helpful piece of advice was to tell me I didn't need to wear a headscarf in Iran (this was '98) but I soon found out otherwise as I got out of the car to try to direct the driver into an underground car park. I collected such a crowd that I decided that moment that whether it was optional or not, I was going to cover up. Modesty works both ways, but they obviously didn't see it that way as they gathered round to stare at my blond hair!

Good Luck Lads!

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:01:39 GMT

I was addicted to watching Long Way Round and love this log they have on the bbc to track your progress. Have a fantastic trip and be safe!

Jimmy!!!!!

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:31:43 GMT

Jimmy!! So incredibly cool to hear from you from Africa...we are so proud of your talents and adventurous spirit. Simply can't wait to see you in person. Thanks for bringing us along for the ride....We're in awe and think of you daily. It may be a long way down, but know you are in our hearts...at home.

Congo

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:11:26 GMT

I remember ariving in the town of point noire about 6 years ago when i was working on supply ships. I hadn't been abroad since i was about 5 or 6 years old(was 23ish at this time)and was excited and scared as it was such a completely differnt world to what I'd expected.

congo namibia continued

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:14:01 GMT

The mixture of poverty and richness in the congo was strange to get to grips with, the locals either had plenty of money or none at all, there was no middle ground, which was one of the reasons there was a lot of corruption and theft i guess. It took a while to get used to it and we actually made some good friends with some the locals, quite a lot of whom seemed to be refugees from siera leon. Namibia on the other hand seemed completely different, everyone seemed much happier and friendlier and doing much better for them selves. I guess their government was a lot fairer and more honest on it's people, it was a great place which I'd happily go and visit again. Good luck guys, you're gonna love every minute of it. Keep on biking :)