Intro

Hi, my name is Phil and this blog describes a Solo Round The World Motorcycle Trip I am starting in May 2012. The blog also contains info on other motorbike trips I have made. It is named after the Lee Marvin hit from the 1969 film Paint Your Wagon. It just seems to sum up how I feel when I am on the road. I was born..etc..etc..

If you would like to give your support and make a donation to the Anthony Nolan Trust please use the Virgin Money Giving link on the right. If you would like to advertise on the blog please email me at philjones060@gmail.com.

Sunday 26 February 2012

Greece 2007

A top trip to the Greek islands on a Triumph Speed Triple 1050 during the summer of 2007. Route took me across the alps and down the west coast of Italy. Crossed over to Brindisi and got an 18 hour ferry to Patras on the Peloponnese.  Then its a short hop down to Athens and a ferry out to the Cyclades Islands.  Approx. 4000 mile round trip.


Dam and lake at the top of Mont Cenis


On the quay at Paros waiting to embark for the return journey



At the top of the Col De L'Iseran at the end of June.  People were still skiing up there and it was incredibly cold. Fantastic!


Bosnia and Bulgaria 2005

A brief account of a great trip I made to Bulgaria in 2005 to meet up with friends taking a holiday at Sunny Beach.

The route took me from home via Dover to Calais, through the alps, across northern Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and eventually to Bulgaria. The route home was pretty similar in reverse.  Although I did make a detour across France to Saint Gilles Croix De Vie on the Atlantic coast.  A great 6 week trip on a Triumph Speedmaster.



The picture above is taken on day one at the first motorway services. The Speedmaster was spot on all trip and never missed a beat.
I had an incredible night in Mostar. The locals were superb and I was getting bought drinks left right and centre.  Possibly down to my Liverpool FC football shirt which they particularly seemed to like.


The bridge at Mostar is amazing.  It had to be blown up during the war to keep the two sides apart but was rebuilt and is now a poignant peace symbol.






Pepy posing on the beach at Sozopol on the Black Sea.



Outside Hotel Arla in Sunny Beach



Just arrived at my mate Dave's campsite St. Gilles, France after a long blast from Annecy.

Morocco 2006

Just a few lines about a trip I made in 2006 to Morocco via France and Spain on Triumph Tiger 955i.

Great trip covering 7000 miles in 14 days.  One of the highlights was bumping into the Hairy Bikes in a Hotel on the edge of the Sahara.  Good lads but sadly they had arrived by Range Rover.

My route for this trip was from my home near Liverpool via Dover to Calais, through France, across the Pyrenees, across Spain to get the ferry from Algeciras to Tangier.  From Tangier I followed the coast down through Casablanca to Essaouira.  From Essaouira I headed inland to Marrakech and then on to Fez, Erfoud, Merouga and Erg Chebbi at the edge of the Western Sahara.

Roadside Snap


Accomodation in Marrakech


This is a snap of the Dades Gorge.  An amazing oasis at the base of the valley is kept green by the river which is all but dried up in the summer. In the winter it is prone to flash floods and has claimed many lives over the years.  A great road to ride but it's a dead end.  I got early the next day and rode it again cos it is so good. 


Not a soul for miles and miles and then a random group of camels. Had a heck of a job trying to get them to stay still so I could get the bike in the same shot.


Typical tents at Erg Chebbi



The dunes at Erg Chebbi are amazing and really make you feel like you have reached the sahara. Its a long way home.


Saturday 25 February 2012

25 Feb 2012

First entry on the Wandering Star blog.  Made a momentous decision yesterday to hand in my notice and start planning for a RTW trip his year.

I am planning to set off on or around 1 May.  First destination will be Paros Greece, for some R&R on the beach.  Might also go to IOS for a few days.

Plan then is to get a ferry to Turkey and follow the Silk Roads as far as possible.  I am aiming to get overland to India and then on to South East Asia.  Not sure at this point whether it is going to be possible to go through Iran and Pakistan but I am researching this at the moment.

Got a massive list of things to do in the eight weeks before I set off.  Its amazing what you think of once you sit down and start writing things down.

Went out today and bought a Netbook so I could set up this blog so things are moving.  Next job is to get my two houses on the market to let.  I am relying on the rental income to an extent to pay my way.

Off to work on my lists.  See ya.