They tell us Samarqand is a beautiful city but it’s pouring rain outside and how can you see all the ancient buildings when the heavens are open and water is falling from the skies with full force? There was nothing for it but to do a bit of spring cleaning instead and for us this meant digging out all those things we’ve wanted to share with you but haven’t. Why haven’t we? Well, you know, it’s complicated. So much to do on a world bicycle tour, so little time! Anyway, finally we found the time and here you are, a spring present from us.

First there’s an interview with six German fellows (correction: five Germans and one Lebanese, listen to the show and you may understand) who we met carrying guitars at the Iranian-Turkmenistan border. They’re hitching to Mongolia and singing along the way and they were kind enough to sing a song for us.

Then you’ll find a second mini-show where we introduce you to Carl, a French Canadian who we met way back when we were just green cycling tourists, hardly through our first month on the road. This interview has really been hanging around a long time and it’s high time we shared it with you so put on your headphones, sit back and enjoy.

As a third bonus, take a look at the site of Michel, a French guy who’s staying in our hotel in Samarqand. He’s going around the world on a recumbent tricycle and his motto is one we can really identify with: don’t dream about your life, live your dream.

 

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 Show 16: Meet Carl: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We took advantage of the afternoon sunshine yesterday to sit down and record our latest radio show. It’s all about our thoughts on cycling in Iran (fantastic people but crazy drivers) and getting visas for Central Asia (immensely frustrating and time consuming). We’ll also introduce you to two cyclists we met on the road: Tyson, an American we ran into in Syria, and Christian, an Austrian who’s heading for China. Finally, we talk a bit about a new section of our website we’ve been developing over the past few weeks featuring resources for cyclists. Take a look and let us know what you think.

 

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It’s hard to believe it’s nearly Christmas and we have been on the road for well over a year. Time is just flying by and since we last reported from Istanbul we’ve had so many wonderful experiences. So, here’s our latest radio show from a Damascus teahouse. We hope you enjoy this one, with thoughts about touring in Turkey and Syria and two interviews: one with a Swedish couple, Lea and Johnny resedagboken.com, who are tackling Europe, Thailand and New Zealand by bike and another with Paddy, a lively lad from Manchester who spent 5 years cycling Europe and working on farms. We met Paddy in Turkey where he was heading for Prague to spend the winter, with hopes of a world trip in the future. While you’re listening, check out the Tourbike.net website Paddy has set up.

 

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Our first few days in Istanbul have been spent in a flurried rush between consulates, trying to organise visas for Iran, Syria and Pakistan. Photocopies, bank payments, letters of invitation, plastic sleeves for all the documents. It is an amazing array of paperwork that we have gone through and the difference in accomodation is fascinating. Britain sits in a grand mansion behind high spiked gates. Canada has a cozy flat on a trendy shopping street with fluffy white cats to greet you at the door. Syria’s tiny office would almost fit in the average broom closet.

From the above paragraph, you may have already deduced our planned route for the next few months — rather different than the result you suggested when we put a poll up on the site. You wanted us to go via Georgia, Armenia and the ’stans into China but the thought of going so far north in the winter… well, brrrrrrr. We have opted instead for the slightly warmer route but may take in a few of the ’stans in the late spring.

Now that we’ve updated you on our route, we hope you’ll be happy to know that between the consular shuffle, we worked our way down to the water’s edge off the famous Golden Horn and recorded a radio show for you. This time it features a few thoughts on Istanbul — mostly about eating well in the city — our best ever bicycle horn and an interview with Peter and Marj, two Aussies we met on the road in Germany. Enjoy!

 

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It’s August and we are with the rest of Italy, sunning ourselves by the Adriatic Sea. The beaches here are beautiful; teal green water set against dark blue skies with hardly a cloud in sight. The other night we waded into the water and recorded our latest radio show, with just a few thoughts on our time in Italy as well as an interview with Marco and Manon, a Dutch couple we met in Bolzano. They were touring with their dog, a cute little beagle called Hunter. If you ever thought your panniers were too heavy, try carrying dog food for two weeks on top of all your regular gear! We’ll let them tell the story….

 

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