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UK2KL by bike - Steve and Joy Scott

We are Steve and Joy Scott a 'young at heart' couple who have decided to put our careers on hold and spend the next 12 months travelling round the world.

We are currently living in Exmouth, Devon, UK, but in June 2008 will set off from Wrexham, N Wales (Steve's birthplace) to cycle to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Joy's birthplace).

Our plan at the moment is fairly flexible - not wanting to be tied to tight schedules or allow future conflicts to detract us from achieving our goal. In outline, we will cycle across Europe to Turkey, stopping at places that we find interesting. Around October/November time we will fly to India/Pakistan where we will spend about 4 months in the region. We will then fly to the Far East and spend our remaining time cycling around Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

We will be totally self sufficient, carrying everything we need on our bikes - including a tent and the kitchen sink!

Our aim is to approach the trip with an open mind, absorb the culture of the countries we pass through and most importantly enjoy ourselves.

Although we have not sought any form of sponsorship we have decided to use the trip to try and raise money for Cancer Research UK. If you wish to donate to this worth while cause please click here - Justgiving

"Don't waste time talking about it - just go out and do it".

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Joined on: January 29th 2008
Last Login: October 29th 2009

Blog Entries: 36
Photos: 181

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Blogs & Travel Journals

by UK2KL by bike, order by Date newest first.

By UK2KL by bike
May 31st 2009

Kuala Lumper (Malaysia) We made it Asia » Malaysia » Wilayah Persekutuan » Kuala Lumpur

Petronas Towers (KL)

We arrived in KL on Sunday 17th May 2009. We had good intentions of updating the blogg straight away, to let everyone know we had made it, but neither of us wanted to admit that our trip of a lifetime was now over. As we parked the bikes up for the last time at Freddy and Lorna's house (Joy's brother and sister-in-law) memories of the last 12 months came flooding back. We remembered some of the highs points of the trip such as the sense of achievement we felt on reaching the Mediterranean Sea, cycling through the chaos of India and [View Full Entry]

By UK2KL by bike
May 5th 2009

Penang (Malaysia) Asia » Malaysia » Penang » George Town

Fort Cornwallis (Penang)

We left Pantai Cenang on the Sunday and quickly covered the 25km to the port at Kuah. We were not in any rush as we planned to stay the night in Kuala Perlis - the town where the ferry disembarks - which has some excellent fish restaurants . We reached Kuala Perlis about 2.30pm and started looking for a place to stay. Unfortunately for us all the hotels were full or asking ridiculous prices for a room. So we decided to push on to Alor Setar, our next destination, about 50km south. By time we set off it was 3pm and [View Full Entry]

By UK2KL by bike
April 25th 2009

Langkawi (Malaysia) Asia » Malaysia » Kedah & Perlis » Pulau Langkawi

Pantai Cenang

We've had a very pleasant week on Langkawi, just chilling out and using the bikes to explore the island. We arrived here last Sunday and after disembarking at Kuah, the main town, we headed west to Pantai Cenang. Initially the road was flat but we soon hit some lumpy bits - the first real hills since we landed in Singapore. As we were cycling along it started to rain. I shouted to Joy that we would stop at the next cafe which was about 100m away. By time we reached it it was throwing it down and we were quite soaked. [View Full Entry]

By UK2KL by bike
April 13th 2009

Kota Bharu Asia » Malaysia » Kelantan » Kota Bharu

The Masid Negeri (Kuantan)

What a difference a week makes. Just over seven days ago we struggled to cover 70Km and now in the last 3 days we have covered 192 miles - 70, 50 and 72 miles respectfully. I think it is safe to say that we are now acclimatised and have got our cycling legs back. Joy got upset when we left Kuantan after running over a live lizard. She is petrified that she could run over a live snake and it could possibly rise up and bite her in revenge. I have reassured her that the chances of that happening are very [View Full Entry]

By UK2KL by bike
April 6th 2009

Kuantan (Malaysia) Asia » Malaysia » Pahang » Kuantan

The East Coast

We arrived at Kuantan, our halfway point on the east coast, at 1540 hrs having covered just under 100 Km. We had planned to stop at a small town called Pekan about half way but the hotels were full or too expensive. There was a tourist resort just outside Pekan, but we didn't fancy staying at a Malaysian version of 'Butlins' so, as it was an overcast day, we decided to push on. Joy was really strong and for a change it was me that was doing all the whimpering. My saddle was killing me from the 50 Km point. I [View Full Entry]

By UK2KL by bike
April 3rd 2009

Tanjung Gemor (Malaysia) Asia » Malaysia » Pahang

Loading up again

It hasn't taken too long for us to settle into a routine again. We now know what hotels to look for and where to find them at the right price but we did get caught out the other night. When we left JB on Tuesday morning the traffic was heavy and fast but once out of the city limits it became much lighter. I had asked the receptionist how to get onto highway 3 (the road that will take us almost to the Thai border), she said “go out the door and you are on it.” I knew then that route [View Full Entry]

By UK2KL by bike
March 30th 2009

30 March 09 Johore Bahru (JB) (Malaysia) Asia » Malaysia » Johor » Johor Bahru

Central Catchment Area - Singapore

Getting out of Singapore yesterday was not as bad as I thought it would be. Being a Sunday the traffic was light and the sign posting excellent. The only issue we had was with the 'one way system' around the city which seemed to go in the opposite direction to the way we wanted to go. The island is fairly flat (thank goodness) as it was very hot and humid. By the time we reached JB in Malaysia, having covered only 23 miles we were shattered. We were both very tired however even before we started that day. The previous night [View Full Entry]

By UK2KL by bike
March 28th 2009

March 28th (Singapore) The start of the last leg Asia » Singapore

Last coffee at LHR

Well we have finally arrived in Singapore for the last leg of our trip. Joy says that I should consider writing a book about our travels when we finish. Well if I do I could easily dedicate a chapter on just getting to Heathrow. I won't bore you with all the details but suffice to say it was a good job we left early. We flew with BA mainly because they accept bicycles as sports equipment and therefore don't charge for them as long they are under 23 kilos. Their only other stipulation is that the bikes must be in a [View Full Entry]

By UK2KL by bike
March 1st 2009

UK2KL UPDATE Europe » United Kingdom » England » Devon » Exmouth

For those who I haven't managed to speak to I regret to inform you that my father passed away on the 28th December. Although his prognosis had not been good his death still came as a shock to the whole family. The only comfort Joy and I can draw from this tragic event is that we managed to get back from India in time and spend a few precious weeks with him. He was a very brave man and remained dignified until the end. We stayed in Wrexham with my mother until after the funeral and then returned to Exmouth in [View Full Entry]

By UK2KL by bike
December 24th 2008

Christmas Eve - Wrexham, North Wales Europe » United Kingdom » Wales

Wrexham - back where we started

A couple of days after our last post on the blogg my brother contacted me to say that our father had been diagnosed with cancer and is seriously ill. We are now back in Wrexham helping my mother nurse him and will not be returning to India in the New Year as planned. Although we have had to curtail our trip we both feel immensely proud of what we have achieved. We've had an amazing time and have lots of fond memories of the trip. Although it was not all 'plane sailing' the experience has brought us closer together and we [View Full Entry]

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UK2KL by bike - Steve and Joy Scott

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