Tunisia, white walled houses, blue shutters, warm sun and friendly faces. That will be my abiding memory of Tunisia. It all started with a rather too long ferry from Genova in Italy, 24hrs plus customs and then needed to find a hotel, so the first night was spent with the Iitalian chapter of the Black Widows! Next day i tried to get into Algeria via the northern most border point at Tabarka, no go and was told to get a visa from the Embassy at El Kef, en-route got distracted by one of the numerous sites of Roman ruins. Nearby I [View Full Entry]

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Yesterday I went on a ride into the mountains of northern Israel, they are called the Gollan heights and it is edged by the Jordan river which feeds the sea of Galilee (or Tiberias as it is now known ). This is the Garden of Israel and full of banana plantations and other market gardening ventures set up by the multinational company's.Is is a very fertile area and the mountains have a rugged beauty about them. The air Is much cleaner and also a dammed sight cooler. I stop by Nazereth, known for being Christ's home town, bit like growing up [View Full Entry]

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I left you last time as I was about to try to cross the prince hussein bridge, Hmm that one didnt work, the bridge was closed for the day and whats more the guy in charge, very nice fellow in an air conditioned office, said only vehicles could pass with prior consent of both Governments as it went straight into the west bank.He advised I go North and cross at the only other available place which was In the Jordan valley. Typical of the region, the Jordanians were miffed because you wanted to leave to go to Israel, and the Israeli [View Full Entry]

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Journal Entry: Monday, October 12, 2009 Time: 10:01 PM Started the day with a very nice large leisurely breakfast, then went for a walk, didn't get lost but found myself at the gates of prince Hussein's residence on the Israeli border (its that close )the checkpoint phoned the gaffer and he invited me in for drinks as he likes England ! The captain was a very nice fellow and we had Arabian coffee, was almost clear and none to sure of the flavour and a glass of orange juice. Returned to the hotel via the market again, little else to do, [View Full Entry]

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Journal Entry: Friday, October 09, 2009 Time: 1:24 PM moved on from the Nile resort, was very nice and the morning breakfast was something to behold, i wont need to eat for days, shame i cant take some of there coffee with me. Went to load the bike and the guy gives me my passport back, i say no rush i have to pay yet, he says no problem ? go to pay and he says no problem, i say i know but i really ought to be getting on and please could you take some money, another guy comes with [View Full Entry]

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Hmm, thought it prudent to visit the consulate on the way out to the border, got there half an hour to early so took tea with the cops guarding outside, this seems to be a recurring theme, maybe its like donuts in the states. got in to a better reception this time and my forged docs from work helped, he took passport and papers and said return in an hour, another cup of tea later this guy who i kept seeing approached , we did the salam ala cum bit and he asked how i was getting on, the police said [View Full Entry]

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Cyprus is a nice little island, quite a decent mountain range in the middle and a fair bit of history to it, There is also the best bar on camp with dirt cheap beer and brandy sours to die for, or at least get pickled with! Was trying to get a container ship to take me to Israel, that was ok, but because iCame from Turkey it means it is now illegal to travel out via the south, crazy. Jumped up little shit at the port customs was telling me how the Turks took his land, he forgot to say about [View Full Entry]

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Made it down the coast to the port town of Tasucu, not a bad ride some of it on graded shale roads othe rtimes good tarmac, you just never know what to expect around the next corner.Made my home in the center of town at a cheap hotel, but i was so knackered i couldn't be bothered searching, and did i say it was cheap !! Next day went fort exploring before the ferry agent opened at 2pm. The fort was majestic, hailing back to the time of the crusades.Sat and watched the shadows grow short as midday fast approached, wondered [View Full Entry]

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Well yesterday was a day just meandering the alleyways and little bazaars of Bodrum, its was exceedingly nice, chilled and had an air about it similar to Padstow.Typical of the Turkish people i had met was a waiter at one of the little cafes tucked well inside the old town,sat down with one a glass of Turkish tea and wrote my postcards out and watched the world go by and my host interacting with regulars and other shop keepers, he was quite a character. I had another tea and we started a little chat about this and that and then [View Full Entry]

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A lot has happened since the last entry, will try to summerise , left the nice place in south Croatia, weather was very hot, was very relaxed and cruising along when i see a bobby waving me over, hmm speeding 100 something in a 50 zone, bit cheeky as well out of the village and catching loads luckily my wallet was almost empty bar loads of receipts, show him the article about the ambulance and he lets me off the 1000kuna fine , about £150. nice chap and i will remember to send him a Christmas card. Had a few stops [View Full Entry]

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