Happy birthday Happy birthday big brother!!! So glad you finally made it into Istanbul!!! What sights you have seen on this journey, and u did so well, with many an interesting story & beautiful photos!! How was Princess Is?? Mark great or g/great grandfather was the snr & last architect to the very last sultan in Turkey & he was the architect who designed the buildings etc on the islands plus parts if Topkapi. His name is in architect books & used by tutors/professors if both history & architecture at Bosegi uni. His name is on many plaques imbedded in walls particularly around Topkapi palace etc. Anyway, just wishing you a happy birthday & look forward to catching up when you get home!!!! Lots of love & best birthday wishes, Mark & Barb ??
Turkey Jealous!! Take a picture of the dogs if you can, they'll look like Milo!!
Enjoy the sweets.... Pistachio is turks favourite. Try some keymakli cream...its like English clotted cream but better. ..its such stunning countryside, I think I'm ready to go back & visit!!! Be safe & keep enjoying! ?
Turkey Hi there, now n Amaysra, scenery in Eastern Anatolia has been marvelleous. Rest days here. The sweet/cake shops are excellent, but maybe(?) Iranian were at least equal. Hope all is well there. Have been chased on the bike by the big dogs, to busy cycling hard to avoid them to take photos!!!! Cheers R
Been catching up with your blogs and I have to say I am so delighted that I do not have to sleep in a camp site. Iran sounds very interesting and a country that I would one day like to visit. Turkey now has a lot of problems with terrorism and political instability. Tourism to Turkey form the UK has dropped 50% - shame as it is a great country as is the food. I hope the next 14 days are enjoyable and then think no more camping for a while!
This end I'm off next week for 4 days cycling in Mallorca staying at my friends place there and then in 3 weeks time Debbie and i are off to South Korea and Japan. We are spending 4 weeks in Japan the last of which is cycling around Kyushu island in the south.
Japan Hi Peter, iran was interesting and our in country guide was excellent. If you are ever thinking of visiting there let me know and I will provide his contact info. He was knowledgable and a true delight. The start in Turkey has been less than desirable, but all seems calm. Riding the final 14 days starts the day after tomorrow. As alcohol is now back on the menu, I need to be cycling to truly enjoy a beer without fesr of putting back on the weight lost!
Never been to Korea so look forward to your thoughts. Enjoyed Japan as I am sure you and Debbie will. Cycling there is very dignified, no heavy panting or sweating! I hope you both have a great time. Keep me informed. Cheers Roger
One month gone already! Hi Roger, Graham & I are enjoying the photo's & blogs. Sounds like a very hard ride but very interesting places you are travelling through.. Take care . G & S
Hello from the Bay Hi Roger, enjoy reading your Blog. Well you are half way, lets hope the next half is a little easier for you, very hard going for you if we may say so.Keep safe & well. Barb & Jim
Roger - I am finding your blogs on Iran particularly interesting. Certainly I had no idea so many people had died in the Iraq war. I would like to go to Iran one day as it seems a very interesting country. it is also good I feel to break down barriers by interacting with local people. Now back to my stuffy court room in Bradford.
Iran I think you would like Iran, esp a visit to the other popular historic centres. So much history here, and very friendly and excited to see foreigners. Apparantly Iran has a suzable Jewish population and many tabernacals?.
Iran v Bradford Hi Roger , just catching up with your blogs and wow what another amazing adventure you are having. I am working in Bradford for a few days this week , a city near Leeds which is probably 40% Muslim and where lots of the women wear the hijab . I thought would I prefer to be here in a stuffy Court room or actually in Iran seeing such interesting places . I would be interested to see how life for Muslims is in the country's you are visiting compared to those living in a bleak northern industrial town in the UK . Despite not liking camping and enjoying my home comforts I think you have won this one (again) . Well done too on the cycling and the trip so far . Peter
Muslim reply Hi Peter, You may well think that, I couldn't possibly say!! Cheers Roger. Very restrictive wifi here in the stans/ iran. Hard to load photos. I send blog by sms to my wife who posts from Oz!!
Good Luck ( Belatedly ) Hi Roger, sorry for the delay in replying to your blog but while you are having amazing experiences in far flung places of the world I have been having equally amazing experiences in Leeds - going into tile shops , considering light fittings and spending over 2 hours in a kitchen and bathroom show room deciding whether or not I wanted a black or dark grey kitchen top. The reason for all my excitement and the lateness of my reply is that we have moved house. We thought on balance that our 6 bedroom house with 1/3 rd acre garden was just a touch on the large side for the two of us , now the kids have permanently left home. So downsizing it is into a "tiny" 4 bedroom house down the road from where we are living. I have to be honest Roger I am not a great shopper and what finished me off was being asked whether I wanted a round or square shower head for the bathroom we are doing up in the new house! But moved we have and although been a bit hectic it has gone relatively smoothly. Back to you and your further adventure I go from admiration of you to thinking the man really is barking mad after all you went through last time. However, looking at those amazing photo's I think you have made a great decision and as you say we are not getting any younger. So good luck and I very much hope the mission is completed this time. Peter
House Hi Peter, a change is as good as a holiday they say, and hopefully you retain your wealth rather frivously spending it on travel, which whilst rewarding isn't always so. Within just a few days I am wondering why?? How was Japan? Did you enjoy the food?
I start riding Saturday, 130 kms days 1and 2 then a rest in Bukhara. Hope i make it !!
Cheers for now.
Roger
On again then off bike ride My bike, camping gear and bike parts have been lost by airline. Now in Samarkand due to start riding Friday. If no bike may need to call it quits, as no chance of buying replacements here in fast time. It might be over before it began. More to follow. Cheers R
Journal Brilliant!! That was a story & a half, & enjoyed every written word!! I hope you do a photo book journal, as I would live to see it all put together!! What a journey, what sights, what inspiration as well. I'm so proud of you Roger, you go out and do things that many people only sit and dream if or dit & watch in TV. So so happy that you are following your passion & experiencing life!!
Hope you make it home for Easter! Looking forward to seeing all the photos specially on top of Kilimanjaro!! Be safe, see you soon!! Love bub & mark xx
Amazing trip dad!! Great to read about it and see some photos - can't believe how close you got to the animals!! The sunrise from the top of the climb looks great! Looking forward to seeing you soon!! Xxx
CONGRATULATIONS - once again. Well Roger - you have done it again. What a brilliant achievement and I loved the way you "just" climbed Kilimanjaro at the end.
I had been wondering how you were getting on but assumed poor internet, The cycling sounds tough but as you say what an experience. As I may have mentioned I have been to Kenya and your description brought back many happy memories. We actually took a hot air balloon across the Serengeti and saw the 1000's of Wildebeest you describe migrating. Didn't see any Gorillas though and that part of the trip sounds a real highlight.
Debbie has climbed Kilimanjaro too although had not cycled for the 40 days preceding it ! So what next for you ? It will be hard to beat the adventures that you have been having.
My end I had sad news while you were away in that my mother died. She was 89 and her dementia was deteriorating so it was the right time for her but I was very close to her and am obviously sad. Still it does now free me up to have longer holidays although I do not have the desire let alone the ability to participate in such mammoth cycles as the one you have just completed. I am off to Mallorca this Thursday for 4 days cycling with the "lads" prior to the across France cycle in May. Debbie and i are also off to Japan and for a brief spell South Korea in October/ November. We are also planning spending 6 weeks or so in the Caribbean in January ( the weather might be somewhat nicer than in the UK then ).
Talking of the UK I think you mentioned that you might be over in London some time in the summer in which case it would be good to meet up. We could even go for a cycle although I think you will have to go for a 50 miler before I set off just to wear you out a little.
Anyway really impressed with your achievement and hopefully see you soon. Peter
Future Hi Peter, thanks for your email. Internet was the issue, but writing at the end kept the negative thoughts at bay!
Sorry to learn about your mother's demise. Her health didn't sound very good, but it is always difficult losing someone close to you.
Plans are afoot to cycle up the Andes in May, then trek from Cusco to Machu Pichu. 3 weeks in total, then maybe some travel in Brazil,Argentina and Chile for a month if I can persuade Merilyn. My daughter Georgina is relocating to London in July for 2 years. We are contemplating a visit in December. Will be in contact when details are firm. Nothing in the summer! Your plans sound exciting, have fun. The fellow Brian I mentioned is also thinking of Mallorica, he and his wife would like to buy a hostel and feel it would be a great place. They currently live in a cold part of Canada. I am going for a job interview(????) back on the Gold Coast next week. A moment of idelirium. I'll let you know the outcome. It may knobble my travels for a while if it eventuates.
Best to you both Roger
Good Luck on your African Adventure Hi Roger,
It doesn't seem that long ago since I was reading your North American blog and here I am now being transported to Africa. It makes my odd trip to Mallorca seem a bit tame. Actually I have been to Kenya and your photo's reminded me of my time there. I noted with a mixture of admiration and relief (that it is not me) that over the 55 days trip you only have 1 night in a hotel. Even if it was the other way round namely 1 nights camping I would think that a real challenge. However given some of the camping conditions on your Chinese cycle I suspect you are somewhat hardier than me.
Anyway I hope you have an amazing experience and look forward to reading your blog. Peter
Barbara
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Happy birthday
Happy birthday big brother!!! So glad you finally made it into Istanbul!!! What sights you have seen on this journey, and u did so well, with many an interesting story & beautiful photos!! How was Princess Is?? Mark great or g/great grandfather was the snr & last architect to the very last sultan in Turkey & he was the architect who designed the buildings etc on the islands plus parts if Topkapi. His name is in architect books & used by tutors/professors if both history & architecture at Bosegi uni. His name is on many plaques imbedded in walls particularly around Topkapi palace etc. Anyway, just wishing you a happy birthday & look forward to catching up when you get home!!!! Lots of love & best birthday wishes, Mark & Barb ??