The same but very different

| Leonie | AFRICA, Libya | 7 Reacties (Comments)

Hetzelfde maar heel andersBefore we ride to Salahs house, we first follow him to a restaurant to get some food. Due to the meeting in Tripoli earlier that day and the unexpected tour of Leptis Magna we did not eat anything for lunch. A little hungry we park the bikes in front of the restaurant where we are warmly welcomed by Mohammed, a friend of Salah.

As soon as we get inside, the boys are directed to the toilet. When I want to follow them, Salah and Mohammed redirect me to the second floor. One of the guys from the restaurant runs after me and hands over a box of tissues. Once upstairs, I realize I am in the secluded area of ​​the restaurant which is especially for the women. It is a large room with plastic tables and chairs and a bathroom in the corner. It is not customary for men and women to enjoy their meals in the same room. When women are travelling, if they can, they usually sit in these areas separated from the men. Lees meer (Read more)

We have moved!

| Leonie | PREPARATION | 2 Reacties (Comments)

VerhuisdWe have rented out our house in Amsterdam, the cat is staying out and we have moved to Barneveld. Until we leave we live with my father. All our stuff is under the bed in my old bedroom and the motorbikes are safely in the garage.
The move was preceded by a lot of hard work. Lees meer (Read more)

Around the world on a motorbike, who does that?

| Leonie | PREPARATION | Comments Off on Around the world on a motorbike, who does that?

BoekenWhat would it be like if we could travel for more than three weeks? If, after riding to the south for 1.5 week, we would not have to turn around to go home to be back in time to go to work?” If you go on the internet with those thoughts, you will soon find out that we are not the first with such ideas. The internet is full of great travel blogs, with pictures from all corners of the world.

If you search for ‘round the world’ and ‘motor’ you will soon find the website of Horizons Unlimited. Lees meer (Read more)

Goodbye Party

| Leonie | PREPARATION | 5 Reacties (Comments)

Wij-gaan-op-reis FeestjeA scouting clubhouse in the woods, garlands on the ceiling, a map of the world on the wall, a music system in one corner, a beer tap in the other corner and right next to it a CRF250L. Now add friends and family and you have our perfect party.

In the beginning of October we held our Goodbye Party. It was a great night, on which we toasted with everyone we love on life and the adventure that awaits. Lees meer (Read more)

No sore butt!

| Leonie | PREPARATION | 1 Reactie (Comment)

Nooit meer een houten kont100.000 kilometre (62.000 miles), that is how long our possible route is. From Amsterdam to South-Africa, then the complete Pan-American Highway, a tour in Australia and from Asia back home to the Netherlands. A long way! And all those miles we sit on the bike. Reason enough to pay some attention the a proper seat in our surge for the perfect travel bike! Lees meer (Read more)

Recipe for an adventure bike

| Leonie | PREPARATION | Comments Off on Recipe for an adventure bike

Recept voor een reismotorTo travel around the world, we have to adjust the bikes and prepare them as ‚travel bikes’. The most important adjustment is the possibility to take luggage. Buying a bag does not do the job. The bags have to be fitted to the bike and -maybe even more importantly- the bike has to be able to carry the extra weight. To be able to drive comfortably and safely with luggage, we had the shocks and the suspension adjusted. Lees meer (Read more)

Last day at work!

| Leonie | PREPARATION | 4 Reacties (Comments)

Laatste werkdagTravel without obligations. No tour guide we have to follow, no set route, no job to return to and no fixed costs. Ultimate freedom, that is what we dreamed of when we first considered to travel.

A sabbatical of a few months would not be sufficient to realise that dream. For the ultimate freedom we would both have to quit our jobs. And we would not make any arrangement to return to the same job afterwards. How ever great this might sound, it was easier dreamed than done. Lees meer (Read more)