Table of Contents

Warmup to Istanbul

Silk Roads to China

Photo Galleries

Bridges

Gorges & Canyons

Motorbikes

Lakes

Other cyclists

Self timer shots

Posing on the pass

Twisting Mountain Roads

Planning

Route (planned) - 2009

Route (planned) - 2010

Maps

Photography

Kit list

Visas

Statistics

Europe

UK (map)

Day 1: London to Portsmouth

France (map)

Day 2: St Malo to Laval

Day 3: Laval to Tours

Day 4: Tours to Bourges

Day 5: Bourges to Digoin

Day 6: Digoin to Pugieu

Day 7: Pugieu to Beaufort

Day 8: Beaufort to Val D'Isere

Day 9: Val D'Isere to Bussoleno

Italy (map)

Day 10: Bussoleno to Sesto Calende (Lago Maggiore)

Day 11: Sesto Calende to Menaggio (Lake Como)

Day 12: Menaggio to Sirmione (Lake Di Garda)

Day 13: Sirmione to Mira

Day 14: Mira to Trieste

Croatia (map)

Day 15: Trieste to Omisalj

Day 16: Rest in Omisalj

Day 17: Omisalj to Karlobag

Day 18: Karlobag to Pakostane

Day 19: Pakostane to Duce

Day 20: Duce to Banigi

Day 21: Banigi to Dubrovnik

Montenegro (map)

Day 22: Dubrovnik to Krute

Albania (map)

Day 23: Krute to Fushe-Arrez

Day 24: Fushe-Arrez to Vermica

Kosovo (map)

Day 25: Vermica to Gnjilane

Day 26: Gnjilane to Skopje

Macedonia (map)

Day 27: Skopje to Kjustendil

Bulgaria (map)

Day 28: Kjustendil to Banja

Day 29: Baja to Peshtera

Day 30: Peshtera to Svilengrad

Turkey (map)

Day 31: Svilengrad to Babaeski

Day 32: Babaeski to Silivri

Day 33: Silivri to Istanbul

Day 34 - 37: Rest in Istanbul

Day 38: Istanbul to Yenisehir (ferry to Yalova)

Day 39: Yenisehir to Sancakaya

Day 40: Sancakaya to Nallihan

Day 41: Nallihan to Ankara

Day 42 - 43: Rest & Visas in Ankara

Day 44: Ankara to Kaman

Day 45: Kaman to Goreme (minor roads + major wrong turns = riding in the dark)

Day 46 - 49: Rest in Cappadocia

Day 50: Goreme to Develi

Day 51 - 53: Rest in Develi

Day 54: Develi to Tufanbeyli

Day 55: Tufanbeyli to Kahramanmaras

Day 56: Kahramanmaras to Akpinar

Day 57: Akpinar to Nemrut Dagi

Day 58: Nemrut Dagi to Sivereck

Day 59: Silverek to Diyarbakir

Day 60: Diyarbakir to Silvan

Day 61: Silvan to Tatvan

Day 62: Ferry to Van

Day 63: Bus to Urmia

Iran (map)

Day 64: Urmia to Mahabad

Day 65: Mahabad to Hasan Salaran

Day 66: Hasan Salaran to Marivan

Day 67: Marivan to Howraman

Day 68: Howraman to Paveh

Day 69: Paveh to Kermanshah

Day 70: Kermanshah to Barkhorder

Day 71: Barkhorder to Dorud

Day 72: Dorud to Daran

Day 73: Daran to Esfahan

Day 74-76: Rest in Esfahan

Day 77: Esfahan to Toudesk

Day 78: Toudesk to Anarak

Day 79: Anarak to Choopanan

Day 80: Rest in Choopanan

Day 81: Choopanan to Khoor

Day 82: Khoor to Camp

Day 83: Camp to Tabas

Day 84: Train to Mashad

Day 85-87: Rest in Mashad

Day 88: Mashad to Campsite

Day 89: Campsite to Sarakhs

Turkmenistan (map)

Day 90: Sarakhs to Farm

Day 91: Farm to Mary

Day 92: Mary to Desert

Day 93: Desert to Farad

Uzbekistan (map)

Day 94: Farad to Bukhara

Day 95-96: Rest in Bukhara

Day 97: Bukhara to Camp

Day 98: Camp to Samarkand

Day 99-100: Rest in Samarkand

Day 101: Samarkand to Penjikent

Tajikistan (map)

Day 102: Penjikent to ?

Day 103: ? to Iskanderkul

Day 104: Iskanderkul to Anzob tunnel

Day 105: Anzob tunnel to Dushanbe

Day 106: Rest in Dushanbe

Day 107: Dushanbe to Miskinobod

Day 108: Miskinobod to Camp

Day 109: Camp to Camp

Day 110: Camp to Darvaz

Day 111: Darvos to Village

Day 112: Village to Rushan

Day 113: Rushan to Khorog

Day 114-115: Rest in Khorog

Day 116: Khorog to Camp

Day 117: Camp to Jelandy

Day 118: Jelnady to Sassyk-Kul

Day 119: Sassyk-Kul to Naizatash Pass

Day 120: Naizatash Pass to Murghab

Day 121: Murghab to Ak-Baital Pass

Day 122: Ak-Baital Pass to Karakul

Day 123: Karakul to Kyzl-Art Pass

Kyrgyzstan (map)

Day 124: Kyzl-Art Pass to Sary-Tash

Day 125: Sary-Tash to Nura

China (1) (map)

Day 126: to Campsite @KM121 (309)

Day 127: to Kashgar

Day 128 - 139: Rest & Illness in Kashgar

Day 140: to Campsite @KM2889 (315)

Day 141: to Karghilik

Day 142: to Campsite @KM2630 (315)

Day 143: to Hotan

Day 144 - 146: Rest & Visa renewal in Hotan

Day 147: to Campsite @KM2359 (315)

Day 148: to Niya

Day 149: to Campsite @KM2011 (315)

Day 150: to Cherchan (Qiemo)

Day 151 - 152: Rest in Cherchan (Qiemo)

Day 153: Cherchan (Qiemo) to Cherchan (Qiemo)

Day 154-155: Bus to Urumqi

Day 156 - 218: Urumqi, Hong Kong, hibernating at home and a drive around NZ

China (2) (map)

Day 219: Hong Kong to Jiangmen

Day 220: to Zhaoqing

Day 221: to Deqing

Day 222: to Wuzhou

Day 223: to Taiping

Day 224: to Lipu

Day 225: to Yangshuo

Day 226: to Dazhou

Day 227: to Guilin

Day 228: Train to Nanning

Day 229: Nanning to Banli

Day 230: to Pingxing

Vietnam (map)

Day 231: to Dong Khe

Day 232: to Nguyen Binh

Day 233: to Ba Be

Day 234: to Cha Ra - Going backwards

Day 235: to Vinh Loc

Day 236: to Pho Rang

Day 237: Bus to Hanoi and back

Day 238: to Sapa

Day 239: Rest in Sapa

Day 240: to Than Uyen

Day 241: to Son La

Day 242: to Mai Chau

Day 243: to Ngoc Lac

Day 244: to Thai Hoa

Day 245: to Pho Chau

Day 246: to Ba Don

Day 247: to Ho Xa

Day 248: to Hue

Day 249: Bike repairs in Hue

Day 250: to Danang

Day 251: to Hoi Ann

Day 252: back to Danang

Day 253: to Kham Duc (Nam Giang)

Day 254: to Plei Kan (Ngoc Hoi)

Day 255: to Pleiku

Day 256: to Duc Co (Chur Ty)

Cambodia (map)

Day 257: to Banlung

Day 258: to O Samong (Chantu)

Day 259: to Stung Treng

Day 260: rest in Stung Treng

Day 261: to Tbaeng Meanchey (Preah Vihear)

Day 262: to Srayong and Koh Ker

Day 263: to Siem Reap

Day 264 - 265: rest in Siem Reap

Day 266: to Anlong Veng

Thailand (map)

Day 267: to Sisaket

Day 268 - 271: rest and repairs in Bangkok

Day 272: to Mukdahan

Day 273: to Nakhon Phanom

Day 274: to Ban Paeng

Day 275: to Beung Kan

Day 276: to Vientiane

Laos (map)

Day 277: rest in Vientiane

Day 278: to Vang Vieng

Day 279: to Phou Khoun

Day 280: to Phonsavan

Day 281: rest in Phonsavan & Plain of Jars

Day 282: to Nam Noen

Day 283: to Vieng Thong

Day 284: to Vieng Kham

Day 285: to Nong Khiaw & boat to Luang Prabang

Day 286 - 288: rest in Luang Prabang

Day 289: to Pakmong

Day 290: to Na Maw (Namo)

Day 291: to Mengla

China (3) (map)

Day 292: to Jinghong

Day 293: to Menghai

Day 294: to Lancang

Day 295: to Shangyun

Day 296: to Shuangjiang

Day 297: to Lincang

Day 298: to Yunxian

Day 299: to Weishan

Day 300: to Dali

Day 301: rest in Dali

Day 302: to Lijiang

Day 303: rest in Lijiang

Day 304: to Walnut Garden

Day 305: rest in Tiger Leaping Gorge

Day 306: to Baishui (+20km)

Day 307: to Shangri-La (Zhongdian)

Day 308 - 310: rest in Shangri-La (Zhongdian)

Day 311: to Wengshui

Day 312: to Xiangcheng

Day 313: to Campsite

Day 314: to Sangdui

Day 315: rest in Sangdui

Day 316: to Campsite (near Jiawaxiang)

Day 317: to Litang

Day 318: to Campsite

Day 319: to Campsite

Day 320: to Tagong

Day 321: to Danba

Day 322: to Jianchuan

Day 323: to Campsite

Day 324: to Campsite

Day 325: to Zoige

Day 326: to Langmusi

Day 327: to Luqu

Day 328: to Hezuo

Day 328: to Xiahe

Day 329: rest in Xiahe

Day 330: to Campsite @KM90 (S203)

Day 331: to Xining

Day 332 - 342: rest in Xining, train to Shanghai and flight to Taipei

Taiwan (map)

Day 343: rest in Taipei

Day 344: Taipei to Baling

Day 345: to Wuling Farm

Day 346: to Sincheng (Hualian)

Day 347: to Tao Yuan (Taitung)

Day 348: to Daren

Day 349: to Kenting

Day 350: to Fangliou

Day 351: to Bulao

Day 352: to Jiaxian, bus & train to Taipei

Day 353 - 356: rest in Taipei & flight to Vancouver

Canada (map)

Day 357: rest in Vancouver

Day 358: Vancouver to Egmont

Day 359: to Qualicum Bay

Day 360: to Chemaius

Day 361: to Victoria & ferry to Seattle

USA (map)

Washington

Day 362: Renton to Buck Creek Campsite

Day 363: to Randle

Day 364: to Kelso

Oregon

Day 365: to Lookout point State Park

Day 366: to JM Honeyman Memorial State Park

Day 367: to Humbug Mountain State Park

California

Day 368: to Klamath

Day 369: to Eureka!

Day 370: to Benbow Lake State Park

Day 371: to Van Damme State Park

Day 372: to Bodaga Bay

Day 373: to San Francisco

Day 374 - 384: rest in San Francisco

Day 385: to Half Moon Bay

Day 386: to Sunset State Beach

Day 387: to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Day 388: to King City

Day 389: to Mercy Hot Springs

Day 390: to Campsite (creek before Bridgeport)

Day 391: to Yosemite Village

Day 392: hiking in Yosemite

Day 393: to Campsite

Day 394: to Benton Hot Springs

Nevada

Day 395: to Tonopah

Day 396: to Rachel

Day 397: to Cathedral Gorge State Park (Panaca)

Utah

Day 398: to St George

Day 399 - 400: rest in St George

Day 400: to Zion

Day 401: to Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians campsite (Pipe Springs)

Arizona

Day 402: to Grand Canyon North Rim

Day 403: to Campsite (House Rock Valley road)

Utah

Day 404: to Kodachrome Basin State Park

Day 405: to Boulder

Day 406: to Bullfrog

Day 407: to Campsite (near Natural bridges)

Day 408: to Monticello

Day 409: to Moab

Day 410 - 411: rest in Moab

Day 412: to Paradox

Colorado

Day 413: to Naturita

Day 414: to Ridgeway State Park

Day 415: to Almont (Forest Campsite)

Day 416: to Buena Vista

Day 417: to Dillon

Day 418: to Campsite (Arapaho Forest)

Day 419: to Campsite (Medicine Bow Forest near Foxpark)

Wyoming

Day 420: to Centennial

Day 421: to Saratoga

Day 422: to Campsite (Mineral X road)

Day 423: to Atlantic City

Day 424: to Campsite (along Lander Cut-off)

Day 425: to Pinedale

Day 426 - 427: rest in Pinedale

Day 427: to Teeton Hole

Day 428: to Colter Bay Campsite (Grand Teton)

Day 429: to Canyon Village Campsite (Yellowstone)

Day 430: to Madison Junction Campsite (Yellowstone)

Montana

Day 431: to Upper Red Rock Lake Campsite

Day 432: to Dillon

Day 433: to Twin Bridges

Day 434: to Anaconda

Day 435: to Ovando

Day 436: to Swan Lake

Day 437: to Rising Sun Campsite

Day 438: to St Mary

Canada (2) (map)

Day 439: to Pincher Creek

Day 440: rest in Pincher Creek

Day 441: to Elkford

Day 442: to Spray Lake rest area

Day 443: to Canmore

Day 444: to Mosquito Creek campground

Day 445: to Jonas Creek campground

Day 446: to Jasper Whistler campground

Day 447: to Rampart Creek campground

Day 448: to Lake Louise

Day 449: to Canmore

Day 450: to Calgary

Day 451 - 457: rest in Calgary, trip to Ft McMurray & flight to Munich

The Alps & Pyrenees - Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France & Spain (map)

Day 458: rest in Munich

Day 459: to Bannwaldsee (D)

Day 460: to Längenfeld (A) - Hahntennjoch

Day 461: to Laces (I) - Timmelsjoch

Day 462: to Livigno (I) - Passo dello Stelvio, Passo Foscagno & Passo Eira

Day 463: to Fillisur (CH) - Forcola di Livigno, Passo del Bernia & Albula pass

Day 464: to Disentis (CH) - up the Rhine

Day 465: rest in Disentis (CH)

Day 466: to Andermatt (CH) - Oberalp pass

Day 467: to Sion (CH) - down the Rhône

Day 468: to Grand St Bernard Hospice (CH) - Col du Grand St Bernard

Day 469: to Bourg St Maurice (F) - Col du Petit St Bernard

Day 470: to St Jean De Maurienne (F) - Col de la Madeleine & Col du Chaussy

Day 471: to Briançon (F) - Col du Galibier

Day 472: to Jausiers (F) - Col d'Izoard and Col de Vars

Day 473: to Saint Sauveur-sur-Tinée (F) - Col de la Bonnette

Day 474: to Castellane (F) - Col de la Couillole & Gorges du Cians

Day 475: rest in Castellane (F)

Day 476: to Forcalquier (F) - Gorges du Verdon

Day 477: to Chateauneuf du Pape (F) - Mt Ventoux

Day 478: to Saint Jean-du-Gard (F) - Pont du Gard

Day 479: to Millau (F) - Corniche des Cévennes & Gorges de la Jonte

Day 480: to La Tour sur Orb (F) - Millau Viaduct

Day 481: to Gruissan (F) - wet and windy

Day 482: rest in Gruissan (F)

Day 483: to Molitg les-Bains (F)

Day 484: to Sorgeat (F) - Col du Jau & Col de Pailhères

Day 485: to Castillon-en-Couserans (F), Col du Chioula, Port de Lers, Col d'Agnes, Col de Latrape, Col de la Core

Day 486: to Arreau (F) - Col de Portet, Col de Menté & Col de Peyresourde

Day 487: Argelès-Gazost (F) - Col d'Aspin & Col du Tourmalet

UK(2) (map)

The beginning of the end (...end of the beginning?)

Update (30-SEP)

Update (10-OCT)

Show links to this doc

Page: Introduction, in journal "Over The Top" by Ryan Nilsson (Unfinished, not updated for 584 days)

Image on journal page: Oct. 6: Earthquakes enter the equation in journal A Honeymoon to Remember

by Erin Arnold Barkley and Sam Barkley (Completed Aug 2010)

Page: Introduction, in journal "Around yaks and yurts" by Jonas Honegger (Unfinished, not updated for 609 days)
Page: Day 1: Astoria to Tillamook, 4 June, in journal "Down the Oregon Coast, June 2010" by Bill Stone (Completed Jun 2010)
Message on Forum "Touring encounters": "Ben Rowlands drops in to see Neil" posted by Neil Gunton on Mon 21 Jun 2010 12:31 UTC -08:00
Page: Another one up the road: New guest house near Phou Khoun, in article "The Secret's Out" by Chris Wee (Work in progress)
Page: Day 13: to Whistlers Campground, in journal "The Incomprehensible Blend" by Graeme Challis (534 of ??? days)
Page: Day 23: LangSon to Hanoi, in journal "Shanghai to Saigon" by Peter Jacobsen (Completed Mar 2011)
Page: Jan 27: Red dirt: Tbaeng Meanchey-Chep, in journal "SEA-Change" by Kendra Kurihara and Rob Dillon (Work in progress)
Message on Forum "Journals & Articles": "Best Journal Ever....so far. ;-)" posted by Eric Jacobson on Sun 28 Aug 2011 19:36 UTC -08:00
Page: Why this Route and Title, in journal "Time Poverty" by Chris Bailey and Gearoid Pierse (129 days until start)
Message on Forum "Tents & Shelters": "Re: North Face Tents" posted by Emmet Farrell on Thu 5 Jan 2012 04:45 UTC -08:00

Ben Voyage

An adventure through Europe and beyond...

Table of Contents

Introduction

The bike & maintenance log

Hilights ... so far

Photo Galleries

The beginning of the end (...end of the beginning?)