The "BIG" Trips . . .

We have a few ideas in the making, two of which we hope to realise and another two which we may actually get to on day.

The first and most immediate is a 6 month trip down to and around South America.

The second is a trip back to some parts of South East Asia where we have been before and enjoyed with a few new destinations along the way. Starting at Honk Kong, then up to Japan, down to Vietnam then Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia (hopefully Penang - splendid place!!) across to Sarawak or Malaysian Borneo. Then we head off down to Singapore, across to Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and some of the South Pacific smaller Islands.

The third we would like to do is a trip around North America on a motorcycle. Would take some planning and co-ordinating but would be worth it.

Finally I would love to go back to Africa and see some more of this Country - South Africa, Namibia and maybe a few more. The problem is getting Lynn to go out there as she is currently not too keen on it. Something else for me to work on.

Good Old UK

We have long said that if we got some Mediterranean weather here in the UK, you would not need to go abroad as often as we do as we have some of the most breathtaking scenery around. We have been lucky to see some of our home grown scenery through some of the many cycle tours, walking weekends or camping holiday breaks we have taken. Of course we have our problems here just like everywhere else, the rain!! the midgies of Scotland, too much traffic on the roads and the cost of everything!!! Tourists who come here must think this is such an expensive place to live as we attempt to prise every coin out of them for one thing and another.

We have some friends whom we have known a long time and we have a couple of "gang" weekends away where we go walking or site seeing somewhere in Spring and Autumn. We have been to the Lakes to many times to mention but we have also had breaks in Beverley, York, Durham, Derbyshire and the North Yorkshire Moors. We've also had many a cycling weekend or trip out with them over a ten year period of being a serious cyclist. When I say serious I mean rambling along steadily taking in the views, stopping for brews (both hot and cold) and not the tarmac spotting type cycling.

I went through a phase of mountain biking with some guys during the 1990's and what a laugh we had. Taking bikes where any sane person would only take a rucksack. The tour of great gable - a great walk with a bike, Helvelynn, High Street & the Garburn Pass to name a few lakeland routes. We have also done many a mile in both the Yorkshire and Derbyshire dales in the rain and snow. We gave this pastime up some years ago when the technical stuff become more of a mortality risk. Great times tho'.

Africa

In February 2005 I went to Africa with my brother, his friend Steve and my neighbour Bill. We went to climb Kilimanjaro with Explore. After the climb we went on a safari in Arusha National Park before flying on to Zanzibar for a few days.

The climb was fairly steady up to Kibo Hut at 16000 feet, it is the last climb to the summit that is probably the hardest thing I will ever do!!!

16 of us set off from Marangu gate, 15 of us set off from Kibo hut and 10 of us made it to the top!!

It was the best sunrise I will ever see.

The safari was fun seeing animals "at home."

Zanzibar was great, white sand and hot sun on the east coast then a night on the west in Stonetown - Freddie Mercurys birthplace!! It was wild.

USA

Lynn in a former life lived and worked in Washington DC for a few years. Whilst out there she travelled around the US extensively. Lynn took me there for the first time in 1998 for my fortieth birthday!!! We planned a trip around the mid west setting out from Phoenix Arizona and coming back from Denver Colorado. We took our mountain bikes with us on the flight and had some great rides around Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks and the best mountain biking on the petrified dunes around Moab in Utah. It was a great trip, we met some good people and stayed with my family in Denver before we came home. My relations commented that we had seen more of the US in two weeks then they had in 10 years!! We did pack a bit in. Anyone who loves the outdoors MUST see the Grand Canyon. We also saw Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Canyonlands, Arches & Goblin Valley State Parks. I went back in 2003 with my 2 sons for a similar adventure and a last holiday bash before they all cleared off and left home, it was just as I remember it.

New Zealand

This is our favourite place we went for the first time to the South Island and then back a second time to the North. We prefer the South but both are truly outstanding and an outdoor pursuits paradise. We tried to see everything but there is still so much to see so we WILL have to go back another time. There is so much to write about the place but not enough space or time here so you will just have to go!!

South East Asia

We went to Singapore some years ago and travelled overland to Bangkok in Thailand up through Malaysia. We saw Penang along the way went to the Temara Negara rainforest to do a canopy walk. Had a few days out from Krabi on Ko Lanta then up to Bangkok. It was a super trip again a favourite place and somewhere we will have to go back to.

Eastern Europe

We went out to Romania to see Bran Castle - loosely where the Dracula story came from. We went by train from Prague via Budapest. A bit of a nightmare train ride but lovely countryside to see. Brasov was where we stayed in Romania. The old part is lovely but outside here and the touristy bit there is not a lot to see. Bran castle is a super place and lives up to the stories around Vlad the Impaler a real nasty piece of work who took no none sense.