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Page updated: December 3, 2005
The Travel Page

Sorebums Rattling Around Asia
by Simon McCarthy and Georgie Simmonds


From the author:

"We are two Brits who travelled overland from England to Japan and back. For 12 months we were two-up on an old BMW GS through Europe, the ex-Soviet "Stans", Russia and Mongolia, Japan and South-East Asia. Then in Nepal I plucked up the courage and bought a new Enfield Bullet 500cc and we rode home together through India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Europe. I had only recently passed my bike test in the UK." -- Georgie

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The Czech Rally 2002 and Much More
by Linda Bootherstone, Spain


Despite all my plans to have the bike ready months before (Anne Gale had kindly brought exchange barrels and pistons over from the UK in her hand luggage the previous November) it still ended in a last minute panic and, the day before departure when I should have been packing, a TV crew descended upon my dishevelled house and person to do a documentary on "interesting immigrants in Andalucia"!

Four and a half hours filming later I resorted to a much needed tinto or four in the local venta and collapsed in an untidy bed, ignoring the early alarm the next morning.

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WIMA GOES TO THE USA
Report by Sheonagh

"What are the police like here?" I asked. "Are they tough on bikes speeding?"

Gary (the utterly gorgeous advertising manager of Ducati USA) replied "I suggest you stick to the speed limit." Then in the next breath, he told us "this Ducati gets into its power range at about 6000 revs".

He was talking about the shiny red bike outside - the ST4s - latest model which Ducati USA very kindly lent me for a week in June. So Pat and I travelled from New Jersey to West Virginia to attend the 3rd Women in Motorcycling Conference - in style! ......

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The Rugged Road by Theresa Wallach
With introduction and biography by Barry M. Jones
London to Cape Town overland by motorcycle and sidecar, pulling a trailer. No roads, no back up, just straight across the Sahara through equatorial Africa, and South to the Cape - in 1935, without even a compass! This is quite simply the most radical journey ever! Undeterred by nomads, sand drifts, heat, rain, rivers, breakdowns and politics, Theresa Wallach and Florence Blenkiron completed a journey that might well defeat a modern motorcycle. From oasis to oasis arguing with the French Foreign Legion for permission to continue, and winning; fashioning a tow hitch for the trailer when it broke in the desert; rebuilding the entire engine from scratch in Agadez: meeting gorillas, lions and snakes on the road, staying in African villages and meeting an amazing variety of friendly and helpful people. Not to mention having an accident in Tanganyika (Tanzania) with the only car seen on the road for days.

The bike, christened The Venture, was a sponsored 600cc Panther manufactured by Phelon & Moore, renowned for its reliability and durability. Attached to it was a standard Watsonian touring model sidecar which pulled a 183cm x 112cm Watsonian tradesman's trailer. So it was no mean feat that the women succeeded in pushing it for 25 MILES following a total engine failure!

The book is beautifully produced in hardback and contains 40 photographs and maps.. but don't wait for a paperback version as there probably won't be one.

ISBN 095309826
Published in hardback September 2001 by Panther Publishing Ltd

Video to accompany the book: The video (available in VHS and NTSC formats) is of the original16mm black and white cine film made by Theresa during the trip. It is recorded without alteration, a genuine record of the journey. It is silent and runs for 35 minutes.

Book and video available from:

WITHIN THE UK: Book only: Wima price UK£14.40 plus £3.00 surface post & packing . Book & video: WIMA price UK£27.30 (incl Vat of £2.10) plus £4.00 surface post and packing.
OUTSIDE THE UK: Book only: Wima price UK£14.40 plus £6.00 surface post & packing . Book & video: WIMA price UK£27.30 (incl Vat of £2.10) plus £6.00 surface post and packing.
You can pay in UK sterling only by bank draft or by a cheque drawn on a British bank (please don't send foreign cheques as they cost a fortune to exchange into sterling.) Payable to: LAVIS MARKETING
Send to: Rollo Turner, 10 Lime Avenue, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 1DP, England.
You can also pay by credit card - email Rollo at rollo.turner@onet.co.uk. Books are despatched by Lavis Marketing.

Travels in Turkey, Iran, Pakistan & Northern India.
The first newsletter from Iris and Trui, the two Belgian women travelling overland on DR650ESs begins:
Place : Çanakkale, North Western Turkish coast
Ridden kilometers : 2,585
The very first kilometer I ride in Turkey happens at 130 km/h. From the very last checkpoint in 10 seconds flat. My pillion is a custom officer holding tight to my shoulders and trying to get a view in an icy wind, his legs wobbling around my luggage roll and pannier. I was ready to ride away after the final stamp, as a German car, oblivious of all whisling and shouting drove by. The next moment the officer jumped on the back and shouted "Go get that German car !" ...........
Click here to continue with Part 1
Part 2: Shiraz, Central Iran, 4th May 2002
Part 3: Iran-Pakistan, 27th May 2002
Part 4: Pakistan-India, 28th June 2002
Part 5: Northern India, 11th August 2002

Part 6: India to Turkey, 26th Sept. 2002
Part 7: Turkey to Belgium,16th Oct. 2002
WIMA Hospitality List
WIMA has a hospitality list that is available to members only and may only be obtained from your Captain. We are in the process of updating it and will let you know when you can apply for a copy. If you're travelling overseas or even in your own country, you may wish to meet other WIMA members in the area. Contact your Captain if you would like to offer hospitality: cup of tea/coffee, mechanical assistance or a bed for an overnight stop. Your details will NOT be published on the web, or released to any non-WIMA member. Your Captain will only release the list on request to paid-up members! Please be assured we have your security very much at heart here.
Hot Weather Riding Tips
Compiled by members Iris & Trui from Belgium, who have travelled extensively by motorcycle through Iran and Pakistan having to combine protective riding gear with full chador; and Jennifer, who lives and rides in Australia. These tips come mainly from their own riding experiences and work for them. Please note we cannot be held responsible for any damage to your bike or person as a result of following any of the advice in this article.
Click here for full text

Women's Motorcycle Tours of New Zealand
Organised by TOWANDA Women New Zealand

Spectacular views, spectacular twisty roads and very little traffic sounds like a motorcycle paradise. If you can't wait until 2005 when WIMA NZ have promised to host the WIMA Rally, this could be the thing for you. "New Zealand's first and only motorcycle tour provider for women by women. We are all active members of WIMA and riding is our passion, purpose and destiny" says tour guide Tina Hartnung. Tour packages include m/c hire, accomodation, vehicle backup for luggage transport and the most stunning scenery NZ has to offer.

TOWANDA Women

Articles from the WIMA Archives

India Enfield Challenge - 1999
Touring Japan - 1999
A Japanese Diary - 1998/9
Biking UAE Style
- 1995
Off Road in France - 1994
TT Races A medics view - 1994