Sydney to London; 10 years on...
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- Опубліковано 9 гру 2024
- Just a quick video with some pictures to illustrate the trip I did 10 years ago; back from Australia to UK on a 105cc Honda CT110 Aussie post bike. Keen eyed viewers will spot the bike change in the early stages when the first one was swapped out in Brisbane due to engine troubles. It was that second bike that took me all the way to Alaska.
Website for the books:
www.nathanmillward.com
Great video thanks for showing us, I bought your book Sydney to London The Long Ride Home and read it twice and followed you on you tube ever since and loved all your journeys. Thanks for giving me a great adventure too. At 72 I am selling my 750 and 500 but keeping my CB 125 as it's so easy to use and my age. Keep up the good work you deserve an MBE. 👍🍻🇬🇧
I cant thank you enough for sharing your Austraila adventure with us all. I followed you from the start. My mom looked forward to reading and seeing the pictures you posted. She was amazed that we could follow someones trip halfway around the world.
I am glad we got to meet and do a short ride together. I am glad that i was here for you when you needed me to be here.
Much love Nate and your always welcome here.
I know this is old video Nathan but I've just booked my flight to Spain to hike the Via de la Plata because of it. You're still inspiring people.
Both great books.Two of the best motorcycle travel books that I've read. Perhaps the best.
What a great video. I met Nathan at the NEC in Birmingham a few years ago in a quiet corner of an exhibition hall and we chatted for some time. Top bloke, great philosophy on life.
Always wanted a bike from being a kid but just never got round to it. Met Nathan at a bike show one year..read his book and Getting into Adventure paper...after that I was on it! Got my licence, got a bike, solo trip to France in June ‘19, booked again for next year and got a few other trips in mind when funds allow. Great book, great bloke!
This is a great story with an inspirational message. Love it!
True words !!!! i got the bug 1986 , first by hitch hiking then bicycle then vw camper van then i bought a KLR 650 and that was the start of my love for travelling by motorbike . Its 2020 now and i am on a old 2003 BMW F 650GS .
Ride safe and be happy .
Well done Nathan great achievement, if that`s the right word for it. I`ve done allot of travelling by bike throughout my life but usually over 2 to 3 months each time. Love riding as it`s pure meditation and I always return with a clear head and plenty of great memories and ideas I never left with. Things were put on hold in 1995 with the birth of my son but now I have found myself in a similar place I once was all those years ago. It was quite a smack in the face to be honest, although I am much older of course. So I`ve done a few trips around Turkey recently, the country I have made home for the past 27 years. Now I am ready for longer trips once again, starting with central Asia, Russia and Mongolia. Good luck with your new family and I will get your books and read them on the trip.
I bet you didn’t think about how what you would say in this video might affect someone. I won’t bore you with details, but what you said about “nothing to lose” and “everything I want right here” instantly changed my perspective in a profound way. At my age, that never happens! Thank you for sharing your wisdom. By the way, that little baby will be all grown up in a flash, keep an eye on your priorities:-)
Really interesting chat, as always. It's good to hear you relaxed and happy with a child imminent! You've spoken about your mental health a lot in the past and it's interesting to hear about how you get out the door. It's had me reflecting about 'what if' you had flown home from Sydney a decade ago. I wonder if you might have struggled to move on for an extended period of time anyway. So by getting out the door and going on your adventure, you worked through some of your challenges and grief and had the adventure of a lifetime to boot. Conjecture of course. But having followed your stuff for a while and read both your books, it's nice to see you more emotionally settled these days. All the best for the kid!
Very truthful yet inspiring words, we can all do more once you take the first step!
What an inspiration your story is
l bought the book, loved your adventure, and have followed you ever since, even got the himmy too now 😀
Nathan, what a great video. Particularly struck by your frank discussion of the motivations and mentality around a long adventure, beyond the attractive highlight reel. I feel your experiences show that massive adventures are much more attainable than they might seem, but that your motivations should be considered carefully and that extreme paths are not always necessary. Mature motivational content of the best kind. Keep up the videos brother.
I agree, one of the best books that I have ever read. Definately the best travel books. An inspirational read. Thanks for the video.
Total total respect !!!
Blimey - 10 years already! Your books are a great read. Don't forget Garbage Run Sardinia ;-)
Just Bought your book, Nathan...
Cant put it down. Thanks for the inspiration. A trip in my close future. Cheers!
Very honest and inspiring video Nathan..best of luck with the new arrival.
You're correct just getting out and doing some miles is really the key to distressing on a bike. As far as a long trip "fixing" us or our lives, I look at the long trip as a reward when I retire. Hopefully I'll have the physical ability to do it in a couple of years. lol
I'll have to grab your books.
Thanks for this video Nathan. Your rides have been inspirational and the books you published of them are great reading.
It's also great to see you in a "happy place" with a family and that "the black dog" is leaving you alone.
Thanks again for all your efforts.
I followed you Sydney to London adventures back in the day. Decided to pick up both of your books to get the full experience. Good to see ya back on the RE, I have had the same type of return to the familiar jumping out of a KLR 650 and then back into one about 4 times now.
Nothing wrong with a sales pitch when there is an interesting story to tell. Great video. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Nathan. That is a very inspiring set of ideas.
CB200 bought it yesterday. Thanks man. Your story showed up this morning. Cheers!
Good to hear your thoughts ten years on. Always enjoy your posts and wise words. More power to you.
Great video, very inspiring Nathan. You are incredibly modest considering your achievements and experiences. Some people would have a huge ego after doing what you have done. Interesting that you mention the source of the motivation is often from a negative situation or a happy one. For me in my forties even though I have a family I think it's about enrichment whilst we have the energy. Also about having great stories to tell our grandchildren!
Thanks Aaron, and yes for sure, that's a great reason for planning something. If you can figure it so that you can keep the home life happy and still go off and do your thing then even better. Some have certainly managed it and gone away and come back much the happier for it
I've seen a couple of your presents to camera now Nathan, and you come across really natural and as though you are ad libbing, which I am sure isn't exactly the case as your monologues are very thought out. I am struck by your humility and your honesty. Really refreshing. I've just 'passed' my CBT despite being 46 and picked my first bike up on Saturday. I'm 1 ride in and I enjoyed it (thanks chuff) and am planning my own adventure, but like you said I am focussing on realistic. As much as I like watching epics like yours or Itchy Boots - she's great - I have a lot of commitments and zero skill (or money now!). I'm going to look at a 2 day camping trip to the lakes next year when I have a few hundred miles behind me - adventure enough to start with. Just subscribed, looking forward to more words of wisdom. Will look at buying the books too. Thanks. ;-)
Hey Dom. Many thanks for the comment and great stuff about your new two wheeled adventures! The Lake District would be absolutely perfect for a first trip away, then you've got Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales to explore. Northumberland is nice as well. So many options. I'll have some Garbage Run reunion weekends lined up next year if you want to keep an eye out for those. You're more than welcome to join us, most likely the first one down in Devon in April.
Your story is incredible mate. You have inspired many of us riders to just get out there and do it. It doesn't matter how big or small your ride. It comes down to just doing it. Doing it is always going to be the hardest part. I believe you are right. These big trips are born out of darker places for many riders. We met quiet a few who were either running from something or running towards something else. Us included. Lovely to have met you in little Coober Pedy. Hopefully we can share another bevvie with you one day.
Very valid point about how hard it is to do certain things "because you have so much to lose", I really do believe that possessions and the standard of living you've become accustomed to can hold you back at times as well ! It takes a really strong person to risk their comfortable life in the name of adventure !!
Well done Nathan. To everyone else, buy Nathan’s books. I read the Australia- UK one and found it really good and an inspiration.
Cheers Nathan for a great vid. Great story and inspirational thoughts. Just got myself a Himalayan, fist bike for fuck knows how long. My journey so far has been about 750k's. Thanks.
Great video and story , 25 years ago it took me heading out into the world in search of something better, starting in Australia with a suzuki GS 850 G and a trip of three years ( stopping some where then moving on ), to discover every thing i was looking for i already had , but with out the trip id never had known .Eventually bike less i stayed in Israel on a Kibbutz the longest ...but thats another story ....thanks for sharing your memories ....the grass is never greener on the other side .... its just a different shade of green.
@Jaime Madariaga Yes its all a bit of a blur now , but you have to remember that this was all pre internet and pre P.C thoughts ,and instant phone communication , when you were gone .... you were gone . you were a stranger in a strange land and you had to roll with it , no preconceived ideas of how it was going to be . my inspiration came from reading Jupiter,s travels (his Triumph ) by Ted Simons whilst laid up in hospital after a bad car crash , i needed to experience very thing before it was to late and i needed to do it now !! the world was a very different and tougher place then , but at the end of it all i discovered that this green and unpleasant land .... wasnt actually that unpleasant ... then like yourself the job ,( with Triumph ) mortgage etc came came along ... and rest as they say is history . thanks for the reply .
@Jaime Madariaga your welcome , and thank you .
My bruv had a aussies trail c90 ( imported here in the 80s).it still had red soil in hidden areas ...brilliant little bikes...so different to my c70... congrats on what yu did...cheers from dave
Loved following you as you did it. Your book is still one of my favorite rainy day reads. Thanks for all the work to share your adventure, even now.
What a wonderful video , rang so true to me .My first real bike adventure was taken at a time of great personal grief , the experience was incredibly healing . And yes if it's in your mind just do it ! Things will work out on the road you will take an inner journey also .
Can't wait to get the book !
Happy Anniversary .. My dream has always been the round the world trip, but as you point .. a house, job mortgage etc.makes it more complicated and I didn't want to do the trip enough to give any of that up .. So I set my sights closer to home and picked the Black sea and back as my small adventure .. The unknown of Eastern Europe was enough to give me a small dose of apprehension .. So I wangled 4 weeks off work and hit the road .. I really enjoyed it, I visited some interesting sights etc and I'm glad I did it .. I have your books, just need to get around to reading them ..
Yes definitely, you've just got to get out there. The Black Sea trip sounds great! I've just got back from a Bulgaria trip and that was the same. A big adventure in two weeks. Perfect! Hopefully you're able to wrangle some time off work for next year's adventure!
great update Nathan , good to see you . only one year on from are USA trip ! seems so long ago but the memories are still fresh, cheers Mark H.
Thanks for the update I bought both your books at Peterborough from you and from reading those it gave me the kick up the arse to do some trips all the best mate keep up the good work. If anyone's not read the books buy them you wont regret it
Reading the book now!
Top man. Looking forward to next years itinerary for uk rides. Great books too.
Met Nathan at one of the shows, top bloke and book was a great read. I would recommend it to anyone, it would make a good stocking filler for him or her.
Brilliant inspiring trip….ps I have your book 👍
Greetings from Derbyshire! Great video, spot on! Subscribed for your honest straight forward content and as you seem like a nice guy! Well done really inspiring.
Respect total respect !!!
Very insightful commentary. I remember reading your thread on ADV; how time flies. Must pick up the book!
That is so heartwarming! A very honest straightforward fascinating presentation
I feel all those contemplating “round the world “ tripping need to see this and listen
I hope folk take note of your view ' a weekend adventure to North Wales or where ever is just as exciting as a monster adventure......"let's go to ?? for the weekend,, we've got nothing to lose".
Who knows, the next adventure might be more daring....Isle of Skye!
Congratulations on the anniversary Nathan! Also enjoyed listening to your thoughts about traveling, about why people go on long trips. With regards to what you said about finding adventure near home, the book The Idle Traveller by Dan Kieran talks a lot about this. That's the right way to look at it, I think. I look forward to following your continuing adventures. All the best!
I remember following your posts on the advrider forums. Incredible stuff.
Honda should fully sponsor a second trip on a new ct125 🙂 along with pay for some commercials
Holy smokes! Has it been 10 years?!? Hard to believe so much time has already passed.
I remember reading your book instead of the religious books in religion class haha. Such a big inspiration for my own journey hopefully next year!
Wonderful video and commentary. I'm only sorry I missed seeing you when you got to Skagway (my home). Let me know if you'll ever be back this way.
Awesome story! I had gave up on adventuring on motorcycles since I'm only 5'5" (166cm) with a 30" (79cm) inseam, most motorcycles are either a challenge or impossible for me to ride. Adding to that, a really bad right knee, it's easy to understand why one would give up.
Two months ago, I found myself in Portugal, broke as hell, with no where to go. I had fallen ill two years prior with a drug induced hepatitis (pain killers for said knee), had lost 84lbs (38kg) and with little to no help from the state. I hence decided to go back to Switzerland... hitchhiking. I had 40€ in my pocket, a backpack with two sets of clothing, a bunch of underwear and socks and food, I thought then, for a week, water, a sleeping bag and a couple of Swiss army knives.
Contrary to tips for the hitchhiker's forums, Spain was breeze to hitchhike and France was a blood nightmare. Also instead of having food for a week, it only lasted me 3 days and from them onward, I was on a forced hunger strike. :)
And to my amazement, I met some amazing people, including a Frenchman, who besides giving me a ride to Lyon, receive me in his house and invited me to diner. Being alone and a not very imposing figure, I could easily play a hobbit, I was afraid of being mugged, attacked or worse but none came to pass.
I arrived 9 days later to Geneva, having slept 6 out of the 8 nights in the street. Top tip: Don't sleep in parks unless you know where the sprinkler system is NOT going to hit. Got a free shower on three accounts. Me, and al my stuff! Then I spend another two days sleeping outside until I finally managed to meet that would tell me where could I go to get some sort of sleeping arrangements. The 40€ lasted me 4 days. My last item bought was a Sneakers bar in Bayonne train station, and although the chocolate was bloomed, it tasted like heaven.
Now, I'm waiting for my domiciliation and thinking in how I'm going to restart my life and pay my debts. One thing is clear, a RE Himalayan is in my plans for the next few years and so is travel.
Thanks you some much for making me understand that you don't need a GS or be 6" tall to go riding into adventures.
Many thanks, Cheers
U surely don't.We're lucky enough, these days we got a lot of dependable two wheels to take us everywhere.From a 150cc scooter to a ct 110! Happy tripping m8, don't give up, chase your dream.And as Nathan said, appreciate what u got, don't chase what you've not
you are a very wise young man.totaly agree and have always just done it.as my mum always told me,wherever you go you have too take your head with you.dont lay on your death bed and think,jeez i wish id made that trip
Well Done, Thanks for Sharing
Your book is a great read.
Kudos and respect dude!!!!
I enjoyed your book!
Congratulations on the new addition to your Family.
I've got both those books & the photographic one.
Are you planning on doing an update on what happened to that chap on the Alps Ride in France ?
I'm guessing he's come off & broken his back ?
straight down to Argentina, next trip???
Just subscribed!👍great vid with some sound advice from someone who has been there and done it!!More proof that a big heavy capacity bike is not required or practical for all areas of offroad round the world travel... i must check out your two books you just plugged 😉 Hope all goes well with your new family ...keep posting ( excuse the pun) and i'll keep watching... thanks for sharing.👍🏍😉
Good for you bro, I've heard of nathanthepostman, I'll have to check him out, and all the best with the new family!
Freud: “In the small matters trust the mind, in the large ones the heart.”
Blimey was it so long ago we met you when you returned at the Ace! where the hell does time go.
Bloody hell, 10 years! Great book though! Recommend 👍
I used to think i need a big bike to do adventure riding. You have proofed all we need is a reliable bike and the will to go.
Thanks. 😊
Love your bike!
Well said, couldn't agree more. Just takes the first step :)
great journey
Hope you kept that bike.
Are you going to be at the NEC bike show again this year? It would be great to meet you again and have a chat as it will probably be the last one I will get to for a while due to relocating. All the best!
Nice video Nathan, respect you and your achievements (have read both books) but I have to disagree on one thing. Not everyone has an adventure based on unhappiness or lack. My wife and I decided to drive from the UK to Sydney in 1973, we had a house and a mortgage as well as good jobs, but we felt that it was far too early for us to settle down to NORMALITY. Arrived in Australia in 1974 (pretty much the same route as your trip in reverse, planned to stay a couple of years but we are still here, still having an adventure!
Yes and I said that I was certainly not speaking for everyone. I think there is a big distinction between the motivations for a solo trip and that of group or couples trip. Going with someone gives someone to share it which is fantastic and now I'm in a happier place that's how I would do it and I would do it from a positive place. But back when I did my trip I wouldn't even have considered doing it with someone else. It was me against the world. I wanted to be alone, and I generally tend to think that is where motivation for the solo trip comes from. But as I say, I cant possibly speak for everyone. Certainly sounds like you guys had an amazing experience.
@@nathanthepostman Cheers mate, you still have nothing to lose, if you plan it right. By the way, our postman still delivers our post on a Honda CT110 but not for much longer I fear!
@@marianman yeah I hear they're going to shift to electric trikes. Sacrilege!
Hi Nathan! Thanks for the new video. I bought the combined volume of the two books from you at the NEC a while back and found it to be a great read. I’m glad that you have rejoined the Himalayan Fold, I think that they a great, honest bikes that can deliver pleasurable riding if you have realistic expectations. I’ve loved the 10,000 miles (so far) on mine and I don’t want anything else. Safe riding! John Moulton
I’d like to buy your book Nathan but it’s unavailable in BC on Amazon.
If you ever run to another printing- I’m in !
Brilliant :-)
Top advice, just get out and ride!.
GREAT
LONON ??
Nathan - do you have this books in ebook version available somewhere ?
Hi Luke. I have the books on Kindle if that's of any help
nathanthepostman ahh no - pass on kindle - hard copy then
Hi Nathan - do you still have any copies of your (going postal) book?
I don't as that was only available in Oz, but the Long Ride Home which I self publish for the rest of the world and is identical text I have hundreds of copies of. You can order at www.nathanmillward.com. Or if you're in Oz you can get direct from HarperColins I believe.
Excuse me, sir, how many extra fuel tank ( how much litre) you picked up ?
Hey Raymond. Thanks for the comment. The bike has 5-litre as standard and the extra tank in the step through is 8-litres. That gave a fuel range of about 250 miles or so, which was plenty for most of the trip. Just in India in the Himalayas I carried a jerry can as a back up.
@@nathanthepostman thanks so much, sir.
How often did you have to do a top end rebuild?
Just Rings? ... Maybe another piston?
Hi S. The bike is still running original bottom end and is now at 99,000 kilometers. It had a new set of rings after the Sydney to London trip and in america in Seattle I did finally give it a rebore to one oversize. So all in all if you look after then they're a very reliable engine.
@@nathanthepostman incredible!!
Loved the book! What do you think of the new CT125 2020 concept?
Yeah looks great that. I just wish Honda would stop being so tame/lame and have a bit more bottle to build some of their concepts. They build the concepts that no one is ever going to buy like the Vultus, but proper replacements for the CT, Transalp, XR etc are a bit thin on the ground. Let's hope they give it the green light!
@@nathanthepostman Would love to see a new XR, simple durable dependable and most importantly capable. The modern enduro bikes are just too fragile with servicing every 10 minutes and rebuilds every few hours
... and Mum's are never wrong, so buy one! ;) :D
How hard was it to ship overseas?
about the books nathan, can you write out what they are, i found it difficult to catch that last bit, and...and please say which is the best, at least to start with haha.
Ha, yes, apologies for the mumbled delivery. Books are The Long Ride Home and Running Towards the Light. Read the first one first. Website is www.nathanmillward.com
@@nathanthepostman ordered the first one - it better be good, just joking
Great story. Some bike to do it on. True, I think, that people are driven to ride around the world because they have nothing going on in their lives.
ontlasting, You are right, I hate it
hey, sounds too me there was a pot of gold ,but you do not know you are sitting on it. another himalayan. wow,
Nathan, I love the plain, unadulterated way you do your videos, but this is the second (at least) that’s been “back to front” - titles on your books need to be read in a mirror, and your wedding ring is on your ‘right hand’! Is it cos you’ve just got up and are still half asleep?? Anyway, great video and wonderful pics. Thank you. Always good to see you (and Dorothy!).
Les ‘the Serow’ Austin
Ha yeah I think it's what the phone does - reverse everything - unless it is me putting everything back to front!
Fantastic honest post. Thank you for your insight
:)
Some people already have everything here! But what is that? Bloody boring I say. We need adventure, not normality
Fek I am bored. Anybody else feel the same way?
HACK DO NOT IGNORE ,hey man check out kamakaze moto, he has a link and it gives you engine fault codes and how to reset your engine light on your himalayan, if you do not know the engine light will flash like morse long flash short flash eg 4 long flashes and 1 short flash means your fuel pump is faulty. it is a good hack, and you should carry these codeS thith you. it's a trick with some wire.THE DEALER DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS.