Frequently asked questions about the trip
Questions from our followers (an attempt to answer questions you've posted on here)
How has your relationship changed? (Kimmy)
Spending 24/7 together is something we were really looking forward to and I don't think either of us realised the pressures that come with being so close all the time. We both get annoyed from time to time, but we're learning better how to communicate with each other, how the other functions in sickness and under physical and emotional stress. We're working better as a team and learning to pick up on what the other wants and needs without words always being necessary. We rely on each other, because we're all we've got.
Do you ever want to give up the bikes and take trains and buses? (Kory)
This definately crosses our minds from time to time - usually when we're going into a strong headwind or the chain on Shanna's bike snaps... It is hard work riding a bike every day and conditions can be tough, but it is also rewarding. We see so many beautiful sites and can stop to take photos whenever we want. We see small places others would never experience; we eat local food because often there is no choice and we are in contact with locals all the time. It's a great way to find out about the places you're visiting. Sometimes we say we'd like to send the bikes home so that we'd have more freedom to hike the mountains we see while riding, but the conversation never goes far.
Does it cost more or less than you expected? (Steve)
It costs about the same as we expected. We budgeted AU$1200/month and that is more than adequate to feed two hungry cyclists, pay for internet, occasional hotels and replacing over-used items of clothing.
Logistics
How long are you travelling for?
We're going away for a year. We leave in January 2010 and plan to return to Melbourne in January 2011.
How do you carry all your things with you if you’re on a bike?
We’re using panniers on the bikes to carry everything with us. We’ll have racks over the front and rear wheels that hold the bags we put our stuff into.
That means you can't take much!
Yep - we're taking the bare minimum. (Although that said, we're still taking more than many other cycle tourists!)
What about the things you buy?
Won't be buying souvenirs really. This is a trip to experience the world, not shop.
Can you take a bike on a plane?
Yep. You have to take some pieces apart and put it in a box the airline sells you, but it doesn't cost much extra.
Where will you stay?
We're taking a tent, which will be the bulk of our accommodation, but also using backpackers from time to time and couchsurfing. In SE Asia and eastern Europe hotels are so cheap that we're using them sometimes.
What will you eat?
We're taking a little camp stove and some cooking pots so we can buy food at shops and markets to prepare for ourselves. And of course we will eat from markets, roadside vendors and cafes and restaurants from time to time.
The journey
Where are you going?
You can check out the map of our journey to see where we've been. Firstly, we rode from Sydney to Brisbane, where we flew out to Bali and set off around SE Asia... through Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and into China.
From here we flew to Turkey and rode through Greece and Albania, up to Croatia and Italy. From Italy we're meeting our friends in Switzerland, then into France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and on to Norway. After this we'll cycle across the UK and then we'll fly to Canada and then ride down through North America. But how much we see depends on how much time we have left!
Do you know roughly when you will be in which countries?
Late January - Riding from Sydney to Brisbane
Early Feb - Arrive in Brisbane and make final arrangements
Feb - Indonesia
March - Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand
April - Thailand, Laos
May - China
June - Turkey, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia & Hercergovina
July - Croatia, Italy, Switzerland
August - France, Belgium, Netherlands, England
September - Scotland, Wales, Ireland, United States
October - United States
November, December - United States, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico
Early January - Australia (ride from Sydney to Melbourne)
How far will you ride?
We're working on an average of 90km per day - although that will vary with weather and terrain. Plus we might want to stop somewhere for a few days or take our time to enjoy an area.
Have you worked out the itinerary and roads yet?
Working it out as we go - buying maps in each country, looking on google (which is not always reliable) and using the GPS on our Nokia Navigator phone.
Preparation
What about your house?
We sold our house in Melbourne.
What about your possessions?
We sold most things - cars, furniture, gym equipment, bikes we're not using... Took other stuff to vinnies - clothes, shoes, books... And the limited stuff we kept is in the garage at Mum and Dad Evans' place.
What about Boston?
Boston (our dog) was the biggest concern in planning for the trip. A big thankyou to Mum and Dad Evans who are looking after him for us (He sleeps in the garage to be close to our things).
What about your job?
Sam quit his job before we left but Shanna is lucky that her job will be filled for twelve months and when she returns she steps right back into it.
How has your relationship changed? (Kimmy)
Spending 24/7 together is something we were really looking forward to and I don't think either of us realised the pressures that come with being so close all the time. We both get annoyed from time to time, but we're learning better how to communicate with each other, how the other functions in sickness and under physical and emotional stress. We're working better as a team and learning to pick up on what the other wants and needs without words always being necessary. We rely on each other, because we're all we've got.
Do you ever want to give up the bikes and take trains and buses? (Kory)
This definately crosses our minds from time to time - usually when we're going into a strong headwind or the chain on Shanna's bike snaps... It is hard work riding a bike every day and conditions can be tough, but it is also rewarding. We see so many beautiful sites and can stop to take photos whenever we want. We see small places others would never experience; we eat local food because often there is no choice and we are in contact with locals all the time. It's a great way to find out about the places you're visiting. Sometimes we say we'd like to send the bikes home so that we'd have more freedom to hike the mountains we see while riding, but the conversation never goes far.
Does it cost more or less than you expected? (Steve)
It costs about the same as we expected. We budgeted AU$1200/month and that is more than adequate to feed two hungry cyclists, pay for internet, occasional hotels and replacing over-used items of clothing.
Logistics
How long are you travelling for?
We're going away for a year. We leave in January 2010 and plan to return to Melbourne in January 2011.
How do you carry all your things with you if you’re on a bike?
We’re using panniers on the bikes to carry everything with us. We’ll have racks over the front and rear wheels that hold the bags we put our stuff into.
That means you can't take much!
Yep - we're taking the bare minimum. (Although that said, we're still taking more than many other cycle tourists!)
What about the things you buy?
Won't be buying souvenirs really. This is a trip to experience the world, not shop.
Can you take a bike on a plane?
Yep. You have to take some pieces apart and put it in a box the airline sells you, but it doesn't cost much extra.
Where will you stay?
We're taking a tent, which will be the bulk of our accommodation, but also using backpackers from time to time and couchsurfing. In SE Asia and eastern Europe hotels are so cheap that we're using them sometimes.
What will you eat?
We're taking a little camp stove and some cooking pots so we can buy food at shops and markets to prepare for ourselves. And of course we will eat from markets, roadside vendors and cafes and restaurants from time to time.
The journey
Where are you going?
You can check out the map of our journey to see where we've been. Firstly, we rode from Sydney to Brisbane, where we flew out to Bali and set off around SE Asia... through Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and into China.
From here we flew to Turkey and rode through Greece and Albania, up to Croatia and Italy. From Italy we're meeting our friends in Switzerland, then into France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and on to Norway. After this we'll cycle across the UK and then we'll fly to Canada and then ride down through North America. But how much we see depends on how much time we have left!
Do you know roughly when you will be in which countries?
Late January - Riding from Sydney to Brisbane
Early Feb - Arrive in Brisbane and make final arrangements
Feb - Indonesia
March - Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand
April - Thailand, Laos
May - China
June - Turkey, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia & Hercergovina
July - Croatia, Italy, Switzerland
August - France, Belgium, Netherlands, England
September - Scotland, Wales, Ireland, United States
October - United States
November, December - United States, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico
Early January - Australia (ride from Sydney to Melbourne)
How far will you ride?
We're working on an average of 90km per day - although that will vary with weather and terrain. Plus we might want to stop somewhere for a few days or take our time to enjoy an area.
Have you worked out the itinerary and roads yet?
Working it out as we go - buying maps in each country, looking on google (which is not always reliable) and using the GPS on our Nokia Navigator phone.
Preparation
What about your house?
We sold our house in Melbourne.
What about your possessions?
We sold most things - cars, furniture, gym equipment, bikes we're not using... Took other stuff to vinnies - clothes, shoes, books... And the limited stuff we kept is in the garage at Mum and Dad Evans' place.
What about Boston?
Boston (our dog) was the biggest concern in planning for the trip. A big thankyou to Mum and Dad Evans who are looking after him for us (He sleeps in the garage to be close to our things).
What about your job?
Sam quit his job before we left but Shanna is lucky that her job will be filled for twelve months and when she returns she steps right back into it.
