Tom and Becca's passion takes them around the world
Tom and Becca's passion takes them around the world
TRAVEL INFO
1 Years
19000 Km
19 Countries
Tom and Becca traveled more than 15,000 km, crossing 19 countries, and the journey continues to discover the world with their economic and smart way of behaving, and their strong passion for adventure and freedom that drives them to the unknown.
INTERVIEW
We asked Tom & Becca : Introduce yourself, talk about anything you want, your age, your country, how did your passion for travel begin…?
They said : We are Tom (31) and Becca (29) from England. We were both lucky to grow up with the Lake District on our doorstep. Much of our free time would be spent in the outdoors exploring: cycling, hiking, kayaking, swimming and camping. We both spent most of our twenties living in cities, and as fun as it was, it confirmed we’re not city people, we need open spaces around us.
My (Tom) first bike tour was 10 years ago through France and Spain. I particularly enjoyed the simplicity of it all, being self sufficient and taking which ever route you fancied – feeling completely free! On that trip I read a book called ‘Cycling Home from Siberia’. It was the first time I’d really heard or took interest in the fact you can cross continents by simple means on a bicycle. You just need time and a bit of money saved to do so. On returning home, I knew I wanted to do another, longer bike tour but decided to finish my studies and apply them to finding a job and gaining work experience.
Question: What is your goal for travel?
They said: To see the world, meet people and experience different cultures and to learn things first hand. We enjoy getting off the beaten track and seeing how people really live in their country.
Question: Is travelling on a bike easy?
They said: I guess it’s as easy or hard as you want to make it. You choose how far you want to cycle and what route you take. It’s generally easier in warmer climates as you don’t have to pack as much gear.
We camp and often cook our own food to keep costs down so that we can travel longer and see more of the world. If money was no issue you could make it easier by staying in hotels and eating out, though we find it’s often tiresome looking for places to stay/eat and disappointing when it’s no good. We’re much happier being independent and self sufficient.
Question: What are the difficulties you face?
They said:
– Insects
– Dogs
– Bad drivers
– Exposure to the elements
– Language barriers
– Being away from friends and family
– Unsettling nature of constantly being on the move
That being said the joy and satisfaction from bike touring far outweigh all of these. When it gets difficult we often reassure ourselves that things will always improve, you just have to push through. We’ve been lucky to have had no major problems or mechanicals so far.
Question: Is money an obstacle to financing the trip and how to act?
They said: Bike touring is a cheap way to travel. Once you have invested in the gear you need, life on the road costs very little. We try to be mostly self sufficient in more expensive countries whereas we can afford some luxuries more often in cheaper countries.
Question: Tell us about your most important travels, how many distances did you travel?
They said: Some of our favourite places we’ve cycled so far have been: southern Germany, on the Bodensee to Königsee route, for its beautiful scenery, good roads and kind people; Turkey, for its incomparable hospitality, we rarely went a day without an in invite into someone’s home; and Kyrgyzstan, for its remote and stunning landscapes, it feels truly wild there.
We are currently in Vietnam. So far we have cycled over 15,000km through 19 countries. We are unsure of our end destination as of yet.
Question: What are your dreams and plans for the future?
They said: Our plan for the rest of the trip is to continue south through south-east Asia via Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, then possibly fly over to Japan and South Korea before heading to New Zealand where we plan to stay for 6 months. Following that possibly North America, maybe South America — we’ll see.
Question: What are your tips for those who want to experience traveling on a bike?
They said: If you’ve never bike toured, start with a week or two locally to get to get a feel for it and to figure out what you do and (more importantly) don’t need — you will regret packing too much on the uphill climbs. You don’t need the best, most expensive gear, start with what you have or can afford and replace things as you go. Have rough plans but don’t try to plan too far ahead as it can be overwhelming. The same goes for committing to deadlines, especially on a long trip. We find it adds a lot of pressure and can leave you wishing away days between.
Question: What is your motivation letter?
They said: Make it happen! Beginning the trip and cutting loose from any commitments is the most difficult thing. It’s not all that hard day to day, it’s literally just a case of pedalling with some rough plans for the days ahead. You don’t need to train or get fit before beginning, that happens as you go.
Make it happen! Beginning the trip and cutting loose from any commitments is the most difficult thing. It’s not all that hard day to day, it’s literally just a case of pedalling with some rough plans for the days ahead. You don’t need to train or get fit before beginning, that happens as you go.
It’s something you’ll not regret doing. People are overwhelmingly kind and helpful the world over and will generally do all they can to help you. You’ll cycle through some of the most beautiful places, often that you’d never heard of and often have it all to yourself.
Don’t dwell on the ‘what ifs’, get on with it!
