You’re nobody if haven’t been around the world on a motorbike these days but the grandfather of all the two-wheeled explorers, Nick Sanders MBE, is at it again. The 61-year old is currently on his eighth tour of the globe – and for this 100,000km expedition, he’s riding the new Yamaha Ténéré 700.
In previous circumnavigations the super adventurer has been all about speed, most notably in 2005 when he smashed the Guinness World record for the fastest lap of earth on a bike; 19 days and four hours to be exact. And this feat was made even more astonishing because he achieved it on a Yamaha YZF-R1.
This time though, Sanders is not so bothered about speed and instead looks to raise awareness for the Two Wheels for Life charity and take in the “interesting points of view about the world and its people as I ride on by,” so says the man himself.
Starting off by transporting the Ténéré 700 across the pond to New York, Sanders joins his steed in the Big Apple and heads west. We pick up his journey by sharing photos, comment and stories taken from his own blog as well as those which he shares with us on the occasions he’s got phone service.
So I'm on the Pan American Highway, got to get a wriggle on as the best bits to film are in the Andes further south starting east of Nazca in Peru. Here though is the video start in northern Colombia having left my world biker friend daniel Todd in Medellin. I might not now make it to Montevideo but the rest should hold true.
A Life in the Day in Colombia
Nick Sanders World Ride – Moments #14
I'm going around the world, again. It's not a day by day account, some days will get missed just to get where I need to get to, so I'm compiling a series of 'MOMENTS' that kind of happen as they occur. Interesting points of view about the world and its people as I ride on by. I hope you enjoy them.
The first video here is called, "A Day in the Life" or is it "A Life in the Day in Colombia" - so much packed into to each ride. Small hotel and it reminds me of what I couldn't do for many years, take a little time out to look around and also to rest.
Ecuadorean Wall Mural
Having left Colombia and entered Ecuador I rode past this mural which set back against the moody sky caught my attention. It's started to rain and I'm in the small to medium hills of the Andes and now riding on the Pan American Highway.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Cuenca, Ecuador
What a church door. Some aspects of Ecuador are very impressive. I also got a photo of the seller on the steps, you see his stall on the right of the photograph.
Young seller on the church steps, Cuenca
Kids seem to be so similar the world over these days. I think the mobile phone has harmonised, homogenised, the way they and maybe we as adults are and react to things. If there is one item apart from the internal combustion engine propelling trucks and cars that is ubiquitous to the world, it's the mobile telephone.
The Old Chevy on the Panamericana
Nick Sanders World Ride – Moments #14
I'm going around the world, again. It's not a day by day account, some days will get missed just to get where I need to get to, so I'm compiling a series of 'MOMENTS' that kind of happen as they occur. Interesting points of view about the world and its people as I ride on by. I hope you enjoy them.
Meeting this guy drive round on his old Chevrolet was a joy. he loved me filming his car which he was super proud of. It was a real heap but totally loved and used to collect firewood from the desert brushwood area. He lived in his shack farmstead in the desert for the last 38 years. Seemed untroubled by commercialism or progress. Nice guy.
Father & Son, the old fashioned way. Nice to see
And finally I reached Chiclayo in Peru yesterday and did all my business in a great little cafe called Cafe Espana. Parked my bike in a secure parking area the night before, found a tiny hotel for $9, had my dinner, did my work, slept well.
