Hello from Santorini!
We are Andy and Clare Evans. We’re from the UK and since 2010
have been working as English teachers in Hokkaido, Japan. In August 2015 our
contracts and work visas are expiring, so we’ll be setting off on our bicycles
to cycle the long way home to England.
We love the outdoors, skiing, cycling, camping and hiking, but
we’ve never taken on an adventure of this scale. In the past few years we’ve
done weekend trips by bike and a few longer tours within Japan but we’ll
definitely be learning as we go.
Most of the way we’ll aim to camp where possible, so will be
carrying our tent and sleeping gear. We’ve joined the cycling hospitality network
Warm Showers so will also try to stay with local hosts. We’ll be cooking for
ourselves for much of the time, although trying the local food in the places we
pass through is something we’re both excited about.
The idea for this trip came about after reading Peter
Gostelow’s amazing account of his ride from Japan to the UK after finishing
work as an English teacher. Through Warm Showers, we’ve met and hosted a number
of long distance touring cyclists like Jeremy Scott, Eric and Amaya, and Mark
and Katya Lodge. All have been inspiring, and while they stayed, we grilled
them for information and advice on routes, equipment, visas and everything that
goes into a long distance bicycle tour.
We’ll try and keep this blog updated as much as we can along
the way with photos and maybe some kind of video blog. Availability of
internet, electricity, interesting content and motivation will no doubt vary as
we go, but please follow the blog and keep in touch through the comments
section!
Andy and Clare