Tales from the Saddle

Tales from the Saddle

Around the World on a Honda XR125
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Read the latest tales from the road...
Drinking with the Devil Tales from the Saddle - Heading for Maragua

Drinking with the Devil

With just a couple of weeks remaining on my Bolivian visa I leave Sucre and begin heading to Chile, via Maragua a huge volcanic crater and its beautiful surrounding valleys, then on to Potosi, one of the highest cities in the world at 4000m and with it’s famed Silver mine, before returning to Uyuni to make my jump across the border before Christmas. Read More "Drinking with the Devil"
Sucre and Tarabuco

Sucre and Tarabuco

Meet Señor Duelo, Fart Boy and The Princess in Sucre, which, like the rest of Bolivia, is a beautiful city, a small centre of long history with a big heart….and great fruit salads. Read More "Sucre and Tarabuco"
Mennonites–Bolivia Part 6

Mennonites–Bolivia Part 6

Having completed the Jesuit Mission circuit I was back in Santa Cruz, hanging out with the "Quirkies", looking for Mennonites and feeling sorry for market girls. I travel back in time to the 1940s and the Riva Palacios Mennonite Colony to visit a family, before returning to the mountains near Samaipata to hunt condors.... Read More "Mennonites–Bolivia Part 6"
The Mission – Bolivia, Part 5

The Mission – Bolivia, Part 5

After Amboro, I head further east, deeper in to the Amazon, following the 1000 km Jesuit Missions circuit towards the Brazilian border. Ravaged by mosquitoes and savaged by spiders, I continue to Laguna Concepción and an interesting ranch stay before travelling on through the Mennonite colonies to reach Santa Cruz. Read More "The Mission – Bolivia, Part 5"
The Opportunity – Bolivia 4

The Opportunity – Bolivia 4

In Part 4 of Bolivia: After the testing Devils' Road (from Part 3), I take it easy in laid-back Samaipata, go in search of Ernesto "Ché" Guevara during Holy Week, and then visit Amboró National Park first from the mountainous south and then across the rising rivers of the north as the rainy season begins. As usual I write far too much about far too little.... Read More "The Opportunity – Bolivia 4"
The Devil’s Road – Bolivia 3

The Devil’s Road – Bolivia 3

In Part 3 of Bolivia, read as the journey continues, still dropping in altitude on my way from the high cool altiplano to the lowland Amazon. From Tupiza now in the south of Bolivia, heading out east through meteor craters, down towards sea level again and the hot jungle, as well as the hottest place I’ve ever visited, before attempting a ride through this infernal green ocean north along the fiery “Devil’s Road”, one long isolated trail, 600km direct to Sucre….maybe Read More "The Devil’s Road – Bolivia 3"
Nick Jones, Bahia Coyote, Baja California

Intro

In 2004 I originally thought about doing a trip by bicycle and subsequently I planned a ride with a friend through Europe, it came like an epiphany from nowhere.  Over time, the plan eventually escalated into a world trip.

Four and half years later, having been injured for eighteen months, I admitted defeat on the bicycling idea.  And so, if I couldn’t pedal I figured the next best thing was a motorcycle.  At the time I didn’t have a license, so to keep cost low it was logical to use a 125cc bike.  So, in September 2008 I rolled away from my home and my family, on a motorcycle heading first to Cape Town, South Africa, just me and “Rudolf” (my Yamaha YBR 125cc). And then…well you’ll have to check out the map, the photos and the blog

Looking back, I’m eternally grateful for my injury and the places that my little Yamaha YBR and Honda XR took me.

The site was originally meant to keep friends and family informed of my current status, but hopefully others may find some enjoyment from my tales.

Drinking with the Devil Tales from the Saddle - Heading for Maragua

Drinking with the Devil

With just a couple of weeks remaining on my Bolivian visa I leave Sucre and begin heading to Chile, via Maragua a huge volcanic crater and its beautiful surrounding valleys, then on to Potosi, one of the highest cities in the world at 4000m and with it’s famed Silver mine, before returning to Uyuni to make my jump across the border before Christmas. Read More "Drinking with the Devil"
Sucre and Tarabuco

Sucre and Tarabuco

Meet Señor Duelo, Fart Boy and The Princess in Sucre, which, like the rest of Bolivia, is a beautiful city, a small centre of long history with a big heart….and great fruit salads. Read More "Sucre and Tarabuco"
Mennonites–Bolivia Part 6

Mennonites–Bolivia Part 6

Having completed the Jesuit Mission circuit I was back in Santa Cruz, hanging out with the "Quirkies", looking for Mennonites and feeling sorry for market girls. I travel back in time to the 1940s and the Riva Palacios Mennonite Colony to visit a family, before returning to the mountains near Samaipata to hunt condors.... Read More "Mennonites–Bolivia Part 6"
The Mission – Bolivia, Part 5

The Mission – Bolivia, Part 5

After Amboro, I head further east, deeper in to the Amazon, following the 1000 km Jesuit Missions circuit towards the Brazilian border. Ravaged by mosquitoes and savaged by spiders, I continue to Laguna Concepción and an interesting ranch stay before travelling on through the Mennonite colonies to reach Santa Cruz. Read More "The Mission – Bolivia, Part 5"
The Opportunity – Bolivia 4

The Opportunity – Bolivia 4

In Part 4 of Bolivia: After the testing Devils' Road (from Part 3), I take it easy in laid-back Samaipata, go in search of Ernesto "Ché" Guevara during Holy Week, and then visit Amboró National Park first from the mountainous south and then across the rising rivers of the north as the rainy season begins. As usual I write far too much about far too little.... Read More "The Opportunity – Bolivia 4"
The Devil’s Road – Bolivia 3

The Devil’s Road – Bolivia 3

In Part 3 of Bolivia, read as the journey continues, still dropping in altitude on my way from the high cool altiplano to the lowland Amazon. From Tupiza now in the south of Bolivia, heading out east through meteor craters, down towards sea level again and the hot jungle, as well as the hottest place I’ve ever visited, before attempting a ride through this infernal green ocean north along the fiery “Devil’s Road”, one long isolated trail, 600km direct to Sucre….maybe Read More "The Devil’s Road – Bolivia 3"
Yamaha YBR125 Around the World

Why a 125cc?

Why I ended up riding solo on a 125cc motorcycle is actually a long story…here’s a few key points.

  • It’s cheap to buy.
  • I could use it to obtain my license with a CBT.
  • Cheaper Carnet – The carnet deposit for Africa is 800% the value of your vehicle, for example.
  • Fuel efficient – The YBR was fuel injected and provided up to 50km/litre.  Phenomenal.
  • Fuel Tank Range – Because of the great fuel efficiency the standard 13 litre tank had a huge range of 650km.
  • Cheap Spare Parts – 125cc bikes are sold in their thousands, aftermarket spares and OEM spares are cheap.
  • Spare parts availability – all the locals ride the same 125cc bike(s), so spares were available in most motorcycle shops.
  • Quite long service intervals, 6,000km.
  • Only one litre of oil in engine.
  • Air-cooled, no radiators to break in falls, no leaking water pumps.
  • Simple engines – meant I could work on them myself and local mechanics were familiar with the 125cc engines as well.
  • Lightweight, I could pick the bike up on my own in case of a fall.

You can read more on the equipment page.