![]() ![]() ![]() I now run my own architectural practice, specialising in creating and remodelling interesting and unusual buildings. It was not until 2008 that I discovered that I had become the first British woman to ride a motorcycle around the world. I survived two crashes and life-threatening illnesses and fell in love twice. "Although I had ridden bikes since my teens and was already well-traveled, setting off on my own with no sponsorship or support, in an age before email, internet, cell phones and satnavs certainly made this journey a real adventure and was the toughest thing I'd ever done.ĭuring my two-and-a-half year journey I rode through deserts and mountain ranges and war-ravaged countries and along the way I had to fake documents, witnessed riots and civil uprisings, fended off physical threats, sexual attacks, biker gangs and corrupt police convinced I was trafficking drugs. In 1982, at the age of just twenty-three, Elspeth Beard left London and set off on a 35,000 mile solo adventure around the world on her 1974 BMW R60/6 and became the first British woman to motorcycle around the world. In 2014 we made the decision to leave our life at home and explore India and Southeast Asia, which is where we caught the bug to wander and our love of exploring by motorcycle began.įirst British woman to motorcycle around the worldĮlspeth Beard is a motorcyclist and award-winning architect. We met in our last year of school in 2007. We are Jade and Alex, both 25 years old from Worcester, UK. Including a show and tell of bodges completed on Alex's moto if time permits. No matter what the problem, humans always prevailed! Our presentation may sound scary, but we want to share our story to tell others that no matter how shit it gets, there's always someone there to help. Plus, the amazing wonders seen across the vast continent of the Americas. Since then, we attended HUBBUK twice and gained inspiration for our Americas trip! Last Christmas Alex surprised Jade with her very own motorcycle! Three months before leaving, Jade passed her motorcycle test, and didn't get too much practice in because of the rain in England.įrom Canada to Argentina, we encountered a few problems, including a blown piston in the prairies of Canada, cracked engine case in the high deserts of California, numerous snapped clutches, a serious accident in Mexico City, an exhaust bodged back on with a jalepeno can and a lost crank plug bodged with a beer can in the Atacama desert to name a few. Our beloved Betsy took us both with all our luggage 1700 miles from Dalat to Sapa with only one hiccup! Neither of us had ever ridden a bike before, but, after a five minute lesson with the Vietnamese owner, we strapped our bags to Betsy and the journey began. We caught the bug for overland travel in Dalat, Vietnam, when we bought Betsy, a Honda Win 110cc. When machines fail, and humans prevail - Canada to Argentina on two motorcycles, how the HU network helped us to get back on the road and the amazing wonders we saw Jade Atkins and Alex Marsh, Wander Don't Wonder ![]()
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