Update: You can read about my 2016 trip summary from Barcelona to Athens here.
First of all, a mighty thank you to everyone that recently liked my Facebook and Instagram pages. I’ve never been a fan of social media but as the world slowly turns I’m slowly being converted into a social media hipster that will no doubt start using selfie sticks #nofilter #bullshit and other such nonsense in the near future. Can you imagine your grampa taking a selfie? Because that’s how my generation will look in 50 years. Scores of grannies and grampas taking selfies. Anyway, social media is one of the only ways I can talk to people on the road.
Let’s set things straight then…the route
The route, the route…ah yes…
I guess I haven’t been so clear with everything…as I’m not cycling directly to Thailand. My journey to Spain from Scotland a couple of years ago ended in Barcelona (as I got a cooshty job at an English Academy – click here to read their interview with me). I never got the opportunity to explore Spain, so I’m doing that a little now.
Then I realised when I get to the South of Spain, why not take a boat over to Morocco?
So I’m going there too.
Thus, the route might go something like this…Spain, Morocco, Portugal, France, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, (edit: Kosovo), Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran(edit: I’m effectively banned), (edit: + Azerbaijan) Turkmenistan (edit: only issues 5 day transit visa), (edit: + Kazakhstan), Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, (Where?) Kyrgyzstan, (too many stans) China, India,(edit: India/China land border is closed indefinitely) Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, (edit: + Laos? Vietnam?), Thailand.
All I can say is that I’ll probably go there, and probably not go there. For example, I’ll probably go to Granada, and probably not go to Malaga, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up being the other way around (edit: I went to both).
I usually end up going in circles. It’s no surprise then that I’m featured as the No.1 slowest cyclist in the world on the Long Distance Cycle Journeys database. My other awards include the Supernatural Laziness Trophy 2009 and the World’s Best Skiver award.
The real reason I’m so slow is not because I’m morbidly lazy but rather because I like to take my time soaking up all the culture. Especially if it’s free or cheap.
And so why Thailand, you ask?
Because that’s more or less where my finger landed. I don’t even know if I’ll like it there.
So fasten your hypothetical armchair seatbelt and join the ride to…
…somewhere. Because I don’t really know where I’m going.
And that’s the way (uh huh, uh huh) I like it.
Have questions about my trip? Ask in the comments below! Or check out the FAQ!
Hey Jamie!
Thanks for sharing your adventures, awesome! I currently live in Thailand and I plan to go back home (Madrid) around March. So basically the idea is to do what you did but the other way around. However I’m not sure if you finally got to Thailand. I would love to ask so many things but I’ll be happy if you just tell me how long this adventure lasted or if you’re still on the road!
Good luck my friend!
Hey Ruben, I’m in China at the moment. I’ll get to Thailand one day! From Spain it’s been about 2 and a half years.
Cheers
Hi jamie..how safe if I cycling from casablanca to tangier? Any route recommenxations?
Erwin
Hey Erwin.
I’m sorry, I never went any further south than Rabat, so I can’t really answer your question. From Rabat to Tangier is fine. The road is a bit boring though!
Have a blast.
Jamie
Hey Jamie looks like I’m taking a similar route to you so perhaps our paths will cross – I haven’t entirely planned my Middle East route but we shall see. By the time I get out of Europe it will be near August I guess so if you there round that time drop me a line maybe we can cycle together
Sounds good. Let’s keep in touch – I haven’t planned anything!
Hey! I’ve been reading your blog and I’m so inspired. I already quit my job 2 weeks ago and have a final destination where I want to get to which is London to Zagreb but everyone is trying to talk me out of doing it saying it’s too dangerous especially as I have no travel buddy! I’m a 23 year old western female.
You’ve been down the roads I want to see, what’s your opinion on this matter?
P.S. You trip to Thailand sounds amazing and I cannot wait to read all about it
xx
Hey Ella!
I can still remember the first day of my trip around Europe in 2012. I felt pretty scared, but that’s normal.
Don’t take any advice from anyone about a country unless that person has been there. Trust me… you won’t know exactly what a place is like until you get there and experience it for yourself.
Sounds like you’re staying in the EU, which I’m sure is the safest collection of countries on Earth, so I wouldn’t worry about anything. Get your EU health-card before you go.
Have a nice trip! YOU CAN DO IT! 🙂 You won’t regret it 😉
Jamie
7. Separatist Georgia
To be clear, we’re talking about the country that can be found at the volatile crossroads where Asia meets Europe. This is a country that has been ripped apart by civil war for the last several years. While things have calmed down of late (the capital city of Tbilisi is considered relatively safe), there are still parts of the country being held by separatist factions that would just love to grab a Western tourist and get their name in the papers. Be aware & Stay Safe…. Doug.
Thanks for that. I’m aware there are some problems there.
I’d be more worried about visitng Paris or Brussels at the moment though.
Nice post Jamie, can’t wait to read more about your trip. Enjoy and cycle safe, xx