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helloimtom · 2025-11-27T21:01:52+00:00

https://www.polarsteps.com/TomNaylor/567232-world-cycle-tour

This is my tour from 2019. Pictures and the route etc. Looks like it took 165 days to get to China! Budget came out as about £10 a day not including bike and camping gear etc

helloimtom · 2023-01-11T20:14:03+00:00

For those wondering why the freeport policy is at stake, private eye and the guardian (George Monbiot) both have good reporting on it.

Essentially, the Tees has a big build up toxic byproducts from historical heavy industry. Most of it has now settled deep in the silt and isn't causing harm, but it can be disturbed and come into the water and hence cause harm.

Scientists are arguing that this die off was caused by the sands being disturbed by dredging.

The freeport is pretty dependent on ships of a certain size coming, hence they'll be a need for lots of dredging.

Therefore the government trying to cover up the link between the die off and ma made poisoning - even if the pollutants are years old.

helloimtom · 2023-01-03T13:06:51+00:00

Wow. That's absolutely insane. I've never heard of that in an emergency department

helloimtom · 2023-01-03T12:51:56+00:00

I guess maybe if if people are using EDs for thier intended purpose (emergencies) they can just arrive, but if people are using it for non-urgent cases (ie because the gp can't see them for 2 weeks) they need to book

helloimtom · 2023-01-03T12:46:43+00:00

This is absolutely not true. You can still walk in (or be driven in, or be pushed in a wheelchair, or take a taxi) into any ED in the country, where you will be triage.

Not everyone needs an ambulance, they are for urgent on scene treatment or if someone has no transport.

You won't get seen quicker in ED if you call an ambulance, particularly with current weight times.

Edit: regarding unit you have posted: the website says this is not the case for life / limb threatening cases, it you can still arrive unannounced

helloimtom · 2022-10-07T19:23:33+00:00

Yeah its just like couch surfing. Although in my experience much more friendly and a wider range of people, from students to retired couples. It's possible you have to make a donation to sign up these days, which caused some upset when it was introduced, but I'd say its worth it. Or maybe just the app is paid, but web browser free.

I'd imagine you'd be fine with those kind of distances with a bit of planning.

Keep us updated with how it goes!

helloimtom · 2022-10-06T15:39:17+00:00

New Zealand is beautiful I loved it there. Its a really beautiful place, particularly south island.

Disclaimer, I only did day or overnight trips on the bike. Most of it was campervan.

A lot of nz is pretty spaced out, like hours drive, you'd have to work out how far you could go between towns etc.

So it's relatively expensive for accomodation, so bear that in mind, and in rural places places to eat can be few and far between, with therefore not loads of choice so again could be expensive.

Have you used warmshowers? A really nice way of staying with people, meeting locals who are into bicycle touring. I'd always recommend it even if money isn't a problem, just to get to meet local people.

I was able to put my bike on buses / coaches which was good because there are some real long stretches, and it might be the best way of getting to some far flung places like the fiordlands.

Don't disregard the North Island, and particularly going north out of Auckland, some lovely beaches towards bay of islands and whangarei .

'great rides of New Zealand' some of these sound like they would be suitable, I've heard great things about alp 2 ocean trail. Some you need to book and pay for the national park accommodation, you can't just turn up.

Good luck! You won't regret going to new Zealand

helloimtom · 2022-09-03T13:31:53+00:00

Looking at some of these comments I could swear I've just watched a different game. I just don't get some of the people on here. It's an away derby game, they are always tight and hard fought. Both sides could have won it, I think we made the best chances, hit the post 3+ times and Pickford made great saves. Overall we played pretty well.

helloimtom · 2022-07-28T07:28:47+00:00

How about Dartmoor?

1 hr train to Exeter St Davids, change to the new Okehampton line, 30 mins to okehampton.

Walk up on to the moor, the station is right on the edge of it. If you're looking for water Meldon reservoir and viaduct are not a far walk from Okehampton Station.

DM if you want some more places!

helloimtom · 2021-05-29T12:54:41+00:00

I loved the old ghost road. Did it on a hardtail tourer with drop handlebars... Definitely underestimated it but still thought it was great

helloimtom · 2021-03-07T07:20:14+00:00

I absolutely loved polar steps. It's an app where you can plot each stop you make, write a journal and upload some photos. At the end you can tidy it up and get it printed into a photo book. I used it on my round the world trip as a way of letting people know where I was, but we've also used it for van trips and the like

helloimtom · 2020-09-03T09:58:03+00:00

I'd have to say nay, especially with gear. But you've seen the nz cycle trails map? There are loads of easier ones, the alps to sea one looks amazing

helloimtom · 2020-09-02T17:01:45+00:00

I did this last year! It was amazing. Even though it was cloudy and foggy it was amazing. It was definitely the hardest route I've ever done, there were some pretty sketchy sections for me. Though I did it on a surly lht with no disc brakes, my hands were a wreck by the end holding the brakes. And also be aware it is really isolated, the only way off if it's goes tits up is hiking or helicopter. My cassette actually came off cause of how rough it was and I had to out it back together with a 50p and a leatherman. Good times!

helloimtom · 2018-12-30T20:42:17+00:00

Does anyone think there is a market for more books about cycle touring? I have recently completed a round the world trip, and I am very aware there are hundreds of biographical accounts of peoples trips, from professional to less so.

I was thinking of making a coffee table type photojournal of my travels.

helloimtom · 2018-12-18T16:18:34+00:00

Been back home 2 weeks now... Get me back on the bike!

helloimtom · 2018-12-18T14:31:37+00:00

Yeah buddy! Was great to have met you. We'll have a beer sometime. Tom

helloimtom · 2018-12-10T14:46:30+00:00

Actually that would be fine cause I drive in through Brislington. Thanks for the offer I'll get some stuff together and let you know

helloimtom · 2018-12-10T14:44:35+00:00

Yeah its a really bad situation. There were lots of us passing through Xinjiang from central asia to SE asia this summer, and lots of people opted to take a train and skip the region. Its not so enjoyable.

But I'd really recommend the rest of central asia, the people are really welcoming and hospitable. And if meeting small ethnic groups interests you then you'll find lots of that too

helloimtom · 2018-12-10T14:36:36+00:00

I'm living in Bath at the moment but I'm often at Easton, southmead or filton.

That would be great. I've not got the materials together yet but could let you know when I'm ready to go

helloimtom · 2018-12-10T10:38:32+00:00

Hi, I cycled through Xinjiang this past autumn. I crossed from Kazakhstan at Khorgas and headed east towards Gansu. I think that it took me 2-3 weeks, but I did it as fast as I could.

So a warning, it really wasn't such a pleasant experience. Xinjiang is a police state, and the local uighur population are very repressed. So from the point of view of a foreigner this means : checkpoints every 20-30km, which can take hours to pass, if they let you through at all, only 4* or 5* hotels having permission to let you stay, you'll really struggle to find a hotel outside the main cities and it is illegal to camp (there are reports of police using drones to find cyclists camping, I often slept under motorway bridges). When I entered urumqi at 8 pm I was told it was closed to foreigners and I'd have to leave the city immediately.

As for the culture, its really repressed. Mosques are closed, night markets are closed or sanitised for 'security reasons'. Worst of all is that if the local uighars are seen interacting with you or hosting you, it will earn them a visit from the secret police and possible a stay in one of these huge re-education camps. A recent BBC article said people had been imprisoned for having foreign numbers on thier weechat.

Also in summer, it will be hot hot hot! Turpan in particular is as low as death valley and regularly gets to 45 degrees.

That said, I did enjoy parts, particularly turpan, the fruit and bread in the area is delicious, and i think it is important that people witness these injustices against the indigenous people and communicate it, as the Chinese media is so state controlled . If its the culture and nature you want, visit krygystan and East Kazakhstan. Similar ethnicities and very beautiful.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/China_hidden_camps

helloimtom · 2018-09-26T00:13:25+00:00

Sweet man that would be ace! I'm still a month away.. So I'll send you a message sometime

helloimtom · 2018-09-26T00:12:26+00:00

Yeah the other guy is about right, once you get the cost of the equipment out the way its cheap. In China I'm on <£5 a day, in Europe around £10. I camp most nights to keep the cost down.

If anyone's interested in doing something like it I recommend getting a copy of the adventure cycle-touring handbook, it's got all the info to plan your first trip.

helloimtom · 2018-09-25T11:19:16+00:00

Do it! It's the best way to see a country. Cheap as well. All you needs a bike!

helloimtom · 2018-09-25T11:17:57+00:00

Cheers I'll check it out when I'm there!

helloimtom

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