Our plans and Adventures!

A basic itinerary of where we want to go. There is no "How long" as we are not time limiting this journey of life!

We changed our plans before, and they could change again - there is no car now so this  planning will be all about the  bikes and riding!

Phase 1: Europe
This will be the "qualifying lap". This is going to be the test grounds for all the training.  It is "just-outside-comfort-zone" level travel.

We will start in  Portugal. and take a slow ride towards Spain to a place called La Manga.

From there we head up the coast to  Liege in Belgum  and through  Netherlands,  and Germany to Holland on our way to Norway, hoping not to get there in the winter!

From Norway we head to Sweden  and take in the sighs there too.

On our way back we head to Geneva, then on across to Austria (where I DO hope to catch winter and take the family skiing... 

Then we go for the first "dream" part of the trip: Italy, to live for a few months in or near Venice,  in or near Naples and see as much of the cities and surrounding places as possible by bike.

Then we take a coastal route up and through Croatia, and down to  Greece for the second dream part of the trip to live in Greece for a few months.

Phase 2: Asia
After We have stayed in Greece for some time, taken in the language and culture, we will book our tickets from Athens to  India and start the "Way out of our comfort zone" leg of the trip...

We will  head to Nepal, and I hope to Everest Base Camp... but  we will see!

We are leaving the options open in Asia. We would love to do some good work on our way through, so looking at projects where we can help.

Thailand will be its own paradise where we hope to spend some time . 

Then we head down to the city/island/nation of Singapore and check out its architecture and  customs.

Phase 3: Australia
From Singapore we take a flight to  Cairns Australia and head down the whole East coast of Australia.  We want to surf, and  dive as we go!

My goal is Tasmania, camping and hiking some of those places I have seen on maps and dreamt of since I was a kid!

From Taz, we head up to Sydney... for the next flight...

Phase 4: New Zealand
From Oz, we fly to Auckland, and ride back towards Cape Reinga, like a lands end of sorts, and  back, going around and through both Islands.

We have friends out there and would maximise our  stay with hiking/camping and hopefully some  nature work preservation etc...

Phase 5: South America
From New Zealand we fly to Santiago, and then head down to Patagonia.  We want to ride right to the Tip of South America, and if possible go on one of those cruises to Antarctica - that would make for some interesting  bike riding!

We would then do the Alaska to Argentina  trail but in reverse.

As there is no direct access  through central America, we need  to take a boat or plane to get to Panama, or Costa Rica (we have no idea about that yet...)

Phase 6: Central America & North America
We would like to spend some time in Costa Rica  with some friends and do some projects out there. From there we would like to follow the cost, and head up to the USA. 

I really want to see Houston - would love to be there for a space launch! - then I am going to Elvis's house to snap some pictures... 

from there we want to see national parks and do a bit of route 66, on to the Grand Canyon.

From there , visit some friends in Montana, go up to Alaska, and back to Calgary for the return leg of this trip... UK

From there we will probably cycle  to Scotland and then down to Portugal...

Phase 7: Round 2..........?

I would love for this to become a perpetual travel. Even if we come back for a year or so to restock / re-evaluate and see family. The kids would be older, we would be wiser and it should be a breeze!  (Great theory right?)

These are just Ideas:
1) We would leave from UK (or Portugal depending where we are!) and head across the  terrain of Russia and Mongolia -possible excursion down to china- to Vladivostok.  From there we Fly to USA.
2) From Alaska, we ride down to Portland,  Via Michigan down to Miami to see what Will Smith was on about, then head on down to  Costa Rica again, and stay a bit with friends and help out in projects etc.
3) After a flight or Boat from Costa Rica to Ecuador,  we would head down to  Rio for a brief stop... Maybe not the actual city...  but we shall see how safe we feel, then fly out for a  whole other level of travel... Africa
4) We fly to Accra, and go visit some friends in Ghana.  We would experience desert cycling, and  locals... Hopefully the wildlife wont find us tasty... 
We will follow the western route to Morocco and  once we get to Casablanca, head home to  Portugal... and make more plans!