Cyclists a world away

IMOGEN NEALE

WHEN Carrie Fowler agreed to dance with Rosehill College student Willie Searle at a school social she probably thought it would lead to a dinner date, maybe even a movie.

Instead it's taken the ex-Manurewa High School pupil on a bicycle adventure on the other side of the world.

Since the start of the year the 25-year-olds have been cycling their way towards South Africa after setting out from Istanbul, Turkey.

Willie says if all goes well they'll pedal their way through Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and finally South Africa.

"Bicycle touring is incredibly rewarding in that we move slowly through landscapes," he says.

"We have the freedom to stop and interact with locals outside of tourist centres and main roads.

"Every day brings new surprises and interactions."

Last year the couple left Auckland looking for adventure, travelling by bus through India and Iran.

In Iran they met two "crazy Frenchmen" cycling from China to France.

Willie says the duo convinced them that the humble bicycle was the most efficient way to see the world.

But it wasn't until the south Aucklanders "wobbled out of Istanbul" their bikes fully loaded that they realised what it means to travel by two wheels.

"Having travelled previously for countless hours on buses we could never imagine not travelling this way now," Willie says.

"We can go where and when we please."

Other than spare tyres the couple's biggest expense is food but Willie says it's cheap and the quality and selection is "fantastic".

Even better, they're often befriended by locals and treated to a home-cooked meal.

Willie says that's the best food.

"The hospitality of locals is indescribable," he says.

So far the journey has been relatively incident-free other than a few children pitching rocks at them and the odd tumble.

"Riding into cities on five-lane motorways is exhilarating but most drivers give us plenty of space," Willie says.

"While cycling outside of the towns is relatively uncommon, drivers are used to avoiding donkeys and tractors and do pretty well at avoiding us."

He claims their journey is "completely selfish" but that's not entirely true.

They've aligned themselves with an American-based charity called Bikes not Bombs that restores used bicycles before shipping them out to developing countries.

"We found out about them when we were researching a cause we could possibly raise some money for on the internet," Willie says.

"We wanted to find a grassroots organisation that was in the spirit of our own personal philosophy on aid and preferably something linked to bicycles and Africa.

"Bikes not Bombs fits the bill nicely."

The couple have been in Damascus, Syria, for a week and are looking forward to setting off again.

Once they reach southern Africa they'd like to pedal through South America but their funds will be running low. They might also have tired of the downfall to travelling so light and by bike – the once-a-week shower. See wilsearle.wordpress. com to follow Willie and Carrie's journey.

- © Fairfax NZ News