The Road to Kathmandu- the comic strip -

“In August 2005. Simon Roberts, a freelance Graphic Artist set off…to Kathmandu, Nepal”. Everyone has their own reasons for setting off on a trip like this. The death of my wife Julie from cancer in 2002 certainly played a huge part in why I left that August. We’d traveled far and wide around Europe – our final carefree trip together had been in 2001 to Morocco, “the nearest far-away land”. A wonderful experience. She died twelve months later.

A hotel near the Rhine.

Dull and overcast - as was I. I'd envisaged a picturesque hotel on the banks of the Rhine for my first overnight. Alas, as would so often be the case, this was not to be.
"Hotel? I thought he was roughing it?". I know, I know, but I felt I needed to er, ease myself into life on the Dusty Highway. But, no riverside Biergarten for me. No flirtatious blonde serving wench. No jovial BMW v Triumph banter. Just a 'schnitzel und bier' in a dark and smoky bar.

.............................................

Sipping my coffee in the shadow of Colditz castle that morning I calculated that with a favourable wind I could be in Vienna by early evening. Time to unpack and reacquaint myself with old friends and Wiener Schnitzels. BMW workshop on Saturday. Away to Hungary on Monday. Perfect.

Thursday 18th August.

Rain. Bloody rain. 'Central Europe enjoys hot summers and cold winters' or so I'd been led to believe. Well, at least I was seeing the road stretching out East again albeit through a misted up visor.

The border crossed, I pressed on towards Budapest. I'd stay for a day or two. A boat ride up the Danube to the medieval village of Szentendre perhaps, then on to the vine growing regions and the Romanian border. Excellent.

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas with every Christmas card I write... hum...hum..."

Well, dear readers, it's that time of year so here's a card wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, prosperous - and accident free - New Year!

Right, back to Transylvania...the next page - coming soon.

click here to see the full picture

PS. If you'd like to be on the mailing list, drop me a line at simongoeseast[at]yahoo.co[dot]uk

Romania....and Transylvania.

This was going to be the stuff of real adventures. Dark, impenetrable pine forests...mountains shrouded in mist...medieval villages suspiciously devoid of people...murderous looking men and their murderous looking dogs...

I'd grown up with images of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing grappling with wooden stakes, garlic and each other in the Hammer film of 1958, 'Dracula' and I was now crossing into the film set. I pulled up my collar and eased the bike into first gear...

Ah. Dracula's Castle. Should have known better.

Hang on. Pakistan? What happened to Bulgaria? I thought we left our gritty Biker sweeping down to the Black Sea coast?

Ah, yes. But what I've done here is fast forward to a scene in Quetta near the Afghan border. As I mentioned I need to put the first three chapters of 'The Book' together to approach publishers and, rather than start at Dover, I've opened the first chapter in Pakistan.

.......................................

Applications for publishing deals (for the book) are now winging their way to the Literary agents of London town. Don't hold your breath - this could take some time. Got any tips? Advice? Queries? Like to be added to mailing list? Email me at simongoeseast[at]yahoo.co[dot]uk

....................................

Right. Where were we? Bulgaria.

ASIA. I'd finally made it. I rolled off the ferry at Bandirma, found the main road heading south and did just that.

Traveling in China for two weeks but hope the rough sketch of part of No.9 below will whet your appetite for further tales of....'The Road to Kathmandu'!

The whole story in colour...soon.

Gumbet. Didn't sound inviting but Gumbet had a campsite. On the beach. It also had a main street full of signs advertising Fish and Chips, Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding, and Satellite Football. I'd talked my way back into Turkey at Bodrum (Green card wasn't green enough, remember?) and ridden along the coast looking for a campsite, ideally close to the beach. Well, the beach was only a beer can's throw away so I unpacked my tent. Enough traveling for one day..an early night perhaps.

What? Still in Turkey. Fear not dear reader - reports from the 'Axis of Evil' soon. Want to get the latest update? Email me at simongoeseast[at]yahoo.co[dot]uk and get on the mailing list.

................................................

Cappadocia. Is there a landscape like this anywhere else on the planet? I doubt it.

Want to be regularly updated with the latest pages as they roll off the drawing board? Drop me an email at simongoeseast[at]yahoo.co[dot]uk to get on the mailing list.

............................................................

Iran. How would a British biker be received? I was feeling apprehensive.

For the first time on the trip I felt a little uneasy - maybe I should have taken those GB stickers off...relationships between Britain and Iran were tense due to Nuclear issues. I made a note to avoid the topic - stick to talking about the weather...

My destination that night was Tabriz a distance of around 350kms of dust and highway. I was expecting this. It was the 'Dusty Highway' after all....

Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
Don't cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me?
Don't cha? Don't cha?

The semi naked Pussycat Dolls teased and taunted me from the widescreen Satellite TV...I stood and readjusted my smoking jacket, tapped out my pipe and looked out onto the streets. It seemed a long time since I'd kissed my (by now ex) girlfriend Celia, goodbye in Southern Turkey. Cue wistful look through window.

So, the long hot English summer slowly draws to a close and it's time to crack on with the Road to Kathmandu 'comic strip'..... Right. Where was I?

........................................................

Heading south from Teheran to Esfahan.

"Ramadan. Ninth month of the Muslim year, in which rigid fasting is observed during all daylight hours", states the Oxford Dictionary. Hmm...'rigid fasting'...not the best time to cross Iran and Pakistan.

'Road to Kathmandu' UPDATE!

Well, I had a successful trip to Germany and 'Tourenfahrer' - THE overland biking magazine - have taken my story on. This means that in every (monthly) issue - starting in the November issue - the whole story will unfold in just 12 gripping episodes. This will be a teaser for the book which (all being well) will be 'launched' in Autumn 2009.

I'll be approaching the British magazines over the next few weeks with the same proposal which means I'll be condensing the rest of the story into about 8 more episodes. Coming here soon.....!

After spending a night in a dreary hostel - as 'recommended' by the Kangan police - I'd headed south, sparkling waters on my right, smoking refineries on my left. Bemused police checked my progress at regular intervals until I arrived on the outskirts of Khamir.

A dual carriageway took me into the centre of town. An uninviting fly blown place of what appeared to be one storey concrete buildings with shops spilling out onto the streets. I pulled up and a man stepped from the shadows towards me....

What follows appeared in the Teheran papers.

At last, the story resumes....at the Iran-Pakistan border.

Pakistan. PAKISTAN! How many people can say they’ve ridden a motorcycle overland to Pakistan?! I was e-lated!…and then, very nearly e-longated. Pakistan’s traffic drives on the left. I was riding on the right. One learns quickly.

My route was to take me across Baluchistan to the 'wild frontier town' of Quetta near the Afghan border then on south.

Three days later my world would to be turned upside-down on the wind swept desert road south to Sukkur - “…not recommended if you are traveling independently.”