We push yet further North

The title sounds melodramatic doesn't it! We can hardly be called explorers when there are also thousands of camper vans on the road. Here is a resting place for them - there were100's just in this little town

As we move north one cannot be amazed by the number of road tunnels. Even small hills get their own tunnel!

In New Zealand it would either be a cutting or the road would go over it. There were very new looking tunnels

And tunnels still being built

As we left the tunnel area I felt there was an unspoken question coming from the back

"Today,will there be rain dear?"

The answer of course "Yes, today there will be rein deer!"

And lo and behold there was

They must be on a zero hours contract and thus out of seasonal work at the moment ! I wanted to get my own camera out to get a photo but was not sleigh enough of hand!

We are now into the land of the indigenous people - the Sami. It is hard to say whether the wigwams are traditional, are a result of the Sami being global adapters or are non Sami tourist traps

Ken Wilson, here is a special "north of Arctic Circle " Lollipop lady for you

We stop at the town of Alta for the night. Alta is virtually 70 degrees North so well north of the Arctic circle. At the Antarctic circle itself there is nothing but snow and ice and not a single living plant. At this latitude in Alaska we would now be down to treeless tundra and would be almost at Prudoe Bay. Permafrost would have been a problem for the last 100O km north. But in Alta they still make hay in summer on small farms, there is no permafrost and there are respectable sized small trees and green plants and flowers everywhere. It is all due of course to the warm Gulf Stream. Apparently global warming could well stop the Gulf Stream in which case this coastal part of Norway will be plunged into severe cold like inland from here in Sweden and Finland and Russia and of course the Americas.

Tomorrow it is Nordkapp day. Well it was going to be. With a forecast of heavy rain all day, low cloud and a strong and cold North wind the Hubbards are staying put for the day and resting up in a nice hotel. "Rigidly flexible " with our plans - that is the name of the game on these sort of trips.

And no Queenstown on the sign!

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The last post!

How do you summarise a motorbike trip around the world from Tokyo to Los Angeles?. With difficulty! Well we are not into record setting. But we believe we are the oldest couple in the world to ride a motorbike “ two up” ie with pillion passenger, right round the world on one season Let’s start off with the statistics for the little trip - Total mileage. 34,416 km * No of days travelling 165 No of countries visited 29 Max temp on bike 41 deg C Min temp on bike 0 deg.C No of punctures. One No of breakdowns. One

Chapters 1 and 2

WHY MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES ? I have always been interested in adventure. Over the years I have climbed mountains, parachuted, had my private pilots licence, dived, sailed and done various adventurous pursuits (with various degrees of success I might add!). Motorcycling has been one of the later activities. Why motorcycles? Firstly it is all a bit easier on the body as one gets a little bit older. This is of course on the assumption that one does not inadvertently part company suddenly with said machine! Secondly, it does also require a bit of brain power - intellect you might say if that does not sound snobby. There is also, to me, an element of "man and machine" about motorcycling. Then if that is not enough justification in itself there is the scenery and the absorption into the landscape you are passing through. On a bike you see much much more than in a car, bus or train. You are aware of nuances in the landscape, you smell the smells and you become more than just

And a volcano stopped us!

What a day. First thing this morning it was off to check the rear tyre of the bike. Oh the relief ! The tyre was rock solid and the same pressure as after fixing yesterday. So it is a pack up and first day on the road today. We get on the way with a just a little bit of nervous excitement. On to the Japanese motorway system we go. And what a delight. The traffic is orderly, calm not going to fast and not too thick. We track right in towards Tokyo itself before bearing West. Yes, there were lots of spaghetti junctions - It looks like The Los Angeles motorway system but it is so much easier (and slower). Japanese politeness really shows thru’. However there were lots of toll booths - we had chopped thru about NZ$50 in the first hour and a half Then we are on to the slow bit and off the motorways. It was about a four hour stop and start crawl thru the urban sprawl of greater Tokyo. However I did find time for some serious reflection - I also saw a hotel called - and I kid you not

Hubbard Motorcycle Adventures

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