On the 18th day of their motorcycle journey along the Trans America Trail, Steve and Amanda Kleha faced an unexpected challenge in the Utah desert. A thin layer of water stretched across the dirt road ahead, seemingly harmless under the desert sun. Confident from weeks of riding, they decided to press forward. But what unfolded next would turn a routine day into a harrowing test of resilience—one they would never forget.

For more than a decade, Suzanne Jolly had dreamed of her ultimate motorcycle adventure. Her idea was to load her motorcycle onto a boat that would drop her in a remote, boat-access-only area on the British Columbia coast. Once there, she could explore the vast network of logging roads that crisscross the Coast Mountains and ride in an area that few have ever seen. Because the area is so remote, she would need to take everything she required — bike, camping gear, and fuel — into the wilderness. However, her dream was put on the back burner when a brain injury turned her life upside down. After a long struggle with recovery, which included re-learning to ride a motorcycle, she decided to make her dream a reality by inviting a few other riders to join her in riding the hidden roads of the coast.

At 31 years old, Annette Birkmann left her career as a lawyer in Denmark, sold all her possessions, and set off to pursue her lifelong dream of riding a motorcycle. When she arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina she bought her first bike and spent eight months working in a motorcycle workshop. She then headed out on a solo year-long journey across the Americas and while on her trip she realized that even though she was in different surroundings, her problems had come along with her. On a quest for change, Annette found what she was looking for on the road, and more importantly, she discovered how to hold on to it all after she returned home.

The Darien Gap is one of the most dangerous routes in the Americas. It’s a remote, lawless expanse of mountainous rainforest that spans Colombia and Panama. After Jess and Greg Stone from Go Ruffly finished training their new puppy, Whimsy, to ride on a motorcycle, they headed 20,000 km south, shipped their bikes from Panama and endured a gruelling five-day trek through mud, rivers, and jungle to cross the Darien Gap. On their journey through this inhospitable terrain, they encountered thousands of migrants walking the same treacherous route in reverse, navigated dozens of harrowing miles through the tropical rainforest and in the end were reunited with their motorcycles in Colombia.

Agnieszka (Aga) Macura and Yan Giovannoni come from widely different backgrounds. Yet, both were fortunate to grow up in families passionate about travel, instilling a love for exploration from an early age. They met while travelling and have since learned and adapted many things, most notably their motorcycle choices, starting with larger bikes and gradually moving to smaller ones that suit their preferred style of global travel. In this episode, they talk extensively about their experiences travelling through Australia and Japan.

Michnus and Elsebie Olivier have been travelling for 14 years, riding their DR650’s across many miles, spending countless nights under unfamiliar skies and crossing numerous borders. Their journey has taught them invaluable lessons and continues to reshape their worldview. It has fostered a deeper appreciation for diverse cultures and landscapes and inspired a life guided by openness to the unknown and the pursuit of meaningful experiences over material accumulation.

Tracy Charles had planned to work until retirement, purchase a Winnebago, and travel across North America with her husband. However, tragedy struck, altering her course. She soon found herself riding a motorcycle solo on an open journey around the world. It was during this adventure that she encountered a dog that made it clear to Tracy that they were inseparable. Together, Tracy and her loyal canine companion are fulfilling her bucket list as they continue their journey.

Carl and Isabel Abrams led a content life in the UK, with a comfortable home and fulfilling jobs that they enjoyed. In 2017, they embarked on a memorable motorcycle tour of Scandinavia, igniting a dream to circumnavigate the globe on their bikes. However, everything changed when three months later Isabel discovered a lump in her breast. The subsequent diagnosis forced Isabel to confront her mortality, abruptly shifting their perspective on the future. The idea of travelling the world once again came to the forefront, and they started to do some research, even buying the bikes. But still, the prospect of a world tour was a distant and flexible goal, as there was no set date; it was a plan for someday, something they couldn’t actually see happening. Until they surprised everyone, even themselves, and the day when they finally followed their dream arrived.

Lavi Scholl and Ollie Gamblin met when picking cherries on a farm in Australia while on working holiday visas. It might have been Ollie’s van, maybe his guitar playing, but something sparked for both of them and they have been partners in travel and life ever since. They seem to fit together like pieces of a puzzle, complimenting each other, naturally falling into the roles that allow them to travel even farther on a budget. Their mantra and secret for travel is underpinned with a simple mantra - that the best things in life are free. After trying out van life, backpacking, and cycling, they ultimately fell in love with the perfect mode of transportation - the motorcycle. Lavi and Ollie have just returned from a trip around the world.

Chad Horton and Rose Padilla have been exploring South America by motorcycle for years, with no specific agenda or direction. Recently, they took on what can only be described as an adventurer's route that was far off the beaten path. It was a route that would bisect the Amazon Jungle from east to west, passing through some of the most remote and unfrequented areas of the region. However, what they didn't anticipate was that the Amazon was experiencing a 125-year drought that would affect all travel in the area. Moreover, they were not aware that some of the boats that they were told could carry their motorcycle would not, while others would unload them far from land on the muddy bottom of a diving river. One boat's owner even attempted to hijack their motorcycle deep in the Amazon jungle. It was an incredible story of high adventure that was worth doing, but one that Chad and Rose say they would never do again.

Lorraine Spence is an avid traveler who rediscovered her love for riding motorcycles after a two decade hiatus. She decided her first big trip in 2012 would be across Asia via the BAM road in Siberia, which could be considered one of the last challenges for adventure motorcyclists. The BAM road is a dilapidated service road for the railway in Siberia that requires planning, determination, and a bit of luck to overcome.

Brendon and Kira Hak have been living a nomadic lifestyle for the past six years. Kira has always had a passion for travel and Brendon for motorsports, so after a couple of life-altering events made them reevaluate what they were doing in their lives, they decided to do the big trip they had dreamed about. They spent years planning and in 2017 they set out for their motorcycle trip from Canada to Ushuaia. The plan was to be gone for about one year, but when they returned home after nearly two years they had a different perspective on life and they knew that travel was something they wanted to continue doing. If they wanted to keep going they knew that now was the time to make it happen, and if they could do it, then why wouldn’t they?

Have you ever wondered about embarking on a big trip, such as travelling around the world, going from Alaska to Ushuaia, or exploring a foreign country for a few months? Have you ever doubted your ability to undertake such an adventure? If so, the story of Bridget McCutchen should inspire you. Bridget, a 22-year-old woman, is on a mission to set an official Guinness world record as the youngest woman to complete a trip around the world by motorcycle. She will accomplish her goal in November, having navigated foreign borders, dealt with regulations and paperwork, and overcoming language barriers.

Andy and Alissa have spent the past 19 years experiencing adventure at every turn. They have hiked, backpacked, and travelled by vehicle and motorcycle, but it has always left them yearning for more. To fulfill their desire for adventure, they decided to embark on a journey to ride around the world by motorcycle, to travel with no end date. After five years of saving, they set out on a cold and stormy day, a true test of their stamina. It was an experience that may have caused many riders to turn back and reevaluate, but they persevered through a stressful first few days of riding and numerous challenges. They had set out to experience the world and they weren’t going to give up that easily.

In 2017, Tim and Marisa Notier embarked on an epic journey around the world, riding a KTM motorcycle. They travelled through North and South America, followed by Africa. When the pandemic brought everything to a halt, they decided to stay in Kenya for a while, but returned to the United States when their visas expired. They then decided to head north to Alaska, but were still eager to continue their world adventure. After much consideration, they drew inspiration from their friends, Greg and Melanie Turp, and chose to explore Indonesia next, a country known for its hot and humid climate, bustling cities, and hospitable people.

In this episode, we delve into the world of motorcycle camping, where the thrill of the open road meets the serenity of nature. Our featured guests are world travelers with extensive experience in motorcycle camping while travelling, and they are here to share their invaluable tips and tricks to ensure your own camping journey is nothing short of extraordinary. So, whether you're a seasoned rider looking to enhance your camping experience or a newcomer eager to embrace the call of the wild, this episode is your ultimate guide to mastering the art of motorcycle camping. In two weeks, make sure to listen to the show for more advice from seasoned travellers who have camped or are currently camping their way across the globe. On this episode, Jess and Greg Stone from Go Ruffly and Michnus and Elsebie Olivier from PikiPiki Overland.

Travis and Chantil Gill have been on their trip around the world for over three years, but they have not yet completed their exploration of Europe. Initially restricted by the pandemic, they found themselves embracing the concept of slow travel and all the incredible benefits it entails. As they continue their journey, their list of things to see and do keeps growing with each new discovery. Immersing themselves in Europe's rich tapestry of people and culture, they have developed a deep passion for everything this continent has to offer.

According to the Greek philosopher, Epictetus, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react that matters.”  Rose Padilla and Chad Horton were looking to their future and thought they had their retirement plans all figured out, until they weren’t. When things sort of fell apart for them, instead of becoming bitter and resentful they took stock and decided there was another adventure they wanted to chase down, one that involved a motorcycle.

After suffering a tragic double loss lori lozinski felt alone in the world, an orphan grappling with an existential crisis. lori found herself spiralling emotionally downward until she discovered salvation through her new hobby of riding motorcycles. Only then could she turn to what she knows best - professional film production to reflect on her past relationships from the seat of her motorcycle and to help others navigate their own inevitable losses.

Budgeting for a trip has always been a bit of an enigma, there are so many variables to consider. Will you camp, stay in hostels or B&B’s, all decisions that change the budget drastically. And on top of that, in the past couple of years prices have skyrocketed for fuel, groceries, parts and accommodations. It seems that almost everything has increased in price, not to mention the supply chain issues, reduced or non existent shipping options, and more. But it isn’t necessarily all doom and gloom, in fact it’s during these times when those people who are really on the ball and motivated, like Michnus and Elsie Olivier, dig in and discover new ways and even develop new ideas and habits to not only survive, but thrive. And what you end up with is a new or at least different paradigm for travel by motorcycle, and a better way to budget.

Sharon and Doug Wildeboer are a close couple, used to spending time together and both ride their own motorcycles. Doug is the original motorcyclist of the two and it was his idea to travel by motorcycle in Iceland and through Europe. Sharon is a skilled rider but she describes herself as a reluctant rider although a lover of travel. Being a reluctant rider can mean a lot of stress for Sharon, which for Doug may be difficult to recognize since he’s not feeling that. But that isn’t the only challenge that Sharon and Doug have had to work through on their trip. Before they left they had saved money and rented their house out with the plan being to work remotely on the road. And so far they’ve been able to keep their trip, in their words, cost-neutral. So, travel by motorcycle, on the cheap and work on the road. How they’ve managed to do that and more, on this episode.

Jackie Layng and her partner Davide Focardi came from Ireland to America in part to ride the Dalton and then to continue down into South America. Jackie was a relatively new rider, with little experience and part of her motivation for doing the trip was to overcome the anxiety that had been infiltrating her life. Davide has been dreaming of doing a trip like this all his life, riding off into the unknown. For him it’s all about the challenge, pushing his own limits and exploring wild areas that are unavailable in Europe. So, we almost have two sides of the spectrum, one looking to overcome anxiety and build confidence, and the other searching for a test of his.

Graeme and Katrina Perkins are riding the slow lane around the world. They left Australia back in 2016 and thought it could take a couple of years to explore the globe, but it’s now seven years later and they have only made it about half way around the world. They have learned plenty, met loads of people, crossed many borders, all along the way perfecting this thing called motorcycle travel. They pack extremely light, plan ahead, and the more they ride, the slower they go.

Janell and Stuart Clarke are both engineers and both enjoyed travelling and exploring the Australian outback by four wheel drive having so much fun that they decided to explore the world. So they began dreaming and planning a trip, but it soon became apparent to them that the cost of using a four wheel drive would deeply cut in to their budget. Then the idea of using motorcycles came up and that seemed like a plan they could sink their teeth into. Soon they were on the road, two bikes and a dog on the trip of a lifetime. Nine years later, they are still travelling from country to country and having picked up some passengers it’s now five of them on two motorcycles - still exploring the world.

On last month’s episode of RAW, the panel discussed some of the most iconic places in the world to ride a motorcycle and what they came up with was The 7 Wonders of the Motorcycle Travel World. And when debating the destinations that would make the cut, there were two routes that run somewhat parallel in South America that Michelle Lamphere felt must be included. So she suggested that although these routes are different and offer unique experiences, they could be done as a loop. And from that was born the Patagonia Loop. According to the RAW group of motorcycle travellers, this is one of the best riding experiences in the world. And the great thing is, you can fly there, rent a bike and experience much of it in just weeks. And to tell you more about it, we have Michelle Lamphere, RAW co-host, who has herself ridden the all new Patagonia Loop.

Matt Shields and his fiancé, Lucie, wanted to do an adventure and they decided the mode of transportation would be a motorcycle. And although they had no bike, no license and no gear they decided to take the leap and put their idea in to motion. They left the UK in May and have recently arrived in Kenya, and after six months and 20,000 km they are now halfway through their adventure. They’ve learned as they went and have had some fantastical experiences on what they call a ‘wild ride’. Matt and Lucie are a testament to the thought process that we can do anything if we set our minds to it.

Ali Peberdy, retired motorcycle cop, has just returned from an eight week trip to Europe. Before she left, we spoke with Ali and she told us about some concerns she had, things like dropping her bike, going solo, age and breakdowns. Ali is back in the UK now and she has some stories to tell about the things she experienced on her trip, from the rude hotel receptionist to the mishap in the cornfield, and whether or not her trip concerns were valid.

The idea of riding a motorcycle around the world presents enough challenges for the average rider, there’s border crossings, break downs, logistics, and so many other things to consider. But, add to those challenges running a business while you’re on the road, raising funds for a charity you really care about, bringing a 75 pound German Shepherd with you, and fitting everything you need for work, your dog and camping on your bikes. These are some of the things Jess and Greg Stone have been dealing with but they’re having the time of their lives doing it. Now, it’s not always sunshine and roses, they’ve already had their share of troubles, but there isn’t anything going to stop them from riding around the world. Jim talks to Jess and Greg about how they do it, their outlook and we hear some amusing stories of things that have happened to them since they left Guatemala a few months ago.

Planning your adventure as a couple is half the fun. You choose the bikes, the gear, the route. But the hard stuff, the stuff that unravels under pressure, things like stamina, the desire to endure hardship or inclement weather day in day out, or negotiating and communicating as a couple to make sure you both get the most of the trip, those are the difficult ones. Doug and Sharon Wildeboer have just started a one year motorcycle trip through Iceland and Europe. But, before they left they gave us a personal glimpse in to the preparation and planning that went in to their trip. Including how they would balance work on the road with travel, their expectations and logistics.

Ali Peberdy has been riding motorcycles for about forty years, she’s worked as a police officer and some of those years she was a motorcycle cop. She’s ridden thousands of miles in and around Europe with her friends and now in retirement she’s discovering a whole new world of riding. She’s just about to embark on a solo trip in Europe and has had to face some fears she has never known before. What steps did she take to address those fears and how will this shape her adventure?