UK to Turkey - R1150GS Adventure
| Who | Andrew Walker |
| Profession | Nomadic |
| Born 1962 | Nationality UK |
| Previous travel experience | Extensive |
| Previous bike travels | Nepal, USA; Europe; India; |
| This trip | UK (Sheffield) to Turkey (Istanbul) via Balkans |
| Departure date | early October 2003 |
| Number in group | 2 |
| Trip duration | 4 weeks |
| Distance covered | 5,000 miles |
| Cost of trip (not incl. bike) | ?700 |
| Best day | Driving down the Croatian coast on twisty roads, blazing blue seas and crazy islands |
| Worst/ hardest day | Monte Negro and Kosovo in torrential rain, snow and land mines! |
| Favourite place | Sleeping out by an inland sea on the Monte Negran coast, surrounded by wild mountains |
| Biggest headache | Partners serious road accident in remote part of southern Turkey. And the bad weather. |
| Biggest mistake | Underestimating the time to travel through Bosnia, Monte Negro and Kosovo in October - it snows and there are monutains and mud and mountains of mud. |
| Most pleasant surprise | The people in Kosovo, particularly the children and the border police! |
| Any illness | Colds |
| Other trips planned | Morocco |
| One travel tip | Take Euros to Monte Negro, Macedonia and Kosovo, not dollars |
| Bike Model | R1150GS Adventure |
| Age/ mileage on departure | 600 miles. 3 days old. |
| Modifications | Crash bars, heated grips, alli pannier kit, headlight guard etc |
| Mods you wish you'd done | None - perhaps a mine detector! |
| Type of baggage | Tourances |
| Tyres used | None! |
| Number of punctures | BMW Alli pannier set - superb |
| Bike's weak point | None |
| Bike's strong point | Many - versatility on fast roads and dirt roads |
| Bike problems | None |
| Number of accidents | 1 - to the other bike and rider. |
| Same bike again? | Yes |
| One biking tip | If you go on two bikes, make sure they are compatible in terms iof petrol consumption, luggage, speed etc |