Today marks the official start of our incredible adventure: A Mad Ride from London to Sydney, riding our BMW R1200 GS Adventure bikes. We kicked off this epic journey at the iconic Ace Cafe in West London, a legendary hub for bike and car enthusiasts. The atmosphere was awesome with Union Jack flags waving proudly in the breeze, a spirited crowd of well-wishers cheering us on, and fellow riders gathering to give us a truly unforgettable send-off.

The ride to Southampton port was straightforward, apart from the usual challenge of navigating London’s bustling traffic as we made our way south towards the coast.

Now, we’re aboard the ferry, cruising across the English Channel on our way to Bilbao, Spain. It’s a surreal experience—36 hours of peaceful downtime with nothing to do but relax, enjoy the calm seas and perfect weather, and sip on the occasional beer or two.

Tomorrow, we’ll arrive in Bilbao and set out for our first ride on Spanish soil. Our destination: the stunning coastal city of San Sebastián, where we’ll begin uncovering the treasures Spain has to offer.

To keep everyone updated, we’re sharing moments from the journey on our Facebook page, A Mad Ride: London to Sydney. Given the patchy internet, short updates work best, so make sure to follow along for snapshots of our adventure.

The excitement is tangible, and we’re ready to take on whatever challenges and surprises come our way. Let the adventure begin!

Steve has arrived in London on 19th May and has collected the bikes from Felixstowe Port. My aunt who lives near the Port is kindly storing my bike and Steve has his bike with him while staying at relatives.

I shall be arriving in London on 1st June and look forward to catching up with my mate Steve and my bike of course.

Departure date from London is 14th June when we head for the Coast to get a ferry.