It’s a plan we’ve probably all had while drinking with some mates in a pub. To drive around the world, have an adventure and maybe even set a few world records at the same time. Paul, Johno and Leigh managed to turn this normal display of optimistic bar bravado into a reality.
To successfully travel 43,000 miles across 50 countries is not something you take on lightly and requires some preparation, a few sponsors willing to help fund such a venture and someone who knows which way round to hold a spanner. The friends I have had similar alcohol fuelled conversations with were the spanners. Luckily the boys pretty much had these bases covered, especially when the vehicle of choice is a 20-year-old London Black Cab. That alone should give you an indication of the sort of mileage it will have already done and the life it would have lived prior to this trip.
The book was written by both Paul and Johno with their sections identified by a different typeface and boldness. It can at times be difficult to read because their differences are so subtle that the only way I could work out whose section is whose was when they mentioned the other person in their paragraph. This does however, allow for both of their perspectives and what they were up to during the few times they were separated on the journey. Apparently they experimented with the three of them writing the book but as this didn’t really work Leigh settled to getting his points across in the ‘Afterword’.
They say three is a dangerous number to travel with, as should there be a falling out, one may feel ganged up on by the other two. While the lads for the most part stayed argument free and came out the other end still on each other’s Christmas card lists, there was always going to be the odd fallout. Case being when one of them went missing for over 24 hours. They did on occasion have a fourth travel with them, for certain sections, but I don’t think this would have worked long term based on the size of the vehicle. You would need to weigh up the pros and cons of having another person to interact with verses another body taking up already limited space.
They do touch on some of the realities of this sort of journey that many may choose to overlook, ignore or not even think about. The romantic imagery of an 18th century aristocratic Grand Tour around the Italian Riviera causing havoc with the truth. There will be different issues that the modern overland adventurer will have to contend with that Marco Polo, Livingston and even as recent Sir Ranulph Fiennes will not have experienced. New borders, new wars, new terrorist groups, new rules, on top of the century’s old corruption, terrible roads and suspicion of foreigners.
I don’t think some of these realities were hammered home enough to prevent the foolhardy, stupid and daft from undertaking a round the world trip in a banger of a car. But this is sort of the point of the book. It is not trying to put anyone off. Its not really their place to. If anything, they are subtly trying to encourage others to do the same. It doesn’t have to be a in a car around the world with two others, just anything you have ever wanted to do that that others have rolled their eyes at and predicted failure. Something that is not to be ashamed or embarrassed about, at least you tried to unicycle up Mont Blanc or water-ski a lava lake. The fact that you committed to your dream adventure and taken it as far as you could is what counts. You tried which is more than can be said for most people.
Would I take on a trip like this? I would love to but I would need the right people with me. By the right people I mean ones that would fill the gaps in my knowledge of engineering, foreign languages and reading paperwork properly. Do I have friends like this? Of the people I would normally meet up with in a pub, none of them are particularly mechanical but I am sure that within extended social circles, or Facebook friends from days gone by, I could find an engineer. Would I be able to spend months on the road with these people? Probably, I get on with most people. Would I want to? Depends who they are. I assume that is why people interview for travel companions nowadays. Is this book worth a read? Yes.
