Chasing Cars: The World Tour

[RoadTripper Brad]

Cool. I'll be here in the Southwest unless I move back to Washington, over to Colorado, Canada, or Ireland. I'm somewhat tempted to move overseas for a stint.

-Brad

[UKCraig]

Based on the fact we Europeans love your neck of the woods due to the stark contrast when compared to where we live... you'll adore Ireland. It's usually cold and wet but the scenery is simply stunning. And the people are (mostly) extremely welcoming and likeable. Being an American rather than a Brit you'll not even have that issue of being disliked based on your nationality.

[RoadTripper Brad]

Based on the fact we Europeans love your neck of the woods due to the stark contrast when compared to where we live... you'll adore Ireland. It's usually cold and wet but the scenery is simply stunning. And the people are (mostly) extremely welcoming and likeable. Being an American rather than a Brit you'll not even have that issue of being disliked based on your nationality.

I'd hope not! I'm 1/4 Irish and 1/3 Scottish, so they're my family!

Frankly, that's what makes me want to live in Ireland, the contrast. Canada is a close second because it's like the US, just with with the aspect of new.

If I get the opportunity I might move there for a few years, but I need to complete my degree.

As far as weather, I love cold and wet! I grew up mainly in and around Seattle, so green, wet, and cold is perfect. Although, I'll miss the Cascades.

-Brad

[UKCraig]

Aaargh - the plan was to come home today and finally book the flights after lots of back and forth over times, dates, etc. Everything is in place - availability has been verified, I'm happy with the price, the route is set, everything's perfect. So I phone up and... 'oh sorry, Katherine's not at work today' Aaaargh... I wanted to cry! lol

I guess having to wait will give me a day or two to ponder the idea that came to me whilst driving down the M6 this afternoon... what's to stop me doing a stop in Europe before returning to London? I missed out on the Northern Lights in Alaska... maybe I could see if it's possible to get up to the top end of Norway instead? Or visit some sights in Turkey? Or... or... :)

[UKCraig]

Depart Heathrow on May 4th, return December 22nd. Job done.

Will write up the full itinerary shortly - right now I need a stiff drink!

[Southwest Dave]

wow!!!!!
i can't wait to see the final itineray,it looks an awesome trip!
enjoy the drink,lol!

[UKCraig]

- Flight: 4th May London - Toronto
- Road: 5th - 19th May Circular roadtrip out of Toronto to include Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa, Nova Scotia.
- Train: 20th - 22nd May 'The Canadian' from Toronto to Vancouver.
- Road: 23rd May - 6th June Circular roadtrip out of Vancouver.
- Flight: 7th June Vancouver - Seattle (crossing the border by train and applying for entry under the VWP was not possible according to Amtrak)
- Road: 8th - 21st June Rejigged version of previously planned roadtrip through NW America.
- Race: 22nd June Nascar Sprint Cup at Sears Point.
- Flight: 7th July Seattle - Anchorage.
- Tour: 9th - 29th July Trek America Alaska-Yukon Explorer tour.
- Road: 30th July - 8th August Explore Alaska under my own steam.
- Flight: 9th August Anchorage - Seattle - Las Vegas
- Road: 10th - 18th August Roadtrip from Las Vegas - Los Angeles via Death Valley.
- Flight: 19th August Los Angeles - Kona
- Tour: 20th - 26th August Explore Hawaiian islands under my own steam.
- Flight: 27th August Honolulu - Sydney - Perth
- International Date Line: 28th August Lost day!
- City: 29th - 31st August - Perth
- Tour: 1st - 21st September OzXposure Western Wonder tour from Perth to Darwin.
- City: 22nd September Darwin
- Flight: 23rd September Darwin - Singapore
- Train: 24th September Singapore - Kuala Lumpur
- City: 25th September Kuala Lumpur
- Train: 26th September Kuala Lumpur - Singapore
- City: 27th September Singapore
- Race: 28th September Grand Prix of Singapore
- Flight: 29th September Singapore - Darwin - Melbourne
- City: 30th September - 4th October Melbourne
- Race: 5th October Phillip Island Moto GP
- Road: 6th - 8th October Head towards Bathurst via Albury & Canberra.
- Race: 9th - 12th October Bathurst 1000
- Road: 13th October Bathurst - Sydney via Blue Mountains.
- City: 14th October Sydney
- Flight: 15th October Sydney - Uluru
- Tour: 16th - 17th October Uluru, Kata Tjuta & Kings Canyon
- Flight: 18th October Uluru - Sydney
- Road: 19th - 22nd October Sydney - Great Barrier Reef area.
- Tour: 23rd October Australia Zoo
- City: 24th - 25th October Brisbane
- Race: 26th October Gold Coast Indy race at Surfers Paradise.
- Road: 27th - 31st October Surfers Paradise - Sydney via the Great Ocean Road.
- City: 1st - 4th November Sydney
- Road: 5th - 9th November Sydney - Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road.
- Train: 10th November Melbourne - Adelaide
- City: 11th - 13th November - Adelaide
- Train: 14th November Adelaide - Melbourne
- Ferry: 15th November: Melbourne - Tasmania
- Car: 16th - 22nd November: Explore Tasmania under under own steam.
- Race: 23rd November Australian V8 Supercars nr Launceston, Tasmania
- Ferry: 24th November Tasmania - Melbourne
- City: 25th November Melbourne
- Flight: 26th November Melbourne - Auckland
- Car: 27th November - 13th December Explore New Zealand under own steam.
- Flight: 14th December Auckland - Hong Kong
- City: 15th December Hong Kong
- Flight: 16th December Hong Kong - Dubai
- City: 17th - 18th December Dubai
- Flight: 19th December Dubai - Amman - Cairo
- City: 20th - 21st December Cairo
- Flight: 22nd December Cairo - London
- Sleep: 23rd - 24th December
- Face The Family: 25th December

Is that the ultimate Christmas Shopping expedition?

The most exciting flight will be Dubai - Cairo. We will be flying over Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria and the Lebanon. I am entirely comfortable flying through the airspace of such stable countries...

[Southwest Dave]

blimey craig you don't do things by half, what an adventure,fantastic!
i'm tired out just reading it,i think i'll go and have a lie down,lol!

[UKCraig]

Well I think that should be a good introduction to solo travelling...

I've only ever done two solo roadtrips to the US before totalling approximately 25 days. I guess going round the world for 233 days i the next natural progression.

Ah well, even if it turns into a disaster, it'll give me a few stories to bore people with :D

[RoadTripper Mike.S]

Craig,

You really do need someone to carry the bags etc etc. and having lived in Singapore I could be a great!! guide to there and Malaysia (you must try to get to the Cameron Highlands while in KL.)

Looks a great trip hope it goes as planned

Mike