London to Sydney—a map and some detail
Many of you have asked for more detail about the trip AND a map. Here’s both. Click on the map to see a larger version.
It’s the 24-week Explorer Overland Truck Trip offered by a company called UK to OZ. Next year the trip will be 26 weeks, but who’s counting. Here’s a link to their website—www.uktooz.com.
The map isn’t 100 per cent accurate. In addition to the countries noted, the truck went through Belgium and Luxembourg and will go through Kazakhstan (just north of Kyrgyzstan). As of 8 July we are in Istanbul, Turkey. We start heading further east in two days.
London to Sydney—map
The journey began with 18 on board, plus Will, our driver, and Lu, our tour leader. Poor John and I joined in Salzburg, Austria. As part of our search for visas, we were already halfway across Europe and realised it was silly and costly to backtrack to England. Toni (a German) joined us in Istanbul. Lene (a Norwegian) will join us in a few days and another fellow joins at the end of July.
The fact we are travelling ‘overland’ all the way to Australia raises a few eyebrows. Obviously we can’t drive ALL the way. We’ll take a ferry across the Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan. We’ll take another ferry from Singapore to Indonesia, and a flight from Bali to Darwin in Australia.
Over time I will give more detail about exactly how we are managing all this. I’ll also gradually introduce my travelling companions, but I am thrilled to say we make up a very congenial group.
Where to next? 
Thanks LeggyPeggy for the Map… it helps a lot.
I had visited Istanbul several times (1971) and this is where you can see differences between European lifestyles (fancy clothing, cars, food..) and lifestyles in Istanbul where Asia begins. I recall seeing people (in 1971) carrying produce on their backs and very old American cars on the streets. My dad owned a 1955 Chevrolet (two tone green) and I was amazed to see so many of them and still running (and other models). Istanbul is one of my favorite cities and I will leave it at that.
Sy S.
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Peggy,
I think when I go overland I’ll stick with air travel. But for those of you who have the stomach for it, and the physical agility to manage the challenges, it sounds like an exciting and economical way to see the world. I am taken with the idea of going around cities with guides who know them really well. And thank you too for the map. I’ll so enjoy watching your progress. ‘Hello’ to Poor John too.
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