TRAVEL BROADENS THE MIND 1973 existed in a ‘ relatively ’ stable geo-political world , one coming out of the peacenik era of the 60s while retaining a strong connection to youth culture and the post-hippie work of ‘ finding oneself ’. Anne and Des are great company , and the book is as much about their development as it is about a shared and formative journey . There was an element of the love story in there – a will they , wont they – which seemed almost inevitable , and the relationship becomes very strong indeed , giving nothing away . They share the writing chapters , with first one , then the other , taking over the story , and its easy to see how they were so likeable and welcomed by so many who became friends on the road . Des has a sort of gruff , gentle-hearted presence coupled with a saintlike patience for the endless quirks and failures of poor old Ernie , their faithful but very flawed old Norton . Anne reveals herself more slowly , but she relates her journey from the pillion with a keenly observant eye , and much of the travel story falls to her . With a gas tank fill for mere pence , and a well forged path towards , and from , the Indian subcontinent , they set off north , to Norway ! Of course , travel broadens the mind , widens the scope , and changes one preconceptions , but it also forges resilience , and strength , and they needed plenty . Weather being a major component of motorcycling and of camping , their tales are instantly recognisable to those of us who have spent long days in the saddle ; dreaming of hot food and coffee and being able to stand in front of a fire .

BARN FIND Ernie was a 1957 Norton 500cc ES2 single cylinder and Des built him up from a barn find , with an astonishing ability to fix anything while on the road , using some spare wire , a few tools and Araldite . I never knew a piston could be rebuilt with Araldite , but I do now . Originally designed in 1928 , the bike was an agglomeration of British post-war cornercutting - cheap parts , appalling electrics , no fuel gauge - or reserve , an exhaust system that fell off seemingly daily , endless leaks and much more , it was not Norton ’ s best work . Des describes it thus , “ Ernie was not an example of Britain ’ s finest . He was like an example of the elite athlete ’ s stumblebum plodding brother ; his glory was only reflected ... Whilst Ernie had no valid claims to quality or reliability , he was earnest . When the chips were down he always came through ... Purely on the evidence of successfully thudding along for nearly 10,000 miles with a glued up piston , he deserves the mantle of a deity .” Most importantly the book serves as a window into the world at that time ; the Yom Kippur War taking place and the background of the ‘ 72 Munich Olympic shootings causing ripples in the fabric of society . The road is populated with coming and goings , Kiwis in Kombis having their great OE , flatmates from London digs , students and the exuberant joys of a week of 20-somethings Oktoberfest partying , camping , sharing laughter , love , and tents , with consumption taking precedence over budget for the first time .

A WONDERFUL JOURNEY The pair travel through a Europe we would barely recognise these days , as they were the forerunners of the great global tourism industry boom from that time on .

88 KIWI RIDER