Pittwater Life Febraury 2024 Issue

Charity ride
across 25 countries
News
Avalon couple Richard and Judy
Brierley-Jones are about to embark
on the motorbike journey of a
lifetime with two of their oldest friends.
Raising money for charity, they also
hope to show that you can achieve your
dreams whatever your age.
Leaving Newport on 1 February,
Richard and Judy and their friends
Lawrence and Linda Lee plan to ride two
motorbikes 35,000 kilometres across 25
countries over six months.
It will take them from New South
Wales to Old North Wales in a trip reminiscent
of Ewen McGregor and Charlie
Boorman undertaking The Long Way
Round (Richard acknowledges he was a
fan of the TV series).
“It’s been a dream since the ’80s, but
The Long Way Round was also part of the
inspiration,” begins Richard. “I’ve known
Lawrence and Linda since I was 12, when
we were in the same class together in a
school in Wales. We’ve done lots of trips
together over the years.
“They came to visit last year and we
were chatting about adventures. I told
them over a few drinks that I’d always
wanted to ride back to the UK and they
said that they wanted to do it as well.
Our dear ladies were even prepared to
ride on the back!”
Linda and Judy are certainly supportive
partners to sit on the back of a bike
for six months – but you wonder how
they will pack for the trip, considering
they will be camping much of the way.
“Sitting on the back isn’t the easiest and
they’re making a lot of sacrifices to come,
but that’s the really special part of the
trip, that they’ll be with us,” Richard said.
“And yes, packing for two on one bike
is a challenge. I’ve bought a few pipes
from Mitre 10 in Avalon and have made
some modifications to the bike.”
Packing isn’t the only challenge:
monsoons, freezing temperatures and
inhospitable terrain awaits.
“First of all we have to ride across
Australia and the Nullarbor in the height
of Summer. We have to do that, so we can
cross China and Tibet in Summer. We’ll
tackle the wet season across Indonesia,
and we need a guide to take us through
China and then Tibet in freezing temperatures.
“We’ll visit Everest Base Camp on the
Tibet side and there are 50 passes over
3000 metres we’ll have to tackle, so
altitude sickness could be an issue – and
we’re all in our early 60s.”
Add to the mix multiple borders and
myriad paperwork and the intention to
camp two thirds of the journey and it
sounds anything like a holiday.
“We’re planning to ride around fourand-a-half
hours every day so that we
REVVED UP: Richard and
Judy on their packed BMW
bike; and planning the trip
with friends Lawrence and
Linda (bottom left).
don’t get too exhausted, and we’ll stay
a third of the nights in Airbnb-type accommodation
– although anything but
luxury.”
There are so many highlights Richard
and the team are looking forward to
though, not least after they complete the
journey.
“We have a friend who is involved with
Wrexham Football Club and we hope to
do something fun to celebrate when we
finish.
“It’s also for a great cause though and
we really want to give something back.”
The four adventurers are raising money
for mental health charities – BlackDog
ride (blackdogride.org.au) and Mental
Health Motorbike (mhmotorbike.com) –
both trying to raise awareness of mental
health issues and provide support for
those in need.
“Mental health isn’t something we’ve
dealt with ourselves, but we’ve had
friends who have committed suicide.
It’s something that’s not talked about
enough and it feels achievable to help
people. These are both wonderful charities
here and in the UK.
“Proceeds from our YouTube channel
and any donations will all go towards the
money raised.”
– Rob Pegley
*Follow the journey and witness stories
along the way at 2upfromdownunder.
com and YouTube channel @2upFrom-
DownUnder.
14 FEBRUARY 2024
The Local Voice Since 1991